Stjeand (Axis) vs Nirosi (Allies) Stjeand may look

[Nirosi]

Allied turn of April 10th, 1942

In Norway the Americans have started to mop-up operations while the British are redeploying and will get some well-deserved R&R.

[Nirosi]

In the East, things are spicing up seriously. The Germans launched an offensive toward Kalinin and managed to get almost to the city while pulverising the 23rd Army. It seems that it held just long enough to save the city. Luckily, Stavka left the Siberian corps in the vicinity as it was obvious that at least five or six German mobile corps where in the area the whole Winter. They were rushed to try to save the city and the all-important rail hub. However, that might prove very problematic, especially if the weather stays nice.

In the Voronezh area, it seems that the Axis mobile corps might go both North and South, and the Motherland is actually at risk of been cut into two, rail-wise speaking. After much debate at Stavka, it was decided to take a wider spread-out defensive stance North of Stalingrad. While risky, it might deter in the short run the Axis from cutting the rail line until at least some last adjustments can me made, and then a safer stance (relatively speaking) can be resumed; if not too late.

[Nirosi]

Behind the smile, Stalin is very very worried!

[Nirosi]

Allied turn of April 24th, 1942

In the Eastern Front, with the help of good weather, Axis Mobile corps pushed North in a pincer move East and West of the Soviet capital with the clear objective to form a large Moscow pocket. Stavka believe it will be very hard to avoid that from happening even though those spearhead units seem worn out for now. Stavka even evacuated to a secret location 200 miles or so North of the city.

Further South, the country was not yet cut in two. Three panzer corps even stayed put probably to protect the other front’s flanks and probably to recover as well. A more modest number of panzer corps pushed South, East of Rostov, with the aim of crossing the Don and try to form a Rostov pocket (or may even a Stalingrad one). Local commanders are trying their best to stop that from happening.

Much further North, a second panzer corps appeared near Leningrad, a clear indication of Axis intentions there. With the panzer grenadier corps in between lakes Lagoda and Onega, Germany does have dangerous offensive forces in the sector. However, Stavka can not spare any more troops and the actual defenses will have to do.

Overall, it is estimated that the Axis has 20 mobile corps in the Soviet Union, three of which are Italians, all others been Germans.

In other news, the mop-up was finished in Norway, now clear of any Axis organised resistance.

[boldairade]

question:

since moscow is a supply hub, pocketing forces there shouldn't deprive them of supply right?(just a question, i realize strategically it's still significant)

another question: at some point with this number of mech/armor, shouldn't your opponent be running low on fuel???

[Nirosi]

since moscow is a supply hub, pocketing forces there shouldn't deprive them of supply right?(just a question, i realize strategically it's still significant)

Hum.. I assumed it stopped been a supply hub if isolated. But I might be mixing games? Still, a pocket remains a pocket and those troops could be reduced afterward one by one since the Summer is still young. Then again, by trying to escape I might be a victim of the same fate by been picked-up one by one...[:(]

[Nirosi]

another question: at some point with this number of mech/armor, shouldn't your opponent be running low on fuel???

I was asking myself the same question! Maybe he built some reserves during the Winter? I would love to know but have not yet managed to decrypt his transmissions [:D]

You might be able to ask on his thread? But don't tell me if he answers! I must stay honnest![:-]

[Harrybanana]

ORIGINAL: Nirosi

another question: at some point with this number of mech/armor, shouldn't your opponent be running low on fuel???

I was asking myself the same question! Maybe he built some reserves during the Winter? I would love to know but have not yet managed to decrypt his transmissions [:D]

You might be able to ask on his thread? But don't tell me if he answers! I must stay honnest![:-]

In my game with Stjeand he has about 25 Axis Armour/Mech units and at one time had more. Yet this didn't prevent him from using the entire German surface fleet to raid my convoy lines until they were all sunk. So if he has had oil problems I haven't noticed it. On the other hand, he has not built very many air units and I never bombed his oil refineries. Still, it seems to me that in the game the Axis are not nearly as constrained by a lack of oil as they were historically.

