New PBEM adaptation of TGW-Div 1.6: Playtesting!

[Tigranes]

Final countdown:
Centrals: 333,640 VPs (+7,090)
Entente: 234,580 VPs (+2,390)​

Britain

British gun fires on Turkish Div south of Beyrut, then 2 A Divs are sent to deal with Turks. One of our Div dies but the second wins and takes over the vital tile connecting Beyrut with Jerusalem.

With the joy British press announced that German transport with WM (probably) was sunk by a brave submarine near the coast of Norway. Another sub got sunk while trying to engage German BB few hunders miles south.

Italy

Austrian CB is rushed by Italian CB. Two LA shave 2 HP off the Austrian MG.

Regia Marina pays a surprise visit to captured Antivary. Italian ships shoot Austrain Observation plane and generate survivors. Then a railroad south east from Anrivary gets destroyed to slow down Austrian war against Neutrals.

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

Indeed, that transport was carrying a WM. Well hopefully the other one makes it home.

I didn't know if you kill a plane you can generate survivors?

 

[Cyc]

Nice Avatar, Moff.

Yes, a lot of American pilots were able to meet a lot of French waitresses that way.

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

gps Cyc


I've played my turn but will hold off on my report until Tigranes posts his. Don't want to upset the chronological order.

Nice Avatar, Moff.

Thanks, I've been studying a lot about WW1 aircraft lately. Part of my research for the new scenario I'm working on.

 

[Tigranes]

gps Cyc


I've played my turn but will hold off on my report until Tigranes posts his. Don't want to upset the chronological order.

What do you mean, mate? My report is 3 posts right above yours...

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

So sorry brother. I was asleep obviously. Here is my report. LOL


Week 37, 1915


Ottoman Empire:

British positions between Haifa and Jerusalem heavily shelled by Turkish light artillery. Most units had at least 1HP removed. Then Two Turkish armies attack the stack killing 2 British Rifle As.

The French BB in the Aegean was shelled by the Turkish fleet. 6 CAs and 1 CL. No casualties just 3 or 4 HP taken down.


Austria-Hungary:

Near Lemburg 3 Russian Rifle Rs were defeated. Two of them were shelled first by LA and Trench Artillery first. Then Austrian Rifle A, and two armies did the killing.

On the Venice front the Italian stack was damaged by LA and Trench artillery fire. Then an Austrian CB defeats an Italian CB. Italian spy detected in the vineyard who was then attacked by a Rifle A. The spy fled the area still alive.


Germany:

Near Bergen what we think was the English sub was sunk by a German BC. Then a British BC in the Bight is shelled by a CL before another CL finishes off the BC. No survivors.

Warsaw - Two Russian Rifle Rs attacked and killed by German Rifle R and Marine unit.

Venice - Italian Light Artillery killed by German CB.

Western Front (Liege area) - The great German counter offensive begins. For the first time a rolling barrage artillery tactic is used by the Germans in this fight. (i.e. we conserved our guns and didn't necessarily redline everything in sight, rather just bombed enough so that all stacks in the area were damaged equally)

Then Armies from all over the Empire attack on a broad front. French trench positions in and around Liege assaulted resulting in 8 French Rifle Rs, 1 Rifle A killed. One army smashes through the front lines using every ounce of speed to capture 2 French War Materials and liberate a German worker behind the lines. Liege is almost cut off from France.

 

[Cyc]

​

A Gangut Class finds a German Flotilla off the English coast. Tortilla! No survivors, no damage.

A Road is taken out South of Konigsberg by an R-Inf. Observation Planes find two Austrian Armies poised on the Russian border. More Austrian Roads pillaged.
__________________________________________

French Command in Liege awoke to the news of 6 (count 'em six) German Army groups surrounding their fair city. One of them an old friend, Rupprecht (21/21), who had captured 2 War Material crews and was accompanied by an Elite Panzer Truppen Zweil! Observation Planes also saw another AG in Hannover healing.

