Metolius (Axis) vs Morris (Allies) (Morris Welcome!)
Moderators: Happycat, rkr1958, Slitherine Core
27-Feb-1944
The Russians push north and have now invested Berlin from the south. The Germans have established a defensive line between Berlin and Hamburg, and strong reinforcements are backing the Berlin fortress. Manstein is in command there. The SS units in the line should provide some opportunities for counter attack. Meanwhile, the Luftwaffle is holding its own in the skies over northern Germany, even in the winter months. Good thing the Reich still has plenty of PPs!
The Russians push north and have now invested Berlin from the south. The Germans have established a defensive line between Berlin and Hamburg, and strong reinforcements are backing the Berlin fortress. Manstein is in command there. The SS units in the line should provide some opportunities for counter attack. Meanwhile, the Luftwaffle is holding its own in the skies over northern Germany, even in the winter months. Good thing the Reich still has plenty of PPs!
7-April-1944
Iberian Peninsula
Madrid Falls! The Axis (mostly Italians) retain garrisons in various cities to slow the Allies advance, but the bulk of Spain is now in Allied hands. Portugal (at least Lisbon) remains firmly Axis, and the Allies seem to have no interest in capturing it:
Middle East
The Allies have reopened their communications with Basra, but that has given the Axis a little time to counter-attack in Egypt. The idea is to keep the Allies out of the Mediterranean for as long as possible, to forestall the loss of Italy.
Northern Europe
While obviously grim, the Axis are holding the Russians around Berlin for now. The combination of bad weather, rivers, forts, SS units, defensive generals, technology and (marginal) Axis air superiority are making things hard there. The Romanian oil fields are still in Axis hands, although at this point, the Axis have enough oil for the rest of the war in any scenario. The Russians are menacing Italy through the Alps. I should have move a corps or two into the mountain region before the Russians got there, but I missed that trick. The Italians are no match for the Russian infantry, and Italy could be out of the war soon.
Atlantic
One other note -- the Kriegsmarine has pretty much swept the Atlantic of Allied forces, and so we feel pretty safe from assault on the coast of France or the UK for now. Now that Spain is occupied, there may be some openings, however. Oddly, there hardly EVER seem to be any convoys to Russia. On one hand, that means the Russians aren't getting any materiel, but it does seem strange. Morris, what is up with this? Did you get any convoys in the 2nd half of the war?!
Iberian Peninsula
Madrid Falls! The Axis (mostly Italians) retain garrisons in various cities to slow the Allies advance, but the bulk of Spain is now in Allied hands. Portugal (at least Lisbon) remains firmly Axis, and the Allies seem to have no interest in capturing it:
Middle East
The Allies have reopened their communications with Basra, but that has given the Axis a little time to counter-attack in Egypt. The idea is to keep the Allies out of the Mediterranean for as long as possible, to forestall the loss of Italy.
Northern Europe
While obviously grim, the Axis are holding the Russians around Berlin for now. The combination of bad weather, rivers, forts, SS units, defensive generals, technology and (marginal) Axis air superiority are making things hard there. The Romanian oil fields are still in Axis hands, although at this point, the Axis have enough oil for the rest of the war in any scenario. The Russians are menacing Italy through the Alps. I should have move a corps or two into the mountain region before the Russians got there, but I missed that trick. The Italians are no match for the Russian infantry, and Italy could be out of the war soon.
Atlantic
One other note -- the Kriegsmarine has pretty much swept the Atlantic of Allied forces, and so we feel pretty safe from assault on the coast of France or the UK for now. Now that Spain is occupied, there may be some openings, however. Oddly, there hardly EVER seem to be any convoys to Russia. On one hand, that means the Russians aren't getting any materiel, but it does seem strange. Morris, what is up with this? Did you get any convoys in the 2nd half of the war?!
27-April-1944
In the Atlantic, the Kriegsmarine demonstrates that it is still a potent weapon, even with minimal repairs.
