The Spanish Gambit AAR (The War is Over.)

[rkr1958]

Turn 61. December 14, 1942.

It's Morroco! I thought the troop transports were heading to the Persia Gulf but they're heading for an invasion of Morocco. I moved the infantry corps in Tangiers to support the defenders in Casablanca if it can hold. I tried to move a sub in the "vacant" hex between the mechanized transport and the coast but it was bounced indicating the presence of an allied sub group.

I two fighters on Sicily (1 German and 1 Romania), which are both at full strength, that were headed to Egypt. If I need to I will redeploy one or both of them back to support defense against the landings in Morocco. From what I can tell Jim only has three corps, which seems a very small landing force. My subs need to keep watch to seem if this landing is a decoy are if Jim plans to reinforce it. He may be planning to reinforce it with the Free French.

I responded against the sub attack on my armor corps by air; but two tactical bomber attacks only knocked off 3-steps. While not overwhelming, Jim seems to be getting the better in fighter to fighter exchanges with axis fighters losing 4-steps (total) in the Med to Jim's 3.

In Russia, Jim attacked in the south into my strength. I lost three infantry corps; but was able to reestablish my defensive line. This turn I deployed a newly built German infantry and Italian infantry corps that will be headed to the Russia front. I paid for two new German and one Italian infantry corps.

[rkr1958]

Turn 62. January 3, 1943.

The allies declared war on Vichy France and landed in Morocco. They attacked the garrison defending Casablanca and it held at 3-steps. The Germans counterattacked and inflicted two 2-steps of loss on the USA mechanized corps w/leader. The German infantry corps that attacked also lost 2-steps. A German u-boat flotilla hit a depleted USA BB squadron knocking off 3-steps to a lost of 2. This attack was more about disruption than damage.

Partisans continue to be a problem. I had one pop up in France and one in Spain. However; the most intriguing one was the message that I got that one popped up in the UK! It turns out that it popped up in the Gibraltar airfield and in lockstep with the allied invasion of Vichy France.

In Egypt I reinforced the garrison holding Damascus. However; I don't think it'll hold. Too bad I didn't have transport ready to reinforce. I bet dollars to donuts that the two UK sub groups are blocking access to that area. Anyway, I'm not in position to exploit it.

The axis attacked and knocked a UK corps down to 1-step. Air exchanges were good except in one instance where the Italian fighter lost 6-steps to 2-steps lost by the intercepting UK fighter group! A third German fighter, which is next to Tobruk, is in transition to the area. If the Italian fighter survives next turn I will pull it back out of harms way for repairs. I also need to upgrade both armor corps and repair the front line German mechanized corps (in Alexandrina) and infantry corps.

In Russia, a seriously depleted German corps in the south on the front line was pulled back and the line slightly adjusted. German tactical bombers hit an armor and infantry corps in the north to inflict damage but also to gain intelligence on Russia fighters. The Finnish fighter was ready to provide protection but the first bomber was not intercepted so the other two attacked with worry. The results was not as desired as I lost 2-air steps total to 1 armor and 1 infantry step lost by the Russians. Not a good exchange rate either PP or oil wise. However; I did find that all the Russia air strength is in the south. Unless Jim has Russia fighters in the north on sentry which I estimate as not likely.

Partisans were a pain in the butt this turn. In order to deal with the three that popped up plus the others from previous turns I had to use 6 rails points to move two infantry corps to deal with them. This prevented me from railing two other corps to the Russian front. So partisan activities in Spain and France are disrupting the axis rail network. While indirect, this disruption does have a historical flavor to it. I do like the new partisans model but it's still a pain in the butt to deal with as the axis player!

[rkr1958]

Turn 63. January 23, 1943.

Repairs and upgrades was the order of the day in Egypt. Both armor corps and all but three air units were upgraded. The Italian fighter was placed on sentry and repaired to 7-steps. The other two air units were a German tactical bomber and fighter that were already at max tech level. The tac bomber escorted by the fighter unit finished off the 1-step UK infantry corps that Jim retreated.

