Tag: March to Victory (Page 4 of 5)

The weather clears over the Alps. A major reorganization and rethinking of the Entente defensive scheme in France begins. The British armies prepare to defend their area with reserves behind the line ready to react wherever the Central Powers attacks. The French also try to set up their defenses this way – relying on reserves (now that the weather is good and reserve movement possible by all of the troops) to bolster their front line. This will allow a better defense threat since three divisions in reserve can cover two or three front line hexes (each defended by three divisions). A better utilization of troops can result.

The Italians maneuver the 3^rd Army to recover its lost ground. An assault by the 3^rd Army recovers one of its lost hexes while destroying an Austrian fortress brigade. Attacks by the 4^th Army result in the recapture of Villach and the repulse of three Italian corps near Triest. The total losses are 46 Italian Manpower Points versus 10 Austrian Manpower and 3 Equipment Points.

Tom: Just when you think things are starting to break up in your favor, it really hits the fan with an AP result on your largest attack! At least the Austrians had to bleed a little this turn too. I really fear that the Central Powers are going to reinforce the Austrians with German troops between Trient and Triest. There is a large gap between the two cities that is very hard to keep in supply for the Italians while conducting offensive operations around the two cities. I hate to have to go on the defensive down here since an offensive in France is going to be difficult. I am building up the British to try an offensive later this year, but I am not sure if I can do it.

The Bavarian Alp Corps is formed and moves to the Munchen on the Austrian Border. It is joined by the Gae/B Army Group HQs and three resource points. The corps unites all of the mountain troops available to the Germans on the Western Front. The decision is still not made on declaring war on Italy, but the practicalities are far along. Elsewhere, the Central Powers strengthens its defensive line while the Austrians prepare to throw back the Italians who have recaptured Villach. Zepplins fail to have any effect on London or Lyon.

The attack on Villach results in an EX. The Austrians lose 8 Manpower Points to the Italians 5 Manpower Points.

The Italian 3^rd Army successfully counterattacks and frees the last of Austrian-held Italy by forcing the Austrians back across the border. There are no losses.

Carl: I have formed the Alps Corps and prepared them to aid Austria. Germany still has not declared war on Italy, but the lure of mobile combat and kicking Italy out of the war is pretty great. The Western Front requires too many resource points and too much static defense on both sides to really get an offensive going. I should still concentrate something on the French, but the new front with its mobile combat is a real temptation. The Italians just do not have the forces they need to really defend everywhere, and a counterattack would go far in providing a good defense for Trient and Triest.

The weather remains the same, clear everywhere but mud in the Alps. The French and British quickly spend their new manpower points on rebuilding their cadres to full strength. This is also the first time that the Entente production has matched the historical production – if you do not include the Italian front in the historical production. It is the closest it has every been so far.

The French withdraw their 1^st Corps, surrounded by enemy ZOCs with the destruction of the Belgian army. The Belgians are able to rebuild one of their two cadres, but it will be over a year before the other can be brought back up to strength. The British continue to strengthen their front lines and construct another line of entrenchments behind them in case of need. The Italians shift some more troops to the 3^rd Army and continue to press their advance towards Triest.

An attack by the Italian 3^rd Army is repulsed with the retreat of the Italians out of the mountains leading to a quick advance into Italy by an Austrian fortress unit. The Italian 4^thArmy attacks towards the East just north of Triest. The 7^th Corps is stopped while the Austrians retreat in front of the 6^th Corps. The 5^th Corps and the Cavalry attack becomes a disaster as the Italians are nearly destroyed. The Italians end up losing 41 Manpower and 3 Equipment points overall while the Austrians lose nothing.

The Austrian R(10) Army reacts and two more Austrian units invade Italy following the 3^rd Army.

