4 Player AAR with new PBEM - Game 3

[kondor]

IJ has started massing troops in Manchuria, and we know where this is heading.
I don't expect them to go anywhere, as the valiant RA units have started reinforcing the Vladivostok/Irkutsk area for a few turns now.

[tcart]

Germany Summer 44

The East Front was a mess and remains a mess. Like an idiot I forgot to leave a TAC unit out East to get the combined arms bonus. Without it a mass counterattack was a bad idea. So instead I keep retreating and hope that a big battle in Rumania will go my way.

The turn was not without victories. The Afrika Korps is rescued, while a redux of the Battle of Britain shows the strength of jet technology. The allied air forces were clobbered, hopefully preventing D-day.

More losses were inflicted in the Med. It's a bit of a sideshow, but it's costing the RN a lot of losses trying to sail past the Luftwaffe.

I wonder if I can build enough artillery to stall the Russians.

[rjh1971]

Su44 Japan

As expected the Allied navy retreated to the other side of Africa but were smart enough to garrison Madagascar with an artillery. It would have made an excellent base for Japan [:D]



Japan is no so overextended that it just doesn't have enough supplies and transport fleet to carry out all the operations.

Northern India was taken, Lanchow factory was busted, while factory in Eastern India was repaired and some resources in Australia. Two transport fleet were sunk, while Chagos Arch was invaded to provide air support to the IJN CVs.

[kondor]

SU '44, Soviet turn.
If the Germans will not attack me, I'll attack them.

Major clash in Rumania, despite unfavorable terrain I was given better than 1:1 odd, so I took it.
Results were appropriate, and both sides were equally downsized.
This suits me perfectly, and the Germans are stretched to the breaking point.

I was lucky enough to damage that Stuka tac bomber, so if Tim decides to attack next turn - it will again have to be without combined arms.

[kondor]

In this turn, I've raided E. Prussia, Hungary, and W. Poland. Damaging GE factory output significantly.
Germany will not be a problem soon, and increased transfer of troops to the soon-to-be Vladivostok front is continued.

[rjh1971]

Fa 44 Japan

Germany refuses to go down without a good fight, they concentrated most of its wrath against the WA which paid a high toll in their navy and air assets, those pesky daring soviet armour approaching Berlin were taken care of.

As for Japan, they decided that controlling access to the Indian Ocean from the Red Sea was a must and before any WA allied could reinforce the horn of Africa they might as well take hold of the area to invest in tourism...



Meanwhile the Soviets keep concentrating more troops in Siberia, hopefully this will ease the pressure on our German allies. The Soviets by no means must be the first to strike in Manchuria, that could be devastating for Japan...



Problem with Japan now is that her Empire is so big we have trouble covering all the fronts... [:D]
A US fleet has been detected entering the Pacific Ocean, PH base has been reinforced
More resources were repaired but automatic victory is definitely out of reach...
Wonder if they US Task Force will remain close to Gibraltar and risk an attack from the LW.

[kondor]

SU turn, FA '44.
No combat this turn. Germans decided to evacuate Rumania, my troops entered the capital without any hostilities.
Maybe Hitler will do the same in Berlin?[:D]

Rebuilding of the motherland and rebuilding supplies needed for the upcoming offensive is in full effect. But it will take some time to move the troops, ammo, and fuel to the frontline again.

[kondor]

You may notice a complete absence of the SU airforce on the EU front. It's because my FT-s are 6-6, and GE has 8-9? I could not allow myself to upgrade the airforce with the production I had (low 30-is at max production), and no land lease from the allies. So I was forced to make some hard choices.
Lack of airforce investment is one of them.

Fortunately, the bulk of the Luftwaffe was busy on the western front true the entire war.

[kondor]

SU winter '45.
No hostilities during the winter turn. R&R everywhere.

[rjh1971]

ORIGINAL: kondor

SU winter '45.
No hostilities during the winter turn. R&R everywhere.

I sent the turn and did not post its report, Japan's turn is previous to Speedy Dalibor [:D]

Winter 45 Japan

First sortie from the horn of Africa into the Eastern Mediterranean rendered a transport fleet sunk.

