Slitherine

South
In Ukraine, the fighting continues.
We are regrouping forces.

In Crimea, pursuing the missing enemy troops.
And our M3 Stuart blocked the crossing of the Dnieper.
The remaining units must be surrounded and destroy.
Best units
Well, according to the results of 50 turns of the game.

Best tank model:
This is the T-70. Again, not the T-34
Because the T-70 performed well in the south and in the battles for Moscow.

And the best tank unit:
The best anti-aircraft unit:

Best units - Air

The best Soviet air units.
If it seems to you that they have too few victories.
But the fact that they were able to survive the slaughter of the Axis in the prediction of the results of the battle of 5 to 1 is already a victory.
And if they were able to shoot down enemy planes, then this is a great achievement.

The oldest unit, which operates from the very beginning of the war.
Lilya Litvyak is our top pilot.
Mikhail Baranov acts in the south and in the Crimea.
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Table of contents

Turn 52
July 27, 1943
Weather: Cloudy and Dry

Strategic map
Norway
Allied aviation controls the Norwegian Sea and the coast.
Our SOF group occupied one of the airfields.
And air recon has noticed the transfer of enemy fighters.
France
Off the southern coast of France appeared Italian fleet.
We lost an aircraft carrier.

Torch
Our deep recon unit was destroyed and it did not trigger the landing operation in Sicily.
In the south, fighting broke out in the mountains.

Another desperate raid of our infantry.
Our recon also approached Tripoli and found there the damaged infantry of the enemy.
Iraq
The Axis quietly began the storming of oil fields.
Balkans
An increase in the activity of the enemy's rail traffic has been noticed.
Also, the partisans were damaged heavy german artillery.

North
Despite the withdrawal of enemy troops,
We are still continuing to search for enemy troops around Arakhangelsk.
Troops entered the city.
Centre
We returned the outer perimeter of the defense of Moscow.
But we did not start the offensive because we have few active units. Mostly artillery.
In the south, we began an attack on the Orel.
In order to leave the enemy to retreat only one road through Smolensk.

Will the enemy troops stop on the second line of defense or move on? We are still concentrating troops to attack the Orel.
We do not have enough artillery in the area.
Our anti-tank gun blocks the southern road.
The air is present as our aviation and enemy aircraft.
The central air base is again under our control.

Partisans
The Axis decided to carry out a punitive operation in the Pripyat marshes.
Ha-ha.
South
Enemy forces manage to retreat and avoid destruction.
At the same time, we do not have a large number of troops for lightning operations.
And we are also moving slowly.
Black Sea
Sevastopol in our hands.
The Axes managed to destroy our M3 tank. Which blocked the crossing.
And they seem to be able to escape from the trap.
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Table of contents

Turn 53
August 11, 1943
Weather: Clear and Dry

Strategic map
Strategic map - Air
Norway
In the Norwegian Sea, a high concentration of enemy submarine forces was found.
Our aircraft began to use the captured airfield.

Torch
Our infantry unit at the rear of the enemy was destroyed.
And recon near Tripoli was damaged. Probably there is also enemy recon.
On the front Axis stopped and takes a defensive position.
The enemy has a large number of tanks and anti-aircraft guns here.
Maybe we do not have enough strength to capture Tunisia.

Jokes are over Much is at stake.
Now here is decided the fate of the Axis.
If we can start landing operations in Sicily and Italy.
Axis is not strong enough to cover the Eastern Front and Italy.
And we can quickly reach Germany from the south.
Mediterranean
In the Mediterranean, a major naval battle broke out.
It turned out the enemy sent here his entire fleet.
We have already lost the battleship here.
All of our aircraft reoriented to strikes on ships.
Iraq
German tanks reached Baghdad.
The fate of Iraq has long been sealed.

Between England and the USSR there is an agreement under which neither side can enter or fly into the territory of the other.
Only if one of the parties out of the war.

But diplomats should conclude another treaty.
By which, when the Germans seize the Caucasus, the British Empire can help the Soviets and the Soviets allow seizure of oil fields by Britain back.
At the same time, if Egypt and Syria were in the hands of the enemy, Britain would allow Soviet forces to enter Iraqi territory in order to protect the oil or return it back.
The victory over the Axis is more important than the zones of influence in such a situation.

North
Enemy infantry found in the south.
Our troops began a small advance towards the enemy.

It looks like the enemy decided to concentrate troops of 10-15 units and strengthen Leningrad.
Making him a fortress.
Well, historically, a similar group was cut off a little later in Kurland and was called the Army Group of Kurland.
She resisted until the end of the war.
Maybe the command should call this northern group of troops also Kurland. (or Leningrad Army Group)?
If our assumption turns out to be true.
Centre
We destroyed the enemy in Kaluga and will soon occupy it.
The enemy continued to withdraw to the 3rd line of defense.
And our troops occupied the 2nd line of defense.
Ferdinand unit appeared on the battlefield.
But we have come the infantry.

