How the Axis could have won. Allied AAR RTW

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Aurelian

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: sapper32

Gripping stuff Warspite1 lets hope the Navy can give the home front something to cheer about,Im quite enjoying the naval side of my game ive lost an RN LC sqn but sank the Deutschland group but then got the RCN escort group jumped by a wolfpack which is being hunted mid Atlantic by 3 escort groups game on

warspite1

I couldn't believe it when my, already weakened, light cruisers ran smack into the German BC. What a ******! They were destroyed there and then. I was luckier against the Italians because I could see where their units were. I was thus able to sail the units that were south of Crete west using a wide arc and thus avoiding the RM - if not my carriers and cruisers would have headed straight into the Italian BB line [X(]

In my case, two Italian transports ran into the fleet off Benghazi. Poor guys lost an army and a corps.... oops

warspite1

Were you the Italians or the British at the time?

[warspite1]

15th July 1941

Soviet Union
The Soviets purchase an HQ, a couple of armies and a couple of corps. They spend every remaining MPP on bring existing units up to strength to try and delay the Germans. Still amazed at how few units the Soviets have [X(]

[Aurelian]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Aurelian

ORIGINAL: warspite1


warspite1

I couldn't believe it when my, already weakened, light cruisers ran smack into the German BC. What a ******! They were destroyed there and then. I was luckier against the Italians because I could see where their units were. I was thus able to sail the units that were south of Crete west using a wide arc and thus avoiding the RM - if not my carriers and cruisers would have headed straight into the Italian BB line [X(]

In my case, two Italian transports ran into the fleet off Benghazi. Poor guys lost an army and a corps.... oops

warspite1

Were you the Italians or the British at the time?

The British.

[sveint]

Fantastic AAR.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Aurelian

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Aurelian




In my case, two Italian transports ran into the fleet off Benghazi. Poor guys lost an army and a corps.... oops

warspite1

Were you the Italians or the British at the time?

The British.

warspite1

....which was nice [:)][8D]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: sveint

Fantastic AAR.

warspite1

Thank-you sir! Although I may have to start again soon* as HMS Warspite is looking in quite a bit of bother. It will be interesting to see how the AI reacts with the RM's battleships - which look pretty much in full working order.....




* Just kidding [;)]

[warspite1]

Well that is extremely annoying. I've had some issues with the game resulting in the fact that I have to go back to the start of the last AI turn. The only problem is that a) I have tried four re-loads and I can't get close to replicated what happened last time and, b) even worse, the results last time were seemingly incredibly kind to the Allies - in each of the re-run goes the Allies have got hammered [:@]

But if I am to continue I have no choice but to replay the AI 29th July turn again - and hope its not as bad as some of the last few have been....

[british exil]

I have no idea about this game, but really enjoying the AAR.
Learning new information as I read through. I also never knew that water was wet. Must tell others about this stunning news.

Also the historical quotes. "As the newly installed Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said: 35 MPP? - never has so much been spent on so many to help so few* "

Marvellous.


Just can't understand why your BEF didn't give Jerry a bloody nose, still appalled at your leadership old chap. I thought you had a bit more spline. We must diverse on your tactics, back in the gentleman's club, once you get back from playing Soldier in Cairo.

Otherwise you are putting on a splendid show.

Mat

[Josh]

So far the game is doing an oustanding job of displaying the desastrous situation of '40-'41. Things are looking pretty bleak in Russia, the naval war is... well at least the Hood survived, this time. North Africa at least has a decent line of defence, but the Germans should have experienced forces by now...I think it will be a close call.
Question is, when will be the turning point...?

[warspite1]

29 July 1941

Okay here goes. Hard as it is, I won't reference the previous aborted turn where things have gone worse and will effectively report as though new (there are some positives too thankfully) [;)].

AI Turn
The Axis conquers Greece and almost immediately German paratroopers from the 7th Flieger Division, led by Major-General Kurt Student, begin descending on the island of Crete.

Rather worryingly Sweden continues her flirtation with Adolf Hitler.

The USA, along with the UK and Dutch NEI decide to cut-off 90% of Japanese oil imports....

[warspite1]

29th July 1941

AI Turn

Losses were hard this turn. Full details to follow.

In addition to the below, Axis raiders have been hurting the Allied convoys.

[warspite1]

29th July 1941

United Kingdom

Battle of the Scilly Isles (cont) - 16th July 1941
With some hours until daylight broke, the Royal Navy fleet that remained on station in the Western Approaches, picked up the movement of enemy ships - remarkably, having lost their pursuers as darkness descended the previous evening Admiral Lutjens, aboard his flagship Bismarck, appeared to be trying to lead his fleet back to France.

