AAR _ The Longest 6.2 Years.

[dgaad]

Played using the "US IMPACT and HISTORICITY" mod. Fog of War off to represent Ultra.

Options : Fog of war is OFF. Only way to conduct a strategic bombing campaign of any consequence. Also represents Ultra.

PART I - CRY HAVOC!

September 17, 1939

All Polish armies are destroyed though some corps remain. One Luftflotte is reduced to 7.

The French recall the Algerian Corps from North Africa, where it will guard the Italian border. French fleet moves south intent on engaging the Italians if they enter the war.

Britain destroys one sub, but too many missed attacks mean at least one wolfpack survives.

Neither Britain nor France spend anything.

October 15, 1939

Poland still holds out due to unaggressive German moves.

Britain destroys the remaining wolfpack, but losing 5 points off a cruiser group in the process. No serious bombing campaign can begin until the British units have the benefit of an organized headquarters, so we must bide our time until sufficient resources are in place. That means we not only have to increase technology in the areas of Jet Fighters and Heavy Bombers, but we must be sure that no general committment of air forces takes place until a headquarters is purchased.

Minor skirmishing in France, including an airstrike and attack on the well-entrenched Maginot. Algerians land at the Alps. All losses except in the FAF are replaced, and a corps is added to the Italian border. The Algerians will move up to northern France next week. French Syrian Corps moves to Egypt.

November 12, 1939

Two more Polish corps destroyed, leaving only the Warsawa garrison. However, they have inflicted about 6 total points worth of loss to the Germans in both the armored and army forces.

This is the point at which we must decide whether or not to make a serious effort to help France. All too typically, we decide to make it appear as though we are helping without actually doing anything. Britains 390 MPPs are held for Britain and future investments in defense of the British Isles and Empire. Britain invests in 1 Research Point for Industrial Technology.

France increases DCR strength to 3, and the FAF is replaced to 8.

December 10, 1939

Poland falls at last. No more 140 MPPs for Britain.

Germany seems intent on breaking the Maginot defenses, having knocked one French army there to half strength. These losses are replaced, but the entrenchment value is now dangerously low.

February 4, 1940

A turn of relative peace. The German seems occupied with replacing losses and building up a new tank group.

The fleet continues to assemble just east of Gibraltar. More skirmishing along the Maginot Line. Thank God for Andre and his wonderful bunkers. Minor losses are replaced. French DCR now at 5.

March 17, 1940

Germany invades the Low Countries and destroys the Dutch with airpower alone. British air sustained casualties last turn and this one, so we are pulling out of the air war now until we have more of it, and an HQ.

All French units remain in place to gain the value of Entrenchment. We leave the Belgians to their fate and refuse to waste further MPPs on a lost cause.

April, 14, 1940

THE BELGIANS HAVE TRAITOROUSLY SURRENDED TO GERMANY!

I'm not surprised, but the headlines about this event seem to have shocked the French, who used 72 point type to announce it to their people in Le Monde.

Meanwhile the French 1st Army was nearly destroyed by panzers, but held out with 1 point. The Germans wisely avoided the main French armies in the Maginot, where the entrenchment level is now 8. However, at the main point of contact, there are 3 French armies and the Algerian Corps facing the entire Wehrmacht. Not good odds. The French DCR is now at 11, for counterattacks if the Germans break the line -- which will happen, its just a question of when and where.

More importantly, the Italians joined Germany. The now gargantuan allied fleet gathers at Malta for the big battle, assuming the Italians do anything.

Britain has 590 MPPs which we are saving for a rainy day, or a German landing in England.

May 12, 1940

Two French armies wiped out in northern France. We move the main armies from the Maginot and counter attack and wipe out one Panzer group. However, the French cannot hold out now as they lack the resources to replace either what was lost or what will be lost.

An Italian cruiser move near Malta and get wasted by the French. The British battleships coagulate around Malta for resupply. Three Italian battleships hover near Taranto, and we leave them alone. I should mention that I left a substantial British naval force in Britain to guard against invasion, so the Italian navy is treated with care as opposed to aggressive attack.

The British invest another point into Industrial Technology.

June 9, 1940

As expected, French defenses collapse. Three French armies destroyed, though some German armies are weak now.

In the Med, the Italian battleships moved down to the Malta area and sunk two French units, but our counterattack destroyed one Italian battleship and damaged one to near non-existence -- the third was undamaged. The British fleet is not without losses either. The eastern Med squadron is now approaching the fray, as yet unmolested.

In France, the French army is down to a couple corps and what remains of the DCR. One German army was destroyed. So far, thats something on the order of 500 MPPs lost to the Germans, not counting incidental replacement losses.

The French air fleet is operationally moved to Manchester, where it will aid the allied cause once pilots can be found to be a part of it.

The Canadian Army, in all its Canuck-like glory, is now being transported to Manchester as well. We are preparing great festivals of welcome which include some strange entertainment known to them as Hockey. As it is June, instead of ice we are using a bog of approximately the same size as a "hockey rink". We hope they don't mind the small change.

June 23, 1940

The Germans take Bordeaux, but the French still hold Paris and thus remain in the fight. And I use the term "fight" loosely here, except in respect to the French Alpine Corps, which has inflicted nearly a full army's worth of casualties on the hapless Italians. French counter attacks elsewhere resulted in absolutely nothing, but the 4 remaining Panhards of the DCR masterfully cut off the German Panzergruppe in Bordeaux with a complex manuver known as "Lets Get to Brittany as Fast as We Can".

