Defending the Reich - the war is over

[Plaid]

This time my infantry survived at 2 steps, attacked by soviets. So I just retreated with it, and placed fresh romanian unit there.



No attacks this turn - my units rested and repaired.

North is stagnant as always and don't worth a picture.

Americans started to land near Tripoli, while britts assault Bengazi. Garrisons hold for now.



Soon they are expected to come for Sicily (more wasted time and resources), and finally in Italy, where I will fight them as often.

This russian winter offencive was strong and painful, but looks like I survived it, and conquest of Britain started to pay off. Also my opponent left Ploesti alone, so oil stock slowly increase. Summer will be used to fix my positions a bit and to destroy some russian units. Main goal is to prepair good defencive positions with significat offencive power behind lines, to be ready to deal with any breakthrough and inflict massive casualties to weakened attacking units.

[Plaid]

Infantry, survived last turn at 2 steps, was finished off with soviet airpower. Looks like soviet winter offencive ended for now, only one ground attack happened during Zechi's turn, and with good (for me) result - my infantry scored 4:1 vs soviet one.



In my turn luftwaffe again inflicted good amount of damage to soviet armour and tech inferior fighters (even italian ones are now better, then soviet), but no ground action, since its still SW weather.

More infantry and armour railed from reserves - soviet southern front looks impressive, and I am going to do something with it during summer.

Probably last report from Lybia - "fortresses" fall one by one to allied forces.



I purchased one more german fighter. Next turn Schoerner will be ready for new assignment - AGS awaits commander. Also I noticed, that Reichenau is injured for 14 more turns. Probably he will recover just in time to take command in Britain (I don't expect landing there in '42, but in '43 its possible).

Another 83 PP soviet convoy spotted and going to be destroyed by kriegsmarine.

[Plaid]

Fair weather finally started in northern weather zone, so I am planning to push a bit.



Zechi retreated with his armour, facing threat to be vapourised by luftwaffe TACs, so now I am facing only infantry (and mechs).

If Neil is reading this AAR, now he can see, that I am doing exactly same thing that he did in our game on exactly same hexes north of Vinnitsa - killing soviet infantry with luftwaffe and armour . Killed 2 this turn. Air casualties were very light, since soviet fighters were on centry.
I am still planning to take city, because it is valueable as rail hub.

Also I railed one italian fighter here (after picture was taken, so its not shown), and will rail another one next turn. They are not great vs western allies, but (supposed to be) very good vs russians.



In Atlantic my fleet engages new soviet convoy, and it is going to be destroyed, since remains of RN (and USN) are in MED now. Spotted bomber, rebasing to counter my sub operations, so fighters are requested to be deployed on british airfields. Also looks like I will need a leader for Britain army group soon, this 13 turns away Reichenau is too long to wait.



In Africa all is lost, Tripoli falls to massive USA offencive. I have only 2 garrisons on Sicily, but some good troops are ready to face allies in Italy mainland.
Anyway without 2.0 ferry crossing feature I don't see any point to defend Sicily. Also with total allied naval (and air) superiority in the region, island can be a trap for axis troops.

[Plaid]

Well, Zechi attacked my armour in swamps, reducing it to 4 steps. Good side is that he involved soviet airforce, which already received some damage, and will receive more during my turn.



And here we go - 2 more corps and 1 garrison destroyed, significant soviet air casualties. Vinnitsa captured aswell.



In MED allies started to bomb Sicily (SAC taken good damage from my fighter alread).



In Atlantic I am going to move my convoy destroying area a bit to the east, under CAP of my new arrived fighter. I am going to reassign Schoerner for Britain, and purchase better leadership commander for AGS, Model for example.



One more fighter and mech purchased this turn.

[Plaid]

Red army counterattacks me, destroying 2 leading infantry corps. Well, not this heavy damage, I have plenty of PPs and tons of manpower before 2nd (50%) penalty.



Soviet airforce somehow (they are 0-1 level dog fight) scored good even results against luftwaffe during their turn (maybe they were intercepted by weak fighters, don't know), but during my I fixed it. One soviet fighter corps is simple destroyed, another is damaged.

Also destroyed mech corps, corps and armour.



Italian armour lost 5 steps and going to be destroyed, but it succesfully forces soviet mech corps to retreat and its not useful unit, so its okay.

Here we have sort of Husky launching. I don't care about Sicily, as I said above, let allies have their fun for now.

