Helio's Axis AAR (v Cannonfodder Soviet)

[heliodorus04]

In the very loosely defended center, Manstein shows up in an infantry corps HQ in 18.Army (of AGN!). Basically my 18.Army and 4.Panzer Group elements up in Leningrad are on their own.

[heliodorus04]

Between the corps from 3.Panzer Group, and the new ‘panzer’ corps Manstein commands, I chased off quite a few good divisions and caused retreat losses on a lot of fresh artillery SUs. He clearly had some strength here, and now it’s been shaved a little bit. As the turn went on, I have become a little more confident that all the units I’ve destroyed are having an impact on his standing army. But who knows if he has 5 armies on rail just ready to come in during Blizzard.

My main line of resistance did not need to move this turn (4.Army, basically) and can continue to dig, as can the minors in the secondary defenses. Some new forts go up, perhaps too far back, but those are higher population towns, and that also serves as a landmark for me. That will be a staging area if necessary (whether it’s for retreat or reinforcement, who knows).

[heliodorus04]

And the south, where I had a very good turn:

[heliodorus04]

By stroke of luck I managed to take the port in the south, which was held by a very strong mountain division in a level 2 fort. It was no match for SS Wiking and a Heer division in deliberate attack. I can’t hold it, which is unfortunate as it will mean the divisions in the pocket route rather than surrender, but I’ll get half of them. And route was the result I was going for when I outlined this last turn, so I have to be satisfied with achieving my objective. I beat the hell out of units he was definitely anticipating to attack with. Proud of myself here. Again, I see a lot of weak units east of the tri-city area, and brigades. East of Kharkov, it’s as if he’s already preparing Spring forts (oh how I would hope).

Next turn, everyone heads west, whipping up on as many Soviet divisions as we can, and I can’t see why that won’t be all of them. I want to force them to route (and surrender, where applicable).

The crimea scares me still, and I’m sending an infantry corps of 11.Army down, but it won’t be there before the second turn of the blizzard, and it’s going to be caught in the open on the first, more than likely… But right now I’m relying on Romanians to hold the eastern reaches, and that’s a recipe for disaster. Three more German divisions and a corps on the way.
That is more or less the turn. All turn long, I have heard the patronly advice of ComradeP warning me that delays to attack Russians mean getting caught in the open, possibly, as Blizzard hits. I’ll probably have some mobile elements that make it, and some that do not, to safer cover. But the Soviets will be punished. And then we’ll continue with preparing winter quarters.

My hope is that he’s as short on units as he looks. Aside from the power stacks around Moscow, particularly from Voronezh south, I’m not seeing large concentrations of units. But who knows how much he can rail. I continue to see the reserves far east of Moscow, and I can’t imagine they are brigades, since I see so many brigades around the Donbas. That is more than likely the super strong Siberian units that trickle in early, and guards.

[Hermann]

you dont need to take the port it should be 100% damaged he cant use it the turn he retakes so he should surrender. if not its a bug

[ComradeP]

Osipenko's only a level 1 port, so I believe it should be busted with any kind of damage (if the Soviets own it: higher damage than 3%).

Besides, there's now a 1 turn delay before ports can be used as supply sources after their capture (and he needs to recapture the place) I believe, so those 10 units should be toast.

I tend to move the Romanians to Romania in the last clear turns, so they don't use valuable space in cities during the blizzard. You'll have to be creative with where you place your mobile units.

Also keep in mind that even though minor Axis mountain unit CV's double during the blizzard, they're still suffering from the lack of replacements that all units suffer from during the winter, so keep an eye on their TOE% if you use them at the frontline.