Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR)

[Rysyonok]

Mar/Apr 1941, Axis Impulse #13:

16 Axis Submarines strike out of ports to attack the weaker links of Allied shipping and CW troop movement (there were 3 corps loaded here and there than I didn't get a chance to resolve / move properly).

The effort is a massive dud; only a single weaker Italian submarine finds a CW cruiser and aborts as a result of combat.

[Rysyonok]

Mar/Apr 1941, Axis Impulse #13:

The last impulse of a turn and the overall clock running down lead to some risky behaviors.

Italians attempt to clear the last French unit blocking them from using captured Bayonne oil: French INF division falls, and there's now an uninterrupted rail link from the oil to Italy (unless enemy corps ZOC does matter).

Japanese marines catch up to the suicide NAT-CHI infantry that snuck a Chinese city from under them (not that it earned them any US Entry chits): Disorganized, isolated, NAT-CHI corps dies.

Germans press on against the last active French HQ: Germans do lose a MECH, but the French HQ is disorganized, and with no oil (that I can tell of), this is the death sentence to remaining Paris defenders. Plus, it's almost a given that Axis starts the next turn, and there are now 2 ART units looking right at Paris.

[Rysyonok]

Mar/Apr 1941, End of Turn:

US may be quiet and still on standby, but this is just enough to initiate providing resources to Western Allies while cutting strategic economic relations with Japan.

[Rysyonok]

Mar/Apr 1941, End of Turn:

Looking at the Destroyed pool, this has been a deadly turn for French military.

[Rysyonok]

Mar/Apr 1941, End of Turn, Production:

Germany - 21BP: INF, 2 submarines (first phase), pilot, ARM-HQ (Rommel), FTR2, and an ARM division.

Italy - 6BP: A militia, a garrison, a first-phase submarine, and a repaired CL.

Japan - 16BP: BB Shinano (2nd phase), CVL Zuiho (2nd phase), MECH, a submarine (2nd phase), a carrier air, and a FTR2.

China - 7BP: 2 INF (1 - Communist, 1 - NAT), and a submarine (to avoid a BP loss).

Commonwealth - 23BP: 4 convoys, ARM-HQ (Montgomery), Canadian TRS (2nd phase), pilot / LND4 combo, submarine.

France - 6BP: 3 Militias.

USA - 10BP: Carrier, 2 Battleships, 2 Cruisers, 2 carrier air.

USSR - 14BP: FTR2, 2 pilots, INF, MOT, CA Maxim Gorky starts repair.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1941, Setup:

France pulls an unimaginable effort, and a total of 8 units are set up to help slow down Germans; this shows the price of delaying conquest even by a single turn.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1941, Allied Impulse #1:

Allies win initiative this turn - even after Axis re-roll and they choose to go first.

No strategic bombardments, as both Commonwealth and Russian bombers are wary of Axis fighters; but just along the French coastal shore British risk a carpet bombing run with a Spitfire FTR in tow. The bombing is a dud, but an Axis FTR does go down.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1941, Allied Impulse #1:

Re-stabilized French front: while the south is pretty much gone (although a brand newly-placed INF in Bordeaux will slow down Italians), the north is now stable, with ATs and AAs hiding right next to Paris. The only concern is oil, however; once French fighters fly, there is no more recovery for them.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1941, Allied Impulse #1:

Aided by good weather, Soviet tanks break through Rumanian defenders, facing Bucharest.

[Mayhemizer_slith]

China - 7BP: 2 INF (1 - Communist, 1 - NAT), and a submarine (to avoid a BP loss).

If you have an extra BP you can choose not to use it and after production phase game asks where do you want to save it (city or port). In China, save it to communist city or there might be a bug (at least there was one a while ago). If you don’t choose any city or port you will lose the BP.

If enemy captures city with BP they capture BP too. So save it as far from enemy as possible.

