Nice job knocking out the UK. That is surely quite some IC you got there. What is Italy doing with the LL? They do have MP but do they have the techs as well?
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Italy very kindly helped to build enough NAVs early game to knock out ENG fleets. This is partial repayment (around 100IC for a year) and they've been upgrading their infantry divisions to use TSUP and prepare for Barbarossa!
I'll post a picture of the ledger, but ITA has one of the largest infantry armies in the world thanks to taking over ROM and HUN troops.
As far as I know, their techs aren't as good as GER techs, but they're all up to date.
I'm preparing the final chapter to our AAR and game now!
I'll post a picture of the ledger, but ITA has one of the largest infantry armies in the world thanks to taking over ROM and HUN troops.
As far as I know, their techs aren't as good as GER techs, but they're all up to date.
I'm preparing the final chapter to our AAR and game now!
AUSTRALIA IN THE WAR - From May 1940
With the shock of the fall of Britain looming large, and with Singapore under increasing assault and expected to fall a any time while the Japanese pressed on from Siam into Burma, Australia's new cabinet made a radical change to its policy of defence. The policy of preparing for Japanese invasion would be futile should Allied defences falter, causing Southeast Asia and India to fall into the iron grasp of the Axis powers. North America in isolation might yet with God's help defy the Axis and restore freedom to the world, but Australia alone would be reduced to partisan campaigning against an occupying army in the impenetrable jungles of New Guinea and the vastness of the outback.
With Canada and the USA providing increasing support to the defence of Asia, it was considered folly not to seize the opportunity to prosecute the war with full vigor and seek to help tip the balance and turn the tide - we hoped that what appeared to be twilight would prove a new dawn. New Zealand was willing to share information and advice, but for its part would stand on the defensive, farthest from the fray, conserving its forces for a later day.
Australia, however, immediately sent its naval and medium bomber wings overseas to help the combined air forces strike at Japanese naval forces from the Philippines and elsewhere, wreaking havoc on both convoy ships and warships. Our Naval bombers were particularly distinguished for their key role in pounding to bits the remnants of the Imperial battle fleet defeated by the US Navy at Singapore as it retreated to China to seek repairs. Short-range aircraft were sent to help at Singapore until the parlous situation became too desperate and the airfield was effectively closed. Airfields being few and far between in the enormous theatre of war, and targets usually out of range, our light planes saw little further action and were stationed for observation of enemy movements threatening a move south, toward our home continent.
Our navy, with its heavy cruisers, light cruisers, and destroyers, was ready to fight but directed to avoid combat with enemy fleets in order to serve the crucial role of transporting troops and remain a force in being which might, in combination with air power, defeat invasion efforts against Australia by light forces and divert Japanese attention.
Meanwhile, the men of Australia prepared to fight overseas for the British Empire as their fathers had done before them. However, in this second World War, come for us far closer to home, it was clear to every man, every woman, every child old enough to understand a map, that our diggers would be fighting in India, in Burma, and, it was hoped, in Thailand and Indochina, first of all in their stout hearts for the protection of their native land. Recruitment redoubled, the PM promising the Allies an expeditionary army of at least 7 divisions would be shipped as quickly as possible to the front lines in Burma. In fact, 10 divisions in 3 corps saw combat there as the fruits of a sustained effort to bring to bear the greatest force possible at this critical time, and another was sent with a garrison unit to Karachi for service with a base in Sindh.
Our headquarters commander in Calcutta was General King, with Field Marshal Mackay commanding the Second Army Group. General Blamey was promoted to command the Expeditionary Army for his multiple skills in a war of manoeuvre. From early in the campaign, he selected Australia's steady masters of defence as his three corps commanders and put fighting generals in charge of our divisions at the front.
These troops were fresh, inspired to combat, and better trained and equipped than the large Indian Army that struggled against the Japanese. But the urgency of reinforcement demanded that they be committed to the fight before their equipment and doctrines were up to date. In particular, the need for a strong ability to pierce enemy armor had not been considered important in a fight against the Japanese infantry armies, yet the lack in most divisions proved to be sorely felt. As the fighting progressed, the troops were steadily being brought up to standard and gaining extensive experience, with increasingly strong showings against the enemy. The exception, of course, was the infamous horde of "Germanese" armored marine divisions, facile in the worst sort of terrain, highly experienced in combat, and whose arrival was completely unexpected by everyone.
Until the armistice, as the tide of combat ebbed and flowed, the ministry continued its concentrated efforts to strengthen the effectiveness of the expeditionary forces with Improvements in doctrine and equipment. The furious intensity of combat in Southeast Asia indicated a Japanese commitment that meant that the present danger to Australian territory was low. In view of this and the need to secure our continental positions with replacements for the troops sent overseas, the island garrisons were reduced to three positions at the port and airfields of Port Moresby, Lae and Rabaul, along with patrols to detect any enemy approach. Garrison troops with heavy equipment and suitable commanders meant that taking each of these posts would require a quick and serious landing to succeed before the base could be supported. This was the thinking at the time, without knowledge of the Germanese marines. Transports provided by the USA were very helpful with these redeployments.
