Reporting from the Front. A Narrative AAR.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. July/August 1940. Axis #5.

[ax] Turn 6. Jul/Aug 1940. Axis #5.
No DOWs. No special actions. No alignments.
Actions: Japan - land, Germany - land, Italy - land.
End of turn chance: 0%

[ax] Port attacks. none.

[ax] Naval air. none.

[ax] Strategic bombing. none.

[ax] Ground strike. none.

Weather.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. July/August 1940. Axis #5.

[ax] Rail. Germany x 3.
(1) 105 mm arty div. Frankfurt to Romania 60,53.
(2) 50 mm AT div. France 56,27 to Romania 60,53.
(3) Alpine MTN corps. Toulouse, France to Bucharest, Romania.

[ax] Land Movement Summary.
(1) Germany continues their redeployment of forces from West to East.

[ax] Air rebase. Germany x 4.
(1) Ju 87B Stuka. Czech 54,41 to Poland 53,48.
(2) Bf 109 E-4. Germany 52,36 to Poland 52, 45.
(3) Ju 87B Stuka. Belgium 52,31 to Germany 51,39
(4) Do 17Z. Brussels to Poland 49,45.

Wehrmacht. Race to the East.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. July/August 1940. Axis #5.

[ax] Rail. Italy x 1.
(1) Rome MIL. Rome to Toulouse, France.

[ax] Land Movement Summary.
(2) Italy continues to help out Germany garrison France where they can.

[ax] Air rebase. Italy. none.

Western Europe. Occupation.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. July/August 1940. Axis #5.

[ax] Rail. Japan x 1.
(1) SNLF Mar corps. Manchuria 67,150 to Shanghai, China.

[ax] Land Movement Summary.
(3) Japan redraws their war/defense zones in China and Manchuria and shifts forces accordingly.

[ax] Air rebase. Japan x 2.
(1) Ki-30 (Ann). Wuhan to Shanghai.
(2) Ki-27 (Nate). Wuhan to China 72,146.

IJA. Redrawn War/Occupation Zones (1/2).

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. July/August 1940. Axis #5.

[ax] That ends my impulse at the HQ reorg phase.

[ax] JvR-06-JA40-AX-05-eoi.zip game turn sent.

IJA. Redrawn War/Occupation Zones (2/2).

[jesperpehrson]

Turn 6. Jul/Aug 1940. Allied #6.

[al] No DOW or alignments.

[al] All land except US which goes for a combined.

[al] No port attacks.
[al] No naval air.
[al] No naval movements.
[al] No naval combat.
[al] No rail movement.

[al] Landmovement highlights:
[al] Nationalist China captures Nanking.
[al] The Yangtze River is manned on the southern bank.


[al] British forces chase down the forces heading for Benghazi.
[al] The South African INF move down to check the marauding Eritrean territorial in Aswan.


[al] French forces in Algeria recapture Oran and reestablish the railline between Rabat and Tunis.

[al] Russian forces brace themselves for the coming storm while adapting to Japanese aggression in Manchuria.
[al] Communist China continue to move forward in the void that is created by Japanese withdrawal.


[al] British forces attack the retreating Italians east of Benghazi.
[al] +19 Blitz. 15 rolled.


[al] Minor airrebases.
[al] No HQ reorg.

[al] New weather. Another 10 rolled!

[Courtenay]

Mistaken post.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. July/August 1940. Axis #7.

[ax] Turn 6. Jul/Aug 1940. Axis #7.
No DOWs. No special actions. No alignments.
Actions: Japan - land, Germany - land, Italy - combine.
End of turn chance: 10%

[ax] Port attack. none.

[ax] Naval air. none.

Weather.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. July/August 1940. Axis #7.

[ax] Naval movement. Italy x 1.
(1) TRS 5037 in Trieste moves out into the Italian Coast.
(2) Lone NEI sub group (3-box) there can intercept with a 3 or less.
(3) Do you wish to attempt?

