GD1938 Game 17 (Ver. 2.20b)

[cpdeyoung]

The Luftwaffe bombed London but the RAF did not rise to defend the Metropolis. We made a couple of other attacks and saw nary a Spit.

On the East Front we have slipped around Odessa, but it is not encircled. Lots of materiel in the north but little movement either way. Things are more fluid in the south.

In Turkey we finally popped the plug and advanced two hexes, but there are plenty of Soviets about. We attacked the Indian border on the coast. The British are in the mountains.

The First Armee approaches Algiers. Athens is attacked by air.

The Japanese are approaching Vladivostok and Mukden which are vigorously defended.

[cpdeyoung]

This month the Luftwaffe rose to defend London, but lost 25 modern fighters while we lost 6.

The Soviets did not fight for Odessa and we took it and moved our lines forward. We bombarded Kiev.

In Turkey we firmed up the lines. This is not a high priority front just now. We pushed the British back along the Indian coast, but did not advance yet.

First Armee attacked Algiers, and we took Crete. We continued to reduce Athens.

The Japanese took Mukden, and battled around Vladisvostok.

[cpdeyoung]

The Americans can now enter into conflicts with major powers, but is there any good reason for them to do so. Germany
is at war with Britain and the USSR, and the USSR has attacked Japan, but in no sense are these wars ones that should
encourage the USA to sacrifice American lives.

The Luftwaffe and RAF battled over London again. The Luftwaffe lost 9 Bf 109s and the RAF lost 22 modern fighters.

On the East Front the Wehrmacht took Kiev, but infantry losses have convinced OKW to pull back in the south. 1st Armee
in North Africa moved to split Algiers and Tunis.

Japan took Vladivostok.

Here is a situation map of the East Front :

[cpdeyoung]

In the post for two month's ago I said the "Luftwaffe rose to defend London" which should have referenced the RAF of
course. This turn the airstrike was not defended against and after the Luftwaffe attacked the city was taken by an
amphibious assault. We did not garrison the city, but did interfere with its production.

On the East Front airstrikes and artillery were active, but armor and infantry took a breather.

The front in Turkey was quiet.

First Armee took Algiers, and Athens was bombed again.

Japan took the airfield at Komsomolsk.

[ironduke1955]

"Luftwaffe rose to defend London"

I was struck by how dashed sporting that was, now it turns out to be just a typo oh well the revisionists will have to wait a little longer.[:)]

[cpdeyoung]

Here are some shots from Nov 1940.

First an attack on London by the Luftwaffe.

[cpdeyoung]

Nov 1940 again.

Second here is the Vilnius position of the Red Army.

[cpdeyoung]

And now from Dec 1940.

Allies in the Atlantic, note, the USN are there, but not at war.

[cpdeyoung]

As the new year approaches it is time to take stock.

The Americans are beginning to make their intentions clear. Many American soldiers have died in the air raids on England. They are in British uniforms for their burials. The British have put up a strong defense and will be ready when the USA goes to a belligerent status. Then the Battle of the Atlantic will be fought for real. The British shipyards in Canada are producing full tilt and the USN will be significant too. We cannot match such output now, but we will try and challenge them.

The Soviets abandoned Vilnius, a strong place for them, and one that bothered us for a long time. The Red Army is slowly being pushed back. We do not know what aid they might expect from the British and Americans. If we start seeing American equipment in Soviet uniforms we will declare war on the USA. In the far east the Japanese are also pushing at the Soviets, who are now dug in in mountain passes. The theater is so far away, but it is a front the Reds must think of.

Germany is mobilized, and we are trying to gain experience wherever possible. Far, far away on the borders of India battles are being fought. Any success in this theater will harm the British.

A new year, new challenges.

[cpdeyoung]

War with the United States!

The USA is pushing north in Africa with three armored divisions visible. At sea their task forces are all around.

The Soviets are in strength in Minsk, and we have already started to attack there. The 4th PzArmee is pushing toward Karkov too.

In England the Luftwaffe attacked the airbase behind London and shot down 29 modern fighters for 15 of ours. Some German units have now entered India.

Japan has sent diplomatic feelers to America to see if they really wanted war. It might be only an artifact of the declaration of war on Germany. Japan is fighting the Red Army, and does not mind peace with the USA, but the Imperial Navy will defend the country if the Americans are set on war.

[cpdeyoung]

The USA is indeed at war. The US armor in Africa has taken Bolama, and will surely push north. The USN took up
positions near the French and British coasts where they were engaged by elements of the Kriegsmarine. The Royal
Navy was not seen in these battles. In Luftwaffe attacks on London American P-40Bs were shot down along with the
new Spitfire V. Clearly the war in the West is going full tilt.

The Soviet Union has abandoned western territories. Minsk, Novgorod, Kharkov, and Kharkov Coal were all taken by
the Axis forces on the East Front. Leningrad is invested. German allies have moved forward in the south. The Luft-
waffe is quite strong in the East, and new panzers are arriving too. They will be needed in the next phase as Moscow
has extensive fortification.

