It Takes A Village to Raze a Village

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. Start of Turn. Northern China.

1. Initially, I was a bit teed by the Chinese offensive in then north.
2. However, after looking things over I decided on two things: (a) Not to let this offensive interfere with my plans in central China to capture Changsha and (b) Use this offensive to Japan's advantage to inflict greater losses on the Chinese.

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. End of Turn. Northern China.

1. KB's 1st air army, lite tank unit, infantry army, and several garrisons are moved to the north to first bolster defenses, then repel the Chinese offensive and lastly inflict greater losses on the Chinese than they do on the Japanese.
2. Also, the IJN are sending BBs, CAs and DDs to bombarded any Chinese units that remain on the coast.

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. Start of Turn. Southern/Central China.

1. Again to stress the point I was determined to not let the Chinese offensive in the north interfere with Japan's plans to take Changsha.

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. End of Turn. Southern/Central China.

1. Japan successfully captures Changsha, destroying a Chinese army and garrison in the process.

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. Start of Turn. East Africa.

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. End of Turn. East Africa.

1. Italians move to protect Gondar from the CW forces to the north & northwest.
2. Adm Graf Spee reinforced by 2-steps to 5.
3. Garrison in Mogadishu crosses into Kenya and moves adjacent to an unoccupied Kenyan port.

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. Start of Turn. Eastern Libya/Egypt.

1. The CW moves a very strong tank unit to take up the defense of El Alamein.

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. End of Turn. Eastern Libya/Egypt.

1. The Italians reinforce their tanks by 5-steps to 7.
2. They also do a bit of shifting frontline units.
3. At best Italian is in a stalemate until the DAK arrives.
4. At worse, and I fear the worse, the CW will start pushing the Italians back. Historically, the British 8th army was on their way to Tripoli until the axis invasion of Greece, which diverted CW troops, and the DAK arrived.

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. Start of Turn. The Western Front (Main Sector).

1. Looks like the BEF has bugged out.

Austria.
1. Note that two new arriving German units, an HQ and armor corps, were deployed to the Austria. I assume some time pretty soon I'll need to at least deal with Yugoslavia. Not sure about Greece through. How critical is it for the axis to take Greece?

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. Start of Turn. The Western Front (Southern Sector).

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. End of Turn. The Western Front.

1. Definitely taking my own sweet time. But I just don't see going directly for Paris until I can establish bridgeheads on the west side of the Seine and attack Paris from that side.
2. Not shown. An Italian garrison was able to capture the open city of Marsellies.

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. Battle of the Atlantic (1/3).

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. Battle of the Atlantic (2/3).

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. Battle of the Atlantic (3/3).

[rkr1958]

Turn 29. Axis. September 29, 1940. MPPs & Builds.

Germany
1. II corps rebuilt for 75 MPPs.
2. 1st cav div for 76 MPPs.
3. 16th gar for 42 MPPs.

Italy
1. Decima MAS Special Forces for 185 MPPs.

Japan
1. II Corps for 150 MPPs.

[rkr1958]

Turn 31. Axis. October 25, 1940. Opening Messages.

[rkr1958]

Turn 31. Axis. October 25, 1940. Decision Event. Africa Korps.

[rkr1958]

Turn 31. Axis. October 25, 1940. Italy/DAK. Start of Turn.

Wow ... after looking at Rommel and his forces and reviewing the situation in Egypt I decided the following:

1. Rommel and his DAK will go to Russia instead of getting tangled up with the British in North Africa.
2. But first, all "DAK" forces will be reinforced to max strength and upgraded.
3. Italy in North Africa will fight a defensive withdrawal and hold Libya as long as possible.
4. The Italian forces in North Africa will NOT be getting any additional forces. They are on their own.

[rkr1958]

Turn 31. Axis. October 25, 1940. Italy/DAK. End of Turn.

[rkr1958]

Turn 31. Axis. October 25, 1940. Libya/Egypt. Start of Turn.