abukede

Your favorite Beta testers are at it again! Al and I are back at it again for another AAR. This one we’re both going for Gold. We switched sides for this contest. I will take the AXIS and he the Allies. The game has been enhanced and improved making it much more fun and enjoyable. This is a world map we are playing on which many of you are familiar with and it’s been a blast for me to play single player. This is the first multi-player game Al and I have attempted with Gold... so it should be very interesting. After playing on the WWI map it takes a bit of getting used to size wise… smaller unit movement ranges, etc. The player has to shift strategic thinking as a result. As most of you know Al and I are extremely competitive. I expect this game to be ugly and brutal. I hope everyone enjoys it. Feel free to ask questions. On to the AAR: This is the starting strategic position for Germany on the Polish frontier. My objective on turn 1 will be Warsaw. If Poland survives turn 1… the second German turn will focus on eradicating all Polish units with a look toward building experience. The attack on Poland begins. I struck with a fighter and then tactical unit first to reduce entrenchment levels and soften up the target. As you can see I took Warsaw… now moving to reducing the remaining Polish forces. Unfortunately Poland refused to surrender at the end of this turn. So next turn I will work on experience and destroying all resistance. Here is the Italian strategic picture… not counting East Africa where I have a special forces unit, tactical and DD. Italy has a number of units in production… a large army and navy. You can go either strong navy or army… but in my opinion not both. I will let Al wonder what I’m going to do with Italy. Okay now… onto Japan, my favorite country in Gold. Your strategic options with Japan are wide open. Long range goals can be China, Siberia, Australia, India… even the US. I may actually go for the later option... just to see if I can do it! Note the strategic situation on the map in China. In early game Japan can either focus on containing China, preparing for a war in the Pacific, really hammer China or a mix. With Japan you need to begin planning long term for your actions in late 41 and early 42. Poor planning will cost you the game. Note the amphib unit… I sent him to reinforce China and the garrison unit which will go to Manchuria to free up units. I decided to hammer 1 Chinese army with the ultimate objective of taking the city in the center of his line allowing me to build supply and continue an offensive drive.

Posted some very interesting vidoes of footage on the Battle of Britain on my website: Read the notes then watch the videos. I've spent a lot of time on this subject and after speaking with a number of pilots it is interesting what you can pick up or they can point out for you. https://www.2centhistory.com/communi...pic.php?id=103 https://www.2centhistory.com/communi...pic.php?id=105

After a long wait... loads of work the first podcast installment of the Battle of Britain Series: Fighter Pilot has now finally been released! Please keep in mind Podcasting is a hobby of mine and I do this for fun out of my own pocket. Previous shows have focused on the American Revolution. This is my first try at the Second World War and took around a year to research. In addition I spoke with and interviewed a number of pilots from both sides. Give it a listen. The show is free. Let me know what you think. Summary of the Show: Part 1 of a 4 Part (maybe 5 part... ) Series focusing on the Battle of Britain. In Fighter Pilot we look into the dawn of the modern fighter aircraft, how technology changed aerial warfare and more importantly what it took to be a fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain... what the pilots experienced and endured. This episode is presented mostly from the British point of view. The German view will be heard from more as we progress further into the series. You can find the show here: http://www.2centhistory.com/podcast-2cent-history Or download it on Itunes or Zune by searching 2 Cent History

I've been playing the single player version and it's highly addictive. I know you will all love it.

I can say that I spent several hours playing as the Axis and it's great fun! After playing the WWI version for months it is nice to get back to the whole Global concept. Oh and I've already volunteered myself and Al for the AAR...

Well when the Germans invaded France the majority of their tanks were the old Pz Is and PzIIs mounted with an MG only. They only had a few hundred better tanks.

Ulver, The WWI campaign is a lot of fun, easy to play and against another player maddening due to the shere size of the map. There are a lot of strategic decisions to be made where you can easily catch your opponent flat footed. I recommend trying the demo... I think the game is extremely addictive.

