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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective

 
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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 12:29:36 PM   
Chocolino


Posts: 2095
Joined: 2/14/2009
Status: offline 		July-16-1940

Slow grinding in front of Paris.

In the desert, the Italian weakness is amplified by a lack of sea transport. To replenish this will take resources from other planned activities. The Italian fleet - acting as one large battle fleet - was not too successful in fighting the individual allied raiders. Even when a raider was engaged and destroyed, an Italian ship of equal value followed its fate usually.

Spain has joined the Axis side and we have hopes that the Spanish can influence the war in Africa positively.




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 12:50:12 PM   
Chocolino


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The never ending story in front of Paris continues. Whole military careers must be made there. The encircled area was reduced from 5 to 3 hexes.

The war in the desert was a miscalculation so far. The strong British commitment here will result in a debacle for the Italians.

Interestingly, the allies feel strong enough to ship single transports across the central Med. We caught one and are wondering where he was going (Gibraltar?, Greece?).






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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 1:14:55 PM   
Chocolino


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Paris has fallen after a 6 month campaign. Vichy France has been formed even though all VPs were taken at this point - Marseilles fell to an Italian siege at the same time. (I wasn't sure what the consequences are for Tunesia and Lebanon when fighting France to the end. The extra 100 DP are also welcome after spending 150 DP on Spain. There is also the option to control the Vichy fleet later and I assumed it will be scuttled if France falls completely)

Lessons learned:
1) I expected PBEM to be much harder than AI of course. But I didn't realize by how much.
2) I should have been more aggressive in France early on and not worry about PP ratios too much. By prolonging the campaign, smaller losses over a longer time against an opponent with cumulatively more resources is very hurtful, too.
3) The Italian contribution in France is minimal. They eventually took Marseilles but only since the Allies totally ignored them - and rightly so. The Italian effort did not shorten the war.
4) The Italians alone will not do well in Africa if the British commits there. I also made mistakes in sending too many small units to Africa and didn't realize that I don't have the resources to upgrade them in time. Mishandling of the retreat and of supply convoys further aggravated the situation.

What should the Axis steps be from now on. Some of the options are:

1) Invasion of the UK (many UK troops are elsewhere)
2) Get seriously involved with German units in the desert after helping to take Gibraltar
3) Support conquest of Yugoslavia and possibly Greece
4) Directly turn against the USSR aggressively or just screen defensively for now.




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 2:09:21 PM   
jjdenver

 

Posts: 2247
Joined: 11/2/2007
Status: offline 		Selfishly I'd love to see operation Sealion. It also logically looks like you are well set up for it in this game.

1) Brits heavily committed to France and Egypt - including what looks like entire air force and army.
2) You have Spain


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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 2:29:19 PM   
gwgardner

 

Posts: 6722
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Status: offline 		yeah, Sealion!

From my AAR you will recall, however, I took at least 50% losses in transport of invading forces to the UK. So unless the Germans can transport directly from port to port, it's a toughy. (I didn't know about that port to port transfer at the time, so I didn't investigate whether it's possible for the Germans.)


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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 2:40:34 PM   
Chocolino


Posts: 2095
Joined: 2/14/2009
Status: offline 		Thank you for reading the AAR.

I think your assessment is correct. If at all then now is the time. But Sealion, while the most exciting, is also the most risky option and hence against my inner nature. (But I truely haven't decided yet what to do next).

Risk of Sealion as I see it:

1) BEF has evacuated France with almost no losses at all, probably via Brest (or after the fall of France they just go into the redeploy screen). I am not sure where they did go, possibly home.
2) From the Africa campaign I see how effective raider activity can destroy supply transports. I will have to buy massive amounts of STP every turn to make up since I cannot match the RN.
3) How to get "in" and get the first supply port in the first place is the biggest question. Amphibious landing against a stronger navy is disastrous because of how the game system handles naval interception. There are other ways but they can be prevented, too.
4) Even in the unlikely event that I manage all that, I have to transport a majority of my forces incl all the stronger units there. I am completely vulnerable to USSR first strike that can come in a few month.

< Message edited by Chocolino -- 3/21/2009 2:41:04 PM >

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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 5:58:34 PM   
Chocolino


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Rest and repair for the German Army. Some air units are transferred to Spain to help with the siege of Gibraltar. The UK has landed additional troops for the defense of this crucial point. We are not sure but some intelligence suggests they were part of the BEF evacuated from France.

Two larger naval engagements ensued in the central Med. In the first the Italians hold their ground, in the second they were beaten.




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 6:30:01 PM   
Chocolino


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The battle for Gibraltar heats up and both sides commit considerable forces. The diplomatic effort to woe and win Spain completely exhausted the German DP resources at the time. It makes no sense not to follow up and take the only objective of this effort, Gibraltar.

Germany declares war on Yugoslavia and crosses its borders with small number of forces only. We hope the Italians can take over this job since they will soon be unemployed at other fronts (i.e. Africa)

Slowly, German infantry is also transported to the USSR border. Not nearly enough to do anything active, though.




