Tourney game amadeus (Axis) vs Mika (Allies)

[LLv34Mika]

My medium and tactical bombers can destroy some units but my fighters have no experience. Compared with an experienced German HQ and a German fighter with some combat experience at at least the same technology that is still a devastating result. I can scout/attack for one or two turns but then my aircraft need repair and time to get some moreale again. I can only delay the problem as it seems.

AND: if I transfer my bombers to the UK I can not take Cairo. Somewhere I'm missing units in any case. All I need is time...

[KorutZelva]

ORIGINAL: LLv34Mika

My medium and tactical bombers can destroy some units but my fighters have no experience. Compared with an experienced German HQ and a German fighter with some combat experience at at least the same technology that is still a devastating result. I can scout/attack for one or two turns but then my aircraft need repair and time to get some moreale again. I can only delay the problem as it seems.

I'm having deja vu from my HarryBanana AAR. [:D]

[LLv34Mika]

The Battle of Britain has started!

German fighters and bombers are sweeping the skies of Great Britain. One American bomber squadron was destroyed on ground. The London AA unit is making a great job fighting off the incoming bombers. I can only hope that the German losses are high enough to prevent a second bombing run.

Of course all defending British fighters and AA units were replaced and reinforced as fast as possible. And there was a counter attack too. First the heavy cruisers and battleships started the shore bombardement to soften up the German units. Then British and US fighters and bombers AND carrier based planes were able to destroy one tactical bomber unit and one fighter unit.

In the near east allied forces could take back Palestina, destroy another tank unit and also surprised one Italian medium bomber and the German Africa fighter squadron. So all in all four axis air units were destroyed.

I can only hope that this is enough. It is May 1943 and unfortunately there is no rain again.

I guess this was the first turn in which the Axis can not replace all losses they suffered. Next turn will show if the Germans are still strong enough to make a second attempt to kill my AA unit in London.

[PvtBenjamin]

Mika I haven't followed this closely but if I read your posts it sounds like you are winning yet you are actually not is that correct?

[X(][X(][X(][X(]

[Taxman66]

He lost Cairo and the 3 Soviet victory cities despite having a huge income due to German decisions (e.g. early DoW on Yugo).
Now it is simply down to see if he can survive the mass bombing of London/paradrop maneuver before he can retake one of the victory cities. Cairo the most likely as even with a large Soviet army he can't budge the Germans.

[Sugar]

Bravo zu diesem Zwischenstand!

[LLv34Mika]

The second bombing run is over. Even tough the AA was not entrenched anymore the defense is still alive. As it seems that bombing run was a bit less devastating due to prior losses. I hope that the third bombing run is only as strong as the last one. With a bit luck I could damage some bombers again and it gets better every turn. My fighters are still in good shape and enough US HQs arrived to make the defending units stronger.

Making more and more progress towards Cairo. The defense there is getting thinner every turn since another tank group was destroyed. More and more allied units are arriving helping to gain ground even faster.

In Russia I can destroy a unit here or there but it impossible to gain ground. There are undefended areas where my soviet units (because there is simply not enough space to place them near the front) take back small towns. At least that will force the Germans to place units there.

It is my most exciting game of SC so far. I'm on the edge of winning/losing and every turn could be my last one. I wonder how Amadeus is thinking about that situation. Is he preparing for a more powerful attack or is he doing his best and just realizes that it will probably be not enough to make that last final move... so close.

[PvtBenjamin]

thanks

Yet he has high research and a large army left, got it

maps would help

[LLv34Mika]

I'm making screenshots but can't post them. I would reveal to much of what I'm trying to do.
If that game ends very soon you will see the screenshots to. If it goes on I can post it with some delay.

[LLv34Mika]

July 1943

The Germans landed with paratroopers next to London but got hit by AA fire. I guess it was a suicide recon mission. Anyway, the unit was destroyed. AND the allied air forces were able to destroy another German tactical bomber. The situation is getting better every turn. I'm still hoping...

