How the Axis could have won. Allied AAR RTW

[warspite1]

26th August 1941

Soviet Union
The Soviets research Aerial Warfare and advanced aircraft. The remaining MPP is spent on a Shock Army, an Army and a Corps.

The Baltic Fleet, are ordered to the Estonian coast and bombard German positions (XXVI Infantry Corps) around the town of Parnu with some success.

United Kingdom
The British position in Egypt is becoming critical. I think the sensible thing to do would have been to give up Alexandria, but in not doing so I am gradually losing battle after battle - the air war especially.

All MPP have gone to try and reinforce whatever I possibly can.... which isn't much.

[warspite1]

9th September 1941

AI Turn
Another thoroughly depressing turn for the Allied cause....

The loss of Alexandria causes National Morale to sink further.

[warspite1]

9th September 1941

United Kingdom
The British are asked if they want to prepare HMS Campbeltown for Operation Chariot - an audacious raid on the French port of St Nazaire in order to blow up the Normandie dock - the only dry dock in France capable of housing the Tirpitz.

Yes please!

United Kingdom
Meanwhile the Canadians get their first consignment of tanks in Halifax.

USA
The American air force starts to build with the delivery of a fighter unit in New York

Soviet Union
The Soviets get an HQ (Rostov), a fighter Group (Narva), a Garrison (Kursk) and four corps (Bryansk, Rzhev, Orel and Stalino) - just in the nick of time, but just not enough surely?

[Malor]

Warspite,

Thanks for the great AAR. Excellent added details make it "live".

Malor

[Hartmann]

ORIGINAL: Malor

Warspite,

Thanks for the great AAR. Excellent added details make it "live".

Malor

It's strange - since a few years or so I totally switched from reading written AARs to watching youtube letsplays. Coming back to the written format with Warspite's AAR I suddenly realize how much fun those reports still can be if done right.

[warspite1]

Cheers guys [:)].

One thing I wish I had added more commentary on is the MPP position of each country - as this brings into focus what each is and isn't capable of. I will add this detail in going forward.

[warspite1]

9th September 1941

MPP Position:

UK - 127
US - 363
USSR - 667

Soviet Union
After reinforcing what it can the Soviets have 460 MPP left and uses this to purchase an HQ and a Garrison. I cannot see there is anything really to do with the Soviets at this stage. Each city that is defended, is defended by a unit that is isolated and set upon by 5 or 6 German units that destroy it. I don't want to fall back though because I need time for reinforcements to come.

Northwest Front
I have been luckier here as, despite the lack of units, the Germans appear to be thin on the ground too. However that has just changed as I can see at least 4 German units about to assault Pskov. The only good thing is that the tank unit I can see is down to 5-strength so maybe the town won't get taken this turn

Western Front
With the fall of Vitebsk and Orsha I have just one corps defending Smolensk - and that is pretty much it until Moscow....

Southern and Southwest Fronts
With the Germans fully across the Dneipr, they appear to be racing for the Don. The upper Don looks most perilous as there is literally nothing in Belgorod or Kharkov... Further south I have the 21st Rifle Corps in Stalino but that is it until Rostov.

United Kingdom
I launched an attack with my trusty Blenheims against the Afrika Korps northwest of Cairo but the 202 Group was completely wiped out by the German air force. Its difficult to see what I can do here. Having destroyed the German tanks I thought I might have blunted their effort but the remaining units appear unhindered by this loss. All units are depleted and most sit in the Nile Delta and await their fate. The Aussies of the 6th and 7th Divisions man Cairo. I have enough MPP left to partially reinforce the destroyers and cruisers that reached Gibraltar.

USA
The US switch to building units and an Army and an AA unit are placed on the production chart.

[warspite1]

23rd September 1941

MPP Position

UK - 159
USA - 248
USSR - 655

There are U-boats (probably) or raiders about, and have been for a while now. However I have too few destroyers to do anything about this.

[warspite1]

23rd September 1941

AI Turn
This was a very poor turn for a number of reasons:

- In Egypt there was a sandstorm blowing. Despite this the German Army was able - without a single loss to itself - to reduce the Aussie defenders of Cairo to Strength 4.

- In the Baltic the Soviet fleet was found by a German fleet consisting of a battleship, cruiser squadron and destroyer flotilla. As can be seen below, the cruisers Kirov and Maxim Gorkiy did not survive the encounter....

- My one 'bright' spot on the Eastern Front was opposite Army Group North. However, Von Leeb too has arrived in large numbers and the defenders of Pskov are shortly to shuffle off this mortal coil

- When units unexpectedly come into contact with the enemy they normally suffer some loss. That is no longer the case with German units who simply laugh at their attackers, following which the latter melt into a heap of mush....

[warspite1]

23rd September 1941

Soviet Union
Some more reinforcements arrive. Sadly there is only one army and I place this in Kaluga to try and threaten the German flanks as they march on Moscow. The remaining garrisons are dotted around the landscape to act as minor speed bumps for the Wehrmacht steamroller to flatten.....

I spend MPP on bringing the defenders of Pskov up to strength and then order the 12th Mechanised Corps to take up position on their left flank. Hopefully this way I can reduce the number of attacks possible against Pskov - although whether it makes any difference or not is another matter....

