Road to Where: Axis

[gwgardner]

At the end of June 16th turn. The German army marched into Lille and paused for reinforcements hoping, in the last week of June to be able to punch another hole through the still strong Allied front. the enemy did not take the bait along the Maginot - no advance.

Meanwhile the Royal Navy went missing, and allowed three additional German divisions to land at Edinborough. The German high command was briefly tempted to continue reinforcing the bridgehead with two more corps, beyond the one corps and one division already at sea and on the way, but such a move risks the loss of so many units that later offensives, in the East, would be impossible.

[player's note: The biggest problem I foresee if I did decide to push hard in the UK, is my lack of experience with the game's naval system. Would the British navy be able to hit my supply convoys and transports? I'm not willing to test the limits of the naval system beyond what I already have done. As it is, I think it's a flaw in the game system, that I was able to establish the bridgehead in Scotland anyway, much less reinforce it.

Another possible flaw in the PBEM game system - I have no idea what kind of indication Chuck is getting that I even made the assault. It was his fault that he did not guard Edinborough, but if he doesn't happen to scroll his map up to Scotland, how will he know that the invasion occured? He would have to pay close attention to the unexpected reduction in his PPs, or to his reports.
]

[gwgardner]

At the end of the June 16 turn:

[gwgardner]

At the start of the June 23 turn:

Looking grim on the Western Front. The French and British are able to dig in in depth. I can continue to hammer away at one weak point or another, advancing in increments, or I can try something more bold. As Italy has just entered the war, I will transfer my armor to the south, and attempt to drill into the soft underbelly of France.

[gwgardner]

I have withdrawn all mech and some powerful infantry corps beyond recon range. If the French start pulling out units to send south also, I may be able to revive the Ardennes plan. If not, I'll continue moving those units to the Italian front by rail. The ace up my sleeve is that Spain is on the verge of joining the Axis. Their level of interest is now at 96%.

Meanwhile, disaster in the North Sea. Two more whole divisions enroute to Edinborough, were destroyed by the reappearance of the Royal Navy. The four divisions that are holding the bridgehead in Scotland, are now officially on their own. One division will remain in Edinborough, to prevent an amphibious assault by the British against my only supply port. The other three are advancing south towards Birmingham.

[Redan]

This is fine and fun to read. Thank you. I am considering buying this game, and this helps. Your opponent indicates his units with nato symbols..is there then an option for either one in the game? Again, thanks for these reports!

[gwgardner]

Yes, in the preferences, one can choose the symbol type.  I actually prefer nato symbols, but I also think the tanks and mech 'sprites?' are kewl in this game.  I don't like the dorky pedestals, however.

[gwgardner]

The British have finally decided to defend their motherland, and are pulling back from the French front, leaving the French in the lurch. They have fallen back on Paris. At the beginning of the July turn, therefore, things are starting to look up for the Germans.

[gwgardner]

On the Italian front, the French have obviously drudged the bottom of the barrel for any warm body to stick in the way of the enemy.

[gwgardner]

As far as the bridgehead in the UK goes, the British are starting to move up forces for a counterattack. the better part of valor dictates that Sealion is over, since the high command refuses reinforcements.

[gwgardner]

Second week of July, the Germans make another breakthrough in the north. However, since all the armor has been sent to the Italian front, it will not quite be a blitz.

On the Italian front, the German armor has blown through the thin French line and is headed for central France. meanwhile the Italians inch towards Marseilles.

The Spanish, who joined the Axis first week of July, have been useless (because of the PBEM game system, which hasn't smoothly allowed the Axis to take over the Spanish forces - a change will be necessary in some future patch).

[gwgardner]

meantime, The Italians have started to withdraw units from N. Africa. The British have launched a strong offensive there. The Italians should have retreated earlier.

And the Germans have started a similar withdrawal from the bridgehead in the UK, now that the objective of the operation has been achieved - ie the shakeup of the French front lines. It remains to be seen if the Royal navy will allow any of the German expeditionary force to make it home.

[gwgardner]

Situation after the 3rd turn of July:

The German 'northern' and 'southern' fronts against France have joined hands, isolating all French forces who remain near the Maginot. The enemy is obviously going to pull in towards Paris for the final slug-fest.

