HB (Allies) vs MM (Axis) No MM for now.

[Harrybanana]

JULY 5, 1940

2 MS sunk, but I also score 2 more hits on MM's U-Boats.

The Germans advance and capture Paris and Rouen to cause the French surrender on the next Axis turn. I am very impressed by MM's play and disappointed in my own. Remember that MM conquered Belgium on the 1st May turn and the 2nd May turn was heavy rain. So he really conquered France in only 3 turns. Meanwhile in our mirror game it will take me at least 5 turns to do the same. I am however pleased with the British and French air forces, which continue to give as good or better than they get.

[Harrybanana]

The Front after my moves. I attacked Rouen several times at 1:1 odds, but no luck. I probably could have taken it if the British had helped rather than running. Otherwise I took a page from MM's book and made several suicide attacks myself. The French still have sizable forces (which is my bad) so I think MM will accept the Vichy surrender. I think all my Brits will get away, but it is far from certain.

[Harrybanana]

The quick collapse of France has caught me with my pants down in the Middle East. I DOWed Italy to prevent any surprise attacks. I did transport the armour I built there, but otherwise my forces are weak. MM has 2 Italian mobile units on the border. I will find out next turn if they are just a bluff.

[Harrybanana]

Forces and Casualties. This was at the beginning of my turn. You may want to compare this with the Forces and Casualties in our mirror game as of the same date. I note that these tables are not entirely accurate. For example I know that I lost a large British Corps in France. By itself this would be 30 casualties, not to mention the losses suffered by my mobile units attacking the German mech.

[Harrybanana]

July 19, 1940

Not a bluff. The Italians not only advance on Egypt with their armour, they also invade West of Alexandria and move in a threatening fleet. Intelligence says the Italian fleet is only 5 units.

[Harrybanana]

I move in my carrier fleet to air attack the Italian fleet. I keep it 5 hexes away to minimize the chances of the Italian fleet intercepting me. It's interception attempt fails to find me and the air counterattack draws first blood for the RN. Just as well that he failed to intercept me as the intelligence report was wrong.

[Harrybanana]

I go ahead with the invasion of Vichy Syria and below are my final positions in the Middle East. Off map, some RN reinforcements are steaming towards Egypt just East of Malta.

[Harrybanana]

I still have one corps in France. MM could probably kill it if he wants, but if so it should inflict more casualties. 4 MS are sunk. The Russians build an infantry corps. from now on I will build 1 Russian corps per turn and use the rest of my production each turn for replacements and upgrades.

[Harrybanana]

AUG 2, 1940

A bad turn for the Allies in the BOA as 8 MS and 2 escorts sunk against 2 U-Boat hits.

During the Axis turn an Italian CA is sunk by a carrier air strike. But the Italian navy gets some revenge in the exchange shown below. I stayed 5 hexes away, but this time the Italian fleet found me.

[Harrybanana]

I score 4 more hits with carrier strikes, moved damaged units to safety and then merge my 2 RN Fleets. I thought that if the Italians intercepted the combined fleet would strike back. I was wrong as only the moving ships were involved in the battle. But those 2 BBs performed very well. Unfortunately my fleet is now in range of Italian bombers. I will find out next turn how that goes.

[Harrybanana]

In Egypt, MM's Italian armour are unable to retreat my infantry corps. But I pull back anyway and these are my final positions. 3 German units near Tobruk suggest that MM is serious about capturing the Middle East. More reinforcements steam towards the Middle East. As MM has been building U-Boats I am hoping that he doesn't have the LCs for a Sealion.

[Harrybanana]

I made a mistake and used up too many transports before I moved this corps. Hopefully it won't cost me, but it probably will. In hindsight I should at least have put the unit in garrison mode to gain the production.

[ago1000]

About Aug 2, 1940, Alfred Mahan would be proud.[:)] Always liked the naval engagements.

[Harrybanana]

AUG 16, 1940

He didn't attack my infantry corps in Cherbourg so it escapes to fight another day. The Italians retreat both fleets and armies in Egypt and their air attacks on my fleet are rebuffed. Will they be back with their German friends?

[Harrybanana]

But the Italian venture into Egypt did distract me enough that I didn't see that last turn he must have moved the Kriegsmarine into the Atlantic somewhere (probably near the North map edge). So this turn the German Fleet joins the U-Boats in wreaking havoc on British shipping. 7 MS and an escort are sunk. The Home Fleet isn't even close enough for a pursuit combat. This could get ugly. Did I mention that last turn (Aug 2) he did conquer the Netherlands. The 3 escorts and 30 MS are welcome.

[Harrybanana]

It doesn't look like he intends to attack Vichy at all; probably smarter than me. It does look like he intends to invade Yugoslavia though. The UK builds 4 LC.

[Harrybanana]

Another bad couple weeks for the Allies in the BOA. 12 MS and 2 escorts are sunk by U-Boats and raiders. I do damage 2 U-Boats (Hurrah).

MM makes the mistake of moving his German Fleet (absent the Bismark) too close to Iceland allowing me to get medium recon on him.

[Harrybanana]

I split my chasing fleet into two fleets, a small fleet with just a carrier and a couple escorts and a larger fleet with my BBs. The carrier fails to find the target but the battle fleet does resulting in this combat. It would have been better if the carrier found it, but I will take what I can get. There is a risk that MM will attack my carrier fleet, but I think the odds of him finding it are not good.

[Harrybanana]

Libya/Egypt remain quiet. I use the opportunity to advance a little and position my mechanized to attack Iraq.

[Harrybanana]

MM will have a much more powerful invasion of Yugoslavia than I will.