Ronnie vs Allied Player

[rkr1958]

Turn 56. 9/5/1942 Axis.

1. The Soviets did indeed counterattack against the 2 mechs and corps w/Reichenau threatening a breakthrough. Only 1 mech and only at 2-steps survived. Reicheanu was knocked out for 9-turns.

2-3. Though not backing off, the axis pressed the attack inflicting destruction on Soviet mechs and corps and pocketing 2 full strength infantry corps. I expect more blood in return. This is war!

4. The Luftwaffe and Soviet Air force continue to mix it up and both are taking losses. I need to bloody the Soviets not only on the ground but in the air too. I think I'm achieving that; but hopefully not at the defense of a solid defense in the East.

5. Not used.

6-7. In the Battle of the Atlantic, u-boats attacking in the Labrador Sea escape relative unscathed the wrath of the allied counterattack.

8-9. Future south; however, u-boats take a bit of a beating from the allied counterattacks.

[rkr1958]

Turn 57. 9/25/1942 Axis.

I messed up my end of turn screen caps for the east, so all I have are the start of turn (or pre move) cap to talk to this turn.

1-3. My opponent decides to fall back instead of continued to duke it out with me. A move that I'm thankful for.

4-6. I capture Orel and Voronezh, destroy the garrison next to Rostov and put 3 axis units adjacent. My defensive line now extends pretty much to the eastern row of spotted hexes in this pre move screen shot.

7-8. In the west, I continue to transfer forces to the East. My latest units are the FJR division (on transport, under escort and currently docked in Cardiff) and the corps in Belfast.

9. I got careless moving a garrison from Devonport (southern England) to Belfast to take up garrison there. This garrison was stopped cold and lost 7-steps to a US sub group lurking in the Celtic Sea. This garrison is dead and as it will surely be finished off next turn.

[BattlevonWar]

Retreating in 1943??? For the Russians to be doing that is a bad thing, I have been exactly in this same position in my own AAR. There is just so much firepower the Axis can bring to the field in '43 and if by that point the Tables have not turned it would be particularly hard for the Axis to throw the match. This guy better have a KO blow for Italy and a very very strong '44 D-day in mind in order to even compete.

Very well played as Axis

[Peter Stauffenberg]

Remember that Ronnie won an ultimate victory with the Axis against the Allied player in their game before this. He is an elite player while his opponent is not. Therefore they now play with a major bias towards the Allies.

It seems the bias isn't enough to swing the balance enough towards the Allies to have an even match. It could be the bias settings could be bigger. I seem to believe the highest setting will give 16 PP's extra per turn to the side with the major bias.

What do you think? Should we maybe increase the bias production settings a bit more. Now they are 4, 8 and 16 if I recall correctly. Maybe they could have been 8, 16 and 32 instead. Settings can easily be changed in general.txt so no code changes needed.

[ncali]

Retreating in 1943???
Very well played as Axis

There's a minor error in the last AAR update as it is still only 1942, not 1943. If you look back, you'll see the game is still in 1942.

[ncali]

What do you think? Should we maybe increase the bias production settings a bit more. Now they are 4, 8 and 16 if I recall correctly. Maybe they could have been 8, 16 and 32 instead. Settings can easily be changed in general.txt so no code changes needed.

I'd wait to make any adjustments. The advantage setting is significant. 1942 is not quite over, and the Allies begin to come into their own in 1943. I can't help but comment again that it is odd to me the Russians didn't do more to contest the weakened 1941 invasion. It seems from experience that the Axis tech advantage only grows between 1941 and 1942. The Russians decided to stand and fight a bit in 1942, but a contested invasion would have given them a lot more to fight with (by saving production from Axis conquest) and potentially bloodied the Axis's nose when the Axis could barely field enough forces to establish a front line......

[Peter Stauffenberg]

I have a feeling the Allied player remembers the game they played before when the Axis won an ultimate victory. Maybe he was punished too much by being aggressive too early. So this time the Russians try to save their army by retreating.

It's not easy to understand how much strongr the Allies become by getting more production from bias until you have played a few games with bias.

[rkr1958]

Retreating in 1943???
Very well played as Axis

There's a minor error in the last AAR update as it is still only 1942, not 1943. If you look back, you'll see the game is still in 1942.

My bad and sorry for the confusion. It is 1942 and not 1943. I've corrected the year in the applicable post. So there's still a lot of time left in this game for the allies to get the upper hand and crush me.

[rkr1958]

I have a feeling the Allied player remember the game they played before when the Axis won an ultimate victory. Maybe he was punished too much by being aggressive too early. So this time the Russians try to save their army by retreating.

It's not easy to understand how much strongr the Allies become by getting more production from bias until you have played a few games with bias.

