Slitherine

Cybvep wrote:This D-Day attempt looks lame. 3 transports and 1 PARA? Without access to a port? The clock is ticking...

I'm wondering how strong the Western Allies actually are. They are bogged down in Italy and it doesn't look like Rome will fall soon. I saw British STRATs. Considering that you sunk many British PPs and they suffered high casualties in the Med, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have many land units. The USA probably focused on naval and air units + some heavies. The problem with the US PPs is that in 1944-1945, moving land units to GB/France seems to take forever. And the clock is ticking...

Still expecting a strong landing operation anywhere in the coast from Brest to Denmark. May be these landings in Britanny are not the main landings and some other operation is planned in other place. Anyway, I do not agree that w-allies have few land units. I foresee many USA land units waiting to land in Europe and these landings in Britanny allow my opponent to test if I am willing to bring reserves inmediately to Britanny or not. Recently bought mechs could be the main german opposing force to the w-allies units. I will try to withdraw a tac bomber from the east and to use fighters in Germany to provide escort to tacs.

Turn 87. May 7, 1944

After many combats Rzhev was finally liberated by Red army in last allied turn. Romanian corps there was destroyed as well as a bulgarian corps near Pskov. Another soviet attack did occur 2 hexes NW of Rzhev with a german corps destroyed there. In Kursk, heavy combats also occurred with a german corps and mech destroyed. In southern USSR Red army reached vicinities of Kharkov and liberated emptied Stalino. In Finland garrison in fortress was reduced to 3 steps as a result of the soviets attacks. Images below are at the start of axis turn.









Only axis offensive action this turn was a counterattack NW of Rzhev that ended with the killing of last allied turn advancing soviet corps and the restoring of the axis defensive line in that sector. In the rest of this sector repairs and upgrades were made to all units. Axis general withdrawal in the south continues. Kursk was abandoned and only Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk were left garrisoned although both probably will be liberated by Red army in next turn. I railed a full strength finnish corps to the fortress hex thus replacing battered garrison. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.









Italy. German corps that in last turn killed indian corps was heavily attacked and reduced to 4 steps only by air and naval bombardments. More attacks to Gustav line reduced one of the corps there to 7 steps. Shots below, at the start of axis turn.





Forget to put german fighter in Venice in sentry mode so it made an interception in last allied turn that took 2 steps from the air unit so I could not use tac in Innsbruck. I used strat in Sttutgart instead and this air unit achieved to take 1 step from Eisenhower's mech. Adjacent german corps tried with the american mech too but with no luck (no steps reduced). Finally, again garrison in Ancona succeeded in reducing a step from the mech. Free french beachhead finished off but required an attack from the corps in Gustav line so I had to rail a garrison to replace it. Shots below show axis moves.





France. Allies started to land heavies in Britanny in last allied turn and this way Patton's armoured got ashored. Rennes garrison was reduced to 1 step and retreating garrison at 5 steps was destroyed only by air strikes. Also, Brest garrison reduced to 6 steps and one of the u-boats in the English Channel was sunk. Canadian units are also about to land in France. Strategic bombings continued anyway. Shots below are at the start of axis turn.





With such overwhelming tac allied air force ain't no use for axis to bring any heavy unit and to try to counterattack allied beachhead in Britanny. For the same reason I did not repair garrison in Rennes that will fall in allied hands surely. I did repair Brest garrison. Keeping in mind this I started to man Siegfried line and a german corps will be railed to Antwerp fortress to form a defensive line along Albert canal. Shots below at the end of axis turn.





2 german corps bought.

You should expect a landing near Groningen or in Denmark in 1944 or early 1945. If that doesn't happen, then I think that the Western Allies won't be a big threat to Hamburg.

It will be interesting to see if the Russians attempt an amphibious landing to attack that weak GAR and put the fortress out of supply. (I would.)

Cybvep wrote:You should expect a landing near Groningen or in Denmark in 1944 or early 1945. If that doesn't happen, then I think that the Western Allies won't be a big threat to Hamburg.

I expect the americans to have more land units awaiting for loading and disembarking in Europe. Given the large number of american tacs in UK there must not be so large number of american land units as I thought.

