Hadros (Axis) vs HB (Allies) Hadros Welcome

[Harrybanana]

JUNE 19, 1942

This turn on the Russian Front was a lot like last turn. The Germans made a number of Attacks; including getting some revenge by Shattering one of my Mechanized Corps that refused to retreat.

[Harrybanana]

But again the Germans left themselves open to a counterattack. My plan was to retreat the infantry corps to block the retreat of the Armour.

[Harrybanana]

Like last turn both the Infantry and the Armour retreat/shatter on the first attacks. I think I could have gotten the Armour even if they had each held out for 2 or 3 turns; but this made it too easy.

[Harrybanana]

Also once again the German unit (this time an infantry corps) defending the hex adjacent to Moscow refuses to retreat and eventually Shatters. If our roles were reversed, I would be sending Hadros Messages whining and bitching like crazy about the luck. But he is obviously far more stoic than me because he says nothing.

[Harrybanana]

Final Positions and recent Losses.

[Harrybanana]

In the West, 2 MS are sunk and 3 U-Boat hits are scored.

The Allies capture Messina after several attacks with the help of shore bombardment.

[Harrybanana]

JULY 3, 1942

10 MS sunk and an escort sunk and only 2 U-Boat hits scored.

The capture of Messina went so well the Allies cross the straits of Messina and repeat with the liberation of Reggio. But it took a lot of attacks. At this rate we will be in Rome by Christmas... 1957

[Harrybanana]

I noticed with my last few attacks that I didn't seem to be destroying as many enemy strength points as I had before with naval bombardment. So i examined my naval stack and found out why. With efficiency this low my ships will be in dry dock for a year recovering. If the Italian Fleet still existed and attacked me now I might be in trouble.

[Harrybanana]

On the Russian Front the number of Axis attacks is much reduced.

[Harrybanana]

I am not ready to go on the offensive yet, so other than swapping some units around I largely just sit tight.

[Harrybanana]

JULY 17, 1942

A good turn in the BOA, only 1 MS sunk and 4 U-Boat hits.

In Italy the Allies continue their slow advance up the Boot, destroying an Italian Mountain unit that was too stubborn to retreat until it was too late. Again the naval bombardment really helps to inflict casualties, but now I have two fleets with low efficiency.

[Harrybanana]

Not very many Axis attacks in Russia, so I just swapped some units around.

[Harrybanana]

JULY 31, 1942

5 MS and an escort sunk and 4 U-Boat hits.

A teaching moment for those who are interested. You can see in the screenshots below that there are two German wolf packs operating in the Atlantic. For the one South of Iceland I have low recon on and the other one I have very low recon on. The reason why I have better recon for the one pack is because it is within 6 hexes of the coast of Iceland. As I understand it this means that my convoy escorts are more likely to find and attack this wolf pack than the one with very low recon. It also means that my long range bomber with the Detection technology advancement is more likely to find and attack this wolf pack than it is the other wolf pack. So I send it to attack this wolf pack, but it fails to locate both times. The irritating thing is that even though it started with 100% efficiency and ended up doing nothing more than take a pleasure flight over the Atlantic, its efficiency is reduced to 84%.

My Dad was a flight engineer in maritime patrol squadrons after the War. He served on a number of different aircraft including converted Lancasters and the Argus (a fantastic Canadian built aircraft). Funny, but despite being out on some very long patrols looking for Russian subs (along with illegal fishermen) I don't recall him ever returning home tired or fatigued. Drunk yes, but tired no. The drunkenness was from imbibing at the Sgts Mess after the patrol, not from any dereliction of duty. Perhaps then it is drunkeness that is causing the loss of efficiency in my patrol group.

In any event, the lessons to be learned are:
1. Station your subs more than 6 hexes from enemy land, and
2. Don't waste research and production on the Detection Technology and Bombers with this Tech. They are very expensive and generally very ineffective. Just rely on your escorts.

[Harrybanana]

In Italy another Italian corps is destroyed and the Allies advance another hex closer to Naples and Taranto.

[Harrybanana]

The Axis again escalates its attacks in Russia.

[Harrybanana]

I successfully counter attack 3 of the 4 hexes that the Germans pushed me out of. But once again I get the best results possible. It seems that whenever I want a unit to Retreat, either to block the retreat route of another unit or to Shatter a unit that has no retreat route, that is the result I get. But whenever I want a unit that has a retreat route to Hold in order that I can gain sufficient odds to Shatter it, than that is the result I get. This is evidenced by the attacks below which Shatter another German Armour. All I can say is that I have never been this lucky in a game before. I believe I deserve to win based on our respective play; but this is getting ridiculous.

[Harrybanana]

AUGUST 14, 1942

3 MS sunk, but 6 U-Boat hits scored. My maritme patrol group again fails to find any U-Boats in 2 attempts.

Another hex gained in Italy.

[Harrybanana]

Again very few attacks in Russia.

[Harrybanana]

So I just shuffle some units around. Perhaps I should be going on the offensive now. But I would rather play it safe than be sorry.

[stjeand]

Nice to see the USSR winning.

Not seen this since the patch.


Looks to be bad for the Axis losing so many armor.