Slitherine

For better or worse I have now upgraded my forces....time will tell wether I made the right choice but I've gone for brute strength over speed.....not enough move hero's with my tanks! (only the 1st Divisions tanks have them and for roleplay reasons they aint getting split up!)

I also had another core slot and again I've made maybe not the best choice but figured a bit of variety in my forces would be more appropriate...shuold hopefully see what I have soon!

April 30th 1945
It has been some time since my last journal entry. Following the fall of Russia my forces have been resting, refitting and training.

Much new equipment has been made available.


Jet aircraft and super heavy tanks are impressive but I am at a loss as to what we need them for, surely there is no one else to fight?

The forces under my command have been kept together and recently much of our training has been practising amphibious landing in concert with the Kreigsmarine making me wonder what plans High Command have in mind.

My Corps (now designated 19th Corps “Pferdmann in my honour) has been upgraded with the latest equipment. All four Panzer Division's now boast Tiger II Panzers on both Regiments except the 1st Division; They only have one Regiment of the new heavy tanks as the 34th SE Panzer Regiment has been supplied with the new extra heavy Maus.

Further more the Infantry Regiments of the 1st through 3rd Division have been re-equipped and retrained as Pioniere Regiments and the 13th Gebirgsjager Regiment re-equipped with heavy weapons and designated as Grenadiers.

The 4th Luftflotte still remains attached to my forces and has received the latest in technology. All six fighter wings now fly the Messerschmitt Me262A Schwalbe; the latest in Jet fighter design.
Whilst the fighter bombers have been assigned Dornier Do335A Pfeil planes.

My Corps was also boosted by a new Regiment of Jagdtiger Tank Killers.

1st Division - 34th SE Panzer, 27th Panzer, 3rd Grenadier, 9th Pioniere, 8th Artillery and 30th Artillery.


2nd Division - 12th Panzer, 6th Panzer, 24th SE Grenadier, 10th Pioniere, 19th Artillery and 31st Artillery.


3rd Division - 1st Panzer, 48th SE Panzer, 2nd Grenadier, 11th Pioniere, 17th Artillery and 26th Artillery


4th Division - 50th Panzer, 51st Panzer, 13th Grenadier, 60th Pioniere, 52nd Artillery and 53rd Artillery.


Corps support Regiments - 32nd Bruckenpioniere and 49th Tank Destroyer.


4th Luftflotte – 5th, 15th, 25th, 29th, 36th and 49th Fighter Wings. 4th and 59th Fighter Bomber Wings. 16th and 28th Tactical Bomber Wings. 23rd and 35th Strategic Bomber wings.

Great AAR. Can't wait to see how the USA scenarios go. You've built a very solid, we'll balanced force. We'll see how it handles the Americans. There are some unique challenges coming up. Good luck!

Thank you for posting a detailed AAR. Well balanced powerful divisional compositions for your next mission. It will be difficult but your well motivated troops are singing your praises. The Minister of Information has broadcast a special report to the Deutsche Volk detailing your accomplishments. He tells them " General der PanzerTruppen Pferdmann is on the threshold of a monumental victory not rivalled in the history of warfare."

billmv44 wrote:Great AAR. Can't wait to see how the USA scenarios go. You've built a very solid, we'll balanced force. We'll see how it handles the Americans. There are some unique challenges coming up. Good luck!

Thanks, I keep looking at the east coast scenario and thinking how am I supposed to get my forces ashore without losing most of them?

BriteLite wrote:Thank you for posting a detailed AAR. Well balanced powerful divisional compositions for your next mission. It will be difficult but your well motivated troops are singing your praises. The Minister of Information has broadcast a special report to the Deutsche Volk detailing your accomplishments. He tells them " General der PanzerTruppen Pferdmann is on the threshold of a monumental victory not rivalled in the history of warfare."

Now that made me smile, thanks

Horseman wrote: Thanks, I keep looking at the east coast scenario and thinking how am I supposed to get my forces ashore without losing most of them?

Hmm, what is killing you? The Allied navy shouldn't be a huge issue, although only 2 Strategic Bombers might prove to be somewhat troublesome (I had 4 in my first campaign).
Your Strategic Bombers should be able to take out the 34th Light Cruiser with the help of the 11th U-Boat and your (12th & 19th) Destroyers should be able to box in the 37th Submarine south of Virginia Beach and perhaps with the help of Tactical Bombers destroy or cripple them.

