Nirosi (Axis) vs PL1 (Allies) PL1 welcome now

[Nirosi]

In Libya, the Commonwealth troops keep pressing with their strategy of exhausting Italian troops, this time targeting the XXX Corps and forcing it to retreat. As the last time, the Axis reorganized the front, but did not yet retaliate.

[Nirosi]

In Algeria and Morocco, as expected the II Corps from the US army found itself completely isolated South of Algiers. It dispatched a division to its flank and entrenched itself in the mountain hopping for a rescue coming from US troops in Morocco. However, the VI Italian Armored Corps was rushed to Oran to help the garrison there and block the US troops that had advanced from Rabat to relieve the VI US Corps. German and Italian infantry stayed back for now to contain the Americans still near Algiers. General Esposito from the Alpini troops deployed there sent emissaries to the isolated American corps offering them an honorable surrender. Major-General Clark has not yet responded.

In a daring move, the 6th Coastal Division garrisoning La Rochelle was shipped in a rush move to Safi to try denying the port to the Allies, disembarking in front of the mesmerized locals who were expecting instead to see American or British troops.

In other news, the squadron centered around the Bismarck was unlucky in its hunt for now but will continue to try to find Allied cargos to sink. Also, for the first time since the war started, Italy was bombed by the RAF, with Trieste been targeted. Germany has been moderately bombed for a few months now, but it is the first time the RAF targets Italy, a clear escalation in the war showing that the Allies will not discriminate between Axis powers to try to split them from each other.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of May 10th, 1942

In Karelia, Soviet forces achieved a breakthrough and are putting the whole sector in grave danger. Axis troops tried to redeploy as best as they could as a general retreat and redeployment is in order, but it is unclear if there will be time to finish it before the superior Soviet forces the make the whole front collapse.

Further South, German troops attacked in three sectors and made some limited gains: Toward Kabozha from South-East, toward Kalinin from the North-West and toward Moscow strait from the West.

A Romanian attack on Crimea and a German one on Kharkov both failed.

[Nirosi]

In Libya, yet another attack by Commonwealths troops, but this time with an Axis counterattack reclaiming the land lost. At this rate, OKH estimate that its Italian allies are on the verge of local collapse. However, OKW orders are clear: delay the Allies as much as possible, help is coming.

[Nirosi]

In Algeria and Morocco, the moping-up of the isolated II Corps continues. When done, Alpini troops are expected to join the front West of Oran. Another offer of surrender has been sent to the Americans, again, there was no reply.

In the Atlantic, after some very moderate success, the Bismark squadron reached Bordeaux for some well-deserved rest. Further North, two more squadrons, centered on the Hipper and the Deutchland respectively, set sail to disrupt Allied Lend-lease in the Arctic.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of June 7th, 1942 (start)

June 1942 will be remembered in Finland as the Dark Month. The equivalent of about three divisions were obliterated by superior Soviet forces. Finish air forces based in the region as well as the command post at the back of the front were also overrun, the general staff barely escaping by car minutes before Soviet cavalry recon arrived. Any threat to the Karelian rail line has been removed, Stavka has taken all necessary measures to make sure it happens. German and Finish troops between lakes Onega and Lagoda will most certainly have to retreat or risk been trapped.

Further South, in what used to be called The Wedge (but too large and secured now to keep that name), the Red Army showed that it can be a force to be reckoned with even during Summer, pushing back for the first time a Panzer Corps.

German troops are far from having fully recovered from the harsh Winter, but OKW is insisting that offensive operations must resume.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of June 7th, 1942 (End)

In Finland, Axis troops redeployed in a defensive line to protect to core of the country. Germany has sent its Foreign Affair Minister to convince Helsinki not to worry and that Germany will send all necessary help to guarantee the independence of the country without been specific on the details. The move came after it has been reported by Abwehr that high ranking Finish officials have been seen in a pub in Stockholm on the same street where the Soviet ambassy is located.

[Nirosi]

In Northern USSR, German panzers keep slowly pushing North toward Kabozha, a vital rail junction supplying all Soviet troops West of it. At the same time another offensive is pushing East toward Moscow to keep pressure on the Soviet capital and discourage Stavka from sending reserves up North.

[Nirosi]

In Southern USSR, German troops, without panzer support, continue their slow advance toward Kharkov where a Soviet army retreats in good order despite sustaining very severe loses. Two Romanian offensives further South failed to cross the Mius or enter into Crimea.

[Nirosi]

In Libya, the XVI Panzer was mauled at what will be known as the 8th Border Battle, forcing a general but short retreat of Axis forces exposing the all-important port of Tobruk that will be held at all costs.

