View Full Version : Balkans 41 - Nemo vs Rastamann - German disaster at the Thermopylae
PRELIMINARY NOTE
Please keep in mind that it is my first try at AAR writing, so please bear with me :dead: . Shoddy statements, clumsy phrasing, embarrassing low-level TOAW playing examples on my side and some pieces of broken english language are here in the open. Any comment or question can be sent to the ad hoc thread created in the main TOAW forum here (http://www.warfarehq.com/forums/showthread.php?p=55227#post55227).
This AAR is made mainly from turn to turn notes I gather to keep track of situations and objectives, hence its rather dry aspect and its altogether absence of literary ornaments.
I begin with an overwhelming defeat (not that I have that much of victories to put forward anyway) at the hands of Rastamann (Nuno). I owe him special thanks as he proved himself a good-humoured, talented and ruthless opponent in this short and entertaining scenario.
So, time to jump in, here it goes :
BALKANS 1941
Operation Marita: The Axis invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece
Date: April 6, 1941
Time Scale: Half-week Turns
Map Scale: 25km/hex
Unit Scale: Division
First Turn: Axis
Scenario Length: Variable (max. 18)
Scenario author: Todd Klemme
PLAYERS
Side one (Axis): Nemo (Marc)
Side two (Allied): Rastamann (Nuno)
BACKGROUND (from the scenario briefing)
World War II in the Balkans began in 1939 when, against the advice of Hitler, Mussolini invaded and conquered a nearly defenceless Albania. He then set his sights on Greece. Greece proved to be far from defenceless. Within weeks the Italian army was reeling backwards into Albania and Mussolini requested aid from Hitler.
Hitler wanted to avoid any confrontation in the Balkans. He had pushed the Allies off the western end of Europe in 1940 and had no desire to see them reappear on his southern front. In the spring and early summer of 1941 Hitler was preoccupied with the planning of Operation Barbarossa (the invasion of the Soviet Union). He needed quiet in the Balkans and therefore bullied Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria into signing the Tripartite Pact, effectively making them Axis powers. Yugoslavia was reluctant to sign, mostly because of strong anti-German feelings among the dominant Serbian population. However, Yugoslavia's Regent Prince Paul signed under duress. Hitler was now free to aid Mussolini by invading Greece through Bulgaria. The campaign would be over with time to spare for rest and refit in preparation of Barbarossa.
Serbs in Yugoslavia threw a wrench into the works on March 27. The military staged a bloodless coup and deposed Prince Paul. The new regime immediately disavowed the Tripartite Pact and sought aid from Russia and Britain. They also made peace overtures to Hitler but it was too late. Hitler had decided that Yugoslavia should cease to exist as a nation.
In London, Churchill's advisors had recommended against answering Greece's request for military aid. It was assumed, correctly it turned out, that the Commonwealth could not provide anything like the amount of aid Greece would need to defend herself against the Axis. Unfortunately, Churchill found it impossible to deny a request for help against Hitler. A promising campaign against the Italians in North Africa was halted and the units involved were sent to Greece.
Operation Marita began on April 6, 1941 with massive air bombardments of Yugoslavian cities and German Army attacks in northeastern Greece. By April 9, Yugoslavia was being assailed along the entire length of her northern and eastern borders. Pro-Austrian Croat and Slovene units mutinied in the northwest. The young Yugoslavian government fled Belgrade for Sarajevo and all command and control vanished. By April 17 the Yugoslavian Army had all but disintegrated and Yugoslavia officially surrendered.
Greece and her new Commonwealth allies were in desperate straights. The Wehrmacht had bypassed the Metaxas Line (the Greeks had counted on Yugoslavia to hold the left flank) and invaded down the center of mainland Greece. Acknowledging the obvious, the British commander, Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, prepared his forces for evacuation to Crete. He pulled back to Athens and, despite a German paratroop attack on the Corinthian Canal, managed to get most of his men away before the Greek Army collapsed and Greece surrendered on April 30.
At first glance Operation Marita appears to be a huge success. German casualties were light (although Italian casualties were not). The Balkans, including the critical oil reserves at Ploesti, were under Axis control and safe from Allied attacks. Commonwealth forces left behind huge amounts of heavy equipment. But...
Operation Marita forced the Germans to delay Barbarossa by a couple of weeks, perhaps changing the outcome of the entire Eastern Front. Critical Italian resources had been diverted from North Africa. And Yugoslavian and Greek partisans would wage a guerrilla war that would sap German resources until the end.
