Decline and Downfall

[AlbertN]

This AAR does not start from the beginning of the game. It actually depicts how potentially things go for a game that on the paper should have been hands down for the Axis but it's far from being the case!

The British Islands are in Axis hand - that brought the USA to war quite early, February '41!

The game presently is at October '41.

[AlbertN]

Spain and France - the Western portion of France at least - are left to a mix of Yugoslavs, Spanish and Italian troops. Same is for the Morocco that is manned by Italians - that are thinning down due to emergencies elsewhere.

The Axis is definitely over extended and does not have adequate troops to cover all the beaches and shores and ports.

Due to sheer carrier superiority over surface fleets, it has been proved redundant to man Azores - and send there airplanes which would be short of supply. Surface fleet raiding convoys simply gets mauled by allied fleets zooming and sweeping in. (The Allies can simply keep carrier fleet in reaction range in the Atlantic, and come hammer in any surface fleet that sails out. Tried that from Lisbon, and each time Axis needs to go back lick expensive wounds)

[AlbertN]

The Middle East.

Italy seized Baku but briefly. The Soviet reaction was in numbers and brutal - and for the aforementioned shortage of troops in general, the ports in the south were left mostly unmanned.

The USA arrived and nabbed them. Egypt is hardly garrisoned as well as you can see. The Italian forces are planning a hastened retreat, probably leaving 1 unit in Theran as delaying factor (The garrison infantry).

But it seems the oil glut of the Axis shall be short lived.

[AlbertN]

The northern 'life route'.

The Soviets are receiving a very particular form of lend lease - including soldiers and manpower - through the northern route.

A carrier escorting convoys suffices to prevent any harm done by ships of the Axis (which for a while were stationed in the area, only to prove entirely redundant and were located to try to raid the shipping of the Allies - which also proved redundant)

Allied ships can just 'zap' through, an air unit in Narvik (that was there for a while) proved useless. Now it's at Petsamo, originally viewed as potential target for Allied attacks (not sure why they've not taken Petsamo to be honest - except that the Allied troops served elsewhere. Only hypotesis).

Archangel and Murmansk are receiving regular convoys of Anglo-American units.

[AlbertN]

Here is where the Allied troops arrived.
They already started to push the Germans back after starting to take over that frontline from the Soviets.

The Allied airforce as well stemmed the Luftwaffe promptly! (Given these Allied troops may have invaded anywhere else, the Axis would have been anyhow in trouble. The Soviets had a fully armoured armada around that let the Germans hardly go anywhere in Barbarossa)

The idea to seize the Dnepr river line in '41 was there but it was never meant to be achieved by the looks! At least Allied troops are not winterized. With the bad weather coming with utmost chances on Axis end there will be a stop of operations in their entirety.

The Allies have more trains of ships coming through the Atlantic as well!

[AlbertN]

The Axis plan was to take Leningrad in '41 - another big failure. The excellent defensive terrain, logistic issues and prompt arrival of fresh Allied fighters stemmed the advance. But mostly the Soviet troops in grand defensive positions held their grounds and made the Germans pay for any swamp or forest hex they were to advance.

Despite the Luftwaffe efforts and major panzer reserves (now some of these have been shifted in the Dnepr River Bend as it's brewing the Allied offensive) the plan was entirely frustrated. But best of luck to go through 9-10 strong mechs; plus ever growing infantries on the front there.

[AlbertN]

And that's the center.

The Soviets have disbanded -all- of their bombers, and the ample majority of the infantry corps and replaced their army with just mechs and armour and some mountain infantry.

Their fighters got mauled at the beginning, but have now pulled back and are still lurking in the background - probably on low priority for replacements.

As it is now, is simply looks that already since October '41 the Axis will be on the defensive - far from sure a '41 Fall Blue offensive or the like can even be remotely attempted.

Plans are to recover and reorganize the staggering and exhausted German troops. (current manpower 65% for Germany and fuel the minors better - presently there is a bug preventing that to be done adequately too)
Intervention in Iraq to safekeep these oil rigs may be evaluated - but the problem is that besides the reserves in the East Front, there are no other reserves.

One wonder why? Because Allies can in 1-2 turns project a naval invasion -anywhere- as ships move so quickly. Germany have to suffer logistics in Russia, but Allies can send an invasion force through the ocean from the USA, and it can potentially loom, with CV escorts, there and invade straight away Germany if they'd like that. (Or Denmark). The Axis could not stop them (And yes presently Germany, Denmark and the like have 0 troops there. The Axis just cannot afford that)

I reiterate, it's October '41. And this is what I mean by 'Sealion benefits Allies more so than Axis'.

Will keep posting over time as the game flows - but won't do a turn by turn list!

[Flaviusx]

Why disband the bombers? That's an odd choice.

