Flaviusx v. Sapper 2229

[MagicMissile]

You can see the results of convoy attacks and the effects escorts have in the combatlog tab. Those 8 naval factors should represent half the sub force (start + reinforcement 15) already dead. If you don´t see any new subs I think you are already ok. Maybe build 10 merchants or so at some point.

BTW does Norway add Merchants to Britain when they are conquered? I think they had a huge merchant fleet.

/MM

[Flaviusx]

I forgot to check this.

Anyways, August 2, and Germany declares war on Vichy and Vichy NA so it looks like it is going to be Spain in due course and then Portugal. The Italians continue to stare at the British in Egypt.

The luftwaffe is still parked in Northern France and the Low countries and taking shots at my coastal defenses in Britain. But if it is going to be Spain, some of this will have to move. It's getting late in the year now, he doesn't have many clear turns left to clear out Spain.

Not looking forward to having to deal with the entire Axis navy in the Atlantic down the line.

[Flaviusx]

It's a Sealion. I hope I can stop this. It's not going to be easy with all this airpower he has. I can't match it.

[battlevonwar]

Wow, unexpected... I am curious how your preparation for this works out!

[Flaviusx]

August 30. Germans evict the British corps next to them, occupy Dover, then, inexplicably, two air supply missions to the two lead corps failed and the transports were shot down.

I didn't have any fighter coverage here. Is this a bug or some new and undocumented feature?

The unsupplied units didn't occupt the hex, so I reoccupied it and the Germans made no territorial gain. The corps is licking its wounds north of London. I can keep this going for a while, but not forever. Hopefully long enough for mud.

His logistical situation is not good. His units will be in basic supply next turn I'm guessing, since Dover is a 2 point port, and they are kind of tired out already. So he's going to have to burn trucks.

In addition, unless he has a third transport, no more paradrops any time soon.

The Italians are marching as fast as they can to Algiers. I'd love to reinforce this, but that's a nogo. Egyptian front remains quiet, and that is fine by me.

[Flaviusx]

Thank God he didn't try landing elsewhere with a better port. I'm not sure why he picked Dover. But if he'd taken Southhampton, I'd be in a real pickle, as it is, this chokepoint by Dover is defensible, even with my lack of airpower, and it really cannot support a drive by itself.

[Flaviusx]

September 27, 1940. Germans are grinding forward one hex at time backed up by the entire luftwaffe, which I have no real answer for. I committed the RAF and it is just getting shot up.

I need mud badly. Luckily, I may have run out the clock here. At any rate, he isn't going to take Britain fast here.

How long is Germany willing to keep the entire luftwaffe parked here? We will find out. Without it, this stalls.

[battlevonwar]

Late in the year and the offensives look bogged down, if he cannot dig up a breakthrough I would say the game is 'finished here'... I counted 13 Enemy Air Units?

[Flaviusx]

I'm hanging on by my fingernails, this is a near run thing. And he could probably bust it open in 41 if he was willing to take a pass on Barbarossa. OTOH, that may be a good trade for the Allies.

[Flaviusx]

Oct 11. Mud, but London falls anyways on a lucky 2-1 attack. Cost the luftwaffe 25 factors to take it. I didn't think he could pull that off in mud, not even with all that airpower. This was the only hex taken, but it's a big one.

On the plus side, the USA increases its economy by 40% in response to developments in Europe. Mobilization is now at 52, and the US buildup is on now.

The Regia Marina is hanging out just east of Tobruk and looks like it wants to do something.

[Flaviusx]

Oct. 25, more mud, and the front has stabilized as is in Britain. Germany pulled out the mech corps it had in London. The luftwaffe, however, is still in place in northern France, presumably licking its wounds. I hate losing London like that, but if this is the worst of it? I'll happily take the big bump to US production in exchange.

2 German units are spotted in Italian ports. Greece or Egypt?

German units have also started appearing near the Soviet border, more than the usual garrison requirements.

[Michael T]

Very unlucky to lose London, considering the weather, the terrain, river, assume best Leader for UK, on Hold as well I guess. Just one attack on it at 2:1 ?

[Michael T]

Hang in there in the UK. The US is going to come in early and strong.

[Flaviusx]

2 actual ground attacks as I recall. The air strikes did take a chunk of health away though.

I had O'Connor in command, not quite the best, but second best. 7-7-5 vs 7-7-6 for Wavell or Auchinleck.

[Flaviusx]

The big problem now is going to be holding on to Egypt. I have virtually no airpower. There's 5 Italian air down there now, and I only have a single beat up fighter and one bomber.

This has been the entire story of the game. The Axis has had air superiority the entire time and there is no way the allies can deal with it. They simply lack the production. I can't have this ground army and build up the air at the same time, and without troops on the ground I'd be done for even if I managed to achieve air parity.

Britain's measly production is not up to this. I think it needs to be increased early on. And note that France fed max lend lease to Britain while it was in the war.

With this production Britain is barely capable of buying up escorts and infantry and really nothing else. I have to set aside some production for repairs.

[Flaviusx]

Between Italy and Germany it's 18 to 5 in air units at present time, and most of those air units are down to nubs and are combat ineffective.

[battlevonwar]

His losses were very light on France and it appears he went all in, on air. I think a 'key' may be delaying France as long as possible for the weather.

[Flaviusx]

The next game I see France last past July will be the first.

His losses were light in France because he waited until he had clear weather to attack. And by then he had a critical mass of air. There is absolutely nothing the ally can do against this. If the German sits tight all winter long and pumps out an enormous air force, the allies really cannot match this. They don't start with a strong ground army the way Germany does, and they don't even outproduce the Germans.

As I have already mentioned, I think the British economy in particular is very shortchanged in this game. It should not be 50% of the German economy at start. It ought to very close to it.

[Flaviusx]

In the most recent patches, the air game has swung very strongly in favor of the Germans, too much so.

[battlevonwar]

Honestly in my most recent game I bled at least 125 air or more fighting for France as Axis. Sea Lion seems to happen nearly every game?