Slitherine

ByeoHazard and I just had a good, evenly match, MP game on the Bersaglieri and the Bear map.
I played the Axis side – which in the scenario is designed to be more on a defensive posture. And then obviously ByeoHazard was the Russians and on the offensive. For the Axis to call a win, they need to hold at least 3 victory hexes.

As we played I took a screen shot of the map of both ground and air and then wrote up my thoughts and plans at that point in time. This was written as a diary format in so much that I would not play the next turn until I completed my documentation of the last turn. So plans and concerns are written at time of thought, not in retrospect. This game is already finished and decided, but I plan to post the turn by turn here as I get the time to upload the photos and cut and paste the dialog from my document.

Certainly, I hope and encourage ByeoHazard to post his thoughts as this moves alone. And obviously anyone else; I would certainly enjoy hearing your thoughts, questions and suggestion.

I hope you will enjoy the AAR as much as I enjoyed the battle as it happened.

12Dec1942 (Turn 1):
Objective at this point is to organize and form defenses. Units are far too spread out.
Using the lake as a protection to my forward center; I will attempt to make a small stand at the victory hexes north and south of the lake. It needs to only slow down and demoralize the enemy’s advance, while the real defense is built around the three victory hexes in the extreme west.


Knowing full well that his air force is superior to mine, I will only look for targets of opportunity, otherwise I will keep my air force in a more defensive posture. The air battle will be a game of cat and mouse. Perhaps the isolated TAC in the north will be the first victim.
The lone Falco is expendable but is doing a good job at keeping the enemy’s fighters out of striking distance for at least a day (turn).

Awesome, I luv these things. Can't wait to see how it turned out!

Another fantastic game! Hard for me to rememeber all of the details but I read the entire AAR and it is a really, really good read! Xerkis had a flexible yet hard coded battle plan from the start and it worked quite nicely for him in the end. Although, taking more losses in the begining of the war General Xerkis started to even the spread sheet up a little more at the end and as he says in the AAR win to loss ratio in casualties does not tell the whole story. I may have made it a little more interesting towards the end had I paid more attention to the Victory conditions as I was thinking I had only needed 5 so I went more defensive and played a more guarded strategy from about turn19 or 20. However, looking at Xerkis Mighty force of Defence it would have been a challenge to pull it off...full props for a clear and decisive battle plan on Xerkis end. Also Xerkis utilized excellent recon which was also part of his battle plan from the start. I was wondering how this map works in terms of prestige and forces.....controling much of the cities in the late turns I was really hurting on prestige while Xerkis controled the 3 vital points in the rear he still had a mighty force to be reconed with. Playing it from the Italian side would be enlightening and the AAR has spread some light on it as well...perhaps Kerenskey has some input?
Congrats to general Xerkis...ready for another!

14Dec1942 (Turn 2):
Only small skirmishes occurred at choke points in the north and south of the front line.
Defenses are beginning to take shape. Although, I’m thinking I might want to add a little more to the southern flank at the main defense line.
Slowing forces – especially northern one – still need more organization if they are to buy enough time for the main defense to be prepared.
Recon indicates that the attack is split in to two main groups (as would be expected); with the more powerful one being the northern group. Fortunately, that is also how I plan on dividing my troops on either side of the lake.


Although I wanted to avoid contact with his fighters; his air attack left my enemy receiving more damage than giving out. I couldn’t resist going after his right wingman – the injured gazelle of the pack. We were not able to shoot him down, but gave enough damage to bring him within 1 strength of doing so. With a little luck, I can retreat out of there before retribution is given.
Until it’s blown out of the sky, I’m going to use the Falco for behind enemy lines air reconnaissance.

Kerensky wrote:Awesome, I luv these things. Can't wait to see how it turned out!

I aim to please!