The Axis breakup an Allied effort to convoy fresh forces to Europe:
In this war, the Axis spent a lot on naval forces, and we've been able to hammer the Allies in several large engagements, with the result that the door to Western Europe has remained closed. It probably can't hold up much longer, but with only a little over a year to go, we may be OK on this side.
In the Atlantic, the Kriegsmarine demonstrates that it is still a potent weapon, even with minimal repairs.
The Axis breakup an Allied effort to convoy fresh forces to Europe:
In this war, the Axis spent a lot on naval forces, and we've been able to hammer the Allies in several large engagements, with the result that the door to Western Europe has remained closed. It probably can't hold up much longer, but with only a little over a year to go, we may be OK on this side.
17-May-1944
Neutral Norway celebrates its National Holiday today, glad that it was able to stay out of this war.
Meanwhile, the pestilent Russians swarm across Germany, until they reach the Siegfried Line, where German units guard France and the Low Countries:
The line around Berlin and Hamburg holds for now, with great air support. It looks like the Allies may try to bring air units up from Spain to support the Russians, as the Luftwaffe is causing the Red Air Forces a great deal of pain.
Neutral Norway celebrates its National Holiday today, glad that it was able to stay out of this war.
Meanwhile, the pestilent Russians swarm across Germany, until they reach the Siegfried Line, where German units guard France and the Low Countries:
The line around Berlin and Hamburg holds for now, with great air support. It looks like the Allies may try to bring air units up from Spain to support the Russians, as the Luftwaffe is causing the Red Air Forces a great deal of pain.
5-August-1944
Russian efforts to cut off Berlin have been countered by heroic efforts of assault troops. The city may still hold out a few turns, and will be defended street by street.
The Germans are finally withdrawing from the UK, and partisans are popping up all over the place there.
The Soviet wedge is pushing hard into Italy. Venice is out, and Tunis fell by surprise attack, so the Italians are close to bowing out.
Meanwhile, the Romanians and Bulgarians, together with a few remaining German corps, have gone on the offensive and threaten Odessa.
Russian efforts to cut off Berlin have been countered by heroic efforts of assault troops. The city may still hold out a few turns, and will be defended street by street.
The Germans are finally withdrawing from the UK, and partisans are popping up all over the place there.
The Soviet wedge is pushing hard into Italy. Venice is out, and Tunis fell by surprise attack, so the Italians are close to bowing out.
Meanwhile, the Romanians and Bulgarians, together with a few remaining German corps, have gone on the offensive and threaten Odessa.
25-August-2012
OK, ok. 1944.
A surprise attack on the North America!
A couple of corps of infantry have been transported across from the UK and dropped on the Canadian shore.
Obviously, this is a nuisance attack, but I'm hoping that it keeps the US and UK just busy enough that they are not able to bring their forces to bear on the continent before next spring.
OK, ok. 1944.
A surprise attack on the North America!
A couple of corps of infantry have been transported across from the UK and dropped on the Canadian shore.
Obviously, this is a nuisance attack, but I'm hoping that it keeps the US and UK just busy enough that they are not able to bring their forces to bear on the continent before next spring.
Last edited by metolius on Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
What a mess. Nothing makes sense here. I mean, the Germans are in Africa, in the UK and near the American shores, while their country is being overrun. They hold East Prussia (which is not even isolated), Estonia and important cities in Poland, but Berlin and Hamburg are under siege. The Axis has recently even started an offensive in Romania and have troops in Spain!
Again, what a mess...
Again, what a mess...
Last edited by Cybvep on Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Cybvep wrote:What a mess. Nothing makes sense here. I mean, the Germans are in Africa, in the UK and near the American shores, while their country is being overrun. They hold East Prussia (which is not even isolated), Estonia and important cities in Poland, but Berlin and Hamburg are under siege. The Axis has recently even started an offensive in Romania and have troops in Spain!
