GW Counterfactual Take 3.

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Axis #2. Naval Combat.

West Med.

Round 2.

02-AX-MTO-West-Med-NC-2.png (154.59 KiB) Viewed 346 times

02-AX-MTO-West-Med-NC-2b.png (149.23 KiB) Viewed 346 times

02-AX-MTO-West-Med-NC-2d.png (184.33 KiB) Viewed 346 times

02-AX-MTO-West-Med-NC-2e.png (162.06 KiB) Viewed 346 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Axis #2. Naval Combat.

West Med.

Round 3.

02-AX-MTO-West-Med-NC-3.png (157.45 KiB) Viewed 345 times

02-AX-MTO-West-Med-NC-3b.png (214.67 KiB) Viewed 345 times

02-AX-MTO-West-Med-NC-3d.png (218.84 KiB) Viewed 345 times

02-AX-MTO-West-Med-NC-3e.png (181.36 KiB) Viewed 345 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Axis #2. Naval Combat.

East Med.

02-AX-MTO-East-Med-NC-1.png (175.22 KiB) Viewed 344 times

02-AX-MTO-East-Med-NC-1c.png (201.95 KiB) Viewed 344 times

02-AX-MTO-East-Med-NC-1e.png (198.52 KiB) Viewed 344 times

02-AX-MTO-East-Med-NC-1f.png (189.91 KiB) Viewed 344 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Axis #2. Naval Combat.

East Africa.

02-AL-East-Africa-CL.png (42.94 KiB) Viewed 340 times

Red Sea.

02-AX-East-Africa-Red-Sea-NC-1.png (239.97 KiB) Viewed 340 times

02-AX-East-Africa-Red-Sea-NC-1d.png (210.36 KiB) Viewed 340 times

02-AX-East-Africa-Red-Sea-NC-1f.png (233.38 KiB) Viewed 340 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Axis #2. Allied Broken Supply Lines.

(1) Goes to show even in solitary play one can "surprise" oneself.
(2) In this case as the allies I estimated that Germany & Italy would go after Atlantic convoys should I prioritized naval resources as such.
(3) However; as a result I, as the allies, left the West & East Med supply lines to vulnerable and I, as the axis, made myself as the allies pay the price.

MTO.

02-AL-MTO-Borken-Allied-Supply.png (1.58 MiB) Viewed 339 times

East Africa.

02-AL-East-Africa-Borken-Allied-Supply.png (1.68 MiB) Viewed 339 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Axis #2. Naval Combat.

China Sea.

02-AL-PTO-China-Sea-CL.png (54.49 KiB) Viewed 338 times

02-AX-PTO-China-Sea-Non-Phs-NC-1.png (208.24 KiB) Viewed 338 times

02-AX-PTO-China-Sea-Non-Phs-NC-1b.png (193.85 KiB) Viewed 338 times

02-AX-PTO-China-Sea-Non-Phs-NC-1c.png (178.7 KiB) Viewed 338 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Axis #2. Naval Combat.

South China Sea (1/2).

02-AL-PTO-China-Sea-CL.png (54.49 KiB) Viewed 337 times

02-AX-PTO-South-China-Sea-NP-NC-1.png (234.51 KiB) Viewed 337 times

02-AX-PTO-South-China-Sea-NP-NC-1d.png (212.44 KiB) Viewed 337 times

02-AX-PTO-South-China-Sea-NP-NC-1e.png (195.41 KiB) Viewed 337 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Axis #2. Naval Combat.

South China Sea (2/2).

02-AX-PTO-South-China-Sea-NP-NC-1g.png (240.74 KiB) Viewed 336 times

02-AX-PTO-South-China-Sea-NP-NC-1f.png (173.07 KiB) Viewed 336 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Axis #2. The Eastern Front.

Even with the limitations of a combine, Germany is still able to accomplish a lot on the Eastern Front.

02-AX-Eastern-CL.png (56.81 KiB) Viewed 319 times

02-AX-Eastern-GSTK-Caucasian-Mts-60-71.png (331.73 KiB) Viewed 319 times

02-AX-Eastern-GSTK-2-USSR-60-72.png (329.02 KiB) Viewed 319 times

02-AX-Eastern-LC-USSR-60-72.png (250 KiB) Viewed 319 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Axis #2. The Eastern Front.

End of Impulse.
Siberian Army Groups.

02-AX-Eastern-Siberian-Fronts.png (1.31 MiB) Viewed 318 times

Southern Army Groups.

02-AX-Eastern-Southern-Army-Groups-EOI.png (1.43 MiB) Viewed 317 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Axis #2. Asian Theater. China.

(1) Japanese artillery ground strike vs Sian (Mao & 2 other defenders) misses all defenders badly.
(2) They definitely could use some training from the German axis counterparts who have 2 very effective ground strikes on the Eastern Front.
(3) Japan was hoping to flip Mao and then later in the turn cut him off from oil to prevent him from reorging.
(4) But they missed.

02-AX-Asian-China-GSTK-Sian.png (353.91 KiB) Viewed 315 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Allied #3. Weather.

(1) The late spring fine weather turns with a D10=2 across the globe except in the Med with the weather remains fine.

03-AL-Weather.png (252.47 KiB) Viewed 314 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Allied #3. Actions.

Allies have to fix and hopefully keep their Med supply lines flowing!

Combine - CW (necessary to get the supply CPs in the West & East Med).
Land - Free France, USA, USSR, China.

