stjeand (Allied) vs MagicMissle (Axis) NO MM for now

[stjeand]

Late November 40

Greece - Clear weather arrives and that spells the end. German panzers smash into Athens and the Greek defenders have to surrender.

UK - BOA - 9 Merchants and 1 escort sunk...3 U-Boat hits. Getting more and more expensive.
UK build an armored corps and will have to switch to MM shortly.

US - Collect taxes

Canada - Unit attacks Persia. The unit holds firm. Minimal losses to the Canadian forces but they gain good battle experience.

Russia - Build small corps.

[stjeand]

Early December 40

UK - BOA - The Royal Navy carrier fleet with hundreds of bombers hammer the Uboat pens at Bordeaux taking heavy losses but damaging multiple Uboats.
Built 3 escorts

Russia - Build 2 small corps

Canada - The Canadians hit the Persians again and capture the country for the UK. Again they take losses but gain a great deal of experience.
(6 experience points which to me is pretty huge attacking the Persians, though will likely be just 5 after repairs)

US - Taxes

[stjeand]

Late December 40

UK - BOA - Uboats all leave the Pens..but can not be found.
Build Landing Craft

US - Collect taxes

Russia - Build small corps

Canada - Build Escort.

[stjeand]

1940 Year in review.

Not a great year for the Allies as always...but France falling in 2 months almost cost the Allies Africa. Barely got enough troops there to defend.

BOA has gone okay overall...the UK has more MM than expected but lost more escorts. A lot of hits on the German and Italian navy though it cost the UK navy 4 crippled battleships.

Russia...well just not sure. With the higher strength units I am not sure about enough units. A clear April can spell doom.

The UK will have a nice ground force but still just can not do anything vs Germany and Italy in Africa until the Germans are fully engaged in Russia.


I will post screens of Russia at the end of March.

[stjeand]

Early January 41

UK - BOA rough turn for both sides...8MM and 1 escorts sunk. 5 hits on U-boats...still can not sink one. That would change things.

Russia - Build 2 small corps

Canada - Taxes

US - Taxes

[stjeand]

Mid January 41

UK - BOA all is quiet. Heavy rain grounds air.
Build Merchants to be ready for the future.

Russia - Build small corps. Almost time to reinforce / upgrade everything possible as April looms for builds.

Canada - Build escort

US - Build Merchants

[stjeand]

Late January 41

UK - BOA - 7 MM and 1 escort lost...not UBoat hits. UK build LC and merchants

Russia - Build 2 small corps...start heavy refits and reinforcements.

US - Build escort

Canada - Collect taxes. Unit heads from Perisa to North Africa.

[stjeand]

Mid February 1941

UK BOA - 3 Merchants sunk, 2 hits on Uboats
Build LC and Escort

US - Collect Taxes

Russia - Reports of German exercises in Poland...Russians build small corps and convert all production to upgrades and replacements.

Canada - Build Escort

[stjeand]

Late Feb 41

UK BOA - 5 MM sunk, 2 hits on subs

US - Collect taxes

Canada - Collect taxes

Russia - Frantic upgrades and refits to strong units.

[stjeand]

Early March 41

UK BOA 2 merchants and 1 escort sunk

US - taxes

Canada - taxes

Russia - Repair / refit

[stjeand]

Late March 41

UK - BOA 4 MM sunk. Build armor and LC

US - Taxes

Canada - Build Escort

US - Taxes...waiting to build an armor

[stjeand]

Early April 41

UK - BOA 7 Merchants sunk. Build Merchants

US - Taxes

Canada - Taxes

Russia - Clear in the south...rain in the north. Units still have not been repaired...so slow.
Germany has more armor in the northern front than expected.

[stjeand]

Late April

UK - BOA 11MM sunk and an Escort for 2 hits on Uboats...Build escort

US - Build armor

Canada - Build escort

Russia - Final replacements arriving...a Blizzard in the North is a great bonus but only effects German Infantry,..

Defenses

In the North

RussiaNorth41.jpg (825.35 KiB) Viewed 2247 times

In the South

RussiaSouth41.jpg (663.68 KiB) Viewed 2247 times

Thoughts are blocks up units that hopefully can't be surrounded...IF they get surrounded the Russians will be in really bad shape. In the Center using the swamp to the North as an escape route.
In the South using 2nd line Mech and armor to hopefully hold.
The North can't be held due to supply and naval support so a waste of time.

My biggest issue has always been not falling back enough...so going to try that this time...just have to be careful how far.

[stjeand]

Early May 41

UK - BOA - 11MM sunk...3 hits on U-Boats...MM are being sunk faster than can be replaced. UK builds more Merchants...and begin trade with the USSR though doubt it will last long. UK special forces have received word that the German Luftwaffe have an airbase just south of Bordeaux in the city of Boyonne and an Italian airbase just to the North. The locals report that there are few if any German army personal in the area, as most are stationed in Bordeaux. A daring raid by UK special forces invade and attack both airbases...Combined over 300 aircraft are destroyed on the ground...this opens up the submarine pens in Bordeaux to attack by the RAF. The bombers take heavy losses but are able to damage the port. these men will be remembered for years to come.

