mrdozer2379 vs operating (active match)

[operating]

Turn 69

Stats:

The 2 CP armed services that are carrying the fight against the English around Western Europe is the CP navy and air-forces. What's great in this game is: the subs can remain hidden if you want them to in MP, slip them up to just about every enemy coastline to reconnoiter what's-what, or what's not there. Subs can be used to target an enemy without the enemy knowing how it's done, or if they do, your already gone elsewhere.[8D]

It's amazing how fast the Italians catch up on techs and be ahead of the AH in many cases.

[operating]

Turn 69

Occupation of France begins:

The capture of Verdun is the beginning of a series of events that will last about 5 turns. The one French unit (armored train) that I know of (or can remember) is at Toulon. Any new French units will take at least 2 turns to be eligible to deploy from the queue. It will be a mad rush by CP units to gobble up as many French cities as possible before French reinforcements can arrive. French port cities along the English Channel are of prime importance. If France offers to surrender at the end of my turn, I will accept, much like my opponent did with the OE, then DOW France again the next turn, as my opponent did with the OE, till there was no OE cities left.[:-]

[operating]

Turn 70

Stats:

Germany received naval tech: Seaplane Tender which increases ground attack by +1 and Shock by +1 for dreadnaughts.

Bulgaria received search lights which gives applicable ground units an increase in AA to a +4.

It looks like the Greek invasion started this turn, can't be sure if Crete had been captured yet. Will have to keep tabs on the progress. Also noticed the fighting in Libya is moving east of Tripoli. Add to that a red dot near or in Bursa, Turkey, all of these observations can be seen on the mini-map..

[operating]

Turn 70

Paris Falls:

This event says production capability is lost, that's not really true, for the French armored train occupies Boudreaux (which is also a capitol city that's still in French control) and is capable of receiving French convoys through Brest/Toulon. IIRC the 2 AH sub fleets are heading for the English Channel. Notice the 3 AH airships to the right of the Paris event and the German fighters above show damage from the aerial war with England.

[operating]

Turn 71

Stats:

Once again the Italians are ahead of Germany and AH in artillery development techs, not bad for a faction that started 25 turns after Germany and AH (it's something I never quite understood game wise). Even with that tech: Italy cannot afford to buy a Rail-road gun.

It looks like the Greeks are putting up a fight, stalling the CP advance.

[operating]

Turn 72

Stats:

My hope here is that readers who play the game get an idea when certain techs are developed and by whom (of course the number of tech labs will vary results). France and Greece are still in the game, although not for much longer. The North African campaign is shifting more towards Egypt away from Tripoli. I could not find a folder with detailed SSs about this mid-campaign play, however later on the reader may not be disappointed, and may be surprised what did occur in them.[:)]

[operating]

Turn 74

Stats/Greece:

Believe it or not, Greece was quite a challenge to capture mainly due to the terrain that restricted movement. Greece could deploy a garrison outside Athens, but not in Athens due to the German cav's ZOC. This SS might give you an idea as to why Greek ports are so much importance to CP. Without OE in the war, the only path to taking occupied English owned OE hexes is by naval transports, the shorter the transport routes, the better. You'll see CP units ready to go into the transport mode at Split and Cattaro, however their journey to places like Turkey and Palestine are twice as long than from Greece and with limited transports makes their use more valuable.

If you look at the mini-map you'll see areas where the English are active, don't forget they still own Gibraltar. There's nothing to prevent the English from embarking from there to soft targets around the Mediterranean. Mrdozer's unit of choice in this theater is tanks, Germany is no where near developing tanks, never mind the rest of CP factions getting them either. Needless to say anti-tank techs are prime time.

German zeppelins off the queue are being deployed to attack England, occasionally use them on soft undefended cities, however they are mostly to attack hard targets and to assist in combined naval battles. I'm in no rush to crush England (not that I can), for the overall Mediterranean campaign is extremely interesting. Egypt and the occupied Mid-east is a large source of PP for the English, that's why I put so much empathsis on/about this region.

