RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...)

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/19/2022 12:23:21 PM

John B.

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Regarding your fighter in N. Africa losing effectiveness, I confess my ignorance as I have not played the game very much, but is it possible that you have too many units at the front drawing from a limited amount of supply? There are a lot of allied counters up there.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/19/2022 2:07:09 PM

boldairade

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quote:

ORIGINAL: John B.

Regarding your fighter in N. Africa losing effectiveness, I confess my ignorance as I have not played the game very much, but is it possible that you have too many units at the front drawing from a limited amount of supply? There are a lot of allied counters up there.

it's possible. perhaps even probable. usually you get a supply notification in game if a unit is in partial supply. BUT i've never gotten one for an air unit. maybe there's a loophole/omission there?

you should definitely play more! i know it's hard to find time though.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/19/2022 2:17:01 PM

redrum68

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Hmm. Interesting. If the Axis doesn't look to advance in 1943 anywhere along the Eastern Front then it seems you have pretty much won the game unless he has some kind of crazy plan to invade somewhere else. Definitely surprising considering it looked like he had enough of a strength advantage to still attack.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/19/2022 4:48:31 PM

michaelCLARADY

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quote:

ORIGINAL: redrum68

Hmm. Interesting. If the Axis doesn't look to advance in 1943 anywhere along the Eastern Front then it seems you have pretty much won the game unless he has some kind of crazy plan to invade somewhere else. Definitely surprising considering it looked like he had enough of a strength advantage to still attack.

Got to disagree there. The Axis is still strong in front of Tripoli and has a safe rear in French NA. Very good for the '43 campaign season. With normal prudent reserves in the West an invasion of the French med coast can be economically contained at the river lines. Also the Vichy Army and Fleet join the Axis. That Army can build up to a very useful force for the '44 campaign in the West. Greece looks to be nothing but a resource pit for the Allies at this point. Troops tied down in NA and Greece won't be a threat to France. If the Axis in the East has secured Riga/Minsk/Kiev then VP scores at this point are in Axis favor and growing more so. By going on the defensive the Axis by conserving forces can make Italy and the French Atlantic coast damned near impossible to invade in '44. Remember if both Germany and Italy have not surrendered by August '45 the game is decided on VP's. Right now I would bet Axis wins 75 - 25 odds.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/19/2022 5:08:59 PM

redrum68

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Really? I don't have much experience with how the VPs work as haven't played a game all the way to the end but figured that since the Germans didn't advance along the Eastern Front as far as they did historically that they wouldn't be generating enough.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/19/2022 10:28:52 PM

michaelCLARADY

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quote:

ORIGINAL: redrum68

Really? I don't have much experience with how the VPs work as haven't played a game all the way to the end but figured that since the Germans didn't advance along the Eastern Front as far as they did historically that they wouldn't be generating enough.

Russia has six VP locations, three of which are Riga/Minsk/Kiev. If the Axis have those they are on track for the typical VP score which pulls ahead of the Allies in mid '42. Also in this game there is a VP gain from holding Algiers and Tripoli far longer than usual.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 12:33:47 AM

boldairade

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quote:

ORIGINAL: John B.

Oh those Marines are really out on a limb in Sardinia. If you can hold it, however, you basically have Italy flanked on two sides with air cover for invasions all over the Peninsula. When you get a chance, would you mind posting the current losses? Thanks!

Absolutely

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 12:34:15 AM

boldairade

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And for good measure...

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 12:37:37 AM

boldairade

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Check out Italy-they are nearly as strong as the UK in almost every category. That is the result of Nirosi's incredibly successful uboat war.

Russia has recovered fairly nicely over the winter, with the help of heavy Allied aid.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 1:40:36 AM

redrum68

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Interesting. USSR looking pretty strong. If you can hit 50% ground experience then USSR should be able to start advancing. How is production? With <100 MM, I'm guessing the UK is suffering some.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 10:49:21 AM

boldairade

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quote:

ORIGINAL: redrum68

Interesting. USSR looking pretty strong. If you can hit 50% ground experience then USSR should be able to start advancing. How is production? With <100 MM, I'm guessing the UK is suffering some.

For the most part we have had enough MM. this turn we have EXACTLY enough. which means when the subs come back out, we won't. we continue to keep the shipyards full of MM and escorts and landing ships when there is room.

the problem is, that's ALL the UK can afford(along with replacemants). that's why england is so weak. everything is going into the BOA.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 12:58:34 PM

boldairade

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June 4, 1943

BOA-No raids. All subs are in their pens, except for the group raiding the Arctic convoy, which abandons its attack to prevent heavy losses.

