Bob Flemin's MWIF AARse IV - Nice AArse

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: End of Turn

Yugoslavia was completely conquered by Germany

Establish a Vichy government in France?
Adolf Hitler (sukily): Yes...s'pose so... I really wanted to see those non-pink Spanish counters...

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1941
Impulse: Country Control

VICHY
Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia
French West Africa
Syria
French Indo-China
Madagascar
Asian Minors
Other Minors

FREE FRENCH
French Equatorial Africa
Pacific Minors

New Home Country:
Gabon

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: Reinforcement

Germany:
MIL
MOT (Rom)
FTR
2 x INF
PARA
GARR
ART
It does not show up here, nor on the Production track (it should really like the board game) but the Offensive Chit also arrived. I spotted it when looking at Action options.

Italy:
Lepanto has been placed in the Construction Pool
FTR
SUB

Japan:
CARR AIR
Chiyoda
Junyo
ENG
AA

[Courtenay]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: composer99

ORIGINAL: warspite1


warspite1

If I have understood your point, I think I only had the option of decreasing the enemy combat column.

That seems odd. As long as you have enough surprise to decrease damage by a column, you have enough surprise to increase it.

Perhaps the next column up for the RN was 2 aborts instead of 1 damage (thus making the increase useless)?

warspite1

Just trying to see if I can get an autosave - but to no avail. I may be wrong but I am pretty certain that was the only choice available.

For some reason, in submarine combat, MWiF behaves differently than in surface combat. In surface combat, MWiF gives you the option to reduce your opponent's column or increase yours at the same time. In submarine combat, MWiF first gives you the option to reduce the opponent's damage, and then does the damage, and only then does it give you the option to increase your own column. The effect is the same in the two cases, if you understand it, but the submarine combat is much more confusing.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: Reinforcement

China:
LND
INF
MTN DIV
GARR

Commonwealth:
HMS Thunderer has been placed in the Construction Pool
2 x CARR AIR
HMS Lion
HMS Trinidad
INF
MECH (Aus)

USA:
USS Essex has been placed in the Construction Pool
USS Yorktown II has been placed in the Construction Pool
USS Massachusetts
USS San Diego
2 x CARR AIR
TERR

USSR:
FTR
MOT
MECH
ARM

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: Initiative and Weather

Axis 4:8 Allies

Weather = 7 Fine in the Northern Monsoon and Southern Temperate - Snow and Rain everywhere else.

[warspite1]

I think its time to take a bit of a breather now and summarise where each major power is. I have little experience to use as a gauge - a couple of aborted AAR and playing with 5th Edition 20-years ago so I would be grateful for any assistance in correcting any mis-reading of the situation.

[warspite1]

.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

First thing to comment upon - as its so vital to any game of WIF - is the state of US Entry. I cannot seem to get this. The Entry Level seemed to be rising quite nicely but I did not appear to get the Tension required. Here we are in Nov/Dec 1941 and the US Entry Pools look like this.

warspite1

I suspect I have chosen too many options, but this was in response to the lack of Tension (a bit of a vicious circle)....

[warspite1]

So in terms of US assistance any time soon, it would appear that the Allies would be wise NOT to be counting on this.

[warspite1]

In terms of Germans plans, its pretty obvious that the decision has been made to launch Barbarossa in May/Jun 1942 (assuming the three turns in between are long enough to get everyone to their start positions).

The Neutrality Pact info looks like this, but I assume that there is no chance of the Soviets breaking the pact in the next three turns so is probably redundant.

[warspite1]

State of the Armed Forces.

Germany:

Although Germany made the mistake of not declaring Vichy, the fact is she did not lose that many units in progressing through France. Unlike my previous AAR's the Luftwaffe was left largely untouched. I suspect therefore her production situation is pretty good:

- Germany has all HQ on the board
- All Armour is on the board or building
- The Luftwaffe have begun building units specifically designed to keep the pressure on in the Mediterranean, and will continue to assist Italy in this way. So far two Condor and one Bf-110 have been provided.
- The only diversion from Barbarossa will be Greece. It is unlikely - subject to weather - that they will conquer Greece ahead of the attack on the Soviet Union, but even if not, hopefully the diversion of resources won't be that long.
- I have upgunned the Gneisenau and Scharnhorst and built the surface ships that historically commissioned but no more. The Kriegsmarine will be no more than a fleet in being should the RN take the mickey.
- Note I have bought one or two Subs but am undecided on what approach to take here given the Production issues. Will probably wait for patches before undertaking a war on the convoys.
- The Germans have an Offensive Chit in reserve

In summary then I think that the situation - particularly given US reticence to enter the war - could be a lot worse.

