Cohen vs Enrico - AAR

[AlbertN]

Greetings,

You know of me, you don't know of my gaming buddy though (Who is Enrico!). This is the tale and story of our fortunes of war, enacted via sharing screen function and Skype voice talks.

I am the Axis. Enrico is the Allies.
Thus as I am the writer you'll get the things from my perspective.
Hopefully will manage to update the AAR once every 1-2 sessions, with the updates of the most relevant happenings and a few screenshots here and there!

HOUSE RULES:
Currently we've agreed to use an improvised "Rule" to make up for the absence of the lack of interception en route optional.
And that minors must setup their regular (non colonial) land and air forces in their home country (and for Poland, Western Poland).
Soviets cannot DoW Bulgaria or Italy, unless they can DoW Germany as well.

Me and Enrico know each other since years anyhow, and if there is something we deem odd / gamey we just sit and talk.
In a previous game we experienced the need of the En-Route Interception, that looks more a "must" rule than an "optional", we spoke and agreed it was not making much sense the Axis fighters in Holland / Rhur where merrily bypassed to go hit other targets around for example.

House Rule Screenshot:

[AlbertN]

The Story of China - from start to May / June '40.

The Com-Chinese deployed in depth, leaving Sian totally undefended favoring to save forces in well fortified positions in the mountains shielding Lanchow, east of Tianshui.
They could easily bulwark there and hold for some time meanwhile more Com-Chinese forces would have been produced.

The Nat-Chinese deployed like a wedge, with Changsha being their eastmost point, and then shielding the riverline north and the mountain and forest south.

The Japs, that deployed after, had some occupation forces ready to push toward Sian, and the bulk of their forces poised to assault Changsha the first impulse.

Over the turns the Japanese advanced and grinded the Chinese defenders - with some losses from their side as well but rather minimal.
The mauled Nat-Chinese withdrew in good order, salvaging most of their forces but having lost Changsha and more.
The Com-Chinese waited some for further developments, before to boldly advance to exploit the northern weakness of the Japanese. In March-April they felt confident enough to launch an all out assault on Sian, which was bitterly defended (Chinese lost 2 units, Japs 1).

In the while the Japanese have poured more and more forces in China, but managed as well to open a Soviet-Front that diverted precious troops from China, but also granted a swift land and resource grab.

START of MAY - JUNE 40 China:

[AlbertN]

Since Stalin wished to be greedy and invade Persia, and to do such meanwhile threatening Rumania and being ready next for Finland, deployed the Siberians at the border with Persia alongside the allmighty Zhukov.

Long in short, Vladivostock and the Soviet regions around Manchuria were terribly undermanned if not empty of forces! The temptation was too strong and the Japanese seized the opportunity; with grand shore bombing and aerial support from their carriers Vladivostock fell and even measly forces rampaged unopposed to plunder the Russian resources.

Stalin issued troops at Chita (the newly produced ones and some reserves) to establish a front, and over time the Soviets outnumbered the Japanese. Growing bold as the Communist Chinese they advanced, and attempted a river assault against the only Japanese regular army (an HQ even!) there. In fact the Japanese had a thin veil of satellite forces, and a not ready for combat reserve (a 4 combat factor INF that just arrived that turn).
The assault was with snow weather, and even if led by two crack Siberian armies, it was fent off with little problems and much bleeding for the Soviet spearhead.

But in the while the Soviets had seized Persia, and are poised to strike at Iraq, and have played well in the European politics to retain more resources instead than sending them to Germany.

The Siberian Situation - Start of May June 40

[AlbertN]

Italy got involved quickly in the war.

The British and French navy sailed out on the first impulse and were moving in direction of the Italian port where the Regia Marina was at the anchor.
Was it wiser to eat the DoW and suffer 5 CW Airplanes port striking at once against a surprised Italian Navy? Don't think so.
Italy DoWed both the Allies on the second impulse of the game, sailed out with their navy and engaged battle.

(Here admittedly none of us knew if the Surprise was for the 1st round of naval combat or all the impulse.)

The Italians found the enemy, engaged in surface combat and their gunnery damaged the Ark Royal, that is still in the repair docks since the beginning of the war!
French and Brits opted to withdraw, surrendering the control of the Western Med to the Regia Marina.

The Italian forces performed a landing nearby Algier, and gradually started to advance from Lybya and ship more troops from Italy in the French colonies.
In the previous game the French troops there were in Morocco, in this game played more aggressively by the Allies it was at Tunis.

Over the span of time the Italians expanded to seize the unguarded Morocco and Algeria, and gradually turning to siege Tunis.

