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Turn 21 - 9/24/42
 
News:

• US Rail Transport Operating at Maximum Capacity

Supply: 73
VP: 1/312
LP: 24/23
AS: 30/36

Fronts - Central America: Some Brazilians and the entire Colombian army are parked in the Panamanian ports. Is a naval invasion of the Gulf of Mexico imminent?

American troops continue to resist while slowly retreating north. This should delay them long enough for the Free French to capture Mexico City, thus effecting the surrender of the Mexican army and opening up the 4th Army for a liberation campaign against the Brazilians in Central America.

For now, the Honduran Army is going to go for Managua in a lightning campaign. It'll be a little easier with Nicaragua out of the picture.


FIGHT 1 - Location: Honduran-Nicaraguan Border

Combatants: Honduran Army vs Nicaraguan Forces

Results: 21 squads, 3 MG, 2 AT, 9 guns, and 7 armored cars for 55 squads and 2 mortars.

Notes: Two separate battles. The advance stalled.

Mexico: While the Zapatistas secure the Yucatan, the Free French of Belize will strike Mexico from behind - they are driving towards Mexico City itself, and plan to capture Veracruz as well.


FIGHT 2 - Location: Yucatan Jungles

Combatants: Zapatistas vs Elements of 4 Inf Reg, 1st Mex Army

Results: A platoon for 9 squads, 1 MG, and 3 mortars.


Fighting continues in the north - almost all the Mexicans have been driven back south of the border by now.


FIGHT 3 - Location: Northern Mexico

Combatants: 4th Army vs Elements of 1st & 2nd Mexican Army

Notes: The Mexican cavalry and some of their commandos evaporated.

Results: 4 platoons, 3 MG, and a tank for 170+ squads, 31 MG, 8 mortars, and 9 Jeeps.

Follow-up: Attacked a fresh infantry force. 2 platoons, 2 Jeeps, and 2 tanks for 26 squads, 10 MG, and 3 mortars.

FIGHT 4 - Location: Northern Mexico

Combatants: 78 Art Bgd, 4th Army & 291 Rcn Btn, 6th Army vs 8th Inf Reg, 2nd Mexican Army

Results: A few scouts, 2 guns, 6 Jeeps, and an armored car for 20 squads, 12 MG, 1 AT, and 6 mortars.

Follow-up: A few men and 2 guns for 42 squads, 11 MG, 3 AT, and 3 mortars.

West: The 35 ID has disembarked and is advancing south, but a Japanese regiment is stationed in a part of the desert untraversible by vehicles. It will have to be starved out.

The Japanese air force seems to have sent out a few bombers - a number of ships were destroyed in one of my task forces, including a battleship.

South: The Florida situation is under control for now.

The 4 AD is in position and the assault across the Ohio River will begin next turn. However, the Germans are taking my breakthrough in the South very seriously. An infantry division and the German airborne division are denied access to the Mississippi only by a thin line of a few thousand Marines and Guardsmen. However, where I do have the advantage, I will press on.


FIGHT 5 - Location: W of Mobile

Combatants: National Guardsmen & 7 Amd Bgd, 1st Mech Div vs 11 Inf Reg, 1 ID

Results: Two companies, 16 MG, 2 AT, 8 mortars, and 5 tanks for 1 company, 11 MG, and 7 mortars.

Follow-up: 2 squads, 6 tanks, and a bomber for a company, 9 MG, 3 AT, and 10 mortars.

FIGHT 6 - Location: Oklahoma Wilderness

Combatants: Montana Militia, 3 RR Bgd, & 29 ID HQ vs Mexican Recon

Results: Half a company, 2 MG, a gun, and 2 mortars for the whole unit (dozens of men, two dozen armored cars, and 60 Jeeps).
 
FIGHT 7 - Location: S of Memphis

Combatants: Blah same as last turn vs Tejas Korps tanks and the two regiments that were nearly obliterated in my encirclement last week.

Results: A full battalion (nearly half Marines), 8 MG, 1 AT, 2 guns, 4 mortars, a Priest, an AA, and 3 Jeeps for 2 companies, 17 MG, 4 AT, 15 mortars, and 19 tanks.

North: An influx of reinforcements into Ohio has emboldened the Germans to try for Pittsburgh.

Fighting has erupted once more near Hamilton.

Quebec is threatened by a massive Italian army.

Montreal is about to be retaken.


FIGHT 8 - Location: Montreal

Combatants: 7 Inf Reg, 51 Highlanders ID & 3 Inf Reg, Grenadier Guards Div vs Montreal Garrison

Results: 1 company, 10 MG, 1 AA, 1 gun, and 9 mortars for the whole garrison of 1000+ men.

