Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99.

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2 PI. East Africa.

My opponent appears to have made quite a sizable commitment in East Africa. The Italians have no way to respond other than the forces they now have there, which are severely outgunned by the Brtis. The upside is that the CW forces there are not somewhere else more important causing mischief and grief.

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2 PI. The Italian Coast. The West Med.

The Italians objective in the Med has now simplified to one of controlling the Italian Coast, with the Italians moving completely to the defensive in the Med; except of their sub groups which are going to be used to hunt and hopefully sink allied convoys.

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2 PI. The Balkans.

Normally at this stage of the game my next target would be the conquest of Yugoslavia. However, because of the shooting war between the USSR and Japan going on in Asia, I've make the decision that Yugoslavia will just have to wait a while.

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2 PI. The Nazi-Soviet Pact.

I've decided to immediately start the transfer of German forces from the West to the East with the objective of breaking the Nazi-Soviet pact as quickly as possible and having Germany and Italy go to war with the Soviet Union as soon as I can. Regardless of weather ... when I can break the pact I will and then declare war of the USSR.

My objective appears to have be helped by my opponent's choice of not stuffing the border. However, with the USSR at war with Japan he could change that in 1 allied impulse. Not matter, Germany will align Hungary this impulse, Bulgaria next axis impulse and begin the transfer of Germany ground and air units to the East to attack the Soviet Union as soon as possible.

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2 PI. Manchuria. Korea.

We are manually enforcing the USSR-Japan compulsory peace. So at worse (I hope) Japan will only lose 3 RP's to the Soviets. However, I want to make him fight for them. More importantly I want as many Soviets forces fighting in Asia when Germany (and Italy) invaded the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe.

I also think we both have interesting and similar weather wishes. Though for opposite reasons. Fine weather in the north temperate certainly would benefit German on the Western Front in their push to take out what's left of the BEF. Of course, poor weather would greatly hinder that. However, fine weather in the north temperate would help the Soviets push in Manchuria and Korea and poor weather would hinder that.

Honestly, I don't know kind of weather to wish for in the north temperate. I guess it doesn't really matter as it's the die roll that determines the weather there and not what I'm wishing for.

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2 PI. China.

I'll get at least 1 fine weather shot at bombing out the saved Chinese oil (20% chance). I plan to reorg the bomber if it fails to get the oil but it's success after than depends on the weather (i.e., 20% if fine in the north temperate, 10% if snow or rain & 0% if storms or blizzard).

I must say for me this is a very interesting and entertaining game against what I feel are equally matched opponents.

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

A rules question: Say that IndoChina went Vichy, with those partisans. The partisans would change to Nationalist Chinese. If Vichy had units in Indochina, could a neutral Vichy attack the partisans?

Yes, because Vichy is a major power...

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2.

[ax] Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2.
No DOW's. No Special Actions.

[ax] Alignments. Germany aligns Hungary.
USE=9, no chit added.

Germany Aligns Hungary.

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2. (continued).

[ax] Actions. Japan - combine, Germany - combine, Italy - naval.

[ax] Port Attacks. None.

[ax] Any allied CAP (strategic bombing or ground strike)?

[al] No, thanks. The only unit I want to CAP is Gort, and I have nothing in range.

[ax] copy that.

[ax] Naval Air. Germany. He 112 Malta to 2-box Italian Coast.

[ax] Naval Moves. Japan x 2.
(1) CV Kaga, Akagi, Shokaku, BB Hyuga, CA Furitaka, Myoko, Amph+Osaka MIL from Fukuko to 3-box Sea of Japan.
(2) CVL Hosho, BB Haruna, Kirishima, CA Nachi, 3 TRS (2nd inf, 18th inf army, 2nd mech div) moves from Fukuko to 3-box China Sea joining CV Ryujo, BB Kongo, CA Suzuya, Ashigara there.

IJN Naval Moves.

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2. (continued).

[ax] Euro-Axis Sub Moves.
(1) North Sea. (4-box) 1 German u-boat, (3-box) 1 German u-boat
(2) Bay of Biscay. (2-box) 1 German u-boat, (1-box) 2 German u-boats, 1 Italian sub group
(3) Cape St. Vincent. (3-box) 1 Italian sub group.

[ax] Italian RM. Italian Coast.
BB & CA 3-box moves down to 2-box (covered by German FTR2)
2 BB's & CA from Trieste to 4-box.
1 CA from Trieste to 0-box.

[ax] Naval Combat.

[ax] Cape St. Vincent
Italian sub in 3-box initiates.
Possible air reactions. Vildebeest up to 2-box, Swordfish up to 1-box.
Air reactions instructions?

[al] Swordfish to 0 box, please.

