Plan Z. Uber Kriegsmarine Pt III AAR

[Zardnaar]

This isn't the first time I have done a German naval AAR, but odds are this is the last one. Consider it the apex of a German naval strategy.

The boring bits
Germany 36 Campaign
Arm 1.3
Normal Difficulty
Tech Team Capture/Full IC takeover off.

In previous AARs I have concentrated heavily on the navy, but still built up the army. This one essentially will be all in right from 1936. Whats the big deal anyway an experienced player can probably defeat the AI on normal regardless. Well this one may not be guranteed as I have only tested this strategy up until 1941 or so and it was tough at some points. The navy will soak up virtually all of Germany's IC to start with and its not to hard to smash the RN with BB or massive sub fleets. Boring and I agree. This AAR will be built around the poor hated, and neglected battlecruiser with support from light cruisers. This will most likely be the definitive way to abuse the Sealane doctrine generally regarded as the weakest in the game with the humble BC which seems to get very little love. Submarines will also be used, which will use the best German naval unit in the game- the Type VII submarine or SS-III in HoI2 terms along with a smaller number of SS-IV subs. Hopefully the Luftwaffe will also have a say later on in the game. The USN will have to be dealth with as well which will involve BC vs CV's which could be interesting.

Thanks to forum member Iwo Jima for the basic BC strategy and some interesting PMs.

 

[Zardnaar]

A Date in Berlin 1936

"Admiral Raeder to see you mein Fuhrer" Bormann announced. While disliking the Reichkanzler Raeder was smart enough to know who needed to be appeased. His supposedly private meeting with the Fuhrer had the odious Goring in attendence. "Mein Fuhrer thank you for seeing me at such short notice" Raeder announced. Tucked under his arm were several maps and industrial and scientific reports.

"As you know the Reich has not recovered from the injutices of the Treaty forced upon us in 1919 mein Fuhrer". Raeder drew in a deep breath as he had his work cut out for him. "In order to avoid a repeat of 1914-1918 in the future and to secure long term access to the required resources I have prepared a briefing for you". The Fuhrer had heard it all before but looked less than impressed. Numerous underlings were braying for resources to fill out their pet projects. Even loyal Himmler was wanting to expand his beloved SS.

"As you know meni Fuhrere the Allied blockade in the Great War had devastating effects on the German economy" stated Raeder. "While some early plans have been formulated regarding submarine warfare in the event of a war with England in the future, I have a more ambitious plan". "The British empire outnumbers us heavily in ships, and we can never hope to match them any time soon in terms of tonnage and we believe they are developing a new class of ship known as an aircraft carrier." In any potential future conflict however much like the last Great War they are vulnerable to having their supply lines cut". "Submarines could achieve this to some extent but I doubt they can succeed by themselves, and the British can churn out numerous destroyers to engage them". Battleships are to slow to function as surface raiders and I doubt we could build enough of them to make a difference".

Pausing for breath Raeder could sense the Hitler was slightly bored. The Wehrmacht had rearmed to a certain extent and could likely fend off a particuly aggressive Belgium or maybe Poland- on a good day.

Raeder continued "Only a fool would seek to cunduct a war with France and Britain with the risk of the Soviets intervening in the east and no secure oil supply or any feasable way to eliminate Britain. I propose that we build a small fleet of fast and hard hitting ships which can be used to engage the Royal Navy piecemeal in the event of a future war". "We woud require a large number of fast cruisers, heavily armed and fast battlecruisers along with several hundred submarines to work in concert withthe surface fleet". "Te submarines would interdict the British merchant fleet, while the Kriegsmarine heavy ships can destroy the Royal Navy ships sent out to keep the sea lanes open. Any superior fleet we cannot defeat, can simply be out run"

The Fuhrer seemed to be trying hard to stifle a yawn. Raeder however knew what buttons to push.
"Oil" Raeder whispered. Barely hearing him the Fuhrer thurned to gaze at Admiral looking very interested. "As you know we lack sufficent oil to fuel our economy". Pulling out several maps Raeder had encircled several points on the map.

Venezuela
Iraq
Persia
Baku
Texas

All out of reach of the Reich. "If we build this fleet mein fuhrer we can secure enough oil that we could export it and have more than enough to fuel the Wehrmacht. It takes years to build a navy, but we can train a soldier in a few weeks. I have also commisioned some artwork for you to examine. The pictures were detailed atists impression. IN Kiel a large cruiser fleet was at anchor, and in the last picture included the New York skyline. INstead of the statue of liberty however a statue of Hitler stood with his arm upraised.

