Led By Donkeys - Western Powers AAR

[The Land]

August 1915:North-East France

On the Moselle and Vosges fronts, the French have recently succeeded in re-taking Nancy. However, as they did, the Germans launched an attack further south in the Vosges, driving French troops out of Epinal. Fortunately they were not able to enter the fortress. German artillery is now very effective, which is a pain.

[The Land]

August 1915: North Sea Skirmish

Continuing the August 1915 status update I'll also talk about the other fronts that have been less prominent so far.

Here is the North Sea. You can see the Royal Navy is in blockade positions and destroyers are off trying to chase down submarines. The German submarines have focused on the Norwegian Sea, and interfering with supply routes to Russia. Only one sub counter has tried to do unrestricted submarine warfare and you can see it's encountered a destroyer on its way back.

Towards the Norwegian Coast end of the line, you will see that German destroyers are trying to interfere with British cruisers. This is unlikely to succeed as the destroyers are weaker and there are many Grand Fleet battleships not far away. My concern is that the destroyers might be the advance guard for the German High Seas Fleet. My situation in the North Sea is not ideal, because a a total of 3 modern and 2 old capital ship counters have been sent to the Mediterranean.. I can probably take the Germans if they come out to play, but it is not a forgone conclusion. Also, the Germans were very recently spotted in the Baltic, where they have destroyed the entire Russian Baltic Fleet but suffered several ships damaged in the process - have they really come out into the North Sea so soon?

[The Land]

August 1915: The East

I'm sure you're curious about the Eastern Front as well. Here it is. The Germans have been pushing on Riga for a while but are being held back at Mitau. They have recently made an attack on Kovno and that is threatened as well. In Poland, Warsaw has fallen and before long Lublin and Ivanogrod will fall as well, then the Russians will be pushed back to Brest-Litovsk.

In Galicia the Austro-Hungarians have taken parts of Polish Galicia. Russia still holds the border town of Tarnopol, but not for much longer probably.

[The Land]

August 1915: The Caucasus

Not to be left out, here is the Caucasus Front. The Russians have actually been doing fairly well here - they have not gained ground but they haven't lost it, and have inflicted reasonably heavy casualties. There is currently an attack in progress by the Ottomans against Kars. They may take it but they are more likely not to.

[The Land]

August 1915: Overview

And finally, here is an overview of the casualty and morale situation.

National Morale is as follows:
UK: 93% (46,869)
France: 79% (35,779)
Serbia: 59% (11,835)
Russia: 65% (29,549)
Germany: 76% (38,432)
Austria-Hungary: 47% (15,246)
Ottomans: 89% (19,715)

US War Entry is at 14%.

Losses of Corps and Cavalry Corps stand at 23 for the Entente, and 41 for the Central Powers. I believe a large majority of CP losses are on the Western Front.

In terms of the house rules, France has earned 4 'chits' (including one this turn for being pushed out of Epinal) and to date has spent them on two Trench Warfare and one Infantry Weapons. The UK has earned only one and spent it on Trench Warfare. Inevitably, the Central Powers will get a tech advantage later in 1915 and thereafter.

At this point the Entente is winning firmly in the West and losing in the East, and is winning so far overall. It looks probable that Austria-Hungary will collapse before Russia does. But really it could all go either way!

[The Land]

28 August 1915: We're Ashore!

News from the Dardanelles!

As expected, the Battlecruiser formerly known as Goeben and the Turgut Reis were summarily despatched by the Royal Navy and the way was cleared for the landings. There was some damage to Queen Elizabeth and Invincible, sadly.

As planned, the Royal Marines were able to land N or Gallipoli and isolate the peninsula from the rail network. They are expected to take heavy losses from counterattacks. God Save the King!

The Royal Naval Division has landed on the Straits themselves after attacking Sedd el-Bahr.

The Canadian Corps have been unable to board transports, because of a shortage of transports. Who could have seen THAT one coming! Britain is a great trading nation, so we have lots of ships. But none of them are here. So their landing will be delayed at least one turn. Still, it will hopefully prove possible to take Sedd el Bahr before the Marines run out of supplies.

