HB (Axis) vs Hadros (Allies) HadrosWelcome

[Harrybanana]

The RAF and French air force were both active in defence. But the Luftwaffe generally got the better of them. Losses are shown below. Note that losses and casualties from Shatters are not added to the Losses and Casualties tables. For example, one of the French Corps I attacked sustained a 5 strength point loss and tried to retreat. But because it had no where to retreat too it shattered and the remaining 25 strength points were also destroyed. But these do not show up in the Losses or Casualties Reports. So really there should be about 75 more French Losses/Casualties from the 3 shattered Corps.

[Harrybanana]

JUNE 7, 1940

My Useless U-Boats.

[Harrybanana]

As usual I spent quite a bit of time examining the Map trying to decide what I wanted to do this turn. I had a hard decision to make between 2 choices. Plan 1 (shown below) was to attack in the directions shown with the idea to retreat the flanking units in order to surround the units in and around Lille and then destroy them. The problem was that these were the best French units and most were well dug in.

[Harrybanana]

The other option was to attack the weaker and less dug in units between me and Paris. The problem with this plan is I didn't really see anyway to eliminate any units, just retreat them.

[Harrybanana]

I opted for Plan 1 but got off to a bad start in the North. It took me 3 attacks to dislodge the defender and my best leader was KIA.

[Harrybanana]

I was ultimately successful in shattering 6 more French Corps. But the cost was much higher than I expected. My mobile units are all in bad shape. My best armour is exposed and I haven't even met the British yet. If as I suspect he has a French armour and 3 or 4 UK mobile units then I could be in trouble. On the other hand his French forces are looking thin. Still, I think I would have been better off going for Plan 2.

[Harrybanana]

JUNE 21, 1940

2 MS sunk but the measly 5 escorts inflict 2 hits on my U-Boats.

After the bloodshed last turn, I set more modest goals this turn and make only a timid advance towards Paris. To my surprise there do not appear to be as many UK mobile troops in France as I feared. It looks like Hadros is not employing the All-In strategy. Emboldened I send a mechanized unit to exploit a minor hole in the French line in a quiet part of the Front.


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[Harrybanana]

JULY 5, 1940

Ok maybe not so quiet as a UK armour and Mechanized unit make short work of my exposed Mechanized unit (I forgot to take a screenshot). Meanwhile my U-Boats sink 3 MS but tale 2 more hits.

I tried to do too much with too little and ended up not accomplishing very much. Though I did destroy a British infantry corps.

[stjeand]

Depending on the French units in the south...maybe a run that way?

The UK armor will be heading south west...Possibly hit the 9-1 inf there to allow faster passage but they have to get a retreat which will be difficult at best. So mostlikely a run.

[Harrybanana]

ORIGINAL: stjeand

Depending on the French units in the south...maybe a run that way?

The UK armor will be heading south west...Possibly hit the 9-1 inf there to allow faster passage but they have to get a retreat which will be difficult at best. So mostlikely a run.

You were right; the British armour and mech ran. But surprisingly, the other French and British units turned and attacked. Maybe they thought they could duplicate the success of the Battle of the Marne in WWI.

[Harrybanana]

JULY 19, 1940

3 MS Sunk and another 2 U-Boat hits. This seems to be becoming the pattern in the BoA in both our games.

The British and French launch several counter attacks. I assume this is to inflict maximum casualties on the Germans before the battle of France comes to an end. I understand this for the French; but for the British I think it is a waste.

I again had 2 choices. Attack south and either destroy or cutoff his UK Armour and Mech; or attack West to destroy his British Infantry.

[Harrybanana]

I chose to attack West because it had the added benefit of capturing Rouen and Paris in order to bring the battle of France to a close.

[Harrybanana]

AUGUST 2, 1940

The 3 remaining UK units make a run for it. The French are so weak it would be simple to conquer all of France rather than accepting Vichy surrender. But I made that mistake once before and will never do so again. IMHO there should be some sort of reward for conquering all of France rather than the existing penalties. It would at least make the Allied player think twice before making all those attacks on the last turn.

[Harrybanana]

The UK mobile forces will escape. But I think I have his HQ trapped.

[Harrybanana]

Forces and Casualties. The most surprising statistic for me is the 16 U-Boat hits vs only 1 sunk escort and a rather paltry number of MS sunk.

As I said before, the Casualties numbers can be very misleading. I shattered 5 UK Large Corps which alone would be 150 Casualties.

[Harrybanana]

AUG 16, 1940

Only 2 MS sunk, but at least no hits on my U-Boats.

The UK 1st Army did not escape.

In reviewing the screenshots posted above I see that his HQ was on a rail line a couple turns ago and so could have railed to a port and escaped. I feel for Hadros because I have made the same mistake.

[Harrybanana]

I am ready to attack Yugoslavia next turn.

[stjeand]

So it looks like you only lost on Mech but took out a ton of UK units?

If that is the case you definitely won that round HEAVILY.

In the mirror...sadly I think he is toast. You can not lose 2 armor and a mech as the Germans and continue. Those loses are irreplaceable this early.


I think the Germans can only lose a single armor / mech OR perhaps a pair on infantry...at most, any more and they will not get very far. But perhaps you will make a crippling mistake. Never know.

[Harrybanana]

In this game what may save Hadros is how poorly the BoA is going for me. Unless things change he won't have to put as much production into Escorts and MS as usual and can use the saved production to build back his UK Army. With him having lost so many UK units I contemplating doing a 41 Sealion. In our mirror game I agree that it will be very difficult for the Germans to recover; but you never know. I have not yet played with the new rules for Russia, so major mistakes are possible.

[stjeand]

Russia is weak...but missing 3 mech units is huge.


I always have a horrible BOA so always have to go big on armor and win elsewhere. I am used to it.

I am pretty sure my Uboats are built with screen doors and they never close them.