My second AAR (again)

[yvesp]

Indeed, the strike is quite successful.

[yvesp]

Italy also strike in Egypt, with less success.
They also unexpectedly declare war on France, seeing how empty North Africa now is: no defense in Tunisia, Morroco or Algeria! A single Lybian territorial could gain Algeria and Tunisia within less than a turn.

[yvesp]

The German troops meet full success in the Ardennes and take control of the area.
Germany decides to retreat the French units rather than shatter them.
This means they won't respawn in unepected areas the next turn if Paris is not captured this turn. Being besorganized, they are also a liability in the French defenses.

[yvesp]

Japan takes a combined action and brings in lots of reinforcements.
By train in the north, by boat in the center.
It uses up its few moves to control the advance of the communists in the north.
And it attacks in Wuhan to recapture the city.

[yvesp]

The Chinese position is suddenly extremely weak.
No serious openings in the North where the communists have control, and a nationalist front line that could crumble within the turn in the South : the Japanes could destroy more than one infantry corps per impulse with the Yamamoto army group: that would leave almost no nationalist unit.
Note the arrival of a mecanized unit, which could drastically help the Japanese control the plains.

[yvesp]

Considering the danger, the Chinese units retreat widely.
Especially the three militia which will not be rebuilt if destroyed (Peking, Shangaï, Canton)
Even though this leaves a large hole in the front, it seems better than letting the Japanese grind the units.

On the second axis impulse, the allies are helped by an extremely poor weather, which just stops all axis offensives.

[yvesp]

With bad weather, little changed in the next few weeks in China.
In the East Mediterranean, the Commonwealth tried to seize its chance to again cut Italian supplies by sending a long range bomber.
Indeed, things looked promising.

[yvesp]

But the Italian fighters made quite a show.
The Commonwealth would have to temporarily abandon the idea of air superiority in the east med : the remaining bombers would be required on the ground.

[yvesp]

In China, the bad weather prevented any serious moves.
But some reinforcements brought by the Japanese made clear that no serious progress would be easy now.

[yvesp]

On their turn, the allies had little to do ; they mostly kept their positions while the Chinese began a slow retreat in the North, vacating the city of Kaifeng which they had only just recaptured. But it would be too difficult to hold.

[yvesp]

As expected, the weather soone turned clear again.
Germany launched a wide offensive along the frontline, led by Von Rundstedt.
The first actions were serious poundings from the air.

[yvesp]

But the allies were fighting bravely indeed!

[yvesp]

Overall, the German air offensive could be considered as a failure!
Only one unit was disorganized.

[yvesp]

Double post

[yvesp]

Italy was copying the German strategy.
The trouble was that they did not have troops to follow up!

[yvesp]

Serious things were now beginning. The Japanese launched two attacks, one north, to capture the city of Chenchow under the guidance of Yamamoto. One south, to destroy a weakened Tchiang. Even the small Chinises air force tried to interveve.

The superior Ki-27 were nevertheless thwarted.

[yvesp]

But the help was of little use as the squadron was spoiled by the Japanese anti aircraft division.

[yvesp]

The same happened in Belgium for the British.

[yvesp]

And, to a lesser extent, to the French.

[yvesp]

In Reims, the French troops were pushed back.