Encircled by Enemies (PBEM gwgardner vs Chocolino)

[Chocolino]

1-2-42

The US has declared war - but the American fleet has put in a pit stop at Gibraltar. From there they can reach many different destinations fairly quickly.

Since it is a new year I have put in the casualties list for the game so far. Again, I don't have much to compare it with but Russian air losses appear to be high. Another play through shows this number at 240 instead of 200 - but 18 month further into the war (June 1943). But my opponent has used Russian air power very liberally and not without effect.

[John B.]

Looks like Germany is doing very well on the land war when you add together France, Britain, and Germany. And, Italy seems to be in good shape as well.

[Chocolino]

Allied land losses are about 3 times as high as Axis so far. But the year-one Soviet losses are a big contributor and I am not sure how much it has actually hurt them.

But for the Wehrmacht even these losses are quite severe - it is not only oil and the logistics cap that is limiting but also manpower which dwindled quite a bit towards the end of '41.

[Chocolino]

1-16-42

Winter quarters for the Germans and the US fleet is still at Gibraltar. Perhaps they are waiting for reinforcements to arrive.

1-30-42

A nice break in the winter weather in the Ukraine and the Axis uses the opportunity to drive the Russians back to the Black sea coastline near Odessa. Unfortunately, it seems we cannot do without the Hungarian corps - they are back in the front line. Over the course of the last year they have gathered some experience and are not as weak as one may think.

The Soviets have assembled some strong units nearby in the Krivoi Rog are. Let's see what they plan.

[Chocolino]

2-13-42

The Russians make a winter offensive in the Ukraine south of the Dnieper. After a very heavy air attack on a German Mech. corps, they drive it back one hex. (There are seven Russian air armies on this picture alone.) The remnants of the German mech were sent for recuperation to the back (it is the mech.corps at the center left of the picture). German effectiveness is low during snow - so a German counterattack had low odds and we instead corrected the front by retreating another infantry corps.

Hungarian readers may be interested to learn that the Hungarian corps in the line near K.R. actually held in the face of a determined Russian attack.

Not sure what the earlier message of the US entering the war actually meant since I realize now that they are still at peace with the Axis. Perhaps they are now free to declare war if they so wish but have not actually done so.

[Chocolino]

2-27-42

In a treacherous move the US declares war on neutral Vichy France and occupies Algeria. French North Africa immediately surrenders. The European part of the country requests Italian protection which means Italy gains control and a new VP objective in France. (Unfortunately the screenshot of this event is corrupted - no pictures).

Germany dispatches an infantry corps to Tripoli to safeguard this city from American aggression. A second corps is at the ready in Sicily.

[Michael T]

Maybe your opponent can answer this for me.

Was the US able to declare war on the Axis any earlier than the default?

Considering the UK's loss of key territory and the rules for the 39 scenario I would have thought the US could have DOW earlier?

[gwgardner]

No, in this instance the US came in after Pearl Harbor. The collapse of the UK sent US Allied percentage up to 75%. I never tried to influence it higher, don't even know if I could.

[Michael T]

So you are playing with Dip on?

[gwgardner]

If that's default. I never turned it off. I like to play historical, don't often play around with bringing in Spain or Turkey, etc.

[Chocolino]

Yes, Diplomacy is turned off in PBEM by default. The only option available is a Declaration of War. I don't even know how to turn Diplomacy on in PBEM. Perhaps you have to mod the setup files.

[Chocolino]

3-13-42

American troops didn't waist any time in French North Africa and occupied all ports (except for Atlantic ports). Officially we are still at peace with the Americans and cannot enter Tunisia unless we declare war ourselves (there is no disadvantage to doing so that I can see, but the Axis doesn't have the forces to challenge North Africa anyways - so we abstain).

[Michael T]

For the record I agree, Dip should be off. As Alvaro recommends.

[Chocolino]

3-27-42

More US troops approach the Lybian border menacingly. The heavy rain makes road deployment of additional Axis border patrol units slow. Winter weather prevents activities in almost all theaters.

[Chocolino]

4-10-42

As it is quiet almost everywhere before onset of spring/summer it is a good opportunity to visit the siege of Odessa. Over the course of the last 2 month the Axis managed to fully surround the city. At first sign of good weather we will make an attempt to take it which will free up some more units.

Also interesting to note that the Soviets have garrisoned all ports connecting to the Black sea including (not shown) the ones on the eastern shoreline.

[Chocolino]

4-24-42

There are heavy rains in the southern Ukraine but luckily Kiev and the Dnieper just south of the city are not affected. German armored units cross the river which was held here only by mid-level Russian units. The best Soviet units (that I can see) are protecting Rzhev and Krivoi Rog.

[Chocolino]

4-24-42

In the center the Wehrmacht liberates Vitebsk and an attack on Velikie Luki succeeds only in driving out the defender - but there is no German unit with enough movement left to actually occupy the city.It would be helpful if the Germans could clear the Vitebsk - Novgorod rail line for supply purposes in the next few weeks.

[Chocolino]

4-24-42

American troops move up to the Lybian border. This looks ominous. Unfortunately our intelligence on the American troops is so low that we don't know what we are up against (except that we deal with a number of mechanized corps) and imagine the worst of course.

[Chocolino]

5-8-42

The Russians block the small breakthrough near Kiev with their near endless supply of troops. There is no point in rushing forward with our tanks (if we even succeeded) as we will only get cut-off. But we can widen our flanks and roll up the front to the north and south.

[Chocolino]

5-8-42

AGC pushes on to the outskirts of Rzhev where General Zakharov was killed in action while his HQ was attacked. We also occupy Velikie Luki which is a "morale city" (not sure if this will have any noticeable effect on the Russian fighting effectiveness). Perhaps more experienced players can tell.

From other areas:

Odessa (not shown) finally sees reason and surrenders to Axis persuasion. The Russian fleet stationed there is fleeing out to sea.

In Lybia the Americans continue their build-up but still don't attack.