16Dec1942 (Turn 3):
The enemy’s northern force has broken through the choke point and my slowing force is no where ready yet! Fortunately he has a few weakened units and a least 2 or 4 days (1 or 2 turns) until they reach me. I’m also assuming that since he took the abandoned airfield and city in the north, his line is now spread thin. That might give me yet two more days (one more turn) for him to regroup before continuing his northern march.
Plus since the southern choke point has not yet fallen – and there is the victory hex east of the lake that needs to be taken – his northern force might split and head south.


I got lucky and did not receive any counterstrike from my attack on his wingman.
Even though I know his fighters are refueling at the northeast airstrip, I decided to press my aerial luck and send my TACs on a bombing run in that area; in hopes to slow his northern advance even more.
The Falco didn’t last very long and was taken down by one of the low fueled fighters.
With that stop to attack the Falco and a second plane of his down to only 1 strength; that should mean that at most one fighter will be available to go after my forward TACs. Therefore, I think my TACs will be safe and able to make another bombing run and hightail it back to base.
I see another opportunity for a hit and run on the southern bomber of his. Unfortunately two of my fighters had to go back for fuel and the target is out of range. So I sent my third fighter plane down to refuel at the south airstrip and maybe I can pester his TAC and even lure his fighters down to attack mine; thus leaving my TACs to do some mischief up north.

18Dec1942 (Turn 4):
Our slowing defense lines are about as ready as they will get before seeing action. Good thing too, the enemy’s southern group has finally broken past the choke point.
Recon has indicated that his northern group is swinging south to go after the victory hex east of the lake. My hope is that they can hold the enemy at bay for at least 4 to 6 days (2 or 3 turns), while my TACs continue nipping at his heals.
Those boys in Recon have done their job well; but now it’s time for them to get out of the line of fire. They will be needed elsewhere.


My TACs were successful in making one more bombing run before returning to base. HQ’s intel about the status of his fighters must have been correct. Since there is no more air presence in the north that the enemy can see, this should help in enticing his fighters south. The last thing I need is his main northern group to have air cover as well.
The attack on the lone TAC did not go quite as planned. I received more damage then was able to give out. If they are to survive, my fighters will have to make a hasty retreat just before the enemy planes arrive. With any luck, new planes and fresh pilots will be waiting at the airfield for them to help bolster their numbers.
We were also able to intercept an enemy radio transmission (in game message). It seems that they believe we have the air superiority. If this is true, his pilots will be more cautious; that should lend well to our plans of hit and run with our air force.

20Dec1942 (Turn 5):
First contact with southern slowing force. It would seem his forces are coming in more of a column formation. How fortunate for us. Maybe we can knock him down one at a time.
I fear for my recon, he might not make it back.
Small skirmishes with the eastern victory hex. Easily repelled, but there seems to be a power behind it.
Perhaps when the weather clears, I might attempt to cross the river with my recon to see if the airfield is open for the taking.
The main defensive line and northern slowing force is ready and itching to see actions. The quietness is very foreboding.


Snow has come as a blessing and a curse. We were not able to try to down the lone TAC, but were able to make it back to safety. Where we will wait to pounce again. My pilots will enjoy a well deserved night at the O-Club.


If looking only at the numbers it would seem that after 10 days (5 turns) of conflict, we are not doing so well. But numbers do not always tell the complete story.

I love thst part. Clever!

22Dec1942 (Turn 6):
The eastern victory hex took a beating; I suspect it will fall by Christmas. A wonderful gift we have given the Russians.
Southern slowing force was able to badly bloody the point unit. Hopefully the tightness of the south corridor will keep the enemy coming in single file.
Although I still think the recon in the area is lost; he was able to survive the day and with help from one of my TACs, managed to take out the enemy’s own recon unit. At least now the southern Russian advance is blind.
North recon has shown that the airstrip is definitely not unguarded. They are preparing to advance across the river and will try and out flank me. HQ is undecided on whether they will cross the river and swing south to the northern slowing force; or forge straight ahead in to our main defensive line. We will wait to see which way he commits before an adjustment is made to the main defense. “Steady men. Your time is coming.”


