Schnurri (axis) vs Victor (allies)

[leridano]

Turn 1. September 1, 1939

This will be by third AAR. I will be playing as allies this time. It will be played with the new large counters at zoom level 1, using zoom level 3 if necessary. As you know, it has been included combat values in large counters at zoom level 3 that can be really useful for better planning offensive actions but they also can help in defensive actions. So first of all some explanations about the new large counters values: as can you see in the image below the arrows show the values of the counter (Armia Krakow in the example) that correspond with the values showed in the unit window. So the 4-3-1 values (white) showed in the center of the counter just below the type of the unit symbol correspond respectively with the ground attack, ground defense and shock factor values showed in the unit window. And the value (light green) showed in the up right corner of the counter correspond with the survivability value. Yelow number at the left shows the current entrenchment level.

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This is for land units. I will continue with naval and air units large counters description.

Back to the game. It is september 1, 1939 in Europe and Germany has just invaded Poland without a previous declaration of war. Danzig was occupied and a strong german army advances to Warsaw. Doug has launched a really overwhelming armoured punch against the polish capital that was attacked in this very first turn and it was reduced to 5 steps. There´s not much that the polish can do but to launch local counterattacks with minor consequences.

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France and UK have declared war on Germany. Auchinleck has took command of the british forces in UK. Gamelin and Billote (bought this turn) will be in charge of the french forces. 1st air british lab bought (focussed in dog fight).

[leridano]

Turn 2. September 21, 1939. Poland and Denmark surrender to Germany.

As expected, Warsaw defenders offered almost no resistance and Poland surrenders to Germany this turn. The invasion and conquest of Denmark by Germany in turn 2 was a less expected event since this could mean that Schnurri probably won´t launch Weserbung. This is how Europe 1939 map looks now:

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French and british armies are really busy in their respective military preparedness and the first BEF troops have landed in northern France ports. Morale amongst the allied troops is high. In the following turns I will show what will be the allied strategy to face a possible invasion of the Low Countries.

[leridano]

Turn 5. November 20, 1939. Germany invades Low Countries!

Two turns of bad weather made the Allied High Command think that seemingly no military operations would take place in Western Europe at least until spring 1940. Germans got fair weather in november and attacked Belgium and Holland this turn. Both countries surrender to Germany. Belgian army offered some resistance to panzers causing them some damage (a panzerkops was reduced to 6 steps). Anyway, the BEF completed its deployment and it is now ready.

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French High Command reacts inmediately to this and ordered its troops to execute Plan E, that is, to advance and to occupy west bank of Schelde river. Plan E was one of the two options that the allies had in WW2 in case of a german invasion of Belgium. "E" is for Escaut river, french name of Schelde river. The other option was Plan D also called Dyle Plan: to advance to Dyle river. Plan E was simpler and less risky than Plan D although Plan D, if succesful, would provide shorter lines to hold and deeper organized defense. Plan D was more risky because it would take more days to be executed. Furthermore, with Plan D, the troops would find more refugees fleeing and it would be needed that the belgian army engage the germans in forward positions to win time.

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Canadian troops are ordered to inmediately embark to Europe.

[leridano]

Turn 6. December 10, 1939

Germans launched some attacks this winter weather turn but without achieving to destroy any unit. Not even a retreat was forced. French defensive plans work by now. Attacked units were 2 french garrisons (XVIe CA in Schelde front and XXIIIe CA in Lorraine)

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France is recruiting more and more troops which go directly to the front so new reinforcements are arriving constantly. Furthermore, redeployments of the troops are made to gain the best defensive positions. Below is the situation of the front at the end of allied turn.

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As you can see I swapped attacked units and deployed more units along the front.

Canadian fighter is on the way.

Finally to mention that german sub wolfpacks have begun to attack allied convoys in the Atlantic.

[leridano]

Turn 7. December 30, 1939

Another winter weather turn. Things are getting a little bit more complicated for the french in Lorraine sector. This turn the germans pushed hard through the forests and this time, with Luftwaffe air support, they forced to retreat Billote´s HQ 9e Armee corps unit in Lorraine thus seizing this important resource. Furthermore, a french garrison unit (XIIIe CA) was attacked and cutted from supply.

