Half Again: Axis Perspective

[jjdenver]

T-turn - invasion of USSR launched. Many Soviet units on the front line mysteriously disappeared. When I asked Chuck how he told me that he disbanded them. Interesting move. I was disappointed that I didn't get to execute my planned first turn attacks.

Instead I advanced to find a massive line of Russians in the north. In the south he had not very much. I guess he figured out I was going to concentrate in the north.

A few attacks were launched and 3 cities taken in the north. No attacks in the south.

[jjdenver]

Here's the overall view also showing the continuing Soviet line in the north which had a

tech 4 tank.

He out-techs me - not a good start.

In the south you can see the much smaller Soviet forces.

[jjdenver]

I haven't updated in awhile. Here are some shots from German turn T+3...in other words after the 4th German move of Barbarossa.

The overall events have been:

1) Soviets have higher tech than Germany: 4 tank, 3 inf
2) Soviets deployed swarms of very small low tech units
3) Since Soviet lines were minimum double deep in all places, Germans have just focused on attriting the Soviets as efficiently and quickly as possible. This is the same strategy followed in France until a major rupture of the French line could be achieved. There's really no reasonable way to achieve penetrations and pockets when the Soviets have so many units. This is similar to the strategy the Wermacht followed in France. Even if a pocket in Russia could be formed the small units are hardly worth the effort. It's easier to just kill them.
4) Luftwaffe has flown only 1 sortie so far in the East - they've just been watching the war from their bases.
5) German losses have been light (6.66) while Soviet losses have I guess been reasonably large (56.78) although I'm not sure how to measure it since this is my first campaign vs Soviets. I've killed a ton of units for sure.
6) AGS has slowly advanced and probably is outnumbered. Kiev is 6 hexes away but as the front opens up AGS is careful of its flanks since there are so many Soviets around. Italy has the diplo points to bring in Romania but I think they might be more of a liability than an asset so I've left them neutral for the moment. A narrow front in the south favors AGS I think since the Soviets are so thick.
7) AGN/C has advanced rapidly. The Soviets have fallen back each turn to about 3 hexes away allowing the Infantry to advance 3 then attack which suits the Wermacht fine as we get a relatively quick advance and kill Soviets at the end of each turn's march. This turn (T+3) the Soviets fell back farther leaving just a few units behind in Minsk, Riga and a few other spots so there wasn't too much combat.
8) Germans are working on their strategic reserve to counter any attempts by the Commonwealth at invading Europe.

Here's a shot of the north. Germans have just taken Riga on the far left flank and Minsk in the center. Velikiye Luki and Pskov are the cities to the northeast. In this shot you can see that the Soviets fell back too far to reach effectively this turn.

[jjdenver]

And here's a shot of AGS.

[gwgardner]

I think perhaps you need some small units on your flanks and to fill gaps, else your opponent will surprise you with an encirclment of his own.

[jjdenver]

Jun01_41, Axis T+5 turn (6th turn of Barbarossa)

I had initially considered the possibility of retreating to the Baltic states for the winter but things are going so well that I may give up too much ground doing that so on we go.

The Soviets have fallen back to a line Pskov-Velikye Luki-Smolensk-Bryansk. The last couple of turns have been spent doing a few repairs on units and trying to push the Wermacht infantry forward as quickly as possible.

I divided up my forces as follows:

Drive on Tallin:
2 inf korp
1 inf div

Drive on Pksov:
2 pz korp
1 mot korp
3 inf korp
5 inf div

Drive on Smolensk:
5 pz korp (one newly built)
2 mot korp
5 inf korp
7 inf div

Drive on Gomel:
2 inf korp
2 inf div

AGS consists of:
8 inf korp
9 inf div

I decided to ignore for the moment Velikiye Luki since the strongest Soviet defenders are there. If I take Smolensk and Pskov I think Velikiye Luki is less tenable for the Soviets to defend due to the risk of encirclement so I think by taking those 2 I almost force the Soviets to shift forces to oppose my advance on Moskva and Leningrad and away from Velikiye Luki. If they Soviets leave a strong force there I have the option of surrounding it from north and south. Another factor is that because of the way the rivers around Velikiye and Smolensk run, if I assault Velikiye then advance on Smolensk I'm crossing multiple river lines. But if I go for Smolensk then Velikiye I've essentially outflanked all of the river lines by default.

The Soviet deployment seems to be swarms of small units in the south, a mixed infantry defense of Pskov, and all of their mobile forces (growing stronger and stronger) strung along the line Smolensk-Velikiye Luki.

This turn around Pskov 2 panzer korps forced a crossing of the river south of the city. This approach will render the Soviet defenses west of the river line moot I think so the city is bound to fall in 2 or 3 turns. A screen is run south from this crossing to defend against the strong Soviet armor near Velikiye Luki.

[jjdenver]

Jun01_41 (continued)
In the center the Wermacht infantry screens the armor near Velikiye Luki, left flank anchored on a river line.

