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Allied Turn: October 14, 1940

The Italian Fleet shore bombards Malta
Italian and German medium bombers attack Malta, bringing the defending AA unit down to 7.
Axis get a 13% diplo hit on Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia is now at 85%.


UK Med fleet does not try and engage the Italian fleet, assuredly under the air cover of Sicily.

36 MPP lost to raiders

ORIGINAL: Taxman66
UK launches operation 'Catapult' and devastates the Vichy fleet.
De Gaulle's Free French and UK Marines raid Dakar and seize a large supply of gold in an operation code named 'Menace'.

Catapult seems like moves Vichy toward Axis. Aren't you concerned Vichy will join Axis? Is it really worth it?
Same with Dakar - this seems like a real longshot - I think I read 20%(?) chance. Is it worth the chance?

I noticed you also took Bessarabia. I've wondered about that option. It seems form an allied perspective that taking Bessarabia only gives a few hexes but increases Rumanian activation so in essence gives Germany more MPP's since Rumania will join more quickly and hand their MPP's over to Germany. Is it worth it?

I also noticed you said that you were moving some French units SW away from Paris. Why? Just to avoid giving xp to German troops?

And about Vichy. Why would Germany go for complete conquest instead of Vichy? What are the pros and cons?

Thanks

1. Catapult: If Germany wants they can declare war on Tunisia and Algeria and take them with little more than a paratrooper and a plane or two. Then the UK can try and hold Casablanca without help. That will only last so long. If you do catapult it makes it easier for Germany to get them with diplo chits, but it still will likely take 3-4 chits for each of Tunisia, Algeria and Vichy.

2. [:-]The Dakar thing is a bit of a longshot, and I probably wouldn't normally do it. But with France lasting into August... Well sometimes you just have to ask yourself' 'Do you feel lucky, punk?'

3. The French units fled toward Bordoux in case Germany didn't declare Vichy. That's defensible or a port to sail to Algeria. Avoiding experience kills is also legit.

4. Going for all of France nets more MPP per turn for Germany. In most cases it is easier to declare Vichy and sweep up Africa, then grab Vichy once the USA is in the war, but there are USA and USSR mobilization hits for doing that. There are none if you go all France and if you have killed or cut off everything in France itself it may be worthwhile to finish the job.

5. Bessarabia - I don't know if it is or isn't. It seems the Allied AI does it more often than not.

Bessarrabia is a flat Romanian mobilization increase (10% I think). But Romania joining is not tied to its mobilization level so unless the Axis manage to increase it a lot via diplochits, it won't change the joining timetable.

Additionally, all of France insures Catapult doesn't happen, so there's 2 BB to be add.

Allied Turn: November 5, 1940

Malta is pounded again.
A strength 9 Italian Battleship shells the city again, and is reduced to strength 8 in the effort.
3 Medium Bombers (2 German, 1 Italian) and 3 Tactical Bombers (all German) reduce the AA unit down to a strength of 1

Reinforcements are sent to Malta.


55 MPP lost to raiders
German subs are having a happy time.


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Forgot to note that Germany did not force Hungarian and Bulgarian territorial concessions against Romania.
Thought if you're following closely it would be obvious given that Romania joined on Sept. 8 1940.

Allied Turn: November 27, 1940

Valletta (i.e. Malta) is shelled again by 3 Italian Battleships. Two of whom take a point of damage in retaliation (Strengths: 9, 8 & 10)
Bombers again hit Malta reducing the reinforced AA down to 3.
This time the Italian sub blockades the Malta ports.

Rough Seas in the Med.

Hungry joins the Axis.

76 MPP lost to Raiders.

Allied Turn: December 19, 1940

Malta succumbs to bombing and a paratrooper, but not before reducing another Italian Battleship by a point.


HMCS Saguenay, with upgraded AWS (lvl 1), finds U35 and does 2 damage to the sub.


33 MPP lost to raiders

Allied Turn: January 20, 1941

The Italian sub runs across HMS Amazon (DD) in the Gulf of Salum. The sub takes 2 damage, the destroyer 1.

U35 attacks HMCS Saguenay (both DD & Sub are level 1) each take 4 damage (U35 - str: 4 Sauenay - Str: 6)
Saguenay spots full strength sub moving nearby but it declines to attack the damaged destroyer.


The Parthian (UK sub) finds the Leonardo da Vinci (IT sub)
HMS Amazon is called in and attacks the sub doing 2 damage and taking 1.
Fighters then strafe the sub for another point of damage (da Vinci - str: 5).
HMS Sheffield (CL), which has been upgraded (including ASW), also attacks Leonardo da Vinci but it escapes with a dive.

