You're getting numbers into the fight, now. Their 4th infantry seems to be the unit to kill. Portugal's wars do involve a lot of marching around. There's no lack of excitement.
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I 2nd that; I am hooked and eagerly waiting to see that unfold! Hopefully it will end in a glorious victory for Portugal!
lol I wish I knew! They could be shot!
I don't think so. This is v1.3 -- were allied objectives added in Semper Fi? Anyone remember? I've never actually used them, so I wouldn't know.
Heh - Thanks!
Yeah, it's frustratingly slow, getting our relatively large number of weak units into the theatre, using our relatively small number of poorly escorted transports. But you're right -- it's finally starting to demonstrate who's boss!I 2nd that; I am hooked and eagerly waiting to see that unfold! Hopefully it will end in a glorious victory for Portugal!
Thanks! I can tell you that it's definitely going to be quite a ride!
_____________
Incidentally, so you all know, just tonight I finished going through all of the screenshots, so I've essentially mapped out the whole rest of this AAR, through its conclusion. There are some surprises ahead! And some funny things you'll get a laugh out of.
It will take still quite a few updates to finish this, but we're definitely getting there! That's good news, for those who like completion. That's bad news, maybe, for those who will miss this AAR.
But it's good news for those who maybe enjoy Kriegsgefahr as much or more! Because that's the AAR I'll be able to turn my attention to once this is done.I've also updated my other 2 currently updating AARs in the last couple of days -- Sforza!!! (EU3) and Serenity (V2). If you've enjoyed this, you might really enjoy Serenity. It's done in a similar style to this and I Am Siam. All are linked in my sig.
Thanks again for your comments, folks! I do really deeply appreciate them. Especially since this is such an old AAR, and even so "dated" in terms of version. It's still alot of fun to go over -- this was a blast to play.
More to come!
Rensslaer
- 1
AARthor’s Note: Because the Battle of Britain has become such a furball, with divisions running this way and that, I’m going to have to follow each regional battle for a few days, then return to another at an earlier point – roughly covering the 3 battles for 1) Newcastle, 2) Stanraer/Dumfries, and 3) Stirling/Shotts. Otherwise it would just be too confusing to read. I was confused as hell, which is why it’s taken 8 days to trace the spaghetti strings to their origins and produce this update!
By 10 June, 1943, the Germans had been present in Scotland for 3 1/2 months, and had quickly seized a portion of eastern Scotland, but then had stalled. Portuguese troops had been present for about a month, and were very mobile – nowhere near stalled – but faced a very fluid British challenge, too. Too many strong British units were present at different locations within what Portugal would have preferred to have as its perimeter in the British Isles. Northern Ireland, at least, was mostly pacified, and IRA partisans were causing enough trouble in the remaining districts that Portugal could concentrate on its campaign for Scotland and the rest of the British Isle.
The Germans, in the far north, occasionally demonstrate an intent to move forward, but then rarely do. Portugal is puzzled – are they waiting for us to win the war for them? We are doing all right, with that goal in mind, but we could use some help, and at times it’s unclear if we are gaining the initiative or losing it.
On the 9th of June, a lone transport convoy was able to deliver the Portuguese 6th Infantry onshore at Berwick, intending to slip south into Newcastle, not only capturing the city, but also cutting off the British 51st Infantry, which was being pinned by the 10th Garrison Division, which had hit their western flank.
However, on the next day, the 6th Infantry found that, during the night, the British 15th Motorised Infantry had taken up positions in the city of Newcastle, and their advance was stymied.
Also, the Royal Air Force was making Portuguese air attacks all but useless, and many planes were being lost in this meatgrinder. The Portuguese bombers, bereft of any fighter cover (would have been nice if the Luftwaffe had been more present!), were shifted to the Stirling/Shotts theatre, so they would hopefully be out of range of British fighters. Perhaps they could preserve their operational capacity that way, and yet still do some good.
The 21st Infantry, having been landed from the Irish Sea, was making its way across the waist of England to cut south of Newcastle, isolating the British units to the north from supply and assistance from reinforcements.
They shoved aside some British support units at Durham on the 12th, and continued toward the North Sea.
But the 10th Division, having landed at Berwick to threaten Newcastle from the north, was hard pressed, and was like to be pushed into the sea. On the 14th both the 10th and the 26th Garrison Divisions were withdrawn in good order, with the intent to be repositioned along the coast. The Royal Navy continued to loiter in port, apparently without fuel to make steam.
The 21st Infantry was still making its way east, and on the 15th it completed its drive to the North Sea, and turned north, into Newcastle. They turned around once communication was received that the 26th was being landed amphibiously on the city docks, and could accomplish the purpose of holding the city (for a time, anyway). This would not merely seize an important British city, but would increase the distance of occupied territory between the two British divisions in the region and their allies to the south.