The Spanish have invaded Portugal, and taken Oporto. Advanced recon units approaching Lisbon have discovered a British redoubt. The German high command has promised armor and infantry support, with the eventual goal of taking both Portugal and Gibraltar.

Where possible, both German and Italian forces will be repositioned for an assault on resource-rich Yugoslavia and Greece.

The Royal navy intercepted another division attempting to cross the North Sea for Germany. That makes 4 whole divisions lost. Was it worth it? If the resources of France can be added to the Axis pool early enough, then the answer is yes. The three remaining divisions which fell back on Edinborough are embarking even as we speak, to risk the perils of the North Sea.

The Axis is perplexed by the complete absence of the Allied air forces. Are they being held in deep reserve?

[gwgardner]

Hopefully anyone keeping up with this PBEM will find that the Allied AAR kept them fully informed as to what has transpired since my last post. In short:

1) France fell, Vichy established.

2) Spain joined the Axis, Portugal fell after the Germans backed up their new Spanish allies, and forced a rather large British expeditionary force entrenched around Lisbon to withdraw back onto their ships.

3) Gibraltar fell after a three week siege. Once again the complete Axis air superiority was the key to that success. The German and Italian high commands are still in discussions as to how to exploit their new citadel. The Italian navy may be coaxed out of port to test their strength against whatever portion of the British fleet remains in the Med.

4) Yugoslavia fell, greatly increasing the resource pool for the Italians.

5) German and Italian armies have been transported to the East in preparation for Barbarossa.

[gwgardner]

It is now mid-May, '41. Two basic options for Barbarossa were considered: strike north for the political and industrial objectives, Moscow and Leningrad; or strike south for the resource and industrial objectives in Stalingrad and the Caucusus. Either choice nabs generally the same number of PPs - 45. See map.

[gwgardner]

Actually, here's the pic that was supposed to be in the previous post. Two possible overall objective areas.


The southernmost 20pt PP objective is actually farther southeast.

[gwgardner]

Both northern and southern objective groups must be taken, in order to knock the USSR out of the war, however the High Command is doubtful both can be achieved in one campaign.

Since the USSR did not follow through with its expected takeover of the Baltic countries, a special opportunity presents itself, a kind of reverse Schliefan(sp) Plan through Lithuania. Combine that with the shorter lines towards the norther group of objectives, and the High Command has decided to go North.

Army Groups North is directed to follow the line: Vilnius - Minsk - Smolensk - Bryansk

Army Group South is directed along the line: Vinnytsia - Kiev - Gomel - Bryansk

Army Group Center is directed to advance along a broad front, ensuring that the Soviet forces encircled by the other two army groups cannot escape. Once cut off from their major supply sources, the encircled enemy forces can be destroyed in detail.

It is expected that once this grand encirclement is achieved, there will have to be a pause for reinforcement and regrouping. Then the advance upon Moscow, and then Leningrad, will proceed.

Given the Italian strategic decision to (temporarily?) cut their ties to North Africa, and given their success against Yugoslavia, it has been possible to concentrate a large and powerful Italian army in Romania, designated AG Caucasus. It's task is 1) to encircle and destroy the USSR's forces in the Ukraine, and 2) to advance as far as possible towards Stalingrad, in preparation for later cooperation with German forces from the North.

[gwgardner]

The Reverse Schlieffen Plan didn't quite work. As the Germans advanced into Lithuania, reconnaissance on the Russian border showed a continuous line of infantry divisions. Same as Latvia was invaded next turn. So it was a matter of smash into the front line and open a path for a later advance:

By the way, the German forces remained back from the frontier in order to keep from tipping the enemy off as to any concentration. Not sure that tactic is working well, but it's what I've tried so far.

Here the situation before the attack:

[gwgardner]

and after:

[gwgardner]

Army Group Center holds patiently, for the Russians to be foreced by encirclment to start loosening up their front:

[gwgardner]

Much the same situation in the South. Probing along the front showed a solid line of enemy infantry, except at the very north. The High Command was not dismayed, as it appears the Russians are employing a forward defense, as the French did. All the more warm bodies to ensnare in the encirclements.