Bish Bash Boche - A 41 GC JB (A) & Veterin (S)

[Veterin]

T26 - Soviet Perspective

1

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42 Axis transports lost this turn so I have a look at where they are going to get an idea of Axis rail repairs. Nikolaev is an obvious choice as that would be one of the closest major ports for supplies to Stalino. Interestingly there is a few drops at Apostolovo which indicates that the rail between Niikolaev and Zaporozhze/D-town is repaired. I would love to get some cavalry units around this area to change that!

2

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3

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OOB is looking fairly healthy with just under 4.9m on the map. As mentioned last turn, I deployed a lot of units to the map this turn and I have now used up all my surplus manpower. I will avoid refitting any new refresh divisions as I want to ensure my existing map units have the manpower they need to replenish (supply permitting). As I sent some freshly raised rifle divisions to the various TB last turn, I will be pulling out more experienced divisions from those TBs and will have them on the map over the next 2 turns.

A number of my key factories which were evacuated earlier (automatically or manually as in the case of Kharkov) have now come back online. For many turns I was producing a small number of T-34’s and no IL-2s. Whilst my focus previously was keeping tank divisions/mech divisions with high TOE on map I may start to prioritise the TOE of tank brigades so I can start using them more heavily where I need to.

4

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With heavy snow blanketing all of AGN, I decide to make attacks across the front to take advantage of it. I made 7 attacks (6 succeed). As Axis forces had level 2-3 forts their losses were despite taking retreat attrition. I sustained 12k manpower losses compared to 1.7k for axis and I lost twice as many guns. At least lvl 2-3 forts have now been removed from parts of the defensive line. It should be made note that the firepower Soviets can bring like this on a long static front fizzles out quickly. I had 100% CPP on all units and over 100% suppliers/fuel/ammo prior to the attack so my future offensive capability in the area is diminished now.

[Veterin]

T26 - Soviet Perspective Cont...

5

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Near Smolensk, I continue putting pressure heading towards Smolensk despite not having any lvl 8 snow in the area but at least Axis forces have low level of forts here now. The 20th (brown) and 16th (dark grey) armies move further north rather than directly advancing from Vzyama. JB has some elite units on the direct path (including Wiking) so I’d prefer to put pressure on the flanks forcing them to fall back. I have 3 calvary units in the area ready to convert to a calvary corps next turn.

6

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I use my two Guard rifle corps (stacked with 3 rifle brigades each) for the first time. With full CPP, TOE and ammo/supplies, the offensive CV was over 25 which is awesome. Following those attacks, I advance what units I can in into the area as there are plenty of swampy hexes and I think I’ll be able to hold it.

7

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On the Sumy front, the city looks like it’s been reinforced with 3 divisions and being a city hex I don’t like my chances of attacking it front on so I decide to try and bypass it from the north and south. As I was doing a cavalry scout I noticed that the 2nd Panzer was on the frontline stacked on top of a rifle division. I immediately take my 3 best units in the area (full CPP) and attack despite only having 6 MP before the attack leaving these units exposed. It was worth it because…..

8

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This happened! I’ve lost some good leaders myself including Fyodor so this was pleasing to see. I don’t know if Rudolf Konrad is any good as a Panzer leader but if he isn’t, at least this will drain some of Axis AP points to replace him.

[Veterin]

T26 - Soviet Perspective Cont...

9

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I decide not to make any attacks near Stalino. Snow is below level 8 and there is simply too many Axis units in a confined space all loaded with directly attached SUs. I shift a number of armies further west to continue to put pressure on areas I have had some success with lighter Axis defence. If I can continue putting pressure in this area it’s likely the defences around Stalino will weaken as units fall back to defend the double rails from D-town to Stalino

10

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I make the tough decision to reallocate 1 army that’s in the line of contact directly to Stavka (white). I do this so the newly arrived divisions (light blue) can all be added to an Assault front for 2 turns to build up to 100% CPP. Over the next 2 turns I get 2 more Front HQs so that will alleviate the command point issue I’ve got on my line currently and I can continue rotating divisions to Assault HQs and off the frontlines to gain CPP faster.

[jasonbroomer]

T26 Axis

Blizzards have hit the front since late November and by mid December they have moved south. This I think is highly unusual and have caught me on the hop, with my troops not at all in winter quarters and still some panzers on the ground. So much for global warming, haven't I burnt up enough soviet armour yet to raise the temperature? I think this is the first winter where blizzards have hit the front lines to any material extent in December. I played two winters versus the AI (I reran the first as it was so much fun, not). And one PvP.

