RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW)

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (Full Version)

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warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (4/26/2018 4:24:19 AM)
Turn 193 - Axis Turn and Allied Turn 22nd July 1942 There are still a lot of reinforcements coming through but bombardments were limited to half a dozen and the damage was light. I suffer two withdrawals - the 25th Indian Brigade HQ and the 164th Field Artillery Regiment. The latter is particularly painful as I need all the artillery I can get. The good news is that I am back to 55 squadrons and I do a quick check on the air situation as I have not done this for a while. I wish I hadn't bothered. Such grim reading. Although I have 55 squadrons on paper, I've effectively got almost 10 less than that. As can be seen the contempt for the Hurricane is all too evident here. Just 180 remain - or just over 7 squadrons. An equally grim statistic is the number of reserve aircraft - down to just 270.... [image]local://upfiles/28156/86BA325E4B89470CAA7A4801F6972B00.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (4/26/2018 4:52:59 AM)
Turn 193 22nd July 1942 I try moving a few of my reinforcements - I have a battalion of South Africans and some RAF base units - but these are interdicted en route. One of the attacks was as the unit was passing an airfield and took out 5 Blenheims as well as the infantry [8\|] The two Blenheim squadrons went straight into reorganisation mode....[sm=nono.gif] The turns - and the game - continues to slip away but with most of my artillery still on red, an air force that contains so many squadrons with aircraft in single digits, with the two recently arrived infantry divisions badly mauled and a tank force still in recovery mode, there is simply nothing to be done.

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (4/27/2018 6:23:20 AM)
Turn 194 25th July 1942 There were four Axis bombardments that caused moderate damage. Otherwise all was quiet - apart from the huge number of reinforcements heading east. For my part many of the artillery units are starting to show a little orange or light green so I am hoping offensive operations can commence. It looks like the 44th Infantry Division will be arriving soon too.

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (4/28/2018 12:38:39 PM)
Turn 195 29th July 1942 The enemy bombardments did relatively minor damage - but the Axis have moved up to the frontline - maybe the plan is for a spoiler operation ahead of whatever I have have in mind (eventually)? For reasons mentioned above - no artillery being chief amongst them and next to no anti-tank guns being perhaps the biggest issue - I have no choice but to withdraw - and of course this could not happen without numerous units engaging and being badly shot up or worse. Absolutely no idea what to do here - perhaps devoncop will take the choice out of my hands by attacking first?

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (4/29/2018 5:32:17 AM)
Turn 196 1st August 1942 Only two bombardments - with manageable damage. However the Axis forces are back in my face and with tons of rested artillery. But my forces are back at Burg El Arab and so there is nowhere left to go really. I've detected his paratroop units back. I will ensure that all fighters are on air superiority but with small ranges so they can't go off getting into trouble - but can stop a paratroop drop (yeah right....). More of my artillery is coming back to life - shoots of green are spotted springing out of the desert (although sadly only one I can see is dark green - and they are sill mostly red and orange) but hey, its a start. My main reinforcements I think have now arrived - there's probably just the 51st Highland Division left - oh and a Greek Brigade - so its difficult to see how 'superior numbers' can work here. Artillery, tanks, and aircraft where art thou?

MikeJ19 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/2/2018 1:28:10 AM)
Warspite, A General can never have enough artillery! Good luck with your battle.

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/2/2018 7:35:22 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MikeJ19 Warspite, A General can never have enough artillery! Good luck with your battle. warspite1 Certainly not in this game!!!

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/2/2018 8:04:37 AM)
Turn 197 5th August 1942 The Axis punch through one hex in the frontline south of the railway. I have an interesting dilemma here. Turns are running out, the Axis are still ridiculously strong and my artillery is equally weak. Do I continue to hold? Fight a limited battle to try and wrest that hex back.....or....retreat. I am going to retreat and here is the madness in my method: - Experience has shown that even a limited offensive will cost me stupid numbers of troops, tanks and guns (not to mention Hurricanes [8\|]). Which is fine if it achieves something. But at best I just straighten the line to no real purpose. - If I retreat (accepting that the CW usually get engaged) I will a) give more time for my artillery to recover, b) move my units closer to my air cover and - most importantly c) hopefully encourage devoncop to attack again and take him out of his prepared positions....

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/4/2018 3:31:30 AM)
Turn 198 8th August 1942 Well whatever I did was going to be risky. The Germans make further in-roads having laid on 14 bombardments (no attacks). The percentages look bad but I will have a look at the actual casualties these caused before deciding whether to stick with this approach or what. I suspect though that this will simply confirm there is no way through that wall of artillery for the CW. The losses weren't too bad - except for the artillery which was expensive. Usual results apply in the air though - 11 out of 19 Hurricanes lost on one squadron sortie (4 destroyed). The below came at a cost to the Axis of 7 fighters (2 destroyed) and 21 bombers (6 destroyed) in total. [image]local://upfiles/28156/E7EC15192B6F481BA47AF7BADA1CEF3C.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/4/2018 4:56:22 PM)
Turn 198 8th August 1942 The CW forces pull back one more hex - leaving behind a routed Kiwi battalion.....

