How the Axis could have won. Allied AAR RTW

[Hartmann]

After the winter, the Germans will still get some ground in Russia in 1942. It's not yet time to strike back at them. What you need before going on the offensive is Infantry Weapons level 2 for the UK and Infantry level 3 for the Soviets. Getting to the German level (at least) of "advanced aircraft" is mandatory too.

[marky]

bloody good AAR, ive been watching. wish i had the game myself but atm cant manage it. i rather wish the devs had incorporated some kind of way to "deposit" MPP into a reserve fund.

[marky]

ORIGINAL: sapper32

ORIGINAL: warspite1

15th October 1941

Soviet Union
The cruisers of the Black Sea Fleet continue to pound away at the Germans investing Sevastopol, while the newly positioned 3rd Army seeks to keep the Germans out of the Caucasus. I reinforce the defenders of the port back up to 10.


Crimea River (see what I did there? [8|])

LOL

if its not too late u should try and hold Kerch

[marky]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

4th March 1942

Soviet Union
The result fell far short of expectations. The Italian infantry remain stubbornly in place over the Don, their bridgehead intact.

Taking action anywhere else would be suicide. The North in particular looks like its about to burst open at any moment.

The Soviets buy a mechanised unit, an army and a garrison.

additionally, and again if its not too late, youve got to make the front as contiguous as possible there or the Narva defenders mat get surrounded and cutoff from reinforcements and destroyed

EDIT- better yet withdraw the narva defenders completely theyre very exposed

[Hartmann]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

4th March 1942

United Kingdom
The British decide to evacuate the entire Egypt-Jordan-Palestine region and to make a stand in Iraq. Reinforcements are on the way....

Could you elaborate on this decision a bit more? Is it because you want to keep the supply lines short (i.e. reinforcing with additional units from the Persian Gulf)? Did you feel you couldn't dig in enough to keep the Germans at bay at El Arish (the two hex bottleneck just beyond the Suez)?

[steel3250]

Great AAR, and must say you add great humor into it.

I do not want to give too much away as you learn your way but give 2 points.

However a HQ is required in the Middle East for you to succeed otherwise you will lose it as you are. You can get away with none in Russia for the most part (however they do help odds) but supply is not enough in Egypt or the Middle East. I know you lost yours early but the 1st thing you should of done is bring another down there.

Also looking at your income it looks like you are not investing or very little in industry tech. British should be around 300, US around 400, and Soviets around 800 if you invested a couple chits in each early. This is always my 1st or 2nd investment as Spying/Intelligence also helps to increase your odds of hitting your tech quicker.

Good luck, and will continue to watch.

[BillRunacre]

ORIGINAL: steel32

Great AAR, and must say you add great humor into it.

I agree, it's very good! [:D]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Hartmann

After the winter, the Germans will still get some ground in Russia in 1942. It's not yet time to strike back at them. What you need before going on the offensive is Infantry Weapons level 2 for the UK and Infantry level 3 for the Soviets. Getting to the German level (at least) of "advanced aircraft" is mandatory too.

warspite1

Trouble is I don't have enough MPP to spare to get my units repaired/upgraded, let alone research new 'stuff'....[:(]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: marky

bloody good AAR, ive been watching. wish i had the game myself but atm cant manage it. i rather wish the devs had incorporated some kind of way to "deposit" MPP into a reserve fund.

warspite1

Thank-you [:)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: marky

ORIGINAL: sapper32

ORIGINAL: warspite1

15th October 1941

Soviet Union
The cruisers of the Black Sea Fleet continue to pound away at the Germans investing Sevastopol, while the newly positioned 3rd Army seeks to keep the Germans out of the Caucasus. I reinforce the defenders of the port back up to 10.


Crimea River (see what I did there? [8|])

LOL

if its not too late u should try and hold Kerch

warspite1

Too late I'm afraid - there is a ruddy great Panzer Corps in the town...

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: marky

ORIGINAL: warspite1

4th March 1942

Soviet Union
The result fell far short of expectations. The Italian infantry remain stubbornly in place over the Don, their bridgehead intact.

Taking action anywhere else would be suicide. The North in particular looks like its about to burst open at any moment.

The Soviets buy a mechanised unit, an army and a garrison.

additionally, and again if its not too late, youve got to make the front as contiguous as possible there or the Narva defenders mat get surrounded and cutoff from reinforcements and destroyed

EDIT- better yet withdraw the narva defenders completely theyre very exposed

warspite1

Yeah, I'll try that. Trouble is I lost the entrenchment, but I've nothing left to lose really. Leningrad looks like toast....

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Hartmann

ORIGINAL: warspite1

4th March 1942

United Kingdom
The British decide to evacuate the entire Egypt-Jordan-Palestine region and to make a stand in Iraq. Reinforcements are on the way....

Could you elaborate on this decision a bit more? Is it because you want to keep the supply lines short (i.e. reinforcing with additional units from the Persian Gulf)? Did you feel you couldn't dig in enough to keep the Germans at bay at El Arish (the two hex bottleneck just beyond the Suez)?

warspite1

I have reinforcements on the way to the Persian Gulf. The plan is to try and build an army that can then strike back.

El Arish? Bottleneck? Well it could be except the German artillery piece appears to have been fitted with battlefield nuclear weapons. My units are in the Sinai are just being destroyed each turn.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: steel32

Great AAR, and must say you add great humor into it.

I do not want to give too much away as you learn your way but give 2 points.

However a HQ is required in the Middle East for you to succeed otherwise you will lose it as you are. You can get away with none in Russia for the most part (however they do help odds) but supply is not enough in Egypt or the Middle East. I know you lost yours early but the 1st thing you should of done is bring another down there.

Also looking at your income it looks like you are not investing or very little in industry tech. British should be around 300, US around 400, and Soviets around 800 if you invested a couple chits in each early. This is always my 1st or 2nd investment as Spying/Intelligence also helps to increase your odds of hitting your tech quicker.

Good luck, and will continue to watch.

warspite1

Thank-you. I will try and get an HQ there as quickly as I can. Research - I just don't understand what the British are supposed to do at the moment. The Axis get all their battleships - the RN don't. I fought two major battles and am still trying to repair the units that suffered damage. As a result research has kind of fallen off a cliff.....

[warspite1]

A few real life issues to contend with at the moment [:(]. I hope to be back with the next turn on Friday and Saturday [:)].

[Hartmann]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Hartmann

ORIGINAL: warspite1

4th March 1942

United Kingdom
The British decide to evacuate the entire Egypt-Jordan-Palestine region and to make a stand in Iraq. Reinforcements are on the way....

Could you elaborate on this decision a bit more? Is it because you want to keep the supply lines short (i.e. reinforcing with additional units from the Persian Gulf)? Did you feel you couldn't dig in enough to keep the Germans at bay at El Arish (the two hex bottleneck just beyond the Suez)?

warspite1

I have reinforcements on the way to the Persian Gulf. The plan is to try and build an army that can then strike back.

El Arish? Bottleneck? Well it could be except the German artillery piece appears to have been fitted with battlefield nuclear weapons. My units are in the Sinai are just being destroyed each turn.

Yeah, I totally forgot that you lost your headquarter. As steel32 pointed out, you have to get another one over there or else digging in and making a stand will probably not work anywhere. This is even more important than bringing your infantry weapons to level 2 (which is the prerequisite for turning the tables on them later).

ORIGINAL: warspite1

A few real life issues to contend with at the moment [:(]. I hope to be back with the next turn on Friday and Saturday [:)].

Ok, looking forward to the weekend. [:)] This AAR is nail-bitingly gripping with both major fronts in real peril. Hope you can turn it around!

[Malor]

Counting the days 'til Friday. Hope I don't bite my nails too much.
[:D]

[warspite1]

5th April 1942

Reinforcements

Soviet Union
1st Heavy Artillery - Volkhov
5th Corps - Kotelnikovo
Garrison - Tikhvin
7th Corps southwest of Volkhov
14th Army - Stalingrad

I lost the screen print of the MPP position again [:@] It really does need to be one of those reports that can be recalled please Mr Designer.

MPP
UK - 243
USA - 575
USSR - 544


No picture of the MPP to show - so let's look at this one instead [:)] Operation Chariot: The raid on St Nazaire was costly - just under two thirds of the raiding force were killed or captured. 5 Victoria Crosses were awarded including one for Thomas Frank Durrant who died aged just 23. Why do I mention this one specifically? Well he was the only soldier to be awarded the VC in a naval action - and he was recommended for the award by the German commander he opposed. Here is the citation:

For great gallantry, skill and devotion to duty when in charge of a Lewis gun in HM Motor Launch 306 in the St Nazaire raid on 28 March 1942.

Motor Launch 306 came under heavy fire while proceeding up the River Loire towards the port. Sergeant Durrant, in his position abaft the bridge, where he had no cover or protection, engaged enemy gun positions and searchlights ashore. During this engagement he was severely wounded in the arm but refused to leave his gun. The Motor Launch subsequently went down the river and was attacked by a German destroyer at 50 to 60 yards range, and often closer. In this action Sergeant Durrant continued to fire at the destroyer's bridge with the greatest of coolness and with complete disregard of the enemy's fire. The Motor Launch was illuminated by the enemy searchlight, and Sergeant Durrant drew on himself the individual attention of the enemy guns, and was again wounded in many places. Despite these further wounds he stayed in his exposed position, still firing his gun, although after a time only able to support himself by holding on to the gun mounting.

After a running fight, the Commander of the German destroyer called on the Motor Launch to surrender. Sergeant Durrant's answer was a further burst of fire at the destroyer's bridge. Although now very weak, he went on firing, using drums of ammunition as fast as they could be replaced. A renewed attack by the enemy vessel eventually silenced the fire of the Motor Launch, but Sergeant Durrant refused to give up until the destroyer came alongside, grappled the Motor Launch and took prisoner those who remained alive.

Sergeant Durrant's gallant fight was commended by the German officers on boarding the Motor Launch. This very gallant non-commissioned officer later died of the many wounds received in action


Suggestion to Designers: Instead of reference to the port, can the wording be changed so that it refers to the Normandie Dock please?

HMS Campbeltown (formerly USS Buchanan) one of the 50 old destroyers the US exchanged for bases earlier in the war was used for this daring raid

[warspite1]

5th April 1942

Soviet Union
Well having said I was going to bring my troops back from Narva, that plan kind of went out the window as most troops were destroyed.... There is nowhere for Voroshilov to go to - well that Stalin toady was useless anyway so we were better off without him.


No place for Toadies...

[warspite1]

5th April 1942

Soviet Union
In the south the loss of Rostov is a major blow. I put an army in Stalingrad and try and simply try to hold the lower Don....

[warspite1]

5th April 1942

Soviet Union
Finally in the centre I try and form a line - the loss of the defenders of Rzhev, who held out for turn after turn, will never be forgotten. Well, when I say never, I mean in the two months that the Soviet Union has left to live..... I wanted to extract my forces from Kaluga but that, it seems, is not possible.