Boldairade (Allies) vs Nirosi (Axis). Boldairade welcome

[Harrybanana]

ORIGINAL: Nirosi

Very true for Australia. However Romania was close, but not quite, to double Canada in 1939 (~19M vs 11M). But no problem with that on my side, I am actually glad to see players building the Canadian army. Often and sadly neglected and transformed into a huge shipping yard [:(]

Oops, sorry you're right. I meant Hungary not Rumania. I think Rumania fielded something like 30 divisions. So Canada fielding 18 to 21 divisions (6 to 7 large corps) was a possibility. But only if it didn't build any air or naval (escort) units.

[Nirosi]

February 14th, 1941

The good weather is coming back in the Mediterranean. This should show the British intentions concerning Rhodes and if they are serious about an invasion or if they are just harassing the defenders while improving their pilots’ skills. Comando Supremo has been waiting to send back the coastal corps previously stationed there but has been waiting for an opportunity when the British submarines would be rotating out of the sector.

In other news, OKH has announced the reorganisation of the motorised corps. Starting next month, they will receive extra armor support and be renamed panzergrenadier corps. This will help the army have more mobile forces at a lower cost to complement the expensive panzer corps.

[Nirosi]

February 28th, 1941

The British did not attempt anything against Rhodes but did replace their submarine flotilla. Due to the heavy rain in the sector, the Regia Marina attempted a relief of the marine division still in Rhodes and sent in a second-rate coastal corps to replace it that saw no attempt at interference by the British.

In other news, the Canadian rear units and headquarters were bombed in Egypt.

[Nirosi]

March 14th, 1941

After the Dutch government refused to accept German troops on its soil to protect the all-important ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, Berlin had no choice but to reluctantly order OKW to take over the country. To deny the Royal Navy the Dutch ships, OKL ordered a massive strike on Amsterdam’s port on the first hours of hostilities. But despite the ships having been reported sunk multiple times, they did manage to limp-out at night three days later just before German tanks entered to city after a brief battle.

In the Atlantic, merchant loses mounted for the British, but so did U-boat losses that were brutal. As U-boats are being upgrading in Bordeaux, OKM expects things to improve in the near future.

In the Mediterranean, under the cover of rain, a huge British fleet returned to Malta bringing much needed supply and, it is believed, also some extra air defences. The efforts to bring the small island to its knees will indeed be a long road…

In other news, St-Nazaire was bombed by British planes with no regard for the citizens of their former ally. In view of the minimal economic value of the city, OKW is not worried but still ordered minimal anti-air defenses to be provided if only to show Germany’s determination and not to give the British a free run.

[Nirosi]

March 28th, 1941 (End of Axis turn)

British and Canadian troops crossed the Libyan border and with massive naval support attacked the position defended by the XVI Panzer Corps. The German veterans from France dealt a serious bloody nose on the Commonwealth troops who stopped the attacks after a single day and serious loses.

After much debate between Rommel and Graziani, as if the Canado-British attack was a trap to provoke a counterattack and force the Axis troops out of their entrenched positions (a very plausible theory in view of the British reserves forces held a few miles back) and counterattack the counterattack, it was decided not to risk it. Instead, the Regia Aeronautica was sent to bomb the British Armored corps and to destroy, with success, a submarine flotilla attempting to blockade Tobruk.

In other news, the British fleet in Malta left again and is not expected back for about six weeks when the island reserves will start to be depleted again. Of puzzling interest is also that a British combat unit of some sort has been detected in Aqaba… Much less puzzling is the build-up of German troops at the Northern and Eastern borders of Yugoslavia… Tensions are mounting between Belgrade and Berlin.

The German Foreign Ministry is also pleased to announce that Finland is now a trusted ally of Germany. Berlin even promised some troops to help defend the small nation independence.

