RE: Decisively Beating the AI (Full Version)

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Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/22/2015 7:53:53 PM)

Turn 26: Dec 25, 1943

I forgot to mention that last turn (T25) I began bombing the V-Wpn factories with 8th AF and the V-Wpn launch sites with BC, 2nd TAC and 9th AF. It is important to start bombing these sites in late 43 as you might otherwise be surprised by bad weather in early 44 that prevents you bombing them. Something I learned the hard way in my first game against the AI.

Below is the screenshot of Italy after my Recon and destruction of the units isolated last turn. I got lucky and a high pressure system moved in and gave me clear weather. As you can see I had a couple options. The first was I could have attacked the unit circled in purple and broken through to isolate the units in Livorno and Pisa. But instead I decided to attack the units circled in red with the plan of liberating Florence.


[image]local://upfiles/14737/0FF0059B35FF46F79C3191F2EF7D9CD4.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/22/2015 7:55:53 PM)

As you can see below I got lucky. Instead of retreating into Florence the German para regiment instead retreated East, this allowed me to not only captured Florence, but to exploit into the mountains behind it.


[image]local://upfiles/14737/5F272D68FA924D8F8992CB204B2F1A26.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/22/2015 8:24:38 PM)

Screenshot below shows me cleaning up the isolated pockets. Nothing too special about this except notice that I left a spot for the strong German units in the mountains to move too. The purpose of this was to coax these units out of their strong fortified position in the Mountain hex into a non-fortified hex in clear terrain. Sure enough they fell for it and next turn I was able to mop them up with a small force.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/48B9276B92FF4B99994D2CF7C2B0A021.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/23/2015 7:32:52 PM)

Turn 27: Jan 1, 1944

The New Year began with me poised to breakout into the plains of Northern. However, T27 I was primarily just consolidating my gains of last turn and renewing my offensive on the East coast.

Before:

[image]local://upfiles/14737/184FE3B04BF34C9C92CC9EA337481AE7.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/23/2015 7:33:26 PM)

After:


[image]local://upfiles/14737/B221CEC57DE1434C8BFD061469768EEC.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/23/2015 7:49:06 PM)

Turn 28: Jan 8, 1944

Okay Newbies take a look at the screenshot below and then take a guess at where you think I attacked this turn. If you have been following my AAR this far then this should be a no-brainer for you, as you must know that I rarely if ever let pass an opportunity to isolate large numbers of German units and you know that I like to attack the enemy at his weakest point. The only problem is that this time I had to use my armour to make the attacks as no infantry were in range. As I said before there are exceptions to every rule and this is one of them.


[image]local://upfiles/14737/0A74D8D2758441B0BF35DC176C8921ED.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/23/2015 7:50:32 PM)

I am sure you all guessed correctly, and below is the result.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/14366766554F4E49ABE0EC468DC7E0CC.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/24/2015 3:15:46 PM)

Turn 29: Jan 22, 1944

The Germans pulled back on the west coast and were again looking weak on the east coast. But my armour was also beat up and my infantry was still struggling to get to the Front. So on this turn I concentrated on trying to reduce the size of the enemy pocket.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/D130A04F28254967B94B40C12EE90D22.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/24/2015 3:17:09 PM)

Turn 30: Jan 22, 1944

Unfortunately the trapped Germans are putting up fiercer than expected resistance. At the start of T30 the supply to my armour was still restricted and as a consequence CVs and MPs were still pretty low.


[image]local://upfiles/14737/28211099DDEA47E79CD64E3C4E3A0A9E.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/24/2015 3:18:09 PM)

However, by the end of my turn the pocket had been significantly reduced. I was hoping that on T31 I could continue my Northerly advance.


[image]local://upfiles/14737/91A2ED3CC1FE4C079486B31FB76EF13F.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/24/2015 3:18:56 PM)

VPs, Losses and other info as at the start of T30. I have bombed the V-Wpn factories and launch sites into rubble, but I am only receiving 3 bombing VPs per turn. My Canadian Manpower numbers are worrisome; so over the last few turns I have been withdrawing them from the Front lines and returning them to England. If you go back and examine the Info stats from T10 and T20 you will see that, despite their losses, the Germans actually have more men, tanks and planes than they did 20 turns ago. I assume this is due to units being transferred from the Russian Front.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/4B740258585B4401936D07455059889F.jpg[/image]



loki100 -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/24/2015 6:11:05 PM)

Are you not at risk of over-committing in Italy? There's not that much more to gain (VP-wise)?

wonder if it would be an idea to start planning for a S France invasion and getting some of those better units back to the UK to invade France? Sort of links to your problem with Canadian manpower. I use the Canadian divisions extensively but have never felt much of a constraint from lack of manpower reserves?



