Battlefield Europe v1.9 – month by month

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Difficulty: General and Limited (Dice Chess)

Thanks to McGuba’s encouragement and all the inspiring AARs/tips on this forum I am now also thinking of sharing my experiences with Battlefield Europe v1.9. After several attempts and various strategies: here is what I came up with as a start... and if you think we can do another BE AAR, I would be very happy to hear your comments and suggestions!

So I played through the overall campaign starting in Poland and carried over around 8,200 prestige while my incoming core includes two Panzer IIIH (including the one with the hero) and three Bf 109F.

BE_Turn_01_001_Starting Prestige_Incoming Core.jpg (303.37 KiB) Viewed 9670 times

My casualties at the start of Turn 1 are as follows:

BE_Turn_01_002_Incoming Casualties.jpg (48.53 KiB) Viewed 9670 times

Initial strategy and short to mid-term objectives:

• The initial strategy is to focus on the USSR/Russia, including winning the tank battle at Lutsk with minimal effort, closing the encirclements at Minsk and Kiev quickly as well as capturing Moscow (1) and Leningrad (2) as soon as possible to reduce Russian reinforcements.

• After that the next key objectives will be to occupy the Caucasus (3) securing the USSR oil fields near Grozny and Baku as well as to initiate Operation Sea Lion with amphibious landings South of Bristol (4). During this time I expect it will be interesting to see how to manage the Southern front line between Kiev and the Krim.

• In addition, Malta (5) needs to be captured soon to stabilize the situation in the Mediterranean Sea and the Afrika Korps (6) has to be reinforced (somehow?) to be able to hold the line in Libya/Northern Africa…

BE_Turn_01_003_Initial Strategy.jpg (214 KiB) Viewed 9670 times

Please note: all subsequent photos/screenshots will usually be taken at the end of the completed Axis turn.

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Turn 1 – 22 June 1941
Weather: clear and dry

Overall situation:
The first turns seem critical to kick off the Blitzkrieg in the East along with some troop upgrades and various troop reallocations throughout Europe.

Ostfront:
Army Group North stands in front of Vilnius on its way to Minsk and is already approaching Riga to open the way to Leningrad. The Baltic Fleet is sailing West in preparation of Operation Sea Lion and two fighters plus some AA units are on their way to France.

BE_Turn_01_004_Army Group North.jpg (257.72 KiB) Viewed 9662 times

Brest is getting occupied with the help of the Karl-Gerät, additional heavy artillery and pioneer support. This opens the way for our Recon unit to reach Minsk next turn. Tanks around Lutsk are bombed by level bombers while AT are set up along the Bug River.

BE_Turn_01_004_Brest_Lutsk.jpg (299.97 KiB) Viewed 9662 times

In the South first German and Romanian troops are approaching the Dniester River pushing towards Odessa while along the entire Ostfront the Luftwaffe is surprising several Russian planes grounded on or around their airfields.

BE_Turn_01_005_Odessa.jpg (286.12 KiB) Viewed 9662 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

North Africa:
Rommel is heading East bypassing Tobruk for the time being as he is expecting a first British offensive directed at Halfaya Pass and Fort Capuzzo. He also requested significant tank and AT reinforcements, will they arrive in time or even at all given the strong British fleet in the Mediterranean Sea?

BE_Turn_01_006_North Africa.jpg (285.47 KiB) Viewed 9661 times

Malta:
At the same time the Italian Royal Air Force is already contesting the skies of Malta in preparation of scheduled bombardments by air and sea.

BE_Turn_01_007_Malta.jpg (244.64 KiB) Viewed 9661 times

Western Europe:
Severely damaged Gneisenau, Prinz Eugen and Scharnhorst are being repaired in the ports along the French Atlantic coast with Infantry units moving further inland in light of expected bomber raids by the RAF. Captured light tanks reached Reims and Luxembourg to be sent to the Ostfront.

BE_Turn_01_008_Western Europe.jpg (267.8 KiB) Viewed 9661 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Balkans and Greece:
The Balkans (and also to some extent Greece/Crete) are expected to be characterized by Partisan activities throughout the war. Adequate measures will have to be taken to secure viable ports and logistics corridors supporting the Mediterranean/North African theater, e.g. the Danube river boat is expected to arrive around Belgrade before the start of winter to support in anti-partisan operations.

BE_Turn_01_009_Balkans Greece.jpg (273.79 KiB) Viewed 9660 times

Nordics:
German occupation forces are being withdrawn from Norway to support Army Group North in its attack on Moscow and Leningrad. These units will be replaced by lighter Italian forces.

