Thunder in the East - GC41 NEE K62 (A) vs AtAtack (S)

[K62_]

This is an AAR for a 1941 Campaign No Early End between me and AtAtack. I don't have as much experience with No Early End as my opponent, but I am willing to play it to conclusion regardless of what happens in 1941. The scenario will take between 185 and 215 turns depending on the victory condition that is achieved by either side.

We have started on 1.02.25 but have since updated to the latest beta.

Settings:

AI Air Assist off
Theater boxes unlocked

House Rules:

My opponent wanted no house rules and, since I am playing Axis, that is okay with me. I will however restrain myself voluntarily in the following two ways:

1. Limits on temporary motorization
I think unlimited temporary motorization is too much of an advantage for Axis in '41. You can deploy an extra motorized korps at a moment's notice on any section of the front. This is unhistorical (for multiple reasons) and makes the game very different in 1941. So I am following these two restrictions instead:
1. No temporary motorization for units smaller than regiments, Axis Allies or security troops.
2. At most one division equivalent (i.e. three regiments) can be temporarily motorized at any given time.
Even with these restrictions we should still see a noticeable impact. Overall I would prefer if this feature were not used at all, but since my opponent is completely unrestricted during future Soviet offensives I think it is only fair for me to take a bit of advantage of it as well.

2. No small mission sizes for air directives
This does not apply to recon (historically it was conducted by single aircraft) and I did use a mission size of 6 on T1 against a single Soviet airfield (that held only 20 aircraft). Otherwise I will try as much as possible to use mission sizes of at least 10. Frankly I do not think this is an issue with the game, as small mission sizes are a bit better at evading enemy interception, but also inefficient and more vulnerable against flak. But, for various reasons, a few players seem to take issue with this mechanic. So my purpose here is to prove that it does not really make a difference to the air war. Of course, my opponent is not bound by the same restriction and might well be able to persuade me otherwise.

[HardLuckYetAgain]

We have started on 1.02.25 but have since updated to the latest beta.

Settings:

AI Air Assist off
Theater boxes unlocked

House Rules:

My opponent wanted no house rules and, since I am playing Axis, that is okay with me. I will however restrain myself voluntarily in the following two ways:

1. Limits on temporary motorization
I think unlimited temporary motorization is too much of an advantage for Axis in '41. You can deploy an extra motorized korps at a moment's notice on any section of the front. This is unhistorical (for multiple reasons) and makes the game very different in 1941. So I am following these two restrictions instead:
1. No temporary motorization for units smaller than regiments, Axis Allies or security troops.
2. At most one division equivalent (i.e. three regiments) can be temporarily motorized at any given time.
Even with these restrictions we should still see a noticeable impact. Overall I would prefer if this feature were not used at all, but since my opponent is completely unrestricted during future Soviet offensives I think it is only fair for me to take a bit of advantage of it as well.

2. No small mission sizes for air directives
This does not apply to recon (historically it was conducted by single aircraft) and I did use a mission size of 6 on T1 against a single Soviet airfield (that held only 20 aircraft). Otherwise I will try as much as possible to use mission sizes of at least 10. Frankly I do not think this is an issue with the game, as small mission sizes are a bit better at evading enemy interception, but also inefficient and more vulnerable against flak. But, for various reasons, a few players seem to take issue with this mechanic. So my purpose here is to prove that it does not really make a difference to the air war. Of course, my opponent is not bound by the same restriction and might well be able to persuade me otherwise.

Glad to see you doing an AAR K62

@1 Temp motorization I agree with you. Motorization is a bit over the top and should be either limited or not in a PvP game. Having said that and you are limiting yourself is the Soviet player also abiding by those rules? Thank you in advance for your answer.

@2 I believe as you say on small mission sizes. Excellent post as always and looking for a good read and pick up on some of your pointers

As much as it pains me to say this I have changed my stance on unlocked TB's boxes since it does give Germany a pretty big advantage. As such what are your feelings on this seeing how you started on patch .25.

[K62_]

Air directive targets:

ad_targets.JPG (160.42 KiB) Viewed 3119 times

I am only bombing airfields in the south on T1, but going quite far in this area. The objective is to completely neutralize the Black Sea, Southern, Southwestern and Kharkov air commands by the end of T1. Western and Northwestern air commands will be tackled by German fighters during the ground phase in order to maximize pilot kills.

This approach is not for everyone as it runs the Luftwaffe harder on T1 with a loss ratio of 15:1 instead of 100:1. However 15:1 is still highly favorable for the Axis and personally I would take as many trades as I can at this rate, which is not normally achievable in later turns. The Luftwaffe can substantially recover within the next 2-3 turns by using the initial pools (220 fighters, 400 LBs etc.) and new production. The Soviets will not.