In the Med, we opt to destroy the Italian fleet over the other option of letting pieces of it limp back into port, where the Italian economy would be broken by the attempt to repair it. We reduce the Italian Sub to a few points, while destroying one more battleship and reducing the other to something in naval terms known as "barely there".

Current investments in Industrial Technology have resulted in nearly as much success as the French army, so we continue to wait for costs to come down before investing in neat things like General Officers and their attendant staffs. The Canadian Army arrived in Manchester, but decided to skip the Hockey festivities. They said something about mud being really stupid.

July 7, 1940.

Amazingly, no French units were destroyed last turn. Consequently, French headlines have already proclaimed victory over the Germans. Our own assessment differs. However, the French now have 3 corps around Paris, while the Alpine Corps inflicts still more losses on the Duce's elite striking force composed of car fanatics and pasta makers.

Frustratingly, still no progress on Industrial Tech, and we now have 783 MPPs in the pot. The more MPPs we get, the more sense it continues to make to wait until things become cheaper. We invest yet another point in Industrial Tech, which now stands at 3.

The Med fleet allowed one point's worth of Italian sub to escape, despite our best efforts. The rest of the Italian navy is now located where the future Italian navy will be able to see it. The victors of the battle of Malta head for England to both repair and insure the Isle's security.

July 21, 1940

France reduced to the one corps in Paris, and the Alpine Corps. Apparently the Alpine Corps has become such an embarassment to the entire Axis cause that the Germans sent two of their own corps down from the Paris area to deal with it. They remain dogged in their defenses.

The French DCR has now embarked for and arrived in Manchester, where their Quebequois Canadien progeny have greeted them with an unusual display of non-affection. England is now defended by an odd mixture of people having no common interests whatsoever. The fleet continues slogging up from the Med, with a stopover near Gibraltar to increase supply levels.

The British shoot almost their entire wad of saved MPPs into two more investment points, one each in Jet Fighters and Heavy Bombers. This was done based on the results of a study that contained exactly six words : "Bomb the Hell Out of Em" - Churchill.

August 4, 1940

The Parisians have formed the Paris Communal Commiseration in, of all places, Paris, where the last French corps continues to hold out despite four separate attacks that netted the attackers a few prisoners who were apparently sick of all the comiseration. Entrenchments, apparently, really suck for the attacker. The Last Italian Sub was sunk in the Adriatic. This is also the title of a future movie an as yet unregarded filmmaker named Alfred Hitchcock is working on.

The valiant Alpine Corps is no more. The Germans attacked it with the Luftwaffe and a panzer unit, which combined with promises of unlimited pasta and sauce induced the defenders to lay down their arms. The promise was promptly broken.

August 18, 1940

France has at last fallen to the Axis. Loyal to the Allied cause remain the DCR, the Syrian corps in the Sinai, the Richelieu battleship squadron in Malta, and the French airforce.

Part II - A Thousand Furlongs of Sea

September 1, 1940

It has been a year of war. The general results have been, aside from what has already been discussed, are the total loss of the Italian Navy, but very disappointing research results -- that is, zero. The Germans seem to be preparing for acquisition of Denmark. We cannot know if this is to extend the flank of an attack on Britain, or merely yet another MPP binge.

Yet, Britain is secured by the seas which have girt her, and the Navy upon them.

We move Bomber command to within range of Brest, to attempt a bombing run on the port whilst the Germans attack Denmark as we expect this month. The Luftwaffe now has five full fleets of airpower. We also organize Cunningham's command in Britain to coordinate this new situation.

September 29, 1940

Germany attacks Denmark and destroys her forces, but lacks the mobility to actually enter Copenhagen.

We attack the Brest port, causing 4 MPPs in damage while losing one bomber point (at 20 points per). Don't criticize, its a long term strategy. If you also count the lost production, actually the damage is about even in economic terms. However, we do gain some small experience.

October 27, 1940

German production with the surrender of Denmark is now 225 MPP.

Bomber Command hits Brest again causing 3 MPP loss and reducing production there to an output of 3 (from 10).

The Fleet returns to the Western Approaches.

Industrial Tech research committment now stands at 4 points total, still no research result anywhere.

November 24, 1940

German production = 236 MPP

January 5, 1941

German army begins serious deployment to Hungary and Poland, so we breathe a sigh of relief. They continue to hit Dover with 2 air fleets. Owing to our rather stupid Welsh deployment, we can expect some casualties next turn.

March 2, 1941

Serious deployments into the East now. We warn the Russians, but they laugh and say "Aha! But we have a Non-Aggression Pact with them!!!".

Entire British airforce now deployed in Devon and Cornwall. For those of you who do not know anything about Devon and Cornwall, thats the area at the butt-end of England. Purpose? I don't need no stinking purpose but in this case its to continue pounding Brest to give Cunningham and the airfleets some experience.

Pondering a Persian campaign. We need the resources. Must hit with overwhelming force though, so the campaign does not drag out indefinately. Sure could use the loot. We buy the Auchinleck HQ, preparatory to sending it down to Egypt for this purpose. We'll have to run the Med Gauntlet to get it there . . . wait, no we won't (see previous chapter).

March 30, 1941

Foiled in my plans for a massive bombing campaign by a Luftflotte deployment to Bordeaux, where it covers Brest. The Germans now have 3 Luftflottes covering France; no target in Europe is open to attack by us. Looks like Persia, and the "soft underwear" of Southern Europe is now a better target. Or was that the "soft underbelly"? Churchill always talks like he's chewing on rope.

"The Auch" is now on his way to our Middle Eastern holdings, where the troops have been engaged in such sports as "sand hockey", played with lots of sand and dung beetles for pucks.

