MagicMissile vs Tyrone

[MagicMissile]

January 1942

Again a month without much happening.

The Italian navy sortied with the idea of maybe catch a US transport going across the Atlantic. Sounded good in theory but in practice failed. One British BB sunk but 2 italian ships and one sub goes down too.

The time is approaching but still not sure what my plans are the russians look scary as do the western allies [:)].

[MagicMissile]

February-March 1942

Still nothing goes on. Building up for the storm. Russians retreated a little bit so I will get some hexes for free at least.

[MagicMissile]

April-May

Some action starts and I forget to take a screenshot [:@]. Invasion of Russia begins approaching Minsk and Riga.

Soviet army like 30+ mech units and 27 airunits and they are pressuring Finland which with that airinterdiction might be hard to reinforce.

[tyronec]

German invasion took me by surprise, somehow was expecting the Soviets to get the first move. Anyway, my guys were lined up as intended.
Have scrapped most of the Corps and have Tank corps and the Siberians in the front line. Not too much damage from the first round of attacks.

Have a stack of air units and proceeding to bomb the Finns to bits, 10 kills this turn. Unfortunately it is difficult to get them all close enough to the front so not all of them into action.
Soviets invade Eastern Finland from the sea to an empty port. Hopefully can knock Finland out of the game.

[battlevonwar]

It does appear that the Axis have a much greater chance of winning by waiting rather than traditional Barbarossa. Of course the USSR will be a bit of a beast but is '42-'45 enough time to convert that to a win.

I am not sure where the Russian XP gain is in losses? Probably in the scripts...

[Flaviusx]

That is a BIG Red Air Force, lol.

Looks like the Soviet went mostly mech and air and I am guessing banked lots of points for rifle armies. Which in a 1942 Barbarossa is a pretty good strat.

[Flaviusx]

He should be able to rapidly get that Red Air Force to 50% experience base, too. Thanks to Finnish target practice.

[tyronec]

Think I built about 15 Tank corps, lots of air groups and saved some for Infantry armies.
My first game actually playing Soviets and have certainly not got the balance right.
Will see how things go but waiting till '42 for Barbarossa would not be my strategy.

[Flaviusx]

I think you are doing okay here. I really like the idea of massing the Red Air Force against the Finns. Although finding enough airbases up there is a problem.

You may have to be willing to lose some mech along the way, if only because maintaining so much of it is probably beyond the capacity of the Soviet economy.

[tyronec]

I think you are doing okay here. I really like the idea of massing the Red Air Force against the Finns. Although finding enough airbases up there is a problem.

You may have to be willing to lose some mech along the way, if only because maintaining so much of it is probably beyond the capacity of the Soviet economy.

Yes I got the Air wrong, thought those Tundra hexes up by Murmansk were Clear. Should maybe have build a few airports but too late now. Also more Tacs and less GS.

Will see how the Mech goes, they don't use much oil just defending but once more infantry arrive can disband some of them - that is assuming Axis have not already done the job for me. I need far more Oil than the Soviets produce to support this army but happily the Allies are generous.

[battlevonwar]

tyronec, your opponent isn't in a position to threaten your Russian Convoys? I would imagine that's the only hope for him to stop the flood of resources into the belly of the Red Beast?

Finland = Russian Air Training School?

Why doesn't the Luftwaffe operate there as well?

Excuse me if I am giving anyone ideas either I figure that is okay?

[Flaviusx]

If I were the German, the last thing I'd do here is try to go mano a mano with the Red Air Force. I'd be massing the luftwaffe everywhere else and grab as much real estate as possible in the center and south against no opposition.

The Soviet position up north can be turned in due course once you are pushing on Smolensk. And the really juicy stuff is in Ukraine anyways.

[tyronec]

Germans cross the river by Riga, counterattack with 4 Tank corps that unit should be out of action for a few turns.
Push back an Infantry Corps near Minsk and continue to push into Finland, mostly with Cav units. The Finns are being swamped and simply cannot afford to attack even if the odds were in their favor.

tyronec, your opponent isn't in a position to threaten your Russian Convoys? I would imagine that's the only hope for him to stop the flood of resources into the belly of the Red Beast?

Finland = Russian Air Training School?

Why doesn't the Luftwaffe operate there as well?

Excuse me if I am giving anyone ideas either I figure that is okay?

You can't bomb convoys. Axis can't really risk sending anything to Finland now in case it gets sunk in the process. Comments are welcome, good way to discuss how the game is working.

If I were the German, the last thing I'd do here is try to go mano a mano with the Red Air Force. I'd be massing the luftwaffe everywhere else and grab as much real estate as possible in the center and south against no opposition.

The Soviet position up north can be turned in due course once you are pushing on Smolensk. And the really juicy stuff is in Ukraine anyways.

Will wait a few more turns until the VVS experience is up in the 40s and then look to take on the Luftwaffe, not sure if it will work but that's the plan.
Have no intention of letting them get much further forwards, Riga and Minsk will go - Baltic states, Odessa, maybe up to Kiev...

[tyronec]

Allies invade Denmark, Americans get down to Hamburg. Thought I could Copenhagen but would have taken 2 Corps at least. There are a lot of ports in Denmark, think I should at least be able to hold the river line but probably any incursion past there will get pushed back.
As long as I can hold on could bring the Escort fighters in range of the Luftwaffe on the Soviet front. Short term should bring some Panzers back from the critical few turns for Russia.

[Flaviusx]

How did you get past the minefields?

[tyronec]

Land on the North of Denmark and you disable/capture at least some of them. You can see the track of the first unit.

[Michael T]

Wow, I just assumed the mines would not disable till the following turn. So invasions are even harder to defend against. You can't rely on mines at all. Thanks for posting this. That's a big bullet I can dodge now.

[MagicMissile]

I was equally surprised getting reports of GI Joes walking about in Hamburg [:)]. Ok lesson learnt. I thought mine field were connected to Copenhagen. But now I know if youlose Aarhus the minefiled falls and invasions in the baltic are immediately possible. Well protect your ports I always say. Luckily there were some German units fairly nearby so I hope to contain the worst damage but we will see maybe the war is over by christmas.

[Michael T]

Seems to easy to get past the mines here.

[MagicMissile]

Situation in Denmark/Germany aftermy turn