Monty vs Tyler PBEM AAR

[kinetic]

China Winter 1941

Headlines - Chang Infuriated by last minute move of supplies from the Burma road to India!

Other than that, the only news in China is the sound of crickets.... and the falling of Japanese bombs....

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Allies Winter 1941

London (Reuters) Churchill orders blockade of Spain and France! Operation "Bottle of Burgandy" will stop U-Boat menace!

Baghdad (Baghdad Post and Gazette) In response to the Shah's demands, ANZAC forces are set to defend Iraq. Although outnumbered in armor and front line troops, the RAF rules the skies. Lord Mountbatten is quoted as saying "We will defend Iraq to the death, unless of course, we have to advance in another direction"

Could be a big U-boat fight in the Bay of Biscay. I have my #2 ASW CAG's screened well, and have 2 to 1 ships vs. subs, so if Jerry does try to attack or break out, I hope to cause more losses than I take (although his torp #3 is worrisome). Jerry could sortie his fleet to the Irish sea, which would make this interesting, but this would cost alot of supply, and I hope for a small battle.

Putting troops in Iraq is more of a delaying action. Again, if Tyler wants something in the Med or Mid East, he can get it. But, this should cost him a turn to bring up his Infantry, and my fighters should slam his TAC, as well as reduce the evasion of his troops if he tries to roll Iraq in the Spring.

SCREENSHOTS! (I hope)

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3 Spitfires flying CAP over 2 carriers in the Bay. 4 Subs in Brest.
A Spit, a Tac(?), nd a Lancaster off Gib, with a BB and 2 DD's. 2 Subs in Gib.
1 sub and 1 BB in W Ger. Rest of fleet in Baltic.
1 BB and 2 DD in Irish Sea. Spit in Scotland should provide some interdiction if it comes to that.

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Mid East.

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Europe

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Forces.

8 Uboats, yuck. Tank parity between Russia and Jerry though. 2 extra CV's laid down.

[RTDouglas]

I will post my turn tonight[:)]

I have a BF42 match I have to be at.

[RTDouglas]

Germany Spring 1941

WAR IN THE EAST!

Army Group North

Operation Barbarossa has begun. The Soviet menace cannot continue to exist for as long as Germany rules over the new Europe. Although I didn't feel 100% ready, I decided it would be better to strike early. I don't have alot of experience attacking Russia so I don't really know if I'm doing well or not, but we shall see.

First shots are fired on Prussia/Baltic frontier as 2 German Infantry supported by an Arty Unit attack the Soviet 3 Infantry. The Germans sweep aside the Soviet defenders, destroying 1 inf and damaging the other 2. Germany suffers a damaged Arty.

Having liberated the Baltics from the Communist dogs, the Wehrmacht acted quickly to exploit the breach in the Soviet defenses. Army Group North was assigned the very valuable and daring prize of Leningrad. High Command felt that if Leningrad could be taken early, it could prove to be a critical point from which to strike further into the Soviet Union. Also it could prove to be a very important strategic defense point. From Leningrad, the High Command felt that our Northern flank could be protected indefinately.
6 Panzers, 1 Para, 1 Bomber and 1 Tac Bomber were thrown at the enemy with singular determination. Soviet defenders consisted of 4 Inf, 2 Arty, 1 Ftr plus the Soviet Baltic Fleet consisting of 1 Cruiser, 1 Transport and 1 Sub. The swift and heroic actions of the German soldiers forced the Soviets to retreat and Leningrad was now in German hands. Germany suffered 1 Tac Bomber and 1 Panzer damaged, while the brave Paratroopers, critical to the success of the operation, were completely destroyed. The Soviet Baltic Fleet was destroyed, however no Soviet land units were destroyed. The Soviet 4 Inf, 2 Arty and 1 Ftr were all damaged. Overall we are pleased Leningrad is now firmly in German hands, however we are concerned that not enough Soviet units are being outright destroyed.

With the fall of Leningrad the Finnish Government felt the time was right to join Germany as an equal member of the new Europe. Eager to avenge the "winter war" the Fins turn their eyes to Karelia. 1 Ftr and 1 Bmr are sent to attack the Soviet forces there, yet fail to do any damage. Determined to succeed the Fins send 4 Inf to attack the Soviet defenders consisting of 1 Militia, 1 Inf and 1 Arty. We succeed and destroy the Soviet Milita, damage the Infantry and force the Ary to retreat. Our costs again are high however, with 2 Inf damaged by the tenacious Soviet defenders.

Overall I am worried about our attacks in the North. Although all our objectives were accomplished, we suffered very high casualties IMHO, and neglected to destroy many Soviet units. By damaging them we are sure to see them again, and next time they will Know who they are fighting. Leningrad will indeed become a critical point in Army Group North's defense in the future I feel.

