Slitherine

Turn 16. 6/27/1940 Axis.

1. The airborne hold onto London and only lose 1 more step during my opponent's turn. London is captured almost intact and immediately provides supply level 5, full repair capability, 2 additional rail points and 9(of10) x 50% (captured) x 110% (war effort) = 5 PP's per turn. More importantly, the British's income is reduced by 10 PP's and rail capacity by 2 per turn.

2. Guderian is moved to Belgium to take command of things from there.

3. 3 infantry invasion transports are sent north and south of Norwich (southeast England), supported by the KM.

4. 1 garrison transport is sent on a high risk mission off the coast of Liverpool.

(Not shown). 2 of the 3 German u-boat flotillas make it into the English Channel. 1 attacks the RN CV in port.

5. Looks like my opponent is on the move in North Africa. Well, there isn't much I can do about that.

Turn 17. 7/17/1940 Axis.

I messed up and didn't get the post turn screen cap for England so I'll have to talk to the pre turn screen cap for what I did this turn in England.

1. The 7-step infantry corps in London and the 5-step airborne division just north were both repaired back to full strength (i.e., 10-steps). It's really nice capturing a capital nearly intact. The Luftwaffe pounds the 9-step UK infantry corps northwest of London down to red (single number) efficiency. This ensures that the only units capable of attacking London with reasonable efficiency will have to attack across the Thames.

2. The 2 infantry invasion transports north of Norwich land. Supported by the Luftwaffe the southern one forces the garrison southwest of Norwich to retreat. He occupies that hex.

3. The 3rd infantry invasion transport was reduced to 1-step. It flees from the battle and into the Kiel canal to safety.

4. The garrison invasion transport is sent to the bottom. Well at least it diverted RN and RAF resources away from the main effort.

5. German u-boats and Luftwaffe hit the RN BB blocking access to London. Also, the UK sub group was attacked by air.

6. All German and Italian air units are moved into Belgium and northeast France. They will support ground attacks of the force in England and pound the RN where ever possible.

By the way, I think I forgot to mention last post that the RAF fighter unit forced from London 2 turns ago was destroyed.

7 Apparently, my invasion of southern England and the captured of London has done nothing to stop my opponents effort in North Africa. He invades Syria this turn.

8. And the British 8th army is moving at full speed into Libya.

9. The 3 German u-boat flotilla headed back to help out in the channel spots 2 UK transports. It'll be interesting to see where they're headed.

That was a little clever maneuver, catching your opponent with his pants down at the perfect moment!

Well done! BTW does Germany really get supply level 5 in England, if it holds London? I thought it only got supply 3 overseas, or does holding the UK's capital change this?

Thus are the fortunes of war! I hope this success will not delay your buildup for the East.

oxford_guy wrote:Well done! BTW does Germany really get supply level 5 in England, if it holds London? I thought it only got supply 3 overseas, or does holding the UK's capital change this?

Major capitals give supply level 5.

AC67 wrote:Thus are the fortunes of war! I hope this success will not delay your buildup for the East.

I thought about this and I've determine not let it interfere with my plans in the east and in the Balkans too. With respect to the Soviet Union, I have to take them on. This campaign in England means my oil levels won't be where I want them. So I plan to adapt my strategy to rely more on mechs and less on armor. I need to invade and conquer Yugoslavia on time for the additional troops and oil.

Though I've given up North Africa, it's worth the trade to have my opponent involved there versus countering my invasion in England.

I would have been tempted just to stick with the PARA and the CORPS with asmuch air support as you coould spare from your plan.That option means you aren't really defelcting much from your strategy and you heavily impact the Brits - London alone is a big loss

Turn 18. 8/6/1940 Axis.

1. The UK transports spotted last turn by UF-2 were headed to England to counter my invasion. I suspect they were headed to North Africa before this game was turned upside down.

2. The 2 infantry corps that landed by seaborne invasion have linked up with London and now are at supply level 5. The city of Birmingham is no threatened.

3. The KM DD was reduced to 1-step, was order from the battle and sailed through the Kiel canal to safety. An RN BB was sunk by the combined efforts of the Luftwaffe, Italian airforce and German u-boats. A German infantry transport was rushed in to land (hopefully) next turn.

4. Guderian was pulled out and Rundstedt moved in to take command of the Luftwaffe. Note that the entire Luftwaffe and Italian airforce are supported the attack on southern England, including RN surface and sub units in the Dover Straits. Three UK corps next to the invasion pocket were pound down to orange / red efficiency by axis air.

5. My plans for a September 1940 invasion of Yugoslavia and for a May 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union proceeds. Though, greatly modified due to the resources devoted to "Sea Lion".

6. Syria falls.

7. Libya comes unit attack. I'd rather have those resources in North Africa than facing the axis in Britain.

8. Germany purchases a badly needed 4th TAC.

Turn 19. 8/26/1940 Axis.

The Germans land another corps in England bringing their forces there up to 4 corps, 1 airborne and commanded by Schorner (+1 defense, in London). Mussolini wants in the action and has an Italian transport lined up to land. The German landing this turn cost 35 PP's, as Germany has exceed their invasion capability of 2. However; they have established a landing route that, since units are landing in a controlled hex, won't cost any invasion points. I've positioned the German u-boats to give the allies only one shot at the undefended transport and prevent the transport from "retreating" so its unit can land.

The Germans expanded their pocket by capturing Birmingham. That's a loss of another 3 PP's per turn for the Brits. Note that the UK only has supply level 3, which means its infantry corps can only move 3. This means that the corps directly north of the Nottingham rail depot can capture that depot, but can't in the hex south of the depot due to German zoc.

The Germans bought a 5th TAC this turn. Also, the 2nd Vienna awards occurred, which means Yugoslavia will be invaded next turn.

What a blunder. This is the first time I saw someone stationing an air unit in London and keeping the other hexes open :O. You exploited it perfectly, even though you didn't even plan in advance to perform the Sea Lion. Now that's what I call the target of opportunity . Great job .

I have a feeling the Allied player wasn't aware of the changes we did in GS v3.0. We added rules so air units very often retreat if attacked by a ground unit, even from cities and fortresses. With the old rules the air unit would never have retreated and then the paratrooper would have been gobbled up by the UK units stationed in England.

Stauffenberg wrote:I have a feeling the Allied player wasn't aware of the changes we did in GS v3.0. We added rules so air units very often retreat if attacked by a ground unit, even from cities and fortresses. With the old rules the air unit would never have retreated and then the paratrooper would have been gobbled up by the UK units stationed in England.

Borger, my opponent should had been familiar with this rule. Though, he may not have had any (or much) experience with the application. Through hotseat play and PBEM games with other opponents (not this game or opponent), I've used airborne on the first turn of Case Yellow to drop behind the Maginot line attack RAF or French air units too close to the German lines. This tactic is especially effective against air units that were counter-intercepted, by Luftwaffe fighters, during the German attack on Belgium. The German FJR then drops, inflicts 2 to 3 more step losses on the allied air unit and forces it to retreat. If the allied air unit can be forced to retreat to a base with range of other Luftwaffe fighters then more losses can be inflicted on it. Using this tactic I've been able to to knock a 10-step RAF fighter down to 3-steps on the initial turn of Case Yellow.

So it was from that specific application that I knew the power of using airborne to attack air units at their base and in all cases that I remember seeing that air unit retreat. I guess the important part that I remembered too was that air units will now retreat from cities.

Turn 20. 9/15/40 Axis.

This turn will be covered in two posts. This first post will focus on the actions and the second post on economics. So General Keitel, the Minister of War, will cover this first post and Albert Speer, Minister of Armaments, will cover the second one. Not really; but if this were reports on those subjects from the time then I'd expect the reports to come from those two or their staff.

1-3. The fragile doorway for bringing more troops into England remains open and working. Two additional u-boat flotillas (2 & 3) were deployed and will immediately into action to keep it open and attack RN warships in the area.

4. To break the blockade of the Chatham (southeast of London) and keep it open, the port the Germans repair the badly damaged DD squadron back to 4-steps and over the next 2 turns will repair it back to full strength AND build a second DD squadron.

