Slitherine

A little tale (not stylized, I'm not much of a storyteller) that I'm putting together as part of thinking aloud and recording my AO experience. After the first SCW and AO 1939 campaigns I felt I missed a few things and made some questionable decisions and originally wanted to fix them after all AO are out in a Retrograde/Slow modernization run. However, waiting for AO 1940 and thinking how fun it would be to actually fix/change the same things now and optimize for the new experience. Consequently, this replaced the still empty thread I initially set up for sharing AO cores, as I'll have some more room to play here.

Things to fix include:

• Assigning heroes more optimally

• Not accidentally assigning and un-assigning heroes to keep a proper clear history

• Better risk management

• Flavorful camouflage and naming inspired by Horeseman's AAR - looking forward to reading more of it one day

Difficulty - General - I do not like the AI getting flat stat increases, so this is my favorite difficulty. It also allows to easily get away with sub optimal units for flavor, and doing that adds to the difficulty a bit as well. I will also not be fielding captured equipment in this run, unless it's gifted with unlimited supply or there's something I really, really like on an particular type of unit (this however is unlikely).

Traits - Expect to keep the same ones unless there's some specific limitation preventing that, so: Master of Blitzkrieg, No Overstrength, Deadly Grasp, Flexible Command, Perimeter Control.

AO Spanish Civil War - Seville

Starting Prestige: 1400

Starting Army Composition:

Tank

PzAbt 401 - Panzer IA
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IA
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IA

Recon

AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 221
AufkAbt 12 - SdKfz 221

Anti-Tank

Panzerjäger Abt 201 - 3.7 cm PaK 36 (Horse Transport)
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - 3.7 cm PaK 36 (Horse Transport)

Artillery

Artillerie Abt 601 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 602 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 701 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)

Anti-Aircraft

FlaK Abt 271 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)

Fighter

I./JG 61 - He 51
II./JG 61 - He 51
III./JG 61 - He 51

Tactical Bomber

I./SG 7 - Hs123a
II./SG 7 - Hs123a
III./SG 7 - Hs123a
I./AG 9 - He 70 Rayo

Highlights:


After camouflage adjustments and naming applied, Legion Condor is ready to deploy.


Now this makes me jealous! I want heroes too. Alas, too many good traits to pass up and besides, with the length of AO, the team roster should fill in quite quickly.


Got to love how the AI actively tries to run away with tanks and recons outside my air force range or at least towards AA cover. That's a welcome improvement over Pzc1!


The navigator is getting court-martialled if I have anything to say about it! That is unless, these guys come back with something to make up for their mistakes.


Despite the attack happening on open terrain, the mutual support of Republican units and weakness of Legion Condor equipment can make it a tough nut to crack.


On the last turn, the village in the north Seville is still within Republican grasp, those fortifications really mean business! At least the airfield will get captured to impress High Command.

Summary:

Final Prestige: 2345 (up 945)
CP gained: 2 (up to 2)

Equipment captured in scenario:

FT-17 - 3
37mm M1940 - 4
105mm Vickers M22 - 4
70mm Schneider M08 - 7

Other equipment gained:

203mm M1931 - 19 (from HC)

Overall:

The landing was easy and proved no challenge to the Little Tanks. As the things progressed, Republicans tried to muster some resistance, but it was not coordinated and used the terrain poorly. Seville was basically unguarded and fell quickly, with the western outskirts of town cleared out as well with minimal losses. The counterattacks came in waves that were caught in open terrain - with artillery support it was possible to wipe them out and even take Carmona, albeit temporarily by AufkAbt 12. Losses were surprisingly low, but Little Tanks encountered only limited numbers of enemy armored vehicles and SG 7 bombers made short work of the ones that did appear. However, this simple start to the campaign was not going to last...

Always like to see more Spanish Civil War and AO gameplay.

Good luck and have fun.

Be interesting to see how your hero RNG turns out, that is definitely something that can sometimes dramatically affect a particular playthrough of a given campaign.

AO Spanish Civil War - Antequera

Onward to Antequera for the first actual challenge. Not in terms of meeting the objectives, but doing so with minimal losses.

Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 2661

Hero:



First hero of the campaign and immediately one of the better ones. He will prove valuable in capturing equipment (too bad I don't really plan to field captured units in this particular run aside from some unlikely rare exceptions). Still, the potential prestige gains are promising. Robert Krüger will join AufkAbt 11. With the ability to split units in the army without consuming core slots, the recon battalion is expected to contribute hugely to the capturing effort and be quite busy in each scenario.

New Units Commissioned:

Artillerie Abt 702 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 272 - 3.7 cm FlaK 18 (Horse Transport)

Starting Army Composition:

Tank

PzAbt 401 - Panzer IA
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IA
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IA

Recon

AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 221 - Envelopment
AufkAbt 12 - SdKfz 221

Artillery

Artillerie Abt 601 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 602 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 701 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 702 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)

Anti-Aircraft

FlaK Abt 271 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 272 - 3.7 cm FlaK 18 (Horse Transport)

Fighter

I./JG 61 - He 51
II./JG 61 - He 51
III./JG 61 - He 51

Tactical Bomber

I./SG 7 - Hs123a
II./SG 7 - Hs123a
III./SG 7 - Hs123a
I./AG 9 - He 70 Rayo

Corpo Truppe Volontarie

1 Gruppo 1 Sq - CR.32

Reserve

Enemy tank activity is expected to be limited. Potentially low density of good land targets in airfield range also suggests deploying artillery over tactical bombers.

Panzerjäger Abt 201 - 3.7 cm PaK 36 (Horse Transport)
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - 3.7 cm PaK 36 (Horse Transport)
III./SG 7 - Hs123a

Highlights


Why is it that the captured units always end up those that I would not really use even if I were to focus my entire strategy on captured equipment. That "powerful" FT-17 will be mine shortly...


Turn 3 ends and the dirt airfield is basically already taken. Initial resistance is minimal, boosting army confidence.


CTV infantry with support from newly commissioned Artillerie Abt 702 takes Rute, slowly clearing a north flanking path.


Hero unit with Provocator provides annoying cover to supporting artillery, slowing down the initially quick advance.


Unopposed by Republican fighters, makeshift strategic bombers decimate the fleet in port of Malaga.


Overconfidence comes at a price when tanks and artillery doing target practice at Republican minefields and fortifications face a counterattack by a deadly BT-5 tank and heavy artillery.


Outmatched CTV tankettes barely survive the encounter, but the army manages to hold the front line.


By the end, significant losses are recorded in almost every formation. It would have been much wiser to set up the defensive positions much further west from the Republican minefields.

