Another Solo Global AAR

[markb50k]

ORIGINAL: Centuur
That's correct since France isn't liberated:

From RAW:

A liberated major power can co-operate (see 18.) with any major
power that returns all eligible territory to it. If they could return
territory but don’t, they can never co-operate with the liberated major
power.

Right, and I believe that it only applies to territory in France's home country, so I think if CW would have liberated French Somaliland and kept it for themselves, as long as the CW gives back eligible land in France proper when its liberated, they will cooperate. If I get a chance I'll test that with any other French minor possessions liberated, like if I get to liberate Algeria etc.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

ALLIES 1st Impulse

Actions:
USSR declares a Land
China Land
CW Naval
France Naval
US Naval

US/CW can move alot of reinforcements to North Africa including 2 more HQs, and they hope that foregoing any land moves there won't be costly.

Naval Combat:

In the Eastern Med, the small CW fleet with one CV tries to take out the Italian Gabbiano NAV bomber. Italy flies 2 more aircraft to the 1 box, but both sides roll a 3, forcing a naval air combat between the CW Gladiator CVP and the Gabbiano. CW rolls a 5 (AX) and IT rolls a 18 (DX PX), killing both aircraft and killing the CW pilot as well. Both sides try searching again and don't find each other.

In South China Sea, a US SUB attempts to find Japanese convoys. Searches unsuccessful.

In Coral Sea, Japan NAVs try to find a small Allied fleet. No successful searches.

In Cape St Vincent, Italian SUBs attempt to find Allies. CW flies a NAV out to the 1 box and now have a NAV in every box with shipping. Probably not a wise choice, but the Axis doesnt send out any air support, considering the land battle more needing of air power. Axis rolls a 1, but allies roll a 2, putting the large CV fleet with 4 bombers to attack the SUBs, sinking one and damaging the other. Stupid move by the Axis.

In China Sea, however, the US SUB finds the Japanese convoys and sinks 1 and aborts 3. Lesson learned that Japan needs escorts out there, especially in the home waters...

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

ALLIES 1st Impulse

Strategic Bombing:
CW attempts to bomb Stettin, with German fighters covering all the 2 x Factory hexes. Rolls a 1. No effect.

Ground Strike:
CW uses a DB7 to attack the German beachhead in Tangiers. Axis sends up 2 German and 1 Italian fighter, but leaves grounded one 2-engine fighter in the hex. Well, as luck would have it, the CW bomber is cleared through to the hex and misses all three land units but HITS the grounded fighter. NOTE: CW used three fighters for escort as well.

USSR attempts to hit Persian defenders in Teheran. Rolls a 9, 10, 10, and 8. ::Rolls Eyes::

Finally, CW Artillery in Egypt elects to try to hit the Italian HQ. Misses all but the Italian ARTY.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

ALLIES 1st Impulse

Other moves:
- US rebases a 5pt FTR to Morocco
- USSR rails 3 more MIL towards Manchuria
- USSR closes in on Teheran
- Nat. Chinese pull back to prevent going OOS

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

AXIS 2nd Impulse

Weather:
Roll of 10, which adds an impulse advance of 2. Not a good sign for a long turn. Rain in Arctic/Storm in N. Monsoon. Fine where its needed, however.

Actions:
GE - Land
IT - Land
JA - Combined. need to move some ships out to China Sea

Naval Moves:
JA has 2 moves
- moves AMPH loaded with Yamashita HQ and 2 CONV to China Sea
- moves CV fleet from Rabaul to New Zealand Coast to try to catch some American ships moving to Australia

JA rolls a 3, US rolls a 8. JA chooses a Naval Air and AA fire only reduces 1 pt NAV. Uses surprise points to increase their anti-ship column, resulting in 1 destroyed + 1 aborted. Axis picks a TRS carrying the 6-1 GAR unit, destroying it. US aborts to Sydney.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

AXIS 2nd Impulse

Ground Strikes:
GE performs two ground strikes, Japan one.

Japanese send their 3pt NAV against the OOS MTN corps, hoping to disorganize and reduce its defense to 1 pt. Of course it missed. No damage...

1st German attack is a Stuka against the mountain hex with the 3-3 Canadian TERR and the 7-6 MECH, trying to disorganize the last defender. CW chooses to intercept the other German ground strike so this one goes in unmolested. Germans roll high and do no damage.

2nd German attack is a Stuka on the HQ Alexander's hex. A CW Beaufighter and an American A36 intercept. result in the Stuka cleared and the American FTR shot down. Stuka rolls a 7, 6, and 9 and hits NOTHING!!! The AXIS side of me is PISSED!

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

AXIS 2nd Impulse

Land Combat:
2 land attacks this turn.

