Turn 5. May/June 1940. Axis #1. (continued)
[ax] Ground Strike. vs BEF. Belgium 52,31.
Air-to-Air. Axis +1, Allied 0.
Allied=18. Lead Ge FTR2 shot down & PIL killed.
[ax] Axis=16. RAF spitfire shot down, PIL survives.
RAF fighters are wreaking havoc on the Luftwaffe!
[al] I think the RAF and Luftwaffe both practically destroyed each others' fighter arms. Guess I need to build some ftr2 stat.
[ax] At least your air crews are surviving. The Luftwaffe are losing both planes and pilots!
[al] Pretty sure Fighter Command has picked a winner with the Spitfires. Guess I had better crank some out now that I'm all out of them.
[ax] There's really no need. Germany has no design on Great Britain or wanting to control the air over the country. 😉
[al] Riiiiiiight.
[ax] Luftwaffe Ground Strike vs BEF.
(1) Stuka Ju 87B (5 TAC). Gort=7 missed, IV Mot=3, flipped, A/T div=9, missed.
(2) Stuka Ju 87B (5 TAC). Gort=8 missed (dang!), A/T div=7, missed.
Well, that didn't go as well as I'd hope; but could have been worse.
[ax] Another way to look at it is the 10-factors by flipping one corps (+2) contributed more than if used in ground support (+1.43). But no by much and at the cost of a fighter and pilot.
[ax] Rail. Germany - none.
[ax] Two land combats. Both by Germany.
(1) vs BEF in Belgium 52,31. +12.3 Blitz (raw)
(2) vs French stack, Belgium 54,32 woods. +3.941 Blitz (raw).
Note. (a) raw are the odds prior to the application of any HQ or ground support. (b) Germany has choice of CRT for both land combats and will choose blitz.
{This second, +3.941 Blitz is really a "soak off". I'm hoping the French commit one of their HQ's and artillery or air in ground support. At best, I'll have around a 30% chance of winning; but with Guderian used with the O-chit, I'll have him to reorg if the attack fails. I just hope that losses are kept at a minimum. Who knows, the land combat might succeed and that would be a bonus if it did! I really don't see a downside to this combat except for the possible loss of a mot div and, possibly MIL.}
[ax] Allies have some decision to make on HQ and ground support for both attacks.
[al] What sort of fighter support do the Germans have?
[ax] Ge +5 a2a & Italian +4 a2a fighters.
[ax] Does Gort will to apply -1 HQ support against the blitz on his stack?
[al] Yes, please.
{Dang it ... this was one of the 2 reasons I wanted to flip Gort. The second of course was the +2 I'd get from him being flipped. I had a 75% chance of doing so but missed him. So goes the fortunes of war.} [:(]
[ax] French can also apply HQ support.
(1) -1.5 by Georges
(2) -1 by Billotte
Do you wish either?
[al] Is there a German HQ participating in the attack in the woods?
[ax] Negative.
[ax] German armor corps & div provides the armor to overcome the French A/T div in order to force a blitz.
[al] OK. Bilotte will support the attack.
[ax] copy that.
[ax] Rundstedt HQ which is participating in the Blitz of the BEF elects NOT to contribute HQ support.
[ax] MB 152 in Paris can fly CAP against ground support over the French stack. The other two French fighters don't need too as they're 2-hexes away. Do you wish to fly MB 152 as CAP?
[al] No thanks.
[ax] copy that.
[ax] Ground Support. BEF Stack.
(1) Germany flies 5 planes (14 factors total) of offensive ground support.
(2) Ge +5 a2a & Italian +4 a2a fighter kept in reserve.
(3) RAF can fly unescorted ground support (Vildebeest, DB-7, Harrow ATR). Do you wish to?
[al] Hrm. Bomber Command flies the DB-7.
[ax] Wow ... brave .. Italian fighter intercepts.
[ax] French ground support options.
(1) 105 Atry div (3 factors / 2 for woods)
(2) LeO 451 (3 factors / 2 for woods)
(3) w/all 3 FTR2's in position to escort.
Instructions?
[al] LeO 451 flies and the ftr2 in Paris flies as an escort.
[ax] copy that. Luftwaffe declines to intecept.
[ax] Air to air. Skies over the BEF. Belgium 52,31.
(1) All Luftwaffe bombers cleared.
(2) Allied=13, no axis bombers left to clear.
(3) Axis=16, DB-7 shot down, PIL survives.
[al] Good job by the Italians. Yikes.
[ax] El Duce is definitely having his time in the sun. [8D]
[ax] The French bomber added +2 in defensive ground support.
[ax] Where do you wish to return the French fighter and bomber?
[al] Vichy, methinks.
[ax] Bomber can make it, fighter can't.
[al] Back to Paris for the fighter, then.
[ax] copy that.
[ax] Two land combats.
(1) +13 Blitz vs BEF
(2) +2.421 vs French stack in woods (Belgium 54,32)
Let's go ahead and take care of the big one first (i.e., blitz vs BEF)
[ax] Land Combat. Germany vs BEF. +13 Blitz.
No fractional.
2D10=10, result=23.
Germany decides to convert the breakthrough to a retreat.
Assume you wish to save Gort?
[al] Yes, since it's a retreat.
[ax] IV mot corps and A/T div destroyed.
Gort HQ-I retreated by Germany to hex northwest of Paris (54,30).
{I decided to retreat Gort instead of shattering him for two reasons. The obvious one is in the hopes of being able to finish him off. The second is a bit more subtle. I retreated him northeast of Paris in the hopes that he will clog up the French lines since they can't stack with him and since he can't be reorg until the end of the turn. Though the downside is that the CW can move two more units into France versus none if I had shattered him.}
German Combat vs BEF.
