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Turn 12 (AI)

7. September 1941


Not much to report. The AI brings all damaged units to full strength.





This naval attack of the Maxim Gorky is a bit of a problem. I can move my sub back to the former position, but this would mean the Maxim Gorky can attack U-81 with Prepared Attack-bonus. Also I can attack the Light Cruiser, but this will mean casualties on both sides.

In the north of Leningrad, the Soviet corps is back to full strength. Not good.[/center][/font]

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Turn 13

14. September 1941


My supply problems improve as the HQs get closer to the front lines. I also notice the Russian defenses get stronger.
As long as I have good weather, my advance will continue.





From now on the Russians will notice the presence of the Kriegsmarine.
It will take a bit of time until the AI reacts, but it will send a certain part of the Royal Navy.





The Finnish Verdun, Act II:

The survival of the XIII Soviet corps is fore sure lucky, but I need to cope with it. In Turn 15 I need to refresh the Finnish troops.. their only army is down to strength 7 and will not inflict as much damage as I would need to destroy the XIII corps. So Turn 17 will be the next chance for an attack. I need the German bombers.. and good weather.





Yes, there are a lot of enemy units which survive at Strength 1 these days. So I need to destroy these units in the next turn.
At least I have taken Luga, and von Kuchler is in Narwa. Due to the nearby port, he will have Supply 10 in Turn 15, and this will help his units a lot.





The most important target of Army Group Center has been reached: Smolensk. Now I can start to divert units to other theaters.
The next things I will do: conquer Brjansk and establish a defensive line in the east of Smolensk. I will not go for Wjasma.





I am praying for good weather. As soon as the Rasputiza starts, my units will become immobile.





Good news from the south: I was able to hunt down the Schukow HQ. Originally it was located in the southeast of Zaporizhia, and after two attacks it retreated to Melitopol where I destroyed it.
This means I control 3 out of 4 mines in the Ukraine. Fully recovered they will yield 36 MPPs per turn.

I have destroyed a total of 75 Soviet units now, but the Red Army still have 55 units left.





My offensive in Egypt is very successful. I am already curious what expects me in El Alamein.





It will take a long time until I will have the first research breakthrough.





Almost 100 MPPs more than in June. [/center][/font]

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Turn 14 (AI)

21. September 1941





British SAS commandos raid my supply lines in Libya and cause havoc.





The Finnish Verdun will continue.[/center][/font]

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Turn 15

2. Oktober 1941


The match against the AI has reached a point where it gets quite historically accurate.
The northern half of Russia is is covered by mud, and this saves Leningrad and Kursk. Almost the same happens in Egypt where the DAK needs to halt due to bad supply and sandstorms.





90 MPPs sunk.. a promising start. Let us see how long the AI needs to strike.





Three additional subs have arrived. If the AI sends just a small fleet, I might be able to sink it.





The Finnish Verdun, Act III:

Due to bad supply I was not able to bring the Isthmus Army back to full strength. This might be crucial in Turn 17 when I start the next attack. I hope it will not fail again.

In the south of the city, mud keeps me away from Schlüsselburg. It would have been nice to cut Leningrad off from the railway net, but General Mud did not let me.





Army Group Center conquers Brjansk, but this seems to be the end of the story. Most of my units can move a hex or two. Rasputiza.





Kursk is also saved by mud. But I feel confident to conquer the city next turn.





Von Rundstedt if far away from the front lines. Maybe I cannot conduct an attack on Rostow due to this.





But there is a positive aspect: the DAK and its Italian comrades are back at full strength. Some units have received Anti Aircraft tech.[/center][/font]

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Turn 16 (AI)

13. Oktober 1941


I feel quite amazed by the AI this turn. It did set up a very good defense of Leningrad, and it had the perfect answer in Egypt. Also the Kriegsmarine was attacked in the Norwegian Sea and suffered moderate losses.





Apart from the units you can see in this screenshot, the AI did bring a lot more heavy units. During the AI turn I have seen a CV and a couple of BBs, altogether more than 10 surface vessels. They come out of nowhere, attack and disappear again. Dynamic movement and a good AI can be quite challenging.

To repair my damaged units, I need to send then back to Germany. Not good.
What a pity I wasn't able to cut off Leningrad.





The defense of Leningrad is set up very well. The poor Finns will have rockets raining upon them, and Schlüsselburg is also protected. I need to ask Hubert if this is scripted, it looks almost perfect.

I decide to take Nowgorod first.. Leningrad will be a longer issue.





