Another Solo Global AAR

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Actions:
Japan - Combined
Germany - Air. They need this.
Italy - Combined

Naval Moves:
Japan sends 3 TRS to the Sea of Japan. They want to move the new Armor HQ off of Japan, and move two white print units to Japan.

Japan also puts another TRS out to the South China Sea for dropoff in the Phillipines

Italy decides to take a chance with unprotected Allied transports sitting in Cape St Vincent. They sent the entire Italian fleet out there and initiate a search.

Both sides fly out alot of aircraft. Allies put all of theirs to the 0 box so they have a good chance of turning this into a Naval Air, meanwhile the Axis aircraft are all spread out across the sea boxes.

Italy rolls a 3, and the Allies roll a 7, giving the Axis 7 surprise points. I think they will use it to specify SURFACE combat.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Naval Combat (continued):
With 4 surprise points used to choose SURFACE, the Italians use 2 more surprise points to increase their damage, going up to 3 destroyed (X) and 2 abort (A) against the helpless Allied transports.

This was a real blunder of negligence on my part, I should have put out a few cruisers with them for just this kind of occurance.

Here are the damage rolls against the Allies.

The Spanish TRS is destroyed with a Whirlwind onboard.
One CW TRS is damage on a destroyed roll, so the Allies used the 2nd destroy on that one, to minimize damage to other ships/cargo. This destroys it along with the Mustang on board.

The rest are aborts, and the Allies decide to abort completely anyway.

That could have been much worse, the Allies think. The two aborts, Eisenhower and a 6-6 ARM abort to the Spanish beachheads.

NOTE: I wanted to abort the rest of the Allied ships but there is a bug that prevents successful aborting into the queue when cargo from another major power is on another major powers transport. I tried several times to abort the CW transport carrying the US bomber but it would never go into the queue.

So I could choose either to destroy that TRS instead of the Spanish one, or just not abort the Allied forces and make sure they didnt get into combat a second time. I chose the latter. So the Allied forces stayed in the Sea Area as if they stayed and the search didnt find them the second time.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Land Moves:
With the Axis taking 2 combined and an air impulse, not much in the way of land movement.

Air Moves:
No attacks on the ground, but alot of movement in the air. Germany's air impulse allows them to move over 20 aircraft closer to the lines.

The Axis needed to roll a 1 to end the turn, but they roll a 3. Now its the Allied turn.

Allies 4th Impulse:

Weather:
Weather roll is a 10 (11 after modifier), which puts bad weather pretty much everywhere. In Russia, it goes from Rain to Snow, so that actually helps supply issues.

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1942

Allies 4th Impulse:

Land Moves:
Not alot to show here, no attack, and a small amount of air rebases for the Allies.

Current situation in France and Spain

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1942

Allies 4th Impulse:

Land Moves (continued):
Current situation in Russia

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1942

End of Turn Phase:
After the allies finished their impulse, they rolled a 2 for the End Turn roll. With them going first and last, this should give the Axis a +1 to the initiative roll next turn.

My guess is that both sides are glad the turn is moving on. When you are on the defense, which both sides are, you crave time passing and more production taking effect.

Losses:
Per the norm, here are the losses for this turn.

Allies still losing the majority here, will that start to swing soon?

[markb50k]

Sep/Oct 1942

End of Turn Phase:

Return To Base:
The Axis keeps a NAV aloft in the Cape St Vincent sea area which now puts the Allied units in Morocco out of supply. In addition, the Italian fleet now bases at Gibraltar.

The Allies will have to devote some carriers to this area if they want to keep their troops in supply or evacuate to the more important beachheads.

Conquest:
Palau Islands completely conquered by US

Production:
At least for this turn, the Soviets received 2 build points from the Allies via the Persian Gulf. How long will that last?

Germany (47): GARR, TERR, MOT, MECH DIV, 2 x AA DIV, OFFENSIVE, FTR2, LND3, CVP1, 3 x PILOT
Italy (14): GARR, 2 x TERR, MIL, 2 x FTR2, PILOT
Japan (29): MECH, MAR DIV, ARM DIV, AA DIV, 2 x FTR2, 2 x CVP1, 2 x PILOT, 3 x CONV
CW (24): 3 x INF, TERR, FTR2, FTR3, LND4, 2 x PILOT
US (65): 3 x MOT, PARA, AT DIV, 2 x FTR2, 2 x CVP2, 2 x LND3, 2 x LND4, 6 x PILOT, AMPH (finish), TRS (finish), CA (start), save 1
USSR (25): 2 x INF, MIL, 4 x GARR, HQ-INF, ARTY DIV

Reinforcements:
Highlights include
- Japan gets another fast CVL and the BB Hiei
- Zhukov returns!
- Italy gets 3 high quality fighters

[markb50k]

Nov/Dec 1942

Beginning of Turn Phase:
A factory arrives in Murmansk, and I completely forgot I had sent one up there before the rails were cut. As a result, Russia has 2 factories idle, Leningrad (of course) and now Murmansk.

