Massina_nz (Allies) v. UffzExner (Axis) - War is Over

[massina_nz]

Turn 12 - 8 April 1940

The French ARM is destroyed and Lille is taken by the Boche



I spot the German Baltic fleet near Norway, both subs wait in ambush beside it, and I move both French BBs into the North Sea. I may as well use the French naval elements aggressively as they are going to disappear soon! Frank's hidden u-boats are probably around the North Sea and he may have air support in Denmark. Which would explain his lack of air presence in the Ruhr.

I retreat my Northern Flank back to the Seine, and place my new INF South of Paris , I almost forgot to do so!. The BEF will have to depart via Cherbourg. I repair all my French INF corps. Looks like Paris will fall at the end of May, or maybe early June if I am lucky.



The UK buys an ASW tech. I lost 4 steps off the RAF as well.

"Fly you fools!"

[massina_nz]

Turn 13 - 28 April 1940

5PP convoy arrives and drags itself into port.



In France The Germans have breached the Seine, the BEF is mauled badly, losing 8 steps and retreats towards Cherbourg. If Frank decides to pursue I think it will delay the fall of Paris by a turn, so I think he'll go for Paris. Limited French counter-attacks have mixed results, and I pull back my troops towards Paris.

The RAF lost another 4 steps in Frank's turn, I repair one back to 10 steps, the other attacks a FTR, I lose 1 step but inflict a 2 step loss. Which should mean (at 4 steps) the German FTR will be neutered for a turn at least.



The Canadian INF corp leaves for the UK with 1 DD and 2 BB as escort. A u-boat appeared near Ireland and is dealt a 3-step loss by the STR based in Northern Ireland.

French fleets attack the Kriegsmarine North of Denmark, expecting and finding a u-boat screen, which explains the lack of u-boat activity in the Atlantic. I push on with both subs attacking the German BB, with mixed results. In hindsight I should have pulled the UK sub out. I don't expect to see it there next turn.



Now, thinking ahead, Frank should take Paris in a couple of turns, by the end of May. Which means he may have a go at Sealion. I've never attempted Sealion or been it's target, so here's where I need some advice. The RN is on it's way back towards the UK, where should I station them? In and around the English Channel, but in range of German TAC & STR, or in more distant ports?

I guess I need to start stockpiling PPs in case Sealion eventuates as well?

"The Dark fire of Udun, will not avail you, Spawn of Melkor"

[rkr1958]

Now, thinking ahead, Frank should take Paris in a couple of turns, by the end of May. Which means he may have a go at Sealion. I've never attemtped Sealion or been it's target, so here's where I need some advice. The RN is on it's way back towards the UK, where should I station them? In and around the English Channel, but in range of German TAC & STR, or in more distant ports?

My advice is to station them in more distant ports out of range of German bombers. Your number one mission after the fall of France is to make sure the RN survives. Only if you have a significant chance to disrupt Sea Lion once it's underway would I move the RN into harms way. And then you have to be weary of German u-boats and an ambush. I learned that lesson the hard way against Joe. Your best defense against Sea Lion are you ground units and the RAF and the threat of the RN.

Hopefully the UK sub group off the coast of Denmark will survive next turn. If it does I'd get it the heck out of there.

[jjdenver]

I've got a different approach to Sealion. I never - well haven't yet - lose any Brit ships before Sealion.

So when Sealion comes I have the entire RN still ready to go. For Sealion I station BB's in all of the ports that the Germans are likely to land near. If the Germans bomb them in port that's ok - they aren't bombing my land units. I just repair the BB's as well as I can.

I also keep mech/FTR's out of German visual range. All troops other than GAR in Canada come to UK - none to Africa. Don't overcommit to France - a single GAR is all I send. I want every body I can get in England.

Look at every coastal hex he might land on in the south half of England and be sure you can get a unit there either by rail, movement, or garrison build placement within a single turn. I usually pre-position about 4 GAR in south England outside of cities in hexes that I think he could hit - 3 of these hexes are hills.

Try to scout him a little w/ your sub. If he moves his BB and DD out of the Baltic that's a sign he might be about to launch Sealion. If they stay in the Baltic then he is probably going Norway.

Get GAR in every coastal city in the south, even cities that aren't ports, and let them dig in to full.

Save up a lot of PP's. Build an INF or 2 and sit them NW of London so they can react anywhere. These along w/ your 2 MECH, 4 pre-positioned GAR, GAR in every city, and GAR you can build the same turn - will keep the Germans from having any free hexes to land on.

If you get evidence that it's really happening - i.e. he floats transports, the entire Luftwaffe is bombing England instead of going to the Med or Spain or Norway, etc. Then build some more INF right away. And a few GAR. Let them gain readiness out of German view range so they can rail/walk onto the coast when the invasion fleet sails.