Still, idea of offencive is to shock red army with large casualties and force retreat or other tactical mistake, because if Zechi have will to fight I have no chance against this masses of infantry and mechs.



Soviet convoy finished off, strategic bomber engaged by fighters and kriegsmarine.



Purchased 2 more infantry corps for Germany, to replace casualties.

[afk_nero]

If you can keep on destroying more than 180 per turn as you are doing now then he will not be able to effectively replace his army.

Keep up the pressure and he will have to pull back.

[afk_nero]

If you can keep on destroying more than 180 per turn as you are doing now then he will not be able to effectively replace his army.

Keep up the pressure and he will have to pull back.

[Plaid]

Just as planned, Zechi's counterattack this turn was focused on Italians - I lost useless armour and italian corps.

In return continued german offencive destroyed one more soviet armour, infantry and mech corps aswell as inflicted high casualties to red airforce.



I brought in more ground forces and fighters to continue pressure, but I am thinking about a turn break for repairs and upgrades (got 6(!) level final dog fight tech this turn).

In Italy allied invasion fleet showed, so I have to prepair some defences. Italian battleship division engages armour transport and does good damage - they are not useless afterall.



Drafted 2 Italian infantry for home defence, and planning to produce more.

Also Model is recruited to take command in AGS and allow Rundstedt to return back to AGN.

[Plaid]

Looks like Zechi is serious about holding his positions - he continues to counterattack and destroyed one more german corps, even without air support

Since I am not able to cause major southern front collaps, I will focus on killing soviet troops and saving my own. This time I only finished off 1 soviet 6 steps mech corps, while repaired most of luftwaffe and wehrmacht in area. Zechi is expected to go for german infantry, exposed from 3 sides, and probably kill it, but it will create more damaged soviet troops around, so panzers and mechs would score lots of killing blows.



In Italy things are about to begin, since first british troops landed.



All availiable PPs gone for repairs and upgrades this time - no recruitment.

[Plaid]

Somehow soviet army killed 2 german infantry corps, liberating Vinnitsa. Well, if they want the city so much, let them have it, anyway is is exposed, because its on the soviet bank of the river.

Instead I focused on killing troops. 2 mechs finished off, aswell as infantry in swamps. Also numerous soviet air steps knocked out, one fighter corps destroyed from 5 steps to 0.

Also assasination of marshal Zhukov together with his HQ armour planned.



In Italy americans got very close to Taranto and depleted german corps, but situation is "under control" after italian counterattack.



Mech corps convoy heading for Europe (well, it looks like) spotted. I tryed to ambush it.

[Plaid]

AGN well planned operation succesfully injures marshal Zhukov

Well, something in this world still works as inteded. Zechi, probably excited with good progress in MED and south, didn't notice (or ignored) my preparations, which were visible to him (at least looks like it was in LoS of his bombers somewhere near Lvov) This turn AGN forces closely supported by rebased stukas quite easily destroyed Zhukov's armour, AGN commander von Rundstedt and XIV Panzerkorps commander receive Knight's crosses. (by the way I think its last soviet armour, apart from some being probably in queue), since Zechi produced lots of MECHs and infantry during summer action, aswell a repaired air, I don't think he have some armour reserve (also poor tech level likely means that armour is not his choice)





This time south was quiet, no action there.

In MED Zechi continues to get insane high rolls on my Taranto infantry, this time it was reduced to 3 steps, and I replaced it with fresh one (taken from AGS operative reserve via rail). On a good side I finished off 2 step british fighter.



Well, this allies in Italy probably don't understand yet, what are they in for. Rebasing air assets and stormtroopers from the east planned in autumn, to solve Italian problem very radical way.

More infantry drafted for wehrmacht needs. Anyone good in CeaW mechanics can name, what is combat formula looks like, by the way? If I have -1 surv on units, it means that I will get one more step loss more, then without -1, or...?

[Plaid]

Some soviets counterattacks occured in response to destruction of Zhukov's armour, but since its only infantry around, nothing great for soviets.

I lost 1 koprs, but retreated back to my positions, destroying one soviet corps aswell as damaging another.



Soviet airforce showed and taken heavy casualties again.

Real Italy campaign is about to begin, since first elements of force, which will kick allies out of the peninsula, are arriving. Von Bock is on the way to his new assignment in Italy. Western allies need a lesson that early landing with this small force is not great , aren't they?



Near Britain another soviet convoy sunk (well, they all did, since beginning), next one spotted.

