Allies vs. Skynet

[John B.]

In the East the Central powers basically regrouped and reinforced their armies. The sieges at Lemberg and Czernowtiz continue with some level of hunger reported at Czernowitz. In Poland, not pictured, four German corps lined up at the border along with an unidentified HQ (one suspects it's Hindenberg).

[John B.]

The Ottomans reported a wide spread Typhus outbreak near the Russian boarder that seems to have impacted several of their cities. Troops on their way to mobilization centers are rumored to have carried the disease with them.

The India army seized Basra and the Turks returned the favor by taking one of the towns in Sinai. The British army sent an built the Ian Hamilton HQ in Egypt and deployed an Indian cavalry corps there while the British infantry dug in along the canal. Once the ANZACs arrive, Britain may contemplate an offensive.

Italian newspapers are loudly demanding A/H to cede boarder territories and thus far A/H has remained silent on the issue. Given the diplomatic coup in Bulgaria, A/H may start sending additional corps to the Italian boarder.

[John B.]

Not too much happened during the Entente turn so I went ahead and did the Central Powers as well which takes us to January 2, 1915. Lots to report.

1. The Invincible was crippled in the battle of the Falkland Islands and German Subs started taking pot shots at the British near blockade line. Meanwhile, the Russian subs blockaded the Turkish mines.

2. Typhus raged in both Serbia and in the Eastern part of the Ottoman empire;

3. Serbia declined an offer from American volunteers to form a detachment;

4. Russia opted to not build seaplane tenders in the Black Sea;

Here in Galicia you can see that the siege of Czernowitz was sort of lifted, but not by much and it is vulnerable to falling this turn. Meanwhile, Lemberg continues to hold out even though it is at a low supply level.

[John B.]

In Poland the Germans pushed forward but did not launch any attacks. The Russians will be content to stay in their trenches.

[John B.]

Serbia fell back and the timely arrival of the Albanian detachment saved the Serbs from being surrounded. They may be able to hold this line for a little while depending on how much the Bulgarians can throw at them.

[John B.]

In Belgium the Germans seem to have pulled back some. Presaging an eastern campaign? It's very interesting that the Germans have a detachment on the soon to be front line. The two German corps are looking vulnerable.

[John B.]

The ANZAC corps arrived in Sinai which, given that it is a powerful attack force, means that there may be an offensive in Sinai sooner rather than later.

[John B.]

In the Caucasus Russians are moving into attack positions. They have Yudenich who is a very good commander and an Ottoman detachment on the front lines.

[John B.]

since it's the start of a new year, here's the current loss report (note the only naval loss thus far has been an A/H destroyer.

[John B.]

The two main neutrals are Italy (pro-Allied at 15% or so) and the US (stuck at 8% pro-allied).

The national morale from highest to lowest is as follows:

1. England 98.

2. France 94.

3. Germany, A/H, and Russia all at 93.

4. Turkey at 89.

5. Serbia at 67.

Bulgaria gave A/H a lift back above 90%.

Oddly, it seems as if the Entente is being outproduced by the Central Powers. Should this be correct?

[John B.]

Into the new year and the continuing offensive in Galicia bore some fruit for the Tsar's army (or is it Czar? Or Tzar? ). Lemberg has been cut off after the destruction that was holding open a slender life line into the city. Reports from prisoners, however, show a well dug in enemy with high moral.

The same cannot be said of Czernowitz which fell to several Russian assaults. It is unlikely that Russia will attempt to attack the German Corp entrenched in the Carpathians so that part of the front may fall silent.

In the Cacusus the Russians attacked and damaged a detachment. The Russian ship in the Black sea did attack the Turkish light cruiser but too heavy damage in doing so.

[John B.]

A winter offensive in Belgium also paid dividend with two German Corps destroyed and territory gained. France, finally, had enough MMPs to purchase an artillery unit. Haig is about to embark for the continent.

[John B.]

Serbia looks bad. Very bad. The troops have low morale and an orders mix up left the mines open to capture by A/H which would have the additional problem of cutting the supply line with Russia.

[John B.]

January 30th has rolled around and the A/H empire is making a major push in Serbia. They have two waves of troops lines up and are ready to throw themselves at the Serian line. There was little action from the Bulgarians who railroaded their corps to some undisclosed location.

In other news:

1. Lemberg is officially under siege and its fall is expected any day now.

2. Italian nationalists are clamoring for war. Italy has moved to 29% pro-allied.

3. A wave of strikes hit British manufacturing near the Clyde reducing production. However, the Canadian Corp has arrived in England.

[John B.]

The Germans launched what appears to be a tentative offensive in Poland. They launched a number of attacks that resulted in a few casualties on either side. Russian reinforcements are on the way and Warsaw does not appear to be in any immediate danger of falling.

[John B.]

In France, the Germans actually launched attacks with cavalry against entrenched infantry and do not seem to have suffered too much as a result. The Entente plans a series of attacks to wreck these two cavalry corps. Also, France is in the process of moving a corps to Albania to help the Serbs hold on while Britain will assume more of the front line in Belgium to free up French units.

Both a Russian and a French artillery unit appeared as well as a new Russian Dreadnought which will hover near St. Petersburg.

[John B.]

It's April 1915 and there was not too much activity so I did an Entente and Central Powers turn. In terms of events the only two that took place were Britain putting a marine unit in Lemnos and purchasing an Indian artillery unit for Sinai. The Russians purchased their own heavy artillery unit for the Caucasus front.

Lemberg fell which had a very positive effect on Italy and Romania and it looks like Italy will be in the war very soon. Britain put another diplomatic chit into Norway which is right at 0 but pro-Central powers.

On the Western front, the German launched another attack on Verdun with heavy losses and a number of Entente attacks took care of destroying a German Cavalry corps.

As you can see here, Serbia is in very bad shape! They will probably have to fall back to the new line and reinforce to the enxtent that they can. A/H is pushing hard and clearly wants to free up those corps for use elsewhere.

[John B.]

Here is the situation in Galicia. With the Lemberg corps freed up the Russians may push towwards Tarnow with an eye towards bottling up Premyszyl (sp?) especially now that they have an artillery unit.

[John B.]

German probes into Poland, but nothing substantial.

British forces advanced into the Sinai and stalemate in the Caucuses.

[gwgardner]

I'm enjoying your AAR. Any chance you could show some broader screenshots of the fronts?