Slitherine

Hi taffjones!

Thanks for your kind words. I need to admit that this AAR is a special one... usually battling the AI is not very exciting, but this Beta version has brought a few improvements. I have already noticed that the Red Army is very difficult to decimate. The AI produces new units quicker than I can destroy them, and I expect 1942 will be quite challenging. I did not experience this in the previous builds.

Turn 19

11. November 1941


I got what I was hoping for: good weather in Russia.
This decides the fate of Leningrad.





141 MPPs less for the Soviets. I wish this would go on.





One destroyer less. But most of my subs have low supply and need to refuel.
I will do this during the winter.





Army Group North makes a big step ahead. The Finns destroy the Soviet XIII corps, and the German 18. Armee conquered the vital Schlüsselburg hex.
Nowgorod is conquered by the 16. Armee.

Basically this looks like the historical situation in late 1941.. Leningrad is cut off and besieged. But there are two crucial differences: in RL, the Finns did not attack Leningrad, and Heeresgruppe Nord was decimated. Here in this game, the player can decide what to do with the Finnish forces, and of course the player can give priority to certain theaters. I decided to halt Heeresgruppe Mitte, and this means I have more MPPs left to refresh my troops in the north and in the south. For these reasons, Leningrad will fall sooner or later. The only way the AI could avoid this would be a massive attack from Wolchow and Tichwin, but I cannot imagine the AI has so many units.





I have already started to transfer units to the south. I have not yet decided what to do with my bombers, but I think they will also strengthen Heeresgruppe Süd.
Another Alternative would be to send them to Kursk and support the attack on Moscow in 1942.





With Orel already conquered, all of my targets in this theater are reached. It looks as if Kaluga and Tula would be just a step away, but this is wrong. The Red Army still has 68 unit on the board, and it is sitting in well prepared positions. It mid November, and the Russian Winter is close... as well as the transfer of the Siberians.

Most of my units have low readiness and morale, and they need to regenerate. This is why I will create a Comfort Zone around Kursk.. von Kleist will be able to provide Supply 10 from Turn 23 on, and my tanks will be very happy to benefit from it.





I will not be able to conquer Rostow in 1941, but I am preparing to do this 1942. This is why I sent von Schobert and von Rundstedt down there: I will strengthen Army Group South with troops from the center. At the moment, I have 9 ground units and 2 air units down there, and I will increase this number to a total of at least 14.

The Romanians have reached Simferopol, but struggle to conquer it.





The British loose a Tank Group and an army, another corps is decimated.
Without major reinforcement for the Allies, I will conquer Egypt sooner or later.

One reason for this is that I set priority to North Africa.

Turn 20 (AI)

26. November 1941





Rostow is also quite important for the Soviet economy, and the AI knows this.





I get the impression the AI does everything it can to delay my attack.
This even includes sacrificing units.



At the end of the turn, the US declares war on Germany.
What a belligerent country!

Hi Dan!

Yes and no. Resources recover at a rate of 1 point per own turn. In the case of Odessa, the maximum value is 10 when occupied by the Soviet Union and 6 when occupied by Germany. When German troops conquer the city, it will take damage and the supply goes down, i.e. to 3. Now the recovery phase starts, but it depends on the connection to the relevant Capital or Primary Supply. Without any connection, Odessa will be limited to a maximum supply of 3. A land connection without a railway connection will bring a maximum of 5, and only a railway connection will let the city recover to its maximum value. Of course this is limited by the Occupational Efficiency (60% in case of Russia). So the rail connection does not make the recovery quicker, but of course it is better to have a high supply. Esp. 6 is quite important as it allows HQs to provide Supply 10.

Turn 21

7. Dezember 1941





Another 141 MPPs on the bottom of the Norwegian Sea.
Better there than elsewhere.





For sure a good advice, but the Kriegsmarine does not have the capacity to do that.
Interrupting the convoys to Murmansk is more important.





Army Group North is moving closer to Leningrad.
I have already transferred a couple of units to the south.





I will remain defensive during the winter.
May the Red Army attack me.. my troops are prepared and well supplied.





The AI does its best to keep me away from Rostow.





As soon as the winter is over, the Siege of Sewastopol will begin.
My bombers around Mariupol will be able to reach the fortress once I have brought them in the right position.
This will make the siege shorter.





I am happy with my advance. There is just one thing that is really annoying: the Royal Air Force is quite strong, and my Air units suffer heavy losses.





This should help the Ariete a bit.





Usually this happens a bit later.
Apparently my advance was a good one.