[RTDouglas]

Germany Spring 1941

Army Group Center

Our first task is to take out the Soviet Airforce. 2 German Ftr's scream across the East Polish frontier and engage the 1 Soviet Ftr and 1 Tac Bmr. The Tac Bmr is destroyed and the Ftr is damaged at no cost to the Luftwaffe. Now it is the Wehrmact who moves, 4 Inf, 1 Panzer and 1 Arty attack the Soviet 3 Inf and 1 Tank. The attack is a success and 2 Soviet Inf and 1 Tank are damaged and 1 Inf is destroyed. German casualties are again high with 3 Inf damaged. This does not look good so far...

[RTDouglas]

Germany Spring 1941

Army Group South

The single Luftwaffe Me-109 Squadron attached to Army Group South didn't have a good feeling as they crossed the Soviet border into Kiev and they didn't have to wait long to realise why. The Soviets were in the air and waiting with 1 Ftr and 1 Tac Bmr. Dogfights began immediately and when all was said and done both the German and the Soviet Ftr's were damaged.

The air attack was quickly followed up by the ground pounders. 6 Inf, 1 arty and 1 AA were sent into Kiev to face the Soviet Army of 2 Inf, 1 Tank, 1 Arty, 1 Tac Bmr and 1 AA. The fighting was swift and brutal. Artillery played a critical role in this battle as guns from both sides pounded away. When the dust settled both the German and Soviet Arty units had been completely destroyed. Soviet casualties also included 2 Inf, 1 AA and 1 Tac Bmr damaged. His Tank was unfortunately able to retreat unscathed from Kiev. On top of the German Arty being destroyed, we suffered 2 Inf damaged. Kiev is now German, but again at high cost.

In Odessa a daring German raid was launched consisting of 1 Inf, 1 Militia and 1 Bmr vs the Soviet 2 Inf. Our raid was completely foiled and the German Militia was destroyed. Soviets suffered 1 Inf damaged and held Odessa firm.

Overall I knew I was lacking enough men and equipment to really hit the Soviets hard this spring, I had certainly hoped for better, but overall I suppose I shouldn't complain. I still hope that my decision to strike early and use the extra season before winter will prove to be the correct choice, although I am having my doubts. I am just gald that Monty didn't build much in his Western Soviet provinces, or I definately would have had to delay. I would have liked to focused more on preparing my Soviet attack, but I think I did my best considering how hard I am fighting against the WA in the Med and soon in the Atlantic.

[RTDouglas]

Germany Spring 1941

War in the West "aka" the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

In the west the Allies have been very busy with ships and men scurrying about off the coast of a German Europe which stretches from Gibraltar to Karelia. Funny how when you play the Allies you never have enough ships and when you play the Axis you wonder where the hell the Allies got so many ships[:'(]

Off the coast of Gibraltar 2 Luftwaffe Ftr Squadrons form up and attack the Allied forces sitting off the west coast. The English have 1 Ftr, 1 Tac Bmr, 1 Bmr, 1 BB and 1 Cruiser. The air battle is pitched and when it is over, both sides have suffered 1 ftr damaged. Not content with the results, Doenitz sends 2 U-Boat Packs against the same Fleet. 1 English cruiser is damaged and 1 U-boat is damaged.

Off the Newfoundland coast 1 U-boat attacks a transport and damages the ship, but not before the captain of the merchant ship rams the U-Boat and causes significant damage. Those Canadian's are F*%kin' crazy exclaimed the shocked German Captain.

In the Med things remain fairly quite as the Allies have heavily reinforced Iraq and local commanders from both sides pause to evaluate their next move. To protect from any daring Allied air raids however, German troops occupy Cyprus.

Spring has now come and gone and the die has definately been cast. England lives and is growing in strength, however the Med has been secured by the Italians, and hopefully we shall draw significant Allied resources in order to deal with us. The western front is secure and our U-boats are now ready to stike en masse to delay the Allied build-up. In the East things have been bloody, but we have taken ground from the enemy and have high hopes to take much more. We shall see what destiny brings, but one thing is certain, the WAR is FAR from over.

[RTDouglas]

Japan Spring 1941

Massive air attacks all the rage in China as Japan once again send an armada of planes to sweep down on the Chinese defenders in Chunkiang.

2 CAG, 2 Tac Bmr and 3 Bmr's hit the Chinese capital and suffer appaling lossess. 1 CAG and 1 Tac Bmr damaged and 1 Bmr destroyed! Chinese suffer 2 Inf damaged and 1 Militia destroyed. Japan considers calling off daylight raids on Chungkiang...

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Russia Spring 41.

