LoneRunner
Posts: 202
Joined: 8/16/2020
Status: offline
|
Thank you for the game Dmitry. Yes, it was very interesting and a lot of fun, even though I lost.
Dmitry is an excellent opponent. Ferocious on the attack. His panzers repeatedly slammed into my Russian defenses regardless of losses. Everytime I thought he would back off to rebuild, he would attack again, even with half strength units. He rarely allowed me a chance to refit and reorganize, keeping the Russians constantly falling back to the next line. I think he lost about 12 tanks and lots of infantry, but those losses didn't seem to slow him down.
Russia surrendered in April 44, about ten turns after the last capital, Perm, fell. Even though Russia had lost all three capitals, I was surprised by the surrender. Russian morale was just under 50% at the time of the surrender and almost 60 units (land and air) were left within Russian borders. Here's a quote from the manual regarding surrendering nations:
Every turn after a country loses its Capital (or last Capital if it had more than one) there will be a check to see if it carries on fighting. The chance that it will carry on fighting depends on the number of units it has left within its own borders, as follows:
§ Major Country Surrender = 3% * number of remaining units within the home country
§ Minor Country Surrender = 6% * number of remaining units within the home country
I interpret that wording to mean that Russia will not surrender if more than 33 Russian units exist within its borders. But apparently some other factors come into play. Perhaps Hubert or Bill can provide more information on surrender requirements for majors.
Dmitry's Mediterranean attack was awesome. He committed just about the entire Japanese navy to the Med. And he absolutely crushed the combined USA/UK fleet, sinking five carriers and multiple other capital ships, while only losing one carrier and maybe a couple other ships. He surprised me turn after turn with skillful combined strikes from carriers and capital ships, sinking ships that I thought were perfectly safe behind screens. Wow, well done Dmitry.
And he's right, the Japanese attack saved Italy from the brink of surrender. Italy was teetering at 28% morale. One more city surrender and Mussolini would be packing his bags.
Weather did play a major role in the Med battle. When the Japanese fleet sailed into the Med, I saw a perfect opportunity and operated fighters and maritime bombers from around the globe into Italy, Libya, Cyprus, Palestine, and Transjordan. I figured the Med would become a killing ground, finally ending the Japanese threat.
Then the weather turned. For two months my air fleets on land hunkered under a series of rain and dust storms while the weather was clear on the waters of the Med. Without fighter cover and the ability to strike back, Japanese carriers and battleships massacred the Allied fleet. I think I got a total of three attacks with maritime bombers.
In my opinion weather luck is a big problem with WaW. Weather effects are too harsh. Too black and white, especially for air power. Either you can fly or you can't. And rain, snow, dust storms can last for months. Very unrealistic.
However, Dmitry is right, I lost the game, not in the Med, but on the beaches of Northern Europe. My second front started Spring 1943. A massive invasion force simultaneously hit France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany. I felt Russia was on the ropes and I had to get Germany's attention.
Initially the invasion went well. I captured Hamburg, Bremen, The Hague, Amsterdam, Lille, Caen, and Le Havre. Within a turn Hamburg and The Hague attained level five supply and reinforcements poured in.
However, I'll bet a lot of experienced players see my problem. The invasion was spread too thin.
Reinforcement to Western Europe was cut off by strategic bombers, so Dmitry responded to the crisis with expert placement of the only units available, anti-air units. And they were tough. Key points like Antwerp and Dusseldorf were tenaciously defended. As a result, Dmitry effectively contained Allied beachheads and the Allies ended up in isolated pockets along the entire north European coast. In retrospect, I should have concentrated the entire assault between The Hague and Hamburg and attempted a breakthrough to Berlin or the West Wall.
Weather played a small role in the invasion, not enough to affect the ultimate outcome. Even though the weather was clear in both England and Northern Europe, I was unable to support the invasion with paratroopers. They just wouldn't land in Europe. I finally figured out that maybe a thin line of rain storms in the English Channel was blocking their flight path. Perhaps someone has some information on that issue.
My last opportunity to turn the tide was in Japan. When the Japanese fleet entered the Med, I was in the midst of preparing a third invasion of Northern Europe. Invasion craft were already sailing across the Atlantic. I recognized an opportunity to knock Japan out of the war and shifted the entire invasion fleet into the Pacific. I figured if Russia could hold out for a few more months and Japan surrendered, then Italy would quickly fall and Germany would stand alone against UK and USA.
But then Russia unexpectedly surrendered. Dang, it would have been glorious.
Our game was probably one of the last pre version 12.0 games. I'm excited to see what Russia can do under the new rules.
Excellent game Dmitry. A well deserved victory. Hope to meet you again over the game board.
< Message edited by LoneRunner -- 12/3/2021 5:31:14 PM >
|
Printable Version
RE: The World at War ELO Tournament - 
!
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread