Bob Flemin's MWIF AARse IV - Nice AArse

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: composer99

I feel bad for the Soviets having their army up front like that. They're going to take it on the chin this summer.

warspite1

Where would a seasoned WIF player set the Soviets up?

And I thought things looked good for USSR with a nice enough set up. I predict that the German offence is stopped, permanently, after this summer.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 2

Greece is not looking great either, though at least there are two units in Athens and I can try and get the Royal Navy to intervene.

Edit: I've just realised I forgot to organise some German units with Rommel [8|]

Where are the CW land units? Why are there not several of them in Greece by now?

I hope they are, at least, about to capture some Italian minors.

Not all of them can be in Malaysia! [;)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 2

Greece is not looking great either, though at least there are two units in Athens and I can try and get the Royal Navy to intervene.

Edit: I've just realised I forgot to organise some German units with Rommel [8|]

Where are the CW land units? Why are there not several of them in Greece by now?

I hope they are, at least, about to capture some Italian minors.

Not all of them can be in Malaysia! [;)]

warspite1

Because you are assuming a level of competence at this game that I simply do not possess [;)]

I know they are really boring to build, but in future I am going to build large numbers of TRS and AMPH. Having so few means juggling their positioning all over the globe - Oz, South Africa, Canada - and forget New Zealand! [:)]

So yes, a CW presence in Greece would be ideal right now, and I'm getting there...slowly.

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 2

The RN provides a show of strength in the Eastern Mediterranean led by HMS Warspite which provides distant cover for a key military convoy - The advance guard of a "huge" Allied Expeditionary Force (yeah right [8|]) is being transported to Greece. "Do not worry peeps of Greece - the 4th Motorised Corps is here!

Write-up for the 4th Motorised Corps:

This corps was formed in Scotland in January 1940 under Lieutenant-General Claude Auchinleck. At this time the British and French were tentatively looking at ways to stop the supply of Iron Ore from Sweden to Germany. Realistically the only way of doing this on a permanent basis was to land troops in neutral Norway, and then send them overland to Sweden.

Clearly, this was a difficult thing to attempt given that the Allies were fighting the Germans in the name of freedom! As an excuse for this operation, the British and French would state they were providing assistance to Finland in their war with the Soviet Union (although there was no intention of providing such help).

In the end the plan was not carried out, and the Germans beat the Allies to a landing in Norway. Although the British and French did react to the German invasion, 4th Corps itself was never employed there and the inadequate force actually deployed was forced to retreat after a very humiliating campaign.

Thereafter the British IV Corps was put to work training most of the armoured reserves preparing to face the proposed German invasion of Britain. It had the 2nd and 9th Armoured Divisions under its command together with other independent armoured brigades.

When the Japanese entered the war on 7th December 1941, the corps was sent to India and became the 4th Indian Corps, part of the British Indian Army fighting as part of 14th Army. 4th Indian Corps under Lt-General G Scoones would be heavily involved in the vital Imphal Kohima battle (Mar-Jun 1944) when the Japanese attacked in order to destroy the airfields supplying the Chinese army.

During this battle its three Divisions came under intense pressure for over 2 months and ultimately held their positions around Imphal but it was a close run thing and the 17th Division came close to being surrounded and destroyed. Having held firm, 4th Corps was able to resume the offensive once reinforcements had arrived.
This battle ultimately saw the heaviest defeat in the history of the Japanese army.

For Imphal Kohima the 4th Corps had the following Divisions under command:
• 17th Indian Infantry Division (48th and 63rd Indian Brigades)
• 20th Indian Infantry Division (32nd, 80th and 100th Indian Brigades)
• 23rd Indian Infantry Division (1st, 37th (Gurkha) and 49th Indian Brigades)
• 254th Indian Tank Brigade (3rd Carabineers, 3rd Bn 4th Bombay Grenadiers, 7th Light Cavalry, 11th
P.A.V.O Cavalry and 150th Royal Armoured Corps Regt)

In 1945 the Corps was re-organised as a Mechanized unit under Lt-General Frank Messervy. The Corps was involved in the battle of Meiktila and then spearheaded the capture of Rangoon, the Burmese capital. The units within the corps for these operations were:
• 7th Indian Infantry Division (33rd, 114th and 161st Indian Brigades)
• 17th Indian Infantry Division (48th, 63rd and 99th Indian Brigades)
• 19th Indian Infantry Division (replaced by 5th Indian Infantry Division (9th, 123rd, and 161st Indian Brigades))
• 255th Indian Tank Brigade (110th Royal Armoured Corps Regt, 5th K.E.O Lancers, 16th Light Cavalry, 4th
Bn 4th Bombay Grenadiers)

After Rangoon, the unit spent the remainder of the war mopping up remaining Japanese from Burma.

• Key Campaigns: Burma (1943-1945)

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 2

The Soviets eschew any thoughts of ground strikes - even where German fighters cannot reach. There is simply no way of knowing at this stage where the front line will end up. Having a load of disorganised aircraft is just asking for trouble.

The Soviets decide, in time honoured fashion, to trade space for time. They will attempt to hold the Dvina to protect the approaches to Leningrad and all along the front a general pull-back is ordered.

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 3

With the pull-back complete, the turn advances. A weather roll of 6 means Rain in the Northern Monsoon but is otherwise Fine.

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 3

The Italians want to put pressure on the British in the Eastern Mediterranean, but to do that they need assistance from the German air force - the Germans simply cannot spare the activity cost.

So to the key theatre - The Russian Front. Adolf Hitler decided its time to use an Offensive Chit. Erich von Manstein is the man entrusted with the Chit.

There will be no ground strikes this turn - the Germans need to get their aircraft forward.

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 3

I am such a pilchard!

