Another Solo Global AAR

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Allies 2nd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
The carrier air adds 9 ground support points, + 21 bombardment points, and MacArthur's HQ support, gives us a final modifier of +10.3333. Japan chooses the Assault table.

US does not get the fractional, but rolls a 10. US must take a loss (DIV) and half disorganized but Rabaul is cleared.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Allies 2nd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
Before we get to the European landing which look likely to be all automatic, Russia tries a desperate attack from their two isolated units in the swamps in the Ukrainian coast. They attack a 3-3 MIL, but Germany throws in 3pts in ground support, leaving the modifier only +3.6667

Germany chooses the Assault table. Russia gets the fractional, but only rolls a 7. 1 unit is destroyed and the 2nd disorganized.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Allies 2nd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
I think that the first two of the three landings were automatics because the notional's would have been out of supply so its a -1 to their strength (0 overall).

Here is the first at St Nazaire

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Allies 2nd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
Here is the second at Lorient

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Allies 2nd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
The third at La Rochelle, with full shore bombardment ended up being +20.

NOTE: I didn't go for Brest because as I see it (I could be wrong) the Axis cannot reinforce Brest now due to the unit at Lorient putting ZOC on the rail line, so the Allies should get Brest (a major port) without a problem. We'll see..

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:
With the Allied invasion complete, the Axis now gets their turn...

Weather:
Roll of 5. No change from the beginning of the turn.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Actions:
Japan - Combined. Move some more troops with TRS, and hopefully take Vladivostok.
Germany - Land. Bottle up the Allied invasion as much as possible. Find another easy kill in Russia.
Italy - Land. Close in on the Allied invasion, stretch the supply line in Syria.

Naval Air:
Germany puts a Stuka with Air-to-Sea factors in the Black Sea, this should put the isolated Soviet MOT OOS as well.

Naval Moves:
Japan moves 2 corps into the South China Sea to reinforce the Japanese garrisons in the Phillipines and Java.
Japan also moves 1 corps into the Sea of Japan to assist in the assault on Vladivostok.

The US attempts to initiate combat in the South China Sea with their last available SUB, but the search fails.

Ground Strikes:
Germany launches 2 strikes in Northern Russia.

The 1st is using the short-range tank buster Ju87G Rudel on a lone 7-6 MECH in open terrain. It has two rolls at 5 and as expected, hits.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Ground Strikes (continued):
At Smolensk is the second strike. The heavy German units are poised to take a crack at this city and a couple of extra modifiers to assist in this would be welcome. Its at extended range of the bomber, so not a sure thing, or even likely a hit.

Both rolls miss.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Rail:
Germany and Italy rail Von Bock and 2 slow garrisons to Northern France

Land:
Japan uses its limited moves to put four units adjacent to Vladivostok, including a debarked 5-3 MIL straight from Japan.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Land (continued):
Italy is continuing to push into the desert outside of Damascus. If the turn lasts two more impulses for the Axis, they should be able to get an attack launched.

EDIT: Strike that, Graziani will have to go off the rail lines, so it is highly likely the turn wont last as long as it needs to allow an attack on Baghdad.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Land (continued):
In the Ukraine, the Germans are attempting to exploit the opening into the Russia interior via the Crimea. Rommel follows Mannstein through that avenue. To clean up their rear, they will attack the isolated unit in the swamps and will try to punch a hole through the weakened southern end of the line. The Soviet had to pull back their HQ to address Mannstein. At this point, holding the Dnieper is not helping the Russians any, and they will need to pull back, since the Germans can now just go around them.

Not shown here, but note that Mannstein overran and destroyed two Russian bombers in his movement. The Soviet air force has been decimated over the last two turns, espcially on the ground

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Land (continued):
In the north, the disrupted MECH unit is the target of a two-sided attack, as well as the city of Smolensk. If Smolensk falls, two more Soviet fighters will be overran and destroyed.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Land Combat:
The 1st attack, the lowest odds attack, is in Berdiansk, USSR. This is the southern edge of the Soviet line, and guards the Red factory city of Stalino.

The Germans attacked with no armor, so that the light AT gun wouldnt have any bonuses. USSR picks the Blitz table, trying to conserve forces.

Germany doesnt get the fractional, and rolls a 7 for 16 overall. USSR has to retreat but loses no units, and Germany must lose 1, choosing a 6-3 INF. Also, all units are disorganized. Not a great result on a very winnable attack.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
The next battle for Smolensk, is sitting at a modifier of +12.2. USSR picks Blitz table.

Germany gets the fractional, and rolls a 17, taking the city, destroying the grounded fighters, and even breaking through and adding insult to injury, by overrun another fighter on the ground behind the line.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
Japan in their second attempt at Vladivostok, succeed.

Both SUBs at Vladivostok are forced to rebase, and they head to Alaska.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
Russia just doesnt have enough troops to man every point in the line with strength, and the Axis takes advantage of this. In a blitz eligible attack, Germany rolls a 12, for 23 overall, also getting a breakthrough.

However, Germany elects not to exploit the breakthrough since it will allow for too easy of a counterrattack.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
In the final attack, the isolated Russian corps is destroyed on a +17 modifier attack.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Allied 3rd Impulse:

Actions:
USSR - Land. Damage control. Block Stalingrad from falling.
CW - Land
US - Land
Fr - Land

Western Allies look to expand the beachhead in France, which they should be able to do.

Ground Strikes:
The US launches a ground strike on the same 7-2 MIL that has been missed twice on previous strike attempts. Germany declines interception.

Wisely it seems, the US bomber rolls a 9. Miss.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Allied 3rd Impulse:

Ground Strikes (continued):
Russia uses its last two TAC bombers to attempt a hit on the 7-6 ARM deep in their interior, in range of Stalingrad on its next move. It's also out of range of Axis air cover.

It was unlikely they would get a hit, but to come sooo close... The 3 factor bomber rolled a 4, and the 2 factor bomber rolled a 3. Ugh.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Allied 3rd Impulse:

Rail Moves:
Russia moves a factory to Tiflis, and the Koniev HQ to Stalingrad.

Land Moves:
The Soviets abandon the Dnieper line and fall back as best they can to tighten up their line. Unfortunately, it is an ugly affair and it depresses me as the USSR player. Units are left behind to be overwhelmed by the German army, in the hopes that some defense can be put together somewhere East.

Notice the HQ railed to Stalingrad, and notice the better-quality troops trapped near the German SS stack. They will probably be attacked this next impulse. Sad, really.