Slitherine

Turn 20 - 15 September 1940

Oh dear that was an ill-considered move, two of Franks u-boats intercept the unescorted convoys! Doing some serious damage but not destroying them. He must have spotted me moving them! The BEF transport convoy retreats to Liverpool, whence it came. The Canadian Mech Corp heads due west where there are a couple of BBs. They will now have to engage in escort duty for the transports.

Norway succumbs in a 'coup de main'.

Hungary joins Axis

In Frank's turn report from OKW ........Fieldmarshall Göring has started "Adlertag" or "Eagleday" for our british comrades.. Admiral Raeder has shifted the mighty Kriegsmarine into the channel and 3 german Korps have reached the british coast in preparation for the final landings in Britain. The liberation has begun and "Seelöwe" or "Sealion" has begun. Has Churchill made a big mistake by sending his troops to North Africa instead to defend the british island?

Methinks Frank has thought I've sent everything in the UK to Africa, but there are still 4 corps still in England. Besides, Sealion in September, and straight after using two invasion points on Norway. This is a bluff! However he did move his Baltic fleet DD to Antwerp. I move my sub, now renamed "Hornblower squadron" to Norwich in case there is diversionary invasion launched.

A 11PP convoy arrives, the US & Soviets buy 1 industry tech each.

I get ready to invade Syria.

Turn 21 - 5 October 1940

Mud descends on Central Europe.

My lone transport in the Atlantic goes south with it's BB escorts.

I'm tempted again to send some more transports to N.Africa from the UK, but decide instead to escort a 68PP convoy which is near Ireland.

I attack Syria, but Damacus holds out at 2 steps. Damn I forgot to move desert air force last turn, that may have made a difference.

Frank's Baltic fleet is now in Cherbourg.

I purchase Montgomery for the Middle East. Yay! First time I've ever purchased him.

Turn 22 - 25 October 1940

Yugosalvia invaded by Germans and Italians. This explains the lack of activity by Italians, they were waiting to invade Yugoslavia from the West. I surmise Frank will be using the Italians in Russia rather than the Med.



Damascus taken and Syria is liberated. Last turn Frank had attacked my CV which was supporting the Damascus operation. So the Desert airforce was able to bomb it, and I then re-based the CV to Cyprus.



Field Marshall Montgomery arrives in Alexandria.

Turn 23 - 14 November 1940

UK develops industry & subs to level 1.

The 62PP convoy arrives safely in Britain.

Belgrade holds out, but Zagreb falls. I repair Belgrade 3 steps to 5-steps in the hope it may hold out to next turn, or take Frank three attacks to take it.



The UK buys an Inf lab.

Turn 24 - 4 December 1940

Yugoslavia was captured by the Germans and Rumania joins the Axis.

There is some convoy action with the US-spawned convoy attacked, and the Northern-most convoy destroyed, again!



A RAF unit in cornwall also attacks a Luftwaffe STR based near Brest with a 1 step damage swap.

The UK buys an Air lab and the US buys Naval tech. I don't want the UK to lag behind in technology.

In regards to the upcoming Russian campaign, what do most Allied players do?
1. Wait until Germany declares war and then purchase Russian units
2. When Soviet troop quality improves in 1941, start purchasing and placing units.
3. Purchase units in 1941, but don't place them until the DOW, so the new units aren't affected bythe DOW efficiency loss?

Buy some infantry corps to place near vulnerable port hexes, and perhaps some of your other cities. Leave others in the building queue. This is because sneaky Axis players sometimes try amphibious landings on the first turn and you will be limited to placing just one unit per city once war is declared. You might also consider building a cheap commander that you can immediately place once war is declared. I like to put some like Timoshenko in Leningrad for instance.

I agree w/ Shawkhan - buy about 4 INF before war. I'd place one or two at Sevastopol at least before war.

I usually buy 2 commanders - Konev, and the guy a little bit cheaper than him with 6 command. Those 2 plus the starting guy give you enough to cover your whole front.

Don't make the mistake of engaging your air force before winter 41 - it will get chewed up.

Turn 25 - 24 December 1940

A 18pp convoy arrives.