In the Spanish theater all action focused on reinforcements and anti-partisan operations.

In Russia these same was turn. The screen shot shows that a number of corps have made it close to the front and will be used to establish a double defense line.

Axis oil at the end of the turn was 341 and German manpower was 69%.

My plans are to continue to push hard in the middle east and hold everywhere else.

[rkr1958]

Turn 64. February 12, 1943.

In Egypt I have the quality units in place that I can pretty much kill a corps a turn with only air losses and minor (if any) ground losses. That's what I did this turn. My plans are to continue to kill corps until Jim retreats. Or if he stays then continue to kill them and force him to keep pumping reinforcements into that area.

Jim continues to expand his landing in Morocco. I am happy to fight him here and in Egypt versus France or Spain. So the battlefields he has chosen are to my liking.

No action in Russia. As you can seen I'm starting to build up my defenses there are even in the north I'm getting closer to having a double defense line. In south is where I have the majority of my air strength and it's very formidable. I also have three u-boat flotillas in place at the Murmansk spawning point to deal with that convoy. The last one I reduced to 6-PPs and let it go.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

I wonder why Jim is not attacking more during the winter. The rivers only have 35% combat reduction during the winter instead of 50% in fair weather. He has a very strong line, but if he just defends then he won't get anywhere. E. g. your northern unit near Narva can easily be dislodged and then he can roll unit Estonia and Latvia to force you to defend a much wider front line. He has to start being offensive soon if he wants to win.

[rkr1958]

I wonder why Jim is not attacking more during the winter. The rivers only have 35% combat reduction during the winter instead of 50% in fair weather. He has a very strong line, but if he just defends then he won't get anywhere. E. g. your northern unit near Narva can easily be dislodged and then he can roll unit Estonia and Latvia to force you to defend a much wider front line. He has to start being offensive soon if he wants to win.

Let's keep this information to ourselves.

Also, I posted two pictures of west North Africa and one should have been Russia. That's been corrected in my post above.

[rkr1958]

Turn 65. March 3, 1943.

The axis continue their cross canal offensive in the Egypt. However; this turn I saw an opportunity to get a full strength German infantry corps against a depleted UK fighter and I took it. The corps may be destroyed but hopefully if Jim attacks this will force him to man the front lines with depleted units. I have formidable air, armor and infantry in reserve ready to press any advantage I might have there.

In west North Africa Jim continued to expand the allied bridgehead there. I move an Italian infantry corps from Cadiz to a transport to reinforce Oran. However; it was stopped by a hidden USA sub. I got careless and Jim made me pay for it.

In Russia, Jim destroyed two infantry corps and damaged a third. The good news is that he's attacking directly into my strength.

[rkr1958]

Turn 66. March 23, 1943.

In Egypt the German infantry corps that crossed the canal was destroyed. No allied units were destroyed this turn but an American infantry and UK tank corps with leader were badly depleted. I also have in route a third German tactical bomber, which I redeployed from the Russian front.

In Algeria a Vichy French garrison moves to block the pass to Oran in order to delay the advancing USA armor corps long enough for the Italian armor corps to deploy. Also, a German u-boat flotilla knocked off 5-steps from an allied CV.

In Russia, Jim continues to attack in the south and destroyed three corps. I don't like losing corps but I'm glad he's attacking in the south.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

I think your front line in the south looks very weak. Not because you lack units, but because many of the units are Axis minor units. If Jim can destroy more of the front line German units then he can afford to release his armor and go straight for your air units. That is very dangerous indeed and you should bolster the south with more German units. How many corps units are you building at the moment? You can afford to drop below 75% manpower. It's when you drop below 50% you really start to hurt.

Also remember that if Jim continues to engage you in Morocco / Spain and Egypt in stalemate kind of warfares then it's HIM who will benefit from it. The reason is that he's draining you of manpower, PP's and oil. Right now it's not critical, but soon you will feel the result of that. I foresee that your losses in Russia will increase and then you need every PP you can find to replace losses there.