Tom: This has been a bad turn. The attack on the Belgian Army was a small surprise – the result however was devastating. To see him attack, destroy, and capture a hex with 30 some defense points (about the average for my entire line) from only two attacking corps is extremely bad news for me. This hints that he could potentially attack at advantage any hex held by the French Army. To add to the hurt, I had to withdraw from another hex in order to save a French Corps from being surrounded. This is really bad news. I only hope that the Eastern Front will take away more of his troops. The Italian front gave me more bad news with the lousy die rolls almost destroying two corps while the Austrians have invaded Italy following the 3^rd Army’s retreat. This probably has saved Trient from any serious danger, the only bright spot is my continued advance around Triest. Perhaps this will be able to be saved, although if any troops come south, I could be in big trouble with the Italians.

Production sees the Central Powers get enough manpower and equipment points to catch up on its reorganization. The rest of the turn sees the French front get reorganized with the new divisions. The Austrians redeploy their defenses to stop the Italians attacking near Triest.

Carl: A quiet turn on my part. The major portion of the turn has been reconfiguring and moving around the German troops to best use the reorganized troops best. It seems as though I have managed to survive the worst of the shipments eastward for the next few months. I really do not have the combat supply to really press the French like I would like to, but I will continue to build up my supplies and forces looking forward to that. I have sent some resource points south to aid the Austrians in their fight with the Italians. I am still playing with the thought of what one good German or Bavarian corps could do against the Italians if used between Trient and Triest. Perhaps when the Bavarian Alp Corps is formed next turn.

The weather has begun to clear. The Alps are still in mud, but the rest of the front is now clear weather. The British have begun to build a second line of entrenchments behind the first from the Somme north to the Channel. Some reorganization along the French lines continue as the front as a whole is strengthened and the French army begins to rebuild its losses from the 1914 campaigns. The Italians begin to shift more power to their 3^rd Army as it begins to try to cut the supply line to Trient.

The Italian 3^rd Army declines combat, but an unsupplied attack by the Italian 4^th Army using the 6^th and 7^th Corps completes the capture of the Austrian defenses behind the Isonzo River. There are no losses as the Austrians retreat in haste from the hex.

The German 2^nd Army reacts and sends reserve units towards the Channel.

Tom: I am not sure what the movement towards the Channel indicates – but I think I am ready for it. The Italian 3^rd Army will be getting more reinforcements next turn which should allow a good chance at cutting the Austrian supply line to Trient. Another corps has pushed over the Isonzo so I should be able to continue trying to surround Triest. It will be slow going though. I am looking forward to production next turn because I need a lot more resource points.

Zeppelin raids on London and Lyon fail. A quick movement to the Channel to reinforce the 8R and 12^th Saxon Corps. They will spearhead an attempt to knock out the remainder of the Belgian army. There is little movement on the Austrian front other than to reinforce near Triest to stop the Italian 4^th Army offensive.

The first use of gas on the Western Front is utilized in the German attack on Dunkerque defended by the remains of the Belgian army. The Belgians successfully utilize their reserves and move the entire remains of the army into this last defensive attempt. A 6:1 +2 and a die roll of 6 destroys the Belgian army and captures the hex at no loss to the attackers!

The Entente loses 17 Belgian manpower and 13 Equipment Points.

Quick reactions by the Belgian cadres and the French 5^th Army manages to plug the hole but they cannot muster enough for a counter-attack.

Carl: I think that I have just put the Belgians out of the war. With only .5 manpower points each production phase, it will be a long time before the two remaining cadres will be ready to do anything other than guard the rear lines for the Entente. This will mean the British or French will have to spread out one more hex in defense. It will be good to get production next turn – I am almost out of resource points. There will be another offensive by the Germans later this year against the French to try and wear down their morale. If all goes well, the French will be in deep morale problems by the end of the year. It will probably be an attack on a fortress which the French would lose 10 morale points if they lost it. This should set up another bleeding would like Lille for them.

