AAR Air/Grnd Limit: Shaka (Axis) vs Oak (Allies)

[Shaka of Carthage]

I usually don't do AAR's, but I will try since this is a PBEM game using the Air and Ground Limit House Rules. I figured some of you may be interested in the different game play.

[Oak]

Axis start off with a rather unusual opening. They DOW on Denmark, move some units west, attack Copenhagen with air and move a corp transport next to Copenhagen.

No Polish units kills, although the 2 armies are down to 1 and 5.

Allies respond with:

- DOW on Ireland. Dublin at 8 after attacks by carriers, battleship and bomber.

- Polish air attacks Bock, knocking him down to 9. Army at only 1 also attacks Bock, but no effect.

- Copenhagen reinforced.

- One French army on Maginot line replaced by corp.

[Shaka of Carthage]

September 3rd, 1939

The Polish insults can no longer be tolerated. Operation Fall Weiss has been given a go, under the command of General Bock.

Its off to a slow start. 3rd, 4th and 8th Armies, supported by the II Corp have all launched attacks on the Polish Pomorze Army, yet they are still resisting (str 1). The other Army and Corp in the south have launched attacks that are slightly more successful. XIX Panzer Corp has has to cross Poland to reach Konigsberg, from which it launched its assault on the Polish Modlin Corp.

OKH is not pleased.

General Rundstedt has been given command of Army Group West. 14th Army, XII Corp and XVI Panzer have been transferred to his command and moved onto the Low Countries border. XII Corp has probed the Maginot Line.

VII Corp has been given a independent command and has boarded ships for Denmark. Luft I and Luft II have both conducted airstrikes on the Danes, followed by Naval Bombardments.

OKM has ordered the submarine packs U-29 and U-30 to ignore the merchant ships and to conduct operations against British capital ships.

The Fuhrer has sent inquiries off to Spain, Italy and Japan. The "secret" agreement with Russia has been finalized as well. The French and British will complain and posture, but won't do anything.

[jon_j_rambo]

You guys forgot to mention the special rules agreed on.

[Oak]

Limits on air fleets and land forces.

France, UK, USA & Italy are limited to 2 air fleets. Russia can have 3 and Germany can have 4.

As for land forces (corps, armies & tanks), the limit is:

Italy: 8

UK: 11

France: 14

USA: 16

Germany: 35

USSR: 41

No limits on HQs, rockets or bombers. It has not been stated, but I assume that there are also no limits on ships, subs or carriers.

My contention is that these house rules put the Axis at a severe disadvantage. So, I took the Allies.

[Shaka of Carthage]

Oct 1st, 1939... Italy 78% US 1% Russia 40%

VII Corp amphib assaults the Danish Corp. Its a diaster, as the German infantry are unloaded in water thats too deep and end up drowning. The Luft air and Naval gunfire support are ineffective. Danish Corp still at str 4. OKM and OKL both blame each other for the lack of coordination.

Army Group East (Bock) assaults the defensive line outside of Warsaw. Pomorze Army (str1) is bypassed per doctrine. Poznan Corp (str4), Lodz Army (str1) and Modlin Corp (str2) all suffer losses. German losses are minimal. Krakow Corp is ignored. Warsaw Corp continues to dig in. Polish Air (str6) unit is licking its wounds after facing the Luftflotte I.

Army Group West (Rundstedt) begins operations against the Low Countries. Dutch Corp is bypassed. 14th Army and XVI Panzers, with support from Luft IV and II, assault Brussels. Even with support from the RAF and the French 1e de l'Air, its over quickly. The XI Corp occupies Brussels against minimal opposition, completing the collapse of the Low Countries. XII Corp advances as well, to protect the flanks of AG West, while greeting the new French Corp occupying the Maginot position. XIII Corp moves to Cologne, attaching itself to AG West, while VI Corp is stood up south of Cologne.

OKM reports that U-30 has made contact with Royal Oak BB.

