Bob Flemin's MWIF AARse V - Fat AARse

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 1

The Germans march into Poznan and move onto Krakow. The attack against Krakow is also a 7:1 with no modifiers and the Poles should the Assault Table for the same reasons as before. Note: a nice touch here, the background colour turns to (CW Blue) this shows that it is the CW that may choose the table for this combat

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 1

The throw is a 3. This is enough to clear the city and the Germans lose no units. But in so doing the Germans are disorganised. Not great for Germany but they should be okay after HQ reorganisation.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 1

The final attack, being at 10:1, is automatic. This is helpful as I made a potentially big mistake in set up. I did not place any ARM or MECH units in East Prussia [8|]

As a result the Combat Chart decision is with the CW again. A bit of a let off there....

Suffice to say the Polish Army is destroyed and the way is clear to Warsaw and Lodz.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 1

With the Poles on the ropes and the Polish air force having made its intentions clear, the Germans use their last remaining air mission to rebase a Bf-109 fighter to the west.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 1

We are nearing the end of the impulse now. The next phase is Reorganisation.

Any organised HQ can reorganise units up to the value of their Reorganisation Points (bracketed figure in the middle).

Von Bock has 3 such points and will use these to reorganise the 43rd Infantry Corps (1 point) and the 52nd Mechanised Corps (2 points)

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

And that concludes impulse 1. The Germans have got themselves into position to attack the two Polish cities that they need to conquer the country.

A message now pops us. Apparently Neville Chamberlain and Edouard Daladier were serious about their intention to declare war if the Germans didn't remove themselves from Poland.....

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

The US Congress does not like the prospect of getting dragged into a European War. It did not like the German invasion of Poland, however its also got itself all angry over the French and British response.

A Chit is withdrawn from the US Entry Tables (more on this at the end of the turn).

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

The Germans are now asked whether they want to call out their reserves. I have no idea why you wouldn't - but one of the Grognards may have a cunning reason.

When the reserves are placed on the map they are disorganised (in fact that may be a reason) and therefore will be unavailable for use (unless reorganised) during the turn.

I therefore answer yes and am given the list of units to call out. I will now place these on the map.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

The same applies to the Commonwealth....

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

....and the French

[warspite1]

So we now have a large part of the historical framework in place:

- Germany is at war with the Commonwealth and France
- Italy is neutral (but can only join the Axis)
- The Germans and Soviets have a Neutrality Pact
- The Soviets can take advantage of secret protocols with the the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact (more of which later)
- The Japanese and Chinese are at war
- The USA is neutral but is watching developments both Asia and Europe with growing unease

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

The Allies have to decide how to react?

The French will do a Combined in order to get troops from the Empire - specifically Syria and Algeria back to defend France itself.

The CW have nothing much to do in Poland other than get the aircraft to Lithuania. If they choose a naval that gives them 3 air missions - more than enough for the purpose.

The USSR and the USA must choose a Combined as they are neutral.

For China there is not much to do until the Japanese attack. Now they know where the weight of the Japanese offensives will fall, they can re-adjust their position somewhat. However, they must guard against a switch to the south (which the Japanese can do quite easily once they have built up their units due to the reasonable levels of TRS and AMPH they have.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

Port Attack phase first. There is only one CW aircraft that can reach the Kriegsmarine based in Stettin. They decline.

Naval Air. There is no reason at this stage to put aircraft to sea.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

And so to Naval Movement. I will try and treat this more as I would if I was playing a human opponent (I do consider myself human but you know what I mean.....).

First and foremost I want to get the BEF to France. I have three TRS available for the purpose. They sail to the North Sea 3 box and pick up Gort + the 4th Motorised and 8th Mechanised Corps.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

The Home Fleet consists of:

Aircraft Carriers:
HMS Furious
HMS Hermes
HMS Argus

All currently without aircraft...

Battleships:
HMS Royal Sovereign
HMS Royal Oak
HMS Rodney
HMS Ramillies
HMS Resolution

Heavy Cruisers:
HMS Exeter
HMS York
HMS Norfolk

Light Cruisers:
HMS Newcastle
HMS Hawkins

Submarines:
2 x Flotillas

This force guards the North Sea from Kriegsmarine interference and escorts the TRS for (hopefully) safe passage of the BEF.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

Ah.. I see what people mean about the Queens!

I have decided to earmark these glorious vessels for Transatlantic duty between Canada and the UK. I move the ships in one go directly from the UK to Halifax [:)] There are no units to ferry across yet, but it should not be long.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

The French bring the 42nd Infantry Corps to the Western Mediterranean. They will land this unit in the debark phase.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

The US take the first steps in a build up of men and equipment in the Hawaiian Islands.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

The CW still have one unearmarked air mission, and decide to send a Blenheim bomber to Essen for a spot of Strategic Bombing...

Being the Surprise turn in which the British and French declared war on Germany, the German fighters in the area cannot fly to intercept. The French decide to attack Cologne using their Leo451.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1939
Impulse: 2

Both attacks are failures....

The dice rolls were too low - 3 and 5 - and even with a +1 modifier for not being intercepted, the resulting total failed to record a hit in either hex.