The Royal Australian Navy was fully occupied with shipping and escorting the diggers to battle. As they arrived, shipload by shipload, they moved to the front. They were thrown in first to establish a defensive position in the centre of the line northeast of Rangoon, in support of the planned counter-offensive relying on Allied reinforcements. The navy did its bit. The diggers were rushed to the front as they landed, traveling far over rough and forested terrain, first thrown in to establish a defensive position, then joining in a general advance as US reinforcements joined the Canadians already supporting the Indian Army in the field.
The diggers, as expected, held their positions stoutly even in the dark days after the Germanese landed at Rangoon and burst forth in an offensive that terminated the Allied effort to cut off Rangoon. The following months saw relentless battles with intense fighting. Allied forces tried to hold successive positions, but were repeatedly pounded and tumbled back by speed and main force. Breaking contact with the entire force for an organized withdrawal to a fresh position was impossible - it was a matter of fighting extrications step-by-step as the Axis sought to pocket and liquidate our forces by quick and aggressive fixing and flanking manoeuvres supported by their substantial air forces. However, the shrewd decisions of the high command in India, as well as the excellent multi-national collaboration among our English-speaking peoples, enabled the many defensive stands, spoiling attacks, withdrawals, retreats, and outright escapes to be conducted with dash and pluck and without disaster. Despite many tight scrapes in the front lines and the risks taken to hold open routes of retreat for our Allies to the last extremity of the capabilities of our organisations, no Australian divisions were lost, though they stood battered, bloodied and exhausted time and again.
Image below: Session save in mid-battle February 1 as about 5 US (under Patton), 5 Canadian, 10 Australian and 31 remaining Indian divisions conduct a harried fighting retreat across the mountains while sending blocking forces rushing north as the speedy Germanese race to cut off Allied retreat (without success).
The current battle is on the coast, the battle report is from the adjoining province. Most of the troops are retreating Indian infantry.
Other Allied losses have not been disclosed, but were quite small given the circumstances. It is the view of some of our commanders that, had it been open country, our retreating Allied forces should have been largely overrun, but such favorable terrain would also have allowed the Allies to have held Rangoon and prevent a Germanese disembarkation there. They might have risked attack at sea and invaded India instead.
Indeed, if we speculate upon what might have been, a more engaging course of events we may imagine is one wherein the entire Commonwealth springs forth with alacrity to help secure Britain, so that it remained fully in the fight, or that events took a different turn and France did not fall. There are many matters on which we may speculate, but we may remain ever certain that Australians always have and always shall do their duty.
With the shock of the fall of Britain looming large, and with Singapore under increasing assault and expected to fall a any time while the Japanese pressed on from Siam into Burma, Australia's new cabinet made a radical change to its policy of defence. The policy of preparing for Japanese invasion would be futile should Allied defences falter, causing Southeast Asia and India to fall into the iron grasp of the Axis powers. North America in isolation might yet with God's help defy the Axis and restore freedom to the world, but Australia alone would be reduced to partisan campaigning against an occupying army in the impenetrable jungles of New Guinea and the vastness of the outback.
With Canada and the USA providing increasing support to the defence of Asia, it was considered folly not to seize the opportunity to prosecute the war with full vigor and seek to help tip the balance and turn the tide - we hoped that what appeared to be twilight would prove a new dawn. New Zealand was willing to share information and advice, but for its part would stand on the defensive, farthest from the fray, conserving its forces for a later day.
Australia, however, immediately sent its naval and medium bomber wings overseas to help the combined air forces strike at Japanese naval forces from the Philippines and elsewhere, wreaking havoc on both convoy ships and warships. Our Naval bombers were particularly distinguished for their key role in pounding to bits the remnants of the Imperial battle fleet defeated by the US Navy at Singapore as it retreated to China to seek repairs. Short-range aircraft were sent to help at Singapore until the parlous situation became too desperate and the airfield was effectively closed. Airfields being few and far between in the enormous theatre of war, and targets usually out of range, our light planes saw little further action and were stationed for observation of enemy movements threatening a move south, toward our home continent.
Our navy, with its heavy cruisers, light cruisers, and destroyers, was ready to fight but directed to avoid combat with enemy fleets in order to serve the crucial role of transporting troops and remain a force in being which might, in combination with air power, defeat invasion efforts against Australia by light forces and divert Japanese attention.
Meanwhile, the men of Australia prepared to fight overseas for the British Empire as their fathers had done before them. However, in this second World War, come for us far closer to home, it was clear to every man, every woman, every child old enough to understand a map, that our diggers would be fighting in India, in Burma, and, it was hoped, in Thailand and Indochina, first of all in their stout hearts for the protection of their native land. Recruitment redoubled, the PM promising the Allies an expeditionary army of at least 7 divisions would be shipped as quickly as possible to the front lines in Burma. In fact, 10 divisions in 3 corps saw combat there as the fruits of a sustained effort to bring to bear the greatest force possible at this critical time, and another was sent with a garrison unit to Karachi for service with a base in Sindh.