5. The Germans, not supported by the Italians, are making slow but steady progress in building a defensive pocket hinged on London, and hopefully soon Chatham. As long as I can hold onto London I will continue to reinforce and expand this pocket. Though, the Brits outnumber my troops on the ground, the Luftwaffe acting as a force multiplier, especially in the absence of UK air (only 1 fighter), and turns this battle greatly in the favor of the axis. So far the troops committed consist of 4 German corps, 1 airborne, 3 fighters, 3 TACs, 1 strat, 5 u-boats, 1 Italian corps (with a second positioned to land), fighter and TAC. I do see additional infantry / mech corps being deployed in England; but no more air other than what's already there.

6. Yugoslavia is invaded and my plan for a May 13, 1941 (turn 32) invasion of the Soviet Union is still in effect. There are 11 turns left (not counting this turn) to build what I need for Barbarossa, England and the defense of Italy (especially Sicily).

7. By the way, the 8th army continues their advance across Libya. This is indeed the strangest game that I've played as the axis. But; I have to say I'm thoroughly enjoying myself. I just need to take enough advantage of the blunder my opponent made and hurt England enough to make it count; but without weakening my attack into the Soviet Union.

Now for the economic news on the war front.

8 & 9. I'm not letting all this activity get in the way of research.

10. Since the start of the war the estimated total losses, expressed in the currency of the game, for Germany is 572 PP's, Italy is 55 PP's and Britain is 559 PP's. To understand the impact of this invasion of Britain the estimated losses since the Fall of France are 359 and 53 PP's for German and Italy, or 412 PP's total, versus 459 PP's for Britain. The loss of an additional 412 PP's to the axis war economy before going into to the Soviet Union isn't trivial; however the loss of an additional 459 PP''s for Great Britain has to be having an dire effect on them. The German losses are offset, somewhat, by the additional income for London and Birmingham while the UK losses are magnified by the same.

11. (not shown). This turn is done. There are 11 turns, counting next turn, to Barbarossa. The German income is approximately 96 PP's/turn and the Italians is 23. This translates into a total economy of 1056 PP's for Germany and 253 PP's for Italy between now and the invasion of the Soviet Union. The summary of all the requests from the various commands and research centers between now and then for new builds for German is: 5 mech, 1 arm, 3 fighters, 1 TAC, 1 DD, 5 corps, 2 labs, 3 HQ units and for Italy is: 2 mech, 1 fighter and 1 HQ unit. Built into these requests is just 1 new armor build due past and expected future to the diversion of oil and PP's to fight in England.

In summing the costs for these request, Albert came to the totals of 1335 PP's for Germany and 235 PP's for Italy. Even without PP's for repairs and transport the German requests are 26% OVER the forecast German war economy. The Italian requests are better. They're 7% under the forecast Italian war economy. However; there will be need for repairs and other incidentals that will make these numbers worse.

Turn 21. 10/5/1940 Axis.

1. Well, despite the detailed economic planning by Albert, the Germans (and axis) only manage to purchase the 2nd DD squadron. All other income for this turn went to badly needed repairs of units at the front in England.

2. And, axis oil levels are in the tank (pun intended). I typically have over 900 oil points when I invade Russia. I'll be lucky to have 500. On the up side, I won't have the huge armor force that I usually have to keep fueled. If you call that an upside. Or, how is that for finding the silver lining?

3. Decent progress was made in stabilizing the "London" pocket. Weather was fair so a 2nd Italian corps was landed. An Italian mech is queued up to land next turn if the weather stays fair (75% chance).

4. A 4th German TAC was deployed. This TAC is slated for the eastern front. However; it will support operation in the west (against England) for the remainder of this fighting season (i.e., as long as the weather is fair).

5. A 6th u-boat flotilla was deployed in Bremen.

6. I missed conquering Yugoslavia by 1-step. Not really unexpected given this invasion was conducted with minimum air support. The only air attack, thus far, was conducted by the Hungary fighter whos lost 1-step and accomplished nothing, not even dropping the efficiency of the Belgrade defenders by 1%!.

