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Meanwhile, Turkey prepared for war. Before Russia, the Axis enjoyed more diplo power than the Allies, not to mention the loss of London and a GER DE would move Turkey greatly to the Axis side.

Some Russian units were operated to the Turkish boarder to deal with the Panzers that were surely going to come from there. The Russian southern oil fields are all in jeopardy now. This was the moment when I was most worried about the outcome of the war. I seriously didn't know how things were going to develop from there.



At this hour, US and USSR mobilization were at 59% and 74%, respectively.

In China, The Communists finally decided to join the fight against the invaders, while the Japs have reached the outskirts of Chungking from both the Northeast and the South.

My defense in China had been less than optimum.

July, 1941: Still no Barbarossa.

DE 603 fired, and Spain joined the Axis! Now this was the direct consequence of the Axis conquering Algiers and Rabat.

This caused the US to increase mobilize from 59% to 70%.

UK special force landed near Copenhagen, with the help of the CVs, destroyed the Garrison, and the rest of the RN rushed in, hoping to find and annihilate the Kriegsmarine surface fleet.

Oh BTW, with Vichy, no French Navy would join the Allies. But if France surrendered after Oran, majority of French Navy would join (another reason GER should take Vichy). Unfortunately I didn't know this, and began sending all French vessels on suicidal missions attacking nearby major ports before her surrender (Unlike before Vichy, French morale was no longer an issue here). After I "successfully" killed many French ships including a couple battleships this way, with a couple ships left with a few strength only, I found them didn't disappear but rather stayed when France surrendered. Ouch!

Seen here the French sub leading the charge into the Baltic was left mostly intact because I couldn't use her for suicidal attacks on ports.

At the same time, the Allies began to assault Tobruk, only to find a marginal force left behind, with all the Germans gone. Some Allied units also started moving toward the Turkish border, hoping to keep as many as possible Axis units away from the Russians.

UK also landed several units including a HQ through Gibraltar into Spain. Again hoping to force Axis to move some units away from the Russian front. I know the Axis would always respond in force when I send in a HQ. These guys were going to suffer greatly quickly...

Notice the Spanish garrison there. Lukily I failed to kill it this turn. Turned out the presence of any Axis unit next to Gibraltar would infuriate the Americans! Something I learned only when this turn ended. It moved US mobilization straight from 70% to 86%! Since the garrison would be deployed there automatically when Spain joined the Axis, it essentially meant that getting Spain over to the Axis made US to move from 59% to 86% in just 1 turn. And the very next turn when Axis DOWed Russia, US got into the 90s and began preparing for war.

So for the Axis, Spain really should be either conquered or brought over through Diplo or DE603 after the US was already in the war or very close to it.

ORIGINAL: Cpuncher

And the Yugo coup happened. Looks like there is a bug there with the message on the top of the image.

You're right, and it will be fixed in the next patch. [:)]

Aug 1, 1941: The war that really mattered finally came.

Aug 15, 1941: Situation on the Eastern Front.

The army in Odessa was destroyed in 1 turn, unlike what happened historically, when Odessa was held until Oct 16.

The RN was able to destroy much of the Kriegsmarine, and saved the Russian BB and SS, except the CL.

Notice that Yugoslavia still hadn't surrendered. They definitely had caused some significant headache to the Axis.

BTW, due to successful Anglo-French intervention, Finland was now 15% Allies.

As expected, Germans showed up on the Turkish border.

British took Tobruk, and raced to finish off the rest of INA ASAP. Apparently the Axis didn't want to spend GER resource there.

Notice the town west of Ankara was reduced by the Strategic Bomber, to impede the influx of GER units into Turkey.

You may be wondering why there was an Indian HQ there. Well India can build a significant amount of infantry, but won't have a HQ until Jun 42, which is a big issue, so I purchased 1. However, don't know if this caused a problem later, that the Mountbatten free HQ that was to show up by an event would never happen, since India was allowed only 2 total HQs (the other 1 from the build queue)? However I don't think build limits was supposed to stop scripted units, like the GER paratroop. But then, how can I be that extremely unlucky? Mountbatten was to have a 25% chance each turn to show up after some date, but I never got him to the end. I actually needed a 3rd Indian HQ later.

And terrible news from the East: Chungking fell to the Jap invaders.

Unit count at the beginning of the real war.

Sep 12, 1941: At least 2 Elite Panzers and an Army were pulled away from the Russian front to Spain and Gibralta. The UK HQ already fled, leaving the rest of the boys to their own.

