Death ride of the Wehrmacht (no guctony please)

[CapAndGown]

August 3, 1941

A month has passed since the start of our invasion of the Soviet Union. On the whole OKH is pleased, though there are some rumblings of dissent, questioning why they have not given up yet. After all, the whole rotten system was supposed to come crashing down like a house of cards once we kicked the door in.

Maybe that crash will happen soon now that we have captured both Smolensk and Kiev. If not, we are prepared to drive ever further into this endless land until the Russians finally admit they are defeated!

Besides the fall of Kiev and Smolensk, nothing much of note happened this turn. Infantry pushed forward while Panzer Groups 1, 2,& 3 all took the week off. In the north Panzer Guppe 4 helped with the offensive towards Leningrad, but the going is slow there due to the poor terrain.

[CapAndGown]

August 10, 1941

The terrain on the approaches to Leningrad is a defender's dream. Our progress here is quite slow. The only positive is that the Narva is open and between it and our main line there are just light woods and light woods stretching up to the hills just south of Leningrad. The Soviets are seem to be throwing everything they have into this sector. While that sucks for AGN, it opens up possibilities in other sections of the front.

The Soviets set up naval interdiction of Talinn. Good move in general, but since that port would not become active until next turn, they tipped their hand a bit early. I moved in the Croatian BF-109s to Talinn to contest this.

[CapAndGown]

Last turn PzG 1, 2 & 3 all rested as the infantry marched forward. This turn they were unleashed.

PzG 2 & 3 moved to form a pocket around Bryansk. The pocket was not closed, but Russian defenses in the center are seriously compromised now. There simply do not appear to be many Russians defenders between Spas-Demansk and Dnepropetrovsk. The Steppe seems pretty wide open while the Soviets concentrate on defending the approaches to Leningrad and Moscow.

The rail line to Smolensk has been repaired and I left the FBD in that hex with the intention of turning into a "super-depot" for one turn. That will be my first "super-depot". Let's see what it does. Meanwhile, Unecha was turned into a depot this turn. I am still more interested in getting depots as close to the front as possible to save on trucks.

[CapAndGown]

The thinness of Soviet forces north of Dnepropetrovsk became evident this turn. I was going to set up a regimental defense with my infantry south of the Dnerp stretching all the way to Dnepropetrovsk but then saw a very weak tank division defending a hex to the north of the river and no enemy unit directly to its east. After easily knocking aside this division with a hasty attack across the river I decided to send PzG 1 directly east to form a small encirclement of the divisions along the north side of the Dnepr between Kremenchug and Dnepropetrovsk. I was initially thinking PzG 1 would be heading towards Poltava and Kharkov, but this opportunity to get rid of some of the strong Soviet mobile divisions looked very inviting.

[CapAndGown]

The Soviets set up a naval interdiction of Odessa and bombed the crap out of the port. However, their interdiction is no longer showing up. Perhaps because I captured Kherson and that was where they planes were based? At any rate, I moved in a Jagdgeshwaeder to put a stop to that nonsense. Now to get across the Dnepr and into the Crimea!

[CapAndGown]

Aug. 17, 1941

Not much to report this turn. PzA 1, 2 & 3 rested for the week. Most Soviet units in the pocket around Bryansk managed to escape. Rail line will be at Bryansk next turn.

Denpropetrovsk was abandoned. One unit was left behind in Zaparozhe. The lower Dnepr line was also abandoned as the Soviets retreat into the Crimea. Depot established at Cherkassy. Kirovograd will become a depot next turn, then it is on to Dnerpropetrovsk.

We made a little progress around Leningrad. 4 Army was taken off assault status and 16 Army was moved to assault status instead.

Having 2 double track lines into Minsk did not seem to make a difference. Nevertheless, the rail line from Minsk to Orsha will be completed next turn and then that FBD will be railed back to Pskov where it will build out the rail line to Luga for a more advanced depot. After that I am thinking that FBD will be railed down to the Ukraine to help with the rail situation there. The FBD at Smolensk did not move this turn meaning Smolensk will be a super depot next turn. I will be curious to see how that works out. I am still more interested in moving the rail heads closer to the front to save on trucks than on having enormous supply bases far from the action. I think that FBD will then fix the line from Vitebsk to Velikiye Luki.

[CapAndGown]

August 24, 1941 - start of turn

So I got to see the effects of my super depot at Smolensk. It was nice to see it drag a lot of supply forward, but I would suggest these are only useful for an area where the front is relatively close and fairly stable. Also consider the terrain. A super depot in the middle of the Valdai Hills would waste a lot of trucks as they paid high MP costs to get the supplies to units.