Whilst providing escort duty a BB & DD run into u-boats losing 4 & 2 steps respectively and inflicting only 1 damage on each u-boat.


The UK buys an Armour lab

Stats for 1940



Labs
UK - 1 Infatry, 1 Armour, 2 Air, 2 Naval (ASW), 2 General (Industry)
US - 1 Air, 1 Naval, 2 General (Industry)
USSR - 1 Air (Dogfight), 2 General (Industry)

Turn 26 - 13 January 1941

Well Frank has at least 6 subs - so it's definitely not safe in the Atlantic. I guess he focussed on his sub building programem rather than TAC, FTR and ARM early in the war.

My BB & STR attack a u-boat and knock 4 steps off for 1 loss, guess that one will have to go home for repairs.

The Canadians make it to Port Said! They are a well-travelled lot.

The Russians purchase 6 INF to place around ports.

Otherwise very quiet

Turn 27 - 2 February 1941

Another quiet turn

I place some Russian INF units and puchase a STR unit for later use, against Ploesti.

Only one u-boat is visible again, it's "hide'n'seek" in the Atlantic

Egyptian based forces begin to creep forward to scout Italian postions. There has been no movement in the Med, so I guess he may only have his starting troops there, and they have received no re-inforcements yet.

Turn 28 - 22 February 1941

The UK develops level 2 ASW and a 39PP convoy arrives

Frank sinks the damaged DD in Atlantic, I have a rush of blood and let 3 BB's intervene, at least he won't have surprise. But there's a little voice in my head telling me "you'll regret it". I could have sent them to Halifax to upgrade to level 2 ASW.



I buy 1 UK DD to replace the one I lost.

My sub in the Med spots the Greek invasion fleet. I suspect Frank has sufficient air cover to penalise any RN intervention. So instead of attacking the transports I decide to invest Crete. Yes those Canadians are called on again to board ship. Maybe I should reclassify them as Marines! I will dispute Crete with Frank, I don't want the Luftwaffe based there if I can help it, they could be a real thorn in my side in Libya. If Frank decides to invade Crete, I predict it will tie up some Barbarossa-bound forces for 2-3 turns at least, which could be helpful.



My forces in Egypt reach the Libyan border.



I'm wondering if sending the RAF to Rhodes would be a good way to support Crete? Any opinions out there?

I place some Russian INF units and puchase a STR unit for later use, against Ploesti.

Oh man, a few reasons you might not want to do that:
1) Bombing Ploesti in 1941 is not very practical. The Germans should quickly threaten Sevastopol - and your range in 1941 means you need to bomb from Sevastopol area so it's not safe to keep your STR there for long
2) German FTRs will automatically be in position to cover Ploesti in for the first few turns of invasion since they will be hitting your border troops, so you will be intercepted and take very heavy losses to your STR, then by the time the FTRs move fwd point (1) Sevastopol threatened is in effect
3) Russia in 1941 needs to build land units, land units, and more land units. Air units are a complete luxury until survival is assured. Even as you roll into 42 you need to keep producing land units. Maybe slip in a FTR or 2 if things are going well but STR is way beyond what you need to survive and is very hard to actually use effectively.

jjdenver wrote:

I place some Russian INF units and puchase a STR unit for later use, against Ploesti.

Oh man, a few reasons you might not want to do that:
1) Bombing Ploesti in 1941 is not very practical. The Germans should quickly threaten Sevastopol - and your range in 1941 means you need to bomb from Sevastopol area so it's not safe to keep your STR there for long
2) German FTRs will automatically be in position to cover Ploesti in for the first few turns of invasion since they will be hitting your border troops, so you will be intercepted and take very heavy losses to your STR, then by the time the FTRs move fwd point (1) Sevastopol threatened is in effect
3) Russia in 1941 needs to build land units, land units, and more land units. Air units are a complete luxury until survival is assured. Even as you roll into 42 you need to keep producing land units. Maybe slip in a FTR or 2 if things are going well but STR is way beyond what you need to survive and is very hard to actually use effectively.

Hmm, have done this in a previous game, but admittedly against a less capable player than Frank. It's worked well so far, once I let the both STRs regain effectiveness and got a Strat Ops upgrade. But maybe Frank will have a heavier FTR presence. And Sevastapool is invested by the Germans.

