Reporting from the Front. A Narrative AAR.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #5.

[ax] Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #5.
(1) No DOWs. No alignments. No special actions.
(2) Japan - land, Germany - land, Italy - combine.
(3) End of turn chance: 0%

Weather.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #5 (continued).

[ax] Naval air. none.

[ax] Naval Move. Italy x 1.
(1) TRS 5038. Calgliari, Sardinia to Italian Coast.
(2) RN has CA & 2 sub groups in the 3-box.
(3) Do you wish to attempt intercept (3 or less required)?
(4) And if so, with whom?

[al] CA will intercept

[ax] Also, do you wish to commit your 2 sub groups to the intercept?

[al] Sure

[ax] Italian Coast. RN Intercept attempt.
(1) 2 RN sub groups committed.
(2) CA Cornwall attempts to initiate.
(3) D10=8, attempt fails.
(4) Italian transport 5038 continues on to the port of Trieste, where it's flipped.

[ax] talian Coast. Italy will attempt to initiate.
(1) Assume you don't wish to commit your subs?

[al] No

[ax] (2) Italian FTR2 in Civitavecchia, Italy reacts to 0-box.
(3) RN Hampden (1 air-to-sea) in Malta could react to 2-box or lower (normal range) or 3-box (extended range). Does it react and if so which box?

[al] No thank you

[ax] copy that.

[ax] (4) Search. Axis=3, RN=1, both find, with no surprise points.
(5) RN AA is no effect.
(6) RN risk is A. D10=2, CA Cornwall is aborted. Where please?

[al] Malta please

[ax] Italy stays. Assume RN does too but doesn't commit her two sub groups?

[al] Yes

[ax] The naval combat in Italian Coast ends.

Italian Coast.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #5 (continued).

[ax] Strategic Bombing. Japan.
(1) G3M2 (Nell) (2 Strat) vs Chengtu, China.
(2) D10=Strategic Bombing. Japan.
(1) G3M2 (Nell) (2 Strat) vs Chengtu, China.
(2) D10=10, 1 PP & 1 saved oil lost.

[ax] Been waiting to get the weather and bomber organized to try this. Saw this at setup and kept it very secret.

[al] Wow

[ax] Needed fine weather and a 9 or 10. Got fine weather and a 10.

[ax] Wasn't able to reorg it in earlier impulses because the Nationalist had cut supply to a lot of forces there.

[ax] IJA bomber returns to Kaifeng, China.

Strategic Bombing. Japan.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #5 (continued).

[ax] Ground Strike. Germany x 1. vs French 2-stack at 54,31.
(1) Ju 87B Stuka (5 TAC) vs Georges HQ-I=6, missed.
(2) vs Marsellies MIL=7, missed.
(3) Stuka returns to Belgium 52, 31.

[ax] Rail. Germany x 3.
(1) von Leeb. Yugoslavia 60,43 to France 60,32.
(2) 50 mm AT div. Belgrade, Yugoslavia to France 60,32.
(3) 105 mm art div. Belgrade, Yugoslavia to Brussels, Belgium.

[ax] Rail. Italy & Japan. none.

[ax] Well, the Luftwaffe ground strike went very poorly but those are the breaks.

[ax] Land Combat. 3 by Germany (2 blitz), 1 by Italy and 1 by Japan.
You have several decisions wrt/2 blitz (Germany's) and 1 by Japan.

[ax] First all, the Land combat by Italy is currently 19:2, +17. The two French BBs in the 2-box of the Western Med could make this assault 19:4. I assume you wish to add them.

[al] Yes

[ax] 3 German Land Combats (2 blitz & assault I assume vs Strasbourg).

[al] Yes

[ax] (1) Blitz vs French 2-stack (Georges HQ-I & Marseilles MIL). 16:8, +6B. -1.5 HQ support from Georges and/or 3 factors in ground support from adjacent art div, which could also support the second blitz attack.
(2) Blitz vs Garrison. 12:4, +7B. (art could provide 3 factors to this defense).

[ax] Reactions?

[al] Use Georges, art supports georges

[ax] Japan's Land Combat, your choice blitz or assault?

