TRP 1.3 mini AAR Taxman (Allies) vs Old Crow Balthazaor (Axis)

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 103

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
Operation Husky:
The plan was to land UK units, not Americans, however it took far more firepower to clear the beaches than I expected and things just ended up like they did. If I had prepped earlier I could have had a US HQ on an AVL, but that would have required putting the Strat bombers and fighters in Southern Tunisia without HQ support and supply. Many turns ago when I was counting how many US HQs I needed, I wasn’t expecting to have to have 2 in Sardinia. That was a mistake.

Changed my mind and sent FF Armor & DE Gaulle towards England, they had been parked near Gibraltar.

USSR placed 2 MOT Corps, 2 INF Corps and an Armor Corps as reinforcements.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – AT research (lvl 3), Tank Destroyer, Paratrooper (shattered). 0 MPP before EOT
USA – Armor Corps (no upgrades). 171 MPP before EOT
UK – HQ Brooke (8). 151 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 39 MPP before EOT

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
Soviet morale improves with news of allied landings in Italy (i.e. Sicily).

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
USA Production completed (lvl 3)

Pictures:

45 January 6, 1943.jpg (814.34 KiB) Viewed 1356 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 104

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
HQ Ike put on an AVL at Gabes, Tunisia. 1 Strat Bomber sent to Sardinia.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – Tank Destroyer, TAC. 4 MPP before EOT
USA – Production research (lvl 4), Armor Corps (no upgrades). 144 MPP before EOT
UK – Paratrooper x2. 3 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 75 MPP before EOT

The Soviets have completed their Tank Destroyer and TAC bomber builds. There is 1 last shattered INF Corps, and now I’ll have to decide amongst: Mech Corps (3 left), Armor Divs (8), Mech Divs (4), AT (1) and MOT (15). There are also 2 Medium Bombers that need to be built before March 1944 so that I can get an extra one.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None
Germany raises a Corps from Latvian volunteers

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK ASW completed (lvl 2)

Pictures:
None

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 105

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
S&I hit on a U boat near Iceland allows me to surround it with 3 DDs, a CL and a CVL with the French CVL closing in as well. If it wasn’t in ‘Silent’ mode I’d pop it with the Maritime Bomber in Iceland, but for so little potential damage I don’t want it to dive out of my web.

Rain and storms in the med/Italy messed up any chance at reprisals or further advancement, took the opportunity to repair and shuffle. My plan on dealing with the AA in Syracuse is to siege it down to 0 supply before assaulting it.
With no more Axis subs in the Med (yes I kept count) all the DDs head out. They will now patrol the Atlantic, and provide safe passage for the transports, just in case.

I landed 3 USA MOT and a UK INF back at Gabes and Bone. It’s expensive but I have to load them back up to get the Amphib attacks to help secure Sicily and possible the toe.

USA HQ Hodges, which I had originally planned to go to England now sets sail from Boston towards the Med.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – Armor Div, Mech Corps, INF Corps (shattered). 28 MPP before EOT
USA – Medium Bomber (shattered), Armor Corps. 53 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 70 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 111 MPP before EOT

Upgraded the Icelandic Maritime bomber with long range 2, a couple UK DDs and Torpedo Boat with ASW 2.

USA was building Armor Corps since they take 8 months and I want them for D-Day. I’ll switch over to Mech, MOT and TAC soon. Will also slow down once the income goes down due to Spring, Summer income reduction as well as need for replacements increase.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
USA Amphibious Warfare completed (lvl 3)

Pictures:

46 February xx, 1943.jpg (1.42 MiB) Viewed 1307 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 106

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
Both German subs are now surrounded with more reinforcements on the way.

The 3 USA MOT that landed last turn in Algeria/Tunisia are put back into AVLs.

CAN Armor Corps transported from Tripoli to Gibraltar, destined for England. I’m considering sending the other armor as well. With so much German strength in Italy, the French north coast at first peek looks pretty barren. If further recon flights confirm this, I may stage Round Up or perhaps just raids to destroy any unoccupied forts.

82nd & 101st Airborne (US paratroopers) are deployed near Boston.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – Mech Corps, MOT, INF Corps (shattered). 53 MPP before EOT
USA – Amphibious Warfare research (lvl 4), HQ Clark (7). 72 MPP before EOT
UK – Medium Bomber CAN (no upgrades). 38 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 147 MPP before EOT

With a little bit of luck the USA will have Amphib 4 for D-Day.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None
* Just had an over strengthed (11) DD knocked down to an 8 due to storms. I hate this mechanic!

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
None
Starving for a breakthrough, haven’t had one in a very long while and techs are just creeping up.

