RE: A musical global war AAR...

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Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:22:34 PM)
November/december 1940, Axis impulse number 2. To me, there is one important thing which should be taken into account when playing World in Flames. That is that preparation is everything. With that in mind, the Axis proclaim prudence and all take naval actions. However, that doesn't mean that this impulse won't be action packed! The Japanese Imperial Fleet has been given orders to save fuel, whenever possible. A cruiser is loaded with a Marine division and is moved into the Sea of Japan. Another cruisers loads a division and sails for the Timor Sea. The BB Fuso, a cruiser and the flat top Hosho sail out of Japan into the China Sea, for convoy escort duty. Finally, a Japanese TRS sails into Pakhoi. Here is the: 軍艦行進曲 Warship March. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_MCBwKUMQo The Japanese want to kill the Soviet SUB's, so they initiate combat in the China Sea. The Soviet Submarine Command however, doesn't like all those planes circling around and simply stay submerged. Cowards! [image]local://upfiles/38590/B9CDE48CB3BF42FD977DF0A66D291764.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:24:07 PM)
In Rome, Mussolini orders the Regina Marina into widespread action throughout the Med! The Italians put convoy escorts out to sea. A TRS out of Albania sails into the Western Med (interception failed) and picks up Guderian. Another TRS out of Bardia also sails into the Western Med (interception failed again) and picks up a German MECH. The Italian battlefleet sails into the Eastern Med. A cruiser loads a division in Tangier and sails into the Eastern Med. A convoy point is also put into the Eastern Med. Finally, the Italian submarines sail into the Cape Verde Bassin. In it's turn, Grossadmiral Reader orders the Kriegsmarine to support the Italian Fleet. First, two old BB's, escorting a large range of amphibious assault ships are sailed into the Faroes Gap (interception fails in the North Sea). Than the “Konigsberg” sails for the Bay of Biscay. An interception attempt by the French cruiser in the Cape St. Vincent succeeds, and the captain, under direct orders from Berlin, stops in the sea area. Next, the Köln sails out of Gibraltar to the Bay of Biscay. The French cruiser is following the Königsberg, and doesn't spot the other cruiser. And here is: Kurt Widmann's Orchester playing: Woran liegt's, dass ich dir nicht gefalle ? Rudi Schuricke sings... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAXsiDsK_4Y While drinking a good Bordeaux, admiral Lütjens receives orders to put out to sea with the big battlewagons Bismarck and Wien. He packs up if the bottle, put it at his lips, saying that it's a waste to leave such a good wine unattended. Without furthe delay the ships sails for the Cape St Vincent. German submarines leave the French Atlantic ports for the Cape Verde Bassin. A German TRS sails into the Italian Coast and loads the German Marine Corpes. Finally, the Gneisenau and the Scharnhorst, escorted with a host of cruisers, sail for the Eastern Med, to join the Italians there. In the Bay of Biscay, the lone German cruiser doesn't want a battle, so the Germans decline to initiate combat. The same happens in the Faroes Gap, where the old BB's don't want to fight. In the Cape St Vincent, however, the Germans want to take a shot at the French cruiser, which provides supply to the allied units in Morocco. The Suffren is found by the Königsberg: [image]local://upfiles/38590/D8248A4CEB9443B6B9D3CEAF1849A13D.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:25:24 PM)
The French cruiser is damaged and the captain decides to sail for a save port, ending the battle here. The Allied forces in Morocco are now out of supply... Next the joint Italian-German Submarine Chief of Staff, the German Admiral Dönitz, orders the combined Wolf Packs to attack in the Cape Verde Bassin. However, a couple of French cruisers find the Italian U boats: The French, decides to avoid the combat, since the convoy chain is more important than the possible destruction of Axis submarines... [image]local://upfiles/38590/38A7D5185120421586542DE5294C9F4D.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:26:35 PM)
