A look at Barbarossa. (AAR)

[Red Prince]

But before we get to Ground Support, here are a few things I have been doing today:

I may have lost my Ski Division near Murmansk, but the Helsinki Militia was able to get into position to block the rails with its ZOC. Sure, it is now out of supply, but that doesn't really matter for my purposes. No resources will make it to the USSR through this port during this turn.


Picture taken after Land Movement of Axis impulse #9, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

Of course, those resources can still come in through Archangel, so I have to cut that rail line, too, by taking control of Vologda:


Picture taken at Land Combat Declaration of Axis impulse #9, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

Since there is movement away from the isolated cities of the Soviet Empire, I spent a lot of time seriously considering making this attack with a total of 30+ factors, just so that I'd have the units in position next impulse to try a 3:1 attack on the 3-5 CAV sitting in Sevastopol. In the end, I decided I needed those troops elsewhere, so these guys will have to take care of business here.

Picture taken at Land Combat Declaration of Axis impulse #9, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

And here's why I needed those units. I have two attacks on the Russian steppes, one near Kursk and the other in Kharkov:


Picture taken at Land Combat Declaration of Axis impulse #9, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

Ground Support could reach either of the central two targets.
Near Kursk, it is a 67:15 attack at -1 (4:1 -1, with a 47% chance of 5:1 -1)
In Kharkov, it is 43:9 (4:1, with a 78% chance at 5:1)

After calculating all of the possible odds changes, what seemed best was to send the Pe-2 bomber and the MiG-3 fighter from Kursk to Kharkov. If the bombers get through, the odds are reduced from 4:1, with a 78% chance at 5:1 down to 3:1, with only a 30% chance at 4:1. This seemed the best option, since this is the last defensive outpost between this battlefield and infinity. That's a good odds reduction for only 4 Tactical factors, and significantly improves the chances of disorganizing German attackers.

However, that leaves no fighter protection for the other attack. Since the USSR needs to believe the turn will end soon (or else the worst might happen), disorganizing the Rocket Artillery seemed a reasonable trade-off for a 4 extra factors which cannot be intercepted. Odds here are reduced to 3:1 -1, with a 53% chance at 4:1 -1.


Picture taken at Ground Support Interceptions of Axis impulse #9, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

Ouch! It would appear the decision was solid, so far. Not only did the bombers get through, but the Soviet MiG took out its German counterpart. Chalk one up for the enemy. [:(]


Picture taken after Air-to-Air Combat Digression, Ground Support, of Axis impulse #9, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

So, here are the final combat odds:


Picture taken at Choose Land Combat of Axis impulse #9, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: gridley

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

Bah! I forgot that pesky long range Condor. I doubt if I would have made this attack if I remembered it. At least it is a forrest hex so that their ground support is halved.

That's okay, Orm. I didn't even see the attack near Murmansk when you asked me about it what I wanted to do for Ground Support! [>:]

When you are putting in Defensive/Offensive Ground Support is there a list that pops up with all planes that reach the hex?

Yes. The Selectable Units form (described by Aaron in his reply to your question) appears for all air mission phases, for all air mission subphases (including AA fire). You still have to manually check to see what your opponent can do in response (e.g., what interceptors he might send up), but the units that you can presently move are always identified in the Selectable Units form.

[Red Prince]

To the North, in Vologda, that lonely Militia had to choose between a 40% chance of survival, with a 40% chance to disorganize the enemy (Blitz) OR a 0% chance of survival, with a 60% chance of disorganizing the enemy (Assault). Well, we all want to survive, so this was a Blitz.

And, of course, I rolled that magic '1' !!! [:@] I should be thankful I got a +1 on this attack. Operationally, it was a success. A costly success, but a victory regardless. The Allies will get no resources to Russia this turn!

Say goodbye to the Gaurds Infantry, Finland . . .


Picture taken during Land Combat Resolution of Axis impulse #9, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

Just outside of Sevastopol, I chose a Blitz combat. I won the Fractional Odds roll, getting the 7:1 Blitz table, and rolled a '10' (if the odds didn't begin as Automatic, the game still 'rolls' the die). Now that, my friends is a wasted '10' if I ever saw one.

The last two attacks are both going to be Assaults. If they can be kept on the 3:1 charts, there's a good chance of that the USSR can hold the German troops at bay.

First, we visit Kharkov:

Here I needed to roll a .307 or less to get the 4:1 table for the attack. I rolled a .011, so i got it. This now means the Soviets have a 40% chance to save the city, instead of a 60% chance. But they don't. A roll here of '8' makes up for my bad luck in the North. Not only did I win the city, but my units remain organized (just barely), and the USSR now needs the turn to end ASAP.

Moving on to the battle outside Kursk:

Here, again, the Assault table is a better choice. It almost assures the USSR of disorganizing my units, much to my chagrin. I have 12 units engaging in combat here, desparate to eliminate some Russian tanks. I do have a fair shot at the 4:1 table, at 53%. And, once again I get the roll (.375) for Fractional Odds.

You're not going to believe this. Unbidden, the words "Oh, my God!" just passed my lips. As if to make up for the wasted '10' at Sevastopol, I rolled another one here. Even modified to a '9', that means nobody disorganized, and the enemy Shattered! We both seem to be doing well on this blood-stained steppe.


Picture taken during Land Combat Resolution of Axis impulse #9, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

This time I converted the result to a Retreat, not wanting the remaining 2nd Armor to come back in a more useful spot next turn. There are 4 hexes I can put him in. I choose to place him with Zhukov. If the Red Army gives me a shot at that stack, I'll get it at +2, and have a chance to take out an ARM and an HQ-A. Not that I'm likely to be given the chance! This also keeps the way pretty clear for my units to push through to the south.


Picture taken during Land Combat Resolution (Retreats) of Axis impulse #9, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

After moving into the empty hex, I moved on to Air Rebasing. I have just a few planes left to bring up to the Front, starting with the ATR I have waiting in Königsberg. My II Paratroop Corps is in Smolensk at the moment, so I move the Air Transport to that frontline city. One final LND can also reach the Front, and my FTR-3 fighter-bomber is slightly back, so I brought that up North, too. The last thing I want to do is to reposition my last organized front line fighter, and I'm ready to move on.

I don't expect to make much more headway in the center this turn, so I had von Bock reorganize another fighter and the slow AA division in Vitebsk.


Picture taken during HQ Reorganization of Axis impulse #9, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

A roll of '9' keeps the turn going. Can the dice be loaded ???

Here's how things look in the Moscow region, also known as the Northern Front. Not much real movement here. I got to Vologda, but I really wanted that unit organized to threaten Moscow in the coming impulses, assuming the summer continues. Perhaps I'm just getting greedy (see below).


Picture taken at end of Axis impulse #9, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

And here's a look at the Southern Front. I got extremely lucky here. That's really all I can say about this region.


Picture taken at end of Axis impulse #9, Jul/Aug 1941 (Turn 2 of 5)

[Red Prince]

I don't know how I am where I am, besides good luck. I'm still short of the needed victory totals, so I need at least 1 or 2 more impulses with weather that I can fight in before the game ends. I would be very surprised if I got another one this turn. There is a 40% chance to end the turn coming up. I know that means a good chance to continue, but I don't trust good luck. I'll take it when I can get it, but I still don't trust it. I know my tactics just aren't that good overall. Perhaps it has something to do with these new helmets I've issued to the Nazi Stormtroopers.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: Rijssiej

I just have to say that I really enjoy this look at Barbarossa. I especially like how it shows the gameplay. Keep it up guys!

We will keep it up to my bitter end. [;)]

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. This, of course, goes for all of you. And I will make an attempt to answer it. And when I manage to make a bad answer I am sure my opponent, Red Prince, will clarify things.

I am so glad that there are at least a few out there who use up some of their precious time to look at this thread. Thank you all. [&o][:)]

[Red Prince]

I second that emticon. [;)][&o] This has been very exciting to create and share. It has also been very educational. Thank you.

[Joseignacio]

[:)]

[Klydon]

Thanks for taking the time to do this AAR. I think this should provide both a good snap shot of what is coming and the fact that the game has come along far enough for something like this to be possible. Like many, I can't wait for this to come out having played it when it first came out way back when.

My issue is going to be trying to figure out all the new stuff in game. [X(]

Somehow, I think I will manage. [:D]

[composer99]

It's been interesting to see.