GS3.0 - Supermax (Axis) vs Dan Slayer (Allies) - Max welcome

[DanSlayer]

Hi brave warriors! I would like to present you my game against SuperMax. It’s my first AAR so please don’t be cruel if something does not work or looks bad. And I wanna to apologize from the outset for my bad English skills!

At the time we are in the T36 ingame. So I need to catch up even a lot! Parallel to the game I've already developed this AAR in a German forum for strategy games. So do not be surprised if sometimes are German words in the pictures.

So then, let’s go! Ah ya, Max you’re welcome of course!



Turn 01 | 01. September 1939

Pre-Turn




Ok. Max conducts a small attack on Poland. The Air Force was not used. From the starting line-up we miss on the battlefield following enemy troops: 1 Pz, 1 Mech and 2 Corps. If all have been relocated to the west, so at least it has cost a lot of PP for the over-capacity! (Axis has at the beginning of 8 tp, the laying of said units consumed 5 +4 +2 x 3 = 15 tp! 7 overcapacity costs alone 28PP!

Thus, it seems quite unlikely that the enemy could relocate an additional Gar to Königsberg - and our hard ailing InfCorps is in the range of the city!

For the remaining troops we set the collection area by Warsaw - we have to outstaying so long as possible!





Now, what we suspected when viewing the Eastern Front, reveals itself as truth. The Air Force was moved to the West - hence the Blitzkrieg in the West is quite clear. The maximum possible forces behind this development have been registered by our cartography department as a legend. If these troops were actually provided, so we get a hard attack on the West and the successful capturing of Belgium is sure - not to think about Dyle Plan! So it only remains to behave defensively. But where? Which line is better? Although the terrain in the Lille area has been significantly reduced for the enemy in the v3.0, we decide for the front line - the significantly shorter and even farther away from Paris, but on which our units will act very weak, due to the loss of morality after the fall of Belgium.

However, a tiny joy sees the French Air Force. The somewhat careless (nevertheless probably aware) selected air space of the Stuka-Squadron allows us to attack them directly! The odds are pretty damn good to destroy a pair of freshly laid Stukas on the floor! Surely we are first received by the Spain-War-hardened German interceptors, but this is probably the only time in the next 10 turns, where such favorable conditions prevail. So ATTACK!



Post-Turn




Our counter-attacks in Poland cause slight damage to the opponent, a direct attack on Warsaw in T2 should be unlikely. For this we sacrifice the Polish fighter... The Gars from eastern Poland are actually scheduled for rail in the next turn, and was moved away from the Soviet vacant areas - a small mistake on my part, would still be able to stop a turn and collect Eff. Nobody is perfect…

And we conquered Königsberg!





The air battle in the west was fairly good. After the DogFight (2:2) there are two dive bombers destroyed on the ground - because the enemy will not have time to repair, it reduces its offensive power!

Otherwise, we sought a short defensive line, with Gars as cannon fodder in the first row. The first are to dig in. Cause a direct attack on T2 seems rather unlikely - the Germans has to do first with Belgians and Dutch.

British send the BEF as reinforcement. Quite poor, because we must also to think about early Sealion!





The Pride of the British Empire! After grouping, the fleet will be sent to the channel in order to stop rushing through of the enemy submarines and to obtain favorable defensive position.





Here's a look at the Atlantic map. The Canadian Gars and destroyers were renamed to confuse the enemy. The Gars are moved to France to reinforce the BEF. The destroyers assigned to submarine search mission. The French DD is ordered from the Mediterranean. For this the french BB change from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean - the Benitto may not feel our weakness in the Mediterranean, otherwise he will soon cocky!





I like to present the loses every turn, to show the „development“. If not interested, simply ignore this!

[GogTheMild]

It seems strange that the Prussian GAR attacked instead of moving one hex NW .

[DanSlayer]

@ GogTheMild: yep, this would be a better option to protect Köningsberg.



Turn 02 | 21. September 1939


Pre-Turn




The first reports shocked the world. The Nazi Germany invades the Benelux countries!





