Another Solo Global AAR

[markb50k]

With a high production of 54 BP/Turn, which will go up another 25% in 2-3 turns I don't think so (US becoming stretched out).

What I see happening is the CW will still be primary land power in W. Europe for the next year with US assisting. After that, US will start to take the lead but there isn't an urgency on this.

In the Pacific however, I am beginning a slow build up and a heavy war in Europe will make me have to choose a primary theater.

But the plain fact, overall, is that the US coming in as early as they did, and getting the production multiples up as early as possible will prevent over-extending by the US simply because they will have so much more forces on the ground about a year earlier than historical.

Thanks for the interest in the AAR! Sometimes wonder if anyone is reading it lol

[Cad908]

ORIGINAL: markb50k
Thanks for the interest in the AAR! Sometimes wonder if anyone is reading it lol

With 2181 (and rising) hits on the forum so far, I think it is safe to assume people are reading.

From a strategic perspective, I noticed the US built in May/Jun a FTR2 and 5xCVP and Jul/Aug FTR2, LND3, 3xCVP.

My questions:

Is that enough Fighters?
Are the CVP's staggered to arrive with the new CV's?
No LND4?
Are the TRNS/AMPH pools empty?

In your game the US has the luxury (active so early) of targeting one theater. An early knock out of Japan looks tempting, so is that your focus?

-Rob

[Mike Parker]

I am keeping up with it..l just don't comment as to not break up the flow. But wanted to let you know you had folks paying attention for sure!

[markb50k]

My air strategy for the US is a bit reactionary...

- I feel it is essential to make North Africa as costly for the Axis as possible, so I am forgoing LND4 strat bombing assets at the cost of more tactical options. For now...
- FTR's are a bit low right now, yes I'll admit. But they are for use in Africa, and at this point, I think the Brits got a ton of fighters in-theater.
- In addition, and its just my playing style, I'm a bit conservative by nature, and I don't want to field low quality CVP's and then have to do replacements so I wait until I have strong CVPs before putting them on the map. For instance Bearn, Ranger, Wasp in Norfolk, and 2 of the big carriers in San Diego are sitting with no planes on them. So as a result I am building heavily on CVPs since I have the hulls to field them. Also, building 5 CVPs is a cheap way of keeping my gearing up. I plan on blowing the budget on aircraft soon, and will be building more land air, but right now want to get some 4pt or higher CVPs on each carrier.
- TRNS/AMPH pool is empty I believe, yeah. Got a lot of hulls in the pipeline

As for theatre, honestly I haven't really focused on a plan yet, just playing by ear, and I am splitting builds between theatres until I make a decision. Reinforcing Australia and Morocco are my near term goals, with all Marines going Pacific, and Armor/Mech going to Africa

[Cad908]

ORIGINAL: markb50k

My air strategy for the US is a bit reactionary...

- I feel it is essential to make North Africa as costly for the Axis as possible, so I am forgoing LND4 strat bombing assets at the cost of more tactical options. For now...
- FTR's are a bit low right now, yes I'll admit. But they are for use in Africa, and at this point, I think the Brits got a ton of fighters in-theater.
- In addition, and its just my playing style, I'm a bit conservative by nature, and I don't want to field low quality CVP's and then have to do replacements so I wait until I have strong CVPs before putting them on the map. For instance Bearn, Ranger, Wasp in Norfolk, and 2 of the big carriers in San Diego are sitting with no planes on them. So as a result I am building heavily on CVPs since I have the hulls to field them. Also, building 5 CVPs is a cheap way of keeping my gearing up. I plan on blowing the budget on aircraft soon, and will be building more land air, but right now want to get some 4pt or higher CVPs on each carrier.
- TRNS/AMPH pool is empty I believe, yeah. Got a lot of hulls in the pipeline

As for theatre, honestly I haven't really focused on a plan yet, just playing by ear, and I am splitting builds between theatres until I make a decision. Reinforcing Australia and Morocco are my near term goals, with all Marines going Pacific, and Armor/Mech going to Africa

Seems well in hand. You still have Nov/Dec41 to play then all of 1942, and its amazing to how such an early US entry transforms the game. The US is going to be scary in early 43, beware Japan......

