Solo AAR for Global War

[craigbear]

Nov/Dec 1941 con't

End of Turn Sequence

There are no Partisans.

USA draws a chit agains Japan, bringing entry to 38 and 34 respectively for Japan and Germany, with tensions of 22 and 21 in turn. USA passes War Appropriations.

Production:

Germany - 1 ART, 2 MOT Div, 2 INF, 1 MECH Div, 1 MECH, 1 Pilot, 1 SUB, 1 SUB 2nd, 1 NAV (29 BP)
Italy - 1 NAV, 1 BB repair, 2 CPs (7 BP)
Japan - 1 INF, 2 CA repair, 4 Pilot, 3 CVP (16 BP)
Vichy - 1 TERR (2 BP)
China - 1 MIL, 1 ART, 1 CAV Div (7 BP)
CW - 3 CA, 4 FTR, 1 Pilot, 1 MIL, 1 MECH (20 BP)
France - 1 ARM-HQ (8 BP)
USA - 1 CA, 5 CV 2nd, 1 CA repair, 1 Pilot, 1 CVP, 1 TERR, 1 MTN Div, 1 SUB, 1 ARM Div, ( 29 BP)
USSR - 4 INF, 1 FTR, 1 LND, 3 Pilots, 1 LND3, (25 BP)

[Courtenay]

If I were the Axis powers in this game, I would not be happy. The Germans are considerably short of their historical position in Russia. They have done better in Egypt, but I really don't see them getting much further, unless they can cut supply and they can flip some CW units. The Japanese seem to be more or less stuck in China.

One thing that I noticed is that unless an Axis power declares war on it, the US is going to crippled by air and pilot gearing limits. Getting the 5 Essexes built now is great, but what CVPs will be put on them in five turns? If I were the Japanese, I would seriously consider declaring war on the CW only, to get the NEI, Singapore, and Rabaul, and suffer my lumps on the surprise turn when the US declares war on me. Of course, I would also seriously consider NOT doing that; successful US searches in the China and South China Seas could be very bad.

[craigbear]

You are right about Germany's poor position against Russia. The Dneipre line was broken too late to take advantage of it and a couple of very poor rolls did not help.

I think attacking Norway did more harm than good... and constructing an extra TRS I did not truly need did not help. Also, the Condors were built for that action but are not proving all that useful and took BPs away from building units for the fight against Russia.

Finally, allowing Russia ability to attack my CPs in the Baltic lost 4 BPs at a critical time.

Between all these, I think 18~20 BPs were misspent. With similar bad effects on gearing.

North Africa is over... there was opportunity to break the Nile line but a couple of poor rolls ended that.

Thanks for the advice on the Pacific. I am likely to be quite traditional here, though, just to see how it goes. I intend to try a bit of a risky strategy as Japan, leaving my Navy at sea at the end of this turn for a super Pearl at the beginning of the next (unless the USA DoWs me first).

I may reconsider this however, given your advice.

Thanks for the feedback!

[craigbear]

Jan/Feb 1942

Allies win initiative. No reroll request is made.

Allied Impulse #1

Weather is a 3 giving Storm in the Arctic, Rain in the N. Temperate, Rain in the S. Monsoon and Fine everywhere else.
At only 10% chance, the USA does not declare war on Japan.

CW takes a combined, hoping to take advantage of the supply situation in the East Med. The USA does likewise. France takes a Naval. The USSR takes a combined as well, hoping to find Axis CPs in the Stormy Baltic sea zone. China takes a land.

CW moves a strong Spitfire into the 0 Box in the East Med to supplement its defense of the CP there.

In Naval moves, France does convoy protection while the CW TRS carries a couple of divisions (1 Motorized) to the Arabian Sea. A strong CV force is moved to the 4 box of the East Med. The Soviets move 2 SUBs into the 4 and 3 boxes of the Baltic.

OOPs... the Baltic is in N. Temperate. No Storm for the Soviets. A German Condor intervenes in the 0 box. The Russians do not commit their SUBs. No other combats are declared.

CW conducts Ground strikes with 1 factor cvps (2), 1 factor FTR, and a 3 factor ARTY. None are successful.
CW land moves are reshuffling units in Egypt. Russia does the same on its Western Front. China stays still as does the USA.

The CW declares and attack on an Italian MECH across the Nile East of Alexandria. A modified 21 is a great result and the hex is taken and Alexandria falls in the Breakthrough. The Axis position in Egypt has now become untenable and supply may not be able to be restored.

Rebases are handled. Gort reorganizes the 3 STR ART in Egypt.

[Courtenay]

If the Japanese fleet is adjacent to Pearl, I hope the US pulled its carriers out of the place!

[craigbear]

The set up for this action has not happened yet... and moving the CVs would affect DoW chances by the USA, making a separate attack vrs CW/FRANCE more likely.

Also, USA would have to get initiative to pull their CVs. The Japanese fleet will stay at sea at the end of turn to do attack at the beginning of the following turn.

