World at War AAR-MrPlow vs. jjdenver (No jjdenver allowed)

[raffo80]

Germany is so weak, russia should pass on the offensive.

[zzodr]

Hi! new here! Been playing CeAW for some time now.

Well I'm rooting for MrPlow here, quite interested how this one will turn out.
I think the 3 armoured corps is in a good position at Pskov.

I see a opportunity here for a limited offensive by redeploying the other 2 armour corps north and
launch a 2 pronged attack due west. I think your infantry strength around Smolensk should be enough
to cope with this redeployment in case of a German attack here for a little while at least.

The aim is threefold:
Destroy or force the withdraw of his 4 air units here.
Capture Talinn.
Establish a new defence line along the river (blue line)

Or course, being sure your advance does not get cut off by deploying Infantry
to hold the supply route from Pskov open.

I think this would at least give the German player something to think about having his northern flank
threatened.
Or course, no plan survives contact with the enemy!

Good luck Comrade!

[MrPlow]

Germany is so weak, russia should pass on the offensive.

Soviet High Command is thinking the same thing, however, its the thought of 1942 Wehrmacht strength IRL that is clouding their judgment and causing them to be more hesitant.

Hi! new here! Been playing CeAW for some time now.

Well I'm rooting for MrPlow here, quite interested how this one will turn out.
I think the 3 armoured corps is in a good position at Pskov.

I see a opportunity here for a limited offensive by redeploying the other 2 armour corps north and
launch a 2 pronged attack due west. I think your infantry strength around Smolensk should be enough
to cope with this redeployment in case of a German attack here for a little while at least.

The aim is threefold:
Destroy or force the withdraw of his 4 air units here.
Capture Talinn.
Establish a new defence line along the river (blue line)

Or course, being sure your advance does not get cut off by deploying Infantry
to hold the supply route from Pskov open.

I think this would at least give the German player something to think about having his northern flank
threatened.
Or course, no plan survives contact with the enemy!

Good luck Comrade!

That sounds like a great idea for a fairly safe limited offensive for this stage in the War! Soviet High Command is going to do some serious thinking and planning over this strategic idea! Also, thank you for reading and commenting on my AAR, and especially for rooting for the good side . I value your contributions, and the contributions of everyone, to the AAR!

Thanks again!
MrPlow

[MrPlow]

May 8, 1942

"Here they found real war, but they were not ready for it. They were used to easy victories. This deprived them of flexibility on the one hand, of tenacity on the other. For them, war was merely maneuvers. They have neither cavalry nor skiers, their tanks cannot pass over the snow..."

Eastern Front

The Wehrmacht continues it's minor probing attacks which fail to pierce our defensive lines constructed of continuous rows of steel, wire, amatol, and flesh. All these attacks serve is to benefit the Red Army as the Wehrmacht gradually takes attritional losses that soon it will not be able to replace. After a great plan was suggested by a very wise strategic advisor, Soviet High Command now feels that they will purse a limited offensive in August/September 1942 to recapture Tallin and eliminate enemy airpower in this sector. The idea is to attack late in the year when the weather is still good and then be granted the added defensive benefits of winter when it most likely arrives in December. However there are risks, if progress is slow or winter arrives early, then our troops could be in exposed positions and effected by the harsh weather. If this occurs, they would mostly likely have to withdraw to avoid destruction, ultimately dooming the operation to failure. Soviet High Command vows that this will not happen, and that this operation will mark the beginning of the Nazi tyrants being repelled from the Soviet Union. Glory to the Motherland!

Frontline Status


Western Front and North Africa

Our convoys continue on their way to Libya and Egypt to eliminate Fascist presence from all of North Africa and the Middle East. Unfortunately an enemy wolf pack intercepted one of our convoys, doing minor damage to some transports. Our strong naval presence will hunt these cowards as the convoy continues its journey. Our surprise is now gone which has already caused the Fascists to move air assets to Sicily. However, Allied Command feels our Naval and Air assets in the area can minimize the risk to the transports and ultimately allow them to land in Libya. The enemy response also has the added benefit of displacing reinforcements that would have, mostly likely, otherwise be sent to the Eastern Front. Hopefully this operation will provide an adequate "distraction" to allow the Soviets to mount a successful offensive...

