Nirosi vs Boldairade(Nirosi welcome)

[boldairade]

Which leaves us...here.

The successes of local counter attacks momentarily relieve pressure. But the overall situation is still extraordinarily precarious.

The rotation of infantry to the south leaves only the armor between Paris and the German main force.

To make matters worse, the Maginot is nearly cracking East of Metz. I thinned it out and now a 10 step unit is close to collapsing. It has been prioritized for reinforcement the last two turns, and will get another division as reinforcement next turn...if it can hold out. If not, we will have a 'river through the dike' situation very quickly.

France is running low on supply trucks, and we are keeping, at best, two fighter squadrons in the air between the UK and France combined.

France will survive June. July, however, is another story altogether.

[boldairade]

German vengeance for our successes last turn is rapid.

The division in the threatened section of the Eastern Maginot repels 5 assaults, but falls the the sixth. Driven out of their defensive fortification, they are then annihilated. Check out those odds!

The Maginot is breached. I have no idea how to respond, but move a mountain corps to try and pin down the german cavalry. additionally, a corps mauled in the fighting in the NW is railed south of the breakout it be split up and garrison victory hexes.

But the Wehrmacht is not done. Full corps are overrun East of the the Somme and NW of Metz. All of the forces in the Metz region are now almost certainly going to be enveloped and destroyed. The few who could be extracted are in garrison mode, and thus lack the mobility to make their escape. It's not good, as they would be very useful.

I noticed writing this AAR last turn that the French Armor corps had been left needlessly exposed. I had already submitted my turn though. Nirosi and his storm troopers also notice, and absolutely pummel that formation, driving it back and reducing it to a useless condition. They overstep though, chasing it with an infantry corps and moving within 2 hexes of Paris. The exposed German corps is targeted by both English armored corps, French bombers, a battered infantry corps, and even the tattered remnants of the French armor corps. We manage to shatter it.

Five more MM are sunk in the BOA, but the Royal Navy does manage two step hits on the Uboats.

The current situation is pretty baffling. I think it makes sense to abandon Dunkirk and Calais, but it's hard to figure out the best way to go about it.

Perhaps the biggest problem is, I cannot figure out Nirosi's intentions. It would seem a drive south from the eastern breach in the Maginot is likely. But he might also bull rush Paris.

[boldairade]

Sitrep, end of turn 23(June 5, 1940)

The best guess of Allied intelligence is that a strike south, towards Vichy is the plan of the Wehrmacht. The bulk of their mechanized assets have been deployed into a position to support this type of operation.

In response to this, a rotation of Allied assets is attempted, abandoning the ports of Dunkirk and Calais. The infantry of the BEF are moved to positions predominantly behind the Somme. One formation will also be moved NE of Paris, because during the redeployment, no French units can be positioned here.

The WDF armored corps, with its anti-armor specialty, is also rotated eastward, in hopes it can counter any intitial mechanized breakthrough.

This is likely the last forward redeployment of the BEF. In England, it is now being privately discussed among the top brass that France is almost certainly a lost cause. The extraction of the BEF is now being considered. In fact, there is some concern that not withdrawing them immediately is a mistake.

[boldairade]

From the forces surrounded(and doomed) manning the Maginot line, some interesting intel:


4 of the 5(it think 5) remaining German mechanized units. They are in nearly as bad a condition as the French Armor.


This emboldens the English High Command. Because it is believed that Germany cannot launch anything more than local attacks, a forward deployment of BEF assets is authorized, with English armor deployed to the east to counter a likely breakthrough south of Metz(the French formations holding that section of the front are all but beaten, despite priority reinforcement and supply). In addition, English infantry formations now are prominently featured in front line positions. This had been avoided, as the extraction of a viable BEF has been a priority. But the feeling is, for the next two weeks, we can risk it. We are in a position now where we cannot really think more than one turn ahead. One deployment, the English corps East of Paris, is particularly vulnerable. This unit is likely to take a lot of punishment, but delay of the Germans there is vital.



One French fighter wing, down to 6 steps, is disbanded. France now has only one fighter squadron.

[boldairade]

A broader view of the theater.

We may regret our aggressive deployment. Only time will tell.

