July 10, 1915
A relatively quiet turn. I study the situation on the Western Front and consider whether I can afford to attack the UK corps guarding the end of their line on the English Channel. After a recon flight with an airship, I can see that he has six corps all within striking distance, two artillery and I would have to entrench units both in the captured hex and in Amiens. I don't have enough manpower spare to accomplish that in one turn. So, I decide to reinforce my units and deploy my upgraded artillery closer to the front line so it can counter-attack next turn if I wish.
In Poland, I execute a planned attack next to Warsaw. My artillery killed two strength points (lucky), so I destroyed a Russian corps with only two attacks, and then moved in an elite German corps. The fortress of Novo-Georgievsk is now surrounded on five sides. But with an entrenchment of 6, I will need one of my heavy artillery units to reduce this before killing it.
In Serbia, by prior agreement with Old Crow - to compensate for a glitch which brought in the Bulgarians two turns too quickly - I do not move forward against the Serbs holding Uskub. Instead, I move two corps and my artillery unit towards Montenegro - which I will have to take out eventually, so I might as well do it while I am waiting.
The Ottomans have simple reinforcement moves.
My naval movements mostly consisted of bumping into Entente defenders - a small task force in the Med close to the Egyptian convoy line and destroyer in the Atlantic on the Indian convoy line. The poor destroyer that mined Halifax bumped into a British destroyer guarding the exit route. It will surely get killed next turn. But the disruption was worth it.
This was a big tech turn. Germany invested in chits on Industrial Tech (for 2) and Artillery Weapons (for 2), and Production Tech (for 3). Plus bought back one destroyed corps. Austria-Hungary invested a necessary chit on Gas/Shell tech at 200 MPPs (for a max of 1) plus a chit on Industrial Tech for 2. The Ottomans, whose income is down 50 MPPs at the moment due to building the Baghdad railroad, managed to buy a Mountain division which will be needed in the Caucasus. AH reached artillery weapons 2 at the end of this move.
1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
Re: 1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
July 24, 1915
More naval action this turn than we have seen to date. In the Baltic, the Russians sent a light cruiser to follow up a sub attack on a German light cruiser stationed near Stockholm. I reckoned, correctly, that given the 6 AP to enter zones of control for surface ships, it could not be far away. I figured out a likely location for it, then used the German seaplane tender on recon mode to spot it and sent a dreadnought and a battleship to sink it. I then sent my three German destroyers to attack the newly arrived Russian sub Bars and killed 3 strength points. Given that he has pulled the Russian surface fleet out of port I sent a dreadnought and battlecruiser to reinforce my task force in the Baltic.
In the Med, he surrounded two AH subs with ships. I am not sure why: subs in silent mode can move through enemy ships without incurring any losses. I inflict 3 points of damage on a weakened French armoured cruiser and retreat both subs to the Aegean. I also now have a third German sub in the Med. Since subs that have to move only do one point of damage on surface ships, I can't sink the cruiser, so I decide to raid the Egyptian convoy line to the west of Malta, while his task force chases my AH subs towards Greece.
In the English Channel, I retreat my returning German sub up through the Dover Strait. To defend it against the British destroyer which I see making probes along the Flanders coast, I decide to deploy a mine next to the UK one and hide the sub behind it. Silent subs can travel through friendly minefields at no risk. In the Atlantic, a retreating German sub bumps into a British light cruiser. Although I can't sink it, I decide to send other subs to attack it and then move into raiding position on the Indian convoy line.
In the Balkans, this was the second turn of my agreed pause to compensate for Bulgaria's early arrival. But I used the forces I sent to Montenegro and destroyed the Serbian corps that was defending their capital, Podgorica. By capturing Podgorica, Montenegro surrendered, and thus their remaining corps and detachment disappeared too. I am sure this will be a blow to Old Crow.
The Ottomans reinforced again understrength and damaged corps. I am anticipating more attacks in the Caucasus where he will be using the Russian field artillery unit to good effect. I move the elite corps back to Constantinople so I can send it by naval transport to Trabzon next turn. I am not anticipating further British attacks at the moment in Gaza.
On the Eastern front, I simply moved corps and artillery into place to attack next turn the point in his line facing Krakow. I will need German heavy artillery to arrive and build up shells before I can take out the fortress defending Warsaw, so this will be a better place start an offensive while I am waiting. My AH airship deployed behind the lines next to Krakow, so it can recon for future attacks and find out where the Russian artillery unit is located,
In the West, I kill a 10-strength British corps on the front line for a cost of 4 strength points. Having general Von Kluck at 3 XP points makes a huge difference, as does an upgraded artillery unit to fire shells. I suspect the UK has not sacked and replaced General John French yet, as my odds were much better attacking this UK unit versus adjacent French corps, no doubt commanded by Foch. I would prefer to be making more strategic moves on this front, but until I can bring more corps and heavy artillery to this sector, sniping attacks like this are the best I can do.
At the end of the turn, the Germans buy two more full strength corps. AH buys back its last destroyed corps and save 100 MPPs towards the cost of buying a heavy artillery unit next turn. Having reached level 2 in Trench Warfare last move, the Ottomans invest a third chit in this tech - their maximum.
More naval action this turn than we have seen to date. In the Baltic, the Russians sent a light cruiser to follow up a sub attack on a German light cruiser stationed near Stockholm. I reckoned, correctly, that given the 6 AP to enter zones of control for surface ships, it could not be far away. I figured out a likely location for it, then used the German seaplane tender on recon mode to spot it and sent a dreadnought and a battleship to sink it. I then sent my three German destroyers to attack the newly arrived Russian sub Bars and killed 3 strength points. Given that he has pulled the Russian surface fleet out of port I sent a dreadnought and battlecruiser to reinforce my task force in the Baltic.
In the Med, he surrounded two AH subs with ships. I am not sure why: subs in silent mode can move through enemy ships without incurring any losses. I inflict 3 points of damage on a weakened French armoured cruiser and retreat both subs to the Aegean. I also now have a third German sub in the Med. Since subs that have to move only do one point of damage on surface ships, I can't sink the cruiser, so I decide to raid the Egyptian convoy line to the west of Malta, while his task force chases my AH subs towards Greece.
In the English Channel, I retreat my returning German sub up through the Dover Strait. To defend it against the British destroyer which I see making probes along the Flanders coast, I decide to deploy a mine next to the UK one and hide the sub behind it. Silent subs can travel through friendly minefields at no risk. In the Atlantic, a retreating German sub bumps into a British light cruiser. Although I can't sink it, I decide to send other subs to attack it and then move into raiding position on the Indian convoy line.
In the Balkans, this was the second turn of my agreed pause to compensate for Bulgaria's early arrival. But I used the forces I sent to Montenegro and destroyed the Serbian corps that was defending their capital, Podgorica. By capturing Podgorica, Montenegro surrendered, and thus their remaining corps and detachment disappeared too. I am sure this will be a blow to Old Crow.
The Ottomans reinforced again understrength and damaged corps. I am anticipating more attacks in the Caucasus where he will be using the Russian field artillery unit to good effect. I move the elite corps back to Constantinople so I can send it by naval transport to Trabzon next turn. I am not anticipating further British attacks at the moment in Gaza.
On the Eastern front, I simply moved corps and artillery into place to attack next turn the point in his line facing Krakow. I will need German heavy artillery to arrive and build up shells before I can take out the fortress defending Warsaw, so this will be a better place start an offensive while I am waiting. My AH airship deployed behind the lines next to Krakow, so it can recon for future attacks and find out where the Russian artillery unit is located,
In the West, I kill a 10-strength British corps on the front line for a cost of 4 strength points. Having general Von Kluck at 3 XP points makes a huge difference, as does an upgraded artillery unit to fire shells. I suspect the UK has not sacked and replaced General John French yet, as my odds were much better attacking this UK unit versus adjacent French corps, no doubt commanded by Foch. I would prefer to be making more strategic moves on this front, but until I can bring more corps and heavy artillery to this sector, sniping attacks like this are the best I can do.
At the end of the turn, the Germans buy two more full strength corps. AH buys back its last destroyed corps and save 100 MPPs towards the cost of buying a heavy artillery unit next turn. Having reached level 2 in Trench Warfare last move, the Ottomans invest a third chit in this tech - their maximum.
Re: 1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
August 7, 1915
On the Western Front, I was interested to note that Old Crow has left two front line hexes open, which encouraged me to think again advancing to secure Amiens and to anchor my line on the English Channel. But my artillery unit is not yet in a position to attack the British corps holding the Channel line and the UK has reached Trench Warfare Level 2, so I move redeploy my units in the rear and reinforce them to be able to execute this attack next turn. Airship recon tells me that the French have not yet deployed artillery to counter-attack around Nancy or Verdun, so I can afford to concentrate my effort on my right flank in France.
In Serbia, I move up to able to capture Uskub next turn and advance the Bulgarians to the border with Greece. By prior agreement with Old Crow, I declare war on Greece at the end of the turn, so the Serbs can retreat there in his next move. This was meant to compensate for the fact that due to glitch we discovered during this match that prevented both the Entente intervention in Salonika DE and the Greek mobilization scripts from firing properly - which should have given him an out to escape to Greece.
On the Eastern Front, the Germans carry out their attack on the salient in front of Krakow. I noticed in the replay that both Russian field artillery units are now operating against the Ottomans in the Caucasus. So, I decide I can afford to move up the Austro-Hungarian corps to replace German corps that have been helping to hold the line in Galicia. Germany's first heavy artillery unit arrives which I deploy on Thorn, where it can build up the shells that will be needed to take the fortress of Novo-Georgievsk.
The Ottomans reinforced their lines in the Caucasus and as planned, I transported by sea an elite corps from Constantinople to Trabzon. It looks like the Russians opted on the first turn to place most of their optional naval units in the Baltic, so I am not much concerned about Russian naval interdiction against these moves in the Black Sea. In Gaza, I can see that he is moving elite corps into place to attack at El Arish. So, I retreat one hex and bring up a rear area corps from Smyrna by rail. I also spend 90 MPPs to sack and replace the existing general on Gaza (rating 4) with Kemal Pasha (rating 6) who is the Ottomans best general.
In naval moves, I pull back both damaged AH subs to ports in Turkey for reinforcements. The German sub in the med takes a free shot at the British light cruiser which bumped into it and then moves to raid the Egyptian convoy. In the Baltic, I reinforce my task force with a sub for reconnaissance but since he is not raising the Swedish convoy, I do not go looking for Russian ships in the open. In the Atlantic, I move three newly arrived subs to raid the Indian convoy line and sent a damaged and a low supply on silent mode on the long trek home.
