Reporting from the Front. A Narrative AAR.

[rkr1958]

As the famous US Admiral David Farragut once said, "Damn the production, full speed ahead." [:D]

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #1.
(1) Germany breaks pack with the USSR.
(2) Germany and Italy declare war on the USSR.
(3) US Entry Action: Germany declares war on the USSR. D10=3, 1 US Entry Chit added (1 val).

[ax] I assume the USSR wishes to call out (the rest) of their reserves?

[al] Yes

Reserves. USSR.
(1) MIL in their respective cities.
(2) 5-1 GARR in Vitebsk.
(3) 5-3 in Pskov
(4) 7-6 MECH in Stalino
(5) 6-3 INF in Kiev
(6) 2-4 CAV in Novgorod
(7) 7-4 INF in Kursk
(8) 3-5 CAV in Kharkov

[ax] (4) Germany aligns Finland. USE D10=10, which results in no additional chit.

Germany Aligns Finland.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Actions: Germany - Super-combine (o-chit), Italy - naval, Japan - combine.

[ax] Naval air: Germany.
(1) He 112 FTR2. Brest to 2-box of Bay of Biscay.
(2) He 115C NAV2. Brest to 3-box of Bay of Biscay.

[ax] Naval air: Italy.
(1) Re 2000 FTR2. La Spezia to 2-box of Italian Coast.
(2) Gabbiano NAV2. Leghorn, to 4-box of Italian Coast.

[ax] Naval movement: Italy.
(1) CA Abruzzi 3-box Italian Coast to 2-box.
(2) BB Conte Di Cavour. Trieste to 4-box of Italian Coast.
(3) BB Littorio 1-box Italian Coast to 0-box.
(4) Sub group 5046. Bordeaux, France to 3-box of North Atlantic.
(5) Sub group 5042. Bordeaux, France to 3-box of Bay of Biscay.

Weather & Actions.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Naval movement. Japan x 2.
(1) TRS 4446. Haichow, China to China Sea. Loads 27th Gar army in Osaka. Goes into 1-box of China Sea.
(2) Fukuoka. Amph 4435 embarks 6th inf army, TRS 4443 embarks 14th inf army & TRS 4445 to China Sea. TRS 4445 loads 29th Gar army in Osaka. Go into 1-box of China Sea.

IJN. China Sea.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Naval movement. Germany.
(1) Finnish BB Ilmarinen & Vainamoien. Petsamo, Finland to 3-box of Arctic Ocean.
(2) Finnish CP. Petsamo, Finland to 0-box of Arctic Ocean.
(3) Amph 4817 & TRS 4824. Konigsberg, Germany to Baltic. Amph loads Wehrmacht XII inf corps & TRS loads 2nd & 7th Wehrmacht mech divisions. Move to 3-box of Baltic Sea.
(4) Brest. BB Bismarck to 3-box of Bay of Biscay.
(5) Brest. BB Scharnhorst & BB Gneisenau to 4-box of Bay of Biscay.
(6) Brest. U-boat flotillas 4833, 4837 & 4838 to 3-box of North Atlantic.
(7) Brest. U-boat flotillas 4834, 4835 & 4839 to 3-box of Bay of Biscay.

Finnish Navy. Arctic Ocean.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Naval Combat.
(1) Black Sea.
(2) North Atlantic.
(3) Bay of Biscay.

[ax] Naval Combat. Romania. Black Sea (Snow). Surprise.
(1) ROM CA Destroyer Flotilla initiates.
(2) No USSR air reaction possible.
(3) Search. ROM=4, USSR=3. Romanians fail to find because of the weather.

The Black Sea.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Naval Combat. German U-boats/Italian Subs. North Atlantic (Snow).
(1) German U-boat 4837 initiates.
(2) No air reactions possible.
(3) Axis commit their subs.
(4) Search. Axis=3, Allies=2. Only the axis find because of the weather.
(5) Axis select allies in 0-box and will fight a sub combat.
(6) This gives axis 2 SPs with no risk.
(7) However the axis decide not to use the 2 SPs and stick with the initial allied CP losses of X, D, 2A (i.e., 3 sunk, 2 aborted).

