Hi Courtenay,
Thank you for taking time to read these ramblings and for your note.
I realise I probably should have noted the optional rules I have been using. It's pretty much all apart from oil, food in flames, construction engs, HQ movement and variable reorg costs.
With all oil resources going into production, cutting the two railway lines out of the Caucasus blocks 9 resources from going to the factories, 10 if the factory at Krasnodar has been railed out or the path to that factory is also cut. Soviet production is cut by around 35%-40%. That's quite a chunk. If my Allied strategic bombing fleets could get anywhere close to that I'd be delighted.
I've slightly amended the post to make it clearer it is the railway route to the factories the Germans are trying to cut.
Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Moderator: Shannon V. OKeets
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Autumn 1942: France
The east has been starved of reinforcements as they were increasingly sent to France. It was that or gift the Allies a pretty much unopposed march through Paris and on to Berlin. Hugh air battles developed as the Luftwaffe tried to turn back the allied air armada. King Canute would have had more success as, although hard pressed and at times outnumbered, the escorts repeatedly succeed in getting the bombers through to the targets. For the German army, the results are devastating. Units are simply vaporised one, two even three at a time.
Normally, breaching a defended river line like the Seine would be a difficult and costly operation to undertake but when there’s nothing resembling a coherent fighting force left on the far bank … Aided by American forces protecting the flanks and widening the breaches, Paris is retaken by the victorious CW forces and the French recover their homeland. With almost no losses sustained in the whole campaign it has been a near remarkable turnaround in form.
The re-conquest of France arrives not a moment too soon. As the victory celebrations wind down and weary, hung over troops remount their vehicles to continue the fight, the skies open. The rains have come early. The Germans contemplate a counter-attack but with the battlefield turning to mud and combat efficiency decreased, they realise they are too weak to make the risk worth it. On the other hand, the Allied bombers cannot hit targets they cannot see due to cloud cover and the still relatively light ground forces are not strong enough on their own. A lull in the fighting ensues.
The east has been starved of reinforcements as they were increasingly sent to France. It was that or gift the Allies a pretty much unopposed march through Paris and on to Berlin. Hugh air battles developed as the Luftwaffe tried to turn back the allied air armada. King Canute would have had more success as, although hard pressed and at times outnumbered, the escorts repeatedly succeed in getting the bombers through to the targets. For the German army, the results are devastating. Units are simply vaporised one, two even three at a time.
Normally, breaching a defended river line like the Seine would be a difficult and costly operation to undertake but when there’s nothing resembling a coherent fighting force left on the far bank … Aided by American forces protecting the flanks and widening the breaches, Paris is retaken by the victorious CW forces and the French recover their homeland. With almost no losses sustained in the whole campaign it has been a near remarkable turnaround in form.
The re-conquest of France arrives not a moment too soon. As the victory celebrations wind down and weary, hung over troops remount their vehicles to continue the fight, the skies open. The rains have come early. The Germans contemplate a counter-attack but with the battlefield turning to mud and combat efficiency decreased, they realise they are too weak to make the risk worth it. On the other hand, the Allied bombers cannot hit targets they cannot see due to cloud cover and the still relatively light ground forces are not strong enough on their own. A lull in the fighting ensues.
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Autumn-Winter 1942, 1943: Middle East.
While events played themselves out in Europe, the Italian expeditionary force in the Middle East halted after it’s capture of Transjordan and bided it’s time. The collapse of Vichy signalled the resumption of operations. The Italians march into Syria and in a two-part battle defeat the defending forces but it costs them another Inf corps. It’s now a somewhat smaller force than the one that set out from Libya all those months ago but still potent. Using the two HQ, the Italians are then able to reach out across the desert and assault Baghdad. Iraq falls and previously idle Italian factories are soon benefiting from the newly acquired resources.
The Italian navy has not been idle. The opening of the Suez Canal to them allows the establishment of a forward base in Eritrea. A convoy line is extended into the Persian Gulf to keep the army in supply. The army contemplates a move on Persia, gathers around Baghdad before setting off down the railway line to Basra. The plan is to use this as a jumping off point to the nearby oil-fields and then along the railway line to Tehran.
Unlike the year before in Egypt, this time the CW has forces nearby that are able to respond. Mountbatten and 4th Aust Mech, supported by Hurricane IIA’s of the RSA, are sent from India to Kuwait. Basra is captured by the Australians before the Italians can reach it and their army is put out of supply. To halt any further CW advance and to protect the army, a small force of cruisers and submarines begins operations against the CW convoys in the Arabian Sea.
The Italian navy is immediately successful in and buys time for the army by putting the CW units out of supply. The loss of CP’s and disruption in the flow of resources to an already over-stretched economy forces the CW to send elements of the Far East fleet to deal with the menace. The cruisers are sent damaged back to Italy but the submarines remain a continual thorn in the CW side. Supply cannot be re-established but then becomes irrelevant. Events in the Far East mean Mountbatten is recalled to India to deal with another partisan uprising in Bombay and then the Hurricanes are needed back in Calcutta due to the emergence of a potentially far greater threat.
Freed of any danger of being over-run while out of supply and disorganised, the Italian army begins a slow retreat to Baghdad then back across the desert to Syria. The German collapse in Europe means it is likely they will be needed in the final defence of the motherland if they can ever get back in time. The Italian tide appears to have reached its high water mark and begun to recede.
While events played themselves out in Europe, the Italian expeditionary force in the Middle East halted after it’s capture of Transjordan and bided it’s time. The collapse of Vichy signalled the resumption of operations. The Italians march into Syria and in a two-part battle defeat the defending forces but it costs them another Inf corps. It’s now a somewhat smaller force than the one that set out from Libya all those months ago but still potent. Using the two HQ, the Italians are then able to reach out across the desert and assault Baghdad. Iraq falls and previously idle Italian factories are soon benefiting from the newly acquired resources.
