Turn 47 - 9th March 1942 - Fair/Snow
Production
Germany - 138
Italy - 27
Total - 165 (+1)
Overlord? We manage to damage 3 transports in the Atlantic as a large enemy flotilla approaches the UK.
Manstein injured as his unit is destroyed, losing too many units on the Eastern front and PPs being spent on replacing losses.
150 > 124 Oil still losing it but this turn at last usage was less than production.
Turn 48 - 29th March 1942 - Fair / Severe Winter
Production
Germany - 139
Italy - 27
Total - 166 (+1)
We need the winter to end soon as the Eastern front is crumbling, Russians starting to isolate my forces which are too thin on the ground.
105 Oil remaining.
Turn 49 - 18th April 1942 - Fair / Mud
Production
Germany - 139
Italy - 29
Total 168 (+2)
We actually managed to end the turn with more oil than last turn, but supplies are still pitiful.
The Eastern front is deteriorating into a disaster with not enough units to hold a coherent line. Summer needs to come fast and even then it's probably a lost cause.
Overlord also looks likely any time now and with just 3 SUBs to help defend the coasts it won't be hard for the Allies to get a beach head.
US SUB spotted in the Med, is an invasion of Italy imminent too?
Oil 123 (at end)
Turn 50 - 8th May 1942 - Fair
Production
Germany - 135
Italy - 29
Total - 164 (-4)
Large allied fleet heading for the Med, I am blocking the straights with 2 Italian SUBS but they will easily overwhelm what we can muster.
All available air forces from Western Europe (not much, just 3 units) are diverted to Northern Italy with 3 GAR units.
In the East Rundstedt is assigned command of the South now as armour is transferred south for Case Blue. It will take a couple of weeks to move all armour required to his command before we can strike in this theatre.
With oil so low it is critical that oil is captured before winter hits again and so Runsdtedt is tasked with driving as far as he can by the end of September and will now be given priority with reinforcements etc.
Rommel commands the centre and has a reasonable force under his command but there are some gaps in the front near Kursk and Moscow that need filling.
With Manstein injured until June Hoth is commandeered and will arrive to take command of the Northern flank shortly. The Northern flank is most threadbare and will need at least half a dozen units to shore things up.
Vitebsk is recaptured and the front is now generally stabilised although it will take a few more weeks of replacements before we can go on a general offensive in the East.
Oil now critically low at just 88, barely enough to sustain attacks much past July unless we restrict air and naval movement.
Turn 51 - 28th May 1942 - Fair
Production
Germany - 139
Italy - 29
Total - 168 (+4)
Oil 125
Rundstedt crosses the Don but we've only been able to send an additional armoured unit so far as all other forces are committed around Moscow.
Hoth arrives to stablise things around Vitebsk and with the addition of the 1st SS Panzergrenadiercorps, newly refitted he can begin to go on the offensive soon hopefully.
Around Moscow Rommel has allowed 3 units to be surrounded, all units are committed to extricating these forces and whilst we wipe out 2 enemy MEC units there is still a chance at least 2 German units, a Corps and ARM will not be able to escape fully.
Simply far too many Russian units around now, again all PPs used to strengthen damaged units.
In the Med a British BB is seen exiting the straights of Gibraltar and he will run into our two Italian SUBs next time around.
Italy has been reinforced with a motley selection of GAR and Corps from mainly the minor Axis powers.
Oil 76 at end of turn.
Turn 52 - 17 June 1942 - Fair Weather
Production
Germany - 137
Italy - 29
Total - 166 (-2)
Oil 121
Slow progress in the North but Rommel seems to have stabilised things around Moscow and extricated the XIV Panzerkorps for the loss of a Corps.
The Northern flank may now be under control but at the risk of weakening the centre. We still haven't been able to send as much as hoped south to help Rundstedts drive on the Caucuses but he has progressed quite well with just 2 Armoured units and a Mec, but a trap is looking likely as he simply lacks enough units to take the objective whilst holding his flanks.
We will need to clear Rostov of defenders to help reduce this risk and that will take time, but perhaps next time we can send another unit or two to support.
Oil 59 - we seem to be using so little oil as our forces dry up that we will be OK for the rest of the year but will have to continue being careful.
In the Med the US find the Italian SUBS, they pull back for one more attempt to slow the inexorable advance of the US forces.
We have quite a few units in Italy but until we can work out where the invasion will land we cannot fully commit the defenders. A total of 17 defensive units are in Italy but mainly weak GAR units with just a couple of Corps.