The sheer number of Portuguese divisions, against the smaller number of British units, was winning the battle for us now.
The cutoff accomplished by the 26th and 10th Garrison divisions (the 10th being landed south of Newcastle, to hold the position of the 26th against counterattack from the south), and by the 10th Infantry, which now began to make its way south along the coast, was even more consequential because the British 15th Motorised relied upon continuous fuel shipments from the south, which were now impossible.
In fact, the 26th came under attack by the 15th at Newcastle as soon as both, the fact and the true import of having three Portuguese divisions behind them was realized by Gen. Anderson on the 17th.
To the north, in Scotland, the British 15th Infantry had already re-taken Stirling, but due to the circumstance of still being surrounded, was attempting to push her way south to meet with friendly units and supply lines. Portuguese bombers, operating only in the north, now, owing to British air superiority further south, were harrying the 15th as they advanced.
Fortunately, the evacuation of Stirling by the 15th invited the Germans to actually restart their aborted advance. Germans pushed into Stirling on the 17th, again isolating the few British units remaining to the north, and ensuring that the 15th wouldn’t derive any random supplies that might still have been foraged from the city. In desperation the 15th, finding four Portuguese divisions to her south, attacked Edinburgh, hoping to be able to bull her way through.
But the British 15th was good and truly surrounded, at this point, with German motorised infantry to her rear, a garrison and an infantry division on her right flank, and two small divisions of infantry ahead of her, in Edinburgh. Gen. Loyd’s command was showing signs of weakening from a blizzard of cuts. It was unclear whether she would be able to continue, or even if she would be able to make it into Edinburgh, even if the odds seemed good in a one-for-one comparison.
To the south, on the Irish Sea coast, the 4th Infantry was finally – incredibly, some might think, given the number of units trying to block her – was slowly wiggling free of her confines along the shore to drive into Wigtown.
As a result, once the 22nd Infantry and 22nd Garrison Divisions gave way, there was no point in continuing to try to “pin” her, and so the still-strong (such as it was) 3rd Garrison also broke contact and waited to see where Gen. Cassels would go, and what they could do about it.
Most strategists realized there was a danger that the 4th might push through to link up with the British 15th Infantry, slogging south out of Shotts, and being engaged by a similar moley arrangement of weak Portuguese divisions.
The 5th Garrison Division was landed at Stanraer, once the British had vacated the spot, in order to add to the pressure that could be applied. With luck, on the 12th, another ranging Portuguese infantry divison to her northeast was sufficient to direct Cassels toward the path of least resistance, to the south, toward Dumfries, where they had settled, by the 14th.
It was there that Cassels was finally brought to heel. All those weak divisions, exhausted from travel and combat, which surrounded her were of little consequence individually. But together, they had a collective power to press in on all sides, and they did so once there was an opportunity. It would have been folly for Cassels to attack out in any one direction, surrounded and pressed as he was.
A total of 35,000 men ringed the British 4th Infantry, which had nowhere left to run. The battle still might take a while, given the exhausted condition of the Portuguese, but suddenly it seemed unlikely the result could be any but one way.
Also, don’t forget AARLand’s community newspaper, out new this week! Includes an interview with… well, with me! Oh, and congratulations to MisterBean, whose excellent Germany Tutorial 2 has just surpassed this AAR in viewcount!
By 10 June, 1943, the Germans had been present in Scotland for 3 1/2 months, and had quickly seized a portion of eastern Scotland, but then had stalled. Portuguese troops had been present for about a month, and were very mobile – nowhere near stalled – but faced a very fluid British challenge, too. Too many strong British units were present at different locations within what Portugal would have preferred to have as its perimeter in the British Isles. Northern Ireland, at least, was mostly pacified, and IRA partisans were causing enough trouble in the remaining districts that Portugal could concentrate on its campaign for Scotland and the rest of the British Isle.
The Germans, in the far north, occasionally demonstrate an intent to move forward, but then rarely do. Portugal is puzzled – are they waiting for us to win the war for them? We are doing all right, with that goal in mind, but we could use some help, and at times it’s unclear if we are gaining the initiative or losing it.
On the 9th of June, a lone transport convoy was able to deliver the Portuguese 6th Infantry onshore at Berwick, intending to slip south into Newcastle, not only capturing the city, but also cutting off the British 51st Infantry, which was being pinned by the 10th Garrison Division, which had hit their western flank.
However, on the next day, the 6th Infantry found that, during the night, the British 15th Motorised Infantry had taken up positions in the city of Newcastle, and their advance was stymied.
