Doing some extra time on this run due to holidays.
AO Spanish Civil War - Catalonia
Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 28416
Hero:
Easy choice for my second heaviest artillery piece, the trusty Artillerie Abt 4 and its 152mm M10/30. With good hill positioning I might be able to provide much needed cover beyond enemy artillery range.
New Units Commisioned:
AufkAbt 5 - SdKfz 221
AufkAbt 6 - SdKfz 221
Panzerjäger Abt 3 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
Panzerjäger Abt 4 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
Extra temporary reinforcements assigned from Germany due to temporary lack of enough captured ground equipment. These units will receive upgrades (or "upgrades" if what I can use ends up being inferior) as soon as possible as per the usual approach and for now are just here to close the holes in the core slot allowance.
Starting Army Composition:
Tank
PzAbt 1 - T-26 - ** - Steamroller
PzAbt 2 - BT-5 - ** - Double Move, Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 3 - Trubia - ** - Butcher, Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 4 - FT-17 - * - Tank Killer
PzAbt 5 - Verdeja 2 - ** - River Assault
PzAbt 6 - OT-133 - *
PzAbt 7 - Panzer IIA
Recon
AufkAbt 1 - Bilbao - **
AufkAbt 2 - UNL-35 - ** - Shock Tactics
AufkAbt 3 - AAC-1937 - ** - Overrun
AufkAbt 4 - BA-6 - **
AufkAbt 5 - SdKfz 221
AufkAbt 6 - SdKfz 221
Anti-Tank
Panzerjäger Abt 1 - 45mm M1932 (Horse Transport) - *
Panzerjäger Abt 2 - 37mm M1930 (Horse Transport)
Panzerjäger Abt 3 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
Panzerjäger Abt 4 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
Artillery
Artillerie Abt 1 - 203mm M1931 (SdKfz 7) - ** - Zero Slots
Artillerie Abt 2 - 105mm Vickers M22 (Horse Transport) - **
Artillerie Abt 3 - 122mm M10/30 (Horse Transport) - **
Artillerie Abt 4 - 152mm M10/30 (SdKfz 7) - ** - Counter Battery Fire
Artillerie Abt 5 - 70mm Schneider M08 (Horse Transport) - ** - Skilled Support
Artillerie Abt 6 - 75mm Schneider M06 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 7 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Anti-Aircraft
FlaK Abt 1 - 75mm Vickers M31 (SdKfz 7) - * - Legendary
FlaK Abt 2 - 20mm M33 (Horse Transport) - *
FlaK Abt 3 - 76.2mm M31 (SdKfz 7)
FlaK Abt 4 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 5 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 6 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)
Reserve
I./JG 1 - I-16 - * -
Adolf Galland
II./JG 1 - He 51 - * - Avenger, Prudent
III./JG 1 - He 51 - Entrenchment Killer 4x
I./KG 1 - Ju 52 Bomber
II./KG 1 - Ju 52 Bomber
III./KG 1 - Ju 52 Bomber
Summary:
A quick winter trip towards the Pyrenees to "borrow" a few guns from the French army.
Final Prestige: 30744 (up 2328)
Captured equipment pool changes (+10 extra to the total figure if it's in use):
T-26 - 360 (+8) - in use
Trubia - 98 (-3) - in use
Bilbao - 48 (-11) - in use
UNL-35 - 178 (-3) - in use
AAC-1937 - 115 (-1) - in use
BA-6 - 54 (+10) - in use
37mm M1940 - 39 (+13) - in use
45mm M1932 - 23 (-19) - in use
47mm SA 37 - 26 (+26)
37mm mle 30 - 14 (+14)
75mm mle 39 - 16 (+16)
Overall:
This is the first time I've decided to disturb the forces by the French border and get some of their guns, and it ended with a positive result. I've spotted several AT guns and two different AA pieces, but had to ignore one of the possible targets (47mm SA 37) that was placed closest to the edge, behind some major fortifications. There was simply not enough time to take down all the forts by the end of the scenario, even with combined efforts from all my heavy artillery and stretching it all until the turn limit. Otherwise the mission was a great success allowing me to now to again upgrade some of the recently enlisted units with something different again. The quartermaster of such a force must be slowly going insane...
Oh, and let's ignore the fact my Panzerjäger Abt 1 almost got destroyed. Twice. Snowstorms can be tricky!
AO Spanish Civil War - Madrid 1939
Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 32033
Hero:
Last SCW hero joins Artillerie Abt 3. Not the most useful additions as captures keep me going quite well, but I enjoy every small detail that gives me an edge.
New Units Commisioned:
Artillerie Abt 8 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
With still not enough captured equipment to fill all slots I add another artillery piece with the intention to assign French spoils of war as soon as possible once AO 1939 starts.
