Afrika Korps - Italian Challenge on Rommel

[hurly]

Considering the Names of the Cities involved lately this seems like just another day Evening News report about the Middle East Crisis

Scenario #13

Irak Results

30 Core Units allowed 22 Turns

This one can get tricky or if you do the right things at the right time it's a lot easier
Let's take look at the Map first

The Purple Squares in the Northeast and Southwest of the Map stand for a 500 Prestige $ sign (half of it on Rommel) clearly visible from the Start resp Deployment Phase. You have a lot of airfields (10) on the Map, but only 6 Victory Hexes (only one in the deep South is reachable without crossing a River.
The Euphrat crossing seems to be pretty easy, but the Tigris River seems to be a lot tougher as we can see Spoiler Alert
in the British Airview

Both Mosul and especially Baghdad are pretty well defended with some Troops in the backyard to help out when needed.

The Briefing tells us there is a New Radar System at Baghdad Airport that is essential for the British Air Force


Going through the Scenario with Team RED I can tell you neutralizing Baghdad Airfield (not necessarily the elimination of the Radar Station) by Turn 8 stops the AI from spawning 4 Spitfires in the Bottom Half of Turn 8 and 2 more Spitfires in the Bottom Half of Turn 9. That may not be difference in an overall Decisive Victory in the End but it makes a huge difference in losses to your own Airforce. Run 1 lost 2 Auxiliary Planes quickly and almost one of the Core SM79 Bombers, and had to be careful with Air Action til the End cause there were 3 Spitfires left in the East fully refueled and reloaded and no one sure if they would enter the action again at some point (Only one of them did actually on the last Turn when the Final Victory Hex was bombed by an Aux Piaggio.)
Team Red on the other Hand had an early Air Superiority by Turn 8 and could concentrate Air Raids on Bombing Baghdad and Kirkuk as well as the Tank Squads rushing in from the Desert. Talk about making life more comfortable, Still lost a few Air Units because of carelessy coming close to these Eastern Airfields which are heavily defended with AA


Even though there was a lot of time left in both Runs I decided attacking these 3 Airfields might not be worth it and ended the Scenario in Turn 15 resp Turn 18 after cleaning out all spare targets in the West. Especially Run 1 did not want to deal with the 3 idle Spitfires that might go beserk any moment


Prime Target in this one is certainly Baghdad Airfield. It coordinates (and spawns) or stalls all RAF Activities. Neutralizing it with Level Bombers seems to do the trick, maybe even better than to destroy the Radar Unit as British Forces can not retake the Airfield anymore. Have not tried that tactic, but might be a good idea to employ it.






Now let's crunch the numbers







Run 1

Starting Prestige 1873 PP (bought no New Units, but Upgraded 3 Panzer III L to M for 13 PP each, Overstrength Units for all Arty, AA)

Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 German PzGren with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att+2 Ini +1 Ini +1
(17/6)
258/64

MG Battalion 8 German PzGren with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(17/3)
214/41

27th Brescia Bersaglieri

(0/0)
45/8

27th Brescia Bersaglieri

(0/0)
19/12

8th Bersaglieri Bersaglieri with Truck
Hero awarded Att +2
(14/11)
106/35

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +2 Ini +1
(26/4)
414/72

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III L upgraded to Panzer III M for 13 PP
Hero awarded Mov+1 Spo +1
(25/9)
400/87

132nd Ariete Italian M15/42
Hero awarded Def +2 Att+2
(24/2)
273/49

132nd Ariete Italian M15/42
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def +2
(15/1)
178/53

Recon Abt. 3 German 232 Rad Recon
Hero awarded Att+1 Att +2
(17/6)
226/93

PzJäger Abt.39 German 7,5cm Pak + Truck +
Hero awarded Def+1
(0/0)
77/35

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG F/8
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +1
(27/3)
247/69

1. Abt Arti 75 German Wurfrahmen
Hero awarded Def+2 Def +2
(19/0)
198/20

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Def+2 Hero awarded Ran +1
(23/0)
181/11

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 ++

(8/0)
91/14

Stormo Italian Mc 205 Veltro
Hero awarded Spo +1 Att +1
(5/16) <----- OUCH
240/56

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++
Hero awarded Att+2 Spo +1
(4/1)
203/23

12. AA Italian 90cm + Truck +++
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def+2
(34/0)
315/25

10. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(22/9)
276/32

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio +++
Hero awarded Att +2 Mov +1
(17/2)
180/36

Recon Sahariana +++
Hero awarded Att +3 Hero awarded Att +1
(16/5)
172/47

7.Art Self Propelled 75/18 ++

(1/0)
31/0

7.Art Self Propelled 75/18 ++

(1/3)
27/6

9. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(2/0)
5/9

SE Units

14. SE Pz SE Panzer III L upgraded to Panzer III M for 13 PP
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def+2 Def+2
(34/1)
410/58

2. SE PZ SE Panzer IV G
Hero awarded Def+1 Mov +1
(23/10)
331/44

Reward SE PZ SE Panzer III L upgraded to Panzer III M for 13 PP
Hero awarded Att+1 Def +1
(20/5)
236/61

Reward Fighter SE Bf 109 G
Hero awarded Def+1 Att +1
(18/8)
230/28

Captured Units

Captured Matilda 2 +
Hero awarded Att +2 Def +1
(37/8)
226/44

Reward StuH

(15/0)
116/34

Captured Crusader

(11/18) finally saw some Action !!!! Results were MEH
11/18

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero Mov +1
(6/0)
97/6

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero Att +5
(18/0)
110/2

5.Tac (Att +3) Sm 79 +++
Hero Att +3 Ini +1
(46/3)
326/21

Captured Grant
Hero awarded Def +2
(14/9)
81/39

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A +
Hero awarded Att +1
(40/4)
200/13

Captured Churchill

(31/4)
79/7

Team RED

Starting Prestige 3401 PP (Bought a New Sm 79 for 279 PPs, Upgraded 2 SE Bf 109 to FW 190 A for 583 PP each up graded 2 Panzer III L to Panzer III M for 13 each, Upgraded StuG to StuH for 121 PP Overstrength for Arty, AA)


Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 German PzGren with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +2
(11/7)
281/53

MG Battalion 8 German PzGren with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(15/3)
291/64

27th Brescia Bersaglieri with Truck
Hero awarded Ini +1 Spo +1
(21/0)
135/22

27th Brescia Bersaglieri

(0/0)
42/20

8th Bersaglieri Italian Bersaglieri with Truck

(0/0)
60/20

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm
Hero Awarded Att +2 Ini +1 Att +1
(52/10)
596/64

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III L upgraded Panzer III M for 13 PP
Hero awarded Def +1 Mov +1 Def +1
(28/5)
482/59

132nd Ariete Italian Tank M15/42
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1
(13/0)
269/59

132nd Ariete Italian Tank M15/42
Hero awarded Def +2
(28/1)
256/55

Recon Abt. 3 German 232 Rad Recon
Hero awarded Ini +1
(8/8)
149/69

PzJäger Abt.39 German 7,5cm Pak + Truck
Hero awarded Def +1
(0/0)
86/28

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG F/8
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(24/4)
355/94

1. Abt Arti 75 German 15cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(28/2)
202/23

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++
Hero awarded Att +1 Mov +1
(17/5)
217/14

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 ++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +1
(20/0)
261/14

Stormo Italian Mc 205 Veltro
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +2 Def +1
(7/1)
347/30

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +2
(14/1)
229/6

12. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(18/2)
171/14


9. AA Bought Italian 90cm + Truck

(27/4)
35/4

10. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +2 Att +1
(23/6)
524/28

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(6/0)
131/37


Recon Bought Sahariana

(15/7)
30/19

7.Art Self Propelled 75/18 +++
Hero awarded Spo +1
(5/2)
54/7

5. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(2/0)
39/6


8. Tac Bomber bought SM79 for 279 PP

(7/1)


SE Units

Reward SE PZ SE Panzer III L upgraded to SE Panzer III M for 13 PP
Hero awarded Spo +1 Mov +1 Mov +1
(36/4)
334/38

Reward Fighter SE Bf 109 F upgraded to SE FW 190 A for 583 PP
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +3
(15/1)
240/13


Fighter SE Bf 109 G upgraded to SE FW 190 A for 583 PP
Hero awarded Spo +1
(10/6)
100/36

Captured Units

Captured Matilda 2
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(50/1)
304/22

Reward StuG III B upgraded to StuH for 121 PP
Hero awarded Mov +1 Hero awarded Def +2
(19/4)
129/23

Captured Crusader

(0/0)
0/0

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled 75/18 +++
Hero Mov +1
(15/0)
112/1

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero Att +5
(22/1)
127/6

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79
Hero Att +3 Att +1 Hero awarded Ini +1
(35/2)
320/29

Captured Grant

(10/5)
93/30

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A
Hero awarded Def +2
(17/0)
121/12

Captured Churchill
Hero awarded Def +3
(17/3 )
72/6





Replay File for Run 1 (complete)
Replay File for Team Red (complete)

[hurly]

Here we go into the year 1943, the time to upgrade Infantry into '43 Upgrades has finally come
And a City Fight, I don't like City Fights in General but every Campaign seems to have at least one
And only 26 Core Units the first time since Scenario 6 (Second Offensive)you have less Units allowed than before
So basically this means someone has to be a Healthy Scratch (mostly Italian Infantry and Tanks which is really fitting for an Italian Challenge Campaign )

Scenario #14

Basra Results

26 Core Units allowed 23 Turns

So here is the starting view for the Axis


You can see there are no airfields in between. Ours are in the far Northeast, theirs down in the far southwest.
So no early Airforce Stalling as a Primary Goal. Just cross the River, weed through the City, seize the Victory Hexes and finally catch the Airfields down in the Southwest.
As Semi Spoilers (semi cause you can see them early in the scenario) the City defenses in the West

and the East
A few Fortesses and Strongpoints in the West but the River is small and we can cross, while in the East there are Two Rivers one of them a major one which needs a Bridge-Engineer provided as Auxiliary Unit by the Game.
We decide to go the western route with heavy artillery fire and Air Support if Possible. In the East we just clean out our side of the River and see what happens there later.

The RAF announced its presence with the Common early Air Raid Two Fighters and a Tac Bomber and the fear this would be an extended and continous assault are unfounded. These 3 RAF Planes are the Only Fighting Air Units you will see all day and it is pretty easy to eliminate them in Turn 2. So basically the only Danger our Air Units will face is Anti Air Defense. Cause there are like 4 total units of AA and most of them light ones and in Range of our Arty you will own the Skies in this one. Major Obstacles are the 2 Fortresses in Shootinge Range of the River Hex, but they are especially vulnerable to all Kind of Ground Attacks especially Heavy Tanks can cripple them with one shot.
The Italian self propelled Arty proves to be really great here with their Bunkerbusting Capabilities and the mobility to double Back up Tanks crusching the fortresses vs defending Infantry. Backed up by the Towed Infantry and unchallenged Air Superiority you pretty easily swallow up the City terrain and it's defenders-
Well but Afrika Korps Scenarios don't come without a twist or Surprise Attack so in Turn 9 of the AI it summons 10+ Air Transports loaded with Paratroppers trying to drop behind or in between your frontline.
If you have Fighters Fueled and Reloaded and Anti Air in Position this turns into an air massacre killing many of them off with one Shot. If you are not prepared and they are able to drop with full strength besides your arty backing up it can be a real menace. Even if prepared it's impossible to shoot them down all at once, so I recommend to aim for the Ones that are in Position to drop their freight, while leaving alone the ones sitting over an occupied hex resp occupy hexes below the Transports with your troops. So it is no real problem to eliminate the Para Disease quickly and clean out the rest of the Scenario. Just be a bit cautious to not run into several AT guns sitting around and eliminate the few Tanks guarding the Southwest Airfields.

Overall not a very hard scenario

Now let's crunch the numbers







Run 1

Starting Prestige 3471 PP (bought no New Units, but Upgraded 2 German Grenadiers to Grenadier'43 for 60 PP each, upgraded 3 Italian Bersaglieri to Bersaglieri#43 for 40 PP each (which was quite a Bonehead Move with all 3 Units scratched for the Scenario), upgraded Recon SdKfz 232 Rad to SdKfz 233 Rad for 180 PP, upgraded Stug III F/8 to Stug III G for 19 PP, Overstrength Units for all Arty and AA)

Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 German PzGren upgraded to PzGren'43 for 60 PP with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att+2 Ini +1 Ini +1
(18/5)
276/69

MG Battalion 8 German PzGren upgraded to PzGren'43 for 60 PP with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(50/0) Great Performance !
264/41

27th Brescia Bersaglieri upgraded to Bersaglieri'43 for 40 PP

(0/0)
45/8

27th Brescia Bersaglieri upgraded to Bersaglieri'43

(0/0)
19/12

8th Bersaglieri Bersaglieri upgraded to Bersaglieri'43 with Truck
Hero awarded Att +2
(14/11)
106/35

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm +++ [/color]
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +2 Ini +1
(52/3)
466/75

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III M
Hero awarded Mov+1 Spo +1
(24/1)
424/88

132nd Ariete Italian M15/42
Hero awarded Def +2 Att+2
(0/0)
273/49

132nd Ariete Italian M15/42
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def +2
(0/0)
178/53

Recon Abt. 3 German SdKfz 232 Rad Recon upgraded to SdKfz 233 Rad for 180 PP
Hero awarded Att+1 Att +2
(8/3)
234/96

PzJäger Abt.39 German 7,5cm Pak + Truck +
Hero awarded Def+1
(0/0)
77/35

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG III F/8 upgraded to StuG III G for 19 PP
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +1
(26/2)
273/71

1. Abt Arti 75 German Wurfrahmen +++ [/color]
Hero awarded Def+2 Def +2
(42/0)
240/20

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Def+2 Hero awarded Ran +1
(50/0)
231/11

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 +++

(25/0)
116/14

Stormo Italian Mc 205 Veltro
Hero awarded Spo +1 Att +1
(33/0)
273/56

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att+2 Spo +1
(24/1)
227/24

12. AA Italian 90cm + Truck +++
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def+2 Hero awarded Spo +1
(56/0)
371/25

10. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1 Hero awarded Def +1
(56/9)
332/41

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio +
Hero awarded Att +2 Mov +1
(13/2)
193/36

Recon Sahariana
Hero awarded Att +3 Att +1
(28/3)
200/50

7.Art Self Propelled 75/18 +++

(13/0)
44/0

7.Art Self Propelled 75/18 +++

(4/4)
31/10

9. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(11/0)
16/9

SE Units

14. SE Pz SE Panzer III M
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def+2 Def+2
(34/6)
444/64

2. SE PZ SE Panzer IV G
Hero awarded Def+1 Mov +1
(30/5)
361/49

Reward SE PZ SE Panzer III M
Hero awarded Att+1 Def +1
(29/2)
265/63

Reward Fighter SE Bf 109 G
Hero awarded Def+1 Att +1
(21/5)
251/33

Captured Units

Captured Matilda 2
Hero awarded Att +2 Def +1
(20/0)
246/44

Reward StuH
+++
(20/1)
136/35

Captured Crusader

(11/18)
11/18

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled 75/18 +++++
Hero Mov +1
(21/0)
118/6

