Slitherine

Turn 42
February 27, 1943
Weather: Clear and Dry

Strategic map
Norway
We are forced to suspend air raids in Trondheim due to strong fighter cover.
These are already 2 fighters.
Torch
Our troops are moving towards the Kasserin Pass.

Iraq
All our forces are in Iraq.
The commander of the troops in Iraq is very pessimistic.
He understands that there is no chance to prevent the enemy from seizing Iraq.
Despite any of our actions in the future.
Russia

North
Our defense will be located on the right bank of the Onega River.
Essentially to the south, aerial reconnaissance spotted single enemy units. Are these raid groups?

Intelligence cannot solve: Perhaps their goal is unprotected Vologda or possibly Arkhangelsk?
An air strike was conducted in order to show the enemy that he was found.

Centre
The weather has become better.
And the Germans decided to transfer to Moscow their newest heavy tank Tiger .
This event made the STAVKA nervous.
None of our units according to the forecast can cause him damage.
The T-34 has a 6-0 attack predict chance. Experienced T-34 6-1 only.
Also updated enemy armored vehicles were seen.
New Stugs and Pz IV.
The Axis also continues to actively deliver reinforcements by trains to Moscow.

In the north, our T60 was encircled.
Although we managed to severely damage the enemy’s artillery, we could not destroy it completely.
The Germans again move to the banks of the Volga River.
Tiger destroyed one of the T-34, without loss from its side. We continue to be active in the Orel region. The infantry is crossing the river.
Partisans seize Bryansk.
But the Command understands that without artillery support we cannot be successful here.
But all artillery is concentrated in Moscow and we cannot send free artillery here.
Centre - Air
The Axis concentrates aircraft in the south. Obviously trying to stop our pressure.
Our aircraft mainly work behind the front line striking enemy transport and artillery.
And the Axis fighters basically cover their units at the frontline.

Partisans
Partisan activity.
Partisans entered Bryansk.
Minsk railway blocked.
South
Our units are launching an offensive in the south in the Stalino area.
Also, the Command decided to withdraw Conscripts from the southern front. They will be sent to the Urals for an upgrade.
They are replaced by regular infantry which is more effective.
The second T-70 on the way from reinforcements.
Black Sea
In the Kerch Strait area, our units are preparing for the crossing.
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Table of contents

Turn 43
March 14, 1943
Weather: Clear and Dry

Strategic map
Atlantica
A submarine was found in the Atlantic and was able to move very far.
Germany
We are starting to conduct regular air raids on Germany.

Torch
First skirmishes with the Axis.
The enemy has already occupied the Kasserin Pass.
Russia

North
It looks like the enemy infantry in the Vologda region decided to turn back.
After our air strike.
To make the situation more clear, let me clarify some details.
If the Axis attacked unprotected Vologda, it would be able to block Arkhangelsk.
Reinforcements could not have been delivered by train.
In time, the Soviets delivered an infantry unit reinforcements two turns ago. Despite the fact that this infantry would be useful in Moscow.
Otherwise, only infantry and mortar would remain in Arkhangelsk. It is not enough for defense.
In the case of the capture of Vologda, in contrast to the last time, when the Soviets were able to quickly transfer mobile forces to counterattack. Now the Soviets have no free mobile forces.

If the goal of the Axis was not Vologda, but this is a raid troops.
He could pass unnoticed from the south to Arkhangelsk and still block the train.
The fate of Arkhangelsk would have already been decided. It is good that the Axis did not have aerial reconnaissance in this region.

Centre
The enemy in the Moscow area again has a concentration of 7-8 units of armored units.
And he started moving forward.
In the south, our progress is stopped, we are losing.
But the infantry knocked the enemy out of the Orel.
Centre - Air
Our aircraft mainly returns to the base for refueling. And the Axis covers the Tiger with a recon and fighter aircraft.

Partisans
Partisans block Minsk and Kiev railway directions.
South
The concentration of forces is being accomplished.
The Сommand decides to go on a large-scale offensive in the south.
While the Axis is concentrated on Moscow, in the south there is a place of light tanks and units of the Axis sattelites. Also there is no Axis aircraft.
The STAVKA decides to conduct a series of local strikes, in case of success of which to bring forces into battle on other sectors of the front.
Thus, it is a cascade offensive that will escalate into a general offensive in the south.
Also, the goal is to ease the pressure on Moscow.

Although we do not have enough artillery, the Command has already allocated an artillery unit from the reserve and it is on the way.
And the role of artillery support will be complemented by aviation.
Black Sea
We conduct air reconnaissance in the Crimea and fire at the enemy tank at the airfield.
The enemy forces in the Crimea is not much.
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Table of contents

Turn 44
March 29, 1943
Weather: Clear and Dry

Strategic map
No prestige.
Norway
Our fleet went to sea.
Our friends in the Norwegian resistance found the destroyer and torpedo boat in the ports of Norway.
Also, our destroyers will enter the battle with the submarine in the north.
Germany
Bombers are approaching the targets.

