Slitherine

It seems that you are light on fighters, you only have 2 in italy, probably against the entire RAF and some american planes. He has also ateast one CV in Med, you think that will be enough? Do you have tech advantage in fighters?

It will be intressting to see how 42 will turn out....

Plaid,

I'm curious why you have a garrison instead of an infantry corps in Taranto?

Keep up the good work. By this point in the game my Axis forces are in full flight on the eastern front.

gchristie wrote:Plaid, I'm curious why you have a garrison instead of an infantry corps in Taranto?

I agree. Definitely get corps in Naples and Taranto asap, giving them a chance to build up entrenchment. It could buy you a few extra turns or even save Italy for you at a crucial moment.

About your questions - I don't see, why its important to place corps infantry in Naples and Tatanto because this cyties are not frontline and any landing beaches can easily be blocked, so allies can't actually attack them. But i will place there some corps for sure, once I build more Italians (or I will deploy there my Italian command).

About fighters - I had 6 total german ones (and queued one more this turn) - 2 in Italy, 2 in soviet union, one near Berlin and one in France. Deffinetely need to build more, but I can't see intensive allied bombing campaign yet. I have minor tech advantage over RAF fighters (3-5 turns) and hopefully significant over USAAF and Red Army.


In atlantic convoy destruction proceeds without any allied intervention.


All quite in Italy, no action or spotted allied movements.

Next turn will give fair on the east, so operations are prepaired.



AGN ordered to secure Kalinin and take part in great offensive on the Moscov.



AGC's targets are Tula and Moscow aswell.



AGS targets are Rostov, Krasnodar and Maikop oil aswell as Voronezh, together with AGC.

I don't want to enter 3 supply zone as long, as possible.

This turn I spent german PPs on fighter, live said above, and on upgrades (finally assembling anti-tank guns to all my infantry apart from partisan hunters), italy got level 4 subs tech, and spent some PPs for sub upgraes. Rest were saved.[/b]

Placing INF in town means they got some time to entrench, when the allies land, if they land, everything will go quickly and INF will not have time to entrench. If you do it now, it will also act as a deterent. To engage will take major assets to take the city. Like previously said, it might gain you valuable turns.

Why not just take rostov before summer comes, don´t think he will counter attack or try anything else....

I think that Moscow as an objective for 1942, after capturing Leningrad in 1941, makes sense. But your plans about Maikop oilfields seems to be too much on my opinion: just take a look at that double russian defensive line on the right bank of Volga river. It looks like if you spread your attack you would lose strength in your attack whilst if you focus in Moscow you could achieve an important strategic objective: 10 pp´s lost for the russians and 5 won by the germans. Also, the rail capability is an important motivation for launching an overwhelming attack against Moscow. This way, you could organize a defensive line on southern Russia whilst AGN and AGC would be attacking Moscow with all the available Luftwaffe forces.

Finally, fair weather arrives into eastern region and attacks has began. About concentrated assault on Moscow - it will lead to allies concentrating all their forces at one place aswell, while if I go all across the front, I can find and exploit some weak places aswell as keeping secret, where is my actual main attack (I will choose one sector for sure, later, and deploy reserves here).



AGN advanced forward to find out, that front line near Moscow is just as good, as in the south, while it suddenly ends near Kalinin with lonely garrison. If I advance further north, to Vologda and Yaroslavl, I will threat soviet lines from behind.



AGC advance to the East aswell, capturing city of Tula.



AGS captured Rostov and moved towards soviet defences aswell, while amphibious operation being prepaired near Maikop. Soviet frontline will face my forces attacking from two sides and supposed to crack.



In France RAF bomber was spotted patroling again, this time strategic. Intercepted with 2:0 result in my favour of course.



Southern convoy finished off, and my Uboats are heading for repairs, while northern, soviet one, was spotted and engaged. I suppose to see USAAF finally, because I already engaged soviet convoy in this seas and its predictable.



Two new subs were finished in german docks, after upgrade (aswell as gaining effectiveness from my reserve army commander same time) they will be send to seas.

Nothing in Italy one more turn.

This turn I spent german PPs on another fighter (will be fine with 8, after all in queue will be ready), italian PPs were spent on corps infantry, which will be deployed to Taranto, according to your advice.

