4 Player Game AAR with new PBEM++ (Game 2)

[rjh1971]

Summer 43 Wester Allies, Pacific Theatre

The Japanese in their desperation opened a can of worms without noticing. They declared war on the Soviet Union!!!
They tried to take Vladivostok but failed sort. The rule is you've got to have twice as many troops as your enemy to force them to retreat and take the area, triple if it's rough terrain and 4 times as many if it's fortified + rough terrain.

In the Pacific air attacks were carried out wiping out the remaining Japanese airforce, then followed the air attacks on ports decimated the IJN, one sub was not hit.
An air bombing raid damaged the factory in Manchuria, no more supplies for the Japs next turn and they will be forced to repair it spending 5 supplies.

Japan was invaded and forces rushed in to consolidate the area.

In Europe TLC was invaded, in hindsight not a wise move as the WA do not have enough land troops to properly defend the area, but if the Germans decide to retake it will ease the pressure on the Soviets.

Trans-Jordan was liberated and next turn we'll try liberate Egypt and gain an entry to the Med.

Sorry guys no screenshots this turn. I have played the turn and had the screenshots and then when writing the AAR the game went black and could not make it end the turn with the hotkeys, so I had to play the turn again.

[kondor]

Allies escorted to the sea, another Dunkirk, not a D-day. Most of the damaged troops have been destroyed in retreat.

[kondor]

Cairo was evacuated this turn, I can't hold of the allied troops and battle the SU at the same time.

[kondor]

Fall '43.
With the Luftwaffe support, E. Poland was taken by the 6-th army. Finally.
This move cut off the majority of the SU forces in W.Poland, without any supplies. Now, I'll have to find a way to destroy them, as the next turn is winter - this will not be possible.
I'll do everything I can to keep them unsupplied until spring of '44.
Hungary and Chezch factories were rebuilt.

I can't possibly resist the WA and SU for a long time, but I'll do the best I can.

[kondor]

Tim does not have HB-s to supply the encircled forces, and he can't possibly break the naval blockade - quickly.
Or can he?

[tcart]

Russia Fall 43
Well played by Germany. Serves me right for trying a knockout blow early.

Sadly, I can't break the naval blockade, though it strikes me that my British allies could! Hint hint! Those trapped Russians will take down a lot more Nazis if they're well-armed.

Rafael's impending conquest of Japan is about the only consolation to this turn. The Axis long-term prospects are not good, especially with Russia turning out a whole new army this production phase and the full weight of the West soon to head his way. But, it's been a good turn around.

Clearly the Russians should have played it safe, worn down the Rumanian army and waited for 1944. 77% chance to win the war, though. LOL. Also I should have garrisoned East Prussia better.

This turn I tried to wear down the Polish army. There was no chance of killing it, but Germany will be feeling the economic pinch, so 1-1 trades are to my benefit.

In the East the Russians take Manchuria with a massed militia attack. That should end Japan's forays there, even if she doesn't surrender. She'll have no supplies to cause more trouble and hopefully I can retake Vladivostock next turn.

[rjh1971]

Western Allies

Japan falls and the WA begin to shift forces towards Europe, mainly fighter forces to definitely wipe off the LW from the skies.

Cairo was liberated and the Mediterranean reopened from the East. Coastal guns in Gibraltar were finally taken out of action.

First supplies arrive from the WA to the Soviet Union.

The bombing of resources and factories continue.

My apologies again too late to be taking screenshots and preparing them.

[rjh1971]

ORIGINAL: tcart

Russia Fall 43


Sadly, I can't break the naval blockade, though it strikes me that my British allies could! Hint hint! Those trapped Russians will take down a lot more Nazis if they're well-armed.

I could not attack the Germans as soviets and WA can’t be in the same area.

[kondor]

Winter of '44 is upon us.

Destroyed a few of the WA TF-s, and all of the SU arties in W. Poland - with Luftwaffe.
Every single one of them was damaged, and I didn't get a report of it being destroyed despite the fact that the area is completely cut off.

@Tim, can you confirm that they've arrived in your factories?
Is it a bug? Or some rule I've neglected.

Shall the rest of the encircled forces follow the same procedure? That would be a shame (If I manage to run them over next turn). Or is it confined to the bombardment attack casualties?

Snow will prevent WA from doing too much damage this turn, Gibraltar and warmer areas could fall, but nothing significant.
I've reinforced the E. Poland, and I don't believe that the red army can punch through.

Now that WA is pumping supplies in the SU economy, and mustangs will be able to dominate the skies, and a decent D-day anywhere across the continent is a real threat - the end is closing for the fuhrer. I'll have to dig a deeper bunker... I heard that the climate in Argentina is nice.

[rjh1971]

ORIGINAL: kondor
Every single one of them was damaged, and I didn't get a report of it being destroyed despite the fact that the area is completely cut off.

