A musical global war AAR...

[brian brian]

Oh and I wanted to add - with the capital ships, they kind of represent the one area where Hitler grew quite concerned about casualties, and he operated them with almost a sense of "losing face" as in Asian cultures. He could casually order that an entire division of troops make a pointless last stand somewhere, but he put plenty of his emotional capital into his few battleships, for quite a period of the war at least.

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: brian brian

ORIGINAL: Centuur

Also, the German fleet is behaving very, very aggresive. That is surely a risk for Germany, but high risk gives high gaines if it succeeds.

Hi Peter, I'm curious about your thoughts on that comment - what is the risk? I see a lot of players almost forget the Germans even have a fleet, and it just sits around, bombards Leningrad once or twice, then finally D-Day arrives and it goes out for one final Jutland style sortie and accomplishes little.


I'm starting a new game on cardboard soon; I think we will use the new Khaki counters for the British Army and the original blue counters for the Royal Navy. Should make the map even more colorful than ever before.

A fleet in being consists a continuous threath regarding any enemy fleet which wants to do things.

So: if the small German fleet isn't in the North Sea, it means that it gets easier for the Allies to invade along the North Sea coast after the US comes in, since there isn't anything opposing the Allied big guns there anymore. And that's pretty close to the home country of the Reich... That's a risk I'm taking with the way I'm using the German fleet. There's no way I can get those capital ships back into Kiel later, I'm afraid, since the Allies will get stronger and stronger in the air (and that's what is happening already if you look at the UK. There are a lot of planes stationed there). On the other hand, those big evil long range German battleships can go raiding Allied convoys on the Atlantic after Egypt is captured. That's also something.

It's the first time I've decided to use the German fleet this way, and to be honest, I'm having a ball. I really like the way this fleet can be used (especially with the captured modern French battleship "Wien" included) in this game.

Thing is, I never have seen a game with Gibraltar captured in 1940. I haven't got a clue how to handle things (it's a luxury problem I'm having) at the moment. I have decided to keep the goal: close the Med and finish this first. But after that? Barbarossa 1941? Don't know if I can get the necessary garrison ratio to break the pact with Germany. It wasn't in my builds in 1940 to go for this. I'm starting to think about invading South Africa or India or something crazy like that now... I really don't know what I will do with the Euroaxis after Egypt will be taken out. I really don't. Now, that's a dangerous thought, because one should know how to proceed. A Sea Lion comes in mind too, but I don't have the TRS and AMPH to get this done...

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

I'm lovin' the tunes. That's a great rendition of "In the Mood."

You mentioned earlier that the Free French played the "Marseillaise," just like in "Casablanca." Should Vichy France also play the Marseillaise, as it does in MWIF? Wikipedia does say the song remained the official anthem of Vichy, but some internet sources contradict this assertion, and even Wikipedia says that "Marechal, nous voila!" was a popular alternative. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Wikipedia is right. The Marseillaise is the official hymn of both Vichy and Free France. However, it was outlawed by the Germans in occupied France and to avoid having to play the Marseillaise in occupied France or when German and Italian officials visited Vichy, they played "Marechal, nous voila!"

It's only too bad, that it's so very difficult to find out if a recording of that song is copyrighted or not, otherwise "Marechal, nous voila!" could have been put in as the Anthem of Vichy...

Sometimes I wish that somebody with knowledge of copyrights would be in the forums, so we could add more music into the game. Matrix hasn't got the money available to pay for use of copyrights...

[Grotius]

Thanks for your reply. I have a couple close friends who are copyright attorneys, so I'll ask them how I might go about finding a royalty-free version of "Marechal, nous voila."

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: Grotius

Thanks for your reply. I have a couple close friends who are copyright attorneys, so I'll ask them how I might go about finding a royalty-free version of "Marechal, nous voila."

[&o][&o]

[Centuur]

November/december 1940, Allied impulse number 7:

There isn't anything to do for the Allies. Current positions are about as good as can be at the moment. If they all pass this impulse, there is a 30% chance of the turn ending. Not that good, but if you've got nothing to do, this is the right decision to make. And after the die is rolled, it was a right decision...