Soviet offencive!!!

Suddenly Red Army launched offensive in Voronezh region, destroying 2 infantry korps and 1 panzer, aswell as making breach in my frontline. Numerous armoured and air forces spotted aswell.
Also soviet infantry (with heavy air support I guess) destroyed my corps in Tula, taking city back.

Only strange about all this is why red army attack in summer, while being calm in winter. Of course its surprising and summer allows more freedom for maneur, but in winter soviet troops have stats boost compared to germans, while now they are quite inferiour. Indeed this offencive ruined most of my plans and first half of '42 eastern campaign will be spent destroying all this tanks. Not bad though, its better to face them now and on open terrain, while they are not yet huge in numbers and even in tech (Now I have better ground attack, shock and ofcourse organisation on tanks, but red army have 1 point better AT). This soviet troops are already yellow, with some steps lost and with 0 ent - so why shall we wait?



Because of all possible reserves and airforce being requested in another sectors, AGN stopped its advance, upgrading troops (I got level of fixed defences (+1 surv on inf) and level of artillery (+1 ground attack for mechs) this turn) and digging trenches.



Northern part of AGC did just the same thing, stopping any advance, while southern wing together with AGS units and axis minor mechanized's with heavy support of luftwaffe inflicted reasonable casualties to this soviet offencive and spread ZoCs, making retreat of leading soviet units very troubled, if possible.
I had to use my Reichenau's HQ panzer korps in this offence (well, because i don't have this much panzers to choose from), so AGS now need another commander. Lucky, I have one.
I consider my formations quite save (well, last turn I considered too, for example destroyed tank was exposed only from 1 hex), and don't expect to loose many valueable units, if Supermax decide to proceed with his attacks. While I will be able to destroy more and more red army forces, as they leave their trenches behind river.



Main forces of AGS were called to counter soviet attack in voronezh region aswell as to maintain frontline, covering southern flank, while amphibious invasion were still executed. Shores are empty, and now Max have to at least redeploy some units here, opening caucassian front. My troops receive good 4 supply through Kerch port hex and supposed to reach Maikop oilfield and entrench there (or to defend beachhead and allow more troops to unload, if I face heavy resistance) Italians near Odessa are ready to load into transports aswell.
Rundstedt's vacation in Berlin turned out to be short - general was called to command Black Sea campaign. At least he should be happy, that he don't have to land on caucassian beaches on his own, safely commanding from Kerch.



Action even in Italy, where some transports were spotted ashore and british infantry advanced to my line (still no shooting but dog fight).
Fresh built Corps was deployed in Taranto, garrsions were used to cover beaches and prevent allied landing. Also i did some minor 2nd line units shifting in my frontline. Situation still under control, because this infantry don't look like great offensive power to crush my line.

Kriegsmarine reports :



One more soviet convoy destroyed into nothing, despite some uneffective USAAF action (they have pretty poor ASW, and I have good subs, lost only 1 step)



While beaten uboat flotilla is heading for repairs in Franche, two rest southern ones spotted another british convoy and ready to engage.

Strange, why they all go unescorted, because my recon planes from france clearly spot number or various ships from destroyer to CV in England ports.

Two new flotillas upgraded and ready for orders now. Two new panzerkorps were deployed in Posen and Danzig, and will be railed to Russia next turn.

Many PPs this turn were spent on upgrades and repairs, rest were used to buy 2 german and 1 italian corps.

It seems to be a too early russian offensive and you could destroy those precious armoured russian units if supermax decide to continue with his offensive. You have enough tactical bombers in Russia for punishing the soviets if they continued with their offensive and there´s nothing they can do about it since the axis have almost a total air superiority in Russia. Keeping in mind all these things and if you continue pushing in Moscow it could result in a good 1942 year for the axis in Russia.

Well done moving the tactical bomber to Bryansk from Vitebesk. Now you can both attack Moscow or Voronezh fronts at will.

Still an interesting game! Your Italian defence looks a lot better now, by all means use those transports as free target practice for your fighters. Maybe one Italian sub in Taranto/Tirana region could be nice, sooner or later Allies are bound to try something there. Also, destroying all that Russian armour should put an hurt on Allied economy with no convoys getting through. Moscow should be within reach I think.