The unexpected quick entry of US into the war caught the Japs unprepared. Throughout the game JAP did not contest the Pacific. They did manage to conquer Philippines, and an undefended Singapore. All US assets were left intact except those in Philipines. So US would start the war with her Pacific Navy already on par or stronger than the Japs (all previous US Navy were deployed in the Pacific except the 2 DDs).

Unit loss at this moment.

ORIGINAL: Cpuncher

ORIGINAL: Marcinos1985

Blast to read.
Couple of questions:
1. You went all-in with UK to defend FRA, shipped guys from Egypt. What was left to protect Egypt then and did Italy push?
2. Reggia Marina came to you and got ambushed, ok. But did you leave Med empty beforehand? No port blocking? If so, why? To prevent NM loss for FRA from fleet dmg?
3. Do you recall what Fafnir bought in the beginning? Paras, maritime or maybe teleporting/operating units?
4. You bought French SF and shipped to UK. Why?
5. Winter war - yes or no?
6. Did GER take some tech or went all-in with units?

Can’t wait for more.

1. I shipped enough UK minor assets (plenty) to Egypt and also had India build several units. No way Italy can push Egypt and Germany is too occupied everywhere else. No action between the 2 sides there until July 41.
2. Yes I left Med empty beforehand. I never sacrifice FRA navy. The value of FRA not surrendering for 1 more turn is far greater than the extra plunder GER may get with an intact FRA navy.
3. I know he bought both Maritime B immediately and he didn't buy the 3rd GER para. He didn't cancel the ITA long range research which paid some dividend later. His ITA para was bought sometime later.
4. I didn't buy the French SF, it's from the DE to intervene Finland.
5. Yes.
6. GER focused on Ftr, Tank, Ground Attack and most likely S&I early on which resulted in dominating tech lead for much of the game, until US caught up later. His tech investment was reasonably balanced.

Thanks. Question concerning 5 - Allied expedition to Finland seems quite like a gamble, could you elaborate more why you decided to do so?

This will be probably mentioned later, but what units did you buy with USSR? HT? One or more AT’s?
You mentioned that your China defense was suboptimal - what would you change?

Fireworks time.

ORIGINAL: Marcinos1985

Thanks. Question concerning 5 - Allied expedition to Finland seems quite like a gamble, could you elaborate more why you decided to do so?

This will be probably mentioned later, but what units did you buy with USSR? HT? One or more AT’s?
You mentioned that your China defense was suboptimal - what would you change?

Fireworks time.

Yes, Finland is a bit of a gamble. Pro: 1. The 2 SF you get from it will be extremely useful at a time you don't have the mpp to build them. 2. If successful then Finland won't join Axis, which then can be diploed over to the Allies rather quickly once US is in the war. You can then base your strat Bs in Finland and secure Russia north flank. You may also launch invasions into Sweden, Norway or German Baltic coast from there. The 500 morale boost to the French may also help them to hold out 1 more turn.
Con: Russia mobilization will drop, which really hurts.
Overall I believe the pros outweigh the con.

I do full research on Russian AT and buy them as top priority, after I got enough AAs. Then Tanks, and then HT, and an Armored Train. Also a couple HQ and a SF. Every turn I try to buy 1 new unit, and use the rest to buy whatever destroyed discounted units.

Russian full AT research and purchase is a 100% must. US is 85% must and GER 70%. These 3 countries all will face a lot of enemy armor. Yes even GER should if possible do full AT research and purchase. Russian AT was largely the reason for the 17 German Tanks and 1 HT destroyed in my game. Russian HT was a disappointment, due to their extra price tag and low mobility.

I will discuss the lessons learned in China after her sad ending.

Nov 7, 1941: Easter front: Dnieper defensive line was very much breached already. Meanwhile, AGN and AGC halted in front of Pskov and Smolensk. Some Russians advanced into Turkey.

Situation concerning Turkey: Allies were ready to push the Turkish southern border, and MacArthur was shipped in all the way from Australia (Of course he would soon be sacked), ready to command a strong US air force that would be operated in soon. A miscalculation of enemy movement cost caused the loss of Baghdad.

Meanwhile, JAP DOW Russia, quickly advanced toward Irkutsk, and took an undefended Vladivostok. <==my mistake, partly due to the unexpected early US mobilization, as I was planning to deploy a couple units there later. Japan is unlikely to DOW Russia until US is very much in the war. A few Russian Corps were hastily operated there to deal with this new threat, further draining much needed manpower facing the Germans.