Nirosi vs Boldairade(Nirosi welcome)

[boldairade]

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German units employ scorched earth as they withdraw from their positions along the Dnieper in the Ukraine.

[John B.]

Just hot and heavy on all fronts and the air war must be grinding down German production as well as its fighters. Very exciting times!

[boldairade]

July 14, 1944

BOA-German Uboats and Spanish surface assets all head to port, no activity. UK/US Arctic surface group rebases to southern England. Current MM surplus is 25, but only 10 MM are scheduled to arrive over the summer.

Norway-Germans move up to occupy the vacated mountains where UK troops withdrew closer to the harbor. Still uneasy here. There are just more German formations than makes sense.

US Bomber Command-Raids hit Stuttgart, Stetin, Linz and Berlin. A Bomber formation in S England is able to reach Milan and hammers that undefended city. Italy is losing a LOT of forces the last few turns, so damaging her industry is not without benefit. Med based bombers hit Taranto.

Spain-This may be the bloodiest front of the war. Germany is not content to fight a defensive war, and counter attacks SE of Madrid, again employing 4 strong formations and air support. Though they take heavy losses, this time they drive back VIII Armor(and inflict heavy losses). A German garrison unit occupies the strategic hex.

The Allies are attacking all along this front. The combined UK/US operation to clear the hills west of Madrid gets priority and all Allied Air assets are used here. Two attacks by specialized joint forces are able to drive back the Spanish II Corps. This allows an extra hex to attack directly south, where the Italian 7th Fortress Corps is heavily entrenched and ready for battle. Again, the Italians show suicidal bravery, repelling three strong attacks before finally being destroyed on the fourth assault. Allied forces are worn down from the attacks, but fresh formations move up to occupy the hexes.

South of this attack, the German continue to probe the open area south of the Madrid front. I have not been covering the skirmishes in the AAR, but the UK forces finally decide to do something here and counter attack, destroying the 281st Security division. A full German corps, however, has occupied the port of Malaga near Gibraltar. We have been trying to occupy this port for some time, but we just cannot get enough formations into Spain.

To the North, a major attack is launched on the land bridge between the Nalon and Duoro rivers. This area is held by the Italian XV Corps, which is driven back in two assaults. Badly weakened, we target both that formation and push through the breakthrough. Ultimately, we overrun the XV Corps and push through the Axis lines, but we may have again been overaggressive, as we leave the Germans a decent opportunity for a counter attack. South of the breakthrough, an assault vs the German 2nd Pz Grenadiers fails. We are being hyper aggressive because more fresh forces are landing every other turn or so, while the Axis seems to have moved basically all it can here. The German formations are already showing heavy wear and tear, and we are destroying Spanish and Italian formations almost every turn. Strategically, we are probably being too aggressive. Operationally, though, we are simply trying to apply maximum pressure and hoping to break the Axis effort here.

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Allied forces are hoping to make an assault on Madrid in the next few turns. In addition, the US forces in the north, lacking mobile formations, are planning a major airborne drop to try to expedite offensive operations there. It will be a race to see how quickly those specialized units can be brought up the readiness.

[boldairade]

July 14, 1944

Greece-We knew we were putting ourselves at a disadvantage with CHARIOT, and Nirosi knew it too. The Italian Fleet sidesteps our attempt to ambush them with our poorly placed subs and attacks the combined Allied fleet which lent support to the CHARIOT landings. Again, we are completely out classed by the Regia Marina. Many Allied ships take heavy damage-including 'The old torpedo magnet" HMS Illustrious, though she again refuses to go down. Unfortunately, we lose ANOTHER BB group, and inflict comparatively light losses on the Italian ships. We have upgraded our captial ships and heavily upgraded our carriers, and our fleet is superior, but it seems to make no difference. We simply cannot compete with the Italian navy.

To make matters worse, we try to offload a UK infantry division that was in port but for some reason could not be off loaded last turn. This results in its complete destruction by the Italian navy, an extraordinarily frustrating result. WP's mystical naval systems claim another casualty!

