New PBEM adaptation of TGW-Div 1.6: Playtesting!

[Tigranes]

Britain

The end of February saw the bloodiest battles for England ever.

Second Battle of Gaza (aftermath)​

A picture that worth a thousand words! Planes, ships, guns -- all went to bombard 2 Elite stubborn MGs in Gaza (they were already yellow). To make long story short, one of my BC failed with bombardement of Gaza, I lost 3 A Divs to MGs before whiping them off. I had just enough troops to kill the remaining 6 Artillery with defense 1, but two of them (one A Div and 1 ANZAC) had only 1 HP left. Well, I thought to myself, it is still attack 9 vs. defense 1 + 85%, so why not try, after we shed so much blood here. The picture should tell you what happened

The Leader in Gaza was missing and I have no idea what happened to him. My troops and workers are everywhere and in normal game against AI I would see where he went. PBEM format adds some nice intrigue to the game!

BEF started the huge battle against balloon assisted Germans north of Metz (some 7-8 units with 2 MGs). I lost close to 20 of my Tommies (mostly R Divs) but managed to kill all the defenders, erase balloon and the road that assisted to kill my Corps few turns ago. I got no promotions, and was wondering why...

Grand Fleet made a capital mistake this turn Jelicoe got orders to shell High Seas fleet in Kiel, in hopes that demage to German BAttleships will keep them in port for a turn or too, giving us time to destroy Norther german coast. As I discovered later ships heal instantly in port, no matter the demage they took, even during the same rurn, like in case of Italians and Austrians. Very unfair! I don't even want to read the next German report :suicide:

Elsewhere in Baltics 2 German CLs and 1 CA where sunk for the price of 1 CL and 1 CA. Unclaimed English survivors from previous turn were rescued by British BC...

1 A Div died near Basra promoting Turkish Div

Italy

Italian forces retreated from Isonzo trenches. Situation is very tense for Entente now: huge English and Italian losses, hard pressed Russian in Warshaw, only French remain relatively unmolested. Entente leaders hope they will step in with some bloody offensive during this turn!

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

gps Cyc


Week 9, 1915


Ottoman Empire:

Kemal, fresh from his victories over the Arab Rebel incursions in Mesopotamia, arrives in the Gaza theatre. There he kills a British Rifle A before retiring to safety. Meanwhile the as yet unidentified Turkish leader from Gaza makes his way through the night closer to safety.


Austria-Hungary:

There was an explosion outside of Ragusa territorial waters detected by an Austrian CL. No apparent survivors. Austrian guns shell the recently vacated trenches of the Italians on the Isonzo before sending in troops to occupy the area.

A Russian Cossack, on a reconnaissance mission no doubt, was spotted in Rumania and killed by a Hungarian Armored Car. The skirmish was a close one, but in the end modern armored cars beat cavalry men of yesteryear.


Germany:

The official battle of Warsaw begins this week with an all out assault by German troops backed by two armies. After the preliminary bombardment the action begins. When the smoke clears the Germans have lost 4 Rifle As, 6 Rifle Rs, and 1 Armored Car. Russian losses are 5 Rifle As, 7 Rifle Rs, and 1 MG. During the fighting a few of the Russian conscript Rifle Rs are promoted to Regular status.

Naval gunfire on British ships outside of Kiel is followed up by land based artillery fire. Then a German Konigs class BB engages a British BB and sinks her before retreating with the British survivors.

A British CA is sunk near Stettin by a German BC. Survivors are rescued. Then a British DD Flotilla is sunk by a German DD Flotilla with survivors being picked up. The British BC near Stettin is shelled by land based artillery.

At Metz, an Elite British Cavalryman is killed by a German Armored Car.


I must admit you guys are good at patrolling for my submarines. I'm surprised that not one has slipped through your screens. Cyc, I don't know what you meant by the Turks being sad but if you are referring to the cratered area around Sinope, then yes that was a brutal blow to the residents of the area.

 

[Tigranes]

Viva la Warssaw! I knew it gonna hold fast! We lucky Germans didn't send their horses to wipe Russian balloon first (was left unprotected sadly by some Russian defenders)!

 

[Cyc]

Russia mourns the loss of it's new Army. So many hopes were pinned to it by the common people of the Motherland. Nicolas, on the other hand merely flicked his hand and sh0ok his head in disgust, as he reached for his vodka, upon hearing the news, "Bah! More dead peasants. When will they learn how to fight?"

