Perhaps, if the resources could be worked, the Soviets could liberate the Scandinavian nations, before dropping into Germany proper from behind?
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It should be noted that in this ATL, the Germans didn't build a cute little Air Base near the town of Rönne, which they did in 1940 OTL (it's still Bornholm's Airport) I should note that I deliberately drew an Air Base where the Soviets would put it, and that I did not copy the layout of the German-built Airport. The layout I propose is loosely based on the runway dimensions and the size of the main buildings of Ostafyevo Airport near Moscow, built in 1934. It served as a Red Army Air Base in WW2. Runway directions were based on the dominant winds... In game-terms I placed the pre-produced Air Base in the province, and the Airfield is taking shape quite quickly. This gives me a bit of a jump start. I believe that, despite the large investments in infrastructure, the supply network will have trouble coping with massive numbers of both Aeroplanes and troops. if necessary, we may have to pull back aeroplanes so that the troops on the front get enough supply. There will be no such problems in Bornholm... It will definitely be a thorn in the side of the Third Reich.
Once again, no panzers were spotted. I did find a 1953 electrical transformator, as well as some rusted oil barrels and an old inner tube for a car tyre, in an overgrown abandoned building, linked to a series of slate-mines near the town of Haybes.Fixed it for you!
This seems like a lovely plan, but before we can do that, we need to secure our way there, and we need to free up a few corps of troops. The added benefit of a Scandinavia first strategy is that it should pull Sweden away from the Axis.
In the Baltic, this is the logical next step. Take Copenhagen, and the island it's on, cutting Germany off from Norway, and thus pretty much trapping German troops in Norway. The added benefit is that this would open up the Oresund, allowing our ships to go in and out of the Baltic, and thus giving us more flexibility with our Navy.
If we take Copenhagen, and the island around it, we need to be able to hold it against a strong counteroffensive. I estimate that we would need a full rifle corps to do so successfully. (I've done this once before as the UK, and I needed a corps, including Artillery and AT weapons, to hold the strait).
To start with, we can use our three paratrooper Divisions, but we can't keep the Paratroopers there indefinitely. The problem is not so much procuring a corps of Riflemen, we can easily pull one from the reserves at this stage. The problem is transport capacity. Our three transport flotillas are spread out. One is in the Arctic, the second is in the Black Sea Fleet, and the third is in the Baltic. This allows us a certain degree of flexibility, but it means that for such an operation to succeed durably, we would need to transport the Rifle corps to Bornholm, division per division (that's 6 trips), using our one and only transport flotilla in the Baltic, before the operation starts, and then, we re-introduce the Bornholm-Copenhagen Ferry to put the defensive corps in place. This will take time to do. Be patient.
The next update will be a normal 10-day report... then, we'll discuss 'Operation Poseidon'. Or maybe I'll do it the other way around...
Ferrying the rifle corps across could also put them at risk from the German Navy. While our carrier group holds the surface, the German wolfpacks could still attempt and, perhaps, succeed, in causing damage to the transports. If they were put out of action for a month or so after the first trip... Well, that could be an unmitigated disaster. We do need to get at least one transport going - the VDV holding Bornhom must be replaced by a garrison division to free up the Paras.
This is a risk, though it must be noted that no Kriegsmarine units have been spotted in the Baltic. Off course, our Destroyers do have level 1 ASW equipment, so they should be able do do something in the case of a wolfpack. I'll take this opportunity to remind you that the Baltic Fleet is not a Carrier Group, but a SAG with a few escort Carriers attached to it. The Carrier group is still on it's way back from the Far East, and won't be able to enter the Baltic until we take Copehagen.
I think, the risk is worth it, but we will have to start producing transports again very soon.
This is already underway. After shelling Memel, the Baltic Fleet is on it's way to pick up a Garrison Division in Leningrad.
27th of June 1942, 'Odin', Operation 'Poseidon', a relaxing cruise?
The 27th of June 1942, Somewhere in the Aegean Sea, 17,4°C, 2:45 am Moscow Time
After all the excitement in the Southern Baltic Sea, and having slept for barely 3 hours since the Germans invaded, I needed a break, and 'Piat' had just the thing for me, he suggested a nice little cruise, courtesy of the Black Sea Fleet. There was only one problem, I had to get to Sevastopol by 9pm on the 24th, (the same day 'Operation Thor' came to an end) or I would miss the boat. As you may remember, I was in the Southern Baltic, on board Escort Carrier Leningrad at 10am that same day.
Once two aerial battles over the Southern Baltic Sea were over, and all the aeroplanes had returned to their respective Carrier, the remaining aeroplanes of 1. KPA were ordered to fly to Helsinki to repair, refit, and for the crews to get some rest and recreation. At the same time, 7. KPA took off from Helsinki to replace 1. KPA as Moskva's CAG. I took advantage of this switch to hitch a ride to on a, very lightly scratched, Il-10VM torpedo bomber. We landed in Helsinki shortly before 1pm, right in time for lunch. It was a short one, as I found a connecting flight, of sorts, upon arrival, it would leave at 1:15 pm. This second leg was in the back of a postal aeroplane, a re-purposed decommissioned Tupolev SB bomber. It took me to Leningrad, where I landed at 2:15 pm. Once there, I hurriedly changed into a Red Navy Captain 2nd Rank uniform, before taking advantage of a Red Army Liaison Flight to Homel.
The Tupolev ANT-35 is an all-metal twin-engine monoplane civilian airliner designed in the mid-thirties. Only 11 were ever built, all of them were used by Aeroflot until the war broke out. From the start of the war, they were used as VIP transports and for Military Liaison flights. (for comparison 818 Tupolev TB-3's were built.) The ANT-35bis, the variant I was flying on, sports 2 Shvetsov M-62IR Radial engines with 1.000hp each, these propel the aeroplane, it's two-man crew, and up to ten passengers, to a top speed of over 370 km/h, making it one of the very fastest passenger planes in the world in 1937 (In testing 390 km/h was achieved, cruising speed is around 350 km/h). The ANT-35 was never mass-produced, as the slower but larger, Lisunov Li-2 (DC-3) was eventually chosen as the main civilian airliner and troop transport from 1939 onward.
The aeroplane, an old Tupolev ANT-35, took to the skies at 2:30. Sitting next to me was a recently promoted Red Army Guards Maj. General Andrei Grigoryevich Kravchenko. He was proud of his promotion, but even more so of his new station. He was just appointed to command the 14th Heavy Tank Guards Division. This Division was just deployed to the north of Brzesc-Litewski, and the Maj. General was anxious to whip the new formation into shape, and to play with his KV-122s, soon to be replaced by IS-2s I expect. I retorted that I was also recently promoted, and that I was to be stationed somewhere in the Aegean, but he didn't seem too impressed. He said something about there being no Germans in the Aegean Sea. He wasn't wrong, but not necessarily for the reason you might think.
