A musical global war AAR...

[Centuur]

Turn ends. No partisans appear. For the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, there are now 11 offensive and 6 defensive points on the German side and 6 defensive points on the USSR side.

[Centuur]

Now, I need to think a moment on what to do with France, since if Germany declares Vichy at this point, the Axis will have to vacate Algeria...

Close the Med is still the strategy which I pursue, however, the USSR is in a lot of trouble due to losses in Persia and is out of position. Can I get a 1940 Barbarossa or not? Calculations have to be made...

Time for a good portion of triumphant German march music. Here is “Grenadier”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eru12GqN7vg

And the destroyed pool:

[Centuur]

By the way: did the Germans just got lucky or did the French made some mistakes here? I haven't got the impression that I made major mistakes with the French.

If I review the combat die rolls, it seems like the Germans got lucky indeed...

[Klydon]

Sorry, lost track that the CW was not at war with the Italians. Still may be something to get into position to be ready with. It would certainly help with the defense of Gibraltar if the Axis have issues with Sardinia.

Honestly, the French took a calculated risk to try to contain the Italians. The odds were big in their favor that they could get away with it (turn ending). Not only didn't it happen that way, but then the Germans got the second best weather they could get. Even then, the French may not need to be concerned. There was a debate on if the Germans should burn a offensive chit. They did and while both attacks were well planned, it still could have not become as serious as it was had the Germans not rolled well.

Essentially, it was a domino effect, but the Germans had to be bold enough to seize the opportunity when it presented itself. The "safe" play would have been to wait for better weather before launching the "big" offensive. Now the Germans have options on what they would like to do next and the Russians may get caught trying to get away with a sideshow adventure that can be risky in its own right because it was predicated on the French doing a better job of holding out. Oops!

[Centuur]

If I did my calculations right, there isn't any way the Germans can hope to gather the forces to attack the USSR before the winter of 1940. They can only get enough forces in Poland if they stop the offensive in North Africa and take quite a large risk getting Partisans in Belgium and France too. The German general staff decides that the summmer of 1940 needs to be used to kill Spain and drive towards Gibraltar. I'm also slowly coming to the conclusion that Vichy won't be created this turn, since Algeria needs to be conquered first. I don't want the DAK being put into Tunesia doing absolutely nothing, which also gives the CW the possibility of defending Morocco again...

[Klydon]

Yeah, I am learning it is almost impossible to get a 1940 campaign going against the Russians unless they are really careless. With that in mind, the CW is going to have to hunker down because they are going to be in serious trouble for awhile.

[Orm]

Why not ignore Spain and go for a Mar/Apr 41 Barbarossa?

[Centuur]

It's difficult to give a good answer for this. I'm really torn between the two strategies at the moment. The only thing I'm sure of is that I want to grab Algeria, before Vichy is declared. It has a resource...

From the military point of view, it seems logical to proceed towards Gibraltar and than pursue a late 1941/early 1942 Barbarossa. Morocco will become Axis if they collapse Vichy the turn after they created it and that means a German HQ is in Tangier. This than forces the CW to DoW Italy. This strategy (including the capture of Suez) means that on average 5-6 entry chits will be put in the US entry pools in 1940. And that gives the downside of this strategy.

From the political point of view (US entry) it appears to be better to try a 1941 "Super Balbo kitchen sink" type Barbarossa.
DoW'ing Greece with the Italians after sending the German army into Albania and having a two other units on board of Italian TRS makes it a possibility to align Yugoslavia to the Axis cause. All together I think I'm looking at on average 3-4 chits gained (some in 1941) in this case. It means the US is 4 months later in the war (and even 6 months if the CW declares war on Italy to prevent the conquest of Greece).
If they don't DoW Italy, they can use the Med for resource transportation, knowing that the Italians won't do the same to them if the Italian airforce is in the USSR. Sure, the Italians can transport their resource out of Sardinia to Italy too, but who cares? Without the Italian SUB's, there isn't a lot the Germans can do about resource transportation to the UK if they are at war with the USSR. The moment the US comes in the war is the moment the Italians have to DoW the CW.

Everything also comes down to the point if Free France is created or not. If Free France isn't created, the Italians have to DoW somebody to stay active (USSR or the CW)...

Both strategies sound logical to pursue and that makes this very difficult. However I've got now two guys voting for Barbarossa... Any others around here who want to comment on this very hard decision...

[Courtenay]

Are you absolutely sure that you will have the garrison ratio to do a 1941 Barbarossa? This is by no means a sure thing. I always lean towards attacking Spain because I am never sure of a 1941 Barbarossa, and because Gibraltar is so important. Of course, my current game, (which will restart soon), shows how not to do a Spanish campaign (or any other campaign. The Allied weather control machine has been working all too well.) If I take down France fast, I really like going for Spain.