[al] Yes please

[ax] (4) NEI Intercept D10=9, failed.
(5) ITA TRS 5037 continues on the Eastern Med (0-box) and, for now, restores supply to Bablo and the Italian desert army. Or what's left of it.

Italian Coast.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. July/August 1940. Axis #7.

[ax] Potential Naval Combat.
(1) Italian Coast.
(2) East Med.
The Italian RM will NOT attempt to initiate in either, but the CW can in either or both. Instructions?

[ax] Scratch the Italian Coast. Not possible for non-phasing CW to initiate there. They can only attempt to initiate in the East Med.

[ax] I'll go ahead and assume you wish to attempt to initiate. I can't imagine that you wouldn't want to.

[ax] East Med. Naval Combat (initiated by the RN).
(1) No air reactions possible.
(2) Search. RN=2, IT=8, only the RN finds and I think this must be the end of the Italian TRS 5037 given the RN has 9 SPs.

[ax] It's a surface combat. The RN use 8 of their 9 SPs to increase Italian risk from A to X. There's no risk to the RN CA in the 3-box.

[ax] X vs ITA TRS 5037=7, damaged.

[ax] With no reason to stay Italy aborts the combat. The damaged Italian transport limps into Tripoli and somehow makes it back to dry dock back in mainland Italy along side the other damaged Italian transport.

[ax] The RN once again cuts supply as quick as it was reestablished to Balbo and his desert army in Libya. [:(]

East Med.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. July/August 1940. Axis #7.

[ax] Ground Strike. Japan x 1.
(1) Ki-30 (Ann) (2 TAC) vs 1st inf natchi army in Nanking.
(2) Ki-30 (Ann) (2 TAC) vs 1st inf=4, missed.

[al] Phew

[al] Thank god the Japanese bombers are terrible

[ax] 🤬😇

IJA. Ground Strike.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. July/August 1940. Axis #7.

[ax] Rail. Japan. none.

[ax] Rail. Germany x 3.
(1) II Para corps. Berlin to Warsaw.
(2) LXXI Inf corps. Dresden to Romania 58,53.
(3) XII Inf corps. Bratislava, Czech to Memel, Germany.

[ax] Rail. Italy. none.

[ax] Emergency HQ Supply. Balbo uses his emergency HQ supply to put the Italian mech, mot corps and AT div in supply for a desperate blitz and attempted breakthrough versus the lone Gort HQ-I.

[ax] Land Combat. Italy x 1. Japan x 1.
(1) +5.4 B (initial) vs Gort HQ-I. No naval or air support possible. However, you can add defensive HQ support (-1).
(2) +7.714 (initial) vs comchi 2-stack in Paoting, China. Japan can an will add ground support to this combat. Will provide final odds after. Your choice of CRT (retreat is possible).
Instructions?

[al] Hmm, I think I would like an assault please

[ax] (2) Assault. ok.
What about HQ support for (1)?

[al] yes please

Balbo HQ-I. Emergency Supply.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. July/August 1940. Axis #7.

[ax] Land Combat. Italy. +4.4 Blitz vs Gort HQ-I (Libyan/Egyptian border)
(1) Fractional=835, no.
(2) 2D10=13, result=17.
(3) Gort survives but is forced to retreat.
(4) The Italians take no losses but see 1 of 3 attackers flipped.
(5) 47 mm at gun div is flipped.

[al] Nice

[al] More importantly Balbo is gonna be flipped forever

[ax] Well that is until the Italians reestablish and maintain supply to North Africa. [;)]

[al] True

Italy. North Africa. Land Combat.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. July/August 1940. Axis #7.

[ax] Land Combat. Paoting, China.
(1) +7.714 (initial) vs comchi 2-stack in Paoting, China.
(2) Japan can an will add ground support to this combat. Will provide final odds after. Your choice of CRT (retreat is possible).
(3) Instructions?

[al] Hmm, I think I would like an assault please

[ax] Also, in (2) Yamamoto is in position to provide +2 in HQ support in addition to any ground support. Assault still?

