HB (Allies) vs MM (Axis) No MM for now.

[Harrybanana]

OCTOBER 10, 1941

8 MS and 1 escort sunk. 4 of the MS were sunk by a German surface fleet.

Rain halts most offensive operations except in the Arctic Circle zone. Here the Russian cavalry that put the Finish Army out of supply last turn is itself put out of supply. The Russians attack the weakened Finns solely for the purpose of increasing Russian National Experience. They are successful in increasing it from 38% to 39%.

Leningrad is out of supply and will not last much longer.

[Harrybanana]

AGC

[Harrybanana]

AGS

[Harrybanana]

OCTOBER 24, 1941

4 MS lost in exchange for 1 U-Boat hit.

Still raining. There is a 20% chance in each November turn that the weather in the Arctic Zone will be cold. The Axis are massing forces between Moscow and Kursk. I have no doubt that these forces are now relatively fresh. If MM gets this cold turn there is a very good chance that he will do to me in this game what I did to him in our mirror game. I considered pulling back, but decided to stay. I really think that the game will be decided by whether or not the weather is Cold. I like the idea of the Allies knowing what the weather will be on the next turn.

[Harrybanana]

Forces and Casualties

The Russian Force Strength looks OK. But most of this force is made up of weak units; they only have 3 tank corps.

[Harrybanana]

In Production

[Harrybanana]

Tech Advances. Russian air tech is doing well, but that means next to nothing. Unfortunately Russian Assault and Heavy Armour techs are really lagging.

[Harrybanana]

NOVEMBER 7, 1941

5 MS sunk along with 2 U-Boat hits.

Otherwise pretty much no action do to bad weather on the Russian Front.

[Harrybanana]

NOV 21,1941

Blizzard in the Arctic zone. so no snow turns in October or November helps the Soviets.

The only action was in the Atlantic where despite "Ambushing" a German fleet the RN comes off worse in the exchange. The Carriers do better.

[Harrybanana]

DECEMBER 5 AND 19, 1941

No Action except in the BOA. I forgot to record the results for the December 5 turn, but December 19 is a bad turn for the Allies with 8 MS and 3 escorts sunk.

[Harrybanana]

JANUARY 2 AND 16, 1942
The Russians launch 20 Attacks over these two turns, most at 1-1 or worse odds (which are the best odds I could get).

All German Raiders and U-Boats are concentrating on the Murmansk convoys with mixed results. But I do score 7 hits on the German surface fleet.

[Harrybanana]

JANUARY 30, 1942

Only 1 MS sunk.

But the Russian Winter Offensive has been a disaster. So far a total of 32 Attacks have been made with the following results:

1. Russian National Experience has been increased by only 1% (from 40% to 41%). My previous exeperience is that the Russians gain 1% for about every 5 attacks they make. So a gain of only 1% is not good. In our mirror game MM has reported that his Russian National Experience was at 45% in October of 41.

2. I have not gained a single retreat result. True, most attacks were made at 1-1 odds, but you would think with all these attacks I could have gotten lucky once.

3. Losses have, of course, greatly favoured the Germans. This is not necessarily bad as most of my units will be receiving replacements with higher experience. But Manpower is starting to decline and the effectiveness of many of my units is getting pretty low (as shown in the screenshot below).

[Harrybanana]

FEBRUARY 13, 1942

Only 1 MS sunk and 2 U-Boat hits.

OK now this is embarrassing. The Germans have endured 8 straight turns of snow or blizzard on the Russian Front; but they are the ones attacking me; and successfully too. So the Great Russian Winter Offensive of 41/42 ends up losing ground instead of gaining it. Am I the only person who thinks that the Axis are just not effected enough by the Russian Winter? The first winter at least should see them far more unprepared. I say this even though I play the Axis as much as I play the Allies.

[Harrybanana]

FEBRUARY 27, 1942

A bad turn in the BOA as 9 MS and an escort are sunk and no U-Boats are even hit.

Everything is quiet on the Russian Front. I contemplate retreating back from the threatened areas, but decide to hold my ground. If next turn is cold I might regret this.

I think the Axis might be planning to invade Vichy.

[Harrybanana]

MARCH 13, 1942

5 MS sunk in exchange for 2 U-Boat hits. This turn I chicken out and retreat a bit in Russia.

[Harrybanana]

MARCH 27, 1942

I am glad I retreated last turn because the weather turned cold in Russia and the Axis attacked. 4 Russian Units were shattered due to no retreat routes; but no units were surrounded. On my turn I made some attacks of my own. I was hoping to Overrun a German Armour, but it successfully retreated.

[Harrybanana]

I am thinking about renaming this AAR the Big Whine 2. The reason is because even though the Axis made 11 Attacks on MM's turn and the Russians made 7 Attacks on my turn, Russian National Experience didn't move at all. From October 41 to March 42 it has only gained 1% and continues to sit at 41%. We will have to wait to see if this is decisive.

[Harrybanana]

AGN.

This Front is static for now.

[Harrybanana]

AGC

It looks like most of the action in 42 will be on this Front. I can only retreat so far.

[Harrybanana]

AGS