Massina_nz (Allies) v. UffzExner (Axis) - War is Over

[massina_nz]

Well, I've been itching to write an AAR so here goes.

As a bit of background, I've been interested in board-games and computer strategy games since I was young. One of my favourites being Avalon Hill's Rise and Decline of the Third Reich, which I used to play frequently as a teenager, against myself.

I watched "A Bridge too far" recently, which rekindled my interest in WWII, and happened to spot a copy of CEAW in a local store at a very reasonable price. I found the forum and lo and behold there were plenty of possible PBEM opponents. Wow, great, finally I can play a game against a real opponent. So far I completed one PBEM game, and have four other ones in progress, one of which I hold the upper hand, and the three others, well, let's just say they're good for training!

My oponent is Frank, IMHO he is a much better player than I, but I'm hoping I've learnt fast, especially since in my previous game against him as the Axis, he had captured Berlin in April '44.

My general strategy as allies is:

UK - Invest in industry and ASW research where possible, I expect that in places I'll have to make some hard decisions between research and building units, but where possible I will invest in research. Keep the RN as safe as I can, focussing on convoy escort duties. Presuming Sealion doesn't eventuate, I will then re-inforce the middle-east as soon as I can.

France - Build INF corps, not GARs. Defend at the French border. I don't really want to advance the allied line into Belguim.

Russia - Invest in industry and dogfight. Build heaps of INF corps in '41 and defend on the Dvina - Dnieper line. Limit my attacks in the Winter and start building mechanised and air corps once the double-unit defensive line is in place.

USA - focus research on industry and ASW

Now if someone will tell me how to post pictures on the forum, I'll get started.

[Clark]

You have to upload pics to a site like Flickr or Photobucket. Then you get the url for the pic itself and use the img tags helpfully provided by the forum to post the pic.

[ftgcritt2]

Wrong frank, Massina. I'm only playing one game right now, and that is against Joerock.

[massina_nz]

Turn 1 - 1 Sep, 1939
Seems Frank wanted to take Krakow & Posen, normally I don't bother as they fall once you take Warsaw. I leave the polish air-force where it is, so as to form a large speed bump. I thow caution to the wind and attack a German INF corp with it, and manage to inflict 2-step losses on the Luftwaffe for only 1-step in return. Otherwise I retreat my remaining Polish forces towards Warsaw. I don't bother re-inforcing the 1-step INF corp south of Warsaw, as I suspect it will die in one attack anyway. I re-inforce the Warsaw garrison by 1-step back to 10-steps. Hmmm, lots of panzers near Warsaw, guess it'll fall next turn.

The British send a GAR and INF to France, their sub towards the Baltic, via the channel to spy on any German naval movements, and the rest of the fleets head out to the Atlantic to begin convoy duty. The UK bomber is sent to Ireland on sub patrol duty, not that I expect Frank will venture near the coast. The sole FTR stations itself at Dover in case of an air attack on Holland. I buy 1 industry tech for the Brits.

The French Naval elements head for the Atlantic. And the North African elements head for France. Why do you lose 8PPs everytime you board the French GARs on a transport, I don't seem to have exceeeded their transport capacity?

[massina_nz]

Wrong frank, Massina. I'm only playing one game right now, and that is against Joerock.

Oh what a Wally I am, thanks for telling me, I've amended the title, I guess I ASSUMEd too much

Thank god you can change the title of the thread!

[OxfordGuy3]

Why do you lose 8PPs everytime you board the French GARs on a transport, I don't seem to have exceeeded their transport capacity?

It costs 8PPs to load anything on a transport, even if under transport capacity (would cost much more if you were over), though you only pay this once (i.e. if you have a unit loaded on a transport for more than one turn, you don't pay again in subsequent turns). Is probably still worth shipping the French GARs over, though, as it costs 15PP to buy a GAR

[trulster]

Russia - Invest in industry and dogfight. Build heaps of INF corps in '41 and defend on the Dvina - Dnieper line. Limit my attacks in the Winter and start building mechanised and air corps once the double-unti defensive line is in place.

Yeah, I did not think the strategy of churning out masses of infantry being that viable, but it does seem to work in our game, given enough cannon fodder the Germans are slowed down for long enough to not being able to take any prized real estate. Though maybe it does impair later Russian offensive punch, who know!

