The AAR is sufficently behind that I can see it according to Ed, so I will make a post to explain and enhance the AAR. Firstly, I am playing Axis lately leaving the First Winter Zone completely. I see no value in losing 1 million men regardless if the Red Army grows to 8 million. I have trying pursuing a relentless pull back Axis and so outstripped my supplies I assessed that some gifts shouldn't be accepted. Please leave behind this hugely contentious assertion and move on with the experiment in this game. We are playing beta versions after all
I needed a 1942 Army that was stronger, with better equipment and higher morale than in 1941. Imporantaly, my Minor Allies had to be strong.
M60 had a very strong defence in the south, actaully poised for offence,so I suspected i would ultimately need to go on the Operational level defensive in the south and conduct an economy of effort campaign. However, I wanted to see if a grand encirclement from Smolensk to Rostov was possible. Alternatively, a very signifcantly resourced attack north of the Azov would give the Red Army pause. To this end, Manteain and athe best commanders were concentrated in what would eventually become my shoestring operational defence in the south. Following significant gains, the Red Army stopped me cold, but sent huge reinforcements south. With this strategic investment, I assess STAVKA commited to a southern offensive, even after the Ost Heer was making worrisome gains in the north. STAVKA's assessment ( I assess
was that a breakthrough would make a pullback and re-allocation of emergency axis forces essential. In a nutshell, that was the strategic context.
Trucks and Supply. I have a history of posts of trucks, but I was determined in 1942 to attack along sustainable ( i.e. along railways) paths. I learned this playing Soviet, and something I recommend Axis players pay attention to after the 1941 free for all.
In the screenshot, you will note two enabling precursor operations. First, I had to snap the rail line to the Finnish front - that's what the SS is for. The SS divisions that surrendered in 1941 are back in elite morale status even though they came back in the 30's (before a patch corected this) whereas Wehrmact re-created divs still suck.
Secondly, the Yaroslavl rail line runs next to the major river, so I had to hold a divisional picket line further out.
Finally my prefered supply route across the major river at K town had to be ready for the mid game.
OPLAN "Tebow" ( Broncos fan long before he got there but anyway) - all options, no plan
1) I was going to go for Chelyabinsk - no sh*t. Ed shut that down. I believe he saw this and went all in as I had 4 FBDs working to keep HQ Build Ups possible but couldn't do it. He knows I am an unashamed Panzer Raider.
2) Turn the flank and encircle Moscow plus. Never could, so I kept going east, with those nice major rivers on my flank and good supply. In 1942, the panzers are always in suppply, something not hoisted in by Sovs still thinknig of 1941.
3) Ended up at Gorky, full of industry. Confession time. It was looking like Stalingrad redux, so I decided to to bomb and leave. I had just finished a turn as Sov in another gave, and unthinkingly bombed troops rather than industry. After an "oh sh*t" moment I decided to do a ground attack to damage the industry. In order to maximize and avoid losses, I spent big APs to optimize C + C and had a reasonable die roll. After this high water mark - withdrawal time.
4) Try and pocket the three distinct and obvious candidates as Options ( i.e. consolation prizes). Supply was great, HQ Build Ups feasible and esentail to keep the Reds off balance, and imporatntly moving their mobile units so much as to reduce Reserve status usefulness. An "On Balanc" Red Army is very tough, a reactive one is not. Once again - Follow Supply Lines!