I think you handled that quite good, i am impressed!!! If Max continues he will loose alot of troops and you will probably get the upper hand.

Soviet forces retreat from back to Voronezh. Armour escapes, while some infantry and mechs will join casualties pool soon.



Suddenly allied offensive in Italy, destroying my Italian corps and attempting to break my line.



Because soviet offencive seems stopped, I resumed my own. AGN destroyed battered soviet garrison and enveloped Kalinin for now, also my upgraded infantry reached soviet defencive lines all over the front.



AGC taken Tula from soviets again, aswell as closing with soviet formations. Moscow sector receives its armour back.
Voronezh itself captured, remaining soviet troops pocketed. Also soviet airforce tryed to interfere and taken good damage (soviet airfields are on AGN screen)



In the south panzerkorps return back to Rostov, to crash soviet lines. I railed one of my fresh built panzers there too. (had not rail points for 2nd, left in Danzig for now) Some allied troops arrived to block my beachhead, but they can easily be crushed with good air support.



In Italy united effort of luftwaffe, wehrmacht and Italian army destroyed this british corps, restoring frontline. My german infantry suffered 4 steps damage despite good odds ( 5:2 or 7:2 in my favour, I guess) and now there is a chance, it can be destroyed. Not much of a problem though, I can easily rail more german corps there, because 1 - 2 infantry will change nothing on the east. But still, Italian reserves were called from north italy to defend the line

At atlantic my southern Uboat force spotted poorly escorted convoy near Azores. Hopefully, it will run into my sub (it will, in fact)



Northern wolfpack spotted british DD. Looks like it is sweeping the area. Maybe I shall hunt soviet convoy in another place, somewhere to the east, far from this airforce and DD. Allies can't keep ASW bombers everywhere, and even if they do, then they left with nothing to bomb germany.



This turn I spent my PPs on 2 more german Infantry.

German forces are closer and closer to Moscow and if they finally capture the city it will be interesting to see how this goes on! Using an appropriate air support you are more than able to clear the area and seize the soviets capital before the winter.

On the other hand, in italian scenario, supermax is wasting precious allied resources (german industry has not suffer any strategic bombing!) in a really nasty campaign as the italian campaign is. Bringing some more reinforcements to the area, you could kill one by one the Commonwealth forces there!

Surprising to me, I didn't lost my german infantry in Italy. I lost fighter instead (some tricky CV maneur, I guess).



But there were no attempts to attack my lines, so now I can repair and entrench again.

In Russia I lost my 6 steps infantry corps near Voronezh, in other places all quiet.



Now to my turns.
AGN captured Kalinin pocketing 1 soviet corps near (price of keeping garrisons in 1st line). Soviet airforce tryed to interfere again, taking good deal of damage.



Central sector was quiet, while I only destroyed blocked mechs and fixed my frontline a bit. This concentration of armour near Rostov



In southern sector my panzers are finally ready to strike soviet line with good air support ( I repaired tanks and plains this turn, aswell as railed reserve tank from Danzig).



In Italy I repaired my troops just as planned. Italian navy sunk british BB near Rome and heavily damaged transport with garrison.
Fresh fighter was deployed there and I am ready to deploy one more (finished this turn). Italian PPs were saved because next turn I will get fixed defences and anti tank upgrades for Italians. Also I don't mind having more subs, since my oil pool is fine.



My Uboat, heading for repairs, spotted escorted allied convoy. This CV looks exposed, sad I don't have wolfpack near.



Near Azores I prepaired ambush for convoy. Even if it will pass (while it should not and will not) my french command is ready to face it, aswell as escort.



PPs for germans and italians both were saved (well, all what left after necessary repairs and upgrades).

Assault on Moscov don't look promising to me, because its simple to many entrenched soviet infantry and Max can deploy at Moscow as much units, as he wants. But I still will press, at least forcing red army to concentrate on capital's defence and inflicting some casualties because tech advantage. If I will be lucky I can even grind my way to the soviet capital.

During allied turn I lost Italian sub and another one was reduced to 5 steps. Surprising effective ASW, I have to say.



In Russia red army tryed to destroy my corps, blocking Kalinin pocket, but my infantry hold at 1 step.