So either you use decisive force to crush the Allies east of Suez and rest after that or you just dig in west of the Suez to make HIM attack across river all the time. You have air superiority there so he won't get anywhere. But it drains you too to attack across river even if he's losing more.

Bombardment of German cities will probably become more intense and that means you either need fighters to stop the bombers or you allow him to do it unopposed. The end result is that you will have even less PP's available for the east front.

The east front is the critical front line at the moment and you still have some kind of control, but it can quickly change unless you bolster the line with more Germans. Axis minors won't do. Use them instead as partisan hunters.

[rkr1958]

I think your front line in the south looks very weak. Not because you lack units, but because many of the units are Axis minor units. If Jim can destroy more of the front line German units then he can afford to release his armor and go straight for your air units. That is very dangerous indeed and you should bolster the south with more German units. How many corps units are you building at the moment? You can afford to drop below 75% manpower. It's when you drop below 50% you really start to hurt.

Also remember that if Jim continues to engage you in Morocco / Spain and Egypt in stalemate kind of warfares then it's HIM who will benefit from it. The reason is that he's draining you of manpower, PP's and oil. Right now it's not critical, but soon you will feel the result of that. I foresee that your losses in Russia will increase and then you need every PP you can find to replace losses there.

So either you use decisive force to crush the Allies east of Suez and rest after that or you just dig in west of the Suez to make HIM attack across river all the time. You have air superiority there so he won't get anywhere. But it drains you too to attack across river even if he's losing more.

Bombardment of German cities will probably become more intense and that means you either need fighters to stop the bombers or you allow him to do it unopposed. The end result is that you will have even less PP's available for the east front.

The east front is the critical front line at the moment and you still have some kind of control, but it can quickly change unless you bolster the line with more Germans. Axis minors won't do. Use them instead as partisan hunters.

Borger, Great advice as always. I hadn't really noticed how weak I was getting in the south until you had mentioned it and a took a look at the pictured I posted. Jim has been whittling away at me there. And now that you mention it I see how vulnerable my air is there now and I'll have to pull them back.

Oil and manpower are NOT an issue. I ended last turn with 338 oil points and Germany had a manpower of 63%. Italian manpower is above 80%! My issue is PPs and rail capacity. I'm building on average 1 1/2 corps per turn (I estimated). I currently have four German corps that I'm trying to get to the front lines. In south I don't have any nearby cities to rail to, which complicates things even further. But, I will move more German corps there and pull back slightly if I have to. I also have four German corps in Spain and France that I have in reserve against the western Allies.

This is an odd game for me where oil and manpower are NOT the issue in 1943 but PPs and rail capacity are.

[gerones]

I think that keeping up all of those units in Egypt has no sense cause is 1943 and even you finally will break the front line and cross the canal, Jim is going to withdraw and resist in another place in which you will be engaged again and when you finally could reach the iraqui oilfields will be at least 1944 or more, with a lot of units in the desert with the risk of weakness in the west (France) and east fronts. So if I were you I would make a progressive redeployment of the forces in Egypt and sent them to reinforce both east and west fronts. Keeping in mind that you don´t have much to fear from the turn by turn halved forces of Jim in Egypt.

[rkr1958]

I think that keeping up all of those units in Egypt has no sense cause is 1943 and even you finally will break the front line and cross the canal, Jim is going to withdraw and resist in another place in which you will be engaged again and when you finally could reach the iraqui oilfields will be at least 1944 or more, with a lot of units in the desert with the risk of weakness in the west (France) and east fronts. So if I were you I would make a progressive redeployment of the forces in Egypt and sent them to reinforce both east and west fronts. Keeping in mind that you don´t have much to fear from the turn by turn halved forces of Jim in Egypt.

My objective in Egypt is to keep the Med closed. I don't intend to push far but I want to break his defenses there.

[rkr1958]

Turn 67. April 13, 1943.

A very interesting turn and one in which I almost overlooked something very critical. I'll get to that later.

