Tyrone (Axis) vs Michael.

[tyronec]

Started under .31. AAR running a turn behind.

Taking on the giant killer of WITE, could be a difficult prospect !

Aiming to take Poland in two turns, hopefully am well enough set up from here.
Otherwise shifting 3 corps over ready to start on the Netherlands.
Have sent my two subs out, will see if they survive under the current patch.

Air losses seem heavier than in the past, not sure how that is going to pan out.

[Michael T]

Hopefully I will be able to offer more of a challenge than the AI did for you [:)]

[tyronec]

Hopefully I will be able to offer more of a challenge than the AI did for you

Always more to learn from being beaten over ...

Second turn and I make a botch up in Poland and forget to take Lotz, so Poland will hang on for another turn.
Assault on Netherlands begins.
The air war in the West is violent, Michael clearly has his tactics well worked out and not only kills a stack of fighters but does over some production too. The AI never did that !

[AlbertN]

Air Losses seems 'okay' right now.
The problem is that UK + France >> Germany as fighters.
Long tale short, they're going to repair more, and recover more effectiveness per turn (as they're 6 units vs 4), henceforth get ready to play '40 in total air inferiority in terms of fighters, and if you send out your bombers on their own unescorted... and Allies still have fighters at the ready... German bombers will get butchered.

[tyronec]

Even escorted bombers are taking heavier losses than before the last patch, I had one take 6 hits on a bombing run.
As things stand it looks to me like the Luftwaffe is not going to be able to provide much if any ground support for the battles around France in '40 with the Allies use their air forces well.

[tyronec]

Turn 3.

Poland falls.
Netherlands - get up to Amsterdam but just fail to take it, needed a couple of bombing runs but just cannot afford it.

[tyronec]

October '39.

Netherlands falls.
Luftwaffe continues to take heavy damage.
My subs got trashed by convoy escorts, didn't lose any but it looks like the return doesn't justify their use let alone building more.

[tyronec]

Mud so no action on the ground.
This was my worst air battle this turn, the Allies continue to inflict more damage in airfield bombing plus get a good quota of strategic bombing in.

[tyronec]

Belgium invaded, take a few hexes in the Cold.
Better in the air war this turn, 4 for 16 kills.
Production is down about 31 from bombings.

[Michael T]

Your total production loss from strategic bombing now stands at 206, that's all losses since turn one. And even if I stopped right now you will loose a further 270.

[tyronec]

Your total production loss from strategic bombing now stands at 206, that's all losses since turn one. And even if I stopped right now you will loose a further 270.

Yes, losing about 40 a turn now and increasing.
I don't think Axis can defend against it, if the Fighters are set to respond then losses are just too heavy.

Just one hex taken in Belgium this turn, had to use the Luftwaffe to get across the river.

[Michael T]

Definitely very tough for the Luftwaffe while the French are still around.

[tyronec]

Definitely very tough for the Luftwaffe while the French are still around.

Yes, how to defend against strategic bombing in the early game is a puzzle.

I tried having fighters on active, that was a disaster as they get overwhelmed by the more numerous allies - it cost a lot of production and risks them losing experience if they get heavily trashed.

Maybe you could keep the medium bombers at bay by bombing them all out. The problem with this is it ties up the Luftwaffe and is probably not going to be 100% successful. The heavy bomber can stay out of range. However that ties up the Luftwaffe, the priority at this stage of the game has got to be to take out France ASAP.

Haven't tried AA, maybe it would help. That is a lot of production tied up in the early game when the Germans need to be building more units for Russia.

Once the Allies get past the border production sites then Axis can use fighters again for defence, but anything that is within range of the Allied fighters is a problem.

What I am wondering about is how things are going to pan out down the line. Am guessing that I will be able to protect Germany OK after France has gone and the Luftwaffe will be able to withstand the RAF. But what happens once the USSR is invaded, Axis can hardly afford to leave a stack of fighters behind unless they build more - but the UK can build up their bombing/escort force too.

[tyronec]

Have some luck with the weather in Belgium and it is a clear day.
Taking advantage take a couple of hexes and just fail to get Brussles, that would have been nice as would have killed the French defenders too.

I invaded Denmark earlier in the mud, UK have counter invaded with a couple of Corps. Axis have ample spare units so send a few more in support.

[821Bobo]

He can't have enough troops for all this. Juct pack troops and unload.

[tyronec]

So the corps is pulled out of Northern Denmark - probably wise as I might have been able to do it over.
Copenhagen one still there, I thought I could outflank it but there is no movement up the coast past Copenhagen. May need the Luftwaffe to shift this one, maybe you have to invade with a Panzer to take Denmark out in one turn. Anyway, a good move by Michael.

UK is still covered so no chances to invade.

In France got pushed back one hex and retake it in my turn. Allies taking heavier losses.

I need to knock out France soon, with Swedish oar blocked and my production getting blasted every turn the Allies are now significantly out producing Axis.

[821Bobo]

UK is still covered so no chances to invade.

Most of the units in UK starts at 5 strength. Pretty sure the one left there are just depleted divisions.

[tyronec]

quote:

UK is still covered so no chances to invade.


Most of the units in UK starts at 5 strength. Pretty sure the one left there are just depleted divisions.

Well he has pulled the Denmark ones back now so am sure there is enough to cover.
I try assaulting the Danish unit but it holds out against two corps attacking in turn.

No counter attack last turn so I can get 4 units on Brussels and it falls, so Belgium gone.
Production from bombing is down around 60, looks like it may stay there until France falls.

[tyronec]

Not much happening on the ground, I grind forwards one hex in two turns.

Three of the French aircraft have disappeared - have you disbanded them Michael ?
And why, would have thought they are good value for the defence of France ?
Guess I will find out in my game if they are worth it.

Have put my fighters on Intercept to try and stop the Strategic bombing, didn't do much good. Am getting intercepts on somewhere between 10% and 20% of bombing runs and doing at most 2 damage on unescorted bombers.
In my other game Axis have AA on the targets and my maximum loss as Allies was one pip from a bombing run.
Doesn't look like there is any war to really stop the Allies taking out a good chunk of production early war.

[Michael T]

They served their purpose. The Fighters had become ineffective due to losses. Too expensive to rebuild. So scrapped them to build more ground. The RAF can hold it's own for now.