GC Republican AAR

[Rysyonok]

Today, Andujar is a sleepy small town. But in my 1936 campaign it has become a true REP Stalingrad. NAT forces, gathered from Sevilla, Cordoba, and the remnants of NAT Granada group tried attacking REP forces head on, only to be repulsed again and again. Well, this turn we're fighting back... with whatever units of ours that aren't smashed to bits and pieces just yet.

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[Rysyonok]

The campaign continues to be about 50/50 - REPs are winning through sheer concentration of resources and units in the right locations at the right time. The Paper Tiger strategy.

REPs are grudgingly sending more ships to USSR for repair and for supplies.

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[Rysyonok]

Borderline skirmishes. Nothing amazing to report.

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[Rysyonok]

Perhaps I misspoke earlier. There may be skirmishes, but Andujar is definitely turning into the largest bloodbath for both sides in this campaign.

REPs were able to push west, but now we're the ones attacking entrenched enemy. We may have 2x the men, but the odds are pretty much even. REPs have already committed everything in the area, while NATs have some more reinforcements scurrying around.

My hope is to prevail through proper rotation of units back and forth - something that AI cannot do well. And maybe win by trading squads 1 for 1: I have more of them.

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[Rysyonok]

The NAT noose is tightening around Bilbao. Santander has already sent all of its forces east, so has Gijon mostly, but NATs cut off their advance. So, the garrison's best will attempt to sally out - and then maybe work their way counterclockwise.

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[Rysyonok]

Heavy fighting in the north by Bilbao and in the southwest by Andujar.

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[Rysyonok]

Ongoing heavy battles by Bilbao and Andujar. REPs are winning, although very subtly. Elsewhere, Madrid, Zaragosa, even Canaveral outlying forces are recall to heal up and recuperate.

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[Rysyonok]

Oof. Captured ships, if lost, only hurt the capturing side. xAK Cabo Creux gave NATs a 38 point loss when captured - now REPs are eating the 38 points, but NATs walk away scot-free. No fair!

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[Jajusha]

The ammount of guns NAT is losing each day is isane.
No way they can keep it up and retain any arty in the following months

[Q-Ball]

Just curious, how did you lose the Ring of Iron around Bilbao? Did you defend it?

All those towns have Fort Levels at 5+, and can be defended very easily against superior forces

I don't see how the AI could maneuver you out of there, unless you declined to defend them

[Rysyonok]

The ammount of guns NAT is losing each day is isane.
No way they can keep it up and retain any arty in the following months

I've been trying the strategy of 2-3-wave hits with constantly switching forces, especially in the same turn, e.g., a shock attack in hex A with a corresponding shock attack in the most likely place the enemy would retreat. Artillery has cost me quite a few losses earlier on, so I'm going along with fewer but stronger stacks to (a) absorb the hits (b) have enough meat on the bones to respond in kind.

[Rysyonok]

Just curious, how did you lose the Ring of Iron around Bilbao? Did you defend it?

All those towns have Fort Levels at 5+, and can be defended very easily against superior forces

I don't see how the AI could maneuver you out of there, unless you declined to defend them

I tried to, but I had to fall back when NATs planted that unit east of Bilbao, and I just couldn't knock it out. I didn't want to risk a surprise flanking attack.

[Rysyonok]

Ovideo falls, predictably.
NAT forces around Bilbao are being carefully rooted out.
NATs surround Zaragosa, predictably, - I pull back heavily to heal up and resupply, but now that REPs are to 100 morale...
More heavy fighting around Andujar. This is genuinely becoming Spanish Stalingrad.

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[Rysyonok]

REPs run out of steam by Andujar and may need to fall back.
By Canaveral, a successful sortie kills 6 NAT Art/Vehicle units.

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[Rysyonok]

A rather pointless turn - REPs are all retreating to heal up, REP gunboats run all over West Med with no luck. The only curiosity - REPs catch and clip another NAT unit to pieces by Canaveral. Perhaps their troops in the area are all out of supplies? Shall we, banzai?

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[Rysyonok]

Nothing exciting. NATs catch a few of REP cavalry and small squad raiders and punish them. Else, quiet.

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[Rysyonok]

Things are starting to heat up ("no relation" to this being the weekend, hehe), and REPs are on the offensive across the North, West, and even over water. A NAT DD manages to one-kill a REP sub with depth charge. REPs, after massing 30+ ships, over 4 battles, finally manage to sink a lonely NAT gunboat, oof. REP ground forces catch up to a handful of NAT forces in the field where they could stack up 5+:1 odds, leading to significant kills

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[Rysyonok]

My apologies on missing the 10/28/36 turn. I don't recall anything mind-blowing there anyway. 10/29/36, though, was a genuine REP naval disaster. Two task forces, 7 +/- gunboats and DDs met a NAT CL. The CL ran away from the gunboats and proceeded to terrorize the destroyers... three down, one more barely limping home. This a straight to the chin, I deserved it moment. NATs rolled a pure 20 on a D20. The fighting was all in the daytime, and I had aggressive captains on the ships. What's next? My BB just finally made it to Barcelona, and all of my 3 CLs are still repairing in Odessa. I guess subs it is for a bit. And gunboats.

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[Rysyonok]

Here's 10/28.

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[Rysyonok]

This is a very interesting screenshot. NATs concentrated west of Andujar, REPs, in Andujar. NATs have 20K, REPs 32K. But look at the logistics, a single REP cavalry unit carefully clipped all of the NAT bases, and it is in fact parading 3 Italian tankettes to the REPs. So: to charge, or to let them rot? P.S. There's gun parity - 185 NAT:187 REP, but REPs have 48 more marching down from Madrid.

This is shaping up to be the most defining battle of the campaign.

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