World at War AAR-MrPlow vs. jjdenver (No jjdenver allowed)

[MrPlow]

Introduction

Hey everybody, I thought Id share my first PBEM game with you all. JJ and I are playing the BJR mod version 1.12 with house rules in effect, I plan to make this game as realistic and fun as possible! Welcome to my hell!

October 11, 1939



The Denmark Crisis



As you can see, Denmark is doomed. I plan to set up an BB ambush to damage, if not destroy, the expected Norway invasion force. I will make it as bloody as possible for the Nazi hordes! However, If i find out that this is gamey and breaking one of the (many ) BJR mod house rules, then my plans for Norway will change.

Poland

My Polish allies are no more, they fought valiantly in the face of oppression, but were overwhelmed by strategy, quantity, and quality. We will come for you Poland, you will never be forgotten!

The Low Countries



The arrows represent the directions of the expected Nazi attack, which I assume (hopefully correctly) will occur after the fall of Denmark. There is not much I can do, but I will attempt to protect the Capitals for as long as possible and assist with Naval and airforces.

Defence of France



Now here is where the war will either be won or lost. France must survive until September, the attack on the East must be delayed! The lines and arrows represent my forward and primary defence lines, I will build some French corps units to reinforce the primary line in front of Paris. When blitzkrieg takes full effect and my lines are shattered, I will move every remaining unit around Paris, It must not fall!

I have a feeling this is going to be a long 5 years, but the allies will prevail!

If you have any tips, suggestions, or if you just feel like yelling at me to vent anger, feel free to post, I enjoy the company!

cheers,
MrPlow

[rkr1958]

As you can see, Demark is doomed. I plan to set up an BB ambush to damage, if not destroy, the expected Norway invasion force. I will make it as bloody as possible for the Nazi hordes! However, If i find out that this is gamey and breaking one of the (many ) BJR mod house rules, then my plans for Norway will change.
MrPlow

AAR looks great! I look forward to reading it as your game unfolds. In terms of the ambush that's certainly within the spirit of the game & the BJR mod and is in no way in conflict with any of the house rules. In fact, your planned ambush has an historical precedence to it as the Brits did intervene in Norway after the Germans invaded. The intervention; however, was a disaster for the Brits because they we ill prepared for the campaign.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/ ... n_01.shtml

My only strategy comment is that your Axis opponent may not cooperate with your plans. For example, they may wait until after the Fall of France to invade. But then again they may fall right into your trap.

[MrPlow]

October 11, 1939
04:23 hrs: Somewhere in the Atlantic

Aged with experience and memories of the last war, Captain Stevens surveys the almost indistinguishable horizon between air and water, knowing the evil which potentially lurks beneath and the horror it can bring to his ten ship convoy. “Where's our damned escort?”

“I don't know Captain, they were supposed to rendezvous with us twelve hours ago”

Below deck, the ship's skeleton vibrates as the rhythmic pulsing of the engines aggravates the ocean's powerful rocking over the steel mammoth.

“God I cant take this anymore, I think I puked fifteen times already this trip, by the time we get there, the krauts aren't gonna even need to kill me. At least I have my girlfriend's picture to look at through this trip from hell” whined the baby-faced Private.

“What poor excuse for a human being wanted to be with you Kowalski?” joked Andrew, one of the many soldiers in the crowded room.

“Wow I can believe it!” he exclaimed after he grabbed the picture.

“What, what is it?” questioned Kowalski

“I don't know what the odds are, but your girlfriend has the same mustache as Hitler!” Laughter echoed throughout the hold as people talked, strengthened friendships, and even played a game of “friendly” poker.

This wasn't war, this was a party, all they need were some women and it would have been just like home.

As if to purposefully break their false reality and sense of safety, a yellowish-orange glow filled the room as an expanding fireball grew towards the sky outside their troopship's starboard port-holes followed by a violent concussion.

“DID THEY HIT US??!!!”

“I THINK THEY GOT THE SHIP BESIDE US!”