In good Balkan news, the Greeks appear likely to enter the war on the Entente side and make Salonika available to Entente forces. There is a French Expeditionary Force consisting of their Marines, Foreign Legion and Colonial Corps supported by an HQ, which will land at Salonika and establish a land supply route to the Gallipoli area.

[The Land]

28 August 1915: Cruiser Clash in the North Sea

The Dardanelles is not the only area with news. Probing south from the blockade line into the North Sea, Royal Navy cruisers discovered a substantial German force in the central North Sea.

This was promptly engaged by the Grand Fleet, sinking the battlecruiser Moltke, the armoured cruiser Furst Bimarck and crippling the Yorck. There is at least one German dreadnought also in the area. Very likely the High Seas Fleet is also coming out to play. Fingers crossed I will be able to defeat it.

[The Land]

September 1915: Salonika and the Dardanelles

Greece has entered the war! Albeit half-heartedly, only committing one Corps of revolutionaries to the effort. Still that one Corps has marched along the Aegean coastline through Bulgarian territory to open up a supply line from Salonika through to the British Marines at Gallipoli, who have dug in.

The French Expeditionary Force has begun to unload at Salonika and will be in a position to operate against Gallipoli and Adrianople.

Fun fact about Adrianople: It is the most fought-over place in the world. There were battles there in 313, 324, 328, 378, 813, 1205, 1254, 1365, 1829, and 1913. Now there will probably be another one.

Sedd el Bahr irritatingly remains in Turkish hands, despite bombardment by the big guns of British and French ships. The Canadian Corps has now been able to board landing craft, but has not been able to land yet. Hopefully by next turn the dwindling supply position in Sedd el Bahr combined with renewed attacks by the Royal Marines and the Canadian Corps will secure it.

However, the Marines have been able to neutralise the shore batteries on the Western side of the Dardanelles straits. With the assistance of battleships and naval landing parties, the British now control the Straits enough to be able to push cruisers and submarines into the Sea of Marmara, where they will begin to wreak havoc on the Turkish economy and morale. So that is a success.

[The Land]

September 1915: Serbia

Progress on the Serbian front, where the British and Serbs destroyed two weakened Austro-Hungarian Corps, took Uzice and have an open path to Sarajevo, bypassing the Germans around Kragujevac. It's very likely the Central Powers will operate in some Corps from other fronts to prevent a total collapse in this area. Still, it should be possible to continue offensive operations - either towards Belgrade, or Sarajevo, or perhaps the Adriatic coast.

[The Land]

September 1915: The North Sea

In the North Sea, a German fleet appears to have concentrated off Bergen, though some elements are still off the coast of Jutland. German capital ships inflicted heavy damage on the battlecruiser Tiger, which fortunately managed to limped home, sank a light cruiser and almost destroyed a submarine flotilla. In retaliation the Royal Navy was able to locate and destroy the battlecruiser Derfflinger. This engagement still hangs in the balance.

[The Land]

End September 1915: Not so quiet on the Western Front

I wasn't wrong about Serbia. The next turn, 7 German Corps and 2 Cavalry Corps materialise. Clearly they are preparing to mount a counterattack!

Meanwhile, the Western Front has hardly been quiet. On the Belgian sector, the Allied troops have crossed the Dyle and pushed East as far as Liege. The Germans attacked again at Epinal with huge artillery support and briefly held it, before being pushed out by an immediate counterattack.

However, more than the territory changing hands, look at the intelligence about the German lines. You will see an HQ and an artillery in the front lines, and several HQs just behind the lines. The Germans have clearly weakened themselves here to reinforce Serbia.

(House rules update: After losing Epinal again the French gained another chit, invested in Trench Warfare. The British a few turns ago lost their Cavalry Corps to a counterattack in Belgium, this got them their 2nd chit, invested in Infantry Weapons. Because of the restrictions on what Britain can spend on land research it's completed Level 1 Naval Weapons and Antisubmarine Warfare already...)

[The Land]

November 1915: The rain in Thrace falls mainly on the...

Excellent news in the Dardanelles! Gallipolli and Sedd el Bahr are both in Entente hands. Gallipolli fell first, its trench lines outflanked by the French advancing along the Aegean coast. The garrison of Sedd el Bahr held out valiantly but was ultimately defeated by V Corps making another amphibious landing. Adrianople is under siege and before long Constantinople will be too! How long can the Turks last?

