Grand Campaign West & East 39-45 (Manstein) [Epilogue]

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huckc
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Grand Campaign West & East 39-45 (Manstein) [Epilogue]

Post by huckc »

:!: WARNING: HEAVY SPOILERS IN THE FORM OF SCREENSHOTS AHEAD :!:

This play-through is for the full Grand Campaign West, 39-45 on Manstein level (+5 to all enemy units).

Yes, it will hurt to lose all but 13 core units when going West in '42 :lol:

Rules
All default options except for limited dice chess

Requirements

Use air transport slots with Fallschirmjäger when available
No reloads*

My goal is as many Decisive Victories (DVs) as possible, however I also value throughput being such a long campaign and will call time at a certain point settling for Marginal Victory (MV) and moving on.

MVs so far:
  • 1) Poznan
    2) Spoils of War
    3) Arras
    4) Bayonne
    5) Eindhoven
    6) Simferopol ugh
e:
The East portion starting with '42 begins here, using the same exported core from '41.

e2:
*GC East 43-45 allowing one reload or in very special cases two reloads per scenario. These scenarios are just too big and complex on Manstein for a mere mortal like myself to not get a mulligan.
Last edited by huckc on Tue Apr 23, 2019 12:14 am, edited 24 times in total.
huckc
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

Poznan

Bought a Gebirgsjäger infantry and Sturmpanzer artillery in the west.

Bought a Panzer 38t and towed 105 artillery in the south.

Plan of attack
Image
(Acquisitions not deployed yet)

Result
Turn 14 MV, all but two objectives captured

Image
Attachments
(26.02.2018) Poznan, Turn 14 MV.zip
(60.05 KiB) Downloaded 199 times
Last edited by huckc on Mon Mar 05, 2018 4:00 pm, edited 3 times in total.
huckc
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

Danzig Corrider North

Bought a second BF-109 fighter in order to achieve quick air superiority.

Disbanded all non-future units in order to convert all tanks to Panzer 38t in addition to buying a new one for a total of five. Probably should’ve just disbanded them all entirely, but the carry-over experience was very helpful in this scenario.

The recon was also disbanded despite being relatively useful in these first few scenarios, however it will soon be effectively worthless due to being faced with 15 strength armored units that can one or two-shot it. A key part in my strategy at this level is to prevent enemy attacks by making it too costly for them, keeping things nice and in control. I’d very much like to have the multi-movement trait but in the end having a tank deployed instead is more useful overall imo.

Plan of attack
Image

Result
Turn 12 DV, All objectives captured

Image
Attachments
(27.02.2018) Danzig Corridor, Turn 12 DV 2.zip
(64.89 KiB) Downloaded 215 times
huckc
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

Lodz

Deployed both fighters despite no enemy air force on this map as they’re still very useful in reducing entrenchment and limiting reinforcements. The former also gains it experience.

Plan of attack
Image

Result
Turn 13 DV, All objectives captured

Image
Attachments
(27.02.2018) Lodz, Turn 13 DV.zip
(64.15 KiB) Downloaded 184 times
huckc
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

Piatek

The first extremely tough scenario, at least in getting get a DV. Eeked one out despite getting punished severely with losses and by having to play Kampinsoka Forest which is the evil twin to the much preferable MV version, Wyszogrod.

The key for me in getting a DV in this scenario was to quickly cross the river in the north and take out the artillery in the center, then pulling back to the east bank. Without that artillery the enemy won’t have the strength to push effectively across the river and also prevent me from taking back the objectives, of which there will be plenty of ebb and flow.

Couldn't get the roles needed to take out the enemy fighter, despite both my BF-109s hitting it at once every time it dared to show itself. It survived the entire time and eventually tagged my Ju-88 for a couple damage off its expensive over-strength.

Plan of attack

Image

Result
Turn 20 DV, All objectives held in the end

Image
Attachments
(27.02.2018) Piatek, Turn 20 DV.zip
(69.66 KiB) Downloaded 178 times
Last edited by huckc on Fri Mar 02, 2018 2:11 am, edited 2 times in total.
huckc
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

Kampinsoka Forest

This is going to be a bloodbath.

Bought a He-111 strategic bomber to help get some critical early surrenders from the train cars. Time and ammo is my greatest enemy on this map.

