Slitherine

Turn 51 - 28 May 1942

UK develops dogfight to level 2 and the US reaches Organisation level 3

The Task force that orginated from the UK is now off the coast of Portugal.


I keep on bombing Paris as well, but otherwise it's quiet in the Atlantic.


Dispositions in the Desert at the start of the turn

In Libya I hit the STR bomber by Tripoli with BBs and CV to minimise the possible future damage it could do to my US troop transports. I manage to knock it down to 4-steps. Two more US transports enter the Red Sea loop and two enter Eastern Med loop as well.



It's been quiet in the North for a long time now.

On the Russian front, Case Blue starts, I lose 2 ARMs, 1 MECH and an INF. I left the ARMs in the front-line, which was a bit dumb. I retreat my troops to behind the Dneiper, hopefully Frank will follow into the salient, atlhough it's a long wait until Winter before I can attempt to pinch the salient. Ploesti is down to zero production. I wonder how Frank's oil reserves are going? Will he continue the Summer offensive?


The USSR buys a FTR & an INF. The US buys a CV.

Turn 52 - 17 June 1942

UK reaches Blitzkrieg level 1, Warships level 3 and ASW level 5. USA gets to Subs level 3.

I lose the step-5 MECH that was isolated on the wrong side of the Dneiper, but otherwise Frank's entering the bulge that I want to him too, hopefully thinning his lines to do so. I place another FTR on the Southern front, I now have more FTRs than Frank, which should hurt his TACs. Otherwise it's quiet on the Russian front.

Frank's moves in the Ukraine.

Frank has fully repaired his North Sea fleets and is active again in the Baltic. I move to intercept him.


There's a lone u-boat activity picking on convoys in the far North Atlantic. My STRs are too far away to interdict, and the convoys are only small value ones.

I attack Portgual, since I'm in the neighbourhood. Well it just coincided with another game I'm palying as the Axis, the Allied player (JJ) had just done that , so I thought I'd give it a go. Looks like Lisbon is no push-over.



North Africa at the start of my turn.

In North Africa I attack Tripoli, as Frank as left it unguarded, I unfortunately have to leave the ARM unit out of supply for a turn.


I keep attacking the Italian INF unts by Benghazi, ignoring the ARM units, as I want them to stay, stranded in North Africa, burning PPs. More US re-inforcements arrive via the Red Sea.


The US buys an ARM & an INF

USSR buys an ARM in readiness for my Winter offensive, the UK buys a TAC. All three countries now seem to have healthy production, churning out at least a unit a turn.

Turn 53 - 7 July 1942

I'm a dozen turns behind in posting these so some will have the benefit of hindsight applied.

UK develops Artillery to level 1 and Armour to level 2. USSR reaches blitzkrieg level 2.

A 54PP convoy arrives in Glasgow. The u-boat threat is rapidly diminishing.

My folly of engaging Frank in the Baltic is shown up. The Russian sub is sunk in Baltic. it wouldn't even rank as 'speed bump' status. The BB survives, but only just to 1-step.
I lose an ARM to Air bombardment in Southern Russia.

Paris is reduced to 4 production due to further STR bombing,

Lisbon holds out, it's a tough nut to crack I'm finding out.


Tripoli holds out as well , but have I have two more INF corps arriving shortly.


I launch the Desert Rats out of Tobruk, with my forces with high effectiveness (white) and his in multicolour. I destroy an Italian INF corps, which is a good start. I plan on targetting his INF units, and to avoid his ARMs. The end-game is to have the ARMs stranded in Libya, burning PPs and being out of supply. I send Canadians from Crete to Libya to support the 8th Army as well.


In Southern Russia I use my TACs to deplete a MECH out side Dnepretosvk. I drop it from 8 to 3 steps. I'm pretty sure I have the FTR advantage in Russia, which will accentuate when we reach winter and the Luftwaffe FTRs get penalised further. I'm hopefully still constraining Frank's oil reserves with Poelsti bombing runs (it's still at zero production).


The UK buys a CV. USSR buys a TAC.

Turn 54 - 27 July 1942

USSR reaches Dogfight level 3 (that will be useful) and Organisation level 2

I had retreated the 1-step BB to Leningrad, where it was destroyed. Well that was a pointless naval campaign.

The Italian DD leaves Benghazi. I then destroy 1 GAR near Benghazi and send another unit packing.


The DAK arrives near Tripoli. Whilst I reduce Tripoli further, what will Frank do? The further that Tank unit is away from Benghazi, the better for me.


Lisbon just holds out, this has now turned into a major rather than minor diversion. With probably little strategic impact, in hindsight I should have just ignored it and carried on to the Med.