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero Att +5
(29/0)
139/2

5.Tac (Att +3) Sm 79
Hero Att +3 Ini +1 Hero awarded Ini +1
(55/2)
381/23

Captured Grant
Hero awarded Def +2
(11/0)
92/39

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A
Hero awarded Att +1
(23/1)
223/14

Captured Churchill
Hero awarded Att +2
(29/1)
108/8

Team RED

Starting Prestige 3461 PP (Bought no New Units, Upgraded 2 German Grenadiers to Grenadier'43 for 60 PP each, upgraded 1 Italian Bersaglieri to Bersaglieri#43 for 40 PP Upgraded SE Panzer III M to SE Tiger for 703 PP Upgraded Captured Crusader to Tiger for 703 PP upgraded Panzer III M to Panzer III N for 0 PP Overstrength for Arty+ AA)


Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 German PzGren upgraded to PzGren'43 for 60 PP with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +2
(29/0)
310/53

MG Battalion 8 German PzGren upgraded to PzGren'43 for 60 PP with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(26/7)
317/71

27th Brescia Bersaglieri to Bersaglieri'43 for 40 PP with Truck
Hero awarded Ini +1 Spo +1
(0/0)
135/22

27th Brescia Bersaglieri

(0/0)
42/20

8th Bersaglieri Italian Bersaglieri with Truck

(0/0)
60/20

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm
Hero Awarded Att +2 Ini +1 Att +1
(30/7)
626/71

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III M upgraded Panzer III N for 0 PP
Hero awarded Def +1 Mov +1 Def +1
(28/1)
510/60

132nd Ariete Italian Tank M15/42
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1
(0/0)
269/59

132nd Ariete Italian Tank M15/42
Hero awarded Def +2
(21/1)
277/56

Recon Abt. 3 German 232 Rad Recon
Hero awarded Ini +1
(0/0)
149/69

PzJäger Abt.39 German 7,5cm Pak + Truck
Hero awarded Def +1
(0/0)
86/28

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG F/8
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(0/0)
355/94

1. Abt Arti 75 German 15cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(21/0)
231/23

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Mov +1
(14/0)
231/14

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 ++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +1
(30/0)
291/14

Stormo Italian Mc 205 Veltro
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +2 Def +1
(24/0)
371/30

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +2
(19/0)
248/6

12. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(20/0)
191/14


9. AA Bought Italian 90cm + Truck +

(27/0)
62/4

10. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +2 Att +1
(42/0)
566/28

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(11/0)
142/37


Recon Sahariana

(30/3)
60/22

7.Art Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero awarded Spo +1
(11/0)
65/7

5. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(3/0)
42/6


8. Tac Bomber SM79

(35/0)
42/1

SE Units

Reward SE PZ SE Panzer III M upgraded to SE Tiger 703 PP
Hero awarded Spo +1 Mov +1 Mov +1
(71/6)
405/44

Reward Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +3
(25/0)
265/13


Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Spo +1
(12/3)
112/39

Captured Units

Captured Matilda 2
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(0/0)
304/22

Reward StuH ++++
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def +2
(24/4)
153/27

Captured Crusader upgraded to Tiger for 703 PP

(48/5)
48/5

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero Mov +1
(12/1)
124/2

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero Att +5
(42/3)
167/9

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79
Hero Att +3 Att +1 Ini +1
(35/3)
335/32

Captured Grant

(23/0)
116/30

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A
Hero awarded Def +2 Hero awarded Att +1
(36/0)
147/12

Captured Churchill
Hero awarded Def +3
(19/1 )
91/7





Replay File for Run 1 (complete)
Replay File for Team Red (complete)

[hurly]

well guys I'm ducking away from doing the Tactial Part of this Scenerio for a Few Days now.
The Scenario has so many inherited little twists that can make life miserable if you are not ready for them and will result in heavy losses
Or If you do it right this scenario will be no cakewalk but a pretty smooth to and enjoyable if not a Prestige Harvest Level
So the Writeup may become pretty long, maybe a bit boring but probably interesting as well as I found a few new (at least for me) Tricks I never saw before

So I will probably do this in some Attempts and there may be a bit of Polishing and Shifting of Facts for a few Days
Thanks for your Patience



Scenario #15

Persia Results

31 Core Units allowed 25 Turns

Well here we are in Persia just south of the Kaukasus where we will face some Russian Troops in the Northern Part
We also get to see pretty Overstrength US Troops sitting well entrenched in the Middle and the South also a squad trying to attack crossing the Tigris from the South
And in the middle resp sitting back in the East The Brits have their Forces at hand
All Nations will charge early and hard in the Air with pretty strong Fighters (6 Total) and 3 US Tac Bombers
There will be a tight time Frame to stop 2 5 Unit Convoys coming from the South and trying to escape in the North (no more than 3 will be tolerated to escape or the Decisive Victory is not possible anymore.
Then there will be an early Sneak Attack in the South trying to cross the Tigris and outflank our troops and airfields
About halfway through the Scenario the Soviets start a Landing Operation from the North.
And then you have to conquer a few Victory Hexes spread to most southeastern Spot of the Map and way up In the Northeast as well

Sounds like a handful of tasks to finish. Can be a bloody mess if you are unprepared as well as can be an ultra-satisfying Scenario with few real problems if you play your cards well

So just to add to the further Confusion a very coloured Airview Map that shows all operational twists at once


as always airfields are blue, Victory Hexes Red, then the Convoy Starting Locations Purple as well as their Target Area
The Sneak Attacks Green and the general direction of our Attack marked with yellow Arrows

So now let's talk about the Action --one Task at a Time

1) The breaktrough attempt against the Soviet Troops in the North and the March to the North trying to block the Convoys from reaching their target Area, while preparing for the Early Air Attacks with Fighter Traps and AA
This screenshot is after Turn 1 and Fighter Traps panned out pretty good

the US Air Raid along the Tigris River defended by AA Units

and the RAF coming in a bit later

All Fighters are experienced and pretty good, if we had attacked them head on with our Fighters there will be severe maybe total losses of Units. Not good with a tight Rommel Budget
Starting Point of the Convoy with 5 7-strength Units in the South (before the US Air Force made their move)

Starting Point of the Convoy with 5 5-strength Units in the South-East

To speed up my advance in the North I adopted the Idea from Braccada to avoid the heavily entrenched city of Kermanschah in the Center- Thanks for the Good Idea as this was a big relief in the early Rush

so here what we have to deal with on the Ground in the North

and our Target Area to Block the Convoy Units from Escaping near Ardabil

Early Main Objective is Focusing on the Enemy Fighters to achieve Air Superiority as soon as possible (Note the Allied Air Force will reinforce weakened Units but not replace any Units that are completely killed off. Parallel to the Air Defense Ground Units in the North pressure the Russians with all Arty and Heavy Tanks available
In the South we have to advance with the Rest of our troops on our Side of the Tigris River to prevent the sneak attack from crossing the River with a Bridge Engineer.

These Units spawn on Turn 3 they are not there before and in a possible glitch or a lucky move (I really don't know) Team Red had killed off the Allied Bridge Engineer by then and for Team Red these 5 Units (2 Wolverine AT, 1 Sherman Tank, a SP Arty and the Infantry Unit never spawned at all) Made the Situation in the South a lot more comfortable for sure

Anyway once the Sneak Attack is out of the way we can sweep around the South eliminate the few Garrisons in the Southern Cities toi gain Preatige and a few Airfields and march into the Direction of Isfahan and Yazd.

But don't attack in the South yet or very carefully to avoid unnecessary losses as time is no Factor in the South

Completely different Story in the North

as you can see the Convoy from the Southeast reaches the Target Area by Turn 8 (The Convoy from the South might be there as well but it should run into your Ground Troops dealing with the Russians and will probably be eliminated by then) and have to be in position to Block them with your Grund Troops by then. Attacking them with Air Units is also Possible but some one migth escape since you can't block their advance as with ground units

After the Elimination of the Convoy Threat (Remember when too many of them can escape near Ardabil you can not get a Decisive Victory anymore) you can concentrate on Tabris and Ardabil to clear up the Northern Front.

And just when you think ok now we can concentrate on seizing the Victory Hexes the Russians try to surprise you via a landing operation to the North of Teheran from the Caspian Sea.
The Game warns you but very late. If you have your Strat Bombers armed and in Position to Attack and a few Ground Units to block the "Beaches" its easy prey maybe even a good opportunity to force a few Surrenders. If these 6 Units can reach the Land unharmed they can be a problem for your exhausted Northern Units

Once the Landing Operation Units are eliminated, enemy Air Force probably long gone too you can attack a small groop of Allied Tanks to the West of Teheran with Air Units before they can attack you and then send a few Bombers to the South to suppress the Wolverine AT lurking in the South near Yazd (the most Southern Victory Hex) I would not attack them without a bit Air Support cause they can do some good damage to your southern Tanks. With a few Bomber Attacks they are rérased quite easily.
By then your Northern Units should be in Position with Arty and Heavy Tanks to attack Teheran.
If you can sweep around the South of the City and eliminate the AA Unit on the Teheran Airfield, you have free reign in the North with all Air Units on the Remaining Cities and Victory Hexes.

Similar Action in the South. Once the Wolverines are done, you can sweep to the South of Yazd eliminate the AA Unit and you can bomb the Rest at will.

After all the hectic early Action with a lot of Time pressure this Scenario is very anticlimactic in the End
You have Air Superiority, no Time Pressure, the important Victory Hexes ready to seize and you can go out and do some hunting for stray units or mines and whatever is in reach. I did not target the City of Kermanschah in the middle of the Map as it may be too much of a rush and results and experience would probably not be worth the losses. But there should be no more Anti Air by then so it's up to anyone and the Time left for the Scenario.
Ok and I felt a little bit tired by all the hectic activities early on so concentration was maybe low at this point as well.




Now let's crunch the numbers







Run 1

Starting Prestige 3901 PP (bought an Italian Anti Air 90mm + Truck for 314 PP, Upgraded 2 Italian Tanks M15/42 to P26/40 for 123 PP each, upgraded 4 Italian SP Arty M40 75/18 to M43 105/25 for 134 PP each, upgraded MC 205 Veltro to G 55 Centauro for 507 PP, upgraded Captured Crusader and Captured Grant to Tiger for 703 PP each, Overstrength Units for all Arty and AA)

Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 German PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att+2 Ini +1 Ini +1
(40/5)
316/74

MG Battalion 8 German PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(5/2)
269/43

27th Brescia Bersaglierii'43

(0/0)
45/8

27th Brescia Bersaglieri'43

(0/0)
19/12

8th Bersaglieri Bersaglieri'43 with Truck
Hero awarded Att +2
(0/0)
106/35

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +2 Ini +1
(31/0)
466/75

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III M
Hero awarded Mov+1 Spo +1
(18/11)
442/99

132nd Ariete Italian M15/42 upgraded to P26/40 for 123 PP
Hero awarded Def +2 Att+2
(44/6)
317/55

132nd Ariete Italian M15/42 upgraded to P26/40 for 123 PP
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def +2
(33/3)
211/56

Recon Abt. 3 German SdKfz 233 Rad
Hero awarded Att+1 Att +2
(14/9)
248/105

PzJäger Abt.39 German 7,5cm Pak + Truck +
Hero awarded Def+1
(0/0)
77/35

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG III G
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +1
(24/10)
297/81

1. Abt Arti 75 German Wurfrahmen +++
Hero awarded Def+2 Def +2
(34/0)
274/20

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Def+2 Ran +1
(31/0)
262/11

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 +++

(8/0)
124/14

Stormo Italian Mc 205 Veltro upgraded to G 55 Centauro for 507 PP
Hero awarded Spo +1 Att +1
(17/11)
290/67

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att+2 Spo +1
(19/1)
246/24

12. AA Italian 90cm + Truck +++
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def+2 Spo +1
(50/4)
421/29

10. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1 Def +1
(32/0)
364/41

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio +
Hero awarded Att +2 Mov +1
(24/0)
217/36

Recon Sahariana
Hero awarded Att +3 Att +1
(19/12)
219/62

7.Art Self Propelled 75/18 upgraded to M43 105/25 for 134 PP ++++

(11/0)
55/0

7.Art Self Propelled 75/18 upgraded to M43 105/25 for 134 PP +++

(6/0)
37/10

9. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(7/4)
23/13

3. AA Italian 90cm + Truck for 314 PP

(50/4)

SE Units

14. SE Pz SE Panzer III M
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def+2 Def+2
(14/1)
458/65

2. SE PZ SE Panzer IV G
Hero awarded Def+1 Mov +1
(21/6)
382/55

Reward SE PZ SE Panzer III M
Hero awarded Att+1 Def +1
(29/6)
294/66

Reward Fighter SE Bf 109 G
Hero awarded Def+1 Att +1
(30/7)
281/40

Captured Units

Captured Matilda 2
Hero awarded Att +2 Def +1
(25/0)
271/44

Reward StuH ++
Hero awarded Def +3
(21/0)
157/35

Captured Crusader upgraded to Tiger for 703 PP

(66/4)
77/22

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled 75/18 upgraded to M43 105/25 for 134 PP +++++
Hero Mov +1 Hero awarded Att +1
(23/0)
141/6

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled 75/18 upgraded to M43 105/25 for 134 PP ++++
Hero Att +5 Hero awarded Spo +1
(35/0)
174/2

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79
Hero Att +3 Ini +1 Ini +1
(36/9)
417/32

Captured Grant upgraded to Tiger for 703 PP +
Hero Def +2 Hero awarded Def +1
(57/7)
149/46

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A
Hero Att +1
(31/7)
254/21

Captured Churchill
Hero Att +2 Hero awarded Def +3
(35/5)
143/13

Team RED

Starting Prestige 2714 PP (Bought no New Units, Upgraded 2 Italian Tanks M15/42 to P26/40 for 123 PP each, upgraded Captured Matilda and Captured Crusader and Captured Grant to Tiger for 703 PP each upgraded German 7,5cm Pak + Truck to StuG III G for 358 PP and Upgrade Stug III f/8 to StuG III G for 19 PP Overstrength for Arty+ AA)




Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +2
(15/0)
325/53

MG Battalion 8 PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(14/0)
331/71

27th Brescia Bersaglieri'43 with Truck
Hero awarded Ini +1 Spo +1
(0/0)
135/22

27th Brescia Bersaglieri

(0/0)
42/20

8th Bersaglieri Italian Bersaglieri with Truck

(0/0)
60/20

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm ++
Hero Awarded Att +2 Ini +1 Att +1
(47/7)
673/71

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III N
Hero awarded Def +1 Mov +1 Def +1
(28/1)
510/60

132nd Ariete Italian M15/42 upgraded to P26/40 for 123 PP
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1
(4/1)
273/60

132nd Ariete Italian M15/42 upgraded to P26/40 for 123 PP
Hero awarded Def +2
(29/1)
306/56

Recon Abt. 3 German 232 Rad Recon
Hero awarded Ini +1
(13/9)
162/78

PzJäger Abt.39 German 7,5cm Pak + Truck upgraded to StuG III G for 358 PP
Hero awarded Def +1
(0/0)
86/28

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG F/8 upgraded to StuG III G for 19 PP
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(0/0)
355/94

1. Abt Arti 75 German 15cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(23/1)
254/24

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Mov +1
(16/3)
247/17

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 ++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +1
(15/0)
306/14

Stormo Italian Mc 205 Veltro
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +2 Def +1
(31/5)
402/35

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +2
(24/0)
272/6

12. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(23/0)
214/4


9. AA Bought Italian 90cm + Truck +
Hero awarded Att +1
(14/0)
76/4

10. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +2 Att +1
(25/5)
591/33

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(22/0)
164/37


Recon Sahariana

(8/1)
68/23

7.Art Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero awarded Spo +1
(12/0)
77/7

5. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(27/0)
69/6


8. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Def +1
(25/0)
67/1

SE Units

Reward SE PZ SE Tiger
Hero awarded Spo +1 Mov +1 Mov +1
(75/1)
480/45

Reward Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +3
(29/4)
294/17


Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Spo +1 Hero awarded Def +3
(13/7)
125/46

Captured Units

Captured Matilda 2 upgraded to Tiger for 703 PP
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(24/8)
328/30

Reward StuH
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def +2
(19/2)
172/29

Captured Crusader Tiger

(18/1)
66/6

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled 75/18 +++++
Hero Mov +1
(9/1)
133/3

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero Att +5
(9/0)
176/9

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79
Hero Att +3 Att +1 Ini +1
(42/7)
377/39

Captured Grant upgraded to Tiger for 703 PP
Hero awarded Att +2
(79/0)
195/30

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1
(13/0)
160/12

Captured Churchill
Hero awarded Def +3
(12/3 )
103/10





Replay File for Run 1 (complete)
Replay File for Team Red (complete)

[Cerberus51]

A question for you. I notice that you upgraded a Veltro fighter to a Centauro. While the Centauro has higher air attack it has one point less initiative and I have always believed initiative (who shoots first) is the most important stat for a fighter. I'd like to know whether you think this was the right way to go over the next few scenarios or whether it would have been better to stick with the Veltro or even wait for the Bf109 that becomes available later on?