Zoom to Warsaw...
Recon teams has assessed the damage to the Germans and reported back. The Army Group Lodz is down to 74% of it's original force and Army Group West is down to 70%. Not bad news for the Russian Field Commander, who had just watched his main component dwindle away to nothing under constant German attack. "Do not mobilize any units. Dig in for the long fight. But continue shelling", were his orders. Unfortunately, still reeling for the heavy fighting of last week, less than 50% of the Light Artillery were able to hit anything. When all was said and done, recon reported Lodz at 56% (13/23) and West at 65% (13/20).

The Nicolas Gang cratered the hills SE of Sinope.
_________________________________________________

Having been informed of the dire situation in Venice, French Command saw an opportunity for a direct confrontation, where suprise and mobility would be to their advantage. More than a dozen 155mm cannons were mounted on flatbed rail cars and shipped through the Alps into Italy. They were accompanied by a huge French Infantry Battalion, made up of whoever was available at the time. And these were followed by two French Army Corp, which by the way would probably have done more damage to the Austrians had French Workers not temporarily shut down the Railways South of Milan, forcing the Corps to use surface roads.

The 155mms arrived first, Northwest of Venice, joining the French troops already there, and finding the Austrians dug in at the Trenches NE of the city. The 155mms opened fire. Alliance MG for 1HP, then another for 3HPs, then back to the first for 2HPs. Then the concentrated on the Infantry. A-Inf for 2HPs, A-Inf for 2 HPs, A-Inf for 1HP, then again for 2HPs. R-Inf for 2HPs, R-Inf for 1HP, then again for 2HPs, then the Trench Artillery becae the focal point. A Trench Artie was hit for 1HP, then again for another HP, another was hit for 1HP, another was hit for 1HP, then 3 Trench Artillery were hit for 2HPs each, followed by one hit for 1. A Counter Battery was lost trying to take a red-lined Trench Artillery unit. Then a 155mm took a HP from an R-Inf. When the French Gunneries pulled back the tarps on car #9 they found not 155mms, but but trusted Armee Artillery. Two Artillery I Armee took a HP each from different Trench Artilleries. Then an Artillery V Armee hit a Trencher for 1HP.

By then, the Infantry had unloaded from the trains, had their latte and a cigarette and were ready to fight. An A-Inf took out an Austrian Machine Gun, the second A-Inf does the same, but this time Austrian Worker is captured. A-Inf loses to a Cavalry unit. A-Inf takes A-Inf and promotes. The last 155mm untarped fires and takes 1HP from a Trench Artillery. R-Inf takes an A-Inf and promotes. R-Inf takes A-Inf. R-Inf take A-Inf. R-Inf loses to Trench Artillery. Joffre brings up his beleaguered Corp and takes out one of the last remaining Trench Artilleries, captures a Worker and promotes. Petrain follows suite,takes a Trench Artillery and promotes. Mopping up, an R-Inf takes 1HP from a Trench Artillery. A V Armee loses to an R-Inf. R-Inf takes R-Inf. R-Inf takes R-Inf. R-Inf takes 1HP from the Calvary unit, which retreats to the hills. Trench Artillery are all that remain, and an R-Infantry is sent in to take one out, which it does easily. Checking all the bases once, the Field Commander sends in an R-Inf to take out the last Trench Artillery, capture a Worker, and secure the Venice Trenches for the French. He then sends in 3 Divisions of Frances finest Infantry to bring the desolate wasteland to operational status.

Up North by Liege, 15 Infantry Divisions pust the front lines further South, as they march towards Cologne.

Oh, Tigranes. I'm not sure if this is important to you now or not, but there are Anti-Aircraft guns your side of Cologne.

 

[Tigranes]

To preserve chronology, would you please edit your last post with the report, Cyc, instead of posting after me?

Britain

Gaza has fallen! Desert Mountain Corps (represented by 4 Cavalry units now) crashed the stubborn Turkish Gun in Gaza and discovered that everything was sold in this city. This was a long awaited victory, but oddly nobody celebrates. The score of countless fallen comrades is too vivid in the memories of Second Gaza survivals. There is only 1 question on everybodies mind -- will the Turks counterattack anytime soon...
Poped up borders reveal a Hero of Gaza Leader, trying to escape. No British unit is fast enough to catch up with the 3 MP leader!