The attacks suffered by 16/18th Armies (AGN) in the north were depressingly effective. Divisions in level 3 forts in good terrain were cleared out left right and centre. Vet launched around 30 attacks across the entire front this turn with a 90% success rate Very impressive unless you are on the receiving end. I can't get that sort of reliable success rate with the Axis where I seem to either win big or get held 1.8:1

Shame about Guderian Something of an oversight and being paranoid about the potential speed of Soviet Cv.

In my previous games, divisions in lvl 3 forts proved to be difficult to shift, particularly as the Soviets lack assault engineers at this stage in the war. I am gob smacked by the damage done by Vet and I will have to rethink my strategy during this game. If static lines don't hold, I must trade space for blood. I must decide where I wish to hold and reinforce, or otherwise buckle. My winter lines were established very straight, from Leningrad, Smolensk down to D' town. Stalino was the only obvious salient

T25 no Russian attacks, yet.png (5.44 MiB) Viewed 1285 times

I guess my priorities must be to hold on to VPs, thus I can give up land around Kursk (which I was kinda expecting) and sadly I will have to abandon my gains around Stalino. I've captured this land once, so I'm sure that I'll be able to recapture it later .

I wrote earlier about supply around Stalino.

T26 Dtown supply.png (727.01 KiB) Viewed 1285 times

This details what I have done by this stage. I have tried building new depots on the rail lines, this worked to an extent, each one delivering 1.5-2k but this was not enough. Here I have resorted to a super depot, which only provided a 1K uplift in supply where it is (IIRC) so I relocated to D'town the following turn where it fairly reliably delivered 15-20k a turn

[Veterin]

T27 Soviet Perspective

Just in relation to JB's turn 26 post, I've found fortification levels are great for increasing defensive CV and reducing defensive casualties (win or lose) but if enough offensive firepower is brought in they can always be taken (it's hard attacking from 2 hexes but from 3 or more hexes can be done fairly consistently). Losses will always be large for Soviets but at least clearing lvl 3 forts is a one off exercise at the start of winter (hopefully!).

1

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A busy turn for events. This provides me with some much-needed AP to correct my mistake earlier about not saving enough AP for cavalry corps. Whilst the event says you can only now start building cavalry corps and ski brigades, you can do can build 8 cavalry corps at the start of Dec 41 and the Ski battalions can start being built in Nov 41.

2

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First time I’ve seen this event which has a chance to trigger if Axis capture Leningrad in 1941. Pretty sure those 3 divisions arrive on map as German infantry too which will give Axis forces a nice boost for winter.

3

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Not the best outcome on the weather this turn (or the next by the looks of it). Whilst there is heavy snow from Leningrad to Smolensk, the entire south is free of heavy snow with the exception of Stalino although Axis forces have pulled back from there this turn.

4

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I was not expecting these divisions to get pushed back as I had cavalry corps (3 brigades), a mech and tank corps all in a swamp hex but credit to JB for attacking here. I know motorised/tank elements aren't as effective in a swamp hex but i thought i'd have enough CV to hold. They were the only units that had enough MP to move into the hex.

Similar to the attacks I’ve made over the last few turns, no strongpoint is safe if you bring enough attacking units into the equation.

[Veterin]

T27 Soviet Perspective Cont...

5

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The 1st cavalry corps and 101st tank division that were defeated an earlier battle were attacked a second time with heavy loses. Well played JB.

6

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As revenge for Totenkopf’s role in Axis attacks in this sector last turn, a concentrated effort is made to counter on these units. Whilst large losses weren’t inflicted, damaged ground elements usually represent a similar size to destroyed and the purpose of these attacks is to drain Axis strength and supply as I’m hoping there isn’t enough freight in the area to replace damaged elements. I don’t know what JBs supply situation is like but it’s probably in a reasonable state given he’s near Smolensk (as good as it can be in the 1941 winter anyway).

7

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Wiking is also attacked and pushed back, clearing another swamp hex. I’ve got 2 guard corps and 1 guard rifle division stacked on a swamp hex that I used in both attacks. I have ~150 defensive CV if JB attacks it next turn. If any Axis forces move into the swamp hexes next turn, they will be attacked again on my turn. Despite being drained of most of their CPP now, they still have ~30 offensive CV.

[Veterin]

T27 Soviet Perspective Cont...

