AllenK
Posts: 7259
Joined: 2/17/2014 From: England Status: offline
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M/A 1944: Russia Continued poor weather means there is little action in this theatre. M/A 1944: Western Med The Italians declare war on the Spanish. The Spanish foreign minister is hastily despatched to the Allied embassies to drum up some support. First on the alignment list is the CW. “My dear fellow”, intones the British ambassador, “we would be delighted to have you align with us. You would be like modern conquistadors, part of a common brotherhood, united in its quest to rid the world of its current tyranny.” Beguiled by thoughts of glorious victories and a re-emergent empire, the Spanish foreign minister wastes no time in signing the paperwork. It’s only as he is putting on his coat and preparing to leave that a little thought, which until that moment had been niggling away, un-noticed in all the excitement, at the back of his mind, finally reaches consciousness. Turning to the ambassador he asks “This band of brothers, who are they?” “On you know”, replies the ambassador, “Poland, Belgium, Netherlands, Malaysia”…………………….. As a gust of wind blows a piece of desert grass across the gap between them and the distant howl of a coyote beaks the silence, the foreign minister makes a valiant attempt to disguise his gulp with a cough before making his farewells. (Apologies to those who may have previously suffered the telling of this coming yarn on a different AAR but there was a slight inaccuracy on the date on the original, which was given as May and in the number of Italian ships involved). Meanwhile, the newly repaired RM Warspite sails into the West Med at the head of the Italian Fleet. With the Spanish units aligned on the French border to guard against the Axis armies, an invasion of Valencia is planned. The Royal Navy sends the Med fleet from Gibraltar to intercept. 4CV, 4BB and 2CA should be a match for the RM fleet - Everybody knows BB's aren't a match for air power!! - 9BB and 9CA/CL but lacking in CV air cover and just hoping that some NAV may make it through the latest Seafires embarked on the Ark Royal. Unfortunately, the RN forget to take the lens caps off their binoculars and are surprised when the RM appear in their midst, guns blazing (search roles RM 2, RN 9, Italians chose surface combat to negate the air). Lying directly in their path, the Ark Royal, which is reduced to a blazing wreck (3 surprise points to select target). Resolution follows the Ark to the bottom and the Royal Sovereign and Belfast limp away from the battle. In return, the Italians lose the old French BB Courbet (captured along with BB Paris when they collapsed Vichy) and CA San Giorgio limps away from the battle. A further CL aborts the area. Round 2, the RN smarting from the initial shock but still with a powerful air contingent decide to stay and fight. They were caught napping but this time will be different. The Italians figure with the Warspite on their side, they can't lose. The stage is set. In all the shock and surprise from the first encounter, the RN lookouts appear to have dropped their bins over the side and, once again, carnage ensues (search roles RM 2, RN 7). This time the Formidable stands exposed in their path but skillful handling by her Captain prevents her joining the Ark and she plus Royal Oak, Revenge and Glasgow limp away for some yardtime. In return the RN barely manages to damage the Paris and scratch the paint on a couple of CL's, sending them back to port. The RN flee back to Gib and resulting gunfire support from Warspite et al ensure the successful invasion of Valencia. With all available shipping committed in the North Sea, there is little the Allies can immediately do to come to the aid of the Spanish. They don’t help themselves when the CW, attention focussed on the events in the North, omits to move any Spanish units towards the invaders. Although out-of-supply, the Italians disorganise XXVI INF by moving it two hexes inland towards Madrid, leaving the MAR on the coast. Before the Allies can do anything else, the turn ends.
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