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Elvis learned my lesson well with the Allied all in France, the defeat of 3 German armies and 2 corps, perhaps even I can't always do that.
But the escape from Egypt is also a disaster due to the fact that Elvis constantly left our games early, and it would be worth continuing at least for the sake of how the defense of Egypt is organized in the case of all in France.

1941-08-30
In AGN German forces captured Minsk and approached Daugavpils and Riga.
Further south Kiev fell into German hands. Rumanian forces reached Dnepropetrovsk and the Crimean peninsula was isolated from the rest of the country.
1941-09
News arrived from Tokio that Pearl Harbor was devastated by the Japanese carriers!
General Rommel captured Tehran and his troops were approaching the Soviet border near Baku. 
Mud arrived over most of the USSR, hindering all movements. 
In AGN German forces seized Riga, Orsha, and Polotsk. The fortified Smolensk area was defended by well-entrenched Soviet armies.

In AGS theatre of operations, the Dnepr River was crossed in force and Dnepropetrovsk was captured. 

1941-10
The ground froze in AGN. The city of Daugavpils was by now surrounded. 
In the Ukraine the weather was sunny. Surprisingly the city of Kharkov was abandoned by the Soviets! German forces entered the Crimean peninsula. The fortifications defending Rostov were reached. Rommel’s panzers entered the USSR coming from Persia. 
1941-11
In AGN the city of Daugavpils finally fell. In Finland, an Italian paratrooper was prepared to jump to cut the main railroad Murmansk-Moskow. 
In the Ukraine, the weather was sunny again. Sevastopol fortress fell. Panzers reached the outskirts of the strategic city of Rostov.
All Luftwaffe air units flew to Romania and Bulgaria. Weather permitting, the invasion of Turkey was expected to start next turn. Two panzerkorps and paratroopers will attack from Bulgaria while General Rommel will attack from the Caucasus.  

1941-12
Axis troops cut the railroad south of Murmansk. There would be no convoys arriving in the USSR for the next 3 winter months. 
The weather is horrid with mud, rain, and snow all over the battlefields. The front was static. 
German forces invaded Turkey from the East and West, while General Guzzoni’s troops entered the country from the South via Syria. Unexpectedly Greece declared war on Germany, and some of the German soldiers had to be diverted to attack the Greeks, including a panzerkorps. 
In Western Europe, The Netherlands and Denmark were invaded. For some time, the British have been flying the new Spitfire fighters level 3. 

The Pacific theatre of operations 

1941-09
Japan declared war on the USSR. For the assault on the strategic city of Vladivostok, the Japanese massed 3 armies, and an infantry corps supported by 3 bombers and artillery. After finishing the job they will advance northwest to attack the NM city of Irkutsk… The northern fortification of Vladivostok was captured. To avoid the arrival of any Soviet reinforcements, Japanese paratroopers captured Ulan Ude cutting the railroad linking Irkutsk and Vladivostok. 
This same turn Japan declared war on the USA. All US Navy ships berthed at Pearl Harbor were sunk. To invade the US West Coast Japan loaded 4 special forces units and a mechanized unit in long-range transports (LRTs). The invasion fleet navigated midway between the Hawaiian Islands and Los Angeles. If the USA’s West coast was discovered to be heavily defended they could still turn around and attack Oahu instead. 
1941-10
Out of the blue 3 unescorted US Navy carriers appeared from the East and sunk 3 LRTs, including the mechanized unit . It was a hard blow. In retaliation, the Imperial Navy sunk all 3 US carriers. Reduced to 2 LRTs I hesitated. I was contemplating attacking Oahu when I discovered that San Diego was not garrisoned. Immediately San Diego was seized with an intact port but the Los Angeles garrison escaped destruction. The invasion force was pitifully small. A couple of tactical bombers were operated from China to assist the invading special forces. They urgently needed to be reinforced.  It was for sure a difficult decision for Elvis to make. At first, I thought that losing all US Navy carriers was a price too high to pay… but with the benefit of hindsight, I believe that it was the correct decision. 


