Flight of the Eagle, sveint(Axis) vs guggy(Allies)

[sveint]

It's the summer of 1941. The Axis are busing conquering the UK and Greece. Unbeknownst to the Allies, the Italians have built two carriers, the Germans one. The first Italian carrier is already operational...

Naval losses so far are light. Germany lost the Bismarck in the invasion of the UK. The UK has lost some minor cruisers and destroyers.

The weather has been atrocious, both in 40 and 41 it rained through May. SeaLion almost didn't happen.

[sveint]

August 15, 1941

Three German u-boats raid the convoy lanes just outside Glasgow: 5 merchants are sunk and two hits scored on the Nelson, at the cost of 5 hits on the u-boats.
In the Med a British fleet with a carrier appears off Athens, much to our surprise. This will stop us from taking that city this turn, but should provide good bombing opportunities.

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[sveint]

I decide to go all in bombing the fleet off Glasgow. We take many air step losses of course, but the UK losses are:
2 DD steps
4 hits on the CV courageous

Italian u-boats also try to get in on the action but fail to hit anything and take 2 step losses.

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[sveint]

Off Athens we also bomb the UK fleet, their losses are: 1 CA hit, and that's all. Ridiculously bad result.
As a consequence I decide to move the entire Italian fleet back to the Med; Gibraltar this turn.
The German-Spanish fleet will stay in the Atlantic.

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[sveint]

August 29, 1941

An Italian sub scores a single hit on the Nelson, but is sunk in return (during the Allied turn). US forces arrive in Scotland.

In Greece we capture Athens in a series of expensive attacks. In Scotland we demolish the WDF. Sadly our air units in the UK are depleted and tired from the constant fighting. Especially naval bombing takes a toll.

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[sveint]

September 12, 1941

Germany and Italy declare war on Turkey. We'll be trying to bait the UK Med fleet with a small Task Force of a cruiser and destroyer, while the main Italian fleet is near Istanbul.
Because of the weather we are way behind schedule.

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[sveint]

Off Brest the US fleet is being arrogant (too bad our carriers aren't ready yet!). While they hit nothing in port, our fully upgraded submarines counter-attack and at a loss of 3 steps they sink the Washington BB, and do 1 step damage to the New York BB and a destroyer group. Not bad!

For safety our German-Spanish fleet retreats to Stettin. We may just need it for shore support against Newcastle next turn.

In Scotland we take a single hex, slowly pushing the Allies back.

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[boldairade]

you did it!

[sveint]

September 26, 1941

No naval battles. The attack on Turkey proceeds well. As expected the UK is rather busy in Scotland (we take Newcastle this turn).

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[sveint]

The German-Spanish fleet helps seize Newcastle, hopefully protected by rain squalls. Before the end of the turn I decide to withdraw those submarines.

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[sveint]

October 10, 1941

Supply problems in Turkey. Apparently we do not get supply from ports when we have a rail line.

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[sveint]

Out in the Atlantic there are several unidentified enemy fleets, we attack a random one and find unescorted transports!

A few more months and we could have sunk them all with our carriers.

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[sveint]

October 24, 1941

Supply in Turkey is very strange, and causing all sorts of problems.

Off the UK coast we sink the US submarine. In the Atlantic our submarines fail to locate anything.

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[sveint]

November 7, 1941

Our subs sink a destroyer group and score two hits on the Texas BB. One step closer to naval supremacy.

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[sveint]

November 21, 1941

It's a great day for the Axis as the harbour in Glasgow is bombed; US losses are:
CV Ranger
BB Texas
4 DD steps

In addition, Ankara falls and Turkey should surrender.

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[sveint]

December 5, 1941

More great news as we sink the Glorious and a DD squadron at Cyprus.

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[sveint]

In the Atlantic our subs score 4 hits on a US cruiser but clearly we need to station a wolfpack at the Azores to have any chance at stopping Allied shipping.

In only a few months we should have as many carriers as the Allies! Indeed the advantage should be ours, as all our naval units are fully upgraded. Can we reach our goal of dominating the Atlantic?

Germany begins considering plans for 3 more u-boats. Maybe even 6?

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[sveint]

December 19, 1941

We take an important rail junction and bridge in southern Turkey. Will the Royal Navy come out to play?

In the Atlantic our subs score a single hit on an American cruiser.

The UK land a division at Tunis (from Crete). I consider it just a raid. Either way we'll crush it.

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[sveint]

January 2, 1942

In a series of bombings and fleet engagements off southern Turkey we take serious damage to the Italian fleet. Luckily no ships sunk.

Our losses:
7 BB steps
5 CA steps

British losses:
BB Warspite sunk
DD group sunk
4 BB hits (King G V)
2 CA hits
1 DD hit

I don't dare send in the Aquila, for fear of air attack. Our carriers will rule the Atlantic, not the Med.

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[sveint]

January 30, 1941

In a costly attack we advance one more hex in southern Turkey.

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