Bob Flemin's MWIF AARse II The Sequel

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 1

The Germans will use this turn to try and end resistance in the Baltics. Three ground strikes are planned for two hexes - Parnu and the hex northwest of Lake Peipus. The Soviets can get four fighters to the latter, but are outgunned and so stay on the ground for now.

Once again the ground strikes are less than impressive - hit out of 5...

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 1

The Germans need to hold fire in the south as the Soviet build up around Gomel is starting to look a little ominous. This impulse will feature an attack on Parnu and another on Vitebsk. Damn!! I forgot to cancel an attack northeast of Kharkov...

The Soviets try and use HQ Support for this latter attack, while Rommel tries to provide the same for the assault on Vitebsk. The Luftwaffe also call for Stuka support there.

In the south this could be a very costly mistake for the Germans and the Soviets bring in 3 fighters and 2 bombers to try and make them suffer. The Germans have little choice but to bring in all three fighters in the south that can reach.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 1

The is an important air battle and the Soviets actually have the advantage this time - albeit marginal 6.9:7.0...

Round 1

7 (DA) The Germans must abort their front fighter.. bad start.
13 (No Effect)

The odds are now loaded in the Soviet's favour. The Germans dare not risk it and abort.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 1

And so to the attacks:

Firstly its to Estonia. The odds are 3:1 (no modifier) on the Blitzkrieg table. The Germans are not getting the breaks at the moment - its another 4. They lose a unit and are disorganised, while the Soviets retreat. Really bad result...

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 1

Secondly its to Vitebsk and a 5:1 (no modifier) on the Assault table...

...better - its an 8. The Soviet defenders are destroyed for no loss.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 1

And so to this potential disaster zone - 1:1 (no modifier) on the Assault table. The Nakatomi dice are being called for ...and they need to be..

..its a 7. 1 loss each and the Germans are disorganised. The last couple of turns are not proving great for Adolf and chums....

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 2

The Commonwealth decide its time to act in the Mediterranean... A Royal Navy task force sets sail for the Western Mediterranean. Admiral Cunningham is given command of the fleet. The fleet includes the new 46,000 ton battleship HMS Temeraire. Cunningham politely declines the offer of a berth in the Royal Navy's newest edition - and gives the same response to the suggestion he should make use of the Prince of Wales or Howe. "HMS Warspite will do for me as my Flagship, thank-you!"

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 7

The chances of the US declaring war on Japan are ridiculously low - 20% [X(]

The Japanese - in an excellent position in China - therefore decide to declare war only on the Commonwealth and will attempt to take Burma and threaten India.

Have US played option 34? Have US 8 or more SCS and 3 or more (real) carriers in Pearl Harbor?

If the answer to both question is yes then it looks like something is a bit wrong with the entry pools. CAn you post a picture of it?

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 2

The invasion of Sardinia is attempted by General Alexander and the men of the 4th Canadian Infantry Corps + Royal Marines.

Shore bombardment is provided by the "old faithfuls" of the RN's battlefleet and no ground support is required.

The attack is automatic and the CW are on foreign soil at last.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 7

The chances of the US declaring war on Japan are ridiculously low - 20% [X(]

The Japanese - in an excellent position in China - therefore decide to declare war only on the Commonwealth and will attempt to take Burma and threaten India.

Have US played option 34? Have US 8 or more SCS and 3 or more (real) carriers in Pearl Harbor?

If the answer to both question is yes then it looks like something is a bit wrong with the entry pools. CAn you post a picture of it?

warspite1

I've played 34 but took my carriers out as I was told I was making too big a target for the Japanese.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 3

The weather takes a turn for the worse. but its still nowhere near as bad as it could be; Rain in the Arctic and North Temperate - otherwise Fine.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 3

Its all going down in the naval phase!!

Admiral Lutjens says "Anysink zat Cunningham can do, I can du besser" and he takes to his shiny Flagship Bismarck with a select fleet (including the new, up-gunned Scharnhorst) and sails into the Baltic.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 3

There's so much going on this impulse I don't know where I am or what my name is

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Sep/Oct 1942
Impulse: 7

The chances of the US declaring war on Japan are ridiculously low - 20% [X(]

The Japanese - in an excellent position in China - therefore decide to declare war only on the Commonwealth and will attempt to take Burma and threaten India.

