Bob Flemin' and Orm. A World..AARse!

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 4

Well that's unwelcome development [&:] An Italian HQ happens to be holidaying in the south west of France all of a sudden.....

It got bored with the vacation in Greece. [;)]

I needed the Germans in France to relocate to Poland so that I would be able to declare war on USSR. So the Italians replaced the Germans but the HQ, in Greece, had no railroad connection to France until Yugoslavia could join the war, so it was frustratingly trapped in France. Hence I delayed with railing the German HQ from France. When I Yugoslavia joined last impulse I placed the Italians so they could garrison Greece but when it got time to rail the Italian HQ to SW France I realized that I wanted the HQ close to Brest as well, in order to reorganize the Italian U-boats. Maybe the Yugoslavian HQ could supply the German fleet in SW France instead, but then I would have to replace the Italians defenders there as well. So I hesitated for a while but in the end I thought it was to much effort to replace the Italians there.

Planning, in advance, where all units should go and when they should be there gives me a headache. [:(][&:]

The German garrison units needed on the USSR border was much higher than I expected considering that we play with the optional to make a DOW easier in '41. I suspected that there might be a bug here but it is still on my to check list. This gave me some logistical problems that I had not expected.

I expected someone to bounce on me for just sitting for ages with a inactive Italian HQ in Greece or for leaving the German fleet out of supply.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

A Large RN task force sails for the Bay of Biscay, do the Axis want to intercept?

No interception. That fleet will stay in the sea area. Or so my intelligence officer tell me. So I bide my time and observe what happens.

----

The CW choose a combined and declare war on Portugal.

Would it be considered bad manners to align Portugal to Japan? I am on the fence here.

warspite1

I assumed you would - I can't see any issue with it.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Orm

A Large RN task force sails for the Bay of Biscay, do the Axis want to intercept?

No interception. That fleet will stay in the sea area. Or so my intelligence officer tell me. So I bide my time and observe what happens.

----

The CW choose a combined and declare war on Portugal.

Would it be considered bad manners to align Portugal to Japan? I am on the fence here.

warspite1

I assumed you would - I can't see any issue with it.

Maybe there is no issue with doing so. But I still do not like the thought of doing so. I have a hard time seeing a European nation that get dragged into WWII turning to Japan for help.

Please let me ponder on it a minute or two and then I will decide.

[Orm]

Portugal aligns with Japan.

The fleet is placed in Lisbon and the two land units are placed in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique.

It might be gamey but this also looks interesting and I go with interesting this time. But I am not sure if it is a good idea or a very bad one. [:D]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

Portugal aligns with Japan.

The fleet is placed in Lisbon and the two land units are placed in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique.

It might be gamey but this also looks interesting and I go with interesting this time. But I am not sure if it is a good idea or a very bad one. [:D]

warspite1

Well its obviously a good plan as I have nothing to stop invasion of South Africa. I thought only 50% of units could be outside of the Home Country??

Oh well, I should have read the rule before acting.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Orm

Portugal aligns with Japan.

The fleet is placed in Lisbon and the two land units are placed in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique.

It might be gamey but this also looks interesting and I go with interesting this time. But I am not sure if it is a good idea or a very bad one. [:D]

warspite1

Well its obviously a good plan as I have nothing to stop invasion of South Africa. I thought only 50% of units could be outside of the Home Country??

Oh well, I should have read the rule before acting.

You are correct but, alas, the naval units count as well. So 2 (rounded to two) naval units in Portugal and two land units outside.

[Centuur]

Nice trick Orm. The CW should be punished for this DoW and it looks like it is going to get punished...

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 4

The declaration allows the quite striking new Portugese colour scheme to be shown off [:)] Great work by WarHunter (I think it was).

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 4

..and shown off to full effect with the ground units [&o]

[Orm]

Well its obviously a good plan as I have nothing to stop invasion of South Africa.

You actually have units that can defend South Africa.

Since DOW is the first thing that happens in the impulse and you got a surprise in the set up you are obviously not bound by your planned actions.

The Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth liners (in Suez) can transport the South African infantry they are stacked with to Cape Town and then it can rail to Pretoria. This, of course, demands a combined impulse. Maybe you have other units, within range, stacked with a transport as well?

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 4

The Black Sea Fleet put to sea from Sevastopol. The Soviets choose a combined to get some defensive shore bombardment in place for units around Odessa. This is not a big issue as there are so few units left to move - I certainly would struggle to find more than 5 to move.

Back to the CW and the invasion fleet for Portugal pick up Alexander, the 3rd Infantry Corps and the Western Desert Force.
The Queens sail for the Arabian Sea and pick up an Indian infantry corps.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 4

..and shown off to full effect with the ground units [&o]

Looks very nice. [:)]

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 4

Does the Italian submarine want to initiate combat in the Bay of Biscay?

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 4

Does the Italian submarine want to initiate combat in the Bay of Biscay?

If a HQ is in the sea area then Italy will test their luck and initiate combat.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 4

Does the Italian submarine want to initiate combat in the Bay of Biscay?

If a HQ is in the sea area then Italy will test their luck and initiate combat.

warspite1

The CW bring a Mosquito, a Sunderland and a Beaufort to the 0 box. Do the Germans want to bring their fighter in?

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 4

Does the Italian submarine want to initiate combat in the Bay of Biscay?

If a HQ is in the sea area then Italy will test their luck and initiate combat.

warspite1

The CW bring a Mosquito, a Sunderland and a Beaufort to the 0 box. Do the Germans want to bring their fighter in?

Yes, to the one box.

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 4

The Axis roll a 7
The Allies roll a 3

The CW seek combat in the 3-box only.

[Orm]

The Axis roll a 7 The Allies roll a 3 The CW seek combat in the 3-box only.

Rolling the other way would have been somewhat nicer to the Italian submarine. [:D]

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 4

The antiquated Swordfish and even older Baffin (I think Bleriot used this to cross the channel) attack, increasing their combat column via the surprise points. The Italian submarine is destroyed.

[warspite1]

Jul/Aug 1941
Impulse: 4

Does the German fighter wish to stay around?