AllenK vs Mayhemizer AAR

[AllenK]

Elsewhere, Italian (2 BP available) and Japanese (11 BP available) factories stand idle, clamouring out for resources. Where might those come from? Now that is a good question.

The Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Hipper are ordered to remain on station in the North Sea. Other ships and aircraft will return to base.

[AllenK]

Irritatingly, I find out too late the game has also decided to send 2 Jap CP's home from the South China Sea. That costs Japan a BP.

Sportingly, Mayhemizer allows the stay at sea phase to be re-done.

[AllenK]

Dear Diary,

We now detect a slight fraying of The Grand Master Plan around one of the corners. It seems, instead of perishing in a vain attempt to return to Mother France, that little cruiser task force in the Baltic has elected to extend its pleasure cruise. Of course, while my mighty Wehrmacht hold Copenhagen, their eventual demise is guaranteed. It's just that it's all a bit messy and inconvenient. I suppose I'll have to do something about them.

[Mayhemizer_slith]

Allied ships in Europe stayed at sea. US transporter went to Manila Philippines.

France used "break down armies/corps" in Syria and 3-3 INF became to 2x 1-3 INF div.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: AllenK

In Berlin, word about the expected production figures has come to the attention of the Beloved Corporal. He greets the news in his usual calm, philosophical manner.

"Where the @!!%** %$£&**? "£&?!! $!!"*& tanks, g%&**, planes, &^%(*£E, guns, $£%^* £%&:>%%!! *&%$$^^ &^**@ meat hook.

It suspect that some orders to change the status of the 3 idle resources and the resource lost by ZOC could improve the German production slightly.

[AllenK]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: AllenK

In Berlin, word about the expected production figures has come to the attention of the Beloved Corporal. He greets the news in his usual calm, philosophical manner.

"Where the @!!%** %$£&**? "£&?!! $!!"*& tanks, g%&**, planes, &^%(*£E, guns, $£%^* £%&:>%%!! *&%$$^^ &^**@ meat hook.

It suspect that some orders to change the status of the 3 idle resources and the resource lost by ZOC could improve the German production slightly.

Hi Orm,

Forgive a little poetic license for the sake of the narrative.

The lost to ZOC is caused by a Polish unit, so should rectify at the conquest stage but not in time for this round. The idle resources are the Swedish ones. With the weather being what it was, although the end of turn was generally beneficial to the Axis, one negative consequence was I had not yet re-established the Baltic convoys. To have done so would have meant foregoing the chance at the Transports, which I felt was too good an opportunity to miss.

The Baltic convoys will be put back in place but some pest control is needed!

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: AllenK

In Berlin, word about the expected production figures has come to the attention of the Beloved Corporal. He greets the news in his usual calm, philosophical manner.

"Where the @!!%** %$£&**? "£&?!! $!!"*& tanks, g%&**, planes, &^%(*£E, guns, $£%^* £%&:>%%!! *&%$$^^ &^**@ meat hook.

warspite1

[:D]

[AllenK]

The Germans scrap an Hs-123. With 9 [:(] BP to spend, the Germans build an Inf, complete a sub, start another, train a pilot and build a Lnd 2.

The Italians build a Terr.

The Japanese, in the unusual position of having the highest Axis production, finish the Shokaku and build a CVP-1 plus pilot, an Inf, 2 CP and 6 CVP-0.

China
INF
Save 1 BP to Kashgar


CW
Naval repair Transporter
AMPH (1st cycle)
CARRIER (1st cycle)

Pilot

INF
CP
4x Carrier Air (0)


France
MIL
Anti-tank


USA
BB (1st)
Carrier (1st) (The only ship in pool is the CV Hornet)
1x Carrier air (0)
AMPH (1st)
TRANS (1st)
Naval repair CV Saratoga


USSR
2x INF
GAR

Denmark is completely conquered by Germany (Iceland, Faeroes and Greenland becomes neutral).

[AllenK]

Having got his composure back, our Beloved Corporal emerges from his boudoir to compose a letter.

Dear Uncle Joe,

My dear fellow, from the highly emotional tone of your most recent communique, I get the impression that all is, perhaps, not quite well with the special understanding between our two great nations.

You accuse me of breaking agreements but I think you'll find a close study of the terms (paragraph 19.6.2) indicates I always had the option to deny your request, on the understanding you would immediately go to war with Rumania. I would also point out, in full accordance with our agreement, I purposely left Eastern Poland free of my forces, for you to take possession of as you saw fit, and yet, for some unaccountable reason, you have chosen not to. I can hardly be blamed for the region reverting to my control in consequence.

However, it is fair to say I had no idea that little corner of the Balkans had so much significance to the people of the USSR. It occurs to me I may have been a tad hasty in rejecting your claim to the region. As a man of peace, only interested in pursuing a Europe united in common brotherhood, I am now inclined to acquiesce to your request. You are most welcome to take control of Bessarabia as you see fit. It almost pains me to point out, however, in accordance with our agreement, you must now desist from further military endeavours in the country and end this bit of unpleasantness with the Rumanians.

In furtherance of our special relationship, I am going to overlook these recent outbursts and put them down to the mental strain you must be feeling at this difficult time.

Your most humble obedient servant.

The Beloved Corporal.

[Mayhemizer_slith]

CW helps France by sending 3 resources and 3 BP's.

[composer99]

Saith Mayhemizer, reflecting upon the setbacks (*) in Poland and Rumania:

What should I do now:
Something more crazy and more stupid, so no one will remember this turn!

(*) By setbacks, I mean potential disasters in the making once 1941 rolls around.

[AllenK]

No resource lending on the Axis side.

Initiative Axis 9, Allied 2.

