Nirosi vs Boldairade(Nirosi welcome)

[boldairade]

Allied planners continue to search for areas where a possible legitimate second front could be opened.

The options are as follows:

Western Europe-Historically, the preference of US planners. Obviously, this would be the most direct threat to Germany. There are several problems with this. The biggest is my ineptitude with amphibious ops. The second is Nirosi's powerful Atlantic defenses.

Western Africa-Paladin II? We likely could pull this off. The question is, would it be enough? It would likely take most of 1943 before we could get to Tunis, and at that point, we would be merely threatening Italy, not Germany. This would likely be too little too late. What a shame this op couldn't have been launched in 1942.

Southern France-This op is interesting. It would provide a soft initial landing, as Vichy forces are weak. That said, it would have considerable supply problems, and would have to operate in an area where the Italian navy and air forces could really hamper us. Another negative would be the addition of the Vichy fleet to Axis forces.

Greece-Similar problems to the France ops, as we would be under the thumb of Axis air. Additionally, terrain in Greece would really hamper any breakout. It would have the interesting ancillary benefit of possibly knocking out Axis minor powers-if it ever made it out of Greece.

[boldairade]

Supply to Misurata can be problematic. A stuka swoops in on Allied shipping.

[boldairade]

US ball turret gunner loads up for another mission over the heart of The Reich. Hard to imagine.

[boldairade]

Another T34 is knocked out as Broler grinds to a halt.

[boldairade]

January 15, 1943

Norway-Another German unit arrives here, bringing the total to 5, although at least one is only a division. UK I Corps works north to occupy rail.



BOA 9 MM and 2 escorts go down, only 2 Uboat hits. We continue to lose this struggle. We don't have enough regular navy vessels helping out, AND I don't seem to deploy them well when we do. More MM and escorts arrive/are purchased this turn. But it is still touch and go. Overall, the cost of this campaign has been ruinous.

Germany-Only one heavy bomber formation takes to the sky, hitting two refineries. These formations will need several turns to get back near reasonable efficiency.

[boldairade]

January 15, 1943

Africa-US forces loop to the southwest of German formations. This is primarily a bluff, trying to keep Nirosi's focus on Africa.

Rhodes-The endless and costly struggle here continues, occupying ships men and aircraft, with no apparent progress.

US bombers redeploy to Crete, but need time to recovery effectiveness.

[boldairade]

January 15, 1943

East Front

North(Konev/Garisimenko)-The last winterized armor has been pulled from this front. Our cruisers remain frozen in the Baltic. There is no plan to protect Leningrad in the spring, which means the entire fleet here will be lost. In Finland, there is little activity. A Russian army is moving forward in the north to replace the mech unit there and free it up as a reserve.

Center(Vatutin)-Near Rzhev and Kalnin, new units arrive. The land bridge south of the Lovat River would seem a logical place for a direct German strike to Moscow.

South(Zhukov/Rokossovsky)-Broler grinds on. Progress is glacially slow. The battered Italian XV Corps is pushed back, along with the equally worn down Hungarian V Corps. But even with good odds, it is taking multiple attacks and lots of air support, which is wearing down our armor and air. Additionally, we expected the swamp to freeze and become forest, but that has not occurred(bug?). In any case, this offensive can only go on a month, perhaps six weeks longer at the most. At that point, in the spring, it would be child's play for the Germans to slice into the neck of the salient and bag the entire Russian armor strength. To this point, zero casualties have been inflicted on German units, as they have not been needed. Broler, it appears, will be a complete strategic failure.

[boldairade]

The Pripyet claims another Russian tank during the doomed Broler offensive.

Was it the terrain that stopped Broler? Axis efficiency? Russian incompetence? Was it a doomed plan logistically?

Perhaps all of the above.

[John B.]

I have to say that if you look at a historical map of where the allies were in the real war and where you are that, from that point of view, things look good. And, you're already strat bombing Germany which the US did not really get started until summer/fall 1943. It also must help the Russians some that, from what I can see, at least three German armor corps are tied down fighting in Norway/North Africa.

[redrum68]

How is the soviet starting unit experience looking at this point?

[ncc1701e]

Good question: land and air experience please

[boldairade]

ORIGINAL: John B.

I have to say that if you look at a historical map of where the allies were in the real war and where you are that, from that point of view, things look good. And, you're already strat bombing Germany which the US did not really get started until summer/fall 1943. It also must help the Russians some that, from what I can see, at least three German armor corps are tied down fighting in Norway/North Africa.

What you say is true. But of course, the Allies were in A LOT better shape in Africa.

I think it bears mentioning also that Nirosi launched his Barbarossa a year after the historical one. By 1943 Germany had lost several million men, entire armies, thousands upon thousands of AFVs and aircraft, a few field marshals. Nirosi has lost...nothing.

Additionally, in 1943, Germany retained a qualitative advantage over Russia, but it was diminishing, and it was easily made up for by numerical Russian superiority. In the spring of 43, you will see Nirosi start his offensive with his armor groups at 35+ attack value, but even though I have maxed research, I will be able to counter with armor of 10-11 strength.

