Axis versus AI Tutorial AAR (War is Over, Grade Me)

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 5:40 am

Turn 61. December 12, 1942 Axis.

The Murmansk convoy got through with 80+ PPs to Russia. But the good news was that the axis naval, air and sub forces caught up with and destroyed 3 more allied BB squadrons bring the total to 4 BB and 1 DD squadrons lost by the allies to no unit losses for the axis. Though, the DD was badly damaged to 2-steps.

On the Eastern Front, the Russian launch limited attacks that have inflicted step losses but so far no axis units have been lost. The last two turns have seen repairs of axis air units and two German infantry corps and one Italian infantry corps built.

C225. Norway Command, Wolfpack North, Wolkpack Center & Kreigsmarine

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:51 pm

Turn 62. January 3, 1943 Axis.

This is the fourth Severe Winter turn for the axis and I can't wait until the weather clears, which I'll get to later. The big news this turn was that the newly reconfigured Wolfpack Center composed of 4 u-boat flotillas in route to their hunting ground into another Murmansk convoy lightly escorted by two allied DD squadrons (C226). The Norway command, which had just stood down from the major battle less than 20-days ago, was placed back on high alert. Wolfpack North, which was also reconfigured and is composed of the remaining 4 u-boat flotilla, has been permanently assigned to the Norway Command. Wolfpack Center in transient was ordered to stop and has been temporarily placed under the Norway command until the Murmansk convoy and the escorting DD are destroyed.

The Germans lost their first unit, an infantry corps, on the Eastern Front (C227) last turn during the AI's move. The AI's Russian winter offensive is really weak and the lost corps was replaced with two newly built German corps. Oh, if only the weather was fair, I'd be blasting through the Russian's line and encircling the bulk of their remaining units.

This turn a number of German air and armor units were upgraded. Also, unit damaged by the Russian offensive were repaired.

A German and Italian corps were built and German manpower dropped below 75% for the first time. The axis oil stockpile at the end of the turn was at 387, up 50 points from 2-turns ago.

C226. Norway Command and Wolfpack North

C227. The Eastern Front

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 2:17 am

Turn 63. January 23, 1943 Axis.

The allies added a BB to the 2 DDs escorting the Murmansk convoy. The escorts were sunk (C228) with light losses and the Murmansk convoy stopped.

In Russia, not much action as the front has been stabilized and the axis are riding out the Russian winter attacks. This turn was the fifth severe winter turn.

The axis deployed a newly built German and Italian infantry corps. Four infantry corps (3 German & 1 Italian) were add to the build queue. The axis ended the turn with an oil stockpile of 393.

C288. Battle of the North Atlantic Continues

C289. Axis Build Queue

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 2:58 am

Turn 64. February 12, 1943 Axis.

This was the final severe winter turn; however, snow or mud/rain are likely weather next turn on the Russian front.

Wolfpack Center was detached from the Norway Command and sent out convoy hunting (C230). The attack on the Murmansk convoy was carried out fully by Wolfpack North under the direction of the Norway Command (C231). I have the convoy stalled and the allies are not letting my attack at will. There's no hurry to sink so the most oil efficient way to sink it is through sub attacks. They use far less oil than air attacks.

Speaking of oil, the axis stockpile at the end of the turn was 442 (C232). Also, something interest in the desert the 7th Australian corps made an appearance to join the 9th Australian on the Egyptian-Libyan border.

C230. Wolfpack Center is Detached

C231. Norway Command and Wolfpack North

C232. Africa Krops Army Command

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:12 am

Turn 65. March 4, 1943 Axis.

Snow on the Russian front so no action. One of the two tactical bombers assigned to the Norway command has been transferred to the Russian front. It's began it's transit this turn and reach it's new assignment next turn.

Wolfpack center spotted a large convoy (C233). It's 50/50 whether or not the convoy can be ambushed.

The Aussies boldly march into Libya (C234). If they keep going they'll run into well dug in troops.

C233. Wolfpack Center

C234. North Africa Command

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:42 am

Turn 66. March 14, 1943 Axis.

Winter weather in Russia but I did place all the German fighters on alert and made two air attack against a partisan that popped up near my line. Oh, the Russians killed their second German corps last turn. Two corps lost over the winter. That's pretty good.

Wolfpack Center tracked down the allied convoy and reduced it by 40 PPs (C235).

In North Africa the 7th Australian attacks an Italian garrison (C236). The Italian's respond knocking it down to 3-steps.

It appears that the most of what remains of the RN is off the west coast of France supplying a partisan that was wiped out last turn (C237). I'm sure they fleet will move slightly south to supply the other partisan there.

C235. Wolfpack Center

C236. North African Command

C237. Western France

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 5:24 am

Turn 67. April 13, 1943 Axis.

The weather on the Russian front cleared and Army Group North and Center launched their long waited '43 offensive (C238). A Russian tank corps, mechanized corps and four or five infantry corps were destroyed and two other infantry corps were cut off. In the south the axis command pushes forward without much resistance (C239).