Pictures:
None

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 107

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
Establish Polish II Corps in Kuwait (8 str, fully upgraded) for 25 MPP/turn x 3 turns – Yes

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
Don’t know why I couldn’t find his subs, so I’m going to set up relay stations/escorts for transporting 2 US Paras and an ART as well as one of or both the CAN HQs.

Put the UK ART on a transport but haven’t decided if it will eventually land in Italy or be sent to the UK.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – Mech Corps, Medium Bomber. 31 MPP before EOT
USA – MOT. 41 MPP before EOT
UK – INF Corps (shattered). 87 MPP before EOT
FF – MOT. 10 MPP before EOT

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
USA AA 41% -> 65%

Pictures:

47 March 7, 1943.jpg (795.72 KiB) Viewed 1252 times

[Taxman66]

Quick Announcement:

I'll be out of town this weekend.
I will post turn 108 tomorrow before I leave, but it will be up before OCB's Axis Youtube episode 108 by an hour or two. I suggest waiting to read it until after watching the Axis turn.

I won't post again until Sunday night (EST) at the earliest (or Monday morning EST) at the latest and will post enough to catch up.

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 108

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
Sending 4 UK INF Corps (1 Indian, 3 SA) and the ART to England. The SA HQ will follow once it reaches a port.
Polish Corps moves from Kuwait to Basra, and will be railed to Syria next turn.
CAN HQ Simonds put on a transport and ports at St. John’s.
USA Rangers load on an AVL, just as much to clear a hex in Sicily as to be used in another assault.
USA HQ Hodges ports in Syracuse and will offload next turn (since the port is at 2 health).
Upgraded a USA strat bomber in Baltimore, and placed a new one (that will need upgrading) next to Baltimore as well.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – Armor Div, Light INF (shattered) x4. 21 MPP before EOT
USA – TAC. 22 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 64 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 39 MPP before EOT

The Light INF (INF that has an M for Militia I guess) is actually stronger on the attack than my regular INF (5 vs. 4 Hard & Soft attack values). They also reduce entrenchment and are very cheap, particularly when bought back at reduced price. Their biggest drawback is that they are considered ‘Soft’ targets making them far more vulnerable to Mech and Armor.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
Italian morale reduced for Allies in Southern Italy.
Italian morale reduced for loss of Syracuse.

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK Ground Attack completed (lvl 3)
USA Amphibious Warfare 4% -> 24%

Pictures:
None

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 109

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
Switzerland +8% Axis

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
Reduced Murmansk Convoy from 20% (107 MPP) to 15% (80 MPP)

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – AT, Medium Bomber. 45 MPP before EOT
USA – Mech Corps. 28 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 3 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 68 MPP before EOT

UK upgraded some bombers and transported/operated units.
USSR completes the Medium Bomber builds.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
USA Ground Attack 70% -> 87%
USSR Industry 27% -> 50%

This is exceptionally nice. Though through 109 turns this is the first USSR Industry tech breakthrough, and puts them at slightly ahead of the UK (45%) but still behind the USA (70%) on their way to reaching lvl 3.

Pictures:

48 April 3, 1943.jpg (981.11 KiB) Viewed 1191 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 110

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
FF Armor Div put on a Transport and moves into the Atlantic. A FF FTR and TAC reside in Guyana.

I have no idea how I’m going to deal with all those fortifications on the Eastern Front. All I seem to be able to do is poke some holes in his line where he has either weak units, or units sticking out like sore thumbs. The only other thing I can think of is to land in France early and force him to withdraw some units. A host of various UK units is preparing in England. However, I need to save a ton of money for the UK, and I may have to shut down the Murmansk convoy. I worry though that I might tip my hand if I do so. It also means a delay in the UK investing in the final Ground Attack level.

Patton arrives in the UK as do some USA strat bombers and some of the planes from Sardinia.
USA Tanks load onto an AVL at Palermo.
I want to kill those Italian fighters with my carriers, but I know they’re backed up by AA guns.
Italian NM is down to 34%, so I need to do about 14% more to knock them out of the war. That will open up the Italian East Coast and become the effective end of defending the Italian coastline.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – None. 168 MPP before EOT
USA – Mech Corps. 103 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 150 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 60 MPP before EOT

UK upgraded her remaining TAC and Medium bombers to level 3 and is now starting to save money for Round Up. The UK can currently load 4 AVL and 4 AV. Additionally South Africa and Canada have their own Amphib access though it is less than the UK’s (and AVs only for SA). Still I will be able to add a SA HQ and 3 INF along with a CAN HQ and Armor Corps.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK Advanced Tanks 45% -> 70%

I wonder if this means the UK will get to Tank 4 first? I’m not betting on it.

Pictures:
None

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 111

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
UK Elite INF loaded onto an AVL at Syracuse. Probably will send him up to the UK, but might change my mind.
USA MOT loaded onto an AVL at Palermo. Ditto on usage plans.