In Russia I upgrade all the INF, MECH & ARM corps in second line. I attack the Rumanian MECH at the 'thin edge of the wedge' and reduce it from 10 to 2 steps.


The USSR buys an ARM, the US purchases Patton (for his attacking ability, so I'll assign him to an ARM or a MECH and not a GAR) and an INF

massina_nz wrote:Turn 53 - 7 July 1942

I'm a dozen turns behind in posting these so some will have the benefit of hindsight applied.


Lisbon holds out, it's a tough nut to crack I'm finding out.

Yeah, it is for sure harder to capture than you might expect. Invaded Portugal in one game against panzergeneral on the way to Italy - ended up taking 5-6 turns to capture Lisbon, using two corps and sizable assets (2 CVs and 3 BBs) needed to finalise the capture. Needless to say, not an option I will pursue in future games. Allied corps at 1 supply are just too weak in midwar for this kind of ops.

Yes, it took me 3-4 turns as well. I'd agree that maybe strategically this was pointless for me in this game. Portugal could be used as a springboard to attack Spain as the Allies tho'. But I can't realistically do that in this game as I'm developing some Italian, Balkan and French ploys in this game, and Spain would just stretch me too much.

I've got another PBEM as Allies in late '41 at the moment. I'm way ahead in that game (as the Allies), so I can afford to attempt something novel, I'll give the Portgual gateway to Spain a go with the US and post a short AAR on it soon.

Turn 55 - 16 August 1942

Big turn this time, lots of things happening.

Mass breakthroughs on the military science front -
USA reaches level 4 in Ground Attack, Strategic operations and ASW. As well as level 3 in Radar. The USSR develops radar but only to level 2.

A 58PP convoy arrives in Glasgow

Germans take Dneproptrovsk and breach the Dnieper


A sizable Greek partisan appears near Macedonia. This could come in handy as I like to open a Balkans front if possible during this game. I move a Russian STR to Aegean from the Crimea. So I can spot what units Frank has in the Balkans.

In Africa the Panzer retreats back from Tripoli. Frank also counter attacks near Benghazi. The Aliies take heavy FTR losses, and the Italian DD hits my sub.


More coastal partisans appear. In France as well, near Brest. I move my DDs to put it in supply so it will be more annoying to the German occupation forces. I find two 10-step subs blocking my way. Kinda expected that. Both DDs take 4 & 5 step losses each, but I'm able to hit both u-boats with STRs and a FTR based in Cornwall and Devon, reducing them to 2 & 3 steps, and I use last DD to put partisan into supply as I could move the partisan still.


Portugal finally falls, took 4 turns, much longer than I expected.

I place Patton on ARM near Tripoli. Tripoli itself falls. Guess Frank will be in real over-supply problems now, with Benghazi being his sole African port.

I move two BBs from Central Atlantic towards the Med for to support future invasions

I destroy the Italian DD. He shouldn't then be able to see my troop transport movements to Crete. They may go to Greece next turn.

I get good combat resutls around Benghazi, severely disrupting the Italain INF with a Commander (he didn't get wounded when retreated). Also got good combat results against the Axis FTRs.


I attempt to retake Axis bridgehead over Dneiper, but have very poor results.


Both USSR & UK buy a TAC and an INF. Just in case I am able to exploit that French partisan if the u-boats leave.

Turn 56 - 5 September 1942

UK & USSR both reach level 3 Strategic operation and the USSR gains level 2 Ground Attack.

In Russia, Frank suddenly withdraws from the salient, presumably smelling a trap. I don't pursue, instead I take the opportunity to do mass upgrades to frontline troops and airforce, I will wait until the severe winter sets in.


In Greece the partisan unit is hit by an Italian INF Corp. I then attack the Italians, and put the partisan unit in supply, further escalting the Macedonian uprising.


In Libya Frank's counter-attack does little damage. His panzers arrive back after their 'round the bays' run.

In response, I attack and push back the FTR unit but I don't pursue it as that would expose my southern flank., Neither do I attack the exposed ARM unit, I want it to stay where it is. I begin reducing Benghazi. Again my aim is to take Benghazi but leave Tanks behind. I also upgrade and repair Allied troops where I can.


The situation near Brest doesn't develop, the partisan and one of the DD's is destroyed.








US buys a Tank lab and the USSR a MECH.

Turn 57 - 25 September 1942

USSR develops Tank Destroyers to level 2 (So I upgrade all Russian ARMs) and also Industry to level 4

A 60pp convoy arrives at Glasgow. It's certainly a lot easier now there is very little u-boat activity.

