Road to War UK 2 (Multiplayer)

[wazzul]

This is an AAR from the U.K. perspective for Road to War 9 Multiplayer Game
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...s-14-00-us-eastern-19-00-gmt-20-00-cet.887391/

Feel free to leave comments

Summary of first 4 years.

Starting out I planned on a Land and Air Force heavy build. For the first 2 years I built the air force up first. However going into 1938 after continuous spying it became clear that Germany and Italy were going for a heavy naval build. With Germany building heavy and light cruisers, and Italy going light cruisers and destroyers.

While initially I brushed it off as a ruse after 2 years I had to start taking it seriously.


Change of plans.

I started production of 2 Super Heavy Battleships along with about 4 destroyers to be built. With Great Britain having a huge starting navy I did not need to go all out building ships . I continued to build up the air force focusing on a multi roles.

September 1939

Germany invades Poland. Poland puts up a good fight on the ground and I send over 6 multi roles. The Germans push as fast as they can and start bombing everything they can. However the multi roles start intercepting German bombers and interceptors. The British pilots and fighters are completely superior in every way even to interceptors. From this we learn of how weak the German Luftwaffe is and start a bombing campaign in Germany. Germany loses 1 tank division and 1 infantry division in Poland but mops of the country before January of 1940.

January 1940

Germany invades the low countries. Germany manages to land paratroopers across the river before British troops. This is a major setback because Germany is able to rush tanks across rivers and start pushing easily into Belgium. I start logistical bombing but it is not enough to stop the Germans. France would fall back and eventually surrender.

The first Naval engagements happen with Germany. Germany attacks an old British Cruiser fleet and destroys most of it with its new cruiser fleets.

Naval Battle in the Mediterranean

Italy has a lot of destroyers on patrol. I send 2 battleship fleets down and mop up all of the destroyers. Then Italy engages one battleship fleet doing shore bombardment in southern France. 2 british battleships and 2 destroyers are lost in this battle but Italy loses quite a few light cruisers the number from this battle isn't known.

The French navy comes to the rescue and engages an Italian cruiser fleet and destroys a lot of Italian cruisers but loses most of its fleet in the process.

 

[wazzul]

April 8th 1940

The air campaign has been going good for Britain. Complete air superiority is maintained and a lot of Germans are continuously bombed. I notice Germany is still building ships and has switched to almost building only interceptors.

I started landing troops on important air bases and naval bases in north Africa. Italy puts up no resistance and leaves its army at home. An invasion of Ethiopia is easy against the inferior troops.

 

[wazzul]

May 17 1940

Italy shows some life as it lands a corps in Sardinia. As my Gurka division will be severely outnumbered I fly it out to north Africa.

Sardinia is recaptured by the Italians.


June 28 1940

Italy invades Greece. The allies new plan is to hinder Italy's invasion of Greece. We send multi roles and bombers to the region. Air force intelligence sends word of the Italian navy outside of Albania. I send the only battleship fleet in the area to engage and naval bombers start bombing. The battle starts and goes well with our fleet only losing 2 battleships and destroying 2 italian battleships and a lot of escorts. However it appears that this was Italy's plan all along as he sends a fresh cruiser fleet in and attack the battleship fleet. This goes badly for us and we lose 3 more battleships. The fleet is forced into port in Greece where it is safe for the time being as we have air superiority.

The German navy suddenly comes out an engages old cruiser fleet performing patrol duties in the Atlantic. We expect the Italians have told the Germans about the minor Naval Victory. However the German navy ends its engagement and moves directly into the expecting British navy. Only one battleship fleet was in the Mediterranean the rest was in the U.K. expecting a German sealion. The way back to Germany is blocked off and the German navy is forced to port in Brest. While Germany has bolstered its Luftwaffe it still isn't as strong yet. A naval bombing operation is underway and half of the German cruiser fleet is destroyed.

 

[wazzul]

September 30 1940

With the British navy focused on containing the German navy and the only Battleship fleet now destroyed off of Greece. German paratroopers forced the navy from port where the remainder of it was destroyed, but not before it took out another Italian battleship. Italy starts a massive invasion of North Africa and Egypt. Italy takes back most of north Africa and pushes to Alexandra from the west while landing troops east of the Suez pushing towards Tel Aviv. Multi Roles and bombers are scrambled and moved to Egypt. 2 divisions are brought up from Ethiopia and landed in Egypt. The Germans caught on and landed paratroopers blocking the Suez but were quickly captured. 2 more divisions are brought up from Ethiopia and stop the Italian attack on the east side of the Suez.

