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

West Med.

Round 2.

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

West Med.

Round 3.

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

East Med.

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

East Africa. Red Sea.

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. East Africa.

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

China Sea.

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

South China Sea (1/2).

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

South China Sea (2/2).

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.

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

End of Impulse.
Siberian Army Groups. Southern Army Groups.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

East Med.
Wow, what a fight! "Supply" CP to East Med.
Makes it past axis subs in the West Med to get to the East Med. Round 1.

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

East Med.
Round 2. 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.

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

East Med.
Round 3. 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.

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).

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.