Bob Flemin's MWIF AARse

[brian brian]

that's true, oil crept into the game slowly before Final Edition came out, and I played a long time without it as well. but treating Ploesti as the same as the Saar/Metz ... I just can't go back to ignoring that. why would Japan have even launched a war at all if it didn't need oil? sure, the game is a bit easier to play without thinking about oil, no question.

and the historical Italian navy really was stuck in port for most of the war due to a severe oil shortage, ditto the IJN stuck in Borneo. if anything, the oil rule still gives the Axis too many operational abilities in this regard, to make more of a game of it.

and I think ultimately, playing without an oil rule helps bog down the game actually, as more and more units appear on the map and the game gets slower and slower to play each passing year.

just during 1941 Barbarossa, no oil requirement for the Germans might give them 25 more build points in 1941 alone, with perhaps 20 additional, or more, from 39 & 40 together. meanwhile Russia would have about the same amounts of forces, and they are already extremely fragile in 1941. Germany could well launch a no-oil Barbarossa with the same amount of units, but 2 more Offensive Chits in hand...and what are Offensive Chits but a lot of fuel (and ammunition and replacements, yes, but a whole lot of fuel). (O-Chits are a bit of a secret way to get oil without actually having it, by the way).

the oil rule is a huge game changer, and thus my comment.

so I am enjoying your AAR immensely, in a tiny part because of the oil snafus, but mostly because you are so generous to share this all with us. [&o]

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 1

The Allies win the initiative - despite the Axis calling a re-roll - whoops...

One of the things I find quite difficult with this game is the carrier air units - specifically maximising the best aircraft for the best carriers etc.

If I am going to take on the Italians next year when my AMPH's arrive then I need the best carrier planes on deck. I have a seafire just built and is waiting in Bristol. Unfortunately there is no carrier that can take this "Blue 4" quality unit at present. But next year my "green" carriers can accomodate this unit. I need to get these ships in position to be able to take the aircraft aboard. HMS Indefatigable is in Gibraltar so she looks like a likely candidate, with the Albacore currently aboard her, moving to HMS Formidable. Formidable's 3-quality Gladiator can then be scrapped.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 1

So with intelligence telling me that there is no danger from the Regia Marina this turn, I use this knowledge to shuffle the fleet. All carriers head back to Blighty for FAA upgrades.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 1

In China, the Chinese decide to get angry with the exposed Japanese Mountain unit southwest of Kweilin. The Japanese respond with their long-range zero, and the Chinese bring in two fighters. They are at a disadvantage, but the thinking here is that the Chinese can afford the losses - and if they do manage to hurt the Japanese, then so much the better.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 1

Round 1

The Japanese roll an 18 (AX PX) meaning they can choose to destroy the Chinese front fighter or bomber (the pilot was killed). They choose the fighter, hoping that the Chinese will stick around.

The Chinese roll a 13 (AC) clearing an enemy bomber through. There are none so this is no effect.

Round 2

The Chinese decide to tough it out and stick around. The Japanese roll a 7 (AA). The Japanese can decide which of the remaining aircraft to abort - they choose the fighter.

The Chinese boldness then pays off!! They throw a 2 (AX). The pilot survives but the Japanese lose their 13-range Zero - incredible!!

The bomber subsequently fails to disorganise the Japanese Mountain Corps but who cares? That is definitely a major success for the Chinese.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 2

The Germans need to tidy up behind the lines by getting rid of the partisans. Meanwhile I seem to have put my aircraft and transports out of supply in Truk....[8|] I have no spare convoy counters to rectify this turn either. Note to self - do not play with limited overseas supply...

The Germans go for three ground strikes. The forest hex southeast of Riga, the hex northwest of Nikolayev and (having noticed some Soviet units out of supply) the forest hex southeast of Minsk. Knowing they have the aircraft advantage, the Soviets pour their air force into the defence of their southern units.

Meanwhile the Japanese try a ground strike on two Chinese armies between Nanning and Kweilin.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 2

And so the stage is set for potentially the biggest air battle of the war so far!

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 2

Round 1

The Allies throw a 15 (AA). The Soviets can choose which front aircraft to abort. Learning from what happened with the Chinese, they gamble and abort the Luftwaffe's front fighter..

