Courtenay's solitaire AAR

[Courtenay]

Turn end roll 6, turn does end.

As usual, the Allies began the turn, and the Axis ended it.

[Courtenay]

There were no partisans this turn

Oil: Used/saved/saved at end
Ja: 4/3/14 Katori, Idzumo, and Sri Ayuthia not reorganized.
Ge: 4/0/4
It: 1/0/4

Ch: 0/0/2
CW: 9/7/7
Fr: 1/2/5
US: 16/6/7
SU: 8/0/11

The CW ran out of oil. Three factories shut down due to lack of oil. The US used up all but one of its saved oil. The Soviet Union shut down one factory to save an oil; this will cost it one build point.

The Japanese used one oil in production, worth two build points. Germany and Italy used a net of three oil, combined; at this rate, they will run out in S/O. The Allies hope to have conquered at least one of them by then.

[Courtenay]

No one scrapped anything. Only the SU and Japan had any units killed that could not be scrapped at any time; the SU did not want to scrap one of their few LND-4s, and the Japanese don't want to scrap 7 point FTRS. The Germans should have scrapped the Netherlands sub, as it went back to the UK. I had not realized that this would have happened. Fortunately, this makes no difference, as everyone has stopped building subs.

Here are the destroyed units for J/F 44:

[Courtenay]

J/F 44 Axis production:
Ge: 4+0: MIL, GAR, no build points saved;
It: 3+0: INF, no build points saved;
Ja: 20+0: HQ-INF, INF, GAR, 2xFTR-2, 3xPi, no build points saved.

The Germans built the Hanover MIL and a 5-1 GAR.
The Italians built a 5-3 white print INF.
The Japanese rebuilt Yamashita, and built an 8-3 white print INF and an 8-1 white print GAR. They also built a Ki-84-Ia and a Ki-84-Ib. (8 and 7 pt range 11)

[Courtenay]

J/F 44 Allied production:

The US scraps a Spanish INF and the Spanish GAR.

Ch: 8+1: 2xINF, 3 BPs saved;
CW: 37+0: O-chit, HQ-INF, MAR XX, 3xFTR-2, 4xPi, no build points saved;U
Fr: 18+0: HQ-INF, ENG, 2xLND-3, 2xPi; no build points saved
US: 89+0: 3xO-chit, HQ-ARM, ARM, MTN, INF, GAR, MTN XX, FTR-3, 2xFTR-2, 2xCVP-1, 4xPi, CP, repair sub, no build points saved;
SU: 74+1: 3xO-chit, MECH XX, MOT XX, 2xINF, ENG, 2xFTR-2, 2xLND-2, 4xPi, no build points saved.

The US and the Soviet Union each build three O-chits; these will come J/A, and are intended to conquer Germany. Both intend to cut back next turn. The CW might cut back next turn too. The Allies production is unsustainable; the Allies will run out of oil, soon.

The Chinese built both INF in their force pool, a 3-2 INF and a new 7-3 white print.

The CW built Blamey, a 2-4 MAR division, and all three of their new FTR-2s, two 9 pt range 5 Spitfire XIVs and an 8 pt range 9 5 AT Tempest 5.

The French built Pretelat, a 2-5 MOT ENG, and two 5 pt bombers, a LeO 455 and an Amiot 357. The French are concentrating their builds on LND-3s, to take advantage of the French air actions.

The US built Patton, a 10-5 white print ARM, a 7-3 white print INF, a 7-1 white print GAR, and a rebuilt the 5-4 MTN and the MTN XX. They built a 9 point range 12 P-51, an 8 pt range 13 P-47, a 7 pt range 12 P-38, and two 7 pt CVPs, a F4U and a Helldiver. Can anyone explain to my why a Helldiver has a 7 pt air-to-air rating? The thing was a divebomber! They US also built a CP, mainly to keep naval gearing up, and repaired the Australian Sub.

The Russians scrapped all the Polish and Yugoslav INF they could, and a 4-3 INF Army. They built a MECH and MOT division, on the theory that these will take losses, rather than armies, two bad INF armies (4-4 and 5-3), and rebuilt the ENG lost this turn. They built an 8 pt range 3 La-9 and an 8 pt range 4 Yak-3, a 4 pt AT Sturmovik.

[Courtenay]

The Soviets conquer Czechoslovakia and Albania.

The US liberates Holland.

[Courtenay]

M/A 44:

Initiative: Axis 5. Allies 7+2.

Allies choose to go first.

M/A 44 Allied #1: Weather 10+2 = 12: F, F, F, F, F, F, no modifier, impulse advance 1.

This is not what the Axis wanted to see.
Ch: land, Fr Combined,
US, CW, and SU all super-combined.

[Courtenay]

The US and CW put out a large amount of naval air.