The Italian navy has not been idle. The opening of the Suez Canal to them allows the establishment of a forward base in Eritrea. A convoy line is extended into the Persian Gulf to keep the army in supply. The army contemplates a move on Persia, gathers around Baghdad before setting off down the railway line to Basra. The plan is to use this as a jumping off point to the nearby oil-fields and then along the railway line to Tehran.
Unlike the year before in Egypt, this time the CW has forces nearby that are able to respond. Mountbatten and 4th Aust Mech, supported by Hurricane IIA’s of the RSA, are sent from India to Kuwait. Basra is captured by the Australians before the Italians can reach it and their army is put out of supply. To halt any further CW advance and to protect the army, a small force of cruisers and submarines begins operations against the CW convoys in the Arabian Sea.
The Italian navy is immediately successful in and buys time for the army by putting the CW units out of supply. The loss of CP’s and disruption in the flow of resources to an already over-stretched economy forces the CW to send elements of the Far East fleet to deal with the menace. The cruisers are sent damaged back to Italy but the submarines remain a continual thorn in the CW side. Supply cannot be re-established but then becomes irrelevant. Events in the Far East mean Mountbatten is recalled to India to deal with another partisan uprising in Bombay and then the Hurricanes are needed back in Calcutta due to the emergence of a potentially far greater threat.
Freed of any danger of being over-run while out of supply and disorganised, the Italian army begins a slow retreat to Baghdad then back across the desert to Syria. The German collapse in Europe means it is likely they will be needed in the final defence of the motherland if they can ever get back in time. The Italian tide appears to have reached its high water mark and begun to recede.
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Autumn 1942: Japan
The High Command in Tokyo grows worried by the ever increasing strength of the US Navy. Their carriers, damaged in the opening battle off Pearl Harbour, are back in service and intelligence reports the first of a new and even more formidable class of CV’s has entered service. If anything is to be salvaged from the mess of China, the Japanese need time to concentrate on that theatre; time in which, left unchecked, the now awakened giant will soon become unstoppable.
The US Navy needs to be drawn into battle while the IJN remains at parity. The available ground forces mean nothing too ambitious or against a well-garrisoned target can be attempted but it still needs to be important enough the Americans would likely contest it. Casting around the map, the list of potential objectives is rather short, less than two in fact, and the name, for some unaccountable reason, sends shivers down the Japanese admirals’ spines: Midway.
The High Command in Tokyo grows worried by the ever increasing strength of the US Navy. Their carriers, damaged in the opening battle off Pearl Harbour, are back in service and intelligence reports the first of a new and even more formidable class of CV’s has entered service. If anything is to be salvaged from the mess of China, the Japanese need time to concentrate on that theatre; time in which, left unchecked, the now awakened giant will soon become unstoppable.
The US Navy needs to be drawn into battle while the IJN remains at parity. The available ground forces mean nothing too ambitious or against a well-garrisoned target can be attempted but it still needs to be important enough the Americans would likely contest it. Casting around the map, the list of potential objectives is rather short, less than two in fact, and the name, for some unaccountable reason, sends shivers down the Japanese admirals’ spines: Midway.
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Autumn 1942: Pacific Ocean
The Japanese infantry, crammed like tinned sardines into the holds of amphibious ships, have been told the entire might of the Imperial Japanese Navy will protect them and ensure their victory over the Yankees. Gazing out, on their brief permitted excursions to the upper decks, the fresh air a blessed relief from the turgid, fetid atmosphere below, many cannot fail to be both impressed and comforted. Every CV, BB, CA and escort, except those guarding the convoys, lies in a vast armada, stretching out across the horizon as far as the eye can see. For all the glorious sights and speeches, the more thoughtful reflect there is but one word to describe their situation: Bait. One can only bury such thoughts as deep within the mind as possible and pray the fish aren’t biting.
The Japanese infantry, crammed like tinned sardines into the holds of amphibious ships, have been told the entire might of the Imperial Japanese Navy will protect them and ensure their victory over the Yankees. Gazing out, on their brief permitted excursions to the upper decks, the fresh air a blessed relief from the turgid, fetid atmosphere below, many cannot fail to be both impressed and comforted. Every CV, BB, CA and escort, except those guarding the convoys, lies in a vast armada, stretching out across the horizon as far as the eye can see. For all the glorious sights and speeches, the more thoughtful reflect there is but one word to describe their situation: Bait. One can only bury such thoughts as deep within the mind as possible and pray the fish aren’t biting.
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Autumn 1942: Midway
The Japanese move on Midway catches the Americans unprepared. The focus on Europe and the need for air and land action, while still shipping reinforcements from the States, means there has been little left for the Pacific. The fleet, whilst now battle ready, remains split between Pearl and San Diego. They are faced with a difficult decision. On its own, the fleet at Pearl is outnumbered. The addition of the San Diego fleet would more than match the Japanese but they’ve already received one bloody nose at Pearl from attempting just what they are proposing now. On the other hand, simply rolling over and letting the Japanese march in and take whatever it wants from the USA is a bitter pill to contemplate swallowing.
The economic analysts pitch into the debate. American industrial might already exceeds that of Japan and is set to keep growing. Keep exchanging losses at anything approaching a one to one rate and the Japanese armed forces will be ground into non-existence, leaving the USA triumphant. The expense will be worth it for the long-term guarantee of victory. In the cold, detached logic of the numbers it all sounds so easy, just as long as you are not one of the expendable ones.
The Americans sortie both fleets to engage the Japanese in the Central Pacific. The Japanese are the first side to spot the enemy but shortly afterwards are in turn spotted by the fleet from Pearl. Both sides launch strikes, the Americans desperately signalling the Japanese positions to the San Diego fleet but they are just out of range.
Numerically, the Americans are heavily out-numbered but their escorts are a reasonable match for the Japanese. It proves sufficient. The US Wildcats clear a path through the Japanese CAP for the bombers before being driven from the battle and forced back to their carrier. By splitting up and simultaneously attacking from multiple directions, the US aircrews confuse the Japanese AA defence, rendering it largely ineffective (minor reduction to bomb points). With the protection of Midway paramount, the US bombers take the bait and first target the loaded transports. Accurate bombing sends ships and men to the bottom, ending the invasion threat, and forces a cruiser to abort the battle. The only question now is whether they will have a carrier to return to.
