Third Reich 42-45 - Mike (Allies) vs Ken (Axis)

[mike1984]

It's been a looong time since I've done an AAR. The last time may have been when Mark and I were still playtesting. A few months ago I started Third Reich 42-45 against Ken. We're currently on Turn 30. I usually allow a 10-15-turn cushion in an AAR, but frankly I got lazy and haven't posted it until now. It'll be in this thread and on a blog I use to save/keep track of AARs. Forgive my sloppiness in the screenshots. Occasionally the date doesn't match the turn, or the colors aren't consistent. I'm very rusty.

The start of this scenario is always the same. A cease fire that allows each side to maneuver into positions. The Allied strategy is usually the same, too, at least to start the game. Fall back everywhere into better positions. Southern Russia is a key spot early, as is North Africa.

T002. 15 May 1942. <-- link to blog post

Eastern Front - Kharkov Sectors



This game starts out close to the same as it did the other times, but I'm ordering a general retreat from the Kharkov fronts much faster this time. All armies are to withdraw to the Don River over the next few turns, then hope to hold there until the Soviet reserves start arriving.

I'm more than a little concerned about the massive gap that opened in my lines from Kursk to Voronezh. I wasn't able to disengage from around Kursk, and this might allow the Nazis to swing around and into the hole. It would be a big blow to my strategy here, but one that I think can be overcome as long as I keep damage to the moderate range. As the line from Kursk falls back toward Voronezh, the units will start doubling up and cover less area.

Eastern Front - Rostov Sectors



The withdrawal in this area must be more carefully executed, as to avoid allowing the Nazis easy access into the Caucuses. Rostov must not fall for at least a few weeks. That's always a difficult task, if for no other reason than the defensive position is just terrible. River to the defenders' backs, open ground to the front. Rostov will become a hinge as the rest of the Soviets retreat east to connect with the Don River armies currently falling back from Kharkov. Once Rostov falls, the line will set up positions behind the Don and Donets rivers, connecting with the Don armies already further east.

Eastern Front - Rzhev/Moscow



West of Moscow is the Rzhev Meat Grinder. The Nazis aren't stupid here, self-collapsing the pocket quickly to avoid the Soviets pinching off a chunk of their forces. I've tried to move quickly enough to start squeezing from both east and west, with some success.

The ultimate goal with this operation is to completely destroy a few Nazi divisions. The intermediate goal is to pursue the withdrawing enemy as their front destabilizes, possibly catching one or two sectors before they settle into a good defensive position.

I've shifted some of my available Soviet reserve armies to the northern part of the salient, but I'm concerned the traffic congestion as the battle moves south. Things could turn into a meat grinder after all.

North African Front - Tobruk



There's no good way to defend in most of North Africa, and Libya is particularly difficult with all the open flanks and terrible supply lines. So what I'll hope for right now is to fall back into Tobruk and hold out until... ? Keeping the Nazis and Italians from getting to Alexandria is my only concern. I may rethink this strategy as things progress.

Next Up: Turn 3, duh...

[StuccoFresco]

Pushing for a limited pocket in Gzhatsk may be more feasible at Rhzev.

[mike1984]

That probably would've produced more results.

[mike1984]

Turn 003. 22 May 1942.

Eastern Front - Vyazma Salient



The Axis have pulled back enough where Rzhev isn't even on the map for this sector, so it's become the Vyazma Salient. I've tried to maintain control here, as Ken has been more aggressive since quickly pulling back on the first active turn. Armies to the north have been freed up to move around the flanks of the salient, and have played a critical role in stymieing the breakthrough in the west and pressure attacks in the east. This is starting to get the "meat grinder" feel now.

Eastern Front - Voronezh Sectors



Now that I've gotten a better understanding of where the offensive are aimed, I can shift troops from sectors that wont be pressured. The Nazis may have wanted to attack toward Yelets anyway, but that gigantic hole I allowed to open in my lines must have been too appealing. But as more armies are made available from both north and south of the gap, I can start to fill up the opening. And the remaining rear guard actions have slowed the Axis offensive just enough.

Eastern Front - Rostov Sectors



I'm taking a bit of a risk pulling forces from the Donets River line to reinforce the open defensive positions in the north. But it's critical that I slow any offensive toward Voronezh. The defenses of Rostov are stable, but no major attack has yet been made. Much of the Axis force directly in front of the city are Romanians. The only reinforcements this turn was an independent group from Moscow that was brought in as a backstop should I need reserves in the coming attack.