BE_Turn_01_010_Nordics.jpg (225.34 KiB) Viewed 9660 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Turn 2 – 7 July 1941
Weather: clear and dry

Ostfront:
The Finns are clearing the North of Leningrad and are approaching Petrozavodsk further East. The AA will be shipped to France.

BE_Turn_02_011_Finns.jpg (280.09 KiB) Viewed 9650 times

2. Recon unit has reached Minsk with tank and support forces following. The pocket between Bialystok and Minsk is expected to surrender next turn.

BE_Turn_02_012_Minsk.jpg (304.84 KiB) Viewed 9650 times

The Soviet tanks around Lutsk are being bombed and stripped of ammo and fuel. At the same time first enemy fighters and level bombers appear.

BE_Turn_02_013_Lutsk.jpg (295.95 KiB) Viewed 9650 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

North Africa:
British forces started to attack the Halfaya Pass while the Afrika Korps is still positioning its limited troops. However, a first British bomber could be trapped…

BE_Turn_02_014_Halfaya Pass.jpg (289.86 KiB) Viewed 9649 times

Malta:
First ships of the Italian Regia Marina reached Malta and are starting the important naval gunfire support to capture the small but critical island with its airstrip.

BE_Turn_02_015_Malta.jpg (259.31 KiB) Viewed 9649 times

Western Europe:
German forces are hiding in the forests around Bourges as British planes are dominating the skies of France. Axis fighter support is requested from the Ostfront but hasn’t arrived yet.

BE_Turn_02_016_Bourges.jpg (273.18 KiB) Viewed 9649 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Turn 3 – 22 July 1941
Weather: clear and dry

Ostfront:
Four weeks in and Riga is almost taken.

BE_Turn_03_017_Riga.jpg (276.28 KiB) Viewed 9638 times

The bulk of Army Group North reached Minsk and is moving further East.

BE_Turn_03_018_Minsk.jpg (305.89 KiB) Viewed 9638 times

The Soviet tanks around Lutsk are taken out one by one.

BE_Turn_03_019_Lutsk.jpg (296.35 KiB) Viewed 9638 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Parts of Army Group South already crossed the Southern Bug River and are attacking Uman. This attack is critical to closing the Kiev pocket in time.

BE_Turn_03_020_Uman.jpg (292.89 KiB) Viewed 9637 times

North Africa:
Now the Brits reached Fort Capuzzo while Rommel is hunting down British Crusader tanks. However, has he gone too fast… and too far East already?

BE_Turn_03_021_Fort Capuzzo.jpg (291.3 KiB) Viewed 9637 times

Malta:
The Siege of Malta is in full swing with Operation Herkules hopefully following soon. Rommel warned already two months ago highlighting the importance of Malta for North Africa as a whole.

BE_Turn_03_022_Malta.jpg (259 KiB) Viewed 9637 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Western Europe:
A massive British bomber fleet discovered the German fleet in the French ports. Both Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen are being evacuated into the open Bay of Biscay. The Luftwaffe is still (or already?) struggling in France…

BE_Turn_03_023_St Nazaire.jpg (288.51 KiB) Viewed 9636 times

Balkans:
Partisans are active South of Belgrade. It is expected that the area between Belgrade and Skopje will require some attention.

BE_Turn_03_024_Belgrade.jpg (283.02 KiB) Viewed 9636 times

Greece:
First reinforcements for the Afrika Korps arrived in Athens. However, most of the Regia Marina is around Malta so the transfer to Benghazi will be challenging. At the same time, the 7. Flieger-Division returned back from Operation Mercury with heavy casualties. Will it ever be deployed again, maybe in the Caucasus? Crete will need to be secured by the Italians now.

BE_Turn_03_025_Athens.jpg (279.03 KiB) Viewed 9636 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Turn 4 – 6 August 1941
Weather: clear and dry

Ostfront:
Scouts of Army Group North discovered a T34 North-East of Gomel, this may require Luftwaffe support to close the Kiev pocket from the North along the Desna River. Army Group North can’t effort losing momentum on the so-called “Rollbahn” towards Moscow.

BE_Turn_04_026_Gomel.jpg (302.42 KiB) Viewed 9595 times

Army Group South is still engaged at Uman while first German and Romanian troops reached the outskirts of Odessa. Strong fortifications are reported through naval scouting.