[Centuur]

November/december 1940, End of Turn phase:

No partisans appear. Germany draws two offensive markers and moves one marker from the defensive to the offensive pool. The USSR draws one defensive marker.

The US draws one entry marker for both the Ge/It entry and the Japan entry pool. Now, things are gettting interesting. A bill concerning the installment of an oil embargo against Japan is passed on to Congress by the President. After quite some heated debate, Congress passes the bill (one chit moved to the Japanese tension pool). Also, a bill to send resources to the USSR is also passed by Congress.
This also gives a heated debate, since anti communist sentiments are heard in Congress (one chit moved to the Ge/It tension pool).

The Japanese Imperial Government immediately rations all oil products. It is estimated that the Japanese armed forces have to go to war in N/D 1941 at the latest, provided the war against the USSR doesn't use a lot of oil.

Time for Japanese music: 麦と兵隊　松平晃

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNBotBrCLkQ

There are now: 7 markers in the Ge/It entry pool, 8 markers in the Japan entry pool and 3 markers in each tension pools. Axis intelligence believe that the next bill which will go to Congress will be the Gear Up...

Let's put a picture in of the destroyed pool of the last turn of 1940:

[Centuur]

And here is the repair pool:

[Centuur]

During the return to base phase, the German AMPH together with the two old BB's arrive in Lisbon (interception fails). Italian and German ships rebase at Malta and ports along the Eastern Med.

Germany produces 19 build points, of which 2 are send to the USSR. 5 oil are saved. Germany uses 4 oil to reorganise it's units. Germany breaks down the SS INF into an SS INF and MOT division.
Germany builds are: TERR, MTN, MIL, 2 LND2, 1 FTR3 and a pilot. At the end of the turn, Germany has 8 oil saved.

Time for another German March: Gluck auf! Der Steiger kommt!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McxDS3jgzIw

Italy produces 8 build points. 3 oil are saved. 2 oil are used for reorganisation, however the ATR and some cruisers aren't reorganised due ot oil shortages. It builds two pilots and a NAV. The Littorio is repaired. At the end of the turn, Italy has 3 oil saved..

Japan produces 14 build points. No oil is received. One oil is used for reorganisation. The Junyo is finished. Builds are a TRS, 2CP, 2 CVP and an ATR. At the end of the turn, Japan has 8 oil saved.

The United States produces 10 build points and saves 1 oil. No oil is used in reorganisation. It finishesthe Masschsushets and start two cruisers. Builds are one pilot, e CVP and a convoy point. At the end of the turn, the US has 3 oil saved.

The USSR produces 15 build points and receives 2 from Germany. 2 oil are saved. The USSR uses the two oil it can't send towards the USSR from Persia for reorganisation. It builds: a pilot, 4 MIL, and INF and a MOT. At the end of the turn, the Soviets have saved 9 oil.

The Commonwealth produces 17 build points and saves 9 oil. 6 oil is used for reorganisation. They build: 2 FTR2, Gort, London MIL, 2 pilots, 2 CP, 1 CVP. At the end of the turn, the CW has 13 oil saved.

France produces nothing and saves 2 oil. One oil is used for reorganisation. At the end of the turn, France has 3 oil saved.

During the return to base phase, the German AMPH together with the two old BB's arrive in Lisbon (interception fails). Italian and German ships rebase at Malta and ports along the Eastern Med...

January/February 1941: Start of turn phase:

Here are the reïnforcements of this turn. Of course, the Portuguese are not coming unto the map, since this picture is taken from before last turns conquest phase.

[Centuur]

Since it is the beginning of the new year, a lot of countries are scrapping obsolete plains out of the forcepools...

During reinforcements, the Germans put an obsolete bomber into the reserve pool, to retrain the pilot. The trade agreements from the US to the CW is changed. The CW now gets 4 oil out of the US.