[ftgcritt2]

May 8, 1942

Eastern Front

The Wehrmacht continues it's minor probing attacks which fail to pierce our defensive lines constructed of continuous rows of steel, wire, amatol, and flesh. All these attacks serve is to benefit the Red Army as the Wehrmacht gradually takes attritional losses that soon it will not be able to replace. After a great plan was suggested by a very wise strategic advisor, Soviet High Command now feels that they will purse a limited offensive in August/September 1942 to recapture Tallin and eliminate enemy airpower in this sector. The idea is to attack late in the year when the weather is still good and then be granted the added defensive benefits of winter when it most likely arrives in December. However there are risks, if progress is slow or winter arrives early, then our troops could be in exposed positions and effected by the harsh weather. If this occurs, they would mostly likely have to withdraw to avoid destruction, ultimately dooming the operation to failure. Soviet High Command vows that this will not happen, and that this operation will mark the beginning of the Nazi tyrants being repelled from the Soviet Union. Glory to the Motherland!

It looks like the planned offensive will go through the Baltic states, so you won't have to worry about winter.

[MrPlow]

It looks like the planned offensive will go through the Baltic states, so you won't have to worry about winter.

Oh yea, your right! I guess like a true Red Army leader I consider the Baltic states part of the Soviet Union after "liberating" them in 1940 .

Thanks!
MrPlow

[MrPlow]

May 28, 1942

Eastern Front

The current status quo of continual minor probing attacks continues across the Eastern Front. In the North, Red army troops continue to rest and refit in preparation for an attack on Helsinki.

Western Front

A formidable allied invasion force is off the coast of Vichy-held Morocco enroute to Libya. However, Allied Command needs further help from its trusted advisors. Would it be better to invade Morocco first to use as a platform to retake the rest of Africa, or would that open up the Allies to needless risks? What does everyone think, would it be better to just go straight for Libya? Again, thank you all for the advice given to Allied command. Once this war is over you will all be rewarded greatly!

[ftgcritt2]

Just curious, why do you plan on waiting so long to launch the offensive? You already have everything in place to begin. I actually think the timing couldn't be better. The Germans have lost almost all of their momentum, and their frontline forces are still scattered and in no position to mount a major offensive anytime soon. This is your chance to seize the initiative. An operation this small isnt going to turn the tide, but it will force him to react and put off any plans that may be brewing.

[MrPlow]

Just curious, why do you plan on waiting so long to launch the offensive? You already have everything in place to begin. I actually think the timing couldn't be better. The Germans have lost almost all of their momentum, and their frontline forces are still scattered and in no position to mount a major offensive anytime soon. This is your chance to seize the initiative. An operation this small isnt going to turn the tide, but it will force him to react and put off any plans that may be brewing.

Good Question! I'm trying to time both my Russian and African offensives simultaneously to disrupt my opponent's "OODA Loop" and also force him to shift his forces between the different areas. My Eastern Front offensive is ready to commence but is waiting for the African offensive to occur. This is why the Allies need advice on where to strike in the African theatre, go for Vichy-held Morocco, or straight for Libya?

Thanks!
MrPlow

[raffo80]

Using armors in forest isn't a good idea. They are slow. and limited offensive, given how weak germans are in romania is too cautious IMO.

I would move all armors and air in south (out of sight of enemy bombers), and when you are ready to invade africa, just attack. With a good "battle plan", i think you can easily kill 4 german infantry units in one turn and then germany has no unit to defend rumania.

[rkr1958]

May 28, 1942

Western Front

A formidable allied invasion force is off the coast of Vichy-held Morocco enroute to Libya. However, Allied Command needs further help from its trusted advisors. Would it be better to invade Morocco first to use as a platform to retake the rest of Africa, or would that open up the Allies to needless risks? What does everyone think, would it be better to just go straight for Libya? Again, thank you all for the advice given to Allied command. Once this war is over you will all be rewarded greatly!

My answer depends on the size of your force and what naval support they have. For me to launch Operation Torch I usually have a minimum of 8 or 9 ground corps (i.e., infantry, motorized & tank), two fighters and two tactical bombers supported by a minimum of 4 CVs and 6 BB/DDs. I land one corps adjacent to Casablanca, which won't fall that turn because it's unoccupied and two corps each next to Oran and Algiers. Before landing Oran and Algiers are each hit by 2 CV air strikes. After landings they're hit by BB bombardments. Whether or not I advance to Tunis by land or sea depends on my estimate of Axis air nearby. General it's an overland route. Personally if I didn't have this kind of force I would not attempt Torch. I'd send them to Egypt the safest way possible (time permitting) and reinforce there.

