How to possibly save the Soviets. (stjeand as Axis)

[sveint]

Five armies are mobilized this turn. I put them as far back as is practical.

[sveint]

The north:

[sveint]

I know I could disband the air force but I consider it too "gamey". Besides when I've tried it didn't seem the Soviets did any better.

I will only garrison units once they are in a "stay and die" location, such as swamps or major cities.

[Harrybanana]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

That was a pretty good experience gain for the first turn, but...no new construction at all? Are you waiting for experience to go up more before ordering new armies?

It's going to get expensive to replace your air losses, and you are letting them take replacements. Not sure I agree with doing that. Even if they are last in priority for them, setting replacements so high is going to mean a lot of this production you have in the bank is going to go into your air units.

I count 13 axis mobile corps. That seems a little low. Which is good for you. Axis ought to be able to hit 15+ in 41 (including the Italians) in the present ruleset.

I agree with your comments about the Red Air force. I would rather save my PPs for the land units.

As the Axis I generally have about 16 total Armour/Mechanized (13 German and 3 Italian) by May 41. But I personally like to keep 3 or so of them in the West to counter any British moves. Which is what Sveint says Stjeand is doing.

[Harrybanana]

ORIGINAL: sveint

I know I could disband the air force but I consider it too "gamey". Besides when I've tried it didn't seem the Soviets did any better.

I will only garrison units once they are in a "stay and die" location, such as swamps or major cities.

I don't disband it either. But I am very selective about where and when I use it. I try and air strike enemy units that only have 0 or 1 enemy fighter in range so I can get some uncontested strikes. But I don't repair them until the Winter of 41/42 and sometimes not even then if the war is going poorly. If you wait to use them until the Germans are well into Russia the Axis will have had to rebase his fighters at least a couple times and each rebase reduces efficiency.

[sveint]

May 23, 1941

Three rifle corps are overrun. We only receive two new armies, both of them go to the Leningrad front. East of Kiev we merge our first army from previous large corps.

We get lucky and it rains in the south.

[sveint]

German advance is slow in the center.

[sveint]

But Leningrad could be in trouble.

[sveint]

I did move a few units a little after these screenshots.

[sveint]

June 6, 1941

Five corps are overrun, four new armies are mobilized. Ground experience is 34%, air 38%. A few weak 20% corps are disbanded as they were almost at half strength.

In the south we lose a couple of corps to a pocket, but those panzers are looking slightly tired. I'm guessing they are heading north next, getting over the river should properly tire them out.

[sveint]

In the center I sacrifice a corps as a raider out of the Pripet Marshes.

[sveint]

Likewise in the north we convert some weak corps to partisans. The Finns have also made a few attacks but have gotten a bloody nose.

Overall at the moment I am happy with the situation, but we still have a long summer to go.

[Flaviusx]

I think you just sold me on this idea of keeping the front line entirely mobile. There are real advantages to doing this. Worth losing 3 rifle corps? I say yes.

You are doing surprisingly well on the experience front. Averaging +1 experience/turn on both the ground and the air, but I have to wonder how much production you are diverting to the air and for how long you can keep that up. You could've put some rifle armies in the queue by now in the alternative.

The enemy's distribution of panzers is imo questionable. I think he'd be better off focusing on the center than on Leningrad and making sure the hammer in the south has an anvil to meet in the center.

And he doesn't have enough panzers up north to guarantee a lock on Leningrad anyways.

[Harrybanana]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

I think you just sold me on this idea of keeping the front line entirely mobile. There are real advantages to doing this. Worth losing 3 rifle corps? I say yes.

If Sveint had put all of his rifle corps into Garrison mode he would have about 10 extra corps, not just 3. But I agree that so far anyway the extra mobility seems to be working for him. But as Sveint says there is still a lot of summer left.

The enemy's distribution of panzers is imo questionable. I think he'd be better off focusing on the center than on Leningrad and making sure the hammer in the south has an anvil to meet in the center.

And he doesn't have enough panzers up north to guarantee a lock on Leningrad anyways.

I know that a lot of people like to have a strong panzer fist; but I still tend to spread my mobile units out. 3 or 4 in AGN, 3 or 4 in AGC and 6 in AGS. The advantage of driving towards Leningrad is that supply is never a problem (not that it is too much of a problem anywhere). If you can capture Leningrad early enough than you can divert your Armour there to Moscow.

[Flaviusx]

3 only if we are just talking about the 20% junk rifle corps. I personally would not garrison literally every rifle corps. (I've tried this and didn't like it.)

AGC has all of 2 panzer corps by my count. It is underesourced.

[sveint]

June 20, 1941

We lose another five rifle corps. We get four new armies. Ground experience now at 35%.

As expected the panzers go north, so the south is quiet for now.

[sveint]

Instead of running away I am staying put to fight, and even reinforce. We'll take heavy losses next turn, but I cannot see any Axis infantry nearby, all the fighting will have to be done by the panzers.
Our air force also bombs the four leading units.

[sveint]

In the north the Finns finally manage to push us back.

[sveint]

July 4, 1941

We lose 7 large corps and get a single new army.

It is unfortunate but it's time to withdraw. I really could have used a few more armies this turn. At least we've avoided any large pockets.

[sveint]

Center. I move the army out of Kaluga after the screenshot.