We landed at Homel Air Base at 4:15pm. There, I spotted a couple of Tupolev TB-3s, the first of 1. DBAD to return from the Far East. I quickly arranged for one to fly me, as quickly as possible, to Sevastopol. We took off at 6pm, landing at Sevastopol Air Base at 8:45pm.
On the ground, in Sevastopol, 'Piat' had arranged for a car to pick me up on the tarmac, as soon as I landed. The driver that had been chosen for this job could give 'Odinatsat' a run for her money, where driving prowess was concerned. He expertly threaded the massive Red Navy ZiS-101 staff car through traffic, and by 8:57pm, we screeched to a halt next to the Mikhailovskaya Coastal Battery. Across the Bay, a line of large Military Transport ships was slowly moving towards the Black Sea, and right in the middle, the old Battleship Marat, flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, lay at anchor. A sloop from the Battleship was waiting for me, tied to a small landing. I jumped on board, and was quickly whisked towards it, which was already hoisting it's anchor by the time I got there. I made it.
From then on, I tried to enjoy my cruise on board Battleship Marat. I got an officer's cabin on board the ship, ate my meals at Counter Admiral Papanin's table. Neither, Italy, nor Bulgaria have declared war on us, and as operation 'Poseidon' has gone ever better than hoped, the chance of any German naval units, or even Aeroplanes interrupting the cruise were extremely low, especially when you consider how thinly spread the Luftwaffe seems to be.
The view from the bridge of Marat while she's underway in the Black Sea. The sea was calm, and the skies were clear. With the lukewarm wind in your hair, and the sun on your back, you'd almost forget there's a war on. Then, you look down from the bridge, and you see those tripe 12 inch turrets, and you remember you're on an active Battleship, and you think of those heroes who're dealing with real German-quality Artillery shells, over 700km away, and you rest easy, because you know that, eventually, the hun will fail.
The weather was quite agreeable. The skies were clear, the sun was shining, and in the Black sea, it was a couple of degrees warmer than it had been in the Baltic. Now, off course, the Red Navy didn't organise this cruise for me. This was quite apparent from the 10.000 strong 3. Garnizon Diviziya, which was travelling with us. The Division had been loaded, in it's entirety, onto the 5 massive Military Transport ships, Heavy guns, horses, staff cars, and all, onto the 5 massive military transports, which were sailing right behind Marat, in the Middle of the Fleet. The Garrison Troops being relatively lightly armed, there was plenty of space on the transports, which were loaded to less than 75% of their maximum capacity. Even for the grunts, this was a bit of a cruise. So what was the mission then, you may ask. And ask, you may.
Shortly after 7am on the 26th of June, we entered the Bosphorus, even this early in the morning temperatures exceeded 15°C. By 9am we found ourselves in the Sea of Marmara, where temperatures were higher still, having passed 20°C by the time we entered the Dardanelles, at 3:30pm. The fleet had a top speed of a leisurely 15 knots, as that was pretty much the highest speed the transports could maintain over any length of time, in the straits of the Bosphorus, and the Dardanelles, this was reduced further to about 10 knots. We finally reached the Aegean Sea at 7pm, going around the Turkish island of Bozcaada around 8pm.
With the sun going down over Turkey, which was just over the horizon, we started to see the outline of our destination, the target of operation 'Poseidon', from Marat's bridge. It was around 10pm, and we still had to make our way around the island before reaching the capital, and it's large harbour.
Mythilene, also known as Lesbos. Note, this map is not on the same scale as that of Bornholm. Mythilene is over three times as large, and thus this map's scale is 1:200.000, spanning almost four times the are the Bornholm map did.
Operation 'Poseidon' was a plan for the Red Navy to take the Island of Mythilene from the Germans, who took the island during the final Axis invasion of Greece. As the Paratroopers would probably not be available for this operation, and as the operation is mostly meant to provide the Red Navy with a forward base for operations in the Mediterranean, the idea of a naval landing was retained. In case Germany was at war with the Soviet Union, and both Italy and Bulgaria had yet to join this war, the operation would be rushed to take advantage of this situation before Italian and Bulgarian Naval units would be able to spoil the party. If either Italy or Bulgaria had declared war, or if the initial landings had failed, the plan was to wait for the Carrier Fleet to return from the Far East for air support, and to keep eventual Axis Fleets at bay. That would have delayed the operation by about a month.
Mythilene is perfectly located for the Soviet Union to project power, especially naval power, into the Mediterranean. The proximity to the Boshporus means that the supply lines are short, as long as the Bosphorus remains open to Soviet shipping. Note that the British are still holding on to Athina.
As no Marines would be trained for quite some time, the 1st Guards Rifle Division was prepositioned in Sevastopol, and it's Anti-Tank Regiment was temporarily attached to 3. Garnizon Diviziya. Guards Rifle units are probably the best units for Amphibious operations until we get around to training Marines, and 1st Guards Rifle Division has a Regiment of Sappers, which would further help it in it's efforts.
Just as in Bornholm, (slightly outdated) intelligence pointed to German Forces, possibly a Fallschirmjäger Division, being present on the island, but this island was found empty as well. STAVKA now suspects that German high command pulled units from these small islands in preparation for their invasion of the Soviet Union. They were probably betting that the Soviet Union would be too busy getting overrun by their 'splendid Germanic war machine' to carry out naval landings, and that the British would probably go for Athens, again.
The crowd looks on as a Soviet civilian ship arrives in the Harbour of Mythilene, it's carrying bureaucrats, party officials, and selected workers who have been rewarded for their excellent work ethic with a short cruise to the Soviet Union's first Aegean Island. I'm sure this will be the basis for an extensive article in Pravda.
Back to the operation. I couldn't be there when the Black Sea Fleet left Sevastopol for the first time, but when they returned to pick up 3. Garnizon Diviziya, to be stationed on the newly captured island, I got there just in time. Now, after having successfully liberated Mythilene from a couple of Kriegsmarine administrators, and a few feldgendarmen, all of which surrendered without firing a shot, the 1st Guards Rifle Division will be transported back to Odessa, before being railed north to participate in the defence of the Soviet Union on the main German front.
To get the most out of this new base, the Red Navy has asked for Mythilene Harbour to be expanded significantly, ideally tripling it's size so that both the Carrier Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet can be comfortably based there, if need be. Eventually, a small Air Base should also be constructed near said harbour in order to station reserve CAGs closer to any Mediterranean action.
