Decline and Downfall

[AlbertN]

The Eastern Front

Through the harsh season the Germans licked their wounds and the Allies poured more troops.

The Soviets were simply able to send a large expeditionary force down in the Middle East - as you saw - including armoured formations.

The only change of relevance is that the Axis in 'cold' weather turns managed to dislodge the Allies from the Dnepr River Bend and gain a crossing that was guarded by a cavalry corp of the Soviets. Otherwise it has been a massive quiet.

As last note the Regia Marina operating from Lisbon is keeping trashing Allied shipping - but I do not know how many convoys the Allies actually have or how much their production is factually impacted.

[AlbertN]

May '42 - USA shatters Italian resistance in Iraq.

Italy lost their armoured unit, the remaining Italians counterattacked to destroy the USA armoured unit in turn.
Then the USA mopped up the 2 of the 3 mountain units and simply hammered the Italian infantry.

There is no hope for the Italians that are now trying to disengage and retreat to defend to Syria - Palestine coast.

[AlbertN]

Ostfront Nord:

With lots of effort Germany enveloped Leningrad and took Vitbesk.

Manpower situation is already bad in the middle of '42 - as it is down to 50%. Sitzkrieg it seems it is the way to go.
Even to attack that 2 strong infantry corps in the swamps, with the forces you can see, give a 2:1 attack. You can imagine the losses!

The Luftwaffe is doing its part but there are simply too few planes for the migthy entrenched Soviet troops in rough terrain.

Think in the plains will go better?

[AlbertN]

Ostfront Sud:

The cream of the cream of the Panzerwaffe managed to gain a crossing of the Dnepr with ample air support.
But try to attack the next infantry unit as it is? 2:1 attack. Going to trade precious panzer and rare manpower against the wealth of the USA?

Maybe wait next turn IF the Allied counterattack (if it comes) does not dislodge the panzers and cast them at the western end of the Dnepr.

The attacks are supported by the finest German generals around. It does not seem to lead anywhere except being bled white without meaningful advances.

So right now the impression is that the Ostfront is a trench war til '43 or '44 when the Soviet tidal wave will start to push back the Germans. This is not the first game where that happens - given it's against the same player.
Attrition does not really seem to work - especially as Germans have less resources (especially manpower) than the Allies, as someone mentioned it.

[Chocolino]

Attrition does not really seem to work - especially as Germans have less resources (especially manpower) than the Allies, as someone mentioned it.

You probably need at least 3:1 attacks for attrition to be successful - otherwise you will loose much more than the USSR and do yourself a disfavor. And given how strong your opponents line is that is probably not going to happen often when taking into account the entrenchment and river penalties.

[Journier]

hell , depends on the opposing general, if you both have high tier general in the area' it can turn pretty bloody first few battles at 3-1 even. those winter battles are sooo tough as germany to deal with.

[AlbertN]

Midde East - End of July '42

The Axis has pulled back at grand distance and the enemy does not seem to be in the heat for a pursuit.

The counterplanning agency suspects a potential landing through the Red Sea to catch off guard the Axis. Italian troops reinforces the sector.

[AlbertN]

Ireland and Atlantic - End of July '42

The dreaded 3rd front revealed to be a grand fake maneuver.
Only 1 USA corps were issued ashore and the rest of the fleet retreat to hunt the Axis raiders (which netted seemingly a grand victory as this turn the convoy lane is passive for the Allies!)

German expeditionary force was issued to dislodge the Americans left on their own. A tactical victory that certainly does not ease the loss of oil in the Middle East.

[AlbertN]

End of July '42 - Fall of Leningrad

The Luftwaffe was shifted to the northern region - shortage of airbase exposed some planes to partisans and the fee was paid for the risk.
But then Leningrad was finally seized! At least that's a prize claimed.

It may cost the airborne unit!

On a relevant note I am thinking there is some manpower math problems. I am marking since a few turns how much manpower I have at end of turn, and then I sum what I should take and subtract the unkeep and math is not returning.

[AlbertN]

November '42

After a surge in latest summer, the Axis withdrew back behind riverlines and in swamps to hold grounds better for the winter to come.

The USAAF shows its muscles, and extreme range, for their fighters at the far right of the map intervened in a sub-hunting in the Baltic! (Nerf Escort Fighters range and / or fighting prowess please)

The Finns are meant to safekeep the Leningrad zone.

[AlbertN]

Ostfront - Big Center

After summer the only meaningful change is the seizure of Vitbesk, that costed the Axis a veteran panzergrenadier corp after a vehement Soviet counterattack.

Allied airpower presence intensifies whilst Soviets are building up reserves - I assume of tactical bombers for these are the way to go to crack a frontline.

Vitbesk garrison, being a cornerstone of the defence, got Snow Warfare specialty, and the city is meant to get a sensible amount of anti air (which may fall into enemy hands in the future alas).

The rest of the front is for now tranquil.

[AlbertN]

November '42 - Oil War

The southern part of the front too is tranquil and calm.