This turn there was totally no action in northern and central Russia - because I had to repair my airgroup there, aswell as some ground units. Also troops will regain some effectiveness.

But in south I started my planned offensive, destroying 2 infantry corps and bringing some chaos into this accurate frontline.

Also strategic bomber was seen (I guess it was a spotter) and heavily damaged. My formations are quite safe, only exposed unit is infantry on the bridgehead, but it is partly covered with rivers and I hope it will survive (don't want to cross river again).



There is a breach in soviet front near Stalingrad, but its to late and dangerous to exploit it now. I think all this armour near Voronezh was placed to cut off forces, attacking Stalingrad.

At sea soviet convoy appeared, but I will not attack it near american shore, instead I will follow it and suddenly strike somewhere in open sea, far from this bombers.



British DD ran into my sub, and got 3 : 2 result in allied favour. While one of my uboats attacked convoy, damaged one gone for repairs. Probably its time to sink some escort ships, because they are becoming annoying. I need bigger wolfpacks to destroy entire escorts fast and its possible with 8 subs availiable. I still want to see some allied navy in range of my french air-naval group, this units regained pretty much (90+) effectiveness.



Italian subs retreat for repairs, while one more german fighter and corps arrives (main reason to call for infantry - I wanted to take my old one from the frontline for upgrades)



German PPs were spent on repairs and on infantry corps, while Italin ones were spent on some upgrades and new sub.
Italian Infantry already better, then british one (which still have only 2 default levels of organisation)

Turn started with report of great General tech advance in both axis countries.
(By the way, why radar tech air attack increase don't apply to resources and oilfields? Makes no sence, in fact syth oil plants and Ruhr had better AA system, then common cyties)



During allied turn soviets done some strange maneur in the south, losing some entrenchment and effectiveness, aswell as breaking defencive formation. Probably Max still think, that my goal is Stalingrad and wants to close the breach.



Also noteable high AT of upgraded this turn T-34's , 2 levels higher them my panzers. I shall try to keep german armour away of them, and its not so hard to do - mechs are just as good to finish off armour after tactical bomber strike, while AT is absolutely useless against mechs. Most soviet troops still have default tech levels, I spotted only 1 level of dogfight on some fighters, but I didn't check systematically all soviet units, probably techs are already discovered and just not applied to red army.

AGS offensive continues, crushing 4 infantry corps and soviet line. Beaten near Moscow fighters are still here at low effectivenes and not full strength, getting more good casualties (My fighter got 6 : 0 or 6 : 1 result against one of them).



All possible reserves and airpower redeployed here, to take part in last big combat of '42 eastern campaign. I guess Max will counterattack and destroy panzer or two (or will he focus on infantry line, covering sector between Rostov and Voronezh?), but I have enough forces to punish him and destroy soviet units, which can be other way used in winter offencive agains me. Its better to face them now, at fair weather and high effectiveness, I expect to destroy more, then I will loose. All this panzers will be still useless during bad weather season, so casualties are acceptable.

Thing I really don't want is major soviet offencive somewhere else. I have only single line of entrenched 90+ effectiveness german units almost without reserves.



In Italy nothing happens, italians receiving their upgrades. Soon I will upgrade all Italian corps units (I have to rotate them for upgrades, since frontline upgrade is impossible), and Supermax will find his corps with only 2 levels of organisation facing italians with 2 organisation and 1 in every infantry tech.
Together with bad terrain and german aid, it will make italian campaign difficult for allies... I hope at least.
One fighter was redeployed back to germany, because damaged RAF (8 steps yellow SAC and 6 steps TAC) attempted to bomb Ruhr, removing 1 PP.



Norther wolfpack guieds soviet convoy, to suddenly engage it. More yellow escort ships spotted at sea. New wolfpack orders - go for escorts. Loss of couple DDs (or capital ships) will probably teach allies to be more careful at sea.



