Nirosi vs Boldairade(Nirosi welcome)

[boldairade]

July 3, 1942

In the far north, the Fins continue to press us back. They seem more interested in an Eastern push towards the railways than a southern move to flank Leningrad. Russian tac bombers continue to pound away at the invaders, who have no fighter cover.

Germany's AGN, freed from poor weather and rested up, smashes what was left of the Daugava line. Its remnants are withdrawn east and southeast, with some formations used to stiffen Konev's new defense line along the Sorot River, and other shattered elements withdrawn to add bulk to Vatutin's central defenses built around Minsk and Mogilev-a sector that is almost completely lacking in formations of any legitimate quality. The Italians are a bit bogged down in the Pripyet.

[boldairade]

July 2, 1942

Southern Front-

This front resembles two heavy weight fighters grappling in the center of the ring-but only one is landing any significant blows. Turn after turn, the Germans overrun and destroy multiple formations, while suffering only minimal step losses. This turn, they push back some of our strongest units north of Vinitsa. This threatens a salient south of that town with encirclement. Even though they are strong units well dug in, we evacuate the triangular salient and pull them behind a ragged screen of battered armor and infantry.

Our one doctrine, if we can be said to have one, is preservation of armored formations. We have lost ungodly amounts of infantry and mech units. But we continue to try and preserve our armor. Even if it means giving up land.

Rokossovsky and Zhukov both agree that a withdrawl to the Dnieper is inevitable. The main thing is, to get there with enough forces to make a legitimate stand.

Only 2 armies are released from Stavka's reserve this turn. In two turns, we will get the 8 Armies we purchased at the outset of Barbarossa. The cupboard will not be bare. We try to remember this when the urge to make pyric stands arises.








Excess rail is available this turn. It is used to transport battered Red Air Force formations well behind the Dneiper.

[boldairade]

The campaign thus far has been one of defeat and retreat for the Russians. Here units in the 5th Guards Army retreat east after hard fighting.

Defeat is better than encirclement.

[boldairade]

July 17, 1942

BOA-2 Axis attacks sink an eye popping 12 MM, only 2 sub hits recorded. Allied fleet cannot pursue the Axis surface group(is Nirosi using oilers?) and ducks into Gibraltar to refuel. We are lucky enough to not get hit, but likely Axis air groups will do their very worst to hit our capital ships next turn. US naval forces are redeployed to eastern England(Newcastle) for a possible op.

Continued heavy losses force additional MM purchasing by UK. The USA launches 3 escorts, more on the way.

US bombers continue minor strikes in occupied France with help from UK Lancaster bombers. Focus switches away from the oil fields to keep hitting Dusseldorf and now Essen. The formations are badly worn down, though, and need a rest.

In Tobruk, things have reached a fever pitch. It would be possible to hook south of Axis formations, but Allied commanders fear loss of supply as much as the enemy. We retain Tobruk this turn, only minor attacks are made, driving back UK II Corps SW of Tobruk.


The Allied fleet goes back into port, knowing what we now know about how extended ground support missions degrading readiness(thank you again, Nirosi). The decision is made to go to the offensive despite this, in an effort to take advantage of the large numbers of Allied formations available. The German LV infantry corps, west of Tobruk is targeted. US VI Corps in Tobruk, with help from the fabled UK WDF Armor Corps, pound away at the German formation. The Germans withstand 6 attacks before finally being overrun on the 7th assault.

This leaves only Rommel's HQ unit preventing a breakthrough along the coast. The US eagerly sends the fresh I US Armor Corps in to overrun the skeleton HQ unit. Rommel's HQ withstands 4 straight attacks by the full US armor corps. One can almost see the Desert Fox in his goggles and duster positioning a few Mark IVs and 88s to repel attack after attack as US Sherman and Stuart tank hulks brew up in front of his ragtag units.

Rommel pulls off a miracle. I corps cannot displace him, and must be withdrawn due to basically becoming combat ineffective. But even Rommel's brilliance cannot compensate for staggering material advantage. As I Corps withdraws, US II Armor Corps moves up. This fresh formation finally overruns Rommel's HQ, and Stuart light tanks roll into the German Aerodromes, shooting up the jagdcorps there. The Allies, for now, will have total air supremacy.

