GD1938 Game 11

[cpdeyoung]

It is very weird to be attacking into Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union with Allied troops.

We made some progress in the east, and hit the Soviets with two night bomber raids on their cities. The Italian peninsula is nearly cut off although the area between Venice and Zagreb is fluid. The Italians to the west are strong, the Germans to the east not so much. We bombed Athens, which had some second tier Italian forces. The Americans are all over the West, but not yet in great numbers. In middle Asia we went on the offensive again, as it just makes sense to spread the Red Army out.

The British are bolstering the defenses in India. Strikes in Middle Asia frequently find Japanese troops and tanks under Soviet colors. We know the Japanese are there, in those scary mountains, and we want to be ready if they come.

The Americans sank some Japanese submarines, but their air defenses are very, very strong, and we did not attempt to breach them. Japan is going to be a tough nut to crack, and they can keep us at a distance. The Americans are not happy taking the kind of losses the Japanese can deal out.

Alan Brooke

[ironduke1955]

The Germans are now confined to Parts of Rumania and Yugoslavia.

The Italians are the only nation currently in western Europe presenting some kind of opposition to the British French and Americans.

[cpdeyoung]

The strongest Italian force I have ever seen.

Chuck

[cpdeyoung]

The RAF decided a direct assault on the Italians was necessary. It was with some trepidation that we made this attack, but the superior experience, and aircraft, resulted in a victory.

Alan Brooke

[cpdeyoung]

The situation in Europe is captured in this situation map.

Alan Brooke

[cpdeyoung]

The Japanese are putting out peace feelers. The Allied nations replied with a scheme for the post war world.

The reply started with

You have played a wonderful game, but you cannot be allowed to hold China.

It continued thus

[cpdeyoung]

The Italian commander once recommended the M-26 Pershing tank to me. Here he gets to see them in action.

[cpdeyoung]

The damage done to the Italian air force in Bologna.

[cpdeyoung]

Another view, the bottom of the casualty list.

[cpdeyoung]

Japan wants to control Peking, which we do not think can be allowed. We will continue our fight and see if we can
change the strategic calculus.

[ironduke1955]

Thanks I have seen them in action, from a previous game where I played the USA. Hence the recommendation, I am glad we concur on there usefulness. Especially against the Italian tanks known for their ability to brew up in a strong wind.

[Jeffrey H.]

It might also be interesting to get some "not recommended" tanks, any T34, KV and IS-2's would be on that list.

[LJBurstyn]

ORIGINAL: cpdeyoung

The Japanese are putting out peace feelers. The Allied nations replied with a scheme for the post war world.

The reply started with

You have played a wonderful game, but you cannot be allowed to hold China.

It continued thus

Strange that the allies call this an offer...it says IN EFFECT that Japan must give up territory
for NO return of any kind including land it started the game controlling. What the HELL is
"administrative control of former colonial oil sources in" SE Asia?? And how is this giving something
to make Japan a "partner" in "reshaping" the world. Partners are treated as equals not as SUBJECTS. At
the best interpretation of "administrative control" I get undefendable resource centers in return I lose the
ability to recruit troops to defend my territory. This is unacceptable. Make an offer that does not
fatally hurts me and treats me as a true partner and I will seriously consider it. Until then I will defend
my nation from whomever attacks me. I will not demand the return of my Pacific possessions.

I can see that you will easily outproduce me but I will not be defeated without huge loss of life
on both sides. Make peace with something like true justice and I can live with that. Demand that I give up
land for peace will not be acceptable. I note that the Allies continuing controlling their colonies and
continue to subject the peoples of all of Asia to their control.

Make a serious and equal offer and I will seriously consider it...and if you stop attacking me I'll stop
attacking you. If you want a ceasefire in place that is acceptable.

[Jeffrey H.]

Seriously, the Churchill IV and Cromwell tanks in 1941 was something like an "I Win" button for the British. It's now only with IS-2's that the Soviets can actually deter the British even if it's just a small deterrent.

[cpdeyoung]

The quality of the Churchill IV is clear, but no one would be talking about them if there were not so many,
combined with a gigantic RAF. The experience and morale of the King's forces is off the charts. The "I win" button
was pushed when Great Britain was allowed all those months of peace, and France was never pushed hard. Tough to
win if you don't fight.

Here is the current status.

[Jeffrey H.]

ORIGINAL: cpdeyoung

The quality of the Churchill IV is clear, but no one would be talking about them if there were not so many,

I feel that there doesn't need to be so many of them when 1 of them is essentially unstoppable.

It's been like playing a game of "Ogre" all over again.

[Jeffrey H.]

Not much left to do here. Russia is collapsing to the wave of Churchill IV's and Cromwells.

No infantry support, none needed. They just drive though things. Planes, dive bombers, T34's, KV's no effect.

IS-2's at least do some damage, kill a few. But not enough.

I'd be curious to know what sort of manpower status the English have, if it's even a concern.

[ironduke1955]

The Churchill does have one weakness though very tough more so with high experience, it has low stats against infantry on defense, when the tank is on the offence its not that noticeable, but on defense the low defense abilities against infantry that reflect the lack of a High Explosive rounds, a result of British policy not to carry them believing that British Infantry would be the best defense against enemy infantry. I think this has been factored into the Churchill stats, its not a great weakness but exploitable.

[cpdeyoung]

Just to be clear, at the end of turn 61 the British had lost 207 Churchill IV.

The number for IS-2 is 10, and for PZIV-G 68. The Churchill is excellent, and I am very glad to have it, but it is far from invulnerable. I currently have 171 of them, after turn 62 production.

My experience and morale are generally very high, and the Churchill rarely has to attach without extensive air support.

Chuck

[ironduke1955]

The Churchill tends stand out in that its armor and weight some 48 tons tend to be more than early war tanks can deal with, Tanks in the 50mm and lower categories are going to have problems. The later T34 and KV1 with 76mm guns should be able to cope with the Churchill fairly well. If I had researched the PZIV-G earlier instead of spamming the PZIII-E than a better assessment of how good the Churchill was would have been gained, though Allied air superiority would have made a fair comparison all but impossible.