T33 - Soviet Perspective Cont...
- 4
- 4.png (2.02 MiB) Viewed 1442 times
- 5
- 5.png (1.83 MiB) Viewed 1442 times
Whilst there is still 1 more month of winter, the initiative has changed back to Axis with the clearer weather. Reflecting on the last few turns of the game I am happy with the number of attacks I made and some of the progress made on map however I was unable to create any breakthroughs as JB did an awesome job of shifting his defences accordingly. I gained no VP points either although Axis is now further away from their 1942 VP points at least.
Around the Leningrad front I advanced 1-2 hexes across most of the front and was never expecting to have a breakthrough here given the resources I dedicated to it as well as the strong defensive terrain.
Around the Northwest Front, I advanced further than I had initially planned although it was through poorly supplied terrain. JB had to redeploy units from further north/south to hold this sector so whilst in isolation it may not have achieved much, it weakened the defence around Leningrad/Smolensk so I could make some successful attacks there.
I dedicated a lot of resources towards Smolensk during the winter including my two infantry guard corps divisions. I made good progress towards Velikie Luki and will hold favourable terrain over 1942. The line started near Vyzama so it’s good to be on the doors of Smolensk now. There was a lot of battles in the swamp hexes just east of Smolensk and JB and I traded control over those hexes a few times over Dec/Jan.
Along the AGC front, there was a lot of progress made in terms of land captured but not much in the way of strategic land held or weakening axis forces. Axis forces were lighter in this area owning to their concentration of units further south around Stalino. The frontline at the start of winter was close to Bryansk/Kursk/Kharkov but now it’s only 5-6 hexes from Gomel/Chernigov. It will be interesting to see what JB decides to do in this area as he can very easily advance if he sends more units to this front given the open terrain however that would weaken any advances he makes elsewhere. Either way, it’s good to be able to put some distance between the frontlines and the VP points he needs.
Lastly, around the southern bend, I was able to advance 10-20 hexes depending on different points in the line. The encirclement of Stalino was lifted and the frontline is now near D-town, Zaporozhye and Kremenchug.
- 6
- 6.png (871.7 KiB) Viewed 1442 times
This is the VP table as of the current turn. Losing Leningrad provided 36 VP points above the actual historic progress but at least partly offsetting that a number of other cities in AGC/AGS were not taking and when/if they do fall in 1942, there will be no bonus points. Looking ahead to 1942, I need to try and identify what the Axis strategy will be to obtain the highest possible HWM. My master plan of losing Leningrad in 1941 so that it limits the number of areas he can advance on in 1942 is playing out exactly as expected! (anyone buying that?
).
As Axis supply is much better in 1942, a Moscow push is a possibility although there will be no bonus VP from Rzhev, Kalinin.
A broad push around the centre is also a possibility with Orel/Kursk/Kharkov all relatively easy targets close to the front. From here Voronezh or even Tambov could be in play.
Lastly, there could be the historic push towards Stalingrad and/or the Caucasus. Stalino/Rostov will fall easily but at least bonus VP points are denied.
The fighting over winter has been intense on both sides and whilst I have sustained a lot of losses in man and material, Axis forces have also been worn down in some areas and will have a more challenging time refitting those units due to supply constraints. That being said, some of the weakened units will go to the TB when the Panzers come back onto the map so there’s no real issue in refitting those units anyway.
- 7
- 7.png (7.79 KiB) Viewed 1442 times
Due to the high volume of attacks of 1941 and the winter so far, I have 2 guard rifle corps, and a further 9 guard rifle divisions. I have a further 8 rifle divisions with +7 or more wins which will convert to guard status at some point. Similarly, 10% of my artillery is now guard status.
I am limited to 10% of my Infantry converting to Guards until Jun 1942 and based on my current guard numbers/high win units, I am on track to reaching that limit if all goes well. I’m expecting a further spike in guard unit conversions in Jun 42 when the new % increases to 25%
, the mountain divisions to support the German offensive plus a bog standard ID. Presumably this negate the Soviet 'there is quality in quantity' and allows us the unusual situation of outnumbering the Soviets 2:1. Anyway, we end up with a nice result. We assured that the 1k casualties suffered by the Axis were almost exclusively Roms. JBs top tip, don't sell life insurance to Rom soldiers.
unless you enjoy unpleasant outcomes), but splitting them down into regiments easily allows the Axis to peer into the Soviet line and probing for weak spots without committing any useful troops (i.e. German). even if we don't attack, it forces the Soviets to employ divisions to flip back hexes.
)