Could not bring down the southern TAC, but crippled him severely. He should be out of commission for at least a week (3 turns).
Air support was also given to help better the chances of the recon caught behind enemy lines. It will not be enough I’m afraid.
Either I have overestimated the strength of the enemy’s air force or he is saving them for his big push. Whichever it is, for now it has lifted the spirits of my pilots.

Where can i see the whole thing?

TigerIII wrote:Where can i see the whole thing?

It’s the suspense that gets you!

24Dec1942 (Turn 7):
Both the north and south groups of the enemy seem to now be in better form and have begun the push forward.
They have indeed taken the eastern victory hex on Christmas Eve, as we thought they might. HQ has determined that this split off group from the north will now work around the northern side of the lake and head in to our awaiting forces there.
We have shifted a small force to our extreme left flank to desecrate the Russians as they try to cross the river. This has somewhat overextended our line, but we must remember the purpose of it – to slow and demoralize the enemy.
Alas, the southern recon unit did not make it. We cannot thank them enough for their work and ultimate sacrifice.


With their high spirits and expert flying; we have shot down one of the enemy’s fighters. This might give us the upper hand in the skies. As long as the weather holds, we can use that.
My TACs will now begin to earn their pay. I’m sure we will not run out of targets.

26Dec1942 (Turn 8 ):
Even the harshest of enemies will take time off for Christmas. A very quiet couple of days (turn).
Obviously the bad part is that we are now just as blind as our worthy opponent. But HQ still assures us that his main attack force is to the north of the lake.
We need more troops, but do not have the capability to muster more men or equipment. (Out of prestige.)


My planes once again took advantage of the adverse flying conditions and returned to base only to find a lone enemy plane in our midst. Lucky for him we are unable to make contact because of the snow. He best make a hasty retreat or hope for more snow.

28Dec1942 (Turn 9):
The unthinkable has happened! It has become so cold that the rivers – our main defenses – have frozen over. HQ has now placed the north and south “slowing” forces as our main defense line. What was our main line of defense is now to be considered only our fall back point.
As a result of this, heavy fighting has begun on both sides of the lake. With some staggering losses on this first day (turn) of hard combat.


Our planes have been made useless because of the non-stopped snowing. Bullets and bombs are bad enough; but severe weather can take entire armies out of a fight.

Byeohazard wrote:Playing it from the Italian side would be enlightening and the AAR has spread some light on it as well...perhaps Kerenskey has some input?
Congrats to general Xerkis...ready for another!

Xerkis wrote:

TigerIII wrote:Where can i see the whole thing?

It’s the suspense that gets you!

I'm waiting for the conclusion to the whole AAR before I weigh in.

Kerensky wrote:I'm waiting for the conclusion to the whole AAR before I weigh in.

Fair enough.

And I definitely would like to hear what you have to say about it all.


Loading up the Photos is holding me up the most. Only have time to jump in and do a few days worth at a time. I’m trying to do a few over lunch at work and then a few at home at night; but that doesn’t always work like that.

30Dec1942 (Turn 10):
The southern line has been eliminated and the northern one is collapsing. We must be sure to make it a hard win in the north.
A reasonable assumption is that the now freed up southern enemy force will attack our right flank. HQ is formulating a hasty plan to counteract this.
Because of the snow and frozen rivers, we have gone in to a new formation. A trap ready for the Russians to plow in to.


With not much else for them to do, the air force did some limited recon behind the lines.


It has been a difficult 20 days (10 turns) for our men and equipment. It will soon be a New Year and with that a new turn to the fight… we hope.

01Jan1943 (Turn 11):
It’s a New Year with new opportunities.
Just when the enemy’s northern group broke through my lines; we counter attack into his flank and are greatly threatening his support units in the rear. HQ expects he will pull back to regroup his front line or risk suffering terrible losses to his unprotected artillery.
His southern group is hidden within the fog. It may be a few days (1-2 turns) until he gets them in to shape for the push towards our right flank.


We were unable to spot the lone fighter until our planes were already committed elsewhere; or else his days would have been numbered.
Instead our planes looked for mischief and supported in the counter attack to the enemy’s right flank.