[Nirosi]

April 11th, 1941 (End of Axis turn)

In a surprising and daring move, British marines landed at Rabat and secured the city. At first it was not clear if the move was a serious one or if the British just wanted to draw Axis resources away from Libya where they are mounting a major offensive. Still, Germany sent some troops to Morocco while Italy did the same in Algeria and Tunisia in coordination with local Vichy authorities, our new allies. Two U-boat flotillas were also diverted toward what seemed a very lightly protected carrier group off Rabat. They inflicted moderate damage on the Illustrious groups but also sank all the transports carrying the 12th Army HQ and security regiments (showing the move into Morocco was probably intended to be a serious one).

[Nirosi]

In Libya, things are getting worrisome. Commonwealth troops with shore support continuously attacked the XVI Panzer Corps and this time did serious damage before the corps finally retreated. General Hoepner was killed during the battle by an enemy artillery shell and was replaced by General Hoth who immediately ordered a counterattack on weakened British troops. The counterattack pushed back the enemy but proved to be costly and many tanks were lost to enemy shore support. This left the Axis line in a weaker position than it was. It can only be hopped that the enemy has overextended its supply lines and might need some time to recover as well. Following the failed offensive, OKH relieved General Hoth of its command and sent in General Rommel who ordered the VXI Panzer Corps back to safety, hopefully, for now.

[Nirosi]

The new M13/40 tank is starting to replace the older M11/39 model with frontline troops in Libya. The M13/40 is still no match for the latest models fielded by the British, but it is still a notable improvement and will give Italian troops more staying power than the M11/39.

[Nirosi]

April 25th, 1941 (End of Axis turn)

With the help of the Royal Navy the enemy continued its advance and cut-off the Ariete Armored corps from its supply lines. The corps was not encircled as such, but basic supplies could not reach anymore over the long dessert distances.

To re-establish contact with Ariete, a series of counterattacks were ordered (which due to the gravity of the situation included the help of the still battered and unready XVI Panzer Corps). The whole operation managed first to isolate and then force a British mechanised corps to surrender but left Axis force exhausted. Comando Supremo can only hope that Commonwealth troops are also in a low state of readiness been so far from their supply sources. However, it is believed that the Royal navy is bringing supply ashore in order to help sustain the offensive. Due to the situation in Morocco, Germany could not send help to the area as it was diverted toward this new front. The sole exception been a fighter group to provided better air cover.

Two submarine flotillas were therefore sent to try to interfere with the sea supply lanes but sustained heavy loses. However, they gained valuable information on the composition of the enemy fleet. On top of a carrier group and a heavy cruiser group, the fleet is composed of no less than 6 battleship groups. At 12 battleships present, it means that three quarters of all British battleships are in the vicinity of Tobruk. With the massive help the Royal Navy provided, it can be only hopped that the ships might not be in a good state of efficiency anymore. The Regia Marine therefore ordered the surface fleet to put some pressure. It left Trieste on the morning of April 29th and is now off the Sicilian coast. Berlin and Rome are waiting to see the British reaction…

[Nirosi]

In Morocco, massive reinforcement of British and Canadian troops, including an armored corps, were rushed into Rabat despite the mediocre size of the port. U-boats in the vicinity tried to interfere again, but this time suffered heavy loses for no effect. Alpini troops were sent to the area to contain the enemy while waiting from reinforcement promised by Germany. If the Moroccan and Western Algerian ports can be kept from the enemy by the time the German troops arrive, it should be possible to push them back to the sea…

[Nirosi]

May 9th, 1941 (End of Axis turn)

In the Eastern Mediterranean, the Canadian advanced toward Tobruk pushing Italian motorised infantry that wisely retreated.

At sea, only two British naval groups were left in the area and the Italians found the real strength of the left-over fleet during air raids that hit both the Ramilies group and the Nelson group, the second one quite severely. The Nelson and sister ship Rodney were latter sunk by fresh Italian submarine flotillas. With the former Royal Navy fleet spread out between sea, Alexandria and Malta, the Regia Marina considered the risk of a trap limited and therefore ordered the fleet waiting at sea near Sicily to hunt the Ramilies and what is believed sister ship Royal Sovereign, the only group left at sea as far as we could tell. However, the damaged group managed to avoid detection, escaping a guaranteed doom.

