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1943-06-18
German forces evacuated Kaunas and Bialystok, the last 2 two Russian cities still occupied. Soviet forces entered sacred German soil! This time General Timoshenko's tanks were in the vanguard, reaching the outskirts of Koningsberg, expecting to engage German panzers next turn. The fortress of Brest-Litovsk was captured and the leading spearhead Soviet units began the assault on Warsaw. Further south German forces liberated Cluj in Transylvania and reestablished communication with the Hungarian army holding Bacau in Bessarabia. General Vasilevsky's forces continued to struggle in Romania. During this turn, the USSR lost 3 Soviet Infantry Corps, while the Axis lost 2 German Infantry Corps, 1 Rocket artillery unit, and a Hungarian Infantry Corps.
1943-07-16
It was a very hot summer in Poland. German forces counterattacked violently near Konigsberg, managing to destroy all of General Timoshenko's armored units (the heavy tanks and 2 medium tanks). This would be Elvis's last great counteroffensive of the war. All Axis units involved in the attacks took severe losses and during the next turn, Soviet forces destroyed a German army, an anti-tank unit, and one Panzerkorps.
In the Center of the Front General Zhukov's forces were putting pressure against the Warsaw defenders as 2 Katyusha rocket launchers took positions near the Capital. General Rokkosovsky's heavy tank unit captured Krakow and severely damaged a green under-upgraded panzerkorps. General Vasilevsky's forces struggled in Romania. General Montgomery was ready to launch Operation OVERCOAT: The Allied landing in the Low Countries and France. The first Allied troops loaded ATs near London whilst from the Mediterranean arrived 2 LRATs loaded with the veteran Marines and the Rhodesian Special Forces. Waiting in southern England, to follow behind the first wave, were 4 tank units and a couple of infantry corps. From the USA were on their way 5 additional LRATs with General Eisenhower aboard.

The UK received 12040 MPPs by means of convoys so far losing only 294 MPPs. The USSR got 5857 losing only 266 MPPs. This is why the USSR was winning the war! 1943-08-13
OPERATION OVERCOAT was a complete success. Allied troops landed in the Netherlands, Amsterdam being captured by US paratroopers after easily killing the German garrison. In France, the undefended town of Lille was also captured by Rhodesian Special Forces. The second wave of US LRATs arrived in the British Isles and was ready to disembark in Europe next turn. German forces counterattacked near Allenstein in East Prussia with serious Luftwaffe support, destroying a Soviet anti-tank unit and another heavy tank unit. German forces also counterattacked near Krakow, but the last remaining armored unit in the USSR, General Rokkosovsky's heavy tank unit, held the strategic city and destroyed a German panzerkorps. Warsaw and Modlin were being outflanked from the north as General Zhukov pushed his troops west towards Torun.

After their successful raid in Malaysia, the Japanese carriers disappeared. In Burma, two Indian Special Forces landed behind the enemy lines and destroyed the HQ of General Iwane. The three leaderless Japanese Special Forces that remained defending Rangoon will soon be destroyed by Allied troops. The much-traveled General Stilwell entered Burma via India.

1943-09-10
Under the command of General Eisenhower Allied troops expanded their Dutch beachhead capturing The Hague and Antwerp. Advancing east into empty German territory, the US paratroopers captured Dusseldorf while the UK army captured Dortmund. The Allied troops only signaled the presence of a few German garrison units. General Montgomery waited patiently for his turn to disembark in Europe!
The Germans evacuated Cherbourg and Caen in Normandy and these 2 locations were subsequently captured by US troops. No ports were still operational in Western Europe but 3 Allied tank units waited patiently for next turn to disembark from The Hague, Antwerp, and Cherbourg. Under clear skies the battle in Poland went on unabated. German forces counterattacked again destroying a Soviet Infantry Corps, a mechanized unit, and an anti-tank unit. But they lost a couple of Infantry Corps and the city of Konigsberg near the Baltic and an army and Warsaw in the Army Group Center area of operations. The capture of Warsaw was a hard blow to the Wehrmacht and a great victory for Stalin as there were no terrain defensive positions in Poland west of the Capital. The Red Army had suffered severe tank losses and the Soviets were running out of steam by the end of the summer. Elvis still controlled 4 dangerous panzerkorps in central Poland and 3 panzer-grenadier and the Hungarian tank unit in the Balkans.
In Italy General Bradley's forces breached the Bologna defense line and approached Milan. Germany lost more than 1200 MPPs per turn for the last 5 turns (and 1500 MPPs in September) while getting only half, about 600 MPPs as collected income.