The CW moves a TRS through Cape St. Vincent, where there is a lone German sub in the two box. After that, a US transport in Cadiz moves Montgomery through Cape St. Vincent. The SUB attempts to intercept both of them. The German needs to roll a two to be successful. It rolls a 3. Twice. This sort of sums up the Axis luck this game. Later, the CW moves a CV and the US a BB through the sea area; the sub declines to intercept. Finally, the CW moves the Ramillies through the sea area; the Germans attempt to intercept it, as they think that it is a not very good unit, and do so, rolling a 2. The Ramillies decides that its mission was not all that important, and stops.

The CW puts five units into the three box of the Italian coast on AMPHS and TRS that can be invade. They are joined by a carrier and a large number of British battleships. The CW really misses the AMPH that was sunk last turn; there were supposed to be two maximum strength invasions, now there will be only one. Montgommery, Gort, and four corps (including the New Orleans MIL; tremble in fear) move to the zero box, escorted by two more carriers and an odd collection of surface units, whose main merit is that the collective AA strength of the box is 21. (As is the AA strength of the three box.)

The US moves two MAR corps and two MAR XX to the three box of the Bismark Sea along with four slow battleships and a speed five carrier, and a MAR to the three box of the Marshalls. The US puts a CP into the Bismarks.

Two LND-3s and a MECH move from New York to the North Sea. A MECH moves adjacent to Honolulu. Nimitz is taken from Pearl and moved next to Truk, where he is joined by an AA unit that has been stuck in Pago Pago for most of the war. A MOT moves from Honolulu to the Marianas Sea area.

The main CW fleet moves to the Bay of Biscay. The US splits its carrier fleet in two, sending half to the South China Sea and half the China Sea. The US had left the Black Widow in the China Sea, so speed five units can go to the three box. In the South China Sea, in the presence of the enemy limits the US to speed 6 units moving to the three box.

Most of the Allied submarines move to the China Sea; a couple, with short range go to the China Sea.

[Courtenay]

Next, the CW tries the Bay of Bengal. Allies 7, Axis 2. Again, no one finds anyone.

Next, the US declares a combat in the South China Sea,

The Japanese have to make a decision: where to fight the Americans, and should they split their forces or concentrate? They decide to commit heavily to the South China Sea. They also do not put any FTRs in the zero box, on the theory that one or two FTR won't make much of a difference, and it is better to put everything in one box, and go for a victory. This does not go well the first round, as the US rolls a 2, the Japanese a 6. The US decides to only fight the Japanese units in the zero box, giving the US the maximum advantage in surprise and leaving as few Japanese units as possible to defend the convoys. The US uses four of its eight surprise points shifting the Japanese AA fire to no effect, and use the other four to change 4X and an A to 4X, 3D, and an A. The US puts the first X on the Ashigara, as the best AA ship the Japanese have in the sea box. She rolls a one and sinks. The Japanese are torn between saving the convoys and saving the combat ships. They put the first X on the convoys, and two go down. The US thinks that is a good idea, and hit two more. The Japanese put the last X on the Hiei, thinking it has the best chance to survive. Unfortunately, it rolls a 4, exactly sinking. The US puts the next D on a convoy, while the Japanese puts a D on the Atago. She rolls a nine, and is only aborted. Nothing is left but CPs, which take another D and an A. One BB, one CA, and 6 Japanese CPs were sunk, and one CA and a CP aborted.

[Courtenay]

Next round was Ja 1, US 8, six surprise points for the Japanese. The Japanese could abort the combat, but they go for blood. The US puts most of its planes, even the three factor ones, on air-to-air combat. This gets the US one more point of air combat value; they feel they are going to need everything they have. The Japanese use all six of their surprise points in air-to-air combat, raising their strength by two and lowering the US's by one.

The US has eight CVPs as FTRs and three as bombers. The Japanese have four FTRs and five bombers. The Americans started out at +1/-1, which surprise changed to 0/+1. The first round of air combat does not go well for the Japanese. They roll a 10, DC, clearing the best US CVP through, while the Americans roll a 16, DX PX, destroying a Val and its pilot. The second round does not deserve the name "combat", as the Japanese roll an 11, DC, and the Americans a 9, AC. Two bombers clear through. The next round is much better for the Japanese, as they roll a 17, DX PX, while the Americans roll a 12, AC. The worst US bomber and its pilot die, while another Japanese plane is cleared through. The next round both sides roll eights, DA. The US has only fighters left, so their best one goes home; the Japanese abort a bomber, wanting to keep their air-to-air strength high. The next round, the Japanese roll a 13, DA, aborting another US fighter, while the US rolls a 10, clearing the last Japanese bomber through. With nothing left to fight for, and at a significant air-to-air disadvantage, the US aborts the air battle.

[Courtenay]

The anti-aircraft fire is ridiculous. The Japanese are on lowest 1 of 6, and do, in fact roll a one. The American AA fire is much, much better, lowest two of five. They roll two ones. Both sides bombers get through almost untouched.

