Operation Barbarossa - Alpha AAR

[ComradeP]

OK, maybe the Fast Division didn't have armour in 1941.

Is there a fixed extra MP cost for mud/blizzard conditions, or does it depend on terrain?

[wiking62]

ORIGINAL: ComradeP

OK, maybe the Fast Division didn't have armour in 1941.

Is there a fixed extra MP cost for mud/blizzard conditions, or does it depend on terrain?

The Slovak Fast Division had the following armoured unit in August 1941:

12th Panzer Battalion

2 x Armored Company

Anti-Tank Company (motorised)

[elmo3]

Well we're not talking about the same unit then.

[ComradeP]

The Slovak Fast Division had the following armoured unit in August 1941:

12th Panzer Battalion

2 x Armored Company

Anti-Tank Company (motorised)

I was confused for a moment, the Slovak 1st Motorized Infantry/Fast Division indeed had tanks on paper in 1941. I seem to recall the unit using Panzer 38 (t)'s. I don't know what their tank strength was after being reformed and becoming operational again in August-September 1941. It does seem weird that the Slovaks start with tanks (an error according to Elmo), but end up with none, especially as both the Brigade Pilfousek already had tanks (the 1st Slovak Tank Battalion had two tank companies) and the Fast Division seems to have had tanks in 1941.

[tacfire]

Let me chime in here - great AAR Elmo! Just by looking at the length of this thread your AAR is generating a lot of interest in the game. As a big fan of TOAW and WitP and WitP-AE, I know I will be buying this one when it comes out.

One question: what do all the red dashed lines on the map mean? I see there is one for RR track changes from Baltic to Soviet side, but it looks like there are other ones too that are hard to read.
I also hope the developers tone down the color of those red dashed lines before the games release. The map is so beautiful and they overpower the map as they are now in my opinion.

[Montbrun]

ORIGINAL: ComradeP

The Slovak Fast Division had the following armoured unit in August 1941:

12th Panzer Battalion

2 x Armored Company

Anti-Tank Company (motorised)

I was confused for a moment, the Slovak 1st Motorized Infantry/Fast Division indeed had tanks on paper in 1941. I seem to recall the unit using Panzer 38 (t)'s. I don't know what their tank strength was after being reformed and becoming operational again in August-September 1941. It does seem weird that the Slovaks start with tanks (an error according to Elmo), but end up with none, especially as both the Brigade Pilfousek already had tanks (the 1st Slovak Tank Battalion had two tank companies) and the Fast Division seems to have had tanks in 1941.

The "Pilfousek Brigade" had 30 x LT vz.35 [Pz.35(t)], 10 x LT-38 [Pz.38(t)], and 7 x LT-40 [Pz.38(t) Export Version].

[PyleDriver]

The red lines...There are 4 lines that are for reference. One is the Baltic States rail zone that had Europe Rail gadge. Then the Finnish extent line (unitil Leningrad falls), and another its as far as they can move later. The last is the other minor allies line (unit can't go north of it)...We havn't done the final map changes yet and I believe theres a color change coming for those lines...

[wiking62]

When the Pilfousek Brigade was re-organised into the 1st Mobile/Fast division in August 1941 the panzer battalion was equipped with sixty nine LT vz 38s (Pz 38t).

[elmo3]

ORIGINAL: tacfire

....

One question: what do all the red dashed lines on the map mean? ....

Glad you like the AAR. Those lines are to show limits on where Axis allies can move/attack.

[elmo3]

I'll post the results for turn 26 later tonight.  In a word...grim.

[Sabre21]

ORIGINAL: elmo3

I'll post the results for turn 26 later tonight.  In a word...grim.

Look at the bright side Lee..only 11 more turns of blizzard to go [:D]

[wiking62]

ORIGINAL: elmo3

I'll post the results for turn 26 later tonight.  In a word...grim.

Looking forward to these latest screenshots, however grim they might be.
[;)]

[Joel Billings]

We should keep an eye on how many of Lee's losses are disabled (frostbite), and how many are killed and captured. I'd bet an overwhelming number of the losses on 12/4 were disabled.

As for counter attacking, don't give up on that. I've found in my games that weak spearheads can easily be pushed back by German counter attacks, especially if they include a division that's been in a city or town and hasn't been totally trashed by the weather. The Soviets aren't supermen and it is possible to launch counterattacks where you can gang up on Soviet units.

The Slovak Mobile Division OB from August 41 on has not tanks in it. Jim would have to speak to why this is so. The mobile brigade that starts the war has around 40 tanks in it, but they go away when the unit upgrades to the division.

[elmo3]

OOB and losses through turn 26.

[stevekten]

wow, soviet tanks down to 3582.