[Mayhemizer_slith]

After Germany is defeated, will USSR and Western Allies go to war? If they lose oil in Rumania I don’t think they will hold very long. War is not going well for them in west either.

[Rysyonok]

ORIGINAL: Mayhemizer_slith
After Germany is defeated, will USSR and Western Allies go to war? If they lose oil in Rumania I don’t think they will hold very long. War is not going well for them in west either.

Thank you for your excellent observations. You have made great points.

Yes, Axis is definitely behind schedule, and Rumanian oil fields are nearly gone. I don't think it's the end though.

Germany has 3 Synthetics in Western Czechoslovakia.
Multiplying fighters have essentially eliminated British strategic bombing for now.
There have been extremely few losses (a couple of ships, a single MOT, a couple of fighters) which has resulted in nearly linear force growth.
There are about 18 Axis submarines on the map right now, and wolfpack concept was tested out for the first time last turn.

Yes, Allies are on the offensive but...
Slow pace of US production means that there are only 3 INF and 2 HQ on board. Also, USA banked on going after Japan, meaning most of their forces are already in the Philippines - nowhere near Europe.
USSR is strong, yes. but that's due to 90% of their counters in Ukraine. There's token garrison representation in Leningrad, Minsk, and a couple of border towns. There are no reserves (all the militias have already been called out).
UK did ensure that the map is covered with their territorials, but the bulk of their force is now in Denmark. They have no meaningful assault capacity in France.
France has no oil. All HQs are down. Only 2 fighters remain with enough gas for one more run.

It's exciting

[Mayhemizer_slith]

So, we have to wait and see

In case you missed my message about saving BPs, check previous page, last post.

[Rysyonok]

ORIGINAL: Mayhemizer_slith

So, we have to wait and see

In case you missed my message about saving BPs, check previous page, last post.

I saw it, thank you. I've got to learn to stop skipping through some phases (a downside of solo play and thinking several steps ahead) as by the time I'm thinking about saving BP, it's already final production stage.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1941, Axis Impulse #2:

Germans to the rescue: Rumanian capital is flooded with grey-colored uniforms.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: Rysyonok

ORIGINAL: Mayhemizer_slith

So, we have to wait and see

In case you missed my message about saving BPs, check previous page, last post.

I saw it, thank you. I've got to learn to stop skipping through some phases (a downside of solo play and thinking several steps ahead) as by the time I'm thinking about saving BP, it's already final production stage.

You save the BP after you built the units. That is if you play with that option. If you have 10 BPs available for production, and only build for 8, then you get a question if you want to continue. And if you do continue you get to specify where the BPs will be saved after all MPs have made their builds.

[Rysyonok]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: Rysyonok

ORIGINAL: Mayhemizer_slith

So, we have to wait and see

In case you missed my message about saving BPs, check previous page, last post.

I saw it, thank you. I've got to learn to stop skipping through some phases (a downside of solo play and thinking several steps ahead) as by the time I'm thinking about saving BP, it's already final production stage.

You save the BP after you built the units. That is if you play with that option. If you have 10 BPs available for production, and only build for 8, then you get a question if you want to continue. And if you do continue you get to specify where the BPs will be saved after all MPs have made their builds.

I do have it - I will definitely try. Thank you both for your kind support!

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1941, Axis Impulse #2:

For the Caesar!

Italian legions turn North, abandoning a couple of stray French units in the South. And just like that, Bersaglieri are facing Paris.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1941, Axis Impulse #2:

Axis attack - Germans in the North, 10.4 Blitz odds, Italians in the South, 15.7 Blitz odds. All of the best French units are under attack - both disorganized HQs and the freshly bombarded into dust ARM. And then planes take off, 6 German fighters, 2 Italian bombers, and 11 (eleven) German bombers...

2 French fighters go down, one is aborted. Only one of the weaker German bombers is aborted.

[Rysyonok]

May/Jun 1941, Axis Impulse #2:

Fingers crossed. Every best possible Axis unit has been engaged this impulse.