How the Axis could have won II. Allied AAR

[warspite1]

26th October 1941

One thing that appears for certain - the Afrika Korps won't die!! Which is more than can be said for Greece......

[warspite1]

6th November 1941

Reinforcements

Soviet Union
Zhukov is placed near Moscow

MPP Expenditure

UK - The research plan has gone out of the window as the need to reinforce Egypt takes priority.
USA - The US start the purchase of units to take the war to Germany and start off with an artillery unit.
USSR - Having forgotten to purchase last turn the Soviets have a bumper haul: Artillery, Tactical Bomber, Shock Army, Mechanised and 2 x Army

[warspite1]

6th November 1941

United Kingdom

The British destroyers locate the Wolf Pack on the northern Canadian route, but the U-Boats manage to dive and the aircraft from Hermes and Eagle are not able to locate the U-Boats either.

In Egypt no attack is planned in the sandstorm conditions, and instead the British concentrate on bringing units up to strength where possible.

The Canadian Army continues on its journey to North Africa.

[warspite1]

17th November 1941

It seems clear that the Axis have Leningrad as a goal, with a large number of units in Army Group North being concentrated to get across the Dvina.

What is pleasing here is that, although unfortunately the German bridgehead remains, they have not expanded it in the last turn, and the enemy presence on the north side of the river remains at one corps.

Furthermore, it is good to see that there are a number of German army and corps formations that are now understrength as a result of repeated efforts to take both Riga and Daugvapils. Less good is that I detect panzer forces being brought up now.

[warspite1]

17th November 1941

Equally pleasing from the Soviet perspective is that the Axis units either side of the Pripyat appears to remain understrength - particularly on the road to Moscow, where Minsk has yet to be taken - let alone Smolensk.

The loss of Kiev was dumb play on my part - I should have increased the number of defenders there - but having taken this key city, the Germans have not done much to exploit their success.

Units will be available from the Greek campaign now so I expect things to get a bit more uncomfortable.

[warspite1]

17th November 1941

The big story here is that, despite the great effort being expended by German and Romanian forces, Odessa still holds. Which kind of begs the question, what does a unit have to do to get an honour around here?? IV Corps' performance has been astonishing.

Of more concern is the position up river, where Kremenchuk is about to fall which will allow the Axis to consolidate their position on the east side of the Dneipr.

[warspite1]

17th November 1941

As can be seen from this picture, the British units need upgrading to Infantry (2) but its difficult to keep units in the front line and reinforce and upgrade!! Until they are upgraded there is no chance of a breakthrough - and indeed I am struggling to stop the Germans achieving this instead....

As expected, Greece finally fell this turn.

[warspite1]

28th November 1941

Reinforcements

Soviet Union

4 x Corps (Poltava, Pskov, Kursk, Gomel)
3 x Army (Bryansk, Riga, Dneprpetrovsk)
2 x Tanks (Polotsk, Smolensk)

MPP Expenditure

UK - All MPP used to reinforce / upgrade units in Egypt.
USA - They save their MPP as they want an HQ next.
USSR - All units reinforced as much as possible. 3 x Army 1 x Corps and 3 x Garrison

[warspite1]

28th November 1941

United Kingdom

The 16th Escort Flotilla finds a German Wolf Pack and attacks with no success, I bring the 14th Flotilla out (it should be in port being upgraded and strengthened) but their attack sees the U-Boats dive. The carriers Ark Royal and Furious are sent out covered by the 3rd Escort Flotilla but the U-boats remain hidden.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Army continues southeast and should be in Suez next turn - a welcome reinforcement.

[warspite1]

9th December 1941

Well that was an action packed turn! Not least because:


The Yanks are Coming! - ohhh lucky Yanks

[warspite1]

9th December 1941

But before we get into all that there was plenty going on elsewhere. Not least at sea where no less than three U-Boats have been identified on the UK-USSR convoy route - and they have gone after the carriers. One of the Wolf Packs appears to have moved away. Light damage has been reported to HMS Furious, while in Berlin the propaganda ministry has a different take on what happened....


Sorry Adolf, but the Ark is still afloat

[warspite1]

9th December 1941

Here is a summary of the AI turn - the big news being the loss of IV Corps and Odessa [:(]

[warspite1]

9th December 1941

Riga and the fortress of Daugvapils still hold out - just about. Less good news is that von Leeb now has two corps over the Dvina....

Gradually the Germans are moving forward, but gradually is the key here. In terms of historical performance the Germans are well behind schedule.

[warspite1]

9th December 1941

In the centre its almost as if Moscow is no longer a priority for Hitler as AGC retreat from Minsk once again. A little further south, two panzer formations have kicked the 15th Rifle Corps out of Cherrigov, but without support they are unlikely to get much further.

[warspite1]

9th December 1941

The picture in the south is a little rosier for the Axis now that Odessa has fallen. The lower Dneipr is now under threat - but once again the German infantry appears to have been heavily depleted in getting this far.


General Winter makes a welcome appearance

[warspite1]

9th December 1941

To sunnier climes now and the Axis again put in a concerted attack on El-Alamein - XII Corps were lucky to hold on. The RAF also took a bit of a battering too. I can only assume the Germans have increased their tech in the air...

[warspite1]

20th December 1941

Reinforcements

Soviet Union
Paratroop Corps in Moscow
Army in Kharkov
Corps in Ostrov
2 x Garrison in Belgorod and Mariopol

United States
USS Ranger arrives in Norfolk - that's VA not East Anglia.

MPP Expenditure

UK - Once again the army and air force in Egypt needs every MPP
USA - The USA spend a large part of their MPP on transportation and also purchase a medium bomber.
USSR - Tactical Bomber, an army, a corps and a garrison

[warspite1]

20th December 1941

United Kingdom

The British turn off the Lend Lease supply to the Soviet Union and increase income from the US to the max 30%. The reason is that I need to get additional research for the British.

Meanwhile the U-Boat war continues to hot up. The 1st Escort Flotilla finds a Wolf Pack off the Scottish west coast and almost annihilates it.

On the Soviet route the destroyers exchange blows with two Wolf Packs - but the carriers aircraft prove a waste of time.

United States

A great armada, loaded with 2 armies and a corps, sets out for the Red Sea.


As can be seen I have taken the MPP down to 0 in the Map Screen (left) but the red line is still showing in the main map (right). Let's see what happens later

[warspite1]

20th December 1941

The Soviets bring in every available fighter to try and assist the defenders of Riga. 11th Army is also ordered to act as a blocking force to upset German plans to get more men across the river.

[n0kn0k]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

9th December 1941

To sunnier climes now and the Axis again put in a concerted attack on El-Alamein - XII Corps were lucky to hold on. The RAF also took a bit of a battering too. I can only assume the Germans have increased their tech in the air...

Try and use overwhelming air power to pick the Axis units off, one by one.
So many good units there are doing nothing atm. Try and put the strongest units in front, not corps. [;)]
Try and go around them and cut off supply.
Perhaps even try to do a landing behind their lines if you are bold enough.