Expanded Allied Air HQ

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kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Turn 17 Allied air phase

Post by kentkroeckel »

Losses for both phases are: Axis 321 and Allies 405. A victory of 84 for Luftwaffe. The rain has reduced what each side can accomplish in the air. Naval control is reduced for both sides so did not show it. It is near parity with a slight edge for Allies. The biggest surprise was that Allied ground interdiction disappeared.

Following three pictures are reconnaissance of Italy. Order is from south to north, starting with Sicily.
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Thank you very much for your comment Mr. Red Bunny. I believe Metalist has been experimenting with troops walking on water. I do think that answers the mystery of Ferry crossings. Ha.
Last edited by kentkroeckel on Wed Oct 15, 2025 1:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Turn 17 Allied ground phase

Post by kentkroeckel »

The 1 British Airborne Division will need to get reconstituted. This happens often. New slogan for Allied air assault (If you have the will, we have an opening). Metalist loves to eliminate them. Ha.

Germany can also launch airborne so it is wise for Allies to keep a garrison unit on rear ports and important hexes. Range is eight hexes; has to be connected by land. That is why Allies cannot drop on Italy unless invaded by sea or has secured both sides of a ferry crossing.

First two pictures are of European air war.
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Next picture is of air missions over Sicily. 40+ in some hexes. Both sides using air transport for logistics.
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Two hexes were vacated by Germany and two hexes were taken by Allies. Below is pictorial result.
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The British XIII corp has been battling north up from Catania and is putting pressure on the Messina Peninsula. The British X corp has forced Axis units to form a line along coast of Northern Sicily. There is some exposure to being isolated if a hex is taken.

Conclusion:
Allies assume Germany will withdraw to the four hex, 2+2 Peninsula for final defense of Messina. Of course Allies assumed a similar action last turn but instead Axis attacked and destroyed the 1 British Airborne Division. It had attached to it an American airborne regiment. Removed from game now.
kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Italian Invasion

Post by kentkroeckel »

Metalist is good in defense line tactics but also excels in surprise, strong, retaliatory, attacks. Look at the how Axis fight to stay on Sicily despite substantial risk. Allies landed on Italy to cause surrender. Mission success but French regiment was immediately destroyed. A few weeks later two British armor brigades landed on Toe of Italy, near Sicily. they too were promptly destroyed. This was a calculated attempt by Allies but I realized Metalist would probibly not be caught by surprise.

However, this result made me recalculate the Italian invasion. Meaning, using all Task Forces (6) instead of just four, which I had been working with. This takes longer but increases success. Even staying on shore is not great. Metalist has isolated my beachheads before so breakout is necessary. Task Forces on a beachhead take a horrible beating. Additionally, amphibious ships are being sunk by the tens. This forces Allies to dedicate D-Day level investment for invasion of Italy.

With the above factored, Allies decided to invade in different spots than originally picked for the four Task Forces. It helped to have good reconnaissance of Southern Italy too. I do not mind revealing this because Metalist already knows something is up since there has not been an invasion attempt with two more Task Forces. Next invasion will be with six but that does not mean all in the same location. Axis cannot be everywhere at the same time.

Time frame indicates division level unit for each Task Force. Maybe more? No secret there. What is a blessing for Allies in this challenge is that I was able to preserve amphibious ships. The pool is near game start level, 250. Much better than 110 in previous challenge. At that level Allies were unable to launch European D-Day in one turn. Took several.

Negative for Italian D-Day invasion is that Germany will have built up several defenses. Luftwaffe will be positioned for the assault. Time is also an issue. Allies need to get ashore and established by end of January or receive a -400 victory point penalty. Need ten hexes. There also needs to be time in setting up European D-Day invasion. By March 1, 1944 Task Forces need to be in England.
Last edited by kentkroeckel on Thu Oct 16, 2025 7:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Air superiority vs unassigned

Post by kentkroeckel »

Topic of air superiority vs unassigned:

Unassigned interceptors work well for Germany in interdicting strategic bombing missions. An advantage with unassigned is that aircraft will attack enemy aircraft nearby in any direction, so not restrained with a specific area, as is the case with air superiority.