Realizing the danger of losing Egypt I send my best fleet with 2 Super Heavy Battleships and my battle-cruiser fleet to engage the Italians. With half of the German cruiser fleet now destroyed it is no longer a priority. My Super Heavy battleship fleet meets the Italian fleet outside of Alexandria. It looks like the Italians weren't expecting to see the British Fleet. The Super Heavy Battleships crush the Italian fleet destroying half of it. Then the battle-cruiser fleet is sent in against the other Italian fleet defeating that fleet too. Italy has just lost two fleets and has no way to get its units out. It must now take a port or lose two corps.

The non-stop bombing of the Italians proves too much and they are forced back in retreat. The Alpni corp east of the Suez is trapped and retreats hopelessly towards Saudi Arabia until eventually captured.

 

[wazzul]

December 17 1940

The Italians have started a retreat from Alexandria to Tobruch. However fresh Canadian divisions arrive and land behind their line of retreat. To the shock of the allies Italy lands another corps in Bengasi and moves it to Tobruch. He manages to retreat successfully to Tobruch but is eventually forced from that province too due to heavy bombing and shore bombardment. The retreat continues to Bengasi. Again to the shock of the allies he lands another corps in Bengasi slips past British ships and moves them to help the retreat. Britain moves its ships into position blockading north Africa from any reinforcement or retreat.

The German LuftWaffe is now equal to the British after focusing on it for months. However the lack of airbases compared to the British proves too much and the Italians are incredibly weak due to relentless bombing. They are eventually trapped and Italy will lose 3 corps with attachments.

Africa Campaign

Land
Total loses for Italy 4 Infantry corps and attachments with one corps being the Italian elite alpini.
Germany lost 1 paratrooper division
U.K. Lost 1 gurka division

Total Sea loses

Britain- 30 Destroyers, 13 Light Cruisers, 7 Heavy Cruisers, 1 Battle-Cruiser, 9 Battleships
Italy- 20 Destroyers, 37 Light Cruisers, 7 Heavy Cruisers, 4 Battleships
Germany-10 Light Cruisers, 7 Heavy Cruisers,
Canada- 1 Destroyer, 4 Transports

 

[wazzul]

New Post Next week

 

[Hakello]

Nice to see some SHBB action Its good to see Axis try a naval approach, although from what I read I'm sure the Kriegsmarine would have liked some more air support

 

[Chukada]

very good AAr. Its nowJan 1 1941, and July is coming. Will axis naval build doom them on the Eastern Front?

 

[Cybvep]

It's not looking very good for the Axis. It looks like they missed their chance and the naval focus backfired.

 

[wazzul]

April 9th 1941

Intel reports show that Germany and Italy are still focusing a lot of resources on their navy.

Even with the bad loses the axis seem to be doubling down on the naval strategy.

The last 4 months had been quiet after the capture of 4 Italian Corps in Africa. I decided to invade Sardinia. So our air force checked the port of Cagliari and found it empty. We landed a Gurka division and took the port right away. Then 3 marine divisions were landed in the port and pushed up the island. To my surprise the last province in the north was defended by 2 corps of infantry and attachments. We searched the port earlier and did not see such a strong force.

We immediately started bombing the small 1 port to 0 quickly. We then started bombing the divisions. Then massive German air support came in to help and most of the British air force was moved through Africa and Cagliari. However where we had the airbase advantage in Africa, Germany had much more air bases to work from than we did at this position. The Italian navy came out and engaged the 4 transport fleet that had landed the marines and destroyed 3 of them. I moved our navy into position engaging the new Italian cruiser fleet with our older cruiser fleet. Italy lost some light cruisers and we lost a few light and heavy cruisers. The Italian fleet damage and outnumbered retreated to port. We were making progress when our battleships came in for support and the battle was looking good. The tide turned though when the German LuftWaffe gained air superiority from the stronger position. I started the retreat but the transports that came to get the troops were getting bombed and I had to recall them.

The Germans trying to stop the retreat landed a paratrooper division on Cagliari but were all killed from the bad position and Naval bombardment. The Germans sent in another division which tied our troops up and all 4 divisions were lost in Sardinia.

UK lost 3 Marine Divisions 1 Gurka Division
Germany lost 1 Paratrooper division


It was a tactical mistake. Not taking the airbases into account I assumed we could still maintain air superiority and we ended up losing divisions because of it.
After the failed operation all was quiet for 2 more months.

