No Time To Die - Multiplayer 1941 Campaign (No Early End)

[Darojax]

Greetings.

This will be the AAR thread for the recently started "No Time To Die" Multiplayer game between the following players:

AXIS
Chief of Staff - SparkleTits
Air - SparkleTits
AGN - SparkleTits
AGC - fracas
AGS - vspb

SOVIET
Chief of Staff - Darojax
Air - Shaggy
North - Jango
Center - Beethoven
South - Alexey

_____________________

Former team commanders:
T1-T31 Soviet: Belgavox
T1-T31 Soviet: Erzac
T1-T34 Axis: Zebtucker
T1-T34 Axis: M60A3TTS
T1-T35 Axis: Hardradi


The AAR will only include information that is readily available to both teams, so everyone is welcome to view and comment.
This also means there will be no information about unit locations etc, unless it is already known to both sides.

If you have requests for information about the game that is available to both sides, feel free to ask and it will be provided.

Hope you will enjoy!

[Darojax]

T1 - Barbarossa Begins

The Axis rush towards the east, managing two firmly sealed pockets, north and center, trapping many Soviet units.
A third pocket is just about sealed in the south, but a pass through the mountains remain. Riga, Minsk, Lvov;
all fall to the Axis warhammer, while the Soviets conduct sporadic counter-attacks, mostly fruitless, but some success is found.

T1 Map and Battle Highlights





T1 Numbers





T1 Graphs

[EwaldvonKleist]

Good luck with the team game and may it last long! And you got a number of experienced team-wargamers on the board as well.
I believe it is always more interesting to see the units on the map, even if this means that the AAR must be posted with delay.

[Seminole]

Agreed on seeing formations, but the overview map is beautiful nonetheless.

[HardLuckYetAgain]

I believe the "Strategic" map overview without units is perfect. Darojax did an awesome job compared to someone like me that uses crayons for markup. When you get into the tactical aspect then by all means add the units which I believe EwaldvonKleist & Seminole are correct and adds that added flavor to the writeup. But for me that Strategic Overview without units is "perfect"! Awesome job Darojax.

[Darojax]

T2 - RAPID ADVANCES

Barbarossa continues.

The Axis reach as far as Parnu in the north,
cross the Sorot river south of Pskov,
while taking Mogilev and crossing the river Dnepr in the center.

The initial southern pocket is sealed as any hopes for more soviet units escaping fades,
while an additional pocket is formed north east of Lvov. All attempts at breaking it fail.

Despite brave sporadic counterattacks, the Axis juggernaut advances with impunity across the front.

T2 Map and Battle Highlights



T2 Numbers



T2 Graphs

[Darojax]

T3 - Early July 1941

In the south the Axis continue the advance on a broad front, despite valiant Soviet resistance.

In the north and center there is a sudden pause in the onslaught, giving the Soviets time to reorganize and reinforce.




Battle highlights in the south







T3 Numbers




T3 Graphs

[Beethoven1]

Was T3 played on the new patch or the old one?

[Darojax]

T3 was played on old patch, T4 will be played on latest beta.

[Darojax]

T4 - Mid July 1941

Two attacking thrusts break through the soviet defensive lines:

One in the south-center, threatening Gomel.




In the north the 1st Mechanized Corps stands in the way of the invaders, and a huge tank battle ensues.
In the end over 600 tanks are destroyed, and the Soviets are routed. Pskov falls; the Wehrmacht continues its advance towards Leningrad.




Otherwise, along most of the front, the Axis advance without much resistance and halts just before reaching Soviet defense lines.




T4 Graphs




T4 Numbers

[Jango32]

Looks like the Luga line has been reached.

[Darojax]

T5 - Late July 1941





In the North the Axis continue their advance towards Leningrad. The XXXXI Motorized corps takes Novgorod as more and more Soviet reinforcements arrive in the sector.




In the center, the Axis halt in front of Smolensk, allowing for more reinforcements to catch up from the rear.

