WWII:BtB, Turn 8, Winter 43

 

Winter has arrived and during the first half of the turn, Commanders were spending their efforts into preparation for the long upcoming year. German got Hitler Orders to Stand fast at the Azov Sea whereas Allied must to push in Africa.

Few operations in the first Action Rounds. German reinforced their South front by sending 1st Pz Army to Melitopol and bring into play some Corps. Allied main effort was into boosting his Mechanized production by playing Tank Armies reinforcements and Lend-Lease which will allow to bring into play Mechanized Fronts. In Africa, British Desert Army entered Tunisia to menace Mareth Line defended by the Italians. Allied rearguard was somewhat weakened by the removal of CW corps following Bonzai! event.

Nevertheless when Desert Army launched its attack against the weak Italians, the defenses were crushed and British may road towards Tunis which was quickly reinforced by sea with two mechanized corps.

Southern Front in Russia	North Africa before Battle at Mareth Line

At Western Europe, German assaulted the beach head but Allied are continuously sending more replacements and this invasion is a headache for Germans.

At the end of winter, Russian Tank Armies were deployed in the Front which forced German to relocate some of his armies to avoid being encircled.

This is the final situation:

Losses: Only Italians suffered losses (2 steps) in this quiet winter.

WWII:BtB, Turn 7, Fall 1942

 

I do not know how to explain this. I am feeling that every turn I should make the same comment. Yes, Axis had those annoying Hitler orders and Russian must attack this turn. Now, odds of getting orders for German for six turns in a row are 1/729. Really bad luck.

Stand fast markers were created at North Africa to catch the Mechanized Korps and in Russia (Center and South Army Groups).

First Action Rounds saw German bringing Italian and Hungarian reinforcements to strength South Army Group at the Eastern Front to counter the redeployment of Russian Shock Armies at Tbilisi and Armavir.

	Allied attacked the German-Romanian formations at the mountains in Maikop but battled ended in a stalemate although the weak Romanian Army was nearly destroyed.
At Africa, Afrika Korps received orders to stand against British Desert Army with devastating results as at the Battle of Buerat it was completely annihilated. Only a few Italian small units are now guarding the road towards Tripoli.

In the West, Axis reacted to the Allied invasion by sending the strong 18th Infantry Army and attacking the Allied positions at Calais. British and Americans fought with heavy determination and it took several rounds for the Germans to push back Allied to the beaches.

At the end of Fall 42, Allied invasion was close to be eliminated but the last Axis push was not enough to send Allied to the ships and now they are waiting for replacements.

 

	In Russia, after retaking Rostov, Stalin ordered a major offensive with the final goal of liberating Crimea. Several attacks were launched against Romanian and Hungarian positions. Russian  were able to push at Krasnodar and Maikop but Axis could defend the crossings at Kerch and Melitopol.
Without Mechanized units in the area, Russian lost some time to move his infantry units to the front line and it missed a good opportunity to break Axis line before OKW decided to urgently sent 2nd Pz Army to sustain the Front.

Tripoli was liberated at the End of the turn by the British and Italians are running to seek cover at Tunisia.

The map at the end of this turn:

Losses:

Russian: 5 steps, British: 8 steps, American: 6 steps

German: 16 steps, Italian: 2 steps, Romanian: 9 steps.

Axis Minors are suffering from the attacks at the Southern Front. This turn Russian did not suffered a big loss and this may change the tide of the war.

Retaking Maikop and liberating Tripoli let the VP at +10 for Axis.

WWII:BtB, Turn 6, Summer 1942

Again OKW and Allied orders for attacking in Africa. Both High Command Staffs are really worried about the outcome of war in Northern Africa and are pushing their generals to invest in Mediterranean Theater.

German, with a reduced hand size of 5, begun the turn spending only 1 operation and attacking at Kalinin. The combined action of 3rd and 4th Pz Armies obtained a crushing victory but Russians were able to stop the advancing Armies by sacrificing some infantry units placed in the forests.

However, as summer was advancing, Russian commanders begun to gave away terrain and relocated their defensive line around Moscow and Tula. German Armies entered the forests of Kaluga and are preparing for assaulting Soviet capital. Russian reacted by calling more Infantry Fronts to the first line of battle and reorganizing his small size units.

In Northern Africa, after a brief calm at Tobruk, British desert Army begun its pursuit of Italian and German troops along Lybia. Finally, they stopped at the defensive terrain at El Agheila where they prepared for battle.
 