[ax] Search. Italy=4, CW=7, only the Italians finds.
Italy selects the 0-box, which gives them 5 SP's.
Italy uses 4 SP's to force a sub combat.

[ax] Cape St. Vincent. Sub Combat.
Italian risk is D. D=9, Italian sub aborted.
RN CP losses=2 aborted CP's.
Do you wish to abort 2 NED CP's or 1 NED & 1 CW CP?
To which base do the aborted CP's return?

[al] 2 Dutch cps. If they can get to Liverpool (by way of North Atlantic to Faeroes Gap), then abort to Liverpool please. Otherwise, Gibraltar.

[ax] With no Italian subs left in the area combat ends.
Aborted Italian sub returns to La Speiza.
2 aborted Dutch CP's make it to Liverpool.

Cape St. Vincent.

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2. (continued).

[ax] Bay of Biscay.
German u-boat in 2-box initiates.
CW only as 1 possible air reaction. Albacore in Derry.
Assume you wish to react him to 0-box?

[al] Correct.

[ax] Bay of Biscay. Search.
Germany/Italy=3, CW=8, only the axis find.
The axis choose the 0-box, which gives them 6 SP's.
4 SP's used to force a sub combat.

[ax] (1) Axis have 13 sub factors against 19 CP's (10 ships). This equates to an initial CW risk of X, D, 3A (3 CP's sunk, 3 aborted).
(2) RN has 5 ASW vs 4 subs. This equates to an initial axis risk of X, 2A.
(3) Axis use their remaining 2 SP's to shift their risk down to 2A.

[al] Aborted cps to Liverpool, s'il vous plait.

[ax] copy that.

[ax] Axis risk. 2A.
A on Sub 4835 (1-box)=7, aborted.
A on Sub 4830 (1-box)=3, aborted.
CW CP losses. 3 CP's sunk, 3 aborted.

[ax] Assume the RN stays?

[al] Indeed.

[ax] Do forget to put your CP's back on sentry in the areas that you've taken losses or aborts. MWiF takes them off sentry for you under such conditions!

[ax] The axis stay.

Bay of Biscay. Round 1.

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2. (continued).

[ax] Bay of Biscay. Round 2. Search.
Axis=10, RN=3. RN only this times finds. But only the Suffolk in the 3-box.
3 options.
(1) Use 4 SP's to avoid combat.
(2) Select both German & Italian sub in 1 & 2 box. This would give you 8 SP's. RN would have 3 surface vs 2 ships (2 A initially) and axis would have 4 surface vs 1 ship (A initially).
(3) Or select Italian sub in 1 box or German sub in 2-box. This would give you either 8 or 9 SP's. Can work this out in more detail but I suspect if you choose to fight you'll pick both boxes.
Instructions?

[al] RN will fight both boxes. WIth 8 surprise:
- Reduce damage taken by RN to n/a (2 surprise)
- Increase damage inflicted on subs to 2D 3A (6 surprise)

[ax] Bay of Biscay. Round 2. Surface Combat.
RN risk is none.
Axis risk is 2D, 3A.
D on German sub 4838=1, damaged.
D on Italian sub 5042=6, damaged.

[ax] A on German sub 4838=1, aborted.
With 2 A's left damaged Italian sub 5042 is aborted.
This ends the naval combat in the Bay of Biscay.

[ax] German aborts return to Brest. Italian aborts to La Spezia.

[ax] CW CP's aborts to Liverpool.

[ax] North Sea. German u-boats choose not to initiate.

Bay of Biscay. Round 2.

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2. (continued).

[ax] Strategic Bombing.
Japan. 2 factors vs Chengtu=9+1=10.
China loses 1 PP and their saved oil point.

[al] Damn it.

[ax] I know ... but with 2 shots a turn and barring incredible bad luck (or good luck however you look at it), I was eventually going to get that oil.

[al] I suppose it was bound to happen given enough bombing attemps.

[ax] Exactly.

Strategic Bombing. Japan.

{SUCCESS!!!}

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2. (continued).

[ax] Ground Strike.
Germany & Italy none.
Japan x 2.
(1) Ki-30 Ann (1 factor) vs Chaing & inf army.
(2) Ki-51 Sonia (2 factors) vs Mao & inf army.

[ax] Ki-51 (2 factors) vs 8th Rte army=1, flipped.
vs Mao HQ-I=9, missed.

[ax] Ki-30 (1 factors) vs 17 inf army=9, missed.
vs Chaing HQ-I=8, missed.

Ground Strikes. Japan.

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940. Axis #2. (concluded).

[ax] Rail.
Japan. None.
Germany. von Leeb. Occupied France 55,32 to 55,24.

