Meklore's AAR, That Joc Can't Read!

[marion61]

German divisions when surrendered, return to Germany and await replacements. Most allied units that surrender end up in several places. Ireland, England, and Polish units reorganize in a small town in North Africa and you have to hunt for them.

[loki100]

really like the agressive way you are playing this ... should add a degree of fear and caution back into the early game moves for most allied players (incl me) [;)]

[marion61]

I had a nice master plan, planned, but it didn't pan out. To do it I would have to put my transport aircraft in harms way, as most of them are short range. I had both his beaches on Sicily targetted by a para regiment each, but I couldn't pull the trigger cause I couldn't get enough transports into range except on Sardinia, and I'd lost my Italian AF a few turns back so i didn't want to risk it. It would have been glorious, and I was waiting for him to move forward some so there wouldn't be any combat units in the hex I dropped on. Instant beach closure.[;)] I'll do it sometime, but the opportunity to make it count and take Sicily back has passed already. They are about to be left to their fate as it's mid-aug now and I have to start forming other lines. I just don't want those pesky Italians surrendering too soon like they always do with me.

[Seminole]

I had a nice master plan, planned, but it didn't pan out. To do it I would have to put my transport aircraft in harms way, as most of them are short range. I had both his beaches on Sicily targetted by a para regiment each, but I couldn't pull the trigger cause I couldn't get enough transports into range except on Sardinia, and I'd lost my Italian AF a few turns back so i didn't want to risk it. It would have been glorious, and I was waiting for him to move forward some so there wouldn't be any combat units in the hex I dropped on. Instant beach closure. I'll do it sometime, but the opportunity to make it count and take Sicily back has passed already.

I've thought of a similar gambit on Sardinia itself, but water is a freaking magnet to my para drops. If there is an adjacent water hex that's where they're going. I quit even planning drops adjacent to water.

[marion61]

News of our Gallant defenders of Palermo are pouring in!!! The 230th Italian Coastal Div, and the Palermo garrison fight off another round of attacks (**** Patton!). Our best su units from the Italian army are in the 230th, and they seem to be doing well. Fortress Volcano is still untouched this turn because the WA's have problems elsewhere still. He solved most of his problems on Sicily so I have been focusing on Sardinia. When he has that problem under control, I'll have found his next weakness and be on it. It's a matter of presenting several choices to your opponent. He can't cover them all, and the one he doesn't is the one you move on.

[marion61]

We are taking you live now...to the scene of heavy fighting...with our on scene reporter...Sardinia Sam!

This is Sardinia Sam, coming to you live from the Hq's of the 3/4th FJ regiment in Cagliri where our brave Italian allies are planning the demise of the British horde. The colonel of the FJ regiment almost decided to call off any attacks this turn because of pleas from the Sardinian population. It seems that since the British landed (OMG! The British are coming, the British are coming! One if by land, two if by sea!) that the rat problem in the local area has been eradicated. They even asked the col. if he'd allow the British to get closer to Oristano and Tortoli to eradicate their rat problem. In the end, the colonel had to decline because Erwin want's to attack. Yes, AG B in Italy.

So as we await the attack on the Brits at Galipoli...er, I mean near Cagliari (different war ), I will be here to the bitter end, cheering out allies to victory so good and decent Germans don't have to die. What are allies for???

One small side note. This is straight from GHQ: **** Patton![;)]

[marion61]

I guess the gig is up. I had to start pruning my Ju-88A's this turn to keep pilots and planes going so it's time to withdraw I guess. I'm not sure I ever had a chance of stopping him on Sardinia, but it did cost him another 4-5 turns that he can't be prepping a big invasion. Sicily still has TF's because Syracuse is the only open port, as he just took Catania. Time to rest up for the next invasion, and I'm trying a new tactic for this new bombing strategy. Hopefully it works to reduce his bomber fleet some so he won't fly so far in unmolested.

The other reason I "HAVE" to withdraw is because of the garrison values changing next turn. I won't have enough cv in Italy to continue a fighting withdrawal, so I'm forced to withdraw and set up defensive lines. With the EF box on this wouldn't be a problem and by now I would have crushed his invasions or seriously put a dent in them. I have to move units from Italy to cover the new garrison values.

[Seminole]

ORIGINAL: meklore61

I guess the gig is up. I had to start pruning my Ju-88A's this turn to keep pilots and planes going so it's time to withdraw I guess. I'm not sure I ever had a chance of stopping him on Sardinia, but it did cost him another 4-5 turns that he can't be prepping a big invasion. Sicily still has TF's because Syracuse is the only open port, as he just took Catania. Time to rest up for the next invasion, and I'm trying a new tactic for this new bombing strategy. Hopefully it works to reduce his bomber fleet some so he won't fly so far in unmolested.

The other reason I "HAVE" to withdraw is because of the garrison values changing next turn. I won't have enough cv in Italy to continue a fighting withdrawal, so I'm forced to withdraw and set up defensive lines. With the EF box on this wouldn't be a problem and by now I would have crushed his invasions or seriously put a dent in them. I have to move units from Italy to cover the new garrison values.