April 27, 1941

The Germans have treacherously declared Peace in the West and released hundreds of doves in a peace celebration in Neumark. Oh, they also attacked Yugoslavia. Apparently the Yugoslav King was impressed by our bombings of Brest. Or, he may have mistook Churchill's recounting of them for some statement regarding the size and availability of breasts in England; we still aren't sure at this point. From a military point of view, it was a really stupid move on his part, so that's the only explanation we can come up with. Churchill is now being given remedial speech impediment therapy in order to safeguard Europe from more excessively bad moves by other leaders.

May 25, 1941

Over the past few months we have been getting message after message out of Bletchley Park which states "Germany Purchases Corpse". We can't understand why the Germans are doing this, since corpses are a dime a dozen, particularly in France.

The great deployment of the Wehrmacht to Poland and other areas in the east seems to be halted, and the Germans are scattered all over the Balkans. We aren't sure why.

We completed an operation called "Operation Sneaky" in which the fleet escorting "The Auch" to Egypt was diverted to bombard the Luftflotte units near Bordeaux. The operation has been characterized by leading analysts as having been very innovative but not terribly effective, which in simpler terms means we lost a great deal. A bomber attack on one of the Luftflottes there also resulted in 3 bomber points lost at no cost to the Germans. Half the fleet was also messed up. Oh, well, fortunately they aren't going to be bothered by Italians. However, at least one Luftflotte was reduced to 3 points remaining.

June 15, 1941

The Germans are in no position to attack Russia now, as most of their forces are in Yugoslavia which surrendered this month.

The 8th Army forms in Manchester, soon to be sent to Egypt.

June 29, 1941

German units begin re-deploying to Poland.

We move the fighters down to Egypt operationally, and withdraw from out Brest campaign, to the dismay of the now-exiled Yugoslav king. He's still learning English.

July 13, 1941

German production is now in the 356 MPP range.

Still absolutely no research progress for the British.

Part III - These Are The Times That Try Men's Souls

[Coming Soon!]

[ October 21, 2002, 11:12 AM: Message edited by: dgaad ]

[Carl G. E. von Mannerheim]

I cant wait for the next one,

whats this america mod you speak of?

[dgaad]

Part III - These are the Times that Try Men's Souls

July 27, 1941

Well, now the Germans have really done it. They've declared war on Russia, aka the Soviet Union. Rumor has it that both the first and second messenger who brought this news to Stalin were shot.

2 Soviet armies destroyed, most of the rest surrounded or decimated. The Soviet battle plan, which we have been permitted to skim, involves a highly complex retrograde manuver. Actually, its not terribly complex.

With 780 MPPs one choice would be to invest in perhaps one or two corps as delaying forces whilst using operational movement to get the frontline forces back into a Moscow / Voronezh nexus, and investing right away in two more research points into Industrial Technology. However tempting this might be, the British experience here leaves a bitter taste.

The Soviets withdraw those units that can still move back to the Moscow / Rostov line using operational moves, buy 2 research points which along with their 2 at start, are committed to a total of 4 in industrial tech. The Soviets have a little time in which to try to get these costs way down. It probably won't work. The Soviets now have 140 MPPs left. We also have to save to try to get an HQ at some point. Some bombardment and attacking near Odessa knocks the stuffing out of a Bulgarian army. Surrounded Soviet units not only cannot move, but probably would be lost in an attack attempt, so they hold fast to at least cause some delay during the German turn. A Finnish army in the isthmus also suffers a big hit in a Soviet attack with no loss to us.

The Auch arrives in Egypt, where he will wait for the arrival of a Canadian Corps and the 8th army before taking the war to the Iraqis, who are currently neutral. I have the staff working on forging papers so that we can "prove" the Iraqis were about to have a pro-Axis coup so that our invasion appears to be an act of self-defense.

I note with some satisfaction that the invasion of Russia is proceeding without the use of three full Luftflottes, and the Rundstedt HQ, which are in France no doubt on guard against the British Bomber offensive. All Europe remains off limits to our bombers until we have better odds.

August 14, 1941

5 Russian armies destroyed, and Odessa falls to numerous Italian and axis minor army attacks.

The good news is that, due to our threats of logic, the CPU decided to grant the British TECH IMPROVEMENTS in Jet Fighters and Heavy Bombers. We'd trade both of those for industrial tech improvements but one mustn't look like a gift horse's ass.

Due to a mix up, the British purchased another research point, and invested it in Industrial Tech, which now stands at 5. The Soviets purchased 1 research and put it in the same area and also now have the same total. This is alot of research now going on.

With the acquisition of new technology, we rebuild Cunningham's bomber force in Manchester to the full strength of 11.

The Russians now have a corps entrenching in every city except the ones in the Caucasus and Sverdlosk, and one extra corps in the Leningrad and Rostov areas.

German production at 385 MPP.

August 24, 1941

Germans attack in the Minsk Riga and Kiev areas while the Soviets continue the retreat and entice strategy. We buy a couple of corps and the Timoshenko HQ in the Moscow area, while replacing the Kiev and Riga armies to near full strength. They are sacrificial lambs. Russian MPPs down to zero now. Still no additional tech progress. We have to hold with what we have now, and cannot wait for industry to "kick in" while the Germans get deeper into Russia.

One German air unit redeployed to the Russian Front. The Maltese airforce is redeployed to Egypt where it will be rebuilt from the Italian Navy debut and immediate debacle.

