Battlefield Europe v1.9 - "what if..." scenario

[panzerdim]

Kameraden,

Let me introduce an alternative ways of the mod. It may be seems interesting.
First, many thanks to McGuba and team. It is a real big work. It is a one of the best mods of timeless Panzer General/PG2/Panzer Corps series.
Great work, McGuba, great work!

Version Panzer Corps - Panzer Corps Gold edition v.1.30
Mod version - Battlefield 1.9
Note. It is a different map compared with current test version 1.94. Map of MP test playing McGuba/Intenso looks improved and will be harder to play because coastal defense on some region are strengthened.

Difficulty – medium (colonel)
Notes. Many years’ experience in games modding and consulting game designers convinced me that best AI performance was on medium/normal level of any game. All other difficulty levels making troubles for gamer but not doing AI better rather doing the opposite.

Purpose - testing AI in non-standard ways and have a fan with this great mod.

General approach – get victory by defeat of Soviet Union and economic/military blockade of British Empire.
Approach is based on books of Liddell Hart, Kenneth John Macksey and other authors.
Notes. It is not possible to win WW2 by Third Reich at all but some military success may be.

General plan:
1. Defeat RKKA in border battles. Destroy RKKA troops as much as can. Occupied Soviet Union territory with main resources and industry plants. Get the defense line Archangelsk-Astrakhan.
2. Force the British Empire to peace by destroying economics using cut off supply ways from US and Canada through Atlantic and from British colonies through Suez and Mediterranean
3. Avoid clash with US troops as long as can.

Strategic plan:
A. East Front - Alternative Barbarossa. Main strikes will be done by Army Group North and South. Moscow is not a primary target. It is only political target not so important for war continuation. Russians never surrender and capturing Moscow is not stopping the resistance. More important is a resources and industrial regions like Leningrad, Stalingrad, Donbass, Krivoi Rog, Baku’s oilfields and etc.
Tactical tasks (please see the map):
1. Army G North – primary target is Leningrad. Not blockade but assault and capture ASAP. Secondary targets are Petrozavodsk and later Arkhangelsk. Troops will be reinforced using some troops from Center and France. After capture Leningrad Army North will move to encircle Moscow from north and help Finns to capture Arkhangelsk.
2. Army G South – primary targets are Odessa, Crimea (not blockade but assault and capture Sevastopol), Rostov. Later targets are Stalingrad and Caucasus. Army G South is weak and should be reinforced by troops from Center, auxiliaries from Axis block countries and may be your core units.
3. Army G Center will do an auxiliary punch. Tasks are following:
- destroy all Russian troops on Byalostok and Lutsk
- slowly move to Moscow destroying troops on the way and establish a strong defensive positions opposite Moscow something near Vyazma, Mozhaysk, Kaluga. Wait here and resist the powerful counterstrike which should be definitely
- encircle Kiev military district and force it to surrender
- create a small Kampfgruppe to move to Moscow and encircle it from south.

So, many tasks but it possible because at start Russians troops are lack of ammo and fuel. Destroy so much troops how you can before Russians will “wake-up” and counterstrikes.

4. Finnish troops have a primary target Petrozavodsk. Secondary tasks are encircling Leningrad from north, destroy all troops in forest area around Petrozavodsk and prepare to move to Arkhangelsk.
5. Create the new Army Group Caucasus and prepare it to landing operation on Poti and assault Baku’s oilfield from south.

B. West front. Using “indirect approach”. Cut off Metropolis from resources from America and colonies. Without resources Brits will be forced to peace treaties.

North Africa and Mediterranean.

Primary tasks are getting the air and naval superiority in Mediterranean
Sea, blocking Suez Channel and blocking or capture Gibraltar. This allows to prevent Operation Torch and force Brits to transfer supply and oil convoys around Africa.

Tactical tasks.