And so looks his raid! Interesting to note that the Luftwaffe even had capacity for an approach to the french Mech in Reims - why not on the Hague? Probably this was a STRB-raid…

The fighting in the air run quite balanced - 4:4 at DogFight. But those were also the last for next turns due the morale loses…






The situation in Poland. As guessed, the enemy can crush our defensive line before Warsaw, but not direct attack on the city. Interestingly, he takes nothing to get rid of Königsberg. He probably expects speedy fall of Warsaw. And we, too ...



Post-Turn



Nevertheless, we strive to provide the defense of the city a bit. Due to the relocation of the eastern Polish garrisons so we can draw a kind of commuter belt south of the city, which prevents the enemy to grab us from the south. And without the Luftwaffe would the attack of only 3 sides probably not succeed.





In the West the two lines defense was built. The Dutch was reinforced. The Royal Navy scans carefully to the channel entrance (german subs possible!). But we find nothing here. However, we prevent our lineup to prohibit an unobstructed passage for the subs. The CV covers the airspace up to Lille. The Air Force get sleep to recover the morale.





Here is the front just better resolved. The French HQ is situated in the most dangerous section to increase the effectiveness of the troops here faster.





How does it look in the Atlantic. As scheduled the Gars from Canada continue to be shipped to France. One British destroyer moved to the Port of Halifax to check the travel channel in this and in the next turn. Ah yes, the Canadians have already been renamed to confuse much more the enemy ...





After the Soviet invasion of Poland, we can still rail the last garrison in the next turn. If Poland exists…

[Cybvep]

Nice presentation. I will be following this. Supermax likes to do Blitzkrieg...

Is this 3.00 or 3.01?

[DanSlayer]

Dear Cybvep, thank You and welcome! We are playin still v3.00.




Turn 03 | 11. Oktober 1939


Pre-Turn




MUD! Bad news for the Axis – good for us! It also comes no message from the surrender of Poland - Warsaw has held!





In fact ... The entrenched Inf Corps made brave resistance. The enemy also failed to take the southern Hex at Warsaw - this is excellent news! Königsberg was also not addressed - no capacity!





In the West it looks very good! The Wehrmacht attacked only the Gar in Lille. And probably flew air raid(s) to the other Gar, but without success. We are enormously relieved that the weather has made it very kind to us!



Post-Turn



Ok, in Poland we cannot do much. We exchange the ailing units to the full from the "second row". The Gar near Lublin remains available as laying reserve!

We should note: we have issued still not a cent for repairing in Poland until now!





In the West we close the front at North of Lille. Sure, the GAR is lost, but it makes it difficult to crush the front north of Lille. We change the damaged Gar with the Corps in the city, so that they will also be held - hopefully it works!

We keep trying to reinforce something the front with new recruits (the German word „Kauf“ means „Buy“). The mobile expensive units were hidden from the enemy – it gives us probably a chance to counterattack in the further course.





Here a kind of panorama of the Atlantic, I've tinkered ... Hopefully not too wide ...

The second Gar, which last turn was unloaded, receives the Commander. This is the headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force and will rail next round to the front!

Another two Gars (from Canada) are also almost done. Of the new mobilized Canadians we move at first the FTR ("Jäger" in picture) - because we need them most likely AND because now the risk of a concentrated submarine attack is at its lowest! Of course we check the route with the destroyer - the enemy is well known everywhere! Even now we take the southern route because we appear it as safest...

The french destroyer reached the surgical area after a short stay in Gibraltar (waiting for BB).

[DanSlayer]

Turn 04 | 31. Oktober 1939


Pre-Turn




The weather report does not bode well. We expect further (diplomatic) unpleasant releases...





But... will not get any! The enemy has not been able to conquer Warsaw! Two brave Gars could keep the city! However, cause we don’t can to leave the city and to make room for the fresh reinforcements from eastern Poland, short hand is given a suicidal attack command!

A commando raid behind the enemy lines to liberate the free city of Danzig is classified as “riskless” and was ordered.





In the West it looks less enjoyable. The Wehrmacht was able to take Lille by storm! We did not expect this. Nevertheless, the front seems to have survived the first blow. It calls now: to fill gaps!