[Centuur]

The problem here is that you never can be sure about this, because you don't know if you will get more losses (in Greece, Algeria or in France). If I look at the USSR's production now, it will go up, because of the capture of Persia. They don't need to worry about oil for reorganisation anymore and they can fill the factories almost totally now (which is caused by the alignment of Hungary and Bulgaria and the capture of Persia). If losses occur, you might be right on not getting the garrison ratio early 1941, and that's something which is needed, I think.

I will stick to the initial strategic plan, because I've made the necessary preparations for it (there's already a strong Axis presence in French North Africa and US entry with only two chits in the Ge/It pool is low. The fact that Italy isn't at war with the CW makes this last thing even more horrible for the Allies). I'll avoid the possible garrison problems with the USSR this way. Sure, von Ribbentrops diplomatic corps won't be pleased, since they have to do everything they can to convince the US citizens of the peaceful intention of the Reich towards the USA (start praying to the dice Gods, regarding US entry...). I will proceed with a close the Med.

[Centuur]

J/F 1940, end of turn phase:

The US decides to draw an entry chit for the Ge/It pool. On options they choose to send resources to China. After this they choose to use escorts in the US East coast. Both options don't generate tension (rolls were a 6 and a 9). There are now 3 chits in the Ge/It entry pool, 2 in the Jp entry pool and one in the Ge/It tension pool.

Now, I've made a terrible omission... I've aligned Bulgary and I've not put the national anthem in here. That's terrible. I humbly apologize to any Bulgarian player here and amend my mistake by asking everyone to rise for the Bulgarian national Anthem, which was used until 1944:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce65-ePmqG0

The Italians decide to leave a cruiser at sea in both the Western and the Eastern Med. In the Italian Coast, the convoy escorts also stay at sea. The CW decides to return the Home fleet to Plymouth and the French admirals are recalled to Toulon, now Paris is occupied by Axis units.

Now, you've probably wondered why I aligned Persia to Italy. No? Nothing gets done without a valid reason in WiF... Since Italy isn't at war with the CW, it can use the Persian oil for reorganisation since it can trace supply through the Suez Canal towards Persia. Sure, I could have done the same with the Japanese, but they don't have a whole fleet which spend oil last turn. And since I don't have a railline from Persia to Europe or Japan, I can't use this oil for any other purposes now. The British look with envy when the Italian Fleet tankers pass the Suez Canal...

And here is: Anita Ellis and the Ellis Larkins Trio - I'll Be Around

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPZOfLtRmgc


The Japanese decide to break down the CAV into a CAV and a MOT division. The ability to move in different directions will upset the Chinese...

Germany produces 20 build points, of which 2 are send to the USSR and 5 are send to Italy, 2 oil are saved. HQ Rommel is build, together with a FTR2 and an INF.

Italy produces 3 build points and receives 5 from Germany. They save the oil received from Rumania in Italy. The Italians request the Ju-88 from Germany as lend lease. The request is granted and Italy builds a LND3, NAV3 and a pilot.

Japan produces 14 build points and sends one to the US. 2 oil are saved in Japan. They finish the CV Shokaku, repair a cruiser, 2 TERR, a GAR, a pilot and a FTR2 are build.

China produces 5 build points and build HQ Stillwell.

France produces 4 build points and saves 1 oil in Beirut. They build 2 MIL.

The US produces 10 build points, receives 1 from Japan and saves 1 oil. 3 BB's and an AMPH are started and a GAR is build.

The USSR produces 12 build points, receives 2 from Germany and saves 1 oil. HQ Yeremenko, a Pilot, a GAR and an INF are build.

The CW produces 19 build points and saves 7 oil. HQ Alexander, 2 pilots, FTR3, two MIL and an INF.

Persia gets conquered by the USSR. Germany wants to capture Algeria, so declines to install a Vichy government, this turn. Two blue factories in Paris are destroyed.

Here are the reïnforcements for the new turn:

[Centuur]

In trade, Germany decides to give another oil to the Italians, since the Italian navy needs to be kept mobile. The CW sends on oil to China and the US sends the Phillipine resource to China too...
The initiative die rolls are an 8 for the Axis and a 9 for the Allies. Since the Allies wins ties, they decide if they want to move first. They decide to do so.

And here is the weather report. A 5 is rolled, which results in an 8:

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: Centuur
And here is: Anita Ellis and the Ellis Larkins Trio - I'll Be Around

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPZOfLtRmgc

Mesmerizing.