An intriguing bit of information that Jim wrote in his email for last turn. I'm also suspicious of such information and based on the result of the turn I think I should be. I did push hard and crossed into the Sinai in force. I don't see how Jim can push me back this time. However; I don't think that's his real objective.

I have four games going on right now and I tend to play too fast and overlook things at times. And this turn was almost one of those times. As I was getting ready to end my turn I noticed three US DD squadrons and an UK transport next to La Curacao in northwest Spain. It looks like Jim is up to something there. I was able to rail an Italian corps to bolster the defenses there and I have several units in reserve (within rail range) including a tactical bomber and fighter. I don't know what he's up to but it looks like he plans to have a go at Spain again. If he lands there I will have to contain that force again.

In Russia, I pulled back slightly in the south to better establish a double defense line. I'm trying to man all front line positions with German units; but the mud hinders that. I also pulled back the axis air bases away from the front lines.

The Allies continue to stand fast in the Sinai; the high command has issued a "no retreat" standing order. Reinforcements continue to arrive in Persia, and thankfully the rail net is still intact.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

By looking at the situation I believe the situation is about to become critical in Russia soon. You have so few German units there and Jim has at least air parity and hordes or armor units. Now he has penetrated the Dnepr and can attack with his armor units in clear terrain. You better expect to lose many units each turn there. If you send units from northern Russia to compensate for the losses in the south then he will attack in the north instead.

You simply need more units asap sent to the east.

Remember that the Allies will need quite a lot of turns just moving through Northern Africa in order to even launch a landing in Sicily, Sardinia and later Italy. Then the landings will arrive too late to actually be dangerous to you.

You have a lot of units in Egypt and probably quite a bit in Spain. Many of these units should have been in the east. E. g. you can maybe attack for 1-2
more turns in Egypt to force Jim to retreat and then send these units to port so you can quickly get them to Greece and further to the east. A screening force can be left guarding the Suez.

Even if Jim lands in Spain and gets a foothold it will take a long time to move from Spain to France. Maybe he will be more inclined to land in France instead of moving through all of Spain. One good thing about letting him land in Spain is that he will then be using Spain to reinforce instead of having to land in France. Getting through the mountains between Spain and France is not easy if you defend there.

Right now you just have to build for the east. Build as many German corps units as possible and delay the Russian offensive.

[rkr1958]

Turn 68. May 3, 1943.

First off I'd like to apologized to my other opponents to whom I owe game turns. I got this one back from Jim and opened it up just to take a look and couldn't resist playing it. I wanted to see what was up in Spain. It turns out nothing! Jim was just using the coastline to protect a transport.

I continued to push hard in the Sinai and it appears I've broken his defenses there. I knocked out the USA commander (can't remember who it was) and have seriously depleted and trapped the US corps there.

I noticed that Jim had move his Malta fighter to a transport. I moved the Vichy French BB squadron in transit to Egypt back in position to intercept if Jim sends that transport west. He doesn't have a port in range so if it goes east it's vulnerable. I also have a tactical bomber in place to hit. I'm sure his the UK sub groups are somewhere around to protect.

I just read Borger's post above and picked up on his urgency. I did move several corps to the Russian front and hopefully I have time to create a double defense line on the entire front. I'm about 2/3 of the way there. Again I played my turn too fast as I just remember that I had two newly built corps ready for deployment that I failed to deploy. I now have four new German corps that will be ready to deploy next turn. Oh ... I need to take more time and stop these careless mistakes!!! But, all new reinforcements are for the Russian front.

You have a lot of units in Egypt and probably quite a bit in Spain. Many of these units should have been in the east. E. g. you can maybe attack for 1-2 more turns in Egypt to force Jim to retreat and then send these units to port so you can quickly get them to Greece and further to the east.

The problem is is that Greece is neutral as well as Yugoslavia.

[rkr1958]

Turn 69. May 23, 1943.