At the end of the turn, the Germans buy their last heavy artillery unit, invests one chit on Fighter Tech and two chits on diplomacy in Denmark (my first diplo chit purchases). This was immediately rewarded by a 6% swing by Denmark to the CP. (In this mod, when Denmark reaches 30%, the German navy can use the Danish straits freely to access to the North Sea, and they can gain access to the port of Reykjavik in Iceland). Austria-Hungary buys the first of its two heavy artillery units and a detachment, which will be needed to hold the line against Italy. Germany reaches Infantry Weapons 1 at the end of the turn - which will be an important asset in the coming turns in France.
On the Western Front, I was interested to note that Old Crow has left two front line hexes open, which encouraged me to think again advancing to secure Amiens and to anchor my line on the English Channel. But my artillery unit is not yet in a position to attack the British corps holding the Channel line and the UK has reached Trench Warfare Level 2, so I move redeploy my units in the rear and reinforce them to be able to execute this attack next turn. Airship recon tells me that the French have not yet deployed artillery to counter-attack around Nancy or Verdun, so I can afford to concentrate my effort on my right flank in France.
In Serbia, I move up to able to capture Uskub next turn and advance the Bulgarians to the border with Greece. By prior agreement with Old Crow, I declare war on Greece at the end of the turn, so the Serbs can retreat there in his next move. This was meant to compensate for the fact that due to glitch we discovered during this match that prevented both the Entente intervention in Salonika DE and the Greek mobilization scripts from firing properly - which should have given him an out to escape to Greece.
On the Eastern Front, the Germans carry out their attack on the salient in front of Krakow. I noticed in the replay that both Russian field artillery units are now operating against the Ottomans in the Caucasus. So, I decide I can afford to move up the Austro-Hungarian corps to replace German corps that have been helping to hold the line in Galicia. Germany's first heavy artillery unit arrives which I deploy on Thorn, where it can build up the shells that will be needed to take the fortress of Novo-Georgievsk.
The Ottomans reinforced their lines in the Caucasus and as planned, I transported by sea an elite corps from Constantinople to Trabzon. It looks like the Russians opted on the first turn to place most of their optional naval units in the Baltic, so I am not much concerned about Russian naval interdiction against these moves in the Black Sea. In Gaza, I can see that he is moving elite corps into place to attack at El Arish. So, I retreat one hex and bring up a rear area corps from Smyrna by rail. I also spend 90 MPPs to sack and replace the existing general on Gaza (rating 4) with Kemal Pasha (rating 6) who is the Ottomans best general.
In naval moves, I pull back both damaged AH subs to ports in Turkey for reinforcements. The German sub in the med takes a free shot at the British light cruiser which bumped into it and then moves to raid the Egyptian convoy. In the Baltic, I reinforce my task force with a sub for reconnaissance but since he is not raising the Swedish convoy, I do not go looking for Russian ships in the open. In the Atlantic, I move three newly arrived subs to raid the Indian convoy line and sent a damaged and a low supply on silent mode on the long trek home.
At the end of the turn, the Germans buy their last heavy artillery unit, invests one chit on Fighter Tech and two chits on diplomacy in Denmark (my first diplo chit purchases). This was immediately rewarded by a 6% swing by Denmark to the CP. (In this mod, when Denmark reaches 30%, the German navy can use the Danish straits freely to access to the North Sea, and they can gain access to the port of Reykjavik in Iceland). Austria-Hungary buys the first of its two heavy artillery units and a detachment, which will be needed to hold the line against Italy. Germany reaches Infantry Weapons 1 at the end of the turn - which will be an important asset in the coming turns in France.
Re: 1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
August 21, 1914
It is Serbia's last turn as an independent power. Old Crow was able to evacuate his remaining Serbian corps into Greece, leaving only a detachment behind on Uskub. After two attacks, it retreats one hex south and rather than finish it off, I leave it to surrender after I occupy the city. As part of our arrangement, I agree not to attack the British units he transported into Greece last turn (since they are replacing a Greek corps and a detachment which should have mobilized in Salonika and Kavalla). But I take Kavalla with a Bulgarian detachment and entrench a Bulgarian corps in the mountain hex in front of Salonika (which he could have moved into last turn).
On the Ottoman front, I am able to transport another detachment by sea from Constantinople to Trabzon, so I can move up closer to the front the elite corps I transported there last turn. I swap move a detachment back onto the road line between Erzurum and Eleskirt. Facing at least two Russian mountain division and at least one artillery unit, I fully expect to take casualties here and will ultimately lose Erzurum. But if I can tie up a significant amount of his units and MPPs on this front, it will make it easier for me to advance in Poland. Gaza is quiet as he has pulled back (probably to reinforce his position in northern Greece).
On the Eastern front, I carry out my planned attack on the three point corner on his line south of Warsaw and kill a Russian corps. I move up and entrench. My intention is to roll up his line like a zipper until I have enough shells to de-entrench Novo-Georgievsk, and then frontally attack that fortress followed by Warsaw. In Galicia, the Austro-Hungarians reinforce after taking heavy losses on two corps in Russian attacks last turn. An airship flight shows he does not yet have artillery in this sector, at least not west of Lemberg.
On the Western front, I execute my attack on the British corps holding the coast of the English channel and destroy it. I am able to move and entrench two fresh corps on this hex and Amiens, now giving me a straight line to defend in France. A strategic bonus is that I can now use the port of Boulogne to harbour German subs coming and going up and down the English channel. I could even try placing a surface raider in the red hash-marked hexes in front of London, if I wanted pull more of his capital ships to this sector.
Since I reached Infantry Weapons 1 last turn, I upgrade as many corps as I can that are not on the front lines on all fronts. I use detachments in places to replace front line corps so they can retreat and upgrade.
For my naval moves, I send three German subs further west in the Atlantic to raid the convoy from India. In the Baltic, I attack a Russian sub that was raiding the convoy line from Sweden. In the Med, my very successful German sub bumps into two British ships off Tobruk and puts two points of damage into the British battlecruiser Indomitable.
At the end of the turn, the Germans invest a new chit in Infantry Weapons and two more diplomacy chits on Denmark. Austria-Hungary invests a needed third chit on Trench Warfare and reinforces damaged units, including their two subs that retreated to ports in Turkey last turn. The Ottomans invest a second chit on Industrial Tech (after reaching level 1 last turn) and they buy a garrison, which will be necessary in Arabia to defend against the Arab Revolt coming up at the end of the year. Germany gets a bonanza of tech results at the end of the turn, reaching level 1 in Aerial Weapons (they start with one chit), Shock Infantry, Advanced Subs and Spying and Intelligence. Austria-Hungary also earned a healthy 236 MPPs in plunder when Serbia surrendered which will enable it to buy either a second heavy artillery unit or a new HQ for the Italian front.
It is Serbia's last turn as an independent power. Old Crow was able to evacuate his remaining Serbian corps into Greece, leaving only a detachment behind on Uskub. After two attacks, it retreats one hex south and rather than finish it off, I leave it to surrender after I occupy the city. As part of our arrangement, I agree not to attack the British units he transported into Greece last turn (since they are replacing a Greek corps and a detachment which should have mobilized in Salonika and Kavalla). But I take Kavalla with a Bulgarian detachment and entrench a Bulgarian corps in the mountain hex in front of Salonika (which he could have moved into last turn).
On the Ottoman front, I am able to transport another detachment by sea from Constantinople to Trabzon, so I can move up closer to the front the elite corps I transported there last turn. I swap move a detachment back onto the road line between Erzurum and Eleskirt. Facing at least two Russian mountain division and at least one artillery unit, I fully expect to take casualties here and will ultimately lose Erzurum. But if I can tie up a significant amount of his units and MPPs on this front, it will make it easier for me to advance in Poland. Gaza is quiet as he has pulled back (probably to reinforce his position in northern Greece).
On the Eastern front, I carry out my planned attack on the three point corner on his line south of Warsaw and kill a Russian corps. I move up and entrench. My intention is to roll up his line like a zipper until I have enough shells to de-entrench Novo-Georgievsk, and then frontally attack that fortress followed by Warsaw. In Galicia, the Austro-Hungarians reinforce after taking heavy losses on two corps in Russian attacks last turn. An airship flight shows he does not yet have artillery in this sector, at least not west of Lemberg.
On the Western front, I execute my attack on the British corps holding the coast of the English channel and destroy it. I am able to move and entrench two fresh corps on this hex and Amiens, now giving me a straight line to defend in France. A strategic bonus is that I can now use the port of Boulogne to harbour German subs coming and going up and down the English channel. I could even try placing a surface raider in the red hash-marked hexes in front of London, if I wanted pull more of his capital ships to this sector.
Since I reached Infantry Weapons 1 last turn, I upgrade as many corps as I can that are not on the front lines on all fronts. I use detachments in places to replace front line corps so they can retreat and upgrade.
For my naval moves, I send three German subs further west in the Atlantic to raid the convoy from India. In the Baltic, I attack a Russian sub that was raiding the convoy line from Sweden. In the Med, my very successful German sub bumps into two British ships off Tobruk and puts two points of damage into the British battlecruiser Indomitable.
At the end of the turn, the Germans invest a new chit in Infantry Weapons and two more diplomacy chits on Denmark. Austria-Hungary invests a needed third chit on Trench Warfare and reinforces damaged units, including their two subs that retreated to ports in Turkey last turn. The Ottomans invest a second chit on Industrial Tech (after reaching level 1 last turn) and they buy a garrison, which will be necessary in Arabia to defend against the Arab Revolt coming up at the end of the year. Germany gets a bonanza of tech results at the end of the turn, reaching level 1 in Aerial Weapons (they start with one chit), Shock Infantry, Advanced Subs and Spying and Intelligence. Austria-Hungary also earned a healthy 236 MPPs in plunder when Serbia surrendered which will enable it to buy either a second heavy artillery unit or a new HQ for the Italian front.
Re: 1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
September 4, 1915
With the surrender of Serbia, the war is at point of transition. Austria-Hungary has taken out the smallest of the Entente powers and has secured its southern border. They lost important ground in Galicia to the Russians and many corps, but the Russian offensive there has stopped. Austria-Hungary has now bought back all of its lost corps and it has been able to make necessary tech investments.
The Central Powers now have to decide where they want to draw the line in Greece - it makes sense to take Salonika, but is it worth pushing further into Greece and tying up their best general and a field artillery unit? In my experience, Greece is a very bony chicken to pluck, and the Entente can easily reinforce with fresh corps, given that they largely control the seas around Greece.
Austria-Hungary also needs to prepare for Italy accelerating its mobilization rapidly as of this month. So, it has to start placing detachments and corps around its long Italian frontier. A further imperative is to buy a new HQ at 375 MPPs: given the shape of the Italian frontier, one HQ cannot cover all of it. AH still needs two HQs in Galicia and will need to keep one in the southern Balkans, at least until Albania is eliminated. After that point, the Bulgarian army can probably defend the frontier with Greece for the remainder of the war. Austria-Hungary then needs to decide whether to concentrate on Italy or to assist Germany against Russia.