BEF and Grand Fleet are regrouping this turn. Nothing else to report.

Italy

Italian diplomats stole Observation Plane Tech from Russian for astonishing 2.6k gold.
Surprised by French arrival Italians dod nothing during this week.

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

gps Cyc


Week 10, 1915


Ottoman Empire:

Four Arab Rebels killed in Mesopotamia. Mysterious explosion near Haifa detected by Turkish DD Flotilla. British Transport near Gaza sunk. Survivors immediately executed.


Austria-Hungary:

Eagerly await the French report on what happened here last week but clearly for Austria it was not pretty.

Austrian troops kill 2 French Rifle A and 1 French Rifle R after short artillery bombardment. Mysterious explosion detected near Ragusa by Austrian CL. No survivors.


Germany:

Battle of Warsaw continues with usual artillery bombardment then follow up attack. 11 Russian Rifle Rs die and 2 German Rifle R and 1 Armored Car die on the German side.

French Rifle R killed by German Rifle A near Venice.

British CA sunk near northern coast of Denmark by German CL.

 

[Tigranes]

Can someone post a screeny of Warsaw siege, please!

 

[Cyc]

Can someone post a screeny of Warsaw siege, please!

Sure, no problem. This is Warsaw at the begining of my Week 9 turn. Same shot, but one is enlarged.

Save Report done above.

 

[Tigranes]

Germans mainly come from Koenigsberg. Grand Fleet needs to visit that narrow railroad place to boost Russian morale. Warsaw (and culture it has) is absolutely critical for keeping East Prussia dependent on that lonely railroad, so the city has very strategic importance, not to mention prestige...

 

[Cyc]

Warsaw Recon Report ~ Lodz - 9/23, West - 8/20, but the big suprise is that the Germans have brought in three additional Army Groups to sit in the mud of the Warsaw fields. Kampe Gruppe von Moff - 16/21, Sud - 18/19, and Rupprecht - 19/21.

More Light Artillery is railed into Warsaw. The first gets clipped by a Reg I Armee SW of the city. When that LA tried to fire at Rupprecht, it failed. Just as the 2nd one failed. 3rd hits for 1HP. 4th hits Sud for 2HP. 5th hits Rupp for 1HP, 6th hits Rupp for 1HP, 7th misses, 8th hits Sud for a HP. 9th fails. 10th fails. 11th hits Moff for 2HP. 12th hits Rupp for 1HP. 13th hits Sud for 2HP. 14th misses. 15th hits Rupp for 2HP. 16th hits Moff for 2HP. The shelling stops, again the silence is deafening. The Russians await the reprisal.

The Nicolas Gang craters the Grasslands NW of Samsun.
_______________________________________________

In Liege, the troops who ventured South towards Cologne dig in. The wounded are evacuated. The French eyeball the German Machine Gun.

By Venice ~ Disappointed that the troops in the Trench hadn't held, the French once again pressed on. A 155mm hits the German A-Inf for 1HP. An R-Inf loses to the red-lined unit and a Worker is captured. Another R-Inf loses to the German and the A-Inf promotes to Elite (4/9). 155mm misses. 155mm takes 2HP. 155mmtakes 1HP. Joffre moves in and surrounds the German Division. He succeeds in snuffing it out, but with heavy loses. And the Worker is recaptured. Supporting troops are brought in.The French control the Trench again...

 

[Tigranes]

Britain

Spring has desended on the biligerents of the Great War, but it does little good to the exhosted troops. Heavy rains made BEF to stay in their forest Belgians reclaimed from the Germans via cultural pressure (don't ask me how it can be possible).

The only kill during this week was a brave German CL, which sunk British CA lately.

Italy

Rain has kept Italians iin their trenches. Italian command is a little jelous of french might demonstrated in Austrian elimination. Italians particulary nervous about cities French can capture, which Italians want for themselves.

DD was shelled in Fiume.

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

gps Cyc


Week 11, 1915

Ottoman Empire:

2 Arab Rebels killed in Mesopotamia, as the Arab offensive seems to be slowing down now.

Kemal overlooking the area around Jerusalem notices a British Rifle R and a Cavalry trying to sneak their way in to test the Turkish defenses. Naturally Kemal, who wishes to teach the Western man a lesson, sends out artillery to soften up the British. The Kemal comes flying out of Jerusalem to meet his enemy. After slaughtering the British Rifle R he returns to Jerusalem but he sends our a Turkish Rifle to kill the cavalry unit. The cavalry retreat after being brought down to 1HP. He cannot escape though because Kemal wants British blood today. He sends out a Sipahi unit that hunts down and kills the British cavalry men. Even the horses are exterminated. This event triggers much jubilation in the Ottoman Empire and inspires the masses to start producing goods at an increased rate! (Golden Age). What a great day for Turkey.