Turn 23 - 10/8/42
 
News:

• Managua Captured, Nicaraguan Forces Surrender
• German Commanders Do Their Best With Reduced Units
• Germany Recalls 18th Mtn Div to Romania

Supply: 78
VP: 34/312
LP: 26/24
AS: 48/40

Fronts - Central America: With Nicaragua out of the picture and the Colombians in Mexico, only a stack or two of Brazilians are left in Central America. The Hondurans will set up a defensive line between Lake Managua (in Nicaragua) and the Pacific. The US units being chased up the isthmus will join the defense against the Brazilians. This will give them a run for their money, if not delay them indefinitely.

Mexico: The Yucatan is entirely isolated from the rest of Mexico. The Zapatistas continue to tighten the noose around the Mexican cavalry in Merida.

The Free French have encountered the first of the Colombians.


FIGHT 1 - Combatants: Belize Free French vs Colombian Cavalry

Results: 17 squads, 9 MG, 2 AT, 3 guns, and 3 mortars for 22 squads and a mortar.


The Mexicans nearly cut off 4th Army's supply lines. The advance has stalled while more troops are brought in to root them out of their strongholds.


FIGHT 2 - Combatants: 4th Army Infantry & Commandoes vs 14 Inf Bgd, 3rd Mex Army

Results: A company, 4 MG, 3 AT, and 9 mortars for 27 squads, 10 MG, 1 AT, and 6 mortars.
 
FIGHT 3 - Combatants: Elements of 78 ID vs 15 Inf Bgd, 3rd Mex Army

Results: Half a company, 3 MG, 1 AT, 3 guns, and 2 AA for 26 squads, 9 MG, 2 AT, and 9 mortars.

FIGHT 4 - Combatants: 4th Army Recon & Artillery vs 8 Inf Bgd, 2nd Mexican Army

Results: A platoon, 3 guns, and 2 armored cars for the surrender of the brigade.

West: Little activity here. The Japanese north of San Francisco continue to starve.

The 35 ID is advancing south and should link up with elements of the 4th Army along the Colorado River shortly. Soon Operation Bear Flag will begin and the Japanese army will be driven back into the ocean.


FIGHT 5 - Combatants: 35 ID & 4 RR Bgd vs 58 Inf Reg, 8 ID

Results: A company, 1 AT, 3 guns, and 1 AA for 52 squads, 6 AT teams, 24 MG, 5 AT, 1 gun, and 7 mortars.

South: This is the most uncertain area. A strong German push could send me flying back to the Mississippi.

The situation in Florida is stable for now. We have reached an impasse, it seems.

In southern Mississippi, the appearance of German armor complicates things a bit.

Further north, the entire German airborne division and an infantry division are pushing hard. Those Marines have taken the brunt of their fury so far, and have been reduced to 2/3 strength or less.

A fresh regiment will remove that thorn in my side, German-held Jackson.


FIGHT 6 - Combatants: 101 Inf Reg, 26 ID vs Jackson Garrison

Results: 20% of the regiment lost, but the city is in American hands.


To distract the Germans, and tying in with my main offensive further north, I will attack part of the blocking force between me and Memphis.


FIGHT 7 - Combatants: Southern militia, 25 & 26 Reg, 2 Mar Div, and 104 & 328 Inf Reg, 26 ID vs 112 Mech Brigade, Tejas Korps

Results: 2 companies, 9 MG, 1 AT, and 7 mortars for 39 squads, 21 MG, 8 AT, 1 gun, and 6 AA.
 
 
The siege of Memphis has also been broken, and its defenders are determined to crush the enemy.


FIGHT 8 - 28 ID, 2 Cav Div, & 3 Tank Bgd, 6th Army vs Tejas Korps

Results: A battalion, 11 MG, 4 AT, 3 guns, 2 AA, and 4 tanks for 37 squads, 26 recon squads, 17 MG, 7 AT, 4 guns, 3 AA, 1 armored car, and 1 tank.

North: This is it, the main offensive, Operation Lightning Blow. The 82nd Airborne has parachuted behind enemy lines and blocked their escape routes while attacks come from all around.

Meanwhile, combined arms forces from the west advance south along the underdefended German flank.


FIGHT 9 - Combatants: 6 AD and 82nd AB arty vs 33 Mot Ref, 42 Pz Div

Results: Half a company, 1 MG, 1 gun, 3 AA, and 17 tanks for 36 squads, 14 AT teams, 32 MG, 3 AT, 2 guns, 15 mortar, 18 AA, and 4 tanks.

FIGHT 10 - Combatants: Kansas militia & 144 Art Btn, 6 AD vs 89 Rcn Btn, 42 Pz Div

Results: A squad, 2 MG, 1 AT, 1 gun, and a Priest SPG for 25% losses.

Louisville Pocket - Combatants: The German 101 ID is trapped here.

