Another Solo Global AAR

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

ALLIES 1st Impulse:

Strat Bombing:
CW has no effect with bombing run on Metz

Ground Strikes:
USSR responds by sending their three 4 pt TAC bombers on ground strike missions to hit the forward lines of the German attack. All of these are outside of aircover...

The 1st is on a strong stack of units in Latvia that broke the USSR defensive line. Unfortunately its in a forest hex so the USSR needed a 2 or less to disrupt. They missed all three targets.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

ALLIES 1st Impulse:

Ground Strikes (continued):
The 2nd strike is on Vilna, Poland where the Germans made another break in the line. Here a bit better results hitting the 8-6 ARM but missing the 7-3 INF.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

ALLIES 1st Impulse:

Ground Strikes (continued):
The 3rd strike is in the south on the only German units inside the Ukraine. The USSR bombers did a terrible job across these three strikes.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

ALLIES 1st Impulse:

Ground Strikes (continued):
In Morocco, a US ARTY and CW carrier-borne bomber attack the spearhead German formation. Zilch. It was in a forest hex but come on, pretty poor showing.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

ALLIES 1st Impulse:

Rail Movement:
USSR rails a factory out of Odessa to Siberia

Land Movement:
US lands 2 more heavy corps in Morocco, while USSR pulls back in the North as much as possible to the forest line. Zhukov is left behind with some defensive help and Minsk is left with a garrison of two units. In the South, slight movement but otherwise holding steady. The USSR has near parity in troops in the South, at least they think they do. As such, a couple of units are headed north around the Eastern end of the Pripet Marshes to help with the defense.

No attacks this impulse from the Allies.

Situation on Eastern Front:

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

ALLIES 1st Impulse:

Situation on Eastern Front (continued):
USSR will try to do a more controlled withdrawal then on the North end of the line...

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

ALLIES 1st Impulse:

Situation in Morocco:
US lands more troops and aircraft... Will they be able to hold this area long term???

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

AXIS 2nd Impulse:

Weather:
Uh oh, a 5. Terrible weather everywhere. This will surely give the USSR some room to fall back some without it becoming a complete rout.. We shall see what the Wehrmacht can do in these conditions.. TO BE CONTINUED..

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

AXIS 2nd Impulse:

Actions:
Japan - Land. Try to maneuver on Calcutta with new reinforcements by sea.
Germany - Land. If possible get an attack on Minsk and Vilnius.
Italy - Combined. Advance in Egypt and bring additional German XXX to Egypt

Naval:
Italy moves the Yugo HQ and a German 7-3 INF to the East Med

Land Combat:
The interesting thing about Storms is that in this case, it may actually be an advantage (in some ways) for the Germans in Russia, due to the fact that at this point most of the German Air is out of position, while the USSR aircraft are ready to provide ground support. Yes, there is a -4 modifier on the 2D10 table, so that makes up for it. Either way, the Germans still attempt a couple of attacks this turn, knowing full well that the USSR cannot provide any ground support to help the odds.

The Germans are attempting to destroy Zhukov, and this attack is dependent on another attack that will put him OOS. So, the 1st attack is this preliminary one. It is a 7 to 1 attack that is at +10 because of the bad weather. USSR picks the assault table and Germany rolls a 15, very needed, and takes the hex, also forcing the rebase of a USSR fighter.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

AXIS 2nd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
Zhukov is now disrupted and OOS, increasing the modifier from around +6 to +15. Germany picks the Blitz table knowing that there won't be any shattered results. Germany doesn't get the fractional and gets the lowest roll I've seen them get recently, a 6, but at an overall 21, they kill no defenders but cause all to be shattered. However, with no place to retreat, Zhukov, the Minsk MIL, and a 4pt ARTY are destroyed. Oof.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

AXIS 2nd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
Kind of forcing this, and being a bit too aggressive, the Germans have one attack in the South. They only get a +6.6 modifier and choose the Blitz table. They get the fractional and roll a 10 for a 17 overall. Guderian and 3 other Axis units are disorganized, and the three Soviet units retreat and are disorganized. Not sure that was a good exchange there.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

AXIS 2nd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
In Calcutta, the Japanese are getting a bit impatient and attempt an attack on a lone Indian MIL. Its across river hex-sides and is only a +7.333 modifier. CW picks the Assault table, and Japan does not get the fractional, but rolls a 13 for a 20 overall. Japan chooses the 5-3 MIL to be destroyed and disorganizes 2 more units. But now Calcutta is surrounded nearly completely. One more good attack, the Japanese High Command is thinking...

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

AXIS 2nd Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
The final attack is in Egypt on an isolated Sydney MIL. Modifier is high at +12.667. Italy gets the fractional and rolls a 9, 22 overall.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

AXIS 2nd Impulse:

Situation in Egypt:
As of this point, Wavell is OOS and the CW will likely have to collapse their defense even further and gather around Cairo.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

AXIS 2nd Impulse:

Situation in Calcutta:

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

AXIS 2nd Impulse:

Situation on Eastern Front:
Here the Axis pushes the Soviet line back one hex, but likely they won't get too much further with Guderian disorganized, at least for another impulse or so. Mannstein is still available in theatre. The USSR will likely pull back some next impulse if possible.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

AXIS 2nd Impulse:

Situation on Eastern Front (continued):
In the North, things are looking grim. The USSR initial line has evaporated and they are attempting to pull back to the forest line (notice the white print units starting to form the line). USSR is also in danger of losing many aircraft on the ground, and will need to address this immediately. Germany still wants to take Minsk by the end of turn to reduce the USSR production multiple.

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

ALLIES 2nd Impulse:

Actions:
USSR - Land. They need to form some semblance of a line in the North and start falling back in the South.
CW - Land. Form a defense in Egypt around Cairo, if possible.
Fr - Land
US - Combined

Naval Moves:
US sends their empty CVs out of the Coral Sea, while the CV Hornet moves from French Polynesia back to the US West Coast to pick up a plane.

Strat Bombing:
CW fails again, this time an extended range attack against Milan, rolls a 4, no effect.

Land Moves:
USSR pulls back more troops to the forest line in the North, unfortunately they have to disrupt their only other HQ up there due to the bad movement conditions. The CW is able to get Wavell supplied again and sets up their last good units around Cairo and Suez.

Weather:
The next Axis impulse starts with this weather forecast. More bad weather in April... I guess the Germans were lucky they got that great weather in the first impulse...

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Actions:
Japan - Combined
Germany - Land
Italy - Land

Naval:
Japan moves another fleet carrier from the home islands to the Coral Sea. Also moves a SUB to the Bay of Bengal.

Japan attempts to find the US Fleet, since a surface battle is good for the Japanese at it has an advantage in BBs, but rolls a 7. The US rolls a 1. This was not expected...

Folks, we got ourselves a good old fashioned surface battle. With 7 surprise points, the US wants to use 4 of the points to decrease their damage, and 3 points to CHOOSE TARGET (hopefully they can sink a loaded carrier).

[markb50k]

Mar/Apr 1942

Axis 3rd Impulse:

Naval (continued):
Japan's attack goes first, with the surprise points assigned, they will roll for 4 X and 2 D. US chooses all low-quality CAs and CLs, luckily two of them made their rolls so they soaked up 2 Xs apiece... Altogether the Allies lose 3 small escorts sunk, and 1 damaged.