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18 Jul 41

Malta fell but progress was made in Libya where the last Italian army in the theater was destroyed. Unfortunately, and to his surprise, Monty got yeeted to the front line after some idiot misclicked. Time to shuttle the French engineer off to India. His duty is done. China is stable for now, waiting for the US to start shovelling in some aid. On the US west coast, two AA units are ready to be transported to Hawaii at the right time. Finland moved another 6% toward the allies. A U-boat was slightly damaged in the Atlantic.

12 Sep 41

Shane launched Barbarossa, destroying almost all the frontier units. I got away with a mech. inf. & a couple of air units. Finland did not join the axis. Reluctantly, Russia agreed to donate 200 precious MPPs to China where the pressure is relentless. Empire forces closed on Benghazi. Murmansk MPPs were turned up to max. Two US AA units were loaded into transports & docked in Hawaii but did not debark in order not to retard US mob. The French engineer is now fortifying in India. Persia was carved up by the British & Russians.

10 Oct 41

No mud yet in Russia, but also little action. Defences are set. Life is hard in China. Reluctantly, I must withdraw from Chungking. Burma swung further toward the allies. Benghazi & the rest of N Africa will be ours!

7 Nov 41

Mud arrived in Russia. The axis forces made little progress. Sadly, this means winter, when it strikes, will not take its usual toll. Murmansk convoys getting through. China’s collapse continues. The axis has been all but cleared from N Africa. Still a surviving Slovak corps at Benghazi & an exposed Graziani, down to strength 2. The AA units came ashore at Hawaii to the consternation of isolationists, but if Japan holds off to exploit this she suffers both MPP & morale penalties.

20 Nov 42

Jumping forward a whole year the situation is as follows:

USSR – if it’s an error, it’s a very rare one from Shane. I seem to have cut off a thrust on Tallin. In the south, a dangerous envelopment is looming. Fortunately, the mud arrived.

China – the less said the better. My stragglers hope to survive as long as possible into 43.

Mediterranean – Tunisia fell this turn. N Africa has been conquered. I plan to ship some marines over & attack Sicily. Shane has concentrated subs east of Gib. They will be discouraged by aerial bombardment.

India – I await the Japanese assault. This time, I have significant air power to neutralise Shane’s carriers.

The MPP situation looks quite healthy. A Jap sub in the Persian gulf came to grief so US aid is getting through there.

21 May 43

Another Great Leap Forward (in time).

USSR – now another summer season is upon us. I mean to cling on to the Caucasus for as long as poss. As communication with the rest of the Union has been cut, that may mean shipping in more units across the Caspian. The small Tallin encirclement was successful.

Pacific - I have no idea what to do with the US navy. Indian Ocean maybe.

Mediterranean - Almost ready for an amphibious assault on Sicily,

China - Last stand at Urumchi. Two more turns max.

India - Japanese now arriving in force. US armour from American Samoa should land at Madras next turn.

Further posts are on hold as this AAR is now too close to the game, which is ongoing & has reached Jan '44. More updates will follow as & when possible. If you are following, please drop a comment on the thread so far. I would find it helpful.

Thanks for the AAR - very interesting and the game looks fairly even.

If it doesn't give away too much it is always interesting to see what options players have chosen for research and diplo, and whether they are happy with those choices as the game progresses.

firsteds wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 12:45 pm Thanks for the AAR - very interesting and the game looks fairly even.

If it doesn't give away too much it is always interesting to see what options players have chosen for research and diplo, and whether they are happy with those choices as the game progresses.

Thanks firsteds. Glad you’re enjoying this. It’s my best effort against Shane so far, despite the poor showing in China. I’ll give some thought to the research issue once I’m back in play.

firsteds wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 12:45 pm Thanks for the AAR - very interesting and the game looks fairly even.

If it doesn't give away too much it is always interesting to see what options players have chosen for research and diplo, and whether they are happy with those choices as the game progresses.

Clive's diplo on Finland was very effective. The units relieved from Karelia frontier duty were instrumental in stemming the advance along the Baltic. No spoilers - but you will see my next mistake soon I am sure!

Old_Shane wrote: Fri May 01, 2026 8:08 pm

firsteds wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 12:45 pm Thanks for the AAR - very interesting and the game looks fairly even.

If it doesn't give away too much it is always interesting to see what options players have chosen for research and diplo, and whether they are happy with those choices as the game progresses.

Clive's diplo on Finland was very effective. The units relieved from Karelia frontier duty were instrumental in stemming the advance along the Baltic. No spoilers - but you will see my next mistake soon I am sure!

What mistake? Shane does not make mistakes, dammit .

18 Jul 43

China falls! India is next on the menu.