HMS Mohawk, mostly scouting the way back to friendly waters for the damaged Saguenay, finds U30 and forces a dive.
ORP Blyskawica comes to assist Mohawk and finds U30. Both take 1 point of damage.
HMS Bulldog, finds the heavily damaged U35 still on the convoy line. Bulldog hits the sub for 1 damage (U35 str: 3, supply: 4)

16 MPP lost to Raiders

Allied Turn: March 3, 1941

A 9 strength level 1 sub with 1 pip attack ORP Blyskawica and does 5 damage to the destroyer while only taking 1 back.
A few other subs run into destroyers and take 1 or 2 damage while doing 1 or 2 damage. Slightly favoring the destroyers in the exchange.

Bulgaria joins the Axis



Pro-Allied coup fires in Yugoslavia (99% allies) and will join on the allied next turn, baring German DOW on her.

HMS Mohawk finds U30 (str: 6 1 pip & the most likely sub that assaulted Blyskawica) while scouting the area to ensure Blyskawica makes it home.
Blyskawica then retreats back towards home waters before Mohawk attacks the sub. Once Blyskawica is safely away Mohawk hits the sub for 2 damage.

HMS Bulldog finds U73 and hits her for 2 while taking 1 (U73: Str: 8, 1 pip)

Parliament rejects Churchill's proposal to seize the Irish port of Limerick.


No MPP lost to raiders this turn.


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I sure hope that hit on the Polish DD was a lucky roll. Sheesh both were at level 1 upgrade.

Order of actions has to be done carefully. If U30 dived and Blyskawica ran over the hex things might've been ugly.

Germany has spent 250 MPP on Diplomacy and Italy 100 MPP, at a strong guess I believe all of it was on Yugo (particularly after that early spectacular +27% hit)
UK spent 250 MPP to block Yugo joining (at least not without more Axis effort, as they can out chit the UK alone).

I just experienced a little game problem. I actually had garrisoned Greenland and the "Greenland becomes US protectorate" event made that garrison disappear in thin air. I believe the event should not fire if there are German troops in the port. I put them there in the hope that I could keep that base a bit longer. Opinions?

Historically speaking, the only German activity in Greenland was a few weather observers that were sneaked in via long ranged aircraft. It became a hunt and seek operation to find and capture them. Germany would occasionally place new ones, and the process started over again. Those living in Greenland helped the allies.

The fact that this game allows Germany to use the ports for resupply, repair and upgrades is comprehensively ridiculous from a historical standpoint at least. Maybe it is to make up for the lack of Milch Cows for play balance.


Having said that, the Manual and Essentials guide are lacking in information for many of the events and the only way to learn is to either dive through the scripts or trial and error.
For example in this same game I learned that evacuating the French unit out of Syria/Damascus not only triggers Italy (which they warn you about) but also hits the French National Morale. If I had known that, I would've waited until France was about to fall instead of just before Italy joined.


I suggest reposting your query to the Tech Support board. You probably should've had the GAR sent back to Germany, or at least known not to have sent it.

Allied Turn: April 4, 1941

U30 runs into HMS Badger and HMS Attack, two motor torpedo boats, attempting to get away from HMS Mohawk. HMS Attack sinks U30, the 2nd sub sunk.

U73 attacks Bulldog and does 1 point of damage and takes none back, U73 then slinks away.

In Egypt German Tactical Bombers air strike XII Corps south of Sidi Barani, an air battle ensues. This is followed by Rommel's Tanks and an Italian Corps which do 6 damage to XII Corps. The Panzers take 1 back.

The Commonwealth troops pull back away from the DAK.
The UK ships arms to Belgrade (the Corps in Belgrade is improved with INF Weapons and AA)
The half strength corps are recalled to defend the river line next to Belgrade.

The USA takes control of Greenland.


11 MPP lost to raiders

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Do motor torpedo boats get the 'HMS' designation?

Should I rename Badger to 'Giant Wooden Badger'?

Allied Turn: April 26, 1941

Yugoslavia goes down from one Tank, 1 Mech and 1 (2?) German bombers.
The MPP spent upgrading the Corp in Belgrade is wasted as I believe no damage was done to German units.

Rommel's Panzers run into 7th Armor. The German anti-tank unit then follows up against 7th Armor. When all said and done the Panzers are str: 5, AT str: 7 and 7th Armor str: 3

The Western Desert Force Army counter Attacks the Panzers scoring 2 hits for 1. The Panzer unit retreats while WDF then falls back into fortifications.

HMS Valiant (BB level 1) bombards the town of Bardia.

HMS Javelin receives a coded message marked 'ULTRA'. She then finds the wounded U37 south of Greenland and attacks the U-boat doing 2 damage and taking 1 back (U37 str: 3, Javelin str: 8)

Ethiopia is Liberated

No MPP lost to Raiders



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I'm no expert on the supply rules but Bardia is the closest Axis town with 5 supply. The other 2 are Egyptian and recently captured.