Summary:

Final Prestige: 3800 (up 1139)
CP gained: 2 (up to 4)

Equipment captured in scenario:

FT-17 - 2 (up to 5)
Bilbao - 7
UNL35 - 4
45mm M1932 - 6
37mm M1940 - 5 (up to 9)
20mm M33 - 10
152mm M10/30 - 1

Other equipment gained:

203mm M1931 - 10 (from HC, up to 29)
122mm M10/30 - 10 (from HC)

Overall:

The initial advance was quick and surprisingly easy. Losses of Nationalist infantry were minimal thanks to concentrated artillery support. Quick fall of Antequera booster the confidence that the army can gain experience surrounding easy targets, but a swift counterattack proved to be quite costly. 152mm artillery is wrecking havoc among my poorly armored Panzer Is and recon cars, while increasing number of I-15 fighters can only be contained thanks to AA fire and CR.32 pilots, who always take the first hit. Despite trying the scenario again and in theory remembering to be more conservative this time, I fell victim of my habit to overextend and try to gain bits of experience where possible, risking increased losses.

AO Spanish Civil War - Merida

Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 4002


I politely decline the exchange. With no plans to use the offered equipment, there will be other chances to use my influence better.

Hero:



Second hero is not as useful as the first one, at least in my personal opinion, but Christian Bauer will join I./JG 61 to help provide fighter cover and hunt down unescorted bombers more easily.

New Units Commissioned:

After quick experience growth and overall usefulness of AufkAbt 11 and AufkAbt 12, I decide to from AufkAbt 21 as well. There is a long distance to travel this time, so the mobility should prove important as well.

AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 221

Starting Army Composition:

Tank

PzAbt 401 - Panzer IA
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IA
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IA

Recon

AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 221 - * - Envelopment
AufkAbt 12 - SdKfz 221 - *

Artillery

Artillerie Abt 601 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 602 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 701 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 702 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)

Anti-Aircraft

FlaK Abt 271 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 272 - 3.7 cm FlaK 18 (Horse Transport)

Fighter

I./JG 61 - He 51 - Fast Rebase
II./JG 61 - He 51
III./JG 61 - He 51

Tactical Bomber

I./SG 7 - Hs123a
II./SG 7 - Hs123a
III./SG 7 - Hs123a

Strategic Bomber

I./KG 43 - Ju 52 Bomber
II./KG 43 - Ju 52 Bomber

Corpo Truppe Volontarie

1 Gruppo 1 Sq - CR.32

Reserve

Long distance means AT guns will be too slow. I also do not expect to be able to provide fighter cover to all planes, so leaving some in reserve. This will have to be addressed at some point by deploying extra force to JG 61...

Panzerjäger Abt 201 - 3.7 cm PaK 36 (Horse Transport)
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - 3.7 cm PaK 36 (Horse Transport)
I./AG 9 - He 70 Rayo
III./KG 43 - Ju 52 Bomber

Highlights


FlaK Abt 271 does phenomenal job at preventing major damage from an air raid to horse drawn artillery. Not only suppressing 5 point each from the Tupolev SB and I-15, but also contributing significantly to the fighters being then shot down easily by JG 61 and 1 Gruppo.


AufkAbt 12 in trouble. An unexpected attack from Comandante Vega hits hard in the open field, however...


An enormous encirclement is created, cutting off Vega from any supplies and preventing retreat attempt despite reinforcements trying to break the besieged tank unit free. Ultimately he surrenders a turn later to FlaK Abt 271 - the formation that shines on every front this day.


Taking down Tupolev SB bombers is another long process. They are basically as tough as I-15 fighters and can fly unescorted in face of inferior biplane opposition.


Colonial infantry forces AT guns to retreat from a fortified position on a hill, clearing the path north to Talavera la Real and a village north.


Badajoz falls after a long siege by CTV and Legion Condor troops.


Finally, the last objective is also taken, but not without a last counter-attack by enemy tanks.

Summary:

Final Prestige: 5583 (up 1581)
CP gained: 2 (up to 6)

Equipment captured in scenario:

FT-17 - 19 (up to 24)
Vickers Mk.III - 13
Bilbao - 12 (up to 19)
UNL-35 - 11 (up to 15)
AAC-1937 - 4
37mm M1940 - 1 (up to 10)
20mm M33 - 7 (up to 17)
75mm Vickers M1931 - 5
105mm Vickers M22 - 5 (up to 9)

Other equipment gained:

None

Overall:

While slow and steady wins the race, there were moments when progress was too slow. After initial success, facing fortified enemy positions and counterattack by Vega took longer to manage than expected. Losses to tanks, artillery and bombers are still quite high, but thanks to FlaK Abt 271, these were reduced significantly. Not only did the unit provide multiple instances of AA fire when it really counted to suppress bombing runs, but also was the one to force Vega to surrender. Turns out that encirclement to suppress and drain ammo was a good idea... just with Tenacious Defender the bonus to defense became so ridiculous, that nothing else could even scratch the paint off the Vickers Mk.III. The hero with the ability seems really good for the opposing forces at least! Speaking of heroes, I had the chance to use Fast Rebase on I./JG 61 twice, and while that may not seem like a lot, it contributed to two Republican planes going down. I might be warming up to the Fast Rebase idea after all. Also, captures by AufkAbt 11, but also other units are starting to add up, much better then in my initial run and without even actively trying too much.

Fast Rebase is the lesser version of Double Move. Double move aircraft hero can rebase, and then fly with remaining MP. Or Attack a target, and then move off to clear airspace for another airstrike in the same turn.

Not the worst hero, but there are certainly better ones.

RIP brother Vega, OS or not doesn't have a chance against fast reacting players that can rapidly encircle him before he can retreat back to safety. And then he's gone from the campaign. Future Nemesis won't roll over so easily, even in the face of such determined efforts!

Kerensky wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:06 pm Fast Rebase is the lesser version of Double Move. Double move aircraft hero can rebase, and then fly with remaining MP. Or Attack a target, and then move off to clear airspace for another airstrike in the same turn.

Not the worst hero, but there are certainly better ones.

RIP brother Vega, OS or not doesn't have a chance against fast reacting players that can rapidly encircle him before he can retreat back to safety. And then he's gone from the campaign. Future Nemesis won't roll over so easily, even in the face of such determined efforts!

Vega in this first encounter is affected by a combination of small things:

• Tank has relatively weak armor - compensated by the defensive heroes quite nicely, but not entirely.

• There is a large strip o flat terrain making it easier to create a quick encirclement if there are units to spare.

• The encirclement can be done away from other units due to their positioning (only a single recon tried to break through) and...

• ...the fact that the tank is a bit too fast for it's own good. Vega will likely strike a tempting target on flat terrain, like AufkAbt 12 here, but in doing so, he gets even further away from other Republican units.

That said, in my first SCW run he did manage to quickly retreat behind the river and reinforce, as my forces were more spread out and could not be rallied fast enough. He did go down later, but in much more challenging circumstances then.

AO Spanish Civil War - Toledo

Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 5809

Hero:



Daniel Schwarz will join FlaK Abt 271. Befitting, taken into consideration the performance put by the unit in Merida. While not an immediately impactful hero, getting him so early should help create an experienced, deadly AA unit with the intention of supplying it with 88mm guns as soon as they become available.

