Flaviusx v. Tyronec

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Flaviusx
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Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Flaviusx »

Sept. 15. Poland is out and so is Denmark.

Attention now turns to the cockpit of Europe, the low countries. The Dutch will surely fall on turn 3. Then mud and then Germany will set up to knock out Belgium in one quick go sometime during the winter when they can hope and expect to get a single clear weather turn.

Then they are 6 hexes away from Paris with the whole summer of 1940 ahead of them.

I have A Plan. It may not be a good plan, but we will find that out. How to delay the German war machine with all this cheese?

I must come up with my own cheese. Armored cheese. The WDF is on its way from Egypt soon to be followed by Wavell's HQ. (Lord Gort is staying home in Britain. The poor old dear is not up for this task.)

The British are saving up ever penny they can and will put a mech corps into the queue on turn 3. This sucks for the British, because as I have already mentioned the British economy sucks and it takes no less than 3 turns for this to be possible and everything else is hanging fire until then. No escorts. (And the subs are already raiding, btw.) No replacements. No nothing. These are the marvels of Britain having a GDP 50% the size of Germany, contrary to all reason and historicity.

The French, for their part, are putting a 1940 heavy armored corps into their queue at the end of turn 3 as well. Paradoxically, this is much easier for the French to do. They already have a mostly mobilized army. So, by putting this on garrison mode I can quickly generate the necessary production. That is 396 production points for this luxury item. The French economy is about the same size as the British, much to the amazement of any economic historian. This was certainly not the case in real life.

At any rate, by May of 1940 I will have 3 mechanized corps in France to counterattack with. I don't need infantry in France. The poilus have that covered. What I need here to delay the German war machine is something to punch back with.

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tyronec
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by tyronec »

I made a mess up on turn 2 and as a result failed to take Netherlands on T3, plus took some unnecessary losses.

My build plan is 2 heavy Panzers for France, plus am going to try a lot of Close Support for a change this game. Am not keen on Mech, think the extra offensive value of Panzers is important for Barbarossa.

Would agree with Flavius that counter attack power is what matters, otherwise Axis can take more risks pushing forwards. Have yet to catch a BEF unit in France, maybe this time...
The lark, signing its chirping hymn,
Soars high above the clouds;
Meanwhile, the nightingale intones
With sweet, mellifluous sounds.
Enough of Stalin, Freedom for the Ukraine !
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Flaviusx »

The Dutch actually survived? But you had a panzer unit there on turn 2 ready to roll into Amsterdam. Honestly surprised that wasn't enough to get it done.

I appreciate the gift! Even if it is only for one turn.
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Kilo59
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Kilo59 »

Am so looking forward to following this AAR. Hope to glean all the intricacies of WarPlan's mechanics. From the eyes of a newb, it's the clash of the titans!
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by tyronec »

No, MichaelT is the Titan !
Think I did about 6 attacks on Amsterdam, plus bombing, was not enough.
The lark, signing its chirping hymn,
Soars high above the clouds;
Meanwhile, the nightingale intones
With sweet, mellifluous sounds.
Enough of Stalin, Freedom for the Ukraine !
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Flaviusx »

I checked the combat logs, the RAF intercepted and gave a surprisingly good account of itself.
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Flaviusx »

I think I have perhaps been conditioned to expect perfect die rolls from the enemy here after my last game.
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by tyronec »

Took it on turn 4, through the mud.
Too many casualties but at least we are back on schedule.

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The lark, signing its chirping hymn,
Soars high above the clouds;
Meanwhile, the nightingale intones
With sweet, mellifluous sounds.
Enough of Stalin, Freedom for the Ukraine !
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Flaviusx »

Ouch, 18 air losses on my end is not a joke. Not exactly swimming in production over here.
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Almeron »

Don't be to scared. Any german loss in 39 means less fighting power in 40 summer/fall. The most critical stage of the game as Britain. Just keep the ration 1:1.

Your forces around the french-german borders (the 50 XP troops). Did you replaced them, with less experienced troops?
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Flaviusx »

I'm in the process of sorting things out. I'm limited by rail, mud, and most everything being in garrison mode, so it's going to take a couple more turns to get it all in perfect order. Plus the colonial troops take time to arrive as well, they only just reached the front.