Allied Turn: May ??, 1941
*Sorry missed recording the exact date (only 1 turn for me in May anyway)

U37 is sunk while attempting to flee from HMS Javelin and runs into both HMS Jersey and HMCS Assinibone. Jersey takes a point of damage from the encounter.

Barbarossa starts
Pictures are before Allied moves.
A Soviet Fighter, Medium Bomber and Tactical Bomber are able to escape the onslaught.

In Egypt, the Germans advance to the Fortification line triggering Iraq.


The UK imposes Sanctions on Iraq.

In Egypt the sandstorms clear and it becomes evident that the Commonwealth has more air power than the Axis.
Tac bombers hit Rommel's HQ in Mersa Matruh and do a point of damage. They also spot the intercepting German fighter's air field.
A fighter sweep/strike on the German fighter's uses up their capacity (in between the Tactical bomber strikes).
Another UK TAC strike hits Rommel's HQ again (total 2 damage over both strikes). There are no interceptors, better still the German bombers are now spotted.
HMS Valiant bombards Mersa Matruh for 2 points, but misses Rommel.
HMS Courageous then launches 2 raids on the German bombers doing 6 damage and taking only 2 back to her air complement.
HMS Ark Royal launches one strike on the German bombers and finishes them off, but does take a point of damage back to her planes.
HMS Malaya bombards Mersa Matruh for 2 points, bringing the town down to 0, Rommel is again missed.

Iraq joins the Axis


No MPP lost to Raiders.


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I have no clue where the other subs are. Upgrading to level 2 perhaps?

USA is now at 42% Mobilization.

Allied Turn: June 9, 1941

German prior turn
Barbarossa:
In the North the Germans take an undefended Kaunas, and reach the outskirts of Riga.
Some mop up operations occur in the center.
The major push of Barbarossa is in the Ukraine. Odessa is 3/4 surrounded and an German Panzer unit reaches Kirovograd.

Egypt
Rommel's Panzers assault the center fortification occupied by the WDF army and do 3 damage without taking anything back. They then move to the southern point of the line.

Atlantic
A German destroyer cruises next to Salmon (str: 12, 3 pips of exp), and decides on the better part of valor leaving the UK sub alone.

Germany provides support to Iraq.



Sandstorms ground the UK air force versus land targets in Egypt.

The Parthian (UK sub str: 8) scouting the coast near Sidi Barani finds the Leonardo da Vinci (str: 8)
The Ark Royal sends an air strike which is intercepted by German fighters and escorted by UK fighters. The Ark Royal looses a point off their air wing and The UK fighters take a hit. The German fighters loose 2 (3?), and the sub dives.
HMS Amazon (DD) re-finds the da Vinci.
Ark Royal sends a second strike, this time there is no interception, and hits the Italian sub for 1 damage.
Courageous follows with 2 strikes, a 1 dmg hit and a dive.
HMS Sheffield (CL) finds da Vinci yet again, HMS Amazon then attacks the sub doing 1 damage to each DD and Sub. HMS Sheffield (which has level 1 AWS) takes a shot at the half strength sub and forces a dive.
HMS Warspite bombards Sidi Barani doing 2 to the town and taking 1 point of damage in the process.
HMS Malaya follows up bringing the supply level of Sidi Barani down to a 1.




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It's disheartening to see a level 2 Panzer hit a level 1 army in fortifications (and with Arty support) twice and not take any damage.

Both fighter units are in a sandstorm, so it is odd to see them able to fly into a (calm) sea hex.

Allied Turn: July 1, 1941

Barbarossa
Axis Prior Turn:
Germany kills the 3 Soviet light tank Corps.
3rd Panzer takes Kirovograd, the Ukrainian mines and winds up next to Dnepropetrovsk.
2nd Panzer runs into the USSR 10th Army in Zhitomir. 10th Army takes 4 damage and 2nd Panzer 2.
10th German Army runs into 3rd USSR Army in Minsk and the German army takes a point (or 2) of damage.
Riga and Odessa are cut off. The Romanian armed forces take some damage whittling the Corps in Odessa down to 5 strength.

Allied Turn:
The few pathetic units the Soviets have shuffle around some. There are now a few more in the south trying to gaurd the Dnepr river line, Kiev in particular.
The half strength Corps in Odessa evacuates by sea.
The Corps in Riga digs in as Riga is called a 'Hero city' by Stalin himself.
Some other units repair and upgrade.


Egypt
Axis Prior Turn:
The Axis continue to pick on the WDF Army in the center of the line. It is attacked by German and Italian bombers (I think they went unescorted, but didn't get to see what damage they took).
Final results were
IT 10th Army -3 damage (str: 7)
Rommel's Panzers -2 (str: 8)
WDF -3 (str: 5)
IT Medium Bombers -?
GE Medium Bombers -?