New Units Commissioned:

FlaK Abt 273 - 2 cm FlaK 30 - I expect this to be the only AA unit in a very long time. Since fighters might be busy and I plan to split the army into 3 separate groups, this will help provide cover for each of them.

Starting Army Composition:

Tank

PzAbt 401 - Panzer IA - *
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IA
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IA

Recon

AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 221 - * - Envelopment
AufkAbt 12 - SdKfz 221 - *
AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 221

Artillery

Artillerie Abt 601 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 602 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 701 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 702 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)

Anti-Aircraft

FlaK Abt 271 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport) - Fast Learner
FlaK Abt 272 - 3.7 cm FlaK 18 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 273 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)

Fighter

I./JG 61 - He 51 - Fast Rebase
II./JG 61 - He 51
III./JG 61 - He 51

Tactical Bomber

I./SG 7 - Hs123a
II./SG 7 - Hs123a
III./SG 7 - Hs123a

Strategic Bomber

I./KG 43 - Ju 52 Bomber

Corpo Truppe Volontarie

1 Gruppo 1 Sq - CR.32

Reserve

Bombers are mostly put in reserve this time. I am keeping one instead of the recon plane, as the tiny bit of suppression might come in handy if artillery is not able to reach the target.

Panzerjäger Abt 201 - 3.7 cm PaK 36 (Horse Transport)
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - 3.7 cm PaK 36 (Horse Transport)
I./AG 9 - He 70 Rayo
II./KG 43 - Ju 52 Bomber
III./KG 43 - Ju 52 Bomber

Highlights


Not only is the governor in trouble, these guys are in a pinch as well.


Biplane combat is hugely different from PzC1 or even the core campaign in PzC2. Getting a better prediction than 1-2 is a miracle.


Concentrated armored strike punches through Republican positions.


The good news is that most of the enemy army is on the opposite side of the Tagus river. The bad news is that I need to get there somehow...


PzAbt 401 survives a vicious attack by multiple Republican infantry units.


While I'm glad my allies made it, the thought of how much it will cost to replace the losses does cause some mixed feelings.


AufkAbt 12 takes some undefended towns and villages.


T-26 causing trouble during last turns. I'm glad it stayed so passive earlier!

Summary:

Final Prestige: 6183 (up 374) - not a lot, since the defending units in Toledo and the reinforcements kept making costly attacks and were constantly replenishing losses.
CP gained: 2 ( up to 8 )

Equipment captured in scenario:

BT-5 - 6
T-26 - 8
Trubia - 5
FT-17 - 3 (up to 27)
UNL-35 - 6 (up to 21)
20mm M33 - 2 (up to 19)
75mm Schneider M06 - 6
70mm Schneider M08 - 2 (up to 9)

Other equipment gained:

None

Overall:

An easy scenario, both in terms of meeting the main objective and the bonus ones. The governor of Toledo is providing huge support fire and while he ends up taking some losses, the Republicans are unable to engage the units in the city for quite a long time, allowing to slowly advance with the relief force. The north path is almost fully clear, so it's feasible and advised to encircle the besieging units and trap them this way, while also capturing a lot of small towns and villages for more prestige. By the last turn, the Rebublican army was in fact almost fully wiped out! The exception was an AT gun unit defending the town of Pulgar - Nationalist infantry was not willing to go that direction and I was not able to bring my forces around in time to capture it as well. The only small downside is that the forces advancing towards Polan, despite artillery and bomber support are bound to take losses. I am content with the fact I net gained prestige, as this element can be slightly random here and more difficult to properly control than in many other scenarios.

AO Spanish Civil War - Early Madrid

Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 6786


This I authorize immediately. Forming PzAbt 502, the new tanks are superior to anything I will be able to use for a very long time. There will be only one unit possible, but with the civil war going on and terrible state of Spanish industry due to that I will have to live with that limited availability. With Panzer III and IV being in development back in Germany, there would be little chance to convince high command to somehow mass produce this foreign design.

Hero:



Older brother of Robert Krüger from AufkAbt 11, Hans is a skilled pilot from I./SG 7 who proved to to gave great sense of direction and can perfectly navigate the course on sight alone. He does not waste time and effort and can precisely strike the target and still move towards fighter cover. With JG 61 just having three Gruppe for now and not being able to be everywhere at once, this is a valuable skill to have to prevent bombers from being easily shot down. As it turns out, Legion Condor is not only becoming famous for its Little Tanks, but quite an agile air force as well.

New Units Commissioned:

AufkAbt 22 - for now final recon Abteilung. Fast experience growth of recon units, their mobility and the fact that Panzer I is not too amazing all help the decision to field more and more armored cars. I suspect later this will change as better tanks became available, but for now it seems like a good choice. And again with quite a long distance to travel in the open, that added range and flexible movement will have create advantageous situations.

New Equipment Provided:

Panzerjäger Abt 201 - Panzer I Breda
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - Panzer I Breda

The Panzer I modification equipped with the Italian 20mm Breda Modelo 1935 gun should give the AT support greatly needed in the filed and increased mobility. Some safety concerns raised by the crews and Wilhelm von Thoma had to be addressed to move the project past prototype design and ultimately I was able to provide enough of them to have two whole battalions ready.

Starting Army Composition:

Tank

PzAbt 401 - Panzer IA - *
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IA - *
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IA - *
PzAbt 502 - Verdeja 2 - to join during the mission

Recon

AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 221 - * - Envelopment
AufkAbt 12 - SdKfz 221 - *
AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 221 - *
AufkAbt 22 - SdKfz 221

Anti-Tank

Panzerjäger Abt 201 - Panzer I Breda
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - Panzer I Breda

Artillery

Artillerie Abt 601 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 602 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 701 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 702 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)

Anti-Aircraft

FlaK Abt 271 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport) - Fast Learner

Fighter

I./JG 61 - He 51 - Fast Rebase
II./JG 61 - He 51
III./JG 61 - He 51

Tactical Bomber

I./SG 7 - Hs123a - Double Move
II./SG 7 - Hs123a
III./SG 7 - Hs123a
I./AG 9 - He 70 Rayo

Corpo Truppe Volontarie

1 Gruppo 1 Sq - CR.32
1 Gruppo 2 Sq - CR.32

Reserve

Strategic Bombers are put fully in reserve - with a lot of open terrain the priorities shift more towards ground units and tactical bombers. With another CR.32 squadron deployed by CTV, there is also reduced AA cover in favor of AT guns this time.

FlaK Abt 272 - 3.7 cm FlaK 18 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 273 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)
I./KG 43 - Ju 52 Bomber
II./KG 43 - Ju 52 Bomber
III./KG 43 - Ju 52 Bomber

Highlights


PzAbt 502 arrives and hopefully will soon prove its worth, making life against BT-5's and T-26's easier.


While Wagner suggests bringing tanks up north, initially I only send a small force there, keeping the tanks near the hills to speed up the breakthrough.


PzAbt 402 is awarded for it's swift and efficient disposal of several enemy units, making the first preparations towards a truly deadly panzer battalion complete.


Fierce fighting over Hill 28 continues, while the hill on the other side of the road is already long taken.


