Panzers vs The Bear: A WitE2 MP AAR (Axis Perspective)

[821Bobo]

Turn 26, 14.12.1941

This week weather gods favored Axis and we have snow but no Blizzard. The really bad weather is from Moscow eastwards. So it is middle of December and lines remain static.
I took advantage of it and gained two more hexes around Leningrad.
I believe from now on updates will be more interesting, though probably from the Soviet point of view.

[821Bobo]

Turn 27, 21.12.1941

In the north Soviet did take only few hexes. Most probable reason is that between Novgorod and Kalinin is only snowfall but no blizzard.




More success have been achieved by the enemy in Moscow sector but situation is not disastrous yet. I started to pull out units from the Tula salient, some envelopment maneuver is being definitely drawn here.




Generally speaking, in Blizzard I will try to avoid deliberate attack on my units in terrain not suited for defense. South of Orel, according to this strategy I retreated few hexes. Orel, Kursk, Belgorod and Charkov will be probably lost. I did not build any rails here as I have been planning to retreat in this area if Soviets will attack. Looking back, it was a mistake. Units here are in really terrible shape and non existent logistic in sector prohibits any improvement.
As a "bonus" , yet another panzer division lost 50% of tanks during retreat.

[821Bobo]

Turn 28, 28.12.1941

With another week with mild winter weather in Leningrad area, efforts to definitely cut off the city continued. And succeeded. City is finally completely isolated and now it is only matter of time when it will fall. Manstein is keeping his promise.

[821Bobo]

Most of the Soviet attacks were around Tula and Orel.
I decided to abandon Kalinin and Tula salient but left one division inside the city. I want to deny this vital supply hub to the enemy as long as possible. If situation become critical I still can evacuate them by air.
As can be seen on the screenshot I again retreated few hexes back. From Belgorod down to Rostov I am holding my positions.

[Farfarer61]

Looking forward to see if you can mop up Leningrad,get through Winter, and achieve anything decisive in 1942.

[GhostRider69]

So it's been a long time returning to this lovely game. Can someone, in a nutshell, tell me of the major differences?

[loki100]

ORIGINAL: GhostRider69

So it's been a long time returning to this lovely game. Can someone, in a nutshell, tell me of the major differences?

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4985720

[821Bobo]

Turn 29, 4.1.1942

Favorable weather in north allowed Manstein to launch attack against northern part of Leningrad and capture it.
No Soviet activities in the area.

[821Bobo]

In the Moscow area I have retreated from Kalinin to better defensive terrain. Reasoning for this was that this week is only snowing but no blizzard and moving is easier. According to forecast next week will harsh weather be back and could make retreat in order impossible.
One division in Tula is encircled and supplied need to be delivered by air. I have plans to airlift the division out of there next week.

[821Bobo]

In the south I once again ordered few hexes retreat. This week I gave up ground also in Rostov area because Soviets managed to break my lines. City itself is not abandoned.

[821Bobo]

Turn 30, 11.1.1942

This week two unpleasant events. Tula and Rostov have fallen. Not unexpected but I have been hoping to hold both cities little longer. So much for that plan to evacuate Tula via air.

[821Bobo]

Most Soviet activity was between Novgorod and Moscow. Abandoning Kalinin last week seems to have been good decision. Soviets were not able to reach my new positions yet, giving me some time to dig at least level 1 forts in better defensive terrain.

South from Tula, I continued in retreat to keep distance from enemy. But this is costing me lot of space.

[821Bobo]

Turn 31, 18.1.1942

This week is blizzard raging only in Leningrad area and next week should be only snowfall everywhere. This is quite a relief. While it won't stop Soviets from attacking, I will not have at least so many disabled squads and troop movement will be easier as well.
Retreat in the 'central' sector continues, Kursk and Orel were abandoned. There is really no chance to hold line in those vast steppes. Though, Soviets will face the same issue in summer.
Everywhere else I am holding my lines for now.

[Banori]

thx for the link

[Arthurius]

What's about ,,Fuel Sores + Pool''? I'm in T47 (may 1942) and I'm getting short. I have 1.175.000 tons with average use of 50.000 per week. It seems that in 1942-10 I will be in real trouble.

[821Bobo]

ORIGINAL: Arthurius

What's about ,,Fuel Sores + Pool''? I'm in T47 (may 1942) and I'm getting short. I have 1.175.000 tons with average use of 50.000 per week. It seems that in 1942-10 I will be in real trouble.

The situation is same. Axis has spare refinery capacity so capturing some oil fields in summer 42 can help a little if rail network will be good enough to handle oil shipments from Caucasus to Europe.

[821Bobo]

Turn 32, 25.1.1942

Thanks to good weather(no Blizzard), entire front is quiet with barely any attacks. Favorable weather should stay for another week. Probably nothing better could have happened in middle of January.

What surprised me, is that Soviets did not try to land on Crimea. Defense have been assigned to 4th Rumanian Army. While every crucial places are defended, I doubt they could fight back serious landing attempt. And I don't have any reserves to throw there in role of a fire brigade.

[Numdydar]

You should not be able to invade in bad weather, right?

[821Bobo]

ORIGINAL: Numdydar

You should not be able to invade in bad weather, right?

I never tried it and manual is not clear(or I did not find it). However in south snow is usually the worst weather, Blizzard very rarely.

[821Bobo]

Turn 33, 1.2.1942

My weather assumption wasn't correct or I misjudged the borders between weather fronts. Anyway around half of the frontline is influenced by Blizzard this week.
Soviets unexpectedly broke out from the Osinovets enclave. What seemed to be a big problem, in the end turned into victory. Initially, the plan was to wait for spring before launching attack on Leningrad. But the threat that enemy will reestablish contact with the city forced change of plans. Manstein had launched attack that reduced the fort and most importantly disrupted the entire city garrison. The following attack have been just wiping out the remains of Soviet presence. Manstein kept his promise and Leningrad is finally in Axis hands.[&o]