Our headquarters commander in Calcutta was General King, with Field Marshal Mackay commanding the Second Army Group. General Blamey was promoted to command the Expeditionary Army for his multiple skills in a war of manoeuvre. From early in the campaign, he selected Australia's steady masters of defence as his three corps commanders and put fighting generals in charge of our divisions at the front.
These troops were fresh, inspired to combat, and better trained and equipped than the large Indian Army that struggled against the Japanese. But the urgency of reinforcement demanded that they be committed to the fight before their equipment and doctrines were up to date. In particular, the need for a strong ability to pierce enemy armor had not been considered important in a fight against the Japanese infantry armies, yet the lack in most divisions proved to be sorely felt. As the fighting progressed, the troops were steadily being brought up to standard and gaining extensive experience, with increasingly strong showings against the enemy. The exception, of course, was the infamous horde of "Germanese" armored marine divisions, facile in the worst sort of terrain, highly experienced in combat, and whose arrival was completely unexpected by everyone.
Until the armistice, as the tide of combat ebbed and flowed, the ministry continued its concentrated efforts to strengthen the effectiveness of the expeditionary forces with Improvements in doctrine and equipment. The furious intensity of combat in Southeast Asia indicated a Japanese commitment that meant that the present danger to Australian territory was low. In view of this and the need to secure our continental positions with replacements for the troops sent overseas, the island garrisons were reduced to three positions at the port and airfields of Port Moresby, Lae and Rabaul, along with patrols to detect any enemy approach. Garrison troops with heavy equipment and suitable commanders meant that taking each of these posts would require a quick and serious landing to succeed before the base could be supported. This was the thinking at the time, without knowledge of the Germanese marines. Transports provided by the USA were very helpful with these redeployments.
The Royal Australian Navy was fully occupied with shipping and escorting the diggers to battle. As they arrived, shipload by shipload, they moved to the front. They were thrown in first to establish a defensive position in the centre of the line northeast of Rangoon, in support of the planned counter-offensive relying on Allied reinforcements. The navy did its bit. The diggers were rushed to the front as they landed, traveling far over rough and forested terrain, first thrown in to establish a defensive position, then joining in a general advance as US reinforcements joined the Canadians already supporting the Indian Army in the field.
The diggers, as expected, held their positions stoutly even in the dark days after the Germanese landed at Rangoon and burst forth in an offensive that terminated the Allied effort to cut off Rangoon. The following months saw relentless battles with intense fighting. Allied forces tried to hold successive positions, but were repeatedly pounded and tumbled back by speed and main force. Breaking contact with the entire force for an organized withdrawal to a fresh position was impossible - it was a matter of fighting extrications step-by-step as the Axis sought to pocket and liquidate our forces by quick and aggressive fixing and flanking manoeuvres supported by their substantial air forces. However, the shrewd decisions of the high command in India, as well as the excellent multi-national collaboration among our English-speaking peoples, enabled the many defensive stands, spoiling attacks, withdrawals, retreats, and outright escapes to be conducted with dash and pluck and without disaster. Despite many tight scrapes in the front lines and the risks taken to hold open routes of retreat for our Allies to the last extremity of the capabilities of our organisations, no Australian divisions were lost, though they stood battered, bloodied and exhausted time and again.
Image below: Session save in mid-battle February 1 as about 5 US (under Patton), 5 Canadian, 10 Australian and 31 remaining Indian divisions conduct a harried fighting retreat across the mountains while sending blocking forces rushing north as the speedy Germanese race to cut off Allied retreat (without success).
The current battle is on the coast, the battle report is from the adjoining province. Most of the troops are retreating Indian infantry.
Other Allied losses have not been disclosed, but were quite small given the circumstances. It is the view of some of our commanders that, had it been open country, our retreating Allied forces should have been largely overrun, but such favorable terrain would also have allowed the Allies to have held Rangoon and prevent a Germanese disembarkation there. They might have risked attack at sea and invaded India instead.
Indeed, if we speculate upon what might have been, a more engaging course of events we may imagine is one wherein the entire Commonwealth springs forth with alacrity to help secure Britain, so that it remained fully in the fight, or that events took a different turn and France did not fall. There are many matters on which we may speculate, but we may remain ever certain that Australians always have and always shall do their duty.
Last edited:
01/01/1941 – 17/03/1941: Unternehmen Barbarossa
The Axis countries had assembled a mighty host for the largest invasion in history ever seen. Italy took command of the Axis minors to form the South front, and German troops remained under the command of OKO to form the North and Central Fronts.
Before the launch of Operation Barbarossa, German intelligence had been diligently ferreting out Soviet plans and unit compositions. This was done via a mixture of dissident Soviet citizens and the establishment of a specialised radio installation in the port of Königsberg that could intercept signals from the Eastern European sectors of the Soviet Union, covering most of the Ukraine and Baltics.
