RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round

RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (Full Version)

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DanielAnsell -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/8/2014 4:55:59 AM)
Heh, wow, ouch, and other comments. Sounds like exciting times all around in 1943. Great write-ups!

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/8/2014 8:13:31 PM)
Hi Carny, Thank you for posting and your appreciative comment. 1943: Pacific Theatre While dramatic reversals played themselves out in Europe, events in the Pacific continued at a more sedate pace. The Battle of Midway had given the IJN a temporary superiority in carriers, allowing them to conduct operations unchallenged by the USN. Singapore is taken in a combined land and sea assault after the IJN first put it out of supply and then contributed to the ground attacks. With Singapore secured, the Japanese move on and capture Burma. Partisans that were holed up in Hanoi are finally dealt with. To the CW it appears India could be next. The forces there are relatively light and, without air cover, vulnerable. The CW hastily recalls the Hurricane unit, sent to support the attempt to recapture Iraq from the Italians, back to Calcutta. The RN Far East Fleet rebases to Bombay. In China, the Japanese remain hopelessly bogged down. Reinforcements are brought in and manage to force a supply route to the trapped army around Sian. They launch an assault on the units blocking the direct path back to the main lines. It goes badly, causing the loss of two corps. Further offensive action is curtailed when Nationalist units threaten to break through to the rear and cut the supply lines. The spare units that could have continued the attack are forced to take defensive positions to counter the manoeuvre. While Japanese attention is focussed on Singapore, Burma and China, the Americans sneak an invasion into Kwajalein and capture the island. – To be honest, I can’t remember in the slightest how or when it came about but, when I look at the map, the troops are on the island so it must have happened and that’s my best guess for it. – USN success with their submarines puts a strain on the Japanese convoys. The need to keep forward bases in supply leads to a steady attrition and the Japanese have not built enough replacements. Factories go idle as the Japanese find they are unable to ship their hard-won resources to them.

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/8/2014 8:30:05 PM)
Autumn/Winter 1943: Middle East With their forces safely back in Syria and the CW attention focussed on Europe and India, the Italians decide to have a go for Saudi Arabia. They declare war, advance down the Hejaz railway and set out across the desert to the capital. Unfortunately, the two HQ’s available prove unable to maintain a long enough supply chain to the front units to allow an attack. The reappearance of CW units in Kuwait prompts abandonment of the plan and they begin to head back to Syria. In the meantime, newly available AMPH and MAR allow the Italians to take Cyprus. It’s the dress rehearsal for a more ambitious undertaking.

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/8/2014 8:56:48 PM)
Winter 1943/44: Russia Following the losses sustained over the year, the Soviets can do little but reinforce the lines and set units in blocking positions to stop any flanking movements. The Germans are happy to sit and consolidate their position rather than try anything foolish. A stalemate ensues but it’s an expensive one for the Soviets. Each turn the Germans remain in place costs them 14 BP lost production.

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/11/2014 2:00:25 PM)
Winter 1943/44: Western Europe Having completed chasing the last Allied units out of France, the Italians reckon it’s time for some pay-back from the Germans for services rendered. They request air and armoured assistance for an assault on Spain. A mixed, predominately Italian, German force heads south and arrays itself along the Spanish border awaiting better weather. With the French Atlantic ports once again available to the Kreigsmarine, first the U-boats and then the surface fleet are sent into the Atlantic prior to rebasing to Bordeaux. The U-boats have some limited success but mostly fail to find the convoys. The surface fleet is intercepted by the RN. The battle goes badly for the Germans resulting in Scharnhorst being sent back damaged with the Gneisenau and Blucher also aborted to Germany. The remainder (1CA and 3CL) flee to Brest. RN losses are relatively light. With most of its land forces back in the UK, the CW casts it eyes around the European continent looking for a weak spot in the German defences. The Germans aren’t oblivious to the danger and the attention of both commands focusses down to Denmark. Recapture Denmark, reopen the Baltic and the north German coast would be exposed to invasion. Since its capture, at the start of the war, it had been garrisoned by the pair of INF divisions involved in the initial taking. The crisis in Russia the previous winter had led to them being redeployed east as part of the last, desperate screen against the capture of Warsaw and Latvia. With the Allied forces engaged in France, there had not been a pressing need to replace them but suddenly, as an Allied invasion fleet sailed into the North Sea, the situation looked somewhat different. The only immediately available unit to send is the Stettin Militia, based at Kiel. The unit moves North to try and reach Copenhagen before the Allies.

