HamburgerMeat (Allies) vs Clausewitzclausewitz (Axis) Educational AAR (1.06)

[HamburgerMeat]

August 1941 - Both Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk have fallen after heavy artillery bombardment into panzer attacks, and the axis have crossed the river by taking Kherson. Otherwise, the river line remains steady.

By keeping two units near Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk, they continually siege it and reduce the supply of the city. This increases the time the cities take to "regenerate" supply. When they reach 6 supply, they can provide 10 supply with a HQ inside, which makes axis units much more deadly.

[HamburgerMeat]

I had to make an interesting decision here: should I retake Kherson this turn or not? Doing so would cause damage on my most powerful unit, the experienced Siberian heavy tanks. However, the axis forces around Dnepropetrovsk appear to be mostly tank-based. A town provides great defensive bonuses versus tanks. Furthermore, I can reestablish control over my side of the river. I decide to take the risk. My heavy tanks take 2 strength damage, nothing too severe, and my Siberian armies retake Kherson with high morale after their victory. I take my mechanized corps off the river line and pick away at the overextended german antitank unit with my corps, but take limited action otherwise. I should probably move a corp into Sevastopol soon before I lose the opportunity.


I also use my MPPs to rebuild both armies that were destroyed the previous turn. The axis forces appear to be relying on softening soviet forces with massive artillery before engaging. It is a slow and methodical approach that saves Axis forces from a lot of pain, but the rain and mud is just around the corner. I have stronger faith in my ability to hold Rostov until 1942.

[HamburgerMeat]

Meanwhile, army group center appears to be trying to avoid attacking Smolensk head on and instead are attacking in the Gomel south. The axis appear to be either

1. trying to attack Smolensk from the south
2. avoiding Smolensk and moving directly onto Bryansk (unlikely and very risky); or
3. are most likely trying to find a way to flank southern soviet forces

I operate an army into the forest southeast of Gomel and move a corp to Bryansk. If axis forces intend to push to Bryansk, I will move corp into the forests directly north and south of it. Between the forest hexes, the river, and support from Smolensk, should be enough to hold axis forces until the end of the muddy season

[pjg100]

This AAR brings back some painful memories - Clausewitz hope you do better against Hamburger's Russian defense than I did!

[HamburgerMeat]

September 1941:

The Germans have crossed the Dnieper in three locations. With Kherson being occupied by a highly experienced panzercorp, we have no chance to take it back. Instead, we will be focused on the other panzercorp as well as the army that crossed. Our goal is to destroy both and, if possible, reestablish the northern river line

[HamburgerMeat]

With Zhukov in control of the 3 strength heavy tanks, I see a 3:3 ratio versus the tanks. I do not want to risk losing an entire tank unit, but at the same time those are pretty good odds for a unit that is such low strength. First I soften the panzers with 1 damage from the corps SE of it (remember, if you attack without moving, the unit gets a readiness bonus). With that one damage, I now get a 2:3 ratio for my heavy tanks. I decide to roll the dice, and my heavy tanks make it out with one hit point. I finish the panzers off with my medium tank corp.

Next, the northern german army. Unfortunately despite seeing good odds (3:3), Rokossovsky goofs and it ends up being 4:2, axis favor. I send my mechanized up to finish it off, but once again, bad rolls on both attacks. The army north of the target finishes the germans without casualites, but the trades are not worth it. Worse, having relied on my northern army to finish off the germans means I can no longer send them south to plug the line. I also upgraded a nearby corp that could have plugged the gap too early (a reminder to all that upgrades should come after doing your combat). I send my light tanks to plug the southern gap as they are not much use anywhere else.

Stalin prays for rain and considers executing Rokossovsky.

[HamburgerMeat]

October 1941: The Dnieper line is collapsing. I pull back to form a second line from Kursk to Taganrog while having several corps hold what portions of the river they can

[HamburgerMeat]

November 1941:

This is the situation in the southern USSR at the start of the turn:

[HamburgerMeat]

As the axis have already crossed the river at multiple locations, it is time to abandon the Dnieper. I leave an injured corp and a cavalry corp near Dnepropetrov to siege it for one more turn. Otherwise, all units fall back to the already formed second line. This is done for a few reasons:

1. As the axis have crossed in multiple locations, I will not likely get the benefit of the great river defense bonus
2. I don't want them to get surrounded, as they will not be discounted when I repurchase them.
3. Next turn will likely be muddy for the axis, so by pulling back now few axis units will be able to get in range next turn to attack.

[HamburgerMeat]

Up north, it appears that the axis are getting ready to attack Bryansk. I swap the corp that was standing there with an army, thereby giving the entrenchment bonus to the army. Otherwise, I place a new tank NE of Smolensk to prevent an encirclement.

[HamburgerMeat]

Meanwhile, the UK declares war on Sweden, bombing Stockholm with 10 carrier attacks and multiple tactical bombers. The army shatters, and paratroopers land in Stockholm. Now Germany's iron ore imports will be denied, and the northern flank of the Reich is wide exposed.

The USA is extremely displeased, but it is almost 1942 and their mobilization will accelerate.

[HamburgerMeat]

In the far east, China is holding on for dear life as Japanese strategic bombers attempt to destroy all supply coming into Sian

[HamburgerMeat]

December 1941: The axis take Sevastopol (probably should have put an army inside instead of a corp) but otherwise take their time to rest and repair. New armies are formed and take their place along the line

[HamburgerMeat]

Without infantry units to rebuild, the USSR begins building tanks

[HamburgerMeat]

January 1942:

I have an opportunity to strike at an overextended panzercorp just SW of Kursk. However, the terrain is muddy, and it would be difficult for my heavy tanks to make it out of the engagement alive. In addition, I should have infantry weapons level 2 next turn. I receive fresh corps and place them in my remaining gaps. The Germans will have a tough time cracking this line.

[HamburgerMeat]

More of the same in the North.

Elsewhere, the Japanese take most of SE asia, but do not attack the US navy at pearl harbor. With the US in the war, the western allies will soon be able to take the fight to the European mainland

[eightroomofelixir]

Exploiting Axis' not invading Norway and further occupy (decapitate) the Scandinavian countries is sincerely an interesting move. German now have more trouble to deal with. The Allied air power is also impressive.

[Marcinos1985]

This is an excellent AAR, thank you. If you could provide more info about these topics:
1. You didn't comment on this, but you "exported" AA unit from Malta and planted a garnison there. Did this AA went to France? Wasn't that an invitation for Axis to go for N Africa? Taking Malta would probably easier now, but maybe I overestimate its meaning. Not that Germany should go for Africa, just asking.
2. Defense of North Russia - generally it's advised for Germans to go south, your opponent of course knows it and pursues it, but some players may not. Some will go center, some will go north. That Riga - Daugavpils line seems to be so juicy to defend, that giving it for free hurts my feelings [:)] You left only a corps in Riga, Talinn empty... Is there any action BTW? Screens are from south/center.
3. UK really surprises me. Paratroopers, bilions of TAC bombers? Where did you get these MPP's? But more important, what was your research? I see your STR bomber is level 2, but on the other hand inf weapons are still lvl 1 for UK. Any points in industrial techs? ASW?
4. How was naval warfare in Atlantic? Judging by AAR, non existent, but maybe there was some action. I can't imagine letting uboat go wild, because any transports form US would have tough life.

Learning a lot from both of you, thanks.

[HamburgerMeat]

ORIGINAL: Marcinos1985

This is an excellent AAR, thank you. If you could provide more info about these topics:
1. You didn't comment on this, but you "exported" AA unit from Malta and planted a garnison there. Did this AA went to France? Wasn't that an invitation for Axis to go for N Africa? Taking Malta would probably easier now, but maybe I overestimate its meaning. Not that Germany should go for Africa, just asking.
2. Defense of North Russia - generally it's advised for Germans to go south, your opponent of course knows it and pursues it, but some players may not. Some will go center, some will go north. That Riga - Daugavpils line seems to be so juicy to defend, that giving it for free hurts my feelings [:)] You left only a corps in Riga, Talinn empty... Is there any action BTW? Screens are from south/center.
3. UK really surprises me. Paratroopers, bilions of TAC bombers? Where did you get these MPP's? But more important, what was your research? I see your STR bomber is level 2, but on the other hand inf weapons are still lvl 1 for UK. Any points in industrial techs? ASW?
4. How was naval warfare in Atlantic? Judging by AAR, non existent, but maybe there was some action. I can't imagine letting uboat go wild, because any transports form US would have tough life.

Learning a lot from both of you, thanks.

1. Yes the AA went to France, and after France fell was transported back to Malta. After the ability for HQs to boost each other even off 1 supply was buffed, Malta is no longer important except for national morale purposes.

2. In an earlier post I mentioned that I would have defended that line had Clausewitz not annexed Lithuania. However, as he had annexed it, it would have been much easier for him to surround and choke out the defenders of the line since he would have been extremely close and with high supply. He was pushing Leningrad with artillery and tanks, but backed off after I declared war on Sweden, as he is worried about my strategic bombers denying his ability to escape. He has not pushed into Estonia

3. I mentioned earlier that the UK should build all the TAC bombers they can around the fall of france, as there is a DE from the USA where the US sends a tac bomber to the UK, thereby increasing the UK's limit. Also two of those TACs are Indian. Research priority is:

Infantry weapons > advanced aircraft > ground attack > naval weapons (mostly for your carriers) > advanced tanks > heavy bomber > LR aircraft > spying and intel

Don't bother with ASW unless your opponent is going for a sub strategy. Nor do I bother with any industrial techs as the UK. The goal of the UK is to smack the Axis where it can for the first few years of the war. Focusing too much on "macro" techs such as production and industrial tech for the UK goes against my philosophy. The UK needs to be the biggest thorn in Germany's side as possible. If the UK player is too passive and just waiting to become an unstoppable wave, the USSR is more likely to fall. And the game is won and lost in the USSR.

As a side note, UK gets a pretty substantial boost when they finish researching naval weapons 2, as their carriers become much more deadly. The UK player should try to coincide a major attack with naval weapons 2 upgrade if possible. Just remember to set them to naval/tactical mode


4. Not much, Clausewitz did attack the ports in Australia for awhile though. All quiet on the Atlantic

[HamburgerMeat]

February 1942:

The USSR braces for a spring offensive