6. Tobruk is a not primary target. It can be captured much later. At start Tobruk will be encircled by small weak Italian forces but main Italians and AK will move to fort Capuzzo and Halfaya Pass to stand against British offensive. After defeating offensive will create a strong defensive line opposite El-Alamein and wait when Regia Marina destroys British fleet and establish a naval control in east part of Mediterranean.
7. Trying to block Suez Channel. It is a not easy task and it’s long. Submarines and MAS will be used after enemy’s destroyers will be eliminated. I have plans to transfer all Ju-88 from East Front to Mediterranean and one fighter too to help Regia Marina against British fleet.
8. Capture Malta. Capturing Malta is much more important in real history than in the game. In the game Malta is point of British planes reinforcement only. But following historical reasons we need to capture Malta.
9. Capture Gibraltar. I suppose that this will prevent Operation Torch. Let’s see. This task will requires a full strengthen Regia Marina and powerful air force and will be delayed.


France, Third Reich, Norway and Atlantic.

10. Trying to capture an airfield on Greenland and makes here a base for air operations in Atlantic. 7 FJ Div will be transferred from Crete to Norway and later will be airdropped on Greenland. I will try to re-inforce them with GJ Div from Norway.
Other tasks on the West front are simple:
- Create air defense of France and Reich. No any fighters will be moved to east.
- No any ground operation expected till 1942 Dieppe raid and we can move some infantries and AT to the east.
- U-boat operations against Atlantic convoys.
- Keep safe and repair Kriegsmarine ships.

[PeteMitchell]

This sounds very interesting... to say the very least... some I can relate to, others I am very curious about!

So how is it going now with these rules of engagement/along these lines of operation and lines of effort?

[panzerdim]

Kameraden,
Let’s start.
I’m played the mod started in Poland 1939 and on Barbarossa I have 8 core units and 1275 prestige only.
Because I do not read any AAR before start campaign I have done some mistakes with core units.
Warning! It may be some spoilers below.
You have 5 core slots only. I don't know about this one and I hoped that I will place more core units with time but it is not happened. Free slots are a strongly depend of your losses. When your losses will decrease number of your units below 200 you can place more core forces.
So, I have a 2 tanks with heroes but I placed a newbie weak Pz.38 and hope that it will get experience quickly. Unfortunately my heroes tanks stands in reserve till victory.
Also I placed fighter and Stuka, pioneer, and Sturmpanzer I.

Turn_1_core_units.jpg (326.04 KiB) Viewed 3136 times

Note. I can recommend do not buy during first 4 scenarios (Poland-Norway-France-Balkans) any infantry and tanks. There are enough such units in Axis forces. You really need Arty and Air Forces to deal with strong Russian armored forces and strong Allied Air forces.

[panzerdim]

Turns 1 and 2.
Standard offensive according plan.
I cannot capture Brest in 1 turn but it is possible. Many gamers do it. And I suppose that Brest Fortress was too weak in the mod. It should be hardened.

Turn_2_Brest.jpg (332.93 KiB) Viewed 3134 times

The main thing during first turns is logistics - transfer troops between fronts.
Let’s short summarize troops moving and upgrading.

West front.
Norway – infantry upgraded to GJ. Supposed that in Norway will be partisan and saboteur activities and GJ will do anti-partisan duties best in mountain area. One AT gun moved from France to Norway to support landing operation in Grunland.
France – we are not expecting any ground operations in France till 1942’s St.Nazaire Raid/ Operation Chariot and Dieppe Raid. So, we move some infantry and AT guns to East Front. One infantry unit was moved to North Italy and will upgraded to Pioneer in Italian port and preparing to landing operations on Gibraltar.
All small caliber AA will be gradually upgraded to 88 and Flakvierlings. Two Flakvierlings I ugraded to self-popelled version and this will be a very helpful in future. Let's see.
Spoiler. Yes, confirmed. Mobile Flakvierlings were very successful on Reich's Air Defence duties.

No any fighters moved from France to anywhere. Also, I supposed to move one fighter from East Front after some turns but it is not need. You will get some fighters reinforcement in future by scripts. And it is good.