Also, the Royal Air Force was making Portuguese air attacks all but useless, and many planes were being lost in this meatgrinder. The Portuguese bombers, bereft of any fighter cover (would have been nice if the Luftwaffe had been more present!), were shifted to the Stirling/Shotts theatre, so they would hopefully be out of range of British fighters. Perhaps they could preserve their operational capacity that way, and yet still do some good.
The 21st Infantry, having been landed from the Irish Sea, was making its way across the waist of England to cut south of Newcastle, isolating the British units to the north from supply and assistance from reinforcements.
They shoved aside some British support units at Durham on the 12th, and continued toward the North Sea.
But the 10th Division, having landed at Berwick to threaten Newcastle from the north, was hard pressed, and was like to be pushed into the sea. On the 14th both the 10th and the 26th Garrison Divisions were withdrawn in good order, with the intent to be repositioned along the coast. The Royal Navy continued to loiter in port, apparently without fuel to make steam.
The 21st Infantry was still making its way east, and on the 15th it completed its drive to the North Sea, and turned north, into Newcastle. They turned around once communication was received that the 26th was being landed amphibiously on the city docks, and could accomplish the purpose of holding the city (for a time, anyway). This would not merely seize an important British city, but would increase the distance of occupied territory between the two British divisions in the region and their allies to the south.
The sheer number of Portuguese divisions, against the smaller number of British units, was winning the battle for us now.
The cutoff accomplished by the 26th and 10th Garrison divisions (the 10th being landed south of Newcastle, to hold the position of the 26th against counterattack from the south), and by the 10th Infantry, which now began to make its way south along the coast, was even more consequential because the British 15th Motorised relied upon continuous fuel shipments from the south, which were now impossible.
In fact, the 26th came under attack by the 15th at Newcastle as soon as both, the fact and the true import of having three Portuguese divisions behind them was realized by Gen. Anderson on the 17th.
To the north, in Scotland, the British 15th Infantry had already re-taken Stirling, but due to the circumstance of still being surrounded, was attempting to push her way south to meet with friendly units and supply lines. Portuguese bombers, operating only in the north, now, owing to British air superiority further south, were harrying the 15th as they advanced.
Fortunately, the evacuation of Stirling by the 15th invited the Germans to actually restart their aborted advance. Germans pushed into Stirling on the 17th, again isolating the few British units remaining to the north, and ensuring that the 15th wouldn’t derive any random supplies that might still have been foraged from the city. In desperation the 15th, finding four Portuguese divisions to her south, attacked Edinburgh, hoping to be able to bull her way through.
But the British 15th was good and truly surrounded, at this point, with German motorised infantry to her rear, a garrison and an infantry division on her right flank, and two small divisions of infantry ahead of her, in Edinburgh. Gen. Loyd’s command was showing signs of weakening from a blizzard of cuts. It was unclear whether she would be able to continue, or even if she would be able to make it into Edinburgh, even if the odds seemed good in a one-for-one comparison.
To the south, on the Irish Sea coast, the 4th Infantry was finally – incredibly, some might think, given the number of units trying to block her – was slowly wiggling free of her confines along the shore to drive into Wigtown.
As a result, once the 22nd Infantry and 22nd Garrison Divisions gave way, there was no point in continuing to try to “pin” her, and so the still-strong (such as it was) 3rd Garrison also broke contact and waited to see where Gen. Cassels would go, and what they could do about it.
Most strategists realized there was a danger that the 4th might push through to link up with the British 15th Infantry, slogging south out of Shotts, and being engaged by a similar moley arrangement of weak Portuguese divisions.
The 5th Garrison Division was landed at Stanraer, once the British had vacated the spot, in order to add to the pressure that could be applied. With luck, on the 12th, another ranging Portuguese infantry divison to her northeast was sufficient to direct Cassels toward the path of least resistance, to the south, toward Dumfries, where they had settled, by the 14th.
It was there that Cassels was finally brought to heel. All those weak divisions, exhausted from travel and combat, which surrounded her were of little consequence individually. But together, they had a collective power to press in on all sides, and they did so once there was an opportunity. It would have been folly for Cassels to attack out in any one direction, surrounded and pressed as he was.
A total of 35,000 men ringed the British 4th Infantry, which had nowhere left to run. The battle still might take a while, given the exhausted condition of the Portuguese, but suddenly it seemed unlikely the result could be any but one way.
Also, don’t forget AARLand’s community newspaper, out new this week! Includes an interview with… well, with me!
Oh, and congratulations to MisterBean, whose excellent Germany Tutorial 2 has just surpassed this AAR in viewcount! - 1
Heavens, what a mess But all in all, it looks that the situation is slowly improving ( the fact that the Germans are moving again also helps ) and if you can erase the brits 4th and 15th, you will have a lot more peace of mind
But all in all, it looks that the situation is slowly improving ( the fact that the Germans are moving again also helps ) and if you can erase the brits 4th and 15th, you will have a lot more peace of mind 
I believe allied objectives were added in SF, if memory serves.
edit: And now I quoted myself instead of editing? This damn fever must be getting to me.