Meanwhile Admiral Tributs and the the World War I-vintage battleships of the Baltic Fleet are ordered on a last hurrah. However they fail to find the German Fleet - which appears to have withdrawn - but do find a destroyer flotilla, which they set about reducing "there's life in the old seadog yet" says Tributs, sounding awfully like Captain Redbeard Rum... The submarines of the 1st Submarine Brigade cannot reach the action having wasted moves trying to locate the German battleship.


Its grim oooop north...

[warspite1]

23rd September 1941

Soviet Union
In the south the Black Sea Fleet is ordered to bombard the German panzer unit to the north of Sevastopol. Some success is achieved here.

The Soviets build 2 shock armies, an army and a garrison.

[warspite1]

23rd September 1941

United Kingdom
In Egypt the British can only sit and wait - as Sydney Youngblood once said. All MPP are used to bring the Aussies back up to an 8 strength and repair a couple of aircraft. There is nothing left for the navy.

United States
A message came up to say the US were preparing for war. I continue to build units - A destroyer is next up.

[warspite1]

23rd September 1941

Well that's handy - the USA enters the war!

And the Soviets have a decision to make - would they like to start preparing for the defence of Leningrad by stockpiling supplies at Volkhov. Duh?.... that's a yes.

[warspite1]

15th October 1941

AI Turn
The Finns enter the war and the bullet proof Axis forces in North Africa take Cairo - in addition to their continuing to slice through the Soviet Union like a knife through butter.

Stavka Report
I am told to ensure the defence of Murmansk is not neglected. Yeah thanks for that....

But in better news, we understand the Japanese are not going to attack the Soviets in the East - which was nice.....

[warspite1]

15th October 1941

Here is a summary of that awful turn

[warspite1]

15th October 1941

Reinforcement time

United Kingdom
The British get some Maritime Bombers and and the Royal Engineers

Soviet Union
With the Crimea (including Kerch) likely to fall soon I place 3rd Army in the Taman Peninsula to try and stop the Germans from simply walking into the Caucasus.

I then make a mistake and put the 22nd Mechanised in Taganrog - right where its going to get destroyed - good one [8|]

16th Corps is used north of Voronezh to try and beef up the Don River line.

I put a sacrificial garrison in Bryansk as the Germans did not occupy it last turn. 4th Army is placed north east of Orel behind the river.

24th Corps is placed southeast of Rhzev, whilst the 1st Shock Army is placed in Moscow along with the Soviet tank reserves.

Finally, in the north 4th Corps is placed in Novgorod.

MPP Position

UK - 168
US - 297
USSR - 596

[warspite1]

15th October 1941

United Kingdom
The remnants of the British forces in Egypt retreat - or try to - into the Sinai. At least I don't have to waste MPP on this sorry bunch (they've all moved). Instead I repair what I can of the Royal Navy (although this is not much). General Guy Simmonds 2nd Canadian Corps is still in Canada as I do not have the MPP to move it....[:(]


The Italian 12th Army is officially re-named "The Captain Scarlet Division". Who needs panzers when your infantry (even the Italian infantry) is indestructible?

[lyceum]

Really enjoying this AAR. Hope you can turn it around!

Not sure how much the Suez should hold them up. I imagine IRL, if opposed, it would have been fairly significant at the southern sections especially.

Do you know why the AK (and Italians...) are not taking losses? For attacking into urban like Cairo I thought there would be decent penalties to inf and armour.

I'm guessing the numbers at the bottom right of the counters is applicable research, but not having the game I'm unable to interpret them. Are you significantly behind or unupgraded or something?

[warspite1]

15th October 1941

United States

United States Atlantic Fleet – Rear-Admiral David LeBreton
BB – New Mexico, Texas
BB – Idaho, Mississippi
BB – New York (Flagship) Arkansas
CA – 7th Cruiser Division (Wichita, Tuscaloosa, Quincy, Vincennes)
CL – 8th Cruiser Division (Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Savannah, Nashville)
DD – 3rd Destroyer Flotilla
DD – 4th Destroyer Flotilla
DD – 8th Destroyer Flotilla
CVL - 1st Escort Carrier Group

I have brought the US 1st and 2nd Armies, the 2nd Corps and the two fighter groups up to strength and will look to move these the turn after next (I will upgrade next turn).


Sing along all those of a certain age:
In the navy,
Yes you can sail the seven seas,
In the navy,
Er....yes, that's quite enough of that....

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: lyceum

Really enjoying this AAR. Hope you can turn it around!

Not sure how much the Suez should hold them up. I imagine IRL, if opposed, it would have been fairly significant at the southern sections especially.

Do you know why the AK (and Italians...) are not taking losses? For attacking into urban like Cairo I thought there would be decent penalties to inf and armour.

I'm guessing the numbers at the bottom right of the counters is applicable research, but not having the game I'm unable to interpret them. Are you significantly behind or unupgraded or something?

warspite1

Looking at the Italian unit, I don't think I am behind. However I am assuming that morale and readiness are part of the problem - as is the fact that the Luftwaffe are using supersonic jets (or it feels that way [:D]).

I think my problem stems from not digging in in the Nile Delta from the word go. Although having my bottom handed to me does not feel great, its good in a way because if I was beating the AI (having never played one of these games before) then the AI would be pretty rubbish.