[hurly]

A question for you. I notice that you upgraded a Veltro fighter to a Centauro. While the Centauro has higher air attack it has one point less initiative and I have always believed initiative (who shoots first) is the most important stat for a fighter. I'd like to know whether you think this was the right way to go over the next few scenarios or whether it would have been better to stick with the Veltro or even wait for the Bf109 that becomes available later on?

That is a great question

I wish I had the time to finish up the Scenario AAR with Strategical Plans yesterday, so maybe your question would be answered as I wanted to elaborate why I did the Fighter Upgrade

Before these two Runs I had only played at the Colonel Level. Forever.
But I finished Afrika Korps before the 1.20 Patch and after the 1.20 Rules were inherited too. I even finished the Italian Challenge on Colonel before. So in terms of Scenarios and its twists and tasks there is not much that can surprise me. Even in Terms of Value and Bang for the Buck Factor for the Italian Units I have a pretty clear idea what I like or not. This is true to a very much smaller degree for the late Units in the Italian Path. So here we are in the Area where a gut feeling makes the difference sometimes.

Another Aspect to the Decision is Budget. On Colonel Level I had little trouble to field an all Tiger 2, FW 190 and "what not is state of the Art in the End" Army into the Final Stage. And even had some cash in the Bank.
On Rommel while I don't feel much difference in difficulty in Overall Gameplay, there is a huge difference in Prestige Available. For some Scenarios now I'm always thinking about the Costs for the necessary Upgrades of the Captured Tanks into Tigers and the Costs of Italian Tanks Upgrade into the Best Unit Available (I don't want to reveal the exact Time and Unit Name right now, as I know e.G. Goose will follow this AAR after he finished a Scenario Step by Step to compare it to his Results. So let's try to avoid the Spoilers as good as we can in this Regard. I think you know what Unit I'm talking about so we can leave it a that cryptic Term Best Unit Available. The 109 k Fighter is out now but I think no problem). So I calculate all the Time what is really necessary and what not.

Going back to my thinking Process for Run 1 (it's some time ago as the AAR lags behind the Real Action for approx 2 months for Run 1 (see the Dates on Replays)

Run 1 has had some luck in the SE Tank Department and sports 2 (3 with one that is a fixture in the Game Handout of Scenario 5) of them for a very long time (the First coming as early as Scenario 2) but had no luck in the Category SE Air Units so far. So their Path is always a bit easier on the Ground and a bit harder in the Air compared to Team Red which had no luck in extra SE Tanks but got an extra SE Fighter since the Malta Scenario # 9.
The difference in Gameplay is clearly visible in the Replays and also the Kill Counts if you dig in really deep.
So for Run 1 which features only two German Fighters and the One Italian we started with. I had to decide Bf 109 G to FW 190 A or Veltro to Centauro, but after SP Arty upgrades 2 Tigers, 2 Italian P26 Tank upgrades just one of them is possible. As basically all Italian Fighters at this point are relegated to Air Cover, Fighter Trap and Clean Up Shots I decided the extra Punch Air Attack 21 of the Centauro is more useful than the 109 G upgrade which was doing OK even in Head to Head combat to this Point. Initiative was not much of a Factor in my thinking process given the Way I utilize the Italian Fighters at this point. The 109 K was also not even in consideration as it appears to late in Afrika Korps and by then Money will be even tighter


Then there is the knowledge what is coming in this Scenario. I knew 6 very Strong Enemy Fighters will charge Early and they will hit hard if I can not "ambush" them. So I went with the Centauro Punch hoping for a One Shot Kill even in a Fighter Trap or Bomber Cover. Added a Green 90 cm as well as you can see and started the Scenario with very little Funds for Replacements (which came in very handy btw) Also there is that early pressure in the Scenario to stop the Convoys so it's all about a Heavy Punch on Enemy Air Force while doing an all out combined Tank Arty Attack in the North to close the Path for the Convoys.

As you can see I did not upgrade The Veltro for Team RED by now as Team Red has 3 FW 190 (two of the SE Variant)
the Mobile AA Unit and the AA 90 cm at hand. So the Veltro has to take a backseat as well as the SP Arty and I went all in On Tiger Tanks for all Captured Tanks except the Crusader and the SE Tank was a Tiger already before.
Started this Fight with 10 Prestige ! in the Bank and a lot of shit in my pants

Well so long talk about the thought process but no real answer available if the move to the Centauro was really worth it. It's all a Patchwork at this point and sometimes you have to compromise one Aspect for Another at this point. In Fact that Trend continues for me til the End of the Campaign, but I can take the Easy Argument of "You will see all Scenarios of the Campaign in this AAR !" so whatever the decison was, it was not a neckbreaker after all

Also I'm pretty sure we will see the same Discussion again once goose is at this point of the Campaign and right now I do not have enough hard facts (Prestige Available, SE Types awarded, Overall Amount of AA and Air Force, even what kind of Heroes were given by the Game) to tell you what advice I would give if he asks me by then

Thats also the aspect I love this Game so much. You can solve it in so many ways, Random Rolls can be a Huge Factor even a questionable Deployment Phase can be a neckbreaker and you can learn from almost any decent player and add new facets to your skills. And all this while doing scripted Scenarios with a rather not too smart AI.
This Game is really worth every Penny and it never gets old.

[Cerberus51]

Thanks for the explanation. I think your reasoning is sound, so it has given me something to think about when considering upgrade choices in future.

[hurly]

this is the second (and also the last) optional Scenario of the Campaign.
You need a decisive vistory in Persia to get access to it, but you don't have to play it at all, nor does it matter if you have Decisive or Normal Victory and even a Loss has no consequences for the Campaign, except maybe a little bit of damaged pride





Scenario #16

Caucasus Results July 1 1943

32 Core Units allowed 25 Turns

This one is unique in several regards. It has a lot of high mountain terrain which only Gebirgsjäger/Alpini
Infantry Units without a Transport device have access to. It takes a lot of Air Transport Action with Gliders to get your troops over the mountains in time and it has a random Victory Hex added after a few Turns (Most likely a random High Mountain Spot as we can see in both Runs, but probably it can be the City of Sotschi as well as can be seen in Braccada's Video. Well I can't wait to see what location goose will get when gets to this scenario)
The Russian Air Force is not particularly strong in Numbers, I faced only 4 Fighters, but they are all 3 Star Experience Units and can do serious Damage in Head to Head Dogfights. It certainly helps that you see never more than 2 at Time (at least if you don't let them escape for Reinforcing)


So what are we gonna do ?

We see directly there is no way to stall the Russian Force with Airfields spread all over the Place.
All our Troops can only be deployed on the southern Part of the Map
South of the Caucasus we have 3 Victory Hexes Baku on the Eastern Edge is out of immediate Attacking Range so we have to set up mixed Group with a Tank, Recon, Infantry and of course 2 Artillerie Units. They have to cross a River first and then have to march trough closed Terrain to reach Baku which will take several Turns
Then very close to our deployed Troops there is the City of Eriwan which is the First Target and will be attacked with all Units available and after Eriwan is taken this Group will march North to attack Tiflis
We have 33 Units + SE available in this scenario so it makes no sense to let them all attack in a big jam but to make good use of the several Glider Transport Units and land all Units not needed in the South over the Mountain and drop them to the East of Grosny with Alpha Order on the Airfield in the North East to have a safe harbour for our Planes and an Area to drop more and more troops from that have no targets there anymore and are obsolete in the Mountains.
Don't even think about using the Road to the South of the Mountains leading up to Sotschi. There is only Close terrain along the way, you will run into a bunch of pillboxes and will be ammbushed from the North by charging Soviet Mountaineers. Your march will be too slow and costly. It's way better and faster to transport as many Tanks as possible up north to your landing Zone eliminate the small garrisons there and then when you Tanks are there in sufficient Numbers go west to the North of the Caucasus in much more friendly and plain Terrain. There will be quite a lot T34 and KV1 tanks up there and all Soviet Troops in this Scenario have 3 Star Experience so the resistance will be significant.

Ground Troops and Arty will establish a Frontline south of the Caucasus near Tiflis and defend the City vs the onrushing hordes of Soviet Mountaneers. Meanwhile Baku should have been under Control in the South East

Once you have Air superiority established attack the Russian Tanks in the North and finish them with your Tanks already in Place to attack, but don't go head to head with the Russians without Air Support or there will be significant Losses.


At some Time from Turn 3 to 5 maybe even later the Game will add a new Objective for a Decisive Victory. I got 2 different Hexes for Run 1 and Team Red 1 on top of the Mountains, it can also be Sotschi in the West (see Braccada's Video of his Fight in the Caucasus)
Note Your Frontline defending Eriwan will be attacked by flood of Soviet Mountaineers so don't advance into the mountains til this relentless attack is under control. If you are short on time to reach the Victory Hex with your Alpinis there is also the possibility to load one of them (must be one without a truck or other ground transport) into a glider and drop them right on the Victory Hex you need to get.
Saves a lot of time if done correctly.

Meanwhile your Tanks and other Ground Units should have taken Grosny for quite some time and also weeded through the Russian Tank Squads in the North.
So be prepared for the Final Battles in the West to conquer the very well defended City of Makop your Final Victory Hex Needed for the Triumph.
It is possible to reach Sotschi as well, but it may not be worth the trouble as several of our units are either weakened, out of Fuel or Ammo and an Uncoordinated Rush on Sotschi might be a big challenge.
I decided to not go all in on that Spot, still Team Red almost made it anyway

Still this is a quite challenging scenario in terms of Enemy Unit quality (all with 3 Stars experience), several spread out Victory Hexes and the Air Transport Operation that has to be covered pretty good or the strong Russian Airforce can do some harm to your Gliders. Also there is quite respectable amount of Russian Tanks in this one which you should not underestimate.

But in the End both Runs ended with the Decisive Victory


Now let's crunch the numbers







Run 1

Starting Prestige 2272 PP (No New Units bought, upgraded SE Bf 109 G to FW 190 A for 583 PP, upgraded StuH to Brummbär for 50 PP, downgraded 2 Bersaglieri'43 to Alpini for 0 PP, Overstrength Units for all Arty and AA)

Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 German PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att+2 Ini +1 Ini +1
(10/4)
326/78

MG Battalion 8 German PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(20/15)
289/58

27th Brescia Bersaglieri'43 downgraded to Alpini for 0 PP
Hero awarded Att +2
(10/4)
55/12

27th Brescia Bersaglieri'43 downgraded to Alpini for 0 PP

(14/4)
33/16

8th Bersaglieri Bersaglieri'43 with Truck
Hero awarded Att +2
(0/0)
106/35

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +2 Ini +1
(48/4)
545/79

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III M
Hero awarded Mov+1 Spo +1
(14/6)
456/105

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40
Hero awarded Def +2 Att+2
(37/5)
354/60

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def +2
(23/8)
234/64

Recon Abt. 3 German SdKfz 233 Rad
Hero awarded Att+1 Att +2
(20/8)
268/113

PzJäger Abt.39 German 7,5cm Pak + Truck +
Hero awarded Def+1
(0/0)
77/35

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG III G
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +1 Hero awarded Def +1
(33/15)
330/96

1. Abt Arti 75 German Wurfrahmen ++++
Hero awarded Def+2 Def +2
(65/0)
339/20

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Def+2 Ran +1
(25/1)
287/12

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 +++

(6/0)
130/14

Stormo Italian G 55 Centauro
Hero awarded Spo +1 Att +1
(9/7)
299/74

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att+2 Spo +1
(28/0)
274/24

12. AA Italian 90cm + Truck +
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def+2 Spo +1
(9/3)
430/32

10. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1 Def +1
(21/5)
385/46

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio +
Hero awarded Att +2 Mov +1
(21/5)
238/41

Recon Sahariana
Hero awarded Att +3 Att +1
(36/0)
255/62

7.Art Self Propelled M43 105/25 ++++
Hero awarded Def +3
(15/0)
70/0

8.Art Self Propelled M43 105/25 ++++

(20/0)
57/10

9. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(11/0)
34/13

3. AA Italian 90cm + Truck

(5/0)
21/4

SE Units

14. SE Pz SE Panzer III M
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def+2 Def+2
(12/5)
470/70

2. SE PZ SE Panzer IV G
Hero awarded Def+1 Mov +1
(14/9)
396/64

Reward SE PZ SE Panzer III M
Hero awarded Att+1 Def +1
(19/6)
313/72

Reward Fighter SE Bf 109 G to SE FW 190 A for 583 PP
Hero awarded Def+1 Att +1
(15/7)
296/47

Captured Units

Captured Matilda 2
Hero awarded Att +2 Def +1
(22/0)
293/44

Reward StuH upgraded to Brummbär for 50 PP ++++
Hero awarded Def +3
(17/3)
174/38

Captured Crusader Tiger
Hero awarded Mov +1
(42/3)
119/25

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled M43 105/25 +++++
Hero Mov +1 Att +1
(46/2)
187/8

