GS 4.00 beta Plaid vs Vokt (Allied AAR)

[Plaid]

Turn 44 - January 8, 1942

No Axis counterattacks occured this turn in the eastern front:





There was one in Africa though, but rather desperate one. German and Italian mechs are not going to leave this desert alive.



This time Soviets killed German mech near Kaluga finally. Corps was killed in this area too and bridgehead on the western bank - formed.



In Libya Axis forces ended routed, British armour even threats Italian airbase near Tripoli.



And USA have joined the war on previous turn - this one was spent to upgrade their units. Note new US OOB, starting corps units were replaced with motorized ones.

[Plaid]

Turn 45 - January 28, 1945

Axis deside to fight on in Africa, another counterattack led by Italian ARM left British armoured battered. Italian navy sent into action, sinking Australian DD.



In the East there was local counterattack near Kaluga, leaving Soviet corps at 2 steps.



In Allied turn counterattacking Axis forces were mostly defeated. Hope there are no more Axis units hiding in the FoW, as Allies are almost out of reserves in this sector (it will take long time to repair battered units back to reasonable strength because of poor supply, but it works for both sides)



Nothing spectacular in the East, but we also battered German corps in the center.



Americans meanwhile loaded into transports and heading for Vichy North Africa. Its nice to know Italian navy is busy near Tobruk and won't create much problems.

[Plaid]

Turn 46 - February 17, 1942

Axis started to fall back in Libya - both ground and naval units. Italian armoured made last stand, covering retreat.



In the East we lost corps this time.



During Allied turn Italian ARM was finished off, while 8th Army established defensive positions to rest and repair their units.



In Russia Soviets mostly done with their winter offensive and prepare defensive lines aswell.



Lots of Allied units are being transported to MTO. German subs are mostly busy operating against northern convoys and central (west of Ireland) convoys, no sign of them in this part of the ocean. But if subs were there we could lose transport or two to them - allied escorts are rather thin this early.

[Plaid]

Turn 47 - March 9, 1942

No combat this turn at all.

Soviets continue theirs defensive preparations.



Americans are ready to land in North Africa in two turns.

[Plaid]

Turn 48 - March 29, 1942

Still nothing happens across the board.

[Plaid]

Turn 49 - April 18, 1942

Mud in the East, still no action there.

In Africa Torch landings were commensed as planned. Both Casablanca and Oran were taken. Probably should have tried to land straight at Algiers to get rail supply, but thats a bit risky - too close to Italian navy operational area.



Britts mostly done with repairs and ready to continue push to Tripoli.

[Plaid]

Turn 50 - May 8, 1942

Fair weather arrived and Germans started probing attacks of 1942 summer campaign.

First one was near Leningrad:



Another one in Crimea:



Moscow was bombed strategically, our intercepting fighters lost rather badly.

During Allied turn counterattack was launched near Leningrad, killing 8 step German corps - was able to kill it even without air support - naval fire was enough to soften up Axis unit.
I don't like to use lots of air support with Soviets this early, unless really necessary - fighter repairs can eat PPs easily.



Situation in Africa - Allies are in full offensive mode. Its considered unlikely that Axis can send enough forces to NA to provide any challenge in this scenario - looks like they use their resources for traditional summer offensive in the East instead.



While DDs are busy escorting transports, German subs operate near UK almost without punishment. Our bombers fail to land a hit 80% of the time and when they do damage is not that great.



Anyway, there is no need to ship more units to MTO any time soon, so convoys going to be escorted properly from now on.

[Plaid]

Turn 51 - May 28, 1942

Fighting in the East slowly escalates:





Vyborg was lost and Crimea soon to follow. We still not goint to allow Germans to take or isolate Leningrad, reserves going to be allocated in this sector, unless something major starts in the center.



In Africa Allies still face little resistance, but German fighter was spotted in Algeria. Can be more of them in the FoW, who knows.

[Plaid]

Turn 52 - June 17, 1942

More local fighting in all the same places. Still no sign of all-out German offensive, involving their numerous armoured forces in the center.



We are going to lose Sevastopol but might be able to defend Kerch, for a while atleast.



In Allied turn German corps was killed near Leningrad and positions sort of restored.



In Africa Italain positions at El Agheila were engaged and barely held - they are not going to delay British forces for long there.
Thin American forces near Algiers were stopped by couterattack of freshly arrived Italian infantry. I don't think we can attack here right now - should stop and wait for more forces (still no rail available, going to take some time).



RAF bombers attacked Dortmund, halving production. No Luftwaffe fighter opposition at all - their fighters seem to be busy in Russia and Med.

[Plaid]

Turn 53 - July 7, 1942

German attacks in the East continue:





In Africa Americans might be in trouble in Algeria, if there are more Axis units in the FoW.



During Allied turn there were mostly repairs this time, no counterattacks.





