Slitherine

I guess forum a bit misses fresh 2.0 AARs, instead people discuss some blobbing in AAR section

So I finally found a person willing to play AAR game with me, Gerry (Gmothes) wanted to play axis, so I will be allied this time.

First turns are here.

Axis DoW both Poland and Denmark, even conquering Denmark on turn 1, as it is.



We launch some polish counterattacks, but with very low results. One polish corps entered Koenigsberg though, cutting out of supply some germans. Also some german PPs will be stolen straight into UK pool.



On the west our plans are :
1) Reinforce defence of France with french troops as much as possible
2)Deploy BEF of british MECH and maybe something else
3)Replace MED french task force with 2 british BB stationed in Gibraltar
4)Send subs to patrool western africa coast, to prevent stealthy landing in Kasablanka
5)Send DDs to escort convoys

Started to execute



I will redeploy garrison from Sardinia and Syria to france, but ones in northern africa will stand still for a while.

1st lab built this turn for Britain - air (dog fight)

allied turn 2 - 21st september 1939

Poland surrenders to Germany, so I will not be able to use minor power rail feature and reinforce Warsaw defenders with troops from eastern Poland. This feature makes slow conquest of Poland (with redeploying of most troops to the west on turn 1) much less attractive, by the way.

In the west germans launch some attacks against Maginot line. I am unsure what they want to achive, to me its waste of german troops, since they suffer damage trying to destroy weak french garrison.



2nd lab built, british naval (ASW).

Chance of italian entry is 100% by the way, if axis somehow conquer Belgium this turn.

Allied turn 3 - October 11 1939

Germans DoW both Belgium and Holland, and rush to Brusseles.

We alarm french army at once and march into Belgium, to defend the country.



Its quite a risky move - it can lead to both holding Belgium for the bad weather season, or early destruction of French army. But we will give it a try.

3rd lab built for britain - infantry (no focus).

Allied turn 4 - 31st October 1939

Weather still fair and we suffer some damage from germans. Lost 1 french mech, many units damaged.



For now I am still able to shuffle my units, to keep front line something like stable. Also we were able to cut off german mech unit. If the weather turns bad next turn we may be able to hold the pocket long enough to destroy unit.



British battleships finally reached Gibraltar, releasing french navy for other operations.

Allied turn 5 - 25th November 1939

Weather still fair and germans are on the offence in Belgium. They destroyed my french infantry, resquing their panzergrenadier troops from a pocket.



But in our turn we were able to launch an effective counterattack, completely destroying 8 step panzer korps near Brusseles. Attack of british strategic bomber, french infantry and 2 mechs (british and french) were enough for the unit, caught in forest terrain with not very high effectiveness. I have to note that new french mechs are quite strong, with their high tech level (5 ground attack), and this units are good until they suffer effectiveness penalty (its not the case, since we still hold Belgium).



Bad weather arrives next turn, limiting axis ability to strike back.

Also we shuffle troops to keep our defences solid.

Germans subs spotted first time (2 of them), attacking northern convoy, which were protected only by 1 destroyer.

Allied turn 6 - 10th December 1939

Despite winter weather Germans finally captured Brusseles, destroying my second french mech corps.
On a good side that had to use TAC bomber without escort, and it got hit nice by one of my fighters, seems like. Also british mech is safe and good.



Now we can only retreat. Allied army in pretty bad shape after Belgium campaign, but atleast we destroyed german armour and inflicted nice air losses.



Canadians loaded into transports and sailing towards Britain.



Built armour (no focus) lab for USA and air (dog fight) for USSR. Don't think that I need armour (only what I can build at the moment) for UK, better save PPs.

We can end exposed to sealion after this sort of French campaign. Early fair weather turn in february can make France surrender in no time.

It seems aggressive starting strategies with the Axis are en vogue right now With a little luck with the weather the Axis could be in trouble.

zechi wrote:It seems aggressive starting strategies with the Axis are en vogue right now With a little luck with the weather the Axis could be in trouble.

Indeed

Nice to see more AARs coming. I notice Plaid's pics look less 'grainy' than mine. Anyone know why? I'm tad noobish on comp issues.

Allied turn 7 - 30 December 1939

Allied armies are on the run now in France.

We will try to establish new front near Paris and hold it for a couple of turns, but nothing more.



About pics, i am not sure.
I use .png screenshots format and imageshack.us hosting.

Allied turn 8 - January 19 1940

Still retreating all across the front. If germans get fair their next turn (February) our troubles will be even harder.
I still think Paris falls in march-april, not faster.



I am thinking about sending garrisons from Tunis and Oran to France finally.