The Allies need to create a quick CONV route up there with a resource. They will work on that this turn.

Initiative:
Axis rolls a 4, Allies roll a 8. Axis doesn't ask for a reroll. Allies take the first move.

Weather:
See below. Not bad for Nov/Dec

Allies 1st Impulse:

Actions:
USSR - Land
US - Naval. US will consider trying to attack the Japanese fleet off of Truk. What better time than now?
CW - Naval
Fr - Naval

[markb50k]

Nov/Dec 1942

Allies 1st Impulse:

Naval Moves:
Allies are VERY busy this move.

First of all, the Allies have decided that they will declare war on Portugal to open up yet another front on the European continent. The Spanish beach head is going to be slow going in the mountains, and landing in Portugal will give the Allies some room to maneuver. With their nearly 20 transports in the European theater, they make a ton of moves..

They send 1 carrier with escorts off of Morocco to establish supply for their troops there. If the Italian fleet sorties it could be costly if search rolls don't go right but they will take that chance.

The Royal Marines and a couple of other units are ready to invade Portugal, and currently sitting in the Bay of Biscay.

Eisenhower is shipped to France and replaces Clark, who will land in Portugal.

In the Pacific, the US is using its considerable naval superiority to try and surround Truk. The main fleet sails to the Marianas to face the Japanese main fleet. Their slower battleships and their Marines sail to the Bismarck sea. Their 5 speed battleships, and their CVLs, along with two new fleet carriers from the West Coast, sail to the Solomons. So if the US can force the Japanese to abort out of the Marianas, they will put Truk out of supply.

Picture of all the fleets surrounding Truk

[markb50k]

Nov/Dec 1942

Allies 1st Impulse:

Naval Moves:
Well, here we go. The Americans choose to initiate a combat in the Marianas. Japan flies two FTRs out to the 2 and 3 box respectively.

Allies roll a 9 (Ugh, hope Japan doesn't roll well), Japan rolls a 6 (phew). No combat.

In the Axis reaction phase, Germany wants to initiate combat in Cape St Vincent. Both sides call out their fighters and Axis calls out NAVs.

Axis rolls a 3, Allies roll a 6. Air combat chosen.

[markb50k]

Nov/Dec 1942

Allies 1st Impulse:

Naval Combat (continued):
Allies have an advantage of +2/-2. Axis decides to take their chances and not use any of their precious suprise points in the Air to Air battle.

1st round, Allies roll a 12, clearing one of the Axis bombers. Axis rolls a 9, no effect.

2nd round, Allies roll a 9, no effect. Axis rolls a 11, no effect.

3rd round, Allies roll a 10, clearing another Axis bomber. Axis rolls a 6, aborting the CW fighter.

This just shows you how little the effect of having better air to air factors can have.

[markb50k]

Nov/Dec 1942

Allies 1st Impulse:

Naval Combat (continued):
For the anti-aircraft fire, again Axis doesnt use their surprise points. The small CW fleet only gets lowest 1 of 2 for AA fire, so only if they roll two 10's can they kill a bomber.

They roll two 10's. WTF???

Axis chooses to destroy one of their Italian bombers, and press on with the attack.

They finally use their surprise points to increase their naval column, producing two destroys (X).

They try to use the first one on the CW carrier, but don't make the roll, only damaging it. A light cruiser is also destroyed.

[markb50k]

Nov/Dec 1942

Allies 1st Impulse:

Naval Combat (continued):
Both sides want to stay so they roll again, and CW brings out two NAVs to help with search numbers.

Axis rolls a 8, and Allies roll a 3, and choose a naval air combat with their 5pt fighter against the two Axis NAVs at a +3/-3 odds.

1st round, Allies roll a 11, clearing an Axis bomber. Axis rolls a 18 (ok thats two battles in a row where these NAV boys have beaten their fighter interceptors!), killing the CW long range fighter!