Yes, my opponent was, in my opinion, overly aggressive in our last game. The one with a normal Barbarossa. He took significant losses in mech and armor units and in air (fighter & TAC) steps in 1941 and 1942. I didn't capture Moscow until 1943. My focus was on breaking the Soviet army and getting more oil from the Caucuses. I wasn't able to get to Baku (didn't really try); but did manage to get and hold the northern oil fields of the Caucuses. Oil was my secondary objective in the East. My primary objective was to hurt the Soviets enough that they wouldn't be able to push me out of the Soviet Union before the game ended. By not playing for a knockout in the East, I had more resources and units available to counter his moves in the West. I've found that it pays not to get too greedy and take what your opponent gives you.

[rkr1958]

Remember that Ronnie won an ultimate victory with the Axis against the Allied player in their game before this. He is an elite player while his opponent is not.

Thanks for the compliment; but I'm definitely not in your league, or Neil's, or Joe Rock's, or Max's, or Morris'. I consider myself a good player who's become good learning from the likes of you, and the others I just named. I reserve the term elite for the original strategist; e.g., players just name.

[rkr1958]

Turn 58. 10/15/1942 Axis.

Weather clear across the map.

The Russian Front.
My main focus in the east this turn, were capture Rostov, inflict damage and trap the Soviet Black Sea Fleet and establish my defenses across the front.

1. Rostov easily falls.

2. Inflicted 7-steps of loss and trapped the Black Sea Fleet.

3. Need to reinforce this south over the next 2 turns. Also, will upgrade units across the front and rest them before the Soviet winter hits.

The Western Front.

4. Allied sub groups block my plan transport of the FJR division back to France and then to the east.. It was unloaded in England and will have to find another route back to mainland Europe.

5-6. German u-boats sink a 35 PP UK convoy in the north Atlantic and sink 10 PP of a 35+ PP convoy in the south.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

The Axis defense line surely doesn't look very strong. At least it's now a contiguous SINGLE line. In most of my games I have a double defense line in the east in 1942 as the Axis. So the Axis conquest of Britain has surely weakened them in the east.

If the Russians have built up a good force of armor, mech and air units then they can crush the Axis line in the upcoming winter offensive.

It would be interesting to see the statistics of the forces. Even though it's not accurate regarding your opponent it will give an indication. E. g. if the spies report 7-8 armor and a significant air force then the threat is real despite not being able to see the units.

[rkr1958]

The Axis defense line surely doesn't look very strong. At least it's now a contiguous SINGLE line. In most of my games I have a double defense line in the east in 1942 as the Axis. So the Axis conquest of Britain has surely weakened them in the east.

If the Russians have built up a good force of armor, mech and air units then they can crush the Axis line in the upcoming winter offensive.

It would be interesting to see the statistics of the forces. Even though it's not accurate regarding your opponent it will give an indication. E. g. if the spies report 7-8 armor and a significant air force then the threat is real despite not being able to see the units.

While I haven't reported any force estimates yet I have been keeping tabs on the allies for 10 turns now.

For the Soviets my best force estimates are: 4 armor, 10 mech, 6 fighters, 2 TACs and 2 strats.

For the Western Allies (UK & US combined) my best force estimates are: 2 armor, 4 mech, 4 fighters, 2 TACs, 3 strats, 3 BBs, 3 CVs, 14 DDs and 3 subs.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

4 armor and 2 tacs are way too few Russian forces to get anywhere. I wonder what they have spent PP's on. Maybe their losses are much higher than normal. Strange since the Russians have retreated a lot.

The western Allies can't threaten the Axis for quite some time. At least they should be able to get convoys home for more production with all the DD's.

[BattlevonWar]

1942! Must have been me sleepless nights not paying attention!

There is a lot of time and room for the Russians to do something else, no offensive force for Winter '42? Always nice to have a few heavy armor or lots of Tacs in the back to bring up and harass the Axis? The Axis going to keep a forward deployment I wonder because of this?

I notice I only got to use that PP slider once with one player, we both did it for the Axis and it didn't seem to change much. I notice most players don't like messing with it?

Rostov = Oil Fields??? Next Year, maybe Ronnie has got him/her frightened and they don't want to lose their oil

[rkr1958]

Turn 59. 11/4/1942 Axis.

Limited action this turn as weather is foul across the map (except in the Med).

1. German u-boat flotilla on the way back to port for repair and upgrade spots 3 US transports under heavy escort. By my count this escort is composed of 9 DD's, 3 BB's and 2 CV's. That represents a significant portion of the western allied naval force, which has an estimated total strength of: 14-16 DD's, 3 BB's and 3 CV's. This escort represents approximately 60% of all DDs, 100% of all BB's and 67% of all CVs. At first I thought the 3 US transports were an invasion force headed to the Med. However; I wonder now if they aren't valuable aircraft under heavy escort? I do have an Italian sub group positioned east of Gibraltar to keep an eye on this force once it enters the Med.

2. Total losses to date.

The Russian Front.

No screen caps (not necessary). Finished off the Black Sea Fleet, upgrade several units, started beefing up the defenses in the south and moved Luftwaffe to safer bases in preparation of severe winters, which did not hit.