2nd air purchased for UK, miss 1 PP to build 6th total lab (maximum what I can build now), will build next turn.
Canadian units safely reached Great Britain.

Time to think what I am going to do to stop german Sealion, which is likely to happen.

Allied turn 9 - February 8 1940

In France all same, weather still bad and axis are able to hit only few french troops.



Our lines are thin and have no chance against any serious attack.

This turn german subs attacked my escorted convoy.

I attacked 2 subs with both escorts, getting 2:3 2:3 results in my favour.



Probably 3 german subs can strike my most south DD, but they would suffer further casualties.

Also moved my strategic bomber, which is now in range to support DDs.

6th lab built for Britain - infantry.

Plaid wrote:About pics, i am not sure.
I use .png screenshots format and imageshack.us hosting.

Thanks, using png seems to have done the trick.

You´d better prepare for sea lion so you should begin to rail british garrisons to London and then to Dover coast bonus defense hexes with +2 entrenchment. In a few turns you will have achieved to almost man all southern british coast line and these units will have a rather good effectiveness because of your british commander at London. This is not a guarantee against Sea lion but it could help a little to better repel a possible german invasion.

Allied turn 10 - 28 February 1940

Fair weather turn, and french suffer major damage, germans reach outskirts of Paris.



I loaded my british mech into transport and evacuated if for good. There is no any reason to risk this nice unit, trying to hold Rouen any more.
As you may see, BEF can succesfully take part in action in France/Low countries (in this case - destruction of german panzer korps) and retreat home in good order, its not like suicide mission.

Uboats gone for convoy instead of my DDs, so I was able to hit one of them with bomber (-1 sub step).

I guess I will start troop movements against sealion next turn.

Allied turn 11- march 19 1940

It looks like the last turn of France, since germans reach Paris and started the offencive.



Still I try to same some French units in case armistice would be rejected.

Who knows what this germans want to do with so early fall of France?

Troop movements started to protect rough hexes in southern England.

Allied turn 12 - 8 April 1940

As predicted, France surrenders, while Holland still holds. Germans accept armistice, so my efforts to save french units were partly in vain.



I repair both units in Holland, maybe they will hold 1 more turn.

British troops start to entrench on the beaches, I have some nice PP reserve which I am not really willing to waste on garrisons and corps units, which would be pretty useless in future years if no Sealion happens. Better will wait.

Also our DDs take care of large convoy. It carries enough PP to arm entire infantry corps, must get through!



RN battle squads partool MED region. No sign of Italian activation for now.

Allied turn 13 - 28 April 1940

Some suspicious troop movement in France, I can see german infantry in Cherbourgh. Are they here only to garrison city against partisans, or is it Sealion as it is?

One of german UFs ended turn in wrong place (next to my escorted convoy, and it moved revealing this UF). I was able to hit it hard with 2 DDs, reducing to 4 steps.



Hague city destroyed, so now I can't reinforce my dutch defenders. Swapped corps with garrison, but its unlikely to hold any more.

2 other UFs are far away in northern seas, and they are also non-full strength. Kriegsmarine seems not ready to launch sealion right now, if only Gerry didnt built more subs. Also my 2 BB squadrons are in MED, so I have only 1 left in Britain.

Our PPs are really nice, but we will not spend them now.

Allied turn 14 - 18 may 1940

Holland surrenders, so UK now stands alone, as only allied power active.



Brand new UF attacked my convoy, so now Gerry have at least 4 of them, while 1 is badly damaged and 2 suffered moderate damage.

Luftwaffe fighters engaged my CV squad, removing 2 steps. I rebased unit further from them.

Still have large stock of UK PPs, if intense fighting begins we will be able even to repair airpower for multiple turns, not only build groung units.

If no Sealion happens, this PPs would be invested in RAF and RN mostly in autumn.

Maybe I need to read your opponents AAR but I don't understand his latest u-boat attack against your convoy that placed his u-boat not only adjacent to two of your DD's but withing range of your STRAT bomber.

My experience teaches me that as the axis even in 1940 when your u-boats have the advantage going after DD escorts is at best a breakeven proposition. And tilts in favor of the allies if you do this within air range of England.

rkr1958 wrote:Maybe I need to read your opponents AAR but I don't understand his latest u-boat attack against your convoy that placed his u-boat not only adjacent to two of your DD's but withing range of your STRAT bomber.

My experience teaches me that as the axis even in 1940 when your u-boats have the advantage going after DD escorts is at best a breakeven proposition. And tilts in favor of the allies if you do this within air range of England.

He moved his sub into random black hex hidden in FoW and "found" more then he wanted
Then convoy moved and bumped into this sub. Bad luck for them so.