My Historical Global War AAR #3.

[rkr1958]

Nov/Dec 1940. Victory Totals.

[rkr1958]

Nov/Dec 1940. Egypt and Eastern Med. Post Return to Base (RTB).

Just thought I'd provide an update on the situation in this area after the return to base phase for all powers. The CW was able to drop a 5-4 infantry corps into Suez City, which also provides ZOCs that would stop the Italians unimpeded access to the key ports of Dametta and Port Said. However, they could capture Cairo unopposed if they so desire and get the chance to move first.

[rkr1958]

Nov/Dec 1940 to Jan/Feb 1941. USN, San Diego, CA.

On the left is the naval review details (NRD) form for the US fleet docked in San Diego on Nov/Dec 1940. The right is that same form for that fleet on Jan/Feb 1941. USN CV capacity doubled overnight. And as far as I know none of these four carriers were ever in dry dock. [:D]

[rkr1958]

Nov/Dec 1940. Country Economic Reports.

[rkr1958]

Nov/Dec 1940. 6 Month (3 turn) Production Queue.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Country Trade Reports.

Germany increased its help (i.e., trade) to Italy by adding 2 oil resources to the 2 non-oil resources that it was already sending.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Initiative.

First Roll. The axis roll a 3, which is modified to a 4 and the allies roll a 7. The allies win the first roll. This being a winter turn with bad weather not only likely but expected with high probability, the axis elect not to re-roll in order to keep their +1 advantage for the initiative roll. By moving second the axis will win ties too.

Allied #1 & Axis #3. Weather.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Allied #1. Eastern Med.

The CW takes a combined in order to address their land situation in Egypt and their naval situation in the Eastern Med. The CW uses their two naval moves to move a carrier task force composed of the CV Glorious, BB Renown and 4 RN cruisers from Malta to sea box 4 (in the Eastern Med). A second RN task force originating from Suez and composed of the Queens TRS escorted by 3 RN heavy cruisers meets up with the first (carrier) task force in sea box 4. The Queens TRS then loads Alexander's HQ, which is in Malta. In addition two these two RN task forces, which are now combined into one task force in sea box 4, there's a second RN carrier task force in sea box 3 composed of the Ark Royal protected by three cruisers and a small two cruiser task force in sea box 0 protecting RN and Free French convoys. The RN carriers Ark Royal and Glorious are the only air power that the CW currently has in the East Med and Egypt.

No wanting to risk a bad result the CW declines to initiate combat in the East Med. And not wanting to push their luck the axis also decline to initiate combat with only a German fighter-bomber and Italian fighter in sea box 0.

For the CW perspective the threat of their naval forces to the axis in the East Med is "better" than trying to act on that threat.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Allied #1. Egypt.

The CW uses their three land moves in a combined to better their defensive situation in Egypt.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #3. Nazi-Soviet Pact.

During the allied turn the Soviets were 1 point short of being able to break the pact! So ... so close. The Soviets were able to move 1 more units within 3 hexes of the axis border, thus giving them the ability to break the pact their next impulse if th Germans failed to address this.

Of course, that wasn't going to happen. The Germans take a land and will use the impulse to move enough troops in place to force the Soviets to abide by the terms of the Nazi-Soviet pact.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #3. Nazi-Soviet Pact. Terms Enforced.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #3. The Eastern Med.

The Italians take a naval and move strong naval and air forces in place in the Eastern Med. The Italians also tried to move a task force of two RM Italian transports escorted by two battleships from Tripoli to the Italian coast to pick up two additional units for North Africa but the RN successfully intercepted that force, which chose not to fight through. Like last impulse, both sides declined to initiate combat in fear of what a bad result might bring. Though the axis have an edge in air power, they're waiting to their next impulse with that advantage can be increased.

China.

The Japanese take a naval. They use that naval to load and position troops on transport to reinforce French Indo-China, Korea and China. The Japanese use their air moves of the naval for strategic bombing raids on the Chinese cities of Chengtu and Sian. Only the raid on Chengtu was successful and resulted in the loss of 1 PP for the Chinese. Again, that represents 20% of their production.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Allied #5.

Weather (Allied #5 & Axis #7).

The weather roll is a 1, which is modified to a 2. This produces rain in the Arctic and North Temperate and fine weather everywhere else.

Allied #5.

The CW takes a naval. In addition to routine naval moves for convoy protection the CW moves additional naval units into the Eastern Med, including 3 land units (1 corps and two divisions) loaded on 2 transports and 1 SCS. The CW declines to initiate combat. However, the axis choose to try to initiate ...

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Allied #5. The Eastern Med.

Neither side finds the other so nothing happens. This result is fortunate for the CW because both the German and Italians brought in significant air assets to contest the area.

It's worth noting that the CW pulled out a the 6-2 Australia Mil corps from Greece for transfer back to Egypt. They also have a heavy artillery division and infantry division ready to disembark.

From the axis perspective, especially the German's, a 1941 Barbarossa is looking unlikely. The axis have decided that the need to take care of the mess in Greece which will likely delay Barbarossa until 1942. On the positive side, while they're doing that they've decide to really go after the RN in the Eastern Med and possibly take the Suez Canal. I've certainly made a mess of trying to take Greece as the axis, but I'm seeing a real benefit it that it's a great location for axis air and naval to contest control of the Eastern Med. I just need to figure out a better way of going after it.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Allied #5. Liverpool, England.

Too badly needed RAF fighters in position for transport to the Western Med and then rebase to Malta next allied impulse. Given that the CW also needs to disembark the three ground units on transports in the Eastern Med too next impulse, it looks like another combined for the CW provide the CW can get through the axis impulse without something bad happening in the East Med.

Also, it worth noting the 4 RN CVs without any aircraft. Liverpool is the CW's collection point for such ships. The RN is screaming for pilots and carrier planes. The RAF is screaming for fighters and bombers.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #7.

Germany takes a combined and Italy and Japan a land.

Eastern Med.

The Germans decide to initiate combat in the Eastern Med.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #7. Eastern Med. Naval Battle. Round 1.

Round 1 goes to the axis, whose search was successful while the allies wasn't. The Italians had a chance to damage the NEI transport with the 6-2 Australia Mil Corps but only managed to force an abort. The second of two damage attacks was the CW players choice and was made against the Greek light cruiser. This attack did damage the ship. The remaining three attacks were possible aborts, which resulted in only 1 abort.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #7. The Eastern Med. Naval Combat. Round 2.

While both sides managed to find the other side, the second round clearly goes to the CW and the RN. The RN Nimrod fighters flying off the CV Glorious fought off three axis bomber units. The Nimrod pilots managed to down an Italian bomber unit and forced German and Italian naval bomber units to abort.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #7. The Eastern Med. Naval Combat. Round 3.

Both sides against managed to find the other in this third round of naval combat. However, no axis air units were part of that successful search, while on the CW side carrier planes were. The CW didn't want to risk getting the Ark Royal's air wing, which can fly either as a fighter or bomber, shot down. So, they decide to use CVP Swordfish unit as a fighter, which meant neither side had bombers present in this round. The net result was that there was no combat this round.

[rkr1958]

Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #7. The Eastern Med. Naval Combat. Round 4.

In the fourth round the RN searches were successful but the axis weren't. This gave the CW enough surprise points to avoid combat and end this naval battle in the East Med, which was exactly what they did.