Played my first scenarios to completion...

[barbarossa2]

...and I would like to say that this series is off to a damned good start. I am fascinated to see where this effort and AA product will go and how it will evolve.

I am sticking with my 95% rating, and will advise my firends that they can buy as long as they are willing to accept a handfull design compromises which will improve over time with future releases.

Good job PG! And good luck!

[JeF]

Barb',

you seem to be able to write alot on the game and to know what you're talking about.
What about some AARs ?

The forum can host them (see above) or I can be of some help (see below).

Cheers,

JeF.

[barbarossa2]

Well, in case anyone is interested, this is the situation at 0615 hours on day 2 of my Malta Scenario.

I have basically divided my areas of operation for the morning as shown in the map attached below.

LL FJ Regiment - Commanded by General Major Meindl. Perhaps the most effective and well rounded HQ operating on day 2. Everything you could want in a command. Day one was spent basically preventing any enemy incursions in force between the Inquisitor's Palace and Sijuwi around the bridge located in J1. Overnight ordered the III Battalion to probe Sebbuj. It was taken with some minor skirmishing in the northeast of the town. LL FJ tasked to protect flank of 1 FJ throughout the day. Nothing more.

1 FJ Regiment - Commanded by Oberst Bruno Oswald Baeuer. A highly competent HQ. Aggressive. The most determined of the four regimental commanders present on day 2. Well suited for taking the objectives of Florianna and Valetta. Day one spent organizing and marching to the current positions south of Curmi. By nightfall, the plan is to have them pushing into Hamrun. I would like to cut the island in two this way, preventing the Allies from reinforcing from east to west at will. I am not sure if the computer AI would be up for this type of fancy footwork I fear. But I will do it anyway. I would like to have interior lines.

2 FJ Regiment - Commanded by an aggressive Oberst Sturm. A very competent HQ, but all round least stellar of the 4 regimental HQs on the ground on day 2. Day one spent probing Imkabba. Afternoon, evening and night engaged in and around Luqa airfield. The primary assault through the woods on the west succeeding, while a secondary attack directly from Imkabba stalled under allied artillery bombardment. By nightfall the assault from the west had taken the field with minor resistance being mopped up in the east of the airfield by daybreak. IIIrd Battalion ordered to probe the leper asylum and poor house overlooking the bridge to the west in map grid location E4. No resistance encountered. 2 FJ tasked to take Tarshin and Paula by nightfall.

3 FJ Regiment - Commanded by the competent, highly aggressive and determined disciplinarian Oberst Richard Heidrich. Spent the first day organizing and forming up around Qrendi. Tasked to secure right flank until 1 FJ has split Allies in half. Regimental HQ setting up at Kirkop for the day's operations. 3rd Bn engaged in fighting at Safi airfield--this is the only objective 3 FJ is tasked to take by 1200 hours. 1st Bn tasked to sit tight and hold Gudia until Safi airfield has been secured. 2nd Bn probing allied defences around Hal Far in preparation for 3 FJ assault which must take field by noon on day 4. This is the only front I am feeling a little spread thin on at the moment.

Expecting additional drop between Qrendi and Safi in the morning and afternoon, and the 100th Mountain Regiment is expected to arrive at Qrendi airfield at 5pm. These units will probably be commited to fighting for Hal Far airfield by morning on day 3, depending on developing situation. Hal Far must fall by evening on day 4 so that additional reinforcements can be flowin in. Following this, I am planning to commit mountain units to the line between 2 FJ and 3 FJ.

I will be interested to see where resistance will be strongest in and around the harbor, and am wondering what kind of an effect these massive fortifications (what, probably 17th to 18th century?) will have on the fighting. At the moment all engineers are being held in reserve for this effort. As the capture of Hal Far airfield is essential to receiving reinforcements on day 4, I am curious about that as well. It seems opposition there is getting stiffer and stiffer, and I am welcoming the arrival of the mountain regiment this evening. I will be rolling out the red carpet for them.

[barbarossa2]

By 1200 on Day 2, 2 FJ Regiment under Sturm has advanced into Marsa and some of the hardest fighting of the operation develops in the attempt to storm Paula. 2 Bn/2 FJ is engaged in heavy house to house fighting, supported by divisional level artillery and airstrikes. After being thrown back once, by 1400, 2 Bn under Gerhardt Schirmer has entered the town and is fighting its way north. 3 Bn, in Marsa, encounters little resistance. Regimental HQ and 1st Bn have set up in reserve on the heights overlooking the harbor.