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I wouldn't say easy, exactly. But the Axis has a lot of ground to hold here with France, Iberia, Western North Africa, the British Isles and even Ireland. And then throw in the Soviets. He's pretty stretched. Something has to give somewhere. I hope you are building lots of mech and air with the Soviets right now. (You don't have to answer this and opsec is a thing.)

Didn`t the Canadians come in or before this ( Game ) time ?

Canadians come in from the start, and I did have a Canadian xxx in UK.

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

I wouldn't say easy, exactly. But the Axis has a lot of ground to hold here with France, Iberia, Western North Africa, the British Isles and even Ireland. And then throw in the Soviets. He's pretty stretched. Something has to give somewhere. I hope you are building lots of mech and air with the Soviets right now. (You don't have to answer this and opsec is a thing.)

If I'm right and Brits don't get anything in the way of resources until a GB (UK = GB + Northern Ireland) V point port is recaptured [am I right?], that a good 18+ months away for the Yanks I think.

Hey Ho.

No clue what happens to the supply point. You are in uncharted waters. If the game doesn't account for this, it should, either in Canada or somewhere in the empire.

I still have a small port (not on a trade route) in Scotland until sveint does his next turn, and I'm getting some PPs and lots of oil. No idea where it goes to, not that it matters

I have learned a tremendous amount about the game and strategy's and even tactics from your AAR. Thankm you as this takes a lot of extra work to do. Much appreciated! [&o]

Thanks baloo - appreciated

14 Oct '41

I held the port for 1 more turn than expected so managed to get 1 more xxx out than expected.

As I'm still getting 113 oil/turn the RN and USN head off to do battle (hopefully) with the German and Italian fleets which are sinking a lot of merchants again. Remembering for once to order more oilers because no friendly ports are within 1 turn's movement. British troops head to the middle east, not least because I think sveint wants to take out Turkey before starting Barbarossa.

This is how I reckon he would do it.




Marks looking like circles a drawn by a toddler represents paradrop locations, though the 2 further east are in range of the '39 tech fighters in Ankara. The arrow shows the major undefended port crying out for an invasion. Istanbul will not survive T1 after a prolonged bombing campaign.

Luckily, it's all hills and forests between Ankara and the USSR border so the LW won't be able to help much. Using Turkey to get to the middle east would make more sense if the allies were not paying attention. Having looked at the options for the purpose of writing this post, I am increasingly expecting sveint not to weaken Barbarossa just to get some free Turkish Delight, unless he can find a way to delay/prevent allied intervention before Ankara falls.

Alvaro has now admitted that he needs to reduce the size of the northern port and, more importantly, change the road from there to Ankara from rail to road. Because Turkey will ally with UK pre-Barbarossa, the Russians can only go in after Turkey falls. I have said to sveint that I don't want him invading Turkey before those errors are corrected. That might delay the game at some point, but I have no idea when the weather in Turkey will permit invasion.

28 Oct
Forgot to take any screenshots. Losing more merchants down south (partly because I forgot to reallocate them) but the RN carrier force gave the Kreigsmarine a shock when it was in harbour, despite defensive fighters. 7 hits but sadly no sinkings.

Re Turkey, we have agreed house rule no sea invasion of Eregli (the undefended northern port) until 1 turn after any axis DOW, rather than waiting for a new beta. I've also finally got the weather charts. I now think an invasion of Turkey pre- Barbarossa is a bit more likely, though I still think that he would regret it.

The USSR's new President Baldric has prepared his Cunning Plan. [Translator's note: watch the excellent Blackadder TV series if you haven't already]. Unfortunately, the plan cannot be published here because he's lost it.

As sveint looks toward the East...........................

............he still finds time to have a photo-op with his top generals before they finalise their '42 strategy

Looking at sveint 2 years ago (2nd post of this AAR) and comparing that with an up to date photo above is quite shocking. Probably a combination of the stress of command and forgetting to moisturise.

ORIGINAL: sillyflower

I've just done a test and if Glasgow falls the whole UK economy shuts down. No production, men or oil - even forces in the middle east can't get if from Iraq/Persia. America just sits there doing nothing, presumably until its normal DOW date. Units in the build queue cannot be placed.

All rather a (please imagine a long stream of words that are not allowed on the forum).

Did I miss something? Has Alvaro responded to this? Is this a bug or WAD?

My 1940 hotseat test resulting in zero economy and no ability to place new units on the map, has not been replicated in this game. Economy a bit smaller and new units appear in Canada on 'UK pacific bases' hexes.

OK. So bad but not catastrophic.

21 November



More merchant losses, but the axis surface navies get a spanking for once. From memory, German losses were port attacks. The German air losses were from fighters guarding the port from such a dastardly deed.

I reckon sveint is just intent on doing what damage to my merchant fleet he can before Barbarossa starts, after which he will not be able spare oil for his surface navies. Clever use of resources by an expert opponent.

Note to anyone thinking of writing an AAR. You should always praise your opponent's skill at every opportunity. If you lose, you can keep your honour. If you win, you might get people to think that you are the next MichaelT.

Editor's note: sveint really is very good.

5 December

Seems to have been very dull because I have no pics or recollection of it.

What is the state of the UK merchant marine? I expect it's gotten trashed badly by this point. Personally, I wonder if it is a mistake for him to commit the Axis navies so heavily at this point instead of during Barbarossa. I'd be deploying all of it near the UK and getting ready to gobble up lend lease to the Soviets. But you have a point about the oil.

Trashed is a good word, but I don't seem to need as many as before. Building more of course, but it's a slow process (6 months), and I can't see UK sending LL to USSR anyway.

Anyway, won't LL points go via the safe Persia route? I got a message a while back that the Germans (sic) had finished building the railroad, which was kind.

I'm pretty sure the Arctic route is the default route and lend lease will only go through Persia if the former is not available. Maybe there is a way to manipulate this to force lend lease to go via Persia by manually shutting down the Arctic route, but I have never tried this.