[joerock22]

Well, this allies in Italy probably don't understand yet, what are they in for. Rebasing air assets and stormtroopers from the east planned in autumn, to solve Italian problem very radical way.

Good idea. I was just planning to tell you that you're playing with fire in Taranto. Some incredibly good luck and he could capture the city, even against a fresh German corps. An Italian surrender would be disasterous for you at this stage. Eliminating that American corps should be priority #1 in Italy.

[Plaid]

Not only Zechi can finish off my damaged units with airstrikes, like he did in Italy again this turn. 2 steps soviet corps was destroyed by stukas near Minsk. Even better, some low effectiveness fighter tryed to interfere and was destroyed from 9 or 10 (don't remember, check his AAR) steps to 0 with 2 attacks.



In Italy I decided not to attack with low effectiveness troops with battered air assets. Instead I spent turn repairing and brought in more troops aswell as HQ.



Convoy destruction near Britain in progress. Place will be reinforced in spring, to counter possible invasion, if situation on the east will allow me to have free troops.



But if I manage to destroy allied navy in incoming MED campaign, landing in britain (or anywhere else) will be very unlikely.

Got industry level 4 for germany, switched for organisation.

[afk_nero]

Is it worthwhile pulling your troops out of Southern Russia - you dont benefit from holding there and suffering the severe winter hit. I would also move my Finnish fighter down south and get it ready for to help fly CAP in the winter as this is where he will strike. I believe the Finnish fighter should have better tech than the Russians so this would also make them think twice.

[Plaid]

Yes, I am planning to pull back to romanian border before SW hits. Didn't done it yet because my airforce was busy every turn, and retreat will expose airbases

[Plaid]

Italy surrenders!

This turn Zechi somehow killed corps in Taronto. How is it possible at all, there is even only 1 allied TAC bomber and depleted CVs? This american infantry have low tech level aswell... Its just silly



Well, now I am thinking about retreat to Gustav's line and defending there, since I lost any reason to counterattack allies. Bad thing about all this is that central european weather starts there, so I will have winter, while allies will have their air units in MED zone. But ok, I can handle it.

In Russia I retreated out of SW zone just in time, because SW started at the end of my turn. Now I have some time to mend a line, while russians will march through snow fields.



Now german PP income rised to 180, I am ok with oil. Why I need this italians at all? They used same PPs and oil on low tech units.

4 new infantry purchased, WE WILL FIGHT!.

[gerones]

Now german PP income rised to 180, I am ok with oil. Why I need this italians at all? They used same PPs and oil on low tech units.

This is right. Germans get italian PP´s and increase their total production significantly. Your oil is right but I wonder how your oil was at 290 last turn and this turn is 377. Do you increase your oil by almost 100 each turn? Does this mean that italian surrender gives an extra oil bonus to german oil?

[thommo]

Once i got 200 oil from the italian surrender! I guess they hide it somewhere from the german needs

[Plaid]

Quiet turn this time.

In Italy I repaired my fighters, while they continue to regain effectiveness. There was some availiable allied low-step targets, but i'd rather save own steps and oil until reach full power.

Stukas targeted US armour with great result, it can end destroyed next turn.

I want to say, that first time Italy surrenders with me as axis, and I don't know what to do now with a place. When Italy is afloat all is more or less simple - you defend allies to prevent surrender. But what to do now? I have opportunity to launch offencive and kill most of allies units here, but will not it be waste of resources? I can just man Gustav's line, and all this allied troops will be stopped for very long time, they would just stand without action, which is almost same, as destruction. Only thing I don't like with Gustav's line is that it is central weather zone north of it, so my air assets will be uneffective. But on other hand I can just redeploy airforce from MED, since I don't need this many for defence.
Deffinetely I don't want to leave good PP source (and victory point in Rome) without fight.



In Russia soviets slowly move to my lines. They are battered after summer campaign, I estimate their force like 4-5 mechs and 1-2 armour in south, while in north all their forces are infantry and garrisons, and they even don't try anything. Ideally I want soviets to enter breach between Brest-Litovsk and Lvov and then exploit some fair turn in February-March (its central europe zone) to pocket this troops. Even next turn russians will not be able to attack most of my line, apart from Odessa, where I decided to fight a bit. Even in winter my infantry have 4 4 (and trenches), while russians still have 4 3, so why shall we fear?



Got 188 PPs this turn, but spent all on repairs and upgrades. 4 infantry and mech are ready and deployed, awaiting only orders. Where to?