[ax] Axis stay. Do the allies stay?

[al] No return to Plymouth please

[ax] copy that.

North Atlantic.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Naval Combat. Bay of Biscay.
(1) German U-boat flotilla 4835 initiates.
(2) No air reactions by the axis.
(3) CW has an Albacore NAV2 that can react. Assume you wish to react it to 0-box?

[al] Yes please

[ax] 4) Axis commit their subs.
(5) Search. Axis=3, Allied=7. Only the axis find.
(6) The axis elect to fight the allies in the 0-box, which give them 7 SPs.

[ax] After looking at all there naval combat options (naval air, surface and sub), the axis decide to spend 4 SPs to force a sub combat.

[ax] 2 of the 3 remaining SPs are used to reduce axis risk from D, 2A to 2A.

[ax] Resolution of axis risk (2 A).
(1) A vs U-boat 4835=4, aborted.
(2) A vs U-boat 4834=9, 1/2 aborted.

[ax] Allied CP risk (i.e., losses) are: X, 2D, 2A. You have 17 CW CPs and 3 French CPs. How do you wish to apply your losses?

[al] X on French, D on French, D and As on CW convoys

[al] send them to Plymouth

[al] CW stays

[ax] Axis stay too.

Bay of Biscay (1/2).

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Naval Combat. Bay of Biscay. Round 2.
(1) No additional air reactions.
(2) Axis commit their subs.
(3) Search. Axis=3, allied=9, axis only find.
(4) Axis elect to fight the allies in the 0-box, which gives them 9 SPs.
(5) Axis use 4 of 9 SPs to fight a surface combat.
(6) Axis use 2 of their 5 remaining SPs to increase RN risk from X, 2D, 3A to X, 2D, 2A.
(7) The remaining 3 SPs are used to place the X on 2 CW CPs.
(8) Next D on CP or on the lone RN CA Kent?

[al] yeah

[ax] (9) Axis accept their initial risk, which is A.

[al] CW stays

[ax] D on CP or CA?

[al] CA

[ax] copy that.

[ax] esolution of RN risk (X, 2D, 2A).
(1) X on 2 CPs (sunk).
(2) D on CA Kent=5, damaged.

[ax] Where does next D go? Damaged CA Kent or CP?

[al] You got your loaded dice today, put it on the CA

[ax] (3) D vs (damaged) CA Kent=4, sunk.
(4) Remaining 2As on 2 CPs, which are aborted.

[ax] Resolution of Axis risk (A).
(1) A vs U-boat 4834=10, 1/2 aborted.

[ax] Axis stay too.

[ax] Naval Combat. Bay of Biscay. Round 3.
(1) No additional air reactions.
(2) Axis commit their subs.
(3) Search. Axis=9, allied=5. Neither find. Battle ends.

[ax] Germany U-boat abort returns to Brest.
As instructed, allied aborts return to Plymouth.

Bay of Biscay (2/2).

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Strategic bombing: none.

[ax] Ground Strike. Japan vs Zhukov HQ-A.
(1) G3M2 (Nell) (1/2=1 TAC) vs Zhukov HQ-A=7, missed.

IJA. Manchuria. Korea. End of Impulse.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Japan moves 2 units and uses their last move of the combine to disembark an army into Southern Manchuria.

[ax] Air rebase. Japan x 3.
(1) Ki-27 FTR2 to Manchuria 67,150.
(2) D3A1 (Val) to Manchuria 69,150.
(3) B5N1 (Kate) to Tientsin, China.

IJA. China. End of Impulse.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Ground Strike. Finland vs CW 2-stack in Murmansk.
(1) Fokker C.X (2/4=1 TAC) vs Hurricane IIA FTR2=9, missed.
(2) vs Alexander HQ-I=1, flipped.

[al] ...

[ax] I know … [:(]

[ax] I have to take those shots and occasionally (10% in this specific case) they work out.

