Tyrone (Axis) vs Cohen

[tyronec]

Mud so not much happening.
Just take Riga.

[Flaviusx]

I think you pretty much need to defend most of the actual border until at least May to discourage these mud offensives.

[AlbertN]

More troops get encircled that way - already suffered two pockets of troops as after rain the weather turned clear.
I definitely understimated the punching power Germans can have on a 1 on 1 hex with a riverline. But I desume that also can be imputed to airpower.

[tyronec]

CLEAR turn so make good progress.
Two pockets of two Mech. each and Shatter a few units.

I definitely understimated the punching power Germans can have on a 1 on 1 hex with a riverline. But I desume that also can be imputed to airpower.

Get two or three Axis units making several attacks, backed up by air power, and there is no problem getting across a river. Then the way the game system works can usually follow up a hex or two.

Am not sure what I make of a Soviet army of low quality Mech units and lots of Cavalry, it is really not that difficult to break through and by the time the infantry armies arrive am thinking there will not be enough of them to construct a really solid line. The Soviets are tough to play.

[Flaviusx]

It's a choice of evils here, and better to lose some cheap and expendable units to slow the Axis down than to be up against the Dnpepr in June.

With mud intermixed here and reserves arriving, the Soviet can reconstitute the line without giving up too much ground too quickly.

I don't know what your build order is, but my own relies on lots of cavalry spam. 40 or more corps, no joke. It's enough to cover the frontier (or most of it) and still have a second line.

That said, I don't know if there is any good answer for a lack of allied lend lease. The UK is going to be very hard pressed to help the Sovs.

[AlbertN]

My build is a mix of armor / mech and cavs.

Not sure if it works though - tried this time to add some fighters but they do not seem to do the trick. Idea was to mass them, so that at some point they were to hit unescorted bombers. It has not truly worked out though and a good portion of fighters got overran already!

[battlevonwar]

Having faced a ton of Barbarossas, not on the receiving end till now:

I found that Armor/Mechs worked pretty good for the short duration. The issue here that they die and the Russians cannot replace them so if it's a strong Barbie the Soviets have to give up a lot of real-estate. RifleCorps? They can be 1 shot like a Neutral infantry division...Not sure that's wise as though you gain experience you lose a lot in the trade and the Axis gain free Experience too. Cavalry fight better but cost more and boy you will need a lot of Cavalry to do the job of a cheap unit. You want 9-8-5 Generals across the board for Germany in 2 months after they kill 35 RifleCorps? (have busted thru' the riflecorp defense line in weeks leaving nothing left alive with literally truck boost less casualties than Poland)

I find that if the Allies can take out 300 land casualties in France, 150 Air that Barbarossa will be helped. If the Allies can also pressure Greece and France by November the Soviets maybe have a chance?

That and unfortunate bad weather? Key is trading land for time without losing 'everything', bad weather and by Winter of '41-'42 having a strong Western Offensive to draw off a few Panzer Corps. Maybe this is the only hope the Allies have of surviving till Summer of '42...

[Flaviusx]

The easiest way to buff the Sovs imo would be to raise the experience levels of the pre Finnish War Red Army to 30% across the board. I think starting so many of these units at 20% experience is an exaggeration. They were bad, but not so bad as that. It would also discourage disbanding trickery, at least for me. I'd probably keep all those rifle corps at 30%.

[AlbertN]

I think the 'issue' is their cost - on the experience I am not entirely sold, but neither against it. A gradual approach to 25 experience could be better and see how it goes.
BUT they cost 180 at 39 tech.
I feel they should cost 120 instead. Less worthy to disband them - but also easier to upgrade, replace in terms of losses, etc.

[battlevonwar]

If the Axis arrive at Barbarossa strong as they are here it's not a true judge of Axis Strength vs Soviet Strength.

Cohen you've pushed back my weak Axis from the Soviet Hinter Land. Any alteration that would balance two even opponents a bit more would be nice. Though the current Meta can allow the Soviets to hold their Rivelines way longer than they could historically. tyronec is way stronger than he should be so this is a poor judge.

I imagine the advantage the Axis have is highly dependent on weather and what the Allies are up to and the future rules that govern their amphibious abilities in '41.

As it stands here Moscow will fall in October or earlier...maybe had the Axis lost 400 strength points(all over) that might be November? I would like to see a more realistic junk unit aside cavalry though.

[Flaviusx]

The cost point is a good one and in fact a lot of reason I switch over to cav corps because they are more effective. Not quite a 1-1 swap, but close enough. The rifle corps are very pricey for what they do and not worth building even at 35% experience.

[tyronec]

Mud in the South so just get the pocket in the North cleared.

Sub war is petering out, am taking some losses from escorts now and think the Allies are beginning to gain the upper hand. MM down to 50 and think I should be able to keep the Pacific convoy route closed for the time being but the Atlantic one is getting costly to attack.

[tyronec]

Summer at last.
Pushing hard North, Center and South.

[tyronec]

My lead Panzer in the center got killed, careless by me forgetting to put it on hold.
Otherwise make good progress in the South and working around Leningrad.

[tyronec]

Cohen pulled off a good move in the center and cut off 11 of my my lead with a couple of Cav. corps - hadn't thought of this tactic in Warplan but it is a good move. Stalls my advance for two moves for the cost of two cav at most, a good exchange.

In the South do some damage and shatter a few units and a leader.

[tyronec]

The center is stabalised.

Good progress continues down South.

Ready to assault Leningrad.

Subs have sortied again and getting around 10 MM a turn, so worth the losses.

[battlevonwar]

Looks like Axis are aiming for the Caucasus.

[tyronec]

Looks like Axis are aiming for the Caucasus

If Axis get the Soviet oil the game is definitely over.

Quiet move in Russia, both sides are getting ready for the battle for Moscow.
Allies land in Netherlands.

[battlevonwar]

I don't see enough Russian units to cover the entire front. Something has to give! Soon...

[AlvaroSousa]

You 100% have to send the BEF to France. It makes a huge impact on the game.