AAR - "1939 Storm Over Europe" (Allies) - Return of the newbies!

[AshesFall]

Turns 42 – July 31st, 1942

Whenever I think I’ve moved sufficiently, I am proven wrong. A German Panzer blitzed behind our lines and struck the mortal blow to Timoshenko. The Northern line continued to stumble back, and managed to destroy the Panzer group in the process, likely by throwing bodies under the treads of the Panzer III J’s until they broke down from gristle in the cogs (the highly advanced AT guns helped too, but our propaganda likes to give all the credit to the common soldier on our Straf battalions).

In the South, one of our Tankovy Armies was hit by advancing germans, and the damaged army shattered completely. Belgrade is now surrounded though, and the rail lines to the city cut off. No reinforcements will be coming to this area from Germany while we still hold Hungary, which likely won’t be long.

In the Mediterranean not much is going on, we have stationed our navy outside most of the Italian north African ports to make sure there are no reinforcements incoming.

Generals Staff

US develops ground attack air lvl 2, USSR advanced air 3. The USSR also invests three chits into AA-tech.

[AshesFall]

Turns 43 – August 14th, 1942

The first turn in a while that hasn’t been a major or minor disaster in some way. Good to have a short breather…

We continued the retreat to better positions in the north, and our fighter wings were upgraded to the latest standard.

In the south a new menace has Risen… Franco has arrived with Spanish troops in Hungary and Yugoslavia! Our corps was… not very impressed with the Spanish tanks. Around Sofia our two divisional artillery batallions thundered loudly into the passes, and combined with our attacks the German 2nd army was nearly destroyed. Given careful play and few and no reinforcements, Sofia should fall within 1942.

The Mediterranean

The brawl in the pond continued, with Germans and Italians trying to sneak through. Carrier aircraft were out scouting though, and spotted them in the distance. Soon, the smoking wrecks of both the latest Italian battleship and another German cruiser sank beneath the waves.

The American troops have arrived in Egypt, and we will shortly begin moving towards Tobruk.

General Staff

American Marines landed in Guadalcanal, and USSR developed AA-tech lvl 1. I need at least lvl 2 in this before I dare expose my tankovy armies, seeing as Germans sit at lvl 3 ground attack aircraft tech.

[Sapare]

Maybe I just have not played enough WW2 but why are all your fighters positioned in a giant ball off doom? Would it not be more effective to have them spread out to cover all of the front lines(maybe not anymore as your frontline has fallen apart, but before)?

[AshesFall]

Maybe I just have not played enough WW2 but why are all your fighters positioned in a giant ball off doom? Would it not be more effective to have them spread out to cover all of the front lines(maybe not anymore as your frontline has fallen apart, but before)?

Well, I may be way off with this, but this is what I'm thinking;

The germans tend to concentrate their aircraft to effectively destroy several units and open the way for the spearhead thrust (classic blitzkrieg). Each aircraft (if it is in range) only intercepts once (I think), so I need lots in the same area to intercept as much as possible. Also, I intend to move this "deathball" agressively now that I have lvl 3, when I see where his airpower is, I'll try to concentrate mine in and hit his air on the ground as many times as I can to destroy it.

The fact is, that every single time he has used his airpower, all of my fighters have intercepted. But they just cant stop the luftwaffe as his escorts survive my interceptions (relatively unharmed too so far it seems) and the bombers go through unmolested. That's why I need to do the deathball move and try to hit him on the ground with massed fighters.

[Sapare]

Well, I may be way off with this, but this is what I'm thinking;

The germans tend to concentrate their aircraft to effectively destroy several units and open the way for the spearhead thrust (classic blitzkrieg). Each aircraft (if it is in range) only intercepts once (I think), so I need lots in the same area to intercept as much as possible. Also, I intend to move this "deathball" agressively now that I have lvl 3, when I see where his airpower is, I'll try to concentrate mine in and hit his air on the ground as many times as I can to destroy it.

The fact is, that every single time he has used his airpower, all of my fighters have intercepted. But they just cant stop the luftwaffe as his escorts survive my interceptions (relatively unharmed too so far it seems) and the bombers go through unmolested. That's why I need to do the deathball move and try to hit him on the ground with massed fighters.

