AAR -Petedalby (Axis) vs Taifun (Allies)

[Taifun]

It is fantastic to see so many veterans participating in this AAR. In fact, this is the objective of the AAR: to keep the game alive through constructive discussions. Please keep contributing with any topics you consider relevant and appropriate. The great Umeu has made me realize that perhaps I am the one who is wrong, and that petedalby’s strategy was completely correct, since keeping the USA below 40% for several months while concentrating forces against Communist China and Urumchi created major problems for China. I agree that the communists would not simply stand by and watch the Japanese encircle them from the north.

April
After several months of truce, the Chinese front awakens brutally. The quality of our weapons has improved, and most of our troops have been upgraded to Infantry Weapons Level One, while some key armies have also received AA level two.

In the north, the Japanese finally enter Ningsia, provoking the anger of Mao, Communist China, and the USA.

Our infantry corps, which was defending the road/railway between Yanku and Paotow (while also threatening the plains south of Peking from the mountains), is attacked and becomes completely isolated near Peking. The loss of this position forces me to withdraw the army defending Yanku southward to protect the northern approaches to Sian.

April North..png (3.83 MiB) Viewed 360 times

At the front center, the Japanese attack the main fortification at Kweichow with the support of an artillery piece. Led by the Central Expedition Army, they manage to eliminate the Chinese 4th Army defending the fort; however, they fail to capture the hex. Once again, I had to make a difficult decision. I decided not to commit additional troops to the fort's defense, fearing the position was too exposed and vulnerable. Once again, the Japanese could easily turn the area into a meat grinder in a war of attrition that China cannot hope to win. We must preserve our strength! The Steamroller team is fearsome!

April South.png (2.78 MiB) Viewed 360 times

To reinforce Chungking, I begin transferring an army from Ichang to the capital through the Wu Gorge.

May
Our isolated infantry corps near Paotow is destroyed by Japanese aviation, which uses airfields north of Communist China between Paotow and Ningsia. The abandoned Yanku is occupied by the enemy.

At the front center, the Japanese continue their attacks against the Kweichow fortifications, this time targeting the fort south of the mine. Our IV Infantry Corps holds the position and survives the attacks with 1 strength point remaining. It is immediately reinforced to max strength, but ends the turn with 56% readiness and 26% morale .

May.png (2.74 MiB) Viewed 360 times

I withdraw the anti-air unit and move the Dare to Die Special Forces to the front line, positioning them alongside the 12th Army, which protects the key fortification north of the road. This position will create many problems for the enemy in the future.

There are rumors that Germany has attacked Stalin’s Russia.

June
Japan declares war on Communist China and easily destroys the surprised communist army defending Yenan. The communist HQ retreats to Sian, while the surviving veteran communist army is upgraded in infantry and AA south of its capital, in what I think is a solid position... Here I made another huge mistake, as I forgot that when Communist China falls, the units located inside the country would be eliminated, while units outside Communist territory would survive

SC3_ WWII World at War 4_29_2026 12_04_38 AM.png (4.79 MiB) Viewed 360 times

[Taifun]

The beleaguered Kweichow fort falls along with the IV Infantry Corps, and the Japanese reach the outskirts of Kweichow. The only good news is the arrival of two additional armies, although they are not upgraded, which are deployed near our capital. I can now use five armies, four infantry corps, and the Dare to Die Special Forces to defend the Chungking area.

June.png (2.68 MiB) Viewed 359 times

[Umeu]

Umeu - please clarify "If Urumchi falls before the Americans join the war, China is doomed." Are you saying if Urumchi fell before the other Alt-capitals (assuming this Northern Japanese effort could accomplish that unilaterally)?

Japan can definitely pull it off, I have done it vs Pete adnd some other people. And yeah, normally you'd take out Chongking, then Lanchow and finally Urumchi. And it's often very difficult to get to and crack Urumchi in time and in force. And the US Airforce can usually provide enough support to stop Japan from taking it, because Japan runs into major supply issues.