Put your FTR on sleep until invasion fleet sails. Don't let him wear down your PP in air fights. I prefer to spend those PP on ground troops, and wake up my air for the real fight only.

I've repelled a bunch of Sealions this way. The only one that ever worked on me was one when there was still a map oddity that i didn't understand that let the Germans embark and land in England in a single turn. An opponent used this to capture a port in my very first game of CEAW. But you don't have to worry about that anymore.

[massina_nz]

Now, thinking ahead, Frank should take Paris in a couple of turns, by the end of May. Which means he may have a go at Sealion. I've never attemtped Sealion or been it's target, so here's where I need some advice. The RN is on it's way back towards the UK, where should I station them? In and around the English Channel, but in range of German TAC & STR, or in more distant ports?

My advice is to station them in more distant ports out of range of German bombers. Your number one mission after the fall of France is to make sure the RN survives. Only if you have a significant chance to disrupt Sea Lion once it's underway would I move the RN into harms way. And then you have to be weary of German u-boats and an ambush. I learned that lesson the hard way against Joe. Your best defense against Sea Lion are you ground units and the RAF and the threat of the RN.

Hopefully the UK sub group off the coast of Denmark will survive next turn. If it does I'd get it the heck out of there.

Yes I reallised I attacked the BB from the wrong hexsides. I shouldn't attacked from hexes that were also adjacent to the DD. That way the UK sub would have definitely survived. Oh well, still learning.

[massina_nz]

Turn 14 - 18 May 1940

Well my worst nigthmares didn't come true, my UK sub survived and the BEF survived during the Axis turn.

The UK sub survives, presumably because Frank wanted to destroy the French sub as well. Personally I wouldn't have worried about the French sub because it will disappear in a couple of turns anyway. I couldn't move the UK sub out into the North Sea due to ZOC's so I hid it next to Gothenburg in the hope he thinks it has escaped. It may have to wait there a few turns before it can go home for repairs. At least ths second foray has met my objectives, getting the French navy involved before they are gone and getting the Germans to burn some oil.


The 1-step French BB withdrew to London, hopefully Frank thinks the sub went the same way as well.

Frank couldn't resist the retreating BEF. He attacks the GAR unit and reduces it 5 steps. I'm guessing he couldn't reach the 2-step INF corp. So I rail the INF corp to Brest, because I know Frank can't reach it there, and send the GAR to Cherbourg. The Carrier bugs out to Cardiff. Although the BEF have taken some damage they have diverted some attention away from Paris.



I build a French GAR and place it south of Paris. Then repair the Remaining French INFs, I may be able to hold on to Paris for a couple of turns. A turn more than anticipated. The chances of Sealion are slightly diminished, but not evapourated.

I counter-attack with the surrounded INF corp and do some damage.



The RAF has lost two steps last turn. But I attack another Luftwaffe FTR again, inflicting 1-step of damage for no loss. I repair my other FTR. The RAF are doing well and have the Germans at a disadvantage, unless Frank has another FTR up his sleeve. Maybe Frank has been channelling his production into Naval units instead of Air units?

The STR is able to attack another u-boat off Ireland inflicting a 1-step loss. So Frank must have at least 4 u-boats!

The Italians activate. I send my Med sub towards Italy in hope of spotting Libyan bound transports. Hmm, do I need to buy a commander for N.Africa or buy INF for UK defence? Let's see what happens next turn.

"You shall not pass!"

[schwerpunkt]

If you can possibly do so, repair your sub 3 steps and get it to hex 65,20 (nothwest of Norwich). This a favoured hex for Germans to move a corp/transport to as it threatens 3 hexes that the british wouldnt normally put troops in. Combine this with transports at various points between Plymouth and Chatham and the Germans will threaten too many hexes to defend. Also bear in mind that any Garrisons on the coast within range of his TACs and with a surface ship adjacent can potentially be destroyed in 1 turn if the readiness is low, allowing a landing to occur. Hexes within range of TACs should be defended by Inf or Mech corps.
Thats my advice for opposing Sea Lion.

Best of luck because I've played against Frank and he's pretty good - and willing to be aggressive.

PS: Are you going to do the trick of basing british planes in Bordeaux, Nantes and Brest to deny those ports to the Germans for a few extra turns?

PPS: Save your production (PPs) for the time being, for Britain and you should consider building two Inf corps immediately for deployment on the Dover rough ground (Inf here survive TAC bombardment pretty well with a leader in range. North Africa can wait. Also, try to limit your air losses once France falls as you'll need the PPs to potentially build Inf corps.