[boldairade]

The question of where the German effort will be is answered with extreme predjudice.

The German onslaught overruns two more French corps, and displaces others.

A decision is made to launch a counter attack vs a German infantry corps, and the hopes are that it will open the flank of the German armored spearhead(the specialist armored unit directly north of the French mountain corps in the image). The German formation resists stubbornly, however, even after being prepped with air attacks(by a bomber group with no fighter cover, which I don't figure out until it's too late).

The result is, the German formation is forced back, but our armor does not have the OP to attack the spearhead. All in all, it's a disastrous attack that will likely delight my opponent.

France receives some battered formations that had previously been shattered. We place them haphazardly in the path of the German advance, but they will be little more than speed bumps.

I'm unsure about how many VP Germany needs to conquer to knock out France, but I don't think the two cities south of this advance will be enough.

On the one hand, after the opening turns, I'm happy France is alive at all at this point(Aug 3, 1940).

On the other hand, I'm sure that I am consistently making large errors.

Is it possible that France could hold into September? That would seem fantastic to me. But perhaps that's not even considered good by 'real' players. I suppose it's not really material here in any case.

The RN sees a German Uboat fleet at Brunsbuttel. We have carriers and send them on a port strike(the first time I have ever attempted this in any type of game-but England is absolutely desperate for any relief in the one sided BOA). We manage two step hits while losing 3-4 air steps. I have no idea if this is good. But in truth, I will take it. Any success vs the uboats is needed.

Far to the East, the Russians are now receiving one anti-tank Rifle Corps/turn. It seems like a lot, but of course, we all know what fate awaits these paper formations. Some out of the box strategies are being considered.

[boldairade]

Well...it was quite the turn.

First-Sea Lion.

I left Liverpool, a level 9 port, unprotected. I didn't realize that with the abandoned ports(didn't I think I was so smart when I pulled out of there?) of Calais and Dunkirk, the western coast of England became instantly vulnerable. And I got exactly what I deserved.

The smart move here, combined with what happens in France this turn(much more on that later), is to withdraw the BEF, seal off the German incursion into the mainland, and prepare England for the dark year of 1941. I know this. This has essentially been the plan all along.(well, not the allowing Sea Lion part, but the keeping England as strong as possible part through the brutal year of 1941)

But for some reason, my reptilian brain won't accept it.

Reason one is this: I'm pretty sure it's a full German corps. That's bad. But if you look at the German ports in N France, the only reinforcements coming are a division and possibly an HQ. That's odd. If this was a true Sea Lion, wouldn't Germany be sending as many heavy formations as possible? Is it possible that this invasion is merely a distraction to help with the massive effort Germany made in France this turn? Part of me thinks so. On the other hand, Nirosi is a veteran Allied player, and he knows that this incursion kicks US production up a notch. Would he do that?

Reason two for not immediately withdrawing is, the French army is on the verge of collapse. If I withdraw the BEF, France will fall immediately. This opens more ports for Sea Lion. As well as air bases, Uboat bases, and means the loss of the French Navy. All that is going to happen of course. But if we can put it off even one more turn, it might allow us to seal the breach in England.

Reason three is, I actually have forces available without withdrawing the BEF proper. A mech unit destined for the Middle East had been stationed in France as an emergency reserve. It is immediately recalled. Also, a full corps had been sent to Gibralter to reinforce N Africa. It too is immediately recalled. Finally, a fleet and a 20 strength corps was set to invade Narvik this turn(meant to mention that in this AAR but somehow neglected it), and it too is recalled. In addition, a carrier group from Scapa Flow, the carrier that attacked the sub pens last turn, and 5 battle ships immediately take up station off the coast of Liverpool to try and choke out the German formation. One carrier group immediately launches air strikes.

Next turn, and how Nirosi proceeds form here, will be very interesting.

[boldairade]

Sea Lion is accompanied by the largest German effort on the mainland since the opening of hostilities. German forces push past the Somme E of Rouen, easily shoving aside the entrenched French formations there.

At the same time, the German hammer falls most heavily N of Vichy, on the French formations there that I have done such a poor job of maintaining. They push the French units aside like so much chaffe, overrunning some, displacing the rest.