Objective: seize Athens as fast as possible and put a victorious end to the campaign.
Plan: with mobile forces (German), bypass resistances where terrain has no value, seize key terrain features (bridges) to support mobility, mass forces as early as possible on the southern side of the Vardar to keep the enemy off balance and prevent him from creating a solid line of defence between Larissa and the Thermopylae. Italian armies are to be used as pinning forces, tying down the Greek 1st Army and thus depriving the enemy of the opportunity to use it to stop the German forces. Restricted and mountainous terrain further south favours the defender if he is able to build some form of entrenched defensive system - the Axis as to precede the Allied player there.
FORCES
NORTHERN GROUP
XLIX Korps
LI Korps
LII Korps
OKH Reserves
XLVI Panzer Korps
XLI Korps
L Korps (TURN 6 28,0)
BULGARIAN GROUP
XIV Panzer Korps
XL Korps
XVIII Korps
XXX Korps
ITALIAN FORCES
IT 2nd Army (Trieste - Scutari)
IT 9th Army (Albania)
IT 11th Army (Albania)
Enemy supply points are located at Belgrade (23,11), Salonika (29,28), Athens (32,36) and Maleme (32,46).
BULGARIAN GROUP
XXX KORPS: screen the Metaxas Line by dividing units and digging in.
XVIII Korps: bypass Metaxas Line, seize and secure Vales, rotate south.
XL Korps: pass through Veles and support XVIII Korps movement due south.
XIV Korps: screen YU 5th and 3rd Armies with infantry units, direct 5th and 11th Panzer towards Veles to prevent YU 3rd Army from interfering with the passage of troops through Veles.
NORTHERN GROUP
XLI and XLVI Korps: seize Belgrade as fast as possible regardless of cost. Belgrade taken means dislocation of the Yugoslavian military and free passage for the balance of Northern Group.
LI and XLIX Korps: establish contact with the enemy, probe its weak points, and press advantage where possible without incurring losses or spending tactical rounds uselessly.
LII Korps and OKH Reserves: use most efficient movement to rejoin the frontline and prepare to move on in the general direction of Belgrade.
ITALIAN FORCES
All forces: dig in on Ignore losses.
AIR UNITS
Move air units as near as possible to the front line.
RESULTS
Belgrade has fallen to XLI Korps and the most probable course of events is that the Gross Deutschland and Das Reich will be able to fend off any Yugoslavian counterattack. Further south, XVIII and XL Korps, as planned, are in position to exploit the gap between Greek 1st and 2nd Armies to bring the battle to the Commonwealth forces barring the Thermopylae pass. The main subject of concern is whether the pinning forces (namely the greatly spread-out XXX Korps for the Metaxas Line and Italian 9th and 11th Armies for Albania) will suffice to tie down the bulk of both armies - failing to address that, the flanks of the spearhead will be liable to be quite exposed.
Two tactical rounds only were led - taking Belgrade on the first turn was of utmost importance and a premature end of turn could not be afforded.
The enemy has landed several Commonwealth brigades along the Croatian coast to hinder movement and tie down my forces. He also based air units in Salonika and Larissa. Priority should be given to establish secure lines of communication and ensure swift movement of troops towards south. Italian units, wherever possible, are to be used to deal with threats in the rear. German forces engaged in rear area security tasks should be kept to a minimum.
BULGARIAN GROUP
XXX Korps will continue to screen the Metaxas Line. XIV and XVIII Korps will engage the enemy north of the Aliakmon line and push trough the line towards Larissa. XLI Korps will join the Bulgarian Group by seizing Nis and heading south.
NORTHERN GROUP
XLVI Korps will send 16th Motorized to Sarajevo to deny the enemy the city. Follow-on forces will relieve this unit as soon as possible. The balance of the corps is to join Nis via the shortest route. XLIX Korps, LI Korps and OKH reserves will follow the shortest route (Zagreb-Osijek-Belgrade-Nis) to regroup with the attacking force over the Vardar. 538th Border brigade will establish its battalions on defensive positions at Trieste, Pola and Fiume, as these ports could become objective of further amphibious enemy operations. Airfield attacks are planned against enemy fighters at Salonika, hopefully leaving enemy bombers without protection during the rest of the turn.
RESULTS
16th Motorized fell short of its objective but should interfere with enemy movement towards Sarajevo. Enemy battalions along the Adriatic coast are easily repulsed by Italian troops. As planned, combined forces of XVIII, XL and XIV Korps have dented the Aliakmon line and are massed to prepare breakthrough and exploitation.
