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Fantastic victory in France. Heavy Armor is useful, then, I guess. Will you bomb Britain with V-rockets?

No, the V-2s are designated for the SU where they will do the most good. What I'd like to do is invade England and capture London for the resources, but must stabilize the Eastern Front first.
 
Wouldn't enemy aircraft obliterate your heavy armour to pieces?

Rommel said he wanted to drive the panzers right onto the beaches because invading infantry doesn't have armored support.

Use of heavy panzers (and SH panzers) for island defense have been bantered around on the board for some time, but the combination of HPz+Par is new.

In MP, lots of air power is needed to dislodge armored units behind sea fortifications (e.g. Gibraltar), so the Allies would generally have to invade around the heavy armor on the French coast.

In this AAR the AI is not capable of going around panzers on the beaches, so France is fairly secure from invasion until the Allies eventually upgrade their bombs (which is why Germany must re-gain control of the skys).
 
Also, of course, air power was rather ineffective against tanks...the British logged only a 4% hit rate by Typhoons against German panzers in Normandy. It was more a psychological thing than actual effectiveness.
 
Also, of course, air power was rather ineffective against tanks
Quite the opposite. The effectiveness diminished when the tankists were forced to take cover, but this deprived the armoured formations of their crucial advantage - mobility. Air-power could be more effective than anti-tank guns, especially when the latter had to deal with thick armour or couldn't get close enough to fire at the weak spot. Aircraft didn't have such problems and there was not much that tanks could do against them, either.
 
October '44: Resource Crunch



STRATEGIC RESOURCES:

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(above) The cardinal rule in HOI3 is to never run out of strategic resources as your industry will spiral down and out of control. For the past several months the stockpile of rares has dropped, and so it became necessary to address the problem by switching to War Economy. Additional resources were brought in from Switzerland, and the production of rares is stabilized for now.

The above actions caused a precipitous drop in oil and fuel reserves because oil production is tied to overall IC's. For this reason certain over-flights and submarine activity in the Mediterranean Sea are temporarily suspended until stockpiles of fuel and oil can are stabilized.

AIR WAR OVER EUROPE:

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(above) The Allied and Soviet bombardment continued, but were less effective overall. Allied bombers were intercepted over Onsabruk and Neinburgh and forced to turn back. Allied challenges to German CAP over central France were fewer in number and scope. By and large, the sky's over central Germany continued to be ruled by German aircraft.

STRATEGIC MISSILE STRIKES

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(above) German V-2's again saw action, but overall Soviet IC's increased from 304 to 311 due to the conquest of Finland.


TACTICAL MISSILE STRIKES

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(above) Logistical strikes (orange) against Allied targets in Italy continued alongside air and submarine attacks (red regions) on shipping in the Mediterranean Sea. Allied attacks on Axis supply ships in the Adriatic have had a detrimental effect, requiring rebuilding of the supply fleet.

Another benefit of this Theatre is that intense Allied anti-air and anti-sub activity has allowed German transports to slip repeatedly into the port of Caan. So, panzers and infantry in Western France have been swiftly moved to their respective destinations on the Eastern Front and northern Finland!




AERONAUTICAL ADVANCES:

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(above) Rocket science breakthroughs in engines, structure, and warheads have brought the potential for surface-to-air missiles and air-to-air missiles. These weapon systems are disparately needed to protect the industrial base and bring a return to air superiority, and so will be given immediate priority.

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(above) The new missiles have increased range and payload, but still cannot reach Moscow. Therefore, research into missile structure and engines will continue.


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(above) A number of doctrinal improvements were made to make fighters more effective in intercepting enemy bombers, and to improve logistical strike capability. In addition, a new airbase was established in Dresden to protect industry, and a new RADAR station was finished in Tallinn, Estonia, the site of strategic missile base.

Next Time: The Soviet's Big Push
 
ooh, I was going to say you're getting a grip on the situation, but that finishing statement sounds like...fun.
 
it looks pretty tense.

In the end it will boil down to that.. Keeping the red from spreading.
 