The GAR leaves Benghazi, and is replaced by the panzer unit. Oh dear one of the tenets of my whole North Africa Strategy just unrolled itself. I didn't even see it coming! Frank will now keep his ARM unit in supply (and without penalty) until it's the last unit left, oh bugger! Now I'll need to blockade the port, and kill off all the units in Libya before I can move on. At least it's easier to kill an ARM in a city, but that's cold comfort.


I send Amphibous force to Greece to further escalate the rebellion there.


Not much else to report, other than 3 BBs 1 CV and 3 CORPS are en-route to the Med.

Turn 58 - 15 October 1942

UK attains level 4 subs and level 1 Fixed defenses

It's Mud in Central Europe this turn, so I couldn't invade Greece even if I wanted to. Frank announces operation "Winterrose", which is a massive build-up of forces in Bulgaria. So I bug out and leave the Greek Partisans on their own. At least Frank reduced his presence in Russia and has had to burn more fuel.


I haven't bombed Ploesti for a while so it's back up to 2 PRD , what with upgrades and recon missions ifor my STRs n the Balkans


Frank stops my Libya landing. I had reduced an INF corp, and almost destroyed it. If I had, I could have landed and cut-off another INF unit. I also position a small Sicily invasion force (well I was in the neighbourhood again)


Paris down to 3 PRD due to constant bombing.

The USSR buys TAC & ARM. My plan is for Operation Mars (Winter offensive) to carry on to Summer. Hopefully I will draw out the Luftwaffe during winter, when they are penalised by the inclement weather, hit them hard, chew up the Axis land units as well, and keep on rolling, with TACs and ARMs being my main offensive weapon.

The UK buys an ARM, I need to beef up my land untis in the UK, I'm planning on launching a combined naval invasion of Italy/Greece/France/Romania, so then Frank is then forced to decide which one he won't defend on the beaches with.

Turn 59 - 4 November 1942

UK develops ASW to level 6. Which is the end of the line. I don't need the other Marine techs so I sell the 3 UK Marine labs, and buy an INF & ARM lab instead.

A 83PP convoy makes it to Glasgow and a 18pp one to Murmansk.


Frank re-arranges his front lines in Russia. Since it's fine weather this turn I take advantage of the extra movement allowance and local air superiority (German FTRs were diverted to Bulgaria last turn) and start my Winter offensve early. I'm being careful to minimise the number of ARMs in the front line so they don't get counter-attacked. I kill two German INFs and seriously damage another. I also move two MECH to the North for the Winter Offensive around Pskov and two MECHs to Sevastapol for amphibous operations in the Black Sea



In Libya Frank attacks presumably to keep his supply lines well open. However my attacks, cut-off an INF corp and destroy another, sending another Italian commander away on some R&R.


Frank doesn't respond to the Sicily landings, maybe he is getting stretched. So I invade Sicily, but oops! I forgot the MECH unit was already damaged in the Portugal landings! It can't do too much.


Paris is bombed down to 2 PRD. I'm bombing Paris rather than Germany because I can position my STRs in Cornwall and still cover some of the sea lanes.

The USSR buys 1 TAC & a MECH, the UK another ARM.

Turn 60 - 24 November 1942

Tech upgrades keep rolling in. USSR reaches Armour level 2, UK gets ground attack level 3.

It's Mud in Russia. Frank slowly retreats in the south, and I don't do much, I upgrade the ARMs and kill one INF.

I'm also building up my forces near Finland.


My Greek partisan is estroyed. Frank has moved a TAC and FTR to Greek Islands I abandoned

In Libya my UK MECH is destroyed. Shame it was my most potent attacking force. I should have retreated it one hex but it got a double-whammy from both ARM units. In a decisive counter stroke I destroy the Italian ARM destroyed, and send yet another leader away. That just leaves the Panzer Korp with Manstein left.


USSR buys a TAC, UK two MECHs, US two ARMs. We're gearing up for the Summer offensives.

Turn 61 - 14 December 1942

UK develops level 1 Artillery. The US level 3 Dogfight and level 5 Industry. USSR art lev 2

Severe Winter in Russia begins. As predicted the Luftwaffe takes heavy losses interdicting Operation Mars. In which the Germans don't actually lose any units, but I damage several units. Next turn I should be able to punch a hole in the first front line, then I should be able to start rolling it up, kinda like peeling layers off an onion.


The TAC in the Aegean takes a real hit attempting to bomb one of my transports based near Crete. I compound this by attacking the Italian & German FTRs in Greece, time for Frank to burn some more PPs and oil. BTW Ploesti is back to zero production.

