View Full Version : Fall Grau 1.16 [Axis]
Fall Grau v1.16 PBEM - "The scenario is a hypothetical depiction of an Axis invasion of North America in the summer of 1943 after the Axis have conquered both the Soviet Union and Britain."
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Axis
Mantis
US
Mensch
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Fall Grau is one of those nasty scenarios that a player can never fully get a handle on. You’ll never play it 5 times, and know the ’optimal strategy’. (You can play it 50 times; you’ll still not figure it out. I doubt there is an optimal strategy). With this in mind, I decided it was time to take a chance on the brutal approach, and bulldog my way straight in to the industrial heartland. This always makes for a very intense game, as neither you nor your US opponent have the luxury of time.
I took a decent amount of time examining the NE coast and surrounding areas in detail. It’s not enough to just land; I have to maximize my assets, especially on the first turn. I’ll never have uncontested skies again, so I’d better capitalize on this to the utmost of my abilities.
THE PLAN:
The thick red lines show major avenues of approach; the lighter lines denote minor advances, often just a unit or two.
I’m going to open very aggressively, and attempt to secure 3 initial beachheads in strength. As I plan to take a large transport option to facilitate my ‘drive for the breadbasket’ approach, I should be able to maintain all three landing sites adequately with reinforcements should disaster strike on one or more of the opening battles, or I catch an early turn end.
Initial US Defence:
Quebec
Boston and surrounding area. (There are over a dozen US units in this shot...)
The Problem:
Very fast US response. This is where the bulk of the US strength is concentrated, and the area to which they are most quickly able to respond to Axis incursions. I have to do all I can to delay this reaction, otherwise I risk getting bogged down on the beaches, and quickly having this game degenerate into a slugfest.
The Execution:
In other games, I’ve used the paratroops to completely encircle an industrial city all on their own, and then close the pocket; netting me an easy hit to the US replacement rate for little effort. The first turn is also the only turn you can hope to pull off air operations on this scale unimpeded. But this time though, the support potential of the Falschirmjagr cannot be underestimated, and I’m going to press the advantage while I’m able. Bridge repair ability in this scenario is not at it’s peak in the initial turns, and any damage I can do here right off the start will take some time for the US player to deal with. With US air being set to rest for my turn one, I intend to use broken down elements of the FJ to make jumps deep into the industrial NE, and capture 2 vital airfields that will provide excellent bases for a short, intense bridge campaign to start things off. Other small elements will drop into areas where key bridges are closer to the beachheads – these have a better chance of making it back to supply in one piece. This will also allow the bombers to reach deeper into the US on their bridge runs, further delaying US response.
The remaining 2/3rds of the FJ are supporting the three main landings. Broken down elements are closing the pockets, allowing for surround battles in the final stages of the turn to guarantee the beachheads and ensure supply.
With all my units in position, it’s now time to ‘roll the dice’.
The bombers open the show with attacks against the most vital of the bridges. As this campaign continues, FJ 1/3rds start making minor attacks into the pockets, wearing down the ill-prepared Yankees even further. As I near the end of the turn, it becomes time to launch all three final attacks. I don’t want to push my luck and have the turn end prematurely… The Gods of War are smiling on me this turn; all three pockets have been cleared, and the beachheads are secure! We’ve blown a dozen bridges during this turn, ranging as far southwest as Louisville, and north up around Montreal, that should help slow down the US response.
The following shows the Axis end of turn positions:
Turn 2
Mensch responded by dropping US HQs beside my paras; hoping to make me suffer disengagement attacks and worse as I attempt to escape and get back to friendly ground. I anticipate managing to get most of them home safely.
Captured Washington with a 1-1 attack that was launched only to keep the US defenders in low readiness and supply. A welcome bonus, but as Washington is not an industrial city, it’s only real value to me is prestige and morale.
Advanced towards New York.
