AAR: Horseman (Axis) v AI (Allied)

[Horseman]

march 9, 1942 - Loses mount for both sides in the Atlantic! Another convoy risks the northern run!

Research

Oil reserves at 361

Uboat flotillas 2, 3, 4 & 5 swarm the RNs 1st carrier squadron and sink it losing only 1 step between them.
The Highseas fleet and Uboat flotilla 1 head for the UK and he safety of a port.
The Italian navy along with the German 1st Carrier group head west locating another convoy and the UK destroyer flotila.

Uboat Flotilla 6 sets off towards the battle and the Italian 1st Carrier fleet makes way towards the Suez canal.

AGCa - Baku taken
AGCa plan of attack after winter


AGN - The Luftwaffe destroyer the new Russian fighter unit near Moscow losing a step and their bombers knock 2 steps off the new armoured corps.
AGN plan of attack after winter

Note: I will bypass that northern city and head strait for Perm.

AGC - Destroy a Russian corps that moved forward and forced another back reduced to 3 steps.
AGC plan of attack after winter

The cities beyond Moscow will be attacked primarily to hopefully draw defences away from Perm.

AGS - No action!
AGS plan of attack after winter

These guys are loookign to link up with AGCa but their main purpose is to draw out Russian PPs defending unimportant locations!

The new Luftflotte 13 (fighter) rebases to Edinburgh, Italian 17 Corps (garrison) rails to Riga replacing 8 Corps who rails to Leningrad. !6 Corps (corps unit) rails to Copenhagen.
A new corps unit deploys to Essen and a new Italian corps to Milan.
Germany purchase a new BB and Lees (+1def) and save 142 PPs, Italy save all their 61PPs

Allied turn
The northern convoy continues on with the UK Destroyer in attendance.
The US Battleship Division appears on the scene.
Counter attacks against AGCa reduce 3 Panzer Korps to 4 steps

Summary:
Another BB purchased and I will continue strengthening my fleet now as I feel my ground forces are probably adequate for the task.
Not much longer for the advance to start again in Russia

[Horseman]

March 19, 1942

Research


Casualties

Italy builds their 3rd Naval lab.

The Atlantic

The Italian Surface fleet sinks the UK Destroyer.
The 1st Carrier Group and Uboat flotilla 5 sink the US 5th Battleship Division.
The Convoy is reduced to 14 steps
Highseas Fleet and Uboat flotilla 1 reach ports in the UK.

AGCa - German ground units repair or upgrade whislt the Luftwaffe and Italians reduce 1 Rusian Corps to 3 steps.

Russian defences around Moscow


3 fighters from AGN & AGC detroy the Russian tac bomber all losing 1 step in the process. The 4th fighter Luftflotte repairs to full strength. The tac bombers punish the Russian armoured unit at the front losing a step allowing 7 Panzer to move forward and destroy the unit.

18 Italian Corps rails to Lyons and 48 Korps moves to Hague ready to transer to the UK.
Leeb deploys to 44 Panzer Korps.

Germany Purchase a Sub and a Carrier

Allied turn
A RAF tac bomber his Uboat flotilla 5 knocking out 4 steps leaving them only 3 strong!

Summary:
I'm very happy with my ground and air strengths and doubt I'll need to purchase any more units unless something goes majorly wrong. I shall continue building naval units to achieve complete mastery of the Atlantic ready for future invasion forces heading for Canada and USA!

[Horseman]

April 18, 1942 - As the last of the Russian snows melt Axis forces beging a new offensive!

Research



The German Infantry and Armoured labs will remain without focus
Once I have Dogfight at 80% I'll switch focus on the air lab to Close air support untill that reaches level 5 then I'll switch that to Strategic operations
Naval will stay focused on subs until maxed out before switching to surface ships
My general lab will stay focused on organisation until maxed then will obviously switch to radar
Italian labs will stay as is except for the General labs that will switch focus to organisation once Industry is at level 3
Resources and minimap

oils looking healthy again and with more Russian oil falling into my hands I predict no future issues here
German manpower i sholding steady at 95% and Italys at 103%

In the Atlantic the convoy is fininised by Uboat flotillas 6 & 3, Flotillas 4 & 5 head for port as badly damaged, Flotilla 2 heads west scouting for another convoy. All other naval units hang back keeping their distance from mainland Canada.

AGCa - I realise that all the Russian units here are out of supply...With air support the Italians easily take another oil well and reduce the last Russian Corps to 2 steps. German units upgrade and repair

AGN

The damaged Luftflotte repair and Luftflotte 3 knocks a step off of a motrised corps near Moscow.
All other ground units swarm eastwards


AGC

The new Russian armourd corps is wiped out and a motorised corps is badly damaged


AGS

Voronech falls costing me heavy casualties.


