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nice work in france!
maybe they will decide to "talk" with the french ai?Kanitatlan said:
Good job! I'm of course a little disappointed over the fact that we saw no paradrops in this campaign, but the reason is of course obvious - they weren't needed as normal ground forces were more than enough for those puny frog-people. Anyways, I hope we'll see more challenging and Fallschirmjägerish operations when it comes to the Sealion.
You know the Vichy event removes the Free French army with loads of lines that remove a random unit... well... since their army was so big, do you think any will have been left?
As a big fan of Kanitatlan Documented HOI2 Productions (TM) I thought I could create some downloadable version of this new AAR... There is yet huge amount of decisions about what to include and what not but please view it if you are interested.
Fatherland-pdf
I must warn about the document: it is an very early version, so please forgive the terrible layout and other oddities. I propably can not keep the pace with this AAR, but I can try to release updates for this one? Or just an complete edition when it is completed.
I thought I could create some downloadable version of this new AAR... There is yet huge amount of decisions about what to include and what not but please view it if you are interested.Fatherland-pdf
I must warn about the document: it is an very early version, so please forgive the terrible layout and other oddities. I propably can not keep the pace with this AAR, but I can try to release updates for this one? Or just an complete edition when it is completed.
pultava said:As a big fan of Kanitatlan Documented HOI2 Productions (TM)
Fatherland-pdf
I must warn about the document: it is an very early version, so please forgive the terrible layout and other oddities. I propably can not keep the pace with this AAR, but I can try to release updates for this one? Or just an complete edition when it is completed.
Excellent work Pultava! I pulls everything together admirably! Please keep up with the project!
pultava said:As a big fan of Kanitatlan Documented HOI2 Productions (TM)
Fatherland-pdf
I second therev's comment. Very well done. That takes a lot of work and dedication of time (a very precious commodity
). Make Herr Kanitatlan proud!
DCP Good point about France. I guess this could mean significant French forces teleporting to Brazzaville. The next point will be the question of how long it will take France to redeploy them effectively.
Lifeless, GrimReaper All support welcome
Kasakka Sorry about the lack of paradrops but as you have observed there really didn't seem to be any point. It will need some very serious consideration to find more operations for them. The invasion of the UK is an obvious theatre but elsewhere I am expecting the time it takes to deploy and re-org before paradropping to sabotage most opportunities since the target will be gone before the drop has been prepared.
If I was given the job of redesigning the paratroop rules then I would change the way it works. Instead of requiring full org on the transports to make a paradrop I would change it to require full org to load a paratroop division. I would allow air unit transfers with troops loaded and paradrops at any org level. This would mean that paradrops still cannot be carried out in rapid succession but that the airborne troops would have there strategic mobility restored.
Pultava I have sent you a private message. I have no problem supporting your initiative.
therev,whisperingdeath See above. Pultava is offering to do what I couldn't be bothered with. My "construction" material should be a big help.
Kami888 Optimism I'm afraid (see below - when I write it)
Lifeless, GrimReaper All support welcome
Kasakka Sorry about the lack of paradrops but as you have observed there really didn't seem to be any point. It will need some very serious consideration to find more operations for them. The invasion of the UK is an obvious theatre but elsewhere I am expecting the time it takes to deploy and re-org before paradropping to sabotage most opportunities since the target will be gone before the drop has been prepared.
If I was given the job of redesigning the paratroop rules then I would change the way it works. Instead of requiring full org on the transports to make a paradrop I would change it to require full org to load a paratroop division. I would allow air unit transfers with troops loaded and paradrops at any org level. This would mean that paradrops still cannot be carried out in rapid succession but that the airborne troops would have there strategic mobility restored.
Pultava I have sent you a private message. I have no problem supporting your initiative.
therev,whisperingdeath See above. Pultava is offering to do what I couldn't be bothered with. My "construction" material should be a big help.
Kami888 Optimism I'm afraid (see below - when I write it)
Reminder
I haven't appraised medals for this campaign just yet but the usual list will be published. If anyone wants to make a recommendation then feel free. I will be looking through the air commanders to see who has been busiest and whether there are any special awards to be made.
As previously stated, if anyone wants their leader record published then please post a request in this thread. It is too time consuming to do all of the leaders so I am intending to do histories on request. If you can be bothered to ask then I can be bothered to do it.