The Germans need to start thinking about where to concentrate their efforts in 1916 - in the East or the West? Until now, they have been able to attack on both fronts, but not with full force. Once their four heavy artillery units are in place, upgraded and Germany reaches Gas/Shell 1 tech, they will have the means to go hard on one front, but not both. Of course, the UK, France and Russia will all reach the same levels and will be able to counter-attack hard on the front where Germany is not placing maximum effort. Usually, the German strategy is to take Russia in 1916/17 as it is the weaker power in terms of national morale. That is probably still the wisest course. But France's is not doing well in terms of national morale - down to 68% this turn - and if I can capture both hexes of Verdun by the spring of 1916, it might be tempting to keep on going in the West.
For the Ottomans, their goal is survival. Old Crow is throwing a lot of Russian resources into the attack, and they will lose Erzurum and Trabzon, their two NM objectives in eastern Anatolia. But after that, it is easy for them to retreat into the low supply interior of Anatalia and entrench. The trade-off for the Russians is how much to invest in attacking the Ottomans versus defending against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Old Crow seems to be building a bigger force around Basra than normal and in July 1916, the British will receive an HQ and a field artillery unit there which will enable them to go on the offensive towards Baghdad, if they don't make a move before. The Arab Revolt, which could start as soon as January 1916, will tie up some resources as well. So far, the UK does not seem ready to make a push in Gaza. Pressure on Greece and on the Western Front will keep it that way; but if I relent in those sectors, the Ottomans may face attack on a third front, which is more than they can handle.
In my actual turn, I attack and kill another Russian corps south of Warsaw; and otherwise, make positioning moves on the other fronts, in particular bringing up my first corps that have been upgraded to Infantry Weapons 1. Germany invested chits in all the techs that reached level 1 last turn - Shock Infantry, Advanced Subs and Spying and Intelligence. They also invested a fourth chit in Trench Warfare, in the hope of reaching level 3 more quickly. Aided by their plunder from Serbia, Austria-Hungary bought their second heavy artillery unit and a mountain division for service in the Alps against Italy. The Ottomans bought a mountain division as well. At the end of the turn, AH reached level 1 in Command and Control, Germany reached level 2 in Industrial Tech and received a 20% research bonus on Gas/Shell tech- which will be particularly welcome.
With the surrender of Serbia, the war is at point of transition. Austria-Hungary has taken out the smallest of the Entente powers and has secured its southern border. They lost important ground in Galicia to the Russians and many corps, but the Russian offensive there has stopped. Austria-Hungary has now bought back all of its lost corps and it has been able to make necessary tech investments.
The Central Powers now have to decide where they want to draw the line in Greece - it makes sense to take Salonika, but is it worth pushing further into Greece and tying up their best general and a field artillery unit? In my experience, Greece is a very bony chicken to pluck, and the Entente can easily reinforce with fresh corps, given that they largely control the seas around Greece.
Austria-Hungary also needs to prepare for Italy accelerating its mobilization rapidly as of this month. So, it has to start placing detachments and corps around its long Italian frontier. A further imperative is to buy a new HQ at 375 MPPs: given the shape of the Italian frontier, one HQ cannot cover all of it. AH still needs two HQs in Galicia and will need to keep one in the southern Balkans, at least until Albania is eliminated. After that point, the Bulgarian army can probably defend the frontier with Greece for the remainder of the war. Austria-Hungary then needs to decide whether to concentrate on Italy or to assist Germany against Russia.
The Germans need to start thinking about where to concentrate their efforts in 1916 - in the East or the West? Until now, they have been able to attack on both fronts, but not with full force. Once their four heavy artillery units are in place, upgraded and Germany reaches Gas/Shell 1 tech, they will have the means to go hard on one front, but not both. Of course, the UK, France and Russia will all reach the same levels and will be able to counter-attack hard on the front where Germany is not placing maximum effort. Usually, the German strategy is to take Russia in 1916/17 as it is the weaker power in terms of national morale. That is probably still the wisest course. But France's is not doing well in terms of national morale - down to 68% this turn - and if I can capture both hexes of Verdun by the spring of 1916, it might be tempting to keep on going in the West.
For the Ottomans, their goal is survival. Old Crow is throwing a lot of Russian resources into the attack, and they will lose Erzurum and Trabzon, their two NM objectives in eastern Anatolia. But after that, it is easy for them to retreat into the low supply interior of Anatalia and entrench. The trade-off for the Russians is how much to invest in attacking the Ottomans versus defending against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Old Crow seems to be building a bigger force around Basra than normal and in July 1916, the British will receive an HQ and a field artillery unit there which will enable them to go on the offensive towards Baghdad, if they don't make a move before. The Arab Revolt, which could start as soon as January 1916, will tie up some resources as well. So far, the UK does not seem ready to make a push in Gaza. Pressure on Greece and on the Western Front will keep it that way; but if I relent in those sectors, the Ottomans may face attack on a third front, which is more than they can handle.
In my actual turn, I attack and kill another Russian corps south of Warsaw; and otherwise, make positioning moves on the other fronts, in particular bringing up my first corps that have been upgraded to Infantry Weapons 1. Germany invested chits in all the techs that reached level 1 last turn - Shock Infantry, Advanced Subs and Spying and Intelligence. They also invested a fourth chit in Trench Warfare, in the hope of reaching level 3 more quickly. Aided by their plunder from Serbia, Austria-Hungary bought their second heavy artillery unit and a mountain division for service in the Alps against Italy. The Ottomans bought a mountain division as well. At the end of the turn, AH reached level 1 in Command and Control, Germany reached level 2 in Industrial Tech and received a 20% research bonus on Gas/Shell tech- which will be particularly welcome.
Re: 1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
September 18, 1915
Old Crow made the surprising choice to withdraw a corps that was defending the line two hexes south of Warsaw, giving me an open shot to attack Warsaw this turn. What he probably does not realize is that I have an upgraded heavy artillery unit in this sector and given its range of 3, it can hit Warsaw. So, using it and my field artillery unit, I am able to de-entrench the corps defending there and then kill it in three attacks. This puts me at least two turns ahead of where I expected to be in the East. My next aim is to either force the corps that is entrenched in Novo-Georgievsk to either retreat and lose its entrenchment advantage in the fortress, or risk being surrounded after I kill the remaining Russian corps that is covering its line of retreat. Once surrounded, it will no longer receive the defensive bonus of the fortress.
The Salonika front proved to be a bloodbath for the Entente. My Bulgarian units seemed to have great odds against the entrenched UK corps on Salonika - no doubt because there is no UK HQ in the area to command them. I eliminate that corps in four attacks and take Salonika. Then using my AH field artillery, I de-entrench the adjacent Greek corps and kill it. And then spotting the half-strength French seaplane tender in Salonika, I can charge a cavalry corps into the port and then an infantry corps and sink it too. I will need to start withdrawing a few AH units from this sector to protect the Italian frontier, but let's see how far I can press my advantage against the remaining free Serbian corps defending northern Greece.
On the Western Front, I upgrade rear area units to level 1 in infantry weapons and bring in new reinforcements for my planned attack on Verdun, which will likely take place just before winter. I am keeping an eye on my fighter here, as it is outnumbered at the moment by a French and a British squadron. However, a second fighter will arrive next turn and I decide to buy a third, taking advantage of the long winter turns to reduce the actual turns I have to wait for it to arrive. Even though air-power is weak in WW1, I have found that it’s not possible to conduct an offensive without maintaining at least parity in fighter strength and the place where the Entente will contest that is over the Western front.
The naval moves are fun. In the Baltic, I see he is using two dreadnoughts to raid the convoy from Sweden. I reinforce my Baltic naval task force with a sub, a destroyer and two dreadnoughts and position it to scout and probably attack the Russian dreadnoughts next turn. Meanwhile, I rough up a Russian sub. In the Atlantic, one sub that was spotted takes its shot against the Lion battlecruiser returning from Halifax and incurs 2 points of damage and then moves evasively. A second sub stays on station in the mid-Atlantic raiding the India convoy line one more time to gain another .10 in experience. A third sub hiding in the English channel is able to make it to the newly liberated port of Boulogne, where it can resupply and upgrade. A fourth and final sub in the North Sea is almost back home where it can reinforce and upgrade.
The Ottomans, as usual, reinforce damaged corps and hold their lines.
At the end of the turn, Germany reaches level 1 in Gas/Shell tech, plus level 3 in Trench Warfare. Austria-Hungary reaches level 2 in Industrial Tech. No diplomacy hits, despite four chits on Denmark.
Old Crow made the surprising choice to withdraw a corps that was defending the line two hexes south of Warsaw, giving me an open shot to attack Warsaw this turn. What he probably does not realize is that I have an upgraded heavy artillery unit in this sector and given its range of 3, it can hit Warsaw. So, using it and my field artillery unit, I am able to de-entrench the corps defending there and then kill it in three attacks. This puts me at least two turns ahead of where I expected to be in the East. My next aim is to either force the corps that is entrenched in Novo-Georgievsk to either retreat and lose its entrenchment advantage in the fortress, or risk being surrounded after I kill the remaining Russian corps that is covering its line of retreat. Once surrounded, it will no longer receive the defensive bonus of the fortress.
The Salonika front proved to be a bloodbath for the Entente. My Bulgarian units seemed to have great odds against the entrenched UK corps on Salonika - no doubt because there is no UK HQ in the area to command them. I eliminate that corps in four attacks and take Salonika. Then using my AH field artillery, I de-entrench the adjacent Greek corps and kill it. And then spotting the half-strength French seaplane tender in Salonika, I can charge a cavalry corps into the port and then an infantry corps and sink it too. I will need to start withdrawing a few AH units from this sector to protect the Italian frontier, but let's see how far I can press my advantage against the remaining free Serbian corps defending northern Greece.
On the Western Front, I upgrade rear area units to level 1 in infantry weapons and bring in new reinforcements for my planned attack on Verdun, which will likely take place just before winter. I am keeping an eye on my fighter here, as it is outnumbered at the moment by a French and a British squadron. However, a second fighter will arrive next turn and I decide to buy a third, taking advantage of the long winter turns to reduce the actual turns I have to wait for it to arrive. Even though air-power is weak in WW1, I have found that it’s not possible to conduct an offensive without maintaining at least parity in fighter strength and the place where the Entente will contest that is over the Western front.
