Definitely don't spend any PP to rail units for the Russians. Right now you're better off spending them for repairs & new units. With the relative force sizes, it's better to keep your front line troops at full strength than to waste PPs on rail movement. Plus, you can achieve a steamroller effect. First he sas 2 armour, then 4, then 6, etc to worry about. At this point, even if London falls, he can't take England completely. Still, I'd get a full corps in there ASAP. Due to his units being level one supply units you should be able to destroy the landing force unless he keeps the Luftwaffe in the west, but if he does that, the Russians will find it easier to get to Berlin.
One point about convoys. If they end their move within 2(3?) hexes ot the port, then they've arrived and are in your PP pool for that turn.
Jyri
JimR (Axis) vs. Clark (Allies) - War is Over!
Moderators: rkr1958, Happycat, Slitherine Core
December 19 1941.
I'm pretty sure London will survive now. I've ordered up a bevy of ground troops in England now that a big 125 PP convoy arrived. I still would like to start repairing the RAF soon, but I may have to wait for more convoys to arrive.
In Russia, an army is beginning to coalesce in the north. I would like to wait until their effectiveness goes up a little, then pounce with superior numbers.
America is now in the war as well. I'm going to purchase a general for them next turn, which puts the launch of the American transports at two turns from now. Not sure whether they will be headed directly to France, or if they'll land in the UK, or if they might even go to Italy.
I'm pretty sure London will survive now. I've ordered up a bevy of ground troops in England now that a big 125 PP convoy arrived. I still would like to start repairing the RAF soon, but I may have to wait for more convoys to arrive.
In Russia, an army is beginning to coalesce in the north. I would like to wait until their effectiveness goes up a little, then pounce with superior numbers.
America is now in the war as well. I'm going to purchase a general for them next turn, which puts the launch of the American transports at two turns from now. Not sure whether they will be headed directly to France, or if they'll land in the UK, or if they might even go to Italy.
Thanks for the note about the convoys. I had forgotten. I do think he had a chance of taking the UK if London had fallen, because as I recall, you can't place units in the UK once London falls. Or maybe it's just that you can't rail units. Or both. In any event, I don't think I have to worry all that much about it now, unless he manages to take London in this turn.JyriErik wrote:Definitely don't spend any PP to rail units for the Russians. Right now you're better off spending them for repairs & new units. With the relative force sizes, it's better to keep your front line troops at full strength than to waste PPs on rail movement. Plus, you can achieve a steamroller effect. First he sas 2 armour, then 4, then 6, etc to worry about. At this point, even if London falls, he can't take England completely. Still, I'd get a full corps in there ASAP. Due to his units being level one supply units you should be able to destroy the landing force unless he keeps the Luftwaffe in the west, but if he does that, the Russians will find it easier to get to Berlin.
One point about convoys. If they end their move within 2(3?) hexes ot the port, then they've arrived and are in your PP pool for that turn.
Jyri
Based on what I'm seeing in the screen shots, he's got a lot of oil burning units. IIRC his oil production is around 32 oil per turn. Assuming he uses all the visible units each turn simply to attack, he'll burn 15 oil for the air and 12-14 for the ground units (depending on tech). Add to the 12-14 for moving, then any oil those same units might use in defending/intercepting (12-14 plus 9) and taking into account what he's used already, his oil situation is going to be getting critical soon. While it's not time to go crazy with attacks, it's not a bad idea to make the attacks you do decide to make against motorised units to maximise his oil use. Once he runs out of oil reserves and has only his new production oil, the war is over.
I'd actually send the US forces into England right now. Your ground forces are rather thin in England so until he's kicked out, you're better off with as many troops as possible in England. Plus, the US fighter & tac air can cause a LOT of grief to the forces in France (as I'm sure you know first hand).
Jyri
I'd actually send the US forces into England right now. Your ground forces are rather thin in England so until he's kicked out, you're better off with as many troops as possible in England. Plus, the US fighter & tac air can cause a LOT of grief to the forces in France (as I'm sure you know first hand).
Jyri
January 8 1942.
The Germans send everything they have at the garrison in London, and nearly take the city.
