A musical global war AAR...

[Centuur]

May-June 1940, Allied impulse number 10...

Well here it is... All Allied nations pass. Start praying to the Gods that the die is a good one (which depends on what side you favour, of course...).

[Centuur]

The Chinese aren't happen at all with this result. And here is the weather report for the next impulse).

Now, for some German Swing...

Here is the Frederick Hippmann Tanz-Orchester playing: Die Nacht, die Musik und dein Mund (The Night, The Music And Your Lips) , recorded in 1939.

[Centuur]

May-June 1940, Axis impulse number 11:

There is a 50% chance that the turn will end at the end of this impulse. The Japanese and the Italians take land actions and Germany takes a combined action.

The German SUB's leave Hamburg and sail for the Faroes gap. More German/Italian troops enter Morocco and there are some minor changes at the French-Spanish border. Von Ribbentrop himself flies to Madrid to convince the Caudillo to allow the Germans passage to Gibraltar. Will the Caudillo allow this?

In China, the cities of Nanning, Lanchow, Chungking and Ankang are captured by the Japanese, who are very agressively moving and exposing themselves to possible attacks. The reasoning is that the Chinese will have to choose. To attack (and thus possibly prolonging the turn) Lanchow or not to attack and end the turn (if it won't end already). The loss of a couple of divisions doesn't matter to the Japanese in this stage of the war. There is one attack being declared. Chiang himself sees the Japanese soldiers rushing at his positions... “Banzai”!

So here is: “Say a prayer for the boys over there”, song by Deanna Durbin

http://www.lusby.org/music/Say_a_Prayer ... _There.mp3

Chiang decide to choose the Blitzkrieg table, since he wants to try to survive...

[Centuur]

No, it isn't enough... Here is the situation in North China at the end of the impulse:

[Centuur]

South China:

[Centuur]

The turn ends (a 1 is rolled):

No partisans appear. Germany draws 2 markers and put them into the offensive pool for the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. The USSR puts it's marker in the defensive pool.

And now your attention for: Harry Roy & His Orchestra playing: Contented

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlmU5BNnEDs

[Centuur]

May-June 1940, end of turn segment, July-August 1940, start of turn segment.

The US draws an entry chit into the Japanese entry pool. A trade embargo on strategic materials is imposed by the US against the Japanese and the US decides to give the CW destroyers to protect the trade routes across the Atlantic. Only the latter option increases tension. The US decides to put a tension marker in the Japanese pool.

There are now 5 chits in both the Japanese and the German/Italian entry pools. The tension pools only got 1 chit each...

Now, before we go further, let's look at the destroyed pool for this turn:

[Centuur]

Also, the repair pool is quite interesting at the moment. The Euroaxis navies have profited from the collapse of Vichy a lot...

[Centuur]

During the Italian stay at sea phase, the Regina Marina decides to leave the Battle fleet in the Western Med. A 3 sea box section isn't bad at all for a fleet to stay in and it saves precious oil. The cruisers in the Cape St. Vincent and the Eastern Med also stay at sea, to keep the units overseas in supply. Same with the convoy escorts. They stay at sea too...

Due to the embargo on strategic materials imposed on Japan, both countries pull 2 CP from every sea area out of the convoy pipeline.

The French fleet is scattered throughout the world. They all rebase into ports nearer to the Atlantic. It's going to cost the French a lot of oil to reorganise the navy. The TRS sails into Capetown, to transport the South African INF next turn towards the Morocco/Spain area.

Here's is “Place Pigalle”, song by Maurice Chevalier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvrGxiKfJbY&feature=kp

The CW returns major elements of the fleet. Convoy escorts stay at sea, while other return to base. TRS are placed to transport more units into the Spain/Morocco area, if the Germans are going to attack (and the CW generals and admirals are convinced that an attack will be made)...

We used to play with a house rule, saying that all ships which are sunk, are removed from the game. The reasoning behind this is that no nation would rebuild those ships, since newer models are available. So the Karlsruhe, Lorraine and the Jeanne d'Arc are scrapped.


Now, production:

Germany saves 6 oil and produces 20 build points only 2 german factories are without resources at this moment. Two are send to the USSR and 5 to Italy. This leaves the Germans with 13 build points. They consume two oil points in reorganisation. Germany produces two TERR, repairs the Scharnhorst, build a FTR, a pilot and an INF. The TERR will arrive in Algeria... Which is the place to be at the moment...

Here's: Michael Jary - Marokko !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojanNTRZQhk
A Foxtrot out of Berlin...
Italy saves 2 oil and produces 4 build points. Together with the 5 received from Germany, they have 9 build points. They consume one oil point in reorganisation. They build a pilot, an ATR, a MIL and repair the Strassbourg.

Japan saves 3 oil and produces 14 build points. 2 oil points are consumed in reorganisation. They build a TERR and a Warlord, decide to finish the Chitose, two pilots and a FTR. Two build points are saved.

China is reduced to three build points, now the Birma road is closed. No oil is consumed in reorganisation. They build an GAR (50% chance for drawing a Nationalist) an a CAV division (which is Nationalist too).

The CW saves 6 oil and produces 19 build points. 4 oil are consumed in reorganisation. They build a FTR3, a FTR2, a CVP, 2 pilots, a MOT and... the AMPH starts it's second cycle in production. 1941 will start with the CW having invasion capabilities...

France saves 2 oil and produces nothing. 1 oil is used in reorganisation.

The US saves 1 oil and produces 10 build points. No oil is consumed for reorganisation. A BB is finished and a pilot, NAV and a MTN build.

The USSR saves 1 oil and produces 13 build points and receives two from Germany. The Soviets have 15 build points. No oil is consumed in reorganisation. They build a LND4, a pilot and three INF.

Morocco is conquered by Germany. Therefore: here is the national anthem of Morocco, called the Cherifian Anthem. Officially, this song became the national anthem after it's indepence in 1956, however starting at the end of the 1930's this song was played whenever the Morrocan Royalty made important visits...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V5EvUjYCRc

Yamamoto destroys the factory in Sian.

And here are the reïnforcements of this turn:

[Centuur]

Now, we can't have a BB named for a French Cardinal in the German Fleet, can't we? So the Führer decides to rename the ship. The ship is renamed in “Wien (Vienna), to tighten the bond between Germans and Austrians. The Gar is set up in the city of Köningsberg

The Italians set up the NAV in Turin and the Andrea Dorian joins the fleet.

Japan sets up the FTR and the GAR in Fukuoka, while the Yamato is launched from the shipyards.

China puts Stillwell in Kweiyang.

For the CW Alexander arrives in Bristol. A Swordfish is put onboard the Hermes. An INF arrives in South Africa and a Whirlwind is now in the UK. 1 CP arrives in Gambia and another 3 in Liverpool.

The US launches an AMPH and a GAR arrives in Long Beach.

The USSR puts a Chicomm Gar in Chengtu and all units, except fot the 6-1 GAR which arrives in Leningrad, are put into cities on the USSR-Manchurian border, including the PARA and a TB-3 and the HQ Yeremenko. Suddenly, the Japanese are faced with a threath coming from the north... It appears the “or else” is taken seriously by the Soviets...

So here is the Aram Khachaturian also known as the March of the Soviet Militia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMJNH8MEOFc

Now the Birma road is closed, the trade agreements made by the CW and the US towards China are cancelled. The French decide to trade their resources to the CW, since they get an oil from Iraq.

The Axis wins the initiative. The CW decides not to reroll.

[Centuur]

The Axis decide to move first.

And finally: here is the weather report for the next couple of impulses:

[Klydon]

Wow, the Allies are in some serious trouble. Lot of former French capital ships floating around. With the Germans looking to press Gibraltar, White Hall has to be really worried about the implications of all those French battleships being refitted and in the hands of the Axis. US entry is low as well, although getting the embargo off will hurt the Japanese to a point.

Double move by the Axis is essentially a thumb in the eye too. [:D]

[Centuur]

Well, look at it from another position. The Japanese are probably going to be at war with the USSR, to take the pressure of the Chinese a little bit. And there isn't any defense in Manchuria, capable of stopping the USSR from entering the country. And that's during a long summer turn.

