Christmas Special

[jnimer]

spring 1942

The Germans stabilize their front in both the north and south. They retook Vyazma and pushed across the Dnieper at both Sumy and Perekop throwing Kharkov into a precarious position. Meanwhile the finns continue to advance, taking an undefended Lagoda.

In North Afric, Montgomery takes El Agheila and German forces are evacuated to Italy along with the generals. While Italy never managed to threaten Egypt, it has started to build up some strong defenses on the mainland which will test the Allies. The British built an airbase in Malta as well.

In the Atlantic the u-boats continue their good work but lost another to destroyers.

[jnimer]

Summer 1942

Pictures came out fuzzy so none of them for this turn.

In Russia the Germans unleashed a devastating Operation Blau, sending strong forces against both Kharkov and Mariupol with strong air support. Kharkov held on for four rounds during the first combat phase but fell during the mech phase. German  armored and motorized forces then took Rostov and established bridgeheads over the Don threatening Stalingrad and the oil regions in the South. Casualties were heavy for the Russians. In the North large Finnish forces moved into Lagoda, menacing the supply route to Leningrad.

In Africa the British took Tripoli, driving the Axis from North Africa. The Regia Marina risked another battle, but Cunningham's tactical abilities were too much to overcome - a battleship and Me110 squadron were lost, and the remaining cruiser group damaged.

In the Atlantic the u-boats continue to steadily sink British merchant ships and the Bismark sallied forth to attack British Aircraft Carriers on convoy duty but was sadly hunted down by the British Home Fleet.

[jnimer]

Autumn 1942

Russia finally wins a battle. In the South the Germans under Manstein attempted to shorten their front with an attack on Zhukov in Stalino. However, the German attack never got going as they lost their entire front line along with a bomber. They did take the Crimea and advanced over the Kerch Straits threatening Maikop. A mechanized attack against Stalingrad also failed with two tanks corps destroyed. In the North the Axis launched a heavy assault on  Novgorod to cut Leningrad out of supply. Despite strong Finnish cooperation, the dug in Russians inflicted heavy casualties - Novgorod remained in Russian hands and the Finnish army is virtually useless as an offensive force. Despite their losses the Germans retain superiority in the South (helped along with some new heavy armor formations) while in the North both sides are resting in their dugouts.

In Africa the Allies knocked Vichy France out of the war, taking Oran, Algiers, and Tunis in amphibious assaults. Due to poor planning the Allies dont have very strong forces in Africa, they will definitely need a turn to prepare a proper assault against the Italian mainland where the Italians with German help have set up potent defenses.

In the Atlantic another U-boat is lost and about 12 damage points dealt. The Germans have started to set up more serious defenses in France. By the time D-Day comes the Atlantic wall will be very potent.

[georgemak1]

Amazing AAR man, it seems you had a lot of fun playing his game,

[jnimer]

I love the struggle, would play it all the time if I had time and people willing to play

[John D.]

Wow - this looks like it will be a very close game! Italy looks tough. Will the Allies invade France soon? Many mainland fronts look like they will be developing.

[jnimer]

Finished the summer 43 turn, pictures will be forthcoming. The Allies have opened two mainland fronts, perhaps dividing their forces too thinly, strategic bombing has begun, and the Battle of the Atlantic has reached a climax!!! More coming soon.

[jnimer]

Winter 1942-43

In Russia the German's smash Malinkovsky's forces defending Maikop but suffer a severe setback in the mech phase. Hoth meched onto the surviving Russian forces of two AT gun units supported by two artillery assuming that his tactical abilities would see him through, but he lost all four of his mechanized corps instead. A raging Hitler calls him back to Germany. Manstein takes Stalino dealing the Soviets heavy casualties and threatening Stalingrad. The German's are so close to blowing the Soviets away in the South and seizing all of the oil and the six available VP's. Alas the momentum has slowed - that Soviet defense of Stalino in Autumn may go down in the history books as the new Stalingrad. In the North the Russian attempt to split German Army Groups North and Center with an attack on Veliki Luki, but only succeed in grinding up their infantry.

In the Med the Allies prepare to assault Italy and have accumulated large forces.

The Allies have started to bomb German but not in force yet, only 8 pp's this turn. In the Atlantic the u-boats fight on.

[jnimer]

More

[jnimer]

Spring 1943

In the Med the Allies invade Sicily at long last. The demoralized Italians take down two Allied bomber groups but once the Allies get ashore the Italians melted away rather than fight. Only one Australian Corps was lost in a decisive battle. The Germans have sent the Italians down South while setting up their own defenses in the north.

In the Atlantic bombing and U-boat attack continue with reasonable damage to both sides. British fighters strafe the French countryside while American heavies penetrate deep into Germany hitting the Ruhr.

In Russia Manstein smashes Soviet forces at Kalach and moves on Stalingrad while Kleist advances to Grozny. In a major air battle three Soviet fighter groups are shot down while the German's lost a Me109 and Stuka squadron. The German air dominance might be short lived as they have been sending fighters to defend against the Heavies and some to forestall an amphibious assault of Southern France while Russia has doggedly been producing two squadrons per turn. In the North the Russians achieve a breakthrough at Pskov. Both sides sustain heavy casualties and the Germans lose another two Me109 squadrons.

[John D.]

This is an excellent PbP! The forts in the Rheinland will prove formidable! The pressure for the Allies to perform increases - they seem to be slow and steady! I find it fun when the Axis have to decide which front they can no longer strategically reinforce, no matter what side you are on!

[jnimer]

Summer 1943

In the Med the Allies under Patton advance across the Sicilian straights, defeating the Italian defenders easily. A strong Italian line of fortifications has been set up in Naples. Meanwhile the Allies also launch a surprise amphibious assault on Greece, and take Athens. German forces are railed to the region to contain the landing. Older staff officers eerily remember the Salonika campaign.

In the Atlantic the entire remainder of the U-boat fleet (4) is sunk in Hunter Killer attacks!!!

In North Russia the Germans retake Pskov and retreat from Vyazma. The shortened German line should ease the need for reinforcements from the west and work on the Panther Line has begun. In the South the Germans attack Ertril but the Russians retreat with light casualties for both sides. In the Caucasses Kleist chooses to retreat from Grozny and retreats to Maikop.

[jnimer]

Yes, Germany decided to go for the slow win rather than trying to grab a bunch of points to win in late 1942/early 1943. The Allies are not showing enough urgency, I think that the Axis definitely are in the lead. As Germany I'm definitely feeling the crunch, making a lot of money but there are too many units to spend on 

[jnimer]

Autumn 1943

In the Med Patton manages to take Naples fighting for every inch among an extensive set of fortified positions. Heavy casualties are taken but Patton prevails and the war-weary Italians throw in the towel. Allied morale is still low in Italian as another heavily fortified position at Casino looms, and this time Germans will be fighting. Allied forces are being stockpiled in Britain for D-day and strategic bombing does 15 pp of damage to Germany.

In North Russia the Soviets launch an attack on Veliki Luki and drive the Germans back to Vitebsk with both sides suffering heavy casualties. The Soviets prepare a new offensive with the hopes of destroying Army Group North.

In the South Kleist cleverly attacks a weakened Soviet force in the Caucasus's (his earlier retreat having convinced the Soviets to rail some units elsewhere) and then mechs into Grozny with one SS tank corp against three Soviet infantry corps, scattering them. New German defenses are constructed on the Don line.

[jnimer]

Russia