We consider trying to hit back-we have both carriers and BB groups at full readiness and in range. I am pretty sure, if I understood the rules, I could put a major hurt on the Italian fleet. However, my ignorance means more than likely I would just suffer more frustration and casualties. I retreat the damaged Allied capital ships to Egypt for repair, then mass the still combat effective ships in Athens.

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In Greece, the US 91st Division probes north up the coast from Tirane, while the UK I Corps occupies the port itself and will recover readiness for a few weeks. To the East, CHARIOT has worked its magic. The battered German forces, feeling outflanked, withdraw to the north and north-east, including the abandonment of the port of Salonica, which we have coveted as a port where we can gain a bit of supply without risk of interdiction. We quickly occupy the port, and launch an attack vs the Romanian 1st Division, which was railed in to protect the flank of the German XVIII Mountain corps. We are able to drive the Romanians back, and then destroy the division with a follow up attack. We then attack the German corps from three directions, but despite taking heavy casualties, the German unit refuses to retreat.

Despite the naval calamities(which really stem from my lack of understanding), we remain happy with the combined ZEUS/CHARIOT ops. We are a bit disorganized, but the front remains fluid and we are making gains.

[boldairade]

July 14, 1944

EAST FRONT

North/Center-The rupture of the German front between Mogilev and Minsk last turn forces another major retreat by German forces. In the north, the Germans fall back behind the Daugava River, but Stavka believes they will continue to withdraw so that, along with German units from the Center, they can make one contiguous line behind the Neman River. If they do so, there will be no land bridges to assault, and the Red Army would be faced with a cross river assault into the teeth of the German army.

Stavka is desperate to avoid this scenario. Mobile units are pushing very very hard down the northern border of the Pripyet Marshes in a desperate effort to establish bridgeheads across the Neman. It is a race we will probably lose. If and when we fail to get across the river, it will leave us in a very difficult situation-we cannot afford to delay until the winter freeze.

On the plus side, Minsk and Mogilev are reoccupied.

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South-On this front, the orderly withdrawal of Romanian, Hungarian and German assets continues. Ivan Konev shifts the push of his armor, angling north and attacking the enemy infantry in the land bridge south of the Dnieper. Attacks by 67th Army, 28th Mech, 1st Guards Tank and 17th Army batter the German XI Corps and Hungarian 1st Security Division. Red Air Army formations have become lax and are punished by the Royal Hungarian fighter bombers. We do damage and force retreats here, but we do not have the weight of armor to truly push through, especially considering the extra Axis formations here.

If we cannot get across the Neman to the north, this may become our major battleground, which would mean the need to transfer armor here-a costly and time consuming proposition.

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[boldairade]

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Russian tankers roll into Minsk.

[boldairade]

It is no longer just the Germans and Russians taking losses. US, UK, Canadian and Italian units are taking losses now as well.

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[boldairade]

King George V-UK's most advanced battleship, setting out in support of Operation CHARIOT.

She would not return.

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[John B.]

Those are heavy losses for everyone but you have to figure that they are catastrophic for the Italians, especially if you've been hammering their industry. I assume that as you capture/liberate cities and economic areas in places such as Kivori Rog you are increasing your own production and reducing the Axis or are these economic assets considered to be destroyed?

[John B.]

As a follow up question, when you liberate Greece are you able to build Greek formations or is their economy/manpower integrated into British or American production?

[boldairade]

As a follow up question, when you liberate Greece are you able to build Greek formations or is their economy/manpower integrated into British or American production?

You definitely can’t build Greek units.

I’m not sure if their PP are added to the Allies and I don’t really know how to check

[boldairade]

Those are heavy losses for everyone but you have to figure that they are catastrophic for the Italians, especially if you've been hammering their industry. I assume that as you capture/liberate cities and economic areas in places such as Kivori Rog you are increasing your own production and reducing the Axis or are these economic assets considered to be destroyed?

So the way it works is, when the Germans take an economic hub like a city or krivoi rig, they get 30% of its economic value. So they lose that when it’s retaken.