The Late Head of the NKGB has been honored by being named "Hero of the Soviet Union". Stalin is stunned, and reportedly in hiding, in the vodka producing region of the country. The majority of the Panzer's headed to Leningrad, although I will agree with Tyler, and say that I am pleased by the casualties my poorly led and trained forces inflicted.

The General Staff has order a fallback to the Yaroslavl, Smolensk, Kursk, Kharkov line. However, after the German attack in Odessa, the total command of the remaining Inf division was obliterated. A young commissar had to take charge of the unit, and, with little military training proceded to follow HQ's order to retreat to the NE. Unable to read a compass, he lead his new command SW, right into a mostly undefended Rumania. Finding himself in Bucharest, and realizing his position was most likely untenable, he proceeded to burn the Ploesti oil fields, and await the inevitable.

The women of the Motherland are busy knitting cold weather clothing for their fighting men.

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China Sp 41.

Furious over the "Diverted Supplies" incident, China's AA gunners took out their frustrations on the daily Japanese Air raids.

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Wallies Spring 40.

Facing a no confidence vote for not engaging the Nazi's, Churchill this week struck, and struck boldly.

CAG's from the Illustious, Ark Royal, and Couragous task forces, with help from Lancasters from the Canaries struck the U-boat pens at Brest. 2 wolfpacks were sent to dry dock, with no loses in Brest. Unfortunatley, more U-Boats would have been lost, but an RAF tactical squadron was mauled over Spain. It seems the commander of the squadron, knowing there was no AA or Luftwaffe presnce in Spain, ordered low level flight over Spain in transit to Brest, hoping to get in some much needed training. However, his flight flew right over a Wehrmacht division's firing range, and it was "Heavy Weapons Training Day". (18 defense for the TAC, and the Inf rolls a 18 on 3 dice, about a 1 in 108 chance (1 in 216, but there were 2 Inf)).

Allied forces also landed unopposed in Finland, marching into a stunned Helsinki.

I have put almost all my ground forces in Finland, hoping to buy time for the Soviets. They had to be used somewhere, and this seemed like as good a place as any. Tyler my wipe them, but I think this will buy the Soviets at least 2 turns, and tie up the majority of German armor. Also, I am still blockading Brest, and I am also trying to blockade West Germany with 2 BB, 2 DD, and a CV. Tyler can oppose this, but it will cost 11 supply for him to move his fleet out of the Baltic.

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Tech. Instead of posting alot of screenshots, I am going to format is with a number, and + = red, ++ = yellow or orange, +++ = green.

Infantry (GA/EV)
GE 6+/6+
JPN 6+/5++
RUS 6+/5
WA 6/6

Armor (GA/EV)
GE 8+/8
RUS 7/9
WA 8+/7

Arty (GA/EV)
RUS 7++/6+

FTR (Move/AA/EV)
GE 1/7/6
WA 2/6/5

CAG (Move/AA/AS/EV/ASW)
WA 2/4/4/5/2+
JPN 2/4/5/5/1

Subs (Torp/EV)
GE 3/2
WA 1++/2++

DD's
WA 2 ASW

If it isn't listed, it's baseline.

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Forces.

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Invasion of Finland. 5 German armor in Leningrad, 2-3 Arty in Finland, 1 AA, rest Inf.

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South USSR/Mideast.

[RTDouglas]

Germany Summer 1941

High Command demands the situation on the Eastern front be stabilised and as such no large or risky battles were done. Things were definately botched in the East and my lack of experience with Barbarossa certainly did shine through much brighter than I would have liked. The survival of Germany is at stake however and I have no time to feel sorry for myself.

Operation Barbarossa

Army Group North

With the massive English landing in Finland the High Command had to take a serious look at the problem this presented. We could either strike the English immediately with a decent chance of success or we could build-up our forces in Leningrad in order to force the Allies to choose whether to commit even more ground forces to Finland or face annihilation. If we had been in the position to destroy the allied transports off Finalnd and cut of any avenue of retreat, we very likely would have hit Finland. This was not possible however and so High Command decided that the situation in the East was to dangerous to risk the loss of Leningrad. Consequently German forces reinforced Leningrad heavily and only a couple minor attacks were made.

Archangel was attacked and taken by 1 Inf from Karelia. Not so much to hold the province as to make the enemy work for it, and to destroy the rail link.

The only other attack in Army Group North was launched from the Baltic states against Velikiye Luki, where 1 German Inf and 1 bmr attacked the 2 Soviet Militia defending. 1 Soviet Militia was destroyed and we were forced to retreat. A second German Inf from the Baltic states was sent to sweep aside the remaining Militia and was successful, destroying the remaining Soviet Militia and occupying the territory.