MWiF Global War Hot-Seat (AAR)

[composer99]

Incidentally, I think one reason why so much attention was paid to the German DoW on China, as compared to all the other activity (the start of Barbarossa and the invasion of Indochina and the Dutch East Indies), is that we are used to seeing Axis successes on your part, so the fact that the Axis had a good start to their widening wars was, by now, unexceptional, while the German DoW on China to game the USE mechanics was seemingly aberrant.

I guess it's just easy to forget that this game & AAR are part of the beta test process and ergo such unusual actions should not be too out of the ordinary.

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: composer99

I'm not a big fan of CW forces used just to guard USSR Karelian cities; but an expeditionary force to travel down the road and attack the Finns is most likely worthwhile:

- it reduces the forces being used to attack the USSR
- if the Germans want to reinforce Finland with their own ground troops they have to do combineds during the summer (at least until Leningrad falls).
- by advancing in Finland, the CW does not have to worry about foreign troop commitment, so it can have an army and an air force in place
- if the CW conquers Finland, it opens up a lend-lease route to Leningrad (up to 2 resources + 4 bp per turn if you like)

I'd like to be able to do this, but I realized I have to stagger how many troops I can get there at one time. I can slowly move troops in over the summer and "collect" the Arctic Highway hexes during the winter of 1941 . . . and make the "big attack" during the next spring and summer. If I can get my forces placed correctly, which should be possible this summer.

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: composer99

Incidentally, I think one reason why so much attention was paid to the German DoW on China, as compared to all the other activity (the start of Barbarossa and the invasion of Indochina and the Dutch East Indies), is that we are used to seeing Axis successes on your part, so the fact that the Axis had a good start to their widening wars was, by now, unexceptional, while the German DoW on China to game the USE mechanics was seemingly aberrant.

I guess it's just easy to forget that this game & AAR are part of the beta test process and ergo such unusual actions should not be too out of the ordinary.

Why, thank you. I think? [;)]

[Red Prince]

While examining the enemy threat, I discovered I need to move India up as a priority. Ceylon and the NEI are going to have to be sacrificed. India is a big place, and an examination of the Japanese forces available in Canton shows that an invasion of India is actually a real possibility. As the CW, I don't like that. I only have 2 of the 4 ports on the Bay of Bengal covered right now, and since the Japanese Marines didn't get used yet, even covering the ports doesn't mean India is safe . . . looks like I'll be finding ways to increase troops in India, then.

Fortunately, I have some TERR units that have been heading there already that can enter India now. And I can get another MECH there by the end of next turn. It would be sooner, but for the Italian fleet and SUBs making the Atlantic an unsafe place for a transport on its own.
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Edit: The reason I mention the TERR units for now, rather than other available INF in S. Africa, is tht the TERR units cannot enter Mozambique at this time, but can enter India. The RSA INF doesn't need FTC to enter Mozambique.

[Orm]

I recommend defending the Major Port in Ceylon with one unit. This helps the defence of India. Letting Japan gain a major port there is a major threat.

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: Orm

I recommend defending the Major Port in Ceylon with one unit. This helps the defence of India. Letting Japan gain a major port there is a major threat.

Colombo is only a Minor Port. Trincomalee, which was taken by Japan last impulse is the Major Port, so it's too late to save it.
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Edit: Okay, so I've set my top 3 priorities as:
1. Defend the convoy pipelines
2. Defend India
3. Advance in East Africa

Minor priority is to try to prepare an assault on Finland, but there are 2 fresh short-ranged TRS coming in at the start of J/A '41 which can be dedicated to ferrying troops that way. After Alexander enters Murmansk with his supporting INF, all TRS will be dedicated to moving forces toward the goals listed above.

[Orm]

I think US should send a fleet with a couple of units to India to help secure that front as soon as US enters the war.

I missed that Japan had captured the major port in Ceylon.[:(]

Edit: I see no regular army units as reinforcements for the CW or USA. As I understand it US considers landing in Portugal or Spain but in order to be a threat they need regular land units. An odd GAR is not enough in order to mount an offensive.

Edit2: Nice DOW and invasions by Japan. Well done. [:)]

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: Orm

I think US should send a fleet with a couple of units to India to help secure that front as soon as US enters the war.

I missed that Japan had captured the major port in Ceylon.[:(]

Edit: I see no regular army units as reinforcements for the CW or USA. As I understand it US considers landing in Portugal or Spain but in order to be a threat they need regular land units. An odd GAR is not enough in order to mount an offensive.

Edit2: Nice DOW and invasions by Japan. Well done. [:)]

Thanks.

