1943-1945 Campaign

kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Wed Aug 19, 2026 5:13 pm

February 5, 1944.

This is a difficult turn to narrate due to much information. I will start with victory points. Allies lost forty four this turn, which is a stunning amount. Between American losses, (US) and 'other losses'; fifty three points were awarded to Germany. When I say awarded I do mean earned by Mr. Bimmler. For Germany did several attacks and all were successful. Allied units had nowhere to retreat so were routed off the invasion area. This is similar to an attack using a task force as a ferry crossing. retreating units are automatically routed. I had stacked up units because I did not think Germany was in a position to counterattack in force. Furthermore, Mr. Bimmler has been tentative in attacks. All of this led to a disaster for the Allies (Kent). This is why I want to give a compliment to German High Command.

I also am now under the impression that an invasion by the Allies, in an attempt to secure Rome is not worth it; from a 'Victory Point' stance. I just do not think enough is gained in strategic resources along with the loss of victory points to justify it. Of course this is just my experience. And in this game I am playing for victory points, so this turn hurts!

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Thirteen amphibious transports were still lost this turn. A significant number indeed but also look at the loss of ground troops. This is what happens when forced to vacate an area.

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The next picture I wanted to show was interdiction levels. There are four occupied hexes that have significant numbers. A few others have lower numbers.

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I show Allied success as well as Axis success so that you can see a complete picture rather than a distorted picture due to ego. Few AAR ever show a complete picture. Final picture is of the Rome invasion site, which gives a detailed view of the situation.

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Wed Aug 19, 2026 5:41 pm

February 5, 1944.

I am starting from the southern attacks and working up. All attacks were successful in one assault but one hex was not occupied by Germany.

Hex One: Canadian armor brigade was routed.

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Hex Two: This hex is what caused the loss of so many victory points.

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Hex Three: This hex was the only one in which Axis units could not occupy. However, it was also a tempory port so landing site has been cut in two.

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Hex Four: This hex is needed for movement up and down the invasion site.

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Wed Aug 19, 2026 5:45 pm

February 5, 1944.

Fifth and final hex: This hex still has good interdiction so hope to reduce Axis combat value. It is also the strongest hex in the German line.

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As you can see by the picture, Rome landing site is under clear and rain. main Italian contact line is under clear sky. Northern Italy is under cold. Light mud is everywhere.

Europe is under a cold sky. Allies had to upgrade half of the British strategic bombers so it will be a light engagement.

There will be much tactical bombing. The Rome invasion site will be pounded with a reduced amount along the main Italian contact line. Active Axis air bases near Rome site will also be attacked by level bombers.

My goodness, what a air phase for this challenge. For the most part they have been mild but not this turn. During German air phase Axis lost 54 while Allies lost 28. during the Allied phase Germany lost 615 while the Allies lost 621. Crazy numbers. On the ground Germany lost 184. I have highlighted two categories that are substantial. Level bombers were 157 for Germany while transports were 78. That is a lot on the ground. Totals so far for turn are 699 For Germany and 649 for Allies.

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German losses due to air phase were almost 12,000.

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Final picture is of interdiction. In yellow they are from 3-7.

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Thu Aug 20, 2026 2:22 am

February 5, 1944.

On this turn I put around 25 flak units along the temporary ports and main port. This should help with breaking up Axis air ground attacks. First number is low altitude and second number is high altitude. Numbers shown are a combination of unit and facility flak.

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Two hexes were taken on main Italian contact line. Each was attacked only once but much in the way of combat engineers and artillery was used. Air ground attack was also used extensively.

Attack One:

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Attack Two:

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Did an airborne attack on the port of Anzio. It was left empty and I had one American regiment to attack with. Risky. All went well and they captured it. I then flew in the British air portable division. This is what they are designed for.

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Thu Aug 20, 2026 2:44 am

February 5, 1944.

Allies took back five hexes on Rome landing. Pretty much the same hexes. I will be starting from south to north.

First Hex: It took four attacks to take it. Previous German attack shows up as first attack.

