Slitherine

JimmyC wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2019 3:43 am So i would throw everything at Tunisia to hold it for as long as possible.

Yep, I would agree to this...

JimmyC wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2019 3:43 am Really loving this AAR.

Thanks for reading and commenting

Spiffing Brit wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 10:12 pm as the only good your men in Tunisia will do now is act as a speed bump for maybe 7 turns.

This is a good prediction.

Spiffing Brit wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2019 10:12 pm I think the best thing to do in Africa is to evacuate those in Tunisia that you can by air to Sicily, and retreat the rest to Tripoli in hopes of preventing them from sweeping you out of Africa, as the only good your men in Tunisia will do now is act as a speed bump for maybe 7 turns.

JimmyC wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2019 3:43 am Once he takes Tunisia he can just ignore any troops remaining in NA as long as he leaves enough forces for its defence (which the Mareth line is perfect for). So i would throw everything at Tunisia to hold it for as long as possible. You will get the prestige each turn for holding it, plus hold off Husky for longer. Also, I dont see the point of having your forces at Tobruk. You should ship them back to Europe or head them to Tunisia.

Guys, these are the right questions.
I will write my vision of the situation at that time in the next post
(almost always I use the notes I made during the turn I’m writing about in the AAR, this is not post-knowledge, but an assumption and assessment of that time)

About evacuation by air, as you can see in the last screenshot, the McGuba blocked the airfield with its air reconnaissance aircraft.
And he is almost invulnerable.

Turn 61
December 9, 1943
Weather: Snow and Frozen

Strategic map
No prestige!
Strategic analysis

In Africa
Our analysis shows that we will not be able to keep Tunis.
And the enemy will be able to start landing in Sicily and then in Italy.
It will probably be at the same time as the D-Day landing.
We have no power to stop this advancement.

We are not planning an evacuation from Tunis.
Because the enemy is obviously blocking all sea transport routes.
Therefore, the troops were ordered to hold on to the last.
Evacuation will not be!

Our troops in Tobruk were ordered to begin withdrawal to Benghazi.
And they will try a chance to evacuate to Greece.
Although probably the enemy also blocks the fleet and this way.
These troops would be useful in France.

In the Middle East
Our troops will try to still capture at least one oil field.
And then they will start to exit.
The option with the exit in the direction of Syria is no longer possible, probably the enemy left fortified ports there.
And also superiority in the fleet will not allow evacuation.
Another option is to break through the dunes to the north. But it is very slow.
And if the weather improves, then the enemy will not be difficult to detect our units from the air.
And block the way using the road.
Another option is to go along the Euphrates, capture Mosul and move north.
But there will probably be strong resistance and the troops will not be able to get through.

We have to admit that the campaign to seize Iraq oil did not bring the planned benefits. And crashed.
Given the fact that in this game, the prestige reward is 2 times lower than it would be in a regular game.
For 3 oil fields only 75 prestige per turn will be obtained. What is less than the cost of rebuilding troops.
It’s another thing if you managed to control 3 oil fields at once, you would get 1500 prestige reward.

Russia
Although we took the main VP in Russia a long time ago.
The enemy using partisan tactics and the fact that we do not have enough troops to cover all the VP.
It delays this battle and it goes into a protracted one.
It is not known how much time and resources will be required to search for and destroy each (!) Soviet unit.

Perhaps we should think about the withdrawal of all troops to France.

The general situation is that we cannot achieve victory in Russia even if we capture the last VP in Astrakhan.
Partisan units will be active all the time.
We will need to leave a substantial contingent of troops. What we can not do.

At the same time, even if we could keep Tunisia and prevent the landing in Italy.
We will not be able to hold D-Day.
And with these forces the Allies will invade Germany.
But maybe we can keep Berlin and some part of East Germany ... Draw ...


Norway
Our fleet began to move towards Trondheim.
The enemy uses air reconnaissance.
France
We found enemy submarine and Liberty transport in the western part of the strait.
And in the eastern part of the strait mine-laying ship.

The Command recognizes that the enemy submarine has taken a very good position in the narrow strait area.
McGuba did the same in another paired game.

Torch
Obviously the enemy is regrouping.
Torch - Air
Aviation is waiting for better weather.
Africa
Our forces in Tobruk were ordered to start evacuation.

Iraq
Opponent occupied Baghdad.
Our units march toward Basra.
And our tactical bomber went back to Russia.
Balkans
For Thessaloniki is a fight.