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled M43 105/25 ++++
Hero Att +5 Spo +1
(23/0)
197/2

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79
Hero Att +3 Ini +1 Ini +1
(42/0)
459/32

Captured Grant Tiger
Hero Def +2 Def +1
(50/3)
199/49

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A
Hero Att +1
(31/0)
285/21

Captured Churchill
Hero Att +2 Def +3
(20/4)
163/17

Team RED

Starting Prestige 2366 PP (Bought no New Units, Downgraded 2 Bersaglieri to Alpini, upgraded StuH to §0cm Nebelwerfer + Truck for 526 PP Overstrength for Flammpanzer, Arty+ AA)




Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +2
(19/6)
354/59

MG Battalion 8 PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(23/6)
354/77

27th Brescia Bersaglieri'43 with Truck
Hero awarded Ini +1 Spo +1
(0/0)
135/22

27th Brescia Bersaglieri to Alpini for 0 PP

(5/18)
47/38

8th Bersaglieri Italian Bersaglieri to Alpini with Truck for 0 PP

(0/0)
60/20

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm +++
Hero Awarded Att +2 Ini +1 Att +1
(92/8)
765/79

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III N
Hero awarded Def +1 Mov +1 Def +1
(64/4)
574/64

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1
(16/6)
289/66

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40
Hero awarded Def +2
(15/1)
321/57

Recon Abt. 3 German 232 Rad Recon
Hero awarded Ini +1
(19/10)
191/88

PzJäger Abt.39 German StuG III G
Hero awarded Def +1
(23/10)
109/38

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG III G
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(47/10)
392/104

1. Abt Arti 75 German 15cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(22/0)
276/24

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Mov +1
(29/3)
276/20

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 ++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +1
(11/0)
317/14

Stormo Italian Mc 205 Veltro
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +2 Def +1
(12/0)
414/35

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +2
(33/3)
305/9

12. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(36/10)
250/14


9. AA Bought Italian 90cm + Truck +
Hero awarded Att +1
(4/0)
80/4

10. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +2 Att +1
(36/0)
627/33

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(13/0)
177/50


Recon Sahariana
Hero awarded Att +1
(30/2)
98/25

7.Art Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero awarded Spo +1
(13/0)
90/7

5. Strat Bomber Piaggio
Hero awarded Att +2
(16/1)
85/7


8. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Def +1
(31/2)
98/3

SE Units

Reward SE PZ SE Tiger
Hero awarded Spo +1 Mov +1 Mov +1
(38/4)
518/49

Reward Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +3
(13/2)
307/19


Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Spo +1 Def +3
(18/5)
143/51

Tac Bomber awarded SE Bf 110 D

(13/0)

Captured Units

Captured Matilda 2 Tiger
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(35/4)
363/34

Reward StuH upgraded to 30 cm Nebelwerfer + Truck for 526 PP ++++
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def +2
(41/2)
213/31

Captured Crusader Tiger
Hero awarded Def +2
(57/2)
123/8

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero Mov +1
(27/0)
160/3

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled 75/18 +++++
Hero Att +5 Hero awarded Def +2
(30/0)
206/9

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79
Hero Att +3 Att +1 Ini +1
(37/4)
414/43

Captured Grant Tiger
Hero awarded Att +2 Hero awarded Att +1
(51/4)
246/34

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1
(12/2)
172/14

Captured Churchill
Hero awarded Def +3
(36/2 )
139/12





Replay File for Run 1 (complete)
Replay File for Team Red (complete)

[hurly]

this one is different to all other Afrika Korps Scenarios. It just bluntly tells you to "Kill em All" (Or all but 10 for the Minor Victory which is still good enough to advance). There are no Victory Hexes, No Twists, No Change of Orders, nothing but utter Destruction of the Enemy.





Scenario #17

Arabia Results October 12 1943

34 Core Units allowed 22 Turns

After dealing with the Russians who sported pretty experienced Troops (3 Stars), we have to face the old Archrivals again The Brits. They send out an all 2 Star Army with many Tanks, a lot of Anti Tank Guns, some Infantry, not many Artillery or AA Units and 3 Waves of Planes.
So the Task is clear, Gain Air Superiority as fast as Possible and be aware of the spawning Waves of further Air Units. I don't think it's possible to take all airfields early on, they are just to spread out all over the Map.
So we have to deal with RAF when its there and eliminate them quickly to give our Bombers the Chance to create havoc for the British Tanks which are quite tough customers on the Ground especially the Churchills, but very vulnerable to Air Attacks. Same is true for the various AT Tank Guns, which can be a real Pain in the Ass to our Tanks but defenseless vs Air Attacks and pretty vulnerable to Arty Attacks
So here is the First RAF Wave which will attack our Planes and can pretty easily be drawn into the Range of our AA or into Fighter Traps. Eliminated by Turn 3. Attention the RAF will gang up on Air Unit so there are losses possible if anyone has insufficient Air Cover
and the Main Combat Zone around Mubarraz
Given that here are 2 AA Guns be careful with Air Attacks here, there are many less protected Targets around so I waited with the Air Attack in this Area til our Artillery and Tank Forces did some heavy damage to the AA Defense. This is quite a hard Fight with many British Tanks rushing up North so I let them come to me and pick off the Targets as they come in reach. Rule of Thumb, Focus on the Churchills as they are not in the AA Zone and pretty Tough Customers in general, Don't get close to the AT Guns with unprotected Tanks (back them up with arty all the time and pick off the Cromwells as they are fast but not really a majyor threat to our Tigers. When in Range of the Arty the AA Guns and Enemy Artillery is always a prime Target as well. So this is quite a Tank Rush Battle in Soviet Style, but the Brits just don't have the Firepower nor the Number of Units to force our Troops into a Defensive Stand for long.
Meanwhile sent my spare Ground Units and the Luftwaffe to the Southwest eliminatig the Cities of Afif (in Turn 1) and Riad a bit later
and they arrive at Dschidda pretty soon which is not defended very well with 2 Infantry Garrisons and a Churchill
This triggered a Few Cromwells lurking in the Vicinity of the Southwestern Cities and Airfields to swarm out for Help, but they are no match for the Bombers and Tanks we sent down there In Fact i was pretty happy the 3 northern Cromwells came up in a Charge. Its much easier to handle the Tank Squads in Waves of 3 and later 5 then all of them at the same time. Made the Attack to the Southwestern Cities and Airfields much easier especially as by Turn 5 the Second RAF Wave is triggered and while not in perfect Striking Position to intercept them, it was a great relief to be not in a all Tank Rush Attack at the Time as well. So Wave 2 of the Raf surprised me a bit coming from the Southwest but it could be handled without much trouble. Meanwhile the Situation near Mubarraz is under control and we can hunt the few spare Tanks (seen in the RAF Wave 1 screenshot) still roaming around in the area with Tanks and Bombers.
Next mayor Target while the southern Battle Group cleans up the Southwest is the Airfield near Dschidda which is in a strategically important position as I can reach all remaining Cities and attack the 6 deep Cromwell Tank Battle Group while conveniently refueling and reloading there

Not sure what exactly triggers the 3rd and Final RAF Air Wave of two Typhoon Tac Bombers (they appeared at Turn 13 for Run 1 but much earlier for Team Red. They are a mild thread to our already experienced Bombers that late in the Campaign and certainly not match for the Fighters.

So it's basically an easy Task for the Tac and Strat Bombers to attack and weaken Dschidda and the Last British Troops near Maslal in the Southeast
It is a Scenario that takes some defensive approach at First near Mubarraz but once you handled that and take care of the several RAF cameo appearances it's just a big Duck Shoot in the End and a nice Level for Air Units with Ground troops riding Shotgun for the Kill

Run 1 finished the Scenario in 18 Turns of 22 (which is almost Guderian Style) and Team Red with a bit more cautious approch still pretty relaxed in 21 Turns)

The Newly Acquired HS 129 Tac Bombers of German Origin but in Italian Colors so no Harm for the Italian Challenge Conditions showed great Potential even if they are Green Units which is often a concern that late in a Campaign

So I was really pleased with the overall Performance and Striking Ability of my Army and can go on pretty optimistic, although I can already see the Prestige gathered in Rommel Difficulty may not be enough to upgrade Units into a lot of costly High End Units like the Tiger 2. Probably can not afford them at all, so some doubt remains for the coming Tasks. Started into the Scenario with 52 PP after Upgrades for Run 1 and with 112 PP after Upgrades for Team Red.

Now let's crunch the numbers







Run 1

Starting Prestige 2740 PP (bought 2 "Italian" HS 129 Tac Bombers for 340 PP each, upgraded the Captured Matilda to a Tiger for 703 PP, Overstrength Units for all Arty and AA, Tac Bombers and Flammpanzer)

Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 German PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att+2 Ini +1 Ini +1
(24/3)
350/81

MG Battalion 8 German PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(14/1)
303/59

27th Brescia Alpini
Hero awarded Att +2
(0/0)
55/12

27th Brescia Alpini

(0/0)
33/16

8th Bersaglieri Bersaglieri'43 with Truck
Hero awarded Att +2
(12/7)
118/42

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm +++
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +2 Ini +1
(26/11)
571/90

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III M
Hero awarded Mov+1 Spo +1 Hero awarded Att +2
(12/10)
468/115

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40
Hero awarded Def +2 Att+2 Hero awarded Def +2
(23/11)
377/71

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def +2
(17/5)
251/69

Recon Abt. 3 German SdKfz 233 Rad
Hero awarded Att+1 Att +2
(7/10)
275/123

PzJäger Abt.39 German 7,5cm Pak + Truck +
Hero awarded Def+1
(17/3)
94/38

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG III G
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +1 Def +1
(36/4)
366/100

1. Abt Arti 75 German Wurfrahmen ++++
Hero awarded Def+2 Def +2
(15/5)
354/25

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Def+2 Ran +1
(39/0)
326/12

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 +++

(23/5)
153/19

Stormo Italian G 55 Centauro
Hero awarded Spo +1 Att +1
(20/2)
319/76

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att+2 Spo +1
(17/3)
291/27

12. AA Italian 90cm + Truck +++
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def+2 Spo +1
(21/4)
451/36

10. Tac Bomber SM79 ++++
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1 Def +1
(27/8)
412/54

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio
Hero awarded Att +2 Mov +1
(18/0)
256/41

Recon Sahariana
Hero awarded Att +3 Att +1
(5/14)
260/76

7.Art Self Propelled M43 105/25 ++++
Hero awarded Def +3
(15/0)
85/0

8.Art Self Propelled M43 105/25 ++++
Hero awarded Mov +1
(9/0)
66/10

9. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(6/0)
40/13

3. AA Italian 90cm + Truck +

(15/0)
36/4

bought 6. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT) for 340 PP

(20/13)

bought 13. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT) for 340 PP

(31/0)

SE Units

14. SE Pz SE Panzer III M
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def+2 Def+2
(25/4)
495/74

2. SE PZ SE Panzer IV G
Hero awarded Def+1 Mov +1
(15/7)
411/71

Reward SE PZ SE Panzer III M
Hero awarded Att+1 Def +1
(29/3)
342/75

Reward Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Def+1 Att +1
(30/3)
326/50

Captured Units

"Captured Matilda 2" upgraded to Tiger for 703 PP
Hero awarded Att +2 Def +1 Hero awarded Def +2
(39/2)
332/46

Reward Brummbär +
Hero awarded Def +3
(7/5)
181/43

"Captured Crusader" Tiger
Hero awarded Mov +1 Hero awarded Att +3
(55/1)
174/26

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled M43 105/25 +++++
Hero Mov +1 Att +1
(20/6)
207/14

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled M43 105/25 ++++
Hero Att +5 Spo +1
(17/0)
214/2

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79 +++
Hero Att +3 Ini +1 Ini +1
(36/8)
495/40

"Captured Grant" Tiger
Hero Def +2 Def +1
(35/3)
234/52

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A
Hero Att +1
(31/5)
316/26

"Captured Churchill"
Hero Att +2 Def +3
(45/1)
208/18

Team RED

Starting Prestige 2411 PP (Bought 2 "Italian" HS 129 Tac Bombers for 340 PP each, Upgraded Italian Fighter MC 205 Veltro to G55 Centauro for 507 PP, Upgraded SE Bf110 D to 110 G for 101 PP, Overstrength for Arty+ AA)




Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +2
(6/3)
350/62

MG Battalion 8 PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(13/5)
367/82

27th Brescia Bersaglieri'43 with Truck
Hero awarded Ini +1 Spo +1
(9/2)
144/24

27th Brescia Alpini

(0/0)
47/38

8th Bersaglieri Italian Alpini with Truck

(0/0)
60/20

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm +++
Hero Awarded Att +2 Ini +1 Att +1
(22/2)
787/81

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III N
Hero awarded Def +1 Mov +1 Def +1
(18/4)
592/68

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1
(23/4)
312/70

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40
Hero awarded Def +2
(20/6)
341/63

Recon Abt. 3 German 232 Rad Recon
Hero awarded Ini +1
(4/2)
195/90

PzJäger Abt.39 German StuG III G
Hero awarded Def +1 Hero awarded Def +2
(27/10)
136/48

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG III G
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(20/4)
412/108

1. Abt Arti 75 German 15cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(24/3)
300/27

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Mov +1
(29/0)
305/20

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 ++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +1
(9/0)
326/14

Stormo Italian Mc 205 Veltro upgraded to G55 Centauro for 507 PP
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +2 Def +1
(13/0)
427/35

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +2
(28/3)
333/9

12. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(15/0)
265/14


9. AA Bought Italian 90cm + Truck ++
Hero awarded Att +1
(17/0)
97/4

10. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +2 Att +1
(39/0)
666/33

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio
Hero awarded Spo +1
(13/0)
190/50


Recon Sahariana
Hero awarded Att +1
(5/9)
103/34

7.Art Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero awarded Spo +1
(7/3)
97/10

5. Strat Bomber Piaggio
Hero awarded Att +2
(6/1)
91/8


8. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Def +1
(41/1)
139/4

bought 2. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT) for 340 PP

(45/5)

bought 4. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT) for 340 PP

(20/4)

SE Units

Reward SE PZ SE Tiger
Hero awarded Spo +1 Mov +1 Mov +1
(57/2)
575/51

Reward Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +3
(34/2)
341/21


Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Spo +1 Def +3
(15/2)
158/53

Tac Bomber awarded SE Bf 110 D upgraded to SE Bf 110 G for 101 PP
Hero awarded Ini +1
(49/1)
62/1

Captured Units

"Captured Matilda 2" Tiger
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(20/4)
383/38

Reward 30 cm Nebelwerfer + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def +2
(45/3)
258/34

"Captured Crusader" Tiger
Hero awarded Def +2
(49/10)
172/18

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero Mov +1
(13/0)
173/3

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled 75/18 +++++
Hero Att +5 Def +2
(12/0)
218/9

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79
Hero Att +3 Att +1 Ini +1
(48/9)
462/52

"Captured Grant" Tiger
Hero awarded Att +2 Hero awarded Att +1
(24/9)
270/43

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1
(47/0)
219/14

Captured Churchill
Hero awarded Def +3 Hero awarded Def +1
(36/2 )
175/14





Replay File for Run 1 (complete)
Replay File for Team Red (complete)

[captainjack]

I'm enjoying this as I like to see how other people tackle scenarios and someone else's analysis of priorities and objectives is always interesting.