Germany Purchase a sub and a Carrier, Italy a Carrier.
Oil ends at 282 and manpower levels are down to Germay=93% Italy=102%

Allied turn
A limited counter attack by Russian forces casuses few casualties

Summary:
Well I should be able to crack the defenses of Moscow fairly easily....If perm is not heavily guarded then this is probably all over already bar the shouting!
Once Russia is out I'll probably go for Sweden, Algeria and Spain/Portugal just because I can and then set up an Invasion of Canada and the USA, to that end I'll continue building up my Navy and will focus on Carriers to counter the allied bombers that have cause pretty heavy damage to a couple of my naval units.

[Horseman]

May 8, 1942 - Moscow stands almost defensless

Research

With organisation 4 completed Germany switches her general focus to radar as both other areas are maxed out! I'll get radar to level 4 as this helps with ships defence and air attack so highly useful for my carriers but after that I'll sell some labs to boost another area as I dont think boasts to citys defences will be required much now!

The Axis navy holds position waiting for another convoy to happen by except for the units heading to or repairing in port and of course the Italian 1st Carrier Fleet which enters the West Africa loop.

AGCa easily take the last oil field in the area for no loss. Armoured units head north driving for Grozny whilst infantry units prepare to utilise the port. Air units all upgrade.

AGN The main force continues east towards Perm whilst the Luftwaffe and a handful of Corps hang back near Rzhev destroying a Russian Motorised corps that moved up, there is still a corps unit in contact with the city to be dealt with next turn.

AGC Tuln taken, a further Motorised and Corps unit both destroyed outside Moscow leaving the city isolated with only the single corps unit left defending it.

AGS The corps defending Rustov hangs in there with a single step remaining! This is proving to be 1 of the tougher nuts to crack so far...they were bombed and attacked by 2 motorised units (1 German & 1 Italian) and a minor corps unit!
Main force continue eastwards.

A new carrier deploys to Wilhelmshaven.
Germany Purchase another sub and carier unit. Italy save PPs for another research lab

Allied turn
A new convoy appears in the north - 153 strong! The Russians really need those PPs but they'll never make it

Summary:
Its a slow grind now....if (more likely when) Perm and Moscow fall then its over....theres no way the UK reduced only to Canada and the US will ever mount a successfull invasion in Europe with my entire armed forces available to defend france...especially with my apparent control of the Seas!
Question is do I satisfy the meglomaniac in me and conquer every1 before I head for the US?

[Horseman]

May 28, 1942 - Brave defence of Rstov

Research

Italy builds her 4th armour lab. Germany switch air focus to close air support.

The Axis navy pounces reducing the convoy to 93 steps

AGCa Infantry take to the sea ready to land next turn, armoured units cross the mountains

AGN the advance on Perm continues and still no resistance. The Russian Corps unit near Rzhev is destroyed.

AGC The Russians have deployed a new Corps next to Moscow which is destroyed. Moscow now surronded.

AGS Rstov holds again with her corps once more reduced to 1 step....thank god the Russians didn't put up this much of a fight every where else! The siege of Stalingrad begins with air units knocking a step off of the Russian corps unit there. 36 Panzer Korps reaches the outskirts of the city.

A new German destroyer flotilla deploys to Wilhelmshaven and an Italian 1 to Taranto.
germany purchase another carrier (any1 see a pattern here?!)

Allied turn
2 allied tac bombers based on the canadian coast knock out 4 Uboat steps and 2 Italian sub steps! Once more carriers arrive I can start hitting back!

Summary:
Another "slow" turn....I cant see Moscow holding any further than next turn and unless Perm is stacked with units it wont hold for long....even it is stacked with units I dont predict any problems over running it!
I feel now that the AAR has run its course....theres little more to write about and my victory is all but inevitable, I'll see it through to the end but from now on it'll be multiple turns reported in 1 go only as brief summarys. This will also aid me in completing the game quicker and letting me start game number 3, this time as the Allies with the only question being us do I write another AAR about it?!

Well thanks to every1 whos read and those who've posted advice/comments, I hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I've enjoyed writing!

Mike

[Clark]

Summary:
Another "slow" turn....I cant see Moscow holding any further than next turn and unless Perm is stacked with units it wont hold for long....even it is stacked with units I dont predict any problems over running it!
I feel now that the AAR has run its course....theres little more to write about and my victory is all but inevitable, I'll see it through to the end but from now on it'll be multiple turns reported in 1 go only as brief summarys. This will also aid me in completing the game quicker and letting me start game number 3, this time as the Allies with the only question being us do I write another AAR about it?!