I believe this is because in W. Poland there is a factory, though in that factory no soviet units can be built, only supply and research, but they are not strictly cut off. If they have had to retreat from the area then they would have been destroyed.

[rjh1971]

Winter 44 Western Allies

With the fall of Japan, WA allies turn their war machine towards Germany and Italy.
Fighters range is only of three and could not be used to engage Germany's air force but heavy bombers have a range of four and no fighters were based over W. Germany so they could reach Austria were they strafed the Stukas parked on the runways, no fighter cover and no AA guns made it a piece of cake.

More supplies were sent to the Soviets so they can concentrate in building more troops. If the cauldron in W. Poland is eliminated it might take longer than expected to finish off Germany.
In this game you always have to keep an eye on supply and possible encirclement which can mean the destruction of huge armies, 20 units in this case.

In the Med all Italian transport fleet were sunk. In Northern Italy two carrier air groups attack its harbour despite the presence of fighter units, not a bad result a CAG damage, which was immediately replace with reserve units, for a Light Fleet sunk and the enemy fighter damage.

Being Greece lightly defended a landing force was sent and lately reinforced securing the area that can be used as launch pad to conquer the Axis underbelly.

Same goes for Gibraltar which war retaken, only two militia there.

The image shows the situation at the beginning of the turn.



Operations and casualties in this turn

[rjh1971]

Here are the production screen and the damaged and destroyed units chart for the whole conflict.

[rjh1971]

And finally the research screen, next turn allied fighters will increase their range and there will be no safe place for the LW...

[tcart]

Russia - Winter
Weirdly, my post didn't post. Not sure what happened there.

Yes, Rafael is correct that the damaged Soviet ART went to the Polish factory. That effectively removes it from the game.

The Russians build a second wave and send it towards Poland. If the Axis destroy the trapped army, which may well happen, I will have a replacement doomstack ready to go. At least that's the plan.

The image shows the 2nd Soviet army heading to help the first. I advanced on a wide front due to weak rail infrastructure, but they should be able to amalgamate next turn.

Even China gets in on the act, sending supplies to help their fellow communists. This plus the fall of Japan should doom the Germans soon. Mind you, I thought they were dead already.

[kondor]

Initial tac. bomber sent to soften up the encircled enemy army went better than respected. One tank unit was damaged.
After that, I've sent the bulk of my troops, as you may see in the picture - I was leaving nothing to chance.
A huge red army destroyed, seasoned veterans at that. The new army is forming in Belorussia, but they still have to prove themselves in battle.

I know that Tim didn't play this game with 100%, and he was eager to wrap it up (only lucky RNG kept Berlin from falling), but I'll still consider this as a major victory given all the circumstances.

This move will buy me a few more turns.

p.s. all of the damaged SU units were destroyed (except that first tank unit which was bombed by Stuka TB).

[kondor]

This move has officially disbanded the 6-th army in E. Poland, as some elements were used in the attack on W. Poland.
Some were repositioned in Rumania, and the rest liberated the Baltic states up north.
E. Poland is deserted, as the new red army is will surely aim for revenge.

Kiev FT-s were dealth with. And I've damaged a factory in Kharkov IRC.

[kondor]

WA has landed in Greece, and it will be tough to dislodge them. But they will have a hard time advancing through the rough terrains of Yugoslavia/Bulgaria.

That surprising bombing of WA HB-s, were a few of them (4? IRC) with the land attack of 6, destroyed tree od my TB-s in Austria was a masterpiece.[&o]
Each enemy bomber scored a hit, one even two, and all of that during a winter turn! I wish my bombers have that kind of efficiency.
My HB-s tried to hit some WA ships, but the results were disappointing.

I've taken measures to prevent that kind of raids in the next turn. I'm switching my dwindling production from FT-s to Flaks.
But I'm aware that I can't defend the whole EU, as well.

Infantry attack and FT evasion upgraded this turn. I'll need them.

[tcart]

Russia Spring 44

Kondor deserves full credit for cutting off the Russian spearhead and destroying a big army. That was a big mistake on my part, driven in part by rushing to finish. It's fun to leave a big Germany army trapped in Rumania, but you have to ensure that you can't get cut off.

That said, the great thing about the Russians by '44 is they can bounce back pretty easily. Despite the loss, I attack on a broad front, driving the Germans from the Baltics, E.Poland and... Rumania. That last attack needed some lucky die rolls, but I was due after my defeat at the gates of Berlin.

My goal was mainly to wear down the Germans, as they will have trouble replacing their losses and presumably will have to garrison W. Germany after a massive (I hope) allied landing in the Low Countries.

[tcart]

The Russian attack on Rumania. It's a smallish battle, but I'm gratified by the German losses. It's a bit of revenge for W. Poland.

All three attacks show the value of massed artillery. It's cheap, flexible, and hard for the Germans to match. It tends to level the playing field if the Germans have tech advantages in other areas.

[kondor]

Ouch! [:)]