BE_Turn_04_027_Odessa.jpg (291.31 KiB) Viewed 9595 times

North Africa:
Fort Capuzzo is under strong British attack and might fall soon while remaining Matilda II tanks captured Halfaya Pass… but has the Desert Fox outflanked them and will this place be remembered as “Hell-Fire Pass”? Operation Battleaxe might end in a disaster due to prepared defense positions of the Germans. At the same time Rommel is still waiting for significant reinforcements to arrive, does he really need them?

BE_Turn_04_028_North Africa.jpg (290.91 KiB) Viewed 9595 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Gibraltar:
Our ship watching positions in Tangier and Ceuta report ship movements eastwards, including the HMS Ark Royal, a British aircraft carrier expected to be on its way to Malta. We might have to block the Strait of Sicily with subs.

BE_Turn_04_029_Gibraltar.jpg (227.73 KiB) Viewed 9594 times

Western Europe:
Le Havre in Normandy has been bombed out by British bombers already. The Luftwaffe is now concentrating AA units and decided on a defensive “continent only policy”, i.e. German fighters won’t cross the Channel for the time being, the risk seems just too high. Operation Sea Lion requires some diligent preparation but indefinite postponement won’t win the war either…

BE_Turn_04_030_Le Havre.jpg (294.94 KiB) Viewed 9594 times

North Sea:
The Baltic fleet anchored in the North Sea North of Amsterdam and is waiting for further orders to cross the Channel towards the Atlantic. How long will this still be possible with all the naval mines?

BE_Turn_05_031_Amsterdam.jpg (255.23 KiB) Viewed 9594 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Turn 5 – 21 August 1941
Weather: clear and dry

Ostfront:
Army Group North decided to allocate massive artillery support towards the route to Leningrad. Pskov is the next target.

BE_Turn_05_032_Pskov.jpg (290.21 KiB) Viewed 9590 times

In the center of the Ostfront, the OKW/OKH still refuses to establish a separate Army Group (i.e. Army Group Center). Responsible OKW/OKH generals believe that all units North of the Pripet Marshes require unity of command to be able to support the Schwerpunkt Moscow-Leningrad. Scouts and spearheading tanks reached Smolensk and Bryansk.

BE_Turn_05_033_Smolensk.jpg (300.51 KiB) Viewed 9590 times

In the South, combined forces captured Uman and the way to Kremenchuk seems open, concentrated Soviet forces can be observed at the East banks of the Dnieper River.

BE_Turn_05_034_Uman.jpg (290.77 KiB) Viewed 9590 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

North Africa:
Rommel now cleared Halfaya Pass and recaptured Fort Capuzzo (only some trenches are left of it) from the East. Supported by Italian tanks, the situation seems under control for now.

BE_Turn_05_035_Fort Capuzzo.jpg (281.95 KiB) Viewed 9589 times

Malta:
Both the Italian navy and air force keep pounding on Malta and Malta’s supplies must have been depleted by now but its fortifications remain strong. Is additional Luftwaffe support, e.g. by Rudel required to capture the island?

BE_Turn_05_036_Malta.jpg (257.95 KiB) Viewed 9589 times

Western Europe:
German subs are returning from the Atlantic, OKW/OKM decided to position them South of Cork to support Operation Sea Lion with targeted attacks along the coast of the British Isles.

BE_Turn_05_037_Cork.jpg (219.35 KiB) Viewed 9589 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Turn 6 – 5 September 1941
Weather: clear and dry

Ostfront:
Our Finnish friends almost finished Petrozavodsk and now start to open their way North along Lake Onega. Ultimate goal is Archangelsk, an important port city for the Allied Arctic convoys that started in August.

BE_Turn_06_038_Petrozavodsk.jpg (284.43 KiB) Viewed 9578 times

Closing the Kiev pocket from the North requires unexpected efforts by both Heer and Luftwaffe, drawing away attention from the key objective Moscow. Hopefully we haven’t delayed our advance towards Moscow too much, Guderian is already very worried…

BE_Turn_06_039_Gomel.jpg (305.99 KiB) Viewed 9578 times

Odessa is now also under attack but the heavy fort may delay our advance East.

BE_Turn_06_040_Odessa.jpg (282.66 KiB) Viewed 9578 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Recon planes gathered at the port city of Constanta to help eliminate the Soviet Black Sea Fleet which might threaten our attack on Sevastopol and the Caucasus ultimately.

BE_Turn_06_041_Constanta.jpg (264.78 KiB) Viewed 9577 times

Greece:
Finally, reinforcements for the Afrika Korps left the Greek ports of Patras and Athens. It has been reported that Rommel is regrouping his forces. Interceptions of British radio traffic gave hints for another planned attack on his defensive positions.