Fuhrer is pleased at the swift conquest of the Low Countries. Even more so, after the first of the war loot makes its way to Berlin. While surprised that the British and its Canadian lacky decided to fight over Poland, even more surprising was the fact that the British got confused between the Germans and the Irish. None of the General Staffs can come up with any effective way to help the Irish, but a plan was approved to create German Special Forces.

[Oak]

German subs try to sneak by Ireland in the north. 1 sub suprised. Despite some diving, both subs are destroyed with carriers forced to break off attack on Dublin to finish them off. Only damage done by 2 subs was that the cruiser Hood was knocked from 10 to 7.

After 2 turns, not a single Polish corp or army has been killed (although an army and a corp are at 1 and an army at 2). UK invests in reinforcing Polish forces, as well as Copenhagen corp. Polish air attacks Bock, taking him down to 7 (and itself down to 4). Intercepting German air also takes a hit (probably only down 1).

German invades and takes LC, with English and French air intercepting. French armies attack German tank on the LC border. Both armies at 8; German tank at 7.

[Shaka of Carthage]

Oct '29, 1939 ... Italy 83%, US 1%, Russia 40%

OKM has lost contact with U-29 and U-30. At least six (6) different surface groups as well as the two (2) carrier groups used in Ireland were pulled into the battle against the submarines. The Irish are impressed.

Danish Corp reinforced to str 5. Naval Gunfire and Luft I finally take effect. VII Corp takes the Danish surrender in Copenhagen.

Polish defensive line reinforces itself to str 7. Army Group East assaults it again. Lodz Army (str 2), Modlin Corp (str 7) still resist. Poznan Corp is shattered. XIX Panzers flow thru the gap and reach Warsaw.

XVI Panzers of AG West are attacked by two (2) French Armies. The German counter-attack, conducted by XVI Panzer, 14th Army and Luft IV break one of the French Armies and battle the RAF. XI and XII Corps exploit the breech, meeting a French Corp outside of Paris and almost encircling the 2nd French Army in Ardennes. XXIII Corp moves into the Low Country forest as part of the encirclement. Luft III stood up in Brussels.

While distressed by the U-boat losses, the Fuhrer is pleased by the news from Daneland and France. Negotiations with Spain and Italy are doing fine, but there will be problems down the road, as they both want the same things. Japan is proving difficult.

[Oak]

In the east ... only 1 Polish corp has been lost so far. Both Polish armies still alive, with one 2 hexes from Berlin. UK again spends MPP to reinforce Polish units.

In the west ... a French corp leaves the northern most part of the Maginot line to move into unoccupied Cologne. It found a German air fleet at strength 2 next to it. France abandons most of the Maginot to defend Paris. Allied navy rushing back from sub hunting to assist in the defense of France.

Germany is at its limit of 4 air fleets. Looks like 2 of those will need reinforcing.

[Shaka of Carthage]

Nov 26, 1939 ... Italy 88%, US 1%, Russia 40%

OKH has relieved the VI Corp commander of his command. The defense of Cologne was his responsiblity.

AG West continues its drive to Paris, overunning another French Army as well as most of the Maginot line. Paris is defended by a French Army and a line of three (3) corps. There is also a French corp south of the mine and a French Army in the southern most Maginot position. VII Corp has moved into a blocking position opposite the XXI Corp (French) that is oppressing Cologne. Unspeakable acts are being committed by the French, according to civilians in Cologne. It seems there is no longer honor in modern war. The 18th Army is stood up outside Eassen. Refuges from Cologne add to the confusion in the German rear, forcing the 18th Army and VII Corp to the wrong locations.

AG East breaks the Lodz Army and Poznan Corp. Warsaw and Modlin Corp get probing attacks. In what could prove to be a fatal career ender, Bock orders II Corp to eliminate the Pomorze Army (str 1) that threatining Berlin. They fail to do so. Flak units, clerks and cooks are given rifles and ordered to hold Berlin. The Fuhrer is rumored to have fled Berlin.