Another explosion detected near Haifa by Turkish DD Flotilla.


Austria-Hungary:

Austrian forces continue to harass the French in the Isonzo. A brief artillery shelling of French trenches begins followed up with an attack by an Austrian army who kills a French Rifle A. Then an Austrian counter battery gun kills a French Light Artillery.


Germany:

Warsaw continues to be the scene of bloody fighting this week, although not at such a terrible bloodbath as last week. Warsaw shelled then German Armies move in killing 4 Rifle A troops and more importantly, Brusilov!

No other action to report.

 

[Tigranes]

and more importantly, brusilov

noooooooooo!​

 

[Cyc]

Oh, yes. It's true. Our nation deeply mourns the loss of our greatest General. General Brusilov was the pinnacle of military achievement and commanded respect where ever his boots would take him. His Corp had been well rested and well informed of the Warsaw theatre. And he was still taken down by the German horde.

The German Army Group had changed. Lodz and West were gone, dead or wounded to the point of medical facilities. Sud, Von Moff, and Rupp had retreated back across enemy lines. Two new Generals had arrived. Moltke and Hohenzollerin had taken a beating trying to push through Warsaw. Now they just stood in the mud, taking the shells from our Light Artillery. Actually Hohnzollerin took all of it, and lost 7 more HPs, leaving it at 6/19.

SW of Warsaw, more German troops arrived. The last 3 LAs hit them. A Machine Gun, an I Armee, and an R-Inf. All for 1HP each.

The Nicolas Gang took a well deserved break in the deep waters of the Black Sea. In Northern waters, the Russian navy asks the British when they might be planning on shelling the RR SE of Danzig.

Mother Russia suffered a great shortage of Vodka this week. We will all miss Brusilov.
_____________________________________________

The French rallied again this week. Inspired by last week's victories, and the arrival of a newly created Corp - Le J of A (presumably The Joan of Arc), French forces advanced across enemy lines into Austria. And of course, it all started with the Counter Batteries and the barrage from the famous 155mm.

1st CB takes out a Siege Gun in the Trench North of Trieste.
2nd CB takes out another Siege Gun.
3rd CB takes the last Siege Gun there.
4th CB takes a Light Artillery (LA).
5th CB fails, but takes 3HP from an LA.
6th CB takes the disabled LA.
7th CB takes an LA.
8th CB fails but takes 3HP from an LA.
1st 155mm shells the same Trench and takes3HP from an Alliance MG.
2nd 155mm fails.
3rd takes 3HP from an Aus-Hun A-Inf.
4th 155mm fails
5th 155mm takes a HP from an A-Inf.
6th 155mm takes 2HP from an A-Inf.
7th takes 1HP from an A-Inf.
8th takes 2HP from an A-Inf.
9th takes 1HP from an A-Inf.
10th takes 2HP from an R-Inf.
11th takes 2HP from an R-Inf.
12th takes 1HP from an A-Inf.
13th takes 1HP from an A-Inf.
14th takes 1HP fro a Trench Artillery (TA).
15th takes 2HP from a TA.
16th takes 1HP from a TA.
17th takes3HP from an Armored Car (AC).
18th takes 1HP from an R-Inf.
19th takes 1HP from an R-Inf.
20th takes 3HP from an AC.

An LA takes 1HP from an R-Inf.
An LA takes 1HP from an R-Inf.
Le J of A Corp storms in and takes some flak from a TA, but easily kills the Aus-Hun Machine Gun. They regroup and then take out a TA before stepping back. An R-Inf takes out the next TA. An A-Inf takes out the Cavalry unit and creates the 2nd Worker of this assault. R-Inf. and an A-Inf. die trying to kill the last A-Inf. An Elite A-Inf finally kills that last A-Inf. R-Inf kills a TA and promotes. A-Inf kills an R-Inf and promotes. A-Inf kills R-Inf. R-Inf dies by R-Inf. R-Inf kills R-Inf. A-Inf dies by R-Inf. T-Inf kills R-Inf. R-Inf kills AC. R-Inf kills Cavalry. R-Inf kills CB. R-Inf kills CB. R-Inf kills AC. Colonial Inf. kills CB. Colonial Inf. kills CB and takes the Trench. Support troops are brought in. The French Field Commander stares into the Austrian countryside. The remaining 155mm turn to shell the German stack NNW of Trieste, taking 1HP from an Elite R-Inf. and 1HP from a Guard.

