Morris (axis) vs Carlos Danger (allies) 3.1

[Carlos_Danger]

Turn 59. November 4, 1942.
English CV sails into the Adriatic to attack German TAC in Yugoslavia. CV spots four German Fighters in Italy. German Fighters damage the other CV.


Mud on the Russian Front.
Finland


North


South, Two Russian TAC and two Russian Corp attack the German Corp south of Kharkov, leave the German Corp at 6 steps.


Caucasus, Germans attack and kill a garrison and capture the hex next to Batumi (the last port the Russians own on the Black Sea)


End of Winter 41/42 Casualties


End of Summer of 42 Casualties


Math
German Casualties: Infantry 97 (3) Mech 38 (1) Air 69 (0)
Infantry 101 (3) Mech 53 (1) Air 106 (0)
Germans lost no units, and lost 37 air points, 15 armor/mech points and 4 infantry points in the Summer of 42 Campaign.
Russian Casualties: Infantry 593 (43) Mech 65 (3) Air 30 (0)
Infantry 839 (61) Mech 108 (4) Air 51 (0)
Russians lost 18 Infantry units and 1 Mech units 21 air points, 43 armor/mech points and 246 infantry points in the Summer of 42 Campaign.

[Carlos_Danger]

Turn 60. November 24, 1942.
Atlantic:
German Subs attack and sink an American transport.


German sub is sunk by two escort DDs


Med: Italians Navy attack an American CV leaving the CV at 4 steps.


English sink the Italian BB and sink an Italian sub, damaged American CV moves to port.


Mud on the Russian Front.
German move, The Germans put up some TACs and kill a garrison north of Novgorod.


Finland
Preparing to rail out two Russian Corps from Finland.


North, nothing


South, Two Russian TAC and three Russian Corp attack the German Corp south of Kharkov, forcing it to retreat twice, leave the German Corp at 6 steps, now Kharkov is surrounded.


Caucasus, Swap in a Russian Corp to defend the city of Batumi (the last port the Russians own on the Black Sea )

[Cybvep]

You have the opportunity to encircle and destroy some German units in the Caucasus, but you won't do it with just a few corps units.

[Carlos_Danger]

Tough choices for the Russian Winter offense. Some options and thoughts.

option 1) Attack in between Kharkov and Dnespropetrovsk and head south towards the Sea of Azov trying to cut off the German army. I don't think I'll make it to the Sea of Azov but the Germans have to defend the front, so it is a good killing fields. No rivers all clear terrain the only barrier is the city of Stalino, the front is only four or five hexes wide so the Germans can try and stuff it with axis minors. Easy to rail in and out my Armor and Mech because lots of rail station around Sumy, Kursk, Kharkov. Units suffer full severe winter effects from Stalino and above.

option 2) Isolate and attack toward the Caucasus. Isolating the Germans in the Caucasus looks easy, but its effects are minimal. The supply of the German units fighting in the Caucasus is three because they are so far from Berlin. Cutting them off and breaking the rail line to Berlin surprisingly does not lower their supply because they get a supply of three from a local city say Grozny or Krasnodar. The only effect of breaking the rail line and isolating the German units in the Caucasus does is it prevents the Germans from railing units in or out. I have to rail my armor and mech to Stalingrad and then it is a very long walk (maybe half the winter) before I can attack my first German unit and most likely the German units will behind one of the rivers around Grozny or Maikon oil well. Plus the units do not get the full effect of severe winter around the Caucasus and there is lots of rough and mountain hexes to aid the defense if I do get across one of the rivers. I can easily isolate the Germans in the Caucasus, killing them is a different story, I am not really sure I can kill them before the summer of 43 comes around.

I could split my forces and try to do both, but I don't. I pick option one and send all my armor, mech, guards and air force on option one. Everything else is just a flanking maneuver. The Germans have to defend the Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk gap in-between the Dnepr and the Donets river with full severe winter effects, so hopefully I will kill a lot of Germans in the area around north of Stalino this winter!

[Carlos_Danger]

Turn 61. December 14, 1942.
Western Front, nothing



Med: damaged CVs go to port.


Winter on the Russian Front.
Finland is all Russian garrisons for the winter


North


South
Kharkov liberated. Kiev almost, Italians left at 1 step. Romanian Corp also killed by Guard Armor.


Caucasus, The Germans on their turn, put up two TACs and attack and captured the city of Batumi (the last port the Russians own on the Black Sea ) killing the Russian Corp that swapped in there last turn. The flanking action with Russian Corp units continues, with units advancing and cutting off the German Rail line to the Caucasus.

[Carlos_Danger]

Turn 62. January 3, 1943.
Med: DD's go take another look at Italy.


