Oak Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 June 13, 1943 In the east ... Russian air attack the rocket in the Balkans again, but this time the attack is intercepted by Italian air. Russian bombers attack the sub in Stockholm port and the attack is intercepted by a German air next to Oslo. Russian air escorts and the remaining Russian air/bombers kill the sub. Things learned from this attack: Germany is at jet level 4 now and both the German air are now in Norway. 4 Russian corps unload in Sweden (3 in the south and 1 in the north). The one in the north moves to the eastern mine. The 3 in the south attack a German army southwest of Stockholm, killing it. In the west ... knowing that both air are at Oslo, the UK navy moves away from Bergen where the US 2nd army is entrenching. Antwerp is bombed and the last, remaining Spanish army attacks the Kesselring HQ that moved into Madrid, knocking 1 off the HQ. This will almost certainly be the last act of the valiant Spanish forces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka of Carthage Posted August 22, 2003 Author Share Posted August 22, 2003 June 20, 1943 Luft announces that it has put into production the Me-262 Fighter/Bomber. Designed as a multi-role aircraft, it will replace the functions of the Bf-109, Fw-190 and Ju-87. Its almost immiediatly put to use by AG Nordic. AG Nordic reports that the 9th Army (Ge) no longer exists. Due to the sacrifice of the valiant U-boats in Stockholm port, the port was able to remain open, allowing the 20th Army (Ge) to disembark north of Stockholm and engage the Russians occupying some of the mines. 12th Army, moving in from Norway, engages the Russians southwest of Stockholm. Army Group Southwest takes surrender of the last Spanish forces on the continent. Spain has fallen. Gibralter is assaulted, but holds. Italian submarine pack sinks British merchant ships in the Med (5 MPPs). Turkey has been given its last warning. The next notice will be by force of arms. The strategic importance of Turkey, in that it gives the Axis a port in the Black Sea (?), threatens the soft underbelly of Russia, forcing them to commit troops to a possible amphib invasion along the lengthy coastline. The mountainious terrain of Turkey provides a natural barrier preventing the Russians from exploiting the new front. [ August 22, 2003, 07:13 AM: Message edited by: Shaka of Carthage ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 June 27 In the east ... Russian air attacks the rocket again and is intercepted by Italian air again. The port of Stockholm is bombed, with Russian air escorting to deal with interception by German air. The other 2 bombers attack a German sub lurking near the Swedish coast, but the sub dives to avoid one of the attacks. The Russian corps at the Swedish mine attacks the German army next to it, but it is the Russian unit that takes damage. Another Russian corps dashes towards Norway, finding a previously unseen German corps, army and Boch HQ. The other 2 Russian corps attack the German corps in Stockholm, inflicting little damage to the corps in Stockholm but taking hits of 2-3 themselves. And, Gibraltar is abandoned by the Allies. The Free French corps hops onto transports and heads west. The Free French air in Malta attacks the vacant Tripolitania, knocking it from 5 to 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka of Carthage Posted August 23, 2003 Author Share Posted August 23, 2003 July 4, 1943 Army Group Nordic reports that the four (4) Russian Armies have been reduced to strengths of 4, 2, 1 and 5 in return for light losses. Gibralter is abandoned by the French mercenaries. The Mediterrian is now closed to the Allies. The French mercs on Malta strike at the innocent civilians of Tripoli. We suggest they fly away to IndoChina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted August 23, 2003 Share Posted August 23, 2003 July 11 First, a preamble. I expect this move will further stoke the debate about carriers and their role as floating fighter platforms. Between the last turn and this one I did some thinking and realized that a) the Allied invasion of Scandinavia was faltering because the Axis can easily reinforce through Oslo and the German air in Norway was preventing the Russian bombers from being fully effective, and I was not applying the earlier lessons learned about the vulnerability of air fleets. So, I did some more thinking and then ... The German air in Oslo had been intercepted last turn and should be weak, so a UK carrier moved close to southern Norway (to a spot that the UK bomber determined was safe from the German fleet) and attacked the air in Oslo. The Oslo air was not killed, as hoped for, but the air next to Oslo intercepted the attack and perished. The German cruiser was spotted by the carrier next to Oslo port, and another carrier moved in to attack the cruiser (hoping for a fatal interception by the Oslo air fleet). However, the air did not intercept. Knowing that the Oslo air was now very weak, the 3rd carrier moved in to attack it and finished it off. Both German air in Norway were killed. Battleships then moved in to finish off the cruiser and set up a screen. With German air in Norway no longer a threat, Russian bombers then attacked the Bock HQ. A nearby Russian corps also attacked Bock, taking him down to half strength. The Russian cruiser