[MrPlow]

June 17, 1942

"The Germans have received back again that measure of fire and steel which they have so often meted out to others. Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning..."

Operation Iron Fist

The Red Army's first counteroffensive will begin shortly as depicted in the following map. The many strong, upgraded, and prepared infantry divisions currently on the eastern banks of the Dnieper will swing down to defend the left flank of the attack on the northeastern bank of the Prypiac River tributary. This defensive line is shown in blue, and for the first phase of the attack will be in a purely defensive mode. The main body of the attack will include tank, motorized, and infantry units that will be aided with air support. The attack has been planned to occur in an area between Kiev and Smolensk that occurs great chances for maneuver warfare. As a result we will try to surround and pocket enemy units whenever possible after crossing the Dneiper. An attack in the North of the front will try to divert attention from the main thrust area, aswell as destroying as many enemy units as possible. The dotted line is the objective positions of the advance with the further arrows indicating the possible next phase of the offensive. There is much hope that we will be successful and finally begin to drive these fascist pigs out of the motherland!

Attack Plans

Operation Torch

In order to secure supply lines that would support a Libyan invasion, Allied Command has decided to invade Vichy-held Morocco. There is much hope that these Frenchmen will join the side of freedom but we will have the Naval and airforces ready if they decide to fight for fascist oppression. This attack is not as planned as Allied Command would like as it was a last minute decision, however we feel that we have enough firepower present to create victory. Only time will tell if this was a wise decision or not...

[rkr1958]

June 17, 1942

In order to secure supply lines that would support a Libyan invasion, Allied Command has decided to invade Vichy-held Morocco. There is much hope that these Frenchmen will join the side of freedom but we will have the Naval and airforces ready if they decide to fight for fascist oppression. This attack is not as planned as Allied Command would like as it was a last minute decision, however we feel that we have enough firepower present to create victory. Only time will tell if this was a wise decision or not...

After looking at your situational map and seeing that the Suez Canal has been lost and how much he's committed to the eastern Med I would launch Torch too. I think you've made a good decision. At worst the Axis will have to divert resources away for the eastern Med or even Russia to respond to this invasion. At best he'll stop his advance in Iraq and your oil fields will be secured.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

I don't think the Germans can have a strong strategic reserve in Germany and France since he has a strong force in Britain and his units are committed in Russia.

I would think a simultaneous major offensive in Russia and a strong landing near Bordeaux and Brest would create huge problems for Germany. If he takes units away from Russia then the Russians will crush the remaining Germans there and storm to Berlin. If he takes units from Britian then he will be too weak to hold there.

A big landing in France is a MAJOR threat for Germany because the Allies can capture Paris and get supply level 5. I think the Germans will be able to contain the invasion of France by stripping their forces elsewhere and that opens up for new targets to invade. If you can get ashore 8-10 corps units in France then Germany can't easily kill them all. His economy is strained and the Luftwaffe is needed in Russia to prevent the Russian armor from killing 5-6 German units per turn.

Landing in Algeria is safe, but I wonder if it's actually needed. If you don't want to go with the somewhat risky invasion of France then it's possible to land
directly into Sardinia, Corsica and later Sicily and near Tripoli.

If you decide to go for Algeria then I would consider just landing one unit near Casablanca (since it's empty), 2 units near Oran, 2 units near Algiers and the rest
near Tunis. It's important to get Tunis asap and it takes a long time to move from Algiers to Tunis. You want to put pressure upon Tripoli so the Axis can use fewer units in Egypt for offensive operations. There are mostly clear hexes between Tunis and Tripoli so you can quickly move from Tunis to Tripoli. Once you have Tripoli you can quickly take Benghazi.

I'm wondering why the Germans bother with going into Egypt when they're advancing so slowly. They burn a lot of oil and are nowhere near the oilfields in Iraq. They're too far away to protect Libya and send the units back home to Italy to hold Italy.

I think MrPlow should just continue to engage the Luftwaffe and force losses and oil expenditure. Russia can replace the losses while Germany can't long term. It's a mistake for the Allies to give Germany breathing room now.

