The Brits manage to cut Tobruk off, but are dislodged by an immediate counter-attack:
Situation in Russia:
AAR AC (Axis) vs. Frank (Allies)
Moderators: Happycat, rkr1958, Slitherine Core
January 28, 1942
A good turn for the Axis! In Russia I manage to kill three infantry corps and damage a few others, loosing only a few steps for each of 'em.
In North Africa, the Italian Navy has set an ambush and catches the Royal Navy again off Tobruk harbour, inflicting serious losses to a BB. A British infantry corps is killed, too, which leaves the 8th Army dangerously low on manpower. On the down side, I loose a TAC here.
In the North Sea, we set up an ambush for that Murmansk convoy: a strat bomber, a tac bomber, two submarines (1 was reduced down to 1 step the turn before as the convoy steamed right into it and its escort took revenge) along with the German BB and DD are waiting for their glory.
A good turn for the Axis! In Russia I manage to kill three infantry corps and damage a few others, loosing only a few steps for each of 'em.
In North Africa, the Italian Navy has set an ambush and catches the Royal Navy again off Tobruk harbour, inflicting serious losses to a BB. A British infantry corps is killed, too, which leaves the 8th Army dangerously low on manpower. On the down side, I loose a TAC here.
In the North Sea, we set up an ambush for that Murmansk convoy: a strat bomber, a tac bomber, two submarines (1 was reduced down to 1 step the turn before as the convoy steamed right into it and its escort took revenge) along with the German BB and DD are waiting for their glory.
February 17, 1942
A great day again for the Axis! In North Africa, the Royal Navy turns tail, and the 8th Army also. The siege of Tobruk is lifted, and the advancing italo-german forces reduce the last (visible) infantry corps to three steps. The Tobruk garrison tries to break out and reduces a mech corps to two steps; the Regia Marina comes in and finishes it off.
In Russia, the turn is spent repairing losses and attacking exposed enemy corps.
The battle for the Murmansk convoy reaches its climax as Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine take on the Royal Navy: a DD is reduced to six steps and the convoy to 15 PPs, with very low losses to the attackers.
The situation seems quite good at the moment: the Russian winter offensive has been halted, Russian losses in manpower are still two times the Germans', valuable units have survived, and in Africa the Brits have been forced to call off their advance.
I have some time now to prepare the next moves, and will try to resume offensive operations in the east in the open terrain between Smolensk and Kharkov. Here in the open my airpower should give the best results. I will not try to reach the Caucasus oilfields as I feel that I do not have enough forces to do this; my goal in the east shall be to kill as many enemy units as possible in order to weaken the Russian bear. I might try an offensive against Leningrad, because the PPs it provides would do me good.
In Africa, I will stay defensive, with only occasional offensive operations. My oil level is quite good, and I think I can make it without both the Caucasus and the Middle East oil.
What I do need is some more subs and aircraft, and some further research too. Germany's manpower level is on 70%, IIRC, while the Italians are quite higher. Once they get their first infantry upgrades, they should provide the bulk of my infantry reinforcements, while the Germans will build the rest.
A great day again for the Axis! In North Africa, the Royal Navy turns tail, and the 8th Army also. The siege of Tobruk is lifted, and the advancing italo-german forces reduce the last (visible) infantry corps to three steps. The Tobruk garrison tries to break out and reduces a mech corps to two steps; the Regia Marina comes in and finishes it off.
In Russia, the turn is spent repairing losses and attacking exposed enemy corps.
The battle for the Murmansk convoy reaches its climax as Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine take on the Royal Navy: a DD is reduced to six steps and the convoy to 15 PPs, with very low losses to the attackers.
The situation seems quite good at the moment: the Russian winter offensive has been halted, Russian losses in manpower are still two times the Germans', valuable units have survived, and in Africa the Brits have been forced to call off their advance.
I have some time now to prepare the next moves, and will try to resume offensive operations in the east in the open terrain between Smolensk and Kharkov. Here in the open my airpower should give the best results. I will not try to reach the Caucasus oilfields as I feel that I do not have enough forces to do this; my goal in the east shall be to kill as many enemy units as possible in order to weaken the Russian bear. I might try an offensive against Leningrad, because the PPs it provides would do me good.