[jjdenver]

" Hmm, do I need to buy a commander for N.Africa or buy INF for UK defence? Let's see what happens next turn"

Wait on the commander. Sealion is a more imminent threat than a N. African campaign that can't get serious w/o German troops and planes. You'll know in 6 turns whether Sealion is happening. Buy the commander then if there is no Sealion.

The corp in Brest you might want to reinforce and leave there. The 8 PP's to load it onto a transport might be better spent toward a fresh INF in England.

[trulster]

The corp in Brest you might want to reinforce and leave there. The 8 PP's to load it onto a transport might be better spent toward a fresh INF in England.

Yes, definitely no point in spending PPs shipping that inf, leave it or better yet rail it to Bordeaux which has even better defensive prospects.

[massina_nz]

Turn 15 - 7 June 1940

Oh how I wish I had read all the previous posts before I did my turn. I forgot about the 8PPs to load a transport. I can see why some players don't bother with a BEF, as it cost me 32PPs to move them back and fro. However I chose to do it, so it shortens the French defensive line, which I believe is necessary if you want to base your defence on French INF corps, not GARs

I send the INF at Brest to Liverpool. But the GAR get's stopped by a u-boat, and is still in Cherbourg port, Frank can now easily destroy the transport by taking Cherbourg. <sigh> In hindsight I would have sent this to Bordeaux. I straffe the u-boat with the RAF and inflict 1-step damage on it, small consolation!

The other RAF unit attacks a TAC bomber, I lose 2 steps to interdiction and cause 1 step damage in return to the German FTR, but I wipe off 3 steps from TAC for no loss, so it's down to 2-steps. It'll take Frank a couple of turns to get it back into use, maybe more if he retreats it.



The STR in N.Ireland inflicts 2 more steps damage on the u-boat in it's near vicinity.

Good news the UK sub escapes into the North Sea. It's leading a charmed life. I'll have to give it a new moniker!

The French bunker down.


The US invest in AIR (general) and the Soviets invest in CAP.

[jjdenver]

Massina, I think he has too many hexes against Paris now. You need to immediately spend some of the southern French units' strength in a counterattack because the danger now is that he will seize Paris in a coup de main and all of those units will disappear without being used. Defending south of Paris is useless now.

If I were the German I would launch 2 air strikes against the hex S of Paris (a GAR) and 2 air strikes against Paris. Then I'd use 1 panzer to hit the GAR and have a good chance of killing it, freeing up that hex. The unit SW of Paris then occupies that hex, attacks Paris - and around the clock counter-clockwise for a total of 5 attacks on Paris (+ the 2 air strikes). Paris is likely to fall to this sort of approach in a single turn - this turn.

[massina_nz]

Turn 16 - 27 June 1940

Paris fell as JJ predicted, but Frank still attacked some INF Corps south of Paris as well, so maybe he did me favour? He also takes Cherbourg, and the GAR is destroyed. A 27 June fall of France is pretty much about avergae, so I'm not feeling too bad about it, but still need to be careful.

I spot another TAC in the Ruhr, he now seems to have at least 3, but only two are full-strength. I retreat the RAF to Birmingham.

My Carrier in Belfast and the STR in N.Ireland attack his lone sub off Galway again, but no damage done. Damn it feels like rolling double 1's.

I only have 28PP so can't build any INF corp yet for the defense of the UK.

I send my sub to Portsmouth and my naval elements converge on Britain. Hopefully a couple of convoys make it through next turn so I can build and repair the battered Brits. Frank has suffered some casualties, but not anything out of the ordinary.

"In Moria, his Wisdom fell" (end Mines of Moria quotes)

[massina_nz]

Turn 17 - 17 July 1940

I must learn to take Frank's Turn reports with a pinch of salt! He really put's his propaganda hat on with his "OKW" reports. This turn a supposed "Major Naval Battle in Atlantic" = I lost a few sticks off an unescorted convoy. Here was I surmising one of my Naval battle groups had been roundly thrashed! I'm quite happy losing a few sticks off a convoy, if the other ships are left unmolested. Hell, I'd rather lose a whole 20 sticks off a convoy than 3 steps off a BB, factoring repair cost and downtime for the BB.

Anyway it was a pretty quiet turn, which is good, not much visibile activity in the English channel or the North sea. Not that I can see much as my retreated airforce (currently on sentry) can't see mainland Europre. I don't want to send any air elements to Dover for recon in case they get ambushed.

A 30PP convoy arrived, so I purchase 2 INF and repair the BEF INF. If Frank doesn't attempt Sealion, my current thinking is to wait until bad weather arrives (reduces his u-boat visibility) and send a large transport convoy to the Middle-East via the Red Sea transport loop.

All quiet in the Med, I have no idea what Frank is doing there.