Good luck!

[massina_nz]

Russia - Invest in industry and dogfight. Build heaps of INF corps in '41 and defend on the Dvina - Dnieper line. Limit my attacks in the Winter and start building mechanised and air corps once the double-unti defensive line is in place.

Yeah, I did not think the strategy of churning out masses of infantry being that viable, but it does seem to work in our game, given enough cannon fodder the Germans are slowed down for long enough to not being able to take any prized real estate. Though maybe it does impair later Russian offensive punch, who know!

Good luck!

I think it does impair the offensive punch, but there is only a narrow window of opportunity for the soviets to attack in '41 then maybe it doesn't matter. I definitely felt that the Soviet INF corps lack punch, really only able to atack minor ally units or units that are out of support.

[massina_nz]

Why do you lose 8PPs everytime you board the French GARs on a transport, I don't seem to have exceeeded their transport capacity?

It costs 8PPs to load anything on a transport, even if under transport capacity (would cost much more if you were over), though you only pay this once (i.e. if you have a unit loaded on a transport for more than one turn, you don't pay again in subsequent turns). Is probably still worth shipping the French GARs over, though, as it costs 15PP to buy a GAR

Thanks for that. And yes I agree 8PPs is better than 15PPs. Still undecided whether to move the Syrian GAR to France, if France holds on long enough (which I doubt) then the Italians may attempt a sneak attack against Syria.

[massina_nz]

Turn 2 - 21 September 1940

Poland falls as expected, taken in two turns. It looks like one panzer korp has gone west, Holland? Belgium? I can't tell yet.

Denmark also falls in one turn to combined arms attack, So far it's a pretty normal start for the Germans.

The German u-boat in the Atlantic shows up at greenland convoy causing some damage. This should mean that the path for Canadian FTR should be safe to go straight to the UK. Normally I send it on a southerly route and disembark it at Brest or St Nazaire.

There are no other convoys, and lots of idle allied ships.

[rkr1958]

Still undecided whether to move the Syrian GAR to France, if France holds on long enough (which I doubt) then the Italians may attempt a sneak attack against Syria.

I would advise, and always do, move the Syrian garrison to France. You can get it there by February 1940. I wouldn't worry about an Italian attack on French Syria. In fact I'd welcome such an attack because as soon as France falls, Syria becomes Vichy and all axis units inside of Syria, or any Vichy territory, would be removed from the map and placed into their respective country's build queue in the condition that they were at the time they were removed. Now, on the other hand, all British units inside of Syria, or any other Vichy territory, will be destroyed.

It terms of threat assessment I would place an Italian attack on Syria before France falls at a very low probability. If you're concerned by an Italian foray into the eastern Med in the Spring or Summer of 1940 I would worry much more about Cyprus than Syria. Though I'd also rate that as a low probability until after Greece, and Crete, are captured.

[massina_nz]

Turn 3 - 11 October 1939

Very quiet with no movement from the Germans except a further attack on the Greenland convoy.

I guess the mud weather in central Europe has postponed any attacks on the low countries. Which is obviously good for me, as it allows me more time to build my French defenses. Just slightly nervous about building only INF Corps as my defense line can look like swiss cheese early on. I need five more turns to build the initial defense line I would like as a bare minimum

As mentioned before the greenland convoy has only two steps left, so I see no point of escorting it and risking my BBs. So most of the BBs are sent toward the convoy spawning spots in the South Atlantic and the Caribbean.

The Canadian FTR gets an escort of two DDs and a BB fro it's dash across the ocean.

The UK sub is moved towards Copenhagen, it seems the German fleets have returned to port.

Finally Auchlineck placed on mech unit in London, which I forgot to do last turn.

[massina_nz]

Turn 4 - 31 October 1939

Mud again, but the Germans occupy Arnhem.

The French purchase 1 INF Corp, and the Syrian GAR embarks for France.

The UK purchase 1 ASW tech.

Otherwise it is very quiet as there are still no other convoys spawning. Obviously the Commonwealth is still suffering the after effects of the great depression.

[massina_nz]

Turn 5 - 20 November 1939

The British sub intercepts the Baltic DD fleet moving towards Norway, it loses 3 steps to the German's 2. I retreat the sub 3 hexs so can still watch for Kreigsmarine movements. The French sub is still a couple of turns away from providing support.

