Slitherine

I think a limited offensive in the fall of 1941 is good. Then you can kill the Russian front line units and make them lose 30 efficiency. Then you can dig-in just outside the Russian core territory.

Stauffenberg wrote:I think a limited offensive in the fall of 1941 is good. Then you can kill the Russian front line units and make them lose 30 efficiency. Then you can dig-in just outside the Russian core territory.

There is a danger with this, if the Allies pick up that there will be a late or weak Barbarossa and the Russians adjust accordingly, they could do some serious damage. I have played atlest 2 games that my opponent did a weak invasion of Russia and the Russains literally walked right over Axis. Look at my AAr against Massina now, also there is another one i did against Aryaman some time ago. Perfect examples on how the Axis get smashed if not careful on the Russian steps...

I have to agree though with Stauffenberg that it is better to do a late/limited Barbarossa than nothing at all, but be careful. Keep your forces together and under Luftwaffe cover, you have to make sure that if the Russians try anything they pay a heavy price....

Crazyg

Point is that the Russians will be activated in October 1941 and can withdraw from the front line to save all units. They don't lose the efficiency either and that means they can attack during the winter.

Turn 28 - Libya reinforced with Luftwaffe units, Axis Army moves towards Gibraltar

I reinforce Libya with two Luftwaffe FTR:



Off the map there are other Luftwaffe units rushing to this theater. I also placed an Italian INF and German INF in spanish ports. They will set sails towards Libya asap. A German ARM will follow. I still wonder were KH placed the Canadian FTR? Perhaps I even sunk it?

In Britain there is almost no resistance at all:



However, the GAR near Norwich is stubborn. Last turn I attacked with a German INF and took 2 steps of damage and this turn again.

In Spain the Axis army moves towards Gibraltar:



2 German TAC will support the offensive, which will be lead by Guderian. I hope that this will not take more then 4 turns. If KH did not build any new ships, the RN should now consist only of a CV, 2 SUBs, 2 BB and a DD, they are all in the Med.

Finally my Lab builds:



and



I'am not very pleased with the work of my German scientists and I hope that especially the Germans will get soon some INF and ARM upgrades.

Now for some stats:



At the end of my turn Bulgaria joined the Axis. I also bought my fourth TAC for Germany at the beginning of my turn.

Turn 29 - Assault on Gibraltar begins, Luftwaffe intervenes in Battle for Tobruk

In Spain the Axis launch their offensive against Gibraltar from land and sea. Luftwaffe will be able to intervene next turn.



In Britian it is business as usual. Several units are loaded on transports and return to the mainland:



Damn Norwich GAR still holds out!

In the Battle of Tobruk the intervention of the Luftwaffe came at the right moment and I inflict heavy causalities on the RAF and RN:



I don't think that KingHunter is handling this battle very well. Normally the British should at least have destroyed some of the Italian units with concentrated attacks, but instead its a stand off. Hopefully next turn I will break it.

Turn 30 - Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica intervene in Battle for Tobruk

KingHunter did a major mistake in the Battle for Tobruk:



Of course I try to destroy the exposed units and have some success:



The RAF survives, but it will be costly for KH to build them back to full strength.

In Spain I continue my offensive:



I noticed something that could be a bug. I took Seville this turn and this gave me +10 points for supplying North Africa? At the beginning I only had 3 supply points left, now I have 13. EDIT: It's not a bug! RN does only have 2 capital ship units in the Med left, so my supply level got a +10 bonus.
In Britain I take Glasgow, Norwich and Belfast:



Aberdeen is still guarded by a GAR. I also move most units back to the main land and begin preparations for Barbarossa. My manpower is 99 %, so I will buy a lot of INF. Is it possible to get above 100 % manpower?

I also move my SUBs toward the North American coast. Hunting time has begun!

Turn 31 - British Army in full retreat near Tobruk, offensive against Gibraltar continues

In the Med the British Army is in full retreat:



Unfortunately my Italian Commando Division will be destroyed on sea. My Italian units also took some losses attacking the British ARM. Especially the Italian MECH took 2 steps without finishing off the ARM with only 1 step. It could be destroyed if the British INF counterattack.