My Diplomats had a minor success.. Turkey swings a bit to my side.. just 11%.
Better than nothing.

Turn 22 (AI)

18. Dezember 1941





Due to the bad weather, the recently arrived corps will be difficult to destroy.





The RAF is powerful, and they have the numerical superiority.
There is nothing I can do against it.

Turn 23

29. Dezember 1941





61 MPPs sunk is not bad.
We have winter, and most subs refuel.





Every destroyer on the bottom of the Norwegian Sea makes it easier to fend off the D-Day.





The city has no more entrenchment.
Just one turn of good weather please.





I think it is wise not to attack in December.





Army Group South also needs to rest.





Every centimeter is hard work.





Yes, I want to build fortifications.





This will help a lot when the Allies conduct an invasion.





The earlier, the better.

Statistics


The first six months of Unternehmen Barbarossa are over.
I want to take a close look on what has happen.





I. Plans and Reality

Leningrad: will be conquered sooner or later
Smolensk: conquered
Brjansk: conquered
Kursk: conquered
Stalino: conquered
Rostow: will be conquered sooner or later

In history, Abteilung Fremde Heere Ost estimated the total strength of the Red Army to be around 200 divisions. By the end of 1941, around 200 divisions were destroyed, but the Red Army was still there.
Apparently the German Geheimdienst did unterestimate the Soviet Union. Not just the amount of existing units, they drastically misjudged the Russian will to survive and their ability to rise from the dead.





As I started the game in June 1941, the Red Army had 70 units. I have destroyed 94, and they still have 104 (!!).
Although I have reached most of my targets, 1942 will not be easier.

Leningrad and Rostow are not yet conquered, but I don't see any problems in achieving this in 1942.
So I have more or less reached my targets. The only question: will it help me?

In history, the Wehrmacht continued their attack on Moscow and Rostow in November.
Rostow was conquered, but von Rundstedt decided to retreat.
And we all know what happened during the Battle of Moscow.
I did not conduct these attacks, so my troops are in a good condition.





The German MPP development does not show anything unusual.





The same applies to the Italians.
The Royal Air Force is their biggest threat.





The Soviet union has lost its complete Army, but it still has one.





The British Empire will be kicked out of Egypt sooner or later.
Their losses are tremendous.

Total Axis Losses: 6.255 MPPs
Total Allies Losses: 23.815 MPPs.



II. Comparison Of Forces In Russia

Germany and her Allies (except Italy) currently have 104 ground units. Many of them are garrisons and occupations units.

Western Europe: 12
Scandinavia: 13
Germany: 3
Balkans: 8
Egypt: 6

In Russia, there are 62 Axis ground units. 8 of these subdue partisans, so there are just 54 ground units which conduct the War in Russia.

The Soviet Union has currently 91 ground units. I estimate 6 garrison and 2 pioneer units, so they have 83 ground combat units.

Germany 54 : Soviet Union 83

Does not look easy.


III. Plans for 1942

I will conquer Leningrad and Rostow sooner or later. But I am pretty sure the Red Army will attack me.. I just don't know where.

In the north, I will also take Wolchow and Tichwin. After this, the remainder of Heeresgruppe Nord can be used for other purposes.

In the south, I will try to take Sewastopol, Maikop and Stalingrad.

If I have enough forces left, I will try an Attack on Moscow.





The terrain in the west of Moscow is terrible. Until I can attack in 1942, it will be completely covered by fortifications.
I have tried it in a previous Beta version, and it not easy. Usually my troops from the south arrive earlier.

So my plan is to cut off all enemy units between Smolensk and Moscow.
If I can conquer the northern part of the city, there is no railway connection any more.

Of course this depends on what the AI will do in the next months.

Turn 24 (AI)

19. Januar 1942


My forces in Russia have suffered a lot. But I have good luck: some HQs were not hurt at all.
The AI has found the perfect timing to start its Winter Offensive.





Loosing Joensuu will not hurt me too much, but it would mean Soviet units in the back of Mannerheim.
Apparently I need to send at least a Finnish corps to the north. This takes pressure from Leningrad.





Obviously it was the right decision not to attack Wjasma.
Getting caught on open field with bad supply would have been very unhealthy.





Both sides suffer losses, esp. the Italian fighters.

Dear rjh1971,

thanks for your kind words.


Dear zakblood,

thank you. I am thinking about good old Hubert... how he must feel after three years of development, and now the game is almost ready.

Turn 25

9. Februar 1942


The Russian Winter hit me quite hard. A lot of units lost two strength points, and this means in some cases the experience bar is gone. A lot of units need reinforcements, and this turn will only see limited actions in Russia.
In total, the damage is around 1.500 MPPs. This means no new Heavy Tank unit for the time being.

