Blood, toil, tears and sweat - The war is over!

[zechi]

Turn 18 - Operation Sealion continues

Could inflict heavy damage on some of Plaid forces. German INF which landed was reduced to 3 steps. All beaches are covered with GAR and I could buy another INF. Next turn I will either buy two GAR or another INF if necessary.



However, the RAF took heavy losses. Canadian FTR was destroyed and last FTR risks to be destroyed this turn, but it will be worth if I can stop Sealion. British INF in Bordeaux was transported back to Britain.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

Take into consideration that Sealion might be a decoy. Maybe the Axis player goal is to lure the British naval units into range so they can be bombarded by the German bombers and fighters. The Germans will lose a land unit or two, but if they can sink some BB's and DD's and maybe even a CV then they can rule the Atlantic past 1942.

So when you know the land threat is over you better be prepared to save your airforce and navy. The British losses have been very high until now and that means you might be behind schedule for labs and new units like more DD's and strategic bombers. Germany can quickly repair his subs and build new ones. Then he might rule the sea past the US entry and make Torch etc. very dangerous.

Right now it seems like Sealion will fail and that means you need to get your depleted air and naval units to safety and repair land units so you can finish off the hex taken by the Germans. If you continue to put new units into the cauldron then in means you lose all your offensive firepower and then Germany can instead storm against Port Said or not fear a strong British presence in Egypt in 1941-1942. The Germans have paid the price now for Sealion. You need to make sure you don't end up paying the biggest price by losing even more units. The naval units can be kept at a safe distance not repairing them so you can build labs and repair land units.

[zechi]

Turn 19 - Operation Sealion continues

I'm a little bit in a hurry, so I provide you only with screenshots. Comments later:

Beginning of my turn:


End of my turn:

[zechi]

Now I have time for some comments. As you see I destroyed a German MECH and nearly destroyed a German transport (reduced to 1 Step). Hopefully I can get a shot with my sub next turn at it.

Nevertheless, I fear that Plaid will try to expand the beachhead and attack my badly damaged INF and perhaps destroy my GAR at the beachhead also. The London would be vulnerable, because I do not have many units for counterattacks. However, I could place an INF in London and the BEF from Bordeaux also landed near Plymouth to defend Britain.

Plaid also attacked my MED Royal Navy Forces with the entire Regia Marina and nearly destroyed a BB. However, my counterattack with SUB, CV and Malta FTR destroyed an Italian BB. My badly damaged BB attacked the Italian DD and inflicted 2 or 3 steps of damage. My BB will be perhaps destroyed next turn, but then my Air Units and sub will get another shot at the Regia Marina.

Finally Egypt and Iraq joined the Allied war effort, which will give me more PP for Battle of England. And three convoys are coming in soon. Furthermore, the next turn will be Plaids last turn with guaranteed Fair weather. In October its a 25 % chance for mud and we are in Britain Next turn I will be able to buy another INF and if needed a GAR.

Take into consideration that Sealion might be a decoy. Maybe the Axis player goal is to lure the British naval units into range so they can be bombarded by the German bombers and fighters. The Germans will lose a land unit or two, but if they can sink some BB's and DD's and maybe even a CV then they can rule the Atlantic past 1942.

So when you know the land threat is over you better be prepared to save your airforce and navy. The British losses have been very high until now and that means you might be behind schedule for labs and new units like more DD's and strategic bombers. Germany can quickly repair his subs and build new ones. Then he might rule the sea past the US entry and make Torch etc. very dangerous.

Right now it seems like Sealion will fail and that means you need to get your depleted air and naval units to safety and repair land units so you can finish off the hex taken by the Germans. If you continue to put new units into the cauldron then in means you lose all your offensive firepower and then Germany can instead storm against Port Said or not fear a strong British presence in Egypt in 1941-1942. The Germans have paid the price now for Sealion. You need to make sure you don't end up paying the biggest price by losing even more units. The naval units can be kept at a safe distance not repairing them so you can build labs and repair land units.

You are right. My RN and especially RAF losses are high, but what could I do? If I did not interfere with the RN, Plaid would have landed more undamaged units in England, which I would not be able to push back. Nevertheless, I agree that I should have done better, especially my mistake of not putting the RAF on sentry mode was devastating.

My Lab situation is good; I have six of seven possible labs right now. You guessed correctly that I was not able to build any STR or DD yet, because I saved my PP for a possible Sealion (which was a good idea).

