Plan Z revised No. 2 - Armistice signed!

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:39 pm

Turn 42 - Italian Army retreats to Benghazi! RAF Bombing raids intercepted by Luftwaffe! No combat in the east!

The Italian MECH and INF retreat to Benghazi and are ready to be shipped out to Italy:

I hope Tobruk will hold out for a few more turns!

British strategic bombers begin bombing campaing in western Europe, but Luftwaffe was railed to the west last turn and RAF takes some losses:

The German FTRs were alread damaged and Luftwaffe took no losses at all.

In the east everything is quite and Axis defensive positions are ready for expected winter offensive:

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 6:57 am

Turn 43 - Italians retreat successfully from Libya! Tobruk holds out!

No action at the eastern front.

I use the Regia Marina for spotting SUBs and then transport the damaged MECH and INF back to Europe:

I hope this was a wise decision as it cost me 8 PP per transport and I will have to repair both units back to full strength. As I did not intend to reinforce North Africa I already begun planning the defense of Italy. However, I'm still not sure if I should defend Sicily with more units. The new city at the toe of Sicily makes this easier then before, but nevertheless I think that Sicily will be hard to defend against the Allies.

For the moment Tobruk holds out and this will give me a few more turns.

The US entered the war at the end of my turn. No sign of severe winter yet![/img]

trulster · Post by **trulster** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:05 pm

Wait, adding Reggio as a new Italian city must also mean that there is no longer any need for the Allies to slog their way up to Taranto or Naples to force conquest, as capturing Reggio should be the third city which still causes Italy to fold?

If so then is more important than before to defend Sicily properly IMO.

pk867 · Post by **pk867** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:09 pm

Hi,

Reggio being captured does not count toward Italy's surrender.

pk867

trulster · Post by **trulster** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:48 pm

OK, so the new rule is "any 3 cities on Sicily and mainland Italy, excluding Reggio".

schwerpunkt · Post by **schwerpunkt** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:09 pm

trulster wrote:OK, so the new rule is "any 3 cities on Sicily and mainland Italy, excluding Reggio".

yep, there was a fair bit of debate amongst the team but the consensus was to exclude Reggio to minimise the impact on play balance - currently you need only one mainland city but if Reggio was made to count and therefore four were required, you couldnt simply capture Venice or sneak into Ancona, etc (along with Palermo and Messina) to knock Italy out like you can currently.

pk867 · Post by **pk867** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:13 pm

Hi,

Actually the cities are specified in the manual.

pk867

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:00 pm

Turn 44 - Severe winter in Russia! Tobruk will fall soon!

The first turn of 1941! At the end of my turn severe winter hits the Axis, but before I upgraded most units with several important defensive upgrades:

Nevertheless, I did a mistake, as I did not fly most of the Luftwaffe out of the severe winter zone.

In the Med the MECH and INF land safely in Italy, but British SUBs ambushed an Italian BB and reduced it to 5 steps. I counterattacked with a German STR:

Tobruk defenders are brought back to 7 steps. Hopefully they will survive another turn!

Losses are accetable at this moment:

German manpower is well above 90 %. Italian Manpower 88 %.

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 7:03 am

Turn 45 - Red Army launches winter offensive! Tobruk holds out!

Leridano did not hesitate and attacked on the whole front, mostly more vulnerable units (Italians and Axis minors):

However, the Axis do not lose any unit. I do not counterattack, but try to reinforce may damaged units or withdraw them to the second rank:

In Finland I also launch a small counterattack with Finnish Corps.

Tobruk still survives, but is down to 2 steps and I repair it back to 5 steps.

In the Atlantic I spot a transport:

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:19 am

Turn 46 - Soviet offensive continues! Tobruk still holds out!

In the northern part of the eastern front the Soviet do not make any progress:

I even managed to destroy a Soviet MECH in the south which tried to form a bridgehead.

In the south the Red Army is more successful and with help of air strikes destroy two Romanian INF (one was down at 1 step):

A Soviet MECH also forms a bridgehead, but will be vulnerable for a counterattack next turn.

Tobruk is about to fall, as their defenders were reduced down to 1 step. Nevertheless, I hope for a wonder and repair them back to 4 steps:

Above the skies of France heavy air battles occur between the RAF and the Luftwaffe, with losses on both sides. Nevertheless, the strategic bomber do not achieve do reduce production:

RAF also took heavier losses then the Luftwaffe. Nevertheless, I count 3 FTR and 3 STR. It will not be easy to counter this force. Good that I could place a nea Luftwaffe FTR this turn, but I will need at least two more as in the spring I will need some of the FTR in the east.

Manpower for Germany is still above 90% and Italy is at 87 %. Oil level is also very good.

afk_nero · Post by **afk_nero** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 8:40 am

Your fighters should have better tech at he moment compared to the RAF - why not push them a little forward and take the fight to the RAF - you should win an this should push the Brits back from attacking he Reich for a little while.

I estimate that you need 4 fighter groups in the west ( minimum) and more fighters I he east.

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:01 pm

afk_nero wrote:Your fighters should have better tech at he moment compared to the RAF - why not push them a little forward and take the fight to the RAF - you should win an this should push the Brits back from attacking he Reich for a little while.

I estimate that you need 4 fighter groups in the west ( minimum) and more fighters I he east.

I fear that you overestimate my tech advantage. Before the winter my Dog Fight was 6 and RAF FTR had 5. During the winter both have 3. Overall tech level of RAF FTR is 8, Luftwaffe FTR are at 9 or 10. As air combat is very random if you do not have a great advantage over the opponent, I do not dare to take the fight to Britains skies.

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:12 pm

Turn 47 - Tobruk captured by the British! Eastern front stabilized!

