Slitherine

Allied turn 15 - 7th June 1940

Germans started bombing campaign, damaging London. For now we have PP to repair our fighter (lost 2 steps), so we would keep doing it.



My sub spotted german navy redeploying for Atlantic right now.

Purchased british mech this turn just in case.



In MED Italy entered the war, while Egypt didn't yet. Now its time to think what to do with all this large MED RN task force. Its a bit overkill for italians, while I can't just send BB or two across the Atlantic back to Britain, since german subs will damage them likely.

Many labs built this turn - Naval (ASW) for UK, infantry (artillery) for USA and general (organisation) for USSR.

Allied turn 16 - 27 June 1940
Sealion is here, Homeguard forces alarmed!



Here they come! Thanks to good advice from Duncan key objects on beaches are already covered. Now we just move some troops from reserves to cover rest. Maybe germans would be able to breach defences in one or two point, but no way they can land on broad front.

Note depleted lutfwaffe, my fighters are doing well against this weakened by constant battle germans. I don't think they will achieve much in Britain without overcommitment (ignore invasion cap and casualties, etc) but to what this things lead you may see in my own "Defending the Reich" AAR. Sealion should be fast and cheap or should not be.



Some RAF and RN detachments alarmed to hit german transports, though I am not risking to bump into german SUBs - only CV and subs sent into action for now, while 3 DDs and BB stand still in ports, resting and repairing. As we may see all transports are corps amphs.

Its not very good that I had to use mechs as beach guard instead of counterattacking power, but next turn I get brand nex mech corps unit.

Large MED RN also alarmed to check out Malta sector and evacuate valueable fighters safely.

Allied turn 17 - 17 July 1940

Germans break homeguard beach defences and land some troops. But german luftwaffe becomes more and more depleted. Using 6-7 steps fighter units vs full strength ones seems to me one of ultimate sins in game, since full strength one just throw more hit dice, inflicting often more damage and making strength delta even higher. Why not just repair them?



RAF is in good shape, unlike luftwaffe. We were able to bomb german corps with bomber and fighter and first force it to retreat with mech, and then killed it with Auchinlek's HQ. Now another german corps is out of supply and they probably have 0 or -1 invasion point.
Also fallchirmjager unit is here and will share other's fate, which don't seem very nice to me.



Seems to me, that german subs are guarding invasion area, since no convoy attack happen. Well, we would get convoys running now!

MED task force succesfully evacuated Malta fighter group and heading for Egypt at the moment. I can't afford to have fighter unit on Malta at the moment. Yes, it reduce axis supply in Africa, but I simple don't have ~10-20 spare PPs to repair it every turn.

Allied turn 18 - 6 August 1940
German paratroopers defeated in England! Italian navy engaged in MED!

This turn my opponent repaired his fighters sending bombers with no escort. I can't say its good move, because now he have depleted bombers, while fighters are healthy. If continue this way, he would be never able to enjoy air superiority, which is easy to achieve against only 2 fighters and CV.



In MED italian navy engaged our task force, inflicting light damage on BB squadron and transports.



In Britain we were able to destroy german para, now Germans control only 1 hex with their corps. My HQ may end destroyed next turn (it was reduced from 8 to 1 this time and I repaired it back to 6). But commander will stay with unit until the end, whatever happens!



Our MED fleet easily inflicts damage on weak italian assets. While we evacuate damaged BB and transport via red sea transport loop, rest units sunk Italian BB and damaged heavily sub, in which my BB bumped.

Allied turn 19 - 26 August 1940

Last german units defeated in Britain!

So sometimes its possible to repel Sealion, since we were able to destroy last german korps with our mechs.



I got british general wounded during operation though. Seems we lost only 2 units - corps and garrison. Germans lost 2 corps, paratroops and many (really many) air steps. I think to succes with Sealion axis need to use much more airpower (and use it more efficient), which is not a problem if you know what do you want from the start of a game, but is a problem when you launch Sealion suddenly, without proper preparation.

In MED italian fleet retreats, and Egypt/Iraq joins the allies.



We are ready to unload Malta fighter in Red sea. Also can use now Egypt ports to repair my navy.

Nice going Plaid, really good start. Repelling Sealion like that, cuased germany valuable time and resources.....Luftwaffe needs atleast a couple of turns to resupply and regroup so more action before winter is not likely.

You think he might try anything in africa? I saw an italian bomber, but with the italian fleet badly damaged you will have the upper hand.

Crazyg

Nice play.

I think your opponent is making basic errors - I think you will win in early 44, as he will become more carefull.

Allied turn 20 - 15 September 1940

Now all quiet in Britain, german transports retreat. Here we are, with battered units and endless repair bills.



Same in Africa, where my Malta fighter group need massive repairs.



