Grognard1812 (Soviet) vs Pitaman

[Grognard1812]

At the end of turn 17, the Soviet Army was 4.7 million. I think the Red Army is in a good position for a successful blizzard campaign which starts in 8 turns.

[Grognard1812]

Total destroyed units after completing 17 turns of the game.

[Grognard1812]

And finally total air losses after 17 turns. Of note, we had a house rule that no airbase bombings were allowed after the first turn of the game. I think it worked out well.

[Grognard1812]

Soviet turns 18 to 21 were the 4 mud turns.

On turn 18 Army Group Center encircled 6 Soviet divisions Southeast of Tula.

[Grognard1812]

One of the settings for this game included random weather, but the first 17 turns of the game had been clear without a single mud turn in any weather zone. On turn 18, all the weather zones were mud except for the Central Soviet Zone which was snow, but Army Group South did not launch any major attacks.

[Grognard1812]

On turn 20 the 6 isolated Soviet units were attacked and surrendered.

[Grognard1812]

Odd random weather for the first turn of snow after 4 turns of mud. Blizzard (with no 1941-1942 winter effects) in the Central Zone, Snow in the North and mud in the South. It will be a difficult winter for the Axis !!!

[Grognard1812]

End of turn 22 West of Rostov - a cavalry screen was sent forward to flip enemy ZOCs - as there are still two turns of snow before blizzard season starts there is no point in taking chances and advancing this turn to follow the retreating Axis.

[Grognard1812]

Situation end of turn near Voroshilovgrad, should have noticed those panzers massing just northwest of Voroshilovgrad - the blizzard dulled my awareness of a dangerous situation developing!!

[Grognard1812]

The situation end of turn near Moscow - the defenses around Moscow should be sufficient to blunt an expected offensive from Army Group Center during the following 2 snow turns.

[Grognard1812]

Second turn of Snow - Snow is all Soviet weather zones.

Northwest of Voroshilovgrad a large pocket formed by the Panzers of Army Group South was opened with an attack on the 3rd Panzer division.

[Grognard1812]

End of turn situation Northwest of Voroshilovgrad. Just one turn left of snow before blizzard starts.

[Grognard1812]

Moving up the troops to get ready for blizzard in two turns West of Rostov. A very interesting blizzard defense for the Axis player - mostly Rumanian units in two defensive lines (shown by air recon).

[Grognard1812]

Army Group Center is at the gates of Moscow - but Moscow is safe in 1941 as there is only one turn of snow left.

[Richard III]

Thank you for this easy to follow AAR.[8D]

I`ve been away from WITE long time, so it`s interesting to see versions of the Red Army`s 1941 strategy.

Yours seem to indicate that local counterattacks aren`t worth it ?

[Grognard1812]

Thank you for following the AAR.

From reading other AARs I get the impression that if a Soviet player does too many counterattacks in the first 17 turns it sets up too many opportunities for the Axis player to create pockets. I feel the most important strategy for the Soviet player in the first 17 turns is to avoid pockets and try to save as many factories as possible by constantly retreating and digging in. The only time I usually counterattack is when trying to open pockets. My goal is to have a large enough army for a successful Soviet blizzard winter campaign - which means the Soviet army would need to be above 4 million on turn 17.

[Grognard1812]

The weather this turn is snow in all the weather zones.

Northwest of Voroshilovgrad, the Panzers reform a large pocket with 24 Soviet divisions encircled. From bad to worse for the Red Army.

[Grognard1812]

Was unable to open the pocket this turn. Situation at the end of turn Northwest of Voroshilovgrad. As next turn is the first turn of blizzard, hopefully the pocket can be broken next turn and the encircled Soviet units saved.

It is a snow turn, but I removed the weather effects pattern from the game map so that the units can be better seen.

[Grognard1812]

The situation at the end of turn in the Moscow area.

[Grognard1812]

End of turn, the Soviet Army just East of Stalino, getting everything ready for the start of the Soviet winter offensive which begins next turn with the first blizzard turn of the winter of 41-42.