The 2 zeppelins down in the boot of Italy were able to assist in the Libyan campaign, plus their LOS helps to discover any wayward transports or naval assets.

[operating]

Turn 74

Murder From the Deep Event:

Triggering this event was probably one of my greatest mistakes in this campaign.[:-] I knew CP merchant fleet sinkings were close to this event, but figured: "What the hell I'll give it a try", the only thing is, once it is done there's no taking it back.[:(] What this does is puts the USA on the march to war, which is going to complicate invading England. It'll take awhile before the USA DOW's CP.

Take a look at Malta, it's still an English possession (atm not producing PP points). Fortunately AH has a spare submarine to keep an eye for any changes there and to attack any transport that spawns there. Again one of my many concerns is having to chase down marauding English transports, it can be one heck of a distraction.

I'm pretty sure that zeppelins can transit the toe of Italy to Tunis, North Africa, from there work their way around towards Egypt.

I believe the AH infantry at Izmir just disembarked and possibly upgraded. Nearby is a Greek light cruiser(?), I see no advantage in attacking it, for their country appears to be near surrender, although Crete is still in enemy hands.. With Constantinople in CP control allows for full supply to CP units in this part of Turkey.

[operating]

Turn 74

Bordeaux Has Fallen Event: (says it all in the event text)

This will be the last French city captured and will accept their surrender, although the French still have one city left in North Africa (Casablanca I believe). CP forces are dispersed throughout France in anticipation of English transport assaults, also stationed units to protect cities from bombing runs. With this done embarked an Italian infantry, destination Eastern Mediterranean. The nearby Italian garrison will assume protecting Southern France ports against invasions.

Looks like an AH submarine fleet had made it's way around Brest. Not sure what the AH airships by Strassburg were doing (if they participated in an attack, or in repair mode)?

[operating]

Turn 74

Battle for the English Channel:

Finally a SS with detail.!![:D] There were 3 English fighter squadrons where the red circle and the 2 yellow stars are by London. One squadron was totally destroyed in the red circle I know of, but I cannot remember what happened to the other 2 squadrons, they could have moved their airdromes elsewhere, or had been destroyed in previous attacks, can't remember. What was important with these fighters, was that they extracted a lot of losses on airships targeting London, or any of the surrounding English navy, so I sought to eliminate them as best as possible, also to stop their LOS of my units in France, limiting his airships from hitting vulnerable targets. It's been a chess gambit of trying to gain advantages over one-another.

To preserve the German bombarding cruisers, chose to sub attack the closest English dreadnaught , thus blocking the channel, at the same time allowing CP fleets to repair and upgrade in port. AH subs have taken up positions as a rear guard for the surface fleets. English airships are merciless attacking CP subs, so I expect to receive losses on my opponent's turn. The other object here is: To try and catch/trap English dreadnaughts in vulnerable positions, that's why there is a hidden sub just north of Antwerp and another German dreadnaught tucked-in Amsterdam's port. Much of what is going on here is to divert Mrdozer from bombing my cities, for once those cities recover the PP gain will be enormous.

If your interested: Check out the Italian lab progress in the information panel..

[operating]

Turn 74

Greece:

Athens and Larissa have been captured eliminating Greece's ability to produce units. Only Heraklion on Crete remains Greek, I know there was at least one garrison there, perhaps more now, won't find out till next turn. Heraklion will be a great refueling/repair stop, plus it will add to coastal watches and the end of Greece's participation in the war. There's one Greek garrison on the mainland, did not attack it for next turn it will be isolated and nothing but cannon fodder. Sending the Constantinople German infantry to Crete, likely it will be joined by other units there, the thing is: My units will have to have surface fleet support in order to be in supply and I may have wished taking on the Greek cruiser earlier.

German zeppelins look like they left Italy for Africa, hopefully the German fighter at Taranto will be able to follow them (maybe). Sending a fighter towards Turkey to have LOS for enemy movement there, I'm willing to bet Mrdozer has a welcoming committee waiting for me in the FOW.

Now we can see what triggered the Murder in the deep event to the west of Crete, had to be a merchant supply fleet that got sunk.. (that's the usual stop for ai convoys).

