Boldairade (Allies) vs Nirosi (Axis). Boldairade welcome

[Nirosi]

With the new year starting, OKW is assessing the situation. For the small size of their army the UK has lost many men and equipment. But this is nothing compared to their massive naval loses, probably very hard to repair and replace, leaving a free reign for the Axis fleets for now. But thing could easily change with the US in the war now.

For the resources invested by OKM, the Battle of the Atlantic has brought very average results. Things are looking better now, but the first year and a half was very punishing for the U-boat that only did mediocre damage while sustaining more than expected themselves.

Air loses were also severe, but Axis loses were over double that and both the Regia Aeronautica and OKL are now trying to reduce attrition in the air.

[Nirosi]

The Heer is recovering slowly from the disasters in France but surprisingly the British army is quite numerous as well, probably meaning that the naval and air arms are not repaired and replenished that much.

As far as the convoy lanes are concerned, the UK still has enough merchant ships left and the arrival of the US into the war means that whatever small difficulties they might face should be lifted soon as the Allies seem to be winning the Battle of the Atlantic. But at a cost at least. OKM is confident that nothing is over yet especially since the Allies seem to be stretched thin as far as escort go!

Of some concern is the massive buildup of our Soviet Ally. Axis officials will meet in Zagreb to discuss the situation!

[Nirosi]

German pilots and personnel in Sicily taking a break.

[Nirosi]

Italian pilots in Sicily taking a break.

[Nirosi]

January 16th, 1942

Hunting by our raiders and U-boat is still going quite well!

Italy declared war on the United States (who had declared war on Germany) after some pressures from Berlin.

No action worth reporting happened in the last two weeks.

[Nirosi]

January 30th, 1942

Unidentified British Carriers found and hit our raiding fleet hard off the coast Western Sahara. The Hipper group was moderately hit while the Bismarck group was almost destroyed, with both its battleships barely staying afloat, hit by numerous torpedoes from Swordfish. OKM ordered the fleet back to Bordeaux while the U-boats will continue the job of putting pressure on British economy.

[Nirosi]

February 13th, 1942

With the exceptions of Allied merchants (and some escorts) sinking, not action of interest happened but one: the Allies bombed Amsterdam, Brussels, and synthetic oil refineries in Germany in their first massive strategic bombing offensive. With the arrivals of the USAF in Britain, it will be hard to protect Allied targets in France and Benelux, but OKL was ordered to prioritise the protection of homeland factories of all types.

[Nirosi]

Italy has started producing a new generation of tanks. The M14/41 model (seeing here been tested in Tripoli for desertic conditions) should start reaching front line units in Libya in two to four weeks.

[Nirosi]

Meanwhile, Germany expect to put into service by Spring the new Panzer V "Panther".

[Nirosi]

This U-boat crew will get a well deserved rest!

[Nirosi]

February 27th, 1942

The British have started serious bombing raids in France, Belgium and Germany. The Luftwaffe was overwhelmed. OKL will try to redeploy assets to compensate, maybe even form a new fighter group as well and buff the anti-air defenses of the homeland. It might take a while however to accomplish it, hopefully before the US joins in the raids.

In the Mediterranean, the weather was severe over Sicily, grounding all missions, but groups from Tunisia managed to raid Malta and destroy the 11th Destroyer Group. Once again, Malta is left without protection for its supply lines.

[Nirosi]

March 13th, 1942

More bombing occurred again in roughly the same sectors as before. German fighters tried to intervene as best as they could while waiting for eventual reinforcements in an undetermined future. For now, loses are sustainable, but with time Allied pressure can only increase.

Abwehr informed OKW that the USSR seems to be preparing something. Many Soviet units are being positioned in a worrisome manner near our border, some very aggressively in Bessarabia. It is also suspected that a rapid modernisation of the Red Army occurred in the last months. Could Stalin be thinking of breaking our pact? In any case, OKW asked OKH to be ready for anything, even to go on the offensive, if necessary, by late April or early May. OKH will start to reposition corps accordingly and refurbish the equipment of some units. Some infantry corps in central Poland still have the same equipment they had for the French Campaign. Abwehr also believes that regardless of the equipment, most Soviet soldiers are badly trained conscripts with little will to fight.

[Nirosi]

March 27th, 1942 (End of Axis turn)

Allied bombing continued but only in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, not in Germany. Could it be that even our meager air cover over our homeland was enough to inflict a bloody to Bomber Command and serves now as a good enough deterrent?

