WAW 1939-1945 PO Version 62221 Allied Human vs Axis Bot

[thomasharvey]

T3 Here is Warsaw on turn 3. All other fronts have little change.

[thomasharvey]

T4 Here is the Bot on turn 4 in Norway. they are on the way to Narvik and eventually will invade Russia from Northern Norway.

[thomasharvey]

T5 9/29/39 This picture was taken to show Holland is going to be crushed soon. The BEF will be cut off there if I do not move them out immediately. In the end the BEF will have to leave the continent to return the survivors to the UK. However, it would be a disaster to have to retreat to a port now and then try to sail them to a port in France and help France. The Luftwaffe may sink them all!



Holland will surrender when Rotterdam falls. I will blow some bridges to help slow the Bot.

[thomasharvey]

T5 9/29/39 Note France conducts emergency mobilization. This is a great relief since many, but not all, French units are now activated. The French Army is powerful and if I can get their large number of artillery units ready, the Bot may be in for an expensive conquest of France. In testing the only way to actually hold France is to send more UK troops to France. They don't have much at this point but they can take some out of North Afrika once they are active on turn 39. Paris must hold to prevent or delay Italy entering the war. Once that happens, France is doomed.

[thomasharvey]

T5 9/29/39 Poland surrenders with the loss of Warsaw. Poland still had many troops but they could not last long. Fortunately they held about a month which is the historical time period.

Note in this screen shot the Soviet air unit sent to China. Stalin sent some aircraft to help China and then withdrew them after 12/7/41.

[thomasharvey]

T5 9/29/39 Fort Eben-Emael has already been taken. I did not notice when it fell. The Bot is in all out offensive mode and will not slow down until after Greece is taken. Everything must be ready for Barbarossa on 6/22/41.

[thomasharvey]

WAW39-45 T5 The Allies moved a UK engineer unit to Narvik to help hold as long as possible because the government of Norway will soon close exports to Germany through the port resulting in a small loss of replacements. That will continue until German units can open up the port.

The Stukas are too far south to prevent the allies into Narvik.

[thomasharvey]

T5 9/29/39 The French moved in their available ships to help defend Rotterdam. Note the strikes against their ships as they moved into position. The RAF and French air units helped defend. Both sides had significant aircraft losses this turn. Fortunately the Luftwaffe used only level bombers in their attacks resulting in only slight damage to one French ship.

[thomasharvey]

T5 9/29/39 With the French partial emergency mobilization I have been able to create a front in France and Belgium that will prevent a blitz to the Channel coast. Note the French units marked in Yellow. They are in permanent garrison in line with their concepts of static defense. If they are attacked and forced to retreat they can move freely. The units marked in orange will be released soon ahead of their normal Phoney War schedule. However, if the Bot attacks even one unit in the formation the entire formation is then released.

[thomasharvey]

T6 10/6/39 Here is the Axis inventory so far at the start of turn 6. Note the Axis German infantry squads. The goal is to have those losses up to at least 40,000 by the time Greece surrenders. The Germans then rest and move to the Russian border for the invasion. The Germans will receive about 40,000 infantry squad replacements by 6/22/41. That way the Germans can replace their losses in the west but have nothing in reserve. When testing the Allied Bot vs the Axis Bot, the losses by 6/22/41 are only 20,000. I would then take over for the Allied Bot. However, the German offensive is very difficult to stop with that much in reserve.

Also note the massive Bot forces headed for Holland. The Bot tries to roll into Holland but then goes for weak points after that. The French and British artillery are key to giving losses to the Bot.

[rhinobones]

ORIGINAL: thomasharvey

Also note the massive Bot forces headed for Holland. The Bot tries to roll into Holland but . . .

As the Axis player I employed that same strategy in the short scenario France 40. Only got as far as Brussels. Interested to see if the Bot can do better in the WAW version.

Regards

[thomasharvey]

T7 10/13/39 This shows the 1st wave of mobilization. Not much, just one armored division and a brigade. Both in the red. The French will run out of time to bring in all their stuff. It is 1939.

[thomasharvey]

T7 10/13/39 This shows two German infantry units that broke through sections of the Maginot line. I could not destroy them. They will now cause more trouble.

[thomasharvey]

As the Axis player I employed that same strategy in the short scenario France 40. Only got as far as Brussels. Interested to see if the Bot can do better in the WAW version.

Regards

The Allies need more UK help to hold out. I will not give it as Afrika requires a major effort. If the UK is wiped out in France in 1940, the scenario would be lost right there unless the Soviets can win alone. They can but maybe not by the time limit. The Axis will always lose the war but maybe not the scenario.

[thomasharvey]

T8 10/20/39 Here is the problem I tried to avoid. The Bot cut off Holland from Belgium. Some UK forces are trapped in the Hague. I will try to evacuate them next turn. That is a problem since sea movement is slight and the Luftwaffe might sink everything anyway. Most of the UK forces did leave Holland before this happened.

[thomasharvey]

T8 10/20/39 Here is the recent news. Note the cut off of resources through Narvik by Norway. The area circled needs to be taken by the Bot to restore the 2% reduction of replacements. The German units are not far away. Some Allied ships will support the defense. I don't recall how the Bot destroys the allied ships. It may be by air strike or by sending some surface ships up. Also note the multiple Bot attacks against Rotterdam. I am surprised it is still held. Maybe more artillery is needed by the Axis.

[thomasharvey]

T8 10/20/39 Here are six more units called the second wave of emergency mobilization. They are resting near Paris to gain readiness.

[thomasharvey]

t8 10/20/39 This screen shot shows an air strike on an "industrial air unit" that represents strategic bombing. The Germans have 12 of these aircraft and the Japanese have 10. When one of these "industrial air units" is destroyed and removed from the map the Axis replacement production is reduced 2%. Over time the Axis is given several small production boosts to equal and exceed the loss of these air units. So, if the allies do not bomb them during the war the Axis will receive significant extra production. If the Axis does not put air cover over these targets and they are eliminated early, the Axis is reduced significantly in replacement production. The capture of factory symbols on the ground also result in loss of replacement production. If the Allies and Axis balance their attacks and defense it will result in historical production of equipment.

The attack shown indicates 4 biplanes destroyed. It will be a long war....

I set this system up because both sides have many strategic bombers and fighters with nothing to do. This gives them a mission and avoids improper use of 4 engine bombers and defensive fighters during the scenario. The Luftwaffe has many night fighters and the RAF have many all weather bombers. Bad weather has an impact on all air operations. The specialty aircraft have an advantage in bad weather over day aircraft. Now they all have jobs to do!

[thomasharvey]

T8 10/20/45 This screen shot shows shelling by the French fleet against German units attacking Rotterdam. Once Rotterdam is taken the Dutch quit. In addition you can see the UK forces in The Hague have evacuated with the help of the French fleet and some air cover. About 99% of the ground troops survived the trip despite many air strikes. Again the Bot did not have Stukas in the attacks and lost quite a few to flak and fighters. The allies also lost many fighters.

The Stukas can't be everywhere. There are some in Norway and some covering the Baltic to prevent suicidal gamers from sending in their ships there to shell and sink the German Navy, etc. The Allies must preserve the Royal Navy ships since they do not get replaced if sunk. They have a lot of invasions to support later.

[thomasharvey]

T12 11/17/39 Rotterdam has fallen. The Dutch have quit.