Slitherine

The good thing about the Axis aggression in the North Africa is the fact that it will cost them dearly in PPs and MP. Just look at the German fighters - repairing them is always a pain in the ass, because of the massive PP cost and time wasted on repairs. They don't seem to have enough FTRs to provide air cover for all their TACs in NA.

However, your forces are mostly consisted of GARs and your only hard-hitting unit is one ARM. This is bad. Very bad. If you don't provide reinforcements, Cairo and Suez will probably fall. I don't know whether your opponent plans to attack Iraq and Iran, but closing the Med would definitely be a victory on its own, as he could use the bulk of his naval power in the Atlantic.

Turn 42. November 29, 1941.

British High Command in Middle East ordered a strategical withdrawal to Palestine-Jordan. Several reasons make inadvisable to continue in the delta Nile. One of them is that german paratroops in Alexandria could be dropped to attack RAF air bases and/or to interfere in a possible british 8th Army organized withdrawal to Irak. On the other hand, although RAF is winning air battle for now in NA, axis air forces are really overwhelming so it seems better to withdraw RAF squadrons to Irak. This turn another british GAR unit was destroyed in the Nile river without using axis air power that surely it will have took this turn for repairing units. Situation at the end of axis turn:

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And situation after the withdrawal:

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Note that british carrier has moved to Red Sea transportation loop and next turn will move to Persian Gulf.

Turn 43. December 19, 1941.

Wehrmacht and Regio Esercito crossed the Nile so DAK captured Port Said destroying garrison unit there. Indian Corps was also attacked and it was reduced to 3 steps.

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Axis now control Suez Canal. As you can see axis has deployed 5 tac wings in Africa: this would be an overwhelming air power if all of those units are going to be used in further operations in Palestine and Iraq. Axis land forces in Egypt are formed by at least 2 armoured corps, 3 inf corps and 1 parachute division.

British carrier in Red Sea took this turn Persian Gulf route. But the rest of RN, that is, 4 DD´s, 2 BB´s and 2 subs will stay in the Med for now. Naval battles in the Med have really favoured the british till now since Italian navy has lost 2 BB´s and 1 DD whilst RN, although suffering high losses, did not lose any unit. Now only Malta, Famagusta and Beirut sea ports will be the only ones in the Med that could be used by RN Med for repairs and upgrades. The fact that Med RN are now not able to leave the Med means that from now on this fleet will have hard times but with some luck it could survive until Suez Canal is opened again. British 8th Army is now almost completely deployed in Iraq. Indian Corps was reinforced to 5 steps but I much fear about its fate.

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In the Atlantic, a large allied is fleet is now on their way to Persian Gulf. Furthermore, a USAF strategic bomber wing has been rebased from USA to Azores air base that is controlled by the americans since Portugal surrendered to Axis.

Turn 44. January 8, 1942.

Italian armoured destroyed Indian corps in Sinai peninsula. The other two garrisons close to Suez Canal were not attacked. Furthermore, an important change in german command happened: Guderian left Africa and was replaced by a defensive general: Heinrici. Meanwhile, the italians are having problems for taking Cairo which defenders are really stubborn. Only 2 tactical wings participating in the axis air attacks in Africa. Could this mean that Doug has rebased all his Luftwaffe air units in preparation for a 1942 Barbarossa?

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In the Atlantic, allied fleet is now in range to send naval transports with troops to Persian Gulf transportation loop. There are no signs of a strong Kriegsmarine presence in the zone but it will have to be very cautious for avoiding any unnecessary loss. So first of all, one or two DD´s will enter transportation loop to check if there´s a german uboat blocking the transportation loop. As you can see USAF strategic bomber in the Azores is well positioned for helping a little if things turn complicated. British subs from UK are about to arrive.

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Free french and egyptian garrison units in Sinai moved east to Jerusalem and keeping in mind that suddenly Doug seems to have switched to a defensive strategy in Africa, may be they will survive.

Turn 45. January 28, 1942.