SeaMonkey... the WWI campaign is not what you think it is. Against another player it is extremely challenging. On the East Front there is a lot of manuvere especially if you break out. The WWII add on campaign is simply a joy to play.

SeaMonkey... it's time to graduate to WWI. I believe you will be very pleased.

Seamonkey, I think it all comes down to priority as to where you are operating and where you need supply. Supply is a real problem in Russia. The deeper you go the more headache.

I surrender! I am conceding the match. Al has thoroughly beaten me. It's been one hell of a game and very enjoyable. I hope everyone who followed us enjoyed the game as much as I have. Some quick thoughts: I made a few key mistakes which I think lost me the game. 1. I did not strike Al from the north when he invaded Russia. His entire power was in the south and I took him head on. I should have invaded East Prussa when I had the chance and forced him to respond. 2. I mismanaged the allies. I should have invaded Italy instead of Spain. I had the force and may have been able to knock Italy out of the war. Beyond that I just could not get the allies going... they only achieved advanced tech in 43 and by then it was too late. Combined with my mistakes in Spain I could not recover. 3. I failed to invest in air defense tech early enough in the East. This hurt me very badly. By the time I did and got the tech it was too late... the damage had been done. I want to commend Al for an awesome match. As I said he is the only player who can regularly beat me. Do not underestimate him!

I disagree. I mismanaged the allies this game. Had I taken a different strategy I think the med would have played huge. As to the turn... destroyed another army in England... and landed in Southern Spain.

Finally got a turn in. Destroyed that amor Al landed in England. We have one hell of an air war going over Southern England. Reformed my line in Russis just north of Stalingrad. Al is pushing hard and the assault on Lenningrad should begin this turn. I am trying to regain the initiative but it is hard.

The final installment of the series on the Shot Heard Round the World is up! It's taken move over 2 years to go from start of research to finished product finally and it's been a lot of fun. In the final installment: Episode 5: Part 2 The Conclusion of a Series focusing on the start of the American Revolution on April 19th, 1775. In this episode, Lord Percy retires toward Boston under heavy attack as thousands of American converge on him. General Heath takes command of the American forces and the fate of the regulars hinges on a critical decision by Lord Percy. I do the show for fun to share my love of history. I hope you all enjoy it. The next subject to be covered on the show will be the Second World War. You can find the show at http://www.2centhistory.com or you can download it free on Itunes or Zune by searching 2 Cent history. Please let me know what you think of the show. Best regards, Marc

Sorry for the delay in getting a turn in for the AAR. I did some traveling this weekend and the rest of my time was consumed getting the latest episode of my history show out. I've finally completed the final installment of the Battles of Lexington and Concord... Next topic will be WWII. I will get a turn in tommorow morning.

I am traveling this weekend. I will try to fit in a turn if I can.

I got hammered very hard around Stalingrad. I withdrew my forces this turn. My force in the Caucasus is isolated and soon to be destoryed. I finally got air tech for Russia. I expect some pretty intense fighting soon. Al is fighting his way into Lenningrad. I expect him to Take the city within the next 3 turns. We have quite the airwar going over Britain. I nailed one of his airborne units this turn and a sub. I put the Royal Navy forward and I expect the German navy is laying in wait. I expect to get hammered pretty hard. All in all... very fun so far. I love a defensive fight. Though I am working on changing that.

Hubert... I think he operating in that corps so he would not see the unit.

Well... I dished out a bit of a beating this turn. That battlegroup from Army Group Center that was surrounded was completely destroyed. I hammered Al next to Stalingrad and took heavy casualties doing it. I nailed an armor, HQ, Army, Anti-tank and damaged a number of other units. In the Caucasus... I he managed to get in behind me... but I mauled one of his armies. I still hold Grozny and the oil well. But not for much longer. I still have no counter for his massive air superiority in the East. It is literally killing me. The western allies are a bit stronger airwise and I've cost Al some damage to his Jets. In England I used air heavily and struck the army that had landed and destroyed it. I also moved up more units and attacked his HQ too. The British landed in Sardinia as well. I think Al lost 3 armies this turn, 2 or 3 corps, 2 armor, an HQ, and an anti-tank.