French Command immediately began firing off rounds of 155mm to say "Good morning" to Rupperecht. The first missed, kind of shot across the bow. The second hit for 1HP, the third hit for 2HP, 4th hit for 1HP, 5th missed, 6th hit for 1HP. An LA fired one off at AG Kiel, but missed. The last 155mm fired on off at AG West, as it sits on the Dye fields East of town.

On the brighter side, the French have completed the American War Entry Wonder in Paris. French dockworkers rush to complete the port city improvements that will receive the Yank troops. Wine flows deep in the French countryside.

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

You made Tortilla chips out of a Flotilla? LOL

 

[Tigranes]

I really like it when spy escapes, feels realistic. But because I made it so that spies can see spies, they are only useful in counter-intelligence. Wonna fix it badly even before final version, but alas...

Long live America! Entante were waiting for Yanks so long! It is still kinda early (1917 must be researched in 1917), so perhaps I need think about it... Perhaps a week per turn is not an ideal idea...

 

[Tigranes]

Final countdown:
Centrals: 339040 VPs (+5,400)
Entente: 240950 VPs (+6,370)
​

Finaly more than Centrals!

Britain

With the Lusitania still afloat and Zimmerman not even in office yet British really stunned by the American decision to join Entante. Only Cyc knows what made Americans so eager to go to war. BEF, though not completely recovered, was ordered to help to stop Liege offensive.

Sir Stopford just arrived fromLondon and evaluated the situation. Britain is the only country with RoP with Neutrals. This was used to attack the westternmost German Corps ( I think tha name was Kiel, or something like that). 3 howitzers shaved 6 HP out of 21, then total of 3 A and 2 R Divs were killed in order to bring Germans down to 9 HP. Germans were fighting at flat terrain but still showed lots of strength in defense. Finally newly formed Stopford Corps (16/16) charged German Corp. Both Corps wwere down to 1 HP and I crossed my fingers really hard. Sure enough it worked, we even captured a worker. He was sent to join Plymouth, as we lost population point there in order to form A Div this turn.

In Egypt A Div from Cairo attacked Turkish Horseman near Gaza, but Turks flee. ANZAC boys were sent to finish them. Serious invasion forse is spoted in Arabian desert. We rush some troops in order to great them.

Minor mining craft has captured some strange Survivors near Beyrout.

Some other Survivors were generated when our Iron Duke BB attacked another Flotilla-Tortilla East from Hull. English BB was so busy with chasing 2 German CLs which killed our BC last turn, that Survivors were ordered to paddle towards English coast by themselves. End of the turn revealed that thos epoor souls got lost in trecherous waters, just when a transport from london was sitting at the same tile, lacking only 1 MP to pick them up!

Italy

Antivary was shelled again without much effect. Italian CBs were traned against Germans this time (targets with more shield than LA were sportted). Sure enough 1 German CB and 1 220 mm were destroyed by exellet Italian gunnery.

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

gps Cyc

Happy Fathers day to those of you who are dads!!!!!


Week 38, 1915


Ottoman Empire:

Near Athens a French BB was sunk after being softened up by some Turk ACs. 3rd AC comes in to sink the BB.

An unknown was sunk near Novorossiysk by a Turk CL generating survivors.


Austria-Hungary:

Lemburg - The Russian reconnaissance in force continues to be met by Austrian Trench Mortars, Rifle As, and Armies. An Austrian Rifle A and Cavalry die while trying to kill one of the Russians but an Army comes in and kills 2 Rifle Rs.

Krakow - Russian Rifle R softened up to 2HP left by Trench Mortars before an Austrian Army kills him off.


Germany:

Liege - Liege itself is attacked by 3 Armies resulting in 3 dead Rifle As who were defending.

Metz - French Rifle A was shelled by railway gun then killed by German Rifle A.

Lodz - Two Russian Rifle Rs are killed by German Army.

Venice - German CB guns come down killing two Italian CB guns and 1 Light Artillery.

WM shipment continues it's way towards home. All of Germany is excited at the prospects of eating some real food for a change. Will our shipment get home? Time will tell...