All other forces are progressing as planned. Apparently, enemy air units have been dealt a great blow (several evaporations) and should pose less of a threat in successive turns.
Enemy movements have been spotted between Crete and the mainland (namely a Commonwealth unit afterwards divided and sent to the Peloponnesus - perhaps for garrison duties). An unsuccessful attack was repulsed along the main avenue of approach. The enemy battalion heading for Sarajevo is unaccounted for. Units from the Greek 2nd Army, initially manning the Metaxas Line are beginning to move west in order to impede free movement for the German units heading south.
XXX Korps is to engage at full strength these units, especially if they have left their fortified emplacements, to tie them down as much as possible.
XIV, XVIII and XL Korps are to continue south and seize Salonika (thus sealing the fate of enemy units still entrenched in the Metaxas Line. From there, road and rail ensure good supply conditions to fuel the advance towards Larissa.
All other Korps are to join the battle there with all due speed, regardless of flank threats - except for the 16th Motorized Division which will clear the Sarajevo area of all enemy presence until relieved by Italian units.
2nd Italian Army is to clear the Adriatic Coast and garrison it against further landings by splitting up units and constituting an armoured reserve.
9th and 11th Italian Armies are to bring battle to the Greek 1st Army, to prevent it from slipping to the southeast.
RESULTS
First round of attacks proves unsuccessful in the Salonika area as well as on the Metaxas Line. Enemy elements along the coast are located and engaged and the lone battalion heading for Sarajevo is eventually discovered.
All enemy units landed on the Adriatic coast are destroyed but a single battalion, still let loose near Sarajevo. Enemy defences are getting thicker around Salonika, with even headquarters in tactical reserve mode entering the battle. No significant progress was made in this area but the enemy shows signs of wear and German units are massing on the breakthrough point, allowing it to happen hopefully during next turn.
Enemy movements have again been spotted between Crete and the mainland - 1st/50th Garrison cruises along the Adriatic coast, probing for some undefended ports to disembark in, to no avail. The regiment-sized unit now lies probably out of movement point, still embarked, at sea - prey to air attacks if they are judged worth the risk. A battalion-sized unit has been spotted fleeing along the Sava River, towards northwest.
Hungarian and Bulgarian units are now available. Hungarian forces will be used to hunt down remaining enemy units around Sarajevo and then man coastal defences, thus freeing a portion of the Italian 2nd Army to be used against the Greek. Bulgarian divisions will be sent south to reinforce the German spearhead.
The situation on the main front remained stable - the enemy probably pulled some of the Commonwealth forces to a reserve position behind the lines as a single division (2nd NZ) remains in contact, barring the road south of Salonika.
While Salonika is important because of its supply point and rail line (its fall would mean doom for Greek units manning the Metaxas line) it shall under no circumstances divert too many forces from the main direction of attack: due south to Athens.
Preparatory moves will be made mainly against hex 27,28 (where 2nd NZ is located) as it presents the less fortified sector (35% entrenchment against 100% on adjacent hexes). Probes will also be made against hex 28,27 but with limited forces as XL Korps is reorganizing.
1st/14th Brigade of force W has been routed and cornered in Sarajevo - it shall be attacked as soon as possible. 16th Motorized could probably have it routed again this turn but the unit is on its way to Salonika and the schedule is not worth the temporary loss of 25 victory points. Preparatory attacks are set up pretty much along the whole line, while XLVI, LI Korps and OKH reserves are progressively joining the front. Stukas from 4. Luftflotte are sent against the afloat regiment.
RESULTS
Air attack was a success, with the allied unit wiped out. Elsewhere, set up attacks were generally failures altogether with very few allied units pushed out of their position. Premature end of turn (possibly the air attack?) prevented any exploitation or redeployment and left all of the attacking forces in the air, without proper defensive deployment for the incoming turn.
Several enemy attacks on hex 27,27 were repulsed during allied turn. Another enemy regiment is spotted while cruising in the Mediterranean (hex 10,36) - it will be subjected to air attacks on a late tactical round if possible. Commonwealth units are out of contact and occupy second line positions around Salonika, probably digging in.
Attacks will be prosecuted towards Salonika and due south from hex 27,27. Sarajevo will be cleared of enemy presences by Italian and Hungarian forces. Follow-on forces will join the front and mass for a breakthrough there. The fortified lines (Metaxas and the one north of Janina) will be assaulted to prevent the shifting of forces from these areas.
