The Spanish Gambit AAR (The War is Over.)

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 10:24 pm

Turn 42. January 28, 1942.

This was a good news, bad news turn. The bad news was that the USA entered, the Russian Siberian reserves were released and I haven't made an attack against a convoy in who knows how long. The good news is that Jim pulled back across the canal in Egypt. I did not expect this and more than welcomed this pull back. Port Said is there for the taking. I though I might have a chance this turn but retreats only allowed me to get one unit adjacent to it. Cairo is close to falling too. I moved an Italian transport in place for a possible invasion next turn to force Jim to cover the possible landing hexes or risk having a landing behind his lines. I'm not sure what the Italian corps would accomplish if it landed. Its bark is worse than it bite. Lets hope Jim reacts to its bark.

The Russian front is now beginning to look more like a front with the exception that I only have two tank corps there. I did deploy a newly built Italian fighter there this turn. Also, I upgraded all fighters on the Russian front and I will build a new tactical bomber next turn. I had more than enough PPs to build one this turn but I'm on the verge of getting a tech advance in close air support and strategic operations and wanted to wait on that. These two tech advance do not apply to fighters so that's why I went ahead and upgraded my fighters in Russia last turn.

My fighters in Egypt were busy so no upgrades. Hopefully the Suez will be close next turn. I need to get the German u-boats and Italian fleet out to sea and do some damage. However; I have to be more careful as the USA fleet is not active. As stated in an earlier post, I hope Jim reads my push in the middle east as an attempt to get to the middle east oil fields. I have no such objective but I want him to think I do in order to draw USA forces into that region to defend it.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:25 am

Turn 46. February 17, 1942.

Port Said Falls! Suez Canal Captured! The Med is Closed!

The Italian transport did its job last turn. Jim hit it with the two UK fighters that apparently he had on sentry and hidden. I don't recall the exact numbers but I believe Luftwaffe lost 8-steps to the RAF 7-steps. The Italian transport lost 2. However; because of the two additional fighters I was able to repair the two 6-steps German fighters and engage the depleted UK fighters when they tried to intercept my tactical bombers. As a result the two known RAF fighters were depleted further. One is badly depleted at 4-steps and the second is moderately depleted at 6-steps. All four axis fighter units are in good shape at 9-steps.

As I said last turn, the Italian transport has a much bigger bark than bite. It did it's job in drawing out the two RAF fighters. And, that's actually good news because that tells me Jim didn't pull those fighters out to use elsewhere.

I moved the Italian transport one hex further to "threaten" another landing just to keep Jim off his guard. The German infantry south of Port Said is badly depleted and I'm concerned that if Jim launched an all out attack he might retake Port Said. Even if he doesn't I need to keep pushing hard there so Jim believes that I'm going for the oil fields. I need to keep as many allied forces tied up there as possible.

Next turn German u-boats and the Italian fleet will leave through the Suez to start to make their presence known in the Atlantic.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:53 pm

Turn 47. March 9, 1942

Jim counterattacked this past turn and destroyed the depleted Germany infantry corps. I attacked and drove him back across the canal so now that no commonwealth units remain west of the canal. My only concern is the 8-step German infantry unit in Port Said. My worry is that he'll counterattack and try to retake Port Said. I think the odds would be on my side but still I made a tactical error my moving the Italian BB there. If he were to retake it I'd lose the BB. I moved it there before I realized this low but very real risk. Also, I think the Jim got the better of the air exchanges in the Med this turn.

Another tactical mistake I made this turn was the when I ended it I realized there were two minor axis units (one corps & garrison) that I had meant to rail to the Russian front. I flat just messed up there.

Three German u-boat flotillas left through the Suez Canal.

Looking at Jim's defenses in Egypt he's serious about holding east of the canal. This is tool close for comfort. I need to repair and upgrade my forces and then push him back.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:06 am

Turn 48. March 29, 1942

Well the Med is close and Jim stayed on his side. I took this turn for badly need repairs in Egypt and in Russia.

Jim discovered a new u-boat in port with his bombers last turn so I moved it to sea and got a peek at a large force off the west coast of Portugal. I don't like the looks of this.