Also, the Japanese forces are out of position in China itself. An attack on Chengtu isn't that easy to get going and there are the monsoons in the south. Not easy to kill Chinese units during that kind of weather...

Japan needs to think things over very carefully. What to do first and how to prepare for the nasty things the Soviets might do during a surprise impulse. The convoys are vulnerable and will need protection ASAP. Normally, this alone will already mean somewhat of a respite on the Chinese front. A naval impulse has to be called for by the Japanese first, I believe, or otherwise the USSR SUB's might start killing precious Japanese convoys...

And US entry being low? How do you know this? There are 5 chits in both entry pools. So US entry could be anywhere between 16 (the number needed for the chosen US entry option last turn) and 40 at this moment. Sure, one might think the options chosen by the US should reveal something, but who knows for sure? Devious US players keep silent to everyone about the US policy regarding US entry.
The only thing you know for sure is that US tension isn't enough to rise the US production modifier, since 1 chit in both tension pools isn't enough to reach 11...
Remember: the readers are the ones who will have to advise me (on time please), when they want the Japanese to start preparing the war with the Wallies. I won't give up that information...

[Centuur]

July-August 1940, Axis impulse number 1

Headlines in US newspapers this morning. Germany invades Spain! However, the Isolationist politicians in the US make pretty clear that this is something the US hasn't got anything to do with. The war in Europe isn't of any American intrest at all. Despite this, there is one US entry chit gained (die roll: 7).

Spain aligns to the CW. And here is the Spanish set up. It is clear to the Spanish general staff that they haven't got a chance of stopping the German onslaught. So they decide to put the important units in Spanish Morocco, guarding the southern approaches of Gibraltar in the city of Tangiers. This will mean that the French-Spanish border isn't totally defended. However, by putting large garrisons in Barcelona and Bilbao (the two cities which needs to be taken for the conquest of Spain), they hope to make the conquest of the country an expensive one...
Note also this: since the CW isn't at war with Italy, Spain also isn't at war with the Italians... This means that Italian units can't enter Spain or Spanish controlled hexes...

Here is “Callecita de mi Novia”, played by Raphaël Canaro and his orchestre and sung by Luis Mariano, a Spanish singer which became quite popular after the war...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcteCC3BnxQ

[Centuur]

Germany chooses a land action. Japan and Italy choose naval actions. The Japanese need to get convoy lines protected from possible USSR attacks...

The Erone and an Italian FTR are flown into the 2 box of the Western Med. The Italian navy sails out into the Western Med with two TRS and cruisers escorts and load Guderian and an 8-4 MOT. The Andrea Doria joins the battlefleet together with a cruiser and they pick up two German divisions. An Italian convoy sails into the Western Med. German artilley opens up and Stuka's ground strike the Spanish positions in Bilbao, the Pyrenees and Barcelona. All defenders in those hexes are (as to be expected in a surprise impulse with the firepower displayed by the Luftwaffe) disorganised.

Guderian disembarks in Spanish Morocco on the Königsberg MIL which moved there first. In Northern Spain, the mountains are crossed by the German forces. The ports of Melilla and Majorca are being invaded (outmatic victory) by German divisions.

[Centuur]

An attack on the hex southeast of Bilbao is declared and ground support is added to that hex.

And here is: Rafael Canaro playing Paciencia (patience...), which is of course quite something we need to have, regarding MWIF...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5la3sh5bIQ

Even with all the power displayed by the Wehrmacht, the odds are quite dissapointing. Well. That's wat you get when attacking in the mountains. The Spanish choose the assault table, to inflict as many losses on the enemy as possible:

[Centuur]

Well, the Germans are quite pleased by the result. Since no divisions were available for this attack, things could have been, far, far worse. The Luftwaffe rebases the ATR into the city of Oran, where the Para is. Here is the situation at the end of the impulse in Spain:

[Centuur]

The Japanese sail escorts out to defend the convoys in case the USSR decides to DoW. The Japanese secret service is convinced they will do so. The GAR in Japan is loaded on board of a TRS and debarks in Port Arthur.

