RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR)

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR)

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> World in Flames >> After Action Report >> RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR)

Page: << < prev 1 2 [3] 4 5 next > >>

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/17/2021 10:46:07 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Interlude, German army lines in Europe in January: two pockets - in Denmark and in Poland - may severely impact ability of Wehrmacht to attack Netherlands in March and France in May.

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 61

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/17/2021 10:53:03 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Jan/Feb 1940, Allied Impulse #7 Redo:

USSR takes over the Baltic states at a cost of a US entry chit.

Something to consider: declarations of war would have placed 2 CP units on the map, eligible to capture. Taking over the countries without a war declaration means no extra ships. That, and having neutral Lithuania would have created a nasty logistical roadblock for Germans - even though that's quite gamey.

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 62

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/17/2021 11:07:36 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Jan/Feb 1940, Axis Impulse #8:

Italy is wrapping up unit evacuation from Africa. Libya will be held down by two territorials; Ethiopia region - by three. When the campaign was being started, I was hoping for a meaningful action around Red Sea using a few Italian ships, but I have since abandoned the idea.

Now, should CW pull out that armored HQ (and they are quite tempted to), there may be another discussion on the matter.

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 63

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/17/2021 11:43:45 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Jan/Feb 1940, End of Turn:

Overall, the campaign is truly not going well for Axis. Typically, at this point in time my Japanese forces would have scored a victory or two, and Germans would be knocking on the gates of Amsterdam. Let's see what happens this time...

Germany builds a synthetic oil plant, 2 submarines, a militia, two fighters, and a pilot. Several weaker bombers are scrapped.

Italy - two submarines and a territorial.

Japan is all over the place, building militias, air force, and even starting work on battleship Yamato.

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 64

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 12:06:26 AM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Jan/Feb 1940, End of Turn:

Chinese build a garrison, an infantry division, and a cavalry division.

CW continues the strategy of savages and bombs. Territorials to flood the essential bases, and heavy bombers to attack German mainland.

French build 2 territorials, and a fighter/pilot combo.

USA starts on 3 1940-era battleships, a garrison, a submarine, a convoy, and a CVP. Essentially, the goal is to defeat IJN quickly and soundly.

USSR builds an armor, garrison, a LND4 bomber (with now all three TB-series bombers on the field or in production), and a pilot.

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 65

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 12:09:08 AM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Interlude, Russian strategic bombers:

In my opinion, this is the one area where Soviets could have made a real dent in German defenses, and they did not.

I'm fixing to remedy that now...

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 66

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 1:56:48 AM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Mar/Apr 1940, Allied Impulse #1:

Axis decline going first for the now three turns in a row, hoping to bank enough initiative for the summer campaign. So far, that strategy has backfired twice in a row.

CW sneaks in another division in Denmark, making Germans have to consider very hard if they want to deal with this pocket at all.

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 67

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 5:38:02 AM

Orm

Posts: 22154
Joined: 5/3/2008
From: Sweden
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rysyonok

Jan/Feb 1940, End of Turn:

Overall, the campaign is truly not going well for Axis. Typically, at this point in time my Japanese forces would have scored a victory or two, and Germans would be knocking on the gates of Amsterdam. Let's see what happens this time...

Germany builds a synthetic oil plant, 2 submarines, a militia, two fighters, and a pilot. Several weaker bombers are scrapped.

Thank you for this AAR.

Here are my scattered thoughts on Germany.

Things are not all to bad, for Euro-Axis, in my humble opinion. Their losses have been low so far. And US entry is extremely low.

I suggest that you let the CW forces hold Frederikshavn, for now, and shift focus towards France.

Carpet bombing, especially early in the war, is a gambling on luck strategy. And it might very well be a good one. But it costs time if you fail. And Germany is on a tight schedule.

Synth oil for Germany is a bit cheaper with a cost of 7 BPs, instead of the standard 8 BPs.

A couple of German units shipped to Helsinki might be worth the cost if it keeps Finland in the war for a longer time. BTW, why was there no forced peace between USSR, and Finland?

_____________________________

Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb -- they're often students, for heaven's sake. - Terry Pratchett

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 68

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 5:58:10 AM

Orm

Posts: 22154
Joined: 5/3/2008
From: Sweden
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rysyonok

With every optional rule in play (save for Blitz bonus, as it can't mix with 2D10).

All optionals.

You are brave indeed.

And your German ENG units will have a full work schedule ahead of them if all major ports are to be fixed.

Edit: And factories.

_____________________________

Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb -- they're often students, for heaven's sake. - Terry Pratchett

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 69

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 2:25:36 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Orm

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rysyonok

With every optional rule in play (save for Blitz bonus, as it can't mix with 2D10).

All optionals. You are brave indeed. And your German ENG units will have a full work schedule ahead of them if all major ports are to be fixed.

Edit: And factories.