The (23rd and 26th) Destroyers situated east of the southern landing force should box in the lone 54th Submarine @ 41,23.
Rest of the naval units (16th Light Cruiser, 22nd U-Boat, 24th and 25th Destroyers) should move to create impassable ZoC (ie, positioned 2 hexes apart) to prevent any Allied naval force from discovering the landing transports.

The Forts have a range of 3, battleships, range 5, remember this when moving the southern transports. On turn 1, keep them out of the range of the fort and possibly the Allied Battleships.
I had 4 Strategic Bombers hard at work, wiping out the Light/Heavy Cruisers and the Battleships, so perhaps you can accommodate them into your Luftwaffe, if not, Tactical Bombers can do some damage to ships.

However the Southern Landing Force should comprise of troops only dedicated to taking the Southern VP's and thus their landing can delay for a few turns while you cripple the Allied navy. You do want to take out the 40th Fort as soon as possible.

So it's possible to deploy parts of the southern force in the Northern landing zones and have them land east/south-east of Richmond and take Virginia Beach & wipe out the Fort and Radar installation next to it.

Remember that the American radars have a spotting range of 5, which means if you move any landing craft in that range, be prepared to cover them.
The key is to group your transports so that you can cover them with a Fighter (6 should be more than enough to cover the landing zones). The AI is very reluctant to attack transports when they are covered by Fighters.
It's too dumb to attack with a inferior unit first to make the escorting Fighters waste their one/per turn interception and thus sends his bombers after your expendable fleet
(if it's not core, it's bait!).

If you have any +2 movement units, they can reach the beaches east of Richmond on turn one, if not you'll have to disembark them on turn 2. Also you might want to take out the at 29,10 since it will help with gaining Air Supremacy.

To the North, it's possible to land 3 units east of New York (2 artillery+Infantry preferably) on turn 2 as well, but to do so safely you must first destroy or cripple the lone Allied 2nd Destroyer (43,1) with your Strategic Bomber on turn 1.
There's the 10th Fort at 29,5 as well that should be a priority target for a Pioneer unit, as it will cause some damage to your landing force.
The radar at 32,4 isn't very dangerous as most of the allied air prefers to go for your unprotected fleet in the south, but if you can spare a unit to wipe it out it will allow a extra hex to be landed at.

That giant prestige boost you got? That's there because you will take a lot of causalities simply getting ashore and it's there to cushion the blow.

Kerensky wrote:That giant prestige boost you got? That's there because you will take a lot of causalities simply getting ashore and it's there to cushion the blow.

In a unrelated note, I just checked and it seems USA East and Mid-West both give more Prestige (extra 1500pp for East, 1000pp for Mid-West) for Marginal Victories, than for Decisive ones.
Is this because you assume a Marginal Victory player would need the extra Prestige for Mid-West/West?

In a word, yes.

If you don't get that all important DV in USA West(Field Marshal setting anyways), you lose out on the unlockable difficulty settings, so if people are struggling before hand, these are the people that will need more resources to successfully make the final push.

I'm not taking any loses yet..I haven't even decided on my plan or even deployed yet....just looking at all those ships

June 12th 1945


After many months voyage my forces close on the East Coast of America. We have secured several islands close to the coast to allow us to launch our Luftwaffe in support however its a one way trip unless we succeed in securing airfields on the main land.

The entire Kreigsmarine has been dispatched in support of the operation though not all vessels will be in the immediate vicinity.
In direct support and reporting to my command are:

2 Battleships – Bismark and Tirpitz
2 Heavy Cruisers – Blucher and Lutzow
3 Light Cruisers – Koln, Konigsberg and Karlscuhe
6 Destroyer Flotilla's
2 U-boat Flotilla's.
And our newest vessel, the Carrier Graf Zeppelin. This ship will at least allow my fighters and light bombers to refuel though its capacity is too limited to keep my entire Luftflotte air bourne.

Intelligence reports that facing our Armada is the entire American Atlantic Fleet.
4 Battleships
2 Heavy Cruisers
3 Light Cruisers
10 Destroyer Squadrons
2 Submarine Squadrons.
Fortunately many American ships are still deployed to the Pacific facing the Japanese threat as if our invasion fleet had been detected in time for them to redeploy we would never have made it even this far.

My plan is is to land in force and drive west as fast as possible.


The 4th Division in the north (green)
Then 1st Division (red)
2nd Division (blue)
3rd Division (yellow)
I expect the Americans will put up a fierce resistant and have been advised to be especially fearful of the United States Air Force whom fly planes every bit as effective as our own and whose pilots have been bloodied fighting in the Pacific.
The Majority of the Atlantic fleet are (so intelligence reports) located to the south and the Kriegsmarine will sail to engage them with heavy air support. I am not convinced of their ability to handle the far larger American Fleet but they must keep them at bay long enough for our landings to succeed.

