Slitherine

PG,
You've probably considered this but you should thin out your line of corps (ie every second unit) between Novgorod and Vitebsk and rail them south. Max looks weak in the north and the ZOCs of the remaining units should prevent him advancing much further before the poor weather hits. Resist the temptation to counterattack his weakened units in the north (until Severe Winter arrives anyway) as your line in the south is looking very brittle and he has plenty of units/firepower down there. A few more clear weather turns down there could be devastating.

Also, you should consider abandoning the Dnepr River line - its done its job as a speed bump and he has firm bridgeheads across it now.

Cheers

30. September 1941, Russia stays behind the Dnieper
The weather. Hopefully I will get some autumn weather in October.


The Red Air Force bombs a troop transport outside Jerusalem. The tac bomber attacks the infantry corps that has landed. The Persian garrison continues the attack leaving the Italian infantry with 5 steps left.


I noticed something interesting in the Kuwait area. The sea lane connection the Persian gulf and the Atlantic are under axis control. This means Supermax can send his navy and amphibious transport if he wants to surprise me. I wonder if he has noticed that this sea lane is under his control. I will direct some Red Army garrisons towards Kuwait in order to beef up the defence there.


In Finland my army attacks and manages to push back the Finnish corps. The result is that two Finnish corps’ have been surrounded. Supermax will manage to break free as a weak Red Army garrison is all that keeps the Finns from establish their line of supply. The mechanized army south of Novgorod rails to Kharkov on the southern sector.


In the central sector my Red Army infantry attacks and kills a Wehrmacht infantry korps. I will follow the sound advice from schwerpunkt. South of Gomel the Red army pulls back from the Dnieper. The goal is to have a continuous frontline further south.


On the southern sector Supermax is making life very difficult for the Red Army. He has surrounded several armies. I manage re-establish supply for my surrounded armies. The three new armies are deployed in this sector. Two mechanized armies are railed to Kharkov from the northern and central sectors. I pull back my armies which are along the Dnieper. For now the front line is continuous, but how long will it stay like that.
The panzer korps south of Kharkov is attacked by several units leaving it with only 2 steps left.

The Red Air Force attacks and once again punishes the weak axis air force.

Hi PG,

The Axis can move through the Suez to the Red Sea and then to the Atlantic.
They can not go to the Persian Gulf through either loop. The Axis would have to capture Basra to control those loops

pk867

pk867 wrote:Hi PG,

The Axis can move through the Suez to the Red Sea and then to the Atlantic.
They can not go to the Persian Gulf through either loop. The Axis would have to capture Basra to control those loops

pk867

Thanks for the clarification!

pk867 wrote:Hi PG,

The Axis can move through the Suez to the Red Sea and then to the Atlantic.
They can not go to the Persian Gulf through either loop. The Axis would have to capture Basra to control those loops

pk867

So this means that if the Axis capture Basra, they control the transport loop? Meaning no way for the Allies to get back to this theatre if this happens? What about the loop from Atlantic to the Red Sea, can the Allies always use this or does it not work when Axis control Suez or Cairo?

Hi
If the Axis control Port Said, they control the East Med to Red Sea Loop and the Red Sea to Atlantic loop.
The Allies controlling Basra at this time will control the Red Sea to Persian Gulf and the Persian Gulf to Atlantic loop. The Axis can not use those loops.

So, if the Axis control both Port Said and Basra the the Allies will not be able to go to that side of the map. That is the way the game is now, but it is a long way to go and at what cost?

pk867

Thanks, this certainly removes the need for the Axis to garrison Suez against an Allied counterattack. I think the Atlantic->(Red Sea/P Gulf) should always be open for the Allies no matter who controls what, India is after all pretty close and would be a certain source of UK troops along with the other colonies. Any landing would in any case be risky with no ports easily takable.

BTW, if the Axis capture Basra, can they then use the rail capability of the Middle East in the same way as the UK?

Hi
About the rail capacity I do not know yet, I would have to play test.
Remember the Allies can come from the Persian gulf to the Red Sea That loop is still controlled by the Allies. So there is the prospect of invasion.

pk867

trulster wrote:Thanks, this certainly removes the need for the Axis to garrison Suez against an Allied counterattack. I think the Atlantic->(Red Sea/P Gulf) should always be open for the Allies no matter who controls what, India is after all pretty close and would be a certain source of UK troops along with the other colonies. Any landing would in any case be risky with no ports easily takable.

