Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. End of Turn. (continued).

[al] Peace Phase
- Germany completely conquers Yugoslavia.
- Free France does not surrender to Italy. (I mean, Italy? Really? At least offer the chance to decline surrendering to Germany, for heaven's sake.)

Victory Totals.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. End of Turn. (continued).

Global Map. Hex Control.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. End of Turn. (continued).

Global Map. Units.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. End of Turn. (continued).

Global Map. Active Axis.

[rkr1958]

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940. End of Turn. (concluded).

Global Map. Active Allied.

[rkr1958]

Turn 9. Jan/Feb 1941.

[ax] Turn 9. Jan/Feb 1941. Place Units. Germany.
(1) Scrap ROM IAR 37 LND 2.
(2) 1 PIL used to fill Ju 87D LND2
(3) 4-2 MIL Settin, 4-3 MIL Leipzig, 3-2 MIL Bucharest.
(4) ROM HQ-I Bucharest.
(5) 6-4 inf, 2-5 mot eng div, 5-2 arty div, Ju 87D Stuka Konigsberg, Germany
(6) 3 u-boat flotillas Kiel, Germany.
(7) No air removed.

[ax] Place Units. Italy.
(1) Scrap. None.
(2) CP to Taranto.
(3) Sub group to La Spezia.
(4) Balbo HQ-I to Trieste.
(5) No planes removed.

[ax] Place Units. Japan.
(1) Ki-30 Ann, Ki-32 Mary, Ki-32 Mary, CVL Chuyo, CVL Unyo
(2) 2 PIL's. H6K (Mavis) & G3M2 (Nell) filled.
(3) Fukuoka. 1st SNLF div, 1st Mtn Div, 5-1 gar, H6K F-boat
(4) Sasebo. G3M2 Nell.
(5) No planes removed.

[al] Nationalist China Reinforcements
Annual Scrapping
China scraps I-16 ftr2

Reinforcements
KMT places 14th Army (4-2 INF) in Chungking.

[al] Commonwealth Reinforcements
Annual Scrapping
CW scraps Wellington Mk.1 lnd3

Reinforcements
(1) CW assigns pil to Beaufighter Mk. IIF (ftr3) and Spitfire II (ftr2)
(2) CW places ftr2 in Coventry, ftr3 in Bristol.
(3) CW places cp in Bombay, cp in Liverpool.

[al] (Free France scraps some old units. Sadly, nothing to place.)

[al] United States Reinforcements
Annual Scrapping
US scraps P-35 ftr2 and XXVIII Corps (5-4 MOT)

Reinforcements
(1) To Construction Pool: AMPH 4236, TRS 4244, TRS 4248, USS Alabama, USS Iowa, USS New Jersey,
(2) US places cp in Norfolk
(3) US places sub in San Diego

[al] Soviet Union Reinforcements
Annual Scrapping
USSR scraps two old lnd3

USSR Reinforcements
(1) USSR puts pilots in both lnd4
(2) USSR places lnd4 in Moscow and Rostov
(3) USSR places 4th Army (3-3 INF) in Murmansk
(4) USSR places 43rd Army (5-3 INF) in Odessa
(5) USSR places 7-6 ARM and 6-6 MECH in Kharkov

[al] USSR Plane Removal
USSR pulls lnd3s in Chita from map.

[ax] Resource Lending. Axis.
(1) Germany increases their trade to Italy from 2 to 5 non-oil RP's.
(2) No other non-mandatory trade.

[al] *Allied Trade *
(1) CW lends USSR 1 resource
(2) US continues to lend CW 3 oil.
(3) No other lending (apart from mandatory agreements).

[al] Initiative
Axis roll 1, Allied roll 8.
Initiative is Axis 2, Allied 8.
Do you wish to reroll?

[ax] No reroll, please.

[ax] I have a feeling I know who's moving first though ...

[al] Initiative
Axis chooses not to reroll.
Initiative stands at Axis 2, Allied 8.
Allies win initiative.
The merchant mariners might not thank me for it, but Allies make Axis go first.

[ax] I thought that might be the case.

[al] Weather
Weather roll is 1, becoming 3 because of last impulse's weather.
That's St/R/F/F/R/F
(If there's any confusion, those weather abbreviations are going in order from north to south, using the abbreviations I mentioned last time I rolled weather.)

Weather.

[rkr1958]

Turn 9. Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #1.

[ax] Turn 9. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #1.
No DOW's. No Special Actions. No Alignments.
Actions. Japan - combine, Germany - naval, Italy - naval.

