Bismarck's Spirit: A Pragmatic German Campaign

[Kensai7]

I have been investing in nuclear technology for some time now. You can search this thread to see in previous posts. I suspect the USA is doing the same, but have not investigated so far. Will do ASAP!

June 19-20, 1944

Our combined efforts from the South and North have had results. The fortified port of Rosyth, just North of Edinburgh has been captured. With this the Americans lose their last important naval station in Scotland and the last possible resupply node to their battered land forces.

Just look at how many ships the Americans had moored in the firth! This is really scary. Hopefully, they will all have to depart now!

Koch-Erpach is about to have his first "trait" as Battle Master. Well-deserved in all his encounters so far. I will promote him to (3-star) General. I want him to command the 2. Armee in the future for a possible invasion of Brazil. His skill level of 6 is more than enough for the task in my book.

The Americans are fighting a lost battle. In the highlands of Cannich, the Americans are without food and ammo. They are getting beaten. We also have the first radar signs of their retreating fleet.

Our paratroopers in Islay, after being supplied by the air, are moving with small improvised boats to the other Scottish islands (Outer Hebrides).

By the evening of the 20th of June, our naval decoders of the B-Dienst (German Intelligence) inform the Oberkommando of the retreating American Navy. Without bases, they have to go back to their homeland ports. Goodbye!

 

[Enewald]

You should have unleashed the entire Luftwaffe on them. Planes are easier to recover than lost ships.

 

[Kensai7]

I was doing the best I could. But the Luftwaffe was also helping in dislodging the Americans from their dug-in positions on the land as well. All in all, I am happy by the damage I have given them. But you see (from the first pic), the US Navy was still very powerful: 3 battleships, 8 (!!) fleet carriers, 3 escort carriers, 8 cruisers, some 20 (!!!) destroyer flotillas... all in Europe. Add to that what is defending Norfolk and Mozambique and you see they are too many to get, even if I hunt them down with my entire fleet and naval bombers. Let alone I suspect they are much more advanced in naval doctrines and techs.

I really have to be careful when I will make the crossing...

 

[LanMisa]

You shouldn't attack with nukes first. Bismarck always tricked other nations into attacking first to make Germany look better. You can prepare Nukes as a retaliation weapon, but a first strike on New York or a similar town would be against this campaign's spirit in my eyes.

 

[guillec87]

You shouldn't attack with nukes first. Bismarck always tricked other nations into attacking first to make Germany look better. You can prepare Nukes as a retaliation weapon, but a first strike on New York or a similar town would be against this campaign's spirit in my eyes.

Bismarck wouldn't have allowed a Nuke over a German city either

 

[NapoleonComple]

Well then, on to Iceland! Put those bombers beyond the reach of Berlin forever!

If the seas are too dangerous, perhaps paratroopers may have success.

 

[markkur]

I was starting to like the idea of AARs but your effort here nailed it for me. Excellent presentation; it's been more like reading a mix of solid Mil-History program plus great historical novel. Very good work.

Edit: Almost forgot; I was just wondering {63} about Koch-Erpach, glad you gave his stats. Adding his story was a nice touch. Kinda surprised a level 6 isn't already something. What does his %-trait list look like?

 

[Kensai7]

You shouldn't attack with nukes first. Bismarck always tricked other nations into attacking first to make Germany look better. You can prepare Nukes as a retaliation weapon, but a first strike on New York or a similar town would be against this campaign's spirit in my eyes.

I think Bismarck would have been "Machiavellian", but not bloodthirsty. He would have done whatever it takes to avoid a first-strike, but would still dare it if things were getting off hand. Remember that even the Americans before dropping the bomb for the first time they were not entirely sure of its long-term consequences. To their eyes it was simply a very high yield normal bomb. Unfortunately for the world, the terrible consequences would only be known later.

Well then, on to Iceland! Put those bombers beyond the reach of Berlin forever!

If the seas are too dangerous, perhaps paratroopers may have success.

Iceland and Greenland are already Axis (due to Denmark on our side as puppet!) so it will be interesting to use them as step stones to reach Canada. I will start investing soon in infrastructure and port improvements for the crossing.

I was starting to like the idea of AARs but your effort here nailed it for me. Excellent presentation; it's been more like reading a mix of solid Mil-History program plus great historical novel. Very good work.

Edit: Almost forgot; I was just wondering {63} about Koch-Erpach, glad you gave his stats. Adding his story was a nice touch. Kinda surprised a level 6 isn't already something. What does his %-trait list look like?

