A look at Barbarossa. (AAR)

[Red Prince]

I'm hoping I didn't leave any easy targets for that. Given the number of mistakes I've make so far, though, it is possible.

[Orm]

I am to cautious to make any counterattacks yet.

I have no units to move at the north front. And Germany seems to have run out of supply there.

On the central front I retreated a little bit. Feeling a bit secure with the withdrawl of an entire German panzer army to the south front. Due to supply trouble the 51st infatry corps become disorganezed and therefore its location decided where the rest of the units on the central front makes its stand. I also feel a bit secure because both German HQs on the central front are now disorganized and some 5 to 7 hexes from the front.

I am, however, a bit worried that Germany can get a double move. It is closing to the end of the turn after all. And with Germany ending this turn and beginning the next could be real trouble for me.


Picture taken at HQ reorganization of Allied impulse #10, May/Jun 1941

[Orm]

On the south front I also retreat a few hexes. My AA division become disorganized during the German attack on that hex and had to be abandoned to defend itself. In the Carpathians the 2nd Guard Cavalary Corps tries to get out of the pocket by moving south. If it survives to the end of the turn it will become organized again.

Edit: Since I have no reserves at all I moved a couple of aircraft to the south front so that I at least have some air support there. Now I just have to decide if I should use Timoshenko to reorganize a unit or not. Either one infantry army in Kiev, one fighter or one land bomber. Or maybe save Timoshenko if the turn gets way to long. At the end of this impulse it is 40% chance for the turn to end.

Picture taken at HQ reorganization of Allied impulse #10, May/Jun 1941

[Red Prince]

I was wondering if he'd move that CAV out to attempt a raid on Rumania next turn (assuming I forget to check it [;)] ).

[Joseignacio]

Is there a city under USSR control there?

[brian brian]

is this game happening now, or already over and being posted in pieces?

[Norden_slith]

So, it was left to Rundstedt to try to repair the damage. He did his best, recharging supplies and morale for the 4 units that remained from that disastrous attack. He should have had them all shot!

Nonono. They learned something there. If they do it again, THEN you damn well ought to shoot them. Also, people who are forgiven are usually more loyal to you [:D] .

Great read,

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: Joseignacio

Is there a city under USSR control there?

No, no city, but we are not using Isolated Reorg.

is this game happening now, or already over and being posted in pieces?

It's happening now, so technically this is a play-by-play and not a true AAR. Our aim is to play 1-2 impulses each day. The first day we managed 2 each, I think.

Nonono. They learned something there. If they do it again, THEN you damn well ought to shoot them. Also, people who are forgiven are usually more loyal to you [:D] .

Perhaps. We shall see if they (I) learned anything. Forgiveness wasn't one of thee Nazi strengths, I don't think. Besides, people who are dead can't fail you [:D] . How's that for twisted logic?

[Joseignacio]

Thx.

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: Joseignacio

Thx.

I was just re-reading his post about the 2nd Guard Cavalry, and I may have another problem on my hands. If Orm gets a double move, my Rumanian supply lines and Oil become extremely threatened!

[Red Prince]

Fortunately, the Rumanian III Motorized Corps is waiting to rescue me from my folly, coming in as a reinforcement at the beginning of July.

[composer99]

One little thing the USSR has going for them is that the German bombers are well behind the front, and my reading of the indicators is correct they are also disorganized.

So even if Germany gets a double move they have to bring the bombers up to smash the Soviet formations.

[Centuur]

I don't like the way things are going for the Germans. It's usually better to choose between an assault in north or south, rather then attacking at both fronts. If I look at the number of impulses played, the advance of the Germans is reasonable, but the next turn the airforce needs to be massively rebased, before ground strikes are possible. Also, the HQ's are to far from the frontlines. Personally I think I would first look at eliminating that CAV in Rumania if the turn doesn't end. If it's gone, the lone MTN can be contained by the Hungarian army.
Now, looking from a Russian point of view, things are reasonable (especially looking at how the Germans are operating. Russia still got control of Kiev and of the river line in the south. Leningrad is save, however the Finnish ski division should be stopped, before it will cut more raillines up north. On the whole, the front there is pretty stable now, because the German can't move (if he does, he's OOS).
Also, the front is to large now, since all 4 German/Rumanian HQ's are needed to give all units the needed supply. This is pretty difficult for the German. As the Russian player, I would try to consolidate my positions (since the German airforce is far away) and gain an impulse forcing the Germans to rebase.