03-AL-Actions.png (21.52 KiB) Viewed 275 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Allied #3. Naval Combat. PTO.

CW's combine allows the allies to search, if they wish, in the Pacific.

03-AL-PTO-Arabian-Sea-China-Sea-Sea-of-Japan-CL.png (51.33 KiB) Viewed 274 times

Arabian Sea, China Sea.

Which they don't (allies wish to search) in these sea areas.

03-AL-PTO-Arabian-Sea-No-Search-No-Combat.png (202.5 KiB) Viewed 274 times

03-AL-PTO-China-Sea-No-Search-No-Combat.png (218.54 KiB) Viewed 274 times

Sea of Japan.
The allies find in the Sea of Japan but their attempt to sink the lone & unescorted IJN CP[0] is thwarted by a Japanese fighter reacting to 0-box! The to rub more salt into the wound the allies miss finding by 1 due to rain!

03-AL-PTO-Sea-of-Japan-NC-1b.png (146.79 KiB) Viewed 274 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Allied #3. Naval Combat. MTO.

West Med.
CW moves 1 CP into the West Med and manages to get 1 CP into the East Med for Gibraltar. Temporarily restoring supply line in the Med. Axis mange to sink the West Med supply CP, breaking once again the allied fragile supply lines to the Med.

03-AL-MTO-West-Med.png (50.34 KiB) Viewed 272 times

03-AL-MTO-West-Med-NC-1b.png (175.07 KiB) Viewed 272 times

03-AL-MTO-West-Med-NC-1c.png (197.33 KiB) Viewed 272 times

03-AL-MTO-West-Med-NC-1d.png (172.63 KiB) Viewed 272 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Allied #3. Naval Combat. MTO.

East Med.
Wow, what a fight!

03-AL-MTO-East-Med-CL.png (162.65 KiB) Viewed 271 times

"Supply" CP to East Med.
Makes it past axis subs in the West Med to get to the East Med.

03-AL-MTO-West-Med-Intercept-1.png (125.01 KiB) Viewed 271 times

Round 1.

03-AL-MTO-East-Med-NC-1b.png (167.93 KiB) Viewed 271 times

03-AL-MTO-East-Med-NC-1d.png (152.14 KiB) Viewed 271 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Allied #3. Naval Combat. MTO.

East Med.
Round 2.

03-AL-MTO-East-Med-NC-2.png (210.66 KiB) Viewed 269 times

03-AL-MTO-East-Med-NC-2b.png (170.16 KiB) Viewed 269 times

03-AL-MTO-East-Med-NC-2c.png (154.72 KiB) Viewed 269 times

RN tactical mistake made by going after highest chance to sink U-boat (8 SPs -> X risk -> 60% sunk & cleared vs 40% damaged & NOT cleared) vs ensuring that the U-boat was cleared (6 SPs -> 2D, A -> 100% cleared, 42% sunk, 18% damaged & aborted, 40% aborted). A major tactical lesson learned ALMOST the hard way.

03-AL-MTO-East-Med-NC-2d.png (138.17 KiB) Viewed 269 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Allied #3. Naval Combat. MTO.

East Med.
Round 3.

03-AL-MTO-East-Med-NC-3.png (129.04 KiB) Viewed 262 times

03-AL-MTO-East-Med-NC-3b.png (161.7 KiB) Viewed 262 times

03-AL-MTO-East-Med-NC-3d.png (155.2 KiB) Viewed 262 times

Allies most likely, but are guaranteed, to be able to fix their fragile MED supply lines next allied impulse. If they don't allied high command doesn't want to contemplate the consequences. But the strategic mistake of taking their supply lines to the Med (CSV -> West & Red Sea -> East Med) for granted has really bitten the allies in their royal butt this turn. I find it amazing that I, as the allies, could commit such a MAJOR oversight in SOLO play. Allied landings in Sicily and southern Italy are delayed. At least the allies are guaranteed at least one more impulse with 100% fine weather in the Med and most likely supply for Husky part 2.

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Allied #3. MTO. Husky Phase 2 Landing. Attack Planning.

(1) With the promises of fixed supply lines, allied high command orders planning to proceed and are stunned by the recommendation to proceed with a UK & USA amphibious lands on Sicily (Orange Beach - UK & Green Beach - USA).
(2) Getting and staying ashore are assured with RN & USN shore bombardment & carrier air strike ground support.
(3) 100% without unit loss at UK's Orange Beach.
(4) However; 98% without unit loss at the USA's Green Beach and 97% no loss/no flips. Very high but not a given.
(5) The selection of invasion beaches was for the US based on landing outside of Luftwaffe CAP (ground support) range, maximum carrier air strike ground support was necessary to get the +19A.
(6) However, the UK landing at Orange Beach, which is inside the Luftwaffe CAP range, can and will automatically be achieved with maximum shore bombardment support and no carrier air strike ground support.
(7) Thus, keeping USN & RN fighter CAGs in reserve to protect the out of supply (next impulse) allied troops in Italy.

Allied Staff ATTACK PLANNING GRAPHICS. RECOMMEND ALLIED INVASIONS. Orange & Green Beaches (Sicily, Italy).

03-AL-MTO-Husky-2-AP.png (1.62 MiB) Viewed 251 times

[rkr1958]

Turn 23. May/June 1943. Allied #3. PTO. Strategic Bombing.

USN takes a second bite at trying to knock out another Japanese Oil in the Pacific but misses.

03-AL-PTO-USN-STRAT-Palembang.png (434.95 KiB) Viewed 248 times