[al] Assault in China

[ax] JN provided 1 factor in ground support to Japanese assault raising it to +13.

[ax] I will resolve these land combats in order as listed.

Designated Land Combat.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #5 (continued).

[ax] Land Combat. Japan. vs Chinese partisan. +13 assault.
(1) No fractional.
(2) 2D10=8, result = 21.
(3) Partisan destroyed, Fukuoka MIL flipped.
(4) no advance.

Japan. Northern China.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #5 (continued).

[ax] Land Combat. Italy. Marseilles. +7.5 Assault.
(1) Fractional=703, no.
(2) 2D10=5, result=12.
(3) Defenders hold.
(4) Italy lose their Milan MIL and all remaining attackers are flipped.

Italy. Southern France.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #5 (continued).

[ax]Land Combat. Germany. Strasbourg, France. +2.6 Assault.
(1) Fractional=292, yes.
(2) 2D10=9, result=13.
(3) Defender holds.
(4) All attackers flipped.

[ax] Revised. Attackers take a loss. They lose a garrison.

Germany. Land Combat. Strasbourg, France.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #5 (continued).

[ax] Land Combat. Germany. Georges' 2-stack. +3.4 Blitz.
(1) Fractional=99, yes.
(2) 2D10=4, Result=8.
(3) Defenders hold.
(4) Attackers lose 2.

[ax] Revised. attackers lose 1 not 2.

[ax] lose mot division.

[al] Damn Ronnie

[ax] Those are risks. Those are the breaks. You have to take the bad with the good. [:)]

[al] An average of 6

[ax] One more land combat.

Germany. Ground Strike & Land Combat. France 54,31.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #5 (continued).

[ax] Land Combat. Germany. France 55,32. +7 Blitz.
(1) No fractional.
(2) 2D10=11, result=18.
(3) Defender forced to retreat.
(4) Attacker takes no losses (if they did it would have had to be eng division).
(5) Eng div flipped.

[al] I am interested about your analysis before these attacks, They were even more wild than last turn!

[al] Although even with all these bad rolls you lost only 6 or 7 BPs.

[ax] The blitz against Georges stack had a PWIN of less than 40%. However, if the Stuka had flipped Georges (50% chance), the MIL (50% chance) or both (25% chance) things would have been much different.

[ax] Regardless this attack had to go otherwise you'd added the 3 factors of art ground support to the blitz against the garrison west of Metz.

[ax] The attack on Strasbourg was 51% (a coin flip) and the Italian assault on Marseilles had a PWIN of 87.5%.

[al] Wow

[ax] The odds finally caught up with me this impulse.

[ax] If I didn't have poor luck then the impulse with good or exceptional luck wouldn't really mean anything.

[ax] Losses weren't bad.

[ax] MIL, garrison and mot division.

[ax] And lots of flips.

[ax] Also it's late in the turn and there's only a 30% chance that we'll have fine weather next impulse.

[al] Yeah not terrible losses.

[ax] Plan for the best but guard against the worse.

[al] And you reopened the rail to Manchuria

[ax] Air Rebase. Germany x 3.
(1) He 111. Budapest to Belgium 51,30.
(2) Ju 87B. Hungary 60,44 to Germany 56,37.
(3) Bf 109 E-4. Bremen, Germany to Belgium 53,31.

[ax] Air Rebase. Italy x 2.
(1) SM.79 LND3. Trieste, Italy to Germany 57,34.
(2) FTR2. Sicily 75,40 to Civitavecchia, Italy.

[ax] Air Rebase. Japan x 1.
(1) Ki-27 FTR. China 81,144 to Korea 69, 153.

[ax] That ends my impulse at the HQ reorg phase.

[ax] JvR-04-MAR-APR-1940-AX-05-eoi.zip game turn sent.

[ax] Dinner time and definitely time for a drink.

[ax] Not in celebration this time but in commiseration.

Germany. Ground Strike & Land Combat. France 55,32.

[jesperpehrson]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 40. Allied #6.