Those differences-Nirosi's lack of losses and the absolutely massive difference in combat power, almost certainly doom Russia in the coming year. I will do all I can to stop it. It won't, I don't believe, be nearly enough.

But I'd like to be wrong!

[boldairade]

Kirk/redrum-I think Russian units are popping out around 38% right now.

[ncc1701e]

38% and probably less in your units. The second year is always hard. Hope you have some infantry armies in reserve.

[boldairade]

January 29, 1943

Norway-Degradation of troops due to weather continues. This front is worrisome. That said, it is occupying 5 German formations, and that may not be a bad thing if it continues into the spring.

Two convoy attacks sink 5 MM and 2 escorts. Even the light turns, now, see us taking significant casualties.

England/Germany-Only one heavy bomber squadron attacks Germany, striking deep to hit an undefended refinery. The rest continue to try to recover effectiveness, though the weather is a hindrance.

Africa-Heavy activity here. The Germans 'take the bait' and strike at the US forces that moved to their south. Combined efforts by III Panzer, LXVIII Infantry and air supremacy(my fighters keep losing tons of effectiveness no matter what I do, and now will not intercept enemy bombers) result in 1st US Armor being thrashed, but German formations also take losses. This allows us to launch counter attacks with our new armor corps(3rd Armor), supported by the elite US VI Infantry. They fight through enemy air strikes to push back the German LXVIII Corps. This allows us to flank III Panzer, and attacks go in initially with 3rd Armor, 2nd Armor, and the Aus/NZ Infantry. Three assaults yield heavy casualties on both sides. Eventually, the refurbished WDF is moved in, and III Panzer is pushed back after heavy losses on both sides.

Overall, it's probably a draw. But strategically, anywhere the Allies can bleed Germany effectively, they must do it. With the failure of Brawler, it is becoming a game of strictly attrition.

[boldairade]

January 29, 1943

East Front

North/Center-No activity of note on these fronts. Heavy snow.

South(Zhukov/Rokossovsky) Brawler grinds on, with just enough success to prevent cancelling it, but not nearly enough to justify it. The battered Italian XV corps is again driven back, this time easily, though the territory gained, westward, isn't terribly useful. It does allow us to gain a three hex frontage vs a German mech formation, but its unlikely any attack vs the Germans, even with three strong winterized formations, will result in anything except massive Russian casualties.

North of Kiev, the Russian forces launch an attack vs a fresh entrenched Hungarian formation. This attack utilizes four of the very best formations in the Russian armed forces-15th Tank, 5th Tank, 1st Guards Army, and 3rd Siberian Army. With a four hex frontage, winter specialization, heavy supply truck usage, and going against a second rate Axis formation, one would think Russia might finally be able to score a strong victory.

Of course, that is not what happens. We do eventually push back the unit, but it requires multiple ground strikes, and occurs only after 4 all out assaults and pyric casualties. Again, even in this type of battle, Axis step losses are minimal. I am not sure how the mechanic of winterization is supposed to work. I know it was supposedly vastly improved in the last patch. I cannot completely discount it, as Broler is operating in bad terrain. However, it is NOT hard for me to see why no players ever select this specialty.

These minor 'victories' likely mark the high water mark of Broler. Ultimately, the hope was to take Kiev, but with only a 2 hex frontage vs an entrenched foe, that is likely a pipe dream. The ONLY success we can count is, ultimately, the Germans do deploy two mech formations, burning a bit of fuel and pulling them out of their winter lager. It is a very, very minor success.

Recognizing the end of Broler being near, Stavka pulls all non winterized armor out to eastern rail heads, to be redeployed as reserves for the coming Axis spring offensive.

[boldairade]

Hungarian units were tested during Broler, and were more than up to the task. Here, a Hungarian fire team shreds advancing Russian infantry.

[boldairade]

Hungarian forces were equipped with 3rd line tanks, the Czeck built Pz 38 Toldi. Russian planners had hoped its 37 cm gun would not be enough vs the heavy Armor of KVs and the sloped armor of the T34. Ultimately, however, it was enough to do the job.

[boldairade]

January 29, 1943

Rhodes/E Med-The Italian Navy, sensing that the defenders of Rhodes are weakening, makes an all out effort to resupply. They move next to our worn down BB ships, and also move subs near Crete. Initially, I don't understand what the subs are doing, but I soon learn.

I send the BBs back to port, they are too worn down to risk. Also, I have enough other ships to maintain superiority-it is why we are so weak elsewhere-we have concentrated everything here, and have painstakingly made sure there were always ships in harbor with high readiness. We now move those ships next to the Italian fleet.

This is exactly what Nirosi wanted. My ships are coming from three separate ports, and so his subs take three separate pot shots at my fleet, and score multiple hits on capital ships. Again, my lack of naval knowledge is exposed. Still, I have to believe my fleet, which sports multiple fully upgraded carriers, is superior. We also have three bomber squadrons on station here. If the weather clears, I like our chances of finally winning a naval engagement. We have done absolutely everything possible to give ourselves the advantage.

[boldairade]

M3 Stuarts in the desert-No match for the Panzers.

My decision to develop breakthrough tanks for the US because it was historically accurate has signed the death warrant of many an American tanker. In any 1 on 1 confrontation, US armor is devastated by its German counterpart.