British newspaper headlines are full of news about the valiant exploits of the Marines, Army and Navy in the Dardanelles and are rather less emphatic about the role of the French advancing from Salonika, without whom the whole thing might have been a fiasco. But Churchill is talked of as a future Prime Minister, a possible successor to the increasingly unpopular and indecisive Asquith...

In the North Sea the confusing action off the Norwegian coast has continued. The Grand Fleet has now destroyed one German dreadnought and two battlecruisers, as well as 6 destroyer squadrons. Entente losses are several light and heavy cruisers, which is a very acceptable loss ratio. The British heavy fleet units have largely withdrawn to port for repairs and rearming, though British destroyers are heavily engaging the large number of German submarines in the area. The eastern section of the blockade line is unguarded, but this is a necessary step to avoid German dreadnoughts having the opportunity to engage mine on favourable terms. Who knows what is lurking in the mist?

[The Land]

March 1916: The Fifteentifirst Battle of Adrianople

It's now March 1916, and the Entente have successfully taken Adrianople, in the 14th, 15th, 16th, or possibly 17th Battle of Adrianople depending on which of the minor ones in the classical period you count.

French troops have reached Constantinople, which is prepared for a long siege. The Ottoman troops are extremely well dug-in, and in a much better state than the Entente troops in the area who are suffering from months of heavy fighting in conditions of poor supply. Still, there is probably enough Entente force in the area to eventually take the city. You will note the Indian Artillery are present on this front, and have accumulated a large stock of shells that will likely be vital to the success of the attack.

You'll also observe Ottoman troops have re-crossed the Straits and are now threatening Sedd el Bahr again. The cheek! Fortunately this is no longer critical to my supply lines, and if I am particularly sharp I'll be able to cut them off and pocket them.

[The Land]

March 1916: Overall roundup

I won't screenshot other fronts but they are in more or less the same place as September 1915.

National Morale stands as follows:
UK 93% (47/50)
France 75% (45/45)
Serbia 74% (15/20)
Russia 56% (25/45)
Germany 59% (30/50)
Austria-Hungary 44% (14/32)
Ottomans 56% (12/22)
US War Entry is at 18%

On the whole I still think I am winning, but nothing is certain. The Western Front will be very tough in 1916 as the Germans are digging in at Entrenchment 5. There is more French artillery on the way but it will be tough to make any real gains. In Serbia there there are more opportunities because it's more possible to bully the very weak Austro-Hungarian units, but probably the AI can deploy enough German units to prevent any significant gains there. Austria-Hungary might have very little offensive ability at the moment but it also isn't going to collapse in the coming year as there is no way to capture large numbers of towns.

The Central Powers' path to victory is if they are able to take significant ground in Russia against the Russian AI. The Russians are running out of troops to hold their line so them collapsing is a real possibility. That will result in Russian morale falling, possibly to crisis levels, at the same time as raising German morale. A scenario where Russia collapses is still distinctly possible.

My path to victory is continued attritional warfare. Beating the Ottomans would be a significant advantage as it would raise Russian morale and free up the Caucasus Army, as well as creating the opportunity for the British and French to advance through Bulgaria into Austria-Hungary. Romania has also just entered the war as part of the Entente, though it is being quite passive at the moment (under Russian control)

The brightest spot is at sea. Austria-Hungary has one pre-dreadnought and one light cruiser; their new dreadnought was sunk after docking in a port within artillery range of the British. Germany has lost 2 battlecruisers and a dreadnought and all its many destroyers for little compensation. The British are building many more destroyers with ASW tech. So it seems like the surface battle in the Mediterranean is won, the balance of forces in the North Sea is very favourable, and the submarine war is in a good state.

[The Land]

May 1916: Siege of Constantinople, Siege of Sofia, Second Battle of the Straits

Lots going on the Thracian-Balkan Front in May 1916.