Southern wolfpack guides another convoy (and spotted third, after LL phase). Again, many allied destroyers. Looks like my SUB warfare was quite effective, because I forced mass production of DDs and heavy investments in ASW (this is almost just as good, as direct thinking convoy, DD is sort of useless unit for anything but hunting subs, so as long as you don't expose your subs to DD, its almost wasted 60 PPs)



At the end of my turn I got partisan in Finland finally (reason, why I left all this hexes soviet in finland mainland - free garrisons, Max kindly provided me with during his '41 offensive )

German PPs were spent on 1 mech and 2 infantry corps. I would like to have more fighters, but I can't have new one ready before bad weather possibly starts on the east, and after this time I don't need it so much. But by spring I deffinetely want 1-3 more for my purposes.

Next turn I also will receive 6 level of sub tech and 5 (or 4, one which provides with +2 air attack and +1 oil consumption) dog fight. My fighters will have 8 air attack, while some soviets still have 4. It will be my edge over RAF (for a short time, sadly) which I will use.

This turn I got all tech's I expected. But now I am unsure, what to do with my naval research, because subs are maxed already, but I don't have focus point to switch. Probably I will sell both labs after I get next level of surface ships (increases surv of DDs and BBs, while following, 4th level is useful only for CVs I don't have. Or maybe I will switch focus for surface ships simple, as soon as I will get my focus point.



Soviet counterattack was less epic, than I expected - only mechs and 1 armour. But they managed to destroy my panzer korps still.



With all this great air support panzers crash more and more soviet units (I guess 2 mechs, tank and 1 infantry, another infantry badly damaged). Also soviet fighters are taking good casualties. I carefully expected soviet line this turn - all red army infantry still have initial 3rd level (1 AT 1 organisation and 1 fixed defences). Also soviet tac bomber still have only 2 initial levels giving me idea, that Supermax have most research effort on armour (tank destroyers) clearly.
It means that future '43 campaign must be based on mechs (and bombers) rather then on armour.



I tried to guard my panzers with infantry, soviet can go for 8 step panzer and probably destroy it, but it will take much movement (and units will end turn unentrenched). Airforce of 5 tactical bombers also ready to punish any counterattacking tanks.

Picture of French command. RAF elements bombing Germany can be seen. One more strategic bomber is even norther. All this bairforce have poor effectiveness, probably there is no HQ in England. They can't inflict me major damage during bad weather season, and by spring JGs will be ready to protect the Reich.



All quiet in Itanly, italian army upgrades further.

Escorts suddenly left both southern convoys alone (and my subs strike at once)



Northern convoy is still guided by wolfpacks. More and more DDs spotted.



German PPs were spent on upgrades (fighters are so costly to upgrade) and repairs, aswell as purchasing new fighter.

Firstly congratulations on this excellent AAR. I am really enjoying this.

I do have a few questions and also comments on what I would do the naval research. From Max's last AAR he doesnt seem to be the player to put as much emphasis on research as you do this could become a benefit (hopefully).

I would leave the naval research as is - when the next level of Industry is reached I would use the focus point (and lab) to change from Industry to organization as this will provide more benefit to you - keeping your armies above the allies in terms of tech levels and I find that the next two industry levels dont provide as much benefit as the first 4.

In 43 I would sell the naval labs and move them to Infantry and Armour - your air should be almost at fighter tech level 6.

Naval in the second half of the war is less important in my opinion.

I do have a few questions about troop placement - you currently have the italian air in the west - I would have thought that they would actually be usefull in the east as the fighter would be almost on par with the russians and the TAC can be used as the second hit after a german tac.

Also the Italian Armour seems a little wasted (although with high AT russians) - you could use the Italian tank as a suicide option to break a line knowing it will die when its hit.

Again thank you for your dedication and effort with this AAR. Most enjoyable.

Hi plaid

It was a nice winter for you. Your manpower looks really good but i just can´t get over your frontline in Russia. You have a single line all over the front except in south for your offensive.

I just fear, that if the russians counter-attack and destroy a few units you have almost no backup what so ever. An exploited gap in your front can be a disaster....

Also i am curious about your objective, do you really need to secure oilfields now in Caucasus? You have plenty of oil for this year and going into Caucasus stretches your already thin line. I think Max is just biding his time while you gain limited ground and to no value. I would suggest that you take Moscow and Stalingrad, that would really hurt him, it´s total 15 PPs and not to mention rail. Severe blow to the russians and probably the game.

Well good luck anyway....