Truly, the game is very nearly up. But doctrine thus far, in keeping with the construction of allied Armor, has been to counter attack. And two German armor formations that achieved the breakthroughs are vulnerable. In the north, it is British infantry units, largely unscathed, with a bit of help from the French, that hit the German III Pz Corps from three sides, shattering it and sealing off the leading German infantry.

In the south, it is again the three Allied armor corps that isolate the German XVI Pz Corps there, shattering it as well. The English VIII armor, which was attrited during the German attack and further worn down during the counter offensive, is now pulled out and retreats west, along with a badly mauled English fighter squadron. They will be pulled off the mainland next turn. The WDF armor must remain on the front. It is basically the only viable formation East of Paris at this point.

[boldairade]

A broader look at the Western Front.

If you contrast it with the image just two turns ago, where a clean front running from the ocean all the way to the Swiss border existed with relative troop parity, it's quite a contrast.

[boldairade]

The Battle of France continues to rage.

NE of Vichy, entire army groups, reduced in strength and ground down prior to this turn, are simply swept aside by the Wehrmacht. At the same time, German infantry takes a straight line for Paris, smashing back the static defenses there and making contact with the cut off Saar Guard formation.

Things are simply disintegrating.

The BEF, however, does its best 'Stiff Upper Lip". In combination with the ragged French Infantry, they attack the Saar Guard north of Paris and manage to shatter it. This leaves some English infantry exposed. But it cannot be helped. NE of Vichy, the Germans have again been very aggressive. After sweeping aside multiple French formations, they focus on the the British armor there, launching multiple attacks. The WDF stands tall, however, and refuses to retreat. This allows for a counter vs the XX Motorized German formation. The WDF, along with French Mountain corps et all manage to overrun this formation, a major victory. It's bitter sweet however. The WDF is then ordered to abandon their brothers in arms, as they top off with petrol and withdraw to the west, heading for the French coast. They are dangerously weakened, and have fought well. Still, it's a bitter pill to swallow.

The BOA turns sour again, 6 MM go to the bottom. We again forget to retask escorts, and the sailors of the merchant marine pay the price.

The BEF is more or less in full flight. Tattered French formations are arrayed in a makeshift screen to cover their retreat.
The fall of France can't be more than a turn away.





On the Western coast of England, no reinforcement of the German landing is attempted. The best guess of English intel is that it was indeed a feint. Still, multiple strong formations are moving to encircle and engage. Most likely the Germans will pull out.

If the goal was distraction, it succeeded. The invasion of Narvik was cancelled, and forces bound for the Middle East and Egypt were diverted. The bump in US production was significant, however. More on the plan for the Stars and Stripes later on.

[boldairade]

Discretion should be taking the better part of valor. And for the most part it is. WDF armor is railed to the southern French coast, for redeployment to Egpyt. VIII Armor ships out to England. Some UK infantry is also shipped out.

N of Paris, however, one last counter attack is launched, shattering one more German corps. I'm not sure how much difference shattering formations make now, as they'll be back, and Germany has plenty of infantry. But I find it very hard to not counter. It may be a very big mistake however, as the UK Midland corps is now in danger of being encircled. What remains of French units are arrayed to try and prevent this.

I still can't figure out exactly what Germany needs to take to end this. Likely I will find out this turn.

In England, the lone German corps in Liverpool is hit, and hit hard. 6 Battleships, carrier aircraft, and tac bombers hammer away along with UK infantry, Canadian infantry, and mech units. The Germans are forced inland under the withering naval bombardment, almost certainly sealing their fate.

Overall, I'm very happy France survived into September after the utterly disastrous opening phases of the German invasion. Germany's options for additional conquest in 1940 are far less than I feared they would be.

As the conflict winds down, we will take a look at possible German new theaters, as well as the Soviet build up, and a very unconventional US strategy I am trying to work out.

[Harrybanana]

ORIGINAL: boldairade


I still can't figure out exactly what Germany needs to take to end this. Likely I will find out this turn.

