The tortoise and the hare (War is over)

[massina_nz]

Germans re-focus their efforts and eliminate several Russian units.



I decide that I can't hope to fight this out toe-to-toe. I retreat my troops in the knowledge that some more will be destroyed, but that some may escape, if I stay I'm sure the Russian troops will crumble and they will ahve more chance fighting in the rougher terrrain to the south. This effectively gives the two oil-fields to the Germans, but only for now. I hope that come Winter and 1943, with the Western Allies putting more pressure on, that I will be able to re-take the oil-fields.



Bordeaux is taken, and the Allied transports move southwards. My southern France invasion force is ready to go, I'd prefer another turn to top-up my air force, but time is of the essence I feel.

[massina_nz]

As predicted correctly by Truls, the Germans make a play for Baku. And two other oil-fields fall into Axis hands.



I'm able to easily block the attempted landings and severley damage one transport. A couple of Iraqi GARs are also sent to the Caspian Sea port. As well some Russian air units are sent south.



I DOW'd Vichy France this turn, and was quite successful, with Toulouse and Marseille taken and Nice down to 2-steps. With no ability for the Germans to train units into the south of France, I should be able to reach the open terrain of central France which will be covered by 5 TACs, 5 FTRs and 2 CVs as well as the RN & US Navy providing shore bombardment, I think I can now turn France into a killing zone.

And when Winter comes I will be able to re-base my air units in Spain or Italy.

What I do with the US units near Marseille will depend on how the Germans react. I'd prefer to push into northern Italy, but if the Germasn station significant troops there I will have to perimeter it and push on into France.

I forgot that a DOW of Vichy France would activate Syria, so I will send a couple of Frre French untis to Iraq and Egypt in case the Germans do anything wierd there.

[massina_nz]

Well I'm away on holdiay in the sunny Hawkes Bay for a week, so this will be a the last post for a wee while. I'll be more acerbic than in recent posts to give you a idea on how I feel the game is going and what my plans are.



I was pretty sure that when Vichy France activated that my opponent would use it aggressively where they could. I planned on having the bare minimum of forces available to handle it. So first I notice that there's a ploy for Gibraltar. The Axis would have guessed correctly that I would have very few garrisons in Spain as there is no threat of partisans for me there. And taking Gibraltar would be very annoying for the Allies.



However I twist this to my slight advantage. I knew last turn I could always fly a TAC down to Gibraltar in such an eventuality. I now threaten Oran with a GAR transport of my own from Bracelona. Either way the BB and Oran is gone without much of a fight, and the transport is easy meat next turn. And the Axis will have to pay the extra 4PPs for being over transport capacity. So it's a small win for me.



Syrian forces also begin to move. The two Free French INF units are on the way from Dakar to the Red Sea and Persian gulf so they will be tasked with handling this incursion. I'mnot sure if or where the Beirut GAR may have gone, but only Port Said is of any real Strategic value and I can easily block any attempt. I think I've worked out that the Axis may be able to temporarily block the train network between Egypt and Iraq for a few turns before I can deal with them. Also the Tunis GAR has left for Egypt as well, so I will repeat the process with the GAR stationed in Benghazi, taking out Tunis. Which will then leave just one North African Vichy port to take, and then all the Vichy forces a neutralised.



Nice is not re-inforced and there are lots more German INF units in France which is good news for Russia and should mean that the Germans are getting close to the 50% manpower trigger point. So my short-term aim in France is to eliminate as many GARs as possible as they make easier targets.



I'm able to destroy four GAR units this turn in France and threaten Brittany and Normandy again. It looks like the Germans want to defend behind the Loire river and one way round that is to take a northern port. I don't expect to make a lot of progress in France in '42, but it has fulfilled one of my major aims - reducing German committment to Russia.



In the Caucauses the Germans continue to make progress, thank fully there are only two more guarranteed FAIR weather turns.



Baku continues to be threatened.



I sink the northern-most transport with TACs and the southern-most one is damaged, if it lands it will be unsupported. This could get interesting in the next couple of turns. As most of the Russian air force is in this sector, if the transports don't find land during FAIR weatehr they will become sitting ducks. There are also several 2-step Axis air units in the Caucauses that would provide easy targets for the Red air force.

