Arriba Espana, Parte 2! A Nationalist PBEM AAR Q-Ball (N) v Przemek (R)

[Q-Ball]

Back from a long break and some travel.....we're now in December 1936

Should I keep updating the AAR? Let me know if folks are interested

[jwilkerson]

VERY interested !!

[Q-Ball]

VERY interested !!

OK, so I guess I have at least 1 reader! So here is the latest update.....sorry for long delay

December 11, 1936

Naval War:

Przemek was using a TF centered on Jaime I and 4xDD to constantly bombard my troops at Gijon, for over a month. Every day. I didn't want to directly challenge the BB with my cruisers, for fear of my shells just bouncing off, so it was a real game of cat and mouse for a couple months off the Northern Coast.

My cruisers did intercept and sink roughly 10 xAKs overall bringing supplies from Russia; I don't think I can take Bilbao unless it's starved, which will take awhile, but the way to do that is to stop supplies from Russia. I've also brought up both my Spanish Subs, who also scored some hits, including the sinking of a DD. He lost another DD in a fight with my cruisers, and moved a damaged one back to the Mediterranean.

Between subs and various combats, and maybe Sys damage, he ran out of DDs, and eventually moved the BB back to the Med the first week of December. I knew he couldn't sustain her up there, since there is not a safe port at all for any refit or repairs, aside from Leningrad.

As of right now, I control the Atlantic, and should be getting BB Espana shortly, as she is completing long refit

Air War:

Most of our bombing is in the north; we are constantly bombing the airbase at Lamiaco (near Bilbao) to keep it closed, which is not easy, because he has all his engineers stacked in that hex. I've also been bombing the port at BIlbao to burn supplies, and also sink shipping; I've sunk a ton of small xAKs in port, just cleaning up all the messes.

The Soviet planes are making a mark however in ground support, and a couple times I've intervened have been inconclusive; not sure how to firmly stop it, as the LRCAP command is a little unreliable.

Overall, the CR 32 FIAT fighters are doing pretty well; FIATS are credited with 31 Kills. The He-51 isn't very good, only 3 kills. My primary bomber is the Ju-52; I've converted all the transports to BOMBERS, don't really need transport planes anymore

Republic Del Norte:

Since my last update, we have taken Santander, and with it destroyed about 20,000 Republican troops. That was my biggest win!

We continued our advance on Bilbao, and I still haven't figured out how I'm going to take it, other than just bomb it until the supplies run out (which I think will take months; Bilbao starts with a large stockpile of everything). I have cracked the Ring of Iron at one spot on the coast, and hope to use that to start taking the forts to the West of the City. These hexes though all have levels 5 to 7 forts, and require MASSIVE commitment to take quickly....troops I do not have

1.jpg (445.98 KiB) Viewed 231 times

This is it for the Republic Del Norte, except for the garrison at Gijon which also continues to hold out. Level 7 forts there, so I won't take it until the supplies run out.

Extremadura and Andalusian Fronts:

These fronts have been mostly static for a couple months; I attempted an advance toward Madrid, but I do not have the strength to sustain it; I am outnumberd now by the Republic, and his troop quality is getting close to mine after a couple months of training and fighting. I'm not 100% sure how I can conquer the Republic honestly at this rate; I've destroyed maybe 20 units or so in the South, but that's not enough to make a huge dent, since he can rebuild all of them.

1-1.jpg (423.73 KiB) Viewed 231 times

Aragon Fronts:

Here I am under pressure, and just trying to hold the Republic back. Numbers are an issue here as well, plus he's got tanks and air superiority. He's also getting more reinforcements than me

1-2.jpg (357.11 KiB) Viewed 231 times

As an important note, PALMA fell this month, so he has total control of the Mediterranean. I'm going to have to move the CVT around Africa, which will add at least 2 months to any deployment....not great, as I could use the Italians at this point, no matter how crappy they are

[jwilkerson]

Is this stock scen001 ? I assume ?
My guess is many of the 20k in Santander were new arrivals with essentially zero combat value. But hard to be sure from here

[Piteas]

Losing Mallorca is facilitating republican transports. Soviet aid is arriving in droves.
The control of the Mediterranean Sea is key in this game. You will lose if you don't stop the convoys.

[Q-Ball]

Losing Mallorca is facilitating republican transports. Soviet aid is arriving in droves.
The control of the Mediterranean Sea is key in this game. You will lose if you don't stop the convoys.