[rkr1958]

Turn 17 - 17 July 1940

I must learn to take Frank's Turn reports with a pinch of salt! He really put's his propaganda hat on with his "OKW" reports. This turn a supposed "Major Naval Battle in Atlantic" = I lost a few sticks off an unescorted convoy..

For me I've found that's best not to react one way or the other and to be neutral when you report to your opponent the outcome of a turn. Even if you're totally surprised by your opponent's turn if you keep your reaction neutral then most opponents will not know if you expected this or not. If you react in a "panic" way to a bad result then this will encourage them to exploit that result. If you respond aggressively and with confidence (even if you don't feel that way) then you'll be surprised how often this causes them to abandon their "surprise" operation. While this doesn't work against all opponents (e.g., Borger) it will work more often than you think and save your bacon. Never let your opponent see you sweat.

[Clark]

Turn 17 - 17 July 1940

I must learn to take Frank's Turn reports with a pinch of salt! He really put's his propaganda hat on with his "OKW" reports. This turn a supposed "Major Naval Battle in Atlantic" = I lost a few sticks off an unescorted convoy..

For me I've found that's best not to react one way or the other and to be neutral when you report to your opponent the outcome of a turn. Even if you're totally surprised by your opponent's turn if you keep your reaction neutral then most opponents will not know if you expected this or not. If you react in a "panic" way to a bad result then this will encourage them to exploit that result. If you respond aggressively and with confidence (even if you don't feel that way) then you'll be surprised how often this causes them to abandon their "surprise" operation. While this doesn't work against all opponents (e.g., Borger) it will work more often than you think and save your bacon. Never let your opponent see you sweat.

Sometimes the propaganda can have the opposite effect. I mean, when the e-mail says that this panzer was thrashed and several units were mauled, and the exchange was actually pretty even, you end up feeling more confident than you would otherwise.

[AC67]

Turn 17 - 17 July 1940

I must learn to take Frank's Turn reports with a pinch of salt! He really put's his propaganda hat on with his "OKW" reports. This turn a supposed "Major Naval Battle in Atlantic" = I lost a few sticks off an unescorted convoy.

Must be the same Frank I'm playing against - he's really able to get you nervous sometimes with this stuff. But it adds some flavour to the whole thing.

AC

[massina_nz]

Yes it does add flavour. I don't panic, I just get a nice surprise when I load the next file tho'. It's just this time I'm a little jumpy about Sealion and keeping my Navy safe. So a major battle in the Atlantic could also mean no subs in English Channle and North Sea = no Sealion, which is good news.

[massina_nz]

Turn 17 - 17 July 1940

I must learn to take Frank's Turn reports with a pinch of salt! He really put's his propaganda hat on with his "OKW" reports. This turn a supposed "Major Naval Battle in Atlantic" = I lost a few sticks off an unescorted convoy..

For me I've found that's best not to react one way or the other and to be neutral when you report to your opponent the outcome of a turn. Even if you're totally surprised by your opponent's turn if you keep your reaction neutral then most opponents will not know if you expected this or not. If you react in a "panic" way to a bad result then this will encourage them to exploit that result. If you respond aggressively and with confidence (even if you don't feel that way) then you'll be surprised how often this causes them to abandon their "surprise" operation. While this doesn't work against all opponents (e.g., Borger) it will work more often than you think and save your bacon. Never let your opponent see you sweat.

Yes I think I got away with that once with Trulster, and sneeked the Brits into an unoccupied Brest. I never mentioned it, and he never noticed, IMHO, until it was too late..

[massina_nz]

Turn 18 - 6 August 1940

18 PPs arrive by convoy, but another convoy is completely vanquished by two u-boats.

However I have a little bonus. In re-arranging my convoy escorts a DD discovers a u-boat, knocks 3 steps off for no loss, and the STR chimes in for another 2 steps. It's now down to 1-step left. Guess it's going back home next turn, well France anyway.

I repair the UK sub and upgrade 1 RAF unit and the Belfast based CV, as I got a CAP upgrade this turn. I also place two new INF corps in the the south of England.

No action at all in the Med that I can see, and no attempt at Sealion either, no invasion of Norway. It's very quiet. Too quiet.

[massina_nz]

Turn 19 - 26 August 1940

Norway is invaded. I have little support I can give as the RN is on escort duty. So I repair Oslo & send the RAF to N Scotland. I may send them to Bergen to provide CAP for Oslo.

I assume Frank has two u-boats in Norway to support his Norwegian operations, and one should be going back for repairs and two more will be in the Far North Atlantic. So I take the chance to send to two INF Corps to Africa, without escorts, the BEF & 1st Canadian. If Frank spots me I hope to out-run the u-boats.