[Nirosi]

In Algeria, a US division from II Corps, out of food and ammunition, was obliterated by an Alpini corps; US soldiers fighting almost to the end. Once again, Italians sent word to the II Corps offering them an honorable surrender. Once again, no reply came back. Off the coast of Oran, where it was raiding commerce and supply runs, a US submarine squadron is believed destroyed over the course of two weeks by German aircrafts based in Algiers.

In Morocco, a US division reached Safi and found the 6th Coastal Division entrenched there deploying their newly received modern equipment on the outskirts of the city.

In the Atlantic, the Bismarck squadron sets sail again hoping to have another hunting patrol without been found by the Royal Navy. OKM is reporting however that an Allied fleet is patrolling West of Bordeaux in the Bay of Biscay. As it can not be determined what its composition is, and especially if it includes aircraft carriers or not, all U-boots that were to dock in Bordeaux in the next few days have been required to delay their arrival.

On the continent, tensions between Vichy France and Axis power are reaching an all time high. The Vichy government has not taken lightly to the invasion of its North African colonies. Now, to add insult to injury, Germany and Italy are demanding access to the French Free Zone to protect vital ports in the South. The Vichy government is refusing and Axis troops, including an Italian armored corps, are deploying at the Northern and Eastern borders.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of June 14th, 1942

In Finland, the debacle continues with the 1st and 10th Finish infantry divisions obliterated and the 19th division trapped East of Lagoda. A joint effort of Finish and German troops managed to free the division after a counteroffensive. Local commanders are tying everywhere to stabilise the front.

[Nirosi]

In Northern USSR, the Red Army pushed back the 2nd Cavalry Corps near Kabozha as well as the X and LXVII Corps West of Novgorod in a limited but very successful offensive. OKH takes notice that Soviet troops are much more effective than last year. A furious German counterattack South of Novgorod failed to dislodge the 21st Army who refused to retreat despite overwhelming odds.

West of Moscow the Red Army took back some of the German gains of previous weeks and pushed back the 2nd mechanised corps. Some of those positions where retaken, and the 11th Guard Army destroyed, but most German mobile units are in no shape to continue offensive operations. OKH is worried it might not contain a serious Soviet counterattack in the Kalinin-Moscow sector.

[Nirosi]

In the Southern front, the German XXII Corps was pushed back away from Kharkov, but the counteroffensive against the soviet 6th Mechanized Corps retook the position. German troops where in no shape however to attempt an assault of the city itself despite signs of weaknesses in the defenses.

[Nirosi]

In Libya, the XVI Panzer had to retreat again but the Italian IV Corps managed to hold it position and cover the Germans. A retreat of the Italian corps could have possibly meant the encirclement of Tobruk. The newly formed X Italian Corps was sent to Benghazi to try to stabilise the situation.

[Nirosi]

In Morocco and Algeria, the US II Corps, lacking all basic needs, dispersed in the mountains into small band trying independently to reach US lines. The 6ht Coastal Division in Safi was however forced to surrender by an American attack with superior forces including a tank corps. The American foothold in Morocco is probably there to stay.

OKW ordered the bombing of Allied ships in Gibraltar to test the defenses. About a ¼ of the aircrafts sent where lost to enemy fighters with little effect on enemy ships.

[Nirosi]

As expected, the Axis power could not take no for an answer for Vichy France and invaded it, Germany from the North while Italy entered from the South to occupy the ports.

In other news, the two squadrons centered on the Hipper and the Deutschland returned to Germany after been too closely shadowed by the Royal Navy. They arrived home during a furious bombing raid all over the country with numerous and bloody battles raging between German fighters and Allied bombers and their escorts.

[Nirosi]

Italian recon unit near the Algerian-Moroccan border.

[Nirosi]

The Americans also captured some old French equipment in Morocco.

[Harrybanana]

You have not asked for advice, so if you don't want it then stop reading now.

Personally I think all of your armour and mechanized units fighting towards Kabozha are misplaced. It is difficult enough for armour and mechanized to fight in rough terrain, but even more so when they don't have good supply. If you click on your supply icon (which I do every turn) I think you will find that your units in the bulge area are in level 3 supply or worse. If your plan is to capture Kabozha than you need to do so by following the rail line. So my advice is that you retreat your mobile units back to good supply (even if it means giving up territory), let them build back up to 20+ combat strength (which may require expending some supply trucks) and then launch attacks along the rail lines. IMHO, it is better to attack in August with high strength units, than it is to attack in July with worn units.