Reporting from the Front. A Narrative AAR.

[rkr1958]

Turn 2. Nov/Dec 1939. End of Turn. Victory Totals.

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Turn 2. Nov/Dec 1939. End of Turn. Control.

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Turn 2. Nov/Dec 1939. End of Turn. Units.

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Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Scrap/Place Units.

[al] China - none
No reinforcements

[al] CW scraps FTR Hurricane, CVP Baffin and CVP Swordfish, LND Anson and LND Blenheim.
MIL placed in Glasgow

[al] France does not scrap.
France assigns a PIL to the Potez.
The Yugoslavian MIL goes in their respective city
The Potez is placed in Paris
The Yugoslavian MTN is put in Sarajevo

[al] US no scrapping
US assigns no pilots
CV Saratoga and INF DIV is placed in San Diego
Remove pilot for F4F-3

[al]
USSR no scrapping
USSR assigns a pilot to FTR I-153
FTR is placed in Smolensk
6-3 INF is placed in Vitebsk
5-3 INF is placed in Pskov
3-1 GARR is placed in Dnepropetrovsk
4-3 CC INF is placed in Taiyuan

[ax] Scrap/Place Units. Germany.
(1) Scrap. Do 17E LND3, He 111B LND3, Ju 86D LND3, Do 17M LND3, Ju 86G LND3.
(2) Budapest & Bremen MILs placed in their respective cities.
(3) No planes removed.

[ax] Scrap/Place Units. Italy.
(1) Scrap. BA.65 LND2, Ca.133 LND3
(2) No units to place.
(3) No planes removed.

[ax] Scrap/Place Units. Japan.
(1) Scrap. Ki-21-I (Sally) LND3, D3A1 (Val) NAV2.
(2) Place Units. Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Seoul MILs in their respective cities
(3) Manchuria Terr in Kirin Manchuria.
(4) No planes removed.

[rkr1958]

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Allied Units Scrapped To-Date.

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Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis Units Scrapped To-Date.

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Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Start of Turn. China.

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Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Start of Turn. Korea and Manchuria.

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Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Start of Turn. West Med.

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Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Start of Turn. East Med.

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Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Start of Turn. Europe.

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Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Start of Turn. Resource Lending.

[ax] Resource Lending. Changes.
(1) Germany. 3 BPs to Italy.
(2) CW. 1 oil RP to China.
(3) France. 1 RP to China.

[rkr1958]

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Start of Turn. Initiative.

[ax] Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Initiative.
(1) Axis +2 and win ties.
(2) Axis=9+2=11, Allied=3.
(3) Axis win 11 to 3 and elect to move first.

[rkr1958]

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #1. Weather.

[ax] Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #1.
Weather, D10=5. AR=snow, NT=snow, MD=rain, NM=fine, SM=rain, ST=fine.
Impulse advance=2, DRM=+1.

[rkr1958]

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #1.
(1) Italy declares war on France.
(2) Germany declares war on the Netherlands.
(3) US Entry Action: Italy declares war on France. D10=8, no chit added.
(4) US Entry Action: Axis (Germany) declares war on a minor country (Netherlands). D10=10, no chit added.

[ax] To whom do you wish to align the Netherlands? CW or France?
How do you wish to set them up?

[al] Netherlands goes with CW

[al] INF + CA + SUB + 1 Convoy in Rotterdam. Rest of convoys in Guyana + transport. Terr in Batavia.

[al] I think that works

[ax] Only 6 of the remaining 9 CPs + TRS would fit in Guyana (minor port). I put the remaining 3 CPs with the Terr in Batavia. Hope that works. If it doesn't I can move them.

[ax] (5) Germany aligns Rumania.
(6) US Entry Action: Axis aligns a minor country (Rumania). D10=3, 1 US entry chit added. D[0,365]=22 -> 1 value chit.
(7) No other alignments or special actions.
(8) Actions. Germany - land, Italy - combine, Japan - land.

US Entry Actions.

[rkr1958]

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #1. Surprise Port Strike.

[ax] Port Strike. Italy (surprise) vs French fleet at Marseilles.
(1) Per standing orders, French do not commit their subs.
(2) Non-phasing Side Surprised. D10=10.
(3) This gives the Italians 13 SPs, 2 of which they use to reduce French AA from lowest 1 of 6 to no effect.
(4) 10 of 11 remaining SPs used to increase French risk from A to X, 2D.

[ax] Port Strike Resolution.
(1) The Italian will target the French aircraft carrier, CV Bearn with the first X.
(2) D10=4, sunk.
(3) You get to place the next risk (D). Where please?

[al] You chose all with my best interest in mind 😀

[ax] "You chose all with my best interest in mind 😀" -- Just realized your last guidance. Choosing the next target is a tough one. As I see it there are three somewhat equally valid choices: (1) CP to minimize damage to BBs and CAs, (2) weakest CA (i.e., ship) or (3) the worse (old) BB in order to maximize CA survival which can base outside of metro-France without effecting Vichy determination if I were to go for Vichy (not saying I am or I'm not at this point.

[ax] Since I get to place the last the risk, D, I'll take some of the indecision off the table. I plan to place it on the CP. So that leaves choice (2) put D on weakest CA or (3) put D on oldest/weakest BB?