American transports successfully entered transportation loop and will be in Iraq within 2 turns. They are transporting 3 mech corps and 1 armour corps that along with british 8th Army should be pretty enough forces not only for holding in Iraq if attacked but also for retaking Suez Canal as soon as possible. May be the best date to start an offensive over the Nile will be at the same time that USSR enters the war.

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Meanwhile in Egypt, italian failed attempts to take Cairo forced DAK to intervene. Panzer forces, supported by italian and spanish tacs reduced Cunningham´s forces to 6 steps. As foreseen, axis forces did not pay attention to retreating garrisons so they were railed safe and sound to Damascus and Beirut. Garrison unit in Cairo was reinforced to 9 steps.

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Upgrades finally arrive to RAF strategic bombers in UK that will resume their offensive over France as soon as the weather is good.

Turn 46. February 17, 1942.

DAK entered Cairo this turn. It was necessary that german tanks take part in the capture of the city since the italians forces were having a hard time trying to reduce the defenders. Cunningham was wounded in the battle and was evacuated so he will return in 7 turns.

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Almost nothing happening in the rest since it is mud weather in Central Europe. USA has built a tactical air unit that will be deployed in Middle East.

Turn 48. March 29, 1942.

Nothing really happening now and that´s why no last turn post. Only to mention that RAF strategic bombing campaign was resumed. As I have commented in last posts british bomber got upgrades so this turn Paris was reduced from 8 to 4 steps with 2 air strikes. No Luftwaffe opposition to these attacks.

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Turn 49. April 18, 1942. USSR joins the allies!

It was mud weather turn in Northern Europe so Doug could not start Barbarossa in this turn. Instead of this, USSR joined the allies at the end of the turn. If the germans had planned a surprise attack for the next turn this won´t happen.

RAF strategic bombing campaign continued this turn. Paris was reduced to 3 steps and Lorraine was also attacked. This time appeared german interceptors when bombing Lorraine. Escorting british fighters got a 3:2 result against fighter wing in Ruhr.

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given all the oil that the Germans have expended you might think about targetting his oil, particularly as you will be able to hit from Russia as well

Turn 50. May 8, 1942.

USSR was invaded by Axis forces this turn. As you can see, Wehrmacht forces commited for this huge campaign are highly mechanized and supported by powerful air forces. Will Doug go for a quick advance to Moscow with the forces in Finland and Estonia linking with the ones advancing in Eastern Poland? Axis forces for this campaign are as follows:

10 fighter wings
10 tacs wings
6 armoured corps
10 mech corps
21 inf corps

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In Finland and northern USSR, germans failed to take Leningrad but they succeeded capturing Tallin thus destroying soviet sub unit in port. This seem to be an usual strategy used by Schnurri (used in last AAR).

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Overwhelming panzer forces advanced across Lithuania without almost opposition thanks to air support provided by a really powerful Luftwaffe. Kaunas was seized by a german armoured corps whilst Brest-Litovsk, attacked mainly with infantry forces, holds at 2 steps.

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In the south, Wehrmacht captured Lvov and Chisinau. AGS air forces are way less powerful than in northern sector.

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American and brits are busy organizing their upcoming offensive in Suez Canal. Bad thing about this operation will be the reduced air support that can be provided by allied air forces.

richardsd wrote:given all the oil that the Germans have expended you might think about targetting his oil, particularly as you will be able to hit from Russia as well

Doug has not really stopped in any moment using his oil. He must have enough oil but not much. And if you have seen last turn update of the game, you will see all of these Luftwaffe tacs and fighters deployed for Eastern front. There are many mechs and armoured units that will also increase overall oil consumption. Probably he could have oil shortages if the Axis is much engaged in USSR.

Turn 51. May 28, 1942

SS panzer forces entered Belarus and captured Minsk whilst Riga was conquered by Hoth´s tanks. Rommel has took command of one of the leading SS panzerkorps. Kesselring is also assigned to Eastern Front and this turn his forces entered Brest-Litovsk.

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Further south, Wehrmacht forces reached and seized Vinnitsa. Extremely weak soviet defenses could do nothing to stop Manstein´s tanks. Axis forces from Chisinau advanced into Ukraine and cut Odessa from the rest of USSR, reducing garrison unit in the city to 4 steps.