On the eastern front Axis forces destroy another Soviet MECH and stabilize the front:

I only lost an Hungarian INF last turn. Soon fair weather will return to the eastern front and my offensive can finally begin.

Tobruk is captured by the British as expected this turn:

Furthermore I reached SUB level 6 this turn:

I only have two naval labs and never got this early SUB level 6.

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 3:20 pm

Turn 48 and 49 - British advance on Tripoli! Skirmishes in the east! Air battle above France resumed!

I forgot to take screenshots for turn 48, but nothing really important happened. The British captured Benghazi and the Red Army managed to destroy a six step German INF. On turn 49 the RAF resumed its bombing campaign, but three Luftwaffe were ready to face them and the RAF FTR took a little bit more losses:

The RAF also got new and better planes and are now on par with the Luftwaffe FTR: Hopefully I will get soon more air upgrades for the Luftwaffe! A fourth FTR will be ready soon to defend the Reich.

The British seem to be in a hurry and advance on Tobruk:

I do not understand why Leridano seems to move most of his Army toward Tripoli. He should repair his damaged units and let them regain effiency. Two units would be sufficient to captur Tripoli, especially with some air support. Nevertheles, I expect some US forces soon in this theater, so I begin my defensive preparations for Italy.

On the eastern front a German INF was reduced to 2 steps and risks to be destroyed next turn (brought it back to six steps). Nevertheless, this should be the last severe winter turn and everything is read for the Axis offensive of 1942. First target will be Sevastopol.

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 9:38 pm

Turn 50 - Crazy weather on the eastern front! RAF takes heavy losses above France!

The first turn of May is normally a sure fair weather turn, but I got very bad luck and severe winter continues to rage in Russia despite fair weather in all three weather zones:

Nevertheless, the Crimea and some of the southern parts of the Soviet Union are not in the severe winter zone and my attack on Sevastopol begins:

Normally the severe winter should end next turn, if not this will be a short summer offensive!

Over the skies of France the RAF takes heavy losses:

A fourth FTR will be ready next turn. However, I will soon need some FTR in Italy, should the US arrive.

My defense plan for Italy is also ready:

I invested early in INF labs for Italy and the INF are now at level 4, which means they are not as bad as usual

As you see I placed an INF in any coastal cities which could be attacked by sea. German Fallschirmjäger protect Rome. If the circumstance make it necessary they also could quickly jump inot Sicily and Sardinia as you see on the pic. Last but not least I placed the MECH with a Leader in Reggio. The leader bolsters the defense of Messina, which is a ciritical city. Furthermore, I could quickly exchange the INF in Messina with the MECH if necessary. Should the Allies invade Italy I will quickly bring in some Germans to bolster the defense and attack beachheads. I will also need air support, which will be brought from France or the eastern front.

ncali · Post by **ncali** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 3:40 am

Is that German paratroop unit in the screenshot a division or a corps? It seems quite strong!

Blathergut · Post by **Blathergut** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 4:02 am

Does make you want to play this version, n'est-ce pas???

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 7:59 am

Turn 51 - Axis launch summer offensive in the Soviet Union: Sevastopol evacuated and taken without a fight! Bryansk captured by Fallschirmjäger!

Finally the severe winter is over and the Axis can launch their summer offensive. In the south something unexpected happened as Leridano evacuated Sevastopol. I absolutely do not understand this move, as it the INF could have been brought back to 8 steps and hold out at least another turn. This move allows me to concentrate my TACs on the front and I manage to destroy an INF and an ARM. Another INF is down to 1 step:

Soviets take also heavy air losses, but Luftwaffe also suffery. Furthermore, my ARM are now exposed to a counterattack.

In the north I spot an unguarded city in the rear of the Soviet line and Fallschirmjäger make a drop. Expected results for the drop were 0:3, but I got 0:5!

I also manage to form a small bridgehead near Gomel and hope to expand it next turn with my ARM.

In Finland I will try to cut off these pesky GAR and then move into the northern part of the Soviet Union:

Over France the air battles continues. Strategic bombing reduced Essen to 0 steps and also Hamburg was bombed, but at least I could inflict some damage and I placed a brand new Luftwaffe FTR. I also got Dog Fight Level 3 this turn!

Furthermore, the Wolfpacks are back!

My SUBs have tech level 10 overall and SUB Level 6.

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 3:10 pm

Turn 52 - Heavy fighting in the east! Allied bombing campaign becomes more powerfull!

This turn heavy fighting all over the eastern front. The Soviets managed to destroy an ARM and MECH and damage two more Panzer Corps:

Nevertheless, the Axis counterattack and gain a little bit more ground:

There are also some skirmishes around Finland:

Over western Europe the Allied bombing campaign becomes more and more powerful:

The British Army will reach Tripoli next turn and capture it most likely in two turns. My biggest problem right now is that I need all my PPs for repairs, especially of the expensive FTR. There I could not by new units the last few turns. At least a new Panzer Corps will be ready next turn.

zechi · Post by **zechi** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 3:37 pm

Turn 53 - Heavy fighting continues on the eastern front! Soviets take heavy losses! Allied airborne units attack French air base near Lorraine!

The heavy fighting continues in the east and I nearly lost my Elite SS Panzer Corps:

I fear I will lose it next turn as it can be attacked by TACs and from three sides, but perhaps I get lucky. It will also draw attacks, which would otherwise target my other units. I also get a foothold south of Gomel.

In the south my offensive is very successful despite losing a MECH to the Soviet counterstrike:

Axis destroy at least 2 INF and 1 MECH here.

In France British paras land near Lorraine and nearly destroy a German airbase, which is quickly evacuated to Hamburg.

However, the RAF and USAF took heavy losses and my other three FTR are back at full strength.