Over the American carriers, the Japanese air strikes are driving home. US AA defence proves only marginally more effective than that of the Japanese and it is here the superior numbers tell. The significant results are one US CV sunk and another one damaged along with an escorting cruiser. Crucially, when the US bombers return there is nowhere for them to land and they can do nothing but crash into the sea when their fuel runs out.
With the invasion threat negated, the Japanese are caught slightly by surprise when, instead of returning to port as expected, the Americans elect to continue the fight. Outnumbered in CV’s as they now were, it was a brave, some would say foolhardy, decision but the USN needed to make some inroads into the IJN CV’s. A second carrier battle ensues and ends up with the Japanese losing one carrier sunk and another aborted in exchange for one sunk and one damaged on the American side. The Americans realise it would be almost certainly suicidal to press the point any further and retire to Pearl, so ending the battle.
On both sides of the Pacific, politicians and the press proclaim a glorious victory. The Japanese focus on the greater number of capital ships sunk and damaged, the shattered air groups and the IJN left ruling the seas. The Americans focus on the saving of Midway, the halting of Japanese expansion, the loss of a CV and transports and the thousands of troops sent to a watery grave. The high command in Tokyo have bought themselves their time but for how much longer can they afford such ‘victories’?
The Japanese move on Midway catches the Americans unprepared. The focus on Europe and the need for air and land action, while still shipping reinforcements from the States, means there has been little left for the Pacific. The fleet, whilst now battle ready, remains split between Pearl and San Diego. They are faced with a difficult decision. On its own, the fleet at Pearl is outnumbered. The addition of the San Diego fleet would more than match the Japanese but they’ve already received one bloody nose at Pearl from attempting just what they are proposing now. On the other hand, simply rolling over and letting the Japanese march in and take whatever it wants from the USA is a bitter pill to contemplate swallowing.
The economic analysts pitch into the debate. American industrial might already exceeds that of Japan and is set to keep growing. Keep exchanging losses at anything approaching a one to one rate and the Japanese armed forces will be ground into non-existence, leaving the USA triumphant. The expense will be worth it for the long-term guarantee of victory. In the cold, detached logic of the numbers it all sounds so easy, just as long as you are not one of the expendable ones.
The Americans sortie both fleets to engage the Japanese in the Central Pacific. The Japanese are the first side to spot the enemy but shortly afterwards are in turn spotted by the fleet from Pearl. Both sides launch strikes, the Americans desperately signalling the Japanese positions to the San Diego fleet but they are just out of range.
Numerically, the Americans are heavily out-numbered but their escorts are a reasonable match for the Japanese. It proves sufficient. The US Wildcats clear a path through the Japanese CAP for the bombers before being driven from the battle and forced back to their carrier. By splitting up and simultaneously attacking from multiple directions, the US aircrews confuse the Japanese AA defence, rendering it largely ineffective (minor reduction to bomb points). With the protection of Midway paramount, the US bombers take the bait and first target the loaded transports. Accurate bombing sends ships and men to the bottom, ending the invasion threat, and forces a cruiser to abort the battle. The only question now is whether they will have a carrier to return to.
Over the American carriers, the Japanese air strikes are driving home. US AA defence proves only marginally more effective than that of the Japanese and it is here the superior numbers tell. The significant results are one US CV sunk and another one damaged along with an escorting cruiser. Crucially, when the US bombers return there is nowhere for them to land and they can do nothing but crash into the sea when their fuel runs out.
With the invasion threat negated, the Japanese are caught slightly by surprise when, instead of returning to port as expected, the Americans elect to continue the fight. Outnumbered in CV’s as they now were, it was a brave, some would say foolhardy, decision but the USN needed to make some inroads into the IJN CV’s. A second carrier battle ensues and ends up with the Japanese losing one carrier sunk and another aborted in exchange for one sunk and one damaged on the American side. The Americans realise it would be almost certainly suicidal to press the point any further and retire to Pearl, so ending the battle.
On both sides of the Pacific, politicians and the press proclaim a glorious victory. The Japanese focus on the greater number of capital ships sunk and damaged, the shattered air groups and the IJN left ruling the seas. The Americans focus on the saving of Midway, the halting of Japanese expansion, the loss of a CV and transports and the thousands of troops sent to a watery grave. The high command in Tokyo have bought themselves their time but for how much longer can they afford such ‘victories’?
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composer99
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RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
The IJN may have sunk two CVs, but that battle will probably go down as this game's equivalent of the historical Battle of Midway.
~ Composer99
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
ORIGINAL: composer99
The IJN may have sunk two CVs, but that battle will probably go down as this game's equivalent of the historical Battle of Midway.
Hi,
Thanks for the comment. I'm always interested in other's perspectives. I can't work out who won or lost!
The goal of the operation was always the US CV's and buying time. Actually being able to complete the invasion would have been an unexpected bonus. Unless the IJN was spectacularly lucky, it was accepted the Trans and Inf would be lost but they would soak up the first strikes, preserving the IJN CV's. The Americans were saved by consistently good damage rolls. It pretty much seemed their X's and D's against the IJN hit home, whereas the majority for the Japanese got downgraded. With more even rolling, I think the US would have lost one more CV and one, possibly two more damaged. Either the Japanese CV or the Trans would have escaped damaged, rather than sunk.
However, unlike the real Midway, the Japanese still have naval superiority (if temporarily) and some decent CV replacements of their own nearing completion, just not as many as the US. They've bought themselves a couple of turns at least.
One other factor I alluded to but couldn't go into too much detail as I couldn't remember the exact details (it's been a couple of months since the battle played out), was the shattered US air-groups. A combination of a sub-optimal building programme and a focus on building strategic bombers and escorts for Europe, then running foul of gearing limits, has left the US struggling to equip its CV's. Adding the losses sustained in this battle, even when the damaged US CV's are repaired, it's going to be difficult to fill them all with aircraft and an empty CV is as good as no CV but that's getting slightly ahead of myself.