Lutjens himself was lost when the Bismarck ran into the 14-inch guns of Prince of Wales and King George V, the flagship of Admiral Charles Forbes. Gneisenau also came under a hail of shells from Duke of York and Queen Elizabeth but managed to escape serious damage - unlike her escorting destroyers. Donitz had ordered all available U-boats to the area but these had limited success.

At 0800hrs, with Bismarck a burning hulk and Gneisenau withdrawing, the Royal Navy's sole focus was to ensure that all German ships at sea did not get back to the safety of port. The danger from U-boats was to be a secondary consideration.

To that effect the carriers Hermes and Furious successfully launched air strikes against Gneisenau, causing her to slow, whilst the 5th Cruiser Squadron (Sussex, Shropshire, Norfolk and Suffolk) were tasked with destroying Gneisenau's destroyer screen. PoW and KGV were then able to get in between Gneisenau and the destroyers which were fighting for their lives and inflict further critical damage on the German ship. In a perfect pincer movement HMS Hood, sailing from the north, was then able to cross Gneisenau's T - and within 20 minutes the German ship sank beneath the waves.

With fuel reserves now a major concern for Admiral Forbes, by 1120hrs the Royal Navy task force headed to port. As far as they could tell the only German surface units still at sea were three 1936-type destroyers.

A close run thing....

[sapper32]

The Axis supply must be low I would hit them with Air and Armour they will find it hard to reinforce that far from a supply base.
This could be your 2nd battle of Alamein

[warspite1]

29th July 1941

United Kingdom

Second Battle of Sirte - 18th July 1941

The Italian Fleet's response to the Royal Navy's presence off Benghazi was, fortunately for the British, somewhat dis-jointed. Even so, the British battleships had taken much punishment - HMS Valiant and HMS Malaya in particular, and both were lucky to survive.

Realistically, despite leaving the route to Egypt undefended, there was little that the weakened RN fleet could do other than try and effect a fighting withdrawal west toward Malta.

A squadron of Italian cruisers had managed to get itself separated from the main fleet in the melee and the battleships Andrea Doria and Giuilo Cesare, operating respectively north and south of the Italian fleet, were unable to assist the cruisers as the British moved in for the kill on their way to the west. Ramillies, Resolution and the 1st Cruiser Squadron dispatched the Italian cruisers to the bottom of the sea.

Emboldened by this success the 1st Submarine Flotilla was ordered to attack Andrea Doria as a prelude to an attack by Royal Oak and Revenge. However, these two battleships represented Admiral Cunningham's only fully operational capital ships and, deciding that discretion was the better part of valour, he ordered the pursuit of the Italian battleship be called off.


The Mediterranean Fleet seek shelter in Malta for urgent repairs following the two battles in the Gulf of Sirte....

[warspite1]

29th July 1941

United Kingdom
The situation in Egypt looks grim, with V Corps in Alexandria having taken heavy casualties in fighting off the cream of the Afrika Korps. The only potentially good news is that the tanks of the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions have fought themselves to a standstill south of the port. The question is - do the British have enough to beat them back and provide some relief to this vital port and the defenders within?


The situation on the 29th July 1941 after Field Marshal Erwin Rommel temporarily orders his panzers to halt for rest and refit

[warspite1]

29th July 1941

United Kingdom

Battle of Alexandria - 30th July 1941
The plan decided upon was not exactly subtle. The attack would begin with 202 Group RAF ordering Blenheims of 14, 45 and 55 Squadron to attack Rommel's panzers. The tanks of the 2nd and 7th Armoured Divisions would then set upon the (hopefully) disorganised Germans from the north and south.

Subtle or not, the operation got off to a poor start as the Blenheims failed to caused any appreciable damage to Rommels panzers. However, the tank attack was to prove another story. First to arrive were the 7th Armoured Division, whose 7th Armoured Brigade smashed into the junction of 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions, capturing the latter's HQ and throwing the panzer troops into confusion.

As the Germans began to get themselves together and get into position to do something about the attack, they were surprised by the 2nd Armoured sweeping in from the south. Within a short space of time, although the British tanks had taken large losses, the remnants of two panzer divisions were retreating west in disarray....

The British spend much of their few MPP on bringing V Corps in Alex up to strength and upgrading the Canadians in Cairo.

Ice Cold in Alex? Not a bit of it - things are warming up good and proper!

