NewZealand Russia vs German Canada Jul-42

[MikeB]

Game started about Sept 2002 from Jun 41 campaign. Mike of Canada is German(after being trounced as a Russian martinet). Kerry of New Zealand is the replacement Russian commander.
While Germans advanced to Vologda, Kalinin, Rzhev, Orel, Poltava prior to Xmas and the 41/42 blizzard weather, The Germans gave up in disgust over the blizzard retreat/shatter rules. The new
German line is Leningrad, west of Demyansk, Smolensk, Mogilev, Zitomar, Uman. The Germans have been reluctant to commit their tanks to the withering initial Anti-tank fire. The Germans have given up an additional hex or two near Leningrad. The Russians appear to also be getting nosy about advancing on Odessa.

Mike -> Kerry Aug 2 42 Feb 28 03 T59
by Fluid...i take it you mean that we exchange the same hex repeatedly while taking heavy tank attacking losses...and while taking heavy infantry defence losses. My perception is that this attrition thing is not in the German best interest. I thought i had declined to play last turn. Hopefully, this turn the German forces were less enthusiastic.<hex 41, 9>
Your enjoyable 42 turns will come to an end...at some point in time. Those additional panther and Tiger tank factories you mentioned, sound welcome. It will likely be 43 before their output see real action though.

Mike -> Kerry T58 commentary
...yes i had noted the commentary on WIR 3.3 regards shatters. I also note Ricky saying it is - as it should be. I suspect Campaign 41 is going to be subject to "House Rules" for a long time to come.
Yeah, I acknowledge that infantry have anti-tank guns. I believe i seen something about infantry against tanks being toned down some for WIR 3.3 . I have as yet not downloaded WIR 3.3 for sake of game time.(dont want to be tied to computer until after competition-whenever).
and yes...i do believe that some degree of "dead" noted tanks return to pools as they were only damaged. I find so much of WIR combat reports to be less than what i would like to know. Lately, the logistics of what is happening to the production of German fighters is an issue. The production # are there...but it is not obvious that German fighter units are actually receiving reinforcements. Perhaps they were worst than i had thought when i took them out of the front line. So much for Hitlers 500 hrs requirement. It is now Sat eve 729pm. As you had not returned the game to me...i may take the time to investigate via "alt r" what has been happening to them.
I had noted the Tigers and Panthers defence values and am gleefully awaiting their arrival. Whether that means i will attack with them is another matter. Something else has to happen first - i am a thinking.

Kerry -> Mike T58 commentary
I have the same results when attacking you, 4 german antitank guns took out over 30 russian tanks last turn.
I think the combat also gives squads/ Flak etc an antitank capability this is quite historical as you read of both Russians and germans taking out Multiple tanks with Infantry.
Also remember quite a few of these tanks turn up back in the pools. so its not quite that bad.
You will find the Panthers and Tigers stand up better
I see they are having problems with German shatter in Blizzards in V 3.3

Mike -> Kerry T58 German achievements?
The Germans finally sort of take back a hex. Impressive...if it wasn't so costly. Shaking heads the German generals are.
Reportedly, against 15 Russian T60 tanks, losses of the German attacking 676 tanks was impressive.
25 PZ IIIh, 1 Stug-g, 1 Marder III, 7 PZiv-g, 26 PZiv-e = 60 tanks.
4 Russian T60s were destroyed in exchange.
This was against a Russian unit that had just advanced last turn...hence had no entrenchment to speak of.
oh yes - lest we forget...17 aircraft were lost to Russian Flak.
With such success? the German Generals explain to Hitler the economics of defend vs attack.
The British invasion of summer 43 is officially announced as postponed.


Kerry -> Mike Mar 2 03 T58
Another tough turn, I am kicking myself, I forgot to plot an Army to move into the Marsh Hex I finally took outside Leningrad.
The front is starting to become a bit more Fluid.
Your Air force is noticeable by its absense, I have put all my half capable fighter groups back in to the front along with one of my last groups that has been training since the start of the War.
You must be starting to get all your new Fighter Factories soon?? Is it late 42 or early 43 that they come on stream.
Two new Tiger and Six new Panther Factories to look forward to as well.