[Nirosi]

Still, it seems to me that in the game the Axis are not nearly as constrained by a lack of oil as they were historically.

I only remember once having serious oil problems with Germany (my long game with PL1). And even then, managed to solve it in less than 5 months. But tweaking this could be delicate. Easy to go from too much to not enough. My personal feeling is that a very small adjusment could be enough if Alvaro wants to have a look at it (as it would add up eventualy turn after turn).

But wow, 25 armors/mech! That is a lot of Axis mobile units. The again, I estimate he migh have 22 or so now in our game. Seems to me that this is to be at the expense of infantry that do seem in low numbers. But since the Soviets can not move more that 5 (except for CAVs), he does not need a contiuous front anyway. A few infantry here and there plus their ZOC is enough to protect his supply lines and flanks. [:(]

[Nirosi]

Allied turn of May 8th, 1942

Axis troops kept pushing their offensive in the Moscow and Rostov areas (and even more modestly in the Leningrad area) making the Red Army bleed. An attempt on Moscow itself was also made but failed to take the city.

In the South, around Rostov, the Don will eventually be crossed, it seems to be only a matter of time. Stavka can only hope that the crossing will be hard enough to slow down the Axis war machine.

[Nirosi]

In the North, near Moscow and Kalinin, Stavka decided that, despite the loses, enough was enough and that the Soviet people needed to make a stand! An offensive spearheaded by three guard tank corps and the three Siberian infantry corps was ordered. A panzer grenadier corps, that seemed already weakened, was pushed back with moderate loses on both sides. However, Stavka, does not expect to see it back on the front line for another 4 to 6 weeks, not if OKH wants it back at a reasonably operational level anyway.

This allowed the Red Army to continue with the offensive by forcing this time another panzer grenadier corps, now encircled, to surrender! This is probably the biggest Soviet victory yet. Then the 19th Panzer Corps was attacked and dispersed when forced to abandon its position. It will have to regroup far behind the front and will probably not come back in full strength before August or September. The whole offensive also left the German III Infantry Corps encircled. Of course, the situation is still very delicate, and the dreaded Moscow pocket could very easily still happen, the Axis Eastern pincer still been a serious threat.

[Nirosi]

In Finland, Soviet forces were reduced to a bare minimum to allow troops to be sent to more urgent fronts.

In other news, the Royal Navy attacked the Regia Marina at Taranto! The carrier-based air raid occurred at dawn and completely surprised the Italian defenders. Due to the harbour’s design, the new battleships could not be targeted, so the four older ones from the First World War were targeted in priority instead. They all sustained moderate damage, and so did the squadron centered on the heavy cruiser Fiume. A composite light cruiser/destroyer squadron was also a victim of the raid sustaining many losses. No important ships were lost, but the damage is extensive and will require Italy to divert many resources to repair the ships, if they so decide. This occurred on the same day as Turin was bomber by the RAF. The Allies had indeed decided to teach Italy a lesson that day!

In Germany, specialised US anti-submarine bombers attacked an U-boat flotilla in Konigsberg showing the Kriegsmarine that no Germany ship is safe anywhere!

[Nirosi]

Pictures taken live during the air raid on Taranto.

[Nirosi]

A whole German corps surrendered. Stavka will use the prisoners for domestic and international propaganda purposes. I might boost the Soviet citizen's will to fight and reassure the Western Allies that their lend-lease is actually helping.

[Nirosi]

Allied turn of May 22nd, 1942

At Leningrad, German parachutists landed behind the line and helped to open the way for German panzer. German and Finish troops further East also advanced closer toward the city. Soviet resources are stretched thin in the area and Stavka is unable to do much. In an act of desperation, Soviet Naval infantry were ordered to land behind the front to impede, albeit temporarily, the German supply lines.

