A musical global war AAR...

[Klydon]

Given the CW forces in Morocco (the types of units), I agree with Centuur about leaving them there to buy time for the rest of the Allied side. The Axis early victory in France is still paying dividends that has been amplified by the good weather and long turns.

A rather daring attack into Egypt by the Axis to get things going as well with the landings and the lucky attack with Guderian. A shatter is as good as a kill there right now and the entire Allied position in Egypt is now pretty much going to be toast as a result of the two attacks.

The Japanese look like they are working on getting into position to make an effort with Vladivostok, which they should. Not only a victory hex, but knocking it out will make it harder for the Russians to reinforce behind the Japanese lines and also will give the Japanese another factory to work with. The Russians have to be really concerned with the Allied reverses in Africa, German pressure that will do nothing but mount in Poland, having the Japanese with not a lot to do except deal with the situation in Machuria while they get ready for war with the US, etc. As far as the Russians are concerned, the US can't get into the war soon enough.

Love the work you have put into this Centuur. My frequency in coming to the WiF forums has slowed way down for awhile as the game has been shelved for now, but I very much enjoy reading this AAR even if I don't post a lot on it anymore.

[Centuur]

January/February 1941, End of turn:

The US picks a chit in both the Ge/It and the Japan entry pools.

In Washington, the President gives his annual State of the Union. Well, to be exact, it's more like a State of the World. In his speech, the President announces a doubling of the budget of both the department of War and the department of the Navy. Congress give the President applause to his concern regarding the State of the US army and navy and agrees the following day. This raises Tension in the Ge/It pools.

So, it's time for a military march from the US: There is the National Emblem March:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U40OIESDwlU

There are currently 7 markers in the Ge/It and 9 in the Jap entry pools. There are 4 markers in the Ge/It and 3 in the Jap tension pools.

Remember: you decide when and if Japan declares war on the US. Don't let me trap you into the fact that the US suddenly DoW's the Japanese...

Now, let's put the destroyed pool in here:

[Centuur]

The non-disorganised ships of the Italian Fleet stay at sea in the Eatern Med. The Japanese Battlefleet in the Sea of Japan also stays at sea. During the return to base phase, Truk gets a elite GAR and the crème de la crème of the German infantry arrives in Damiette.

Germany produces 26 build points, of which 2 are send to the USSR. 4 oil are saved and 3 are used in reorganisation. Builds are von Manstein (HQ-A), GAR, 3 MIL, 2 pilots and 2 FTR2.

Italy produces 11 build points. 3 oil are saved and 2 are used for reorganisation. It builds a MTN, a pilot, a LND 2 (the land leased Stuka) and a LND 3.

Japan produces 15 build points. No oil is saved. 1 oil is used in reorganisation. It builds Yamashita (HQ-I), FTR 2, 3 CVP, 2 pilots and a convoy point.

It's time for a song, which I've put in here already. But this time, it's the video which is quite interesting. At the end there is also a piece of Japanese propaganda. It appears that this song is far more important for the Japanese during the war than I believed at first...
海ゆかば (Umi Yukaba) ～If I go away to the sea～
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2-vYrMd4kY

France produces nothing and saves 2 oil. 1 oil is used in reorganisation.

The US produces 20 build points and saves 1 oil. No oil is needed for reorganisation. 3 CV's are started, the New Jersey and an AMPH are finished. It builds a pilot and 3 CVP's.

The USSR produces 14 build points, receives 2 from Germany and saves 4 oil. No oil is needed in reorganisation. It builds Koniev (HQ-I), 3 MIL, GAR and an INF.

The CW produces 17 build points and saves 12 oil. 3 oil are used for reorganisation. It builds Montgomery (HQ-A), MIL, 2 GAR, pilot and a convoy point.

March/April, start of turn:

Now, I've forgotten to take a picture of the reinforcements, before the pilots and the planes are put into the air reserve pools. But here is a picture of rhe reinforcements without those:

[Centuur]

And a picture of the Axis reserve pool to make things right:

[Centuur]

And of the Allied reserve pool:

[Centuur]

After the placement of reinforcements, Germany decides to lower the resources given to Italy to 3, of which there are 2 oil. German units are needed if the pact with the USSR can be broken end 1941...

German music: Will Glahe - Auf dem Dach der Welt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Xc5gLO2pw

Next, the initiative:

[Centuur]

This gives the Allies some time to think. If the Axis goes first, than the Suez Canal will be closed. The units in Syria and Palestine will be cut off from Egypt. On the other hand: saving these units will require that the CW takes a land action in it's first impulse. Now, that's something which isn't advisable at all, with the Axis submarine fleet waiting to wreck havok on the Allied convoys. So, let's give the Axis a choice here: enter Egypt or attack escorted convoys. They can't do both...

So, there will be no reroll. The Axis decides to move first, this impulse.

Here is the weather report for the first two impulses. It's fine in the Med. The Euroaxis are already contemplating how to exploit Guderians bold attack...

[Courtenay]

If we are going to decide when Japan goes to war against the US, we need more information. How many chits did the US say were needed to pick gear up? How many tension chits were needed?