Up by Liege, a 155mm takes out the Barbed Wire in the Trenches ESE of Liege.The 2nd takes out the road, and the 3rd takes out the Trenches.

gps to Tigranes.

 

[Tigranes]

What an exciting fight!.. Viva la France!

Unfortunately Grand Fleet has retreated to get all the ships back to full health. But we will return, hold fast, gentelmen, and don't drink too much!

 

[Tigranes]

Britain

General Bernard Freyberg was appointed to direct BEF's offensive against Metz this turn. Painfully aware of German artillery train's strength and the fact that Corps always die first in counterattacks British decided to form Corps only after the German turn, so no troops were loaded into the Freyberg this turn!

In Iraq Turks are trying to reinforce Basra and building a road. Very little can be done about it but limitid British troops still try to prevent it.

English BCs blasted a railroad in Siria/Palestain...

English planes failed to blast a railroad in Jordan/Israel...

Italy

Italian light horse payed a visit to the Western front by removing German AA Gun near Cologne.

Austrian fleet is shelled in Fiume.

Fertilized fields are destroyed near Ragusa by Italian BB.

Italians are eager to join French in their glorious anti-Austrian offensive but lack gateway to attack at Isonzo. Hopefuly situation will change next turn!

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

Ouchies! These recent events certainly change things around. Of particularly painful note is the alarming success rate of the French CBs against the Austrian guns. 6 out of 8 successful attacks, congrats!

Looks like you also destroyed Austria's Counter battery force too. I miscalculated badly.

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

gps Cyc

Week 12, 1915


Ottoman Empire

Arab rebel killed in Mesopotamia. Mysterious explosion near Gaza. British Indian Rifle killed near Basra by Turkish Army.

Austria-Hungary

Italian BB sunk near Trieste. 3 mysterious explosions near Fiume/Ragusa. 1 survivor which was picked up but we don't know what we'll do with him now that Trieste is lost.

Germany

Russian Rifle R killed manning the balloon outside Warsaw. German counter batteries kill 3 Russian Light Artillery in Warsaw and 1 Counter battery. Germans lose 3 Counter batteries.

Italian cavalry cleared out from German soil as is a spy near Metz. German counter battery guns kill 2 French 155mm guns on German soil for the loss of 1 German Counter battery.

 

[Tigranes]

1 survivor which was picked up but we don't know what we'll do with him now that Trieste is lost.

Survivors can be escorted by any land unit from any port to the victory location. Budapest, Viena and Krakow will pay you cash and this will boost Austrian morale by 1000 VPs.

Additionally, Survivors can join the city, in the late war ( I hope) population points will be very valuable.

 

[Cyc]

Warsaw - SE of town, a LA takes 1HP from an A-Inf. A LA in Warsaw fails. The other LAs in Warsaw start to shell the German troops SW of town. LA takes 2HP from I Armee. LA takes 1HP from R-Inf. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. 2 LA fail. LA takes 2HP from MG.LA take 2HP from I Armee. 3 Counter Batteries take 3 CBs NW of town, one of them promotes.

The Nicolas Gang craters the Hills East of Samsun.
______________________________________________

For France, this week did not seem as successful as the last, although progress was made. NE of Venice, 3 CBs die trying to silence a German LA. The 4th CB does it. 155mm takes 2HP from R-Inf. 155mm takes 1HP from R-Inf. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. 155mm takes 1HP from TA. Ditto. 155mm takes 3HP from AC. 155mm takes 2HP from TA. Ditto. Then Le J of A kills 2 R-Inf to stop them from dinging the remainder of the 155mm as the moved into Austria. R-Inf kills TA. Ditto. R-Inf kills AC and takes the Trench surrounding the Hillside Vineyard 2 Tiles NE of Venice. In Triest, 2 CBs die trying to route a TA. Petain finally takes it. There is a wounded unit defending Trieste, but fortifications North of town were needed before more action was taken. We have found the Kaiser 's backdoor.

gps to Tigranes.