[elmo3]

12/11/41 (turn 26)  At the far northern end of the AGN line Kolpino fell despite our troops inflicting over 10,000 losses on the Soviets.  The rest of the line held down to Pskov.  However from there south the the AGC flank we were pushed around pretty badly by the Soviets and we'll need to figure out how to stabilize the line in 16th Army's sector.

[elmo3]

12/11/41 (turn 26)  The 9th Army (dark green) got manhandled by the Soviets northeast of Vitebsk and their line has pretty much disintegrated.  The only thing saving us from a complete rout at this point is that next turn is only snow instead of blizzard so we should be able to repair much of the damage.  However we'll have to pull back further at the eastern end of the bulge to free up more units to plug the holes and to cover ourselves for when the blizzards inevitably return.  We have some powerful armor formations that have been quartered in Smolensk and Vyazma that may be able to launch local counterattacks if we can find worthwhile targets.  The southern part of AGC's front fared better with only a few minor retreats by 4th Army (dark blue).

[Smirfy]

During these foul weather turns if you are forced to retreat due to combat do you lose more equipment especially heavy stuff to simulate the lack of mobility? What effect have operations had on trucks and the transport pool some far and is the weather increasing those effects?

[ComradeP]

The Slovak Mobile Division OB from August 41 on has not tanks in it. Jim would have to speak to why this is so. The mobile brigade that starts the war has around 40 tanks in it, but they go away when the unit upgrades to the division.

The Slovak Expeditionary Army Group seems to have had 45.000 men, not the ~61.000 noted in the first turn OOB posted by Elmo, but maybe that includes forces in Slovakia.

After browsing through some OOB pages for a while, it seems Brigade Pilfousek looked like this when it was formed:

HQ

Motorized Reconnaissance Group:
HQ
Cavalry/Armored Car Platoon (the unit name indicates cavalry, but that doesn't mean it actually was a cavalry platoon)
Heavy weapons Platoon
2 x Bicycle Company
Engineer Platoon

2/6. Infantry Regiment (mot):
HQ
Radio Platoon
Anti-Tank Platoon
Mortar Platoon
Infantry Gun Section (75mm guns)
3 x Infantry Company
Machine Gun Company

Tank battalion:
Staff Company
2 x Tank Company (Brad Hunter's breakdown of its tank strength is correct according to the detailed Slovak wiki on the subject).
2 x Anti-Tank Company (9x 37mm guns)
1/11. Artillery Regiment
HQ
Radio Platoon
3 x Battery (I'd guess twelve 100mm vz. 30 guns)
Engineer Company
Radio Company
15. Anti-aircraft Battery
Automobile Repair Shop
315. Truck Column

The brigade had 59 officers, 27 NCO's and 1824 enlisted men.

The Fast Division indeed seems to have had no tanks when it was created, as they were send to Slovakia for refitting in August according to the Slovak wiki (I love cumbersome logistics). On the 29th of October the Fast Division reported a tank strength of 12 tanks. 6 LT-35's and 6 LT-40's. It isn't clear when the division had its full tank force available again. It's possible the tanks came back in September and most were lost/disabled in the weeks leading to late October.

It included 2 infantry regiments (classified as regular infantry, but they must've been motorized), an artillery regiment with 16 100mm vz. 30 guns and 4 105mm vz. 35 guns, an AT platoon with 12 37mm guns, an infantry/mountain gun battery with 4 75mm vz. 15 guns, an engineer battalion, a recon group/possibly battalion, an AA battalion with 12 20mm AA guns and 4 88mm AA guns (possibly all German) and support.

The division had 301 officers, 90 NCO's and 8060 enlisted men. The low number of NCO's probably due to the fact that the Slovaks didn't have a lot of quality NCO's because they were discriminated against in the Czechoslovakian army and didn't have the time to catch up yet, even though they were being trained by the Germans. At the time the unit was part of the 17th Army, advancing beyond the limits of the Slovak Army's effective control.

-

As for the latest turn results: comparing this turn to the last, Italy, Hungary and Romania actually got more men, the Soviets have about 6000 men less, but they lost 559 tanks. The Germans gained guns, but have about 20.500 men less than last turn. I'm surprised at the Luftwaffe's strength, as it seems to be doing fine despite not having enough anti-freeze or facilities.

[elmo3]

12/11/41 ( turn 26)  Troops from 17th Army (brown) with support from 2nd SS Mot Brigade plugged holes from last turn southeast of Kiev but were unable to hold the line again this turn.  Further south 11th Army (purple) had a couple of minor setbacks as did the Rumanians who are again holding up better than expected.  Expect some counterattacks from AGS next turn too.

As mentioned above it will be Snow in zones 2 thru 4 with Mud in zone 1 on turn 27.  Ice levels are such that all rivers and lakes are frozen but the better weather will be a much needed break from the last two weeks.