The Brits pull the weak garrison out and place a newly built infantry corps into the city. They repair the armored corps to full strength and place a newly returned Auchinleck in the infantry unit on the northern part of the line. Usually I don't like to place generals in infantry units, as they are easier to kill and lack mobility to either push ahead with a rapid advance or quickly retreat, but I reckon this infantry unit won't be doing any rapid advancing. The only unit that attacks is the courageous garrison to the west of London, which luckily manages to knock one step off the German infantry corps while reducing it to yellow effectiveness. Huzzah!!
Meanwhile on the Eastern Front, Jim has continued to attack the Russian border garrisons. I suppose I should have retreated them into Russia at least as bait, but oh well. They've served as a screen while I build up my strike forces. I'm preparing two larger strike forces, one in the north and one in the center, and a smaller one to take out Romania.
The Russians have begun to bring quite a bit of air to bear. They manage to knock the mech infantry unit where Manstein holds his command down to 5 steps in a single turn, and take potshots on a panzer corps in the center and infantry and mech corps in the north.
The Germans send everything they have at the garrison in London, and nearly take the city.
The Brits pull the weak garrison out and place a newly built infantry corps into the city. They repair the armored corps to full strength and place a newly returned Auchinleck in the infantry unit on the northern part of the line. Usually I don't like to place generals in infantry units, as they are easier to kill and lack mobility to either push ahead with a rapid advance or quickly retreat, but I reckon this infantry unit won't be doing any rapid advancing. The only unit that attacks is the courageous garrison to the west of London, which luckily manages to knock one step off the German infantry corps while reducing it to yellow effectiveness. Huzzah!!
Meanwhile on the Eastern Front, Jim has continued to attack the Russian border garrisons. I suppose I should have retreated them into Russia at least as bait, but oh well. They've served as a screen while I build up my strike forces. I'm preparing two larger strike forces, one in the north and one in the center, and a smaller one to take out Romania.
The Russians have begun to bring quite a bit of air to bear. They manage to knock the mech infantry unit where Manstein holds his command down to 5 steps in a single turn, and take potshots on a panzer corps in the center and infantry and mech corps in the north.
January 28 1942.
Again the Germans rush London, and once again, they full just short. The London defenders fall to 3 steps.
The Brits again pull the defenders out and place fresh troops in the capital. But this time the supporting forces north of London attacking, doing enough damage that I don't think German ground troops will be much more of a factor in this campaign. I've also begun repairing the RAF, and in two turns, I'll move them down to begin providing air cover. Between attrition from fighting through the air umbrella and attrition from the local air defenses, the Luftwaffe will have a hard time being as effective as it has been for the last 3 months.
The Russian front continues to be the focus of some minor skirmishes. No pics, but the southern army group begins its advance along the Black Sea and presses forward into Romania.
The Americans will launch transports next turn. Still don't know if I want them to go south toward Italy, or into England or France. I'm leaning against sending them to the UK now, because I think that the Brits have it under control and Jim's air is focused on the Channel and not on Brittany or Bordeaux. Probably won't send them to Italy, because I don't have enough troops yet to rapidly advance in Italy, if there is such a thing. But we'll see.
Again the Germans rush London, and once again, they full just short. The London defenders fall to 3 steps.
The Brits again pull the defenders out and place fresh troops in the capital. But this time the supporting forces north of London attacking, doing enough damage that I don't think German ground troops will be much more of a factor in this campaign. I've also begun repairing the RAF, and in two turns, I'll move them down to begin providing air cover. Between attrition from fighting through the air umbrella and attrition from the local air defenses, the Luftwaffe will have a hard time being as effective as it has been for the last 3 months.
The Russian front continues to be the focus of some minor skirmishes. No pics, but the southern army group begins its advance along the Black Sea and presses forward into Romania.
The Americans will launch transports next turn. Still don't know if I want them to go south toward Italy, or into England or France. I'm leaning against sending them to the UK now, because I think that the Brits have it under control and Jim's air is focused on the Channel and not on Brittany or Bordeaux. Probably won't send them to Italy, because I don't have enough troops yet to rapidly advance in Italy, if there is such a thing. But we'll see.
Right now I'd still vector the US forces so that their route is such that they can get to the UK first. Seeing as how yet another corps is set to land in ENgland, you're still a bit short of troops to quickly destroy the lodgement. Better to have US forces almost to England and have the German forces destroyed than to have them off the coast of Marseille or Italy and suddenly have 3-6 more German corps land in England. Until the air war over England is won, I'd say that the US forces will do more good there than elsewhere due to their lack of numbers at this stage.