Italian corps near Algiers was battered, but German HQ mech spotted. Who knows what else hides there.
British army meanwhile overwhelmed Italian positions at El Agheila and advance West.

[Plaid]

Turn 54 - July 27, 1942

Sevastopol was lost this turn and several units in forests near Leningrad got killed.





In Africa US mech was killed by German counterattack.



German surface ships were spotted rebasing to French ports. They are planning to do something in Atlantic, it seems.
Part of RN units left for the Med, but we still have enough forces to respond to any Kriegsmarine activity there, I hope (3 BBs, CV and huge ammount of destroyers).



In Africa US army formard motorized unit retreated a bit to link with main forces. Can skip a turn upgrading all that units before launching proper assault on Algiers.



Near Leningrad Soviets killed one of German corps units.

[Plaid]

Turn 55 - August 16, 1942

Wehrmacht started to make good progress in the north, killing several Soviet units, including Guard Shock army. Soviet garrisons in Karelia have troubles holding Finns too.
Probably thats too late for Axis to take the city before bad weather anyway.



In the Med Italian navy was sent into battle. One BB was ambushed by British sub, but other units attacked where they intended and damaged one US and one British BB.



In Allied turn no further counterattacks in the East - just repairs, unit swappings and minor retreats.



Most of Italian surface ships were sunk, thanks to large Allied superiority in numbers and unit quality.

[Plaid]

Turn 56 - September 5, 1942

Germans continue their attacks in Leningrad area, we respond with killing another corps.
Finnish corps north of Petrozavodsk was counterattacked too, ending rather battered.
Additional reserves relocated to this Karelian front - I don't think Finns can do much against Soviet tanks and airpower.





More Allied progress in Africa too, Tripoli and Algiers were attacked, but both held.

[Plaid]

Turn 57 - September 25, 1942

Totally unexpected thing happened this turn - Axis DoWed Norway and started to attack Oslo with German airborne units. Results were not that great though and paratroopers sustained high damage.
At the same time German surface ships attacked escorted central convoy, sinking US DD there.



More Axis progress in USSR too, Germans reached Leningrad killing couple of Soviet units on the way.



As Allied response frontline near Leningrad was restored once more.



In the West Norwegian forces were railed to defend Oslo.
British fighter and garrison already arrived to Bergen. We might consider sending more forces to this front.

German surface ships were wiped out by large combined Allied navy.



Axis stay passive in Africa, so Allies slowly gain ground there. Should be done with this scenario by the end of 1942, unless something unusual happens.

[Plaid]

Turn 58 - October 15 1942

Winter weather, so no active action in the East. Soviets start to prepare for their new winter offensive.
Germans struggle to take Oslo because of poor weather too, place going to hold for long.





Meanwhile Allied air and naval units started to get reasonable hits against German subs - one sub was sunk and another - reduced to 3 steps.



Slow but steady progress in Africa. I don't see any Axis untis, which can cause trouble, but Italians will use the time we need to reach Tunis for reinforcing Sicily.

[Plaid]

Turn 59 - November 4, 1942

Nothing to report but Germans slowly gaining ground in Norway.

[Plaid]

Turn 60 - November 24, 1942

Fighting continues only in Norway and Afirca, and its nothing special to mention.





Still not sure, if I should send more men to Norway. Its possible to hold the place, but on the other hand Germans can relocate most of Luftwaffe to Denmark and obliterate my units in this scenario.
Even without additional help Norway going to hold well into 1943 and after that Allies going to need their resources for landings in Europe.

[Plaid]

Turn 61 - December 14, 1942

Actual winter offensive is about to start:





Here is the execution, but Germans held rather well. Atleast their air casualties were higher.





In Africa Mareth is about to fall and Tunis going to follow soon enough.



Its stalemate in Norway for now, but going to change once good weather returns.

[Plaid]

Turn 62 - January 3, 1943

Soviet offensive continues with mixed results. Rzhev was secured and Finland look promising - we take high casualties there, but Finns basically can't replace their killed units, so they will run out of forces soon. They already don't have units to maintain proper perimeter north of Leningrad.





Little changes in Norway other than free reinforcement corps has arrived (and it was repaired to 7 strength)



And Tunis is likely to fall next turn, closing North African campaign for Allies.

[Plaid]

Turn 63 - January 23, 1943

Germans respond in the East this time - Rzhev changed owner once more and Soviet infantry near the city ended cut off.



Red Army did not give up aswell, Rzhev was retaken again. But its hard to gain ground in this northern sector - terrain is harsh and plenty of good German units present (center and south with lots of German armour units does not look easy too), casualties are high.
Many Soviet units had to skips turn for repairs.



In the Med Italian navy made one of its last attacks, sinking British destroyer.



In Allied turn Tunis was taken, as planned. Italian naval units were mostly defeated. Italians still have atleast 2 subs, 1 BB and 1 DD (currently blocked in Cagliari).