In the Italian Coast, for obvious reasons (Italian convoy and a loaded German TRS are present in the Sea Area), the Italians don't want to initiate combat. That leaves the Eastern Med... The Combined Axis Fleet wants a good fight! In final preparation, the Italian FTR is flown into the Sea area too. Now, is the enemy found or not? But let's pause to inspect the finest ships of the: Regia Marina Italiana, Le corazzate, while the bands play and a singer sings... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SqBdFaErw8 [image]local://upfiles/38590/2AE6FB22FCEF4A49B212CC8A22D6FB56.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:28:38 PM)
Yes! Admiral Cunningham on board of the Malaya, suddenly spots the upperstructures of a row of large battleships on the horizon! Why didn't the Gladiators on board of the Eagle spotted that fast and large fleet coming? The Axis outgun the Allies, so they have chosen to fight a surface battle in the first round (4 surprise points spend). [image]local://upfiles/38590/B944ED8EEC504DB09E6FA87B89C0ADE2.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:29:59 PM)
Shells fall upon the Malaya and the CW cruisers. Damage control unfortunately isn't that good for the Allies:

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:31:04 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Centuur Shells fall upon the Malaya and the CW cruisers. Damage control unfortunately isn't that good for the Allies: [image]local://upfiles/38590/EE1AB27073AB43D88D1FEE5355AD7B0B.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:32:09 PM)
On the Axis side, things are better: [image]local://upfiles/38590/040EC28D2F2049B081C37FEBEC7E8635.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:33:16 PM)
Now, what to do? If the Allies stay in the sea area, they can only hope that they aren't found. If they are found by the Axis, things are going to be terrible. It's only Egypt we are fighting for here, aren't we? So the CW aborts: [image]local://upfiles/38590/F6503AC344A64B8FBFF4189B27C8DB20.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:34:43 PM)
Cyprus and Malta are now out of supply. Than, it is the Allied side which can invoke naval combat in sea area's, where the Axis didn't want them to happen. First, there is the Italian Coast. Allied Sub's hunt for the Axis shipping there... [image]local://upfiles/38590/31AB936591074310B0BABDA07824CAA2.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:35:58 PM)
The old Italian cruiser is damaged, however the effective depth charges of the cruiser and her escorts, cripple two British submarines who are aborted. Both sides stay in the sea area, but they don't find eachother. Now, here's some music: Harry Roy and his Orchestra -Tiger Rag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV39RqV4CUI In the Bay of Biscay, the British hope to find the lone German cruiser there. Suddenly, the German Captain sees a small cruiser coming out the fog in the early hours of the morning. The Calypso, equipped with radar, immediately opens fire upon the Köln... [image]local://upfiles/38590/FBD2EE6D4F5B45B9965F5022C45AAC7D.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:37:17 PM)
The heroïc actions of the damage control crews, led by the first officer of the Köln, prevent the Köln from being sunk. [image]local://upfiles/38590/D2BD5C80843740798860D7DA39ACA759.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:39:34 PM)
That leaves the Faroes Gap. Of course the old German Captain on board of the Schlesien wants to avoid the combat. Orders, you know... Time for another musical piece: "Ja, die Musik !" ... Peter Kreuder & Eric Helgar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOq4H-18sbM With the Allied units in Morocco and Malta out of supply, the Luftwaffe orders Ground Strike on Casablanca: [image]local://upfiles/38590/5540219EC54143BB9E538766054920F5.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:40:37 PM)
and Valetta. The last one is pretty lousy bombing... [image]local://upfiles/38590/B17779124DCD457C88D95DDC7A814779.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/9/2014 1:41:42 PM)
Finally, the Italians and Japanese rebase some aircraft. The weather report for the next couple of impulses is a three, meaning Rain in the Arctic and fine weather everywhere else.

