Bob Flemin's MWIF AARse IV - Nice AArse

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 3

Gamelin is asked if he wants to include the notional unit. Remembering his mistake previously, he says no. The Luftwaffe have one bomber left and so cannot affect the odds. These are 3:1(+2) on the Blitz table....

...at last! The Germans roll a meaningful number in a ground attack. It's a 10 (12). Both French units are destroyed and a breakthrough occurs.

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 3

The impulse ends with von Bock reorganising a Stuka and the 88mm AA Division, while Yamamoto does the same for the Armoured Corps, a Marine Corps and an Infantry Army.

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 4

The game is in an interesting position. The Allied line looked really solid a short while ago but two decent attacks later, and the French suddenly look pretty thin on the ground. They have a few replacements next turn but will they hold on that long?

Conceding Rotterdam might be the prudent thing here - although that will mean losing a precious fighter...

I think first things first the CW need to get Alexander to France. This will allow the CW flexibility if they need to retreat with the BEF back into France itself.

Two TRS are placed in the North Sea and pick up Alexander and the Manchester Militia. There are now no land units on mainland Britain [X(]

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 4

The British have to try and stop the Germans from being able to attack again this turn. The RAF's remaining bomber strength is readied....

...Damn I forgot I reorganised the German AA unit [8|]. The AA is split amongst the three hexes under attack.

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 4

Attack 1 - the throws are 3,10,10,8,3

The lowest is 3 and so that is the number of damage points available and the bomb load is reduced accordingly.

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 4

The ground strikes failed - but I am not sure why. I thought one succeeded - a throw of 1 against the German Armour. Maybe this was something to do with the bomb load reduction? I will need to read up on that. Disappointing though....

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 4

Aarrgghhhh!!

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 4

These guys couldn't hit a bull in the butt with a bass fiddle, as a wise man once said [&:]

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 4

There is not much to the Allied turn. The French fill the gaps in the line while the British, hamstrung by having only 3 land moves for a combined, make do as best they can....

The end of this turn cannot come quick enough!

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 5

No sign of that though. The weather roll is a 7. That is Fine weather everywhere except the Northern Monsoon region.

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 5

So just one big attack this impulse - Brussels. It will be 3:1 (+2) on the Assault table. There are no aircraft that can affect the odds, there is no HQ Support capability. Oh and Fractional odds have taken it to 4:1.

The result is a 6(8). The Allies lose 2 units and remaining unit is Shattered. What a disaster for the Commonwealth.....

[composer99]

The Wellington that threw the 1 on the ground strike had had all of its bombing factors reduced by AA. As such it would have been unable to effect the targets on the ground, anyway.

I'm surprised the program even bothered to roll for it.

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 6

Once again there is little for the Allies to do. The British do not leave Rotterdam - they have naval gunfire support there so that hex should be safe. Billotte reorganises the Potez, thus giving the French some fighter/bomber capability.....

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 7

Its another weather roll of 7. The weather remains Fine everywhere except the Northern Monsoon (Storm). The Germans align Hungary - no USE throw?

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 7

Realistically there are two hexes for the Germans to attack this impulse; the British west of Brussels or the French northwest of Rheims. The French stack is the bigger prize but this will take some thought - and courage, given that the French have a fighter bomber and the Germans just a couple of bombers....

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 7

The decision is made to try and keep the pressure firmly on the French. Germany's last two bombers are sent to the hex northwest of Rheims to try and ground strike the two French units there. The reason for the second bomber (a Do-17) is that it has an combat factor of 2 and thus the Germans will be one point behind the French and not two in the first round of combat.

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 7

The French will throw first:

Round 1:
12 - AC The French decide which bomber to clear through. They naturally choose the Flying Pencil.
9 - AC so effectively no effect.

Now the Germans have a problem. They are 1.0:3.0 down. They have already lost one Stuka. They decide they cannot afford to lose a second and so abort..

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 7

The Do-17 continues to punch above its weight in this early part of the war, disorganising one of the two French units.

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 7

Just the one attack in France. Its 3:1(+1) on the Blitzkrieg table...

...its a 4(5). The Germans lose a unit and are disorganised, but the French retreat.

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1940
Impulse: 8

The western front has almost played itself out now - both sides are largely spent. The Japanese just haven't got the units to attack.

The Allies cannot afford to pass without tinkering with their forces however....