WWIII - Game III

[GrumpyMel]

Strategic Air Command were the 12 Strat Bombers that were part of the air raid that bombed Havanna on turn 2.

[Tagwyn]

Dear Friends:  This game took over an hour to play the AI portion of turn 1.  In its present form, therefore, is functionally impossible to play.  As it is in Beta form, perhaps something can be done.  T

[Grymme]

It is true that the AI takes a lot of time to work this scenario. Although it is playable against the AI it is not primarily designed to play against the AI (heavy on actioncards).
 
But that is a general issue with the whole game. If you play the WAW scenario you would most likely se similar times. This scenario is probably even bigger though. So it would take even more time.

[Tagwyn]

G:  Thanks for your reply.  I have played WaW and not experienced a similare delay.  t

[GrumpyMel]

Turn 3 opens and the Korean conflict has boiled over into a shooting war. Despite this, I am surprised by the relatively low number of casualties. The loss ratio seems to be in my favor. Particulary of note are the air and naval losses.

[GrumpyMel]

The situation in Europe still looks tense, with PACT holding Berlin and encroaching upon Vienna but at least the lines look somewhat static. NATO hasn't sounded any alarm bells yet, so I'm not going to worry until they do. Elsewhere, the Cubans have pulled all thier forces in to defend Havanna and thrown away thier fleet on an attack against my blockade. In the Middle East, the Syrians have pulled thier forces in to defend Damascus. Meanwhile the Egyptians have made a minor sortie into the Sinai, but have refrained from any attacks and do not appear to be a serious threat to IDF positions. In Afghanistan the Soviet Air Force made a small raid on Kabul which resulted in more damage to them then the defenders. The most serious and surprising move of the PACT's turn was in Japan however. It appears that elements of the Siberian Fleet have tried to sneak past the submarine nets in Nagasaki harbor to attack the US 7th Fleet. Nagasaki, as I mentioned previously is well defended by both air and artillery and the Siberians pay dearly for thier agressiveness. You can see the results of the attack pictured below.

[GrumpyMel]

On the PDRC turn, they strike the Burmese border troops with air and artillery, not many casualties but a decent readiness drop. However, China refrains from following up with ground attacks. Taipei is bombed again in a series of strikes, it is knocked down to about half production and looses both remaining fighters in it's air force. However the action costs China 1 fighter, 1 strategic bomber and 3 tactical bombers. As mentioned earlier North Korea joined the war this turn. The initial action in that theatre was far more heartening then I expected. PDRC lost 2 fighters and 2 bombers against my Combat Airt Patrols over Korea, doing no damage to freindly forces. Rather then crossing the DMZ into an undefended clear hex along the coast, North Korean forces attempt a head on attack against the ROK 2nd Infantry dug in among the hills along the DMZ. The North is heavly repulsed as you can see pictured below.

[GrumpyMel]

Back in the Western Hemisphere, the 3rd and 4th Fleets move through the now freindly occupied Panama Canal and join 2nd Fleet and the Iowa in a bombardment of Havanna. I once again throw my air in a single massive strike against Havanna, this time a ground attack aimed at causing attrition among Cubas ground forces. Between the bombardment and the air strike, Cuba looses what little remaining production it had, both SAM batteries and much of it's infantry. Next turn it looks like it might be ready for invasion. I load 5th Armored and 1st and 3rd Rangers onto the assault ships and 82nd Airborne are standing by thier planes waiting for the word. I don't need to picture this activity here, as not much has actualy changed position wise.

In Ethiopia, more air strikes against Addis Abeba. The Strategic Bombers from Diego Garcia along with a fighter escort from Mombasa knock out the cities production as well as it's remaining fighter, while other planes conduct a minor strike against Ethiopian ground forces, in the surropunding hills. No ground activity here yet...and no reason to show any screenshots.

This is a big turn for the Middle-East. We start out with a bombardment of Cairo by 5th Fleet that knocks out one of Egypts bombers and a bunch of infantry and also damages the city. The Syrians have alot of forces defending Damascus. I soften the defenders up with a strike by the IDF air force. The results are good, but the defenders are quite strong...so my stealths fly a sortie as well. Together the planes take out about two dozen infantry and both remaing Syrian tanks. This still leaves around 150 ground troops in the city, a strong garrison... but thier readiness has been reduced to between 50-60 percent for most. It's going to be a big battle, but I don't want to delay further and give the Egyptains any time to disrupt my plans. I bring in around 100 IDF ground troops, 4 medium and 2 heavy tanks to attack the city from 4 sides. A massive battle, but the IDF is dominant, taking the city after 5 rounds of fighting which kill around 125 Syrians at the loss of only about a dozen IDF troops and no vehicles. After taking Damasscus, IDF forces continue to attack the retreating Syrians leaving only 2 to escape northwards. I also use IDF 1st Armored (after it's participation at Damascus) and 3rd Infantry which didn't take part to hit the 3rd PLO Brigade north of Aqba. They wipe that formation out with no freindly losses. US Supreme HQ continues to ship men and supplies into Tel Aviv adding to the effort in the Middle-East.