How the Axis could have won II. Allied AAR

[warspite1]

27th November 1940

Reinforcements

United Kingdom

The armoured carriers Formidable and Indomitable arrive in Liverpool

Soviet Union

1st Red Banner Army is deployed at Kherson
1st Guards Army is sent to Rostov

MPP Expenditure

UK - The UK continue to strengthen the Army in Egypt. This leaves little for Greece - so I hope the Germans allow me another 'free' turn.
USA - Research into Armoured Warfare and Aerial Warfare
USSR - Nothing

[warspite1]

27th November 1940

United Kingdom

The Canadian Corps arrives in Egypt and the two more units are on the way - an army and a couple of carriers - both are unescorted.

[warspite1]

8th December 1940

And still nothing. Intelligence shows a German battlecruiser in the Baltic and an Italian battleship in the Adriatic [&:] The Italians seemingly sit and wait having declared war on Greece.

I had my heart in my mouth though... a German wolf pack (I assume it was a wolf pack) passed just to the south of my carriers and army bound for Egypt. I could do without losing them!

[Hartmann]

On a sidenote: I just happened to stumble over an article about how German and British soldiers came out of the trenches in WW1 to celebrate Christmas together. Which - I got to confess - made me shed a tear. I love to play wargames, but I wish all this shit would never have happened. Anyways, merry Christmas everyone!

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Hartmann

On a sidenote: I just happened to stumble over an article about how German and British soldiers came out of the trenches in WW1 to celebrate Christmas together. Which - I got to confess - made me shed a tear. I love to play wargames, but I wish all this shit would never have happened. Anyways, merry Christmas everyone!

warspite1

Yes, a famous, uplifting, but ultimately doomed episode. I second that emotion. I guess WWII is more understandable given what we know about the Nazis. WWI is the really annoying one. No European leader would have proceeded as they did if they knew what was going to happen - it was just a tragic, pointless and obscene waste. Happy Christmas Hartmann.

[warspite1]

19th December 1940

Reinforcements

United Kingdom

KGV and Queen Elizabeth in Liverpool

MPP Expenditure

UK - Nothing new; Egypt and Greece get the majority of funding.
USA - Research Amphibious Warfare and Logistics
USSR - Nothing

[warspite1]

9th January 1941

Still no movement in Greece, but more build up against the Soviet Union. An early Barbarossa must be expected.

Meanwhile the Afrika Korps lands in Libya.

Two German destroyer flotillas attack the 2nd Submarine Flotilla in the Skaggerak.

[warspite1]

20th January 1941

Reinforcements

Soviet Union
2nd Engineers

United Kingdom
Receives another destroyer from the US

MPP Expenditure

UK - Egypt and Greece continue to get the bulk of the MPP available
USA - Nothing
UK - Nothing

[warspite1]

10th February 1941

Again this game is so different from before. The Italians do nothing about Greece and, although the Italians and Germans appear set up for an attack on Yugoslavia, they take no action.

Bulgaria joins the Axis - maybe the Germans and Italians have been waiting for this event?

[warspite1]

10th February 1941

Not sure what, if any, this event has on Romanian strength, but Antonescu crushes the Iron Guard and consolidates his own power in Romania.

[warspite1]

10th February 1941

At the Berghof Adolf Hitler has not been himself for weeks now. The news has hit him like a sledgehammer. Winston Churchill's record "Without Me" has gone platinum in 16 countries and remains top of the hit parade even in Germany after 50 weeks.

There is only one thing for it. Der Fuhrer strikes back.....

Look
If you had
One shot
Or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted
In one moment
Would you invade Poland
Or just let it slip?


[Note: Any similarity to Eminem's Lose Yourself is entirely coincidental]

[warspite1]

3rd March 1941

While the Germans are doing god knows what in the Balkans and North Africa, the Yugoslavs decide its time to take some action of their own...

The Allies are happy to support this. Although its probably not great news for Greece - or indeed Yugoslavia - if it diverts troops from the USSR that cannot be a bad thing.

[warspite1]

3rd March 1941

I say chaps, is that wise?

[Aurelian]

The Hitler Rap is better....

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Aurelian

The Hitler Rap is better....

warspite1

If this AAR last long enough then it will feature - however it wasn't appropriate here because that would mean Hitler taking the mickey out of himself. He has never struck me as the kind of man to possess a sense of humour, let alone a self-deprecating one.....

[warspite1]

3rd March 1941

Reinforcements

Soviet Union
An Armoured Train arrives in Moscow

MPP Expenditure

UK - Units in Egypt take all available points.
USA - All four US units on map are brought to full strength.
USSR - Research Infantry Weapons + a few MPP left over to upgrade some units near the German border.

[warspite1]

24th March 1941

The Axis "weirdness" continues.
- They invade Yugoslavia, but the initial attack seems nothing like as devastating as it was in the last game.
- The U-Boats announce their presence on the Canada convoy line
- There is movement from Axis forces in North Africa.
- Nothing once again in Greece.
- More build up along the Soviet border.

[warspite1]

4th April 1941

The thorny question of Ireland comes up again. I say no as I have no wish for trouble in my backyard as North Africa is seemingly about to kick off.

[warspite1]

4th April 1941

Reinforcements

None

MPP Expenditure

UK - Not enough MPP! I start bringing the RN up to scratch on the upgrades front. I decide not to spend too much on Yugoslavia as they are unlikely to hold regardless. I do give to the Greeks though.
USA - Infantry Weapon research
USSR - Starting with those nearest the border I upgrade as much as I can to Infantry Weapons 1

[warspite1]

4th April 1941

There is a Wolf Pack on the Canadian convoy route but I ignore this as I want to upgrade the Canadian destroyers first.

My new armoured carriers HMS Illustrious and HMS Victorious are almost there, and should enter the Red Sea next turn.

The position in the desert looks strong - in fact I have almost too many fortifications for the number of troops available! Really annoyed about that hex north of Quattara. If I had known I had this much time I could have sealed it, but I expected an attack before now. I just have to hope the Axis don't exploit it....