GD1938 Game 22

[cpdeyoung]

This never should have gotten to this point.

The mechanism for getting the USA out of isolation is not really explained. The negative consequences of bringing in the Western Hemisphere nations into the American fold are not clear. I only learned by experience.

If the USA concentrates on entry she should be in the war soon. One chance in five or better for a half dozen turns has a good shot at doing it. It could happen next turn.

Gary, if you can take up the baton again, there is fun to be had here. The Allies need you against a powerful Axis threat.

My next post describes why we need the USA active against the Axis. It applies to any player leading the USA, but you have done so much work to prepare : that player should be you.

Chuck

[cpdeyoung]

Not sure about neutral

I am also worried about American neutrality. No game has ever had a neutral USA. Only Game 19 had the weird combo of USA, USSR and China against GB-FR-GR-IT with Japan surrendered. Every other game has featured the USA and GB-FR at least, and almost always with the USSR and China as Allies too. The Axis can do very well against the other five nations, and I assure you with Tom Main in charge of both the Germans and Italians, and Larry playing his speciality, this game is no exception.

The Soviet Union is not holding on the front against the Germans. I have played the Soviets quite a bit and without help from the USA we are in deep trouble. The experience-morale equation makes offensive action by the Soviets possible only agains penny-packets of weaker troops. Tom does not have any such packets. Even with all the wonderful help my excellent ally Bombur has given me I am still faced with the following losses :

========
Sep Inf 217-041 Arm 025-008
Oct Inf 222-067 Arm 045-014
Nov Inf 252-062 Arm 066-010
Dec Inf 355-018 Arm 034-006
Jan Inf 321-014 Arm 042-013
Feb Inf 297-027 Arm 064-009
========
Totals for the last six months : Inf 1664-229 Arm 276-60

The loss of Soviet production will hasten the decline. We have lost Kiev, Kharkov, and the Kharkov coal resource, with Rostov, and Stalingrad in the path of the German juggernaut.

I am certain Tom expects to have Moscow and Stalingrad by year's end. If I were him I would expect it too.

Now the Allies do have a plan! We hope to get a Chinese victory and to end the game before Tom can defeat the USSR.

If the USA is neutral we will go for the Chinese victory.

The USA must fight with the Allies. There will be no accepted neutrality. The USA will strive to enter the war as soon as possible, and will fight as hard as possible. Tom and Larry will get the 5-3 battle they must have expected.

I hope we can get Gary to play the USA, but otherwise I nominate Baloo777. Baloo will learn a lot, and his play will be of high quality.

[cpdeyoung]

2 February 1942

The Soviet Union had some success in the Far East and some troubling developments on our western front against the Germans.

In Asia we captured one more parcel of land from the Japanese and caused significant casualties.

[LJBurstyn]

I am against anyone taking over the USA who is already in the game. I have had extensive negotiations with the USA and expect them to help me in return for unnamed concessions. Russia and China are very close to achieving one of their victory conditions . . before Germany can defeat Russia.

[baloo7777]

I completely understand LJBurstyn. If I was the Japanese player I would feel the same way. It is my opinion that whatever side the US joins would give that alliance the victory. So then, where do we go from here?

[ironduke1955]

Choices are fairly stark we need one of the regular GD1938 players to step in and do us a favour, Falco Jeffrey H. Ernie Armoured Lion or any other ATG players who want to try a PBEM game. Nice and easy power to play USA, no worries a Ocean either side and four solid Allies, Only one previous owner.

[Bombur]

British/French turn.

-British aircraft near Gibraltar retreat to Benghazi, the battle for Egypt will begin soon
-The Royal Air Force achieved a significant victory over Bruxelles. More than 200 germany fighters shot down for 70 british aircraft lost, on the other hand, land forces were unable to advance
-The British submarine campaign is hurting Japan
-No news in Balkans
-British night bombers attacked the naval base of El Ferrol (La coruña)
-Bangkok being pounded by British artillery, the N1K2 were able to shot down more 20 Spitifires IX and 10 Mosquitos without losses for themselves.

[Bombur]

Well, now must take a decision on who will play USA.

[ironduke1955]

If there are no takers then we are going to have to call it, as Larry rightly prefers separate players for the Americans and China, and I guess the USA and GB. Congrats to baloo7777 he looks the most likely winner if we all had continued with the game, well played China.

[Bombur]

I don´t understand why not to keep the USA neutral, while going on with the game. As the game stands, both sides have a fair chance to win, with the USA neutral.

[ironduke1955]

I think Chuck was saying that he would engineer a Chinese Victory if the USA became neutral, on the basis that the Allies will struggle to defeat the Germans and Italians with just GB USSR and China (France not just circling the drain but going down it)

[Bombur]

Meanwhile you and Japan try to defeat the USSR before China wins, or even try to thwart China planes. It´s a balanced game and a very interesting race against time for both sides. Why not to play under these terms? China´s victory is by no means sure and we already told you what the allied strategy is....

[ironduke1955]

Well as the Germans and Italians I am not in a position to defeat the Chinese, and this is the clincher it is not the business of the USSR to organise China's victory[:)]
that is China's to win not the USSR to give and that is my problem with GD1938 and my problem with one or two previous games it is often in the power of other nations to gift victory,
that is purely subjective who is my friend and who is my enemy who can gift me victory and who will not.
Here is the truth nations never gift other nations I cannot remember a single example of a nation acting in the interest of another nation.

Just to qualify the above with if two nations interest's coincide then they will obviously work to a common aim or goal, but they never give away something for nothing.

[ironduke1955]

Just to address the original point Japan cannot stop the Chinese and Soviets (well played Baloo7777 and cpdeyoung)
from taking the hexes needed for Chinese victory the Soviets are in control of Mukden,
and there is nothing to stop the Soviets giving the Chinese Mukden and victory,
trouble is the Soviets would never gift the Chinese anything in the real world,
if the Chinese wanted Mukden they would have to take it.
And of course the British will have to give the Chinese Hong Kong, again it would not happen.

[ernieschwitz]

Why not put up a note in players wanted section? I am sure more people would see it than in this thread...

[Bombur]

Germany cannot defeat the Chinese but can defeat the Soviets before China wins, furthermore we do not control Hong Kong. Unless the USA enters the game to help Japan, the USA entry doesn´t affect too much the outcome for the next months.

[cpdeyoung]

The Japanese declared war on the USSR and attacked at once. They chose to go to war with all Allied nations, and all the attacked parties are making war on them. The Soviets have heavily reinforced the Far East. The absence of these troops in Europe has some effect.

Bring the USA in this war and lets beat all the Axis back.

[ironduke1955]

Great RufusTFirefly has taken over the USA. USSR and Japanese can renegotiate deals with RufusTFirefly

Thanks to Juergen for stepping in.

[Bombur]

Well, turn ready for USA

[ironduke1955]

March 1942 Germans

The Germans struggled to clear the approaches to Stalingrad, again upgraded T-34 models appear in the front line challenging the PZIV'g. More of the Don western river line is cleared.

2nd SS panzer army finally start to move against the British with support from the Italians, the bf109f now struggling against the now veteran Spitfire IX pilots.