North
Lost parisans showed up near Vologda.
This means that there is no threat to Petrozavodsk.
But I had to return the artillery to destroy the partisans.
Centre
While it is snowing the troops do not receive further orders.
The enemy has a large number of tanks in the Ufa area.
And we only have infantry. South
The enemy has disappeared.
It is not known what hides the snow.
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Turn 62
December 24, 1943
Weather: Snow and Frozen

Strategic map
No prestige!
Norway
We are escorting Tirpitz.
Probably we have not yet discovered, but the enemy bomber hangs over Trondheim.
France
Our submarines entered the strait.
The enemy continues to demine.

Torch
The Allies went to the assault on the last line of defense.
They use the fleet for artillery support.
One transport is still trying to escape to Italy.
Africa
Units began to move.
Evacuation from Tobruk is impossible for a city in a naval blockade.
Benghazi captured by the enemy!
Iraq
Baghdad captured by the enemy.
Our units retreat to Basra.
All the same, we are storming the oil field.
Then we will try to break through to the Caucasus through the desert.
Although there is almost no chance because of the speed ...

Balkans
Here is the Soviet Mig(!)
North
Units overstrengthened. Reinforced long-range artillery unit.
The partisans are trying to seize Vologda!
Centre
In the north, the troops went over to the defensive.
Some units began to move to the railway stations to go west.
--
Table of contents

Turn 63
January 8, 1944
Weather: Cloudy and Frozen

Strategic map
Norway
Tirpitz enters the bay.
The air is under our control.
France
When the weather is good. Allied aircraft does not allow our submarines to act.

Torch
The enemy has so far suspended the offensive.
And we moved back to 1 hex.
We strike with an air attack and shoot down several enemy planes.

Allied destroyer encounter minefield between Italy and Sicily
Tripoli blocked by enemy submarine.
The Command decided not to continue the evacuation. Unit needed in combat.
It is worth fighting, not running!
Africa
That spotted the enemy tank.
Unfortunately, our intentions are not a secret for the enemy either.
Egypt
No forces were detected here.
They all went to Iraq that in general is no longer news to us.
Well when intelligence can be performed on time.
It may be worthwhile to evacuate the Expeditionary Force through Egypt.
But air support on land and further enemy fleet dismiss this option.

Iraq
Captured all possible VP.
To the north from Basra the enemy Sherman appeared.
So the northern route of withdrawal is blocked.

North
Enemy aviation appeared over Arkhangelsk
Now we need another anti-aircraft unit to cover the artillery.
Centre
The Soviets launched a massive offensive using a large number of tanks!
And they crushed our northern group.
In the center of the enemy uses a heavy tank KV, but the defense to hold tight.
And we fought them back.
South
We are searching for the enemy.
--
Table of contents

Turn 64
January 23, 1944
Weather: Cloudy and Frozen

Strategic map
Strategic map - Air
The main part of our aviation is concentrated in Africa.
The other part is in Norway and Russia.
Germany is empty.
Norway
Mission Complete. Tirpitz in Trondheim, under the air cover.
The fleet returns to base.

France
The enemy transferred more destroyers to the strait.
It seems the battle will end in not our favor
Torch
The Allies launched another assault.
The battle is very fierce.
A huge fleet of Allies provides them with very strong artillery support.
Our aviation strikes them, but due to cloudiness, the impact efficiency is low.
The last port is blocked by an enemy submarine.

Torch - Air
We shoot down a certain number of Allied aircraft.
According to statistics, 1 fighter and 3 bomber ... (but maybe one bomber was shot down in Norway or Russia).

Africa
Destroyer gets hit by battleship.
Iraq
The enemy takes our troops in a box. From the West, too, the enemy appeared.

North
The Soviets transferred a lot(!) of aircraft and began air raids on our artillery.
Centre
Gorky is preparing for defense.
The enemy blocked the bridge with a river monitor.
And the tank broke through to Ulyanovsk.
In the north in the forests one unit of our infantry holds all-round defense.
In the center of the enemy defeated and retreated.
South
Found Soviet halftrack.
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Turn 65
February 7, 1944
Weather: Clear and Frozen

Strategic map
Norway
Partisans spotted.
France
Our submarines are partially sunk.
In general, it was not the best idea
Although she probably slowed a little demining.

Torch
We continue to hold the defense.
Our troops are fighting defensively and inflicting heavy losses on the enemy in the current difficult situation.
The enemy withdraws his battered units to recover.
Torch - Air
In the air every turn, we also shoot down many enemy planes. (I do not remember the exact amount)
Encircled the enemy fighter which we did not have time to shoot down.
Iraq
See if we can break through to the north.

North
Began artillery duel.
Centre
The enemy is trying to break through. The battles take place on the whole front.
But in the East, things are going well.
South
Enemy halftrack has disappeared.

Loss analysis

Previous (t=60) data for comparison viewtopic.php?f=145&t=89711&start=260#p780222

There are no major changes.
In addition, we are losing more ships, probably due to submarines.
As well as the Allies increased losses in the bombers.


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