[al] No DOW nor alignments
[al] Land for all except US which passes

[al] CW portstrikes the CA in Tripoli
[al] Non-phasing side roll 6
[al] Phasing side rolls 10
[al] Italy has 3 surprise
[al] AA has no effect and even if shifting once it does nothing
[al] Initial Italian risk is D but is lowered to A
[al] CA is already disorganized so A makes no difference


[al] No naval air
[al] No strategic bombardment
[al] No groundstrikes

[al] CAV and INF are railed to Mukden

[al] Toulon is recaptured and the Maginot is being evacuated
[ax] el Duce … let me down.

[al] The Ichang-front is strengthened and shifted slightly southwards to protect Changsha


[al] The Burmese oil is now protected by a Indian Militia


[al] British forces in Egypt move up against the Libyan border, threatening to surround the forces there


[al] Russian forces race south towards the evacutated Korean penninsula
[al] Beijing is captured by Communist forces
[al] The Chinese warlords in Beijing recon that the war has turned and pledges allegiance to Mao



[al] The French assaults the surrounded MECH next to Metz. 32:7. The Germans and Italians can fly up to 6 points of airsupport (3 each).
[al] Do you want to?
[al] It is currently a +7,143
[ax] Yes please. All 6.
[al] sorry you have a FTR that can fly as a F/B and add another 2
[al] Do you wish to add that too?
[ax] Fly two german planes and not Italian. Ftr flies as bomber.
[al] 5 points added
[al] Return to where they came from?
[ax] Yes please.
[al] Attack is now +3,333
[al] assault or blitz? You can retreat
[ax] Assault please.
[al] fractional is 168, success
[al] 10 rolled
[ax] That's a 14!
[al] Hex is taken but 3 losses for the attacker
[al] 2 MIL and a GARR is destroyed
[al] Hex is retaken!


[al] Hampden LND is rebased to Egypt

[al] No reorg

[al] Weather roll is 7


[al] Sending the turn

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #7.

[ax] Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #7.
No DOWs. No special actions. No alignments.
Actions. Japan - land, Germany - land, Italy - naval.
End of turn chance: 10%

Weather.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #7 (continued).

[ax] Naval Movement. Italy. RN Intercept attempt(s).
(1) Italy will move BBs, CAs and CPs out into the Italian Coast one at a time.
(2) You have 2 sub groups in the 3-box that may attempt intercept.
(3) A 3 or less will be required to successfully intercept.
(4) Will for each move whether or not you wish to attempt intercept.
(5) CA Bolzano moves from La Speiza to Italian Coast. Attempt Intercept? And if so, which sub group is used for the attempt?

[al] No intercepts

[al] unless CPs alone

[ax] I would believe your intercept instructions would apply to lone transports too?

[al] yes please

[ax] (6) CA Bolzano continues to 3-box of the East Med.

[ax] (7) CA Abriuzzi moves out of La Spezia, through the Italian Coast, with no RN intercept attempt as directed, to join the CA Bolzano in the 3-box of the East Med.

[ax] (8) BB Vittorio & BB Conte Di Cavour move from La Spezia to 4-box of the Italian Coast, joining the Italian NAV2 on patrol there.

[ax] (9) CA Pola moves from La Spezia to 0-box of the Italian Coast.

[ax] (10) CP in Naples moves out into the Italian Coast. As instructed the RN sub groups on patrol there will attempt intercept. A 3 or less is needed. Sub group 4732 initiates the attempt. D10=1, successful. CP stops and goes into the 0-box of the Italian Coast.

[ax] (11) CP In Trieste moves out into the Italian Coast. D10=3, successful. CP stops in the Italian Coast.

[ax] (12) A second CP in Trieste moves out into the Italian Coast. D10=10, failed. CP continues to the 0-box of the East Med, restoring supply (for now) to Balbo and the Italian army in East Libya.

[ax] (13) Italian TRS 5037 moves out into the Italian Coast. D10=3, intercept attempt successful. TRS stops in the Italian Coast, 1-box unescorted.

[ax] (14) That completes Italian naval moves subject to intercept.

[ax] (15) RM sub groups x 3.