[al] I have no words the rolls for this impulse

[ax] Well, I did have a 30% chance of finding in the North Atlantic and a 50% chance (initially) of finding in the Bay of Biscay. [:)]

[ax] Rail. Japan. none.

[ax] Rail. Germany.
(1) Munich MIL. Munich to Lodz, Poland.

[ax] Land Combat x 1. And it's a dozy.

[ax] Land Combat. Finland. vs Murmansk. 7.667.
(1) Assault or Blitz?

[ax] Also, I think the Finns might get +2 for winterized units so the final odds should be 9.667?

[ax] Or maybe that's already figured in?

[al] No it is not

[al] chose blitz i guess...

[ax] copy that.

[ax] Land Combat. Finland. Murmansk. +9.667 Blitz
(1) Fractional odds=334, yes.
(2) 2D10=14, result=24.
(3) Alexander's HQ-I destroyed, Hurricane fighter overrun and Murmansk captured.

[al] ...

[ax] Hurricane overrun and forced to rebase. Anywhere in particular?

[al] nope

[ax] Far away as possible along the Arctic Coast?

[al] ok

Finland. Murmansk, USSR.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #1.

[ax] Air rebase. Germany takes advantage of their super-combine for massive rebasing of air to or towards the new Eastern Front.

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

[ax] JvR-08-ND40-AX-01-eoi.zip game turn sent.

[ax] I almost feel guilty. Almost … that is … [:)]

The Eastern Front.

[jesperpehrson]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Allied #3.

[al] Deep breaths. No tilting about the dice.

[al] No DOW or alignments.

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

[al] No port attacks.

[al] CW sends to airunits to the 3-box of the Italian Coast.

[al] CW sends several ships and subs into the Italian Coast. As they are stopping there I will ignore intercepts.
[al] I will be going in and out of Bay of Biscay and North Atlantic. Do you wish to get a question every time or any instructions?
[ax] No need. I'm only interested in unescorted transports and cps
[ax] Those I will attempt to intercept
[al] ok
[al] CW protects their shipping and shuffles some convoys around. Not to the North Atlantic or Bay of Biscay though.
[al] CW moves out into the North Sea with 2 CA.

[al] France protects the shipping.
[al] The US protects the East Coast shipping.

[al] CW will initiate naval combat in the North Sea and the Italian Coast.
[al] First up is the Italian Coast. Any reactions?
[ax] Italian Coast. Air Reactions.
[ax] (1) La Spezia. FTR2 to 0-box.
[ax] (2) La Spezia. NAV2 to 2-box.
[al] CW commits SUBs in the Italian Coast
[al] Allies rolls 4, Axis rolls 5
[al] Only allies find
[al] I will fight only the 0-box
[al] 5 surprise, spend 4 points to chose naval combat
[al] subcombat
[al] Italian CP dies and CW risk is D 2A
[al] D on CW SUB, roll is 9, aborted. A on each of the other 2 SUBs - rolls are 7 and 2, both aborted


[al] Rd2. CW does not commit subs.
[al] 10 and 6 rolled. No more combat.

[al] CW initiates in the North Sea. Flipping CA Fiji.
[al] No airreactions from either side, Axis could only fly a FTR and no NAV or CVs are involved.
[al] 5 and 7 are rolled. No combat.

[al] Bay of Biscay up next. Germany initiates with FTR.
[al] I assume you will commit the SUBs.
[al] Axis rolls 6 and allies rolls 8. No combat.

[al] No strategic bombardment
[al] No groundstrikes

[al] Landmovement highlights:
[al] China moves forward to the Japanese line.


[al] Russia retreats northward in Manchuria.


[al] Russia defends mother Russia north of the Pripiet.
[al] Russia digs in south of the Pripiets behind the mighty Dniepr.


[al] No landcombat
[al] A CW Beaufighter is rebased to Plymouth
[al] The soviet airforce is rebased closer to the front
[al] A soviet TB-3 resupplies one the defenders in Kiev

[al] No HQ-reorg.

