FieldOfGlory vs 3 AI+ powers V2.14 with Leaders

[FieldOfGlory]

ORIGINAL: Josh

Hmm you sure that's von Manstein? Looks like him but I have my doubts.

"...Yes the situation on Rommel's Southern flank is a little disturbing at the moment. Hopefully I can take out a few of those tanks in counterattacks. On the plus side I will be able to give Rommel's armor some air cover this turn. So far the Heavy Arty's have not been a major factor but Rommel's advance the last 2 or 3 turns have caught quiet a few of them off guard and destroyed them.

So have you had any experience with running AT guns with your armor? I am wondering if its worth a try and if it works out alright...."

Yeah thankfully the AI doesn't know yet how to handle tubes properly otherwise you'd be in serious trouble by now. Heavies can be extremely deadly for your unarmoured forces.
No I have no experience with AT guns in Tank units, never ever thought of it really, but it is a great idea IMHO. AT guns are tank killers for sure, and many times prevent a tank assault. So 2-4 guns in a Light Tank unit would make it a very powerful albeit a bit expensive unit as these guns need halftracks as well. What I have exp with is placing 5-10 Inf men in a tank unit to soak up Inf attacks and give at least some recon value... remember tank units are almost "blind" so they are ambushed easily.
The AI is showing typical AI behaviour in the desert. It's piling up it's forces till finally your dam breaks, there were many times in my games where I had to pull back locally because the AI outnumbered me there. The AI has a tendency to throw everything at you in a "human wave" sort of way, there's no reserves. So sometimes I pull back a few hexes, sometimes up to 10, the AI will follow you like a magnet, put up a line of defence just enough to hold the line, and go around his units if you can.

You are correct. That is not Manstein. I pulled the picture from images of manstein and was trying to find an early image of him as he would have looked in the early 30's and found this one which was not marked correctly. I wasn't too sure of that photo myself but took it at face value as the real deal but when you mentioned it I looked at other sources for the origin of the photo. That photo is of Brauchitsch. Here is an actual photo of Manstein.

As far as adding AT guns to tank units I too am not so sure if I want to try it out since tanks cannot carry AT guns and halftracks would be needed. I may research Tank destroyers at some point and give them a go.

[Twotribes]

You could always build medium tanks since light tank is not a tank killer.

[british exil]

Field you could always build a mech unit towing AT guns to keep up with your armour.

AT is a defensive weapon if I am correct, your armour is offensive. So they will not really work together. But having your armour and mech units in the same hex then if your armour gets attacked , your AT boys will be there to help out.


Pulling back a few hexes is also a possibility, armour pulling behind a defensive line of AT and MG will really cause havoc on the advancing enemy. It should be reduced so much that your armour can punch a hole through the weakened line and if possible make a pocket or cut of his supply lines.

By pulling your armour back and resting, you can build up supplies in oil, ready for the offensive. Always keep an eye on the oil gauge. Never run out of it. Otherwise your armour is toast.

If possible get your engineers out in the field and upgrade your raw and oil.

Have fun.

Mat

[FieldOfGlory]

September,
Model and Manstein continue there advance and begin besieging Oujha.

[FieldOfGlory]

Rommel's counterattacks dish out some serous damage to Islamabad Armor. With the success Model is having in the East Rommel will hopefully be able to begin advancing South again. Rommel has requested some Medium Armor regiments to help deal better with enemy Armor.

[FieldOfGlory]

German forces are beginning to pocket a large number of Muslim Divisions in and around Almar. Once the city is sealed off it should give the 1st Panzer Army enough relief to continue there drive South.

[FieldOfGlory]

Casualties for this Months turn. As you can see the desert in littered with Islamabad armor.

[Vic]

Nice read this aar

It would be nice to have some recon on whats happening on the other continent of your world.

best,
Vic

[FieldOfGlory]

I'll be posting some more updates tonight. I'll include a brief look at developments on the other continent.