8

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9

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There has been a lot of movement of Axis forces last turn with forces pulling back across the front. I have cautiously moved forward where I think it’s safe to do so and kept other units behind to rebuild CPP after the attacks last turn. My supply lines are still reasonable however I have advanced a lot over the last 2 turns so I need to keep an eye on truck attrition. At least the Axis forces have largely moved out of their entrenched positions although it won’t take long for level 2 forts to rebuild unless I can keep putting more pressure on the front lines. I don’t think lvl 3 forts would be achievable which is great (given the supply constraints and snow)

10

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Whilst there has been a general fallback across the AGC/AGS front, the Axis forces near Stalino have fallen back really far. My initial winter offensive strategy was to break the double rails near D-town but that might not be very effective anymore now that Axis forces around Stalino have pulled back. Consistent with other areas of the front, I’ve advanced in some areas whilst keeping other divisions back for to build CPP.

11

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This gives an idea of how much territory was ceded this turn. A number of Axis frontline deposits were captured as I overran the pre-winter front line. Axis forces are sitting on favourable rails now but if they fall back further in certain areas, I will be able to break some important rail lines (I’m assuming they’re repaired).

[jasonbroomer]

T26 Axis

Blood all over the place now.

In the north, we get hit hard again

T27 AGN Soviet attacks, divisional strength, dug in no reserve activations.png (3.82 MiB) Viewed 1189 times

In the centre, we decide that attack is the best form of defence in situations like these

T27 AGC Attack best form of defense.png (3.43 MiB) Viewed 1189 times

[jasonbroomer]

T27 Axis AGC

As Vet has already published (I repeat showing my dispositions), we counter attack to regain what I perceive to be an important marsh hex in front of Smolensk

T27 AGC Huge battles in the snow pt1.png (3.64 MiB) Viewed 1187 times

The soviet retreat left his troops in the front lines, retreated soviet units get disorganised and if you hit them again they will almost certainly rout with heavy casualties

T27 AGC Huge battles in the snow.png (3.55 MiB) Viewed 1187 times

I over invested in the second attack, not appreciating that 2 of the 3 Soviet units had been retreated (the system does not recalculate their CV, so you must gauge their remaining strength from the first battle report). Still it was a nice haul of 28k Soviets over the course of the two battles.


Further south from Smolensk, more battering for the good guys.

T27 Soviet attacks, 28 attacks only 3 holds.png (2.57 MiB) Viewed 1187 times

[jasonbroomer]

T27 Axis AGS


Chalk up another victory for the Roms, fearlessly taking on an understrength Cv division, which they only outnumbered 5 to 1.

T27 AGS Yet another Rom victory.png (2.19 MiB) Viewed 1183 times

A good result mind! Perhaps the Roms really are front line troops after all . Weirdly the Roms are under Italian command, Messe is actually quite good by minor ally standards (inf 6?) and since his troops were turned away from the eastern front at the border (and is hiding somewhere in the TBs) he is a useful roving HQ.


Getting attacks away in heavy snow can be difficult. Rely on numbers as well as CV, which I forgot in this instance. Look to outnumber the Soviets at least, and preferably 2:1 in blizzards. This is how not to do it (note the opening CV which is why the attack went ahead)

T27 AGS Heavy snow is difficult.png (2.94 MiB) Viewed 1183 times

It is much better to over commit and hurting the Soviets rather than just trying to tickle them

[Veterin]

T27 Axis AGS


Chalk up another victory for the Roms, fearlessly taking on an understrength Cv division, which they only outnumbered 5 to 1.


T27 AGS Yet another Rom victory.png

Stop embarrassing me by winning battles with the Romanians!

[Veterin]

T28 - Soviet Perspective

1

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The weather gods have been kind with blizzards across the entire front (except Crimea). This should be a busy turn even though I’m starting to run lower on CPP, I just need to take advantage of the favourable weather.

2

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3

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I find this a little unusual as this is the one of the TBs that my CV ratios were actually above 100% this turn. Perhaps the ratio is calculated before the logistics phase so whilst I was originally below 100% at the time of the calculation before going above 100% after the soviet logistics phase?

4

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I’m going to provide screenshots of the start of my turn as well as the end along certain parts of the front to get a better idea of the actions I’ve taken in my turn. Around Leningrad, there looks like there is opportunity to attack the two most northern infantry who are weakened after the last two turns. I might be able to attack that 15 CV division too. There are a number of strong points in the Axis line now with ~50 CV and I will have a hard time breaking that with my current CPP levels.

[Veterin]

T28 - Soviet Perspective Cont...

5

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This is after my attacks in the area. All 4 attacks were successful as i overallocated attacks if anything with the lowest CV ratio victory being 4:1. I don’t think I’ll be able to dislodge the level 3 fort units in the middle of the screenshot but I don’t think I’ll need to. I’ll keep putting pressure on the north and south of those strong points (in particularly the north as Axis forces are weakened here and the terrain is all light woods, favourable offensive terrain as far as AGN goes anyway).