GogTheMild wrote:It will be interesting to see if the Russians attempt an amphibious landing to attack that weak GAR and put the fortress out of supply. (I would.)

I have seen that move too. Only thing I could to about it is to rail another finnish unit to the coast so the hypothetical soviet amphibious unit would have to achieve a retreat first. Another possibility is to bring some u-boats to Baltic sea and to torpedo soviet BB so it could not provide supply to the landed soviet unit.

Vokt wrote:

Cybvep wrote:You should expect a landing near Groningen or in Denmark in 1944 or early 1945. If that doesn't happen, then I think that the Western Allies won't be a big threat to Hamburg.

I expect the americans to have more land units awaiting for loading and disembarking in Europe. Given the large number of american tacs in UK there must not be as large number of american land units as I thought.

Maybe, but my point is that as long as the Allies land in France, this shouldn't be a big problem. Breaching the Siegfried Line is not that easy. It usually takes several turns. And Germany is not very weak here, in most games the Axis is in worse shape in 1944 than in this game. The Soviets are still far away and don't seem very strong. I don't think that they will have enough time to reach Berlin - again, there are many good defensive lines between your current position in the East and Germany. Of course, it would be foolish to underestimate the Allies in 1944-1945 and overestimate the Axis, but I think that you have good reasons to be optimistic. Just don't get overconfident and you should be fine.

Turn 88. June 6, 1944

Red army entered Ukraine mostly unopposed. Only had to deal with garrisons in Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk that were not big deal. Kursk and Sumy were also liberated. Finnish corps in fortress reduced to 6 steps but no landing operation occurred. Shots below are at the start of axis turn.









Axis retreated to a line that goes from Mogilev to Kiev and then to Kherson this meaning that both Smolensk and Bryansk were abandoned. You can check that axis forces in the center have succeeded in occupying west bank of Dnepr river from the forests near Rzhev to Kiev. We will see how things go but this is a good defensive position to hold. Crimea was also abandoned by the romanians. In Finland, I finally was able to send units to oppose a possible soviet landing that would leave unsupplied the fortress. Corps in the fortress was repaired to 9 steps. Check out how soviet Baltic fleet is taking high losses from coastal batteries so there's a chance to do something here. This way I have sent an u-boat to the Baltic and I will upgrade tac in Eastern Prussia so it will have 15-steps range. A combination of u-boat attacks and air strikes could make the axis succeed in sinking soviet naval unit. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.







Italy. Garrison recently railed to Gustav line was reduced to 3 steps as a result of the allied attacks. Furthermore, free french took horrible losses when attacking german corps in the center of defensive line: 6 steps lost in the french for 1 lost in the germans. Shots below are at the start of axis turn.





Axis focusses in finishing off Eisenhower's mech and succeeded. German fighter wing rebased to Venice provided escort for the tac in Innsbruck that took 1 step from the mech. Garrison in Ancona again participated in the attacks and finally corps at 2 steps finished off the mech. I withdrew battered garrison at 3 steps from Gustav line and railed a new one. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.





France. Patton entered Rennes and Alexander attacked Brest. German garrison there was reduced to 3 steps and the city was left with no PP's (1 supply point). Cherbourg garrison was also attacked and reduced to 7 steps. That commander attached to canadian mech is Monty. Shots below with last allied turn moves:





I repaired garrisons in Brest and Cherbourg and withdrew u-boats to North sea. Check out how Germany finally has succeeded in building a reserve force composed of 3 mechs and 2 corps units deployed in Berlin. As I mentioned in last posts, first thing to do in the west will be to send a corps unit to Antwerp fortress hex. Shots below at the end of axis turn.





Another mech bought makes 4 reserve mechs available for using in any front.

Turn 89. June 26, 1944

Smolensk, Bryansk, Chernigov, Cherkassy and Krivoj Rog liberated by Red army in last allied turn. Romanian corps that were left a little bit eastwards than the rest of axis unis resulted both destroyed. New attempts of soviets units in Pskov-Rzhev front to achieve a breakthrough saw failure. Finnish corps in the fortress reduced to 5 steps. Shots below, at the start of axis turn.







