Slitherine

Turn 57 - Soviet offensive continues despite losses! British Army lands near Taranto!

The battle at the Romanian border continues as the Axis destroyed a MECH and another ARM last turn. The Soviet counterattack destroys three Axis INF (one German, two minor Axis):



Nevertheless, the Luftwaffe is very strong, despite the same air combat values (both at 6). However, I got another level of dog fight this turn, but I fear the Luftwaffe will also be able to upgrade soon (and they should get the +2 air combat upgrade, I only got the +1 survability upgrade). However, as soon as the weather changes my air forces will be in a better position for air combat.

The British landing operation near Taranto is succesful:



The new amphibious invasion system really helped me here.

Is there a perticular reason to why you attack through the mountains of bessarabia(Rumania)?

Crazygunner1 wrote:Is there a perticular reason to why you attack through the mountains of bessarabia(Rumania)?

Of course! The Axis line is not very strong there (no double line) as on the other parts of the eastern front. There are mostly minor Axis units and only few German units. Currently the Red Army is not strong enough for a full scale attack everywhere. Against the German INF I get with my Mechs expected results like 1:7 if attack through a river.

My advance in Romania will either result in Romania beeing captured or Massina will have to sent significant German reinforcements to Romania.

Things go better than could be expected in mountainous italian territory due to your complete air superiority in this scenario. Massina will be soon have to man Gustav line with german units and this is because you have sucessfully landed in Salento peninsula and can attack Taranto from fair weather hexes. It would have been much tougher instead if you would have had to attack from the mountainous territory west of Taranto now also affected by mud weather.

zechi wrote:

Crazygunner1 wrote:Is there a perticular reason to why you attack through the mountains of bessarabia(Rumania)?

Of course! The Axis line is not very strong there (no double line) as on the other parts of the eastern front. There are mostly minor Axis units and only few German units. Currently the Red Army is not strong enough for a full scale attack everywhere. Against the German INF I get with my Mechs expected results like 1:7 if attack through a river.

My advance in Romania will either result in Romania beeing captured or Massina will have to sent significant German reinforcements to Romania.

The reason why i asked is, that in the mountains it is tought terrain, harder to advance and you are taking casualtes that you don´t need to. If you attack on clear terrain further south with your tanks and mech you will have greater progress. Also when you capture Bucharest the line he as in the mountains will risk encirclement and he will have no choice but to retreat. Not to mention the troops that will disapear when Rumaina is captured.

Just a thoght....

Crazyg

Turn 58 - Soviet offensive loses momentum! British prepare further landings in Italy!

The Red Army loses another ARM this turn. The Luftwaffe took out a 10 step ARM with a leader attached with two TAC attacks! As my airforce needs badly repairs I upgrade and repair mostly and stop my offensive:



Only a 1 step Romanian INF has been destroyed by an air strike.

In Italy the Wehrmacht arrives to man the Gustav line:



As I have no chance to attack Taranto with good odds I wait and prepare further landings. I also destroy another Italian INF and damage another one near Taranto.

In Britain strategic bombing campaign continues against German targets as the RN and US Navy are in ports for upgrades. As soon as weather will be fair in 1943 D-Day Operations will begin. I have now a significant airforce assembled in Britain as I place second British TAC.

Turn 59 - Ploesti bombed! More landings near Taranto!

The weather is mud in central europe, so there are not battles at the eastern front. I upgrade more units. Only my STR fly unopposed to bomb Ploesti:



In the northern part of the eastern front I also move some units into position to test the German line as soon as winter hits:



In Italy I manage to land another British INF near Taranto, so I could attack it from two sides now:



Nevertheless, a third unit in the southern hex near Taranto would be perfect, but mud and the rives will make it difficult to finish off this INF.

Turn 60 - Italy surrenders! Soviet push into Romania! Luftwaffe shields western Europe!

Last turn Massina attacked with the INF in Taranto against one of my British INF, which gave me an opportunity to strike against Taranto:



However, it was a very close thing. The INF in Taranto was only down to 9 steps and one of my British INF was reduced to 5 steps after several attacks by Italian units. First I forced one Italian INF to retreat with my 5 Step INF, which was easy as the Italian INF was down to red efficiency level after two air strikes. Now I had a place to land a fresh 1ß step British INF near Taranto. But first I attacked with two TAC the INF in Taranto for a meager 2 steps of damage but orange effiency. The defenders of Taranto were only down to 7 steps. The amphibious landing with the British INF resulted in the expected 3:1 result. Then I bombarded with a BB an got lucky for a 1 step hit (expected result was only 0:0). The INF already placed a few turns ago in the south got the expected 3:0 result and Taranto was captured. Italy surrendered.