The harbour at Mitilini. Plenty of space for expansion and new Red Navy facilities.
The anchor was dropped in Mythilene harbour at 2:01am. The docks were filled with men and equipment. All of 1. GvSD was waiting to embark. A sloop took me ashore. Under the watchful eye of the Red Army's Guards Riflemen, 3. GarD disembarked while stevedores helped to unload the larger 122mm and 152mm Artillery pieces. The unloading process was done in a mere 20 minutes, as the men of the Garrison carried most of their equipment off the ships themselves. As the Garrison troops marched off towards their station, chanting the Internationale, the Guards Riflemen started loading their equipment on the transports.
The elite Division, while having about the same number of men, carried significantly more, and heavier, equipment. The Combat Engineers of 14 SaP were especially heavily laden with diggers, deployable bridges, bulldozers, and also a lot of explosives.
The Guards Riflemen are well-rested, and they're all sun-tanned, some even sunburnt. It will take about 40 minutes to load the entire Division onto the transports, which are now starting to getting significantly lower down in the water than they were before. With all that additional equipment, the transport ships will be loaded to 95% of their weight limits. I will have to wrap up shortly, as I still need to arrange for this letter to be flown back to the motherland by a Red Navy Seaplane.
Operation 'Poseidon' was seen as quite risky when it was first proposed. It had the potential for high casualties due to the hilly terrain of the island, and the lack of experience in amphibious operations of the Guards Riflemen. Success was not guaranteed. As we now know, it ended up being little more than a big boating trip to an abandoned island, and the Guards Riflemen have started referring to it as operation 'Aegean Cruise'. Well, my vacation, and theirs, is almost over. I'm sure they'll soon look back nostalgically to those days in the Aegean, when they find themselves, six months from now, freezing their fingers off in some snow-covered trench, bullets flying and bombs falling. To get the most out of my trip, I will take the slow way back, a relaxing cruise from Mitilini to Odessa on board Marat. I'll arrange for tomorrow's 10-day report to be flown to the mainland by float-plane so that you can all read it in a timely manner.
This postcard shows exactly where the sloop was waiting to take me back to Marat.
The sailor waiting to take me back to Marat just informed me that I need to get moving:
Greetings,
'Odin'
Once two aerial battles over the Southern Baltic Sea were over, and all the aeroplanes had returned to their respective Carrier, the remaining aeroplanes of 1. KPA were ordered to fly to Helsinki to repair, refit, and for the crews to get some rest and recreation. At the same time, 7. KPA took off from Helsinki to replace 1. KPA as Moskva's CAG. I took advantage of this switch to hitch a ride to on a, very lightly scratched, Il-10VM torpedo bomber. We landed in Helsinki shortly before 1pm, right in time for lunch. It was a short one, as I found a connecting flight, of sorts, upon arrival, it would leave at 1:15 pm. This second leg was in the back of a postal aeroplane, a re-purposed decommissioned Tupolev SB bomber. It took me to Leningrad, where I landed at 2:15 pm. Once there, I hurriedly changed into a Red Navy Captain 2nd Rank uniform, before taking advantage of a Red Army Liaison Flight to Homel.
The Tupolev ANT-35 is an all-metal twin-engine monoplane civilian airliner designed in the mid-thirties. Only 11 were ever built, all of them were used by Aeroflot until the war broke out. From the start of the war, they were used as VIP transports and for Military Liaison flights. (for comparison 818 Tupolev TB-3's were built.) The ANT-35bis, the variant I was flying on, sports 2 Shvetsov M-62IR Radial engines with 1.000hp each, these propel the aeroplane, it's two-man crew, and up to ten passengers, to a top speed of over 370 km/h, making it one of the very fastest passenger planes in the world in 1937 (In testing 390 km/h was achieved, cruising speed is around 350 km/h). The ANT-35 was never mass-produced, as the slower but larger, Lisunov Li-2 (DC-3) was eventually chosen as the main civilian airliner and troop transport from 1939 onward.
We landed at Homel Air Base at 4:15pm. There, I spotted a couple of Tupolev TB-3s, the first of 1. DBAD to return from the Far East. I quickly arranged for one to fly me, as quickly as possible, to Sevastopol. We took off at 6pm, landing at Sevastopol Air Base at 8:45pm.
On the ground, in Sevastopol, 'Piat' had arranged for a car to pick me up on the tarmac, as soon as I landed. The driver that had been chosen for this job could give 'Odinatsat' a run for her money, where driving prowess was concerned. He expertly threaded the massive Red Navy ZiS-101 staff car through traffic, and by 8:57pm, we screeched to a halt next to the Mikhailovskaya Coastal Battery. Across the Bay, a line of large Military Transport ships was slowly moving towards the Black Sea, and right in the middle, the old Battleship Marat, flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, lay at anchor. A sloop from the Battleship was waiting for me, tied to a small landing. I jumped on board, and was quickly whisked towards it, which was already hoisting it's anchor by the time I got there. I made it.
From then on, I tried to enjoy my cruise on board Battleship Marat. I got an officer's cabin on board the ship, ate my meals at Counter Admiral Papanin's table. Neither, Italy, nor Bulgaria have declared war on us, and as operation 'Poseidon' has gone ever better than hoped, the chance of any German naval units, or even Aeroplanes interrupting the cruise were extremely low, especially when you consider how thinly spread the Luftwaffe seems to be.
The view from the bridge of Marat while she's underway in the Black Sea. The sea was calm, and the skies were clear. With the lukewarm wind in your hair, and the sun on your back, you'd almost forget there's a war on. Then, you look down from the bridge, and you see those tripe 12 inch turrets, and you remember you're on an active Battleship, and you think of those heroes who're dealing with real German-quality Artillery shells, over 700km away, and you rest easy, because you know that, eventually, the hun will fail.
Shortly after 7am on the 26th of June, we entered the Bosphorus, even this early in the morning temperatures exceeded 15°C. By 9am we found ourselves in the Sea of Marmara, where temperatures were higher still, having passed 20°C by the time we entered the Dardanelles, at 3:30pm. The fleet had a top speed of a leisurely 15 knots, as that was pretty much the highest speed the transports could maintain over any length of time, in the straits of the Bosphorus, and the Dardanelles, this was reduced further to about 10 knots. We finally reached the Aegean Sea at 7pm, going around the Turkish island of Bozcaada around 8pm.
With the sun going down over Turkey, which was just over the horizon, we started to see the outline of our destination, the target of operation 'Poseidon', from Marat's bridge. It was around 10pm, and we still had to make our way around the island before reaching the capital, and it's large harbour.