RESULTS
Preparatory moves provoke an overrun at hex 28,26 that provides a better starting base for further attacks. Several holes are punched through Greek lines and 40% of turn is left - enough for an exploitation phase (and all-out air attacks again airfields and floating targets).
Steady progress is made towards Salonika along with some tactical victories along the fortified lines, hopefully enough to prevent the enemy from freeing forces from there. Salonika is now liable to be attacked next turn from the north. Allied air forces have been dealt some hard blows this turn with severe losses to their fighter force (if the air battle report is to be trusted, of course).
Remnants of the afloat force seem to have been brought back ashore near Athens. Commonwealth units were also spotted south of the actual defence line near Salonika and moving around Lamia. The pinning force threatening the Metaxas line is obviously not enough of a force and not enough of a threat as several units originally manning the line have escaped to strengthen the line around Salonika and even took part in the successful allied counterattack at hex 29,27. L Korps has arrived at hex 28,0. It is expected that it will take three turns at least before it can add any significant combat power to the assault around Salonika.
The momentum of the attack is to be restored at all costs and a way to Salonika and further south found; else, the whole affair will helplessly fall behind schedule. Whenever feasible, retreat before combat is to provide for better start off positions, especially around Salonika. Preparatory attacks (eating up 20% of turn as far as the attack planner is to be believed) are set up along the line.
RESULTS
With 60% of turn left and Salonika liable to be threatened from three sides, its capture is to proceed with all due haste. An all-out attack is ordered on the city in order to ensure its fall this turn. Heavy attacks are also planned on hexes 28,28 27,29 and 30,26 to prevent any interference from enemy forces. The Metaxas line will be attacked by every available unit to get rid of this annoyance. Allied air forces at Larissa will be subjected to airfield attacks from the Italian Air Force.
Salonika falls prey to a massive panzer assault as the Metaxas Line defenders are pushed back from their positions. Holes are also thorn in allied lines further west by combined German/Italian forces. The first step on the road to Athens has been made at last. Allied forces barring the way are to be kept off-balance as much as possible event at the risk of exhausting the armoured spearhead of the German army.
Some small-scale counterattacks were mounted by the enemy against friendly-held Salonika but to no avail. In an attempt to regroup forces further south, the enemy has abandoned part of the fortified line north of Janina. A single Commonwealth unit (16th Australian Brigade) remains in contact as of now. Four airborne-worthy regiments have been made available at Graz (the temptation exists to use them to seal the front from Athens with an airdrop south of Lamia - but the enemy must be aware of that possibility also and must have planned accordingly, thus the frequent troop movements spotted in the area). 198. ID from L Korps is already able to participate in front-line operations - 76. ID of same Korps is being railed to the front. The balance of the Korps (headquarters and another infantry division) follows on its legs, parallel to the rail line.
Italian forces from 9th and 11th armies are to regain contact with the enemy and press any attack they can mount to stop his southbound movement. German Fallschirmjaeger are to seal the isthmus between Athens and Larissa and fortify there, waiting for the main body of troops to join - a first split-up regiment will probe for free ground before the main assault - air superiority is on the 12:1 range i.e. no interference is to be expected from allied air forces. German forces bottled-up near Salonika are to break free from the area towards south and deal with the Metaxas pocket with a minimal force (mainly Bulgarian units and XXX Korps).
RESULTS
60% of turn is left after the first round of movement and attack. The Metaxas pocket is almost freed of enemy presence (a lone and probably badly mauled mountain division and a battalion of border guards) and should be cleared by next turn. The enemy has been engaged around Janina and his movement south hindered (or, on the contrary, greatly encouraged but on our terms, by making him retreat). The airdrops are so far great tactical successes, with Athens almost at range. A Commonwealth headquarters has been spotted and will be attacked by all available forces on the spot. Progression seems good along the main axis of advance and will continue, emphasizing speed over caution or formation integrity.
Attacks north of Athens failed at great costs, but leave the airborne troops in an overall good position. Allied line at Katerini held - if the airborne seal holds through the bookkeeping phase, these troops will be out of supply and thus more prone to break combat and retreat. The Metaxas Line is no more.
Enemy counterattacks have exerted a heavy toll on Fallschirmjaeger troops around Athens, but their line still holds and the way to the Greek capital is still barred by an headquarter and it is garrisoned with Commonwealth bombers only. Furthermore, to meet the threat in its rear, the enemy had to thin his line north of Larissa, now liable to a decisive breakthrough from the massed Panzertruppen facing it. The Metaxas area will be cleared as soon as possible and Salonika garrisoned in regiment strength to avoid any amphibious surprise from the enemy.
