timmyab (Sov) v Smokingdave (Axis)

[timmyab]

Turn 61 (start of turn)

This time the alert is justified.
The German offensive makes little progress against our alerted defenses though.

[timmyab]

Turn 61 (end of turn)

3rd shock army is sent North to help out and the Sblina river defenses West of Vyshny are strengthened. It's hard to see the Germans making much progress here.

[timmyab]

As expected (and desired) a panzer army does cross the Don East of Rostov.
It surrounds 43rd army. One division evacuates from Azov.

[timmyab]

Turn 62

The Germans wisely choose not to press on with their offensive North of Rzhev which yeilds only two rifle divisions and a brigade.

Aerial reconnaissance has played a vital role in this Summer 42 campaign, but there has been a heavy price to pay in terms of aircraft lost. There is now a critical shortage of recon aircraft and only 12 are being built each week so there are parts of the front that I can't afford to recon properly any more.

[timmyab]

A lot of the armor from the Rzhev attack has gone missing again. One panzer division and a cavalry unit is spotted West of Tula and with no other clues available this is enough to send 3rd shock army back to Tula.

German infantry has been steadily pushing back our forces in this area for the last two months. We push back at them where possible but they are skilfull at protecting themselves from our counterattacks.

[timmyab]

In the South the Axis are busy digesting the Rostov pocket and we leave them to get on with it in peace.

Six out of my eight available mountain divisions have been moved to this front in case they are needed here soon.

[timmyab]

Turn 63

It's gone quiet everywhere except South of Tula where the German infantry continue to creep forwards.
This is a typical turn. They push us back in several places and we hit them back once.

[loki100]

This continues to be a great AAR - really nice to read one that is still well balanced into the summer of 1942.

ORIGINAL: timmyab

Turn 62

...

Aerial reconnaissance has played a vital role in this Summer 42 campaign, but there has been a heavy price to pay in terms of aircraft lost. There is now a critical shortage of recon aircraft and only 12 are being built each week so there are parts of the front that I can't afford to recon properly any more.

...

as a clue of what is to come ... wait for WiTE2, lack of effective air recon capacity is leaving both sides pretty blind across most of the front. Some of this may be due to the need to balance out air stocks/production, but it also reflects the new realities of fixed airbases (forcing dispersal and leaving some parts of the front poorly covered).

Its a lot more *interesting* for both players. Much easier to lose all track of the Pzrs which is downright scary (in my current PBEM I don't have a clue where at least 3 Pzr Corps are). While I've just pulled off a major build up on a previously quiet sector and overwhelmed an incautious axis advance.

[timmyab]

That's interesting.
For what it's worth here's what I'd like to see. Maybe WITE2 air model will be better able to handle this.

Air recon capability to rely on air superiority. Recon aircraft should find it difficult to penetrate areas that are controlled by enemy fighters. Obviously this would mainly handicap the Soviets in 41/42 and the Axis 43/45.
Units that have not moved to become gradually more difficult to detect.

Soviets to have an extra intelligence source.
Axis units within a certain radius of partisan units (active or non-active) are detected. The closer they are the higher the detection level. Maybe Axis units in Soviet towns and cities could have a chance to be detected also.

I think there does need to be some capacity to detect enemy buildups because weekly turns means that surprise attacks are particularly devastating.

[timmyab]

Turn 64 (start of turn)

Again German armor tests our defenses and again the attack is contained.

[timmyab]

Turn 64 (end of turn)

Although it will never be admitted publicly, secretly the decision has been made at the highest level to abandon Tula to it's fate.

[timmyab]

Air losses are horrible.
My fighters have just started to rack up some kills though.

[timmyab]

Turn 65

Tula surrounded.

[timmyab]

Rostov resists.

The first of two assualts. Both fail.

[timmyab]

Quiet flows the Don.

No action here for several weeks now.

[timmyab]

Turn 66

Tula falls and German armor pushes on towards Ryazan.

[timmyab]

Rostov also falls this week.
The Axis show no urgency to push South.

[timmyab]

Turn 67

The Germans evacuate the Ryazan salient.

Intelligence reports suggest that the enemy Summer offensive is probably over. They appear to be preparing defenses against a possible Soviet Winter offensive.

[timmyab]

Turn 69

The Axis are withdrawing behind the Don at Rostov. Comrade Stalin is overheard singing in the bath after hearing this news.

He orders the Transcaucasus Front plus 1st tank army to pursue and destroy the fleeing enemy.

[timmyab]

The Red Army grows teeth.