Goring looked as if he would explode. While not impossable to produce there would be very little spare resources left should such a fleet be built, let alone the support vessels required. It didn't take a genius to see the army would get most of what was left, leaving the Luftwaffe out in the cold. Hitler himself looked less than enthused as he was very focused on the Bolshevik menace and would be reluctant to divert resources away from the Wehrmacht. Nevertheless Raeder continued. " I realise I am asking for much but great efficience can be achived in the economy to reach this goal and to expand the Wehrmacht to required standards". "With such a navy I can secure all the required resources and then Herman can have his flying toys, starting with a second planned rearmament in 1940 mein Fuhrer". "With Gorings help to play a important role I can destroy the Royal Navy, leaving you free to concentrate on the Soviets- if required of course". Raeder pulled out several maps as he had some large promises to make. In grey he had mapped out future German campaigns- but only in the even Germany was provoked into a war of course. Contingency plans don't hurt after all.

1939 Poland, France, Denmark Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands as part of the Reich.
1940 England, Spain, Yugoslavia, Greece, and the Middle East
1941 the USSR

Raeder of course had saved his trump card for last. Hitler had never left Europe and was unfamiliar with the world at large. Raeders final map had the date 1942-43???? On it. The USA was grey along with various islands in the pacific. "I present you the thousand year Reich mein Fuhrer" Raeder announced..................

A glint in the Fuhrers eye gave the game away. Goring put up some initial protests, but Raeder was the man of the hour. Hitler gave permission for Plan Zon the condition the Wehrmacht was not neglected (to much). Goring left in a huff as he would have no new planes until late 39 if he was lucky, and probaby more like 1940.

 

[Zardnaar]

In order to build his navy the Reich had to make some changes. A few ministers were dismissed, and Raeder used his influence to appoint some new ones. The Reich could not afford any infighting.

Dunding was set aside for German scientists. New submarine types were needed by 1937, and the German economy had to be able to support the ambitious production targets.

The existing fleet was also trimmed down. All older ships were sent to the scrapyard, their resources to be recycled into new ships. The Recently complete Graf Spee was the new flagship of the much reduced Kriegsmarine.

Around 75% of the Reichs industry was plaed at the disposal of the Kriegsmarine. The Luftwaffe got virtually nothing except some new airfields at the end of the line while the Heer was promised some poorly equipped reserve troops and some new light tanks. The reoccupation of the Rhineland and Graf Spee being completed allowed resources to be diverted to the Kriegsmarine.

 

[unmerged(191057)]

Will himmler and hitler be sent to a vacation in the azorez again?

 

[Zardnaar]

+LOL you remembered. I haven't decided on their fate. Maybe Diego Garcia? This strat is alot harder than the last one as you have even less army to do it with. Feel free to suggest Hitler and Himmlers fates.

 

[unmerged(166917)]

Mmmh I'm quite eager to see if your strategy will succeed.
Subscribed.

 

[unmerged(50292)]

I am sure Wehrmacht can hold the the ground in any case without much new divisions against the AI. But for Kriegsmarine, I will have to say this, GOOOOD LUCKKK! u gotta pray for night battles or rain when your BCs engages the CVs

 

[Zardnaar]

Happy New Year. 1937 rolled around. German scientists were hard at work on new technologies to aid the Reich.

For the New Year the Kriegsmarine conducted some sea trials and a fleet review. New submarines and a pair of brand new light cruisers were a resut of the Kriegsmarine buidup.

By March enough spare IC was available to order new submarines. A mark IX long range sub was but into mass produciton. The old type VII continue to roll off the production lines. Both sub types may be needed in the future.

5 new battlecruisers jin the Kriegsmarine- the first of the new capital ships. 6 were ordered but British agents managed to interrrupt production. Bastards. The ugly sisters have a larger brood.

The first of a new generation of submarines. The sealanes will never be safe bwa ha ha.

 

[Zardnaar]

1938

Saalwachter takes the fleet ou for a test cruise. Ireland is nice at this time of year.

Austria joins the Reich. Extra money flows into the Reichsbank and Germn industry recieves a boost.

The Heer recieves is allowed to place its first orders to mobilise infantry. 5 divisions are to be trained- for the foreseeable future.

Admiral Raeder is assigned to train the fleet. Most ships stay in port while their crew undergo further training. Unknown to Raeder Goring starts to influence the Fuhrer. The Luftwaffe has not recieved any new planes at all!!

