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Sep/Oct 1939. Allied #6. CW Strategic Bombing of Berlin.

The CW used its new base at Fredickshaven, Denmark to bomb Berlin against this turn. However, unlike the last rail, the RAF badly missed their mark and caused no damage. Gort was used to reorganize the RAF Wellesley bomber so it can have another go at targets in Germany next impulse.

Sep/Oct 1939. Allied #6. Northern Denmark.

The CW reinforced their position in northern Denmark by bringing in a 7-4 motorized corps and a Spitfire fighter unit.

My plan is to pull Gort out and put him into France along with two other corps. I do plan to replace Gort (his position) with two militia units. All of this will have to be done over the next two turns. I plan to use the Fredickshaven as a base from which to bomb Germany and attack German convoys in the Baltic.

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

ORIGINAL: Orm

Is Japan letting China use sea supply?!

Orm, So I used the form to trace the supply to the Chinese 2-4 cavalry corps. It's supply route is using sea supply. Though I'm not sure what Japan can do about it? I assume it's the CW and French ships in the China and South China Seas that are supplying this unit.

Any Japanese surface combat ships, or naval bombers, in those sea areas will block the Chinese sea supply.

The CW or French ships can not break the Japanese blockade unless they are at war with Japan.

Note that Japan may begin the campaign with ships at sea so that the Chinese sea supply is blocked from the beginning of the game.

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

ORIGINAL: Orm

Is Japan letting China use sea supply?!

Orm, So I used the form to trace the supply to the Chinese 2-4 cavalry corps. It's supply route is using sea supply. Though I'm not sure what Japan can do about it? I assume it's the CW and French ships in the China and South China Seas that are supplying this unit.

Any Japanese surface combat ships, or naval bombers, in those sea areas will block the Chinese sea supply.

The CW or French ships can not break the Japanese blockade unless they are at war with Japan.

Note that Japan may begin the campaign with ships at sea so that the Chinese sea supply is blocked from the beginning of the game.

Thanks. I can guarantee then that the Japanese will stop Chinese sea supply this very next impulse.

Sep/Oct 1939. Axis #7. Weather Roll.

The fine weather experienced since the start of this game turns to rain and storms across Northern Hemisphere and the equatorial regions. That is, rain and storms rage across all areas where this war is (currently) being fought.

All three axis powers use this weather as an opportunity to take much needed naval options. Germany to move vital convoys and escorts out to sea in the Baltic. Japan to ship ground troops out of Japan, including Yamamato's HQ, out to sea and headed to China to reinforce the IJA forces there. And, to correct a strategic mistake I made with Japan during setup. I didn't put any Japanese warships in the China or South China seas, which allowed the Chinese to draw sea supply for units that should have been out of supply and which liberated a couple of ports from the Japanese that shouldn't have been.

It's just the first turn and I've make two critical mistakes already. I guess you wouldn't know that I've been trying to learn and play this game for over a year now. [:(]

Sep/Oct 1939. Axis #7. China Sea.

I know I've broken a cardinal rule and spread IJN forces in the China Sea across several (really all five) sea boxes. There is a method to my madness. This spread is the composite of three naval missions. The first two are transport and protection. The first transport task force consists of two TRS and 1 AMPH in the 3 box escorted by 1 cruiser to match the allied threat to the area (1 single CW cruisers). If Japan and the CW were at war, which they aren't, I would have put more cruisers and added BB's and CV's to the escort. Essentially I would have assessed the risk significantly more serious that I have now. But, since they weren't at war I put what I though might be the minimum escort. Too risky?

The second transport task force includes a single TRS escorted by 1 cruiser. Same logic used for transport task force 1.

Now the third mission is convoy protection. And I generally follow the strategy I about to, attempt to, describe for the CW and USA. In box 0, with the CPs, I put the number and composition of ships that I think can adequately defend against the threat is or could materialize at sea there. In this specific case the threat is from a single RN CA from a neutral CW. For For the allies, the threat to convoys often consists of u-boats and submarines (e.g., German + Italian threat to Cape St. Vincent). So in the case the escort task force would need to consist of cruisers with good ASW values. So this takes care of the ships in the 0 box. For the remaining ships (those in the 1 and 4 box), I then form a second task force composed of the same type and number of ships as I put in the 0 box. I place all but one of those ships (usually a cruiser) in the 1 box and "break off" from this second task force a heavy cruiser which I place in the 4 box. I do this to give myself better search potential. When the turn ends the forces in the 0 box have to return to base. Those in the 1 box will be kept at sea and moved down to the 0 box and the one cruiser in the 4 box is moved down to the 3 box. So when the next turn comes I'm not rushed to get more escorts to the 0 box to protect my CPs, I already have those forces there. So, when it's convenient I move the lone cruiser in the 3 box (which was in the 4 box last turn) to rejoin his task force in the 0 box. I then move another equivalent task force out to sea there and to the 1 box except for one cruiser who breaks off to the 4 box. Where possible I follow this strategy for the CW, USA and Japan in critical sea areas. I'm interested to know what you pros think about this "strategy".