But if you take Urumchi before the US joins, it's much harder and costilier for the allies to provide airsupport vs Japanese units who are in great supply.

Sorry for continuing the derail, if it is such (doubt Taifun will think so) but the way the commies spawn is also material. Against Old_Shane, the HQ spawned in the capital & the 2 armies south of it. That meant Shane, coming from the NW could take out the whole ensemble in one shot.

Oh, I thought they always spawn in the same spot? But yeah, it would maybe also help to have the army spawn in the capital? But I'd rather just have Comm. China join faster if Japan takes that back door. At the same time, I do like that strategy and it's a way for Japan to punish the somewhat unrealistic/ahistoric approach players take to just vacate the northern front almost entirely.

The great Umeu has made me realize that perhaps I am the one who is wrong, and that petedalby’s strategy was completely correct, since keeping the USA below 40% for several months while concentrating forces against Communist China and Urumchi created major problems for China.

I doubt the even greater Taifun can be wrong about much. I don't know how long Pete waited, but a few months is probably not a bad idea. I usually wait until the artillery shows up and I have all my elite reinforcements. There is not much point in attacking those mountains without it.

[Taifun]

I forgot to mention a very important fact: Japan declared war on Stalin’s Russia at the same time as Germany. This created the opportunity to activate DE 408 USSR SEND SUPPLIES TO CHINA and receive a very valuable 200 MPPs. China was only receiving 140 MPPs per turn, so these extra MPPs felt like a gift from the sky.

To this day, I still do not know why Petedalby attacked Russia with Japan, since Japanese troops never entered Siberia, although their battleships did manage to reduce the port of Vladivostok to rubble. For many months, Petedalby kept Vladivostok under relentless bombardment, effectively shutting it down. To me, this remains a great mystery…

An enemy HQ is established in Ningxia, and from this position it commands and supplies the Japanese forces reaching the mountains defending Lanchow. It was at this moment that I discovered my Communist Army had disappeared from the map… This created a gap in the lines defending Sian, forcing me to abandon Chengchow…

July North.png (3.06 MiB) Viewed 332 times

Japan has fully committed to motorization! Petedalby has invested vast amounts of resources in equipping many of his units in China with vehicles. I believe Japan cannot afford to motorize its armies. While it may be a strong option in China, as it allows armies to traverse mountainous terrain, it is counterproductive for its special forces. One must be very careful when researching this technology, because if it is obtained before the Japanese naval special forces are deployed in the Pacific, they will receive it for free. This will greatly increase the cost of embarking and transporting them across the oceans, and the Japanese economy is not strong enough to bear such expenses. It is a risky strategy for Petedalby, which will pay off if he manages to defeat China quickly, but could easily backfire if losses accumulate over time.

Personally, I am not a fan of motorizing Japanese special forces, as the benefits hardly justify the cost in the Pacific, although I can see their value in large-scale land campaigns such as India. In addition, replacing losses becomes very expensive, which is why, if I decide to invest in this technology, I prefer to delay its development until mid-1941.

The enemy attacks Kweichow and nearly annihilates the infantry corps defending the town, which miraculously retreats toward Kunming with only 1 strength point remaining. A tense dance of units now begins south of Chungking. I pull back the Dare to Die Special Forces unit and position the artillery on the opposite bank of the Yangtze River. I deploy the 12th and 13th Armies to the fortifications surrounding Kweichow, which is now abandoned… and I brace for impact.

Kweichow July.png (3.11 MiB) Viewed 332 times

Technology Front
On the technological front, we are very close to reaching Command & Control Level 2. We have also invested in Artillery Weapons, although it will still be many months before we achieve Infantry Weapons Level 2, our most coveted goal.

July.png (741.65 KiB) Viewed 332 times

[Taifun]

August
A veteran enemy army advances along the road toward Zhangye. We are still unsure whether Petedalby will focus first on Lanchow or bypass it entirely and push toward Urumchi… As a precaution, I move the light tank unit to the Lanchow front.

August North.png (2.35 MiB) Viewed 332 times

To my surprise, the enemy does not occupy Chengchow, undoubtedly to avoid triggering the activation and spawning of the two veteran armies.