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/24/2015 7:54:50 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: loki100

Are you not at risk of over-committing in Italy? There's not that much more to gain (VP-wise)?

wonder if it would be an idea to start planning for a S France invasion and getting some of those better units back to the UK to invade France? Sort of links to your problem with Canadian manpower. I use the Canadian divisions extensively but have never felt much of a constraint from lack of manpower reserves?


I am already on T43. Indeed this entire AAR has been written after T43. Once I get this AAR caught up to where I am at in the game I will, obviously, have to start playing some more turns and then I will be able to start accepting advice. However, even if I could redo these turns I would not, and not only because I know how things turn out. Playing against the AI is different than playing a human opponent. My goals here were to: cause German casualties while limiting my own, force the AI to move the maximum number of units out of France and into Italy, push the Germans back to the Alps, and capture Southern France from Italy. Most of these objectives would be impossible against a competent opponent. But the AI is far from that. I do start transferring units to England soon; but it is only January, so I have lots of time.



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/24/2015 7:56:35 PM)

T31: Jan 29, 1944

Looking at the below screenshot you should not have any difficulty in figuring out where I attacked.



[image]local://upfiles/14737/8CE3AEA609204CB193050D356B0F5351.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/24/2015 7:57:23 PM)

The end of my turn screenshot. Generally speaking, it is preferable when doing a "Breakout Attack" to perform it along a 3 hex wide area of the Front, rather than just the 2 hexes I have done here. The reason is that then the units doing the breakout (your most mobile units) will not have to move from enemy ZOC to enemy ZOC. But often that is not possible.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/8E89DDFE92234514874CBDB63C3349E1.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/25/2015 12:55:03 AM)

Turn 32: Feb 5, 1944

The break out this turn is as shown below. By the way, it is probably long past time that I apologize for my very poor artistic skills. Apparently I can't even draw an arrow. In any event I cross the Po River.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/ADB22EFFF7C147008C6A8897DAE372AE.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/25/2015 12:56:21 AM)

T33: Feb 12, 1944

When T33 began I was surprised to discover that the Germans had performed a major withdrawal. It looked like they were going to defend North-East Italy and were giving me an almost free pass to the French-Italian border.


[image]local://upfiles/14737/2458AD1C9726454180DE4B5E67B6FE7C.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/25/2015 12:57:06 AM)

After Moves:

[image]local://upfiles/14737/C7EA4C1A5F0C411AA1A16BB813E4BA31.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/25/2015 1:16:37 AM)

T34: Feb 19, 1944

Heavy Rain and Heavy Mud means I made very little headway this turn.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/A97FD1EA1D1A47FDA9FAC3990F25E5AF.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/25/2015 1:17:44 AM)

T35: Feb 26, 1944

Start of turn.


[image]local://upfiles/14737/6339D795FA2B4FE387B7EBBC3DDB069B.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/25/2015 1:18:32 AM)

End of turn. I capture the "Free City" of Milan, while isolating a few more units near Venice. The decision I faced now was do I capture Venice and keep pressing towards the Alps in Northern Italy, or do I stop the offensive in that direction?

[image]local://upfiles/14737/734C40CBB0CB47A0BE4001062AB521BA.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/25/2015 3:24:49 PM)

Turn 36: Mar 4, 1944

The map at the start of my turn. Note the infantry division circled in green with the 41 MPs. Last turn I had about 150 Admin Points so I thought I would try motorizing an infantry divison to see what the result would be. I liked what I saw, so over the next few turns I motorized some more. Bear in mind though that motorizing infantry divisions uses up Admin points each turn the unit is motorized. So you will not want to over do it. However, when you are advancing rapidly against no opposition that is the time to do this. As I understand it motorized units consume less fuel than armour; so they will often have more MPs than your armour. Also it is better to push your infantry divisions (resulting in lower CVs) than it is your armour.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/37D9091C3E1147CDAA60E92E0DEC909B.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/25/2015 3:26:18 PM)

After my turn below.