OE is still neutral, so marked many OE hexes to show their possession.

Felt Izmir would be at half supply so moved the German raider to support the infantry there.. Again CP's problem is transportation points to get the armies out of Greece in spite of having a better embarkation ports..

Hope you enjoyed the detailed SSs.[:)]

[operating]

Turn 74

Libya/Egypt border:

I'm not sure what happened here?[&:] It's been at least 8-9 months since playing this part of the campaign and I'm afraid I would only be guessing what happened, although it looks like the English were on the wrong end of getting their butts kicked, maybe even resulting in a loss of unit. The CP units look tired, some are actually in the rest mode. The one unit that looks like it can cause real harm is the English 9 strength tank unit.

Alexandria is bombed out of production points, that does not mean there are no other units in the region other than the visible garrison.

Strategy wise (20/20 hindsight) it would be a perfect time to drop a couple of CP units behind the tanks in an attempt to cut their supply from opposite directions, sooner or later that English fighter will have to move.

[operating]

Turn 75

USA joins the war:

Man-O-Man that happened real quick!!!! Thought there would be a little more breathing room than just one turn.

[operating]

Turn 76

Stats:

The mine laying tech only applies to AH submarines increasing their Naval attack value by +1. Not a lot happened on this turn, except it seems the English have withdrawn towards Alexandria, can see the 2 German zeppelins are now near Tripoli, and it appears English units are starting to show up on the mini-map near Bursa, Turkey.

[operating]

Turn 78

Stats:

The big news this turn is: Norway joins CP..!! Huh? You say.[&:] Somehow Mrdozer realized that the capitol of Norway has no defenders. We chatted about this, it seems this match or in another match he figured it out with a airship bombing run finding no one home, yes there is a Norwegian garrison over at Bergin, but none at Kristiana(?), also there is none up at Trondheim(?). So he snuck a troop transport around known CP navy patrolled sea hexes to where he could disembark in Norway before CP (me) was the wiser. Doing so did not give him an immediate capture of Norway's capital, however a fully supplied ground unit could so next turn. In order to keep his unit supplied he sent a Dreadnaught to be adjacent the landed unit (neither were in reach of being attacked by CP). A very crafty move on Mrdozer's part. This could lead to all sorts of problems for CP strategically and logistically.[X(]

In the meantime CP has 10 or so units stuck in Greece, while the English show signs of a military build-up threatening to take back Izmir. It's a dilemma for CP.[8|] At the same time the English have come back at the Italians by Libya in force, however the 2 German zeppelins are there to back up the Italians. Crete is still in Greek hands, although contested by CP.

[operating]

Turn 80

Constantinople Express:

OK, What this signifies is: OE is back in the war on the CP side of the ledger (as pointed out in the information panel). This is a big deal.! and a major mistake by Mrdozer..!![:-] This time though OE does not offer to surrender right away and can and will order up reinforcements, not only that, but now the rest of CP allies can use movement points to gain access to Turkey and beyond without restrictions, That's Huge.![:)] Now all my Military assets bottled up in Greece can move through Constantinople and begin the roll-up of the English Empire in the Mid-East. OE atm has no fighting units and is in miserable shape, that will improve over time, as long as it's NM stays above "O" and hangs onto the capitol Bagdad..[;)]

Moved some naval assets to protect the western end of the Mediterranean from USA entering there. Norway's capitol has fallen to the English leaving any CP units in Norway at half supply, plus the English subs in the Baltic will now be out of restricted red dot waters because of the Norway's capitol port (now occupied by English dreadnaught).[:@]

[operating]

Turn 81

Stats:

Germans have received the additional torpedo tech, which gives German subs an additional naval attack strength of +1, however these units have to return to port for the upgrade.

Moved AH garrison to Kraljevo and embarked a German infantry from Athens, other units are pouring into Turkey through Constantinople.