They do intercept twice. but if they have been intercepting as they should then all is good. Was just worried that maybe you were using them wrong from lack of knowledge. And sorry about the lack of sucess, but it is indeed rather difficult to wear him down(to part because whenever it rains he gets a "Free" turn to restock, because normally you would cause him to stay grounded simply by making his airplanes fall to low HP and then he has to repair.(each fighter can only escort once a turn and only if he was not moved or used otherwhise))

[Strategiclayabout]

Hehehe, nice move in Hungary ! Germans can't be everywhere and despite the losses in center and north they havn't advanced far. Fighters level 3 will also help to keep panzers more cautious. Waiting to see what those GIs are capable of .

[AshesFall]

Turn 44 – August 28th, 1942

The north of Russia is still quiet, thank the proletariat ideals! Our lines are very thin, but Siberian strength and the rivers of Mother Russia lends some stability to the otherwise fairly flimsy defenses. Tankovy armies in the back are upgraded in Minsk factories, fitted with a new form of chassi mounted smoke launcher to obscure their movements from aircraft, and their engines upgraded.

In the south, the new commander of the Southern front Rossosovsky (having replaced his predecessor after the purge following the disaster of the Center front) redeploys his forces to threaten Sofia itself. An army and a corps fight Spanish armor in Hungary.

The western allies are on the move in Egypt, all the axis ports along the coast of north Africa are under blockade, and more US troops have disembarked their transports, pausing to unload their new equipment (upgrading) before moving to join the offensive.

General staff

The USSR reinvests into AA technology to reach three chits.

England, having suffered much during the past three years and having had to abandon most technological research now slowly tries to cure her development problems. One chit invested into infantry warfare. If the Brits are ever to face the Germans in the field, rapid advancement is of the essence.

[AshesFall]

Turns 45 & 46, September 1942

In northern Russia, the Germans push the northern front into total collapse. It has now become one with the Central front, having reorganized and set up according to Zukovs expert instructions. Anti air assets have been incorporated into the composition of the only remaining Tankovy armies, setting up to protect them from the roving stukas. We will shortly fall back to Wilno and Minsk, the only reason we stayed so long was to strike en masse, twice during September, at the German stuka airbases. We believe both CAS groups to be extensively damaged, but did not manage to destroy either one of them. Serious reinforcements are coming in October and November.

In the South, Bulgaria has fallen after our T-34’s smashed the Italian army holding it. German forces are pouring into Hungaria, and we have abandoned the capital. It seems unlikely that we will be able to hold any of these lands, as the south of Russia proper is entirely undefended. It is time to conduct an orderly retreat out of Bulgaria, and into Romania and the south of Russia. Our objectives of 1942 have been completed, conquer at least for a time the principal axis minors.

The Mediterranean

As the axis virtually has no surface fleet, the U-boats struck savagely during September. Two English battleships have been sunk, and more are to follow if we stay exposed. The americans and their advanced sonars and sink bombs have arrived, and might be able to help fend off the massed U-boat attacks.

Tobruk fell with surprising ease, the Italians inside both understrength and demoralized. We now believe the conquest of North Africa will be an easy one.

General Staff

The US has now built so many troops that they virtually have nothing left to produce. With the exception of two artillery pieces and perhaps one each of AA and AT, every single ground asset available to the Americans have been commissioned, as well as Patton and Eisenhower. Clarke is soon to follow. During the first months of 1943, massive upgrades of these units will take place before they are moved to Europe.

The US also developed anti submarine warfare lvl 4, it would seem that the time of the sea wolves is drawing to a close.

[AshesFall]

Turns 47 & 48, October and November 1942

As the weather turns foul the axis advance stalls. During these two months we proceed with the planned withdrawal in both the north and the south and strengthen our lines with reinforcements. In the north we withdraw to shorten our lines and make sure that there are no gaps the enemy can slip through. Zhukov is grateful that the enemy did not press the advance when all he had to stem the tide was a handful of corps and his Siberian armies, now our numbers grow with each month.

In the south we plan to withdraw as far as Bucharest, so that we can easily move into southern Russia to defend it if the enemy push there. It is, aside from a couple of corps defending the very front, absolutely empty, so a determined attack there before our December reinforcements arrive would be very hard to stop.

The Mediterranean

The brawl in the pond does not stop, and these past few months the british have come out worse for wear. Prowling U-boats have sunk both the remaining English destroyer groups in the Med, as well as the British submarine, a cruiser and a battleship. Much of the fleet now hides in the red sea, protected by the Suez channel, while the Americans hunt submarines. So far they have sunk two packs.

