AAR, Gerry (gmothes) vs. Plaid

gmothes · Post by **gmothes** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 12:24 am

Axis Turn 15, June 8th 1940

Sealion Still looks inviting. RN CV has left Southampton for a safer port.

U-Boat 4 intercepted Central Convoy but is now threatened. He will perform a hit and run.

Strategic Bombers hit London. The Luftwaffe is in place, Western U-boat screen is in place. The Eastern U-Boat screen will be in place next turn. The Kriegsmarine is in staged and ready to move to the channel. Ready to launch the invasion fleet. I will go upside down in PPs to land as many Korps as possible. Hitler authorizes Operation Sealion!!!! Wish me luck, unless you are partial to Plaid, that is..... Italy throws in with the German's.

gmothes · Post by **gmothes** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:22 am

Axis Turn 16, June 27th 1940

At the beginning of the turn, the Channel is quiet. I have put the U-Boat screen in place.

Troops have been moved to the Taranto Area for transport to Libya.

I have grave doubts, but I have decided to launch Operation Sealion. I hope to quickly gain Southampton in order to get my Armor over. The Luftwaffe didn't fare too well trying to soften up British Coastal defenses. I wonder if I should have fought the RAF some more before launching, but I don't know if I would have gained much by waiting. I would have just lost good weather. If I am repelled, at least it will be early, giving me some time to recover.

gmothes · Post by **gmothes** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 11:35 am

Axis Turn 17 July 17th, 1940

Plaid has hit my Channel fleet pretty hard and blocked the coast. I will have to fight my way on. My doubts have gone way up about the success, but having committed, I will continue. The Luftwaffe will hit the British Mech east of Southampton, and I will drop Paratroops behind them. West of Southampton looks too tough. I knew it looked too inviting. Although, I also knew Plaid would put up fierce resistance and that this wouldn't be easy.

I was able to fight my way on East of Southampton. Fallschrim took 3 steps of loss in the landing, but with 2 Tac Bombers, they were able to force the British mech unit to retreat. I landed a full strength korps. I will probably regret not trying to destroy the mech completely, but I went for space instead. I was able to get 2 Korps on board as well as the Fallschrim. I am leaving transports west of Southampton. If he moves to counter attack, I can probably get on there. If not, I will try to hold his troops in place with them. If I can hold my positions, I will be able to land some Panzers next turn. Bad news is the Luftwaffe is completely battered. The RAF has totally owned them.

gmothes · Post by **gmothes** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 1:06 pm

Axis Turn 18, August 6th 1940

Sealion has taken a decided turn for the worst. An effective British Counterattack destroyed a Korps and cut another off. I am in real trouble at the start of this turn.

I have to replenish my fighters this turn, forcing me to attack with unescorted bombers. I also have to move my BB to supply my trapped Korps. My counterattack fails to destroy his Command Corps, but I was able to weaken it to 1 step. I made a big mistake by replenishing my Fallshrim, instead of attacking his HQ Corps. If I could have destroyed it, I would have been able to land some Panzers. Ugh..... Sealion hangs in the balance and it is quite likely it will fail. I haven't given up yet though.

In the Med, the Italians spot the RN escorting some ground troops, and intercept. The Afrika Korps looks like it will arrive safely.

Casualties are beginning to mount.....

Peter Stauffenberg · Post by **Peter Stauffenberg** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 2:25 pm

I think the main problem for you was that you had only 3 fighters. Then you have only air parity vs 2 British fighters and 1 British CV. Building another fighter and maybe even a tactical bomber is very important to succeed with Sealion. Getting new armor units isn't important so early.

Many Axis players also send the Italian fighter and tactical bomber to the French coast to support the invasion there. If you can bombard the units in Britain then they can't counter attack so easily.

You need more fighters than the British so you can repair depleted ones and still support the bombing raids. I usually use the fighters to bombard soft targets like garrisons to lure the British air units to intercept. Then the tactical bombers can go after the important targets. If the targets are a bit depleted I can use the fighters there as well to increase losses.

Air superiority is the key factor to succeed with Sealion.

gmothes · Post by **gmothes** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:35 pm

Now you tell me!!

Just kidding, yes my mistakes became evident very quickly. I will certainly take your advice in future games. I certainly have learned from this. At least I still have time to prepare for Barbarossa. I was definitely too worried about hurrying up for fair weather.

gmothes · Post by **gmothes** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:41 pm

Axis Turn 19, Aug 26th, 1940

Sealion is doomed. As pointed out by Stauffenberg, my lack of air superiority has eliminated my chances. So, my mistakes and Plaid's smart, aggressive defense doomed it. I am making a vain attack on his HQ, but that trapped Korps is in bad shape.

I eliminate the British command corps, but am hopelessly trapped. Pure stuborness leads me to move more transports to the English Coast.

In the Med, Rommel lands. Brits can now focus on North Africa.

Peter Stauffenberg · Post by **Peter Stauffenberg** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:29 pm

gmothes wrote:Now you tell me!! Just kidding, yes my mistakes became evident very quickly. I will certainly take your advice in future games. I certainly have learned from this. At least I still have time to prepare for Barbarossa. I was definitely too worried about hurrying up for fair weather.

Yep.

I think it's best for players to create the strategies themselves and after the plan is executed then we can comment and suggest improvements.

_Augustus_ · Post by **_Augustus_** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:57 pm

gmothes wrote:Sealion is doomed.

That in mind...

Pure stuborness leads me to move more transports to the English Coast.

