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Republican Enclave 1 - Huelva - Sevilla:

For the geography-challenged like myself, this is the extreme south-west, where Spain meets the southern Portugal.

There are 2 small INF units (in red) and 2 HQs (in yellow). Technically, Sevilla also had a support unit. I left the garrison of Sevilla sit expecting them to be withdrawn in a couple of days; what I failed to notice is, that after their retreat from Sevilla, their reinforcement turned on by itself. That's a few trucks I will be losing for no reason, as Nats decided to pick off the leftovers. I tried to relieve Sevilla from the southeast, but that Inf is now locked and about to die, a shame, since it was a non-disbandable one. I guess my 9th division is going to be one short. The other Inf is going to run southeast to Malaga. For Huelva, there's not much to do. Every ship ran. The naval HQ is going to Santiago. Maybe I should have at least loaded the landing barges with their elements. But hey! I promised fun, not perfection.
Republican Enclave 2 - Gibraltar:

This name should be easier to recognize. There is a small ENG unit there and a few ships. There are going to learn from Huelva mistakes and evacuate the unit back to Malaga, grabbing every supply they can. The 4 gunboats in the harbor will try for a raid of the Moroccan coastline.

Republican Enclave 3 - Granada:

For the geography-challenged ones like myself, and for those who had played Europa Universalis too much, this is, while in the middle of the Spanish South, is not on the shoreline, it's a bit more inland. The one on the shoreline is Malaga, to be discussed in the next paragraph.

The loss at Granada displaced 8 units, none of them disbandable, and they have nowhere to run. They are going to attempt to make their last stand, with reinforcements turned on. A stray INF located nearby will try to reinforce. A stray AIR ENG, on the other hand, will run eastwards to Cartagena to support my bomber air bases. It is not fun to abandon a level 4 airfield for free, but there's no way I'm going to hold it at this pace, and my newbies are managing to destroy planes even while training! Yes, I have my first non-combat loss, an Airco DH9.
Republican Enclave 4 - Malaga:

This is south of Granada and northeast of Gibraltar. This one I want to hold. Three INF and a HQ unit are falling back to the city, all the LBs and Patrol boats are relocating there from Gibraltar suburbs, not without some PT missions of course. The city is full of supply, and I'd love to bring in more from the others nearby, but there's just not enough fuel. I need to find a way to create barren land for NAT troops to advance across without wasting all of my resources just to deny their successes.

Republican Enclave 5 - San Sebastian:

We're now in the extreme northeast, and in the territory, I now call "what was I thinking". Every base has been taken over by the NATs due to my non-action. Even the static units lost the foothold under themselves. And under San Sebastian I've been letting my infantry get bombarded by guns without cover? No way. A shock attack it is - otherwise I will lose this whole region instantly. I can't even turn on reinforcements - there's only enough food to eat! A stray INF charges northeast to relieve San-Seb.

The NATs are relentless. Essentially, anywhere they can, they press on. Perhaps I need to apply the same strategy.

Some initial Republican air patrols over the Med, although without success. A Rep SS sinks a NAT transport.

Overall, it keeps feeling like I'm losing. Like I should have been more aggressive, faster, sooner, enabling reinforcements from the get-go - to a WPO veteran it was a surprise how many units were understrength to begin with.

If you turn on hexside control by pressing "W" or "w" you can then see which side controls the hexside.

You can bring back destroyed units but their experience is extremely low.

You don't have to run away from Grenada. A lot of the Nationalist units are still static.

The supplies tend to be withdrawn from empty bases if you have enough logistical units, you can make more.

You have a larger and a better airforce at the beginning of the game, you can use it for an anti-shipping role to slow down his Afrikan reinforcements.

I'm probably missing a couple contested cities, but seems like this is the Day-1 status....am I missing something? (This is probably a more general question than for this AAR).

Contested Cities:

Seville: Nationalists will clear Day-1, Republic is doomed
Cordoba: Nationalists will clear very quickly, have advantage
Granada: Nationlists will clear quickly, have advantage
Oveido: Nationalists have advantage, Republic doesn't have strength to clear....yet. Will likely be isolated though by Republic, and subject of relief
GIjon: Republic has the upper-hand, and it's probably wise for Nationalists to flee to Oveido
Madrid: Republic will win; not Day 1, but with reinforcements, etc, they will be able to clear the Nationalists. I am not 100% sure what the Nats should do here; stand and fight, or try to run. (Most of the units disband anyway, but you can save the equipement). Or maybe try to take Gefate.
Toledo: Republic needs reinforcements to take it, but I think it's too deep in Republican territory to be relieved. It's not going to hold out 2 months like the real-life Alcazar
Malaga: Republic should clear it with a few local reinforcements
San Sebastian: I think this one is the most fluid; the Republic holds it on Day-1 with latest patch, and can kick-out the artillery there pretty easily. But the Nationalists have nearby units that can get there quickly and make a fight of it. Overall I think the Nationlists have the advantage on this end of the map, so if I am the Nats I would probably fight it out and wait for relief

Did I miss any? Thoughts?