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In northern USSR, Wehrmacht forces in Finland failed again to take Leningrad which was really a good new for the soviets. If these troops cannot properly progress in this sector, they will not be used in other sectors of the front. A soviet marine commando action disabled finnish fortress.

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In allied turn, Red Army did nothing but to retreat and to prepare defensive positions everywhere. Damaged corps in Leningrad was replaced by a new one. Only to mention a successful soviet offensive action: a retreating garrison unit attacked a fighter wing recently rebased to Belarus and reduced it 2 steps.

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No room for Western Front shots. Only to mention that air combats between RAF and Luftwaffe fighters because of the bombing campaign over France scored a 4:3 favouring the brits.

In Middle East everything is ready for the allied offensive in Sinai peninsula.

Turn 52. June 17, 1942

Panzers crossed Dnepr river and attacked Gomel. Garrison units that last turn successfully attacked a Luftwaffe air base were left out of supply. Many Luftwaffe wings were rebased to Belarus for further operations.

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Northern USSR. Guderian forces finally entered Leningrad after fierce combats. Petrozavodsk was also seized by axis forces. Pskov defenders were reduced to 5 steps so a garrison unit close to the city switch position with the attacked unit.

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Romanian army entered Odessa after a heavy fighting. AGS made a significant progress in Ukraine but still many soviet garrison units around.

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Back to Middle East. Allies started their planned offensive over Sinai peninsula and reached Suez Canal. Many air combats with Regia Aeronautica fighters that scored a 5:2. RN Mediterranean fleet is upgraded and ready to intervene.

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Do you think that the Germans will attempt to move past Bryansk and Smolensk?

Turn 53. July 7, 1942

Axis forces made significant territorial gains in USSR this turn. AGN captured Pskov and Vitebesk. Panzer forces entered Gomel and AGS seized Kiev and Kherson. To mention high losses suffered by german mech when taking Kiev.

Cybvep wrote:Do you think that the Germans will attempt to move past Bryansk and Smolensk?

Screenshot below could answer this question. Seemingly, SS panzer forces in the Dnepr have made a halt. May be this is for waiting german infantry or for getting upgrades. If you ask me an opinion I don´t think these armoured forces are going to move much further east.

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MTO. Allied assaulted italian positions in Canal Suez with all available air support (2 fighter wings). Graziani infantry corps was the target and this unit was reduced to 1 step.

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RAF fighter forces scored an interesting 4:2 against german interceptors this turn.

Turn 54. July 27, 1942

AGS panzer forces took Dnepropetrovsk this turn whilst infantry forces entered Crimea peninsula. No significant axis actions elsewhere in Eastern front but Luftwaffe tactical wings moving from Finland to Dnepr river.

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First results achieved in Suez Canal. Depleted Graziani HQ inf corps was destroyed (although it was needed 2 air strikes). Odds were rather good so allied tanks decided to attack switched italian inf corps without air support. Attack was successful with the italian unit reduced to 4 steps and forced to retreat.

Situation before allied moves:

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Situation after allied moves:

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Western front bombing campaign. Attacked Luftwaffe fighter air base in Paris: 2:1 favouring the brits. It would have to mention that british fighters have had tech advantage over german fighters all over the game. This would explain slightly better results for RAF in air combats or when escorting bombers.

In the Atlantic, italian and german subs have blocked an american convoy. A naval force has been sent to break this blockade.

Turn 55. August 16, 1942

Wehrmacht infantry finally decided to move into Russia. This way Smolensk and Bryansk were taken. In Crimea Sevastopol is under siege and was reduced to 6 steps being reinforced to 9 steps in allied turn.

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Forget to take screenshots of Middle East but to mention that this turn target was italian armoured unit that was reduced to 6 steps. A breakthrough here is coming soon.

No air combats in France so british bombers reduced again Paris to 0 PP´s withoug suffering any loss.

Allied naval force that is being formed to break axis blockade of southern convoy is increasing more and more and finally it will be formed by 1 Carrier, 3 BB, 6-8 DD´s and 3 subs.