Russian Front: First turn of Severe Winter

German move:
Flanking action in the Caucasus ends badly. The Germans must be awash with oil from the Caucasus, one effect, the Germans can fly their TACs in the winter. Germans attack and kill the two advancing Corps with three TACs and ground attacks.


Russian move:
Finland is all Russian garrisons for the winter



North


South
Kiev liberated. Heavy fighting around south of Kharkov: Russians bomb with four TACS and two SACs. Four German Fighters and one Finish Fighters intercept. The Russians have eight Fighters so heavy air battle, very slightly in the Russian favor. Bulgarian Corp killed by Guard Armor and one German Corp killed by multiple Mech attacks and Guard Armor. Second flanking attempt is around Kherson, where two Russian Corps link up with the partisan in Kherson cutting the rail line to all German troops in Southern Russian.


The Russians are not going to recapture the oil wells or re-establish a rail line into the Caucasus this winter, Russian Corps turn around and head back towards Stalingrad.

[Carlos_Danger]

Turn 63. January 23, 1943
On the way to Murmansk convoy runs into German sub


Allies move in escorts and sweep hitting a German sub.


German Fighters bomb spotting DD's in Italy


Russian Front: Second turn of Severe Winter

German move:
Germans don't like being cut off, so one Italian and five TACs and one SAC reconnect the rail line and 4 supply at Kherson


Russian move:
Finland


North


South,
Russians pick out three units north west of Donbas mines and bomb with four TACS and two SACs. Four German Fighters and one Finish Fighters intercept. The Russians have nine Fighters some are repaired and five intercept, heavy air battle, probably even. The three units are all killed, two German Corps and one German Mech. Russian pull back the flanking Corps around Kherson and move in some fresh Corps, but what we really need is some Fighters to stop the TAC's attacks. But can not spare any Fighters from the main offense in the Donbass - Stalino area, even though the Russians have nine Fighters, half are repaired each turn and half fly against the Axis five or six Fighters each turn.


Caucasus

[Morris]

very professional AAR ! Much better than mine !

[Carlos_Danger]

Turn 64. February 12, 1943

Russian Front: Third turn of Severe Winter

North


South: Russians pick out three units around the Donbass mines and bomb with four TACS and two SACs. Four German Fighters and one Finish Fighters intercept. The Russians have nine Fighters some are repaired and five intercept, heavy air battle, probably even. Russian Fighter are becoming veterans and I've seen some German TAC and German Fighters become quadruple veterans. Two units are killed, two German Corps. A Bulgaria Garrison was not bombed but was also attacked and killed. Now the Russians have a four hex attack on the entrench German Mech in Stalino.


Caucasus

[Carlos_Danger]

Turn 65. March 4, 1943

Atlantic:
Two German Subs attack and sink an American transport.


German sub is sunk by two escort DDs


Med


Russian Front: Fourth turn of Severe Winter

Germans launch a late winter offense, killing two Russian Corps and leaving a Russian Corp at 2 steps Germans also move the entrench German Mech in Stalino forward to surround a Russian Guard Corp, then Manstien Mech moves into Stalino.


Germans attack a Garrison in the Caucasus


Russian moves:
Finland


North


South: Russians pick out three units around Stalino and bomb with four TACS and two SACs. Four German Fighters and one Finish Fighters intercept. The Russians have nine Fighters some are repaired and five intercept, heavy air battle, probably even. Three units are killed, two German Mech and a German Armor. Stalino captured and Manstien sent on R&R for one turn. Surrounded Russian Guard Corp is rejoined to main Russian attacking front.





Caucasus

[Carlos_Danger]

Turn 66. March 24, 1943
Russian Front: End of Severe Winter, just regular Winter.

German move:
The Germans attack from four hexes and kill Russian Guard Corp near Stalino, looks like two German TACs were used.


German Mech continue to bang up Russian Garrisons on the left flank of the Caucasus defense.


Med: a second Greek Partisan appears, this make the Italians rail in an Italian Corp to protect the rail station. Which make my plans much more difficult for the English.


Russian move:

Finland: starting to remove garrisons for summer of 43 duty down south


North: notice the German line is changing from a Corp line to a Garrison line


South: No Russian attacks, pulled back Russian Guard units and railed in a double row of garrisons at Stalino and Donbass mines. Try for a defensive line at the Dnepr and Desna




Caucasus: repaired damaged garrisons on the left flank. There is no way the Germans could be going for Baku! I will see soon.


There could be heavy fighting in Russia this Summer (43). So the allies decide to lend a hand.

Med: Greek partisan and an amphibious landing by an English garrison cut the rail line to Athens. English prepare a large amphibious landing in Greece. I don't like to invade Greece, but it certain looks easier than Sicily.