Sep/Oct 1939. Axis #7. Question on the Global Map.

Why doesn't the IJN CL in the 4 box in the Marianas show up on the global map? Additionally, there are IJN cruisers at sea in the Solomon and Coral Sea that are also not shown.

Sep/Oct 1939. Axis #7. The Eastern Med.

Both the RM and RN find each other in the Eastern Med. An naval air battle ensures. Well, sort of. The only air unit in the area, the Italian NAV has its bombs reduced to 0 and has no effect. Of course, without having any planes to contribute to an naval air battle, the RN has no effect on the RM. In the second round of searches neither side is able to find the other so this phantom naval battle ends.

Sep/Oct 1939. Axis #7. The Italian Coast.

Off the Italian coast a second naval battle took place and this one was no phantom. The RM manages to surprise and sink the lone RN heavy cruiser on patrol there without taking any damage or having any ships aborted.

Sep/Oct 1939. Axis #7. Italians headed to North Africa.

The original plan, before CW intervention into Denmark which forced an early Italian DOW, the Italians were planning on invading Greece from Albania the turn after their DOW against the CW sometime in 1940 when France was on the ropes. Because of their premature DOW and to keep the CW honest in Egypt (i.e., specifically forcing the CW to keep Wavell in Egypt), the Italians moved Graziani and an Italian 3-3 out of Albania and to sea for deployment to Libya at the end of the turn. Also, they moved an Italian bomber from Albania to Libya and have a fighter en-route (currently in Sicily) from Albania to Libya.

Sep/Oct 1939. Axis #7. Germany Aligns Hungary.

Germany allows both Hungary's and Bulgaria's claim on Romania. Germany aligns Hungary and places their troops in a position to add to the Nazi-Soviet pact garrison count.

Sep/Oct 1939. Axis # 7. The Baltic.

Germany uses the naval to move all the CPs and the entire KM into the Baltic. They also load Rundstedt and a garrison onto an AMPH and TRS for transport to the West.

Sep/Oct 1939. Axis #7. Bay of Biscay.

Germany moves its two U-boat flotillas into the Bay of Biscay but decides not to engage because of the RN escorts in box 0.

Sep/Oct 1939. Axis #7. Luftwaffe Ground Strike. Frederikshavn, Denmark.

In the hopes of disorganizing the RAF Wellesley bomber unit the Germans ground strike Frederikshavn. The ground strike is unsuccessful.

Sep/Oct 1939. Axis #7. Luftwaffe Rebase.

The Germans use their second air move to rebase a fighter unit to provide defense of Berlin, Hamburg, Essen, Hanover, Leipzig and an unnamed oil facility against RAF strategic bombing.

Sep/Oct 1939. Allied #9.

This was a shot impulse for the allies. The only action worth reporting was an RAF strategic bombing raid against Stettin, Germany, which had no effect.

This impulse finished with an end of turn roll of 2 compared against the 30% chance the turn ending, which did.

Compare the all out on Poland to where you would probably be if a modified Fall Gelb had been used: At this moment you would probably have: Netherlands and a line in Belgium from Antwerp to Luxembourg (Including Brussels)...with no O-chits used.

Sep/Oct 1939. End of Turn. Destroyed and Repair Pools.

ORIGINAL: Jagdtiger14

Compare the all out on Poland to where you would probably be if a modified Fall Gelb had been used: At this moment you would probably have: Netherlands and a line in Belgium from Antwerp to Luxembourg (Including Brussels)...with no O-chits used.

Understand. I'm debating whether I should stop this game, start a new and apply what I've learned. Given all the fair weather impulses this turn I could see if I had only deployed 2 army groups for Poland and used 1 for going after Holland and Belgian that the Germans would be in much better shape than they are now. And, of course, not make an attempt to conquer Denmark using only 2 divisions. I hate to stop this game and AAR at such an early point in the game, but I'm itching to apply what I've learned. Playing through a full game of the Global War Scenario is such an investment in time and effort that I would hate to have these doubts / concerns nag me throughout the game.

So unless otherwise persuaded I probably going to stop this game and start another. If I stop it, a question I have is there any value in me doing an AAR on that restart? I know, and agree fully, that the most interesting and informative AARs are those involving multiple players.

Also, there's one other thing that's been nagging at me. I had "advanced" to playing with the 2D10 CRTs but for this game and AAR decided to go back to the 1D10 CRTs. What I learned (or think I learned) was that the 1D10 CRTs de-emphasizes the value of offensive ground strikes and disorganization results in favor of ground support and just adding factors to the attack. For me, ground strikes in support of land combat just felt more realistic than using factors to increase the combat odds. But maybe that's just me.

So, I've decide to stop this AAR (which I'm going to rename), apply what you've all taught me and restart another game. Right now I think I'm going to hold off doing an AAR on my re-start. However, if it's ok with you guys, I would like to post from time to time for advice and criticism from you, the experts. I find it all invaluable to improving my play and understanding this game.