I'll be interested to hear your views on the choice of Centauro after a few more scenarios. I would expect that your use of fighter traps would make the Centauro the better option, as the lower initiative doesn't matter with defensive fire, but you thoughts on value for money and versatility will be interesting.

[hurly]

I'm enjoying this as I like to see how other people tackle scenarios and someone else's analysis of priorities and objectives is always interesting.

I'll be interested to hear your views on the choice of Centauro after a few more scenarios. I would expect that your use of fighter traps would make the Centauro the better option, as the lower initiative doesn't matter with defensive fire, but you thoughts on value for money and versatility will be interesting.

hey remind me if I forget it in the next scenario writeup
but I have a fine example why the G55 upgrade was probably worth it layed out in a few screenshots
while pure Kill Count may tell a different story

not sure yet
maybe to keep the AAR which is tending to be a long one anyway in workable length I will do an extra post between scenarios for the Italian Fighter Situation interested Users. While it is getting the most attention so far I think it is still a Special Interest Topic

Anyway hold me accountable for it

I just copied/quoted the Fighter Discussion to the Weapon Arsenal Thread
http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtop ... 08#p643008
as I think it's more fitting and helpful there. Thanks for your patience

[hurly]

sorry guys my comp gave up on me yesterday and I lost my whole AAR before I could post it.
And before I could save the data in a perfect Display of Murphys Law. So Motivation to continue right away was pretty low





Scenario #18

East Africa Results November 7 1943

35 Core Units allowed 22 Turns

I could not afford any New Units and upgrades after Replacing and Overstrengthing my Army, but it is not necessary at all

So what we gonna do ?

We will have 2 different Landing Operations. One in the North to sneak on shore a battlegroup in Position to siege Khartum. On the Northern Coast a few Enemy Units are guarding the Coast. Landing Troops has to be done pretty slow and careful to not trigger the Desert Tank Group in the Center of the Map or there can be serious trouble.
The other Landing Operation is in the East in the Area between Berbera and the Horn of Africa.
Only one lonely AT Gun waiting in this Area and it can be eliminated pretty easily as well as the City of Berbera is no real Match for my massive Battlegroup. Berbera is no Victory Hex but seizing it and the nearby Airfield is essential in providing Fuel and Ammo

There will be quite a few RAF Spitfires around early on which have 2 Stars and do not dare to attack my FW 190 (but they will target the Centauro so be careful to expose the Centauro too much. Also there will be some Fighters Spawning in the Early Rounds.
No Problem though if the FW 190 Fighters give Air cover for the Bombers. 2 Star Enemy Fighters do not dare to mess with the FW 190 for now. Still a good Idea to lure the Spitfires into Fighter Traps or in Range of the AA Units. So they can be eliminated One by One pretty soon.

Still provide Air Cover for the Tac and Strat Bombers attacking the 2 Main Tank Battlegroups and bomb them into Oblivion.
Once this is accomplished and a the Resistance in the North is eliminated I send several Battlegroups to the West.
One with good Artillery Support will set up near Khartum and eliminate the Artillery Unit plus the Lonely mobile AA Truck. Then first pound all the enemy Infantry Units on our side of the River and slowly advance closer to Khartum. Patience pays off here and the lone Spitfire providing Air Cover does not move at all, so a well positioned AA Gun or FW 190 can eliminate it easily. Don't cross the River too early as there are a few Tanks, Infantry and Arty sitting on the other Side. once a Tiger or in my case a Churchill has a clean path over the River a combined Tank Air Attack can take care of all Stuff waiting there.

A good chunk of the Berbera Beachhead will go south from there and eliminte the remaining Units of the Southern Desert Tank Group bombed by my Tac Bombers. When everything is cleaned continue to march along the Southern Coast in the Direction of Nairobi and Moyale with the Intention to outflank Addis Abeba later on. Neither Nairobi nor Moyale have a lot of Defenders and it consists almost exclusively of pretty weak Stuff like Infantry and a 2 Crusaders. Still there is a Twist about Nairobi. Late in the Scenario there will be a message about a few Italian Prisoners of War near Nairobi that should be rescued. I could have easily taken Nairobi by that time, but left the City Hex open as I'm not sure the Message will come if Nairobi has already fallen and so I would miss out on the Prestige awarded for Rescuing the Italian POW

The Tank Group in the Center is attacked by almost all my Tigers and is no match anymore after being bombed for some Time.

Addis Abeba is heavily defended with all kinds of Units including AT Guns, Artillery, AA Guns even a Fortress is there and a few Churchills as well. The Garrison around Addis Abeba is pretty strong but also very passive as a few units like the Churchills don't move at all so just keep a bit of distance and attack the AT Guns with Arty and Tigers and if things go well in the South near Nairobi and Moyale by this Time a few Tanks are already in the Back of Addis Abeba and can surprise the AA Guns. Once there is no Air Defense around anymore, its all just a matter of hitting hard through the Air and letting the Artillery do their thing.

So if all things fall in Place Khartum has already collapsed or is about to do so. Not all Units are needed up there anymore and establish themselves to the North of Kurmuk and get support from Units coming up from the South as well as some Arty that is of little use for the Addis Abeba Siege. Heavy Bombing of the Churchills and the City itself will do all the Dirty Work there.

So basically more and more Troops gather near Kurmuk and soften up all eentrenched Enemy Units especially the pesky Infantry hiding in the Jungle near Kurmuk Airfield.






Now let's crunch the numbers







Run 1

Starting Prestige 1926 PP (bought no Units and upgraded no Units, Overstrength Units for all Arty and AA)

Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 German PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att+2 Ini +1 Ini +1
(14/6)
364/87

MG Battalion 8 German PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(8/2)
311/61

27th Brescia Alpini
Hero awarded Att +2
(0/0)
55/12

27th Brescia Alpini

(1/0)
34/16

8th Bersaglieri Bersaglieri'43 with Truck
Hero awarded Att +2
(1/0)
119/42

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +2 Ini +1
(15/3)
586/93

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III M
Hero awarded Mov+1 Spo +1 Att +2
(44/4)
512/119

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40
Hero awarded Def +2 Att+2 Def +2
406/71

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def +2
(23/0)
274/69

Recon Abt. 3 German SdKfz 233 Rad
Hero awarded Att+1 Att +2
(28/0)
303/123

PzJäger Abt.39 German 7,5cm Pak + Truck +
Hero awarded Def+1
(0/0)
94/38

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG III G
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +1 Def +1
(18/1)
384/101

1. Abt Arti 75 German Wurfrahmen ++++
Hero awarded Def+2 Def +2
(26/2)
380/27

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Def+2 Ran +1
(8/2)
334/14

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 +++

(16/0)
169/19

Stormo Italian G 55 Centauro
Hero awarded Spo +1 Att +1
(20/7)
339/83

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att+2 Spo +1
(18/0)
309/27

12. AA Italian 90cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def+2 Spo +1
(17/0)
468/36

10. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1 Def +1
(36/0)
448/54

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio
Hero awarded Att +2 Mov +1
(10/0)
266/41

Recon Sahariana
Hero awarded Att +3 Att +1
(6/7)
266/83

7.Art Self Propelled M43 105/25 ++++
Hero awarded Def +3
(16/0)
101/0

8.Art Self Propelled M43 105/25 ++++
Hero awarded Mov +1
(30/0)
96/10

9. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(6/0)
46/13

3. AA Italian 90cm + Truck +

(0/1)
36/5

bought 6. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT)
Hero awarded Ini +1
(43/1)
63/14

bought 13. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT)
Hero awarded Att +1
(53/0)
84/0

SE Units

14. SE Pz SE Panzer III M
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def+2 Def+2
(13/0)
508/74

2. SE PZ SE Panzer IV G
Hero awarded Def+1 Mov +1
(30/7)
441/71

Reward SE PZ SE Panzer III M
Hero awarded Att+1 Def +1
(32/6)
374/81

Reward Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Def+1 Att +1
(8/2)
334/52

Captured Units

"Captured Matilda 2" upgraded to Tiger
Hero awarded Att +2 Def +1 Def +2
(59/0)
391/46

Reward Brummbär +++
Hero awarded Def +3
(15/3)
196/46

"Captured Crusader" Tiger
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +3
(50/5)
224/31

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled M43 105/25 +++++
Hero Mov +1 Att +1
(25/0)
232/14

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled M43 105/25 ++++
Hero Att +5 Spo +1
(16/9)
232/11

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79
Hero Att +3 Ini +1 Ini +1
(13/5)
508/45

"Captured Grant" Tiger
Hero Def +2 Def +1
(43/0)
277/52

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A
Hero Att +1
(33/2)
349/28

"Captured Churchill"
Hero Att +2 Def +3
(55/1)
263/19

Team RED

Starting Prestige 2462 PP (Bought no new Units, Upgraded no Units Overstrength for Fighters, Tac Bombers, Arty+ AA)




Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +2
(17/2)
367/64

MG Battalion 8 PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(13/0)
380/82

27th Brescia Bersaglieri'43 with Truck +
Hero awarded Ini +1 Spo +1
(0/0)
144/24

27th Brescia Alpini

(0/0)
47/38

8th Bersaglieri Italian Alpini with Truck
Hero awarded Ini +1
(4/3)
64/23

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm ++
Hero Awarded Att +2 Ini +1 Att +1
(14/0)
801/81

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III N
Hero awarded Def +1 Mov +1 Def +1
(28/1)
620/69

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1
(27/1)
339/71

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40
Hero awarded Def +2
(12/3)
353/66

Recon Abt. 3 German 232 Rad Recon
Hero awarded Ini +1
(0/2)
195/92

PzJäger Abt.39 German StuG III G
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +2
(12/1)
148/49

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG III G
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(17/5)
429/113

1. Abt Arti 75 German 15cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(204/0)
320/27

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Mov +1
(17/2)
322/22

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 ++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +1
(8/0)
334/14

Stormo Italian G55 Centauro
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +2 Def +1
(9/0)
436/35

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +2 Hero awarded Ran +1
(13/0)
346/9

12. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(12/0)
277/14


9. AA Bought Italian 90cm + Truck ++
Hero awarded Att +1
(11/0)
108/4

10. Tac Bomber SM79 +++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +2 Att +1
(61/2)
727/35

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio
Hero awarded Spo +1
(4/0)
194/50


Recon Sahariana
Hero awarded Att +1
(2/2)
105/36

7.Art Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero awarded Spo +1
(14/0)
111/10

5. Strat Bomber Piaggio
Hero awarded Att +2
(13/0)
104/8


8. Tac Bomber SM79 +++
Hero awarded Def +1 Hero awarded Ini +1
(45/0)
184/4

bought 2. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT) ++
Hero awarded Att +2
(57/0)
102/5

bought 4. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT) +
Hero awarded Def +1
(41/0)
61/4

SE Units

Reward SE PZ SE Tiger
Hero awarded Spo +1 Mov +1 Mov +1
(46/1)
621/52

Reward Fighter SE FW 190 A ++++
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +3
(42/5)
383/26


Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Spo +1 Def +3
(10/3)
168/56

Tac Bomber awarded SE SE Bf 110 G ++
Hero awarded Ini +1
(29/8)
91/9

Captured Units

"Captured Matilda 2" Tiger
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(37/0)
420/38

Reward 30 cm Nebelwerfer + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def +2
(27/5)
285/39

"Captured Crusader" Tiger
Hero awarded Def +2 Hero awarded Ini +1
(45/1)
217/19

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled 75/18 +++++
Hero Mov +1
(9/0)
182/3

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled 75/18 ++++
Hero Att +5 Def +2
(18/0)
236/9

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79 ++
Hero Att +3 Att +1 Ini +1
(81/0) !!!!!!!!
543/52

"Captured Grant" Tiger
Hero awarded Att +2 Att +1
(21/1)
291/44

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A +++
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1
(54/0)
273/14

Captured Churchill
Hero awarded Def +3 Def +1
(37/4 )
212/18





Replay File for Run 1 (complete)
Replay File for Team Red (complete)

[hurly]

Scenario #19

On the Road to India Results March 27 1944

38 Core Units allowed 27 Turns

So my guys are on their way

Here an Airview from the Start
basically this will be a West to the East March, with lotsa Air Support from the South
Allied Forces are all 2 Star Units which usually means they will shy away from Air Attacks on my FW 190 Fighters or my Fighter protected Bombers. Which will be a Key to soften up the Defenses

Spoiler Alert Here the Allied Airview with all Units on the Map from the Start
Watch out the RAF has again several newly Spawned Waves Coming so be prepared all the Time

The Enemy Defense basically consists of a mayor Frontline in the East

and a Southern Central Defense Group to prevent a Landing Operation


So it's a plain Vanilla break the Entrenched Frontline Attack starting in the West, breaking up Defenses with Artillery and Tank Attacks, while Softening up Southern Central Units with heavy Air Raids.

Once the Artillery and AA on the Western Front is done, there is just soso resistence as British Tanks are no Real Match for our better and Experienced Tigers and Panthers, Italian SP Arty always able to keep up with the Tanks so it's more of a matter of Discipline and Patience to advance without mayor Problems. Just don't run into any Ambushs especially not into towed AT Units, which can easily be dispatched either through the Air or with Arty Fire.
The Southern Central Forces can cause some Trouble if the Advance is too Fast and the Luftwaffe has not completed its Job.

This Scenario is not too hard to solve imho, and the Surprise Landing by Turn 11 of a few Infantry Units and a SP Arty Support on the Southern Land Masses can be wiped out with Air Attacks. Just be aware that you won't do it with Low Fuel as the Airfields on the South Land masses might be temporarily lost, so Low Fuel might be costly. The main Threat of the Landing Operation lies in the Lack of Air Support for the Tanks advancing on the Main Land. For a few Turns they will have to do it on their own. So make sure to be in good Shape with Fuel and Ammo all the Time and don't take any foolish Risks til the Luftwaffe is back from their Southern Trip. Then chew up the Final Airfields first, shoot down the Remaining RAF Planes with AA and let your Strat Bombers gather some Kills and Experience searching for some spare Naval Units. The Final Goodie sits in the most Eastern City Hex of the Map so don't seize all Victory Hexes til you got it.

As you see I'm a bit lazy in writing up details

Just follow some basic Rules to keep Losses at a Minimum
Attack the Shermans with Strat Bombers to suppress them and make them lose Ammo
Bomb Cromwell and Churchill Tanks with Tac Bombers as they have no Air Defense, keep away from the Sherman Fireflys though until your Strat Bombers have hit them
The Tanks and other Targets in the South are usually so close together that it is Possible to give Air Cover to several Bombers with just one Fighter
Try not to engage with Enemy Fighters (Spitfire and Tempest !) before Anti Air has had a Shot at them or the Fighters will take some Losses. The Raf Fighters will avoid all FW 190 protected Bombers and will attack Ground Units with Strife Attacks instead, so keep your Arty and Trucks close to AA support. Tanks will seldom take Losses from these Attacks though, but trap them into the Range of AA which is very effective this late in the Campaign.
On the Ground take out Arty and AA Units first, be careful with entrenched AT Guns sitting at surprise locations for an Ambush. I bought 2 extra Saharianas for Team Red to give me more vision, but in hindsight it might have been better to save the Prestige for the last Scenario.

