GD1938 v.3 BBLC

[cpdeyoung]

June 23rd, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

Germany moves forward in the desert. It is vital that the Allies determine where they are drawing supply from. The Royal Navy dominates the Med, and raids on the vulnerable logistics might hamstring the Axis.

[cpdeyoung]

June 23rd, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

Japan must be regretting the Panama operation. It was probably supposed to be a coup that would split the US Navy between the two great oceans. It has turned out to be a weakly held outpost, subject to assault from two directions. USN submarines are having a field day with the troops and supplies being sent to Panama. How much longer can Japan hold the canal?

For that matter how much longer can Japan hold Darwin in northern Australia? This far flung outpost will require more supplies and forces over sea lanes already subject to interdiction. Hong Kong and the Singapore forts still resist capture as Japan finds the British a tough foe.

[cpdeyoung]

July 21st, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The American officers in Turkey report that the Axis forces are pushing hard. Turkey cannot last long.

[cpdeyoung]

July 21st, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The British are putting up their best against the Germans attacking India. The Germans are able to put up quite a battle so far from their bases.

[cpdeyoung]

July 21st, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The Pacific war is so big that maps are hard to find. In China Chittagong and Dhaka have fallen to the Japanese. Saigon, Singapore and Hong Kong all continue to hold out. The Japanese will have to allocate more resources if they want to capture these cities. Mexico and the Central American countries have joined the USA coalition and the Japanese reacted by launching amphibious assaults up the coast. Guatemala City was captured and will surely be a target for the United States and her Latin allies.

The Japanese operating out of Darwin attacked the engineers building a road. The engineers had been put into a defensive position, but the Japanese overwhelmed them. There seem to be multiple Japanese divisions in Australia now and the road to Darwin will provide a route for reinforcements.

We had speculated last month about the possibility of a Japanese withdrawal from Panama, but this no longer seems likely. They seem committed to fighting on the west coast of the Americas.

[cpdeyoung]

August 18th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The new American guidance on press coverage of the war make fact based reporting difficult. Let us review what we know.

The Soviet Union is on her last legs, but Moscow still holds out. India is under attack from east and west and is doing a good job defending herself, but giving ground too often to be comfortable. The Kriegsmarine is putting very large number of U-boats off of Gibraltar, where the Allied fleets combat them. The Germans are rapidly occupying North Africa.

In the western hemisphere the Japanese are raiding the coasts, but Mexican and Central American forces are repelling them.

[cpdeyoung]

September 15th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

Finally a map. The News from the Indian front with Germany is not very good. The panzers just keep coming. The Indians and British are fighting well, but German troops can go around their lines.

[cpdeyoung]

September 15th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

In North Africa the Germans hurry down the coast road.

[cpdeyoung]

September 15th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

From the sands we turn to Norway where the good fight is being fought.

[cpdeyoung]

September 15th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

And the end, the center of the Soviet Union falls. Perhaps the most important of German war goals has been achieved. This is a sad day for the world.

[cpdeyoung]

September 15th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

In the far north powerful units of the American Army have been fighting against Germans and Finns. The port of Murmansk is but one of many which the Germans will have to defend against Allied raids and invasions.

[cpdeyoung]

September 15th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

Germany is able to engage in naval warfare now that things are quieter on the land.

[cpdeyoung]

September 15th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

Turning to the Far East we see a disaster unfolding. Perhaps distracted by the German threat to the west India has caved in to the east. Japanese armor has run the roads capturing cities and resources.

[LarryBurstyn]

Just a quick question. Aren't we missing a lot of AAR from other games?

[cpdeyoung]

AAR are great.

They give a real look at the game system for those who are judging their interest. They can show some tactical nuances, and certainly show some operational and strategic options.

I know why the WitE and WitP:AE people do those long, long AARs. When you put so much into playing a turn you want to give it some permanency. They do take effort though.

Chuck

[BvB]

true - you almost need your own staff like a real commander. Perhaps buy a 2nd laptop, so while you're doing turns your dog could be putting together your AARs for you to look over and post! lol

[ernieschwitz]

I could see how that would go.

"Human still looking at screen, touching plastic thing he calls a mouse, no attention for me in last 20 minutes, could use something to eat"

[cpdeyoung]

(Don't think -he- doesn't snack during these "games". Thank heavens my Mom takes care of me - Molly - "Fetch2020 is a better game")

October 13th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

All over the world the lovers of Liberty hoped for the success of the American campaign at Murmansk. Military observers wondered why this raid had been turned into a contest with forces so potent. We have heard from officers familiar with the operation that the commanders felt the could hold out for another month. The fall of Murmansk shows this was a false hope. As soon as the Germans committed such large forces the US troops should have been shifted to another location. While Germany has so many land forces available the USA should use "hit and run" tactics. The photographs of the wasteland that once was Murmansk after the attention of five brigades of German artillery make clear that the Germans are looking for targets. This will change but we must be patient.

[cpdeyoung]

October 13th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The logic of German conquest has now led them to Greece. Germany knows it cannot leave any nation of free men on her borders. Free men will want to join the fight against the Axis. If only the Allied position in the Mediterranean was better.

[cpdeyoung]

October 13th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

As the Germans sweep across North Africa the British have every reason to fear for Gibraltar. The capitals of Europe are abuzz with rumors of the effort German diplomats are making to bring Franco over. Every effort must be made to prevent Spain from joining the Axis camp. With Spanish bases the Kriegsmarine will be able to put huge pressure on the Royal Navy and USN. Even mighty Gibraltar will fall if it is stranded.