Captured Equipment Provided:
Panzerjäger Abt 3 - 47mm SA 37 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 4 - 37mm mle 30 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 5 - 75mm mle 39 (SdKfz 7)
Newly acquired French guns immediately earn their place in the core force, increasing overall firepower.
Starting Army Composition:
Tank
PzAbt 1 - T-26 - ** - Steamroller
PzAbt 2 - BT-5 - ** - Double Move, Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 3 - Trubia - ** - Butcher, Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 4 - FT-17 - * - Tank Killer
PzAbt 5 - Verdeja 2 - ** - River Assault
PzAbt 6 - OT-133 - *
PzAbt 7 - Panzer IIA
Recon
AufkAbt 1 - Bilbao - **
AufkAbt 2 - UNL-35 - ** - Shock Tactics
AufkAbt 3 - AAC-1937 - ** - Overrun
AufkAbt 4 - BA-6 - **
Anti-Tank
Panzerjäger Abt 1 - 45mm M1932 (Horse Transport) - *
Panzerjäger Abt 2 - 37mm M1930 (Horse Transport) - *
Panzerjäger Abt 3 - 47mm SA 37 (Horse Transport)
Artillery
Artillerie Abt 1 - 203mm M1931 (SdKfz 7) - ** - Zero Slots
Artillerie Abt 2 - 105mm Vickers M22 (Horse Transport) - ** - Skilled Support
Artillerie Abt 3 - 122mm M10/30 (Horse Transport) - ** - Famous
Artillerie Abt 4 - 152mm M10/30 (SdKfz 7) - ** - Counter Battery Fire, Skilled Support
Artillerie Abt 5 - 70mm Schneider M08 (Horse Transport) - ** - Skilled Support
Artillerie Abt 6 - 75mm Schneider M06 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 7 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 8 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Anti-Aircraft
FlaK Abt 1 - 75mm Vickers M31 (SdKfz 7) - * - Legendary
FlaK Abt 2 - 20mm M33 (Horse Transport) - *
FlaK Abt 3 - 76.2mm M31 (SdKfz 7)
FlaK Abt 4 - 37mm mle 30 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 5 - 75mm mle 39 (SdKfz 7)
Fighter
I./JG 1 - I-16 - * -
Adolf Galland
Reserve
AufkAbt 5 - SdKfz 221
AufkAbt 6 - SdKfz 221
Panzerjäger Abt 4 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 6 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)
II./JG 1 - He 51 - * - Avenger, Prudent
III./JG 1 - He 51 - Entrenchment Killer 4x
I./KG 1 - Ju 52 Bomber
II./KG 1 - Ju 52 Bomber
III./KG 1 - Ju 52 Bomber
Summary:
Isolated communist tanks and recon cars are an immediate primary focus for capturing.
First of the Republican Matilda I tanks gets surrounded by my forces and is a an easy target overall.
Recon plane discovers the other Matilda I unit - 4 star overstrengthened Colonel Segismundo Casado, who's in deep trouble, unlikely to survive.
Final Prestige: 40089 (up 8056)
BT-5 - 126 (+48) - in use
T-26 - 415 (+55) - in use
Trubia - 132 (+34) - in use
Matilda I - 38 (+38)
Bilbao - 47 (-1) - in use
UNL-35 - 224 (+46) - in use
AAC-1937 - 133 (+18) - in use
BA-6 - 111 (+57) - in use
37mm M1940 - 55 (+16) - in use
45mm M1932 - 58 (+35) - in use
70mm Schneider M08 - 125 (+24) - in use
152mm M10/30 - 119 (+32) - in use
75mm Schneider M06 - 45 (+26)
20mm M33 - 143 (+20)
76.2mm M31 - 82 (+52)
Overall:
Anther case of huge gains this time due to more knowledge of the map and key points needed to complete a huge encirclement. Direct access to infantry forces also helped a lot, since in city terrain their assistance is always invaluable and I was finally able to command my allies exactly where I needed them. This allowed for very efficient capture situations and some final additions to the army. While T-26 or Soviet artillery might still appear in 1941, some units such as the Trubia will be impossible to resupply after this. As for Colonel Segismundo Casado, he surprisingly survived by the time I reached the western edge of the map. Looks like due to heavy armor of the Matilda I, communist forces focused on weaker targets and did not finish him off. He then escaped northwest and got surrounded by my army, providing more Matilda I supply - enough to easily field one unit if I want or need to.
AO Spanish Civil War - Summary
Starting Prestige: 1130
Final Prestige: 40089 (up 38959)
There's no denying that Trophies of War is the single best prestige source. However, this run is all about very different objectives, so I find this reserve really enjoyable and refreshing. Not having to worry about it allows me to focus on what's the core of the whole fun, that is building a crazy mixed captured force.