Anyway without too much trouble ended Run 1 in 21 Turns 6 turns earlier than allowed so Guderian Difficulty should be no real Problem in this must Decisive Victory Scenario to advance for Players who would like to make a run on this Level. Team Red finished in 24 Turns, but restrained from taking the Last Victory Hex for a few turns to hunt down some spare Units for Experience






Now let's crunch the numbers







Run 1

Starting Prestige 2467 PP (bought no Units and upgraded 2 Italian P26/40 Tanks to Italian Panther for 652 PP each, upgraded German 7,5cm Pak to 8,8cm Pak for 85 PP (which in hindsight was downright stupid should have gone for the StuG IV instead, but upgraded the other AT Unit a German StuG III G to StuG IV for 0 PP, Overstrength Units for all Arty and AA)

Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 German PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att+2 Ini +1 Ini +1
(7/3)
371/90

MG Battalion 8 German PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(15/2)
326/61

27th Brescia Alpini
Hero awarded Att +2
(11/4)
66/16

27th Brescia Alpini

(8/1)
42/17

8th Bersaglieri Bersaglieri'43 with Truck
Hero awarded Att +2
(6/9)
125/51

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm ++
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +2 Ini +1
(46/1)
632/94

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III M
Hero awarded Mov+1 Spo +1 Att +2
(15/2)
527/121

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40 upgraded to Italian Panther for 652 PP
Hero awarded Def +2 Att+2 Def +2
(55/3)
461/74

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40 upgraded to Italian Panther for 652 PP
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def +2
(31/4)
306/73

Recon Abt. 3 German SdKfz 233 Rad
Hero awarded Att+1 Att +2
(3/6)
306/129

PzJäger Abt.39 German 7,5cm Pak upgraded to 8,8 cm Pak + Truck + for 85 PP
Hero awarded Def+1
(10/8)
104/46

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG III G upgraded to Stug IV for 0 PP
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +1 Def +1
(7/4)
391/105

1. Abt Arti 75 German Wurfrahmen +++
Hero awarded Def+2 Def +2 Hero awarded Def +1
(48/0)
428/27

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Def+2 Ran +1
(16/0)
350/14

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 +++
Hero awarded Ran +1
(33/0)
202/19

Stormo Italian G 55 Centauro
Hero awarded Spo +1 Att +1
(16/15)
355/98

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att+2 Spo +1
(18/4)
327/31

12. AA Italian 90cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def+2 Spo +1
(29/0)
497/36

10. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1 Def +1
(28/1)
476/55

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio
Hero awarded Att +2 Mov +1
(30/5)
296/46

Recon Sahariana
Hero awarded Att +3 Att +1
(10/3)
276/86

7.Art Self Propelled M43 105/25 ++++
Hero awarded Def +3
(17/0)
118/0

8.Art Self Propelled M43 105/25 ++++
Hero awarded Mov +1
(20/3)
116/13

9. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(39/0)
85/13

3. AA Italian 90cm + Truck +
Hero awarded Att +3
(14/3)
50/8

bought 6. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT)
Hero awarded Ini +1
(42/0)
105/14

bought 13. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT)
Hero awarded Att +1
(15/3)
99/3

SE Units

14. SE Pz SE Panzer III M
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def+2 Def+2
(3/0)
511/74

2. SE PZ SE Panzer IV G
Hero awarded Def+1 Mov +1
(18/16)
459/87

Reward SE PZ SE Panzer III M
Hero awarded Att+1 Def +1
(7/1)
381/82

Reward Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Def+1 Att +1
(34/6)
368/58

SE Ju 87 G awarded

(49/2)

Captured Units

"Captured Matilda 2" Tiger
Hero awarded Att +2 Def +1 Def +2
(35/0)
426/46

Reward Brummbär +++
Hero awarded Def +3
(14/5)
210/51

"Captured Crusader" Tiger
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +3
(68/12)
292/43

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled M43 105/25 +++++
Hero Mov +1 Att +1
(35/0)
267/14

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled M43 105/25 +++++
Hero Att +5 Spo +1 Hero awarded Def +1
(20/2)
252/13

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79
Hero Att +3 Ini +1 Ini +1
(34/3)
542/48

"Captured Grant" Tiger
Hero Def +2 Def +1
(57/4)
334/56

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A
Hero Att +1 Hero awarded Att +3
(27/9)
376/37

"Captured Churchill"
Hero Att +2 Def +3
(32/2)
295/21

Captured Sherman Firefly

(0/0)


Team RED

Starting Prestige 2671 PP (Bought 2 Sahariana Recon Units for 198 PP each, Upgraded upgraded 2 Italian P26/40 Tanks to Italian Panther for 652 PP each, upgraded 2 German StuG III G to StuG IV for 0 PP, upgraded 3 SP Italian Arty M 75/18 to M43 105/25 for 134 PP each, upgraded SE Ju87 D to Se Ju87 G for 41 PP, Overstrength for Tac Bombers, Arty+ AA)




Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +2
(21/0)
388/64

MG Battalion 8 PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1 Hero awarded Def +3
(16/2)
396/84

27th Brescia Bersaglieri'43 with Truck +
Hero awarded Ini +1 Spo +1
(11/5)
155/29

27th Brescia Alpini

(6/0)
53/38

8th Bersaglieri Italian Alpini with Truck
Hero awarded Ini +1
(10/0)
74/23

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm ++
Hero Awarded Att +2 Ini +1 Att +1
(20/4)
821/85

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III N
Hero awarded Def +1 Mov +1 Def +1
(27/0)
647/69

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40 upgraded to Italian Panther for 652 PP
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1 Hero awarded Att +2
(50/0)
389/71

132nd Ariete Italian P26/40 upgraded to Italian Panther for 652 PP
Hero awarded Def +2 Hero awarded Def +3
(62/0)
415/66

Recon Abt. 3 German 232 Rad Recon
Hero awarded Ini +1
(0/0)
195/92

PzJäger Abt.39 German StuG III G upgraded to StuG IV for 0 PP +
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +2
(4/0)
152/49

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG III G upgraded to StuG IV for 0 PP ++ [/color]
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1
(14/1)
443/114

1. Abt Arti 75 German 15cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(23/4)
343/31

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Mov +1
(30/0)
352/22

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 ++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +1
(11/0)
345/14

Stormo Italian G55 Centauro
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +2 Def +1
(13/7)
449/42

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +2 Hero awarded Ran +1
(10/0)
356/9

12. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(13/0)
290/14


9. AA Bought Italian 90cm + Truck ++
Hero awarded Att +1
(2/0)
110/4

10. Tac Bomber SM79 +++
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +2 Att +1
(54/3)
781/38

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio
Hero awarded Spo +1
(27/0)
221/50


Recon Sahariana
Hero awarded Att +1
(4/3)
109/39

7.Art Self Propelled 75/18 upgraded to M43 105/25 for 134 PP +++++
Hero awarded Spo +1
(16/2)
127/12

5. Strat Bomber Piaggio
Hero awarded Att +2 Hero awarded Att +1
(28/0)
132/8


8. Tac Bomber SM79 +++
Hero awarded Def +1 Hero awarded Ini +1
(25/2)
209/6

bought 2. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT)
Hero awarded Att +2 Hero awarded Att +1
(47/2)
149/7

bought 4. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT)
Hero awarded Def +1
(30/2)
91/6

Bought 14. Recon Sahariana for 198 PP

(4/7)

Bought 15. Recon Sahariana for 198 PP

(3/1)

SE Units

Reward SE PZ SE Tiger
Hero awarded Spo +1 Mov +1 Mov +1
(47/12)
668/64

Reward Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +3
(42/2)
425/28


Fighter SE FW 190 A
Hero awarded Spo +1 Def +3
(36/5)
204/61

Tac Bomber awarded SE SE Bf 110 G
Hero awarded Ini +1
(12/5)
103/14

SE Ju 87 D awarded upgraded SE Ju 87 G for 41 PP

(12/1)

Captured Units

"Captured Matilda 2" Tiger
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(46/0)
466/38

Reward 30 cm Nebelwerfer + Truck ++
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def +2
(39/0)
324/39

"Captured Crusader" Tiger
Hero awarded Def +2 Ini +1 Hero awarded Spo +1
(29/4)
246/23

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled 75/18 to M43 105/25 for 134 PP +++++
Hero Mov +1 Hero awarded Ran +1
(6/0)
188/3

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled 75/18 to M43 105/25 for 143 PP +++++
Hero Att +5 Def +2
(15/0)
251/9

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79 ++
Hero Att +3 Att +1 Ini +1
(56/2)
599/54

"Captured Grant" Tiger
Hero awarded Att +2 Att +1
(50/5)
341/49

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A +++
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1
(41/8)
314/22

Captured Churchill
Hero awarded Def +3 Def +1
(17/2)
229/20

Captured Sherman Firefly

(0/0)


Numbers already updated, working on Screenshots and AAR

For those who can't wait

Replay File for Run 1 (complete)
Replay File for Team Red (complete)

[hurly]

Scenario #20

British India


A few words before the Final AAR of the Campaign. I have experienced as so often playing Panzer Corps Campaigns a serious bout of Final Scenario Fever. Which means I shy away from finishing the Last Battle and to even top that once I do I lose a lot of discipline and abandon my Strategies just to get it done.
Can't tell what is the reason for it, but it is there and not only for Afrika Korps, but for other Campaigns as well, namely not finishing Sealion 45 for the Grand Campaign West once I got the upper hand I just took a break and never came back, almost the same as Epilogue and Berlin Redux for GC East, just got bored with the Mass Battles and stopped playing. Always took the Alibi ah there is new Content like Allied Corps, Soviet Corps, Sealion Plus US GC and what not, even jumped to some Mod Campaigns.

Did not have that for Afrika Korps probably cause this Campaigns ends anything but spectacular and all of a sudden you have won the Final Battle ---- End Screen ---- Done.
But here on Rommel Difficulty which is probably some ENDGAME challenge as well, I experienced a heavy setback in this regard again.
I started my Run 1 British India Battle and all of a sudden I rushed, pressed, lost discipline, sacrificed Units carelessly and just wanted this Fight to End cause I felt the obligation to close this AAR saga here. Did that with a Triumph. Took a short break for a few days and then decided that's not respectful enough for this well designed Campaign, and replayed it from about Turn 10 again. And I can tell you there was not a lot of Fun involved just felt the Obligation to do it and a little Side Motivation to not lose any of my beloved Troops that spent the whole Campaign with me. Ok different motivation and the Challenge and helped a lot. So there will be 2 "Run 1" Replays for this Scenario in the End --- one Being the wild, undisciplined I would call it it somehow raw and dirty one, ending in a Triumph with a lot of unnecessary sacrifices and losses. And the other one where I was motivated to give this Italian Challenge a respectful and fitting Final Battle. Also ended in a Triumph but basically a more Clean and Watchable one for the Viewers.
And then came the Big Hole, part of that I wanted to help out fellow General extraordinaire goose on his Blindthrough of Afrika Korps, part of writing up some AAR of already finished scenarios, part of cause I could not bring up the Motivation to finish the Team Red Campaign. Did these writeups after a few days off to get the Campaign to British India and then Boom almost 2 months no Drive to play Panzer Corps at all.
No other Stuff and not British India as well as I feared I would rush it again like in Run 1.
Then finally I felt the Need to complete this AAR (rising numbers of downloaded Replays being a Factor) and not let it disappear in the Forum archives as unfinished business.
So I finally started and completed the Team RED Run and while it went quite great and pretty easy I changed my Goals not only to finish this Scenario, but to finish it with all Enemy Units cleaned out and all Hexes taken. One word WORKED. With the embarrassing surprise I forgot about the Heavy Weapon Infantry sitting beside the most Northern City Hex near the Himalaya. Since I left a lot of Units Idle near the empty India East Coast Victory Hexes just waiting to take them on the Final Turn, I also reangarred that mishap replaying a few late Turns by pulling a few of these Units up North and put away with this Unit that never moved the whole Scenario.
So the Team Red Replay will be perfect in terms of cleaning out all Enemies and seizing All Hexes, but flawed by this little Mishap in the North

So now to the Final AAR which was more of an obligation to Finish my Duty here than the Fun for most of the Earlier Scenarios. And I will do it a bit different not mentioning Spoilers or anything



Scenario #20

British India Results ------ June 6 1944 (<--- has anyone noticed that date ? Designers Humor ? or just a Random Coincidence ? Well I will call it I Day from here on)

40 Core Units allowed 32 Turns

This scenario is pretty straight forward in some Terms and pretty surprising in others
Surprising cause you just need 10 of 15 Victory Hexes + the British HQ (which by the way is just and ordinary Pillbox on an Airfield named British HQ and can be easily missed to be already taken out. Happened to me in the Rushed First Try of Run 1, I had vague memeories where the ominous HQ was located and searched elsewhere and all of a sudden the Game Congrats you have the Campaign)
The Scenario is pretty straight Forward in terms of Enemy Units you encounter here. They are (unlike many other Scenarios) all there from the Start and they are all 3 star Units. They will get reinforced if they can escape wounded heavily, but once you kill one off its gone and there will be no new Units brought by the AI anymore.
So its a seek and kill Mission for the KEY Dangerous Units and there is no real sense in letting anyone escape wounded heavily.

Here is our starting Map --- as always Victory Hexes in Red + the HQ (15 of them although 10 is enough to win), Airfields are blue


It's the Final Fight of the Campaign so what will the Allies bring into combat ?

