Victor (axis) vs Pion Urpo (allies).

[gerones]

Turn 47. March 9, 1942

Red Army crossed in force Dnepr river and now approaches to Kiev-Kherson axis defensive line. This turn it was still severe winter weather and fortunately it will be the last one (5 turns) so the soviets will soft their pressure. In this offensive, Wehrmacht has lost 5 infantry corps and 4 garrisons. Italy has lost 3 infantry corps and Romania 1 infantry corps. Losses (steps lost) in other sectors of Eastern Front has been rather high and german manpower has suffered significantly. Milkko will surely have reached by far his objectives for this winter offensive.

Axis defensive line in the East is near to be completed. The problem here (as Mikko has commented in one his emails) is that axis simply does not have enough troops to cover all the front line. So it has to be done a huge effort to finally complete it.

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RAF Desert force has much increased its firepower since Mikko has deployed in this scenario 2 fighters wings (AHQ Malta not included) and 2 tactical bombers wings. This was not all since british fighters have reached dog fight level 5 at this early phase of the game. May be it would have to do something with this by reducing so spectacular increases in tech levels since this really does not make any sense. This could really unbalance a game.

[gerones]

Turn 48. March 29, 1942.

Axis defensive line in the East is now completed. Mikko finally decided not to occupy west bank of Dnepr river but he is going to retake Crimean peninsula.

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Back to Mediterranean scenario now you can check by yourselves the strong air forces that the british have commited to Lybia in order to attack axis positions in Tobruk. As I commented in the last post, british fighters have reached dog fight tech level 5. If we add to this, the british mediterranean carrier and fighter unit in Malta, this will mean that the allies will have air superiority in the upcoming battles in Africa.

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Forget to take screenshot of italian lab situation. I will post it for sure on the next turn.

[trulster]

Great AAR! As someone mentioned, I think in severe winter you really should make use of the fact that your Finns have been "liberated", and put them on the front line instead of in 2nd line. They are of much higher quality than the other minors and do not suffer from winter. And, the losses will not affect the German manpower pool.

[gerones]

Turn 49. April 18, 1942.

Transition turn that the Wehrmacht took for launching an antipartisans offensive in Russia. Axis forces in USSR are gaining an adequate effectiveness for being able to switch to offensive mode again. OKH plans for 1942 are to reduce significantly Red Army offensive capabilities. Then, the Whermacht attacks will be focussed, if possible, in Red Army elite units. German TACS will soon receive a new upgrade that will make them more effective in their ground attacks missions. If Mikko withdraws for saving his precious russian elite units, then it is planned to take Novgorod in the north for better securing Leningrad front so the Ju-87´s wings would be used in the north instead.

This turn Kriegsmarine launched an attack against remaining soviet Baltic Sea fleet vessels. German ships were supported by Luftwaffe and the results were rather good: soviet submarine reduced to 6 steps. Soviet BB will probably attack german fleet since there´s no available sea port for this units to repair and to get upgrades.

As promised, here it is current italian lab situation:

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As soon as I can, I will buy a third italian sub and I will use one of the 2 available focus points for switching naval lab to submarines.

8th Army approaches even more to Tobruk.

[gerones]

Great AAR! As someone mentioned, I think in severe winter you really should make use of the fact that your Finns have been "liberated", and put them on the front line instead of in 2nd line. They are of much higher quality than the other minors and do not suffer from winter. And, the losses will not affect the German manpower pool.

This was my initial idea but keep in mind that finnish units also suffer severe winter penalty. What they don´t suffer is max effectiveness penalty. Furthermore, Wehrmacht had 2 entrencment level that would be lost when swapping units.

[trulster]

Okay, thought the Finns were exactly like the Russians in winter. If not they def should be, no way should Russian units perform better in winter then the Finns?

Also, interesting lab tactic with no Italian general labs? IS the thinking that the Italians will be knocked out so early that it does not matter to put smth in general?

[BuddyGrant]

Okay, thought the Finns were exactly like the Russians in winter. If not they def should be, no way should Russian units perform better in winter then the Finns?