The Axis elect to go first and it's over to our weather reporter.

[AllenK]

N/D 1939 Axis 1

No DoW

Germany aligns Rumania. The US pay no attention (4 rolled).

Germany Naval, Italy combined, Japan Land.

No port attacks.

The German float plane flies to the North Sea 3-box. An Hs-123 flies to the Baltic 0-box.

U-boats deploy to the North Sea and North Atlantic. Cruisers deploy to the 0, 3 and 4 boxes of the Baltic, along with 3 CP's.

The Italians send a Trans to the Red Sea to pick up an Inf from Eritrea.

Germany has choice of two sea areas for combat.

[AllenK]

Konigsberg initiates searching in the Baltic but nobody can find each other (Axis 5 and Allied 8).

Allied escorts catch the U-boat loitering on the surface (Axis 4, Allies 2) and succeed in damaging her (2 surprise to increase damage from A to D). The U-boat decides to fight on but the escorts are sharp and attack before the CP's can be reached (searches Axis 2, Allies 1). A volley of depth charges sends the boat to the bottom (2 surprise points increase A to D). So ends the opening chapter of the Battle of the Atlantic.

The Japanese rail the Bangkok Militia to Singora.

The Italians shuffle a couple of units on the French border.

The Japs bring a couple of units and an HQ from Manchuria to North China.

No air-rebases or HQ re-orgs and that wraps up an uneventful impulse.

[Mayhemizer_slith]

I have always been lucky in naval combats It seems I suck in diplomacy. US seems to ignore pretty much everything Axis do in Europe. Wake up US, Germany is the evil, not USSR.

I was a bit worried about Netherlands. Luckily weather was bad enough. Now I need to empty North Sea from Kriegsmarine ships to prevent Netherlands being conquered in one impulse...

[CanInf]

Thoughts...

I had an ENG loss in Poland in my current game and did not realize its importance. Now I have three factories in France I cannot repair and a bunch of major ports that are damaged until the ENG is replaced.

In this AAR, the Germans look set up for an extremely nasty assault on the USSR. They can align Bulgaria, take greece and then align Yugoslavia and its HQ (I think). With all of Poland, and by taking a good chunk of the baltic countries in the first impulse, Germany should be able to really hurt the USSR in M/J 1941. There's also the chance of a 42 assault via persia, which would be the worst possible outcome for the USSR.

If I were the USSR, I would either be looking very closely at Persia, or I would be making sure the Commonwealth kept an iron grip on the eastern Med with an above average commitment of naval power. None shall pass even if it means significant RN losses. Given the terrible state of US entry, maybe the latter is the best option.

I would also drive very hard to get resources to the USSR. They must be able to maximize builds immediately. China setup looks thoughtful and conservative, which is good, so perhaps layoff US entry pressure on that front.

The Commonwealth needs to watch out for a med strategy involving taking spain, gib, and fighting from the two box in the east med with 4+ range German fighters and italian navs. As noted above, the Germans must not be able to pull of a persian attack. Preventing this involves the usual commitment to france, gladiator equipped carriers in the med, long range fighters in the eastern Med supported by land troops. Meeting these objectives requires conservative builds: convoys, land units, fighters (twin engined) and CVP. No fancy stuff like new carriers from scratch. If the germans do try for Gib, the CW must be prepared to support in strength, and consider declaring war on Italy (if they are not already involved). The main target of attacks on Italy would be her transports: no transports, no persian problem.

Overall, if I were the Axis, I would be looking at a 41 assault on the USSR involving the Japanese, even if it meant going light on China. The USSR is down, now is the time to kick it.

If I were the allies, prevent the east med from going axis, and be aggressive against Italy. No matter what the US entry implications, Italy cannot be allowed a free hand in the med. Otherwise, get resources to the USSR asap, support China when the possibility arises, even at the expense of the USA's builds. The German start was great, nearly perfect. The allies can't play a long game.


anyhow, that's my thoughts.

[Mayhemizer_slith]

Thanks for your thoughts CanInf.

My plan at the moment I said to do something more stupid and more crazy was to declare war on Italy by CW, France and USSR. After that US would not declare to Germany.

USSR would be able to build all MIL before Barbarossa making declaring war and advancing more difficult. And hopefully both Italian transporters would lie in the bottom of the sea.

However, two different players said that if US is not coming to help Allies it would be 100% win for Axis.

So I promised to give up that plan. (Sorry composer99 I didn's ask from you. You would have said "DO IT"!)

Now people can try to convince me that it is actually a good idea Better start with "I once had a game like that and Allied won in Europe without US help, easily"...

[CanInf]

My personal belief is that the USSR should not be allowed to declare war on Italy at all. It is a gimmick. But I think having the CW declare war on Italy is a good idea. You may want to wait and see if Italy declares war on France.

[Orm]

Maybe the Allies should avoid being aggressive now so that they US entry can recover?

Remember that German production suffered greatly so if France can cause some damage on the German forces then a early attack on USSR by Germany will be weak.

I think that the Western Allies should focus on keeping France alive and causing losses for Germany. Maybe a strat bombing campaign? And prepare to give aid and lend lease to USSR early and a lot of it when possible.

[Mayhemizer_slith]

1939 N/D Allied impulse #3

No DoW.

CW and France naval, China Land, USSR and US combined.

CW flies NAV to North Sea box 2.

CW spreads fleets to all seas. Large fleets to North sea, Easter and Western Mediterranean Sea. France also sends fleet to Western Mediterranean Sea. US takes HQ away from Philippines.

CW sends Queen Elizabeth to South Africa and territorial is loaded on-board. France sends transporter to take Dakar militia for better use.