Don't want to warn for Spoilers anymore, whoever wants to do this blind, stop here


Enemies are all 3 Star Units

In the Air they come with

3 Spitfire Mk IX
3 Tempest Mk V
1 Meteor Jet (never had the impressiion it is that strong in Allied Corps, I was really disappointed with the Performance then, here it is a major Pain in the Ass

4 Typhoon Mk I Tac Bombers
1 Mosquito Mk IV Tac Bomber

All Air Unit can and will do Air Attacks !
Airfields are spread out all over the Map into the deepest Corners of the Map so its basically impossible stall the RAF taking all Airfields away, Still it's possible to make Refueling and Ammo Grab more complicated with longer routes. Even possiible to surprise some Planes with Low Fuel taking away their targeted Landing Spots


By Sea they have 2 Fleets one at the West Coast of the Indian Peninsula the other and slightly bigger and powerful to the East Coast ading up to

6 Destroyers
2 Subs
6 Light Cruisers
4 Heavy Cruisers
1 Battle Cruiser
3 Battleships

*cough thats some serious Firepower to deal with especially when they start to Protect the Coastline

more than 20 Infantry of all kinds from Normal to Hvy weapons, Engineers and Paras

5 Recons and 5 towed AT Guns

Tanks
7 Sherman Firefly with Air Defence
7 Challenger Tanks

AA
3x Mobile AA
1x small 20 mm
2x medium 40 mm
3x heavy 3 Inch
1x Super Heavy 3.7 Inch

+ Arty
3x 5.5 Inch
4x 6 Inch
3x 7.2 Inch
2x SP Sexton
1x SP Bishop

and Fortifications
9x Strongpoints
5x Fortress
several Minefields to the East of the Indus River

well that's about all they have from the Start and there will be no New Units


We need 10 Victory Hexes out of 15 for the Triumph + the British Headquarter located at the Indian East Coast behind the Mountains

So from the Airview we can already see the General Direction Routes Combat Groups have to follow
after the Crossing of the Indus River

The Northern Route along the Ganges River with Victory Hexes New Delhi, Varanasi and Bangladesh
(and optionally progressing into Pakistan and beyond with Rangun and Mysik way in the Southeast

The Coast Line Route on the West Coast going South starting with Surat (where the Group will split)
marching on Hubli, Bangalore and way down at the Cape Tip Trivandrum

Leaving the Center with lots of Mountains and Jungles as the Central Group advances via Nagpur and Bhilai to the 4 East Coast Hexes and the Final Battle

If all things go well there will be Units attacking from the North, South and through the Jungle in the Middle simultaneously. The Fleet patrolling the Eastern Coast will be a major obstacle to overcome, especially if there is no Air Superiority and AA still alive and kicking.

This is what basically happened to RUN 1 Troops

WHile the 3 Combat Groups could snag up all 9 victory hexes along their path after some heavy resistance quite in time all of a sudden the Central and Northern Group faced the Dilemma of dealing with heavy artillery fire coming from the East Coast Fleet which is pretty intact cause AA protects them close to the Coast and the still active RAF being a continous threat binding the Axis Fighters wir Air Cover Duties.

In my initial Try I completely ignored the Fact you need only 10 Victory Hexes and looked way too far in the East for the British HQ. This resulted in an Hurry Up Attack cause 6 Victory Hexes and the HQ have still be seized and so many Ground Units were exposed to Fortress and Sea Fire.

Still (and it came surprisingly as I never noticed the HQ was just a Pillbox on an East Coast Airfield already destroyed) the Game stopped and flashed the Triumph Message after the First of the 4 East Coast City Hexes was taken in Turn 28 with plenty of time Left.

Not a very fitting End for the Campaign and there was no real good Feeling winning the Campaign.
Still in the End it doesn't matter since no Units or Core will be saved for another Campaign
(This can be seen in the First attached Replay)

General Hurly was not really pleased with this outcome, and picked up Play again around Turn 10 (about the Time I lost patience and discipline) and finished the Scenario with a little bit more Control and focused on the essential Targets. A much better performnce for this optional ReRun and Triumph was accomplished by Turn 23 with no Casualties resp Total Losses of Units
(This will be the second attached Replay for Run 1)
Run 1 was always molested by the remaining RAF Units cause only the 3 Spitfires (2 because they ran out of Fuel), 2 Tempest Fighters and just 1 Typhoon plus the Mosquito were eliminated.


So what happened to Team Red
I could not bring up the Motivation to play out this Run as well for quite some Time.
Did not want to bring a sloppy performance again
Finally when Motivation was there again, Team Red with the 4 Fighter Setup did not focus on Ground Targets and Troops but went straight for Air Superiority
This approach worked out great.
Here a short Diary by Turn how the Air Combat panned out
Turn 1 1 Spitfire shot down while still located at its Starting Point an Airfield near Surat
Turn 2 2nd Spitfire eliminated
Turn 3 the Mosquito and 1 Typhoon are there no more
Turn 4 the last Spitfire, a Tempest Fighter and a Typhoon added to the Casualties
Turn 5 the Meteor the main Air Nemesis is ganged up on with all we had and done
Turn 6 the 2nd Tempest gone
Turn 7 another Typhoon gone
Turn 8 the Final 2 pieces of the RAF a Tempest and a Typhoon shot down, giving Team Red total Control of the Skies only paying attention to AA Guns
Which means about 24 Turns left Air Units can target anything not protected by the few remaining (but already located AA Guns)
Since Team Red also started shorthanded into the Scenario with a few open Core Slots it was possible to invest the already amassed Prestige from City Hexes and buy another Piaggio Strat Bomber starting out from Bangladesh Airport to give the Royal Navy Hell with a 3rd Level Bomber.
So not only the RAF gone the Royal Navy was no real Factor on the East Coast for long and Allied AA Units taken out piece by piece with Artillery Fire the East Coast Resistance was quite easy to break up and I changed the Personal Goal from just accomplishing a Triumph to Total Annihilation of all British Troops. Missed a a never moving Heavy Weapon Infantry in the North East close to Non Victory Hex Moranhat, while parking quite a few Units near the intentionally not taken but already open Indian East Coast Victory Hexes. Rearranged that by sending nort a few Bombers, Recon and Arty to clean out that one Unit as well
In the End whole Scenario taken in 32 Turns, No Total Losses, No Enemy Unit left.

I can only attach 3 files to a post so I add that "perfect" Replay to the AAR







Now let's crunch the numbers





New Category Displayed

+ stands for Actual Overstrength as before
* stands for Experience at the End of the Scenario

so
++*** means the Unit has 5 Star Experience but only 2 Overstrength Units

Run 1

Starting Prestige 2829 PP (bought no Units and upgraded German 8,8cm Pak to StuG IV for 347 PP (better late than never !) upgraded SE Panzer IV G to SE Panzer IV J for 50 PP, Overstrength Units for all Arty and AA)

Starting Lineups (only Core Units) and Final Numbers for the Campaign
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 German PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport *
Hero awarded Att+2 Ini +1 Ini +1
(37/6)
408/96

MG Battalion 8 German PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport *
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1 Hero awarded Att +2
(31/5)
357/66

27th Brescia Alpini **
Hero awarded Att +2
(22/9)
88/25

27th Brescia Alpini

(10/8)
52/25

8th Bersaglieri Bersaglieri'43 with Truck *
Hero awarded Att +2
(35/14)
160/65

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm ++*
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +2 Ini +1
(31/0)
663/94

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III M **
Hero awarded Mov+1 Spo +1 Att +2
(28/9)
555/130

132nd Ariete Italian Panther *
Hero awarded Def +2 Att+2 Def +2
(59/6)
520/80

132nd Ariete Italian Panther **
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def +2 Hero awarded Mov +1
(46/8)
352/81

Recon Abt. 3 German SdKfz 233 Rad *
Hero awarded Att+1 Att +2
(12/4)
318/133

PzJäger Abt.39 German 8,8 cm Pak + Truck upgraded to Stug IV for 347 PP ***
Hero awarded Def+1
(7/4)
111/50

PzJäger Abt.605 German Stug IV ***
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +1 Def +1
(16/8)
407/113

1. Abt Arti 75 German Wurfrahmen ****
Hero awarded Def+2 Def +2 Def +1
(21/4)
449/31

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck *****
Hero awarded Def+2 Ran +1
(20/7)
370/21

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 ***
Hero awarded Ran +1
(21/4)
223/23

Stormo Italian G 55 Centauro
Hero awarded Spo +1 Att +1
(5/15)
360/113

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck *****
Hero awarded Att+2 Spo +1
(20/8)
347/39

12. AA Italian 90cm + Truck ++++
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def+2 Spo +1
(25/0)
522/36

10. Tac Bomber SM79 *****
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1 Def +1
(19/3)
495/58

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio *****
Hero awarded Att +2 Mov +1
(31/3)
327/49

Recon Sahariana *
Hero awarded Att +3 Att +1
(34/12)
301/98

7.Art Self Propelled M43 105/25 ++++*
Hero awarded Def +3
(20/0)
138/0

8.Art Self Propelled M43 105/25 ++++*
Hero awarded Mov +1
(23/0)
139/13

9. Strat Bomber Piaggio *****

(30/0)
115/13

3. AA Italian 90cm + Truck ++
Hero awarded Att +3
(9/0)
59/8

bought 6. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT) ***
Hero awarded Ini +1 Hero awarded Spo +1
(33/0)
138/14

bought 13. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT) **
Hero awarded Att +1
(24/4)
123/7

SE Units

14. SE Pz SE Panzer III M **
Hero awarded Ini +1 Def+2 Def+2
(20/5)
531/79

2. SE PZ SE Panzer IV G upgraded to SE Panzer IV J for 50 PP [/color]
Hero awarded Def+1 Mov +1 Hero awarded Ini +1
(36/17)
495/104

Reward SE PZ SE Panzer III M *
Hero awarded Att+1 Def +1
(14/11)
395/93

Reward Fighter SE FW 190 A *
Hero awarded Def+1 Att +1
(37/16)
405/74

SE Ju 87 G awarded **

(33/4)
82/6

Captured Units

"Captured Matilda 2" Tiger **
Hero awarded Att +2 Def +1 Def +2
(36/6)
462/52

Reward Brummbär +++
Hero awarded Def +3
(8/3)
218/54

"Captured Crusader" Tiger *
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +3
(44/1)
336/44

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled M43 105/25 +****
Hero Mov +1 Att +1
(30/4)
297/18

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled M43 105/25 +++++
Hero Att +5 Spo +1 Def +1
(22/0)
274/13

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79 ****
Hero Att +3 Ini +1 Ini +1
(45/1)
587/49

"Captured Grant" Tiger *
Hero Def +2 Def +1
(39/9)
373/65

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A *
Hero Att +1 Att +3
(23/7)
399/44

"Captured Churchill" ***
Hero Att +2 Def +3
(23/4)
318/25

Captured Sherman Firefly *

(15/10)
15/10

Team RED

Starting Prestige 2643 PP (Bought Italian Strat Bomber Piaggio on Turn xx for 426 PP, Upgraded no Units, Overstrength for Tac Bombers, Arty (incl StuG IV) + AA)




Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport *
Hero awarded Mov +1 Att +2 Hero awarded Spo +1
(28/11)
416/75

MG Battalion 8 PzGren'43 with Half Track Transport **
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1 Def +3
(16/2)
396/84

27th Brescia Bersaglieri'43 with Truck + **
Hero awarded Ini +1 Spo +1
(19/2)
174/31

27th Brescia Alpini *

(13/4)
66/42

8th Bersaglieri Italian Alpini with Truck ***
Hero awarded Ini +1
(2/21)
76/44

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm **
Hero Awarded Att +2 Ini +1 Att +1
(27/13)
848/98

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III N **
Hero awarded Def +1 Mov +1 Def +1
(18/12)
665/81

132nd Ariete Italian Panther **
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1 Att +2
(41/14)
430/85

132nd Ariete Italian Panther ***
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +3
(48/4)
463/70

Recon Abt. 3 German 232 Rad Recon *
Hero awarded Ini +1 Hero awarded Def +1
(8/4)
203/96

PzJäger Abt.39 German StuG IV ***
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +2
(15/0)
167/49

PzJäger Abt.605 German StuG IV ++**
Hero awarded Def +1 Def +1 Hero awarded Def +1
(16/0)
459/114

1. Abt Arti 75 German 15cm + Truck ++++*
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(15/1)
358/32

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++**
Hero awarded Att +1 Mov +1
(30/2)
382/24

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/2 +++*
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +1
(16/1)
361/15

Stormo Italian G55 Centauro ****
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +2 Def +1
(27/2)
476/44

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++++
Hero awarded Def +2 Def +2 Hero awarded Ran +1
(27/0)
383/9

12. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ****
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(14/9)
304/23


9. AA Italian 90cm + Truck **
Hero awarded Att +1
(15/4)
125/8

10. Tac Bomber SM79 *****
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +2 Att +1
(52/1)
833/39

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio ****
Hero awarded Spo +1
(56/0)
276/50


Recon Sahariana *
Hero awarded Att +1 Hero awarded Att +1
(26/12)
135/51

7.Art Self Propelled M43 105/25 +++++
Hero awarded Spo +1
(40/2)
167/12

5. Strat Bomber Piaggio ***
Hero awarded Att +2 Hero awarded Att +1
(50/4)
182/17


8. Tac Bomber SM79 ****
Hero awarded Def +1 Hero awarded Ini +1
(27/3)
236/9

bought 2. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT) ***
Hero awarded Att +2 Att +1
(41/4)
190/11

bought 4. Tac Bomber HS 129(IT) ***
Hero awarded Def +1
(51/0)
142/6

14. Recon Sahariana *

(22/15)
26/22

15. Recon Sahariana *

(32/9)
35/10

22. Strat Bomber Piaggio for 426 PP *

(23/0)
23/0

SE Units

Reward SE PZ SE Tiger **
Hero awarded Spo +1 Mov +1 Mov +1
(43/8)
711/72

Reward Fighter SE FW 190 A ****
Hero awarded Def +1 Att +3 Hero awarded Def +1
(31/10)
456/38


Fighter SE FW 190 A ***
Hero awarded Spo +1 Def +3
(28/5)
232/66

Tac Bomber awarded SE SE Bf 110 G **
Hero awarded Ini +1
(31/6)
134/20

SE Ju 87 G **
Hero awarded Def +2
(65/0)
77/1

Captured Units

"Captured Matilda 2" Tiger **
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1 Hero awarded Def +1
(34/2)
500/40

Reward 30 cm Nebelwerfer + Truck ****
Hero awarded Mov +1 Def +2 Spo +1
(59/6)
383/45

"Captured Crusader" Tiger **
Hero awarded Def +2 Ini +1 Hero awarded Def +1
(29/4)
246/23

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled M43 105/25 *****
Hero Mov +1 Ran +1
(23/6)
211/9

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled M43 105/25 +++++
Hero Att +5 Def +2
(43/0)
294/9

5.Tac (Att +3) SM 79 **
Hero Att +3 Att +1 Ini +1
(32/7)
631/61

"Captured Grant" Tiger **
Hero awarded Att +2 Att +1
(59/0)
400/49

"Captured Spitfire" FW 190 A ****
Hero awarded Def +2 Att +1
(44/10)
358/32

Captured Churchill **
Hero awarded Def +3 Def +1
(29/6)
258/26

Captured Sherman Firefly ***

(22/0)
22/0





Replay File for Run 1 (complete) in 28 turns Lack of Discipline and Concentration
Replay File for Run 1 (complete) in 23 turns Focused on Key Hexes
Replay File for Team Red (complete) in 32 Turns All Enemy Units eliminated

[hurly]

Aftermath

I wanted to add some lists in here which units had the most kills, most losses, best ratio kills-losses et al when i made this post

i switched that idea since I started a New Run basically simulating goose's Blindthrough Army and the missed goodies to get a better a idea how to deal with this special situation.

