Winston's Soft Underbelly -- A Dream Realized?

[rkr1958]

26. Nov/Dec 1943. Singapore, Malaya.

This turn also saw another suicidal amphibious invasion attempt by the Japanese this time against the fortress city of Singapore. Even though there was only a 10% chance of success the allied player made a potentially grave error by not directly garrisoning the city. They played the territorial in its current position to protect both Kuala Lumpum and Singapore from partisans.

The Japanese player knew that the invasion was very high risk but miscalculated the odds. They thought at worse they would be getting 1:1, or maybe even 3:2, giving them a 20 to 30% chance of success. Still not great but certainly worth the risk given the prize of Singapore.

[rkr1958]

26. Nov/Dec 1943. Timor and Coral Seas.

The primary focus of the IJN this turn was to gain and maintain control of the Timor Sea with the main objective of providing air and naval gun support to the IJA bid to capture Port Morsby. While the IJN did manage to quickly dispatch the two RN CAs patrolling the Timor Sea, the whether was such that it made a ground attack on Port Morsby too risky. While waiting for the weather to clear the turn ended.

[rkr1958]

26. Nov/Dec 1943. Bismarck Sea and The Solomons.

With the IJN focusing their attention in the Timor Sea and on New Guinea, the USN made a bid to challenge the IJN for control of the Bismarck Sea. The USN sent in a strong carrier task force that initially seized control of the area. The IJN then responded with a strong carrier task force they had in reserve. However, neither side was successful in finding the other so a potentially decisive naval battle didn't occur.

[rkr1958]

26. Nov/Dec 1943. USN. Western Pacific.

The USN fully secured or maintained control of the Marianas, Central Pacific and Marshalls this turn.

[rkr1958]

26. Nov/Dec 1943. IJN Pacific Shield.

The IJN Pacific Shield is still very formidable and very dangerous for the USN and RN. Though, it's starting to show a dent or two.

[rkr1958]

26. Nov/Dec 1943. European Theater of Operations. The Western Allies.

The US, using an o-chit to double its land attack factors and with the aid of the CW, launched a winter attack on Von Leeb's position (i.e., hex). In throwing everything they could into this the attack the Western allies managed to only get 3:1 on the assault table. Though two German units were lost, Von Leeb's HQ held. In addition to the loss of a USA airborne corps, this attack also up the German production multiplier from 1.75 to 2.00. A net gain of 8 BPs for the Germans.

[rkr1958]

26. Nov/Dec 1943. The Eastern Front. North.

Though the allies only got two impulses this turn, the Soviets continued to make slow, steady progress pushing further into the Latvia and Eastern Poland.

[rkr1958]

Nov/Dec 1943. The Eastern Front. South.

Though German defenses are still holding in the south, they're starting to show signs of stress and are beginning to crack some.

[rkr1958]

26. Nov/Dec 1943. Finland.

Quite. Though the Finns seem to be sneaking forces through the Finnish borderlands. The Soviets will need to keep an eye on this.

[rkr1958]

26. Nov/Dec 1943. China.

The short turn mixed with the weather meant that nothing of consequence occurred in China this turn.

[rkr1958]

26. Nov/Dec 1943. Country Economic Reports.

The German War Economy is booming.

[rkr1958]

26. Nov/Dec 1943. German Production Prior to Correction.

What's remarkable is that Albert Speer is able to keep German war production at 100% though the Soviets are starting to take back resources that the Germans took from them.

[rkr1958]

26. Nov/Dec 1943. Battle of the Atlantic.

Before I close out the report on this turn I wanted to post a screenshot of CP losses through the end 1943 (this year). No CPs were lost by any side in the last three turns (i.e., 6 months). That feat is even more remarkable for the Western allies given that this turn alone the Germans 9 u-boats units out to sea to join two others already there. Specifically,

Norwegian Sea - 3 u-boats

Bay of Biscay - 2

Arctic Ocean - 2

North Atlantic - 3

Central Atlantic - 1.

Though the Germans tried on two impulse to initiate combat and sink more allied CPs, they failed.

[rkr1958]

26. Nov/Dec 1943. Trade for Jan/Feb 1944.

No change from last turn.

[brian brian]

I like the HQ Movement optional a lot, makes the campaign in Russia a little bit less ... sweeping. And more like WiF 5, when HQs all had either 2 or 3 movement points only. You have to plan ahead.


I like the Japanese counter-attack option and I hold the Imperial Guard in reserve for just such opportunities. Singapore is worth quite a bit more to the Allies than Bangkok - Singapore can be supplied much more easily, and that makes for a major dent in the Co-Prosperty Sphere. If there was any more Japanese lift available, calling on the Marines in Bangkok might have resulted in Japan taking Singapore back.

And there is always the lack of Fog of War in WiF - if the Allies were short on lift in the India theater, the Japanese could have landed adjacent to Singapore much more easily and then assaulted the weak-on-defense TERRitorial unit in a subsequent impulse, though a lot would depend on impulse # and initiative track marker. A Japanese AMPH is a good thing to have in reserve for such operations also.


I thought MWiF was going to re-draw the swamp hexes to woods when it snows...

[rkr1958]

I've got a deadline at work, so I won't be able to get back to this AAR for a couple of weeks. Sorry, I know I have my priorities in the wrong place.

[rkr1958]

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

I've got a deadline at work, so I won't be able to get back to this AAR for a couple of weeks. Sorry, I know I have my priorities in the wrong place.

Deadline met. I really went through withdrawals not being able to play MWiF for these past two weeks. Phew ... glad that's over.

Will pick my game back up and start posting in this AAR as applicable.

[rkr1958]

27. Jan/Feb 1944. Victory Totals.

There was a change in victory totals this turn. The Soviets liberated Kiev which meant their total increased by 1 and, correspondingly, the Germans total decreased by 1.

[rkr1958]

27. Jan/Feb 1944. Destroyed Pool.

This turn lasted four impulse.

The Pacific.

The USN and RN had a good turn against the Japanese in Pacific. Specifically in the South China and Bismarck Seas, though minor actions took places in other sea areas too.

In the South China Sea the RN took on the IJN in 5 rounds of naval combat over three of the four impulses this turn. The IJN saw 8 CPs sunk and 3 aborted in this sea area.

In the Bismarck Sea, the USN and IJN fought 3 rounds of naval combat over 2 impulse. The USN managed to sink two IJN fleet aircraft carriers. The Akagi and the Zuikaku met their end against the USN. The USN suffered no losses.

While neither of these two naval battles were decisive, the RN and USN definitely gained the upper hand in the two respective sea areas.

The Eastern Front.

Though the weather on the Eastern Front went from snow to blizzard, the Soviets pushed attacks all across the front wherever they could. With Soviet elite, winterized units leading the way in most of these attack it was those units that took the brunt of the land losses. All attacks on this front were by the Soviets. They carried out a total of 10 attacks, which breaks down as follows:

3:2B 1
2:1B 3
3:1B 2
4:1B 2
6:1B 1

6:1A 1

China.

In China the IJA carried out 1 land combat at 4:1B.

[rkr1958]

27. Jan/Feb 1944. Repair Pool.