Matrix Games Forums

Seen a few instances of FBD1 having a bottleneck going East on Turn 1 either by delay(using too much force), attack sequencing, units routing incorrectly, and a slew of other reasons. This I did in 10 minutes, is not optimized but shows how to do this without any bomber support(you really don't need German bombers on turn 1 but that is just me). Of course RNG on the ground forces can cause some problems but you can compensate for this by paying attention to your units you use. I have shown a few people how to do this and decided to go ahead and share this simple approach using not too much force to get the job done. This is a basic run through and not optimized but if you can use it and make it better for you then by all means please do. I am not going to go into detail since the photos should be detailed enough to figure out. If they are not go ahead and ask and I will explain.

Here is the FBD1 route east for the first turn for most people.

No delay & units routed into forming pockets. Again this is not optimized and I did it in less than 10 minutes while taking the pictures of each. If you can use it, then great. Thanks for looking.

FBD1 can now convert full hexes going East without any delay or Soviet units in the way. Hope this helps.

Thanks for taking the time and effort in sharing - this is awesome! Southern openers have always been my weakest when it comes to t1 axis.

You are welcome to all that can gain value from the simple opening. Again it is not optimized and up to the player to do so. But does show the power the Germans have turn 1.

IF, and I mean IF, there is a big demand I could do a full turn 1 write-up for the community. BUT only IF there is a high demand for it. And I mean a very high demand for it.

I will be doing a write up thread on Supply setting turn 1 and a thread on the Rovno pocket the whole way through. So IF there is a high demand for a full turn 1 write-up for Germany I can do this but I have to see the response from the readers if this is something that they would like. Is it?

Thanks for posting this HLYA! It will be a great resource for Axis players. I for one am definitely interested in your supply settings and any tips for the Rovno pocket.

The best advance routes through the railway lines for the different FBDs would be very interesting to know (of course taking into account that there are differences according to the objectives and play styles, but an approach from someone experienced is always appreciated). I remember seeing quite a few posts and maps on that topic on WitE, but not so much with WitE2.

Lurberri wrote: Thu Nov 03, 2022 5:04 pm The best advance routes through the railway lines for the different FDBs would be very interesting to know (of course taking into account that there are differences according to the objectives and play styles, but an approach from someone experienced is always appreciated). I remember seeing quite a few posts and maps on that topic on WitE, but not so much with WitE2.

Yes, you Sir are spot on it is according to objectives. There are some key points to the rail for sure too that I have come to realize. I do have to say that the Soviet Strategy of Abandoning the South and defending the North & Center, which I did and AAR on in WITE1 here https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 8&t=312902 and has been used in like manner in WITE2 will die a horrible death when I publish my notes on Germany Primary objective; SOUTH! (Hopefully soon, but not too soon for a reason But before that time I will show the FBD setup, routes and Depot allocation to support, "Germany, Primary objective; SOUTH!"

I can give "generic" FBD routes and subroutes (which are VERY important) for German rail too. But all of this takes time, and time is always slipping through my fingers

HardLuckYetAgain wrote: Thu Nov 03, 2022 5:29 pm I can give "generic" FBD routes and subroutes (which are VERY important) for German rail too. But all of this takes time, and time is always slipping through my fingers

Yes, that's exactly what I was referring to, a "generic" route for the different German (and Romanian) FBDs during the 1941 blitzkrieg... and the best ways to maximize supply to the troops before the dreaded first winter.

Lurberri wrote: Sat Nov 05, 2022 12:58 pm

HardLuckYetAgain wrote: Thu Nov 03, 2022 5:29 pm I can give "generic" FBD routes and subroutes (which are VERY important) for German rail too. But all of this takes time, and time is always slipping through my fingers

Yes, that's exactly what I was referring to, a "generic" route for the different German (and Romanian) FBDs during the 1941 blitzkrieg... and the best ways to maximize supply to the troops before the dreaded first winter.

Ok, I tell you what. You give me your "Primary" and "Secondary" target for the first generic route as your objective in 41 and I will do a markup on FBD routes in a new thread. Then we can expand from there with added comments from the forum. Sounds good?

FBDs are designed to lay out supply routes for your panzer groups. Therefore, the panzer groups must ensure the clearing and protection of double-track railways along the offensive route for their repair by the FBD. Using FBD to repair single-track railways at the beginning of the game is irrational. There are not so many double-track railways on the map, so it usually makes sense to lay the offensive routes of panzer groups along the double-track railways on which your FBD operate.

malyhin1517 wrote: Sat Nov 05, 2022 1:17 pm FBDs are designed to lay out supply routes for your panzer groups. Therefore, the panzer groups must ensure the clearing and protection of double-track railways along the offensive route for their repair by the FBD. Using FBD to repair single-track railways at the beginning of the game is irrational. There are not so many double-track railways on the map, so it usually makes sense to lay the offensive routes of panzer groups along the double-track railways on which your FBD operate.

Quote by Malyhin from above - Using FBD to repair single-track railways at the beginning of the game is irrational.

This quote I highlighted is and of itself I 100% don't agree with. I go so far as to say, "Don't repair important single-track rail lines at the detriment of your supply". Having said that I show that I use secondary lines to complement primary lines to get more freight to the front. I used two FBD's (1 German and 1 Rumanian) to do some of these secondary single-track links.

T10 Supply rail network in the South in one of my games

In some situations, I also repair single track lines if they lead to railway stations of level 2 or more, which are very necessary for maximum railway throughput. In other cases, I leave their repair for small railway repair units or deal with them later. It is impossible to ensure a good supply of troops in the south without repairing all single-track lines. But I don't use FBD to repair them until the front stops in the fall. I usually complete a complete overhaul of all railways in the south by May 1942.

The problem is that when planning a railway repair with the help of FBD, you have to choose between the quality of the repair and the speed. If you actively repair all existing railways, then your FBDs will lag far behind their panzer groups and this will delay the offensive. Therefore, it is only the choice of the player how to act. Unfortunately, the German player has too few small rail units for automatic rail repair compared to WITE1. Therefore, they have to be repaired with the help of FBD. The choice of the player is to do it right away and delay the offensive, or move forward quickly along the double-track railway, but then have a shortage of supplies at the front in winter. Therefore, it is necessary to plan in advance the depth of the invasion of the USSR and, accordingly, plan the work of the FBI. Usually I manage to provide good supplies at the front in winter. The main thing is to stop the offensive in time or at the beginning of winter to move closer to the working railway and depot.

I always doubt as a first objective between Moscow and the Donbass basin, in the Ukraine. The former deals a tremendous blow to the Soviet rail infrastructure (among other things) but the latter opens the gates to the Caucasus and its oil resources (I just read Dennis in a very recent post indicating that he is "working on a slight revision of soviet oil", we will have to wait and see). The problem is that the advance in the South is somewhat more complicated despite its favorable terrain (at least the first weeks). Moscow or the South, the eternal doubt!

malyhin1517 wrote: Sat Nov 05, 2022 1:17 pm FBDs are designed to lay out supply routes for your panzer groups. Therefore, the panzer groups must ensure the clearing and protection of double-track railways along the offensive route for their repair by the FBD. Using FBD to repair single-track railways at the beginning of the game is irrational. There are not so many double-track railways on the map, so it usually makes sense to lay the offensive routes of panzer groups along the double-track railways on which your FBD operate.

Yes, the double-track railways are a priority. It is evident that it is very inefficient to waste time at the beginning on single-track railways.