In Egypt, the advance proceeds unhindered. The British move through empty fortifications, have the enemy simply abandoned this land?

General Staff

The americans have developed ground attack aircraft on par with the germans, no doubt impressed by reports of their performance in the east.

The USSR develops AA-tech lvl 2, and Heavy artillery 1.

The UK, finally, develops Anti-submarine warfare lvl 2, much too late...

[AshesFall]

Turns 49 & 50, December and January 1942/1943

In the north, our positions have been stable for the past two months. Our troops have taken up position in the forests, and behind rivers. They are in good order, and a small reserve of Tankovy armies await in the rear protected by AA assets and fighters. The Germans have tried no attacks, keeping their distance.

The weight of their efforts have instead been directed at the south, where our forces have taken up positions in Romania behind rivers and in mountains. We will not give this up easily. The undefended stretches of the south have been rapidly overtaken by the German advance. We do not yet know how strong the forces that barrel down the endless fields are, but we must stop them. A new army group has been deployed in Kiev, and will soon be joined by Timoshenko (returned from the fields of the north where he wandered for months, seeking shelter with peasants and evading Germans. He caught Stalin in a rare good mood, and managed to blame his failures on others to be reinstated) and fighters.

The Mediterranean

American ships upgrade in port, and British carriers refit as well. Submarines sink the battleship Rodney en route to port to repair. It will take time for the American destroyers to clear the Med of U-boats, but it must be done if we are to approach Italy.

The British and American forces have almost reached Tripoli.

A view of the American mobilization

General staff

The US now sport advanced aircraft lvl 4, and production technology 2.

The UK has developed naval Warfare 1.

[AshesFall]

Turns 51 & 52, March and April

March was very quiet, and nothing much went on anywhere except for the slog through the desert in North Africa and positioning in Southern Russia. Shoring up defense lines in Romania, and inching forward with the new army group from Kiev.

April was a month of action, at least in the south.

In the north scouting aircraft reveals thin German lines around Baranowicze, perhaps I can make a limited offensive there, and push the Germans a little to see if there is more strength in reserve or not.

In the South, the new army group sprang into action. Again, scouting aircraft at the very limits of their range had revealed a critical weakness in the German spearhead, as it advanced closer to Romania. I wonder if my opponent was aware of the army group at all… or of how strong it was.

The T34’s struck a corps guarding the line to the German HQ, and it stumbled back in confusion (no doubt thinking that it had a cushy posting with not much danger). A second Tankovy army hit the HQ, Rommel… the Steppe Fox, and smashed his staff utterly. Now everything depends on the German reserves, does my opponent have more troops waiting behind the lines to counter attack? If not, this could be a difficult situation for him.

The Mediterranean

We have reached Tripoli, and the army there was as dispirited and under strength as the first. It is nearly shattered, soon north Africa will be ours.

Continued US mobilization

General Staff

These past months have been disappointing in their lack of innovation, despite both the British and the Soviet being fully invested into their research programs.

[Strategiclayabout]

- Great counter-offensive move in Ukraine, you'll have some interesting strategic choices to make very soon.My advice: take the time to think, 1943 is a decisive year !

- Formidable US armada to lay eyes on, early reports from North Africa seem to tall GI's are ready but are Italians a worthy battle testing subject, one can wonder .

- Any particular plan for those paratroopers after all those horrible things they did to you earlier ? Any chance you can post the unit numbers stat screen to see where each side stands ^^ ?

[AshesFall]

Turns 53, May 21st, 1943

Things are certainly heating up in the east as summer comes around.

In the south, disappointment abounds. Not only did the incredibly strong German south army smash through our prepared positions behind the river (protected by artillery) with disturbing ease, a wealth of Panzer groups immediately threw a counterpunch to our counterattack, and destroyed both the forward Tankovy Armies. Both times, advanced ground attack aircraft were instrumental, smashing both the army that became the weak link in Romania, and the stronger of the Tankovy armies. We’re becoming pretty tired of this particular song and dance, let me tell you. Something Stalin no doubt must have felt in history. Two steps AA tech is obviously not enough. It has made a small difference, instead of the 4 steps per attack that were lost before we now lose 2-3 or so. However, the Germans barely took any casualties, it is disturbing how easily they still crush our forces even with their commanders gone. I see no option but to withdraw, trying to keep the formerly separate fronts together until we can reach the fortified lines by Kiev. I am hoping the Rivers and plentiful patriots (partisans) in the German path will slow them down.