Reports had painted a clear picture of the Soviet defense, and unfortunately for OKO it looked to be a well-entrenched, rational line of battle drawn out by STAVKA. The riverlines stretching from the Dnieper basin up to the city of Riga were covered by dug-in infantry, and the road to Moscow through the cities of Vitsyebsk and Smolensk crawling with Soviet tank divisons. The center and south were more lightly held, but tank reserves had been spotted in the area with numerous infantry divisions still defending the the rivers.
In response, OKO developed their plans for attack. With the heavily forested terrain in the former Baltic states not defended, it presented a perfect opportunity to break into tank country north of the Pripet Marshes while coordinating an advance by the Italians south.
Upon reaching 3am on 1st January 1941, the assembled host launched themselves across the border, and facing no resistance rapidly advanced into the Soviet Union. Heeresgruppe A was ordered to advance together with the 5. Panzerarmee towards the Smolensk gap. With vast plains commanding the approach to the cities, OKO was sure the mechanized panzers would be able to outmanoeuvre the slow moving infantry divisions entrenched in open fields thanks to the lack of natural obstacles, and force their way across the river once resistance had been destroyed.
1. Armee was ordered together with 2. Armee to provide flank protection towards the north, as it was deemed that it would take too much effort to secure a beachhead across near Riga for an advance towards Leningrad. Therefore, only light mechanised forces would be present in this area.
XVII and XVIII Armeekorps were also shipped up north to reinforce the Swedish army, as OKO had not failed to notice the number of Finish troops present on the border after they were puppeted by the Soviet Union in the abortive Winter war.
However, within a few weeks, while great progress had been made, the logistic train behind Heeresgrupe A started to show signs of strain and the demands of the mechanized forces meant all strategic fuel reserves had to be sent to the front… This did not bode well for the future advance.
OKO investigated, and realised that the severe mud and partially frozen ground this early in the year made the supply trucks slow to a crawl, and many roads impassable. This weather is not likely to let up till April, but it is impossible to turn back the Wehrmacht, so the only way is forward, even as contact was made with the entrenched troops near Smolensk.
In spite of that, German advance had been rapid and decisive to this point. While the infantry and motorised elements were still moving up in support, the lack of resistance allowed the deep penetration of the panzer spearheads to begin probing the enemy lines. Even fully dug-in with armor reserves, the plains allowed the rapid flanking of enemy positions once their lines had been broken, and the Soviet infantry were on the verge of breaking along the initial defensive lines. Field Marshal Rommel, in charge of OKO after his successful African campaign, signed an order authorising operational initiative for the forward panzer elements to keep up their relentless advance towards Smolensk as OKO felt the Soviet’s inferior weapons would never stop Germans.
In days, the battle for Kokhanovo had been won with terrible losses to the Soviets, and the panzers moved towards the second defensive line.
OKO was impressed with the progress thus far, and decided to commit reserves into attempting river crossings in an attempt to flank the main Soviet strength gathered at Vitsyebsk and Smolensk. Two attacks were ordered, one at Chachersk, and the other at Chavusy. Both would allow for a pincer movement towards the north and south without the dug in Soviet infantry to delay the fast moving Panzer divisions, but the dug in troops along the far riverbanks proved more of a challenge than surrounding infantry on plains.
The advance towards Smolensk and Moscow in the North did not falter in spite of reserves being drawn off, as the battles for Orsha and Bogushevsk were reinforced by fresh troops arriving from the rear. 11. Panzercorps leading the charge into Orsha reported that number of Soviet troops that were hastily rushed into the battle did not have anywhere to regroup when attacked, and were taking numerous losses just from the chaos and disorganisation.
In another week, the Soviets had begun to falter. The battle for Orsha was won, and cleared a path to increase pressure on Vitsyebsk, which proved challenging for even the well-equipped mechanized infantry to clear in house to house fighting.
In spite of the Soviets committing most of their armor reserves to the center, German engineers had skilfully constructed crossing for the dismounted mechanised infantry to cross the rivers, and upon securing a beach head begun transporting more material and panzers in. The defenders of Chachersk were forced back, opening a path to surround and attack Homel.
OKO had also been notified of a daring Italian amphibious landing near Sevastapol to isolate the famed port, and were rapidly advancing out of the Crimea to pincer the Soviet armies behind the southernmost tributaries of the Dnieper River.
An assault was then launched on Krasnyy again led by the panzer divisions of the 11. Panzerkorps. Though they had taken losses from the initial charge, OKO was determined to keep up the momentum and take advantage of the disorganized troops disrupting carefully prepared defensive lines as they were caught by the renewed attack.
By the night of 11th Feburary, another crossing was secured in Chavusy, and a rapid pincer movement was launched at isolating the Soviet troops left in the center, as the reserve panzers struck in all directions. Soviets losses were terrible with nearly a quarter of participating troops decimated by the unstoppable german panzers.
In days, two new breakthroughs had been identified. By circling around south of Smolensk, the rapidly advancing panzers could attempt to encircle the remainder of the forces to the south, and cut off the north troops from supplies. The south breakthrough from Homel would allow the establishment of a blocking force to prevent reinforcements from reaching the center, and encircle the troops in a pincer movement.
