1937 AAR

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Leftist attack all along the Sair Usa front. The Empire has been reinforcing and their defense holds.

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High level view of Leftist and Imperial movements in the center. The Empire is looking for a route to flank Sair Usa while the Leftist are searching for the Imperial front.

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Empire – Turn 19

News: The Exclusion Zone has been lifted. At the beginning of the war three island complexes are covered in an Exclusion Zone. The islands are used as entry points for volunteers recalled to their respective commands. The zone is used to prevent enemy occupation of the islands, thereby preventing denial of entry. At a cost in supply volunteers and legionnaires can be recalled to the home country. Islands are located in the NW corner, SW corner and center E. Entry points for the formations are randomized.

Two units have reconstituted. One is in Tszaq, the other a motorized Bn outside of Kongwa. The Kongwa unit could create some chaos and confusion behind Leftist lines if left unattended. The Leftist will need to garrison Kongwa to keep additional intruders out.

The commando unit sent to destroy rail bridges is still in reorganization.

The Motor Bn outside of Kongwa are in a mountainous region and are very low in supply. The Empire decides just to dig them in and make the Leftist take casualties trying to eliminate them.

Minor artillery attacks are made along the Sair Usa front. Many of the Imperial units have been able to attain entrenched status.

Force Supply: 39 Effective Supply: 49

Leftist – Turn 19

The reconstituted Imperial unit outside Kongwa has not been spotted by the Leftist. They are not alerted to the threat.

Leftist skirmish with Imperial units advancing S toward Bukoba. They have an advantage in armored units and use them to beat up Imperial infantry.

On the Sair Usa front Leftist make a major push in an attempt to drive the Imperialists out of their dug in positions. Over three rounds of combat casualties are high but some units are driven back. This front has become a battle of attrition. Attacking Leftist units finish the attack exhausted and low on supplies.

Force Supply: 45 Effective Supply: 51

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Location of the Imperial Motorized Bn reconstituted near Kongwa. The unit could move now and cause the Leftist to chase it, but in its weakened state it probably would not do any real damage. According to the expected reinforcement report, the remaining two Bns are due to reconstitute by turn 25. Unless the Bn becomes spotted, the plan is to wait for the rest of the Bns, recombine the Bde and then cause some real damage.

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Planned Leftist for the first round of attacks. Long term goal is to encircle the Imperial center and then breakout to the N.

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After three rounds little progress was made toward encircling the Imperialists. Casualties were heavy on both sides, but the goal is still in sight.

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Empire – Turn 20

A second motorized Bn reconstitutes near Kongwa. It moves to join up with its sister Bn.

W of Bukoba, commandos blow a canal rail bridge. They retreat to an airfield for extraction.

From a hiding spot in S Songea, a DD squadron scouts along the S coast of Pangani. Nothing worth blowing up is found. Meanwhile, a CL squadron from the Mwadui area moves to the hiding place.

Counter attacks beat back the Leftist near Bukoba while a recon unit looks to make a flanking maneuver on the right.

At Sair Usa the Imperialists adjust their lines, dig in and soften up the enemy with artillery strikes.

The TOs to ally with Undur Khan Geita were used on turn 4. Neither city has declared allegiance with the Empire so they are assumed to be neutral.

Leftist – Turn 20

News: Supply is increased.

N of Bukoba, Leftist attack the Empire’s center force. A division size formation arrives from the coast to support additional attacks.

Since alternate supply routes are available, Leftist have not noticed that a bridge on a communications line has been blown.

Three rounds of attacks on the Sair Usa front are bloody, however there have been some gains. Once again, the Leftist will need to rest and resupply before continuing the assaults.

The TO to ally with Songea was used on turn 5. Songea has not declared allegiance with the Leftist so it is assumed to remain neutral.

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Positions at the start of combat round 3. Many of the Imperial units are entrenched or fortified. The plan to envelop the center units is a slow and costly battle. Maybe it’s time for the Leftist to make an end run around the defenses.

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Combat results, mostly from the attacks along the Sair Usa line. A couple of attacks did occur N of Bukoba.

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T21 – Leftist

Theater Option: The Theater Option for 2% increase is accepted at a cost of 6 supply. 2% doesn’t yield much intelligence information, but it is necessary to activate this option so that a second increase is offered.

Designer Note: For the released version, TOs for recon are increased to 5% and 10%.

Theater Option: The TO for Partizansk volunteers is activated. After a short delay this formation will deploy on one of the perimeter islands. Volunteer formations do not have the combat power of regular formations, but they are excellent for policing back areas, releasing regular troops for front line duty.

Enemy activity is detected NW of Kongwa. For the moment, the plan is to surround and isolate them. Bombard them periodically and let them absorb replacements which would normally go to front line troops. Also, if destroyed, the units will just reconstitute and start the process all over again.

In this turn the Leftist are given the opportunity to move first which prevents the Empire from adjusting the Sair Usa defensive front. Leftist attack three times and are finally able to crack the Imperial lines. The goal now is to envelop the Imperial units in the center.

Empire – Turn 21

Theater Option: A TO to activate the Southern Legion is offered. It is activated at a cost of 7 supply points. This action reduces Imperial force supply stock level to 32.

1st Bn 926th Motorized Bde reconstitutes S of Kongwa. It moves to occupy as much Leftist territory as possible hopping that some additional Imperial Kongwa units will be able to deploy. Deployment of just a couple of units would prove troublesome to the Leftist.

Along the Sair Usa line the Empire is unsuccessful in extracting all the units being enveloped. A defensive line is established but it is weaker. Additional reserves will be needed. Multiple artillery attacks are conducted to deplete Leftist front-line units.