Results: 61 squads, 10 AT team, 24 MG, 14 AT, 9 guns, 11 mortars, 2 Priest SPG, 9 AA, 7 tanks, and 2 planes for 47 squads, 17 AT teams, 6 recon teams, an engineering platoon, 38 MG, 8 AT, 11 guns, 27 mortars, 3 AA, and an armored car (basically reduced to 1 hex).

Cincinatti Pocket - Combatants: Elements of Amerika Korps and half the 233 ID are trapped here.

Results: 66 squads, an engineering platoon, 8 AT teams, 48 MG, 16 AT, 10 guns, 21 mortars, 2 Priest SPG, and 6 AA for 92 squads, 12 AT teams, 4 recon teams, 48 MG, 14 AT, 9 guns, and 40 mortars (reduced to 1 hex).


The rest of the front was quiet. There seem to have been failed attacks near Cleveland and on Pittsburgh, and the 71 ID smashed up my forces south of Hamilton, but otherwise nothing.

Turn 24 - 10/15/42
 
News:

• The Nation Responds to President Hull's Message
• US Morale and Work Effort Increase

Supply: 89
VP: 34/312
LP: 25/27
AS: 56/43

Fronts - Central America: The Panama Canal garrison has dug in on the Costa Rican border. I think I can consider this front permanently stabilized.

Mexico: The Mexican cavalry brigade failed to break out of the Yucatan. The Colombians got behind the Free French somehow.


FIGHT 1 - Combatants: Belize Free French vs Colombian Cavalry

Results: 2 squads, 1 MG, 2 guns, and 1 mortar for 15 squads and 3 mortars.

FIGHT 2 - Combatants: Belize Free French vs Colombian Cavalry & Artillery

Results: 17 squads, 9 MG, 7 mortars, and a tank for 30 squads, 3 MG, and 3 mortars.

Follow-up: 1 tank and 3 planes for 7 squads, 1 MG, 2 guns, and 1 mortar.
 

In northern Mexico, the 4th Army tries to outflank the Mexicans while the 78 ID pushes towards Monterrey.


FIGHT 3 - Combatants: 4th Army Infantry, Tanks & Commandoes vs Mexicans

Notes: 2 separate battles.

Results: 5 platoons, 16 MG, 6 AT, 9 mortars, and 2 tanks for 79 squads, 29 MG, 4 AT, and 16 mortars.

Follow-up: 7 squads, 8 MG, and 11 mortars for 55 squads, 11 MG, 2 AT, and 3 mortars.

FIGHT 4 - Combatants: 78 ID vs 15 Inf Bgd, 3rd Mex Army

Results: 6 squads, 9 MG, 2 AT, 19 guns (out of 75, they got wrecked), 1 mortar, 2 Priest SPG, 2 AA, and 4 B-17 for 49 squads, 17 MG, 7 AT, and 11 mortars.

West: The general offensive should start next turn. The plan is to defeat the Japanese by the end of the month (a bit optimistic...)


FIGHT 5 - Combatants: 35 ID & 4 RR Bgd vs 58 Inf Reg, 8 ID

Results: 2 platoons, 2 MG, 6 AT, and 1 mortar for 3 companies, 8 MG, 3 AT, 2 guns, and 11 mortars.

Follow-up: The Japanese surrendered instantly.

South: There was a massive amount of activity here. To prevent his lines in the north from being overrun, he had to call back troops near the Mississippi. This gave me the opportunity to explode out of my fortifications and outflank much of his army.

There's a fresh German infantry division in Charleston. Another is set up around Birmingham. The Tejas Korps is scattered between Birmingham and Nashville. Last turn's pockets are to be finished off, and the 504 Para Reg is heading to Knoxville and then Chattanooga to envelop the whole German army here and cut off access to the coast. Okay, let's see...

The 42 Pz Div is almost surrounded.


FIGHT 6 - Combatants: State militia, 4 AD, 6 AD, & Elements of 1st Cav Div vs 12 Inf Reg, 50 ID & 42 Pz Div

Results: 2 companies, 5 MG, 2 AA, an armored car, and 5 tanks for 4 companies, 39 MG, 6 AA, 19 guns, 24 mortars, 9 AA, 3 armored cars, and 5 tanks.
 

Most of the Memphis siegers are SW of Nashville. They left a blocking force somewhere along the road.


FIGHT 7 - Combatants: 180 Inf Reg, 45 ID & lots of artillery vs 59 Mech Bgd, Tejas Korps

Results: 1 company, 8 MG, 17 guns, and 3 AA for 32 squads, 15 MG, 4 AT, 2 guns, and 5 AA.

Follow-up: 9 squads, 1 MG, 2 AT, 14 guns, 1 mortar, and 2 AA for 26 squads, 8 MG, 8 AT, 2 guns, 1 AA, and 3 tanks.