West: Two paratroopers land an attack the German garrison in Cherbourg, leaving the garrison cut off, in the red and at 2 steps. Two English Mech prepare to land. Also conducted the Allies very first Strategic bombing run of the game, German fighter intercept and fight an America Fighter 2-2 over the Ruhr.


English DD sweep the path to Murmansk for the soon coming Russian Convoy and hit a German sub.


It is still winter, but the Germans have started their 43 offense, and the Russians have ended their winter offense so I'll post causalities:

End of Summer of 42 Casualties


End of Winter 42/43


Math
German Casualties: Infantry 111 (3) Mech 53 (1) Air 106 (0)
Infantry 177 (7) Mech 102 (5) Air 170 (0)
Germans lost 4 Infantry units, 3 Mech, 1 Armor and lost 64 air points, in the Winter of 42/43 Campaign.
Russian Casualties: Infantry 839 (61) Mech 108 (4) Air 51 (0)
Infantry 987 (69) Mech 136 (4) Air 110 (0)
Russians lost 7 Infantry units and no Mech no Armor and 59 air points.
So the Winter air battle was about even Russian lost 59 and the Germans lost 64 air points.

[Carlos_Danger]

Turn 67. April 13, 1943

Russian Front: regular Winter.

Finland


North, a single line of garrison, we'll see how it holds in the summer.


South
German move: German Infantry kill four Russian garrisons and capture Stalino.


South Russian move: Russians try and hold the line in the south.


Caucasus is static.


West: Fair
Med:
Italian Corp tries to regain rail access to Athens, by attacking Greek partisan on a mountain hex. The Greek partisan does not retreat.



With Athens cut off, more landings in Greece.


West:
German move: German subs attack the English BB and force it to retreat opening up an attack on the landing craft with a sub.


English SACs and DD and BB sink a German sub. Cherbourg captured by paratroopers.

[Carlos_Danger]

Turn 68. May 3, 1943
Russian Front: first turn of Summer, Fair.

Finland
German move: German Corps kill the Russian garrison guarding the mines


North, Looks like axis minor Fighter bombs a garrison.


Center,Germans advance towards Bryansk.


South, Germans attack across the front, kill mostly garrisons, probably four or five.


Caucasus, One German SAC and Three German Mech attack a Russian Corp in the Mountains, leaving it at 2 steps.


West, English land two Mech on the beach head. German Fighters spotted and one is attacked with an English Fighter.


Med, German para lands in Greece next to two Allied Mech units at 9 steps. I thought you needed air superiority to do para jumps? On the hex that the para jumped into, the allies had 5 CVs and 2 Fighters that covered the hex and they all were on Combat Air Patrol and the para lands at 9 steps and no Axis Fighters any where around?


Allies move: Para double bombed and double attack and lucky it retreats.


Russian moves:
Finland, garrisons attack Finish partisan


North


Center/South, Retreat! Russian Guard Armor attacks German Corp near Bryansk. Paratrooper left in Kharkov.




Caucasus, swap a fresh Corp with 2 step corp in the Mountains.

[Carlos_Danger]

Turn 69. May 23, 1943

West, Germans Fighters move back, English bring in one Mech and two fighters to the beach head. The Italians seem to be bring in more material than the English.


Med, English land another Corp to attack Athens. Athens left at 5 steps. A German Mech is brought in to northern Greece.


Russian Front German move:
Finland, Three Axis Corps kill another Russian garrison and isolate Leningrad for the first time in the war!


North, German Infantry attacks the single line of Russian garrisons in two spots in the North. One garrison holds the line and one garrison retreats.


Center, Germans advance, killing the para in Kharkov and a Corp behind it.


South, no advance towards Stalingrad.


Caucasus, German SAC, three TACs and four Mech attack and kill the fresh Russian Corp in a Mountain hex. Germans launch an amphibious assault on Baku!


Russian Front Russian move:

Finland, railed a Russian corp to Petrozavodsk. Leningrad is going to have to hold out with a Corp and and two garrison.


North, Novgorod reinforced with a second line.


Center, Russians Retreat!


South, no movement towards Stalingrad.


Caucasus, fill all the landing zones to try and stop the landing around Baku! Railed one Corp and one Guard Corp to the Caspian Sea ports to be sent to Baku.

[GogTheMild]

"I thought you needed air superiority to do para jumps? On the hex that the para jumped into, the allies had 5 CVs and 2 Fighters that covered the hex and they all were on Combat Air Patrol and the para lands at 9 steps and no Axis Fighters any where around?"

The hex where the Para landed was already Axis controlled. Paras take no step losses - no matter what the 'prediction' is - and lose no Efficiency - not even the 5 lost my a normal ground move - by paradropping into a friendly hex. The 1 step loss will be your FTR intercept. That's all you get.

