Slitherine

Hey

This is my first ever AAR on any game and English isn't my native language so bear with me
Comments, criticism, suggestions etc are very welcome.

PionUrpo



There was some debate on the forum about feasibility of the German Navy so I'm going to take a wild guess and say PinkPanzer will be devoting at least a fair amount to naval builds/research. Thus I'll be saving some early PPs for more DDs and ASW/AIR research. Of course this would be my normal move regardless so...


September 1, 1939


Germans begin with some unusual moves in Poland bypassing Lodz and ignoring the use of Luftwaffe altogether.


Instead they go for a swift attack to Holland with the few corps available in west. Additional forces are railed from east and presumably the unused air will be ready for next turn as well.


Polish forces concentrate their counterattacks against panzer formations and achieve minor success. Alas, the brave soldiers are now doomed in undefendable positions.

September 20, 1939, Western Front

Germans continue to amaze the Allied High Command and push immediately to Belgium instead of finishing off Holland. Luftwaffe makes appearance in force as expected.


After careful concideration the High Command decides to move into Belgium to check the German advance. Most of the German mobile forces are still tied up in Poland and simply don't have the forces to overwhelm the French reinforcements. However, some casualties will be inevitable.


Polish Front

Luftwaffe concentrated to West the German forces in Poland are forced to fight for at least 3 turns. An enterprising Polish corps even manages to surround a German one.

Interesting start for a game. This could lead to a swift defeat for the Axis if PinkPanzer does not play carefully his next turns.

He better capture Brussels while the weather is still fair or the French won't suffer ny efficiency loss.

October 11, 1939 Polish Front

Under an overwhelming German assault the defense of Warsaw collapses and Poland surrenders. Soviet forces move in to occupy the eastern half of the country.



Western Front

Germans destroy French screening formations around the Belgian capital as expected and even reduce the mechanized corps defending Brussels to half strenght. However, with most strong formations still in east, an infantry corps is left open for counterattack. French command draws up a plan to reduce the threat on Brussels.



With RAF bombers and fighters providing ground support the French army takes down the targeted German corps with an mech/inf assault. While ground forces' casualties are surprisingly low RAF fighter command is decimated and likely to be out of action for a several months. Immediate threat on Brussels is however averted for now. Also, first BEF formations are arriving to the continent.

October 31, 1939, Western Front


The Germans take down French infantry corps north of Brussels but again leave a depleted corps in a vulnerable position. Plan to destroy this corps is immediately drawn. This time French will enlist the assistance of still fighting Dutch forces. RAF bombers are providing ground support again with French fighters escorting them. (Noticed I picked a bad color for the screeny on last post. I hope this is more visible.)



The plan is executed succesfully, German corps is destroyed and another one pocketed for now. Despite four turns of good weather the German onslaught has been stopped and winter is likely arriving soon. On negative side the French fighter command is now decimated as well and Luftwaffe will enjoy uncontested skies for quite a while.

PionUrpo wrote:(Noticed I picked a bad color for the screeny on last post. I hope this is more visible.)

Yes, it is. Much better. Enjoying the AAR so far. Keep up the good work!

iA

November 20, 1939, Western Front


Winter arrives in Europe. Germans take out the Dutch corps holding their pocketed unit and capture Liege as well. Belgian units are moved up to frontlines in preparation for inevitable German attack and Allied retreat behind the riverlines sometime soon. One more BEF division is due to arrive soon as is a French division from Syria. Uboats make their first appearance by sinking 20PP northern convoy.

December 10 1939, Western Front


Germans destroy one Belgian and one French garrison forcing some reorganisation of the defensive line. US and USSR get their first research running. (General/Industry for both) RN together with a French BB is moving toward Canada preparing to escort Canadian forces as soon as Belgium falls.

December 30, 1939, Western Front


Germans push forward. Last Belgian forces are destroyed.




January 19, 1940, Western Front


Germans take out more garrisons and spearhead is about to cut the line in two. I decided to retreat from Belgium in order not to get completely cut off and get back behind riverlines before good weather begins. Not quite sure if this was a good idea since Brussels will fall.



UK Research on the beginning of 1940:




February 8, 1940, Western Front


As expected Belgium surrenders and Allied forces take the efficiency hit. Defenders of the Hague are forced to surrender as well. Anglo-French forces pull behind rivers in hope of holding slightly better but if the weather goes fair unexpectedly early they will be in trouble.


Canadian reinforcements are in transit toward Britain escorted by the entire available RN and a French BB group. I'm not exactly happy with my PP situation maybe I should've skipped 6th lab for now... As soon as Canadians arrive to Britain I will concentrate on 40+ PP convoy on central route. ( Hopefully it'll still be afloat then )

February 28, 1940, Western Front


Winter weather allows easy crossing of the river north of Lille and I actually lose remaining French airforce which was used as a blocking unit
I hope he's not planing to reject the Armistice after this... Situation after my moves:

only see yellow frozen frogs

afalarco wrote:only see yellow frozen frogs

Everything looks fine to me. I guess this was a random problem with imageshack. Those happen sometimes but rarely last very long.

March 19, 1940, Western Front

With good weather beginning the Germans advance along the coast decimating the French forces in their way. The BEF division holding Reims is annihilated and the BEF Mechanized Corps in the second line is almost destroyed as well.


