Encircled by Enemies (PBEM gwgardner vs Chocolino)

[gwgardner]

No oil, air units are useless at this point. The UK has been most reluctant to throw good oil after bad. Even though French nava forces are doing their duty off the coasts of Norway.

[Chocolino]

Who needs enemies with Allies such as the British ....(in this game).

Thanks for clearing this up.

[Chocolino]

5-10-40

We are back to heavy rain which severely limits our options. The approach to Paris - which was beckoning so invitingly last turn - has been closed again. But in exchange Rouen was left defenseless and occupied by the Germans. We control now one hex beside Paris.

[Chocolino]

5-10-40

In an interesting news twist - the French abandoned also the Italian border - perhaps to further feed the Paris front with fresh units. Apparently the lack of defenders emboldened the Italians prematurely and they joined the Axis - even before the fall of Paris which is the usual requirement. (This was a surprise to me). We even intercepted some Allied message in this regard (my fair opponent actually PMed me with the news).

[Chocolino]

5-24-40

Now the Germans control 3 hexes beside Paris. They did try an attack at the very end of the turn but Paris held. So it will be at least another two weeks until this campaign is wrapped up.

[Chocolino]

6-7-40

Paris has fallen and we will receive the French surrender terms (Vichy)- but it is already June. Until we can transfer our forces back east it will be too late in the season for an early attack on the USSR. There are several other options of course.

The British did not loose any units in France since they never showed up - but they did invade northern Norway. Is that enough diversion of force for a Sealion to succeed? Will the RN be strong enough to interdict our supplies? An air war will be necessary first. Not sure about that. Other options are Spain, the Balkans, just wait until summer 41 or conquering all of France, Spain and focusing on N. Africa. Different factions within the German HQ are debating these next steps hotly.

[Chocolino]

6-7-40

But first let's tally the losses of the French campaign. After the BeNeLux campaign they were 65-12-14 for Germany. Hence we lost more in France than in all previous battles combined. But it would be bearable if it were not for the loss of the Panzerkorps.

It is interesting to see also that the whole U-Boat war (with loss of all hands on the German side) resulted in a single British Merchant point being lost. (That should change with the new patch).

[Michael T]

it will be too late in the season for an early attack on the USSR

I thought about this myself. But it would be madness considering the lack of Panzers and the USSR production would ramp up immediately. Best to take out the Balkans and build up for Barbarossa. Unless you are serious about sealion. Then Spain and The Med. But forget Russia in 1940. In some other games I have played attacking Russia in 1940 is feasible. But not in WarPlan.

[Chocolino]

Thanks for the good advice. I am coming to the same conclusions re USSR in 1940. I am playing an AI game in parallel to test things out - and even against the AI it shows the challenges/pitfalls of an early 1940 attack.

I am thinking about a Balkan campaign for the rest of 1940 with several options on how to follow it up. (Bulgaria / Turkey, or Greece, or just Yugoslavia).

[Chocolino]

6-21-40

The German HQ has finally made up its mind and is preparing for the first joined German/Italian operation in the Balkans. Italy is still at peace with all other nations but will declare war on Yugoslavia next turn.

[Chocolino]

7-5-40

The attack on Yugoslavia has begun and Zagreb falls to the first wave. The Italians invest Ljubljana.

[Chocolino]

7-5-40

In the background the Allies continue the strategic bombing campaign. They continue to inflict losses on my oil production which is crucial. The Allies suffer losses (which are expensive for Strategic bombers) but are probably happy bearing this cost.

[Chocolino]

7-19-40

German troops march on Belgrade while the Italians pin defenders in the mountains.

Our air defense seems to be getting better. This time Allied Heavy Bomber losses exceed production losses.

[Chocolino]

8-16-40

It took almost another month until Belgrade falls. The Yugoslavian army defended skillfully around the capital and its many rivers. The German had to employ some Pioneers (engineering units).

[Chocolino]

9-13-40

The Axis used the last quiet turn to move to new jumping-off positions.

This week they declared war on Bulgaria and were able to conquer Sofia in one turn with support of the Luftwaffe. Bulgaria surrendered immediately after.

[Chocolino]

9-13-40

The British positioned their strategic bomber to Dover. There we can actually identify it and attacked - but it was too well protected by its own fighters.

[gwgardner]

How silly of me. You can send out a small raid and take those bombers out of action for months. And you could do it at little cost to yourself - a parachute landing, and quick evacuation from Dover port. Or a small landing by a commando division detachment. Hmmm ....

[AlbertN]

That assuming the Airborne unit gets across the fighters; or that the transports shipping the division do not get intercepted and sank by reacting airplanes. (Admittedly I do not know the chances and possibilities, but I've definitely had / saw transports sinking if crossing waters with enemy planes around)

[Chocolino]

You can send out a small raid and take those bombers out of action for months.

Would have if I could have.... but I didn't have landing ships available. A silly oversight of my own. You should always have a few landing ships to give yourself options when the occasion arises. And the paratroopers are currently preparing diligently for a different operation.

But Cohen_slith is correct - even if I had been prepared it might have still failed with all your fighters around.

[Chocolino]

9-27-40

The Axis forces line up at the borders of Greece. Planners hope that the weather will hold a bit longer here in the south of Europe.