In Africa, I will stay defensive, with only occasional offensive operations. My oil level is quite good, and I think I can make it without both the Caucasus and the Middle East oil.
What I do need is some more subs and aircraft, and some further research too. Germany's manpower level is on 70%, IIRC, while the Italians are quite higher. Once they get their first infantry upgrades, they should provide the bulk of my infantry reinforcements, while the Germans will build the rest.
March 29, 1942
Aargh! Seems like I made a catastrofic tactical error. Frank has managed somehow to cut the bulk of the Finnish army along with the German corps off; I guess it was because I've left the hex north of Kronstadt vacant, so he could infiltrate the corps defending Leningrad. At the same time, he is attacking in the north. I rush every available aircraft to the north; if I shall loose Finland, it will be costly for him.
In Africa, I repair and upgrade troops.
Another Murmansk convoy is sighted, and another directed to England too.
Aargh! Seems like I made a catastrofic tactical error. Frank has managed somehow to cut the bulk of the Finnish army along with the German corps off; I guess it was because I've left the hex north of Kronstadt vacant, so he could infiltrate the corps defending Leningrad. At the same time, he is attacking in the north. I rush every available aircraft to the north; if I shall loose Finland, it will be costly for him.
In Africa, I repair and upgrade troops.
Another Murmansk convoy is sighted, and another directed to England too.
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massina_nz
- Lieutenant Colonel - Fw 190A
- Posts: 1137
- Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:12 am
- Location: Wellington, New Zealand
I hate to say this, the "Karelin peninsula pocket", has happened to me as well. IMHO you will lose Finland very quickly. I think Finland is the hardest Axis Minor Ally to play as you can quite easily over-reach yourself. If the Soviets decide to commit reserves to Finland, then it's hard to defend, despite the natural geogrpahic chokepoints, because it's problematic to get German reserves there. The Soviets can grind you down very easily. But in this scenario they no longer need to do so. It should mean that once Finland is conquered, then those spare troops will go back to the Soviet front line, making your job in the South even harder. <sigh>
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Peter Stauffenberg
- General - Carrier
- Posts: 4745
- Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2007 4:13 pm
- Location: Oslo, Norway
I always transport German units to Finland prior to Barbarossa so they can land there as soon as Finland joins the Axis. In order to hold Finland if Russia attack there you need to dedicate some part of the Luftwaffe to Finland. I often stop any Russian attempts by sending a few tac bombers to deal with Russian corps units. Then the Germans can finish them off.
If you take Petrozavodsk and form a defense line along the Svir river then the Russians won't easily come back later.
If you take Petrozavodsk and form a defense line along the Svir river then the Russians won't easily come back later.
I have never lost Finland early. I usually deploy an additional German infantry corps and fighter to Finland on the first turn of Barbarossa. If the Russians are determine to keep up the attack then I'm happy to deplete their air and ground units that they send into the fray.massina_nz wrote:I hate to say this, the "Karelin peninsula pocket", has happened to me as well. IMHO you will lose Finland very quickly. I think Finland is the hardest Axis Minor Ally to play as you can quite easily over-reach yourself. If the Soviets decide to commit reserves to Finland, then it's hard to defend, despite the natural geogrpahic chokepoints, because it's problematic to get German reserves there. The Soviets can grind you down very easily. But in this scenario they no longer need to do so. It should mean that once Finland is conquered, then those spare troops will go back to the Soviet front line, making your job in the South even harder. <sigh>
April 18, 1942
I don't think that I can rescue the trapped corps, but I will take my revenge on the Soviet Baltic fleet. My TAC attack the sub and the BB, inflicting some losses. My BB and DD are in position, too. I also disembark an infantry corps and ship a second to Finland. If the red sub attacks this transport, my TACs will punish it; same goes for the BB.
In the south, I am forced to retreat north of the river. I rail some infantry corps to the nearest city, and manage to destroy a Soviet tank further north. I see that the enemy has not repaired all losses to his front line troops, so he may is low on PPs right now. The loss of a tank corps along with the fact that the first two convoys have made it to Murmansk with some 20 PPs only should keep it this way for a while, I hope. And as long as Frank is committing himself to Finland, he will hardly have the possibility to launch major operations somewhere else.
In Africa, nothing new.