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/5/2018 2:44:04 AM)
Turn 199 12th August 1942 It looks like devoncop attempted another paradrop. A unit of mine appeared to disappear (I think) - but then so did the paratrooper. Nothing in the combat report to say what happened, nothing in the air briefing to say ANY aircraft were lost this turn.... This is so disappointing that the detail of so much activity can be simply unavailable to players. Anyway, back to the main front and devoncop has pushed up as I've retreated, launching another 10 bombardments. Once again I'll check on the damage before deciding on whether to retreat further. Once again, with the exception of field guns, the losses were acceptable in the context of the overall plan. [image]local://upfiles/28156/675CF9F065F94C308A38297318BF17B6.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/5/2018 3:02:48 AM)
Turn 199 12th August 1942 The victory points continue to move in the Axis favour [image]local://upfiles/28156/024271DD839644C79E828240E834E8A9.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/5/2018 5:22:55 AM)
Turn 199 12th August 1942 I decided to go for it - and then changed my mind - and then changed it back - and then decided to go for a limited bombardment just to cause a few casualties - and then decided to extend the bombardment - and then decided to attack - only by the time I decided to attack the turns had run out so I only got one round in...... Commanding General? what a *****! There were five hexes targeted - with attacks against the rail line in the north and the units on the bend in the Axis line in the centre.* [image]local://upfiles/28156/17894ECF90A247F7856AF38AC6DDADE0.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/5/2018 6:04:44 AM)
Turn 199 12th August 1942 The two units succeeded in pushing the enemy back. I am not certain what of my forces advanced - but I'm sure I'm about to find out..... The softening up exercise obviously helped the land battle but once again the air force situation was sub-optimal given the number of fighter sorties flown by each side. But I have to assume I have more aircraft than the Axis and so a whittling down in these ratios is no bad thing. The tank losses for the Axis were all Italian unfortunately - indeed from what I could see there were few Germans in the two hexes. [image]local://upfiles/28156/0C241C0C3ABB4ABDBD87AF43795CF86F.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/5/2018 11:09:07 AM)
Turn 200 - Axis Turn (in real time) 15th August 1942 The turn begins with devoncop moving artillery � a lot of artillery - in the centre, south of the dog-leg. Now I can see a number of German formations � motorised infantry especially � moving to the front in the north. Further units � Italian and German are being sent to the front line � devoncop clearly has no intention of going quietly�.. More reinforcements moving through the Jebel now � and from Tripolitania. It looks like another paradrop attempt is being made. It flashes up that there is an interception attempt, followed by the seemingly mandatory �Hurricane evaporates� routine. Then a whole load of movement of aircraft back and forward east-west and vice-versa (always pleasing when it�s the Me-109 going west and Italian aircraft going east) but I can�t see what�s happened to the paratroopers. There doesn�t appear to be a landing. The bombardments commence � interspersed with troop and tank movements A South African battalion evaporates The turn ends. Good grief�.. it turns out it wasn�t just a Hurricane � a Spitfire squadron evaporated as well. Even after all that I still have air superiority � so it says something for how much of an advantage I had at the start of that Axis turn. But it seems to matter not. Bizarre. Time to try and find out what other disasters befell the hapless CW forces�.

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/5/2018 11:10:21 AM)
Turn 200 - Axis Turn 15th August 1942 I won't mention the air battles - it just annoys me too much [8\|] The losses to artillery are concerning - let's face it, with the state of the CW forces, any losses are too many. [image]local://upfiles/28156/D664D19E233D47A993EF5536545B03D3.jpg[/image]

Szilard -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/5/2018 11:32:38 AM)
Monty's on his way, with cigs for the troops & a plan to poke up a stick up Rommel's gasket, what hey?

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/5/2018 11:56:26 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Szilard Monty's on his way, with cigs for the troops & a plan to poke up a stick up Rommel's gasket, what hey? warspite1 What ho?! The news summary says he's here now, but I understood it was from turn 201. Whatever - he's here or almost here [:)].

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/5/2018 12:32:46 PM)
Turn 200 - Axis Turn 15th August 1942 The German losses move the victory dial back slightly.... The recce indicator is up to 15% which is as indicated in the Scenario Briefing. But the Axis shock bonus I don't think is removed until next turn - at which point both sides will be on an equal footing shock-wise. [image]local://upfiles/28156/38A19B39729B4C0396D1BD964AACD9DE.jpg[/image]

MikeJ19 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/5/2018 1:02:23 PM)
Warspite, I continue to enjoy your posts and this AAR. The losses are very frustrating at times. I just attacked a bridging unit with tanks and the bridging unit had no losses and I somehow lost tanks... Oh well. Good luck moving forward, Ian (Devoncop) is a very good opponent.