[ax] (16) Each move to separate areas to maximize the chance of damage (1-box Cape Verde Basin, 2-box Cape St. Vincent, 2-box Bay of Biscay).

[ax] (17) All RM naval units that can moved have moved on orders directly from el duce.

RM Naval Moves. Italian Coast & East Med.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #7 (continued).

[ax] Naval Combat. Italy. Cape Verde Basin.
(1) Italian sub group in 1-box initiates and commits.
(2) No air reactions possible.
(3) Search. ITA=9, RN=9, nobody every close to remotely finding.

Cape Verde Basin.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #7 (continued).

[ax] Naval Combat. Italy. Cape St. Vincent.
(1) Italian sub group in 2-box attempts to initiate and commits.
(2) CW has possible air reaction: Vildebeest (2 a2s) in Gibraltar can react out to the 2-box. Allies have 3 CAs, 1 sub & 7 CPs in 0-box & 2 CAs in 4-box.
(3) Air reactions instructions?

[al] Nav to 0-box

[ax] copy that.

[al] Also in bay of biscay later

[ax] copy that too.

[ax] Do you wish to commit the NED sub?

[al] No commit

[ax] CSV. Search. Ita sub=8, RN=4, only the 2 RN CAs in 4-box find.

[ax] RN gets 6 SPs. Its 5 surface vs 1 sub (A which can be shifted by up to 3-cols to 2D, 1A). Italy has 4 surface vs 2 ships (2A which could be shifted down to no effect in which case Italian risk could only be shifted up 2-cols to D, 2A).
Instructions?

[al] Max damage on subs

[ax] copy that.

[ax] RN risk (2A).
A vs CA Newcastle=4, aborted.
A vs CA Edinburgh=8, 1/2 aborted (remains).

[ax] RM risk (2D, A).
(1) D vs Sub 5048=3, damaged.
(2) D vs (damaged) Sub 5048=1, sunk.

[al] Great news! Damned subs

[ax] Well things have certainly started off well for me this impulse. NOT! So far the only things that's gone wrong for you is 1 failed intercept attempt out of 4. [:(]

[ax] RN CA abort where?

[al] Gibraltar please

[ax] copy that.

Cape St. Vincent

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #7 (continued).

[ax] Naval Combat. Italy. Bay of Biscay .
(1) Italian sub group 5046 initiates and commits.
(2) RN reacts Albacore NAV2 (3 a2s) to 0-box.
(3) Search. Italy=2, RN=4, only the Italian sub because of the rain finds.

[ax] However the Italians only get 3 SPs so the RN forces a naval air. [:(]

[ax] But the Italian use 2 of their 3 SPs to decrease their risk from A to no effect. So this round was a total wash.

[al] CW stay

[ax] So too do the Italians. So its off to round 2.
(1) Search. Italy=10, RN=7, neither find and the bloodless combat ends.

Bay of Biscay.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #7 (continued).

[ax] Naval Combat. East Med. Italy.
(1) Italy initiates with CA Abruzzi.
(2) RN has an Hampden (1 a2s) in Malta that could react out to the 2-box (normal range) or 3-box (extended range).
(3) Does it react? picture to follow.

[al] Yes, react to the 3-box

[ax] Hampden is in Egypt not Malta.

[ax] copy that.

[ax] reacted extended range to 3-box.

[ax] (4) Search. Italy=4, RN=10, only Italy finds because of the presence of the French CP.

[ax] (5) Italy includes the 0 and 2-box, omitting the Hampden in the 3-box.
(6) This gives Italy 7 SPs with a surface action.
(7) Italy has 6 surface vs 2 ships, which gives the RN an initial risk of D, A.
(8) RN has 3 surface vs 2 ships, which gives the Italians an initial risk of 2A.
(9) RN will use 2 SPs to reduce their risk to none and 4 SPs to increase RN risk to 2D, 1A.

[ax] How do you wish to apply the RN 2D, A risk?

[al] D the CP

[al] D on CA

[al] and A on CA if possible

[ax] (10) French CP sunk.
(11) D vs CA Liverpool=7, aborted.
(12) Aborts where?