October '44: The Soviet's Push West



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AIR WAR OVER EUROPE:

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(above) The air war continues, but now a new fighter wing based in Dresden (immediately south of Berlin) began patrolling the sky's over Eastern Germany. This new wing covers an area extending southward from the Baltic to Innsbruck. Soviet strategic bombers will no longer go unchallenged.


STRATEGIC MISSILE STRIKES

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(above) German V-2's continued in action, but the Soviet's seem to be responding quickly to the damage and remain above 300 IC's for the second month in a row.


MEDITERRANEAN FRONT

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(above) The Allies attempted a landing at Liverno, but were repulsed by AG Italy's (von Runstedt) reserve infantry corps that was stationed in the immediate area.


EASTERN FRONT: Upgrade Mode

With the war in the West over, Field Marshall Rommel goes to Konisburgh and assumes command over the largest army group--AG Mitte. Rommel will now be responsible for defense of a region immediately south of the Baltic Front down to Brzesc Litewski, and at his disposal are sixteen (16) infantry and three (3) armored-infantry corps organized into five (5) armies.

The quantitative advantage of the Red Army is to be offset by a qualitative advantage in the Wehrmacht. New artillery, panzer, and infantry upgrades will be phased-in over the next year. Right now, Hungarian and Romanian troops are badly in need of an upgrade, and that activity will proceed immediately. The upgrade activity will be a gradual process, meaning the Wehrmacht will not be going on the offense for some time yet.


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(above) Battle for Minsk. Minsk is a key strategic city on the Northeastern front. The Red Army had pushed to the edge of the city in prior months, and the Wehrmacht responded by positioning a very large reserve force just to the west in the province of Molodeczno. Soviet Air Forces then began targeting Molodeczno with logistical bombing, and as a result the reserves moved around to other areas in the region.

The Soviets then advanced through the marshlands south of the city (red arrows), which prompted immediate counter-attacks (orange arrow). At present, the situation is stabilized, and no further Soviet advances are being made.

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(above) Battle for Lwov. Lwow is a strategic target in Northern Ukraine and the object of a major Soviet push in the region. As panzer corps were called north to deal with other hot spots, the Soviets took advantage to make gains in regions to the east and south of the city. Two armored-infantry corps were returned to the region after being relieved by panzer forces arriving from France, so the situation around Lwov is stabilized once again.


DOCTRINAL ADVANCES:

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(above) The most important update was in Delay Doctrine, will will allow mobile forces a bit more time to respond to hot spots. Otherwise, the Wehrmacht's HQ were badly in need of upgrade to reduce their supply requirements.

Special forces organization was improved significantly, which greatly helps the mountain army fighting in Finland. Infantry moral was also boosted along with the organization of anti-air and anti-tank guns.

AERONAUTICAL ADVANCES:

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(above) A number of significant breakthroughs were made, especially with regard to air RADAR and RADAR-guided missiles. Medium bombs were incrementally improved, and combined with the new air-launched missiles and improved armament, Germany's tactical bombers are again a force to recon with!

The organization and efficiency of strategic forces were improved, and these changes should make a impact on the eastern front.

Next Time: The Jet Age
 
good defense there. Could have been bad, losing both Lwow and Minsk.
 
why do you need strategic bombers??
 
Quite the opposite. The effectiveness diminished when the tankists were forced to take cover, but this deprived the armoured formations of their crucial advantage - mobility. Air-power could be more effective than anti-tank guns, especially when the latter had to deal with thick armour or couldn't get close enough to fire at the weak spot. Aircraft didn't have such problems and there was not much that tanks could do against them, either.

As I said, it was a psychological effect, not actual physical harm. Anti-tank rockets and bombs were just far too inaccurate to have any effect.
 
As I said, it was a psychological effect, not actual physical harm. Anti-tank rockets and bombs were just far too inaccurate to have any effect.

I beg to differ. In several occasions German counterattacks in the west were stopped thanks to concentrated air attacks.

The last offensive of the German army in the west was planned to be during a time when close air support was not available due to the weather.

And this is what one man did with a Stuka (and a Fw-190)

2,530 combat missions claiming a total of 2,000 targets destroyed; including 800 vehicles, 519 tanks, 150 artillery pieces, a destroyer, two cruisers, one Soviet battleship, 70 landing craft, 4 armored trains, several bridges and nine aircraft.


