Witness to World War 2.

[rkr1958]

Turn 11. May/June 1941. Allied #1.

RN. The Italian Coast. Round 1.

The RN working to achieve objectives (2) blockade Italian Coast and (4) attrit the Italian RM.

Note. The reaction of the Sunderland NAV group was intended as an AA soaker. This is, AA = lowest 1/4, it was extremely unlikely that all 4 rolls would be a 10. However, there's a 13% chance that all 4 AA rolls would be 5 or highers, which without the Sunderland would mean the loss of a CVP air group. However, with the Sunderland, and assuming not all 4 rolls are a 10, this would result in the Sunderland being aborted thus saving the carrier planes.

[rkr1958]

Turn 11. May/June 1941. Allied #1.

RN. The Italian Coast. Round 2.

Neither side finds. That is, both sides failed to maintain contact. Combat ends (for now at least).

[rkr1958]

Turn 11. May/June 1941. Axis #2.

Japanese. Strategic Bombing. China.

An all out Japanese offensive in China targeting both the Nationalist and communist starts of with two ineffective strategic bombing raids.

[rkr1958]

Turn 11. May/June 1941. Axis #2.

Japanese. Army Group Yomomoto. Land Combat #1.

Even aided by the Nationalist decision to elect to fight on the Blitz CRT, AG Yomomoto's attempt to turn the southern flank of the Nationalist army in southern China is stopped cold.

Note. The reason the Nationalist elected to fight on the Blitz and not the Assault CRT was that if lost the Peking MIL could not be rebuilt until the Chinese regained control of Peking, if ever, from the Japanese. The election to fight on the Blitz vs Assault CRT increased the chance that this MIL would survive from 13 to 60%. As it turned out, the roll was one of those rare cases that produced the same result on both CRT's.

[rkr1958]

Turn 11. May/June 1941. Axis #2.

Japanese. Army Group Yomomoto. Land Combat #2.

Admiral Yomomoto wishes his first land combat, which was more critical, went this well.

[rkr1958]

Turn 11. May/June 1941. Axis #2.

Japanese. Army Group Terauchi. Land Combat #1.

Terauchi's (true) blitz combat is also stopped cold! So much for the Japanese general offensive across China.

[rkr1958]

Turn 11. May/June 1941. Axis #2.

Japanese. HQ Reorg.

Admiral Yamoamoto and General Terauchi reorg what troops they can in the hopes of getting their general offensive against the Chinese started. Of course, next weather roll will play a big part also in the chances of this happening.

[rkr1958]

Turn 11. May/June 1941. Axis #2.

The Western Front.

Wehrmacht and Italian forces quickly deal with the French partisan.

[rkr1958]

Turn 10. May/June 1941. Allied #3.

Weather. The weather does not cooperate with the Japanese. It goes from fine across the globe to bad across the globe. In addition to impacting Japanese plans, it (i.e., the rain) impedes the advance of the British 8th army on the march in Western Libya and closing on Tripoli.

Actions.

USSR - combine.

China - land.

Great Britain - land.

Free France - naval.

USA - combine.

[rkr1958]

Turn 10. May/June 1941. Allied #3.

Nazi-Soviet Pact.

There's no way that the Soviets see their neutrality pact with Germany lasting beyond this turn. On the upside, the horrible weather allows the USSR to use all their land moves "adjusting" units on the border with Germany instead of having to use them for Mao and his communists defending against the Japanese. Though the restriction on the number of Soviet land moves will be lifted very soon (i.e., next turn).

[rkr1958]

Turn 10. May/June 1941. Axis #5.

Actions.

Germany - combine.

Italy - naval.

Japan - combine.

Euro-Axis Sub Combat (1/4). North Atlantic.

[rkr1958]

Turn 10. May/June 1941. Axis #5.

Euro-Axis Sub Combat (2/4). Bay of Biscay.

[rkr1958]

Turn 10. May/June 1941. Axis #5.

Euro-Axis Sub Combat (3/4). Cape Verde Basin.

With no chance of finding in storms the Italians elect not to fight.

[rkr1958]

Turn 10. May/June 1941. Axis #5.

Euro-Axis Sub Combat (4/4). Cape St. Vincent

Heavily out number and out gunned the Italians elect not to fight.

[rkr1958]

Turn 10. May/June 1941. Axis #5.

Italian Coast.

Italians elect not to fight, however, the RN as the non-phasing power does and forces a naval air combat.

[rkr1958]

Turn 10. May/June 1941. Axis #5.

Italian Coast. Round 2.

Neither side finds. Though the Italians had another warship damaged, they did manage to maintain (for now) their supply convoy in the 0-box.

[rkr1958]

Turn 11. May/June 1941. Allied #7.

Weather. Some clearing, especially in the Med where the allies need it the most.

Actions.

USSR - combine.

China - land.

Great Britain - land.

Free France - naval.

USA - pass.

[rkr1958]

Turn 11. May/June 1941. Allied #7.

Tripoli, Libya.

Ground Strike.

RAF ground strike successfully flips the OOS Italian Garrison, which in addition to adding +2 to the upcoming assault, reduces the defensive factors from a total of 5 to a total of 2.

Land Combat.

Tripoli falls to an (automatic) assault by the British 8th army, thus clearing the Italians out of North Africa.

[rkr1958]

Turn 11. May/June 1941. Axis #8.

Nazi-Soviet Pact.

With the Soviets conceding that the Germans will soon (be able to) break the Nazi-Soviet pact they pull back air and ground units from the pact area last impulse. As such, Germany this impulse has the necessary garrison to break the pact. However, launching Barbarossa this late in the turn and with rain in the Arctic makes no sense.

Actions.

Germany - combine.

Italy - land.

Japan - land.

[rkr1958]

Turn 11. May/June 1941. Axis #8.

North Atlantic. Germany u-boats and Italian subs working together in the North Atlantic (barely) fail to find allied convoys. They missed by 1 to find.