US - Build LC

Canada - Collect taxes

Russia - Germany declares war as the weather clears.

Northern Front - Riga falls as it normally does, though no Russian units get surrounded...all units fall back to the Sorot river line and hold there for the moment. The Russian airforce bomb a German cavalry in the Finnish area as well as a few other units just outside of Finnish fighter's range. One Russian unit is trapped and unable to escape...they dig in and likely will have to surrender.

How the turn starts.

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How it ends

RussiaEarlyMay41NorthEnd.jpg (751.48 KiB) Viewed 2235 times

Central Front - The swamp holds well enough and units fall back...Minsk will likely fall in the coming weeks. Reinforcements will be required if there is any chance to hold the river at Mogilev for a few weeks.

RussiaEarlyMay41Center.jpg (408.1 KiB) Viewed 2235 times

How it ends

RussiaEarlyMay41CenterEnd.jpg (514.51 KiB) Viewed 2235 times

[stjeand]

Early May 41

Russia

Southern Front - 2 corps are cut off...they will surrender shortly. Others all fall back. Odessa falls more quickly than expected. Should have reinforced it more heavily. Armor and mech move into the Pivdennyl Buh area. There are quite a few German armored units by Riga...to many for the Russians to hold for long anywhere.
The Russian navy nearly sink the Ferdinand...sadly the Russian airforce can't seem to drop a bomb anywhere near it.

How it starts

RussiaEarlyMay41South.jpg (639.63 KiB) Viewed 2234 times

How it ends

RussiaEarlyMay41SouthEnd.jpg (609.2 KiB) Viewed 2234 times

Overall...

Russian losses:
190 ground and 1 air

German losses:
31 ground
10 air

Italian losses
10 air

MY GOAL...

Hopefully less surrounded units.
End 41 with most of the higher end units fairly intact. I suspect I will have to fall WAY back to hold out for any length of time.
Keep falling back every turn a few hexes rather than try to hold anywhere other than Leningrad and Moscow. May try to hold for a few turns around Kiev but not sure that will happen. There are quite a few armored units in the south so need to hold around Dnepropetrovsk but suspect that won't be possible...supply is just to easy for the Germans...so hope to be able to hold around Kharkov this year.

Then hope the Allies can force some Germans back with an invasion of Africa...though to be honest the Germans should not even care about that...just smash the Russians and dig in in Italy...3 armor / mech in italy means the Allies can't do anything. I have tried. BUT with the heavy damage to the Italian navy...well you never know.

[stjeand]

Late May 41

UK - BOA - 4 MM sunk - 2 hits on Uboats. Hunting bombers cause one more damage as well as bombing of the submarine pens in Norway. UK builds MM.
UK notices that Italy is not well defended...so UK units are moving to the area to lure German units out of Russia to defend Italy.

Canada - Collect taxes

US - Collect taxes

Russia

Northern Front - German forces spread a bit...and divert towards the weaker center.

RussiaNorthLateMay41.jpg (803.96 KiB) Viewed 2213 times

Central Front - Quite a few panzer units not very worn heading for Mogilev. This location worries me a bit...as I believe Germany is ahead of schedule by location. Remember in reality they would not even have begun the war...so this is part of the problem.

RussiaCenterLateMay41.jpg (676.89 KiB) Viewed 2213 times

Southern Front - Rain slows the Germans down...but also delays the retreat. Again there are a lot of panzers here and they are not very worn due to less units to have to destroy.

RussiaSouthLateMay41.jpg (810.44 KiB) Viewed 2213 times

Status - I feel Russia has given up more territory than normal with German units in better shape. Normally there are more Russian units being surrounded and stuck which slows the Germans a bit...But with stronger units there are less to slow the Germans. So I am not sure this will work. Planning a crazy possible invasion of Italy...but have to get lucky.

[stjeand]

Early June 41

UK - 4 MM and 1 escort sunk. 5 damage to Uboats...
UK forces mass in Malta...hoping to lure the Germans back from Russia / France. Not likely though...but one can hope.

Canada - Taxes

US - Build LC

Russia - Clear

Northern Front - Losses here and minimal as the German armor directs their units to the Center and Southern fronts. Units in Finland advance and will likely cut off lend lease in the winter. The Russians just do not have the forces in the area to prevent this. That will have a devastating effect.

RussiaNorthEarlyJune41.jpg (714.66 KiB) Viewed 2202 times

Cental Front - German forces smash through the 2 armored corps holding Soutgh of Vitebsk...collapsing the Russian lines. All units fall back to Smolensk. German panzers should have to slow for perhaps a few weeks to resupply as they are at the end of their range.

RussiaCenterEarlyJune41.jpg (512.95 KiB) Viewed 2202 times

Southern Front - Multiple corps get surrounded...this will be the biggest loss of units since the beginning of the war. The few corps dig in and await their demise. German supply in the area is excellent and the Dnieper River line will likely be breached in the next month.

RussiaSouthEarlyJune41.jpg (444.27 KiB) Viewed 2202 times

The Russian navy was able to sink some German shipping...and the Russian airforce was finally able to sink the Ferdinand.

