The World at War ELO Tournament

[wevilc]

New ELO game

CRW1418 (me, Allies) v Old Shane (Axis)

Glutton for punishment, after another gruesome defeat, I’m game for another try & Shane is gracious in accepting the challenge.

[Old_Shane]

New ELO game - CRW1418 (Allies) vs Old_Shane (Axis)
The rematch.

Victory Axis (Old_Shane) March 1944. Japan over ran China and India. Moscow holding but on borrowed time with Perm fallen. Allies mostly took N Africa, but Panzers closing in from Middle East. Successful landing in Brittany. But battered by Axis reinforcements and the channel choked off by Kriegsmarine.
CRW learning fast. Great fun playing against this relative newcomer.

[MerlinXL]

Rematch started: MerlinXL (Axis) vs. Pekkavilamoura (Allies)

Victory Axis (MerlinXL) April 1944. Axis in control of North Africa, Egypt, Levant, Iraq, Persia and Caucasus. USSR lost Ukraine, Crimea, and Stalingrad, but pretty much still in control of everything else, along with Finland which fell in April of 1943. But Japan captured Vladivostok, choking off US aid through there. And with U-boat dominance in the Atlantic sinking most of the Murmansk Convoys, along with the loss of Allied supplies through Persia, the USSR MPP income fell to 450. Slowly but surely, the IJA and Wehrmacht were grinding down the USSR ground forces, which numbered around 38 at the end of the game. The Allies launched a massive invasion of Italy, capturing Rome. I was completely surprised by the invasion of Italy, even though I had spotted an LRAT several turns earlier -- I'm still not sure how Perkkavilamoura managed to land such a big force completely undetected (huge intelligence fail on the Axis, and those responsible have been severely punished ). But the Axis counterattack completely decimated the landing force, destroying the Eisenhower HQ in Rome, and knocking out all the ports for resupply. Perkkavilamoura notes: "..I could have tried another landing in '45 or early '46 but it would have been too late against a very strong Axis.."

One turning point was Turkey joining the Axis in July of 1941. Although there were three failed Sealion attempts, the last, rather futile one near London, was impressive enough to swing the Turkish heavily towards the Axis. Rommel and the Afrika Corps used Turkey to launch successful attacks on Iraq, Persia, the Levant, and then roll through Egypt to the rescue of the Italians, who were beaten back all the way to Tobruk. As with our earlier game, the Allies put up a stiff resistance in the Caucasus along the Turkish border. The Baku oil fields did not fall until Manstein finally came in from the north and cutoff the road and rail lines.

It was a fun and exciting game that was hard fought on both sides. Although I had the feeling that I had perhaps a slight edge at times, the outcome was by no means certain until the very last turn -- then again, the Allied MPP advantage is hard to overcome as the game progresses.

-MerlinXL

[MerlinXL]

New ELO game started:
MerlinXL (Axis) vs. Pekkavilamoura (Allies)
... another rematch!

[MerlinXL]

New ELO game started:
MerlinXL (Axis) vs. Umeu (Allies)

[HarrySmith]

HarrySmith ( Allies) defeats HARRIS45 ( Axis) Dec 43 Axis resign when on the defensive on all fronts.
After a slow start the Axis lifted and though being held in Russia they invaded and captured Turkey. A few landings behind their lines and Russia on the offensive across-the-board. Japan lost DEI and all southern Asia and most islands. We had some good hard fought battles in all areas. An excellent turn rate and a good guy to play. Happy to play again.

[MerlinXL]

New ELO game started:
MerlinXL (Axis) vs. ThunderLizard11 (Allies)

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

Been doing some hard time, wasn't able to post for awhile.

Game #229[WIN] ElvisJJonesRambo (Axis) vs Jonny25k(Allies) --- Played this one months ago, didn't post. Axis pushed back the Allies. Game timed out, with no return turns. Jonny25k had some other priorities, but this one was looking solid. Offered rematch, finally able to get my messages.

Game #230[WIN] ElvisJJonesRambo (Axis) vs Azhraden(Allies) --- Been awhile, since I played. Allies got too predictable, in MedFront & using Diplo. Was able to wear them down, get lots of MMPs thru Spain/Turkey. Pacific, the Japs gave the Yanks problems for half of Hawaii. China was thumped.

Started new game:
Azhraden(Axis) vs ElvisJJonesRambo(Allies)

[Taifun]

New ELO game started:

Taifun (Axis) vs Cpuncher (Allies).

[HarrySmith]

HarrySmith (Axis) lost to Umeu Allies
Played the game to total surrender Germany Nov 44 and Japan April 45.
Totally outplayed throughout by Umeu who has also gave me great tips and advice for going forward. One of the better players I have played and recommend any top guys to give him a go. Great turn rate and comms.
Lost on all fronts with no joy, Subs were decimated early on and Umeu seemed to predict my moves very well. Italian and German navies were hit hard without many losses to Allies.
Great opponent and enjoyable game though I was thrashed

[Umeu]

HarrySmith (Axis) lost to Umeu Allies
Played the game to total surrender Germany Nov 44 and Japan April 45.
Totally outplayed throughout by Umeu who has also gave me great tips and advice for going forward. One of the better players I have played and recommend any top guys to give him a go. Great turn rate and comms.
Lost on all fronts with no joy, Subs were decimated early on and Umeu seemed to predict my moves very well. Italian and German navies were hit hard without many losses to Allies.
Great opponent and enjoyable game though I was thrashed

Great game by you too Harry, though you give too much praise your naval and air campaign in the Mediterranean forced me to retreat from the sea and put the Royal navy out of action for 2 almost years. I don’t think I ever suffered more losses on sea than in our game, at least not in a long time.