Mythilene, also known as Lesbos. Note, this map is not on the same scale as that of Bornholm. Mythilene is over three times as large, and thus this map's scale is 1:200.000, spanning almost four times the are the Bornholm map did.
Mythilene is perfectly located for the Soviet Union to project power, especially naval power, into the Mediterranean. The proximity to the Boshporus means that the supply lines are short, as long as the Bosphorus remains open to Soviet shipping. Note that the British are still holding on to Athina.
Just as in Bornholm, (slightly outdated) intelligence pointed to German Forces, possibly a Fallschirmjäger Division, being present on the island, but this island was found empty as well. STAVKA now suspects that German high command pulled units from these small islands in preparation for their invasion of the Soviet Union. They were probably betting that the Soviet Union would be too busy getting overrun by their 'splendid Germanic war machine' to carry out naval landings, and that the British would probably go for Athens, again.
The crowd looks on as a Soviet civilian ship arrives in the Harbour of Mythilene, it's carrying bureaucrats, party officials, and selected workers who have been rewarded for their excellent work ethic with a short cruise to the Soviet Union's first Aegean Island. I'm sure this will be the basis for an extensive article in Pravda.
To get the most out of this new base, the Red Navy has asked for Mythilene Harbour to be expanded significantly, ideally tripling it's size so that both the Carrier Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet can be comfortably based there, if need be. Eventually, a small Air Base should also be constructed near said harbour in order to station reserve CAGs closer to any Mediterranean action.
The harbour at Mitilini. Plenty of space for expansion and new Red Navy facilities.
The elite Division, while having about the same number of men, carried significantly more, and heavier, equipment. The Combat Engineers of 14 SaP were especially heavily laden with diggers, deployable bridges, bulldozers, and also a lot of explosives.
The Guards Riflemen are well-rested, and they're all sun-tanned, some even sunburnt. It will take about 40 minutes to load the entire Division onto the transports, which are now starting to getting significantly lower down in the water than they were before. With all that additional equipment, the transport ships will be loaded to 95% of their weight limits. I will have to wrap up shortly, as I still need to arrange for this letter to be flown back to the motherland by a Red Navy Seaplane.
Operation 'Poseidon' was seen as quite risky when it was first proposed. It had the potential for high casualties due to the hilly terrain of the island, and the lack of experience in amphibious operations of the Guards Riflemen. Success was not guaranteed. As we now know, it ended up being little more than a big boating trip to an abandoned island, and the Guards Riflemen have started referring to it as operation 'Aegean Cruise'. Well, my vacation, and theirs, is almost over. I'm sure they'll soon look back nostalgically to those days in the Aegean, when they find themselves, six months from now, freezing their fingers off in some snow-covered trench, bullets flying and bombs falling. To get the most out of my trip, I will take the slow way back, a relaxing cruise from Mitilini to Odessa on board Marat. I'll arrange for tomorrow's 10-day report to be flown to the mainland by float-plane so that you can all read it in a timely manner.
This postcard shows exactly where the sloop was waiting to take me back to Marat.
“Captain, 5 more minutes sir, and then we need to get back to the ship, or the fleet will leave without you and you'll have to find your own way back.”
I hope you are also enjoying the summer weather, in spite of the massive ongoing German invasion.
Greetings,
'Odin'
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The Soviets are grabbing little island bases - very inventive. And finding them empty was lucky. Is that it for now, or are there any further side expeditions planned?
I hope the Japanese don’t decide to join in the so far limited war the Germans have initiated. Out of interest, how much of the Balkans is under Axis control at the moment?
I hope the Japanese don’t decide to join in the so far limited war the Germans have initiated. Out of interest, how much of the Balkans is under Axis control at the moment?
Excellent choice of targets! You're not going to have to worry about the Bulgarians -- normally they only have five transport squadrons as I recall -- but certainly the Italians and Romanians if they choose to join the Axis. The Romanians have a few destroyer and submarine groups (named after individual ships), so they might be able to impact the supply going to that island.
Also, will the Soviet Air Forces be using it as an Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier to launch attacks against Italian holdings?
Also, will the Soviet Air Forces be using it as an Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier to launch attacks against Italian holdings?
Another advantage not mentioned in the above operation report is that I can base a fleet in Mythilene, and if the Turks close off the Boshporus (because they foolishly declared war on me...), that fleet isn't locked into the Black Sea. Good to know about the small navies, I knew they didn't have much, but now I know precisely how little they have. In any case, the Black Sea fleet can easily deal with the Transports, and in case the Romanian Navy shows up (which I don't really expect them to do anytime soon), it'll give the Carrier Fleet some nice target practice.
It should be noted that the Soviet Navy has done significantly more island-hopping in 3 days than the US Navy has in the entirety of the conflict...
Jokes aside, in the Med, there is nothing worth taking as long as the Italians don't join the war, so that's a dead end for now. I would also like some Marines, before we proceed in that direction.
In the Baltic, opening up the Öresund would be great, allowing us to trade more easily with the British and the Americans, allowing our navy free movement in and out of the Baltic, and cutting off German troops in Norway from joining the main fight. I think, as far as side missions go, Copenhagen should be next, but as mentioned before, it will take some time to set up. And then, who knows, maybe liberating Norway, if we can spare a couple more Rifle Corps, and get them there.
Possibly, but right now it's the Navy's show, as opposed to Bornholm, which is to be under VVS command. There is currently no Air Base on the island of Mythilene, and we didn't have another reserve airfield laying around, so right now the priority for Air Base expansion goes to Bornholm, and that for Naval Base expansion to Mythilene.
Everything except for Romania, which remains neutral (possibly thanks to the fact we didn't take Bessarabia, but the Hungarians did take Transylvania), and Athina, which is still in British hands.
Sounds like serious effort should go into building some air base capability for naval bombers to base off of Mythilene, to provide some space from which to deal with the Italian navy.
28th of June 1942, 'Odin', 10-day report #200
The 28th of June 1942, Off the coast of Constanta (Southern Romania), 13,7°C, 10 am Moscow Time,
Report on the state of the Soviet Union for the ten-day period between the 19th and the 28th of June 1942,
by 'Odin'
This Information is accurate on the morning of the 28th of June 1942, I hope it serves you well in fine-tuning your possible suggestions.
'Odin
by 'Odin'
Army:
Due to the ongoing war, the 2.000-day conference of the Secret Committee had to be cancelled. If there is something specific that you would like statistics on for the second 1.000 days of the Secret Committee, I'm sure we can still accommodate your request.Since the war has started, our armament factories and their factory workers have gone above and beyond what was expected of them, increasing production numbers to unseen levels. This resulted in the deployment, ahead of schedule, of a whole slew of units.