RangerJoe wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2026 12:18 pm If you turn on hexside control by pressing "W" or "w" you can then see which side controls the hexside.

You can bring back destroyed units but their experience is extremely low.

You don't have to run away from Grenada. A lot of the Nationalist units are still static.

The supplies tend to be withdrawn from empty bases if you have enough logistical units, you can make more.

You have a larger and a better airforce at the beginning of the game, you can use it for an anti-shipping role to slow down his Afrikan reinforcements.

Thank you so much!

Q-Ball wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2026 2:27 pm I'm probably missing a couple contested cities, but seems like this is the Day-1 status....am I missing something? (This is probably a more general question than for this AAR).

Contested Cities:

Seville: Nationalists will clear Day-1, Republic is doomed

Agreed, and if you're lucky to survive the first turn as REP, run.

Cordoba: Nationalists will clear very quickly, have advantage

Strangely, no action there yet, even though NAT advantage is obvious. They may be waiting for me to starve out (my INF has 4 days of supplies left). Crafty.

Granada: Nationlists will clear quickly, have advantage

Still at 50/50 somewhat. I was knocked out of the city, but now NAT troops are approaching piecemeal.

Oveido: Nationalists have advantage, Republic doesn't have strength to clear....yet. Will likely be isolated though by Republic, and subject of relief
GIjon: Republic has the upper-hand, and it's probably wise for Nationalists to flee to Oveido

I haven't paid much attention there yet, but I probably should.

Madrid: Republic will win; not Day 1, but with reinforcements, etc, they will be able to clear the Nationalists. I am not 100% sure what the Nats should do here; stand and fight, or try to run. (Most of the units disband anyway, but you can save the equipement). Or maybe try to take Gefate.

Strangely very quiet there.

Toledo: Republic needs reinforcements to take it, but I think it's too deep in Republican territory to be relieved. It's not going to hold out 2 months like the real-life Alcazar

Quiet as well.

Malaga: Republic should clear it with a few local reinforcements

Quiet, but I'm trying to fix it.

San Sebastian: I think this one is the most fluid; the Republic holds it on Day-1 with latest patch, and can kick-out the artillery there pretty easily. But the Nationalists have nearby units that can get there quickly and make a fight of it. Overall I think the Nationlists have the advantage on this end of the map, so if I am the Nats I would probably fight it out and wait for relief

This one is my priority - I've just destroyed the moto unit and all the forts - I do think it's sneaky how with a few bombardments NATs stole the base from under me with the forts and all of its supplies, or so it seemed - so despite heavy losses I've got to press on.

This game is definitely a learning experience.

Rysyonok wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2026 7:48 pm

RangerJoe wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2026 12:18 pm If you turn on hexside control by pressing "W" or "w" you can then see which side controls the hexside.

You can bring back destroyed units but their experience is extremely low.

You don't have to run away from Grenada. A lot of the Nationalist units are still static.

The supplies tend to be withdrawn from empty bases if you have enough logistical units, you can make more.

You have a larger and a better airforce at the beginning of the game, you can use it for an anti-shipping role to slow down his Afrikan reinforcements.

Thank you so much!

You are most welcome!

You have the advantage in the number of units but most of them are poorly trained. Not in the Norte however, your Asturian miners are your "nutcrackers" in that they have a much higher anti-armour rating than their anti-soft rating because they have so many more explosive toys with them and they know how to use them. Use those against fortified enemies. It will take awhile but you can fairly quickly clear Gijon and then capture Oviedas. Look at my AAR for some hints.

RangerJoe wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2026 7:59 pm You are most welcome!

You have the advantage in the number of units but most of them are poorly trained. Not in the Norte however, your Asturian miners are your "nutcrackers" in that they have a much higher anti-armour rating than their anti-soft rating because they have so many more explosive toys with them and they know how to use them. Use those against fortified enemies. It will take awhile but you can fairly quickly clear Gijon and then capture Oviedas. Look at my AAR for some hints.

Will do - I see you've updated it, too

Thank you, Google translate. But I can't explain what just happened in any words other than Spanish Pearl Harbor.