The Royal Air Force strikes, and it did a very good job. I need to refresh my fighter and cannot do proper recon.
This will delay my attack even further.[/center][/font]

I have noticed that one of the video plays waited to capture Odesa. with the rail line going thru the city that slows down you supply.

Hi Michael,

Just wanted to quickly say thanks again, publicly at least here, for such a wonderful looking AAR [:)]

To answer your question regarding Leningrad, there is likely a combination of general behavior as well as a specific scripts at play here for the 1941 campaign when started at the higher difficulty levels. The general behavior, and provided the AI has enough units on hand to help out in a defensive situation, is for the AI to collapse around a city defensively for any defenders that are in range. But Leningrad also has specific GUARD scripts that tell it to place units in and around Leningrad and specifically in the Fortified hexes which is triggered under the right conditions, i.e. X enemy units within Y range and so on.

The combination of these two behaviors will typically provide a decent defense in a key location like Leningrad but again it all depends on if it has enough units left on hand... my guess is that this current turn saw some of the destroyed units returning to the fray and luckily enough for it, just in time.

The AI also has a script to provide it with Artillery at Leningrad at the highest difficulty levels and for the Anti-Air, the AI also attempts to recognize areas that are threatened by enemy air units and will either attempt to balance out that type of "weakness" with friendly AA or Fighter reorganization and replacement. This can be tricky for the AI to get just right in all areas, and especially for the USSR as it is quite a large area for the AI to handle, but nice to see it got it right this time... I am surprised it sent over an Armoured Train as well, but again this will sometimes happen as it attempts to fill in those defensive positions with whatever available units it has on hand and at this point its defenses are likely stretched thin across the entire map as you seem to be crushing it quite well as you march towards Moscow [X(]

[font="Times New Roman"][center]Hi Dan!

I am not quite sure if I get your point. The sooner the Axis can capture Odessa, the earlier the supply will regenerate. The supply that is generated in Odessa before it is conquered does not help the Axis, so I cannot imagine any situation were a delayed conquest of an enemy resource would bring an advantage.


Hi Hubert!

Thanks for the enlightenment. In comparison to earlier versions, the AI has improved a lot. It will never be as good an experienced human player, but during the Beta test it gave me quite a few challenges.
And Moscow will be safe in 1941.. the Rasputiza has started, and I will not be able to conduct any major offensives any more. At some parts of the front line I am behind the historical schedule, but my losses are lower than in RL. I am very curious about 1942.[/center][/font]

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Turn 17

24. Oktober 1941


Rasputiza has started, and if I get one turn with good weather until the end of the year, I can be happy.






93 MPPs is better than nothing.





Two minor British ships are gone, but I would not call this a victory. 50% of my surface vessels are damaged, and I cannot repair them tho full strength without sending them back to Germany. This would take five turns, and they might get caught on the way back, so I decided to leave them in the Norwegian Sea until I have conquered Leningrad. This will take time, but sending them back to Germany will also take ages.





The Finnish Verdun, Act IV:

Soviet rockets and bad weather hurt the Finnish morale. I know the Schlüsselburg hex in the southeast of Leningrad is more important, but sooner or later conquering the fortification hex is getting a bit personal.
At least the attack on Nowgorod went well, and I am confident to take the town next turn.





Readiness and morale are quite low, and I need to give my troops a rest before the Soviet Winter. I will leave the 9. Armee and three Armeekorps (VI., IX. and XXI.) in the east Smolensk.
Dug in behind the Dnepr, this should be enough to fend off a Soviet attack.

The tanks have already moved to the south, and the planes will be diverted to another theater as soon as my troops have conquered Velikiye Luki.





I hope I can capture Orel before the end of the year. This would make the whole front line much easier to defend as the Soviets would be further away from the next resources (Kaluga, Tula).
If I cannot take Orel, the Soviets would be able to get supply from there, and the town would a thorn in my front line.





Supply is a big problem these days. Von Rundstedt can march one hex per turn, and it will take him quite long to reach the front lines.
Conducting an attack is not possible. I need one more turn of good weather.

On the Krim peninsula, the Romanians can barely move. Nothing to report.





The Italians could have attacked the British army, but the forecast was bad. The Ariete Tank Group has tech level zero, and the Italian corps is not as strong as a British army. And the British artillery would have provided defensive fire.
I need to wait until next turn.





I start to invest in Diplomacy.
I want to have Turkey on my side sooner or later.





Proskurow and Winnitsa are hit by partisan activities.

