Massina_nz (Allies) v. UffzExner (Axis) - War is Over

[trulster]

I know you like hordes of infantry But personally I would advise having at least two tank corps ready to strike any too adventurous German advances. When winter strikes you want to hit the Germans hard, and nothing hits harder than armour. Also, Germans with low efficiency will have trouble counterattacking them.

[massina_nz]

Yes, my plan was to at least get a reasonable defensive line in place on the Dvina/Dnieper, and then build some ARM and MECH say in September-October for the Severe Winter. Depending on the strength and timing of Frank's Barbarossa I may defend further back than the Dvina/Dnieper line. I'll find out tongiht when I get home, 'cos in his next OKW report he says Barbarossa has started.

[massina_nz]

Turn 33 - 2 June 1941

UK develops level 2 surface ships. Probably going to be useful in the Med, that.

Finland joins the Axis and Barbarossa starts relatively early. I count 5 ARM, 5 MECH, 3 TAC, 1FTR + 2 allied FTRs and 1 STR for recon. Well there weren't any lone German panzers to target! Looks like Frank has gone early, gone heavy on armour and light on air elements. Which further re-inforces my plan to bomb Ploesti, so I place and rail the two Soviet bombers next to Sevastapol. I want him to run into oil problems in 42-43.





I place several INF units, but I can't place them in all in cities where I want to so have some left over for next turn. I don't normally do this, I normally place them all before Barbarossa starts, as I build them from the start of '41. I figured that they would avoid the DOW penalty, but it doesn't seem to have made any difference placing them after the DOW. My lines look a little thin, and I may have to withdraw further into the Russain heartland than I initially wanted to. I repaired some of the frontline GARs, I know they will eventually be destroyed, but I want Frank to spend some effort in doing so.


East front at end of my turn

Frank attempts to invade Crete. Thankfully I had placed my sub, exactly where I think he would place the transport.



So I decide to counter-attack, because I believe he has few air elements in support of the Crete invasion, and I can fly the Desert Air Force to Crete to provide CAP for the RN. I destroy the transport and mildly damage the Italian naval units for very few losses. Crete is important to me, I want to stop Frank from using it as an air base for any Desert operations.


My slow advance in Libya continues, looks like Frank has some reasonable re-inforcements.


My Mid-Atlantic convoy is decimated again. But in doing so. Frank is letting my Middle-East bound troop transport sail away unscathed.


The USSR puchase 2 INFs, and the USA purchase 2 DD, 1 TAC and 1 STR

[massina_nz]

Turn 34 - 22 June 1941

UK develops dogfight level 1. I upgrade the RAF in the UK as I plan to draw out Frank's FTR in Belgium.

A 47PP convoy arrives, but the mid-Atlantic one is totally destroyed. The RN just watches.

Barbarossa continues with two main spearheads, Riga is taken, and I wonder how long I can hold the Dvina river, and if I want to, I'll decide next turn as to whether I withdraw to Leningrad

My Russian sub ambushes Baltic fleet. But I withdraw it for repairs. I've lost count on how many times I've ambushed that German DD!


I place some more INF corps and my defensive line starts to look more solid. I'm trying to hold the Southern troops in a line so that most of them can make it back to the Dneiper, sort of a fighting withdrawal. I leave the cities with GARs and repair them if required to make Frank's task of taking them more difficult. One thing about an early Barbarossa I've noticed is that there are less Soviet units to place!

That lead panzer is tantalizing, but I can't attack it! The Russian Black Sea fleet is having a good time with the Rumanian Navy.

The Italians flee from Crete. The RAF attack the Italian air force (TAC) on Rhodes to no effect. Damn they looked like they were a soft target.

Here's Frank's spin-doctoring for the turn

OKW-Report:

The british High Command gave the germans a great gift when they attacked the bulgarian transport and a great convoy including the DAK under Rommel
and 8th Fliegerkorps under Kesselring were able to cross the Med without a ny losses. Italian 10th Army started an emidiate counterattack and nearly
wiped out the british armored forces in North Africa. Soon the whole 8th Army will face defeat.