Very unfortunately the Japanese 2nd tank unit, shipped from Nagasaki and navigating unescorted eastbound, was intercepted by a US sub and was severely damaged, only to be sunk during Elvis’s turn. 

The only good news was that Soviet forces were evacuated from Vladivostok. The Japanese forces operated west and began attacking Borzya, the first objective on their long way to Irkutsk. 
This picture was taken during the Allied turn. It shows how fast Elvis was able to reinforce the Los Angeles area. He disembarked or operated 3 infantry corps, a Canadian tank unit, an AA, and one army!! I wasn't expecting these many Allied troops to be based in the West Coast so early.
1941-11
It was hard to find new reinforcements as the Japanese Army was heavily engaged all over Asia. The only units assigned to follow the original landing were a tank unit and a Japanese HQ. Two additional special landing units were finally shipped and were expected to disembark the next turn in January. 
With heavy air support from the carriers and the 2 tactical bombers the city of Los Angeles was captured in extremis. Two USA infantry corps and a US fighter unit were destroyed whereas the Canadian infantry corps was isolated from any supply source. 
The NEI and Thailand were captured during the first turn of the war but the Philippines, Malaysia, Borneo, Sarawak, the Solomons, and Papua New Guinea remained to be conquered. 

1941-12
The much-needed Japanese reinforcements disembarked safely on the West Coast. A tank unit and an army arrived in Los Angeles while an under-strength special force unit arrived in San Diego. A second US fighter unit was destroyed, and Allied units retired to the San Jose area. A veteran British fighter unit was found to be based in Sacramento.  
I remained confident that the strategic city of San Francisco could be captured. 

As the year comes to an end I will review the stats of the living and the dead.
The Soviets could count 58 land units, a comfortable number versus 68 German units. The US Navy was small...
and the Royal Navy lost 9 ships in the Mediterranean as recounted before. 

1942-01
Japanese forces enlarged their beachhead, capturing Las Vegas. A US Army tank unit was signaled to be approaching San Jose.
There were furious air combats between our carrier pilots and 5 Allied fighter units. The RAF operated 4 fighter units and based them around Sacramento. Surviving Japanese carrier pilots were exhausted after 5 months of interrupted combat. The following turn, Allied maritime bombers attacked and nearly sunk a CV. The carriers were recalled immediately to Japan to begin a period of rest and refit.
1942-02
Japanese forces advanced towards Malaysia and Burma from Bangkok. These forces could count on the services of 2 medium bombers based around Saigon. The Allies decided to defend Malaysia: at least 4 infantry corps and an AA unit were deployed in the peninsula while an Indian army defended Singapore.
An Indian Corps that amphibiously landed on Sumatra's western coast and took control of a mine complex.
1942-03
Japanese troops coming from China managed to rescue our paratroopers near Irkutsk. With the arrival of the fine weather, a new offensive was planned to begin against this city.
1942-04
Chinese forces launched a general offensive against the Japanese all along the front. Large numbers of enemy troops were signaled to be advancing north towards Peking. In the center of the immense front, our forces defending Chengchow came under pressure, where the Chinese deployed 2 artillery units. I didn't worry too much about the Chinese at this time, as I was sure that the Chinese offensive could be stopped.

The Japanese Imperial Navy ruled the Pacific Ocean. Without enemy carriers to worry about, Japanese ships approached the Hawaiian Islands. The fleet was escorting a group of 3 LRTs. Aboard were the last 3 special forces available to the Empire, entrusted with the mission of capturing Honolulu in a coup de main. I reasoned that the US Army already had its hands full fighting the Japanese in the mainland USA. A preliminary scout mission revealed weak forces defending Oahu.
Things were starting to take a much somber tone in Thailand. Previously undetected Chinese troops were signaled near Bangkok and still worse, two British tank units were advancing behind under cover of British fighters. The Japanese immediately adopted a defensive stance and sent additional reinforcements to the area (another army and a special landing unit) and some fighters.
1942-05
The fighting for Bangkok increased in ferocity. No troops were expected to arrive as reinforcements. Japanese forces in the region would have to hold fast.
The Chinese offensive continued, forcing some Japanese units to retreat to more favorable defensive positions.