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/5/2018 1:29:13 PM)
Turn 200 - Axis Turn 15th August 1942 I decide to try the same approach as previously - a softening up exercise pre-moving units (so if the turn ends they haven't got themselves stacked up in a row ready to be bombarded) and then moving to attack. Once again two hexes are targeted (with a couple of others earmarked for barrage). I originally placed all non-dark green air units to rest. To hell with that old cobblers - unless they're orange then they are flying! This gives me a good air superiority rating.... [image]local://upfiles/28156/DC97A440AD214B52A8CA1071816303F8.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/5/2018 1:29:56 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MikeJ19 Warspite, I continue to enjoy your posts and this AAR. The losses are very frustrating at times. I just attacked a bridging unit with tanks and the bridging unit had no losses and I somehow lost tanks... Oh well. Good luck moving forward, Ian (Devoncop) is a very good opponent. warspite1 He is indeed. Keeps up a good pace too!!

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/5/2018 1:38:24 PM)
Turn 200 - Axis Turn 15th August 1942 The attacks were 'excellent' with 'light' and 'very light' losses - so it can easily be guessed what actually happened [8\|] There is 20% of the turn left and so the choice is: - Continue for another attack against non-softened up enemy units - Prepare for the expected counter-attack. I think the plan has to be to continue the attack, but with one eye on ensuring stacks of artillery are not too big..... But I change my mind. I can't get decent odds - or at least I can on one, but the losses I take won't be worth it. I instead try and bombard the defenders in the hope that maybe some units will reorganise. I'll now count up the butchers bill - but it won't make pretty reading for the Commonwealth. It's a good job I had air superiority or I might have lost another air battle...... [image]local://upfiles/28156/D7D533C7AF6D48288CDB101FE3CDABC4.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/6/2018 9:01:05 PM)
Turn 201 - Axis Turn 19th August 1942 The Germans limited themselves to a number of bombardments along the line. The losses were not too concerning (except of course the artillery)but were enough to move the victory gauge 1 point in the Axis favour. Below the Quattara devoncop has sent some recce forces forward but - for the moment at any rate - this remains a backwater part of the front.... [image]local://upfiles/28156/B0AB73EB9A334ABDBA246456DA7D3CCA.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/6/2018 9:05:12 PM)
Turn 201 19th August 1942 I receive the Greek Brigade - which provides three infantry battalions, a machine gun battalion and a field artillery regiment - always welcome! The field artillery, AA and anti-tank components of the 51st Highland Division have also arrived. As usual the British artillery is knackered - the majority of it on red status. But with so few turns left there is nothing to hold back for now. I have a 5-point Air Superiority over the Axis air forces. I earmark five hexes for attention to various degrees, of which two will be subject to attack.

Szilard -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/6/2018 9:23:00 PM)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8TlQVHRhyA "... we are going to finish with this chap Rommel once and for all."

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/6/2018 9:25:17 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Szilard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8TlQVHRhyA "... we are going to finish with this chap Rommel once and for all." warspite1 [&o]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/6/2018 11:10:51 PM)
Turn 201 19th August 1942 Overall I inflicted more losses than I took - but then there is the air war [8\|]. In the first air battle the Allied fighters had circa a 4:1 advantage, moreover the number of Me-109's available was lower than is normally the case, but...... Really concerning that the advance in the south left a hex vacant. I get the feeling that devoncop will counter - and counter big pretty soon and that sort of thing doesn't help - although nor does getting your bomber force shot out of the sky for no apparent reason.... [image]local://upfiles/28156/A9625CA1DD5A456D95CF65CDA3DFD657.jpg[/image].

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/7/2018 5:21:07 PM)
Turn 202 22nd August 1942 The victory points edge further into the Axis camp after that turn - even though there were only 3 bombardments and 1 attack. That said there was an air battle and well lets just not go there. My flowchart written in jest appears to be the actual flow chart for the game.....

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (5/7/2018 5:37:39 PM)
Turn 202 22nd August 1942 I have few reinforcements this turn - 2 AA batteries and a Kiwi infantry battalion. I try and move my Greek brigade toward the front but they get interdicted for their trouble. The same happens when I try and move the Kiwis. But there is nothing to be done at this stage of the game other than keep plugging away. As I line up to start my bombardments, the enemy launches wave after wave of interdiction. Ouch! These continue after every round. Well if the Allied air forces struggled in the air before, then this change of focus has (seemingly) massively helped them; there were 8 Axis furballs! The CW pushed back the Axis forces on 3 hexes - although I pushed my luck too far and now have some large stacks ready to be hit.... Let's work out what happened... The CW just about came out on top in terms of infantry losses - but everything was pretty close and I failed to get amongst the enemy tanks. Bizarrely perhaps given the furballs, the Axis are showing as having air superiority at present..... [image]local://upfiles/28156/AAA39C2AF9354F569A9036105465607A.jpg[/image]

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