Oleg vs Maginot; It Burns

[Maginot]

FOW: On
Advanced Supply
Auto Supply
Axis; Oleg
Allies; Maginot
1940 Starting Date

_________________

Spring 1940

German advanced remained pretty usual -- Vichy France established, Norway captured, and movments eastward for a round 2 assualt on Czech. From what I can see, it appears as if Oleg plans an invasion of Spain as well. If I was a more experience player, I might see this is an opprtunity -- the ability to land in Norway and Spain -- but alas, it only makes me more confused. No one ever said my first PBEM would be each.

The Kriegsmare was out in full force, driving the Med. Fleet into Cario port. I can only speculate on reinforcments in North Africa. Three U-Boats took to the Atlantic, destroying several transports. The Royal Navy managed to damage two U-Boats and Destroy one, but at the cost of using a fair amount of supply.

Russia and China begin the buildup for the inevitable invasions. Chinese forces withdraw from all costal provinces, leaving nothing but the milita to slow the Japanese.

[Maginot]

Summer 1940

I learned a lot this turn. So far, even though we've only played two turns I've finally understood OpFire, and have gotten supplies down pat.

The Russian and Chinese turn played out perfectly fine. German reinforcments have yet to flock towards the border. It appears as if were on our a historic time table as of so far. Not much activity from the Japanese, who are no doubt building up for a blitz on the Western Allies.

The Western Allies 1940 turn was full of mistakes and blunders -- and its only turn two. The German Afrika Korps threatens Cario, where an allied army of equal size awaits them. However, with the Western Allies boasting artillery, as well as more fighter support I'm hopeful on Carios ability to survive. Should it fall, there is nothing to stop the Germans from flooding into the Middle East. Its a far cry from my games with the AI where I could quickly bolster the African theater. Olegs early hit on my supply lines, as well as his quick jump into Africa with a decent force threatens to sieze many resource for the Axis.

Then game the series of blunders, mistakes, and idiocies. An attack on Ethopia -- a 2 vs 1 Milita battle ended in a German victory, with one British Milita being completely destroyed. I managed to wander a sub into all sorts of OP Fire, damaging the vessel and setting back allied production in the UK, which I sourly need. German air assets in Spain prevent me from taking the quickest route to move troops to and from colonies -- a new lesson in Op Fire I didn't know about. Its become very clear I've already blown it for the Med., with Axis armies in Spain threatening to sieze Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Garrison is not much more then what it was at the begging of the game, the only addition a British fighter to engage in ASW activity. That puts 1 Milita, 1 artillery, 1 flak, and one fighter into gibraltar. Through in the fortification bonus and its no match for the panzer armies, but I simply did not want to threaten weakening other colonial postisions or for that matter mainland UK.

The one thing I had to cheer for was the production of several new units this turn, which should help me reinforce whatever postions I have left next turn. I know the inevitable surge of subs are coming again, and I took the opportunity to postions assets to deal with the threat. My supply issue is pherhaps the only thing that looks up at the moment.

[Grotius]

Good luck to both of you. And Maginot, I have learned more in my one PBEM game than in a half-dozen AI games. Humans teach you hard lessons fast.

[Maginot]

Spring 1940
Oleg has agreed to not look at this thread until the wars over. That means I can post unhampered pictures of the war. The next season, Winter 1941 shall bring ample screenshots to make up for my lack of them to date.

Spring 1940; The most horrid season of the Allied war effort to date. Frantic British Diplomats continue to beg the neutral US to join in the effort to fight the fascist meance. As the Axis war machine continues to drive onwards, the British fight on alone.

The bitter battle between the Japanese and Chinese that has waged on for the past nine years has come to a relative stand still, the Japanese Army unwilling to treck any further into the Chinese mainland. The Chinese army, lacking the manpower and supplies to take back their former lands sit back helpless as the Japanese continue their bulidup unhampered. Chinese production continues to struggle to produce a new air-wing and infantry division.

Soviet Generals are particularly happy with the developments, contrary to British and Chinese mindsets. The Russian buildup is a composition of mostly Infantry and Artillery divisions to ensure a sturdy defence should Hitler and his formidable armies turn their eyes east. However, to keep the German Panzers at bay Four Tank Corps have been commisioned in Moscow. Extensive supplies are being placed into the research of a stronger tank, as well as upgrading infantry and artillery units.