The axis captured Jerusalem and cutoff the remaining allied defense forces in the Sinai. I moved two of the German fighters west for redeployment to the Russia front. Also, I plan to redeploy the two armor armor corps there. I have a feeling that Jim's up to something else like an invasion of France. I need to start preparing for that possibility.

In Russia, the axis destroyed a Russian infantry corps in the south in order to better establish their defensive line. My double defense line is now 85% complete there. I did remember to deploy the five German infantry corps, which will be added to the Russian front.

Also, I'm keeping an eye on the fighter transport in Malta. I would sure like to bag that prize. I have a Vichy BB squadron, German u-boat flotilla and a German tactical bomber in place if it heads west.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

I can just hear the front line cracking in the east. Defending in clear terrain with no rivers to defend behind is no fun. You have some southern rivers to use in the south. Remember that Odessa is the key. It's the hinge that keeps your line as short as it is. When you lose Odessa the front line will start widening into the Balkans and you will not be able to hold at all.

The main problem you have is that part of your double defense line consists of Axis minor units. They're much weaker than the Germans and can easily retreat if attacked. That means good German units can be attacked from 3 hexsides or even trapped.

So you surely need more German units in the south. The Axis minors can go to rear cities or form the double line in the north.

Taking Jerusalem was good because the Allies can't rail reinforcements so close to your front line now, but such a strong land and air force in Palestine is dearly needed elsewhere on the map. Winning in Palestine is not decisive so late in the war. It helps little if your line breaks in the east.

I think you have only one dangerous opponent and that's the Russians. You can probably contain the Allies when they invade somewhere, but if your forces are routed by the Russians then they will be in Berlin sooner than you imagine. The key to your victory is to balance your forces so you can delay the Allies and hold the Russians for as long as you can. It seems you're doing too well against the Allies and not well enough against the Russians.

[rkr1958]

I can just hear the front line cracking in the east. Defending in clear terrain with no rivers to defend behind is no fun. You have some southern rivers to use in the south. Remember that Odessa is the key. It's the hinge that keeps your line as short as it is. When you lose Odessa the front line will start widening into the Balkans and you will not be able to hold at all.

Then it's Odessa! The defense of Odessa will be my top priority and I will defend it do or die. I have 5 German infantry corps ready for Russia and I can send them south. Also, I'll shift my lines such that the second line units in the south are Germans.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

That's good. Riga has a similar strategic role in the north. If you lose Riga then the front line widens in the north. The Dvina river can be used to keep the Russians for a long time because you defend also in forest terrain.

The Pripet marshes are tough to move through if you have ZOC from 2 unit into each hex. So for Jim to crack your line it seems the southern line is the place to do it. Here you can only defend in clear terrain until you get to Romania.

Having armor in the far south west of Odessa is probably good. Then you can use the armor to kill any spearheads trying to move across the river.

Look at where Jim has placed his air and armor units. They're not there because it's easier to rest in clear terrain.

[rkr1958]

Turn 70. June 12, 1943.

Borger's assessment couldn't have been more correct. Jim hit me hard this past turn in southern Russia and destroyed four infantry corps there. He also destroyed a fifth in the north. I pulled back slightly and railed reinforcements to Odessa. I have also given him Kiev. Well, I didn't leave it vacant but left two garrison and an Italian infantry corps there as a sacrifice to give me more time to shore up the Odessa defenses.

Jim disembarked the Malta fighter and deployed it back to the Malta airfield. I guess he plans to continue to push east and hit me from the rear in North Africa. I've put up some defense that should slow him.

In the Middle East I pushed on towards Damascus and Beirut. However; after I capture those cities I will leave an infantry holding force back by two fighters. I deployed two air units in the north to Syrian hexes that Jim didn't capture to get a peak at his defenses there. I looks like he's pulled back and the only unit within my spotting range is an allied fighter. I have no intention of pushing any further east.

My oil at the end of the turn was 248.

I think this game is going to be a real challenge to win. I didn't do as much in Russia as I'd hope. I think I have the western allies fairly well blunted but I don't see how I'll be able to stop the Russia juggernaut for two more years! I will do what I can.