AAR european diplomacy

[IRONCROM]

Start of turn 14
It would appear my fears were correct. I should not have advanced the 16th as it was badly damaged and pushed back by the Italians.
I am considering holding off on any further attemts to cross this river until I am finished refitting Army group North.
Then I could invest in some para's to drop behind Italian line as a diversion to help the crossing or maybe dropping some scouts behind there line via a shoreline attack a couple 2 or 3 hexes behind Marseille.
I'll have to consider my options here.
Any ideas would be welcome?[8|]

[rickier65]

Interesting AAR - Thanks! I've been wodnering how this scenario would play out against AI!

Rick

[IRONCROM]

Thanx Rick.[:)]

[IRONCROM]

Turn 14
An air attack on Lyon. Wish I had killed a few more aircraft on that attack!

[IRONCROM]

TURN 14
-I pound the Italian units into dust along the southern front again...
-Army group north is almost ready for action. I would like to make them a few more units but My PP's are spread pretty thin now.
I need to capture a big production city like Paris.
-The Italians have been attacking Lyon for some time now. I think my air attack my have made that a possiblity now.
On the possitive side if they do take Lyon that will take care of the rest of the French fighters stationed there.

[IRONCROM]

Turn 15
Lyon falls to the Italians!
Army group North advances towards Paris. I am content with just holding the river in south for now and punishing any Italian units that dare to venture to close.
I notice that the germans are driving into northern Italy and threating to cut off the western Italian army.
I'm not sure but I think they might be able to draw supplies from Lyon. Even if they can it will weaken the Italians on my borders.
The germans might provide the diversion I was looking for if I'm lucky.[:D]
-In the south the Brits sent another fleet to bombard Gibralter. 1 battleship, 1 cruiser, and 2 destroyers...
My subs destroyed the fleet.

[Ande]

just a very few units would make a big difference in africa

[IRONCROM]

That's true...I think after I acheave my objectives in France I will shift some PP's to building a small African army group.
-French units have been probing the river defences for some time now. Nothing very big or organized. Occasionally they attempt a crossing and I quikly defeat them...
-Every so often send one of my sub units back and forth between Gibralter and southern France and get a glimps of the coastal road.
I see French units shuffling back and forth and there appears to be a small battle ragging between the French and the Italians around Algiers.

[IRONCROM]

Turn 16
Ok... I have 3 objectives to capture in France. From North to South they are.
1. [Paris] A large PP city capable of producing whatever i want.
2. [Lyon] A small PP city that is only capable of producing only supplies.[some citiies in this scenario are restricted in what the can produce]
3. [Marseille] A large PP city capable of only producing Naval units.
-To the west my engineer will repair the bridge at Nantes to allow a steady flow of supplies north of the Northern river. That way I can send part of Army group North across the river for the assalt on Paris.
-In the center I will attempt to send 1 or 2 infantry corps through the narrow gap between the rivers to attempt an assalt on Lyon from the mountains just west of Lyon.
-In the south I have another Engineer in production that will help in the assalt on Marseille since the only engineer I have is busy helping Army group North.
They will arrive next turn. I am uncomfortable conducting a large scale crossing of the Southern river till I know I can repair the bridge at Marseille.

[IRONCROM]

TURN 17
Army group North starts crossing the river in force.My engineer had to move before attempting repair bridge at Nantes and lost to many action points to start repairs.
I was counting on that bridge being repaired this turn...My supply situation north of the river looks grim.[:(]
In the center my infantry approaches Lyon. Italian air forces already evacuated the city. They must be running in fear of the Spanish war machine.[X(]

[IRONCROM]

TURN 18
The bridge is repaired and supply flows freely to Army group north. Lyon has fallen into spanish hands as well.
It appears I was wrong about Lyon being France's supply base. I had to go into the editor to find out all of france's PP cities.
Brussels is frances supply city [circled in red]. The green circles are regular PP cities. With marseille being there Naval PP city and Algiers in Africa being a normal PP.
Either way Lyon has to be taken in order to get to Geneva right behind it... I am considering relocating my air force in Lyon as well.
It has a good central location in France.

[IRONCROM]

Turn 19
I continue to maintain cotrol of the air with a successful air raid on Paris. The wine must affect their ability operate flying vehicles.[;)]

[IRONCROM]

TURN 19
I cross the southern river in force and capture Marseille.
With my engineers repairing the bridge and a strong foothold across the river I don't think the Italians will be getting it back this time.
In the North my forces aproach Paris.
I will push forward to the Green lines on the map. Holding the Germans at the river in the North and the Italians at the mountains in the south.
All is well in France.[8D]

[IRONCROM]

Here are the casualties so far as of turn 19...

[IRONCROM]

After TURN 19
Damned English did a cross channel attack. AAAH![:@]
I will have to divert air power North after I take Paris and keep a eye on those buggers.

[IRONCROM]

Turn 20
PARIS FALLS!!!
A sad day in French history.[:D]

[IRONCROM]

TURN 20
With France buckling under Spanish military might I will recieve well needed PP's in the Spanish treasury.
-Army group South continues to push Italy back.

[IRONCROM]

TURN 20
Time for a long overdue upgrade to my land forces.[:)]

[IRONCROM]

TURN 21
Italy moves a large air formation to Geneva. [:-]
I make them pay the price!

[IRONCROM]

TURN 21
Spanish battle plans continue on schedule.
Geneva is my next target.
I'm building SMG's to act as garisons on the Northern coast of France as the chance of an English invasion makes me nervous.
This will require more than just garisons though...As I already found out I will need air defences in the area as well as a naval units to really defend myself against these tea drinkers.
I already have Subs in the area and a large battle formation of warships that has been under construction for some time will be dispached.
HMMM... I may even consider an invasion of England instead of pushing further into Germany.
I will definitly invade Italy though as soon as France is secure.