[Carlos_Danger]

Gog, I did not know that, thanks for explaining it to me!
If anyone has any tips or ideas on how to battle Morris, I could certainly use a few ideas!

[Cybvep]

This is a very interesting and a rather unusual game. The SU's position is tough, but maybe the Germans will be too busy in the East to make a sucessful counterattack in the West.

[Morris]

This is a very interesting and a rather unusual game. The SU's position is tough, but maybe the Germans will be too busy in the East to make a sucessful counterattack in the West.

yes , quite unusual & interesting ! It is quite difficult to analysis what will happen in this dramatic pbem .

[Carlos_Danger]

Turn 70. June 12, 1943

West, English bring in one Corp to the beach head. But the Italians, still seem to be bring in more material than the English. It's the Phoney War 43 version.


Med, Athens attacked and left at 2 steps.


Russian Front, German Move:
Finland, Three Axis Corps continue their killing rampaging, killing another Russian garrison. German Infantry also attack a Russian Corp north of Novgorod.


North, German Infantry attack towards Rzhev.


Center, Germans advance and kill a garrison a Corp and a Guard Corp.


South, no movement towards Stalingrad.


Caucasus, German Corp lands and captures an oil well, the hex north of Baku! Must of been with heavy TAC support, the amphibious invasion, forced back a Russian Corp and left it at 4 steps. The oil well is a supply source of one, as there are no ships in the Caspian Sea. Above on the coast a German Mech kill a garrison and continue their slow march to Baku, but there are no more mountain hexes along the coast to stop them! I thought it was impossible to take Baku, but I never thought of an amphibious invasion, I have to reconsider the defense of Baku!


Russian Front, Russian Move:

Finland, Russians do nothing in Finland, but repair all units fighting Army Group North.


Center, Retreat! The Corps that did not make it into the forest are all going to die, sadly. This has been a poorly executed retreat from Stalino to Moscow, many dead garrison and Corp units. Since so many Russian Infantry die on the retreat, Moscow is reinforced with two Corp builds and two Corps railed from Stalingrad.






Caucasus, This Fight for Baku is all new to me, I didn't think it was possible! But I think Morris has played this scenario before. Not sure on the best way to defend Baku at this point. The most obvious way would be to launch an attack out of Stalingrad to cut off the Caucasus. Three points A) In this game whenever I have tried to cut off the German Army the TACs bomb the spearhead troops to death which has always ended badly. B) I think Morris is expecting this. C) The Russian are really pressed at this point, they can not spare the troops for the attack out of Stalingrad.

So instead; I never thought I would ever issue these commands, Stalin orders the Red Air force into the Karakum Desert! And a Guard Mech is rail to Aktau! You know things are getting bad when you have never hear of these places!

[Carlos_Danger]

Turn 71. July, 2 1943.

West


English bring in a paratrooper unit. More phoney war.


Med




Athens Falls!



American CV takes a look at an empty Italy.


Russian front:

German move:
Finland, Three Axis Corp advance towards Petrozavodsk.


North
Three Corp and one garrison die south of Moscow. Earlier in the Summer I did not think I needed my Garrisons any more, it's 43 they are going to be useless soon. So I sent them to their death around the Donbass mines to act as a speed bump to help the retreating Guard units. I wish I had my Garrison units now!




South
Stalingrad nothing


Caucasus
Hungarians kill a Russian Corp and come ashore taking a second oil well! The Russian Corp entrenched in Baku is attacked and left at a perilous 3 steps! Another German amphibious unit is on its way! The German Mechs move closer to Baku, there is only a Russian garrison that is in clear terrain between the German land forces and the beach head!



Russian Move:
North


Railed paratrooper from Stalingrad to Moscow, abandon Tula. Put up five fighters all at 10 steps for combat air patrol. Have to Defend Moscow.


South
Nothing towards Stalingrad, but Stalingrad is becoming weaker as units get railed for the defense of Moscow.


Caucasus
Two TACs from our secret air bases in the Karakum Desert double bomb the German transport, which is left barely floating at one step. No German fighters intercept, it is beyond their range! More Red Air force brought into the Karakum Desert. A Russian Guard Corp moves into Baku! I guess the Germans will attack Baku next turn, The German corp is at 50 effectiveness and the Hungarian corp is at 40 effectiveness, both are at a supply of one. But it is the TACs that do the heavy lifting, the TACs are quadruple veterans and have ground attack of 4 and a shock of 10, they are killers!



I don't usually fight around Baku so I am not sure if this is a bug or a feature? A Russian Guard Corp is in Baku, but the Hungarian unit on the oil well owns the port? I thought the ports were always associated with the cities? I don't think Morris realizes that he now owns the port, so he could transport units port to port now! His transports are very vulnerable on the open water and no German fighter coverage either!