John Lee's 'great war' Entente vs MP9090 as Central Powers

[gwgardner]

The East

The 8th Army commander expanded on his orders to hold Lodz, and immediately got into trouble with an opportunistic offensive against the German flank northwest of Lodz. The Germans countered with unexpected force and isolated part of the 8th.

[Cfant]

Can't you shorten your line at Dieppe to release a one or two units, which would be needed at Paris?

[gwgardner]

I considered earlier pulling back to the Siene to free up units. Can still be done. But that will free up German units also.

[Cfant]

True, but they have troops at Paris anyhow. You don't. So it's better for you, even if the Germans also profit.

[gwgardner]

March 14, turn 33

Replacements have improved marginally, for rifle squads. On all fronts, the Entente is strictly on the defensive, until a reserve can be accumulated.

Fortunately, the Central Powers are also relatively inactive everywhere except to the northeast of Paris. Their Chalons offensive continues.

The rail lines east from Paris have been cut, making the entire eastern part of the Western Front reliant on the Rhine railroads.

A cautious drawdown on the inactive parts of the front, to manufacture reinforcements for Paris, will lead to vulnerability - it will be necessary to closely watch from any attempt by the enemy to exploit it.

[gwgardner]

replacements

[gwgardner]

March 28, 1915 turn 35

On the Eastern Front, both sides seem to be in reorganizing/replacement mode. For the Russians, there are zero surplus replacements - every new recruit is going straight to the front.

On the Western Front, the French and Belgian forces are in much the same mode. Only the British are mustering significant new forces.

As a result, the BEF has completely taken over the immediate defense of Paris, digging in across a 100+ mile line. That has freed up French units to offer a flexible defense against the continuing German offensive southwest of Chalons.

GHQ is inconcerned about that enemy offensive. There seems to be little that the Germans can gain but open territory. They are lengthening their own supply lines and not seriously threatening any vital Entente rail line.

[note: I have no clue why my screenshots are such low quality.]

[StuccoFresco]

Do you think PAris can be defended? In the case it falls, does France surrender?

Also, about Russia: why does it have problems with reinforcements? Historically, it didn't until internal strifes and big losses by the hand of the Germans drove the point home.

[gwgardner]

ORIGINAL: StuccoFresco

Do you think PAris can be defended? In the case it falls, does France surrender?

I believe it can be defended. The BEF is very strong defensively, and the German offensive is currently headed to the southeast - a move I don't think can be sustained. They're only advancing where they have heavy artillery to punch through, so their offensive capabilities right now are very limited ... I hope.

I need to work better at counter-battery fire, although I don't know if it's effective.

I have not investigated whether the French ever surrender with the loss of Paris or other cities. I guess I could find out by looking in editor mode, but don't know how yet.

Also, about Russia: why does it have problems with reinforcements? Historically, it didn't until internal strifes and big losses by the hand of the Germans drove the point home.

Unfortunately, as I understand it, the replacement pool is designed for the Entente as a whole, rather than by country. So the Russians suffer for French losses.

The scenario is very old and needs some changes

[gwgardner]

April 18 1915, turn 38

The never-ending German offensive east of Paris did indeed end for one week. (proficiency check failure, is what intelligence has learned). The respite is well-earned by the French and Belgian forces that have faced the brunt of the attacks. They will use the brief rest to dig in even deeper. The BEF will continue to extend it's line.

Concentration of artillery attacks on the German heavy gun emplacements has netted some benefits. GHQ was late to the game in that regard, stubbornly leaving artillery dispersed to their units until finally concentrated in early April.

Replacements are slowly catching up, but rifle units are still the most needed.

No action on the Eastern and Serbian fronts.

[gwgardner]

...

[gwgardner]

April 25 1915, turn 39

The Germans have resumed their limited offensive east of Paris, but GHQ still sees no significant benefit to the enemy as it advances slowly through open territory, with no strategic objective near. The BEF will continue to strengthen it's wall against any advance towards Paris, or even an attempt to outflank Paris.

The enemy's major effort now is in the East, where they have opened a new offensive north of Lodz, taking advantage of the weakness on the boundary between the Russian 1st and 8th Armies.

Stavka is still analyzing the longterm goals of the enemy in this offensive, whether it is an attempt to roll up the Russian position along the Vistula, or an attempt to threaten Warsaw.

[StuccoFresco]

Is the offensive toward Gliwice halted for now? Will you consider taking troops from there to patch the front at Plock?

[gwgardner]

Definitely. The Entente cannot go on the offensive anywhere right now. No replacements. The line near Chenstakova is dug in, so some forces can be sent north if needed. I'm not convinced yet that the Germans can achieve anything towards Plock.

IF a replacement reserve pool could be accumulated, the offensive towards Gliwice remains the goal for Stavka.

Both 1st and 8th Armies up north have enough reserves to shore up the line between them ... for now.

Four reconstituted divisions from 4th and 2nd Armies have been formed near Moscow and Leningrad, and will be brought up to extend the lines of those two armies, freeing up more for defense against the German offensive.

Italy just signed the Treaty of London, agreeing to come in one the side of the Entente, ie against Austria. I'm wondering how that is going to effect the replacement pool.

[gwgardner]

I was wrong, there are air forces in this scenario.

[gwgardner]

April 16, turn 42

For the first time in the war, all fronts have been quiet, with the exception of minor German bombardments on the eastern front.

In a telling move, the Germans have transferred their artillery and 10+ divisions to the north of their recent offensive, aiming now at the rail line leading to Chalons.

[gwgardner]

In the East, The German/Austrian thrust towards Plack has temporarily slowed. The Russian 1st Army launched a counter-attack at the base of the enemy salient.

The strength of the enemy forces in the salient may make it impossible to cut them off, but Russian forces will make the attempt.

Meanwhile, with the Chenstakova front stabilized, the Russian 9th Army is transferring to the Plack region.

[gwgardner]

Replacements are showing some improvement. Light Rifle squads are slowly building a reserve, while Rifle Squads continue to fill out units at the front. At least now there is a positive difference between active units and casualties.

[gwgardner]

May 23, turn 44

Italy has entered the war, but has not mobilized to any great extent yet.

As expected the Germans launched an offensive north of Chalons. Intelligence shows that it is led by the 4th Army with 16 divisions and artillery. GHQ is considering a major pullback to shorten the front and to avoid cutting off troops near Mauberge, since there is little likelihood of being able to stop this offensive in its tracks.

[StuccoFresco]

Will you retreat south through Sedan?