Gold PBEM German Strategy

[Barthheart]

Ok, since I finally attack Russia, Fall '41, I'll start a thread about what I've done until now and how I hope to proceed.

My initial plan, that I stuck to, was to cripple the WA ability to move troops and supplies around the Atlantic. This was by researching u-boat evasion (defence) and torpedo (attack) values and by producing lots of them. I got luck in two ways: first the WA tried a different strategy and didn't really contest me in the Atlantic and second when he did attack me my u-bouts either survived or were just damaged to return another day. These two things resulted in me having a huge u-boat force (>12 units) and I was able to sweep the WA from the Atlantic and eventually chase him from the Med. My initial plan also called for the taking of Cairo. That was derailed by the WA different strategy to threaten the the Med. with a large fleet. This caused me to route troops that should have been facing Russia to NA, but more on that soon.

[Becket]

I loathe you.

For those playing the home game (wait, that's uh, not playing the home game, errrrr [:D]), Barth attacked me in Fall 41. That means Winter 41 will be the "first winter after German invasion", when the special Russian winter combat modifiers apply. I am highly unlikely to have an offensive ready to go by then.

Did I mention I loathe you?

IDB! Where's mah turn??!!!

[Barthheart]

For Russia, in my games against the AI, I always wait until the last possible moment to attack. The Russians get a production boost starting with Winter 42 ( the turn after Fall 41) or when attacked by Germany. This also means I should have lots of supplies and lots of units.

This game however is not against the AI but a player who has a very well developed strategy for the Russians.[:@]

This is the map at the start of Fall '41:

[Barthheart]

And here the the results, such as they are, of my attacks.[:(]

I failed to achieve a very deep penetration into Russia. The first Russia factories that the Germans can reach on the first turn are two provences deep. Becket did quite well by building lots of artillery in these areas and my attacks faultered badly. My only hope is that with the WA contained (for now) I can firght a one front war for awhile. Not a good place to be for the Germans, times a' wastin'[:-]

[Barthheart]

And I loathe your arty so we're even![:@]

I just sent IDB the turn.


ps How did you get your thread into the "top"?

[Becket]

Ooooh. The combined arty/milita strategy worked.

I think Paul/Joel/someone stickied it, they'll probably grab this one next time they're around.

[Becket]

Wait! I forgot:

Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock

[:D]

[Barthheart]

[:'(]

[Barthheart]

For the future, I have to weather the Russian winter assault (Germans are at a huge disadvantage the first winter after the initial invasion) and try again to drive deep into the factory belt.

By waiting to attack until Fall '41 I hope to get lots of supplies and units lined up for the assault. Also it keeps the Russians at a lower factory multiplier until it will go up anyway. This should, didn't work this time[:@], keep reduce the Russian ability to resist the first assault. It also, as Becket noted [;)], can reduce the effects of the "first Winter" bonus for the Russians as they might not have the forces to launch an effective counter-attack.

I have lost a little momentum and am now on an even tighter time schedule to bring down the Russian production structure. Hopefully Japan and further cripple the WA (hint, hint [&o]) and they won't be able to help the Russians for as long as possible.

[Becket]

ORIGINAL: Barthheart

For the future, I have to weather the Russian winter assault (Germans are at a huge disadvantage the first winter after the initial invasion) and try again to drive deep into the factory belt.

Go ahead and call that "Former Factory Belt."

[:)]

Wasn't there a history teacher bouncing around here today? Today's lesson plan: the relocation of Soviet production capacity to the Urals.

[Barthheart]

DOH![:@]

[ratprince]

heh! History teacher here!

Love the AARs! They keep the drool flowing for the game!

We havent entered into the war in Russia just yet but I will be sure to print off some copies of your "former factory belt" so they can see the effects of being..."DE"-industrialized!

Thanks again for the interesting reports! It keeps us "waiters" from going crazy with anticipation!! [;)]

Later

Mike

[Barthheart]

Well Winter '42 was not that good for the Germans. I took two areas that Russia basicly abandoned and made a stab a destroying some supplies but failed badly.[:@] The rest of the Winter could be very bad indeed.[:(] I think I'm really in a bad spot here and can probably attribute it to poor prep and a late invasion on my part. Well maybe just a little on Becket's good choices for production.[&o]

In the North Atlantic my u-boats sail unmolested - by targets that is! [:D] Where did erverybody go? I'm hoping my NA campaign of total transport extermination will severly restrict the Russians because little or no lend lease should be getting through.[:-]

As for the Western Alliance, I have a small surprise coming that I hope works.[X(].

[Becket]

Got the turn last night but didn't have time to play. The great thing about abandoning Kiev & Belorussia in the first turn (after moving factories out, of course) is that they have high population, and thus will generate a lot of militia during the automatic creation period at the end of the turn - thus leaving behind a force that sucks German supply away.

The lend lease situation is going to be a problem.

[Paul Vebber]

Well, I'm trying alternatives... not researching ASW off the bat just happened to be a MAJOR "scissors cuts paper" disaster given his strategy.

Could be worse. Japan could have attacked you from the East [:'(]

I'm sure you've seen in teh game with Joel how much fun THAT is [:D][:(]

As to the lack of TARGETS...

http://arago4.tn.utwente.nl/stonedead/m ... ne-21.html

[Becket]

I'm thinking that IDB is quite happy with the idea of the Eastern SU staying frozen til Fall 45.

[Barthheart]

ORIGINAL: Paul Vebber

...
As to the lack of TARGETS...

http://arago4.tn.utwente.nl/stonedead/m ... ne-21.html

LOL[:D][:D]

There's a great Python quote for everything! I love MPatFC![8D]

[Barthheart]

Well... it's Spring 1942 and the Russians have the Germans stalled at the border. Becket's superb production startegy of LOTS of arty and my botched invasion have me in a tight spot.[:(] I can't attack well because of all the arty - too costly in unit for the Germans. The Russians can't attack to well either because most of his ground troops are inf and militia. So a stalled front. My main attacks this turn was to remove some of that $@%#$ arty by bombing the snot out if it and to wreck some of his few armour. This turned out well. Not much ground gained though. With his supplies low and no Lend Lease (at least for this turn you sneaky buggers in Persia![:-]), I'm very curious to see what he will do to my reenforced line.

As the WA, we're playing tag in the deserts of NA and the Middle East. There should soon be some fire works in the IO. [;)] He seems to be pulling inf out of his butt to reenforce both Cairo and India.[:@] But that's OK, without supplies or transports they're not much of a threat.[:D]

As Paul pointed out in another thread, this game can turn on you quickly. If your overall production and research plan doesn't meet squarely with your enemy's there can be trouble and lots of catch up required. My u-boats first planworked well against Paul's no asw research first, but it has left me with too few land units to take care of the arty heavy Becket.

I sure hope Japan is enjoying his Chinese food.... hint...hint...[&o]

[Becket]

I'm in real trouble if I don't get supply relief soon.

On the other hand, looking at the map today, I saw an opportunity I've never thought about before.

[Paul Vebber]

I'm a tryin - walking through the bleeding desert with it strapped to our backs...

Hopefullly he wasn't able to harrass the lot in transit to badly.

I have one other trick up my sleeve too...