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 It's been more than five years of fighting, and we're finally able to put our troops into Germany itself. This will be a fight for one of the remaining industrial centers of Germany. We've been bombing them steadily, but the only real way to stop them is to have ground units move in.  The end of the spring? It's still only February. Does High Command really think capturing a handful of cities is going to take that long? (Or that the Soviets are going to sit around and wait for us while we do it?) British Campaign: Ruhr February 1945 17 Turns  Minor: (Maastricht), (Aachen), Xanten, Krefeld, Dusseldorf, Wuppertal, Cologne, Bonn, Dinslaken, Essen, Recklinghausen Major: All objectives by turn 12  The distance to cover is small, but once we get near the Rhine, it's all dense cities, and we can expect them to be well-defended. There is a fair amount of open ground past the Maas, but in the north at least it's not all easy terrain for vehicles. The Americans are moving out from Aachen into hillier terrain near Cologne and Bonn, which will only allow a few units at the head of the advance. Given the size of the region, getting our planes to the target won't be an issue. We already know that they'll be dealing with a ton of flak protecting these cities, and we'll need every squadron we have. Adequate air support is also dependent on the weather being cooperative -- it is still winter, after all. OOB pre:Unit Name Unit Type [Transport] Exp [OS]
1.2nd GB Bridge Eng GB Bridge Eng [Bren] 599[15]
2.The Silent 7th GB Commandos [Bren] 534[14]
3.3rd GB Para 43 GB Para 43 460[14]
4.15th GB HW 43 GB Inf HW 43 50
5.27th GB HW 43 GB Inf HW 43 71
6.12th GB Comet GB Comet 58
7.10th GB Sh Firefly GB Sh Firefly 599[14]
8.36th GB Sh Firefly GB Sh Firefly 75
9.47th GB Church VII GB Church VII 119
10.49th GB Crom IV GB Crom IV 63
11.23rd GB M5 Stuart GB M5 Stuart 96
12.9th GB AEC III GB AEC III 599[13]
13.22nd GB Achilles GB Achilles 92
14.14th GB Crom VI GB Crom VI 112
15.11th GB 7.2 GB 7.2" Gun [Bren] 168[11]
16.30th GB 7.2 GB 7.2" Gun [Bren] 59
Aux (quantity)
1 GB Inf 43 [Bren] 100
1 GB Inf 43 200
1 GB Bridge Eng [Lorry] 200
2 US Inf 43 [M2] 200
1 US Inf 43 [GM Truck] 200
1 US Inf 43 200
1 US Inf 43 100
1 US Inf HW 43 [M2] 300
2 US Bridge Eng [GM Truck] 200
1 US M5 200
1 US M4A3E2(76) 300
1 US M4A1(76)W 100
1 US M4A3(76)W 200
1 US M4A3(76)W 100
1 US M20 LAC 200
1 US M18 300
1 US M36 200
1 GB M7 Priest 100
1 US M7 100
2 US 155mm Gun (GM Truck) 100
1 US 8" Gun (GM Truck) 200
Air Units
1.8th GB Spit XVII GB Spit XVII 507[15]
2.20th GB Spit XIV GB Spit XIV 377[12]
3.6th GB Mosq VI GB Mosq VI 599[15]
4.21st GB Lancaster GB Lancaster 520[15]
Aux (quantity)
1 GB Spit XIV 300
1 US P51D Mustg 300
2 US P47D Tbolt 300
1 GB Typohoon Ib 100
2 US B25H Mitch 200
1 GB Lancaster 100
1 US B17G FF 200
1 GB B24D Lib 100
Aux Slots: 1 Starting Prestige: 6314 (7003 before upgrades) There's a decent set of ground forces in our auxiliary, since the Americans finally have some usable armor. They'll likely need it, as we must rely on them to take several of the southern cities quickly, and expect the Germans to be prepared to intercept them. We also get a British bridging unit to get us across the Maas, although reconnaissance leads us to believe the opposition near that river will be light. In the air, we are ensured of continued domination thanks to a large contingent of veteran American fighter pilots. In truth, we'll probably need more of the armored bombers than the fighters, as we will encounter more flak than enemy planes.  As crossing the Rhine in most places will lead us straight into some well dug-in positions, we're instead goint to try and make use of the bridges to get to our objectives. That means that Duisburg, while not itself a key target but located right in the center of them, will become the focus of our attacks. Once across, our core will mostly turn north, with some units tasked toward Dusseldorf to the south. The Americans will similarly make a crossing once they get to Cologne. They'll send as many units south to Bonn as can fit, with the remainder moving on the Ruhr from the south. Another of their groups will also be in charge of seizing the airfields near Munchen-Gladbach. (The field is incidentally named Novoukrainka, which is probably a desperate attempt by some German units to convince their superiors they are actually still on the Eastern Front). Once again I'll point out that in addition to the mis-labelled place names, I'm sticking with the game's misspelled names as well. So Munich-Gladbach it will stay.  The bulk of the core will be able to move through Xanten quickly and then down the highway to the river. A few units are set up to clear the area south of Geldern. The airborne units will be dropped near here too, as we don't want to risk having them shot down, and there are few good places to land that aren't right into an urban area anyway. A smaller chunk of our forces will advance on the more or less straight, albeit roadless, route to Krefeld. There are Americans here to cover this advance and help us cross as needed. Allied Turn 1: February 23, 1945 Clear(Dry)  Our attacks initially meet with heavy resistance, but our forces are still able to overwhelm the inexperienced enemy defenders.  Crossing the Maas presents little problem. Forts that are set more deeply will slow us until we can send more bombing raids. Xanten is discovered to be well-guarded by German armored units.  