Axis retreated to Southern Bug river line in the south and held in the rest. No reason for ordering a retreat in Pskov now. Soviets have not heavy units there and Dnepr river provides a solid defensive position. Prypat marshes force the soviets to shift their forces in two: we will see how many heavies will drive to Minsk thus weakening southern soviet sector. Once axis stops for making a stand in pre-Barbarossa dispositions may be it will be possible to drive some counterattacking around Lvov. That's the reason I am bringing significant Luftwaffe assets to Hungary to provide air support. Only repairs were made in the north. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.







Italy. In last allied turn, 2 depleted german corps north of Rome and south of Ancona were destroyed by air strikes. Railed garrison to Gustav line was reduced to 3 steps and paratrooper division in Rome was bombed. Images below show allied moves:





I withdrew garrison in the fortress and replaced it by a corps unit. Now that the attacking french inf unit has been reduced to 5 steps may be no attack will occur next turn so the german corps can take some effectiveness. Those garrisons in red effectiveness might be destroyed in next turn by allied air forces. Upgraded paratrooper unit in Rome so it got +7 survivability. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.





France. In last allied turn, Alexander took Brest and Patton liberated Orleans. Cherbourg was heavily attacked but held. Strategic bombing campaign was not stopped because of the operations in France. Partisan units joined the allies thus getting supply. Shots below are at the start of axis turn.





German corps in Paris abandoned the city. French capital is not providing almost PP's because of the allied bombings and the unit there will be destroyed anyway. It will be more useful to join defensive lines taking advantage of rivers than to make a stand in open country. Repairs in Cherbourg and Rouen. U-boats withdrew to Antwerp from Le Havre just in case. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.



Many repairs made kept the axis from buying any unit.

Turn 90. July 16, 1944

Gomel, Kiev and Kherson liberated by Red army in last allied turn. There were many attacks in Pskov-Rzhev with Malinovsky's guard corps advancing a little SW headed Velikiye Luki. Furthermore, finnish corps stationed in the fortress was reduced to 5 steps and partisan garrison reduced to 3 steps. Anyway, these mentioned attacks, in overall, were not fully satisfactory for the soviets because of the high losses taken. Shots below are at the start of axis turn.







Axis retreated a little bit more in the south making repairs and upgrades to units waiting for the soviets around Vinnitsa and Zhitomir. Dniester river line, then Carpathian mountains and then Bug river seems like a good choice for making a stand. It will have to be decided when is the right moment for the withdrawal from Pskov-Rzhev front. For the moment, axis hold the line in Dnepr (repaired hungarian corps in the southernmost part of this defensive line) and in Pskov-Rzhev things keep on the same, that is, more axis counterattacks to battered soviet units. This way I planned the attack and destruction of Malinovsky's guard corps unit at 6 steps. Firstly, tac in Eastern Prussia took 1 step from the soviet inf and then it was needed the attack of 3 german units (1 mech, Rundstedt corps and another german corps) to finnish off the guard unit. Finnish finally retreated in the northernmost part of the front once battered garrison at 3 steps (not repaired since it will be destroyed anyway) did not allow to hold that position anymore. Images below are at the end of axis turn.







Italy. German corps in the fortress reduced to 8 steps and garrisons in the mountains depleted by air strikes were last allied turn main events here. It does not seem that my opponent is going to try further landing operations in this scenario. Below, allied moves.



I only repaired corps in Gustav line, battered garrisons were swapped, so below is how axis ended its turn.



France. Patton entered emptied Paris and new partisan units joined the advancing allies. Cherbourg garrison reduced to 5 steps and many bombings made both strategic (reducing PP's in Germany) and tactical (retreating german units). Shots below are at the start of axis turn.





In axis turn, I was finally able to rail a corps unit to Antwerp (recently spawned Charlemagne SS renamed for deception purposes) and to man Siegfried line almost completely (only 2 fortress hexes left). I did not repair Cherbourg garrison nor any other one in french territory since it will be Low Countries and Alsace where the germans intend to make their stand against w-allies. Shots below, at the end of axis turn.





I purchased 2 corps units.

