Allies vs. Skynet AAR Cont.

[John B.]

Speaking of Russia. Here in the south I broke through coming out of Voronezh and killed a level 10 HQ (I don't know who, but it did make me happy). The Germans have a level 4 tank unit roaming around here and the Russians are still trying to get to level 3.

[John B.]

Near Moscow the killing continues. I destroyed an army this turn and put damage on the twin engine bomber unit. I can attack it again and cause 5 more losses, but I think I need to rebuild my infantry unit. It's still touch and go and that level 4 armor unit can pretty much do what it wants right now.

[John B.]

Near Leningrad I contained the breakthrough and the German seems stuck for right now. Russia is doing ok on MPP and waiting for bad weather to come back!

[John B.]

China is not as rosey. They lost Ichang and Changsha in the last turn. Japanese ground support is really tearing into Chinese units. They don't have AA and can't afford to rebuild their fighters. They are starting to fall back!

In better news, the British far eastern squadron has been raiding Japanse convoys for 80 or so MPP each turn. No raiding this turn but that's ok because the British took the opportunity to sink the Zuikaku. The American fleet continues to spend time upgrading at Pearl.

The Japanese are also pressing into India but so far I think I can contain them.

[John B.]

It is November 1943 and the only political action of note was that we could have spent money to get the base in teh Azores but it did not see worthwhile to me.

Near Leningrad the Soviets have their first real guards unit (I'm so proud) and managed to do a little bit of damage to his cavalry in the swamp. Skynet's infantry corps is in danger of being cut off.

[John B.]

Near Moscow I killed a skynet army and should have killed the Hungarian HQ but it is left with one step. I've noticed that the Germans have not been making their infantry at infantry level 2 weapons which I take as a possible sign that it's under strain. Or, at least I hope so! His rocket artillery is annoying and he has a tank unit next to Moscow.

[John B.]

I advanced in the Ukraine and caught a Skynet HQ near Karkov. I'm hoping that the broad based nature of the advance causes the Germans to pull back. He is probing down to the rail line between Astrakhan and Baku but so far he has sent a couple of weak units and nothing major.

[John B.]

In China, well, things keep going poorly. Oddly his special forces are fantastic and killing steps in my armies even though we're both at infantry level 2. China basically rebuilds units and hopes that the Allies can squeeze the Japanese economy enough to save it.

On the naval front, the US has basically spent most of the year rebuilding and upgrading it's ships. It was about to set sail and then it got naval weapons level 2. So, more time spent taking care for upgrades. Sigh.

[John B.]

In a spot of good news, the allied bridgehead in France was able to expand and Cherbourg was captured. I have four units on shore and more lined up to land. There was not a lot of train sounds from the German side but his planes may have rebased. As you can see, England is one giant airbase. My ground support planes were not nearly as effective as I thought that they would be given that I have level 2. I guess they hit his morale. But, if he leaves me alone for another turn I'll have even more units on shore and I may be able to cut off and take Brittany.

[John B.]

I played through the winter of 43-44 and moved into the Spring. In France you can see that the allied side has expanded it's bridge head to quite a substantial size. German rocket units destroyed an armor unit and I've been hampered by bad weather which has been grounding my air force, but, there was clear weather last turn. So, the start bombers went in first to bleed off German interception sorties and they did about 10 MMP on German industry. My ground attack planes helped a bit but it has not been easy clearing out the Britanny peninsula as I thought it would be. British airborne landed and took Le Harve. Vichy is not in the war and that's a big help. It makes my frontage smaller and right now I need more troops.

[John B.]

And right now I think Skynet is facing big problems with the Germans. In addition to the attrition in France, his front is creaking in all sectors in Russia. Here in the south, for example, the only thing holding the pocket open is an artillery unit. That is never a good position to be in.

[John B.]

South of Moscow Skynet lost an army and has a level 4 tank unit trapped far behind the lines. It has started to take attrition losses. I'm not sure if there is too much in front of my infantry here.

[John B.]

On the northern Moscow flank skynet is also under pressure. I've gotten in a few attacks on his artillery units (which have been doing a good job tearing into me) and he has launched a couple of attacks on the AA unit that is entrenched in Moscow but he has not gotten very far.

[John B.]

Up by Leningrad it is a bit of a stalemate. Skynet lost the corps that broke through to the north and I've gotten in two attacks on his stuka near Talinin. Basically, I think I'm inside the German reinforcement cycle now. With the allies putting pressure on Germany in the west and causing losses to his fighters there and the Soviets now smashing 2-3 German units per turn it is getting harder for Sky net to put together an offensive. He has to spend his turn rebuilding units. Not much in North Africa. Still the stalemate in the Sinai and I've pulled a couple of units out to send them to France.

[John B.]

The picture in China, however, is not good at all. Japan has siezed territory and reduced China's MMP production. Japan is inside the Chinese reinforcement cycle now and they are pushing hard. In the south I've been pulling troops back and trying to preserve armies.

[John B.]

Sorry, that last picture was the north. Mao finally allowed his troops out of the country and they helped China to retake Sian and destroy a Japanese airborne unit in the process. But, the Japanese ground support is deadly.

[John B.]

Here is the southern front.

In India there is a stalemate on the Burma border. No way to be in supply but India's ground support aircraft kill a few Japanese steps each turn.

[John B.]

In the Pacific the US fleet rules the waves. Last turn the Japanese lost the Musahsi and the Yamato. The British continue to strangle Japanese imports to the tune of 50-60 MMP each turn. But, I clearly have no idea on how to conduct an ambphipious assault. The whole US Navy bombarded this unit, then each aircraft carrier launched two airstrikes (I made sure they were set to Naval/tactical mode) and my amphib unit just floated around and was unable to attack. The island is also too small for me to land there so the amphib unit had to head off and I'm bringing in another one. Is there some way to actually damage these Japanese units with air/sea bombardment?

[John B.]

It's May 1944 and things do not look good for the Germans on the East front. Here in the south, the Stalingrad pocket is being reduced and the Russians snick into Rostov.

[John B.]

Near Moscow the Germans refuse to leave the pocket that is almost closed.