Peterjfrigate VS. Morris (The War is over - Morris welcome)

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:44 pm

Interesting. Sweden? He's a madman!

I have to admit the evacuation of NA is a nice trick and he might have sunk my whole fleet with a bit more luck. I've also been lucky in having partisans in such key places. Even the weather has been on my side, so I've really had a whole bag of horseshoes up my butt this game.

How is your RN faring? What kind of damage did he do? I invested in ASW early and have just gotten tech#2. I also have 2 DDs in the pipeline and figure on building more.

metolius · Post by **metolius** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 11:17 pm

Sweden is good fun! I've attacked it a few times. It's always been a disaster.

Schnurri · Post by **Schnurri** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 11:39 pm

I actually like Sweden - can usually get it in 2 turns and then can move troops around Scandanavia. I originally tried it in 2.0 so could cheaply get troops to Finland for a Leningrad assault. Not so important now with free transport.

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 6:27 pm

June 2 1941

This time more naval action. An axis uber-battleship (upgraded) moves in with a sub to hurt the Canadian DD. Maybe Morris has also brought a whole wolf pack with him, but no, my sub moves in and takes its shot without interference. One by one more of the RN comes out to play and there's just nothing else there. Maybe it's a sacrifice and he is planning on swarming me next turn, so we'll see about that.

During the battle:

And aftermath:

Meanwhile, off the coast of Greece, I celebrated too soon as Morris has organized a rescue mission for the Italian BB.

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 3:58 pm

And now: Attack of the SUB BLOB continues

MARCH 1942

For quite a while Morris has been enjoying all the delicious convoys I've been sending him. Meanwhile, I slowly build up my ASW capacity. I'm still not quite ready for a direct confrontation, as I find out the hard way.

Pictured below is my response - I've crippled a sub and seriously damaged yet another superstar battleship (this is number 3). The BB was spotted a turn ago, but it would have been suicide to go after it at that time. The double-CV task force does it's work scoring 4:0 and 3:0 on the mighty BB.

Fortunately, he attacked while I was still close to my bases and air umbrella, and I close formation. I'm thinking at least 2 more subs are in the area so I might need to run away soon.

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 4:01 pm

APRIL 1942

Sure enough more subs show up and take another bite out of my Big Fleet. Time to get the hell out of here. At least another BB is sent to its watery grave off the coast of Nova Scotia.

Here's the result - still not that safe but I'm chipping away at his subs.

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Sat Nov 26, 2011 5:54 pm

MAY 8 1942

The Big Fleet gets a break as Morris withdraws to lick his wounds. Not sure what would have happened if he pressed the attack, but he must have figured I had lots more firepower on the way and decided to play it safe (I didn't!). I do have some upgrades and nice builds coming soon, so I'll stay near the coast for another turn or two.

In the East, the Axis finally DOW's Russia, but takes a completely passive position. No attacks at all, so some Soviet GARs take a stroll around the border in order to tempt him.

I've been through this before, so I think I know what to do...unlike my game with CrazyG where the Russians are almost extinct.

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 5:11 am

Attack of the SUB BLOB: May 1942

This is it. Not a single battle this turn, but this has to be the turning point:

Sure the bombers are that much better, but the real payoff is radar level 3 which gives a sweet ASW +1 bonus to DDs, and with the latest ASW improvement, a double-upgrade:

Axis sub tech can't keep up with Radar + ASW combined. The wolfpack hunting grounds are about to shrink drastically.

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 3:48 pm

June 1942

Quiet almost everywhere:

In the Atlantic the Big Fleet rests and repairs.

In the East Russia crawls towards the German lines.

Here's one notable event however:

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 3:50 pm

September 1942

I haven't given an update of the overall picture for a while, so here it is.

First the landing in Varna failed as Morris crushed it with ease.

Elsewhere In the East not much happening. My plan is more or less to wait until the winter arrives then I will start pounding his lines. He's got a lot of 3rd rate troops at the front for me to chew through so even with my middling tech. levels I should be able to do some damage. I'm leaving some enemy hexes unoccupied to force forward retreats.

The Med is also very quiet -- for now.

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 3:59 pm

Sept. 1942 (continued)

I've been neglecting my fighter CAPs so it's time to rectify that. Two bombers and a DD have been strafed by Axis fighters and strategic bombers recently.

The fort near Dover was a missed opportunity - My paras weren't quite ready to drop but now he's moved in an Italian GAR to hold it. Notice that I finally placed a leader (Leese) up in Ireland to sort out the ASW forces there.

Meanwhile in the Atlantic - the first escorted convoy is about to arrive. Only 1 sub got off a pot shot at it along the way (doing serious damage however). I'm a little surprised he didn't attack the task force in the mid-atlantic. Best guess is that he is giving his subs a final upgrade. I am assuming he could have level 6 by now. That's ok. My ASW is bad-ass and getting better.

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:05 pm

Attack of the SUB BLOB continues...
September 1942

I figured I was pretty safe, but no, Morris' wolfpack still has a lot of bite. 2 DDs sunk this turn: 1 a 7-step UK DD, the other a 10-step US DD. Kind of shocking given how high my ASW tech is. He even got to take a shot at the CV. Unfortunately only 1 Strat. inflicted mild damage in revenge. This is unacceptable!

Not much I can do at the moment, but at least my ASW continues to improve while (presumably) his subs are nearly maxed out. Anybody know what level 6 subs are like so I know what to look for in their stats?

Elsewhere all is quiet. The Russians are still waiting for winter to arrive.

Diplomaticus · Post by **Diplomaticus** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:30 pm

peterjfrigate wrote:Attack of the SUB BLOB continues...
September 1942

I figured I was pretty safe, but no, Morris' wolfpack still has a lot of bite. 2 DDs sunk this turn: 1 a 7-step UK DD, the other a 10-step US DD. Kind of shocking given how high my ASW tech is. He even got to take a shot at the CV. Unfortunately only 1 Strat. inflicted mild damage in revenge. This is unacceptable!