7. In the Med, I missed sinking an RN BB squadron by 1-step! The odds were with me to sink it until the end. I hope to keep track of it, chase it down and sink it. I have to image (hope) that my opponent's economy can't keep up with the losses he's sustaining on land, in the air and at sea. He's got to be skipping something and I expect it might be research, though I have nothing to indicate so. Well, one thing I have noticed is the absence of any UK leaders. The only one I've seen is Auchinleck (the at start UK leader) and I sent him packing a few turns back. I don't recall for how long so like a bad penny, he'll show back up. Not having leaders does hurt his troops efficiency and makes it easier to bomb them into red.

You need to make the Italians man Sardinia and Sicily soon since Libya will be overrun in 5-6 turns max.

The Allies won't have much air cover since Vichy France is neutral. Maybe the Allies will go after Vichy before USA join the Allies?

Stauffenberg wrote:You need to make the Italians man Sardinia and Sicily soon since Libya will be overrun in 5-6 turns max.

Already started. I have 2 Italian corps and 3 garrisons stationed in Sicily. I plan to bring in German corps and more Italian corps to Sicily and Reggio. I do need to reinforce Sardinia though.

Stauffenberg wrote:The Allies won't have much air cover since Vichy France is neutral. Maybe the Allies will go after Vichy before USA join the Allies?

Maybe ... but I don't see how Britain has the income to do this and fight in England. Also, the RN has been bloodied; though there isn't much in the Med I can do if he decides to bring overwhelming naval force there. But; the Atlantic is a different story.

Turn 22. 10/24/1940 Axis.

1. The weather in central Europe remains fair, which allows me to land the Italian mech. I also expand the pocket a bit taking advantage of axis zoc and the allies reduced movement due to supply level 3 in England. I do wish I had 2 additional corps units in the pocket; but I'm afraid bad weather (75% next turn) is coming and will shut down my transport into England. I decided not to move a transport in that "door" to risk unnecessary step losses for a 25% of being able to unload next turn. Though, to keep that door available I move a German u-boat flotilla there, which prevents the allied player from moving a second sub group in that hex.
2. u-boats sink an RN DD. And (not shown) the KM DD is repaired back to full strength and will be back in the battle in 2-turns.
3. The 5th TAC is deployed. Like the 4th it's slated for the eastern front but will support the axis in the west until the fighting season is over.
4. No new builds (again) except of badly needed garrisons (5 of them). I will deploy them both to Italy and France to free up the more useful German and Italian infantry corps.
5. Belgrade is captured and Yugoslavia surrenders. My opponent during his turn opted to repair the 1-step infantry corps in Belgrade back to 4-steps. It took infantry attacks from a Romania and German infantry corps to finish him off. Personally, I would have opted to move the corps adjacent to the city and rail in the 10-step garrison adjacent to Split. That would have made this final attack more difficult and would cost the allied player nothing (but 2 rail points).
6. The Italian navy saw tracks of the fleeing RN BB squadron headed west. My assumption was that he was rushed to Malta. However; he was fleeing to the west at top speed to Gibraltar, I assume. The 2nd Italian sub ground found him and their DD squadron finished him off. So the RN lost 2 fleet elements this turn (a DD in the Atlantic and a BB in the Med). Surely to goodness this is making a difference.

Turn 23. 11/14/1940 Axis.

(Not Shown). The weather was fair in central Europe and I took advantage of it this turn to clean up a bit in the London pocket and in the channel. Another RN DD was sunk.

1. The fully repaired KM DD squadron is steaming through the Kiel canal and will be ready for action next turn.

2. The "hole" next to port Chatham actually contains a hidden UK sub group. I tried moving one of my sub groups there but the game wouldn't let me. Though the game would let me move a sub group to the port itself. Next turn I plan to "ran" the KM DD into the "hole". This should reveal the hidden UK sub group. What I'm interested in seeing is where will it displace the DD squadron to? My hope is to port Chatham where it can alternate between repairing and attacking the UK sub group until this cursed blockade is broken.

(Not shown). Finally a buy for Barbarossa. The German paid for their 4th fighters.

Turn 24. 12/4/1940 Axis.

1. RATS ... the DD bounced back outside of the u-boat screen. I'll just have to keep this up.

2. The buildup of defenses on Sicily continues.

3. I also need to reinforce Sardinia.