The Rumble in the Tundra, a Vet (Sov) JB (Axis) rematch

[ShaggyHiK]

100 bombers is a great catch. Its production is only about 120 bombers. Including rare planes, that he let you catch them is a mistake.

[jasonbroomer]

Yeah, I don't like losing 100 bombers for such little results. Sadly, I lose a further number over the next turn or two as I struggle to organise escorts for my NP missions in the Black Sea.

He111-H3 are no longer built so are impossible to replace. You need to upgrade a squadron a turn to the newer He111-H6, around 25-30 of these are built each turn. The Axis isn't really short of level bombers, though wasting 100 pilots is a nuisance.

The only important role that the Luftwaffe has in this game is to occasionally isolate ports etc. I also find air resupply very useful (as it is Soviets for different reasons). AS plays a modest role. In general I'm fairly relaxed about losses in the air war.

[jasonbroomer]

T4 Axis Logistics

My new supply routes are becoming operational but the previous shortfall in supply is still weighing on the accumulated deficit when compared to my game versus HLYA. My supply need is 19,899 (versus 17,715 against HYLA - remember a lower number here indicates that my units are closer to their maximum supply level). Truck losses actually dipped improving to 2,199 (2,345)


AGN

At last Soviets are detected in the Baltics

T4 AGN SoT Heavy defenses in marshes at Narva, Pskov abandoned.png (3.39 MiB) Viewed 1569 times

Unsurprisingly a line has been set up in the marshes lining the western banks of the Narva. Given the speed of my advance, I am not expecting these to be heavily entrenched but my infantry is too far away to assault this turn. Note that taking the Tartu airfield last turn has allowed me to set up some forward AS missions. The Luftwaffe has been placed on a high supply priority but nevertheless only a limited number of planes are available for AS. AS missions are set up in triplicate to cover different ceiling bands. (This sounds laborious, but once set up they can be very easily moved forward each turn.)

When we get to the Soviet line I am delighted to discover that not even level 1 defences have been constructed yet.

T4 AGN EoT building up.png (2.61 MiB) Viewed 1569 times

My exhausted motorised units leading the charge recombine as a division and take a position in the light woods on the new front while as yet uncommitted infantry are rushed forward ready to assault next turn. The inland part of Estonia was isolated, which should indicate to Vet how swiftly my RADs have repaired the line towards the northern coast. This means that large tracts of the Baltic will get free rail conversion attempts. These may prove useful.

I decide to garrison Parnu port. I doubt very much Vet has any units in the area, but favourable rail conversions have left Parnu in a position to supply a forward depot. It is a distraction for a Panzer regiment, but worth it for peace of mind. It helps to be paranoid when playing the Axis . Vet will not be expecting a few thousand of tons of supply to be railed towards the Baltic front so quickly.

Pskov was stormed

T4 AGN Not elegant but effective.png (1.64 MiB) Viewed 1569 times

There is nothing elegant about a frontal assault but a good general like Manstein couple with the rested Totenkopf division had little trouble overwhelming the light defence. I calculate that Totenkopf can be rested next turn and ready for the expected Narva crossing, possibly as early as turn 6.

[jasonbroomer]

T4 AGC

Rain has fallen across AGN and AGC

T4 AGC SoT Smolensk defences aided by lgt mud.png (2.64 MiB) Viewed 1563 times

Irritatingly, light mud is forming in areas where I would like to attack from but there is little I can do. The forecast is for this to clear in the central zone next turn so I elect to continue to build up my forces.

T4 AGC EoT amassing a powerful spearhead.png (1.79 MiB) Viewed 1563 times

One attack is made to create a good drop off hex for next turn. I am marshalling a powerful spearhead which will be ready when the weather improves.

Unusually, I have not connected the rail line to Minsk and have taken the 'northern' route via Vibetsk.