At the end of the turn, I get Advanced Aircraft Level 2. Fine.[/center][/font]

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Turn 18 (AI)

4. November 1941





I need to find a way to interrupt the railway to Leningrad, or this battle will go on forever.
The Finns might not like it, but I have to use the good weather and concentrate my bombers on the Schlüsselburg hex.





Surprise, surprise. I thought the British were happy just to sit in their fortifications, but they attack me.
The longer they do this, the later I will get to Alexamdria.[/center][/font]

Hello HvS
Thanks for the great AAR's

[font="Times New Roman"][center]Hi taffjones!

Thanks for your kind words. I need to admit that this AAR is a special one... usually battling the AI is not very exciting, but this Beta version has brought a few improvements. I have already noticed that the Red Army is very difficult to decimate. The AI produces new units quicker than I can destroy them, and I expect 1942 will be quite challenging. I did not experience this in the previous builds.[/center][/font]

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Turn 19

11. November 1941


I got what I was hoping for: good weather in Russia.
This decides the fate of Leningrad.





141 MPPs less for the Soviets. I wish this would go on.





One destroyer less. But most of my subs have low supply and need to refuel.
I will do this during the winter.





Army Group North makes a big step ahead. The Finns destroy the Soviet XIII corps, and the German 18. Armee conquered the vital Schlüsselburg hex.
Nowgorod is conquered by the 16. Armee.

Basically this looks like the historical situation in late 1941.. Leningrad is cut off and besieged. But there are two crucial differences: in RL, the Finns did not attack Leningrad, and Heeresgruppe Nord was decimated. Here in this game, the player can decide what to do with the Finnish forces, and of course the player can give priority to certain theaters. I decided to halt Heeresgruppe Mitte, and this means I have more MPPs left to refresh my troops in the north and in the south. For these reasons, Leningrad will fall sooner or later. The only way the AI could avoid this would be a massive attack from Wolchow and Tichwin, but I cannot imagine the AI has so many units.





I have already started to transfer units to the south. I have not yet decided what to do with my bombers, but I think they will also strengthen Heeresgruppe Süd.
Another Alternative would be to send them to Kursk and support the attack on Moscow in 1942.





With Orel already conquered, all of my targets in this theater are reached. It looks as if Kaluga and Tula would be just a step away, but this is wrong. The Red Army still has 68 unit on the board, and it is sitting in well prepared positions. It mid November, and the Russian Winter is close... as well as the transfer of the Siberians.

Most of my units have low readiness and morale, and they need to regenerate. This is why I will create a Comfort Zone around Kursk.. von Kleist will be able to provide Supply 10 from Turn 23 on, and my tanks will be very happy to benefit from it.





I will not be able to conquer Rostow in 1941, but I am preparing to do this 1942. This is why I sent von Schobert and von Rundstedt down there: I will strengthen Army Group South with troops from the center. At the moment, I have 9 ground units and 2 air units down there, and I will increase this number to a total of at least 14.

The Romanians have reached Simferopol, but struggle to conquer it.





The British loose a Tank Group and an army, another corps is decimated.
Without major reinforcement for the Allies, I will conquer Egypt sooner or later.

One reason for this is that I set priority to North Africa.[/center][/font]

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Turn 20 (AI)

26. November 1941





Rostow is also quite important for the Soviet economy, and the AI knows this.





I get the impression the AI does everything it can to delay my attack.
This even includes sacrificing units.



At the end of the turn, the US declares war on Germany.
What a belligerent country![/center][/font]

the question is does your supply line increase quicker along a rail line than a road? the rail line thru a city would increase your need to take it quickly. correct?

[font="Times New Roman"][center]Hi Dan!

Yes and no. Resources recover at a rate of 1 point per own turn. In the case of Odessa, the maximum value is 10 when occupied by the Soviet Union and 6 when occupied by Germany. When German troops conquer the city, it will take damage and the supply goes down, i.e. to 3. Now the recovery phase starts, but it depends on the connection to the relevant Capital or Primary Supply. Without any connection, Odessa will be limited to a maximum supply of 3. A land connection without a railway connection will bring a maximum of 5, and only a railway connection will let the city recover to its maximum value. Of course this is limited by the Occupational Efficiency (60% in case of Russia). So the rail connection does not make the recovery quicker, but of course it is better to have a high supply. Esp. 6 is quite important as it allows HQs to provide Supply 10. [/center][/font]

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Turn 21

7. Dezember 1941





Another 141 MPPs on the bottom of the Norwegian Sea.
Better there than elsewhere.