Plan of attack

Image

Result
Turn 16 DV, Captured all objectives and destroyed all troop train cars

Two of my infantry were condemned with spotting heroes :(. Not sure how I want to proceed.

Image
Attachments
(01.03.2018) Kampinsoka Forest, Turn 16 DV.zip
(68.47 KiB) Downloaded 191 times
goose_2
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by goose_2 »

huckc wrote:Kampinsoka Forest



Two of my infantry were condemned with spotting heroes :(. Not sure how I want to proceed.

Image

Hey Buddy, I had 2 infantry units condemned with a spotting hero. They make great Kradschutzen's, but you are going west, most of your heroes will not make the cut anyway so keep it going, pleased to see someone else attempt this crazy level.
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huckc
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

goose_2 wrote:
huckc wrote:Kampinsoka Forest
Hey Buddy, I had 2 infantry units condemned with a spotting hero. They make great Kradschutzen's, but you are going west, most of your heroes will not make the cut anyway so keep it going, pleased to see someone else attempt this crazy level.
That's good advice, thanks. Four spotting would be really good on top of a decent infantry unit! The purge west is actually liberating in that I don't need to hoard any prestige, can upgrade things willy nilly :lol: .

Modlin

Went round the back :mrgreen: , on both sides. Worked extremely well and I didn't even need to take any replacements mid scenario. Tons of damage though but I have plenty of prestige. Surrendered "Death" the armored car to take the final objective on Modlin.

Plan of attack
Image

Image
Turn 9 the siege begins, with Oleh Dir's western task force first to arrive at Modlin, promptly taking 5 health off the southern fortress with a nice +1 roll.

Image

Result
Turn 16 DV. All objectives captured and both Modlin fortresses destroyed.

Image
Attachments
(02.03.2018) Modlin, Turn 16 DV.zip
(63.05 KiB) Downloaded 199 times
Last edited by huckc on Thu Jun 28, 2018 12:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by captainjack »

You've set yourself a good challenge. You've already used a few approaches I haven't tried before, which is good.
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by goose_2 »

I am really enjoying the way you lay this out. You have already garnered 2 Decisive's in 2 scenarios I was unable to, but I was also saving up much needed prestige for my Eastern Campaign.

Keep it up, because the one big advantage of playing on Manstein is you will get many more opportunities to get multiple heroes per unit and I want updates on some of your best heroes.

My absolute best hero in my Manstein playthrough has been my +2 Movement/+2 Attack 88. He is still a beast into 44.
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

Thanks guys, always good to know it's being enjoyed.

Warsaw North

Not as tedious as I feared, there's something about this scenario that I find enjoyable.

Captured the three artillery pieces ASAP (green below) for some much needed suppression, making it a total of nine artillery pieces shelling the city :shock:

Plan of attack
Image

Image
Turn 15 the siege is in full force and half the city is taken

Result
Turn 19 DV. All objectives captured.

Image
Attachments
(03.03.2018) Warsaw North, Turn 19 DV.zip
(76.56 KiB) Downloaded 187 times
Last edited by huckc on Sat Mar 03, 2018 10:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

Spoils of War

Yeah...going to have to break the streak of DVs here. Had no chance for one and was only hoping for a cheap MV with no core losses. Only the latter was achieved as almost all my units took lots of hits, especially my planes as the enemy brought plenty of AA.

The northern bank of the north river saw no real enemy activity, so I used it as a springboard for spoiling attacks against their artillery and any acts of opportunity in general.

Plan of defense
Image

Image
The enemy brought four pieces of artillery to attack in the south but fortunately only one was able to get in position due to the lake and swamps

Result
Turn 21 MV. Held four objectives

Image
Attachments
(03.03.2018) Spoils of War, Turn 21 MV.zip
(69.12 KiB) Downloaded 187 times
huckc
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

Oslo

Now for the relatively easy Norway scenarios.

Fallschirmjäger unlocked! I bought two rookies and converted two of my veteran Gebirgsjäger without transport to them. Dropped them to quickly take the eastern airfield, of which I have none otherwise, then destroy the fortresses and strongholds.

Plan of attack
Image

Result
Turn 12 DV All objectives captured and the battleship Blucher kept alive.

