Bob Flemin's MWIF AARse

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: Reinforcement

Germany
2 x Romanian Militia
Romanian Motorised Corps
2 x Infantry
Artillery
Garrison
Prinz Eugen
Fighter
Bomber

Italy:
Infantry

Japan:
Carrier Air
Musashi
Hiyo
Infantry

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: Initiative and Weather

Axis wins the Initiative but the Allies re-roll and win it back! Getting the first turn was absolutely vital in the Soviet Union.

The Weather is rain in the Europe and the Med, Storm in North Monsoon and Fine in South Monsoon.

[Wuffer]

an execellent read, thx

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Wuffer

an execellent read, thx

warspite1

Thanks Wuffer! [:)]

[Zorachus99]

Now that the war is hot, I'll be watching in rapt attention

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 1

With North Africa clear, the CW can turn their attention to Italy. For any invasion they need the proper support. The task at hand is therefore to get units to the Med!

A small but powerful RN fleet provides distant escort for the convoy.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 1

Meanwhile, with the Luftwaffe otherwise engaged, the CW take the war to the Germans - out of range of pesky fighters!

The Hampdens proved ineffective, but the newly arrived four-engined Avro Lancaster [&o] did the business - costing the Germans two production points.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 1

Now the all important first turn for the Soviets. This is vital as they can straighten out the front line and save the two vulnerable armies - 2nd Mechanised and 4th Siberian - previously caught in the exposed salient around Kaunas.

The weather conditions are problematic for movement (without getting disorganised) but it will be the same for the Germans.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 1

Meanwhile the crazy game of "chase me chase me" in southern China continues. This time the Chinese retreat once more in the face of a reconstituted Japanese army...

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 3

The Axis turn now and the Germans, smarting from losing the initiative, seek to make further inroads into the Soviets...

Before that though, the Italians set up air units in the Italian coast to protect the reinstalled convoy run to/from Sardinia.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 3

The Soviets have a couple of vulnerable units south of the Pripet Marshes, but the Storm conditions mean that the Luftwaffe cannot fly to ground strike. General Winter has come early to aid the Soviet Union....

Apart from a mopping up operation against a Partisan in France, the action this turn will take place in Army Group South's area of operations.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 3

For the battles on the Ukrainian border no HQ support will be used and aircraft cannot fly. The first attack is the most northerly, against the 29th Infantry Army. The Blitzkrieg CRT is chosen and....

...the defenders are shattered. This means the unit is removed from the map and appears as a reinforcement next turn. Alternatively the unit could retreat. I want to open up the front so I do not convert to retreat.

In the next attack, against the Soviet 1st Mountain Corps, the Soviets choose Assault. The result is destruction of the defender for no loss.

The final attack - by the Romanian Army Group - also results in the defender being destroyed. The Attackers are disorganised but there is now a huge gap in the Soviet southern front.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 5

The Soviets have to decide what to do about the chasm that has opened up in the south. Withdrawal is a possibility but, this does not really aid the position in the south that much if at all. The plan will be to try and put pressure on the weak link - the Romanians.

The Romanians have left Antonescu on his own. Two attacks will try and remove him and also the 1st and 2nd Infantry Corps that have created a bridgehead across the Dneister.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 5

The Soviets pull out of the northern attack as the odds were just not good enough, but the attack against Antonescu proceeds. Both sides fly in all the bombers they can to affect the odds..

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 5

The Romanians choose the Assault table and....

...its great news for the Soviets who take no loss.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 6

Back to the Axis and they will need to do something about the Romanian situation - the Soviets have some large stacks in the south.

The good news is its Fine weather everywhere.

The CW not taking up station in the Italian Coast gives he Regia Marina the chance to join up the fleet - the ships that were in Taranto sail to La Spezia.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 6

The Luftwaffe go for only one ground strike, northeast of Kaunas. They have the advantage on fighters thanks to the two 6-quality 109's. The Soviets do not contest the bomber therefore.

The Japanese also try a ground strike against units southwest of Hengyang - which the Chinese do not contest for the same reason.

In Latvia, one unit was disorganised, but the Japanese fail miserably once again.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 6

The Germans cannot get decent odds in the south and so stake everything on the attack in the north...

The Soviets bring in defensive HQ support and the Germans bring two bombers to the party. In view of the superiority of the Luftwaffe fighters the Soviets do not contest the bombers.

The Germans choose the Blitzkrieg CRT and a collective prayer is said by the German High Command. This is the kind of attack that can make or break an offensive....

...the result is shattered and the Germans lose a motorised corps. It could have been better.

At the end of Impulse 6 the Eastern Front looks like this...

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 7

The big question for the Soviets is whether or not they should try and squeeze out the German units northeast of Kaunas. They could try, what would be, an all or nothing attempt. Alternatively they could try and keep the line straight as possible and so not allow the Germans room to exploit any gaps.

The Soviets go for the latter, safer approach, albeit one that sacrifices Timoshenko (unless the turn ends). The Germans will have to push deeper into Russia in order to make gains - and that means time bringing up aircraft.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: 7

This leaves just one attack - in the south in order to extinguish the Romanian bridgehead over the Dneister.

Koniev declines to provide HQ Support and the Soviets have no bombers they can spare, although the Germans bring in a Ju-88.

The Russians choose the Blitz CRT table and....

...a 15! its a crushing blow for the Romanian armed forces!