Since it’s the soviets’ asset to begin with they will get its full economic benefit. But it’s destroyed when you retake it do it takes several turjs to recover. Much like strategically bombed cities-they don’t just immediately recover.

[John B.]

Oh ok, thanks!

[boldairade]

I think what I’m telling you is right JB.

But I qualify it with: this is only my 4th MP game. So I’m no expert.

I’m still asking a lot more questions than I’m answering.

[boldairade]

June 28, 1944

BOA-The German subs remain in their pens. Upgrading? Is the BOA over(Allied intelligence highly doubts it). The only activity is an Axis surface group that appears to be heading straight across the Atlantic. Is it Spanish surface ships? Or a suicide landing crew? We shadow it with a light surface group, but can get no info.

Norway-Taking advantage of my movement, Nirosi attacks here and thrashes a UK corps. We jockey position to protect the port. This front is still unsettling.

US Bomber Command-More raids against Milan by UK based bombers, as well as regular raids vs Taranto and Naples. In Europe we level Linz, pound Stettin and Paris, and then hit Lille with 4 moderately successful strikes. These lightly defended targets allow us to use our worn down bombers with very light losses, but at some point we will have to take a break, boost readiness and go after some harder targets. Still, Germany is deprived of at least 46 PP this turn, and I think perhaps even more than that.

Spain-There is rain in Spain. Germany remains non passive here. A concerted attack is launched against our breakthrough in the north. The Germans, along with their Spanish allies, target the worn down 2nd Armor, hoping to push it back and leave US X Corps encircled. They attack from three directions and use Italian air assets, launching 5 consecutive assaults. The combination of bad weather and dogged resistance, however, prevents them from driving back the US formation.

This leaves the Axis formations worn down. Again, we try to use our only advantage-large numbers of relatively fresh formations. We target 2nd Pz Grenadiers, which was the main impetus of the German attack. We have air supremacy and can attack from 4 directions. Still, much like the German attack, the combination of poor weather and a strong defending formation makes the attacks costly. 2nd Pz Grenadier repels four straight attacks from 4 units. We keep rotating in fresh formations though, and the last attack achieves high odds and overruns the German unit. The attack has taken up too many units to exploit the victory, but destroying a German mobile formation is a good result.

Near Madrid, we search for attack options, but the combination of weather and favorable defensive terrain yield terrible odds. We will have to use this turn to resupply.

A fresh UK corps lands near Gibraltar to counter the new German formations there. Heavy surface ships cruise into Gibraltar as well to possibly be repositioned in the Atlantic. Three US para corps are now in Spain, though they are not in position or up to strength.

[boldairade]

July 28, 1944

Greece-The UK had a pretty high risk/high reward op planned here, code named MERLIN. However, poor weather means it will, at the very least, have to be postponed, and more than likely cancelled.

The bad weather precludes any attacks. US forces continue to push up the west coast, while the Canadian II Corps continues to recover and move up to support them from the south should they run into trouble. On the east coast, the Germans continue to with draw in some areas. Allied formations move into assault position but will wait for better weather.

EAST FRONT

North-Some German units are withdrawing from Finland. Russian forces here consist of second and third line formations, but a minor offensive was started last turn. Additional obsolete formations are railed in.

On the main front, the German line is holding along the Daugava anchored in the north at the strategic city of Riga. The Germans are also maintaining a strong garrison at the port city of Tallinn. This front remains secondary, but there are now areas we could attack if we had the formations. Unfortunately, we simply do not have them here. Our armies here are not capable of offensive operations.

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Center-As we feared, we lose the race to get across the Neman River. Nirosi recognized the strategic importance here and races mobile units to cover all the bridgeheads. This leaves us with three choices for continued operation. Attacking the narrow land bridge in the north between the Daugava and the Neman river is one. This is immediately discounted. The frontage is too narrow and even if we were successful, the Germans would merely pull back behind the Neman to the west.

The second is transfer of units to the south under Konev's command to attack the frontage south of the Dnieper. This would accomplish a lot more and would likely be a bloody fight, which isn't bad from an attrition standpoint. Logistically, however, it would take 2-3 turns to get enough forces there to even really start doing the job.