Its laugh or cry time (again) - the Germans throw a 13 (No Effect)...

Round 2

The Soviets now have the slight advantage 7.1 vs 7.3. The Germans figure that as the war progresses so those odds will keep getting worse - they fight on!!

The Soviets stay of course, and roll a 6 (AA). Once again the Soviets choose the German fighter to abort.

The Germans roll an 8 (DA). The defender gets the choice of aircraft to abort but there is only the front fighter to choose.

Round 3

With the Soviets only having a 5-quality in front, this swings the advantage back to the Luftwaffe 6.5 vs 5.8. For the same reasons as before however, the Soviets choose to stick around.

What a choice! They roll a 3 (DX). The Germans choose whether to lose their front fighter or bomber (the pilot survives). They choose to lose the fighter.

The Germans roll a 9 - No effect. This series of dice rolls from the Germans is really quite bizarre..

Round 4

Well no point backing out now - even though the Soviets have the 5 vs 5.8 advantage..

The Soviets roll a 12 (AC) - the Stuka is cleared through.

Now - one decent dice and the Germans can at least even up the losses...

...but they throw a 13 - No effect [&:]

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 2

The Germans lose a precious FW190 but at least the Stuka attack succeeded in disorganising one Soviet unit.

In the north, the Stuka manages to ground strike Yeremenko. Now all they need is a decent dice throw for the land attack....

North of the Pripet Marshes one of three ground strikes is successful. With the units out of supply, the Germans really could have done with more than that. But...

In China one Chinese army is also disorganised.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 2

There will be the following attacks for the Germans this turn:

Attack on the Partisan in France

Attack on the Soviets north of Nikolayev

Attack on the Soviets south of Minsk

Attack on the forest hex south of Riga

Its all or nothing for the Germans in the east....

Manstein and Rommel use HQ support to their two attacks in the centre and north respectively, while Koniev provides support in the south. Maddeningly I have just realised that Guderian was not organised due to lack of oil last turn [:@]....

The Soviets are able to bring in bomber support in the south - the attack there is going to be a disaster....

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 2

Right then - no pressure. This is the make-or-break turn for the Germans.....

In Latvia the Blitz table is chosen. The Germans roll a......

......18!! Zut alors as they say in Berlin. Both defenders destroyed - including Yeremenko and no disorganisation for the attackers!! Der Dvina river line ist Krank! exclaims a happy Adolf like a girl!

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 2

An air of invincibility is suddenly felt within the ranks of the Wehrmacht - the dream of better days head, of conquest in the east, could it be true? The war over by Christmas?.....

....Well possibly - I think there is a very good chance the Soviets will be in Berlin by Christmas. In the centre, the Germans roll a 5. One defending division is lost and two German formations. That really must be game over...

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 2

The final attack in the east is not as bad as it could have been. A 13 was thrown, resulting in both Soviet armies retreating, while two German units are disorganised.

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 2

And just to cap it off - a) the Germans lost an infantry in getting rid of the French partisan and b) I forgot to attack the Soviet Partisans....

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 3

Right, now the Germans have shown their hand, can the Soviets put them to the sword in the south? With their spare fighter in hand, the Soviets send two bombers in to try and disorganise two exposed German stacks. A victory in one or both of these hexes and the Germans will be in full retreat...

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 3

The Soviets disorganise units in the northern hex but not the big prize further south...

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 3

The Soviet decide to attack both hexes. Guderian is brought in to provide HQ Support in the north - and Timoshenko counters. Neither side can bring in bombers - or at least, not without getting them shout out of the sky in the case of the Germans...

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 3

So here we go - two monster attacks and combat in the northern most hex is resolved first. The Soviets choose blitzkrieg and........

.......its an 8 - one loss each with all attackers disorganised

[warspite1]

Turn: Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 3

The second attack now, and this time the Germans have the choice of table. They go for Assault....

....and its a 10. The Germans lose no units, the Soviets lose one and are disorganised. That could have been a whole lot worse for the Wehrmacht.

[Klydon]

Just curious on when and where you used the German offensive chits. If the Germans didn't work on getting another one, it is a shame (bit late now perhaps) as the one I used against the French in the west was just brutal and basically blew their line to pieces. I believe the Russians also have one as well and with a good HQ, they should be able to lay some serious hurt on the Germans at some point.