Slitherine

Crazygunner1 wrote: During winter, movement is severely hampered by snow so retreat and advance is even slower. If you time a retreat during winter correctly you will loose little or no troops at all, also give up as little as 10 hexes of frontline wich you easily can take back when summer comes.

There is a quirk in the game that is useful to understand here. Given Crazygunner's explanation it would seem that in severe winter the Axis should be able to avoid contact with the Russians by retreating a continuous line of units 1 hex per turn. This is because in severe winter no unit has enough movement points (MPs) to advance 2 hexes when the second hex is into the zone of control (ZOC) of two enemy units, thus incurring the +2 MP penalty. However, the "quirk" is that the +2 penalty is only applied when the enemy units are spotted in advance of the unit moving. Therefore, due to the reduced spotting ranges in severe winter if the Russians are careful to avoid spotting the Axis units before moving (keeping air units back a little) they can often advance some units two hexes into the Axis ZOCs. They can't attack the Axis units, but if the Axis wants to avoid being attacked on the next turn they will have to retreat two hexes, not just one.

To me this kind of seems like a bug (arguably). In any case it is my understanding that it would be difficult to change, so players should just understand it.

Dec 19th 1941 severe winter turn 43




The Red army sucessfully break the Axis's defense line around Dineppe river . All red army are thrown into the battle &they know there will be big reinforcement next year (the Siberian troops).


In Sicily , Italian occupy the hex British want to land in . Before they get enough airsupport , they won't achive any more .

Jan 8th 1942 severe winter




Severe winter offense continue . Axis finish the Soviet lead tank & rebuild the southern defence line . But we won't accept its exist . we kill one mech & conquer Dnipropetrovsk ！

In Med ， in order to make Axis busy , we turn our landing mission around Rome ! Although it is almost just a joke !

TURN 43, AXIS PERSPECTIVE

Morris has posted turns 43 and 44. Here are my turn 43, before turn pics. You'll see how was fighting with next no nothing behind my back.

LABS

AT and ORG became available.



MEDITERRANEAN

Before

In Sicily I lost a corps because I didn't repair it after the visit of BBs.

I'm looking at the point where he could cut Reggio railroad. Landing boats are cruising here and there, so they might find their way to here.





RUSSIA, NORTH

Before

I marked German positions with blue. SS Pz would be much more useful in Ukraine, but there is none to relieve it from front line duty. I wonder if it had made a difference if he had sent one plane for make observations?

It's also a risk to have to red cities behind my lines.





RUSSIA, SOUTH

Before

-I don't need to be that strong in north of Kiev.

-I counted the visible air units 6+1+6 against 5. The situation doesn't look hopeless, although Romanians etc are in poor shape.

-Why did I left those two units in Crimea. It must be so that I believed I was able keep the Dnepr line, and wanted to prevent flanking from Crimea. Now I see I should have built my winter defense line along Southern Bug and Pripet. Right?

What version are guys on since i dont see the weather grafics?

Crazygunner1 wrote:What version are guys on since i dont see the weather grafics?

3.0 . we turn off the weather show option .

Turn 45

Jan 28th 1942 severe winter




Axis retreat ! Maybe Axis feel it difficult to destroy the breakthrough & want to retreat to build a new defense line ! But Comrade Stalin won't give the enemy a minute to take a breath . We catch up with them & fight with blood !

In Med ,we come back to Sicily !

TURN 45, AXIS

MEDITERRANEAN


After

I felt that I have to prevent Allied landing. That FGT should be in Ukraine.




RUSSIA, NORTH

Blue circle for each German/Finnish unit better than gar.

If Soviets had a small motorized task group north of Bryansk, it would have driven straight across Dnepr. But Morris had some mercy on me.

After





RUSSIA, SOUTH

Blue circle for each German/Finnish unit better than gar. So many SW stricken non-German units are going to be decimated in the near future.

Notice -42 pps. I tried to repair non-Germans.

After



CASUALTIES


After

Finland

You got anything in the production force pool?

Most of time I had one defensive leader in pool for emergency cases, which results that all unmoved units are shown in grey. So it wasn't practical to take screenshot with force pool visible.

Finland1944 wrote:TURN 45, AXIS

RUSSIA, NORTH

Blue circle for each German/Finnish unit better than gar.

If Soviets had a small motorized task group north of Bryansk, it would have driven straight across Dnepr. But Morris had some mercy on me.

No ,Stalin had no mercy on Axis ! Maybe you are right , but I didn't have this screenshot around that time . I don't know whether there are some reserve panzers or mechs in the warfog. On the other hand , I have to concentrate my limited shock power on my main target !

Yes, I was destroyed due to your reckless concentration of forces.

Feb 17th 1942 severe winter



In Ukrain , we sucessfully broke Axis's defence line & kill the Germany Mech with leader !
In the north part , also good progress !

In Altlantic , a huge escort fleet is coming to Med !

TURN 46, AXIS PERSPECTIVE

I'll post turn 47 on Mon 24.2.

LABS

Waiting for improved dog fight.
I should have sold one navy lab after sub tech was ready. But I didn't...



MEDITERRANEAN

Nothing worth mentioning.

RUSSIA, NORTH

After

I sent extra arm close to Kalinin. I have 3 tacs and he has no fgts here.

I've drawn one possible defense line, which is spoiled by Novgorod.




RUSSIA, SOUTH

After

I've only 2 arms and 2 mechs. (But 3 arms in north!) Other units are so weak!

Blue line shows my hopes for defensive line for next turn. Later I hope to establish a double line along river.



CASUALTIES

After

I think you should hold the line around kiev instead, plug in the holes and perhaps attack when summer comes. Only about 2-3 turns left of winter. Perhaps you still have strenght to attack the russians and make them suffer. If you decide on that, concentrate your forces and most of the luftwaffe in one section. Preferably where there are most valuable russian units

Mar 9th 1942 winter



Axis made a massive retreat , we just run after them ! We won't give them a minute to breath !


In Med , nothing but waiting for Americans !

Seems like the german infantry (not axis minor or Italy) corps units deployed for campaign in USSR were significantly scarce so no way to cover efficiently such huge front line. This, regardless of how well Morris is doing with the soviets.

Mar 29th 1942 mud



Axis retreat again in the north & try to hold a defence in the south . Since it was mud , we just follow up & supply all units & prepare for the spring offense .


In Med , Americans are coming & RAF has already been in position of next Med mission !

Apr 18th 1942 fair/mud




Axis made retreat again to avoid attack from Russians in the coming fair turns .


In Med , USA fleet arrive Sardinia & will land the USAF on there to get ready for the Allies Med action .

May 8th 1942 fair




Finally fair weather ! Axis use their advantage to withdraw in advance . The red army follow them towards Berlin direction !

In Med , we are launching our Torch !