Post-Turn




So... we even begin. We build again a two-row defense line. Everything does not have to be moved, stops and collects Eff. The ledge east of Lille doesn’t like us. But nothing to make!

The leadership of the BEF has finally arrives the front line and also handles coordination with the Royal Navy and RAF.

As the enemy FTR in Liege cannot give a fighter protection (and Germany could not get a new FTR just in time), British fighters get the command to intercept! Probably we caught in cooperation with the CV an unprotected bomber?





In Atlantic the whole attention of the Allied destroyers is directed to the protection of FTR, because the enemy submarines can already reached this sector!





As suspected, Danzig was empty! That's very funny!

Otherwise, we regret deeply the course of our hero's Gar from Warsaw. At least the enemy will have to storm the city again and suffers losses.

[Cybvep]

Good delaying action in Poland . I don't think that your opponent is much concerned about casualties there, though. I bet that he considers this a non-important front and simply wants to capture Warsaw and if it costs him many steps, well, that's still acceptable.

[GogTheMild]

A beautifully presented AAR. I am enjoying this.

[DanSlayer]

@ All: Happy New Year!

@ Cybvep: Thx! You’re right, Poland is the second place. But every Step loosin there means less units in Russia, so the Russians are happy about!

@ GogTheMild: Thx, I’ll try my best!

… and now the turn…



Turn 05 | 20. November 1939


Pre-Turn




Mud in november, it very pleased us!





And Warsaw holds, with only one step! To repair the Gar makes no sense. We'll just purely replace the rested 7-Step Gar in the city. We realize that Warsaw will fall in the next turn. So the command goes out to all remaining troops: Attack! Without regard for the losses!





In the West the enemy destroyed two front Gars, and north of Lorraine damaged. Well, it could have been much worse by a better weather. The DogFight finished with 1:2 for us! Unfortunately, the bomber force suffered no losses.



Post-Turn




It’s painful to let the field by Lille open, but didn’t want to put the Corps there - very unpleasant! The more expensive units (Mech and InfCorps) are dissolved out from the front again. One french Gar bought.





The overview of remaining reinforcements. No enemy subs – this confuse us a bit. Our Canadian fighter squadron reached the safe harbor of Nantes. The route was checked by two DDs and the harbor entrance secured by this. The French DD leaves us back to "pick up" the rest of Canadians.





A gotta have some fun. Last actions of polish units…





And that is the situation after the turn. Note: the entire Polish army has been involved in the "Battle of Poland" and almost completely fallen in battle. Allied did not pay a cent there.

[DanSlayer]

Turn 06 | 10. Dezember 1939


Pre-Turn




And as expected Poland falls. But the last german attack costs the Wehrmacht 1 Pz, 3 Inf and 1 Gar steps! Overall, the enemy lost in Poland 8 Pz, 7 Mech, 21 Inf and 17 Gar steps! It means 0.6 x (8x8.5 + 7x5.5 + 21x3.5 + 17x1.5) = 123.3 PP.

However, we must admit, we had a lot of luck here. Both with the weather and with the combat results - there were so many times 1-2 survivors on our site... Sorry Max!

Let's see on the Western Front...





One Gar killed, some damaged. Interestingly, no TAC attacks - misplaced or repaired? And here slightly larger resolved, but without attacking symbols (after unloading of fighter):





The only hint of the Luftwaffe took place on our destroyer. Here, the enemy STRB was intercepted by the RAF FTR. All the designated units got losses. This attack makes us a little nervous, so we decide to cover the destroyer with the sub.

At the land, the front german Corps is damaged, not entrenched and lies in the clear being on show! We would have 3 attacks directly and fourth across the river. Maximal one enemy fighter can catch us. So the use of the RAF is quite promising. The state of the two Mech and the two Corps that would qualify for the attack has almost normalized - the Mechs are already even green! We command the attack!



Post-Turn




Please don’t be angry, I showed the movements in another forum for people who don’t know the game… and had no desire to make the new picture.