Barros Rodrigues is the winning General !!! I remember this name from somewhere... but what...
( I declare I have officially de-lurked )
( I declare I have officially de-lurked )
Barros Rodrigues is the winning General !!! I remember this name from somewhere... but what...
( I declare I have officially de-lurked )
You got me! :rofl: I chose this nickname because of that General, he is my favorite in-game Portuguese leader.
@Rensslaer it is looking good!!
Heavens, what a mess
I know!!! But I agree. Better than at many other times. I mean, if you were looking forward in 1939, could you have imagined Portuguese troops invading Britain AT ALL???!!!
Don't worry about it! I'm happy for you! You earned that one, for sure -- that (and the previous one) was a great piece of work. Get some rest, though -- you're sounding punchy! Hope you feel better!
Barros Rodrigues is the winning General !!! I remember this name from somewhere... but what...
( I declare I have officially de-lurked )
Great!
Welcome, Red_KLG! You know, until you mentioned it, I thought to myself the name was familiar, but I never quite realized he was one of my own generals! Glad to have you along!You got me! :rofl: I chose this nickname because of that General, he is my favorite in-game Portuguese leader.
@Rensslaer it is looking good!!
Thanks! So do you enjoy wearing that feathered hat?
Good news! I spent my lunch hour today preparing the next update! All I have to do is finish uploading the screenshots, and it's ready to go. Probably tomorrow.
Thanks again for reading, folks! Always good to hear from new readers, too!
Rensslaer
- 1
You do all the hard work and the Germans just march into Stirling. That's making sitzkreig work! Your transport get through because you've ensured the English get no fuel.
Lol! No, it is because that guy is the only Portuguese "offensive" leader (without the "old guard" trait) able to reach level 5.So do you enjoy wearing that feathered hat?
It’s nice to know that the Germans are actually doing something, besides occasional movements in northern Scotland. Here, we’ve spied German strategic bombers making a long, fiery ordeal in Sheffield while the Royal Air Force tries to swat them down. It’s always good news for us when the RAF is distracted.
At Newcastle, it very quickly became clear that the 26th wasn’t going to be able to hold the 15th Motorised back, and maintain control of the city. It was time to bring the 15th back from Middlesborough, where it had been expanding Portuguese control southward, so they could back up the 26th and hold the city.
Theoretically, if we could isolate these divisions – the 15th Motorised and the 51st Highlanders – north of Newcastle, they would eventually starve and wither. However, from experience, we knew this would take a long time, and these snakes would retain their venom for a while.
Then, the 26th retreated to regroup while the 21st Infantry held the line at Newcastle. This might well be a very drawn out process, so there was no sense in leaving all of our units spent while the British still had some heft in the area. Besides, if the 21st ever yielded, the 26th and 21st Garrison Divisions, to the south (again, not to be confused with the 21st Infantry), would be needed as a second defensive line.
To the north, the 11th Garrison Division was brought into Glasgow to provide support against the British 5th Infantry at Shotts.
The Brits in Shotts, surrounded and attacked on all sides for 3 or 4 days, were near to capitulation. They were in an impossible situation. But, in desperation, they continued to push toward Edinburgh, knowing that it was their only hope for escape from this trap.
At Dumfries, too, the British 4th Infantry died a slow and painful death, grinding down day by day, hour by hour, pressed at on all sides.
Gen. Cassels of the 4th offered his surrender late on the 23rd, and one pocket of British resistance was put to rest.
During this period of time, the Germans in north Scotland were beginning to stir. Partly, they moved against the remnants of British military units to the west. But they also appeared to be bringing more armored divisions to bear against two trapped British infantry divisions in the far north.
On the 25th, Gen. Loyd surrendered his 5th Infantry to the Portuguese (very specifically avoiding any nod of deference to the Germans). Yet another theatre closed, as Portuguese troops reoccupied Shotts.
But it was at Newcastle that Portugal was truly outnumbered, and where much was still at risk. The British still had two infantry divisions – bottled up, but strong and active within the pocket. The garrison divisions had pulled back to rest, but the 21st Infantry was now facing the full force of both pocketed enemy units, each stronger in numbers, armament and training.
Newcastle, it appeared, would fall. Late on the 27th, the 21st was forced to pull back to the second defensive line, and had little hope of recovering in time to face the advance of the British. The only positive thing about this situation was that the British were now clearly “escaping”, and not posing a threat to Portuguese operations to the north, as had been the case a couple of weeks before.
The 21st retreated with heavy losses – more than twice what the British had suffered. There was initial concern that the British divisions might break out and reach British lines again.