[rkr1958]

Turn 60. 11/24/1942 Axis.

The Eastern Front.

1. Defenses on the Eastern Front have significantly been beefed up; especially in the south.

2. There are 11 Luftwaffe fighters in the east and positioned in the south. This should slow up the anticipated Soviet winter offensive.

3. Speaking of the Soviet winter offensive, severe winter hit this turn.

(Not Shown). Estimates of Soviet forces continue to confound; but pleasantly surprise me. Best estimates for the Soviets are: 3 armor, 10 mech, 8 fighters, 3 TACs and 2 strats. Though that force could do some damage, it's doesn't have the numbers in armor and TACs to steamroll through my lines.

The Western Front.

4-6. In England, 3 partisans have appeared in the last 3 or 4 turns. 2 have been destroyed and the 3rd, which is in Northern Ireland, will be harshly dealt with next turn. Given the size of the western allied and their push into the Med, the forces I now have in England and (not shown) France should be more than adequate to keep things in order.

7. The allied task force is in position to enter the Med next turn (assuming the two spotted allied DD's are the lead elements of that task force).

[rkr1958]

Turn 61. 12/14/1942 Axis.

The Western Front.

1-2. To my surprise and, quite honestly my relief, the 3 US transports under heavy escort landed in Portugal. My fear (concern) was that my opponent would combine the troops on the 3 US transports with the British 8th army assumed to still be in North Africa to either launch an invasion of Vichy North Africa or worse, an invasion of Sicily, Sardinia or Southern Italy. So now the question is whether the western allies only invaded Portugal in order to gain bases for strategic bombers to attack German u-boats or is this his planned route back into Europe. That is, is Spain next? I do hope so!

The Eastern Front.

The Soviets launch several minor attacks across the entire front. Though they manage to knock a couple of units below 5-steps, they don't destroy any units. Not bad for the first turn of severe winter.

3-5. The counts for spotted (i.e., confirmed) Soviet air units on map are: 7 fighters and 2 TACs. Best estimates are that the Soviets have 7 fighters, 3 TACs and 2 strats. To blunt the Soviet winter offensive the Germans have 9 newly upgraded Luftwaffe (lvl 4), 1 Finnish, 1 Italian and 3 axis minor fighters. The Italian and axis minor fighters; however, are grounded for the winter.

Build Strategy.

German and Italian manpower, while under 75% are both excellent at this point in the game. This turn I used all my PP's to repair units and upgrade 9 Luftwaffe fighter units. My estimate is that my defenses in England, France and Italy are at best minimum, with the defense of France probably in the best shape. I need to beef the defenses all three theaters, which requires garrisons, corps, mechs and commanders to lead them. These are now my build priorities. Of course, repairs and upgrades will still come first.

[rkr1958]

Turn 62. 1/3/1943 Axis.

Happy 1943.

'43 rolls in and the number of airborne divisions and SS corps increase to 4 and 5; respectively. I have only 2 airborne and 2 (or 3?) SS corps. I will focus on getting those to the max levels and use them for my reserve force in the west to plug into wherever my opponent strikes.

The Battle of the Atlantic.

1-3. Two u-boat flotillas spot tracks of allied fleets converging. I'm curious and send a flotilla to check it out. It appears to be a carrier task force composed of a single CV escorted by 4 DD squadrons. Where is this task headed and what is it up to?

4. The second flotilla moves to the US east coast to see what's up there. It found nothing. No allied warships and on convoys.

5. In the North Atlantic, a 3 flotilla wolfpack sinks a 63 PP UK convoy. With the allied warships tied up in other duties if may be (I hope it to be) happy hunting times for this wolfpack. By the way, and I should know this, I haven't seen any allied convoys to Russia. With England captured do they stop going there or have I just missed them?

6. In the south Atlantic a 60+ PP southern convoy headed for the US is spotted as the turn ends. A wolkpack is forming now to bring it down.

Portugal (Not Shown).
Lisbon still holds and was reinforced from 3 to 6-steps. I expect it, and Portugal, to fall next turn. The only allied ground troops committed there so far are a US infantry, mech and armor corps. With this force there's no way my opponent is planning to next go after Spain; especially given that the only allied air support are provided by 2 aircraft carriers. Best estimates of western allied airpower (map wide) are: 4 fighters, 3 TACs, 3 strats and 4 CVs.

The Russian Front.

5 (# repeated). Not an awful lot going on there, which I'm happy to report. Current estimates of Soviet numbers are: 5 arm, 9 mechs, 7 fighters, 4 TACs and 1 strat. I confess that I'm baffled where all those extra 488 PP's (so far) went? Especially, given the weak invasion of Russia. Now, I'm not complaining, I'm just baffled.

[JyriErik]

Re: #5. If London falls the Russian convoys divert to Halifax IIRC

Jyri