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Anyway the germans failed to occupy the important hex N of Reims so French High Command has ordered to send reinforcements to that position and to hold there as much as possible. It was also ordered to Billote´s forces to retreat to upper Seine river and to form there a new defensive line helped by rivers, forest and mountains hexes suitable for defense.

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First ASW RAF missions.

[leridano]

Turn 8. January 19,1940

Wehrmacht destroyed 2 depleted french garrisons in Lorraine sector. Furthermore, it was also destroyed the recently deployed garrison unit N of Reims that was attacked this turn, presumably with air support from Luftwaffe. Germans can now attack Reims from 3 sides so they are in a good position to take the city if the weather is fair in the next turn. IMO Reims is key in french defensive system.

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Anyway, the allies have achieved to build a double defensive line from Dover Strait to the Alps mountains. Billote has finished the redeployment of his 9e Armee and this unit is now well positioned for defensive missions. As you can see this in the image below that shows the situation of the Western front at the end of the allied turn.

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25% chance of fair weather in the next turn.

[leridano]

Turn 9. February 8, 1940.

Still winter weather. This turn the germans assaulted french positions in upper Seine river so 2 bridgeheads were formed and the recently built french defensive line here was prematurely dismantled. Billote forces retreated. Wehrmacht forces around Reims regrouped in preparation for a more than likely massive assault to well entrenched french positions in the city. Also Strasbourg fortress was attacked after a half-strength french garrison unit refugees in the city in last turn: fortress defenders were reduced to 2 steps.

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French High Command decided to send reinforcements to Dijon sector where the defense line was more or less re-established. Many AASF squadrons were rebased to France air bases so they will participate in much needed ground attack missions against the advancing germans. Also, Strasbourg defenders received fresh reinforcements (swapped the garrison unit that was close to Strasborg hex).

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Canadian forces consisting on a fighter unit and a corps unit arrived to UK ports. Mech corps will stay in Canada as a reserve unit by now.

[leridano]

Turn 10. February 28, 1940.

Mud weather. This was not an obstacle for the germans to attack Reims. Probably it was used again a significant air support and this way the entrenchment level of the defenders was reduced from 5 to 1: mech unit finally held at 4 steps. Good thing about this is that Luftwaffe is getting more and more losses due to its increasing intervention in order to weaken the french defenders. In other sectors, the germans continued to push near Dijon as it is showed in the image below with the situation at the end of axis turn.

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Due to the increasing german pressure in Dijon sector, French army decided to rail 2 garrison units from Schelde river front and to redeploy them in the south. Goal is to avoid the germans moving to Paris from SE no matter that Schelde river line is now thinner because of this troops movement. Reims defenders received reinforcements. AASF finished its deployment in France with another large number of squadrons moving to french airfields. On the other hand, allied air force, that has made no sortie at all in the campaign due to bad weather conditions, was activated and now is ready.

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[leridano]

Turn 11. March 19, 1940

Fair weather this turn in which Hoth´s XIX Panzerkorps tanks entered Reims after a heavy fighting with french 7e Armee that finally surrendered to german forces. Also, Wehrmacht progressed a little bit more near Dijon and attacked again Strasbourg. There were intense air combats in the skies for the first time in the war: this first round scored a stalemate with 5 steps lost in both fighter forces sides.

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French army planned its first offensive action of the campaign with the objective of retaking again Reims. So 1e Armee (mech) along with Gamelin´s 6e Armee HQ corps unit counterattacked the germans in Reims reducing the german armoured to 2 steps. They were supported by french fighters and by Blemheims from AASF. It woud have been a complete success to retake the city and to destroy the panzers. Schelde river line was abandoned and british I Corps was redeployed near Paris. RAF fighter unit abandoned its dangerous position and the aircrafts came back to UK. This is the situation at the end of allied turn:

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This was to be the last AASF action in this campaign so the bombers will came back to UK in the next turn. I will also withdraw french fighter in the next turn because I suspect Schnurri might reject the french armistice (continued attacks to Strasbourg hexes fortress, his position in Dijon, etc). This way, NA french garrisons have not been moved to Europe so in case of an early italian entry at war they will be able to face an invasion. May be I will send the canadian mech to Casablanca.

Canadian fighter was deployed in Birmingham.

[leridano]

Turn 12. April 8, 1940.