Japan decided to start clearing the remains of the Chinese army and took Paotow. Australia is now fully Japanese.

More factories were repaired this turn. Fighters were sent to Manchuria.

Nothing much to report, as long as Germany is alive Japan is secure!

[rjh1971]

Sp45 Japan

After loosing a heavy bomber and a fighter unit in Africa, Japan decided to send its CVs to attack the US fleet in Cairo, despite being outnumbered. Intelligence reported the US fleet was unsupplied and odds were favorable 3 to 5, but two automatic US hits ended up spoiling the attack.

A Japanese sub was sunk in South Africa (scuttled would be more accurate) when after being damaged found itself too far away from any friendly port.

In China Lanchow was occupied.

[kondor]

SP '45.
With the warmer weather settling in, Stalin ordered the further advance of the armies.
As the Germans have evacuated Yugoslavia, there was no fighting this turn.

Advancing into W. Poland would be a mistake, as then two german armies could intercept and inflict heavy casualties.
We don't want that, at least not before my armies are in one big ball. So, I've decided to move in into Yugoslavia, and Hungary.
This way we can threaten N. Italy, Austria, and Czechoslovakia.

Now the German has to choose what will they defend, and move troops accordingly.

[tcart]

Sorry guys, no screenshots. The situation hasn't changed much.

Kondor is right that Germany must choose what to defend. Italy has to go, and France is now very weak. But we're aiming to make it to 1946, not hold on to the empire. As a benefit, I can concentrate a strong force in Czecho. I wonder if it will be enough for one last big land victory.

All Germany really wants to do is remain impossible to take. Every turn buys Rafael time. So I don't need to counterattack, it'd just be fun.

[rjh1971]

Su45 Japan

Japan occupies the whole of India, launches an attack on Chinese resources and shuffles its troops to reinforce Manchuria.

Production of fighters and CAGs has been given priority. The expense in research and development has also been boosted.

[kondor]

SU 45, SU turn.

On the bright side, we have captured Austria and N. Italy, on the other end Germans outclass me in research (arty at 10) and now in numbers too.
Rough Austrian terrain will prove some shelter, but it seems that major loss is imminent.
Time is a luxury, so I can't wait for the reinforcement.

I'm inviting allies to the beautiful beaches of Normandy, I hear that D-day is a beautiful thing?

[tcart]

Germany Fall 1945

Germany launches a second battle of the Bulge, seriously damaging the Red Army. My investment in ART plays off. If only I'd positioned more tanks to be a part of the strike I could have gotten combined arms and really wreaked havoc. But I couldn't risk Russian armor dashing into E.Germany.

Germany now has a decisive numerical and qualitative advantage in ART. Plus I only need to defend two regions. That should be sufficient for me to run out the clock. I don't think a renewed Soviet assault will have enough strength. And if Stalin leaves everybody nearby he risks a second attack with even more favorable odds.

I made a mistake in lowballing the number of supplies I could have used, even though I had about a hundred. The lesson is you never have enough.

[tcart]

Note Germany's short frontier and strong (relatively) defensive positions.

[rjh1971]

Fa45 Japan.

Looks like Germany is proving to be a nut to tough to crack.

Japan had little to do this turn other than continue to reinforce Manchuria in case hostilities break out.

[kondor]

Fall '45.
After barely managing to hold Austria, buttered SU troops pondered the idea of retreat.
But as the next turn is winter, and '45 is coming to an end, there is no point. Instead, I brought everything I could to the front.
Winter could save me for one turn, and that may be all that the allies need.

What does the manual say, which date is the major axis win?

[tcart]

Germany Winter 46

I think the WA would have been better served by moving all of it's troops into Belgium. That way the Germans would have been squeezed. Sure, I could counterattack somewhere. But whomever was left alone could then force the issue.

Germany's real weakness is supply. I made a major mistake a few turns ago by not stockpiling more.

So Germany's counterattack into Austria this turn, while effective, could have been devastating if I'd had another 15 or so supply. Alas.

As it is, the Russians are worn down and now probably lack the artillery to effectively hit back next turn. I guess we'll see. Germany is not in an ideal position, because she must defend Czechoslovakia and W. Germany.

I think the game goes until Fall 46.