Events progressed rapidly from this point on. By disrupting the communication lines between the forward divisions, orders to retreat were not received, and the entire Soviet center either pushed northwards, or encircled and destroyed while panzer divisions raced towards Moscow to establish a siege. Huge number of divisions were caught in a pincer at Smolensk and east of Homel as the rapidly moving motorized infantry surrounded them.
The situation was equally grim for the Soviets in the south. The Italian landing at Mariupol had succeeded in encircling the entire infantry army defending near the Crimea, and the pocket was about to be formed.
The chase was on. German panzers were ordered to advance rapidly in all directions towards key objectives with no regard for flank security. The Soviet army was beaten back too far to pose a serious threat, and with the launch of an attack on the isolated Moscow, the Allies and Soviets conceded the game!
End of game, Soviet Front
End of game, India
In all, despite some hiccups with the start of the war that gave Germany an extreme advantage (Fall of France and England very quickly), the Allies played a good game especially in the Pacific where the IJN has been severely mauled by the USN, and the Commonwealth defending Asia far longer than expected by the Axis. Singapore in particular withstood nearly a year of continual siege, and it was only the lack of supplies after the fall of London that caused them to surrender gloriously.
I also think that the current houserules governing war entry are reasonably good, and while we’re still balancing the sub mod, this at least went smoothly without any early conceding.
With this, we conclude Panzer Chaos and this attendant AAR, and in honouring how everyone is still learning, we invite everyone to join us for our next game, HPP for Dummies!
The Axis countries had assembled a mighty host for the largest invasion in history ever seen. Italy took command of the Axis minors to form the South front, and German troops remained under the command of OKO to form the North and Central Fronts.
Before the launch of Operation Barbarossa, German intelligence had been diligently ferreting out Soviet plans and unit compositions. This was done via a mixture of dissident Soviet citizens and the establishment of a specialised radio installation in the port of Königsberg that could intercept signals from the Eastern European sectors of the Soviet Union, covering most of the Ukraine and Baltics.
Reports had painted a clear picture of the Soviet defense, and unfortunately for OKO it looked to be a well-entrenched, rational line of battle drawn out by STAVKA. The riverlines stretching from the Dnieper basin up to the city of Riga were covered by dug-in infantry, and the road to Moscow through the cities of Vitsyebsk and Smolensk crawling with Soviet tank divisons. The center and south were more lightly held, but tank reserves had been spotted in the area with numerous infantry divisions still defending the the rivers.
In response, OKO developed their plans for attack. With the heavily forested terrain in the former Baltic states not defended, it presented a perfect opportunity to break into tank country north of the Pripet Marshes while coordinating an advance by the Italians south.
Upon reaching 3am on 1st January 1941, the assembled host launched themselves across the border, and facing no resistance rapidly advanced into the Soviet Union. Heeresgruppe A was ordered to advance together with the 5. Panzerarmee towards the Smolensk gap. With vast plains commanding the approach to the cities, OKO was sure the mechanized panzers would be able to outmanoeuvre the slow moving infantry divisions entrenched in open fields thanks to the lack of natural obstacles, and force their way across the river once resistance had been destroyed.
1. Armee was ordered together with 2. Armee to provide flank protection towards the north, as it was deemed that it would take too much effort to secure a beachhead across near Riga for an advance towards Leningrad. Therefore, only light mechanised forces would be present in this area.
XVII and XVIII Armeekorps were also shipped up north to reinforce the Swedish army, as OKO had not failed to notice the number of Finish troops present on the border after they were puppeted by the Soviet Union in the abortive Winter war.
However, within a few weeks, while great progress had been made, the logistic train behind Heeresgrupe A started to show signs of strain and the demands of the mechanized forces meant all strategic fuel reserves had to be sent to the front… This did not bode well for the future advance.
OKO investigated, and realised that the severe mud and partially frozen ground this early in the year made the supply trucks slow to a crawl, and many roads impassable. This weather is not likely to let up till April, but it is impossible to turn back the Wehrmacht, so the only way is forward, even as contact was made with the entrenched troops near Smolensk.
In spite of that, German advance had been rapid and decisive to this point. While the infantry and motorised elements were still moving up in support, the lack of resistance allowed the deep penetration of the panzer spearheads to begin probing the enemy lines. Even fully dug-in with armor reserves, the plains allowed the rapid flanking of enemy positions once their lines had been broken, and the Soviet infantry were on the verge of breaking along the initial defensive lines. Field Marshal Rommel, in charge of OKO after his successful African campaign, signed an order authorising operational initiative for the forward panzer elements to keep up their relentless advance towards Smolensk as OKO felt the Soviet’s inferior weapons would never stop Germans.
In days, the battle for Kokhanovo had been won with terrible losses to the Soviets, and the panzers moved towards the second defensive line.
OKO was impressed with the progress thus far, and decided to commit reserves into attempting river crossings in an attempt to flank the main Soviet strength gathered at Vitsyebsk and Smolensk. Two attacks were ordered, one at Chachersk, and the other at Chavusy. Both would allow for a pincer movement towards the north and south without the dug in Soviet infantry to delay the fast moving Panzer divisions, but the dug in troops along the far riverbanks proved more of a challenge than surrounding infantry on plains.