I guess retreating away from the starting position counts as advancing? At least the Republican infantry is getting closed to other objectives this way...


With I./SG 7 replacing combat losses and II./SG 7 as well as III./SG 7 on a remote airfield, it is up to CR.32's from 1 Gruppo to deal with Republican fighters.


Encirclement of Hill 28 is finally resulting in an advantageous position and allows to force remaining infantry to surrender.


These single tanks are supposed to be the counter attack? It can't be that...


...bad.


If my air force situation wasn't difficult enough, I-16's appear and it takes all my fighters combined just to take one down. Even then it not always works and losses are significant.


Finally the situation becomes stabilized. Without much artillery, defensive positions are safe and AufkAbt 11 begins its huge capturing spree.

Summary:

Final Prestige: 7770 (up 984)
CP gained: None, 6 remaining

Equipment captured in scenario:

BT-5 - 27 (up to 33)
T-26 - 13 (up to 21)
Bilbao - 6 (up to 25)
37mm M1930 - 2 (up to 12)
20mm M33 - 5 (up to 24)
70mm Schneider M08 - 2 (up to 11)

Other equipment gained:

Verdeja 2 - gift unit

Overall:

This was quite an interesting scenario. In hindsight I might have brought I./KG 43 and II./KG 43 at least, as later there were occasions to utilize them more. The fight for both Hills shows an annoying tendency of Republican infantry to wander about attacking weakened AT guns and artillery and ignoring the fact that Legion Condor artillery becomes exposed. Recon mobility proves critical then to fill in expected gaps and cut off the enemy from assaulting vulnerable positions. The counter attack near Madrid was easier to contain than expected, but mostly on the south side. On the north part of the front, lack of any infantry units and killed terrain required sever artillery support to prevent losses for tanks bravely defending bridges. The operation is a success, with a lot of units gaining invaluable experience and stars in this exact scenario.

Watching the AI trade a VH back and forth is really neat. The way they manage their units, you can get some much more historical trading of ground. Back and forth back and forth, a town or village or hill historically could sometimes trade hands many times in just a single day. And it is the perfect opportunity to make the player feel empowered, because then they swoop in, alter the balance of power, and definitively secure the location.

Such a shame that AI Allies got such a mixed reception, these kinds of interactions give so much flavor and variety against traditional 'destroy everything in sight gameplay'.

AO Spanish Civil War - Corunna Road

Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 8592

Hero:



Michael Hofmann gave me quite a headache when it comes to assignment. There is an argument to be made of putting him on a fighter, since He 51 is quite weak now and bound to incur losses, but later with Bf 109 available this will become less relevant in future DLC. He could become a tactical bomber pilot with the intention to fly Bf 110's, but then his usefulness would be limited initially on Hs 123's. Finally, I could assign him to a recon unit, as these are bound to take some losses and later in 1939 flavorful reassign to an infantry unit (as a infantry officer who gained experience in a recon battalion in Spain in the absence of German infantry units). Suddenly, I had this interesting idea. He will join I./AG 9. This way I can hopefully have a recon that can operate without fighter escort more safely and besides, there are not many heroes that fit recon planes anyway. If I happen to have a Resilient hero later as well and maybe even Tenacious Defender if there is no better use for it, this can really make the recon plane almost impossible to shoot down. Funny enough, I./AG 9 will not be deployed in this scenario, but I've decided to proceed like this anyway.

New Units Commissioned:

None - I am looking to add an extra fighter, but for now with He 51 being so inferior compared to I-15's and I-16's there is no reason to do so. I would also like to add one more artillery, but that's 3 whole slots, which I cannot justify yet. Aside from that. in the nearest mostly defensive scenario I will add 2 towed AT guns, but for now there is no reason to request them ahead of time.

Starting Army Composition:

Tank

PzAbt 401 - Panzer IA - * - Survivor
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IA - * - Steamroller
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IA - *
PzAbt 502 - Verdeja 2

Recon

AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 221 - ** - Envelopment
AufkAbt 12 - SdKfz 221 - **

Anti-Tank

Panzerjäger Abt 201 - Panzer I Breda
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - Panzer I Breda

Artillery

Artillerie Abt 601 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 602 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 701 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 702 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *

Anti-Aircraft

FlaK Abt 271 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport) - * - Fast Learner

Fighter

I./JG 61 - He 51 - * - Fast Rebase
II./JG 61 - He 51
III./JG 61 - He 51 - *

Tactical Bomber

I./SG 7 - Hs123a - * - Double Move
II./SG 7 - Hs123a - *
III./SG 7 - Hs123a - *

Strategic Bomber

I./KG 43 - Ju 52 Bomber
II./KG 43 - Ju 52 Bomber
III./KG 43 - Ju 52 Bomber

Corpo Truppe Volontarie

1 Gruppo 1 Sq - CR.32
1 Gruppo 2 Sq - CR.32

Reserve

Time for Strategic Bombers to do some work. I may end up starved for ground troops, but I want to help them earn experience when possible.

AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 221 - *
AufkAbt 22 - SdKfz 221
FlaK Abt 272 - 3.7 cm FlaK 18 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 273 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)
I./AG 9 - He 70 Rayo - * - Prudent

Highlights


If this guy had 10 strength I my planes would be in serious trouble! Double Attack and Readiness makes the I-16 even more deadly on offense and much more costly to take down than usual.


KG 43 conducts a bombing run on artillery positions around Hermit's Villa. The results are unimpressive, as relatively weak, makeshift strategic bombers are not really cut for the task. New equipment from Germany is a must.


I was planning to let this BT-5 arrange replacements and capture it next turn, but my allies were eager to just take it down. We need to have a long talk regarding the usefulness of capturing over destroying equipment where possible.


Another encirclement created. After a few previous campaigns I am finally getting a feel of this powerful new mechanic, that I for sure neglected at the beginning.


Las Rozas falls surprisingly quickly and easily once the initial resistance around Hermit's Villa is defeated. Small groups of Republican troops are exposed in the open and find it difficult to set up defenses.


With main objectives taken, the enemy tries some limited counter attacks with T-26 tanks and infantry, at least for now.


PzAbt 501 is awarded for its efforts in fighting infantry. While Panzer I tanks are not a equal opponent to Soviet made T-26's and BT-5's they still offer huge tactical advantages in taking care of soft targets.


After long and bloody fighting, the prisoner is finally freed and taken aboard the plane that will take him to safety.


With the prisoner safe and objectives cleared, all that remains is to set up defensive positions and hold ground.