If anyone is interested in air directive settings and bomber redeployment let me know and I will post more details.

Air phase stats:

airfield_attacks.JPG (28.61 KiB) Viewed 3119 times

T1 air losses (end of ground phase):

airloss.JPG (148.17 KiB) Viewed 3119 times

[K62_]

@1 Temp motorization I agree with you. Motorization is a bit over the top and should be either limited or not in a PvP game. Having said that and you are limiting yourself is the Soviet player also abiding by those rules? Thank you in advance for your answer.

No, the Soviets have no limits on temporary motorization. Just to make it clear, my opponent did not ask me for any limits here, I am following them completely voluntarily.

As much as it pains me to say this I have changed my stance on unlocked TB's boxes since it does give Germany a pretty big advantage. As such what are your feelings on this seeing how you started on patch .25.

Yes I have in the past insisted against unlocked TB boxes because I knew it was not a well tested mechanic. However in this game I took the plunge and decided to make the best of it. It is quite staggering that the Axis player can withdraw all transport aircraft and torpedo bombers from the TBs with zero changes in TB stats. It is also possible to acquire some very good SUs at minimum cost, either from the TBs (panzer regiments, RAD detachments) or by preventing transfer from map (SS cavalry brigade). Maybe it is balanced because the Soviets can obtain equally good units from their own TBs, but somehow I doubt it.

[K62_]

I take no chances at Riga and send in Totenkopf+Manstein to do a thorough job:

BR_Riga.JPG (123.65 KiB) Viewed 3114 times

Hoepner's PG4 crosses the Dvina but overall advances a bit more towards Vitebsk than Pskov. The intended line of separation between AGN and AGC will be on the Land Bridge.

hoepner.JPG (204.66 KiB) Viewed 3114 times

[K62_]

Hoth's PG3 takes Minsk and Lepel and prioritizes secure pockets:

hoth.JPG (197 KiB) Viewed 3110 times

In Guderian's sector, Heinrici takes Brest Litovsk with no combat delay. This gains a bit of additional movement for the spearhead and the FBD here. It is not much, but it adds up:

BR_Brest.JPG (131.08 KiB) Viewed 3110 times

Guderian's PG2 has fewer pockets in its concern and is able to advance at maximum speed:

guderian.JPG (199 KiB) Viewed 3110 times

[K62_]

Przemysl East is the toughest battle on T1, in my opinion. If the Soviets here get very high morale it is almost impossible to win without combat delay. This would have cascading effects on FBD1 causing it to miss connecting important depots (Proskurov, Vinnitsa, Fastov) by 1-2 hexes in future turns. So I send in Model with the 2nd RFSS motorized brigade and plenty of air support:

BR_Przemysl.JPG (127.27 KiB) Viewed 3103 times

Otherwise Kleist's PG1 makes good progress using a couple of divisions borrowed from Guderian to ZOC lock the Rovno pocket and also to advance as far as possible towards Vinnitsa:

lvov_stage_4.JPG (242.86 KiB) Viewed 3103 times

PG1's advance here took a lot of thought as this is the most difficult area to play on T1 because of the lack of movement bonus. As always, I am happy to share more details if anyone is interested and have intermediate screenshots that I can share. For now, here are three points that may be of interest:

1. The width of the main advance is 3-5 hexes. I do not believe that a "snake" deployment works great for the Axis as it gives the Soviets plenty of opportunity to place units on the flanks that hinder supply and infantry movement, and need to be attacked without being pocketed first. The only area in the advance that becomes narrow is at the very tip. Here, the leading regiments of the 11th Panzer Division have received air supply while passing through Proskurov and are currently at 90+% fuel (soft factor displayed). So I don't mind if their supply is hindered or even completely blocked on T2.

2. The lead Panzer regiment is next to the rail line going south from Vinnitsa. This blocks rail transport on one out of only two rail lines out of the developing Stanislav pocket. This will probably prevent some units from making it very far by rail in the Tiraspol direction, causing them to get caught when the pocket closes on T2. (The Panzer regiment south of Proskurov is similarly placed to stop rail movement on another line that can help the Soviet evacuation.)

3. Temporary motorization is quite consequential. I have motorized one of the German mountain divisions as it has an undocumented T1 movement bonus of only paying 2MPs to enter enemy hexes. I also had it attached to Model when motorizing in order to easily pass the admin checks, so all three regiments got 48 MPs. One regiment blocked an additional 3 divisions in the developing Rovno pocket. The other two regiments hinder a very strong Tank division and Mountain division from leaving the developing Stanislav pocket. This works out to a total of 5 divisions (two of them some of the strongest in the Red Army) that will be destroyed due to temporary motorization.