The invasion fleet maneuvered southwest of Oahu, ready to disembark next turn. Maybe this time the LRTs weren't discovered by the enemy.
There has been an uncomfortable stalemate in the fighting on the West Coast, the Allies remaining entrenched near San Jose. During April Phoenix was captured by a unit of special forces that immediately continued traveling to the East. I decided to send additional troops East, as I reasoned that all available US units would have been transferred to the West Coast by now. A tank unit and a veteran special force were transferred East.
Unfortunately, upon arriving in the East our special forces found a US Army waiting in Dallas. Rain prevented this unit from reaching Houston.
1942-06
I felt uneasy I knew that something was going on with the US Army troops stationed near San Francisco. For the last turns, there has been no activity at all. Maybe they were planning an invasion of their own. I transferred a maritime bomber north to monitor Japan's Northern approaches. Sure enough, in early June a US invasion fleet was spotted ready to disembark from LRTs. I had no idea of their destination and I tried to garrison all my NM cities.

The Pacific portion of your game is quite interesting and very active on both sides. I do wonder ultimately if the Japanese invasion of the US is worth it? Sadly though my guess is the Pacific fighting will have very little impact on the eventual outcome of the game.

If a Westcoast invasion at least halfway succeeds, it does a ton of NM and economic damage.
D-Day would be pushed far back only by the task of clearing California/Hawaii alone. Imho one of the best ways to give the Reich the time it needs in the east.

As was decided 80 years ago, in the real war, The Germany First is the right strategy. The Japanese should be as troublesome as possible in the Pacific, withdrawing the USA's resources and soldiers from the European Theatre of War. Bavre is correct, every tank, soldier, and plane fighting the Japanese is not fighting the Germans. I was very proud of my soldiers of the rising sun!

1942-05
Axis troops weren’t hit by the RUSSIAN WINTER. It was the first time that I experienced this in one of my games.
After capturing Turkey, Axis troops under the command of General Rommel advanced north, through the Caucasus Mountain Range, towards Grozny and Baku. 
General von Manstein, after capturing Rostov, launched an immediate powerful attack on STALINGRAD that surprised completely the Soviet defenders. Further north, German infantry units captured Kursk. 
1942-06
The Soviets abandoned the whole Caucasus!! General von Manstein’s troops threatened to cut all the Soviet soldiers south of the Volga. To avoid huge losses Elvis preferred to retreat. It was a huge victory . I knew from this point that the USSR was doomed… What would you have done?...
In less than a year the USSR would surrender. 
Further north German forces planned to attack Moscow from the south, bypassing the strong Smolensk's defensive works from the East. Leaving weak forces facing the Smolensk's fortifications, infantry units from Kursk advanced north in a broad front without armored support. Soon they reached Orel, Bryansk, and Ryazhsk, the first Soviet defensive line. 
 

The USSR was taking huge losses. 
Germany’s income reached 900 MPPs per turn.  The USSR fielded 52 land units versus 77 German. 

Since December 1941 Germany lost 3 subs, 1 paratrooper, and 1 army. The USSR lost 20 land units. 

1942-07-31
Oahu's invasion was a failure. Japanese special forces managed to destroy a US fighter unit and a garrison. Japanese carrier pilots were decimated.
They finished the turn landing in the Hawaiian Islands but it seemed doubtful that Honolulu could be captured.
Events were taking a turn for the worse in Thailand. Allied special units disembarked behind Bangkok, isolating the Capital from Saigon and the Japanese HQs.
US forces captured Hiroshima!! I was shocked! The convoys immediately stopped arriving. This event will eventually lead to the loss of Tokyo in a year.
A nice welcoming party was organized for the Japanese tourists near Dallas ! With no supply, they were forced to retire again to the West Coast, only half would make the trip back.

