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Scharnhorst and her sister ships under way. Are there troops ships in there? UK intelligence believes there are.



Are those troops headed for Iceland? Ireland? The English Northwest?

Or is that magnificent bastard going to invade the Western Hemisphere?

July 4, 1941

Another very rough turn for the Allies.

As expected, the remnants of Paladin are overrun in West Africa. The O Conner HQ(our best general) and an entire Canadian corps are overrun.

Unexpected, however, is the overrun of the entire East Aglica Corps west of Tobruk. This happened even though a clear retreat hex was available. I have never seen this, and it is very disturbing. The Tobruk Theater, our lone success two turns ago, is looking more and more like it will have to be abandoned. We simply cannot support the formations there. We do counter attack and retake the hex, again limiting the German frontage on Tobruk. But this is a losing battle now. More German formations are arriving. And the Regina Marina reigns supreme.

We do manage to destroy the Italian marines, but even that is laborious, and requires the use of the already worn down WDF Armor corps.

The Iraq operation is launched. One oil well is taken, and a full corps is marching on Baghdad from the south.

Germany deploys heavy forces to Norway. They clearly mean business there. There is even an air formation. Bomber of fighter? I cannot tell. But it makes reinforcing Bergen risky. And Paladin has taught me just how bad limited port access can be. For now, we hold tight. No new forces are deployed.

July 4, 1941(cont'd)

The German surface fleet in the N Atlantic wreaks havoc. 7 MM go down. For now, the N Atlantic convoy is discontinued. I do not know just how much this will effect England's economy. Hopefully it is temporary, the ship yards are doing a great job getting RN ships ready to challenge the German Surface Fleet.

The heavy deployment in Norway is coinciding with a buildup, finally, in the East. But it is local. German armor arrives, with supporting units, east of Konigsberg, the Riga/Talnin/Leningrad axis of advance. At the same time, German formations arrive in Finland. I have never seen this. Clearly, the railway from Murmansk is a target.

Russian railway assets are mobilized, moving infantry, HQ and mech units to protect that vital railway. At the same time, the lone heavy armor unit in the North is moved to support the Daugava Line, SE of Riga. An outdated mech unit is also deployed, and prioritized for reinforcement. Ivan Konev, our most talented commander, is also deployed here.

The plan, as best we can determine, is an accelerated attack in the BOA, along with a concerted effort to take Leningrad and isolate Russia from aid from her allies. If this were accomplished, along with the Med now becoming an Axis lake, it would give Germany and her allies a tremendous advantage of center position on the Allies, leaving us with only the periphery.





The arrival of T-26s in the north is not without challenges. And there has yet to even be hostilities!

ORIGINAL: boldairade

6-20-1941

The battle starts with heavy attacks from German land based air. My fighters, positioned to give air cover and set to active, neglect to intercept. The German bombers score heavy hits on CV Courageous. The Italian navy then moves in and attacks, and even though my fleet appears superior in every way, they score hits on 4 ships, while receiving none. The Italian subs score 4 step hits on the battleship Barham.

I think this may be a known bug; that shore based fighters do not provide CAP for fleets within range. For that matter I don't think CVs do either, they only provide CAP for their own fleet. But I suggest you post this in the Bug Forum.

ORIGINAL: Harrybanana

ORIGINAL: boldairade

6-20-1941

The battle starts with heavy attacks from German land based air. My fighters, positioned to give air cover and set to active, neglect to intercept. The German bombers score heavy hits on CV Courageous. The Italian navy then moves in and attacks, and even though my fleet appears superior in every way, they score hits on 4 ships, while receiving none. The Italian subs score 4 step hits on the battleship Barham.

I think this may be a known bug; that shore based fighters do not provide CAP for fleets within range. For that matter I don't think CVs do either, they only provide CAP for their own fleet. But I suggest you post this in the Bug Forum.

Is it possible they didn't operate due to low readiness? I was wondering about that. I think their readiness was 48% due to poor supply.

July 18, 1941

It is, again, another very bad turn for England.

The suspension of the North Atlantic convoy was a very poor idea. UK production drops from 214 to 70. And just as damaging, UK oil drops to ZERO.

That convoy route must be opened at all costs. The UK cobbles together the best fleet it can, using only ships that are 100% repaired. This fleet is composed only of 2 CV, 1 BB, 1 CA, 1 DD. None the less, it is sent in pursuit of the German surface group, which for now, is out of range.

The N Atlantic Supply Route is reopened and escorts set to 10.

Again, I have literally NO idea if any of this is correct.