Also, I moved up my bombers in Russia for preparation of good weather next turn. This gave me a peek deeper into Russia and I don't like what I saw. I may have closed the Med but the Bear in the east may eat me! The majority of resources from now on will be directed to the Russian front. This may be a short game after all.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:38 am

Turn 49. April 18, 1942

The allied fleet of the coast of Portugal didn't move from last turn. Did Jim make a mistake and forget to move them? I moved my u-boat closer to get a better look and it's clear now what his intentions are. He plans to invaded Portugal and open up a second (or third) front against me. My u-boat detected additional ground corps and a tactical bomber. In response a newly built tactical bomber, which arrived this turn will go to Spain instead of Russia. Also, I railed an armor corps from Russia, which will reach Spain next turn. The Romain fighter and one German fighter in Egypt are being redeployed there. I also have three German infantry corps, one minor axis infantry corps, an Italian infantry corps and tank corps ready for deployment and action in Spain. So much for sending all available resources to the Russian front.

My u-boats should be on their way except the turn before last I sent them to the Med transport loop instead of the Atlantic transport loop. What a disaster. This will delay their arrival by two turns.

I've got to be more careful and stop making these careless mistakes.

If the weather clears then next turn I will resume my offensive on the Russian front. In three turns I'm planning to resume my offensive in Egypt. I may go down in flames but I'm going down fighting.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:32 pm

Turn 50. Mary 8, 1942

The Brits invaded and landed in Portugal this turn. I don't know if this is a diversion to force me to divert resources from the Russian front and from Egypt or if this is real. The landings force seems realtively weak. I railed in several units including a German tank corps and tactical bomber. I also have an Italian tank corps on the way, a German fighter and Romania fighter.

In Russia, the weak German offensive resumed with fair weather.

This is a strange game for an oil and manpower point of view. I have plenty of both. My oil was at 447 and German manpower is at 78%. What I don't have enough of are PPs. I need fighters. I need tactical bombers. And a few armor corps wouldn't hurt either. So I built two German infantry and two Italian infantry corps this past turn.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:50 pm

Turn 51. May 28, 1942

The axis launched effective counterattacks in Spain and destroyed a USA armor corps and depleted a tactical bomber. In the south German forces are threatening fighter and strategic bomber air bases. In the north axis forces are in contact with a tactical bomber air base and have contained the allied beachhead.

A targeted attack in Egypt depleted a UK infantry corps east of the canal down to 4-steps. This will be the extent of my attacks there until his double defense line breaks.

German u-boats are in the south Atlantic and will make their way to the central and northern convoys.

In Russia, the axis offensive had to be shut down before it really begun. A look at the Russian forces in the south show that Jim is definitely up to something.

A built a German fighter this turn, which will be ready in 3-turns. Two new German and two new Italian infantry corps were deployed this turn. I have to fit more fighters into my builds. Fighters will be what saves me in Russia.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:30 pm

Turn 52. June 17, 1942

More counterattacks in Spain, which destroyed an American infantry corps and knocked down the UK tactical bomber to 1-step. I was also able to get land units adjacent and attack his two fighters there, which meant that did not intercept.

In the Med, I destroyed a garrison.

My u-boats saw a 100+ convoy. I don't think I'll be able to track it down but I'll give it a shoot.

Mostly defensive action in Russia.

Peter Stauffenberg · Post by **Peter Stauffenberg** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:44 pm

This invasion was a big mistake by Jim. Instead he should have invaded Spanish Morocco and get the air units ashore there. Then he could use his air units there and go for southern Spain. This way only land units would be on the beaches. Landing with air units on the beaches is only a good idea if you know the enemy can't reinforce the area. Now you have a great opportunity to delay the Allied invasion for many months. Your subs get back in time to be prepared for the next invasion.

One problem for Jim is that his air units can't evacuate because there are no airbases within range.

joerock22 · Post by **joerock22** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:34 pm

I have a question: if Lisbon falls and Portugal surrenders, won't all the unoccupied Portuguese hexes go over to the Allies? That could mean your forces would get outsupplied. If that's the case then you might want to be careful.