On a personal note, I have never been a fan of the night raider missions. At least for me, when playing Germany, did not feel effort justified special mission allocation. Better to keep night fighters on regular intercept missions. Though regardless of side I play, all aircraft (including NF) are placed on night / day missions.

Personal opinion:
I have found interceptors (FF, FBF, NF) when unsigned, do not intercept well against enemy aircraft conducting ground attack / assault. better to have them placed on air superiority.

Often Germany and Allies need specific tasks accomplished, such as hex indirection, port reduction, or airbase destruction, (hopefully with aircraft destroyed) and depot / rail mauling. This is what ground attack accomplishes.

Ground Assault aircraft engage all the time, both phases, just like artillery. That is what they are, air artillery. But it is wise to have interceptor aircraft in the ground assault pool because they will prevent horrendous losses while able to inflict such against enemy aircraft.
kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Turn 18 Preliminary

Post by kentkroeckel »

October 30, 1943
Victory Points: Turn 27, Game 230.
Amphibious loss total: 75
Weather: Europe Rain, Mediterranean Rain.
Axis air phase losses: 145 Luftwaffe, 49 Allies

I have adopted the format above, think it makes turns easy to follow.

Weather in game must have delayed reports of Axis turn. Metalist made me wait two days. Cruel. Our personal correspondence was about how (He Metalist) seems to be like the great escape artist Houdini. Whenever Allies (Kent) think German units will be trapped, they escape.

First picture show results of Luftwaffe air phase:
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Next picture show hexes of air engagement Sicily is very much contested:
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Next picture is of Southern Italian naval interdiction. Rain limits dominance. this includes over Sicily too.
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Final picture is of Sicily. Only one hex being give up by Germany. Several reinforcements have joined to defend Messina line. There is a hex somewhat exposed south of all the rest that will probibly be attacked. Allies would also like to sever the line of hexes along northern coast of Sicily, leading to Messina.
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kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Invasion of Italy

Post by kentkroeckel »

I had a typo when writing about the upcoming invasion of southern Italy. I put Sicily instead but have since corrected it. Oops. a final quick thought on this. This invasion will be a duplicate of the Sicilian invasion that starts the campaign. What I mean by that is, I have six Task Forces that are now assigned to an invasion point. Though instead of Sicily, they will land on southern Italy. Each will have a division, maybe more. (German intelligence, Metalsit cannot know everything).

My previous D-Day analogy was okay but really, This upcoming southern Italian invasion does mirror the initial invasion of game. Though I do want to point out, usage of Task Forces can be and will be used in a different pattern. That means one spot to six different spots.
kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Turn 18 Allied air phase

Post by kentkroeckel »

Total losses: Axis 292, Allies 422.
Luftwaffe + 130.

Following is Allied naval bubble. Still good despite rain.
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Next three pictures are of southern Italy from Allied reconnaissance. Order is from south (Sicily) to north.
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Last edited by kentkroeckel on Fri Oct 17, 2025 3:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Turn 18 ground phase

Post by kentkroeckel »

One hex had been abandoned by Axis so of course Allies took it.

There were two hexes along northern coast of Sicily that were attacked. Ground assault aircraft was involved along with reserve units. Units in other hexes switched in to fight too. I did not use naval bombardment this round.

Picture of two hex engagement:
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Battle results of a hex: 1-3 assaults.

First
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Second
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Third
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When this hex was taken there was a decision to be made. Allies could wait for isolation of German battalion or attack to get them out of way. Attacking meant they will only route but wait a week and Axis battalion would surrender. Yet that delay would significantly complicate movement for future attacks; possibly delaying future attacks by two weeks.