T3
Fairly quiet turn. I chose my transport TO this turn, so will have a healthy increase in available sea transport points next turn. Feels like I’ll need it as well; there were no infantry reinforcements this turn for the Axis, so the best use of the 20000 points I had available ended up amounting to 3 units and an HQ. Granted, one of those three was a huge SS Panzer, but it still feels like I did the turn with no reinforcements.
I beat up on the Canadians somewhat, and evaporated a couple of their divisions in the process. A very weak German division ended the turn adjacent to Montreal, but this was a result of advancing after combat, and I fully expect to be pushed back a hex. But that’s likely all they’ll manage up there, as Montreal is stacked with 9 units, and most of them are broken down and routed.
Boston was the most restricted beachhead, and the most hotly contested thus far. The SS panzer went to this area, and had enough movement left to take a place in the line. It extends from 1 hex north of Boston, down diagonally left, just past Hartford, and then south. Hartford’s capture adds another industrial city to the list of US casualties, and the corresponding 10% drop to their replacement rate. Albany was the weaker of the two cities, and I am now adjacent to it with some decent firepower. The bulk of the US units that were in this area were already exhausted, and were fairly easy to force back. This has resulted in a couple good sized stacks of mostly broken, routed units with no movement points, that I’ll hopefully be able to dispose of next turn before they flee into ‘Fortress New York’.
The Baltimore beachhead is covering the most ground, bordering Philadelphia on three sides, extending west between three and four hexes, and borders Richmond in the south. Two motorized infantry with HQ were sent here as reinforcements, and one of them managed to provide the coup de gras to an errant US reserve unit in the form of an overrun landing.
An added bonus this turn (aside from no disaster reports) is the fact that I was able to bridge the line in this area out to two of my FJ units, exhausted from being out of supply and sorely harassed by the Yankees since the campaign began. Although not back in the fold as of yet, they are adjacent to two dug in divisions that should provide enough security to ensure their survival should the Yankee show his true colors and further harass these starving, frightened men.
I eagerly await my next turn, where I shall be able to bring the might of Nazi Germany more quickly to bear on this most insolent of nations!
T4
This was a turn of advancing the fronts, and preparing for future assaults on short term objectives. With the transport increase now in effect, I can bring 35000 tons across each week. Unfortunately, it will take several turns at maximum capacity to stabilize the fronts to my satisfaction, so my strategic options are limited for the time being. But the sight of so much Axis equipment being shipped to the continent is glorious indeed! Most units are disembarked in Quebec, and advance to a position just behind the front, in preparation for next turn.
The Canadians have 2 armored divisions and a motorized infantry dug in, blocking further progress towards Montreal. The FJ units will spread out to the east to grab more terrain, and hopefully link with the Boston front without the need to fight. This also helps me by keeping a close eye on my flanks. Until I have more units available, I cannot risk having the Canadians pull an end-run on me.
I was able to advance into both of these locations, however I doubt I can hold either if the Canadians are determined. The group box shows Montreal’s defenders.
The New York area is one of much anxiety for me. While I need to close the pocket and eliminate this presence in my rear areas, the forces required to do so are quite numerous, and will slow down advances along the main front in the west right at a time when I have some open space in front of me.
The US forces north of New York are battered and exhausted, but must not be allowed to retreat back into the fortress. German forces in this area are to be split between the complete destruction of these units, and the conquest of Albany. The southern forces will advance into Philadelphia, and try to tighten the noose around New York itself.
Something interesting happened this turn. I was determining the best position to drop some panzers and other heavy SS units, when I happened to click on the area two hexes NE of New York. The SS Florian Geyer performed a phenomenal overrun attack, and took control of the hex.
Well.
Now I’m in his backyard, but out of supply with no room to maneuver. A mixed blessing. But you don’t get into the SS by being timid; another fortuitous right click and these brave lads overran a second location, putting me adjacent to New York to the NE, and back in supply. I dropped the 3rd panzer adjacent to them, to provide me with a safe retreat zone in case of heavy attack. Although it’s a waste to see such mobile units locked into a 2 hex area, I feel quite confident that they can maintain their position and provide one more direction to harass the New York defenders from.