The Italians counter attack near Tobruk and I almost lose my Tank Corp. I realise now that I placed it incorrectly. I can't retreat it, so I repair it, even though Frank will destroy it next turn.


The UK buys 1 tank tech

[massina_nz]

Turn 35 - 12 July 1941

USSR develops dogfight lev 1

In the Desert I lose the ARM unit, but continue to trade blows with the Italians, weakening, but not killing units.



I'm not overly worried by the losses, as two transports and a BB enter Red Sea transport loop, one more transport will follow next turn. Two of the trnasports came via a very round-a-bout route as pictured below to avoid Frank's huge wolfpack.



In Russia Frank makes some solid gains, and destroys 3-4 Russian corps. I withdraw some of my troops and reposition my leaders to keep them out of harm's way. I purchase and place some GAR's to plug holes in my defence line and to garrison cities left empty by the withdrawal of my leader units.





The Rumania navy withdraws and I begin my bombing of Ploesti with some success.

The RAF has some success against the German FTR in Belguim, knocking it down to 6 steps, after forcing it to interdict strategic bombing of Lorraine.

[massina_nz]

Turn 36 - 1 August 1941

The Italian BB leaves Tobruk to bombard a British INF corp. I immediately swarm on it with all my Med naval assets, using my DD to scout for the Italian sub, if it is nearabouts. I'm able to knock it down from 10 steps to 2 steps. It can only retreat to Tobruk next turn, and then my sub and Air assets should be able to eliminate it. This is a double banger as it reduces Franks naval presence in the Med, and hurts his North Africa supply situation. I've never seen anyone do well with the Regia Marina.

I continue my war of attrition in the Desert. I wound another Italian leader as well. Not sure why Frank had two leaders in the theatre, seems wasteful to me. Now the Italians in Libya look a bit patchy, and my re-inforcements from the UK are in Alexandria and Port Said. I haven't been able to eliminate any of his units, but most of them are now severely understrength. I also send my Malta FTR to Crete. I could have done this much earlier.

In regards to leaders I have a question. When they are removed does the effectiveness of the units they were affecting drop immediately? Or does it take some time? If the leader is out of supply does it affect their effectiveness bonus?

In the Baltic I strike lucky (and it was very risky, the odds weren't great) and do 8 steps damage to the High seas fleet. Frank will have to take Talinin otherwise it can't retreat.



I continue to bomb Ploesti, this time with less success than last turn. But Frank has had to re-assign one of his German FTRs to provide CAP. So indirectly I'm hurting him.

I cut-off two advance Panzers corps in Sotuthern Russia - next turn they will die, and one of them has a commander! I now only place commanders on GARs now, as it keeps them safe, in the rear, and leaves them to do what they do best, raise effectiveness, not fight. Good advice from JJ. Thanks JJ. I also kill another panzer korp near Bryansk.



The UK places a DD in Liverpool and the USSR buys another Industry lab.

[massina_nz]

Turn 37 - 21 August 1940

Another battered convoy with 28PP limps into Glasgow.

The Russian Baltic navy forces chases the wounded German BB, and finds it in port, but I've left him an escape route.



I'm able to reform on the Dnieper in the Centre of my Russian defenses. It's a single line defense, but Frank looks unlikely to break it, amy time soon.



In the south I'm still able to isolate the two panzer corps, after Frank counter-attacked to relieve them, I just closed the loop again with further counter-attacks. If I don't manage to kill them, at least they are still ineffective, and it should cause Frank to expend a lot of effort to save them, which distracts him from the Northern and Central fronts. Yes, this is a risky strategy, but I'm ensuring Frank doesn't have all the initiative. My real problems may occur in 1942 if, due to my 1941 loses, I can't build a reasonable defense line to stop the Germans then. So my Winter offensive maybe some-what limited. However Frank's minor allies are currently at yellow effectiveness now, imagine what they'll be like when winter comes, probably will all go orange, they may be too tempting a target for those Siberian reserves.