With two chits going into the pool each turn, you will have an early war. I don't think entry is a problem for the US. I think tension is a problem. I would expect War Appropriations to be passed no later than J/A; if the US gets lucky, M/J. J/A is a horrible turn for a DOW on the US, as the northern monsoon is going to have bad weather. Of course, the US might pick a bunch of options M/A, and have no tension move. That would delay everything a turn.

If I were the Japanese player, I would seriously consider a M/J start to the war. M/J looks too likely to be war appropriations. The US had 11 tension in each pool, at least, and moved a chit. If they move two more chits M/A, the odds are they will have the tension needed for war appropriations. Then two more chits, at least, go into the entry pool M/J. If the US tries and fails to move tension, then you can wait. Also, you have to decide if you want to go to war in J/A; if you decide that you want to attack in good weather, you might have to go M/J. The US will very likely be trying to declare war on you S/O, and has a decent chance of doing so J/A.

Of course, you could just wait, and watch the US never declare war because they roll a 10 every time they try. [:)]

P.S. Italy looks like it needs pilots. There are some pretty good planes in its reserve pool.

[Centuur]

You are right about the Italian air force. Pilots will be build in the coming turns. I need those FTR's...

[Centuur]

Here are the number of chit's shown by the USA:

Tension pools: Ger/It: two shown out of three in the pool; Japan: all three were shown.

Entry pools: Ger/It: six out of eight in the pool; Japan: four out of nine in the pool.



May/June will be to early with the Japanese to go to war, I'm afraid. There's no way the Japanese has it's carriers filled with good planes before J/A. Also, the Japanese lacks units to keep fighting in Manchuria, attack the US and the NEI and maintain a garrison in China. That's a devils dilemma...

[Courtenay]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

Here are the number of chit's shown by the USA:

Tension pools: Ger/It: two shown out of three in the pool; Japan: all three were shown.

Entry pools: Ger/It: six out of eight in the pool; Japan: four out of nine in the pool.



May/June will be to early with the Japanese to go to war, I'm afraid. There's no way the Japanese has it's carriers filled with good planes before J/A. Also, the Japanese lacks units to keep fighting in Manchuria, attack the US and the NEI and maintain a garrison in China. That's a devils dilemma...

The US showed all three Japanese chits, showed only two of three German chits, but put the tension from Gear up into the German pool? I think that third German tension chit is very small. However, if the US gets lucky, moving two chits M/A, one to the German and one to the Japanese pool, could given them the tension they need. The US does not have an entry problem; they have enough for war appropriations. I would say that War Appropriations M/J is more likely than not. The US fleet is in Pearl, right? Is so, and with the -2 for conquered China, the US is very likely to attempt to declare war on Japan its first impulse of J/A. It might not succeed, but it could try. However, J/A is likely to be a bad turn to declare war. This dilemma is the Japanese player's own fault; he made the mistake of conquering China! [:)]

[Centuur]

March/April 1941, Axis impulse number 1:

The impulse starts with Germany declaring war on Greece.

So here is the National Anthem of Greece:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VkPRU6C-JQ

It aligns to the CW and it's units are setup. There is no reaction in the US.

[Centuur]

Germany takes a land, Japan and Italy naval actions.

Italy moves it's remaining battlefleet into the Eastern Med. Two TRS loads a German INF and the German Marines. The Italian division is loaded on an Italian cruiser. Italian SUB's sail into the Cape Verde Bassin. Of course, the Italians try to initiate combat there, hoping to catch the convoys. However, the submarines only find a cruiser, who detects the Subs too:

[Centuur]

The Italian SUB is aborted. Both sides stay. Again, the French cruiser and the Italian SUB's find eachother (both sides roll a 1), It's two against one, resulting in an aborted French cruiser:

[Centuur]

Again, both sides stay. However, the ocean is large and both sides fail to find eachother...

Meanwhile: Unsere Marine Marsch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-PjGLaq_DU

An Italian Sparviero ground Strikes Athens...

[Centuur]

while a Stuka does the same in the desert:

[Centuur]

During movement phase, German and Bulgarian units enter Greece. Positions are improved at the Polish demarkation line.. The 1st Inf blocks the Suez Canal and another German elite INF arrives in Damietta. Students Para's drop on Athens and the Marines invade there, since the defenders are already disorganised. The Italian navy throws in shore bombardment for a +9 attack on the city. The assault table is chosen:

[Centuur]

This result means the capture of Athens. Greece is conquered. Half the Greek Merchant navy manages to leave Athens and sail into Heraklion, escorted by the Helle. An interception attempt by the Italians fail. Germany manages to capture one convoy point and all other Greek ships are destroyed.

The second Stuka enters Egypt. A German FTR and another Stuka arrive at the Polish demarkation line...

Here is Egypt:

[Centuur]

And here is the Polish demarkation line, while the band plays:

Kurt Widmann - Ich bin glücklich aber traurig ! Rudi Schuricke sings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xH6LzCoJC4

[Centuur]

Japan moves it's TRS into the Sea of Japan, loaded with the Marines, a MIL (these are in the 3 box) and a GAR in the 1 box. More battleships sail into the Sea area too...