Torch
Began the first fights with the enemy.
The Axis went on the attack.

Seeing a large number of enemy troops, the command decided to send a mobile units through the south, bypassing the protected positions.
But it will take time ...
Iraq
An obsolete Axis aircraft was spotted in the north.
Aviation was sent there.
But later on the same turn, near the Basra, the activity of the enemy was discovered.
Enemy recon and para unit.
Now it’s obvious that the plane was just a distraction bait.
But we reacted to it.

However, we still do not have the opportunity to defend 3 positions at once: Northern (Mosul), central (Baghdad) and southern (Basra).
Russia

North
Enemy units are seen south of our positions.
If the enemy takes a workaround, we can lose Arkhangelsk.
The Сommand is very afraid of it.
Now we have no reinforcements for Arkhangelsk.

Centre
Germans launched another very powerful offensive this time.

In the north of Moscow are deadly battles. We take the Orel, but we are unlikely to be held by infantry only.
Centre - Air
The enemy applies the tactics 'Line' to cover up their units in the north.

And the Soviet command decides to destroy the Finnish fighter.
But although the predicted victory was on our side.
The enemy fighter survives.
Probably partly because he was luckier and partly due to the fact that at the time of the battle the enemy fighter received a +1 star of experience (now he has 3 stars) and the whole forecast has changed.

Partisans
The partisans managed to slow down the transportation of reinforcements, perhaps they were intended for the southern front.
South
The Axis reacted to our air raids and sent another anti-aircraft gun.
But it seems he has not yet understood that there is already a big offensive.
Black Sea
In the Crimea, only 3 enemy units.
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Table of contents

Turn 45
April 13, 1943
Weather: Clear and Dry

Strategic map
Norway
Germans lost another destroyer.
But another one was discovered.

Such a large concentration of forces at sea and in the air suggests that the German command fears not only the destruction of Tirpitz,
but it may also want to prevent a possible Ally landing in the event of a successful attack on Tirpitz.
Those potentially Axis is considering losing Tirpitz!
Germany
Air Strike - First wave.

Torch
The Axis continues to attack our forward units.
They suffer losses.
Iraq
Aviation returned to the central base.
We are waiting for where the enemy will the main strike.
Balkans
The partisans report that enemy troops are in Bucharest.

North
The enemy is waiting ...
The Command is increasingly fearing that it is possible that he is now bypassing our troops.
Centre
The Germans are moving more and more troops to Centre.
Moscow is controlled by the Germans.
STAVKA for the first time since the beginning of the war began to consider options for retreat.


The Germans believe that the victory is in their hands.
85mm AA transferred to AT mode.
The LL mobile anti-aircraft gun in AT mode is thrown into battle. Near Orel enemy tanks are seen.
The situation for our troops here becomes very dangerous.

Centre - Air
Despite the great losses.
Today was a good day.
By sacrificing one fighter we were able to shoot down two enemy aircraft, including HS-126 which covered the Tiger from above.
Immediately after this, the Pe-2 conducted an air strike and the Tiger lost 2 points of strength.
This inspired our troops!
South
More and more troops join the offensive in the south.
Our T-70 broke through to the rear of the enemy.
The Germans began to throw reinforcements by trains.
But the advantage is on our side.
Black Sea
Marines began crossing the Kerch Strait.

Loss analysis

Previous (t=40) data for comparison http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtop ... 28#p774807

Improved all indicators.
Tanks, infantry due to heavy fighting near Moscow.
Fleet due to operations in the Atlantic and off the coast of Norway.
In connection with the start of battles in Africa, statistics on fighters has improved somewhat due to the introduction of American aircraft into battle.

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Table of contents

Turn 46
April 28, 1943
Weather: Clear and Dry

Strategic map
Norway
We found a enemy submarine, but the air strike on it was ineffective.
Germany
2nd wave of bombers.
3rd wave on the approach.

Torch
The Axis has moved back a bit and we are concentrating the troops.
Iraq
A mountain enemy infantry has been spotted at Mosul.
But the main strike will be in the south in the region of Basra on oil fields.

We have few troops, so we cannot move them to the south.
And we will just watch.
Russia

North
Activities do not show both sides.

Centre
The German Tiger retreated. Looks like he didn’t expect losses.
In Moscow are heavy urban battles.
Our T-34 east of Moscow fell into the fuel trap. After all, he is very necessary at the front.

We lost T-70 and LL M-16 AA unit.
Now we have only 6 combat units (infantry + tanks) and 12 support units (artillery, anti-aircraft guns) in Moscow area. Bryansk and Orel again in the hands of the enemy.
Centre - Air
In the air there is a heavy air battle.