North Africa - Tobruk




The situation around Tobruk is concerning. It is most likely because I withdrew every unit back into the pocket too quickly. The one thing I didn't want, though, is the Axis to punch through a scattered defensive line and take this city in just a turn or two. Now, with the defenses consolidating and strengthening, I have a shot to drag this out until reinforcements arrive in Egypt.

[mike1984]

Keeping things moving along since we're so far ahead in the game relative to this AAR.

T004. 29 May 1942.

Eastern Front - Kandalaksha/Karelia



I'm going to give up Northern Karelia and consolidate toward Murmansk. The idea here is to hold out until I can send reinforcements to Murmansk. This affects the Lend Lease program, so it's very important to keep that city and Arkhangelsk in Allied hands.

Eastern Front - South Karelia/Medvezhyegorsk



It's a similar situation here as to the north. Pull back as quickly as possible with as little loss as possible, form a defensive line along the river, and protect the isthmus approach to Arkhangelsk.

Eastern Front - Leningrad



The Nazis have broken through the outer defensive line. I don't know if I have enough reserves inside the city to counterattack and push them back. Ken has been very aggressive to send additional forces to attack the city. I cannot get any more troops inside unless I break the siege lines to the east. There was a successful attack by the 8th and 54th Armies, but failed to get far enough to open lines of supply. I should have moved the 2nd Shock Army to the north as reserves to exploit any breach. I'll regret that one.

Eastern Front - Vyazma




Turns out there's a pocket getting overwhelmed, and it's full of Soviets! The Nazis punctured my lines in the western wall of the salient, and have nearly cut them completely off from the rest of the Red Army. Their supply is gone, so unless I can manage a rescue attack, they're going to be written off as lost.

Eastern Front - Crimea



This might be the only update with a map, as the Axis should control the peninsula within a few turns. Disaster struck the eastern defenders when two embarked divisions were struck by an air raid, sinking the entire convoy. This was a risk I took, not escorting them with the Black Sea Fleet. It backfired. This is a significant disaster for a sector that is already low on functioning divisions. Defending the Northern Caucuses will end up winning or losing the early part of this war, and those divisions were going to add decent troops to the forces near Rostov.

North African Front - Tobruk



For all the bad news on the Eastern Front, the successful evacuation of two British armored divisions and an infantry division is a bright spot for the Allies this turn. If things keep going well outside Tobruk, and the brigades can maintain the covering defenses long enough, I should be able to get at least two more divisions out of the pocket. I'll need to save more of the Commonweath forces than usual for this scenario, because it appears Ken transferred several Nazi divisions from Europe and more on the way.

[mike1984]

T005. 05 June 1942



Eastern Front - Leningrad



Though I fear it'll be brief, I've made contact with the defenders inside the Leningrad pocket. If nothing else, it's symbolic. The western flank of the city is being slowly ground down and pushed back, and I do not believe I can pour enough troops through the narrow lane to the city from my main lines. The 2nd Shock Army is ready to keep moving forward, but again, I'm expecting this breakthrough to not last beyond the next turn. The 8th Army is exhausted, as are the defenders around Leningrad. The situation in the west is critical. I've pulled down some units from the north to at least slow the Nazi advance.

Eastern Front - Vyazma



This is a disaster, even if I was preparing for it. The pocket west of Vyazma was completely cut off and invested within a turn. It was not pleasant to watch several divisions melt away, but the Nazis put on a show and I'm sure they enjoyed it. Unless Ken is thinking of another major attack here, this sector might quiet down for a while. The line are solid to a degree. I would prefer to have pushed south a little more to free up another army or two in the northern portion of the bulge.

Eastern Front - Voronezh



I'm not entirely sure what Ken is thinking down here. There was a gap in my line 60-90 kilometers wide just begging to be waltzed through. But he's held back southwest of Voronezh, instead preparing what looks like an offensive from Kursk. I have room to fall back, but a full breakthrough would be really annoying. So I've shifted some of my reserves and mechanized units to the sector... just in case.