The 7th and 9th Australian infantry corps in North Africa unwisely pressed their attacks. They paid the price with both corps getting wiped out (C240).

Wolfpack North spotted and attack a Russian convoy (C241). The convoy doesn't stand a chance and will be finished off in the next turn or two.

The axis deployed three newly built German infantry corps and one newly built Italian corps. The axis also mobilized (i.e., built) three more German infantry corps, which will be deployed next turn. The axis ended the turn with an oil stockpile of 377.

C238. Russian Front (Army Group North & Center)

C239. Russian Front

C240. North Africa Command

C241. Wolfpack North

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 5:37 am

April 22, 1943 13:15 Army Group South HQ, Southern Russia

Rommel was handed the newly decoded dispatch from General Rundstedt commander of the North Africa Krops Army. He though it was odd that he was sent this dispatch but when he read it he realized that it was sent as a courtesy from Rundstedt. His former aide, Major Von Stauffenberg, had been promoted to Lt. Colonel and was given command of a Battalion in the XV Panzergenadier crops. He was seriously wounded in North Africa and was now recovering in a hospital in Munich. He had lost his right hand just below the wrist, the last two fingers on his left hand and his left eye. Rommel wished Stauffenberg a speedy recovery and knew that once recovered he would be assigned some staff position probably at OKW in Berlin.

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 6:20 am

Turn 68. May3, 1943 Axis.

The offensive in Russia is going very well with a large pocket of troops in the north either being destroyed and surrounded and cut off from supply (C242). In the south the axis push ahead with very little air support (C243). The only impediment to this offensive is the axis oil level which finished at 272.

Oil is now a concern especially with the air and sea battles going on in the west (C244 and C245). The Norway command and Wolfpack North finished off the Murmansk convoy (well almost it was at 1-step) and sunk another allied BB. However; off the west coast of France are 4 new UK CV builds. The western allied AI doesn't seem to invest in air units but appears to invest heavily in naval units.

C242. Russian Front North

C243. Russian Front South

C244. Norway Command

C245. French Command

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 7:13 am

Turn 69. May 23, 1943 Axis.

Oil is the only this that can and will slow me. The axis oil stockpile was at 201 at the end of the turn.

The axis are push forward in northern Russia in hard fighting (C246). In southern Russia they march ahead with little resistance and little air support (C247).

Air command of the French command (C248) has been staying very busy but has inflicted significant step losses on the RAF. Notice the presence of the UK armor and infantry corps in southern England. Also, note the continued presence of the 4 RN CVs off the west coast of France. The AI has really misused the RN. Those four CVs could be used for hunting subs or supporting a Torch.

C246. Russia (North)

C247. Russia (South)

248. French Command

richardsd · Post by **richardsd** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 10:44 am

One thing you can do playing the AI (if you are trying to win faster etc.. although much better to play someone) is let them land in France. You just kill the support ships that way you end up killing them on land which uses way less oil!

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:25 pm

Turn 70. June 12, 1943 Axis.

Army Groups North and Center continue to make good progress on the Russian front, not so much in territory gained, but units destroyed (C249). Leningrad fell, which secures the the northern flank of Army Group North. Army Group Center continue their push towards Moscow; but the brakes are going to have be applied to the offensive because oil, which ended at 168, is now critical.

In the south the going is slow (C250); even though Russian resistance is light, due to the lack of air power and the percentage of Italian and axis minor units that make up the line there. Their main job, which includes Army Group South, is to protect the southern flank of Army Group Center.

Because of the low oil situation the focus on the Russian front will be to clean up the pocketed Russian corps and clean up the axis front lines.

In France the RN task force, which contains 4 CVs, is staying off the southwest Atlantic coast of France (C251). Also, a UK armor and infantry corps have appeared in south of London. I need to play this as if I were playing against another human and if that were the case, this would point to a possible invasion of France in that area. As such, Wolfpack Center (C252), which attacked and has trapped the central convoy, has been recalled to France to protect against an allied invasion there.

C249. Eastern Front (North)

C250. Eastern Front (South)

C251. French Command

C252. Wolfpack Center

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:04 am

Turn 71. July 2, 1943 Axis.

Just because the axis had to put the brakes on the '43 offensive on the Russian front doesn't mean it was shut down. The axis continued to attack (C253) using infantry and air. Armor and mechanized units were frozen and didn't participate. That help a bit and the axis oil ended at 147.

In the south (C254) the axis line is getting very shabby and couple that with the appearance of a Russian tanks corps makes the situation that much worse. Next turn, two or three German infantry corps will be railed south to help shore up that area.

The western allies brought two invasion transports next to coast. Axis infantry moved forward to block the invasion beaches (C255). I'm a believer in that the best defense against an invasion is to meet them on the beaches and keep them from landing.

The Murmansk convoy popped up against near the Norway Command and Wolfpack North has set a picket to engage it and their escorts (C256).