Turn 56. September 5, 1942

Something weird happened this turn in Eastern Front since german infantry units, that last turn seized Smolensk and Bryansk, withdrew west abandoning those mentioned cities. This surely means that Doug is going to defend now in the East. But the question is where? No significant axis forces are deployed around Dnepr river so may be axis forces will be defending in pre-Barbarossa borders?

Meanwhile, Wehrmacht armoured forces entered Sevastopol. Kerch was attacked and the garrison unit in the city was reduced to 4 steps. Surely these attacks were widely supported by a strong tactical Luftwaffe force stationed in Ukraine.

Keeping in mind the above, a huge soviet army of 70 inf corps, 12 mechs and 2 armoured began to move west from Karelia to Azov Sea. Abandoned cities of Smolensk and Bryansk were retaken and recoinnassance patrols revealed that Vitebesk was also abandoned by the germans. Still no combats when advancing but in Karelia where a soviet inf corps attacked a german inf corps losing 3 steps both units. Note superior combat values of soviet infantry units.

Kerch defenders received reinforcements to 8 steps.

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Suez Canal. Heavy combats continued. Luftwaffe Afrika appeared again. Italians sent more tanks to cover losses in last turn so the unit was at 8 steps at the end of axis turn.

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Forget again to take screenshots at the end of allies turn so I will relate what happened. Previous air combats between RAF and Luftwaffe Africa scored a 6:5 since Luftwaffe had another fighter wing at 10 steps stationed in Egypt. So both british fighters finished the turn at 6 steps whilst the german fighter at 8 steps was reduced to 5 steps and the one at 10 steps (1 hex NW of Cairo) was reduced to 7 steps. Italian armoured unit after being attacked by air was attacked by allied armoured forces. Italian tanks were crushed and the unit survived at 1 step.

Atlantic Ocean. Allied naval force saw its first engagement with axis naval forces since a british DD run into a german sub that was reduced from 6 to 3 steps. British DD lost 1 step.

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Lorraine was reduced to 2 PP´s because of the bombings. First USAF Bombardment wings arrived UK.

Turn 57. September 25, 1942

Red Army continued advancing in all sectors of Eastern front. Gomel, defended by a romanian inf corps, was attacked by both Red Air force and soviet infantry units. Defenders could not resist much and the city was librerated. Pskov and Vitebesk were both surrounded but still not attacked. Kiev was reached so artillery guns are now ready for bombing axis positions in the other side of the river. Further south a strong bridgehead was formed NW of Dnepropetrovsk and a lonely romanian inf corps close to Azov Sea coast was destroyed by advancing russians. A garrison unit south of Dnepropetrovsk was massively attacked and it was reduced to 3 steps.

Previously, in axis turn Kerch has been seized by german armoured forces.

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Taking advantage of Red Army bridgehead close to Krivoy Rog, STAVKA has planned an encircling operation of the german units in Dnepropetrovsk. It will depend of the weather for the operation to be launched and if successful, next step will be to liberate all southern Ukraine and to enter in Romania right in 1942-43 winter.

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Back to Middle East scenario. Italian armoured was destroyed this turn by american mech forces that saw combat for the first time. DAK appeared again in Egypt and RAF took this turn for repairs and upgrades. Allied armoured forces were withdrawn for repairs and for avoiding possible Luftwaffe attacks from tac wings brought from Eastern front.

Situation at the end of axis turn:

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Situation at the end of allies turn:

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USAF wings in UK upgraded and ready for joining strategic attacks.

Turn 58. October 15, 1942

Nothing much happening this turn because of mud weather. Anyway, Red Army around Kiev surrounded and attacked the city reducing garrison unit in Kiev to 2 steps. First air combats between Luftwaffe fighters and soviet fighters that scored a 0:2 favouring the germans probably because of the lower survivability levels of Red Air force fighters.

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Transition turn also in the Med. Only to mention that the operation for rebasing tactical and strategical wings via Malta is being a success. This turn, an american strat coming from Azores air base, then free french NA and then Malta, reached greek islands in Aegean sea in an improvised air base prepared by partisans.

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Escorting duties of a "fat" convoy this turn for allied naval force in the Atlantic.