Great War AAR - from Austria/Turkish perspective

[jjdenver]

We started a Great War scenario with 4 players:
[Russia/Serbia/Romania] Yoggi75
[Germany] - 03-walk-alot
[West/Italy/Greece] Lars (Lomyrin)
[Austria/Turkey/Bulgaria] - jjdenver

The General Central Powers strategy is this:
1) Defend against Russia - although Germany will seize Warsaw early
2) Have Germany give 40 PP to Austria early to upgrade infantry quickly since Austria has tons of Infantry
3) Germany focuses on The West to take Paris hopefully before Italy can enter
4) Austria focuses on Serbia to knock them out and open up the Balkans for Ottomans
5) Preserve all navies as a threat in being

I've played an earlier game as Germany (not AH/Turkey) and was shocked at how badly things went for Austria and Turkey so I was really eager to give it a shot and see why Turkey and Austria have so many problems - we'll see.....

Here is Austria at end of Turn 1

[jjdenver]

[AH T2]
Turks build up and move forces into Syria in prep for an attack on Egypt - meanwhile Austrians skirmish w/ Russia and begin to encircle Serbia.

[jjdenver]

[AH T3]
Austria is forced back to its main defensive line while Turks continue to move forces toward Egypt.

[jjdenver]

[AH T4]
Austria engages in artillery battles w/ Russia and continues to slowly put Serbia in a vice.

[jjdenver]

[Turks T4]
Turkey has in secret prepared an invasion of Crimea and this turn launches it, catching the Russians unprepared. A sour taste is left in the Turks mouths though as the majestic Turkish fleet is absolutely crushed in an attack on the Russian Black Sea fleet.

[jjdenver]

[Turk T5]
Turks consolidate their hold on Crimea.

[jjdenver]

[Turks T5]
Turkey also launches an offensive in Egypt. Turks are very weak to start and don't have much production so they will be stretched to maintain operations in 2 theatres (3 once Serbia falls and Balkans open up).

[jjdenver]

[AH T7]
Turks wipe out last Russians in Crimea and prepare for the building Russian counterattack.

[jjdenver]

[AH T8]
Austria finally launches the long anticipated big assault on Belgrade but fails...

[jjdenver]

[AH T8]

[jjdenver]

[Turk T8]
Turks continue their offensive in Egypt - although the West is starting to build up another line around Suez.

[jjdenver]

[AH T9]
Belgrade falls to a second assault. Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria enter the war!

On a down note news reaches Austria that the German Kriegsmarine has been destroyed in port. Even worse, my German ally secretly informs me that things are going poorly on the Western Front.

[jjdenver]

[Turk T9]
Skirmishing in Crimea but Russian attacks are easily turned away. Meanwhile the offensive in Egypt trudges forward.

[jjdenver]

[AH T11]
Austria has formed an HQ Italy, an HQ Greece, and also sends some units into western Romania to support the Ottoman offensive there.

The plan is for Austria to screen Greece with a small army while Ottomans knock out Romania. Austrians will also attempt to move east to prevent Russians from reinforcing Romania.

[jjdenver]

[Turk T11]

[jjdenver]

[Turk T11]
Turks plan is to surround the Romania capitol, build up artillery, do one massive bombardment then assault from all sides - hopefully this can be accomplished before Russia or Greece can intervene.

Unfortunately the Turks did not have the resources to prepare a large army prior to Romania's entry so this is done on a shoestring budget - as are all Ottoman operations

[jjdenver]

[Turk T12]

[AZKGungHo]

This is a superb AAR! [&o]

Keep it up, I'm enjoying reading it!

[Joshuatree]

ORIGINAL: AZ Gung Ho

This is a superb AAR! [&o]

Keep it up, I'm enjoying reading it!

I agree, well done.
And the general who led the assault on Belgrade? A corporal again? [:D]

[jjdenver]

[Turn 13]
The Austrian offensive into Italy is really revving up as the Italians take high losses and the Austrians move forward easily.
The mini-offensive into Southern Russia which is really only meant to shield the Turks in Romania seems like it has the potential to turn into an actual offensive.
The Greeks are stronger than expected and the Austrian army there is forced on the defensive.