In China, with a combined, Japan can only do 1 attack and 3 land moves. They maneuver some additional units against the 5-4 MTN communist unit. It ends up being a +17 blitz attack. With the victory, Japan do some additional moving advancing after battle.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

AXIS 2nd Impulse

Land Combat (continued):
In Morocco, Germany/Italy are able to get a 3 sided attack on the double stack of CW units in the mountains E of the beachhead. They use Italian shore bombardment and ground support. CW sends a token force of a Sunderland and a 0 pt CVP, saving their last couple of air for any defense on the HQ. Luckily for the CW, both of their aircraft are aborted against a +6/-6 air combat ratio. The Germans are sick of rolling mediocre 10's in air combat.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

AXIS 2nd Impulse

Land Combat (continued):
Result of all the combat factors is a +8.9 modifier. CW picks the Assault table. Germany gets the fractional, but didnt need it, rolling a 17. With this victory, the beachhead can be expanded, and the Wehrmacht can get more units across via the straits instead of relying on Italian TRS's.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

AXIS 2nd Impulse

HQ Reorg:
Von Leeb re-orgs a Stuka. Not sure why since they missed everything this impulse...

ALLIED 2nd Impulse
If they all pass, its a 10% chance. They can't risk that.

Actions:
USSR - Land. They hope to attack Teheran this turn
China - Land
CW - Land
Fr - Land
US - Land

Strat Bombing:
CW attempts to bomb Paris. Rolls a 1. no effect.

Ground Strike:
USSR launches a third strike against the 2 Persian units. Both misses. WTF

Other Moves:
CW lands 4 corps in Morocco (incl. Gort and Royal Marines)
CW lands 2 DIVs in East Africa
CW lands 4-2 MIL to reinforce Rangoon
CW rebases 6pt Mosquito FTR to Casablanca
US lands 2 corps (incl. Clark HQ) in Morocco
Gort re-orgs a Spitfire

AXIS 3rd Impulse

Weather:
Roll of 7. Weather improves to Fine everywhere but N. Monsoon. Impulse advance back down to 1

Actions:
Germany - Land
Italy - Land
Japan - Land

Land Moves:
Good weather allows Japan to put a ZOC on the Chinese resource behind Lanchow. In Morocco, Germany oozes more units across the Straits of Gibraltar, while Italy pushes to the south around the Allied line. With the mountainous terrain, the Axis cannot get good enough odds to risk an attack. Here is a screenshot of the situation.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

AXIS 3rd Impulse

Land Combat:
Two attacks this turn, both in China.

In the south, Japan is able to use engineers on the river line to the west of Chungking, achieving a +8.8 attack. Japan gets the fractional, but rolls a 20 anyway, destroying the two Chinese units.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

AXIS 3rd Impulse

Land Combat (continued):
The second attack is the city of Yenan in North China, defended by a Communist 4-1 GARR. Japan uses HQ support from Terauchi and gets a +11.75 roll. They roll a 19 and obliterate the unit. At this point, little chance of China not being conquered soon.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

ALLIED 3rd Impulse

Allies have a 40% chance of ending the turn if they all pass. If they pass and dont get it, China is likely losing another factory city, which is currently undefended. Russia is still trying to conquer Persia, but if the turn ends, they get their air power back, so they prefer to pass. It's just the Chinese. They are overruled by the other Allies and they all pass.

The result is a SEVEN, and the turn keeps going. To add insult to injury, the weather stays nice, and actually improves to Rain in North Monsoon.

Jul/Aug 1941

AXIS 4th Impulse

With the non-move by the Allies, the Axis hopes to get a high odds attack in Morocco, kill Chiang in Chungking, and try to surround Lanchow (its doubtful they will have enough firepower to attack the city this impulse.

Japan would also like to move more of their land based air to Japan and change out for CVP's next turn.

Actions:
Germany - Land
Italy - Land
Japan - Land

Ground Strike:
Germany launches a Ground Strike with their last tactical bomber, a Stuka, escorted by a couple of Axis fighters. The CW intercepts with their 6pt Mosquito. Victory for the Allies, as the Mosquito shoots down the Stuka on the first roll of 3.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

AXIS 4th Impulse

Land Moves:
Notable here is the Japanese taking Chengtu, and surround Chiang in Chungking.

