Plaid (axis) vs Vokt (allies) GS 3.0 beta AAR

[Cybvep]

The Soviets probably lack heavy units or Vokt doesn't want to expose them to counter-attack. All these lost PPs due to sunk convoys and bombed cities must have some impact. It also looks like Vokt's strategy is very traditional - NA + Italy in 1943, France in 1944, medium Soviet aggressiveness in 1943. I'm not sure what's YOUR plan for 1943, though. Oil will limit your activity, but losing the initiative in mid-1943 would be a bit too early IMO. The Allies really gain momentum in 1944 and the Axis often falls like a house of cards, so giving them more even time for success is not good, but I'm sure that you know it.

[richardsd]

The Soviets probably lack heavy units or Vokt doesn't want to expose them to counter-attack. All these lost PPs due to sunk convoys and bombed cities must have some impact. It also looks like Vokt's strategy is very traditional - NA + Italy in 1943, France in 1944, medium Soviet aggressiveness in 1943. I'm not sure what's YOUR plan for 1943, though. Oil will limit your activity, but losing the initiative in mid-1943 would be a bit too early IMO. The Allies really gain momentum in 1944 and the Axis often falls like a house of cards, so giving them more even time for success is not good, but I'm sure that you know it.

there is so much we don't know about the Russian strength, a forces view would be most helpful

I tend to think the Allies have the upper hand but that's just a guess. I would move the FTR's from Germany to Italy, I think there is a chance to really punish the west in the Med with the stronger Italians probably harder to move than people might think (of course oil may be an issue)

[Plaid]

there is so much we don't know about the Russian strength, a forces view would be most helpful

No way to retrieve forces chart, as game is a bit ahead of this AAR.

[Plaid]

Now soviets attempt to cross Volkhov river, forcing german infantry to retreat :



In the south more of the same - romanian infantry reduced to 5 steps and hungarian one near manganese mines - to 4.



In the north we react immediately destroying soviet bridgehead with Rommel's panzergrenadier unit. If we want to seize Leningrad (and we do!) Volkhov front must hold!



In the south just repairs and unit swapping. Could probably try to intercept soviet fighters with german ones which are out of SW zone - I have 3:2 odds - but decided to save some oil instead of risking PPs for little gain.



Mareth is now under attack. I see no point even repairing unit here.



All this African misery is almost year behind schedule anyway.

[Plaid]

SW ends, but soviet still push hard in the north, using normal winter weather to their advantage. Lost no units here, but some units taken heavy damage, and some retreated.



Much less damage in the south:



During axis turn I repair troops across the map.





I am not very happy with frontline in the north - may be losing 6 steps infantry south of Ilmen lake and 8 steps one north of Velikie Luki might retreat, linking partisans with supply.

Fair possible next turn, so luftwaffe starting to arrive to the area.

New soviet convoy spotted.

[Plaid]

Soviets keep attacking.

In the north they failed to destroy any units, though this infantry reduced to 1 step with only 2 corps and 2 air attack can be considered major damage.



In the south lost hungarian infantry near Sea of Azov - was expected to happen long time ago.



It is April now, but I still got "normal" winter weather in the east.

Bombed Leningrad for low damage (1:0 result only for each bomber) and destroyed 5 step soviet infantry with some TAC support. No soviet interceptors - probably Victor did not expect winter neither and put fighters on sentry.

SS armor arrives to Velikie Luki.



In the south only repairs and upgrades.



And large naval battle is about to happen in Norwegian sea with Kriegsmarine combined force of 4 subs, 2 BBs and 1 DD ready to engage escorted northern convoy.

[Plaid]

This turn soviets were rather passive.





We only lost manganese mine in the south and corps defending it.

During our turn fair weather finally starts and attacks on Leningrad launched with great initial progress. Moscow bombed into 0 production aswell.



In the south no offensive actions, but combined axis airforce harass unentrenched soviet armour units (and airforce, trying to intercept).



Looks like allies are going to land on Sardinia soon. Can't defend the island properly, like Sicily - it's just to big and has only 1 surrender city, so we will try only delaying action.



And Kriegsmarine orderded to engage northern convoy escorts, but no great result here. First of all. 2 of 3 surface ships were ambushed by subs and didn't even reach their targets. (Smart sub placing on Victor's end!). Secondary, my sub failed to finish off 2 step DD scoring really bad 1:3 result over here.
Didn't even used 4th sub - it will sail to convoy origin point instead.



Soon enough most of escorts will be busy protecting transports, heading to Britain for Overlord, so my subs will score some free hits on convoys again.

[Plaid]

Naval battle in Norwegian Sea plays out totally disasterous for Kriegsmarine.
3 surface units lost completely for combined damage of 5DD steps, 10 BB steps, 9 sub steps. Mission of intercepting convoy itself also failed.



But well, Kriegsmarine has little use this late anyway. Probably I should just kept them in bases to force Victor to provide battleship escorts to his northern convoys. Now he can safely escort with destroyers only and send BBs/CVs elsewhere he wants.

Or I could try sending german surface ships to the sea much earlier, when USA was not onboard. Who knows.

Anyway, we found another soviet convoy. This one was not escorted and taken some damage.



In the east german troops enter Leningrad destroying soviet Baltic fleet!



Finns start their own little offensive for Petrozavodsk.
Bombed Moscow into 0 production again, but this time my bomber was intercepted.



Very quiet in the south - soviet armour withdraws from TAC pressure.



In the MED allies harass my ground and naval forces (already lost italian DD in Cagliari port and BB in Naples is at 1 step - can't do much about it and see no point repairing).



Still no sign of landings.

[Plaid]

Quiet turn.