East front.
One grenadier unit from Army North was prepared to loading on naval transport. They are moved by sea to capture Tallinn and later move to Finland and support Finnish troops to assault Leningrad from north.
I left here only 3-4 strat bombers.
One Ju-88 left on Baltic Sea to deal with Russian Baltic fleet. Later it will be moved to North Sea to support Tirpitz operations.
One He-111 left in Center area and it will be moved to Black Sea after few turns.
He-111 and Do-17 have tasks to eliminate Black Sea fleet.
All other Ju-88 with high naval attack and Romanian Sparviero moved to Mediterranean area.
JG77 fighter moved to Crete to support DAK and weak Italian Air Force.


Balkans.
I upgraded some auxiliary Romanian infantry to Mountaineers and moved it to coastal Black sea ports Varna and Constansa.
Also I moved here Italian Alpini, Italian mtn gun, one GJ and some auxiliary AT guns. They are created a core of Army Group Caucasus and preparing to landing operation in Poti after Black Sea Fleet will be eliminated by Luftwaffe. After capturing Odessa we will have 3 ports at once to start landing operation.
All other fighting capable units are moved to Army G South and replaced by reserves units in whole Balkan Area.

[panzerdim]

North Africa
On Crete 7.FJ start to move to Norway. GJ start to move on Black Sea through Greece. Romanian reserves moved on Crete to anti-partisan’s duties.
Start to bombardment Malta. I will use «two bombers per turn» tactics. First strike was done by strat bomber, the second by tac bomber. When airfields was neutralized by strat bomber (probably it should have a result that no more British aircraft will be appeared here because they are placed every time near airfield. But I'm not sure that this is work. In any case enemy’s airplane cannot be supplied on neutralized airfield and after clash they are forced to withdraw if still alive.
Italian air force was obsolete and we wait arrival of JG77 ASAP.

Tobruk.
Tobruk was encircled by weak Italian troops. Tobruk have a static defense and troops do not move from entrenched positions even after provocation. DAK was moved to Fort Capuzzo and try to build defense line.

Turn_2_Tobruk_.jpg (276.38 KiB) Viewed 3129 times

So, this is a start.

Sorry, guys, for multi posts. Cannot attach few screens at once in one post. On preview it looks good by at final only one screen appeared in the post.

[PeteMitchell]

Sorry, guys, for multi posts. Cannot attach few screens at once in one post. On preview it looks good by at final only one screen appeared in the post.

Preview seems broken (it eats the attachments/screenshots). My suggestion is to add the screenshots (up to three/a total of 1 MB if I recall correctly) and then just press submit (i.e. skip the preview entirely).

In case you find issues later, you can always go back and just edit your post (so no need for preview).

[panzerdim]

Turn 4

All according plan.

Advancing on North and South are slightly slower than expected.

These screens are illustration only.

Hunting to British Fleet

Turn_4_eliminate British Fleet in process.jpg (357 KiB) Viewed 3122 times

Heavy ARTY moved to assault Odessa fortification. Mountain units and mtn gun are concentrated near Black Sea ports.

Turn_4_heavy arty prepared to assault Odessa and mtn troops concentrated near ports.jpg (407.82 KiB) Viewed 3122 times

Tips.

East Front territory require a long distance moving. I recommend to upgrade foot infantry to motorized infantry at least in the Center and South ASAP. North territory is a huge forest region and motorization is not so critically

Also, I start to upgrade all towed AA to Acht-acht.

2 light PzII I will upgrade to Pz Flamm.

It is not enough prestige, so upgrading will be gradually.


PS/ Thanks, PeteMitchell. Following you and it work.

[panzerdim]

Turn 6

Army Group South is most successful on their tasks. Odessa was captured. We are preparing to move towards to Crimea and Rostov, Luftwaffe was resupplied fuel and ammo and preparing to start operations against Black Sea fleet.

Turn 6_Army G South.jpg (412.33 KiB) Viewed 3119 times

On the North on swamp and forest terrain we still not reach Leningrad. Finns also doing their tasks slowly than expected.