[ax] Port attacks. None.

[ax] Naval Air.
(1) Ge He 115c. Brest to 3-box, Bay of Biscay.
(2) Ge He 112 FTR2. La Spezia to 2-box, Italian Coast.

[ax] That uses up both Germany's air mission in a naval.

[ax] Naval Moves. Japan.
(1) TRS + mtn div & 1st SNLF div & Amph + 5-1 Gar. Fukuko to 2-box, China Sea.

[ax] Naval Moves. Germany & Italy. Will post pics.

[ax] Baltic Sea.
(1) BB Bismarck. Kiel to 4-box.
(2) BB Schleswing-Holstein. Returns to Memel from 0-box, North Sea.

[ax] No naval combat (of course) in the Baltic. The Bismarck is on patrol keeping an eye on the Soviet Baltic Sea fleet.

The Baltic.

[rkr1958]

Turn 9. Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #1. (continued).

[ax] Naval. North Atlantic. Rain.
(1) KM surface raiders, German u-boats & Italians subs.
(2) CA Admiral Hipper initiates.
(3) No air reactions possible.
(4) Search. Axis=3, Allied=1. Both Sides find. RN gets 3 SP's.

[al] Which Axis box(es) found?

[ax] All axis vs CA Glasglow.

[al] That's what I was afraid of.

[al] The 1 sub in the one box ought to have missed at least, though? -2 to search results from convoys, +1 to results from weather?

[al] Er, make that one sub in the 1 box.

[ax] Yes, the sub in the 1-box did miss. You're right.

[ax] My bad.

[al] Eh, not that it makes much difference.

[ax] All axis ships & subs in the 2 and 3 boxes found.

[ax] RN can use their 2 SP's to:
(1) Reduced their risk from X to 2D, 1A.
(2) Increase axis risk from 1 D to 1D, 3A.
Your call.

[al] Chance of X sinking Glasgow is 60%, chance of both Ds sinking Glasgow is 42% if my maths are right. But I really need to clear the Axis out of the zone, and 3As will help there... 60% chance the Axis don't find again... Hmm...

[al] Eh, we'll just have to eat the X and hope that we don't get rolls like in Cape Verde last turn. Boost the damage inflicted on the Axis to 1D 3A.

[ax] copy that.

[ax] Naval Risks.
(1) X=CA Glasgow=9, damaged.

[al] Phew! (For now.)

[ax] (2) D on U-boat 4835=9, aborted.
(3) A on Italian sub 5048=5, aborted.
(4) A on U-boat 4839=10, 1/2 aborted.
(5) A on CA Admiral Hipper=8, 1/2 aborted.

[ax] Axis stay. Assume the allies do too?

[al] Yes, please.

[ax] Naval. North Atlantic. Rain. Round 2.
(1) No air reactions possible.
(2) Axis commit their subs.
(3) Search. Axis=5, Allied=7. Neither find. Combat ends.

[al] Double phew! (Especially with that Allied search roll.)

[ax] Yes. So close, but yet so far away.

[al] Glasgow aborts to any port it can reach without running an Axis blockade.

[al] I mean, any port she can reach.

[ax] Aborts.
(1) German u-boat returns to Brest.
(2) Italian sub to St-Nazaire.
(3) Damaged CA Glasgow to Halifax.

North Atlantic.

[rkr1958]

Turn 9. Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #1. (continued).

[ax] Naval. Faeroes Gap. Rain.
(1) German u-boat 4833 (3-box) initiates.

[al] NAV in Northern Ireland flies to 0 box. No other planes.

[ax] (2) Axis commit their subs. (Actually 4833 sub that initiated was in 3-box)
(3) RAF flies NAV2 to 0-box.
(4) Search. Axis=1, Allied=5. Only axis find (all 5 sub units).
(5) Choose 0-box, which gives the axis 7 SP's.
(6) 4 SP's used to force sub combat.
(7) 15 sub vs 15 CP's (8 ships) = X, 2D, 2A
(8) 4 ASW vs 5 subs = D, 3A.
(9) 2 SP's reduce sub risk to D.
(10) 3 RN CP's sunk, 3 aborted, which reduces CP's from 15 to 9 in Faeroes Gap.
(11) D on U-boat 4832 (2-box)=2, damaged.
(12) Axis stay. Assume RN does too?

[al] Yes, please.

[ax] Naval. Faeroes Gap. Rain. Round 2.
(1) Axis commit their subs.
(2) No additional air reactions possible.
(3) Search. Axis=2, Allied=1, both sides find.