Wehrmacht pushed hard in the center destroying french 1e Armee (mech) and 6e Armee (inf corps) that last turn counterattacked Hoth forces. Furthermore, the french fighter was attacked at its air base and was reduced to 3 steps. Also to mention that the germans launched its first airborne operation in the war dropping the paratroops in the south bank of the Somme river hoping to interfere in BEF operations there. Seemingly, Schnurri did not spot Rouen emptied from allied forces. Otherwise he would have been able to take the port complicating the things for the BEF and a possible evacuation.

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French High Command ordered a withdrawal to the west bank of Seine river where the allies expect to resist. British I Corps moved to Rouen in order to be evacuated if needed. Canadian BEF unit swapped trying to contact with I Corps. And finally, and as I told in last post, french fighter was withdrawn to the south.

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As you can see the germans continued to attack Strasbourg. No need to attack the fortress if you are going to accept the armistice. Don´t you think?

[leridano]

Turn 13. April 28, 1940.

Next thing to do for the german forces that destroyed 2 french corps last turn was to push towards the french capital. This way they destroyed a french garrison unit NE of Paris and stablished a bridgehead in Seine river forcing the french to retreat again. In Somme river, the germans destroyed the british BEF HQ and cut off the canadian BEF from supply.

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French army planned its second offensive action of the campaign and decided to counterattack the german bridgehead. Attack was made without air support at all and 2e Armee in Paris also participated. As a result, german XIII Armeekorps at the bridgehead was reduced from 8 to 3 steps. There were also activity in Somme river sector where the french and british navies heavily bombed german paratroop division in the coast providing, at the same time, some supply to the canadian BEF unit. Elements from british I Corps also attacked the paratroop unit that was finally reduced from 9 to 5 steps.

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[leridano]

Turn 14. May 18, 1940. France surrenders!

Wehrmacht launched an all-out attack to Paris so 2e Armee in the city surrendered to the germans. This was really unexpected. I expected both that Paris could fall 1 or 2 turns later and that the armistice was going to be rejected. Operation Dynamo allowed the british to evacuate I Corps and Canadian BEF so these units were at the force pool right in this turn.

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Fall of France stats:

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Canadian mech in the way to Casablanca will change its route and will go to Middle East.

[leridano]

Turn 17. July 17, 1940.

Nothing relevant has happened during these three turns. UK is well prepared in case of a Sea lion operation. Surely, Schnurri took these last turns to repair rather high Wehrmacht losses in french campaign and now he is not sure about what to do next. I have bought an additional british sub, unit that now is really useful and effective against a possible german invasion and later using it as an escort/support unit for landing operations. Italy joined the Axis in june.

Now some tech info. UK has reached dog fight level 1 which is really good.

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And the following is the current UK lab situation:

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Canadian mech has already arrived to Middle East.

[leridano]

Turn 21. October 5, 1940. Yugoslavia surrenders to Axis.

Turns go quickly since almost nothing has happened from summer till now when Yugoslavia was attacked and surrendered to Axis. Hungary and Romania joined the axis. This is Europe in october 1940:

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RAF forces will increase their firepower since a strategic bomber unit has been bought. UK has much increased its PP´s after Egypt and Irak joined the allies in august. It is time now to also build a large surface fleet.

[leridano]

Turn 23. November 14, 1940.

French partisans engaged Wehrmacht whilst Luftwaffe has started a bombing campaign over London with no spectacular results due to bad weather.

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In the Med, to mention that Commonwealth forces attacked Syria that surrendered to UK this turn. Now, with the iraqi rebellion event, it is a must do to take Syria.

British subs in the Med spotted german transports arriving at Bengazhi port.

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German subs are having fun in the Atlantic. British ASW level are still low so we will have to wait for organizing escort missions.

[leridano]

Turn 26. January 13, 1941

A new year has come and still no remarkable operations in the Med. Allied High Command thought about Greece as a possible new Axis objective but it seems that Schnurri will not attack this country. British forces in Middle East had planned an action in Crete in case of a german invasion of Greece but may be that won´t be needed at all.