However, fast footwork at sea, and on land, prevented this. The demise of the 4th Infantry had freed up Portuguese divisions, which now raced south and caught the flank of the 51st Highlanders.
Meanwhile, the secondary defense line had had a bit of time to recover and regroup, such that they slowed the British escape. This allowed more troops, either arriving by land or sea at Berwick, were able to catch up with the rear flank of the 15th.
Another thing caught up with the British then – lack of supply. This hit the 15th Motorised Infantry hardest. They ground to an utter halt, and on the 3rd of July, Gen. Anderson surrendered. Those who were able scrabbled to find the lines of the 51st Highlanders, but they, too, were hunkered down in defensive positions, never to attempt another breakout.
Already, with two of the dogged British divisions down, plans had been made to resume an advance to the south into England proper. This accelerated with the capture of the 15th Motorised and the solid entrapment of the 51st Highlanders.
On the 2nd of July, the Portuguese 24th Infantry landed at Scarborough, only to find British paratroopers lodged at Hull. However, General Neto, schooled in the successful mobile tactics used throughout Portugal’s asymmetric war, paid no attention to them. Bypassing them, he immediately advanced upon York and Leeds, and by the 6th he and his scouting phalanx of armored cars were threatening the major airfields at Sheffield, deep in the English Midlands.
On the 7th, Portuguese transports enabled dual landings on either side of Liverpool. The infantry garrisoning Liverpool quickly reacted toward the first landing, but were committed by the time they realized the 4th Cavalry and 29th Infantry had landed to their south, soon to be followed by the 3rd Armored Car Brigade.
Together, these three divisions began an exploitation mission into Wales.
Seemingly, after the disappointments and anxiety of early June, where British divisions roamed almost inexorably, and concerns were felt for the whole Portuguese operation, by the first week of July, it seemed as if the British had little to throw in the way of a general Portuguese advance into England.
At Newcastle, it very quickly became clear that the 26th wasn’t going to be able to hold the 15th Motorised back, and maintain control of the city. It was time to bring the 15th back from Middlesborough, where it had been expanding Portuguese control southward, so they could back up the 26th and hold the city.
Theoretically, if we could isolate these divisions – the 15th Motorised and the 51st Highlanders – north of Newcastle, they would eventually starve and wither. However, from experience, we knew this would take a long time, and these snakes would retain their venom for a while.
Then, the 26th retreated to regroup while the 21st Infantry held the line at Newcastle. This might well be a very drawn out process, so there was no sense in leaving all of our units spent while the British still had some heft in the area. Besides, if the 21st ever yielded, the 26th and 21st Garrison Divisions, to the south (again, not to be confused with the 21st Infantry), would be needed as a second defensive line.
To the north, the 11th Garrison Division was brought into Glasgow to provide support against the British 5th Infantry at Shotts.
The Brits in Shotts, surrounded and attacked on all sides for 3 or 4 days, were near to capitulation. They were in an impossible situation. But, in desperation, they continued to push toward Edinburgh, knowing that it was their only hope for escape from this trap.
At Dumfries, too, the British 4th Infantry died a slow and painful death, grinding down day by day, hour by hour, pressed at on all sides.
Gen. Cassels of the 4th offered his surrender late on the 23rd, and one pocket of British resistance was put to rest.
During this period of time, the Germans in north Scotland were beginning to stir. Partly, they moved against the remnants of British military units to the west. But they also appeared to be bringing more armored divisions to bear against two trapped British infantry divisions in the far north.
On the 25th, Gen. Loyd surrendered his 5th Infantry to the Portuguese (very specifically avoiding any nod of deference to the Germans). Yet another theatre closed, as Portuguese troops reoccupied Shotts.
But it was at Newcastle that Portugal was truly outnumbered, and where much was still at risk. The British still had two infantry divisions – bottled up, but strong and active within the pocket. The garrison divisions had pulled back to rest, but the 21st Infantry was now facing the full force of both pocketed enemy units, each stronger in numbers, armament and training.
Newcastle, it appeared, would fall. Late on the 27th, the 21st was forced to pull back to the second defensive line, and had little hope of recovering in time to face the advance of the British. The only positive thing about this situation was that the British were now clearly “escaping”, and not posing a threat to Portuguese operations to the north, as had been the case a couple of weeks before.
The 21st retreated with heavy losses – more than twice what the British had suffered. There was initial concern that the British divisions might break out and reach British lines again.
However, fast footwork at sea, and on land, prevented this. The demise of the 4th Infantry had freed up Portuguese divisions, which now raced south and caught the flank of the 51st Highlanders.