The Americans get their assault underway and clear out most of the front-line positions.  Their fighters make a strike against the Novoukrainka airfield that catches many of the Messerschmidts still on the ground. Axis Turn 1: February 23, 1945  The German tanks expend more effort than expected just to eliminate an infantry unit. They may be strong, but the men appear to be tired of the war.  In the south, the anti-tank units get into a duel, and a Tiger unit makes its presence known. Allied Turn 2: February 24, 1945 Clear(Dry)  One Panther is destroyed, and the Tiger II is nearly taken out as well, but the Churchills can't act fast enough to destroy it before it retreats.  Our other group breaks a path to Klefeld. The Americans manage to get a recon unit to the abandoned Novoukrainka airfield and seize it. The FW190 that had been seen operating here isn't around; it must have retreated to defend in an area where ground defenses can support it.  Farther south, the main thrust of the Americans clears out a Jagdpanzer. They halt at the next bridge to wait for their bombers to soften up the Tiger on the other side. Little else is around to defend Cologne. Axis Turn 2: February 24, 1945  In a serious underestimation of the Americans' strength, that Tiger attempts a counterattack over the river. It runs straight into in an M36 ambush.  The Americans drove their trucks quickly toward the Rhine. They were confident that the defenders of Munchen-Gladbach would not leave their positions to attack them. But they do, and while they inflict some casualties, it only means that cleaning up the town will go more smoothly. Near Xanten, the Panther goes after our inexperienced Comet crews, and almost demolishes them. Allied Turn 3: February 25, 1945 Clear(Dry)  The Americans advance on Cologne with a bit of caution, just in case there are more German heavy tanks being held in reserve. The bombers begin softening it up, but as there seem to be fewer units (and air defenses) down here, several of their bombers are being sent north to support us.  Our heavy tanks clear out the Panther (while the Comet limps out of the way to recover), and then the infantry tackle the town itself.  A Spitfire in the hands of a skilled pilot can even be effective at ground attack. We'll have to be mindful of the numerous 88mm flak guns already seen across the river if we want to keep using them.  The airborne troops clear out resistance in Klefeld, and it, too, is taken. Axis Turn 3: February 25, 1945  A few of the less-disciplined German units continue to try to attack us rather than hold their defensive line. It has little effect and really only continues to help us out. Allied Turn 4: February 26, 1945 Clear(Dry)  The comparatively weak gun on the Churchill VII means they're having trouble finishing off the German armored vehicles, but at least their thick armor is protecting them from taking much damage in return.  Cologne is captured without much difficulty. Bonn looks to have several dug-in AT guns, artillery, and AA guns ready to stop attacks of all kinds.  Continued fighting captures the western part of Duisburg. Allied bombers suppress the air defenses in preparation for more air raids and our assault over the bridges. The lost HW infantry is replaced, and another Cromwell VI is added to the core. (These weren't added earlier because of how far away the initial cities are from the front.) Axis Turn 4: February 26, 1945  Continued heavy bombing forces the units of Duisburg to pull out rather than attack. They haven't placed their powerful artillery guns here, which is a stroke of luck for our plan. Allied Turn 5: February 27, 1945 Clear(Dry)  Bonn does have the strong K18 towed artillery, and an M18 probe is repelled.  Much of Duisburg is reduced to rubble.  We force out most of the defenders as our army begins to push across the river. Axis Turn 5: February 27, 1945  At Bonn, the American lighter AT units are nearly destroyed before they pull away from the city. The fighters take heavy losses to flak, too.  Our new mobile artillery takes a hit when an AT gun at Oberhausen makes a strike across the river. The 3rd airborne is nearly lost: their attempt to hold the bridge failed in the face of fire from the veteran 88mm gun still holding the north end of Duisburg. Allied Turn 6: February 28, 1945 Clear(Dry)  The Americans approach the Ruhr from the south, and make headway into Solingen.  Bombing raids do a number on those deadly AT guns. The Mosquito destroys an '88' with one attack, and the Lancaster suppresses Duisburg.  The Churchill VII continues to only push away units instead of destroy them (the surviving 88mm gun is just visible at the top right corner of the battle results). Axis Turn 6: February 28, 1945  Bonn continues to hold off the Americans; they can't bring enough force to bear directly. Their artillery guns are getting into position, however.  The Germans shore up their defenses and mostly don't engage us today. One unit leaves Velbert (east of Duisburg) to finish off a weakened American recon unit. As we make our way into the country of Germany itself, our plan is going smoothly. That doesn't mean it's been particularly easy going. Bitter street fighting has worn down many of our units. But we've destroyed some of the best remaining enemy units, and the Allies retain the upper hand. 
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| ← # ? Aug 16, 2014 20:25 |
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