Okay... very and I mean very busy turn for me. I launched a delayed offensive toward Moscow with highly mobile units. I have been holding them in delay allowing Al to push forward and reinforce as much as possible in the south against my Stalingrad wall and Caucasus offensive. As a result the advanced units I ran into seemed isolated. We will have to see if Al has anything in reserve around Moscow to hammer me. I was able to surround and heavily maul a powerful part of Army Group Center that had just fought their way into Kovrov. I destroyed an HQ, beat an armor down to 5, Army down to 1 which retreated into Korov and damaged 2 corps. I expect to hopefully destroy these units next turn. They were at Supply 4… now outside of Korov they will be at 0. In the Caucasus offensive… I hammered at Al destroying an SS unit and retaking the Grozny Oil well. I also moved units behind into his supply to hammer at a fighter. I was 1 move short of cutting off supply to his units in the Caucasus. Around Stalingrad Al crept forward to my fortifications where my arty hammered his readiness. I think I might have parity force wise with him down there. Not sure but regardless if he assaults this turn it will get ugly. My partisans are really becoming an irritant for him. They cut additional rail. On a side note, I also took back 2 mines. Elsewhere in England… Al caught me in mid amphib operation/preparation. I hit him with some of the units I have in England… a few were not upgraded… hammered an airborne down to 3 and another slightly. I also hit his HQ. I air struck the port but don’t think it will prevent him from leaving. My ground units were a bit distant from the action so I could not get the powerful stuff up. His Me-262s hurt so I decided against performing a comprehensive airstrike this turn. Let’s see if he lands more or withdraws. All in all… a very fun and interesting turn. I think I’ve given Al some headaches and something to think about.

Ev, There is a decision event where you can choose to set Europe 'aflame' by investing in partisans. That said... I do like your idea.

Okay... my offensive to retake the southern Oil continues. I took the well head north of Grozny. I also finished off a German army defending Makhackkala on the Caspian Sea and took the city. Intel has revealed Al has some armor north of Grozny. I am betting my force is sufficient to handle what he has there... likely 2 armies, an HQ and an armor or 2. Al has crept forth a bit toward Stalingrad. I sense a large battle coming. Partisans are springing up all over occupied Russia now. I know Al's battle groups reaching toward Stalingrad have some really long supply lines. All it takes is one Partisan to cut the rail line and supply becomes a major issue. A partisan cut the rail lines south of Kursk. I also got the Vichey cruiser Lorraine in the med this turn. The US airforce and army is growing large. The buildup in England is well underway. UK anti-sub tech has taken a great leap forward and the next time Al ventures out he will have a surprise. Also US carriers have arrived off the coast of England. I think I could probably launch an invasion of France and Italy or France and Spain this summer but not sure yet. It really depends on whether Al goes all in on the East Front. It is June 4, 1943

Okay... I launched 2 additional offensives on the East Front. Destroyed a German army in Central Russa and mauled a second Germany Amry in the Caucuses while retaking Grozny. I also cut supply and isolated 3 Germany armies around Baku. By Stalingrad the previous turn I launched a spoiling attack. I withdrew my forces into my fortifications around that city. I intend to let Al crash against those defenses. Up by Lenningrad Axis units are now 1 square away from my fortifications and defenses. The Russian army is now around 60 units... almost all offensive in nature. I have very few garrisons left. The western allies continue to get tech advances... but it's still a slow process. We are now into May 43. As to the research questions... I believe it has already been addressed prior to release.

Okay... So it's march and it's mud and the Russian's went on the offensive... well a limited offensive East of Stalingrad and hammered the Romanian army group advancing toward the city. I nailed an army and a corp... as well as assualted a couple of other units. Up north I hit an exposed German army and brought him down to 5 strength. Spring is coming and freedom of movement.

Kuniworth, I believe I made an error in judgement in not hitting Al in the north when he hit in the South. I could have focused on slowing him in the South and hammering him into the Baltic States and Poland requiring him to readjust. I had no counter to his airpower at the time and as a result it hurt me significantly.