June 12th 1945 (1)
My invasion force approached the American coast and first landfall should be made tomorrow.

The initial clash of navies sees an American Light Cruiser (identified as the USS Denver) sunk as well as a Submarine Squadron and Destroyer Squadron sunk.
One Shore battery has been destroyed and another badly damaged.


In the south the Atlantic fleet appears in force and engages the Kriegsmarine. Against the odds are ships get the better of the initial exchanges.


In the north the landing craft carrying the 13th Grenadier Regiment take a beating from some US Destroyers.


Elsewhere American ground troops begin firing on the transports as the approach the shore line but to little effect and we have the first confirmed sightings of the USAF.

June 13th 1945 (2)
Heavy cloud cover has been predicted for tomorrow, this is unexpected and will severely hamper the ability of the Luftwaffe to support my landings.

The 4th Division becomes the first of our forces to make landfall.


Over the beaches of the 1st Division's landing an wing of American P-47s are shot down.


The 10th Pioniere Regiment capture an airfield whilst landing. In the skies a P-51 fighter wing and A-26 Bomber wing are dealt with by the Luftwaffe.


The 3rd Division move in to landing positions whilst support fire from some Cruisers and an attack from the air obliterate the already damaged shore battery.


The Krigsmarine surge in to action engaging the USS Houston and Atlanta (Light Cruisers) sinking them both. 4 American Destroyer Squadrons were also sunk and I know wait with baited breath, where are the American Battleships?


Off to the East another American Submarine Squadron were sent to the bottom.

The Atlantic fleet counter attacked with air support of their own and we make the first sightings of the mighty Battleships. The Light Cruiser Koln was engaged by two of the behemoths and sunk, all hands lost beneath the waves and two Destroyer Flotillas were also destroyed by the Americans.
The Heavy Cruiser Blucher came under air bombardment and takes heavy damage which effectively removes her from the fight and an ambitious Fighter Wing attempts an attack on the Graf Zeppelin causing light damage.

June 14th 1945 (3)
The predicted cloud has materialised and is expected to last several days.

New York has been captured by the 4th Division and its defenders destroyed. The 13th Grenadier Regiment make is ashore but are in bas shape and need to regroup before they participate any further.


The 1st Division continued to land and secured Philadelphia destroying an Infantry Regiment.


The 2nd Division has expanded their beachhead and the 10th Pioniere Regiment has moved inland and neutralised a Radar Station.
In the air a wing of American B-26 tactical bombers and 2 wings of fighters (P-51s and P47s) have been shot down by the Luftwaffe.


The 3rd Division have finally set foot on American soil ready for their drive south.


The Naval battle continues with the Kreigsmarine (with Luftwaffe support) gaining the upper hand. The lead American Battleships; Iowa and Texas came under heavy air bombardment which has caused massive damage. The Heavy Cruiser USS Boston has been engaged by the Tirpitz and now lists badly whilst the rest of our fleet concentrated on sinking two American Destroyer Squadrons and badly damaging another.
In the air a B-17 wing was shot down.


The P-51 and B-17 wings that engaged the Kriegsmarine yesterday have been intercepted by my support Luftflotte and destroyed. Once more with have total air supremacy.

The Atlantic fleet proved that they are from form out of the fight. Concentrated fire from four Battleships and a Heavy Cruiser have sunk the light Cruiser Karlschue and damaged the Konigsberg (also a CL) A Destroyer Flotilla has also been lost.


Further north the transports carrying the 8th Artillery Regiment have been engaged by the lone Destroyer Squadron and taken heavy damage.

July 15th 1945 (4)
Proving that they are wrong more often than not the cloud has vanished leaving clear skies for the Luftwaffe.

In the far north the 4th Division began their advance west and met with no resistance.

The attack on Washington started early this morning and I am confidant that the 1st Division will secure the American capital within the day as they succeed in eliminating the local air defence.
They also secured another air field for us to use on the coast.


The 2nd Division have encircled Richmond destroying the local air defence Regiment as well as an Anti-tank and Artillery Regiment.


The 3rd Division is now moving south west down the coast. Another Radar station was easy prey for my Panzers and the defenders of Virginia Beach have been annihilated leaving the port open to capture.