On the other hand, from the logic of the numbers, two CV's versus a CV, an Amph and an Inf (plus air losses on both sides) sure looks like a US victory!
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composer99
- Posts: 2931
- Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2005 8:00 am
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- Contact:
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Thanks for going into detail. It's always nice to see players go into that kind of depth.
(For what it's worth, I think the US should have gone for the Japanese CVs and let the invaders go through. Midway's not so crucial that it can't be bypassed.)
(For what it's worth, I think the US should have gone for the Japanese CVs and let the invaders go through. Midway's not so crucial that it can't be bypassed.)
~ Composer99
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
ORIGINAL: composer99
Thanks for going into detail. It's always nice to see players go into that kind of depth.
(For what it's worth, I think the US should have gone for the Japanese CVs and let the invaders go through. Midway's not so crucial that it can't be bypassed.)
A very good point and alternative view of what the USN should have struck first. Looking through the various AAR's and other threads, I'm pretty sure there would be adherents to each of the options.
Looking at it economically, an Amph (3+4 BP) and the Inf (3 BP), making a 10 BP loss is greater than a CV (2+2 BP), Air (1 BP) and pilot (2 BP), making 7 BP. Hm.... looking at it that way, what on earth were the IJN doing even mounting the Op? Ah yes, they were the bait to draw out the USN. It nearly worked. The IJN still did significant damage despite a lot of die rolls going in favour of the Americans, starting with their CV bomber cleared through in the first round of air combat.
Out of interest, I'll play out an alternative version where the USN sinks an IJN CV (as first strike it would have been a 4 pointer) instead of the Amph. In round 2 the results would have been the same against the IJN but probably reduced against the USN due the weakened IJN air. It would have ended up with the USN facing 4 CV's to either 1 or 2. If it was 4 to 1, they would have bugged out, leaving the invasion to continue.
What if it was 4 to 2? Both sides decide to duke it out for another round of combat. First the search rolls. The USN roll 2, spotting the IJN and the IJN roll 6 (I have a pair of D10). With the USN in the 1 box and the IJN in the 3 box, the result is 3 surprise points to the Allies (I think). The USN spends 2 points increasing it's air to air value by 1. Not being able to remember exactly the aircraft involved but, as they are relatively even, this would probably put the Allies either 0 or +1. Round 1, the allies roll a 7 (either a DA or an AA). If the US were choosing a bomber would be aborted. The IJN would abort the front fighter. We'll park this for now. IJN roll a 5 (DX) and the US destroy their front and only fighter. Remaining IJN bombers are cleared through. Second round, the USN are now around -2. US roll a DA and IJN abort a fighter, IJN roll a 7 and aborts the US bomber.
This leaves either 1 or 2 IJN bombers to attack the US fleet. AA factors would have been around the 14-16 mark. Against 1 bomber lowest 2 of 5 (9, 2, 3, 6, 5). For 5 points total, the bomber is shot down. If 2 got through, highest 1 of 2 (4, 2) reduces the bombs by 4 giving something like 2 points to attack. The result something like a D or possibly a D and A. The IJN try the D on a CV and, true to form, roll a 10 aborting the CV. The A is immaterial.
Either way, the US is down to one functional CV and aborts the area. In the resulting invasion, the Japanese Inf (an 8 factor unit) plus gunfire support give +16 and the roll of 10 sees Midway fall to the Japanese. The Japanese rebase Subs and long-range NAV's/FTR's to the island and set about trying to put Pearl out of supply. Do the US stay and fight out a supply battle with the Japanese (they will be challenged keeping Midway topped up) or relocate their Pacific base and if so, where? Pago Pago, Brisbane, Rabaul? They are all a long way from the States and they haven't yet managed to get Rabaul in supply? Or do they retire to San Diego? Ah, what might have been ...
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Right, after that excursion into an an alternate, alternate reality, its back to the regular alternate reality.
Autumn-Winter 1942: Russia
For German Army Group North the onset of the autumn rains has little impact. Even if the weather had been good, the disastrous assault on Leningrad left them too weak to do anything other than mount a siege. The Soviets are too weak to do anything other than garrison. The sitzkreig continues.
In the Centre and the South, while the German army continued to press relentlessly forward it had been hard to see any discernible impact from the CW/US invasion of France. With the Germans halted and several units now out of supply, the Soviet generals realise there is no continuous line opposite them. Losses, the draw of reinforcements to the West and the early onset of the autumn weather have caught the Germans out leaving several gaps. The Soviets set about doing what they can to exploit this unexpected bonus.
To the south of Moscow the Soviet army infiltrates around the open German southern flank, putting a disorganized HQ-Inf (von Leeb I think) out of supply. The HQ is soon destroyed and this promptly puts the bulk of German Army Group Centre out of supply. Unable move without risking von Leeb’s fate, the army group is trapped and can do nothing but pray for relief.
In the south soviet counter-attacks put the advanced units in Stalingrad under threat and force the Germans back from Armavir. Seeing the predicament of Army Group Centre, the Germans realise they will need to pull back to form a defensive line, Rostov-Voronezh. Stalingrad is abandoned. Deep behind enemy lines, with Soviet forces, including artillery, bearing down and no hope of relief, the DAK ARM uses the last of its fuel to gain time and draw the pursuers further from the front by running south to Astrakhan. There, it is finally caught and destroyed. Was the sacrifice worth it? Well, as October moved into November, the USSR factories were starved of nine resource points but that’s set against the six points needed to rebuild the DAK.
Autumn-Winter 1942: Russia
For German Army Group North the onset of the autumn rains has little impact. Even if the weather had been good, the disastrous assault on Leningrad left them too weak to do anything other than mount a siege. The Soviets are too weak to do anything other than garrison. The sitzkreig continues.