[al] However for the RN it only the Suffolk in the 3-box that finds. All remaining axis subs (5) find.

[ax] No surprise points.

[ax] Naval Risks.
(1) D on CA Suffolk=7, aborted.
(2) D on (damaged) U-boat 4834 (2-box)=1, damaged again and thus sunk.

[ax] axis stay. Assume allied do too?

[al] Yes, please.

Faeores Gap.

[rkr1958]

Turn 9. Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #1. (continued).

[ax] Naval. Faeroes Gap. Rain. Round 2.
(1) Axis commit their subs.
(2) No additional air reactions possible.
(3) Search. Axis=2, Allied=1, both sides find.

[al] However for the RN it only the Suffolk in the 3-box that finds. All remaining axis subs (5) find.

[ax] No surprise points.

[ax] Naval Risks.
(1) D on CA Suffolk=7, aborted.
(2) D on (damaged) U-boat 4834 (2-box)=1, damaged again and thus sunk.

[ax] axis stay. Assume allied do too?

[al] Yes, please.

[ax] Naval. Faeroes Gap. Rain. Round 3.
(1) Axis commit their subs.
(2) No additional air reactions possible.
(3) Search. Axis=6, Allied=3. Neither find, combat ends.

[ax] Return aborted CA Suffolk where?

[al] Liverpool, please.

[ax] And 2 aborted 2 CP's?

[al] Same.

Faeores Gap. Round 2.

[rkr1958]

Turn 9. Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #1. (continued).

[ax] Last up. Italy Coast.

[ax] Naval. Italian Coast. Fine.
(1) CA Abruzzi (0-box) initiates.
(2) Italy reacts here NAV2 to 2-box to join Luftwaffe He 112 patrolling there.
(3) No allied air reactions possible.
(4) Search. Axis=3, RN=10, only the Axis find.
(5) RN in 2-box selected, which gives the axis 8 SP's.
(6) 4 SP's used to force surface.
(7) Italy has 18 surface vs 7 ships=X, 3A.
(8) RN has 28 surface vs 3 ships=X, D, A.
(9) Italy will use 3 of the 4 remaining SP's to put the X on CV Courageous loaded with Swordfish & Gladiator CVP's.
Naval Risks.
(1) X on CV Courageous=10, damaged. (The axis can't make a damage roll this turn against the RN!).
Where do you wish to place the remaining 3 A?
As many As as possible on Courageous. (Hopefully she uses up two of them.) Any leftover on Australia. Any leftover after that on Repulse.

[ax] (2) A on (damaged) CV Courageous=4, aborted.
(3) A on CA Australia=2, aborted.
(4) A on BB Repulse=9, 1/2 aborted.

[ax] Italy's RM risk is X, D, A.
(1) X on CA Bolzano=6, sunk.
(2) D on BB Conte Di Cavour=4, damaged.
(3) A on (damaged) BB Conte Di Cavour=1, aborted & damaged.

[ax] Italians stay. What about the RN?

[al] RN will stay, for now.

[al] As long as they don't get a second consecutive bad search roll split, they should do decently. I'll feel bad about that decision if they do get such a split, though.

[ax] Naval. Italian Coast. Fine. Round 2.
(1) No additional air reactions.
(2) Search. Axis=5, RN=9. Neither find. Battle ends.
(3) Aborted CA Australia where?

[al] All RN aborts to Gibraltar, please.

[ax] copy that.

[ax] If felt as though the axis were just on the verge of doing real damage in all three sea areas (North Atlantic, Faeores Gap & Italian Coast) but just fell short in all three with a bit of exception in the Faeroes Gap.

[al] Well, the Axis did 7 bps worth of direct damage to the CW this turn, not counting any long-term economic losses if I can't make good the convoy pipelines. That feels like real damage from here, even if it feels like falling short at Dönitz's HQ in France.

The Italian Coast.

[rkr1958]

Turn 9. Jan/Feb 1941. Axis #1. (continued).

[ax] Ground Strikes. Japan x 2.

[ax] Ground Strike. Japan. 2 Air Units vs Mao 2-stack.
(1) D3A2 Val (3/2=2 TAC) vs 8th Rte=5, missed.
(2) vs Mao HQ-I=6, missed.
(3) Ki-27 F/B (1/2=1 TAC) vs 8th Rte=10, missed.
(4) vs Mao HQ-I=10, missed.

[al] The Japanese don't like the Communist Chinese for some reason.

[ax] No they don't.