 

[Cyc]

R-Inf storms a Coal Colony East of Mosul and finds all the lights on, but no one home.
_________________________________________

@ Liege, an LA hits AG Sud for 1HP. 155mm hits Rupprecht for 2HP, 2nd hits Nord for 1HP, 3rd hits Nord for 1HP, 4th hits Nord for 1HP, 5th hits Ruppercht for 1HP, 6th hits Nord for 1HP, 7th misses, 8th hits Rupprecht for 3HP. Counter Battery takes out a Tear Gas in the Dye fields, CB kills CB, CB kills CB and promotes, CB kills CB.

@ Metz, 155mm hits R-Inf for 2HP, 155mm hits A-Inf for 1HP, 155mm hits R-Inf for 1HP, 155mm hits Cav unit for 2HP, 155mm hits Cav unit for 1HP. R-Inf kills A-Inf. R-Inf kills R-Inf. Cav unit kills Cav unit and promotes.

gps to Tigranes.

 

[Tigranes]

Final countdown:
Centrals: 341900 VPs (+2,860)
Entente: 242800 VPs (+1,850)
​

Britain

Rather uneventful turn.

4 Howitzers shaved 5 HPs from Army Corp Sud.
Turkish light horse fled from British A Div near Gaza.
British unknown sunk what we think is German submarine near SW Norway.

Italy

Venice produced CB which was immediately sent into action against German CBs. Lack of training resulted in miserable performance, something similar to North Korea's game with Portugal during the World Cap

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

gps Cyc


Guys, it's late and I really need to turn in. Will post in the morning.

Just a brief summary though before I retire for the night.

WM brought safely home. (involving a transport to transport transfer in order to make the final leg home)

Liege reduced to just what we believe to be only 2 Counter battery guns left in defense. I just couldn't get enough troops there to finish the city off.

Readjusted Turkish offensive into the Sinai in reaction to the British moves.

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

Week 39, 1915

Ottoman Empire:

An unknown was sunk near Smyrna with no survivors. Russian Cossack near Kut shelled for 1HP by Turk Mortar then Turkish Rifle kills Cossack.


Austria-Hungary:

The Eastern Front is alive with activity as Marshall Brusilov’s offensive continues in Galicia. Two Russian Rifle Rs are shelled by Austrian Trench Mortars then killed by a Cavalry and a Rifle A near Krakow. Another Rifle R is killed near Lemburg and Tarnopol as well using single Trench Mortar attacks to soften up the targets first.

On the Venice front Austrian artillery shells the Italian stack outside of Venice. The spy who tried to cross the border a week or so again was detected near the border and dispatched by an Austrian Cavalry.

In the seas near Bari an Italian DD was sunk by an Austrian DD generating a survivor. Another Austrian DD sinks an Italian transport near Naples.


Germany:

Liege – The great offensive continues with massive bombardment of Liege reducing most of the defenders to the yellow with 2HP left a piece. Then German armies, Rifle As, Rifle Rs, Armored Cars, and Machingegunners attack the town. During the fighting the Germans lose 1 counter battery, 2 Rifle Rs, and a Machine gun. A leader was generating during the fighting forming the IV Army. The French lose 10 Rifle Rs, 3 Rifle As, Light Artillery, 7 155mm guns, a counter battery, and a Cavalry. Still there are at least 2 French counter battery guns defending the city as Germany runs out of forces to press the attack home. French bomb shelter is destroyed during the initial bombardment.

Near Lodz two Russian Rifle Rs are attacked. One dies at the hands of a German Rifle R but the other one survives against a German Flame thrower.

 

[Cyc]

More Austrian Roads pillaged. But the Ottoman road on the Coal out by Mosul can not be pillaged!

The Ottoman "end-around" sneak attack on the Eastern Silks was blocked.
______________________________________

The entire week for the French was focused on the once great Belgium city of Liege. The Battle of Liege has again turned bloody, and more losses are to come. The fighting was long and hard with losses on both sides.

German losses ~
Artillery 210mm - 8
Artillery Trench - 1
Machine Gun - 4
A-Inf - 1
R-Inf - 4

French Losses ~
Artillery CB - 6
155mm failing - 2
LA failing - 1
Machine Gun - 1
Colonial - 2
R-Inf - 11
A-Inf - 9

The Military Command was then turned over to the BEF. With the British in control of Liege, more concise and direct assault coordination can be implemented for the Tigranes Plan.