The 3 panzer korps advance directly on Smolensk. The Soviets have a strong tank corp (9-7 lvl 3 corp) deployed in the hex SW of Smolensk. I notice that this unit has no leader so is probably more vulnerable than it will be later, and is also only lvl 3 so manage-able. The Luftwaffe is called in for the 2nd time on the East Front. 4 air strikes reduce the tank corp and the panzer korps destroy it.

The panzers then move south to cross the river, preparing for a thrust at Bryansk or around the south flank of the Soviet defenders next turn. Assaulting Smolensk across the river would be folly so the south flank is the only reasonable way to approach the city I think. This is combined w/ the fact that a strong Soviet tank presence would threaten my flank directly if I advanced north of Smolensk.

Wermacht infantry continues to struggle up from the area around Minsk.

Overall losses are shown also in the screenshot.

[jjdenver]

Jun01_41 (continued)
AGS falls back even farther this turn as Soviets continue to work around the flanks. Several attacks are made to reduce the Soviets on the flanks.

I should also mention that there is a sub war raging all along the north part of the naval map as Spanish, Italian, and German subs raid the lend lease convoy lines from UK to USSR.

I sallied the Regia Marina to the East Med this turn, hoping to perhaps catch the RN weak while they deal w/ the northern sub war. If they don't engage then I may consider sailing them around the Iberian Peninsula to join up w/ the Kriegsmarine. The combined navies could then pick one sea zone per turn to sail in, perhaps gaining local superiority vs the RN.

[jjdenver]

Jun16_41, Axis T+7 turn (8th turn of Barbarossa)

Things are getting so tough in Russia - the advance has slowed down drastically as we grapple for control of Pskov, Smolensk, Gomel.

AGN pushes up to the Baltic Sea east of Talinn but is forced to fall back by Soviet divisions that push into the east flank of the northward advance.

Around Pskov it's a slow grind east of the river hex by hex. The paras prepping for a drop are forced to cover the east flank of AGN against any thrust from Velikiye Luki. This happens because I had to rush units north to protect the east flank of the Talinn thrust.

[jjdenver]

Jun16_41, Axis T+7 turn (8th turn of Barbarossa) (continued)

AGC widens the gap south of Smolensk and while doing this the panzer korps rotate back a few hexes to 1 or 2 at a time to take replacements. The going is very tough.

[jjdenver]

Jun16_41, Axis T+7 turn (8th turn of Barbarossa) (continued)

Around Gomel the Soviets shift forces north from Kiev and the German advance is halted.

AGS continues to just chip away at the forces opposing it but makes no progress at all. The Soviets are successfully trading men for time.

Italians, Spanish, Germans continue to raid the convoy lines to Russia.

[gwgardner]

How do you do the convoy raiding? subs?

[jjdenver]

I'm spreading raiders (mostly subs but also some surface from France and Italy now) across 3 sea zones starting with the north sea.

For some reason the game shows me his convoy lines when I start my turn -I think it's a bug in the sequencing of the game...but anyway I'm very disappointed w/ the damage I'm doing to his convoy lines. I'm hitting for about 5-10 PP's per turn. This is with every sub I own and the Spanish navy and the Italian navy out there. I'm considering forming up IT navy as a regular fleet to try to catch some patrolling Brits - but anything that quickens the pace of naval attrition probably benefits allies in the long run so I may not do that.

[jjdenver]

Jun24_41, Axis T+8 turn (9th turn of Barbarossa)
AGN continues to skirmish for Talinn. The Soviets have executed a very rapid buildup there including the addition of an armored division that appears to have approached the area from Leningrad.

The war for the swamps running from Talinn to Pskov appears to have been won by the Wermacht as the Soviets who advanced out of the swamps last turn as well as the divisions remaining in the swamps are wiped out.

This battle combined w/ the continued northward push by the main AGN force east of Pskov succeeds in isolating the city so I think the defenders will have much reduced supply next turn? Although I'm not sure - perhaps he can open the supply line during his turn then I will still face full strength defenders next turn.

One Pz Korp is refit this turn.

[jjdenver]

Jun24_41, Axis T+8 turn (9th turn of Barbarossa) (continued)
AGC has been working around the east flank of Smolensk and the Soviets have refused to fall back from the city. This turn panzers race north and succeed in cutting the city off completely. If the ring holds the city should have reduced supply next turn.

Farther south a big gap is developing between the Gomel army and the main AGC forces.

Around Gomel there is no real progress and it looks like this army will have to fall back soon due to the mass of Soviets in the area.

AGS approaches Vinnitsa and skirmishes w/ the large number of Soviet divisions/corps in the area.

At sea battles continue for the convoy lines.

One down side to this turn is that the Luftwaffe flew max sorties and took heavy losses. Those will be expensive to repair next turn.

[Chocolino]

Great AAR. Thank you JJ.