UK GAR in Aden boards a transport and is destined for partisan duty in Tunis.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – INF Corps (shattered), MOT (shattered), Light INF (shattered). 57 MPP before EOT
USA – MOT. 158 MPP before EOT
UK – Ground Attack research (lvl 4). 178 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 89 MPP before EOT

UK is going to need 560 – 650 MPP to finish loading everything I want onto Amphibs.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
None

Pictures:

49 April 27, 1943.jpg (2.18 MiB) Viewed 1171 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 112

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
CAN HQ & Armor Corps put on AVLs at Portsmouth. This cost an extra 24 MPP vs. AVs but I want the options and don’t want to draw down supply just yet.
UK Armor Corps and MOT put on AVLs at Bristol.
The UK has 1 AVL slot left and that is going to HQ Auchinleck at Bristol once room is made. 3 UK INF Corps can load on AVs next turn at Portsmouth as well as a SA INF Corps. The other 2 SA INF Corps and HQ Smuts will load onto AVs at Plymouth next turn as well.
UK Elite INF (on AVL) moves to Gibraltar.
USA HQ Truscott loads on an AVL at Boston.
USA HQ Bradley transports from Sardinia to Syracuse, and a USA FTR moves from Sardinia to Messina. Sardinia contains a FTR (7) and a Strat Bomber (repaired to 10 earlier, when I should have moved it instead).

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – INF Corps (shattered) x2, Light INF (shattered). 5 MPP before EOT
USA – Elite INF (shattered). 13 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 203 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 118 MPP before EOT

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
USA Ground Attack completed (lvl 3)
USA Transport Capacity 56% -> 71%

Pictures:
None

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 113

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None
Damn there’s a 19% chance that Saudi should fire each turn. I’d like it to fire just to see if the convoy actually does increase.

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
Still have no idea how I’m going to make a dent in all those forts on the Eastern front combined with the units backed by much stronger (due to experience) HQs than mine.

On the plus side Italy’s NM is down to 32%, just 12% more to go.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – INF Corps (shattered) x2. 16 MPP before EOT
USA – None. 1 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 24 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 73 MPP before EOT

FF repaired their Medium Bomber.

USA repaired stuff, upgraded a fair number of bombers to Ground Attack 3.

UK Didn’t want to put AVs in Storm hexes, so kept a UK and SA INF Corps waiting to load in England and repaired the fighters near Exeter.

USSR had a lot MPP spent in repairing units.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
French BC Lorraine joins the Allies

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
None

Pictures:

50 May xx, 1943.jpg (2.12 MiB) Viewed 1120 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 114

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
SA INF & UK INF are loaded onto AVs at Portsmouth. The UK Elite INF AVL cruises into the Channel (these 3 have their AV attack remaining). SA HQ Smuts, CAN HQ Simonds and a UK INF remain on AV/AVLs but have used their attacks.

I don’t think I’m truly ready for this early invasion, but I don’t see any other way to make headway. The Soviets are stymied and can’t afford the massive casualties that going after higher quality/high leadership/entrenched and fortified positions. Italy is a deathly slow advance that is very expensive in the repeated use of amphibs. Lastly, and most importantly, if I wait all those forts in France will be occupied and probably by better units than the ones that are currently in the area.

USA HQ Truscott makes it to the central Atlantic on his AVL.

I may have forgotten to move Truscott and the UK Elite INF last turn.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – Elite INF Corps (shattered), INF Corps (shattered), Armor Div. 16 MPP before EOT
USA – Ground Attack research (lvl 4). 142 MPP before EOT
UK – ART. 2 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 102 MPP before EOT

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
Soviet Morale boosted by Allied landings in France

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
USA Advanced Tanks 29% -> 49%

Pictures:

51 June 2, 1943.jpg (1.07 MiB) Viewed 1098 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 115

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
UK HQ Wavell Transport in the Brindisi port waiting to unload.
UK ENG Transport is in the Taranto port waiting to unload.
UK ARM Corps loads on Transports from Tunis and moves to Gibraltar.
BRZ FTR rebases to Normandy.
USA HQ Truscott AVL arrives near Plymouth.