A cacophony of sound exploded as alarm bells, the eerie cries of “MAN YOUR BATTLESTATIONS”, and the rushing of sailors filled the ship.

“WHERE DO WE GO, WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?” yelled one of the soldiers. It didn't matter who because they all had the same thought. They were soldiers, not Seamen, they weren't trained, or prepared for this hell.

The ones who made it onto the ship's deck to avoid the hold becoming their steel casket, were greeted with the sights, sounds, and feelings of death as several ships around them exploded and violently listed from underwater beasts.

Men littered the flaming sea, some were alive, many were wounded, and most were dead. The remaining ships could not stop, doing so would risk even more death. Instead these “lucky ones”, who survived the initial explosions, were doomed to their horrible watery fate.

The men of the Second Canadian Corps got their first taste of war, one that they would experience many times over as the World began it's six year odyssey to destroy itself.

[MrPlow]

October 31, 1939

Denmark falls and the world holds it's breath as to what Hitler will do next. The reinforcing of France continues.....

[MrPlow]

November 20, 1939

Current area of activity on the Western front

As expected the attack on the Netherlands occurred. Unfortunately for me, Hitler played it safe and did not declare war on Belgium, so I cannot send troops to aid my new ally. I sent in an BB to attack the Mechanized Corps and managed to slightly damage it by 1 step, hopefully Allied Command will not be regretting that decision in the next three weeks...



France

Reinforcement of defensive lines continues...Judging from Germany's recent sucesses, Allied Command feels France will be attacked before Winter.

Production

As Allied nations are recovering from the depression, the allies are slowly increasing industrial capacity. France is building a Infantry Corps to protect the homeland, while England is building theirs to defend against any potential threat of Operation Sealion.

[IainMcNeil]

Great - love the arrows drawn on the map

[MrPlow]

December 10, 1939

The Netherlands

Somehow the valiant dutch resisted the initial attacks of the Nazi menace. With these developments, we have dispatched to BB's to provide indirect artillery support to the brave defenders, damaging an infantry and mechanized corps by 1 step in the process. Our spitfires also sortied to strafe enemy ground targets, damaging a mechanized corps by 1 step. Allied command also decided to ship supplies to the besieged defenders to allow them to repair their infantry corps. Although these recent developments are beneficial to the allies, the ultimate fate of the Netherlands is sealed. We must buy our time....



France

Entrenchment and reinforcement of the primary "Paris" defence line is continuing...

[MrPlow]

December 30, 1939

Disaster in the Skagerrak strait



A huge strategic mistake by allied command results in the loss of surprise and cohesion, resulting in the almost complete loss of a BB force during a failed attack. Because of the Allies withdrawing the BB units from Norway in order to aid the Dutch, Germany seizes the initiative and launches a surprise invasion of Norway, taking over multiple beaches without opposition. A rash response, ordered by Neville Chamberlain, using a BB force from the waters around the Netherlands to attack the invasion force, results in a massacre. In the following exchange the allied BB loses 6(!!) steps, while the Kriegsmarine barely receives only a scratch with a minuscule 1 step loss! On land however, the brave Bergen 4th infantry garrison force attacked the numerically superior German 3rd Corps, resulting in a loss of 1 step for both sides.

The resulting political turmoil has been enormous, resulting in the resignation of Neville Chamberlain. An energetic navyman is rumoured to be taking his place, though even this man's history is marred with Naval Mistakes. Lets hope he can bring the Allies out of despair and make this new year of 1940 a successful one.


Fall of the Netherlands



To add insult to injury, even the BB and air support fail to delay the Nazi hordes. A large, ominous German army group now hangs over Belgium. The "new" Allied Command feels war will be declared on Belgium tomorrow and the Battle of France will begin. Above is the expected direction of the German attack, intelligence thinks they will attempt to isolate and destroy the Brussels garrison in detail...damn this Blitzkrieg! 1940 is going to be an active, if not terrible, year for Europe. We can only hope the U.S. realizes the danger of the Nazi menace, every day it grows stronger and stronger...

[MrPlow]

January 19, 1940

Norway Falls

January brings with it the fall of Norway. Luckily for Allied Command, the Kriegsmarine chose to withdraw instead of attacking the highly damaged allied BB force, allowing it to survive and dock in England.

France

Its quiet, too quiet...Belgium stays Neutral and France is still "safe". France recruits a distinguished general to boost morale and help lead the men to victory! The Allied command contemplates sending the British Expeditionary Force to aid in the defense of France, what do you (the public) think?

[rkr1958]

Again, a very impressive AAR. I'm enjoying following it. I hate to even bring this up and given that it won't materially effect your game there was a breech of the house rules (specifically rule #12). The amphibious invasion against Norway was carried out in December. The house rules forbid invasions in Europe during the months of November - February and in the Med and on the coast of Africa no invasions are allowed during December - January. Again, given that it really doesn't materially effect your game I'd chalk this up to the unexpected / unknowns of war.

[MrPlow]

I really appreciate you bringing that to my attention, I will let my opponent know so we can keep this game as realistic and fun as possible for any subsequent invasions.
Thanks for commenting aswell, glad there's at least one person reading my AAR

cheers,
MrPlow

[MrPlow]

February 8, 1940

Belgium

Still neutral, Germany is most likely distributing their invasion assets for maximum first strike effect.

France

The new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, began shipping an "expanded" British Expeditionary Force consisting of an infantry and mechanized corps over to France that will take up positions on the "Paris" defence line. "The French people will not being fighting Nazi Tyranny alone!" he exclaimed in a recent speech to the House of Commons.

Strategic Bombing campaign

I have been bombing the Scholven Synthetic Oil Plant almost constantly since the war began. I want to disrupt the German's use of oil as much as possible, it is their Achilles Heel. Unfortunately in my attempt to damage it throughout the war, my bomber forces have taken a beating, so I'm going to be resting and repairing them for future use. My plan, when I eventually get enough production, is to build a respectable strategic bomber force to lay waste to German oil and war production.

[MrPlow]

February 28, 1940

Invasion of Belgium

IT HAS BEGUN!!! The Wehrmacht began their powerful three-pronged offensive towards Brussels, taking Antwerp in the process. The allied command sent a french corps to relieve the the battle-weary Brussels garrison. We will attempt to hold the enemy off and delay their advance at the forward defence line (in black). A BB force was dispatched and managed to damage a tank corps by 1 step, every little attack helps to wear down the attackers. The enemy has air superiority but the valiant allied fighters are making them pay for every sortie. The Battle for France is just beginning, the fate of free Europe hangs in the balance, we must succeed!

[MrPlow]

March 19, 1940

Fall of Belgium

The heroic defenders of Brussels could only fight so much. Their defeat signaled the capitulation of Belgium; like Poland, The Netherlands, and Norway before it. We will return one day to liberate the Belgian people!

Battle of France

The German armies destroy almost all opposition in their path as they advance onto the forward defence line. The only positive development ,albeit small, is that BB support managed to inflict a one step loss on an enemy infantry corps. As a result of the quick enemy advance, the BEF has been sent to the forward defence line to buy time for the further reinforcement of the Paris defence line. When the enemy breaks through the initial line, the allied forces will retreat to the Paris Line to avoid being cutoff. The Forward Allied Headquarters in Paris is beginning to dispose of sensitive documents...It is not a matter of if Paris will fall, but how soon it will fall.

[MrPlow]

April 8, 1940

France

The Allied salient protruding into German lines is destroyed and the Wehrmacht advances to the forward defence line. They will most likely rest, repair, and then attack in force to destroy our prepared entrenchments. Allied BB shells a coastal German unit on French-Belgian border but achieves no meaningful hits on the enemy corps. With the speed of the enemy advance, the days of free Paris look like they may soon be over...

[KingHunter3059]

Good read - Now I can make some assumptions on my own - I am Playing JJ too - as the AXIS, Not sure I would post here tho, but maybe I will do an AAR - Humm....



Jay.

[Blathergut]

What troops are holding in England at this point and where?