	At the end of summer, a tense situation was achieved in Russia when 3rd and 4th Pz Armies maneuvered to the North looking for a flank attack against the weak Russian units that are protecting the supply line of Leningrad and also the rear defense of Moscow at Yaroslav.
Russian sent to the area his only Mechanized unit, the SW Front, that he was carefully keeping intact at Moscow. From there, it leaded the attack against the Panzer Armies with support of some Infantry Fronts and Armies. Germans were surprised by this strong attack and they suffered heavy casualties and retreated to Valdai.

While Germans were still recovering from the surprise and organizing their replacement units, Allied decided to keep the momentum and launched Sledgehammer invasion at Calais.

Allied disembarked a British Army and two mechanized American Corps with the clear objective of opening a new front in Europe, releasing the pressure against Russians. Immediately, OKW reacted by redeploying in the area the 18th Army from Pskov.

In Africa, the end of summer saw the battle of El Agheila were British units completely destroyed the Italians and forced German Africa Korps to retreat.
Situation at the end of Summer 42

Losses this turn:
Soviet: 10 steps, US: 2 steps
German: 14 steps, IT: 3 steps
VP: +12 for Axis
It is the first time in the war that Axis suffered more losses than Allied. The influence of Bomber Command, reducing Axis hand size to 5 has been crucial to this fact.

N44, 8th June

 

Weather in this turn is Overcast 3, so German gets 2 supply points and 1 infantry replacement. Allied obtained Infantry replacements for US and British and also air and naval support.

In this turn it arrived the first units of the Panzer Lehr Division together with some Flak regiments.

Utah Beach:

The reinforcements from 709th and 243rd Div are slowly arriving and they are taking positions to defend Montebourg and Carentan. The fight between 91 and 3 FJ Divisions against American paratroopers continued in this turn. There was a heavy attack from St Mere Eglise that forced 82nd AB Div to retreat. The 3FJ inflicted heavy losses in the just arrived glider Regiment but at the expenses of losing armored support.

During his turn, American player initiated an attack in his north flank to make a break in German line and look for a way to penetrate into Contentin Peninsula. The coastal fortification of Ravenoville was taken by the 22 Regiment of the 4th Infantry division with armored support and flanked by units of the 101st AB and 82nd AB divisions.

Omaha Beach:

Panzer Lehr units are being deployed to reinforce Omaha sector. Moving at full speed some of the mechanized units have arrived to the front line and they are trying to close the gaps in the German lines. German did not attempt to save the isolated units at Bayeux but it relocated 12 SS Pz Division some miles to the East to oppose to the British advances.

American concentrated his forces to attack the weak German units guarding the St. Lo-Bayeux main road.  In spite of the Air and Armor support, Americans could only obtain a limited advance as Germans find cover into the woods where they meet a recently arrived Flak regiment.

Bayeux was finally taken by Allied in an assault conducted by the 1st and 4th brigades of Special Service. However, German resistance was stiff and caused step losses into the attacking units.

CW Beaches:

Panzer Battalions of the 12 SS Pz Division have arrived to the battlefield and will give to the German the so needed armored strength to stop the British threat. Close to Carpiquet  airport, units of the 21 Pz Div counterattacked the advanced British units that were forced to retreat. Ranville was the scenario of heavy combats between 21 Pz and British Airborne. Germans received some support from the 711th Div but all their assaults to retake Pegasus Bridge failed (on a DR result and ulterior British DD).

During the German attrition phase, all the strongpoints have passed and survived.

Worried by the weak position at Ranville, British concentrated his units into an attack in his rear position against the 711th Inf Division. Attack was not very efficient but Germans were forced to retreat into the flooded regions around Cabourg, releasing the pressure against the British airborne units.

At Buron, British 51st Division launched his first attempt to penetrate in the suburbia of Caen but it was easily stopped by the 21st Pz Div.

British spent the rest of this day, regrouping his dispersed divisions and  moving towards Caen and Pegasus Bridge.

This is the final situation after 8th June:

N44, 7th June, Allied Phase

 

Allied continued to land more troops at the beaches (6RP for British and 6RP for US). US concentrated his main effort into Omaha due to the congestion at Utah. British disembarked two infantry Brigades of the 51st Division at Gold and Juno.

Utah Beach:

Not many progress in terms of terrain for the US. The fortification at Les-Dunes-de-Varreville was easily destroyed. The most noticeable advance has been that paratroopers of the 101st AB Div are approaching Carentan from the flooded sides of Douve River. However, from that position any attack on Carentan will be severely punished by attacking through river and out of flooded hex.

Omaha Beach:

First units of the 2nd Inf Div are arriving at Omaha beach with TD support. Meanwhile,  29th Inf and 1st Inf continued their advance inland and are approaching German defensive at the edge of bocage. One infantry regiment of the 29th is detached to help in the offensive against Bayeux, cutting the retreat path to the German units. At the west, tank support has arrived to help Rangers in their fight at Isigny-sur-mer.