For sure a good advice, but the Kriegsmarine does not have the capacity to do that.
Interrupting the convoys to Murmansk is more important.





Army Group North is moving closer to Leningrad.
I have already transferred a couple of units to the south.





I will remain defensive during the winter.
May the Red Army attack me.. my troops are prepared and well supplied.





The AI does its best to keep me away from Rostow.





As soon as the winter is over, the Siege of Sewastopol will begin.
My bombers around Mariupol will be able to reach the fortress once I have brought them in the right position.
This will make the siege shorter.





I am happy with my advance. There is just one thing that is really annoying: the Royal Air Force is quite strong, and my Air units suffer heavy losses.





This should help the Ariete a bit.





Usually this happens a bit later.
Apparently my advance was a good one.

My Diplomats had a minor success.. Turkey swings a bit to my side.. just 11%.
Better than nothing.[/center][/font]

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Turn 22 (AI)

18. Dezember 1941





Due to the bad weather, the recently arrived corps will be difficult to destroy.





The RAF is powerful, and they have the numerical superiority.
There is nothing I can do against it.[/center][/font]

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Turn 23

29. Dezember 1941





61 MPPs sunk is not bad.
We have winter, and most subs refuel.





Every destroyer on the bottom of the Norwegian Sea makes it easier to fend off the D-Day.





The city has no more entrenchment.
Just one turn of good weather please.





I think it is wise not to attack in December.





Army Group South also needs to rest.





Every centimeter is hard work.





Yes, I want to build fortifications.





This will help a lot when the Allies conduct an invasion.





The earlier, the better. [/center][/font]

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Statistics


The first six months of Unternehmen Barbarossa are over.
I want to take a close look on what has happen.





I. Plans and Reality

Leningrad: will be conquered sooner or later
Smolensk: conquered
Brjansk: conquered
Kursk: conquered
Stalino: conquered
Rostow: will be conquered sooner or later

In history, Abteilung Fremde Heere Ost estimated the total strength of the Red Army to be around 200 divisions. By the end of 1941, around 200 divisions were destroyed, but the Red Army was still there.
Apparently the German Geheimdienst did unterestimate the Soviet Union. Not just the amount of existing units, they drastically misjudged the Russian will to survive and their ability to rise from the dead.





As I started the game in June 1941, the Red Army had 70 units. I have destroyed 94, and they still have 104 (!!).
Although I have reached most of my targets, 1942 will not be easier.

Leningrad and Rostow are not yet conquered, but I don't see any problems in achieving this in 1942.
So I have more or less reached my targets. The only question: will it help me?

In history, the Wehrmacht continued their attack on Moscow and Rostow in November.
Rostow was conquered, but von Rundstedt decided to retreat.
And we all know what happened during the Battle of Moscow.
I did not conduct these attacks, so my troops are in a good condition.





The German MPP development does not show anything unusual.





The same applies to the Italians.
The Royal Air Force is their biggest threat.





The Soviet union has lost its complete Army, but it still has one.





The British Empire will be kicked out of Egypt sooner or later.
Their losses are tremendous.

Total Axis Losses: 6.255 MPPs
Total Allies Losses: 23.815 MPPs.



II. Comparison Of Forces In Russia

Germany and her Allies (except Italy) currently have 104 ground units. Many of them are garrisons and occupations units.

Western Europe: 12
Scandinavia: 13
Germany: 3
Balkans: 8
Egypt: 6

In Russia, there are 62 Axis ground units. 8 of these subdue partisans, so there are just 54 ground units which conduct the War in Russia.

The Soviet Union has currently 91 ground units. I estimate 6 garrison and 2 pioneer units, so they have 83 ground combat units.

Germany 54 : Soviet Union 83

Does not look easy.


III. Plans for 1942

I will conquer Leningrad and Rostow sooner or later. But I am pretty sure the Red Army will attack me.. I just don't know where.

In the north, I will also take Wolchow and Tichwin. After this, the remainder of Heeresgruppe Nord can be used for other purposes.

In the south, I will try to take Sewastopol, Maikop and Stalingrad.

If I have enough forces left, I will try an Attack on Moscow.





The terrain in the west of Moscow is terrible. Until I can attack in 1942, it will be completely covered by fortifications.
I have tried it in a previous Beta version, and it not easy. Usually my troops from the south arrive earlier.

So my plan is to cut off all enemy units between Smolensk and Moscow.
If I can conquer the northern part of the city, there is no railway connection any more.

Of course this depends on what the AI will do in the next months.[/center][/font]