Operation Love - Let's love them until they bleed (AAR)

[Westheim]

Well, it's not a complete AAR. My decisions aren't wise enough yet to show something like that. [8D] The old bones from the PT forum may remember (or not) a small AAR I once posted of winning the Hawaii scenario (however ridiculously). I have something small scale again here. An offensive against one of the AIs on a quite huge Me+7AIs map.

What happened in the last turns? Circled you find the town of Valley here. It was threatened by the Trinity State army, which actually reached the outskirts of the city after they broke through my thin lines on the river to the south. I took me about 10 turns to keep them away from the city, until I finally managed to encircle them and eliminated a huge pocket with about 12 divisions and an HQ, a big part of the Trinity State's army in this area. Now it's time to attack immediately.

Weren't it for my own army, which is in bad shape now. I want to conquer Lovecenter Hope on the other side of the river there, but a direct attack could prove unwise, as the AI rarely leaves their towns unguarded. I will have to try an encirclement all around the mountain range two hexes east of Lovecenter Hope, with my armour as spearhead.

My armour consists of a single light tank. In addition, I need to remove some of the infantry units, which annihilated the pocket earlier, as I have big trouble keeping the Shiite Army (another powerful AI in the west) at bay.

Operation Love will begin.

[Westheim]

The first turn of Operation Love sees me shifting everything east I can afford. Five infantry divisions, many already bleeded out, need to keep the river line steady, while my other units, lead by the 23rd Tank Division hit the mountain road. The first problem is soon encountered. A powerful Trinity unit is guarding the gap over the mountains, which could bring me to Lovecenter Hope quick enough. Although mostly infantry, this unit also contains a tank. I can't attack it. I need to draw an even wider circle to the south and avoid the mountains altogether.

Meanwhile, I pulled every tank available and put them into a new division, the 67th, and the already existing 23rd. I now have 5 tanks available. All light.

[Westheim]

Between turns, my army suffered the highest one turn casualties ever, with 88 infantry, 5 trucks and 3 tanks lost. However, all but some of these losses occured on other fronts. Terrible news though, I lost a city to the Shiite Army. So, I need a quick victory here more than ever to replace the lost production capacity immediately.

But I didn't come any closer to Lovecenter Hope this turn. The valley is full of small Trinity units, which, when finally beaten, have exhausted my tanks so much, they can't progress any further. Everything moves too slow!

I decided to cross the river to maybe cut off the western road into Lovecenter Hope, but my divisions failed. However, I got three more tanks, one medium among them.

[Westheim]

Moved artillery in place to shell Lovecenter Hope and its defenders into pieces, if it's necessary.

My 23rd and 67th Tank Division are finally able to reach the exit of the valley and disconnect the second of three roads into Lovecenter Hope.

Danger is in the air, though. There are just too many Trinity units on the eastern side of the second mountain range. I don't have enough infantry units to both close in on Lovecenter Hope and guard my vulnerable flank. Should I retreat and save the terrain I got? The Shiites pushed me back again and I lost valuable war material in the northwest. Right now I'm pouring more than 50% of my production into Operation Love. Or is it Operation Hope already? Ah, what the heck. The tanks shall drive as long as there is gas.

To be continued.

[dave74]

Nice Start,

Can you show us the mini-map or strategic map to get an overall picture?

Thanks

Dave

[Westheim]

Sure!

See the vast vastness of the vast Shiite Army. [X(] They already killed two other AIs (well they were squeezed between the Shiites and me and others, but ...)

This is already of the next turn, which is in progress. You can spoil yourself by examining the lower right edge, if you want to. [;)]

[dave74]

[X(]

I think they are going to take some beating.

Good luck!

[EricSilver_MatrixForum]

Great, one more AAR to follow. I'll be reading it with interest.

[Westheim]

While my armoured spearheads push further south and west, they are cut off from supply in the rear. My lines there were just too weak and couldn't stand a single, small Trinity State attack. Eight divisions, including all armour, is cut off now.

Meanwhile I have to reduce the supply with new troops for this front further, as the Shiite Army started an offensive on my II and V Corps in the west. I need more fresh infantry and tanks there.

Finally, I wasn't able to close in on Lovecenter Hope, and couldn't bomb it either, as I had to fight off the backstabbers in the valley.

This AAR would have almost found an end by a bug while the AI's turn after this turn here. Fortunately I had just saved and was able to continue.[&o]

[Westheim]

To hell with the backstabbing cowards of Trinity State. My tanks pushed forward as far as they could and finally reached supporting infantry of the II Corps (light green) at the river. Lovecenter Hope is completely encircled now. However, the defenders are powerful in numbers as well as in weapons. I could have a hard time to finally grab it.

I managed to hold the road from Lovecenter Hope to the north, but it is still threatened. I ordered the engineers of the V Corps (light blue) to build a new bridge over the river to effectively supply my tanks again.

[Westheim]

One of two targets I set myself and my army was completed: I connected the plains west of Lovecenter Hope with the north side of the river. Therefore, the enemies in the valley are no threat anymore to make my tanks "dry". However, I wasn't able to push them back out over the eastern mountain range.

I attacked Lovecenter Hope from four sides, but the attack was repelled and I suffered terrible losses. I need more infantry here, but the ongoing offensive of the Shiite Army (purple counters) in the west consumes most of my reinforcements. There are no available reinforcements left in the HQs fighting Trinity State.

I created a new VI Corps (dark green). Some small units and one new tank division will be collected there with the target to push south and attack the Trinity town of Pottamford. Problem: there's another river between my units and that city, and I still have not either conquered Lovecenter Hope or burned it down to ashes.

