TOP SECRET ORMSTER + WARSPITE ONLY

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

Can I begin our impulse, and select a land impulse for USSR?

warspite1

Yowser.

[Orm]

CW, US, and Nationalist Chinese orders.

No strategic bombing. No Ground Strikes. No rail movement.

Land Movement:

USA:
HQI (Clark) moves from Richmond to Newport News.

China:
MOT moves one hex into Kweiyang
Chinking militia moves two hexes SE to hex 85, 136
Cavalry Division moves to 86, 139

I would like to double stack in hex 77, 137. And doing this by moving the unit in hex 77, 136 one step East to hex 77, 137. But only if the Communists can defend the hex 77, 136 instead of the Nationalist. Letting the Japanese behind the Nationalist line could be bad for the Nationalists.

Rebase:

China rebase the P-36A to Ankang.

Canada debark their Hurricane to Cisneros, Spanish Sahara.
The FTR2 in Dover rebase to Belfast.

Reorganization:
Gort reorganizes the MECH in Santander.

[Orm]

I think that CW will take a combined impulse. Will USSR take a land impulse?

I do the first part and you the second?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

I think that CW will take a combined impulse. Will USSR take a land impulse?

I do the first part and you the second?

warspite1

Okay. Are you looking at completing this tonight or tomorrow?

[Orm]

I expect to get around to it tomorrow morning or at least during the day.

Watching hockey at the moment.

[Orm]

Does USSR any Strategic bombing, ground strike or rail movement they want to do?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

Does USSR any Strategic bombing, ground strike or rail movement they want to do?

warspite1

No thanks.

[Orm]

With the failure of Koniev and the land campaign stalling, is it perhaps time to begin a bomber campaign of the Japanese isles?

Perhaps sending (all) the Soviet heavy bombers to the far east over the winter? This would, at least, force Japan to place lots of fighters in Japan. Or use up his carriers to protect coastal cities.

[brian brian]

Even just one raid on a Japanese oil hex or SYNTH would probably cause some dramatic effects.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

With the failure of Koniev and the land campaign stalling, is it perhaps time to begin a bomber campaign of the Japanese isles?

Perhaps sending (all) the Soviet heavy bombers to the far east over the winter? This would, at least, force Japan to place lots of fighters in Japan. Or use up his carriers to protect coastal cities.

warspite1

That is one of the reasons why the bomber was moved near Vlad last impulse. The land campaign has stopped, the imminent threat to Vlad from their Marines has passed, and therefore I am happy to try this.

As for the future - I have a very heavy bomber coming in two turns and this was intended for the Far East.

I am loathe to take too much from the Eastern Front, and those long range bombers are useful there. But I will of course keep it under consideration based on Axis progress in Spain. IF (big if) the Axis do not make much more progress there for the remainder of this impulse, it is likely that any Barbarossa will be launched in Mar/Apr or May/Jun 1942 - and that will give the Soviets a window of opportunity to move those aircraft for a couple of turns or so.

[brian brian]

If it were me, I would lay out a little first. Use the heavy bomber tactically in Manchuria first perhaps. Then suddenly hit the SYNTH hex with 2-3 bombers to go for the * result. But it would depend on how many Pilots Japan has, and when they appear, and where their FTRs are. But a Ground Strike on an unprotected HQ first would probably draw their FTRs to the HQ. Air missions will be at a premium for Japan right now. A CW SUB based in Calcutta would help consume those air missions.


Edit: I love playing the Russians. An air-resupply mission in Manchuria might be just the ticket to out-maneuver the Manchurians while most forces are dis-organized right now.

[warspite1]

Well played Ormster [:)] May I congratulate you upon your handling of the Fleet Air Arm? [&o] Amazing what a couple of 1's at sea does isn't it?

You are duly promoted Admiral of the Fleet - and so here is an appropriate emoji to go with the notification

[Orm]

Thank you.

It is indeed amazing that a couple of ones can bring me such a big smile. [:)]

Although the foundation for this was laid previously in the turn, when we got rid of those pesky He-100 fighters.

[brian brian]

Are the Axis ever getting close to a garrison # in Spain that could yield a Partisan? Maybe a successful ground strike on an HQ-A could get that # low enough to get a partisan to threaten some of the NAV bases. ?

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: brian brian

Are the Axis ever getting close to a garrison # in Spain that could yield a Partisan? Maybe a successful ground strike on an HQ-A could get that # low enough to get a partisan to threaten some of the NAV bases. ?

I think the beginning of this impulse is as close to the partisan value in Spain as they have ever got. 7.5 in garrison versus 8 in partisan value. Although Germany did reorganize their HQs after this so I do not think it will be enough to disorganize a HQ. But I suppose we will see after this impulse.

Thank you for the suggestion. [&o] [:)]

I've been thinking for several turns now that it is time for a partisan to appear in France.



Picture from Jul/Aug '41 Impulse #6 (Axis) - DOW

[brian brian]

Well with the Offensive Chit being played I don't think there will be any un-flipped HQs at the end of the turn. They were the only units I could think of in Spain that weren't in a ZoC, and made a 2 point swing in the garrison totals.

The Allied redoubts in northern Spain will face a second attack, without as much Defensive Shore Bombardment to call on, would be the main reason to play the chit, that I can think of. Maybe that will leave a tank unit of some sort behind the lines that would make a swing in the partisan #. (Any MTN units in Spain?) Though why there are any Axis tanks left in Spain mystifies me, if any ... unless they are awaiting the return of Italian TRS capability? They seem completely uninterested in North Africa, which also mystifies me.

[Orm]

Will USSR take a land impulse?

Can I do the first part? Any air missions before land movement? Rail movement?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

Will USSR take a land impulse?

Can I do the first part? Any air missions before land movement? Rail movement?

warspite1

Happy for you to do the first part. USSR are doing a Land:

- Strategic bomber targets Mukden
- No Rail movement.

Thanks

[Orm]

I've been planning to ask USSR but have forgotten to actually do so.

Now that USSR can make land impulses it is fast and fairly easy to stack the German border and almost as easy to withdraw to defensive positions.

So with winter coming and no German HQs on the Eastern front CW would appreciate if USSR put pressure on Germany and created a defensive line within the three hex garrison range. I hope this will take some heat from CW in Spain and NW Africa.

And it might even make Germany nervous enough and wonder if USSR might be able to break the pact once 1942 begins. And possibly cause him to break the pact and DOW in the middle of winter (because of Finland).

Edit: So can USSR, please, stuff the German border?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

I've been planning to ask USSR but have forgotten to actually do so.

Now that USSR can make land impulses it is fast and fairly easy to stack the German border and almost as easy to withdraw to defensive positions.

So with winter coming and no German HQs on the Eastern front CW would appreciate if USSR put pressure on Germany and created a defensive line within the three hex garrison range. I hope this will take some heat from CW in Spain and NW Africa.

And it might even make Germany nervous enough and wonder if USSR might be able to break the pact once 1942 begins. And possibly cause him to break the pact and DOW in the middle of winter (because of Finland).

Edit: So can USSR, please, stuff the German border?

Josef Stalin

Admiral of the Fleet Orm.

Thank-you for, what you say, memorandum? yes? I will have you know that I take this under advisement as Alan Rickman say in Die Hard when he is Hans Gruber. I love to watch that film in Dacha.

In meantime here is portrait of me. This is my take under advisement face.