Plaid (Axis) vs Morris (Allies) GS 4.0 game

[Plaid]

Here is another AAR played with latest GS 4.0 version.

I will play Axis and try some interesting strategic options in an attempt to create problems for Allies.



In the game one turn conquest of Poland was achieved after Warsaw was bombed by 2 TACs and attacked by 2 armoured units. Note, I did not even move any units in the north, with more luck its possible to get 3 units to Warsaw on turn 1.
From my estimations one turn conquest of Poland chance is 30-40% in GS 4.0, which might be a bit too high.

[Plaid]

During first Allied turn RAF bomber attacked Ruhr for light damage.
Looks like it gone unescorted, but performed OK against Luftwaffe fighter.



Anyway, we decide to exploit our success in Poland and go for Blitzkrieg strategy. Payed lots of PPs for rail overuse to get all units in place to attack Belgium next turn.
There is slight chance (like 5%) that we don't get any fair weather from now till spring and all that PPs are wasted, but with very light casualties in Poland we should be able to afford even it.

[Plaid]

Actually we got fair weather in October and invaded Holland and Belgium. Surrender of Belgium was achieved, while Hague was skipped for now.



I did not know Morris does not have units stationed along French border, so it was possible to take Brusseles with infantry forces sent through Luxembourg, which is cheaper than attacking with armour through Holland.

[Plaid]

Another fair turn rolled, so more progress was made in France, Lille and Lorraine captured.





More forces arrived from Poland aswell. If next turn will be fair, we can capture Reims and kill more French units.
Forward armour units are somewhat exposed, but counterattack of Allied untis with low morale is considered unlikely.

[Vokt]

It's plain to see that you won't be able to take Holland before 1940 but, will you occupy with a corps unit that Dutch hex SW of Amsterdam? Doing so would prevent the yearly reinforcement from spawning there.

[Morris]

It's plain to see that you won't be able to take Holland before 1940 but, will you occupy with a corps unit that Dutch hex SW of Amsterdam? Doing so would prevent the yearly reinforcement from spawning there.

Great idea ! But I forgot the rule ! otherwise we do not need to send British there

[Plaid]

It's plain to see that you won't be able to take Holland before 1940 but, will you occupy with a corps unit that Dutch hex SW of Amsterdam? Doing so would prevent the yearly reinforcement from spawning there.

That was the right thing to do, but I did not found spare corps for this mission. Also that hex can be shore bombarded from 3 sides. Not sure if it worth taking all that damage.

[Plaid]

Allied counterattack actually occured, reducing German armoured to 2 steps. Attacking Allied units suffered rather low damage.



Good part is that we got another fair turn, meaning that both counterattacking BEF units were killed and Reims was seized.

[Cybvep]

It seems that fortune really favours the bold, because so far you have had much luck with the weather .

Interesting to see the Royal Navy near the coastline so early. Maybe you could ambush that CV with subs and finish it with FTRs?

[Plaid]

During Allied turn our forces were harassed by Allied air and naval attacks. And British forces began to arrive to Holland. I hope there will not be offensive from there atleast.



We make some minor progress, no matter winter has begun.



Looks like we will be near Paris by the time fair arrives.

[Plaid]

No counterattacks occured this turn. Noteable event was convoy running into u-boat ambush in St. Georges Channel.



Bad weather this turn aswell (mud), but Germans reached Paris outskirts and killed another French corps.

[Plaid]

During Allied turn counterattack killed German corps near Paris. Lots of air combat aswell.



In our turn we retaken that hex and killed French mech. Now Allies have little or no counterattacking power in France.



As soon as fair weather arrives, Germans will be ready to launch all-out attack on Paris.

[Plaid]

Another bad weather turn, but no counterattacks this time.



We mostly spent turn repairing airforce and ground units, French garrison near Paris was killed though.

[Plaid]

No fair weather yet, so almost nothign happens.



I have lost post-turn picture somewhere, but there were almost only repairs, so nothign interesting.

And we sunk a convoy.

[Plaid]

Fair weather is finally here, so time for decisive attack against French capital has come:



Paris was flanked from the south, with several Allied units killed/battered. Even dropped paratroopers to support operation (and they taken rather high damage when jumping).



Concentration of Allied troops in Holland starts to worry me, but can't do much about it before fall of Paris.

[Plaid]

Not very effective Allied counterattacks occured, but German fighter casualties keep mounting from all that interception.
Thats another downside of Blitzkrieg strategy - Germans don't have enough fighters to rotate them properly and have to send damaged one into combat from time to time - thats worse combat results and more casualties.



In our turn we go all-out against Paris, which held at 3 steps. French surrender is very likely on the next turn.

[dagtwo]

So is Morris "spending" the British as he usually does? I usually try to preserve the British Fighters against a possible Sealion. But causing the Germans damage early looks like it might be worth it.

[Morris]

Not very effective Allied counterattacks occured, but German fighter casualties keep mounting from all that interception.
Thats another downside of Blitzkrieg strategy - Germans don't have enough fighters to rotate them properly and have to send damaged one into combat from time to time - thats worse combat results and more casualties.

Yes , since in 4.0 , Allies has three FTR(2 British including the Canadian FTR , & 1 French FTR ) with a CV in 1939 & early 1940 . If UK build one more FTR , Allies will have 4 FTRs & a CV . If Axis launch Bliz , Axis will be short of pp to build two more FTRs to gain the airsuperior during the France campaign or Axis has to delay the labs .
So in this situation , the offense side will have to let their tacs attack without escort ,or use their FTR even if wounded & low effectiveness . It must cause high casualties . & planes are really expensive .....

[Plaid]

And we conquer Paris on turn 13 - April 28 1940, which is actually good date, but not February, as some people in other topics suggested.





Lots of British units were killed in process, but our own casualties are huge aswell (add here lost PPs from rail overuse).

[Plaid]

Even after France surrender British air and naval units keep harassing German forces.



And we have 2 corps and 3 garrisons sitting in Holland - thats next thing we need to fix. Can be tough, as pass to Amsterdam is narrow and its little hexes to attack from. Opposition from Allied airforce and navy expected aswell.
Need couple of turns to relocate and repair more units.