The Fuhrer is not pleased. OKH has been ordered to explain what has gone wrong in AG East. OKH blames the Luft I, OKL blames the performance of AG East, specifically the Corp commanded by General Kuniworth. Gen Kuniworth, explains its just a matter of luck, something he can't control.

[Oak]

In the east ... Germany kills one of the Polish armies, but unable to kill the one near Berlin (strength 1). Corps in Warsaw knocked down to 6 but reinforced to 8. Corps to the north and south of Warsaw still defending (one at full strength and one knocked down to 4 then reinforced). UK spending a lot on Polish reinforcements. Hopefully, that investment will yield an increase in USSR readiness.

In the west ... Germany kills a French army and another one moves off the Maginot line to replace it. Paris defended by an entrenched army surrounded by corps.

Allies continue to attack Dublin, which has been reinforced. Dublin corps knocked from 8 to 4. USSR annexes Baltin states.

[Shaka of Carthage]

Jan 7, 1940 ... Italy 88%, US 1%, Russia 41%

Poland reinforces its three units near Warsaw. Modlin Corp (str7) north of Warsaw, Warsaw Corp (str8) and Krakow (str10). Pilots and ground crews of the remaining Polish Air taking up rifles. Army Group East assaults again, Modlin down to 2, Warsaw down to 1. OKH blames Luft I for not clearing Modlin so 8th Army could strike Warsaw. OKL blames VIII Corp, under General "hard luck" Kuniworth, for not being able to clear the last resistance in Warsaw. Luft acting as infantry and elements of AG East capture the last of the Pomorze Army near Berlin.

AG West momentum is stopped. Losses on both sides, but no additional advance. New French Corp south of Paris. AG West request reinforcements.

XXX Corp stood up south of Essen. VII and VI Corps sufferred heavly losses assaulting Cologne.

Fuhrer watches while the Russians annex the Baltic States, per the agreement. Political damage from AG Easts failure to have captured Warsaw by now is a hard pill for the Fuhrer to swallow. Irish still holding out against the British.

[Oak]

Problems mount for the Axis.

In the east ... Germany tries but fails to take Warsaw. Corps there knocked down to 2 and then reinforced to 8. Corps north of Warsaw is also attacked and then reinforced. Army near Berlin is finally killed. USSR readiness up to 42.

In the west ... attacks on corps in Cologne have no effect. Attacks on the French line yield minimal damage. Germany is staying away from the coast, so France sends a corps of commandos along the north coast towards Brussels.

Attacks on Dublin continue. UK carriers and battleship are having a bad day and do no damage at all. Allies attack; Axis reinforces.

Note: French air was disbanded to buy French corps. France now has 7 corp in or around France.

[Oak]

Some comment about how the house rules are effecting my strategy:

Poland would probably would have fallen relatively quickly if I were not reinforcing the units there. Usually, my focus as the Allies is to build a UK HQ and a 3rd air fleet as quickly as possible. But, the limits on air imposed by the house rules means that the UK can't build any more air fleets. So, my thinking has been to use the funds that would have gone into building another air fleet into reinforcing Poland.

The Axis focused its forces and efforts on taking Denmark and LC, leaving fewer troops to deal with Poland. I saw the opportunity to delay Poland's fall and increase USSR readiness early in the game. I've never seen Poland attacked so weakly in the first and second turns, and I simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to reinforce Polish troops and keep Poland in the game as long as possible.

[Shaka of Carthage]

March 3rd, 1940 Italy 88%, US 1%, Russia 49%

AG East finally overruns the defenders of Warsaw. VIII Corp, led by Gen. "Hard Luck" Kuniworth enters Warsaw finishing off the defenders who were the remains of the Polish Air Force pilots and ground crews. Krakow Corp (str10) is left as the only viable unit. Poland surrenders.