The respite is welcome, but Allied planners fear the subs will be back with a vengeance.

US Strategic Bombing-An opening raid is flown within cover of escort fighters vs the Dusseldorf. German interceptors do not scramble. Knowing this, we shift our raids to deeper into Germany where we know AA guns are less concentrated. Both Dresden and Prague are hit hard, with Dresden being completely leveled. In the Med, Ploesti is hit again, but US formations are wearing down.

Norway-Supply continues to plague us here, with VIII Armor not recovering effectiveness. No offensive can be carried out without it. We may try to take a northern port(Trondheim) to help alleviate this issue. We withdraw a division and replace it with our HQ to try and reduce logistical needs.

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< Message edited by boldairade -- 1/20/2022 1:49:08 PM >

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 1:03:29 PM

boldairade

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June 4, 1943

Sardinia

Perhaps the biggest difference between Nirosi and me is how economically he plays the game. In all his invasions, he is able to take neutral countries in one turn, denying me the opportunity to use those 'free' troops or tie him up.

We see this again in Sardinia. He does not deploy forces or his navy to deal with our minor incursion. Instead, he will use his subs, which are not needed elsewhere, to starve me out. I can't fly any land based air in to fight the subs because we lost Malta. This means I could ship them in...but then they'd get hit by the subs.

What it probably means is, I am going to have to abandon this effort, though I hate to. For now, we will sit tight.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 1:14:18 PM

boldairade

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June 4, 1943

Africa-The Axis forces do not try to overrun 1st Armor. It is withdrawn. We attempt to push back the Italian XX Corps in the Axis line, but make the SAME mistake we made last turn, failing to properly rotate troops in. The overall losses go our way, but again, a missed opportunity. I am going to have to give up my practice of sipping whiskey while playing WP.

Greece/E Med-With the Axis fleet returning to port in Malta and our carriers recovering in port, we decide to launch a carrier strike vs the Italian fleet in port. We have been trying to execute this for about 4 months, but the fleet has been always needed elsewhere.

All carriers set up 5 hexes from Malta and launch a single strike(all that is permitted after movement). The results are disappointing, but not negligible. One hit on two battleships, 2 hits on a DD group. Obviously we hoped for more. Economically it is not a big hit, but it will force Nirosi to rethink his basing. This might prove important for future ops.

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< Message edited by boldairade -- 1/20/2022 1:32:46 PM >

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 1:36:49 PM

boldairade

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June 4, 1943

The two most massive land armies in the world bask in sunlight. It is campaign season, but nothing is happening.

Soviet production the last few turns is changing. MM are being produced. Russia has also changed its production priorities. Up until now, the absolute priority was to produce one AT army per turn. Now, Stavka is considering what might be necessary to break open the front. Unfortunately, production times on these units is lengthy.

Upgrades to heavy tanks continue, along with refitting the Red Airforce. Soviet surface groups are almost ready for operations in the Baltic, but unless the Germans sortie their surface fleet, they are deemed too risky.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 1:40:02 PM

John B.

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Thanks for letting us the the casualties and the forces! At some point the Red Army may want to be unleashed. I'm sure you'll take a lot of hits from it but it's probably good to pressure the Axis where ever you can find them.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 2:13:06 PM

boldairade

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I'd certainly like to bring the Russians to bare.

However, Nirosi knew exactly what he was doing pausing at these river lines. Nowhere can I attack not across a river line. The best odds I could achieve anywhere are 1-3. In WP terms, that equates to 'attacker loses a lot, doesn't scratch defender'.

Having spent the last 6 months building the Red Army to fight a defensive war means it will take time to try to find a way to effectively attack Germany. Of course, time isn't something those Allied armies clinging to ports in the Med have a lot of...

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 2:19:57 PM

boldairade

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One cannot blame the mettle of the pilots. But the day of the Swordfish bomber has passed. Brave English pilots could not do significant damage to the Regia Marina at anchor in Malta.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 2:21:55 PM

boldairade

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IS-1 Heavy tanks are being deployed into existing Russian heavy tank corps. But Stavka can find nowhere to effectively employ them.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 2:38:11 PM

redrum68

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quote:

For the most part we have had enough MM. this turn we have EXACTLY enough. which means when the subs come back out, we won't. we continue to keep the shipyards full of MM and escorts and landing ships when there is room.

the problem is, that's ALL the UK can afford(along with replacemants). that's why england is so weak. everything is going into the BOA.