BTW, if the Axis capture Basra, can they then use the rail capability of the Middle East in the same way as the UK?

Only the Allies can use the middle east rail net work....the Axis taking Basra stops the allies using ot but does not allow the Axis to, they still only have supply 3

20. October 1941, The Red Army pulls back in the south
The weather. When will autumn arrive?


The US gets an Industry tech, and Stalin continues to terrorize his scientists.


In the Middle East more axis troops have landed north of Jerusalem. The Red Air Force attacks the DD in an attempt to cut the supply for the axis troops. I spot a panzer korps on the Egyptian border. I thought all panzers were busy in Russia, well wrong again. The Red army advances slowly through Iraq.


A very weak Finnish infantry corps is destroyed. The front line in Finland has been stabilized. South of Leningrad the Red Army advances towards Pskov. I want my troops in position when winter arrives so that they can attack at once in order to have maximum effect when the axis effectiveness drops.


In the central sector my Red Army pulls back from the Dnieper in an attempt to build a continuous front line.


More troops are deployed near Kharkov for a defensive stand here. A Romanian corps is destroyed near Stalino.

9. November 1941, Autumn weather in the East
The autumn has arrived in Russia.


US scientists speed up as the conflict with the axis is in the near future.


The amount of production for the US and Russia.


In the Middle East the Red Air Force manages to damage the Italian DD even more, it has only 4 steps left. The panzer korps is closing.


The muddy season has started in Russia, finally!

The front in Finland is stable and I am content with it staying like this until next spring. The infantry army in Finland moves south in order to assist in the upcoming winter offensives. The armies in the Leningrad front close in on Pskov.


On the Central front the Red Army receives repairs.


On the Southern front my armies also receive repairs.

29. November 1941, Winter weather in the East
The winter has arrived in Russia.


US scientists continue to get results.


In the Middle East the Red Air Force continues to attack the Italian DD. Now it has only 1 step left. The Red army is finally getting closer.


All quiet on the northern sector in Russia.


All quiet on the central sector in Russia.


The Red Army moves in to surround Stalino. A fighter moves in and reveals a double axis defensive line behind the Dnieper.


The Siberian reserves are released.


One thing that puzzles is me, is why hasn’t Supermax repaired his axis units? I suspect he is spending his PPs on buying new units rather than repairing them.

Well, even though he may seem like the Superman, his PPs are not unlimited, there are a lot of units to repair:)

Good luck with the winter offensive, try to make some damage and keep those precious Siberian tanks alive!

And btw, if you wanted those Russians down to Egypt, why not just rail them instead of walking all that way?

trulster wrote:And btw, if you wanted those Russians down to Egypt, why not just rail them instead of walking all that way?

Almost everytime I have railed some units in the Middle East theatre the game would just hang when I completed my turn. I got fed up replaying my turns, thus they move by foot.

19. December 1941, USA enters the war, the Russian winter offensive has started
The Russian winter has arrived.


US acquire another tech.


The US and Russian war production.


In the Middle East Supermax has managed to destroy the garrison in Jerusalem and capture the city. The Red Army and allied units will try to establish a defensive line further back.


USA has entered the war. I move in the small US army to establish a defensive line behind the river. The USAF receives equipment upgrades. I buy some garrisons which will guard the US coastal cities, which frees up some valuable combat units. The axis armies are spotted along the entire US border. I guess the Luftwaffe is lurking behind as it has not made its presence in the east.


The Red Army makes an all out attack on Pskov. The Wehrmacht korps barely holds on to the city.


On the central sector all available Red Army units attacks axis units. The city of Vitebsk will fall next turn. I manage to breach the Dnieper further south. The goal is not to advance all over the front but to kill axis troops and inflict as much casualties as possible before spring.
The Red Army will use the Dnieper as its defensive line for the next German summer offensive in 1942.


On the southern sector, the army close in on the Dnieper. Further south Stalino is surrounded and will fall next turn. Dnepropetrovsk is attacked as well.
The armies in the Crimea attacks and push back the axis infantry. I ship in a garrison which will defend Kerch.