On the Center Wehrmacht slowly advanced to Smolensk and cleaning on the way all around.

[panzerdim]

Turn 7

Great success. Malta will be captured on turn 8.

It is not my honor but great luck only.

I have no success to neutralize airfield but I have two lucky consecutive bombing attack with ratio 2:2 and strength of Malta fortress dramatically decrease by 4 points per 1-2 turns. Combined air and naval attacks allow me to land Italian inf on turn 8 and capture Malta.

Turn 7_Malta capturing.jpg (349.07 KiB) Viewed 3116 times

[PeteMitchell]

I am glad to see/read that it is working with the screenshots now...

Turn 7

Great success. Malta will be captured on turn 8.

It is not my honor but great luck only.

I have no success to neutralize airfield but I have two lucky consecutive bombing attack with ratio 2:2 and strength of Malta fortress dramatically decrease by 4 points per 1-2 turns. Combined air and naval attacks allow me to land Italian inf on turn 8 and capture Malta.

Wow! Congrats, well done... this seems exceptionally early though!

In general, I am very keen to learn how different players are approaching this huge map and I am also very curious to see how you will continue… and of course, how your strategy will turn out in the end… good luck!

[panzerdim]

Thanks, PeteMitchell.

Continuation will be more interesting. You will see soon.

[panzerdim]

Events began.

Turn 9

Main activity is in North Africa.
Britain starts a second offensive. We will repelled it with naval and air support.
We are gained air and naval superiority in East Mediterranean now.
Britain Air force still get reinforcement periodically but we are outnumbered it by fighters and have a great superiority in bombers now.
Also British Navy was practically eliminated. They have only one destroyer near Cyprus and two capital battleships near Alexandria covered by heavy AA. So, it is time for our submarines and MAS saboteurs.
Without destroyers Brits cannot intercept us. Recon planes and fighter will cover subs from air.

Turn 9_Second British offensive.jpg (358.89 KiB) Viewed 3067 times

Turn 10

[East Front
Army G South.

Still successful. Crimea Peninsula was blocked on Perekop.
Krivoi Rog was encircled.
Kiev military district was encircled from south too.

Turn 10_Army G South.jpg (402.95 KiB) Viewed 3067 times

Army G North.

Operation Nordlicht was started some early.
Fort Krasnaya Gorka is a real headache. Rough terrain, heavy Russian arty and battleship Marat makes an assaulting Leningrad at least problematic. We need a serious background before storming.

Turn 10_Army G North.jpg (401.63 KiB) Viewed 3067 times

[panzerdim]

Army G Center.

All is according plan. Smolensk was captured. Wehrmacht is preparing to last advance to Vyazma and Mozhaisk where we will create on entrenched positions a defensive line opposite to Moscow. Some troops moving to encircle Kiev from north.

Turn 10_Army G Center.jpg (406.14 KiB) Viewed 3066 times

Army G Caucasus

Still concentrate troops near 3 ports.
Stuka refueled and ready to start deal with Russian subs.
GJ and Alpini were loaded to planes and wait command.

Turn 10_Army G Caucasus.jpg (373.3 KiB) Viewed 3066 times

Norway.

GJ division was loaded and start long trip to Grunland. Tirpitz was ready to escort convoy. 7.FJ was on the way somewhere above Denmark.

Turn 10_Norway.jpg (346.24 KiB) Viewed 3066 times

[panzerdim]

Mediterranean.

Operation Felix was started.
We start to concentrate Regia Marina and air forces. We are tried to do it secretly but British destroyer found our fleet. What’s next? A big naval battle?
No fear. We have a great air force support.
Coastal Vichy’s Africa airfields are works well as supply points. You can have a 3 planes supply area near Annaba, one plane can be supported near Oman and 3 planes at Casablanca itself.
So, using these Vichy’s airfields we can get air support near Gibraltar.
We are expected air resistance around Gibraltar and air carrier or may be two should be here too.
German pioneers are ready to load and move to Gibraltar at Nizza port.