I salute the French for their never-ending, valiant attempt to help Northern Europe.

 

[Tigranes]

Final countdown:
Centrals: 351340 VPs (+9,440)
Entente: 256060 VPs (+13,260)

​

Britain

​

Please read carefully the names of German units left after the French attack on the tile with the Dye near Liege. Just look at these tormentors of Liege. Read and remember them for you will never see them again. Never. See. Them. Again. BEF took care of every single Hun on that tile. British losses? Not a single unit. All the credit goes to the brave French comrade of course -- not a single German gun fired as BEF was attacking -- they all used their rounds against the many fallen French. Last unit to attack was English Cav Div which destroyed costly 210 mm gun and burned all the Tear Gas containers before returning to Liege.

In addition 4 Hovitzers shaved 7 HP from German Corps near Liege. Vet A Div killed German R div on the rails near Liege. 1 Howitzer redlined another German R Div on the Coal and our last available R Div took care of those Germans as well.

According to the British Intelligence this was the most comlete annihilation of enemy artillery train in the history of this war. The only thing Germans can possibly fire is a single Howitzer gun near Italian borders. There are also 3 CBs left. No more artillery of any kind can be seen on F3 screen . Huns still have 10 Corps and that's the only thing that worries me.

Elsewhere our pilots finally bombed the escape-supply road for the Turkish Army in Arabian desert.

Italy

3 Austrian units stood on the Wine tile next Isonzo tile after they murdered peaceful merchant from Milano branded as spy: MG, Cav and A Div. Light Artillery took 1 HP from MG. 13/13 Corps attacked MG and nearly lost -- MG only lost 1 HP! 12/12 Corps attacked A Div and was victorious. This was the only contribution from Italy to the war effort during this 40th week of 1915.

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

gps Cyc


Week 40, 1915


Ottoman Empire:

Not much activity in the Middle East this week. British Stack shelled by Light Artillery near Aw Najaf. Russian Rifle R shelled near Ezerum.


Austria-Hungary:

Brusilov offensive continues with Russian Rifle Rs being shelled near Tarnopol, Lemburg, and Krakow. Then an Austrian Rifle A kills Russian Rifle R near Krakow. Austrian Army kills Russian Rifle R near Lemburg and another Army kills Russian Rifle R near Tarnopol.


Germany:

The meat grinder called Liege continues to churn out dead bodies as casualties continue to mount. The absence of German artillery did not slow down the offensive. Two counter battery guns are brought up and kill two French Counter battery guns. A Trench Mortar fires and misses the French artillery stack that contributed to the black day for the German artillery corps. The fighting this week also saw the largest use of poison gas to date. 11000 Gas canisters were fired into the stack resulting in some of the deaths of Rifle Rs that were already down to 1HP.

Then troops press on in fierce fighting. Armies, Rifle As, Rifle Rs, Armored Cars, and Landswehr troops join the fray killing 5 French Rifle As, 6 French Rifle Rs, 4 Counter Battery guns, a Light Artillery, and 11 155mm guns. The Germans lose 1 Rifle A.

Königsburg - Russian Counter Battery gun destroyed by German Counter Battery gun.

Danzig - One Russian Rifle R shelled by Trench Mortar for 1HP, then German Rifle R kills the Russian. Two more Russian Rifle Rs are taken out by two more German Rifle Rs.


The long journey home - Now that a WM arrived safely in Germany the tale can be told of the way home. During the circuitous trip no Entente patrol vessels were ever spotted until the south west coast of Norway was reached. Then it was a harrowing journey to the safety of German minefields in the Bight as the Admiral of the escort fleet looked nervously into the horizon. While we can't divulge the exact tactics that were used to evade detection the German Admirality was quite pleased with the results. One transport containing a single WM did not make it home. There were just not enough escort vessels to spare for those unfortunate sailors.

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

Below is a graph of the losses suffered by the French and Germans in the past 3 weeks of fighting for Liege. This report was assembled using data gathered from the AAR of all of us. As you can see it has been costly for both sides.

 

[Tigranes]

Cool graph, man!