I agree 100%.

[gerones]

The finns have the same combat values than the soviets during winter. But if they are within USSR core hexes when severe winter starts they suffer effectiveness penalty or at least this is what has happened in this game.

[gerones]

Turn 50. May 8, 1942

Wehrmacht forces in Eastern front continued to be repaired and upgraded. Soviet winter offensive has been really hard and that´s why still no offensive operations in USSR. Air units finally got their upgrades and they are now ready to crush the soviets again.

Two "watching" italian subs were engaged by two allied DD´s near Gibraltar Strait. This naval engagement allowed the italians to discover that a large allied fleet is now approaching to western Mediterranean Sea. Surely this scenario will get more and more importance from now and till the end of the game. In the image below, highlighted areas correspond with the main engagements and they are zoomed to level 3.

• [/URL]

Allied fleet in Gibraltar Strait is really strong and it is formed by 7 DD´s (5 american-2 british), 3 BB´s (2 american-1 british), 2 carriers (1 american-1 british) and 5 naval transports (4 american-1 british). Although there must be more allied vessels around, this is surely the main force of the allied in this Mediterranean sector. Obviously, this means an imminent amphibious operation but the question is where. Italian High Command has ordered 3 italian corps in USSR to come back to Italy inmediately and new troops will be built to face this new threat.

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In other things, but still in Mediterranean scenario, 8th Army with an overwhelming firepower, assaulted italian fortified positions in Tobruk achieving rather easily the surrender of the italian 21 Corpo. Despite of these main attack to italian fortress in Lybia, RAF forces still have time to continue harassing axis mobile forces around Bengazhi making inadvisable any axis counterattack.

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This way, DAK and remaining italian forces at Bengazhi were ordered to retreat to El Agheila.

[gerones]

Turn 51. May 28, 1942

Everything is ready to resume offensive operations in Russia. Formally, these operations started right on this turn when a soviet infantry corps was destroyed near Smolensk as a preliminary action. Also, Luftwaffe upgraded Ju´87´s were really devastating with a spotted soviet tank Corps that was reduced from 10 to 3 steps as a consequence of the air attacks. As mentioned, the objective is to heavily attack elite and armoured soviet units in Smolensk-Bryank sector and in case of a soviet retreat, to gain some ground in this sector. If this is so, it is planned to advance to Orel and Kursk forcing to an eventual soviet general withdrawal in the south (since this would really threat rearguard of soviet units deployed in the east bank of Dnepr river near Kiev). Luftwafffe attacks would focus instead in the North front in case of a soviet withdrawal.

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Back to Mediterranean scenario, an italian sub discovered what it will very likely be an allied landing in Vichy North Africa. One of the landing units is a transport without amphibious capability. Probably this is an american armoured unit that will disembark in Algiers to support the assault by infantry forces.

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A 29-strength southern convoy (american) was destroyed by a massive U-boats attack.

[gerones]

Turn 52. June 17, 1942

Wehrmacht summer offensive in the East is on the way. This turn it was destroyed another soviet inf corps in the little salient near Smolensk: now the Red Army defensive line there is thinner and suitable for breakthroughs. Luftwaffe will heavily attack this sector on the next turn. This turn heavy Luftwaffe air attacks against soviet armoured formations were made again so another tank corps saw halved its strength. Furthermore, armoured and panzergrenadier units are concentrated in the area for the push to be the hardest possible. There was also activity around Novgorod with another russian inf corps destroyed and the city is now possible to attack from 4 sides. Anyway, operations in this sector are secondary. It is zoomed to level 3 the sector of the front in which the Wehrmacht will launch its offensive.

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Allied forces finally landed in Vichy North Africa as expected. American landed in Algiers whilst a combined anglo-american force disembarked in Oran. Air support is also strong here: Gibraltar RAF air base is now used by USAF wings for further air operations in the campaign. No landings in Casablanca but also no Vichy french BB in the port that was directly destroyed by naval(carriers) and/or air allied forces. Vichy french fleet in Oran opened fire against american fleet without being lucky at all. Oran and Algiers defenders received some reinforcements.