I also agree that Plaid will perhaps try something in the Middle East. I already spotted a German transport moving to Lybia. Now that my forces in the Middle East are activated I would be grateful for some advice by the readers of this AAR.

What should I do in the Middle East?

[ferokapo]

What should I do in the Middle East?

I think you should wait. The initial British forces are not strong enough to deal decisively with the Axis, and you don't have enough PPs now to repair losses there. You should try to defend the UK with everything you have. Once the Axis has committed itself to Barbarossa, it's easier in North Africa.

[gerones]

As you have commented it was a mistake not to put the english fighters on sentry mode: this is a thing that always should be done in case of a sea lion with a massive Luftwaffe air support as this is. So don´t forget this in your next sea lion as the allies!

Stauffenberg is right about RN: not succeeding in sea lion can be almost normal but because of a sea lion operation the british get heavy naval losses, then the germans u-boats will be the kings of the Atlantic at least for all 1941 year.

My advice is that you are doing right in your defensive land british strategy so keep up this strategy because the germans shouldn´t go much far in England...

[zechi]

Thank you for the input. I will see if I can withdraw my remaining RN forces without risiking to lose the Battle for Britain on land.

In the MED I will probably take Syria and go on the defense until I can bring in reinforcements. Hopefully I can destroy the Regia Marina with my MED air and naval Forces. I then could bring the MED navy to the Atlantic to counter the sub threat. However, I think Plaid has only four or five subs yet.

I wonder what the costs are for Plaid to keep up with the invasion. He should have burned already a lot of oil, PP and manpower to keep the invasion going. Especially the oil will hurt. I expect him to either go for the Middle eastern oil (very likely) or Baku.

[zechi]

Turn 20 - London in danger

The turn begins with good news:


In the Med British RN and RAF destroy Regia Marina DD. One Regia Marina BB and damaged SUB left.



Operation Sealion continues and London is in danger:


I attacked first with the BB in the London port and inflicted 2 steps of dmg on MECH. Then the INF attackd for 3 steps and took 2 steps damage. My GAR also inflicted some damage in Italian Alpini INF, which is now at 8 Steps and in orange effiency level. Nevertheless my 8 step INF in London could be destroyed with great luck by the weakened MECH and Alpini INF if the German Bomber inflict a lot of damage. This would be a disaster because my BB in the port would also be destroyed. However, next turn October begins and if Mud season begins (25 % chance) it is out of question that Plaid will succeed with an attack on London. Weather could be decisive next turn and also in the following turns. However, I built 2 INF this turn and my income is good. I can built either 1 INF or 2 GAR per turn and with the convoys coming in, I even think I have a chance if London should fall to push the Axis back. I expect the Battle for Britain last at least until early 1941.

The turn before the RN got badly mauled. One 1 step BB, my 1 step SUB, a 10 step DD and a 3 step BB in the MED were destroyed. Last turn I also lost a CV in the Battle for Britain.

I now have left a 3 step DD (in a port), a 5 step BB (in Gibraltar), a 6 step BB (also in a port), a 10 step BB in London port (which is in danger), another 10 step BB in the Persian Gulf and a SUB and CV in the Med.

Regia Marina lost a BB and DD, SUB was damaged. Slight damage to German HSF BB (8 steps), German DD reduced to six steps. German subs were also damaged (at least two were down to 5 steps).

All in all a very costly matter for the UK until now, but I hope it was worth it and Plaid should also suffer in oil, PP and manpower. It will be interesting how how he will manage with Barbarossa.

[zechi]

I'm a little bit in a hurry, so I will post the screenshots of the last two turns without detailed comments.

Turn 21 - Battle for Britain





Turn 22 - Battle for Britain continues



Both October turns and the weather stayed "fair". Hopefully this will not continue in November. I could split the invasion force in two parts and cut some Units off from Kriegsmarine supply. However, British losses are high, Manpower becomes now an issue (reached yellow levels) and Plaid took Norwich, but this city does not have a port. Next turn a 63 PP convoy will come in, if it is not blocked by SUBs. My BB in London port is trapped as it tried a breakout.

[zechi]

Turn 23 - Winter comes to Europe

The Battle of Britain has become a battle of attrition. Take a look at these losses:



I cannot overhelm the German forces, because I do not have enough offensive Units and manpower problems. Plaid has better units, total air superiority and blocks the RN, but his Groundforces cannot be reinforced easily and he does not have enough units to break the numerical Superiority of the British Army.