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Attack Two:

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Attack Three:

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Attack Four:

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Thu Aug 20, 2026 2:48 am

February 5, 1944.

Second hex: It took the Allies twice to take it. This is the same hex which cost the Allies dearly last turn. Three units routed.

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Second Attack:

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Third hex was never occupied by Germany so no combat to take it back.

Fourth hex: Just one attack.

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Fifth hex: Allies took it in one attack.

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Thu Aug 20, 2026 3:09 am

February 5, 1944.

Wanted to show some of the air campaign. This is a slice of the strategic air campaign over the Ruhr region.

This hex had five engagements but three are worthy of recording.

One.

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Two.

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Three.

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Picture of another hex.

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Mon Aug 24, 2026 6:21 pm

February 12, 1944.

This is an interesting turn, as Allies and Germany are making Italy into a major theater of war. Each week of fighting reduces a week of European invasion preparation for Allies and Axis, But this also takes away from Axis garrison levels.

Let me start with victory points. Allies received 19 for this turn and game total is back above three hundred. 302 to be precise. But 'US' losses were eleven and 'other Allied losses' were twelve. That is 23 in total which should have made this a negative turn. However, Axis garrison level gave the Allied cause 32 points due to deficiency. Mr. Bimmler is placing extra armor divisions in Italy to stop the Rome invasion site. And at this point it is working. Allies cannot match the SS divisions. Below is chart of victory points for turn 33. Yellow is Allied losses and blue shows the garrison loss.

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The airborne invasion of coastal port was destroyed by Germany in one attack. I did hope it would have survived with the added air portable British division.

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Two hexes were taken back by Germany. The same ones as before. Both were defeated in one attack.

Hex One:

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Hex Two:

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Tue Aug 25, 2026 2:55 am

February 12, 1944.

Allies need to up the air war to help Rome landing site. Therefore, all missions are on seven day attack. This goes for Europe too. Most skies are cold so attacking should be good. Reconnaissance is good too. I have sent many missions to attack aircraft on the ground. I hope to get another 750 Luftwaffe loss. However, seven day missions will probibly add hundreds of operational losses for Allies too. But I am okay with that if I can reduce the Luftwaffe pilot core. Below is interdiction level before Allied air phase. I hope to at least keep the same level on most of the hexes. In a few weeks Allies loose many task forces. Or should I say, the game sends them automatically to the United Kingdom. So the clock is ticking on the Rome landing. This is why I believe Mr. Bimmler is willing to engage so extensively near Rome.

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Air phase did not go according to plan. Nearly 250 aircraft loss to operations. However, Germany did not loose many aircraft. 323 to be precise. Allies lost 654. That is almost double the amount. Germany also pulled back many of its aircraft so only around fifty were lost on the ground. Forgot to mention that the Liberator D model is empty now; It is a good feeling to clear out a model.

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Three hexes were taken on main Italian contact line. First hex shown was a mountain hex. It took two attacks to take it and also occupy it.

Attack One:

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Attack Two:

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Tue Aug 25, 2026 4:32 am

February 12, 1944.

Second hex taken and occupied on Italian contact line.

Only one attack:

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Final hex could not be occupied but there was a fortification so it still surrendered. The other Axis unit routed. This has opened up the port along the Western coastline.

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I drew the contact line in Italy. Red is advance and green is stationary for turn.

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I drew the contact line for Rome beach. Red is advance while green is stationary for turn.

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Tue Aug 25, 2026 4:49 am

February 12, 1944.

Eight hexes were taken on Rome but three were not occupied. However, second permanent port is now isolated. Oh how I wish the Anzio airdrop had held its ground.

From south to north. First hex was taken by zone of control.

Next hex was taken in one attack and isolated the Axis port, which is in blue. Axis unit was routed.

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Third hex helped to isolate Axis port and will probability be attacked.

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Fourth hex taken really opened up beach.

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I am moving to sixth hex because it was taken in one attack. It was also occupied but costly to take.

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Tue Aug 25, 2026 5:02 am

February 12, 1944.

Fifth hex took four attacks and there was nothing left to move into it. But I think it will be possible to take back if Axis units move to it.