5 new Artillery Regiments, 135 AP, 127 AP, 129 AP, 130 AP and 136 AP, have been deployed, to 56 SD, and 184 SD, 180 SD, 118 SD, 189 SD respectively.
Two Engineer Regiments have been deployed to the Far East, 59 SaP, 60 SaP have joined 29 SD, and 136 SD. All of our Rifle Divisions in the Far Eastern Theatre now have a standard Infx3, Art, Eng composition.
14. Tyazhelaya Tankovaya Gvardeskaya Diviziya, our third H Arm, Gdsx2, Art Eng Division, has been deployed to Hajnowka, 36 km to the north of Brzesc Litewski. it will stay in reserve until it gets properly organised and up to strength. Having been in production for a while, it was delivered with KV-122s, which will surely be swapped for IS-2s as soon as possible.
47 KP and 65 KP, both Cavalry Regiments of 16 KD, have finished retraining, and replacing their lorries with GAZ half-tracks. The now strengthened Division has rejoined Lt. General Muzich's II KK, 2ya Tankovaya Armiya, Armoured AG, STAVKA.
Our first NKVD Politeskaya Brigada (MP) has finished training with it's Chinese instructors. 1. NKVDPB 'Mao' will be kept in reserve for now.
Army numbers (Brigades/Personnel) Reserves included (these numbers don't include regiments being upgraded):
Air Force:5 new Artillery Regiments, 135 AP, 127 AP, 129 AP, 130 AP and 136 AP, have been deployed, to 56 SD, and 184 SD, 180 SD, 118 SD, 189 SD respectively.
Two Engineer Regiments have been deployed to the Far East, 59 SaP, 60 SaP have joined 29 SD, and 136 SD. All of our Rifle Divisions in the Far Eastern Theatre now have a standard Infx3, Art, Eng composition.
14. Tyazhelaya Tankovaya Gvardeskaya Diviziya, our third H Arm, Gdsx2, Art Eng Division, has been deployed to Hajnowka, 36 km to the north of Brzesc Litewski. it will stay in reserve until it gets properly organised and up to strength. Having been in production for a while, it was delivered with KV-122s, which will surely be swapped for IS-2s as soon as possible.
47 KP and 65 KP, both Cavalry Regiments of 16 KD, have finished retraining, and replacing their lorries with GAZ half-tracks. The now strengthened Division has rejoined Lt. General Muzich's II KK, 2ya Tankovaya Armiya, Armoured AG, STAVKA.
Our first NKVD Politeskaya Brigada (MP) has finished training with it's Chinese instructors. 1. NKVDPB 'Mao' will be kept in reserve for now.
Army numbers (Brigades/Personnel) Reserves included (these numbers don't include regiments being upgraded):
Front line troops: 703 / 2.109.000
Support troops: 365 / 365.000
Total fighting troops: 1.068 / 2.474.000
Headquarters: 64 / 64.000
Active Leaders: 285 / 213 more available
Production of Heavy Tanks continues, as training starts, towards the creation of another H Arm, Gdsx2, Art, Eng Division. 15. TTGvD will join 14. TTGvD, and 1. GvSD in a second Guards Rifle Corps still to be set up.
Half-track production continues, as the last Cavalry Division of 2. KK, 12. KD will now be swapping their lorries for half-tracks as well.
Artillery Production was reoriented towards replacing obsolete guns in existing units.
Army LeadershipSupport troops: 365 / 365.000
Total fighting troops: 1.068 / 2.474.000
Headquarters: 64 / 64.000
Total Army Personnel: 1.132 / 2.538.000
Officers: 105.942 + / 112.650 needed / 149 KIA / 94,045 %Active Leaders: 285 / 213 more available
Production of Heavy Tanks continues, as training starts, towards the creation of another H Arm, Gdsx2, Art, Eng Division. 15. TTGvD will join 14. TTGvD, and 1. GvSD in a second Guards Rifle Corps still to be set up.
Half-track production continues, as the last Cavalry Division of 2. KK, 12. KD will now be swapping their lorries for half-tracks as well.
Artillery Production was reoriented towards replacing obsolete guns in existing units.
New Maj. General Kravchenko, SK3, BM has been placed in command of the brand new 14. TTGvD, 1ya Armiya, Rserves AG, STAVKA.
Lt. General Meretskov, SK3, LW, has been promoted to General, and Chief of the General Staff, he will be replaced by his predecessor, now demoted to Lt. General Shaposhnikov, SK3, DD as commander of VII SK, 4ya Armiya, 4th Army Group, Odessa HQ.
203. MSD, XXVIII, 2ya Tankovaya Armiya, Armoured AG, STAVKA, which had been commanded from a far by Lt. General Shaposhnikov, will now be commanded by new Maj. General Kreizer, SK3.
Lt. General Meretskov, SK3, LW, has been promoted to General, and Chief of the General Staff, he will be replaced by his predecessor, now demoted to Lt. General Shaposhnikov, SK3, DD as commander of VII SK, 4ya Armiya, 4th Army Group, Odessa HQ.
203. MSD, XXVIII, 2ya Tankovaya Armiya, Armoured AG, STAVKA, which had been commanded from a far by Lt. General Shaposhnikov, will now be commanded by new Maj. General Kreizer, SK3.
124 shiny new La-7s have been delivered, as 114. IAD-PVO, to Av. Lt. General Machin's VIII. IAK-PVO (D), based out of Vladivostok.
Aeroplane Numbers (Wings/Planes):
Navy:Aeroplane Numbers (Wings/Planes):
Interceptors: 28 / 3.472
Multi-Role Fighters: 10 / 1.240
Close Air Support: 11 / 1.364
Carrier Air Groups: 8 / 496
Strategic Bombers: 1 / 100
Production has been temporarily halted to make way for upgrades to existing units.
No changes to VVS nor Navy Air Fleet leadership.
Multi-Role Fighters: 10 / 1.240
Close Air Support: 11 / 1.364
Carrier Air Groups: 8 / 496
Single Engined: 57 / 6.572
Tactical Bomber: 4 / 400Strategic Bombers: 1 / 100
Total Bombers: 16 / 1.864
Transport Planes: 3 / 372Total VVS: 57 / 6.948
Total Navy: 8 / 496
Total Aeroplanes: 65 / 7.444
Active Leaders: 23 / 27 ReserveTotal Navy: 8 / 496
Total Aeroplanes: 65 / 7.444
Production has been temporarily halted to make way for upgrades to existing units.
No changes to VVS nor Navy Air Fleet leadership.