Have US played option 34? Have US 8 or more SCS and 3 or more (real) carriers in Pearl Harbor?

If the answer to both question is yes then it looks like something is a bit wrong with the entry pools. CAn you post a picture of it?

warspite1

I've played 34 but took my carriers out as I was told I was making too big a target for the Japanese.

I think he meant that you should have three carriers, only, at Pearl Harbor and that you should remove one since you had four there. US must move at least three carriers back to Pearl Harbor as soon as possible. This affects the chances for US to declare war on Japan. It also helps you to control the tension pool.

With hindsight it might have been better to leave all carriers at Pearl Harbor since that might have enticed Japan to DOW US. One good CV would have been worth it.

You have way to high US entry compared to tension. Especially against Japan.

In order to DOW with US I would make sure that I have the fleet needed in Pearl Harbor (see below) and then at the end of the turn I would play option 38 and reduce the risk of getting a tension chit and then play at once (if you missed getting a tension chit) option 50 and when you play option 50 I would increase the odds of getting tension chits.

I would also try to get a tension chit against Germany.

Then I would begin to make one DOW a turn against both Japan and Germany/Italy. And if I missed then I would try to get a new tension chit to each pool every turn and continue with new DOWs next turn.

US needs to act now!

With option 50 played US can begin a naval war against Japan and with option 38 they can help with protecting CW convoys. But if US still do not enter the war then you need to get better bases for the naval war so select options to occupy North Ireland and begin to send units and fleet there. You can also play options to reinforce Guam and Philippines.

US needs to get active and involved in the war even if they are not in the war!


RAC: 13.3.2 US entry options
....
26. Relocate fleet to Pearl Harbor - It is harder to declare war on Japan if you haven’t chosen this entry option.
Until you choose it, the only naval units that may base at Honolulu or Pago Pago are TRSs and CONVs. After you
have chosen it, any US naval unit can base there.
To avoid the +2 modifier for declaring war on Japan, you need a fleet of at least 8 SCS and 2 CV (owner’s
choice) in Honolulu when you attempt to declare war. A CV or SCS only counts if its first cycle cost is at least 2
build points and is not the Langley. If you have that fleet there, you also have more control over the tension level for
anti-Japanese entry options.

38. Arm merchantmen - Once you choose this entry option, up to 5 US CVs or SCS (you choose which and
there is no limit after the US is at war with Germany or Italy) in the 0 section of any sea area, can take part in any
combat round in which Allied convoys are included, even though you remain neutral. There is no US entry effect for
fighting. You can’t choose this entry option unless you have already chosen entry option 29.

50. Unrestricted naval warfare - US naval and aircraft units at sea can freely attack, and be attacked by, any
Axis naval and aircraft units. You still can’t port attack, shore bombard, ground strike, strategically bombard, carpet
bomb, or fly ground support. You can escort Allied convoys in any sea area with any number of SCS or CVs. You
can now move any number of ships together as 1 naval move, instead of counting each ship as a naval move. You
can only choose this entry option if you have already chosen entry option 38.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 3

Where do I start?

First up its air to air combat over Lake Peipus and environs... The Soviets have decided to contest this with everything (this is the northern gateway to Leningrad). They are massively out-gunned but have been lucky so far in the air, will it last??

Round 1

9 (AC) The German Stuka is cleared through.
17 (DX PX) The Soviets must destroy a fighter or bomber (pilot killed). They take a chance and destroy the bomber.

Round 2

8 (No Effect)
13 (DA) The Soviets must abort a fighter or bomber. Sensing this is not happening, they abort the bomber and the mission

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 3

Next up its to sunny Indonesia a.k.a back in the day as the NEI. Having conquered Malaya last turn, the Japanese are attacking the NEI by trying to invade east of the capital Batavia.

The Japanese are out-gunned in the sky 4.0:6.0 and they really don't want to be losing precious carrier aircraft to land based fighters (you gotta love that Beaufighter though [&o])

Round 1

14 (DA) The Japanese must abort a fighter or bomber. They decide this battle is not worth the risk and abort the bomber and the battle.. The Kate lands safely back on the carrier.
7 (DA) They chose wrong! The CW fighter also aborts. Too late now though.