I'd be happy to play a PBEM and show you how control of the Med is inevitable for the Republic under the rules we are playing (which is that Italian and German cruisers are not use aggressively)

Vildebeests, and a larger Navy......getting supplies to Palma was costing warships. The Nationalists do not have a viable airbase anywhere on the Med once the Republic lands on Mallorca, which is easy to do. The only airbase is outside Palma

I can get back, but I need Naval Superiority to do so, and I don't have the ships

[Piteas]

Hard rules.

Sending the Legion Condor on the main mediterranean ports may be an option. Germans have good aim.

[Q-Ball]

Hard rules.

Sending the Legion Condor on the main mediterranean ports may be an option. Germans have good aim.

OK, good question on what you can do air-power wise.

The Condor Legion, and Italian Bombers, are fine for bombing ports. But they are not good for attacking ships, and that's the problem. Very few pilots are trained on NAV B, and even if they were, the loadouts are all smaller bombs that will just bounce off a cruiser or BB. And all that depends on getting there safetly; attacking targets without fighter cover is risky, especially for the Ju-52s.

Bombing ports will not really inhibit supply flow.

The only effective anti-shipping planes in the game are the Vildebeests; that's why they are the most important planes in the game, and for the Republic are worth their weight in gold.

Practically as I am typing this, he torpedoed the Karlshrue off Santander (she was doing bombardment runs); she will live, but heavily damaged. I can't risk Spanish ships that way.

Soviet material, i.e. all the tanks and planes, get to Spain regardless. The only variable is Fuel and Supplies

[Dali101]

You have many more readers....

Your AAR is easy to read and the above conclusions from the ongoing battles seem reasonable.
You just don't make premature conclusions,
That's good.
Please continue the AAR, the year 1937 means a huge development for both sides. Thank you.

By the way, the Italian units in the game will definitely not be bad...
The general conclusion from the failed attack on Madrid creates prejudices, but it is not (for the game) objective and true.
At first glance, the Italian battalions seem to have a small number of squads.
But their squads are significantly more numerous than the Spanish ones and overall quite effective.

[Q-Ball]

December 23, 1936

OK, happy to do updates for adoring fans! Glad folks are paying attention

Naval War:

The focus right now is along the northern coast, and keeping his supply ships away from Gijon and Bilbao. I have subs deployed of course, and we are also bombarding the ports as well. He did re-activate the Airfield at Lamiaco, outside Bilbao, basically by stacking all the engineers on that hex; I couldn't bomb it fast enough to keep up with repairs.

This led to a nasty surprise as the Vildebeests torpedoed Karlshrue; here she is at Santander. She is about to withdraw anyway, but that hit really messed up the ship:

1-1.jpg (105.76 KiB) Viewed 109 times

Those planes are a real menace. We got a little revenge as they attempted to sink a transport I had at Santander under CAP; this was a classic "CAP Trap" that I set-up just like in WITP (intentionally draw in Nav T attacks). We shot down 3 of the Vildebeests; intelligence says we have now shot down 8 of them That that CAP TRAP I know he has pulled in the NAV T setting, either capping the range or grounding them altogether

It looks like the Republic starts with a total of 20 Vildebeest TBs, with no replacements (not worried about or counting the LBs). So, he's probably down to a dozen. Still plenty to cause trouble, though he'll be careful with them I think since they can't be replaced.

Air War:

Republican bombers are very active bombing my troops constantly. Mine are repairing, mostly....I am short on Ju-52 replacements, so some units are not full-strength. I do have more Axis bombers repairing right now, so plan an offensive in January.

That unit I captured.....I renamed it, and provided Spanish PIlots, but this is a real addition to the Nationalist air force. Too bad the planes are still in Republican colors, but we'll manage!

1-3.jpg (169.27 KiB) Viewed 109 times

It will take a couple weeks to repair the planes, since they came off a captured ship

Bilbao

This is the only area where I am currently on the offensive. If you can look closely, I managed to crack the Ring of Iron and get inside of it around Bilbao; that is forcing him on a long withdrawl around the "Horseshoe". He had to abandon an armored train unit as well. I think he will consolidate on a line using Bilbao and river, protecting the airbase at Lamiaco.

I am going to try a shock attack on Bilbao tomorrow to see if we can knock the forts down; it looks like the garrison is alot of rear area troops, so have a shot at doing some damage (hopefully). German Cruisers will bombard the port in support.

1.jpg (239.34 KiB) Viewed 109 times

Levant

I am under pressure East of Zaragossa; really outnumbered here and hanging on. He brought over the troops from Mallorca, so that's making a difference, and I don't have the reinforcements.