Another BEF division is left in the hopeless job of blocking the German advance while remaining units retreat to Rouen for evacuation. I fear the Mechanized Corps will be finished by the German SAC but one can always hope. French units gather in front of Paris.



Atlantic, near British Isles, RN Escort Group

The ships escorting Canadian units to Britain meet two u-boat flotillas near their destination. SAC bombs with no effect and further RAF units are brought to coast incase u-boats deside to go after any wounded ships. Canadian transports are diverted to Channel ports without encounters.

April 8, 1940, Western Front

As feared the retreating 1-step BEF Mech Corps was bombed and destroyed. German armored spearheads roam free south of Paris after the opposing French formation were swept aside.


Since the French airforce was destroyed earlier I deside to rail a Mechanized Corps to Marseille just incase the Armistice is rejected. This leaves Paris miserably defended but one corps is doubtful to make a difference. Fall of Paris is expected within 20 days and plans to evacuate the remaining military forces & the civilian government to Algeria are drawn.



North Sea, near Wilhelmshafen, RN 1st Submarine Flotilla

RN submarines keeping a close eye on Wilhelmshafen port facilities notice significant naval movement toward Scotland. At least Bismarck Battle Group and transport vessels are on the move.


RAF scouting group is sent to investigate establishing a base of operations in Edinburgh. A corps unit transport accompanied by lighter forces and escorted by the Bismarck Battle Group is spotted on the coast of Aberbeen. GHQ immediately dispatches two Home Guards formations to counter the German movements. The 1st Submarine Flotilla is sent to intercept as well and they sink several unprotected tranports.

Good move! It seems you will have to face a strong Sea lion. Surely UK manpower will have to be below 75 during this first phase of the game. But this doesn´t mind if you finally achieve to repel the germans!

leridano wrote:Good move! It seems you will have to face a strong Sea lion. Surely UK manpower will have to be below 75 during this first phase of the game. But this doesn´t mind if you finally achieve to repel the germans!

The necessity of preparing for possible Sealion will definetly put back my original plans of expanding the DD fleet for now. At least the research part is well under way, I can delay the new DD builds until 1st level of ASW and save some upgrade costs. With Paris falling next turn + couple turns of refits and troop concentrations for the Germans, we'll see soon if Sealion is coming or not.

April 28, 1940, Western Front

Germans occupy Paris and the Vichy regime is established. A gruesome loss for the French which will no doubt take a long time to recover from. Remnants of the BEF return to Britain and the former BEF CnC, General Auchinleck, takes command of the Home Army.


British casualties during the Battle of France are dreadful and it is doubtful if they can be replaced in time if the Germans decide to try crossing the Channel. First priority is getting RAFs strenght up followed by one or possibly two new mechanized formations to replace the one lost in France.



The Atlantic, Convoy PQ-17

U-boats make another appearance, this time out of Coastal Commands range. A 17 PP convoy is lost with all hands, however, the 41PP one will get through and will be very much appreciated.



North Sea, near Aberdeen, RN 1st Submarine Flotilla

The transports and Bismarck Battle Group retreat from the coast of Aberdeen toward Skaggerak after the unsuccesful surprise landing attempt.


RN 1st Submarine Flotilla shadows the retreating German ships and finds itself in a potentially dangerous location. Is the German fleet waiting for a go for the Sealion or the invasion of Norway?

May 18, 1940, Southeastern England

RAF longrange recon planes reveal no German troop concentrations on the coast of France or Belgium. Nevertheless additional mechanized corps is ordered and will be deployable in 40 days.



North Sea, RN 1st Submarine Flotilla

Royal Navy's recon submarines report German fleet and transports are still holding between Denmark and Norway.

June 7, 1940, Southeastern England

Still no signs of troops on the otherside of the Channel.



Southern coast of Norway, RN 1st Submarine Flotilla

Wehrmacht crosses to Denmark and occupies the country with minimal effort. Also, Germans are finaly making their move and send the transports toward Oslo. Unexpectedly Kriegsmarine fails to accompany the transports. RN submarines strike against the already wounded transport group and sink several more troopships. A British division is railed to Edinburgh ready to be sealifted to Norway if required.



Atlantic, Central Convoy Route

U-boats continue wrecking havoc on the Central Convoys. Looks like we'll only see 2PPs from the closest and the next one is going straight to their doom as well. Northern convoy moves uninterupted toward Glasgow.



June 27, 1940, Norway

Invasion of Norway has begun! Surprisingly German bombers are not yet bombarding the Norwegian positions in Oslo. However, the first wave of landing forces is ashore with a PzGrenadier formation and a depleted Infantry corps leading the way. Kriegsmarine takes positions off the coast to provide logistical support for the invasion.

A one division sized Expeditionary force is sent to the port of Bergen and will continue to Trondheim if the situation permits. The 1st RAF Fighter Group is on stand by, ready to relocate to Bergen within 20 days.



July 17, 1940, Norway

Germans make their first assault to the Norwegian capital. With air support they manage to significantly damage the defending force. Defenders of Oslo are reinforced to ~70% full complement. It is doubtful they'll last much longer. BEF division moves to Trondheim without incidents and RAF fighters arrive to Bergen.