The news gets worse, however. Germany, in control of the Med, easily expels us from Tobruk with the Italian Navy providing fire support and with Air Supremacy. The forces of the Common Wealth now are focused on trying to retreat in order, and avoid encirclement and route.

German air formations are now in Rhodes. This signals a likelihood that a push into the Middle East is high.

English forces march into Baghdad. A full corps will now be able to be redeployed to Syria. Along with the forces retreating from Tobruk, if we can just get a few turns, we can assemble a strong defense of the coastal ports.

But will we get that time?

July 18, 1941

UK intelligence is not sure why so many German formations are deployed to Norway. Just to expel us from Bergen? As a springboard for Sea Lion? Will they be moved to the Murmansk front?

Scharnhorst and Bismark engage defenseless Allied convoys at long range.

July 14, 1941

In the North, another mech corps is deployed to back the line of infantry corps NE of Konigsberg. Infantry on the Finish front have made it to selected choke points and begin to dig in. Another rifle corps is railed in to that front as well.

While the UK has been absolutely brutalized the last 5-8 turns, my only solace is, Russia is getting stronger. It's a passive 'victory', but I try to keep it in mind.

August 1, 1941

Another very costly turn for the Commonwealth.

The retreat from Tobruk turns disastrous. While trying to salvage a Canadian corps that was partly surrounded last turn, our withdrawl was slow, but with retreat hexes and backed up. We thought this to be the best strategy, and thought the Axis to be too depleted to cause much difficulty.

Wrong and wrong, again.

Instead of saving one corps, we manage to get one corps overrun, while the candian corps ends up encircled and unsavable.

In Malta, the naval bombers come in again, and again the fighter group there refuses to meet them, though it is active and at 86% readiness. Hits are scored on the battleship there.

The mounting avalanche of disasters is starting to weigh on the Allied forces morale(and mine). It seems every turn is just another series of horrific events. Instead of making a plan and deploying assets, it's a never ending series of disaster management, where there are never enough forces, supplies, hexes, air cover or anything else to even create difficulty for the enemy. And along with it all is the realization that had we merely concentrated our forces on Tobruk instead of attempting two operations, it all might have been avoided.

In Bergen, Sweden the Germans with air supremacy, hammer away at our lone corps. Thankfully, the troops hold. However their situation is deemed untenable and they are withdrawn back to England. Another abject failure, though it did occupy some German formations for a few turns. Without being able to clearly see Germany's goals, it is hard to know if that matters or not.

The N Atlantic convoy route is reopened. It is the scene of aggressive action from the German surface fleet. Perhaps believing our fleet to be smaller than it was, or maybe assuming due to the massive casualties sustained it could not have carrier support, the German fleet attacks. In our first naval success of the game, our carriers score three hits on the Scharnhorst and two on an accompanying DD group. This is a major victory, though intelligence tells us there are plenty of unscathed ships remaining in the surface group, including Bismark. This is the lone bright spot for England. And it IS significant. However, we get overaggressive and pursue the German fleet out of the supply lanes and are unable to do any additional damage.



Hard to beleive that the only success the British Empire can manage comes from a WWI era plane and a few brave pilots. But that is indeed the case. Here, Swordfish take flight to hunt the mighty Kreigsmarine.

Aug 1, 1941-Murmansk Front

Ground forces are now at predetermined positions and digging in. Russian Mech units continue to receive replacements.

Without any experience on this front, I am unsure whether my preparations are inadequate or overkill. They may not matter at all, since with control of all the Norwegian ports, Germany may be able to render the Arctic Route unusable. There is also the possibility with the non stop loss of MM, there will simply not be enough ships to operate it.

Such thoughts are not voiced in the halls of Stavka however. There, defeat is unimaginable. And certainly unmentionable.

August 1, 1941

Obviously, something else is on the way in the Med. Romanian air formations? More German formations? A glut of Italian units?

It all adds up to something major. A one turn strike into Greece? Possible. And right up Nirosi's 'Kill 'em in one turn' alley.

English intelligence fears a more ambitious goal however. With two German armor formations operating near Tobruk along with both mechanized Italian formations, the guess is that Axis intentions are nothing less than the entire Middle East, and cutting off England from her primary source of oil.

Thanks for your AAR, it's very interesting. And, hang in there, it's always bad for the allies in 1941 and then the dawn comes.

ORIGINAL: John B.

Thanks for your AAR, it's very interesting. And, hang in there, it's always bad for the allies in 1941 and then the dawn comes.

thx for reading!

August 1, 1941

BOA-Things seem to be swinging back in favor of the Uboats. Despite chasing off the German surface fleet(for now), 7 more MM and an escort slip under the waves. We need new techs again. We should achieve new anti sub techs by the fall of this year. But for now, these images will continue to be all too familiar.