The naval moves are fun. In the Baltic, I see he is using two dreadnoughts to raid the convoy from Sweden. I reinforce my Baltic naval task force with a sub, a destroyer and two dreadnoughts and position it to scout and probably attack the Russian dreadnoughts next turn. Meanwhile, I rough up a Russian sub. In the Atlantic, one sub that was spotted takes its shot against the Lion battlecruiser returning from Halifax and incurs 2 points of damage and then moves evasively. A second sub stays on station in the mid-Atlantic raiding the India convoy line one more time to gain another .10 in experience. A third sub hiding in the English channel is able to make it to the newly liberated port of Boulogne, where it can resupply and upgrade. A fourth and final sub in the North Sea is almost back home where it can reinforce and upgrade.
The Ottomans, as usual, reinforce damaged corps and hold their lines.
At the end of the turn, Germany reaches level 1 in Gas/Shell tech, plus level 3 in Trench Warfare. Austria-Hungary reaches level 2 in Industrial Tech. No diplomacy hits, despite four chits on Denmark.
Re: 1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
October 9, 1915
I had been planning to wait till my second heavy artillery unit deployed on the Western Front until I attacked Verdun. But after reaching Level 1 in Gas/Shell tech last turn, I know have the shells between my one heavy artillery and my field artillery unit in this sector and the fact that I have started upgrading corps with Infantry Weapons 1 gives me a strong incentive to act now. I fire eight shells at the first (original) major fortress of Verdun de-entrenching it; after that it was easy to kill in just three attacks. I move reinforcement corps into Belgium, upgrade more units, deploy a newly arrived second fighter squadron and my already-upgraded second heavy artillery unit. I also bring Prince Albrecht's HQ (rating 6, 1.2 experience) back from Galicia to help hold front line units in northern France, while Von Kluck commands the assaults on Verdun. Barring a major counter-attack by Old Crow next turn, I will take the second fortress of Verdun next turn, which should inflict a significant hit on French national morale.
On the Eastern Front, Russia retreated last turn, so I simply moved up units to the new line east of Warsaw and finished upgrading German units in this sector.
In the Balkans, I do the same. I could attack without artillery his weakly entrenched corps in northern Greece, but I do not feel like incurring the casualties. I also start to move AH corps to the border with Albania, in anticipation of Italy joining the Entente. I deploy other AH reinforcements along the Italian frontier.
In eastern Anatolia, Old Crow has out-manoeuvred me on the town of Eleskirt and the corps there is in zero supply. There is nothing I can do in this situation. I send a garrison unit to Medina, so it can move to Ha'il in the interior of Arabia and be prepared to defend this outpost against the Arab Revolt early next year.
In the Baltic, I assess the situation: he has two Russian subs at large and two dreadnoughts, at least one of which is sitting protected in port. After he inflicted some damage on my destroyers last turn, I decide to exercise some discretion and pulled my task force back parallel to Stockholm, beyond the strike range of his dreadnoughts in port. I send the damaged destroyers back for repair and move a second sub into the Baltic to harass any Russian surface ships outside of port.
In the Atlantic, I begin carefully moving subs that have finished raiding and have hit 5 supply or below towards a run up the English Channel, to the conveniently located port of Boulogne.
Germany invests in one chit on Production tech (for 3) and two chits on Fighter tech (for 3). I also place my final diplomacy chit on Denmark (for 5). Austria-Hungary buys a new HQ for the Italian frontier and sacks General Potiorek (rating 4) for General Kovess (rating 6). I decide to make a long-term investment for the Ottomans and spend all my MPPs on two chits on Command and Control. Given the terrain over much of the Empire, Ottoman HQs really need a command range of 6, and their generals could use a rating boost as well.
At the end of the turn, Denmark swings another 9% towards the CP (reaching 15%). Germany reaches level 2 in artillery weapons (the max). Austria-Hungary reaches level 1 in Infantry Weapons. Overall, a very successful turn.
I had been planning to wait till my second heavy artillery unit deployed on the Western Front until I attacked Verdun. But after reaching Level 1 in Gas/Shell tech last turn, I know have the shells between my one heavy artillery and my field artillery unit in this sector and the fact that I have started upgrading corps with Infantry Weapons 1 gives me a strong incentive to act now. I fire eight shells at the first (original) major fortress of Verdun de-entrenching it; after that it was easy to kill in just three attacks. I move reinforcement corps into Belgium, upgrade more units, deploy a newly arrived second fighter squadron and my already-upgraded second heavy artillery unit. I also bring Prince Albrecht's HQ (rating 6, 1.2 experience) back from Galicia to help hold front line units in northern France, while Von Kluck commands the assaults on Verdun. Barring a major counter-attack by Old Crow next turn, I will take the second fortress of Verdun next turn, which should inflict a significant hit on French national morale.
On the Eastern Front, Russia retreated last turn, so I simply moved up units to the new line east of Warsaw and finished upgrading German units in this sector.
In the Balkans, I do the same. I could attack without artillery his weakly entrenched corps in northern Greece, but I do not feel like incurring the casualties. I also start to move AH corps to the border with Albania, in anticipation of Italy joining the Entente. I deploy other AH reinforcements along the Italian frontier.
In eastern Anatolia, Old Crow has out-manoeuvred me on the town of Eleskirt and the corps there is in zero supply. There is nothing I can do in this situation. I send a garrison unit to Medina, so it can move to Ha'il in the interior of Arabia and be prepared to defend this outpost against the Arab Revolt early next year.
In the Baltic, I assess the situation: he has two Russian subs at large and two dreadnoughts, at least one of which is sitting protected in port. After he inflicted some damage on my destroyers last turn, I decide to exercise some discretion and pulled my task force back parallel to Stockholm, beyond the strike range of his dreadnoughts in port. I send the damaged destroyers back for repair and move a second sub into the Baltic to harass any Russian surface ships outside of port.
In the Atlantic, I begin carefully moving subs that have finished raiding and have hit 5 supply or below towards a run up the English Channel, to the conveniently located port of Boulogne.
Germany invests in one chit on Production tech (for 3) and two chits on Fighter tech (for 3). I also place my final diplomacy chit on Denmark (for 5). Austria-Hungary buys a new HQ for the Italian frontier and sacks General Potiorek (rating 4) for General Kovess (rating 6). I decide to make a long-term investment for the Ottomans and spend all my MPPs on two chits on Command and Control. Given the terrain over much of the Empire, Ottoman HQs really need a command range of 6, and their generals could use a rating boost as well.
At the end of the turn, Denmark swings another 9% towards the CP (reaching 15%). Germany reaches level 2 in artillery weapons (the max). Austria-Hungary reaches level 1 in Infantry Weapons. Overall, a very successful turn.
Re: 1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
November 6, 1915
Things continue to roll out smoothly for the Central Powers. The weather is good on the Western front. So, after some careful reconnaissance by my airships and recon bomber - which revealed no French artillery in range of Verdun - I execute my attack on the second fortress of Verdun and take it easily. I find that it is worth putting artillery under command of a general - it seems to increase the odds of scoring a few strength point hits in addition to de-entrenching. After knocking off 3 points with artillery, I kill the defending French corps with only two attacks. The fact that the defending unit had a supply level of only 5 probably helped. As major fortresses, the two fortresses of Verdun start at supply of 12, but this erodes over time if the enemy is able to have units adjacent to them and Old Crow seems not to have focussed on this in placing his generals.
This leaves the Germans with an almost straight line from the English channel through Nancy, and I expect the French will withdraw next turn from their last hex next to Sedan. I am surprised not to see either French or British heavy artillery in France - perhaps they are out of my spotting range, or they will arrive in the production queue shortly. When they do, they will give Old Crow some counter-attack capacity which he has been missing for much of 1915.
In the east, I take out one Russian corps east of Warsaw and an adjacent detachment, the latter without using artillery (since they are out of range). I make good use of my elite German cavalry to mop up 1 strength-point units left after each attack. From my airship spotting, I can see he has a defense in depth behind his line here. But as long as I can continue to build experience for my two generals (Mackensen and Hindenburg, both rating 8) that is fine. I clearly have a significant lead in infantry weapons upgrading on this front. At the end of the turn, all of my German corps on this front have been upgraded and the Austro-Hungarians begin to upgrade their corps that are not in contact with the enemy.
I leave the Salonika/Albania front alone this turn and concentrate resources elsewhere.
With the Ottomans, in eastern Anatolia, I position an elite unit in a trench line behind Erzurum. Russia may wait a turn to reinforce before attacking and weather might delay him a bit, given that it is November. In Mesopotamia, I notice that the UK units have a supply strength of 7. The only way of achieving that is with an HQ - which tells me he has removed General Hamilton from Egypt. I also suspect that he has or will be sending the Indian field artillery unit from Egypt to this front. Given that the Ottomans are about to reach trench warfare 3, and one of his front line units is on marshes, I decide to keep a corps entrenched in front of Basra for this turn. But I may have to start retreating here. Mesopotamia is too far for a new Ottoman HQ to reach - it will be faster to wait for the DE in this mod which fires in May 1916 allowing me to build a HQ on Baghdad, provided there are not Entente units within 3 hexes and that I control Kut-al-Amara. As a precaution, I decide to march one corps across the Syrian desert from Jerusalem towards Baghdad, as I am not expecting a fight in Gaza.
In terms of naval moves, I use the Ottoman destroyer to remove the mine that was placed in front of the entrance to the Dardanelles, and a place an Ottoman mine in such a way as to make it impossible for the Entente to lay a new mine there (there can be defensive as well as offensive mine-fields in this game). I send the AH sub that was attacked last turn to port in Beirut. In the Baltic, I simply do a little scouting of his forward positions with my seaplane tender. In the Atlantic, I start moving my subs home in the direction of the English Channel.
At the end of the turn, Germany invests a new chit on Gas/Shell tech and decides to buy a new sub, given that the winter turns are good time to make such long lead-time purchases. Austria-Hungary invests new chits on Infantry Weapons and Industrial Tech and uses the rest of its resources to upgrade corps. The Ottomans buy a new corps. At the end of the turn, the Ottomans reach level 1 in Infantry Weapons and level 3 in Trench Warfare - both of which will be very useful.
Things continue to roll out smoothly for the Central Powers. The weather is good on the Western front. So, after some careful reconnaissance by my airships and recon bomber - which revealed no French artillery in range of Verdun - I execute my attack on the second fortress of Verdun and take it easily. I find that it is worth putting artillery under command of a general - it seems to increase the odds of scoring a few strength point hits in addition to de-entrenching. After knocking off 3 points with artillery, I kill the defending French corps with only two attacks. The fact that the defending unit had a supply level of only 5 probably helped. As major fortresses, the two fortresses of Verdun start at supply of 12, but this erodes over time if the enemy is able to have units adjacent to them and Old Crow seems not to have focussed on this in placing his generals.
This leaves the Germans with an almost straight line from the English channel through Nancy, and I expect the French will withdraw next turn from their last hex next to Sedan. I am surprised not to see either French or British heavy artillery in France - perhaps they are out of my spotting range, or they will arrive in the production queue shortly. When they do, they will give Old Crow some counter-attack capacity which he has been missing for much of 1915.