In Egypt, the Afrika Korps makes a big step ahead by conquering El Alamein.





Just two boats in the Norwegian Sea.
I need to increase this number.





I need every garrison unit I can get to subdue partisans.





I wonder what people in India will think about these pictures nowadays.





I send the Finnish V corps to the north. It won't stop the Soviets, but I need to delay their advance until I have conquered Leningrad.
This is why I decided to attack the city instead of refreshing Heeresgruppe Nord.
I hope for better weather next turn.





Most of my units are back to full strength, and I let the Soviets attack.
Esp. in Smolensk my defensive line behind the Dnepr works pretty well.





I have already started to de-entrench Rostow.
Next turn the city will be mine.





The same applies to Sewastopol: I need to reduce the entrenchment first.





A big point in Egypt!
Now Alexandria is very close.





Due to the Axis presence on the Krim peninsula, Turkey swings to the Axis.

Turn 26 (AI)

2. März 1942


More Soviet troops apear in the center.
So this will be the focus of the Soviet counterattack.





Every turn the Finnish garrison survives is a good turn.
But I think next turn the town will be lost.





Tanks, Mechanized, Infantry... the Soviets bring everything it needs for an attack.
Fortunately my troops are well supplied and in prepared defensive position.
Otherwise I would be in trouble.





Both sides suffer heavy losses, esp. my fighters.

Turn 27

23. März 1942


This turn is a big step ahead.
My forces capture Leningrad and Rostow.





Witebsk and Orscha are hit by partisans, and Smolensk is also down to Supply 3.





Another destroyer at the bottom of the sea.
I am pretty sure the Carrier Group will arrive soon.





There is just one problem: the southern part of Leningrad is totally destroyed (Supply Zero), and the Katjuscha in the northern part of the city survives at strength 1.
So I need to wait at least until Turn 39 before Narvik gets a railway connection to Berlin which it needs to repair the Kriegsmarine.
This is a bit too late for my plans, because in Autumn 1942 I will send it back to Germany anyway.





Due to the partisan activity, von Bock cannot provide Supply 10 anymore. So I need to move the 9. Armee a hex back to make sure it gets Supply 6. Smolensk will be back to Supply 6 in Turn 33.
But von Bock is still able to fight back.. two Soviet corps are decimated.

In the south, von Leeb forces two units to retreat. The Soviet Tank Group is down to Strength 1.





Rostow is captured by the 4. Armee.
I have moved the Luftwaffe to the southwest to support the attack on Sewastopol.





Good weather in Turn 29, and the fortress is gone.





The Empire is in trouble. I will take Alexandria in Turn 29, and maybe I can trap a certain part of the British forces.

Turn 28 (AI)

3. April 1942


I get am impression of what the Red Army can deliver in 1942.
And it does not too good from my perspective.





I can imagine that this single destroyer does the reconnaissance for a bigger Task Force.





This is the first town the AI has conquered.
For sure it will not be the last.





All enemy units are very well supplied and in good condition.
They will be harder to defeat than in previous versions.





I control Rostow, but it will be difficult to cross the Don or the Donets.
Apparently Hubert has given the AI new abilities.
It was a lucky decision to bring a lot of ground troops down here.
With just 6 or 7 German units I would be lost.

Good job, Hubert!





I need to clear up the battlefield.
It is essential to know what is in the gap.

Hi Ironclad!

Thanks for your kind words. I need to admit that usually battling the AI is not too exciting, but this time is is quite challenging.

Turn 29

14. April 1942


The AI is still conducting its counteroffensive against Army Group Center, and there is not much I can do about it. Army Group North is already low on personnel, and Army Group South is under pressure as well.
This means I cannot divert forces as needed, and I will use my tanks around Orel to crush the offensive. Maybe I can operate one or two corps from the south, but that's it.

And there is a second aspect I need to keep in mind: obviously the AI has stopped the British convoys to Murmansk. This means I can stop my raids in the Norwegian Sea and bring the Kriegsmarine home.
I will wait one more turn and decide what to do.





The longer I stay here, the higher the risk gets.
One or two carriers will seriously damage the Kriegsmarine.





A lot is happening in the north.
The last Soviet unit in the Baltic Sea is sunk, and I can send Z-20 back to Germany.
Also I control both parts of Leningrad, but it will take until Turn 39 to bring the supply back to 5 in both parts of the city.
My success in Leningrad allows me to send the Finnish troops to the north.