[ax] So here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to roll a D10. If it's 1-5 then option (2) that is, put D on weakest CA and if it's 6-10 then option (3) D on oldest/weakest BB.

[ax] D10=9, so "your" D goes on BB Jean Bart. Damage risk D10=7, flipped.

[ax] Last D placed by Italy goes on French CP, which is sunk.

[al] I think you Made good calls

[rkr1958]

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Naval Air. Germany.
(1) He 115C NAV3 to North Sea, 3-box.

[ax] Oh I see you're reading now ...

[ax] Will wait for you for the remaining decisions.

[ax] Actually two of any importance left, I believe.
(1) Japan will attempt two ground strikes, vs out of supply cavalry and stack with Chaing. China could intercept but Japan has 2 FTR2 that could respond. Do you wish to intercept?
(2) West Med. Italy will move a BB & CA to the West Med (5-box). The BB will load the 1st inf div in Calgliari, Sardinia. The CA will initiate. You have a French CA in the 2-box, 2 French CPs & 1 CW CP in the 0-box. You also have an Hampden LND3, with 1 air-to-sea that could reacts (3-box at extend range which would make it useless (i.e., 1/)2x2) = 0 air to sea; or 2-box or less at normal range). Does it react?

[ax] By the way, Chaing isn't out of supply just the cavalry corps.

[al] No and no

[ax] copy that.

[ax] Naval Combat. Italian Coast.
(1) RM CA Pola in 0-box initiates.
(2) Italian CR.42 FTR2 in Trieste reacts to 0-box.
(3) Search. RM=9, France=3, neither side finds.
(4) Rain prevented French CA from finding which is a good thing because it would have been surprised.

[al] Phew

[ax] Naval Combat. West Med.
(1) RM CA Abruzzi, 4-box, initiates.
(2) French who have a CA in 2-box and 2 CPs in 0-box can't be surprise (I believe) because of the CW CP in the 0-box.
(3) No air reactions either side.
(4) Search. RM=2, RN=10, only the Italians find.
(5) Working through the numbers now to figure out exactly how I'd like to proceed.

[al] I am off to bed, any decisions needed you make them with my interest at heart. I will be back home tomorrow to be more focusen 😀
Have a good evening!

[ax] RM will include both the 0 & 2-box, which gives them 10 SPs.
They use them to increase allied risk form D, 2A to X, 2D, 2A.

[ax] Goodnight. Before you get, if you get a chance, how do you wish to apply your risk?

[al] X the CA, D both French convoys and abort the CW convoy to Gibraltar

[ax] What if the French CA survives the X?

[al] Put a D on the CA in that case.

[ax] French CP abort (if any) where?

[al] And abort a french convoy to Casablanca.

[ax] (1) X on CA Dupleix=1, sunk.

[al] Ok, Night night!

[ax] (2) 2 Ds on French CP, both sunk.
(3) A on CW CP, aborts to Gibraltar.

[ax] Good night. [:)]

West Med.

[rkr1958]

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Strategic bombing. none.

[ax] Ground Strike. 2 by Japan, 1 by Italy and 1 by Germany.

[ax] Ground Strike. Germany.
(1) Ju 87 B (4/2=2 TAC) vs Yug 2-stack in Zagreb.
(2) D10 vs Yug II Inf=7, missed.
(3) vs Yug Zagreb MIL=6, missed.

[ax] Ground Strike. Italy (surprise).
(1) Sm.79 (3/2=2 TAC) vs Yug 2-stack in Belgrade.
(2) D10 vs Prince Paul HQ-I=4, 9, missed.
(3) vs Belgrade MIL=9,8, missed.

Axis Ground Strikes. Yugoslavia.

[rkr1958]

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Ground Strike. Japan.
(1) Ki-51 (2/2=1 TAC) vs Chaing HQ-I=10, missed.
(2) vs 8th inf army=9, missed.

[ax] Ground Strike. Japan.
(1) D3A2 Val (3/2=2 TAC) vs out of supply 2nd cav corps.
(2) D10=6, missed.

[ax] Well all those ground strikes were a total bust!

[ax] Rail. Japan x 1. 2-3 MAN Terr. Kirin Man to Peking, China.

[ax] US Entry Action. Japan occupies a Chinese city (Kweilin). D10=5, no chit added.

Central & Southern China (at end of impulse).

[rkr1958]

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Land Combat.
(1) Italy x 1. Amphibious invasion of Oran (+21, automatic).
(2) Germany x 3.
(3) Japan x 1.

[ax] Land Combat. Japan vs comchi gar, 75, 141.
(1) 5 attackers, including 5-5 mot, vs 4-1 Gar.
(2) Terauchi providing HQ-support (+1.5).
(3) +7.5. Your choice assault or blitz (retreat possible and Japan would have to lose the mot if blitz w/loss).
(4) So, assault or blitz?

[al] Assault please

[ax] Land Combat. Japan vs 5th comchi gar at +7.5 assault.
(5) Fractional=542, no.
(6) 2D10=12, result=19.
(7) Japan must lose two units (Peking Warlord and 1st eng div) w/Terauchi flipped. Remaining survivng attackers unflipped.
(8) comchi lose 5th gar army.

Northern China.