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So to answer the question is yes, without a unit next to Pskov the unit could have retreated to either spot (NW or Pskov)

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ORIGINAL: EwaldvonKleist

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bookworms we have on the forums

I hope that setting up a library of WitE-ressources qualifies me as a bookworm.
When exactly the same question came up on a German wargaming forum, I tried to put my gut feeling into a list of priorities. After I had to edit the list multiple times because of new experiences in my games I gave up on making such a list. Things that play a role are ZOCs, rail lines, movement point costs, hex ownership in near hexes and the side the retreating unit is from and maybe some items on the list I have forgotten.
My feeling is still that the NW retreat would happen with or without the 20-16 inf, but HLYA is a very great deal more experienced than me so you should not value this too high.
In any case you set up a test scen to verify this.

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ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

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ORIGINAL: EwaldvonKleist

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bookworms we have on the forums

I hope that setting up a library of WitE-ressources qualifies me as a bookworm.
When exactly the same question came up on a German wargaming forum, I tried to put my gut feeling into a list of priorities. After I had to edit the list multiple times because of new experiences in my games I gave up on making such a list. Things that play a role are ZOCs, rail lines, movement point costs, hex ownership in near hexes and the side the retreating unit is from and maybe some items on the list I have forgotten.
My feeling is still that the NW retreat would happen with or without the 20-16 inf, but HLYA is a very great deal more experienced than me so you should not value this too high.
In any case you set up a test scen to verify this.

You Sir are highly qualified & do appreciate all the contributions you have done for the game :).

My test scenarios are from old years, I did not set up a recent one and I know that river is a contributing factor on retreats. I just was not going to leave it to chance to have an extra combat unit in Pskov. But I do feel that if the river was not there then the unit would retreat 100% NW.

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I know that river is a contributing factor on retreats

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ORIGINAL: timmyab

Maybe Stalin has retired to his dacha and cannot be contacted :)

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ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

Getting German fever again. May have to pick up another game to keep the fever sedated while waiting on M60 since I know how difficult these turns are for the Soviet player at the beginning of the game.

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ORIGINAL: Telemecus

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ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain

Getting German fever again. May have to pick up another game to keep the fever sedated while waiting on M60 since I know how difficult these turns are for the Soviet player at the beginning of the game.

Perhaps you would like to join as military adviser to the EightMP Axis team? That way you could take part in the team game against supreme commander M60 as well?

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Air Campaign
Bombing of German Airbases

Here are the results of the bombing. I can live with the results from these bombings. Inflicting decent damage while keeping loses light. But I do have to note that the FLAK loses seems to be on the light side.

little over 100 bombers for 4 fighters and whatever else was blown up on the airbases. Win scenerio so far for me imo. (I don't know if M60 is doing ground bombardment on purpose or it was an accident or he is doing one of each, /shrug)

So I will continue & further hone my strat against Mad bombing of German airfields by the Soviets. I will post later the bombing of units which have gone totally to the crazy side of things. But that is ok it won't last forever as I bring that under control too ;-). All in due time.

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ORIGINAL: tyronec

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Air Campaign
Bombing of German Airbases

Here are the results of the bombing. I can live with the results from these bombings. Inflicting decent damage while keeping loses light. But I do have to note that the FLAK loses seems to be on the light side.

little over 100 bombers for 4 fighters and whatever else was blown up on the airbases. Win scenerio so far for me imo. (I don't know if M60 is doing ground bombardment on purpose or it was an accident or he is doing one of each, /shrug)

So I will continue & further hone my strat against Mad bombing of German airfields by the Soviets. I will post later the bombing of units which have gone totally to the crazy side of things. But that is ok it won't last forever as I bring that under control too ;-). All in due time.

IMO the Soviet airbase bombing tactic at this period of the game requires maximum air base bombing over several turns, that way the defending fighters get fatigued and start dropping out of the sky. Ground bombing doesn't activate so many defenders so half in half is not going to do the job. Soviets have to be killing 60 or so fighters a turn, otherwise Axis can absorb the losses and the Luftwaffe doesn't get any weaker. It also needs all the Soviet LBs, will be interesting to see how this pans out but if they continue like this could cost a lot of LBs and end up giving the Axis fighters good experience gain.

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Turn 6 Fighter fatigue

As can be seen, only two fighter squadrons of 40 planes are fatigued over 10. They will more than likely be replaced by a transfer in "fresh" squadron. (The Germans don't need 6+(40) plane fighter squadrons on a front for what they need to do imo. But again that is how I play and may not be to everyones liking. To me it is all about getting the most out of the least)

Note the highlighted yellow that the swarms fatigue is low compared to the number of missions they flew. I now know that the amount of swarms here will be reduced since fewer are better and will go into a rotation like the 40 plane squadrons.

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ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain
Turn 6 Fighter fatigue
Note the highlighted yellow that the swarms fatigue is low compared to the number of missions they flew.

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ORIGINAL: Telemecus

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ORIGINAL: HardLuckYetAgain
Turn 6 Fighter fatigue
Note the highlighted yellow that the swarms fatigue is low compared to the number of missions they flew.

Is this not a function of their granularity and air doctrine? Every aircraft they lose subtracts 25% from their percentage of required to fly. as a result I frequently see them fly far few miles than groups - and hence lower fatigue?

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ORIGINAL: tyronec

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Turn 6 Fighter fatigue

As can be seen, only two fighter squadrons of 40 planes are fatigued over 10. They will more than likely be replaced by a transfer in "fresh" squadron. (The Germans don't need 6+(40) plane fighter squadrons on a front for what they need to do imo. But again that is how I play and may not be to everyones liking. To me it is all about getting the most out of the least)

Note the highlighted yellow that the swarms fatigue is low compared to the number of missions they flew. I now know that the amount of swarms here will be reduced since fewer are better and will go into a rotation like the 40 plane squadrons.

Looks like good tactics to counter the night bombing.

I don't think all out night bombing is going to gain air supremacy for the Soviets in '41; what it possibly can do is disrupt Luftwaffe support bombing. In my game with Saper he took the hit on his fighters and continued to do moderate ground support, the net effect was his ground support was restricted. By '42 his fighters will mostly be up to strength and am guessing will be on very high morale and experience.

Perhaps a couple of Soviet fighter blobs, as in your game vs Dingler, does the job just as well or even better. Protecting the key combat zones from good Luftwaffe support.

Will be interesting to see how much ground support you get in this game, though I know you have said that is not important to you in '41.