So the germans will go for a strong Barbarossa or what could be more unexpected but possible: they could go for a 1941 Sea lion operation. Keeping in mind this last option, British High Command has been preparing the islands for such possibility. Home Guard units have took defensive positions and they are well entrenched along English Channel british coast line. These units form the first defensive line and at some points this is a double defensive line so the germans would have to destroy the unit to get ashore. A total of 12 garrison units are directly assigned to face the first waves of an amphibious invasion.

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Along with those territorial and defensive units main british army is formed by 3 inf corps (I, III and IV Corps) and 1 mech (II Mech Corps). British II Mech Corps is positioned and well entrenched in London whist inf corps are deployed further north in Birmingham and Leeds. To these forces it would have to add the canadian inf corps also in Birmingham.

RAF forces in UK actually consist of 2 fighters units and 2 bombers. As you can see canadian fighter has been renamed for deception purposes. A third fighter has been bought and it will be deployed in 2 turns.

Finally, RN forces in Home waters are the following:
4 BB
3 DD
2 subs
1 carrier

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As you can see in the image above at zoom level 1, germans have deployed 5 subs flotillas in the Atlantic that are causing a significant damage to convoys.

Next review of british forces will be in the Med.

[Diplomaticus]

This AAR illustrates potential problems with the blitz strategy. If you don't get lucky with the weather, you may, as in this game, end up taking Paris not much earlier than with Sitz, and with considerably higher losses.

[leridano]

This AAR illustrates potential problems with the blitz strategy. If you don't get lucky with the weather, you may, as in this game, end up taking Paris not much earlier than with Sitz, and with considerably higher losses.

I agree. Schnurri commented in one of his emails that he was about to reject armistice and then to activate Spain as an axis ally. So my suspicions about this made sense. He probably discarded this option because of the Fall of France was not as early as he would have planned due to bad weather.

[leridano]

Turn 30. April 3, 1941

All of these last turns London was bombed by german V Fliegerkorps stationed near Reims. These strategic bombings and sub convoy attacks were really the only things happening.

This turn, London was reduced to 3 steps of PP´s. So British Fighter Command decided to start air superiority missions against french Luftwaffe air bases to reduce the effects of german bombings. Fair weather in this turn will surely help. Actually british fighter forces consist of 3 fighter units. UK have reached dog fight level 1 (+1 air combat) and is about to reach level 2 (+1 air combat). Below is the situation at the end of axis turn:

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British fighters have also reached strategic operations level 1(fighters increase their attack range to 9 hexes) so No. 12 Group was in position for attacking german strat air base. Attack odds were 3:1. Spitfires were intercepted by Me-109´s when attacking V Fliegerkorps air base resulting in 2 steps lost for the brits and 3 steps lost for the germans. Attack atn strat air base itself scored 1 step lost in both sides. Then, german air base in Belgium was also attacked by fighters from No. 11 Group resulting in 2 steps lost in both sides. The total was 5 steps lost for the brits and 6 for the germans.

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A british patrolling sub in Eastern Med discovered this:

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Greece is going to be invaded in the next turn so I was wrong thinking that Schnurri had discarded this. Anyway, this also could mean that a probably an early Barbarossa will not take place.

A pro-Axis rebellion started in Irak.

[leridano]

Turn 31. April 23, 1941. Greece was invaded and surrenders to Germany

Strategic bombings were stopped by now.

Schnurri achieved to take Greece in 1 turn. This was not a surprise keeping in mind the overwhelming air power used for the operation: 4 Luftwaffe tactical wings were used.

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German mechs participating in the operation were both HQ units: Manstein and Von Kleist. They will have to be railed to Eastern front if Schnurri intends to launch a 1941 Barbarossa (not completely sure about this) so may be it will start in june.

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Commonwealth forces in Middle East as of april 23, 1941 are:

Army

1 armour corps (X Corps)
2 mech corps (XIII Corps and Canadian Mech)
5 inf corps (XXX Corps, Australian Corps and Indian Corps)
6 garrisons (including Malta one)

Navy

2 BB
1 DD
1 sub
1 carrier

Air Forces

2 fighters (including Malta one)

And the following are the forces that British High Command will send to this scenario:

2 inf corps
2 BB
4 DD
2 subs
1 fighter
1 tactical bomber
1 strategic bomber

To mention that the first operations against iraqi rebellion have started and that british figthers in UK got repaired. 3rd british strat bomber bought.