Gnikam eht ni retsasid - Oloren USSR, Terje Axis. Oloren now permitted.

[bigbaba]

i find counterattacking as german from late 42 on is the real thing which breaks the german armys strength.

even if one routs away a russian corps stack the lose rate will be in favour of the red army and burn out the attacking german formations after few attacks.

maybe a panzerkorps in reserve modus behind this 3 DIV stack would help to defend few hexes against the massed russian corps stacks. in my game as axis against gids i managed to inflict heavy casualties to the russians (sometimes 14k loses in a single attack!) because some panzers assisted in the defense.

but you seem to have not even enough formations to man the front and so no reserve units. hold out and maybe the "wunderwaffen" will turn the fate.[:)]

[Peltonx]

The 2 games were friends have flipped sides is very telling of how much harder it is now then before to play German side.

In both cases the German side won the first set of games and in both cases the German side is clearly losing the 2nd set.

The German side can be mastered but requires allot of planning and understanding the CV/Combat/supply systems.

The counter attacking will only help if your alrdy winning as German. If your losing yes it simply help the russian side, but what esle are you going to do with all the usless panzer divisions? PZ divisions are glass as are the russian tank units.

If your winning a game going into 43 as german the reserve mode will easly buy you 8 to 12 months. Basicly a yr if you throw in the mud turns. This will put the Red Machine very far from Berlin- game set match.

Basicly Moscow has to fall in 41 or early 42. 42 as German after October 41 you have to pocket about 180 units min to cause a AP crunch. That with the manpower crunch will make defending in 43 easy using reserve mode or getting small pockets.This will basicly keeping lines static during 43 and make getting to Berlin impossible before May 45.

[terje439]

1. Counterattacking;
Yup, I take losses I cannot replace, and my losses are about 1 : 1 compared to the USSR ones, but not counterattackign and pushing the enemy away is no good either as that simply allows the USSR to advance that much faster, so it becomes a damned if I do and damned if I don't situation.
2. Panzers in reserve;
I actually had most of my panzer/mechanized units in reserve, spread out along the front in the hope they would bolster the defences. So far they have not.
3. Glass panzers;
Not seen that so far really, my panzers are doing well against the enemy, but I guess this will be changing as their TOE is reduced.
4. Lack of units;
This ofc has been the issue for a long time, but the real problem is not the ammount of units, it is the fact that the USSR will outnumber us 10 : 1 in any attack they chose to make.
5. Other;
I've said it before and will do so again, the removed defensive value of rivers when the ground is frozen seems somewhat odd to me. Look at a major river when it is frozen. We are talking open ground, slippery surface, and a wet grave if a HE shell lands near. Just my thought though.


Terje

[Peltonx]

The reserve mode only helps from late 42 to late 43 holding the lines basicly static IF IF IF the german player had a good 41 and 42 summer.

It basicly holds the lines for about a yr when you factor in mud turns over 12 months. This will keep the front far to the east (conserves morale) and make the march to Berlin a pipe dream from SHC.

It is still useful late in the war, but there are just to many holes in the dam to be of any use over all. It will slow the Red advance some but not enough to matter.

[terje439]

Turn 134

Overall
Same old same old, the USSR pushes and we make a few selected counterattacks. But all in all we are now forced to move units back from the line to avoid gettimg them surrounded, which means they are out in the open which means it will be easier for the USSR to keep attacking. The 17 USSR attacks results in 3 helds, 13 retreats and 1 surrender. Our two attacks both resulted in retreats.

Losses
USSR : 100.000 troops, 1.072 guns, 463 AFVs, 415 AC.
Axis : 63.000 troops, 1.228 guns, 154 AFVs, 8 AC.

Units lost
The 4th LuftWaffe Field Division and the 306th Infantry Division are the last to surrender in the south.

Units disbanded
9 fortified zones are disbanded this turn.

German pools
Manpower : 16.893
Vehicle : 283.802
Armaments : 0
Hiwi : 660

[terje439]

Turn 135

Overall
Nothing new really, the USSR keep pushing us back, and not much we can do about it. In those hexes where the enemy push us back but are unable to advance into the hex, we try to push 1CV units back to force another attack again next turn, hence spending USSR MPs.
13 USSR attacks ammount to 2 helds and 11 retreats, while we only make one attack and score a retreat.
It now also seems that we will soon be attacked in the south as well. That is going to make it even more challenging. Great!

