Half Again : Allied perspective

[cpdeyoung]

19410616 : The Germans have a very strong force near Smolensk, which threatens a swing around and wide encirclement. We hope we can breakthrough if this happens. It will be dicey.

[cpdeyoung]

19410624 : Norway has joined the Allies and its fleet joins the convoy protection in the North Sea. The fall of Smolensk ate up all our PP this turn, and we continue to struggle with this strong, aggressive, and early German attack. We are not being allowed to build the counterattcking forces we so need.

[cpdeyoung]

19410701 : Dust, and blood.

[gwgardner]

I ask the same question here that I did in the Axis thread. Or make the same observation: it's quite interesting that neither of you have attempted to for a continuous front - not even a continuos connection of zones of control. To what do you attribute that?

[cpdeyoung]

When he entered the Soviet Union I had a nice line of L1 infantry extending from Baltic to Black, and it was doubled in large part. It looked very nice, and it can now be seen in the 151.3 SPs lost! He went through the L1 divisions like a hot knife. He actually has a very decent zone of interlocking units which stop me from slipping behind him. When I click on a fast mover I can see the pattern in my allowed hexes. JJ makes few mistakes, he is tactically very adept, and his operational and strategic skills are available for all AAR readers to see. There was one chance to cut off two big Panzer Korps if I could win a 5-1, and I ached to try it, but the cost if I did not make the cut would have been very rough. I decided not to try, and hate giving a chance like that up.

I would like a line, nothing better, but my PP, go elsewhere, to trying to patch together a defense of critical cities. His start time was on the money, late enough to have a potent force, and early enough that winter seems so far away. This is a fight, and I have to remember that the actual Soviets went through much the same thing I am going through.

Chuck

[Chocolino]

When he entered the Soviet Union I had a nice line of L1 infantry extending from Baltic to Black, and it was doubled in large part.

In hindsight, would a single line of better Inf. have been more successful? Looking at the older posts, most of the units in the line had a combat strength of 1. By upgrading to a 2 strength unit or even a L1 corps, you cut the attack odds significantly and the Axis needs to coordinate attacks with better or more units, and hence can conduct fewer attacks etc. An alternative is to go for even higher level units (giving up the line idea completely) and use a city point defense from the beginning. Which one would you chose if you had do it all over again? (I think I will face a similar dilemma soon in AirLandSea).

[cpdeyoung]

I certainly wish I knew the answer. The weak divisions went too quickly, but, you know, I suspect any defense I mounted would have seen him in roughly the same geographic postion. You need more strong units and this early in 1941 you are not going to have much. I was not on the frontier, but a way back, and he did not know what he would be facing. If he had given me two more months it might have been a bit different, but at this stage in the war these 50% more powerful Germans are going to have their way.

Good luck in AirLandSea, you are going to have an experience that will test your play!

Chuck

[cpdeyoung]

19410709 : We are under incredible pressure. No front, no reserves, and no mud or snow!

[James Ward]

This is the closest to a historical advance in Russia that I have seen in any AAR. Now all we need is for the German advancing on Moscow to turn south![:)]

[cpdeyoung]

That "we" does not include me, of course. It is not fun being a Soviet in these conditions, but I agree that map wise it looks pretty good. His naval game is really hurting me. His raiders chew up my escorts and convoys, at very little, insignificant, cost to him. This is off map, but also very historical.

Chuck

[James Ward]

ORIGINAL: cpdeyoung

That "we" does not include me, of course. It is not fun being a Soviet in these conditions, but I agree that map wise it looks pretty good. His naval game is really hurting me. His raiders chew up my escorts and convoys, at very little, insignificant, cost to him. This is off map, but also very historical.

Chuck

I don't know about that. Historically it saved Moscow so ..... [:)]

[cpdeyoung]

19410716 : We have to abandon two "fortress" cities.

(James, don't get me wrong, the convoys have given the USSR the chance to be in tthis war!)

[Chocolino]

Five or six more turns and it is winter.... The German command had good timing and a few weeks head start on the historic dates. They were put to good use so far.

[cpdeyoung]

19410724 : There was a problem on a convoy from Britain.

[cpdeyoung]

19410801 : Novgorod is lost, and we are threatened at every point.

[IS]

Very interesting game - disaster is in the air [;)]

Is disbanding units in surrounded cities a good idea? It quickly frees German units, allowing them to make very fast progress (shockingly fast!). Wouldn't it be better to defend cities to last drop of blood? It might be more costly, but should buy soviets some time. Even one additional turn at each Russian city would add up to significant delay. Am I missing something? [:)]

[cpdeyoung]

I have one turn after encirclement to strat move the units. This is what drives the quick abandonment of such cities. Count the Panzer Korps and you will see that he can almost count on the cities falling to seige without a battle. He has a lot of Luftwaffe too. I bought extra strategic movement points and can "run away, run away"! Not fun, and I cause him no losses, but it conserves precious units for the next phase.

I would disband a weak unit, perhaps, or one that is truly trapped as in Pskov, but not these encircled L4 Tank Corps.

Chuck

Oops, that sounds like I might have multiple L4 Guards Tank Corps, but, alas, only one exists (edit).

[IS]

Ah, the LEGENDARY allied last turn strat move [:D] Mystery solved [;)]

[cpdeyoung]

19410816 : Disaster in the air, indeed. I have left corps in Moscow and Leningrad, but they are doomed. Still, each turn they hold out is 35 and 30 PP still flowing. This is very bad.

[cpdeyoung]

19410901 : Moscow falls.