The RAF encounters no resistance - probably our opponent has not expected such an action! The RAF hit one step and demoralizes a little the enemy Corps. After that Mech (2:2), Mech (3:2), Inf (2:0). The fourth land attack was not required! Then we recover a closed defensive line.





In Atlantic everything as planned. With the british DDs we “additionally“ secure our PP convoy for one turn. But our real goal is to secure the transfer of Canadian reinforcements!





Yeah! Our first Kill!

[Peter Stauffenberg]

Wouldn't it be good to place a corps unit in Paris to build up entrenchment levels? Also remember that if Paris is empty in June 1940 or later the French will offer a surrender to Germany.

[DanSlayer]

Dear Stauffenberg, welcome and thx for the hint. My priority was to build a defensive line to obstruct the enemy penetration of the front. I know, that Paris shouldn’t stay empty in June, but I didn’t have a capacity to put a unit there. But as You can see below, I've done something for it…



Turn 07 | 30. Dezember 1939


Pre-Turn




Winter in Europe. But what do we see on the map? Contrary to our expectations, the enemy didn’t attack land troops, but the Royal Navy! And this with a rather tattered Luftwaffe! In the next picture we zoom something. But first two thoughts that shoot through the head:

1. An attack on the RN - now where still much to do in France - can only mean one thing: preparation for the Sealion!

2. The enemy attacks with two submarines and thus reveals their location. In the Atlantic can be maximal one submarine. The cover of the transporter can be loosened and the DDs can be placed on the channel!

Ok, let's take a look at the fighting...





Our front DD is seriously damaged - luckily we had protected him with the sub from the second attack! Is that just a feint to fake us the Sealion? We remain skeptical and want to block access to the channel. The damaged DD should be sent for repair in the harbor. For this two British DDs can arrive from the Atlantic to the rescue.

In the countryside the Wehrmacht units was filled. Interestingly, the enemy still didn’t rail a Corps to the West Wall - lacking at the rail capacity? I answer it by myself: by the Axis ALWAYS!



Post-Turn




Well. Our response to this brazen assault in the channel is clear: show the banner! Finally, it is not any spilled fleet! This is the Royal Navy! So we carry out first retaliation attacks on the western submarine. This is not covered by enemy FTRs and is no danger for our bombers. Unfortunately, the sub deviates from two out of three times, so that we achieve only one hit.

We must accept that the enemy can easily cut off us from the North Sea. But to block the channel entrance with surface ships means to lose them (Look at the Bismarck in the Harbor of Antwerp!) This would be a good precondition for the start of the Sealion. We are wide awake and observe the enemy!

We repair the RAF FTR. The (camouflaged) Canadian FTR reaches the front. So now we get a certain amount of air superiority - at least to the visible enemy units!

In the countryside we repair the Mechs and bring the Corps in the second row (blue circles). The damaged GAR was railed to Strasbourg to swap next turn with the whole Gar of the Maginot Line. A new garrison was placed in Paris with the command to create fortifications and to dig in (we can swap them with a better unit later). The whole under the supervision of the French Army Head Quarters (violet)...





In the large picture you can track the maritime movements. The french DD checked the run-out route of troop transport, but swims full speed ahead towards the channel to counteract potential sub-actions. The troop transport run out in the shipping water.

The British DDs were able to catch up to the RN (the sight alone would intimidate the enemy!) The damaged DD is brought to safety in the port of Cherbourg. It may be repaired here and hampered hostile sub-movements by its presence.





In the loss table a boost on RN. But luckily no complete failures.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

I wonder if this Axis strategy is smart. Supermax has lost a lot of steps and is now stuck in bad weather. Paris will surely fall a few turns earlier, but at which cost. If he needs those extra turns to do Sealion then maybe that will compensate. If not I wonder what he needs the early fall of France. Maybe he wants to reject the French armistice offer and go for Vichy to get Spain on the Axis side?

[Cybvep]

Well, Blitzkrieg is always the riskier option. We don't know Supermax's plan, though, so it's hard to say whether his strategy is working or not. Maybe he is thinking about Sea Lion, maybe he just wants to bleed the Brits a bit. IMO he will reject the armistice, but we will see.