AG West penetrates the defensive lines outside of Paris, with elements of XVI Panzers reporting they can see the Effiel Tower. Last of the Maginot line defenses are destroyed.

XXVI Corps stood up south of Essen. German units outside of Cologne lick thier wounds.

Dublin Corp engaged in ground combat with the XXX Corp (UK). UK unit now at str6.

Fuhrer is relieved that Poland has finally fallen. Russian units move into eastern Poland, as Poland is carved up between the two. AG East has been called to Berlin, OKH and OKL prepare for the coming political fallout.

[JerseyJohn]

Gen. "Hard Luck" Kuniworth

Sorry to cut in, just wanted to say Great AAR!

[Oak]

In the east ... Warsaw taken and Poland surrenders. USSR readiness at 49%, so the investment in Polish reinforcements was worth it.

In the west ... UK air and French corps attack Rundstedt HQ near Brussels. French corps does nothing but UK air knocks HQ down to 9. Unsure of impact to intercepting German air. Germany kills a French corp and gets a corps & tank next to Paris. Army in Paris still entrenched at level 5. Evacuation begins.

Cologne tried to attack neighboring German corps and knocks itself down to 8.

UK navy continues to perform miserably against Dublin. Axis revenge for Poland??

Italy enters the war.

[Shaka of Carthage]

March 31, 1940 US 1%, Russia 49%

French Army leaves the Paris theater (PTO). Can only suspect it has fled to England. XI and VII Corps encircle the PTO, to stop any further evacuations. PTO has a Army in Paris, Corps north of Paris and three (3)Corps South, Southeast and Southwest of Paris. RAF launches interdiction attacks against Rundstedt HQ.

XXI Corps (Fr) attacks the XXVI Corps (Ge) outside of Cologne. French repulsed with moderate losses (2 str). No German losses. VI Corp (Ge) probes the Cologne defenses, inflicting slight losses (1str) on the XXI Corps (Fr).

Italian declares war on France and takes Marseilles with its II Corps. 1st Army (Itl) advances towards Paris.

Royal Navy continues its training exercises against the Dublin Corps.

AG East has been stood down. Some elements have been sent to reinforce AG West.

With the entry of Italy against France, relations with the Spanish have cooled. Japan has enetered some diplomatic agreements, but refuses to join the Axis. The Fuhrer announces that General "Hard Luck" Kuniworth, has been reassigned to a position as a military advisor to the Italian military. In protest, some of the OKH general staff officers have offerred resignations. The Fuhrer has accepted them. OKL has announced that Fuhrer has authorized the Luft to create a Fallschirmjager Corp (ie paratroopers) in addition to some Luftflotte Field Corps. The SS has been given sole authority to recruit German residents of other nations, to form a Waffen SS Corps. It appears the OKH is taking the blame for the poor performance in Poland.

[Oak]

In the south ... Italian cruiser bombards the French corp in Malta.

In the west ... the Allies are proving to be pretty pathetic when attacking the Axis. French corp near the coast moves inland to attack a Germany air fleet, but no effect. The French corp in Cologne attacks a nearby German army and is badly mauled (strength down to 4). No effect on the German army. Performance by the UK navy against Dublin continues to be dismal, with little or no impact.

France reinforces Paris (which sustained air strikes) and builds another corp next to Paris.

The attack on France consists of 2 air, 5 corps, 1 tank and 2 armies. Another army and corp are next to Cologne. What are the rest of the German forces up to? Report indicates that Germany is not transporting troops.

[Shaka of Carthage]

April 28, 1940 ... US 1%, Russia 49%

XXX Corps (UK) attacks Dublin, but was easily repulsed. UK str 5 now.

VII Corps (Ge) takes Bordeaux. 1st Army (Itl) attacks French Corp south of Paris. AG West, after receiving reinforcments, continues offensive in PTO.