Turn 10_Regia Marina 2.jpg (338.46 KiB) Viewed 3065 times

Turn 10_Regia Marina 3.jpg (332.5 KiB) Viewed 3065 times

France. Atlantic Coast.

Kriegsmarine’s capital ships were repaired in France docks and ready to action.
Around this turn we have an intelligence report from OKK that now is a time to move capital ships to North Sea because channel is not fully blocked.
Instead this direct order we move capital ships to Gibraltar area to help Regia Marina.

Turn 10_Kriegsmarine.jpg (318.59 KiB) Viewed 3065 times

[panzerdim]

Reich.

Russians long range bomber was perform their suicide mission and try to bombing Germany. It’s a historically correct and realized in the mod. Good work.

Turn 10_USSR long range aviation raid.jpg (440.04 KiB) Viewed 3064 times

[panzerdim]

Turns 11-14

West Front.
North Europe.

Grunland’s convoy is ready to start long trip.

Turn 13_Operation Grunland preparing.jpg (345.73 KiB) Viewed 3059 times

West Mediterranen.

Regia Marina is ready to move to Gibraltar.

Turn 13_Operation Felix preparing.jpg (353.13 KiB) Viewed 3059 times

[panzerdim]

North Afrika.

DAK hold line against British 8th army and repelled British offensive.
Graziani still a commander and with Regia Marina support tried to weakened Tobruk defense. They are doing it well and start to main assault Tobruk.

Turn 11_DAK and Tobruk.jpg (359.49 KiB) Viewed 3058 times

Turn 14_Assault Tobruk_and_hold line from east.jpg (359.15 KiB) Viewed 3058 times

[panzerdim]

North Afrika.

MAS start to invade into Alexandria naval defense area.
And they are doing their job well.

Turn 11_Decima MAS start to attack battleships in Alexnadria Harbour.jpg (366.5 KiB) Viewed 3057 times

Turn 14_Decima MAS_doing job well.jpg (364.84 KiB) Viewed 3057 times

[panzerdim]

East Front.


Results are not so good as we expected.
Russian winter began.
We are try to create a defense line and prepare to a powerful Russian counter-attacks.
We need a unit’s replacement but prestige is dramatically low.
We are expected these attacks but amount of Russian troops are very huge and OKW was very impressed. We stand on defense with empty prestige pool.


Army G North

Finns after Petrozavodsk capturing holds line on Svir river and clash in forest battles north of Petrozavodsk.
Below Svir river Luftwaffe recons reports about a huge amount Russian infantry in this forest area.
Probably it is 2th Russian Army under commanding of General Vlasov.
Near Leningrad I'm mistakes.
I do not hold here enough infantry. I moved some infantry to south on Moscow direction.
And at this time a huge Russian counter-attack began near Novgorod-Leningrad area.
The amount of Russian infantry is huge and I’m really worried about my armored forces in Russian forests and swamps.

Turn 14_army G North.jpg (455.44 KiB) Viewed 3056 times

Army G Center.

In the center we hold defensive line Rzhev-Vyazma-Bryansk. Russians are counter-attacked with armored forces here. We started to lose armored units.

Turn 14_army G Center_Russian counter-attack.jpg (444.87 KiB) Viewed 3056 times

Army G South.

The situation here is a much better. I like this front. Despite of many auxillaries troops they are doing a professional job with Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe supports.
Troops moved towards Sevastopol.

Turn 14_army G South.jpg (420.67 KiB) Viewed 3056 times

[panzerdim]

Turns 15-16

Gibraltar.

Let’s dance.

Turn 15_Gibraltar. Let's dance.jpg (339.13 KiB) Viewed 3052 times

Turn 16_Clearing Gibraltar channel.jpg (358.65 KiB) Viewed 3052 times

North Africa.

Finish Tobruk. What is next?

Turn 15_Finishing Tobruk.jpg (410 KiB) Viewed 3052 times