(Axis POV AAR) Archmache vs ElvisJJonesRambo

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

It's Axis (ElvisJJonesRambo) vs Allies (Archmache); a special event, Conference of Champions Prime-Time battle. There is an AAR thread, but seeing that the Forum is dead, dying, slumping, I'm trying to help ratings. I'm stumping. Mouthpiece.

Like I said to all. Was out of town last month, to deal with some family/friend medical issues. Had to help out, kind of like M.A.S.H. situation. We didn't need John Mulcahy; but always need the real One. As promised, needed to wait to a holiday to do this proper. Labor Day September 4th, 2023 in the USA, it's a National Holiday. This is the only game I'll be playing. No excuses, no distractions. Well, long as I don't get my 5th banning because of some "word" offends my hidden rats who hate my very existence. My email/messageBox is constantly spammed.

Speaking of September, lets call it 1939. Standard ELO, my top ranked opponent has the option to add any requests.

Poland receives the standard 1-turn Rambo attack. It's tried & proven 99% to have Warsaw fall AND surrender. Weather is always clear. I used the swap HQ 2-times to loosen up Warsaw. Move in the Panzer from SW, and finish with Army opens the North and Corp finished the job.

Dice rolls were excellent. Don't need them for this to work, but I didn't take much damage. Much appreciated. Don't mind my opponent seeing turn #1 positions, nothing new. Loose lips sink ships.

[OldCrowBalthazor]

Nice one turn take down of Poland. I have done it too. Found out this alarms Uncle Joe and Soviet Mobilization goes up way higher than taking the two turn standard. Still, with only 13 turns in a WaW year, you have no times to lose right?

[Mwhit299]

Isn't it better to take more turns to mop up all those easy units so that your generals get more stars and units have more experience? From my past games, having 2-3 star generals as soon as possible are a game changer.

[redrum68]

Isn't it better to take more turns to mop up all those easy units so that your generals get more stars and units have more experience? From my past games, having 2-3 star generals as soon as possible are a game changer.

If you don't plan on attacking France early then probably but most players prefer to attack France ASAP to get them to surrender sooner.

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

September 29th, 1939

Europe: Personally, I'm not concerned about Russian readiness. Doesn't seem to matter nor effect the game from what I can tell. Operation Barbarossa must start, Summer 1941 (May, June, July at latest). Far as experience in Poland. Nah, don't want my Panzers in Poland mopping up civilians. They must be refitted/relocated for Heinz Guderian to evaluate the Western Front.

--Graff Spree naval unit blocks South Africa.
--all quiet on the Western front

China: both sides chill

--Chinese abandon Paotow. Guessing he's heading to the hills & wants to tempt the funky USA readiness.

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

October 27, 1939

--weather is scattered showers
--Not fully prepared to head West, but I cannot help myself. We're going into Belgium "Soft"; soldiers are able to march, not operand on trains, to save MMPs for the science of death.
--4th Panzer + 1st Army hit the half corp in the fortress. Panzer has mobility upgrade, move up, dish 4-damage on the HQ.
--Luftwaffe does some divebombing to aid. Surprised, no RAF/French fighter intercepts.
--Lets see if the Western Allies wish to spend MMPs to defend Brussels, after the soft half-attack
--Italian Lampo (Destroyer) + Gorizia (Heavy Cruiser) exit into the Atlantic
--Graf Spree (Cruiser) leaves South Africa after damaging port

China

--weather is rain, nothing noteworthy.
--Paotow receives Carrier straffing

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

November 24, 1939

--weather scattered showers
--Brussels leveled by Panzer, which retreats using mobility advance tech, to 2nd line to refuel
--Luxemburg occupied. Who cares about 1% USA readiness
--City of Lille is captured, German Corps push to the North, French picking rivers/forest defense
--1st Army pressures Ardennes, lets see if French want counter
--Luftwaffe (Fighters) look for RAF, nobody found
--Refitting is expensive, as Stukas/Armies begin upgrade during some rain
--France appears to going "Central Strong" defense.

