Warspite1 (CP) vs Orm (Entente) NO ORM

[Myrddraal]

I don't think your Serbian deployment was a failure of nerve, I think it's absolutely necessary. On reading post #15 I was going to post to say that it looks like you've done a pretty good withdrawal in Germany without letting up the pressure on Russia, but my only concern would be the lack of pressure on Serbia - I guess it's inevitable that Orm would get an itchy trigger finger in that area when he's under pressure elsewhere.

Your line in the west looks pretty good - no obvious weaknesses or salients, and although you didn't get Rouen or Paris, it looks like you have a firm hold on Calais.

The difficult decision now I guess is how long to wait before reacting in force to Serbia... There's quite a lot of empty Hungarian territory you can conceded before they threaten any production centers...

What would I do? I think:
In the west I'd dig deep and hold the line, with the exception of Antwerp which needs to receive the attention of your artillery pieces. I might even be tempted to rail a couple units away from this front to Serbia or Russia, depending on how your economy is going.

In the east I'd keep pushing. The Russians may well be trying to muster a counter attack, but I reckon right now Orm can't mobilise troops fast enough. I would probe around Riga, and bring up the Warsaw units whilst trying a larger encircling move around Brest-Litovsk.

In Serbia I'd reinforce the flanks of the enemy advance at Sarjevo and Temeschburg to ensure you don't get outflanked, but otherwise allow the Serbs to advance in the centre if they wish (and even maybe encourage them along with a token defence).

That's a lot of things I realise... I'd really like to see a shot of your management screen...

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Myrddraal

warspite1

In Serbia I'd reinforce the flanks of the enemy advance at Sarjevo and Temeschburg to ensure you don't get outflanked, but otherwise allow the Serbs to advance in the centre if they wish (and even maybe encourage them along with a token defence).

Myrddraal, the plan is exactly what you describe. That is why I refer to a failure of nerve. I want the Serbs to come out of their prepared positions while I stay in mine. I did not envisage putting a much needed Infantry unit here this early...

I would probe around Riga, and bring up the Warsaw units whilst trying a larger encircling move around Brest-Litovsk.

Watch this space [:)]

That's a lot of things I realise... I'd really like to see a shot of your management screen...

I fully trust Orm so I will post this when my turn comes up next.

[warspite1]

Turn 14 - 24th December 1914

Germany

Baltic

The aftermath of the Battle of The Baltic Sea sees the remnants of the Russian Battlefleet sail for Riga. They were hotly pursued by Vize-Admiral Hipper, whose Cruiser Fleet annhailated the remaining Russian ships.

The British submarine attacked the German convoy and caused 1-strength point of damage. Scheer meantime fled back to Konigsberg.

France

The British take a retaliatory pot shot at 1st Army on the Channel coast but do not follow up with Infantry. Otherwise all is quiet on the Western Front...All Quiet On he Western Front?? Mmmm sounds like a good title for a book or a film...

Austria-Hungary

Whoops - I've completely mucked that up [&:]. I highlighted my Austrian 1st Army and then went to check the quality of the Serb Infantry (without unhighlighting) and so attacked the Serb at 1-4 odds..Well that has blown the whole front open - whoops indeed [X(]. In a panic I attack the Serb Garrison north of the River Mures. I lose that one too... I can't afford those silly errors against a player as good as Orm [:(]

Germany and Austria-Hungary

This turn is proving as bad as the last one was good. In the Ukraine I attack the Russian Garrison once more, but take large losses and only succeed in reducing the unit to a 2.

To the northwest I continue to try and encircle the Fortress of Brest-Litovsk. in the process I destroy the Russian railroad gun but can not get close to actually encircling the enemy.

Turkey

I decide not to retreat with my Turkish forces but to sit it out and see what Orm does about it...

[warspite1]

Turn 15 - 7th January 1915

Germany

France

Not much happening here. I launch another, lite version of Operation Zitadelle, picking on the French unit that occupied the position of the retreating British. The success is nothing like before however, I merely reduce the French Infantry to a 5-strength.

Turkey

Nothing happening this turn.

Austria-Hungary

The Serbian break-out has proven to be a full-scale offensive. The 1st Temeschburg Garrison was put out of supply but not attacked and I manage to bring him back in touch with Austrian forces operating from Temeschburg. Curious...and worried...about where Orm will go next.

Austria-Hungary and Germany

Russia

The position in the Ukraine has become untenable. The Russians have a bomber, two Infantry and a Garrison. I order a retreat from this sector...