Some cavalry caught a recon battalion in the wilderness.


FIGHT 8 - Combatants: 4 & 6 Cav Bgd, 2 Cav Div vs Tejas Korps scouts

Results: A couple hundred cavalrymen, 5 MG, and 13 planes for half a company, an armored car, and 11 planes.
 

A large Tejas Korps armored force is surrounded NW of Birmingham.
 

FIGHT 9 - Combatants: 3 Amd Bgd, and Elements of 28 ID, 9 ID, & 2 Cav Div vs Elements of Tejas Korps

Results: 1 company, 7 MG, 4 AT, 3 guns, 2 AA, and 5 tanks for 2 companies, 8 MG, 7 AT, 4 AA, and 41 tanks (including a Tiger).

Follow-up: 2 platoons, 2 MG, 2 AT, 7 guns, 2 AA, and 6 tanks for 2 companies, 8 MG, 3 AT, 2 guns, 2 AA, and 2 dozen tanks.


The bulk of the Fallschirmjaeger division is to be crushed as well.


FIGHT 10 - Combatants: 26 ID, Guardsmen, 2 Mar Div, & Elements of 1 Cav Div vs 2/3 of the FJ Div, a Tejas Korps battalion, & 2 ID Arty

Results: 3 companies, 4 MG, 1 AT, 1 gun, and 1 AA for 75 squads, 51 MG, 7 AT, 14 guns, and 33 mortars.
 
FIGHT 11 - Combatants: 101 Inf Reg, 26 ID & 1 Inf Reg, 2 Mar Div vs 16 FJ Reg

Results: 1 company, 6 MG, 1 AT, 3 mortars, and 21 planes for 2 companies, 18 MG, 6 AT, 1 gun, 12 mortars, and 13 planes.

Follow-up: 3 companies, 5 MG, 2 AT, 2 mortars, and 2 AA for 53 squads, 20 MG, 4 AT, 7 guns, and 23 mortars.
 

The Louisville pocket.


FIGHT 12 - Combatants: Armor, infantry, militia, airborne, Canadians, etc. vs 101 ID

Results: 3 companies, 24 MG, 6 AT, 6 guns, 10 mortars, 8 Priest SPG, 1 AA, and 30 tanks (ouch, they stopped me cold) for 143 squads, 14 recon teams, 19 AT teams, an engineering company, 91 MG, 21 AT, 21 guns, 70 mortars, 7 AA and 2 armored cars.

Follow-up: A regiment, 55 MG, 11 AT, 9 guns, 24 mortars, 7 AA, and 9 tanks for 110 squads, 25 AT teams, 89 MG, 14 AT, 34 guns, 90 mortars, 5 AA, and 3 armored cars.

Follow-up Notes: An entire National Guard regiment was lost before the Germans were overrun.


The Cincinnati pocket.


FIGHT 13 - Combatants: Elements of 45 ID, 505 Para Reg, 82 AB, Guardsmen, etc. vs Elements of Amerika Korps & half the 233 ID.

Results: A full battalion, 34 MG, 2 AT, 3 guns, 13 mortars, 4 Priest SPG, and 4 AA for 335 squads, 71 recon teams, 42 AT teams, an engineering battalion, 220 MG, 55 AT, 46 guns, 125 mortars, 25 AA, 16 armored cars, and 21 tanks (100%).


Some collaborators S of Cincinnati.


FIGHT 14 - Combatants: 3 infantry regiments vs traitors.

Results: 1 company, 4 MG, 4 AT, 1 mortar, 3 AA, and 34 planes for 97 squads, 2 AT, 2 mortars, 3 tanks, and 8 planes.


A random infantry force on the Ohio River.


FIGHT 15 - Combatants: 2 RR Bgd, Ohio and Michigan Guardsmen, & 232 Art Bgd, 42 ID vs 310 Inf Reg, 233 ID

Results: A company, 3 MG, 4 guns, and 2 mortars for a company, 17 MG, 2 AT, 1 gun, 2 AA, and 7 mortars.

Well, ok, so my opponent surrendered. I guess having 2 or 3 of your divisions eaten in a turn is a little disheartening. I let the Germans get all the way to the Mississippi, and when they crossed it I spang my trap and it all went downhill for them from there. I'm still curious about exactly how fast the Axis player needs to move to defeat the Americans - I'm thinking a major bridgehead over the Mississippi or Detroit/Chicago captured by Turn 15. I'm not so sure that's possible. Of course, the loss of Kansas City, a major reinforcement hex would mean certain defeat for the Allies.
 
I'm a bit weary of it, though. You'll be glad to hear that I'm not going to be experimenting with Invasion Amerika anymore. Or at least, not Invasion Amerika. [;)] No, but seriously, no more AARs like this.