Joerock22 (Allies) v. Ftgcritt2 (Axis) - The War is Over

[rkr1958]

Does anyone know what the objective was for the Axis in the Real North African Campaign ?

Reference: http://home.comcast.net/~dhsetzer/Mork/ ... a_1942.pdf

Shortly after the forceful British attacks on the El Alamein front, supply became paramount, especially
gasoline and ammunition. The British attacks were brought to a standstill and they dug in, as much as
anyone can dig into the rock-hard desert floor. Rommel was now planning a renewed major attack by
the combined German and Italian armored divisions that would push the British back and finally open
the road to Cairo. Getting that done would require a huge amount of men and material. The long
awaited offensive began August 31, 1942 but had to be broken off on September 2, 1942. Once again
we had fallen short and Alexandria and Cairo lay even farther away. Nevertheless, in spite of , or rather
because of that setback we had to attempt to bring even more supply to the front. Rommel still wanted
Torre de Annunzio (Photo from the
collection of Werner Mork)
to beat the British 8th Army so that the way to Egypt would be wide open for our combined forces.
Like before, the plan was to reach the Suez Canal, then roll over Palestine and push toward Iran. There
the forces would be united with the German armies on the Eastern Front. From there they would cross
the Caucasus and move into India where they would finally defeat the English! This was not a
brainless phantasy of army privates or mental patients, these were the real projections of the German
Army leadership under the direction of their Chief, Adolf Hitler.

[Clark]

Does anyone know what the objective was for the Axis in the Real North African Campaign ?

Reference: http://home.comcast.net/~dhsetzer/Mork/ ... a_1942.pdf

Shortly after the forceful British attacks on the El Alamein front, supply became paramount, especially
gasoline and ammunition. The British attacks were brought to a standstill and they dug in, as much as
anyone can dig into the rock-hard desert floor. Rommel was now planning a renewed major attack by
the combined German and Italian armored divisions that would push the British back and finally open
the road to Cairo. Getting that done would require a huge amount of men and material. The long
awaited offensive began August 31, 1942 but had to be broken off on September 2, 1942. Once again
we had fallen short and Alexandria and Cairo lay even farther away. Nevertheless, in spite of , or rather
because of that setback we had to attempt to bring even more supply to the front. Rommel still wanted
Torre de Annunzio (Photo from the
collection of Werner Mork)
to beat the British 8th Army so that the way to Egypt would be wide open for our combined forces.
Like before, the plan was to reach the Suez Canal, then roll over Palestine and push toward Iran. There
the forces would be united with the German armies on the Eastern Front. From there they would cross
the Caucasus and move into India where they would finally defeat the English! This was not a
brainless phantasy of army privates or mental patients, these were the real projections of the German
Army leadership under the direction of their Chief, Adolf Hitler.

I'm reading the Philip K. Dick novel The Man in the High Castle right now. In the alternate history he presents there, Rommel was able to conquer Egypt, drive through the Middle East and capture the oilfields, go all the way through the Caucasus and link up with Von Paulus to relieve him at Stalingrad and utterly destroy the Russian armies there. And in the alternate history presented in the book within the book, it is the British who save the day at Stalingrad, helping the beleaguered Russians turn the tables on the Germans. They had previously captured Rommel in North Africa and then sent forces to Russia to help them out.

Not that alternate history is real history!

[rkr1958]

Does anyone know what the objective was for the Axis in the Real North African Campaign ?

Shortly after the forceful British attacks on the El Alamein front, supply became paramount, especially
gasoline and ammunition. The British attacks were brought to a standstill and they dug in, as much as
anyone can dig into the rock-hard desert floor. Rommel was now planning a renewed major attack by
the combined German and Italian armored divisions that would push the British back and finally open
the road to Cairo. Getting that done would require a huge amount of men and material. The long
awaited offensive began August 31, 1942 but had to be broken off on September 2, 1942. Once again
we had fallen short and Alexandria and Cairo lay even farther away. Nevertheless, in spite of , or rather
because of that setback we had to attempt to bring even more supply to the front. Rommel still wanted
Torre de Annunzio (Photo from the
collection of Werner Mork)
to beat the British 8th Army so that the way to Egypt would be wide open for our combined forces.
Like before, the plan was to reach the Suez Canal, then roll over Palestine and push toward Iran. There
the forces would be united with the German armies on the Eastern Front. From there they would cross
the Caucasus and move into India where they would finally defeat the English! This was not a
brainless phantasy of army privates or mental patients, these were the real projections of the German
Army leadership under the direction of their Chief, Adolf Hitler.