Meanwhile, the secondary defense line had had a bit of time to recover and regroup, such that they slowed the British escape. This allowed more troops, either arriving by land or sea at Berwick, were able to catch up with the rear flank of the 15th.
Another thing caught up with the British then – lack of supply. This hit the 15th Motorised Infantry hardest. They ground to an utter halt, and on the 3rd of July, Gen. Anderson surrendered. Those who were able scrabbled to find the lines of the 51st Highlanders, but they, too, were hunkered down in defensive positions, never to attempt another breakout.
Already, with two of the dogged British divisions down, plans had been made to resume an advance to the south into England proper. This accelerated with the capture of the 15th Motorised and the solid entrapment of the 51st Highlanders.
On the 2nd of July, the Portuguese 24th Infantry landed at Scarborough, only to find British paratroopers lodged at Hull. However, General Neto, schooled in the successful mobile tactics used throughout Portugal’s asymmetric war, paid no attention to them. Bypassing them, he immediately advanced upon York and Leeds, and by the 6th he and his scouting phalanx of armored cars were threatening the major airfields at Sheffield, deep in the English Midlands.
On the 7th, Portuguese transports enabled dual landings on either side of Liverpool. The infantry garrisoning Liverpool quickly reacted toward the first landing, but were committed by the time they realized the 4th Cavalry and 29th Infantry had landed to their south, soon to be followed by the 3rd Armored Car Brigade.
Together, these three divisions began an exploitation mission into Wales.
Seemingly, after the disappointments and anxiety of early June, where British divisions roamed almost inexorably, and concerns were felt for the whole Portuguese operation, by the first week of July, it seemed as if the British had little to throw in the way of a general Portuguese advance into England.
- 1
It really helps when your horde of 1-1 & 1-2 units attack the 3-5 UK units instead of trying to take them on one to one
I believe the UK is in the bag, at least your LS will skyrocket because of that. Nice job!
A Big Thank You
Rensslaer,
I remember when you started this AAR way back in August of 2009. I had not even joined the Paradox community at that time and was still checking out a game, strangely I believed at that time, called Hearts of Iron 3. This game, a friend told me, was excellent and would be ultimate extension of the massive board games with cardboard counters that I played with when I was a child. The game looked daunting though, that is, until I stumbled onto an AAR not about Germany, the UK, USA or Soviet Union, but onto a smaller country, Portugal. After a few weeks of reading your AAR, I was sold. I purchased Hearts of Iron 3 and this launched me into several thousand hours of Hearts of Iron 3 (and soon other Paradox Interactive gaming) bliss.
All these past years I've been lurking here and reading this and some of your other AARs, all of which opened me up to new PI games most all of which I have enjoyed immensely.
I can't wait to see the conclusion of this AAR which launched my HOI3 obsession. In the meantime, however, I'll be printing out this entire thread (as soon as I can make the formatting work and if I can't it'll be down to opening a million tabs in Google chrome!) and re-reading it on the several long intercontinental flights I will be taking next month. I can't sleep on planes so I figured your AAR's, including this one, will help me pass the time.
That little story done, I just wanted to thank you for helping launch my obsession! You're a fantastic AARer (I think that is how you say it :laugh: ).
If you're ever in the SF Bay Area the drinks are on me!
Sincerely,
--Andrew
Rensslaer,
I remember when you started this AAR way back in August of 2009. I had not even joined the Paradox community at that time and was still checking out a game, strangely I believed at that time, called Hearts of Iron 3. This game, a friend told me, was excellent and would be ultimate extension of the massive board games with cardboard counters that I played with when I was a child. The game looked daunting though, that is, until I stumbled onto an AAR not about Germany, the UK, USA or Soviet Union, but onto a smaller country, Portugal. After a few weeks of reading your AAR, I was sold. I purchased Hearts of Iron 3 and this launched me into several thousand hours of Hearts of Iron 3 (and soon other Paradox Interactive gaming) bliss.
All these past years I've been lurking here and reading this and some of your other AARs, all of which opened me up to new PI games most all of which I have enjoyed immensely.
I can't wait to see the conclusion of this AAR which launched my HOI3 obsession. In the meantime, however, I'll be printing out this entire thread (as soon as I can make the formatting work and if I can't it'll be down to opening a million tabs in Google chrome!) and re-reading it on the several long intercontinental flights I will be taking next month. I can't sleep on planes so I figured your AAR's, including this one, will help me pass the time.
That little story done, I just wanted to thank you for helping launch my obsession! You're a fantastic AARer (I think that is how you say it :laugh: ).
If you're ever in the SF Bay Area the drinks are on me!
Sincerely,
--Andrew
Indeed! Oh well, I don't begrudge the sacrifice. We're getting plenty of provinces to the south.
Lol! No, it is because that guy is the only Portuguese "offensive" leader (without the "old guard" trait) able to reach level 5.