[rkr1958]

Well, Blitzkrieg is always the riskier option. We don't know Supermax's plan, though, so it's hard to say whether his strategy is working or not. Maybe he is thinking about Sea Lion, maybe he just wants to bleed the Brits a bit. IMO he will reject the armistice, but we will see.

I've been toying with a "Vichy Betrayal" strategy and wonder what the consequences would be (if any). What is the "Vichy Betrayal"? Let's say the French player has preserved at some level the French air unit and fleet, which consists of 2 BBs, 1 DD and 1 sub and possibly a corps or two. Why? Well, to give the allied player significant incentive to accept the armistice and clear the map of all these units including the partial strength garrisons that spawned in French North Africa and Corsica. So, what if the axis player accepts the armistice and clears the map of French units. Then, they either immediately, or in a turn or two, DOW Vichy and follow their "rejected" armistice strategy. Hence, I've named this strategy the Vichy Betrayal. The up side is that you deny the allied player one air unit and significant naval units. You also "lock" Free (uh ... Vichy) forces in place and at 5-steps in North Africa until (or if) the axis decided to move there. Now my question is what would be the down side to this strategy?

By the way, we know Hitler wasn't very good at keeping his word (and treaties), so I think a Vichy Betrayal would fit well with the Czechoslovakia, Munich and the Germany-Soviet pacts that he broke.

[Cybvep]

IMO the downside is that you get half the income from Vichy French cities and if you want to conquer the NA, you have to do it by force. The Allies can significantly delay you there if they are determined. Oh, and you won't get Spain even if you get to Casablanca.

[Kragdob]

IMO the downside is that you get half the income from Vichy French cities and if you want to conquer the NA, you have to do it by force. The Allies can significantly delay you there if they are determined. Oh, and you won't get Spain even if you get to Casablanca.

You always gets half income. The only drawback is not getting Spain (and probably Portugal and Gibraltar).

[Cybvep]

??? AFAIK if the Allies DOW Vichy, you get full income. That's how it works when a country is attacked and joins the Axis. It's one of the benefits of accepting the armistice.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

If a country becomes allied with you then you get full income.

[DanSlayer]

Turn 08 | 19. Januar 1940


Pre-Turn


Sorry guys for delay - I was too busy last time... I hope you could clarify the question about Vichy France without me. Ok, back to the game...

The new year begins – what have we to expect? Will it be Sealion? Fortress Europe? Hard Africa Campaign? Only our opponent knows the answer!





Hmm… There happens nothing. The subs have disappeared –probably they want to catch our Canadians? Was the attack last turn on the RN only a fake? We don’t know.

Nor are any land attacks. The enemy is obviously waiting for good weather. Probably, the Luftwaffe was repaired now (excepting the FTR in Liege?). A silence before the storm...

Amazingly, the enemy has not destroyed the new GAR in Holland – it’s strange, they are weak and not entrenched, so a really easy target… However, we want to strengthen the french defence line. Cause we think, the way to the channel is probably blocked by the U-boats, we opt for the "northern" route, which is slightly longer but seems safer. On the Island, unload, rail, on the continent, repair, to the front!

Ah ya, still no ifantry on the Westwall – it’s strange.





Overview of the Atlantic. Since we assume that at least one sub is in the circled area, we decide for something safer transporter convoy. The French destroyer should be placed before our troop transport to check the drive next turn. Therefor we’ll repair our damaged destroyer in Cherbourg. This left very few unchecked hexes, so our Canadians should be relatively sure of achieving the desired ports.



Post-Turn




Uff… The northern route of the holland GAR was blocked and cathed by a german sub!

As can be good weather next turn, we must assume that the enemy will use paratroopers (“FJ” in German for Fallschirmjäger). Therefore, we ensure the British fighters on the tip of the Island and let this guard by a GAR. Furthermore, we occupy Rouen with the British Corps by the same reason.

We clarify carefully the access to the channel, try to connect to the North Sea – and didn’t found any subs. The CV was positioned in Le Havre to repair them and to give Air support after it.

I will dispense on the loss table, as no change to the final turn came.