I will refresh there exhausted German units and conquer Wolchow and Tichwin.
This might take a few months, but I want a complete victory up here.





It would have been easy to destroy the Soviet HQ, but my forces were not able to reach it.
What a pity.





It took me a long time to decide what I am doing down here. Breaking through in the south of Rostow seems very difficult, and a single unit that crosses the river can be easily destroyed. And if I wait for a longer time, the Russians will dig in, and an attack gets even more difficult. So I decided to cross the Donets and attack the Soviets where I can deliver a maximum of damage. I will try to march to Kantemirovka and take the town.

I am not quite sure what I will do afterwards. This will depend on how fast the Romanians can take Kertsch.

Also I have moved the Luftwaffe back. The port of Taganrog has Supply 6, and so von Rundstedt can provide Supply 10.
In the next turn I will bring my air units back to full strength.
From their current position, they can reach Kertsch and Noworossiysk, the south of Rostow and the south of Kantemirowka, so they can help me were I need them.





The Romanians conquered Sewastopol.
They had help from the Luftwaffe.
Otherwise the siege would not have ended so quickly.





I decided to give priority to Alexandria.
The Malta effect hits me almost every turn, and I need good supply.
The port of Alexandria will help a lot.





Finally I have saved enough MPPs for my first Heavy Tank Group.
It will be ready in Oktober.





This will help a lot.
From now on I will get an extra 1% research for every technology.

Turn 30 (AI)

25. April 1942


This turn brings a real surprise: a massive tank attack on Belgorod.





I have no clue how many Soviet units were involved in this attack.
Recon necessary.





This attack hits me on my weakest point. Belgorod is occupied by the II. Armeekorps, and it had full entrenchment and is located behind a river. But the Soviets attacked it with brute force, and now the town is cut off from the railway net. I cannot even bring it back to full strength!

I will abandon Belgorod. And I need to bring a couple of units to Kharkov. But where shall I take them from?

And I have a second problem. All enemy units around Belgorod have good supply. The Tank Groups have 5 Actions Points and will be able to reach Sumy and Kursk, so I need to prevent this.

A tough nut to crack.





Although quite under pressure, the AI does a good job in Egypt.
I will take Cairo sooner or later, but it takes a lot of time and MPPs.

Hi Yohan!

Thanks for your kind words.
Indeed the AI has learned a lot.


Hi apec!

Thanks, you are welcome.
And here is my difficulty level:

Hi apec!

I play SC since 2003 or 2004, and for me it would not be challenging to play on intermediate. Usually I play at max. difficulty settings, but I leave the exp. bonus away. There is a reason for this: it would confuse me if I march into Russia and see experienced Soviet units there. But his is just a personal preference.
And you are right: the AI is strong, and it has well supplied units which is a big difference to previous versions. Usually matches against the AI are not really a challenge, but this time I have a couple of difficulties.
In previous Beta versions, the DAK was in Damascus in Autumn 1942, and I controlled Stalingrad and Moscow at the same time.. this does not work anymore.


Hi Scook_99!

Thank you very much. I just played Turn 31 (May 1942), and the Red Army has 110 units on the board. To compare this with your figures, we can also have a look on the losses of the Red Army which are at 112 units in my case. So when we count the ground combat units, the SU has around 95 and I have about 55 in Russia.
Of course there is a big difference to RL: I control Leningrad, and this will prove its weight in gold. As soon as the rail link is established, all Finnish and Norwegian resources will increase their production. And of course I am performing well in Egypt. This will make 1943 much easier for me.. the UK will suffer a lot from the loss of Egypt and the Middle East.
What I want to say: 1943 will be difficult, but not as difficult as in RL.

Turn 31


6. Mai 1942





I have lost my first unit. This might not seem much, but usually I do not loose any units at all when I battle the AI. And I have the feeling that this one won't be the last.





It es clearly visible: the AI has canceled the British convoys to Murmansk. This usually happens if it notices the losses are too high. So I order the Kriegsmarine back to Germany. Some surface vessels need to be repaired, and most subs have earned experience bars. Theoretically I could leave one or two subs in Narvik (from Turn 39 on I can repair them), but I need to concentrate my forces. I expect to get Advanced Subs Level 3 sooner or later, and my subs will be a massive force after the upgrade.





I have seen massive naval movements during the last AI turn, and maybe I just escaped a massive strike by the Royal Navy. Just one more turn, and the Kriegsmarine will be safe.

