Third Reich 42 - 45: Mark (Axis) vs Mike (Allies)

[USXpat]

T030 - November 27, 1942
North Africa

Chaos continues in North Africa. This turn is likely to make or break the Afrika Korps and its effort to contain what is now a full-fledged English offensive on the Libyan-Egyptian borders.

So far, it's been a trade 10th Panzer and Littorio for the English 1st and 10th Armoured Divisions. However, the 7th Armoured Division along the coast advanced past my defensive line (such as it is... or was) and 8th Armoured Division in the south was also slightly overextended.

The Italian Centauro Tank Division had already depleted itself against the 8th Armoured, Brennero Infantry Division at 35% proficiency is far too fragile and lightly armed to have a chance; and 21st Panzer's last gambit threw it into reorg. 8th Armoured was forced to retreat, but it lives on to fight another day.

Ariete Division barely making it through to cut off the 7th and needing to preserve its strength against the 2nd New Zealand and 9th Australian Divisions is only able to get one light attack in. That leaves only 15th Panzer to focus on the 7th Armoured. With its backs to the sea, it fights furiously, stiff-arming and cutting the 15th's Pz III number's in half.

The Afrika Korps has been defeated. It is not yet destroyed.

To the west, a handful of Italian divisions serve as a road bump for the British and English advancing on Tunisia. More divisions have been sent to beef up the defense, but they are not numerous or fast enough to expect more than delaying the Allies a turn or two. Kasserine Pass is defended by the 999. Leichte Division, Phillippeville by the Italian 51st Sienna Motorized Division - not a bad unit by Italian standards, even has a few tanks (sort of). 164 Leichte takes up its defense in Tunis itself, supported by two Italian infantry divisions.

[USXpat]

T030 - November 27, 1942
Grozny

Gradually, more infantry divisions are making their way to Grozny, freeing up a few panzer divisions for redeployment. As yet, I've not made a direct assault on Grozny. More infantry are inbound. Every effort will be made such that once Grozny is taken, that it can be held against any counterattack the Russians can throw at it.

[USXpat]

T030 - November 27, 1942
The Astrakhan Bulge

Where efforts were simply to contain the Soviet offensive against the northern flank of the Grozny operation, the continued build-up of reinforcements allowed for a counterattack. I don't have the capability of sustaining any kind of offensive here. As can be seen, virtually all units involved in the counterattack are depleted. But, a lot of Soviet units are in a similar state and likely to lose a few more divisions. Hopefully, this took some steam out of the offensive to relieve the Northern Caucasus, by land, at least.

[USXpat]

T030 - November 27, 1942
Leningrad

An expensive turn concentrating on taking out the naval guns from the Russian Baltic fleet and the rail guns. The Scharnhorst of the Kriegsmarine was able to give some help to this fight. The rest should be fairly easy going relative to the fighting of the past three months.

Everywhere else remains fairly quiet, periodic fighting near Voronezh-Yeletz continues. The first Luftwaffe Field Korps is provided by Goehring making good on his earlier promise. I would really like to disband these units that all their men and equipment will go into better, regular infantry divisions.

The situation in North Africa precludes this. There is a shortage of units for coastal defense duties in southern France and Italy. I'd like to free up more of my regular infantry divisions also assigned to rear area and coastal defense in Russia, too. So, for now, I will keep them and conserve them in the hopes of being able to disband at least some of them later.

At 45% proficiency and set to not reconstitute, their #1 advantage is that they pack 12x 88mm dual-purpose AA. Conversely, they also arrive under-strength - by 2 battalions of Heavy Rifle Squads, a company of motorcycle squads, two companies of mixed ATG's, two companies of engineer squads... and a bit of everything else, which pulls replacements away from first line divisions.

On the other hand, it's a nice feeling to have that many more "replacements in waiting" - along with the reserve and replacement divisions. Every available unit, regardless of quality, is desperately needed.

[USXpat]

Turn 032 - December 11, 1942
El Qattara - Sidi Barrani

Jumping ahead 2 turns, the Afrika Korps' collapse begins to accelerate. There's no detracting from Mike playing the English well here. There's the psychological element of a poorly defended second front with the Americans and more English closing in on Algiers/Tunisia.

As of this turn, especially, I was psychologically beaten in North Africa. Had I more faith perhaps in the Italian forces, and there is now some evidence to warrant it, I'd probably have held "as firm as possible". Instead, I started setting the stage to extract what I could of the Afrika Korps.