September 7, 1941

Minsk falls, but the Kievan corps held out against 6 attacks. Riga also held. Russians purchase three corps deployed in the south, one near Voronezh, and one near Vologda. The Moscow and Voronezh groups are the main groups with 3 or 4 units each now. German forces also attacked Smolensk.

The British near full strength for the forces allocated in the Middle east, and now await the arrival of the 8th Army to seriously consider a campaign into Persia which we feel will be successful with two airfleets in support.

October 5, 1941

Four corps lost in Russia, Minsk, Riga fall to Axis attack. German troops continue attacking near Smolensk. Soviet Black sea fleet lost because I forgot to move it out of air range. Call me "Stalin". Soviet INDUSTRIAL TECH improved to level 3. The Brits continue their lagging ways. Two additional corps purchased and the Konev HQ which is placed in the Caucasus area south of Rostov. We expect German attacks on Leningrad and possibly in the Rostov or Moscow area. The strategy remains defensive unless and until the Siberians arrive. Partisans appear behind German lines.

8th Army arrives in the Middle east, and so next month we will begin the move towards Persia.

November 2, 1941

German production now at 387 MPPs, which seems a bit low.

Soviet Industrial Tech improves to level 4, which reduced the Corps and Army cost to 75 and 150, respectively. We refactor research to Anti-Tank-2, Jet Fighters-1, Rockets-1, Heavy Tanks-1. move all research there into Anti-Tank defenses which greatly improve, uh, anti-tank defenses but also allow for an increased general strength in infantry units.

German attacks reached Smolens and Kharkov but failed to take either. German troops reached Leningrad but seem preoccupied with the Russian cruisers there. German airpower was used up attacking the Partisans. Nearly the entire pool of German MPPs was used up replacing losses. One German Army destroyed near Leningrad with a movement to counter attack of an unentrenched Soviet Army.

Timoshenko remains near Moscow while Konev is just south of the Don guarding the resources there. Soviet MPPs now at 201, and we choose to hold on to that at the moment.

November, 30, 1941

No combat losses on the Russian Front last turn. Kharkov completely surrounded and hit by 6 attacks but holds out. USA prepares for War.

An Italian army attacked Rostov and was destroyed this turn by counter-attack. Panzer unit crossing the Kerch peninsula counter-attacked by infantry corps and airpower and is reduced to 6.

We shore up the Moscow defenses with two more corps and the Eremenko HQ near Vologda, which will take charge of the units near Leningrad.

The Auch's forces still aren't ready as it takes time I could have saved by continuing 8th Army's sea movement, to move to the Sinai.

[Desert Dave]

Here is a man -- dgaad is who I am speaking of just now, who it is! surely savors a story. :cool:

Ah and thankful that it is so -- the temperature at which books burn is 451 degrees Fahrenheit, and so the oral history needs be preserved.

Passed along to equally ardent and faithful adherents, no, no, these tales can NEVER be obliterated.

But... it's only a game, you say? :confused:

Well, perhaps -- in a deep and rarely-touched and utterly unfathomable portion of his soul... he knows... it is... practice.

Yes, but... O... I see, it is -- only practice.

[Zeres]

Nice one, enjoying this.

[dgaad]

Part IV The Sound and the Fury

January 11, 1942

US joins the Allies.

The 1st and 2nd Sacrificial Lamb Corps were destroyed at Smolensk and Kharkov, respectively, and German corps punched through to approach Voronezh and Moscow. Counter-attacks did not occur at Moscow except by air. An Italian army near Rostov was destroyed again this turn. The Soviets add another army to Konev's Front in the south; those resources must be protected. Soviet MPPs now below 400 while Germans are around 411.

At long last, the British attack Persia, only to see the great and glorious Persian / Iraqi army hold out in Baghdad with 3 points. The American air fleet moves to Malta with a view to assisting in the Med.

March 8, 1942

Soviets transfer Siberian Army, altering the ratio of force on the Eastern Front. A few German attacks cause some casualties to the frontline units, but little else.

Germany developed Industrial Tech 1. No developments for the British who have had 4 or more research points in the same technology area for most of the war. Brits add 1 RP to Long Range Aircraft. US gets industrial tech 1. US invests additional RP into Long Range Aircraft.

The Soviet counter-offensive opens up at Rostov with the destruction of one German and one axis allied corps, with severe damage to a third axis allied army. Troops along the rest of the front move into position and await the operational movement of HQs to the area to gain the added benefit.

The Persian offensive fails to destroy the Persian army which will no doubt be rebuilt by the Germans. Most US forces sit on their collective duffs.

April 5, 1942

Persian offensive finds success at last, destroying the Persian army there. The UK takes possession of the rich land of free MPPs.

Italy developed Jet Aircraft-1. SU develops Anti Tank Weapons-1. Still no developments for the British.

The counter-offensive on the Russian Front has developed, destroying one German army near Leningrad with the assistance of the battered Baltic fleet, several units near Rostov, one corps in front of Moscow. Attempts to destroy the highly experienced German 4th Army met with failure.

US takes some preliminary action to prepare for landings in either Portugal or North Africa.

The Russian Front - April 1942

May 3, 1942

Italy now has the best aircraft in the war with Jet Engines-2. SU develops Rockets-2. At long last UK gets Industrial Tech-1 (!). That has to be some kind of 1 in a million thing that it took that long. I should note that, for the Russians, rockets are now more effective than aircraft at attacking ground units.

Two Soviet Guards Tank armies destroyed by German counterattacks outside Smolensk.

Eremenko shatters the northern front of the Germans, breaking through to destroy a full strength Luftflotte unit, and swinging down to Smolensk with one corps to finally and completely destroy the German 4th Army. The German South Army Group Panzer Group is destroyed in front of Rostov.