[Westheim]

It's mine. I shelled Lovecenter hope with artillery and attacked it, again from four sides. Losses were high, but the city is cleared of the Trinity State cowards. It's factories will produce reinforcements for the VI Corps from now.

The VI Corps got some units from my Supreme HQ (black) to move south now, everything while the mountain valley is still full of Trinity troops.

There won't be any more reinforcements for this front in the near future. Although the Trinity State is weakened now, I can't afford to be any more offensive.

Things went terribly wrong in the west, where, while I started closing in on Metaldesert again, the Shiites broke through the far right flank of my II Corps. They are only 3 hexes away from High Stonehouse, and there's nothing between them and the city.

To be continued.

[Westheim]

While my VI Corps advanced on Pottamford, I suffered another setback in the valley. Tanks attacked my artillery there and I lost 3 pieces of artillery. Just for the relation: that's 37,5% of my total artillery.

On the other hand, I cleared the last small pockets around Lovecenter Hope. The question is, whether I still have enough momentum to stay offensive. My lines are stretched out already. (And the situation here is just as intense and dangerous as with the II Corps, which faces the full brunt of a Shiite offensive.

The Shiites also close in on Pottamford. Who will be the first to reach it, if any?

[Westheim]

I really misjudged the situation of the Trinity army! Just when I wanted to settle down with my prey, they launched a counteroffensive! [X(] My troops on the southern entry of the valley were just smashed, while the line on the northern end held. I move reserves from my I and IV Corps (northern and northeastern front) to my Supreme HQ, just to put something between the enemy and Lovecenter Hope, which took such a high toll to take.

The situation is also dangerous for the VI Corps, which sent two infantry divisions over the Pottamford river. It's very possible for this corps to be cut of entirely by the advancing army.

Good news is: I was able to pocket a small group of Shiites in Metaldesert. Bad news: High Stonehouse is still threatened. I would have been happy to strategically transfer one or two infantry divisions of the II Corps to this front here, but it won't happen.

All my HQs are out of reserves, except the III Corps, which holds a defensive line behind a stream against the Shiites (yes, they are there, too), in the northwest.

If you want to take a look at the strategic overview map above; the Shiites are close to taking Greenberryford, which would be the fourth capitol for them to take. [X(] [X(] They also conquered Metalelath and are close to Weedsquareshire. Okay, time for panicking!

[Westheim]

Sometimes, things go wrong. This turn the II Corps marched into Metaldesert after winning smaller victories against the Shiites over its whole front. However, luck was reversed by the Trinity State.

The road from Lovecenter Hope to the VI Corps was cut just as well as the road to my inner mainlands. They could just pour troops in, and win decisive battles, as I have *nothing* available to stop them. I was pushed back from Pottamford, too, while the infantry, that crossed the river, is running out of supply. No wonder, since the whole corps is basically cut off from the rest of my army. They are just connected by a bloody swamp full of flies and a stream. Or should I say separated?

The fronts of the I, III, and IV Corps stayed quiet, so I transferred their production to the south, as far as possible.

[Westheim]

Sometimes, things become even worse. Most fronts were quiet again (besides the usual 50 casualties in the II Corps). The Shiites seem to regroup there.

Trinity State doesn't. Trinity State advances. I was able to reestablish the connection of VI Corps with Lovecenter Hope again for a short time, but then, they pushed me back out again.

The VI Corps was cut in half. The southernmost divisions are now as well separated from the HQ by a swamp like the whole corps is. And while Trinity State battles me, the Shiites could actually take Pottamford directly under my nose.

The situation is critical. I NEED a victory here again, and I need it quick. Very quick. I'm out of reserves, I'm out of PP, I'm out of supply, I'm basically out of everything. I started to set up gap filler units with the II Corps, just to keep the line together. Normally, I put 30 rifles into a division (sometimes 40). Now, I'm down to 15 (or even just 10 to 12). I'm as stretched out as possible, I can't survive another setback.

To be continued.

Boy, storywise this develops better than I had the right to hope! [8D]

[Erik Rutins]

Wow, some very interesting developments. Good luck, Westheim!

[Westheim]

Thank you; it's really hard. Thank the war god that the two northern AIs stay quiet. [&o]



I was able to capture Pottamford in this turn, and hold it against both Shiites and Trinity State. But this in no way reduces the pressure on either my VI Corps or the troops under Supreme HQ. Lovecenter Hope is still sieged by the Trinity State and I struggle to keep the roads open.

Together with the conquered Metaldesert, this gives me about 10% extra production. But - in the same two turns I captured these two towns, the Shiites captured two other towns from other AIs. They will be a major threat very soon.

[Westheim]

Trinity State units continue to encircle Lovecenter Hope. They hold all but two hexes now, and for the first time they brought artillery with them. I'm about 4:1 in favor in artillery guns, but you never know.

The VI Corps tried to clear the area northwest of Pottamford but failed. There are still powerful units of the Shiite Army there. I will try to link up the VI and V Corps, but the V is so weak, I doubt that I can use it in a offensive way. In addition, the Shiites also brought artillery.

Again I pulled the reinforcements for other corps (I, IV) this turn. IV Corps (north of Supreme HQ) started a small offensive around Mount Metalkeep, but was not successful. South of Metaldesert I was able to flank the Shiites (found a weak spot!) and break through, almost reaching Eflas this turn. However, I have no infantry to attack it, and no artillery to bomb it. On the other hand, the Shiites crossed the river defended by the III Corps without much problems. That's opposite of Top Greenlor, in the center of the map.

More pressure to withstand!

To be continued.

[Westheim]

I gained a little bit of room around Lovecenter Hope again, as well as west of Pottamford. Both the Shiites and Trinity State are a bit confused and don't manage to attack my weak spots. I had them. (The Shiites nevertheless hit the III Corps)