I'd also shift your commander in the south a little bit more south so he can cover as much of the front as possible with his 8 hex range. Both Russian commanders should stay behind the front for now since their effectiveness bonus in an 8 hex radius is far more valuable than any attack or defense bonus they might give to a single hex.
Jyri
I'd also shift your commander in the south a little bit more south so he can cover as much of the front as possible with his 8 hex range. Both Russian commanders should stay behind the front for now since their effectiveness bonus in an 8 hex radius is far more valuable than any attack or defense bonus they might give to a single hex.
Jyri
February 17 1942.
The war in England is beginning to take its toll on the Germans. They cannot properly repair and reinforce their units each turn. Basically they are completely relying on the Luftwaffe, which will end soon when the repaired and rested RAF spring into action, and the Russians wrest Ploesti away. Both events are near at hand.
Forgot to take a pic, but the 6 step infantry that just landed was destroyed, and the 3 step northern tip of his forces is now completely cut off from supply. Enough RAF have been repaired to deploy them in a defensive capacity in southern England now. The Americans are inbound, still up in the air whether they are headed to France or England.
In Russia, the Germans work on garrisons screening my advancing armor and rail in more infantry for the line anchored in the north by Königsberg.
In response, I seize Königsberg. His armor is in position for a counterattack, but I have enough armor (with better antitank tech) to deal with them if he remains in the area.
The war in England is beginning to take its toll on the Germans. They cannot properly repair and reinforce their units each turn. Basically they are completely relying on the Luftwaffe, which will end soon when the repaired and rested RAF spring into action, and the Russians wrest Ploesti away. Both events are near at hand.
Forgot to take a pic, but the 6 step infantry that just landed was destroyed, and the 3 step northern tip of his forces is now completely cut off from supply. Enough RAF have been repaired to deploy them in a defensive capacity in southern England now. The Americans are inbound, still up in the air whether they are headed to France or England.
In Russia, the Germans work on garrisons screening my advancing armor and rail in more infantry for the line anchored in the north by Königsberg.
In response, I seize Königsberg. His armor is in position for a counterattack, but I have enough armor (with better antitank tech) to deal with them if he remains in the area.
Looking at the screen shots, it seems the Russians line is VERY thin in the northern sector.. I hope you're producing infantry corps en masse until ou can get a bit more depth to your forces. With enough infantry you can attack with fresh troops while the damaged get repaired, or if things go the other way, they can screen your front until you've rebuilt the damaged units.
Jyri
Jyri
I do have new builds to place, as well as some more infantry from the Caucasus and from some of the eastern cities yet to be railed west. I do plan on keeping up the pressure from Russia to make sure he doesn't send transports en masse to England.JyriErik wrote:Looking at the screen shots, it seems the Russians line is VERY thin in the northern sector.. I hope you're producing infantry corps en masse until ou can get a bit more depth to your forces. With enough infantry you can attack with fresh troops while the damaged get repaired, or if things go the other way, they can screen your front until you've rebuilt the damaged units.
Jyri
March 9 1942. Allies raise hopes of taking Berlin by year's end.
The slugfest continues in Berlin. Auchinleck has been knocked out again, and all of the British forces outside London show signs of wear and tear. Only the RAF and the mech infantry are in reasonably good shape.
The mech infantry attacks and wipes out the struggling 2 step German infantry corps in the north. All else retreats back, and I rail in a garrison to keep London's flank clear. The RAF redeploys to the south to defend the skies over England. It looks like Jim has moved much of his air to the Eastern Front, but it could also be that a few are over there and the rest are being repaired and upgraded.
In the southern sector, Russia attacks hard through the clear corridor on the sea and clears out all opposition. Unfortunately, I've overextended my line, and Jim could easily march one corps to the sea to cut off my supply line. After I realized my mistake, I brought in a Russian BB for supply just in case. Bucharest was actually unoccupied at the start of the turn, but by way of attacking his mech infantry from all sides, it was shell-shocked into retreating into the capital.