Another Flotilla of 5 Sevastopol-Class Destroyers, 9. Flotiliya Esmintsev, has been delivered by Sevastopol Shipyards. The new unit will join I Avianosets Flote once it returns from the Far East.
Navy Numbers (Flotillas / Ships)
Politics / International:Navy Numbers (Flotillas / Ships)
Transports: 3 / 15
AG-boat Class (I): 11 / 55
Series II Class(II): 9 / 45
Series V-bis Class(III): 3 / 15
Gnevnyi-Class (II): 2 / 10
Kiev-Class (IV): 1 / 5
Sevastopol-Class (IV+): 6 / 30
Battleships / Gangut-Class (I): 3
Escort Carriers / Moskva-Class (I): 2
Fleet Carriers / Kyiv-Class (I): 2
Construction of a new Transport Flotilla has begun in Leningrad shipyards. 3. Transportnaya Flotiliya will eventually be deployed to the Black Sea Fleet.
AG-boat Class (I): 11 / 55
Series II Class(II): 9 / 45
Series V-bis Class(III): 3 / 15
Submarines: 23 / 115
Norvik-Class (I) : 3 / 15Gnevnyi-Class (II): 2 / 10
Kiev-Class (IV): 1 / 5
Sevastopol-Class (IV+): 6 / 30
Destroyers: 12 / 60
Light Cruisers / Profitern-Class (I): 3Escorts: 15 / 63
Heavy Cruiser / Krasnyi Kavkaz (I): 1Battleships / Gangut-Class (I): 3
Escort Carriers / Moskva-Class (I): 2
Fleet Carriers / Kyiv-Class (I): 2
Capitals: 8
Total combat ships: 23 / 71
Total Navy: 49 / 201
Leaders: 13/ 21 ReserveTotal combat ships: 23 / 71
Total Navy: 49 / 201
Construction of a new Transport Flotilla has begun in Leningrad shipyards. 3. Transportnaya Flotiliya will eventually be deployed to the Black Sea Fleet.
In light of the ongoing war, significant changes have been made to the cabinet:
Battle Of Britain
Our intelligence indicates that the Italian Mountaineer Division in Amfissa, has pulled out of the province, without having made any attempt to dislodge the British motorised unit from the Greek Capital. Looks like the Brits will be staying there for a while longer than expected.Tarabulus - Lebanon
Industry:Col. General Georgiy K. Zhukov has returned to his post as commander of 2ya Tankovaya Armiya, Armoured AG, STAVKA. Boris Lvovich Vannikov, a retired Red Army Col. General, has taken over as the People's Commissar for Armament & Ammunition (Armament Minister). This shouldn't change much in the running of military production, as both men have a knack for streamlining the production of Military Supplies. (Both are Military Entrepreneurs: Supplies +20%)
Now ex-Chief of the General Staff, Boris Mikhailovich Shaposhnikov (MP +5%, Human Wave Doctrine decay -10%) has fallen somewhat out of favour. He has been replaced by Kirill Afanasievich Meretskov, who is recognised as a great scholar of Psychology, who will be able to conquer the hearts and minds of the fighting men in a way the brutish Shaposhnikov never could. (Org. regain rate: +10%) Shaposhnikov was demoted back to the rank of Lt. General, taking over from now Chief of the Army Meretskov as commander of VII SK, 4ya Armiya, 4th Army Group, Odessa HQ.
Marshall of the Soviet Union Kliment Yefremovich Voroshilov has returned to his post as commander of the Far Eastern Theatre. In his place, Marshall of the Soviet Union Iosif Vladimirovich Stalin will be working closely with Marshall Meretskov at STAVKA, in particular to organise logistics for the ground forces (Chief of the Army). Both Stalin and Voroshilov have a similar focus on reducing supply consumption throughout the army. (Supply consumption -10%)
And laws were also updated:Now ex-Chief of the General Staff, Boris Mikhailovich Shaposhnikov (MP +5%, Human Wave Doctrine decay -10%) has fallen somewhat out of favour. He has been replaced by Kirill Afanasievich Meretskov, who is recognised as a great scholar of Psychology, who will be able to conquer the hearts and minds of the fighting men in a way the brutish Shaposhnikov never could. (Org. regain rate: +10%) Shaposhnikov was demoted back to the rank of Lt. General, taking over from now Chief of the Army Meretskov as commander of VII SK, 4ya Armiya, 4th Army Group, Odessa HQ.
Marshall of the Soviet Union Kliment Yefremovich Voroshilov has returned to his post as commander of the Far Eastern Theatre. In his place, Marshall of the Soviet Union Iosif Vladimirovich Stalin will be working closely with Marshall Meretskov at STAVKA, in particular to organise logistics for the ground forces (Chief of the Army). Both Stalin and Voroshilov have a similar focus on reducing supply consumption throughout the army. (Supply consumption -10%)
Conscription laws have been changed to Service by Requirement.
Economic Laws were changed to Total Economic Mobilisation.
Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Moskva delivered a plea from his government for the Soviet Union to send Lend-Lease aid their way. This demand has been denied. We need the production capacity for ourselves, we need to hold on to our merchant ships, and given Britain's performance in the war up to now, it would probably be a wasted effort anyway. In short we'll do more good with the money ourselves.Economic Laws were changed to Total Economic Mobilisation.
Battle Of Britain
2 Air Battles took place, just north of Dieppe, another is currently happening over Portsmouth.
Strategic Bomber Command has successfully struck Leipzig, without being intercepted.
The Luftwaffe attempted another bombing run on Plymouth, but the bombers were intercepted over the target.
1 Allied convoy was lost in the Atlantic, while 11 Axis convoys were sunk by the Royal Navy.
Athens - GreeceStrategic Bomber Command has successfully struck Leipzig, without being intercepted.
The Luftwaffe attempted another bombing run on Plymouth, but the bombers were intercepted over the target.
1 Allied convoy was lost in the Atlantic, while 11 Axis convoys were sunk by the Royal Navy.
Our intelligence indicates that the Italian Mountaineer Division in Amfissa, has pulled out of the province, without having made any attempt to dislodge the British motorised unit from the Greek Capital. Looks like the Brits will be staying there for a while longer than expected.
French Mountaineers have retaken control of Tarabulus, pushing the Italians until they could take no more. All the remaining men of the Italian binary Division were taken prisoner. The prisoners will be transported to POW camps in Indochina. They won't see their homeland again, let alone fight for it; until after the war has ended.
North Africa Front:United Kingdom (Surrender Progress / NU): 1,9 / 87,6
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,00 / 79,3
Still no movement on the ground.
