Slitherine

Jun22:

A few nice research advances this turn. Russians get Fixed Defenses 2 which increases the Ground Defence of INF.


Egypt at turn start:

The three lead It units look very tempting as they are low on readiness and separated from the German units who are a way back. I use my two CVs to ground strike the It MECH (in the process taking 2 steps off the 7 step german FTR) and use my ARM to kill it. I also use one of my INF to hit the It command INF (5:2 forecast) and I achieve a 3:2 result and no retreat unfortunately. I move another INF forward to cover its flank and to be available for fighting next turn. My MECH moves forward to hit the It INF next to Alexandria (after it had been shore-bombarded) and the INF is reduced to 2 steps. The other BBs shore-bombard the German command INF.
My Alexandra INF and FTR take replacements in order to be ready for next turn when his ARM arrives on the scene.
All in all, a very good turn - a MECH killed, 1 INF decimated and another wounded whilst the german FTR got beaten back down to 5 steps.



British forces prepare to move into Ireland in order to extend anti-sub air cover. Also, Alec attacked my convoy but it was within range of my two FTRs as well as the STR, so I get to do 6 steps of damage to his SUBs.

Jul 12:


Egypt at start. Alec has left his ARM very exposed here and with poor air cover. I therefore decide to go after the ARM, ground striking it with the 9 step CV first (has higher survival factor) and the 9 step FTR second. I only take 1 step off him but do inflict significant shock efficency loss. My ARM attacks it first inflicting 5 steps loss (in line with forecast) and 3 more INF attacks finishes it off (more combat results were pretty poor but 3 INF did it in the end). My three BBs shorebombard the german command INF again doing 4 steps damage.
I'm pretty happy by the end of the turn as I have killed an ARM, damaged two FTRs and an INF, and his ability to counterattack is very limited.


In Ireland, I declare war, shorebombard the capital and then air strike it twice. The INF attacks first and the MECH mops up the last 3 steps of defenders (7:1 was the forecast).


Nothing happens again in Morroco this turn as my shorebombardment is ineffective and I want to rest my INF up a little before assaulting the german INF in Oran.


Production-wise, the Brits build another STR.

Aug 1: Play Test ends....

Alec gets frustrated with North Africa, the resistance of the two Maginot GARs to attacks and the fact that he has units tied up around Paris and decides to move a unit into Paris (the French INF defender had been wittled down over the last few turns).

French North Africa goes Vichy and my two INF at Oran (along with the HQ) are destroyed. All of the cooperating French units disappear too.

Egypt at start;


Alec has formed a weak line and strengthened some units. His units are ripe for elimination! I undertake a naval invasion with my GAR transport and attack the It 2 step INF and manage to kill it. I advance an INF forward to pocket his forces and attack the INF behind but with poor result. My 3 BBs shorebombard the german command INF which is hit by the ARM and destroys it. My MECH then advances and hits the It command HQ (which was hit by unopposed air strikes) and severely damages it. An INF moves forward and finshes it off. My 8 step INF and Cairo INF both take replacements whilst my 8 step CV moves back to port to get replacements.
Only one lone german INF blocks my path to Tobruk. The whole battle over the last 3 turns is reminiscent of the Battle of El Alamein, except the fact that he had so many TACs!


I havent heard back from Alec yet but I think this play test is over! Barbarossa has not yet started and he has lost many PPs fighting the british and not chieved anything strategically. As I noted earlier, once Alec captured Tunis and its 10 supply points, he needed to reinforce Tobruk quickly and get to Egypt before I was able to build up my air and naval forces. The late surrounding of Paris was also an issue for him as it meant that his units were advancing west through France during the poor weather turns, meaning that he missed out on PP's from the western cities for a while. He also should have destroyed the French INF in Paris early on so that he could free his INF and TACs up for duties elsewhere (would need to keep some forces around Paris in case I built something).