Overall things are looking good in the West and a bit dicey in the East. If the Anglo-Americans can keep the pressure up the Russians should be able to weather any early '43 attacks and then begin to grind the Germans down. If I can retake the Russian oil-fields I think the Germans may crumble very quickly, I sense they are very low on oil given their recent desperate attacks.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

You will easily win this game if you go for an all out assault in France. Get every PP you have into new units for France. There is no way Supermax can stop you when you've landed and at the same time keep up in Russia. Soon his losses will be bigger than his income.

[massina_nz]

Right - back from Holiday and quite a few turns to post.



The Beirut GAR turns up next to Port Said, and the Tunis one makes a bee-line for Alexandria.



This was pretty easy to counter by railing in a GAR to Port Said. My two Free French INF untis should appear in this theatre next turn, and am hoping for an easy take of Syria.



The Oran GAR attempts to land in Morocco, and strangely the BB at Oran doesn't do anything at all.



The GAR transport is easily sunk by the combined attack of a TAC, Sub and BB. Oran falls and the Vichy French BB there is scuttled. The Free French ARM is on it's way to attack Casablanca.



The Germans execute some excellent attacks and isolate several Russian units. They also give up on Baku and move their transports next to friendly hexes to land them next turn.



I manage to get two units back into supply via Kerch, with a freakish combat result. I was going to land the INF unit from Kerch to attack, but it wasn't needed, the first attack was just to soften the German INF unit up, but instead caused it to retreat. Note how many low-step air untis have attacked in the German turn, it seems decidedly fuel-inefficient. Question for the developers, do partial strength units use a whole unit of oil each. Say a 7-step ARM unit uses 70% of normal fuel consumption, or does it use 100%?



The Germans keep shuttling their troops around France.



The Anglo-American advance continues slowly. I spot my first German INF that has survivability 3, so German manpower is <50%, Russian manpower is hovering just over 75%.

[rkr1958]

Question for the developers, do partial strength units use a whole unit of oil each. Say a 7-step ARM unit uses 70% of normal fuel consumption, or does it use 100%?

It uses 100%. Is this something that we should consider fixing?

[massina_nz]

Question for the developers, do partial strength units use a whole unit of oil each. Say a 7-step ARM unit uses 70% of normal fuel consumption, or does it use 100%?

It uses 100%. Is this something that we should consider fixing?

I was wondering it it may offset some peoples recent qualms about the lack of Oil. Does seem a bit weird that a 1-step unit uses as much oil as a 10-step.

Has this type of request come up before?

[AC67]

Oil consumption being proportional to the unit strenght sounds reasonable to me. Oil production is also proprtional to the ressource hex strenght, so it makes sense.

[massina_nz]

Germans begin to retreat in the north.



And consolidate their postions in the south.



This turn I do send the Kerch garrison across the straits and destroy the 4-step German INF. A counter-attack at Batumi backed by TACs forces a German INF to retreat. I’m also able to destroy the recently landed 6-step MECH with air support. Air battles over the Caucauses are fierce as the German TACs take serious losses, Having the whole Red Air force based in this theatre is beginning to sway the tide in my favour.



This becomes a little puzzle for me to work out.



I begin to reduce the GAR near Port Said first.



German positions in Italy consolidate as well.

But they retreat in France. Can I get another French port before winter falls?



Nantes is taken and Rennes almost taken, overwhelming air power makes this very achieveable.



Tunis taken and Algiers & Casablanca softened up. 2-step vichy fleet escaped from Casablanca– which will divert some resources.

As an aside have had very few partisans, which is a bit of a disappointment.

[massina_nz]

MUD in Russia & Central Europe, so mostly tech upgrades for all forces.

Weather helps with bombing of Ploesti which is now in red – I also bomb Grozny oil field for the first time.

I have to be careful with my Russian manpower which is still hovering over 75%, so I will tend to build air units instead.

[soh]

Question for the developers, do partial strength units use a whole unit of oil each. Say a 7-step ARM unit uses 70% of normal fuel consumption, or does it use 100%?

It uses 100%. Is this something that we should consider fixing?

I was wondering it it may offset some peoples recent qualms about the lack of Oil. Does seem a bit weird that a 1-step unit uses as much oil as a 10-step.

Has this type of request come up before?

thats a good point massina-nz

[massina_nz]

MUD in Central Europe so not much happening in France and Italy.



It's Winter in Russia – Germans move to further consolidate in the Caucauses, destroying one INF corp near Batumi but having to lose some steps to do so.