 

[Nikolai]

All navy, that's an interesting strategy.

BTW, post 3 has a swastika.

 

[Zardnaar]

1939

Due to pressure from Berlin the Czechs also decide to join the Reich in March. Angered at the breaking of the Munich agreement, Britain and Freance ally with Poland.

By June the Kriegsmarine in effect soak up around 40% of the research allocated. The Kriegsmarine may not be the worlds biggest navy, it will be one of the best trained.

In August tension is rising across the German/Polish border. Diplomatic overtures are made to the USSR which results the Molotov-Ribbentrop treaty signed a few days later. Raeder falls out of favour with Hitler and Donitz is appointed in his place.

The reason? despite promises to the contrary the Heer is unprepared for conflict in the European theatre. A large proportion of the army is still using obsolete equipment and tanks. The army won't be ready for offensive operation before 1940.

1940 is a far away however. In a fit of rage Hitler declears war on Poland regardless. Around 300 subs are available to the Kriegsmarine and they claim their first victimes within an hour of the war starting. A few days previously all of Germany's submarines and a large fleet under Saalwachter sailed out into the Atlantic.

 

[unmerged(191057)]

Let the convoy massacre begin!

 

[c0d5579]

Make Himmler Ambassador to Tibet, where he can play amateur anthropologist to his heart's content, and allow the Fuehrer to retire to his Berchtesgaden estate, where he practices vegetarian gardening.

And I have no idea why people object to the battlecruiser, given correct usage - "faster than stronger, stronger than faster."

Pity you can't do this in AoD, where the Kriegsmarine can get the ten research slots it deserves.

 

[Zardnaar]

Poland must be destroyed so the Reich can rise. At key points along the Polish border panzers thrust forward. The world will kmnow the pwer of the blitzkrieg fueled by obsolete units and light tanks.

At sea the Kriegsmarine blockade the trade routes into England. Saalwatcher prowls the sealanes looking for victims.

And runs headfirst into the French fleet. After a brief engagement for the loss of no ships the French retreat. It would seem that they have been practicing.

Saalwachter runs the channel and returns to the Reich, destroying numerous convoy ships while he is at it. The English channel will become the German channel. While at sea several small engagement result in the loss of several smaller allied ships.

Meanwhile on land the Poles in a state of collapse get steamrolled by the Panzers. Within days Warsaw itself is under siege. The Soviets cross the Polish border a few days later and they have had enough. Panzers rush to the west while the Kriegsmarine sends transports to the Baltic ports. Danzig is German once again.

.

Delayed while awaiting the arrival of new radar sets, Vice Admiral Bohm departs Kiel on his maden voyage. A moments distraction (cat on the keyboard) results in the loss of Germany's first capital ship and several light cruisers. The British home fleet recieves a mauling however. Fleeing the scene the fleet retreats back to Kiel. The light cruisers are replaced, and damaged ships put into repair. The Graf Spee and another heavy cruiser replace the sunk BC while repairs are carried out on the other BC.

Despite Bohm's unfortionate losses Saalwachter returns to sea and continues destroying the English conveys- with help from the Submarine fleets. September comes to a close and the Heer stands guard on the French border facing the Maginot line.

A balance sheet is prepared. For the loss of a single battlecruiser, 3 light cruisers and a few flotillas of submarines the allied losses mount to.
194 convoy ships
20 escorts
and at least.
9 destroyers
6 light cruisers
3 Heavy Cruisers
1 battleship (HMS Royal Oak)

Another 6 battlecruisers are schedued to be completed in early 1940, and a replacement for the sunk BC has been ordered.

 

[unmerged(191057)]

The Destruction of convoys must continue, deny the british their indian tea and you shall break the morale of england!:rofl:

 

[unmerged(61405)]

Good job. I love German navy Aars.

 

[Zhuge Liang]

You've come up with an interesting approach but things do seem to be rather easily so far. I wonder what you'll have to come up with to make the AI an actual threat.

 

[Zardnaar]

It may look easy but I have spent alot of time perfecting the navy builds, and how to invade various countries. Poland is always easy, last time I stuggled alot in France due to small army. Most AARs seem to be alot of overkill in terms of what Germany actually needs.

I'm getting a critical error, excel file not foun whenever I try and run armageddon. Anyone know whats wrong?

 

[unmerged(166917)]

No idea, unfortunately.

 

[unmerged(61405)]

Oh no. Is the AaR sinking?