August 15, 1941

A mixed bag for the Allies.

First, the Bad.

Nirosi's move in the Med is, as speculated, a one turn destruction/occupation of Greece. Utilizing Amphibious troops, paras, and the Italian surface fleet, Athens falls with virtually no resistance. This is significant, as Greece can be a difficult op for the Axis. For a time, I was stationing a a full corps to move into Athens, as well as a division to occupy Crete. The destruction of the Med Fleet, as well as Axis air supremacy, made these ops impractical, and the forces have been moved to protect the mainland in Syria/Jerusalem.

In the BOA, the German surface fleet makes it back to France for repairs. The Uboats are back in strength, however. Despite heavy escorts in our lanes, 10 MM and an escort go down. I believe the subs lose 4 steps, but the rate of loss of MM becomes ever more disturbing, especially when the threat of the surface fleet is factored in.

The 'Good' isn't any kind of real victory. It's really just time.

East of Tobruk, Afrika Corps beats up on the entrapped Canadian IV Corps, but cannot eliminate it. This means that they will have to spend next turn reducing it as well, and there's even a chance it could escape. A rescue op is briefly considered by the desert command, but we simply cannot afford to lose another formation. Instead, Allied corps set up north of the Qautra Depression, dig in, and take on more resupply. The time also allows for a shuffling of smaller formations into the ports, freeing up larger formations to serve as a mobile reserve to react to any amphibious ops. This is really our biggest fear.

In England, the same things are being done. We now have 5 full corps in addition to the smaller formations, including VIII Armor, which continues to recover from its ordeal in Western Africa. If Sea Lion is launched, it will meet formidable resistance.

Naval repairs are disappointing this turn. Two battle ships in the Med are now ready for action, but it was a mistake to prioritize them. Without support ships, they cannot challenge the Regia Marina. This turn, smaller ships and anti sub vessels will be the focus, along with ground formations in the Middle East.

The Regia Marina steams unopposed through the Med under Axis skies, and it seals Greece's fate.



How will Nirosi use this to his advantage next?

August 15, 1941

Russia

Finally, our desperate efforts to modernize Russian armor formations are starting to succeed. Most formations have been brought up to full step strength. Some are even being modernized to 1940/1941 tech.

The bulk of the tanks are still BT-7s and T-26 models. However, select armor formations are also receiving the new, super heavy KV-1s.

August 29, 1941

It is hard to believe it is only August.

In Egypt, the beleaguered Canadian IV Corps is finally overrun. Our hopes that it would escape were always a long shot.

The defenses are now set, though the level of entrenchment isn't where it needs to be. Due to the huge concentration of Axis mechanized units, we upgrade the UK SouthMidland Corps with anti tank status. Let's hope those AT guns have a chance, as we fear Axis armor may run headlong into us next turn.

The key, as in the 3 battles of Tobruk, will be naval guns. As such, we move a carrier group and support ships to Gibraltar, to ultimately try to run the gauntlet to Egypt. The hope being that we might be able to win a battle vs the Regia Marina. If we could, we might be able to hold Egypt and the Middle East indefinitely.

German U boats sink 2 MM off the eastern coast of Canada. Subs parked in the African route do...nothing? NO convoy intercept. Odd.

Russian armor continues to upgrade. Plans are being made to either purchase one more armor corps or 3 AT infantry. Russia must also now consider whether to upgrade her AT infantry corps or perhaps modernize her woeful air arm. Another German unit is detected in Finland. What is Nirosi doing there?

For the USA, it now seems a mistake that all the bomber formations are build for industrial attack. At least one should have been built for sub hunting. The question now is, to convert an existing formation, or build a new sub hunter and wait. Can we afford to wait?

Speaking of the USA, there is a serious question as to her overall strategy. Certainly the industrial bombing will happen. But where will the USA attempt to make landfall vs the Reich?

Torch/W Africa would be perfect. Except my disastrous misadventure there has allowed Nirosi to heavily build the defenses there. Similarly, the planned op in Norway would now face immense resistance.

One tantalizing idea is to attempt to take advantage of all Nirosi's conquests. Germany has A LOT of units garrisoning all over. If he hopes to launch Barbarossa 1942 edition, plus maintain all these garrisons, could a mainland Europe op be possible? If so, where? And what assets would need to be utilized?

These questions need an answer now, due to production times involved. But try as I might, I cannot come up with a satisfactory answer.

Coastal bunkers like this one are everywhere along the Atlantic Wall and Western Africa.

Allied planners cannot find an area for a 'Safe' op. And nobody wants a repeat of Paladin.

What is the answer?