I don't think that I can rescue the trapped corps, but I will take my revenge on the Soviet Baltic fleet. My TAC attack the sub and the BB, inflicting some losses. My BB and DD are in position, too. I also disembark an infantry corps and ship a second to Finland. If the red sub attacks this transport, my TACs will punish it; same goes for the BB.
In the south, I am forced to retreat north of the river. I rail some infantry corps to the nearest city, and manage to destroy a Soviet tank further north. I see that the enemy has not repaired all losses to his front line troops, so he may is low on PPs right now. The loss of a tank corps along with the fact that the first two convoys have made it to Murmansk with some 20 PPs only should keep it this way for a while, I hope. And as long as Frank is committing himself to Finland, he will hardly have the possibility to launch major operations somewhere else.
In Africa, nothing new.
Finland: unfortunately there seems to be no way to relieve my trapped Finnish army, even with the massive air support I have concentrated. I have to leave them to their fate in some Siberian POW camps ... I will try to hang on to Helsinki as long as possible, but will not commit any more ground troops.
Same goes for Africa. Since the US Navy has joined the Brits, Benghasi is blocked and there is no way to reinforce the italo-german Army. I therefore use the maybe last opportunity to sail from Tobruk harbour and get that german mech out of Africa. I also flz mz whole air assets out; 2 fighters and a TAC can be useful in defending Italy. I will also try to get at least the two other German infantry corps out, and will hang on to Benghasi and Tobruk as long as possible.
In southern Russia, the Reds attack and bring a tank down to three steps. An armoured counter re-establish the situation.
I just do some upgrades and repairs and end the turn with some 90 PPs left. Will buy something important next turn.
Same goes for Africa. Since the US Navy has joined the Brits, Benghasi is blocked and there is no way to reinforce the italo-german Army. I therefore use the maybe last opportunity to sail from Tobruk harbour and get that german mech out of Africa. I also flz mz whole air assets out; 2 fighters and a TAC can be useful in defending Italy. I will also try to get at least the two other German infantry corps out, and will hang on to Benghasi and Tobruk as long as possible.
In southern Russia, the Reds attack and bring a tank down to three steps. An armoured counter re-establish the situation.
I just do some upgrades and repairs and end the turn with some 90 PPs left. Will buy something important next turn.
July 1942
Evacuation from Finland proceeds regularily; the two infantry corps are shipped to Russia, In hindsight I would have better spared the PPs for shipping them back and forth; seems quite difficult to defend Finland, at least in this specific case.
In the south, the Reds have started an offensive, an two mechs managed to penetrate my line. Local counterattacks reestablish the situation, with the loss of the two mechs for the Soviets. Not bad, as they are worth 50 PPs each.
Evacuation proceeds also in North Africa. The mech has happily arrived to Taranto, and next turn an infantry corps could set sail from Tobruk: if Tobruk holds out and if there won't be any subs lurking around. The air I flew to Italy next turn is being repaired and upgraded.
At sea, my subs show up after a long period of R&R and knock some steps off a convoy.
And last but not least, a look at R&D and losses.
All in all, the situation is not bad; what is bad is that I seem to have lost the initiative. That error in Finland, and the useless attempt to take revenge with my air have caused some losses to the enemy, but also to me, without changing the outcome of the battle. Now Frank is even attacking in the south, and I have no clue on what doing next. Since I feel that I have not enough ressources for a new push in Russia, it might be better beginning to prepare for winter.
Evacuation from Finland proceeds regularily; the two infantry corps are shipped to Russia, In hindsight I would have better spared the PPs for shipping them back and forth; seems quite difficult to defend Finland, at least in this specific case.
In the south, the Reds have started an offensive, an two mechs managed to penetrate my line. Local counterattacks reestablish the situation, with the loss of the two mechs for the Soviets. Not bad, as they are worth 50 PPs each.
Evacuation proceeds also in North Africa. The mech has happily arrived to Taranto, and next turn an infantry corps could set sail from Tobruk: if Tobruk holds out and if there won't be any subs lurking around. The air I flew to Italy next turn is being repaired and upgraded.
At sea, my subs show up after a long period of R&R and knock some steps off a convoy.
And last but not least, a look at R&D and losses.
