Bob Flemin's MWIF AARse IV - Nice AArse

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: 3

This just keeps the odds at 2:1, although the Fractional Odds increase this to 3:1 no modifiers on the Assault Table...

...its a 6. All attackers disorganised but another Chinese unit bites the dust.

[composer99]

ORIGINAL: 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?

For France/Low Countries:

In a 1941 Barbarossa, land units are often scarce, so the Germans should restrict themselves to using third-string units (especially Axis minor units) stationed in Paris and in cities and major ports along the coast (and the port in the mountains at the Spanish frontier), with the understanding that additional units can be shuttled back (or put on the board as reinforcements) if the CW invades.

In 1942, presumably you have more units to choose from, so a few extra corps to try and put every hex in a ZoC to boost notional defenders. Depending on German armour advantage over USSR, a MECH corps and division (mech or mot) would do well, placed centrally, to counter-strike against invasions.

If there is a substantial German fleet in Brest or Bordeaux, those ports should have 2 units in them (2 corps if you can spare them) and an HQ providing supply (Italian or Axis minor for preference).


For Italy:

How much land unit defence to place in Italy depends on how much of the rest of the Med Italy has secured.

Malta, Egypt, and Algeria are Axis controlled? Probably not much.

Malta, Egypt, & Gibraltar in Allied hands? The best defence for Italy is to keep Allied naval forces out of the Italian Coast sea area, thus reducing their land unit garrison burden in the vast majority of the country. That means naval air ready to pounce in that area.

The northern hexes that open on the West Med are hard to invade, but La Spezia should have a unit in it (corps + either corps or div, for preference), and the other hexes can make do with being in a land unit ZoC. Rome & Albania should always be garrisoned. While unconquered Sardinia should have a unit in each port, and a counter-strike force (in Italy) ready to pounce if the Allies land - take care to see whether they can follow up with an attack on Italy proper, though.

If it becomes apparent that the Italian Coast will be contested by a serious Allied presence, Italy has to make sure it has a garrison in every city and port, starting with factory cities and major ports.

Don't be afraid to ask for lots of German land units to help. If there is a big Italian air force helping fight in USSR, defend the skies of the Reich and France, and keep the Allies at bay at sea, and Italian submarines helping the Battle of the Atlantic, the longer the Italians can keep going the better, so the Germans ought not be stingy.

[composer99]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: 3

This just keeps the odds at 2:1, although the Fractional Odds increase this to 3:1 no modifiers on the Assault Table...

...its a 6. All attackers disorganised but another Chinese unit bites the dust.

Particularly bad news for China, since that unit is, essentially, gone "forever" until they retake Peking (in what, 1944-1945? and then only if it's the Nationalists that take the city).

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: 5

The weather roll is a 10 Yuk! and the impulse advance is 3. Not good for the Axis.

[warspite1]

State of the Armed Forces.

Commonwealth:

The CW took some losses in France - although that is what they are designed to do I guess. The good news is that Malta and Gibraltar are properly garrisoned with troops and I am starting to reinforce Egypt. I need more air assets in the Med.

One thing that is clear though is that my naval assets are all over the shop!

- I have aircraft that fit on 6 out of 11 carriers.
- The naval assets in the Mediterranean are seriously short on numbers.
- The Indian Ocean is almost bare.
- I have all six Illustrious-class built or building which is good
- I do not think I have built enough TRS and AMPH.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: 5

Once again the Allied turn passes quickly - just a case of naval moves for the CW and the continued flight westward for the Nationalist Chinese.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: 8

Similar story for the Axis - only in their case it is German units moving east.

There is one attack in China which, even with the snow, still gives a 4:1 no modifier on the Assault table. If this succeeds the Japanese are almost through the mountains...

...its another 5 [&:] Both sides lose a unit and the Japanese are disorganised (they chose to lose a Militia).

On a throw of 6, there is no US Entry penalty for another Chinese city falling to the Japanese hordes.

[warspite1]

State of the Armed Forces.

China:

Well the Japanese seemed to spend most of this game not being able to attack because of rubbish odds/weather/my incompetence. But despite this, their progress in south/central China is beginning to really take off.

