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It is interesting how the game design makes the 1941 Axis offensive less dependent on afv totals than what suspicion might say. The last posting of Axis OOB numbers had under 1k afvs running, yet the swooshing offensives continue.

It is the mobility of high morale units that disrupts Sov plans. However, even with muling, fatigue plays a factor eventually. The 4-50 morale 99 division is great for ruining your railroad day, but not fighting. Unfortunately, axis players are getting evilly adept at the hybrid strategy of BU, muling and Resting - I am needing to leave pieces of factories behind!

I agree with Flavius. but it will help if you remain planted on him as units starting turn not in a ZOC recover more fatigue and MPs. You have masses of tank brigades not doing anything useful.

All to play for in the snow.................

A lot of those brigades are probably shells, but even so they can make very handy units for picketing. You get so many of the damned things that you can afford to throw away a few of them, you'll never convert all of them to corps.

I'm seeing Soviet players have a total of tank + mech corps at about 40, so for that target 'throwing away' tank brigades will require more than just a few tank/motor/mech brigades to be raised up.

ORIGINAL: randallw

It is interesting how the game design makes the 1941 Axis offensive less dependent on afv totals than what suspicion might say. The last posting of Axis OOB numbers had under 1k afvs running, yet the swooshing offensives continue.

Agreed, very interesting observation...

As too the brigades, it's slow business building them up so I try to be selective and only refit 20 or so at a time. I'm also building a couple of Bn's for the Cav. corps which makes it even slower.

I don't like throwing away anything, but I'll sacrifice anything for the right cause.

ORIGINAL: randallw

I'm seeing Soviet players have a total of tank + mech corps at about 40, so for that target 'throwing away' tank brigades will require more than just a few tank/motor/mech brigades to be raised up.

That's about what I build as well, but note that mech corps don't use tank brigades.

You will have more tank brigades than you know what to do with. Trust me on this.

So the ratio of tank vs mech corps should not heavily slanted towards the tank?

TURN 15

Before Sov moves:
All quiet in the North. In the Center, the slugfest continues.

5 attacks, 5 German victories (details in next post). The Russian line is pushed back remorselessly. I'm running out of forts and good defensive terrain.
2 more turns to Mud.

Detail attacks, match colours to above screenshot.
Unfortunately, I had no units on reserve, again they might have tipped the scales...

In the South, the action shifts to Voronezh, all industry is locked there.
Just to the North, the remaining industry in Tula (12 ARM) is also locked.

Close up Voronezh and Tula:

Center, after Soviet moves.
Again I patch up my lines but decide not to contest the 2 clear hexes in front of W-Moscow to heavily. My units are getting torn to pieces in good defensive terrain, no point in suffering massive casualties in clear with limited forts.
W-Moscow & khimki are evacuated. But I decide against railing out the industry in the rest of Moscow. The plan is to make it worth his while to keep on attacking and staying in front of Moscow during the Blizzard so I can get at him. It's a gamble, but I'm betting I can hold on to mud, and that the city hexes will be too difficult for him to take by frontal assault. This might be the most stupid thing I do thusfar, but if it pays off, he's going to be in trouble...

Overview Center
The 4 stacks closest to Moscow get 3 to 4 airstrikes per stack to keep their fatigue/Distruption up.
Tula is abandonned & the Bryansk Front takes up possition North of the Oka and guard the flank.

South, Overview.
I scramble to the defence of Voronezh. I can hardly believe he's actually serious in his attempt to take it but I sure as hell ain't going to roll over and just let him have it. 2 Armies (16th & 19th) are moved up to cover the left flank. The right flank is shored up with new arrivals and transferred divs. Still, the line is weak.
On the Rostov front all is calm although he makes a push towards Voroshilovgrad which I will not contest as it would put my right flank to far forward and invite a drive into the rear through the hole seperating this part of the front with the Voronezh front. besides, I don't have the strength to protect Rostov and Voroshilovgrad at the same time, together with all the other battles going on.

OOB Turn 15

Ground Losses

Air losses.