TRP 1.3 mini AAR Taxman (Allies) vs Old Crow Balthazaor (Axis)

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 50

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
UK INF Corps now 7 hexes off the coast of Middle Congo/Gabon border.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – INF Corps, INF Div. 3 MPP before EOT
USA – Advanced Tanks research (lvl 2). 25 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 3 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 34 MPP before EOT

Massive upgrade costs in Egypt as everything except the Garrison units gets Infantry weapons 2 and AA 2.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK Transport Capacity completed (lvl 3)

Pictures:

16 April 25, 1941.jpg (600.51 KiB) Viewed 714 times

[Duedman]

It is very much over for the Axis in North Africa. But it will be equally hard for you to advance. Maybe with the help of some amphibs once the Luftwaffe left

edit: Or US Stratbombers later on of course

[Taxman66]

I was feeling a lot more comfortable with the situation at this point in time.

However, there are still some interesting surprises left for this theatre.

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 51

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
UK INF Corps ports at Luderitz Bay.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – None. 10 MPP before EOT
USA – None. 86 MPP before EOT
UK – C&C research (lvl 2). 100 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 63 MPP before EOT

USSR spent all her MPP upgrading units and completing the repair on the AT/FTR/ART from the Moscow agreement.
The strategic bomber was 50 MPP by itself.

Going to buy research for the UK while I can. Long Range, Heavy Bombers, AA are currently on the list. ASW (93%), S&I (93%) and AT (94%) will be on the list shortly too.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK AT 98% -> 100%, completed (lvl 1)

Pictures:
None

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 52

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
USSR Mobilization 55%

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
UK INF Corps now off the eastern coast of South Africa.
Messed up with the UK ENG in Egypt by upgrading him with AT instead of hex swapping and starting another fort (you can upgrade ENGs while they are in the process of building forts, but not on the turn starting them).

No jack up of USSR mobilization, so very unlikely an early Barbarossa. I took pictures of current defenses, as you can see still plenty of units waiting on upgrades, but at least they are a few turns from the front. Russia has another INF Corps & Division showing up on May 31st, and another Division on June 15th. Then INF Divisions on July 12th & 24th and then in August 2 more INF Corps (11th & 23rd).

*Note After this I learned that TRP only provides a small increase to USSR mobilization if the Axis go over the limit of 18 units near Warsaw.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – HQ Tolbukhin (7). 7 MPP before EOT
USA – None. 147 MPP before EOT
UK – AA research (lvl 3), AT research (lvl 2). 5 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 92 MPP before EOT

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK S&I completed (lvl 1)
USA S&I completed (lvl 1)

Pictures:

17 May 19, 1941.jpg (1.63 MiB) Viewed 660 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 53

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
USSR Mobilization 56%

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
UK INF Corps ports at Mombasa.
SA Pretoria GAR rails to Durban to board a transport next turn for eventual Iraqi partisan duty
USSR INF Corps just placed in a fort between Orsha and Vitbesk. A Div was also placed in Talinn to avoid surprise invasion.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – INF Corps. 5 MPP before EOT
USA – S&I research (lvl 2). 58 MPP before EOT
UK – S&I research (lvl 2). 149 MPP before EOT
FF – HQ de-Gaulle (4) . 10 MPP before EOT

UK saving money to hopefully upgrade ASW next turn (98%)

USSR finished upgrading all units except the 2 ENGs, a GAR in Narva, AA missing from units in Murmansk area, and the recently placed INF Corps.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
Iraq surrenders, UK plunders 110 MPP

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK Production completed (lvl 2)
USA Advanced Tanks 16% -> 34%

Game is trolling me with UK ASW, but I did get 5% over the previous 2 turns, so am not complaining too hard.

Pictures:
None

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 54

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
Start UK -> USSR Lend Lease – Yes
Transfer industry from Ukraine to Urals - Yes

Diplomacy:
USA Mobilization 75%

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
UK Corps now off the coast of British Somaliland.
SA GAR boards transports making its wait to Kuwait.
Large battle fleet heads north from Scapa Flow. They will have to pause to wait for the DDs to catch up, which will be in a couple of turns as they will be getting their ASW upgrades next turn.