North Africa - Tobruk to Alexandria



The Italian Navy and combined Luftwaffe and Italian air forces have likely sealed the fate of the remaining Tobruk defenders. Frustratingly, far too many Commonwealth units remain in the pocket, including the very good 5th Ball of Fire division and a whole bunch of British armored brigades. Even moving the Royal Navy has been difficult due to lack of air superiority in the area. And without the naval escort, there's no chance any unit survives further evacuation operations from Tobruk.

[StuccoFresco]

The disaster at Vyazma is heartbreaking. Hope you'll recover fast.

[mike1984]

T006. June 12, 1942.

Eastern Front - Leningrad

Higher res images on the blog.



The vice is tightening around the city, as the Wehrmacht has won several battles along the outer defenses. My brief success in the east to open a direct line of communication to the pocket was quickly closed by a counter attack by Panzer divisions, including the 1st SS Panzer LSSAH. Ken isn't messing around, and Leningrad is very apparently his first of many goals on the Eastern Front. My goal now is to hold out, bloody his nose, and waste as much time as possible.

Eastern Front - Yelets-Voronezh



The Axis units along this sector are resting, building strength for what I'm expecting to be a push toward Voronezh and Yelets. If that happens, I'm already preparing a defensive line in that sector with the 49th Army, recently transferred south from the Vyazma salient.

Eastern Front - Rostov



Similar to the Yelets sectors to the north, Rostov remains relatively quiet. This has given me the opportunity to build a defense in depth. I've advanced cavalry units to toward the enemy, revealing a mix of Axis allied divisions from Romanians to Italians.

North Africa Front

Tobruk city has fallen, but there remains a sizable contingent of Commonwealth troops holding out around the former pocket. It will take at least one turn for the Axis to finish them off. And every turn that goes by allows me more time to build the defensive line west of Alexandria. More importantly, keeping the roads blocked at Tobruk holds back the Axis supply lines. And even more importantly than that, it gives me time as I await the arrival of two fresh divisions in Egypt. They should arrive on Turn 8.

[mike1984]

T007. June 19, 1942.

Eastern Front - Leningrad



It's slow going for the Nazis here. Considering the city will likely fall soon, that's not an insignificant achievement for the Soviets. Delaying the inevitable has value in a game like this. Ken needs to reach certain goals quickly to trigger events that hurt me, like dropping supply and replacements. And if he can take Leningrad, that will free up a big chunk of his forces to go on the offensive elsewhere. I'm still thin in most sectors along the Eastern Front, so any large push by the Axis could reap them benefits quickly. It appears Ken has moved a large contingent of mechanized and panzer units to the Leningrad sector. I'm not sure if this is to finish off this operation, or to help lead a new offensive right after they capture the city. The attackers are very tired and low on supply, and could use a rest, so my money is on relief and renewal of the assault.

Everywhere else

Nothing is happening worth mentioning. The Axis in North Africa are still on mop up duty around Tobruk, while the strongest Nazi divisions moving toward Egypt are very tired and low on supply. It looks like I'll make it until turn 8, when the 2nd New Zealand and 9th Australian divisions arrive in Suez. As a precaution, I'm going to transport US forces to Egypt, the 1st Armored and 34th Infantry divisions. It's completely ahistorical, but I can't risk the Axis breaking through there.

[mike1984]

T008. June 26, 1942.

Eastern Front - Murmansk.



I activated the early refit for Arkhangelsk Group to bolster the northern defenses, transferring a division to Murmansk and sending support to the Medvezhyegorsk line. Ken might want to push harder here soon, especially after Leningrad falls. I'm not sure I'll be able to commit much more to the Finland border regions. But there is a chance, if things go well in the Russian front, I will have a free army to shift up north.

Eastern Front - Leningrad.



Any hope of relieving the city of Leningrad has vanished as the Nazis have pushed back my breakthrough in the east and I've been forced to pull troops from the northern line against the Fins. This is truly the last breaths, and the defenders are holding on stolen time. It's a wonder the city has held even this long.

North African Front - Tobruk.



Similarly to Leningrad, but at a much smaller scale, the defenders around Tobruk continue to hold out and keep the Axis supply line disrupted. I stupidly ordered an attack to retake the city, but it failed of course and now I'll be lucky to maintain a desperate rear guard action more than one more turn.

North African Front - El Alamein.