I have not brought the required number of units to one of the hexes from which I am attacking with an Offensive Chit... for $%^& sake [:@]....

Adolf Hitler: Manstein why are you not attacking in full strength?
Erich von Manstein: Er..er its what I meant to do Mein Fuhrer - it's all under control.
AH: You better be right Manstein or I wouldn't like to be in your shoes
EvM: Don't worry mein Fuhrer I know what I'm doing, unlike that warspite geezer...

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 3

There will be six attacks along the Eastern Front, including one all Romanian operation - that should be interesting [X(]. The attacks are against:

- a Soviet Motorised Army west of Odessa
- three hexes in western Ukraine
- Vilna
- the hex exactly halfway between Vilna and Riga.....

The Soviets would love to put up defensive HQ Support but this could leave the HQ's disorganised and canonfodder for future impulses.

The Germans do not want to use such support either in case their forces outrun their supply lines.

For the attack on Vilna the Germans bring in two bombers and a fighter to up the odds. Note to self: Always have rubbish bombers available to add the odd 1 or 2 points to save using up good aircraft!

The Soviets think the Germans are taking the mickey - but once again they refuse to fly. They would need three fighters to get fighter parity - and those aircraft would then be vulnerable to overrun.

[Orm]

EvM: Don't worry mein Fuhrer I know what I'm doing, unlike that warspite geezer

The cool Mr Warspite rules the waves so some respect would be welcome. He certainly have earned it. [:)]

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 3

The first attack is the 5:1 no modifiers against Vilna....

...ouch! It's only a 4. The defending units are shattered and one unit is lost, but the victory comes at a cost of disorganisation. The Germans convert to retreat in order to limit the chances of counter-attack. Not a good result...

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 3

And so to the northern prong of Manstein's great Offensive. Is he a tactical genious of legend, or just full of chit?

The attack in Latvia is a 3:1 no modifiers using the Blitz table...

...at last! The Germans actually conjour a decent dice throw - its a 10. The Soviets lose an Infantry Corps and the remaining units are Shattered. I do not convert - I do not want these units bolstering the defence.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Tactical Question:

I would be interested to hear how experienced players set about the defence of France and the Low Countries once Barbarossa is underway. How many units? What quality? Stationed where?

Similar question for Italy. What do the Italians try and defend? Assume Sardinia? Albania? Sicily? Taranto? Rome? Naples? and at least a couple of Corps in the north?

Here is a picture I made when discussing the German AI regarding the minimum invasion defence of France. This also assume that Bordeaux is used as a German port. Vichy France is still in play. Only land units are shown.

V = Must be white print unit (elite).
Red box = Garrison
White box = HQ
Blue box = Militia
Black box = Infantry
Yellow box = Armour or Mechanized with preferably 6 MPs

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 3

South to the Ukraine now. The Germans seek to resolve the middle hex first as, if successful, they can put the Cavalry unit to the north out of supply.

It's a 3:1 +1 but the Soviets will have the choice and of course plump for the Assault table....

...its a 5(6). Although the Soviet 4th Motorised Army is destroyed, the Germans suffer disorganisation.

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 3

The attempt to cut-off the Soviet Cavalry succeeded and as a result the next attack becomes automatic (the black print unit was already disorganised and this just worth 1-point).

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 3

Two to go. The attack in the southern Ukraine is 7:1 no modifiers. I stupidly put a division with a weak Motorised unit and the result was a gift for the Germans.

Both Soviet units are destroyed.

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 3

And so to the last attack. This is a 4:1 no modifiers on the Assault table being carried out by Antonescu and his grey and yellow army....

... a 2. Both sides lose a unit and the Romanians are spent as far as the remainder of this turn is concerned.

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 3

The Germans have all four air missions intact and re-base two fighters and two bombers forward.

Manstein uses his Offensive Chit benefits to reorganise:

- 3 Panzer Corps
- a Motorised Corps
- 2 Artillery Divisions
- a Stuka

In a bid to keep the pressure on in the south, Guderian is used to reorganise the stack flipped in the Ukraine. von Rundstedt is still free to move and provide supply so the risk is considered worthwhile.

I remember to use Rommel's 3 points to reorganise two infantry and a Panzer Corps in Greece.

[warspite1]

May/Jun 1942
Impulse: 4

Uncle Joe Stalin: Be honest with me Zhukov - how bad is it?
Georgy Zhukov: Well I cannot lie - we are in a sticky situation. In fact we are in the stickiest situation since sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun.
UJS: Well I suggest you unsticky the situation, and quickly, or I will have Lavrenti Beria visit you with a red-hot poker. If you don't save Moscow Zhukov your bottom is going to wish it had never been born.
GZ: (turns white and makes to leave) Yes Comrade Stalin.
UJS: Oh and one more thing - see I can do Blackadder quotes too - and my lines are funnier!
GZ: Yes Comrade Stalin

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Tactical Question:

I would be interested to hear how experienced players set about the defence of France and the Low Countries once Barbarossa is underway. How many units? What quality? Stationed where?

Similar question for Italy. What do the Italians try and defend? Assume Sardinia? Albania? Sicily? Taranto? Rome? Naples? and at least a couple of Corps in the north?

Here is a picture I made when discussing the German AI regarding the minimum invasion defence of France. This also assume that Bordeaux is used as a German port. Vichy France is still in play. Only land units are shown.

V = Must be white print unit (elite).
Red box = Garrison
White box = HQ
Blue box = Militia
Black box = Infantry
Yellow box = Armour or Mechanized with preferably 6 MPs

warspite1

Thanks for your responses Ormster and Composer.

My current set up is below. I have enough units to cover the bases you identify. The placement in forest of course makes a lot of sense.