Summary:

Final Prestige: 8607 (up 15)
CP gained: 2 ( up to 8 )

Equipment captured in scenario:

T-26 - 8 (up to 29)
Trubia - 5 (up to 10)
UNL-35 - 2 (up to 23)
AAC-1937 - 2 (up to 6)
20mm M33 - 4 (up to 28)
70mm Schneider M08 - 1 (up to 12)

Other equipment gained:

None

Overall:

One of my favorite SCW scenarios is now done. The side objective is truly a side one, requiring a detached specialized force to complete while also holding the fort against organized attacks. Interestingly, on my first try with SCW I competed the side objective fast, but the main ones slower, and this was probably as mistake. Not sure what causes the counter attacks to spam, but back then after freeing the prisoner things escalated quickly and became dangerous at times. On this occasion the prisoner was freed on turn 21 and I untimely did not see any major counter offensive form the Republican army. There was some in the southern part, but quite manageable with just a limited defense. Only scenario downside is that there was virtually no prestige gain. Republican infantry kept putting themselves in risky positions, so quite a lot of the resources got spent on their costly replacements.

AO Spanish Civil War - Malaga

Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 9254

Hero:



Bernd Bauer will for sure help with field repairs of equipment reducing the strain on Legion Condor supply chain. Joins Panzerjäger Abt 201 where for now the prestige savings might not be huge, but will grow with better self-propelled AT guns. As the units like this often end up providing support fire, not actively attacking, it should help keep the battalion fully operational at all time. I have no self propelled artillery yet and won't for quite a while, tanks usually get to attack almost every turn and recons with time become much cheaper to replace.

New Units Commissioned:

Non this time - the amount of new equipment is enormous, so the army is quite short on supplies. I would love to deploy one more He 112 unit, but the requirement is simply too steep to justify.

New Equipment Provided:

PzAbt 401 - Panzer IB
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IB
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IB
FlaK Abt 271 - 8.8 cm FlaK 18 (SdKfz 7)
I./JG 61 - He 112
II./JG 61 - He 112
III./JG 61 - He 112
I./SG 7 - Ju 87A
II./SG 7 - Ju 87A
I./KG 43 - Ju 86
II./KG 43 - Ju 86
III./KG 43 - Ju 86

Starting Army Composition:

Tank

PzAbt 401 - Panzer IB - * - Survivor
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IB - * - Steamroller
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IB - *
PzAbt 502 - Verdeja 2

Recon

AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 221 - ** - Envelopment
AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 221 - *

Anti-Tank

Panzerjäger Abt 201 - Panzer I Breda - Field Repairs
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - Panzer I Breda

Artillery

Artillerie Abt 601 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 602 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 701 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 702 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *

Anti-Aircraft

FlaK Abt 272 - 3.7 cm FlaK 18 (Horse Transport)

Fighter

I./JG 61 - He 112 - * - Fast Rebase
II./JG 61 - He 112 - *
III./JG 61 - He 112 - *

Tactical Bomber

I./SG 7 - Ju 87A - * - Double Move
II./SG 7 - Ju 87A - *
III./SG 7 - Hs123a - *

Strategic Bomber

I./KG 43 - Ju 86 - *
II./KG 43 - Ju 86

Corpo Truppe Volontarie

1 Gruppo 1 Sq - CR.32
1 Gruppo 2 Sq - CR.32

Reserve

Strategic Bombers are put fully in reserve - with a lot of open terrain the priorities shift more towards ground units and tactical bombers. With another CR.32 squadron deployed by CTV, there is also reduced AA cover in favor of AT guns this time.

AufkAbt 12 - SdKfz 221 - **
AufkAbt 22 - SdKfz 221
FlaK Abt 271 - 8.8 cm FlaK 18 (SdKfz 7) - * - Fast Learner
FlaK Abt 273 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)
I./AG 9 - He 70 Rayo - * - Prudent
III./KG 43 - Ju 86

Highlights


Now this is a decent combat prediction! Even considering AA support, the tides of air war shift in Legion Condor favor with the new experimental He 112.


PzAbt 402 also seems to gain more and more experience fighting infantry.Even with the new Panzer IB the battalion should still stay way from more formidable tanks...


What did I say just a moment ago? PzAbt 402 captures an airfield, but is attacked by bombers and formidable armored opposition, suffering heavy losses.


Time to put up a defensive formation as quite a lot of tanks are encountered and require a slower, more cautious approach.


First aces appear in I./JG 61 after multiple air victories. After switching to new, more advance fighters achieving superiority will be much easier with the experienced crews.


Panzerjäger Abt 201 provides some valuable support fire after infantry is assaulted during river crossing.


AufkAbt 21 barely survives an attack from several armored cars. I was aware of enemy patrols, but did not expect as many of them to appear at once!


While I was happy to get my first fighter aces, opposing I-16 pilots are no pushovers for sure!


PzAbt 501 defeats several recon car battalions one after another and earns a medal for the achievement.


Burning wrecks of opposing tanks and recon cars say all that needs to be said about intensity of the combat that took place here.


Siege of Malaga is relatively easy compared to the earlier panzer warfare. It's basically just the case of how much artillery and bombers I can deploy onto a small area.

Summary:

Final Prestige: 9283 (up 29)
CP gained: 2 (up to 10)

Equipment captured in scenario:

BT-5 - 5 (up to 38)
T-26 - 4 (up to 33)
Trubia - 1 (up to 11)
UNL-35 - 5 (up to 28)
75mm Vickers M1931 - 1 (up to 6)

Other equipment gained:

None

Overall:

Quick and intense scenario. I had all the time in the world and could for sure go much slower and still meeting all the objectives. The difficulty here does not lie in the amount on enemy forces nor a tight time frame, just a few concentrated points of heavy resistance that are better approached slowly than rushing in. New equipment is really useful, especially the new He 112 fighter and Ju 86 bomber with the upgrades however comes the issue of again not having enough core slots to get everything I'd like. A Zero Slots hero, or at least a Reduced Slots one, would be quite helpful. That's still fine, at least it results in meaningful choices at all times. Also, it is funny how my prestige gains slowed down suddenly. It is the second scenario where I don't loose any, but at the same time gain almost nothing. This time at least twice it was my fault by letting opposing forces catch me off guard, so I can't blame it on my AI allies fully.

AO Spanish Civil War - Brunete

Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 11040


I again politely decline the exchange. I am aiming towards not doing the prestige exchange at Zaragoza, an just the one from bonus objectives to get two unique awards, so agreeing here would prevent that chance to save supplies. I will need to make sure to meet every bonus objective as a side effect of the decision.

Hero:



Sebastian Wolf will join Artillerie Abt 701. I do not expect equipping this battalion with heavier types of guns, their strain on slots is insane, but the ability to suppress enemy artillery is a bonus that is great when it works. Not the most overpowered ability, but again something that helps stabilize the front and prevent nasty surprises.

New Units Commissioned:

Again nothing new, the amount of available slots prevents any new additions from being used efficiently.