The British season was one of failures and disapointments. Two Infantry Units, a Milita, an Artillery, and Fighter, along with all supplies on board were driven out of Cario, in a joint attack on the Gibraltar from German-Spain. The Med. has turned, in effect, into an axis lake. German U-Boats freely go in and out of of the Med. with the fall of the Fighter Garrison in Gibraltar. Two U-Boats were tracked down, one damaged and one destroyed, at the cost of great supplies. However, I now have a good spread of Light Fleets with carrier support to combat future threats. Fog of War is a saving grace, as I can only assume if it was off German bombing campaigns would be further destroying the Allied Merchant Fleet. With the collpase of Africa I am faced with a daunting prospect -- the entire colonial Empire save Australia is now open to a sweeping attack. This will also mean the German Army will be in place to sieze the Soviet Caucus's. I plan to make my stand in India at this point, and will try my best to maintain a strong supply chain from the UK to India. It is times like this I wish I could destroy Factories rather then hand them over to the Axis. Its quickly becoming apparent the magic 70 is within Oleg's grasp. I can only hope that the Soviet Campaign will result in some desisive victories, allowing some pressure to be relieved against my British Territories.

The US Fleet continues to expand, and I belive I should have enough ships to counter the Japanese threat. However, if I'm not fast enough the Axis joint sweep through the Eastern Hemisphere, plus a few decesive Russian losses will render the Allied War Machine kaputz.

[Maginot]

Winter 1941
Overall Theme: Die Ethopia!

Russia:
Already almost a year gone by! I remain very happy with my Russian deployments. This turn most of my units came off the conveyor belt, however, due to my own neglect, they are still not organized into competent armies. However, Oleg has yet to move any significant force out of Western Europe, so I am confident I will have at least one or two more seasons to put things in order before we go to war.

Production remains much the same. Four additional armors were created at the end of this turn, meaning I now have a significant armor base to use as a launch pad to destroy lone units, as well as exploit any breakthroughs. In preperation for the coming attack Spring and Summer 1941 will most likley be Supply seasons. However, I have a distinct feeling Oleg won't attack until his units are poised to take the Cacusus. Russian research continues regularly, with a Flak and Armor upgrade this turn I belive. My Russian Research is far more consistent then my Western Allies research, where I seem to have put points all over the board without rhyme or reason.

Russian/German Boarder Winter 1941:


Russian Research:



China:
Nothing new to report here -- big suprise. Chinese and Japanese forces continue to stare each other down. I'm honestly not sure if Oleg plans to make a move on China. This turn a new fighter and infantry rolled off the conveyor belt, and that should make my Northern Army group a little more menacing. I might actually reduce the size of my Northen group to entice him to attack me, but I'm pretty sure Oleg couldn't be tempted that easily.

Map of China/Japanese border. Note the makeup of forces in mainland Japan.



Western Allies:
This turn I finally took out Ethopia. Heres a quick look at what it took to bring down the beast. (Remember, Ethopia has ONE Axis Milita in it)
Spring 1940: Two Milita Attack - One UK milita destroyed.
Summer 1940: New Milita brought in, both attack, assisted by bombardment from a heavy fleet in the red sea. One UK Milita Destroyed.
Winter 1941: Victory! Using One Infantry, One Milita, AND the Bombardment from the heavy fleet, the one milita was destroyed. Did I mention I lost a Milita too?

In short, I went out of my way, and probably screwed some stuff up just for the sake of kiling Ethopia. I'm sorry, but it was so god-damn annoying. Every turn I lost a milita, I died a little on the inside. In case your wondering Ethopia is worth one resource point.

In other news, no U-Boat attacks this turn! I guess Oleg's repairing that U-Boat from last turn still. My Light Fleets are getting an upgrade in Anti-Sub, as well as my aircraft, so soon enough they won't be a problem anymore. This turn was another "produced" turn. That is, a fair amount of UK units came off the assembly line. Knowing this, I decided to take a Fighter and an Infantry form the UK and send it to West India. I only saw two Infantry and a Milita making the march towards there. I might send a Tactical Bomber over for a bit to harrass the moving force, and if I'm feeling really lucky send over my Heavy. Western Europe is too well guarded for bombing campaigns as of now.

I count off the days until the Western Allies and Russia will join the war. I also feel safe mentioning pherhaps my weakest moment in the game so far ---- now that I've fully corrected it. During both Summer and Fall 1940 the UK was nearly completely open for a SeaLion go ahead. At one point, the Scotish Garison got as low as a Milita, a Flak, and an Artillery. Oleg has three transports within distance of the right seazone for transporting troops into Scotland, and had ample infantry sitting in the Netherlands (I think they might still be sitting there, which scares me. IS he gonna try a Sealion?)

Some more eye-candy to fan out the details of the war as of so far....

The [desperate] situation in the Middle East. These screens were all taken on the Chinese turn, so right now I still haven't invaded Ethopia.


Western Europe. In my own Sealion parnoia theory he would use (or he could still use) those infantry all sitting in the Netherlands.


A look at the units on a global scale.


I'll get you guys some other Global Maps and stuff next turn, as well as post a look into the Western Allies Research. I hope your enjoying watching me get beaten by Oleg. I'm having a lot of fun playing him, but also a lot of fun writting about playing him!