TR 1942

[USXpat]

Those will withdraw the units of the English X and XIII Corps, about 3 turns after activation (disbanding the cadre). The cadres will automatically be disbanded on Turn 72 if NOT disbanded previously. After a few turns, they bring in upgraded units, though some units are lost in the process (were never upgraded/reformed).

Edited -- If the cadres are not disbanded by Turn 72, they are automatically disbanded on T72.

[SMK-at-work]

Thanks - I thought it might be something like that.

[Edwire]

Ok, sorry guys, was caught up in work [:@] barely had time even to continue the game. Well, in reality as USXpat has posted new version, we stop the game at T48 where Turkey had surrender. Hopefully i can post over next week to catch up. For now i will post up to T20.

Arctic

After resting for several turns, the Axis Arctic forces managed to capture Kandalakska and are on the way to Murmansk. Nothing fancy other than brute force.

T15



T20



Finland/Leningrad

Nothing changes in this sector.

Rzhev

AGN continue to push but the Soviet refuse to give ground. Whenever a break through is achieved, fresh Soviet reinforcement are poured. The panzers are having hard time operating in the forest. Although 4th and 3rd Soviet Shock Armies were wiped out, the offensive ultimately stalled by T20.

T17 :



T20 :

[Edwire]

Yelets

This sector proved to be the bloodiest in the war. Axis forces launch numerous offensive with incredible success, encircling and eliminating thousands of Soviet troops. The lack of Soviet reserves can be seen clearly here, with the Axis actually achieve freedom in the far east. However as there are no strategic value, the objective is to simply eliminate as much Soviet troops as possible. This draws significant reserves for the Axis as well and the affect will be shown in the next post.

Attacking Moscow from the South is out of the option as Tula is heavily fortified.

T13 :

No Soviet troops are visible to the East. However the Axis advance cautiously due to lack of supply...



T14 :

... and eliminating Soviet troops along the way



T15 :

... and quickly erupt into massive battle as Soviet Guards Army tried to counter attack. The panzers quickly dashed and formed huge pocket, including the Voronezh front HQ. Realizing the risk of another Soviet counter attack, reserves were drawn from other sector, mainly France and AGS. By this time Sevastopool still held by the Soviet btw.



T17 :

And once again the Axis gain freedom of movement in the East. The panzers are once again recuperating while some infantry divisions tries to find a hole in the Soviet line south of Moscow.



A bit to the South, the Soviets were actually provoking...



T20 :

4th Pz Armee once again prove it's superiority by counter attacking and surrounding another 4 fresh Soviet Armies near Saratov.



Here are the Soviet defensive line near Tula. I capture Ryazan, but no effect in this scenario.

[Edwire]

AGS

I did not dare to venture to deep to Caucassus until Rostov fallen, and with reserves sent to the center, this take quite a while. The Rumanians secure the eastern flank and probing to south of Stalingrad.

T15 :


By T20, Maikop is captured. However as the Axis forces here is minimum, it cannot penetrate deeper until reinforcement are allocated.



And alone, the Rumanians were easily beaten back by the Soviets. At this moment they are struggling heavily and reinforcement will be needed as well.

[Edwire]

North Africa, Rommel's gamble

Having defeated early, Rommel make a stand near Tripoli. All of his 2 panzer divisions and 2 light divisions and supporting brigades are intact and by now in full health. Plus 2 Italian divisions were sent as reinforcement. It become a waiting game as the Axis aircraft were set on interdiction mission to bleed the Allies along their route (if the Axis aircraft survive that is).

On T18, Axis intel report that the lead elements were somehow bottling up against the coast while the remaining British troops are resting in Tripoli or still en route. And here Rommel made his gamble. Before the British can gather their forces and resupply, the DAK set out for an all-out attack, hoping to catch the British unprepared.

T18 Start


The reports were true. The British vanguard which includes the XXX Corps, Anzac Group, and the Alexander HQ itself (!!!) were trapped against the sea. Time is critical now as Rommel must quickly destroy them before the British can launch counter attack and turn the tide.



T19

Sure enough, the British were moving rapidly and actually managed to establish contact with the surrounded divisions. Bleed, Rommel now set only limited objective and tried to eliminate the British vanguard and retreat. Most of the British forces were eliminated, about 3-4 armored and motorized divisions, but Alexander himself survive.



T20

The British counter attack were efficient and powerful. The whole DAK divisions, no less than the precious 2 panzer divisions and 2 light divisions are surrounded. Rommel (and Arnim) themselves managed to escape barely. Additional German and Italian forces were sent but will not achieve anything other than to delay the British advance to Tunis. Rommel's gamble has failed. Both side loses 4-5 divisions but for the DAK they are irreplaceable.

[Edwire]

Other front

Algiers

Having taken Early Case Anton, Algiers were heavily fortified with the French Legion, Italian 8th Army, and some German divisions. The defensive line were established in the bottleneck near Oran. Seeing Casablanca undefended, the Americans launch early invasion on T12, far ahead of the actual operation Torch. This will give the Allied advantage as they will have the Torch sea transport option for somewhere else.

It become grinding and by T20, the Axis are pushed back and one of the important port hex near Oran is in the Allied hands.

T12


T20


Balkan

As usual, the chaos continue with the local Axis forces battling the never-ending Partisans. On T15, however, one Partisan group slip and trigger the Bulgarian coup.



On T19 the Bulgarian troops moved to Rumanian border and trigger the Rumanian surrender. I can swallow the Bulgarians switched side, but not the Rumanians. It will instantly collapse the eastern front for the Axis so we replay the turn and set the Bulgarians to stay in their capitol or a bit east, but certainly not west

Overall

Well that's all the update until T20. Hope you enjoy reading it.
By now i feel the Russians are bleeding badly. The holes in their front lines suggest the Russians are running out of reserves and are concentrating in critical areas, mainly near Staraya Russa - Rzhev line and Tula. I guess to protect Moscow from North and South. There are no strategic objective in the far east so i stooped the advance or only cautiously, especially supply are heavily interdicted by air (bridges were blown). Stalingrad and Caucassus is my next objective while trying to hold as long as possible in North Africa after the failure of Rommel's operation.

Losses are high for both infantry and tanks, but i feel still acceptable. However significant tank replacement will be required for the DAK to reconstitute.

[Ruppich]

I dont like the "feature" that the partisanes can trigger the bulgarian coup, killed one of my TR games in the past.

Maybe the mechanism should be changed to some hexes in the east of bulgarian so it reflects more the "Russian fear" not switching sides because of some croatian partisans walking in the backyard