A musical global war AAR...

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The Polish Demarkation line:

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Manchuria. A Japanese march: 愛国行進曲

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CpcztEOSrs

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Turn ends:

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No partisans appear. This is the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact after the draw of the chits:

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March/April 1941. End of turn phases:

The US draws one chit in the Ge/It entry and one in the Japan entry pool. More bills are passed in Congress: Option 36: Commonwealth reinforces the Pacific moves one tension chit to the Japanese tension pool. Option 30: Land lease to the USSR moves two chits to the Ge-It tension pools.

There are now: 7 chits in the Ge-It and 9 in the Japan entry pools. Also there are 6 markers in the Ge-It and 4 in the Japanese tension pools.

Listen to: Vaughn Monroe - Love Me A Little Little, with Marilyn Duke, singing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnNe1SeabT4

The Japanese intelligence gives a “war warning” to the Imperial Navy and Army Headquarters: they believe the US will be at war with the Japanese before year end. Plans are made to influence Congress by bribing key politicians in Washington...

Here is this turns Destroyed pool:

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During the return to base phase, a large part of the Italian battle fleet rebases in Gibraltar.

Germany produces 31 build points, of which 2 are send to the USSR. It saves 3 oil. 1 oil is used in reorganisation. It builds 3 pilots, LND3, LND2, FTR2, 2MIL, 3 INF, ARM

Italy produces 7 build points. It saves 3 oil. 2 oil are used in reorganisation. It repairs a SUB and builds 2 pilots and a FTR2

Japan produces 16 build points. It saves 1 oil. 2 oil are used in reorganisation. It finishes the AMPH, starts the CV Taiho, builds 2 pilots, a FTR, 2 CVP1, 1 CVP0 and a TERR.

France produces nothing. It saves 2 oil. No oil is used in reorganisation. A SUB isn't reorganised

USSR produces 21 build points. It receives 2 from Germany. It saves 3 oil. No oil is used in reorganisation. It builds a MIL, GAR, 3 INF, MOT and an ARM. The MOT, GAR and MIL force pools are now empty...

US produces 20 build points. It saves 1 oil. No oil is used in reorganisation. It finishes the New Jersey, starts 2 Essex class carriers and a TRS. It builds 2 pilots, 3CVP1 and a GAR.

CW produces 23 build points. It saves 14 oil. 3 oil is used in reorganisation. It repairs the Spanish transport and builds 2 MIL, INF, MAR, 2 pilots, FTR3 and 2 convoy points.

Greece and Egypt were conquered by Germany. Crete is conquered by Italy. The Greek convoy again escapes for Tripolis.

It's time for the national anthem of the Kindom of Egypt, as was used during the war...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TLdnoRRS5I


May/June 1941. Start of turn phases:

Here are the reïnforcements of this turn:

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During resource lending, the US decides to lower the oil given to France to 1 a turn and sends that one to the CW.

It's time for a Polish/Russian artist: Eddie Rosner – Caravan, who was also called the white Louis Armstrong...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5MGsJwGXpo

The Allies win the Initiative. The Axis can't ask for a reroll (+1 to the Allies). The Allies decide to move first. Here is the weather for the first couple of impulses:

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May/June 1941, Allied impulse number 1:

First, the NKGB takes a good look at the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact:

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They report that Germany is continuing to strengthen positions at the border. This report is send to the NKVD chief, Beria. He's seen entering the Kremlin in his GAZ-61 where he meets with Stalin. He mentions the use of the optional rule in place, so Germany needs only 1,5 times the garrison ration in stead of two... Shortly afterwards, he leaves the Kremlin. A couple of days later, STAVKA invites Zhukov and Timoshenko and their general staffs to Moscow, where they have a meeting with the Secretary General of the Party.

“Comrads, we are looking at a possible disaster if we are still in this untenable position at the Polish-German Demarkation line at the end of this turn. It's my firm believe that Germany will declare war upon us, somewhere around July. Therefore, I would advise to withdraw the major forces of the Red Army out of range of the German Luftwaffe, to prevent slaughter in the first moments of war. This operation must start in June at the latest. This might provoke Germany to attack us during June itself, but that seems to be better, compared to a slaughter at the border. Any comments?”.
Of course, with the purges of 1939 still in mind, the generals don't object...

So: here's the March of the Motherland:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VR7wJMj2BA

But it is still early may, and with this in mind, the precious railroads have to be used to make sure that important units will be in position at the right places.

The USSR takes a land action, CW and France naval and the US a combined action...

France and the CW strengthen and repair the convoy lines. CW Naval task forces are moved towards the Pacific. The Sidney MIL is loaded on a TRS. A South African FTR is loaded and sails for the Bay of Bengal. Alexander enters the Arabian Sea and Wavell gets into the Azanian Sea. A Canadian MOT is loaded in Canada and sails towards Capetown, on board of the liner. Currently, all CW CV's have planes on them.

Citizens of Seoul are again wakened by the sound of long range Soviet TB-7 bombers. This time, there isn't a CV available to provide fighter cover...

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USSR positions are slowly withdrawn from the Polish Demarkation line, still counting for the garrison, but only two hexes further, and those dreaded Stuka's are out of range...

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And here are things up north. A GAR in Murmansk is still further north...

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Due to a regression bug appearing (which is caused by the fixing of Netplay bugs), this AAR is temporary on hold, until I can proceed again. [&:]

These things happen, when you are a beta tester...

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May/June 1941, Axis impulse number 2:

Germany takes a land action, Italy and Japan naval actions.

Japan moves a lot of units around overseas, among which are the Marines and several divisions. Preparations are underway, but it's doubtfull that they will attack this turn. This is due to the fact that the CV's are still not filled with planes (this is due to happen in the next two reïnforcementphases).
Convoys are put into the Sea of Japan, together with escorts. The slow BB's leave Fukuoka together with the slow CV Hosho.

Listen to: Koichi Sugii – Harusame

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7MIuAb5WAc

The Italians pick up the division in Crete. Italian ships, let by the Littorio, sail out of Gibraltar and enter the Cape Verde Bassin. Target: CW convoys. However, there is a CV with the convoys, so it will be difficult to get those. An Italian TRS picks up the German Marines.

Admiral Bergamini starts searching for Allied shipping. Suddenly,, there is smoke on the horizon.

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He orders battlereadiness and with the sun behind him is capable of getting within range of the convoy, which is escorted by the Furious and Royal Oak (4 surprise points spend for a surface combat). Three more are spend to select the first target...

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The Royal Oak damages the Littorio and sends it back to port:

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During the next search rolls, both side fail to find each other.

Italian Music: Orchestre Napolitain – Torna a Surriento

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDUFlvB126g

The Italian Alcione groundstrikes the GAR in Haifa...

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while at the Songhua River in Manchuria, Japanese artillery opens up.

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More units are railed into Poland by Germany and positions are again improved. Von Bock leaves Greece and enters Bulgaria. German units enter Palestine and attack Jaffa, which is an automatic victory (+21 attack).

Her is: Will Glahe and his Orchester - Sing Nachtigall Sing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmYQwsid-9o

The Egyptian Stuka's are rebased towards Palestine. One is within range of the last CW defending unit in Syria.The Italian Stuka arrives in Poland too

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Japan rebases the long range FTR's in Manchuria. One goes to Saipan, the other one stays in Manchuria, but is now in a better position to defend the Japanese positions.

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And here is the weather for the next couple of impulses: