A look at Barbarossa. (AAR)

[Centuur]

Good luck, indeed. Thinks could have been worse for the German (that's probably the understatement of the year, but hey...). He's got lucky in attacks and the turn continues...
However, if the turn ends after the Russian impulse, there still isn't a problem for the Soviets. Surely the emergency build plan after last turn was in order, giving a lot of short term building units as reinforcements...

[gridley]

Yes, it has been fascinating to watch. I particularly like how you guys are showing some of the combat pages, etc. Things to show us how the Computer game will work.

Thanks again.

Can't wait for more AAR's...[;)]

[Orm]

Unfortunately my build plan was mostly militia last turn and they already arrived. Here is a picture of the next turns reinforcements as they stand now.

Edit: My impulse will have to wait for tommorow. [:(]

Picture taken at the beginning of Allied impulse #10, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Orm]

I am to low on units to both keep a defencive line and make any real counterattacks. This saddens me since there are several targets to attack. I am, however, making 2 attacks anyway that does not affect my defence so much. An automatic attack against Vologda is given. With much hesitation I decide to attack Pskov as well. It is a desperate attack but if it succeds it could force Germany to withdraw front line units.

I feel alot more daring since Germany has no defencive support that reach any of the attacks.


Picture taken at Land Combat Declaration of Allied impulse #10, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Orm]

I rolled a 4, modified to 5, and funnily enough this was actually one of the best possible results for me. The german unit dies and mine survives. It feels weird that at times a low rolled resulult is better than a higher.

[Orm]

I thought it could be appropriate to post a picture of the land combat tables at this point. The area marked in yellow is the possible outcomes of the Pskov attack depending on what attack table Germany decided to use.

[Orm]

And the result of the Vologda attack. I like attacks where I can't take any losses regardless of what is rolled. [:)]

[Orm]

North part of the front.


Picture taken at end of Allied impulse #10, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Orm]

And this is how the central front looks.


Picture taken at end of Allied impulse #10, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Orm]

A close look at the Kursk area. I decided to move the Bryansk militia to support the artillery west of Kursk. Now at least Germany has to commit some units to destroy them.


Picture taken at end of Allied impulse #10, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Orm]

An overwiev of the south front. Not as nice as I would like but enough for me to survive one more impulse at least.


Picture taken at end of Allied impulse #10, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

And that, my friends, is why I never put my faith in Lady Luck. [:)] Just when I have a chance to move forward (or backward, due to some smart moves by my opponent), the turn ends. Well, I knew that could happen. I just wish I had actually managed to block those supplies from the Allies. It would have been a principle-of-the-thing kind of Victory, after having lost any shot at controlling Murmansk.

Well, I suppose it is time for damage-control yet again. I'll see what I can do with my reinforcements. If I can win the Initiative just one more time, I can try to knock one enemy Front out of the war. I'll also need at least 1 Fine Impulse for that, but I can hope. It is some consolation to know that the Soviets are going to be spread almost as thin as I am for just a little longer. Unless he builds every last MIL he has on hand. And, with any luck, at least the extreme southern front will be in clear weather for some time yet.

Good hunting, Orm! I'll see you on the battlefield!

[Centuur]

Nice play by Orm. I liked the attack on Pskov being made this impulse.
Also: I think the German is going to think again about sacrificing the Finnish Guards at Vologda next time. A white print OOS and disorganised is much better than an ARM division in the same situation, especially with heavy Russian infantry in range...

Things are looking good form my point of view for the Soviets... Bad weather coming up and the Germans aren't doing to well...

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

Nice play by Orm. I liked the attack on Pskov being made this impulse.
Also: I think the German is going to think again about sacrificing the Finnish Guards at Vologda next time. A white print OOS and disorganised is much better than an ARM division in the same situation, especially with heavy Russian infantry in range...

Things are looking good form my point of view for the Soviets... Bad weather coming up and the Germans aren't doing to well...

Sacrificing the Finnish unit was the result of a mistake I made in planning my movement. I originally thought I was going to move the 2 armor/mech units one hex east, blocking the Infantry from getting to Vologda. However, this would have exposed the local HQ to a desperation attack that could easily have knocked him out of the game. So, I didn't do it.

When the attacks came, I forgot that I had not moved those units, and therefore I thought the division was safe for another impulse. I was also busy moaning about the rotten roll, unaware that I'd be getting better rolls for the other attacks.

So, this was more of a bone-headed error, rather than a tactical one. Doesn't change anything, but I don't have any brilliant "This is what I was thinking . . . " It's more like: "Oops. I shoulda been thinking!"

[Orm]

Here is a picture of this turns losses.


Picture taken at end of turn, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Orm]

And a picture of the victory totals.

I feel I need to post this now since this might be the last turn that I am ahead. [;)]

Edit: In my last impulse I recaptured 2 victory points.

Picture taken at end of turn, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

[composer99]

The USSR ended up taking only 4 bp more in losses than Germany - although it did lose twice as many corps/army-size units.

In a global campaign I would be very worried as Germany with that kind of loss profile (bp-wise) in summer 1941 knowing the Angry Green Giant is half a year or so away from entering the war.

However, the composition of the losses is in Germany's favour (apart from the fact that 2 of Germany's corps losses were ARM), Germany needs only 2-3 objectives per turn to turn things around, and it will have an o-chit in its pocket come the Nov/Dec turn. Also, Germany still has a big advantage in terms of unit numbers in the south.

Still too close to call, IMO. Which is a good thing (except for Red Prince & Orm, of course, who I am sure would prefer lopsided results in their respective favour).

[Red Prince]

I may have made a mistake at the very start of this scenario, after the first turn, which will haunt me. I wasn't very smart in choosing what to build, and my gearing limits are all pretty low. In a short game like this, you really have to have a building plan in place from the start, and try to get everything you want to build on the map when you want it. That's what I might have messed up. My reinforcements are going to be thin over the coming months, though I'll probably have a good number to put on the map for that Nov/Dec turn, which fits nicely with the O-chit.

I think that after the first few impulses of this turn, I probably had the psychological advantage. Now, I think Orm does. I'm worried, even though I have a good southern front. Pskov and Leningrad, if reinforced with powerful units, could be a major pain, potentially cutting supply to my North and Central forces. With poor weather, which means shorter supply lines, on the way, I have to take advantage of the few opportunities I'll have to make great attacks, and I'll also have to start thinking defensively -- not one of my strengths.

[Red Prince]

It turns out I've been doubly spared. At the start of the Sep/Oct 1941 turn I won the Initiative roll, without having to use my re-roll. I think I'll be going first. [:)] Particularly since the weather has remained Fine (Die=4). I made some errors I'd rather not compound this turn. It's nice to start with the weather on my side.

In between turns I built:

• 1 x LND-2
• 1 x MECH
• 1 x MOT
• 2 x INF
• 1 x CAV
• 1 x AA (this was that gun I lost the first turn)
• 1 x Pilot

Additionally, I got 3 City Based Volunteers onto the map this turn: the Riga GARR, the Kiev MIL, and Vlassov (also in Kiev). With things still in my favor on the clock, I better make good use of what I've got. For the first time since the very first impulse, my airforce is close to the front!

This is just the bombers:


Picture taken at beginning of Axis impulse #1, Sep/Oct 1941 (Turn 3 of 5)