1943-10-08
US army troops captured the strategic port of Nantes with an operational port. General McArthur immediately disembarked at took control of the US forces in Normandy. General Eisenhower captured Brussels and Amiens. US paratroopers jumped from the UK and captured Metz. General Montgomery disembarked at Amsterdam's port bringing with him 3 tank units among other troops. Cologne was captured without a fight. The first German reinforcements arrived belatedly on the West front. An army and the DAK recon unit were operated to Bremen and a panzer-grenadier unit moved to defend Frankfurt. McArthur's forces were about to join with Eisenhower's troops encircling Le Havre. I was expecting to meet a few panzerkorps from the East Front but none arrived this turn. In two turns, during OPERATION OVERCOAT, the Allied commanders managed to put ashore no less than 7 tank units, 3 paratroopers, 2 armies, 3 special forces, 2 infantry corps, and 1 anti-tank unit.
In Italy, the remaining German Infantry Corps retired to Innsbruck in the Alps to defend the strategic Brenner Pass. General Bradley's troops entered Turin, Milan, and Venice. A couple of US Army Air Force heavy bombers were transferred to airfields near Milan. The massacre in Poland continued, the USSR lost an Infantry Corps and an anti-tank unit but the Axis lost 2 medium bombers, an army, a Hungarian army, an infantry corps, and a fighter unit. Some panzerkorps started to be equipped with new Panthers level 4. The Soviets aligned, other than the regular infantry units, 7 artillery units, 4 tank units, and 2 armored trains.

1943-11-05
General McArthur's troops captured Bordeaux and reached the outskirts of Paris, linking with General Eisenhower's right flank. General Montgomery pushed his tanks east, capturing Hanover and reaching Postdam near Berlin. In Poland, German troops retired west abandoning Allenstein, Torum, and Breslau. From Italy, Allied troops approached Munich. Who will enter Berlin first?

At this point, I proposed Elvis to end the game here...

1943-12-03
Elvis played one last turn and accepted to finish the game, resigning. The Third Reich was crumbling, assailed from all sides. Greece joined the Allies. Goering committed suicide long ago... Germany's morale was 75%, Japan's 81%, USSR's 113%, USA's 80%, and the UK's 86%. Berlin was planned to be captured by US troops, to get Germany's surrender MPPs and buy CVs. Germany was down to less than 300 MPPs per turn as the US heavy bombers were preparing to start a new bombardment offensive against the shattered German economy from Italy.

This game is about the USSR. The Wehrmacht could be in trouble if Germany doesn't deal the USSR a severe blow during the first 2 summer campaigns. Losses reflected the terrible attrition war that both countries suffered on the East Front. The Axis lost almost all 17 corps, 11 Armies, 8 anti-tanks, and 11 panzerkorps in the East. The Soviets also suffered dreadful losses but were getting more MMPs than Germany during the war. Japan's air assets were based around the East China Sea, defending the strategic ports of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Notice the 3 veteran level 3 Japanese fighters and the 3 dangerous maritime bombers (upgraded 3-2-2). Belatedly Elvis assaulted Vladivostok. After capturing Burma Allied troops were planning new offensives against Japan's Empire. I lost Mindanao but the Palaus Islands were an excellent starting point to attack the weakened Philippines. Admiral Nimitz planned to recapture Midway after refitting and resting the Allied Pacific Fleet. The new Pacific Fleet Carrier commander, Admiral Spruance, was given the task of retaking Midway. Marines liberated Midway Island during September-October. There was a high probability that Elvis might appear with the Combined Fleet if he smelled blood in the water. So Spruance lingered in the area with his carriers longer than needed engaging enemy subs. Suddenly the whole Japanese Fleet appeared and sunk the 2 picket destroyers guarding the western coast of Midway. Japanese marines landed in Midway. Spruance was ready for a fight but he will dictate when a where...

