My second AAR (again)

[composer99]

It's a good thing for Germany the US is so far behind its gear-ups.

[yvesp]

ORIGINAL: composer99
It's a good thing for Germany the US is so far behind its gear-ups.

Yes, because Germany is accumulating numerous bad rolls, each of which is of small consequence... But many small consequences will end up as a big problem!

[yvesp]

In the east mediterranean, the french find the Italian convoys...
But are themselves found by the patrolling bombers...

[yvesp]

And they quickly turn tail...

[yvesp]

Meanwhile, the Russian prepare their offensive on Bagdad.
Note that the positionning is poor, because it is difficult to get a HQ through the mountains (1 hex per turn!) ; advancing farther serve no purpose : the next available hex for attacking would be a desert, with poor supply range.
Russia is stuck with a bad offensive position, unless it is ready for a 6 months campaign...

[yvesp]

And indeed the position is bad...
They suffer a sever setback at the doors of Bagdad.
The Japanese and Germans smile happilly!

Note that the Russians used armored units because the inf are so slow and the number of moves per turn so low...

[yvesp]

As expected, the Commonwealth move was very bad for Germany.

There now are 6 Commonwealth corps in Spain, three of which are already on the front line.
Getting through near Bilbao will now be difficult, the defense value being 26... That means a 1 to 1 assault, or at best a +4 attack with perfect bombing, possibly +6 with HQ support. Unlikely given the current German luck.

In the east, Barcelona is not yet very secure, its defense being 16. But its a factory city, and this doesn't help much...

This turn was for the Commonwealth one of the most difficult : too many things to do. First of all, the sea lanes are now poorly protected. One counts on the vigilance of the long range bombers... Second, many places are poorly defended now that the marines are back! First of all, Wavell is still off balance in Egypt ; Unless he moves fast, Alexandria would be at risk. It is indeed : might the Italian try and pull a lucky shot at +8 with a lone marine and some supporting ships ? Tangier also is unprotected ; this is annoying as it is one of the key for an attack on Gibraltar. Then, the question arise about the right number of units to leave in Britain proper, or at least keeping the means of transporting back some troops should something untowards happen. Clearly, the armored unit will not move, as it is the only strong unit in defense : 5 corps, among which one garrison and two militia plus 2 divisions are not what exactly makes one feel at ease...

However, the balace is now clearly going in favor of the commonwealth : it has ten corps now defending the Pyreneans, while Germany currently has eleven. Of course, most of these are still poor Spanish corps, while German ones are moslty elite : but this makes things difficult! The two missed attacks in the previous turn have taken their toll! Of cournse, reinforcements are coming, but likely the same can be said for the opposing side!

On the air force side, the commonwealth boast 50% more fighters than Germany. More than Germnay and Italy together. Germany clearly has the advantage only in ground bombers.

This goes without counting that the neutrality pact ratio is becoming thinner and thinner. Russia has enough units on board to break it. The true fact is that these are occupied elsewhere! How fast could they come back ?

Should one mention that the USA are now slowly moving eats and west ? Nimitz went for a visit of Belfast. Would that be just for the tour ? And a lone battleship was seen sailing around Honolulu... Definitely, some things are changing.

[yvesp]

Considering the situation, Germany decides to attack through one of the passes that is kept by Spanish units. Possibly multiple attacks, depending on many factors.

It was actually hard not to go and attack the poorly defended convoys in the atlantic. But with 40% of bad weather next impulse, it did not look smart to let go the possibly only chance to get it's foot past the Pyreneans. Not getting through before the end of winter might well mean never going through!

So first, soften up the defenses...

[yvesp]

But first, one must pass the british old hurricanes!
The canadians are vindicative...

[yvesp]

Then see how good the bombers land their load.

[yvesp]

But Franco is well hidden.

[yvesp]

Finally, the last planes flew in support of the attack in the Somport, the pass where chances looked the best.

[yvesp]

Indeed, the German troops at last set foot in Spain, on the other side of the mountains.

[yvesp]

Meanwhile in China, Japan takes no risks against Mao ; but as the planes fail their attacks, the troops won't be moving...

[yvesp]

The Commonwealth is forced into a Land move if it wants to reestablish aline in front of the German and more generaly close any gap and weakness in Spain.

It uses some naval bombers to attempt and attack German ships in the now poorly protected French ports.

But it just forgot one of the latest German fighter squadron...

[yvesp]

But such attack are not really worth the trouble...

[yvesp]

And the German ships are not even scratched...

[yvesp]

Continental Europe is mostly devoid of defenses.
But the British have hardly anything to use this to their advantage: no para, no marine, no amph...

Britain is poorly garrissonned, but what their is looks adequate.

[yvesp]

The Russian front is now not looking extremely good.
However, units from Greece can now move back.

[yvesp]

And Egypt doesn't look like liable to a surprise attack.