Losses
USSR : 92.000 troops, 837 guns, 368 AFVs, 354 AC.
Axis : 38.000 troops, 825 guns, 113 AFVSs, 0 AC.

Units disbanded
5 fortified zones are disbanded this turn.

German pools
Manpower : 2.924
Vehicles : 281.314
Armaments : 0
Hiwi : 383

Would be nice if I could persuade Opel and Mercedes to start building guns instead of trucks at this point [;)]

[terje439]

Turn 136

Overall
We are forced to retreat away from even more forts to avoid having units surrounded. Last thing that remains now is to wait for mud...again..., and fall back to the Oder for a last stand there in the summer.
The USSR launch 17 attacks, scoring 2 helds, 12 retreats and 3 routs, while our 1 attack scored a held.

Losses
USSR : 95.000 troops, 965 guns, 373 AFVs, 424 AC.
Axis : 46.000 troops, 973 guns, 122 AFVs, 7 AC.

German pools
Manpower : 875
Vehicle : 278.555
Armaments : 761
Hiwi : 3

[Karri]

Have you thought about creating fortress Berlin? Shorter frontline would allow you to disband some of the worse off units, and thus bring the rest up to strenght...I'd be interested to see how that works out

[bigbaba]

i realy hope you can hold berlin. there is a long way to go and a shorter front may be a way to get more them a battalion in your pool.[;)][&o]

[terje439]

Will try to hold at the current line for as long as possible for now, then falling back to the Oder-line. As you say, it requires fewer troops, but it is not built up, so that is why I would like mud to appear + that makes sure the USSR does not reach the Oder while it is frozen.

[Scook_99]

I like to call the "Oh Dear" River line, nothing good happens when you have to defend there, unless you like ravenous, undead Soviet armies. I salute you playing this through, been a tough one, and I have picked up some things from you AAR.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: Scook_99

I like to call the "Oh Dear" River line, nothing good happens when you have to defend there, unless you like ravenous, undead Soviet armies. I salute you playing this through, been a tough one, and I have picked up some things from you AAR.

Thank you, I hope the things you have picked up are things NOT to do though [:D]


Terje

[terje439]

Turn 137

Overall
The line is faltering quickly now, and I am forced to pull back in even more places. But the really outrageous thing this turn is that the USSR is now also attacking the Finnish line. Such greed.
A total of 18 USSR attacks resulted in 2 helds and 16 retreats, while our 5 attacks gave us 1 held, 3 retreats and 1 rout.

Losses
USSR : 106.000 troops, 1.090 guns, 728 AFVs, 448 AC.
Axis : 65.000 troops, 1.443 guns, 153 AFVs, 5 AC.

German pools
Manpower : 1.195
Vehicles : 276.709
Armaments : 1.807
Hiwi : 1 (wonder what HE is thinking right now...)

[terje439]

Turn 138

Overall
One of the better turns in a while actually as we manage to impose some held results this turn. Nevertheless we are forced to give up a hex or two every turn now. Rebuilt units are now halted off Berlin to start digging in at the Oder line, some hexes now have a lvl 1 fort, not much, but better than naught.
The 23 attacks the USSR made, resulted in 6 helds, 16 retreats and 1 rout. My main concern right now, is wether I can hold the south untill mud arrives.

Losses
USSR : 99.000 troops, 985 guns, 482 AFVs, 377 AC.
Axis : 50.000 troops, 1.088 guns, 143 AFVs, 11 AC.

German pools
Manpower : 604
Vehicle : 276.501
Armaments : 0
Hiwi : 150
The Hiwis are from a disbanded fort zone.
It also seems that when the war ends, all remaining soldiers in the Wehrmacht will recieve one free truck each...

[terje439]

Turn 139

Overall
Alot of fighting (for our game at this stage) this turn. The worst news sort of is on the Finnish front where the USSR destroys a level 4 fort, ruining the entire line there. Oh well, guess virtual Adolf does not care what happens in the north anyway.
27 USSR attacks result in 3 helds and 24 retreats, while our 6 attacks score 5 retreats and 1 rout (4 of the 5 retreats also had one or more routing unit in it).