Fallshirmjaeger forces will ignore altogether Commonwealth forces massing around them and assault with all available forces the headquarters defending the approaches to Athens. The initiative in this sector must not be relinquished to the enemy.
Italian forces from 9th and 11th Armies will regain contact with the enemy and engage him wherever they meet favourable conditions. German forces, now almost completely regrouped, will break through Greek positions defending Larissa, engage enemy forces around Lamia, and try to establish contact with paratroopers and relieve them as soon as possible.
RESULTS
Armoured formations have decisively broken through Greek positions and reached the outskirts of Lamia. Italian forces have pushed back allied forces wherever encountered and are making good progress. Airborne troops have led several assaults at the ANZAC headquarters defending Athens but these were met with no success and heavy casualties.
Enemy activity was low on all sectors but around Athens where the gallant Fallschirmjaeger were wiped out by Commonwealth units. The Greek capital appears to be garrisoned on divisional strength by the Commonwealth forces. It will have to be reached by land. Panzertruppen are to bypass any Greek-held point of resistance, move to contact with Commonwealth forces and engage them decisively so that they are not given time to rest and establish a firm line of defence across the narrower part of the Peninsula. Italian and Bulgarian armies will deal with Greek forces and lead mopping up operations to ensure a secure line of supply for German units. Operational goals this turn are Larissa, the Thermopylae and Lamia where a British armoured brigade is established.
Brandenburg Sonderntruppen are located at the Skopje airfield, ready to be airdropped if an opportunity arises. The enemy has strongly garrisoned ports of the Peloponnesus, fearing the use of the sea transport capacity to begin next turn.
RESULTS
Brandenburg commandos were airdropped over the airfield at Arta to block the escape route of headquarters, Greek 1st Army and be in position to be airlifted immediately on next turn. Attacks lead to the formation of various pockets, filled with under strength divisions and battered regiments and battalions. These pockets, though easy to clear, may cause some delay in the German progression - and time is on short supply: within two turns, the Allies will score heavily for each turn Athens remains in their possession.
Enemy activity was low on all sectors. A unit was spotted while leading an embarked reconnaissance of Adriatic coasts, probably trying to determine how many of our units where located in ports, ready for sealift (available from this turn). A fact of interest is that the two objectives in Crete, Heracleon and Maleme, are observed through theatre reconnaissance, and are void of defenders, i.e. liable to airborne or seaborne seizure.
Italian forces will clear the Western part of Thessaly, thus freeing the Brandenburg commando unit to airdrop on Crete. A Bulgarian division actually garrisoning Thessalonica will be used to lead amphibious assaults against Crete (in case the commando unit cannot be available for airdrop) or against battalion defended objectives in the Peloponnesus, as well as reconnaissance duties along the Attic coast.
German forces will eliminate or bypass any Greek resistance and gain contact with Commonwealth forces before they can build too strong defensive line across the isthmus.
RESULTS
All enemy resistance north of the Thermopylae has been eliminated, at least allowing for the free movement of all forces to meet with the enemy main line of resistance, but an unexpected end of turn deprives the troops the opportunity to advance further south. Crete falls to sea assault from Bulgarian troops.
The enemy has strengthened his line near Lamia - no other visible movement was reported. Amphibious assaults shall be tempted against Patras, Corinth and Athens depending on sealift amount, to grab VP-rich objectives and at least divert the enemy's attention and forces from the isthmus. Italian units will reach for Missolonghi and secure the northern rim of the Gulf of Corinth. German forces will attempt a breakthrough at Lamia to engage the outer defences of Athens. Time has run short. All forces are to launch all-out attacks with no regard to casualties or tactical round consumption - given terrain configuration, room for manoeuvre is on short supply here and favours the defender.
RESULTS
Utter failure for all assaults, with sometimes heavy casualties suffered. None of the enemy positions has been taken. Amphibious assaults against Patras and Corinth led to disaster.
The frontlines are stabilized and the enemy appears prone to fortify his defensive positions and wait it out. All units in contact are ordered to probe enemy defences, especially in front of Lamia, and attempt to overrun their defenders. As a desperate means to grab victory from the hand of the Commonwealth, a Bulgarian division and a reconstituted Fallschirmjaeger Battalion are embarked, sailed to Athens, and ordered an all-out assault against the division defending the city. Air units are ordered direct strikes as well on the city itself.