Taifun wrote: Fri Jul 19, 2024 12:52 am Axis troops weren’t hit by the RUSSIAN WINTER. It was the first time that I experienced this in one of my games.
After capturing Turkey, Axis troops under the command of General Rommel advanced north, through the Caucasus Mountain Range, towards Grozny and Baku. 
General von Manstein, after capturing Rostov, launched an immediate powerful attack on STALINGRAD that surprised completely the Soviet defenders. Further north, German infantry units captured Kursk. 

The Soviets abandoned the whole Caucasus!! General von Manstein’s troops threatened to cut all the Soviet soldiers south of the Volga. To avoid huge losses Elvis preferred to retreat. It was a huge victory . I knew from this point that the USSR was doomed… What would you have done?...
In less than a year the USSR would surrender. 

I guess props to Elvis for soldiering on as if the Axis are lucky enough to not have the Russian Winter fire, the game is over. Hopefully its eventually changed to have to fire one of the winter turns.

I probably would have left a few units to defend Caucasus just to try to slow the Germans down a little bit. But I think retreating the majority of the Soviet forces is the right call with it being threatened from both sides.

Redrum, I agree that the Russian Winter should fire on one of 3 first winter turns. In this particular game it wouldn't have made a big difference, I had very few units in the USSR, at most delay 1 turn the German 1942 spring offensive.

1942-07-31
After receiving significant reinforcements (3 panzerkorps: including 1 Hungarian, and 1 Rumanian) German troops advanced north again. Orel and Bryansk were seized. In Smolensk, a Soviet fighter unit was surprised and destroyed. 
The towns of Tula and Kaluga, the Soviet's second line of defense defense, were reached.  
Advancing along the Volga, General von Manstein's troops reached the strategic city of Saratov. 
1942-08
The Soviets abandoned the Smolensk fortifications! The towns of Tula and Kaluga were also captured, without a shot being fired, after the Soviet defenders retreated towards Moscow. The Luftwaffe transferred 4 veteran bomber units to airfields around Tula to support the assault on Moscow. 
The strategic city of Saratov was captured on the Volga. 
1942-09
Mud hampered all movements. German panzers reached the outskirts of Moscow. 
General von Manstein’s soldiers approached the Soviet NM morale city of Kuybyshev on the Volga. 
1942-10
Mud and rain hampered all movements again. A fortified hex outside Moscow was destroyed. 

1942-11
The earth froze. Moscow was captured by German troops !
Axis forces were attempting to enclose the Soviet NM morale city of Kuybyshev on the Volga from the north and south.
1943-01
The Soviet winter hit hard the invading Axis troops. Germany suffered the loss of 3400 MPPs.
1943-02 After being reinforced with 2 German heavy tank units, General von Manstein’s soldiers prepared for the final assault on Kuybyshev.

1943-02
Japan was a receiving very few MPPs per turn and was unable to reinforce their carriers or air forces. Losses were growing fast. Japanese forces in China were in disarray. The USA adventure was over. US Army troops were menacing Tokyo from the north.
Some Japanese forces were still fighting tenaciously in Saigon. The remaining Japanese bombers were transferred to the Philippines.

1943-05
Japanese soldiers in China were doomed. Tokyo resisted. The Japanese Imperial Fleet left the Sea of Japan to avoid destruction. 
Axis forces were inexorably advancing towards the last Soviet Capital: Perm. The NM cities of Leningrad and Volkhov near Lake Lagoga were in German hands.  
Under the leadership of General Guzzoni, Italian soldiers were approaching Algiers from Tunis. Germany declared war on Spain. The Royal Navy lost control of the Atlantic. 
The Allied Democracies had fewer ships than the Axis combined navies.