GD1938 Game 22

[cpdeyoung]

I feel your pain, no, seriously I do.

I came in with 171 Yak9-DD over the month. If two of your six groups failed the 75% check then you might well have a 100 fighter defense against a 171 fighter escort. There seems to be a mechanism to prevent a month's raids from depleting the defenders by possibly 100%. Perhaps the mechanism would have allowed 139 fighters to challenge 171, but not ~100 or so.

You have not achieved dominance in the air. The 171 Yaks are decent. 75 at 14 exp, 74 at 18 exp, and 22 at 6 exp. No morale below 50%. Production can replace 15% losses per month, and accelerated production should be able to grow the fighter force.

Not to beleaguer a point, but I have changed my ways in this game. In game 20 there is no Soviet air force. In this game I made sure I would have as powerful force as I could build.

My changes have been the result of being on the wrong end of the stick against you so many games. As games continue your opponents are going to let you teach them ways to resist your troops.

Chuck

[ironduke1955]

I believe all intercepting air units make one roll either they all make it or they all don't. So if the roll was within the 75% we would have had some 133 bf109f's against 171 Yak DD's a fight I would like to have seen but never will. The bf109f's having a advantage in stats also some 125% max combat bonus with in some cases a Soviet advantage in experience.

[cpdeyoung]

I believe all intercepting air units make one roll either they all make it or they all don't.

It would be great to know this.

Long ago I found that using a "big wing" in an attack worked better. I remember my huge RAF stacks on the west front smashing PzIVGs.

Chuck

[baloo7777]

How do you get those 400 to 600 point air stacks? Do you have to go over the 100 stacking limit? Is it due to ramping up production to produce only planes? Just curious. It's probably a state secret, but it was worth a try asking.

[ironduke1955]

Not really a mystery these planes are level VI fighters the power points are totaled and that is where you get the unit strength of 500+, Just a reflection of the readiness power points and also experience is a factor I think.

[ironduke1955]

It would be great to know this.

Fairly overwhelming evidence for it being a certainty, I have 8 groups in the area if they all rolled individually I would to have been insanely unlucky for none of them to make it. Its the equivalent of rolling 8 one to four dice and rolling 8 ones.

[cpdeyoung]

Stavka takes the responsibility for a bad mistake. We had moved our older fighters to an airfield nearer the front, hoping to defend the field, and cause casualities. The Germans found them there and made a massive attack which destroyed large numbers of aircraft. We lost a lot of pilots and planes, and the Luftwaffe gained valuable experience. The attack included over 150 Bf109Fs, which are dominating the airspace. We lost 48 aircraft, while the Luftwaffe lost only 1 Bf109F.

The Kreigsmarine had withdrawn the destroyers from the Baltic fleet bombarding us. We struck with an air attack and sank 4 light cruisers and 4 of the heavier cruisers called pocket battleships. These bombardments have been a pain, and we were happy to strike this blow.

The Germans have blown away the Polish frontline. Stavka wishes to stress how strong the Germans are.

It would be interesting to know what the components German production are. They have almost all of western Europe, one of the most productive areas on Earth. The Germans have full control over Italy's resources also. Their strength reflects this remarkable productive base. All we know for sure is they get stronger each turn. We will bfind few opportunities for counter attacks, and the Germans are not exposing any weakness.

Here is a map of the Polish front. I think we now hold a single Polish city.

[Bombur]

British turn.

The Royal Navy suffered a devastating defeat in the Atlantic, as Germany U-Boats massed to attack RN surface ships. More than 20 warships lost, including 2 Battleships, in exchange for 6 U-Boats. An attempt to counterattack resulted in no losses to the Kriegsmarine. All remaining RN unit in the Atlantic were order to return port while another strategy will be developed.
Another unopposed disembark in France. This time, Le Havre fell to British forces. We don´t hope to keep the city but the Germans will be forced to send land units to the area.
British light bombers attacked Italian forces close to Tripoli. The Italians have at least 80 heavy tanks in the area. They were damaged but none was destroyed.

