Global War Solitaire

[yvesp]

A fight that is costly to american carrier air units.
But the result is satisfactory for the allies anyway: most of the air wave is repulsed.

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The planes that get through are badly shaken but the strong AA defense.

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In the end, a transport is damaged.
The British battleships show the Italians that they, too, can dust off damage!

This combat shows that attrition after 6 months of fighting over the sea is now taking its toll. There are less naval bombers able to deliver, and less fighters to protect them. There is a cost that has been mostly paid by the Americans to achieve this, and routinely 2 or 3 carriers have to get back to the USA to resplenish their planes.

It seems that now the West Mediterranean, while not a secure area, will be more and more usable by the allied: the axis is now more a nuisance, than a strong menace.

Of course, the Italian navy won't sortie against the superior British battleships, both in numbers and in quality! Not to mention the four British carriers...

[yvesp]

Germany having the initiative declares war before Russia does!
This deprives Russia from the chance of getting surprise, and indeed gives surprise to Germany!

Germany does an air impulse and sends 21 units to bomb the Russian lines, some additionally helped by an offensive chit. The result is that more than half of the Russia army on that front is immediately disorganized ; this will prevent any attack by Russia this turn.

However, this action will severely deplete the German oil reserves. Up to now, Germany never had any oil problems, but this may be the beginning, especially since Ploesti will likely soon be the target of the Russian army.

[yvesp]

After last turn failed assault on Mukden, the Russians try again: now, getting rid of that Japanese front is becoming important: it ties down some of the best Russian units which will be missing on the West Front.

Luck is with the Russians, as they capture Mukden. This puts the Japanese army in a very awkward position. Their HQ is disorganised AND out of supply. A savory target if any for a follow up attack!

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In France, the British have learned their lesson! Sticking to the coastline is much more secure, with the support of the old, but still efficient battleships behind them.

They also advance carefully and don't use the breakthrough.

[yvesp]

In France, the American are fighting around the Massif Central. Why take low odd attacks in the mountains if one can expect to run around them ?

The combat doesn't go as well as hoped, but one hex is gained, and the Germans don't have enough forces available to counter-attack.

However, the main objective which was to break the weak line here won't be achived this turn.

[yvesp]

Germany's situation in France in not exactly comfortable.
While they can now (barely) hold the front lines, they barely have enough troops, and certainly in little position to counter-attack. Furthermore, this impulse weather is not helping!

The northern advance by the British is obviously extremely ennoying, as it is now almost reaching behind the lines, and a stop gap has to be found!

The obvious risk is a breakthrough by the Americans in the south in the direction of Paris with a combined similar action by the British in the sorth: This could isolate up to ten corps! Still, the threat is not immediate (the Americans are not ready and with the mud, they won't be this impulse), but it must be kept in mind.

The problem is that the allies do now have up to twice the number of German corps in France: any German failure can be fully exploited.

[yvesp]

After a long hesitation, the Germans have decided to attack on Russian land. This will give a +0.5 to the Russian production mutiplier, but their are real gains to make, if only the destruction of the disorganized plane units, that come as a bonus to any successful land combat. Furthermore, even is the multiple is increased, reinforcements will come at best in two turns: these are units that won't attack...

This attack succeeds well, and the panel doesn't show the destroyed bomber.

[yvesp]

That attack was obvious: not only are the German units outnumbered, but their position is a problem for German mouvements.

Once more, the panel doesn't show up the destroyed bomber.

[yvesp]

This attack was less obvious. But considering that the Russian could not counter-attack even in the worse case, there was no reason no to do it once another attack on the Russian land was decided. If the result had been good enough (no disorganization), then the next impulse could have seen some more interesting action.

As it is, this semi-failure will terminate all attacks on the Southern front.

Note that no attck is done on Rumania: Russian units are not in position, and the defense of the Rumanian units too strong at this point.

[yvesp]

For their third impulse, the Allies find a strong German position in France. These have retreated the most exposed units ; rain is not helping, and ground strikes have all failed. The allies will do as the german: shuffle units around.

[yvesp]

Russia hopes that the storm will pass soon and expects and end of turn. It cannot afford to counter-attack because too many units are disorganized. It can neither retreat units to more safety, as doing so would leave the disorganised units as cannon fodder. So they mostly stay in place!

[yvesp]

The situation is different in Mandchuria, where the Russians are readying themselves to exploit their previous victory.

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But Hata chooses a blitz combat, which would give him a chance of retreat and he succeeds!
This spoils the feast for the Russian.

Now, the hole between the army groups is now gaping, and the northern corps look like they are lost.

[yvesp]

The last gemran attack in the last impulse in not very brilliant, but is achieves its purpose in repulsing somewhat the German units. This also will destroy one more plane.

[yvesp]

The destroyed units for this turn show that the German attack was still efficient, but is far from deadly to the Russians. The TB-3 was destroyed in Mandchuria by a carrier fighter while trying to perform a strat bombing mission on Seoul.

As usual, the Americans are barely scratched when considering their production (~81)
The British have at least a respite after their heavy losses of the two previous turns. Their hefty production (~48) will let them prepare more reinforcements,especially planes where the Germans are absolutely outnumbered.

As a matter of fact, the germans do have a good reserve of fughters in germany ; about 6 of them sit iddle there. However, should they move to the front, the horde of British strategic bombers (7, not to mention the Sunderlands that can reach far and have regularly inflicted production losses) could wreak havoc of the turn production. Between losing raw production and losing some units on the front, the latter seems better.

For comparison, the German production was around 40, and the Italian one around 16 (half of it going to fighters!) The Japanese are at 8 and the Chinese at 4. Russia jumped to 60 due to the increase in production multiple for the attack on its land and the presence of enemy units.

But this turn, Germany once again produced more than it lost. The time where its military size begins to shrink is not there yet!

[yvesp]

The situation in France at the start of the November 43 turn.

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The East front at the start of the November 43 turn.

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The situation in Mandchuria at the start of the November 43 turn.