[ax] Ground Strike. Japan. 2 Air Units vs Chaing 2-stack.
(1) A6M2 Zero F/B (1/2=1 Tac) vs Chiang HQ-I=5, missed.
(2) vs 13th (Res) Gar army=10, missed.
(3) vs 57 mm A/T div=9, missed.
(4) G3M2 Nell (1/2=1 TAC) vs 13th (Res) Gar army=4, missed.
(5) vs 57 mm A/T div=10, missed.
(6) vs Chiang HQ-I=9, missed.

[ax] Rail. none.

[ax] Land Movement. Japan x 3. Disembarks from China Sea.
(1) 5-1 Gar to Canton.
(2) 1st SNLF div to Canton.
(3) 1st MTN div Haichow.

[ax] Land Combat. None.

[ax] Air rebase. Italy x 2.
(1) CR 42 Falco. France 54, 30 to Malgdeburg, Germany.
(2) Ca. 135 LND2. Hungary 57,45 to Poland 47, 47.

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

[ax] 09-JAN-FEB-1941-AX-01-EOI.zip game turn sent.

[al] Got the file.

Japan. Ground Strikes.

[Centuur]

Of course the Free French have to surrender to Italy if they want to do so. Well... it's the partisans in Indo China which are the culprit here, and they are controlled by Mussolini himself...

[brian brian]

just realized an interesting wrinkle to the situation in Indo-China - is there a rail link from a port to Vientane, the only city not occupied by PARTisans?

unless that city can receive a Build Point, the Free French can't receive one via Lend-Lease, I would think.

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: brian brian

just realized an interesting wrinkle to the situation in Indo-China - is there a rail link from a port to Vientane, the only city not occupied by PARTisans?

unless that city can receive a Build Point, the Free French can't receive one via Lend-Lease, I would think.

Actually there are 2, of 5, French-Indo Chinese cities NOT controlled by partisans: (1) Vientiane and (2) Phnom Penh. Neither one of which has a rail link, which means that Free France can't receive Build Points? Which means that Free France can never build any units?

If both are true then Free France is as good as completely conquered isn't it?

And, so the allied should surrender and get the extra US entry benefits?

[brian brian]

No, not conquered as PARTisan units don't control hexes. Just unable to receive Lend-Lease. CW could land troops and knock out a PART.

[Courtenay]

The big question now is when to invade the Soviet Union. My opinion is the earlier the better. His defense is not set up now, but gets better every turn. Attacking in bad weather feels strange, but the surprise impulse won't do much, as there is little to surprise, and since he is already at war the only he gains by a German DOW is a few more reserve units. Very good reserve units, but not that many.

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

The big question now is when to invade the Soviet Union. My opinion is the earlier the better. His defense is not set up now, but gets better every turn. Attacking in bad weather feels strange, but the surprise impulse won't do much, as there is little to surprise, and since he is already at war the only he gains by a German DOW is a few more reserve units. Very good reserve units, but not that many.

I was planning to invade in Mar/Apr as long as the weather isn't blizzard or storm in either the arctic or north temperate.

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

The big question now is when to invade the Soviet Union. My opinion is the earlier the better. His defense is not set up now, but gets better every turn. Attacking in bad weather feels strange, but the surprise impulse won't do much, as there is little to surprise, and since he is already at war the only he gains by a German DOW is a few more reserve units. Very good reserve units, but not that many.

I was planning to invade in Mar/Apr as long as the weather isn't blizzard or storm in either the arctic or north temperate.

Why not in J/F if the weather is snow? Don't enter the USSR itself that turn to prevent the Soviets from getting a production bonus. Of course, this depends on the garrison ratio, but with Germany I would not hesitate to go to war as early as possible...

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

The big question now is when to invade the Soviet Union. My opinion is the earlier the better. His defense is not set up now, but gets better every turn. Attacking in bad weather feels strange, but the surprise impulse won't do much, as there is little to surprise, and since he is already at war the only he gains by a German DOW is a few more reserve units. Very good reserve units, but not that many.

I was planning to invade in Mar/Apr as long as the weather isn't blizzard or storm in either the arctic or north temperate.

Why not in J/F if the weather is snow? Don't enter the USSR itself that turn to prevent the Soviets from getting a production bonus. Of course, this depends on the garrison ratio, but with Germany I would not hesitate to go to war as early as possible...

Sure. Why not. If I get snow next impulse then war with the Soviets it is.

By the way this will be total war by the axis against the Soviets. Japan plans to push hard in Asia, first expelling the Soviets from Manchuria and then capturing the 3 Soviet RP's there.