According to established military thinking, one should retreat where the enemy is strong and strike where he is weak. So this is what we did. As I have identified no less than five German Panzer Corps in the south, and don’t think the Germans possibly have more than seven, Zhukov called an offensive in the north. It began, as per Soviet doctrine, with a great surge of infantry across the fields. A wave of human flesh coming to drown the enemy. The main thrust attempted to destroy a central corps to smash a hole in the German lines, the corps stood fast however, backed up by artillery. The second target was an army on the extreme southern edge of the German line, struck and flanked. This is when the German HQ was spotted behind the lines, and after conferring with the Siberian Tankovy armies, we realized they could reach them. We struck, and Rundstedt was brought down! We now wonder how many effective headquarters the Germans have left… I would think five or so originally, and now no more than three? Two of them are in the south… perhaps Zhukov will now be free to slaughter this northern front, or will his true nemesis, Mannstein appear? Ventspils and Siuliai were recaptured, and the wave will continue.

Everything now depends on whether the Germans have significant reserves to send, or if the northern front is a lot stronger than I think it is (aerial recon shows the latter to be unlikely). The germans will then have a choice, chase the retreating Southern front deeper into Russia and allow the north to be overrun, or redirect forces from that thrust to stabilize the front. Of course, if the enemy has good reserves to both continue that thrust and stop us in the north, we are in very grave trouble…

The Mediterranean

Tripoli has fallen, and the British stand as masters of North Africa.

US

Due to logistic mixups I could not begin sending forces this turn, next turn will have to do.

General Staff

Soviet morale is on the rise as we have held the hun on the doormat for a long time. The allied nations stubbornly refuse to make any significant technological advances however.

Anything for the fans StrategicLayabout! Here is the unit comparison chart, as we can see, the Soviets are two units behind the Germans, the US has about 38, and the British a lot less. All in all, our forces greatly outnumber the axis.

[Strategiclayabout]

- Thanks for the stat screen . Indeed I see that USSR + UK = Germany + Italy more or less, USA tipping the scales in Allies' favor. Now, shall we bet how long you'll need to get Benito out of the picture ?

- Your moves in USSR show clearly that once the front grows larger with Germany advancing, you have more space to maneuver and german elite units can't strike north, center and south (only happens in 1941 for Barbarossa).

[AshesFall]

Turn 54, June 18th, 1943

In the south, the organized withdrawal continues. One of the armies retreating from Romania was hit, but for once the German paid as dearly as they did for their aggression. The two fronts are now fully combined, and moving backwards as quickly as they can to reach the rivers and fortified line.

In the north, the human wave continues forward. Overrunning an encircled army and washing around some of the axis troops to leave them perilously inside the Soviet lines. Bialystok, Memel and Kaunas were all taken.

The Mediterranean

With British and American troops pausing to reorganize after the capture of NA, the combined western allied fleet is reorganizing as well. Carriers and advanced U-boat hunters are converging. We will scout with the carriers in the ports around Italy, and try to eliminate any U-boats found there.

We now have a choice of what to do with the British and American troops in NA. Unfortunately, the US are not strong here, lack HQ’s and the British hold the greater numbers. The Brits, then, are not very technologically advanced. At the end of this turn, they will gain inf weapons 2 and heavy tanks 1. However, that is not enough to fight the Germans head on. I’ll have to give this some more thought, I am hesitant to send Amphibious transports into the med until I know how many U-boats still lurk around.

There are basically three alternatives; Italy, Vichy French north Africa, and Vichy France proper. Declaring war on the Vichy French may lure the Axis to think an invasion of Spain is coming from the south. I doubt it will take much to topple Italy, but how much will I need for mainland Vichy France from the south? That option is probably not viable anyway.

The US

The US sent the first wave to the Bay of Biscay this turn, consisting of two battleships, two destroyers and one cruiser. These ships will be ready to fend off U-boat attacks and surface ships and give the landing craft a chance to get ashore in northern Spain. I intend to send at least two waves, each with its’ own HQ and also a wave to the Northern Atlantic and England. 1943 is hopefully about to become very hectic for the Germans.

General staff

The UK developd inf warfare 2 and heavy tanks lvl 1, the USSR develops intelligence lvl 2.