I think he must have ended up in charge of that battle because he was the highest ranking general. He seems like a pretty good guy!
It really helps when your horde of 1-1 & 1-2 units attack the 3-5 UK units instead of trying to take them on one to one
Yes! Like a pack of dogs on a bear!
I just have to have enough around to make a difference.I absolutely LOVE to hear stories like yours, Andrew! Thank you for telling me, and for your kind words, and Welcome Osprey88!
I'm always excited when I can get someone else excited about the game. Glad you're branching out into others too! I started out with the cardboard counters (Avalon Hill and SPI mainly) too! Great fun -- miss that, except I don't miss all the paperwork and mental figuring.
I always wanted something like HOI 3. When I was in college I had a room all to myself in the dorms, and I removed one of the beds and put ceiling tile up over the wall opposite my bed. I stapled a 6 foot by 36 foot (around 2 by 12 meters) world map onto it. Then I got hundreds of varicolored pushpins and color-coded them with adhesive dots to represent all the countries -- USA was a blue pin with a white dot, Germany was a gray pin with a red dot, etc. I even superimposed cellophane over it so we could mark on the map. Then me and my floormate re-played WW II on the map! It was a tourist attraction -- people would knock on my door to see the map and the crazy guy who put it up! lol
I was in SF almost a year ago, and loved it! I'll be back one of these days. Thanks!
My big priority right now is getting taxes done, so I may be a little slow with this update. Should happen soon, though -- not more than a few days at the most. I also just finished a huge war in my V2 game (Serenity AAR), which was demanding my attention.
Thanks again for your readership, folks!
Rensslaer
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On the 9th of July, 1943, the Portuguese 24th Infantry set up a perimeter throughout the city of Sheffield, which was found to be mostly a rubble heap, after determined and repeated attacks by German four-engined bombers. Gen. Neto expected to renew his advance as soon as they could regroup and establish their situation, but they found themselves challenged by a brigade (not a division, this time, which was telling) of British motor infantry.
The British 3rd Motorised posed more of a distraction than a threat, since Neto’s troops were entrenched in a heavily rubble-ized (and therefore highly defensible) urban position. But the “Run of the 24th” was over. Their hopes of beating the 4th Cavalry to Birmingham were dashed. They would have to await developments.
Wales was already half overrun by three divisions, to the west. Far to the north of the rapidly expanding front, the 51st Highlanders continued a stubborn defense at Morpeth.
But the result there was foreordained.
All seemed suddenly cheery, for the Axis advance against Britain’s home isles. And then things looked up even more…
The Germans (independently!!!) were launching another major invasion of the British Isles! This time at Hull. Why they chose to attack Hull instead of the undefended Grimsby, immediately to the south, I’ll never know. But I didn’t care! This was great news! I wouldn’t have to carry all the water myself.
On the 10th, it was recognized that a British division was moving north out of Birmingham to intervene in what had become the Battle for Liverpool. The British had attacked to the north, and the Portuguese 29th Infantry had attacked their rear flank. If another British division got into the mix, that could complicate things, fatally, so the 4th Cavalry moved quickly to intercept and hold off, or at least delay, these reinforcements.
Meanwhile, Portuguese transports were landing three more units – an infantry division and two garrison brigades – in Cornwall, on the southwest tip of England, north and west of Plymouth.
Suddenly, the once-secure British Isles were looking as if the control of its masters was collapsing in on itself, beset on all sides. The 51st Highlanders finally surrendered on 12 July, and those divisions who had been so involved began to deploy southward.
By the 14th, Liverpool was surrounded. That British division from the south was closing in, the 4th Cavalry not being able to prevent its passage (while attacking across a river – bad idea). But on the whole, once Liverpool was surrounded there wasn’t much they could do, so long as the 4th Cavalry could snipe at their flanks (Liverpool, of course, will remain in supply, since it’s a port, but the 48th South Midlands Division will have modifiers for being encircled, and won’t be able to leave the safety of the city).
Here’s where one of those bizarre circumstances of war comes about…
Our 3rd Armored Car Division has been advancing so quickly that the Germans are still sending strategic bombers to destroy the factories there, even AFTER we’ve taken the city!!! Now we have to repair all that damage.
By the 17th, the newly redeployed 1st Motorized Infantry had taken Plymouth, and the British were finally getting divisions in the region to oppose our landing.
But more divisions were landing in order to threaten even these British units with encirclement.
The 4th Cavalry was busy trying to slip into Coventry, south of Birmingham, in order to cut that division off from supply, as well as all other British forces which were threatening our operations in Wales.
The British attack upon Sheffield – never very strong, but weakening by the day – would end soon. Then that brigade would come under attack from two directions.