[ax] Land Moves.
German uses her 6 land moves to move 6 units at flank speed towards the BEF holding up in Bordeaux.
Japan uses her 3 land moves to disembark 3 armies to (1) Rashin, Korea, (2) Haichow, China, (3) Port Arthur, Manchuria.

[ax] Land Combat. None.

[ax] Air Rebase.
Germany x 5.
(1-2). Nav2 & FTR2 to Brest.
(3) ATR from Rouen to France 58, 26.
(4) Ju 87B to France 59, 26
(5) FTR2 to France 61, 25.

[ax] Air Rebase. Italy x 2.
(1) FTR2 to France 57, 25.
(2) LND2 to France 60,26.

[ax] Air Rebase. Japan x 1. A6M2 (Zero) from Fukouka to Changchun, Man

[ax] No HQ reorg. Which ends my impulse.

[ax] 07-SEP-OCT-1940-AX-02-EOI.zip game turn sent.

The Western Front.

[Centuur]

I would move one of the Hungarian units into the three hexes which count for the garrison ratio to make it count for breaking the pact...

[brian brian]

With 19 Convoy Points sitting somewhat within range of the Luftwaffe's Zerstörers and all the various Heinkels, I would have sent all the Italians possible to the Bay of Biscay. The Germans will need land impulses and lots of them (weather soon to shorten turns) to move units east; the Italian SUBs could then be used to continue activation attempts in future impulses. That is the big value of Italian units - action limits. To get at all the nice targets that will be afloat in Biscay, Axis will need multiple bombers to penetrate the likely good AA total from Royal Navy; Italian NAV more useful in France right now than the extra, weak LND3. But Royal Navy seems more concerned with keeping Kriegsmarine in Baltic and the totally not-active part of the map in the west Med than defending Biscay, which might be saved by storms rolling in off Atlantic at any moment.

A good use of the German rail move on a Combined would have been to send a Stuka to Poland, though then you would need a land move to get an HQ close to Brest.

Normally on this turn of the game, the CW moves their convoy lines to the Faeroes Gap via HQ (is Alexander on board yet?), TRS, & ATR re-organization (Harrow already used for bombing mission, I think?) of the CPs in the UK via multiple naval impulses, but in your game they probably seek to extract the Gort HQ and will probably throw everything they have into Biscay to cover that, possibly also via another Combined impulse to de-bark the HQ back into UK same impulse as they didn't bring over the Spitfires (but still could). If they had planned to hold out in SW France they would have stopped on the river hex in front of Bordeaux.

Bayonne, by the way, could have been held already by your clever idea to fly in the PARA (I will keep that one for myself, thanks), by simply returning the ATR to base in that hex. Doubtful the CW would risk attacking a mountain hex, even though out of supply (RAF now in Africa), and with Home Fleet shore bombardment. Though some CW would do exactly that by bringing in fresh troops from the UK to serve as loss takers for a prize as juicy as ATR + PARA, but here the Royal Army is also largely in Africa. Some CW players fight hard in France as a priority due to the fragility of 1941 Russia, some don't. Progress in Africa is good for the Allies, but does little for Russia outside of probably securing the southern Lend Lease route (currently blocked by Vichy Syria, partially)

[brian brian]

Also placing the new FTR2 in East Prussia would get a garrison point without an air mission; moving the short-leg portions of the Luftwaffe east is as slow as putting all the Panzers on train cars.

[Courtenay]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

I would move one of the Hungarian units into the three hexes which count for the garrison ratio to make it count for breaking the pact...

Aren't the Hungarians already in range? Three hexes to the border?

Interestingly, activating the Rumanians will help the Russian garrison ratio far more than the German ratio, as it would put two more Russian units in garrison range.

Lastly, you will have do something about Yugoslavia before you invade Russia, because it is inevitable that the Allies will get four units into some country (either Italy or Albania) adjacent to Yugoslavia at some point.

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

I would move one of the Hungarian units into the three hexes which count for the garrison ratio to make it count for breaking the pact...

ORIGINAL: Courtenay
Aren't the Hungarians already in range? Three hexes to the border?

Interestingly, activating the Rumanians will help the Russian garrison ratio far more than the German ratio, as it would put two more Russian units in garrison range.

Yes.
All three Hungarian units were placed within three hexes of a Soviet controlled hex (i.e., they count towards the Nazi-Soviet pact).

I've attached the before (top) and after (bottom) alignment of Hungary pact ratio. Note that Germany's garrison value indeed jump by 3 from 7 to 10 and their offensive garrison value increased by 6 (3 units + 3 in marker value) from 14 to 20.

The Soviet garrison values increased too because of the units they've deployed in the south that are within 3-hexes of the Hungarian border.