My income is good, I get 39 PP per round and I a fat convoy with 63 PP came in this turn. Nevertheless I relinquised buying more INF or GAR because of manpower issues and bough my seventh lab. Next turn another Convoy (12 PP) is coming in and 3 more convoys are coming soon.



In the Battle of Britain British Army destroyed the Alpini Corps. My BB in London port tried another breakout and was stopped by SUB, which dealt 1 step of damage but suffered 2 steps.


I also prepared the attack on Syria and it will begin next turn. No sign of any Axis forces advancing to take the Middle East.


However, I'm unsure about my next moves. Should I invest to rebuild the RN and RAF? Should I try to push the Germans out next spring and invest in ground forces?

[zechi]

Turn 24 - Attack on Syria

British Army attacks Syria, but Damascus holds out.



In Britain nothing special happens. German subs attack BBs in ports. British Forces entrench themselves. My PP Income increased to 41 PP.

[zechi]

Turn 25 - Damascus taken

British forces take Damascus. Syria surrenders.



Pause in the Battle of Britain. Plaid repairs his Invasion Army as British Army entrenches. I repaired both BB and will try breakouts (attacks on SUBs) next turn.



Partisans in France. The unit in Orleans is still the Canadian BEF unit.

[zechi]

Turn 26 - Scientific success

British scientist are succesful:



Next turn I could get a level in Dog Fight. Then I will upgrade my FTR in the Middle East/MED. Futhermore, I repaired my DD an STR and bough another GAR to bolster defense around London.

Plaid does not seem to attack in MED region, but I'm unsure if I should counterattack or not? Next turn is first February turn an Plaid could get "fair" weather.

[zechi]

Turn 27 - Battle for Britain continues

Unexpected fair weather allows German Invasion Force with heavy Air support to launch an offensive. British counteroffensive concentrates on German Panzer Corps. I got very bad results, especially with Southampton Gar 0:5. Whichmeans Southhampton is in danger. I hope next turn Plaid will not get lucky and bad weather returns to Britain. For the Battle of Britain I built two INF (with reduced Quality).



I also got Dog Fight Level 1 and upgrade FTRs and CV in the MED. Furthermore I sent my BB to investigate the situation around Tobruk. I see a German INF is placed in Tobruk. I'm still unsure if I should launch an offensive against Lybia. I do not think that Plaid has any air units in this theater, which means I would have air superiority, but not a strong airforce.

[zechi]

Turn 28 - Germany prepares for major invasion

Plaid sents many transport to invade Britain in spring offensive. I can only pray that the weather will stay bad next turn (25 % chance), otherwise Plaid will win this Battle of attrition and overhelm me. However, he needs to invest heavily in ressources and I hope to see one of the weakest Barbarossas ever Nevertheless, I fear will not hold Britain through the fair weather period of 1941.

[zechi]

Turn 29 - Britain overhelmed

This time Plaid will succeed with Sealion, see how many troops landed.



I will try to hold out as long as possible and men every British city with GAR next round. Auchinleck will be disbanded and brought into command of MED Forces. Then I will concentrate on rebuilding RN in the Atlantic.

My MED Fleet bombarded Tobruk and Benghazi:

[zechi]

Turn 30 - Britain nearly defeated

British Government and Army Command retreat to Canada as remnants of the British Army prepare for their last stand:



Something odd occured. I could not place any new Units in UK. I think that this is because London was cut off. This meant I could not make a last stand and put in every British city a GAR, as I intended. Nevertheless two big convoys came through. I bought my ninth LAB ( of 10 possible). I also displaced Auchinleck and will place him next round in command of MED forces.

[gerones]

Now that Great Britain forces is almost out, you should prepare an agressive russian strategy from winter 1941. Plaid will not have enough resources to face the russians properly since he can not launch a strong Barbarossa.

[zechi]

Turn 31 - Preparing for new theaters

A fat convoy with 93 PP reached Halifax this turn, which allowed my to buy my 10th LAB with UK.



Auchinleck reached the MED to prepare an offensive as fast as possible. Further troops will soon arrive to reinforce MED theater.

[zechi]

Now that Great Britain forces is almost out, you should prepare an agressive russian strategy from winter 1941. Plaid will not have enough resources to face the russians properly since he can not launch a strong Barbarossa.

I intend to do this. However, all depends on how the Barbarossa will play out, when Plaid launches it. Furthermore, I still have some assets with the UK, which I evacuated from Britain. They will be soon available in the MED. I also will build some DD to counter SUB threat in Atlantic as soon as possible.