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 6,000 MPP damage this turn! (~2,850 Allied, ~3,150 Axis)
Italian NM down to 28%, just 8% left to go…

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – Armor Div. 103 MPP before EOT
USA – TAC. 187 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 27 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 131 MPP before EOT

USA & USSR saving money for the massive repair/replacement bill coming due next turn.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
None

Pictures:

52 June 14, 1943.jpg (2.5 MiB) Viewed 1074 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 116

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
USA HQ Arnold and an Armor Corps board transports at Boston and ports at St. John’s

Mostly a consolidation turn for me, but I can still bring a bit more to France.
OCB has my Russians absolutely completely stymied. I hope he is over committed against them, as in addition to France, I’m starting to make headway in Italy. With the Italian AA destroyed I hope things will start to move along better on that front. Additionally Italian National Morale is now at 27%, and there are a couple of towns I’m up against now as well as having vastly improved my supply situation in southern Italy.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – None. 4 MPP before EOT
USA –None . 69 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 6 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 93 MPP before EOT

Couldn’t afford to build or even rebuild a single unit anywhere. The UK and USSR weren’t even able to repair everything I wanted to.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK Advanced Tanks 88% -> 100%, completed (lvl 4)
USA Heavy Bombers 51% -> 73%

Pictures:

53 June 26, 1943.jpg (2.46 MiB) Viewed 1038 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 117

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
Reduced Murmansk convoy from 15% (68 MPP) to 11% (50 MPP)
UK AA transported from Sicily to just west of Gibraltar, escorted by a US CL.
US HQ Arnold and an Armor Corps cruise through a safe path into the Atlantic and are heavily guarded by mixed nationality fleet of DDs, 1 CL and 1 CVL.

Barring something unforeseen I plan on taking Naples and possibly Monte Cassino next turn. Will that get Italy to capitulate? I think so.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – Elite INF (shattered), INF Corps (shattered). 46 MPP before EOT
USA –MOT . 4 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 8 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 93 MPP before EOT

MPP Damage this Allied Turn:
UK 585
FR 99
USA 560
USSR 337
Allied Total 1,581

GE 1,190
IT 782
Axis Total 1,972

Thought I’d keep track of this for a turn. Somehow I don’t think these numbers are completely true and at the very least don’t take into account Production Tech and/or building shattered units back at a discount.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None
Still no hits with 19% chance for Saudi Arabia.

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
USA AA completed (lvl 3)

Pictures:

54 July 6, 1943.jpg (2.57 MiB) Viewed 1013 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 118

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
S&I hit on two subs, one in port at Narvik the other at sea NNW of Copenhagen.
USA MOT transports from Boston and ports at St. John’s.
FR MOT transports from French Guyana into the Atlantic (unescorted).

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – Elite INF (shattered), INF Corps x2 (shattered). 51 MPP before EOT
USA – None. 20 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 5 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 32 MPP before EOT

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
Saudi Arabia +7% Allied
Saw Italy’s National Morale bar go to zero after the NM hit for losing Naples, I’m pretty sure they’ll be out of the war come OCB’s turn.

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK S&I 63% -> 86%

Pictures:

55 July 16, 1943.jpg (2.56 MiB) Viewed 989 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 119

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
Germany Seizes Italy & Albania.
USA reinvests its spent chit back into Saudi Arabia.

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
USA Elite INF transports from Boston to the Atlantic
USA MOT leaves St. John’s and moves to the Atlantic

I’ve decided on where the Soviets will counter attack. The hammer blow will be directed at Kursk away from all the fortifications west of Moscow and north of Rostov. From there I can then sickle cut either north to Bryansk and Orel or south towards Kharkov and threaten to flank the defenders and their fortifications.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – None. 1 MPP before EOT
USA – MOT. 14 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 44 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 48 MPP before EOT

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
Allies liberate Italy.

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
None

Pictures:
None
 

[Duedman]

The Allied invasions look very very substantial for 1943. Not sure if the US maybe need some nerfing early on. Industry probably grows at 1 per turn on war entry like in vanilla. TRP basically makes that 2 per turn

[Taxman66]

I've addressed this twice already on OCB's Youtube comments.
In short, this was made possible by the following:
1) German over commitment in Russia (and to some extent Italy), and under defended France. I wouldn't be able to pull this off, or at least nowhere near as successfully if there had been units in the forts, air defense, and/or a few mech/armor available for counter attacking. Meanwhile his lines in Russia are currently far beyond historical.

2) Axis limited warfare vs. the Western Allies allowed them to build up early and ignore having to invest in ASW tech/units/upgrades. I'll admit some of this is sub weakness, but I think mostly due to minimal Axis investment. Additionally mod changes to subs (perhaps too much IMO) have been made in later versions of the mod.

3) The big naval loss in the Western Med.

4) Self-inflicted economic damage by the Germans: a) Didn't choose the DE option that would have netted 20 MPP/turn from Spain for over 2 years; b) Some poor/frustration(?) combat choices to attack when it would have been prudent to either not, or wait until cut off enemy units got hit with supply degradation; c) At least 4 miss-clicks by my count costing large amounts of damage to expensive air units. At a very rough guess that's a ballpark total of 2,000 MPP!

Also note at this point nearly all the USA land units are in Italy, and most of the UK land units are in France. UK hasn't really added all that much to her unit pool, it's just not needed in Italy at this point due to the short front.