Kerry -> Mike Commentary
You will probably find it best to put all your CAP in one HQ, the FW 190 is definitely the best for USAAF
you will need at least three groups of 100+ to stop them as time goes on.
yes it will take CAP from nearest Airbase only but you should go at least 12 hexes from memory

Mike -> Kerry Commentary
did stats first after looking over Russian combat initiatives.
My German air defence is
@ 9,31 32 air on CAP
@ 11,28 99 air on CAP
@ 4,28 18 air on CAP.
@ 4,28 only 9 air showed up to intercept American raid.
It appears to take air CAP from nearest airbase only...regardless of whether others can reach or not. On a previous turn, the air at 11,28 failed to do anything @ 8 hex range.
The data file when zipped is some 448K ...oh, it includes graphs .

Kerry -> Mike T57
Both Airforces must be pretty Tired.
I have the Aircraft but they are either Damaged or have very Low experience levels
I put some fighter support in this turn but even small groups of yours were shooting down about 5-1
Your Panzer Korp I attacked had over 500 Tanks defending, I wonder if You Might be overstating your weakness to lull me into a false sense of strength.
I look forward to the remaining two months of Summer!!!
Still only 9 fighters coming up over Germany??
Do you still record the weekly casualties on the Excel spreadsheet It was very interesting reading
If you still have the details I would appreciate a copy to start keeping my own records.

Kerry -> Mike T56 Feb 27 2003
You are getting sneaky I don't know where your Panzer Divisions will turn up.
I put in an attack against what seemed to be a weak infantry Korps and got the **** kicked out of me by 300 Panzers.
Still not much coming up over germany
I found the best way was to have only fighters in One headquarters OKW and none in the rest Dave was doing that against me and they seemed to come up 10-12 hexes away as long as they were on CAP.