With the British fleet gone, and therefore no more sea supply runs and shore support, the situation around Tobruk should stabilise for a while. Unless of course Tobruk defender can not resist an assault by Canadian troops, assuming they dare do one. In Rome, Comando Supremo is confident that Tobruk fortifications are more than enough and Italian soldiers should have no problem repelling what must be very tired Canadians. In Berlin, OKW seems a little more worried.

In Malta, Italian and German bombers did moderate damage to the Warspite group and a submarine flotilla. Of interest is that only anti-aircraft guns, both from land and from the ships, responded. The fighters in Malta stayed on the ground either voluntarily, or, as Italian intelligence believes, because the on-and-off blockade did not allow them to be put back in full operation order yet.

[Nirosi]

In the Western Mediterranean, British troop advanced toward Casablanca and pushed back Vichy troops protecting the flank of the city. At sea, the Royal Navy seems to be attempting a blockade of Moroccan ports. More German troops are expected within days in the theatre. OKL has confirmed that German air support already reached the area.

Of interesting note is that now, it sems that most of the Royal Navy is in or near the Mediterranean Sea. OKM is pondering future actions that could take advantage of the situation. However, OKW asked OKM to remain ready for another upcoming mission and some ships are also in the process of getting new equipment installed, requiring g them to stay in port.

[Nirosi]

In other news, the tensions with Yugoslavia reached a threshold and OKH was ordered to take Belgrade and Zagreb. It was done within days and the country surrendered.

[Nirosi]

OKL is pleased to announce the deployment of the new FW-190. This brand-new top-of-the-line fighter will allow the Luftwaffe to dominate the skies like no other. Priority for this gem will be the squadrons in the Libyan theater.

[Nirosi]

Italian defenders in Tobruk.

[Nirosi]

German troops in Belgrade.

[Nirosi]

May 23th, 1941 (End of Axis turn)

Commonwealth troops pushed South of Tobruk to try to isolate the port. Axis troops, despite their high level of exhaustion had to push back. This allowed a German corps to come by sea to relieve the Italians in Tobruk.

At sea, the British fleet abandoned the Eastern Mediterranean to the Italians. However, nearly out of fuel, the Italian ships had to go back to port as well.

In Malta, a few warships including carriers put into port there. Wave of Axis bombers tried to target the ships, but this time did not manage to pass through the defenses and sustained very heavy losses.

[Nirosi]

In Morocco, Italian troops attacked British marines blocking the path to Rabat but did not manage to push them back. However, it is believed they are now at a low operational level and should be easy to be finished-off by newly arrived German troops.

Further South, with the help of German ground support, Vichy troops managed to hold against two British assaults. Their heroic stand postponed an eventual attack on Casablanca by two weeks already. This might leave time for the Axis troops north to take Rabat before, and if, it happens.

At sea, German U-Boats managed to damage the Sussex group near Safi, while German aircrafts came very close to annihilate a destroyer group near Rabat.

In other news, with disregard to basic decency, Paris was bombed by the RAF.

[Nirosi]

Vichy Colonial troops dealt the British a lesson, and might have saved Casablanca.

[Nirosi]

June 6th, 1941 (End of Axis turn)

In Libya, with the support of the Royal Navy, the British attacked Tobruk for six consecutive days! Rommel decided therefore to send in the XVI Panzer Corps to relieve the defenders, as control of the port is far from been secured and defenses could collapse at any time, even with the panzers at the front now.

Italian bombers attacked the British fleet but did only slight damage to the Courageous aircraft carrier group, while German fighters harassed British troops besieging Tobruk.

In other news, the Italian fleet left Trieste for Taranto….