Further north, the Austrian 6th Army is once again bearing the brunt of the Russian attempts to keep the supply lines to Brest-Litovsk open. However, I finally manage to shut the door using just about every unit in the region.The Austrian 2nd, 6th, 7th and 9th Armies comine with the German 7th and 8th Armies to destroy the Russian Infantry guarding the northern end of the bridgehead.

In the Baltic States, the newly formed Army Group North surround Kovno.

[warspite1]

Turn 16 - 21st January 1915

I know Orm - he is very canny at this game. The British/French have been quiet considering the bad start I got. This is for one of two reasons a) he is building up overwhelming strength in France before attacking - or b) he is going to launch a surprise - In Serbia or the Middle East......

Austria-Hungary

Serbia

I don't know what the Serbs are playing at here, although he may be double-backing and trying to roll-up my forces around Sarajevo?? I decide to retreat from that city - and Cattaro too.

Germany

The Entente forces attack my positions on the Somme, causing me to make so adjustments - otherwise I save my ammunition.

Germany and Austria-Hungary

I continue the withdrawal from the Ukraine..

Further north I further reduce the Brest-Litovsk pocket, the Austrian 3rd and 5th Armies destroying the Russian Garrison northeast of the city.

Between Brest-Litovsk and Minsk I force a Russian Infantry to withdraw and push forward toward the Belorussian capital.

The surrounded Kovno Garrison however is another matter. I suffer huge losses trying to reduce the Garrison here.

Turkey

Nothing happening here...

[warspite1]

Turn 17 - 4th February 1915

Austria-Hungary

The situation is looking ever more hopeless for the Austrians. I have completely lost the initiative and any sort of control over the situation. Sure enough, the British have landed in Cattaro....

Germany

France

Another mini-Zitadelle sees a British Infantry reduced to a 4-strength.

Germany and Austria-Hungary

The forces retreating from Ukraine have taken a real pounding and are now around Lemberg, so great has been the extent of the retreat. The danger is that the Russians will reach Brest-Litovsk and relieve the Infantry there.

Further north the limitations of the Game in respect of surrounded units comes to the fore once again. Kovno has been on half-supply for about three turns but the unit in the city is as strong as ever.

Turkey

Nothing to report ...again. This confirms to me that Orm will employ a Serbian Front strategy - possibly to include Turkey....[&:] Orm is such a great opponent [&o]

[warspite1]

Turn 18 - 18th February 1915

Austria-Hungary

The Serbs turn toward the coast as expected.

Germany

Another mini-Zitadelle reduces a British Army to 4-strength.

Austria-Hungary and Germany

I admit defeat and pull back my troops - I hope its not too late....

Brest-Litovsk falls and Kovno is reduced to a 3-strength, but will soon be back in supply...

The whole reason for leaving Serbia alone has failed....

Turkey

I inch forward with the Turkish Army toward Suez. No sign of the British Army... They are obviously defending Suez...

[warspite1]

Turn 19 - 4th March 1915

Game looks lost for the Central Powers. Italy will soon be in the war and further, large losses will happen next turn on the Eastern Front.

I pull back with the shattered remnants of my Armies around Brest-Litovsk, but this will give the Russians carte blanche to switch attack against my exposed units in the north. Two cavalry and a full strength Infantry could not dislodge a Russian Garrison, meaning Kovno is back in supply and my exposed units will be eaten up piecemeal.

[Myrddraal]

Surely not that catastrophic? You have a very solid position in the west, you can afford to pull back troops from the western and eastern fronts to deal with the Serbian upstart or no?

[warspite1]

Turn 20 - 18th March 1915

In Russia the 4th Cavalry Army is predictably destroyed and the Kovno Garrison remains invulnerable... what a mess...

Meanwhile in Serbia, the Austrian Battlefleet, led by the battleship Viribus Unitis and her two Tegetthoff-class sisters - Tegetthoff and Prinz Eugen - squared up to the French Battlefleet at the Battle of the Straits of Otranto. The French Battlefleet had earlier sighted the Austrian Cruiser Fleet patrolling the Straits, and attacked. The Austrian Cruisers were then ordered back to Split, while the Austrian heavy hitters took over. The result was 1-strength point loss for the Austrians, and a total of 6 for the French. A minor success on this disaster zone of a front.

