Crossroads: Axis Perspective

[Chocolino]

July 9th, 1942

We cannot see the American units in Sweden yet but they make fast progress and must be either tank or mechanized units. In Romania more units arrive from Africa and prepare to enter the fray.

[Chocolino]

July 16th, 1942

Axis units still prepare for a counter strike in Romania. There are smaller opportunistic boarder attacks on both sides along the entire front line ranging from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

The Russian has invaded Finland and Axis diplomats are surprised that Finland did not seek shelter (for what it is worth) under the Axis umbrella. Hence we leave the Fins in the hands of the silicon General and receive only scant news from the front. The situation in Sweden is very serious. The time remaining for an independent Sweden before oppressed by Allied forces is measured in days and weeks only.

[cpdeyoung]

This AAR continues to impress with its innovative strategies.  The Americans in Sweden in 1942, I have never seen anything like it.
 
Keep it up guys.
 
Chuck

[Chocolino]

July 24th, 1942 (naval part)

There were two major naval engagements in the Atlantic this turn. We came out slightly ahead, especially since we caught a troop transport. The USA must invest resources elsewhere and keep the navy budget low. We are curious where the investment goes instead and where those units will see action.

[Chocolino]

July 24th, 1942 (land battle part)

The Red Army is in overdrive and has assaulted the Bulgarian port of Varna by sea. It seems that the USSR is always a step ahead of us and has taken the initiative before we could start our counter strike. The USSR has hereby also preempted ongoing diplomatic attempts to gain control of Bulgaria. (Unfortunately it takes several turns before this is completed)

Four strong units have landed in Varna and amongst them is a L3 tank corps. These units have threats in different directions incl. Istanbul, link up with the units south of Constantia or just generally operate in the back of our fragile Axis line. We decide to delay our own counter attack and deal with this new threat immediately restrict the beachhead before even more units land and try to throw the Red army off the beaches. If we want to achieve this, we need the best units available.

The picture below shows the situation before the Axis reaction.

[Chocolino]

ORIGINAL: cpdeyoung

This AAR continues to impress with its innovative strategies.  The Americans in Sweden in 1942, I have never seen anything like it.

Keep it up guys.

Chuck

Hello Chuck,

I sometimes wish for much less innovating play by my opponent and at the same time enjoying the torture nonetheless. RTV is quite a game.

Yes, this was very well played by my opponent and there was little I could have done at the time (that's why it was so good amongst others). Perhaps I could have delayed the fall of Sweden by a few turns by sacrificing some German units needed elsewhere. While experience shows that as a player you see your situation most negatively yourself while everybody else doesn't understand this point of view at all, I do really feel quite threatened at every corner of the continent.

I am following "Half again" with much interest to see how the balance adjustment plays in practice. It is too early to say of course.

[Chocolino]

August 1st, 1942

All activity is in southern Romania and eastern Bulgaria. For the moment we think we have things under control again - but we did think that already earlier against the USSR on several occasions only to be caught unawares somewhere else.

[Chocolino]

August 16th, 1942

We start to reduce the Varna pocket and eliminate a tank corps - but have to take heavy losses in the process. We also move a Romanian tank unit a bit out of harms way and straighten the line.

[Chocolino]

September 1st, 1942

The war is now three years old. Except for the area south of Bukarest there is little action elsewhere. We still need to focus entirely on defense as the USSR has the majority of attack units. The air war is either even or slightly in favor of the USSR as well. The Romanians loose a unit as the Russian drives south near Constantia with great persistence. But we can tighten the ring around Varna.

[Chocolino]

September 16th, 1942

Sweden falls and two over-optimistic German attacks lead just to more losses.

[Chocolino]

October 1st, 1942

A naval engagement in the Atlantic and bitter fighting for small geographic gains. Unless you follow closely, there is not much change visible.

[Chocolino]

October 16th, 1942

Skirmishes in Romania. One of our tank corps moves forward to fill the gap the destroyed USSR mech unit left and we feel a bit uneasy about it afterwards, seeing it surrounded by 3 Red Army tank corps. The air campaign in Denmark intensifies, two more German divisions are wiped out.

[Chocolino]

November 1st, 1942

Allied air attacks on Denmark continue. Russians make progress in southern Romania, a German tank corps is eliminated and the Russian tank corps holding Varna is back to L2 after suffering two siege level reductions in previous turns. The USSR makes slow but steady progress.

[Chocolino]

December 1st, 1942

More air strikes in Denmark. We are tense and expect a landing every turn now. To the outside observer, not much is going on in Romania. However, despite our best efforts (and they may be limited by some lack of skill) we cannot really hold back the USSR. Using air attacks and follow up land attacks, the USSR gains some ground every turn. We are not yet collapsing but hoped we could at least hold for a while without moving backwards all the time. (Note: having played the AI only so far, I see that I have a lack of skill in how to handle long and intense font line battles effectively. There is hardly the need to conduct this type of warfare against the AI. Especially my mixing of units of different countries, often done in perceived emergencies, turned out to be a real hindrance. Because of the move order it is very difficult to undo this later. But well, the good news is that I am being trained right now)

[Chocolino]

January 1st, 1943

A new year starts and quite a crucial one for the Axis. We have to stop the creeping Russian progress at least for a while. The fact that we counted 8 USSR tank corps in southern Romania on our December screen shot alone worries the Axis leadership though. We have a small success in regaining Varna but suffered a breakthrough just northwest where a Bulgarian corps was overwhelmed. The air war in Denmark has subsided for a turn - a brief and peaceful interlude?

[cpdeyoung]

It is certainly nice of our opponents to give us such thorough lessons in the mixing of nationalities in defense. This is a fine art and worthy of the careful study we are giving it.  I have tried quite a few different techniques in SuD and while I have some thoughts I will admit I have no hard and fast rule.
 
Getting pushed back isn't much fun.  I will be studying operations against a strong foe for a good bit.
 
Chuck

[Chocolino]

Right, getting pushed back is no fun but was expected at one point (admittedly I have hoped for a later point in game time) - but I will deal with it. I will be watching your games even more closely and focus on this unit mix aspect of your game. You seem to do this so much better.

[IS]

Hmm... current situation is great opportunity for Axis [:)] You should launch Luftwaffe supported offensive from Bucharest, and cut all those soviet units in the south from supplies. Also you might move Axis fleet to Black Sea, to finish units, which my try to evacuate by sea. Its a great opportunity to destroy equivalent of more then a year production of Soviet Union, and finally grasp initiative - your opponent is too aggressive, and there is a BIG price tag attached to that strategy [:D]

[Chocolino]

Hello IS

You should launch Luftwaffe supported offensive from Bucharest, and cut all those soviet units in the south from supplies.

As always, your advice is very good. I should have done it despite what I say next. One reason I didn't is that all my Luftwaffe is used up in defensive battles each turn and is usually at 5 strength at the start of my turn, not useful to conduct any attacks. I have to rebuild it every turn and then it happens again. But I should instead have let the USSR have their way down south and try it anyways. At the time I was afraid that if I move my stronger units to attack from Bukarest towards Canstantia, the USSR will actually reach Varna, is in full supply again despite my cut-off operation. I am just explaining what I thought, not saying I was right.

[Chocolino]

February 1st, 1943

The USSR has changed direction and threatens Bukarest, with it Romania, and with that the whole structure of the Romanian front (because of the evacuation rule for allied nations in conquered countries). More remorse - now at the choice of the Bukarest garrison.

The only good news comes form the Atlantic. We are very pleased with the outcome of the recent naval engagement.