The Panzer Korp in Benghazi is repaired. I'll have to send a couple of MECH units to take Benghazi I think, the Panzer is just too tough, but at least it is isolated. However it is tying up my resources, way out of proportion to it's inherent threat.

Operation Husky warms up, maybe I can take Palermo next turn.


I bomb Paris yet again, and also manage to knock a few steps of the German FTR defense.

Convoys still are still getting through unmolested. However find a u-boat in Far North Atlantic, my DD loses 3 steps to none

USSR buys a TAC and ARM (again). The US buys Clark.

Turn 62 - 3 January 1943

UK develops Industry to level 4, the US makes good progress in the naval stakes, subs reach level 4 (whoppy-de-doo!) and ASW level 5

Another large convoy arrives in Glasgow, a whopping 150pp.

Palermo falls


Manstein is on his last legs (or so it seems)


Operation Mars continues, and gains momentum. Rundstedt is injured and an ARM destroyed, a Hungarian MECH destroyed, two INFs badly mauled and the luftwaffe lose out badly on all aerial combats. Frank must be spending a fair whack of PPs repairing his FTRs. There are still lots of yellow and orange status units facing the rolling Russian Tanks.


UK & USSR both buy a General lab and re-focus on organisation. UK & USA buy a MECH each, USSR buys an ARM

Turn 63 - 23 January 1943

US reaches strategic operations level 4, and the USSR Dogfight level 4. I think I'll wait until summer before I take the Russian FTR upgrades and make the most of the winter penalty for Frank's FTRs.

Frank pulls a swifty in Benghazi. He re-assigns Manstein and repaired the ARM, it's still hanging in there.

Messana falls, but my last move was an last-minute oppotune Naval bombardment, so I couldn't physically take the city as all my land troops have already moved or attacked.


On the Russian front one ARM and two Axis INFs are destroyed. Air losses are moderate on both sides. Frank's Front line is looking very brittle now, is now the time he retreats or re-assigns troops from Army Group North and Army Group Central to fill in the gaps in the south?


In Finland Karelin pocket trap is poised to be sprung, I've shifted two TACs so they can attack the GAR to the North West of Leningrad.


In the Atlantic all my DDs are escorting convoys, once they reach the UK they will be put on Channel clearing duty before the combined Summer landings in Rumania, Greece, Itlay and France.

US buys general lab, USSR buys a TAC.

Whew! I'm now up-to-date with my AAR postings.

Turn 64 - 12 February 1943

UK achieves radar level 4, the USSR gets to level 2 for both Fixed Defenses and Anti-Tank (I'm not expecting the Russian infantry to do much more defending so maybe not much use)

The USSR also receive a 78PP convoy in Murmansk


Well manpower casualties so far have been relatively light. I think Frank has spent a fair proportion of PPs on leader and Air replacements instead.

I get good combat results in Finland, and push forwards in the North, with only a 3-step Finn unit opposing me. However I think Frank saw me move a MECH unit last turn next to Leningrad and rightly guessed that I was going for the Karelin pocket. So he has closed it. I advance the INF unit into the peninsula to keep up the pressure on the Finns.


In Southern Russia I lose an ARM in a German counter-attack. Frank has also moved some of his second line troops from the Central sector southwards to plug some gaps in his line. I continue Operation Mars and kill 1 Ally MECH, 1 Ally INF and 3 German INF. Will he retreat now?



Whilst Benghazi still just holds out (1 measley step left), I scout out Italy for Franks troop dispositions.

I'm not really aiming to take the crucial 3rd Italian city via the toe of Italy, but will advance some US units up the toe anyway. It seems Franks delaying action in Libya has given him some leeway to set up a solid defence of Italy. I should check the Italian untis to see what their quality is, as I suspect Italian manpower may be low.

USSR buys 2 ARMs, the US 1 MECH

Turn 65 - 4 March 1943

UK reaches level 2 in Blitzkreig. USA Strategic ops and Ground Attack level 5.

There's some u-boat activity off Greenland, slightly more than a skirmish, but not a full-blown battle. Probably the most action in the Atlantic for quite a while. So I send my UK based TACs north to Scotland for something to do next turn if the u-boats persist.

Benghazi finally falls, Frank hadn't repaired his 1-step panzer, so it was a bit of an anti-climax to well-fought campaign by Frank. It certainly taught me a lot about Desert warfare.

So I begin my advance up the toe of Italy, it's really a diversion, hopefully to draw away some of Frank's troops for when I launch the combined amphibious operations in the spring.