Starting Army Composition:

Tank

PzAbt 401 - Panzer IB - * - Survivor
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IB - * - Steamroller
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IB - * - Steamroller
PzAbt 502 - Verdeja 2 - *

Recon

AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 221 - ** - Envelopment
AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 221 - *

Anti-Tank

Panzerjäger Abt 201 - Panzer I Breda - Field Repairs
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - Panzer I Breda

Artillery

Artillerie Abt 601 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 602 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 701 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 702 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *

Anti-Aircraft

FlaK Abt 271 - 8.8 cm FlaK 18 (SdKfz 7) - * - Fast Learner

Fighter

I./JG 61 - He 112 - * - Fast Rebase
II./JG 61 - He 112 - *
III./JG 61 - He 112 - *

Tactical Bomber

I./SG 7 - Ju 87A - * - Double Move
II./SG 7 - Ju 87A - *
III./SG 7 - Hs123a - *

Corpo Truppe Volontarie

1 Gruppo 1 Sq - CR.32
1 Gruppo 2 Sq - CR.32

Reserve

Bringing in three Strategic bombers so I can provide suppression for an expected attack on Torrelodones would be tempting. With the limited amount of Republican infantry this seems like a logical choice. however, my starting positions have hills on which FlaK Abt 271 and its shiny 8.8 cm FlaK 18 can be put to great AA and AT use.

AufkAbt 12 - SdKfz 221 - **
AufkAbt 22 - SdKfz 221
FlaK Abt 272 - 3.7 cm FlaK 18 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 273 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)
I./AG 9 - He 70 Rayo - * - Prudent
I./KG 43 - Ju 86 - *
II./KG 43 - Ju 86
III./KG 43 - Ju 86

Highlights


Just try to put your planes above any of my ground units. I dare you!


PzAbt 502 is attacked by bombers, artillery and tanks, but stands strong with minimal losses. The Verdeja 2 is truly a solid machine, not so easy to destroy.


With AA guns and fighters providing solid cover to ground units, rebublican fighters target II./SG 7. It is a costly, nearly suicidal attack as 1 Gruppo shoots down multiple attacking machines, but still the losses to II./SG 7 are significant and put the unit temporarily out of commission in need to resupply.


I./SG 7 becomes more experienced in fighting armored targets. This happens quite fast in the campaign, but was deliberately engineered by having the unit target tanks as often as possible, leaving other targets to II./SG 7 and III./SG 7.


Yet another medal ceremony in store once the battle is over. PzAbt 401 is fighting the famous Brigada Abraham Lincoln that does not yield under any circumstances.


Surrounded in open terrain, under artillery fire and attacked by tanks, Brigada Abraham Lincoln stands strong, impressing Legion Condor soldiers.


PzAbt 502 earns an all-important award considering its superior firepower. It takes the units much less time than other tanks battalions, but their efforts were just as important.


FlaK Abt 271 sees some anti-tank action.


Villaneuva del Pardillo falls easily thanks to heavy artillery support.


Meanwhile things near Valdermorillo progress much slower. I've learnt to be cautious of T-26 tanks.


Final siege of Torrelodones, strangely with no counter attack.

Summary:

Final Prestige: 12761 (up 1721)
CP gained: 1 (up to 11)

Equipment captured in scenario:

T-26 - 9 (up to 42)
Trubia - 10 (up to 21)
AAC-1937 - 3 (up to 9)
20mm M33 - 2 (up to 30)
76.2mm M31 - 2

Other equipment gained:

None

Overall:

That went easier than expected and the final prestige gains show this better than anything else. After two scenarios when I barely broke even, this time things went a lot easier. After stabilizing the situation near Brunete, which is surprisingly easy to do on this difficulty level with some well placed support units, switching to attack mode is made easier by the fact there is basically all open terrain. The hills do not serve as obstacles (in fact they act in the attackers favor allowing to place artillery better) and rivers are just a minor annoyance thanks to multiple bridges. 8.8 cm FlaK 18 proved great on defense both against air and ground targets, but the side effect of the enemy sending fighters on suicide missions against my tactical bombers were an unexpected side effect. this AA/AT gun is for sure more tricky to use on the offense, but as long as the front line is close enough, bringing it right into action is not as difficult as it may seem. The only real downside is replacements cost. Even as slight hit is a lot of prestige and having it accidentally attacked by infantry can be extremely draining. Also, stack of captured equipment really reach a point at which the only reason not to use my own T-26 tanks is the self imposed rule.

Game loved you on heroes at the start. Envelopment and Fast Rebase are both really good. Since then a bit more blaah though. What does Prudent do? I don't think I've got that one yet. Going by the name, just 'no ambushes' or something similar?

Nice to see someone else playing without the AA general trait. A lot of times the people in the videos lean heavily on it, which can make it rough to use their strats if your AA is the generic kind.

Impressed you took care of the Nemsesis right quick. In my playthrough he got away and showed up two missions later. He hits and runs, so if you damage him he drives 6 hexes away before repairing. I finally smashed him when he got greedy and chased an italian recon into some close terrain, and it still took the entire air force and Franco's guys deciding to pitch in for a change.

WalterTFD wrote: ↑Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:07 pm Game loved you on heroes at the start. Envelopment and Fast Rebase are both really good. Since then a bit more blaah though. What does Prudent do? I don't think I've got that one yet. Going by the name, just 'no ambushes' or something similar?

Prudent gives a defense bonus for each point of lost strength. Not the most impressive feat, but on overstrengthened units and infantry could be nice. I have neither, so I've put him on a recon plane as safety policy since barely any heroes work on recon planes.

WalterTFD wrote: ↑Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:07 pm Impressed you took care of the Nemsesis right quick. In my playthrough he got away and showed up two missions later. He hits and runs, so if you damage him he drives 6 hexes away before repairing. I finally smashed him when he got greedy and chased an italian recon into some close terrain, and it still took the entire air force and Franco's guys deciding to pitch in for a change.

If I didn't have my FlaK Abt 271 and their 2 cm FlaK 30 in AT mode close by, this whole encirclement business would not do much. With all the defensive bonuses Vega gets, the units could just sit there and grill some tasty German wursts for the rest of the scenario, without doing anything useful to that unit...

AO Spanish Civil War - Zaragoza

Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 13621


I decline the offer this time. This is something I will take one day under Retrograde/Slow Modernization for some better access to equipment from all CP point awards, but here I will only need a total of 13 to get all I want and with one point to earn in Zaragoza and two in Teruel, this should be exactly enough. Of course this also gives little room for error.

Hero:



Andreas Lange appeared too soon. He would be the prefect infantry officer in 1939, but since I won't reassign heroes unless under very specific circumstances and almost certainly not between different unit types, he has to fit another role. After SCW fighters will in general not require that much support, so this idea is scrapped. Tanks will be used mostly for overruns, where the ability is less synergistic and not many other units can take advantage of it. AT guns seem like the natural fit then. With Panzerjäger Abt 201 having Fields Repairs that reduce the impact of taken casualties and then No Retaliation usually reduces casualties in general, Andreas will need to join Panzerjäger Abt 202 instead.

New Units Commissioned:

Artillerie Abt 611 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)

Defensive nature of the scenario makes me want to finally try and add extra artillery to start gaining some experience.

