My second AAR (again)

[composer99]

The Allies need some airpower to make good an offensive in Spain. In all likelihood the Germans will be able to withdraw in good order to the mountains, which will be hard for the Allies to crack.

[yvesp]

ORIGINAL: composer99

The Allies need some airpower to make good an offensive in Spain. In all likelihood the Germans will be able to withdraw in good order to the mountains, which will be hard for the Allies to crack.

Yes.

But the allies never had the time to build a ground-air power.
The Commonwealth fares well, but only because it built fighters, navs and naval units. It's not worthless: this is why it can now deal with the German navy. Usually, with the Commonwealth, I have many long range bombers when Germany goes East. Not so in this game.
The USA also have little in the way of planes, because they geared up so late: laying down carriers and other units (HQs, marine, para...) seemed more usefull ; and indeed, the USA are playing a usefull role. But they are limited.

This will change, but it takes some time to build an air power...

Indeed, it is possible that Germany withdraws orderly from Spain. But this is not yet done...

I don't count Germany dead yet ; not because they now have to go on the defensive. An allied advance in France could put the germna army in jeopardy. But the allies are also strung out... The British now dare not move their Asian troops, and the USA are still in the process of building an army...

[yvesp]

Using the relative weakness of the Japanese in North China (a marine was removed for other duties), Mao launches a low odd attack. The worst result is acceptable.

It is not the worst result, but the attack gives no advance either.

[yvesp]

Using the fleet support, Eisenhower, freshly moved from the Cantabrian coast, attacks the Italian unit placed as a road block. This results in a quite good success.

A bug prevents the armored HQ to exploit the breakthrough, and the advace is thus done along the coast line. The problem is that the allies don't have many more units to bring as reinforcement! It doesn't look like this whole action will really harm the axis.

[yvesp]

Germany is annoyed.
There may be little time to move the army back through the Pyreaneans. Rains in winter would make the process extremely slow.

On the other hand, moving now would certainly free enough allied units in Spain, which could go and reinforce Britany, transforming a foothold into a permanent position.

The deciding point is however that the startegic position in Spain is delicate : supplies have to flow through a limited area, and much later, it is not to be exluded that these could be cut, especially with US para and marines in the vicinity. Especially considering that the allies will have a new British marine and US para as reinforcement the next turn.

[yvesp]

While Germnay engages a slow retreat, the axis prepares a wide anti-partisan campaign.
In Yugoslavia...

[yvesp]

And in China...

[yvesp]

The Commonwealth launches an air attack on the newly brought German crack units, among which Manstein. It is very successful!

[yvesp]

Considering that success, Eisenhower immediately enges the combat against Manstein, suported by the fleet. The capture of Nantes follwos immediately. This opens a hole in the German lines, which the americans will still be hard pressed in exploiting for lack of any reserve...

[Courtenay]

Are you playing with the "Combat Engineers" optional rule?

[yvesp]

Considering what is happening in France, Germany decides on a full withdrawal from Spain.
Anyway, except for Barcelona, none of the occupied territory present any interest, at least strategically speaking.

And of course, attacking Gibraltar is now a dream long gone...

[yvesp]

ORIGINAL: Courtenay
Are you playing with the "Combat Engineers" optional rule?

Yes. And I forgot they were also useful in defense of cities!

[composer99]

The good news for Germany is that Barcelona can anchor a line a mere 6 hexes long along the Pyrenees, which will release a reserve that can be used (hopefully) to contain or even counter-attack the French invasion.

The bad news is the US' hot dice.

[yvesp]

Both Germnay and the USA are now too weak to attack each other.
A front line seems to be forming.
The Commonwealth brings units to help: as Germnay feared, leaving Spain of course frees allied units...

[yvesp]

ORIGINAL: composer99

The good news for Germany is that Barcelona can anchor a line a mere 6 hexes long along the Pyrenees, which will release a reserve that can be used (hopefully) to contain or even counter-attack the French invasion.

The bad news is the US' hot dice.

Yes, that's exactly the plan.
The freed units should be suffficient.

[yvesp]

The famous Hampden tries an attack on Balbo. His stack is weak, and if disorganized, he would be vulerable to an attack from Nimitz.

[yvesp]

But it fails. Nimitz won't attempt an attack at best at +5...

[yvesp]

In the Pacific, things are moving.

The American fleet left Hawaï and settled in the South China Sea, in Storm.
The advantage being that the moonsoon would prevent the superior Japanese fighters from flying. And in pure gunnery, the US fleet is superior. Even if it weren't, in pure attrition, the US win: they can afford to lose 2 ships for one Japanese ship.

Another reinforcement fllet, quite vulnerable has settled in the South Pacific. It is so far that the Japanes cannot reach it with any ship. Too bad, since it contains only 2 aircraft carriers and no protection!

Some troops have been loaded and are on the American West Coast. A Japanese task force of fast ships sails there, but fails to find the transport. Instead, the bombers will bomb Los Angeles, to no avail...

Another fleet goes south of Hawaï were another unprotected transport is carrying marines. The weather is so bad that the ships pass at less than 10km from each others and fail to meet.

And as far as sea actio goes, a lot of subs are cruising in the Med, 3 US and 1 French. But they are unable to sink any convoys.

On the other hand, Germany is too busy retreating from Spain before mud sets up that they have no time for using their subs.

[yvesp]

The turn doesn't seem to want to terminate.

Germany's retreat through the Pyreneans has had time to complete, and a strong force has been massed around Nantes.

The Germans launch an attack.

Note that I should have done a Ground Strike with that Stuka. But on the other hand I should have been able to disembark a British Mechanized division which seems stuck on board of its transport... This is an old an annoying bug. So I decided not to ground strike to make things a bit even.

[yvesp]

The attack is a partial success, but not enough to dislodge Eisenhower.