How the Axis could have won II. Allied AAR

[warspite1]

5th July 1942

Intriguingly in the centre - both north and south of the Pripyat - the position appears to be one of a total lack of units. There is a huge gap between 12th Army (south of Chernigov) and 5th Panzer Gruppe (outside Kharkov). What troops are there in the area edged in black?

[warspite1]

5th July 1942

In the south the Germans have seemingly disappeared, but the Soviets know there are units there and this is largely the FoW effect. The Soviets are expecting a visit anywhere along the line soon....

[warspite1]

5th July 1942

Off Egypt the Italian submarine service appear to have entered the Eastern Mediterranean but did not attack.

Meanwhile the Axis appear to be retreating at least in part. Worried about their rear?

[AlbertN]

By the looks the Axis is pretty toast already Warspite!

[Skyros]

Great AAR Warspite. I have been following your AAR while I waited until Christmas to get this game. Your work here helped me jump right in and enjoy this gem.

Looking forward to your attack in the desert.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Cohen

By the looks the Axis is pretty toast already Warspite!

warspite1

I don't want to tempt fate - the AI seems capable of springing a surprise or two - but yes I am hoping you are right! [:)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Skyros

Great AAR Warspite. I have been following your AAR while I waited until Christmas to get this game. Your work here helped me jump right in and enjoy this gem.

Looking forward to your attack in the desert.

warspite1

I am hoping to land behind enemy lines - but a reconnaissance mission shows that the Axis have plenty of units spread out on the coast. That said, it would appear that the US task force - just by virtue of being at sea - is forcing the Axis to abandon the attack on El-Alamein.

[warspite1]

5th July 1942

Before leaving the AI turn, here is a summary:

[warspite1]

12th July 1942

Lets start in Iceland this time.

The Allies order reconnaissance sweeps in the northern Atlantic - and the very first one comes up trumps. A Wolf Pack is spotted and attacked by Sunderland flying boats. The US 3rd and 4th Destroyer Flotillas are called up and the 3rd gets an attack in that further depletes the U-Boat strength.

[warspite1]

12th July 1942

I feel that at present the Allies are on top of the U-Boat war. That said, there are no reserves - everything is at sea.

[warspite1]

12th July 1942

In the Mediterranean the USN Task Force 34 (Rear-Admiral H Kent Hewitt) heads west escorting the North Africa invasion fleet. The 8th Cruiser Squadron undertakes reconnaissance of the coast.

The Italians submarines were chased off by a combination of Canadian Coastal Command Sunderlands and the British 1st Destroyer Flotilla. The 9th Destroyer Flotilla was tasked with finding the subs but the search was unsuccessful.

[warspite1]

12th July 1942

In Egypt itself the Germans and Italians appear to be withdrawing from the El-Alamein line (although they have given that impression before). With the pressure on the town off, the British use this as an opportunity to attack, in numbers, further south where Rommel's recconaissance forces have been trying to probe for weaknesses in the line.

An attack is launched by two British Corps (II and IV), the 1st Canadian Army and the 7th Armoured. The German unit was destroyed and Axis forces now look thin - especially with the losses to the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions.

[warspite1]

12th July 1942

The action on the Eastern Front was confined to the area south of the Pripyat.

With the build up of troops - and the seeming paucity of German units - Stalin presses for an offensive somewhere along the line; and preferably all along it [8|]

The plan is to build up the newly formed Kursk Front under Ivan Konev. However Stalin - impatient to the last - orders an immediate start to the operation. Whilst the bulk of the Front are forming up, 4th Shock Army is prematurely ordered to advance to probe for signs of the enemy....

4th Shock Army runs into the newly re-formed (and now re-named) 3rd Panzerarmee and receives a blood nose for its trouble. Stalin decides that perhaps he should take a back seat in military operations from now on....

Meanwhile to the northwest, the Soviets show what can be achieved with a more measured build up and sensible attack. 12th Army are surrounded in another example of the German Army failing to secure the flanks of each unit. It's destruction is surely only a matter of time....

[warspite1]

12th July 1942

I've no idea if an Algerian landing is on the cards, but for 25 MPP's it makes sense to say Yes here.

[warspite1]

12th July 1942

Churchill's desire to set Europe aflame begins to bear fruit.

[warspite1]

12th July 1942

Reinforcements

United States
HQ Patton (Boston)

Soviet Union
Rocket Artillery (Ostrov)

MPP Expenditure

UK - Research Anti-Submarine Warfare and Industrial Tech
USA - Clark HQ and Paratroops
USSR - Research Advanced Tanks + Reinforcement and Upgrades

[warspite1]

12th July 1942

[Best Brucie voice] Time for a look at the old scoreboard....

Here are the losses to date. [Plea to Bill and Hubert PLEASE split out the British and the minor countries]

[warspite1]

19th July 1942

Well that was an action packed turn [X(] - I really wish there was a pause button......

[warspite1]

19th July 1942

We'll start in the Mediterranean where the Regia Marina have decided that Mare Nostrum means No US or British warships allowed. Let's see what I can remember:


Two Regia Marina task forces remain at large - exact composition unknown - plus a number of U-boats and submarines.

[warspite1]

19th July 1942

The weakened panzer divisions withdraw under a protective artillery screen, while the Italians launch a diversionary - and costly - attack on El-Alamein.