[K62_]

Ground losses:

groundloss.JPG (151.96 KiB) Viewed 3093 times

OOB:

OOB.JPG (107.74 KiB) Viewed 3093 times

Truck pool:

prod_stuka.JPG (121.61 KiB) Viewed 3093 times

[jasonbroomer]

A great opening!

[HardLuckYetAgain]

A great opening!

Ya, it is not bad. I have a few areas under observation from his photos that would concern me if I was playing. But looking forward to next turns photos

[EwaldvonKleist]

Looking forward to your AAR, well done! Strong if at points risky opening, especially curious how it will play out in the South. Is the open pocket formed by PG1 intended to be open? With no house rules, it will be a challenge for you for sure.

Re T1 air losses: While 1:20 pilot losses, 1:16 aircraft losses are good overall, I would presume that your marginal loss ratios at the end of the T1 air effortare much worse and it may be worth to stop the air efforts sooner.

[K62_]

All pockets held.

In the south, my opponent decides to call me out on my very aggressive opening:

recon_targets_AGS.JPG (199.29 KiB) Viewed 2867 times

The Soviets commit additional units to keep the exit from the Rovno pocket open. They also ZOC lock my spearhead units and manage to completely isolate one of the regiments.

Fortunately for me, this regiment has received air supply while passing through Proskurov on T1 and is currently at 100% fuel and 50 MPs. Also I have a lot of recon assets in this area and can do a pretty good sweep, looking for weak spots in the Soviet backfield.

[K62_]

The Soviet move is not much of a challenge. These are units in poor supply with no entrenchment or terrain bonuses on T2 and they will be easily pushed back by single regiments. I'm making a couple of holes in the Soviet front, send through mobile troops and manage to pocket almost everything here without much of an overall slowdown. The pockets should be quite secure and will be reduced by infantry.

kleist_final.JPG (255.7 KiB) Viewed 2854 times

Here's the view further south, where I link up with the 11th Army and the Romanians. Those mountain divisions with entrenchments in rough terrain will be tough to dislodge.

kleist_southern.JPG (174.98 KiB) Viewed 2854 times

[K62_]

Army Group Antonescu springs forward spearheaded by the Romanian tank division. I use my temporary motorization here this turn for an infantry division from 11th Army. One of its regiments goes north to link up with Kleist's spearhead in the Floreshty area. The other two are used to maul two strong Soviet divisions (tank + mechanized) that can't be pocketed but could potentially pull off a counter-attack against the weak Romanian tank regiments. The two Soviet divisions are forced to retreat across rivers with heavy losses.

I'm a bit short of MPs here for a truly solid Bessarabskaya pocket. Also one of the NKVD detachment retreated to a very bad spot and prevented me from achieving a ZOC lock on the rifle division near Izmail. Oh well.

AGA.JPG (143.61 KiB) Viewed 2852 times

[K62_]

Guderian's PG2 finds multiple stragglers hiding in the Berezina marshes. They get herded into pockets or ZOC locked. Two bridgeheads are secured across the Dnepr at Mogilev and Rogachev.

guderian_final.JPG (171.91 KiB) Viewed 2848 times

[K62_]

Hoth's PG3 finds a strong defense on the Dvina and the Land Bridge. I cross the Dvina and pocket or ZOC lock a few divisions in this section with a bit of assistance from Hoepner's PG4. The Land Bridge defense is left alone for now as it includes the second strongest division in the Red Army (13th Tank) and I'm hoping for a chance to pocket it next turn.

hoth_final.JPG (178.89 KiB) Viewed 2847 times

[K62_]

Hoepner's PG4 takes Parnu and Idritsa but otherwise there's not much excitement here. Air recon reports indicate a strong Soviet defense forming on the Velikaya - Sorot line.

hoepner_final.JPG (190.06 KiB) Viewed 2845 times

[K62_]

air_losses.JPG (127.22 KiB) Viewed 2843 times

ground_losses_1.JPG (145.96 KiB) Viewed 2843 times

destroyed_units.JPG (42.6 KiB) Viewed 2843 times

OOB.JPG (109.32 KiB) Viewed 2843 times

[K62_]

PG4 is advancing to contact at the Velikaya-Sorot line, which seems strongly defended. About half of Estonia is now in German hands, with only Tallinn appearing garrisoned in this area.

AGN.JPG (157.68 KiB) Viewed 2771 times

[K62_]

Most of the previous turn's Land Bridge defense has moved to oppose the Mogilev bridgehead instead. Hoth's PG3 takes over the bridgehead, pockets a few strong divisions (including the 13th Tank) and advances into a lot of empty space beyond. I am keeping divisions intact here because the Soviets receive strong reinforcements in the Smolensk area and there is a high risk of counter-attacks.

hoth.JPG (131.61 KiB) Viewed 2769 times