The Chinese Communists are strong - but hampered by a lack of moves as the USSR are still neutral. This problem should be alleviated soon when the Germans and Soviets get it on.

Its just a case of hanging on with the Nationalists really!

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: 11

If the Allies pass with everyone then there is a 70% chance of the turn ending. What do you think they chose to do? [:D]

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: 13

But its a throw of 8 and the turn continues!

The Japanese align French Indo-China.

They use an Artillery Division to try and disorganised 2 Chinese units holed up in Nanning.... it wasn't successful...

However, the land attack is 3:1. Yamamoto tries to add HQ Support but throws a 5...so 3:1 no modifiers it remains....

...and ouch! its a 2. The Japanese offensive grinds to a halt with the loss of the 2nd Infantry Division.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: End of Turn

The turn ends on a 4. The US Entry picks are in line with Composer's advise and this racks the tension up a tad.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: Production

Germany:
INF
AT
2 x FTR
MOT
3 x Pilot
MTN
MECH DIV

Italy:
Lepanto (2nd Cycle)

Japan:
3 x CARR AIR
MTN
MAR DIV

Vichy France:
1 Saved Build Point

[composer99]

Too bad for the Japanese, a win would have opened the rail line from Indochina to Changsha (and, I guess, all the way up to Manchuria).

Re: US Entry:

First, what options did the US pick, out of curiosity?

Second, excellent, US just needs to pass one more option (vs. Japan, most likely) next turn to boost the tension up to hit the magic 17 for War Appropriations.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1941
Impulse: Production

China:
INF
GARR

Commonwealth:
HMS Thunderer (2nd Cycle)
2 x CARR AIR
FTR
3 x Pilot
MIL
TERR
AT

Free France:
Nothing

USA:
USS Yorktown II (2nd Cycle)
ARM
INF HQ
LND
MECH
PARA
CARR AIR

USSR:
MOT
MECH
FTR
Pilot
LND

[warspite1]

Jan/Feb 1942
Impulse: Reinforcement

China:
INF
INF DIV
CAV DIV (Comm)

Commonwealth:
MIL (Can)
TERR (Aden)
FTR
LND
CARR AIR
ARM
GARR
HMS Implacable
HMS Kenya
MOT (Can)

Free French:
Nothing

USA:
USS Alabama
CARR AIR
ATR

USSR:
FTR
LND
MOT

[warspite1]

Jan/Feb 1942
Impulse: Reinforcement

Germany:
FTR
LND
Scharnhorst
ARM
INF
ART

Italy:
FTR
SUB

Japan:
Karyu has been placed in the Construction Pool
Taiho has been placed in the Construction Pool
FTR
3 x CARR AIR
Zuiho
Musashi

[warspite1]

Jan/Feb 1942
Impulse: Lending Resources

Right lets see if this works:

The Germans lend two resources to Italy
The US lend two resources to the CW

[warspite1]

Jan/Feb 1942
Impulse: Weather and Initiative

Axis 10:5 Allies - Allies do not request a re-roll
Weather 3 = Fine everywhere except North Temperate (Storm) and Arctic (Snow)

[warspite1]

Jan/Feb 1942
Impulse: 1

The Germans continue to push units east as fast as possible. Meanwhile the kind break in the weather allows the Japanese to attack Nanning again as well as Chiang's stack east of Kweiyang and the Partisan in Hanoi.

The Partisan attack is automatic. The Nanning assault odds cannot be changed via aircraft, but for the attack on Chiang, the Chinese pile into the sky once more; despite being out-gunned 5.3:3.0

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: composer99

Too bad for the Japanese, a win would have opened the rail line from Indochina to Changsha (and, I guess, all the way up to Manchuria).

Re: US Entry:

First, what options did the US pick, out of curiosity?

Second, excellent, US just needs to pass one more option (vs. Japan, most likely) next turn to boost the tension up to hit the magic 17 for War Appropriations.

warspite1

Erm... resources to the USSR I think and the Oil Embargo.