Turn 91. August 5, 1944

Red army has reached Odessa in last allied turn and it is about to find main axis defensive line in southern sector of the east front. Axis positions in the west bank of Dnepr river near Kiev were suceessfully assaulted and an hungarian corps was forced to retreat and was reduced to 2 steps. More combats in Pskov-Rzhev front but no breakthrough achieved there. Finnish partisan garrison destroyed and Red army advancing to central Finland. Shots below are at the start of axis turn.











Axis is preparing its planned withdrawal to Dniester river-Carpathian mts.-Bug river line so the units retreated a little bit more. In Pskov-Rzhev front things remain the same since another soviet corps 2 hexes NW of Rzhev was destroyed as a result of a new german counterattack. In Finland, finnish army awaits for the soviets in Kuopio. Another thing to mention is axis success in sinking soviet Baltic sea BB. In the operation participated finnish air force, an u-boat unit and german tac in Eastern Prussia. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.







Italy. W-allies now pushing hard in Gustav line. Both german corps there were halved in strength and garrison at 1 step finished off by air attacks. It won't be long until this defensive line is finally breached. Images below are at the start of axis turn.





I repaired both german corps units but I don't expect this defensive line resisting one more turn. It is time to prepare another defensive line in northern Italy. North of Arno river and Florence seems like the adequate place to do it. Axis ended its turn like so:





France. Most remarkable event in last allied turn was the strategic bombing of Berlin since allies have started to rebase air units to recently liberated french territory. 4 steps of PP's were took from german capital. Patton continued his unopposed advance and reached Lorraine. Cherbourg was liberated by Simonds mech and Rouen is about to be liberated either (Bradley's mech). Shots below are at the start of axis turn.





In current axis turn, I moved garrison in Lille to attack nearby RAF fighter air base and took 1 step from the air unit forcing it to retreat. Siegfried line is almost garrisoned. New reinforcements brought to Essen and Frankfurt. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.





No units bought.

I would evacuate part or all heavy units from Eastern front and make counterattack reserve in Northern Germany. With proper screening Russians will not be able to reach Berlin in time and you could counter Allied troops storming positions behind Albert Canal in the autumn. If you hold Antwerp when fair turns are over then it will be much harder for Allies to get it and they will not reach Hamburg in time.

Your Western front could use a good commander to boost the morale of the troops.

Kragdob wrote:I would evacuate part or all heavy units from Eastern front and make counterattack reserve in Northern Germany. With proper screening Russians will not be able to reach Berlin in time and you could counter Allied troops storming positions behind Albert Canal in the autumn. If you hold Antwerp when fair turns are over then it will be much harder for Allies to get it and they will not reach Hamburg in time.

Your Western front could use a good commander to boost the morale of the troops.

Rail capability is much reduced because of the allied bombings so it is almost better to buy 1 or 2 mechs units and to deploy them in western Germany than to rail them from the east. I have already thought about sending a commander to the western front and it will be likely Schorner actually in Romania.

Turn 92. August 25, 1944

Red army continued to assault axis positions on the west bank of Dnepr river near Gomel. Hungarian corps that was repaired to 4 steps was destroyed and the other one at full strength was reduced to 2 steps. German garrison forced to retreat and reduced to 1 step. Soviet attacks in Pskov-Rzhev went mostly without air support from VVS and that explains the high losses that they soviet inf units are still suffering there. Soviet corps in Rzhev that in last turn was 5-steps strengthened was reduced to 1 steps when attacking adjacent german corps. In Ukraine, things go way better for the soviets with Zhitomir and Vinnitsa liberated and Chisinau attacked. Anyway, the shifting that soviet heavy units have made, with a group going after axis units in west bank of Dnepr near Gomel and the other group advancing through empty territory left by retreating axis, makes that the latter group might not be strong enough to face Wehrmacht heavy units awaiting for them in Poland. We will see. In other things, finnish surrender is getting closer after soviets guard units reduced a full strength finnish corps to 1 step and Ploesti oilfields started to be bombed by soviet air force. Shots below are at the start of axis turn.