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< Message edited by Chocolino -- 3/24/2009 4:58:34 AM >

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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 7:02:10 PM   
cpdeyoung


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From: South Carolina, USA
Status: offline 		It is fun to see all the different variations that can occur in the different AARs.  I suspect the British will not have an easy time reducing Tobruk unless they can really hurt your supply, or bring up some larger units.  The Italians will not have an easy time with Yugoslavia either, and the Germans will be back to help I suspect.

Can't wait to see the fireworks!

Chuck

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Post #: 39
RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 8:04:54 PM   
Chocolino


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Status: offline 		Thanks, Chuck. Yes, I suspect I will need to delegate some Germans to Yugoslavia. Unfortunately, they have to be everywhere at once these days. I have less faith in the Italians at Tobruk.If low supply events form Malta fire, battleship bombardments are made and siege level reduction occur plus combat damage is inflicted, they cannot be brought back up again fast enough. But I will try to hang on as long as I can.

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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 8:15:01 PM   
Chocolino


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The Rock falls. We invested quite some units in the attack and took heavy losses with the hope that we have bottled up a large portion of the RN bombarding the N. African shore. War has been declared also on Portugal and axis units are marching towards Lisbon and Porto. Are we over-extending? The Italians in Africa are an endangered species and should get protection. None is in sight. Tobruk is under heavy pressure form british units while others have bypassed and driven further West.

(Sorry for the bad picture resolution. I don't start out with high end tools and the quality seems to suffer further when I use non standard sizes)




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 9:05:47 PM   
Chocolino


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Naval part

We were too curious and needed to check if the British Fleet is really in the Med. We found out..... The Italian Navy is now half its original size from early 1940.






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< Message edited by Chocolino -- 3/22/2009 4:15:05 AM >

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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 9:17:55 PM   
Chocolino


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On land Porto is invested while in Yugoslavia axis forces make steady progress. We expect soon to meet serious resistance in the mountains around and in between Sarajevo and Belgrade.




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 10:00:43 PM   
Chocolino


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All the minor theaters get all the attention now. Reasonable progress is made in Portugal which was abandoned by the British to their fate. The bad news come as usual from the desert. Here the Brits are unstoppable.




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/21/2009 11:08:54 PM   
Chocolino


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A Channel too far?

It is the anniversary of the campaign in the west. After Spies across the channel in the Bretagne indicated that Plymouth is only weakly defended, we overwhelmed it in a joined operation of Navy, Airforce and Paratroopers. The Kriegsmarine left earlier this year into the North Atlantic under the cover of night and did so far not run into any resistance. It bombarded the harbor of Plymouth that was later taken by Paratroopers after additional air bombardment. Let's see how long we can stay on the British isles since we expect a very vicious welcome. After all, the British point out at every occasion that nobody achieved a conquest of their home isle for the last 1000 years.




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 1:23:10 AM   
Chocolino


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We commit a few more troops to the UK via sea transport. This is now safe to do in regard to naval interception. Although we suspect the majority of the RN to be trapped in the Mediterraneum, we feel not safe at all on British soil without having a firm supply line back to Berlin. We try to make the most of the short months until the inevitable entry of USA and USSR and we suspect we will reach the high water mark of the Axis advance soon.





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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 1:38:26 AM   
cpdeyoung


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From: South Carolina, USA
Status: offline 		Bravo!  I have never seen so many paratroops in one place.  The capture of Gibraltar should be mandatory for the Axis, as it opens up so many options.

Your opponent will surely resist you in the British Isles, but can rebase the government to Cairo and resist from there.  The soft underbelly will surely be tested.

Great fun to watch you guys.

Chuck

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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 2:04:24 AM   
Chocolino


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Joined: 2/14/2009
Status: offline 		Thank you for following our play.

quote:

I have never seen so many paratroops in one place.


Yes, three paratroopers turned out to be generous. But I was afraid to be very embarrassed in case the air attacks turn out unlucky and the airborne landings see losses. If I don't get Plymouth I have to camp outside in the countryside until some minor British police force picks me up or have to eat "Mulberries". ("Klotzen, nicht Kleckern" is Guderian's most famous quote, in english it roughly means "don't take half measures")

< Message edited by Chocolino -- 3/22/2009 4:26:38 AM >

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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 2:13:15 AM   
Chocolino


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We continue to take in the british countryside while we still can. So far the British resistance is very weak. Is there a trap setup north if we rush straight for London? We decide that we need more troops to cover our flanks and protect our supply lines. As Chuck pointed out already: Even if we were to conquer the British home isle itself, remaining VPs exist in the Med that we have to take too in order to finish the whole empire. (And we have seen how well we are doing there.) Speaking of the desert. I show very few pictures nowadays. That is not because I want to hide the for me embarassing news. It is simply that I have so few units there that the british moving west are not directly visible. Once they reach my towns, they take them immediately. At this point only a very few are left before Tripolis is reached.

