The tortoise and the hare (War is over)

[richardsd]

maybe, but I would want to hit his oil, thats his weakness - might not manifest till later, but you just can't PP your way out of oil.

[massina_nz]

maybe, but I would want to hit his oil, thats his weakness - might not manifest till later, but you just can't PP your way out of oil.

My thoughts exactly. In our game I basically ran out of oil and could only use about 25% of my airforce and tanks. Didn't help they were high-tech as well. All those PPs of mine didn't really help, becasue I couldn't buy much given my manpower ran out.

[massina_nz]

<snip> EDIT: I just saw Massina's last move (you posted yours after he did), and now I would be worried. From your screenshots, I did not realize that there was a gap in your defensive line north of Voronesh. It seems you have to sacrifice some troops to let the bulk escape.

Judging by my opponents other AARs I don't think he actually worries about battle lines and he tends to form his units into large battle-groups. Let him have Voronezh and it's precincts, it's a few PPs and near supply zone 3. I want to keep him away from the oil, and keep Leningrad and Moscow. He can have Stalingrad.

With all those mechanised units he will be chewing through the oil.

[Plaid]

Mechs burn only 1 oil point, armour and fighters - 2. Only real oil users this early in the game are german TACs. I don't mean that all this units are good for SM's oil pool, but just want to warn you, that allowing german forces to conquer land at will only because they burn some oil is probably not the best idea.

[massina_nz]

Mechs burn only 1 oil point, armour and fighters - 2. Only real oil users this early in the game are german TACs. I don't mean that all this units are good for SM's oil pool, but just want to warn you, that allowing german forces to conquer land at will only because they burn some oil is probably not the best idea.

Warning noted. That's why I want to at least keep Moscow and Leningrad. But as the games rolls on and the Germans up their tech they will burn more oil. Of course they might choose not to upgrade their oil-burning units.

[massina_nz]

The Bismarck makes an appearance.



Meanwhile in the rest of Italy Taranto falls, which is good news for me, a supply source on the mainland, but I had to use up my last invasion point to do it. Note: I didn't take Taranto with the MECH unit, because it will be one hex closer to the Gustav line the way it is placed now. My DDs move to soften up Naples. Ploesti is also bombed and is down to 3 production. I attack the Bismarck in port and swap a step each, I also have another sub lurking nearby.



The build-up in Spain continues. In two turns I will be able to fly the RAF FTRs there directly. I now also have two STRs in England as well. I place an order for a UK TAC, as a couple will be required to oust Axis units from Spain.



I'm guessing by the inability of the German INF corps to destroy the Russian INFs, that my my early upgrade of INF defense tech is working here. I draw back a bit and also destroy the lead 7-step INF corp.



My opponent retreats a transport and the DD, but still atempts to take Maikop without much luck. I expected more Russian casualties elsewhere



I reinforce my defenses around Maikop, and draw back to Voronezh. The Axis still have 3 guarranteed turns of FAIR weather.

[massina_nz]

Well if I was playing with fire before, I've certainly stoked it some more this turn.



Well that was dumb, I should have purchased the TAC this turn, not last turn. Should've checked the tech status.



Axis forces make continued good progress in the south



Seeing that the lead German units are mostly Tanks and their effectiveness is low from all the advancing and attacking, I decide that this the time for a counter-attack, using my local air-superiority I'm able to put a serious dent into the Germans. I expect some more pain next turn.



Voronezh falls and I pull back to Stalingrad.



In the north I elimiante another German INF and a Bulgarian INF. Handy because I'll need to send these troops elsewhere. The Germans are very thin it seems in this area so I should only need a token defence in the short-term. Given luftwaffe is down south then they won't really know what Russian troops are in the north.



Well it was a case of when and not if the Germans would garrison the Gustav line, there's not much more the Brits can do in Italy. So I'm guessing that my opponent hasn't garrisoned the Spanish coastal cities. So I send a couple of transports westwards. One uncovers a 3-step u-boat off Tunis, which is destroyed by the two MEd FTRs.

The synth oil plant is bombed again to zero production despite a German FTR being in residence.

It's lookign rather ropey in the east, I wait for the bad weather to come to my aid, and I'm seriously considering sending US land forces to the Caucuases to help.

[trulster]

Since you have uncovered earlier in the game that his strategy is all-out attack with little consideration of defence why not continue the counterattacks in the north towards Minsk etc? Good to keep the Germans active when winter is at hand.

I think sending US land forces to Russia should only be done if there is absolutely no other useful destination for them. Shipping some air power might be both faster and more useful.

[Plaid]

Thats nice counterattack on the south! The way axis should be treated - less running, more fighting.
By the way, don't forget to ZoC Gustal line forces - they can be railed other way to plug the holes.

[zechi]

I would strongly recommend that you open another front with the western allies as soon as possible, either in Vichy France or elsewhere, so that Supermax will have to react with a significant force to repel or stop your attack. If the Axis player presses the Soviets hard in Russia you must put pressure on him somewhere else, to weaken the offensive in the east.

You should also be able to take Naples in Italy. There is only a GAR there and you can shore bombard the hex with 2 naval units and attack with 2 ground units. In combination with air strikes this should be sufficient to destroy it, at least after a few turns you should succeed.

[Plaid]

Why should Massina go for Vichy France, when there is normal France? It will be more easy to support troops with air assets from Britain and it will not provide axis with additional troops and PP income.