Had a minor goof placing a HQ in Murmansk, it wasn’t necessary as one shows up there. I think in Crispy’s Fall Weiss Mod there is a DE choice about that which probably led to my confusion. Anyway, one of them will be heading towards the Kiev district.

It was also a mistake having the Soviet MOT corps up on the line when I could’ve used an INF Corps instead, or simply not be there.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – None. 4 MPP before EOT
USA – None. 118 MPP before EOT
UK – Production research (lvl 3), Naval Weapons research (lvl 2). 96 MPP before EOT
FF – None . 39 MPP before EOT

Decided to get Naval Weapons for the UK simply for the carriers, as it will improve their ability against ground units as well. Long Range and Heavy Bombers research was also very tempting.

UK also spent MPP on upgrading the units in Iraq.

Considered buying the US Army Corps of Engineers (ENG unit) simply because it takes a very long time to build, but the US has a ton of research still to invest in.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
UK fund the SOE - Yes
Finland joins the Axis
USA Mobilization 78%

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK ASW completes (lvl 1)

Pictures:
Note Soviet reserves mobilization adds a few units not displayed on map.

18 June 12, 1941.jpg (1.13 MiB) Viewed 645 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 55

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
USSR instill harsh discipline - Yes

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
SA GAR ports in Aden
UK INF Corps ports in Port of Sudan. Basically no room for it in Egypt right now.
Strategic Bomber operated to Cambridge.

With no sign of subs/KM on the Murmansk line, battle fleet moves in to raid the Trondheim mines.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – AA, INF Corps (shattered), INF Div x2 (shattered). 9 MPP before EOT
USA – Ground Attack research (lvl 2). 2 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 9 MPP before EOT
FF – None . 63 MPP before EOT

UK spent all her money upgrading DDs with ASW (23 MPP per, I told you naval upgrades are expensive. Although other ship types don’t pay as much for ASW as DDs). I also spend 18 sending the Strat bombers back to England.

The USSR is near getting INF Weapons 2 (95%) and AT (99%), so I was sorely tempted to wait on purchasing the INF, but figured I need the cannon fodder asap. However, I did decide to buy the last AA unit now instead of fresh INF. Have to remember to start Ground Attack and C&C research before the mobilization cash runs out.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
US Garrison Iceland – Yes
Missed seeing if the US mobilization changed.

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK Amphibious Warfare 24% -> 41%
USSR Infantry Weapons 99% -> 100%, completed (lvl 2)
USSR AT completed (lvl 1)

Got the Infantry Weapons upgrade a couple turns earlier than I expected.

Pictures:

19 June 24, 1941.jpg (3.95 MiB) Viewed 624 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 56

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
SA GAR is 2 hexes away from the port of Basra.

So far it appears he isn’t going to go after the Murmansk convoy, and last turn there were a couple of KM ships off Riga. Considering turning the battle fleet around and going after the Italian navy and/or using the carriers in Egypt to hit his air force. The other possibility is the subs are all in dock waiting or being upgraded.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – None. 1 MPP before EOT
USA – None. 39 MPP before EOT
UK – ASW research (lvl 2). 11 MPP before EOT
FF – None . 87 MPP before EOT

The great Russian arms supply run. Almost all the ground units are given infantry weapons and AT upgrades. Exceptions include: The 2 ENG units, a couple of HQs (Leningrad & Murmansk), a couple of INF in/near Crimea that needed repairs or needed to move, the AA behind Kiev, a MIL in Saratov (that is at low supply as the city is gearing up), and units that started next to enemies and had to move.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
Turkey +7% Allies