Final Army Composition:
Tank
PzAbt 1 - T-26 - ** - Steamroller
PzAbt 2 - BT-5 - ** - Double Move, Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 3 - Trubia - ** - Butcher, Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 4 - FT-17 - * - Tank Killer
PzAbt 5 - Verdeja 2 - ** - River Assault, Steamroller
PzAbt 6 - OT-133 - *
PzAbt 7 - Panzer IIA - *
Recon
AufkAbt 1 - Bilbao - **
AufkAbt 2 - UNL-35 - ** - Shock Tactics
AufkAbt 3 - AAC-1937 - ** - Overrun
AufkAbt 4 - BA-6 - **
AufkAbt 5 - SdKfz 221
AufkAbt 6 - SdKfz 221
Anti-Tank
Panzerjäger Abt 1 - 45mm M1932 (Horse Transport) - *
Panzerjäger Abt 2 - 37mm M1930 (Horse Transport) - *
Panzerjäger Abt 3 - 47mm SA 37 (Horse Transport)
Panzerjäger Abt 4 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
Artillery
Artillerie Abt 1 - 203mm M1931 (SdKfz 7) - ** - Zero Slots
Artillerie Abt 2 - 105mm Vickers M22 (Horse Transport) - ** - Skilled Support
Artillerie Abt 3 - 122mm M10/30 (Horse Transport) - ** - Famous
Artillerie Abt 4 - 152mm M10/30 (SdKfz 7) - ** - Counter Battery Fire, Skilled Support
Artillerie Abt 5 - 70mm Schneider M08 (Horse Transport) - ** - Skilled Support
Artillerie Abt 6 - 75mm Schneider M06 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 7 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Artillerie Abt 8 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Anti-Aircraft
FlaK Abt 1 - 75mm Vickers M31 (SdKfz 7) - * - Legendary
FlaK Abt 2 - 20mm M33 (Horse Transport) - *
FlaK Abt 3 - 76.2mm M31 (SdKfz 7)
FlaK Abt 4 - 37mm mle 30 (Horse Transport)
FlaK Abt 5 - 75mm mle 39 (SdKfz 7)
FlaK Abt 6 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (Horse Transport)
Fighter
I./JG 1 - I-16 - ** -
Adolf Galland
II./JG 1 - He 51 - * - Avenger, Prudent
III./JG 1 - He 51 - Entrenchment Killer 4x
Strategic Bomber
I./KG 1 - Ju 52 Bomber
II./KG 1 - Ju 52 Bomber
III./KG 1 - Ju 52 Bomber
Trophies of War:
Tank:
FT-17 - 22
BT-5 - 136
T-26 - 425
Trubia - 142
OT-133 - 27
Matilda I - 38
Recon:
Bilbao - 57
UNL-35 - 234
AAC-1937 - 143
BA-6 - 121
Anti-Tank:
37mm M1930 - 65
45mm M1932 - 68
47mm SA 37 - 26
Artillery:
105mm Vickers M22 - 157
70mm Schneider M08 - 135
203mm M1931 - 29
152mm M10/30 - 129
122mm M10/30 - 123
75mm Schneider M06 - 55
Anti-Aircraft:
20mm M33 - 153
75mm Vickers M1931 - 23
76.2mm M31 - 92
37mm mle 30 - 14
75mm mle 39 - 16
Fighter:
I-16 - 44
Thoughts:
It was a very refreshing challenge and I will look forward to AO 1939 an the increased pool I can use. So far I could rely on CTV and also Nationalist allies to add the needed infantry support, but this no longer can be the case. I wonder if I am able to complete AO 1939 with just Azul Infanterie? With Trophies of war I've built a solid supply and was able to employ rare units as well, so my core will continue becoming more and more bizarre as time goes by. Can't wait to see what more can be added and make this even more wild. I am especially interested in a larger air force, since the single I-16 is lonely and would like some company in the skies.
AO 1939 - Czechoslovakia
Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 43174
Hero:
AO 1939 starts with a valuable hero for this run. Normally marginal, this time it's someone who can help keep units operational despite no longer being able to add replacements. PzAbt 6 and OT-133 tanks it has seem to be the hardest to come by in the future, so I assign the hero there.
New Units Commisioned:
I./AG 1 - Fi 156 Storch
Infanterie Reg 1 (span.) - Azul Infanterie (Opel Blitz)
I get a single recon plane, for now to put in reserve and use in the future for triggering Bzura and Warsaw event. Since I'm not sure if it's needed, I prefer not to miss that opportunity if it for some reason is needed later. I also get my first and for now only infantry unit.