Using air support I'm able to eliminate an INF corp next to Batumi - it's a familiar theme here, with sufficent air support, especially TACs, even INF corps can achieve good results, it's not so much the step losses the TACs inflict, but the effectiveness drop they inflict on the defenders, allowingthe Ground attacks to get good odds.



The Damascus GAR attemtps to run back to the Syrian capital after cutting the rail link.



But it won't get there in time as my INF unit next to Beirut can get there next turn.

[rkr1958]

Question for the developers, do partial strength units use a whole unit of oil each. Say a 7-step ARM unit uses 70% of normal fuel consumption, or does it use 100%?

It uses 100%. Is this something that we should consider fixing?

I was wondering it it may offset some peoples recent qualms about the lack of Oil. Does seem a bit weird that a 1-step unit uses as much oil as a 10-step.

Has this type of request come up before?

By the way, this was a "bug", or as some software folks like to say a "feature", from the very start in vanilla game. This "bug", or "feature", has now been fixed in the latest.

[massina_nz]

It uses 100%. Is this something that we should consider fixing?

I was wondering it it may offset some peoples recent qualms about the lack of Oil. Does seem a bit weird that a 1-step unit uses as much oil as a 10-step.

Has this type of request come up before?

By the way, this was a "bug", or as some software folks like to say a "feature", from the very start in vanilla game. This "bug", or "feature", has now been fixed in the latest.

Thanks, good news for all those pro-Axis players out there. Someone better tell Max, since he shouldn't be reading this thread. He's a bit grumpy with me at the moment, so someone else can tell him.

[rkr1958]

Thanks, good news for all those pro-Axis players out there. Someone better tell Max, since he shouldn't be reading this thread. He's a bit grumpy with me at the moment, so someone else can tell him.

[massina_nz]

Well things start well for the Axis, but I get some even better results this turn. Which prompts please explain email from my opponent, inferring that I cheat, because I always seem to get good dice rolls. Well the only time I've ever re-loaded a turn is when the game has crashed, which has been months ago, well before this game started,when I discovered that my screen capture application seemed to make CEAW hang some times. It's a bugger having to re-run turns to get approximately the same results again.

So I'll go through the turn in a little more detail than normal to show exactly what happened. But I think the comment wasn't about this particular turn but previous turns as well.

Severe Winter hit at the end of the German turn - this year I was better placed to take advantage of it.



Germans retreat – should I attack without air support? Germans have lost any entrenchment bonus and efficiency from moving and severe winter.



I decide that this turn is my best possibility of inflicting damgae on the Germans in this sector. Even if we trade losses it's a gain for me. So the Russians advance, I get a couple of excellent results (one elimination of a 8-step INF) some average ones and a couple of dismal ones, with the odss overall slightly in my favour. So overall a net gain for me.



I lose another INF near Kerch, with severe winter hitting and all my airforce in range of the Caucauses it's the best chance I'll get of doing some damage here.



The entire Russian Airforce assists in the offense. First the German & Romanian FTRs are attacked, swapping step losses, not a great start. I attack the panzer near Grozny with two TACs and we swap 2 steps damage each but the real bonus is it’s lowered to yellow status, the first INF attack at good odds does 3 steps damage and causes it to retreat so I can attack it again, and it retreats again – look at my TACs they have actually suffered some losses.but it is not as noticeable as losing a whole unit.

I destroy the INF next to Batumi, first with softening up with TAC and FTR, and the following INF knocked it down to 1 step and it retreats – it takes a BB attack and another FTR attack to eliminate it.

I get lucky with Romanian INF, after a FTR attack I do 4 steps damage and it doesn’t retreat! So I can attack it again, down to 2 steps



I lose a US INF to German attack – bad news. But good news as well, as the Germans have taken some losses and have advanced from good defensive positions

A German MECH and ARM arrive in Lyons



Luftwaffe appears in Western Europe but loses out in air battles, The recently arrived Panzer korp was easy to kill, it had low EFF due to being trained in last turn, and it was in forests, so already had a defensive penalty, It was in range of two full strength TACs in Spain in Fair weather, both took the 2 predicted steps damage and reduced it to Orange status, the first INF attack caused 3 steps damage and affected it to retreat into the mountains, and the second INF attack after a CV attack, destroyed it. Whilst the 7 step INF south of Turin survived despite two air attacks and a MECH attack at 11:2 odds destroys only 4 steps..