I see, ok maybe it will work. You start w/ one bomber already - STR - though.

Turn 29 - 14 March 1941

Bulgaria joins the Axis. Greece is conquered in another coup de main. I've seen this hapepn before so I am not surprised.

My CV sent to support the Crete landings is attacked by an Italian sub, it lost 4 steps and the sub 2. I land the Canadians and send the ships back to port.


My rush of blood last turn has cost me. One of my BB's is destroyed, by a u-boat mega wolf-pack. I didn't adhere to the maxim on fighting on the battleground of your choosing. Until I get some decent ASW tech, I really should limit myself to engaging u-boats only when in range of my STR. So I retreat, one BB flees to Halifax and the other towrds Ireland. For the meantime, until the Yanks show up, I will leave convoys to their fate in the Mid-Atlantic, until they get close to Britain. Well, at least the u-boats took some losses. The US lend Lease DD also showed up this turn, every little bit helps.


The Soviets buy another dogfight lab.

It certainly looks like Frank is on-schedule for a standard Barbarossa starting date.

Turn 30 - 3 April 1941

UK develop Strat ops 1, Radar 2 and Ground support 1

A 31pp convoy arrives, so not everything is getting sunk by the wolf packs, although the convoy left unescorted in the Mid-Atlantic is mauled badly again,

I upgrade the RAF in all theatres and buy a DD


I approach the Italian lines in Libya. With my flank secure (Crete) and the RN still strong in the Med, I'm not overly worried about a flank attack from the sea.

Turn 31 - 23 April 1941

USA develops Industry lev 3 and USSR level 2 in the same

The Mid-Atlantic convoy is slaughtered again. Whilst the u-boats are occupied, feasting on naked prey, I may try another Middle-Eat bound tranpsort from cardiff.

On the Libyan front, it looks like Frank is sending in some re-inforcements, I inch closer to the bottleneck at Torbuk.


I move the Canadian Marines out of the city, they lose their entrenchment, but if I leave the other hexes as Axis controlled it makes it easier for Frank to land troops there if he wishes, as presumably they don't have to pay the invasion costs, as it is their hex.

The US buys another naval lab

Thinking about Crete. Is it a good launching point for a Balkan invasion by the Allies? Has anyone ever attempted invading the Balkans as the Allies?

Hmmm, maybe I should be contemplating Barbarossa right now?

Good move on securing Crete!

Have invaded Albania once, but that was later in game with Barbarossa well under way. Balkans generally are too slow terrain, easy for the Germans to set up defences. However, you might want to look for a Greek invasion if the partisans run wild when Germany is deep into Russia, a good invasion supported by Crete air and you have an instant army (of garrisons, but still). In general though better to focus on knocking the Italians out of the war.

massina_nz wrote:Turn 27 - 2 February 1941

Another quiet turn

I place some Russian INF units and puchase a STR unit for later use, against Ploesti.

Only one u-boat is visible again, it's "hide'n'seek" in the Atlantic

Egyptian based forces begin to creep forward to scout Italian postions. There has been no movement in the Med, so I guess he may only have his starting troops there, and they have received no re-inforcements yet.

I have some good advice if you want to bomb Ploesti in 1941. Its quite easy and almost risk free once Barbarossa has started. The germans have invaded Greece in your game so its perfect. Produce american and engllish STR and land them on the islands just east of greece. Those islands are in range of Ploesti once you get to increase its movement by research. You can then quietly bomb Ploesti to 0 production, and/or force the germans to put 2-3 fighters in the area to defend it.

You will see it will work wonders, if you start early enough the axis war machine will simply stop moving significantly early in 1942 and you will have won the game.

Turn 32 - 13 May 1941

UK buys 1 industry lab

The surrounded convoy in the mid-Atlantic is eliminated. Whilst the bulk of the u-boats are occupied, a troop transport leaves Cardiff in a hurry with a BB in the vanguard.

I sense Barbarossa is imminent so the Soviets buy Konev & Chernyakhovsky & lots of INF corps for placement once Barbarossa occurs. This will be the making and breaking of the game, as so far it has gone pretty standard IMHO.