Again, what a mess...
Exactly! The point of here is to keep the enemy off balance and try to find his weaknesses. Morris has been excellent at hammering more 'traditional' approaches, so I've opted for a lot of variations.
The 'Sealion-before-fall-of-Paris' option was probably crazy... but the war isn't over yet!
Re: Metolius (Axis) vs Morris (Allies) (Morris Welcome!)
1-Feb-1945
The end is really, really close now. The Axis still hold Rome and Hamburg, but the Russians now have Allied air units in position. Even these aren't up to the Luftwaffe standard, but there are simply too many of them to resist.
The Wehrmacht keeps hitting back, but each counter-attack inevitably results in the destruction of the attacking unit in the next turn.
Meanwhile, the Russians are trying to finish off Finland and Romania, and England and France are almost entirely in the hands of partisans, although the Axis still hold Paris and London.
The end is really, really close now. The Axis still hold Rome and Hamburg, but the Russians now have Allied air units in position. Even these aren't up to the Luftwaffe standard, but there are simply too many of them to resist.
The Wehrmacht keeps hitting back, but each counter-attack inevitably results in the destruction of the attacking unit in the next turn.
Meanwhile, the Russians are trying to finish off Finland and Romania, and England and France are almost entirely in the hands of partisans, although the Axis still hold Paris and London.
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Re: Metolius (Axis) vs Morris (Allies) (Morris Welcome!)
This game is going to get close. The Axis can still win if Hamburg can hold to the end. So the Russians need to deplete all units they can around Hamburg despite the cost and rail fresh units to the area to go for the kill.
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Re: Metolius (Axis) vs Morris (Allies) (Morris Welcome!)
If I were the Allied player, I might think about resting a turn with the Russians and repairing key units, especially the air units. The Germans won't gain much from a turn off, but the Soviets will.
Re: Metolius (Axis) vs Morris (Allies) (Morris Welcome!)
I did exactly what you said .joerock22 wrote:If I were the Allied player, I might think about resting a turn with the Russians and repairing key units, especially the air units. The Germans won't gain much from a turn off, but the Soviets will.
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Re: Metolius (Axis) vs Morris (Allies) (Morris Welcome!)
The Allies only need Hamburg to win the game. Then all German controlled hexes will become Allied. So the Allies can focus their air force on clearing the hexes around Hamburg for an assault there.
So Allied air units in Italy and UK/France can rebase so they get within range of the units near Hamburg. If all Axis units near Hamburg are hit with 2 airstrikes each every turn then they should fall to land assaults. I would have cleared the south bank of the Elbe to deny the Germans a chance to place new reinforcements. If you get 4 units on Hamburg then a direct assault can succeed.
It's important to hit Hamburg with 2 airstrikes every turn to drop the entrenchment down to 1. That means land attacks will have a better chance to inflict losses. If you let Hamburg get to entrenchment level 8 then it will take long to finish off the defender there.
A good idea could also be to make amphibious landings in southern Denmark to directly attack the Axis air units there. Once the Me262's are dealt with the Allied air units should have an easier life. A paradrop in Denmark can also do the trick
So Allied air units in Italy and UK/France can rebase so they get within range of the units near Hamburg. If all Axis units near Hamburg are hit with 2 airstrikes each every turn then they should fall to land assaults. I would have cleared the south bank of the Elbe to deny the Germans a chance to place new reinforcements. If you get 4 units on Hamburg then a direct assault can succeed.
It's important to hit Hamburg with 2 airstrikes every turn to drop the entrenchment down to 1. That means land attacks will have a better chance to inflict losses. If you let Hamburg get to entrenchment level 8 then it will take long to finish off the defender there.
A good idea could also be to make amphibious landings in southern Denmark to directly attack the Axis air units there. Once the Me262's are dealt with the Allied air units should have an easier life. A paradrop in Denmark can also do the trick