Russia – Shane makes inroads toward the Caucasus, presses on and beyond Kuibyshev. MPPs via Murmansk switched off as Shane’s U-boats are choking them off. He also has a sub in the Persian Gulf which I’m peppering with a tac-bomber & a destroyer but, for now, nothing getting through that way either.

In the Pacific, I have decided to assault the DEI, after polishing off an impudent Japanese sub this turn.

Sicily was assaulted but I could not quite eliminate Guzzoni & take Palermo. Next turn, hopefully.

Can't attach screenshots for some reason

15 Aug 43

The Sicily assault has not worked out. Naval defence prevented further landings & 2 amphib. transports were lost, 1 returning to Tunis.

Meanwhile, to stretch the Germans, an assault on the Netherlands is planned with amphibs. in the water. US transports are ferrying assets across the Atlantic to create another distraction.

In Russia, significant losses were incurred on both sides while, in the Pacific, the US Armada is ready to roll toward the DEI. India will be reinforced by another Australian corps in 2 turns.

My original plan being exposed & confounded, I can now start to upload this AAR.

8 Oct 43

Med – The Sicilian campaign must be declared a flop so I am transporting US units to the UK from N Africa in order to make a landing in France. In Europe, the Netherlands was liberated. An army & an AA unit remain in the water but will hopefully land next turn. After that, the Americans will land too.

Russia holds well enough. The main pressure is in the Caucasus. An army & 2 corps have crossed the Caspian.

The US Pacific fleet is on the move, destination the DEI.

5 Nov 43

Pacific fleet sunk the battleship Musashi. Australian 2nd Corps berthed in the Seychelles as Indian Ocean waters are under total Japanese control. Managed to get an AA unit ashore in the Netherlands but my pocket there is likely doomed. It has, however, diverted forces from the ostfront. The US build-up in SE England continues meanwhile. Russia is stable for now.

The game itself has reached Aug 44 & remains complicated & interesting. I don't know who is winning.

3rd Dec 43

The build-up in England is complete. Next turn we get in the boats. In India the Japs are pressing hard from the east & Shane is also up to no good in the Persian Gulf. I don’t know yet whether he’s aiming for Karachi or perhaps Tehran. I’m sending a Russian army to occupy the city just in case. The pressure on the Caucasus has eased with Axis units redeploying elsewhere. Should it come to pass, this will be the first time I have kept Shane away from my oil. The Pacific fleet continues to steam south west & I fancy there will be reception awaiting as the Imperial fleet has mostly vacated the Indian Ocean (as it turned out later, only for rest & refit).

28 Jan 44

Slightly fluffed D-Day. Didn’t realise the coastal batteries exert zones of control into the channel. This prevented 2 units reaching Cherbourg from the Thames estuary. One of them I landed anyway, north of Calais, just to cause some trouble there. The German XVIII corps consequently still holds the port. Shane will have to operate units to the thinly-defended sector.

In the Pacific, I decided to attack Port Moresby, as I need ports for upgrades & re-supply (a plan that misfired – see below). I’ve shelled & bombed the town & port to zero & land next turn. The IJN remains in the Indian Ocean after rearming its carriers.

In Russia, most of the action is at Chelyabinsk, while a Japanese special forces unit advances on Tehran. I think I’ve cut it off & I’ve occupied the city anyway.

25 Feb 44

Cherbourg captured & more US units coming ashore. Port Moresby captured, which gives me 3 ports in the theatre. Also sunk a Jap battleship & a light cruiser in this operation. Shane is feeding me the IJN piecemeal. India is creaking under Japanese assault however. The Jap push on Tehran is halted by supply problems but will continue. I’m ready. Russia stable, with neither side making headway. All in all, satisfactory.

[Dear reader, several bad assessments in this post. I resisted the temptation to amend before posting in order not to look stupid but then thought WTH.]

24 Mar 44

Paris liberated! Defended only by a garrison. US forces are piling in to France, creating a cornucopia of possibilities: liberate Vichy, head for the Reich or hoover up coastal units aiming for the low countries?

In Russia a German light tank unit was destroyed.

India remains under heavy pressure from the Japanese who are also pushing on Iraq. Monty & some Empire forces have arrived in the theatre to try to stem the tide.

21 Apr 44

In France – lost an RN destroyer to combined air & U-boat attack. Destroyed an AA unit. A Canadian armoured spearhead captured Nancy. French MPPs can now be spent so I bought two AA units & an HQ. My US airship lit up the axis assets in the theatre.

In the Pacific, the marines captured another port. I have only 5 in the theatre & only 3 of those are fully operational. Shane has committed some IJN carriers but I need to replenish my carrier planes before I can engage them.

In Russia, Shane is still pressing hard toward Moscow & Chelyabinsk. He is betting the farm on his eastern campaign. The Riga & southern fronts are more favourable for me. A German army was destroyed in the former.

The Japanese menace grows in India where my main problem is lack of MPPs to replace rising losses.