German forces in Russia are now reduced to 3 Panzer Groups, 2 Luftflotte and 1 Italian air unit, only 3 German armies, and miscellaneous Italian and axis allied armies and corps, and naturally a few German corps. However, we have largely destroyed the experience base of the German forces.

On the Allied side, the decision has been taken to take Vichy possessions off the continent, so the Commonwealth forces in Persia re-align for attacking Syria. US forces, which are now quite sizeable, are enroute to Algeria. The Allies still lack the MPPs to start a serious bombing campaign. However, we did launch a strike on Antwerp that cost the Germans 4 MPP.

May 31, 1942

Iraq surrenders and the UK plunders 200+ MPP. German counterattacks on the Russian front destroy one Soviet corps but are otherwise unable to do much more. Several withdrawals took place, notably on Eremenko's front.

UK develops Industrial Tech-2. US develops Industrial Tech-3. Research is now liberally spread out all over the board, so we can expect tech advances in several areas per turn.

German MPP pool reduced to 493.

The Soviets develop some minor counter-attacks that cause a little damage, also employing a rocket unit for the first time in history. Soviet MPP down to around 60 as most losses, particularly the air units, are replaced. We recover the Donbass mining region; while this reduces German MPP production, it remains to be seen whether we can hold it.

The US Algeria invasion force will be approaching the landing area next turn, with invasion following the turn after, sometime in July. "The Auch" replaces his losses.

We approach parity with the Luftwaffe in the West, with additional fighter construction in Britain and the US, we should achieve air superiority within a month or two, assuming German MPPs are soaked up in Russia.

June 21, 1942.

German MPP production 413, German MPP pool at 465.

UK MPP production 171, UK develops Industrial Tech-3

US MPP prod is 180 (huge surprise. Not).

USSR MPP prod is 387. USSR develops Anti-Tank Weapons-2

Germany loses 4MPP to bombing.

Massive German counter-attacks in the Donbass and Kharkov area, 1 Soviet army destroyed. Soviet response is largely stalemated, with counter-attacks in the Kharkov area netting virtually nothing. The Germans are rebuilding the Leningrad front (more like the Riga front) with new corps and one panzer group. The front near Smolensk under heavy pressure from the Soviets but the German line will not crack.

US forces move to the Algerian coast and will land next turn.

July 5, 1942.

German MPP production 411, German MPP pool at 417. Germans develop Jet Engines-1

UK MPP production 181, UK develops Industrial Tech-4

USSR MPP prod is 387. USSR develops Jet Engines-1

German attacks near Smolensk destroy a Soviet Corps. Elsewhere attacks in the Baltic area reduce some Soviet Armies. Germans recover Donbass. The Germans were unable to replace all of their losses from last turn.

Soviet attacks destroy a Finn corps in the Karelian Isthmus and a German corps near the Baltic, while severely reducing a few more armies and corps. Sevastopol continues to hold out and counterattack to inflict losses there.

In a great triumph of expediency, the Allies declare war on Vichy France and completely overrun Syria and Algeria, destroying as well the French cruiser in Algeria. Patton takes over in Algeria, supported by almost the entire American army in the ETO, and two American air fleets in the Med -- one based at Gibraltar and the other at Malta.

July 19, 1942

No tech developments.

German production increased to 431 due to takeover of European Vichy.

German General Von Bock has 4 experience, and is the source of many of our problems in the Kharkov area; an attack by one full strength Soviet corps on his HQ resulted in nothing, unfortunately. Soviet attacks in Kharkov failed to destroy any German units, but did destroy one axis allied army. In the Smolensk and Baltic areas, one German corps was destroyed and German armor severely reduced. We seem to be gaining the upper hand in the Central area, supported by 3 air fleets and the rocket unit. I wish I could build more, but the economy is sucked up by replacing losses.

The Allies, flush with the Syrian / Algerian triumph, can't really do much at this point, except prepare to reduce Lybia and possibly Sicily, to provide a base for attacking Italy and the Dirty Underpants (or, something) of Europe. With respect to future Allied operations, it may even be possible to take Rome in one fell swoop if properly supported by airpower. We shall see.

August 2, 1942

No tech developments.

UK production, thanks to Iraq, now exceeds US production.

The Germans sneakily snuck into Rostov and captured the town. I have been in the habit of no longer leaving corps garrisons in the towns, to feed more and more troops into the battles. This is the price paid.

For the Germans, however, the situation north of Kharkov, in the Smolensk area and north of that, is less and less to their advantage. Smolensk has two panzergruppes and one Italian army defending, with the German panzers suffering heavily from constant attacks.

Around Kharkov, the Soviets go over to the defensive after the loss of Rostov, which puts the entire southern situation at risk.

The Soviets replace most or all of their losses from last turn but are unable to rebuild an army lost to German attacks. However, the German forces are becoming very depleted.

The Allies now prepare to invade Libya, with Patton from the west and The Auch from the east. The UK demobilized most French units in Britain for the extra MPPs.

August 16, 1942

UK develops Jet Engines-2

Italy develops Jet Engines-3

US develops Long Range Aircraft-2

German MPP pool at 529.

In Russia, Rostov is recovered and the German corps there destroyed. A German panzergruppe near Smolensk is destroyed, the Germans defending reduced to one panzer and one Italian army heavily entrenched. A German panzer near Kharkov is also destroyed.

The Germans continue to grow weaker in Russia, reduced now to two total panzergroups in all of Russia, 4 corps, 2 armies, and assorted Italian and axis minor allied. Eremenko with two armies supported by the Baltic fleet also approaches Helsinki.