In the Med I destroy the Italian BB in Bhengazi. And I spot the other damaged Italian BB and surround it. Next turn I will be the King of the Med when I destroy it. Yet again the Regia Mariana has been neutralised. On the ground front, limited attacks continue, my forces are in better supply than his, so I can keep up this war of attrition. I know I can win Libya when my re-inforcements come.

[massina_nz]

Turn 38 - 10 September 1941

Mass success in tech this turn. The UK develops ASW level 3, Subs level 2 and Industry level 2. The US & USSR improve their Radar one level each. Does anyone know what Radar actually does?

The Russian sub spots HSF escaping, presumably to the transport loop, as it doesn't seem to be in Copenhagen or Kiel. So I move the "hornblower sub squadron" back towards the North Sea. I had just started moving it to the Med. I'll see if I can interrupt the HSF in port whilst it is repairing.

It's quiet in North Russia



In the south I Bomb Ploesti with reasonable results. I kill a panzer korp, and train re-inforcements down from the central sector. Most of Frank's units are still understrength and "tired". I want to keep the pressure on him.



A couple of convoys are hit by u-boats, out of range of my lone STR. I wonder where most of the u-baots are. I assume Frank will use them to screen America come late '41.

In the Med I destroy other Italian BB. I also continue to attack on the ground, even though I'm probably over-extending my lines. I am able to send in three troop transports, as I don't really have to worry about Italian navy anymore.



The UK buy another ASW laband the US buy an industry lab

[massina_nz]

Turn 39 - 30 September 1941

In the Desert the struggle continues. Frank counter-attacks and pushes back many of my units. But my re-inforcements have landed and are eager to get into action after all those months on those ships. This turn I focus on getting air supremacy. it is only a matter of time now. I'm seriously thinking about invading Greece, but that is probably 10 turns away. Waht's more important, taking Athens or securing the mountain passes first (assuming I get a supply source which is always the most important). well if you're goign to write an AAR you may as well do something interesting.



In the Southern sector of Russia I destroy an Italian Corps, and Frank's tanks have recovered somewhat. the battle lines seem to have stablised, I now have to hold out until Winter. Of concern is that Frank has managed a bridgehead over the Dnieper by Kiev. However those 'yellow' Axis minor units in the far south still look tempting.



In the northern sector, the Germans take Pskov and a Finnish partisan appears. Frank can now attack Leningrad. But the unit there is heavlily entrenched, and without any support they won't have a chance.

[massina_nz]

Turn 40 - 20 October 1941

USA develops ASW level 2, that will be useful for all the USA DDs I build, and I add another DD to the USA build queue. I need to win the battle of the Atlantic, before I can start making Grandiose plans for the liberation of Western and Southern Europe, so DD's and STRs are a priority. I'm eagerly looking forward to Re-engaging the u-boats in the Atlantic. Because at the moment the unescorted convoys are still getting slaughtered as the RN sits idly by.

In Russia the weather is still fine, but Frank has actually stopped attacking. In the Southern Ukraine he has actually withdrawn his Axis minors, which lets me re-establish the defence line on the Dnieper. I think my ability to encircle his lead panzer units has disrupted his plans, he lost one panzer unit, one became useless for about 4 turns and he had to expend valuable resources in relieving them.



In the north the Finnish partisans are eliminated. It's been relatively quiet on the Finnish front all game so far.

I bomb Ploesti unmolested by Axis FTRs. I put a ARM in the Russian build queue and buy another air lab for them. I currently have no INF or ARM labs for the Russians.

I have three possible plans for the Winter offensive. I really think I need to limit myself to one of them as I have been quite active in the south during the '41 summer campaign and I need to ensure I still have good defenses in '42.