This is perhaps the first time in the war we have been able to maintain force superiority and inflict heavy losses on the Axis. Having absorbed defeat after defeat, the Allied generals and admirals still fear a reversal. But hope is creeping into their formations. That could be a dangerous thing for the Axis.





The Desert Fox lives up to his reputation. But just as in the real conflict, his tactical brilliance cannot compensate for overwhelming Allied numbers.

[boldairade]

July 17, 1942

North Front-Konev's weak infantry cannot hold, even though they are well entrenched along the Sorot. The Germans easily breach the front, pushing across it in two hexes and pushing a full infantry corps even further across. Konev DOES have armor though, and 6th Guards Tank, 7th Tank and supporting infantry maul Germany's III Corps. Still, the bridgehead cannot be contained.

Central Front-The Germans storm Minsk, ejecting a large infantry corps with ease. Minsk was the lynchpin of this line, and the line itself lacks significant geographical features to warrant holding. Russian units make a mass retreat, falling behind the new Berezina River line, while some forces move north to set up in marshy terrain behind the eastern Daugava.

[boldairade]

July 17, 1942

Southern Russian Front

The Axis forces simply will not quit. As you can see here, they attack virtually everywhere, overrunning and shattering many formations. Russian armor launches local counter attacks, forcing back two German infantry corps. But these corps are merely being pushed forward to shield any counter blow from hitting German mech/armor units. We cannot hit those units, and so we cannot reduce their striking power.

While the armored counter attacks are tactically successful, they are on a strategic level a failure. The plan was to preserve the Russian armor for a large, operational level counter attack. Instead they are being thrown in piecemeal to manage critical breakthroughs. Now, the entire southern front sees Russian armor as the front line, not screened by infantry or even a river line. It is as though the very bones of the Russian beast are exposed.










The overall situation on the Eastern Front is approaching critical. Russian casualties are now well over 1100 infantry steps and around 100 air steps. But ever greater than the manpower shortages are now the loss of territory. Time and time again, we have failed to hold well entrenched positions on the rivers. Even for a turn. They are across most major geographical barriers-and it is only mid July. They likely have a minimum of 10 weeks of campaign weather left. Extrapolating that is frightening.

Next turn, however, we get our large amount of infantry reinforcements-8 armies, I believe, plus whatever Stavka releases. We have to find somewhere we can make a stand, even if it is only for a few weeks.

[boldairade]

Stavka had very high hopes for the T34 AFV. But it has failed to turn the tide-or even slow it.

[John B.]

Nice job in Africa! Russia is always a nail biter but you still have units between the Axis and the map edge.

[ncc1701e]

Great AAR, good luck with Russia. Mechanized units seems useless at this stage.

[boldairade]

Thank you gentlemen.

Somehow writing an AAR makes the game seem more real/fun?

[ncc1701e]

Absolutely. [:)]

[boldairade]

July 31, 1942

BOA-The Germans lay off this turn, repositioning subs and moving their surface fleet toward the N Atlantic trade route. They are almost certainly using oilers, as they are not refueling. No air assault is launched vs the UK fleet in Gibralter. The fleet is pulled out and rebased in S England in an attempt to stay near the German surface threat. Only 1 MM sunk.

In Africa, the Germans pull back to Bengazi. The Allies think long and hard about moving the fleet out and attempting to take the port. But the fleet is not recovered, and we only have one unit that MIGHT be able to make it into the port IF we can displace the Italian forces there.

In the end, it is just too many risks. We instead displace Italian infantry east of the port, but without mobile troops close enough, we cannot occupy the hex. We move up many forces however, so that if the Axis tries to make a stand next turn, we can launch a set piece attack.




US bombers go all out, pounding the rubble in Dusseldorf and smashing Essen. These German industrial areas are not going to be contributing to the Reich for awhile. German fighters are losing their ability to engage with our escorts fighters. I Jagdcorps only attempts one interception and loses 6 steps.

[boldairade]

July 31, 1942

East Front North(Konev)

The line on the Sorot is entirely breached, and the Germans manage to surround an Army while overrunning several rifle corps. It likely would be possible to open supply to it, but it would expose the two armor groups here to encirclement as well. Reluctantly we abandon the army group and fall back yet again, this time to a line from Leningrad to Novgorod. But there are less forces every time to build a line, and less time to entrench. This front is very close to being lost.