In the while naval battles raged, seeing even the arrival of German airplanes (Their NAV) to assist, and Hitler promised modern fighters to support the fight after in early spring the Allied superiority turned too heavy. (They found twice in a row the Italians, shot down one of the two Gabbiano, and in any surface combat the French Ships were being immolated for the greater glory.)

But before to have to surrender the control of the waves the Italians managed to reach the Tunisian coast with their main fleet and support the assault at Tunis with heavy gunnery salvos, forcing the French garrison to mass surrender.

Now their problem is that their forces are pinned in Tunisia, their trucks without fuel and so the local Regia Aeronautica squadrons.

In the while the Brits reinforced Gibraltar with land forces and a land based fighter to scare off the biplanes of the Italians; and shipped more land units in Middle-East giving to Wavell the push for an advance.

The French, exhausted their oil reserves, currently have other, bigger problems looming at the northern horizons than to worry of their lost colonies.

The (Western) Mediterranean Situation - Start of May-June 40

[AlbertN]

Germany sprung the war with the Poland campaign, and Hitler's plans were rather traditional. (For WiF)

Poland, Denmark and Holland, all went down merrily and with no issues.
But pesky Stalin decided to claim Bessarabia as soon as it was possible (Which means the 2nd impulse of the game).
The Rumanians lowered their breeches and nodded at the request, fearing total occupation by the communists.
But when other nations forwarded their claims on Romania, Hitler deeming more relevant to ensure Romania would not suddenly stop the oil supplies supported Romania against those other minors. (Yes we all know Romania still trade oil but for the sake of narration!).

The tale is known. Hungary gets invaded. Romania invades Bulgaria, that gets shielded only as Romania lacks the forces to conquer it on its own.
The Soviets keep 3 resources from the 5 they provide to start with in 2 turns already; and not only ... most crippling new, Romania does not have Antonescu, which means it has to be built with the German BPs!

Stalin's greed does not cease here. As said already Persia is subject of a pretty forceful forwarding of communist ideology. Finland as well in subject to vaunted claims for ports and sanitary cordon for Leningrad.
Both nations oppose, the Persian cavalry performs skillful maneuvers to delay the soviets advancing forces in the hope to gain the end of turn and stack with the Militia coming. Alas the long range four engine bombers of the Russians scatter in disarray the Persians, putting an end to their delaying maneuvers and letting the tanks of Zhukov march in Teheran without a real fight.
Finland is another tale. Attacked with hastily prepared forces during Winter, the Finns manage to stall the Soviet advance and even counterattack locally (Pushing a Soviet unit in the frozen Ladoga Lake that will see its surface melting away at the start of the next turn - March / April, resulting in many drowned Soviets!).
Finland government hastily seeks peace though, for the Soviets are pouring more troops from nowhere! (Their production! And what was desired here was the USA Chit removal!)

Germany, with France and UK pratically perform the "Phoney War", until in March-April a window of good weather allow Germany to pounce on Belgium, swiftly overrunning it.
The BEF and the French move in Belgium with grand haste, and it seems then the Phoney War would go on as the skies cry a river on the ground, turning the merry fields into deep, muddy grounds. Then, the sun shines again and the Germans hit a sector of the French line, successfully denting it with combined armoured forces and airborne troops.

The turn ends, the Allies have the bonuses on initiative roll, but May June initiative is won by Axis, and here is the situation before Germany takes its action!

Start of May - June 40, France:




PS: You can see in the corner the promised fighters for the MedFront. But UK looks very undermanned and maybe these planes could be more useful on the Channel right now?

[AlbertN]

"Fall Gelb" - In the Planning.

Before the next session takes place, I had the time to study a bit the situation (my poor opponent is flailed by wife and hindered by his infant, I admit, I've this advantage of more free time to ponder on what to do. Even if our sessions when ongoing, go on the impulse of the instict for the most than big sitting down and studying precise moves.)

After short evaluation, the "Small Solution" was discarded.
The "Small Solution" was to open with a Combined, ready the Kriegsmarine for Shore Bombardment in North Sea; bomb with 2 ART and 8 planes (6 Germans, 2 Italians), and Blitz George's arse.
This would pratically secede the "initiative" to the French, but on the paper the massive bombardment would see most of the W.Allied units disrupted and unable to withdraw or maneuver.
On the other hand it would pratically waste the first impulse of the turn in a "Sit and wait to see".
If by sheer disgrace the bombing runs are unlucky, the Germany would be able to do very little the next impulse anyhow with the ability of the French to readjust what they can move.