The North African situation is turning out much better than it looked like it would just two turns ago. This can be blamed on two things. One, the terrible Axis supply capabilities in this region. And two, the Tobruk rear guard. It took much more to take the city from its last defenders than I expected, and surely more than Ken expected. Now, the 2nd New Zealand Division and 9th Australian Division have arrived, ready to disembark from the trains next turn. As it stands, the two U.S. divisions en route--the 1st Armored and 34th Infantry--should arrive in two more turns, plus a third turn to transfer them from Suez to the front lines. I don't anticipate the Axis breaking through the El Alamein line that quickly, so even if they do, the Yanks will be waiting to counterattack.

[mike1984]

T009. July 3, 1942.

Eastern Front - Leningrad.



There is what feels like half the Wehrmacht outside Leningrad, trying to finish off the job. But it's still slow progress for him and more time for me. Even a raid by the Brandenburgers was temporarily repelled. Now that I've given up trying to relieve the city, I'm solidifying the defensive line along the Volkhov River. It'll remain on the thin side for now, as I've been forced to transfer the 2nd Shock Army to the south, for reasons you'll see in a moment...

Eastern Front - Rzhev.



The first major offensive has been launched on the Eastern Front, aiming to collapse the western bulge at the former Rzhev salient. There's no way I'm going to try to fight a pitched battle at this stage of the scenario. Mechanized units have been divided and spread across the front lines to screen the general retreat ordered from Lake Ilmen to south of Rzhev. Only a few divisions have had difficulty moving out from their positions, allowing me much more time to reorganize and set a new defensive line. It's also reducing the length of my line, freeing divisions for a reserve, or allowing a defense-in-depth. Of course all this could be a diversionary move for something else bigger. I'll know soon enough.

North Africa - El Alamein.



The Big One is shaping up here on the El Alamein battlefield. If Ken decides to attack, it'll be bloody and a slog for him. My line is two divisions deep, with much improved air cover, and naval support if things become desperate. Additionally, I'm not sure if he's seen them sailing around South Africa, but the two American divisions are one or two turns away from arriving at Suez. There's little chance I'm losing Egypt, which had happened in at least one previous game of this scenario.

[mike1984]

T010. July 10, 1942.

Eastern Front - Murmansk.



Having now lost Leningrad, I'll be damned if I lose Murmansk. I'm immediately transferring all available reinforcements in the northern Eastern Front to the Karelian ports still in Soviet control, and shipping them to Murmansk. The early refit option for the Arkhangelsk Group allowed some stronger units to be available right away. Within two more turns, I should be able to ship a full Soviet army to the defenses. If Ken wants Murmansk, he'll have to spill a lot of blood to get it.

Eastern Front - Rzhev.



The Nazis are mopping up my rear guard as the main Soviet defenses organized and dig in. The 2nd Shock Army is moving down from Leningrad and should be in position as a reserve next turn. New Soviet armies are arriving slowly in the east, usually needing a few turns to gain strength before I can throw them into battle. But there is a lot of Nazi armor in this sector. If Ken wants to attempt to break my line through all these forests, I'm fine with that. It's the sectors to the south that I'm most concerned about, with the wide open plains perfect for an armored offensive.

North Africa - Tobruk.

No screenshot, but an update. I don't know if Ken was purposely doing this, but by cutting off the escape route for my remaining units in Tobruk, I could not disband them. This meant that as long as they were not attacked, they would not be destroyed and reconstituted. As a result, I had to launch doomed assaults just to destroy the units. Those that remain will do the same next turn.

North Africa - El Alamein.



The Axis here attacked several times on the southern flank of the Commonwealth forces line, aided by an air drop of Brandenburgers. Fortunately, the 23rd and 24th British Armored brigades arrived in Cairo and were rushed to the front to help repulse the first wave of attacks. The line has held, even if the Nazi special ops weren't destroyed. The northern flank has not been pressed at all. If absolutely necessary, I can swap the fresher divisions there to relieve the fatigued units in the south. But moving troops on a front line is never ideal.

[StuccoFresco]

Uhm, a feint on the south to make you weaken the coastline could be a good idea for the Axis. If he advances in the south, he's still in the desert, but if the breaks out along the coast he'll march on a railway.

Good pull-out from Rzhev, but why did you use armored units as rearguard? Old tanks' models?

[mike1984]

I had plenty of reserve tanks in the bank, plus infantry wasn't going to hold them up long enough.