The advance towards Smolensk and Moscow in the North did not falter in spite of reserves being drawn off, as the battles for Orsha and Bogushevsk were reinforced by fresh troops arriving from the rear. 11. Panzercorps leading the charge into Orsha reported that number of Soviet troops that were hastily rushed into the battle did not have anywhere to regroup when attacked, and were taking numerous losses just from the chaos and disorganisation.
In another week, the Soviets had begun to falter. The battle for Orsha was won, and cleared a path to increase pressure on Vitsyebsk, which proved challenging for even the well-equipped mechanized infantry to clear in house to house fighting.
In spite of the Soviets committing most of their armor reserves to the center, German engineers had skilfully constructed crossing for the dismounted mechanised infantry to cross the rivers, and upon securing a beach head begun transporting more material and panzers in. The defenders of Chachersk were forced back, opening a path to surround and attack Homel.
OKO had also been notified of a daring Italian amphibious landing near Sevastapol to isolate the famed port, and were rapidly advancing out of the Crimea to pincer the Soviet armies behind the southernmost tributaries of the Dnieper River.
An assault was then launched on Krasnyy again led by the panzer divisions of the 11. Panzerkorps. Though they had taken losses from the initial charge, OKO was determined to keep up the momentum and take advantage of the disorganized troops disrupting carefully prepared defensive lines as they were caught by the renewed attack.
By the night of 11th Feburary, another crossing was secured in Chavusy, and a rapid pincer movement was launched at isolating the Soviet troops left in the center, as the reserve panzers struck in all directions. Soviets losses were terrible with nearly a quarter of participating troops decimated by the unstoppable german panzers.
In days, two new breakthroughs had been identified. By circling around south of Smolensk, the rapidly advancing panzers could attempt to encircle the remainder of the forces to the south, and cut off the north troops from supplies. The south breakthrough from Homel would allow the establishment of a blocking force to prevent reinforcements from reaching the center, and encircle the troops in a pincer movement.
Events progressed rapidly from this point on. By disrupting the communication lines between the forward divisions, orders to retreat were not received, and the entire Soviet center either pushed northwards, or encircled and destroyed while panzer divisions raced towards Moscow to establish a siege. Huge number of divisions were caught in a pincer at Smolensk and east of Homel as the rapidly moving motorized infantry surrounded them.
The situation was equally grim for the Soviets in the south. The Italian landing at Mariupol had succeeded in encircling the entire infantry army defending near the Crimea, and the pocket was about to be formed.
The chase was on. German panzers were ordered to advance rapidly in all directions towards key objectives with no regard for flank security. The Soviet army was beaten back too far to pose a serious threat, and with the launch of an attack on the isolated Moscow, the Allies and Soviets conceded the game!
End of game, Soviet Front
End of game, India
In all, despite some hiccups with the start of the war that gave Germany an extreme advantage (Fall of France and England very quickly), the Allies played a good game especially in the Pacific where the IJN has been severely mauled by the USN, and the Commonwealth defending Asia far longer than expected by the Axis. Singapore in particular withstood nearly a year of continual siege, and it was only the lack of supplies after the fall of London that caused them to surrender gloriously.
I also think that the current houserules governing war entry are reasonably good, and while we’re still balancing the sub mod, this at least went smoothly without any early conceding.
With this, we conclude Panzer Chaos and this attendant AAR, and in honouring how everyone is still learning, we invite everyone to join us for our next game, HPP for Dummies!
Last edited:
- 1
A few questions for you, Vector!
I saw the loss ratios in reported battles deteriorate from 4:1 to 2:1 or less. Was that pattern characteristic of the battles as a whole?
Any idea how many divisions were in those last 3 pockets at Smokensk, Homel, and the Sea of Azov? It looks like a lot, but can't judge numbers accurately by the stack profiles.
You referred to "the disorganized troops disrupting carefully prepared defensive lines as they were caught by the renewed attack." Do you mean a stacking penalty, or that instead of engaging the prepared defenders the Germans got to fight the less organized units moving or retreating into the embattled region, and therefore win easier victories? Or something else?
Does a strategy of having reserve armies in successive defense lines at intervals with each 1-2 provinces deep as a fallback & reserve position work for the Soviets in game?
Good game to all!
I saw the loss ratios in reported battles deteriorate from 4:1 to 2:1 or less. Was that pattern characteristic of the battles as a whole?
Any idea how many divisions were in those last 3 pockets at Smokensk, Homel, and the Sea of Azov? It looks like a lot, but can't judge numbers accurately by the stack profiles.
You referred to "the disorganized troops disrupting carefully prepared defensive lines as they were caught by the renewed attack." Do you mean a stacking penalty, or that instead of engaging the prepared defenders the Germans got to fight the less organized units moving or retreating into the embattled region, and therefore win easier victories? Or something else?
Does a strategy of having reserve armies in successive defense lines at intervals with each 1-2 provinces deep as a fallback & reserve position work for the Soviets in game?
