WaW Revised Barthheart vs Explorer – Western Allies

[explorer2]

Note for when people post comments: This is a game in progress, so in the interest of fairness, please don’t post any comments that would give away, to Barthheart or myself, what the other person is doing. He’s not reading my AAR & I’m not reading his.

Preface: Where to begin? This is my first AAR, and, though no longer a newbie, I’m still relatively inexperienced. My opponent, on the other hand, Barthheart, is a master in the ancient, and modern, art of war. My primary goal at this point will be simply to survive until 1943, when the US should enter the game with strength. In the meantime, I hope simply to not make too many mistakes, because I know if I do, he will make me pay dearly. This goes very much against my nature, so we’ll see how I do.

[center]Turn 1: September 1 1939[/center]

So what do we have to do to survive?

1. In this new Revised version of Tom Weber’s World at War, we have the Canadian Supply of UK option turned on to better simulate the Battle of the North Atlantic by moving Birmingham’s production to Canada. So my first decision will be how to survive the U-Boat dilemna. My answer: build destroyers and the new Air Scouts ASAP.

2. What will I do about defending the continent? I could try to at least slow him down by putting up a fight, but in this new version unit losses cause higher points for the enemy. On the other hand, if I move them all from France to UK, they’ll eat me out of house and home, and my limited supply will vanish too quickly. I think I’ll try an intermediate approach.

3. Naval engagement: I have a lot larger navy than he does, but his is modern and mine is almost entirely WWI vintage. In this new version, Level 2 (modern) ships chew up Level 1’s (WWI) easily. If I try to find him now, I think he’ll chew me up despite my numbers. But if I just sit here, these WWI BB’s will soak up supply without any benefit. I don’t want him to get the points from sinking them either, so I guess I’m going to take my first risk – make a run for safe haven and easier supply in Canada. I’ll wait until I have a destroyer escort, but if his 2 to 3 new BB’s find me, it’s going to be pretty bad.

4. The Mediterannean: With all the new factors here, this is where I expect all the action will take place at first. If he takes Suez, there’s a new card that allows GE to give desperately needed supplies and PP to JA. Not to mention he’d get all the production from the mid-east. So how much do I focus my resources on the Med vs. the Atlantic? Save the Suez and starve England? I’m going to lean towards the Med to start with. I REALLY don’t want him taking Suez, maybe just because I think it would be such an insult. Supplying Malta will be very important to holding the Med. Also, I know the Italian navy is large & modern and outclasses my fleet in the Med. BUT, it’s inexperienced. If I can catch it really early, before it builds experience, maybe I can do some real damage, just like the real life raid of Taranto. But if I lose, Malta will surely fall, and with unrestricted Axis supply coming to Libya, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold Suez. This might be my biggest early game gamble.

5. India/ the Pacific: To fortify in prep for JA, or to help Med defense out? I’ll probably try a middle way.

Wish me luck! [;)]

Shot of New Point System T1b

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[center]T2b: Sept 29 1939[/center]

Newsflash Halifax, Canada!

The last shipment of food and supplies for producing for the war effort have gone missing for weeks now! It is feared they have fallen victim to German U-Boats! With a typically Canadian blending of cultures, they combine a British stiff upper lip and don’t say a word of complaint, while adding Yankee can-do attitude, and start churning out Destroyers. U-Boats haven’t been spotted in English waters yet.

[explorer2]

[center]T3b Oct 27 1939[/center]

Newsboys took the day off this time – nothing really to report.
Germany sends a few fighters, bomber, and artillery shells in the direction of the Maginot line, but nothing worth getting upset about.
The subs are out there somewhere, we know it, but our brand spanking new Air Scouts – just one so far – haven’t found a thing.
Modern Destroyer fleet is finally reaching respectability, undergoing training exercises to get ready for the big hunt.
Our generals are busy studying the map of the Med, which shows interesting possibilities.