[warspite1]

29th July 1941

Soviet Union
The USSR spend MPP on researching Command and Control and AA Defence. The remainder is spent on bringing units up to strength. Although the Soviets have 488 MPP they are unable to buy any new corps or armies???

This is my only post of the Eastern Front on the basis that this is the only place where I have any troops [:(]

[Hartmann]

I'm a bit late to the party as I avoided your AAR because I was playing the UK myself, but let me tell you that I just read through all 12 pages and am enjoying this very much. I think the main reason why your situation looks rather grim is two things:

1) You should have done more focussed research right from the start. Especially "Infantry weapons" and "Infantry Warfare" is a must!
2) You should have avoided actively campaigning against the Germans in Africa until you got "Infantry Weapons 2" plus all your stuff. Until then it is a good idea to seal off Egypt entrenching at El Alamein and the Quatara depression.

Actually, regarding 2) I made the same mistake and was surprised at how big the Africa Corps is (though I like that now). The difference is that I only lost my tanks, but otherwise managed to fall back to El Alamein with my forces intact. I could defeat Rommel easily in Summer 42.

I also had a problem with my navy. It was always on top tech-wise, but I lost lots of ships to "enemy contact" and the sneakiness of the AI. Even "baiting" proved to be difficult - if I let them see a light Cruiser, they came out with their Battleships, destroy it and move back to their Adriatic ports or behind the FOW in the same turn. I had to learn that I should fight big sea battles near my *own* harbours and where I have tac and marine bombers ready. Contrary to some other players, I really do love the navy part of the game, though, not least the MPP-fight on the convoy lanes.

At first I also thought the game favours the Axis, but that changed when I eventually played them as well. In fact the game is a bit easier for the Allies, that's why I always leave Poland and France AI controlled and then play either UK/US (Soviets AI controlled) or Soviets (UK/US AI controlled).

Thing is that - in a way - the first game is always the most enjoyable BECAUSE of all the mistakes one makes. Once one knows "how it's done", the AI is not a challenge so much anymore (even though it really is astonishingly good for such a game).

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Hartmann

I'm a bit late to the party as I avoided your AAR because I was playing the UK myself, but let me tell you that I just read through all 12 pages and am enjoying this very much. I think the main reason why your situation looks rather grim is two things:

1) You should have done more focussed research right from the start. Especially "Infantry weapons" and "Infantry Warfare" is a must!
2) You should have avoided actively campaigning against the Germans in Africa until you got "Infantry Weapons 2" plus all your stuff. Until then it is a good idea to seal off Egypt entrenching at El Alamein and the Quatara depression.

Actually, regarding 2) I made the same mistake and was surprised at how big the Africa Corps is (though I like that now). The difference is that I only lost my tanks, but otherwise managed to fall back to El Alamein with my forces intact. I could defeat Rommel easily in Summer 42.

I also had a problem with my navy. It was always on top tech-wise, but I lost lots of ships to "enemy contact" and the sneakiness of the AI. Even "baiting" proved to be difficult - if I let them see a light Cruiser, they come out with their Battleships, destroy it and move back to their Adriatic ports in the same turn. I had to learn that I should fight big sea battles near my *own* harbours and where I have tac and marine bombers ready. Contrary to some other players, I really do love the navy part of the game, though, not least the MPP-fight on the convoy lanes.

At first I also thought the game favours the Axis, but that changed when I eventually played them as well. In fact the game is a bit easier for the Allies, that's why I always leave Poland and France AI controlled and then play either UK/US (Soviets AI controlled) or Soviets (UK/US AI controlled).

Thing is that - in a way - the first game is always the most enjoyable BECAUSE of all the mistakes one makes. Once one knows "how it's done", the AI is not a challenge so much anymore (even though it really is astonishingly good for such a game).

warspite1

Hi Hartmann. I am pleased to hear you think this game is perhaps easier for the Allies - I am a little dubious on some of the design decisions - not least that the Axis get all their battleships but not the RN so its good to hear that there are sound reasons for this.

I must admit I really like the first game - because as you say, you truly have no idea what is coming!

[warspite1]

12th August 1941

AI Turn

That's disappointing. Just as I give Rommel a bloody nose the Egyptians decide they are a tad upset with British rule..... I get a load of hits to my troops as a result.

I am asked to make a decision - do I want to invade Persia with the Soviets? Well yes actually I would - this will give the opportunity of US aid via the Persian Gulf (which I think was responsible for about 50% of the total iirc).