I'm reading the Philip K. Dick novel The Man in the High Castle right now. In the alternate history he presents there, Rommel was able to conquer Egypt, drive through the Middle East and capture the oilfields, go all the way through the Caucasus and link up with Von Paulus to relieve him at Stalingrad and utterly destroy the Russian armies there. And in the alternate history presented in the book within the book, it is the British who save the day at Stalingrad, helping the beleaguered Russians turn the tables on the Germans. They had previously captured Rommel in North Africa and then sent forces to Russia to help them out.

Not that alternate history is real history!

Clark, You quoted me too fast. You quote me in between my initial post and my edit. Darn.

[Clark]

Clark, You quoted me too fast. You quote me in between my initial post and my edit. Darn.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

[rkr1958]

Clark, You quoted me too fast. You quote me in between my initial post and my edit. Darn.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Neither do I.

[joerock22]

April 18, 1942

The Russians stop their withdrawal and make final preparations for spring. Scientists develop Blitzkreig Lv. 2 and Armour Lv. 2 just in time, and all Soviet tanks are upgraded. The first screenshot shows the eastern front on the eve of renewed fighting.

The western Allies take advantage of the clear weather and begin a massive strategic bombing campaign over Germany and France. Paris, Essen, and the Ruhr are all hit. The British also invaded Ireland, seeking to eliminate the corridor in the central Atlantic where the u-boats can currently operate freely.

To my surprise, Frank repaired the Italian tank in Tobruk. It means the fortress will hold longer, but I think he would have been better off letting that unit die instead of spending resources on repairs. The Italians will soon need every PP to counter Allied landings in Sicily, Sardinia, and on the mainland. The British also purchased a 3rd infantry lab.

[joerock22]

May 8, 1942

It seems the Germans are going to go on the defensive. Very well! I will bide my time and build up my forces, attacking late summer and carrying the momentum over into severe winter. Two more Russian tanks were purchased this turn. The problem is my air force, which is still at only 3 fighters and 3 bombers (1 Strat). German tech is still superior, so I will need to devote substantial resources in this area.

The DAK was finally destroyed in Libya, though not before it took 3 steps off one of my fighters. A little carelessness on my part, but a good move by Frank. I continue to work on Tobruk, but the garrison occupying Benghazi has been evacutated. That's fine; when I get to it, I get to it.

The bombing campaign over Europe continues, with the Ruhr now producing nothing and Essen not far behind. No sign of German fighers yet. The Irish continue to be a stubborn bunch, with Dublin only reduced to 5 steps despite 2 fighter and 2 infantry attacks. A large American armada sets sail from the east coast, bound for the Med. And if the Portuguese continue to refuse our very reasonable requests for bomber bases in their homeland, then who knows what could happen...

[joerock22]

May 28, 1942

The Germans revealed some of their strength in shifting their line around; at least 7 tanks! The Russians won't be going anywhere in the next few months. We have reached a stalemate; neither one of us feels strong enough to attack the other. Time is on my side; the worst thing I can do now is attack before I am fully prepared. I am, however, planning a minor offensive against Finland soon.

The British nearly take Tobruk and Dublin. Those Irish are really stubborn! Bombing was expanded to hit the Schloven oil facility, and soon Essen and Paris will join the Ruhr at 0 production. I don't think I'll win because the Axis run out of oil, but you never know.

The American armada continues toward Gibraltar; right now their income is barely covering transport overpay expenses. The British purchase General Montgomery to join Alexander in North Africa. I will probably build O'Connor to take command in England.

[rkr1958]

The British nearly take Tobruk and Dublin. Those Irish are really stubborn!

It was St. Pat's day yesterday! I would have thought they'd have been hung over. Maybe that just made them meaner.

[joerock22]

The British nearly take Tobruk and Dublin. Those Irish are really stubborn!

It was St. Pat's day yesterday! I would have thought they'd have been hung over. Maybe that just made them meaner.

No, instead of fighting for the day, they challenged the British to a drinking game, and can you guess who held their liquor better?

[rkr1958]

The British nearly take Tobruk and Dublin. Those Irish are really stubborn!

It was St. Pat's day yesterday! I would have thought they'd have been hung over. Maybe that just made them meaner.

No, instead of fighting for the day, they challenged the British to a drinking game, and can you guess who held their liquor better?

Ahh ... that explains it. It was the British that was hung over.

[joerock22]

June 17, 1942

The British capture Tobruk and Benghazi. I will launch an invasion of Crete next turn. Other than that, just some strategic bombing and minor combat in Finland. The u-boats are attacking the Russian convoy now since my bombers are all in England, but a destroyer escort force is on the way (4 American, 2 British).