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[center]T4b: Nov 24 1939[/center]

Sorry, we’re all busy conserving energy. Winter has arrived and nobody bothered us, so we’re taking a nap.

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[center]T5b Dec 21 1939[/center]

Winter seas must be too much for the Germans – they’re not cutting my supply lines.
Maybe it’s time to make a run for it and let my old BB’s & CV’s take shelter deep within Canada’s safe shores. Hope this isn’t a ruse!

Screenshot shows the warm Gulf Stream bathing Britain’s shores, making their winters not as harsh as on the Continent.

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[center]T7b Feb 16 1940[/center]

All’s Quiet on the Western Front (or was that a different war?)
And since that’s the only front so far, no reports of significance.
Succesfully moved navy over to Montreal. Besides producing enough to get through the winter, trying to get enough PP to get Guns2 or Fighters 2 to defend Britain.

[Joshuatree]

Yep that was a different war, WWI. Awesome book by the way by Erich Maria Remarque, and it was forbidden by Hitler. Very much recommended.
This one is called the "Sitzkrieg" or "phoney war".

[explorer2]

[center]T8b: March 15 1940[/center]

With Canada becoming the new home to the Royal Fleet, and that happening in winter, we found ourselves really lacking in supply. All production focused on regaining supply and readiness now that winter is over. The U-Boats continue to lurk so deep that we have no signs of them. A few more turns and I’ll be ready for them though (or at least I hope I'll have enough DD to sdcare them off).
Meanwhile, over on the continent, the Luftwaffe is taking practice shots at my hapless troops since their air cover has already abandoned them and moved to London! Ouch!!

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[center]T9b April 12 1940: Blitzkrieg!!! [/center]

Danger!! Danger!!! The German Reich has violated all rules of civilization and launched a lightning blitz through non-beligerant countries throughout Europe. Never assuming Hitler would plow through ancient forests or roll over dikes, our forces were caught flat footed. With the greatest number of our men surrounded, they chose suicide rather than German concentration camps. Some managed to escape via small boats from the coast. French and Maginot commands are fleeing to the coast as we speak, while French Patriots are preparing for inevitable death in Paris in order to give their compatriates a chance to escape. How does one choose between living by fleeing, standing when death is certain, or choosing your own death when all hope is gone?

Supply is perilously low throughout the Commonwealth, except in Asia. Our vast armada is soaking up the few supplies we have. Is saving the navy going to cost us the air and ground war? Though low on supply if we don’t act soon to eliminate the U-Boat blockade, there may be nothing left in the homeland to save.

Dark days these are that try men’s souls!!

Below: France in Shambles: Notice no troops left in Maginot line since they were surrounded.

[explorer2]

[center]T10b May 10 1940[/center]

Battle of the North Atlantic heats up again. (though it’s not really a battle yet)
With Iceland “agreeing” to let us use it to help get supplies from Canada to England, we thought our supply problems would lessen. *!*% German naval command anticipated this. Already unable to maintain supply to the garrison at Gander, and the new garrison in Iceland looks endangered as well. Adequate supply is still not getting to our navy, this month that being attributed to a “mouse” infestation. Gotta get those destroyers ready soon.

[explorer2]

T10b May 10 1940, Part 2

With the British army mostly captured, killed, or self-destroyed from the Blitz, we currently have just a meager contingent left to defend our blessed shores. Because Canada doesn’t seem able to help us much, we’re frantically trying to build a new production center, but that will be awhile. How far will Hitler push the blitz? We need time!

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Turn 10b Part 3

Down in the Med, Montie has brought his divisions to safeguard the Suez. In Montie’s traditional style, he is going for a flashy moral victory by trying to cut off supply to the Italians, who are already moving on us. He defied Churchill’s orders to stay safe and conservative. How much will he pay? If Hitler and Mussolini decide to start cooperating and Mussolini gets the supply he needs, his navy far outmatches ours with our abundant supply but just a few outdated warships. Keeping our fingers crossed.

[explorer2]

[center]T11b June 7 1940: Breathing Space[/center]

Very little action on any front.

