DQ2004's AAR #2 - "Ouch. ...that hurt"

[brian brian]

How did the Vichy colonies become controlled by Germany?

[markb50k]

It's just the display options on the global map, I think resource view just shows all axis as gray

[DQ2004]

Correct, when you look at the convoy routes of the Allies, all enemy territory including Vichy territories become gray. To get that map you then click on 'convoys - none' to remove the sea area names and convoy routes.
Of course, if you look at an Axis convoy route you then get all allied territory gray, and Axis & neutrals are white.

[DQ2004]

Meanwhile, in the Caucasus, the Russians retreat - with Tiflis gone many units are out of supply, and they have no choice but to head for Baku.
But there are precious few units and the line is distinctly unsatisfactory (note - in hindsight this line was probably one of the worst I could have formed - too late now)

[DQ2004]

Near Smolensk, after some reorganizing by Guderian, the Stukas have finally succeeded in their mission and disorganized one of the two trapped corps in the forest - OKH decides this is sufficient, and the assault goes in. The pocket is finally eliminated after nearly 6 months. The delay has not helped the USSR as much as one might have thought, however

[DQ2004]

In East Africa, the British Army has disposed of the nuisance of an Italian corps that had taken Kenya. They've now advanced into Somalia, liberating it from the Italian yoke. It is the first Allied success of the war... (oh dear)

[DQ2004]

In the Ukraine, Antonescu finishes off the last partisan at Stalino

[DQ2004]

In the Far East Japan invades Vladivostok and attacks the disorganized corps next to the city. If the city falls, those disrupted corps will be even easier to destroy - in this case the choice of which attack should go first was critical. To assist the invasion, a large fleet of battleships bombard and four carrier aircraft wings provide ground support. The outcome is hardly surprising, although the Japanese do lose one SNLF marine division in the assault.

[DQ2004]

Near Ryazan, the resurgent German army, freed from eliminating the pocket, hits the Moscow defence line, pushing them back

[DQ2004]

In the Caucasus, von Bock and Inonu finally catch up the Soviet line, and immediately smash a hole in it. The situation could hardly be grimmer for the Soviets, but miraculously the turn ends! And the Allies are at +1 on the initiative table

[DQ2004]

The destroyed units pool tells the story of May/Jun 1941. That really did hurt. The worst thing is that the Russian production has no chance of rebuilding this force quickly. They are losing units faster than they can be replaced.

[DQ2004]

Here is global control at the start of the Jul/Aug 1941 turn:

[wodin]

First AAR I've seen where the Axis i.e Germans are kicking backside. I was starting to think something was off in the game. Heartening to see.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: wodin

First AAR I've seen where the Axis i.e Germans are kicking backside. I was starting to think something was off in the game. Heartening to see.

warspite1

But that is the difference between MWIF and say CTGW or WITE. MWIF has been around for donkey's years, the game has been tested and played to death. There are no real balance issues - unlike "new" games.

More likely - and certainly in my case - its a matter of being inexperienced at the game. Attacking properly is much more difficult than sitting on your butt behind a river line defending. As a result the Japanese and Germans have had a rough time (incredibly lousy dice hasn't helped the latter either).

[DQ2004]

As July 1941 began Stavka evaluated its grim situation. Guderian, von Leeb & Rommel had twice as many corps on the front lines as they did. They did not have sufficient units to form a complete line, which meant that it would be only a matter of time before the Germans rolled up the flanks and surrounded them. There was only one choice: Retreat.
Iosef ranted and raged, and swore that if he but stayed, the city would stand, and so would the Rodina. But after Zhukov refused to budge, to a man, his generals all stood up to him, and within hours the Red Army was on the run. Stalin, already effectively removed from power, shot himself as the troops of the German 7th motorized corps marched unopposed into the city.
(I actually went back and did the first 6 impulses of the game again. In the first attempt, the Russians retreated on their 2nd impulse and were totally surrounded and destroyed on the Germans 3rd impulse. So I thought, that given they were doing so badly as it was, I should probably give them a better chance)
This is also one of the first screen shots with my new 2nd monitor (the new one is the new primary monitor, of course). I seem to be getting better quality screenshots from the PC rather than the laptop too, so until I'm forced back onto the laptop, the screenshots quality should be better!

[DQ2004]

In the North, Finland's Mannerheim has been on a rampage, seizing Murmansk in May 1940, and since then advancing south from the Kola peninsula through the lakes and overrunning the railways.
There was really almost nothing available to stop him, other than a single cavalry unit. Incredibly, on the attack it succeeded (in stopping Mannerheim) with a 0/0 casualties result.

[DQ2004]

In the Caucasus, von Bock sets about reducing the Soviet defence. With two turns in a row, they have managed to reduce the effect of the previous German breakthrough to one of little significance. But of course they have lost a lot of ground, and there is little useful defensive terrain left.

[DQ2004]

The Germans swiftly set about in pursuit of the retreating Red Army. The Moscow Militia, well led and determined, but with few trucks, could not keep up. It was caught and annihilated by the advancing Wehrmacht.

[DQ2004]

In the Middle East, Graziani was awaiting reinforcements - the Regia Aeronautica
With these reinforcements he might be able to seize Kuwait, the thorn in the Axis control of the area.

[DQ2004]

The plan was simple - destroy the British supply ships, and disorganize the defenders. Sadly there was only one disorganized defender. But at least the Sparvieros performed admirably