Alpha AAR - A year at the front with Field Marshal Noob

[karonagames]

Bridgehead over the river Dnepr expanded but supply situation in this area is really bad. SS heading for Bryansk.

[karonagames]

AGS: reasonable pocket formed south of Zhitomir some SU troops should escape as there is not a solid wall of units. Many testers change divisions into regiments to seal pockets, but I have found that the AI will pounce on regiments to crack open the pocket, so I tend to use divisions. Everything in this game is swings and roundabouts.

[Helpless]

Hi Helpless,

I remember from the previous AAR (Elmo and Pyledriver) that you mentioned something was in the works.
Just wanted to know if it was finished already.
Can't wait!!!

Bubi,

The list of aircraft been finalized (many been added). Soon we should get the art (photos) and fix missing data. WITE is not as air centric as WITP, but I hope it still should be a lot of fun to plan air raids.

Btw, Congrats on World Cup. We have a Spanish testers section but they got MIA (probably) due to that. [:)]

[Bronze]

What does placing an air unit in reserve do for the unit? Does it free up space at the air field? And please feel free if you have the time to comment on how many missions can be flown and how readiness (or the WitE concept of) affects CAP or interception.

[Pipewrench]

the battles (commanders database) peeks my interest. Thanks for all the info your throwing out.

[ComradeP]

@ComradeP : Labour squads are found in Construction battalions which are usually attached to Army and Army group HQs. For the Axis they will "Back fill" your rail network, following behind your 5 main rail conversion units they do this automatically without you having to manually assign them which is a real time saver. For the Soviets the construction battalions will help dig the trenches (Improve fortification level) around Leningrad and Moscow.

Thanks for the answer. I remember Labor Squads being a part of the Fortified Zone TOE, but envisioned them as being guys with shovels, not actual construction units. In that sense, it is somewhat confusing that it's called a "Labor Squad" as the Germans called their Construction Battalions...Construction Battalions (well, the German equivalent: Bau Bataillion). "Labor" sounds more like the unit is doing penal work or is at the least not made up of trained construction engineers.

Also: it will be interesting to see which part of Kiev the AI defends this time.

[Helpless]

What does placing an air unit in reserve do for the unit? Does it free up space at the air field?

Yes, group will be removed from active air base and will be placed to off map location. It allows you to rebuild air group. It also boosts group's morale.

[karonagames]

In the screen shot above there was a salient of SU units between VL and Smolensk. By the beginning of Turn 6 they had withdrawn, which is what I think a human player would have done.

[karonagames]

As 18th Army is assigned the task of capturing Leniningrad, I start using AP to send them the support units they will need to do the job:

[karonagames]

I send them some BFG:

[karonagames]

And some bigger BFG:

[karonagames]

And the biggest BFG I have!

[karonagames]

As well as the guys who will have to do the dirty work.

[karonagames]

@Comrade P, Labour squads are a slight abstraction as they are units that have the special ability to convert rail lines and improve fortifications. Likewise "Support Squads" are a representation of the panje wagons, clerks, typists and quartermasters who are moving the ammo and jerry cans of fuel around.

[karonagames]

I forgot to mention that the Finns have joined the conflict and are moving to the pre-agreed phase line.

[karonagames]

In previous tests I have split the PZ korps Of Panzer Group 4, sending one towards Novogorod and one to VL. This time both of them will drive on Leningrad.

[karonagames]

Now Smolensk is in the bag I suddenly start hearing voices in my head : "Send 2 PZ group south - failure to do so will forfeit the game". Been there, done that, got the postcard of Rostov. I would like a postcard from Moscow this time.

[karonagames]

Double threat to south of Kiev and a large number of SU units in front of Cherkassy, Will be interesting to see how the AI reacts. If I can get across the river next turn she will be in real trouble. The AI is female, by the way, and her name is GAIA (Gary's AI Adversary)

[karonagames]

I have formed a "Flying" korps of Hungarian and Slovak motorised brigades plus 900th Lehr, as they are easier to keep supplied by air and sent them haring towards the Crimea. It is essential to keep the AI off balance in the south. If they form a solid line the advance will grind to a halt.

[karonagames]

I am very nervous about posting these next 2 shots, as they show how Gaia reacted to the threat I had created in the south. Some of you will think it is terrible I hope some of you will think it is the best she could have done in the circumstances,and what a human player might have done differently. I am happy to take a break to have a short ( emphasise short) discussion about this.