Magicmissile (Allied)vs Battlevonwar (Axis) Battlevonwar welcome

[MagicMissile]

And Soviet south

[ago1000]

Thank you.[;)] Like I said before, both of your builds are impressive. I'm surprised to see so many Italian armor when looking at the Spanish and Eastern front.

I always thought if Murmansk was cut off that Arkhangelsk port would kick in for Soviet convoy route. Is that not the case?

[MagicMissile]

No problem. I know the mass arm tactic is a new one for me but seems to work well for my opponent.

During the winter Archangelsk is frozen so then there were no lendlease when Murmansk railline was cut. So I turned off the trade during that period and then at spring I turned on the trade again but did not send anything to the Soviets everything went UK->US and US->UK. Not so good but at least more resources for the western allies and they might need it [:)]

[michaelCLARADY]

Have you considered amphib attacks on undefended rear locations such as Riga?

[MagicMissile]

Not really but yes maybe not an bad idea he is skimping on garrison everywhere in the Baltic.

[MagicMissile]

September 11 1942

I wouldnt call it a Stalingrad but I at least managed to shatter a German arm corps near Stalingrad. My losses very big as well but felt good. First good news in a while [:)].

[MagicMissile]

No headway in Spain and a couple of airfights which are about 1:1. But invasion served its purpose I already moved out most US forces back to England for now.

[MagicMissile]

September 25 1942

An awful summer comes too an end I hope. Could be cold turns but at least there is some combat penalty in that weather too. The miracle at Stalingrad continues with an Italian arm corps shattered and an German inf div (not much to write home about but I take any good news [:)] ) was destroyed. But I lost 2 corps this turn as well.

So a very exciting and intense summer comes to an end. Taking stock of the situation I notice the following.

The Germans have inflicted 3:1 in casualties since the start of the invasion. That worked in the real war for the Soviets I am not sure it does so here. There are so many weak units on the line so sometimes casualties are like 10:1 and sometimes in tougher battles like 1.5:1 but when the Axis attack they always inflict a lot more damage. My manpower at 68% like 960 ish I think. I plan of having I hope like 16-17 arm/mech corps by next summer they will be worse than the Germans but hopefully enough to contain them and possibly attack the weak inf lines where the armour is not. Rest of production I will try to build up the infantry. There wont be much airforce if any. If I survive 43 I think I hopefully can build an airforce for the summer of 44.

The western allies are in a tough spot I feel. Will land in France 43 have too again to support the Soviets. Maybe try Italy as well but it is very well guarded. From Spain into France impossible right now but at least 6 axis corps of which 4 are arm is tied up there.

People have become so good with garrisons so Italy and France is a nightmare (compare these screenshots to games played a in the early days of this game). And with only 2 op in many places you wont even get to attack the harbour. Also the lack of intelligence you have no idea if you invade next to an division or a corps which matters a lot obviously. I am thinking in return for arm corps invasion nerf possibly adjacent navies or airbombing should reveal what is there. It feels really tough just to gung ho and launch an invasion but I guess it felt tough for Eisenhower too.

So probably there will now be 12-15 turns of not much action (I have said this before but I think maybe winter battle penalties could be toned down a bit it is so hard almost impossible to do anything in bad weather.) Time to build up but so will the Axis so Germany 43 will be an scary beast. Outcome uncertain but a very entertaining game.

[Flaviusx]

I think the game is in a really good place right now and would leave it alone. This game in particular is a nail biter and could go either way.

[MagicMissile]

Yes you might well be right. Just throwing out some ideas for WP2 [:)].

This invading completely in the dark have been a small thorn in my side since forever. It just would not be done I´d say.

And with winter penalties it is hard to see how a winter 42/43 campaign could ever work in the game as it is and it is a bit of a pity I think. so large part of the year with really not much happening when in the real war quite alot happened during those months.

[ago1000]

This is where I lack game understanding, I thought the soviet armies did not suffer from winter as the Axis and would be able to attack during winter months with less penalties.