[zechi]

Why should Massina go for Vichy France, when there is normal France?

There are two advantages of attacking Vichy France after the entry of war of the US. Firstly, the Axis player can only react after the declaration of war. Therefore he cannot block the landing spots in southern France and the Allied player has the chance to land safely and quickly occupy Marseille and other Vichy cities. Secondly, you get the Free French Forces for free.

Of course the whole thing has a drawback, as the income of the Axis forces is increased and the Axis player gains a few GAR and of course two BBs (but they are at 3 and 7[?] steps). Nevertheless, if the Allied player plays cleverly he can quickly overhelm most of the more interesting Vichy cities (like Marseille) and also knock out the Vichy navy with SUBs stationed at the relevant ports. The North African Vichy cities can also be attacked easily during a bad weather period in central europe.

But as you pointed rightfully out, it could also be a good strategy to attack Axis occupied France. However, this will most likely result in a succesful Axis counterattack at this stage of the war. Nevertheless, it would most likely draw forces from the east to the West, which would be good.

[massina_nz]

Since you have uncovered earlier in the game that his strategy is all-out attack with little consideration of defence why not continue the counterattacks in the north towards Minsk etc? Good to keep the Germans active when winter is at hand.

I think sending US land forces to Russia should only be done if there is absolutely no other useful destination for them. Shipping some air power might be both faster and more useful.

Yes it's either France or Russia for the US. They would be more effective in France given I will have air cover there from the UK.

I've never gone for a 42 D-day before, but I think I really must in order to alleviate the pressure on Russia. If the Germasn leave GARs only in France, then a sucessful early D-day is vey possible, especially with the large amout of UK PPs I'm getting.

[zechi]

Even if your D-Day fails, because Supermax send in German reinforcements from the east, it can be considered a success, because these forces will be missing in the east. However, you should carefully plan your attack in the right time, i.e. during an offensive in the east.

[massina_nz]

Even if your D-Day fails, because Supermax send in German reinforcements from the east, it can be considered a success, because these forces will be missing in the east. However, you should carefully plan your attack in the right time, i.e. during an offensive in the east.

Yes I'm thinking I should place the transports so that they can invade in the first turn of May, which is when the FAIR weather will return to Russia.

What do you think, should I soften up all the French coastal cities before the invasion, or leave it as a surprise. I'm guessing it's not really a surprise that a '42 D-day will be attempted.

[Plaid]

Even if your D-Day fails, because Supermax send in German reinforcements from the east, it can be considered a success, because these forces will be missing in the east. However, you should carefully plan your attack in the right time, i.e. during an offensive in the east.

Yes I'm thinking I should place the transports so that they can invade in the first turn of May, which is when the FAIR weather will return to Russia.

What do you think, should I soften up all the French coastal cities before the invasion, or leave it as a surprise. I'm guessing it's not really a surprise that a '42 D-day will be attempted.

I think that you should soften up axis to draw out couple of PPs and MPs. Also if you spot massive reserve deployment (which is unlikely) you always can cancel landing.

[zechi]

Even if your D-Day fails, because Supermax send in German reinforcements from the east, it can be considered a success, because these forces will be missing in the east. However, you should carefully plan your attack in the right time, i.e. during an offensive in the east.

Yes I'm thinking I should place the transports so that they can invade in the first turn of May, which is when the FAIR weather will return to Russia.

What do you think, should I soften up all the French coastal cities before the invasion, or leave it as a surprise. I'm guessing it's not really a surprise that a '42 D-day will be attempted.

I would begin with the landings 1 or 2 turns earlier (April). Supermax will then have nearly finished his build up for his 1942 offensive and your unexpected landing will perhaps ruin his build up plan, because he will have to rail units beack to western Europe. I would not soften up the GAR in the French cities, if you have other meaningful duties for your navy. However, if there is nothing else they can do, you should begin with the shore bombardment immediately. Supermax will have to pay at least some PP to bring the damaged units back to 10 steps each turn.

[massina_nz]

A good turn for the Allies, I begin to feel the winds of change in my favour.



Bad news at first as the Axis offensive continues in the south, and Stalingrad falls.



However I'm able to attack the exposed panzers, eliminating two ARMs a MECH and seriously reducing a MECH, I really hope the Axis persists with their quest for oil



More good fortune as I trap all the Axis forces in Finland. It's the old seabourne invasion by the Leningrad garison. In a few turns Finland will be mine. But no point in rushing.



Naples is attacked and reduced, will the Axis train in another unit? The Kreigsmarine is reduced to 1-step, Ploesti's production is kept down to 3 and Rome is bombed as well.



Yep, as expected Barcelona isn't garrisoned. I know that last turn with the u-boat being sunk that th Germans may suspect some activity on the costa del sol. So I place another transport by Valencia, in the hope that they believe this is the only one, and Barcelona is not being targetted. If I can take Barcelona, I can then use some Med troops to link up with the other troops in the west of Spain, cutting the Rail link to Madrid and the south of Spain.

[Plaid]

If I am right, SW is somewhere near. Once it hits, this axis units in 3 supply zone in the south will be in big trouble.
If they retreat for good instead, it means all their casualties and oil burned are...in vain.

[joerock22]

Nice moves in the Caucuses; supermax has captured a lot of territory, but you have done your job in keeping the main Russian fores intact and making it costly for him. I especially like the amphibous landing from Leningrad; I'll have to keep that in mind for future games.