The "Big Solution" includes an O-Chit, bombing with 2 empowered ARTs (Respectively the BEF with an 8 Factor instead of 4; and the 6-4 French INF stack with a 6 factor. Noteworthy is that there is the Armoured Chevalier Corp in that stack, and an AT-Gun.).
Two Stukas should pay a visit to Billotte's Stack (4+5 Factor); the He-111 from Holland should go bomb the 5-4 French INF in the forest (Which includes an Anti-Air unit); and a Ju88 (4 Factor) should bomb Lille.
TWo Italian bombers would pay visit to Strasbourg.
This would leave free to act the Bf110, the DO17M and the He111B for ground support or later impulses. (Excluding the Bf109).

The interest is to block the BEF where it is, and butcher it later on. Try to pin some of the French in Lille and Strasbourg to prevent their relocating / counterattacking.
The outcome of the bombing runs could alter where to attack for obvious reasons, but for now the BEF would be left unmolested and hopefully crippled (the UK has only 1 Naval TPs in England presently anyhow! Enrico shipped two units in Middle East the previous turn!)
Ideally, Georges would get blitzed, and same goes for Billotte by the use of the Engineers (Doubled in force along two armour / mech units). I am unsure if I should use the other ARM-HQ for combat support against Billotte (it has a 10 combat factor, stack wise!).
Meanwhile the O-Chit and Combat Support could disrupt 2 ARM-HQs, the remaining French troops in Belgium would be prevented in their moving backwards (As there is German ZOC so could run of 1 hex only) and eventually being disrupted enough to not be able to counterattack.

If bombing runs go poorly, Germany can attack with 6 "offensive'd" units the 6-4 INF stack (with the 7-6 Arm and an AT unit). The main drawback here is that the French would lose the Infantry and the AT, and shatter the armour - meanwhile the axis of advance is not giving massive headhaches to the French.

The double hit on the HQs on the other hand would severely cripple the French ability to keep on a good fight by losing their best troops in the middle of the forming pinchers, but at the same time the Germans would have individual mechanized / armoured corps exposed to vehement counterattacks. (Billotte's attack is not even ensured since it prolly would get a +8/+10 without Combat Support and assuming 1 unit is disrupted).

The Italians in their "Azure Coast" front plan to sit, and use their artillery to bombard a french unit, in the hope to just block it there before it start to run toward Lyon or some other silly mountain place.

[Bo Rearguard]

Looks like you two have managed a pretty action-packed prologue to May/June 1940. Russia and Japan at it. Persia conquered. Hungary & Bulgaria overrun. Italy in, and North Africa falling. [8D]

[brian brian]

curious - why did you decide not to use the Blitz Bonus optional?

If you "double" an Artillery unit with an Offensive Chit, you get an extra die roll if you use it to do a Ground Strike, but the factors stay the same. In land combat, it could have it's factors doubled even if bombarding and thus ignoring hexside penalties like crossing a river or a fort.

[lomyrin]

With the 2D10 combat tables the blitz bonus is built in. The option for blitz bonus is only used with the 1D1o tables

[brian brian]

ORIGINAL: lomyrin

With the 2D10 combat tables the blitz bonus is built in. The option for blitz bonus is only used with the 1D1o tables

ahh, thanks. I always forget that.

[AlbertN]

If you "double" an Artillery unit with an Offensive Chit, you get an extra die roll if you use it to do a Ground Strike, but the factors stay the same. In land combat, it could have it's factors doubled even if bombarding and thus ignoring hexside penalties like crossing a river or a fort.

In game it had doubled Artillery field values (so my Axis Artys went on 8 and 6 respectively, rolling only once. By the looks a 5 CF artyllery then will ensure the disruption.)

[AlbertN]

The First Impulse of May / June:

The Japanese took a Combined, shipping more troops from mainland to China; railing a HQ in the Com-Chinese front and maneuvering 2 units to reinforce Sian; and debarking a troop.
Bombardment in grand style with their (crappy) airforce and artilleries to pin down the Nat-Chinese forces.

Italy tooks a Combined, placing a Gabbiano at sea in the West Med. to try interdict British transports; and 2 bombers (including the Airone naval bomber) were used in Ground Strikes at France.
Italian submarines snuck past Gibraltar to hunt the merchant shipping of the Allies, without any veritable result.