In more news: ernie allowed me to make some changes in the combat system, they are being kept in secret. I will take another luck on interception chances too, but I prefer to set them low. Remember the current scenario doen´t model thinks like bad weather. Also consider that, when long range aircraft are developed you will see your Mustangs based in North Africa, intercepting German aircraft over France. WWII tech didn´t allowed for long range interception. I wished I could model radar effect on interception chances.....

[ironduke1955]

The Luftwaffe searched out the lethal Soviet Air force with the fearsome Yak DD long range fighter and the DB3 tactical Bomber. German forces are wary of how quickly the east front can deteriorate if the Soviets are allowed to dominate in any of the branches of the armed forces.

In the west the Italians slog away against the British for the moment evenly balanced forces L'Havre was retaken he British will not be allowed to much of continental Europe. And zero foothold is what the axis are aiming for.

The Kriegsmarine continue the offensive against the Royal Navy the hunters now the hunted.

[cpdeyoung]

11 Nov 1940

The Luftwaffe managed to handle the "lethal" Red Air Force to the tune of 81 Yaks destroyed at the cost of 29 Bf-109F. We did manage to sink eleven DD2 destroyers, which is some revenge for the British naval losses.

The T34m40 has appeared in combat. The KV-1 is our backbone, but the T34 allows us to cover more ground with Tank forces.

Here is a map of the Far East, where peace prevails.

[Bombur]

After the loss of more than 40 warships, the British got some revenge on the Kriegsmarine, as long range patrol aircraft sunk 5 U-Boats and our destroyers more 2. The overall losses for Gemany this turn were 12 submarines.
The British airforce attacked Benghazi, losing 60 aircraft against 50 from the Axis, including 20 BF-109F.
Survivors of the disembark on Le Havre retreating to Brest.
Damage to Madrid and Barcelona are increasing but we the Italian forces are hesitating to assault the two cities.
Information leaked from secret forces raise suspicions that the USA will enter the war on German side

[ironduke1955]

The Eastern front remains stalemated with no progress possible, the Czechs are a potential problem sitting as they do across Germany's lines of communication to the east, so war was declared to remove the threat, difficult as this is with a huge Soviet army to the east.

The stalemated theme continues in the west with the Italians bogged down in Spain.

[cpdeyoung]

9 Dec 1940

A quiet winter month for the East Front. The Germans have a campaign going in Czechoslovakia, so we can expect somewhat less on our front.

We bombed Danzig again, no ships in the harbor this month. We did some damage, and lost about 2 Yak9s for each Bf-109 we destroyed.

We have heard through diplomatic back channels that Japan is concerned with Soviet strength in the Far East. I think both Japan and the USSR feel that a strong position there prevents any opportunistic attacks. The Soviet Union does not want war with Japan. We are closely allied with China and both the USSR and China will prosecute a war vigorously if Japan attacks us. Surely we all have better things to do than kill each other over barren lands in Siberia.

[Bombur]

Dec 1940

More 7 warships lost to German subs, but U-Boat activity in the Atlantic decreased this turn.
In an attempt to relieve pressure on our Soviet allied, a series of probing offensives were lauched in the French front.
1-Le Havre captured again
2-Artillery moved from Brest, backed by infantry and AT guns, in order to pound Luftwaffe airports. Unfortunately, there were no aircraft in those airbases, but some infantry units were killed
3-Night bombers attacked another airfield, knocking it out, but again no aircraft were destroyed.
4-By then the RAF command was deeply disappointed and almost cancelled the next step, a big raid on French airfields, however, they were pressed by Churchill to proceed with the plan, as he promised Stalin personally that it would be carried on
5-The big raid resulted in the loss of 360 aircraft (36), half of then Hurricanes, but also 14 of our new Spitifires V. The Germans lost 120 Bf-109F. The operation was regarded as a partial success.
Spain: The stalemate goes on, but the British sent artillery from Gibraltar to help the defense of Madrid. Aircraft were moved out of Madrid because the local airfields were in the range of Italian artillery
RAF units in the Lybian desert are being repaired to the next raid

[ironduke1955]

The Germans can only report gains in Czechoslovakia a German infantry army is in position in France 7 additional Divisions that are in place to counter British power building in the Brest area.

The PZIVg is now available to the Wehrmacht with the FW190a also now available to the Luftwaffe. Some battlefield acclimatization will be needed for these new combat systems.