England: Subs are almost silent. But not being able to count on that, no supply was sent our way. We are worried that the undefeated Germans are preparing for a push across the ocean. With the little production we have, we’re building flak, since we can’t yet match the technology of the Luftwaffe.
Canada, we need your help!

[explorer2]

T11b June 7 1940

Canada: With NO intelligence on location, number, or level of subs, we’re assembling a make-shift air force with which to find and hopefully eliminate the Uboat threat.

Time to mourn our losses. [:(]

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T11b June 7 1940

Med: Monty is sorely tempted to pursue the Italians who were heading for Alexandria but now have unexplainedly turned around. Thinking they have supply problems, Monty orders the Med Fleet to stay at sea and do what damage they can against Tobruk & Bengazi. Supplies from Asia somehow got interdicted at the Horn of Africa. We’ll have to divert navy to see what’s going on.

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T11b June 7 1940

China: We’re trying to form one long human chain of nationalist solidarity. With virtually no transportation or armament, that’s the best we can do. With what little production we have, we’re going to draft conscripts to fill in the holes in our line.

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[center]July 5 1940: Suez Falls![/center]

Alexandria: Our last shipment of supplies from India has gone missing. We sent a destroyer to the vicinity, expecting some sort of storm to account for the problem, but they radioed back Italians at the mouth of the Indian Ocean! Apparently these are rogue Italians who don’t have very good communication with their rulers, because if they did, they would know that their brothers in Libya are marching home at this moment. Montie didn’t waste much time in heading his small but experienced armor division from its outpost in Mersa Matruh to the Suez.

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Montie on the way!

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London: No planes, no ships have been spotted close to shore. Maybe Hitler has all he wants of conquest and we can return to life as normal. Instead of producing a few meager flak, centralized production tells everybody just to go to work as normal. No draft, no nothing except a little research. In the jolly months of summer we have all the food and supplies we need right from our own backyards.

Ottawa: Destroyers are still fueling up. Brand new recruits have begun training on the most up to date Carrier Air. The garrison in Iceland has run out of rations, but since it’s summer, they’re not complaining too hard. No sign of the enemy.

Chungking: The greatest people on earth are standing in solidarity against the interlopers on our soil. We will not let them pass. More of our glorious people are joining in the human shield to protect our sacred land. The Japanese are obviously too cowardly to dare come any closer.

As you can see from the following score, after a slow start, the Axis have moved far out in front with the score.
When will we get relief?

[explorer2]

August 2 1940: Hot Time in the Med!

Alexandria: A small band of brothers from India (10 strong) held out against an amphibious invasion of Italians twice our size (20) in Aqaba. The remaining Italians turned tail and headed back to the horn of Africa, where they continue to stop all shipping from India.

We dispatched a BB group from Malta to retake the Horn of Africa, but half way to Alexandria they accidentally stumbled on a distubance in the sea. The “fog” caused them to be unable to discern who was there. Thinking it was the Italian subs, we dispatched the small Carrier Fleet which had 4 squads of our newest CarrierAir based in Alexandria. WHAT a SURPRISE when the Carrier Air reported it was apparently the entire Italian Navy that had been discovered.

The air engagement that ensued cost us half of our new CarrierAir (3) but they did not die in vain. Italians lost 2 of their brand new battleships, one of their WWI era cruisers, and one of their WWI era destroyers. Our admirals explain this victory by noting that the Italians went to see without adequated training (XP), air protection (cruisers) that had not been upgraded to modern standards, and notoriously low morale.

The downside was that our carrier fleet had to sail deep into Italian waters and could not make it back to port, leaving it very vulnerable to counterstrike. In an attempt to protect them, the rest of the Royal Navy was dispatched to give them cover. This fleet is a combined fleet of that had formerly been stationed in Gibraltar and Calcutta –mostly outdated, but with 6 modern destroyers (some with little experience). A counter strike is sure to follow. Our lads are anxiously watching the seas.