In the east, I take out one Russian corps east of Warsaw and an adjacent detachment, the latter without using artillery (since they are out of range). I make good use of my elite German cavalry to mop up 1 strength-point units left after each attack. From my airship spotting, I can see he has a defense in depth behind his line here. But as long as I can continue to build experience for my two generals (Mackensen and Hindenburg, both rating 8) that is fine. I clearly have a significant lead in infantry weapons upgrading on this front. At the end of the turn, all of my German corps on this front have been upgraded and the Austro-Hungarians begin to upgrade their corps that are not in contact with the enemy.
I leave the Salonika/Albania front alone this turn and concentrate resources elsewhere.
With the Ottomans, in eastern Anatolia, I position an elite unit in a trench line behind Erzurum. Russia may wait a turn to reinforce before attacking and weather might delay him a bit, given that it is November. In Mesopotamia, I notice that the UK units have a supply strength of 7. The only way of achieving that is with an HQ - which tells me he has removed General Hamilton from Egypt. I also suspect that he has or will be sending the Indian field artillery unit from Egypt to this front. Given that the Ottomans are about to reach trench warfare 3, and one of his front line units is on marshes, I decide to keep a corps entrenched in front of Basra for this turn. But I may have to start retreating here. Mesopotamia is too far for a new Ottoman HQ to reach - it will be faster to wait for the DE in this mod which fires in May 1916 allowing me to build a HQ on Baghdad, provided there are not Entente units within 3 hexes and that I control Kut-al-Amara. As a precaution, I decide to march one corps across the Syrian desert from Jerusalem towards Baghdad, as I am not expecting a fight in Gaza.
In terms of naval moves, I use the Ottoman destroyer to remove the mine that was placed in front of the entrance to the Dardanelles, and a place an Ottoman mine in such a way as to make it impossible for the Entente to lay a new mine there (there can be defensive as well as offensive mine-fields in this game). I send the AH sub that was attacked last turn to port in Beirut. In the Baltic, I simply do a little scouting of his forward positions with my seaplane tender. In the Atlantic, I start moving my subs home in the direction of the English Channel.
At the end of the turn, Germany invests a new chit on Gas/Shell tech and decides to buy a new sub, given that the winter turns are good time to make such long lead-time purchases. Austria-Hungary invests new chits on Infantry Weapons and Industrial Tech and uses the rest of its resources to upgrade corps. The Ottomans buy a new corps. At the end of the turn, the Ottomans reach level 1 in Infantry Weapons and level 3 in Trench Warfare - both of which will be very useful.
Re: 1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
December 4, 1915
I think the German High Command will be breaking out the schnapps early for Christmas this year. As we end 1915, the Central Powers are in a strong position. The Germans have captured the two high value national morale objectives on each front - Verdun in the West and Warsaw in the East. Germany is reaping the benefits of tech investments at close to the maximum all year, as it has a clear lead on all the major techs over its Entente opponents. Germany has not lost a corps in combat for months and its entire submarine fleet is intact. Austria-Hungary stabilized the Eastern Front some months ago and has been able to make all the necessary investments in improving its generals and getting ready for Italy to enter the war. Their best general - Pflanzer-Baltin now has a rating of 6 and over 2 points of experience. Serbia has surrendered and the Austro-Hungarians and Bulgarians have the upper hand in the Balkans. The Ottomans are holding their own and have been able to invest as well in the key techs for them. The national morale standings for both sides are revealing - Germany sits at 121%; the Ottomans at 87%; and Austria-Hungary at 79% (with an NM bump to come when Italy enters the war). Meanwhile, the UK is at 83%, Russia at 81% and France at only 55%.
All that said, the Entente powers will close the tech gap shortly - all three of them have reached Infantry Weapons 1 and have been upgrading their units. British, French and Russian heavy artillery will soon make their appearance. Italy will - finally - enter the war before winter ends. In April 1916, the UK will have the option to tighten the naval blockade against Germany which will put greater long-term pressure on German national morale. 1916 should be a year of intense combat and mounting losses on all sides.
My main strategic decision is where to concentrate my offensives next year. I think for Germany, contrary to the normal tactic of taking our Russia first, I should press home my advantages vis-a-vis France and keep pushing there, driving down their national morale. Austria-Hungary will seize Albania from the Italians as a first order of business. After that, I think they will continue to attack Italy using their two heavy artillery units, rather than switching attention to Russia. In part, this is because they can win NM points by capturing objectives in Italy (whereas they won't gain points for recapturing Lemberg). More importantly, once Italy starts taking losses which it can't replace every turn, it will put more pressure on France or the UK to prop it up, which will reduce the resources for counter-attacking on the Western Front.
The Western Front this turn was frozen, so I use the opportunity to upgrade all of my artillery to Artillery Weapons 2, and I occupy the hex beside Verdun which the French have abandoned. In Poland, the Russians retreated to form a straight line, so I advance, upgrade by artillery and continue to upgrade rear area corps. The Austro-Hungarians upgrade to Infantry Weapons 1 all of their units not on the front line. The Ottomans, which just reached Infantry Weapons 1, do the same thing.
My one attack is in the Balkans, where I decide to attack a free Serbian corps sitting in low supply in the mountains, just south of Bitola. It is in a strong defensive position behind a river line, but fortunately for me, it retreats after two attacks and I can move into the hex, giving me even more front to advance against Albania.
In naval moves, I manage to bring back a damaged and low supply sub to the safe harbour of Boulogne. I try a few attacks against a Russian sub raiding the convoy lines from Sweden, to limited effect. I decide to send out two newly upgraded subs into the North Sea, so they can gain more experience by raiding convoy lines.
At the end of the turn, Germany decides to invest three chits in Aerial Warfare - largely so that I can build another airship and a ground attack bomber when I reach level 2 (they are at level 1 now). I also repair destroyers and one sub that are in port. The Germans invest one more chit on diplomacy towards Denmark - to no further effect. Austria-Hungary buys its last mountain division. The Ottomans invest one chit in Infantry Weapons so they can start working to reach level 2; and they buy an airship which can be very useful for reconnaissance on any front.
I think the German High Command will be breaking out the schnapps early for Christmas this year. As we end 1915, the Central Powers are in a strong position. The Germans have captured the two high value national morale objectives on each front - Verdun in the West and Warsaw in the East. Germany is reaping the benefits of tech investments at close to the maximum all year, as it has a clear lead on all the major techs over its Entente opponents. Germany has not lost a corps in combat for months and its entire submarine fleet is intact. Austria-Hungary stabilized the Eastern Front some months ago and has been able to make all the necessary investments in improving its generals and getting ready for Italy to enter the war. Their best general - Pflanzer-Baltin now has a rating of 6 and over 2 points of experience. Serbia has surrendered and the Austro-Hungarians and Bulgarians have the upper hand in the Balkans. The Ottomans are holding their own and have been able to invest as well in the key techs for them. The national morale standings for both sides are revealing - Germany sits at 121%; the Ottomans at 87%; and Austria-Hungary at 79% (with an NM bump to come when Italy enters the war). Meanwhile, the UK is at 83%, Russia at 81% and France at only 55%.
All that said, the Entente powers will close the tech gap shortly - all three of them have reached Infantry Weapons 1 and have been upgrading their units. British, French and Russian heavy artillery will soon make their appearance. Italy will - finally - enter the war before winter ends. In April 1916, the UK will have the option to tighten the naval blockade against Germany which will put greater long-term pressure on German national morale. 1916 should be a year of intense combat and mounting losses on all sides.
My main strategic decision is where to concentrate my offensives next year. I think for Germany, contrary to the normal tactic of taking our Russia first, I should press home my advantages vis-a-vis France and keep pushing there, driving down their national morale. Austria-Hungary will seize Albania from the Italians as a first order of business. After that, I think they will continue to attack Italy using their two heavy artillery units, rather than switching attention to Russia. In part, this is because they can win NM points by capturing objectives in Italy (whereas they won't gain points for recapturing Lemberg). More importantly, once Italy starts taking losses which it can't replace every turn, it will put more pressure on France or the UK to prop it up, which will reduce the resources for counter-attacking on the Western Front.
The Western Front this turn was frozen, so I use the opportunity to upgrade all of my artillery to Artillery Weapons 2, and I occupy the hex beside Verdun which the French have abandoned. In Poland, the Russians retreated to form a straight line, so I advance, upgrade by artillery and continue to upgrade rear area corps. The Austro-Hungarians upgrade to Infantry Weapons 1 all of their units not on the front line. The Ottomans, which just reached Infantry Weapons 1, do the same thing.
My one attack is in the Balkans, where I decide to attack a free Serbian corps sitting in low supply in the mountains, just south of Bitola. It is in a strong defensive position behind a river line, but fortunately for me, it retreats after two attacks and I can move into the hex, giving me even more front to advance against Albania.
In naval moves, I manage to bring back a damaged and low supply sub to the safe harbour of Boulogne. I try a few attacks against a Russian sub raiding the convoy lines from Sweden, to limited effect. I decide to send out two newly upgraded subs into the North Sea, so they can gain more experience by raiding convoy lines.
At the end of the turn, Germany decides to invest three chits in Aerial Warfare - largely so that I can build another airship and a ground attack bomber when I reach level 2 (they are at level 1 now). I also repair destroyers and one sub that are in port. The Germans invest one more chit on diplomacy towards Denmark - to no further effect. Austria-Hungary buys its last mountain division. The Ottomans invest one chit in Infantry Weapons so they can start working to reach level 2; and they buy an airship which can be very useful for reconnaissance on any front.
Re: 1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
January 1, 1916
The new year starts with Italy having reached 99% mobilization - about one turn faster than I expected. I still can't see more than one hex into Italy, but I conclude that Old Crow is not trying to mount a significant defence in Albania. So, I decide to send my elite general, Pflanzer-Baltin, to the Trieste front to command an offensive there and leave my second general, Kovess to manage operations in Albania. It is unlikely that there will be an Italian commander in Albania to add his command rating to his units there. I also send by rail a corps from Serbia to the Trieste front, and I deploy a newly arrived mountain division and the first AH heavy artillery unit there. I could have used more resources to upgrade more AH units, especially around Trento. The only AH move in the Carpathians was to swap two corps out of the line so they could upgrade next turn.
Germany considered taking advantage of snow/mud on the Western Front to attack the French in the Vosges mountain hex at the far south-west end of their front. But moving into a mountain hex takes four movement points, and I don't have the front-line corps to spare from an attack to do that, so I reinforce this sector and deploy Germany's fourth heavy artillery unit here. Depending on the weather, I may attack next turn or the turn after.