In Finland the INF corp that had advanced (after sepnding more than 2 years garrisoning Leningrad) was hammered back to 2 steps. So I evacuate it by boat, and train in a GAR in replacement. In the north I follow-up and destroy 3-step Finnish INF, the way seems clear to perform a sweeping hook onto Helsinki.


In Russia I destroy an INF corp (with TAC support) by Vitebsk. I attack AGC across the Dnieper, targetting Blaskowitz on a MECH unit. Using two TACs (there is no German FTR cover as they are all covering the southern front) as support I first retreat and then follow-up and kill the MECH unit, sending Blaskowitz away for 7 turns. If the INF unit gets destroyed next turn it's still a good trade for me.


In the south Frank still holds to his orginal defense line. I have to be careful how I co-ordinate my air attacks as I have had to move 3 of my FTRs forward this turn. The Luftwaffe again are on the losing side of the air battles. I only destroy 1 INF tho'.

The USSR buys an ARM

Turn 66 - 24 March 1943

UK levels up to level 3 Dogfight, the US to level 3 Warships

Frank seals the Dnieper breach as expected, I lose my impetuous INF corp. I repeat the dose and kill a 7-step MECH and advance another INF unit over the Dnieper (I had to to destroy the retreating MECH, still a worthwhile exchange IMHO).


I also lose the GAR north of Leningrad. In retaliation for which I almost destroy German INF unit, leaving it at 1-step. In Finland I knock 2 steps off the Finnish ariforce with an INF corp and start reducing northern GAR.


In Southern Russia Frank leaves his TACs in range of my advance FTRs, in two attacks I lose 2 steps and inflict 4 FTR and 6 TAC steps of damage on the Luftwaffe. Winter is so much fun for the Red air force. I also destroy another German MECH and INF unit and severely damage a Rumanian INF. I'm a bit constrained in the damage I can do at the moment because I can't actually advance my second line units to exploit the successes, they just don't have the movement points in the snow to move two hexes into contact.

I send a couple of INFs to Finland sector from the southern sector, they'll be more use there I think.

My TACs in Scotland actually have a purpose, Frank persisted with his attack on the Murmansk convoy and they batter 5 steps off one of the u-boats.


Paris is now bombed down to zero production and no rail - that will help the grand Spring amphibous assault. For which I'm waiting on some US transports who have just entered the Med.

In Italy my US troops make solid progress up the toe. Frank has based his Italian Fighter in Southern Greece, presumably to watch out for an invasion. I have hammered it for the last 3-4 turns, inflicting normally about 4-steps of damage per turn. It must be costing Frank a fortune to repair it, maybe money better spent on Italian foot troops on their own home soil?


I then forget to place my new units before I hit 'end turn' <plonk>!

Turn 67 - 13 April 1943

Pretty quiet turn as the Eastern front turns to mud. So no screen caps this turn.

A 89PP convoy arrives in the UK

Current Production stats for the Allies is UK 66, USA 81, USSR 189

In Russia the INF corp that crossed the Dneiper is destroyed. I don't attack anywhere except Finland, otherwise I perfrom repairs, especially on the Red Air force.

The US & UK buy a TAC each.

I'm ready to launch my pan-Europe Amphibious operation next turn.

Turn 68 - 3 May 1943

A 48PP convoy arrives in Murmansk

Frank's u-boats continue their convoy attacks near Greenland, this means his u-boats are not near the English Channel, good news for me this turn. Regardless I send two STRs to Iceland and Ireland to cover the convoys.

Operation Mayflower is launched (well it is May, in the game and real-time date). The UK goes into massive over-transport mode, so I don't spend any PPs for them this turn so they can afford the 5 transports I've gone over my limit.

Invasion transports are sent to coastal France, Frank doesn't seem to have any reserves there.


In the Med I place invasion transports around northern Italy (US), Albania (UK) and Greece(UK). I'm surprised that some Italian cities are not garrisoned. I also destroy an Italian INF corp in the toe of Italy.


I'm attempting an Invasion of Romania as well, another ungarrisoned city.


In Finland I destroy the GAR on the resource hex. I knock the Finnish FTR down 4 steps to 4. I attack again across the Karelin peninsula. In doing so I spot the 1-step German INF corp that retreated last turn and destroy it with a TAC.


In Russia I Destroy 1 ARM, 1 Romanian INF and almost destroy another German INF & MECH.


I breach the Dnieper to the North again, but this time with Tanks.


USSR purchases a TAC & MECH, US a TAC.

And a French partisan pops up between Cherbourg and Le Harve on a coastal hex when I end my turn, how opportune.