To be quite honest, I wasn't going to sit and judge as to which optional was going to benefit which side, so I either play with all or nothing. I probably should have mentioned - I'm running the latest patch, so Atomic weapons are on the table. As for ENG units, I doubt I am going to invest in any ports, so we're only talking red factories (and I'm yet to capture my first one, Lodz!); but you're right, it is going to be a wild ride! Thank you for your feedback!

_____________________________

(in reply to Orm)

Post #: 70

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 2:32:03 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Orm

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rysyonok

Jan/Feb 1940, End of Turn:

Overall, the campaign is truly not going well for Axis. Typically, at this point in time my Japanese forces would have scored a victory or two, and Germans would be knocking on the gates of Amsterdam. Let's see what happens this time...

Germany builds a synthetic oil plant, 2 submarines, a militia, two fighters, and a pilot. Several weaker bombers are scrapped.

Thank you for this AAR.

Here are my scattered thoughts on Germany.

Things are not all to bad, for Euro-Axis, in my humble opinion. Their losses have been low so far. And US entry is extremely low.

I suggest that you let the CW forces hold Frederikshavn, for now, and shift focus towards France.

Carpet bombing, especially early in the war, is a gambling on luck strategy. And it might very well be a good one. But it costs time if you fail. And Germany is on a tight schedule.

Synth oil for Germany is a bit cheaper with a cost of 7 BPs, instead of the standard 8 BPs.

A couple of German units shipped to Helsinki might be worth the cost if it keeps Finland in the war for a longer time. BTW, why was there no forced peace between USSR, and Finland?

German losses are currently limited to 3 CP units. Japan lost a militia and 2 infantry divisions. Overall, the battle lines have been very conservative, as I prefer to evaluate my risks. Oil is expensive, after all.

I will say, though, that I'm a rather curious fan of carpet bombing, even though it's luck-based. I just don't see any other way that USSR can break through (save for a bug one time when 2 ART bombarded same hex, then, whoops, I end up with a hex containing a Finnish INF *and* both Soviet artillery units). And I am making USSR go for both Finland and Rumania full-force as a game-balancing feature: 1946-1948 will add so much American firepower, it's only fair to force historical patterns wherever I can. So, yes, the enforce peace option has already fired off, but I have declined it.

_____________________________

(in reply to Orm)

Post #: 71

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 2:49:43 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Mar/Apr 1940, Allied Impulse #1:

CW reshuffles some of the Navy. Essentially, all faster ships (6-6 and 6-5 cruisers) concentrated in Europe; faster battleships (5-2 and 5-3) and extremely old cruisers stayed in UK, with all the mid-range (6-3, 5-2 cruisers, 4-4, 4-3 battleships) shifting to Singapore. This resulted in an unhealthy balance where pretty much all naval vessels are on constant patrol, with only 7 carriers based in Plymouth as a mobile reserve (constant upgrading and reshuffling of CVPs is a mess, and I'd rather give up a few combat months early on then end up with ships loaded with class-1 planes in 1943 halfway from home). 4-4 battleships shift towards Aden, which means I will need a garrison there soon.

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 72

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 2:50:26 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Interlude, current Commonwealth naval presence across the globe:

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 73

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 4:08:31 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Interlude, current Commonwealth carriers:

I had mentioned earlier that properly supplying (as in, providing most current models) and shuffling British carriers is a rather daunting exercise. Whereas USA starts the game with two major ports where ships can cover two exits and accept upgrades (Norfolk, San Diego), Commonwealth's best bet is Plymouth - which does not allow for planes to be takes off the map (I'm failing at recalling the proper phase name right now), not to mention that any carrier in Gibraltar, Aden, or Singapore is definitely out of upgrade range.

All CW carriers are currently back home.

Eagle and Argus are empty.
Hermes has a class-1.
Courageous (CV II) is empty.
Furious (CV II) has 2 class-1s.
Glorious (CV II) has 1 class-1.
Ark Royal (CV III) has 1 class-1 and 1 class-2.

Overall, not all that horrible, but not enough to face even a single German land-based fighter.

2 x class-3s are in reserve, and with a pilot in production for May, I should be able to fit one on Ark Royal after proper rebasing of its complement to other carriers.
2 x class-1s are in production as well (0 BP builds, likely to go straight into reserves)

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 74

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 4:27:09 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Interlude: Never wage a land war in Asia (B. Montgomery).

At least during the rainy season.

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 75

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 4:56:18 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Mar/Apr 1940, Axis Impulse #4:

Japan shuffles more reserves onto Chinese mainland. It's becoming an all-out effort there. Any 1940 marine landings across Asia are no longer possible.

Germany starts to abandon Denmark, stabilizing the front across channels, with the goal of having 2 x 6-4 INF and an AT unit in 43, 36 and a 2-4 division to the east. I'd rather not waste 4 MP unit there, but that's the closest I have. With French having filled up the entire defense perimeter with their own units, CW is likely to keep buffing up Denmark - and British ships in Baltic are about to become a reality.

< Message edited by Rysyonok -- 4/18/2021 4:59:15 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 76

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 5:07:32 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Mar/Apr 1940, Allied Impulse #7:

Weather finally clears - and Allies go for a risky maneuver: 4 of 5 countries choose "pass" action to chance that the turn will end.

