Winston's Soft Underbelly -- A Dream Realized?

[rkr1958]

34. Mar/Apr 1944. CW Oil Shortages.

Speaking of oil, the CW suffered a significant oil shortage this turn. They fell short by 5 of the amount needed to reorganize all their units. Tough choices were made. The CW choose to organize all their land and most of their air units. This meant that the RN will have to sit on the sidelines until the CW can get enough oil for them too.

[rkr1958]

34. Mar/Apr 1945. Trade Adjustments.

It became very obvious to me that the CW and the USA was maintaining maximum BP production and, thus created a significant oil shortage for the CW. The priority at this stage in the war should be primarily focused on keeping the assets in the game fighting (i.e., oil and o-chits). However, as of last turn, I was still building ships that require two years to complete and, even with "47 turns remaining", I don't see this war continuing on for two more years. Even if it did, the allies have enough troops, planes and ships to finish the job. As such, the US stopped the 6 BPs to the CW and started shipping them 6 oil points per turn.

Other adjustments include the trade of 2 non-oil resources from Free France to the USA and the trade of 1 oil point from the USSR to China.

[rkr1958]

34. Mar/Apr 1945. Indo China, Hainan and China (North Monsoon).

The USA and CW caught the Japanese with their pants down. They successfully force two amphibious landings in Indo-China and Hainan, both of which were completely conquered by the USA. The US did turn control of Indo-China (i.e., liberate) back to Free France.

[rkr1958]

34. Mar/Apr 1945. China, North Temperate.

In northern China, the communist Chinese made a hard push against the Chinese. They plan to continue this push until their forces link up with the Soviets coming down from Manchuria.

China Sea.

In the China Sea, the USN supported by the RN sent into a strong carrier task force to directly challenge the IJN for control of the sea area. While control is still contested by the Japanese, USN carrier based planes did manage to hit Japanese factories and destroy 4 production points.

[rkr1958]

34. Mar/Apr 1945. Manchuria.

The Soviets plan to have complete control of Manchuria by the end of next turn (i.e., May/Jun 1945). And hope to link up with the communist Chinese the turn after (i.e., Jul/Aug 1945).

[rkr1958]

34. Mar/Apr 1945. South China Sea.

The USN and RN came oh so close of completely finishing off the Japanese in the South China Sea. Next turn maybe?

Four IJN CPs were sunk and a fifth was forced to a abort.

Targeting Japanese production has suddenly moved up very high on the allied priority list.

[rkr1958]

33. Mar/Apr 1945. New Guinea. Bismarck Sea.

Lae fell to the allies. The Japanese presence in New Guinea has been wiped out. (I think) all that remains to conquered New Guinea is to walk in and capture Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea?

[rkr1958]

34. Mar/Apr 1945. Japanese Coast. Sea of Japan.

A single carrier USN task force was able to move into and take complete control of the Japanese Coast.

[rkr1958]

34. Mar/Apr 1945. CP Losses to Date.

Japan lost 4 CPs this turn. The USN hopes to sink more next turn as Japanese CPs have also moved up to the top of the targeting priority list.

[rkr1958]

34. Mar/Apr 1945. Economic Reports.

Germany's out if oil. The CW is experiencing a serious oil shortage. German and Japanese factories are hit by allied bombers.

[rkr1958]

35. May/Jun 1945. Victory Totals.

This turn consisted of 6 allied and 5 axis impulses, with the allies moved both first and last this turn. With the exception of one impulse with rain in the North Monsoon, the weather was fine across the globe.

Though not reflect in the minor changes in victory totals, was a turn full of action and losses. Germany's total deceased by 1 due to the liberation of Antwerp by the CW, whose total increased by the 1. Japan's total decreased by 2 due to the captured of Taihoku, Formosa by the USA a and Port Arthur by the USSR, whose totals increased by 1 each.