C253. Russian Front North

C254. Russian Front

C255. French Command

C256 Norway Command

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:13 am

Turn 72. July 22, 1943

The '42 Russian offensive continues but only in a limited scope (C257-C259). Army Group South destroyed a Russian tanks corps and the area near the Black Sea was reinforced. Army Group North pushed to close the trap on the Russian units in the Petroavodsk area. That's the last objective left for the '43 offensive in Russia.

The Norway Command and Wolfpack Center (C260) stopped the Russian convoy and destroyed two allied BB squadrons.

Air units of the French Command (C261) hit invasion transports carrying armor units.

Axis oil ended at 104, which is now super critical.

C257. Army Group North

C258. Army Group Center

C259. Army Group South

C260. Norway Command

C261. French Command

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:52 am

Turn 73. August 11, 1943

This turn was the last turn of the '43 Russian Front Offensive (C262 & C263). All bombers are grounded and all armor units are ordered to stand down. Until oil stockpiles can be built back up only defensive operations, including counterattacks, is authorized.

The attack on the Murmansk convoy was carried out by two u-boat flotillas of Wolfpack North and the Kriegsmarines (C264).

The French command continued their air attacks on the armor invasion transports (C265).

The RN in the Med decided to sorties and shell Italian troops off the coast of Libya (C266). The Italian navy responded with less the stellar results.

Axis oil ended at 63!!!

C262. Army Group North

C263. Army Group South

C264. Wolfpack North & Kreigsmarine

C265. France

C266. North Africa

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 3:03 am

Turn 74. August 31, 1943 Axis.

I though it would be a cakewalk to take out Russia against the AI; but it isn't because of two factors, which are: (1) not exploiting know weakness of the AI and (2) oil. This AAR goes to you how important it is to manage your oil as the axis. My objectives are to continue slow pushes against Russia (C267 & C268) using primarily infantry and fighters when air is needed and to keep the western allies off balance and from landing in France (C269).

Russian casualties are high but more and more units keep popping up. However; the Red Air force has seem to gone away and two German fighters were transferred to France.

One thing I'm not doing is grounding my fighters in France. I want to continue to punish the Allied player for their air attacks and, right now, fighters and subs are the most cost effective oil consuming units. Tactical bombers, tanks and mechanized units are, except in very specific attacks, not used. Also, one thing I'm not doing is moving armor units or tactical bombers. I rail them if I need to redeploy them. Also, I've stopped repairing tactical bombers as I'm not able to use them for oil.

C267. Army Group North

C268. Army Group South

C269. France

C270. Casualties

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 3:37 am

Turn 75. September 20, 1943 Axis.

The two major areas of activity on the Eastern Front are in the Moscow Sector (C271) and the Rostov Sector (C272). Primarily German infantry supported by some, but not much air, push on destroying Russian corps and gaining ground. Moscow is about to be surrounded and the axis have almost reached the first oil fields in the Caucasus.

In the west, the axis continue to sink allied invasion transport after transport (C273). And in the Med, the Italian navy sunk a DD squadron that sorties to supply the partisan that had spawned on the coast in Greece.

My assessment of the situation is that the axis have broken the backs of the Russians and destroyed the western allied capability to land in Europe.

C271. Moscow Sector

C272. Rostov Sector

C273. France

C274. The Med

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 4:08 am

Turn 76. October 10, 1943.

The weather remained fair all across Europe. Moscow was ringed and isolated from the rest of Russia this turn (C275). The axis continued to push in the Caucasus (C276). And, more allied transports were sunk (C277).

In the Med (not shown), an RN CV attacked one of the Italian BB flotillas and knocked off 6-steps bring it down to 1-step.

C275. Moscow Sector

C276. Rostov Sector

C277. France

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 4:34 am

Turn 77. October 30, 1943 Axis.

I wish I could claim that I was a tactical genius and was able to take Moscow with extreme skill but I can't. The axis did take Moscow (C278) because the AI did something really dumb. It attack out of Moscow losing 5-steps and some entrenchment. And the weather was fair so I hit Moscow with two tactical bombers and an Infantry attack to take it. Axis oil ended at 46, which was 7 higher than last turn's 39.

In the south, with Russia on the ropes and fair weather all across Europe the axis pushed very hard with depleted units (C279). However; the defenders are more depleted. One of the Caucasus' oil field is in reach.

C278. Moscow

C279. Caucasus

rkr1958 · Post by **rkr1958** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 5:02 am

Turn 78. November 19, 1943 Axis.

Fair weather again in Northern Europe and Russia! So the axis continue to push east of Moscow (C280) and into the Caucasus (C281). It appears what's left of the Red Army is massing around Vologda. Well, except for the pocket of corps trapped in the Moscow pocket.

In the west the weather was mud/rain so no action and all fighters were grounded. Axis oil stockpiles ended at 60, which was up 14 from the previous turns. Also, the Germans deployed their 9th u-boat flotilla this turn and have two more in the build queue along with two infantry corps.

U-boats and fighters will be the most cost effective, with respect to oil, to keep the western allies off balance and out of Europe. In Russia, infantry and fighters with the occasionally tactical bomber attack for critical attacks should do the trick.

C280. Moscow

281. Caucasus Oil Fields