Take care,

-Rob

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

AXIS 1st Impulse:

Neutrality Pacts:
Germany is given the option to break the Germany-Soviet pact. They really arent ready to declare war so they decline to break it, especially with the rainy weather and the oncoming Winter.

Actions:
Germany - Land
Italy - Naval. Want to pick up IT/GE Marines and bring them to Egypt
Japan - Naval

Naval Moves:
Japan is trying to figure its next move, and Calcutta is starting to look tempting. So the IJN start moving Marines and the new Yamashita HQ towards Singapore, eyeing next turn for a move there. Convoy protection is also moved out to the China Sea and S. China Sea, and the CV fleets are moved into Home waters and off of Australia as well.

Italy moves the fleet to E. Med, and brings two TRS with the German MAR and Engineers. Not sure where they are going to go, but I want to eventually put a weaker Italian garrison there.

Naval Combat:
In the Tasman Sea, a Japanese SUB attempts to find US convoys. CW flies an Australian NAV out in support, but searches are unsuccessful.

In the Coral Sea, the Japanese fleet finds an American convoy, and destroys it with no loss.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

AXIS 1st Impulse:

Naval Combat (continued):
In the reaction phase, the US attempts to find the Japanese convoys in the South China Sea. Its currently Storm in the area so the Japanese air is not in effect. US rolls a 4, Japan rolls a 2. Japan get 4 surprise points and could avoid combat but elects to engage, instead using the surprise points to lower the Allies combat rating, resulting in 2 aborts. The Japanese want to abort the transport with the Yamashita HQ anyway so they use up both Aborts on it. On the Japanese attack side, they get 2 Destroy and 2 Abort, and use them to destroy both Allied SUBs. For a moment the precious convoy lines are secure.

The Japanese abort Yamashita HQ to Singapore, where it was intending to go in the first place.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

AXIS 1st Impulse:

Ground Strikes:
Well, it's come to it. Both sides have been amassing air fleets in North Africa for a big clash, and the Axis decides its time to force everyone's hand. Germany launches ground strikes all along the Allied line in three hexes, with a total of around 15 fighters able to escort against 8 allied fighters they hope to draw them out and start whittling them down. Three separate air combats result and I'll go through each..

The first strike is on the Royal Marines along the coast. One Stuka escorted by 3 fighters against 3 allied fighters including the CVP Gladiator. The ratio is +1/-1 for the Germans. Allies roll a 11 and clear the Stuka, Axis rolls a 11 to no effect. Allies abort.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

AXIS 1st Impulse:

Ground Strikes (continued):
The next strike is on the hex with the Alexander HQ in the middle of the Allied line. Here both sides concentrate most of their firepower. Germany sends 1 Stuka and SIX fighters against 3 Allied fighters.

Axis have a +1/-1 ratio. Allies roll a 8 (no effect) but the Axis rolls a 6, destroying the 6pt Spitfire! The Ratio ratchets up to +3/-3. CW doesnt want to stay but feels it has to, but only one more if things go badly.

On the 2nd round, Allies roll a 14 for no effect, Axis rolls a 10 which ends up having no effect.

3rd round, Allies roll a 16, and Germany elects to abort the front fighter, Axis rolls a 11 to no effect. Ratio is now back to +1/-1 for Axis, and both sides stay since the Stuka still hasnt been cleared through.

4th round, Allies roll a 15, and Axis aborts the front Italian fighter, while Axis rolls a 8 and aborts the US fighter. Now the CW only has left 1 fighter and the ratio stays at +1/-1 Axis. Both sides stay.

5th round, Allies roll a 12, FINALLY clearing the Stuka. Axis rolls a 14 aborting the last CW fighter.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

AXIS 1st Impulse:

Ground Strikes (continued):
The third strike is to the hex adjacent to the previous strike. Germany sends a Ju88 and 4 fighters against 2 Allied ones, including the 6pt Mosquito. Ratio is +1/-1 for the Axis.

1st round, Allies mediocre rolls continue with a 10, clearing the Ju88. Axis rolls a FIVE, destroying the Mosquito. Allies abort. So overall, all three bombers got through and the Allies lost their 2 best fighters! Not good.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

AXIS 1st Impulse:

Ground Strikes (results):
1st Attack: Stuka rolls a 3,2,2 WOW! and disorganizes the US 1-5 Engineer, Canadian 3-1 GARR, and the 6-3 Royal Marines... ugh what next..

