I typed up this first post before receiving Morris’s first turn in reply. Instead of changing it, I thought I would just post it so you can see my thought process at the time. Before Morris’s unorthodox moves forced a change…
**note – I am typing this AAR immediately after every turn, but leaving a posting delay of a few turns. Morris has said I can read his AAR, and I don’t want to prohibit him from mine if he chooses to look.
Greetings,
It’s been awhile since I last did an AAR, but this occasion just seemed to call for it. After my close victory as the Allies in our last game, Morris and I decided to switch sides and start a game on GS 2.10. He has already promised to show me a “completely new strategy.” I’m sure he intends to demonstrate a new Allied uber-strategy on me.
We’ll see. I don’t expect this game to go exactly how either of us intends. We are both too strong-willed for that. Here are my initial goals:
1. Blitz into France in 1939
2. **remaining goals removed for confidentiality. Sorry, Morris
The Delayed Blitz
My favorite Axis strategy used to be to attack Holland on turn 2, and then Belgium on turn 3, 4, or 5 if I got fair weather. In this way, I could attack the French during the winter but still limit casualties taken in Poland. This strategy no longer works, since Belgium and Holland are linked.
Still, I wanted to do the Blitz, but I couldn’t stomach the heavy casualties the Germans suffer in Poland when they move a large force west on turn 1. So instead I planned to invade both Holland and Belgium on turn 3 (hopefully). Here are what I think are the pros and cons of this strategy, compared to both the full Blitz and Sitzkrieg:
Pros:
- Early invasion of Holland and Belgium, allows you to attack the French during the winter (average 1 kill per turn), and you get the first turn of fair weather in 1940 to hit the French rather than Holland and Belgium. End result = earlier fall of Paris
- Limits the effect of bad luck with the weather in February-March 1940. You can still do damage even during the bad weather period, as opposed to Sitzkrieg where you can do absolutely nothing and are completely at the mercy of the weather
- Because you can employ the Luftwaffe on turn 1, Poland still falls relatively easily in 2-3 turns, without heavy casualties
Cons:
- The Weather – this strategy relies on getting at least 1 turn of fair weather between October and November. Your odds per turn are 75%, 75% and 25%. Chances are excellent that you will get at least 1 fair turn, but chances are also good that you will get ONLY 1 fair turn. That means no fair turn in 1939 to attack the French. It also means being forced into Sitzkrieg if you get really bad luck with the weather
- Rail Cost – this is not extremely high. You probably have to pay a minimum of about 15-20 extra, with more for extra insurance units. Higher than Sitzkrieg but lower than a full Blitz
- Oil – you will probably burn more oil than with Sitzkrieg, but not an incredibly high amount. During the bad weather, only your planes and maybe a tank and/or mech will be active per turn
Overall, I think the pros of this strategy outweigh the cons. In a previous game, I tried this Delayed Blitz and Paris fell on April 8, 1940. My luck with the weather was actually below average. October/November was fair/mud/mud, and February/March was mud/winter/fair. Casualties were actually lower than a recent Sitzkrieg game, and Paris fell 2 months sooner. I can only hope this works as well against Morris.
Turn 1 – September 1, 1939
The invasion of Poland goes as planned. Results were very good except for a couple fighter steps lost. One corps and a couple garrisons railed to the west. All other units were either needed for Poland or out of rail range. Tank, mech, and corps to be railed west on turn 2, Luftwaffe to fly there.
**will try to make bigger screenshots in the future
