Decline and Fall The Long Way Round

[AllenK]

Not everything goes to the Baltic. A US/CW force of HQ INF, MECH, MOT and P47 lands in N. Spain, while a US PARA prepares to disembark to Cadiz. The plan is to rebase a C47 there. CW CV's deploy to Biscay with a view to a Port-Strike on Brest.

[AllenK]

In the Med, the CW takes a gamble and deploys all CV's that can make it (plus escorts) into the West Med. Sinking the Italian transport as a priority, then anything else as a bonus.

[AllenK]

In the Pacific, the US deploys subs into the Marianas and a substantial invasion fleet into the Marshalls, aiming for Eniwetok Jap NAVs.

The stage is set for potentially a few Naval clashes.

[AllenK]

First up, the West Med. The Italians fly 3 NAV support, making 4 in sea-box 2. The Germans decline as they could only get to the 0 box. The allies decline to commit subs, holding them in reserve in case of subsequent Italian CP appearance. The CW still haven't found their binoculars (rolled a 5) and the Italians fare no better with an 8. No combat.

Next up, the Baltic. Neither side has any air power worth contributing so it's down to searches. The allies just about manage to find the Germans (roll of 5), the German's don't see the Allies until they are on top of them (roll of 8). A US task force in the 3-box prepares to engage. The allies decline a naval air combat (with a 1-attack point F4F-3, it wouldn't be worth it) and clear guns for a surface action. With 7 surprise points to boost the results to 2X, 2A, the 4 CP points are swiftly sent to the bottom.

The allies decline combat in Biscay. In the Arabian Sea, the RN look-outs prove as (in)adept as their colleagues in the Med and are unable to spot the Italian CP.

Over to the Pacific and to the US subs in the Marianas. The Japs fly a D3A2 from Truk to support the CP's in the 0-box. Dismal search rolls of 8 and 7 end matters there.

Finally, the German subs decide to have a punt at the CP's in Biscay. Nobody flies in any air support and with another set of poor searches (6 and 7) naval proceedings for the impulse come to an uneventful end.

[AllenK]

Next to the Strategic Bombing phase. The US needs its air-moves for rebasing and the Soviets are keeping their air-power to support the ground forces. The CW sends 3 Lancaster's to Prague, with a Mosquito as escort. The Germans send up the only FTR in range, a Bf-109 G-2, based at Nuremburg.

Before the RAF escort can act, the 109's tear into the Bomber stream downing the first Lancaster (roll of 19) and then breaking away without loss (11, no effect). While the 109's are reforming, the RAF clears one bomber through (roll of 12) but are unable to do anything about the 109's (roll of 13). Once again, the 109's tear into the bombers, downing another Lancaster before finally being chased away by the escorts (4 vs 8)Keen to get out of the area, the RAF release their bombs too early, missing the target (roll of 3).

I thought I'd messed up by choosing to destroy the 1st Lanc, rather than the Mossie, which would then have aborted the 3 bombers. As it turned out, two shot down for no return is a bitter pill.

[AllenK]

All the allies decline carpet bombing. Similarly, the US and CW decline Ground Strikes. The Soviets declare two. IL2-M3 and Yer-2, escorted by an LA-3 to have a go at Rommel. Meanwhile a TB-3 to have a go at a Panzer Army stack to the East. The German's have a dilemma. There is only one fighter to cover two strikes. They could go for the TB-3, forcing the Soviets to commit their remaining FTR to protect it but leave a free run at Rommel or protect the HQ, giving a free run at the Panzers. They decide to cover Rommel.

[AllenK]

In China, the Nationalists try to bombard an out of supply Mechanised army in the mountains. Well, you never know!

[AllenK]

So, it's to the air combat. The German HE-100's sweep into the formations of Yer-2's scattering them and forcing them to jettison bombs and return to base. Axis roll 7 DA, defender's choice to abort front fighter of bomber. I was tempted to send the FTR back to base but didn't want to risk the HE-100's having a go at unescorted bombers. However, in chasing off the Yer-2's, the HE-100's are careless and do not pay sufficient attention to their escorts. The LA-7's dive into the fray shooting down the German aircraft. Remaining bomber is cleared through.

Hm.. Wish I'd picked the LA-7 and not the Yer-2 to abort. In hindsight that might have been the best move. If this result or an abort had resulted, both bombers would have cleared through. If the HE-100 had not been dispensed with, I would have had the option of bugging out before further combat, preserving the two bombers for later.

[AllenK]

In the resulting strikes, the main one on Rommel failed with a 7. One of the two ARM in the adjacent hex was disorganised (6 and 1).

In China, the artillery are 50% successful, disorganising the Jap 2 Arm.

Nobody does any rail moves, so it's on to land moves for the Chinese and Soviets.

[AllenK]

In Russia, the Soviets move forward to start pressing the German screen NW of Moscow and begin infiltrating past the units around Ryazan aiming to put them out of supply. The availability of plentiful Luftwaffe support means attacking would be too risky.