The US has an X, a D and 3 As. They decide to put the X on the Nachi, thinking they have a good chance of sinking her. However, she rolls a 9, and saves, and is only damaged. The Japanese put the D on the Krishima, which also rolls a nine, and is aborted. The US tries to abort the Kuma, which rolls a 10, and saves. The Japanese put the A on the damaged Nachi, which decides to get out of there, rolling a 1. The Kuma then rolls a 10, which makes no difference, as a 1/2 abort sends her home. This removes all Japanese units from the sea area except for those in the zero box.

[Courtenay]

The Japanese have an X, two Ds, and 2 As. They put the X on the Hornet II, as she is carrying the best US fighter. It is amazing how WiF lets you target that way. The Hornet rolls an 9, saving, and is damaged. The US puts a D on the Iowa, which bounces the D off her armor, rolling a 7. The Japanese now try to finish off the Hornet, but she saves with another 8. The Japanese are very disappointed; they had an 80% chance to sink a carrier, and missed. The US puts an A on the Quincy, which rolls a 2, and aborts. Lastly, the Japanese abort the Lexington, carrying the next best US fighter. All the good US damage control officers were on the Hornet; the Lexington rolls a 3 and aborts.

[Courtenay]

Both sides did remarkably well at damage control in this fight; 2 X's and 3 D's managed to damage one ship on each side, only.

With its two best fighters on aborted carriers and out of the fight, and only a couple of cruisers left to fight a possible surface action, the US decides that they have had a fairly successful naval action, and abandon the sea zone before they have a disaster. The Japanese are happy that they fought the second round, though, as they did chase the Americans away. The aborted Japanese ships go to Saigon, out of range of the CW in the Bay of Bengal, while the US fleet goes back to Truk.

[Courtenay]

The US also tries for combat in the China Sea. Unhappy with the results of not sending fighter cover to the zero box in the South China Sea, the Japanese put a FTR into the zero box, but keeps its other planes on the ground. The US rolls a 1, the Japanese an 8. The US picks the zero box, and makes a mistake calculating the air-to-air values. They use too many surprise points adjusting the air to air values. The Japanese roll a 3, AX. They decide to kill the front US fighter, rather than a bad bomber. The Americans roll a 14, aborting the Japanese FTR.

[Courtenay]

Seven US CVPs home in on the Japanese convoys. The US uses two surprise points to shift the Japanese AA to zero, and use the remaining ones to shift their combat results up to 4X, a D, and 3 A. The US puts an X on the convoy points. The Japanese put the second X on the Aoba, which saves with a 9. The US sinks two more CPs. The Japanese decide that if they put the X's on the CPs, the US will put the D on the Aoba, probably sinking it, so the Japanese put the second X on the Aoba, obliterating it. This leaves only CPs; one is destroyed and three aborted.

After this promising start, the US tries again, and rolls a 10. The Japanese roll an 8. Combat ends. The Japanese abort the CPs back to Niigata, as being very far from US and CW port strikes.

[Courtenay]

To sum up, the Japanese lost a battleship, a cruiser, and 11 convoy points, with another cruiser damaged, while the US had one carrier damaged. The US lost two CVPs, a bad bomber and a good fighter, while the Japanese lost a bad NAV. Also, half the US fleet has been driven back to Truk.

[Courtenay]

The German sub in Cape St. Vincent, already flipped, decides to initiate combat. The CW flies a Beaufighter to the zero box. The Germans do actually commit their sub, but no one's heart is really into the battle; the Germans roll a five, the Allies a nine, and everyone ignores each other.

[Courtenay]

The Allies only did two strategic bombing runs this turn, one on Essen, one on Dusseldorf. The Axis did not respond; unopposed, the attacks were very successful, as the CW rolled a 6 on Essen, and a 10 on Dusseldorf, knocking off two production points from each place. If the Germans had intercepted over Essen, only one point would have been knocked off.

[Courtenay]

The Allies attempt the first carpet bombing of the war, targeting Dusseldorf with 25 points of bombers. The Germans, not wanting to give the US a +1 to the die roll, intercept with a pre-war FTR. The CW responds with a single Spitfire. The Germans roll a 15, DA, and the Allies abort their fighter; then the Allies roll a 7, aborting the German FTR in return.

The carpet bombing is unsucessful, as the Allies roll a 2. This is fairly typical for my attepts at carpet bombing; it is why I don't do it very often.

[Courtenay]

Everyone sends out waves of bombers in ground strikes. Two are contested. A German FTR in Trieste, not wanting to be bombed on the ground, rises to contest the fight, while the Japanese respond to Chinese attempt to bomb Umezu.

The Russians respond with one FTR (all that was in range) to Trieste, and the Chinese send their best FTR to Umezu. Over Trieste, the Germans get an 8, DA, and the Russians of course abort their bomber. They roll another 8, NE. The Russian bomber, with only a two air-to-air rating, decides that this target is a little too tough, and heads home.