New Equipment Provided:
Panzerjäger Abt 1 - 45mm M1932 (SdKfz 11) - transport upgraded
Panzerjäger Abt 2 - 37mm M1930 (SdKfz 10) - transport upgraded
Panzerjäger Abt 3 - 47mm SA 37 (SdKfz 11) - transport upgraded
Panzerjäger Abt 4 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (SdKfz 10) - transport upgraded
Artillerie Abt 2 - 105mm Vickers M22 (SdKfz 11) - transport upgraded
Artillerie Abt 5 - 70mm Schneider M08 (SdKfz 10) - transport upgraded
Artillerie Abt 6 - 75mm Schneider M06 (SdKfz 10) - transport upgraded
Artillerie Abt 7 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (SdKfz 11) - transport upgraded
Artillerie Abt 8 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (SdKfz 11) - transport upgraded
FlaK Abt 2 - 20mm M33 (SdKfz 10) - transport upgraded
FlaK Abt 4 - 37mm mle 30 (SdKfz 11) - transport upgraded
FlaK Abt 6 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (SdKfz 10) - transport upgraded
Major half-track upgrades to transports where possible add up, but will greatly help mobility and allow my artillery keep up with tank columns in the open better.
Starting Army Composition:
Infantry
Infanterie Reg 1 (span.) - Azul Infanterie (Opel Blitz)
Tank
PzAbt 1 - T-26 - ** - Steamroller
PzAbt 2 - BT-5 - ** - Double Move, Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 3 - Trubia - ** - Butcher, Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 4 - FT-17 - * - Tank Killer
PzAbt 5 - Verdeja 2 - ** - River Assault, Steamroller
PzAbt 6 - OT-133 - *
PzAbt 7 - Panzer IIA - *
Recon
AufkAbt 1 - Bilbao - **
AufkAbt 2 - UNL-35 - ** - Shock Tactics
AufkAbt 3 - AAC-1937 - ** - Overrun
AufkAbt 4 - BA-6 - **
Anti-Tank
Panzerjäger Abt 1 - 45mm M1932 (SdKfz 11) - *
Panzerjäger Abt 2 - 37mm M1930 (SdKfz 10) - *
Panzerjäger Abt 3 - 47mm SA 37 (SdKfz 11)
Artillery
Artillerie Abt 1 - 203mm M1931 (SdKfz 7) - ** - Zero Slots
Artillerie Abt 2 - 105mm Vickers M22 (SdKfz 11) - ** - Skilled Support
Artillerie Abt 3 - 122mm M10/30 (Horse Transport) - ** - Famous
Artillerie Abt 4 - 152mm M10/30 (SdKfz 7) - ** - Counter Battery Fire, Skilled Support
Artillerie Abt 5 - 70mm Schneider M08 (SdKfz 10) - ** - Skilled Support
Artillerie Abt 6 - 75mm Schneider M06 (SdKfz 10)
Anti-Aircraft
FlaK Abt 2 - 20mm M33 (SdKfz 10) - *
Reserve
AufkAbt 5 - SdKfz 221
AufkAbt 6 - SdKfz 221
Panzerjäger Abt 4 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (SdKfz 10)
Artillerie Abt 7 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (SdKfz 11)
Artillerie Abt 8 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (SdKfz 11)
FlaK Abt 1 - 75mm Vickers M31 (SdKfz 7) - * - Legendary
FlaK Abt 3 - 76.2mm M31 (SdKfz 7)
FlaK Abt 4 - 37mm mle 30 (SdKfz 11)
FlaK Abt 5 - 75mm mle 39 (SdKfz 7)
FlaK Abt 6 - 2 cm FlaK 30 (SdKfz 10)
I./JG 1 - I-16 - ** -
Adolf Galland
II./JG 1 - He 51 - * - Avenger, Prudent
III./JG 1 - He 51 - Entrenchment Killer 4x
I./AG 1 - Fi 156 Storch
I./KG 1 - Ju 52 Bomber
II./KG 1 - Ju 52 Bomber
III./KG 1 - Ju 52 Bomber
Summary:
This time I do not just automatically take the bridges, I rather stay away and let the opponents come to me. This allows for significantly smaller losses, just a shame it took me two runs to figure it out...
Final Prestige: 44588 (up 1414)
Captured equipment pool changes (+10 extra to the total figure if it's in use):
FT-17 - 11 (-1) - in use
T-26 - 413 (-2) - in use
UNL-35 - 223 (-1) - in use
Basically no losses taken to the units with limited stock - artillery support made the enemy unwilling to attack while PzAbt 5 and PzAbt 7 took the hits for the team knowing they do not have limited supply and can bait the Czechoslovakian forces into being primary targets.
Overall:
Part of me was tempted to try and capture Czechoslovakian units, but I would then me denied a very useful hero and besides there is literally no option to resupply on them later. Due to this limitation I did not try to get anything and just focused on completing the scenario with maximum results. I think I will use the same approach in the future as well, prioritizing actual objectives over small gains in extra weapon possibility. That's however the only excuse aside from maybe returning nemesis heroes that I'd allow to grow and come back with something better like in the case of Vega.