In Serbia itself - or more accurately, Serbian controlled Austria, the Austrians send a force of one Infantry - 1st Army - and two Garrisons - 1st Sarajevo and 1st Zagreb - to try and put some pressure on the Serbs beseiging the port of Split.

In Egypt the British have an Artillery and Infantry around Ismailia. I beat a hasty retreat with the Turkish Army....

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Myrddraal

Surely not that catastrophic? You have a very solid position in the west, you can afford to pull back troops from the western and eastern fronts to deal with the Serbian upstart or no?

warspite1

Yes, my Serbian strategy rested on giving the Czar a right good going over from which they would never recover. That strategy lies in ruins. I fully expect the Ormster to pitch up in Serbia very soon with half the British and French Armies!!

[warspite1]

Turn 21 - 1st April 1915

In Serbia I manage to force the Serbs into a retreat and I hope to be able to take back some of the ground lost around Sarajevo and Cattaro - we shall see....

The naval battle at Otranto is not over. A French Cruiser force came back and there was a brief engagement with the Austrian Battlefleet.

In Russia it is recovery time, and I have to start sending units to Italy.

[warspite1]

Turn 22 - 15th April 1915

After being attacked by a British Cruiser Fleet, the naval engagement at Otranto ends with the remnants of the Austrian Battlefleet retreating to Split. In southern Austria, the Serbs continue their retreat south, although somehow manage to avoid heavy loss despite being in the open, and caught by two Infantry Armies.

The only other action this turn was the destruction of a Russian Garrison, southwest of Minsk, that had strayed to close to the front-line. Here too however, it took about four full strength infantry to destroy the unit.

[warspite1]

Turn 23 - 29th April 1915

The Royal Navy followed up their success at Otranto by raiding the port of Split and sinking the remnants of the Battlefleet.

France

Orm mounts his surprise!! He has placed Artillery and heavy Infantry units in Alsace which have pushed the German Garrison troops back.

I decide to launch an offensive to threaten Paris but.....Not sure what I have to do to get a breakthrough [:(].. Two Artillery and three full strength Infantry (one with a General) fail to dislodge a French Infantry unit.... the attack stalls before it starts...

Serbia

The Austrians chase the Serbians back to Sarajevo but there will be little, if any, chance of taking the city back with the forces available.

Russia

In Russia I push forward again. An Austrian Army Group consisting of 3rd, 7th, 8th and 10th Armies + the 2nd Lemburg Garrison surrounds a Russian Garrison in the southern Pripet Marshes, but can only take 5-strength points off the enemy unit.

A Second Army Group pushes between Vilna and Minsk but scores the same result against a Russian Garrison guarding the southern bank of the River Neman.

[Myrddraal]

Would love to see some screenshots.

[warspite1]

I'll do some more once Orm does his next turn.

[warspite1]

Turn 24 - 13th May 1915

I am close to despair with this game....[&:][:(] I attack the British Infantry south of the Somme with:

- Three Infantry (including a General attached to 2nd Army and 12th Army which is south of the river)
- Two German Artillery
- One German Aircraft
- And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

All I need is to dislodge the unit to get another Infantry over the river...what happens? He sits there [X(]

Okay so I turn my attention to the Garrison unit northwest of Verdun. I attack again with three Infantry (including von Hindenburg's 10th Army) - result? The French Garrison loses 4 points....

[warspite1]

Turn 24 - 13th May 1915 (Cont)

Serbia

The British Battlefleet sails up the Adriatic and destroys the Cruiser Fleet in Trieste. I pull back my troops north of Sarajevo to try and form a line.

[warspite1]

Turn 24 - 13th May 1915 (Cont)

Russia

The Russians appear invincible in this game. East of Vilna it takes no less than Five Armies + an Artillery to get rid of the Russian Garrison south of the river.... [&:]

Further south its the same story - the Russian Garrison proves almost untouchable while a counter-attack from a lone Russian Infantry almost wipes out the Austrian 3rd Army....

[warspite1]

Turn 25 - 27th May 1915

The Game moves into its final phase. This time three German Armies and an Artillery attack a French Garrison northwest of Paris...it survives easily, i can't even get close to forcing any sort of result at all. Meanwhile no such problems for the British as they take Strassburg.

The two Russian Infantry and one Garrison continue to roll up the Austrian Army south of the Pripet Marshes, while around Vilna I throw caution to the wind (no reason not to now) and cross the Neman with two Austrian Armies - which I suspect will be toast next turn.

The Italians are in next turn or turn after latest and all I have to oppose them are a few Garrisons.