RODINA ---M60A3TTS (Soviet) vs HLYA (Axis)

[M60A3TTS]

One final go.

Will it end quickly?

I really don't know.

Just over a year ago, I played against someone named HardLuckYetAgain who was rather new to the forums. I didn't have any expectations, although newer forum members often lack PvP experience. We got started into the game and I saved a few screenshots, not having any plans of doing an AAR. Rather soon after we started, it was apparent there was an all-out drive on Moscow by HLYA in the making. His panzer corps committed along that Axis were more numerous than games people typically do AARs on. Before we had 10 turns in, it was pretty much game over. That was my 2nd shortest contest, bested only by player A-Game who did the oft repeated Wiking SS Victory Tour straight into an undefended Kharkov on turn 6.

Returning to present day, I was given a gift this morning in my one current solo game of an Axis turn 11 where I found about 600,000 of my Soviet troops pocketed. It was a gift because it confirmed my suspicions that:

(a) I really haven't adjusted to the fact that recent patches have significantly helped the Axis player

(b) My early game needs much more focus on the here and now and less time on building towards the future in terms of AP spend, industry evacuation among other things

(c) Since HLYA is very much about winning the game in 1941 and my early game performance needs serious improvement, I must consider myself the underdog. If I can get through the year with a semblance of an army with industry and a manpower base, the odds may even up somewhat.

For the game that is coming, HLYA is practicing his opening moves while I try to come up with a plan to survive now, thrive later.

[SparkleyTits]

Good luck to both of you!

[smokindave34]

Good luck M60! Here is some motivation for you....

[timmyab]

If you hold Moscow in December 41 I'll be impressed to be honest. There's virtually no margin for error playing the Soviets in 41 verses top opposition. Good luck (you'll need it [:D])

[Dinglir]

I am currently playing HardLuck and one of my impressions is that he is very inventive.

So do not get caught up in a preconceived idea of him hitting Moscow full strength. He might, and then again, he might not.

[M60A3TTS]

ORIGINAL: Dinglir

I am currently playing HardLuck and one of my impressions is that he is very inventive.

So do not get caught up in a preconceived idea of him hitting Moscow full strength. He might, and then again, he might not.

Agreed. Each panzer corps will be identified from turn 1 onwards. He can change between Leningrad and Moscow fairly quickly. Those committed to the south for a few turns will be a bit more stuck on that path.

[STEF78]

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

...
Just over a year ago, I played against someone named HardLuckYetAgain who was rather new to the forums. I didn't have any expectations, although newer forum members often lack PvP experience. We got started into the game and I saved a few screenshots, not having any plans of doing an AAR. Rather soon after we started, it was apparent there was an all-out drive on Moscow by HLYA in the making. His panzer corps committed along that Axis were more numerous than games people typically do AARs on. Before we had 10 turns in, it was pretty much game over. That was my 2nd shortest contest, bested only by player A-Game ...

Same story for me, just replace A-game with Bozo

Good luck!

[M60A3TTS]

Thanks all. Once we get started, I will be posting the 1941 campaign in real time. That will give everyone the benefit of seeing things as they unfold. Sure, HLYA could see what everything looks like but I trust him to do the right thing, and it's not like he needs more help. [;)]

One of the first things before the battle starts will be to determine how much core industry will need to be evacuated, beginning on turn 3. The 4 HI and 4 arms at Minsk have to be considered a loss on turn 1. Here are the initial numbers:

Heavy Industry. Retain 177 of 236 or 75% of the base. That will allow the loss of 59 factories. There are 108 factories considered at risk in 1941, so 49 must be evacuated. 392k railcap needed
Armaments. Retain 278 of 370 or 75.14% of the base. That will allow the loss of 92 factories. There are 224 factories considered at risk in 1941, so 132 must be evacuated. 633.6k railcap needed
Vehicles. Retain 120 of 150 or 80% of the base. That will allow for the loss of 30 factories. There are 50 factories considered at risk in 1941, so 20 must be evacuated. 96k railcap needed

An additional 20-25k railcap will be the minimum needed to evacuate other factories such as T34, KV1, IL2, etc.

Total 1.15m against the railcap. The goal will be to complete the moves in 12 weeks, Turn 14. Included in all these calculations has to be the real possibility of losing Moscow.

[Stelteck]

My opinion on factory evacuation is that it could be a good idea to keep all Vehicule factories.

You can also loose more armaments as you will probably swim in armement points anyway, except end 1941.

For Heavy industry, your choice is good but do not go below.

Relative to named components, it could be interesting to fully evacuate the IL-2 factory as the plane is usefull right now. Others are less important.

[Telemecus]

One interesting point brought to my attention by KenchiSulla.

Factories can be evacuated before they start production. For instance the T60 factory at South Stalingrad is only one point (very cheap in rail cap), can repair (a lot? it can I assume?) before production starts, and is not then susceptible to bombing to keep it down to a production of 1 from November onwards. Or an evacuation later if Stalingrad is threatened.

[M60A3TTS]

ORIGINAL: Stelteck

My opinion on factory evacuation is that it could be a good idea to keep all Vehicule factories.

You can also loose more armaments as you will probably swim in armement points anyway, except end 1941.

For Heavy industry, your choice is good but do not go below.

Relative to named components, it could be interesting to fully evacuate the IL-2 factory as the plane is usefull right now. Others are less important.

With the cluster of 30 vehicle factories in Moscow and 25 arms to the south in Tula, there may be room for some give and take. That will be especially true where Moscow is immediately threatened and Tula is not.