The RAF took to the skies again, bombing Bardia another 5 times. Over Italy, there was also a lot of action, with Air Battles over Terni, Firenze, and Bologna. That last one must have been a direct consequence of the RAF bombing the city.
No naval encounters.
No convoy losses on either side.
South East Asia FrontItaly (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,00 / 79,3
Still no movement on the ground.
The RAF took to the skies again, bombing Bardia another 5 times. Over Italy, there was also a lot of action, with Air Battles over Terni, Firenze, and Bologna. That last one must have been a direct consequence of the RAF bombing the city.
No naval encounters.
No convoy losses on either side.
United States of America (Surrender Progress / NU): 8,5 / 85,8
United Kingdom (Surrender Progress / NU): 1,9 / 77,6
Japan (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,00 / 70,3
Netherlands, France, Philippines (Government in Exile)
The IJN and IJA have moved additional forces into Oosthaven. The units, presumably freshly arrived from the Philippines, have started moving inland towards the current capital of the Netherlands, Palembang, and it's valuable oil refineries. For the Dutch, this is actually a blessing in disguise, as it will give them an opportunity to relocate their supply hub to somewhere that isn't cut off from all of their remaining troops. They will possibly be able to do something now...
There have been no naval encounters.
One of our spies in French Indochina has discovered that Saigon shipyards have just delivered a Flotilla of surprisingly modern Destroyers to the French Navy. The Suffren-Class ships are equivalent to the latest British Destroyer Class, the County-Class. Technology was definitely shared, as British Naval designers were spotted in the Saigon shipyards. It's not clear how much good a single Destroyer Flotilla will do, on it's own, against the IJN, with the rest of the Marine Nationale in Dakar. In any case, a second Flotilla of Contre-Torpilleurs has already been laid down. Much of the French government resources have been sunk into this programme, let's hope it pays off.
The convoy war rages on, but the intensity seems to have lowered, as both the IJN and the Royal Navy are licking their wounds. 2 Japanese convoys, and 10 Allied convoys, were sunk.
Pacific FrontUnited Kingdom (Surrender Progress / NU): 1,9 / 77,6
Japan (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,00 / 70,3
Netherlands, France, Philippines (Government in Exile)
The IJN and IJA have moved additional forces into Oosthaven. The units, presumably freshly arrived from the Philippines, have started moving inland towards the current capital of the Netherlands, Palembang, and it's valuable oil refineries. For the Dutch, this is actually a blessing in disguise, as it will give them an opportunity to relocate their supply hub to somewhere that isn't cut off from all of their remaining troops. They will possibly be able to do something now...
There have been no naval encounters.
One of our spies in French Indochina has discovered that Saigon shipyards have just delivered a Flotilla of surprisingly modern Destroyers to the French Navy. The Suffren-Class ships are equivalent to the latest British Destroyer Class, the County-Class. Technology was definitely shared, as British Naval designers were spotted in the Saigon shipyards. It's not clear how much good a single Destroyer Flotilla will do, on it's own, against the IJN, with the rest of the Marine Nationale in Dakar. In any case, a second Flotilla of Contre-Torpilleurs has already been laid down. Much of the French government resources have been sunk into this programme, let's hope it pays off.
The convoy war rages on, but the intensity seems to have lowered, as both the IJN and the Royal Navy are licking their wounds. 2 Japanese convoys, and 10 Allied convoys, were sunk.
All quiet here, there continues to be no substantial US involvement in the war save for massive amounts of lend-lease to the UK.
No convoys were caught close to US home waters.
No convoys were caught close to US home waters.
Working Industrial Capacity / available capacity: 240 / 438 Total Economic Mobilisation and the increased fervour of factory workers For the Motherland, have massively increased industrial output.
IC Usage: ( Allocated IC / Need )
Intelligence:IC Usage: ( Allocated IC / Need )
Upgrades: 131,00 / 159,79 + Much of the increase in industrial output was sunk into upgrades, making sure our units everywhere have the best, and latest, equipment the Soviet Union has to offer.
Reinforcement: 28,40 / 28,40 + The need for reinforcement has increased drastically due to significant casualties along the front.
Supplies: 43,00 / 61,18 + We've had to cancel some trade deals for supplies, as the trade routes were long, and the goods pricey.
Production: 209,31 / 209,38 -
Consumer Goods: 26,28 / 26,28 - In these times of existential war, the population is prepared to give up some creature conforts in the name of the Defense of the Motherland.
Stockpiles:Reinforcement: 28,40 / 28,40 + The need for reinforcement has increased drastically due to significant casualties along the front.
Supplies: 43,00 / 61,18 + We've had to cancel some trade deals for supplies, as the trade routes were long, and the goods pricey.
Production: 209,31 / 209,38 -
Consumer Goods: 26,28 / 26,28 - In these times of existential war, the population is prepared to give up some creature conforts in the name of the Defense of the Motherland.
Energy: Maximum tonnes +
Metal: 99.810 tonnes -
Rares: 48.649 tonnes +
Crude: Maximum barrels +
Supplies: 32.685 tonnes -
Fuel: 99.641 barrels -
Money: 1.342 - This drop is due to the cost of enacting wartime laws, our trade balance is now positive.
Metal: 99.810 tonnes -
Rares: 48.649 tonnes +
Crude: Maximum barrels +
Supplies: 32.685 tonnes -
Fuel: 99.641 barrels -
Money: 1.342 - This drop is due to the cost of enacting wartime laws, our trade balance is now positive.
Spy numbers, spies in (active / added / lost / caught by us)
Research:France (Supporting our Party / Counterespionage): 5 / 0 / 0 / 0
Spy training leadership expenditure: 0,23 (a new spy every 33 days)
In the first days after the start of the war, three Axis spies were apprehended and neutralised. 2 German spies, and 1 Japanese Spy were caught red-handed.
Spy training expenditure was increased, as the Diplomatic Service has reduced it's budget, due to a lack of enthusiasm from Sweden for trades of any kind.
{ Germany (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 2 }
{ Japan (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 }
{ UK (/) : 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 }
Other: 0 / 0 / 0 / 0{ Japan (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 }
{ UK (/) : 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 }
Total: 5 / 0 / 0 / 3
Reserves: 5Spy training leadership expenditure: 0,23 (a new spy every 33 days)
In the first days after the start of the war, three Axis spies were apprehended and neutralised. 2 German spies, and 1 Japanese Spy were caught red-handed.
Spy training expenditure was increased, as the Diplomatic Service has reduced it's budget, due to a lack of enthusiasm from Sweden for trades of any kind.
