Anschluss or Bust; A GD1938 AAR and Test Game

[Krafty]

And last but not least with Germanys turn, wanted to mention I have 93 submarine SFTs and its growing.

[ernieschwitz]

On a side note, germany cant build battleships, so I cant tell exactly how much one these behemoths costs. My battlecruiser IIs cost 24,000 production points.

Actually everybody can and can´t. Understood like this. To build a the new generation of battleships one needs to research them first. Those can be built (Battleship IVs), but they cost a staggering 45000 production points each.

[Bombur]

From what I´ve seen up to now, we need, maybe, some adjustments in naval warfare. Submarines are too effective against destroyers and aircraft, and destroyers, as a whole, are too vulnerable. Destroyer losses are very high. Otherwsie, I think the naval system is ok.

[Krafty]

ORIGINAL: ernieschwitz

On a side note, germany cant build battleships, so I cant tell exactly how much one these behemoths costs. My battlecruiser IIs cost 24,000 production points.

Actually everybody can and can´t. Understood like this. To build a the new generation of battleships one needs to research them first. Those can be built (Battleship IVs), but they cost a staggering 45000 production points each.

Right I just havent researched them. Germany doesnt have much use in a surface fleet. Maybe if things go swimmingly. (Pun intended)


And wow @ 45k production (I think I noticed this as Japan, but havent built any ships with them yet) So thats quite a whollop losing 7 battleships.

I feel alot less bad about the losses the luftwaffe took this turn.





On to Italy:


21 Transport aircraft are gifted from germany to solve the supply problem in Italys overseas holding issue. 974 Supply was sunk this turn. Thats supply that could be better utilized upgrading SFTs if its not going to make it to units over seas anyways.

All overseas hqs are detached from Regia Marina. Theyre going to have to forage and live off their stocks over the next month while we get this sorted out.

Losses were heavy to escorts guarding the Italian fleet off the coast of greece. I think this is due to my deployment more so than them being too fragile. Since the way ATG works is that if a unit has no place to "flee" it surrenders in battle, a large single unit of naval vessels is very very vulnerable to being surrounded (if youre going to leave you fleets out, leave them a protected way to flee back to a friendly port) and then it merely has to lose a sea battle to be totally destroyed, wether all the ships are sunk or not.

So ive been using massive screens in the surrounding hexes of little units of destroyers and subs (which generally just submerge), it uses up the enemies action points, so that when they do get to your large fleet, they have taken hits to their readiness, and dont have a full cadre of action points to use against you.

This does mean that those little fleets are going to be horribly outnumbered and die in droves. But I think its essential to protecting the big fleet.

This strategy led to these results, as both the french main fleet, and british mediterrian fleet (britians last 3 battleships?! can I be so lucky?!) fight their way to the Italians main fleet off greece, and a descisive battle occurs.

Both fleets slink away with similar damage, and the descisive battle...is not descisive in the med.

In real life, the Italian navy didnt survive these descisive encounters. Bad descisions by Mussolini left the nation with no oil reserves, and no way to move its fleets. Its lack luster airforce, lack of radar, and generally tom foolery, allowed the british carrier Illustrious to attack them at port and sink the 3 battle ships I still have. Then a few weeks later, the descisive battle at Cape Matapan (which is 1 hex from where this battle just went down in our game, pretty cool huh!!!) finished off the Regia Marina as a fighting force.

I corrected these mistakes, having saved up fuel, and moved my fleet out of Taranto and towards Istanbul, where AA guns and german fighters stationed to protect the area can cover them. And well out of the range of allied land based bombers.

The same battle still occured with england and france trying (england and austrialia in real life) to achieve the knock out blow to the italian navy.

This time however it survives! Glory dayyys!

Its still a mere shell of itself, but losses were heavy on the allied side as well. While they own the med for now, nothing is certain in the future. The 3 great Italian battleships still survive, as do many of its capital ships. The screens took the brunt of the damage on both sides.

[Krafty]

Heres the Italian losses.

Results are from a few bombardments, and the naval battle. I did lose 4 cruisers, but sunk 1, and our screens both took the same amount of damage roughly. It was a bad day to be a gunboat or destroyer in the med.

Bombur thinks the results are a little high, im of the impression that its just the brutal way in which were using the fleets. Both Ernie and myself went right at each others throats with the naval game, trying to get early control of our areas.

We could have played the cat and mouse chess game of coming out of port only when a good target presented itself, and losses would be lower.

Now though in the span of two turns I think the battles for the med and atlantic are decided for the time being while England and Italy lick their wounds.

The lost supply is infuriating !

[Krafty]

In japan, air and artillery destroy a divisions worth of equipment and no japanese combat fatalities are reported this turn. Losses for the chinese are around 10 thousand men.

The situation in China as offensive operations cease after their objectives are taken.

[ernieschwitz]

1939, feburary, french turn

There is not much to report from the French this turn, as the lines are pretty much held despite some very good italian attacks from the alps into the plains. The Italians, not wanting to follow up, simply let the french reoccupy these areas.