Our troops are trying to dislodge the enemy from Bryansk.
And now the enemy has only one forward air base in the Smolensk.
And the other in the Leningrad direction.
Rear
Most of our troops are moving to the frontr on foot or horsedrown. And not by train.

Received a report from the Ministry of Military Industry.
Their analysis shows that over the next 2 years, our industry will be able to give about 200 ground units (only 100 per year) and about 50 air units.
Moreover, the main part will be in 45 year.

For example, for fighters it will be about 25 pieces in two years.
About 10 in the year 45, about 10 in the year 44 and no more than 5 until the end of 43 years.
A similar situation with ground units.
This means that we will not be able to compensate for losses at the same level.

This means that when we go on the offensive, we cannot afford to lose many units.
Because there will be nothing to replace them.
This applies to all units and tanks and infantry.

Now we cannot afford to lose 5-6 units per turn.
And we need to take care of the every soldiers.

South
We continue the destruction of enemy forces.
Kursk has already returned back. Now it's Kharkov.
Our goal is to knock out the enemy of the Dnieper.
And if it turns out to go to Kiev.
But we do not yet have enough strength to cross over and attack the enemy.
Probably leave it for the winter campaign.

History reference.
The same was in 43 year. when, by the fall of '43, the front line ran along the Dnieper River to Kiev.
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Table of contents

Turn 54
August 26, 1943
Weather: Clear and Dry

Strategic map
Norway
The Germans have a strong fighter cover in the region of Trondheim.
And shoot down one of our bombers.
We inflicted heavy damage on two German submarines, but we could not sink them.
Our SOF unit started moving inland Norway, maybe they will receive an order to seize another airfield.

We still can not get to Tirpitz.
But the British Command already has a plan.
For this we need more long-range fighters.
Germany
We resumed raids on Germany.
We use tactical formation - Wedge.
Each bomber covers 3 fighter.
What should guarantee the survival of the bombers.

Torch
In operation Torch came the crisis(!)
We have few units left.
Our forces in the south have been discovered and are suffering losses.
Although apparently the enemy is not yet aware of the armored group.
in the north, we lost Sherman.
It seems the enemy now has an advantage in units.
As well as the advantage in armored vehicles.
The Mediterranean.
Our remaining fleet is taken to the bases for repair.
Aviation also received an order to go to the base.
There is no enemy activity either.
Apparently, he also took his entire fleet from the strike of aviation.


Iraq
In the Basrah area, the enemy’s operation is close to completion.
German tanks appeared near Baghdad.
The strategy of the enemy in the region is not completely clear.
Will it stop at Iraq and return troops to cover Europe or will it go further for oil in Baku?

The Soviets have enormous transport difficulties in transporting troops to the Caucasus.
There are no trains, and moving your own moves is too much time. At least 15 turns on foot and 4 turn by train (given that the path lies from the Urals through Moscow to the Caucasus).

North
We still have not been able to detect the enemy in the area of ​​Arkhangelsk.
Our headquarters wonders if there is any chance that the enemy hid his infantry units in the forest to strike when the front moves far to the east?
What number of troops should be left to cover Arakhangelsk?
In Arkhangelsk will be very difficult to transfer troops.

The command decided to launch air strikes against the enemy troops retreating towards Leningrad.
To do this, use my favorite formation - the Diamond or 'Box'. (2 fighters and 2 bombers)
When each bomber is covered by two fighters.
This will reduce the loss among the bombers. But at the expense of fighters.
Strategic map - Air
In Russia.
Our aircraft practically left the combat area in the center.
Part went south, the other north.
This is done to avoid losses in aviation since the enemy, on the contrary, concentrated his aviation in the center.
Centre
STAVKA is concerned with the question, will the Axis stop at this position or will it continue its withdrawal?
Our troops enter only small skirmishes.
Moving artillery takes time.

Also, the Command decided to strengthen the southern direction with new tanks.

In the area of ​​Pripyat marshes, the enemy is conducting an anti-partisan operation.
With the use of ships and it will even be possible to use tanks(!)

If the enemy decides to gain a foothold on the last line of fortifications.
STAVKA will strengthen the southern Bryansk area in order to block and encircle the entire Army Group Center in the Smolensk-Vyazma region.

South
We captured Kharkov.
The enemy for some reason left the Slovak infantry in that area.
Which, due to the error in the choice of route, we could not finish off (Our unit encounter AT gun).
Black Sea
In the area of ​​Nikolaev, the marines were able to cross the Dnieper.
We use strong aviation support. We do not give the enemy to raise their heads.
Here the enemy has 3 light tanks, but we do not have tanks.

