4 Player AAR with new PBEM - Game 3

[tcart]

Here we are again.
Germany Fall 1939

This game we've switched sides. I'll try to give an alternate German approach to the war, though of course if it's possible to conquer the Med I'm going to go for it.

I forgot to take a screen shot, but Poland falls as expected with no Axis losses. Everybody else shifts West with an eye to an early attack on the Netherlands and/or Norway.

[tcart]

Germany Fall 1939. Phony war, what phony war? The Germans take Denmark and the Low Countries. The absence of any BEF presence means, I think, that if the French try to counterattack any damage they do will be offset by France falling a turn earlier.

But it's been quite a while since I played Germany, so its entirely possible I'm wrong. One theme for this game, though, is to be extremely aggressive. So off we go. So far two significant minor countries have fallen for only one German INF hit.

If you're the Germans, it's also good to remember to hit the Dutch LF once it leaves port. It's just sitting there in the channel, waiting to be bombed.

[rjh1971]

Fall 39 Japan

Liuchow garrison of two militia and one infantry is gone after successive attacks from CAGs supported by HF. Infantry was damaged, militias destroyed as they can only take one hit.
Bombing of rail infrastructure in China has begun.

[kondor]

SU is rebuilding, spying, getting ready for the upcoming onslought.

[tcart]

Germany Winter '40

Blitzkrieg. Seeing that the Maginot Line was weakly held, the Germans attack from Holland and Germany in a devastating pincer movement. Maginot + Winter gives the allies a big advantage. But we had combined arms and a significant tech advantage in our infantry. Which meant we could reliably expect to occupy the square.

If the WA want to hold France until the spring they need to bring in some BEF troops, then rush them out the next turn. All in all not a disaster. France would have fallen next turn anyway. But Germany is happy to be slightly ahead of schedule and to have the luxury of repositioning troops to take on Yugoslavia next turn. I forgot to check the Yugoslav's political alignment. Here's hoping for a coup.

The Allies will also be chagrined to see that all of the minor powers have gone to Pro-Axis. Ideally they'll join soon so I can get properly set up for Barbarossa. After bashing the Brits for a bit, naturally.

[rjh1971]

Winter 40 Japan

Fighter in Chungking was destroyed, odds were 48% to suffer damage in my air force and the coin didn't fall on my side this time.
The fighter sweep was followed by heavy bombers but again luck was not on my side, no factories were damaged.
Production plans remain secret, so does research & development...

[kondor]

SU Winter '40

Winter defeat of France, is unfortunate, one turn before a schedule is a big thing at the start. Hopefully, axis minors will not jump on board too soon.
Spies are getting the tech research from WA&China, not from the GE. It seems that Tim has invested in counterintelligence.

[kondor]

With China, I was under the impression that Chinese factories kick in every other turn? The second turn of no production leave me a bit short on flaks.
If I'd known before, I would rearrange them a bit differently. I'll have to read a manual more carefully about it.

Chinese are shouting insults to the enemy soldiers, nothing else they can do.

[tcart]

Germany Spring 1940

With an entire year in front of us, it's tempting to plan for an early Barbarossa. But I doubt the stars will align.

We take Norway, to tidy up the north. As the UK has garrisoned England heavily and risked nothing in France, I decide that the best way to punish them, for now, is in the Med.

Note that though I was ready to attack Yugoslavia politics held me off. I'm hoping for the Yugoslav coup, which in turn will aid in bringing the Axis minors into the war. But I may have to attack next turn no matter way. At least Greece has swing towards the Axis, making it easier to attack.

[rjh1971]

Spring 40

Nothing much to report. Japan keeps building its transport fleet and investing in technology here and there to be prepared fot the inevitable war against WA.
CAGs bomb the Chinese rail network to hinder their troop moves, Kunming no longer has rail available.
Heavy bombers hit and damage the factory at Chungking

[kondor]

SU got an x2, now the real production starts.
Nothing else to report.

The situation at the Central med is escalating. GE player brought a sizeable air force, and I believe that now is the time for the WA to retreat out of there.
Protect Egypt instead.

[kondor]

Breakdown of the current Axis units.
A high number of tanks indicates that Germany will push for an early Barbarossa?

[tcart]

Germany Summer 1940.
Yugoslavia refuses to go 'lean allied', which is annoying. But the Russian front drives our schedule, so I invade anyway. It doesn't shift the Axis minor powers because Yugoslavia is neutral. Hopefully Greece will trigger it next turn.

I have a Med strategy, but I don't want to explain it yet. Also I've no idea if it'll work.

The Uboats begin the battle of the Atlantic. Unescorted transports make for easy targets.

I made a major miscalculation in my supply production and will need to remedy that quickly.

Sorry no picture. I'm rushing slightly and forgot to take a screenshot.

[rjh1971]

Summer 40 Japan

A Medium Bomber was damaged while trying to hit more Chinese rails, the area was flak defended.
Heavy bombers were sent to raid the resource centers but didn't aim properly.
Nothing much else happened...

[kondor]

Stalin has nothing to do, but to showcase the expansive Italian conquest. WA ships were only damaged, while Reggia Marina was sent to the bottom.
Subs are let loose.

[kondor]

There is an obvious influx of axis troops to the W. Poland, so I've stopped populating E. Poland and getting my troops ready for the spring attack.
As ready as they can be.

[tcart]

Germany Fall 1940

A bit of a boring turn. Which is an issue for Germany early. You can't be boring. In hindsight, I probably should have stacked all of my airpower in France and pounded the British in the hopes of hitting a few high-value targets.

Malta falls, as does Greece. But Rumania and Hungary stay neutral. Argh. This is why you need the Yugoslavian coup.

Peacekeeping forces move East to reassure Russia that we have a tight control on the rebellious Poles.

[kondor]

WA fall '40.
Goran manages to place a hit on Kriegsmarine submarines. 2 or 3 of them are damaged this turn.
It seems that there are 6 of them out there atm.

Rommel was not sent to Africa, it remains to be seen there will the army from Greece proceed. I think that Tim is hoping to Rumania? But they have not joined yet. I believe that Bulgaria will join next turn.
Anyway, let the axis worry about their minors states.

W. Poland army grew significantly, that coupled with no sign of German Africa corp, or any meaningful Sea Lion preparation - all point out to immanent Barbarossa.

I don't think GE will strike in winter (although not ruled out), I believe Tim will start the offensive in spring.

[kondor]

I'm preparing for it, and my arty is at 8 now.
I'll need the supplies from my dear WA friend. Stalin had always talked about how Churchill is a nice fellow.[:D]

[tcart]

Germany Winter '41

In hindsight, I really should have bombed England. The British can afford to sit out of range in the Middle East. But not London.

Kondor's right, I could have attacked Russia in the winter. However, I think the rules have changed now to avoid a gamey ducking on the Russian winter penalty, and with Rumania still neutral I didn't want to risk a Soviet counterattack that crushed all those precious oil fields.

So all is prepared for when the weather breaks.

The sun is shining in the south atlantic, though, and the Uboat war is launched in earnest.