The Italian fleet also flees from the confrontation that the French and British had forced it into, and possibly leave for the Black Sea. I expect they have docked in Istanbul, to refuel and such. French surface fleets also return to port, to refuel and replenish supplies.

Once again Frankfurt was the victim of a night bombing raid by the French Airforce. Despite even more flak being there than before, no planes were lost.

All in all a quiet month.

[ernieschwitz]

1939, febuary, British turn,

Some times you have to celebrate even the smaller victories. A big show is thus made out of the capture and liberation of the last Ethiopian city under italian control. Addis Abeba was captured, without a shot being fired. Watch this space for either a full blown attempt at covering up this mistake by the Italians, who spent most of the years prior to the game, trying to conquer Ethiopia, or for some sort of misdirection. There is no hiding that this is a major international boon for the allies, in a turn that is otherwise not very exciting.

[ernieschwitz]

1939, Febuary, American turn,

The Americans are content with sticking to their policy of isolationism. Chances they join the war are now at 4%.

[ernieschwitz]

1939, Febuary, Chinese turn,

In China the situation is pretty much unchanged... Chinese air attacks a Japanese HQ and causes quite a few staff casualties. Other than that, there is not much to report.

[Krafty]

March 6th 1939 - Italy

Losses this month were light, and the gift of 400 Ju-52s has solved Italys supply problem in Africa and the med. Half the supply was sunk, because half the supply went by air! A few transports were shot down or had some sort of accident, but the plan seems to be a success. Readiness climbs in Africa and theres plans for a counter attack.

The british have discovered that the defenses in Ethiopia were cardboard and dirt. The nation abandoned by Italy a year earlier.

With so many internal issues, Mussolini abandoned his own hopes at re building the Roman empire and placed his hopes in one of his fascist protoges. It appeared he'd signed on with fools when the Soviet union declared war on germany which the little lance corporal promised wouldnt happen. But so far the Furher is holding his own. Even Italy has won some victories and is providing a clear advantage to the axis forces. France cant defend its entire borders from attack. The end has begun for them.

News comes in that Brussels falls into axis hands and its factories immediately begin creating the needed transportation for the furhers promised new armored division (he is referring to it as "mechanized" but Mussolini is sure thats just a new term for an armored division, that crazy furher and his word games).

Battlefield reports are find soviet troops to be of inferior stock, but their quantity is truely frightening. Before the war soviet production was lack luster at best, but the nations sheer size makes conquest unlikely.

A political solution, or some other sort of solution must be found. Perhaps when Europe is in axis hands, and the empire of japan can play its part in the axis grand strategy, they will realize peace is perferrable to war. The USA is quiet thus far, but capitalist imperialist invaders in europes affairs is something the axis leaders are sure the soviets dont want either.

Heres the situation in southern europe and africa.

[Krafty]

Reports of the Japanese offensive ceasing were extremely premature.

A new operation that has been in planning for sometime has gone into effect and the last river in china has been crossed and bridged by japanese combat engineers.

SNLF Marines and 3 whirlwind divisions exploit the break through and utterly destroy a chinese army command.

Bombardments by the japanese carrier taskforce, and the imperial japanese army airforce, attack several other key command and control elements of the chinese army.

Operations are drawn up for the elimination of China from the world stage, and the exploitation of its resources to save the axis forces in Europe.

Since the soviet union attacked the axis powers in Europe, communication with the OKW has been severed. Japanese army officials and statesmen within the soviet union were arrested or detained.

Hirohito keeps steady with the plan devised at the Istanbul conference, though he has no idea what the situation is in germany. Its possible there IS no more germany after the soviet unions declaration of war.

Its possible Hirohito is alone now.

[Krafty]

The situation in China at the close of the axis turns.

[ernieschwitz]

1939, March, French & British turns,

The mood in France is not good. While the integrety of the french line is held, something has to be done about the constant assaults made by Italy, into french territory. The assaults are killing of 4 divisions each month as things stand, which is alot, by French standards. Talk has been circulated about a new plan to combat this, but nothing is concrete at the moment.

Night time raids on Frankfurt this month saw the first losses of the war for night bombers. This was possibly due to the fact that Turkish (?) heavy anti aircraft guns had moved into position in the city. Losses were 1 heavy night bomber II and 1 night bomber I, later when the british too attacked by night, they lost a night bomber I as well. Still it feels good to know that the Germans and their allies felt a need to combat our night bombers.

Things are heating up in africa, as the Italians have started an offensive in Libya. A single British division felt the brunt of these attacks. The RAF and RSAAF quickly avenged these losses by bombing artillery units that were exposed. Quite a few artillery peices were destroyed. In East Africa, the last of the Italian cities fell: No resistance. Soon troops will be moved from the horn of africa to more pressing areas of need.

Here is how the situation in France looked at the end of the British turn.

[ernieschwitz]

1939, March, American turn,

The Americans try to wake up of their isolationism, but once again fail to. The chance of america joining the war is now 5%.