I haven't appraised medals for this campaign just yet but the usual list will be published. If anyone wants to make a recommendation then feel free. I will be looking through the air commanders to see who has been busiest and whether there are any special awards to be made.
As previously stated, if anyone wants their leader record published then please post a request in this thread. It is too time consuming to do all of the leaders so I am intending to do histories on request. If you can be bothered to ask then I can be bothered to do it.
Kanitatlan said:
Then may I be the first to ask for a brief history of my leader please? Thankyou very much in advance.
Strategy Review
The AAR is now completely up to date with the game time being exactly the point the AAR has reached. The time has come for a bit of thought about what to do next. I will try to publish some supporting statistics but here is my initial take on the situation.
With France defeated I have only one major enemy still in the game and they have no land presence anywhere that I can get at them. The only meaningful operation I can carry out against the UK in the foreseeable future is an invasion of the home islands. This is therefore the main challenge for the immediate future.
The earlier naval battles suggest my now strengthened fleet will be able to go anywhere that it wants. This is nice as it means that launching an amphibious landing is certainly on the cards. Unfortunately the UK has a lot of divisions and exceptional strong coastal defences. This makes the English coast close to invulnerable to an amphibious landing. My fleet is far from strong enough to carry out an impossible landing (i.e. coastal bombardment capability is a LONG way from 100%). The possible strategies available are as follows.
1) Naval operations against the British fleet to reduce the naval power for the future. This is an obvious step to take as the UK fleet will continue to operate against me until it is completely destroyed or the whole war won. This makes all sinkings of RN vessels a useful contribution to the war effort. My navy will pursue such operations whenever there is nothing else specific to do.
2) Convoy warfare is an option but I do not intend to pursue it. The main effect it will have in the short to medium term is to reduce the size of the stockpiles in London. Since I intend to capture these stockpiles this is a pretty useless achievement so I will be avoiding this.
3) Take Northern Ireland and then Eire. This is a definitely attractive operation as there are no strong defences and it gives me an excellent flanking position on the UK. It is a good nearby location for access to landings on the west coast. I will likely carry this out since it costs next to nothing if I can't be landing in the UK at the time. Its only down side is the risks to my convoys through having to supply my troops.
4) Direct amphibious assault. The high level of coastal fortifications and coastal garrisons probably make this impossible. The best target I have seen is 2 divisions with a level 5 fort. I could probably take this but not quickly enough and any landing will fail due to defensive reinforcements. My amphibious landing skills are rubbish (lack of marines technologies and marine divisions).
5) Air warfare. I have a substantial air force and I could launch an air war against the UK. I will need to overcome their fighter defences and suppress their AA to allow free bombing operations. Since the objective is to invade this will need backing up by CAS bombing of their units. If this can be made effective (by targeting moving units) then this could lead to some real opportunities.
I currently have a significant air technology advantage and will soon have all my air units upgraded to improved models (except escort fighters - oh dear). Intelligence indicates I have a numerical advantage too so this may be a reasonable strategy to attempt. Ultimately, if the British refuse to move or my air units refuse to target the moving divisions then this strategy may fail.
6) Combine (5) and (4). If the air units won't target moving units then find a good place to land and use every support tool available to improve the landing. Land with 6 InfArt supported by a paradrop of 3 ParaArt, add shore bombardment, add plentiful air support to destroy enemy org, command with fortress busters. the trouble is this will probably still not be enough.
7) Paradrop in Wales (Cardiff). Unfortunately this sneak attack is extremely attractive since the UK is otherwise extremely difficult to take. This would be extremely effective in rapidly closing down the campaign. The only question is will the audience stand for it? Comments ?
Whilst the UK is not the only theatre for the near future the policy for dealing with them does determine what forces are spare to operate on other fronts. Whatever happens I am able to devote significant ground forces to other fronts. The initial policy is to start invasions of Spain and the Balkans.
Spain will be the initial theatre for deploying the available mountain troops supplemented by a selection of other things. I have no reason to believe the invasion will be difficult even with the limited access available. I will review the intelligence on Spain (almost non-existent) and allocate appropriate force levels.