Overall the air loss ratio is ok thanks to turn 3, but it's going to be very difficult to keep that up if there are more turns like turn 4. I doubt it can be done. Part of the problem is I cannot spare the production to upgrade the RAF to 40 interceptors very easily. First priority is getting the WDF up to speed. And after delaying several turns I have to start cranking escorts now. So 40 points a turn are accounted for already just for that. That leaves me with 70 points for replacements and upgrades.

This is not much to work with. And I'm not doing French lend lease this time around because after the big armor buy they can't afford this, they have their own units to flesh out. Plus I need to switch garrison units back to active mode ASAP.

Have I mentioned that the UK economy it is too small? It really should be somewhere around 75% of the German starting economy. Not 1/2. Going by 1939 GDP figures. That would add something like 40 production a turn and it would help enormously.
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Almeron »

Leave all escort building, and focusing on air war. Yes sounds costly, but you have 6 fighter, and the german only 4. And after you hit them, the german player could reinforce his looses, or build something else. But doesn't matter, just attack, with your air power. And even spend all PP, to maintain the losses.

My advice is to leave Canada build those (they could build 1/2 turn), focusing all escort on North Atlantic, all 3 CVs on hunting mission, with all DD's around Scapa Flow. They are not the best sub hunter, but sometimes they could score a hit.

And if you commit yourself to defend France, do it properly. Most troops from the Mediterranean Sea should be transferred to france (except Algir, Malta, and Gibraltar). There are a few fully strength british division in Egypt, and the could form a corps.

The combined allied navy defend England, so less troops need to stay in GB as well in long run. The best strategy is the land and air war. Paris blocks the italian entry, so France must be defended at all cost, and with 3 armored corps, you have the fighting power in 40/may.

And another advice, disband two of your french army HQ, for 100 PP. Could be handy building the second armour.

Germany has 200-250 PP, France and GB little less, but close to 1:1 ratio.
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Flaviusx »

The colonials are all in France already.

I do not like this idea of delaying escort production.

I am not sending any British infantry to France if I can possibly hep it. France is already getting two mobile corps from the UK.

The French do not need infantry. They have plenty already.
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Almeron »

You shoud have at least 4 infantry corps, and the WDF in France. Place them around Lille, and create secondary lines, based on Somme river. Without british support France will fall 3-4 turn sooner, than she shoud.
The best sealion defense is still France.

And the escort production need to be delayed. You need an army, and air force to protect yourself. London can't be defended by escorts. I believe the dynamic of this game strongly favored that strategy.
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by tyronec »

Leave all escort building, and focusing on air war. Yes sounds costly, but you have 6 fighter, and the german only 4. And after you hit them, the german player could reinforce his looses, or build something else. But doesn't matter, just attack, with your air power. And even spend all PP, to maintain the losses.
What are you saying he should attack with all his air power ?
The lark, signing its chirping hymn,
Soars high above the clouds;
Meanwhile, the nightingale intones
With sweet, mellifluous sounds.
Enough of Stalin, Freedom for the Ukraine !
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Almeron »

Yes. Attack with airpower. At least all sides commit himself to air fight, what means less german armours, less subs...
And if the german try to avoid that fight (sending the planes out of range), he will lose the opportunity to attack during 39/40 bad weather season with airpower against Belgium. What is a huge deal.
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Flaviusx »

Most of the German air force is either out of reach or sitting on flak.

I have tried a couple of exploratory attacks on these units sitting on flak. And I have lost 2 points each time with no losses to the Germans. It's not a viable proposition. You will burn out the allied air force doing it to no purpose and the allies can hardly afford doing that.

My best results have been intercepting his air not trying to bomb his bases covered with flak.

Frankly, I'm struggling as is just getting my units topped off here without adding unnecessary loses.

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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Flaviusx »

The German, btw, will just stand down his air and put it on mission only if I try these fighter sweeps. That's what I would do. He has no need to fly it until he's ready to attack. It is perfectly safe sitting in its present bases.
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Almeron »

Bomb troops, farm some XP. If the german remains quiet, then you can continue your preferred build.
But still a good advice to skip the early escort build. Maybe another fighter. And french lead lease is important.
Even if you planning to build one french armour, better to give GB instead as soon as it's possible.
A british fighter buildt from french PP could last for the end of the game.
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RE: Flaviusx v. Tyronec

Post by Flaviusx »

I'll try bombing his troops next turn, but again, what I would do here is put the luftwaffe on mission only.

The German can simply ignore these attacks. And his troops have their own flak.

This isn't quite the silver bullet you think it is if the German knows how to manage his air force.
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