The Allies approach the Libyan cities, but are not in a position to attack yet.

August 30, 1942

Germany develops Jet Engines-2

Italy develops Jet Engines-4. Great. The Itais now have frigging Mirage jets. Notably, the Italians also have 500+ MPPs in their pool. Despite their earlier flounderings, they are becoming a force to be reckoned with.

The last panzergroup near Smolensk is destroyed. Konev moves out again from Rostov and eliminates a German unit and occupies one of the Donbass mines, but is otherwise playing coy. Stalin considers whether or not to execute him, but Shaposhnikov convinces him Konev is just being a professional military man. Stalin hides his doubts, and dreams of shooting Konev personally.

The Allies begin the reduction of Libyan defenses, supported by a total of 3 airfleets.

[ October 22, 2002, 03:23 PM: Message edited by: dgaad ]

[RicKhan]

Very enjoyable AAR. My favorite line is this:

rockets are now more effective than aircraft at attacking ground units.

Stalin's Organs, Rocketing the East front.

Looking forward to hearing about the Italian Jets in action.

Keep up the Good work.

[dgaad]

Part V - Into the Breach

September 20, 1942

A banner week for Allied forces.

The Soviets liberated Smolensk, recovered the Bryansk and Donbass mines, and are coming perilously close to knocking Finland out of the war. A deep penetration by a Soviet corps wiped out a Luftflotte along the Dniepr.

Meanwhile, the Americans took Tripoli while the British reduced Tobruk to almost nothing. Cunningham's British RAF forces move down to near London, with 3 airfleets and one bomber unit, ready to assume air superiority over Northwest Europe.

The Germans are replacing their Armies with Corps, but still losing territory.

October 18, 1942

Another good week for all the Allied forces as it appears the German front in Russia is beginning to collapse.

The German Kharkov group is surrounded, and Bock's HQ was reduced by half. Several more enemy units were destroyed in the process, while the Finnish army was totally destroyed; Helsinki should fall next turn. On the debit side, weakened German forces managed to recover the Donbass, but we don't expect they can hold it for long. Best of all, with the ultimate surrender of Finland and over 250 MPPs still in the Russian pool, and most Russian units at or near full strength, the Soviets will be able to greatly expand their forces.

The British managed to take Tobruk. The British added another bomber fleet to the air units in England, and for the first time bombed the Ruhr district, causing a 6 MPP loss. Bombing losses to the German economy now exceed on average 1% of their total MPP reserve.

Patton and all Allied forces in the Mediterranean now gearing up for an invasion of Sicily, the main purpose of which is to provide a massive airbase for attacks on Rome and the Italian peninsula.

November 15, 1942

The Russian Front, November 1942

SU develops Rockets-4

Heavy fighting in the Kharkov area as the Soviets attempt to surround and destroy this elite German fighting group. A German counter attack cuts off several Soviet Armies, but a Soviet counter attack reduces the pocket and re-establishes the ring. Von Bock's HQ is severely mauled. Soviet armies enter Helsinki.

German air technology creates new problems for the bomber offensive, and a CW air unit is lost in the air battles. Allied armies in the med continue to prepare for the Sicily offensive.

December 13, 1942

UK develops Jet Engines-4

UK develops Heavy Tanks-1

USSR develops Rockets-4

The entire German Luftflotte is withdrawn from Russia due to Allied pressure.

The German southern front in Russia undergoes total collapse, the only remaining German units south of Minsk are Bock's HQ and the encircled German corps in Kharkov. Konev and Popov's forces burst across the Dniepr and attack the Italian armies near Kiev, including the airfields containing fancy, almost magical, new types of airplanes called "Jets". A large German-allied force including Bock's HQ is cut off in the Crimean peninsula.

Soviet Rocket units now have a strike range and attack value against all targets of 5. Finland surrenders, and we use the loot to purchase another Rocket unit.

UK air forces in Britain destroy a German Luftflotte unit in Holland, and hit the Ruhr district again, causing a total of 12MPPs in damage, and reducing the production of the Ruhr mines by 70%.

The US builds up a new HQ in the USA for use either to support the bombing effort or an invasion of Europe, but this is some ways off.

February 7, 1943

UK develops Heavy Tanks-2

German counterattacks recovered Bryansk temporarily and restored a supply line to Kharkov, but this effort was immediately destroyed by the Soviet riposte which for the first time involved two rocket units. The last remaining panzer group in Russia was destroyed.

The German front now consists of 7 infantry corps in the Minsk/Riga areas, and assorted HQs and Italians in the south.

The Allies will move on Sicily next turn. In England, the Malta air fleet is recalled from the Med, and the strategic bombing force now has two bombers and three fighter fleets. Ruhr hit again this turn.

I just noted that the Soviet Rockets also have a strategic attack of 5, this will be useful during periods of stalemate to hit targets such as ports and assist in the strategic attacks on the German economy.

March 21, 1943

Italy develops Jet Aircraft-5. However, with only 130MPPs in their pool and zero Industrial development, I'm sure it will be quite impossible to build any new airfleets. Meanwhile, the existing Italian airfleet in the Ukraine is destroyed.

Desperate German defenses in the Minsk area do not prevent the destruction of two more enemy units. The Germans simply cannot replace their losses. Enemy forces in the Crimea remain cut off and out of supply.

The Americans move on Sicily, it will be interesting to see the German response as they are truly under pressure on all fronts now. Bombers knocked 10 MPP out of the German economy.