6

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This is the before view of the Northwest Front. I don’t have a lot of strength in the area but there are a lot of regimented low CV units around the north. This is very favourable defensive terrain and whilst using regiments to screen it is good for most of 1941, if Soviets put some pressure in this sector regiments won’t hold for long (even well-fortified/supplied regiments). With the Volkhov Front arriving last turn, I have deployed a lot of reserves to this area and they are building CPP before being deployed to the front (Dark blue/Purple armies). As this isn’t an Assault front, it will will take 3-4 turns to do so.

7

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Only two attacks in the area. I just don’t have the strength to exploit opportunities in this sector unfortunately. Just to give you an idea how effective forts are, when I attacked into a lvl 1 fort my manpower loss ratio was 3:1 whereas when I attacked in a lvl 3 fort, my manpower loss ratio was closer to 13:1. I can’t afford to have to many “wins” like that. I also advance my orange army to hug the Axis line. They now occupy favourable swamp hexes and they also stop Axis forces from building up fort levels quickly.

8

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Smolensk front before screenshot. The hexes next to my guard corps/division stacks have been reoccupied so I’ll likely hit those again. I’ve had my brown and dark grey armies building CPP so I might be able to advance from the north this turn too. In any event, I’ll flip hexes and see what opportunities arise as I advance.

[Veterin]

T28 - Soviet Perspective Cont...

9

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2 failed attacks here which isn’t ideal. My guard stack attack the two adjacent swamp hexes and I move a stack of 3 rifle divisions into one of the hexes which I hope to hold until next turn (~65 def CV). I might need to withdraw my guard stack for refitting as they are all out of CPP and have only ~70% TOE ready.

10

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I forgot to take a before screenshot of the Bryansk sector but there wasn’t much action in any event. I move both my brown and green armies forward including some high CPP units at the front ready to attack next turn. You will note how I’ve kept some divisions back from both armies this turn to build CPP and I will move them forward next turn if an opportunity arises. Near Unecha I can see the 24th panzer unit stacked with some other unit guarding a rail junction/depo so I would love to be in a position to attack that next turn.

11

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Not much to report on from this section of the front. Axis forces have fallen back and are likely sitting on the north south rail between Bakhmach and Kremechug. I might only be able to move forward 1 more hex before I need an operational pause as I am getting further and further away from my supply deposits.

12

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Slow but steady advance across the AGS front following Axis falling back, particularly from the Stalino area. I wanted to make sure I was next to the Axis line in some areas so they couldn’t entrench but I didn’t want to overextend on clear terrain. There was only 1 proper attack this turn as the 3 attacks you see near Stalino were hasty attacks on a Romanian cavalry that refused to route, much to my embarrassment.

[Veterin]

T29 - Soviet Perspective

1

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2

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Winter is starting to take its toll on Soviet logistics with 6.3k trucks destroyed from movement (total game) and a further 0.5k from logistics attrition (this turn only). All fronts are fairly active with movement and I am getting further away from my pre-winter supply lines. Whilst no concern on an immediate shortage I need to trade off the longer-term implications where I will have truck shortages in later years of the war. On turn 32, any tank brigades convert to rifle brigades so this should free up some more trucks for the pool.

3

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I only make 2 attacks in the area including one from a newly formed cavalry corps. There are mostly infantry regiments in defence here so despite the tough terrain I want to continue putting pressure on this sector. I decide to squeeze an infantry division between the enemy line. This will either cause JB to attack my spearhead (or the one behind it) in swamp terrain or he has to move some of his defence around to stop any further advance. I’ve decided to move my dark blue army up to the frontline despite only have 50% CPP to exploit any opportunities that may arise next turn. There’s only 1-2 more swamp hexes to work through and then it’s clear terrain all the way to Pskov and JB cannot afford to have any rails cut there (although it wouldn’t be as bad as usual as he holds Leningrad ports/rails).

4

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A lot of action around Smolensk this turn as I have the entire central front all concentrated in a small area. On the northern flank I make some opportunistic attacks and generally move units onto the line of contact where there is defendable terrain. The dark grey and brown armies are part of the Volkhov front which is further north.

Just east of Smolensk I take the two swamp hexes and throw 2 divisions in each which will hopefully hold on defence (~50 def CV) with my guard rifle corps/division stack also making a good contribution on this turn. I might leave them in the current hex for a few turns to build back up CPP as all 3 are currently on less than 5 CPP. Another cavalry corps is combined in this area to provide some more flexibility too. Remember that on turn 29 you can build another 6 cavalry corps so make use of it!