CW Beaches:

Things are going well for the Allied at the CW beaches.  At Caen, the arrival of glider reinforcements has helped to maintain the control over Pegasus Bridge and Orne Canal. Several units have also arrived to the vicinity of Carpiquet airport by using the corridor let to them by the retreat of 21 Pz Div to Buron. A clear German mistake as now the primary road from Caen to Villers-Bocage is negated for strategic movement  and the nearest bridge over Odon is too far to the south. The rest of the Bayeux-Caen road is also in Allied hands after weak resistance offered by German battalions. At the end of the day a combined British-Canadian force launched a strong assault on Bayeux to capture the city. In spite of the inferior odds, Germans resisted the assault and performed a successful desperate defense that inflicted more losses in the Allied units. Even if Bayeux will likely fall, this last bastion of defense will disturb Allied advances next turn.

This is the map at the end of 7th June.

WWII: BtB, Turn 5, Spring 42

 

With a hand size of 5 by the events in Winter and the Spring Thaw during the two initial action rounds, we may have a quite beginning of the Spring Turn.

I did not calculate what is the probability of this  but again, Allied and OKW sent orders for an offensive at Africa. This is the third time in a row and Axis is not happy.

Axis is not allowing any mistake from Russian Commander and the risky advance of the shock armies at the end of winter was heavily punished in the first action when two infantry German Armies attacked at Velikiye Luki.

Following his mandatory orders, Allied attacked with the Desert Army for retaking Tobruk and defeating a combined German and Italian force.

The result of the defeat at Velikiye Luki forced Russian to redeploy many of his small size units along the whole front.  Army Group North with the refitted 3rd and 4th Panzer Armies increased pressure against Rzhev and menaced a big rupture there. German commander was trying to find some place to maneuver his superior mechanized forces and to avoid a frontal approach towards Moscow.

The push continued at Rzhev and Russian units were crushed and only the Shock Army survived the fight and it was retreated to Moscow. Stavka took a big decision at this time and the defensive line at Vyazma and Bryansk was abandoned. Russian hesitated a lot about this movement but realizing that the menace of Army Group North was too strong and Russian had not enough units to cover all the terrain, he had chosen the general retreat.

Fortunately for Russian the British gains at North Africa has diverted enough Axis resources and Soviet get some relief of the pressure. Desert Army begun a pursuit of German and Italian units along Lybia.

Both contenders called for more replacements and Allied launched a new bombing that reduces Axis hand size again for the next turn.

At the end of Spring we have heard that US war efforts are beginning to be increased and the first planning for an invasion in Europe and the opening of a second front are being discussed.

Situation in the Eastern Front at the end of Spring 42.

Losses this turn:

German: 8 steps, Italian: 2 steps

Russian: 11 steps.

VP: +13 for Axis.

N44, 7th June, German Phase

 

Turn begins with a die roll to determine weather. As for the rules, weather of 7th June can only be overcast 2 or 3. In our case, it was overcast 2 so Germans got an Armor Replacement and Allied got Infantry Replacements.

In this turn it arrives 12 SS Pz Division  to reinforce the weak German lines. It enters from the east side of the map together with some units of the 346th Inf Div.

German has decided to put the two infantry units and the Armor Recon battalion of the 12 SS in Strategic movement mode to fill the gaps between Bayeux and Caen letting behind the two panzer battalions which will be fully deployed on next turn. Remember that in Strategic Mode, units have a movement allowance doubled but they are more vulnerable to attacks (no terrain benefits and one shift for the attacker) and can not enter EZOC nor end their movement stacked.

Utah Beach:

With paratroopers are confined behind Merderet River, Germans launched a counterattack against 82nd AB division units. At St Mere-Eglise paratroopers were assaulted by two infantry Regiments of the 91st Div supported by a tank battalion and Artillery fire from Cotentin battery at Valognes. Meanwhile, the rest of the AB division was attacked by elite  units of the 6FJ Div, arriving from Carentan, also with artillery and armor support.

In both cases  American paratroopers, seeing the numerical advantage of the enemy, avoided more casualties retreating from their positions. (two DR results).  Thus, Germans have retaken St Mere Eglise and 91st Div will try to strength the position to block allied advance out of Utah Beach. More German reinforcements are arriving from the static 243rd and 709th Divisions that are being deployed in the area.