In Finland, the Fins and Germans continue to press us, but no serious breakthroughs.

[boldairade]

July 31, 1942

East Front Center(Vatutin)

Vatutin is trying to build a line from Velikie Luki to Mogilev and then extend it SE along the Berezina. The Infantry is above average, but a total lack of armor means we have no ability to counter punch. The Germans too are predominantly infantry. This front is not strong, but we do not seem to be in critical danger.

[boldairade]

July 31 1942

East Front-South(Zhukov/Rokossovsky)

We have been actively counter attacking here, trying to make the Germans pay for their gains. This was a mistake.

At the conclusion of last turn, we felt decent about this front, though we were concerned about how exposed the armor was. The Germans take advantage of this. The Germans go hard after 4th Tank corps, hammering it from the air and smashing it from different angles. The formation holds up through several battles, but is ultimately overrun. This allows the encirclement of 1st Siberian Armor, by far the best formation in the Red Army. In one battle, this formation surrenders(pretty disappointing).

Overall, Russian losses this turn include the destruction of 5 corps, an infantry army, another army encircled and the loss of these two Tank corps, including our best formation. It's too much. At this point, the Germans should be wearing down, and Russian losses should be measured in terms of steps, not shattered formations. Certainly not the best formations in the Red Army.

I attribute this solely to my mishandling of the Russian forces. I probably should have cashed out all the Rifle Corps, and I should have retreated en masse last turn in the south. I had hoped to have this turn to set up a solid defense line on the Dneiper with all the reinforcements, then retreat behind them with the armor and try to make a stand. Instead, I lose some of the best formations I had, cannot pull back across the river with some formations due to ZOC, and now deploy the new infantry not in a solid line, but in a haphazard and disorganized fashion.

I do not know if this front is lost or not. We are VERY vulnerable NW of Krivoi Rog, where we cannot get across the river. If we suffer losses similar to this turn next turn, I am very pessimistic. The line along the Dneiper, which we had hoped would be solid, will now likely be no more of an obstacle than any of our other 'lines'. In fact, without entrenchment, it will likely be even less effective.

[ncc1701e]

How many reserved infantry army left?

[John B.]

Glad to see the US bombers putting some pain on the Germans. Anything to help the Russians out in their first summer against the Germans is a plus.

[boldairade]

August 14, 1942

BOA-The Kreigsmarine is back-in a big way. 5 convoy attacks, including German surface fleet raiding the Arctic Convoy to Russia. 15 MM go down and an escort. Only 4 sub hits. We are simply at a loss as to what to do. Even with new escort tech, an anti sub heavy bomber and 10 escorts in lanes, our losses are appalling. The costs in PP to keep up our MM fleet and escort fleets is incredibly heavy, yet we cannot deal ANY significant damage to the German fleets. Still, not one Axis ship has been sunk.

US bomber forces keep up the pressure in Germany. The Germans have withdrawn their fighters, but more AA guns are appearing. Minor raids keep Dusseldorf and Essen down, while Hamburg is also hit hard this turn.

In Africa, the Axis forces abandon Benghazi to flee south. Much like last turn, we vacillate as to what to do. Pursue? Consolidate? We consider a conservative pursuit, but ultimately junk it. Instead, US 2nd Armor moves forward and attacks the 10th Italian Fortress Corps, overrunning it(with Naval support). Infantry units surge forward, along with WDF to support. In an effort to further entrap Axis forces, the US First Marine Division is landed south of our armored push. I do not know if this is smart or incredibly stupid. But I DO know that a chance to bag this many Axis troops is unlikely to present itself again.

[boldairade]

ORIGINAL: ncc1701e

How many reserved infantry army left?

2 this turn, only 3 more forming. i'm in big trouble. and it will be worse in the spring.

[boldairade]

August 14, 1942

Norway-Operation Swordfish

This Op should have occurred 8 weeks ago, but we could not pry our surface ships away from the BOA. Had I been able to figure out there was only a weak division defending Stravanger I could have launched it with minimal support. However, I was unwilling to roll the dice.

In any case, the landings go well, and we easily take the port. Follow up troops are embarked and railed to port. This will be a major effort to deprive Germany of the economic benefit of Norway as well as her ports.

The problem is, with this late start, it is unlikely we will be able to get far before foul weather arrives.