[AlbertN]

In the previous game that my opponent won, he did not used tactical bombers, only the ground support ones (which I feel will come in play later).
At the start Russia needs big-numbers ground units, hence the armour and the mechs. So I take more cash for the mechanized units which made a huge difference - in the previous game at end of '42 I was close to Moscow, but he played with the regular corps and infantry armies.

A difference is fighting 2-3 strong units all over, another is 8-11 strong units all over. Currently I think he did the right thing as Germans got bled white and did not get anywhere in Russia.

[Flaviusx]

I think you need to keep the bombers around to preserve the ability to counterattack. It's very hard to do this without air support even with the best units. And you start with 7 of them now, which is a very solid airforce.

You are going to miss having them later and will end up having to buy them all over again. Doesn't seem cost effective to me.

[Flaviusx]

I don't subscribe to this all mech Soviet strat, btw. The Germans can beat this. (I beat it, anyways.) Maybe not in this particular game due to Sealion.

[Journier]

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

I don't subscribe to this all mech Soviet strat, btw. The Germans can beat this. (I beat it, anyways.) Maybe not in this particular game due to Sealion.

lar game due to Sealion.

< Message edited by Flaviusx -- 12/31/2019 12:30:10 PM >

well next official patch will not allow the allies to bolster the soviets defense either iirc. the all mech defense is good for the early stages regarding manpower losses, but the problem is the soviet economy has issue with enough production to even begin repairing damaged corps from the early war, then keep up with the losses.

[Flaviusx]

Yes, this is the rub. Soviets have a very difficult time maintaining a big mech army like this.

In an ordinary non Sea Lion game, even if the Germans are behind the ball in 1941, they can grind this up nicely in 1942 and make up for lost time. Note to German player: paratroopers are your friend for cracking these mech lines.

I think the Soviets have to learn how to fall back and stretch out the front. Timing this is tricky. It's tempting to just hold on to what you have. But the Germans can create a vicious cycle of attrition in 1942 and cripple the Red Army if the Soviets are too stubborn across the whole front.

[AlbertN]

I cannot see how Paras are useful here except to 'take' a retreat hex, if that's only one. Otherwise one risks a para behind the enemy lines and it is far from assured that you will make the breakthrough.

[AlbertN]

It's end of January '42.
The only veritable front that moved is the one down in the Middle East.

A measly port with 2 capacity is supplying forth the whole of the USA armada hereby present.

Italian armoured unit is kept alive through air supply for the time being ... for how long that will last. Italians are ferrying more and more troops but it takes time. Probably it will be hopelessly trapped the next turn but we'll see!

I've learned a bit more to juggle the Surface Fleet in the Atlantic, to somehow trash some convoys. I do not know how many the Allies have but they're taking damage - just need to learn to run away from Carriers when they come in! By now there are though pratically Allied fleets on patrol to protect their convoys.

The Iraq situation will probably grow worse over time as Italy is hard stretched (as any Axis power) whilst USA is pouring troops over troops.

Also the W.Allied commitment in Russia is in a slow crescendo and reserves are being built all over the front (maybe they're divisions though).

[battlevonwar]

What a peculiar game and strategy... I am curious if Soviets/USA have what it takes alone to grind down the Axis in time?

[AlbertN]

I've actually given an advantage to the Allies.
UK would be nowhere near to close those forces by early '42 on its own and USA would just be starting their adequate build up.

Right now Sea Lion to me seems just poorly designed - as per the Allies gain way more that way.

[Michael T]

But you are gaining VP, and that is how the game is won or lost unless Germany and Italy surrender before game end.

[AlbertN]

For Michael T - if Allies go straight for UK you hardly gain VPs, and VPs matter nothing if you get conquered.
I posted a screenshot of another SeaLion game where before 1 year has elapsed from Sea Lion, the Allies are back to pounce back in UK en force.

AAR here!

After resisting for 2 turns of relentless assaults and besieged by Soviet forces, at the 3rd turn the 'Benghazi Garrison' corp, relocated at Teheran was forced to surrender.

Italian armoured forces were liberated with a breakthrough of the Alpini and Celere forces of Italy; but as the armoured units were freed, the Alpini found themselves surrounded by a vigorous counterattack by fresh USA Sherman and Grant tanks.

Now that the USA forces will be supplied directly by the railroad from Russia - it will be way worse (Not that Soviets + USA vs Italians is a grand premise!)

Il Duce is committing more reinforcements in the region, delegating to Spanish troops also the protection of Morocco.

[AlbertN]

Third Front!

The Allies are about to land in Ireland - they just declared war to it.

Ontop of their expeditionary forces in Russia and Middle East, the invasion is coming whereas the Axis is devoid of strategical reserves to send pratically anywhere unless the Ostfront is stripped of troops.

You'd think with UK factories you'd produce a lot? But hey, all these cities are worth 1/3 so if you squeeze 10-15 production points out of UK it's a lot! (Per your German multiplier)

Timeline? March '42.