In the center, Russian forces cripple the German panzer corps. In contrast to the north, I'm feeling very thin in the center and south.
In the north, I obliterate the northern edge of his line and march into Danzig. Now I'll work on rolling up his flank and destroy as many units as I can.
The slugfest continues in Berlin. Auchinleck has been knocked out again, and all of the British forces outside London show signs of wear and tear. Only the RAF and the mech infantry are in reasonably good shape.
The mech infantry attacks and wipes out the struggling 2 step German infantry corps in the north. All else retreats back, and I rail in a garrison to keep London's flank clear. The RAF redeploys to the south to defend the skies over England. It looks like Jim has moved much of his air to the Eastern Front, but it could also be that a few are over there and the rest are being repaired and upgraded.
In the southern sector, Russia attacks hard through the clear corridor on the sea and clears out all opposition. Unfortunately, I've overextended my line, and Jim could easily march one corps to the sea to cut off my supply line. After I realized my mistake, I brought in a Russian BB for supply just in case. Bucharest was actually unoccupied at the start of the turn, but by way of attacking his mech infantry from all sides, it was shell-shocked into retreating into the capital.
In the center, Russian forces cripple the German panzer corps. In contrast to the north, I'm feeling very thin in the center and south.
In the north, I obliterate the northern edge of his line and march into Danzig. Now I'll work on rolling up his flank and destroy as many units as I can.
Looking at the fronts, I would say that simply due to the amount of troops you have available, I wouldn't send anything more than 2-3 infantry towards Berlin at the moment. If you can pocket his forces in Poland, that will do you far more good than risking a Berlin drive at this point. In Romania, I'd ignore Bucharest until more troops arrive. Ploesti is an easier target, and once he loses the oil, things will go downhill even faster since I suspect he's nearing the end of his oil reserves. That said, if you shift your tac air to the south, then Bucharest should be fairly easy to take if he doesn't send more German units down to defend it and Ploesti will fall along with it (unless occupied by a German unit, and even then that unit will be out of supply & easily killed.
Jyri
Jyri
I'm going to try to contain and defeat his forces in Poland first to make sure that I can bring up my air close to Berlin for the final push. As you'll see, I destroyed two infantry south of Königsberg and mauled another. I also roughed up the weak link in his river line with air, and next turn I'll be ready to push across at that point while rolling up his line from the north and moving toward Warsaw. In the south, I would like to take Ploesti first, as it's seemingly easy pickings, but the Axis line did not cooperate this turn.
March 29 1942.
In Britain, attacks on British position have ceased. The British take the initiative and wipe the 4 step forward infantry corps. I also repair their armor and a fighter unit, and I upgrade another fighter unit's organizational and dogfight abilities. Now that the German presence in England has been reduced to 3 infantry corps, I'll repair and rest my units until I'm ready for one final push to drive the Germans back into the sea.
In Russia, I repair some of my planes and infantry units while going on the offensive from Königsberg south, destroying a couple German infantry corps. In the center, I wipe out the last visible German panzer and maul a mech infantry.
And in the south, I attempted to pierce his line and push toward Ploesti, without success.
Not pictured: the Russians make steady gains in Finland. The Italians have taken Port Said and held the line against British attacks with a weak Italian infantry in the desert. I'll probably retreat to dig into the mountains at this point, since I lack the offensive strength to take back Port Said. Hopefully I can take Berlin before the Italians can do too much damage in the Atlantic.
One thing that I don't know that I've mentioned here. It's very tempting when you're faced with an early Soviet advantage to do the same sort of up and down the line attacks that you might try in a typical game where the Soviets take the initiative in 1943-44. But in a typical game, German manpower is down and Soviet tech levels are catching up by that point. Also, Soviet units are generally better rested and have effectiveness at close to the same level as the Germans, if not exceeding it, sometimes aided by the harsh winter. None of those factors are present in my game, and correspondingly, it's much slower going than the typical Soviet advance with that large of a numerical advantage.
In Britain, attacks on British position have ceased. The British take the initiative and wipe the 4 step forward infantry corps. I also repair their armor and a fighter unit, and I upgrade another fighter unit's organizational and dogfight abilities. Now that the German presence in England has been reduced to 3 infantry corps, I'll repair and rest my units until I'm ready for one final push to drive the Germans back into the sea.