1. Have a go at the Axis minors in the South, to reduce the numebr of Axis units for Summer
2. Remove the bridgehead over the Dnieper near Kiev, to make Frank's Summer offensive harder
3. Attack the three german panzer units. To blunt his offensive capability.

In the Desert the Germans send a Panzer Korp to Bhengazi, I knock 4 steps off it with torpedoes from subs and swordfish from the CV. When it lands next turn I'll be able to bombard it from the coast and attack it from the air again. You'll notice none of Frank's Italian units are by the coast, unless they are in cities. Presumably he fears the RN shore bombardment. He has also sent the remants of the Italian airforce away. I think the key now for me is to take Tobruk.

[massina_nz]

Turn 41 - 9 November 1941

USA develops subs to level 2

Another convoy is ambushed by uber-pack of u-boats. Guess there won't be many u-boats in the South Atlantic. So maybe safest route for the Yanks is via the Red Sea transportation loop.

My "Hornblower Squadroon" finds the HSF BB in Oslo. Frank hasn't repaired it, so I was able to knock it down to 1 step. The long chase may be over next turn.

Very quiet on the Russian front despite the fine weather. I start softening up the German INF korp on the Karelin peninsula, in case there is a chance for isolating the Finnish troops there. I attack Ploesti again, it's now down to 2 oil production.



The UK buys it's first INF lab, and the US another DD. The USSR buys a tank lab, an ARM & an INF.

In the Desert I lose an INF corp, but destroy the Italian Mech Corp. I spot yet another Italian leader, that's the third so far. I attack the Stuka & Panzer units (another German leader as well) with good results. If stuka attacks it will get interdicted, so I'm not sure how effective it will be for Frank, without some FTR support. I move my Crete-based FTR to Libya. It's been a grind in Libya, but I am getting closer

[massina_nz]

Turn 42 - 29 November 1941

USSR develops ground attack lev 1 and Strategic ops lev 2 - which is good for my Strat bombers to continue bombing Ploesti and requiring Frank to base two FTRs near Ploesti. So I upgrade both of them.

Frank reforms his lines behind the Dneiper, so I am able to retake the bulge in the river line by Kiew

I finally work out that Frank has me in a vice in Libya. The positioning of his troops is such that I can't get any impetus past Tobruk. I lose units whenever I enter the Tobruk salient, he just get bruised and then repairs them. I can't win in the Desert this way. The key I think is to take Tobruk and it may take 3 to 4 turns to do so.



Frank repairs the BB in Oslo and sends the DD to attack my sub if I continue to pester the BB. so I retreat the sub towards Stockholm. In conjunction with this I moblise the RN to the North Sea, so I can attack the DD if it remains out of port. I suspect Frank will see my move anyway, and maybe I would have been better to leave the sub where it was to act as bait.

I purchase an ARM & INF for Russians.

The Siberian reserves arrive and the USA joins the War in Europe.

[massina_nz]

Turn 43 - 19 December 1941

The German DD does retreat to Bergen. So the RN retire to various ports. A whole lot of action with not a lot of results.

In Russia the Panzers disappear from my view. Presumably Frank is hiding them in his second line so that when the Severe Winter hits they cannot be targetted. The Axis minors in the south still show yellow effectiveness. Some are bound to go to orange status when the real winter hits. If I attack them with Tanks, the shock attack will knock their effectiveness down even further. I should be able to manage at least 5 Tank units for the Winter offensive. Trick is not over-using them and still providing for a reasonable defense line come the next Summer. I hit Ploesti again, it is only at 2 production.

In the US I send 2 TACs , an ARM & a MECH to the Desert, by hugging the American coast line. I upgrade the US fleet elements for upcoming Battle of Atlantic, and disperse my remaining air unts to aid in the forthcoming battle.

In the Desert Tobruk is being further reduced, down to two steps. Frank has re-inforced his airforce again. Yet again I will lose another unit in the Tobruk salient. With Tobruk gone and the Yanks coming I hoping for a more dominant performance of my desert troops.