I even think an invasion of Britain could prevail if the Allied navy is quite strong. The reason is that the navy can prevent the Germans from reinforcing Britain. It's probably safe to land in northern Ireland since you know the strength there and then you know how many units you need to land. Once it's liberated you can stage fighters and bombers there and land units in northern Britain. It's not easy for the German armor in Britain to move into the rough terrain in Scotland if the Allies have CV's at sea and bombers in northern Ireland.

I've shown you a lot of different attack options for the Allies. My point is that ALL options will create big problems for Germany and that is imperative now because Russia can launch their offensive and succeed if the western Allies do their job. Launching Torch is the safe option, but then Germany can ignore the Allied threat for maybe 6 months and concentrate upon Russia while building a strategic reserve. I wouldn't have given Germany this breathing room.

Can you MrPlow tell us exactly which units you have eligible for a landing? If you have e. g. 8 land units and 3-4 air units then you're strong enough to land almost everywhere. If you only have 4-6 land units and 1-2 air units then you probably should start Torch or go directly to Sardinia, Corsica etc. You need airbases to threaten the Axis and you don't really need Algeria if you can take the Italian islands and make an invasion to liberate Tripoli. Remember that the british fighter in Malta is an asset that can force Axis fighters to intercept e. g. a bombardment on the Benghazi port. That means a fighter less who can intercept a landing near Tripoli.

My advise is to just go for it. Make a simultaneous offensive in Russia and in the west / Med and you will see your opponent start sweating and making panic moves trying to bolster the threatened areas.

[MrPlow]

Thanks for the great replies rkr1958 and Stauffenberg, you both have been incredibly helpful!

Can you MrPlow tell us exactly which units you have eligible for a landing? If you have e. g. 8 land units and 3-4 air units then you're strong enough to land almost everywhere. If you only have 4-6 land units and 1-2 air units then you probably should start Torch or go directly to Sardinia, Corsica etc. You need airbases to threaten the Axis and you don't really need Algeria if you can take the Italian islands and make an invasion to liberate Tripoli. Remember that the british fighter in Malta is an asset that can force Axis fighters to intercept e. g. a bombardment on the Benghazi port. That means a fighter less who can intercept a landing near Tripoli.

There are 4 motorized infantry, one infantry corps, one tank corps, and one fighter unit ready to storm the beaches. Due to some disorganization in Allied Command, a group of 2 army units (I think one tank and one infantry) and 1 fighter unit with escort support are out in the Atlantic enroute to support an African invasion. There are also 3-4 BB's in the area, countless DD's, and 2 CV's that are supporting. Further Naval units are out in the Atlantic U-boat hunting and escorting convoys which could be called upon to help if the need arises.

Thanks again for the help guys, and for reading!

MrPlow

[Peter Stauffenberg]

It seems your forces are not strong enough to land in France. Northern Ireland is a possiblity, but if the forces are already enroute to the Med then you will waste too much time.

I think the infantry unit in the Atlantic can land in Casablanca. It's not protected so you can just land one unit. You need 2 units each for Oran and Algiers and that
means you can land 2 units near Tunis unless the Italian navy is a big threat or you know about Luftwaffe squadrons on Sardinia.

If you've lost surprise (since the invasion army was discovered) then the Luftwaffe and navy will be waiting for you in Sardinia and Sicily. Then Tunis is too risky. Then it's smarter to land 2 units in Oran, 1 in Casablanca and the rest near Algiers. Remember you can land a fighter in the hex adjacent to Gibraltar and support the landing in Oran. The fighter can rebase to captured hexes in Africa later. I would definitely do that. The other fighter should land near Algiers to support the attack there.

Are you sending reinforcements to Kuwait? Remember that you can rail units landing in Kuwait to Baghdad, Jerusalem (if it's still British) and Beirut. You definitely need more units in Iraq so it will never fall. Where do you have the British units that started in Iraq? Have you saved the Royal Air Force stationed in Egypt? Where is the Royal Navy that used to be in ports in Egypt? They can be harassed if they try to remain in the Med. So you can either sail towards Malta and join the others near Algiers or you can find a hiding place away from the Axis bomber range.