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Western Europe scenario is the less active one. Only to mention that RAF continued to bomb rail facilities in Paris and Lorraine mines. Antipartisan operations in France are also continued.

[afk_nero]

Have you thought of taking Odessa?

You should be able to do this with the romanian airforce and allied troops. Seems like an easy city to take.

[gerones]

Have you thought of taking Odessa?

You should be able to do this with the romanian airforce and allied troops. Seems like an easy city to take.

Yes. And yes, I will be using romanian air force for soften the 5-entrenchment-level soviet garrison.

[gerones]

Turn 53. July 7, 1942

Wehrmacht panzers attacked Red Army positions SE of Smolensk breaching soviet defensive lines and achieving a breakthrough. As a result of this it was destroyed 26th Russian Army, 4th Shock Army and 14th Mech Corps (2 mechs and 1 inf corps) as well as 1 garrison. First phase of the operation is on the way. Given the overwhelming air support that the germans have commited to this operation the possibility that the Red Army counterattacks on the allies turn is low but it is not discarded at all. May be a russian counterattack will make the things easier for the germans to destroy more and more soviet units and this way to achieve their first objective for this campaign. A soviet withdrawal to the forests hexes between Tula and Moscow and to the east bank of Oka river seems like a good option for the russians but who knows.

On the next turn, it is planned a concentrated attack to the city of Bryansk in which the soviets are well entrenched. The capture of Bryansk will make almost unavoidable to withdraw the soviet units because of the risk of being pocketed.

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Oran was captured by the allies but Algiers still holds. British 8th Army continued to pursue retreating axis forces in Lybia.

[gerones]

Turn 54. July 27, 1942

It is summer, in USSR, and Wehrmacht panzer forces are in full offensive mode.

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• German tanks rove over the steppe in search of targets

Red Army finally withdrew as expected so some units formed a new defensive line in the east bank of Oka river and some others retreated NE to the forests area between Tula and Moscow. The soviets deployed many garrison units (Rifle Corps) around trying to delay the advancing german tanks but those units were completely overrun. To complete the operation, Bryansk was heavily attacked by panzer forces massively supported by Lufwaffe and the city fell into german hands for the second time. The capture of Bryansk, makes dangerous the situation of the Red Army infantry forces deployed in the east bank of Desna river since they are now seriously threatened from the german attacking forces in the north. Probably the best thing to do for these soviet forces in the next turn is to withdraw to Orel-Kursk line.

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In the MED, americans finally seized Algiers whilst the 8th Army continued its fast advance through Libya coast line. Image below shows a general view of this scenario. To mention that Mikko has quickly rebased his USAF air bases in Gibraltar so the allied fire power for Tunis campaign will be devastating. No chance for axis forces here.

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New massive U-boats attack to southern convoy with 30 PP´s points on it that was almost sunk (reduced to 2 steps). German sub units situation can be seen in the minimap image above.

[gerones]

Turn 55. August 16, 1942

Red Army withdraws from Desna river so one of the objectives of german 1942 offensive was accomplished. Soviet defensive line close to Orel was strongly reinforced so this would be the east limit of the german offensive for sure.

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German panzers continued their advance crossing Desna river and reaching the ouskirts of Orel on the other bank of the river. It seems that the soviets will be determined to defend both Orel and Kursk so it will be difficult to get to those cities. Now the panzers could take the chance and exploit their initial success so they are in a good position for entering in Ukraine from north to south and with heavy air support to force the soviets to withdraw from their premature forward positions in Ukraine. Axis positions in the south are extremely weak so at the same time that the Wehrmacht will be forcing a Red Army retreat, armoured formations will be strategically redeployed in the southern front.

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In other things, but still in Eastern front, Novgorod was seized by german XXXVI Armeekorps supported by Luftwaffe Ju-87´s dive bombers. Recently promoted 2nd Guards Army defending the city had been heavily attacked in the last turn so this time it was the definitive assault to the city and the elite Red Army unit surrendered to german forces.