April 18, 1943

US develops Jet Aircraft-2

US develops Long Range Aircraft-3

USSR develops Jet Aircraft-2

USSR develops Heavy Tanks-2

The American invasion of Sicily failed just by a hair to take Palermo, however Patton and the American air force remained in Algeria to continue to support the operation.

The Russian army approaches full strength for all units, and holds a line running from Odessa - Minsk - Riga. The Germans continue to lose about 2 corps per turn, while the Russian MPP pool continues to grow. This situation is in the long run a bad omen for the Germans.

The bomber offensive completely reduced the Reims and Ruhr mines, with very little loss. Its only a matter of a few turns now before the Americans are going to start contributing to that with new bomber fleets of their own under Eisenhower.

May 16, 1943

UK develops Industrial Tech-5

UK develops Anti-Tank Weapons-2

The Soviet offensive opens up on the Minsk front. Two German corps destroyed by ground, air and rocket attack. Minsk surrounded and reduced but holding out. Konev moves against Kiev directly but the Italians hold on. Chuikov works on the reduction of the Crimean pocket. The German navy puts in an appearance near Riga and sinks a Soviet ship, but the price paid is an air attack which nearly sinks the German.

The Americans destroy the Italian corps in Palermo but cannot as yet move in. An American army is sent to land in the Italian boot as a distraction while The Auch's forces prepare for landings near Rome.

June 12, 1943

Minsk has fallen to the Red Juggernaut. Every German corps along the lines north of Minsk is severly damaged if not destroyed. Kiev falls to Konev.

The American 4th Army snuck into Taranto under the noses of the Italian command! Auchinlek's 8th Army and support rapidly follow up with immediate entry into the port giving the allies a large force in southern Italy. As for Rome, I'd like the Americans to have the opportunity to take it, since they badly need the MPPs for a bomber force.

The British have the best allied fighters, but they lack the range to hit deep. The Americans have better range but lesser quality despite massive research efforts. Nevertheless, the hope is that the quality of the American bomber force will improve, giving the Allies the ability to hit deep into Germany.

June 27, 1943

Soviet troops arrive at the German border near Prussia. German fleet eliminated in the Baltic. Konev takes Odessa, two Rocket Units redeployed there to assist in the reduction of Romania, possibly using strategic attacks as well. Elsewhere Soviet troops approach Riga and Warsaw.

The British 8th Army and an American army move up to attack Rome but, as expected, defenses are tough. Patton should be arriving soon in some form.

[ October 23, 2002, 02:33 AM: Message edited by: dgaad ]

[JerseyJohn]

Incredible -- love the parts about Churchill and the Italians having Mirage Jets -- !

Looking forward to the exciting conclusion.

[Fubarno]

Must say, best AAR I have read. The dry humor quite funny. Looking forward to the next installment.

[mwenek]

I also enjoy reading this. Especially the first installments where the war's outcome was still in doubt. But, forgive me if I seem petty, but we know who is going to win now. Just like any other Human vs. AI game.

[Hubert Cater]

Good stuff!

[dgaad]

Part VI - Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

July 11, 1943

US develops Industrial Tech-5

UK develops Heavy Bombers-2

The Russians flood into the Balkans opposed only by a single Roumanian corps, taking some of the Ploesti Oil after hitting it with long range rocket attacks. All told, the entire German front against the Russians now consists of 6 depleted corps, and a Hungarian corps in Budapest. Unless the Germans are able to rebuild their front, at this point, it is only a matter of months, not years, before the Russians will overrun Germany.

The Allies march on Rome and destroy the Italian corps in the city, but lack the remaining movement to enter it. It remains an open question as to whether the Italians will be able to defend it next turn by moving additional forces down from the north of Italy.

Between Russian attacks on Ploesti and the increasingly large British bomber force, the Germans have lost over 20 MPPs, and total production is down by strategic attacks by about 10% now, a figure which is only going to increase as time goes on.

South and Central Europe, July, 1943

July 25, 1943

UK develops Long Range Aircraft-1

Allied planners now anticipate the war will be over by the end of 1943.

The Soviet Juggernaut has torn the German Eastern Front Wide open. Koenigsburg and Prussia have been overrun, two German corps destroyed. Soviet Armored forces exploit the gap and approach the Oder river, near Berlin. Warsaw has been encircled and reduced. A German HQ is all thats left of the encircled forces in the Crimea. A Soviet corps also approaches Prague.

The Americans have shattered the Italian front and taken Rome.

The most interesting and perhaps laughable thing to yet happen in the war : The German corps at Brest has embarked by sea transport, apparently heading for Gibraltar which was demilitarized by the British last year. The first American strategic bomber force was relocated to Gibraltar by emergency transport.

August 8, 1943

Allied command has received "peace feelers" from Germany through the embassy in Norway. We instructed our Counsel in Norway to file a sexual harassement suit against the Germans. Peace feelers, ha. Do you think I'm some floozy you just met in a bar?

Understandably, the Germans are quite nervous. Army Group north has been decimated and cut off in Riga. A massive Soviet attack force lines up on the Oder. Encircled Warsaw falls to heavy Soviet attacks. The Roumanians continue to hold in Bucharest, but that is simply a question of time now.

The surrender of Italy with their "Jet Engines-5" and all that, gives the Americans an enormous injection of the highly controlled substance known as MPPs, which will naturally be used to build up the bomber force and prepare for an invasion of Northwest Europe -- an invasion which appears to be increasingly unnecessary.

A British tank force entered the port in Albania and was received as liberator. It immediately moved into Yugoslavia to threaten German occupation of that country.