[markb50k]

Nov/Dec 1942

Allies 1st Impulse:

Naval Combat (continued):
Now we do AA fire. Allies decide to use surprise points in the damage phase. Lowest 1 of 3, and Allies roll a 2 for their lowest, reducing bombs.

Allies use the surprise points to lower the overall damage 3 columns, down to 1 abort. One CW cruiser is aborted.

The naval round ends at this point. Not sure why, since the Axis would of liked to keep going.

[markb50k]

Nov/Dec 1942

Allies 1st Impulse:

Ground Strikes:
With the weather and no land movements this turn, the Allies forego any ground strikes this turn.

In the Pacific, the low TAC factors of the carrier planes prevents their use as a ground strike platform, at this point. They'll be used for ground support.

Rail Moves:
Russia moves another factory to Siberia, and a 4-3 MIL to help put some defense in front of the Japanese near Irkutsk.

[markb50k]

Nov/Dec 1942

Allies 1st Impulse:

Land Moves:
Russia evacuates Baghdad and tries to form a defense in Southern Russia. With 4 factories moved to Baku and Tiflis and all the oil nearby, if it can be protected it will form a nice solid production base of around 6 production points even if cutoff from the rest of Russia.

[markb50k]

Nov/Dec 1942

Allies 1st Impulse:

Land Moves (continued):
Russia continues to try and tighten their lines around Moscow, leaving single defenders in cities along the way.

Air Moves:
Russia pulls 3 aircraft from exposed positions in the front to behind their wall of defenders.

CW transfers some fighters to France and to Guam

US transfers a PBY Catalina to Wake Island for more support to the fleet.

[markb50k]

Nov/Dec 1942

Axis 1st Impulse:

Actions:
Japan - Naval. Reinforce the carriers with two 5 speed carriers at Japan.
Germany - Land. Close on Moscow, and attempt to take Stalingrad and cut off the oil in the South from the rest of Russia.
Italy - Land. Take the now empty Baghdad

Naval Moves:
Japan does many movements reinforcing the main carrier fleet, putting escorts out to the convoy lanes, and moving units to Japan, the Phillipines, Singapore, and Manchuria.

Basically, the plan is to have the new Armor HQ go into Russia, keep 1 HQ in India, and bring the rest back to Japan for home defense.

Naval Combat:
Japan decides to try to find the Allied convoys in the Arabian sea. The SUB is searching from the 4 box, and as the Allied player, I was stupid and didnt put any of the escorts in the 0 box since things had been so quiet in the SUB campaign from Japan for the entire war.

Japan rolls a 4, and Allies roll an 8, giving Japan 8 surprise points.

Japan had to use 4 points to decrease the Allied anti-sub roll (convoys have their own ASW strength at this point in the war).

Japan used its last 4 points to increase its damage to 2 damaged, 1 abort (which kills two convoys and aborts another).

Sheesh, with one roll, the whole strategy I had for getting build points to Russia is getting kicked in the teeth. Dumb move with the escorts.

[markb50k]

Nov/Dec 1942

Axis 1st Impulse:

Naval Combat (continued):
I guess I spoke too soon, the SUB warfare business is a fickle beast both ways. Japan searches again...

Japan rolls a 5, Allies roll a 2, and this time the Allied pickets all find the sub, and have 2 surprise points to boot. They use the surprise points to null out Japanese damage, and get a X and a D on the sub.

Japan's last active SUB is pounded. See the pic below.

In other news, Japan tries to initiate combat in the Bismarck Sea as well. Earlier in the impulse, they moved a long range NAV to the 4 box. The Allies only have a large battleship fleet there with no air cover. A CW fighter is nearby and can react, but the Allies are planning on that fighter supporting the carriers so they dont want to use it for this. Hopefully the Japanese plane won't find the ships, and if it does, hopefully the American AA fire will do the trick.

It works for the Allies. Both search rolls didn't find anything.

The United States realizing they are outnumbered in the Marianas, decide to not initiate combat in their reaction phase.

[markb50k]

Nov/Dec 1942

Axis 1st Impulse:

Rail Moves:
Germany moves two 6 strength INF units from Germany/Russia to Spain

Land Moves:
Spain is sticking out like a sore thumb, and the Allies are going somewhere. Germany sees that Portugal and the entire West flank of Spain is open but really can't react too much. A couple more units are railed in, but if the weather holds and the Allies land with enough force, things could get dicey.