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

[Plaid]

This turn allies invaded Syria, but the place holds much to my surprise. In normal game 2 turn conquest of Syria will make little or no difference, but now means that this corps and mech will not be in Egypt for two turns atleast and it is good for our plans.



Forward elements of italian desert army crosses Egypt border and approach Mersa Martuh. Question is if El Alamein defensive lina manned at all. If answer is no it simplifies things a lot.
Parked RM elements in Messe's command range. RN intervention is welcome - with air support we should have upper hand here.



Greece invasion preparations are also finished and Manstein assigned. Next turn we go. Luftwaffe strategic bombers are ready to support campaign or bomb Malta port in emergency case (if I need 5 more supply points for say 2nd german TAC).

[Morris]

Attack Greece in winter ? It will take much casualty . But It will depends on How many British involved .

[Plaid]

Greece is in "always fair" weather zone. Clear hexes atleast.

[Plaid]

British finish off Syria finally.
Even more, looks like Victor sent away some surface ships, as I get +10 african supply. Good, good...

Our MED campaign starts with Greece being invaded.





Italians enter Mersa and much to my surprise noone guards El-Alamein bottleneck. Its just great for our intensions - this is best defensive position in Egypt for allies.
Probably noone just expects us - how long ago did you see axis being agressive in NA last time? (I mean with traditional strategy - no Spain activation or Sealion).



And here is picture of convoy situation in Atlantic. Central convoy looks well protected, but southern one looks ... promising. It will be hard to spot it in rough seas next turn though.



2 more garrisons drafted for Germany this turn. In 3.0 its really important to garrison occupied countries properly - rail depots provide minimal (i.e. level 1) supply to partisans and if you let them entrench there, you will be forced to use good units (and suffer casualties) to smoke them out. Better buy some garrisons, then face it.
Since early Barbarossa is not the case here, we will mostly save PPs for now - will purchase upgraded units later.

[Plaid]

This turn I tryed to search for central convoy, as planned, but found unescorted transport instead. It is likely to be garrison, but still reasonable target - single sub attack reduced it to 5 steps. Probably attacking convoy would give more damage in PP terms, but I found it only with 3rd attempt, meaning I had little choice.



Greek troops launched some counterattack with bad results (for them).



In our turn we smash Greek resistance and panzers reach Athens outskirts. By the way looks like RN Mediterranean task force is evacuated completely, so I will be more agressive with italian navy here.



More surprises - Alexandria is empty. Still no sight of 8th army.



This turn Barbarossa preparations finally started - payed for SS upgrade for my remaining mech (still have only 1) and purchased 3 panzer korps. Also purchased UF 6.

[Cybvep]

This is interesting. I guess that Vokt concentrated his defences around Port Suez, as he figured that his forces would be overrun quickly. The fun fact is that your Germans forces in the NA are not that big. 2 ARMs and some air units, including only one TAC. I think that you will manage to conquer Egypt, because it's easy to encircle Cairo and without the RN in the Med, you will even be able to provide some naval support near Suez.

[Plaid]

This is interesting. I guess that Vokt concentrated his defences around Port Suez, as he figured that his forces would be overrun quickly. The fun fact is that your Germans forces in the NA are not that big. 2 ARMs and some air units, including only one TAC. I think that you will manage to conquer Egypt, because it's easy to encircle Cairo and without the RN in the Med, you will even be able to provide some naval support near Suez.

Sadly I don't know how to quickly overrun allied defenses in Alamein bottleneck - it is very solid position to defend, even with weaker force.

I actually have 2 TACs in Egypt (1 italian and 1 german) and ready to redeploy whatever additional airpower is needed from Greece and Italy. Have 10 spare supply points now and strategic bomber based in Rhodes (it is also in range).

[Cybvep]

Sadly I don't know how to quickly overrun allied defenses in Alamein bottleneck - it is very solid position to defend, even with weaker force.

What is important here is what Vokt thinks, not what you really know and don't know . Anyway, maybe he will comment on the issue later.

[Plaid]

Probably transport was not garrison, as it is heading to the MED. What's the poing bringing garrison there?



Desert force keep advancing forward, capturing Alexandria (undefended) and reaching Cairo outskirts.
Suez defenses of 3 corps and egyptian garrison spotted. We can handle it.