On a more on-topicish mode. Good stalling effort in Minsk and Lwow. The problem is that stalling doesn't help much... The more you wait , the more divisions the Red Army will pull. And normally they don't wait that much either :)

How much did the frontline move since september?
 
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Do you think you will hold Italy?

There has been a sea-saw battle on the east coast going on for a few months now, but no major gains have been won on either side. So, holding Italy is not a problem. In fact, have been thinking about an offensive to push the Allies out of Italy entirely. But, that won't happen until air superiority is won and Germany has a bit more manpower to spare.

Currently, Allied bombers operating out of Sardinia have been subjected to fuel and supply shortages, and so the attacks on convoy's have been very effective. In reaction, the Allies have been loading up their convoys with Escorts, and so have been seeing a lot of the "convoy too large to attack" message recently.

The new plan calls for more naval bombers, and that should release tactical bombers for more useful missions. Unfortunately, new naval bombers will take over 6 months to produce, but they still are cheaper to produce than Tacs' and finish in a shorter time period. Germany needs the boost in medium bomber practicals too. In the mean time, German submarines are currently upgrading with new sonar, torpedoes, and AA guns, and expect to be back on station in about 2-4 weeks. Once that happens, the Tacs' will again take to the sky's over the Medeterranian.
 
why do you need strategic bombers??

Not strategic bombers, but strategic bombing doctrines.

Questionable whether such research applies, but as missiles use "strategic bombing mission" it is hoped improved efficency and reduction to organization penalty will improve strike yields.

Wait and see on this one, and get back to you if it does.
 
Good stalling effort in Minsk and Lwow. The problem is that stalling doesn't help much... The more you wait , the more divisions the Red Army will pull. And normally they don't wait that much either :)

How much did the frontline move since september?

The Red Army has a habit of attacking at 4-5 places all at once, which test's German reserves. Otherwise, the lines have moved only slightly. Germany's committed to certain defensive positions (rivers, etc.), and will only counter-attack to preserve those lines. No need to waste manpower needlessly, but divisions will stand and fight when attacked because the AI may suddenly decide the objective is not worth it.
 
Do you plan to order some more subs as well? It does seem that they are pretty effective versus Allied shipping and since you're likely to have to stack them in pairs, their overall yield will be lower. Any particular reason why you have them raid the med instead the west coast of Spain? In my experience, the AI uses ASW missions less often around Spain's west coast, although almost all convoys go through this area.

If Sardinia is within TAC range, you could as well try and bomb the port facilities.
 
I beg to differ. In several occasions German counterattacks in the west were stopped thanks to concentrated air attacks.

The last offensive of the German army in the west was planned to be during a time when close air support was not available due to the weather.

And this is what one man did with a Stuka (and a Fw-190)

I know full well of Rudel, but one exception does not a rule make. The official British files on Typhoon ground attacks did indeed record a paltry 4% hit rate on German tanks during the battle of Normandy. That is extremely palty. As noted, it was a pyschological effect. The German tankers feared the Typhoons and Thunderbolts because there was no way of fighting back, and that alone could destroy an attack. The fear however was not founded in actual ability of the close air support to destroy the German tanks. The unguided rockets and conventional bombs were just far far far too inaccurate, and anything less than a hit simply wouldn't do a thing.

And perhaps the reason the last German offensive was done in a time of no allied air cover was also because while ineffective as hell against tanks, it was more than effective against soft skin vehicles and infantry, since direct hits aren't needed for those. :p

Source: http://www.amazon.com/2nd-Tactical-Air-Force-Vol/dp/1903223415/ref=pd_sim_b_1
 
If you are talking about the Battle of the Bulge, then you should know that the Germans intentionally started their offensive during bad weather in order to limit the importance of Allied air supremacy. When the shock factor wore off and the weather improved, they had no chance to be successful. Lack of air cover was sth that the German soldiers and officers complained about the most on the Western Front. Without air supremacy, the Allies would have much more trouble in France.