The weather is still mud. The Entente begin to reorganize the French defensive line. The Italians begin to redirect their attacks on the Austrians, moving some units from the 1^st and 3^rd Armies to reinforce the main thrust by the 2^nd Army on Trient. The 4^th Army shifts into a defensive mode to hold their positions.

The Italians decide not to attack Trient after all and there are no attacks.

The Central Powers fail to react.

Tom: This is the first turn we have played after our holiday break. It may take a short while to get back into the game and the thinking, but it was a good place to stop for a while. The Italians just do not have the supplies for a sustained offensive at this time and the odds really stink around Trient. I will have to shift the emphasis to the 3^rd Army and try to cut the supply line.

The Central Powers do some small scale reorganization of their armies. Very little else occurs while the Austrians reoccupy Villach and entrench at Triest.

Carl: A shortage of equipment points is slowing down the reorganization of the German armies. The Austrians have a strong position and will sit in it for as long as the Italians will let them. The starting back up of the game has had some effect on this turn’s inaction. However, I think the lack of supply has a much greater effect. It will be a few game months before the next heavy offensive, at least on the Central Powers side.

Spring has come to the Western Front with Mud weather. The British reinforce their front lines. The Italians continue their advances on Trient and Triest. Some shifting of French reserves to support the weaker parts of their defensive line completes the Entente’s moves.

The Italian 1^st Army, attacking from the northwest of Trient attempting to cut the supply line, is forced to retreat. The Italian 3^rd Army, attacking from the southeast of Trient attempting to cut the supply line, almost destroying the defenders at large cost to the attackers. The Italian 4^th Army now attacks eastward. The 5^th Corps successfully captures Villach. The 7^th Corps is stopped with casualties. The 8^th and 9^th Corps come close to destroying the Austrian defenders, but they do hold and throw back the Italians with large losses.

The Entente lost 40 Italian Manpower and 11 Equipment points. The Central Powers lost 11 Austrian/Hungarian Manpower and 6 Equipment points.

The Central Powers are unable to react in any meaningful way.

Tom: I think I would have been better served if the Italians had waited until better weather to declare war. I have been pressing attacks that only harm the Austrian/Hungarians on a 4-6, and two of those results are DRs. I just don’t think I can afford to wait until clear weather on the front because the Central Powers are sure to reinforce the Austrian/Hungarians soon. As it is, the combat is centered around Trient (with 3 Italian armies attacking it) and Triest (with 1 Italian army). If additional Central Powers armies appear (and I am sure they will), I will have to pull back some of the attacking armies on Trient. Trient is a hard enough nut to crack (half attack for improved old fortress and halved for mountain terrain) without attacking with only one or two armies. The supply situation in the mountains is just too restricted to maintain a large front with a single army HQs.

The last of the cavalry divisions head to the Eastern front. The army reorganization begins but falls short due to lack of equipment. Hopefully next month will see enough equipment points from mobilized artillery to finish the job. The Austrians begin to dig in near Trient and in Triest. The newest army is defending to the north of Trient to stop the Italian drive on Klagenfurt. The French front reorganizes due to the new army reorganization. All offensives are put on hold until the weather clears.

The Entente fails to react.

Carl: I have been considering sending some of the Bavarian mountain troops to aid the Austrian/Hungarians. So far, though, they do not seem to need it. Now that the bulk of the reinforcements are in down there, the Italians do not appear to have an easy time of it. One thing that I have been thinking about is a counteroffensive into the eastern plains in northern Italy. Perhaps try and cut off the Italian 4^th Army attacking Triest. I will have to wait and see what will occur. I have decided to postpone my drive to the English Channel until good weather comes. I am going to be able to rebuild my forces faster than the Entente can, so waiting should not cost me much. If I can reach the channel, it will cause heavy casualties for the Belgians and British and force the French to send troops to help them. I am considering going after one of the southern French fortresses and create a situation much like Lille where the French must bleed for a while. This may send them into serious morale problems later this year.