Then our intel reported that Italy was moving transports and its last cruiser fleet towards Egypt. I moved our fleets into position and engaged the Italian cruiser fleet with our cruiser fleet. Again both sides took loses and the Italians were forced to port in Athens.

We started the bombing campaign on Athens. UK and Australian bombers managed to get the port down to 0 and the Italian fleet was badly damaged. However after a week the Italian cruiser fleet slipped out past the British Navy and was faster so it got away back to mainland Italy.

During this time Germany bombed the port of Bournemouth and managed to destroy one escort carrier before they rest of the 5 ships moved north.

Naval Loses

UK 5 DD 5 LC 4 CA 1 CVL 3 TP
ITALY 7 DD 10 CL

 

[joethepro36]

I told you about me being on hand for the air. It was hard and bloody but you were 100% right when you said the infrastructure was on hand for the Axis. Microing it was a challenge but it wasn't difficult to reserve the units across Italy to safety or to the front. With your attention locked down to Sardinia, the air force was reduced in Germany and central France. I do love air because it can be deployed to the front in days, not weeks.

This is a common theme I have seen throughout this series, that people massively underestimate the power of air infrastructure. Even with the airbases in Italy, it was still difficult to deploy sufficient material to the area. I'm glad we won a minor victory here, it makes a change from the general situation in the Med. Maestor at one point said something like "I've got to win this or he'll be gloating for a week" haha.

 

[Cybvep]

There is some intense naval and air action here. Is the Axis forced to start Barbarossa in 1941 by your HRs? When can the SU attack the Axis?

 

[wazzul]

Germany is forced to attack Russia in June 1941 we are there so it will happen within the month.

 

[Maestor]

There is some intense naval and air action here. Is the Axis forced to start Barbarossa in 1941 by your HRs? When can the SU attack the Axis?

The Axis is actually quite eager to start Barbarossa. The rules do not allow the Allies to invade Western Europe until june 1942, so we'll have plenty of time to deal with the Russians.

I must also add that from the Axis perspective the naval situation does not look as bad as it might seem from this AAR. Germany's investment in its navy was quite small (especially considering the damage inflicted) and the UK building ships instead of divisions is actually good for us strategically. These ships aren't going to sail up the Tiber and capture Rome after all. The Axis cruiser spam also means that any ships sunk are easily replaced.

That said, Italy definitely made some big mistakes, and the German navy build wasn't as good as it could've been.

 

[wazzul]

While light cruisers are not too expensive. When they are all Italy has built for 2 years and all he has to show for it is destroyed old ships and 20ish light cruisers sitting in port it didn't really pay off. GB currently has 4 fleets. Germany has 1 fleet and Italy has 1 fleet. 2 of the 4 British fleets are superior to the German and Italian fleets with the 3rd being at least competitive with the Italian fleets. While Germany's investment in ships might be less than Great Britian's, the axis combined have invested much more than Great Britian. They also have nothing to show for it so far besides maybe 5 less tank divisions from Great Britian. Although it may not matter depending on how Barbarossa goes. I think most people in the game would agree that the naval campaign for the axis was a mistake.

 

[joethepro36]

Italy made critical mistakes, I think Germany has done okay naval wise though.

Ahhh all those CL's just gone, literally dozens.

 

[Maestor]

GB currently has 4 fleets.

Germany has 1 fleet and Italy has 1 fleet.

the axis combined have invested much more than Great Britian.

They also have nothing to show for it so far besides maybe 5 less tank divisions from Great Britian.

The UK starts with 121 ships. You have lost 82 ships (including 9 battleships). Out of the 39 starting ships you did not lose 10 are transports and 5 are submarines. You expect us to believe that you have four fleets built using 24 starting ships and ships equivalent in cost to 5 armored divisions?

 

[wazzul]

Most of the ships built are destroyers. Destroyers are cheaper than cruisers and you mention that cruisers are so cheap that they are practically free so destroyers are even less. You can argue that the axis navy isn't completely defeated.

However is laughable to act that you are in a strong naval position at this point. Italy has lost what 46 Light cruisers now or something? That is not something you can just shrug off and say well light cruisers are cheap. So far I have only used starting ships for most engagements except against Italy when he suffered a bad defeat.

I still have 4 full fleets 2 of which are brand new. Taking into account total IC days cost it is about 2 tank corps that I could have. 10 full tank division with 5 brigades However how many less land units does Italy have as a result of his build? Same with Germany?

As I start with much more ships than either of you I can afford to win through attrition. I am not even losing the battle of attrition though when you count pure UK ships vs Italy and Germany. Every old ship of mine that dies but takes a new ship with it is a victory.