[FieldOfGlory]

Here's the strategic map.

I have been monitoring the progress on the other continent with a little interest for some time. The nations that share the continent went to war shortly after Islamabad attack me. The states is the power in Purple and have been pushing back Orleans Commune for some time.
This map gives you a great view at the Almar pocket in the center of Islamabad front as well.

[FieldOfGlory]

Here is a closer look where most of the action is taking place. I'm afraid you cannot see any units though since I have the Fog of war on. Looks to me like the states are clearly winning the conflict though.

[FieldOfGlory]

Manstein captures Oujda and pushes deep into Islamabad territory.

[FieldOfGlory]

German close in around Almar. This city will clearly not fall as easily as Ouijda.

[FieldOfGlory]

Rommel's line is spread out pretty thin as element of the 1st Panzer Army move further East to Help Leeb and Runstedt surround Almar.

Parts of Rommel's line was pushed back during the AI turn but Rommel's forces took them right back during there counterattack which took out a whole lot of Islamabad Armored cars.

[FieldOfGlory]

Here is Octobers casualty reports.

[FieldOfGlory]

There is a debate going on over at OKW right now as to the best way to expand Germany's industry.

Hermann Goring believes that the best path for German industry right now is to build another Aircraft factory and invest in strategic bomber technology. He argues that the bombing of Industrial targets in Islamabad would severely weaken there military power and save many tens of thousands of German lives.

Another position put forth by Erwin Rommel is to invest in medium tank technology and build another tank factory. He argues that if the Wehrmacht is going to be able to further expand there mobile forces that this is the way it has to be. He believes German Armor will win the war and all Goring need do is keep the enemy dive bombers off his back.

General Leeb has proposed a much different idea. Leeb says that it is the German Infantry man that will win this war and a few more tanks or a few more planes would not have the same impact on the war that adding a few Artillery divisions would have. German Soldiers are needlessly dying in huge swarming assaults against fortified positions because the Wehrmacht simply does not have enough guns to bring the fortified positions down before we send our brave soldiers in. The gun factory online is only able to produce enough AT and Infantry guns to replace losses and does not have the capability to produce Artillery guns also.

Most of the other Generals have stayed out of the debate but a couple have spoken out. Model has said that he thinks Rommel's position is sound and Getting more Armor as well as heavier armor on the battlefield will have the best chance of shortening this war. Field Marshal Heinz Guderian has clearly throne his support towards Leeb's position and stated that Field Artillery is by far the most immediate need the Wehrmacht has.

This decision will have to be made by the Fuhrer.

[Josh]

Touch choices, I'm with Rommel though. You definitely need hitting power in the form on armour, be it Light Tanks III or Medium Armour. As it is I wouldn't even place a second factory but focus on keeping your losses at a minimum... you are already almost outproducing your Raw don't forget that. Not much fun having a second factory around but not enough Ore to produce anything.
Strategic bombers against the AI never has brought me much fun, sure sometimes when you need to level a city prior to taking it, but Arty is better for that as you can use that anywhere anytime. I mean the AI has such a production bonus that you can't even begin to bomb that away.
 
I'm a bit worried about the States though, hope they don't have Heavy Tanks II yet...

[FieldOfGlory]

Casualties sustained on AI's October turn.

[jday305]

I know that you have your hands full with the Islamabad forces but Josh is correct in pointing out the States may become a problem in the future. One strategy that you may need to consider is increasing your ore production with improvments to Raw. This will give you more production capability each month and may be put some naval assets to keep an eye on the States in the future. If the States get to a point that they can start sending fleets out with troops on board they will only add to your problems.

[FieldOfGlory]

November,

Raw production has been increased by 80 this month in preparation for an expanded industry. The Fuhrer is undecided as to what Factory shall be constructed first but released plans to OKW to build both another Gun factory as well as another Tank factory.

In other news the Islamabad city of Almar has been surrounded and cut off by Joint forces from the 2nd and 4th Armies.