Losses
USSR : 124.000 troops, 1.515 guns, 1.245 AFVs, 685 AC.
Axis : 62.000 troops, 1.465 guns, 265 AFVs, 11 AC.

Units disbanded
We disband one fortified zone.

Oder-Line
Level 2 fort in some locations now. Might be able to build it to level 3 before the USSR arrive.

German pools
Manpower : 649
Vehicles : 274.870
Armaments : 0
Hiwi : 184

[terje439]

Turn 140

Overall
Nothing really changes, but it seems the enemy is trying to drive past by us in the south. The bad part is that that is entirely doable. Need to contain them untill mud arrives, then we fall back and shorten our line.
The USSR make 25 attacks, scoring 5 helds, 18 retreats and 2 routs, while we only make 1 attack which result in 1 retreat.

Losses
USSR : 101.000 troops, 924 guns, 479 AFVs, 511 AC.
Axis : 53.000 troops, 1.204 guns, 183 AFVs, 5 AC.
Our AFV losses are mainly TDs, not panzers. We now have some 50 of each panzer in the pool, while our TD pools are running dry.

Units disbanded
We disband yet another fortified zone.

German pools
Manpower : 656
Vehicles : 273.235
Armaments : 0
Hiwi : 117

[terje439]

Turn 141

Overall
The USSR keeps attacking, but this turn we recieve some good news from the North. The Finns, outnumbered 10:1 in troops halt the USSR attack on their main line. Those level 4 forts are nice. Too bad the attack reduced the fort to level 2 though. On the main line the USSR manage to surround three divisions, including a panzer division, but we manage to reopen the pocket. The Infantry is unable to move back, but the panzers are secure.
A total of 27 USSR attack result in 3 helds and 24 retreats while our 5 attacks score 4 retreats and 1 rout.

Losses
USSR : 135.000 troops, 1.569 guns, 779 AFVs, 608 AC.
Axis : 75.000 troops, 1.783 guns, 191 AFVs, 13 AC.

German pools
Manpower : 259
Vehicle : 271.455
Armaments : 0
Hiwi : 2

Turns to mud
6. A mixed blessing. It will allow me to pull back and really shorten my line, but at the same time it will slow down the building of my fortified line at the Oder. No way I can reach level 4 in the time remaining.

[terje439]

Turn 142

Overall
Apart from the Finnish line, we are unable to hold much longer, so we start pulling back our stronger units this turn as it will take us some time to evacuate the current line.
The USSR launch 38 attacks this turn scoring 2 helds, 35 retreats and 1 rout. We only make two attacks, scoring two retreats.

Losses
USSR : 115.000 troops, 1.304 guns, 461 AFVs, 547 AC.
Axis : 72.000 troops, 1.724 guns, 226 AFVs, 12 AC.

Units disbanded
3 fortified zones are disbanded this turn

German pools
Manpower : 5.468
Vehicle : 274.459
Armaments : 0
Hiwi : 441

Turns to mud
5

[terje439]

Turn 143

Overall
The USSR attacks everywhere and keep pushing us back some, but we are able to keep our good units in the rear and our weak ones in the front. When it is my turn, the good ones will usually be at the front, but moves back. Rinse and repeat. What matters now is to keep the enemy from trapping our useful units, and to force him to use MPs on attacking, not moving.
The 65 USSR attacks results in 9 helds, 55 retreats and 1 rout, while our two attacks score two retreats.

Losses
USSR : 106.000 troops, 1.004 guns, 570 AFVs, 499 AC.
Axis : 62.000 troops, 1.502 guns, 131 AFVs, 44 AC.

Units disbanded
We disband 2 fortified zones this turn.

German pools
Manpower : 13.553
Vehicle : 273.010
Armaments : 0
Hiwi : 182
Bad news is that we have taken some panzer losses again, and our pools are now dry once more. Apart from the Pz VI ofc, which we have some 250 of, but which are now obsolete due to the arrival of the KT. Give me a Tiger Division!!!!

[Banori]

It seems like the " Reichs Götterdämmerung" has begun, and it will end quickly