1-2.jpg (340.62 KiB) Viewed 109 times

I would rather lose ground here then have to terminate offensive around Bilbao; taking Bilbao would free up plenty of troops, so really want to focus on that. But this will be tough, as he is pressuring on several areas.

[Q-Ball]

December 29, 1936

It's almost 1937! Thanks to my opponent Przemek for getting this far! He's giving me a good fight for sure.

Naval War:

Przemek continues to try to get merchant ships into Gijon and Bilbao; I think in both cases I'm going to have to starve out the garrisons, because they are too strong with too many forts to take conventionally. So, a sea blockade is key.

I have subs of course outside the entrances to the ports. I have also bombed the ports alot, so he cannot base any ships in these ports; but they can still load in Leningrad and make the run. I am placing CD guns just outside the port to take shots at any ships coming in. I have also deployed AMCs north of the ports as kind of blockade ships, and one of them, Ciudad de Palma, captured a Soviet Frieghter:

1.jpg (36.21 KiB) Viewed 61 times

That's good work, and represents the 3rd merchant ship that an AMC has captured at sea.

I posted in the main forum, but I executed a nuclear bombardment on Lamiaco, the airbase near Bilbao. I torched 36 aircraft on the ground (!) and destroyed the airbase. I feel like that is TOO powerful, and needs to be toned down in-game. Bombarding troops seems fine, but that result was nuts.

Air War:

With that bombardment of Lamiaco, I have air control again up north. I intercepted one of his bombing runs near Zaragossa, and shot down 6 bombers, while lose 4 fighters in return. Not sure I can attrite like that. He is successfully bombing my troops every day, though I am bombing his ports in the north.

Bilbao:

First assault on the city was repulsed, as he has over 20,000 troops there. I don't think a direct assault on the city is practical. I think I'm going to have to starve the place out.

He has well over 50,000 troops around Bilbao, just a whole lot, so the supply burn has to be pretty high. If I can blockade the port, I think I can starve it. It's likely, however, he has a stockpile of over 100K, so this might take awhile. I will have to decide on a couple courses of action. I can:

1. Work on the fortifications East of the city; the objective here would be to clear the airbase for good, and force him back into Bilbao. All those troops in Bilbao would be an overstacked mess and really burn alot of supply. OR
2. Leave a blocking force for now, and take some of my besieging troops and attack something in the South.

Overall, we are in stalemate on the map except around Bilbao.

Decisions, decisions........

[Q-Ball]

December 30, 1936

An important update around Bilbao, as we attacked over the river in the hex adjacent to Bilbao; attacking in a ROUGH hex over a river is always kind of risky, but my intel said there were about 2500 men there, and I had 16K, so had to try to see if we could bully our way over. Turns out we could, and we now have a significant force over the river:

1.jpg (309.29 KiB) Viewed 51 times

You can see south of Bilbao he is still slowly pulling units back along the Ring of Iron, but because I am inside the Ring, I have an advantage. I can now attack NE toward Lamiaco (which will not have significant forts...probably). If I take that, all the troops in the Ring can be cut-off from Bilbao itself, and I can surround and starve them out. They are all on Level-5 forts, so attacking them was NOT attractive, but if I can isolate everybody we should be able to, after a couple months, close this out.

That's good, because Przemek is really pressuring me around Zaragossa. I will provide an update soon, but my lines are about to crack I think, forcing a withdrawl westward.

[Q-Ball]

January 2, 1937

Calendar flips to 1937, and it's still chaos around Bilbao! Przemek isn't going down without a fight, and he's trying to cut-off my troops and turn a potential defeat into victory. It's a risky move, but one I would probably try.

I hope you can make sense of this screenshot; you have to look carefully at the hexside control to tell what's going on.

He controls the hexsides between the Ring of Iron hexes, but I'm trying to close-off any access to the inner ring. Ultimately, the goal is to seal-off the Ring from Bilbao; if I can trap troops as well, that's a bonus. His counter is to try to cut off my spearhead near Bilbao; he attacked at the Bilbao hex, and in that Rough Forest hex you can see SW of Bilbao:

1.jpg (292.38 KiB) Viewed 42 times

If either of those attacks succeeded, I would be in serious trouble....but they didn't. I do have an out now in that I can withdraw eastward through Larrabetzu if things really go badly.

Meanwhile, my attack at Lamiaco, supported by bombing and shore bombardment from BB ESPANA, got 3-1, knocking the forts down to zero. Unless he reinforces, he will lose the hex (though I expect reinforcements). If he loses the hex he's in serious trouble, so that's the objective here.