The Atlantic fleet is now all but finished. The Battleships USS Nevada and Arkansas both come under attack from my Luftflotte and are left barely afloat. A U-boat Flotilla makes an attack run at the USS Iowa adding to the damage she has already sustained. The Lutzow and Konigsberg engaged the USS Toledo (which also came under U-boat attack) causing heavy damage to the Heavy Cruiser though the Lutzow also took a hit in return. The USS Boston (CH) was finished off and another Destroyer Squadron sunk.


In return one of our Destroyer Flotilla's withered fire from all four American Battleships as well as the Toledo, it is a testament to American courage that they have not attempted to flee.

June 16th 1945 (5)
The skies are once more filled with cloud, though the prediction for tomorrow is clear I have little faith in the forecast.

The advance of the 4th Division continued unopposed and they approach close enough to Pittsburgh to see that it lies undefended.


The 1st Division have depleted the defenders of Washington even further, a newly deployed Flak Regiment as well as the Artillery and an Anti-tank Regiment were cleared out.


The 2nd Division succeeded in overrunning the defenders of Richmond and securing the city, they now drive west.


The 3rd Division capture another airfield unopposed, where are the Americans hiding their forces? Did we really take them so much by surprise that they have no defences prepared?


I have been informed that the Kriegsmarine pushed their advantage hard this day and in heavy fighting destroyed the remnants of the Atlantic fleet. One Destroyer Squadron remains active in the north apparently refusing to flee despite the overwhelming odds and causes heavy damage to the 8th Artillery Regiment.

June 17th 1945 (6)
Amazing as it sounds the skies are indeed clear today! Rain is forecast for tomorrow and suddenly I hope my Meteorologists return to their usual accuracy.

The 4th Division met no resistance in capturing Pittsburgh.


Washington has been captured, early reports indicate that several members of the US government were capture din the fighting.


The 2nd Division meet as much resistance as the 4th and capture Blacksburg.


Myrtle Beach has been secured as well as a nearby airfield, close by a heavily defended fort is reduced to rubble by our armoured might.
Charlotte appears to be well defended!


The Flak Regiment was destroyed and Luftwaffe support arrives to begin the aerial assault.


The Kriegsmarine continued to hug the coast south hunting for remnants of the Atlantic fleet and showing the courage displayed over previous days a lone Destroyed Squadron engages our entire fleet! Unsurprisingly the American come of worse.


In the North the plucky Destroyer Squadron that attempted to disrupt our landing is sunk by one of my Luftflotte Bomber wings.

June 18th 1945 (7)
Its pouring with rain today, two in a row – a new record I think! I hope they can make it three as tomorrow is predicted to be clear and dry.

The 4th Division advanced on Dayton


The 1st Division capture the undefended Morgantown and now set their sights on Huntington.


The 2nd Division advanced towards Knoxville. The lack of opposition in the north is beginning to concern me...are the Americans hoarding their forces for a counter attack once my forces beging to get spread out?


The 3rd Division was in action today. Two M7 Artillery Regiments and one M18 Hellcat Regiment were destroyed by my Panzers (with artillery support of course)


Further south the Divisions Infantry Regiments destroy a Radar station near Charlestown, tomorrow they should secure the city and continue their drive down the coast. The American Destroyer Squadron that bravely (foolishly) engaged yesterday has been sunk, I have sent orders that all survivors must be rescued and treated with care. Their Bravery deserves such treatment.
American Infantry launch an attack against the 32nd Bruckenpioniere Regiment whom hold their positions and give a good account of themselves.

June 19th 1945 (8.)
Clear skies make it three in a row predicted right, with heavy cloud forecast for tomorrow lets hope they break this run of good work.

Dayton is secured by the 4th Division as they continue to advance unimpeded.


The 1st Division reported a heavy concentration of US forces at Huntington.
1xM36 Jackson, 2xM10 Wolverine, 2xM4A3 and 1x155mm M12 GMC Regiments.


My support Luftflotte open the assault causing heavy damage and disruption amongst the assembled forces. The 27th Panzer Regiment engage some M10s destroying an entire Regiment. In the course of the fighting two more Regiments are identified in reserve, more M12s and some M4A1s
The sheer number of AFVs assembled here sends a shiver down my spine but now I know where the Americans intend to make their stand.


Knoxville is easily captured by the 2nd Division.


Following heavy fighting Charlotte is secured and only the battered remnants of an Infantry Regiment remain to contest the area.


The port cities of Charleston and Brunswick have been occupied by the 3rd Division's Infantry.