Malta taken! A combined arm operations involving the best both Germany and Italy had to offer broke the defenses of the fortress island. The German 1st Reserve Corps left Algiers for the beaches of Malta. During its transit, Italian and German bombers pounded the defenders but sustained themselves serious loses, due to massive anti-air coverage. The landing itself was supported by the Italian fleet that sailed from Taranto (itself shadowed by submarines flotillas in case the Allies in Gibraltar decide to intervene). During the assault, Italian battleships and cruisers pounded the defenders in the flank and rear areas while elite German ground support aircrafts and Italian destroyers pounded the area under assault. When the defenders’ back was broken (only a division to OKH surprise), the Folgore paratroopers inflicted the coup de grace!

In other news, OKM reported to OKW that the fleet in Bordeaux will be ready soon for another sortie. Of course, now with the Americans in the war, it might be more dangerous than before.  

[Nirosi]

Photo from a high altitude recon mission by a Hs 130 taken just after the Folgore's landing...

[Nirosi]

Over the last year, Axis air loses over Malta's sky were staggering and drained a huge amount of ressources. It is finally over, but the price paid was huge, both in equipment and men.

[Nirosi]

April 10th, 1942 (End of Axis turn)

In Western Europe Allied bombing continued and a mission was even flown over Essen but was severely punished by German air cover over the city.

In the Atlantic, the Kriegsmarine sortied again and was intercepted by a patrol group flying either Dutch or Norwegian colors. The enemy was dispatched without trouble at long distance by the battleships before been properly identified. OKM orders were clears, avoid all combat and stay clear of any other military vessels, so after the quick battle, Admiral Lütjens ordered the fleet to move away. Hopefully the Royal Navy will send help for the sailors at sea.

In the Mediterranean, Commonwealth forces once again advanced in Egypt, their first move in about 8 months. Comando Supremo and OKW are monitoring their intentions. A reinforcement of Libyan ports was ordered, and the garrisons should soon receive better up-to-date equipment. Also, most Luftwaffe units in Tunisia and Sicily are being repatriated toward Eastern Europe where tensions are mounting. Regia Aeronautica units seem to be going mostly in French North Africa for now.

In Eastern Europe, in a surprising move, Soviet tank corps and air divisions retreated inland, with the tanks usually been replaced by rifle corps. This further exacerbate OKW’s dilemma. If the Red Army does intend to strike first, a pre-emptive attack on Bessarabia could have destroyed the forces there, including tank corps and at least three air divisions. With those priority targets gone, now OKW must decide what is best: strike the bear first to disorient him, or let the bear strike first and then strike back after he gets tired…

[Nirosi]

Italian cruisers lowering anchor in their new naval base at Malta.

[Nirosi]

April 24th, 1942 (End of Axis turn)

Allied bombing continued over France and Germany, this time with a new twist. For the first time, Allied bombers were escorted when flying of Germany. The battle for Germany’s air space seems to have begun.

At sea, patrols from the Glorious Carrier Group found the German fleet and did some minor damage to the light cruisers and destroyers squadron escorting it. The German fleet shrug off the damage and continued towards Labrador’s coast where it was intercepted by an American heavy cruiser group, containing the Astoria, and a squadron of light cruisers and destroyers. Both groups sustained moderate damage but manage to disengage, a wise choice in view of our superior firepower.

In other news, a report by Abwehr estimates that should a war with the USSR start today, the Axis (Germany, Italy, Romania, Finland, Hungary, Bulgaria and French North Africa) could field about 2 917 battalions of all sorts vs 3 122 for the Allies (UK, US and Canada) and eventually the Soviets. Surprisingly, the Americans are only fielding the equivalent of 6 divisions for now.

[Nirosi]

May 8th, 1942 (End of Axis turn)

More air battles over Germany. For now, the Allies are paying a price facing experienced German pilots.

In the East a potential attack was postponed as the Soviets seems to have reached a plateau of the army they can field. OKW is in no hurry and has agreed to OKH demands to wait an extra two weeks to be able to field another two mobile corps.

At sea, the Scharnhorst, expecting an enemy surface fleet with no carriers, was hit moderately by strikes from the Ranger. With two groups having sustained moderate or minor damage, OKM ordered the fleet to come back to Bordeaux, which it will do the moment it can disengage from the American fleet and the pursuing British one that will surely reach the sector soon.

[Nikel]

ORIGINAL: Nirosi

Photo from a high altitude recon mission by a Hs 130 taken just after the Folgore's landing...

Nice touch [:)]