West Front 44 AAR

[ColinWright]

If the problem is that the Germans just can't hold, one thing you might want to look at is a house rule that the Allies can only attack on 'minimize losses.'

Yes, I know it's a house rule, but there's nothing actually in the Bible that forbids house rules, and it would be a simple one to implement. It also has the potential of nicely simulating actual Allied behavior in the field in 1944-45. They just weren't prepared to take heavy losses in the attack, and the Germans were able to get a lot of mileage out of that fact. Not to take anything away from the German defenders of Cassino or Caen, but one reason they were able to hold on so long is that after each bloody nose, the Allies would quickly draw back and try to think of what else to do instead: they sometimes suffered heavy losses, but they weren't willing to accept them intentionally.

The house rule also has the advantage of allowing the Allies to do well against German counterattacks -- which they largely did -- and to successfully drive beaten Germans before them -- which they also did. If the scenario is revised to create still more formidable Germans, that may no longer be the case. For example, at some point uber-Germans will be able to simply crush the Anzio beachhead and will indeed successfully break through in the Ardennes.

[Gustave]

Thanks Colin,

The house rule is a solution for the next time.

For Veers, Jedi367 confirmed that he plays with version 3.2.92.27 too.

[Veers]

ORIGINAL: Gustave

Thanks Colin,

The house rule is a solution for the next time.

For Veers, Jedi367 confirmed that he plays with version 3.2.92.27 too.

Ok, the other thing to keep in mind is that the Allies did, in fact, break through at this point, historically. If you can shut them down at the Gothic, then you'd be doing all right...

[Gustave]

Thanks for your help.

I'll try to do a better job than I did before. [;)]

However, I noticed something in the scenario that should be changed in the next releases:

This is in the inventory of the allied on turn 1 (units in Italy).



In the Original Time Line, Cromwell tanks appeared after the D-Day, M36 Jackson in September 44 and Archer in October 44.

Due to their performance versus Panzers, the Tank Killers (M36 and Archer) don't have their place at the beginning of the game.

[Gustave]

Turn 7

Slow withdrawal on the Thyrrenian coast. The LXXVI Panzer Corps can't move this turn (units can however recombine and dig in).

On the Adriatic coast, an indian brigade has been destroyed during allied attacks. Units on this part of the front seems in a better state than before.

In the center of the peninsula, Allied troops helped me in attacking the 44th Grenadier Division. This unit retreated, but is still alive.

[Gustave]

Perhaps weather can help me this turn.

Two hexs where Allied air forces can't help ground units. Let's attack them.

[Gustave]

Result of attack on hex 106,86

[Gustave]

Result of attack on hex 110,83

[Gustave]

Now it's time to entrench.

The turn 7 ends here.

[Veers]

ORIGINAL: Gustave

Thanks for your help.

I'll try to do a better job than I did before. [;)]

However, I noticed something in the scenario that should be changed in the next releases:

This is in the inventory of the allied on turn 1 (units in Italy).



In the Original Time Line, Cromwell tanks appeared after the D-Day, M36 Jackson in September 44 and Archer in October 44.

Due to their performance versus Panzers, the Tank Killers (M36 and Archer) don't have their place at the beginning of the game.

I'll make a note of this.

[Veers]

Excellent. If the Allies take Rome on the next turn, they will have taken it on the historical date!
If they don't, then you are doing even better than historically!

[Gustave]

Turn 8

Sie kommen!





The yellow circle represents the mulberry.

[Gustave]

As historically, allies land in normandy and take Roma this turn.

The PoD seem to be in the strategy of the allied armies. Brtish troops attack east, and US troops are on the west flank.

Due to the situation ( increased allied shock to 120, presence of 2 strong fleets on the west flank, allied air superiority, lack of mobile units in the area), Axis is not able to counter attack.

So, let's marshall and entrench.

All mobile units on the west front are converging to Normandy.

The remaining Jagd Geschwadern in Germany have been sent in the suburb of Paris in order to increase allied air losses.

The turn ends here.

[Gustave]

Turn 9





The allied main objective seems to be Cherbourg. Jedi367 move his fleets to support the offensive in the cotentin.

Most of his armored troops are facing west.

On the eastern part of the front, US troops are holding the front line with 8 entrenched divisions (5 infantry, 2 airborne and only 1 armored).

There's a good opportunity for me to reconquest the landing beaches.

[Gustave]

red arrows represent the axis of the offensive. The yellow circle is pointing the Mulberry.

[Gustave]

First objective, take Caen.

Once it will be mine, I will attack north and south of it to drive back allies.

It will also permit me to reach the coast because American front line has no depth.

[Gustave]

40 per cent of the turn have passed.

I succeeded in reaching the beaches.

In the yellow circle, 3 1/3 infantry divisions (2nd, 4th, 29th & a regiment of the 90th), 2 FA groups, 2 Corps HQ (V & VII) and the 1st army are trapped.

To accomplish this, I've used a late unit (12ss Pz Div) to occupy an hex south of the circle.

Units are late this turn and can't attack this hex.

It's time to attack south of Caen.

[Gustave]

50 per cent of the turn:

My attack succeeded but germans didn't occupy the hex. In fact, it's another good opportunity to increase US losses.

The 2 divisions which were defending this hex have been split in three last round. Now the hex behind the 2nd US armored division is full.

If only 1 unit retreat on the unoccupied hex at the end of this phase, it could be destroyed next.

In the coastal area, the destruction of the pocket begins.

[Gustave]

80 per cent of the turn :

In the pocket, Only two units remain : 4Inf Division and VIIth Corps. I lost the 1/716 Inf Div during the reduction.

The attack south succeeded. The US divisions are now trapped and can't retreat.

As it's the last round, units are attacking ignoring losses. The other units are entrenching.

[Gustave]

The 2 attacks succeeded.



In those battles, germans win for four reasons :

- No naval Support for the allies
- No Air Support for the allies
- Lack of armored vehicles for the allies
- I red Curtis Lemay's posts. [;)]