zzmzzm (Axis) vs sveint (Allies)

[sveint]

The Allies going all-in on France is a very good strategy and it will delay the German conquest quite a bit.

Personally however I don't believe in fighting battles at a disadvantage. German infantry is a tech ahead and we've got nothing to fight tanks.
Allied bombers at this stage are too few and costly to make a dent. So I prefer a conservation of force: delay the Germans as long as possible
and make the UK impervious to invasion (Germany basically loses the game if they try and fail). Hit the Italians aggressively in North Africa.
Make things as difficult as possible for Germany without losing any major UK forces (the two UK corps are semi-expendable).

I just have to trust that my opponent does not read this thread.

[sveint]

5 January 1940

Germany attacks the Netherlands and Belgium. Belgium surrenders but the fight continues in the lower countries!
China loses Changsha and the army guarding it. The UK trains the home guard, France forms a Polish corps.

India invests in Infantry Warfare.

China successfully counter-attacks in the south, eliminating one garrison and reducing an army and a corps.
The Japanese strategy around Nanning is clearly not to worry about supply at all. There is no action in the north (snow).
China receives one army and two corps as reinforcements. They invest in Production Technology and reinforce a corps.

[sveint]

The Soviets are at 22% activation and are basically sitting ducks. The engineer starts work near Kharkov.

USA invests in Industrial Technology.

Australian naval units surround Mogadishu.

O'Connor, one army and one corps are on the Libyan border in Egypt.

Belgian Congo has joined the allies and their garrison moves to Boma (the port).

Bad weather continues in the North Atlantic. The Hood is unfortunate and runs into U-47.

[sveint]

Bomber command inflicts one step loss (and some morale?) on the 3rd Panzer in the Netherlands.

Allied ground troops in France are reinforced. The UK continues its fleet upgrade. The Northern
Ireland garrison sails for Southampton.

[eightroomofelixir]

Great thread as always. I have one question regarding the general planning of the Soviet Union, since I consider it's part of the strategic philosophy: How will you balance between "build more forces" and "upgrade the units" as the USSR? It seems to me that the Soviets in-game are inferior in numbers before 1942/43 as well as in research.

[sveint]

For now I am going for technology for the Soviets. Production and Infantry techs are the absolutely minimum.
I don't plan on buying new units until all existing infantry units are upgraded to level 1. Plans may always
change of course.

[sveint]

2 February 1940

Japan takes Hengyang, eliminating the corps there. An army near Chengchow is heavily damaged.
The Hood is attacked by no less than three u-boats. A Japanese destroyer appears off Mogadishu(?).
The Netherlands surrenders. The Allies refuse to send aid to Finland.

China all but eliminates the Korean 17th Army (Japanese). The 41st Army is brought back to full strength
and a local counter-attack inflicts heavy damage on the Japanese 17th Army. Those guys really need better
numbering!

A destroyed army is reconstituted.

[sveint]

The Soviet Union invests in Anti-Aircraft Defense.

In further battles in the North Atlantic the Hood is all but sunk. However the Glorious gets
a hit in on a u-boat and we now have a pretty good idea where all three active u-boats are.
Hopefully we can corner them.

[sveint]

USA invests in Spying and Intelligence.

France and the UK reinforce and upgrade units. The garrison from the Congo heads for England.

[sveint]

At the end of the turn India successfully moves the Soviet Union 6% towards the Allies. Success!

At the same time I am getting a bit worried. Very active German naval units and not a glimpse of
any paratroopers... could this mean that Sealion is being planned?

[John B.]

Great AAR! Is your aim with the India diplomacy chits to get Russia into the war sooner?

[sveint]

ORIGINAL: John B.

Great AAR! Is your aim with the India diplomacy chits to get Russia into the war sooner?

Hi John, the objective is to give Russia more MPPs to spend before war breaks out.

[sveint]

1 March 1940

General offensive by Japan, no Chinese units eliminated.
Germany takes Luxembourg. The Hood is sunk.
Malaya is not mobilized, those 200 MPPs are needed in Europe.

India invests in another diplo chit in the Soviet Union, why not?
Russia is now at 30% activated.

China reinforces and rebuilds a corps. The time for counter-attacks
is over and we are going to enter a phase where we can only delay
the Japanese as much as possible. Still so far they have paid a heavy
price.

[sveint]

USA invests in Spying and Intelligence.

Italy is 97% activated and will enter the war next turn.
Good, let's hunt their fleet.

Garrisons in east Africa are brought up to strength.

[sveint]

The battle for the Atlantic still rages. Without ASW tech all
we can do is run the u-boats out of supply. Our submarines
search for the surface Axis units in the wrong place and
things are not looking good for the Javelin destroyer. At
least we upgraded its naval weaponry. The Glorious made two
unsuccessful attacks on a u-boat hiding somewhere south of
the French destroyers.

[sveint]

France uses what little MPPs it has to reinforce.

[sveint]

The UK further invests in ASW tech and reinforces its bomber fleet.

Here is the situation in the Mediterranean:

[sveint]

The end of the turn is eventful:

Italy joins the war and UK forces in Egypt are mobilized.

The Soviet Union takes territory from Finland and once again
those excellent Indian diplomats move the USSR 4% further towards
the Allied cause.

[sveint]

29 March 1940

China loses 2 corps as Japan takes Kweilin.
French lines hold well, Lille and one corps is lost.
Allied naval actions go well, the Javelin puts up a spirited
defense and the CL Sheffield eliminates a transported garrison
off Malta.

China reinforces units and places the 4th army near Chengchow.

[sveint]

The Soviets and the US both invest in Production Technology.

The Italian destroyer in Mogadishu takes some damage but escapes to the open seas.

The Ark Royal intends to bomb Taranto harbour but instead runs into a skirmish
with the da Vinci submarine. This was a mistake, bombing the harbour would have
been better.

French forces attack Triploi, British forces besiege Tobruk.