Soviets, though, abstain: they really need a carpet bombing run of Finnish troops.

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 77

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 5:23:29 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Mar/Apr 1940, Allied Impulse #7:

But wait - it's still raining in the Arctic, and Soviet bombers are redirected to Helsinki. Still, no luck; they had only 1 in 5 chance of destroying a ground unit. No worries, another LND 4 is arriving next turn...

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 78

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 5:36:22 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Mar/Apr 1940, Axis Impulse #9:

The turn doesn't end (not even by a hair, a die roll of 8 is rolled), and Axis pay back.

Two bombers clip the British TRS in Denmark, sending it to the damaged pool. CW is hurt - one TRS is all the way in Canada, two are in Africa. No land reinforcements are likely in Denmark, short of divisions shuffled by larger ships.

< Message edited by Rysyonok -- 4/18/2021 5:59:35 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 79

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 5:50:46 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Mar/Apr 1940, Axis Impulse #9:

Minor shuffling in China - Japanese troops dispatch a couple of units to catch a stray PRT up north, and 2 of 3 HQs turn south, realizing they can't break through Communist lines - but the scattered NAT-CHI can become an easier target.

< Message edited by Rysyonok -- 4/18/2021 5:59:25 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 80

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 5:56:40 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Mar/Apr 1940, Axis Impulse #9:

No combat in China as the best odds IJA can come up with is +6.8 (with maybe +8 or +9 with all the support); in Poland, Germany pulls out all stops for a +16.77 in Lodz. Final roll is +23 - Poland collapses.

< Message edited by Rysyonok -- 4/18/2021 5:59:12 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 81

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 6:00:40 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Full passes on Allied side - now that German troops are free, they've got to be slowed down at all costs. And it works!

< Message edited by Rysyonok -- 4/18/2021 6:01:12 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 82

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 6:10:03 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Interlude, US Entry pools:

Quite low - so far only "Chinese build aircraft" and "US occupies Greenland" options have been chosen.

Neither have been utilized - CHI keep building ground troops, and all US efforts are based on producing ships.

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 83

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 9:18:02 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Interlude, US forces in the Philippines:

The ranks are growing - and there are talks of additional manpower being shuffled east

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 84

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 9:56:17 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Mar/Apr 1940, End of Turn:

Taking over Poland is a major relief for Germans, especially since an ENG unit was right there to repair the damage. It's still disappointing that Germany is 1 CP down in Baltic Sea - for the Swedish resource, and now Commonwealth has a clear path to keep bringing units into the area, but oh well. On a positive note, Soviets are so bogged down in Finland that they aren't even in a position to claim Bessarabia. It's still uncertain as to whether an invasion of USSR can take place in 1941.

Germany builds 2 submarines, 2 militias, a fighter/pilot combo, and an railway artillery unit.

Italy builds a MTN division and repairs BB Andrea Doria.

Japan is all over the place once again, torn between the necessity to prepare against Americans and the need to garrison China.

< Message edited by Rysyonok -- 4/18/2021 10:14:15 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 85

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/18/2021 10:10:59 PM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

Mar/Apr 1940, End of Turn:

Chinese build an INF-HQ.

Commonwealth builds a militia, 2 territorials, 2 bombers (LND 3 and LND 4), a CVP, and 2 pilots.

France builds 2 militia, a territorial, and a pilot. Quick, cheap fill-in units, as it's preparing for German onslaught.

USA builds an amphibious, 2 convoys, 3 cruisers, and, for the first time since the start of the campaign, an infantry, to be later spliced into garrisons.

Soviets keep building bombers, but with some infantry mix as well.

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 86

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/20/2021 3:15:03 AM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

May/Jun 1940, Allied Impulse #1:

CW shuffles a few territorials around, Aden is finally protected by ground forces.

Three CW bombers attempt a night-time run of an oil field in Western Germany. The whole thing is a major wash; 3 German FTR units are scrambled, but end up letting all the bombers through, who end up missing all the shots anyway.

Russians follow this up with a 4-bomber carpet-bombing roll in Finland, only to roll a ...1.

< Message edited by Rysyonok -- 4/20/2021 3:39:00 AM >

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 87

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/20/2021 3:45:12 AM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

May/Jun 1940, Allied Impulse #1:

Communist Chinese are starting to become a major roadblock for the Japanese.

_____________________________

(in reply to Rysyonok)

Post #: 88

RE: Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR) - 4/20/2021 3:54:59 AM

Rysyonok

Posts: 2138
Joined: 12/17/2005
Status: offline

May/Jun 1940, Axis Impulse #2:

As French troops are reshuffling defenses - an INF division is moving to Marseilles, a brand-new volunteer MTN corps is taking its place - a momentary gap is noticed by Italians - who immediately declare a war on France! That costs a US entry chit.

Allies are over-enjoyed for the prospect of extra American entry, although the fact that CW might have to declare war on Italy on its own is concerning, as that will cost US goodwill.