Germany fired the O-Chit and kept to the plan of above. (2 Arties doubled, 4 German planes and 2 Italian ones going for Ground Strikes)
Of the BEF only Gort got disrupted, meaning the UK Mech can still maneuvered actively.
The French fighters (Nowadays only reserve 3 Air Factor ones) try to put up a fight but the Armée de l'Air fails to prevent the Luftwaffe to bomb - and in subsequent phase to get their Leon et Olivier bombers to deliver their lethal cargo in defensive support.
On the other hand 1 unit in Lille, 2 per stack in Belgium (admittedly 2 and 1, plus the Anti Air that fired) got disrupted; 2 in Strasbourg and 2 where the German Panzers were to attack the riverline. Which left the majority of the mobile and operational French Army pinned on the ground.
The panzers nailed both fights, even if Georges supported itself (Billotte was disrupted) but such has not prevented their being smashed. France loses Georges-HQ, Lyon Militia and a Mot.Division meanwhile Billotte-HQ is shattered.

The Germans take their gamble leaving weak links (the Mot-Division and the ENG unit are alone, land unit wise! The ENG has a Bf110 active unit stacked with) accounting on their Luftwaffe to possible double up their defence value in case of attack from the enemy. Meanwhile these units could suddenly suffer a defeat and possibly the 8-5 Panzer unit is exposed (The Allies could try to kill the Mot-Div, and at the same time bomb the Panzer to disrupt it and then drop its combat factor to 1) it means that they are to stay and fight. But Axis has a Bf109 (The one with 4 Air Factor) with the 7-5 Mech in interception range to protect the Panzer Spearhead meanwhile the Brits (The only ones with bombers at avail) lack air cover to that depth in France.

The northern branch of the penetration is indeed a big gamble, but the German OBW relies on the inability of the French to deal with both arms of the pincher and with many disrupted units trapped the counterattack possiblities are rather measly - but mostly if the French attempt to counterattack they'll keep their forces upfront.

Germany re-organizes both artilleries, 2 Stukas and 1 Bf109 using both Guderian and VonBock (Guderian has O-Chit'ed so it would disrupt anyhow); having still unused a Do17, a He111 and the BF110, and 2 Bf109.

Now it remain to be seen what the Allies will do!

[brian brian]

ORIGINAL: Cohen

If you "double" an Artillery unit with an Offensive Chit, you get an extra die roll if you use it to do a Ground Strike, but the factors stay the same. In land combat, it could have it's factors doubled even if bombarding and thus ignoring hexside penalties like crossing a river or a fort.

In game it had doubled Artillery field values (so my Axis Artys went on 8 and 6 respectively, rolling only once. By the looks a 5 CF artyllery then will ensure the disruption.)

That looks like an error to me; the Offensive Chit rule reads:

AsA option 3: You can also double field artillery (see 22.4.2) combat factors for ground support or receive an extra die roll during ground strike.

If you could double the factors for Artillery Ground Strike I would build the 1940 ART unit for the Germans on every single J/F 40 build phase, that is for sure. Aircraft tactical factors are also handled by an extra die roll in Ground Strike when an Offensive Chit is used on an Air action. Same mechanism for a surprise impulse for aircraft or artillery.

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: brian brian

ORIGINAL: Cohen

If you "double" an Artillery unit with an Offensive Chit, you get an extra die roll if you use it to do a Ground Strike, but the factors stay the same. In land combat, it could have it's factors doubled even if bombarding and thus ignoring hexside penalties like crossing a river or a fort.

In game it had doubled Artillery field values (so my Axis Artys went on 8 and 6 respectively, rolling only once. By the looks a 5 CF artyllery then will ensure the disruption.)

That looks like an error to me; the Offensive Chit rule reads:

AsA option 3: You can also double field artillery (see 22.4.2) combat factors for ground support or receive an extra die roll during ground strike.

If you could double the factors for Artillery Ground Strike I would build the 1940 ART unit for the Germans on every single J/F 40 build phase, that is for sure. Aircraft tactical factors are also handled by an extra die roll in Ground Strike when an Offensive Chit is used on an Air action. Same mechanism for a surprise impulse for aircraft or artillery.

Yes. That's a bug. If there is a saved game available, can one of you post that in the tech forum?

[AlbertN]

The losses of May / June, 9th Axis Impulse still to be played.
France has been suffering, but Germany has taken quite the toll in BPs of damage!

[AlbertN]

France:

Allied Impulse 2:
The German operations that started marvellously met the expected counterattack of the French Army that pounded en-mass the northern spearhead.
The Luftwaffe intervened in support of the Panzergruppe leading the attack, and the French attack got stalled (Defender Retreat and Disrupt, Attacker lose 1 and is disrupted. As Germany choosed Blitz, the French lost their MOT in Paris that remained vacant. - Probably a mistake to keep that unit there in Paris, but that is a game between novices).

Axis Impulse 3:
The BEF is bombarded again - and the Luftwaffe Stukas strike at the troops retreating from the Maginot, pinning some in the open plains. It's time to overrun them.

The luck turned shortly after, the French forces withdrawing from the Maginot, bombed (but supplied via Strasbourg) were attacked by overwhelming German forces (a +14 or +15 it was!) but a fierce defence was put up! (A 2 was rolled).
The German forces gain ground at tremendous cost (A mech unit, which ontop of that was protecting a He111 already used.).


In the while the northern forces crush the French resistance in Lille with no losses.
The French troops in Belgium are simply overran.

Allied Impulse 4:
The French army is pratically immobile, with lots of units disrupted. But from Strasbourg a still operational garrison advances in the He111 hex, destroying it.

The RAF conducts heavy bombing missions over the advancing Germans. A single Hurricane delivers full escort for all the British bombing formations, shooting down or sending back to home much larger formations of Axis fighters (2 Bf109 aborted and 1 destroyed! 3 UK bombers cleared, and only 1 Hurricane as escort vs 3 Bf109).
The British mission to disrupt the German armoured forces preparing to assault the BEF after the success in the air, fails to meet propitious results in the bombing itself (No ground German unit was disrupted).

Axis Impulse 5:
Minor maneuvers around, infiltrating.
The He111 destroyed was quickly avenged.
Failed blitz at the south west area of Lille. Rundstedt renew efforts for the prosecution of the offensive (Flipped to reorg).

Allied Impulse 6:
The French and the Brits are pratically immobile. The Brits are rushing transports via the Mediterranean to evacuate the BEF next turn, if it lives to tell the tale!

The French get a Garrison unit in Lyon.

Axis Impulse 7:
Punches at the exhausted French lines from north and east to direction of Paris.
Paris falls.

Strasbourg falls after a concentric assault.
The BEF is as well attacked with superior armoured forces, but the Brits put up a valiant defence fending off the Axis attackers and exhausting them. (BEF lives on, and tons of Germans disrupted!)

Allied Impulse 8:
France has only Italian front at avail, which is not moved.
The BEF is pinned (UK moves in Egypt the last impulses).

Axis Impulse 9:
To be played, situation here:

[AlbertN]

The Med Front - May / June 1940

Such saw little action.

The Brits moved in cruisers and submarines to disrupt (and managed to sink over impulses 1 Italian Convoy Point) the shipping to Sardinia.
They lost though some cruisers (2) in the process and got a third damaged.

The promised assistance of Hitler takes material form in German quality fighters flying over the Western Med and shooing away the RAF patrols there.

Combined action of Regia Marina and German land forces (the mountain division moved from France down to Trieste) saw the seizure of Malta by Germans.

Wavell is marshalling his forces in Egypt, preparing them for the offensive (very slowly! They're still pooling about Suez Channel moving toward Lybya) - or it could be only a defensive deployment to protect coasts, now that the Med situation appear to be changing of tides.

The Soviets declare war to Iraq once the downfall of France is certain, and easy overrun the weak and feeble forces loyal to the Muftì of Baghdad.

[AlbertN]

Jun / May 40 - China (Axis impulse 9 to be played)

After a first impulse of bad weather, the sun bathed southern China and allowed Yamamoto to push forth for more landgrab.
Albeit the Chinese suffered minimal losses (2 Militias only), a new resource was secured and the Chinese troops got pushed deeper inland.

The Com-Chinese started to withdraw back toward Tianshui as the Japanese poured reinforcements in the sector (including the HQ as mentioned).

China Front is pretty sluggish though, with all the mountains it looks like WW1 warfare.

[AlbertN]

Manchurian Front - 9th Impulse of May / June 40

Even if the Japanese poured some troops in the sector, the Soviets advance with multiple attacks (destroying a Mot-Division of Japanese) and cross the riverline that the Japanese Imperial Command wished to hold as defensive line.
If the Japanese counterattack they'd give though a nifty production boost to the Soviets.

The Soviets overstretch though (getting disrupted as results of their attacks) and the Japanese were to try a daring encirclement aimed to cut their supplies and seize Chita.
But Stalin mandates reinforcements via railroad from the Leningrad Front, coming to save the day! (and the Soviet supply source!)

And now I'll have to wait for the next session, probably in 2 weeks, before more is to come! That unless we do some PBEM, as most of air / naval stuff is done.

[CanInf]

French could do with two units in mountain factory hex to prevent early and quick conquer leading to an attack on Spain.