The enemy deploys a second artillery unit in Kweichow. I believe he intends to compensate for the absence of air power in this sector of the front. The enemy advances along the Changsha road and captures the mine with the Japanese 3rd Army. At that moment, we launch a counterattack that inflicts 6 points of damage on this exposed enemy unit.

Kweichow Ausgust.png (5.12 MiB) Viewed 332 times

I am trying to build a Chinese reserve of MPPs for the difficult times ahead; at the moment, I have saved 283 MPPs.

[wevilc]

Taifun said: "Japan has fully committed to motorization! Petedalby has invested vast amounts of resources in equipping many of his units in China with vehicles. I believe Japan cannot afford to motorize its armies. While it may be a strong option in China, as it allows armies to traverse mountainous terrain, it is counterproductive for its special forces. One must be very careful when researching this technology, because if it is obtained before the Japanese naval special forces are deployed in the Pacific, they will receive it for free. This will greatly increase the cost of embarking and transporting them across the oceans, and the Japanese economy is not strong enough to bear such expenses. It is a risky strategy for Petedalby, which will pay off if he manages to defeat China quickly, but could easily backfire if losses accumulate over time.

Personally, I am not a fan of motorizing Japanese special forces, as the benefits hardly justify the cost in the Pacific, although I can see their value in large-scale land campaigns such as India. In addition, replacing losses becomes very expensive, which is why, if I decide to invest in this technology, I prefer to delay its development until mid-1941."

This is all most interesting (as is the idea of building an MPP reserve). In our many games, Shane always goes for mobility & naturally I copy him in my few Axis games (I've only played once as the Axis against Shane himself - total disaster). These reasons for not doing so would never occur to me. I know Taifun is a master so I will pay heed.

[Umeu]

I agree with Taifun. Some weird moves by Pete with Japan here. Motorization is way too expensive and the benefits are small. And that's on top of the excellent point about increased cost of embarking. But also just the cost of upgrading at 50 per army is so steep... I'd rather just make bombers. Or more mechanized infantry. Or more armies... anything really

[Taifun]

September
Zhangye falls in the north, opening the road to Urumchi. No defensive positions remain between the Japanese advance and the alternative capital, so I deploy the only unit available — my light tank formation — at Guazhou, despite its very limited defensive value.

September.png (2.13 MiB) Viewed 281 times

South of the capital, Chungking, the Japanese launched their final offensive before the onset of winter. Their steamroller offensive advances, spearheaded by motorized forces that seize Kweichow, while the 17th Korean Army secures the right flank from the mining complex. At this critical moment, we launch another concentrated counterattack, inflicting 6 points of damage on the motorized Korean army. It is the second Japanese army that was shattered in the same position. It is becoming increasingly evident that the Japanese should first secure the fort north of the Kweichow–Changsha road. Clearing the road and capturing this mountainous hex is essential for any further advance.

China’s strategic reserve rises to 321 MPPs. China receives only 119 MPPs per turn; its economy remains desperately weak. I am considering the construction of a second artillery unit.

October
It appears that Petedalby intends to capture Lanchow before advancing toward Urumchi. His powerful air force supports the operation, forcing me to transfer my anti-aircraft units to the northern sector of the front.

October.png (2.25 MiB) Viewed 281 times

The Japanese now shift the axis of their offensive around Kweichow. Their forces pivoted westward and captured the fort guarding the road to Kunming. The Japanese 3rd Army, reinforced during the previous turn, anchors the enemy’s right flank from the mining complex. Once again, we launch a counterattack against the mine, destroying the Japanese army stationed there. The mine is clearly becoming a black hole, consuming Japanese MPPs.

This turn marks a decisive change in Petedalby’s strategy. We believe he now understands that Chungking is beyond his reach and that his new primary objective in central China will be Kunming. The fall of this industrial center would isolate China from Burma and India, sever the air bridge, and deal a severe blow to Chinese morale.

China’s strategic reserve falls to 116 MPPs, forcing me to purchase an infantry corps to defend Urumchi.