Wait till you see what happens in Egypt.

[mike1984]

T011. July 17, 1942.

Eastern Front - Karelia South.



With all the Fins moving north against Murmansk, there's but a skeleton defense along the Baltic-White Sea canal. This was too tempting, so I launched a small attack across the river and was met with very little resistance. The 14th Cavalry Corps of the Arkhangelsk Group led the assault, followed by supporting divisions from the 26th and 32d armies. At the bare minimum, this should force Ken to redirect forces back to this sector. At the same time, I'm continuing to bolster the defenses at Murmansk, as the recently arrived 62nd Army is ready to depart Onega.

Eastern Front - Rzhev.



Not entirely sure what the end game was supposed to be for this offensive. Most of my forces escaped and are now in a tighter line with reinforcements arriving every week. Meanwhile, the Nazis are mopping up everything I left behind, and did not aggressively pursue my retreating divisions. Ken probably could have made my life very difficult had he kept the pressure on as I ran to the east. I may not even need the 2nd Shock Army, which was hastily transferred from the Leningrad Front. The 39th Army arrive and will be ready for action in a few turns. Near Moscow, the 64/7th Guards Army is ready to disembark the trains. They're better situated than the 39th, but will still need a turn to get up to strength. All of this should provide for sufficient reserves, should Ken renew his offensive in this front.

North Africa - El Alamein.



The 44th British Infantry Division arrived this turn and immediately marched to the front lines. The 9th Australian Division sustained heavy casualties in the last Axis attack, while the supporting 1st and 7th British Armored divisions took a few punches, too. The addition of the 44th gives instant strength to the line at El Alamein. If needed, I'll shuffle the divisions around so that the 4th Indian Division and 10th British Armored Division--both untouched so far in this battle--are moved to relieve the weakened divisions in the south.

[mike1984]

T012. July 24, 1942.

Eastern Front - Murmansk.



The Nazis and Fins continue to pour reinforcements into the sectors around Murmansk. The trouble for them is that I'm doing the same thing. The 62nd Army is arriving in stages, and I can add more to the operation if needed. No major action yet, other than a few probing attacks on the eastern flank.

Eastern Front - Belomorsk.



I'm waiting for Ken to send troops this way, but for now, I'm trying to disrupt as much as I can. I'm very tempted to keep the remainder of the 62nd Army here and send them to exploit this breach. If--IF--the Axis forces don't respond quickly, there's a serious chance I can reach Kandalaksha. The prize there is to cut the Axis supply lines that converge there. But I wont' get ahead of myself.

North Africa - El Alamein.



Well well well... Ken had a few cards up his sleeve here, including a paratrooper assault that caught me completely by surprise. Fortunately, Ken's complementary attacks on my front line were unsuccessful. Had he broken any point, I may be in serious trouble. But the British were helped by New Zealanders and armor, and held. Now I really lucked out transporting the US divisions to Suez before their historical involvement in the European theater. The Allied position is also bolstered by the return of the 5th Indian Division, which reconstituted this turn, and the arrival of an artillery unit. The Americans will arrive at the front next turn to finish off the enemy behind my lines.

[mike1984]

T013. July 31, 1942.

Eastern Front - Belomorsk.



Screw it, I'm sending more reinforcements here to keep the pressure on by adding the entire 2nd Shock Army. The 14th Cav Corps is riding quickly north to see what's up there, while the main Soviet push will be south and southwest. Two divisions will cover the right flank, and the river bridging team arrived to help send over the divisions to the south. I'm very curious to see what Ken does here.

North Africa - El Alamein.



The first wave of paratroopers wasn't the only one coming my way, as Ken sent a few more regiments into the Alexandria area. Fortunately the 1st US Armored Division was right there waiting for them, with the 34th US Infantry Division right behind. The original intent for the US reinforcements was to beat back the offensive along the Alamein line, but this bigger air drop threw that plan into the garbage. The Axis have also broken both my flanks, but did fail to make much progress beyond that.



The Axis paratroopers put up some tough fights behind the line near El Alamein, but eventually were all killed or captured. The drop zones near Alexandria were another story, as the force dropped there was significantly bigger and of a higher quality. It took the full might of the 1st US AD and 34th US ID to get this situation under control, and even then, there is still a sizable contingent of Axis paratroopers and glider troops to the east of the city. I'll have to leave just a small task force behind to clean this up, and hopefully blunt the offensive at El Alamein.

