CFNA 1940-43 warspite1 (Axis) vs RichMunn (CW) - no RichMunn please

[warspite1]

I am starting another game - this time playing as the foul, smelly, evil Axis.

As with my first AAR, this will be the first time I have played the Axis - no trial runs, no practice - so am going in completely cold.

As Fog of War is set to ON, I have asked my opponent, RichMunn, not to view this thread.

Here we go....

[Zorch]

Any house rules? Such as the Royal Navy having to return to port occasionally.

[devoncop]

Speaking as the Axis player suffering from Warspite's devastating use of the RN in our MP game I would recommend maybe use be restricted a bit given Axis have zero way to combat RN.

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: devoncop

Speaking as the Axis player suffering from Warspite's devastating use of the RN in our MP game I would recommend maybe use be restricted a bit given Axis have zero way to combat RN.

?? What about the Ju-87s?

[devoncop]

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

ORIGINAL: devoncop

Speaking as the Axis player suffering from Warspite's devastating use of the RN in our MP game I would recommend maybe use be restricted a bit given Axis have zero way to combat RN.

?? What about the Ju-87s?

Unless I am missing something....when the entire RN is in just 2 stacks the projected results for the JU87s...even with support are not good.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

Any house rules? Such as the Royal Navy having to return to port occasionally.

warspite1

Yes, as I am the Axis in this game I demand that the RN stays in port....[:D]

But seriously, no house-rules. I don't know anything about playing the Axis at this stage so I don't think it right to suggest any - and nor has RichMunn asked for anything.

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Zorch

Any house rules? Such as the Royal Navy having to return to port occasionally.

warspite1

Yes, as I am the Axis in this game I demand that the RN stays in port....[:D]

In Alexandria, securely resting on the harbor bottom.

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: devoncop

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

ORIGINAL: devoncop

Speaking as the Axis player suffering from Warspite's devastating use of the RN in our MP game I would recommend maybe use be restricted a bit given Axis have zero way to combat RN.

?? What about the Ju-87s?

Unless I am missing something....when the entire RN is in just 2 stacks the projected results for the JU87s...even with support are not good.

I'm guessing you guys didn't read my Naval Warfare Article:

tm.asp?m=4292790

Time to do so.

What matters in Naval combat is the Anti-Shipping and Shell Weight values vs. the Armor and Durability values. Only the Stuka, as a dive bomber, has a decent Anti-Shipping value (120) - see the attached shot.

It's Shell Weight vs. the Armor values of the QE BBs gives about a 25% chance of penetration for each hit, but the Durability values of 180 will only incur about 2 damage points per penetration as a result. So, it's not ideal against the BBs. But it can blow away the rest of the fleet, and it will force the BBs to go back to port for lengthy repairs (if they hang around, instead, they could eventually be sunk).

The key is to keep your Stukas green - don't use them against land targets (at least until the fleet has been neutralized). Save them to hold the fleet at bay.

[devoncop]

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

ORIGINAL: devoncop

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay



?? What about the Ju-87s?

Unless I am missing something....when the entire RN is in just 2 stacks the projected results for the JU87s...even with support are not good.

I'm guessing you guys didn't read my Naval Warfare Article:

tm.asp?m=4292790

Time to do so.

What matters in Naval combat is the Anti-Shipping and Shell Weight values vs. the Armor and Durability values. Only the Stuka, as a dive bomber, has a decent Anti-Shipping value (120) - see the attached shot.

It's Shell Weight vs. the Armor values of the QE BBs gives about a 25% chance of penetration for each hit, but the Durability values of 180 will only incur about 2 damage points per penetration as a result. So, it's not ideal against the BBs. But it can blow away the rest of the fleet, and it will force the BBs to go back to port for lengthy repairs (if they hang around, instead, they could eventually be sunk).

The key is to keep your Stukas green - don't use them against land targets (at least until the fleet has been neutralized). Save them to hold the fleet at bay.

Really interesting information. Thank you.

I picked up on the anti shipping value but I missed the ability to avoid serious damage.....something I will definitely bear in mind going forward.I

Thanks again.

[warspite1]

Turn 1
18th September 1940

Okay so here I am - an Italian Virgin. Might be a good idea to re-read the rules as there are a couple of vital rules to know about at the start of the scenario.