Our troops take defencive positions in case axis will be on attack. (I have seen non-corps german transport arriving into Lybia, atleast one). To start our own attack we need commander and TAC bombers, which are somewhere on shedule of british production.

New labs built this turn, armour for USA and air (dog fight) for USSR.

The Axis is now close to crippled, but not yet out of it.

I think you have some interesting choices in how you prepare for Barbarossa - if I was you I might be tempted to build some additional ARM units that would give you some options in 41.

richardsd wrote:The Axis is now close to crippled, but not yet out of it.

I think you have some interesting choices in how you prepare for Barbarossa - if I was you I might be tempted to build some additional ARM units that would give you some options in 41.

I am not sure that I can do anything with orange armour units, thanks to new effectiveness penalty. They will be still unable to fight germans 4-6 turns after barbarossa started. I often don't build any single unit for USSR until axis DoW the country. Who knows, maybe they come in 1942 and we need fully offencive force?

Allied turn 21 - 5th October 1940

No further sign of german activity in Europe, only some anti-partisan operations in France.



Our DDs escort large convoy, and another 33 PP one coming from the north. Nice income, if they reach destination ports.

In MED we are now prepairing to conquer Vichy Syria. Reason for it is that with Tunis as italian surrender city I really like to do Torch with americans, and when its done, Syria still becomes axis, providing them with PP. So better deal with Syria now, while we still have nothing better to do.

I need commander for MED area aswell, can't decide which one do I want, guess I can afford 5-6 leadership good one, since its only area where I need UK commander at the moment.

Allied turn 22 - 25 october 1940

Attack on Vichy Syria still planning. I am going to attack with 2 infantry and mech, supported with CV and fighter. Should be enough to destroy garrison in 1 turn and force country to surrender.



Spent most of my PPs to repairs here and there.

Sir Thomas Albert Blamey will be in command over australian troops in MED region and lead our attack into Syria. Later I will probably purchase another british commander (O'Connor likely) to command entire Desert Army force, since Blamey have quite low range and quality (4).

Allied turn 23 - 14 November 1940

All pieces in place, we invade next turn.



Most PPs spent on repairs, now we done with them and can purchase new units/leader.

German subs attack one of my convoys and new partisan pops up in France.

Allied turn 24 - December 4 1940

Syria succesfully conquered with no significant casualties.



Now we wait our bombers (I want 2xBritish TAC for MED at the moment) to start offencive into Lybia. Probably additional MECH will be nice too.

Estimated offencive date is summer 1941, when germans would be busy in USSR.

This turn purchased general labs - 2nd for UK and 1st for USA.

Allied turn 25 - 24 Decembar 1940

Totally no action, nothing even worthy a picture.

2 german sub attacks in atlantic registered, can't do much with them this early.

Allied turn 26 - 13 January 1941

Only thing to report this turn is awesome british tech breakthrough.



Also general Auchinleck injured during defence of Britain returned to service, and command british home defence forces.

Major task for british industry now is to produce 2 TAC bomber units, and probably couple of DDs. 1st bomber will be purchased next turn.

Allied turn 27 - 2nd February 1941

Axis invade Yugoslavia with numerous force, exploiting early fair weather turn.



I repaired Belgrade defenders, hoping for luck and bad weather, so I would be able to rail in fresh Yugoslavian troops next turn.

1st TAC bomber purchased in Britain.

Allied turn 28 - 22nd February 1941

Well, no luck for us, since Belgrade falls for axis all-out attack. So saving my Yugoslavian troops for railing them into Belgrade region saved axis troops from losing step or two to desperate counterattacks. But who cares about so minor things? At least new minor rail system (partly) encourage player to do realistic moves rather then suicide attacks.



British PPs are doing well, 2nd Bomber would be ordered soon.

Allied turn 29 - 14 April 1941

Now we are 2 PPs short of building our 2nd TAC, thanks to repairing Yugoslavian troops. It will delay MED campaign for additional turn.

Next turn I hope to have enough PPs to build both bomber and british LAB (should be just enough, if I calculate properly and convoy reach UK as intended).



By the way axis are plotting something in NA, I guess I just noted this troops, but maybe they stand here long ago and I just didn't check the area.

British fighters are put on sentry because they are unupgraded (4 air combat instead of 6) and I don't have PPs to upgrade/repair them right now.

I don't think that launching axis offencive in Egypt in summer 1941 is good plan, at all. Even 1941 Sealion seems better option for axis, from my point.

This turn 4th lab purchased for USSR - armour, no spec.

Allied turn 30 - 3 April 1940

Seems like axis are going to invade into Egypt. German tank, mech and Rommel HQ spotted.



I were able to purchase my 2nd TAC bomber (and fielded 1st one). Had to use rest of my PPs for emergency upgrade of troops in MED region rather then on lab purchase. Now we are fully upgraded and ready. Thit thrust must weaken Barbarossa, if axis engage us here.