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/11/2014 2:52:22 PM)
Winter 1943/44: Pacific Theatre In China, the Nationalist 2nd CAV Div manages to wriggle through a gap in the lines and carves a path North capturing undefended Tsinan, Tientsin, Peking and Paoting. The Northern Japanese armies are again put out of supply while order is restored. Meanwhile, emboldened by the successful capture of Kwajalein and with the losses sustained at Midway replaced, the Americans come up with a daring plan. Looking around for a weak spot in the defences they conclude, with the Japanese forces stretched as they are, probably the least well-defended spot is the home islands. Successfully capture Sendai and they could exploit into the mountains and transport in further forces before the Japanese could contain them. Furthermore, the IJN would be bound to contest it, giving the opportunity to further grind them down. It’s a bit of a Hail Mary pass but, as plans go, not bad. Its only as the American fleet puts to sea and arrives off the Japanese coast does someone in USN planning think “hold on, why didn’t we use one of our O-Chits and do this all in one impulse?” As the echoes from the resulting chorus of “D’oh’s” fade away it is too late to do anything other than await the IJN response. As predicted, the IJN, boosted by land-based air, sorties to engage.

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/11/2014 3:43:48 PM)
Winter 1943/44: Japanese Coast For both sides, the naval battle of Sendai is brutal. The Japanese consistently surprise the USN and in a series of engagements, the IJN drives off the invasion forces sinking one AMPH plus cargo and aborting the other. Two of the US CV’s are sunk and four others damaged but the price is heavy as four of the IJN’s precious CV’s are also sunk. Both sides also suffer loses/damage to cruisers. Slowly, the balance of power in the Pacific is swinging the American’s way. Once the damaged CV’s are repaired, the USN will field 9 fleet carriers to the IJN’s 6 fleet plus 4 CVL’s. Only 2 of the IJN CV’s match the USN’s for quality. Temporarily, however, the Japanese have bought themselves a reprieve as the USN needs to repair ships and replace lost air-groups.

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/12/2014 5:10:28 PM)
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.

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/16/2014 7:46:46 PM)
M/A 1944: North Sea The CW and USA put an invasion fleet, bound for Denmark, in the North Sea. The movement of the Stettin Militia to the north, out of Kiel, prompts a hasty revision of plans. The Allies switch targets and make a more risky invasion attempt on Kiel. Supported by the guns of the RN and USN, the invasion goes like clockwork and Kiel falls to the CW, forcing the rebase of the Kreigsmarine to Stettin. For good measure, the CW also drops a PARA on Copenhagen, capturing the city. Well and truly caught, the Germans can do little more than bottle up the Allied forces in Kiel and order the Stettin Militia to make a desperate attack on the Paras. It nearly comes off. The Paras are destroyed but the Militia too perishes in the combat. With nothing left to take the hex, Copenhagen remains in Allied control. The CW then takes a combined impulse to move a unit out of Kiel, disembark an ARM and an INF Div and rebase air support to the area. Too late, after the land moves have been completed, the CW realises the Spanish have been left in the lurch but there is little that can be done. Before the CW can do anything further and much to the Italians relief, the turn ends. The Spanish are perturbed but gain some comfort when the CW foreign minister points out the Italians have made a bit of a basic error by not putting any convoys in the West Med. The Italian units around Valencia will remain out of supply.