For players not familiar with WITP and hexside control, this graphic shows why it's CRITICALLY important. You really have to pay attention to it. And this shows why; if you trace hexside control carefully you can see who has the upper hand, and at this point I think it's me.

Levant:

I am on the verge of cracking in the Levant however; Przemek is applying pressure, and it is succeeding in pulling away troops. I cannot mount any offensives aside from Bilbao, because I need to troops east of Zaragossa. And I am in danger of falling back anyway.

I think he's reinforced with the troops from Mallorca, which he successfully took from me:

1-1.jpg (273.99 KiB) Viewed 42 times

Naval Update:

With all the chaos around Bilbao, I have also spotted a 7 ship merchant convoy headed for Bilbao! Obviously I want to sink that, so CL CERVERA, both AMCs, and 5 submarines are at-sea. Additionally, I have set-up a CD gun unit in the hex NW of Bilbao (with 2 more coming), so his ships will have to run that gauntlett as well. To top it off, I am laying mines with the Italian SSM at Bilbao. (I would use my TBs, but they'll get creamed by shore batteries)

[Q-Ball]

January 9, 1937

Air War:

Przemek has been successfully bombing my ground troops all over; usually 100 a turn at least are killed by bombs. Not a huge amount, but adds-up over time. We've hit back a few times by using LRCAP over certain hexes, and extracted a toll of losses. Here are this month's losses (though FOW is in there, I think this is actually a little high):

1-3.jpg (35.29 KiB) Viewed 11 times

He's shown a willingness to use even the worst aircraft for bombing, like Monospars and E-30s; anything that carries a bomb it seems.

There's a limit to how much I can challenge him though, because the replacement rate for the FIATS is only 8 per month, and that's my primary fighter

Nationalist bombing is focused mostly on the NORTH, where there is no air resistance. I've bombed the ports at Bilbao and Gijon almost daily, in an effort to get the supplies down, sink ships, and generally cause issues. I've also ground bombed around Bilbao to hopefully make progress (see below).

Naval War:

The Nationalist Fleet is bombarding bases up north almost daily, and enforcing a blockade of those ports. A few days ago, he attempted to get a 7-ship Cargo TF to Gijon; it was intercepted by CL Almirante Cervera, and 4 ships sank before the rest fled back to Murmansk. He also lost a sub to a mine hit near Bilbao, and I've now mined both harbors using the Italian SSM. Plus I have CD guns posted outside both. Between all this, he withdrew all his subs from the North. (The Republic has lost 6 submarines total so far, mostly to mine hits, so he's also getting low there).

We need to continue to enforce this blockade in order to starve out the Northern ports

Unfortunately, he continues to dominate the Med. I am starting to get the CTV in Naples, and tried to sneak a couple units through the Med to test his alertness. While Vildebeests were unable to hit any of them, and I got a couple convoys through, he was able to find and destroy one with a cruiser TF of 3 x CL and 8 x DD; basically the whole navy except for the BB:

1-2.jpg (328.85 KiB) Viewed 11 times

He can see there were ground troops on that ship; thankfully just a logistics unit, nothing major, but that will alert him to what's going on.

So, that's not going to work getting the Italians to Spain through the Med. We'll have to go around Africa!

I've been planning for this by moving all long-ranged ships (mostly Italian ones) to Italy, and converting them to AK-t. It will take awhile, but the African route is safe at least. They'll get to Spain eventually.

Bilbao:

We've gotten stuck a bit on Lamiaco, so I'm shifting around looking for weak spots elsewhere; we are attacking Gattika, the hex immediately East of Lamiaco (2 hexes due east of Bilbao), and have the forts down to 1; without reinforcement, it will fall, but he might be able to save it with some troop movement:

1.jpg (277.43 KiB) Viewed 11 times

Otherwise, all this fighting is hopefully just burning supplies which are a finite resource for him....I hope!

Aragon Offensive:

The slow-motion Republican offensive in Aragon continues. I had to pull back a bit, and still under stress; we have some reinforcements headed this way, and hopefully I can stop this before it gets too much closer to Zaragossa

1-1.jpg (453.91 KiB) Viewed 11 times

Another reminder though that the Bilbao offensive has a price for me; I have ALOT Of troops up north, because I'm really trying to close it out. I may start shifting to a containment, rather than attacking strategy up there; if I'm just going to wait it out, I don't need as many troops. We'll see, something I'm thinking about.