As the Luftwaffe seems to be missing the Soviet bomb Ploesti into 0 production and attack some Romanian units:



In the north I move into position to strike at some German units next turn:



The strategic bombing aginst Germany continues, but now several Luftwaffe FTR are spotted there:



It seems that Massina moved many FTR to western Europe. He outnumber the Allied FTR (I only have four here). This could hurt if he counterstrikes against my STR.

Turn 61 - Western Allies prepare further operations! Soviet offensive restarts!

I get Dog Fight Level 5 with the British this turn and they now have better planes then the Germans! Nevertheless, I retreat some of the STR out of reach of German FTR as they are overhelming in the West. In Italy the British also upgrade some units as US force arrive. In the East the Soviets begin start their winter offensive with limited success:

In the north I destroy a German INF:



In the south I only manage to get a Romanian INF down to 1 step:



However, next turn offensive should be more powerful as my airforce is now ready and repaired.

Turn 62 and 63 - Red Army slowly advances deeper into Romania! Western Allies prepare for Operation Dragoon!

No pics for turn 62 as the weather was muddy in central Europe and nothing interesting happened. On turn 63 winter weathe makes operations easier for the Soviets:



In the northern sector I manage to destroy a German INF and form a small bridgehead. However, I fear it will be destroyed by the German counterattack. Nevertheless, I hope that this will lead to some more German casualities and allow me to finish off or at least severely damage two INF next turn.

In the southern sector there is more action as the Soviet airforce engages the Luftwaffe:



Because of the winter weather I get good combat results, despite the tech advantage of the German FTR. They now have Dog Fight level 5 and as soon as weather becomes fair the will again have a great advantage against the Soviets FTR. The Red Army manages to destroy two Romanian units and the slow advance into Romania continues.

The western Allies prepare for the invasion of France. The invasion will begin in the south with operation Dragoon:



As soon as I get fair weather the US/British will land and invade. A few turns later I will launch D-Day in northern France. In addition I will launch attacks against the Gustav line.

To support the invasion in the south, three US MECH will try to land near Bordeaux:



However, perhaps these forces will also be used in the northern landings. We will see how the weather turns out the next few turns.

Massina is a very good sport to see this one through - and I always appreciate these types of players! I think it can be fun and interesting to see how you can do even if you know you are in a tough position. Considering that your Allied economy is probably at least twice that of his, I think he did OK in '42. He may even make it to '44, but '43 is going to be a tough year for him.

Nice plan you got for 43, i like it. Isn´t it just better if you invade Northern Italy instead of Vichy? Then you can take out a lof of PPs going to germany like Rome and the norther ciites.

Crazyg

Turn 64 and 65 - Operation Dragoon launched! D-Day 43 landings prepared!

On turn 64 I got mud weather in central Europe and could not really advance in the east. However, I lost the damaged DD. On turn 65 the weather turned to fair and the Allies launch Operation Dragoon:



Marseille and Nice are easily captured through the landings. British Army also captures Naples and will soon launch attacks against the Gustav line.

British and US airborne units land in northern France:



British invasion fleet is ready for landings near Cherbourg. However, I fear a counterattack by the Kriegsmarine. Nevertheless, shoudl they leave the ports they will be pulverized by the airforces I have assembled.

The Vichy fleet is attacked by Allied SUBs:



Free French Forces also arrive and will take back northern Africa quickly.

In the east the Luftwaffe is back, which makes Soviet offensives more difficult, but at least the German FTR suffer heavier losses (some 2:3 results):





We will see if the Luftwaffe can be maintained in force the east if the Allies land in France!

Turn 66 - D-Day 43 landings succesful! Toulouse attacked! Battles on the eastern front!

The D-Day landings are not challenged by the Axis and Cherbourg is easily captured:



If Paris is not reinforced I could liberate it next turn with support of the airborne forces and two TAC strikes. More units are ready to land next turn.

In southern France the Allied Panzer Corps launch attacks against Toulouse:



I will also try to capture some of the cities in northern Italy with the two Corps near Nice.

The Free French begin their move to liberate North Africa:



My plan is to bring them to the Med-Theater and help in liberating Italy, but first they need to capture a port city in the Med.

On the east I destroy a German INF in the north and expand the Soviet bridgehead:



However, my airforce is not very effective as they are in a mud weather zone.

In the south I got bad ressults and ground my airforce:



I also place two new FTR for the Soviets out of reach of the Luftwaffe.

Turn 67 - Paris liberated! Allies advance in France and Italy! Heavy losses in the east!

The western Allies capture Paris:



Massina did not exchange nor repaired the GAR of Paris. I got it down to 1 step after two TAC, one INF and one Para attack. Luckily I got another airborne unit in Britain ready and they finished the GAR off. In southern France my forces capture Toulouse and move towards Bordeaux. Soon the whole Iberian peninsulas will be cut off.

