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Normally this means I'd need both paratroopers and 2 corps at the beaches. But I also really want
to land a panzer corps and go for Bristol. So we follow the Greek strategy (hey it worked there!).

This time however, we are using the elites of the German Wehrmacht. All bombers are used, every single
one within range. Two attacks at 4-1 and we take the city.

What is different here though is that we can still land a panzer corps. So had we failed to take Plymoth even
with all that power we could land a panzer on the last beach and I confidently think we'd still have taken it.

It costs 60 landing ships but I think it is worth it. The plan is to land and then wreak havoc with
all our operation points...

To my horror the panzer lands with 4 OP. In my defense this is the very first
time I amphibiously land an armor unit.

Still 4 is enough, the corps from Plymouth is already beaten (our odds are 9-1)
and in Bristol there is only a divisional garrison.

At the end of the turn we move units from the east to the west.
We have another paratrooper in Cherbourg. Two Italian paratroopers arrive.
And more air units and our infantry corps with the heavy artillery.

This is where I notice that I forgot to move my HQ with von Manstein.
All the land battles were fought without a general! Major mistake.

I take a look at the combat reports. No general on the Allied side either!
One of the most crucial battles of the war and no generals are present.
It almost reads like real history...

Next turn we will have 30 landings ship available. We build 30 more which
will become available in August.

Say hi to Sillyflower over in his thread from me.

A truly audacious but well planned invasion. An operation worthy of Montrose's Toast which with a bit of good luck should drive England back to Hadrian's wall.

"He either fears his fate too much,
Or his desserts are small,
Who dares not put it to the touch,
To win or lose it all!"

James Graham, 5th Earl of Montrose
1612 to 1650
Royalist General during the English Civil War

The North Africa campaign had a look of being a stalemate of attrition until the USA arrives and hence a loss for Germany. Now? Germany/Italy might be able to sweep the M.E. and North Africa due to the Brits losing their home and source of supply before America can weigh in. Of course there is still the USSR waiting to jump in. I will be watching and taking notes as to what surprises the para's give Ivan.

Well executed op. Big strategic gamble, though. Probable early US entry + massive 42 Red Army. Not sure I'd do this, but like to see somebody else try it!

Turn 46: May 23, 1941

The British Navy is on the move. We take 3 step losses
and score 5 hits on various British naval units.
No movement in Algeria but it seems some units are leaving Egypt.

The first thing we do is land an Italian paratrooper between London
and Worthing. As expected, only a division as garrison. We drop a German paratrooper
too, but the odds are still only 2-1. So we decide to use our last landing craft.
After a single bombing run with stukas the city is ours.

Interestingly enough the paratroopers near Plymouth are still highly organized, 94% and 96%.
So if we let them rest and use our panzer and infantry to clear the divisions, we may able to
para-drop soon again.

Sure enough, with 10-1 and 5-1 this is no problem.

After careful consideration we drop our paratroopers around London.
Once we take that city and Southampton, Spain will join and our supply
lines in Britain will be secure. I did briefly consider going to a city
further north but it looks too risky.

Germany receives another paratrooper and tactical bomber, they move to the Calais
area. Two panzer corps arrive from the east.

The German fleet escorts two reinforcing units to Plymouth. Oddly enough our cruisers
were not attacked last turn.

Note that we did not use all our bombers this turn, I prefer to let them rest when
they are not strictly needed. All enemy units within contact of our ground units
were bombed a single time each.

Our objective now is Glasgow to the north. It is important that we take all of Britain.

Meanwhile in Algeria little happens, no British troops withdraw. I don't get it, I would
have sent them ASAP to the UK. Soon enough Gibraltar will be closed.

Italian units arrive to replace the Germans. We will be purely defensive here. Any offensive
will come from the west.

Most bewildering are the UK non-moves in Egypt. I would for sure either have gone on the offensive
or withdrawn.

German causalities are astonishingly light so far. This means we have production to spare:
Germany builds a heavy panzer.

Manstein can give his leader bonus from across the English Channel? Is he the HQ in Cherbourg as I don't see another in England?

What a brilliant operation Well done !( and a bit of luck thrown in .

Invading the USSR in 1942 will be interesting as the USA will be available to pile on then. If the Brits hold Suez which they should be able to do the Med will still be open even if Gibraltar is closed. Spain though will be able to contribute a fair military to Germany's cause.

I don`t think anyone ( but a gamer on a Utube playthrough ? ) got this far. Be interested to see if this affects the USSR.

Congrats on a bold and cunning plan!

Turn 47: June 6, 1941

It's unfortunate but the Allies evacuate southern England. It would
have been much better for us if they had stayed and died.