Defending the Reich - the war is over

[richardsd]

yes, the penalty is only applied once, at the onset, to units in the zone

many a game have I rued the placement of TAC's by one hex in Army group South!

[Plaid]

Situation on the east still a bit dangerous.

In Northern sector I lost 1 corps near Minsk, in return destroyed a mech.



In southern sector both corps crossed the river to protect panzer ended destroyed (pretty sad), in return I also was able to destroy exposed soviet mech.



Maybe I was able to destroy more, but early winter weather in Russia troubled it. At least now my troops have good positions and entrenchment.

In Lybia battle for Tobruk continues. I lost italian mech (with commander ), but severly damaged armour and corps (which is now pocketed).



All PPs gone for badly needed repairs.

[afk_nero]

In the northern sector - could you not abonden Minsk and retreat before the severe winter hits - you are just inside the Russian borders now so its not a far retreat.

[Plaid]

In the northern sector - could you not abonden Minsk and retreat before the severe winter hits - you are just inside the Russian borders now so its not a far retreat.

This turn I didn't done it because my corps in swamps was ZoCed and unable to move at all.
With this high casualties I don't want to simple leave it behind. Now I fixed line a bit and suppose it to be moveable next turn.

[Crazygunner1]

In the northern sector - could you not abonden Minsk and retreat before the severe winter hits - you are just inside the Russian borders now so its not a far retreat.

This turn I didn't done it because my corps in swamps was ZoCed and unable to move at all.
With this high casualties I don't want to simple leave it behind. Now I fixed line a bit and suppose it to be moveable next turn.

Try and stay out of the swamp unless it´s abolutely needed.

Crazyg

[Plaid]

Well, turn started with news, that soviets destroyed 2 units of my infantry near Minsk. Again.



Also wierd weather combination - fair in soviet zone and mud in central.

I did my best and scored easy kills on this armour and mech, in return.

Looks like good PP exchange, but it is bad for my manpower.

Also I pulled my men out of the swamp finally, region is ready to be abandoned, next turn probably.



In south no action at all, and its not surprising - position is good and most soviet offencive power depleted.



In Lybia I spent turn mostly repairing. Also damaged BB heavily. British offencive seems stopped for now.



2 more infantry for Germany and 1 more for Italy purchased. Manpower is not good, but even britts have -1 quality now.



77 PP unescorted convoy spotted near Britain.

[Plaid]

More devastating soviet attacks this turn - I lost mech near Minsk and mech defending Vinnitsa, aswell as city.

AGN retreats back, out of SW zone.



AGS stands ground.



In africa quiet for now - I only finished off trapped british corps.



Now I have no choice, but defence - initiative gone for now.
But things are not this bad, I have very good tech level and PP income (150 now), so I just need to take a breath and build some good units instead of constant repairing.

[schwerpunkt]

and hope that Zechi doesnt bomb Ploesti to 0 like you did to me in our game

[rkr1958]

More devastating soviet attacks this turn - I lost mech near Minsk and mech defending Vinnitsa, aswell as city.

AGN retreats back, out of SW zone. Now I have no choice, but defence - initiative gone for now.
But things are not this bad, I have very good tech level and PP income (150 now), so I just need to take a breath and build some good units instead of constant repairing.

I was curious to see how well your "early" invasion of Russia worked versus building up as much as you could and waiting to go in the fall. The expected entry date for Russia is October 20, 1941, which means that you have to invade on or before September 30, 1941 to guarantee the 30 point effectiveness hit (i.e., Russia doesn't activate on their own). I personally prefer (as I did in my Close the Med game with Jim) to wait, clear out the Baltic states and ride out the first severe winter outside of Russia. In this case, the severe winter could be more of a help to the Germans than to the Russians.

[Crazygunner1]

It seems like the us has entered the war. Have you located where he will send his US forces?

Crazyg

[Plaid]

Here is a picture of axis positions for now. Looks more or less relyable, all units in northern sector are out of SW zone.



Yes, USA entered the war, and here they are, heading somewhere to MED.
Transport(infantry) is deffinetely something fake - air unit or armour. When you fake transports, do it properly (its corps, not infantry! ).

Attacked with uboats anyway.



SW started at the end of my turn - soviet offencive expected.

[Crazygunner1]

Good to know that he us not comitting US forces to retake England or France....i would doubt that he get very far but it would take up much valuable resources and time for you to fight off the invasion.