If you click on the War Panel Icon (the "Flag" icon 4th from the left) it will show you how close France is to surrendering. It starts the game at 91/41 meaning the Axis need to capture 50 French production point Cities. In most games these 50 points are scored from Lille (25), Rouen (5) and Paris (20). If I am reading your map correctly, in your game the Germans have captured Lille and Metz for a total of 35. So if you click on the War Panel icon France should show as 91/76. If so, the Axis need to capture 15 more for France to offer a Vichy surrender.

You are going to win this game by the way.

[boldairade]

ORIGINAL: Harrybanana

ORIGINAL: boldairade


I still can't figure out exactly what Germany needs to take to end this. Likely I will find out this turn.

If you click on the War Panel Icon (the "Flag" icon 4th from the left) it will show you how close France is to surrendering. It starts the game at 91/41 meaning the Axis need to capture 50 French production point Cities. In most games these 50 points are scored from Lille (25), Rouen (5) and Paris (20). If I am reading your map correctly, in your game the Germans have captured Lille and Metz for a total of 35. So if you click on the War Panel icon France should show as 91/76. If so, the Axis need to capture 15 more for France to offer a Vichy surrender.

You are going to win this game by the way.

I get the idea. But during the whole conflice, it hasn't made sense.

this is the current surrender point data

[boldairade]

Sept 27, 1940

England's mass exodus from France continues. The remaining BEF forces have made the ports, and the last skeleton formations of the French army are covering their retreat.

German infantry formations are encircling Rouen and Paris, while German armor races into the south of France. Small formations are moved to the French ports on the Med.

In England, the German landing forces are overrun inland. The formations used for this operation will now have to be either dedicated to home defense or retasked with their previous duties or perhaps something else.

Campaign season is coming to and end, and none too soon.

In the East, Russian formations continue to roll off the assembly lines. But armed with the lessons of history, it is hard to be excited about their likely effectiveness. Building Russia's 'House of cards' defense, though, is really pretty fun. Next turn, we will take a better look at the plans for defending Mother Russia.

[boldairade]

Oct 11, 1940

All units save one corps have been successfully extracted from France, the last unit awaits naval transport.

Rouen and Vichy fall, any further losses will end the conflict.

Two full corps will be held in England to augment the shell of small formations holding the ports. Additional forces will be added over the winter. Three corps, in various states, are shipped to the Med, along with a mech formation.

The WDF lands in Egypt to help secure that theater vs possible Axis aggression.

The RAF is in woeful condition, both fighter wings are down to 7 steps. Their rebuilding is prioritized.

2 more MM go down, no sub hits recorded. Every anti sub ship in the fleet is currently at sea.

For the most part, England is fought out.

[boldairade]

Prior to his assignment to the Sino-Japanese front, a young officer named Zhukov penned a strategy for the defense of Mother Russia vs the mobile formations of her most likely enemy, Nazi Germany.

Historically, this document received little notice. Zhukov would not achieve any real notoriety until his victories in the East.

However, we who play WP have the advantage of hind sight.

Zhukov's strategy showed his understanding of the logistical load that would be incumbent on an offensive force that attempted to carry an attack across the vast distances of the Russian steppe. He called for a defense in depth, allowing for a penetration of the enemy spearheads to set up a situation where they could then be hit with fresh forces, allowing for the defender to have the advantage of better logistics, shorter supply lines, and unscathed formations.

This image shows my attempt to deploy for this Zukov defense. Two concentrations of armor, one near Kiev, the other nestled between the rivers south of Kiev, and both safely behind multiple lines of entrenched infantry taking advantage of rivers. 6-8 heavy armor corps, hopefully fully upgraded, have been allocated for this counter attack, deep in the southern theater.

Also evident is the heavy concentration of soviet tac bombers on the Romanian front. The Red Air Force will likely be no match for the Luftwaffe. As such, as much as possible, it is the plan of Stavka to deploy them vs satellite nations.

[boldairade]

Of course, the problem with the Zhukov plan to the south is, it leaves far fewer resources for the defense of the Northern theaters.

The Moscow front(through Smolensk) and the Leningrad front will be trying to make do with far, far less in terms of strong formations.