The USA made peace with Japan, but Great Britain declared war. Japan offered the British peace as there is no need
for war in the Far East. Japan is still fighting the Soviets who attacked them.

Here is a map of the East Front :

[cpdeyoung]

Action on the East Front where Leningrad and Sevastopol have fallen.

Action in India where Bombay has fallen.

An air raid on London. the RAF stayed on the ground but damage was done to ground elements.

Action in West Africa where an American armored division is no more.

[ironduke1955]

I thinks I saw 4 shipyards built in Canada and only one Aircraft factory built in the UK, almost conceding that the British would lose the air war. Is it now impossible for the British to win the Battle of Britain ?

[cpdeyoung]

There are plenty of RAF planes, but I do not know where they come from. The Luftwaffe has consistently won its battles but they keep coming. Plenty of Flak too.

The Americans are there also, with some P40Bs shot down recently. The Germans have a lot of the Luftwaffe in the East also, and on other fronts.

However the German command will do whatever it takes to prevent a defeat in the "Battle of Britain" so they do not intend to lose, but win? I depends on what tasks the OKH needs to do. If Sea Lion is attempted I suspect the support necessary to win the invasion is not available now.

Chuck

[cpdeyoung]

In the Atlantic, off the coast of west Africa the 3rd Fleet of the Royal Navy was sunk by elements of the Kriegsmarine. The RN lost 3BB2, 1BB3, 1CL1 and 15DD2, we lost 2TorpedoPlanes. The Luftwaffe and Italian AF attacked forces of the USA. These forces are armor heavy and it impresses us that the Americans are on the ground in such strength. They must have been well prepared!

In India our troops took Lahore, Nagpur and are on the outskirts of Delhi and Hyderabad. We estimate we control almost 5/12s of India. We find Americans here too, but in British uniforms.

On the East Front we took Rostov, Kerch, and actually attacked the city of Moscow. The Soviet commander is well aware of the value of massing his forces and strong concentrations are present at Moscow and Stalingrad. One of these has 22KV1, 6T34 and 6TankDestroyers.

Italy and Japan are pursuing their interests on their fronts.

[cpdeyoung]

The Kriegsmarine operated off the African coast against the Americans. These USA troops are quite strong, and our
First Armee is defending against them. The American commander has put together a powerful force in West Africa, and
they would have crushed a smaller, less experienced defense, but the First Armee has fought in France, Spain and
Africa and are no pushovers. We see American forces in so many places, which reminds us how powerful their production
engine is. Quite impressive.

In India we had a low intensity turn but we anticipate resuming more activity next month. Much of Afghanistan has
been taken from the British.

On the East Front a very powerful counterattack hurt us badly, and we sought revenge this month. The Soviets must
be bothered by elements going deep around their defended places.

Japan has cleared the mountain pass block that they had bypassed, and are now heading into the USSR and should be
a worry for the Red Army in a few months.

The Luftwaffe attacked London again, and, once again the RAF did not rise to challenge us. This led to the destruction
of the garrison, and the recapture of London. We raided, but did not occupy the city/port. This must aggravate the
British, but the Luftwaffe is pretty strong.

[cpdeyoung]

In the western part of North Africa the veteran First Armee successful rejected the attempts of the American and British to make progress.

In the Indian theater Delhi fell as did Kabul. The Axis now has perhaps 3/5s of India.

London was bombed, without intervention by the RAF. Damage was done, but the garrison was increased, and held.

On the East Front the Soviets, despite superior play, are in very big trouble. Moscow and Stalingrad are cut off from the rest of the Soviet Union. Both critical cities are under heavy pressure. Unless the Red Army has reserves we do not know of, they will be hard pressed. These Soviets have been very, very tough and the defense of Moscow has formed vast piles of junked panzers. We have pulled armor back to try and conserve it.

[cpdeyoung]

The battles for the month of July 1941 are not over yet, but one must give credit where due.

The battles for Moscow have been fierce. German artillery, air, and two full scale assaults; Italian artillery, air,
and a full scale assault. Many aircraft on Moscow area airfields the prize if the city fell.

Losses on both sides, over and over the Soviets were reduced to a single unit hanging on. Finally in the last Italian
assault all ground units were eliminated ... except one!

I am sure the 254th Tank will be a Hero of the Soviet Union, Order of Lenin, Order of Suvorov, whatever. All hail
the gallant defender of Moscow!

[cpdeyoung]

In west North Africa the First Armee went on the offensive. Air, armor, and infantry hit four American divisions and pushed them back. We expect to see more of the US Army, but are not sure how many are actually in Africa now.

Malta was hit, and nearly reduced enough for an invasion, but the fortress needs a bit more pounding.

In India we captured Hyderabad, Damodar, and Khatmandu. U-boats based out of India also attacked USN submarines in the straits between Medan and Kuala Lampur.

On the East Front both Moscow and Stalingrad held Axis forces off. We did take Tiblisi and Astrakan.

[Twotribes]

Soviets surrendered. I am willing to carry on. I finally get in the fight and it is over? I don't think so.