A musical global war AAR...

[Centuur]

Australians revolt against the Japanese occupying forces in Darwin:

[Klydon]

Well, if the Axis can win and go first next turn with good weather, that line is going to get busted wide open in Russia.

I assume at this point that Perm is the only place the Russians have an oil source besides what they have in the bank? Axis capture that (and more), the Russians will effectively be very crippled. They are probably in a position where they don't want to spend anymore stored oil for production and having to use what they have for reorganization purposes is going to be a slow drain (Either that or not have units available, etc).

[Centuur]

March/April 1943, End of turn phases:

Well, the production statistics are coming up in a short while...

Let's start with the destroyed pool.

[Centuur]

Of course, all ships in this pool are scrapped. The Soviets scrap the 3-1 GAR, Japan scraps the two 2 sized CVP's and the FTR, the US scraps the two 1 sized CVP's.

During the stay at sea phase, the Japanese elects to leave the fleet in the China Sea at sea.

Japanese military song: 伊号第１０潜水艦

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRIVwilUHlc

Germany produces 62 build points, of which 5 are send to Italy. 4 oil is used for reorganisation. Germany repairs the AMPH and the cruiser Emden. It finishes the Dutch BB Gouden Leeuw. Builds are an offensive, 3 forts, 4 pilots, LND3, NAV3, 2 FTR2, ARM, MIL, MTN.

Italy produces 18 build points and recieves 5 from Germany. 1 oil is used for reorganisation. It starts a TRS. Builds are 3 pilots, NAV3, 2 FTR2, MOT and ART.

Japan produces 33 build points and uses 4 oil for reorganisation. It finishes the CV Amagi and repairs the CV Ryujo and the cruiser Chikuma. Builds are: 5 pilots, NAV3, NAV2, 2 FTR2, CVP1, CVP2, INF and ART.

Here are the Axis oil reserves at the end of the turn:

[Centuur]

The CW produces 36 build points and receives 5 from the US. 4 oil is used for reorganisation. It finishes an AMPH and starts 2 TRS. Builds are: 3 pilots, LND4, NAV3, 2 FTR2, 3 CP, PARA, ENG, 2 INF.

Music: Comin’ In On A Wing And A Prayer - Willie Kelly & Orchestra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnGMkeXxdzo

France receives 3 build points from the US. It had one build point saved. It uses 1 oil for reorganisation. It finishes an AMPH.

The US produces 66 build points, of which three are send to France, 5 to the CW and the one which had as designation the Soviet Union is lost. The US uses 6 oil for reorganisation.They finish the CV's Hornet II and Franklin, the CVL's Cowpens and Independence. The US repairs the CV;s Essex and the Intrepid. A TRS is started. Builds are 5 pilots, 2 CVP2, 2 LND 4, 2 FTR3, CVP1, 2 INF and a MOT.

The USSR produces 12 build points. It uses 1 oil for reorganisation. Builds are 2 FTR2, 2 INF and a CAV2.

Here are the Allied oil reserves at the end of the turn:

[Centuur]

The Axis produce 113 build points and the Allies 114. That;s not good at all for the Allies...

This time, the Swedish ambassador in Omsk is send to Beria, with a peace proposal. Beria flatly refuses (again).

[Centuur]

May/June 1943, start of turn phases:

Here are the Axis reïnforcements for this turn. The Germans rename the De Ruyter into Donau and the Italians rename the Bretagne into Como.

[Centuur]

And the Allied reïnforcements:

[Centuur]

The trade agreements for this turn:

[Centuur]

The Axis win the initiative.

[Centuur]

And of course they elect to move first:

German music: Hm-Hm, Du bist so zauberhaft! - Adolf Steimel Tanzorchester

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuI4tCOVOQA

Summer is early, this year:

[Klydon]

Rutro.. Ivan could well be in serious trouble (Should be in serious trouble )

As noted, the production gap has closed dramatically. Also looks like the Allies are planning on doing some serious bombing very soon.

[Centuur]

Well, the Luftwaffe has prepared for revenge too:

[Centuur]

May/June 1943, Axis impulse number 1:

Japan takes a naval action. Germany takes a land action. Those are pretty easy. But Italy.. What to do with the Italians? That's the big question. An air impulse, so the Italian airforce can be redeployed to protect important factories, to avoid nasty US bombings? Or a land impulse, so the necessary extra troops can be railed to Morocco? Or a naval impulse to use the TRS to get units towards Morocco? It's a difficult decision indeed. At the end, the decision is to take a naval action.

The Japanese puts in naval escorts (heavy ones, including CV's and BB's into the China and South China Sea. It transports land units across the sea to improve defensive positions. Tojo recognizes that his units are totally out of position for taking offensive actions in the Pacific. It remains to be seen if the Japanese can regain their momentum. This year it doesn't look like it.

The Japanese send a cruiser into the Timor Sea. That one searches for the US cruiser in the sea area, which provides supply for units in Australia. Axis roll 5, Allies roll 4, making the Timor Sea a large sea area.

The Italians put their TRS to good use and two good units are sailed into the Western Med, to aid the defense of Morocco. The Italian fleet sails out of Port Saïd into the Red Sea. The Italians search for CW shipping, but that one does not want to be found (Axis 5, Allies 6).

The last Italian SUB sails out of Lisbon. The CW has a NAV flying to protect the convoys. Still, the SUB commander presses forward the attack. Axis roll 1, Allies roll 2. The French cruiser Leygues is found. However, both commanders seems to miss there targets (no effect both ways). Both sides stick around for another round of combat. Axis roll 2, Allies roll 3. Again, the French cruiser pushes the SUB under water, preventing it from attacking the convoys (No effect both ways again). A fog rises next (Axis 5, Allies 5).

This is the BBC. We interrupt our regular program and switch to Edward Murrow reporting live from London:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KLQxtDOkZA

The sky is full of Italian and German planes. Fighter command reacts and a large air-to-air battle commences:

[Centuur]

The moment the Axis air to air combat table goes towards the -3, they decide to abort.

It's a good time for this German military song: "Bomben auf Engeland" - Luftwaffenlied

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKeO_foFsM0

The large German bombers are attacking the large industrial area's around the docks of London:

[Centuur]

Koniev gets visited by a Stuka. The Soviet airforce decided to react, after which the Luftwaffe intercepts:

[Centuur]

The precision of this ground strike is amazing:

[Centuur]

At Ufa, the Marine Stuka and artillery opens fire, with devastating results to the defending units:

[Centuur]

Germany rails three units to the Ostfront. Positions are improved in a number of places. Von Rundstedt moves his units to surround Ufa and orders an attack. Seeing that the Luftwaffe is in position to intercept, the Soviet bomber stays grounded. The Assault table is used by the Soviets:

[Centuur]

Some planes are being rebased by Italy and Japan.

Listen to: Michael Jary Tanz Orch. - Leise klang eine Weise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnRj25D4jxY

Here is the Ostfront at the end of the impulse: