May 28, 1942
It appears that I’ve underestimated just how much PP my opponent had to spend on units. We’ll take it one theatre at a time.
By Moscow, Crazyg attacks with an exclusively corps-based army supported by the Luftwaffe, and destroys 2 Soviet corps. As near as I can tell, the Red Air Force only gets total results of 5:13. I hope they will perform better in the future as new upgrades arrive and their opponents get worn down. For now, I upgrade all fighters to Dog Fight Lv. 3 to get a much-needed survivability boost, and put the damaged fighters on sentry. Four full-strength fighters can engage the Germans next turn. Now technology is even again and his advantage in effectiveness is only 10-20 points in most cases. So I expect to do better in the future.
Meanwhile in the center, a small but formidable contingent of mixed Axis troops has captured Tambov and advanced toward Siberia. I believe he’s trying to get me to withdraw my Moscow defense to avoid getting flanked, but that’s not going to happen. I only have corps up there, and I intend to have them fight. I will continue to build corps units to form a defense in the center. Forces from the south are already coming up to help.
In the far south, a massive German mech and tank army, supported by Axis minor corps, advances toward Stalingrad. I have no chance against this force, so my troops begin withdrawing to the northeast. I will fight a delaying action (using ZoC to limit his movement) until I’m strong enough to engage him directly. I hate leaving the Caucuses virtually undefended, but this is a real danger. I would much rather err on the side of caution when it comes to defending Siberia, even if it means losing the oil fields. At this point, I’m not even sure Crazyg will go for the oil fields. Perhaps he feels he has enough fuel to last until the end of the game? He probably has between 750 and 1000. Properly managed, that could be enough even with all his oil-consuming units.
Finally, partisans appeared in both Kiev and Tula. I’ve never had that happen to me before twice in one turn. The Russian people reacting to the renewed Axis offensive, perhaps? Or just blind luck.
The western Allies also must deal with a stronger-than-expected Axis force in England. I’m able to land 3 units in Ireland for the price of 2. The Allied Navy moves around and begins shelling defenses in and around Belfast. Most importantly, the port and coastline are cut off so no Axis reinforcements can be sent in unless he goes through my navy. The city should fall in a few turns and then I will have a base of operations. Later I may invade the rest of Ireland to give me more room for air units as well as an additional port. My CVs held their own against the Luftwaffe but will probably get beat to hell next turn. I also move to land troops on the tip of Scotland. It is a good defensive position (only 2 enemy hexes adjacent) with supply and it will take a major effort by Crazyg to dislodge me. I’m willing to pay the repair costs on a few corps if it will force him to continue fighting (within range of my navy’s guns, no less). See the screenshot for my planned landings next turn.
Overall, these developments were disappointing for me. I didn’t realize the Axis would be this strong. But I will continue fighting, and I think I can still turn this around. For the Russians, it’s about surviving until severe winter. For the western Allies, it’s about establishing a foothold and trying to gain air parity with the Luftwaffe. It will be a lot of work, but I still have 3 years to turn this around and I still believe I can win.