China:

--shuffling of units, solidify lines,
--minister of finance conducts planning meetings.
--Central fortress is attacked by attrition
--Akagi (Carrier), Kaga (Carrier), Zuiho (Escort Carrier) strafe Paotow, it's empty
--both sides slow-rolling

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

December 22, 1939

Where is the BEF & ground units? RAF? The Brits must be preparing for some amphib-action

--weather = light snow. dice rolls = average
--LaHavre left undefended, taken.
--Caen left undefended, taken
--French 1st Army chopped down to strength-2, pushed out of Ardennes North

China
--Attrition Fortress Changsha, corp reduced to strength-3
--Fighting begins West of Nanning

USA 26%, Russia 30%, Italy 65%

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

January 19, 1940

French only one's to defend, retreating into a Paris "Alamo" defense British must be plotting something new & big!
There's no RAF helping France
No BEF or British ground units in France.

--weather full snow
--Nantes captured
--Amiens French (Corp) destroy, city taken.
--M-Line taken with no resistance
--French 9th (Army) smashed to 4 points, retreats into Nancy
--another French (Army) destroyed
--Anti-Air 1st (AA-gun) appears from Western Paris, it's trashed to strength-2
--no Naval combat, very quiet
--Italian Lampo (Destroyer) waves in the Atlantic shipping lanes couple RN (Destroyers)

China

--weather light snows
--Shoru (Carrier), Akagi (Carrier), Kaga (Carrier), Zuiho (Escort Carrier) all strafing Paotow
--Chinese 5th (Corp) West of Nanning recieves total 5 damage
--Chinese 2nd (Corp) in fortress East of Changsha takes 8 damage
--Japanese are set on grinding for now, those positions in Winter
--South of Chengchow, Chinese (Army) protects, we'll take a couple ground attack, some damage given.

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

March 1940

--Paris is attacked by 3/4 of the German Army/Luftwaffe.
--France surrenders
--Italians getting big challenge at Tobruk, x2 United Kingdom Armies
--British carriers show at The Rock and MedFront
--Italians lose a lazy half strength ship scouting around The Rock

China

--Chinese counter, and destroy Japanese (Corp) over extended in the Central battle
--Japanese destroy Chinese (Corp) East of Changsha fortress
--Various combat, some exchanges

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

April 12, 1940

What is my opponent doing. The Royal Air Force has never been seen in France nor England. Luftwaffe fighters cannot even get a dogfight over the channel. There's only a garrison in London. There's only a garrison SE of London. Is this a trap? My opponent has bribing Finland to join the Allies constantly. I hate that crap. It angers me. British have the advantage at Tobruk, lost an Italian Army East of Fortress. The British Carriers sunk an Italian ship at The Rock.

It's go time! Sealion. London captured. The person bribing Finland has been shot. Churchill escaped with the Eagle Has Landed to Manchester. This is some kind of gift. Had no plan to Sealion, but hey, British left France, and the welcome mat only has a garrison. No Royal Airforce nor Navy. I'm expecting monster counter-attack and I'll lose the landing force just to cause readiness problems. Whatever, I win I win. I lose, I lose.

It's Now or Never. I've captured Paris in March, now London in April. Is this some weird trap or gamey bug? The British Bomber + 1 tactical is in Egypt, the rest must be hiding. I've never engaged a Spitfire.

--Norway joins Axis
--Denmark joins Axis
--London taken
--No naval combat

China

--All Carriers continue to terrorize Paotow. They should be helping attack ground units, don't care.
--East of Changsha, a new Chinese (Army) is destroyed in the fortress.
--Nanning, new Chinese (Army) is tag teamed for 6 damage, that should cost him more MMPs
--It's slow in China, but the momentum has got to be building

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

May 10th, 1940

--Germans setting up shop in London, having some tea.
--Battle of Tobruk continues, feels like disadvantage, British due to punch Italians in the mouth
--Netherlands is steamrolled.

China

--Japanese showing 2 (Artillery) pieces. Bought them early, time to soften positions.