In the Centre and the South, while the German army continued to press relentlessly forward it had been hard to see any discernible impact from the CW/US invasion of France. With the Germans halted and several units now out of supply, the Soviet generals realise there is no continuous line opposite them. Losses, the draw of reinforcements to the West and the early onset of the autumn weather have caught the Germans out leaving several gaps. The Soviets set about doing what they can to exploit this unexpected bonus.
To the south of Moscow the Soviet army infiltrates around the open German southern flank, putting a disorganized HQ-Inf (von Leeb I think) out of supply. The HQ is soon destroyed and this promptly puts the bulk of German Army Group Centre out of supply. Unable move without risking von Leeb’s fate, the army group is trapped and can do nothing but pray for relief.
In the south soviet counter-attacks put the advanced units in Stalingrad under threat and force the Germans back from Armavir. Seeing the predicament of Army Group Centre, the Germans realise they will need to pull back to form a defensive line, Rostov-Voronezh. Stalingrad is abandoned. Deep behind enemy lines, with Soviet forces, including artillery, bearing down and no hope of relief, the DAK ARM uses the last of its fuel to gain time and draw the pursuers further from the front by running south to Astrakhan. There, it is finally caught and destroyed. Was the sacrifice worth it? Well, as October moved into November, the USSR factories were starved of nine resource points but that’s set against the six points needed to rebuild the DAK.
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Winter 1942/43 Russia.
For Army Group Centre, their situation goes from bad to worse. A second pincer starts to envelop them from the North. The Germans are initially puzzled how they are staying in supply. A check of the routes reveals the path is taking a tortuous northern route, passing very close to Leningrad. A quick reorganisation of the besiegers cuts the supply and the northern pincer is halted. With nothing to slow the southern pincer down, other than the weather, a Soviet mechanised army (HQ-ARM, 2xMECH, ARM plus other INF) begins a drive west. Tula, Bryansk and Smolensk are recaptured. Each city becomes a base for reinforcements. The Soviet army begins rebuilding itself in the German rear. Gomel is recaptured and units start probing towards Kiev.
With an open northern flank, Army Group South sees the danger. Kiev is hurriedly garrisoned and the Army Group retreats to the Dneiper. Most make it but two slow moving INF are caught and over-run by the advancing Russians. Before the line can be completely formed, the Soviets get a unit across the river NW of Kiev. Until HQ support catches up it can go no further but the Germans aren’t in a position to dislodge it either.
If anything is to be saved of Army Group Centre, they need supply and for this, they need an HQ. Where from? All the HQ’s are deployed and none are spare, except one. Throughout the war, General Mannerhe has been sat on the USSR-Finland border at Leningrad. When the winter snows come and Lake Ladoga freezes over the General is able to cross the lake and move his HQ south of Leningrad. Doing so keeps Army Group North in supply and frees Gen von Beck to drive south with the German forces and open a supply route to the centre.
While the Germans juggle HQ’s, the Soviet advance continues. Vitebsk falls. The Soviets press on to Minsk where, with signs of imminent improvement to the weather, they are temporarily slowed. In the nick of time, the Germans have managed to scrape some reinforcements together and get them east. Centred on Vilna and NE of Brest-Litovsk, they form the thinnest of screens, mostly overlapping ZOC’s. In the South, having caught an HQ up to Kiev, the Soviets push further around the top and threaten to break out into the German rear.
Von Beck re-establishes supply to the rear elements of Army Group Centre, Mannerhe pushes south to enable units from AGpN to form up on the Dneiper and block a Soviet move north from Vitebsk. It’s crucial. Supplies to AGpCtr are dependent on a single rail line traveling east through Pskov. The Soviets slowly infiltrate around the south of Vilna. They are one impulse away from a shot at capturing a lightly guarded Warsaw (1-point Inf Div) and an unguarded Latvia. If these should fall, only the railway from Estonia would prevent Russia from becoming a giant POW camp containing the majority of the German armoured forces. The Soviets move a unit out of Leningrad and cut the line.
For Army Group Centre, their situation goes from bad to worse. A second pincer starts to envelop them from the North. The Germans are initially puzzled how they are staying in supply. A check of the routes reveals the path is taking a tortuous northern route, passing very close to Leningrad. A quick reorganisation of the besiegers cuts the supply and the northern pincer is halted. With nothing to slow the southern pincer down, other than the weather, a Soviet mechanised army (HQ-ARM, 2xMECH, ARM plus other INF) begins a drive west. Tula, Bryansk and Smolensk are recaptured. Each city becomes a base for reinforcements. The Soviet army begins rebuilding itself in the German rear. Gomel is recaptured and units start probing towards Kiev.
With an open northern flank, Army Group South sees the danger. Kiev is hurriedly garrisoned and the Army Group retreats to the Dneiper. Most make it but two slow moving INF are caught and over-run by the advancing Russians. Before the line can be completely formed, the Soviets get a unit across the river NW of Kiev. Until HQ support catches up it can go no further but the Germans aren’t in a position to dislodge it either.
If anything is to be saved of Army Group Centre, they need supply and for this, they need an HQ. Where from? All the HQ’s are deployed and none are spare, except one. Throughout the war, General Mannerhe has been sat on the USSR-Finland border at Leningrad. When the winter snows come and Lake Ladoga freezes over the General is able to cross the lake and move his HQ south of Leningrad. Doing so keeps Army Group North in supply and frees Gen von Beck to drive south with the German forces and open a supply route to the centre.
While the Germans juggle HQ’s, the Soviet advance continues. Vitebsk falls. The Soviets press on to Minsk where, with signs of imminent improvement to the weather, they are temporarily slowed. In the nick of time, the Germans have managed to scrape some reinforcements together and get them east. Centred on Vilna and NE of Brest-Litovsk, they form the thinnest of screens, mostly overlapping ZOC’s. In the South, having caught an HQ up to Kiev, the Soviets push further around the top and threaten to break out into the German rear.