T4 AGC EoT protecting flank.png (2.62 MiB) Viewed 1563 times

This means I can be fairly relaxed about the area NE of Minsk, which can be taken by support troops and isolation. Isolation is a very good way to flip tiles. A regiment will capture the surrounding 6 hexes at the start of next turn if the territory is isolated, a division's influence will go a further hex out, potentially a further 12 hexes. Sometimes you get awarded even more. Territory can be gobbled up in this fashion. Note the way that the divisions have been placed to maximise hex flipping.

The same process is used for the Pripyat marshes

T4 AGC EoT Pripyat marshes.png (2.54 MiB) Viewed 1563 times

The Pripyat marshes are a supply nightmare but it is rarely defended. Thus smaller units can be employed here such as the light infantry and mountain divisions (only 12k men to feed rather than 17k) and SEC units which only nibble on supply (only 4k men consuming around 20 tons of supply versus around 80 tons for a full division). Cavalry also are useful in this roll as they can receive higher MPs than foot divisions and don't suffer the same degree of MP cost as motorised uits when transversing difficult terrain.

[jasonbroomer]

T4 AGS

Thee was always a risk of this but my Oddessa NP in the Soviet turn got shot out of the sky. I had hoped that this was in escort range but evidently not.

T4 AGS Unfortunate AS destroys my NP and Roms get encuircled. I care more about the airfield.png (2.51 MiB) Viewed 1556 times

The encircling Roms got themselves encircled! This is a frustrating delay keeping the Rom forces from their important role (i.e. being sent to the TB ASAP).

On the Hungarian border, a trapped SEC is spotted at the last moment trying to destroy my rail lines

T4 AGS sneaky attempt to break my rails.png (2.94 MiB) Viewed 1556 times

It is summarily dispatched


On the main rail line route, sacrificial units are left to destroy rail yards

T4 AGS sacrifical units left on major railroads.png (2.54 MiB) Viewed 1556 times

[jasonbroomer]

T4 AGS Cont

Our main strategy to bypass Oddessa and focus on Nikoliev and Kherson. Kherson looks to be defended

T4 AGS SoT Black sea defensive line, NB power of air refueling last turn.png (1.81 MiB) Viewed 1551 times

Note the high MPs of the Panzers which benefited from air refuelling last turn. These allow us to take Nikoliev. Note the interdiction markers left by the VVS. These are largely ineffectual and I don't bother running AS is this supply challenged region.

T4 AGS EoT this is 1st pz target.png (2.39 MiB) Viewed 1551 times

Our (remote) hopes of storming Kherson were dashed by the delaying Soviet units

T4 AGS thicker resistance than expected so we hold back.png (1.82 MiB) Viewed 1548 times

While to the north Kirovograd is taken by a regiment. It has no strategic importance but allows a the GD brigade a decent forward that protects it from counterattacks while carving up the Ukrainian territory. It will be resupplied by air in case it is cut off.

[jasonbroomer]

T4 AGS

Southwest of Odessa, the Roms re-establish supply lines and exert their superiority

T4 AGS EoTAGA still mopping up.png (2.22 MiB) Viewed 1545 times

Mopping up remains to be done but we do get some nice hauls from the multitude of pockets that we have established

T4 AGS a nice haul of tanks and 1200 trucks.png (2.05 MiB) Viewed 1545 times

This fully equipped armoured division donated 1200 trucks to the cause.

Meanwhile 6th Army with some mobile units from 1st Panzer headed towards Kiev and the Dnepr while on its leisurely drive through the Ukrainian countryside

T4 AGS EoT yawn.png (2.86 MiB) Viewed 1545 times

17th Army remains largely on R&R, as are panzer units which are being rotated forward.

[M60A3TTS]

Unusually, I have not connected the rail line to Minsk and have taken the 'northern' route via Vibetsk.

Given you have two FBDs in the south, that decision may be one you come to regret.

Also, if Odessa is not taken, it's base interdiction is going to block naval supplies to Nikolaev. Hope you've taken that into account.