Are you sure about that? I thought just the starting UK convoy routes needed over 100 MM to be fully operational?

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 2:54:10 PM

boldairade

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Oh.

UK has been negative for months.

US MM has been taking up the slack. But even with that help we are now close to not having enough MM.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 3:01:13 PM

redrum68

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Ah ok. I gotcha now. I'm guessing you aren't sending much L&L to the USSR then?

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/20/2022 3:16:58 PM

boldairade

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Sending the maximum from both US and UK. Have been doing so consistently. That�s why Russian strength is pretty high I think.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/21/2022 9:22:03 AM

boldairade

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June 19, 1943

An oddly uneventful turn-

BOA-Uboats in the N Atlantic sink 2 MM, but take a step hit. Heavy uboat activity is expected soon. Allies fear that the Germans are upgrading their boats.

US Bomber Command-Probing raids hit Dusseldorf within range of US escort fighters. Again, the Jagdkorps do not contest the skies. In an attempt to conserve our bombers, we again pound Dresden and Prague. All three of the cities we hit are now rubble. In the Med, US heavy bombers are given a much needed break. A fresh US heavy bomber formation lands in Worthing. There are now 6 strategic bombers in range of the German heartland.

Med/Africa-Germans land Sardinia. Both Italian subs and German Fleigerkorps lurk over our port. US reinforcements waiting in Gibraltar do not dare land. The marines will probably have to be withdrawn. No action on the African front.

The Italian fleet pulls out of Malta as expected, and rebases all the way in NW Italy in Genoa. S France is off limits for the time being-strong Axis assets are guarding it. We have no REAL plans there, so this is ok.

East Front-Not a shot is fired. We continue to look for places where even minor ops could be conducted, but there is absolutely nothing. Nirosi has locked up the Eastern Front tight. All heavy tank corps now are fully upgraded.

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< Message edited by boldairade -- 1/21/2022 9:23:59 AM >

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/21/2022 9:35:55 AM

boldairade

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K-19 slips back under the waves in the Baltic.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/22/2022 1:51:06 PM

boldairade

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Well folks...I know last turn was boring, but I think this'll make up for it.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/22/2022 2:22:05 PM

boldairade

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July 2, 1943

BOA-Uboats return, sinking 6 MM, mostly in the Arctic lanes. There's a reason they are massed there. We hit back, though, inflicting 5 step hits on the untersea boats.

Norway-We are absolutely shocked here. Germany is NOT on the defensive on this front, as we thought. A full scale invasion of the port of Stravanger, vital to our supply, is launched, complete with two paradrops, air support, and the full weight of the surface power of the Kriegsmarine. They easily destroy the division holding the city, with minimal losses, and overrun our tac bomber there.

This leaves the entire UK presence in Norway severely compromised. We already were experiencing supply issues, and this halves our supply. The first move we make is to move I Corps adjacent to Trondheim to the north. Capturing this city could help alleviate the supply shortfall. We find a full corps entrenched in garrison mode here. It would take at least another corps to displace them-but to do so would leave us dangerously exposed to being cut off-the Germans can simply support way more troops in Norway than we can.

Without obvious responses on land, we attempt to counter the German fleet. We move our surface fleet at Scapa Flow within range of the German ships and launch a carrier strike. Results are disappointing-one step hit on a DD group. Our carrier strike was intercepted by ground based air and chopped up.

This leaves us in a dangerous position. The US Ranger has minimal support, with one BB and and one DD for protection. To try and add protection, we sail two DD groups and the BB Texas from southern England to rendezvous(they had been in Gibralter for the Sardina op, but were headed home). This results in a shocking combat I did not expect-the German intercept us, they hit Texas and sink BOTH DD groups, causing our fleet to retreat-leaving Texas alone, and the Ranger still with only light support. The German fleet takes some damage as well, with Scharnhorst group taking 4 hits, and a DD group taking two hits.