The Ottomans send a detachment by rail to Medina to help defend against the Arab revolt which may start next turn. I move up an upgraded corps to the front at Basra and move back the front-line corps to Amara where it can upgrade next turn. In the Caucasus, I move units where possible into resource hexes to avoid winter attrition effects.
In naval moves, Germany sends newly repaired destroyers to attack a Russian sub which was harrying my fleet. Fortunately, it never dives and I manage to sink it. Germany send three newly upgraded subs further into the North Sea so they can cross the northern blockade line next turn in silent mode.
At the end of the turn, Germany buys a field artillery unit, taking advantage of the extra build capacity that comes with level 1 in Gas/Shell tech. The rest of its MPPs are spent on elite reinforcements, as it essential to preserve Germany's experience advantage to sustain an offensive. A new sub arrives in the Baltic through a decision event. Austria-Hungary buys a new corps, which it will need to fight effectively in Italy. The Ottomans buy a cavalry division which should be useful in responding to the Arab Revolt. At the end of the turn, Austria-Hungary gets a 20% breakthrough in Gas/Shell tech - which will be very helpful.
The new year starts with Italy having reached 99% mobilization - about one turn faster than I expected. I still can't see more than one hex into Italy, but I conclude that Old Crow is not trying to mount a significant defence in Albania. So, I decide to send my elite general, Pflanzer-Baltin, to the Trieste front to command an offensive there and leave my second general, Kovess to manage operations in Albania. It is unlikely that there will be an Italian commander in Albania to add his command rating to his units there. I also send by rail a corps from Serbia to the Trieste front, and I deploy a newly arrived mountain division and the first AH heavy artillery unit there. I could have used more resources to upgrade more AH units, especially around Trento. The only AH move in the Carpathians was to swap two corps out of the line so they could upgrade next turn.
Germany considered taking advantage of snow/mud on the Western Front to attack the French in the Vosges mountain hex at the far south-west end of their front. But moving into a mountain hex takes four movement points, and I don't have the front-line corps to spare from an attack to do that, so I reinforce this sector and deploy Germany's fourth heavy artillery unit here. Depending on the weather, I may attack next turn or the turn after.
The Ottomans send a detachment by rail to Medina to help defend against the Arab revolt which may start next turn. I move up an upgraded corps to the front at Basra and move back the front-line corps to Amara where it can upgrade next turn. In the Caucasus, I move units where possible into resource hexes to avoid winter attrition effects.
In naval moves, Germany sends newly repaired destroyers to attack a Russian sub which was harrying my fleet. Fortunately, it never dives and I manage to sink it. Germany send three newly upgraded subs further into the North Sea so they can cross the northern blockade line next turn in silent mode.
At the end of the turn, Germany buys a field artillery unit, taking advantage of the extra build capacity that comes with level 1 in Gas/Shell tech. The rest of its MPPs are spent on elite reinforcements, as it essential to preserve Germany's experience advantage to sustain an offensive. A new sub arrives in the Baltic through a decision event. Austria-Hungary buys a new corps, which it will need to fight effectively in Italy. The Ottomans buy a cavalry division which should be useful in responding to the Arab Revolt. At the end of the turn, Austria-Hungary gets a 20% breakthrough in Gas/Shell tech - which will be very helpful.
Re: 1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
February 26, 1916
I was fortunate that there was mud/snow on both the Western and Eastern fronts this turn, so I was able to attack in both places. In the West, I executed the attack that I set up last turn on French corps defending the Vosges mountain hex between the fortress of Belfort and the fortified town of Épinal. Using two heavy artillery batteries, I take it easily and was able to move in an experienced corps to defend it. A recon flight by my airship indicated no French artillery in place to retake this hex. I reinforce this sector with three elite German corps behind the line, and with three heavy artillery units in range, I should be able to press forward here and eventually widen and break the French line.
In the East, I carry out a more modest attack on a Russian detachment south of the Masurian lakes. This was intended to give get behind the Russian corps that is occupying the German field fortifications there and to force it to retreat eventually. Even though I have only one heavy artillery and one field artillery in the East at the moment, the experience of my generals and Germany's overall high national morale - 120% - means that they are still able to go on the attack, at least for now.
Austria-Hungary brought in its second heavy artillery unit, a new mountain division, and a new general on the Italian front and they occupied the empty mountain hex north of Udine. If the weather co-operates, I should be able to start an offensive on this front next turn.
In the Balkans, three AH corps, a field artillery unit and a cavalry corps move into Albania and destroy the half-strength Albanian detachment which mobilized last turn. While I would like to wrap up this attack as soon as possible to shift these units to deal with Italy or Russia, it will probably take more turns to capture Tirana.
The Ottomans continued to spend their funds upgrading units after reaching Infantry Weapons One two turns ago. They also finally are able to fund the Senussi uprising in Libya against Italy and two partisan units form. The Arab Revolt began this turn with the desert south and east of Medina becoming Entente territory. More Arab partisans will follow soon. I deploy a detachment to Yanbu to prevent the Arabs from capturing it and bringing in Lawrence there.
It was quiet in the naval war - three German subs crossed the northern blockade line on silent mode and will be able to cross the distant blockade line next turn, en route to raiding the British convoys from the USA and Canada. My last submarine that had been raiding the convoy from India moves into position in the English Channel to rush to Boulogne next turn.
At the end of the turn, Germany buys two new corps and spends 80 MPPs on Spying and Intelligence. This is largely so that I can reach level 2 quickly in that tech and can then use the research space for some new technologies. Austria-Hungary invests one chit in Artillery Weapons, upgrades more units and saves 50 MPPs to spend next turn, probably on a new corps. The Ottomans spend all of their MPPs upgrading corps and detachments to Infantry Weapons 1. At the end of the turn, the German Foreign Minister reports a 6% swing for Denmark towards the CP, bringing it to 21%. I need 30% in order for Denmark to open its passes to the German navy and to allow it to re-supply in Iceland - so that goal is getting closer.
I was fortunate that there was mud/snow on both the Western and Eastern fronts this turn, so I was able to attack in both places. In the West, I executed the attack that I set up last turn on French corps defending the Vosges mountain hex between the fortress of Belfort and the fortified town of Épinal. Using two heavy artillery batteries, I take it easily and was able to move in an experienced corps to defend it. A recon flight by my airship indicated no French artillery in place to retake this hex. I reinforce this sector with three elite German corps behind the line, and with three heavy artillery units in range, I should be able to press forward here and eventually widen and break the French line.
In the East, I carry out a more modest attack on a Russian detachment south of the Masurian lakes. This was intended to give get behind the Russian corps that is occupying the German field fortifications there and to force it to retreat eventually. Even though I have only one heavy artillery and one field artillery in the East at the moment, the experience of my generals and Germany's overall high national morale - 120% - means that they are still able to go on the attack, at least for now.
Austria-Hungary brought in its second heavy artillery unit, a new mountain division, and a new general on the Italian front and they occupied the empty mountain hex north of Udine. If the weather co-operates, I should be able to start an offensive on this front next turn.
In the Balkans, three AH corps, a field artillery unit and a cavalry corps move into Albania and destroy the half-strength Albanian detachment which mobilized last turn. While I would like to wrap up this attack as soon as possible to shift these units to deal with Italy or Russia, it will probably take more turns to capture Tirana.
The Ottomans continued to spend their funds upgrading units after reaching Infantry Weapons One two turns ago. They also finally are able to fund the Senussi uprising in Libya against Italy and two partisan units form. The Arab Revolt began this turn with the desert south and east of Medina becoming Entente territory. More Arab partisans will follow soon. I deploy a detachment to Yanbu to prevent the Arabs from capturing it and bringing in Lawrence there.
It was quiet in the naval war - three German subs crossed the northern blockade line on silent mode and will be able to cross the distant blockade line next turn, en route to raiding the British convoys from the USA and Canada. My last submarine that had been raiding the convoy from India moves into position in the English Channel to rush to Boulogne next turn.
At the end of the turn, Germany buys two new corps and spends 80 MPPs on Spying and Intelligence. This is largely so that I can reach level 2 quickly in that tech and can then use the research space for some new technologies. Austria-Hungary invests one chit in Artillery Weapons, upgrades more units and saves 50 MPPs to spend next turn, probably on a new corps. The Ottomans spend all of their MPPs upgrading corps and detachments to Infantry Weapons 1. At the end of the turn, the German Foreign Minister reports a 6% swing for Denmark towards the CP, bringing it to 21%. I need 30% in order for Denmark to open its passes to the German navy and to allow it to re-supply in Iceland - so that goal is getting closer.
Re: 1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
April 8th, 1916
It's spring time and the Central Powers are advancing on all fronts. In the Balkans, Old Crow wisely decided to retreat his Italian corps rather than try to defend Tirana. I destroy the remaining Italian detachment there with one attack and take Tirana with an AH corps. At this point, I think I can turn over holding the frontier with Greece against the surviving Serbian corps to the Bulgarians. My AH general, artillery unit and four corps in this theatre can be used to better strategic effect elsewhere. So, I decide to send General Kovess to Galicia to begin preparing for an offensive east of Krakow.
On the Italian front, I launch my first attack in the sector and readily destroy the Italian corps defending Udine. Using AH corps upgraded with infantry weapons and a General Pflanzer-Baltin (XP 2.3) really helps. I bring in a new upgraded corps and mountain division near Klagenfurt. I believe I now have enough units here to attack the Italians almost every turn. In my experience, given their restricted economy, if they lose a corps a turn, they effectively have no MPPs to invest in anything else. I also move two detachments from Italy - where they are no longer needed - to the quiet sector in the southern Carpathians, so they can replace corps that have been holding my line there for almost a year since Old Crow's winter offensive of 1914-15.
On the Eastern front, I kill a Russian corps defending the town of Seydlitz east of Warsaw and move up my line to fill in the gap he has left. I use detachments to cover parts of the line near Gumbinnen where I do not expect any attacks, due to the swamps. I withdraw another elite corps from East Prussia, where it is not needed and send it to the Western front, replacing it with a new corps. I deploy a newly arrived German field artillery unit near this sector, so it can move to the Eastern front next turn.
On the Western Front, I execute my planned attack on the fortified town of Épinal and take it. For the first time, I encounter some defensive fire from a French heavy artillery unit. The tricky part of this move is deciding what to move into Épinal, given that he is likely to counter-attack here next turn. I decide to move in a full strength corps that had been sitting on the Vosges, and I place it under command of Von Kluck (XP 3.0), plus set a nearby heavy artillery unit to defensive fire. He could well retake Épinal next turn, but it will come at a heavy cost, and I am well positioned to take it back after that. I also move a lower ranked German HQ to Mulhausen to give me better supply at this southern end of my front. Finally, I upgrade my German fighters to level 1, and I bring in a newly built third fighter. This should give me a definite edge in the air war of attrition to come.
