Tourny Round 4, Forwarn v Kondor

[Forwarn45]

In Winter of '44, Germany launches a series of spoiling attacks against Soviet forces in Kiev. I've found this can be useful if you want to weaken your opponent but don't want to take an area. Here, some action is necessary given the Soviet buildup in both Kiev and Poland. One attack.

[Forwarn45]

The Luftwaffe comes in.

[Forwarn45]

The final attack actually succeeds in taking Kiev with a very small German force. This was not my intention - but the destruction of infrastructure and supplies is welcome. I fear for the German forces, but Kondor's subsequent counteroffensives damage/retreat most of them instead of destroying the units.

[Forwarn45]

In Winter, the Allies continue the great battles at Kunming in another bloody battle of attrition. The replay:

[Forwarn45]

1944 initially sees similar fighting from 1943. The air battle for supremacy continues. The Germans and Russians skirmish near the border of Rumania, and the Japanese and allied forces battle in China. The casualty totals near the beginning of Summer of '44 are a testament to the heavy fighting in the air and the other skirmishes. The naval losses are also a product of the heavy effort against Japan.

[Forwarn45]

Unit totals are holding up, with the most noticeable change being the increasing number of allied heavy bombers, both from the west and the Soviets.

[Forwarn45]

But at the end of Summer, the Red horde moves west. Bypassing Rumania, the bulk of the Soviet forces move into West Poland. Soviet armor spearheads seize Czechoslovakia. Bu the Germans counterattack (see below). Trains originally destined to reinforce for the Balkans are turned around as the Germans scramble to defend the Fatherland. The maximum number of units are railed out of Rumania back home.

[Forwarn45]

In Winter of '45, the Soviets launch an offensive aimed at West Germany but are repulsed. Here is the replay!

[Forwarn45]

The German high command seizes a rare moment of opportunity. Von Manstein proposes an envelopment attack while the Red Forces are tired and disorganized. The Germans attack the surrounded Soviet forces, prompting them to surrender (as there is no route of retreat)! It is this battle that gives the Germans a new lease on life, and me a chance at something other than defeat. The battle was basically a sure thing. I tried a couple different approaches until I got about a 95% success chance, while leaving enough forces to defend Germany after the battle. Kondor has been playing a good game - but it just goes to show that even in the late game, the Axis can have a chance!

[Forwarn45]

Japan also achieves a victory. General Yamashita retakes Kunming after repulsing an attack by the Brits and Americans in China. (This was just good luck - I think the attack had about a 40% chance of success.) Anyway, 1945 is shaping up not to be so bad for the bad guys.

[kondor]

Red army was destroyed there at Chezoslovakia... It was a heavy blow. I underestimated the tech lvl-s of German soldiers... I had enough troops but tech was my downfall... If I am not mistaken SU inf where at EV 7, AT 7, while Germans where at Ev 8, AT 8... Artillery was on my side (AT 10, on GER. 9), but Germany had a powerful tanks at 9 9 I believe and SU had only a few tanks at 7 7.
I calculated to have enough supplies to made a run with entire army from E. Poland to Germany and to lunch attack. And as the bulk of German troops where at Rumania, I could always be one step in front of them... And I hoped that my bombers in the same time will do enough damage to railroads that only few can redraw from RU to GE in time...
There was my undoing, my HB-s failed, almoust all army got back in time+ there where technologically superior...
Then I landed WA to TLC to prevent Germany to attack SU army with both W and E. Germany. But WA just hadn´t enough troops there yet to take W. Germany...
I should shown a little more patience and take it step by step. I tought that I could surprise Forwarn45, but he is just to good for that[&o]. Maybe next time[:D]

[Forwarn45]

1945 sees primarily air skirmishes as things settle down while the Reds rebuild and the WA also build up forces to once again threaten Germany.

[Forwarn45]

More air battles!

[Forwarn45]

Air remains important for the Germans because the Allies developed "the bomb" sometime in 1945. As 1945 draws to a close, the Allies attack again in Germany but are repulsed.

[Forwarn45]

The West:

[christian brown]

Talk about Gotterdammerung! Great AAR [:)]

[kondor]

In summer of ´46 both WA and SU had a slim chance of taking Germany (about 1%), but ofcourse that didn´t happen. But Germany has no way of rebuilding as WA and SU.. And in fall ´46 SU marched into E. Germany...
As Japan production was on 3, after the end of WA turn it was game over...
Axis failed to reach first watermark, so odds changed one step on my side and I hoped for a marginal victory. But game ends as Substantive Axis victory (I guess game counted axis defeat at winter turn).

Well deserved victory by Forwarn45![&o] He has shown me that Germany can stand against SU and WA if played well even if begging was not so great..
I wish him best of luck in the rest of the tournament!

Loss logged at wargamer.

[MrQuiet]

Great Job guys on being done with a round 4 game before most are even done with round 3.
Excellent AAR and I feel Kondors pain as I also am currently engaged in matching wits with the likes of Forwarn45.
 
-MrQuiet