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
None

Pictures:
None

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 57

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
UK Battle fleet starts moving southwest (to avoid the storms), with some elements left behind (CVL & 3 cruisers) to guard a couple of DDs to patrol the Murmansk convoy line. Unless my hand is forced, going to bring overwhelming firepower to the med.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – AT research (lvl 2), INF Corps x2 (shattered), INF Div x2 (shattered). 14 MPP before EOT
USA – None. 105 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 40 MPP before EOT
FF – None . 111 MPP before EOT

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
None

Pictures:
None

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 58

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
UK invests the spare chit (which I forgot last turn) into Saudi Arabia

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
SA GAR railed to Baghdad.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – Ground Attack research (lvl 2), INF Corps x2 (shattered), Mech Div (shattered). 34 MPP before EOT
USA – None. 174 MPP before EOT
UK – Long Range research (lvl 2). 4 MPP before EOT
FF – None . 82 MPP before EOT

Free France spent MPP on upgrading the Bearn (CVL)

UK has Heavy Bombers research left then can start buying units and/or upgrading her fleet.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
Prepare Leningrad for siege - Yes

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
USA Amphibious Warfare 80% -> 96%

Pictures:

20 July 24, 1941.jpg (3.42 MiB) Viewed 561 times

[OldCrowBalthazor]

o/

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 59

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
Pulled back to Smolensk defenses. Looks like the main push is to Moscow, so reinforcements will primarily go to that theatre.

Both sides are dug in hard in Egypt and probably can’t afford either one’s counter attack. I’m going to have to figure something out to break the stalemate eventually. Maybe I can annoy him and retake Crete? I also wonder how well Sicily or Benghazi/Tripoli are defended, though those operations would need the Royal Marines and/or US involvement to pull off.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – INF Corps x5 (shattered). 9 MPP before EOT
USA – Heavy Bombers research (lvl 2). 74 MPP before EOT
UK – Heavy Bombers research (lvl 2). 10 MPP before EOT
FF – None . 106 MPP before EOT

UK is all caught up on research I want to do, with nothing coming due soon so it will be back to new units/fleet upgrades next turn.

USA has Long Range 3, ASW 2, AA 2, C&C 2 and Fighters will be somewhat soon (at 88%). USA also needs units as well.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None (Persia invasion should be up soon iirc)

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
USA Amphibious Warfare completed (lvl 2)
USSR Advanced Fighters completed (lvl 2)

Pictures:
None
 

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 60

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
UK portion of Operation Countenance (invasion of Persia) - Yes

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
Battle fleet is off the Spanish coast in 2 parts straddling the Vigo protective zone.

I don’t have enough units to man the forts between Smolensk and Vyazma, and can’t place reinforcements there nor rail to them. Those forts would have been better off being built at Vyazma no matter how tempting it is to put them behind that river. Additionally, perhaps I have too much on the Narva/Luga/Novgorod line.

The German Strat bomber seems to have left the Ptesamo area, and he doesn’t seem to be interested in trying to hit the Murmansk convoy. Maybe it is safe to move the fighter I have up there.

One German sub in the Atlantic, one in the Baltic leaves three (presuming he hasn’t bought more) unaccounted for, as well as the Italian subs.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – HQ Rokossovsky (7), INF Corps x2 (shattered). 18 MPP before EOT
USA – None. 154 MPP before EOT
UK – Elite INF (no upgrades). 47 MPP before EOT
FF – None . 130 MPP before EOT

I really wanted to start Advanced Fighters 3 for the USSR, but upgrading my existing fighters and getting another HQ on the production queue took priority. Next turn I may have to decide between Advanced Fighters and Production which is close to completing (97%). I’m also going to have to buy some units that can counter punch too. Sadly the bonus mobilization money will be running out soon, iirc.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
USSR portion of Operation Countenance (invasion of Persia) - Yes

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK Ground Attack 48% -> 63%
USSR Production completed (lvl 2)

Pictures:
None.
I meant to take more pictures this turn to show how things look, but forgot as it was late when I did my turn.