November
The Japanese advance toward Guazhou continues in the far north. The front keeps expanding, creating mounting difficulties for the Japanese, who must commit increasing numbers of troops to protect their fragile supply lines. To contain their advance, I push my forces toward their main logistical hub in Ningxia, threatening both their HQ and the Communist capital of Yenan. I intend to force the enemy to divert attention and resources away from the western offensive.

November North.png (5.3 MiB) Viewed 281 times

Further south, the enemy continues advancing toward Kunming, which is defended by only two infantry corps. General Chang has been forced to withdraw to Wanting, near the Burmese border. I see little possibility of reinforcing this sector and can only hope that winter weather slows the Japanese offensive. For the moment, the enemy has abandoned attempts to protect the mine. The fort along the Changsha road remains a thorn on his side and must be eliminated before any advance toward the Yangtze River can continue.

November South.png (2.13 MiB) Viewed 281 times

[Taifun]

December
Enemy troops reach Guazhou in the far north, where they are met by my light tank force. In support of this offensive, the enemy relocates its HQ to Zhangye. I am now convinced that Petedalby intends to bypass Lanchow entirely and advance directly toward Urumchi. In response, I continue pressuring his supply lines while launching attacks against Ningxia and the Communist capital.

December.png (2.25 MiB) Viewed 280 times

The army corps originally intended for deployment in Urumchi is instead redirected to Kunming, as I believe this sector is now under critical threat.

China’s strategic reserve has fallen to zero. The nation now receives only 121 MPPs per turn.

1942
With the arrival of the new year, it is time to review the overall situation. In January, Japan attacks the United States, breathing new hope into China...

China 1942.png (2.2 MiB) Viewed 280 times

We have managed to contain, with great success, the Japanese offensive launched from the south against our capital, Chungking. More importantly, we have inflicted substantial losses on the attacking armies. The enemy has bypassed the Lanchow region entirely, with Japanese troops advancing directly toward Urumchi under heavy air support, exposing a fragile supply line stretching all the way back to distant Peking.

Although our strategic reserve of MPPs has been completely exhausted, we remain confident in our ability to halt the Japanese advance toward the capital. The year 1942 will bring brutal fighting, but Japan must now turn its attention toward the Pacific for many months to come. This will divert major quantities of MPPs and resources away from the campaign in China. Before long, the United States will begin to aid us, either directly or indirectly, by launching offensives across the Pacific…

[petedalby]

Motorization is way too expensive and the benefits are small.

Another complete misunderstanding by me. I thought I was doing the right thing to give all my new spawned units motorisation and turns out I was just hurting myself! Who knew?!!

But clearly, if our top 2 players say it's wrong, then I will take heed. No more motorisation for me!! Thanks guys!!

[Taifun]

The game against Petedalby has just concluded! But I would rather avoid any spoilers
It is time to return to the beginning of the war in Europe.
The Allied strategy is straightforward: Britain and the Commonwealth will attempt to delay the German advance through France for as long as possible. To achieve this, the British troops stationed in Egypt, the anti-aircraft unit from Malta, as well as South African and New Zealand forces, will be transferred to France during the winter. New formations — including two anti-tank units and three anti-aircraft units — will be raised in Britain and immediately deployed to the French front.
For a short period, Egypt will remain exposed to a possible Italian offensive, and Indian troops will therefore assume responsibility for the defense of the Suez Canal. I am still undecided as to whether General Auchinleck’s HQ should be transferred to France or remain in Egypt.

On the technological front, the United Kingdom will focus on naval development, defeating the German U-boat campaign, and strengthening the Royal Air Force. We will not invest in tanks or Armored Warfare research; instead, the Americans will provide the armored strength for the liberation of Europe. The United States will initially concentrate on naval and air production to contain Japan in the Pacific. Only later will troop production begin: first the Marine units, then the infantry corps, and finally armored formations. No Allied front will be opened in Europe during 1942, although an offensive against Italy in the Mediterranean is planned for late 1942 or early 1943, carried out primarily by special forces. The great invasion of Europe itself will not come until 1944.