Here's Glenn Miller and his Ochestra playing: Always In My Heart. Ray Eberle sings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzPjPceLwTI

Since it is winter, the Axis don't want a reroll when the Allies win the initiative. They let the Allies decide whether or not they want to go first, without interfering. Now, when the weather is very bad, this might mean that there is only one Axis impulse this turn...
The Allies decide to go first, especially the Commonwealth wants to have the convoy defenses in place...

And there it is: the weather in the first couple of impulses:

[Centuur]

Due to a rather nasty supply bug, this AAR is temporarily suspended. I will proceed when this is fixed. I cannot work around this...

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

Due to a rather nasty supply bug, this AAR is temporarily suspended. I will proceed when this is fixed. I cannot work around this...

It isn't always, that you get rain in the desert while a war is going on there... After some deliberation with my collegae testers, the picture taken here is almost right...

The only unit incorrectly shown out of supply, is the one next to Damascus.

Wavell (who is under the Egyptian TERR in the picture), only has two hexes available to get supply. It uses up two hexes to get to the railroad and if a railroad supply route is used, you can't trace anymore to a secondary supply source, but have to trace directly to a primary one. That one isn't available in Egypt, so it needs to be found overseas. Unfortunately, that adds a third hex to the supply path, and that isn't allowed in rain...
Same for the SUB next to Suez. It too is in desert and uses up two hexes to get to Suez...

So I will proceed with the AAR after all. Next question is, if the Italians and German can exploit this rather exceptional situation in the Egyptian desert... But that's for next impulse...

[Centuur]

January/February 1941, Allied impulse 1:

Bad weather is reigning in a lot of area's. That's good for the Allies. CW and France take naval, the USSR a land and the US a combined action.

The CW flies NAV into the Bay of Biscay for Convoy escort duty. The convoy escorts are put in place again.

Than, there occurred an: Intermezzo - Freddy Martin (Clyde Rogers, vocal)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYq8YCcXklg

To get supply again to Wavell, a CW cruisers sails into the Eastern Med. Interception by the Italians fails. CW subs sail into the Eatern Med.
The CW wants to initiate combat in the Eastern Med. However, it are the Italian cruisers who find the CW cruiser instead, damaging it. This wasn't what the CW intended to happen...

[Centuur]

Next round, the storms make sure that the opponents don't find eachother.

The USSR improves positions at the German border and in Manchuria. Here is Manchuria at the end of the impulse:

[Centuur]

Germany and the border with the USSR:

[Centuur]

Finland. Notice the position of the USSR air units here. Far enough behind the frontlines to prevent an overrun in the first turn, however, still counting towards the garrison ratio...

[Centuur]

The United Kingdom, acting as an airbase already. And of course some music: Tommy Dorsey - You’ve Got Me This Way (Pied Pipers, vocal):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImnxVDwNrO4

[brian brian]

Here is a small question of curiosity to me in your enjoyable AAR - why do the Italian counters change colors on the forms compared to the screenshots? Are you moving between different counter mods as you play?

[Centuur]

Do they change colors? I didn't notice this (I'm somewhat colorblind). Anyway: if so, I didn't do anything, so perhaps it is the paint program which does so...

[Centuur]

January/February 1941, Axis impulse number 4:

The big question to the Axis is this one: is it possible to kill Wavell and the TERR, now they are out of supply. After all: it might shorten the war. However: to kill the units, they have to be ground struck first. There are three air mission available to do so, if the Italians choose a combined impulse. In rain, this gives the Italians three shots at each unit, and they have to roll either a 1 or a 2 to be succesfull. After some calculations, the plan is discarded, since the success rate is far to low...

Here is a German foxtrot: Eugen Grossmann - Weekend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brP3Xrj44D0

But first: let's take a look at the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. Conclusion: Germany is far, far away from declaring war on the USSR (as was to be expected). 28 garrison points is a lot of units to get into positions. So the Japanese need to try to get more units diverted into Manchuria...