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/12/2014 7:25:42 PM)
November/december 1940, Allied impulse number 3. Now where are those rains, storms, blizzards and snow when you need them? Bright shiny november weather! That's awful and not good at all. Churchill thinks about firing his weathermen... The CW and the US take combined actions, the USSR a land and the French a naval action. During naval movement, the CW slips a cruiser into the Cape St. Vincent (and hope it will survive, so the land units in Morocco will again be in supply). HMS Warspite leads the Home Fleet into the Faroes Gap, hoping to catch the old German BB's and the AMPH there. If they find the enemy, they will blow those relics out of the water... Time for some music. Here is: In The Blue Of Evening, played by Tommy Dorsey and sung by Frank Sinatra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgi3Tk2Gue0 The French also sails a cruiser into the Cape St. Vincent... Does the CW wants to initiate combat in the Faroes Gap? Of course! They even fly another Swordfish NAV into the area. Now for the search rolls. Hmmm. Fine november weather, clear skies, but the ocean is very, very big. Search rolls are a 5 for the Allies and an 8 for the Axis. No revenge possible here... Of course the Allies don't want to fight in the Cape Verde Bassin and the Cape St. Vincent. But in the Italian Coast, the French SUB wants to see if it can do anything against Italian shipping there. But again, search rolls don't initiate a naval combat (boring...). Next, the Germans are asked if they want to initiate combat in the Cape St. Vincent. Of course! Admiral Lütjens did received unconfirmed reports of Allied shipping in the area and his big guns are hungry for more Allied cruisers. And with the nice november weather you can see very far on top of the mast of the Bismarck... However, it is the Caïro who spots the lone Königsberg. And a moment later, the look out from that ship spots the Montcalm coming from the other side. A gun battle starts: [image]local://upfiles/38590/40C0F8A8802F4FB2B96D8D5ECCA747C2.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/12/2014 7:27:49 PM)
And again the excellent training of the Kriegsmarine on damage control is shown: [image]local://upfiles/38590/1D181D75ABF2463882DBED3DB48F5F21.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/12/2014 7:29:05 PM)
Both sides elect to stay in the sea area. On board of the Bismarck, the gunbattle against the Königsberg could be heard and the big BB's sail towards the sound of the battle. Both sides don't have any surprise point, so the big guns tear the small cruiser to pieces: [image]local://upfiles/38590/BF6A535E7E7F46B0A8993778445FA4A5.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/12/2014 7:30:23 PM)
However, a lucky shot from the Cairo hits the bridge of the Wien killing the German captain: [image]local://upfiles/38590/91072079640741F18FFB1B4B11B54ECE.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/12/2014 7:31:42 PM)
Both sides elect to stay in the Sea area. However, the Bismarck fails to find the small French cruiser. The Admiralty is quite pleased to see the small support vessels unloading necessary suppies at Casablanca... Lets hear this song: Mildred Bailey - From another world http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zUrCiwApZQ Citizens in Lille and Brussels hear the sound of the air raid sirens. CW bombers aim at both cities. Long range FTR3 escort the bombers at Brussels, while the bombers for Lille are unescorted. There is however, only one German FTR in range of both cities. A small oversight of mr. Göring, which might cost dearly. Luftwaffe command decides to intercept the bombers at Lille, forcing the British Spitfires from Dover to intercept. An air battle commences: [image]local://upfiles/38590/90F569A18F704289A24AED32B1814F86.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/12/2014 7:33:00 PM)
The loss of the German FTR is felt in Germany. Next, the German Flak batteries open fire at the bombers flying at Lille for a two point reduction: [image]local://upfiles/38590/D367CA55BA7B4CAF8F0B0F4D53A616DB.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/12/2014 7:34:22 PM)
Only residential parts of both cities are hit. German propaganda shows horrendous pictures of hospitals and schools flattened. German citizens are outraged at the slaughter done in the two cities. Music Maestro, Please! Tommy Dorsey Orchestra while Edythe Wright sings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NRU7yQrxYU The USSR rails an ARM and Timoshenko out of Persia to the West. Positions in Eastern Poland are strengthened and the airforce keeps rebasing from the Middle East towards Eastern Poland. The Irkutsk MIL is railed into Manchuria. Positions are strengthened in Manchuria, but no attacks are done, since the Soviets can't have the worse result possible happening to them. Finally Yeremenko reorganises the long range bomber and the MIL. Here is Manchuria at the end of the impulse: [image]local://upfiles/38590/B700FAC33E6F424CABEA9EB092470352.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/12/2014 7:35:27 PM)