The Ottomans move up the two mountain divisions that have been waiting outside the Caucasus weather zone, so they can support my defense in eastern Anatolia. I expect an attack on Erzurum next turn. In Arabia, I force march a detachment next to Weij on the Red Sea to prevent the Arabs from spawning there and then bringing in Lawrence. I deploy the newly arrived Ottoman airship on the eastern side of the Aegean, so it can scout Entente ships in this area, and/or do reconnaissance behind his lines in Greece.
In naval moves, in the Baltic, my subs search for Russian dreadnoughts at sea and do not find them. Three German subs move into the North Atlantic beyond the distant blockade line so they can start raiding UK convoys next turn. I keep four subs back in Germany as I am about three turns away from reaching Advanced Subs level 2.
Germany invests a chit in Fighter tech to maintain a maximum invested. I decide to buy a relatively expensive Bulgarian field artillery unit, which I could use on the Western Front, or to support the AH campaign against Italy. Austria-Hungary invests in a second chit on Command and Control. I consider investing in a new tech for them but decide to use their remaining MPPs this turn to buy a maritime bomber. This is a fairly frivolous acquisition, as the bomber only has an attack strength of 1 against enemy ships and subs. But once I place it in Albania, it can range over the Ionian Sea and may serve some deterrent effect. It can also raid the Italian convoy from Libya and build up experience. The Ottomans decide to invest one chit in Artillery Weapons, with an eye to start building their own artillery unit.
No further diplomatic breakthroughs this turn, but both the Austro-Hungarians and the Ottomans get a bonus in infantry weapons. The Ottomans reach level 1 in Command and Control, which is very welcome.
It's spring time and the Central Powers are advancing on all fronts. In the Balkans, Old Crow wisely decided to retreat his Italian corps rather than try to defend Tirana. I destroy the remaining Italian detachment there with one attack and take Tirana with an AH corps. At this point, I think I can turn over holding the frontier with Greece against the surviving Serbian corps to the Bulgarians. My AH general, artillery unit and four corps in this theatre can be used to better strategic effect elsewhere. So, I decide to send General Kovess to Galicia to begin preparing for an offensive east of Krakow.
On the Italian front, I launch my first attack in the sector and readily destroy the Italian corps defending Udine. Using AH corps upgraded with infantry weapons and a General Pflanzer-Baltin (XP 2.3) really helps. I bring in a new upgraded corps and mountain division near Klagenfurt. I believe I now have enough units here to attack the Italians almost every turn. In my experience, given their restricted economy, if they lose a corps a turn, they effectively have no MPPs to invest in anything else. I also move two detachments from Italy - where they are no longer needed - to the quiet sector in the southern Carpathians, so they can replace corps that have been holding my line there for almost a year since Old Crow's winter offensive of 1914-15.
On the Eastern front, I kill a Russian corps defending the town of Seydlitz east of Warsaw and move up my line to fill in the gap he has left. I use detachments to cover parts of the line near Gumbinnen where I do not expect any attacks, due to the swamps. I withdraw another elite corps from East Prussia, where it is not needed and send it to the Western front, replacing it with a new corps. I deploy a newly arrived German field artillery unit near this sector, so it can move to the Eastern front next turn.
On the Western Front, I execute my planned attack on the fortified town of Épinal and take it. For the first time, I encounter some defensive fire from a French heavy artillery unit. The tricky part of this move is deciding what to move into Épinal, given that he is likely to counter-attack here next turn. I decide to move in a full strength corps that had been sitting on the Vosges, and I place it under command of Von Kluck (XP 3.0), plus set a nearby heavy artillery unit to defensive fire. He could well retake Épinal next turn, but it will come at a heavy cost, and I am well positioned to take it back after that. I also move a lower ranked German HQ to Mulhausen to give me better supply at this southern end of my front. Finally, I upgrade my German fighters to level 1, and I bring in a newly built third fighter. This should give me a definite edge in the air war of attrition to come.
The Ottomans move up the two mountain divisions that have been waiting outside the Caucasus weather zone, so they can support my defense in eastern Anatolia. I expect an attack on Erzurum next turn. In Arabia, I force march a detachment next to Weij on the Red Sea to prevent the Arabs from spawning there and then bringing in Lawrence. I deploy the newly arrived Ottoman airship on the eastern side of the Aegean, so it can scout Entente ships in this area, and/or do reconnaissance behind his lines in Greece.
In naval moves, in the Baltic, my subs search for Russian dreadnoughts at sea and do not find them. Three German subs move into the North Atlantic beyond the distant blockade line so they can start raiding UK convoys next turn. I keep four subs back in Germany as I am about three turns away from reaching Advanced Subs level 2.
Germany invests a chit in Fighter tech to maintain a maximum invested. I decide to buy a relatively expensive Bulgarian field artillery unit, which I could use on the Western Front, or to support the AH campaign against Italy. Austria-Hungary invests in a second chit on Command and Control. I consider investing in a new tech for them but decide to use their remaining MPPs this turn to buy a maritime bomber. This is a fairly frivolous acquisition, as the bomber only has an attack strength of 1 against enemy ships and subs. But once I place it in Albania, it can range over the Ionian Sea and may serve some deterrent effect. It can also raid the Italian convoy from Libya and build up experience. The Ottomans decide to invest one chit in Artillery Weapons, with an eye to start building their own artillery unit.
No further diplomatic breakthroughs this turn, but both the Austro-Hungarians and the Ottomans get a bonus in infantry weapons. The Ottomans reach level 1 in Command and Control, which is very welcome.
Re: 1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
May 6th, 1916
The corps that moved into Épinal last turn fended off the expected French counter-attack, no doubt because I placed it under Von Kluck's command and set one heavy artillery unit to defensive fire. I consider attacking two French corps to the west of Épinal but decide that it would be more prudent to attack only one. I move units into position to take out the fortress of Belfort next turn, including bringing up a field artillery unit from the Lille area. This means the Germans now have five artillery units concentrated on the French lines in Alsace-Lorraine and reserves in depth of corps. Once Belfort falls, and the Germany army can push into clear terrain beyond it, the French line should start to unravel.
In Italy, the Austro-Hungarians destroy another Italian corps in the Alps and move up newly arrived mountain divisions and an experienced corps from the Balkans. They also bring in the field artillery unit from Albania. I also transfer their air ship from the Eastern front - where it did not seem to be needed - to the Italian Front. At some point the French or British will be needed to reinforce the Italians, and I would like to be ablet to see that with an airship.
On the Eastern Front, the Germans push forward and kill one Russian corps. They bring up a newly arrived field artillery unit. They are now in a position to attack the Russian fortress at Ivangorod next turn.
In the Balkans and southern Carpathians, the Austro-Hungarians relief corps from front-line duty in order to upgrade them and enable them to move to Italy or northern Galicia. I send the Ottoman airship to Salonika so I can see behind Greek/Sebrian lines in northern Greece.
The Ottomans decide not to place another corps in Erzurum after last turn's attack, as it would only get mauled either next turn or the turn after by the Russian mountain divisions and artillery. Instead, place two newly arrived mountain divisions next to Erzurum where they will get the benefit of sitting on mountain hexes, while any Russian mountain division on Erzurum will not.
A Decision Event at the beginning of the turn allows the Ottomans to buy a new HQ in Baghdad. The corps walking over from Jerusalem reached Baghdad and I force march a reinforcement corps from Antep towards Mosul.
In Arabia, the two Arab partisans that have spawned there are already suppressing supply in Medina and in Tayma, cutting off Medina from reinforcements by rail. But I was able to upgrade the corps on Medina and send two upgraded detachments to Arabia before this happened. Further reinforcements will have to be send by rail to Tabuk and then walk south to help relieve the expected Arab siege of Medina.
At the end of the turn, Germany buys a recon bomber, a Bulgarian corps and one diplomatic chit in Denmark. The Austro-Hungarians invest a chit in Industrial Tech and upgrade more units. They invest one chit in Mobility too, as a long-run plan (their tech maximums prevent them from being able to invest more in this tech). The Ottomans invest a chit into Industrial Tech and buy back the corps destroyed last turn. At the end of the turn, Germany reports a diplomatic breakthrough with Denmark which will take them over 30% mobilized for the Central Powers. This will trigger some new DEs with Denmark next turn for the Central Powers.
The corps that moved into Épinal last turn fended off the expected French counter-attack, no doubt because I placed it under Von Kluck's command and set one heavy artillery unit to defensive fire. I consider attacking two French corps to the west of Épinal but decide that it would be more prudent to attack only one. I move units into position to take out the fortress of Belfort next turn, including bringing up a field artillery unit from the Lille area. This means the Germans now have five artillery units concentrated on the French lines in Alsace-Lorraine and reserves in depth of corps. Once Belfort falls, and the Germany army can push into clear terrain beyond it, the French line should start to unravel.
In Italy, the Austro-Hungarians destroy another Italian corps in the Alps and move up newly arrived mountain divisions and an experienced corps from the Balkans. They also bring in the field artillery unit from Albania. I also transfer their air ship from the Eastern front - where it did not seem to be needed - to the Italian Front. At some point the French or British will be needed to reinforce the Italians, and I would like to be ablet to see that with an airship.
On the Eastern Front, the Germans push forward and kill one Russian corps. They bring up a newly arrived field artillery unit. They are now in a position to attack the Russian fortress at Ivangorod next turn.
In the Balkans and southern Carpathians, the Austro-Hungarians relief corps from front-line duty in order to upgrade them and enable them to move to Italy or northern Galicia. I send the Ottoman airship to Salonika so I can see behind Greek/Sebrian lines in northern Greece.
The Ottomans decide not to place another corps in Erzurum after last turn's attack, as it would only get mauled either next turn or the turn after by the Russian mountain divisions and artillery. Instead, place two newly arrived mountain divisions next to Erzurum where they will get the benefit of sitting on mountain hexes, while any Russian mountain division on Erzurum will not.
A Decision Event at the beginning of the turn allows the Ottomans to buy a new HQ in Baghdad. The corps walking over from Jerusalem reached Baghdad and I force march a reinforcement corps from Antep towards Mosul.
In Arabia, the two Arab partisans that have spawned there are already suppressing supply in Medina and in Tayma, cutting off Medina from reinforcements by rail. But I was able to upgrade the corps on Medina and send two upgraded detachments to Arabia before this happened. Further reinforcements will have to be send by rail to Tabuk and then walk south to help relieve the expected Arab siege of Medina.
At the end of the turn, Germany buys a recon bomber, a Bulgarian corps and one diplomatic chit in Denmark. The Austro-Hungarians invest a chit in Industrial Tech and upgrade more units. They invest one chit in Mobility too, as a long-run plan (their tech maximums prevent them from being able to invest more in this tech). The Ottomans invest a chit into Industrial Tech and buy back the corps destroyed last turn. At the end of the turn, Germany reports a diplomatic breakthrough with Denmark which will take them over 30% mobilized for the Central Powers. This will trigger some new DEs with Denmark next turn for the Central Powers.