A total of 3 soviet corps were destroyed as a result of axis counterattacks in Pskov-Rzhev front with the germans even regaining terrain lost in previous turns. I did not advance into Rzhev since doing that would have extended the front line now that number of available units is beginning to be scarce. Wehrmacht and hungarian army left Dniester river line for focussing in defending in Carpathian mountains and Bug river. Now that Ploesti is going to be reduced to no oil production to keep Romania in axis side is not that important. Anyway, I repaired german defending corps in Chisinau and attacked romanian corps. Finland is now closer to be kicked out of the war after a finnish army counterattack in Kuopio failed completely with the finnish unit losing 4 steps for 1 step lost in the guard unit. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.











Italy. As I foresaw, Gustav line was breached in last allied turn with XIII british mech corps advancing into emptied location. An american landing ship appeared south of Rome. The other german corps in Gustav line was reduced to 8 steps. Shots below are at the start of axis turn.





I swapped units in Gustav line with the aim that german corps unit have an increased chance of making its way to Ancona and may be to retreat to northern Italy, although given how powerful are allied land units in southern Italy that might be a very difficult mission to accomplish. I repaired paratrooper unit to 10 steps. Shot below is at the end of axis turn.



France. Patton continued its unopposed advance reaching Strasbourgh with the garrison there reduced to 5 steps. Rouen, Lille and Brussels were liberated and Liege attacked by Montgomery's canadian mech unit. You can check in the images below how allies are bringing more air units to France. Shots below are at the start of axis turn.





I withdrew garrison in Strasbourg since it will be destroyed anyway. Also, repaired garrison in Liege, garrisoned last Siegfried line fortress hex and also all the german cities at range of allied paratroooper units. Actually, 11-hex range of 82nd Airborne in Brussels will allow the allies to drop this unit into Hamburg if british carrier unit in Chatham is sailed to Heligoland Bight to provide spotting range. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.





Bought a corps unit.

Turn 93. September 14, 1944

2 german corps destroyed in last allied turn as a result of Red army attacks all over the front. Zhukov's mech entered Chisinau and Chuikov entered Iasi. The other german corps was killed in the Dnepr near Gomel where another corps was reduced to 4 steps as well. Also, a romanian corps reduced to 1 step in Black sea coast and a german corps reduced to 2 steps near Ilmen lake. Red army guards units in Finland continued their successfully offensive killing another finnish army corps. Shots below are at the start of axis turn.











Red army heavies starting to appear in Pskov-Rzhev made germans thing about finally retreating there so several infantry corps withdrew to Velikiye Luki-Vitebesk line whilst others stood and were repaired for covering that retreat. Axis have now changed plans and the stand in the east will definitely be in Wisla river in Poland-Carpathian mountains in Slovakia-Tisza river in Hungary. Romania will fall soon and I have a romanian fighter at 3 steps and a tac at 8 steps that by no means should fall in soviet hands so they will perform missions right in the next turn. In Finland, I moved a corps unit to a hex between lakes trying to deny soviet units free access to Helsinki. Repairs in Dnepr where the retreating will start on the next turn. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.









Italy. In last allied turn Rome was attacked with german paratrooper division there reduced to 8 steps and another fortress hex of Gustav line was removed with he killing of the garrison unit there. Still no further landing operations in northern Italy have been tried but I think it won't be long until my opponent attempts again to land no matter in Adriatic sea or Ligurian sea. Shots below are at the start of axis turn.





German corps in Gustav line succeeded to reach Ancona and with the garrison unit there they formed a ZOC defensive position that will keep the allies from advancing adjacent to the city. Paratroopers repaired. Shots below is at the end of axis turn.



France. Alexander entering Liege and first attacks on Siegfried line were last allied turn main events. SS inf corps in Antwerp was attacked and reduced to 5 steps but the attacking american mech took high losses too. Emptied Strasbourg was liberated by canadians. Shots below are at the start of axis turn.