The Eastern Med: [image]local://upfiles/38590/2C7C04A0E24C448C894591749F7813FA.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/12/2014 7:36:37 PM)
And the Western Med: [image]local://upfiles/38590/EB6BCEEAE47C4C30A1F1ECE139848B73.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/14/2014 8:03:16 PM)
November/december 1940, Axis impulse number 4: If you go for a close the Med strategy, never forget to take out Portugal. You don't want the place to stay neutral, because it can become the stepping stone for the Allies to come back in Europe. After all, the Portuguese army isn't a good one at all... Also, Portugal has got possessions in the East, which can be used by the Japanese as forward bases for the attack on the Dutch and CW possessions. East Timor is a nice place to capture. However, if only Germany (or Italy) declares war on Portugal, the Japanese can't enter the place if it aligns to the Commewealth. But if only Japan declares war, than it aligns to the USSR and the Germans can't enter the place. Well, this means that a double declaration of war is needed. This might upset the US a little bit... So it's time for the Portuguese national anthem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZuokfaRcR8 Anyway, in a meeting in Berlin, the Three Powers Pact was signed by the Italian and German foreign ministers and the Japanese Ambassador in Germany, clearing the way for a joint occupation of Portuguese possessions. The German Ambassador in Lisbon demands that the Portuguese Government opens it;s possessions for Axis ground units, to defend Portuguese interests against British aggression. Of course, the Portuguese government declines this demands, after which German units cross the border and the Japanese attacks Dili and Macao... [image]local://upfiles/38590/DA679E03D2E744CC97CC6518839FBAC2.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/14/2014 8:04:35 PM)
In the US, the German demands followed by the invasion causes a heated debate in Congress, when a Congressman with Portuguese origins and family there calls Hitler an “idiot and a butcher”. When the Chairman tries to mitigate this, the debate becomes headlines in the papers. After all, isn't it: “right or wrong, my country”... One US entry chit gained in the Ger/It entry pools. The Japanese declaration of war goes unnoticed by the public... Time for some music: Abraham, played by Freddy Martin and his orchestra and sung by Glenn Hughes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyPfp_Btl40 Portugal aligns to the Commonwealth. Now next comes the question what to do with the puny Portuguese army. That 3-1 GAR is all but useless, isn't it? If you put it in Lisbon, it will be crushed by the pretty huge German army which lies on the border (25 against 3 makes it a +16 attack). However.,, let's put the Gar in... East Timor! After all, there is only one division which might attack the island. That GAR will become a nuisance to the Japanese there, won't it... All Axis powers choose land actions. The Japanese Imperial Command, after having been informed of the huge Portuguese presence in Eastern Timor, decides not to attack the Island. Japan railmoves units into Manchuria out of China, moves units into better positions and occupies Macao. In Valetta, again the sirens are howling... Again Stuka's strike the Canadian and South African forces on the Island. [image]local://upfiles/38590/11EAE596DA83464F882F124523C6F06E.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/14/2014 8:05:44 PM)
Germany moves an INF into Lisbon, overrunning the Portuguese Destroyer Flottilla, which get scuttled by the crews. The Portuguese convoy escapes to Liverpool. Axis positions around Casablance are strengthened and in Egypt, Balbo advances towards the Allied positions... German Marines invade Malta and Students Para's, loaded on an italian ATR are dropped on Malta too. The CW calls the notional unit into action, because that's better for the odds (which are quite grim for the CW): [image]local://upfiles/38590/FE4F2ED73D7D484ABCC957A5DB58B096.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/14/2014 8:06:51 PM)
An Italian division invades Cyprus. It's an automatic victory, so calling the Cypriotic Home Guard into action is useless: [image]local://upfiles/38590/57A44A995FA14C72A0302DFCD4A2B67D.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/14/2014 8:07:47 PM)
The Kriegsmarine provides shore bombardment to the attack on Malta, to make sure the very expensive German attack forces will not be killed in action. Time for a German Fallschirmjäger song: Auf Kreta: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh1ADJryl1E Casablanca is again attacked by the Germans. The big guns of the Bismarck open fire on that port too, while the French cruiser adds his guns to the defenses. The British are choosing the Assault table: [image]local://upfiles/38590/C180BE7D49DC415F8E3A678A29B35B37.gif[/image]

Centuur -> RE: A musical global war AAR... (11/14/2014 8:08:33 PM)
Again, the zealous Algerians are taken as lossee. On Malta, the Canadians and South Africans are slaughtered by the German special forces: [image]local://upfiles/38590/BDDB0A78BDB5412EB6A2156A1F93AB4C.gif[/image]

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