I think you can force quite a bit of slogging on both islands still. He hasn't shown any creativity in flanking your positions. The midline in Sardinia is a defenders dream. Set a line with some FZs now. Force him to push up to them and you should be able to get several more weeks of fighting. If he is tied down here and Sicily winning each hex Italy won't be invaded and there will be no trigger for surrender. That will leave you with extra naval transport to stock Corsica for the next slog...

[marion61]

When he captures a complete island the surrender check starts, plus I'm not going to waste the manpower on FZ's atm on Sardinia. I need them elsewhere and I don't want to be stuck there which would happen eventually as he killed my ports. I leave now, I don't get stranded. He's going to take some time still to take them and since it's the Sept 1 turn, he can't cook an invasion off till at least mid October now (with divisions in it), probably later, and my TOE upgrades in Nov and the reinforcements will here. I have other plans for him, don't worry. [;)]

[Seminole]

When he captures a complete island the surrender check starts, plus I'm not going to waste the manpower on FZ's atm on Sardinia.

I don't spam FZs, but I use them in strategic locations and almost always disband them prior to combat in that hex. I hate losing men and material to an automatic surrender.
Just their presence can influence the decision making of an opponent. Whether or not, and how badly, I want to fight for a hex isn't something he can be certain of.

I have other plans for him, don't worry.

Eagerly anticipated.

[marion61]

If he gets Corsica thru the Italian surrender, it will be because of a known bug, that bounces your combat units out of ports. Every port in Corsica is ready, but one usually gets bounced out and the allies get a free port even tho it's occupied by german cv.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: meklore61

Our best su units from the Italian army are in the 230th, and they seem to be doing well.

What are the best su in the Italian Army -- Artillery of some type or something more exotic?

I see you mention that you are buying time, delaying further invasions. But really, is there a rush for WA? They need to get Sicily and then invade the boot of Italy and then do some type of D-Day by mid 44. Don't they have a generous amount of time?

I realize there is VP trigger points for not having so many hexes by a certain date, but is the timing that tight?

[marion61]

If he can't invade me again before Nov. he will have a hard time of it. Bad weather sets in starting towards the end of October and last for quite sometime, so his air support will take huge operational losses, and in Nov. I get an infusion of divisions and a huge TOE upgrade. Also, he's not racking up a lot of city points either, but his bombing is killing me and will win the game eventually. So really I haven't accomplished jack crap since he can afford to sit and bomb me to death and there's no way to compete.

Axis can't win, but the longer I can delay his plans, the better off I sit. It works for me, most times.

[marion61]

Unfortunately there were no pics taken this week, as we finally had to withdraw off of Sicily. The moral of the story is, to stop an axis player from fighting forward use two TF's (if they can be spared). One in the ferry between Messina and Reggio, and the other blocking Palermo. Your TF will get chewed up some, but it forces the axis to withdraw, and if you catch them on Sicily, move a TF into that hex at Messina, and you can catch whomever tries to escape. If he'd moved a TF in that hex, I'd been cut off and probably lost my Panzer Korps.

[saudivan]

I love this AAR and can't wait to read more of it. I tend to play aggressively on both sides. With the Allies I could rebound quicker from not so pleasant results. The Axis were a bit trickier as every unit is important.

[marion61]

GOOD MORNING SICILY!!!

Our valiant troops still hold out in Messina. I thought about taking the 4th FJ back into Messina, but I didn't want it to get caught there, so we moved in a unit that is withdrawing. Fortress Volcano is gone, long may it be remembered, and the allied horde almost have Sicily, but the good news is it's the middle of September, so his next invasion will come during rougher weather.

I have noticed some recon flights over the Rome area, but I believe these are looking for my Ghost Bombers. They are safely tucked away, getting new planes until the next invasion.

The best way for him to get back on schedule is to make an invasion south of Naples, or wait for the Italians to surrender and wait for a port to turn. If it was me I'd pick option A, as that area is not really defensible, and option B might not work because a smart axis player would occupy those ports with German units.[;)] He just needs 10 hexes before Feb. and he can still do that, although the invasion will launch in worse weather.

[marion61]

I guess the Brits finally quit eating rats, and drove right past a port trying to cut me off. 6th Armored was temporarily cut off, and yes they had to start eating rats again LOL! I got my unit into the port so now it can retreat if attacked. Sardinia still has one combat unit on it, but it will be gone next turn. The Italians are left to their fate.

One bright spot is, Cagliari still holds! I still own every port on Sardinia, but that will change soon.

[sven6345789]

what did you pull out of the eastern front (or is the box off, i do not remember)


with regard to your bombers. Did you concentrate on the airfield or did you also do naval interdiction?

[marion61]

EF box is off.

When he first landed and for several turns I was doing naval, as he had not moved planes there yet. Once it was apparent that I couldn't keep my naval up, and I saw planes, I started bombing airfields, as they are very vulnerable the first turn they arrive. Now they are safely tucked away, waiting for their next great air victories!

[LiquidSky]

The british only eat desert rats

EDIT: OOps...I'm tired..I meant the Germans only eat Desert Rats.