The tortoise and the hare (War is over)

[massina_nz]

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.

Yes it's not an obvious one. By having the BB in port, the transport is promoted next to Finland, and hey presto, one-turn invasion accomplished.

[massina_nz]

The Germans retreat from the Caucauses, presumably worried about being stuck there during SW, as Plaid pointed out earlier. I don't follow him. my defense line here is quite good, and I doubt I would get any good targets when SW hits. Although my troops are mostly in the open, they are next to two cities which helps in that I can place or rail in re-inforcements very close to the front line. I expect the Germans back in '42.



The Germans threaten on the Moscow front. Looks like by the placement of the TACs that they were railed in. Oil becoming a problem already for the Axis?



I'm able to rail in troops from the south to plug the gaps, will the Germans attack next turn?



Vallaloid is taken, not really strageic, but it could be annoying later on. I will attempt an amphib assault on Barcelona next turn if possible.



Naples is taken.

[massina_nz]

The germans retreat from Moscow despite it being FAIR weather.

My first Murmansk convoy of 67PPs arrives, completely unhindered. In addition the USSR war effort jumps from 68% to 90%.

I start to build up some forces around Penza – in the SW I want to retake Tambov



I discover there are now two German FTRs in the West, unsure why the FTR at the synth oil plant was placed on standby.



Barcelona wasn't re-inforced from last turn, and I eliminate the GAR defending it, but it took all six attacks to do it.



Another two FTRs are spotted in the Balkans. But at least my planes will be in the FAIR weather zone. That's just so cheesy.



Further steady progress in Finland.



I'm in two minds what to do with my troops in the Caucauses. I don't really know where the Germans will strike in '42, either here, at Moscow or to the east of Moscow. With the troops placed here they are next to two cities which makes it easier to rail in reserves, but the terrain is less beneficial. If i retreat them to the mountains, they get better terrain, and I'll be able to send some troops to the Moscow front. However that hands over three cities and two oil fields to the Axis. But then having in the German troops outside the rail zone when the D-day landings hit might be very useful.

[massina_nz]

Not much happening – SW hits, but there’s no real targets for the Soviets. I make sure my troops advancing from Penza to liberate Tambov are outside the 2-hex spotting range of the German unit in Tambov.

Only thing of note is that a 5-step TAC turns up in France, for what purpose?

[massina_nz]

Make good progress in Finland, should be able to take it well before summer of '42.



Tambov is liberated in a surgical strike.



Looks like the Germans will defend the gap in southern France, which lets me cut-off the rest of Spain from Mainland Europe. O'Connor is placed in command in Spain.

[zechi]

Do you still plan an early D-Day? With your success in the East and in Spain you could perhaps wait a little bit longer and attack even better prepared.

[massina_nz]

Do you still plan an early D-Day? With your success in the East and in Spain you could perhaps wait a little bit longer and attack even better prepared.

Yes I do, but the primary purpose is to divert German forces and rail points to the West. I will only land if there is a good chance of success. The measure of the success of this strategy is what actually happens on the eastern front. If I manage to hold the Germans in roughly the same postion and away from the oil, then in 1943 the Russians will streamroll the Germans as they hit manpower problems.

[massina_nz]

Zaragosa is taken. We are certainly nibbling little bits off at a time.



A small task force is being sent to invade Spain from the south, the D-Day troops are still in the US waiting patiently. Hmm, once Spain is fully liberated, where to next with all those Allied troops? Italy? Vichy France?

It may seem inefficient to land so many troops in Spain, but the sooner I take all those PPs away from the Germans the better. I'm not sure whether to liberate Gibraltar as well, but it would help in the Med to do so.



Helsinki is now under attack.

[massina_nz]

Some u-boats make life interesting for one of my BBs



But unfortunately for them, my two TACs and two FTRs in Spain had no planned air missions thsi turn so they got some free target practice and knocked off 6 steps of subs.

I keep my MECHs and INFs away from the Germasn as they are due tech upgrades in the next two turns.



AGS begins to inch forward in the snows



Finland falls. A real bonus for me, and not one I had ever planned on.

[massina_nz]

Not sure what the Germans are up to here. Creeping forward to get an advance start on Omsk?



German forces in Turku are reduced by air bombardment.



Valencia is the next Spanish city to be liberated. Seville and Gibraltar threatened, I’m pretty sure there are no garrisons in Seville, so the Gibraltar garrison will have to stay put. It will then be easy to take Seville, Cordoba and the silver mine.

I now delay buying UK MECHs (for D-day) and Russian FTRs as both are waiting for tech upgrades in the next couple of turns. But I do buy another UK FTR to cover D-Day demonstrations/landings.

[massina_nz]

Looks like Germans are trying to recon the Russian defenses around Saratov. I hit the TAC with a FTR and damage the intercepting Romanian FTR.



Turku is taken and I attack Pskov in the hope the Germans divert some of their forces to this sector. That way I don't really need to move my TACs.



First US landing in Europe

Looks like my opponent is either very busy or lost interest in updating his AAR, but I'll keep mine going. haven't actually asked him why.

[massina_nz]

Activity in France ramps up - I guess in anticipation of a '42 D-Day. Riems is finally taken by the Germans.



Attack on Pskov has the desired effect and German reserves are sent there, love to see enemy tanks in forests. German activity in southern Russia halts, but still leaves a TAC in range of one of my FTRs, so I knock a couple of steps off it.