Omaha Beach:

At Omaha, Germans decided to do not defend the line at Aure River and they gave some terrain to Allied. The weak units of the 352th Inf Div have taken positions at the bocage line waiting for  reinforcements.
The first units of the 12 SS Pz Div are just arriving in Strategic mode and they are deployed in a second front line between Bayeux and Caen.

A small garrison have been committed to defend Bayeux to the last man in an attempt to disturb Allied communication lines.

CW Beaches:

The rest of the 21st Pz Division have been finally deployed to the defense of Caen area. With Ranville and Pegasus Bridge firmly controlled by British units, German decided to counterattack the units at the outskirts of Caen with artillery support from the 47Pz HQ.

The 8 Brigade of the British 3rd Division was forced to retreat after suffering losses when attacked from Epron (D1 result).  At the vicinity of Buron, the advanced units of the 3rd Canadian Division suffered losses and were forced to retreat but have succeeded to damage  the German units that after the combat, were seeking for cover at the village (A1/D1 result) but clearing the way towards Carpiquet airfield.

TURN 5 summer 1862 "For the people"

   

Card1: Union rearrange his leaders and orders new destinations for part of the staff. Some "1" defensive leaders to try to close aproaching spaces and Pope ("2 rating " leader to press down Kentucky). South plays "Western Concentration Block" a card that allows you to move five sp's (25000 men) by train and then activate a leader, a powerfull card. This time Mike tries to press Kentucky up in order to threaten Ohio, a lucky dr lets Pope to intercept due to the -2 that Pleasonton cavalry brigades gives him, and wins the battle, in Ftp when you intercept you win an "+2" dr for the upcoming battle.

Card 2: A 3 card play to move AoP and prepare defensive positions in Harper's Ferry and Frederick. Is important to know that in ftp when a force enters in a battle not necessary stops. If you reach (before battle) a 2 vs 1 ratio and you win the battle, you can go on after the battle. Reinforced Jackson continues striking Pope at Nashville, Pope intercepts again (2 interceptions in a row, both of just 1/3 options) and loose the battle, but it stops Jackson.

Card 3: This grey's offensives in far Kentucky-Tenessee area, gives north a bit of time to prepare defensive positions, now North plays an event that lets place two forts, in this case in Gettysburg and Pittsburgh. This time CSA changes his mind, and moves Jackson corp's to reinforce the Mississipi area. 

Card 4: Union plays an event to make an attrition in AoW which losses 10000 men (passing from 45000 to 35000 men). South plays a fort in Little Rock (Ar), this is an action I love, it closes the way form Missouri to Texas. 

Card 5. Division move to reinforce the new fort at Pittsburgh. Unable to defend Morehead city, north had not garrisoned it, so now Longstreet corp goes there to reopen Nort Atlantic blockade zone.

Card 6: Pope was alone at Murfreesboro with just 5000 men after Nashville battle, and as Jackson went to reinforce Mississipi, then now Pope turns back to Bowling Green (via Clinton to avoid interception) gets 10000 men from General Banks corp's, and attacks Nashville again to reopen the rail line from the north. Jackson orders are changed and take his men back to southern Kentucky again to cut Pope's line in Bowling Green. AGAIN Pope intercepts at Clarksville in a 1/3 dr (third in a row!!). Jackson wins the the battle but Pope retreats to Bowling Green (so it still has a LOC) and Jackson is stoped again.

Card 7: There are some events in FtP you can't avoid when they are in your hands. This is the case with "red river campaign", when you draw this card as the north, you have to control one espace in red river or you lose 5sw. As north has sw enough I decided not to try this complicated amphibious operation and begin Misouri recovery with McDowell troops. For last move AGAIN south had a "minor campaign". As first activation  Lee's Army of the West (AoW) attacks Washington D.C. main door at Frederick, but AoP iontercepts (this time is a 2/3 interception) and defeats them there. Once AoP intercepts it reaches a +7 drm    (+2 fort  +2 interceptio   +3 leaders) ...it is enough even against mega-powerfull Lee's AoW. Now seeing the fail of AoW, AoNV tries the same on the other side and attacks north via Harper Ferry. AoP intercepts again (five in a row!) with a 2/3 chance and defeats easily AoNV at H.F.

                This has been "interceptions turn"!!!  ... too much for my poor gamebuddy ;-) 

(1/3) x (1/3) x (1/3) x (2/3) x(2/3)= 4/ 243 =      1,6%            of chances to happen

bloody turn after so many battles, good point for the north due to the difference in manpower.