Thank you. [:)]

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: Centuur
And here is: Anita Ellis and the Ellis Larkins Trio - I'll Be Around

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPZOfLtRmgc

Mesmerizing.



Thank you. [:)]

You're welcome...

[Centuur]

March-april 1940/Alied impulse 1

Spring has come, and that means good weather. CW takes a naval, France and China land, USSR and US combined actions.

During Naval Air, France flies the Flying boat into the Western Med. The CW flies the Skua into the Faroes Gap.

The US establishes a convoy line towards China out of the Phillipines. They make sure that if Vichy is declared, the resources will still arive in China through the Burma Road.

The USSR rail moves the Siberian further towards the Western Front. It still has a long, long way to go. They move into the Baltic States. In the US this doesn't get a lot of attention, since the papers are still full of the capture of Paris by Germany. No entry chit removed.

Now, I won't make the same mistake I did the last time. So here is the national anthem of Estonia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igZN0Gc20q8

In China, the generals order the CAV which is now behind enemy lines to charge ahead and free the city of Suchow. They do so and move on to put a ZOC on the resource in Haichoi. This will surely disrupts the Japanese advance. Besides this, a small tactical withdrawal is done. It looks like the communists can attack the Japanese division in Yenan, however, it's a trap. If the Japanese throws in ground support, this is only a +4 attack and that's not one that's advisable to do...

[Centuur]

The CW decides it is time to put pressure upon the Italians and sails Force H out of Gibraltar into the Western Med. The Glorious leaves Port Saïd and joins force H. There are now 6 air to sea factors present in the Western Med.
Convoy escorts are of course replaced. A TRS moves towards Belgian Congo and loads the Territorial. Another TRS moves through Gibraltar and picks up the INF there and sails into the Eastern Med. Finally the Bombay MIL arrives in Egypt. The only thing still missing to have a good defence here is a FTR, but that plane needs to be build first.

And now, you're attention for the national anthem of Latvia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N2cpnBLE8E

[Centuur]

Next turn, the first of two white prints units will be put into Gibraltar, since the presence of the Afrika Korps in Algeria and the fact that the Germans didn't install Vichy makes the Admiralty believe they have to plan for the worst around the Rock...
Bomber Command gets airborne with the Whitley and the Hampden and flies towards a undefended Metz. A 4 is rolled. The French are shocked! Why flatten the center of a German controlled French city? Petain orders the British ambassador to file a complaint and also strongly urge the British of reinstating the BEF on French soil to recapture Paris...

And the national anthem of Lithuania is next:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkyANEiQrBs

In France, an INF is railed from Lyons to Marseilles. Another INF is railed to Bordeaux. The rest of the French army tries to retreat towards Lyons, Vichy, Toulouse and Marseilles. Strong garrisons appear those cities and in Toulon. The garrison in Lille withdraws to Rouen, if only to block resource transportation for the Germans.

[Centuur]

March-april 1940/Axis impulse 3

Italy takes a naval, Japan a combined and Germany a land impulse.

Japan loads the MECH division unto a TRS and it debarks in Haichow. On the outskirts of the city of Tungkwan, artillery opens fire and a Japanese NAV attacks Mao. The ground strikes fail. The Kyoto MIL rails into Korea, for garrison duty. They move units towards the Chinees CAV and Yamamoto moves into position to attack a Communitst INF in the mountains (+8). Mao declines to use HQ support and Yamamoto declines too. Both HQ's would like to remain mobile.

Here is a Japanese song called: 同期の桜
What's it about, don't aks me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY6WraxaTZk

[Centuur]

Italy flies a flying boat into the Western Med. The Italian TRS loads the Köningsberg MIL and a German INF and sails into the Western Med, escorted by cruisers. An interception attempt by the French flying boat fails. The two BB's sail with a cruiser escort in the 4 box of the Western Med and the convoy escort is sailed into the Italian Coast. Again French interception attemps fails. In the Naval Combat phase, the French tries to initiate combat, but both sides don't find each other. The Germans and Italian forces now surround the city of Algiers. And the Königsberg MIL and the INF arrive in Algeria.

The German PARA is railed into Sicily and a German GAR rails from Strassbourg into Poznan.
In France, the city of Rouen is ground struck by a Stuka and an ART opens fire. The French AA gun in the hex makes a valiant defense, surpressing 1 point on the Stuka. The ground strike only disorganises the French gun in the hex. Lille and Nantes are captured and a large forces masses at the gates of Rouen. This is a +14 attack.

[Centuur]

During the rebase phase, a ATR is rebased by Germany into Italy Stuka's are moved further into France. Von Bock reorganises three INF around Rouen.

Here is the “Helenenmarsch”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWnqjvhnbTY

France at the end of the impulse.