It's not the casualties that were so terrible, but the supply and readiness that severely undermined my perception of what really was available:

15th Panzer: 15x Pz IIF, 15x Pz IIIH, 22x PzIIIJ, 15x Pz IVF2, 12 more AFV's.
21st Panzer: 15x Pz IIF, 6x Pz IIIH, 65x PzIIIJ, 20x Pz IVF2, 13x Pz IVE
131 Centauro: 227x M14/40-41, 18x mixed Semovente's
132 Ariete: 218x M14/40-41, 12x Semovente 75's
27 Brescia: 89x M14/40-41
101 Trieste: 85x M14/40-41

Nearly 900 AFV's. Easy to second guess things, hindsight is not always so clear as one may think though. They say it is best to go with one's initial gut instincts - so on one hand, I might have drawn this out longer; but at the risk of... 900 AFV's. And truth be told, I didn't look at this situation as "900 AFV's" - but merely as the "15th and 21st Panzer Divisions". Little regard for the Italians, though some appreciation for the Italian armor - knowing that these at least had the potential to reform if destroyed.

[USXpat]

T032 - December 11, 1942
Algeria - Tunisia

While Tunis itself is defended by 164. Leichte and 3 Italian Divisions, the screenshot shows the "full muster" of forces available to defend the approaches to it. Two more Italian divisions in the foothills and mountains to the west were bypassed. Now it is up to the 51st Sienna Division with about 90 M14/40-41 tanks to hold up the Americans.

[USXpat]

T032 - December 11, 1942
General Overview

Leningrad has been completely cleared. This allows for the Finnish Ithmus Army with an additional German korps (or more) to cascade as reinforcements for the final drive on Murmansk. Cut off by land, when needed, the Battlecruiser, Admiral Sheer will implement a naval blockade to cut it off from reinforcements by sea, too.

The entire length of the Eastern Front, aside from periodic fighting near Voronezh-Yeletz, remains quiet. The Astrakhan Bulge is also the scene of periodic fighting, but for the most part, the Soviet forces there have been contained or at least give the impression they are.

Grozny still remains in Soviet hands. Enough infantry is available to begin a serious effort to take the city. LIV Korps, finished with its share of the fighting at Leningrad, is being railed in for further support.

Along the Black Sea Coast, the 44th, 45th, 46th and 47th Soviet Armies are concentrated along a 45 km front to halt the advance at Sokhumi. Time and time again, I've felt the progress here stall beyond capacity to restart. The primary objective of this drive is to reach Batumi - which will force the Soviets to scuttle the Black Sea Fleet. That will also close off the entire Black Sea from any possible Allied Amphibious Operations freeing up a considerable number of 2nd and 3rd rate units should they be needed.

More importantly is that every Soviet unit here is a Soviet unit not somewhere else.

[USXpat]

T033 - December 18, 1942
Sidi Barrani

Only screen shot & post for this turn. As can be seen, the English laid into the Italians and tore them up pretty bad. I look at the situation as it is here and maybe my decision to extract what I can of Afrika Korps was the right one. Four more English Infantry Divisions are evident this turn than appeared previously.

The main goal is to extract Rommel, Bayerlein's HQ, 15th and 21st Panzer and at least one of the Italian tank divisions.

Conte di Savour naval group has reached Tobruk.

Allied Naval units were spotted along the coast of Tunisia by the Andrea Dora task force which managed to escape with 1 light cruiser and 7 destroyers. The New York naval group was hit by 39 Sturmo which has some of the navy-killing SM.79 III's; STG 2 - north of Sicily can pack an even nastier naval punch with 120 Ju-87's.

[USXpat]

T034 - December 25, 1942
Grozny

Finally, Grozny falls into German hands. Given the amount of artillery and air power thrown into this fight, any remaining oil in Grozny, above ground... or even far below it, was likely blown the hell up. Assaults continued against the area defenses so as to make more difficult for the Soviets to launch a successful counterattack to take the city back. If Grozny can be held for 24 turns, it will cap out a total possible +5 Supply. Intention is to "create some space" around Grozny, at least to the Caspian Sea coastline.

(Grozny will likely be reduced to a total of +4 Supply (+1/+1/+2) over 48 turns)

[USXpat]

T034 - December 25, 1942
Sidi Barrani

Santa's been making his rounds on both sides. Bayerlein's HQ and Centuaro Tank Division, along with the balance of the Italian forces are cut off beyond hope of escape or rescue.

Rommel, 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions, plus Ariete Division have reached (or are close to) Tobruk. 120 Ju-87's of STG 3, in Crete, managed to evaporate a Mediterranean Naval Squadron, with the remnants of the Greek and Polish navy also took a few hits. In preparation for evacuation, I use of the Axis Sea Transport "theater option boosts".

To the West, the 51st Sienna Division at Phillipville in Algeria collapsed after putting up a reasonable defense against an entire American Corps.

And... far to the North, the assault on the Murmansk defenses has begun.