Both sides are quite passive in Russia, though finns keep attacking near Petrozavodsk.





Allies keep bombarding Sicily defenders. This turn I spent almost entire italian income on repairs.



And picture of wehrmacht French command.

[Plaid]

This turn Luftflotte Reich engaged in combat for the first time.
According to decoded RAF message it was unpleasant surprise for them.

Strats bombers dare to bomb Ruhr area without escort suffering heavy losses.

Probably it will stop allies from bombing objects in Germany for a while, and it is just what I need.



Mostly quiet in Russia :



[img]hhttp://i.imgur.com/2IZN4Cn.jpg[/img]

Only finns with help of German TACs seize Petrozavodsk and prepare defenses on Svir river.



Allies keep bombarding Sicily defenders and methodically sink RM ships.
Generally any delay of landings favours us here, so I am OK with repairing italian units and losing navy.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

Vokt has played very well in Russia and should be able to get the steamroller going soon. However, the western Allies need to get engaged with the Axis. If Sicily is that well defended I would probably bypass it and land in southern mainland Italy instead. It seems poorly defended at the moment. Maybe invading in France too could be a good idea to draw German units from Russia and Italy to France. You don't really have to succeed with the invasion. You just need to get ashore and hold a part of France for awhile. The Brest area is good for making a foothold.

[Plaid]

Allies heavily invested into strategic bombers (I can see 12) and ASW warfare (roughly 20 DDs combined). With large portion of their ground forces in Africa I doubt, if they can launch landing in France in 1943.
Also I have some reserves in Germany to deal with this sort of landing.

[richardsd]

Allies heavily invested into strategic bombers (I can see 12) and ASW warfare (roughly 20 DDs combined). With large portion of their ground forces in Africa I doubt, if they can launch landing in France in 1943.
Also I have some reserves in Germany to deal with this sort of landing.

my concern for the Axis is that the Allies have lost very little in terms of steps, PP losses from UBoats have counted but I still have concerns, still without seeing forces who would know

certainly the Allies have invested heavily for not much return in the Med

[Cybvep]

Realistically the Allies need at least 3 turns to perform an invasion and secure a decent beachhead. They will soon run out of time in 1943 (it's already July), so no Overlord in 1943 IMO. Also, it looks like all these PPs went into STRATs and DDs.

However, 1944 Overlord is fine. The Allies become really powerful in 1944-1945 and the Axis will soon face the Soviet steamroller.

[Plaid]

This turn pesky american fighter receives strategic operations upgrade and starts to escort bombers to Ruhr.



We have to rebase our fighters, so now they cover only Hamburg and Hannover. PP trade with botomless US economy is not our goal here.



Nore German reserve army. There is no urgent need for all these good units elsewhere, so they just stand and wait for their hour. I have 13 German mechs on map, 5 of them are SS. It is already in yellow "mass-production" penalty, so no point to build more.
Instead we just collect PPs.

With recent industry level 4 upgrade Germany PP income again jumps at 150+.
Oil income is 63.

Ah yes, Husky is here.



High tech UK tank lands on Sicily. My italian troops has to bad odds vs it, so I repaired them instead of counterattacking. Allied airforce of 4 TACs 4 FTRs and 2 CVs aswell as numerous naval units provide effecient fire support to their operation in the region.



Italian air units from Russia (aswell as their commander Aosta and his corps) are recalled from Ukraine to take part in battle for Italy.
Sending German units is still a question - I have another plans for them.

[Plaid]

British keep landing on Sicily (and Australian corps landed near Reggio, cutting full supply for Sicily).



Italian forces prepare to actually engage this corps. Airpower is in place and infantry receive important +1 ground attack upgrade. If allies capture Reggio and both cities on Sicily, Italy will surrender, so I am going to hold Reggio for a while. Can't do much about Sicily, but it will take time to secure the island.



Wehrmacht start their organized retreat all over the eastern front. I am not going to receive SW penalties any more in this game - we will fall back instead.
Trying to keep formations safe in case of counterattacks. I don't think any will happen, even though I have few exposed units.
It is only August, so if soviet troops chase to fast, we will be able to strike them badly, especially in the south, where many German mechs and tanks present.





And some convoy attack after quite long break. Even completely sunk central one - didn't happen for a while.

[Plaid]

No soviet attacks occured and we keep retreating in good order in USSR :





In Italy Australian infantry bombed, as planned. Italian ground forces also march forward for engage, but terrain is difficult.
Troops on Sicily are slowly being chewed by invasion forces.



And another sub attack - this time near British shores.

[Plaid]

Action in Italy continues with Sicily being slowly cleaned up from Italian troops.



We response attacking Indian infantry north of Reggio. This turn I had to sell 1 Italian lab (industry) to pay for my fighter repairs. Probably I should sell them all - place going to surrender within 5 turns probably.



In USSR weather switches mud, so retreat slows down. There is no need to run faster, then Red Army can chase.







Finland front :



And one of my subs was swept during allied turn. 1:5 score...

[Kragdob]

Capturing Sicily and Reggio is not enough for Italy to surrender. Rail Depot counts as 1/2 So I think Italy will hold till 1944.

I also think you needen't have retreated that early. You should do it at the beginning of December and avoid being attacked by Russia during winter.

Anyway looks like you have the game under control. Both Russia and Western Allies are too passive IMHO.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

The Russians should never be underestimated. Once the Steamroller starts it will grind down the German defenses really fast. Russia will get quite far west in Russia during the winter, although unopposed. Still they have a fair chance to break into Germany in 1945. I have a feeling this game will be decided in France in 1944. If Overlord starts on time and can quickly get momentum then I think the Allies have a chance to win.