Von Beck re-establishes supply to the rear elements of Army Group Centre, Mannerhe pushes south to enable units from AGpN to form up on the Dneiper and block a Soviet move north from Vitebsk. It’s crucial. Supplies to AGpCtr are dependent on a single rail line traveling east through Pskov. The Soviets slowly infiltrate around the south of Vilna. They are one impulse away from a shot at capturing a lightly guarded Warsaw (1-point Inf Div) and an unguarded Latvia. If these should fall, only the railway from Estonia would prevent Russia from becoming a giant POW camp containing the majority of the German armoured forces. The Soviets move a unit out of Leningrad and cut the line.
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Spring 1943: Russia
With the coming of spring, the weather in the northern hemisphere is fine everywhere and the German’s seize the initiative. Their situation is perilous and the first priority is figuring out a way to stop the Soviet capture of Warsaw and Latvia. The Germans have but one hope. A gruppen of Do17z’s have relocated from the west during the winter, basing at Kaunas. Their commander is summoned to an urgent briefing at Army HQ and receives his orders. The fate of the German army hangs on his unit being able to successfully ground-strike the Soviet HQ outside Minsk. Disorganise the HQ and, while the remaining units could still advance, they would be out of supply and unable to attack.
The gods of war and fate on this occasion side with the Germans. The ground strike is a success, disorganising the HQ and halting the Soviet advance. The Germans then set about bringing AGpCtr back to safety. Paradoxically, in order to retreat, they first have to advance to bring the units around Moscow back in supply. That accomplished, the flight to the west begins. With the Soviets pressing on both sides of a thin corridor, there isn’t time or space to extract the full Moscow garrison and an armoured corps has be left behind as a sacrificial speed bump. In the South, the improved weather and hence supply situation means the Germans are able to move up and contain the threatened breakthrough north of Kiev.
With the coming of spring, the weather in the northern hemisphere is fine everywhere and the German’s seize the initiative. Their situation is perilous and the first priority is figuring out a way to stop the Soviet capture of Warsaw and Latvia. The Germans have but one hope. A gruppen of Do17z’s have relocated from the west during the winter, basing at Kaunas. Their commander is summoned to an urgent briefing at Army HQ and receives his orders. The fate of the German army hangs on his unit being able to successfully ground-strike the Soviet HQ outside Minsk. Disorganise the HQ and, while the remaining units could still advance, they would be out of supply and unable to attack.
The gods of war and fate on this occasion side with the Germans. The ground strike is a success, disorganising the HQ and halting the Soviet advance. The Germans then set about bringing AGpCtr back to safety. Paradoxically, in order to retreat, they first have to advance to bring the units around Moscow back in supply. That accomplished, the flight to the west begins. With the Soviets pressing on both sides of a thin corridor, there isn’t time or space to extract the full Moscow garrison and an armoured corps has be left behind as a sacrificial speed bump. In the South, the improved weather and hence supply situation means the Germans are able to move up and contain the threatened breakthrough north of Kiev.
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Spring 1943: Moscow
The departure of the Germans from the city’s surrounds is just what the Soviets have been waiting for. They launch a ground strike at the now out of supply German ARM defending the city. Troops dug in amongst ruined buildings prove difficult for the pilots to locate and the strike fails. Had it succeeded the recapture of Moscow would have been a formality. Even so, as the Soviets envelop the city, the odds are extremely good. Without further ado they launch their assault on Moscow. HQ Army Group Ctr receives a last garbled message from the ARM “Sie Kommen.”
In a heroic last stand, the German armour is wiped out and the city retaken but the gods haven’t deserted the Germans just yet. The attacking forces are all disorganised (terrible die roll, something like a 3 or 4) and unable to further pursue the retreating Germans. Taking full advantage of their good fortune, AGpCtr pulls back in good order to form a strong line along the Dvina. A smart move by AGpN blocks a path back to Leningrad for the Soviet INF that had moved out to cut the railway from Estonia. Further German success comes when the Soviet incursion NE of Kiev is destroyed, securing the southern front once more.
The respite is welcome because on the Western Front events have taken an interesting turn.
The departure of the Germans from the city’s surrounds is just what the Soviets have been waiting for. They launch a ground strike at the now out of supply German ARM defending the city. Troops dug in amongst ruined buildings prove difficult for the pilots to locate and the strike fails. Had it succeeded the recapture of Moscow would have been a formality. Even so, as the Soviets envelop the city, the odds are extremely good. Without further ado they launch their assault on Moscow. HQ Army Group Ctr receives a last garbled message from the ARM “Sie Kommen.”
In a heroic last stand, the German armour is wiped out and the city retaken but the gods haven’t deserted the Germans just yet. The attacking forces are all disorganised (terrible die roll, something like a 3 or 4) and unable to further pursue the retreating Germans. Taking full advantage of their good fortune, AGpCtr pulls back in good order to form a strong line along the Dvina. A smart move by AGpN blocks a path back to Leningrad for the Soviet INF that had moved out to cut the railway from Estonia. Further German success comes when the Soviet incursion NE of Kiev is destroyed, securing the southern front once more.
The respite is welcome because on the Western Front events have taken an interesting turn.
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Winter 1942/43: Western Front
The lull in the ground battle frees the Allied air armada to resume its strategic bombing campaign. In poor weather, usually bombing blind through cloud, the efforts are largely ineffective. The air commanders and strategic bombing adherents can but speculate at what might have been had the devastatingly accurate bombing of the summer been directed at German factories rather than ground units. Ineffective then becomes zero when, in a devastating air battle for the Allies, all bar one of the long-range escorts are lost. The air offensive stalls awaiting replacement escorts.
The rest of the winter sees the Allies shipping reinforcements to France and some battles between the U-boats and the CW convoys. Both sides inflict damage on the other but there are no CW disasters and fresh shipping reserves keep the convoy lanes open. Both sides draw breath awaiting the spring.