Albany was captured by the northern attacks, and the forces just north of New York were encircled and mostly destroyed. Philadelphia was captured in the southern sector, and New York is now cutoff from potential reinforcement.
T5
An assault on New York proper was successful this turn. The fortress is ours, along with the -20% to US replacements, and the supply boost my forces shall enjoy for a handful of turns! Berlin is ecstatic! Although about a dozen US divisions remain in the pocket, they are in poor shape, and should present no offensive threat to my forces. Eliminating them all will still take some effort, but spirits are high!
The Boston front is fluid again. The collapse of Albany took most of the wind out of the US sails, and his units in this area are in poor shape. German plans call for the complete elimination of these forces, and maneuvering towards this goal begins.
Quebec came as a bit of a surprise. Perhaps too many Canadian units went into reorganization, but whatever the reason, my initial advances adjacent to Montreal have both held. I took the opportunity to extend the front, and consolidate my position.
Although things are looking good, this front is again screaming for further reinforcements. This is a nasty area to fight in, as you get ever-diminishing returns on the investment of so many troops. The Canadians are able to put up a very tough defence. We are confident of taking the city in the near future.
The Americans are forming a line to contain me in the mountains 3 hexes to the west of Baltimore. Axis forces shuffle around to ensure good defensive position, and two disorganized US units that retreated forward into my rear area last turn are encircled and destroyed.
Turn 6
There will be several battles this turn to destroy encircled US units, so I don’t expect to be able to accomplish very many rounds of combat. I estimate 2 or 3 rounds tops, so I’ll plan accordingly in the initial offensives.
Montreal was surrounded on four sides, and with 23rd infantry advancing into position behind Montreal after combat, there are no retreat routes out of the city with the exception of the St. Lawrence super river hex directly to the south. There are two riverine units here, but instead of smashing them out of the hex for zero movement points, I decide to allow them to stay there. If an assault on Montreal causes several units to split prior to retreating, I might be able to catch more Canadians in forced evaporations.
Although stacking limits never come into play in the subsequent attack, several units evaporate prior to the Canadian HQ retreating onto the river, which allows other fortunate units to escape my trap. They suffered roughly 50% losses in the assaults, but my cost was high as well. Italians have appeared in-theatre, and are sent here to bolster my forces.
Remnants of the Albany defence forces are destroyed, leaving roughly 7 or 8 US divisions in various areas separating the Canadian and Boston fronts. These units are generally in poor shape and supply, and should present no difficulty beyond one of time to eventually eliminate.
I used a split FJ unit and HQ to complete the surround of the New York forces, and evaporated a tremendous amount of US equipment this turn. Although unable to completely close the pocket, there is nothing of significance left here to offer further resistance.
Some small advances were made to the west, as I pushed the Yankee defenders back in a hex or two. Although I do not have the forces required to make any serious headway on this front, the release of so many units from the NY area should swing things considerably in my favor. My frontline forces have also been valiantly engaging the US line wherever possible. Although the mountains are great defensive terrain, they are a poor position to rest and recover in. I hope to keep his line in poor readiness and supply for when the bulk of NY forces arrive.
With one major thorn in my side removed, I felt I could finally look towards expanding a front with some of my reinforcements this turn. Norfolk was the selected target. Troops on both sides were content merely to hold the line, but the US side was continually getting stronger. The group box shows Richmond’s defenders.
SS Panzer Wiking was used to overrun a US HQ to the southwest of Norfolk, and a full scale landing was made behind his lines. On the negative side, I don’t have enough movement for more than a single attack with these new forces; on the positive side, I was able to force the US armor into the Norfolk pocket itself, which will be cleared next turn. I don’t have enough forces here to blow this front wide open, but instead of considering an offensive against outnumbered Axis units, my worthy US adversary will be spending his time to ensure the survival of his line. A welcome improvement on the situation.
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