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 61

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
UK Tank & Tank Destroyer units deploy at Bristol, both are in need of upgrades.
Sent a UK INF Div from Egypt on its way to Kuwait en route to Mosul for GAR duty. I intend to replace it with a GAR once Syria is in the fold (Note that the Egyptian/Trans Jordan GAR cannot be put on transports as they are minors). The Div is replaced by a INF Corps in Damietta (the one sitting on a transport for numerous turns).

Replaced Popov with Konev (Murmansk front).

Forgot to use the UK strategic bomber, oops.

Tried to count German Tank Corps over the last couple of turns, I have a suspicion that he may have sent Rommel’s Tank Corps to the USSR. Even still, I can’t cut through the German Tank Divs in Egypt with the AA guns protecting them. Going to need to at least get Ground Attack 2 and perhaps the CVs to help deal with all that.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – INF Corps (shattered), MOT Corps (shattered), INF Div x2 (shattered). 45 MPP before EOT
USA – Armor Corps (no upgrades). 5 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 29 MPP before EOT
FF – None . 154 MPP before EOT

UK spent all her income upgrading 3 BCs and 2 CA, and one of the CAs didn’t get Naval Weapons.

As much as I really want to get all the USA research going (still need to start: AA 2, ASW 2, Long Range 3, C&C 2, Amphibious Warfare 3, Transport 4 and soon FTR 3 (currently 96% to FTR 2), I’m going to need units for Torch/North Africa and I figure I will need an Armor, so I have to buy that first as they take so long to build.

Starting research Production 3 and Advanced FTR 3, for Russia is just going to have to wait. September is going to be very ugly if the weather stays good.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
UK/USSR take control of Persia

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
USA Advanced Fighter completed (lvl 2)

Pictures:

21 August 23, 1941.jpg (2.07 MiB) Viewed 482 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 62

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
UK Tank and Tank Destroyers transported to just west of Gibraltar.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – INF Corps x2 (shattered), Armor Div (shattered), Elite INF. 0 MPP before EOT
USA – None. 94 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 95 MPP before EOT
FF – None . 178 MPP before EOT

Upgrading the UK Tank Corp currently on transport and the CAN one will be 225 MPP (the UK tank was bought at 1/1/1), the Tank Destroyer 135 MPP. So need to save money.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK Advanced Tanks 29% -> 51%
USA Industry 47% -> 65%

Pictures:
None

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 63

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
USA 77% mobilization.
I have no idea why it is going backwards, but it is annoying!

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
UK INF Div lands in Basra, destined for Mosul anti partisan duty. Expected relief once Syria is ‘liberated’ from unrecognized Vichy government.

CAN Armor Corps is transported out into the Atlantic and heads west and far enough south to get out of the storms. A French DD meets up with them to provide some escort.

I hoping to lure the RM out and smash them after taking some lumps. He saw 2 CVLs (out of 5), less than half of my big ships and none of the destroyers.

For the record I feel ok about sending the vast majority of the RN into Med due to the following reasons: 1) Most, if not all, of the KM is known to be in the Baltic. 2) Of the potential GE 9 subs, 3 were sunk, 1 is in the south Atlantic, 1 in the Med (recently deployed at Pola), 1 or more in the Baltic, 1 last seen off Eastern Africa; leaving only 2 unaccounted for. 3) No evidence that Italy built a Maritime Bomber. 4) A GE Maritime Bomber observed scouting in Russia, so that means either no or a single Maritime Bomber (GE is allowed 2 in TRP) that could be involved as there was one active in Eastern Libya/Western Egypt that might have moved.

In game chat/trash talking aside, if the bad weather is late Leningrad and Moscow will both go down in 1941.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – INF Corps x3 (2 shattered), Mech Corps (shattered), HQ Eremenko (6). 6 MPP before EOT
USA – Advanced Fighters research (lvl 3). 16 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 224 MPP before EOT
FF – None . 202 MPP before EOT

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
UK Naval Weaponry 22% -> 44%

Pictures:

22 September 12, 1941.jpg (627.4 KiB) Viewed 433 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 64

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
None

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
So far pleased with the engagement with the RM. I’ve lost a BC, CL & DD and have sunk 3 BCs, 2 CAs & 2 DDs. I have some banged up ships and expect to lose some more, but if he fights with his remaining (visible) 3 heavy ships, I think I can sink them as well. It’s the subs that will be annoying.