The lull in the ground battle frees the Allied air armada to resume its strategic bombing campaign. In poor weather, usually bombing blind through cloud, the efforts are largely ineffective. The air commanders and strategic bombing adherents can but speculate at what might have been had the devastatingly accurate bombing of the summer been directed at German factories rather than ground units. Ineffective then becomes zero when, in a devastating air battle for the Allies, all bar one of the long-range escorts are lost. The air offensive stalls awaiting replacement escorts.
The rest of the winter sees the Allies shipping reinforcements to France and some battles between the U-boats and the CW convoys. Both sides inflict damage on the other but there are no CW disasters and fresh shipping reserves keep the convoy lanes open. Both sides draw breath awaiting the spring.
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Spring 1943: France
The German line runs diagonally NW from the forest west of Berne to the coast at Boulogne and still holding Rouen. In the North, the CW pick up from where they left off in the autumn. Able to call on short range fighter support to escort the bombers and with no defensive terrain to assist the Germans, they blast through the line with little loss. To the south the Americans bring their amassed offensive supplies (now producing an O-Chit per turn) to bear. They too breakthrough but the troops don’t perform as well in combat and each attack loses them an MOT corps.
To free up units for a defensive reserve and to shorten the lines, the Germans pull back to a new line running diagonally SW from Antwerp to NW of Zurich. Almost the entire front line is double stacked and backed by a unit behind to prevent any breakthrough. The exception is the forest NW of Zurich. A single unit, protected by the Rhine and forts of the Siegfried line but with nothing behind, guards this sector of the front. The Germans simply couldn’t get anything else in place and decided to make the weakest point the one furthest away from the capital.
The Americans, somewhat miffed at the CW taking all the limelight to date (France recaptured, Belgium seemingly next), sense their opportunity to write their own glorious chapter in the history books. Breakthrough the weak spot and into the open countryside beyond, before the Germans can reinforce it, and Southern Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia lie exposed. The war could be over by Christmas!
The German line runs diagonally NW from the forest west of Berne to the coast at Boulogne and still holding Rouen. In the North, the CW pick up from where they left off in the autumn. Able to call on short range fighter support to escort the bombers and with no defensive terrain to assist the Germans, they blast through the line with little loss. To the south the Americans bring their amassed offensive supplies (now producing an O-Chit per turn) to bear. They too breakthrough but the troops don’t perform as well in combat and each attack loses them an MOT corps.
To free up units for a defensive reserve and to shorten the lines, the Germans pull back to a new line running diagonally SW from Antwerp to NW of Zurich. Almost the entire front line is double stacked and backed by a unit behind to prevent any breakthrough. The exception is the forest NW of Zurich. A single unit, protected by the Rhine and forts of the Siegfried line but with nothing behind, guards this sector of the front. The Germans simply couldn’t get anything else in place and decided to make the weakest point the one furthest away from the capital.
The Americans, somewhat miffed at the CW taking all the limelight to date (France recaptured, Belgium seemingly next), sense their opportunity to write their own glorious chapter in the history books. Breakthrough the weak spot and into the open countryside beyond, before the Germans can reinforce it, and Southern Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia lie exposed. The war could be over by Christmas!
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Spring 1943: Western Front
Keen to exploit the opportunity presented, Eisenhower is allocated on O-Chit and told to “go to it”. The allies close up to the German lines and launch their assaults.
In the North, the CW attack Brussels. In a bid to outflank the line, or at least stretch the defence, a seaborne invasion of a lightly defended Amsterdam is launched. It doesn’t go well. The invasion gets ashore but both invading units are disorganised. At Brussels both sides lose a unit, the attackers are left disorganised and a large part of the RAF has now been committed. The Germans maintain control of the Belgium capital.
The Americans, boosted by the O-chit, launch two attacks. The main assault is the attempt to break through the weak spot. A secondary attack on the hex NW is aimed at widening the breach and protecting the flank of the spearhead. To give favourable odds, both Eisenhower and Bradley commit their HQ’s to the flank assault. The plan half works. The main assault smashes through the German lines. The flank assault is a disaster (die roll of 3 or 4). The Americans lose three units, leaving only the disorganised HQ’s holding part of the line.
The German High Command draw a sigh of relief knowing, for the immediate future at least, the Allied effort is stalled. Relief turns to joy when they notice the Americans, in their eagerness to press forward and end the war single-handed, have allowed a gap to open between their units at the front and the reinforcements moving inland from the Atlantic coast. It appears, in all the rush and excitement, they have forgotten about the Italians who, for the last few months, have been sat quietly minding their own business in the Alps. At the head of the line, around Lyons, sits one of Italy’s best units, the Corazzata ARM, hiding beneath a regular INF. A hasty telegram is dispatched from Berlin to Rome and the ARM, plus supporting units, is sent northwards into the gap. The colour drains from the American faces as the move puts their entire and largely disorganised front-line out of supply.
Keen to exploit the opportunity presented, Eisenhower is allocated on O-Chit and told to “go to it”. The allies close up to the German lines and launch their assaults.
In the North, the CW attack Brussels. In a bid to outflank the line, or at least stretch the defence, a seaborne invasion of a lightly defended Amsterdam is launched. It doesn’t go well. The invasion gets ashore but both invading units are disorganised. At Brussels both sides lose a unit, the attackers are left disorganised and a large part of the RAF has now been committed. The Germans maintain control of the Belgium capital.
The Americans, boosted by the O-chit, launch two attacks. The main assault is the attempt to break through the weak spot. A secondary attack on the hex NW is aimed at widening the breach and protecting the flank of the spearhead. To give favourable odds, both Eisenhower and Bradley commit their HQ’s to the flank assault. The plan half works. The main assault smashes through the German lines. The flank assault is a disaster (die roll of 3 or 4). The Americans lose three units, leaving only the disorganised HQ’s holding part of the line.