Re: 1914 Icarus Version 7.0 campaign - Old Crow Balthazor vs mdsmall
June 3, 1916
At the beginning of the turn, Germany is notified that Denmark will now allow it to use a new naval loop from the Baltic to the Kattegat and back - giving it another avenue to reach the North Sea and retreat safely from Entente ships. This will be helpful for the submarine offensive that I plan to launch. Even more useful is that the port of Reykjavik is transferred to German control (at a cost of 50 MPPs). This will enable my subs to resupply at least to level 5 and partially rebuild and upgrade.
I also notice that Romania has swung about 6% to the Entente and checking the Reports, I see that Russia has put all 5 of its diplo chits on Romania. This is a bit of a desperation move on the part of Old Crow - as he often comments, bringing Romania into the war is a two-edged sword for the Entente, given the cost of bringing its army up to strength and its long borders. But still, it would be a pain for the CP to have to deal with them while there is a strong Entente force in northern Greece (which no doubt is why he decided to spend the chits). So, I counter that by having Austria-Hungary spend all 5 of its diplo chits on Romania - which frankly they can afford this turn.
We then had a complex series of naval actions in Gulf of Bothnia. Old Crow had sent forth his two Russian dreadnoughts to attack German destroyers looking for Russian subs in the Gulf. He heavily damaged one but then ran into a German sub, leaving the Gangut DN next to a sub at the start of my turn. I put 4 hits into the Gangut with the sub and then finish it off with a German dreadnought. The sub then ran into the second Russian DN, Imperatritsa Mariya. I send another German dreadnought to attack it and a battlecruiser to finish it off (though to my surprise, the Derfflinger BC lost 4 points to kill a 1 point DN). Then one of my destroyers heading south to fight a Russian sub hits a newly laid mine. I calculate that the mine-laying Russian destroyer must be nearby, and I find it with light cruisers. Despite a couple of retreats, I manage to sink it too. At this point, the Russian Baltic fleet has taken heavy losses, and only has one 9 strength sub and one 4 strength point sub. But with most of my DNs and BC having suffered some damage, I want to avoid more, so I screen these capital ships with subs, destroyers and light cruisers till I can retreat to port next turn in Germany for repairs.
As a bonus, in the Med last turn a French pre-dreadnought ran into a raiding German sub and was reduced from 7 to 2 strength. I finish it off with the sub and retreat to the safety of Aegean near Smyrna. In the Atlantic, I now have 3 upgraded German subs raiding the UK convoy lines from Canada and the USA, plus a fourth sub moving into striking range.
On the Western Front, the German army executes my planned attack against Belfort. It took 8 shells, but I had that between a heavy and newly deployed field artillery unit. I then kill the French corps facing Verdun. At this point, I can see two French heavy artillery and one field artillery behind his lines, and I suffer some defensive fire. But with a 3 XP general in command, and using experienced corps, my losses are minor. With the strong-point of Belfort taken, I now reckon I can kill two French corps a turn, every turn. The French will be able to replace those losses, barely, but their army will rapidly degrade in experience, and France's national morale will continue to fall. It is at 49% at the end of this turn, compared to over 120% for Germany.
In Italy, the Austro-Hungarians kill a third Italian corps, aided by some shore bombardment and a new field artillery unit. Although they do not have a lot of reserves, two of their mountain divisions have now been upgraded and deployed and with three artillery units on this front they should be able to sustain this offensive indefinitely.
On the Eastern Front, the Germans kill a Russian corps and capture the fortress of Ivangorod. Again, the extra field artillery unit I moved to this front last turn provided the necessary extra shells. The Germans rail the last elite German corps in the quiet sector in East Prussia to the Western Front and replace it with two newly arrived German corps. Given the weak Russian generals in this sector and his artillery tied up in the Caucasus, I am not expecting any threats here.
The Ottomans regroup after losing Erzurum last turn and retreat back to better supply. The transport and supply lines in eastern Anatolia are poor, but they will limit the Russian attack as well. My goal is simply to manage by retreats and try to minimize losses, while keeping his artillery busy here.
In Mesopotamia, the Ottomans received a new general - Khalil Pasha - through a DE last turn in Baghdad. This will help them defend against the arrival of a British force from India next turn, with an HQ, field artillery unit and another corps.
In Gaza, I notice a new British field artillery unit, so I anticipate an attack next turn. I operationally move my Ottoman airship behind Gaza, so I can do a reconnaissance of the British forces facing me here next turn.
In Arabia, I send a newly arrived cavalry division and General Liman von Sanders, who has been waiting in reserve near Constantinople down to protect the Hejaz railroad. With a general in the sector, the Ottomans can often hold their own against the Arab Revolt.
At the end of my move the Germans invest a chit in Advanced Subs (they do not have research room to do more), they upgrade all their existing subs in port to level 2, and they buy a destroyer and the Bulgarian recon bomber. I am at the point where I do not see the point of buying more German corps and am running out of useful things to purchase with German MPPs. I keep some MPPs in reserve for naval repairs in future turns. The Ottomans upgrade their one destroyer to full strength to deal with the newly appeared Russian sub that is disrupting shipping out of Zonguldak. The Central Powers have a bumper harvest of tech results. Germany reaches: Spying and Intelligence 2 (the max), Trench Warfare 4, Shock Infantry 2, and Production Tech 2. Austria-Hungary reaches Artillery Weapons 2 and the Ottomans Command and Control 1.
At the beginning of the turn, Germany is notified that Denmark will now allow it to use a new naval loop from the Baltic to the Kattegat and back - giving it another avenue to reach the North Sea and retreat safely from Entente ships. This will be helpful for the submarine offensive that I plan to launch. Even more useful is that the port of Reykjavik is transferred to German control (at a cost of 50 MPPs). This will enable my subs to resupply at least to level 5 and partially rebuild and upgrade.
I also notice that Romania has swung about 6% to the Entente and checking the Reports, I see that Russia has put all 5 of its diplo chits on Romania. This is a bit of a desperation move on the part of Old Crow - as he often comments, bringing Romania into the war is a two-edged sword for the Entente, given the cost of bringing its army up to strength and its long borders. But still, it would be a pain for the CP to have to deal with them while there is a strong Entente force in northern Greece (which no doubt is why he decided to spend the chits). So, I counter that by having Austria-Hungary spend all 5 of its diplo chits on Romania - which frankly they can afford this turn.
We then had a complex series of naval actions in Gulf of Bothnia. Old Crow had sent forth his two Russian dreadnoughts to attack German destroyers looking for Russian subs in the Gulf. He heavily damaged one but then ran into a German sub, leaving the Gangut DN next to a sub at the start of my turn. I put 4 hits into the Gangut with the sub and then finish it off with a German dreadnought. The sub then ran into the second Russian DN, Imperatritsa Mariya. I send another German dreadnought to attack it and a battlecruiser to finish it off (though to my surprise, the Derfflinger BC lost 4 points to kill a 1 point DN). Then one of my destroyers heading south to fight a Russian sub hits a newly laid mine. I calculate that the mine-laying Russian destroyer must be nearby, and I find it with light cruisers. Despite a couple of retreats, I manage to sink it too. At this point, the Russian Baltic fleet has taken heavy losses, and only has one 9 strength sub and one 4 strength point sub. But with most of my DNs and BC having suffered some damage, I want to avoid more, so I screen these capital ships with subs, destroyers and light cruisers till I can retreat to port next turn in Germany for repairs.
As a bonus, in the Med last turn a French pre-dreadnought ran into a raiding German sub and was reduced from 7 to 2 strength. I finish it off with the sub and retreat to the safety of Aegean near Smyrna. In the Atlantic, I now have 3 upgraded German subs raiding the UK convoy lines from Canada and the USA, plus a fourth sub moving into striking range.
On the Western Front, the German army executes my planned attack against Belfort. It took 8 shells, but I had that between a heavy and newly deployed field artillery unit. I then kill the French corps facing Verdun. At this point, I can see two French heavy artillery and one field artillery behind his lines, and I suffer some defensive fire. But with a 3 XP general in command, and using experienced corps, my losses are minor. With the strong-point of Belfort taken, I now reckon I can kill two French corps a turn, every turn. The French will be able to replace those losses, barely, but their army will rapidly degrade in experience, and France's national morale will continue to fall. It is at 49% at the end of this turn, compared to over 120% for Germany.
In Italy, the Austro-Hungarians kill a third Italian corps, aided by some shore bombardment and a new field artillery unit. Although they do not have a lot of reserves, two of their mountain divisions have now been upgraded and deployed and with three artillery units on this front they should be able to sustain this offensive indefinitely.
On the Eastern Front, the Germans kill a Russian corps and capture the fortress of Ivangorod. Again, the extra field artillery unit I moved to this front last turn provided the necessary extra shells. The Germans rail the last elite German corps in the quiet sector in East Prussia to the Western Front and replace it with two newly arrived German corps. Given the weak Russian generals in this sector and his artillery tied up in the Caucasus, I am not expecting any threats here.
The Ottomans regroup after losing Erzurum last turn and retreat back to better supply. The transport and supply lines in eastern Anatolia are poor, but they will limit the Russian attack as well. My goal is simply to manage by retreats and try to minimize losses, while keeping his artillery busy here.
In Mesopotamia, the Ottomans received a new general - Khalil Pasha - through a DE last turn in Baghdad. This will help them defend against the arrival of a British force from India next turn, with an HQ, field artillery unit and another corps.
In Gaza, I notice a new British field artillery unit, so I anticipate an attack next turn. I operationally move my Ottoman airship behind Gaza, so I can do a reconnaissance of the British forces facing me here next turn.
In Arabia, I send a newly arrived cavalry division and General Liman von Sanders, who has been waiting in reserve near Constantinople down to protect the Hejaz railroad. With a general in the sector, the Ottomans can often hold their own against the Arab Revolt.
At the end of my move the Germans invest a chit in Advanced Subs (they do not have research room to do more), they upgrade all their existing subs in port to level 2, and they buy a destroyer and the Bulgarian recon bomber. I am at the point where I do not see the point of buying more German corps and am running out of useful things to purchase with German MPPs. I keep some MPPs in reserve for naval repairs in future turns. The Ottomans upgrade their one destroyer to full strength to deal with the newly appeared Russian sub that is disrupting shipping out of Zonguldak. The Central Powers have a bumper harvest of tech results. Germany reaches: Spying and Intelligence 2 (the max), Trench Warfare 4, Shock Infantry 2, and Production Tech 2. Austria-Hungary reaches Artillery Weapons 2 and the Ottomans Command and Control 1.