Image
Attachments
(04.03.2018) Oslo, Turn 12 DV.zip
(66.68 KiB) Downloaded 180 times
Last edited by huckc on Mon Mar 05, 2018 2:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

Lillehammer

Another great map for the Fallschirmjäger. Dropped my two veterans in the western mountains to flank the objective town and plug any counter-attacks and dropped the two rookies to take some lightly guarded towns in the east in order to clear the way for my ground troops.

Plan of attack
Image

Image
Veteran Fallschirmjäger defending well against a counter-attack

Result
Turn 18 DV. All objectives captured.

Image
Attachments
(04.03.2018) Lillehammer, Turn 18 DV.zip
(64.41 KiB) Downloaded 178 times
huckc
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

Narvik

I actually had trouble with this one and was forced to restart as the enemy navy was too strong for only bringing one strategic bomber to counter it, resulting in my ground troops getting shelled mercilessly. For the restart I purchased two additional Ju-88s strategic bombers which proved satisfactory.

I also opted to sit my two rookie Fallschirmjäger in order to deploy those additional bombers. Hopefully they will get plenty of action next campaign in France and Belgium.

Plan of attack
Image

Result
Turn 14 DV. All objectives captured and enemy aircraft carrier sent to Davy Jones' Locker, whatever the heck that means but the ship was destroyed.

Image
Attachments
(04.03.2018) Narvik, Turn 14 DV.zip
(69.84 KiB) Downloaded 177 times
Last edited by huckc on Mon Mar 05, 2018 2:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
huckc
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

Now that Poland and Norway are conquered it's time to take a break for a while before tackling '40.

Obligatory casualty count, fortunately none of them were core units
Image

My hero situation is pretty decent I'd say. My best non-scripted one is a fighter with +3 defense, which is excellent. Also have a +2 defense hero on a tank and infantry. The rest are various +1, with the best being a movement +1 on an infantry.

For front-line troops I prefer defense and initiative so can't complain there :D

Prestige 5414 and 31 core units, quite healthy.
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by TSPC37730 »

Impressive & neat stuff. Hope you'll keep posting as you have the chance. Those 15 strength units look intimidating. I also agree that I'd prefer defense & initiative heroes in this kind of campaign. Good luck!
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by goose_2 »

I found the Norwegian scenarios surprisingly easy after the rough stuff in Poland, especially the last 2 Warsaw and Spoils.
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

TSPC37730 wrote:Impressive & neat stuff. Hope you'll keep posting as you have the chance. Those 15 strength units look intimidating. I also agree that I'd prefer defense & initiative heroes in this kind of campaign. Good luck!
Thanks. I find +1 initiative heroes to be huge especially in late-game titan armored matchups where each side has tons of attack and defense points.
goose_2 wrote:I found the Norwegian scenarios surprisingly easy after the rough stuff in Poland, especially the last 2 Warsaw and Spoils.
The first two Norwegian scenarios were very easy but also extremely fun. The last one however, Narvik, I found to be quite difficult as the enemy navy is extremely strong and the city is tricky to assault garrisoned with lots of infantry, artillery, AA, and awkward approach. Also two strong enemy fighters.

I only had one battleship survive by hiding from the enemy submarine at the end. Reason being is that I rushed my destroyers into harbor to prevent the enemy ships from blocking my ground troops' path to Narvik which allowed the enemy submarine to survive and destroy most of my heavy warships.

I'm definitely a land-lubber!
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Re: Grand Campaign West 39-45 (Manstein)

Post by huckc »

Eben-Emael
Prestige: 4662

The start of '40 and the invasion of France by way of the Low Countries.

Deployed my two most veteran Fallschirmjäger and a Pioneers in the center of the map to take out the fortresses and strongholds. The rest of my ground troops would follow along this area then fan out.

Two more Fallschirmjäger would deploy in the air to help in the northwest.

Plan of attack
Image

Image
Initial disposition in the center

Result
Turn 15 DV. All objectives captured
Prestige: 6712

Image
Attachments
(06.03.2018) Eben-Emael, Turn 15 DV.zip
(69.02 KiB) Downloaded 173 times
Last edited by huckc on Sun Mar 11, 2018 8:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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