So far only 1 Russian corps has converted and it was destroyed. Another HUGE flaw in the game. That could surely change a few things.

Status - In WW2 the Germans had yet to start the war...this is why they basically are nearly unstoppable. Provided 3 to 5 free turns means everything. The stronger units seem a bit better but the German forces are advancing more quickly than my last game. Lend Lease will be lost in the winter which will cripple the Russians. They will have 5 to 6 less armies.

[stjeand]

Late June 41

UK - BOA Quiet for the moment but everything changes in the Med.
The UK land with multiple units in Italy. The WDF and X Armored corps land in Sicily and find it barely defended...they smash Palerno and capture the city with help from both the RAF and Royal Navy. The 1st corps captures Syracuse and the 1st Special Forces land Crotone cutting the rail line to Sicily. The Royal Navy surround the island and ready for potential Italian naval intervention.

UKSLateJuly41Sicily.jpg (338.46 KiB) Viewed 2176 times

US - Taxes

Canada - Taxes

Russia -
Arctic - Finnish and German cavalry are pushing forward to cut the lend lease delivery. Russians rail in multiple small units to delay the units attacking.

RussiaLateJune41Arctic.jpg (511.09 KiB) Viewed 2176 times

North - German forces move slowly toward Leningrad...they do not have the forces to make a major push but are still a major threat so the Russians continue to defend although most lightly.

RussiaLateJune41North.jpg (633.31 KiB) Viewed 2176 times

Center - German forces are resupplying and moving up infantry...Russian units move back but it is not likely to be able to hold for more than 1 push. Russian units are sparse...but deeper layers to try to prevent breakthroughs.

RussiaLateJune41Center.jpg (826.38 KiB) Viewed 2176 times

[stjeand]

Late June 41

Russia
South - Germans here are pretty well supplied. They should be able to break the Dneiper within July...forcing the Russian back to the Seym...
If they do not attack shortly the Russian units will retreat.

RussiaLateJune41South.jpg (638.77 KiB) Viewed 2174 times

The Russian navy hammer the German surface fleet. In the first attack the Germans get the better of the Russian fleet with multiple hits on both the Marat and Kirov...and the Admiral Hipper is damaged. The Bismarck attacks the fleet and takes multiple hits from the Marat and Kirov. Then the Kirov in a last breath rams the Schlesien and sinks nearly sinking the German ship.



Summary - Russian Navy has done exceptional...air is so far holding, just 3 bomber losses. But the army is struggling. The biggest issue is that starting now is when the Germans would actually invade Russia...Instead they are adjacent to Kiev. Sorry but that breaks Russia. You are giving the Germans 3 to 5 extra turns to attack and in reality they got all the way to Moscow. In the game...they should be able to take Moscow with little effort.
The ONLY way to counter is a crazy Allies attack...Either an invasion of France, Italy or Germany directly...that is insane that is what the Allies have to do to have a chance. Africa? Well as a Axis player, I would just let the Allies have it and fight a defensive battle. You crush Russia the game is over.
I see the Germans setting up for a huge hit trying to cut off the swamp...I think they could do it but may need another turn to "rest. Hoping the invasion of Italy will lure back a few German armor...but honestly, they just need a few infantry corps and the UK is stuck.

[stjeand]

Early July

UK - BOA 1 MM sunk 1 Uboat hit UK forces solidify their hold on Sicily...and invade the port of Saloncia in northern Greece. They now threaten the unguarded German south. They will need to roll in a few units to take advantage of this.
The Royal Navy is able to sink 2 Italian destroyers though the Repulse takes multiple bomb hits and has to retire from the area. Build a large corps

Canada - taxes

US - Taxes

Russian -
Arctic - the lines collapse and the German / Finnish forces occupy the rail. Without lend lease in the winter the Russian fate is sealed.

RussiaArcticEarlyJuly41.jpg (661.62 KiB) Viewed 2155 times

North -
German forces move up to face the Russians. The Russian units are not overly strong in the area but are well dug in. It is likely the Germans will just hold position through the winter but they may attempt to breach the line.

RussiaNorthEarlyJuly41.jpg (700.05 KiB) Viewed 2155 times

Center -
The Russian lines are broken, and the Germans drive up the rail line. Kalinin is now in danger of falling. Russian forces expect to be smashed through and Moscow likely taken. There is little they can do against the number of panzers in the area. Velikie Luki is taken and a mechanized unit is nearly overrun.

RussiaCenterEarlyJuly41.jpg (1.02 MiB) Viewed 2155 times

South -
German forces overrun one of the few Russian tank units easily and cross the Dnieper in 4 places. The Russian forces fall back to Seym

RussiaSouthEarlyJuly41.jpg (532.74 KiB) Viewed 2155 times

Summary - Unlikely that the Russians will make it past 41. It would appear building stronger units is a complete waste. They need to build just large corps. It is not the the units are weak it is that the German supply is to fast.
I suspect Russia will be pushed back to Kursk this year...and Rostov...Moscow will likely fall...and with the North about to be complete overrun from the Center, there will be no lend lease when the snow hits...with no lend lease Russia won't survive 42. The will be pushed back to the Ural mountains.