Fall Weiss AAR (Colonel) vs AI

[rkr1958]

Turn 5. Clear (Dry). The objective cities of Paris and Caen were captured giving me a total of 3 out of 10 required for victory. Dreun, southwest of Paris and Argentan south of Caen also fell.

The 35th strategic air unit flying recon over Cherbourg reports back that that city (as was Dreun last turn) is open. Unbelievable!

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. Clear (Dry). Cherbourg, Orleans, Le Mans fall, leaving me 4 more to capture. Though, the defenders of Troyers were destroyed and now the city is open.

Air recon indicate that the cities of Chaumount and Chattilon, south of Troyes, are open. After breaking through to and capturing Paris, the French army has apparently ceased to exist. OKW hopes that I can wrap this whole thing up in 3 more turns. I’m hopeful but worried that the French might be organizing for a counterattack near Dijon, Tours and / or Rennes. The Luftwaffe will fly recon next turn to scout out these remaining objective cities.

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Clear (Dry). Troyes (objective) and Chattilon fall. The celebration ends there as Luftwaffe air recon uncover strong French defenses in the remaining three objective cities of Rennes, Tours and Dijon. The French look determine to fight for the south of France. I hope to convince them otherwise.

[rkr1958]

The remaining three French strongholds, Rennes, Tours and Dijon.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Clear (Dry). Chaumount (north of Dijon) falls. 6 turns left to capture the 3 remaining objectives for a decisive victory.

[rkr1958]

Turn 9. Clear (Dry). More of the same, except that I got a bit too aggressive with the 13th mountain and I’m worried that it’s vulnerable to destruction during the French turn. In fact, all units involved in this attack will need to rest and reinforce next turn. I just hope the 13th makes it given their exceptional performance and awards this operation.

[rkr1958]

Turn 10. Clear (Dry). All units survived the French counterattacks including the 13th mountain. In the Tours sector, three units received the Iron Cross 2nd class. While the fighting across all three sectors (Rennes, Tours and Dijon) is bitter, progress was made and the remaining three objectives should fall in 2 to 3 turns, which will give me a decisive victory.

[rkr1958]

Turn 11. Clear (Dry). Dijon, Tours and Nantes all fall this turn. Only 1 city (Rennes) remains and it should fall next turn.

[rkr1958]

Turn 12. Clear (Dry). As predicted Rennes falls and that should end my campaign. However, I made a error and left Troyes un-garrisoned. The French surprised me with two units that popped up. I rushed troops back into the sector but was unable to get any into the city. So, I will lose Troyes and will have to retake it next turn. I have no idea where those units came for?

On the positive note, two more hero emerge in the battle for and capture of Renees.

[rkr1958]

Turn 13. Clear (Dry). The campaign continues!  The French, as expected, exploit my blunder and recapture Troyes. Fortunately my blunder only delays my victory by 1-turn and doesn’t cost me a decisive victory. However, my blunder does cost me unnecessary step losses.

[rkr1958]

Troyes is cleared (again) and now my command controls all of the assigned objectives and achieved that in 13-turns. It’s a decisive victory! One though that should have be achieved a turn earlier.

[rkr1958]

Fall Rot – Post Campaign Unit Summaries. Note these summaries are cumulative across all campaigns so, for example, kill and losses for the 2nd Wehrmacht infantry unit include Poland, Norway, Fall Gelb and Fall Rot. For the 27th Panzers IVD they will only include Fall Gelb and Fall Rot as the unit was commissioned during Fall Gelb.

Five hero’s distinguished themselves during Fall Rot. Before, my command had none. Now it has five.

[rkr1958]

Command stats from September 1, 1939 through June 16, 1940.

[rkr1958]

September 19, 1940. Campaign Orders. It’s Operation Sea Lion and the trajectory of my game has left the historical outline.

[rkr1958]

From an historical perspective a successful invasion of Britain would have been very difficult, if not impossible, to pull off. There is debate even today that the Battle of Britain (Operation Eagle) and the prelude to Sea Lion was intended to force Britain to seek an armistice and out of the war, leaving Germany unmolested to fully go after the Soviet Union. And that Hitler had no intention of launching Operation Sea Lion. Though who would have though that the British could have lost Singapore to a force half its size and attacking from the rear through "unpassable" jungle. So who knows what would have happened if Germany had won the Battle of Britain and tried Sea Lion.

[rkr1958]

Now back to the AAR and Operation Sea Lion. [:)]

[rkr1958]

OKW has given the order to launch Operation Sea Lion and I’m in command of the all ground, naval and air forces. I’m given a whopping 2002 prestige points and the elite 46th SE mountain to add to, and reinforce, my core units. I build 2 new BF 109F fighter units (47th and 48th), a dive bomber unit (49th JU 87R), reinforce all air, artillery and as many ground units as possible up to full strength and past with elite replacements until I run out of prestige points. The remaining ground units are reinforced with green replacements, lower their experience.

Though I have no idea what’s waiting for me once I get ashore, my first two major concerns are countering the RN and RAF. Admirals Raeder and Donitz of the Kriegmarines have loaned me 5 u-boats, 4 DDs, 1 BB, 1 CA and 2 C, Goering an additional fighter unit (45th) and two strategic bomber units (42nd and 43rd) and Kurt Student two units of paratroopers (FJR).

It’s time to deploy my forces and launch this operation!

[rkr1958]

With the exception of the 1st Pz 1B, which is left is reserve, all ground units from my command are loaded onto transports and barges and start their short journey across the channel and into history. Raeder’s Kriegmarines and Donitz’s u-boats complete this armada forming a protective screen around my ground transports / barges.

[rkr1958]

Also, an impressive air armada takes off, forms up and heads toward southern England and their place in history.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

From an historical perspective a successful invasion of Britain would have been very difficult, if not impossible, to pull off. There is debate even today that the Battle of Britain (Operation Eagle) and the prelude to Sea Lion was intended to force Britain to seek an armistice and out of the war, leaving Germany unmolested to fully go after the Soviet Union. And that Hitler had no intention of launching Operation Sea Lion. Though who would have though that the British could have lost Singapore to a force half its size and attacking from the rear through "unpassable" jungle. So who knows what would have happened if Germany had won the Battle of Britain and tried Sea Lion.

I would land a force north of the Thames.


Edit: Be prepared for a tough battle with The Royal Navy