4 Player AAR with new PBEM - Game 3

[tcart]

Germany Fall 43

Sorry gents, I forgot to take screenshots. I'm a bit swamped with the holidays.

The German position is deteriorating, but there's still damage to be done.

Italy: Germany retook the boot, after carefully killing the transport in the med. So all losses are permanent. Won't save the Afrika Korps, but it will force him to pay a heavy price if he wants to keep naval units in range of German air.

West: All is quiet. I can't afford to challenge his air force without also risking a nasty bombing campaign. Let's see how upgraded Flak does.

Russia: I can't risk a mass battle. So Rumania has to be abandoned. In hindsight I should have thrown enough mil in there to force him to commit a juicy army that could be counterattacked. This is what happens when you rush.

My main strategy now is to give Japan time to build impenetrable defenses. So that if Germany falls in '45 somewhere the Axis can win on time.

The ineffective invasion of Russia sure hurt the German overall strategy.

[rjh1971]

Fa 43 Japan

Japan keeps expanding in the Pacific and India. We feel confidence enough that the WA and the USSR will sue for peace and will accept terms for an unconditionally surrender.

Second watermark has been reached. If next turn Southern India and Chungking fall will be only one point short of a Decisive victory. Most probably Germany will repair her damaged factories and that will increase our total score, if not repairing one more resource will achieve victory.

On the other side anything could happen and maybe the allies have real good one under their sleeve...



As for the combat report this turn, Japan could not believe the USA moved the figher cover and CAGs stationed in Wester USA to Mexico just when the production of new CVs terminated. It was an opportunity that only comes once in a life time so all four CVs stationed in Hawaii headed towards the Western Coast and launched its deadly CAGs to hit those shiny brand new CVs, turning them into chunks of twisted, smouldering metal.
The CAG damaged was immediately replaced with new airplanes from the homeland.



In the Indian Ocean Germany withdrew her uboat allowing Japanese to score further hits, another light fleet and a heavy fleet now lay in the seabed.
Northern India was invaded and captured (two victory points gained)

In China though Chungking fend off the Japanese attack they can not replace their losses. The factory was hit again to prevent any production and a resource in Paotow was also hit.



Australia can be given for conquered (four victory points)



All these operations drained Japan's supplies leaving only six available. This has meant that some damaged units had to be on hold to produce research points, supplies had highest priority now that victory is in sight...
Infantry evasion will now be six, not very high but it will do.
Note that the production of raw resources production exceeds manufacturing needs.

[rjh1971]

Of course if FOW had not been broken with the beta.exe this game would have been totally different...

[kondor]

Well, congratulations are in order [&o]. Don't get used to it, I assume one more game like this, and we are ready for serious opposition!

[rjh1971]

ORIGINAL: kondor

Well, congratulations are in order [&o]. Don't get used to it, I assume one more game like this, and we are ready for serious opposition!

[:D][:D][:D]

Sure!, march parades are about to be over and we are getting down to the real business...

Goran has greatly improved his playing and you're regaining your old expertise... [&o][&o][&o]

[kondor]

I've played this one in a hurry.
Giant armies clash with each other in E. Poland. Starting odds were 1:1 (29:29), and I had to attack to deny the Germans the combined arms bonus (which he'll receive if Tim decides to counterattack).
And basically, there is nothing for me to wait for.

I've lost a lot more tanks (difference in tech shows), but his artillery number is reduced significantly.

[kondor]

I've taken the precious Rumanian oil fields, and thus reducing the overall axis VP-s. But there is no stopping Japan any time soon.
Rafael has played an excellent game from the start.

Chinese did hold valiantly, they've pushed back the IJA attack on the capital. And I've started deploying troops in the Vladivostok area.

[kondor]

Now the facing army numbers in E.Poland / Belorussia are equal again, and Tim probably can get the victory with the bonus.
But I'm assuming his ppl pool is getting pretty low right about now. He'll have to start prioritizing what to put back on the battlefield, while I don't have such issues.

+ the lower army count means fewer supply problems for me.[:D]

Edit: The Baltic fleet was put into action as well. With the 1:3 chances, I was hoping to nock out that transport.
I've lost all ships, and GE BB is damaged. (TF got the veteran status)

[kondor]

Merry Christmas to all!

[rjh1971]

Merry Christmas!!! [8D] [:)]

[tcart]

Merry Christmas everyone.

Germany Winter 44

With the Winter defensive bonus a counterattack didn't make sense. I'm tempted to do what the Germans did last time and retreat into Rumania. But I think I'll play it safe. For now, anyway.