Allied Turn:
UK Tactical bombers hit Rommel's HQ and the Italian HQ. They are intercepted by the same German fighter.
The HQ's each take 1 pt of damage. The UK Tac bombers take 2 & 1 damage each. The German fighters take multiple hits and at least one hit was a 2 damage. The UK fighters went untouched (iirc).
Another squadren of UK fighters strike at the German fighter's airfield and do another point, better yet they see an air field of German medium bombers just west of the fighter field. The information is relayed to the Commonwealth Suez Task Force.
HMS Courageous strikes the German bombers twice doing 4 damage and 1 to her carrier planes, and spots an Italian Medium Bomber two hexes south of Bardia.
HMS Ark Royal shatters the German bombers with her first strike and hits the Italian bombers with her 2nd. The second strike was intercepted by Italian fighters stationed in Msus, but was fortunetly escorted by UK land based fighters.
I missed the damages as that took me a little by surprise, and the Italian fighters were out of my screen view at the time.
HMS Warspite and Malaya bombard the town of Bardia down to 2.
The Aussies, at the northern most position of the fortification line, hit the Italian 10th Army (level 0, str: 7) for 2 damage.
The WDF Army is reinforced to str: 8.


Atlantic & USA

No activity in the Atlantic
No MPP lost to raiders.

US activates the USS Somers (DD) for duty in the Atlantic.
Rosevelt broadcastes dangers of Nazi victory.
US garrisons Iceland and provides the UK the use of the Providence port.
US Mobilization: 55%


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It's Christmas eve, and I got 'Honey Do'ed through most of the day so forgot to get pictures.

New turn format, which I think is better.

Pro tip: Naval Air, unless at both full strength and at very high levels (Advanced Air + Naval = 6-8) sucks versus almost all ground units... except against bombers.

I have no idea if my bombarding these towns is hurting the Axis supply situation or not. I don't know if the double HQ (1 IT & 1 GE) overcomes it. I would have to play a self hotseat game to find out.

I'm really curious what's going on with his subs? Repairing and upgrades maybe?

The supply game in Egypt, even on defense is tricky. If I move an HQ to get 6 supply to the front south most fortification I have to give up either the middle 2nd line fort (occupied by Arty) or have to reduce the supply to some of the air units
so they could only be reinforced to 8. That would probably be better in general than the front line unit, if I had stronger Tactical bombers by now. Ah, I think the other solution would be to have 2 levels in Command and Control.

Sorry MrLongleg and fans, no turn today.
I'm completely exhausted and not 100% sober. [8D]

Enjoy the day off [:)]

Thanks MrLongleg, I can see the issue and apologies to your Garrison who went AWOL.

Allied Turn: July 15, 1941

Barbarossa
Axis Prior Turn:
The 'Hero City' of Riga falls, but takes a bite out of a Panzer, Mech and a Medium Bomber (1 dmg each).
The 3rd Army dug in at Minsk damages a German Army (1 point) and the 21st Panzer (2 points, str: 7) and takes 3 itself, including some for bombing.
The 14th Panzergrenadier attacks the 4th Army in Polotsk and damages itself (2 points). However, it does trigger Finland, which will enter on the Axis next turn.
The 7th Corps (unimproved) north of Kiev is attacked by the 2nd Panzers (str: 8) and reduced to 6 strength.
The IX Corps in Cherkasy is bombed and attacked, but holds on at 6 strength and does 1 damage back to the German 4th Army.
The garrison in Nikolayev is sacraficed to slow down the Romanian army. The garrison does manage to inflict a point of damage on one of the Romanian armies.

The German navy is allowing the Soviet Baltic Fleet to roam around and attack the Sweedish Convoy lines. Maxim Gorky (CL) and S-4 (sub) did 24 MPP damage last turn.


Allied Turn:
More reshuffling, reinforcing and upgrading.



Egypt
Axis Prior Turn:
The Axis pull back.


Allied Turn:
A Commonwealth fighter flies a recon mission south of Sidi Barani and encounters the Italian Fighters. The air engagement favors the UK (3 dmg to 1 dmg).
Rommel's HQ is bombed for 2 damage, there is no interception.

Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifles start making their way to Commonwealth units (aka UK upgrading to Infantry Weapons 2).



Atlantic & USA

No encounters

No MPP lost to raiders.

US Mobilization 59%



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Picture will be edited in later (another turn or 2).

Mistakes I made my past turn:
1. Made a supply mistake in Iraq, meaning a 1 turn dealy before I can get 2 units next to Bagdad.
2. Should've had a unit in front of Polotsk. That seems to be the easiest of the Finland triggers, because it took me a while to figure out why Finland was triggered in the first place.