Rennes falls easily, two TAC attacks reduce it to 8 steps, the first MECH attack goes in at 4:3 odds, and we swap 3 steps each, then the remaining concentric attacks eventually destroy it.



Damascus is taken and Syria Surrenders.

I know this doesn't prove any evidence of cheating or not cheating, but I hope it does go to show that you can get great results with good attack sequencing and prior planning and a little luck.

[joerock22]

All of that sounds reasonable to me; you didn't even get that much luck. Good planning and execution, as you said. Max's email sounds like one born out of frustration. It's amazing how the other player often seems to be lucky when you're losing.

[massina_nz]

All of that sounds reasonable to me; you didn't even get that much luck. Good planning and execution, as you said. Max's email sounds like one born out of frustration. It's amazing how the other player often seems to be lucky when you're losing.

Yeah that's how I felt when he blitzed France before Christmas '39.

I've often received turns from other players and see my troops vapourise , only to remember that I've done the same thing to other players. It may be harder for the better players to empahtise when things going against them. Quite often things have gone horrible for me in my games. Still don't enjoy it tho'

[massina_nz]

Because the Tunis GAR didn't hail from Syria it survives the Syrian surrender. This whole episode has been quirky and a bit of fun. I'm only able to knock it down to 1-step in my turn, damn another turn wasted.



Germans retreat some more in France. The only really defensive terrrain is East of Paris - and Paris is key, it's key to getting rail movement in Europe for the Anglo-Americans. So I will isolate Brest and Cherbourg, but head straight for Paris.



Germans retreat again in the north.



I follow-up and almost take Pskov.



The Germans are still dead keen on keeping the oil-fields,.



I'm torn between attacking the 3-step panzer with my TACs or finding another target for them, but decide on the former course of action. I take two steps off the panzer with TACs and destroy an INF, the Russian troops are probably a bit exposed here – but the key here I think is Grozny, if I can take it I can prevent the Germans from railing in reinforcements

[massina_nz]

Pretty unspectacular turn for me. Welcome to 1943. I'm really hanging out for the FAIR weather in Western Europe.



Germans retreat a little bit more in the north, and kill my 4-step INF.

In the north the BB removes one step from the INF behind the river and reduces it to yellow status, The first attack goes in, at 3:3 odds (but best chance given over river in winter), I get 3 hits to 1 loss and the German INF retreats at 2 steps, the 7-step INF then follows up and destroys it losing a step in doing so. I push another INF towards Tallinin as the Bulgarian INF there has been regularly bombarded there and is relatively weak.



Otherwise Pskov attack is not so successful, and I take replacements where I can. The Germans have recovered and now an all-out attack with out air support is not possible, so I will just snipe at the periphery.



One of my INF units is savaged, but now I can draw out German FTR and attack it twice

One FTR attacks an INF to draw out the FTR at Grozny, despite good odds in my favour each unit loses 1 step, then direct attack by another of my FTRs repeats same results despite good odds. However this is more than made up for as another FTR attacks the Romanian FTR at 3:0 odds and completely destroys it for the loss of 1 step.

Attacks against Grozny don’t fare that well – but do have another TAC coming next turn which is much needed as my TACs are not much reduced and fatigued.



French ARM arrives at Algiers and gets less than predicted 5:0 odds, BB taking 1 step and the ARM only 3.
This is the last Vichy port left, once taken I can send the ARM to Europe. I'm thinking of sending the Free French forces to the Eastern side of Italy to force the Germans to send forces there.



Oil field bombers based in Albania have reduced both oil fields to red status, and found a new German FTR in Vienna this turn. The sSTR bombers have quite low strength, but I don’t plan to get them back to 10-steps until FAIR weather returns to Europe, as they have the advantage of being in the FAIR weather zone against the German FTR winter weather.

The GAR in Ancona is being used as target practice for the RAF fighter in Italy, in the hope it will draw out any German FTRs in Northern Italy



Orleans is left vacant by the Germans. Get good TAC results with UK-based TACs against Hungarians, but unfortunately a MECH can’t destroy it despite good odds, and it retreats instead.



Turin survives despite great combat odds, but at least Lyon falls, primarily to some great results form the UK TACs based in Spain, they have now no more targets in range and I will rebase them to Italy. I would have much preferred to have taken Turin and not Lyon.