So I started out with a self imposed set of Rules for a Special Italian Challenge

Ground Rules

German Units are not allowed and sold off during the next Deployment Phase so at least the Prestige is not lost
Only Exception are Scenarios where German Units are awarded during the Scenario then they participate til the End of said Scenario (eg Dash to the Wire and the First Scenario as you can not sell the German Units in a Deployment Phase there)
Awarded SE Units are sold off immediately, so basically it's not only Italian Units and Allied Captured Units it's also being short of up to 5 SE Unit Slots
Captured Allied Stuff can stay around, but not upgraded as they would become German Units then
(so the Crusader Tank remains what it is, just like the Grant, the Matilda, the Churchill, the Spitfire and the Firefly)
I can buy additional but only from the Italian Weapons Stack

So the Army consists of Italian Units only plus the Six British Capturables


Don't wanna do a real AAR here, just post the Replays of that Run for the Interested
Files are attached to several posts due to the Fact that only 3 Attachments per Post are allowed
To Download any Replay just click one of the Links in the List right below

Reconaissance in Force
Ras Al Mudawarrah
Brevity
Battleaxe
Dash to the Wire
Second Offensive
Gazala Line
Malta
Alam Halfa
Suez Canal
Palestine
Syria
Iraq
Basra
Persia
Kaukasus
Arabia
East Africa
On the Way to India
British India
British India is again a sloppy fight, should have done that more patiently, but its quite hard to do that knowing that there are no consequences. JUST WIN BABY (I should add the Decisive Victory came with enough Turns Left to win on Guderian, so if someone feels the Need to give Guderian a try, Chance to succeed is quite good)

(23.02.2017) Gewaltsame Erkundung, Runde 13.zip

(59.89 KiB) Downloaded 201 times

(23.02.2017) Ra's al Mudawwarah, Runde 15.zip

(59.16 KiB) Downloaded 190 times

(24.02.2017) Brevity, Runde 12.zip

(61.35 KiB) Downloaded 188 times

[parmenio]

I'm finding these AARs immensely useful as well as enjoyable. I'm working my way through AK (but as a novice hacker, I'm only on Colonel at the moment) and it's only on reading through your AAR that I discover that I should have done a "Hangar Hunt" in the desert in Dash to the Wire and that by leaving the taking of El Agheila too late, I won't get to keep any of my reinforcements...

.... cue re-doing both

[hurly]

I'm finding these AARs immensely useful as well as enjoyable. I'm working my way through AK (but as a novice hacker, I'm only on Colonel at the moment) and it's only on reading through your AAR that I discover that I should have done a "Hangar Hunt" in the desert in Dash to the Wire and that by leaving the taking of El Agheila too late, I won't get to keep any of my reinforcements...

.... cue re-doing both

You're welcome

If these AAR are of any help even for just one Person, it was worth the work.

See ya in India

[hurly]

bump

[goose_2]

Boxing Day or 2. Weihnachtstag in German so a Scenario named Second Offensive is fitting


Sixth Scenario

Second Offensive Results

17 Core Units allowed 22 Turns


Comments
This one is tricky in a few ways.
The briefing tells you to retreat to El Agheila as quickly as possible and wait for Reinforcements.
It's not telling you there is a Turn Limit for Capturing El Agheila (I think it's Turn 10 not sure about that) If you capture El Agheila after the Turn Limit or at the End of the Scenario which is not only possible, but maybe a little bit more relaxing if you stop the British onslaught in the Center of the Map first, then you will still get a horde of Auxiliary Reinforcements but none are keepers. So I strongly recommend to split forces and capture El Agheila before Turn 10 and you will get 3 very good Units that will serve you well for hte Rest of the Campaign.
It's also tricky cause you have to make a Stand in the Desert versus the All Out Rush of the Brits with plenty of Tanks and Infantry and a few Recons while along the Coast Line in a Bottleneck position you have to withstand an Attack with a Matilda plus several artillery and Infantry coming over the Mountains from the South. All this with a quite respectable Number of RAF Units attacking from Above.

And of Course the AI goes First here again so don't expose Artillery on the Front Lines
You have only 17 Core Units allowed so several Units have to sit on the Bench and in a completely unrelated Coincidence General Hurly benched the mobile AA unit braccada endorsed in his posting above in the Run 1 fighting. So as this seems like a stubborn General ignoring the advice of the Master of Controll and Efficiency in Fact it is not as the Actual Fighting was done some time ago and this is just the AFTER Action Report for all other Strategy Buffs to read


The scenario itself
I had two quite different approaches for Run 1 and Team Red

The Run 1 Core already has 4 SE Units by now and can go with a Total of 21 Units into this scenario. So Run 1 uses Golden Hurly Rule of Thumb (Overstrength only for Artillery and AA and no Elite Replacements for all other Units in the Deploy Phase if it costs more than 100 Prestige per Unit)
I made 2 exceptions for that as General wanted the Matilda defnding the Coast Line Bottleneck as strong as possible and it received 1 Overstrength plus the SE Fighter from Last Scenario gets a 1 Overstrength as well.

Team Red with just the 2 SE Units rewarded in the last Scenario at hand has only 19 Units to go with and goes All in with Overstrength for every Unit deployed in the Scenario (I will mark Overstrength with a + for each Overstrength Point

Still the Basic tactics are quite Similar for Both Runs

The Matilda is the Unit that can take the hardest Beating, Back it up with an Artillery Unit a Pz Grenadier to protect the City of Barce and an AA Unit as Protection for Air Attacks. These 4 Units can withstand the Pressure for a long Time and ideally once they get into trouble the Reinforcements have arrived and the Momentum will change.

Run 1 gave the Return to El Agheila a moderate Priority and aims for a Just in Time approach approximately at Turn 9 and defends the Desert Attack of the Brits quite ferociously.
Team Red made the Return to El Agheila Top Priority to overcame the Shortness of Available Units and even supports the Return to El Agheila with several Air Units. The defending in the heart of the Desert has to be done a little bit more in controlled Retreat mode

Both strategies work and once you get the massive Amount of Reinforcements the Tides of the Scenario is reversed

In the end it is essential to keep alive all Defenders in the Middle and at the Coast Line, weaken or reduce the RAF as much as possible and once the Second Offensive starts collect all the Hexes and Cities on the Map while completely erasing the British troops from the Map. You have to restrain from taking the Last Victory Hex with a few turns to go or you may miss some Run and Gun Experience Building in the East as well as some Prestige for the Non Victory Hexes

In the End a challenging scenario only in the Beginning, once the Reinforcements arrive it's a matter of discipline to get the Decisive Victory with the maximum Prestige taken and Unit Experience stocked with minimal losses

*Key in this Scenario is getting the 3 Goodies 2 Self Propelled Italian Artillery Units (1 with a Mov +1 Hero, the other with a huge Att +5 hero) and a Breda bomber (with Att +3 Hero). The Breda itself is nothing special but it can be upgraded into a SM79 Tac Bomber (like most Italian Units in the Family and very Cheap) and will be a very good Unit for the Rest of the Way to India (this is true also if you play Afrika Korps in Vanilla Style, the SM 79 starting with Att +3 will be one of your better Units and can justify its Presence vs any German Tac Bomber)

Several heroes awarded (info added to the Results table) this time again one Double Heroes for Team Red Pz Grenadier Mg 8 Battallion






Run 1

Starting Prestige 1834 PP (No new Units bought, No upgrades, Overstrength Units for SE Fighter, AA and the Matilda as well as the StuG and one Italian Arty)

Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 German PzGren with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att+2
(12/5)
105/25

MG Battalion 8 German PzGren with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Def +1
(37/9)
114/15

27th Brescia Bersaglieri

(0/0)
20/3

27th Brescia Bersaglieri

(0/0)
9/8

8th Bersaglieri Bersaglieri with Truck

(24/3)
52/15

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm
Hero awarded Def +1
(28/3)
163/34

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III J
Hero awarded Mov+1 Hero awarded Spo +1
(53/8)
188/35

132nd Ariete Italian M13/41 Tank
Hero awarded Def +2 Att+2
(34/10)
151/26

132nd Ariete Italian M13/41 Tank
Hero awarded Ini +1
(0/0)
108/25

Recon Abt. 3 German 232 Rad Recon
Hero awarded Att+1
(17/11)
96/42

PzJäger Abt.39 German 5cm Pak + Truck

(20/10)
37/25

PzJäger Abt.605 German PzJäger 1B

(0/0)
77/36

1. Abt Arti 75 German 15cm + Truck

(15/7)
70/10

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck

(6/0)
57/5

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/1

(0/0)
35/11

Stormo Italian Mc 202 Folgore
Hero awarded Sp +1
(20/2)
107/13

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++
Hero awarded Att+2 Hero awarded Att+2
(28/5)
91/8

12. AA Italian 90cm + Truck +
Hero awarded Mov +1
(25/7)
68/7

10. Tac Bomber SM79
Hero awarded Def +1 Hero awarded Def +1
(22/1)
91/2

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio

(4/7)
29/19

Recon Sahariana

(16/4)
41/7

SE Units

14. SE Pz SE Panzer III J
Hero awarded Ini +1
(27/0)
137/28

2. SE PZ SE Panzer IV F

(24/8)
68/15

Reward SE PZ SE Panzer III J

(47/9)
50/16

Reward Fighter SE Bf 109 F +

(47/0)
52/0

Captured Units

Captured Matilda 2 +

(45/7)
70/10

Reward StuG III B +

(19/8)
20/13

Captured Crusader

(0/0)
0/0

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled 75/18 Hero Mov +1

(4/2)

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled 75/18 Hero Att +5

(1/0)

5.Tac (Att +3) Breda Hero Att +3

(10/5)



Team RED

Starting Prestige 1935 PP (No new units, No Upgrades, Overstrength for every Unit)


Starting Lineups (only Core Units)
(Kills/ Losses Scenario)
Kills/ Losses Campaign


Mg Battallion 2 German PzGren with Half Track Transport ++
Hero awarded Mov +1
(13/4)
112/14

MG Battalion 8 German PzGren with Half Track Transport
Hero awarded Att +1 Def +1
(37/13)
124/30

27th Brescia Bersaglieri with Truck

(0/0)
77/15

27th Brescia Bersaglieri

(0/0)
7/6

8th Bersaglieri Italian Bersaglieri with Truck

(0/0)
54/17

2. Abt Panzer German Panzer II Flamm +++
Hero Awarded Att +2 Hero awarded Att +2 Hero awarded Ini +1
(63/5)
266/29

1. Abt Panzer German Panzer III J ++
Hero awarded Def +1 Mov +1
(63/4)
228/28

132nd Ariete Italian M13/41 Tank
Hero awarded Def +2
(22/1)
143/26

132nd Ariete Italian M13/41 Tank
Hero awarded Def +2
(26/2)
126/26

Recon Abt. 3 German 232 Rad Recon ++

(21/5)
87/30

PzJäger Abt.39 German 5cm Pak + Truck
Hero awarded Def +1
(0/0)
72/16

PzJäger Abt.605 German PzJäger 1B +
Hero awarded Def +1
(39/12)
136/66

1. Abt Arti 75 German 10,5cm + Truck upgraded to 15cm +++

(23/8)
57/17

55th Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck +++
Hero awarded Att +1
(17/0)
75/1

Flak Batt 606 German SdKfz 7/1 ++
Hero awarded Def +2
(33/3)
121/6

Stormo Italian Mc 202 Folgore ++

(25/0)
102/21

Bought Units in the Campaign

I. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck ++
Hero awarded Def +1
(9/0)
72/1

12. Artill Italian 14,9cm + Truck

(0/0)
46/3

10. Tac Bomber SM79 +++
Hero awarded Att +1 Hero awarded Def +2
(79/0)
187/8

11. Strat Bomber Piaggio ++

(7/0)
22/16

SE Units

Reward SE PZ SE Panzer III J +

(43/1)
54/4

Reward Fighter SE Bf 109 F +

(41/0)
58/0


Captured Units

Captured Matilda 2 ++
Hero awarded Att +1
(36/4)
90/8

Reward StuG III B +

(14/3)
17/5

Captured Crusader

(0/0)
0/0

5.Art (Mov+1) Self Propelled 75/18 Hero Mov +1

(3/0)

5.Art (Att +5) Self Propelled 75/18 Hero Att +5

(3/0)

5.Tac (Att +3) Breda Hero Att +3

(17/3)


Different Approach both ways worked out



Replay File for Run 1 (Reconstructed from a savegame in Turn 10 just after the Reinforcements arrive)
Replay File for Team Red (Reconstructed from a savegame in Turn 15)

I am finally getting around to a comparison of our army's at this point.
Yeah those 4 SE units are greatly missed, as I only have 1 SE unit.
It looks like you probably dominated the map towards the end and were able to seize everything on the map. Is that correct?

I was not able to seize that last city in the South because they had another unexpected cadre of units that came out right at the end of the mission.

[hurly]

I am finally getting around to a comparison of our army's at this point.
Yeah those 4 SE units are greatly missed, as I only have 1 SE unit.
It looks like you probably dominated the map towards the end and were able to seize everything on the map. Is that correct?

I was not able to seize that last city in the South because they had another unexpected cadre of units that came out right at the end of the mission.

Actually its 2 SE Units + the StuG III B you are missing from the Hangar Desaster

Reward SE PZ SE Panzer III J (during the scenario)

(3/7)

Reward Fighter SE Bf 109 F (during the scenario)

(5/0)

Reward StuG III B (during the the scenario)

(1/5)

The SE Panzer IV was randomly given out by the Game as a Normal SE Unit at the Start of the Scenario which can be seen also by the Kill Count
2. SE PZ SE Panzer IV F (at the start of the scenario)

(44/7)

and I was pretty lucky with the Run 1 Army at that point of the Campaign to get 2 Random SE Units that early. The Team RED Army was not so lucky and just picked up the 2 SE Units (+ the StuG) as scripted events for destroying the Hangars. No luck in Random SE Units so far for them, but it leveled out in the End for both Armies in Number of SE Units.
I just hope for your Campaign that the Game will make up for the passed SE Units with some more generous dealing of the Cards later on. Not sure if that will happen though. Maybe someone who advanced deep enough into Afrika Korps without the Hangar Units can give some advice for that matter


On the Second Offensive Map Domination in late Turns

Yeah you are right I completely dominated the Map once I got the El Agheila Reinforcements and had them in Place to counter Attack. In fact I left the Final Victory Hex open for some Turns as I hunted down the Units popping up near the Eastern Cities. But again I knew before what's the deal with this map and so the Chaos Control especially along the Northern Coastline was manageable. And I had a few Regular Troops in Place to Counterattack already when I took El Agheila. All things you can not benefit from on a "Blindthrough". So I think without watching your replay, you did a pretty GOOD Job on this Scenario. Not sure if I killed off anyone as easily even on my 2nd or 3rd Playthrough of the Campaign.

So right now it will be a matter of the Game reaching out to you and award you some pretty nice SE stuff soon. As you did not mention to get one additional SE Unit for Gazala Line already, maybe it is a motivation for you that Team RED Army was also blessed in Malta (next Scenario after Gazala albeit an Optional one) with its first Random SE Unit overall, so maybe you get #2 by then also.
For me there was a long dry spell in terms of SE Units after that. No complaining as I was basically stuffed by then as the Total Numer of SE Units for the Campaign is " 5 " (<--- mouse over and highlight here if you not consider it as a spoiler). At least it think it is the Max as i never had more in Afrika Korps

[hurly]

bump for On the Road to India AAR