Eisenhower is sitting on a TRS in New York, and MacArthur and 2 ART are stacked with a TRS and AMPH in Norfolk. It isn't much, but it'll do for the time being. These potential invasions aren't intended to be permenant at this point. They are intended to draw troops away from the Soviet front.
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As you suggested, the CW took advantage of the Fine weather and made 2 Strat Bombing runs, only 1 of which could be intercepted. The interception was a wash, with both FTR units getting aborted, and the bomber didn't do anything useful over Lille, but he only had 3 factors to work with. His purpose was to use up the German FTR so that the 7-factor LND could make a run later this turn.

The 2nd run was on Brussels, and it was not intercepted, rolled well, and destroyed a German Production Point. All hail the RAF!

[Red Prince]

With only 3 Air Missions now, I was considering the Ground Strike (shown with the black arrow) and realized I have another possibility to help hold the river line. I need only 1 Air Mission to get one of the FTRs in the North retreated -- the other can wait an impulse -- so I was thinking that maybe I should use Air Reorganization on these units (shown with blue arrows) instead of conducting the Ground Strike. These two units are going to end up Isolated, almost certainly, and able to be destroyed with as few as 8 or 10 factors, assuming the Germans take Chisinau. But if they are reorganized . . . well, they may be stuck where they are, but they'll be strong at least.

I'm very tired, and I want to be sure to implement the suggestions for the Soviet defense correctly, so I'm going to take a nap. In the meantime, please let me know if you think I should Ground Strike or Reorganize . . . or neither.

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

ORIGINAL: Orm

I recommend defending the Major Port in Ceylon with one unit. This helps the defence of India. Letting Japan gain a major port there is a major threat.

Colombo is only a Minor Port. Trincomalee, which was taken by Japan last impulse is the Major Port, so it's too late to save it.
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Edit: Okay, so I've set my top 3 priorities as:
1. Defend the convoy pipelines
2. Defend India
3. Advance in East Africa

Minor priority is to try to prepare an assault on Finland, but there are 2 fresh short-ranged TRS coming in at the start of J/A '41 which can be dedicated to ferrying troops that way. After Alexander enters Murmansk with his supporting INF, all TRS will be dedicated to moving forces toward the goals listed above.

That's better.

What makes me dislike the Finland expedition is that is something goes wrong any where else in the world, the guys in Finland won't be able to help. One of the basic rules of games is to control the center. With a circular map that is hard to define.[;)]

But I would say the the Commonwealth has two main centers at the moment: the UK (e.g., Liverpool & Plymouth) and India. With units placed in those 2 locations, they can defend in multiple directions. A third 'center' would be Brisbane, which covers their interests in the Southwest Pacific. Aden as a fleet location is 'ok' but units there are pretty much devoted to watching the Red Sea. Ceylon (I know it has been lost) is better because it provides flexibility as to which units go where: east or west.

If you can concentrate your forces in central locations, you will be better able to meet aggressive actions by the Axis and exploit tactical weaknesses in their dispositions.

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

With only 3 Air Missions now, I was considering the Ground Strike (shown with the black arrow) and realized I have another possibility to help hold the river line. I need only 1 Air Mission to get one of the FTRs in the North retreated -- the other can wait an impulse -- so I was thinking that maybe I should use Air Reorganization on these units (shown with blue arrows) instead of conducting the Ground Strike. These two units are going to end up Isolated, almost certainly, and able to be destroyed with as few as 8 or 10 factors, assuming the Germans take Chisinau. But if they are reorganized . . . well, they may be stuck where they are, but they'll be strong at least.

I'm very tired, and I want to be sure to implement the suggestions for the Soviet defense correctly, so I'm going to take a nap. In the meantime, please let me know if you think I should Ground Strike or Reorganize . . . or neither.

I'd save at least one of the ATRs. The turn is likely to be short but I would be surprised if you don't find another excellent use for an ATR later in the turn.

In any event, I wouldn't reorg the antitank gun; it's just too wimpish for my taste (e.g., no ZOC).

If possible, a ground strike on the 8-5 armor with TB-7 is something I'd do. If successful, that would prevent the attack on the 6-3 & 3-2 AT since the Germans could only get 11 factors against it at most. Then I would definitely be interested in reorganizing the 6-3, since it looks like it might have a chance to live to fight another day.

Ground striking the INF and MOT doesn't do much to prevent the penetration of the Germans through the holes in the line. It is the forward elements that you want to stop. And if the weather turns nice in the North Temperate, with the turn running 5 or 7 impulses, it is the armor that you want to see sitting disorganized back in Rumania.

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

With only 3 Air Missions now, I was considering the Ground Strike (shown with the black arrow) and realized I have another possibility to help hold the river line. I need only 1 Air Mission to get one of the FTRs in the North retreated -- the other can wait an impulse -- so I was thinking that maybe I should use Air Reorganization on these units (shown with blue arrows) instead of conducting the Ground Strike. These two units are going to end up Isolated, almost certainly, and able to be destroyed with as few as 8 or 10 factors, assuming the Germans take Chisinau. But if they are reorganized . . . well, they may be stuck where they are, but they'll be strong at least.