Here you see the detailed losses. As you can see the Axis already lost a total of 6 air units. That might be the most important step for any unit surviving in London.

[PvtBenjamin]

thanks

His experience levels must be high tho

hang in there

[Amadeus]

I surrender that game: I was not able to kill a single unit with my whole!! Air Force. I tried it in a couple of turns. For me it is a gamebreaker.

[KorutZelva]

Congrats to Mika for his comeback victory. With this first tourney win and he advance to the first floor of the pyramid.

I really thought Amadeus had the game in the bag... but may this be a warning to those that aim straight for London before dealing with the Royal Air Force! [:)]

[LLv34Mika]

Thank you for the game and for the many turns!

before I post some final screenshots I'd like to add something.
You did not use your whole air force. To my very big surprise. You had a at least one bomber south of Stalingrad and some fighters/bombers in Egypt.

It would have been impossible for me to get there fast enough!

Your first bombing run on London reduced the entrenchment pretty much. Not sure if it was the first or second bombing run when you brought down my unit to strength 6. I always moved out the damaged unit (or if it was low on morale) and replaced it with a fresh AA unit. That way you always had to fight a unit at full strength.

But if you ask me the biggest mistake was HOW you attacked. You had maritime bombers, strategic bombers, many fighters (Romania, Spain, Finland, Italy, Germany!) and all your medium and strategic bombers. You attacked in the wrong order if you ask me. If I were in your position and I just need one more city I would send the maritime bomber first. Just let the fighters or AA do whatever they want. NO escort! Then the strategic bomber or bombers (not sure how many Germany can build). Again no escort and let the AA and interceptors do their job. Then I send my fighters. If possible I would target enemy fighters, if not available I would target enemy bombers and would force the AA to make their last shots. And don't forget that you can escort your bombers with your fighters AND make a second sortie! (that should be changed if you ask me)

Finally, as soon as there is no more intercepting plane (or they are weak enough) the medium bombers and strategic bombers appear over London. I really doubt that my units would have survived. I also saw that you did not use your strongest HQs for that final move.

But maybe I'm wrong and my combined US and British efforts to stop the Axis invasion were really enough. My three AA units around London were ready and dug in and the city itself was also upgraded to help shooting down incoming planes. We will never find out...

Again: thank you for the game and salute to you for keeping the speed up all the time!

[LLv34Mika]

Losses... (I made some more attacks after he resigned to see how much more damage I could do and could destroy one more medium bomber and one strategic bomber)

[LLv34Mika]

battle for Moscow (mostly to keep him busy there)

[LLv34Mika]

Final unit status - Battle of Britain

[LLv34Mika]

Egypt... these two tank beasts just destroyed two of my units what would have slowed me down again. But his Italian AA was destroyed before I made that screenshot and some more units (including the three US paratroopers) were ready do leave the port. Had to wait/unload just one at a turn because the port had to go back to 5 before.

So in the next turns his last land units would have been destroyed. Next plan was to start bombing runds to damage his ports and prevent that he can leave that area or bring some reinforcements. Finally the paratroopers would have landed behind enemy lines and take out the HQs or fighters, leaving everything else unprotected.

[LLv34Mika]

and here is the map to show where the front was.
His 130+ units are impressive and the Germans collected so much money every turn that he could buy whatever he wanted. I'm pretty sure it was no problem to replace the losses. At least for now... as soon as Egypt would have been re-conquered my strategic bombers would have relocated and would have started to bomb his mines and cities --> decreasing his income by at least 200MPP/turn.

Finally the US would have sent the infantry/tanks in early 1944 to liberate France. That would have been the final step. I have to admit that destroying 95% of his fleet helped a lot. Yes, I had to invest in ASW and had to repair some ship with MPPs I don't want to spend there but it was worth the effort. Using the transports wherever I want without fearing nasty subs sinking my ships is very comfortable.

[Sugar]

Nice game, congrats to both!

KZ is right, allthough it would have taken more time, dealing with the RAF first is the safer way. Also soothing to see the value of high AA-levels; for every challenge there's a solution in this game, just like it should be.