Another Solo Global AAR

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Naval (continued):
The Allied attack (5 X, 4 D, and 3 A) starts with a BIG roll, Allies choose the Zuikaku loaded with 2 CVPs and a defense of 6, come on lucky roll... a 10, darn.. But GOOD for Japan! Only a damage. Whew! With so many other rolls, Japan lets its CLs soak up the kills. Japan also lets the Yamato soak up an abort, as well as the Zuikaku, which is leaving anyway.

All told Japan loses 5 CLs and has one CV damaged.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Naval (continued):
Both sides decide to stay, and the Japanese roll a 3, but the US rolls ANOTHER 1! Uh oh. come on, its a freaking STORM for crying out loud and the US has eagle-eyed spotter on the conning towers it seems!

US, again, saves 3 points for choosing a target! They can sink the Zuikaku or try to kill another CV...

Japan's attack goes first, they get 5 X and 1 D. The Allies minimize the damage but lose another 4 cruisers and 1 more damaged.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Naval (continued):
US conservatively decides to go with the sure thing, and sinks the Zuikaku. Japan rolls poorly and looses a slew of other smaller ships.

Totals: 1 CV Sunk, 4 more cruisers sunk, and 1 damaged.

With no stomach for more of this, the Japanese withdraw, and will come back next turn if they can...

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Ground Strikes:
Italy tries one strike against a lone Egyptian TERR in desert terrain (one of the few hexes with FINE weather). Doink, the bombs miss.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Land Combat:
In the terrible weather in Russia, Germany does manage to do two attacks, one for the Latvian capital, Riga, and one for Minsk. In Egypt, a stupid placement of the Egyptian TERR was a major blunder on my part.

The 1st attack is for Riga. Rundstedt adds HQ support for this one, but the USSR elects to use Winterized troops for the defense to up the odds. This puts the modifier at +7.2. Germany does not get the fractional, and rolls a 11, for 18 overall on the Assault table. USSR loses the 6-1 elite GARR, all German units are disorganized.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
The attack on Minsk, with only a 4pt GARR left behind is an automatic at +28 modifier.

A USSR fighter is forced to rebase as German units enter the city.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
The Egyptian attack will likely put Wavell OOS supply again if Italy can breakthrough into Cairo, so Wavell does not contribute HQ support, else he'll be OOS AND disrupted. The modifier is +17 on the Blitz table, which is what Italy chooses. They get a 19, wasting a great roll on a walkover, but they've gotten lucky the entire war on their attacks, so it evens out. Italian forces move into Cairo and Suez, putting Wavell out of supply and behind enemy lines.

If Egypt falls this turn, the other TERR will disappear as well. Things are lost in Egypt for the Allies.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:
End of Turn roll was a 6, the turn goes on, to the Allies.

Situation in Egypt:

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Situation on Eastern Front:
Riga will probably survive until next turn unless the Axis can get a unit in to attack, which is unlikely. However, with Minsk captured this should knock down the USSR production by a .25 multiple.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Situation on Eastern Front (continued):
Not much change since last impulse.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Allies 3rd Impulse:

Actions:
If no one passes, its still a 40% chance to end the turn. USSR really needs to use this impulse to rail another factory and organize their line in the north better, so they take a land. Everyone else passes.

The end turn roll is made, and the Allies need a 5 or lower to end the turn. They get a 7.

Axis 4th Impulse:

Weather:
Weather roll is a 3 (modified to 5). North Monsoon and South Temperate are Fine, but really, the Axis would have really liked getting the Allies to go last, so they don't get an initiative bonus hit next turn. Oh well. They are not sure what they will be able to do with Storm in USSR but maybe they can get another attack in.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Actions:
Well, with no passes, the Axis will still have a 70% to end the turn. They will use up any HQ support that they can in this impulse.

Germany - Land
Italy - Land. Try to kill off Wavell if possible.
Japan - Land. With good weather in India, maybe a low-odds attack on Calcutta????

Ground Strikes:
In Morocco, Germany sends two Stukas escorted by several Axis fighters to hit the Royal Marines stranded on the coast. Two Allied CVP planes intercept. Ratio is +2/-2 for the Axis.

1st round, Allies roll a 12, Allies chooses to clear the worst Stuka through. Axis roll a 5, killing the Fulmar CVP. Ratio goes up to +4/-4. Allies abort.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Ground Strikes (continued):
The two Stukas go in for the attack and... hit one unit, the GARR.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Ground Strikes (continued):
In Egypt, the Italians have one bomber to try to get a big hit on Wavell.. nope.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Ground Strikes (continued):
Finally, in India, Japan uses an ARTY strike on the two defenders of Calcutta. No thank you.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Land Moves:
The Axis was not able to get any attacks that were good enough, so they did some moving up of forces past Minsk and made contact with the next line of Soviet troops. Japan really wanted to take a crack at Calcutta but couldnt accept the risk.

The roll for the end of turn was a 1, so the Mar/Apr turn comes to a close.

Losses:
This will not be pretty I think with the large number of ships taken out in the Coral Sea, and with the invasion of the USSR...

US lost 4 aircraft and 3 CLs
Japan lost 6 aircraft, 1 CV, 9 CLs, and 1 ground unit
USSR lost 14 ground units incl. Zhukov
Germany lost 1 aircraft and 1 ground unit
Italy lost 1 ground unit
CW lost 2 aircraft, 3 CAs, 4 CLs, and 5 ground units

A bloody, bloody turn

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

End of Turn Phase:

Production:
Germany (42): 2 x FTR2, LND3, NAV3, 3 x PILOT, 2 x MOT, 3 x MECH
Italy (14): LND3, NAV3, 2 x PILOT, MOT
Japan (26): NAV4, 3 x CVP1, 2 x PILOT, CV (start), 2 x CVL (finish), 2 x CONV, MIL, MAR

Commonwealth (26): FTR3, FTR2, NAV3, 2 x CVP1, 2 x PILOT, 2 x TRS, 2 x MIL, 2 x TERR
US (65): FTR3, FTR2, 5 x CVP1, LND3, LND4, 3 x PILOT, BB (finish), CV (repair), BB (French repair), 2 x CL (CW repair), TRS, AMPH, INF, ENG, MOT, ARTY, 2 x MECH, MECH DIV
USSR (40): FTR2, PILOT, HQ-A, 5 x INF, 3 x MIL, 3 x GARR, save 1

Conquest:
Egypt completely conquered by Italy. Ugh.
French Somaliland conquered by Italy.
Lithuania liberated by Germany.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Beginning of Turn Phase:

Reinforcements:
LOTS of reinforcements for this turn..

US receives 3 new CVLs and FIVE new BBs... among alot of other stuff
Japan gets some hi-quality CVPs and the Musashi
USSR gets 7 new ground units including an 8 strengh GARR
Germany gets their first 7pt TAC bomber, their first Tankbuster and a nice 9-5 MECH corps
CW gets Monty HQ back, a high quality TAC bomber, and some needed reinforcements for India

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Beginning of Turn Phase:

Trade Agreements:
US and CW are now sending 3 BPs/turn to USSR, will try to increase this.
Germany reduces resources to Italy to 5/turn.

Initiative:
Allies get a break and win the initiative. Germany decides, maybe a bit overconfidently, to not do a reroll.

Weather:
Fine everywhere

Situation in Russia:

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Beginning of Turn Phase:

Situation in Russia (continued):