Another Solo Global AAR

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Allied 3rd Impulse:

Land Moves (continued):
In France, things look a bit better, the units that invaded last turn have now moved off of the ports to extend the beachhead, allowing for more Allied units to be put ashore in the Debark phase.

Now arriving in France:

US Clark HQ
CW Montgomery HQ
US 7-6 ARM
US 7-5 MECH
US 7-3 INF
US 5-6 MECH
ESP 6-5 MECH

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Allied 3rd Impulse:

Land Combat:
That pesky 7-2 Berlin MIL is in the way of the Allied landing, and the combined forces that landed are combining on an attack on it. The ratio is +14.1 with no additional support on the blitz table.

US chooses Blitz, doesnt get the fractional, but rolls a 13 for 23 overall, killing the German MIL

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:
Germany shouldn't have stuck that MIL out there alone like that, but with a stronger unit gone and the Allies advancing, the Axis needs to get a solid line of defense setup to contain the invasion.

In Russia, things are going very well, and with the general retreat being started by the Soviets, they will look for easy kills and ways of isolating Soviet units for destruction.

Weather:
No change in weather. Fine everywhere except N. Monsoon (Storm)

Actions:
Japan - Land
Germany - Land
Italy - Land

Ground Strikes:
Germany attempts to hit a stack of 3 Soviet units guarding the West flank of Moscow in open terrain. They send a 6pt Stuka to do the dirty work.

It hits 2 of 3...

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Ground Strikes (continued):
Germany also tries an ARTY strike on two strong units in a forest hex. German thinks it can put these guys out of supply later on, so the slim chance of the ARTY hitting is worth it.

Lucky shot hits one of the units, decreasing the defensive value greatly of this stack if its put out of supply.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Rail:
Germany rails a 5-4 MTN and 3-3 MIL to France. pulling units off the Russian front was the primary purpose of the invasion, so at least the Allies did that. Not sure how much it will help the Russians, but yeah the Russians have tons of land to play with.

Land Moves:
Japan, now successfully in possession of another factory, looks to pursue the fleeing Russian troops. A stack of Soviets stranded in a swamp hex is now surrounded by 3 Japanese units. Will have to check the odds to see if they want to attack.

They don't get a good enough attack and will wait for next impulse.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Rail:
Germany rails a 5-4 MTN and 3-3 MIL to France. pulling units off the Russian front was the primary purpose of the invasion, so at least the Allies did that. Not sure how much it will help the Russians, but yeah the Russians have tons of land to play with.

Land Moves:
In India, Yamashita lines up adjacent to the lead CW defenders, while Yamamoto moves toward the front as well. Again, a possible attack will be looked at if the odds are right. After they check the odds, yes, the stormy weather prevents it.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Land Moves (continued):
In Russia, the rout is on, and what seemed a massive Soviet Army in March is getting smaller and smaller. The German numbers and quality is just too much. With the retreat, the Germans get aggressive and launch 5 attacks this impulse all in Russia. In the area of Smolensk, the Germans decide one attack at +17 is better than 2 attacks at +11.

Will describe each of the shown attacks after I update you on France...

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Land Moves (continued):
In France, other than forming a better line surrounding the Allied units, no attacks. As you can see, the Allies are quickly gaining air superiority in this area, and the Axis will need to start moving aircraft to the area, maybe even call an Air action.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Land Combat (1 of 5):
Two artillery DIVs couldn't keep up and were surrounded for two easy kills near Kiev.

Here is the first.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Land Combat (2 of 5):
Here is the second, an AT gun that could only move 2 and the Soviet are racing back East.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Land Combat (3 of 5):
We'll finish off the southern Russia / Ukraine attacks with this final one, for Stalino, a Red Factory city. Guderian, instead of following Mannstein through Crimea, had to double-back and participate in this attack, since his troops would have gone out of supply otherwise. The attack last impulse that left several units disrupted required a lot of troops to do a second attack, in retrospect giving the rest of the Soviets some room to move East.