In the south the advance continues, largely unopposed. Odessa falls, while the Hungarians experience a sudden Red Army counterattack.






T5 Graphs




T5 Numbers

[jubjub]

T5 - Late July 1941

Woah, that animation is so cool. I need to start doing that.

[Darojax]

Due to me upgrading to a new computer there were no AARs the last couple of turns. Had some issues with the new hardware, but everything seems to work as it should now.
And my new computer is a beast managing to compile the Soviet end turn in under a minute! :O (Used to be 3 and a half ^^)


T8 - 10th-16th August 1941

NORTH
The Axis forces are slowly grinding towards the north, creating elbow room, threatening to cut off Leningrad.
Soviet resistance is fierce, but the Axis press on.

CENTER
Two breakthroughs almost seal a huge pocket, but the Soviets fight desperately, trading lives for time and manage to escape.
The south pincer spearhead is briefly cut off as Soviet 5th Army Mechanized units counterattack, forcing the German 1st Regiment of the 29th Motorized Division to retreat.
Smolensk is surrounded, and a massive Soviet airbridge delivers 1500 tonnes of supplies to the city.

SOUTH - The 1st Panzer Group decisively punches through the Soviet defensive lines, forcing a hurried mass retreat across the entire sector.
The Soviets counterattack at opportunity, again delivering a blow against the 1st Rumanian Armored Division.

[Darojax]

T10 - 24th-31st August 1941

NORTH
The Axis slow grind continues, advancing 10 miles per week.

CENTER
A thousand Soviet tanks counterattack and for the second week in a row the axis northern pincer is cut off, disrupting supplies. But Moscow is not far away.

SOUTH
On the plains of Kharkov the battles rage fiercely. Many soviet soldiers fall, but a german panzer division is routed.

[AlbertN]

I am ever impressed when I see a Panzer Division routed in '41.
But at the same time ... Tula / Kaluga by turn 10? That is impressive as well if not astonishing!

[Beethoven1]

ORIGINAL: AlbertN

I am ever impressed when I see a Panzer Division routed in '41.
But at the same time ... Tula / Kaluga by turn 10? That is impressive as well if not astonishing!

It is not surprising. Any Soviet victory, in that case, would have been a rout. If a unit is surrounded and has no other hex to retreat to, then it automatically routs if it loses a battle. This is for all practical purposes the only way that German Panzer divisions can (and do) rout in 1941. You can tell that is the case here from the screenshot showing the neighboring hexes all converted. In your AAR when you posted about a Panzer division routing, the screenshot is less clear, but I would venture to guess that the reason your Panzers routed was also that they were surrounded and had no hex to retreat to.

If you don't want that to happen in the future, try to avoid getting your Panzer divisions into situations where they can be too easily surrounded without at least 1 other hex to retreat to if they get attacked. Easier said than done, but if you are aware of how it happens you can take some precautions and know what to watch out for.

[Gunnulf]

Some masterful screenshot, zoom in to the action going on here. Lovingly crafted together.

[Darojax]

T11 - 31st August-6th September 1941

NORTH
4th Panzer Group turns directly towards Leningrad, seemingly unstoppable.

CENTER
Chaos is prevalent. A game of cat and mouse, of who can cut off who has been going on for the last couple of weeks. Currently the 19.PzD is isolated, but will it last? If nothing else, the chaos has bought the Soviets time and stalled the quick advance on Moscow.

150 miles south the Soviets manage to temporarilty break a pocket formed around the city of Orel.

SOUTH
1st Panzer Group pushes on across the plains of Ukraine, attacking major cities as she goes. Dnepropetrovsk falls, Kharkov resists.



T11 MAP
(only units in direct contact with the enemy are shown on the map)




T11 GRAPHS




T11 NUMBERS

[loki100]

continues to be an impressive performance by the axis team, the Soviets must be hoping for the autumn rains