[al] Yes please

[ax] copy that.

[ax] Yamamoto does add +2 in HQ support to the assault on Paoting, China.

[ax] JA/IJN add 5 factors in ground support. So with the +2 from Yamamoto and these 5 factors (i.e., 5/7 x 2 = +1.429), the final assault should be +11.143. However, we'll see with the program comes up with.

[ax] And indeed the final odds against Paoting, China are +11.143. I love it when math works out. [:)]

[ax] Land Combat. Japan. +11.143 Assault. Paoting, China (2-stack comchi).
(1) Fractional=166, no.
(2) 2D10=9, result=20.
(3) Both comchi defenders eliminated and Japan recaptures Paoting.
(4) Japan loses the Peking Warlord and sees Yamamoto and AT gun div flipped

[ax] FYI. The Japanese would have still taken Paoting and would had the same loss and flip if you had selected the Blitz table. However, both defenders would have survived. But hindsight is 20/20.

[al] Well my philosophy and yours go in different directions here, I welcome the trades and I rather have you roll with the risk of massive losses. You will eventually roll snake eyes on a few of these attacks and that might break your offensive powers. I mean this attack traded 2:1 in your favour but in the greater scheme of things that means you are not building carriers or CVPs or AMPHs

[ax] US Entry Action: Japan occupies a Chinese city (Paoting). D10=1, one chit (2) is added.

IJA. Land Combat. Paoting, China.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. July/August 1940. Axis #7.

[ax] Air rebase. Italy. none.

[ax] Air rebase. Germany x 4.
(1) Ju 87B Stuka. Germany 51,39 to Prussia 46,46.
(2) Ju 52 ATR. Krakow to Poland 49,46.
(3) He 115C. Antwerp to Brest.
(4) He 112 FTR2. Antwerp to Best.

[ax] Air rebase. Japan x 1. B5N1. Pyongyang, Korea to Shanghai, China.

[ax] HQ Reorg. none.

[ax] Well that ends my impulse.

[ax] I'll leave the end of turn check (10%) to you.

[ax] JvR-06-JA40-AX07-eoi.zip game turn sent.

[ax] Now for a short (20 to 30-minute) walk break. Dogs of war and all that. [8D]

IJA. China. Southern Manchuria. Korea.

[jesperpehrson]

Turn 6. Jul/Aug 1940. Allied #9

[al] No DOW or alignments.

[al] USSR - land
[al] China - land
[al] CW - combined
[al] France - pass
[al] US - combined

[al] End of turn chance is 30%

[al] No port attacks
[al] No naval air

[al] CW deploys some cruisers in the Eastern Med

[al] The US transports an INF into the North Atlantic

[al] No naval combat
[al] No ground strikes

[al] Timoshenko is railed to Kharkov

[al] Nationalist China furthers their grasp on the coastland, threatening to take Suchow.


[al] British forces in the desert capture Benghazi whilst massing around the Italians south of Bardia.


[al] The Russian line is shortened in Manchuria.
[al] The Communist Chinese advance on the resource in Manchuria.


[al] The british attack Balbo +13,3 assault or +15,3 blitz, defenders choice
[al] Wavell adds to the attack.
[al] Assault or blitz?
[al] +14,3 assault or +16,3 blitz
[ax] Assault please and roll low.
[al] 468 fractional, failure
[al] 14 rolled


[ax] That's not low!
[al] I will convert to a retreat
[al] Destroy what?
[ax] Ok. Destroy balbo & terr.
[al] AT is retreated to SE of Bardia
[ax] That's one way to get him back from north Africa

[al] Minor rebases
[al] End of turn roll is a 2
[al] Turn ends!
[ax] Not good news ending with weather DRM +2
[ax] Last three turns have been short.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. Jul/Aug 1940. End of Turn.