Germany conquers Poland in a single turn.

November 1940
Belgium falls.

France Nov 39.png (4.07 MiB) Viewed 242 times

General Gamelin deploys one French army in Lille, another in the Ardennes forests, and a third in Châlons. Three French infantry corps defend the Italian frontier, while the remainder of the French army is positioned between the Maginot Line and Nancy.

French.jpg (99.32 KiB) Viewed 242 times

General Lord Gort positions his troops around Amiens. His finest formation, the BEF, defends the city itself, protected on both flanks by two infantry corps and the Malta AA unit. Behind them stand the British troops recently arrived from Egypt, while Dijon is defended by South African forces. Allied air power is concentrated at airfields near Caen.

Lord Gort.jpg (127.85 KiB) Viewed 242 times

February 1940
The city of Lille falls, and German troops contact the British defenses entrenched behind the river east of Le Havre. The Germans force the French armies out of the Ardennes forests and push them southward. The two Panzer corps operate together from the Belgian frontier, concentrating overwhelming striking power.

France Feb.png (4.64 MiB) Viewed 242 times

[Taifun]

March 1940
German forces continue advancing southward through the Ardennes forests toward Châlons. The first anti-tank unit and a second anti-aircraft unit have been completed in Britain and will be ready for deployment to France next turn.
Our three British aircraft carriers stand ready to launch air strikes against German bombers operating from Belgium. Meanwhile, a German paratrooper unit is detected behind the Maginot Line.

France Mar.png (2.93 MiB) Viewed 241 times

Late March
General Lord Gort’s British troops withstand repeated enemy assaults and force the Germans to advance through the center of the Allied front between Amiens and the Maginot Line. The BEF Army is heavily entrenched in Amiens, protected by anti-aircraft defenses, and represents a difficult objective for the Wehrmacht. Meanwhile, the enemy captures Châlons.
Any opportunity is good enough for a counterattack, and General Lord Gort orders the British WDF Army to strike at a German army besieging Amiens. The attack inflicts 5 points of damage before the British formation withdraws toward Paris.
Our aircraft carriers launch repeated waves of attacks against an enemy tactical bomber stationed south of Brussels. Fierce air battles erupt, and our carriers suffer 10 air strength points in losses without managing to destroy the German air unit.
We then lose track of the German paratrooper unit that had been detected behind the Maginot Line.

March 29.png (4.35 MiB) Viewed 241 times

April
Situation after the Axis turn: Panzer forces break through the front south of Châlons and, with the assistance of paratroopers, encircle the French formations stationed along the Maginot Line. This is disastrous news, as five French corps are now isolated, leaderless, and soon to be out of supply.
I face two options: launch an immediate counterattack against the German motorized Panzer corps near Amiens using the anti-tank unit and the BEF, or withdraw south of the Seine and secure the southern approaches to Paris to preserve the Allied rear.

April a.png (3.53 MiB) Viewed 241 times

It is a difficult decision, but in the end, survival instinct prevails. I ordered a general withdrawal. Amiens and the port of Le Havre are abandoned, while the BEF and the anti-tank unit redeploy south of Paris. A second anti-tank unit, freshly landed at Le Havre, moves to secure the mouth of the Seine. The weakened British corps, reduced to only 2 strength points, withdraws to Saint-Malo alongside General Lord Gort.
On the Italian front, Axis troops cross the Alps between Lyon and Marseille.

April b.png (3.61 MiB) Viewed 241 times

[Umeu]

interesting approach to the Brits, but as happened here, in my experience, such massive drive of new units always arrive too late to make a difference in France. So I'm curious to see what your tech looks like at this point. I feel like you just put yourself behind, and in the end, France surrenders at roughly the same time anyway :/ maybe you buy 1 month?

[LoneRunner]

Umeu makes a good point. With competing demands of navy upgrades, technology development, and army and air unit reinforcements, UK is desperate for MPPs at this point. Building two anti-tank and three anti-air units is a pretty big investment. I'm guessing that navy upgrades are on hold and maybe some delays in technology development? It would be great to see the results of the u-boat campaign and a current tech tree.