2nd Attack: I guess a bit better news, Stuka rolls a 5,6,4, hitting the US 2-3 DIV, missing the US 8-5 MOT, but HITTING Alexander HQ...

3rd Attack: The WiF gods are surely leaning towards the Axis right now, with the Ju88 rolling 4,4 and disorganizing both the Indian 7-5 MECH and UK 5-4 MOT..

4th Attack: Forgot about this one, Italian ARTY on CW units in Egypt. Rolls a 7,7,10 missing all three units.. Well, there's that I guess..

So, after all this, Allies lose 2 fighters, and 7 of 11 units are hit by ground strike, and Axis loses nothing. For the Allies cause, hopefully this will be a short turn...

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

AXIS 1st Impulse:

Ground Support:
Axis attempts to land their Marine corps in Palestine. If possible, a beachhead here will make Wavell have to split his forces which will loosen things up for the Axis goal of Suez. Also, In Morocco, Germany attacks the Alexander HQ throwing in everything. The Allies have a little air power left to try to provide ground support..

CW has to use their low quality CVPs as escort for the ground support, while the Axis only has left one 3pt Twin Engined fighter. Axis has a +2/-2 advantage.

Round 1, Allies roll a 9, clearing an Italian Sparviero. Axis rolls a 10, allowing the CW to clear the Sunderland. Both sides stay.

Round 2, Allies roll a 7, Germany has to abort something, and chooses the front bomber. Axis rolls another 10, allowing CW to clear the Vildebeest. Both sides stay.

Round 3, Allies roll a 15, Germany has to abort another, and chooses the front bomber. Axis rolls a 8, for no effect. Allies have been getting the better of this, so decide to stay and press their luck.

Round 4, Allies roll a 11, allowing Germany to clear the Condor. Axis rolls a 12, allowing CW to clear the last bomber. Amazingly, down 2 in ratio, Allies clear every bomber and abort two Axis bombers. Dice....

Overall, 7 points added to Axis, 4 points added to Allies. About the best result they could've hoped for.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

AXIS 1st Impulse:

Land Combat:
As mentioned above, two attacks this impulse.

The first attack is the the seaborne invasion of Palestine by the Axis. Modifier is +14. Axis rolls a 9, and the invasion is successful. I'm not sure I thought this one through enough, and should have landed the Marines in a port.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

AXIS 1st Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
The 2nd and more important attack is against the stack of 3 Allied units. With all the support added in, we have a +11.5 on the Blitz table, which is what Germany chooses. Axis gets the fractional and rolls a 12, shattering Alexander, and destroying the two American units. Von Bock is disorganized from the support.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

AXIS 1st Impulse:

Situation in Morocco after shattering of Alexander

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

AXIS 1st Impulse:

Situation in Egypt after Invasion of Palestine

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

ALLIED 2nd Impulse:

Weather:
Roll is 5(+1). Fine everywhere but Rain in Arctic and N. Monsoon

Actions:
USSR - Land
China - Land
CW - Land
US - Combined
France - Land

Naval Moves:
US is the only Allied power with Naval moves. Essentially they use their 4 AMPH/TRS in the Pacific to move 4 more units towards Australia (2 corps and 1 DIV from Samoa, plus the NZL Territorial)

Strat Bombing:
CW hits Paris with a roll of 8. 1 pp. lost.

Ground Strikes:
CW uses an ARTY strike in Egypt, sensing a coming attack. A nice roll ends up disorganizing Graziani.. That should delay any action on their western flank and perhaps give them a chance to react to the German marines.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

ALLIED 2nd Impulse:

HQ Reorganization:
Eisenhower and Montgomery reorgs 4 CW units on the defensive line.

Situation in Egypt
CW spreading out forces. Things will start to get a bit testy if reinforcements are not brought in.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

ALLIED 2nd Impulse:

Situation in Morocco
CW reinforces with a 6-1 GARR in Casablanca and oozes forces up to form a defensive perimeter.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1941

ALLIED 2nd Impulse:

Situation in India
CW has reinforced Rangoon and is now trying to organize a defense in the Calcutta area