Fighting withdrawal with USSR

[Razo42]

This is my very first campaign with the Allies, so I experiment a lot. The Soviets are doing a decent job delaying Barbarossa. It is late September, and there was no major breakthrough yet. The first wave of infantry (re-bought Corps and Armies with some heavy tanks) are arriving in October and early November. Where should I put upa defensive line? Aldo, is it worth to bleed the Axis out for another few months, or should I build up a strong defensive line?

[Markiss]

Ah, where to build the Soviet line, one of the great questions of our time. Against the AI, you can just fight it out and slow it down by throwing units in front of it, you don't necessarily have to build a main line of resistance far in your rear. The AI's offensive will slowly grind to a halt sometime in 1942, and you can begin counter-attacking.

In PBEM, however, such a strategy will get your units surrounded and destroyed. To slow the Germans down you will need to have fully-entrenched line that cannot be easily out-flanked(gone around). This line should incorporate cities, forests, and fortifications built by your engineers, and should be backed up by anti-aircraft guns and artillery. Keep any tanks you have in reserve to counter-attack any breakthroughs. Even such a line as this will not stop him permanently, but it should slow him down and buy you time to build another line behind it. When you get enough breathing-room to buy some tanks, you can counter-attack.

As far as where this line should be built, that of course depends on what your opponent is doing. In order to have time to fully entrench, your line needs to be at a place your opponent will not reach for least 3-4 turns, even if you have all the units you need to build it right now. If your units are still in the queue, you will need to add the time it will take them to arrive to your calculus.

Some places are also better than others for setting this line up, so look mat the map hard, and employ your engineers wisely, as building fortifications takes time.

I will also point out that some people do not make lines at all, but leave a chain of units entrenched in cities that leads to the rest of their forces placed in a ball around the objective hexes. The 'ole Ball and Chain. Not a fan, as it is ahistorical and gamey, but to each their own. It may, in fact, be the best defense against the top PBEM players.

Still doesn't mean I will use it, as I would rather go out in a blaze of glory than resort to those kind of tactics.

[Razo42]

Barbarossa just stalled, main thrust got to the line of the Dnyepr, and that was it. The AI never really struggled to reach Leningrad, northern Pripyat marshes was defended, while the main push in the south just met the Siberian reinforcements and got crushed. The minors really did an awful job for the AI, they were basically cannon fodder. North Africa is mine, so I think Overlord might happen in late 1942 now.

[PvtBenjamin]

Time to "step up and pet the pony" and play PBEM.

[Snake726]

That's not quite true about the AI's ineptitude. For instance I built a defensive line in the south along the river, connected to forest and city hexes, with nearly all the river hexes fortified.

This line was broken in 2-3 turns, and completely smashed in 4. Frankly, German tanks can simply attack head-on over rivers and into level 4 entrenchments with artillery support, and come off with a win.

At this point the Germans are nearly at Moscow.

This seems to be because of the dismal Red Army morale, readiness, and defensive values. Even when the entrenchment pays off, Russian morale loss and German boosts from annihilating units means that you have 40-50% Red Army units fighting 100+% German units.

So I'm guessing that any front line will be smashed, and you should a) avoid research for the first year, you can't afford to use it and if you can it won't help b) buy corps before you buy armies - everything will be crushed, so buy time with cheap units being crushed c) build as many lines as you can, because even your second line will obviously deploy at 50% morale and readiness, and this will not increase rapidly enough to fight the oncoming Germans as they don't have to deal with supply constraints.

[PvtBenjamin]

ORIGINAL: Snake726


So I'm guessing that any front line will be smashed, and you should a) avoid research for the first year, you can't afford to use it and if you can it won't help b) buy corps before you buy armies - everything will be crushed, so buy time with cheap units being crushed c) build as many lines as you can, because even your second line will obviously deploy at 50% morale and readiness, and this will not increase rapidly enough to fight the oncoming Germans as they don't have to deal with supply constraints.

A) NO Given the large research deficit the SU has to invest early in research. If you dont you'll spend the entire game getting rolled over, The German units only get stronger. Are you investing in Inf Weapons & Warfare?

B) Yes only buy corps & garrisons until SU enters, place armies you are given in key cities (NM & supply).

c) Yes build fortifications by key cities (Leningrad/Moscow/Stalingrad). These cities have high supply. Upgrade the two HQ's you are given and place them by the key cities. Make sure they are attached to stronger units.


I enjoyed played vs the AI for years just find PBEM more interesting at this point.