[composer99]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: warspite1

First thing to comment upon - as its so vital to any game of WIF - is the state of US Entry. I cannot seem to get this. The Entry Level seemed to be rising quite nicely but I did not appear to get the Tension required. Here we are in Nov/Dec 1941 and the US Entry Pools look like this.

warspite1

I suspect I have chosen too many options, but this was in response to the lack of Tension (a bit of a vicious circle)....

US entry is in a bad state, it must be said.

Fortunately for the Allies, the Germans spinning their wheels in France in 1941 could mean that the slower US build-up won't hurt their chances at victory in 1944-1945.

With respect to your comment that you have "chosen too many options" I would say the reverse is true, especially as regards entry vs. Germany & Italy: the US has chosen too few options given how badly tension & entry are out of whack with one another.

In particular, I see that Resources to USSR (option 19), Lend-Lease to Western Allies (option 27) and Lend-Lease to USSR (option 30) remain un-selected.

I believe the US should address this deficiency immediately, not so much for the sake of lending (although I am sure the other Allies would appreciate it, especially the USSR if war is about to come knocking), but for the sake of tension.

On the Japanese side, both US entry and tension are low. Until entry catches up, the US should put every discretionary US entry marker into the Japan pool. However, the only must-pass option here is Oil Embargo (option 31), although Commonwealth reinforces Pacific (option 36) is an excellent choice if the CW has forces that can reinforce Rabaul immediately after its passage.

US entry, especially against Germany/Italy, is sufficiently high that I do not think the US will fall far behind in getting into the war (in fact, I think they will come in in March/April 1942, give or take a turn, which is IMO quite typical for games of WiF). But it needs the tension to get the all-important War Appropriations Act, which together with the oil embargo is usually what tells the Axis it's time to go to war if they don't want to be surprised.

[brian brian]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

It does not show up here, nor on the Production track (it should really like the board game) but the Offensive Chit also arrived. I spotted it when looking at Action options.

We like to use the major power flag counters from Days of Decision for those. They look good on the Production chart, and then we keep them on the Major Power capitals until used.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: brian brian

ORIGINAL: warspite1

It does not show up here, nor on the Production track (it should really like the board game) but the Offensive Chit also arrived. I spotted it when looking at Action options.

We like to use the major power flag counters from Days of Decision for those. They look good on the Production chart, and then we keep them on the Major Power capitals until used.

warspite1

Turns out there is an anomaly. The Offensive Chit does show on the Production Track but then gets removed a couple of phases earlier than it should. You have to be quite unlucky to try and view it when it gets removed! Not considered serious enough to put right which is probably the right call given all else going on.

[warspite1]

State of the Armed Forces.

Italy:

What is there to say about Italy? I have built four of the Littorios and a further battleship is in the Construction Pool. With an attack on Greece planned and possible action in North Africa I need to continue building out her Naval Air Arm. I have not invested in carriers for the Regia Marina.

[warspite1]

Tactical Question:

I would be interested to hear how experienced players set about the defence of France and the Low Countries once Barbarossa is underway. How many units? What quality? Stationed where?

Similar question for Italy. What do the Italians try and defend? Assume Sardinia? Albania? Sicily? Taranto? Rome? Naples? and at least a couple of Corps in the north?

[warspite1]

State of the Armed Forces.

Japan:

The Japanese are making decent progress in Southern China - although are being pegged back against the Communists. Again, losses have not been too high so far.

I have begun making plans for the Pacific War by withdrawing Marine units from China. In addition I am starting to gear up carrier aircraft to ensure that my CV's are maximised. Taiho is in production as are many of the light carriers. Musashi and Yamato should both be ready for war with the US and a further Yamato-class in on the stocks.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: 3

Speaking of Southern China. The Japanese declare one attack. This is contested by the Chinese and the Japanese, stupidly, did not bring in a second fighter (out of range).

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: 3

The Japanese advantage is 5.0:3.0 but the Japanese need to get rid of the Chinese bomber AND get at least one of their own through. Allies throw first:

Round 1
8 - No Effect
14 - AA Japan gets to choose which aircraft to abort and chooses the Chinese fighter.

As a result, both Japanese bombers get through. There is no reason for the Chinese not to stick around - they can still muck things up for the Japanese by getting their bomber involved.

Round 2
6- DA The Japanese fighter is aborted.
12 - AC The Chinese bomber is cleared through!