[Veterin]

T4 Soviet

1.png (1.83 MiB) Viewed 1488 times

High CV ratio attacks from Axis motorised units into Soviets is very deadly, especially when the axis units are in good shape as they currently are around Pskov. I was expecting him to push through my line this turn but it looks like he has delayed it until next turn so he can lead with infantry.

2.png (370.45 KiB) Viewed 1488 times

As JB has flown through Estonia, I’m going to try and hold a line near Narva otherwise the entire Leningrad line will be flanked. I’ve got strong triple stacks of infantry in swamps. The downside of being in a swamp is it will still take a while to get a lvl 1 fort (early Soviet infantry are terrible for entrenching as well).

3.png (2.13 MiB) Viewed 1488 times

This is my unit disposition at the end of the Turn. Smolensk will be critical over the next few turns. Given his infantry will be attacking next turn and his panzers/motorised have made very few attacks he will have a lot of firepower to punch a hole so I hope I have enough depth mixed in with a few stronger points. I know there will be a push north of Smolensk based on his unit disposition from last turn but I’m unsure if he’ll also go for southern flank too (it’s probable and I am fairly thin on the southern approach).

[CarstenJansing]

Totenkopf mot Division on the storm on Pskov without any Pioneers, or Stug? why?

[jasonbroomer]

Unusually, I have not connected the rail line to Minsk and have taken the 'northern' route via Vibetsk.

Given you have two FBDs in the south, that decision may be one you come to regret.

Also, if Odessa is not taken, it's base interdiction is going to block naval supplies to Nikolaev. Hope you've taken that into account.

As always with Axis supply issues, it’s a compromise. Most supply gets delivered from Vienna (oddly enough), so I now tend to favour sending 2 south unless I intend to be focusing on the north. As will be demonstrated in this AAR, capturing the Baltics quickly can significantly help alleviate the supply issues that AGN&C face as a consequence of sending 2 to the south.

Efficient use of RADs is important and I believe they can be more efficiently used in the north during the first 10 turns or so. Again this suggests that 2 FBDs should be sent south

The interdiction from Odessa will be countered with NP to isolate it. I expect to capture it quickly anyway as it is rarely contested, thus it can be bypassed and left for the Roms

[jasonbroomer]

Totenkopf mot Division on the storm on Pskov without any Pioneers, or Stug? why?

Pioneers were attached to the assisting infantry division, this saves the hassle of worrying whether they are motorised or not (a minor issue worth avoiding if convenient. Non-motorised pioneers will suck up trucks from the pool while attached to motorised units. It’s a pain to check, so I rarely bother checking).

Stugs are useful and only have a limited production, so I tend to reserve them for when I really need them, ideally in more open terrain.

[jasonbroomer]

T5 Axis Logistics

As detailed in the last turn, the absence of Soviets in the Baltics has allowed me to isolate a lot of territory, which with well positioned units has big chunks of which have flipped to me this turn.

T5 SoT Isolate area to flip it quick.png (3.36 MiB) Viewed 1317 times

Secondly, an operational depot has been set up close to the front. Last turn it was fed from the port of Parnu, this turn the line from Riga and Memel is operational. Getting supply so close to the front at this stage of the campaign is a huge boon

T5 SoT Problem of abadon Baltics.png (3.74 MiB) Viewed 1317 times

This in part explains why my supply need has dropped a little this turn to 18,500 tons (19k v HLYA). This is something like a 20% improvement upon my first game against Vet. Truck losses are also modest at only 2,177 (2,345). I know from experience that some Axis players are suffering 3k trucking losses per turn at around this stage.

I am running NP across the Baltic from my export port at Danzig to Riga/Parnu. Operating LBs scoff up supply but as they are based in Poland so it really doesn't matter as my depots here are swollen with supply. So far as a result of this NP I have only lost 3 cargo ships and between 10-15k of supply is being shipped to Parnu/Riga each turn. I am very happy to have AGNs core strength close to my depots in Estonia rather than near Pskov which is still well over 100 miles from the nearest depot on the main dual rail line. This helps reduce supply lost and trucking losses.