I will have to see how it games out. As the American, I would certainly do as you say.

[Courtenay]

OK. I misunderstood. I thought the Japanese were going for the DOW this turn, not next.

[craigbear]

Turns out that'll not work out... check upcoming report. Likely will be no Pearl harbour.

[craigbear]

Jan/Feb 1942 con't

Axis Impulse #3

Germany takes a Land while Japan and Italy take combineds.

Italy moves an FTR into the 1 Box of the East Med and 1 3 ship task force made of CLs there as well, picking up a surrounded INF div in Egypt. Japan transports some land units to the Chinese coastal areas, north and south areas.
CW activates in East Med. an Italian NAV intercepts in the 1 box. No successful search is made.

No Strat bombing or Ground Strikes are attempted. Germany does rail 3 units. Land Movements by Italy are to retreat to better??? lines in North Africa and Germany, to position for attacks in the next impulse. Japan lands a unit in Siam, north of Singapore and moves a unit forward in the direction of French-IndoChina on the coast of the South China Sea.

No Land attacks are done. Germany reorganizes some of the units railed forward.

Allied Impulse #5

Weather is a 2 giving Rain in the Arctic and N. Temperate and Fine everywhere else.

CW and USA take combineds. China and USSR take Lands. France takes a Naval Action.

A CW FTR flies to the 0 box in the West Med and a NAV enters the 4 box in the Italian Coast. A FTR3 enters the Norwegian Sea 3 Box.

During Naval Moves, CW adds a carrier fleet to the 0 Box of the Norwegian Sea.

Norwegian Sea is activated, but fails. Italian Coast is activated and a German FTR enters the 0 box. No searches succeed. Finally, the CW activates in the East Med... and a final sea search fails.

No Strat Bombing occurs but the CW attempts to GS and OOS INF West of Port Said. It fails.

CW moves to set up attacks in Egypt while Russia and China work on their defensive lines.

CW attacks in Egypt against Out of Supply Axis stack and gets a breakthrough with no losses or disorganized units and 2 lost units for the Axis.

[craigbear]

Jan/Feb 1942 con't

Axis Impulse #7

Italy takes an Air. Japan takes a combined action. And Germany takes a land.

Japan moves a TRS and an AMPH into the Marianas area and sends a CV to Truk. No STRAT bombing is undertaken by any Axis power.

2 German LND and 2 Italians move to Ground Strike the hex NE of the Crimean Peninsula. All three units in the stack are disorganized.

Germany rails an INF to La Spezia. They move forward to attack the disorganised stack. Japan moves its units in the North as much as a combined move allows. Germany follows with a paradrop on an Italian ATR that is not intercepted.

Germany declares 1 attack on the hex NE of Crimea. It adds 11 factors (x.5) to the attack. The Soviets do not intercept not do they send any Ground Support. The hex is taken by Germany with all defenders retreated and 1/2 attacker disorg. (Unfortunately, I forgot to take a screenie of this combat).

Reorganization is done by Germany in the south front and Italy of its air. Japan reorganizes a rebased CV with a TRS and Amph.

The turn ends on a 1.

(Incidentally saving the Axis in North Africa (for now)).

[craigbear]

Jan/Feb 1942 con't

End of Turn Sequence

A French partisan arrives in Narvik displacing the German CP there. A Russian is placed near Vitebsk. The overrun CP makes it through two sea zones to Kiel.

USA chooses a chit for each of Germany and Japan.

[craigbear]

Jan/Feb 1942 con't

Production:

Germany - 1 INF HQ, 4 MOT, 2 ARM, 1 LND, 1 FTR, 1 Pilot, 1 SUB (40 BP)
Italy - 1 INF-HQ, 2 CP, 1 Pilot, 1 Naval repair CA ( 10 BP)
Japan - 1 INF, 1 MAR, 5 Pilots, 1 Repair CA (19 BP)
Vichy - 1 TERR, 1 saved (3 BP)
China - 1 INF, 1 MECH Div (6 BP)
CW - 1 INF-HQ, 1 MOT, 2 Pilots, 2 CV, 1 BB 2nd, 1 CV 2nd, 1 LND4 (27 BP)
France - 1 AMPH (3 BP)
USA - 1 BB 2nd, 1 CA 2nd, 3 CA repair, 1 AMPH, 1 TRS, 1 MAR, 2 Pilot, 2 CVP (40 BP)
USSR - 1 INF-HQ, 1 ARM-HQ, 1 AT, 2 INF, 2 MIL, 3 Pilot, 2 LND, 2 FTR (29 BP)

[craigbear]

Europe, Russia and N. African states...

[craigbear]

And the State of China...

[craigbear]

Mar/Apr 1942

Initiative is Allied but Axis gains initiative after asking for a reroll.

Axis Impulse #1

Weather is crap... Blizzard in the Arctic, Snow in the North Temp, Storm in the Med, Rain in teh N. Monsoon, and Storm in both S. Monsoon and S. Temperate.