The US buy another ASW lab, and Russia buys an ARM & blitzkrieg (ARM) lab. The UK buy a STR.

[massina_nz]

Turn 44 - 8 January 1944

In the desert we take Tobruk, although I lost another two INF corps in Frank's turn. In total in the Desert I've lost 1 MECH & 4 INF corps to 1 Mech and 1 INF for the Italians. That damn Tobruk salient has cost me, and hardly historical with Montgomery in charge.. But with Tobruk taken I think Frank will get a nasty surprise at the beginning of his turn as his Desert forces are now seriously under-supplied. I calculate it will cost him 20PPs (2 Libyan ports for 10 pts supply vs 14 pts to supply 2 ARMs, 2 FTRs and a TAC), so I guess his TAC unit will be flying back to Italy forthwith. Which makes me think, maybe the American ground troops coming via the Red Sea should attempt an amphib capture of Benghazi, which would put the under-supply costs into a spiral. If I can keep his ground troops in Libya with no ports, it could really hurt him. So I'm best to reduce the DD unit in Benghazi harbour with the RN (CV & SUB). And the UK ground troops should just sit tight. I just can't see Frank retaking Tobruk back.



The battle for Atlantic starts, I knock a couple of steps off some u-boats with my STRs, and the Navy moves out to confront the u-boats.



The US buys an Air lab, the USSR buys Armour lab. The USSR & UK buy a MECH each.

In Northern Russia I attack Pskov and the Luftwaffe with good results. It will be interesting to see how Frank responds to this, will he repair the panzer or slot in an INF unit instead at zero entrenchment. I'm not attacking anything else in the north as the odds are too poor, mostly at 4:3.



In the south I destroy one Hungarian INF corp and rough up a Romanian unit. I have 4 Tank corps ready to pounce on some very weak looking Axis Minors. I continue to bomb Ploesti, it is still at 2 production.

[massina_nz]

Turn 45 - 28 January 1942

Casualty stats so far

German Tank, plane and naval losses are being paid for with Russian blood.

UK develops level 2 Strategic Operations and TAC, US gets to level 3 in both of these as well. UK also reaches level 4 in ASW.

It's finally all quiet on the Atlantic Sea. Frank's u-boats disappear So I start escorting convoys again witth DDs. A UK DD out of Cardiff hits a hidden 4- step ubaot and totally destroys it. Bit of a bonus, and one less to worry about.

It's quiet in Africa, both sides are repairing. I estimate it's still costing him 8PPs a turn to keep all his forces there, My US re-inforcements are about 3 turns away. I inadvertently find a sub with a BB.



In northern Russia, Frank repairs his Panzer korp in Pskov to 9 steps. I hammer it again with a TAC and a FTR and on the third ground attack it is destroyed and Pskov retaken. I hardly took any step losses in doing so. Next turn I will bombard, by sea and air, the German INF korp east of Riga on the Baltic coast. It may make Frank send some of his reserves there. It's really a diversion, but if I get some good die rolls, I might press the attack to threaten his flank.

In the south the Romanians are hit again, one unit survives to 1-step. My Tank units are taking a deal of time to get to the front, teh Severe winter may be over before they can do anything. Ploesti is bombed yet again.



The Soviets buy a MECH unit & an INF lab. The US buys an air lab. From a tech perspective, I think I will re-allocate the US focus from Industry to Organisation, as Industry level 5 and 6 get diminishing returns and getting the US to level 3 in organisation has a a 10 point bonus to their effectiveness.

[massina_nz]

Turn 46 - 17 February 1942

It's quiet in thw Atlantic again. A 13 PP convoy arrives and several more convoys are close by the UK. I'm going to focus on building UK land units, given my ground unit losses in the Desert I need to replace, and that the US have higher tech in Air units.