We continue our efforts in Yugoslavia and have conquered Portugal.




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 3:08:17 AM   
Chocolino


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Are all British emigrated? We understand that they don't want to socialize with us and don't really object all that much that they are absent so far. In the back of our head however, dangerous scenarios form with an entire German Army group cut off supply near London by a determined counterattack driven home by hidden British units in the Manchaster/Birmingham area. We will try to be cautious. But perhaps the Allied commander concentrates his forces where he is already strongest and rules supremely, in the North African theater.

The joined Italo-German force in Yugoslavia continues to advance. And there are of course the usually depressing news from the desert.




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 3:51:06 AM   
Chocolino


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Time is flying by and we understand very well that our days are numbered even though we may look strong now. As long as the British are all alone, Germany seems unstoppable. But it is a mirage and can lead into a dangerous euphoria before the fall. We also don't have a recipe for North Africa yet. Some voices in the German general staff think that we will regret that we have not done enough there so far. But others were afraid of trying too many things at once and nothing of it well.




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 1:44:19 PM   
Chocolino


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Our attack on the UK continues. We are still suspicious as to the enemies intentions. Even though he has many forces in the Med., he can muster many more units for the defense of the British Isles than are visible now if he so desires. What is the British master plan? Less suspicion exists in Yugoslavia were we have to fight our way into every hex near Belgrade.




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 2:22:10 PM   
Chocolino


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Mussolini complains bitterly to the German political leadership that Chocolino has completely abandoned his substantial forces in North Africa. Until now he harvested secret hopes that at least around Tripolis a defense would be mounted. But his illusions have been shattered completely and the fact that he was helped by Germany in the conquest of Yugoslavia cannot really placate him. Poor Italian hostages will have to slave under the British boot now.




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 2:36:54 PM   
gwgardner

 

Posts: 6722
Joined: 4/7/2006
Status: offline 		Was the key to your success in Sealion that the British kept most of their fleet in the Med? Do you have control of the North Sea and Atlantic?

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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 3:15:50 PM   
Chocolino


Posts: 2095
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Status: offline 		Hello Gary, thanks for reading.

Firstly I am still not sure if the British isles are not a poisoned pawn - although a substantial one - in the long run. We have to see.

I will try to answer your question but have many questions myself. I am just trying things out to explore the options: A naval superiority certainly helps in this particular way of entering England. But I think it is not strictly required which is the reason I like it. The Kriegsmarine was only used for the initial shore bombardment. Then the troop transport from LeHavre to Plymouth or Southampton is free from naval interference in this game (we discussed this earlier). You may be able to take the initial port without shore bombardment and navy at all. Using sea transport to ferry troops over makes also the purchase of expensive AIP unnecessary. Instead you have to purchase paratroopers which are expensive, too of course.

Where you do need to have a naval presence is for the protection of the supply convoys. But if you are economically strong enough, you may overcome this even without having the stronger navy - at least for the initial turns. Once the UK is sufficiently weakened economically by conquest, the problem of the RN solves itself.

I think the requirements are:
- clear superiority in land forces to make the conquest itself work.
- USA is not in the game yet and cannot take over the attack on convoys once the RN is out of action.
- you feel confident that you don't need the troops used in England elsewhere since it will take a few turns to get them back

Again, I am not the expert here at all and I would welcome the insight of more experienced players.


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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 4:27:05 PM   
jjdenver

 

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Status: offline 		hmm - I've got a tactical question - why did you think 3 paratroopers would help? Can they land directly on an opposing unit and fight it? Or were you going to surround the port on the landing turn then assault it the next turn? If your plan was to destroy the defending unit in port by shore/air bombardment then only one para would work?

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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 4:40:54 PM   
Chocolino


Posts: 2095
Joined: 2/14/2009
Status: offline 		Hello jjdenver,

Unless I misunderstand it completely, I think you can land airborne troops only on a free hex in this game. So I took three paratroopers and landed them in the nearby hexes and then do a regular land attack. The airborne meet ground with full action points and can be used in the same turn you land them. I use three since I wanted to have a decent attack chance on the port since I have only one single try to do so. In the next turn, the airborne are out of supply and waste away. (You could create a mulberry nearby in that case - but that is not a very appealing idea to me since it is almost the same cost as an extra paratrooper).

< Message edited by Chocolino -- 3/22/2009 4:49:06 PM >

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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 5:25:47 PM   
Chocolino


Posts: 2095
Joined: 2/14/2009
Status: offline 		May 9th, 1941

Progress in England and Yugoslavia, regress and regret in Africa




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 5:42:54 PM   
Chocolino


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Germans units race up north uninhibited. Birmingham is taken as well. And in Africa ... what can I say.




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RE: Crossroads: Axis Perspective - 3/22/2009 6:26:09 PM   
Chocolino


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Tripolis is besieged by British units with air support. So far, Tripolis is holding out. The Italians get ready for the conquest of the Aegean. German units enter Scotland.




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