Doug (axis) vs Victor (allies)

[trulster]

IMO given this situation Soviets should push hard now as winters nears, esp in the south, attrit the Axis and get some armour out.

[gerones]

Turn 59. November 4, 1942

Kiev and Vitebesk were liberated. Axis occupation of soviet cities haven´t really lasted much so Red Army will be soon close to pre-Barbarossa borders. Further south, Crimea peninsula was cut from supply 4 and Dnepropetrovsk was completely surrounded by soviet forces so romanian mech in the city should fear about its fate. In northern USSR, this time Red Air force participated in the attacks to german positions in Karelia. Finnish air force interceptors gave a hard time to soviet pilots so both sides lost several steps in the air combats. The fact is that german inf corps was finally reduced to 4 steps so the situation could become really favourable in this sector for Red Army once winter comes. It would be nice that 2 solid Germany allys, as Finland and Romania are, will be the first countries to surrender to USSR. Anyway, we are rather far from that.

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Egypt. Intense air combats again and good results again for RAF desert air force since british pilots scored a 5:2 against Luftwaffe fighter wing in Cairo. First No. 204 Group (recently upgraded to dog fight level 5) performed a ground attack mission against Graziani inf corps. German fighters appeared and the result was 3:1. Then, No. 202 Group attacked Luftwaffe air base in Cairo with a 2:1 result. Italian did not get any step lost. Both american and british armoured corps received new tanks and next turn will be both upgraded.

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Atlantic. Allied fleet continued with its escorting missions. Meanwhile a patrolling british sub discover a significant axis naval force in Strait of Gibraltar. This is only for surface ships so many subs must be around.

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De Gaulle free french forces landed near Agadir at the end of the turn. Primary objective of these forces will be to advance north, making possible to USAF to rebase air units using Azores air base.

[Diplomaticus]

Looking at what's happening in the East, I have to question the strategic decisions of the Axis player. First, what's the point of taking those Soviet cities only to lose them in short order? Second, and more importantly, he's dangerously thin and exposed, especially in the south. I just don't see the logic of his deployments.

[richardsd]

I woould say his last attacks were just to try and provide 'space', he will be defending a lot further back than you can see

[gerones]

Turn 60. November 24, 1942

This turn Minsk was liberated and so it was spotted what can be main axis defensive line in the East. Defensive line goes from Pskov to Prypet marshes and all of it is polish territory for avoiding severe winter effects. In northern Russia there were also a little progress since german corps in Karelia was reduced to 1 step and it was forced to retreat. Advances in the south continued. It is here in southern USSR and Romania where Red army will focus its efforts for the upcoming winter.

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In Egypt, air combats continued this time with a stalemate between Luftwaffe and RAF forces. A british tac flew from greek islands to Syria whilst rebased USAF strategic wing is ready for action.

[gerones]

Turn 61. December 14, 1942

2 german inf corps and 1 romanian mech were destroyed in Eastern front where previously severe winter hit at the end of axis turn. One of the german inf corps destroyed was in Karelia where the soviets have achieved a breakthrough of axis lines, halving a finnish inf corps and threatening Ilmaiovat air base. Soviet fighters combated with finnish fighters and this time the results favoured Red air force pilots who have reduced finnish figther to 3 steps.

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Pskov was liberated this turn and the german inf corps there destroyed after being massively attacked by Red Army infantry forces widely supported by tactical bombers. Luftwaffe presence in Letonia forced 2 soviet fighters wings to intervene. Overall score was 4:6 favouring the germans because of their higher survivability levels.

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And finally in southern USSR, Dnepropetrovsk was also liberated this turn. Romanian mech in the city was destroyed. Red air force also participated here in the attack.

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Transition turn in Egypt where the allied took advantage for repairing units.

[gerones]

Turn 62. January 3, 1943

Red Army continued its advance in western Ukraine liberating Vinnitsa and Kherson. In Karelia a finnish inf corps was reduced to 1 step and the other one will likely be encircled and cut off from supply.

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Still no resumed land combats in Egypt.