BE_Turn_06_042_Greece.jpg (272.08 KiB) Viewed 9577 times

Balkans:
The situation in the Balkans is under control and the river boat already arrived at the Drina River as well.

BE_Turn_06_043_Belgrade.jpg (280.45 KiB) Viewed 9577 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Turn 7 – 20 September 1941
Weather: clear and dry

Ostfront:
Army Group North cleared Pskov and reached Velikiye Luki. Almost undefended Tallin has been reached as well so all of the Baltics are under Axis control.

BE_Turn_07_044_Pskov.jpg (295.85 KiB) Viewed 9575 times

The advance towards Moscow remains slow but strong overall, Kaluga and Orel are in reach but are supported by Soviet AT defense units.

BE_Turn_07_045_Kaluga.jpg (304.87 KiB) Viewed 9575 times

Hungarian tanks already reached Konotop and closed the Kiev pocket from the South while Guderian is still busy in the area around Gomel.

BE_Turn_07_046_Konotop.jpg (293.58 KiB) Viewed 9575 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Crete:
Italian infantry is about to land in Crete via naval transports securing the vital Maleme airfield in Western Crete.

BE_Turn_07_047_Crete.jpg (244.96 KiB) Viewed 9573 times

North Africa:
HMAS Hobart, an Australian light cruiser, threatens Benghazi and with that all naval convoys from Greece bringing the needed reinforcements for the Afrika Korps. Parts of Regia Marina have been called from Malta to support the situation.

BE_Turn_07_048_Benghazi.jpg (234.07 KiB) Viewed 9573 times

Western Europe:
JG26 with the first Fw 190A-1 planes starts to have a positive impact on the air battle over France, nonetheless preparations for Operation Sea Lion progress only very slowly. German infantry units are still training in the forests North of Bourges. Promised armored units are still supporting Army Group North in Russia.

BE_Turn_07_049_Le Mans.jpg (293.29 KiB) Viewed 9573 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Turn 8 – 5 October 1941
Weather: clear and dry

Ostfront:
The Finns experienced some casualties around Lake Onega but are breaking through now.

BE_Turn_08_050_Petrozavodsk .jpg (292.42 KiB) Viewed 9570 times

Smolensk and Kaluga have been captured and our 4. Recon unit stands some 30 km away from the Kremlin. Nonetheless, weather forecasts now talk of Rasputitsa, a so-called “period of mud” and it seems that German generals and meteorologists haven’t really understood yet what it might mean for their already slow advance. This seems surprising given that Napoléon Bonaparte had heard of the term before already… In addition, a mild winter 1941/42 has been predicted after three strong winters.

BE_Turn_08_051_Smolensk.jpg (300.51 KiB) Viewed 9570 times

Orel has been captured and finally the Kiev pocket got closed from the North as well. Soviet troops encircled East of Kiev are expected to surrender shortly.

BE_Turn_08_052_Orel.jpg (300.28 KiB) Viewed 9570 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Malta:
Malta has been weakened significantly already. However, it might not be possible to capture it before the onset of winter.

BE_Turn_08_053_Malta.jpg (255.93 KiB) Viewed 9569 times

Western Europe:
Finally the Luftwaffe is dominating the skies over France and the German Kriegsmarine returned to its bases along the French coast to finish the required vessel repairs.

BE_Turn_08_054_France.jpg (283.33 KiB) Viewed 9569 times

Nordics:
An Italian infantry units is on its way to Trondheim securing the Norwegian Corridor of Swedish iron ore shipments from Northern Norway/the port of Narvik.

BE_Turn_08_055_Trondheim.jpg (267.87 KiB) Viewed 9569 times

[PeteMitchellOLD]

Turn 9 – 20 October 1941
Weather: rain and dry

Ostfront:
Army Group North is targeting Novgorod around 180 km South-East of Leningrad.

BE_Turn_09_056_Novgorod.jpg (287.64 KiB) Viewed 9515 times

German recon units have captured the Kremlin and are now engaging in difficult urban operations in Moscow. Motorized infantry units are on their way to take over.

BE_Turn_09_057_Moscow.jpg (293.71 KiB) Viewed 9515 times

In the South, the German generals von Rundstedt, von Kleist and von Manstein decided not to attack Kursk and Kharkov for now. Instead they favor a South-East focused “Caucasus first approach”. As a consequence, all defensive Axis units will retreat behind a line Desna River/Dnieper River and the main forces plan to break through to the Caucasus around the area Rostov-on-Don.

BE_Turn_09_058_Rostov.jpg (260.55 KiB) Viewed 9515 times