Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR)

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1940, Axis Impulse #6:

Italians keep flooding into Southern France, pushing against a Thin Blue line.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1940, Axis Impulse #6:

Germany declares war on the Netherlands - and Panzers quickly flood the Lowlands.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1940, Axis Impulse #6:

Netherlands falls - sadly, not a single trophy for Axis as ships either sink (1) or escape to UK (3) - but Italians balance it out. Behold: Alpine troops cut through the French lines. And France has no reserves anywhere close by to plug the hole. This is what happens when one over-relies on individual divisions to hold the frontline.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1940, Allied Impulse #7:

Another full-pass attempt from the Allies, hoping to avert what seems to be a German-Belgian declaration of war the next impulse - or Japanese massacre of disorganized Communist Chinese units.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1940, Allied Impulse #7:

Ha! It works.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1940, End of Turn:

With Italians breaking through in the Alps, Americans choose to pick up the French carrier Bearn - as a carrier and not a transport.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1940, End of Turn:

Production:

Germany concentrates on heavy bombers, submarines, and quick militia garrison top-ups. Next turn it's all about long-term ground builds for the potential Soviet campaign.

Italy builds a militia and a submarine.

Japan builds a pilot / carrier air combo, an infantry. Carriers also get a boost - 2 x CV2s are started on, and one light CVL1 enters the second production stage.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1940, End of Turn:

Production:

China builds a Communist MTN and a Nationalist INF division.

British continue the strategy of heavy bombers and cheap territorials. A TRS is sent back for repair; naval gearing overall is down to only 1 unit per turn, and that's dangerously low, something not to repeat in future games as CW.

France builds an infantry, a garrison, and a fighter / pilot combo.

USA starts 2nd phase construction on 1939 battleships, while repairing CV4 Saratoga and building a carrier air.

USSR builds 2 infantry, 2 x LND2, a ski division, and a pilot.

[Rysyonok]

Jul/Aug 1940, Axis Impulse #1:

Germany declares war on Belgium. US entry adds a chit:

[Rysyonok]

Jul/Aug 1940, Axis Impulse #1:

Belgium sets up in the most defensive way possible, across the river.

[Rysyonok]

Jul/Aug 1940, Axis Impulse #1:

All 4 of Italian subs sail to Cape Vincent - carnage follows, with every single surprise point spent for the kill, even at the cost to our submariners.

[Rysyonok]

Jul/Aug 1940, Axis Impulse #1:

The aftermath of Cape Vincent massacre.

[Rysyonok]

Jul/Aug 1940, Axis Impulse #1:

An example of why it's unadvisable to keep HQ on the frontlines.

[Rysyonok]

Jul/Aug 1940, Axis Impulse #1:

German Luftwaffe firebombs Brussels.

[Rysyonok]

Jul/Aug 1940, Axis Impulse #1:

Mostly safe battles - North China partisan clean-up and Belgian all-out assault supported by every possible best unit.

In Central China, IJA troops try to corner a stray flank garrison before considering taking out disorganized Mao INF-HQ.

P.S. Defenders lose the garrison, but 2 Japanese infantry units are disorganized.

[Rysyonok]

Jul/Aug 1940, Allied Impulse #2:

Commonwealth reinforces Cape Vincent with 4 CPs and 2 Dutch cruisers - Italians still hope for a victory - but their luck runs out. No permanent losses, but one submarine ends up damaged, and another one goes home for the turn.

[Rysyonok]

Jul/Aug 1940, Allied Impulse #2:

Commonwealth and French planes stay grounded in preparation for battle support, while Soviet ones fly. And finally there's a hit - an entire Finnish corps is wiped, leaving Helsinki unprotected. Will that be enough for the victory, as two Soviet divisions sit just across the bay, ready to transport?

[Rysyonok]

Jul/Aug 1940, Allied Impulse #2:

French troops move into Belgium, and they are quite well-armed; an AA behind the front lines, 2 ATs right on the front lines. Plenty of cheap divisions scattered all over to absorb or mitigate the losses.

[Rysyonok]

Jul/Aug 1940, Axis Impulse #3:

There are attacks initiated in Belgium, in French Alps, and in Northern China; all of them at meager +8 odds. Axis is tempting Lady luck; and in Belgium that results in the largest fighter battle to date. Eventually, Allies (or French) retreat, having lost the bomber with its pilot.

[Rysyonok]

Jul/Aug 1940, Axis Impulse #3:

Battles go very poorly for Allies.

Italians break through further in the Alps, potentially forcing French to fall back to Marseilles.