Plaid (axis) vs Vokt (allies) GS 3.0 beta AAR

[richardsd]

dont think I have seen a 4 ARM attack before

I used to build 5 in older times, when massive BEF was real nightmare for axis.

you musten't have been expecting a massive BEF against me then

[Plaid]

Another turn of battle for France.



3 french garrisons and corps destroyed this turn, another garrison in woods east of Lorrein is badly damaged, and one near Reims received moderate damage.
We also captured Reims itself.



Counterattack might occur this turn. Probably I will even lose one of my mechs.

Kriegsmarine spotted and sunk another 20 PP convoy. Note that naval units now can occupie destroyed unit's hex, just like land ones do.



Fighter build (4th) ordered.

[Plaid]

As expected, allies go for counterattack, picking german PzGr coprs. Sadly unit was completely destroyed, but allies also taken good deal of damage (and lost entrenchment).



Wehrmacht troops attack allied mobile forces, destroying 2 mechs and damaging 3rd one. Now we can worry much less about allied counterattacks and just focus on sweeping french corps and garrisons on the way to Paris.

Air forces from western Germany (FTR, TAC and SAC) were rebased to bases, from where they can attack Paris area. SAC placed with bombing London in mind - Cologne is german core hex, so it will receive less experience penalties, while reparing.



In Atlantic another convoy attacked for 9 PP damage. I believe RN escorts are now busy escorting canadians, so we will take free shots on convoys.
With new transport retreat rule you can actually try to sink one of canadian transports, since RN most likely can't cover all transports from all sides. But it is a gamble - you can suffer serious damage for sinking (or even failing to sink...) simple corps instead of fighter. So I will take free convoy hunting instead.



2nd INF lab purchased for Germany for 2 2 2 1 1 total.

[Plaid]

No offensive actions from allies this time.



German offensive destroyed french troops on eastern bank of Siene, but did not cross the river.
Airborne division landed - it's initial goal was to secure Seine crossing next turn and destroy 3 steps french GAR. But as unit taken moderate casualties when landing (-3) if failed to finish off garrison.
I even might be losing airborne now, but it will take major effort from what left of French army and speed up collapse of resistance here.

2nd strategic bomber parked in Cologne area, ready to start bombing London next turn.



This turn convoy received some escorts, but uboats still sunk it. French DD has lower tech (no level 1radar and surface ships upgrades and lower effectiveness), so technically it was safer to attack from other 2 hexes. But if sub will not evade, what is the point of hitting french DD? I'd rather damage canadian one.



2nd naval (sub) lab is here.

[Plaid]

No allied counterattacks occured, and it is fine with us.



Uboat in Atlantic evaded canadian DD attack - did not expected it after first evasion few turns ago. Later in the game evasion vs DD occurs very rare, as chance to hit subs scales from 2 techs (ASW and radar) and chance to dodge - only from 1 tech (subs), but in early years evasion occurs quite frequently. Chances to escape attack of bomber or battleship are even higher.

Don't want to test my luck vs DDs 3rd time - subs will move to different hunting region (north of Canada, near northern convoy point of origin) and end turn in sentry mode.



Our offensive in France completely overruns Seine defense line and now we are in good position to assault Paris. Since Victor did not purchase defensive general for Paris (I've seen Billotte leading southern part of his front - destroyed his garrison last turn) 1 turn conquest is possible, as we deffinetely will attack from 6 sides and with support of 2 TACs.



Strategic bombing campaign also started, and initial results are quite good - London reduced to 4 steps, while we lost only 1 step.



This turn assigning focus points was availiable for Italy - it means they will join at the end of the turn.



And here they are!



4th Uboat Flotilla build was ordered this turn.

[Peter Stauffenberg]

Looks like a bug, but it is really old one (check old Ronnie's AAR for example - viewtopic.php?f=78&t=20355&start=40 - on turn 17 he takes Oslo, and on turn 18 his transports are in german ports). Probably ports supposed to work this way, I don't know exactly.

I just checked the code and you can always load units from a port even if the port is damaged. What is affected by port damage is the repair capability. It's 3 steps per turn if undamaged and drops with each damage level until 0 if at red level. The number of PP's you get back if you unload in a friendly damaged port is also reduced. With red damage you don't get any PP's back at all.

I'm not sure why ports don't prevent loading units, but I'm sure there is a reason for it. It was probably discussed when port damage was added some versions ago. I also think supply is affected by port damage if the city is isolated.

[Plaid]

This turn wehrmacht focused attacks only on Paris, capturing the city. This ends the war in France.
Luftwaffe bombs London again, reducing it to 2 PPs. RAF fighter intercepted one of my bombers and scored 3:2 result (in allied favour) vs lutfwaffe escort fighter.
All availiable german PPs were used for repairs.





Next turn I will provide you fresh casualties data.

During allied turn french navy in the Med attacked some italian targets, inflicting 1 step damage to fighter and 1 - to garrison in Palermo.

[Plaid]

Forgotten to take picture this turn, but London bombing campaign is in progress.
Not much luck this time - got 1:1 results vs city both times (reducing London to 1 step) and 2:2 vs RAF fighter.
Troops in France are preparing to be redeployed elsewhere and garrisons railed to french ports.