The Severe Winter continues in Russia with only 3 turns left before it blows over. Frank withdraws from the Pskov district, and I follow up as fast as I can. In Southern Russia my Tanks grind forward and destroy a MECH unit, Rundstedt is sent home on R&R. I've lost count of how many of Frank's commanders I have injured. Ploesti is bombed. I'm on a win-win here as Frank is losing oil production, and burning oil and PPs providing CAP for the oil field.



The US buys a Tank lab, the USSR an INF lab and the UK another MECH unit.

Research progress so far...UK has maxed out with 2 INF, 2 ARM, 2 AIR, 3 Naval and 3 General labs. Only real progress has been in ASW, level 4. The US has 1 ARM, 2 AIR, 3 Naval and 3 General. I changed the focus of the General labs from Industry (level 4) to Organisation (71% towards level 3). Good progress made in close air support and Strat Ops. The USSR have 1 INF, 3 ARM, 3 AIR and 3 General labs, only real progress has been in industry, they have just reached level 3.

[massina_nz]

Turn 47 - 9 March 1942

The Severe Winter continues in Russia, but I discontinue my offenisve as I ready myself for the German Spring '42 offensive that can't be far away. At least I've knocked the Ploesti oil production down to zero.

The US transports arrive off Tobruk for attack on Benghazi, otherwise I am stationary in the Desert. I knock Frank's sub down to 2 steps, not sure why he hasn't moved it.



I uncover a u-boat off Boston, which is in range of US air assets, so I'm able to knock it down from 10 to 4 steps.

The US & USSR both buy an INF lab each.

[massina_nz]

Turn 48 - 29 March 1942

A rash of Tech developments, The UK reached level 3 in Subs, Organisation and Radar. The USA reaches level 2 in Dogfight and level 3 in ASW.

I lose an ARM in Southern Russia. Looks like Frank has been making good progress in tank tech, his are a few levels above mine.

I destroy the 2-step sub in med, Frank never moved it for three turns!

I start sweeping the North Atlantic with DDs. But I can't find any u-boats.

I position my Med Task Force by Bhenghazi and await Franks reply.



Russia buys FTR, otherwise it's quiet, as I now await the German onslaught, but at least have a 2 unit defense line. I start to build Russian FTRs in order to mitigate at least some of Franks TAC advantage. Ploesti is still down to zero production.

[massina_nz]

Turn 49 - 18 April 1942

UK develops tank destoyer to level 1 and USA gets to Warship level 2.

A 20PP convoy arrives in Glasgow

It's still Severe Winter in Russia. I launch a sole attack north of Pskov and reduce his INF from 10 to 2-steps, with the Air battles going pretty even with both sides lose 6 steps.

Frank sends tow Italian units to protect Benghazi as expected. Which draws his troops into range of my Naval forces so they can bombard them. I move the main Task Force to to Tropli instead. I'm also able to destroy his two step Italian TAC with my CV.

The US buys an INF lab. USSR buys a FTR and a MECH

[massina_nz]

Turn 50 - 8 May 1942

UK reaches industry level 3

70PP convoy arrives in Glasgow

Frank has sent an ARM & an INF unit as reserves to the Riga front.



He also sent air units to stop landings at Tripoli. By my calcualtiosn that an oversupply level of 8, which should cost him 72PP's is that correct I'm happy to keep switching the task force around if that's the case, so I do and send the Yanks back to Benghazi. Not to mention how much oil he's burning moving thos air untis around.



I bombard Frank's Italian INF units. I will concentrate on these as they don't require support, so I will leave his Tank units alone.

I assemble a large Task force from Cardiff with many DDs in escort, bound for North Africa. This means leaving all the Atlantic convoys unescorted for 2-3 turns.



I bomb Paris for the first time.

In Russia it's quiet. I send re-inforcements to the southern sector, given most of Franks panzers are in the south.

The UK buys AIR lab

The USSR buys 5 INFs, I suspect Franks offensive will start soon, and I will need to plug the gaps he makes in my lines.