The war was already shifting east towards Japan as Stalin started sending troops to Siberia to attack Manchuria. The US economy was already building 6 CVLs, raising new Marine units and many bombers. The Empire of Japan had the days numbered.

That's all folks!
Many thanks for following this AAR. It was great to play against Elvis. This game is about trusting your opponent. I always trusted all my opponents in this great community (except one) and Elvis is the greatest of all of us. During this game, he was playing 2-3 other games simultaneously, whereas I concentrated only on our game. I stayed focused and he needed to divide his attention, and still, he did a splendid job.
I would have loved to play to the end but I calculated that Japan needed at least 10-12 additional turns to surrender. I was flying more than ever before, with a devilish roster of flights... it was a good game.
Now I will start a new project. After collecting Pacific WWII photos for 10 years a have about 2000, many unpublished from private collections. I want to write a pictorial book about US carrier operations 1942-1943 in the South Pacific. It is going to be fun and hard work. I say goodbye to this great community. Many thanks, Hubert and Bill... hasta la vista!

An excellent AAR Taifun - thanks very much for taking the time and trouble to do it. Good luck with your new venture

Feb 1943:

Army Group North/Center: Trying to mount a defense after the losses East of Smolensk and West of Moscow

Italy: Too much power from the Allies

Feb 1943:

After encounters North of Australia and the advancement of the USN, the IJN gathers for a counter strike, but where will the Yanks approach. Need carrier support for China/Singapore type strikes and also DEI defense. But dealing with American Flat Tops now the priority.

I need supply, so HQ goes in Manilla. With that soft defense in the capital, 2 midget subs guard the approach if my opponent is brave enough to go for the cheese in one strike.

Maritime Bombers, Fighters refuel. Sailors begin the worship to the Rising Sun. It's all or nothing time. Experience IJN Carriers, support ships, elites, everything is ready to fight now.

Manilla 1943:

Americans land, and they will be countered, hard. Numerous ships countered and destroyed. Marines slaughtered over the course of the Summer.

The Japanese will win the Battle of Manilla 1943.
Problem, the disaster of Russia, it will not matter.

Game Summary:

The early part of the war, the taking of Paris was surely a German victory. Axis had the momentum.
North Africa, the Italians were a no-show. The Tunisia Western attack was excellent by Taifun.
Naval Battle of Baltic, Herman Goering got the Luftwaffe very unorganized, this screwed up Barby.

*** The decision to switch from South to Central in Russia was the loser. Was waiting for Air support from Baltics. I should slammed into Rostov trenches, taken losses. Price of victory is never cheap. Dumb.

The Pacific was quite entertaining. We were squaring off like to Boxers. Ultimately, the Yanks sacrificed into Manilla, taking heavy losses, but this slowed Japan gains.

Great AAR, enjoyed the read!

I'd agree the biggest Axis mistake was shifting from South to Central in the USSR. Though even avoiding that I think Taifun is probably superior tactically and would have been able to eventually stop the Germans though the game would probably have lasted longer.

I actually found the Pacific positioning and battles to be the most interesting even if they ended up not having a major impact on the game's result.

It would be interesting to see the overall MPP income graphs and research if you captured them.

Looking back, I should have ignored the Royal Navy pressuring the Baltic with the Luftwaffe. Once mistake lead to another. That set the coordination off in the South. For sure, I had my hands full against Taifun. Top player in the world, and I'm what, ranked #54?

To my credit, was quite pleased to take down France against his tricky English defense East of Paris with Northern breakthrough. Destroying 5+ ground Marines in Philippines & couple Flat Tops & support ships was fun I also learned how to do screen shots!

It would be interesting to see the overall MPP income graphs and research if you captured them

That's all I have. Sorry, no research pics were captured.