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

June 7, 1940

--BEF (Army) defending Portsmouth has just become their grave. Couple 1-2 punches + 4th Army rowing over did the trick
--Von Rundstedt (HQ) orders the 1st Frontier (Corp) and 3rd (Panzer) to The Island. elimating Garrison and captured Caimbridge
--Von Bock + 5th (Panzer) are transported in, to watch Wimbledon. The Royal Family has been tossed in jail.
--Tobruk is weakening, at least the Italians are participating without German help so far
--Kriegsmarine hasn't be showing their face. Keeping it tight for now. Royal Navy is in MedFront, but haven't seen the Carriers for a turn. We have more patrol orders. Loose lips sink ships.
--US 55%, Russia 62%, Finland 7%

I rode a tank
Held a general's rank
When the blitzkrieg raged
And the bodies stank

China

--All 4 *key cities the Chinese Armies taking consistent damage. They will either give up land or start to die fast
--Japanese do take some damage, but I see Nanning, Changsha & the other two falling soon enough

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

August 2, 1940

--Royal Navy shows up Northwest of Ireland to sink 2 German (Cruisers), we dole out some damage at least. Royal Navy showed up with at least 2 (Battleships), 1 (Sub), 1 (Cruiser), 1 (Destroyer). Mid-Atlantic, 2 more (Destroyers) cause (U-Boat) to dive. Royal Navy (Sub) challenges raiders West of Spain.
--3rd and 5th (Panzer) destroy British (Anti-Air) (Garrison) capturing Manchester England with minimal defense, he must have left.
--Battle of Tobruk continues. Italians vs British have not shown (Armor), and only couple attack planes.
--Germans point (Artillery) at Malta. Italian (Subs) find Royal Navy (Battleship), no damage.
--US 55%, Russia 62%, Finland 7%

China

--Same old, need to get Nanning still, lots of attrition.

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

September 1940

--All of mainland England captured, don't have Northern Ireland
--Major naval battle West of Spain, so far an exchange of units and/or damage
--Italians sink (Battleship) (Cruiser) in MedFront
--Tobruk has been lost, Benghazi has some x2 (Corp), (Anti-Air) (Fighter) + German (Fighter)
--Major Diplomacy hit on Finland 19%, finally. Have had maxiumum chits 25 + 15 + 15
--Riga is neutral, Russia didn't want
--US 55%, Russia 62%, Finland +12%

China

Underperforming so far Nothing major, just a drag.

--Changsta finally taken
--ChengChow has been flanked, but still taken work
--Nanning stalled

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

checking ships

1940.09.27_Losses2.PNG (1 MiB) Viewed 1227 times

Update on losses

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

October 1940

--All the action is in the Atlantic, just West of Spain. Royal Navy hasn't upgraded. They are flooding the area with 3 (Subs), maybe more. Various (Destroyers) (Cruisers). (Battleships) haven't ventured this close. Kriegsmarine, as you can guess, has (Uboats), but against other (Subs) (Destroyers), not the greatest mix. We aren't bother to play it cute, exchanges happening, the losses chart will increase.
--England is held by the Nazis.
--The ground line between Tobruk and Benghazi is littered with weak units on both sides. Italians, with an (Army) (Corp) x2 (Garrison) (Anti-Air) (HQ) (Fighter) (German Fighter). British have a hodgepodge of units but at least one more (Army) and attack Air.
--MedSea, North of Tobruk, the Royal Navy is now missing 2 (Cruisers), Italian (Subs) + German (Maritime Bomber) launched from Sicily, with success. Very brave (Destroyer) got close to Sicily and has joined the bottom of the sea.
--Hungary has joined

China

--The Chinese have to be get worn down. I could have waited for Level 2, but whatever. Just leaning on them. Have suffered plenty of counter-punches, costing MMPs

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

*** TOP SECRET *** (declassified by the Fuhrer)

January 1940

Textbook Northern exploitation. British were cowards, and sailed away

*** TOP SECRET *** (declassified by Tojo)

June 1940

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

January 1941

--Italian 5th (Army) is destroyed, East of Benghazi. The heat is on. British (Bomber) hitting city for the supply.
--Malta is getting pounded by x2 (Artillery) and Luftwaffe (Medium/Tacticals) x4
--East Africa is lost cause, invested nothing
--US 55%, Russia 68%

China

--Hengyang captured, Nanning now getting heat. China Que (HQ) gets popped for 2 ground damage.
--IChung and ChungChow are missing defenders in/around. They will be taken next turn, save weather
--Paotow is getting Pao-Straffed with Zeroes from Carriers and ground. This costs me support roles, but trains my pilots

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

February 1941

--British (Sub) sunk outside Tripoli
--Malta leveled and captured by German (Corp)
--US 55%, Russia 71%

China

--IChang captured
--ChengChow captured