For instance, as you can see below, PzG 2 drew its supplies from Smolensk rather than Unecha which is closer. So they are all short on trucks, reducing their movement points. This turn the FBD is at Bryansk and I will use that as a super depot. My thinking here is that Orel looks like it may take two turns to capture, so trying to get the rail line there next turn would not work. So since the FBD has to wait anyway, why not super depot the place?

My rail line to Vitebsk-Smolensk finally went yellow, indicating the super depot used up a good deal of the capacity. That is good! I wonder what would have happened, though, if I had already completed the line from Minsk to Orsha? Would the line leading into Vitebsk be green, while the line from Orsha to Smolensk be yellow? Anyway, I am hoping that having multiple double track lines leading to a section of the front is a good thing.

[CapAndGown]

The soviets had ground support on this turn, at least for the Leningrad front. The results were not pretty, particularly for the VVS. I did have one group of Stukas go in without escorts. That hurt. I suspect the 109s were so worn down that they didn't fly due to my requirement of having at least 30% available to fly requirement.

Still: CARNAGE!

[CapAndGown]

My opponent implemented an interesting tactic in front of Leningrad this turn. He launched a series of deliberate attacks on my front line units, especially the mobile divisions. The attacks were practically guaranteed to fail, yet they drained off movement points and CPP (at least I think they effected CPP).

As far as casualties, the totals for the attacks pictured are:
Germans
Men: 671
Guns: 36
AFV: 9
Soviets
Men: 3677
Guns: 45
AFV: 34

The one attack by the isolated unit cost 522 men, so that might be skewing the numbers somewhat. As far as men, the Soviets lost 5 times as many men, but lost only about 30% more guns. Of course, I have no idea how many elements were damaged, though I image it was quite a few, though not enough to deter further attacks.

I am not sure about this tactic, but it is very, very historical. The Soviets launched many counter attacks that utterly failed, but they did cause the Germans quite a bit of grief. So I am kind of hoping that this is a viable tactic on the part of the Soviets.

Also pictured below is the Leningrad area after movement. As you can see, I pulled my mobile units out of the front line so they could rest.

[CapAndGown]

Polyushka, Polye!
Polyushka, shirokoye Polye!
Yedut po polye geroyi,
Ech da nasha kransnoy armi geroyi!

Wait, wrong language. [:D] (If you have not heard the song, here is a link to a version of it.)

We have left the swamps and forests of the Desna and Dnepr behind and are now out on the open steppe. The Soviets have almost nothing here. Their troops are massed in front of Leningrad and probably Moscow, leaving everything else open. If they are going to give it to us, we are going to take it. Will the Donbas be defended in strength? We shall see.

Note: the fonts for city names are criminally small, so I added them to the illustration below.

[CapAndGown]

Not sure if these numbers are good or not.

[Elessar2]

ORIGINAL: CapAndGown

Note: the fonts for city names are criminally small, so I added them to the illustration below.

That would seem to be something easily moddable hint hint to the modders out there.

[DeletedUser1769703214]

ORIGINAL: CapAndGown

Not sure if these numbers are good or not.

These number are within parameters for turn 10.

[CapAndGown]

Sept. 14, 1941

I have given up on my plans around Leningrad and am pulling back to set up a defensive line. I had hoped to go around the rough terrain south of the city, through the light woods and clear terrain and encircle the units holding the hills. On looking over the CVs of my forward divisions, however, I decided that this plan would not succeed and so I ordered a pull back.

[CapAndGown]

To my surprise, my opponent simply abandoned the Donbas and Voronezh rather than put up a fight. Last turn I had cut the double track line to the Donbas coming down from the north, meaning this region would have to rely on just three single track lines for its supply. This was meant to make my assault easier. Yet nothing could be easier than just walking in and taking the place.

When I remarked on how surprised I was, my opponent replied: "The sooner the better. As you are force transferring my industry faster to the east."

I have strongly objected to taking away most player control of industry evacuation. It means the Soviets have no control over what to save and when to save it. It also means the Germans have little incentive to go after truly strategic objectives rather than just playing for points. I recognize that it is way too late to change anything in this regard, but I feel this design choice really has taken WitE in the wrong direction.

Nor do I necessarily agree with my opponent's cavalier attitude towards losing these cities. They still represent population centers that provide (provided in this case) manpower for the Red Army. Now they are off the table. So, for instance, Voronezh represented (taking into account migrations) 429 manpower per turn, while Stalino represented 528 manpower per turn. You combine this with Kursk, Orel, and Kharkov, along with all the other usual suspects, and you are talking some serious manpower losses.