Allied Command (Kent) decided mobility was priority rather than forcing 4,000 German troops to surrender. The second hex was attacked 7 times but a route was forced on German airborne battalion.
kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Air tranport logistics

Post by kentkroeckel »

Every turn Germany and Allies are using air transport logistics. That means, supplies for front units. Much can be brought in if an airbase is near and if not, a temporary base is set up. The second way is limited and never shows on map. For game purpose, never really existed. I will stop mentioning this logistics action since this is an expected action by both players every turn.

PS: At the end of every turn, (single mission friendly phase) aircraft should be placed on rest but I forgot to do that this turn. Allied Command needs to be punished for this. Ha.
kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Turn 18 update

Post by kentkroeckel »

I wonder if this has happened to anyone else playing a multiplayer game:

I was processing turn 18 last night while also adding pictures for AAR and then doing the written portion of AAR. This game is live in a sense, because AAR is being made during turn or shorty after. Hence, careful not to reveal all in making of AAR.

Well, I pushed saved instead of end turn, out of habit. Got so excited to see my turn already this morning, until I realized it was still week 18, October 30,1943. Another embarrassing moment I wanted to share during this challenge. On a serious note, both of us (Metalist, Kent) have experienced failure by system to advise us it is our turn during Challenges. this has happened on the current game too.

I advised Metalist of my error but did take advantage of my mistake. I was now able to place all (single phase friendly only) aircraft on (4) rest. I told Metalist that they are placed on Borg status. This is in reference to how Borg in Star Trek were tricked after Caption Picard placed them on sleep mode. That hive mentality, like insects.
kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Air tranport addendum

Post by kentkroeckel »

Air transport addendum. Forgot to mention an important detail in the previous post over air transport logistics. The following I do out of habit so forgot to include this.

As Allies and as Germany I usually do not have any administration points left after each turn so use up air transport logistics until none are left. Here is the catch. One administrative point gets consumed when non transport aircraft participates in logistics. To prevent loosing many administrative points, slow down and do supply one click at a time. When a point goes away stop. For some reason, if you have no administrative points left, non transport can still be used as logistics. Do not look for logic.
kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Rail Flak

Post by kentkroeckel »

German Rail flak is unique with administrative points. As long as you have one unused administrative point, all rail flak can be shipped anywhere for no cost.

All flak for Axis and Allies in reserve pool, (meaning unassigned) can be attached to any unit for no administrative point. In the same pool they can be assigned to a city for (1) administrative point. German player needs to be careful when moving a flak already assigned to city from start of game. It could cost you up to (25) administrative points. As long as you have less than (10) administrative points, all that will happen is, (not allowed). No cost that way if unsure.
kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Turn 19 Preliminary

Post by kentkroeckel »

November 6, 1943
Victory points: Turn 28, game 258
Amphibious losses: 78
Weather: (Europe, rain) (Mediterranean, Heavy rain)

Axis air phase losses: 105 Luftwaffe and 79 Allies

Weather makes all missions useless in Mediterranean. Allies will conduct strategic bombing missions over Europe.

Below is air engagement by Luftwaffe despite heavy rain.
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Next is ground status of Sicily. Germany withdraw to 2+2 hex defense of Messina Peninsula.
Screenshot 2025-10-17 194824.jpg
Screenshot 2025-10-17 194824.jpg (22.54 KiB) Viewed 19 times
kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Turn 19 air phase

Post by kentkroeckel »

this will be short due to weather.

Total air losses are: 199 Axis and 360 Allies. Luftwaffe advantage of 161.

Below is picture of sea and ground around Sicily. Takeaway is that Luftwaffe achieved little despite Allies resting all Mediterranean aircraft. Heavy rain neutralizes so much in air campaign.
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kentkroeckel
Posts: 105
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:32 pm
Location: USA Colorado

Turn 19 combat phase

Post by kentkroeckel »

One attack on one hex of Sicily but nothing came of it. Weather made it an act of futility for Allies so stopped after one round. Below is picture of ground movement.
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Next week (November 13, 1943) Europe will be under heavy rain and Mediterranean will be rain. There should be a week of clear weather sometime in November so Allies will wait for it to invade Italy.
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