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Americans started the attack Constantine in Algeria and british attacked Tripoli in Libya.

[gerones]

Turn 56. September 5, 1942

Red Army retreats even more.

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As I have mentioned before, Mikko is a good player that uses to avoid unnecessary losses that, in this case, could affect the power and the performance of soviet forces in late game. High soviet losses mean manpower below 75 and less quality of soviet units mean poor performance against always superior geman infantry tech levels in late game. Here we have one of the proofs of a well balanced scenario in Eastern front: the soviets cannot afford themselves to make major mistakes until 1942 or they can be crushed by the axis.

Wehrmacht continued with its plans and moved from Gomel-Bryansk sector to Kiev. So if the germans are lucky with weather (only 1 turn of guaranteed good weather) they intend to invade and conquer again central Ukraine. For this mission they have deployed 3 armoured corps, 2 mechs and tons of infantry corps both from Wehrmacht and minor axis allies. Luftwaffe wings have been rebased to air bases close to the area for providing an adequate air support.

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In the zoom level 1 image below it can be seen current general Eastern Front situation: Odessa has been seized by axis minors in a rather easy operation with air support from romanian air forces. Axis progress in the center has been significant but situation in the south has been poor right from the start of soviet winter offensive of 1941-42. In the north, the capture of Novgorod has been followed by the conquest of all the west bank Volkhov river hexes so the defensive situation in the north has been much improved. White arrows show the planned push into Ukraine.

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Back to Africa. DAK intends to resist a little in Mareth line although surely strong allied air forces in this scenario will make unuseful any attempt of resisting for a long time.

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I will post at the end of 1942 an OOB of all axis forces in all scenarios as well as lab situation of both Germany and Italy.

[gerones]

Turn 57. September 25, 1942

Red Army withdrew from central Ukraine last allied turn. So Wehrmacht supported by german air forces advanced into this country. Kherson was the second soviet city (Bryansk was the first) that has been seized by the axis for two times. Dnepropetrovsk was also attacked by german panzer formations but without achieving the surrender of the city. May be in the last turn that we will be able to do it. It will be very important for the germans to have fair weather in october and to continue attacking soviet positions in the south thus reducing Red Army capability for launching a strong offensive in winter.

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Mareth still holds!

[gerones]

Turn 58. October 15, 1942

Bad weather comes to Eastern front. Thats why my suggestion of including some minimal fair weather chance in november because when this early bad weather comes to this scenario it means that the germans can do nothing from october to may in the East.

So 1942 campaign is closed. This turn Wehrmacht forces of the actually far more stronger Army Group South reached the west bank of Dnepr river where in the other side of the river are Rokossovsky´s Southern Front forces that have been forced to retreat and they have lost again the cities of Kherson in the last turn and Dnepropetrovsk in this turn. The city fell rather easily because of the heavy previous air support and because the soviet Rifle Corps defending the city had been attacked in the previous turn thus halving its combat efficiency.

Luftwaffe plans for the upcoming winter campaign in the East are to rebase a significant part of its air wings to romanian air bases. The goal is that they can operate from fair weather hexes despite of it is severe winter in Ukraine. Luftwaffe fighter have reached dog fight level 5 so german aces want to give the russian pilots an unpleasant surprise if they think they won´t find no opposition in the skies.

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It is been tough for the allies to get out the DAK from Mareth!

[gerones]

Turn 59. November 4, 1942.

Winter weather in northern Europe, mud weather in central. Germans took the turn for the planned Luftwaffe redeployment in Romania and for making some adjustements in the front line: a number of Wehrmacht infantry corps were withdrawn to form a defensive line in Desna river. Luftwaffe air reconnaissance aircrafts have revealed strong soviet tank formations on the other side of Dnepropetrovsk. Orders are to actually hold the position and not to retreat.

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Back to other scenarios, Kriegsmarine Atlantic U-boats offensive is getting more and more effectiveness. An american southern convoy that initially had a strength of 83 was reduced to 6 steps and will be sunk in the next turn.

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Last axis stand in North Africa.