Well thanks to every1 whos read and those who've posted advice/comments, I hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I've enjoyed writing!

Mike

FWIW, I've enjoyed reading your AAR very much and hope that you'll continue to give us some updates. Reading the AARs in this forum has inspired me to start playing again, this time against real people. In fact, I might buy a copy for my dad so that we can play online against each other.

From what I remember from playing CEAW last year, as long as you keep on top of those convoys to Russia, you won't have too many problems with the rest of the war. You might encounter unexpected resistance around Perm however, and it is a real beast extricating your army from deep in Russia all the way back to the west once you've completed your conquest of Russia.

[JyriErik]

Here's something to try for. Sudden death victories vs the AI (capture all enemy capitals to end the game immediately. I've managed to get sudden death by mid 1941 with the Allies set to large advantage). "All" that's required is to take Paris, London & Ottawa before the US and/or Russia enters the war. At even or minor Allied advantage I've also managed to take out France, the UK and the US before Russia enters. Haven't achieved that feat at moderate or large advantage yet.

Jyri

[Horseman]

As promised I continue...I'm only reporting very short summarys now so that I can get this game ended!

June 17, 1942 - Moscow falls!
AGN advances close enough to Perm to determine there is only 1 Corps defending the city
Moscow falls as does Rostov (finally!) and Stalingrad

July 7, 1942 - Perm reinforced!
Another northern convoy ends at the bottomof the sea
Grozny and Saratov taken
Perm now has additional forces defending it - 3 more corps, a motorised corps and an armoured corps!

July 27, 1942 - USSR surrenders!
The Russian defences spread out ot defend the surronding countryside allowing Axis forces to make a direct assault on Perm which falls after some hard fighting!

Lots of PPs burnt up on rail moves as eastern forces begin redeplying for operations else where

August 16, 1942 - Axis high command look else where for more conquests
Casualties

Political view

Sweden, Turkey, Spain, Portugal and Algeria all remian steadfast neutrals.....a choice they will come to regret. Of course plans are in motion to launch a seabourne invasion of Canada and the USA

September 5, 1942 - Axis rail networks over stretched as mass redeployment of armed forces

September 25, 1942 - Axis units in rush to evacuate Russia before they become snowed in

October 15, 1942 - Sweden Invaded!

The Swedish airforce is destroyed in the opening days of the attack

November 4, 1942 - 1st invasion ships launched towards the west
The 1st axis units take ship towards Canada
Turkey invaded

November 24, 1942 - Swedish govement forced to surrender
Stockholm garrison fights to the last but it is a futile effort


December 14, 1942 - invasion ships launched towards Algeria

[Horseman]

FWIW, I've enjoyed reading your AAR very much and hope that you'll continue to give us some updates. Reading the AARs in this forum has inspired me to start playing again, this time against real people. In fact, I might buy a copy for my dad so that we can play online against each other.

From what I remember from playing CEAW last year, as long as you keep on top of those convoys to Russia, you won't have too many problems with the rest of the war. You might encounter unexpected resistance around Perm however, and it is a real beast extricating your army from deep in Russia all the way back to the west once you've completed your conquest of Russia.

Thanks for the kind words its always nice to hear some ones enjoyed reading...and that goes for every1 whos commented throughout

I agree with stopping the Russian convoys....when I think how many 100s of PPs I've stopped getting through I realise just how many units I've stopped Russia building! And yes its a beast getting your units back out with no rail network beyond Moscow!

[Horseman]

January 3, 1943 - Algeria invaded!
Axis forces land in Algeria
Canadian invasion force assembled at sea protected by Axis navy

January 23, 1943 - Axis forces spotted off the coast of Canada! Spain invaded!
The allied air force protecting Canada has grown in size to include 3 Tac bombers (1 UK, 2 US) and 1 US fighter
The RAF and the US fighter are destroyed by the Axis carrier fleets...a total of 5 German and 1 Italian units.
The 4 Axis BBs attack a convoy whilst the sub fleet (9 German and 1 Italian) head south to intercept any allied shipping that heads up to disrupt the invasion)
The 1st invasion wave are on the Canadian coast ready to land next turn
2 more German carriers and 1 Italian are close enough to arrive next turn with a further 2 German carriers and 1 BB enroute
Axis units cross the Spanish boarder
Ankara is taken by the Italians


February 12, 1943 - Canada Invaded!
The sub fleet locate 2 UK destroyers, 1 carrier and a US BB.
The Destroyers are sunk, the carrier reduced to 8 steps and the BB to 2!
The 2 US tac bombers rebased futher inland but not far enough...both are destroyed by the carriers
A RAF fighter reveals itself near Ottawa
BBs contiue hitting the convoy
The 1st wave makes landfall in Canada including several Luftflotte, both Destroyers move to provide supply and the 2nd wave is on the Canadian coast
Another US fighter shows up..