[Plaid]

Soviet winter offencive happened in AGS zone, though performance of my units (especially axis minor) during allied turn were quite good, despite huge effectiveness loss.
Hungarian mech, for example scored 3 : 0 result, when attacked with soviet corps, looks like, FRAR and Hungarian airforce scored even or good results against weak soviet fighters.

Romanian mech ended destroyed though, and soviet one taken its place. I used both tacs, corps and armour to make hex german back, and restore the line.
Additional TAC bombers redeployed here to help against soviet tanks.



Northern sector stagnant - my troops here entrenched and have good effectiveness. Come get some?



In Africa things becoming desperate, with all this US army heading here. Anyway, I destroyed this british marine corps, and damaged one more.
Time to think about evacuation.



American transports gone, heading for Gibraltar rather then waypoint. Maybe its Torch (good gift for axis. from my point!) or direct Italy invasion.

[Crazygunner1]

I have to agree there....he will probably go for italy and that gives you valuable time to reinforce. Fighting in italy is hard and often ends up in stalemate witch in this case works in your benefit.

If you can, try and build up an offensive force to capture or kill as much Russians as possible, it will undoubtably be your last offensive in the east, but in doing so you probably will weaken the russians and delay him long enough to get a win. If you decide to launch an offensive, i strongly suggest usage of tanks and some mechs rather than Luftwaffe.....might also considering to weaken certain sections of your front to mass a large spearhead to inflict maximum damage.

What are you thoughts for the summer? Any offensive or plan defense?

Crazyg

[Plaid]

I just lost my panzer korps in south of Vinnitsa.
If casualties will be this high for long, I will be simple unable to be offencive in summer.



In Lybia I destroyed one more british corps, but things look pretty bad.



Schoerner evacuated from Tobruk (5 turns delay, almost like wound)

I will see, what survives to spring, before starting planning.

Have something like 2 armours + fighter in queue for now, as nearest reserves.

[gerones]

You have a very good air tech level for 1941 and this is a major task for the soviets to progress (their air tech level is significantly lower than the germans one). You surely will have to face an attrition war against the soviets but keeping in mind your excellent situation in western front with England out of the game, you are in a good position for winning this game.

[rkr1958]

You have a very good air tech level for 1941 and this is a major task for the soviets to progress (their air tech level is significantly lower than the germans one).

I think the issue is going to be oil. High air and armor tech levels burn a lot oil. For a turn on the offensive with high tech levels you can easily go through 50 to 60 oil points. Winning or losing this game, I think, will hinge on whether or not Plaid runs out oil.

[schwerpunkt]

You have a very good air tech level for 1941 and this is a major task for the soviets to progress (their air tech level is significantly lower than the germans one).

I think the issue is going to be oil. High air and armor tech levels burn a lot oil. For a turn on the offensive with high tech levels you can easily go through 50 to 60 oil points. Winning or losing this game, I think, will hinge on whether or not Plaid runs out oil.

I agree! As I said earlier though - you need to protect Ploesti as the end will come much quicker if he can get that down...

[Plaid]

Finally, some update posting here.

In southern sector soviets still press me, I lost more troops, but still were able to deny another soviet brigehead, destroying mech.



Northern sector still calm.



I had to start evacuation from Lybia, because soon it can be to late (RN and USN can block Tobruc port or something like). One german and one italian corps are shipping to Italy, for now. Next turn I will evacuate what I can from Bengazi (hopefully this corps survives).



Soviet convoy spotted near British coast and will be destroyed soon.



One more german fighter and italian corps purchased this turn. If Zechi continues to use his airpower during summer, this fighters can save me from Russians, destroying lots and lots of soviet PPs at low oil cost.

[Plaid]

Red Army continues to press on my AGS, I lost Reichenau HQ infantry corps, sad.



But this turn I got fair weather in central europe zone, so my luftwaffe was effective there and allowed me to destroy entire soviet armour corps (they still have only 6 surv). Also destroyed soviet infantry, crossed river line. I think that Vinnitsa will be local goal of my summer offencive, because I want this city to deploy reinforcements here for future defencive operations.



Northern sector left alone.



Americans spotted prepairing landing near Tripoli. Well, more wasted PPs for allies, since its already left noone in africa, to fight with.
Both evacuated corps (and 3 fighters) succesfully made it to Italy, while italian infantry retreated to Bengazi was wiped out by british tanks.
"Fortress Tripoli" and "Fortress Bengazi" will be defended with entrenched garrisons for a while - I don't think that I need to evacuate them.



3 more infantry purchased for germans for various needs. Its time to think about reinforcing Britain at least with couple corps and one offencive unit (tank or mech).