[mike1984]

Bunch of turns posted just now. Don't miss a beat! Things getting hairy in Egypt.

We're on Turn 43 in real time, so I'm trying to play a little catch up. 30 turns behind is plenty distance.

[mike1984]

T014. August 7, 1942.

North Africa - Egypt.



The onslaught of raids continues behind my line at El Alamein, this time with an amphibious landing to capture Port Said. I've kept the Brandenburgers and Nazi glider troops out of Alexandria, but the left flank of the main line is still open and allowing the enemy to stream through.



Counterattacks at Alexandria have now secured the city's perimeter, allowing me to divide the 1st Armored and 34th Infantry and send brigades to support the Commonwealth troops on the front line. I've pulled back the northern flank to consolidate forces. The 5th Indian Division shifted around to the southern flank, squeezing out the Italian armored unit. The 2nd Brigade of the 1st US Armored Division drove south to anchor the far left flank.

Eastern Front - Belomorsk.



Ken transferred much more here more quickly than I had hoped. So I'm chickening out and pulling back most of the 2nd Shock Army. The 39th Army arrived by train and will rest before taking up a position on the front line. I count at least 4 armored divisions, 2 mechanized (including 1 SS division), and assorted supporting units and Finn divisions. The Axis response here does give me an idea, however, and you'll see what that is at the bottom of this post.

Eastern Front - Karelia.



Even though I've cancelled a major offensive near Belomorsk, I'm continuing my threat against Kandalaksha. Adding to that operation, a hopefully-unseen landing on the upper peninsula and overland trek to cut the Axis line of supply for the operation against Murmansk.

Eastern Front - Leningrad.



Back so soon... I'm not even going to name this operation yet. I don't want to get ahead of myself. So for now, it's just Operation 1942L. There would be three main objectives. The first would break through and cross the Volkhov River at three points. The South group would push west to Luga, stopping at the Luga River to protect from counterattacks from the south and west. The Center and North groups would follow parallel paths west across the river, then pivot north. The Center group would double as support for the North group and protection against counterattacks from Narva. North group, the largest, would attack directly toward Leningrad. The reach goal is to recapture the city, but at the least, this would force a break in the Axis line of supply from the rest of the Soviet Union to Finland. I have three Guards armies, a Shock army, and two more infantry armies to commit to this offensive. More might be added. I'll work on this.

[mike1984]

T015. August 15, 1942.

North Africa - Egypt



The raids behind my lines continue, with an armored unit landing directly into the port of Alexandria, and another infantry unit landing in Port Said. Meanwhile, the attacks around the left flank have been tough to stop. Nothing is out of control, but I'm being forced to dedicate a significant number of troops to manage the situation in rear areas. This has caused my front line units to become more worn down that they would have been with the reinforcements rotation. Ken is really trying to exploit the left with his panzer divisions, though I can see they are very low on supply.



A massive victory on the left flank, as the combined Commonwealth forces surrounded and destroyed the 15. Panzer Division and KG Ramke. This battle restored the Allied line and eliminated a powerful Nazi division from the campaign. To the east, the arrival of the 51st "Highland" Division was a real shot in the arm for containing the enemy troops in the rear areas, mainly the 21. Panzer Division that was making its way quickly toward Cairo. The Nazis were pushed back and are now cut off from supply. It's only a matter of time before the 21. Panzer Division meets a similar fate to the 15. Panzer. Alexandria was recaptured by the Americans, but there is some concern over the Brandenburgers hiding in the swamps of the Nile River Delta. To the far east, I've staged the British 5th Infantry Division near Basra, ready to load onto the trains for Suez. With the 5th's arrival in two turns, that should end any hope for Ken of capturing Egypt. And just to be safe, the US 5th Infantry Division and two British SAS units are being shipped around Africa and will arrive in a few turns.

Eastern Front - Karelia South



Here's where I'm hoping to do a little trickery. As Ken is shoveling troops northward to this sector and beyond to Murmansk, I've sent eight Soviet armies to the area. It's my hope Ken saw this move and will assume I'm going to stage an offensive here, instead of the unnamed operation discussed in the previous post, to be conducted south of Leningrad.