XXI Corps (Fr) attacks 3rd Army (Ge) north of Cologne. French suffer moderate losses (2str), Germans none. XIX Panzers, VI Corps and XXVI Corps counter attack XXI Corps (Fr), which is now at str 2.

It what may prove a controversial move, OKL orders Luft II to strike at the Malta Air unit. RAF intercepts, Luft II suffers heavy losses (5 str pts). Luft III fly unopppossed against Malta Air, but BDA (bomb damage assessment) shows Malta is still a functioning unit.

Italian submarines strike British merchants in the Med.

The Fuhrer continues his tongue lashing of the OKH. He wants a "transformation" and "thinking outside the box". OKH responds that it was given a sixty-eight (68) division job, but only fifty-two (52) divisions to work with.

[Oak]

German air attacks UK air near London, with air in London intercepting. A (surprisingly) very lopsided attack with light damage to UK air and heavy damage (from 8 to 3) to one German air. While the results make it tempting to stay and fight, Germany moves up 2 additional German air making it 4 against 2. So, Allied air retreats north.

Allied offensive activity continues to be pitiful. 2 attempts by French corps to attack neighboring Axis units only results in loses to the French. UK navy continues to perform poorly against the Irish, but some positive results from an attack by English cruiser and carrier on German corp heading towards Brest.

France reinforces corp in Cologne, which was almost destroyed. No attacks by Axis on Paris itself, so the army there further entrenches. However, Paris will fall within 1-2 more turns.

Italian transport spotted near vacant Algiers.

[Shaka of Carthage]

May 26, 1940 ... US 1%, Russia 49%

XI Corps (Ge) is ambushed outside of Brest by I Corps (CW). The Canadians inflicted heavy losses on XI Corps, OKH fears it is lost.

AG West shatters another French Corp while reducing the Paris defenders.

IV Corps (Itl) captures Algiers.

Fighting still continues around Cologne, with the French and Germans both bringing in fresh reinforcements.

[Oak]

The Germans chop away at the French defense, with the French holding up well. Only 3 corps left next to Paris, and the army in Paris is reinforced to 10. 2 French corp attack some neighboring German corps and score some hits. German corp next to Paris killed by UK Eagle carrier and battleship. Allies are pleased that France has held out until June 1940, although the fall of France seems imminent.

Continued attacks by Allied fleet and air on Dublin, with the usual poor showing.

Italian cruiser approaches Gibralter; UK battleship backs off to the west.

[Shaka of Carthage]

June 16, 1940 ... US 1%, Russia 49%

OKH has lost contact with XI Corps (Ge).

Dublin Corps survives strikes by two (2) CVBG, one (1) BBBG, two (2) Air and one (1) Strategic Bomber. XXX Corps (UK) in Ireland is conserving its manpower for the expected occupation.

Limited attacks by French in PTO. Italians break southern defenses, AG West reduces French to Army (str1) in Paris and Corp (str9) SW of Paris.

XXI Corps (Fr) in Cologne survives the German attacks at str3.

Italian submarines sink British merchants in the Med.

The Fuhrer is taking a train to Paris in anticipation of its surrender. During the trip, he examines Intelligence reports that show the British have increased thier Naval Battle Groups by a BB. Three (3) CVBGs have been indentified off of France and Ireland, with different names then pre-war. Must be some sort of disinformation campaign, as the UK could not have built a BB and a CV. At least two (2) French units are in Britain. There is also one (1) Canadian Army unaccounted for. Possiblity of two (2) more British units in the UK. And the French fleet has either been scuttled or has fled to Asia. Hence, UK could have five (5) ground units in Great Britain. Time to send a message to the British.

British Empire, are you willing to cease hostilities against the Third Reich and enter into peaceful negotiations regarding the New World Order?

[Shaka of Carthage]

Double Post

[ August 02, 2003, 12:39 PM: Message edited by: Shaka of Carthage ]