[AshesFall]

Turn 55, July 9th, 1943

In the north, the wave just continues on. The Germans withdraw slowly, too slowly, and are now caught in the Masurian Lakes pocket. The Hun also shows the first sign of weakness, combined attacks from an army coming from Brest Litovsk and elite troops in the pocket failed to destroy a tankovy army, barely, but we’ll take it. Ground attack aircraft was fended off by static AA concentrations, and our investments into this area finally seems to be paying off. Perhaps the Germans are even now massing troops to counterattack and open the pocket to let their troops escape.

In the south we decide to stand, redistributing troops slightly and waiting to see what the Germans will do. Will they continue to attack in strength? If not, then I might have an indication as to movements towards the North. Again, here, our static AA told against roving ground attack aircraft, destroying one wing as it swooped in. If we can hold the enemy here for a month, significant reinforcements are incoming during August. That might let us start to push again, or may save us and let us hold the line at Kiev depending on what happens next.

The Mediterranean

The British pause to refit, and our carriers find a U-boat in port, we surround it, hoping to sink it in time.

The US

The second wave is incoming, a wave of armor and rangers for the Bay of Biscay, and a smaller concentration for the north atlantic.

General Staff

The USSR develop their industry to lvl 2.

[AshesFall]

Turn 56, July 23rd, 1943

The Germans tried to break out of the Masurian Lakes pocket, Destroying our AA unit and trying to escape westwards. The wave continued, destroying two armies and striving to trap the rest. A Panzer corps blocked the seizing of an empty Brest litovsk right in front of a corps, and we have moved AT assets to block any direct forward advance. Kowel seems to be Garrisoned, it will not be so easy to cut the southern German front off from the Reich.

An answer was quickly forthcoming in the south, the Germans continue to press hard, destroying an exposed Tankovy army. We fall back from Odessa, and adjust the lines while striking at the Northernmost Panzer corps. The foremost German forces out of Romania seem to be in some disarray however, perhaps their offensive will stall.

The US

The first wave has arrived, and is taking up positions to shelter the first troops.

Meanwhile, the third wave is ready to embark on the long Journey towards continental Europe.

[AshesFall]

Turn 57-59, August and September, 1943

I’ll try to do an update summarizing the latest developments!

In north Soviet, the human wave that has broken the German front continues forward unhindered. From July and into September, Zukovs’ great offensive has pushed from Wilno into Poland. Warzaw has been taken, though probably only temporarily, there seems to be no significant German forces to stop us. Zukov will shortly break off southwards to cut the German southern front off from the Reich while the rest of the central and north fronts continue forwards.

In the south, the first signs of German weakness have turned into visible cracks in the determination and performance of these once seemingly invincible soldiers. The front is holding, and with every attack the Germans bleed. A quick counter strike took down another HQ (list, I think) here in the south.

The American invasion of Spain has gone swimmingly, the combined western allied navy has sunk around five submarines and a destroyer, we estimate that the kriegsmarine is for all intents and purposes defeated. The English are now taking the rest of North Africa, and forces are heading to topple Italy as well.

It seems the plans made for 1942 and 1943 are coming along very well.

The USSR have made great strides in research, reaching lvl 3 armor and lvl 4 fighters, as well as lvl 3 AA tech. The UK are finally starting to catch up, with lvl 2 infantry and lvl 1 heavy tanks.

General Notice

My opponent and I have been discussing the situation, and apparently he barely has any reserves (I really thought he had...) and think Germany will fall shortly. We will continue to play on a little, so see if this prediction turns out to be accurate, and then we'll see

[Strategiclayabout]

See ? No worries at all, this game is just wayyyyyyy too easy for Allies. Axis has a lot of juice early but once it is pressed hard...

[AshesFall]

Yeah...

I did have some thoughts during the buildup of the US that they seem to be way too strong. I'll go more into that in a post game thought thread. It's weird campaign, at least the one we played here, because it goes from germany feeling and being completely unstoppable to just... wham. Very odd.

[AshesFall]

Turn 60-61, October, 1943

Not much to report. The northern front continued to crumble to nothing, the Americans overran spain completely and got into position for invading southern france and vichy, the english and US reached Rome and started taking it apart.

In the south, any forward progress stalled, and we struck back damaging many of the german units and destroying the armor.

Here are the final positions on the north front, not so very far from Berlin

This is the Global position

After this turn my earstwhile opponent sent me this picture to explain the situation;

What an odd game! It's been a learning experience to be sure. More in a separate thread!

[Strategiclayabout]

When you do I'll point out various things/moves helping both sides to keep some kind of balance in 41/43 .