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ORIGINAL: Oshawott

The russians did a successfull raid on Leningrad. I was too confident. Fortunatly they didn't have the MP's to take the city.

I could have moved a mechanized corps into the city. But it would have been to easy to push it out of the city. Better to be patient.

In heavy urban, with the river in the north and east, it would have been a hard task...

But effectively time is on your side

ORIGINAL: Oshawott

41 was a cakewalk for the Russian air-force but 42 is a different picture. [X(]

I've converted a lot of fighter-bombers in fighters. A max of J87D are now FW190A and so on.

Thîs picture in from turn 64. I wanted to evaluate the progress in term of exp and morale of bombers when converted in fighter-bombers with a fighter mission.

interesting shift of air strategy, seems to have paid off. But I do rather fear your real problems are now on ground level [8D]

ORIGINAL: loki100

interesting shift of air strategy, seems to have paid off. But I do rather fear your real problems are now on ground level [8D]

They are! [:(]

But Oshawott did also an interesting air campaign. I have less fighters available than in my previous games

Turn 69, 8th octobre 1942

The finns are now cut from the germans. I think that Leningrad will fall before the end of 1942.

Air battle August 1942/november 1942

Oshawott has won the battle on the ground but he also did a very good job in the air.

One of the key of a good defence for the german on the long run is to keep as much as possible air superiority.

I achieved it on my previous game while transforming Fighter-bombers to fighters with the FW90A

Below the situation at the end of August 1942



And one week later. ready aircrafts fell from 156 to 119 with only 18 soviets kills. This implies a loss of morale...

Air battle August 1942/november 1942

Now I will focuse only on the FW190A.

First the II./STG77, a unit converted to FW190A It was badly hurt during the summer



An the recovery during the mud turns. I hope that with a better morale they will be able to earn more victories and an even more better morale. We shall see...[:'(]

Do you move lowest morale units to air reserve? Playing the Soviets I have assembled a training facility for badly mauled VVS units: 4-5 airbases with a very good commander under Moscow Air Command. Worst units go to reserve and get a morale bump because of that. If the morale bump wasn't enough they land in the training bases and again go to reserve on next turn. I repeat that until there are other units that require improving morale and the rested ones go to front. Doing this for a long time, I raised morale of all VVS above 60. Usually I select some morale level that qualifies an air group for going into reserves if it's below that level. First it was 50, then 55, then 60. I could try to raise the morale even higher, but I'm content with 60. For German air force you would be looking for higher morale levels of course (but have less options to rotate units, as VVS I have 20+ of each class waiting to be deployed). Usually bombers and recons needs this treatment most, as fighters get morale increase for successful combat, whereas bombers get very little and suffer only from losses (probably only air kills count).

ORIGINAL: morvael

Do you move lowest morale units to air reserve?

No I don't, they are located on rail lines and simply get morale because they are so far from national morale. On the other hand, I always make sure to have the best leaders in charge of my units.

It's a significant part of my AP's use (10 to 15 per turn)

That FW is trained as a bomber. They will drop Morale fast again after you increase it b/c they will 'perform ' badly.

ORIGINAL: BrianG

That FW is trained as a bomber. They will drop Morale fast again after you increase it b/c they will 'perform ' badly.

not sure. In my previous games, I managed to get very good fighter-bombers units

At the moment, they are still gaining experience (air fights were light this turn)

If I remember correctly units can only gain experience up to their current morale. So some of those fighter units can't gain experience. I would put them in reserve until morale is above experience. Let me know if I'm wrong.

Turn 74, 12th november 1942

Mud is over, I'm waiting for the reds and evacuate the Kursk's bulge.

It will shorten my lines and free several Pzd/Mot to act as reserve



And my pool, still positive

ORIGINAL: Oshawott

If I remember correctly units can only gain experience up to their current morale. So some of those fighter units can't gain experience. I would put them in reserve until morale is above experience. Let me know if I'm wrong.

I'm not sure, see IISTG/77 between turns 73 and 74
turn 73 morale 46 exp 66
turn 74 morale 51 exp 67
and tey didn't kill anything during that turn.

Turn 75, 19th november 1942

Near Leningrad, SHC is steadily gaining ground. Finns hold firmly Leningrad at the moment (defensive CV 90)

ORIGINAL: STEF78

Air battle August 1942/november 1942

Oshawott has won the battle on the ground but he also did a very good job in the air.

One of the key of a good defence for the german on the long run is to keep as much as possible air superiority.

I achieved it on my previous game while transforming Fighter-bombers to fighters with the FW90A

I put the almost all stukas on Me-110 during 1941 as soon as they rolled of the production line .
the pure fighter groups are simply not enough on the long run .

ORIGINAL: Gabriel B.

I put the almost all stukas on Me-110 during 1941 as soon as they rolled of the production line .
the pure fighter groups are simply not enough on the long run .

I've never had enough Me110 to switch all my J87 to fighter but I do it too

In this game air fights are intense and the Lufwaffe is in good shape

See below datas from turn 77



And the fights

Turn 76, 26th november 1942

Leningrad

Grinding continues and the fights in clear terrain are now always lost. Too many sapper régiments for a level 2 or 3 entrenchment



Lower Dniepr

I don't like this new units arriving....



Air war

And my fighter bombers... still improving their strength

ORIGINAL: STEF78

ORIGINAL: Gabriel B.

I put the almost all stukas on Me-110 during 1941 as soon as they rolled of the production line .
the pure fighter groups are simply not enough on the long run .

I've never had enough Me110 to switch all my J87 to fighter but I do it too

In this game air fights are intense and the Lufwaffe is in good shape

See below datas from turn 77

5-6 stuka grups out of 7, if i recall corectly .

why switch over fighters to me-109 g-2 ? the f-4 is very good until the G-6 arives .

Stef, why so suspicious?  I'm sure all those new artillery divisions are just arriving for a friendly handshake.