Berserk! sveint(Axis) vs Sillyflower(Allies)

[sveint]

The poor souls are sunk of course, now we just need one more... or perhaps a main fleet?

No, one more diversion:

[sveint]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

That is very odd about France.

Maybe the allied DoW on Italy borked the script?

Ah, that could be the reason! I've been wracking my brain trying to think of what it could be.

[sveint]

Our second sacrifice is sunk without fanfare. Now I only hope I'm right.

Either way, we can handle 2 CA groups with one fleet, the German 11th corps
and the main Italian fleet sail to the beaches of Athens!

Oddly enough there is no real naval battle, I was hoping to sink one of those cruisers.

[sveint]

Next the elite Alpini corps escorted by the second Italian fleet sails,
and we sink the Norfolk CA group! But weren't there two CA groups?
Confusion reigns in Axis HQ.

Either way, our landings are successful.

[sveint]

Then paratroopers and bombers, poor Greeks don't know what hit them.

[sveint]

We must not fail on this attack so we give the German unit heavy artillery.
(But wait is the Greek unit even entrenched?)

[sveint]

The first attack only inflicts 3 step losses (yes the Greeks are indeed dug in), and the units now have a single OP.
We make a single last ditch attempt with all but one of the paratroopers and Greece surrenders!

I have to say I think we got really lucky here. I think if the assault failed we could safely have taken
the southern port (Kalamata) with an unescorted infantry unit but still we would have been in a
bad position. Notes for another game: use German paratroopers (don't even build them with Italy)
and perhaps infiltration promotion?

[sveint]

All is not golden though, we've lost Rhodes and the Italian fleet is split and
in a vulnerable position, I fear the worst come the British response!

Italy disbands its interceptor and builds a mountain corps.
Germany is at 87% manpower after heavy losses in France and builds 10 supply trucks.
Germany sends 30 oil per turn to Italy.

The beginnings of an Africa corps arrive at Tobruk, one interceptor and a corps.
Next turn an HQ, another corps and the 2nd Light Panzer should be available.

As an addendum, I almost feel bad for SillyFlower, he's going to load his turn to
two countries surrendered. But... he did win our last game on the very last turn so
no quarter will be given!

[sveint]

I feel I have to comment further here, it was an odd turn of events in Greece.
My inital plan was much more conservative (take Kalamata, establish supply lines,
and surround Athens as much as possible). But because of the large British fleet I
changed it at the last minute.

As the British I'd split my fleet in two and position myself slightly more east.

As the Axis... well it's a gamble but I think it will take 2 German paratroopers
and 2 or 3 (there are 3 beaches near Athens) strong landed units (German or Italian
mountain). That's really hard to do unless Paris falls in early August.

A more conservative approach is possible too, where one draws the British into
Axis air superiority. But losses will be higher and the weather can be a great hindrance.

And don't be a dummy like me and give up Rhodes for free. It's a vital air base in the region.

[sveint]

Proofreading this turn I notice I could have landed another Italian infantry unit!
There are two beaches south of Athens and with another unit I think the odds would have been much better.

I sure made some mistakes and in hindsight I think the whole Greece operation was reckless. A bit like the
historical invasion of Norway. I'll end my rambling here in anticipation of the next Allied turn.

[Majmac]

ORIGINAL: sveint

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

That is very odd about France.

Maybe the allied DoW on Italy borked the script?

Ah, that could be the reason! I've been wracking my brain trying to think of what it could be.

Could it be because you had occupied Vichy before the fall of France?

[Harrybanana]

Nicely done Sveint. If I understand the Retreat Table correctly, a 4-1 attack stands a 60% base chance of causing a retreat. But with the attack taking place in rugged terrain and taking into account the defender's effectiveness and that of the commanding general; I really have no idea what your final odds were.

I am unsure why Sillyflower DOWed Italy when he did. France generally doesn't surrender until the German turn after Paris falls. I assume this is to give the Allies one chance to retake it during their turn (though I suspect the turn is mostly just used by the Allies to do as much damage to the Axis as they can). So if he had waited one more turn he still could have captured Rhodes and presumably France would have gone Vichy; though you can't blame Sillyflower for not knowing about this possible bug.

But I am most interested in hearing from others as to how the Allies could have prevented this. I assume it has to do with having more and larger fleets in the area.

[Flaviusx]

If Sillyflower had carriers down there in the right places, I'm not sure the Italians could've pulled this off. As things stand, the Regia Marina is going to pay a stiff price for taking Greece between what happened this turn and what Sillyflower does next. It's basically going to be a spent force after this.

Taking notes here myself for my own current Axis game. Greece is not a gimme if the British contest it. Am honestly not sure how I plan on taking myself. This plan worked, but it was sketchy and more could be done to make it harder.

[sveint]

Turn 29: September 27, 1940

Well it seems I am rather clueless when it comes to the establishment of Vichy France,
which is established this turn.

Also this turn, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia joins the Axis. Getting Yugoslavia and their manpower
is a big deal.

Meanwhile the Allies occupy Syria, a very wise move on their part.

At sea our u-boats sink 3 merchants and an escort. In a fleet battle, Italy loses
the Littorio BB group. Honestly it could have gone much worse. And the UK bomber in Rhodes
fails to score any hits.

Also for some strange reason a British unit lands in Bordeaux.

[sveint]

Bulgarian and Yugoslavian Reinf./Upgrade is set to 0 so that we can eventually build more units.

As the weather is still good, Germany and Italy declare war on Vichy France (I suppose we are using
Syria as a pretext).

Sadly we lose the general Georg von Küchler (replaced by von Kliest), but Vichy France stands no real chance.
It will last one more turn as Italian forces are not mobile enough to reach Marseilles. Perhaps we'll get lucky and
some British units will reinforce.

[sveint]

The 2nd Light Panzer, a corps and an HQ (Blaskowitz for now until we can replace him)
arrive in Tobruk.

Later in the turn we ship in a German and Italian paratrooper.

[sveint]

Italy still had 70 landing ships (now 50) so we use 20 of them to take the small port of Bone in Algeria.
Another corps will walk from Tripoli but I expect to reinforce with strong forces through Bone.

An Italian corps from Albania is also sent to Olbia in northern Sardinia.

[sveint]

Various other Axis forces are moved and reorganized all over Europe.
Notably Yugoslavian forces start arriving as garrisons in French ports.

To keep the UK on its toes we also strategic bomb Southampton, taking 3 step
losses, causing 7 and 2 industry damage. As I think is evident now, we want to
keep pressure on the UK on all fronts.

Germany is at 90% manpower but has 459 production to spare so we build a u-boat
(I've never built one before in WarPlan!) and an interceptor. This will bring our
total to 6 interceptors which I think is good.

[sveint]

Turn 30: October 11, 1940

U-boats sink another 4 merchants. Allied fleets appear off
our African ports, where Italians score hits on the Revenge.

[sveint]

Off Bone there is a single Allied BB group, probably of Vichy origin, so we send Italian submarines to attack.