[Veterin]

T29 - Soviet Perspective Cont...

5

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A costly failed attack near Bryansk. I had full CPP on the 5 divisions/corps involved in this battle too so it’s a shame to waste it on a failed attack whilst also losing 4k troops. All part of the fun though! I have relatively few units between south of Smolensk all the way to Poltava. A common misconception of Soviets is that they need a solid line across the entire front. This couldn’t be more wrong, especially in 1941. Forces should be concentrated around where the axis will advance from (usually rail lines) or other strategic points. Supply deserts often do not need to be defended heavily.

6

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Another costly “win”. Whilst the attack was successful in hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have made it. In addition to 8k manpower losses I have a huge amount of ground elements damaged and disrupted (1.8k and 5.2k respectively). I now have 5 rifle divisions and a cavalry corp sitting in open terrain with 1-2 defensive CV, all within 1 hex of the Axis forces. I have moved a few other stronger units in front of these units to shield them and moved some back where I could but I do think I’ll pay for this attack next turn.

7

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This is an example of the quality of units I have left after that attack. 40% of ground elements ready resulting in a powerful 1 CV!

[Veterin]

T29 - Soviet Perspective Cont...

8

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Few other attacks down south as no good targets were in range. Whilst I was hesitant about being in contact with strong Axis units I feel more comfortable pushing from Stalino now that some axis forces have been redeployed further west. I don’t have a grand strategy as far as what ground I want to take over winter so I will keep my options open depending on how the next few turns play out. So far JB has done a lot of falling back so its been difficult moving into range for battles but I don’t think he’ll fall back much further or his D-town double rails might be at risk.

9

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My plans for a winter counterattack in Crimea did not go to plan in part due to a reserve activation. If I had broken through here i could have forced JB to make some difficult choices as I suspect there aren’t many Axis forces in the Crimea behind the fortified bottleneck. I will retreat and reconsider my options here. These units currently doing have any SU attached to them so that might be one option for a future attack in the area.

[jasonbroomer]

10.png


I forgot to take a before screenshot of the Bryansk sector but there wasn’t much action in any event. I move both my brown and green armies forward including some high CPP units at the front ready to attack next turn. You will note how I’ve kept some divisions back from both armies this turn to build CPP and I will move them forward next turn if an opportunity arises. Near Unecha I can see the 24th panzer unit stacked with some other unit guarding a rail junction/depo so I would love to be in a position to attack that next turn.

Ahh, the 28th Panzer Division. You'll be wasting your time if you are looking for any panzers there! That's why its still on the front . It's ToE is around 60% but I have bolstered its strength by assigning the Gross Deutschland regiment to it, in an area which is likely to be sparsely defended, an extra mobile unit will be useful.

Subsequently, the unit auto refitted with some tanks despite being nowhere near a decent supply depot (January time IIRC), eventually it got up to 20-30 tanks despite me limiting the ToE to 60%. In the end (early Feb?) I relented and sent it off to France.

[jasonbroomer]

T28 Axis

The arrival of the turns at this stage of the game are no more welcome as a formal letter appearing in the morning mail from the Inland Revenue. Turns are opened with some trepidation...

The news is not good as the weather is just dreadful and the forecast is even worse, the Soviets can hardy ask for better. I wish I was at the gates of Moscow, at least I could give up some ground. I can't afford to lose any VP centres given my limited advance this game.

T28 Weather ffs.png (769.55 KiB) Viewed 912 times

AGN


You have seen the Soviet play in T28, here is my thinking in the Axis phase which comes prior to the Soviet phase.

In the north, I can not afford to cede ground. As unpleasant as it feels, I must commit my divisions to retake ground that they have been ejected from (I'm a little puzzled why Vet didn't occupy it, perhaps he didn't have the MP). I am sure that I will be knocked back again but in the north I don't want to be defending the gates to Leningrad. Not one step back!

T28 AGN Not one step back.png (1.37 MiB) Viewed 917 times

Around the Kalinin woods, this area doesn't have any great value and as Vet comments is a decent defensive area. However, I need to be careful as I really don't want cavalry breaking out into my rear areas. I use motorised IDs as mobile reserves here.

T28 AGNC I dont want that Cv breaking out.png (1.7 MiB) Viewed 917 times

[jasonbroomer]

T28 Axis AGC

Again this is looking horrid, but I must hold on to the decent terrain as best I can

T28 AGC This will be bloody.png (360.6 KiB) Viewed 914 times

My thoughts were at the time that this will be bloody. I was not wrong.

In the south, I cede ground

T28 AGCS Giving ground up.png (2.42 MiB) Viewed 914 times