Ultradave(WA) vs scout1(Ger), '44 D-Day Start, Turn 33 -Jan 9th, 45

[ultradave]

Yes, I've just been poking at the ends of the line each turn. Leaving the middle alone where they have better positions in the mountains, hoping to make some gains without horrendous casualties.

[Seminole]

What do you do with TFs as this stage of the game?
They seem like they'd make great coastal can openers...

[ultradave]

Exactly as you say. I used them working my way up the French and now German coast. Had 3 of them offshore while the paratroopers attacked Wilhelmshaven. They can't quite be seen - just off the left of the Western Front picture, but there are 4 TF at the Dutch ports for just that type of use. 2 in England. Didn't need all of them for the Dutch invasion so I was able to use a couple along the Le Havre and north portion of the French coast (I had brought all but one from the Med to England. Now a couple have returned to the Med as they aren't needed in the north anymore).

Not shown in the pics are US 9th Army and French units placing a siege on Marseilles. A couple of TF there are helping out, based in the Med. Marseilles is quite a strong point but is weakening.

Each enemy port has receive attention from TF as I attacked them from land, including earlier the French coastal ports like La Rochelle. Seems to work a treat.

[ultradave]

April 10, 1945, turn 46

Hamburg fall to the US Airborne forces, and the British 1st Abn captures the depot at Kiel, the holdouts in Cologne surrender to the US 11th Armored Div., the US 13th Armored takes Magdeburg and the 8th and 16th Armored Divisions race toward Berlin, stopping at Brandenburg. The US forces of the 15th Army are now noticeably closer to Berlin than the Russians are on the eastern side. However, there are a number of German units grouped around Berlin. Some are routed and recovering there, so it's hard to get a feel for how well defended it is.

Farther south, 3rd Army pushes toward Frankfurt and the US 1st Army works its way along the Swiss border east of Frieburg. 9th Army holds the center and makes modest gains.

In Italy a combined push by the US 2d Corp, British 8th Army units and Poles, push hard into the middle of the German line, taking few casualties as German units melt away.

[ultradave]

The Italian Front

[Joel Billings]

What's the victory score look like? It looks like you're ready to score some early end points. Thanks for your AAR, it's been a good read.

[scout1]

Do you have any idea how much more the Italian real estate is going to be worth compared to the plains in Germany ...... ?

[ultradave]

Driving on Berlin. Kiel falls, and the 1st Army in the south eliminates much of the resistance to its front. US Armored and British airborne units advance toward Berlin.

[ultradave]

Victory screen so far. Should have done a better job with V-weapons before and bombing in general.

[ultradave]

Turn 48, April 24th

Armored divisions from the US VIII and XXI Corps arrive in the outskirts of Berlin and meet heavy resistance. They are joined by a British Airlanding Division, and the British 6th Airborne Division. The Russians are still to the east of Berlin quite a ways. The US VIII and XXI Corps establish a large penetration all the way to Berlin, and seal off most remaining German units south of the bend of the Elbe.

In the north the British 1st Airborne and the US XVIII Abn Corps clear the north German plains from Hamburg to Rostock.

South of the bulge the Canadian Army, the II FF Corps and the British VIII Corps shatter much of the German units on a line from Magdeburg to Erfurt and the Canadian armor reaches Halle.

The US 1st Army near the Swiss border drives forward toward Munich.

Toulon is surrounded.

In Italy the US VI Corp reinforced by a Polish armored brigade breaks through the western portion of the German line.

The goal ahead. Take Berlin!!

[ultradave]

Northern part of the Western Front

[ultradave]

The middle

[ultradave]

South

[ultradave]

Italy

[ultradave]

Victory points are at -77. It would be nice if Berlin would fall easily and end this a little early.

Open city? Probably not. There are two hexes that appear very well defended. They will be receiving special attention from at least 2 air forces. Not much that Scott can do in the air at this point so bombs away.

[ultradave]

One last picture for today, seeing as how the Battle of Berlin is the only thing left . Losses for both sides starting from the Normandy invasion. Personnel losses, air losses and destroyed units.

We have captured A LOT of Germans.

[scout1]

Houston, We have a problem .......

Tried repeatedly to run the turn and consistently hangs up at AD window, though it seems to automatically kick into some video ....
On my second attempt, noted as I was trying to initiate turn, it was listed as " *Completed* " .... What's up with this ?

Can't run turn ??????

[scout1]

Video grab that's playing

[scout1]

video grab that playing

[ultradave]

message overtaken by next message