Did you build more Air armies or are you still using the three you began the game with? How is the air opposition in skies over Russia? If you did build more air units, how do you judge the effectiveness of this investment as compared to - say - having purchased more tanks instead. (Hard to answer probably, just trying to see what your experience with the Luftwaffe for offensive operations is and how many units are the sweet spot in your opinion given the PP constrains of course).

[jjdenver]

ORIGINAL: Chocolino
Great AAR. Thank you JJ.
Did you build more Air armies or are you still using the three you began the game with? How is the air opposition in skies over Russia? If you did build more air units, how do you judge the effectiveness of this investment as compared to - say - having purchased more tanks instead. (Hard to answer probably, just trying to see what your experience with the Luftwaffe for offensive operations is and how many units are the sweet spot in your opinion given the PP constrains of course).

Hey Choc - glad you are enjoying it. I love to read all the AAR's for games I play. Chuck is a great opponent - just so competent at everything he does in the game, a master of it really. But no one can cover every eventuality so it's been fun to try to figure out ways to counter his play.

I have a total of 4 air units. I built the extra air because it gave me options:
- easier to take out minors
- I can send a couple air to counter Brit/US airborne drops in the west and still have 2 to counter the Soviets in the east
- If I really need to hit a tough hex in USSR, the extra air gives me a better chance to succeed
- I can rotate air units in USSR. But this hasn't worked out too well because you can't choose which air to use in an air strike so the game seems to use the first movement point of multiple air units instead of using the same unit twice when I do multiple air strikes.

I think maybe that an extra lvl 3 armor corp would have been as useful so far in USSR. However I love also the flexibility that the extra air gives me. I've had some really tough attacks succeed only because I had overpowering air to use. For example I killed a lvl 2 or 3 tank corp in front of Smolensk by hitting it w/ multiple air strikes then 3 pz korps. The 3 pz korps alone couldn't get high enough odds. It's nice as the attacker in Russia to know that any hex is probably vulnerable since you can choose to bring air power to bear. I used air power to complete the encirclement of Smolensk and Chuck chose to disband 3 tank corps as a result. That's huge.

So if I had it to do over again I'd probably buy the air unit I think. I'd say 4 is my max for this phase of the game as they are so expensive to purchase and repair and they almost always take losses. Losing the Italian air army to no purpose because I accidentally moved it out of supply still stings - that's so many PP.

[jjdenver]

Jul01_41, Axis T+9 turn (10th turn of Barbarossa)

Soviets manage to surround major elements of the force advancing on Talinn. A furious counter-attack is organized to drive supply into the pocket but even with Luftwaffe support (some really bad luck on the air strikes and attacks) it's unsuccessful. The trapped corps could be disbanded but it might be tough for the Soviets to destroy them all so the "every man for himself" order is not issued.

The Pskov pocket is reduced - now only the armor corp in Pskov itself remains. Its' supply is low so it should fall next turn.

[jjdenver]

Jul01_41, Axis T+9 turn (10th turn of Barbarossa) (continued)

The Soviet tank corps defending Smolensk are disbanded. AGC faces 3 basic options I think:
1) Drive north to surround Velikiye Luki, eliminating a big threat to the flank of AGC and AGN.
2) Drive NE to Tver, gaining a supply source that can be used as a springboard toward Moskva, to surround Velikiye Luki, but that is quite vulnerable to being cut off.
3) Drive SE toward Bryansk and Kaluga, advancing in the general direction of Moskva.

I'd evaluate (1) as the safest option since Velikiye Luki is a real threat to both AGC and AGN and the Soviets have a lot of armor there. Option (3) is a safe bet also since it gives 2 supply sources closer to Moskva and having both cities makes it very unlikely that the Soviets can threaten to cut off supply to any advance on Moskva. However option (2) achieves a rapid advance on Moskva, and also directly threatens to create a Soviet kessel at Velikiye Luki - perhaps forcing the Soviets to abandon that city. So I choose (2) - drive for Tver.

2 Pz Korps from AGC had to be diverted south toward Gomel this turn as the Soviets drove mobile units west to try to encircle the German army assaulting Gomel. The threat was largely neutralized but now the Panzers will have to spend a full turn catching back up. The upside is that they will help to cover the flanks of the drive on Tver as they advance.

[jjdenver]

Jul01_41, Axis T+9 turn (10th turn of Barbarossa) (continued)

AGS makes some progess as an increasing number of Soviet units are drawn off to reinforce Gomel. A soviet defense of Kiev and Vinnitsa pales in importance compared to the threat looming west of Moskva and Leningrad. The soviets must draw units north in my opinion before it's too late....although of course I could be completely wrong if they already have strong defenses built at Leningrad and Moskva. There is some indication of this since the Soviets committed an armored division from Leningrade to encircle the Talinn offensive.

This turn the investment of Vinnitsa makes progress and Kiev is in sight.