Good game to all!
A rough guess for "my" pocket at the Sea of Azov would be about 20-25 Russian divisions got encircled there. You're free to load up the save as Russia and check yourself?^^
Some more encirclements in Northern Ukraine were made in cooperation with German flaning forces, but these pockets were mostly eliminated fairly quick, so they're not even shown in the pictures. I'd guess these accounted for even more lost divisions when summed up, but at least double digits.
Some more encirclements in Northern Ukraine were made in cooperation with German flaning forces, but these pockets were mostly eliminated fairly quick, so they're not even shown in the pictures. I'd guess these accounted for even more lost divisions when summed up, but at least double digits.
The really major encirclements came east of Homel and north of Smolensk when Longstreet didn't retreat once I broke through. The picture with the two arrow pointing at the breakthroughs are exactly the point when I secured a clear path to charge forward and my reserves were pouring into the breach.
The loss ratios were intially really high because I was engaging SOV infantry when they were on the plains, attacking from 3 directions, and outnumbering them significantly. When I attack across a river, I still have the numbers and surround on the provinces, but it's a lot more even in the battle progress where I take heavier losses.
My reference to disorganized troops mean 1) stacking penalty (as you can see from the tooltips I helpfully included) and 2) they lack dig-in bonus (30%)
In HPP, I would imagine that the play ought to be similar to vanilla, where you should defend in depth where you know you're going to be pushed back, and try your best to hold the riverlines.
The problem in HPP is that the damage to provinces from pushback is 1/3 the vanilla levels. So while in vanilla you can rely on the attack being slowed by destroyed infrastructure, I estimate it'll take maybe 20-30 mil divisions being pushed back per province to destroy 7-8 levels of infra (0.33 damage per pushback, 75% chance = ~4 divisions per level of infra). It's a possible strategy to saturate the frontlines with MIL divisions expressly for that purpose, and conserve your INF/armor to hold the riverlines instead.
Personally, I would only defend the gap right beside Vitsyebsk (Dubrona and Krasnyy) because you limit the number of plains (only Dubrona) provinces that can be attacked to conserve your strength. Following that, make sure that there is no possible breakthrough at the typical suspects (3 axis attack river provinces like Chachersk, and Chavusy for the center, Daugavplis and Drozy for the north, and in the South, Chaplynka). There are of course other places that might be attacked, but 2 province attacks generally won't work well against entrenched armor with reserves.
I checked the ledge for SOV. They lost 12 INF divisions between 18 Feb to 2nd March, most likely to overruns while forming the pockets or Italian action.
In the pocket, we have 5 divisions of armor and 19 divisions of infantry
In this pocket we have 4 of infantry and 1 of armor.
The main thing is that later I will overrun a lot more troops since they're constantly retreating with no chance to reorg, and my tanks can beat the infantry to the next province.
After the chase between 2nd March and 17th March (end of game), Soviets lost 22 ARM, 173 INF, 13 LARM, 21 MEC, 58 TSUP etc etc. While it's by no means the complete destruction of the Soviets, the fact remains that they will never be able to breakthrough my blocking force up north and the south to return to Moscow. The game ended with SOV going from 1229 brigades to 771 brigades in a month between 18th Feb and 17th March thanks to all the overruns once they lack a decent place to regroup and reorg.
The loss ratios were intially really high because I was engaging SOV infantry when they were on the plains, attacking from 3 directions, and outnumbering them significantly. When I attack across a river, I still have the numbers and surround on the provinces, but it's a lot more even in the battle progress where I take heavier losses.
My reference to disorganized troops mean 1) stacking penalty (as you can see from the tooltips I helpfully included) and 2) they lack dig-in bonus (30%)
In HPP, I would imagine that the play ought to be similar to vanilla, where you should defend in depth where you know you're going to be pushed back, and try your best to hold the riverlines.
The problem in HPP is that the damage to provinces from pushback is 1/3 the vanilla levels. So while in vanilla you can rely on the attack being slowed by destroyed infrastructure, I estimate it'll take maybe 20-30 mil divisions being pushed back per province to destroy 7-8 levels of infra (0.33 damage per pushback, 75% chance = ~4 divisions per level of infra). It's a possible strategy to saturate the frontlines with MIL divisions expressly for that purpose, and conserve your INF/armor to hold the riverlines instead.
Personally, I would only defend the gap right beside Vitsyebsk (Dubrona and Krasnyy) because you limit the number of plains (only Dubrona) provinces that can be attacked to conserve your strength. Following that, make sure that there is no possible breakthrough at the typical suspects (3 axis attack river provinces like Chachersk, and Chavusy for the center, Daugavplis and Drozy for the north, and in the South, Chaplynka). There are of course other places that might be attacked, but 2 province attacks generally won't work well against entrenched armor with reserves.
I checked the ledge for SOV. They lost 12 INF divisions between 18 Feb to 2nd March, most likely to overruns while forming the pockets or Italian action.
In the pocket, we have 5 divisions of armor and 19 divisions of infantry
In this pocket we have 4 of infantry and 1 of armor.