It's better to swallow one's pride, admit an operation has failed and not to lash out and ruin the whole war in the process, no? Time to move on and make new plans?

For example pushing more transports to the channel forces you to keep your u-boats in the blocking positions. All the while they could be out in the Atlantic denying PPs reaching UK. You'll get much better ratios of PP cost from the Atlantic now than continueing with a suicidal Sealion, I reckon.

Sincerely,

iA //Enjoying your AAR, please keep posting

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:29 pm

As Sealion is doomed and you already has several transports on the sea, why don't you sent them to Norway instead to go for more doomed landings in Britain.

gmothes · Post by **gmothes** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:12 pm

I did swallow my pride and pulled back those transports, as will be seen in my next posting. Norway was a good idea, but I didn't think about that. I had done another turn before I read your post. I am moving on now. Getting ready for Russia. Thank you all for your feedback.

gmothes · Post by **gmothes** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 3:15 am

Axis Turn 20, September 15th 1940

Sealion has been crushed by Plaid. A solid mobile defense coupled with poor planning and execution on my part doomed the operation. Thousands of Germans will spend the rest of the war in British POW camps. Transports in the channel return to ports in France to begin movement East.

All quiet on the Western Front.....

Afrika Korps moves toward Egypt.

massina_nz · Post by **massina_nz** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 5:11 am

gmothes wrote:Axis Turn 20, September 15th 1940

<snip>

Afrika Korps moves toward Egypt.

<snip>

That force is way too small to achieve anything IMHO, in fac they will likely get wiped out. Best you defend at Tobruk, and use your MECH & ARM for counter attacks when the Brits approach, which they eventually will. You'll need a couple of German FTRs in this theatre too for air defense. I always send the Italian air force to Russia, where they have some parity with the Russians. Against the RAF they are doomed.

richardsd · Post by **richardsd** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 10:11 am

I think you need to concentrate on Barbarossa, your already weakened forces shouldn't be diluted by a mutli front battle until you are forced into it.

My 2 cents worth.

PS - that was a great Sealion in terms of learning what you need to be successful - I love Sealion (can't help myself) but you need to execute it close to perfectly for it to be advantageous.

PionUrpo · Post by **PionUrpo** » Sun Jun 19, 2011 11:17 am

I agree others, any move to Egypt now will result in a PP drain for Axis. With the losses of the failed Sealion added to what is needed for succesful Desert Campaign, you'd be diluting the forces so much that Russians will be extremely dangerous when 1st Barbarossa winter begins. Keeping the Tobruk line as long as possible with a defensive force and guarding the western side of the Med would be better option if you're going for '41 Barbarossa.

gmothes · Post by **gmothes** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:41 am

Axis Turns 21-23

All's quiet in the war, with the exception of U-Boats. I am preparing to attack Yugoslavia to bring Romania into the war early, and rebuild German confidence after the disastrous Sealion. The weather isn't great, but I want to start earning that extra oil. I am building land forces as quickly as possible. My goal is to launch Barbarossa as soon as the weather breaks. I need some more Tac bombers as well. Sage advice has kept me quiet on the African Front. My only hope for victory in Russia. I will do my best to give Plaid a challenging game.

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:11 am

I would not recommend to go for an early Barbarossa. In your situation it would be better to do a late Barbarossa (August 1941). Your Army is rather small and you sent already some unit to north Africa. Therefore, I would only try to capture the Soviet frontier cities and perhaps the Baltics. You should stay out of the severe winter zone completely with your army. This will make any Soviet counteroffensive a lot harder. In 1942 you can then resume the offensive as best as possible. But be cautious, Plaid is an expert player concerning the easter front.

As you already brought some units to north Africa, I would capture Tunis (and perhaps Algiers) and fortify your positions there. Of course you also capture southern (Vichy) France on the continent (which is very easy if planned carefully). If time allows you could als try to go for Norway an/or Greece after the fall of Yugoslavia.

Then it will be a lot harder for the Allies to push you out of North Africa in the Med.

gmothes · Post by **gmothes** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:58 am

Axis turns 24-25, December 24th, 1940

Romania has joined and I am prepared to attack Yugoslavia. I have gotten some very good advice, from what I believe to be very skilled and experienced players, but I think I need to proceed with a plan and just take my lumps from Plaid and use it to learn. I have been playing scared since Sealion failed, and I am going to stop doing that. After all, it is just a game.

I continue to build up the Wehrmacht in preparation for Barbarossa. Plaid has launched a surprise attack on Syria and quickly dispatched them. U-boats continue to damage convoys in the Atlantic.

Final prep for Yugoslavia.

gmothes · Post by **gmothes** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:44 pm

Axis Turn 26-27, February 2nd, 1941

Turn 26, all quiet. Keep building the Wehrmacht.

Turn 27, The weather breaks and the Germans invade Yugoslavia. Unfortunately, they hold out.

Preparation for Barbarossa continues

Afrika Korps moves forward.

gmothes · Post by **gmothes** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 6:29 pm

Had to take a few turns off from writing, since I have been very busy. I'll try to stay on track now.

Axis turn 33, June 2nd, 1941

Italian and British fleets have been sparing off of Egypt for a couple of turns. I sank a British BB, and damaged a carrier, but the Italians are vulnerable. Italian troops attack the 8th Army with pathetic results.

Operation Barbarossa Launched. Some Motorized and Infantry Corps destroyed, along with the garrisons. I am fairly happy with turn 1. I have been told Plaid is an expert at the Eastern Front, so I am very wary, but I'm going to push as hard as I can.

The North

Center North

Center South

The South