This attack ends up being a high odds one, at +13.5, and the Germans roll high enough for a complete victory. The stack of 3 Soviet units nearby will likely be destroyed next impulse if they remain left behind.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Land Combat (4 of 5):
As mentioned earlier in the AAR, a lucky ARTY strike disrupted one of the units defending the 4th attack of the impulse. The Germans use many of their best units to surround this stack and put it out of supply as well, leaving only a total of 8 ground factors in defense. This is easily overwhelmed to a +17 modifier attack.

Both 7 strength Soviet units are destroyed.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Land Combat (5 of 5):
The final attack was the riskiest one. Only two hexsides could be attacked from, with one being across river. But two 9 strength heavy units helped here, plus the previous ground strike that left two of the units disrupted.

German could get a +11.4 on the Blitz table so chooses that, but they don't get the fractional.

But, a 12 is rolled for the attack, and 23 overall, resulting in a breakthrough.

If Germany used the breakthrough it could put them right on the outskirts of Moscow, but Germany is either getting greedy or over-confident, and elects to convert to a retreat, and retreats the surviving unit SE, away from Moscow. They figure that they can more likely kill the entire pocket of Soviet defenders easier that way. We shall see. It doesn't look good for the Russians overall, for sure.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Situation near Moscow:
Here is how things look near Moscow. Germans are flanking to the North as well, and likely the Soviets will have to collapse onto the city and surrounding hexes next impulse. It is unlikely the Soviet HQ on the bottom of this screenshot will get to Moscow and may have to defend in place.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:
As a complete shock, and likely a bad turn of events for the Axis, they roll a 1 to end the turn!

The Axis definitely did not want the turn to end this quickly, and now the possibility of bad weather next turn could really hamper their plans in Russia. But, it put a temporary break in the Allied invasion of France, so who know who this really helps.

Here are the losses for the turn. The number of Soviet units is frightening.

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

End of Turn Phase:

Factories/Resources:
Germany gains two factories from Russia, while Japan gains Vladivostok. Russia production is taking a major hit, with even the Iraqi oil being cut off by enemy ZOC.

Ugh. Just realized that the Lend lease build points need to make it to Moscow to be credited. As a result, only 1 from the CW via India is making it to Russia. The 5 from the US are not. Russian production is down to 22.

Even sending resources via Murmansk won't help since the rail line from Murmansk has been cut to Russia as well. It is at this moment that I realize that the Soviet Union is in deep trouble. The US, in the war since early 41 better do something, quick.

About the only possibility for the Allies is to pump resources through Iran, which only has a max of 4 per minor port I believe.

Any other ideas? Land Allied troops in Persia?

[markb50k]

Jul/Aug 1942

End of Turn Phase:

Production:
Germany (47): INF, MIL, 2 x MOT, ARM DIV, 2 x ARTY, 2 x LND4, 2 x LND3, 3 x PILOT

Italy (14): GARR, 2 x TERR, 3 x FTR2, PILOT

Japan (29): GARR, ARM, 3 x FTR2, 2 x CVP1, NAV3, PILOT, BB (repair), CA (repair), CVL (finish), CVL (start), 2 x CONV

CW (25): GARR, 2 x TERR, MECH, FTR2, FTR3, LND3, LND4, PILOT

US (65): MTN, 4 x MOT, MECH DIV, AA DIV, AT DIV, 8 x CVP1, 2 x LND4, LND3, 5 x PILOT, 4 x CVL (start)

USSR (22): 3 x INF, 4 x MIL, FTR2, FTR3

Conquest:
Syria conquered by Italy

Reinforcements:
NOTE that this is not showing any of the air reinforcements since I couldn't catch this screenshot after production.

Wow, Japan's Navy is in trouble. The US receives 5 new fleet carriers!

The Soviets receive a new Armor HQ and some much needed reinforcements.

The Germans are welcoming a new 12 strength Armor, goodness. Those will likely head to France, but we'll see.

[Grotius]

I'm loving this AAR. Keep up the good work.

[markb50k]

Thanks!

I think I will continue this one until complete conquest or until 1952 is possible, lol.

Of course, in real life at some point the Germans thought they were sure to win in Russia, but crazy how things turned around.

I am very excited to see how this plays out. Its been a blast playing this game.

[Centuur]

Well. The Euroaxis have four fronts to fight on. Morocco, France, Iraq and the USSR. Slowly, they have to devide the forces they have available. I predict that the Germans can't continue gaining ground much longer...