This leaves me absolutely stunned. I just do not understand naval combat enough to avoid these intermittent disasters. The ramifications here are huge. We are already losing the BOA, and losing two DD groups is a disaster. And who knows what could happen next turn? Will the Kriegsmarine sink Texas? Or the CV Ranger? Where will that leave us? If there is no surface fleet in the Atlantic to counter the German surface ships, things will be disastrous in the BOA. Which means we will need to withdraw surface ships from the Med-which we cannot do. We need ALL the naval power in the Med to support Athens and maintain naval superiority vs the Regia Marina. Not to mention the now potentially disastrous situation in Norway will be immeasurably more difficulty without naval support.

Losing the tac bomber in Stravanger hurt. We could have used it to hit back at the German ships. Our best anti ship weapon-the carrier strike, did very little due to land based air. We have only one asset remaining-the US strategic bombers. They are woeful vs naval targets-an attack value of 1. And using them will wear them out, giving German industry a chance to recover, not to mention German interceptors. It is a bad gamble to attack with them, but the truth is, the Allies find themselves in a disastrous situation. We use what few supply trucks are left to patch up the heavy bombers and send them north.

The first strike is picked up by the jagdkorps, chopped up and sent back without finding the German fleet. The next seven strikes either fail to find the fleet or do find it and do no damage while taking heavy damage themselves. I seriously consider cancelling the remaining strikes. We just need ONE hit to sink Scharnhorst, however, and perhaps salvage something. The eight strike finds Deutschland CA group and does 4 step hits, taking one hit in return. This is good and encourages us. Strike nine finds the 1st CL/DD group, does one hit and sinks it. Again, encouraging. Strike 10 takes two hits, but finds and sinks Scharnhorst! A final strike also takes a hit, but sinks Deutshland CA group.

Again, this seems semi miraculous after the failure of the first 7 strikes. Even with this 'miracle' our situation is dire in Norway, and of course Bismark is untouched. US heavy bombers take a staggering 15 step hits. Still, we have to be thankful something went right. English infantry are withdrawn to protect Bergen(German forces are already moving north).

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< Message edited by boldairade -- 1/22/2022 6:20:55 PM >

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/22/2022 2:37:57 PM

boldairade

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July 2, 1943

Africa-We have been planning a major op here, but competing needs for possible amphibious ops in Greece have postponed it, leaving us making only haphazard and poorly executed attacks inland in the desert. We had hoped to add additional assets before attacking, but driven by the failures elsewhere, as well as our inability to supply what we DO have, we launch our op.

US V and IV corps make amphibious landing north of the German line. A massive fleet composed of CVs, BBs and CAs move in to bombard the German defenders, the well entrenched, elite VII Corps entrenched in the hills. Joining the US amphibious troops is the US IX Corps and the South Midland UK Corps. The initial assault is incredibly bloody, with 13 step losses on both sides. Two follow up attacks cost the Allied forces 7 more steps, but the Germans lose 14. We cannot destroy the formation, but we do force it to retreat.

South of the line, inland, US VII Corps and the Anzac/NZ Corps launch a costly frontal assault vs the new Italian Armor Corps, Scipio. Back to back assaults cost us 14 steps while inflicting only 7 hits. Learning lessons from our previous failures, we rotate out the infantry and replace them with US 3rd Armor and WDF-both relatively fresh and with anti armor specialty. We are confident but get a very disappointing result-we suffer 4 hits but inflict only one. Allied planners are sickened by this result, we expected an overrun. We strike again, better results, inflicting 3 hits suffering none. But still not the kill shot we expected. Our third attack produces an overrrun, however. This is good, but leaves us without the necessary OPs to truly exploit the breakthrough.

After a massively bloody turn, Africa looks like this-

We NEED to take Tripoli. Our supply next turn is likely to be horrific, with all these extra units. I honestly don't know if this attack is a success or not. Perhaps it is too early to tell.

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/22/2022 2:41:19 PM

boldairade

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US destroyer William D Porter goes down after taking shell hits from both Bismark and Scharnhorst. Brave fellow destoyers attempt to save the sailors. One of many US destroyers that went down in the massive naval battle off the southern coast of Norway.

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< Message edited by boldairade -- 1/22/2022 9:14:39 PM >

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RE: Nirosi vs Boldairade(NO Nirosi for now...) - 1/22/2022 2:53:55 PM

boldairade

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After swatting aside US DD like flies with the help of her sister ship Bismark, Scharnhorst takes a massive salvo from US BB Texas. She is later sunk as she attempted to limp home by endless waves of US B-17s, pressed into service as naval hunters.