In Italy the Allies enter northern Italy and attack Turin:



I also bought another Commander for the British and assault on the Gustav line will soon begin.

In the Atlantic a Kriegsmarine BB is engaged by two RN BB:



This damn SUB saves the German BB and could lead to a loss of a BB on my part. However, I quickly bring several STR in range for air strikes should more SUBs arrive.

I got no screens for the east, but this turn was bad. It is still mud weather in the Soviet Union, so my airforce is grounded. Nevertheless, I can upgrade the FTR to Dog Fight level 4. However, German counterattacks destroyed four Soviet units last turn and I can only repair and upgrade my units this turn. No offensive action at all in the east is always bad.

Turn 68 - Turin liberated! Gustav line challenged! Stand off at the Eastern front!

In southern France and Italy the Allied offensive continues:



My forces reach Bordeaux and cut off the Iberian peninsula. However, it seems that there are not many units defending Spain anymore. I alos challenge the Gustav line as O'Connor takes command of this front and bring the Monte Cassino INF down to 3 steps. Turin is also liberated after two TAC and two ground attacks.

In northern France LeHavre is surrounded:



Brest, Rennes and Reims were abandoned by the Germans and are easily liberated. Next turn Lille and Lorraine will be captured and take away 4 PP from the Germans.

In the east its a stand off:





Against fresh German units I got expected results like 1:6 or even 0:9. Only after air strikes I got a chance to finish a German unit off, but the Luftwaffe is still strong. This will be hard and slow work.

Turn 69 - Monte Cassino falls! Allies advance on Brussels!

More reinforcements for the Axis:



But I got Dog Fight level 6 with the Brits!

In northern France the Allied advance is fast:



Brussels is reached and Lille and Lorraine liberated without a fight. However, the German prepare their defense line and it could be hard to breach it. As my fast British Armoured Corps connects northern and souther France, several units are railed to northern Italy to capture the high PP cities there and enter Germany through the Alps.

The British launch again an attack against the Gustav line and manage to take out Monte Cassino:



Two fortresses remain and before any new attacks are launched I need to rest and repair.

The Free French capture Casablanca:



As soon as they get Oran they will reinforce Italy.

In the east the advance is still slow, but at least I can finally attack with an ARM and take out an SS Corps:





Air combat results are becoming better and better, but the Luftwaffe has still better techs.

Turn 70 - Brussels, Bordeaux and Barcelona liberated! Offensive in northern Italy continues!

Brussels is liberated, but a strong defense line spotted:



This will not be easy! Massina is defending the Reich very effectively.

In southern France and northern Italy the Allies get more ground:



Next turn Milan and Genua could fall!

On the Iberian peninsula the British land a division in Barcelona as Free Frenc Forces continue their advance:



Lisbon will fall as soon as I get an amphibious invasion point back with the British.

In the Atlantic I try to engage the German BB with two RN BBs, but there is a Sub-Screen:



Nevertheless, I can bomb it with a STR.

In the east the Red Army nearly succeeds to break through the line:



We will see if the German will plug the hole!

In the southern part not much is happening, only air combat and a damaged German INF is destroyed.

Turn 71 - German counterattack near Warsaw! Genua liberated!

Not much happened this turn, as I mostly rested and repaired Allied units. However, the Allies manage to plug the hole near Warsaw and even launch a small scale counterattack:



In the southern part I manage to take out the Romanian MECH:



Bucharest seems not far away anymore! Nevertheless, the Red Army advances very slowly and initially I hoped to have overun the German position in this sector. But Massina defends very well and because of the Luftwaffe it is very hard to attack more then one German target per turn.

In Italy the Allied advance continues:



However, the defenders of Milan survived with 1 step.

Turn 72 - Milan liberated! Liege under attack! Gustav line challenged again!

The Allies destroy several German units in northern Italy and will be in a good position to cut Rome and the Gustav line off:



The German defenses in northern Italy try to reorganize a new defense line near Venice, but it does not seem strong. It will be interesting to see if Massina will try to defend in the Alps.

In France not much is happening as I upgrade most units or repair them for the attack on Antwerp. However, Liege will first have to fall:



In Spain I finally take Lisbon after a SUB tried to attack the transport:



Madrid is now guarded, but I will get several other spanish cities and resources soon. The Free French will also get Oran next turn and then be transported to Italy/southern France

Near Warsaw offensive action of the Red Army continues and the bridgehead is expanded again:



In the south I attack a Romanian INF and hope to take it out next turn:



Hopefully the Romanian defenses will disintegrate soon!