At Moscow, the Soviet Capital was taken by panzer grenadier units while Italian and German tanks further East continued to push North. The Axis seems to be lacking troops are even Italian headquarters’ security regiments had to contribute to the advance.

Stavka, encouraged by the moderate successes of two weeks ago, ordered yet another offensive and managed to eliminate a panzer grenadier corps with brute force and also disperse an infantry corps that will have to be reorganised in Germany.

This should stabilise the situation around Kalinin, but around Gorki, the situation is dire. Stavka could not decide what option would be worse between evacuating Gorki or holding Gorki. The city seems impossible to hold, but its strategic importance as a rail hub is also very high. In the end, national pride made the difference. Even a small delay forced upon the Axis by a better-than-expected defence might make a difference! Stalin himself sent a message of hope to the defenders.

[Nirosi]

In the South, the Don was crossed, Rostov will soon be encircled and even the Black Sea Fleet set sail to help defend the city while most troops repositioned to protect Stalingrad, leaving the Caucasus almost open, especially when Rostov will fall, an inevitable fate considering the forces facing each other in the region and the fact that there are still about four months of Summer weather left!

In other news, the Regia Marina escaped to Venice where the Royal Navy pursed them and launched yet another air raid as the Axis does not seem interested to provide air cover to the Italian fleet. The old battleships were targeted once again and are all in very bad shape. But British pilots managed this time to also target the modern ones and do moderate damage. It is doubtful that Italy would have the resources to repair the massive damage done over the last month. And German help in this area is also very doubtful.

Konigsberg, again, was targeted by US bombers mauling the U-boats flotillas that were still in port. The Admiralty is wondering if the Axis has not given-up on the Battle of the Atlantic and might stop diverting resources to their submarines, as well as their surface ships?

[Nirosi]

Allied turn of June 6th, 1942

Disaster in the East! German spearheads near Kirov cut off the supply lifeline to the whole Soviet Army between Leningrad and Gorki! This came in as a complete surprise to Stavka who never imagined its rail network to be so easily disrupted! The Soviets are attempting to do their best to provide as much supply as possible through Murmansk and Archangel.

The priority is now to try to establish the supply link near Kirov. However, the Axis is also now able to cut off the rail link North of Ivanov. The situation is as close as possible it can be to be utter chaos. The war in the East seems lost….

Around Leningrad, the city was cut off by German panzers and Soviet naval infantry near the Estonian border was eliminated.

[Nirosi]

In Rostov, with the help of the Black Sea Fleet, the city defenders managed for now to repulse the attackers. Stalin is considering awarding the Red Banner distinction to the defenders.

In other news, the battered Italian fleet did finally receive some help in the form of air cover! However, Turin again was bombed by the RAF, while US bombers targeted the Free Norwegian Fleet in Stettin (as German U-boats in the Baltic fled to Finland), but without success.

[Harrybanana]

ORIGINAL: Nirosi

In other news, the battered Italian fleet did finally receive some help in the form of air cover! However, Turin again was bombed by the RAF, while US bombers targeted the Free Norwegian Fleet in Stettin (as German U-boats in the Baltic fled to Finland), but without success.

"without success" do you mean because your CV air and bombers were unable to find the Italian fleet and German subs, or because you found them but did no damage? I am curious because I would have thought that finding fleets even in port would be very unlikely where recon is very poor; as I would expect is the case here. Yet you found the Italian fleet with your CVs on two successive occasion prior to this. So maybe the odds are greater than I think.

[Nirosi]

"without success" do you mean because your CV air and bombers were unable to find the Italian fleet and German subs, or because you found them but did no damage? I am curious because I would have thought that finding fleets even in port would be very unlikely where recon is very poor; as I would expect is the case here. Yet you found the Italian fleet with your CVs on two successive occasion prior to this. So maybe the odds are greater than I think

Sorry I do not recall for sure if I did not found them or just not do any damage. But I believe it is the latter (found them but no hits). It was with an anti-sub strategic after all, anti-surface is not their best side!