Bad weather hampers supply delivery and the rain has persisted much further south than my forecast has predicted. This is a real nuisance.

T5 SoT Weather.png (164.02 KiB) Viewed 1317 times

[jasonbroomer]

T5 AGN

Vet saved himself a handful of units by not defending the Baltics on T2&3. Already the costs are becoming apparent as significant resources must now be deployed to shore up defences around the Narva. Vet has also deployed a lot of units around Pskov in a deep formation

T5 AGN SoT imposing.png (3.43 MiB) Viewed 1310 times

I have a suspicion that a lot of these are junk but I am delighted that Vet is being forced to tie up a lot of units here. At this stage I am not planning to take Leningrad and AGN will not be receiving material reinforcements, as I intend to push directly towards Moscow. The northern sector is nothing more than a distraction. That said, I should be able to create real pressure here and continue to tie up a lot of Soviet resources.

I continue with my preparations to cross the Narva by establishing a hold in the western marshes of Narva and occupying the ground currently shown as being held by the Naval brigade. I also tidy unoccupied ground in the Baltics to ensure that my supply routes are safe.

AGC

The unexpected light mud is a real issue, how on earth do I cut through this lot?

T5 AGC SoT lgt mud a problem.png (2.24 MiB) Viewed 1310 times

I really want to encircle Smolensk this turn but the slippery ground will make this very difficult. Having rested last turn due in part to the rain!) can't I really afford a further delay. I deliberate whether I can take Smolensk frontally.

Firstly, I take the useful marsh north of the city, launching the attack from one of the few hexes that are not clogged with mud

T5 AGC Easier than I feared.png (2.91 MiB) Viewed 1310 times

This went better than expected. It is always tricky working out the strength of Russian divisions at this stage of the game. Vet is aware from our first game that I dislike frontal assaults on Urban areas, so may be expecting me to encircle the city. He may therefore defend it with weaker throw away units. Secondly, there is a hex clear of mud SW of the city, albeit across a small river. Thirdly, there is a major road west of Smolensk which means that the penalties for attacking are much lower (90% rather than 75% of CV). I feel comfortable in gambling and roll the dice, and attempt to storm Smolensk

T5 AGC tougher than I thought.png (2.98 MiB) Viewed 1310 times

Damn. 3:1 superiority in numbers was not enough. Although my losses look modest, I have suffered a number of units with material damage (in fact one of the SS divisions is subsequently placed on refit to bring ToE up from 70%). The worst part is that my main infantry force is now spent for the turn.

Now what to do?

[jasonbroomer]

T5 AGC cont

Hmm, well clearly a second assault on the city is out of the question. My first attack did little damage. Morale at OKH has slumped. I feel very despondent.

Time to think positively - I still have a panzer group uncommitted, so I launch an attack to clear the northern approaches to the city.

Our first attack goes in

T5 AGC At least this went well.png (3.09 MiB) Viewed 1307 times

That's better, a big win despite the weather. Now as much as hate throwing panzers in frontally, needs must and a further big attack goes in

T5 AGC I dislike frontal armoured attacks but I must degrade defences.png (3.16 MiB) Viewed 1307 times

Phew, while we were outnumbered, a panzer and motorised division is still enough to deal with 3 Soviet divisions in the clear despite the mud. Resting them last turn, to bring them up to near 100% CPP was critical in this success.


Okay, we can now clear this division.

T5 AGC This attack isolates a critcal hex in Smolensks defences.png (3.06 MiB) Viewed 1307 times

This isolates the two division with a 65 defensive CV sitting in the marshes. We will leave a retreat route but their position is untenable. Their expected disappearance greatly degrades the Smolensk bastion.