Along the Saratov-Penza railway, the Soviets advance looking to attack Rommel. Realising this would be foolish with part of the attackers having to cross a river and German air support available, the Soviets change plans and decide to attack the partially disorganised panzer army to the east of Rommel. If the Luftwaffe want to provide support here they will be unescorted and the Soviets have a FTR for air-cover. The Soviets declare a single attack.

[AllenK]

In China, the CAV Divs continue making a Nuisance of themselves. The Communists capture a resource hex, while the Nationalists head towards Manchuria rather than be caught by Yamamato. The ChiComms consider an attack on the oos PARA unit but the odds are low and the Japs can fly in plenty of air support.

[AllenK]

On to the single Soviet attack this impulse. The Germans decide not to risk sending their bombers unescorted. Rommel declines to provide HQ support, figuring he can't afford to be disorganised. Zhukov decides to chip in to improve his odds.

With 3 ARM to 2, the Soviets show the Germans a thing or two about Blitzkrieg and smash the defenders apart (+13, rolled a 10). Two Soviet corps advance to the newly created space.

[AllenK]

For the HQ Reorganisation phase, Nimitz reorganises 2CV's plus the BB Idaho. Stillwell reorgs his artillery and Crerar reorgs an AMPH and TRANS. With only a Lancaster to choose, the Brits pass. Koniev reorgs the LA-7 and IL2.

[AllenK]

M/J 1944 Axis Impulse 2

No DoW. Italy Combined. Germany Land. Japan considers Land to rearrange things in China but wants a crack at the US in the Marshalls. A combined will allow a bit of both, although at the expense of other needed naval moves. They decide to go for the combined.

[AllenK]

No port strikes from the axis. The Japanese put two NAV into the 4-box of the Marshalls. No Naval Air from the other two. Most of the Japanese surface fleet converges on the Marshalls. They can only reach the 1-box but hope good range CVP's will boost the search capacity. The Italians put 2 CP's and 3 CL's as escort in the West Med. This gives 3 possible naval battles: West Med, Marshalls and Marianas.

The Italians initiate combat in the West Med and fly in a NAV and FTR to the 0-box for extra support to the CP's. The CW commits subs. Once again, while the Italians easily find the RN, the RN prove unable to find a snow flake in a Blizzard (2 vs 7). The Italians concentrate on the CW units in the 2-box. With the advantage of surprise they repeat a successful pattern and go for guns. It doesn't go well for the RN as Barham limps away damaged, London also is damaged and the Sheffield sunk.

[AllenK]

In reply, the RN damage the BB Caio Duilio, forcing it back to port.

[AllenK]

Both sides decide to continue the fight. The RN possibly foolishly but pride is at stake. Nobody adds and Naval air and the CW again commits subs.

The RN finally learns how to use binoculars and spot the Italians who, in their astonishment, fail to relocate the RN. The RN choose to concentrate on the 2-box and send in the CV air.

In the resulting air combat, the RN destroys one NAV and chases two others away before the remaining one decides enough is enough and heads home. The RN takes no losses. Having caught the Italians by surprise, the RN torpedo bombers launch their attacks before the Italian AA gunners are fully ready They are unable to put up much of a defence (4 surprise points used to lower AA to lowest 1 of 4: 4, 7, 10, 2 result in a 2 point bomb reduction).

The RN target the Italian TRANS but are only able to damage it. The Italians then steam the Warspite across the path of the second wave, giving the RN the unenviable opportunity of sinking their former ship. The torpedoes run true and the Warspite is no more.

[AllenK]

Both sides elect to continue the fight. No additional air. The Italians, unable to get over the shock of being found by the RN fail to see them coming again (10 vs 3).

A Gladiator chases the only Italian NAV back to base. Surprise again reduces the Italian AA effectiveness but they react better and cause a Swordfish Wing to release early (lowest 1, taken down to lowest 1 of 4: 4 point reduction).

The Italian BB's Littorio and Giulio Cesare manage to avoid most torpedoes but both suffer damage (2X's and both rolled a 9).

The sides elect a further round. The Italians have suffered damage but a surface round in their favour could do serious damage to the RN. The RN's blood is up and they don't want to give up just yet.

As before, no additional air and the CW commits subs.

The Italians get their surface round when the RN fails to spot them until well within gunnery range (2 vs 10, 4 surprise points to choose surface, engaging 3-box only).

In an unequal fight, the already damaged London tries to draw the Italian gunfire by attempting to ram the Littorio. Miraculously, it works and as the fires reach the London's magazines, the explosion mortally wounds the Littorio. The London's sacfiice, however, cannot prevent the CV Indefatigable being damaged and forced to limp back to port, followed by an undamaged Implacable.

[AllenK]

The fight continues in a battle to the death. The Italians again prove the most adept at finding the enemy (2 vs 8) and use their surprise to again go for guns.

The RN desperately protect the remaining CV's but it costs them the CL's Cleopatra and Arethusa. The Italians use the Vittorio Veneto to soak up punishment (X converted to D on a roll of 9, again).

[AllenK]

The fight continues. The RN spots the Italians before the Italians spot the RN (4 vs 4) and launches an air-strike. The Italian AA is surprised and only moderately disturbs the aim of a Swordfish (2-point reduction). The Vittorio Veneto is finished off and two other BB's aborted.