It's Mud again and the Netherlands holds out. I repair the The Hague defenders. Mud really seems to be helping me here.

The Canadian FTR makes it to Portsmouth unhindered.

The Fench BBs are sent back towards Canada to provide escorts to other Canadain re-inforcements.

Finally some (small) convoys spawn. No sign of u-boats

UK buys an Air (general) tech

UK FTR repaired one step, from losses obtained during German turn interdiction.

[massina_nz]

Turn 6 - 10 December 1939

Looks like the Kriegsmarine want to go out sub-hunting. Both German naval units contact the UK sub in the North Sea. My Sub loses 5 steps and the Baltic DD fleet 3. I notice the German STR unit is in Denmark as well. I hightail my sub back towards London, thankfully it wasn't completely destroyed, luck more than good management. The Fench sub moves towards Denmark to continue naval recon.

It's now winter in northen and central Europe, so I'm sure Frank was just sub-hunting since he can't land in Norway because of the weather

The Netherlands falls after 3 turns. And I lose another 1 step off the RAF who were providing some degree of air support for the Dutch. As the Allies I like to get the RAF involved as much as possible in the low countries. As they can inflict serious damage to the German FTRs, who sometimes struggle to provided CAP as the Germans advance into France, and often the Germans need to re-base their fighters to do so. Wheras the brits don't, they can just sit at Dover. This works well in Blitz games, as the Luftwaffe normally only has two FTRs, but with the Sitzkreig plan, which I suspect Frank is implementing. He will probably have 3 or 4 FTRs, and I may have to be more cautious with my UK FTRs.

Both the US & Soviets buy 1 Industry tech

Current French dispostions (sorry, photo is a bit small)

[massina_nz]

Turn 7 - 30 December 1939

French buy 1 INF. Nothing much else happens.

[massina_nz]

Turn 8 - 18 January 1940

The French sub discovers that the Kreigsmarine have withdrawn from Norwegian waters. Whilst the UK sub is repaired 3 steps at Newcastle.

The next Greenland convoy is ambushed by a lone u-boat. I've decided not to escort the nortern route convoys for the time being, the focus being on getting the Canadians across the ditch safely. So the Canadian mech unit embarks for the UK with an escort of two DDs and two BBs. No sign of the other two u-boats?

Otherwise, very quiet Winter turn. Once spring arrives, I suspect I'll be in a heap of trouble.

[massina_nz]

Turn 9 - 8 February 1940

The Greenland convoy is knocked down to 5 sticks, and there is still only 1 u-boat visible. I expected to see more u-boat activity.

The French buy 1 INF corp and the Brits buy 1 Industry Tech.

A French INF corp placed in the defensive line. I now have my basic defensive line set up. The Syrian GAR arrives in Marseille.

The French sub spotsthe German Baltic fleet repairing in Copenhagen.

The UK Sub is repaired 3 steps. The Canadian Mech is halfway across the Atlantic.

Otherwise very quiet........"Drums....Drums in the Deep"

[massina_nz]

Turn 10 - 28 February 1940

It's still Winter.

A convoy of 20PPs arrives untouched, as well the Canadian mech unit arrives in Cardiff, tired but untroubled.

The UK sub is fully repaired.

I'm still waiting...."Fool of a Took"

[massina_nz]

Turn 11 - 19 March 1940

Spring arrives and so does case Yellow. Belgium suffers a one turn blitzkreig. Even Lille is attacked. Frank must have got some awesome combat rolls, I lost 2 Belgian GARs, 1 Belgian INF, 9 steps off the Lille GAR, and six steps of FTR, all he seemed to lose was a couple of steps off his FTRs, and a small handfull of MECH & INF steps. I expected a strong blitzkrieg from Frank, but not this efficient. I'm surprised that only two Luftwaffe FTRs and TACs are visible, I expected more.


Anyone know how to make images from Flickr look bigger?

I repair the damaged UK FTR back to 10 steps.

The Greenland convoy destroyed, but the culprit comes in range of my STR in Northern Ireland. All I can inflict is 1 step of damage. A French BB attacks the u-boat as well and loses 3 steps to nil. <sigh>

The French buy another INF corp and repair Lille from 1 step to 6 steps.

"Aiieee! A Balrog is come!!"