In Spain my advance on Gibraltar continues:



I think it will now take 2-3 turns to bring Gibraltar down, longer then I expected.

I also move more units to the east for Barbarossa. SUBs engage a convoy in the Atlantic.

Turn 32 - Libya reinforced, British on the run, Gibraltar about to fall

In the Med the British retreat:



Next turn I will begin my move on Egypt.

In Spain Gibraltar will most likely fall next turn:



In the Atlantic the hunt has begun:



I also produced another ARM.

Turn 33 - Gibraltar falls, Offensive towards Egypt begins

Finally Gibraltar falls:



Guderian ARM Corps wil be railed to the east next turn. The two German INF attacking Tangier will be transported back and remain in Western Europe for anti partisan duty. Luftwaffe will also fly to the east.

In the Med the pursuit of the British Army begins and the Africa Corps destroys a British INF.



Regia Marina is upgraded and ready for final engagement with the RN.

In the Atlantic my Subs destroy and damage another convoy:

GREAT AAR!! Can't wait until this is released!

I notice there are now paratroops. Does GS 2.0 have elite units in it such as SS and Red Guards also?

Yes

richardsd wrote:Yes

Too cool!

Any chance we could get a demonstration of how the production of elite units works? Can you create SS Panzer Corps?

as far as a demo goes, I am not allowed to show you but one of the 'GS' leaders might be kind enough to do it

Sepp Dietrick is about to lead his Panzer Division into Barbarossa in one of my games

hi SS Panzer Division!

richardsd wrote:hi SS Panzer Division!

Excellent!

So SS and Guards Units will be division strength? Won't that be a lot of extra counters to move around the map instead of if elite units were counted at Corps level? I know the Soviets and Germans often organized their elites into Corps sized units.

they are CORP size, but I named it as '1st SS Panzer Division'

in 2.0 you get a lot more leaders and 'elite' type units to make it a more 'romantic' game

Turn 34 - Attack on Tangier

An quite uneventful turn as most units are moved to the east. I only disembark two INF near Tangier, but they fail to take the city this turn:



In the Med my spearhead units stop their pursuit to wait for the reserve forces. My preparations for Barbarossa continue.

Turn 35 - Tangier falls, advance on Egypt continues

Nothing really interesting happened this turn as preparations for Barbarossa continues. Expected start of invasion of the Soviet Union is late August.

Tangier falls:



My advance on Egypt continues and I spot the British defense line. With my air support it will fall easily. However my air units in North Africa will be missing in Operation Barbarossa.



If King Hunter plays cleverly he will try to bring in Soviet forces for defending Iraq as soon as Barbarossa starts, as he will surely know that my Barbarossa will be rather weak. Then it could be difficult to get the Iraq oilfields quickly and oil is my biggest concern right now.

At the end of my turn Finnland joined the Axis. This will allow me to move the Finnish units before the start of Barbarossa.

Turn 36 - British defense line attacked, Preparations for Barbarossa finished

In Egypt I attack the British line and destroy a British INF and damage another. Unfortunately one German FTR takes relative high losses:



In the east my preparations for Barbarossa are finished. I will have four ARM, four MECH, three German TAC, two German FTR and several German INF. Most are upgraded to the latest TECH levels. Of course I also have my allies, which were also upgraded.

Build up for Army Group North:



My primary goal will be to destroy the goal will be to destroy the frontier units or to cut them off, then take the Baltics and the frontier cities.

Build up for Army Group South:



I also hope to destroy as much frontier units as possible or to cut them off in this sector.

My Barbarossa will be relative weak, but I'm optimistic to do as much damage as possible. It will be really interesting to see how King Hunter will react to my weak Barbarossa. If he playes cleverly he will try to stop my advance as early as possible.

Great AAR! I don't suppose you could give us a bit of a preview of some SS units in action, maybe the process by which they are formed and what they look like in game.