[LoneRunner]

Pete's response to the strong Amiens defense was excellent. Attack the softest point in the defense, which is usually the French. UK can't cover the entire defensive line so if you eliminate the French units, like Pete did, British units have got to retreat.

[Taifun]

It is great to have you on board, LoneRunner! The German U-boats are nowhere to be seen. Not a single MMP has been lost so far at sea. UK has invested 0 MMPs in tech so far...
Umeu: Well, much depends on your opponent’s skill level. There are games in which France survives, and Germany is defeated in 1941, but the usual outcome is the destruction of 2 or 3 major German formations, whether panzer corps or full armies. Personally, my objective is to inflict between 1,500 and 3,500 MPPs of damage on Germany during the French campaign. In the match against hasmat_slith (a top gun!), I managed to destroy two panzer corps and significantly weaken the invading force.

In this particular game, no major German unit has been destroyed, but several German armies have suffered heavy losses, and the Luftwaffe has also been weakened. No two games are alike, but one thing remains true: the UK cannot realistically invest in technology until mid-1940. Your overall strategy must therefore function as a coherent whole, taking this British technological delay into account, although this approach is certainly not for everyone.

April
Near Sicily, a naval engagement takes place between the Italian fleet and a combined Allied force. Two Italian battleships are sent to the bottom, only to be followed into the depths by two French battleships on the following turn.

April Med.png (2.61 MiB) Viewed 200 times

In Egypt, General Auckinleck commands three Commonwealth infantry corps and an Indian special operations unit. In addition, a French engineer corps is strengthening the Nile River fortifications. The RAF heavy bomber unit has also arrived in the theater.

In Tunisia, an Italian army assaults Tunis, and as a precaution, we dispatch a Belgian Congo garrison to Algiers. Pete’s intentions behind this move in Tunisia are still unclear to me.

May
Our fleet withdraws from the waters around Sicily, where two Axis maritime bombers operate aggressively. The worst consequence of the naval engagement is that we temporarily leave the Strait of Gibraltar exposed, allowing Pete to cleverly transfer two German submarines into the Mediterranean — exactly what I wanted to avoid at this stage of the war.

May Med.png (3.91 MiB) Viewed 200 times

The situation in Tunisia appears to be escalating rapidly. A German paratrooper unit drops from Sicily and attacks the French infantry corps defending Tunis. At the same time, we detect a German tactical bomber unit. In response, we redeploy the Indian special operations unit to Algiers.

It appears that Petedalby is taking a considerable risk in launching a complex operation aimed at knocking France out of the war entirely.

In France, German panzers capture Vichy during their advance southward and lay siege to Lyon. We launch an attack with the British Expeditionary Force against a German infantry corps advancing from Dijon toward Paris. The attack proves costly, as the BEF loses two strength points and its entrenchment. However, I needed to leave an empty hex so that the French heavy tank unit could deploy.

May France.png (4.31 MiB) Viewed 200 times

Meanwhile, a British infantry corps sails from the UK toward the Mediterranean.

June
These are the positions in France after the Axis turn. The British Expeditionary Force has been destroyed south of Paris, while German panzers capture Limoges in their drive toward Bordeaux. Lyon also falls after a coordinated assault by German air power and armored units.

June a.png (4.41 MiB) Viewed 200 times

[Taifun]

With few alternatives remaining, I order General Lord Gort and the surviving British units to withdraw toward the Brittany Peninsula and the city of Nantes. The campaign in mainland France is nearing its conclusion, while the French heavy tank unit remains behind in Paris as a rearguard force. General Gamelin and the surviving French air units are evacuated to the UK.

June b.png (2.18 MiB) Viewed 199 times

In the Mediterranean, the situation in Tunisia is deteriorating rapidly. A second Italian army, supported by Italian bombers, joins the assault on Tunis. We land a British anti-aircraft unit in Oran, while the embarked British infantry corps remains near Gibraltar as a strategic reserve.