[gerones]

Turn 63. January 23, 1943

Pretty good Red army progress in Karelia where a finnish corps was destroyed and other one was cut from supply. There were also attacks near of Pskov so a german inf corps survived at 1 step. Furthermore, a hungarian corps was destroyed 2 hexes SE of Lvov.

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In Egypt, this time a german inf corps was attacked by mech american forces supported by 5th Bombardment wing. Werhmacht unit was reduced to 6 steps and forced to retreat. Air combats scored a 2:2.

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Atlantic. A spanish DD at 5 steps was sunk by USAF tac wing in Azores (odds were 6:0). This event makes Allied High Command think in a possible landing operation in Spain now that its fleet is halved in strength. Also, free french forces approached Casablanca.

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A total of 7 allied strategic bombers wings (both from RAF and USAF) are now deployed in UK ready for starting a devastating bombing campaign.

[gerones]

Turn 64. February 12, 1943

Successful soviet offensive in Karelia continues. This turn another 2 finnish corps were destroyed with the help of VVS. In other sectors of Eastern front there were only minimal activity. Axis defensive line is now completely spotted.

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In the Med, Luftwaffe has much increased its presence. Now there are 3 fighter wings deployed in Egypt that are giving a hard time to british fighters. This turn german fighters reduced one of the RAF fighter wings to 3 steps. Furthermore, german tanks resumed their offensive mode and attacked Hodge´s HQ mech reducing it to 4 steps probably with some air support. In the allied turn, american attacked mech was withdrawn and the americans finally decided to cross Suez Canal and to form a bridgehead in west bank of the canal. No screenshots, sorry.

Free french inf corps approaching to Casablanca was not welcomed by german mech and with some Luftwaffe air support it was destroyed.

Resumed strategic campaign reduced Paris PP´s to 2. Lorraine was also attacked. Air combats with german fighters scored a 5:4.

[gerones]

Turn 65. March 4, 1943

Two more german inf corps destroyed in the East. Furthermore, another finnish corps destroyed and a garrison unit. Odessa was heavily attacked and romanian inf corps there was reduced to 1 step. VVS achieved a really important result destroying hungarian fighter air base at 3 steps in Romania (previously this unit have made an interception losing another 3 steps).

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American mech bridgehead in Suez Canal was destroyed by a powerful axis counterattack. Anyway, the american tried it again and crossing the Canal with another mech unit they attacked german inf corps reducing it to 3 steps and forcing a retreat.

[gerones]

I´ve been busy for weeks with no time to continue this game. Now I´m back. Apologies for the ones following this AAR with no news of this game since then.

[jjdenver]

Wow, whatever map mod you are using to show the counters that way looks amazing. I'm so impressed.

[rkr1958]

Wow, whatever map mod you are using to show the counters that way looks amazing. I'm so impressed.

Victor's counters are a part of GS. Under game options just select counters and large counters.

[Rico476]

"From my perspective it is correct. Axis always had problems with supply in NA - it was extremely visible during first battle of El-Alamain where British resisted mostly due to fuel shortage Rommel experienced.

On the other side Allies have transport routes to the Red Sea and to Iraq that Axis were not able to interfere."

So the axis are doomed to poor supply? Historically I feel like the RN in the med. had a lot to do with that, shouldn't the axis player be allowed better supply he is denying the allies Mediterranean domination? Just a thought.

[Cybvep]

That's already the case - if you capture more ports or destroy Allied naval units, your supply situation will be improved.

[FOARP]

Pity this battle wasn't finished - appears epic, although I don't know why Doug didn't go for all-out victory in the USSR. Falling back into Axis territory to defend is almost certain to end in defeat - right?

[Cybvep]

Actually, not at all . The game ends in May 1945 and as the Axis you are usually concerned with survival, so most players withdraw in order to avoid losing too many units or suffering too heavy losses, i.e. they are trading space for time. It's a balancing act - if you withdraw too soon, the enemy may get dangerously close to Berlin fast, but if you withdraw too late, you won't be able to prepare defences in time and you will probably have big PP/MP problems due to casualties. This game wasn't finished, so...

I agree that it was epic, though... and the presentation was excellent.