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News for the period Dec 1st thru Dec 11th. The highlight is the removal of the exclusion zone. This event needs to happen before off map formations can be called to battle.

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Example of the equipment issued to Leftist volunteer formations. In addition to common equipment, period Russian equipment rounds out the corps.

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Shows the Leftist axis of thrust and the plan to envelop the center of the Imperial defense. Combat was ceased after three rounds.

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That could spell doom for Imperial positions in the area. Go for it!

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Empire – Turn 22

Theater Option: A TO for Limited Guerrilla Warfare is offered at a cost of 7 supply. The force supply stock level is currently down to 32 so the Empire decides to hold off on using this TO. Guerrilla warfare randomly liberates enemy held territory to friendly use and is useful in disrupting enemy logistics.

Luck is on the Empire’s side. The war reverts back to the Empire having the first move of the turn. This enables the Empire to make moves before the Leftist can react to the Turn 21 moves.

Two new Imperial units deploy in the areas liberated by the 1st Bn 926nd Motorized Bde. The 900th Marine Bde and 920th Bde move to liberate more territory and assault Kongwa. Kongwa is both a port and supply point critical to the survival of these Imperial units. All units assault the lone Leftist Marine Bn in Kongwa but are repulsed. This is a sever set back since without the Kongwa supply point there is only a few points of supply available in the countryside.

The South Legion deploys on the E perimeter island. These units load up as an assault force and steam close to the E coast of Manyoni. Time runs out before they can make an amphibious assault. Their objective is the Manyoni replacement resource located inland from the coast. An enemy naval force protects the port they will need to capture.

Along the Sair Usa front troops adjust the lines, entrench and resupply.

A couple of Southern Legion units deploy in the NW island. They will be used to garrison Kobdo and possibly Bayan. The regular Kobdo and Bayan troops will be transported to the front lines.

Leftist – Turn 22

Partizansk volunteers deploy on the SW island group. They embark and ship toward Kongwa. The total distance is too far for a single turn. Their final destination will be determined after the Empire’s assault on Kongwa is resolved.

Imperial troops deploying in Kongwa creates a critical problem. Leftist are unable to fully surround the enemy and must rely on additional reserves arriving next turn. Kongwa is reinforced from Chunya and the cruiser force from Songea. Both attack to reduce the Imperial troops who are known to be unsupplied. The Imperial units are damaged but are still battle worthy. The goal is to contain them so that additional Imperial units do not deploy.

An engineering Rgt finds the blown bridge W of Bukoba and begins repair.

Leftist assault Imperialist positions NW of Bukoba. The Leftist have an advantage in armor and inflict causalities on the Imperialists.

On the Sair Usa front Leftist use three rounds of combat against the Imperial lines. A couple of enemy units are shattered, others are pushed back. The Leftist seem to be winning the war of attrition, but the cost is heavy.

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View of the war from the Imperial side. The big problem for the Leftist are the Imperial Kongwa units reconstituting and liberating entry points for the Kongwa formation. The Empire should be able to exploit this situation and keep a large number of Leftist units in clean up mode.

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Example of the equipment issued to Imperial Legion armor formations. In addition to common equipment, period French armored equipment rounds out the corps.

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The Imperial Kongwa units line up to assault Kongwa. The objective is the port and supply point held by the Leftist Marine Bn.

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Three rounds of Leftist attacks on the Sair Usa front. At a high cost Imperialist were pushed back. The goal remains encirclement of the central Imperial line.

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Empire – Turn 23

The units in Kongwa try to move away and liberate more territory, but they get hit with disengagement attacks which limits their movement.

In the center, S of Liwate, some of the major units are reorganizing. Best this force can do is dig in and wait for reinforcements. From Bayan some units are moving toward their position.

The Sair Usa line adjusts the defense, digs-in and resupplies. The strategy has evolved to Sair Usa being a holding force while other units work around the enemy flank. The Empire troops have taken heavy casualties, but it is thought that the enemy frontal attacks have cost them much more in men and material.

The destroyer squadron W of Songea makes another reconnaissance around the W tip of Pangani. Again, nothing worth blowing up has been found. The Empire suspects that the W side of Pangani is not heavily garrisoned.

The Southern Legion make an amphibious assault on Port Kilwa Kivinje and a second port about 80 kilometers further S. Both ports are on the Eastern Manyoni Shores. Leftist have left this area undefended and the Legion is able to advance toward the Replacement Centers.

Destruction of the Leftist Replacement Center should cause the current 125 Rifle Squad rate to drop. Occupation of the Imperial Replacement Center increases the current 244 Rife Squad rate. The changes will take effect one turn after the centers are occupied.

Force Supply: 32 Effective Supply: 39

Leftist – Turn 23

Theater Option: Leftist activate a TO for limited guerilla warfare. Cost is 7 supply points. Guerillas will occupy Imperial controlled territory at a 1% rate.

The Imperial amphibious assault on Port Kilwa Kivinje takes the Leftist by surprise. The Partizansk volunteers are diverted from Pangani to Manyoni. Their new mission is to neutralize the Imperial threat to Manyoni and Sair Usa. They make port on the SE Manyoni coast at Port Arua. A few additional reserve units from the Sair Usa area are available for the defense.

Leftist surround the Imperial Kongwa units. Killing these units will only create more units with the potential to reconstitute in Kongwa. Basically, this is a no-win situation which will tie down combat units needed elsewhere. Most of the Kongwa units are eliminated.

Leftist attack again on the Sair Usa front. After three combat rounds they succeed in punching a whole in the Imperial line but are too low on supply to exploit the breakthrough.

Force Supply: 50 Effective Supply: 53