Greeks surprised me this turn. I left my TAC airbase open to Salonika GAR attack, assuming that they either will not leave fortress at all or will do 0-1 steps of damage. To my surprise they did 2. Painful, but nothing major.

Probably because of this TAC being damaged Athens hold at 2 steps (defenders were repared back to full strength during allied turn). Most likely will fall next turn.



Purchased 3rd infantry lab for Germany.

[Plaid]

Another surprise from 8th army - they flee from Suez line.
Probably Victor thinks, that I want to launch serious campaign here and go for Middle East oil?



Thats not the case. Axis troops occupie Suez and start to entrench. I think soldiers of desert army are happy - their campaign turned out to be tour trip - no single bullet was shot here. I don't want to go for middle east at all, since allied MED forces are also unharmed and will have full supply in Iraq.



Greece also surrenders.



Together it means reasonable +10 morale boost for italian troops (equal to 1st +2nd level of organisation upgrade - roughly same morale, as UK units have now).

And another convoy sunk this turn.



Allied escorts are probably busy covering transports going to the MED to reinforce 8th army. Or they are just escorting other convoys, who knows.

This turn Germany starts building 4th TAC bomber.

[Cybvep]

If you focus all your efforts on Barbarossa now, I think that you will make a good one. It would be a rather unique situation in CEAW. I cannot remember when was the last time when somebody tried to take Egypt and was active in the Atlantic in the standard 1941 Barbarossa scenario.

[Plaid]

No action this turn. Starting to transfer Luftwafee from Egypt to Europe. Need to replace offensive forces here with defensive ones step by step.



Barbarossa build up is now in full progress, will be launched on June 2 or 22, depends. On this screen you also can see axis build queue.

[Plaid]

Only convoy attack this turn - another 10 PPs :



Here are pictures of Barbarossa build up:

[Plaid]

If you focus all your efforts on Barbarossa now, I think that you will make a good one. It would be a rather unique situation in CEAW. I cannot remember when was the last time when somebody tried to take Egypt and was active in the Atlantic in the standard 1941 Barbarossa scenario.

I will focus on Barbarossa anyway, as no other campaign is flanned in the nearest future. Question is how strong will it be. Looks like this day everyone starts in May or even April, while I plan going in June.

[Cybvep]

May is pretty common, but TBH I think that you can do much damage even if you start in June and it's almost impossible to take Moscow in 1941, anyway (you can take Leningrad if you are lucky). IMO taking territory is a secondary goal during Barbarossa. As long as you destroy many units, you should be fine and you will be in position to do even more damage in 1942.

[Plaid]

This turn 14 PP convoy finished off, as expected. Still no sight of allied escorts.



RAF starts their bombing campaign early this time. Couple of luftwaffe fighters will handle it for now.



Rebellion started in Iraq, but since we are not going there, it will be just a diversion.

Recruited Guderian this turn and purchased one more mech for Germany.

[Morris]

If you focus all your efforts on Barbarossa now, I think that you will make a good one. It would be a rather unique situation in CEAW. I cannot remember when was the last time when somebody tried to take Egypt and was active in the Atlantic in the standard 1941 Barbarossa scenario.

I will focus on Barbarossa anyway, as no other campaign is flanned in the nearest future. Question is how strong will it be. Looks like this day everyone starts in May or even April, while I plan going in June.

To start Babarrosa in June is ok , your progress will depends on the scale of Babarrosa & the strategy of USSR's defence . But with more pp from Greece & Eygpt & the morale bonus for Italians , you are in quite good position of this pbem . Babarosa is the key of your victory ! Good luck !

[Plaid]

Turn 32 - traditional turn to start early Barbarossa - but it is not the case in this game. We will go on June 2 or June 22 depending of some important techs.

Can't do much about Iraqi rebellion - this partisans will be destroyed soon enough. Canadian mech spotted in this area. Probably allies are stronger then I expected. 2nd luftwaffe fighter will be redeployed to Suez position. Both panzers will stay here aswell - its to late for them to participate in Barbarossa anyway.



RN seems returning to Mediterranean.



RAF bombs Paris. Luftwaffe not going to intercept any bombers within RAF fighter range, as it leads to nothing but coslty FTR vs FTR action.



And another moderate convoy sunk.

[Kragdob]

Now you know where was all the escort.

[Plaid]

Now you know where was all the escort.

If you mean Gibraltar, these are capital ships originally based in the Mediterranean, not escorts.