Starting Army Composition:

Tank

PzAbt 401 - Panzer IB - ** - Survivor
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IB - ** - Steamroller
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IB - * - Steamroller
PzAbt 502 - Verdeja 2 - * - Steamroller, Survivor

Recon

AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 221 - ** - Envelopment

Anti-Tank

Panzerjäger Abt 201 - Panzer I Breda - * - Field Repairs
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - Panzer I Breda - * - No Retaliation

Artillery

Artillerie Abt 601 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 602 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 701 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 702 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 611 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)

Anti-Aircraft

FlaK Abt 272 - 3.7 cm FlaK 18 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 273 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)

Fighter

I./JG 61 - He 112 - * - Fast Rebase
II./JG 61 - He 112 - *
III./JG 61 - He 112 - *

Tactical Bomber

I./SG 7 - Ju 87A - * - Double Move
II./SG 7 - Ju 87A - *
III./SG 7 - Hs123a - *

Corpo Truppe Volontarie

1 Gruppo 1 Sq - CR.32
1 Gruppo 2 Sq - CR.32

Reserve

Recons are mostly in reserve since while their speed would be nice for the rescue objective, they might have problems in the open field against tanks. I decide to use 2 lighter AA guns instead of one heavy to spread the cover over two main groups - one over Zaragoza and one over the mountain pass. Strategic bombers and recon planes stay in reserve as fighters might be too busy providing cover to tactical bombers and ground units.

AufkAbt 12 - SdKfz 221 - **
AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 221 - *
AufkAbt 22 - SdKfz 221
FlaK Abt 271 - 8.8 cm FlaK 18 (SdKfz 7) - * - Fast Learner
I./AG 9 - He 70 Rayo - * - Prudent
I./KG 43 - Ju 86 - *
II./KG 43 - Ju 86
III./KG 43 - Ju 86

Highlights


Tanks to the rescue. Any militia on the way is just a symbolic roadblock...


...and source of easy commendations.


FlaK Abt 273 has the occasion to prove useful against valid ground targets.


AufkAbt 11 is awarded for fights around Quinto and previous accomplishments against infantry forces.


AI just loves to attack Panzer I Breda units with infantry, inflicting only minimal suppression on both sides. A unit or two can completely block off a narrow passage this way.


Many II./JG 61 pilots distinguish themselves and fighter aces this day.


Attacking here is not the best idea the enemy tank commander ever had.


Tempting as it may be, crossing Ebro is not really worth the risk... this time.

Summary:

Final Prestige: 13307 (down 314)
CP gained: 1 (up to 12)

Equipment captured in scenario:

T-26 - 1 (up to 43)
20mm M33 - 4 (up to 34)
75mm Schneider M06 - 6 (up to 12)
105mm Vickers M22 - 5 (up to 14)

Other equipment gained:

None

Overall:

First scenario where I'm actually down on prestige and it turned out to be surprising initially after the good runs so far. However, seeing how there's no prestige per turn, close to no hex objectives to take and amount of captured equipment is also not too great, it is understandable. It actually was a fun scenario where speed was important to save the besieged target (the team constantly got encircled in the first 3 turns), but also I did not feel the rush was unfair. It just required swift, focused push along the roads and not getting sidetracked. Defending the objectives later is more tricky, as artillery on hills can inflict serious losses and crossing the river this time to take them out is not worth it. A nice prequel to Ebro scenario. Defense of Zaragoza actually went easier than expected. The few attacking Republican units got absolutely obliterated and never stood any chance - I was hoping for more in that location. Panzerjäger Abt 202 with No Retaliation worked perfect it allowed to easily soften up hard targets and enable effective overruns, which is what I expected it to do.

No Retaliation on an AT unit is a slick move. Definitely an infantry-intended hero, but in SCW gotta get a little creative. My only AT hero so far (midway through 1939) is one who, I forget the name of it, they inspire units adjacent to them to get an accuracy boost. Since Breda's like to hang out around tanks and artillery, get a lot of use out of it. Also it helps when an enemy bombs nearby stuff and you send the fighters over to sort them out, they get inspired too.

AO Spanish Civil War - Teruel

Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 13857


This is a welcome trade I am more than willing to take. Another tank unit would be useful - not compulsory, but in some scenarios could serve the army well, especially since I'm stuck with Panzer I otherwise by not employing the captured equipment.

Hero:



I'd consider Daniel Richter to be Galland Junior for the sake of the provided benefit. He will therefore join II./JG 61 and help achieve air dominance by increasing the efficiency of attacking air targets with multiple fighters as well as sometimes benefiting ground units as well. Later with tactical bombers that have active air attack this can also help them shoot down weaker air units with this assist, allowing I./JG 61 focus on fighter vs. fighter combat.

New Units Commissioned:

IV./JG 61 - Bf 109B
Panzerjäger Abt 211 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
Panzerjäger Abt 212 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)

JG 61 finally gains the fourth and final unit now that more efficient machines are available and can be introduced easily with less issues due to no actual combat experience. With He 51 or even He 112 it would be much harder. Two towed AT gun battalions are an experiment. I was planning on using them at one point anyway, so I deploy them here with the hope to use them to provide cover to charging cavalry and reduce their potential losses.

New Equipment Provided:

I./JG 61 - Bf 109B
II./JG 61 - Bf 109B
III./JG 61 - Bf 109B
IV./JG 61 - Bf 109B
AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 231 6Rad
AufkAbt 22 - SdKfz 231 6Rad
FlaK Abt 272 - SdKfz 10/4
FlaK Abt 273 - SdKfz 10/4

Several important upgrades are now available. New Bf 109B fighters fresh from Messerschmidt factories finally provide something that is not just on par to Republican machines, but is simply better. With experienced pilots things in the sky are expected to change. AufkAbt 21 and AufkAbt 22 receive heavy recon cars. Other two battalions will continue to use lighter vehicles, as they provide superior air defense at the cost of hard target stopping power. Finally, tow AA battalions switch towed equipment for self-propelled. It is more costly to maintain and supply, but the superior mobility more than makes up for it, being able to not only cover armored columns, but also actively seek out and suppress targets before fighters have a shot at them.

Starting Army Composition:

Tank

PzAbt 401 - Panzer IB - ** - Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IB - ** - Steamroller
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IB - ** - Steamroller
PzAbt 502 - Verdeja 2 - * - Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 411 - Panzer IIA - to join during the mission

Recon

AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 221 - ** - Envelopment
AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 231 6Rad - **
AufkAbt 22 - SdKfz 231 6Rad

Anti-Tank

Panzerjäger Abt 201 - Panzer I Breda - * - Field Repairs
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - Panzer I Breda - * - No Retaliation
Panzerjäger Abt 211 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
Panzerjäger Abt 212 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)

Artillery

Artillerie Abt 601 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 602 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 701 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 702 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 611 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)

Fighter

I./JG 61 - Bf 109B - * - Fast Rebase
II./JG 61 - Bf 109B - * - Leadership
III./JG 61 - Bf 109B - *
IV./JG 61 - Bf 109B

Tactical Bomber

I./SG 7 - Ju 87A - * - Double Move
III./SG 7 - Hs123a - *

Reserve

After new equipment is added, there is again some more supply costs to consider. This would be an ideal occasion to deploy the full air force, but with potential weather issues, I decide to only bring in fighters and two tactical bombers in favor of much more artillery.