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Attack two:

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Attack three:

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Attack four:

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Tue Aug 25, 2026 5:08 am

February 12, 1944.

Seventh hex took two attacks against a German infantry division. Hex was occupied.

Attack One:

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Attack Two:

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Eighth hex was against same division (71) but this time hex was not occupied.

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I have circled the four ports that Germany has along the west coast of Italy. Each are close but difficult to get too. Allies need to take them by March in order for task force redeployment not to be of major consequence. Of course Mr. Bimmler is not going to allow this without contention.

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Wed Aug 26, 2026 8:53 pm

February 19, 1944.

This is a complicated turn. To begin with, the Allies thought Germany did not have sufficient resources to contain an Allied Major offensive near Rome. Additionally, I thought Mr. Bimmler would not risk committing such a large portion of Axis resources to Rome's defense. I was wrong on both accounts so now Allies are in a quandary.

Neither side can keep this up until D-Day because: Allies have to prepare units for the upcoming European invasion and Germany is going to need some of the units in Italy to fulfill garrison requirements on March and May of 1944. But for this week Germany is fine with garrisons, while Allies are taking a beating on the Rome landing site due to strong SS units and Axis mechanized divisions.

Victory Points: -25 for turn and game total is 277. Allies lost 24 points in 'other Allied losses' and 9 in 'US' losses; marked in yellow. Germany only lost 2 in 'Garrison and partisan'; marked in blue.

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Next portion of post is the German air phase. I want to show the difference in how results are being reported.

Air loss chart: Germany lost 79 while Allies lost 25. I think a few aircraft are placed from previous losses during Allied ground phase and placed on following German air phase. That is my thought on it. No big deal because they are accounted for on next turn so it does not accumulate in error. Just a difference for the previous Allied ground phase.

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Metrics: Germany 25 and Allies 12. I believe this to be the accurate one.

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Weather: In Italy it is rain overhead while light mud is on the ground. Water level is 3-5.
Europe: Europe is cold overhead while snow and water is 2-6.

Here is picture if Rome landing site. Four hexes were taken back by Germany.

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Wed Aug 26, 2026 9:33 pm

February 19, 1944.

First hex took two attacks for Germany to take. This was helping the isolated Axis port.

Attack One:

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Attack Two:

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This second hex freed the isolated port and cost both sides many resources and soldiers.

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Third hex was taken in one attack.

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Wed Aug 26, 2026 9:39 pm

February 19, 1944.

Fourth hex taken back by Germany was expensive for Allies. It also makes the landing site stagnate since most hexes taken are lost the next turn. However, Axis units are getting low on armor.

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Just did air phase. Germany lost 286 while Allies lost 489. Not bad considering much ground attacking. A difference of 203. Strategic missions were on a four day week too. Below is chart and I checked it against metrics. Perfect match when including the 12 Axis aircraft losses and 25 for Allies during the German air phase.

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Next chart is the new interdiction. Ocean is under control but ground is also doing good. I have circled hexes that have two or more.

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First hex attacked was the port and it fell in one attack. I added supply from the air to increase combat value then attacked with three infantry divisions since they do well against fortifications. Interdiction level was 5, which is good. The German brigade routed.

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Thu Aug 27, 2026 1:49 am

February 19, 1944.

This second hex is important because German had much armor in it. I have circled in yellow the Allied engineer and artillery used. I also circled the axis units.

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Third hex is next and was taken in one attack. Truly a volatile front; hexes changing each phase.

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Fourth hex, taken in one attack.

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This fifth hex was even more costly to Germany. I have bracketed the cost in blue.

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kentkroeckel · Post by **kentkroeckel** » Thu Aug 27, 2026 2:19 am

February 19, 1944.

A sixth hex was taken on two attacks. This was expensive yet important.

Attack one:

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Attack two: Notice how little armor is left to SS unit.

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Seventh hex was a gamble but I felt it could open up the northern area. Axis unit was routed.

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Next picture is of main Italian contact line. Several hexes were taken. It is as if the line got ripped in two. Red is advance while green is stationary for turn.