THE BIG WHINE MM welcome

[Harrybanana]

MM is doing an AAR on our mirror games so I thought I would write a couple from the other side.

From reading MM's posts I am sure you are all aware how badly he is thumping me in both games. I actually thought I was doing pretty well as the Axis. Despite most of the French army being entrenched I was able to conquer France pretty quickly while taking relatively few casualties, destroying a British Corps and mauling the RAF.

Even the BOA was going OK, until the below happened. Yeah, I know I should have had AA guarding the U-Boat pens. But in my defence, in previous versions I have found AA to be totally ineffective against CV attacks on U-Boats in port. Also, I figured the chance of him finding me in port with very low recon was very remote. Anyway, lesson learned.

[Harrybanana]

JULY 19 1940

France Surrenders and Vichy is created. 5 MS sunk by U-Boats. Italy DOWs the UK. Forces are moved towards the Yugoslavian border.

[Harrybanana]

AUG 2, 1940

Only 3 MS sunk and my U-Boats suffer 2 hits. As expected the British conquer Vichy Syria. They also set up the usual pickets to prevent the easy conquest of Vichy North Africa. I am confident that the UK ships are in Raider mode. I can send in the Italian navy to try and chase them away, but it is very unlikely that my "Search" will find them. It also means that the Italian Navy will be left exposed in "Fleet" Mode. I doubt there is a strong UK force within striking range, but it would be risky. Personally, I really liked Alvaro's previous Rule that raiders would retreat from a coast hex if an enemy naval force moves adjacent. I am not sure what the exploit was that caused him to change it back. Perhaps for my next games i will bring in another House Rule.

[Harrybanana]

There are no UK fleets in the East Med and very few UK units. I am not much stronger in Libya, but I threaten Egypt anyway.

[Harrybanana]

AUGUST 16, 1940

The Axis invade Yugoslavia on schedule, but I forgot to take a screen shot. The Axis advance in Egypt.

[Harrybanana]

AUGUST 30, 1940

Yugoslavia is conquered and the Axis continue to tentatively advance in Egypt as more reinforcements arrive in Libya.

I forgot to take screenshots.

[Harrybanana]

SEPTEMBER 13, 1940


The blocking UK fleets are moved from Algiers. Unfortunately the Italian Armour I was planning on using is now in Tripoli which is one hex too far away. So the conquest of Algiers is made by an all German force supported by the Italian Navy. If this invasion had failed I would have had to use my Italian landing craft to capture either Bone or Oran. Meanwhile, Vichy France is also conquered.

[Harrybanana]

I was too slow in Egypt and the arrival of UK reinforcements sends the Axis scurrying back to the Libyan border.

[Harrybanana]

SEPTEMBER 27, 1940

Disaster strikes in Norway as my paratrooper in unable to capture Oslo. I think this is the first time that this attack has failed for me. But another lesson learned; in the future I will either use 2 paratroopers or combine with an invasion.

[Harrybanana]

More British reinforcements arrive in Egypt.

[Harrybanana]

OCTOBER 11, 1940

6 MS sunk at a cost of 1 U-Boat hit.

I got lucky and the UK did not reinforce Oslo. Probably MM was worried by my overwhelming air superiority. I am able to capture Oslo this time with both paratroopers. I railed the 2nd paratrooper up from Sicily last turn. The unit was in Sicily to drop on Malta once the UK unit there died. That happened this turn, but since my para was now in Norway I had to waste Italian LCs to capture Malta.

[Harrybanana]

Norway after my moves. The two units off Narvik are transports, each with a division.

[Harrybanana]

The situation in Egypt before my moves. I am a bit surprised at the audacity of the British.

[Harrybanana]

Scratch one British sub.

[Harrybanana]

According to my spies the RN has a strong presence in the Eastern Med.

[Harrybanana]

Forces and Casualties

[Harrybanana]

Tech Advancements.

[Harrybanana]

The German Build queue.

[Harrybanana]

OCTOBER 25, 1940

3 MS and an escort sunk and 1 U-Boat hit.

On the Allies turn they had two successful searches for my transports and sunk one of them. So scratch one German division.

[Harrybanana]

As I have post elsewhere, it cost me a lot in order to successfully get a transport past the blockading British fleets.