Best soviet defensive strategy 1941

[Aurelian]

Briansk Front doesn't come into being by losing Kiev. It enters in 8/41.

Losing Kiev transforms Karkhov MD to Southern Ural MD.


Leningrad MD (at start) to Northern Front (6/41) to Leningrad Front (9/41)
„h Volkhov Front (12/41) to 3rd Baltic Front (4/44)
„h Baltic MD (at start) to Northwestern Front (6/41) to 2nd Baltic Front (10/43)
„h Reserve Front (at start) to Kalinin Front (10/41) to 1st Baltic Front (10/43)
„h Karkhov MD to Southern Ural MD (when Kiev is captured)
„h Western MD (at start) to Western Front (6/41) to 3rd Belorussian Front( 4/44)
„h Orel MD (at start) to Bryansk Front (8/41) then disbanded (10/43) then reformed as 2nd Belorussian (2/44)
„h Kiev MD (at start) to Southwestern Front (6/41) to Stalingrad Front (7/42) to Don Front (10/42) to Central Front (2/43) to Belorussian Front (10/43) to 1st Belorussian Front (2/44)
„h Southwestern Front (reformed 10/42) to 3rd Ukrainian Front (10/43)
„h Odessa MD (at start) to Southern Front (6/41) to Southeastern Front (8/42) to Stalingrad Front (10/42) to Southern Front (1/43) to 4th Ukrainian Front(10/43)
„h North Caucasus MD (at start) to Caucasus Front (11/41) to Crimea Front (2/42) to North Caucasus Front (1/43)
„h Transcaucasus MD (at start) to Transcaucasus Front (11/41)
„h Steppe Front (6/43) to 2nd Ukrainian Front (10/43)
„h Voronezh Front (6/42) to 1st Ukrainian Front(10/43)

[randallw]

I also build some fort units along the Finnish stop line, north of Leningrad; that allows a few divisions to be used somewhere else. Other than that, no FZs.

[76mm]

ORIGINAL: randallw
I also build some fort units along the Finnish stop line, north of Leningrad; that allows a few divisions to be used somewhere else. Other than that, no FZs.

Could one of you guys who don't build any FZs please explain why? While I agree that there is no need to overdo it, I really don't see why not to create a fair number of them--maybe 15-20. What else are you spending your AP on?

I rationalize my armies' C&C, replace some leaders, buy a few SU, and still have plenty of AP. The reason I don't replace more leaders is not lack of AP, but lack of good leaders. If it is lack of men, at this stage of the war I would generally rather have two under-strength units than one full strength one...

Sure you don't want to simply waste AP but ultimately until the blizzard I want as many speedbumps as possible in front of the Germans, and that means a fair number of FZs. Why not create some in front of Moscow, for instance?

[Encircled]

Well, I build one on the hex that is vital for holding Leningrad from the south, and three in the three hexes of Moscow.

Thats it

I also try to hold the Finns as long as possible at the top end of the map, I use brigades to hold the no-attack line north of Leningrad.

My AP usage is critical in '41, and I find I don't have enough to spare to do more than that. I do spend a fair bit though on aircraft changes though, which might explain the difference.

I haven't played it for a while though (certainly before the last patch) due to RL pressures (like PBEM, not so keen on playing the AI), so I might change my style when I have a chance to play again.

[Klydon]

ORIGINAL: 76mm

Could one of you guys who don't build any FZs please explain why? While I agree that there is no need to overdo it, I really don't see why not to create a fair number of them--maybe 15-20. What else are you spending your AP on?

I rationalize my armies' C&C, replace some leaders, buy a few SU, and still have plenty of AP. The reason I don't replace more leaders is not lack of AP, but lack of good leaders. If it is lack of men, at this stage of the war I would generally rather have two under-strength units than one full strength one...

Sure you don't want to simply waste AP but ultimately until the blizzard I want as many speedbumps as possible in front of the Germans, and that means a fair number of FZs. Why not create some in front of Moscow, for instance?

I try to do a lot of command work in 1941, getting bad commanders out, good commanders in and try to move units around so things are not so overloaded to a point. I also build a fair number of support units, especially sapper regiments. I also disband some stuff I want in the force pools (motorcycle regiments, threaten FZ's for example).

I also want as many AP's heading into December as I can get for cav corps formation as I consider this unit extremely important to help with the winter offensive. It has mobility and is far harder for the Germans to counterattack than a cav division or tank brigade.

I also want a good pool of points headed into 1942 because I think the hardest part of the game for the Russians as far as AP goes is 1942 until mud sets in during the fall. You need points for tank corps and also to build new units depending on what the Germans are up to.

I guess part of the question is do you want to spend 16 points for a FZ or add 4 more points later and get a tank corps (or a cav corps to use during the winter).

[76mm]

ORIGINAL: Klydon
I guess part of the question is do you want to spend 16 points for a FZ or add 4 more points later and get a tank corps (or a cav corps to use during the winter).

Actually, I agree with you on all of these issues, but generally find that I have enough AP for everything I need in 1941. While I would like to hoard more APs for 1942--when I can use all the AP I can get--I'm generally hard-pressed enough in 1941 that I think building some FZs is an acceptable use of 8 AP (only 16 AP on turn 1) in the early turns.

In my current game, I'm heading into Turn 9 or 10 with about 150 APs and have done most of the FZ-building, commander-transferring, and C&C-fixing that I need to do, so I should have quite a pool of APs heading into 1942. The only thing I don't spend AP on is swapping aircraft.

[swkuh]

Good tips for any side here. doing Ger vs AI, these tips seem to explain AI's behavior.

[randallw]

It takes so long for the troops in the FZ's to get their experience up the real practical use to help build up the fort ( defensive ) level; even then it may take multiple turns of them being undisturbed for their existence to be worthwhile..

[Grungar]

I am rather new at this game but my opinion is fort zones are for static ereas not for stopping the germans. As for strategy..the marsh and kiev are crucial to the overal defense as this creates an extended german flank that can be teased with threats/ its usefull anyway if the german wants a north of marsh strategy. Reds must be carefull that his center is not trashed and rolled up north along the vitebsk pskov line!. Echelon defenses help. Look for rail lines that lead into the flank of a german advance..even small threats to supply can cause trouble with german plans. What a great game.