Land Combat:
Two attacks this impulse. In Morocco, a final push to kill the CW 7-6 is launched. Axis goes all out and even drops the PARA on the hex as well. Balbo throws in HQ support. The CW attempts to perform a ground support mission with their NAV Beaufort, and the only aircraft left to intercept is the 4pt Italian fighter. The Italians get a kill, including the pilot.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

AXIS 4th Impulse

Land Combat (continued):
The Land combat in Morocco ends up with a +10.357 modifier. Axis get the modifier, and rolls a 7 (18 modified), destroying the ARM unit, but disorganized everyone.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

AXIS 4th Impulse

Land Combat (continued):
The 2nd attack is in China, on Chungking. Yamamoto and Chiang both contribute HQ support resulting in a +11.167 modifier. China continues to pick the blitz table, and the Japanese miss the modifier and roll a 13 (24 modified), destroying the two Nationalist units.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

Losses:
Axis rolls a 3 and the turn does end. Axis is happy it ended since they had some disrupted troops that were vulnerable, but their Initiative modifier will now go down to Axis +1, where it had been maxed up until this point.

Another costly turn for the Allies. Note the Warlord unit in Japanese colors. It was actually Chinese when it was killed but since then the city had been overrun by the Japanese and the Warlord converted in the force pool.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1941

Production:
Germany (34): FTR2, LND2, LND3, 3 x PILOT, SUB (finish), 2 x INF, MOT, 2 x MECH
Italy (11): FTR2, LND3, PILOT, 2 x TERR
Japan (19): FTR2, 3 x CVP1, 2 x PILOT, 4 x CONV, CVL (finish), 2 x TERR

CW (22): FTR2, 3 x CVP1, 4 x PILOT, TRS (start), INF, 2 x TERR
US (54): FTR2, LND3, 3 x CVP1, 5 x PILOT, 6 x CA, INF, MOT, GARR, ARM, MECH, save 4
USSR (17): FTR3, PILOT, 2 x MIL, 2 x MOT
China and France (0)

Control:
Germany conquers Malta
Japan conquers Hong Kong

Reinforcements:
From this pic, you can see that the US industrial might is starting to take effect as multiple hulls are about to be placed in the construction pool. The US had to keep up Naval gearing so that they can keep the construction going. Germany has 4 more aircraft coming in, as they are almost done building out their 1941 air pool. CW are happy that they are getting two more TRS. Japan will look to start replacing out their LND bombers for CVPs and long range FTRs.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

Begin Turn Phase:

Trade Agreements:
Allies have basically failed in their China strategy, so it is unlikely they will try to create any convoy paths going to China, as China may be conquered this turn. CW does send 1 resource to China as China can at least receive a resource into Kunming while the Burma Road is still active.

Initiative:
Axis rolls 9, Allies roll 9. Axis wins roll, but give Allies first move.

Weather:
Roll of 8. Rain in Arctic and North Temperate, Fine in Med, Storm in North Monsoon. This will likely play havoc in China with supply for the Japanese.

ALLIED 1st Impulse:

Actions:
USSR - Land
China - Land
CW - Combined. They need the 3 land moves to pull back in Morocco and want to move more reinforcements there, incl. Montgomery HQ
France - Naval
US - Combined

Naval Moves:
CW moves CV fleet back out to 2 box in Cape St Vincent
CW moves 2 corps and 1 aircraft to sea for reinforcement to Morocco
US moves CV Lexington to sea to join Pearl at end of turn
US moves 2 corps and 1 aircraft to sea for reinforcement to Morocco

Naval Combat:
French SUB tries to find Japanese convoys in S. China Sea. Search unsuccessful.

Strategic Bombing:
CW attempts to Strat Bomb Paris, but rolls a 3. No effect.

Ground Strikes:
CW tries to ground strike some Italian units, and escorts with one FTR. For some reason the game didnt prompt me to intercept, and I suspect it is because of supply issues in the mountains in the area where the Italian units seem to be out of supply for no reason. I think it thinks the German fighter is OOS as well. Grrr.. Either way, the CW DB7 misses both Italian corps...

In Persia, Teheran seems to be protected by the Strategic Defense Initiative as three bombers attacking 2 units ALL MISS: rolls of 6,6,5,6,5,10 will do it. Unbelievable.

Land Moves:
With both the CW and US doing combined, they use their limited land moves to pull back the line a bit in Morocco. They are also able to land 3 more corps on the coast, including the Montgomery and Eisenhower HQs. The Allies have taken some lumps recently but they have a potent fighting force down there. The Axis isnt sure how they are going to push the Allies off the continent. Meanwhile, in Persia, the USSR encircles the 2 invincible defenders...

Land Combat:
Only 1 combat this impulse, as the Soviets finally attack Teheran. A +7.333 modifier is achieved and the USSR misses the fractional but rolls a 15 and destroys the two defending units at the cost of the Soviet CAV.

[DanielAnsell]

Thank you for your work on this AAR. It, and others, tempt me to invest in the game, despite my firm resolve not to buy it sans AI.

Do you feel that the US might get badly overstretched in land and air units, fighting so early, especially with a major land campaign shaping up in Morocco?