March 4, 1943 - Axis forces advance across Canada!
The RAF fighter unit near Ottawa is destroyed by carriers...Ottawa defences revealed

The new US fighter is also destroyed revealing a rather large build up near Halifax

The US BB is sunk and the UK carrier reduced to 2 steps
Tunis taken
Bilbao taken

March 24, 1943 - Sky over Canada filled with German planes!
Carriers and BBs bombard US ground troops near Halifax
Algiers taken

April 13, 1943 - Royal navy utterly destroyed
The UK carrier is finally sunk
The US armoured corps takes a pounding but survives
Spanish amroured corps destroyed and Madrid encircled

May 3, 1943 - Spain surrenders
Another US fighter unit destroyed
US armoured corps destroyed
Sub fleet form a line in the south to intercept any incoming convoy
Madrid falls

Convoy runs strait into the sub screen...thats why I did it!

May 23, 1943 - Gibralter comes under attack
Convoy destroyed
Giblater comes under attack from Italian Carrier fleets and the Luftwaffe, the arison barely stops 20 Panzer Korps with only 1 step remaining

June 12, 1943 - Portugal come under attack
Ottawa assaulted by air and land but holds fast
The Axis navy switch focus to US Motorised corps
Gibralter falls to the Germans!
Portugal invaded
Sub line reforms ready for next victem....a convoy arrives again
Northern convoy spotted....no way past Axis fleet!

July 2, 1943 - Portugal overrun! Cassablanca taken without a fight! Canadian army holds fast!
Ottawa barely holds on
US motorised corps destroyed by carriers
Casablanca undefended is taken
Lisbon falls


July 22, 1943 - Canadians dig their heels in
Ottawa still holds on!
More US units destroyed near Halifax

August 11, 1943 - UK goverment captured at Ottawa! Axis Oil reserves at critical level!
Ottawa is over run after heavy air bombardment
Another US fighter (as well as another corps) knocked out
The Italian carriers newly arrived from the med knock out a US tac bomber near Washington
Oil reserves down to 48!!!! EEK - I'd not been keeping an eye on this as with all the oil fields nder my control I thought I'd be ok......guess all those Carriers burn a lot of oil...and all my air/armoured and motrised units constantly moving and/or attacking!


August 31, 1943 - US soil invaded!
Oil is at 184....at least I'm making plenty, I just need to be carefull
Casualties to date

Political situation

Now the world is looking happier.....nothing I can do about the land in Algeria and Egypt as they have no Capital!
Another US tac bomber knocked out by the Italians and 2 more corps knocked out near Halifax
52 oil left

September 20, 1943 - Washington comes under attack from above!
Portland holds on...just!
Washington finds itself under attack from the Italian Carriers
Oil down to 8...
A US Destroyer takes to the sea...either mighty brave or mighty stupid!

October 10, 1943 - US army foced to give ground!
The US Destroyer is sunk
Portland taken
Bostan comes under attack form the carriers before being over run
A new US tac bomber knocked down to 1 step

October 30, 1943 - New York becomes a battle ground! Axis forces paralyzed by oil shortage!
The US tac bomber is knocked out
New York taken
Oil reserves empty!

November 19, 1943 - Washington burns!
1000s of Axis planes from the carriers hammer into Washington, the defending corps just hangs on with 1 step stopping the Panzer Korps from over running the city
Halifax taken off of the US forces that had occuppied it

December 9, 1943 - THE WAR IS OVER!
Washington falls


Does not include the millions of civilians who lost their lives


Well that is most definately it! A highly enjoyable game ending with total victory!
I feel I've learned a fair bit on how he game plays and have most definately inproved my strategy since my 1st game!
Well i'm onto game number 3....this time I'll see if I can stop the Nazis war machine

Thanks all for reading and doubly to those who contributed with comments and/or advice, se you on my next AAR

Mike

[ftgcritt2]

You should try a human opponent. It makes the game INFINITELY more fun. It's more challenging too, even if you're playing someone who has no idea what they're doing.

[Horseman]

You should try a human opponent. It makes the game INFINITELY more fun. It's more challenging too, even if you're playing someone who has no idea what they're doing.

Indeed once I've finished my game as the Allies I plan on joining the PBEM comunity