INVADE? Need advice....

[Baelfiin]

The Atlantic Wall looks studly.

Will need to wear my big boy amphibs if I invade over here

[Baelfiin]

ORIGINAL: meklore61

Once he crosses into northern Italy garrison zone he will free up axis units too.

Not really freeing anything up, the Italian garrison is mostly in the line anyway I bet.

Once I get into a second garrison area then the whole German army can move freely.

Right now I am losing two points a turn because of garrison level.

[Baelfiin]

Hearing Rumors of a Soviet Offensive..

Too bad that map key couldn't be in Greece 8)

[JeffroK]

Lots of Allied Regiments holding the line in Italy, no Axis spoiling attacks??

[Baelfiin]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

Lots of Allied Regiments holding the line in Italy, no Axis spoiling attacks??

Will have to ask AWG, the Germans might be running short of troops

[comte]

Great AAR [8D] What program are you using for screenshots?

[AWGreif]

ORIGINAL: Baelfiin

ORIGINAL: meklore61

Once he crosses into northern Italy garrison zone he will free up axis units too.

Not really freeing anything up, the Italian garrison is mostly in the line anyway I bet.

Once I get into a second garrison area then the whole German army can move freely.

Right now I am losing two points a turn because of garrison level.

Just throwing two cents from “the other side of the hill” regarding the WA Army standing at the borders of Northern Italy Garrisoning Area.
While it’s true that entering that area would release from garrisoning duty 40 CVs, it’s worth noting that, once most of the German forces in Italy have retreated there, the area is certainly over-garrisoned, with consequent loss of VPs for the Allies.
The only net difference for the Axis in term of combat units would be the release of the 10 CVs garrisoning Bologna, that could so reinforce the defence line.
In fact, with all other garrisoning area at the limit (thus not giving any VP), 7 turns with the WA “at the border” gave the Axis about 10 VPs, all gained by over-garrisoning Northern Italy alone.
On the other hand, should even a single WA unit have crossed that border, the garrisoning requirements would have dropped to zero, but also the relevant VP would have been null.
In conclusion, I may only thank for the kind VPs gift.
The concern of not entering the northern area would be valid only if the Germans were still be engaged South of the demarcation line, it this case releasing the Garrison from its duty would allow the Axis player to reinforce the Army fighting South.
The garrisoning VPs lost by WA “after” entering Northern Italy, and noticed by my excellent opponent, are due to the fact that starting from March’44 the garrisoning requirements in France increase by 35 CVs, and therefore in the previous 3-4 turns the relevant garrisons have been timely reinforced to avoid the big penalty that could hit the careless Axis player on turn 36 (March’44).

Ah, P.S.: no intention to attack the weak Allied line along western coast, because the WA air forces are too strong, and German units overly weakened by long fights.

[Baelfiin]

ORIGINAL: AWGreif

ORIGINAL: Baelfiin

ORIGINAL: meklore61

Once he crosses into northern Italy garrison zone he will free up axis units too.

Not really freeing anything up, the Italian garrison is mostly in the line anyway I bet.

Once I get into a second garrison area then the whole German army can move freely.

Right now I am losing two points a turn because of garrison level.

Just throwing two cents from “the other side of the hill” regarding the WA Army standing at the borders of Northern Italy Garrisoning Area.
While it’s true that entering that area would release from garrisoning duty 40 CVs, it’s worth noting that, once most of the German forces in Italy have retreated there, the area is certainly over-garrisoned, with consequent loss of VPs for the Allies.
The only net difference for the Axis in term of combat units would be the release of the 10 CVs garrisoning Bologna, that could so reinforce the defence line.
In fact, with all other garrisoning area at the limit (thus not giving any VP), 7 turns with the WA “at the border” gave the Axis about 10 VPs, all gained by over-garrisoning Northern Italy alone.
On the other hand, should even a single WA unit have crossed that border, the garrisoning requirements would have dropped to zero, but also the relevant VP would have been null.
In conclusion, I may only thank for the kind VPs gift.
The concern of not entering the northern area would be valid only if the Germans were still be engaged South of the demarcation line, it this case releasing the Garrison from its duty would allow the Axis player to reinforce the Army fighting South.
The garrisoning VPs lost by WA “after” entering Northern Italy, and noticed by my excellent opponent, are due to the fact that starting from March’44 the garrisoning requirements in France increase by 35 CVs, and therefore in the previous 3-4 turns the relevant garrisons have been timely reinforced to avoid the big penalty that could hit the careless Axis player on turn 36 (March’44).

Ah, P.S.: no intention to attack the weak Allied line along western coast, because the WA air forces are too strong, and German units overly weakened by long fights.

I didn't think about those negative VP's being generated by northern Italy garrison 8)

Now that you mention it, I should have put a "toe" into the northern area much sooner

[Baelfiin]

Start of the Ground phase on turn 34

Supplies are good and the troops are rested.

German terror bombing of Portsmouth dictate that I attack in Italy . .

[Baelfiin]

The horde in France seems to get bigger every turn . . .

[Baelfiin]

Air Interdiction and Combats Turn 34

[Baelfiin]

End of Turn 34

Looks like GRAPEVINE is a success, I have 6 units surrounded and a big dent in the German line.
The Germans are just being vaporized by my attacks, they must be super tired and out of supply from my constant bombardment.
I tried to clear a mountain hex, but failed.

[Baelfiin]

Turn 35

Once again AWG has outplayed me.
I felt pretty good about pocketing 6 units, even celebrated with a Rice Krispie treat.

However the next day I find that I celebrated too early and too long.

Not only did AWG evacuate some dudes by sea, he put the rest of his troops in supply, so that I can't get them to surrender this turn either.
Hats off to a brilliant move [&o]

[Baelfiin]

Supply is low again, I console myself with routing the ancona garrison and pushing across one river.

German units are really beat down, I keep fighting the same worn out guys every turn.

I keep expecting Kampfgruppe Pelton to show up and put a stop to my adventures but the word on the street is that the Russian Front is on fire and German High Command has ordered everyone east . . . .

[marion61]

If you take the port at Livorno it will help with your lack of supply. It's a size 4 port.

[Baelfiin]

ORIGINAL: meklore61

If you take the port at Livorno it will help with your lack of supply. It's a size 4 port.

ahhh good to hear, hope you are feeling better.

I am afraid of all of those germans up there, but I will see what I can do 8)

[Baelfiin]

Turn 36

I decided to push forward to the Arno to start getting some attrition on the German line.

I was very surprised to see no one home on the other side of the river.

Smashed some undermanned forts on the east coast.

Air campaign against railroads and v weapons continuing in the north.

Russian Front stealing all the German replacements, I seem to be hitting 3 squads of walking wounded and a machinegun everytime I attack.

[marion61]

Reporting from Corsica: No axis paratroopers yet on Corsica. My suggestion is to get those armored divisions and the mech. units over onto the west side. the terrain in the east part is terrible tank country. And your right flank is awfully weak. I hope he doesn't press you on that flank. But your doing a fine job so far. Don't beat your head on the east coast, because it will cost more vp's attacking those huge stacks than it's worth.

[Baelfiin]

Nothing but clear terrain in front of me on the east coast.

After last two turns I feel like there is an opportunity to break the German lines.

After this turn I feel even stronger that the German lines are cracking.

This paradrop I have planned may be a bridge too far. . .

[Baelfiin]

Work getting in the way of Combat Cartography

End of Turn 38

Melting Germans make me decide to push as hard as possible and see what happens.

The Germans bailing out of the west coast make it much easier.