[Red Prince]

Just for the record: this is my first ever game vs a real opponent. WiF, MWiF, any of them. Solo beta-testing just doesn't give you practical skills.

[Orm]

The game ended after my impulse on a 40% chance for it to end. Here is a overwiev at the end of the turn.

Germany liberated all 3 Baltic countries.

I built 6 Militia, 4 garrison and 1 infantry army with USSR.

Unfortunately Germany won the initiative and moves first so I feel that my AA unit is doomed.

[Red Prince]

And here's how things look at the beginning of the July/August 1941 turn

I built an Offensive chit, 1 Infantry, 1 Militia, and 2 Pilots for Germany. 1 remaining BP is getting saved for next turn.

It's a little hard to see at this scale, but there are a few minor changes due to reinforcement. I'm going to wait until morning (about 8 hours) before I try to get things moving. When I do, I'll start by telling about some of the noteworthy items (or lack thereof) on the map seen below.

[Red Prince]

I took a good look at the map, and if I had gotten even 1 more impulse in May/June 1941, I would be in a lot better shape..

In the North, my supply situation is very weak, but so are the Soviet defenses. I can use the 2nd Ski Division either to make a dash for one of the three vacant cities to the east, or to cut the rails to both Leningrad and Novgorod. Since none of his reinforcements went to help out Novgorod, I'm going to have to do the latter. An extra benefit here is that This move will allow Mannerheim to switch rail lines later this turn for supply purposes, improving my situation there.

Between Mannerheim and the other HQs in this region, I might manage to outflank the powerful defensive armies built up between Vitebsk and the Pripet Marshes. Again, I've edited this image to show more Flyouts than you can normally have open in the game. I'll definitely be able to take Novgorod next impulse, and I may force the Red Army to weaken its defenses somewhere to protect a new Northern Front.



Picture taken at Action Choice of Axis impulse #1, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

On the Southern Front, the Soviets have reached (but not yet secured) the Dnieper River line. Orm is right -- that sad little AA is toast. And he's left a temptation for me: Kiev. This city is worth 2 Victory Points, and I'm only up to 10 after the first turn. Coincidentally, 10 is the number of Defense factors located in this city. It can be doubled with Ground Support, but it's still a temptation. If I can take it, he'll be forced to transfer some forces North, or else risk having the German Army in position to cross the river soon. It would be easy to take using my O-chit.



Picture taken at Action Choice of Axis impulse #1, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

However, you are all correct in your scorn for my use of the air units I had available last turn. I now have 7 FTR and 10 LND, plus 2 NAV. Only the fighters are in position to be extremely useful. This is why I could have used another impulse last turn; if even a few of my aircraft were closer to the front, then my next decision would be easier. Here's the problem:

• I can't wait up North. To attain my goals, I need to move those units now
• For this long turn, I need my bombers close to the front to hit his ARM
• I have at least 1 HQ on the wrong front, up North
• I didn't get that Panzer group to the front before this turn

So, I guess I'll have to be the tortoise, and not the hare. I'll get some more air support onto the front lines, and save that O-chit for terrorizing the enemy later on.

[Red Prince]

Since I'd rather the Soviet position in Kiev stay as it is, I tried a Ground Strike with the only LND in the area, the Stuka. The MiG-3 patrolling the skies met up with my Bf 109 F-3 and won, forcing my pilot to bail out. Fortunately, the dogfight lasted long enough to let my Stuka through. The MiG, low on fuel, was forced to Abort to Bryansk.


Picture taken during Air-to-Air Combat Digression of Axis Ground Strike, impulse #1, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)