Mighty McClellan's AoP have just defeated Lee's AoW at Frederick  and is waiting for AoNv to come at Harpers Ferry

Turn losses:            Battle                       Attrition

Union                    40000                        15000

Confederacy         50000                        15000

war losses (attrition + casualties)

Union:               170000                              S.W:=103(-)

Confederacy:    140000                              S.W.=100(-)

Blockade level=2

WWII: BtB, Turn 4, Winter 42

The General Winter has arrived, giving some breath to the exhausted Russian Commander. German units in Soviet spaces are subjected to special rules that limit their operations (extra activation costs, limited supply, penalties in combat and negation of Mechanized advantages). This could bring some opportunities to the Red Army to reinforce their defensive positions and, perhaps, to launch some limited counterattack.

However, roll of initial orders have altered some of the previsions as, both Allied High Command and OKW, has urged for mandatory offensives in North Africa.

But the early arrival of snow forced both sides to quickly prepare for the long winter by taking logistic decisions. The first round has seeing symmetrical plays with Germans using Wolfpacks and Russians answering with Bomber Command, both to reduce the opponent hand size by two for the next turn. Then both commanders were taking decisions to bring more replacements to their units.

Real action begun when German decided to put some pressure on Tobruk and Sevastopol. The northern African fortress have been sieged by German and Italians mechanized units whereas Romanian Fourth Army is at the doors of the Crimean main city.

 

But surprisingly, Russian ignores both menaces and brings into play 1st-5th Shock Armies from Siberia. Intelligence reports said that they have been deployed at Leningrad, Moscow and Stalingrad.

Romanians have taken Sevastopol without resistance and Tobruk has fallen after a fortunate dice roll that forced an impossible retreat into the sea.

British immediately reacts by creating in Alexandria a full Desert Army which will have the mission to destroy Africa Korps and liberate Tobruk. Alerted by the news, Rommel prepared a defensive position along the Hellfire Pass with his DAK and Italian Infantry.

At the same time, Romanians continued their unstopped advance towards Caucasus and have taken another victory location, this time at Maikop.

But, December 41, the world has been shocked by the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbour bringing the US into the fight. FDR declared war to Third Reich and now the war is a global conflict. Being a yellow event card (as German has played Wolfpacks), Allied had also four operation points that he used to bring Desert Army to Buq Buq, to reorganize Shock Armies in the East, to build trench positions at Moscow and Tula and to counterattack from Leningrad.

For his last action round, German decided to go for more replacements to enter spring in full force continuing his offensive. Stalin gave orders to  evacuate heavy industry far in the East where mechanized soviet units will be build and trained (being ready a year later).   The freshly arrived Shock Armies leaded Soviet winter counterattack against Army Group North to retake Kholm Demyansk and Velikiye Luki. This first victory has boosted the moral of the Red Army that, imprudently, advanced into exposed positions. A tactical error that can be costly when good weather arrive.

In Africa, Desert Army inflicted heavy losses to Rommel Africa Korps that could not held Hellfire pass and is now defending Tobruk in clear inferiority.

 

This is the map after Winter 42 (replacements already done)

Losses this turn:

Soviet: 9 steps, CW: 4 steps.

German: 9 steps, IT: 1 step.

A good result for German during this Winter. Even if most of the combats have finished with Allied advances, the integrity of German Armies has made that many step losses were not fulfilled. On the contrary, Allied, specially Russians, have absorbed all the losses with their smaller SCU units.

 

 

N44, 6th June, Allied Phase

In this first turn after invasion phase, Allied tries to establish firm beachheads before  German reinforcements can approach the battlefield.

Utah Beach:

Not many choices here for the American player. After the bad result of the paratroopers jumping, American is trying to regroup his airborne divisions at the east of Merderet River.  The only combats involved the elimination of  a battalion of the 709th Inf Div.

 

Omaha Beach:

Rangers exited without losses Pointe du Hoc and are advancing towards Isigny-sur-Mer. 1st and 29th Inf Divisions are pushing to control Route National 13 and to connect with British units.  In the road towards Bayeux they have encountered  armored  resistance from units of the 352 Inf Division defending behind Anre River.

Commonwealth Beaches:

British have succeeded to establish a good position at the three CW beaches. By using that German did not defend the advanced fortifications, British has deep penetrated and has arrived to the outskirts of Caen after that the 3rd Inf Div destroyed Hillman Strongpoint. In Sword sector, armored units of the 27th have achieved to contact with the 6th Airborne  Division, keeping a firm control of Pegasus Bridge. The main combats have occurred at Creully where elements of the 716th and 352th German divisions have resisted the initial attacks of the 3rd Canadian Division, supported by units of the 50th Inf Div. It was with the arrival of two more regiments from the reserve that Creuilly was liberated and the German units were forced to retreat.

 

Turn is over, no US units are out of supply. Here is the situation after 6th June: