Help against AI on Hard

[Gefreiter Wardstein]

I'm currently playing the Russian versus the German AI on hard. Its December 41 (again) and I broadly hold the line including Leningrad - Moscow - south to Kiev and then following the Dnepr river. So I thought I was doing pretty well.

The main problem is that regardless of how well the Blizzard offensive goes, as soon as clear weather arrives in May/June 42 I get smeared. I'm now on my 6th or 7th replay and have a feeling that my only option is to run away eastwards. Has anyone played on hard and have some handy hints?

Cheers

[Laeska]

Since there are no other answers here is my experience. Not with newest versions but 1.07.15. There is also some good posts in forum about Lokis AI game. Most AAR's are from human games. Like to see some AI games also

Challenging (Not Hard), no 1:1 = 2:1, mild blizzard, fixed weather. Did manually German first turn about good standard opening with Lvov pocket but not extended one. Didn't break any pockets early game but cutted some German spearheads out of supply after turn 2. Summary from T1, Soviet non isolated men: 3.8M, Gun 41k, afv: 12400 Air 9000.

First summer ended at River line north from Ladoga. Luga river line - linear front from Ilmen to Vyazma. Bolva line, city of Bryansk and Desna line held until Shostka. About linear South - North line to Dnepr river which held south from Kremenchug.
First winter Germans continued attacking about 5 attacks per turn with good win ratio. I just managed to take 10-15 wins. Front line was stabile.
Summer 42 Germans launched much more attacks but with poor win lose ratio. North lines mostly held. Gained some bridge heads over Luga. My strong Moscow front held. Germans took Bryansk and advanced 50-100 miles in northern Ukrainia. Kaluga, Orel, Kursk and Kharkiv all held but were all in contact to frontline. D-Z towns held and Germans didn't use minor breakthrough they made between the cities. During the summer win-lose ratio turned to Soviets and Germans lovered tempo and finally stopped to attack.
Winter 43 I pushed wide attack between Orel and D-town. Reached Sula line.
Summer 43 I started operation north from Ladoka. Pushed Finns back to 39 line and took Vyborg late July and 12th August Finland surrendered. South I tried attack two narrow fronts. One to Cherkassy and another to Nikolaev hoped to breakthrough and link spearheads and encircle German army group south. Failed. Was able to do about 1-2 hex per turn. No breakthrough and losing many fights due German reserve activations. Germans were retreating in good order.
I have not continued the game any more. Latest save T113.

Summary AI is not good opponent when it's attacking. As Soviet I was never under very heavy pressure and I was able too keep my army size up. First winter AI kept attacking succesfully. Better weather towards summer 42 and it just started attacking too much and blindly hitted head to wall of steel. It defended well with good amount of reserve activations. Or I am just too poor attacker AI does really stupid raids when you are attacking and left easy spots to your lines. Against AI you do not need to run. You can keep strong 2-3 hex deep line with some rear security. AI will stall.