[MrPlow]

April 28, 1940

Battle of France

French soil is invaded, the true Battle of France begins! The enemy breaches our forward defence line with ease and advances towards Paris! However, a cunning counter-attack by the Allies blunts the German's spearhead and completely destroys an infantry corps. VIVA LA FRANCE!!! Unfortunately in the process, we evacuated our forward defence line, sadly sacrificing much French territory, including the Lorraine Industrial Area, to the Nazi beasts. The Wehrmacht appears to be flanking the Maginot Line near Nancy so our Maginot Defence Forces may attempt to break out, hopefully buying time for Paris. The time for the second phase of the defence of France is quickly approaching, we will soon be massing our remaining armies around Paris to buy time for the evacuation of civilians and the burning of sensitive documents.

Our support forces manage to inflict damage to the enemy with an allied BB shelling German coastal areas, damaging an infantry division by one step. Unfortunately our air assets are outmatched and outclassed, resulting in heavy allied air losses that allow the enemy to bomb us with ease. The enemy Stukas are laying waste to our infantry corps, but worst of all, they are strafing the lines of fleeing French citizens clogging the many roads attempting to reach safety from the Nazi menace! Those monsters, they will pay!

Here is a picture recovered from one of the downed beasts, showing this airborne monster preying on our armies.




Enemy Attack




Glorious Counter-Attack!





Defence of Britain

With the deteriorating situation in France, the preparation for the defence of Britain is beginning. Below is the current situation of British forces in the U.K. Unfortunately this is not much. When France appears to be close to collapsing, we will evacuate the BEF and air-forces, if they are still functioning, to Britain to aid in the defence. The plan is to defend the beaches as ferociously as possible in order to protect London, and if we begin to get overwelmed, then the remaining forces will withdraw and defend further north at the Secondary British Defence Line. We will also begin to station our Naval Assets around the British Isles to help thwart a seaborne invasion. We will begin further fighter production to help shoot down those Nazi beasts which will soon ravage London. The future looks Grim...if only the U.S. would help. Right now its looking like they will watch the allies collapse unless the Axis suddenly attacks them, which at this point, seems quite unlikely....

Status of U.K. Forces

[MrPlow]

May 18, 1940

Battle of France

The Wehrmacht maintains its speed of advance, smashing through the remaining defence in front of the Paris Line and isolating a large French army to the south of the Somme River. The surrounded corps will digg-in and entrench and try to harass the nearby enemy forces. Also, in typical blitzkrieg fashion, a large tank corps crosses the Paris Line to the North, potentially destabilizing the whole allied defence but becoming isolated and exposed in the process. As a result, the allies try a risky operation to pocket this corps by sending an infantry corps to the North-West to destroy the infantry corps support the German tanks. Using the last french air assets, and heavy BB support, the allies manage to win the battle and force the infantry to retreat North-East across the Somme River. Although the allies don't expect to destroy the pocketed tanks corps and expect to lose the "sacrificed" infantry corps, the hope is to delay this powerful tank force to buy time for Paris. In the East, 2 garrison units of the Maginot Line Defence Force retreat to the west, hoping to avoid being cutoff and to ultimately aid in the defence of Paris.

German Attack





Allied Counter Attack





Southern France

Unfortunately Italy allied with Germany and declared war on the Allies. Though sad and unfortunate, this alliance was not unforeseeable to the western powers. The South of France has been mostly stripped of units, except for a garrison unit guarding Marseilles. This unit will entrench and defend the city until it risks being cut-off and at this point it will withdraw to the North and try to tie up the Italian forces. Allied command is hoping the Italians don't realize and exploit this weakness because an added front could mean a faster collapse of France.



North Africa

Egypt declared war on the axis, freeing up the British forces in this area. North Africa will be a high priority for the Allies and for the first half of the "western" war, they will attempt to take it in force as soon as possible.

By the way, its the Allied Commander's birthday today, I'm sure some birthday wishes would help him through this dark time

[rkr1958]

By the way, its the Allied Commander's birthday today, I'm sure some birthday wishes would help him through this dark time

Happy Birthday!