I'm pretty sure the last bastion of Greek resistance has been vanquished in Crete knocking the Greeks out of the war. Up in Norway, the tank unit that captured Kristiana is on the move to go after the Norwegian garrison at Bergin. The problem here is for the English, for the route being taken is all forested and mountainous, meaning a tank can only advance one hex per turn for the several hexes to Bergin. CP fleets patrolling the coastal waters have sunk a tank unit in transport headed for Norway, at the same time the Germans are transporting a unit to recapture the Norwegian capitol. If timed right the English tank unit will be too far away from the capitol to save it from being recaptured.

On the lower left of the screen is a German light cruiser (one of two) sent to reinforce the Mediterranean CP fleet.

A battle still rages over at the Libyan/Egypt border. I think Mrdozer is doing a good job with what he has to work with, mind you I have not interfered with Atlantic English convoys that are giving him hundreds of PP points and additional MP.

One more thing: Do a comparison of Norway's NM from this turn to what they had entering the war.

[operating]

Turn 82

Stats:

AH has received the anti-tank rifle tech (much needed against the English tanks).

Sending a German armored car (Kraljevo) to the Turkey campaign and embarking an AH AC at Athens. German light cruisers are likely heading for (German owned) Tunis port for upgrades.

Much of what I write is related to the mini-map (little yellow circles) and memory.

Bergin, Norway is being reinforced and supplied via surface fleets. There maybe an German AC in transport, destination Trondheim to prevent further English surprises...[;)]

Over in Turkey, the English look like they are getting overwhelmed there with a cluster of CP units to the English rear.

[operating]

Turn 84

Stats:

Germany is going to need additional cruiser fleets to support Operation Sealion, also will notice in the information panel an increase in seaborne transports for both Germany and AH, all CP factions will eventually have transports, Germany will end up having several (albeit will take time to achieve) at tremendous costs to enable multiple beachheads from which to invade.

There was a slight dip in OE's NM, however it is starting to be able to defend itself and as OE cities are liberated it will show in it's NM and PP. Take notice that it looks like Konya and Adana have been liberated, maybe Aleppo will join them soon also. Deployed an OE AC at Samsun before an Arab unit snapped it up. It was the Arabs (according to Mrdozer) who started the new war with OE (of course he was kidding).[:D] I'm sure Egypt is looking in the rear view mirror at what's about to happen in Syria.[:)]

I can see the English tank unit approaching Bergin (mini-map), also can see CP naval units crowding the English dreadnaught (Kristiana port) from attacking the CP troop transport that is about to land or has landed. When Norway was attacked I immediately sold off it's lab, for once a faction loses it capitol it has no sway over research. Research labs can cause a faction's NM to drop steadily after losing it's capitol, so took the conservative survival approach in doing this.

[operating]

Turn 85

Stats:

Germany's fleets can now upgrade to razzle dazzle camouflage, which adds +1 to base defense.

Will deploy Bulgaria's artillery close to Constantinople, it'll take a few turns before this gun sees action. Bulgaria has a decent ammo stockpile presently.

After CP fleets reconnoitered Cyprus finding that no English units garrison the island ordered troop transports there for a possible easy capture of Nicosia city. The mountains to the northwest of Aleppo have slowed the CP advance, this might buy the English time to organize an army there, but I think it might be too little, too late. English reinforcements can only spawn in Egypt, or Cyprus, or as a troop transport where applicable. It's a logistical challenge for the English to readily reinforce places such as Aleppo. The Arab units north and northeast of Aleppo can easily be cut to half supply. Somehow a English unit appeared near Kut, I think at half supply which the local OE units should be able to demolish. The battle continues to the west of Cairo, does not look like it's advanced much either way..

The English came real close to knocking Norway out of the war..![X(] Had I not eliminated the Norway tech lab, Norway's NM would have been below "O" NM, setting the stage for automatic ai (Norway) surrender offer (Check out Norway's NM in panel). The English tank unit must have attacked Bergin causing a PP drop, plus casualties in order to have a negative effect on Norway's NM. It was something like a minus 17 NM drop, that's very severe for one attack.[:(] This turn I do not notice a green dot where that tank unit should be? Can't remember If CP units counter-attacked killing off the tank?[&:]

Germany now has 4 transports..