[al] Partisans
China 90
Malaya 9, garrison 8
NEI 28
Burma 5, garrison 2
India 80
Belgium 75
Yugoslavia 82
FIC 21

[al] Close for some Axis partisans this turn

[al] offensive chits for Germany

[al] US chit towards Japan, I think I drew a 1

[al] US entry option "Chinese builds aircraft", 7 rolled, no tension

[ax] Preliminary Production. Germany.
(1) 5 of 7 oil used for production.
(2) 2 oil (Germany 51,36 & Austria 56,40) saved to Berlin.
(3) 31 of 31 factories producing 31 PPs. -1 Lost to strat. 30 PPs net.
(4) 30 PPs x 0.75=23 BPs. -2 Trade. 21 BPs for builds.

[ax] Preliminary Production. Italy.
(1) no oil.
(2) 8 of 11 factories producing 8 PPs.
(3) 8 PPs x 0.75=6 BPs for builds.

[ax] Preliminary Production. Japan.
(1) 2 of 4 oil used for production.
(2) 2 oil saved. (TR) Tarkan, NEI saved to Tokyo & (TR) Balikpapan, NEI saved to Canton.
(3) 10 of 17 factories producing 10 PPs.
(4) 10 PPs x 1=10 BPs for builds.

[ax] Stay at Sea/Return to Base. Germany.
(1) CPs at sea remain where they are.
(2) North Sea. CA Blucher stays and moves from 2 to 1-box.
(3) North Sea. 2 BBs and 2 CAs return to Kiel.

[ax] Stay at Sea/Return to Base. Italy. Italian Coast.
(1) 1 of 2 CPs remain. The other along with the CR.42 FTR2 in the 0-box returns to La Spezia.
(2) 2 BBs in 2-box stay and move down to the 1-box.
(3) FTR2 & NAV2 in 2-box return to Sicily 75,40 (SW of Syracuse).
(4) BB in 3-box stays and moves down to 2-box.
(5) NAV2 in 4-box returns to La Spezia.

[ax] Stay at Sea/Return to Base. Japan.
(1) No need to return to base those ships I can't reorg because of lack of oil (2 saved oil).
(2) All CPs remain.
(3) All BBs at sea that can stay (i.e., >0 box) do so and move down 1-box.

[ax] South China Sea.
CA Mogami stays and moves down to 2-box.
CA Chokai in 0-box returns to Canton.
CV Soryu in 3-box returns to Fukuko.

[ax] China Sea.
(1) 2 CAs in 0-box return to Fukuko.
(2) 3 CAs, along with all BBs, in the 3-box stay and move down to 2-box.
(3) CV Ryujo returns to Fukuko.

[ax] Sea of Japan.
(1) CVL Hosho and all BBs in 3-box stay and move down to 2-box.
(2) CV Akaki, Kaga, TRS and Amph return to Fukoka.

[ax] China Sea. TRS in 3-box stays and moves down to 2-box.

[ax] Sea of Japan. CV Hiryu & both 2 CAs in 3-box stay and move down to 2-box.
2 CAs in 0-box return to Fukukoa

[ax] Use Oil. Germany.
(1) 0.4 needed. Reorg all using AUT[56,40] Oil. No oil consumed.

[ax] Use Oil. Italy.
(1) Include oil from cooperating major powers.
(2) 0.45 needed. Use 0.6 AUT[56,40] fraction to reorg all Italian units.

[ax] Use Oil. Japan.
(1) 2.5 needed but can only reorg 2.
(2) Do not reorg CA Mikuma, CA Ashigara, CA Suzuya, CA Haguro, CA Furutaka.
(3) Use the 2 oil to reorg everything remaining.

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. Jul/Aug 1940. End of Turn (Continued).

[al] Preliminary Production. China.
(1) 0 oil saved.
(2) 6 of 8 factories producing 6 PPs.
(3) 6 PPs x 1= 6 BPs + 4 saved BPs. 10 BPs for builds.

[al] Preliminary Production. CW.
(1) 5 oil saved (Egypt, Glasgow, Georgetown and India.
(2) 22 of 22 factories producing 22 PPs + 3 FiF. Total of 25 PPs
(3) 25 PPs x 0,75= 19 BPs - 3 traded BPs. 16 BPs for builds.