[carlkay58]

The idea about the evacuations is that it WOULD have occurred historically if it had been needed. It also precludes an Axis drive to destroy the only factory for a type of aircraft or tank. Historically the Soviets would have rebuilt the factory from scratch. What does happen in WitE2 is that every factory that is moved is delayed a specific number of turns. If it is captured earlier than it was historically moved it is not only delayed longer it also accrues damage. The repair of this damage consumes resources which represents rebuilding the factory from scratch. When you end up with factories with 100% damage and a delay of 120 turns you have pretty much lost the use of the factory. I had this happen with a factory from Leningrad when it fell to HYLA on turn 10.

[CapAndGown]

ORIGINAL: carlkay58

The idea about the evacuations is that it WOULD have occurred historically if it had been needed. It also precludes an Axis drive to destroy the only factory for a type of aircraft or tank. Historically the Soviets would have rebuilt the factory from scratch. What does happen in WitE2 is that every factory that is moved is delayed a specific number of turns. If it is captured earlier than it was historically moved it is not only delayed longer it also accrues damage. The repair of this damage consumes resources which represents rebuilding the factory from scratch. When you end up with factories with 100% damage and a delay of 120 turns you have pretty much lost the use of the factory. I had this happen with a factory from Leningrad when it fell to HYLA on turn 10.

"WOULD have occured" That is the passive voice. Later you say "the Soviets would have." Active voice. And just who are the Soviets? The player. Yet the player has almost no control over evacuating armaments and absolutely no control over heavy industry or vehicles.

I agree the Soviets would have taken some design they liked and built a new factory to produce it regardless of losing the factory that was originally making it. Such an option could have been added to the WitE1 system.

I simply don't like the lack of strategic incentives the Soviets have for defending certain locations, such as the Donbas.

[CapAndGown]

Sept. 21, 1941

The Soviets abandon their positions at the Perekop isthmus.

After some consideration I have decided I will not even bother worrying about Sevastopol this year. I will probably leave a German corps to siege the city through the winter while the Rumanians screen the Kerch Peninsula. Most of the rest of 12 Army will be pulled out to strengthen the main front between the Rostov and Leningrad. I prefer to have whole divisions (if possible) defending up and down the front rather than 1-2 regiments.

[CapAndGown]

Last turn I transported two panzer divisions to the front from Germany. That put a lot of stress on the rail lines leading to Minsk, which in turn reduced capacity going to Smolensk and Orel. As a result, depots very far back from the front were used to transport supplies to the front. For instance, Gomel became a major source of supply, even though Bryansk and Orel were closer. As a result, my truck pool is trashed and my "vehicles in units" numbers are too, too low. Plus, supply deliveries were well below what was needed.

Oh well, such it the price of moving Panzer divisions by rail.

More mortifying is that I just noticed that I missed converting the rail hex northeast of Dnerpopetrovsk on my way to Kharkov and Stalino. Well, I guess the FBD that is one hex shy of Stalino will have to back track and fix that situation (after repairing the rail into Stalino itself). Meanwhile the FBD north of Kharkov will continue on to Kursk where it will complete the rail connection coming down from Orel. Meanwhile, another FBD is heading to Voronezh and the fourth FBD works its way east from Smolensk.

[carlkay58]

quote:

ORIGINAL: carlkay58

The idea about the evacuations is that it WOULD have occurred historically if it had been needed. It also precludes an Axis drive to destroy the only factory for a type of aircraft or tank. Historically the Soviets would have rebuilt the factory from scratch. What does happen in WitE2 is that every factory that is moved is delayed a specific number of turns. If it is captured earlier than it was historically moved it is not only delayed longer it also accrues damage. The repair of this damage consumes resources which represents rebuilding the factory from scratch. When you end up with factories with 100% damage and a delay of 120 turns you have pretty much lost the use of the factory. I had this happen with a factory from Leningrad when it fell to HYLA on turn 10.


"WOULD have occured" That is the passive voice. Later you say "the Soviets would have." Active voice. And just who are the Soviets? The player. Yet the player has almost no control over evacuating armaments and absolutely no control over heavy industry or vehicles.

I agree the Soviets would have taken some design they liked and built a new factory to produce it regardless of losing the factory that was originally making it. Such an option could have been added to the WitE1 system.

I simply don't like the lack of strategic incentives the Soviets have for defending certain locations, such as the Donbas.

But there is a penalty for withdrawing too fast. The Delay time for the factory is increased and the damage will have to be repaired for a cost of resources - both engineers and stores - that could have been used on other things.