Other troops will move east to attack Hungary and then Yugoslavia. Once these two countries have been annexed I will be considering action against Bulgaria and Greece. Invading Bulgaria will probably demand the return of the mountain corps to the eastern theatre but their role in Spain should be over in time.
Beyond these initial moves nothing needs to be decided just yet so the plan is to get on with this. The first step is redeployment which will take some time as I have limited strategic movement capacity. It is quite likely that many units can arrive quicker by direct movement so this process will need careful organising.
Kanitatlan said:
I say go for it. You are fighting against such overwhelming odds that I'd say take every advantage you can get, and I wouldn't even consider it gamey, the British probably would never expect a paradrop of such significant size behind their coastal defenses.
I would prefer if you didnt go the "easy" way against the uk. The difficulty(entertainment value) of the campaign goes way down if you take uk out early. Still leaving the home islands alive if weakened can mean serious setbacks for your plans for world conquest later on.
Its your choice after all its your aar.
Its your choice after all its your aar.
While I understand Profanes's point about how harder game is more entertaining, I don't think Kanitatlan should start acting in intentionally stupid manner (like leaving UK alive when it's possible to kill it). If there's a way to get around UK's beach defence, go ahead and use it! (And my 1st Fallschirms! )
)
Profane said:
Seconded! (excuse an old lurkAAR for butting in!) - There's nothing wrong with paradropping into enemy territory, but dropping into territory which is left completely undefended because of an AI limitation is a bit of a stretch on the narrative, I think... Surely the UK would not have left all of Wales ungarrisoned IRL?
It is very frustrating looking at an island which appears unassailable... But your max shore bombardment potential is only going to increase, and eventually that will be enough!
Kanitatlan said:
Ya, Ya! Up against the vall mit der Britishers, its Leipzig time! Sorry, Sorry!
Just caught up with this monster of an AAR. Great fun.
What's the Red Menace look like these days? Any noises since the cancelled non-aggression pact?
....
To OKW Chief of Staff,
I hereby request to be alloted to the eastern theatre in the near future for the possible operations there. I would also like to express my disappointment at the lack of opportunities for proving my military skill in contact with enemy forces in the campaign against France. Nevertheless, I hope that the OKW are satisfied with my performance, whatever it has been.
Gen. Ort Hodox
As for the UK, I say - airwar and navy attrition, until a full invasion force is ready. Meanwhile, mop up the rest of Europe to get those ICs as early as possible.
Ah - unless we're heading for Soviet DOW. Do I remember correctly that Bulgaria was the thing not to be stirred, unless we wanted Soviets to go after us?
I hereby request to be alloted to the eastern theatre in the near future for the possible operations there. I would also like to express my disappointment at the lack of opportunities for proving my military skill in contact with enemy forces in the campaign against France. Nevertheless, I hope that the OKW are satisfied with my performance, whatever it has been.
Gen. Ort Hodox
As for the UK, I say - airwar and navy attrition, until a full invasion force is ready. Meanwhile, mop up the rest of Europe to get those ICs as early as possible.
Ah - unless we're heading for Soviet DOW. Do I remember correctly that Bulgaria was the thing not to be stirred, unless we wanted Soviets to go after us?
My vote is for direct assault. I don't know how the british managed to build so many fortresses - it isn't a usual thing for them to do, even with extra IC. But still I think you should try to break their defences directly as long as this is possible. Before using paratroopers - try just a 6 division assault on their weakest beach with air support just so you can assess whether adding paratroopers will be enough to win the battle or not.
From what you say - for 2 british divisions in 5 level fort, 3 german paratrooper divisions should be enough, even without the shore bombardment and assault additions (unless those British divisions are armored, then you are out of luck).
If you find that direct assault is simply impossible - crack down hard on the British by flanking them at Wales.
PS: Finally, mein Fuhrer, your general Ort Hodox may be correct that attacking Bulgaria might provoke an early Soviet DoW.
From what you say - for 2 british divisions in 5 level fort, 3 german paratrooper divisions should be enough, even without the shore bombardment and assault additions (unless those British divisions are armored, then you are out of luck).
If you find that direct assault is simply impossible - crack down hard on the British by flanking them at Wales.
PS: Finally, mein Fuhrer, your general Ort Hodox may be correct that attacking Bulgaria might provoke an early Soviet DoW.