And, by the 18th, the Germans had successfully defeated the paratroopers at Hull, and had landed upon a beachhead. This war, for Britain, at least, was very quickly coming to a close.
The British 3rd Motorised posed more of a distraction than a threat, since Neto’s troops were entrenched in a heavily rubble-ized (and therefore highly defensible) urban position. But the “Run of the 24th” was over. Their hopes of beating the 4th Cavalry to Birmingham were dashed. They would have to await developments.
Wales was already half overrun by three divisions, to the west. Far to the north of the rapidly expanding front, the 51st Highlanders continued a stubborn defense at Morpeth.
But the result there was foreordained.
All seemed suddenly cheery, for the Axis advance against Britain’s home isles. And then things looked up even more…
The Germans (independently!!!) were launching another major invasion of the British Isles! This time at Hull. Why they chose to attack Hull instead of the undefended Grimsby, immediately to the south, I’ll never know. But I didn’t care! This was great news! I wouldn’t have to carry all the water myself.
On the 10th, it was recognized that a British division was moving north out of Birmingham to intervene in what had become the Battle for Liverpool. The British had attacked to the north, and the Portuguese 29th Infantry had attacked their rear flank. If another British division got into the mix, that could complicate things, fatally, so the 4th Cavalry moved quickly to intercept and hold off, or at least delay, these reinforcements.
Meanwhile, Portuguese transports were landing three more units – an infantry division and two garrison brigades – in Cornwall, on the southwest tip of England, north and west of Plymouth.
Suddenly, the once-secure British Isles were looking as if the control of its masters was collapsing in on itself, beset on all sides. The 51st Highlanders finally surrendered on 12 July, and those divisions who had been so involved began to deploy southward.
By the 14th, Liverpool was surrounded. That British division from the south was closing in, the 4th Cavalry not being able to prevent its passage (while attacking across a river – bad idea). But on the whole, once Liverpool was surrounded there wasn’t much they could do, so long as the 4th Cavalry could snipe at their flanks (Liverpool, of course, will remain in supply, since it’s a port, but the 48th South Midlands Division will have modifiers for being encircled, and won’t be able to leave the safety of the city).
Here’s where one of those bizarre circumstances of war comes about…
Our 3rd Armored Car Division has been advancing so quickly that the Germans are still sending strategic bombers to destroy the factories there, even AFTER we’ve taken the city!!! Now we have to repair all that damage.
By the 17th, the newly redeployed 1st Motorized Infantry had taken Plymouth, and the British were finally getting divisions in the region to oppose our landing.
But more divisions were landing in order to threaten even these British units with encirclement.
The 4th Cavalry was busy trying to slip into Coventry, south of Birmingham, in order to cut that division off from supply, as well as all other British forces which were threatening our operations in Wales.
The British attack upon Sheffield – never very strong, but weakening by the day – would end soon. Then that brigade would come under attack from two directions.
And, by the 18th, the Germans had successfully defeated the paratroopers at Hull, and had landed upon a beachhead. This war, for Britain, at least, was very quickly coming to a close.
- 1
A race to London between the Germans and the Portuguese ... who would had said that even in last update ?
I assume that, given your comment about this being some of the last updates for this AAR, that you will probably stop after the Axis takes London ... Too bad; the Portuguese flag would look nice in the Kremlin, methinks
I assume that, given your comment about this being some of the last updates for this AAR, that you will probably stop after the Axis takes London ... Too bad; the Portuguese flag would look nice in the Kremlin, methinks
A race to London between the Germans and the Portuguese ... who would had said that even in last update ?
I assume that, given your comment about this being some of the last updates for this AAR, that you will probably stop after the Axis takes London ... Too bad; the Portuguese flag would look nice in the Kremlin, methinks
I KNOW!!!
That was the shocking thing, even for me, the player! I'll keep playing beyond Britain -- there's more to come -- but you're right, I'm not going to take on the USSR. I thought about this alot, and my reasons are threefold. 1) That would take FOREVER!
2) I'm not really the leader -- the Germans are -- and I'd have to somehow prod them into doing the right stuff. 3) This version (v1.3 I think) is too buggy and inconsistent, the AI is bad... It's just kind of a torture to keep going with this version. I'd rather pay attention to newer expansions and better AI, etc. PLUS this AAR is useful as a story, and for general strategy, thinking, etc., but the outdated version means it's not useful for practical application. Kriegsgefahr is much better in that respect, plus I think I may try either FTM or TFH to play a Cold War scenario against the USSR instead.Another update coming soon, but not today! Still working on taxes, plus I've started looking at Kriegsgefahr again (have you folks seen it?). I'm even about to post an update there (first since May of 2012 I think).
Thanks for commenting, Ricardo! Anyone else out there?
Rensslaer
- 1