The Siberian units are railed to the central and southern sectors.

FYI, that resource hex at the north end of the U.S. river you are defending should have an infantry in it - at least in my opinion. Resource hexes add +2 to survivability and -10% to attack I think so are usually worth holding. I think your plan in Russia is good. Cause casualties, grab defensive positions for the next summer.Probably you should hold the Iraq oil though. That will be crucial for Germany to fuel a naval and air war on multiple fronts. And it's hard to attack in the desert due to reduced movement/supply.

I think it's smart to try to kill as many Axis troops as you can in the east while you have the advantage. Just make sure you're not out of position come springtime or you may find yourself surrounded again.

8. January 1942, The Russian winter offensive continues
The weather.


USA and Russia acquire another tech.


The US and Russian war production.


In the Middle East I have established a weak defensive line. The Red Air force attacks an Italian infantry corps which receives some damage.


The defensive line in the US has been completed. USAF receives another round of new equipment. My strategic bomber finds two Luftwaffe units. I US spend some PPs on acquiring an armoured tech.


Russia receives its first convoy of 61PPs. The convoy was never attacked. My assumption is that I destroyed most of the Kriegsmarine, and Supermax has been busy building land units instead of naval units since then.

Pskov is attacked and receives 6 steps of damage on the Northern sector but still holds on.


On the Central sector Vitebsk is liberated by strong Red Army attacks. Gomel is also attacked but the Wehrmacht defenders manage to defend it.


Things are heating up on the Southern sector. The Red army attacks along the Dnieper causing casualties for the axis. A rogue Red army unit south of Dnepropetrovsk wanders deep into axis territory. I was bit eager attacking and by pressing the mouse button one time to many and result was that it moved, I suspect it is commanded by Vlasov

28. January 1942, The Russian winter offensive halted
Winter continues.


US scientists work overtime.


The French partisans have finally started to take action.


In the Middle East Supermax push back my mech army. Red army infantry has come to the rescue in order to bolster the defensive line. The tac bomber and mech army is repaired. My strategic bomber attacks the panzer and only inflicts damage on itself. I spot an axis transport which is ready to land. It is another panzer korps. Supermax will definitely make a push for the Middle East oil.
STAVKA has ordered another tac bomber, mech army and infantry army to this theatre.


In the US my army advances cautiously and makes contact with a Wehrmacht infantry korps. The USAF moves forward. I want to be able to gain air superiority and buy another fighter. I have a priority dilemma. I spot an axis landing craft behind the Italian BB. After offensive punches of Supermax I suspect that he will try an amphibious landing behind my front line. I need some garrisons for guard duty along the coast, but I also need more units at the front. There will be some turns before the weather will allow amphibious landings, I will buy some infantry for the front.


The Russian winter offensive has been halted. All Russian PPs are used on repairs.

The situation in the northern sector.


On the central sector I pull back a mangled army south of Gomel it will almost certainly perish next turn.


On the southern sector Supermax has managed to create a large bridgehead over the Dnieper. The Red army armor moves north for a counterattack. In the Crimea I destroy an axis allied corps. The forward Red army unit will also perish next turn.

17. February 1942, Russia prepares for the next Wehrmacht summer offensive
The weather.


The Russian scientists work overtime.


Supermax punishes a puny allied garrison in the Middle East. The garrison is pulled back from the front line and replaced by a Red Army unit. STAVKA orders a tank army to this theatre. I have to deny Supermax access to more oil for the axis war machine.


In the US, Wehrmacht beat a US motorized corps to a pulp. The unit pulls back and is replaced by regular infantry. The USAF conducts its first offensive of the war. Tac bombers attack the panzer grenadier responsible for defeating my motorized corps. The strategic bomber also goes into action. The goal is to force the Luftwaffe to intercept and burn fuel.
The US buy two new infantry corps.


The Russian winter offensive has been stopped. I need to preserve my army for the upcoming Wehrmacht offensive. Some PPs are used on repairs, and the rest is used for purchasing two new infantry armies.


The situation in the northern sector.


The situation in the central sector.


On the southern sector Supermax has pulled back from his bulge. The Red Army will recapture the lost area.


The Red Air Force attacks at will. They are not intercepted by any axis fighters. It seems Supermax has pulled them back for now.