The front lines will do little more than slow the initial German onslaught. Many formations may not be converted to garrison status, as we will hope to be able to redeploy them into the second echelon, which will be composed primarily of newly recruited and slightly more sturdy 1940 AT corps. Some mech units, one heavy armor formation, and a few cavalry will likely round out the defenses of these two theaters.

He who attempts to defend everything defends nothing. As such, the Soviet high command will be willing to sacrifice Leningrad if it comes to that. They key will be trying to make sure the German does not know this.

[boldairade]

Nov 8, 1940

What was expected to be an uneventful turn is an unpleasant surprise.

With France out of the war, Italy enters the fray. In what was clearly a well planned raid, the Regio Aeronautica launches a concentrated strike on Malta.

Malta is defended by AA guns and a nearly fresh English fighter squadron, but the Italian pilots sweep the Hurricanes from the skies. This paves the way for Italian naval bombers to inflict heavy damage on multiple British troop ships, as well as inflicting serious damage on HMS Warspite.

In the BOA, another 6 MM are sent to the bottom of the Atlantic. 2 step hits are recorded on German subs. But it's getting ugly. 30 fresh MM are in the pipeline, but is it enough? England is already below 200 MM.

The last of the BEF is finally pulled from French ports.

Overall, England is fairly well held. The duration of the French conflict likely will force the Germans to consider alternative plans to a conventional Barbarossa. Nothing would regain the initiative faster than a successful invasion of England. As such, an additional infantry corps is ordered, for home defense.

England also needs additional fighter formations. But the pressing need in the BOA may have to take precedence. Not to mention the effort to rebuild English fighter formations at home, and now on Malta as well.

There is no respite.

[boldairade]

11-22-1940

A better turn in the BOA, 3 MM sunk, but 3 step hits on the uboats. I still feel like we are hanging on by our finger nails. England orders 10 more MM.

In the Med, I really don't know how to get troops to the middle east/eastern Med.

The subs docked at Malta take a pounding this turn. I could move the troops escorted by heavy capital ships. But I tried that in my only previous game as the allies, and ended up with half the Royal Navy at the bottom of the Med. My carriers seemed unable to defend other ships or even themselves from air attack.


On the other hand, when I last tried to duplicate that feat as the Axis, using 4 German and Italian sqns, including 3 dedicated naval sqns, all i managed to do was minimal damage, while losing immense amounts of air steps.
I have 3 AA guns on the way, but cannot wait that long to deploy.

And so, it would seem to be a problem without an obvious answer. I suppose the answer is, I should have had more AA to begin with, but I just didn't anticipate the Italian air force man handling fresh RAF fighters. Alternatively, maybe I should have gone around Africa?

Still hard to figure Germany's motives. No movement of forces to the Eastern Front yet. In the East, Soviet Rifle Corps continue to be churned out and deployed, mostly in the second echelon. But no amount would seem to be enough.

[boldairade]

German formations move to the East coast of Italy-two corps. Also to Copenhagen.

So likely targets are Greece and maybe Norway?

I haven't seen anyone attempt to take Greece without taking Yugoslavia since AS nerfed things so that Yugo can't really join the Axis. Is that Nirosi's plan? If so, can I be in position to make it difficult? The goal thus far has been to reinforce Egypt and try to be ready for an amphibious invasion of Syria, as those can be huge threats. And it's possible that could still be the plan.

In any case, we make the effort to push more troop ships across the Med. We send carriers and BB with them, reinforce the AA guns with a gun from London, and activate our fighter group. Nirosi is waiting on this though. He bombed the fighter squadron to reduce its effectiveness-a move you don't often see. Still, I used supply trucks last turn to bolster it. So it will be in good shape to meet the initial sorties.


The success of failure of this effort to get additional forces into the eastern Med will determine whether or not the UK takes an offensive posture in Egypt.


7 more MM go down in the BOA. I think we manage two step hits. But I am officially worried. Dec 1941 is a long, long way off.

The bulk of the Wehrmacht remains in France. England's homeland security needs to be legitimate.

In the East, two more AT corps arrive for Russia. The second echelon defense line along the Daugava is starting to take shape.

I realize that my plan with the USA will not leave much time to reinforce the BOA, so the Stars and Stripes begins construction on 3 new ship yards.