Those attrition losses last turn were nasty. Germany will never fully replace them.

However she can still maintain air superiority somewhere, and she can run out the clock, given the Japanese juggernaut.

Without a mass counterattack the turn is rather dull. I shored up my Italian defenses and evacuated the Afrika Korps air force. Best I could do.

[rjh1971]

Wi44 Japan

The loss of Romania plus the bombing of factories and Bulgaria resource prevented the Axis from achieving a total victory this turn. Add to this that despite 79% chance of taking Sothern India the attack fail. It seems it was jinx, it all started well bombing the rail tracks, but then the second wave of bombers got hit and had to return to base. Add to that that it was winter and a bit of luck with the roll of the dice and the attack did not succeed. So one point short of forcing the Allies to surrender, one resource was repair as well as the Changsha factory.

Quite the opposite took place in Chungking, with only 56% chance of succeeding the Japanese army achieved an astounding victory.

The IJN sunk the remaining combat British fleet in the Red Sea, only some transport fleet were left and will most probably will withdraw to meet the new TF that is circumnavigating Africa. They outnumber Japanese naval forces two to one, so CVs from PH will urgently have to be called as well as more fighter cover.

[kondor]

W44, SU turn.
Limited attack on the panzers in Rumania, and a failed attack on the German Baltic fleet with the HB.
Building up supplies for the upcoming spring offensive.
I hope to be in Berlin next Xmass. [8D]

[kondor]

When will the east of the SU (VLadivostok) unfreeze - if the IJ chooses not to attack me?

[rjh1971]

The Soviet Union is automatically at war with Japan starting the turn after Germany surrenders. If an action causes the Soviet Union to be at war with Japan, the Central and Eastern zones are immediately Unfrozen.

If at the end of a Japanese Player turn Manchuria contains less than three Japanese Infantry/Militia/Armor units, the Soviet Eastern Zone is immediately Unfrozen.

[kondor]

ORIGINAL: rjh1971

The Soviet Union is automatically at war with Japan starting the turn after Germany surrenders. If an action causes the Soviet Union to be at war with Japan, the Central and Eastern zones are immediately Unfrozen.

If at the end of a Japanese Player turn Manchuria contains less than three Japanese Infantry/Militia/Armor units, the Soviet Eastern Zone is immediately Unfrozen.

Thx [&o]

[tcart]

Germany Spring 44

In hindsight, the Germans should have defended Rumania to get a shot at an AV. I didn't realize Rafael was so close.

Moves are made to give us one more shot at it, though I suspect we've hit our high water mark. The Germans start to think about revisiting the Battle of Britain. I wish I could punish the RN in the Med more, but the Greek landing is cut off for now. I doubt it will last.

Mainly the German plan continues to be to stall and force the Allies to move cautiously, so I can survive into 1945. That should allow Japan to hold on. Who knows. Maybe my upgraded Panzers will give me a shot at a devastating counterattack in E. Poland.

[rjh1971]

Sp 44 Japan

In Wi44 the WA achieved their first naval victory. Their four CVs sailed within reach of the Japanese Task Force and launched their CAGs causing havoc in the Japanese flattops, one sunk one damaged. Though they suffered heavy CAGs losses.

Japanese counter attack on the US carriers ended in defeat. Bad luck with the roll of the die (1) and the Jap CAG got damaged, that gave a +1 to the US CV's evasion mod.

[rjh1971]

The US task force was left with two CAGs that were taken care of by fighters from Ceylon. Japanese Sub attacked a TF with its hold with 2 supplies. Japanese fleet were deployed to try to prevent US CVs from withdrawing though they will most probably will break the blockade as Goran was smart enough to leave three supplies in the same area as the CVs. More Light Fleet units are around the corner and will probably make to the fray.

India was finally conquered and a US sub sunk. Victory seems to be slipping through our fingers as more resource and factory centers are being damaged in Europe.

In China Sinkiang factory was torn to rubbles and in the Pacific a US TF was damaged south of Mexico



This is the situation at the end of the turn.

[kondor]

SP 44 SU
Huraaa for the WA victory over Kaga and Akagi, comrade Stalin sends his regards to Eisenhower.

On the eastern front, Germans have retreated to Rumania. WA landed in Greece, and the red army burned its supplies in repositioning in E. Poland.
I can't even move my tank units from Moscow or Gorki.[X(]

Factory in Hungary was bombed this turn, while the Luftwaffe is busy on the west front.