Two more DDs as well as a French DD escorting the CAN Armor Corps approach Gibraltar to help with the subs if OCB decides to continue the engagement.

With all but 1 Axis naval unit accounted for in the Med, and with my sub scouting a safe path for the trip to Alexandria, I was able to naval cruise the UK Armor and Tank Destroyer transports safely to Egypt. Note (see the picture) the IT Sub off the Tunisian coast was not there when I moved the transports, it fled there from an engagement after I moved the transports. One key lesson about SC games: The order you do things in is very important!

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – AA (shattered), INF Corps (shattered), INF Div x2 (shattered), Mech Div. 31 MPP before EOT
USA – None. 136 MPP before EOT
UK – Medium Bomber. 115 MPP before EOT
FF – None . 231 MPP before EOT

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
Saudi Arabia +6%
I am presuming TRP works like FW and the amount Saudi gives is dependent upon their mobilization level. Will find out for sure soon.

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
None

Pictures:

23 September 22, 1941.jpg (2.02 MiB) Viewed 398 times

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 65

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
Should Stalin stay in Moscow – No

Diplomacy:
UK chit invested in Turkey (back to 2 there).

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
Storms in the Med prevent attempting to follow up with the RM. The Battle fleet moves westward to take cover from the storms amongst the Spanish coast and Islands. The CAN Armor makes it to Gibraltar.

USSR placed 6 INF Corps this turn. 3 at Morozovsk, 1 SE of Voronezh, 1 at Moscow and 1 at Leningrad.
Next turn I’m expecting 2 INF Divs, 2 INF Corps, and a Tank Corp

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – INF Corps (shattered), INF Div (shattered), Armor Div (shattered). 30 MPP before EOT
USA – Elite INF. 52 MPP before EOT
UK – None. 145 MPP before EOT
FF – Armor Corps. 10 MPP before EOT

USA needs to get back to Tech investment. They really feel short of MPP at this time of the war.

UK spends 211 MPP upgrading the Tank Destroyers and the Tanks that landed in Egypt last turn.

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
USA AT completed (lvl 1)

Pictures:
None

[Taxman66]

Allied Turn #: 66

Beginning of Turn Decision Events:
None

Diplomacy:
Tunisia +7% Axis

Interesting, Tunisia is now at 86% Axis. I’ll shift a couple chits to try and keep it neutral until Torch.

Actions taken not visible on opponents Replay:
Very unfortunate weather for me on his last turn.
Russia received 2 INF Divs (Murmansk and Volkhov), 2 INF Corps (Leningrad and Kzhev) an Armor Corps (Moscow).
I need those HQs I built now, so I should have started them sooner.

Sandstorm in Egypt messes up advancement, so I will take the time to shuffle the AT units forward a bit and the AA back, since I don’t think there are any bombers there anymore.

Reduced USA to UK lend lease from 40% (79 MPP) to 25% (49 MPP), to try and get the USA techs in, also need to repair and upgrade existing units if I want to launch Torch in the Spring. If Egypt gets bloody, may have to revisit this.

MPP expenditures (excluding reinforcements and upgrades):
USSR – Advanced Fighters research (lvl 3), HQ Malinovsky (6), INF Corps, INF Div (shattered). 3 MPP before EOT
USA – AA research. 47 MPP before EOT
UK – Medium Bomber. 167 MPP before EOT
FF – None. 39 MPP before EOT

End of Turn Decision Events and Diplomacy results:
None

End of Turn Tech Breakthroughs/completed research:
USSR AA 40% -> 63%

Pictures:

24 October 16, 1941.jpg (1.96 MiB) Viewed 361 times