Not much I can do at the moment, but at least my ASW continues to improve while (presumably) his subs are nearly maxed out. Anybody know what level 6 subs are like so I know what to look for in their stats?

Elsewhere all is quiet. The Russians are still waiting for winter to arrive.

I think this result just adds more evidence to my posting in the Beta forum: We need to make it harder for subs to attack and sink DD's!

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:17 am

October 1942

The savage battle continues as the wolfpack chases the Allied Task force into the Irish Sea. Diplomaticus will not be pleased to hear that yet another DD has been sunk, though this time Morris reports that Axis airpower delivered the killing blow -- that's 3 sunk in the last 2 turns despite high tech, convoy-style sailing, and partial coverage from my air umbrella (well, 1 strat was in range last turn). But now let's see what kind of punishment I can return.

Here's the result: it's a mud turn, and I think that reduces even ASW bombing, unfortunately. Still, scratch another sub, with, I think, 10 steps of damage to the others. The action may well continue as that damaged DD will tempt him. Also Morris thinks he has air superiority right now when in fact I've just placed 2 TAC and 2 FTR tipping the scales in my favor (counting the US CV). It's expensive for me, but it isn't free for him either. Notice another leader has been moved near Liverpool.

Perhaps I should take Ireland to help push my UK air umbrella West? Probably should have done that a while ago. It would have allowed several more STRATs to retaliate last turn after all.

One other thing worth mentioning. The Axis forces in Finland comprise a thin shell protecting softer parts within. I tried running a transport into Vassa, but defenders were railed in to stop me. Paratroops are now in range though this won't be a threat until Spring. However, my air tech is not bad compared to the Finnish fighter, so limited offensive operations have already begun. Otherwise the Russians continue to prepare for winter when they will test the Eastern defenses.

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 10:49 pm

November 1942

This time 2 more DDs sunk but at least two Axis subs are blasted back to hell! Air battles are also hurting the RAF, but more reinforcements are on the way. I'm getting to the point where it will be time to take a break, rebuild, and upgrade. I thought I had attained the upper-hand, but Morris is showing me he can still trade punches.

Elsewhere - not much worth reporting.

Before my turn:

During my turn:

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:41 am

November 24 1942

There's a rhythm to safeguarding convoys that I don't fully grasp. Sometimes it seems like the Axis are set up to blast convoy after convoy, and other times long stretches go past without anything happening. It also seems like I only just got a big ASW upgrade, and here we are only a few short months later, and another big upgrade is available. Should I have waited to upgrade my DDs until now?

The tally from the last battle was 5 DDs sunk vs. 3 axis subs, with maybe 15-20 hits on surviving subs (plus some costly air battles on my side). All of these losses would have been avoided if I had just let him finish off that 75 point convoy.

Then again, his sub fleet is beat up and I have new convoys heading East that will probably get through that wouldn't have otherwise. Notice the timing of the convoys is helping me...his main forces were distracted and in the Irish Sea and now the convoys are within range of my air umbrella. All of those bombers you can see have been upgraded with the latest in high-tech anti-sub warfare.

I can't calculate all the costs and benefits here, but my intuition tells me I'm not doing too bad. It's still 1942, and I'm close to maxing out my ASW.

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 3:53 pm

January 3 1943

There's no action at all in the Atlantic. Another convoy is about to arrive with more on the way. Massive airforces guard approaches to ports near the coasts, but mid-ocean is still a dangerous region. I am rebuilding fleet losses and I might try something in the summer if all goes well.

A little activity in Russia, in the far South and far North.

The winter weather gives my fighters level 6 dogfighting vs. 4 for him, but despite that I take more damage. My tech is still not very good, nevertheless the losses are tolerable. The 6-strength bomber was a mistake - I attacked while one of my fighters was still on sentry. The red Xs indicate locations of airstrikes. One Romanian GAR was even destroyed by the land combat that followed. I concentrated my INF tech on arty. and that's helping.

In Finland, came close to destroying a fresh corps and taking the city. No Axis airpower up here at all so my bombers have free rein.

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 4:16 am

February 12 1943

Stalemate in Russia, and the sub-blob continues to terrorize the high seas.

Some progress in Finland, but not much happening otherwise.

In the Atlantic. A huge convoy is pulverized. It's just too dangerous right now.

This is the poor convoy last turn...

And here it is now. Only 4 subs could hit it but they did 20 PP apiece!

Come to think of it if I had built 3 subs, then with the ones I start with, I could have always had an impenetrable ring around at least one convoy. Hmmm maybe next game I'll try that.

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 1:28 pm

April 1943

The Wolfpack finished off the 55 PP convoy, though my sub-hunters pounded back from the air doing some nice damage. Now we see yet another big convoy on the way to slaughter, though once again I am trying to escort with the newly revitalized Big Fleet. The US tech is quickly catching up to the Uk's so I will risk another attack.

In the Med, there was a noteworthy incident. A DD hunted down and destroyed an Italian sub in one shot! My opponent was shocked that this could happen, but let's just say it's not too surprising given the advanced state of my best ASW units at this time. As you can see the UK is reclaiming the Med for the Allies.

In Russia, I managed to do a little more damage before fair weather returns the skies to the Axis.

peterjfrigate · Post by **peterjfrigate** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 1:48 pm

May 3 1943

Good turn for tech.

Here's the situation in the Atlantic, if he's going to attack that convoy it should happen soon.

The Med. is about to get interesting.

In Russia my air is mauled by Axis fighters, so I withdraw to rebuild. At least I didn't lose any units.