STAVKA plans to land a naval assault in the area of ​​Odessa and block this area.
Then the enemy will be able to retreat only to Kiev.
Strategic analysis
The Сommand is becoming increasingly convinced that the enemy has decided to keep Leningrad as long as possible.
For this, there is a concentration of a large group of troops.
It is not yet clear whether he will defend Petrozavodsk.

Actions are developed according to the scenario of defensive Ostwall, Wotan - Panther lines.
But in the north instead of the line it will be the city-fortress Leningrad.
In the center of the situation is not clear until the end.
In the south, it is a line along the Dnieper to Kiev.

In this case, our command plans to block and forge the enemy’s forces at Leninrad and prevent them from taking part in the defense of Germany.
At the same time concentrating forces in the south.
If we succeed in crossing the Dnieper at once, until the enemy could organize a defense there. (It was also in the historical background)
And to seize the Romanian oil. For this purpose, the southern front will be reinforced with T-34 tanks.
And change the main attack vector from the center to the south.
And in the future to create a threat of advancement to Germany already in the 44th year.

The whole African campaign and Italy are now under big question, perhaps the Germans will be able to prevent a landing in Italy.
It may be worthwhile to change the purpose of Operation Torch, by tying up a group of enemy troops in Africa.
So that they could not transfer them to action in Europe.

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Table of contents

Turn 55
September 10, 1943
Weather: Clear and Dry

Strategic map
STAVKA proceeded to the formation of Tank Armies(TA).
The first Tank Army will be in the south, the second in the center.
The composition of the 3+ tanks, 1-2 mobile artillery and 2 infantry.
Strategic map - Air
It can be seen that the enemy has concentrated a large air group in Norway.
And also there is the presence of Axis aviation in Africa, on the Eastern front in the Central and now Northern part of the front.
Strategic analysis
In the West, try to strike at Tirpitz and continue bombing Germany.
In Africa, try to take Tunisia or at least detain as many Axis troops as possible there.
In the Caucasus, after the enemy has captured the Middle East, to prepare the Caucasus for defense.
On the Eastern Front, to carry out the destruction of enemy troops.
And take the Romanian oil fields.

Norway
The enemy has destroyed our bomber.
To the north we sank the enemy's submarine.

The Сommand is now to decide how to act the resistance in Norway.
Obviously, the Axis will want to conduct a counter-partisans operation and sooner or later destroy our groups.
Our fleet went to the raid in the North Sea.
And in the Danish Strait the enemy destroyer was detected, which immediately fall under an air strike.

Torch
The balance of power does not seem to be in our favor.
Therefore, there is no sense in a hurry.
Iraq
Obviously soon the Axis will get a boost of prestige.
Russia

North
The situation in the north.
The enemy concentrates power at Leningrad.
As we expected.

Centre
Our artillery on the positions began shelling the enemy.
Already destroyed long-range artillery of the enemy.
Opponent knocked out of Vyazma.
As soon as we capture it, the southern group of enemy troops may be surrounded.

In the north, as a result of poor coordination, it was necessary to make a risky attack of the SU-122 to destroy AT guns. And now the fate of the SU-122 in question.
In the south, the 2nd Tank Army is being formed to strike behind enemy lines in the Smolensk region.

The enemy shot down one of our fighters in the north.
But the remaining 3 units were not injured and returned to the bases.
South
Advance is very successful.
We crossed the Dnieper in two places
Captured Dnepropetrovsk.
And destroyed two Axis tanks in the south.
Above the enemy is always our aircraft.

It is interesting to note that the Axis was concentrated on Moscow,
which became for her the battle for Moscow in 1941 and Stalingrad in 1942 and Kursk in 1943.
But if the Axis transferred at least one medium tank Pz.III-IV to the south, then most likely she would be able to stop the entire Soviet offensive!
Because there was not a single T-34. And in order to counter one average German tank, I need at least three T-34s.
Which was not even near Moscow (there were only 1-2 tanks).

It is also quite interesting that the Axis tried to hold the territory east of the Dnieper. And delivered there their reserves.
Instead of retreating beyond the Dnieper and forming a solid line of defense.
It reminded me of how Manstein described the events of that time in his memoirs. When he wanted to retreat and create the Dnieper arc, but he was not allowed to do so by the Führer and ordered to hold the territories.
I was quite pleased when I could cross the Dnieper at once in two places, without long battles.
Black Sea
Preparation in the naval landing near Odessa.

Loss analysis
Previous (t=50) data for comparison http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtop ... 20#p778909

All indicators of the loss ratio continue to improve.
But the figures for fighters (probably Africa) and for bombers slightly worse (these are losses during raids on Germany).

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Table of contents

Turn 56
September 25, 1943
Weather: Clear and Dry

Strategic map
Norway
A submarine off the coast of Norway is trying to get into the open sea.
Aviation leaves the area of ​​Norway.
The Resistance Cell found the CV Graff Zeppelin under the cover of aviation in the Oslo area.
The main forces of the fleet patrol near the coast of Norway.