All in all, the situation is not bad; what is bad is that I seem to have lost the initiative. That error in Finland, and the useless attempt to take revenge with my air have caused some losses to the enemy, but also to me, without changing the outcome of the battle. Now Frank is even attacking in the south, and I have no clue on what doing next. Since I feel that I have not enough ressources for a new push in Russia, it might be better beginning to prepare for winter.
July 27, 1942
The Reds have reached Helsinki; it will fall next turn. However, I managed to save two infantry corps. The Luftwaffe is sent to the south, where the Russian keep chewing away at my defences. I loose two minor allies infantry corps, and take a Soviet's in return.
In Africa, the enemy has blocked also Tobruk harbour and that means no escape for my infantry corps. They attack immediately, and knock four steps of a British tank.
I build a new fighter, and notice that Frank has begun to bomb the Ruhr and the synth oil site nearby.
The Reds have reached Helsinki; it will fall next turn. However, I managed to save two infantry corps. The Luftwaffe is sent to the south, where the Russian keep chewing away at my defences. I loose two minor allies infantry corps, and take a Soviet's in return.
In Africa, the enemy has blocked also Tobruk harbour and that means no escape for my infantry corps. They attack immediately, and knock four steps of a British tank.
I build a new fighter, and notice that Frank has begun to bomb the Ruhr and the synth oil site nearby.
Oh man - I guess I hadn't read your AAR in awhile because I was reading the post before the one quoted above, and I saw the empty hex NW of Leningrad, the INF in Leningrad, and the 3 point unit as the only defense against isolation - and the first thing I thought was - I need to warn him he is going to be cut off. Then I realized the date on your post, scrolled down some more - and yep - cut off.Aargh! Seems like I made a catastrofic tactical error. Frank has managed somehow to cut the bulk of the Finnish army along with the German corps off; I guess it was because I've left the hex north of Kronstadt vacant, so he could infiltrate the corps defending Leningrad. At the same time, he is attacking in the north. I rush every available aircraft to the north; if I shall loose Finland, it will be costly for him.
That is really painful. I mostly just avoid going into those hexes 2 and 3 N of Leningrad - they are a death trap. It is way too easy to get cut off there.
Well jjdenver, I learned it the hard way. Thanks for the thought anyway - just do me a favour and read this AAR on a regular basis from now on!jjdenver wrote:Oh man - I guess I hadn't read your AAR in awhile because I was reading the post before the one quoted above, and I saw the empty hex NW of Leningrad, the INF in Leningrad, and the 3 point unit as the only defense against isolation - and the first thing I thought was - I need to warn him he is going to be cut off. Then I realized the date on your post, scrolled down some more - and yep - cut off.Aargh! Seems like I made a catastrofic tactical error. Frank has managed somehow to cut the bulk of the Finnish army along with the German corps off; I guess it was because I've left the hex north of Kronstadt vacant, so he could infiltrate the corps defending Leningrad. At the same time, he is attacking in the north. I rush every available aircraft to the north; if I shall loose Finland, it will be costly for him.
That is really painful. I mostly just avoid going into those hexes 2 and 3 N of Leningrad - they are a death trap. It is way too easy to get cut off there.
August 16, 1942
First, some techs:
After quite a while, my subs attack a Russian convoy in the Atlantic:
While looking at the income screen at the beginning of the turn, I noticed quite a drop in the Germans' one, which couldn't be explained with the loss of Finland alone. And here's the reason why: the Allies have mustered an impressive bomber fleet and are reducing my industry to rubble. The USA must have been building only bombers in the last months: I count four! Some fighters are diverted to the Ruhr, a new one will be ready in two turns.
In Russia, nothing new. Some weak Russian attacks, while I repair and upgrade some stuff.
First, some techs:
After quite a while, my subs attack a Russian convoy in the Atlantic:
While looking at the income screen at the beginning of the turn, I noticed quite a drop in the Germans' one, which couldn't be explained with the loss of Finland alone. And here's the reason why: the Allies have mustered an impressive bomber fleet and are reducing my industry to rubble. The USA must have been building only bombers in the last months: I count four! Some fighters are diverted to the Ruhr, a new one will be ready in two turns.
In Russia, nothing new. Some weak Russian attacks, while I repair and upgrade some stuff.