June Med.png (2.31 MiB) Viewed 199 times

[hasmat_slith]

Great AAR! And luv the strategic discussion within the broader group.

As for seeing the all-in-France play back, it is sending me to a very dark place. Oh my beloved pzr corps, I weep at the heroic folly.

[Umeu]

Umeu: Well, much depends on your opponent’s skill level. There are games in which France survives, and Germany is defeated in 1941, but the usual outcome is the destruction of 2 or 3 major German formations, whether panzer corps or full armies. Personally, my objective is to inflict between 1,500 and 3,500 MPPs of damage on Germany during the French campaign. In the match against hasmat_slith (a top gun!), I managed to destroy two panzer corps and significantly weaken the invading force.

In this particular game, no major German unit has been destroyed, but several German armies have suffered heavy losses, and the Luftwaffe has also been weakened. No two games are alike, but one thing remains true: the UK cannot realistically invest in technology until mid-1940. Your overall strategy must therefore function as a coherent whole, taking this British technological delay into account, although this approach is certainly not for everyone.

I agree with your first point, but not with the second. The UK can and IMO even should invest heavily and early in tech. I did it vs you, too. And in my experience, France falls roughly the same time anyway.

But you are right, as you said, it does depend on how good your opponent is. If they expose themselves or attack too late, then a unit-heavy approach to France can just decide the game there and then.


Nice updates! Are you using AI for the generals?

[Taifun]

My games with the Allies are far from perfect; I am experimenting...The general's AI generated;)

July
Tunis falls, and Axis forces begin advancing toward Algiers from Tunisia. General Lord Gort launches one final counterattack with his two anti-tank units, striking a German panzer formation near Bordeaux and forcing it to retreat. But the time has come to abandon France and redeploy to Africa.
As a preliminary measure, a destroyer is dispatched from Gibraltar to ensure that no German submarines are lurking in the Bay of Biscay. Hugging the Portuguese coastline all the way to Brest without incident, it confirms that the evacuation route for Allied troops is secure.
The Malta anti-aircraft unit is the first formation to embark from St. Malo. Our air patrols detect a German U-boat north of Brest in time, but while rounding the Brest Cape, the transport is torpedoed by a second submarine. The vessel is heavily damaged and barely remains afloat with only 2 strength points left.

Malta Air July.png (2.83 MiB) Viewed 147 times

The second unit to embark from Nantes is the British motorized army, while General Lord Gort departs from Brest. I select Gort’s transport and plot a course toward Gibraltar. I release the mouse and… the transport vanishes in an explosion after being intercepted by a German heavy cruiser near La Coruña. The game’s pathfinding system had chosen a slightly different route from the one previously scouted by the destroyer.

Lord Gott.png (4.2 MiB) Viewed 147 times

The loss of the brilliant and promising General Lord Gort is a devastating blow to the British Army. I have no idea when I will be able to afford a second HQ. In fact, for the remainder of the game, the British will operate solely under General Auchinleck, as I never found either the opportunity or the necessity to purchase another HQ unit, especially given the underwhelming performance of the British Army throughout the game.

But back to the battlefield. So far, we have detected no German panzers in North Africa, only Italian armored units. The British infantry corps held in reserve is landed at Oran, while the anti-aircraft unit is transported by rail into the coastal mountains north of Constantine.
The surviving remnants of the British Army cross the Strait of Gibraltar from France. I still have not decided whether they will reinforce Algeria or Egypt.

July Med.png (3.92 MiB) Viewed 147 times

I need to create some kind of diversion in the east, so I order General Auchinleck to advance toward Tobruk. The ports of Benghazi and Tobruk are closed, but Tripoli remains operational.
Germany has resumed investing in technology, although its losses continue to rise and now total 2,588 MPPs. Italy, meanwhile, has invested 420 MPPs in technology and already suffered losses amounting to 1,156 MPPs.

SC3_ WWII World at War 4_24_2026 06_22_49 PM.png (1.13 MiB) Viewed 147 times