So my first sealion as Germany in DD was about the most messy affair I have ever been a part of in the HOI universe. Playing Hard 36 CG.....
Assaulting in August of 1940 I assembled a massive naval, land and airforce:
70 odd surface ships mostly level 4 including 5 CV and 5 BB plus a Nat. Spain allied fleet of 14 ships and of course my 9 transports
60 subs
60 infantry, 2 HQ, 3 Marines, 9 armor, 3 mot the latter two types all brigaded with sp art
12 TAC, CAS and INT plus 4 NAV
I made major sacrifices in pre-war production with long serial runs of ships. I was running big supply deficits for three years and constantly hanging by a thread to get the above. I used MC, good tactics, and groud attacks to take France and Poland with minimal forces because I had little to work with. You can't get Vichy with Destroyers....Needless to say I wasn't about to just lose all that work by being stupid.
So for sealion I watched the weather. I sent my INT on air superiority over the water, I sent the TAC, CAS and NAV on naval bombing missions. I placed my subs in screening positions in Waddenzee and the Wash. I placed my 30 ship main battle fleet in a screening position in the East English Channel. I used the remaining ships to protect my transports. Basing from Ghent I amphib assaulted Dover and played it all on slow speed. I swear I did everything in my power to keep my ships, planes and troops alive. In short, I was almost perfect.
The results....well I occupied the home islands, but they were garrisoned big time. I destroyed over 50 enemy divisions on the island and it took 3 months to take it up to Scapa flow. I sunk 1 CV, 2 BB, 3 CL in the process and probably decimated the Allied air forces by occupying their bases.
But I lost....
40 subs
all but 11 ships, including all my BB, CV, and transports and the entire Spanish fleet
4 CAS, 8 INT, 1 TAC
8 infantry divisions and an Armor division which went to the bottom of the Channel. 1 HQ bombed to oblivion by ground attack missions.
What a price! I had high doctrines and patience, and it still was one hell of a fight. Now Sealion is more like it should be, almost a suicide mission.
So, all I can say is the UK in DD is NOT the pushover it once was. Folks, don't try this at home. An enjoyable if expensive experience. Now I fear I will not be able to Barbarrossa any time soon
Assaulting in August of 1940 I assembled a massive naval, land and airforce:
70 odd surface ships mostly level 4 including 5 CV and 5 BB plus a Nat. Spain allied fleet of 14 ships and of course my 9 transports
60 subs
60 infantry, 2 HQ, 3 Marines, 9 armor, 3 mot the latter two types all brigaded with sp art
12 TAC, CAS and INT plus 4 NAV
I made major sacrifices in pre-war production with long serial runs of ships. I was running big supply deficits for three years and constantly hanging by a thread to get the above. I used MC, good tactics, and groud attacks to take France and Poland with minimal forces because I had little to work with. You can't get Vichy with Destroyers....Needless to say I wasn't about to just lose all that work by being stupid.
So for sealion I watched the weather. I sent my INT on air superiority over the water, I sent the TAC, CAS and NAV on naval bombing missions. I placed my subs in screening positions in Waddenzee and the Wash. I placed my 30 ship main battle fleet in a screening position in the East English Channel. I used the remaining ships to protect my transports. Basing from Ghent I amphib assaulted Dover and played it all on slow speed. I swear I did everything in my power to keep my ships, planes and troops alive. In short, I was almost perfect.
The results....well I occupied the home islands, but they were garrisoned big time. I destroyed over 50 enemy divisions on the island and it took 3 months to take it up to Scapa flow. I sunk 1 CV, 2 BB, 3 CL in the process and probably decimated the Allied air forces by occupying their bases.
But I lost....
40 subs
all but 11 ships, including all my BB, CV, and transports and the entire Spanish fleet
4 CAS, 8 INT, 1 TAC
8 infantry divisions and an Armor division which went to the bottom of the Channel. 1 HQ bombed to oblivion by ground attack missions.
What a price! I had high doctrines and patience, and it still was one hell of a fight. Now Sealion is more like it should be, almost a suicide mission.
So, all I can say is the UK in DD is NOT the pushover it once was. Folks, don't try this at home. An enjoyable if expensive experience. Now I fear I will not be able to Barbarrossa any time soon
