Need a Soviet strategy

[pdstanbridge]

Okay, so I find myself very much on the defensive. I had planned for it to go this way; I'm not overly keen on attack, and prefer to ambush my prey. But I am struggling to even hold the line. So I've come to you, armchair generals, to help your comrade.

The Baltic states are allied, and I didn't have enough divisions at the commencement of war to hold the line. So the axis powers have broken through, and poor Lithuania is holding on by a thread. I'm fairing better on the Soviet line, and the Romanian line, but there are still pockets that have broken through. I have nothing spare. I am losing green air. My fighters are being shot down in droves. I'm starting to falter....

Axis casualties already, are huge. About 1.7 million. Mine are much less so, but I have nothing much in reserve.

 

[Jays298]

Anti air if you have it.

Turn your air force off until you can at least match what they sending.

Lots and lots of infantry units. Even if they aren't trained 100%.

State anti air especially big air zones like Ukraine.

There's a officer corps spirit that gives entrenchment bonus. Static warfare. That's your thing.

The citizen militia decisions that give defense buffs in exchange for losing production in that state...very useful.

On my game they broke thru in the southern front but I was able to move troops and hold. And that was ok because better to lose most of Ukraine than anything around Leningrad or Moscow.

 

[pdstanbridge]

I do have 1 x AA in certain zones, but that's obviously not enough. But every division also has AA support, so that's something.
I went with GBP so everything I have is defensive, and I have the static warfare bonuses. I think my problem is I have nothing much to counter with. I have just two armoured divisions and 4 x mot that I do my pushing. I don't really understand the composition of armoured divisions yet, so I need to do some testing.

 

[jju_57]

Can't see what your industry is but I noticed your air XP is 500. Why? Get some air doctrines or beef up your planes with variants. Never let XP max out. You should also have around 300 divisions by now. Looks like your army is way too small.

 

[pdstanbridge]

Can't see what your industry is but I noticed your air XP is 500. Why? Get some air doctrines or beef up your planes with variants. Never let XP max out. You should also have around 300 divisions by now. Looks like your army is way too small.

Because I forgot to use it!

That's a good idea. My air doctrines are complete however, but I can work on the aircraft upgrades.

Hmm, I've about 220 divisions on the field, which includes an army in Spain as they are my puppet. I've another 20 divisions coming along which should be ready soon, but either way I'm well down on where I need to be. I'm using 20/24 width infantry divisions, which have excellent defense. I've 185 factories. I tried to follow as best I could the method to maximise industry pre 1941, but I took a bit of a hit with the purge.

 

[jju_57]

There are NF's and decisions you cna pick to increase your defenses. But right now pump out INF. In 1941 you should have 48 or more divisions in training almost all the time. You have alsmot endless MP. Use it.