Blood, toil, tears and sweat - The war is over!

[zechi]

Turn 32 + 33 - MED build up

I get another scientific success:



I also have enough PP to build my 11th British LAB. I also build LABs with USA and USRR. The Red Army is slowly building up with INF, MECH and ARM. The US will builds up her Navy to engage the Axis Sub Threat. However, all SUBs seem to be on repair, since no SUB activity was spotted.

In the MED I move the British Forces under command of Achinleck to the Lybian Border:



My plan is to attack Lybia as soon as Plaid launches Barbarossa. Before I attack I will reinforce my Army with a STR and INF from Britain. Furthermore, a TAC is already in the pipeline and will hopefully reach the MED soon. Last but not least, I bombarded with Egypt FTR Tobruk port and hit the Italian SUB for 3 steps.

[ftgcritt2]

Why do you put your ground units to sleep?

[zechi]

Turn 34 - Operation Barbarossa begins

The real war begun!

Plaid surprises me again. He launched Operation Barbarossa this turn (June 22). I did not expect him to launch it before August. Nevertheless, his Barbarossa is relative weak. However, I will play it by the book, the first few turns I won't be able to counterattack and will prepare a double defensive line.

Situation at the northern front:


Situation at the southern front:



I also expected Plaid to use his best units in the south, to take the Caucasus as fast as possible, but it seems that his best forces are gathered in the north. What is his plan?

British scientist did achieve further success:



I upgraded the Egyptian British Army. Furthermore my STR just landed in the Middle East. It will soon be ready to help with my MED offensive.

[zechi]

Why do you put your ground units to sleep?

I put the units on "sleep" which I will not move this turn. When I shuffle through my units I will not have to shuffle through these Units several times.

[ncali]

I'm not sure I would be thinking too much about the double defensive line. You could assemble motorized and armour forces for a nasty counterattack of your choosing in about 3 turns - in either the north or the south depending on how things develop. I'd probably go with south given the space involved and the forces shown. If you just let him attack as he chooses, then things will actually get much tougher for you in '42 as the improved German economy (thanks to Britain) and lack of pressure from the West lets him build a superior army. I say do some damage while you can and keep as much territory as possible.

[zechi]

Turn 35 - Defense Preparations

I forgot to take screenshots this turn. I further prepared my double line in Russia. The Egytian British Army further advanced on Tobruk as the RAF further attacks the Axis in Lybia. British TAC was placed in Halifax. A British partisan was spawned on one of the British Air Base isles.

[zechi]

You could assemble motorized and armour forces for a nasty counterattack of your choosing in about 3 turns - in either the north or the south depending on how things develop. I'd probably go with south given the space involved and the forces shown. If you just let him attack as he chooses, then things will actually get much tougher for you in '42 as the improved German economy (thanks to Britain) and lack of pressure from the West lets him build a superior army. I say do some damage while you can.

Perhaps I'm a little bit too cautious, but I don't think that I should counterattack so soon. Most of Red Army ARM and MECH have still very low effectivness, Axis Forces have Air superiority and are of better quality. I will counterattack as soon as I see a good possibility.

[zechi]

Turn 36 - On the eve of the Battle for Tobruk


British Forces have finally nearly reached Tobruk. In the meantime RAF and RN soften the Defender up. I got lucky with Air Combat and took this turn no losses and German and Italian FTR took some losses:



I upgraded the STR this turn, because I still lack Manpower with the UK, but soon I will be again in "white level". Two convoys could arrive next turn and still no sign of any SUBs.

In Russia I further prepared my defense line and wait that my forces regain effiency (I forgot to take screenshots). Minor Axis have problems to take some of the Russian frontier cities.

[Rhialto]

I never quite understood why Tobruk should be important. It has 1 pp and controls no oil or access to oil. Do you want it just as a base for invasion of Sicily/Italy later in the game? Even if you do plan these invasions, why not just build up in the Alexandria and Suez area by sending forces via the Suez loop and go from there, using Malta and carrier air cover?

[massina_nz]

It's very important if the Allies want to take Libya, as it forms a chokepoint which is hard to cross. Especially the hex directly to the south of Tobruk, it's a death zone. Of course you could do what you've suggested and just ignore Libya

[zechi]

Turn 37 - Red Army counterattacks

On the southern front I saw an opportunity to counterattack with the Red Army. I destroyed an Italian INF and damaged several other Corps (some took heavy damage



On the northern front I still hold the double line, because of the stronger German forces and most of my forces are still yellow:



The Battle for Tobruk has begun:



I damaged the Tobruk Corps with combined RAF, RN and MECH attack and brought it down to 5 steps. I know of the southern death hex, but I will have to move into it to attack the other German Corps and GAR.

[zechi]

I never quite understood why Tobruk should be important. It has 1 pp and controls no oil or access to oil. Do you want it just as a base for invasion of Sicily/Italy later in the game? Even if you do plan these invasions, why not just build up in the Alexandria and Suez area by sending forces via the Suez loop and go from there, using Malta and carrier air cover?

My primary goal at this moment is not to take Tobruk, but to force Plaid to spend PP and Oil to repair and use his air and ground forces. These PP/Oil will be missing at the Eastern Front. With some chances he will also be tempted to use the Regia Marina, which I could then destroy.