The Entente rebuilds their line behind Lille. The Belgians now have a single corps holding Dunkerque. The French 1^st Corps is between the Belgians and the two British armies. Some more movement of reserves to strengthen the area is all that occurs during the turn.

The Central Powers continue their attacks near Lille with an assault on the British 1^st Corps. The British are able to reinforce the line and bring the odds down one column. The Central Powers lost 14 German Manpower and 34 Equipment points to the Entente’s 20 British Manpower and 13 Equipment points.

Tom: I had hoped for some peace, but Carl is continuing to put more pressure on my forces. Although the British morale is high, their manpower situation is not good. He has almost taken the Belgians out of the war, the French morale is low, and now he looks to be going after the British. This could get very bad very quick. My morale is slipping almost as bad as the others.

The Central Powers shift more forces into the Lille area to face the British. They attack the British line, the British 1^st Army is out of resource points so they will not have combat supply. The British 1^st Corps is shattered. The British 3^rd Corps is reinforced with an Indian Cavalry division and it holds with heavy losses. Total losses are 8 German Manpower points versus 8 British Manpower, 5 Indian Manpower, and 17 Equipment points.

The Entente react by sending a French corps moving towards the Lille area to help bolster the French and British defense of the area.

Carl: The attacks on the British were kind of a last minute decision. I had thought to wait and rebuild the strength of the army back up and for better weather. But there I was with a good odds attack on the British 1^st Corps in my reaction phase. This used up the last of the British resource points for the area and gave me good odds against two British corps. The losses that the British suffered will take a long while to replace.

The weather has cleared, but Zone D continues with Winter weather. Great news picks up the morale of the Entente as Italy enters the war on their side. An interesting event where Zone D (most of the Western Front) is in Winter while Zone C (the Alps) is in Mud weather.

The Italians advance against both Trient and Triest. The Italians are at maximum odds but most of the attacks are with -4 die roll modifiers due to weather and terrain. The Austrian border guards are forced to retreat in a few areas (notably around Triest) but the Italians are halted in their attacks towards Trient. The Italians lose 2 Manpower and 17 Equipment points.

The German 2^nd Army attacks the British 1^st Army causing some casualties but the British hold the defensive line. The Central Powers lost 32 German Manpower, 10 Bavarian Manpower, and 22 Equipment points. The Entente lost 22 British Manpower, 8 Canadian Manpower, and 4 Equipment Points.

Tom: There I was with visions of an Italian blitzkrieg, much like the Central Powers marching through Belgium, and then nothing happened in Austria. I am adjacent to Triest and Trient, but it is obvious that the terrain and the weather is just too bad for a very good advance (especially with the 6:1 Mobile CRT ceiling). Obviously, the Italian front is going to go slower than I had hoped. In the meantime, Carl is picking on the British now. All of the March production manpower points are already gone into units. The French are stronger now and may have to defend more of the line and allow the British to consolidate for a while.

All is quiet on the Western Front as the Austrian/Hungarians rush up to defend Triest and Trient. On the French line some shifting and rebuilding occurs, but the Central Powers are looking forward to the reorganization of the German army starting next turn.

The Entente breathes a sigh of relief in France. The Italians react with the 3^rd Army and tries its attack towards Trient again. The Austrian defenders mow the Italians down as they attack and the Italians lose 12 Italian Manpower and 1 Equipment Point without anything to show for it.

Carl: I definitely needed a breather on the French front. The Austrian/Hungarian front is more stable than I had feared. I think that his successful activation of Italy was too soon, at least weather-wise. The Italians will have a hard time slogging through the Alps and Trient should be able to hold. The worry for me is Triest and its factory. This could be a bad loss for the Central Powers if the factory falls to the Italians and halves the Austrian/Hungarian production. I have not yet sent the Bavarian mountain divisions to help, but it is possible that I may have to do so. They should stop any hope the Italians have of advancing too far.