Mike -> Kerry T56 Jul 12 42
I was reworking our game parameters and came across Aug 10,41 through Dec 31, 41 and again from Aug 42 through Sept 42. My understanding is that it was at the discretion of the Russians as to how much they used double saving. As you noted, it was a double sword as they used op points in the save and were then somewhat less than 99% supplied for the coming German assault. I am not clear as to whether i gave you permission or we agreed that you could at least use those extra op points to do combat supply.(prior to sending the game to me)
I now think Dec 31,41 would have been much too long and have revised my house rules accordingly. I don't expect you will have need of extra supply in 42...but i believe it remains an option. I suspect i was a tad bit optimistic of the German strength for 42.
Let us settle upon 8 turns double save to date...hence, the game would end 4 weeks earlier than the rules/game state. Does the game end on a certain date or does it become a dice roll to end the game at the end?
...not certain if i would have original email....and there were several of them so even if i found it, i am skeptical that i would have proof that it was the final one.
Please advise of any changes you think we may have done or other things.
Breaking through sounds rather mute at this point...but as i said the game is a good mood shifter. Should i get a breakthrough, yes; i do expect to be able to exploit it and maintain the shoulders somewhat(a bit like Bulge 44 in Ardennes?) With Russian tank corps around the corner, I am cognizant that a Russian breakthrough would be deadly for me as well.
Everytime i attack, i cannot help noticing that German losses are relatively higher...in the order of 25-40 G tanks to 2-5 R tanks verses Russian attacks in the order of 100 R tanks to 25-40 G tanks.
Kerry > Mike T56 commentary
I can't remember how many double saves we agreed on I think the first one was in August 10th or there abouts and finished on the last spring summer turn at the end of October so about 8- 9 moves.
If you have the original Email you can probably get it more accurate.
Given that the USAAF has started about 8 weeks early we are pretty close.
I think you will find when you get a break through it is easy for the germans to exploit.
I made the mistake of being to aggressive with the Russians in 42 with Dave and suffered badly in August /September.
At the speed I am Taking ground I should be in Berlin about August 2047 Game time.
Mike -> Kerry T56 Jul 12 42
Well, the German grand strategy for 42 is dumb-founded. It was supposed to be that after the Russians advanced in mud and blizzard...they would be unable to entrench...and be ripe pickings for another summer of Blitzberg.
It quickly became apparent that the documentation had again failed to mention the correction that units can entrench in bad weather. Perhaps i just didn't read the errata close enough. I should have known from watching my own troops.
The big 15? hex retreat of the winter of 41/42 may have been a mistake. German flak appears to be inconsequential. German attacks appear to be a losing situation...even against advancing Russian forces.
It seems like a long time to hold onto Germany till Aug 45...but such appears to be the strategic situation. Perhaps, i just don't know how to attack.
As a sop, can i ask how many turns the Russians did double saves...such that every 2 would reduce the end of the game by one week?
I believe WIR 3.2 is a good game in that it leads to both sides feeling depressed from time to time.
Mike -> Kerry T55 commentary
It took 4 attacks to take the swamp hex near Leningrad. With only some 50% supply after moving troops into the hex...it is surprising that it did not subside a long time ago. The other hexes are at 99% supply so should not be so easy.
What is with these attacks with no fighters. And did i have any flak? I typically lose 2-4 planes per air group attacking a ground target. You lost 2 per combat.
I also note that when i attack, the tank losses are heavy on the attacker. It seems that your tanks get less damaged when they attack.
The 110G fighters and 109F fighters at German airbases must have been sleeping when the american strike came in at Bremen. I note those 2 HQ cannot move. I thought air defence in Germany was 3 x normal range. Another documented feature down the drain. How many HQ must i station in Germany to ensure fighter protection. The bombing was at hex 2,25 while my air defences were at 11,28...only some 10 hexes away. The 110G range is 26?
The German airforce which in some cases was down to 68% experience and perhaps 9 ftrs per air group were becoming ineffective. Hence, recuperation was the order of the week.
Ah well. Hitler is thinking about postponing his British invasion till summer 44.
Kerry -> Mike T55
The endless columns of Trucks laden with Vodka arrived just in time for the big Push,
33 Divisions supported by almost 1,000 Artillery and 400 flak Guns finally took a small piece of muddy Ground in the middle of nowhere from the Germans.
Your Airforce was absent from some of the front this week I got one group of Bombers swatted from the Sky but two got through.
Your Air force took high casualties from my Large numbers of Flak this turn , you may want to look at how many groups you send in to support.
Also You only had about 10 fighters come up over Germany agianst the USAAF. I think The fighters from the nearest headquaters to the Bombing raid come up.
Mike -> Kerry T55 Jul 5 42
The air marshal was called in to see Hitler this week. He left with a bouncy step and a gleam in his eye. Everyone is expecting great things from the airforce. Their expectations are not in vain...as they have accomplished much already. Some are saying even more than the German army.
Kerry -> Mike T54
We have run out of Vodka, more is on the way. very light attacks this turn however we attacked with 26 divisions against your Finnish Korps outside Leningrad this turn and still could not shift them.
I see your Armored attack was in a marsh hex, tank casualties are always high in these hexes because of the defensive bonus
It is worrying that you have so many Panzer Korps Massed on the front line.
We are waiting for the onslaught
Mike -> Kerry T54 June 28 42
Disaster !
The local German general had prepared his battle report claiming victory and the road open to Moscow. The Russian Airforce had disappeared and hordes of German Bombers had prepared the way making numerous UNESCORTED bombing raids.
A good German attack followed and the General's adjutant was waiting by the teletype to send the message onward. 520 bombers had supported the attack. HQ had been advised that good news was imminent and that someone should prepare to wake Hitler prior to his normal wake up time.