I was tempted to attack directly Sicily, but I think I should wait until US forces reach this theater, because Plaid kann quickly fly some TAC and FTR back to Italy at this moment and bomb me into oblivion (especially in the Winter, were they won't be useful in the East).

Furthermore, UK manpower is still in yellow and my income is relative low, so I intend to put only a little pressure on Plaid in the MED at this moment to further weaken his Barbarossa. If I take Tobruk this year, this would be a nice bonus, but it will not be absolutely necessary.

Last but not least, possession of the Lybian ports is helpful for the invasion of Italy, even if it is not absolutely necessary.

[schwerpunkt]

My primary goal at this moment is not to take Tobruk, but to force Plaid to spend PP and Oil to repair and use his air and ground forces. These PP/Oil will be missing at the Eastern Front. With some chances he will also be tempted to use the Regia Marina, which I could then destroy.

I was tempted to attack directly Sicily, but I think I should wait until US forces reach this theater, because Plaid kann quickly fly some TAC and FTR back to Italy at this moment and bomb me into oblivion (especially in the Winter, were they won't be useful in the East).

Furthermore, UK manpower is still in yellow and my income is relative low, so I intend to put only a little pressure on Plaid in the MED at this moment to further weaken his Barbarossa. If I take Tobruk this year, this would be a nice bonus, but it will not be absolutely necessary.

Sounds like a good plan to me.

[massina_nz]

My primary goal at this moment is not to take Tobruk, but to force Plaid to spend PP and Oil to repair and use his air and ground forces. These PP/Oil will be missing at the Eastern Front. With some chances he will also be tempted to use the Regia Marina, which I could then destroy.

I was tempted to attack directly Sicily, but I think I should wait until US forces reach this theater, because Plaid kann quickly fly some TAC and FTR back to Italy at this moment and bomb me into oblivion (especially in the Winter, were they won't be useful in the East).

Furthermore, UK manpower is still in yellow and my income is relative low, so I intend to put only a little pressure on Plaid in the MED at this moment to further weaken his Barbarossa. If I take Tobruk this year, this would be a nice bonus, but it will not be absolutely necessary.

Sounds like a good plan to me.

I agree, Keep putting pressure on Tobruk, it will consume Axis resources to defend it. I'd stay put of the death zone, because your troops could easily be whittled away.

[zechi]

Turn 38+39 - Battle rages on

I do not have screenshots for these turns, but I hope you have seen both turns in Plaids AAR. Soviets took heavy casualities, but Axis forces also suffered heavy losses. In the Battle for Tobruk British offensive loses momentum.

Turn 40 - Winter in Russia

Winter arrived:



The Battle for Tobruk rages on:


Heavy British losses:


Preparations for US entry of war:


Soviet northern front:


Soviet southern front:

[zechi]

Turn 41 - Winter makes a break

Unexpected fair weather in November gives German Army opportunity to use their strong airforce on the Soviet front:



However, Red Army also counterattacks:



On the southern front Soviet Airforce makes its first appeareance:



British scientist are very succesful:



In the Atlantic frist Soviet convoy reaches occupied Britain:



In the MED nothing happens. Badly damaged BB is withdrawn and British Army repaired:



At the end of my turn Germany declared War on US and US joins the Allied war effort. Siberian reinforcements are sent to Omsk and will soon be ready for my winter offensive.

[zechi]

Turn 42 - Mud stops Soviet offensive

Weather changes to "mud" and there is not much action this turn. However, British and Soviets scientist are succesful



On the northern Soviet front the German Army retreats and leaves Mink. Red Army upgrades its frontline units:


On the southern Soviet front nothing happens. I intend to attack here as soon as severe Winter hits and make a push for Ploesti.



The Battle for Tobruk continues. Repaired British forces go on the offensive:



US Army is also on the way for the MED. However, I'm unsure if I should do Torch. At this moment it seems more reasonable to attack Libya directly with US forces from the rear. Then Tobruk will certainly fall soon. Then I can goo for Sicilia and Italy next.

In the Atlantic Soviet convoy is ambushed near Britain by Kriegsmarine. The convoy is doomed. However, the Soviet income is already very good since Plaid could not conquer many Soviet cities. I get about 130 PP per turn. Near the US coast a German SUB Wolfpack is ambushed by US DD and heavily damaged by US air strikes.

[zechi]

Turn 43 - Severe Winter hits

This turn severe winter hits the Axis forces in the south and Soviets launch their offensive:



On the northern front Plaid retreated the German Army and it was not hit by the SW:



In the MED I will soon get the upper hand as US Army is on its way:

[schwerpunkt]

Zechi,
I recommend that you build some STRs for the US to patrol the US coast against SUBs. DD's are really only useful to sweep but STRs can retaliate. A good axis SUB player like Plaid will position his SUBs ahead of convoys making DDs less effective.
Cheers

Neil

[zechi]

Zechi,
I recommend that you build some STRs for the US to patrol the US coast against SUBs. DD's are really only useful to sweep but STRs can retaliate. A good axis SUB player like Plaid will position his SUBs ahead of convoys making DDs less effective.
Cheers

Neil

I already purchased another STR with the Brits this turn and hope I can buy another one soon.