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 3

And so to combat. Three attacks in total - two in Estonia and one in the NEI.

Its the NEI first and just a 3:1 +1 on the Assault table thanks to +4 Notional....

....its an 8 (9) and the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces get ashore!

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 3

This next attack is only a 2:1 +2 Blitz (even though the Kriegsmarine were on hand to provide naval gunfire support) because I totally mucked it up. I thought there was a bug - hell I am not even going to try and explain myself here [8|]. Essentially there is just one Armoured unit - the 48th Panzer Corps - attacking two Soviet armies (albeit they are out of supply and disorganised)...

...pathetic..its a 2 (4). I know there is a lot going on but I really need to concentrate more... The Panzers are no more for the loss of one infantry unit [&:]

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1942
Impulse: 3

After that debacle, the last attack is against the mobile formations northwest of Lake Peipus, This is a 6:1B +1...

...terrible... its a 4(5). The defenders lose a unit and the other is shattered but...

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Orm



Have US played option 34? Have US 8 or more SCS and 3 or more (real) carriers in Pearl Harbor?

If the answer to both question is yes then it looks like something is a bit wrong with the entry pools. CAn you post a picture of it?

warspite1

I've played 34 but took my carriers out as I was told I was making too big a target for the Japanese.

I think he meant that you should have three carriers, only, at Pearl Harbor and that you should remove one since you had four there. US must move at least three carriers back to Pearl Harbor as soon as possible. This affects the chances for US to declare war on Japan. It also helps you to control the tension pool.

With hindsight it might have been better to leave all carriers at Pearl Harbor since that might have enticed Japan to DOW US. One good CV would have been worth it.

You have way to high US entry compared to tension. Especially against Japan.

In order to DOW with US I would make sure that I have the fleet needed in Pearl Harbor (see below) and then at the end of the turn I would play option 38 and reduce the risk of getting a tension chit and then play at once (if you missed getting a tension chit) option 50 and when you play option 50 I would increase the odds of getting tension chits.

I would also try to get a tension chit against Germany.

Then I would begin to make one DOW a turn against both Japan and Germany/Italy. And if I missed then I would try to get a new tension chit to each pool every turn and continue with new DOWs next turn.

US needs to act now!

With option 50 played US can begin a naval war against Japan and with option 38 they can help with protecting CW convoys. But if US still do not enter the war then you need to get better bases for the naval war so select options to occupy North Ireland and begin to send units and fleet there. You can also play options to reinforce Guam and Philippines.

US needs to get active and involved in the war even if they are not in the war!


RAC: 13.3.2 US entry options
....
26. Relocate fleet to Pearl Harbor - It is harder to declare war on Japan if you haven’t chosen this entry option.
Until you choose it, the only naval units that may base at Honolulu or Pago Pago are TRSs and CONVs. After you
have chosen it, any US naval unit can base there.
To avoid the +2 modifier for declaring war on Japan, you need a fleet of at least 8 SCS and 2 CV (owner’s
choice) in Honolulu when you attempt to declare war. A CV or SCS only counts if its first cycle cost is at least 2
build points and is not the Langley. If you have that fleet there, you also have more control over the tension level for
anti-Japanese entry options.

38. Arm merchantmen - Once you choose this entry option, up to 5 US CVs or SCS (you choose which and
there is no limit after the US is at war with Germany or Italy) in the 0 section of any sea area, can take part in any
combat round in which Allied convoys are included, even though you remain neutral. There is no US entry effect for
fighting. You can’t choose this entry option unless you have already chosen entry option 29.

50. Unrestricted naval warfare - US naval and aircraft units at sea can freely attack, and be attacked by, any
Axis naval and aircraft units. You still can’t port attack, shore bombard, ground strike, strategically bombard, carpet
bomb, or fly ground support. You can escort Allied convoys in any sea area with any number of SCS or CVs. You
can now move any number of ships together as 1 naval move, instead of counting each ship as a naval move. You
can only choose this entry option if you have already chosen entry option 38.

warspite1

Thanks Ormster I will put that into operation.