RESULTS
All operations led to complete failure even if some Greek units were thrown out of their position by Italian attacks. Lamia still holds and the Bulgarian division attacking Athens from the sea simply disappeared in the process without inflicting much more than a scratch to the Commonwealth division garrisoning the Greek capital. Given field conditions, chances of success appear dim at best.
The enemy has made some minor arrangements to his line of defence hinged on Lamia so that it now runs due south from this city. Lamia is to be attacked from the north and from the southwest by German forces while scattered elements will provide amphibious diversions on the shores of the Peloponnesus and at Athens.
RESULTS
The whole allied line was pushed back and Lamia at last seized but the enemy apparently has established a defence in depth, which should prove costly to break. Amphibious assaults proved, as usual, catastrophic but hopefully keep the enemy insecure about my intentions.
The enemy has shortened its defensive system to a two-hex line, two-hex deep, barring the isthmus leading to Athens. Victory level is dropping steadily, putting me in marginal defeat. All available German forces will attempt a breakthrough and try to gain the open ground behind the allied defensive line. Minor units will continue to be sacrificed to amphibious landings just to keep some measure of stress on the enemy.
RESULTS
10% casualties were inflicted on the Athenian garrison, at the cost of several evaporations. The allied defensive line was dented but still holds fast. Victory is fading away.
The enemy is still dug in and victory level is going down at an alarming rate (now a significant defeat). Operations will continue as previously planned.
RESULTS
Allied defensive line id pushed back but in good order and probably to reform during next turn. Amphibious parties again led to slaughter. The operational situation is a losing deadlock.
Overwhelming defeat level has been reached. Enemy activity has died down along the narrow front barring the approach to Athens. Limited attacks are ordered against the enemy line to wear down its units before launching the main attack. All other activity is suspended until the outcome of the assault becomes clear.
RESULTS
The enemy defence line has been pushed back in its southern sector but held on the northern one. Furthermore, due to the mountainous terrain, Schnelltruppen were unable to exploit the hole thus created. Amphibious assaults on Athens proved disastrous and resulted in heavy casualties at Patras.
Enemy activity was limited to reinforce his lines west of Athens. Defeat levels are reaching astronomical levels (-235) as time penalties are triggered by my failure to seize Athens.
Attacks shall be launched at hex 30,35 to dislodge Commonwealth units from their position and try to secure a good starting point for next turn. World war one style slugfest is the order of the day.
RESULTS
Some interesting results that throw some <ironic> light of hope in the lull combat has reached for several turns. German units advancing down the isthmus to Athens were able to breakthrough allied lines and reach for the outskirts of Athens. In the Gulf of Corinth, amphibious assaults were finally successful in securing Corinth (and its 25 VPs), thus diminishing the lengths by which Axis is currently losing. Conditions are favourable to assault Athens during next turns with but with slight chances to seize it.
Enemy counterattacks against Corinth met no success and failed to dislodge the bridgehead there. German troops will seize and secure Athens from Allied counter strikes and the makeshift force landed at Corinth will try to eliminate as many Allied units as possible from the pocket formed after the landing. It remains doubtful nonetheless that even these tactical victories could change the outcome of the campaign, as Athens is worth only 80 points and that I am lagging at an infamous -233 level.
RESULTS
A brute force approach had the German troops surround Athens on three sides but unable to expel Allied defenders from the city. Overwhelming Axis defeat.
I liked the scenario: manageable, fast going and well-balanced even if I lost it by large. A mirror is in the making and I am looking forward to experiment the Allied side of it.
Failure to put Nuno off balance and prevent him from establishing strong successive defensive lines meant doom for me. The crucial turns from my point of view were 7 to 11. In retrospect, I fell I misused the Fallschirm troops by using them too early in the game. They could perhaps have been of better use combined with amphibious probes from turn 9 on. Used alone and without any forthcoming support, airborne units were destroyed with nothing much to show for themselves.
Nuno conducted a skillful defensive battle and proved more than a match to me. My hat off to him with my congratulations and the first round of ouzo is on me!:drink:
Nemo, thanks for the great AAR. I really enjoyed reading it.
Of the scenarios I created, this was by far the hardest scenario to keep balanced throught all the patches and changes to the game. Every time a patch was released it altered the balance, making it either too difficult or too easy for the Axis to reach Athens.
It looks like you could probably reach Athens in time if you played again, knowing what you know now. I look forward to an AAR for your mirror game, if you choose to write one.
Todd
i have played this scen many times
i made it in athens in 8 turns , :D
= über blitz
check my aar ; it s maniacal !!!!!!!!!!
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