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I thought I had a pretty good first turn as the Axis; but MM did even better. Only 5 army and 4 air losses. However, he did not attack any of the objectives he needs to take to cause the Poles to surrender. Hopefully I can inflict a few more casualties next turn. Also MM wasted no time moving his 2 U-Boats into the South Atlantic. Luckily for me he got no hits on either MS or escorts.

I launched an air attack and attacked an HQ to inflict casualties, but otherwise I just circled the wagon around Warsaw. Below is the screenshot after my moves.

In France I started the shuffle of moving the best (50%) corps out of the Maginot line and replacing them with 40% corps. I am waiting to hear back from MM if he wants a House Rule restricting the Allies in both games from moving the French colonial troops. Also pictured below are my UK Research allocations. Oh yeah, as you can see he conquered Luxembourg (of course). The French built a large infantry corps.

French, US and USSR Research allocations.

With Russia I put all but 1 of my infantry corps into garrison mode and destroyed all of my full strength mechanized corps. With the resulting production I built 3 armour, 1 mechanized and 2 infantry corps. As soon as an infantry corps is built I will put it in garrison mode.

MM is doing better as Axis in the early going of the BOA than I am.

He conquers Denmark a turn before me as well and has taken less casualties.

MM continues to school me. I once failed to capture Oslo with a full strength paradrop supported by some air units; so I thought a 1 division invasion might be risky. But MM made it look easy. Has the Oslo garrison been weakened? Makes my decision to not invade Norway look foolish.

OCTOBER 13, 1939

The French Fleet exacts some revenge. But afterwards I realized that it will now probably be trapped by the Norwegian minefields. Meanwhile the RN steams to Narvik. Won't be able to stop him from getting there before I can invade, but might make him sweat a bit. I build a UK armour and a French large and small corps. the Russians build another small corps. I lose 1 more MS; still no hits on the U-Boats.

As feared the French Fleet is trapped. 1 BB is sunk and a couple other units damaged by air attacks. At least they give a good account of themselves, shooting down 12 enemy air.

Also as expected the Germans advance by rail towards Narvik.

The 1st BEF units arrive in France, including the WDF. In the Atlantic his U-Boats fail to score any hits, so that is good. The Canadians build an escort and the Russians continue to build one small corps per turn. Replacement/upgrade continues to be set at 0 for all the Allies.

The trapped French Fleet continues to get pounded from the air. Only a BB and a CA left I think. But again they shoot down about 10 German air points. I am not sure why he is bothering though, why not just let them wither on the vine? They can't go anywhere. My guess is that when he attacks Vichy it will deprive the Allies of these French naval units. Will it? Or perhaps he is even thinking about not accepting the Vichy surrender. Time will tell I guess. Elsewhere I abandon the naval blockade of Narvik. the UK builds a mechanized and some AA, the French build a small corps. The Russians build another small corps. the Canadians build another escort.

NOV 10, 1939

Little happening. The remnants of the trapped French Fleet are sunk without inflicting any more hits on his air. Norway is fully occupied. The British build a large corps. The French build a division. The Russians build a small corps. The first 2 Russian small corps builds are placed on the map and immediately set into garrison mode and to not take any repairs/upgrades. Casualties are as below. Other than the BOA I doubt there will be much change until the late spring.

The trapped French Fleet continues to get pounded from the air. Only a BB and a CA left I think. But again they shoot down about 10 German air points. I am not sure why he is bothering though, why not just let them wither on the vine? They can't go anywhere. My guess is that when he attacks Vichy it will deprive the Allies of these French naval units. Will it? Or perhaps he is even thinking about not accepting the Vichy surrender. Time will tell I guess.

If Vichy is formed it fleet is reconstituted as 1 BB, 2 CA's, and 2 DD's regardless. However if he doesn't plan to let Vichy form then its permanent kills. But the last time I tested this was on an earlier game version.

NOV 24, 1939

Very little happening. The UK and USSR build large corps, France builds a division, Canada builds an escort.

Not sure why my ASW patrols don't show up in the below combat report. As reported elsewhere this seems very hit and miss.

First, thanks for doing this.
Question: Why escort fighters and interceptors for the US tech?

DEC 8, 1939

The sitzkrieg continues. The UK and French each build a division. The Russians build an infantry corps (which they will continue to do each turn until I report otherwise). I think I lost 1 MS, but I'm not sure. Still no U-Boats sunk.

ORIGINAL: ago1000

First, thanks for doing this.
Question: Why escort fighters and interceptors for the US tech?

Rather than FB tech you mean? I think interceptors are essential for gaining air superiority. The problem is that you can't have too many of them because once you finally get back to continental Europe port supply will be at a premium. So I like to have some escort fighters who have the range to escort my bombers and intercept enemy bombers from the UK or Africa. But now that FBs have been beefed up perhaps I should give them a try. Guess I am too set in my ways.

DEC 22, 1939

Nothing happening. The UK build an infantry division and 10 supply trucks. The French build 20 supply trucks. I forgot to mention that last turn I did set replacement/upgrade on for the UK and French. I think I set it at about 40 for both. So select units are receiving a trickle of replacements. The Russians have enough saved production to build a Mechanized. 3 MS sunk. Again not sure why I am not getting the bonus for my ASW patrols. Or am I getting the bonus and it is just not showing?