Thankfully, we have a steady stream of refreshed infantry corps heading for this sector. We won't be able to take Smolensk next turn but the city's fate is now sealed.

[jasonbroomer]

T5 AGS

The Soviets have managed to cobble together enough units to defend the length of the Denpr

T5 AGS Dnepr defended along its length.png (3.33 MiB) Viewed 1297 times

Not really a problem. While I am aim to cross the river soon, I'm in no rush to take Kiev. My sight are on greater prizes than that.

See that by capturing Kirovograd last turn, how it has allowed me to carve up the Soviet territory with only a modest fuel requirement this turn. It also allows allows a panzer division to rest and refuel (by air) there. The GD brigade has been sent to Krivoi Rog this turn to repeat the trick.

While Nikolaev was taken with little bother, unfortunately, 1st Panzer has hit a brick wall at Kherson

T5 AGS Kherson is heavily defended.png (2.52 MiB) Viewed 1297 times

Odessa as expected has minimal defenders and will be taken next turn. Kherson is a nice to have, but it is not critical for my plans.

Observant readers may be wondering about the peculiar positioning of the Rom FBD. Now that is an important part of my plan...

[PeteJC]

Flying plenty of interdiction missions through my air phase. Given Axis are advancing very quickly albeit on narrow paths, I want to make sure I remove admin movement for his units. I lost ~250 bombers with around 75% from air-to-air combat but I think it was worth it. By removing admin movement it adds extra pressure on supply, truck pool and slows down the speed of infantry units reaching the frontline.
[/quote]


what exactly is admin movement?

[jasonbroomer]

Flying plenty of interdiction missions through my air phase. Given Axis are advancing very quickly albeit on narrow paths, I want to make sure I remove admin movement for his units. I lost ~250 bombers with around 75% from air-to-air combat but I think it was worth it. By removing admin movement it adds extra pressure on supply, truck pool and slows down the speed of infantry units reaching the frontline.

what exactly is admin movement?
[/quote]

It's a bonus modifier reducing MP cost by 1 to 3 MPs.

Movements costs 1.png (944.45 KiB) Viewed 1254 times

[Veterin]

T5 Soviet

1.png (1.73 MiB) Viewed 1125 times

Very few attacks around Leningrad front last turn but he has moved his units in position for a big push this turn. I suspect the bulk of his forces will move between Luga and Novgorod as there is 1 hex that’s light forested and it has roads. I sent a lot of reinforcements here last turn to man my Luga line fortifications so hopefully I can get most areas to at least.

2.png (2.42 MiB) Viewed 1125 times

Smolensk front is interesting as I have to make some tough decisions here. Do I hold the line in certain areas and accept larger pockets and higher losses or do I try and fall back slowly.

3.png (1.04 MiB) Viewed 1125 times

I was not expecting a frontal assault on Smolensk but it certainly could have worked despite the initial disparity in CV. Axis artillery does a great job of damaging/disrupting soviet units and he had a 2.5 to 1 numbers advantage here. The 1.6k Germans killed is nice but the 7.2k damaged is great too. In 41 Axis have a hard time with supply for much refitting but given his infantry are at Smolensk JB should be able to refit these units (if needed)

[Veterin]

T5 Soviet Cont

4.png (2.02 MiB) Viewed 1123 times

There are simply too many areas he can cross the Dnepr from now and I’m a long way from having the troop density to do anything about it. I’ll likely try and stall a bit here and minimise encirclements where possible.

5.png (2.46 MiB) Viewed 1123 times

This is my near end of turn defence of Leningrad. I want to get those forts levelled up ASAP. Hopefully I can hold him at the Narva for a few turns before falling back. This turn he could push all the way to my Luga fort line if he wants to but that would also be a lot of attacks/combat delays to get there. I’ve rotated my infantry around so my weaker milita units are on the frontline and at risk for encirclement/being attacked as they are only 6-7k manpower and few artillery. I would rather save my stronger infantry to defend in stronger terrain and/or forts