[Flaviusx]

It is possible to do winter offensives with the Sovs, but you have to save up advancements and drop winterization on some choice units and mass them on a sector of the front. Most people don't do this. (I don't do it.)

[MagicMissile]

Yes I dont think it can be done properly. The axis units are just not weak enough. If the big drop in readiness came on turn 1 of the bad weather and then slow recovery upwards then maybe but as it is in March there may be a few weak units. Best chance might be if the axis units havent recovered so much and you get cold/clear weather in April/May.

But just one example in this game from last turn 2 Soviet armies 12 attack each vs 1 german div 4 or 5 strength in normal forest I think def value 1.1 manage a 1:1 attack in snow. You dont have the manpower to risk such an attack so they wont happen.

/MM

[MagicMissile]

November 6 1942

Finally peace and quiet all over the front. Inf armies filling up nicely, I have managed to take out mech units from the frontline and put inf there instead so there is a 2nd line in some places at least. 6 mech/arm units in the pipeline so thats nice. But of course German army has never been stronger either or the airforce but at least allied airforce in total is bigger than the axis airforce now.

[MagicMissile]

In Spain nothing goes on. Both I and the Axis move away air units from the front.

I have been thinking of options. In my game vs Flaviusx I tried an invasion around Taranto. It basically failed and I got Taranto only because I had troops coming up the boot of Italy and help the invading units out. That is not very likely this time. And the cost of a failed invasion will be like 200+ landing ships and 2-3 mech units and 1-2 inf corps. Could easily be a new Gallipoli. Especially since I dont even have air superiority over the area. Will be an risky proposition at best. So I came up with another idea. Churchill would be happy [:)]. It would kind of try to punish the Axis for not taking Greece. The idea is to take Greece for myself. Together perhaps with an airborne assault on Sofia to take Bulgaria too and suddenly we would have a front just a few hexes from the Rumanian oil. Crazy or not, anyone have any opinion? You are welcome to share your thoughts. And hopefully no spies to send this information to Berlin [:)].

[Flaviusx]

If it was against me, I would not invade Greece. I'd have Sofia garrisoned, as well as Bucharest. But Battlevonwar's garrisons in the east are a bit sketchy. He has let some partisans pop up in his rear in Russia and also hasn't covered his Baltic ports.

Personally, I'd go all in on France. This should help unlock the Spanish frontier. He can hardly ignore a drive to the big ports in the Low Countries.

[MagicMissile]

Thanks for input it will be France for sure and maybe something else . Regarding Sofia since he didnt invade Greece Bulgaria is neutral. I will start with France and after seeing the response and what reserves I can detect Ill see if I might do something else.

Yes I have spotted garrison in the Baltic is not there considering doing something but with only one port to work from it is not easy.

[MagicMissile]

November 20 1942

November comes too an end. No Stalingrad encirclement unfortunately but a bit of a scruffle near Ivanov and Gorki because of cold weather. The Germans attacked and this time I tried to patch together some kind of counterattack since December and January is snow/Blizzard for certain. Overall losses 2:1 in German favour. Not good but Ill take it.

I managed to maintain hold of the marsh line outside Leningrad and looking at German units outside Leningrad this looks like an tempting area to try and do something later in 43. Unless I get totally slaughtered [:)].

In the Mediterranean nothing going on. I invaded Rhodes just because I could.

Are these big pictures better than the old ones or too big?

[John B.]

For me the new pictures are too big. I have to scroll back and forth to read your text. But, this is a great AAR. Thanks!

[ago1000]

I have to admit, I do like the big pics. They are a lot clearer and you can see the units a lot more clearer. I'm following both AAR from both sides so I feel I shouldn't say anything. I agree with John B., this is a great AAR. I especially like the though process both of you are sharing at strategic moments in the game. Thanks.

How do you upload such big pics? There is a size limit I believe.