But the USA are doing strategic bombing over Ploesti, safely escorted by their extreme range fighters.

The Axis predicted that almost in time, and Flak was halfway through their production to be placed down - but despite 6 flaks present in Ploesti for now damage has been rather minimal (1 hit per bombing run by 6 Flaks). That was just one turn - so I impute that to bad luck.

[AlbertN]

November '42 - Middle East

Soviets departed from the sector or have been disbanded (most of their forces there were cavalries and lightweight troops except some mountain units and an armour corp) for infiltration purposes.

The heavy fighting was done by the USA - which are still there even if the majority of their airforce got shifted to the Ostfront.

The Italians and a small German expeditionary force loom there but it is clear that the USA has no offensive intent and that they just sought to deny oil access to the Axis. (Paired up with Ploesti bombing).

On a sidenote in the other 'Sealion' game I've, in May'42 the USA are liberating UK already with sheer air mass and tanks. (Though in that game, the Soviets had infantry corps instead of the mechanized armada - and got pushed far and deep to the east.)

[AlbertN]

January '43 - Middle East

The USA are at risk of a lesson of hard knocks here - or so the Axis command feels.

Previous turns the enemy forces were scouted (Move a mech unit adjacent to them, see what the enemy units are, and pull it back), and once ascertained the enemy dug in and prepared for static warfare in 2 turns of positioning the attack was concerted.

It is to be said the enemy sniffed the intent and began to ship aerial forces back in the region from Motherland Russia - probably for air resupply missions and the like.

[AlbertN]

January '43 - Ostfront Sud

The Allies begin to take over the front. As predicted the Soviet units are disappearing over time (disbanded by the looks) to make space for air units which will be the indiscussed king and retribution dealer of endgame in Warplan.

Little matter if troops are winterized or not if the enemy efficiency gets obliterated by carpet bombing. 1 or a few hexes a turn do the trick. (I admit in this moment I am grateful the UK airforce is not here or there would be another dozen of air units...)

[AlbertN]

January '43 - Ostfront

Note how also the northern sector of the Soviets is sensibly thinning down.

Besides the relocating any elite troop to the Vitbesk sector - where they shape a nice arrow to indicate me where the attack is to happen - lots of Soviets just disappeared.

More planes to come or troops formed with good experience how of thin air.

At this stage air units are key for anything and Germany should truly ponder if to add more fighters instead of infantry with their remaining logistic points!

[MagicMissile]

Different, interesting and exciting [:)]

[AlbertN]

End of February '43 - Middle East

The Axis offensive in the Middle East started well - with the Allies caught mostly offguard at the start.

In the while around Vitbesk the respective airforces were battling in the air to wrestle for local air superiority - which never happened for any side.

The Allied Combined Command decreted then to shift elite Soviet armoured forces and American quality troops in the Middle East (Each nation has its own allotment of rail, so...).

The Axis attack had initial success, trapping and butchering the static American forces and reached the outskirts of Barsa, where Canadian defenders held their grounds. Unsuspicious that the Allies had moved actual heavy units from the supposed main directive of the attack, the Italian armoured spearhead (2 Mech Corps, veteran and elite marked, having both 70+ Experience by now!) got shattered and annihilated in two subsequent turn, and now it's the Allied time to launch a counteroffensive.

The Italian Aeronautica immolated itself to allow the safe passage of the German paratrooper to seize Teheran and stall the railroad. That was part of the original plan (and also caught on the ground 2 USA planes sending them away). But the Allies can easily send overwhelming forces and the seizure of Iraq can be shortlived.

6 Months ago Baghdad was abandoned by Axis forces. It was retained at the start of February but for how long can it be held now?

[IslandInland]

This is a very interesting AAR with some unusual strategies.

It's a good read. [:)]

[AlbertN]

Ostfront - June '43 (Turn 99!)

Both sides have massed planes in the region, minors included.

The Soviets have mustered as well ample armoured reserves, so the Intel says.
The relative airforces trade blows roughly at even rates (Sometimes Axis wins, sometimes Allies do in terms of losses).
But the Allies have the advantage of the Escort Fighters for the USA which have 'infinite' range pratically.

Both sides have pratically been hugging each other since the end of the '41.
In early Spring '42 Dneprcity was take (Germans were stalled 2 hexes away - and they were facing Anglo-American units that were neither winterized).
In Summer '42 the Axis took Leningrad (An advance of 2 hexes in that direction) and pierced east of the Lovat river of a depth of 2-3 hexes before to retreat back behind the riverline.
Summer '43 preview is roughly more trench war at least on Axis end, hard stretched in terms of manpower that floats between 50% and 55% for Germany. Simply there is no manpower for a sustained offensive and it's best to keep on the defensive (Technically a no brainer decision here).

Just need to keep the enemy airforce honest. But the odds are (rightfully) stacking to favor the Allies - given one ought to consider in this game Axis is supposedly on steroids, having Spain and UK - but I do not really feel it this way!