I've never played a wargame like MWiF that gives me the feel of utter devastation and fanatical fighting in the closing days of WW2. It also gives me the feel of economic fatigue of the winning allied powers and in the case of the CW, a bit of an economic collapse due to five years of war.

[rkr1958]

35. May/Jun 1945. Destroyed Pool.

Here's evidence of the devastation ...

[rkr1958]

35. May/Jun 1945. Economic Report.

Here's the evidence of the economic collapse of the losing axis powers, economic fatigue of the winning allied powers including a bit of a collapse with the CW.

[rkr1958]

35. May/Jun 1945. CW - Use Oil.

The CW had only 42% (i.e., 9 / 21.25) of the oil required for full reorganization of all its units. Again, hard choices were made. The CW reorganized all its land units and as many of its bomber units that it could.

[rkr1958]

35. May/Jun 1945. USA - Use Oil.

Even the USA is starting to feel the pinch of oil shortages. Even though it had enough oil to reorganize all its units, the USA had to divert 7 oil points needed for full production for reorganization.

[rkr1958]

35. May/Jun 1945. Germany.

The Fuhrer is reportedly holed up in his bunker in the city of Berlin. Germany is completely out of oil and has zero prospect for getting any more. The oil consuming units, which includes HQ units, that are disorganized will remain so.

With the defeat of Germany imminent and Germany out of oil, the Fuhrer has ordered a number of his bunker guards to pilfaer as much gasoline as they can. It's reported that he needs 4 or 5 gallons for what need is anyone's guess. [;)]

The fanaticism of Germany came out when they refused the allied offer of surrender. He promised to set the "World in Flames" and that's exactly what he's done in Europe and his country of Germany.

[rkr1958]

35. May/Jun 1945. Balkans.

The allies finally finished their slog down to Albania and conquered that country this turn. II Duce escaped again before the allies arrived and has moved his fascist government to Italian Somalian.

With the fall of Albania, why do the Italians still get credit (i.e., victory points) for Athens and Istanbul? Is because they still control Rhodes? A lone Italian cruiser did escape Albania and make it there.

Even so, the Soviets have troops a mere three hexes from Istanbul. What gives?

[rkr1958]

35. May/Jun 1945. China (North Temperate), Korea and Southern Manchuria.

The communist last turn, though taking high losses, inflicted serious damage on the Japanese army group occupying the north including the destruction of Yamashria HQ unit leading that group.

The Soviets completely conquered Manchuria. The Soviets have 3 HQ units and two fronts in Manchuria. The Chinese front will be commanded by Chernyakhovsky and sub-commanded by Rokossovsky. They will be tasked with moving into, linking up with Mao's communist forces and eliminating the remnants of the Japanese northern army group. After that, if the Nationalist Chinese and allies in the south are still stalled they will move south and "liberate" all that they can.

The Soviet Korea front is commanded by Koniev and is tasked with the "liberation" of Korea.

[rkr1958]

35. Southern China (North Monsoon) and Formosa.

The USA successfully landed on and conquered Formosa this turn giving them two more critical naval bases closer to Japan.

[rkr1958]

35. May/Jun 1945. French Indo-China.

And its a good thing ... because the Free French naval bases of Hanoi and Haiphong are now off limits to western allied ships. President Roosevelt and PM Churchill are furious. After sending their boy to fight and dye to liberate Indo-China from their Japanese oppressors, without any French help I might add, de Gualle has the nerve to refuse to give USN and RN ships permission to dock in Indo-China ports. The USN sorely needs the space (i.e., 8 ships) in Hanoi and Haiphang but were denied it.

Both Roosevelt and Churchill vowed that it will be a cold day in you know where before they'll agree to turn liberate France back to de Gualle. And it will be snowing there before they'll send their boys to take care of Vichy France. Officially, Vichy France is now a French problem. More specifically, it's de Gualle's problem.

One thing that Roosevelt and Churchill do agree with de Gualle on is his statement to the effect, "the more I get to know people the more I like my dogs." [:D]