There are many clear hexes south of Algiers going eastwards to Tripoli and then northwards to Tunis. It's a good attack route once you land your units near Algiers. You definitely don't want to land many units near Casablanca and Oran These units are too far away from where you need them. So they might actually
want to embark on transports again after the ports have been captured. But you need to expand the invasion area a bit near Oran so you can land air units there to support Algiers if needed. The same is needed near Algiers. Capture hexes so you can place air units there. Also remember that you can capture coastal hexes with units that already invaded. That means you can land new units in those hexes and not spend amph points. You only spend amph points if you land in an enemy controlled hex

[MrPlow]

July 7, 1942

"This leads to the conclusion, it is time to finish retreating. Not one step back! Such should now be our main slogan...Henceforth the solid law of discipline for each commander, Red Army soldier, and commissar should be the requirement — not a single step back without order from higher command."

Operation Iron Fist

The Summer Offensive begins as the valiant Red Army storms Wehrmacht positions; destroying, damaging, and surrounding many enemy infantry corps. As planned, four Soviet infantry divisions swing around and secure the left flank of the offensive. Following this, the main thrust consisting of armoured, mechanized, and infantry units smashes the enemy frontline units, inflicting heavy casualties and gaining significant ground. All significant Wehrmacht forces on the road to Minsk have been destroyed or surrounded, hopefully allowing our following troops to advance and liberate the city. Furthermore, diversionary attacks near Pskov are wearing down and tying up large enemy forces, preventing them from interfering with the main thrust area. The war of annihilation has now shifted towards Germany, the Soviet Union will succeed! Glory to the Motherland!

Opening Moves


Operation Torch

Operation Torch launched with a promising start as Algiers was captured while Casablanca and Oran are close to being conquered. Following the capture of these cities, a strong force will be sent to Tunis to capture the city and begin the many operations to secure the Mediterranean and Italy. In the east of the Mediterranean, the Afrika Korps begins an offensive to capture Lebanon and secure the road to Middle Eastern oil. Fortunately a significant allied force will soon be arriving in Iraq to aid in its defence.

[MrPlow]

July 27, 1942

Operation Iron Fist

The Wehrmacht heavily counterattacks the main thrust area, causing heavy casualties on both sides. Unfortunately Zhukov was injured in the German counteroffensive and was evacuated back to Moscow. Luckily he will recover from his wounds but this will leave the offensive without a skilled General to master the battlefield. With the Germans rushing in reinforcements, there is a high potential for the offensive turning into slow attritional warfare instead of one of maneuver that the Soviet High Command had hoped for. On the other hand, attritional battles are beneficial to the Soviets as we can replace our losses while the Wehrmacht will slowly wear away their quantity and quality of units. This battle is just beginning and unfortunately it looks like there will be no easy victory.

German Counterattack


Soviet Response


Operation Torch

The offensive continues its successful pace as the Allies prepare for a seaborne invasion of Tunis. Following this hopefully successful attack, Allied troops will be repositioned and then advance into Libya. Troops are being built up on the mainland of North America for operations to either liberate England, France, or reinforce the Mediterranean to eventually invade Italy.

[MrPlow]

August 16, 1942

Liberation of Minsk

Glorious Red Army troops marched through the streets of Minsk once more after a crushing victory over the Nazi tyrants! Utilizing strictly infantry and air assets, our troops forced open the path to Minsk allowing further troops to attack and storm the city! Though a success, our forces are still very exposed in this sector so the next priority of Soviet Command is to expand the salient and secure the supply lines to the city. Following this, Red Army troops will advance north-western to capture Vilna, while simultaneously protecting the southern flank to avoid encirclement. This is the first step to victory over the Fascist dogs, and we can only hope it lasts...Glory to the Motherland!

Enemy Moves


Operation Iron Fist and Liberation of Minsk


Operation Torch

In addition to Operation Iron Fist, the western allies' North African offensive, Operation Torch, is running quite smoothly so far. All the cities of Morocco and Algeria have been liberated while Tunis is expected to fall soon. The next objective of this operation, which is the riskiest, is the invasion of Libya. Troops are already being mobilized and the offensive will begin shortly after the fall of Tunisia. A significant Allied force has arrived in Iraq to aid in it's defence and hopefully prevent the oil fields from falling into Nazi hands.

[gerones]

I think Luftwaffe is too powerful (10 fighters and 5 tacs) for allowing a notable russian army progress and on the other hand there´s too infantry and armour units in the southern front doing nothing that would be very useful in the northern offensive. Don´t worry about a nazi´s possible important response in northafrica for axis player must be almost out of oil.