Winston's Soft Underbelly -- A Dream Realized?

[rkr1958]

Jul/Aug 1943. Country Economic Reports.

There big thing here is that the Soviet Union, though keeping their production at 100%, has exhausted all of its saved oil stockpile. Without any additional resources this will likely mean that the Soviets will need to cut into their production by diverting oil from production to fueling their war machine.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. Trade.

The USA and CW respond to the Soviet need by sending them a total of 3 non-oil resources in order to allow the Soviets to back off using three oil points for production and "save" those points for reorganization.

[brian brian]

some of those "French" units in the Reserve Pool are City-Based Volunteer units ... are they slowly starting to make their way into MWiF?

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: brian brian

some of those "French" units in the Reserve Pool are City-Based Volunteer units ... are they slowly starting to make their way into MWiF?

Uhm ... I need to look into that. Just how would I make that happen?

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

ORIGINAL: brian brian

some of those "French" units in the Reserve Pool are City-Based Volunteer units ... are they slowly starting to make their way into MWiF?

Uhm ... I need to look into that. Just how would I make that happen?

The rule is already partially coded, that might explain the fact that they appear in the reserve pool. However, that's a bug, since if you don't play with that rule, those units should not appear in any pool. Very minor, however, if you can't put them on the map.

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

ORIGINAL: brian brian

some of those "French" units in the Reserve Pool are City-Based Volunteer units ... are they slowly starting to make their way into MWiF?

Uhm ... I need to look into that. Just how would I make that happen?

The rule is already partially coded, that might explain the fact that they appear in the reserve pool. However, that's a bug, since if you don't play with that rule, those units should not appear in any pool. Very minor, however, if you can't put them on the map.

Phew ... I thought I'd overlook something else.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. Victory Totals.

No change again this turn to any of the victory totals.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. Destroyed Pool.

USN carrier airpower took a beating this turn. More on that later. The Weather slowed things on the Eastern Front but the Germans still continue to take a beating there. Though the Soviets lost more units than the Germans did this turn, which includes losses to the Western Allies in Italy, the quality of the German units loss compared to the Soviets was significantly higher. And besides, an equal or near equal exchange of units with the Soviets is still a victory for the Soviets at this stage in the war where the Soviets are pushing hard in the East.

I don't know if my land combat numbers breakdown is interesting but I'll keep providing them as long as folks find them informative.

By the way, these stats are pre incremental odds roll so some of these attacks are adjusted by 1 column.

The Eastern Front. USSR Land Combat Breakdown:

Total: 8 (7 Blitz's and 1 Assault).

1:1 A 1

1:1 B 2
3:2 B 1
2:1 B 1
3:1 B 1
4:1 B 1
7:1 B 1


The Eastern Front. German Land Combat Breakdown:

Total: 8 (2 Blitz).

2:1 B 1
7:1 B 1

The Western Allies Land Combat Breakdown:

Total: 8 (2 Blitz and 2 Assault, 4 total).

2:1 A 1 (Bangkok, Siam)
5:1 A 1 (Italy)
7:1 B 2 (1 in Italy and 1 in Egypt)


Land Combat, China. Communist:
4:1 A 1

Land Combat, China. Nationalist:
1:1 B 1

Land Combat, Japan:

3:2 A 1 (Guadalcanal)
3:1 A 1 (China)

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. Repair Pool.

Not much here except for factory hexes and German naval units. Only the German u-boat unit has any priority for getting repaired except for factory hexes by engineering units.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. Reserve Pool.

As the US player what stands out to me is the "lack" of any carrier air reserve units. More on that in the next post.

As the Japanese player it's the 7 pilots I have in the reserve pool.

As the Soviet player it's the 5 aircraft units that I have and wanting them (needing them) as soon as I can get pilots for them.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. USA Aircraft Production.

These caps are prior to production builds this turn. But even so, it's apparent that the US won't come anywhere close to replacing the five CVP units loss this turn. Not to mention equipping new CVs that are rolling out of production. So first things first, the US gearing limits for air units is five. Three turns ago it was 2. It was at that time when I realized I had make a very serious production mistake by letting US gearing limits for air units get so low. As the US player I felt I had adequate numbers of air units until I could get those limits up assuming average to below average losses. But, unfortunately for the US player, CV plane losses weren't average (or below average). They were excessive (again) this turn.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. Coral Sea. Solomon Islands. New Guinea.

So were did the USN lose so many CV planes? It was in the Coral Sea where two massive USN and IJN carrier forces collided (again) in naval carrier combat. The IJN moved strong naval forces into the Coral Sea in order to break supply to the allied units holding Port Morsby and provide bombardment and air support to the IJN marines and IJA units preparing (hoping) to assault the port. Also, this force was put in place to support a high risk (high gain) invasion of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

First the USN sent in a strong carrier task force to engage the IJN carriers and to reestablish supply to Port Morsby. Also, the USMC sent in the 1st marine division supported by two old WW-1 battleships directly to Guadalcanal to defend against the possible Japanese invasion. The Japanese had put the 16th IJA army unit at sea on an amph, ready to to either take Guadalcanal or die trying. Prior to the port to port (i.e., Hawaii to Guadalcanal) transport of the 1st marines, the Japanese had approximately 70% chance of a successful invasion and capture of Guadalcanal. After the move by the US, Japan's chances were reduced to 30%. Still, acceptable odds for the risk of losing only a single infantry unit. The 1st marines held destroying the invaders but in turn seeing their unit destroyed too. By the way, the roll was such that the 1st marines would have destroyed two invading unit. Later in the turn, the III marine corps was moved to Guadalcanal to "forever" secure that island and stop the Japanese expansion into the western Pacific.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. Japan's Naval Shield.

Japan's goal is to hold onto their conquests in Manchuria, China, Korea and the Dutch East Indies. As such the IJN supported by marines and a few army units are task with establish a "shield" in the Pacific against the USA and CW.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. The Marianas. The Solomons. Bismark Sea.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. Timor and Bismark Seas.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. South China Sea. Bay of Bengal.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. China Sea. Japanese Home Islands.

Note that in Tokyo, the Japanese have 3 spare CVP units (6, 2 and 1). Unlike the USN, the IJN has spare CVPs to keep all their carriers in action.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. USN and CW Active Sea Areas.

In contrast to the small group and centralized sea areas that the IJN intends to control, the responsibilities for the USN and RN cover the entire globe.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. Hawaiian Islands. The Marshalls. Central Pacific.

Here are the "front lines" of the USN in the Pacific. This turn, the USN took control of the Central Pacific back from the IJN, sinking one of the CVLs in the process.

Note the CV Lexington docked at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. It is without any air units. That's 1 USN CV needing air units.

[rkr1958]

Sep/Oct 1943. West Coast. San Diego.

In this cap there's four more USN CVs (for a total of five) devoid of air units and needing replacements. Unfortunately, it'll take four, five or six turns(?) to get them their air replacements and get them back into action. This fits perfectly with Japan's strategic plans (i.e., China, Korea, Manchuria, Dutch East Indies and New Guinea).