My Navy hit everywhere. A TF with a CL and 2 DDs ravaged the suburbs of Tangiers. Subs made multiple contacts off Western Morocco. A sub wolfpack inserted at least 161 shells into what looked like Italian transports. I haven't finished the turn yet to see for sure, but I lost count at 12 confirmed kills.

Sevilla HQ successfully withdraws with at least 90% of remaining squads as compared to yesterday. Malaga is captured, all NATs are destroyed. San Sebastiao is taken back, NAT Arts are now falling back. 116K of supplies back to the good guys who are learning this game by the hour. A small set back at Oviedo, they need help. Overall, a good turn. These victories came just in time - Malaga has 2 incoming NAT INFs and San Sebastiao already had a NAT convoy in harbor. WIS credits me with only 10 sinkings for now - it's okay, fog of war, I get it.

Side note, 7 aircraft damages in operations? That's what I get for having all experienced bombers and patrol planes fly this turn. It's okay. Maybe they can rest again.

Republican Enclave 1 - Huelva - Sevilla:

The battle is pretty much over. I should have let all the INFs east and south of Sevilla run. The one that stayed is pretty much toast. I should have used LBs to save portions of Huelva Naval HQ evacuate the first day on LBs that ran anyway. Hm. Maybe I should try to send them back?
Republican Enclave 2 - Gibraltar:

No news. The port still has a damaged AK under repair. There's a 28-men-strong NAT INF sneaking about.

Republican Enclave 3 - Granada:

I'm kind of stuck here. I seem to be losing. On one hand, there's a nice level IV airfield just east of the town. On another, I don't have many more forces to send to the troops. On yet another, it seems like not all units had attack orders. I'm going to give them one more day to see what's up. Maybe land bombers will actually do a land run for once.
Republican Enclave 4 - Malaga:

Fine for now. Clean up, fortifications, some raider runs.

Republican Enclave 5 - San Sebastian:

A day of rest for the troops, might as well churn through the 100K+ of supply to refit. A couple of INFs will fall back to recover the rail link with the rest of the north.

Republican Enclave 6 (Badajoz)(New entrant):

We're probably leaning towards the fall-back to Madrid (east) or north to Caceres. This seems to be a dead-end point-wise, considering our struggles all over the front.
Republican Enclave 7 (Oviedo - Gijon)(New entrant):

I'm sending all the available mobile units to Oviedo - that's in the Northwestern Spain.

Personally, blockade Oviedo by putting units all around it.

Move your units to protect Bilbao from the east. Stabilize your perimeters before you consider attacking, especially if you are new to the game and don't understand the potentials. My AAR as Republicans is actually the first long game playing that side, usually I played the Nationalists.

RangerJoe wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 1:14 am Personally, blockade Oviedo by putting units all around it.

Move your units to protect Bilbao from the east. Stabilize your perimeters before you consider attacking, especially if you are new to the game and don't understand the potentials. My AAR as Republicans is actually the first long game playing that side, usually I played the Nationalists.

Great ideas, Sir!

You are right about Extremadura (region east of Badajoz); it's not defensible for the Republic, and you simply don't have the troops to even try (though it will take a month or two at least to clear simply because of the space involved)

A key Nationalist objective is to clear the rail line from Seville to Salamanca, to connect the two parts of Nationalist Spain by Rail. I think the most you can do as Republic is harass that rail line.

Q-Ball wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 2:05 pm You are right about Extremadura (region east of Badajoz); it's not defensible for the Republic, and you simply don't have the troops to even try (though it will take a month or two at least to clear simply because of the space involved)

A key Nationalist objective is to clear the rail line from Seville to Salamanca, to connect the two parts of Nationalist Spain by Rail. I think the most you can do as Republic is harass that rail line.

Good call, thank you.

A rather quiet turn, as I had my first WIS crash to desktop, and it took a bit of time to send orders to the most essential units. Overall, things are quiet. It looks like NATs are starting to abandon Madrid. My planes and subs do a couple of sorties, but nothing to write home about.

Republican Enclave 1 - Huelva - Sevilla: Nothing to speak of.

Republican Enclave 2 - Gibraltar: Nothing to speak of.

Republican Enclave 3 - Granada: The fighting continues. Now that the forces are in the suburbs, NATs are down a few static groups; if we are indeed to win this war through the Barcelona - Cadiz push near the coastline, Granada is essential. For now, just local combat, but I need to start deciding where to send the Catalonian troops - soon.
Republican Enclave 4 - Malaga: Nothing to speak of.

Republican Enclave 5 - San Sebastian: Reserves from the West are pulled to deal with stray NAT forces in the area.