Now. Things are interesting here. Italy isn't at war with Spain or the CW, so the CW fleets could sail into the Western Med to provide defensive Shore Bombardment for the Spanish in Barcelona and the CW can sail a lot of units into the region too, without possible Italian interdiction. However, if the Italians decide to DoW the CW, there is going to be a surprise impulse with the whole Italian fleet available to start shooting at the CW. On the other hand, the CW can DoW the Italians and get a surprise impulse themselves, trying to kill the precious Italian TRS (which are at sea, and one is even loaded with a German MOT...), which of course will close the Med for allied shipping (since the CW doesn't want to sail a lot of TRS throught the Med when at war with the Italians). Will the USSR DoW Japan or not? Any ideas anybody? How would you react to this situation?

There will be a couple of days before this AAR will continue and no decisions have been made at this moment. So feel free to comment on how the CW and USSR should react...

And by the way... the Isolationalists in the US only say that there are 6 chits in the It/Ger entry, 5 in the Japanese entry and 1 chit in both tension pools... The US takes a neutral stand...

[Klydon]

I think the Allies have two options with the Japanese to look at. One issue is that limited peace is not possible with the current game setup, so I am not sure how you would implement that to a point.

First, Russia has sort of accomplished something even without declaring war.

One option is Russia does decide to come in and invade, etc. The Euro Axis are going to be busy in 1940 with the Spanish campaign. That doesn't preclude a 1941 Barbarossa, but with Spain to garrison and possible action against the Suez, the Germans may not have as big of a land force to use against Russia. In addition, the Germans may also decide to go for the UK given the potential naval situation with all those French capital ships under Axis control. The Axis may tip their hand on that if they start looking to do a lot of repairs, but that is down the road. If this is the case, it is even more important for the Russians "to do something" other than sit on their hands. China stays in the war the best it can at this point.

The second option is not to have the Russians invade and for the Chinese to surrender, trapping many Japanese units deep in China and with Japan stuck only able to use combined actions, it will be difficult for them to get into position to start the Pacific war. On top of that, many Japanese units would come off the map as well. (Granted, some would come back on when Japan again declared war).

In Europe, since the Italians are transporting German units, I think the CW can initiate action against the Italian fleet, even without being at war with them, but I am unclear about that.

As the CW, the issue is how much will the US detest the declaration of war against the Italians? The Allies want the US in the war sooner than later of course.

If the CW can bring the kitchen sink against the Italian fleet to the point where they will do some serious damage, especially against the transports, then I think it would be worth the declaration of war. Sufficient damage against the Italian fleet may make it harder for the Axis to consider carrying off a 1941 Sea Lion. Air will play a bigger role in that, but if the Italian fleet is hurt and their transports take a beating, that can only make things easier for the CW for the immediate future.

The issue is the risk of a wiff on searches during the surprise turn. Should the CW declare war and then wiff on engaging the Italian fleet, that would be quite bad for the Allies. Potential US hits without getting anything in return.

[Centuur]

No, I can't attack the Italian fleet with the CW. Here is RAW:

During port strikes and naval combats, a unit can’t fight against units
from the other side unless it is at war with at least one of them (being
at war with an enemy unit the naval unit is transporting is not enough).
However, you resolve, as one combat, a combat that includes units
that are not at war with each other, so long as each unit included is at
war with at least 1 enemy unit in the combat.

This means the CW ships can't attack the Italians or vice versa. They would be able to do so if there was a German air or naval unit in the sea zone too. Now, the Axis are smart enough to make sure that isn't the fact. So only the puny French fleet out of Beirut can engage the Italians in the Western Med...

I'm thinking about letting the Russians DoW the Japanese (because the Chinese need to survive and surrendering the Chinese means only a 18 instead of a 35 on US entry, which equals the USSR DoW -17- on Japan). Also, I'm think it is best to ignore the Italians and get the CW fleet out for SB to give aid to the Spanish. Let the Italians DoW the CW and than see what happens next if they want a fight. I can use the remaining French fleet out of Beirut to initiate combat if needed after an Italian DoW.
However, it's a really tough decision to make. War with Italy means also that the CW is opening another front (Egypt), and I don't think I want to have that happening before there is a FTR in Egypt...