Taking out all IL-2 factories in Voronezh makes sense provided the railcap is there.

[M60A3TTS]

ORIGINAL: Telemecus

One interesting point brought to my attention by KenchiSulla.

Factories can be evacuated before they start production. For instance the T60 factory at South Stalingrad is only one point (very cheap in rail cap), can repair (a lot? it can I assume?) before production starts, and is not then susceptible to bombing to keep it down to a production of 1 from November onwards. Or an evacuation later if Stalingrad is threatened.

Thanks. At 224 against the railcap for one factory, it's a consideration. There wouldn't be much loss since it doesn't start producing until turn 16.

[ericv]

Following AAR's here is like following a really good TV Show on HBO

. Good luck and have fun

[M60A3TTS]

Things to do on Turn 1 before any units are moved.

Some people have lists of this kind. Here is what is planned, once the turn arrives.

The following commands to 50% TOE
Black Sea Fleet Air
Baltic Fleet Air
Urals MD
Volga MD
Volga MD Air
Kharkov MD
Kharkov MD Air

Support units removed from Hanko Fortified Zones

STAVKA to support level 9
Army and corps support levels set to 0
Transfer all SUs in Military Districts to STAVKA.
VVS to National Reserve
Disband relevant fortified zones

[M60A3TTS]

Here is what my spreadsheet looks like for arms factory evacuation. I update the right hand side of the sheet with the current factory counts to keep track of what is still sitting where.

[M60A3TTS]

"The whole situation makes it increasingly plain that we have underestimated the Russian Colossus, who consistently prepared for war with that utterly ruthless determination so characteristic of totalitarian States. This applies to organizational and economic resources, as well as the communications system and, most of all, to the strictly military potential. At the outset of the war we reckoned with about 200 enemy Divisions. Now we have already counted 360. These Divisions indeed are not armed and equipped according to our standards, and their tactical leadership is often poor. But there they are, and if we smash a dozen of them, the Russians simply put up another dozen. The time factor favors them, as they are near their own resources, while we are moving farther and farther away from ours. And so our troops, sprawled over an immense frontline, without any depth, are subjected to the incessant attacks of the enemy."

Franz Halder
Chief of the German General Staff
11 August 1941

[ledo]

"Pfft. Hold my beer and watch this."

Adolf Hitler
Head of State
12 August 1941

Edit: I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. That's a pretty great quote from Halder though, and a pretty early realization, I always assumed they still thought things were going well in August.

[M60A3TTS]

Turn 1 22-27 June 1941

Air Activity

There are 122 attacks on our airfields this week, resulting in the loss of almost 5,500 aircraft on the ground. Many air regiments are total losses. Approximately 400 more are lost to other causes. It is necessary to send all units suffering from heavy damage and low morale to the National Reserve. At the same time, we will adhere to this guiding principle:

The VVS will attack the ground and air forces of Germany and her allies from the first week of war until the last.

Our level bombers will specialize in unescorted night attacks while tactical bombers conduct escorted attack in daylight. The IL-4 and DB-3 aircraft have extended operational ranges of 102 and 77 hexes respectively and can deliver a payload of 1000Kg. This compares favorably to the fast bombers, SB-2 and Pe-2 which only carry a payload of 600Kg and operational ranges of 33 and 23 hexes respectively.

Our tactical bomber force is less developed in terms of quantity, but we will convert older I-153BS models to IL-2 as inventories allow. As quickly as practical we will get the tactical assets on line.

Our fighter and fighter bomber forces need to rid themselves of some older equipment and there will be some upgrades, but not massive ones. We need to use our admin point resources to meet a large number of demands.

Our reconnaissance aircraft will identify enemy ground units and airfields in order to select the most lucrative targets for our air strikes. We have an insufficient number of these regiments currently, but additional regiments will be brought into being starting in August.

Our transport arm is insignificant, but re-supply by air will not be a priority for some time. When airhead supply used to be effective in 1941, there was a real need for this, particularly in the area of Leningrad. Now that this is no longer possible, the building of air transport units will not happen until 1942 at the earliest.

Once the air units were sent to the Reserve this week, air recon flew a limited number of missions to identify opportunities for counterstrikes on enemy airfields by our bombers. The primary targets were the 1st and 4th Luftwaffe air bases containing 100 operational and 162 damaged aircraft and located in Suwalki, East Prussia. An additional five airbase locations were identified and targeted in seven strikes.

A total of 43 enemy aircraft were destroyed in these attacks at a cost of 76 of our own.

[SparkleyTits]

Drown them all in the red tide comrade!

[Mamluke]

ORIGINAL: M60A3TTS

Turn 1 22-27 June 1941

...

Once the air units were sent to the Reserve this week, air recon flew a limited number of missions to identify opportunities for counterstrikes on enemy airfields by our bombers. The primary targets were the 1st and 4th Luftwaffe air bases containing 100 operational and 162 damaged aircraft and located in Suwalki, East Prussia. An additional five airbase locations were identified and targeted in seven strikes.

A total of 43 enemy aircraft were destroyed in these attacks at a cost of 76 of our own.

for Soviet standards in early turns, this is very good yes?

so do you painstakingly select 1 by 1 each air wing to send to reserve? as HLYH would be proud of?
or do you have a more efficient method? because what I do is go to commanders report, select one type of air regiment and send all of those to reserve.
I would appreciated advice M60

also, Good game and have fun! and thanks for the AAR!