[sapper32]

Nice AAR im enjoying the action in the desert keep it up i like the look of this scenario i will have to give it a go.

Ian

[Josh]

ORIGINAL: sapper32

Nice AAR im enjoying the action in the desert keep it up i like the look of this scenario i will have to give it a go.

Ian

+1 Great AAR, sorry to see the DAK evaporate though.

[USXpat]

Thank you, Gentlemen. It's been fun, and now past Turn 60, it is only getting more interesting.

A new 1.6 version is in the works - hopefully have it complete by next weekend. Some adjustments to the super rivers plus colder weather zones are the biggest changes. The rest is fine tuning.

Then, I'll likely be looking for a game as Allies, and possibly have room for another - maybe a Soviet FITE. See how it goes, this year has been anything but "stable"... heh...

[Josh]

Oh wow, a Soviet FitE [&o] not for the fainthearted, only for the brave. The amount of time it takes just for the first turn...

[USXpat]

Actually, time per turn for both sides averages well under an hour. Could take longer, but I do remember DNO/FITE/D21 turns taking 4-5 hours, especially as Axis in the beginning.

[USXpat]

Turn 035 - January 1, 1943
Overview

No screenshots. Largely a quiet turn everywhere, highlighted only by a minor naval engagement in the Mediterranean.

Reinforcements for the turn include the 502nd Heavy Panzer Battalion, and... and... an ashtray, this chair, and this paddle game. That's all I need and... I don't need anything else. And this...

[USXpat]

T036 - January 8, 1943
Tunisia

Following the narrow escape from Sidi Barrani and the chase to Tobruk, elements of "Panzer Armee Afrika" arrive to support the defense of Tunisia. Alas, this will be a desperate fight to hold the capitol city and port.

The Allies open up the southern exclusion zone merely by approaching Tunis (thus able to invade anywhere in southern Europe). My assessment is that they won't until Africa has been cleared. Tunis is the logical jump off point for any invasion of Sicily or Sardinia - to get every "movement point" possible following landfall and thus expand any bridgeheads before a counterattack can be launched. Historically, the Axis held out until about May 13th of 1943.

Gradually strengthened over the past few turns, and the force at Kasserine Pass reduced to one Italian division; the defense of Tunis amounts to the following units:

Rommel's HQ & Arnim's Mobile Supply Unit
132 Ariete Tank Division and 21st Panzer Division
164 and 999 Leichte Division
184 Nembo Airborne Division
1 Savoi Motorized Cavalry
19, 21 and 32 Italian Infantry Divisions.

15th Panzer was diverted to Sicily.

Orders are to hold out as long as possible - and then attempt to extract such units as possible, starting with the three German divisions.

[USXpat]

T036 - January 8, 1943
Murmansk

Murmansk is likely to be the last hurrah for the Axis. With Kandalaksha in Finnish hands, Soviet Lend Lease shipments are cut by about 25-30% (late fall/early autumn). Murmansk reduces this by about 25-30% more (winter). The rest will make it through to Archangelsk.

Fighting has been and is expected to encounter very stiff resistance, especially now that the 5th Shock Army has reinforced the defense. Every Soviet formation not aimed at my center is a cause for "some" relief.

If cleared, this will allow Finnish and German forces to concentrate forces around the areas east of southern Lake Onega - Belomorsk region. The goal there would be to advance to advance to the main river line, that is an optimistic goal.

---

Note in the screenshot that there needs to be a whole helluva lot more snow on the ground - so winter severity and climate zones are being increased in the next update.

Lendlease issues are simplified so as to not involve events. Once recaptured, backlogged LL shipments will appear at Murmansk and Kandalaksha.

[USXpat]

T037 - January 15, 1943
Tunisia

Skirmishes erupt as the US II Corps advances upon Tunis. After the initial exchanges, the 34th Infantry Division fragmented with the rest of II Corps showing signs of being low on supply. 15th Panzer and Ariete divisions are not in much better condition.

Meanwhile, Italy scrambles to reinforce its islands - Sardinia and Sicily. A mix of Reserve, Replacement and Luftwaffe Field Divisions take up the original Italian coastal defense positions.

[USXpat]

T037 - January 15, 1943
Murmansk

Concentrated offensive activity by Axis forces continues only along the Black Sea Coast and against the defense of Murmansk. This turn sees a 15 km advance across a 30 km front toward Murmansk, plus the relief of 3rd Mountain Division which had been recently cut off by elements of the 33rd Army.

There is little activity elsewhere except to the far south, along the Black Sea Coast. XLVIII Panzer and XLIX Mountain take Sokhumi. That just leaves Poti - 135 km away, and Batumi, 90 km further after that.