attacked Stockholm port, ensuring that it cannot be used by the Axis. Access to Norway/Sweden has been cut by the Allies and domination of the skies in that region assured. The Scandinavia campaign is back on track. Germany is now down to one freshly build air lurking somewhere other than Norway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka of Carthage Posted August 23, 2003 Author Share Posted August 23, 2003 July 18, 1943 Army Group Nordic reports two (2) Russian Armies remain, reduced to one (1) strenght each. Two (2) Luft units have been shattered by Allied CVBGs and a OKM CABG destroyed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted August 23, 2003 Share Posted August 23, 2003 July 25 Things aren't going well for the Russians in their attack on Sweden, but things are going much better for the US in their attack on Norway. In the east ... Russian air and bombers attack assorted Axis targets in Sweden, causing only slight damage (down 1) to the Bock HQ. The Russian cruiser bombards Stockholm, without any effect. Down in the Black Sea theater, Russian air attacks the German rocket, again, and is intercepted by Italian air. Russian transports start appearing near Sweden's east coast. It is also worth noting that the German front line is starting to slowly move and creep towards the Russian line to the east. In the west ... a German army moves west of Oslo to defend the capital from the Americans. It is then attacked by the 3 carriers and a US air now stationed near Bergen. Heavily damaged, the German army is then killed off by the US 2nd army moving east. Nothing stands between the US army and Oslo, although that will certainly change during the Axis turn. Antwerp is bombed back down to 0 by the UK bomber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka of Carthage Posted August 23, 2003 Author Share Posted August 23, 2003 August 1, 1943 Using midget submarines, borrowed from an Italian design, a penal group of the OKM has launched an attack on a UK BBBG, screening the UK CVBGs. With four (4) bars of experience, the midget subs are almost wiped out (loss 7 str), while inflicting 1 str point of damage. Army Group Nordic reports that the 21st Army (Ge) has been shattered by the UK naval air and US air. The last of the Russian invaders have been captured, though it appears a few more are ready to land. Army Group Center probes the Russian defenses in and around the Pripet Marshes. Army Group South launches a successful rocket attack against Odessa. While there may be terror in the streets, AG South bomb damage assesemtents are inconclusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted August 23, 2003 Share Posted August 23, 2003 August 8 In the east ... German air attacks a Russian HQ and is intercepted. (Note: Germany now has 2 air) The Bock HQ in Sweden moves inland, but is still bombed. More Russian transports appear next to Sweden, but none unload ... yet. The German corp in Stockholm is bombarded. The commander of the Russian corps at the far west of the marshes suddenly realizes that his troops are in poor supply and moves them north. In the west ... the German sub is sunk, although it dives once. The Rodney battleship is now at 4 bars of experience. The German corps in northern Denmark that served as lookout for the sub is attacked by UK air and bomber near London. An Italian corps that moved to the Norwegian mine is attacked by the 3 carriers and 2 US air in western Norway, but the corps survives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka of Carthage Posted August 23, 2003 Author Share Posted August 23, 2003 August 15, 1943 Army Group Nordic reports that the 15th Army (Ge) has successfully run the Stockholm blockade and has arrived safely in Sweden. Waffen SS Corps has engaged an American Army in the Norway mountains. Army Group Central and South have advanced into contact with the Russian defensive line, stacked with Shock Armies, with Luft flying support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted August 23, 2003 Share Posted August 23, 2003 August 22 In the east ... the Russian bomb and bombard Stockholm port out of commission. The army that newly arrived in Stockholm is bombed down to 6. Russian transports continue to wait off the Swedish coast. The Russians reinforce their line while inflicting damage on the German line (2 German armies knocked down to 2). The USSR is at anti-tank level 4, giving their troops an advantage even over more experienced troops. In the west ... a UK battleship bombards the Oslo port but, strangely, the only result is a hit to the battleship. The German corps in Oslo moved out to engage US troops and was replaced by a German army. The German corps is then killed and the nearby Italian corps knocked down to 7. A German sub is spotted next to Brest port and an Italian sub in Brest port by UK air. The UK air attacks the German sub, but the sub dives. The UK bomber then scores a hit on the sub. And, UK transports begin appearing along the northern coast of Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka of Carthage Posted August 23, 2003 Author Share Posted August 23, 2003 The USSR is at anti-tank level 4, giving their troops an advantage even over more experienced troops. You would think this is a true statement, but its not. I haven't looked at my turn yet, so I'll just deal in generalities (?). Anti-tank tech increases your Tank Attack and Tank Defense factors. There are no tech advances that increase your Soft attack or defense factors. That means a Army with Anti-Tank Level 4 vs an Army with Anti-Tank Level 0 have exactly the same soft factors, and those are the factors used for "infantry" combat. Its different when Panzers are involved. You do get a strength point increase because of the tech advance. It allows you to take more damage, but it has very little effect in the attack. If anyone is interested, I can post the combat factor numbers again. As part of the debate about the effectivness of Panzers and combat in general, a couple of people actually sat down and figured it out. Thats why most experienced players don't bother investing in Heavy Tank nor do they worry much about increasing strength points over 10 (unless the unit is suppossed to be a punching bag). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted August 23, 2003 Share Posted August 23, 2003 All I know is that the inexperienced Russian armies with poorer HQ support took less damage than they gave when attacking experienced German armies next to them with strong HQ support. If tech wasn't a factor, then I have no idea why the Russian armies performed so well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka of Carthage Posted August 23, 2003 Author Share Posted August 23, 2003 I looked at the ground combat. One did 4 str damage, it was lucky. The others did 2 to 3 str damage, which is average, a little better than average. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka of Carthage Posted August 23, 2003 Author Share Posted August 23, 2003 August 29, 1943 Army Group Nordic reports that the Waffen SS Corps has been shattered by Allied air strikes. 2nd Army (US) has been reduced to 6 str. Army Group Central and South receive replacements, while mounting a limited attack on a hinge in the Russian line. Hinge was reduced to 3 str. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted August 24, 2003 Share Posted August 24, 2003 September 5 In the east ... Russian line is reinforced. I made the mistake of having a single line of armies in the south that the Germans tried to break. That single line is now a double line. No attacks in Sweden although Stockholm is bombarded (no effect) and transports remain off the coast. In the west ... the Italian corps sitting on the mine in Norway is killed by carrier and US air and the mine taken by the US. A UK transport appears southeast of Oslo, and Brussels is bombarded. Bombing of Antwerp has stopped. The Axis subs disappear, heading towards Bordeaux. Still, Allied forces diligently patrol the Atlantic for subs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka of Carthage Posted August 24, 2003 Author Share Posted August 24, 2003 September 19, 1943 Army Group Nordic reports that the Albanian Corps (Itl) has been shattered by Allied naval and ground air strikes. The "Offensive" of 1943 has come to an end. Unable to make any impression upon the Russian defensive line, AG Center and AG South have both withdrawn. German High Command is extremly concerned. Both Eastern Offensives have been complete failures. The Russians are armed with anti-tank weapons that have made the Panzertruppen ineffective. Perhaps there can be some relief provided by the Atomic Energy program? Meanwhile, the anti-air missile program, known as Redeye, is being accelerated to counter the F-84 aircraft of the Allies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted August 24, 2003 Share Posted August 24, 2003 October 3 A lot of very interesting things happening, with the Axis again pulling completely away from the Russian front and moving its air and rockets westward. In the east ... the Russian line moves cautiously forward. 2 Russian air attacks a German army in the north, with only one interception by German air in Berlin. Russian bombers, now stationed in Finland, attack the Bock HQ in Sweden. The Russian cruiser moves away from Stockholm. In the west ... Italian air and the German rocket division are seen approaching the Low Countries. So, the UK air in London pulls back. The Denmark corps moves to the top of Denmark again, apparently to try to spot the UK fleet. With a view to gaining some easy experience, one of the US air in Norway attacks the corps ... and is surprised to see an interception by German air in Hamburg. The Courageous carrier moves to attack a German army moving from Sweden to Norway ... and the Allies are surprised with another interception by German air in Copenhagen. The other 2 carriers move in to attack and kill the rather exposed German air in Copenhagen. Germany is back down to 2 air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted August 24, 2003 Share Posted August 24, 2003 Against my better judgement, I'm providing some additional comment that may well help my opponent but I think is worth stating. I really was surprised by Shaka's decision to move his German air towards the UK/Scandinavian theatre and away from the Russian front. The USSR has 3 air at jet tech 3, giving the German air a slight advantage with its level 4 jet tech and a numerical advantage once they reach their limit of 4 (adding the Italian air increases the numerical advantage even further). In contrast, the UK/USA have 4 air and 3 carriers at level 4, making the Germans even in terms of tech but very much outnumbered even at their limit of 4 (and even with the Italian air included as well). I may well be that the Axis has set a clever trap for the Allies. We will find out soon enough. But, it seems to me that moving so close to the UK/US air + carriers was a mistake (and with all the gains being made in long-range tech, one can be far away and still be 'too close'). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka of Carthage Posted August 24, 2003 Author Share Posted August 24, 2003 October 17, 1943 Army Group Nordic moves the 12th and 20th Armies against an American Army and break it. UK Carrier "wolfpack" is running amok in the Baltic and there isn't much Germany can do to stop it. (I am in some sort of Iraqi version of hell right now, watching the carriers pick my units off one by one) [ August 24, 2003, 06:02 AM: Message edited by: Shaka of Carthage ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted August 24, 2003 Share Posted August 24, 2003 October 31 In the east ... Stockholm port is bombarded -- to keep it out of commission -- and the Bock HQ is bombed. More transports appear on the Swedish coast, but no landings. Last turn the Russian leadership was alarmed to see a 2nd panzer appear at the Iraq/USSR/Turkey border. The USSR responded this turn by attacking the Rudstedt HQ in Iraq by air and moving up a Russian tank to back up the 2 corps currently guarding the border. In the west ... the UK bombs Antwerp, with UK air escorting and German air intercepting (still in Hamburg). The German armies in Norway was so successful in killing the US 2nd army because the US had 2 air, 2 corps and 2 armies. With only 1 HQ, one of the US units lacked HQ support. Unfortunately, it was the one closest to the Germans. In revenge, the German armies in Norway are attacked by the US 4th army, 1 US air and the 3 carriers. 1 German army is killed and the other knocked down to 3. The Axis now have 4 units in Norway/Sweden: the Bock HQ, a corps in Stockholm, an army in Oslo and the army at str 3 west of Oslo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka of Carthage Posted August 25, 2003 Author Share Posted August 25, 2003 November 14, 1943 Army Group Nordic reports another unit, the 20th Army (Ge), has been destroyed by Allied Air and ground strikes. AG Nordic refuses to reinforce the weakened units, since they will only be eliminated next turn by Allied Air. Norway is projected to fall before the end of the year. The Russians may take Sweden as well, once they decide to land. All other Army Groups are quiet, except AG Afrika which continues its border clashes in the mountains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted August 25, 2003 Share Posted August 25, 2003 November 28, 1943 In the east ... no action on the Iraq border or in the center, except for the Black Sea cruiser approaching the Bulgaria coast. In the north, the USSR invades Sweden (again). The lone corps in Stockholm is first attacked by 4 bombers in Finland, eliminating entrenchment. Then, 4 corps unload and attack Stockholm while surrounding it. The cruiser also bombards Stockholm. The German corps in Stockholm is knocked down to 3, and is surrounded. In the west ... Italian air moves into Denmark. Apparently, the Italian pilots have a death wish. However, the 3 carriers move away rather than take on the Italian air. 2 US corps, 1 US air and the US 4th army destroy the German army northwest of Oslo. The UK again bombs Antwerp, with the usual UK air escort and German air interception. Partisans appear in Yugoslavia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaka of Carthage Posted August 25, 2003 Author Share Posted August 25, 2003 December 12, 1943 Army Group Nordic loses another army, the 12th Army (Ge). X Volksgrndr Corps unloads in Oslo port and engages an American Corps. RAID eliminates a new Yugo Partisan faction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted August 25, 2003 Share Posted August 25, 2003 January 9, 1944 Things are heating up in the north. Seems like the Axis are betting the farm on keeping the Axis from taking Norway. In the east ... Sweden is liberated! Stockholm is attacked by the surrounding Russian corps, and also bombed and bombarded. The corps in Stockholm is destroyed, a Russian corps moves in and Sweden is liberated. Russian air attack the Kleist HQ next to Warsaw, with an interception by the German air in Berlin. A 2nd air strike on Kleist is not intercepted. No action on the Iraq border and the Russian cruiser moves away from the Bulgarian coast. In the west ... the German rocket moves within range of London and is bombed. UK air escorts while German air (in Hamburg) intercepts. US air in Norway attacks the recently arrived German corps, and is intercepted by an Italian air that has moved to the tip of Denmark. Again, the Allies are surprised by the suicidal tendencies of the Axis air. The recently arrived German corps in Norway is killed by US troops with assistance from a UK carrier. Another carrier then attacks the Italian air, with that attack intercepted by an Italian air in Copenhagen. A battleship bombards the Italian air at the tip of Denmark with no effect (which is a pity because the Italian air was down to 1). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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