I'm very tired, and I want to be sure to implement the suggestions for the Soviet defense correctly, so I'm going to take a nap. In the meantime, please let me know if you think I should Ground Strike or Reorganize . . . or neither.

I'd save at least one of the ATRs. The turn is likely to be short but I would be surprised if you don't find another excellent use for an ATR later in the turn.

In any event, I wouldn't reorg the antitank gun; it's just too wimpish for my taste (e.g., no ZOC).

If possible, a ground strike on the 8-5 armor with TB-7 is something I'd do. If successful, that would prevent the attack on the 6-3 & 3-2 AT since the Germans could only get 11 factors against it at most. Then I would definitely be interested in reorganizing the 6-3, since it looks like it might have a chance to live to fight another day.

Ground striking the INF and MOT doesn't do much to prevent the penetration of the Germans through the holes in the line. It is the forward elements that you want to stop. And if the weather turns nice in the North Temperate, with the turn running 5 or 7 impulses, it is the armor that you want to see sitting disorganized back in Rumania.

I actually came to almost the same conclusion, realizing I could make the Ground Strike and still reorganize the 6-3 INF. I nailed the MOT, but not the INF in the strike. Then I saw this post and decided I'd try the strike again, but against the ARM. If it didn't work, I could always restore the game and take the first one . . . well, it worked, so the ARM bites the dust (until it is reorganized, if it is).

[Red Prince]

Took Steve's advice almost to the individual counters. There were a few under stacks he didn't really know what they were, so I improvised which should go where. But I like the situation better now. I'd like it even more if there were a lot more units hanging around, but with what is available, I think this will work well enough. The image below is just an overview, without weather or flags.

I am worried about the Northern Front. I'm going to have to make my stand between Leningrad and Novgorod, then from Vitebsk to Gomel here. If Germany manages to get this far before the end of the turn, there is a very real danger that the front will collapse. Germany is a little heavy on units in this area as compared to the Rumanian border, and that will mean big losses in the North, but I guess it's better to lose the territory there and keep the Dnieper line intact, if possible.

The next three factories to rail are going to have to be Vitebsk, Kiev, and Leningrad. The order will depend on the threat to each one, but I probably won't get a chance to send another one to Murmansk (the Odessa factory went there this impulse), so 2 will go to Archangel, and the 3rd will find a home somewhere like Karaganda or Omsk.

In the end, I did reorganize that 6-3 INF. If the weather in the South remains Fine, he should be able to escape to Nikolayev next impulse.

[Red Prince]

And, so we move on to impulse #5 for the Axis, with another soggy weather roll:

[composer99]

Just the weather the USSR wants to see: half movement, half supply, half the ground strike rating on the Stukas.

[composer99]

The weather's not so hot for strat bombing, but don't forget to fly CW bombers extended range if it means they'll escape the range of German fighter cover over factories.

Although now that the fighter cover over Lille is exhausted, it's bombs away over France.

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: composer99

Just the weather the USSR wants to see: half movement, half supply, half the ground strike rating on the Stukas.

Even in this weather, I should be able to make 3 solid attacks in the North, against Riga, north of Vilna, and on Minsk. Not spectacular attacks, but solid. In the South, the things that were going to die will die (Chisinau, the CAV), but Cernauti and Odessa or safe for now. This does limit the range of the 6-3 INF the Soviets just reorganized, too. And, since I used up my best Stukas last impulse, this actually gives me a good reason to move my fighters and more bombers to the front, since I won't be using Ground Strikes this impulse.

[Red Prince]

While I'm working on the Axis impulse, this is just a reminder to get your votes in on a USA DOW on whichever theatre has better odds at 30%-40% or higher. Currently, a DOW on the EuroAxis is 60%, I think.

So far the vote is 2-0 in favor of risking the DOW.

[BallyJ]

Regarding the DOW by the USA.
As the entry level is so high.
I say take the shot at any thing at or over 40%.
Keep trying.
If it fails and tention is lowered raise it again in US entry and try again.
You only have to get lucky once.
regards John

[Red Prince]

ORIGINAL: BallyJ

Regarding the DOW by the USA.
As the entry level is so high.
I say take the shot at any thing at or over 40%.
Keep trying.
If it fails and tention is lowered raise it again in US entry and try again.
You only have to get lucky once.
regards John

That makes it 3-0 for 40% or better, with Orm, Centuur and BallyJ all in favor.
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Another Question: I'm setting up German attacks, and I'm wondering how soon the Soviets should attempt to lower the odds with Ground Support. This impulse is bad for it because of the Rain conditions everywhere, but in general it's something I don't always know when to do . . . switching from Ground Strike duty to Ground Support duty.

I assume it depends on 3 things:

1. How important the hex is to the overall defense.
2. How much of an odds decrease it can get.
3. How late in the turn it is -- the later being better for Ground Support as opposed to Ground Strikes.

Is this even remotely correct?