Stephan61 wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 12:18 pm
Report from the Axis
On a troubled night were not just Arsenal capitulated but E-Adolf offered Joe Stalin a decisive victory and capitulated also.
Opening Thoughts - Phase 1
As this was my first ever game of the NEE version of the GC I decided to take things a lot slower than normal, so initial turns went well. Riga, Pskov, Kiev, Gomel and Odessa all fell as scripted.
Stamb though had decided to try and hole Smolensk and Tallin for as long as possible.
Although Tallin was liberated in 2-3 turns longer than expected it gave Stam time to close up the Narva line crossing, one which I could never break down, deciding on parking a Corp there to stop any advances from the Russian side.
Smolensk though was the major thorn in my side, it took many turns to capture and once captured I could never expand the area due to low CPP and small counter attacks.
Thoughts - Phase 2.
Expand from Gomel, Kiev, Odessa & Pskov
Initially the first moves out was successful and gaining ground towards D&Z and Kherson, whilst gaining small grounds towards Leningrad........... then Stambs special units started to have an effect.
From Kiev & Odessa, the move towards D&Z and Kherson was hampered by rampaging units of Cav & Paras, constantly running through ZOC and in between lines to isolate and delay. This had a devastating effect in slowing the advance and allowing for well formed defence of D&Z.
I dont know how many units of CAV & Para where involved, but every turn a new formations would ride out of the steppes to cause havoc.
Plenty of Recon towards Leningrad showed at least 30-40 Rifle Divs and Support formations all lined up and dug in, it became almost impossible to dis-lodge them piecemeal.
Thoughts - THE END
Having failed to take D&Z I made a general fall back to form a defensive line, this was the killer blow as it allowed Stamb to muster large formations together to bust through in areas, resulting in further fall backs.
Then in Blizzard conditions a amssive assault out of Lenningrad resulted in a lot of defeats and retreats in AGN, with most units on 0 CPP, it became evident that Pskov would fall very quickly and I would need to retreat further back to RIga area to try and re-fit, re-group etc.
Alas from that point on the map an advance in 42 was never going to happen.
Notes:
1: If you play NEE version, then still keep to the strategy of gaining VP locations as quickly as possible.
2: Control the Russian Forces as best as you can, if they get to 7.5mil men etc, then your done.
3: Upgrading to .27 mid game was a mistake, as the game then started to become bugged down, so we introduce house rules to counter some of the problems especially in the Air War.
4: Freight delivery became a massive issue, with most NSS delivering at least 16k per turn, all except Berlin who would deliver some 6k per turn, net effect it started to strangle the front of needed supplies. I even had 10k of Trucks in the Pool at the end.
5: I agree with Stamb, the Minor Nations are almost useless, even when you marry them in with some seasoned Axis force they still prefer to rout! - Perhaps a moral boost to start with is needed?
6: The ONE defeat and you lose all CPP needs to be looked at, One defeat shouldnt mean that DIV or Unit is totally ineffectual for the next 4 turns whilst it recovers, especially if your trying to defend a broad front of attacks. Historically the Axis forces recovered extremely well from a defeat to be able to counter attack straight away, so a defeat shouldn't lose all CPP within a unit.
All in all a good education and any future game I play of the NEE version I will certainly not be going "go slow for 42" strategy.