The third option is the simplest, but most risky. The German formations opposing our mobile units here in the Center are not fully dug in. We could, if we use specialization and massive air assets, attempt a river crossing. This has the advantage of keeping up the pressure, not requiring redeployment, and keeping things very simple. The disadvantage is, we very likely could be repulsed.

Option 2, Konev in the south, has a lot to recommend it. No natural barriers to attack, very good tank country, the chance to liberate Kiev, and decent frontage. Stavka would really like to apply heavy pressure here. However, it would require a serious logistical delay. In addition, some Russian forces here are earmarked for possible support operations in conjunction with the still possible MERLIN op.

This leaves option 3-river assault. Stavka likes this option because it is immediate, simple and direct. The idea of it even half a year ago would have been preposterous, but confidence is growing in the Red Army. Perhaps they could best the Germans, even when at a disadvantage?

Rokossovsky is told to select an area along the Neman River for assault. After much scouting, a bend near the small city of Slonem is selected, as three Russian formations can attack at once. Knowing this, Nirosi has placed a very strong formation to defend this town-8th Pz Grenadier. The Red Army hopes 4 assaults can displace it, which leaves an excess of 3 air strikes, which are sent in immediately. Unfortunately, two are accidentally sent to hit the air units here(oops). After the bombardment, the attack goes forward with 14th Mech(upgraded to engineer status), 5th Tank, and 1st Siberian Tank, supported by multiple air armies. The first three attacks see us lost a staggering 24 steps, inflicting only 6 losses. But while our units are being ground down, so is 8th PzG. The next few attacks do little damage, but our losses are not so heavy. 7th Tank and 6th Army are rotated into the attack. Still, 8th PzG holds. Finally, 16th Army is rotated in for the 8th assault(twice what Stavka had hoped it would take), and 8th PzG retreats. 2nd Mech Corps pursues them through the breech, forces another retreat, then overruns 8th PzG.

Knowing the gap is too narrow, Stavka turns south and hits 4th PzG from 4 directions. Again, the attack is a bloody mess and requires 4 attacks to displace the Germans. 6th Guards Tank pursues the German formation and tries to overrun it, but fails despite high odds. Other units are pushed through the gap. Ultimately, two German air formations are overrun as well.

The cost to this attack is massive. Multiple Russian formations which were viable at the start of the offensive are totally chewed up and have to be rotated far to the rear. Some, however, are used to exploit the breakthrough due to their proximity and mobility. They are very vulnerable, and Stavka would not be surprised to lose formations next turn.

That said, the Germans lose heavily here as well. Stavka is able to move two strong, fresh infantry armies into the breach, and also moves up the fresh 15th Tank into striking distance for more operations next turn. Two more tank formations, 25th Tank and 5th Guards Tank, have been recovering near Smolensk. They are also nearly ready to be recommitted. Nirosi has been conservative when dealing with river line breeches, but he may have to fight here. He still has multiple river lines available, but he also still has force superiority. His infantry are still stronger than even Russian armor formations. I would not be surprised if there was a major reversal for us here next turn. This may have been the wrong move.

Trying to prevent too much free Axis troop movement, we move our forces up against the German line all through the Pripyat Marshes, hoping to pin them down. Additionally, north of the breakthrough, we push our formations up against the retreating German infantry.

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South-This area of the front is marked by high density of formations on both sides. Konev repositions his mobile assets for another possible attack south of the Dnieper next turn. Soviet Para formations continue to recover in the rear along rail lines and receive supply trucks to speed the process. Soviet marine formations are back in the ports and ready for additional ops should they be needed.

[boldairade]

July 28, 1944

Losses continue to pile up on all fronts

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[boldairade]

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Tommies trudge through the rain, somewhere in NE Greece.

[boldairade]

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A Tiger on the Eastern Front lurks in the shadows.

Germany can still generate local superiority, but the size of the front is swallowing up her elite formations.

[John B.]

The losses the last two turns have been remarkably even when you add everything up!

Are there still forces in N. Africa or is that front done with?