[al] Do I have a CP in the west med?

[ax] Negative.

[al] Abort to Gibraltar

[al] CW stays

[ax] copy that.

[ax] Italy stays too.

[ax] All you have left is a Hampden flying extended range in the 3-box.

[ax] But with only 1 air-to-sea factors (actually 0.5) in the 3-box versus 1 Italian CP in the 0-box and 2 Italian CAs in the 3-box w/4 AA I don't believe either side can hurt the other except for a very lucky AA roll.

[ax] But I'll carry on with the battle. [:)]

[al] We will see, with surprise it should be possible no?

East Med.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #7 (continued).

[ax] East Med. Round 2.
(1) No additional air reactions possible.
(2) Search. Italy=7, RN=3, only the RN finds.
(3) We'll see if my analysis is correct or not.

[ax] Forgot about SPs. [&:]

[ax] How do you wish to proceed?

[al] Fight the CP and maximize damage

[ax] CP sunk.

[al] CW stays

[ax] Off to round 3.

East Med. Round 2.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #7 (continued).

[ax] East Med. Round 3.
(1) No additional air reactions possible.
(2) Search. Italy=10, RN=2. Only the RN finds.
And boy was I wrong about the RN not being able to do damage! [:(]

[al] Alright. What is the AA-rate?

[al] Lower it nothing and then maximize damage

[ax] It's showing as no effect. But it's 4 AA vs 1 bomber. Shouldn't that be the lowest 1 of 6?

[al] Dont have the tables in front of me

[ax] I do and I'm confused.

[al] which is the other CA? Bolzano and?

[ax] Never mind, it is no effect. Looking at wrong row.

[al] ah

[ax] RN use 8 SPs to increase Italy's risk from no effect to 2D, 3A. You place the first D. Assume it'll be on the CA Bolzano, which is the strongest of the 2 CAs, both of which have the same defense.

[al] Sure

[ax] (1) D vs CA Bolzano= damaged.
(2) D vs (damaged) CA Bolzano=6, sunk.
(3) 3 A vs CA Abruzzi which ensures its abort.
(4) It will abort through the Italian Coast to La Spezia.
(5) Do the 2 RN sub groups there wish to attempt intercept?

[al] Yes please

[ax] copy that. And boy was I wrong about the Hampden!

[ax] Italian Coast. RN intercept attempt. D10=7, fails. Aborted RM CA continues on to La Spezia.

East Med. Round 3.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #7 (continued).

[ax] Italian Coast. Italy will not initiate but you can. Do you?

[al] I do want to initiate in the Italian Coast

[ax] Italian Coast. Naval Combat. RN (non-phasing) initiates.
(1) Italy reacts a FTR2 in Civitavecchia to 1-box.
(2) RN commit her two sub groups.
(3) Search. RN=9, Italy=7, neither side finds.

[al] Well all of that went a lot better than expected

[al] I was already counting on how I would need to reroute my convoys

[ax] I hope this isn't a harbinger of things to come on the ground (i.e., land combat).

Italian Coast.

[rkr1958]

Turn 4. Mar/Apr 1940. Axis #7 (continued).

[ax] Land Combat.
(1) 3 by Japan and 1 by Germany.
(2) You have a reaction decisions on 1 of the 3 by Japan.

[ax] (3) Current odds are 5.5:5, +0.400 vs lone Chaing HQ-I.
(4) Japan will add 5/2=3 in ground support escorted by 4 a2a FTR2.
(5) You can include -0.5 in HQ support and either intercept with your P-36A FTR2 (3 a2a) or attempt to add 1/2=1 factor in defensive ground support.

[al] I will accept the initial odds, no reactions

[ax] Your choice on the 3 Japanese. Assault or Blitz. Germany chooses blitz on theirs.

[al] Assault on all three please

[al] Third impulse in a row with high-risk attacks! [:)]

[ax] Instead of resolving in order I'm going to start with the most critical one, at least for China and Japan that is. I'm going to start with the 1.6 assault on Chaing.

[al] Awesome

Designated Land Combats.