First the situation briefing. So I have no reconnaissance capability at all at the start of the game.

Unlike the British, I have no sea-lift and of course there is no rail line.

[warspite1]

Turn 1
18th September 1940

And here is the most important thing. I have to take these three objectives within certain times or its all over anyway.

I know devoncop was able to take the three objectives and still be able to hold some units back (because I'm rubbish) but I shall assume that, unlike me, RichMunn has a brain and so won't make that mistake. I will therefore have to take the risk and pile all units forward. I won't be cancelling the cease-fire.

[warspite1]

Turn 1
18th September 1940

So as the Italian player what do I actually command? Well sadly there is no Regia Marina (except for the San Giorgio at Tobruk which I recall seeing when attacking the port as the Commonwealth).

So what do the Regia Aeronautica have?

It looks like 2 fighter squadrons and 5 bomber squadrons. I don't know what a visability unit is - I'll look at that later.

Ba-65a - 2/24 aircraft (no wonder this is on rest) - 9 in reserve and replacements 1 per turn
Ba 88 - 5/10 (also on rest) - 5 in reserve but no more replacements
CR-32 - 24/24 (on air superiority) - 36 in reserve but no more replacements
CR-42a - 21/24 (also on air superiority) - 34 in reserve and 2 replacements per turn
SM.79a (2 sqns) - 30/48 (may need to call on these units) - 83 in reserve and 1 replacement per turn
SM 81 - 3/10 (another understandable rest candidate)

So I'll leave the orders as they are - the SM.79's should be up to scratch soon based on those reserves.

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 1
18th September 1940

So as the Italian player what do I actually command? Well sadly there is no Regia Marina (except for the San Giorgio at Tobruk which I recall seeing when attacking the port as the Commonwealth).

So what do the Regia Aeronautica have?

It looks like 2 fighter squadrons and 5 bomber squadrons. I don't know what a visability unit is - I'll look at that later.

The purpose of the "visibility unit" is to make the "disband unit" visible to the CW player - so he can tell if you disband it (thereby canceling the coming cease fire).

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 1
18th September 1940

So as the Italian player what do I actually command? Well sadly there is no Regia Marina (except for the San Giorgio at Tobruk which I recall seeing when attacking the port as the Commonwealth).

So what do the Regia Aeronautica have?

It looks like 2 fighter squadrons and 5 bomber squadrons. I don't know what a visability unit is - I'll look at that later.

The purpose of the "visibility unit" is to make the "disband unit" visible to the CW player - so he can tell if you disband it (thereby canceling the coming cease fire).

warspite1

Okay thanks.

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 1
18th September 1940

Okay so here I am - an Italian Virgin.

Not quite my idea of one.

[warspite1]

Turn 1
18th September 1940

Big picture. I don't intend to go through all the Italian forces at this stage - a lot of these won't be around for long and most will be unable to reconstitute once destroyed anyway.

Plenty of time to go through what I have left if I actually make it to turn 5 in possession of the 3 objectives...

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 1
18th September 1940

Okay so here I am - an Italian Virgin.

Not quite my idea of one.

warspite1

No me neither.....[;)]

[warspite1]

Turn 1
18th September 1940

To be honest this all looks too easy. Before taking command, I spoke with Il Duce and he confirmed I have the finest Italian army ever assembled with lots of tanks and aircraft and supplies an' **** and it'll all be over by Christmas.

See you in Cairo for Spaghetti and medals!

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 1
18th September 1940

To be honest this all looks too easy. Before taking command, I spoke with Il Duce and he confirmed I have the finest Italian army ever assembled with lots of tanks and aircraft and supplies an' **** and it'll all be over by Christmas.

See you in Cairo for Spaghetti and medals!

Along with their new commanding generals, Heinzo Guderiano and Erichi Mansteini.

[warspite1]

Turn 1
18th September 1940

I concentrate my forces in the north as the Halfaya Pass looks a tough nut to crack. Bombardments will be required here and elsewhere along the line, but attacks will be made directly south of the Halfaya Pass (I chose this as an afterthought and so isn't showing in the picture below), against a squadron of the 1st RTR east of Sidi Omar and against a squadron of 11th Hussars north of Fort Maddelenna.