The German High Command draw a sigh of relief knowing, for the immediate future at least, the Allied effort is stalled. Relief turns to joy when they notice the Americans, in their eagerness to press forward and end the war single-handed, have allowed a gap to open between their units at the front and the reinforcements moving inland from the Atlantic coast. It appears, in all the rush and excitement, they have forgotten about the Italians who, for the last few months, have been sat quietly minding their own business in the Alps. At the head of the line, around Lyons, sits one of Italy’s best units, the Corazzata ARM, hiding beneath a regular INF. A hasty telegram is dispatched from Berlin to Rome and the ARM, plus supporting units, is sent northwards into the gap. The colour drains from the American faces as the move puts their entire and largely disorganised front-line out of supply.
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Spring/Summer 1943: France
The gift presented by the Americans is too good an opportunity to pass up. The Germans immediately counter-attack quickly destroying Eisenhower and Bradley, while isolating and then destroying the units that had, oh so briefly, threatened to break into the heart of Germany. The American sector of the front crumbles. What had seemed, barely a few weeks previously, such a mighty and unstoppable force has melted away following a succession of poor combats. A massive flaw in the US build plan has left it with too few transports to maintain a sufficient flow of reinforcements to replace the losses.
Disaster threatens to become calamity as the prospect of the US 8th Air Force, now based in France, being over-run and destroyed on the ground, while disorganised, looms. The remaining US units in France, boosted by a couple from the CW, are formed into a hasty screen to protect the air force. It takes losses but does its job and a combination of an air move, remaining HQ reorganisation points and end of turn reorganisation allows the allies to get the air force, bar an old A-22, back to England.
In the North, the failure of the CW attack on Brussels means the Germans can easily spare the units to deal with the CW forces in Amsterdam. They are quickly surrounded and destroyed.
The gift presented by the Americans is too good an opportunity to pass up. The Germans immediately counter-attack quickly destroying Eisenhower and Bradley, while isolating and then destroying the units that had, oh so briefly, threatened to break into the heart of Germany. The American sector of the front crumbles. What had seemed, barely a few weeks previously, such a mighty and unstoppable force has melted away following a succession of poor combats. A massive flaw in the US build plan has left it with too few transports to maintain a sufficient flow of reinforcements to replace the losses.
Disaster threatens to become calamity as the prospect of the US 8th Air Force, now based in France, being over-run and destroyed on the ground, while disorganised, looms. The remaining US units in France, boosted by a couple from the CW, are formed into a hasty screen to protect the air force. It takes losses but does its job and a combination of an air move, remaining HQ reorganisation points and end of turn reorganisation allows the allies to get the air force, bar an old A-22, back to England.
In the North, the failure of the CW attack on Brussels means the Germans can easily spare the units to deal with the CW forces in Amsterdam. They are quickly surrounded and destroyed.
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Summer/Autumn 1943: France
With ground and air superiority, the German counter-attack, aided by the Italians, proves unstoppable. Paris is recaptured and France reconquered. The Allied forces in France are split between the CW, forced back into a pocket in NW France, and the remains of the US forces gathered by La Rochelle. Outnumbered and faced with probable annihilation, SHAEF orders the abandonment of France. For the second time in the war, the RN evacuates the British Army from the beaches around Dunkirk. The US Navy picks up its countrymen and all, apart from the sacrificed rear guards, find themselves back in the UK.
With ground and air superiority, the German counter-attack, aided by the Italians, proves unstoppable. Paris is recaptured and France reconquered. The Allied forces in France are split between the CW, forced back into a pocket in NW France, and the remains of the US forces gathered by La Rochelle. Outnumbered and faced with probable annihilation, SHAEF orders the abandonment of France. For the second time in the war, the RN evacuates the British Army from the beaches around Dunkirk. The US Navy picks up its countrymen and all, apart from the sacrificed rear guards, find themselves back in the UK.
RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round
Summer/Autumn 1943: Russia
Having completed its successful withdrawal, the rejuvenated AGpCtr looks a somewhat different and more ferocious beast. Now the Soviets look rather weak and exposed. Emulating their brethren in the west, the Germans begin a counter-attack. It starts with the Soviet units around Minsk. Those not destroyed in the initial assault try to flee back east but are caught and picked off. The Germans are on a roll. Vitebsk and Smolensk are recaptured, their garrisons destroyed. The remaining Soviet forces fall back to defend Moscow.
The Germans, however, have a different goal in mind. Once clear of the Pripet Marshes, the ARM and MECH turn SE leaving an INF screen covering Moscow. The leading elements join the forces from Army Gp South who have mounted their own successful offensive, driving the Soviets back from the Dneiper. Recognising the danger, the Soviets give ground and prioritise stopping the Germans from getting to the oil fields. As the autumn weather threatens to turn, the Germans settle for the second best option and cut the railway lines from the south. Unlike the previous year, this time it is with substantial and supported forces.
Not wishing to miss out on all the plaudits, in the meantime, a reinforced Army Gp N has driven back to Leningrad and, with support from the Finns, succeeded in capturing the city.
Having completed its successful withdrawal, the rejuvenated AGpCtr looks a somewhat different and more ferocious beast. Now the Soviets look rather weak and exposed. Emulating their brethren in the west, the Germans begin a counter-attack. It starts with the Soviet units around Minsk. Those not destroyed in the initial assault try to flee back east but are caught and picked off. The Germans are on a roll. Vitebsk and Smolensk are recaptured, their garrisons destroyed. The remaining Soviet forces fall back to defend Moscow.
The Germans, however, have a different goal in mind. Once clear of the Pripet Marshes, the ARM and MECH turn SE leaving an INF screen covering Moscow. The leading elements join the forces from Army Gp South who have mounted their own successful offensive, driving the Soviets back from the Dneiper. Recognising the danger, the Soviets give ground and prioritise stopping the Germans from getting to the oil fields. As the autumn weather threatens to turn, the Germans settle for the second best option and cut the railway lines from the south. Unlike the previous year, this time it is with substantial and supported forces.
Not wishing to miss out on all the plaudits, in the meantime, a reinforced Army Gp N has driven back to Leningrad and, with support from the Finns, succeeded in capturing the city.