[al] New weather: roll is 5 +1 = 6

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #5.

[ax] Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #5.
No DOW. No special actions. No alignments.
Actions: Japan - land, Germany - land, Italy - combine.
End of turn chance: 0%.

Weather. Actions.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #5.

[ax] Naval air: none.

[ax] Naval movement. Italy. CP from La Spezia to 0-box of Italian Coast.

[ax] Naval Combat. Italy. North Atlantic (storms).
(1) Italian sub 5046 initiates.
(2) No air reactions possible or even feasible with storms.
(3) Axis commit their subs.
(4) Search. Axis=6, Allied=5. Nobody finds.

North Atlantic.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #5.

[ax] Naval Combat. Italy. Bay of Biscay.
(1) Italian sub group 5042 initiates.
(2) No air reactions feasible because of storms.
(3) Axis commit their subs.
(4) Search. Axis=7, Allied=5. Nobody finds.

Bay of Biscay.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #5.

[ax] Naval Combat. Italian Coast.
(1) Italy chooses not to initiate.
(2) However, as instructed, the allies do and use the Vildebeest to initiate.
(3) No air reactions.
(4) Allies commit their subs.
(5) Search. Allied=5, Axis=6. Neither side finds. Allies miss because of the weather.

Italian Coast.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #5.

[ax] Ground Strike. Germany x 1.
(1) Ju 87B (4/2=2 TAC) vs USSR 2-stack in Minsk.

[al] No reaction

[ax] copy that.

[ax] 2) vs 11th inf army=7, missed.
(3) vs 51st inf armyu=4, missed.

[ax] Rail. Germany x 1.
(1) Stettin MIL. Lyons France to Rouen, France.

The Eastern Front. Luftwaffe. Ground Strike. Minsk, USSR.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #5.

[ax] German airborne drop.
(1) Escorted by 5 a2a FTR2.
(2) USSR has two FTR2 in position to intercept (both 4 a2a).
(3) Luftwaffe has 2 additional FTR2 5 & 6 a2a in position to counter-intercept if necessary.
(4) Do the Soviets with to intercept? If so, with fighter(s)?

[al] No intercept

[al] but i do want my notional [:)]

[ax] copy that.

[ax] confirm notional? +10 Blitz with notional prior to ground or HQ support.

[al] Yes

[ax] copy that.

[ax] Germany elects not to use Rommel's HQ support.

[ax] Ground Support.
(1) Luftwaffe. Do 17Z provides 3/2=2 factors in ground support.
(2) Luftwaffe. Has 2 FTR2 (6 & 5 a2a) in position to counter intercept any potential USSR ground support.
(3) USSR has the following planes in position to provide defensive ground support or intercept: I-153 FTR2 (4 a2a & 1/2 TAC), IL-4 (3/2 TAC), SB-2bis (2/2 TAC), I-16(17) (4 a2a).
(4) Instructions please.

[al] What are the odds?

[ax] +10 w/2 factors in ground support vs notional=3, so that makes it 11.333 Blitz.

[al] No reaction

[ax] Odds will be a bit better as the Wehrmacht has a mountain division (winterized) to lead the blitz.

[al] ok

[ax] Not sure if that's a 0.5 or if it's already figured in?

[al] Not figured in

[ax] Land Combat. Germany. Combo Airborne/Blitz on USSR 46,52. +11.833
(1) Fractional=719, no.
(2) 2D10=17, Result=28.
(3) Notionals "eliminated" without any losses or flips.

[al] ok

[al] I would like to borrow your dice for my counterattacks!

[ax] Now are they like wands in Harry Potter? Do they only work well for their owners? In that case you'd have to win them from me for them to work for you. [:)]

[al] I sure would like to exploit the breakthrough but to do that I'd have leave an HQ unit alone or 1 hex in their supply chain defended by a lone mountain division.

[al] Both of which goes against my "rules of combat" or better yet, my "lessons learned the hard way."

[al] So no exploitation.

The Eastern Front. Airborne Drop. Ground Support. Land Combat.