I hit back at the German panzer corp, but leave my INF corp exposed.

I build 3 FTRs and 2 INFs – there’s only a couple more turns of bad weather left.



Cartagena and Seville liberated. I've decided to liberate Gibraltar as well as it gives me easier access to the Med and gives my CVs something useful to do.



I destroy an INF, helps it has low quality because it retreats more easily, it takes 7 attacks, but it may scare opponent into realising his defense there is more fragile than it looks

D-Day fleet from US nears Spain, I’m sure u-boats will spot it coming.

[massina_nz]

My 2-step corps is eliminated.



Here's my forces around Penza - ready to strike at a German advance



US task force makes an appearance off Spain, and the noose tightens on Madrid.

[massina_nz]

MUD this turn in Russia next turn is going to be FAIR – my opponent is saying that they will be quiet for the rest of the game – I find that hard to believe.



Well from almost no substantial German force in the northern sector to a real concentration.



I react to this (yeah I know losing the initiative is not good) and send more forces to this sector



More German forces in France, all my TACs are in Spain, so I don't see how I can force a successful landing in '42, btu that won't stop me from demonstrating.



Gibraltar and Madrid reduced – given the probable defences in France, southern France may be an option instead. Combined with an attack over the Pyrennes

[massina_nz]

The convoy flow into the UK and USSR continues unabated, this turn a massive 164PPs arrive in the UK.



Not really sure where he’s heading here, taking Astrakhan and the eastern mapboard edge has no real affect on forces in Caucuases (except maybe limiting rail movement). Noticeably only low-oil bunring MECHs have been moved.



Thanks to the Russian rail network I can train in some Russian reserves to defend Astrakhan. The Germasn may get a surprise next turn as I placed three new FTRs in range of Astrakhan this turn. Many of my Russian units take an AT upgrade and some FTRs a dogfight upgrade. Forces begn to mass aorund Saratov, presumably out of visible range of the Germans.



Didn't expect this, as the Germans retreat.



Madrid is liberated, that just leaves Gibraltar at 2-steps. Note the two transports off Portugal heading for the south of France.



Allied troops arrive at the French coast. I don't except to land this turn or in the near future. the main aim is for the Germans to focus on the French coastline and chew up rail points shifting their GARs around, whilst my air units and navy take pot shots at them. Cheesey way of raising experience with little risk. Especially versus low EFF GARs not in cities.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

It seems to me that Supermax'es front in the west is collapsing. He has only one card left to play and that's a major offensive in Russia with a spearhead towards Omsk and Moscow. If he can force a Russian surrender then he might survive. If not then Germany will lose in 1944.

It's e. g. possible to concentrate armor forces north of the German mech blob and try to cut these off if they go for Astrakhan. Losing the city means you can't rail new units there.

Since his armor units are hidden I suspect they're concentrated in reserve for a major offensive you've taken a bait and sent your main offensive units elsewhere. If you focus on defending Moscow and the line towards Omsk then he will have big problems breaking through early enough to avoid a disaster in the west.

I think this game proves very well the importance of Italy. They' don't have great offensive units, but they can hold quiet areas of the front line, thus freeing up precious German units for offensive purposes.

[massina_nz]

Germans make good progress in the north, my only plan here is that they will eventually run out of steam. My underlying plan with my six Russian FTRs is to reduce his TACs so the German offensive might is lessened.



I withdraw further



Well is seems the Caucauses are on the Menu again as Stravopol almost falls - I assuem the Germans are more desperate for oil than knocking Russsia out of the war. Or maybe they need the oil in '42 to do the latter in '43.



Whilst my troops in the Caucauses await the onslaught, I manage to inflict severe losses on the Romanian FTR. Hopefully the Germans can't see all my troops in the north .



Germans block the beaches in France and attack the transports



The u-boat makes an easy target for my STRs and I manage to reduce the luftwaffe, as well as shifting my transports north to threatened unoccupied beaches.



Gibraltar falls just in time for the US transports bound for the Med.

[massina_nz]

Germans divert towards Leningrad



I'm able to destroy the lead German INF unit and reduce the German TACs a little bit. I can't see the Germans making more progress here without re-plenishing the Luftwaffe.



My Tanks provide a juicy morsel for the German TACs, that was a slightly silly move on my part as one is taken down to 3-steps. Also the rail link to the Caucauses are cut.



I allow myself a counter-attack in the Caucauses destroying an ARM and an Axis minor INF. Will my line hold next turn?



I retreat back towards Saratov. Hoping to hold the Germans at bay.



More movement to block landings, but the Luftwaffe is left vulnerable, I'm able to destroy the 2-step TAC with a CV and.....



....destroy a FTR whilst severely damaging the remaining FTR, using combined air and naval bomardment attacks. I now have complete air superiority over France.



Bordeaux is softened up, I never expected to make such easy progress here. Although I know from my Spanish gambit game that Bordeaux is hard for the Germans to defend. A port in France, even this far south will be handy.

[trulster]

Good going! Might want to look out for some suicidal amphibious operations against strategic targets on the Caspian.

[massina_nz]

Good going! Might want to look out for some suicidal amphibious operations against strategic targets on the Caspian.

LOL, that happens in two turns time. I'll catch up with my AAR postings today.

Yes I was going to make such a comment in my next post. it's fairly easy to defend against, because next turn I built a unit in Baku for that reason.