Bob Flemin's MWIF AARse

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Klydon

Bad, bad attack there. You essentially went 3-1 on the assault table straight up and the defenders had a division to give up in case of loss while you had a white print infantry and a mech unit. Can't do that type of stuff, especially in China with the new map.

Even on the regular assault table, you have a 60% chance of losing at least 1 unit as the Japanese while having a 30% chance of having the Chinese lose no units, 40% chance to lose 1 unit (the cav) and only a 30% chance of bagging both units.

warspite1

Certainly was - two in a row too. If I had waited - and its likely to be a long turn - I would have had a really good attack going. Japanese forces in the south are pretty much wiped out [:(]

[Klydon]

All good. As you mentioned before, this is your first go at this and you have done remarkably well to put together such an entertaining AAR. Mistakes are going to be made for sure, but even very seasoned vets do that with a lot of games.

[warspite1]

Turn: May/Jun 1941
Impulse: 4

The US continue their build-up in Hawaii - the V Marine Corps is transferred there.

The Short "Flying Porcupine" Sunderland flies from Malta to help protect the convoys in the Western Mediterranean.

Italy now has an interesting choice - she has two 4-quality fighters in the air, although are on the 0 sea box. Figuring there is not much to lose, the Italians try and initiate combat, but unfortunately for them the CW refuse.

This has worked out badly for the CW as in choosing to refuse combat, all units have had to withdraw....

[warspite1]

Turn: May/Jun 1941
Impulse: 4

The turn continues to go less than brilliantly for the CW - a Hampden flies to Essen but once again fails to record a hit.

But for the Chinese, the march to the sea is on again! The Japanese are in all sorts of trouble in the south now...

[warspite1]

Turn: May/Jun 1941
Impulse: 5

Having removed the CW from the Western Med, the Italians put a convoy in that sea zone to transport the Sardinian resource.

The Japanese transport more troops to China - but will they be in time to save the southern front?

Meanwhile, the Japanese divert troops to the Central sector and try a ground strike south of Ichang. Neither aircraft hit home...

The attack cannot be continued. In the south, in a bid to save the bomber north of Canton, the Japanese manage to get two divisions on the hex. Will it be enough?

[warspite1]

Turn: May/Jun 1941
Impulse: 6

Back to the Allies now. The Mediterranean Fleet sails for the Eastern Med to take up shore bombardment positions for the forthcoming attack on Tripoli. While in China, the Chinese army continue south toward Canton.

[warspite1]

Turn: May/Jun 1941
Impulse: 6

China cannot get decent odds on the two divisions and so, learning from the Japanese mistakes, decides to cancel the attack. The British also cancel their attack on Tripoli as they can only get a 2:1.

[warspite1]

Turn: May/Jun 1941
Impulse: 7

The turn ends at its on to Impulse 7 (Axis). The Japanese land more reinforcements in southern China to try and save the front from total collapse.

[warspite1]

Turn: May/Jun 1941
Impulse: 8

The Axis turn peters out once more - The Germans cannot declare war on the Soviets due to the Garrison requirements, the Japanese just cannot get decent odds against the Chinese, and the Italians are just hanging on.

For the Allies, only the CW launch any kind of action as that will give a modifier to the dice in trying to end the turn, but still give them the opportunity to try and attack Tripoli.

To this end, the British 2nd Infantry Corps is landed east of the Libyan capital.

[warspite1]

Turn: May/Jun 1941
Impulse: 8

The odds are not great but the CW has divisions to take losses and so they decide to go for the attack

Shore bombardment is provided by HM Ships Warspite, Ramillies, Hood and Norfolk in order to take the combat up to 4:1. Wavell also adds HQ support. No surprises - the Italians choose the Assault table.

Its a 9 - The Italian lost one unit and all CW units are disorganised. Well that could have been a whole lot worse.

[warspite1]

Turn: May/Jun 1941
Impulse: 9

The turn does not end and its back to the Axis, but once again there is little they can do other than to keep pushing units east.

Turn: May/Jun 1941
Impulse: 11

The CW push units toward Tripoli but otherwise its a quiet turn.

And the turn ends...

[warspite1]

Turn: May/Jun 1941
Impulse: End of Turn

More partisans arrive in India and France.... [:@]

US Entry

America chooses to send resources to China and provide escorts on the East Coast. This pushes the tension pools up nicely [:)]

[warspite1]

Turn: May/Jun 1941
Impulse: End of Turn

Production

Germany:

2 x Infantry
Armour HQ
2 x Pilot
2 x Land Air
Garrison

Italy:
Submarine
Infantry

Japan:
Infantry
Carrier
Battleship
2 x Carrier Air
2 x Pilots

[warspite1]

Turn: May/Jun 1941
Impulse: End of Turn

Production

Vichy France:
Teritorial

China:

Infantry
Anti-Aircraft

Commonwealth:
Transport
Naval Construction
Naval Air
Land Air
2 x Pilot
Garrison

USA:
Pilot
Carrier Air
Carrier
Infantry
Transport

USSR:
Armour
Garrison
Pilot
Land Air
Eng Div

[warspite1]

Turn: Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: Reinforcement

Commonwealth:

Mosquito, KGV, Anson, Anti-Tank, Canadian Infantry and a Convoy Point

USA:

Submarine

USSR:

Pe-3 fighter, Armour and Infantry Division

[warspite1]

Turn: Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: Reinforcement

Germany:

Bulgarian Militia, FW Condor, He-100 fighter, 2 x Infantry

Italy:

Sparviero Nav Air and a repaired cruiser

Japan:

Sub in the Construction Pool, Siam Militia, Yamato and 2 x cruisers.

[warspite1]

Turn: Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: Initiative and Weather

The Allies win the initiative and will go first. The weather is fine everywhere except the Northern Monsoon (which is rain).

The Mediterranean Fleet heads for the Eastern Mediterranean and a submarine takes up station in the Western Med. The British fly their Sunderland to the area and the Italians respond with two fighters and a SM79... advantage Italians I think...

Fortunately the two sides fail to find each other...

[warspite1]

Turn: Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 1

The weather in southern China makes movement impossible without units being disorganised, but in Libya the CW press ahead with the Battle for Tripoli. Once again the Royal Navy are on hand to raise the combat column [:)]. Wavell does not bother with HQ support.

The Italians choose the Assault table.....

... and Tripoli falls to the Commonwealth at a cost of one unit and half disorganised.

[warspite1]

Turn: Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 2

In the Western Med the CW find the Italians. They choose the 0 sea box section to fight in.

[warspite1]

Turn: Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 2

The CW use their surprise to choose a submarine attack and to decrease the enemy combat column by 3.

The Merchant vessel is aborted. The Italians could do without further losses and withdraw from the area.