On land, things indeed did not go as well, especially in China and Russia. But it was fun to play until the end for a change.

[Pekkavilamoura]

HarrySmith (Axis) lost to Umeu Allies
Played the game to total surrender Germany Nov 44 and Japan April 45.
Totally outplayed throughout by Umeu who has also gave me great tips and advice for going forward. One of the better players I have played and recommend any top guys to give him a go. Great turn rate and comms.
Lost on all fronts with no joy, Subs were decimated early on and Umeu seemed to predict my moves very well. Italian and German navies were hit hard without many losses to Allies.
Great opponent and enjoyable game though I was thrashed

HarrySmith with total surrender in 44/45
Confirms my view of Umeu. Great player and always ready to share his views and give good advice for your game. Has anyone ever beaten him?? Anyone seen Fafnir?

[ThunderLizard11]

[ELO Ended]
ThunderLizard11 (axis) [WIN] v. wirkey (allies) [LOST}. Allies resign Jan '44. Allies decided to go northern route through Norway and Sweden, instead of France or Italy, but blocked at Stockholm. Russia fell mid-'43 so plenty of panzers to redeploy to fend off allies in the north and in Persia. In the Pacific. US gains a few outer islands but Japan nearly has taken down China - a few turns from Urumchi falling. Good rate of turn returns by wirkey and creative player.

[ELOs Started]
ThunderLizard11 (allies) v. wirkey (axis)
ThunderLizard11 (allies) v. arikogut (axis)

[arcturusrising]

New ELO game started.
arcturusrising (Axis) vs. ElvisJJonesRambo (Allies)

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

New ELO started:
ElvisJJonesRambo (Axis) vs Jonny25k(Allies)

French get rolled, but Allies agressive in China and MedFront
Lots of Action in Asia
Lots of Action in Med Sea

[petedalby]

New ELO game begins:

Umeu (Allies) vs petedalby (Axis)

Expectations are low but I'm sure I'll learn some good lessons!

[petedalby]

New ELO game begins:

Umeu (Allies) vs petedalby (Axis)

Expectations are low but I'm sure I'll learn some good lessons!

As expected, an ignominious defeat for the Axis who resign in Feb '44. Excellent game vs a superb opponent. Great turn rate & comms. Also happy to explain how / why you're being beaten up! I was out thought, out fought & outclassed but I still really enjoyed the game. Time for a lie down now....

[Umeu]

New ELO game begins:

Umeu (Allies) vs petedalby (Axis)

Expectations are low but I'm sure I'll learn some good lessons!

As expected, an ignominious defeat for the Axis who resign in Feb '44. Excellent game vs a superb opponent. Great turn rate & comms. Also happy to explain how / why you're being beaten up! I was out thought, out fought & outclassed but I still really enjoyed the game. Time for a lie down now....

Pete's one of the best tactician's I have faced on the battlefield. Luckily for me, this is mainly a strategy game or the outcome would have been very different!

We blasted through the game I feel, but it was always exciting for me. Thanks for the good game!

[DavidDailey]

It would be helpful if you could provide a rough outline of the strategy that lead to the Axis defeat emphasizing who did what that was right and who did what that was wrong.

[Umeu]

It would be helpful if you could provide a rough outline of the strategy that lead to the Axis defeat emphasizing who did what that was right and who did what that was wrong.

I think the most crucial causes for Axis defeat happened at the start of the game. I usually defend France very lightly, but decided to go for a more all-out defense of France by sending many Brits to France. At the same time, Pete did not attack France until February, only attacking the Netherlands in December and Belgium holding out until February. As a result, France did not fall until October.

After that, Pete tried to force the issue in the MedSea, where I had been struggling against the Italians who appeared there in force (Ironically due the late invasion of France, Italy joined the war very late as well, causing me many issues with my Triple Tripoli attack, for which Pete had ample time to prepare). He sent most of the luftwaffe to Sicily to drive the RN away, and then invaded parts of Lybia with amphibious units to prevent the Italians from being overrun. At the same time, amphibious units landed in Tunis to drive my expeditionary force out of Tripoli. The attack out of Egypt cleared the way in time for a link up, but the tanks moved too fast and destroyed the land units from the Triple Tripoli expedition, including the HQ and reinforcements. However, by then I had also sent more units to North Africa, and the RN returned to the shores to take down supply and destroy the luftwaffe in an epic duel.

Consequently, Barbarossa was delayed and Russia never came under threat. Most of the fighting happened in Finland, where the Germans defended and counter-attacked in force against a Russian offensive.

Japan initially had many successes in China, but they stopped for upgrades and not to piss off the US. As a result, the front stabilized and they never got much further. Japan invaded Malaysia and Burma very early, to my surprise without any serious consequences. And because India had been sent in force to defend North and East Africa, there was almost nobody home. Japan launched a very scary invasion, and the IJN cut the peninsula off from the world. Only the skies were open. Luckily, US strat bombers finished just in time to destroy the Japanese supply lines and force a retreat of the starving IJA troops.

The IJN escaped unscathed, and played cat and mouse with the USN for 2 years in the pacific until the RN was finally refitted and able to link up after very costly MedSea and Atlantic anti sub campaigns. The war ended with the IJN’s destruction.

Besides the late attack on France, the main reason Allies won is because of strat bombers. This game is about controlling supply more than anything else (and once you start playing the game from that perspective, you’ll start noticing a lot of interesting strategies). And as such, strat bombers (and battleships near coastal fronts) are invaluable.

Strat bombers caused the fall of Lybia and kept Tunis port out of action delaying the invasion just long enough.

Strat bombers defended India and made Burma untenable.

Strat bombers forced the Japanese to retreat out of China.

Had the war lasted longer, strat bombers would have destroyed German and Japanese industry and supply until they surrender