Thank you so much for the kind words. Comments such as this keep me going!
I have a screenshot in the previous page that shows exactly Koch-Erpach's trait maturation progress.

June 21-27, 1944

What a great sight! The moment the Americans left, our minor allies (Norwegian and Swedish amongst other!) started daring patrols near Scotland. Our targets are now the remnants of the once glorious French fleet. Their carrier-borne fighters try desperately to keep our own away.

We hit the mountains of the Highlands by the West. Fort Augustus is a well-fortifed American position but won't stand long enough like that. We can surround their retreating forces in the South. Koch-Erpach thinks of moving from Inverness to Cannich.

The German high tech is giving more results. The new Junkers Jumo 004B engines is the next big thing!

The Americans try a desperate offensive to Cannich in order to open a retreating corridor... but it is too late for them, it seems. The American Theater HQ in Scotland are surrounded further South. It is game over for them.

A couple of days later we also find the remnants of the French Free Fleet as it tries to cross the Moray Firth. Their badly mauled and out of supplies/ammo ships are easy targets. The screening destroyers go down first, leaving their fleet exposed!

The mighty Bismarck II closes in for the kill. With a devastating salvo at almost point blank, it sends the Pride of the French Navy, the Provence, in the depths of the North Sea...

Only the heavy cruiser Dusquensne escapes the confrontation. The carrier Béarn is sunk as well. But this is the end of the French Navy as a serious fighting force...

 

[sebas379]

Hurray, down with the French fleet! It looks like the Americans in Scotland are almost done for too, Europe i all but secured.

 

[Baltasar]

How many US units are still at large in Scotland? Kinda hard to tell from the sprites.

 

[Kensai7]

How many US units are still at large in Scotland? Kinda hard to tell from the sprites.

Less than 10-15 Divisions, most of them already shattered. Does not look good for them for sure. I even pound them by the sea!!

 

[guillec87]

total control of the Islands (and Europe) is closer by the day... are there any plans for Iceland and Greenland?

 

[NapoleonComple]

total control of the Islands (and Europe) is closer by the day... are there any plans for Iceland and Greenland?

Denmark, as a German ally, already has control.

 

[Kensai7]

June 29, 1944

Yes! Our destroyer patrols have finally caught up with the Brazilian submarine wolfpacks that have been praying our convoys in the South Atlantic for many months now. Although definitely in less numbers, we should have the upper hand in this confrontation as we are talking about Japanese-made destroyers with advanced (ahead-of-their-time) ASW equipment and a very capable flotilla admiral... Lütjens!

 

[guillec87]

from Bismarck to a bounch of destroyers... poor Lutjens

 

[Kensai7]

Well, you cannot deny he is quite capable for any job!

June 29-30, 1944

Lütjens' destroyers manage to sink a great number of Brazilian submarines on the day of 29th of June. They have lost some ships themselves as well, but this mission was very important. Now the remaining rival submarines will probably have to head home for repairs and regrouping. Our own destroyers are heading to the Canarias for the same reason.

Both had many ships sunk, but the Brazilian defeat is much more resounding. Our convoy routes are secure for some weeks, if not months.

The Americans try desperately to ambush our troops as they break through the hilly Northern Highlands. Our shore bombardment does not give them much choice.

 

[guillec87]

finally your control of the waters around Britain is paying off all the blood and iron lost

 

[Kensai7]

Indeed! A week later, the remaining American forces are surrounded and pounded from all sides!

July 6, 1944

There are only few American units holding their ground in Cape Wrath. The rest of them is retreating from other regions or has already surrendered. The Scottish campaign will soon be over!

 

[halbard]

So, you controlled those operations? No AI?

 

[Kensai7]

No, in the end I controlled the last encompassing movements. But I can't believe we would have had a different result, we outnumbered them like 5:1.

July 6-7, 1944

The 26th US Army Corps is the last to put down its arms...

Europe has been pacified once again! Only a few sources of partisan activity...

The Soviet Union is a shadow of its former self without European Russia. Yes, so many men can possibly be called to arms after being pushed behind the Urals, but look at that puny industrial capacity. Admittedly, Russia is at (apparent) peace for now, that's one reason.

Also, it is curious to see that by losing the Caucasus and its refineries the Russians have run out of both oil and its processed product: fuel. They are also very low in every possible strategic resource and with relatively little money to be able to buy their way into rearmament.

(hopefully my spies give an accurate assessment, as I have level 9 of them)

What can you expect from these losers? Of course, Beria could be a backstabbing threat...
Hehe, Stalin is nowhere to be found in the new government, regardless the "new start" in Novosibirsk. He must have been sacked for good.