Thriumph or Tragedy? (D21)

[DanNeely]

ORIGINAL: Edwire


Interesting question. From your current AGA position, it's only a matter of time before Caucasus is in Axis hands, threatening British Iran & Persia. Britain will need to divert significant troops to guard Persia, or even enter Caucasus to help Soviet directly, therefore Monty will not have enough troops for the 2nd Battle of El-Alamien by October. Both side in Egypt will sit at stalemate.

Hence, OKH/OKW interest IMO will be to thrust as fast as possible to Persia, and persuade Turkey to join Axis, or at least allow troop access. However, OKH/OKW will need to send at least few Korps to fight "Torch" landing.

I think the biggest problem with Torch is that the Germans couldn't move into Algeria or Morocco without cancelling the fiction that Vichy France had any degree of nominal independence; and would run the risk of large scale troop defections to the free french or even an uprising on the mainland. As it was the Vichy govt folded militarily when the Germans moved in; but a large scale uprising would've been a disaster for the Germans even if quickly suppressed.

[DanNeely]

ORIGINAL: TPOO

Well In Directive 21 Turkey joins the Axis once you capture Makhachkala.

That should probably be mentioned somewhere in the scenario documents. How many Turkish units join the Axis if that happens?

[Jukipo]

Well In Directive 21 Turkey joins the Axis once you capture Makhachkala.

That's good to know. It may be possible to take Makhachkala before rasputitsa.

[Jukipo]

Lots of air power to Sicily, possibly paratroops. German successes in North Africa generally occurred when massed air attacks shut the British at Malta down and brought the island to the brink of starvation. Conversely whenever the Luftwaffe was needed elsewhere, the RAF recovered and with the help of Enigma to make sure their recon planes just happened to find whatever ships were carrying whatever Rommel needed most desperately and made sure they didn't arrive leaving the Africa Corps desperately short of supplies.

I agree. The supply was the problem in Africa. It would make no sense to send more ground troops. I'm going to send some air units to Sicily.

Let's hope Turkey joins the Axis later this year. If Turkey doesn't join by November, I'm going to send one panzer division after the Second Battle of El Alamein.

[Jukipo]

Turn 111, 7/12/42 AGB

Axis shock effects wear off. We have used all extra supplies stockpiled for this offensive. Our supply level is normal again. Our forces east of Don are seriously overextended. Fortunately, the enemy is weak. Most of out infantry divisions have some supply on hand. It may be possible to take Stalingrad before we run out of supply.

[Jukipo]

Turn 111, 7/12/42 AGA

We are seriously overextended. We are receiving some supply to Tikhoretsk and Stavropol airport. On the frontline supply level is almost zero. We have captured Pyatigorsk and Georgiyevsk. The enemy recaptured Petrovskoye.

[Jukipo]

Turn 112, 7/15/42 AGB

We have captured the southern half of Stalingrad. There is only one enemy rifle division in the city. Most of our units are out of supply. 370th Infantry Division is our only fresh division east of Don. Next few days are going to be crucial.

[Jukipo]

Turn 112, 7/15/42 AGA

Several local enemy counterattacks. We had to commit most of our reserves. Petrovskoye is recaptured.

[Jukipo]

Turn 112, 7/15/42 AGC

The offensive is over in this sector. Units are resupplying.

[Jukipo]

Turn 113, 7/19/42 AGB

Stalingrad is captured! Infantry divisions capture the city after a bitter street fight.

[Jukipo]

Men of 88th Infantry Division in the streets of Stalingrad.

[Jukipo]

Turn 113, 7/19/42 AGA

Rumanian landing over Kerch Straits was successful. At the same time German infantry crossed Kuban River west of Krasnodar. Our objective is Novorossiysk.

Meanwhile 86th Panzer Pionier Battalion captured Maykop.

[Jukipo]

Turn 113, 7/19/42 AGA

The situation near Cherkessy remains stable. Supply situation is very bad.

[Jukipo]

Turn 114, 7/22/42 AGB

The frontline is stabilizing near Stalingrad. We are out of supply. Divisions are digging in. The enemy has a lot of arty near Serafimovich. We are taking losses every day.

[Jukipo]

Turn 114, 7/22/42 AGA

Rumanian 4th Army is advancing towards Novorossiysk. Only 20 km to go.

Meanwhile we are securing mountain passes. We don’t want any new enemy units north of Caucasus mountains.

Cherkessy was captured.

[Jukipo]

Turn 115, 7/26/42 AGA

Rumanian 4th Army captured Novorossiysk. We have surrounded several units between Kuban and Novorossiysk.

[Jukipo]

Turn 115, 7/26/42 AGB

We have been destroying last remaining enemy pockets in this area. Now we are going to wait until rail repair proceeds closer. Railhead is at Oblivskaya. Railhead is going to reach Stalingrad by end of August.

[Jukipo]

Situation on 7/26/42 after 115 turns.

AGN: The situation remains stable. The enemy is attacking near Volkhov. Our line holds without much trouble. We are bombarding enemy units every day.

AGC: The situation remains stable. Units are resupplying between Ryazan and Voronezh. The new objective before winter is Ryazan – Kamyshin line. Maybe we can take Saratov…

AGB: Stalingrad is captured. The supply situation is bad. We’ll have to wait until railhead moves closer.

AGA: Maykop and Novorossiysk are captured. Supply situation is very bad. Baku is too far, we can’t take it before winter. Our new objective is Makhachkala and Caspian Sea.

Losses in the first 115 turns: (last 5 turns in parenthesis) [replacements in 5 turns]

65373 (+2284) Heavy Rifle Squads [repl 2155]
6971 (+97) Rifle Squad – Rum [repl 280]
2624 (+98) Rifle Squad – Hun [repl 155]
5094 (+1) Rifle Squad – Fin [repl 125]
938 (+0) Rifle Squad – Ita [repl 90]
9109 (+248) Engineer Squads [repl 225]
2210 (+133) Panzers (all types) [repl 425]
2925 (+143) Fighters (all types) [repl 205]
599 (+47) Stukas & Hs-129 [repl 75]
2892 (+132) Bombers (all types) [repl 105]

Railroads are on the map in cyan.

[Jukipo]

Turn 117, 8/2/42 AGC

Let’s have a look on AGC sector between Ryazan and Voronezh. Our divisions are on the move after two weeks rest. We have captured Morshansk and Tambov.

[Jukipo]

Turn 117, 8/2/42 AGB

Resting and resupplying. Supply situation is improving slowly.