Barbarossa crippled by running out of oil

[Carterjon]

Playing two games of ‘41 back to back, and in both games Axis ran out of oil in September. What do you do now as Axis?

[sveint]

I've never had oil problems in 10+ games, we'd need to know a lot more.

[baloo7777]

I've run out of oil in Russia in my first pbem game of the Barbarossa campaign as you start with a small amount. In the 39 scenario, you have to plan carefully for 41 Barbarossa in PvP. I've watched several youtube vids and they all say that oil was the biggest problem that held the Germans back... that and a lack of trucks and rail lines... in other words, logistics had as big a part in the "miracle of Moscow" Russian stopping the Germans, as did weather or the Siberian troops arrival.

[MVokt]

Germans admittedly had oil issues during the war but not to the extent of running out of oil by 1941.

And if you have to be extremely careful about oil right from 1939, then we are not accurately representing history: doubt that Germans were extremely worried about oil during all the Blitzkrieg campaigns between Poland and the Barbarossa.

[baloo7777]

My mistake. I meant you need to save oil that you get starting in 39 to get capacity as high as you can before you invade Russia. If you play the 41 Barbarossa Scenario, you'll see how little oil Germany started that campaign with.

[AlvaroSousa]

One trick is before you fill up to capacity is to send Italy some once they are in the war.

[Dalwin]

ORIGINAL: MVokt

Germans admittedly had oil issues during the war but not to the extent of running out of oil by 1941.

And if you have to be extremely careful about oil right from 1939, then we are not accurately representing history: doubt that Germans were extremely worried about oil during all the Blitzkrieg campaigns between Poland and the Barbarossa.

Sounds like you are saying that the historical Germans took precautions and were frugal with their expenditures (which they were.) There is a good reason that so much of their army was still foot infantry rather than panzer grenadier.

[DanLeeDR01]

If I transport planes using rails and ships do I use less oil instead of flying?

[stjeand]

Yes you use less oil because using rail and ships do not consume any.

Oil is a balancing act for the Germans...normally when war starts I have close to 100% capacity. WITH luck my Allies do too...but that is more rare than common. Depends upon how well France and other countries went.

1) Make sure you are not sending oil to your Allies when you get low.
2) Stop flying your planes. My guess would be you used them a LOT early...and when you are fighting weak units they are overkill so save them and only use when you have to break through a certain location.
3) When a armor / mech moves...make sure before your next turn you move them as far as they can so long as not moving out of supply. To move 1 hex or 10 hexes takes 1 oil.
4) EVERY attack the armor / mech make use an oil. Try to attack as much as you can with infantry...yes you may take more losses but replacements cost less and they use no oil.
5) SAVE every drop through the winter. Often by the fall I am in the 20% area...and at that point get your armor / mech off the front lines and put infantry there. I believe each attack on the armor / mech takes an oil also.
6) IF the German surface ships are at sea...port them. They eat a LOT of oil.

[AlvaroSousa]

If 1/2 the players are fine with oil, and 1/2 are running out that means it's working correctly.

Yes you have to manage oil like the Axis had to manage oil.

[generalfdog]

I like that feature of the 41 start point, u really have to manage oil and even if you do by fall you start having issues much like Germany did start having supply issues once they pushed deep in to Russia, a dynamic you rarely get with 39 start point. Although you can get it in one of my current pbem games I am having about the same amount of oil in 41 as 41 start game due to being very active vs British and a good defense of France

[ncc1701e]

I never had oil issues in Russia. With the new rail repair rate, perhaps I will have more supply issues now.

[generalfdog]

You would if you played the 41 start point it's almost impossible not to have an issue in that one, but otherwise it is rare