In Russia, I repair some of my planes and infantry units while going on the offensive from Königsberg south, destroying a couple German infantry corps. In the center, I wipe out the last visible German panzer and maul a mech infantry.
And in the south, I attempted to pierce his line and push toward Ploesti, without success.
Not pictured: the Russians make steady gains in Finland. The Italians have taken Port Said and held the line against British attacks with a weak Italian infantry in the desert. I'll probably retreat to dig into the mountains at this point, since I lack the offensive strength to take back Port Said. Hopefully I can take Berlin before the Italians can do too much damage in the Atlantic.
One thing that I don't know that I've mentioned here. It's very tempting when you're faced with an early Soviet advantage to do the same sort of up and down the line attacks that you might try in a typical game where the Soviets take the initiative in 1943-44. But in a typical game, German manpower is down and Soviet tech levels are catching up by that point. Also, Soviet units are generally better rested and have effectiveness at close to the same level as the Germans, if not exceeding it, sometimes aided by the harsh winter. None of those factors are present in my game, and correspondingly, it's much slower going than the typical Soviet advance with that large of a numerical advantage.
April 18 1942.
Britain goes quiet. Both of us spent our turn repairing our respective units. Jim did rail infantry in to block my two transports from landing in France, but I brought lots of transports to the shore this turn.
In the southern sector of the Russian front, the Axis counterattacks have inflicted considerable damage on my tired forces. I rest and repair them and bring in Konev to whip them into shape.
I'm more successful in the center and north. He railed in some help to defend Warsaw, plus had two fighters to defend against air attacks. The Russians destroy three infantry in the north, the Hungarian mech in the center of his river line, and finish off the German mech in the south.
I'll work on eliminating all German forces in the pocket in the next two turns, while bringing in a line of infantry to screen against counterattacks. My hope is to be in Berlin by fall and Rome next spring.
Britain goes quiet. Both of us spent our turn repairing our respective units. Jim did rail infantry in to block my two transports from landing in France, but I brought lots of transports to the shore this turn.
In the southern sector of the Russian front, the Axis counterattacks have inflicted considerable damage on my tired forces. I rest and repair them and bring in Konev to whip them into shape.
I'm more successful in the center and north. He railed in some help to defend Warsaw, plus had two fighters to defend against air attacks. The Russians destroy three infantry in the north, the Hungarian mech in the center of his river line, and finish off the German mech in the south.
I'll work on eliminating all German forces in the pocket in the next two turns, while bringing in a line of infantry to screen against counterattacks. My hope is to be in Berlin by fall and Rome next spring.
May 8, 1942.
As I thought he might, Jim does a number on the landing transports.
Still, I manage to kill off one of the garrisons and land in significant numbers. If he's railing garrisons to the West, he has less to face the Russian onslaught in the East. Also, the Brits go to work against the remaing Germans in England. Looks like the HSF has bugged out, making this job even easier.
Things continue on the same in Russia - the northern sector developing more rapidly than the south. I did inch a little closer to Ploesti, however.
I attack Warsaw to root out Manstein entrenched in Warsaw, which proves to be very difficult indeed. Few air units were in range to help out in this area, so the ground forces had to do the dirty work, with predictably poor results.
As I thought he might, Jim does a number on the landing transports.
Still, I manage to kill off one of the garrisons and land in significant numbers. If he's railing garrisons to the West, he has less to face the Russian onslaught in the East. Also, the Brits go to work against the remaing Germans in England. Looks like the HSF has bugged out, making this job even easier.
Things continue on the same in Russia - the northern sector developing more rapidly than the south. I did inch a little closer to Ploesti, however.
I attack Warsaw to root out Manstein entrenched in Warsaw, which proves to be very difficult indeed. Few air units were in range to help out in this area, so the ground forces had to do the dirty work, with predictably poor results.
I wouldn't do anything crazy or risky just to try to get there before years end but I think you have a chance. When Germany is gone taking Italy out is just mopping up. It's the Summer of 1942 and the allies have already landed in France, the Russians have Warsaw surrounded and are just 3 hexes away from Berlin. Well done!Clark wrote:You think I can get into Rome by end of year? I appreciate the vote of confidence!rkr1958 wrote:I don't see this game making it to 1943.