1939, March, Chinese turn,

Chinese command is preparing for the worst. And it seems to be happening. There is no disguising that the bombing and halving of one army command center, and the near destruction of another is a deep blow to the chinese morale and combat effectiveness. Will the Chinese find a way to halt the Japanese onslaught?

[Krafty]

ORIGINAL: ernieschwitz

Night time raids on Frankfurt this month saw the first losses of the war for night bombers. This was possibly due to the fact that Turkish (?) heavy anti aircraft guns had moved into position in the city.

Yeah those wiley Turks have been producing my heavy flak guns. Might not be as good as german ones, but its just a defensive unit so i figured why waste national production on it. Kemal can handle that. Plus I need the heavy flak guns down there to help protect the beleaguered italian fleet.

Glad to hear I finally knocked some of those down! It took a turn or two for their XP to get up enough they could actually hit something.

[Krafty]

April 3rd 1939

The noose tightens around France as another 500 tons of supply ends up at the bottom of the channel. Antwerp falls, and Italy plans an offensive.

The Kriegsmarine returns to port, but not before sinking the Marat and Stovi, two soviet battleships that had been terrorizing troops formations around Danzig.

Several soviet divisions are routed, but german troops in the area after the conquest of Poland need a rest and dont follow up.

The soviet army appears to be very weak so far, but eventually the numbers will start to add up. Production needs to be hurt, soon, but until France and Greece are handled, nothing can be done offensively.

Arabia will be a target eventually. British and french troops strength in the area is pretty strong, and soon elements from africa and india will arrive.

Heres the situation in france.

[Krafty]

Low german losses this turn. Allied casualties continue to mount.

German PP production increases slightly, a respectable reserve is being built up.

[Krafty]

Italy adds to the pressure against the french, and this time crosses the river in the south of france in force.


I expect either some brutal counter attacks, or a full withdrawl of what can be saved in france.

I dont have full recon of whats in France (we've actually just lowered all recon values by 75% in our newest version, I think that will make a big difference and be more what people are used to in wargames, as it is you can see pretty far and have a pretty accurate view of whats where) but I think I can see enough.

There are some very well placed reserves of armor. Ive had to be cautious and not move into hexes even after successful attacks unless im sure I can hold that hex. Or if I can achieve (as with japan) a good result in defense, that weakens the enemy strategically. The 2nd is perferable when you can outnumber your enemy, or have a production advantage. You may lose divisions in their entirety, but if the cost of destroying those divisions is high enough for the enemy that it weakens their entire front, ill happily hang some young men out to dry.

I think the tipping point has happened here in France this turn (or certainly next turn) Thats why I feel safe posting a picture with units.

France still has some very strong divisions, and good defensive posture, but counter attacks are going to drastically weaken their numbers, and ruin their entrenchment, which on the plains, will be the only thing saving them from total annihilation.

They can also throw themselves at the germans in a hope to at least weaken germany, if Ernie sees that as strategically viable. But the tipping point in production is coming in the next turn or so too.

I believe the UK has around 106k production points, and germany just passed that.

It gained some more from coups and such, but has last amsterdam, brussels and antwerp which is over 10k there.

I think things are shaping up historically, I accelareted the war a bit, its just now going to pass May 1939, and that brought the soviet union into the war. Fortunately I dont think Bombur has had time to sort out the lack of Staff, and the general crap quality of the troops. So it isnt making the impact I was fearful of. The loss of Koniegsburg is bad, but Ill get it back in a few turns, either killing tons of soviets (now that their battleships are no longer a threat I can resume moving along the coast) or Bombur will cede it back due to attacks to the flanks making it an encirclement risk.

I dont feel I can move very far into russia though, with troops from minor nations, and a distinct lack of armor (from starting the war in late 1938, I have no armor factory and cant waste production replacing losses)


The german Force graph is on the rise again. Not at its all time high, but barring unforseen slaughter in 2 turns german strength will reach the highest point so far. I know Russia's is skyrocketing, but I can be fairly certain the allies are plummeting like a rock.

Losing 1000 power points worth of battleships probably looks pretty bad on the graph. Though its not really as bad as it shows. France is really supposed to lose unless by some miracle the german player makes massive errors.

The same with China. If these guys are winning against experianced axis players theres balance issues. So far I think everything is going very well, historically plausible but not rigidly historical.

America and Japan entering the war is going to be the crux of the game, if those dynamics of the real war continue in the mod, things are going to look very dire for the allies before the americans can help.

And of course Japan is going to be crucial to axis survival once that happens, making the war truely a WORLD war instead of in such small localized areas.

I think things are going to get very exciting once everyones attention and forces are diluted across tens of thousands of miles of fronts and borders.

[Krafty]

Heres the situation in China.

And after some deliberation, two upgrades to Japanese production are purchased. The home islands now produce 50% better than before, and 75% better than they did at the start of the game, about a year and a half ago.

Factories utilizing japanese workers are planned in china for the start of next year.