I forgot to mention earlier that I have had 5 TFs with 9 infantry divisions total prepping in England for the last several turns. Working backwards you want to have these TFs and their divisions fully prepped with 90 prep points for T46: May 13, 1944 or perhaps even the turn before. This is because this should be the first week of expected clear weather in NW Europe. 2 divisions prepping in a size 6 or 7 port will gain 6 prep points per turn and therefore require 15 turns to be at 90 prep points. So you want to start prepping on T31: Jan 29, 1944. As I indicated at the beginning of this AAR I intend to invade the Pas de Calais. In particular the 5 hexes south of Boulogne. I am pretty confident on taking all of these except Etaples. That one we will have to see.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/A1B3EDDC89D744C4AE3FE46B61D6E086.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/25/2015 3:28:01 PM)

Turn 37: Mar 11, 1944

Map at the start of my turn. By looking at their MPs you can see that I have motorized several more infantry divisions. As well I made the decision this turn that I would not bother trying to capture Venice or advance any further North In Italy. Instead I will setup a picket line of regiments from the Swiss border to the sea near Venice. This would free up a lot of units (including armour) to return to England in time for Overlord.

Since most of my armour in the East (near Venice) was British, while most of my armour steaming west towards the French border is American, it would have made a lot more sense for me to move the British armour to England for Overlord. However, when Overlord happens I want my Americans on the left/north wing (near the Channel) and my British on the right/south wing. As the troops moving up from Southern France would be on the extreme right/southern flank, I therefore wanted them to be British. Accordingly,I decided to remove my American armour from battle to return to England and rolled all my British armour across Northern Italy to the French border.

Of course, in this game this really was not necessary because you can freely intermingle your American, British and Commonwealth units without any penalties whatsoever that I am aware of. But playing the AI it is my intention, at least in NW Europe to keep my American and British units separate. The one exception is I might assign the Canadian Army to an American Army Group. I will have to wait and see.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/3A276BDE4DCF4B288FFA6B66466C73EF.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/26/2015 4:53:14 AM)

T38: Mar 18, 1944

Not much to report this turn. I slowly maneuver my units in NE Italy towards the Swiss border while pulling out several divisions. In Western Italy I continue my advance into France against almost non-existent opposition.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/891C134D217C4B2B8442E15F3058BF24.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/26/2015 4:55:48 AM)

T39: Mar 25, 1944

Heavy mud this turn, but I make some more progress anyway. Below is the Map of the Italian-French border at the end of my turn.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/770DF91D1BB64E47870D9EDF3287E61C.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/26/2015 5:08:59 AM)

Here is the situation in NE Italy after the end of my turn. In a couple turns the line will stretch from Switzerland to the Gulf of Trieste. I am hoping it will then sit like that until Wars end. I have 9 divisions here facing down 21 German divisions, many of them elite panzers and paratroopers.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/518DDCB9D44F48A7B8ABED197228DDBB.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/26/2015 3:27:02 PM)

Turn 40: Apr 1, 1944

Screenshot below of my advance into France. Nice has been bypassed for now.


[image]local://upfiles/14737/4B079802E4A048908963ABCB4FDFCF55.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/26/2015 3:27:41 PM)

And the Info screen. Again, despite heavy losses the Germans have more manpower and aircraft than they did 10 turns ago. At least they have fewer tanks.

[image]local://upfiles/14737/8ECD2ED967A24DF7A1B5ABCB417677D1.jpg[/image]



Harrybanana -> RE: Decisively Beating the AI (6/26/2015 3:29:39 PM)

T41: April 8, 1944

Little action this turn as I just continued my advance into Southern France spearheaded by my motorized infantry. However, it was on or about this turn that I discovered a problem with my rail repair units. As I mentioned earlier I just left these units attached to either AFHQ or 15th (AAI)BR Army Group. Unfortunately the Rail Repair Value ("RRV") of two of these units has been reduced to "1". You only need an RRV of 1 to repair rails, unfortunately as I moved these units during my turn the RRv would fall to 0. I am informed the likely cause is a loss of a TOE in the support units that was not being replaced due to a low level of supplies being received by these units. This surprised me because, as you can see below, the supply levels of the rail repair Corps themselves (in this example MTO CW Rail Group) is quite high. But when I examined the support units attached to the RR repair units I did indeed discover that their TOEs were low and they were not receiving any supplies. I am told the solution to this is to attach the units to a closer HHQ. Accordingly I have attached them to 8th Army, it is too early to tell if this will work. As I stated earlier, if I am unable to win a Decisive Victory, this will be the main cause.


[image]local://upfiles/14737/66C6C42C83CC47418E62BC6CED8E7C4E.jpg[/image]



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