Oh - but what a disaster as those fendish Russians plant untold tank mines on the road.<hex 41,23> A 137 German tanks die in a blasphemous effort to dislodge a measly 5 Russian tanks. Reports from the airforce were stunning as there appeared to be no opposition to bomb...yet German tanks could be seen geysuring in clouds of smoke.
Other German generals along the line shook their heads...glad that it was not them. They had heard this geysuring sound before from the same part of the front.(see March/April 42 battle reports). Despondence about the movement forward to Moscow settled down on the front once more. Attack forward with tanks is just NOT the way to do it.
A team of Generals from Army HQ in Berlin are being entrained to visit the front to research the situation. With all the bombing, with all the tank support, with measily tank opposition; the position should have easily capitulated. WHY NOT !! is the muted desperate moan.
Hitler was left to sleep. Everyone hopes he will not hear of the event...other than the disappearance of the Russian airforce.
It was belatedly remembered that WIR 3.3 has reduced the infantry anti-tank capability. <and my opponent was wondering why the Germans don't attack. His attacks meet with losses of perhaps 4R tanks : 1G tank. German attacks meet with losses of 25G tanks : 1R tank. Why then should the Germans attack? >
Kerry -> Mike T53
think it is time to rethink my strategy.
The fill them up on Vodka and send them at the enemy without any support tactic doesn't seem to be working.
Casualties are disproportionately high and your forces in the areas I have been attacking for a while seem to be getting stronger not weaker.
We are still waiting for Hitler to tire of the defensive posture and send the Panzer Korps in.
Mike -> Kerry T53 June 14 42
Gentlemen ... The FUHRER! HEIL !
Over the past while, i have been studying the combat reports. I have today ordered all German aircraft with pilots having more than 500 hrs training time to be moved to the Eastern Front for combat duty. The Gestapo is even now reviewing the flight records of trainees remaining in Germany and our allies to ensure that there are no shirkers.
_______________________________________________________________________
General Spymaster : Your command will entrain to the Russian Front. It is your job to investigate reports of Russian tank corps.
Should you find any, you will have the option of digging your graves or taking PanzerFausts and destroying a minimum of 5 enemy tanks each. For every 25 enemy tanks destroyed, 5 of your command will be allowed to continue the war as infantry. Your messenger boys and secretaries are exclused from this duty...but will accompany you to the front to at bring back word to me.
Should there be no evidence of Russian tank corps, you and your full command will be welcomed back to Berlin.
_______________________________________________________________________
General Economics. Your models of production are hoax ! i say! . Germany is far outpacing your prediction of German and Russian arms production. Our latest spy reports(exchange of Alt R) of March 42 - which you agreed were valid, prove that your prediction of Russian arms production are bogus. You and your command will accompany the spymaster to the Russian Front. Your messenger boys and secretaries will remain in Berlin to better instruct your successors.
_______________________________________________________________________
General organizer, It is your job to co-ordinate intelligence and summarize it to me. You will take yourself outside now. A detail awaits to escort you to a grave which you will dig for yourself. You will have opportunity to phone your family...but delay of execution till they arrive to say their goodbyes is not permissable.
I expect your successor to be more diligent in challenging the Economics and Spy ministries. Reports to me should improve.
==============================================================
Let EVERYONE take note. Promotion to General does not guarantee the option to prepare your memoires knowing that you will die in bed. The WAR is HERE. We shall WIN !
I expect to soon see battle reports summarizing successful infiltration of the suburbs of Moscow.
Heil !
.......
Many puddles of yellow liquid wander among the chairs in the room. The Generals quietly take their leave.
==============================================================
NEWS FLASH ... Kiev!
A russian colonel of their air force has been caught skulking out of Kiev. Reports claim that he was surrendering to avoid air battle against the Reich. The new operational procedure for the Russian airforce seems to be to surround a southern airbase via NDKD with dogs and machine guns. Aircrew are russled from their barracks and marched to waiting transports. Crew are handed a pencil and small piece of paper to write a letter home. Russian air colonels then fly the combat aircraft to the combat airbases in the north. Russian air colonels then fly/ride the transports to the next southern base.
The air colonel had concerns about the air battles of the past week stretching to just north of Kiev. Everywhere, russian lads are going down in flames. He was afraid that they would start flying air colonels in combat aircraft in the north.
The captive has been sent to a POW near his home town of Minsk. His family is permitted to visit him once per week(on their own transport). What else to do with the captive is being requested of senior generals.
....
I had looked forward to a massive Russian tank attack floundering against my large waiting tank traps. Alas, such is not to be; i suppose.
Air reports this week(June 14, 42) suggest
285 R dead airmen vs 138 G dead airmen.
Mike -> Kerry T50 May 30 42
...well, you probably already know there were no bombers in the north from your attacks. Hence, it was a very peaceful German turn.
Mumblings out of the Berlin staff college are that a purpose for the tankers is being pursued by a young 2nd lieutenant. He has been requested to formally write up his proposal for further study. Superiors claim that his concept works well In the test scenarios that have been completed. The General Staff anticipates putting the concept to further tests in other scenarios.
Hitler still has his cold which has worsened in the past week. Last week the army staff were rather happy that he could not interrupt their planning. This week, they are concerned for his continuing health. Who else is to command the German volk so as to continue providing conscripts for the front.
Most Generals expressed satisfaction that the Russians were held in place last week. Several more weeks of exchanging 400 R tanks for 80 G tanks will result in favourable opportunities. The research scientists had the satisfaction of watching the newest wonder machines being loaded upon the trains to head east this past week. A great fanfare was generated by the German press. It was noted however that only German press with 15 yrs German standing, were permitted to enter the train station.