Another scramble to put fresh Belgian troops in the front line, fresh French troops to defend Lille, and fresh British troops to their front line. All three Entente nationalities were hit around Lille during the last turn. All held their ground, but the losses had to be made up to prevent another assault by the Central Powers succeeding.

A low odds attack on the Belgians north of Lille sees only a single full strength division remaining as the Central Powers react and roll an AX result. Another assault on Lille results in another AX – much to the Entente’s dismay. The Central Powers lost 23 German Manpower, 24 Saxon Manpower, and 89 Equipment points. The Entente lost 11 Belgian Manpower, 12 French Metropolitan Manpower, 8 French Colonial, and 27 Equipment points.

The Entente decides not to reinforce Lille with the French heavy cavalry since a full strength division is still present in the hex.

Tom: Talked too soon last turn. He lost 47 Manpower and 89 Equipment points to my 31 Manpower and 27 Equipment points, about two to one in losses, but the Belgians are going to have to pull back to only one hex and the French or British will have to take over, probably the French. This does not bode well for holding around Lille, although the city is still holding, I think I will probably let the Central Powers have it after Italy enters the war. I can’t afford the French losses. It is like Verdun was – bleeding the French manpower and morale.

The Zepplins attack London again, this time the KLM L3 registers the first terror hit on London, and history is made. All of the available Central Powers resource points are now present around Lille. Some minor troop movement allows the Central Powers to prepare in the area and renew the assault. The Belgians are crushed and retreat from the hex. This is the first hex captured by either side that was entrenched. The French are also forced out of Lille with heavy casualties. The Central Powers rubs it in further by capturing the factory.

Total losses are 1 German Manpower point against the Entente total of 7 Belgian Manpower, 5 French Metropolitan Manpower, 13 French Colonial Manpower, 8 French African Manpower, and 10 Equipment points. A very successful Central Powers turn.

The Entente reacts by sending what few reserves they have towards the coast and Lille. The Central Powers have taken two hexes this turn and the Entente will have to stop the advance with some very worn out troops.

Carl: A very good turn for me. After rolling all those ‘1s’ last turn, I finally got turned around and rolled two ‘6s’ on the critical battles, destroying the defensive forces and being able to advance into the hexes. I should be able to defend Lille and Ypres for the turn to get over the contested hex problem and entrench at Lille during the next turn. I am now satisfied to wait for better weather and more troops. The victories have come very hard and many of my spare divisions are cadred or destroyed. It will take a while for me to build up enough troops to really launch another good series of attacks to bleed the French, British, and Belgians more. The Belgians are now down to 22.5 morale points while the French have dropped to 153. I will take the time to rebuild my spare divisions and build up the resource points. The next attack will probably include a bombardment, something I have not really been able to afford the resource points for. Replacement points and production capability increases in the Mar I 15 production phase, something I truly need to rebuild my battered army. Of course, the Entente will benefit from the same type of increases, but I am confident that I will be able to resume the attack before they can.

The Entente reinforce Lille and continue to entrench their second defensive line. Some slight movement occurs to maximize the second line and improve the placement of reserves.

The Central Powers are unable to react with an attack on Lille, however they do manage to pull a surprise attack on the Belgian 3^rd Corps adjacent to Lille. The Belgian reserves are unable to move up to reinforce the line in the bad weather and one Belgian division is cadred. The Entente lost 7 Belgian Manpower Points versus the Central Powers loss of 3 German Manpower and 1 Equipment Point lost.

Tom: It is strange how this CRT works. The DX result on the 8:1 odds on the Positional CRT caused the Belgians to lose half of their defense factors and the Germans to lose half of my losses. A DL result would be the same to me, but the Germans would lose only a quarter of my losses. The DD result is the deadly one, but is very hard to get, even at maximum odds. Consider, though, that if the German assault had been at only 4:1 odds, the result would have been a BX which would have caused me to lose all of my defensive strength and the Germans to lose the same, although I still would hold the hex, I would be too weak to hold against another BX result. Thus, it costs more casualties to attack with the lower 4:1 odds, but it is more effective on weakening my hold on the hex. What I really fear is an AX result. The attacker loses one half of his attack strength while the defender must lose half of the attacker’s losses. A quick way to die if the attack is a 3:1 or 4:1. Fortunately, Carl has not yet made the adjustment, but it is only a matter of time.