[al] Preliminary Production. France.
(1) 1 oil saved in Syria.
(2) 0 of 0 factories producing 0 PPs.
(3) 0 PPs x 0,75= 0 BPs + 3 traded BPs. 3 BPs for builds.

[al] Preliminary Production. US.
(1) 0 oil saved.
(2) 39 of 40 factories producing 39 PPs.
(3) 39 PPs x 0,25= 10 BPs for builds.

[al] Preliminary Production. USSR.
(1) 1 oil saved.
(2) 25 of 30 factories producing 25 PPs.
(3) 25 PPs x 0,5= 13 BPs + 2 traded BPs. 15 BPs for builds.

[al] CW stays in the Eastern Med and the shipping lanes. Returns mostly to Plymouth, Malta or Gibraltar.

[al] Notably a TRS with Alexander returns to base in Murmansk

[al] China uses no oil
CW uses 4 oil
France uses 1 oil
US uses 1 oil
USSR uses no oil

[al] No breakdowns

[rkr1958]

Turn 6. Jul/Aug 1940. End of Turn (concluded).

[ax] Production Final. Axis.
(1) Germany: 21 BPs/1 saved oil.
(2) Italy: 6 BPs/0 saved oil.
(3) Japan: 10 BPs/2 saved oil.

[ax] Scrap Destroyed. Japan. Ki-51.

[ax] Production. Axis.
(1) Germany (21 BPs): PIL, FTR(2), Sub 2nd(1), Art div(4), Mech div(3), Mot div(2), Mech(5), MIL(2)
(2) Italy (6 BPs): MIL(2)x3.
(3) Japan (10 BPs): Peking Warlord(2), Gar(2), Inf(3)x2.

[al] Production Final. Allies.
(1) China: 10 BPs/0 saved oil.
(2) CW: 16 BPs/9 saved oil.
(3) France: 3 BPs/2 saved oil.
(4) US: 10 BPs/4 saved oil.
(5) USSR: 15 BPs/6 saved oil

[al] France scraps BB Courbet

[al] China builds an Oil plant
CW builds an AMPH 1st, PIL, 2 CP, 1 INF, 1 LND4, 1 MIL
France builds a TERR and a CP
US builds a TRS 2nd, 1 CVP1 and 1 MECH
USSR builds 3 INF, 1 GARR, 1 PIL and 1 MIL

[al] No conquest

[al] Saving game at Factory destruction and sending you the turn

[al] Will provide instructions for the rest

[rkr1958]

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940.

[ax] Place Units. Germany.
(1) 1 of 1 PIL used to fill Bf 109 F-1.
(2) Stettin MIL to Stettin.
(3) Rommel HQ-A, 2nd mech div, 14th SS inf div & Bf 109 f-1 to Konigsberg, Germany.
(4) U-boat to Kiel.
(5) No planes removed.

[ax] Place Units. Italy.
(1) 1 of 1 PIL used to fill G.50 FTR2
(2) Naples, Milan & Turin MILs place in their respective cities.
(3) G.50 FTR2 placed in Turin.
(4) No planes removed.

[ax] Place Units. Japan.
(1) 1 of 1 PIL used to fill B5N1 CVP.
(2) CV Shokaku + B5N1 (Kate) CVP, 2 inf army to Fukuoka.
(3) Inf army and Gar army to Osaka.
(4) No planes removed.

[al] CW assigns pilots to FTR Whirlwind, CVP Swordfish and CVP Gladiator
Place FTR and CVPs in Bristol, CP and CA in Plymouth, MIL in Auckland and 1 CP in Cape Town

[al] France places a TERR in Oran

[al] US assigns a PIL to FTR Buffalo
US places FTR in San Diego and MTN in Newark

[al] USSR places MIL in Stalino and CC-CAV in Taiyuan

[al] Trade agreements:
CW will only send 2 BPs to France this turn.
France will stop lending to China.

[ax] Lending Resources. Axis. no change.