The main thing is that later I will overrun a lot more troops since they're constantly retreating with no chance to reorg, and my tanks can beat the infantry to the next province.
After the chase between 2nd March and 17th March (end of game), Soviets lost 22 ARM, 173 INF, 13 LARM, 21 MEC, 58 TSUP etc etc. While it's by no means the complete destruction of the Soviets, the fact remains that they will never be able to breakthrough my blocking force up north and the south to return to Moscow. The game ended with SOV going from 1229 brigades to 771 brigades in a month between 18th Feb and 17th March thanks to all the overruns once they lack a decent place to regroup and reorg.
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The chance of destruction in HPP is considerably higher though. Vanilla damage = 1.0 at 50% chance, HPP = 0.33 at 75% chance. On average we have 0.5 damage vs 0.25 damage, but honestly I prefer it this way because the infra destruction in vanilla is totally insane. One battle = 0 infra immediately. In HPP MP I noticed people retreating their divisions more often so the pushback doesn't occur as much. Note that pushback only happens when a division is forced to retreat out of the province. Manual retreats will NOT trigger pushback.
You can try playing HPP? I'm not sure if the counters are a separate set, but I'm sure with work you can extract them.
I'm surprised that the German advance wasn't halted by supply problems. They had a heavily mechanised army, 0 oil and little fuel...
I did have some supply issues moving forward, and I saw a huge drain on the supply infra, but for some reason the front was still supplied enough to push forward. If I had waited perhaps the situation would have smoothed out after the mud had passed.
I did have a few wings of transports ferrying supplies to spots that ran out though.
I did have a few wings of transports ferrying supplies to spots that ran out though.
Typically yes, enough supplies made it to the front, and happily they reached the units that mattered the most. Most of my north sector was quite under supplied, and out of fuel in some areas consistently, but the center seemed to keep pushing forward as long I kept up the supply drops.
Here's an interesting bonus chapter for you all!
I played a rematch of the last game from 1st jan 1941, but this time against the SOV player playing GER, and me on SOV!
The aim was to test the balance from both sides, and see what needs changing for the next version, but along the way I have many nice pictures to share.
My basic strategy was to hold at the rivers, then try to withdraw to Moscow in good order for a final stand.
Great victory repulsing the initial german attempts at breaching the lines.
The first crack in the Soviet lines, followed by a speedy retreat to Moscow
Germans are welcomed by a stout defense as they try to encircle Moscow
Moscow is about to be encircled, but heavy losses are still inflicted on either side
The battle rages on for the control of the surrounding provinces, with huge losses inflicted on either side.
A landmark battle at Zagorsk marks the single worst battle of the entire campaign with 182k casualties out of 1.08 million men from the Soviets, and 80k out of 383k men from the Germans. (Sorry about the small photo, I clicked out of the notification too quickly, but this was too memorable to pass on)
The battle continues with another high casualty battle, but not as large as the previous one
GER conceded that supply issues and SOV INF spam would stop any further push as winter approached, and we ended this game during Sep, marked by this last battle
I hope you enjoyed this add-on!
I played a rematch of the last game from 1st jan 1941, but this time against the SOV player playing GER, and me on SOV!
The aim was to test the balance from both sides, and see what needs changing for the next version, but along the way I have many nice pictures to share.
My basic strategy was to hold at the rivers, then try to withdraw to Moscow in good order for a final stand.
Great victory repulsing the initial german attempts at breaching the lines.
The first crack in the Soviet lines, followed by a speedy retreat to Moscow
Germans are welcomed by a stout defense as they try to encircle Moscow
Moscow is about to be encircled, but heavy losses are still inflicted on either side
The battle rages on for the control of the surrounding provinces, with huge losses inflicted on either side.
A landmark battle at Zagorsk marks the single worst battle of the entire campaign with 182k casualties out of 1.08 million men from the Soviets, and 80k out of 383k men from the Germans. (Sorry about the small photo, I clicked out of the notification too quickly, but this was too memorable to pass on)
The battle continues with another high casualty battle, but not as large as the previous one
GER conceded that supply issues and SOV INF spam would stop any further push as winter approached, and we ended this game during Sep, marked by this last battle
I hope you enjoyed this add-on!
I certainly enjoyed it, thanks for the interesting post 
So you do consider it pretty balanced atm or?
So you do consider it pretty balanced atm or?
The newest 3.3.3b patch certainly shakes things up, coupled with our new rule regarding IC building that actually reduces the potential of SOV quite a lot. In return, we have balanced combined arms bonuses so GER panzers don't have +80% CA bonus and made rivers a little harder to cross.
My test with SOV and the new mod indicate they can put up a pretty strong defense, so I'm not so concerned for them at the moment.
My test with SOV and the new mod indicate they can put up a pretty strong defense, so I'm not so concerned for them at the moment.
As a reminder to our readers, if you're interested in joining us, the next HPP MP game commences this Sunday 2pm CET!
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/hpp-for-dummies-2nd-hpp-mp-of-2015.856374/
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/hpp-for-dummies-2nd-hpp-mp-of-2015.856374/