Another Solo Global AAR

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
The 4th attack is on the remaining CW unit in Egypt. Italy chooses the Blitz table, doesnt get the fractional, and rolls a 16.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Axis 4th Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
The 5th and final attack is on the surrounded units in Pskov. Nowhere to retreat so USSR picks the Assault table, hoping to take some of the Axis units with them. Nope, Germany rolls a 12, for 23 overall. Both units destroyed.

[Banjo]

This game is getting interesting, with so the balance ready to go one way or the other, with room to swing back. I have to go back to the beginning and reread this from the beginning to refresh myself with how things unfolded.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Allies 5th Impulse:
The Axis rolled a 9, turn did not end. This is now the 5th go-round for the Allies.

Weather:
Roll of 4, Fine everywhere but N. Monsoon (Rain)

Actions:
The Allies, if they all pass, will be a 70% of the turn end. USSR does not want to pass, and won't. France will pass. US and CW will not pass because the Allies don't want the turn to end, after all. If it does, since the Allies went first, the Axis will get a +2 initiative modifier next turn.

USSR - Land
CW - Land
US - Land
Fr - Pass

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Allies 5th Impulse:

Ground Strikes:
Just to see what would happen, the US uses ARTY on two hexes in Morocco, with aircraft on the ground, maybe they'll get lucky.

The 1st Strike does well, disrupting two land units and 1 air.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Allies 5th Impulse:

Ground Strikes (continued):
The 2nd strike does terribly, missing everything.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Allies 5th Impulse:

Rail Moves:
USSR rails out another factory

Land Moves:
US moves heavy armored units up to the line in Morocco, moving some other units to the ports, for next turn's invasion.

Air Rebases:
CW finally gets their two FTR in position in India.

End of Turn roll is a 9. Turn keeps going.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Axis 5th Impulse:

Actions:
Germany - Land
Japan - Land
Italy - Land

Ground Strikes:
Germany finally uses their 7pt Stuka, not sure whether they'll be able to attack this hex, but maybe, depending on the results of the bombing. Nice rolls and all three units are disrupted.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Axis 5th Impulse:

Land Combat:
4 attacks this impulse, all in Russia. 3 by Germany, 1 by Japan.

The 1st attack is the last hex on the west side of the Dnieper. The USSR didnt want to lose another fighter stranded on the ground, so they left a couple of units on top of it. The Germans want to clear the banks of the Dnieper and will use Guderian's HQ support in what will likely be the last impulse of the turn. Koniev also contributes defensive HQ support, leaving the modifier at a +7.2 modifier on the blitz table, which is what the Germans pick.

Germany doesnt get the fractional but rolls a 14, for 21 overall. The USSR units are shattered and will return next turn. However, a FTR on the ground is lost.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Axis 5th Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
The 2nd attack is near Vladivostok. The USSR didnt want to pull back out of the mountain hexes, and their most vulnerable hex was only attackable from 1 hexside. The Japanese checked the odds, and the three retreated units from last impulse, all disrupted, gave a very attractive +8.7 modifier on the Blitz table, which Japan decided to give a try on.

Japan gets the fractional, but only rolls a 8, for 17 overall. Japan really wanted a breakthrough but didnt get it, instead the USSR units must retreat again.

EDIT: Some solace is found in that the two northern most hexes of the Soviet line are now OOS, after the Japanese chose to retreat the defenders to the northeast away from their only supply center.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Axis 5th Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
The 3rd attack, like the 2nd, wasn't even one the Germans expected at the beginning of the turn. It is for Novgorod, and Rundstedt is using his HQ support. A strong 8-1 GARR is guarding the city, but the Germans are able to get two hexsides on it and decide to give it a go before the turn ends.

USSR picks the Blitz table. Its a straight up +10 modifier with no fractional. Germany rolls a 18, for goodness sake, the Japanese could've used that, but they can't be picky here.

The Soviet city falls, and its a breakthrough as well.

With this, Rundstedt and his Army Group have clear sailing to Moscow. The Soviets (me) didn't realize how tenuous that 8-1 GARR was in that city and figured the Soviets would have time to pull back. Now they are in trouble, I think. Of course, theyre getting a ton of troops next turn I think so they'll likely be able to put people in the way.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

Axis 5th Impulse:

Land Combat (continued):
The 4th and final attack is the hex that had the nice rolls by the Stuka earlier. Its a clear hex only guarded by river on one side. Germany was able to get FOUR of its 9 strength units on it and threw in ground support as well. The Soviets threw in HQ support which helped only a little. The modifier ended up being a +13 on the Blitz table.

Germany chooses that and rolls a, goodness gracious, a 18. nice rolls. Germany does not want shattered since the Soviets in the north are out of position. Shattered at the end of the turn are like freebie teleports to the rear.

Russia kills the INF DIV and the GARR and retreats the 7-4 INF.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

End of Turn Phase:
The Axis rolls a 1 and the turn ends. The initiative modifier stays at +1 for the Axis, but could have gone to +2. Germany's strategy of letting the Allies go first that turn kind of backfired. Rommel was hit by ground strike the first impulse and their progress was slowed considerably. Rundstedt did a great job maneuvering and making some gains in spite of that.

Situation on Eastern Front:
Notice the Finnish troops coming around from Leningrad and notice the big green area between Rundstedt and Moscow. The Russians need to get initiative next turn and start pulling back.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

End of Turn Phase:

Situation on Eastern Front (continued):
Things dont look terrible at this point, and Russia hasnt lost a factory yet.

Most of the Axis airpower is lagging behind the troops, but not sure is Russia will be able to take advantage of it, they lost a few aircraft this turn.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

End of Turn Phase:

Situation In Siberia:
Vladivostok will fall soon, it seems obvious to that. Also note the rail lines were cut up north (off-screen) so none of the three resources this far east are usable by Russia once Vladivostok falls.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

End of Turn Phase:

Situation In Morocco:
Both sides are starting to pull out, but the Allies will likely still have better quality troops down here, over the Italians. Once the Allies make landfall in Europe, they'll push hard here.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

End of Turn Phase:

Situation In Western Europe:
The Allied behavior has alerted the Axis that something is up, but they aren't sure what/where. I think the Allies still have some options of places where the Axis is weak, and are planning to strike first opportunity in the upcoming turn (July).

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

End of Turn Phase:

Situation In Egypt:
Next up, Syria, then I'm not sure how the Axis are going to do it, but they want to hit Iraq and try to enter Russia from below. Is that a valid option, experts?

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

End of Turn Phase:

Situation In India:
At this point, Japan is happy with Calcutta and a resource, and hope to establish a stalemate here. They want to be able focus fully on the US, after taking care of Vladivostok and Calcutta.

[markb50k]

May/Jun 1942

End of Turn Phase:

Losses:
Heavy losses to the Soviet, especially the air force, and the entire CW force that was in Egypt.