In Med. region Victor evacuated Malta fighter to Cyprus, increasing axis supply in northern Africa to 20. And we are going to exploit it for a change - offensive army will be deployed in Lybia and push forward into Egypt.



Plans for 1940 campaign also include Greece and Yugoslavia.

2nd general lab built for Germany, reaching 2 2 2 2 2 total.

And here is casualties picture up to date:

[Cybvep]

If you manage to take both Greece and Egypt, you will get a +10 morale bonus for the Italians .

[Plaid]

If you manage to take both Greece and Egypt, you will get a +10 morale bonus for the Italians .

Yes, I know. Probably will try to do it, but Egypt with only 20 supply points can be tough campaign.
On the good side will be able to destroy some commonwealth units here - its long way to bring new ones for allies.

[Plaid]

This turn we pause bombing campaign for repairs. Going to bring London into 0 PPs one more time next turn with fresh luftwaffe.



Build up in the MED goes on.



Supposed size of Desert Force - 2 german armour, 2 german FTR, german TAC, italian TAC, starting italian forces + 2 more corps.
Commanders : Messe and Rommel.



1st RN sub flotilla spotted - it means now 2 of them operate in the MED, since 1st is atlantic one.

[Plaid]

This turn London was bombed down to 0 PP and 0 rail (which will cause some trouble, as Iraq and Egypt just joined and Victor have only 4 rail points for redeployment). Didn't lose any bomber step by the way. Though fighter got not great 4:3 roll (again in allied favour).



This is the end of 1940 bombing campaign, as bad weather is possible next turn and I need my HQ in Yugoslavia.

Yes, Yugoslavia was DoWed right now. Didn't have rail points to do "balkan blitz", just DoWed as soon as possible to get my minor powers onboard and railed some tanks to attack next turn. One way or another, we will conquer the country withing few turns.





2 german panzer korps loaded into transports and sent to Lybia, as planned. Entire RM shields them. Actually shielding transports is harder in 3.0 - both surface ships and transports can retreat, just like ground unit, this ruining formation. But it is not the case, as allied mediterranean capital ships are far in the east, and only 1 DD and up to 2 subs are in range to attack our troop convoy.



Messe arrived to Lybia this turn.



Another 10 PP damage to convoy - this one was escorted, but looks like DDs were little short of movement, leaving one hex availiable for free attack. Didn't risk to attack from escorted hexes, will better wait for another convoy here.

New german sub build ordered (UF 5).

[Plaid]

Yugoslavian army launched some countearattacks this turn, scratching italian tank.



Axis troops enter Yugoslavia in strength and outflank Belgrade. With fair weather next turn we can capture the place.
Otherwise little siege will be needed.



Desert army lands unharmed in Lybia, but RM BB spotted a hidden (sentry mode on) sub just out of Benghazi harbor.
After initial combat (BB vs sub 2:2 result) sub was attacked by 2 TACs. One missed, another landed 1 hit.



Rommel was recruited this turn, aswell as couple german garrisons for occupation duty.
Italians get their 2nd INF lab.

[Morris]

it seems you will play Europe Fortress again ? Or a medium strength Barbarosa 1941 ?

[Plaid]

it seems you will play Europe Fortress again ? Or a medium strength Barbarosa 1941 ?

It is classified strategic information!
Actually will depend on allied actions.

[Morris]

it seems you will play Europe Fortress again ? Or a medium strength Barbarosa 1941 ?

It is classified strategic information!
Actually will depend on allied actions.

trust me that Russian will always be fatal for Axis ! Good luck !

[GogTheMild]

After initial combat (BB vs sub 2:2 result) sub was attacked by 2 TACs. One missed, another landed 1 hit.

In 2.2/3.0 I don't think that Axis air attacks on subs are worth the oil, especially early in the war.

[Plaid]

In 2.2/3.0 I don't think that Axis air attacks on subs are worth the oil, especially early in the war.

Basically I agree, but since I never ran out of oil since GS 2.0 release, I just ignore it same whay, like when playing allies.

[Plaid]

Yugoslavian army kept counterattacking, so Belgrade was relatively easy conquest.





Our next goal very likely will be Greece.

Desert army ready to move forward next turn. Fighters received dog fight lvl 1 upgrade (removed dog fight focus this turn - strategic operations tech is now only 54% and this is very useful one - so now air labs are now focus).



Also spotted relatively large (37) northern convoy. Very likely will be sunk before allies can do anything.



This turn I recruited Manstein just in case. Probably he will lead german troops in Greece.

[Plaid]

Decision to invade Greece accepted. I need both Crete airbases and +5 italian morale from Athens.
We will go overland from the north - I am pretty sure that 2nd RN sub is patroling somewhere near Greek shores, and if I send transports, they will suffer significant damage and ruin whole operation.
Instead we will drive from Yugoslavia with tanks.

Italian navy will have different task - prevent allied troops from landing on Crete. Operation will be launched in two turns (i.e. turn 25)



Desert army group moves forward to Egypt borders. What sort of adventure avaits them there?



Convoy from previous post finished off with single sub attack, as expected. Now subs will be shifted to the south, as bad weather arrives soon.
Also I want to keep an eye on transportation loop, as allies might need to send some reinforcements to the MED soon.

Italians got their 2nd general lab for 2 0 2 0 2 total and probably will stay like this for entire game.