Wehrmacht focussed in counterattacking american mech at 6 steps close to Antwerp. I first used unsupplied garrison near Reims to attack a RAF fighter air base and this way to keep this unit from doing interceptions. Then I attacked with strat in Nuremberg american mech taking one step from this unit. Another not showed in the images below strat in Prague took another step from the mech and then corps in Essen attacked reducing the mech to 1 step. It was finished off by a 3-xp garrison unit close to Arnhem that removed allied bridgehead over Albert Canal. Also, I railed Schorner's corps from Romania and deployed a garrison adjacent to Cologne. The other german counterattack occured in Siegfried line where an american armoured was reduced to 7 steps and below-40 effectiveness. German corps unit took high losses but at least ended in a fortress hex. I deployed another corps in Frankfurt and moved corps in Hamburg now that 82nd Airborne changed location and now german city is not at range of the paratroopers. I significantly increased Luftwaffe air bases in Germany for being used both in west and east fronts. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.

I don't see how the Allies can win this game. They are stuck near Antwerp and soon bad weather will appear.

The Russian steamroller has started, but it's a long way to Berlin and Hamburg.

Stauffenberg wrote:I don't see how the Allies can win this game. They are stuck near Antwerp and soon bad weather will appear.

The Russian steamroller has started, but it's a long way to Berlin and Hamburg.

I agree. Soviets only blocked will not reach Berlin in time. In winter/mud they will be able to make only 2 hex per turn and there is still defense line that needs to be breached.

it will need a massive invasion from the west along the German/Danish coast to have any chance

Turn 94. October 4, 1944

Red army destroyed 2 Wehrmacht corps as a result of its offensive in Pskov-Rzhev front. A bulgarian corps near Mogilev was reduced to 2 steps either. In Gomel front a german corps and a garrison were destroyed. Soviet armoured spearheads entered Cernauti, in Romania and a garrison and a corps from this axis minor were destroyed. Furthermore, romanian mech was reduced to 3 steps. In Finland, a finnish corps at 2 steps was destroyed but corps in Kuopio successfully defended this city with the attacking soviet guards corps losing 2 steps. Shots below are at the start of axis turn.











As mentioned, I started withdrawal from Dnepr river too. Romanian corps in Pskov front performed a little counterattack that was not successful at all with the axis minor unit losing 4 steps for 1 step lost in soviet guard unit. Retreating to Wisla river was almost completed and hungarian and some german units splitted from main group in order to form the planned defensive line in the west bank of Tisza river. Romania will fall into soviet hands soon but I will try to bring an axis unit to Timisoara so Red army cannot rail units to this city. This way, soviet heavy units that are tearing the romanians, will have to make all the way through the Carpathian mountains if the want to enter hungarian plain. In other things, the finns successfully counterattacked Cherniakovsky guard corps forcing it to retreat. Romanian tac performed air missions that caused no damage to soviet units. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.









France. In last allied turn attacks along Albert canal continued with a garrison reduced to 5 steps and SS corps in Antwerp losing 1 step. Attacks in Siegfried line continued with a garrison reduced to 4 steps.





I made only repairs this time, no counterattacks in this scenario. I replaced a garrison unit in Siegfried line by a corps unit. It will a little threat for Patton's armoured if this unit is unlucky doing an attack. Tacs in Prague and these german corps units in Siegfried line might succeed in putting in problems american armoured unit. Shots below are at the end of axis turn.





Italy. More attacks to Rome and an american landing ship appearing in the Adriatic were main last allied turn events here. Shot below with last allied turn moves:



I mobilised a significant part of Luftwaffe forces for trying to sink or greatly reduced the strength of that land ship. First I used fighters in Genoa and Venice to engage allied fighters, then I used strat in Nuremberg and finally used tacs in Prague. Outcome of this operation was 1 fighter and 1 strat lost by the germans and the land ship only reduced to 6 steps. Shots below with axis moves:





I bought a corps unit.

To break lines like this the Allied player needs to attack units so he can get 3 units against a good defender. Otherwise they will be banging against the head. There are 2 Siegfried line hexes that can be attacked from 3 sides. Those should be the prime targets. Landing paratroops behind the line to crack the defense is also important.

I wonder why the Allied player doesn't enter the Luxembourg hex and the hex north of it.

When I'm faced with such a defense line I use my bombers to terror bomb every unit at the front line (and behind) so they lose efficiency and will retreat more easily. If they're down on efficiency they can't easily counter attack. Strategic bombers can actually do some good against such defenders. At this stage is seems most German cities are bombed down to red.