Aussie Battler
03 Nov 02, 18:14
Winter 42/43 is drawing to an end.
Russians have drawn some blood. Helsinki fell and Finland surrendered. Also as a consequence of helsinki falling, Sweden's armies withdrew as well. This was unexpected occurence for both sides. For axis it left gaping hole in Sweden and no protection for Narvik. My plan was to invade sweden after Finland fell and having no opposition just made it so easy to get narvik. Had Sweden not withdrawn then I would have gone on defensive to stop armies from south moving north to block path from Finland to narvik. Then would have moved armies from Finland to narvik, Narvik is suppied by rail line from Oslo so all I had to do was cut this rail line and Narvik was ripe for picking. Axis side could see Narvik could never hold out and withdrew bulk of force.
East front as been very quiet. Axis side has not taken much interest and neither have I.
I have been attacking in Egypt. Trying to get axis further away from vital Suez canal hex. All RAF bomber force is located in Egypt. Have succeeded pushing back axis from one hex adjacent to Suez canal. Some more US units have arrived. Also the US corps which evaporated ages ago has finally returned. Must have been delayed by shortage of some equipment which only became available about turn 180. Have got some corps sitting in states at moment. Only problem is shipping shortage getting them to front. Have sent some US troops to Murmansk. Then railed them to basra. Then shipped them into Egypt as I still hold southern end of Suez canal. Long route but thought it safer as don't own Gibraltar as it fell some time ago. If went through Africa Horn then the troops would have to spend one turn on high seas as cannot make trip in one turn and land on anchorage. Axis fleet been sitting in Gibralta so if my troops get spotted then axis fleet could sortie and cause lot of grief for emabrked units.
Axis been pounding my poisitions near south end of Suez. I think axis will resume offensive to take whole canal once winter ends. So I have been moving in the additional units as more insurance.
Russians have been attacking along south edge of Black sea. This had a mixture of Rumanian and Ferman infantry. Have had quite a bit of success. Have now advanced about 5 hexes. Geography now favouting Russians. The Black sea is now running NW SE so any Russian advance will cause the axis front to lengthen. This is my goal. Russian resupply very slowly and also weaker in firepower so balsting way through is very costly in losses. I much prefer to force axis to lengthen line. Then defender density per hex is less and I can concerntrate where I want to and force another extension of line. So far the germans have not shown much desire to retreat to shorten line.
Also I think Axis will resume offensive to retake baghdad. They originally had Baghdad but did not have continuous defence line so Russians enveloped Baghdad by using engineers to get across super river to north and south of Baghdad. Now the axis have moved lot of forces to that front. There are powerful panzer corps. They made 2 hex gain in attacks during winter.
I am not sure just how important baghdad is to me. Not going to be tragic loss if it does fall again so not sure why axis so determined to get control back. Have been using Basra as convenient port to get US troops into Egypt. The african route still exists but it is subject to possible axis naval interdiction out of Gibraltar. The Royal navy vitually does not exist. So many battleship losses trying to defend Gibraltar. I think the German Italian fleets are now superior to what is left of Royal navy. Also the allied carriers are stuck in mediterranean. Would like them to be able to get out to escort allied convoys.
Axis very open in north. With Sweden out there is not much axis defenders up there. I think I will move the US troops into Norway. get a bit of combat experience harrassing low grade defenders. as get closer to Germany from Norway then axis will have to bring forces back to defend that front.
Russians have drawn some blood. Helsinki fell and Finland surrendered. Also as a consequence of helsinki falling, Sweden's armies withdrew as well. This was unexpected occurence for both sides. For axis it left gaping hole in Sweden and no protection for Narvik. My plan was to invade sweden after Finland fell and having no opposition just made it so easy to get narvik. Had Sweden not withdrawn then I would have gone on defensive to stop armies from south moving north to block path from Finland to narvik. Then would have moved armies from Finland to narvik, Narvik is suppied by rail line from Oslo so all I had to do was cut this rail line and Narvik was ripe for picking. Axis side could see Narvik could never hold out and withdrew bulk of force.
East front as been very quiet. Axis side has not taken much interest and neither have I.
I have been attacking in Egypt. Trying to get axis further away from vital Suez canal hex. All RAF bomber force is located in Egypt. Have succeeded pushing back axis from one hex adjacent to Suez canal. Some more US units have arrived. Also the US corps which evaporated ages ago has finally returned. Must have been delayed by shortage of some equipment which only became available about turn 180. Have got some corps sitting in states at moment. Only problem is shipping shortage getting them to front. Have sent some US troops to Murmansk. Then railed them to basra. Then shipped them into Egypt as I still hold southern end of Suez canal. Long route but thought it safer as don't own Gibraltar as it fell some time ago. If went through Africa Horn then the troops would have to spend one turn on high seas as cannot make trip in one turn and land on anchorage. Axis fleet been sitting in Gibralta so if my troops get spotted then axis fleet could sortie and cause lot of grief for emabrked units.
Axis been pounding my poisitions near south end of Suez. I think axis will resume offensive to take whole canal once winter ends. So I have been moving in the additional units as more insurance.
Russians have been attacking along south edge of Black sea. This had a mixture of Rumanian and Ferman infantry. Have had quite a bit of success. Have now advanced about 5 hexes. Geography now favouting Russians. The Black sea is now running NW SE so any Russian advance will cause the axis front to lengthen. This is my goal. Russian resupply very slowly and also weaker in firepower so balsting way through is very costly in losses. I much prefer to force axis to lengthen line. Then defender density per hex is less and I can concerntrate where I want to and force another extension of line. So far the germans have not shown much desire to retreat to shorten line.
Also I think Axis will resume offensive to retake baghdad. They originally had Baghdad but did not have continuous defence line so Russians enveloped Baghdad by using engineers to get across super river to north and south of Baghdad. Now the axis have moved lot of forces to that front. There are powerful panzer corps. They made 2 hex gain in attacks during winter.
I am not sure just how important baghdad is to me. Not going to be tragic loss if it does fall again so not sure why axis so determined to get control back. Have been using Basra as convenient port to get US troops into Egypt. The african route still exists but it is subject to possible axis naval interdiction out of Gibraltar. The Royal navy vitually does not exist. So many battleship losses trying to defend Gibraltar. I think the German Italian fleets are now superior to what is left of Royal navy. Also the allied carriers are stuck in mediterranean. Would like them to be able to get out to escort allied convoys.
Axis very open in north. With Sweden out there is not much axis defenders up there. I think I will move the US troops into Norway. get a bit of combat experience harrassing low grade defenders. as get closer to Germany from Norway then axis will have to bring forces back to defend that front.