Another ineffectual bombing raid on London by the Zepplins. The Belgians are attacked again for another division cadred. Lille is attacked and the French defenders lose heavily while the German attackers are equally bloodied. The British 1^st Corps adjacent to Lille is also attacked with bloody results on both sides.

Total losses for the Central Powers were 32 German Manpower, 2 Bavarian Manpower, and 86 Equipment points. The Entente lost 7 Belgian Manpower, 16 British Manpower, 46 French Metropolitan Manpower, 8 French African Manpower, and 10 Equipment points. The British National Will was reduced to 4 in result of their losses, negating their slight benefit over the German National Will.

The Belgians react and reinforce their front lines. The French use their reactions to strip any excess from the front line and their reserves and start sending the troops towards Lille.

Carl: I have started widening my attack on Lille to the adjacent Belgian and British troops. The Belgians will never have a high manpower replacement rate (at 0.5 Manpower Points per production phase because of the loss of their native major city) and the British are low at the moment. I think he may have spread the British too thin trying to free up French troops to hold Lille. The British NW is now equal to the German NW, removing his brief advantage there. The French lost another 10 morale points this turn, down to only 185 left. If I can continue reducing his morale by 10 each turn, by fall of 1915 he will be in BIG trouble. While I would like to capture Lille for the factory, railroad deterioration effects, and the adjustment on the Italian entry, perhaps keeping it as a place to bleed the French dry would be nice. Instead of bleeding them at Verdun, I will bleed them at Lille. Eventually something will have to give, and with German morale at 765, I hope it is not the Germans.

The new year has begun. A massive reorganization occurs among the Entente front line troops. The British now form the 2^nd Army and adds another hex to defend south of Arras. The French still hold Lille with their 5^th Army. The reorganization will allow the Entente to have a chance at reinforcing almost any hex in their front line. The second line is also preparing to dig fieldworks and entrenchments when and where possible.

The Central Powers decline to react and assault Lille again. The DRM’s are just too steep in winter weather for a good assault without artillery HQs included.

Tom: The new year is here. Soon I will be able to increase my production multiplier (as will the Central Powers) and get more equipment and manpower points to begin to rebuild the French army. I will even begin to get an air force! I hope that my building up a reserve line is worth it. I had to weaken the main defensive line to build it, but the chance of reinforcing the attacked hex may keep him from attacking along the entire French line at once. I am still afraid of French casualties and the French morale level is getting too low for me.

The Central Powers celebrate the new year as the coal resource center in Liege is repaired and all of the factories can produce at full capacity. In addition, the Central Powers expends their last 5 resource points on repairing another 3 coal sites in Belgium and France and the captured Belgian factory in Antwerpen. The Central Powers also take advantage of the snowing weather to reorganize their front lines and pull back units for replacements. The new replacements received this production cycle are gone before enough cadres are back to full strength or new units are brought in. The first air raid of the war is finally pulled off as the Central Powers has a successful Zepplins air mission over London. Unfortunately, the bombs fall wide for no effect. At least this time they found the city!

The Entente do not react and the Christmas truce stretches on.

Carl: The new year brings the realization of just how many units have been chewed up in the war so far. I have a hard time collecting full strength divisions to assault Lille again and leave sufficient full strength divisions to maintain the defensive line and keep full strength ZOCs into the Entente line. I hope to be able to attack and capture Lille sometime before the end of February, 1915. In March, the rolling for Italy to enter the war begins and the capture of Lille would help keep them out for a while. The longer the better.