Peter Stauffenberg · Post by **Peter Stauffenberg** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:40 pm

I think that's correct.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 5:21 am

Turn 53. July 7, 1942.

Portugal fell last turn. All units were in supply except for the Italian tank corps. That was easily remedied. My attacks against the allied forces in Portugal focused on the allied air. I finished off the 1-step tactical bomber and did damage to the three remaining air units there.

In Egypt, my cross canal attacks reduced a 10-step UK mechanized corps to 1-step. It retreated and I had chance with one remaining air unit, a 7-step fighter, to finish it off; but it survived.

Selected counterattacks in Russia. Jim is carrying out a major offensive in the south. I rebased fighter units to support defensive operations there.

One u-boat flotilla was able to catch up with the 100+ PP convoy. I took a chance and, instead of attacking, positioned it so that the convoy might run into the u-boat flotilla and be stopped. I did this in order to have a chance to bring the other u-boat flotillas into action against it next turn and bring this big boy down. However; Jim may choose to sortie a portion of the large naval force off the coast of Portugal to protect the convoy. If he does this then that would take pressure off of my depleted ground units there.

gerones · Post by **gerones** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:44 am

Stauffenberg is right. These landings will become an allied disaster since the allies are going to lose all their land units but too their air units since they cannot escape to a friendly airport...

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:22 pm

Turn 54. July 27, 1942.

Bitter fighting in Spain and southern Russia continued. In the Med I repaired units but did get a chance to hit the 1-step UK mechanized corps with the Italian air and finished it off.

A Spanish partisan popped up right next to my fighter airbases in Spain. I couldn't do anything about him this turn.

Three u-boats attacked the large convoy but still only managed to knock it down to 100 PPs. It got through because of the RN and USN.

My oil did dip below 300 points this turn. Heavy air use consumes a lot of oil.

My objective, for now, are: (1) destroy or seriously degrade the allied landing force in Portugal/Spain, (2) continue to attack in Egypt and try to break his defenses east of the canal, hold in southern Russia and (3) hold in southern Russia.

supermax · Post by **supermax** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:42 pm

Why dont you try to break the deadlock in the middle east with a landing on the coast around Jerusalem? It would force the allies to send force to the area and it might just be what you need to get him to the final breaking point...

supermax · Post by **supermax** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:43 pm

Also an successeful landing and attack in Syria would do wonders to make him retreat to the interior and then you could crush him in open country...

Peter Stauffenberg · Post by **Peter Stauffenberg** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:46 pm

If the Axis player attacks Syria then all of Vichy France will activate and again Free France. That would give Jim a chance to land in North Africa without invading and free havens for the air units in Portugal. So I would definitely not do that.

Landing near Jerusalem to outflank the British forces is a good idea, though.

supermax · Post by **supermax** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 7:07 pm

It would break the allied front almost instantly if he take the option of landing on the coast. You need to land ad far north as possible so he cant move units to block you.

Also, being as north as possible would give you a chance to drive east instead of south, endangering his whole line of supply with Irak.

2 germans 1 italians units would make the allied disposition crumble quite easily.

ncali · Post by **ncali** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 7:15 pm

Stauffenberg wrote:If the Axis player attacks Syria then all of Vichy France will activate and again Free France. That would give Jim a chance to land in North Africa without invading and free havens for the air units in Portugal. So I would definitely not do that.

I'm confused. Syria and Vichy France are considered separate in the game for DOW purposes, right? Vichy does not activate if the Allies attack Syria, so I'm assuming that Vichy does not activate if the Axis attacks Syria. I'm assuming this is to model the fact that the British occupied Syria in 1941 while not invading French North Africa (and triggering the German occupation of southern, Vichy France) until 1942. Am I right?

Peter Stauffenberg · Post by **Peter Stauffenberg** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 7:49 pm

No. Syria is separated from Vichy France if the ALLIES invade, but linked if the AXIS invade. The reason is the historical fact that the British attacked Syria in 1941 without the rest of Vichy France joining the Axis.