August 22, 1943

Riga falls to Soviet troops. The last tiny bits of German troops in the Crimea learn the meaning of "medieval". The Germans launch a counter-attack along the Oder in a last ditch attempt to stave off the inevitable, and succeed in reducing a Soviet Corps. That's okay, we got more.

Along the Oder Front, massive Soviet forces continue to gather for the final assault on Berlin. The main problem at the moment is getting an HQ unit there, as the troops are far from their start points only a few months ago (Minsk). However, Soviet tank armies manage to manuver across the oder and attack German rear area units outside of Hamburg. Something that would have been a great event only a few months ago barely gets mention in Isvestia; Roumania has fallen to the Red Army under Zhukov.

The Allies desperately try to piece together an invasion force in the hopes of establishing a presence on the Continent before total German collapse. New Bradley and Montgomery HQs are constructed while at long last the American bomber forces move into position to join the bombing offensive which is now running out of targets. The entire Ruhr and Rheims mining and factory areas are totally destroyed, which knocks something on the order of 50 points out of the German MPP *production* not to mention the incidental damage caused in the bombing itself.

September 5, 1943

Berlin continues to hold out, but is now endanger of strategic encirclement from Soviet forces to the north and south of it. German production is now below 200 MPPs per turn, from a high in 1942 of around 480.

The Allies still are not in a position to invade, the collapse of Germany has happened too quickly. Patton's troops take Turin and head for Vichy.

October 1943

Soviet troops capture Berlin and Prague. Leading Soviet armored forces reach the Rhine. This is really the end for Germany. They have very little left of their forces, and with the bombing campaign and the loss of the Ploesti oilfields, no way to really rebuild anything.

The Allies move to the beach for an emergency Landing, Operation Ralph, to establish a foothold in Europe amidst German collapse. We can't have the Soviets overrunning France. They simply have no appreciation for good pate or quiesh, or lightbulbs.

November 14, 1943

Allied troops manage to land in Holland and take Antwerp, while the Americans land in the Brittany peninsula but fail to actually occupy Brest. Patton's forces overrun Vichy and head north, thus providing a basis for the Allied takeover of France.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your political view of the postwar world, Germany surrenders.

Comment :

The Mod does permit a greater involvement of the Allies proportionately. Its difficult to evaluate the impact of the mod on the situation that developed on the Eastern Front.

I've decided to make some more changes to the Mod, which is now being renamed to the Historicity mod.

The new version of the Mod should allow greater potential for German strategic warfare which would have a more limiting effect on the Commonwealth in the Atlantic. It should also give greater power to the Commonwealth in the Med, and make it more of a battle there, particularly in PBEM / TCP/IP games.

I do think the AI is too aggressive in the later portions of the game, wasting itself on fruitless attacks rather than selecting good defensive positions and entrenching. If there is any one thing I can point to for the Eastern Front collapse, it would be that.

[ October 24, 2002, 02:56 AM: Message edited by: dgaad ]

[JerseyJohn]

A Great Soviet Triumph after much suffering with some belated assitance from the West!

[JerseyJohn]

Continueing from dggads thought -- maybe have Wavel start in Eygypt with a tank unit and the corps at Alexandria facing Balbo in Libya with the army astride Tobruck and a corps occupying it. I tried customizing a scenario with those changes and when the computer had the allies it always attempted to ship Wavel and the tank through the Med and presumably on to England. They were lost at sea, however, because the computer chose not to escort them; the carrier and other ships remained at Alexandria!

[dgaad]

Originally posted by JerseyJohn:

Continueing from dggads thought -- maybe have Wavel start in Eygypt with a tank unit and the corps at Alexandria facing Balbo in Libya with the army astride Tobruck and a corps occupying it. I tried customizing a scenario with those changes and when the computer had the allies it always attempted to ship Wavel and the tank through the Med and presumably on to England. They were lost at sea, however, because the computer chose not to escort them; the carrier and other ships remained at Alexandria!

Unfortunately I don't have a high degree of control over AI behavior. The mod is primarily directed at ALLIED help in AI games, and BALANCE for PBEM games.

In PBEM games, the addition of the tank / wavell group to Africa means the Axis will have a constant drain on resources from the Med if the CW player is aggressive down there. This should balance out the airpower express of the Germans in 1941/42

[JerseyJohn]

Posted that one before I knew about your MOD -- have since downloaded it and started a game as the allies.

I like the way you set the English up in North Africa. Using the Fog option I couldn't see what you did in Libya, presumably you can't activate countries that aren't in the war so it's the original dispositions.

Also, I haven't read most of the changes as I want to play a game against the AI as each side before knowing the details.

It seems best to set the U.S. on historical as Britain should invade both Vichy France and Iraq, as you demonstrated, to boost production. With the U.S. in historical mode Iraq can be burglarized without having to forge pro-axis documents -- you have me wondering if that wasn't what really happened!

Anyhow, what I see so far looks terrific -- the BEF at Manchester is also a good addition.

Having weak units in Egypt covers the point very well -- as you say on the other site, it will take time and MPPs for the Allied player to build the Western Desert Force to the formidable Eighth Army -- only the English could see Egypt as "the Western Desert!"

When I attempted to put Wavell in Egypt, I placed him adjacent to the Alexandria harbor, which might be why he was always transporting himself back to England.

I'm wondering if Wavell would still transport from Eygypt if there's an HQ in England as well -- I'll try it and let you know. I don't think that's making them too strong, the Homeland HQ would be Auchinleck, and he'd provide some protection against an early Sea Lion.

[ October 26, 2002, 03:24 AM: Message edited by: JerseyJohn ]