As you can see, Entente units are moving into position to besiege Constantinople. Airships have been transported from Britain and France in an attempt to reduce supply in the Ottoman capital, which will be an important step to successful siegeing (the Ottomans have defied reason by not simply surrendering when the Royal Navy entered the Sea of Marmara). Artillery is almost in position, and we may be able to attack in June.

Also, Turkish troops have reoccupied the Gallipolli peninsula. They will be cut off and destroyed. I'm aiming to reconnoitre Smyrna and nearby to see if there is any prospect of the French Marines making a landing elsewhere on the coast, to support a push inland by British troops moving across the Straits.

Further, what's that happening on the West side of this map? Yes, that's right, Sofia is under siege! Serbs have moved in from the north-west, while a Belgian detachment is about to push up from Salonika to assist. (After all, there are 2 Belgian detachments of very limited use on the Western Front, might as well get them to do something!) Sofia is at Supply 4 currently so it's likely to fall without too much effort.

You'll also observe the Bulgarian HQ is out on the open next to French field units, and will be destroyed this turn.

[The Land]

May 1916: Sinai and the Holy Land

Also in May 1916, the British have been able to concentrate enough force to make a move out of Egypt and towards Palestine. Turkish units have been pocketed near El Arish and will ultimately be defeated. The Australian Cavalry has been able to advance as far as Beersheba. There isn't enough strength to push on to Jerusalem yet particular as the supply situation is dire (with no HQ). But still it may prove possible to take other objectives - Aqaba particularly as that will inspire even more Arabs to revolt against Turkish rule.

[The Land]

July 1916: Constantinople and the Straits, again

Constantinople is proving a tough nut to crack. With only one adjacent land hex, the city's supply is not reduced as would be normal in a siege - that requires 2 adjacent units. My 2 airship counters are worthless as strategic bombers because I haven't invested in technology - they are effectively dropping hand grenades, which probably scare some Turkish donkeys but have no material impact. There is a Russian dreadnought that can do shore bombardment, but that has almost no effect on its own. British ships can't do shore bombardment as they are next to port hexes not the actual city. At least the port is at zero supply.

The only path to success is hoping that I can beat the defending Corps down far enough on repeated turns that its readiness falls very far. But that seems difficult.

The alternative plan is to take western Turkey so that I can besiege Constantinople from both sides. This is not necessarily much faster, as the Turks are turtled down in Corps strength on every town along the path. The British Cavalry Corps took heavy losses after a somewhat too-dashing dash across the Straits leaving its supply lines vulnerable. Fortunately a relief operation was able to seize Chanak and secure the supply lines, though they may still be destroyed by counterattacks.

In other good news, Sofia is almost completely invested by Serbs and Belgians and will fall in a turn or two.

[The Land]

July 1916: Let he who is without Sinai...

On the Sinai Front, the British are in the process of rounding up the Ottoman troops which advanced towards Egypt. The Australian Light Cavalry have penetrated as far as Amman, though their supply lines are at great risk. Will this prove to be a bold stroke or a reckless gamble?

In a month or so, a British HQ (Smith-Dorrien) will arrive, which will put the British force on a much more effective footing and enable the capture of targets such as Aqaba or Jerusalem more or less at leisure, unless the Turks find an army capable of counterattacking from somewhere.

[The Land]

July 1916: a thousand and one Arabian Knights

A quick update from the Arab revolt. Arabia is a quiet backwater of no geostrategic importance, except for being the site of two of the three most important sites in Islam, at Mecca and Medina. Ottoman dominion over the region has long been unpopular, and British money and arms supplies have been more than sufficient to prompt a large Arabian revolt.

The Arabs are now laying siege to Medina, and are almost certain to succeed, in the long run. Another blow to Ottoman prestige and morale. How long can the Ottomans last? (Longer than the Russians? Who knows!)

[The Land]

July 1916: The Valjevo Salient

On the Serbian front, British Empire and Serbian troops have recaptured the town of Valjevo - creating a long salient that separates the Austrian/German troop concentration in northern Serbia from the less well-protected Bosnia-Herzegovnia and the Adriatic coastline.

It's really uncertain whether there are enough troops in the area to accomplish this, so breakthroughs are unlikely. But still, any further reverses could be catastrophic for Austro-Hungarian morale, pulling it below 40%...