Soviet front was limited to some fairly futile arm wrestling with the Soviet Airforce, and Artillery exchanges with front line Soviet Forces.

Spain again no movement again this month but the Italians sense a loosening in some area's.

[cpdeyoung]

6 January 1941

German "fairly futile arm wrestling" translates as 61 first line bombers and fighters lost by the Red Air Force. The Luftwaffe lost 17. This is a good example of the strength of German Arms. A victory over the Soviets of 3.5 to 1 is not even celebrated. The advent of the FW-190 has caused alarm as the Bf-109F has ripped its way into our aircraft already.

The PzIVG is a very, very good weapon system and we hate to see them coming our way.

Finland has joined the allied fight and is cooperating with Red Forces. There are no Finnish forces in the north, and the Germans may attack there. The Finns are better aiding the Allies than the Axis, and it could have gone that way.

The Red Army has some more modern equipment also, to apply to the defense of the Motherland. The news of the gallant attacks by the Western Allies gives us heart. We wish them well!

[ironduke1955]

The Czech Capital fell to the Wehrmacht most of the Czech divisions retreating towards the NW to regroup.

France the British advance towards Paris from Brest ran into the fresh 16th Infantry Army and the armored units of the French occupation forces, and was forced back towards La'Havre where, they are now bottled up.

No forward advances by the Italians the time not yet judged right for the Italians to advance, caution being the better part of valor.

The Soviet air force the more active of the Soviet armed forces at the moment were not in evidence, German intelligence believe they have withdrawn the bulk of the front line strength to Minsk, they will not stay there long. A night bomber raid ran into heavy Night fighter cover losing some 50 precious night bombers.

[cpdeyoung]

3 February 1941

War in the Far East.

Japan has gone to war with us, and with our allies. She is scrambling to offer peace to the French, British and Chinese.

Japan attacked our position, and we counterattacked. The invaders have taken some stinging losses.

The USSR has dealt fairly with her allies, and we appreciate that they may not be able to join in the struggle with Japan now. Japan did not enter this conflict for tundra. The long northern border of China, and the Indian subcontinent are being threatened. We know our allies will recognize when they are under threat, and will eventually punish Japan for her aggression. Japan should not have attacked her neighbors. They should not have attacked us.

On our western front, the titanic battle with Germany, the Red Air Force did withdraw to avoid the heavy losses engagement was bringing. We expect heavy German attacks are coming, in every modality.

Good luck to our brave allies, and to the stalwart Red soldier!

[Bombur]

Open letter to Japan:

The Soviets saved France and Great Britain from certain defeat. We won´t allow the to fight alone against Japan, unless they ask for it. We are comitted to the fight against fascism and agression everywhere, even if it costs us our empire. We warn the Japanese people that the mistakes made by their rulers will take Japan to a long and painful road to ruin. We ask the Japanese rulers to recover mental sanity or maybe the Japanese people should choose other rulers....


Winston Churchill and Charles De Gaulle

Meanwhile, well planned RAF raids inflicted some losses to German infantry units in France
The first Spitifires IX will reach the frontlines next month.
Two German subs sunk by Naval Patrol aircraft.

[ironduke1955]

Meanwhile, well planned RAF raids

Bomber LOL

I moved 6 air wings from the east front to intercept the inevitable air raid from the British coming in to attack the German infantry army pushing towards L'Havre.

1) THE ELITE NIGHT FIGHTERS FAILED TO SCRAMBLE TO INTERCEPT THE NIGHT BOMBERS

2) THE FIGHTERS BASED IN PARIS FAILED TO SCRAMBLE TO DEFEND THE INFANTRY ARMY

So not one of the hundreds of German fighters in France left the ground

What is the point of the Germans spending a third of their production on fighters if they don't work.

Well Planned ?

Half of the 23rd Infantry army has been destroyed that was the force allocated to defend France, this is so unlikely to happen that it is comic a air force that with the wrong 1-4 roll may possibly never take to the air, if that's not broke what is, if you do not want your fighters to take to the air then set intercept to non that should be the only reason fighters do not take to the air.

Mod is broken my password is Coldfish if someone wants to take over the Germans and Italians