AufkAbt 12 - SdKfz 221 - ** - Field Repairs
FlaK Abt 271 - 8.8 cm FlaK 18 (SdKfz 7) - * - Fast Learner
FlaK Abt 272 - SdKfz 10/4
FlaK Abt 273 - SdKfz 10/4
I./AG 9 - He 70 Rayo - * - Prudent
I./KG 43 - Ju 86 - *
II./SG 7 - Ju 87A - *
II./KG 43 - Ju 86
III./KG 43 - Ju 86

Highlights


First layer of defenses is breached easily north of Caude.


III./JG 61 joins the aerial aces club, inspiring IV./JG 61 to provide good results as soon as possible and not be left behind.


Obvious fact - No Retaliation while powerful, will not work on defense, so losses are not unheard of. Point to consider for the future when providing Panzerjäger Abt 202 with new equipment and need to find a good balance between offense and defense, or at least make sure to place the battalion in such a way to minimize the chance of getting into trouble.


Republican forces try to sneak towards the north airfield. Good I have PzAbt 411 freshly deployed there.


The massive cavalry charge absolutely smashes through enemy positions.


Medical transport escapes Teruel via the roundabout way, capturing some towns and airfields while at it. I guess the wounded can wait.


We might have gotten a bit too confident. Time for an organized, but fast retreat.


While heavy fighting continues around Teruel, the southern Republican camp is silent. It remains guarded by a few Little Tanks, just in case of any nasty surprises.

Summary:

Final Prestige: 13223 (down 624)
CP gained: 2 (up to 11, with 3 spent)

Equipment captured in scenario:

Trubia - 6 (up to 27)
BA-6 - 3
AAC-1937 - 2 (up to 11)
20mm M33 - 4 (up to 38)
70mm Schneider M08 - 5 (up to 17)

Other equipment gained:

Panzer IIA - gift unit

Overall:

That was a truly spectacular, powerful cavalry charge. There is really no other scenario like this one and the unique feel makes for a memorable experience. This is at the same time quite costly, as cavalry is bound to face severe losses, even if supported from every angle. I perhaps could even attempt an attack on the southern camp, but that would be pointless and wasteful in terms of resources. The medical unit evacuation is another thing. Something almost surely must have changes since I played the scenario earlier, as evacuation went swiftly without encountering any infantry and before I could have sworn that there were some marauders far east. Teruel also had a much harder time previously, while here even under endless artillery salvos the Nationalist forces stood strong. While it made things easier it helped shift the focus to the main selling point of Teruel, which in my mind was a good decision.

I loved this mission, Nationalist Cavalry to the rescue! One of the few times the AI allies felt effective and genuinely helpful.

AO Spanish Civil War - Aragon Offensive

Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 14752

Hero:



Another mechanic who can help provide simple repairs on the battlefield, Lars Koch might not show his skills to often, but with artillery occasionally hitting or a lucky air bombardment, the ability to continue going at full strength and still move can save small bits of prestige. He joins AufkAbt 12. Recon cars not always get to attack viable targets and on the other hand will get hit accidentally much harder than tanks.

New Units Commissioned:

None, I have everything I need for now and don't see the need to extend the list further.

Starting Army Composition:

Tank

PzAbt 401 - Panzer IB - ** - Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IB - ** - Steamroller
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IB - ** - Steamroller
PzAbt 502 - Verdeja 2 - * - Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 411 - Panzer IIA

Recon

AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 221 - ** - Envelopment
AufkAbt 12 - SdKfz 221 - ** - Field Repairs

Anti-Tank

Panzerjäger Abt 201 - Panzer I Breda - * - Field Repairs
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - Panzer I Breda - * - No Retaliation

Anti-Aircraft
FlaK Abt 272 - SdKfz 10/4

Artillery

Artillerie Abt 601 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 602 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 701 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 702 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *

Fighter

I./JG 61 - Bf 109B - * - Fast Rebase
II./JG 61 - Bf 109B - * - Leadership
III./JG 61 - Bf 109B - *

Tactical Bomber

I./SG 7 - Ju 87A - ** - Double Move
II./SG 7 - Ju 87A - *
I./AG 9 - He 70 Rayo - * - Prudent

Strategic Bomber

I./KG 43 - Ju 86 - *
II./KG 43 - Ju 86
III./KG 43 - Ju 86

Reserve

Just more aircraft this time are put in the active core and slight rotation to ground troops. With such a long distance to travel, some fast AA cover should be quite helpful as well.

AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 231 6Rad - **
AufkAbt 22 - SdKfz 231 6Rad - *
Panzerjäger Abt 211 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
Panzerjäger Abt 212 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 271 - 8.8 cm FlaK 18 (SdKfz 7) - * - Fast Learner
FlaK Abt 273 - SdKfz 10/4
Artillerie Abt 611 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
IV./JG 61 - Bf 109B
III./SG 7 - Hs123a - *

Highlights


Combined arms strike punches through the center of enemy formations.


Infantry tempted to abandon safe positions on hills gets decimated by tanks.


Where tanks can't go, Republicans can and they easily take care of any defenders.


I hate 152 mm guns with a passion. They inflict more losses than enemy tanks and aircraft combined...


T-26 tanks try to sneak through the mountains!


KG 43 and artillery help secure Morella that is in a strongly fortified location.


Sneaky mountain T-26 tanks are bombarded by II./SG 7 and this earns the pilots a medal.


Crazy tank chase - all of these units tried to take down a single BT-5 group...


Artillery abandons fortified positions in Vinaroz. It is as if the enemy knew the case is lost and is trying to inflict maximum casualties out of sheer spite.

Summary:

Final Prestige: 14800 (up 48)
CP gained: 0 (current 11)

Equipment captured in scenario:

AAC-1937 - 2 (up to 11)
20mm M33 - 3 (up to 41)
76.2mm M31 - 2 (up to 4)
105mm Vickers M22 - 9 (up to 22)
152mm M10/30 - 3 (up to 4)

Other equipment gained:

None

Overall:

A fast paced scenario with more than enough turns to spare - 20 would be well enough most likely. Taking it slow and progressing with a lot of support is the best and least costly idea. There is really no reason to rush things as there is a lot of open terrain in which to utilize AT an artillery support. There's just the case of anticipating and keeping up with Nationalist allies movements, but that can be easily achieved as well. I did take some losses by taking objectives on the westerns side of Ebro, but artillery can be neutralized as well if tanks are brought quickly enough. There was a surprising amount of fighters - if I remembered that, I'd swap one recon battalion for IV./JG 61 making life much easier in the long run.

You are crushing it! I had the same feeling like you did here, this mission gave maybe a few more turns than it needed to.

A challenge, I'd be honestly impressed if you can take the Ebro mission on without using that envelopment hero and get the bonus objective. I failed at that in my playthrough, the only way I could get the bonus was with an auto-routing guy.