[joerock22]

July 7, 1942

The British launch the planned invasion of Crete, while the Americans close in on Sicily from the west. The Russians continued their offensive in Finland, nearly cutting Axis forces off from supply. British sub-hunters move to the new Irish airbases to patrol the Central Atlantic.

The Russians purchase 2 new fighters. I will continue to expand the Red Air Force over the next few turns, as I think I have plenty of ground forces for now.

[joerock22]

July 27, 1942

The Russians cut the Axis forces in Finland off from supply and push toward Helsinki. The entire Red Air Force is brought up to support the offensive.

The Western Allies capture Heraklion, but otherwise don't have a very good turn. The RAF is soundly beaten by the Luftwaffe over Belgium, and my Strats in Ireland only knock 4 steps off a sub, despite each of them having 5:0 odds. All 4 British Strats are now on sub-hunting duty, with the 3 American ones bombing production. That's the way I specialized them from the start, and that's how I maximize their strengths. Also, an American DD ran into a sub off Spain, and will probably be sunk next turn. I hope there isn't another naval fiasco in the works...

Landings were prepared to capture the surprisingly empty cities on Sicily and Sardinia. The Russians purchased 2 new Tacs. It is clear the RAF needs an effectiveness boost, so the British will purchase O'Connor next turn for deployment to England, and the current 4-rank general will be shipped to Scotland to command any bombers in the area.

[joerock22]

September 5, 1942

A few turns have passed since my last update. Sicily and Sardinia have been conquered, but I took a look at the defenses in southern Italy and they are too strong. So for now I will turn my attention to Greece and Yugoslavia, where I have prepared massive landings. This is mainly just a sideshow; the real campaign will be the 1943 invasion of Italy, for which I will probably need reinforcements from the USA. I also plan an 1943 invasion of France and a Soviet offensive into Poland.

Speaking of the Russians, they just conquered Finland. I won't try to do anything in the Baltic immediately, but it's nice to have that option. Give the Germans something else to think about.

[gerones]

This game is showing us how a weak and late Barbarossa in the eastern front can be bad for the axis. You, as the axis, simply can´t build as many submarines as fgtcritt has built with the result of a weak Barbarossa. The massive german submarine project began in 1942 and reached its cenit by mid 1943.

To make things worse, an excessive (and failed) offensive strategy in north Africa since we all know it´s very difficult to reach the Irak oilfields via Suez channel.

[joerock22]

Yep. I find that I can usually get 6-8 subs by late 1941 and still have a strong Barbarossa. But that's only if I don't do anything else, like invade England or North Africa. If things are going well I can build a few more in 1942-43.

[gerones]

Yep. I find that I can usually get 6-8 subs by late 1941 and still have a strong Barbarossa. But that's only if I don't do anything else, like invade England or North Africa. If things are going well I can build a few more in 1942-43.

That´s right. Since if you really want to make a significant damage on allied convoys system you need more than 10 german sub units available in 1942.

Let me include in this your thread this interesting reading about both german and american submarine WW2 campaigns and their consequences: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/hi ... aigns.html

[trulster]

Yep. I find that I can usually get 6-8 subs by late 1941 and still have a strong Barbarossa. But that's only if I don't do anything else, like invade England or North Africa. If things are going well I can build a few more in 1942-43.

What is the value though, of building more subs that late? By that time the Allies will have enough range with their bombers that they can cover all of the Atlantic. So, the cost of repairing subs will exceed what damage you can inflict. Of course, having them around as a threat does force bombers to be on station for this duty, but is there a need to build more than the 6-8 from the early war?

[rkr1958]

Yep. I find that I can usually get 6-8 subs by late 1941 and still have a strong Barbarossa. But that's only if I don't do anything else, like invade England or North Africa. If things are going well I can build a few more in 1942-43.

You guys must be more efficient than me. I can generally get 6 subs built; but one thing I like to do is to deploy a three bombers, of which at least 1 is a strategic bomber, a fighter and leader to and around Bergen, Norway. Then use 3 to 5 u-boats under this air umbrella to interdict the Murmansk convoy. If the allies move escorts in to protect the convoy then I go after the escorts to discourage this in later turns. If they don't then I use the u-boats and air to destroy the Murmansk convoy. In a game I just finished as the axis I used this strategy. The allies in 1941 tried to protect the convoy and I made them paid. After that I stopped most of the PPs from the Murmansk convoys from getting through until the allies finally got the upper hand there in the fall of 1944.