Here's a conundrum. 40% chance of a USA DoW. As the Japanese, I am tempted to take a naval and set up for attacks next impulse, with a stack ready to do Pearl even though an American Surprise turn is possible. If they DoW successfully, then CW and company will do likewise and surprise will be lost across the board. If they do not, then surprise can be retained against both USA and CW with a Pearl Harbor as well. I know Pearl is not all that, but it would still be nice... although the CVs are likely to have evacuated (but that would result in relatively less likelyhood of a DoW this turn). Now, if I just go ahead with a super-combined and DoW the first impulse, that means no Pearl, but does allow a lot of attacks. However, the weather at the moment sucketh and is quite likely to be better next impulse... so that is another consideration.

This will wait on the morrow... I have some thinking to do for next impulse.

[Courtenay]

If I were the Japanese, I would not expect a US DOW attempt this turn, so would go for an attack next impulse, not this one. The reason is what happens if the DOW fails -- the US would lose a chit from both pools, meaning that a DOW next turn would still have the same odds as this turn. If they don't DOW, then next turn, the DOW would work at 60% (Germany) and 70% (Japan). Thus not trying to DOW this turn would force the Japanese to DOW this turn. Guaranteeing that the US enters the war this turn seems worth accepting a Pearl Harbor.

This seems to me to be the better situation for the US. Of course, it would be better for them if they DOWed this turn and succeeded, but that only happens 40% of the time, and, when I am the US player, that 40% feels more like 4%.

[craigbear]

Still thinking...

This is solitaire, so in reality, Japan has no idea what the USA DoW percentage is; therefore, I have decided to calculate what the perceived DoW chance is rather than what is known to help in deciding.

Calculating at 2 per chit, I get a perceived value of 36 for entry and 22 for tension, giving a 30% chance of a DoW which is modified to 40%, .

So both perceived and actual DoW chances are the same... which means this little exercise served as no help whatsoever.

[craigbear]

Mar/Apr 1942

Initiative is Allied but Axis gains initiative after asking for a reroll.

Axis Impulse #1

Weather is crap... Blizzard in the Arctic, Snow in the North Temp, Storm in the Med, Rain in teh N. Monsoon, and Storm in both S. Monsoon and S. Temperate.

Italy takes a combined, Germany a Land and Japan a Naval.

Japan moves several carriers off of Pearl Harbour with an escort. Sveral ships are on convoy escort duty as well. Italy moves Subs into North Atlantic and Cape St. Vincent.

Search by Italy in North Atlantic fails. Italian Sub finds in the Stormy St. Vincent. There are no escorts... 7 surprise points, 2 of which mean no abort of the SUB, and the other 5 of 5 increase damage to CW convoys. 2 are destroyed and 3 (French) aborted. The Italians find again in the 2nd round., this time with 5 surprise... 2 cp are damaged and 1 aborted. There is no third round.

[craigbear]

Mar/Apr 1942 con't

Axis Impulse #1 con't

No STRAT bombing occurs. Japan does no Ground Strikes. 2 Germans and 2 Italian LNDs Ground Strike SE of Dnepropetrovsk. They are intercepted by a 4 factor Russiand which is in turn counter intercepted by a 5 and 6 factor German. The Russian FTR is destroyed while the pilot remains alive, while a 19 takes out the italian front LND with pilot. 2 or 3 units are disorganized.

Germany moves to attack on the Russian Front. Italian HQ in Egypt and the German ARM div move to the Coast and into supply but disorganized. Italy its ART into a better position.

Germany delares 2 attacks... 1 on the Russian Partisan and one near Dnepropetrovsk. Italy makes a suicide attack against Wavell in Egypt with its INF that is trapped on the coast.

Germany adds a few LND for ground support but the Russians do not intercept nor add their own support.
In Egypt, Wavell chooses assault. The Italians lose and are eliminated. By Dnepropetrovsk, a 16 is modified to 23 for 2 destroyed Russian units and no disorganization. Likewise, an 18 modified to top of the table is rolled on the partisan near Vitebsk.

The Germans do 8 points worth of reorganizations in the South.

[craigbear]

Mar/Apr 1942 con't

Allied Impulse #4

CW and France take Naval Actions. The USA takes a combined. Russia and China take Land.

CW and France move to shore up convoy lines. The USA moves two CVs out of Honolulu and a cruiser into Honolulu.
CW activates a search in the Italian Coast; however, Italy finds with 4 surprise and spends it to Avoid Combat. CW activates in the East Med and finds with surprise (5 points) which is used to increase damage to Italy by 1 column and decrease damage to CW by 1 column. Both Italian CLs are destroyed in the surface action in Stormy seas. Italy activates in the North Sea but both sides fail to find.

No STRAT bombing occurs. There are no Ground Strikes.

USSR rails a MIL to the front. Movement is largely shoring up the front lines against German attacks.

France uses some TRS to reorganize its CPs that were aborted during last Axis impulse.