Up to know, I haven't lost a single ship. This might give a bad impression of the AI, but this is not the real picture. In previous versions, I tried to conduct a classic Battle of the Atlantic and got wiped out. Every time one of my subs left Bordeaux, it ran into a British destroyer. My surface vessels got sunk by carriers, and from 1942 on I had already lost the biggest part of the Kriegsmarine.

So the strategy I played here is some kind of safety first. The AI is pretty good in controlling the Atlantic, and it even sent a carrier group to the Norwegian Sea, and I can imagine a second group was just one the way. I would say I was lucky. During the early Beta phase, I have seen a lot of Beta testers who complained they lost their subs too early in the war. I know what they mean.





The north is quite exciting at the moment. Leningrad is free of enemy presence, but the Soviet force in the far north is quite massive. Up to now I have counted two Mechanized, a Shock Army, a HQ and at least two more normal infantry units. So the Finns are outnumbered, but I am pretty sure the will be able to how the line.

Further in the south, a unit of Soviet rocket artillery is heavily damaged by a massive strike of the Luftwaffe. A final attack by the 18. Armee destroyed the unit. This is very important for my attack on Wolchow.

My tanks take a break, and they need it. The terrain up here is a big swamp, and they need to have good values to cause losses on the other side.





I need to react on what has happened in Belgorod. An attack on Moscow does not make any sense, I need to deal with the tanks around Belgorod. Von Bock in Smolensk cannot attack, and von Leeb (in Orel) did just send his tanks to Belgorod.

This is why I sent the Hungarians into the battle. They destroyed a Soviet corps and march to Kaluga. I hope this will trigger a defensive action by the AI. If it feels there is an attack coming, it pulls its unit back and establishes a defensive lines. Let us see if this works.





I have operated an Armeekorps to Sumy and the 16. Armee to Kharkow. Also I have changed the line-up of my troops around Kursk. There are four well supplied Soviet tanks units, and if they strike, they can cause havoc.
I have ordered all tanks and Mechanized from Orel (XXXIX. Panzerkorps, XXXXVII. Panzerkorps, 16. Panzergrenadierkorps, Panzergrenadierkorps Großdeutschland) to the south. If the AI attacks Kharkow or Kursk, they will spearhead the counterattack. Otherwise they will try to attack into the Soviet rear.

It was the right decision to abandon Belgorod. If I would have left the II. Armeekorps in the town, it would have been attacked by artillery and four tank groups with Prepared Attack Bonus. No way to survive this. Just imagine you would take part in a boxing match. If you notice your opponent wants to do a massive swing, you move on step back.. this is what I just did.





I want to control Kantemirowka as soon as possible. Taking the town will lower the supply of all Soviet units in the area drastically. And of course this gives me the option to cut off the enemy forces at Belgorod.





I think it is clearly visible what I'm trying.
There are two options: attack Woronesch (difficult, I expect a lot of units there) or attack between Woronesch and Belgorod which seems to be the easier alternative. I will decide after the next AI turn.





An attack on Cairo needs to be prepared. This is why I brought my artillery close to the city. German and Italian tanks have reached the gates so they can attack with Prepared Attack Bonus next turn.




This will increase the efficiency of my HQs.
Much appreciated.

Turn 32 (AI)

17. Mai 1942


I get an impression of what will expect me in 1942. The Red Army has put 12 new units in service during its turn.
The total amount is 122 ground units, and I think 10 will be garrisons and pioneers.
This means they have twice as many combat units in Russia as me.
My first (and probably only) target for 1942 will be to decimate the Red Army. I cannot conduct an offensive before I have reduced the enemy force.
Fortunately, my position in the north and in Rostow is relatively safe, so I can concentrate on the Soviet center.





Fortunately the AI does not send additional units up to the north.
This will make the conquest of Wolchow much easier.





The Hungarian advance triggered a defensive behavior of the AI.
This fits into my plans.. I don't have many units up there.
My tanks and planes are concentrated in the south.





The Soviet bridgehead is massively supported at its flanks. Hubert's AI amazes me again.
An attack on Woronesch does not seems appropriate. I will try to encircle Belgorod in my turn.





Due to the retreat of the ATGs I have one attack less on Cairo in my next turn.
But instead of an American Army, there is just a British corps in the city, so the entrenchment will be low.

A perfect occasion for an attack.





I haven't shown much from the west.
The Royal Air Force is active, but it does not do much damage.
The Bomber Command is in Egypt, and Tactical Bombers are not the right measure.
I cannot see the losses the British suffer, but I think they are higher than mine.
This will change once the Bomber Command comes back from Egypt.. or an American Strategic Bomber arrives.
I need to buy more flak.