Under the leadership of Alexander Novikov, the VVS Fighter Aviation Units and the Red Navy Air Fleets have now abandoned the 3-aeroplane vic formation in favour of the zveno-pary (2 pairs or finger-four) formation. This is a major revolution in Interception Tactics (Level 5), which has been in the works since February of this year. The change in tactics should greatly aid the VVS in keeping the skies clear of enemy Aeroplanes.
Now, the VVS is looking into possible improvements to Ground Attack Tactics (Level 4), these should make our bombing runs more lethal still.
The Red Army Logistical theory team has increased the scope of it's research to include improvements to Supply Transportation (Level 4).
Research into better Mass Assault (Level 5) tactics has also started in our main Military Academies, this research is being directly informed from experience at the front, to make our Rifle Regiments more resilient, and more prepared to Assault enemy lines.
Leadership distribution:
Statistics:Now, the VVS is looking into possible improvements to Ground Attack Tactics (Level 4), these should make our bombing runs more lethal still.
The Red Army Logistical theory team has increased the scope of it's research to include improvements to Supply Transportation (Level 4).
Research into better Mass Assault (Level 5) tactics has also started in our main Military Academies, this research is being directly informed from experience at the front, to make our Rifle Regiments more resilient, and more prepared to Assault enemy lines.
Leadership distribution:
Research: 20.50 (+2)
Espionage: 0.23 (+0.06)
Diplomacy: 2.19 (-0.06)
Officers: 10.5 (+0.50) (63 Officers/day) The increase in officer training numbers isn't enough to replace current Officer losses, we may have to increase spending here even more in the future as now we're barely keeping up with the requirements of newly deployed units.
Espionage: 0.23 (+0.06)
Diplomacy: 2.19 (-0.06)
Officers: 10.5 (+0.50) (63 Officers/day) The increase in officer training numbers isn't enough to replace current Officer losses, we may have to increase spending here even more in the future as now we're barely keeping up with the requirements of newly deployed units.
Total: 33,42 (+2,50) Every scientist, spy, diplomat, and Army Training Officer is working just that little bit harder, in the name of Rodina.
National Unity: 83,241 =
Neutrality: 0,00 =
Dissent: 0,00 =
Manpower:
Neutrality: 0,00 =
Dissent: 0,00 =
Manpower:
Available: 2.294.000
Men To reinforce(need): 1.690
Men To mobilise(need): See above
Monthly gain: 72.900 Men (1 fully mobilised Infx3, Art, AT Division every 5,2 days)
Service by Requirement means that we have an even larger manpower pool available.
No changes in Party Organisation, nor Party Popularity, for the last 10 days.Men To reinforce(need): 1.690
Men To mobilise(need): See above
Monthly gain: 72.900 Men (1 fully mobilised Infx3, Art, AT Division every 5,2 days)
Service by Requirement means that we have an even larger manpower pool available.
This Information is accurate on the morning of the 28th of June 1942, I hope it serves you well in fine-tuning your possible suggestions.
'Odin
Some impressive new equipment delivered there. I like the HARM, 2xGDS, ART, ENG divisions - good hitting power there for deliberate attacks or defending when it matters.
Re the French naval program: “sunk” may be an inauspicious term to use when describing the funding they have put into it! Though perhaps accurate.
Re the French naval program: “sunk” may be an inauspicious term to use when describing the funding they have put into it!
Though perhaps accurate.
The decision is coming up soon. I think you're right, I'll think about adding an Air Base sooner rather than later, though for now our 'naval bombers' are land-based CAGs, until we get some serious twin-Engine research in.
Our H Arm are quite slow, and geared towards defence (priorities are first Armour and reliability, second Main Gun, and third Engine (unless the tank becomes slower than 4 kph, just so you know...). The hitting power is quite good, and defensiveness even better. Right now the plan for the Guards Rifle Corps is that they each have 2 Heavy Tank Divisions and 3 Guards Rifle Divisions. But I'm seriously considering changing that ratio to 3 H Arm Divisions and 2 Guards Rifle Divisions. These corps are not part of the Tank Armies, but I see them as a separate Guards Army in the future, once more Divisions get added.
It's a conscious word-choice, because no matter how good those Destroyers, they will get sunk rather quickly, as soon as they are deployed. Unless, of course, the bulk of the French Navy finally relocates from Dakar to somewhere more useful, like Saigon...Re the French naval program: “sunk” may be an inauspicious term to use when describing the funding they have put into it!
The level of officer casualties is somewhat concerning, but generally things seem to be going well and while we do have seemingly a decently large amount of casualties, our main forces should be reaching the front shortly. All in all I would say things are going to plan, and the slew of upgrades coming soon to the frontlines should further tip the odds in our favour.
Upgrades are already getting to the front, I foresee a drop in upgrade requirements rather soon as quite a lot of units are pretty close to completing the transition to SVT-40s. I've played through the 10 first days of the war. Casualties are beyond anything we've seen in the Winter War, that said, including Air Strikes, Germany has lost more men, and their units are, on average, more IC intensive, so they're already hurting more than we are, even before our tanks get to the front. The line hasn't held equally well everywhere though, so that might be a bit of a problem, also, despite all the upgrades, the supply network is struggling a little, I've noted a few bottleneck provinces which will definitely be upgraded in the next round of Infrastructure improvements. I still have to crunch some numbers, and there's another update coming today or tomorrow.
Then it'll be time for the big one, the first comprehensive report of 10 days of GPW action, considering how much action there has been, it'll be rather lengthy, and I'm still figuring out the format. Don't expect it by tomorrow, but I'm already laying the groundwork.
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Great to hear! I'm in the process of doing that myself for the Poland campaign in my AAR... and I'm kicking myself for not a) taking into account the "hour" portion of the clock to really show how long actions went on and b) not taking screenshots of the battle reports for the first part of the war.
I don't take screenshots of the battles etc. I actually don't take many screenshots period. I play on my desktop, and input all the data I want to track directly into a spreadsheet that's open on my laptop. When the AAR is over (if it ever ends...), I'll post the spreadsheet, so you can see just how massive this whole endeavour is...
Lol... check this out (notice how many tabs I have going in each of the spreadsheets):
That's impressive. It's close... I've got one with 20 tabs, and the other with 3 tabs. (I split them as 23 tabs was a bit much to handle, even with short names for the tabs). I don't even want to imagine how far I'll go if I ever play a game like yours with several computers and several nations...
I used to try and capture everything by hand, but now to "save time" I don't record as I go, but just desperately capture screenshots of everything... so I wind up with almost 700 screenshots on one computer and then have to hope that I remember what was going through my head when I captured any particular one... ugh. My next one will not be this complicated. Guaranteed.