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/16/2014 8:36:05 PM)
M/J 1944: Opening phases Reinforcements are placed and the Allies win the initiative. They now have to decide actions for the opening impulse. Russia takes a land impulse. With U-boats in the Bay of Biscay and lots of shipping to move about, the CW considers Naval. The US does likewise. The Spanish are not happy; wanting to make some land moves to protect the capital. The CW foreign minister reasons with the Spanish Ambassador. “My dear fellow, they are out of supply. If they move the XXVI INF into Madrid it will be disorganised and easy to pick off. We’ll put our subs in the West Med, so if they do put some convoys in the area, we’ll sink them.” The orders go out, CW and US to take naval actions. The CW foreign minister is just settling down, deciding whether to have a fine Claret or Burgundy with his dinner, when his butler announces “excuse me, sir, but the Spanish ambassador is on the telephone.” The minister takes the call and picture a robust, ruddy complexion draining of all colours as he utters the words “Still in supply? How the devil have they done that?” Cut to Naval HQ La Spezia and the Grand Admiral of the Regia Marina. “Still in supply? How the devil have we managed that?” At that moment a young and trembling junior Midshipman is admitted to the Admiral’s presence. “Your Grand Excellency, I must confess to a terrible mistake. It seems that when I issued the ‘stay at sea’ orders to the fleet, I inadvertently included 1st Transport Flottila on that signal, instead of returning them to port.” With no other orders, the Commodore of the flotilla has started shifting supplies to Valencia.

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/16/2014 8:53:48 PM)
So, after this sorrowful tale of the flawed, the bungled and the botched, we arrive back at the beginning of the AAR and can announce an upgrade to the package. We can now bring you an AAR with colour pictures! First up, Southern Europe. The Italian fleet in the West Med is 7BB, 6CA and the TRANS. [image]local://upfiles/47730/618AF71D7A8D487297443BE4A4ECB40C.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/16/2014 9:19:49 PM)
Next up, Northern Europe. The Allies have 3 AMPH (2 HQ available) and 1 TRANS with MAR units available to deploy for invasions plus 5 TRANS available for follow up ARM/Mech. I would be interested to hear opinions on the next Allied moves. Looking at some of them:- Trying to carpet bomb out of Kiel, then reinforce the drive, would be risky as 3 good quality German FTR, that outmatch the Allies, would be able to contest this. Land on the German Baltic coast? Land further east (Latvia) with a view to cutting down to Poland and behind the German armies in Russia? Send reinforcements to Spain? In addition, there are 3 TRANs in the US that could move a PARA plus 2 out of 3 of a MOT, a FTR and 2xART to UK/Spain. [image]local://upfiles/47730/F16F0880512547F9804518888CBB9F2E.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/16/2014 9:30:27 PM)
Eastern Europe. With the Germans having camped out on the railways for 4 turns, the USSR has lost 36 resources (54BP) to production. [image]local://upfiles/47730/4D9578B7CA64481FBA74331A50A01882.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/16/2014 9:36:54 PM)
The mess for the Japanese of Northern China. The 3 corps around Taiyuan are the only escapees from the debacle. [image]local://upfiles/47730/17E3807F92B24A05AF0FB452D152D9B2.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/16/2014 9:47:09 PM)
India/Malasia. Plus the Japanese have a 6-3 INF in Singapore and a 7-3 INF plus AMPH in Padang. [image]local://upfiles/47730/5F7FAE3F50284CDF8FEE47B4A3FEA51C.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/16/2014 9:58:16 PM)
Solomon's/Marshall Islands. The US has a TRANS plus MAR at Midway and 2 other TRANS plus either FTR or INF at New Hebrides and Fiji. [image]local://upfiles/47730/BC8EB2B2A18F40AE89C41E355E9E1C82.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/16/2014 10:05:43 PM)
The USA. Like Warspite1 in his AAR IV, I haven't built enough TRANS/AMPH resulting the US east and west coasts being extremely well defended against (non-existent) invasion threat. [&:] [image]local://upfiles/47730/51AA64B565B84CB7902FBC75B90268AB.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/16/2014 10:10:09 PM)
Japan [image]local://upfiles/47730/7668551173BC41B1B885DFBB89F84CF3.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/16/2014 10:14:25 PM)
Finally, the Eastern Med. [image]local://upfiles/47730/E0A7167A3F594692AF53F631E6CB448A.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/26/2014 3:33:33 PM)
M/J 1944 Allied Impulse 1 Baltic Keen to keep the pressure on the Germans, a mixed CW/US invasion fleet heads into the Baltic. Target is as yet undecided but the secondary goal is the German convoys. [image]local://upfiles/47730/9BFD0E84B3784F7BA0C680533B614134.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/26/2014 4:39:38 PM)
Not everything goes to the Baltic. A US/CW force of HQ INF, MECH, MOT and P47 lands in N. Spain, while a US PARA prepares to disembark to Cadiz. The plan is to rebase a C47 there. CW CV's deploy to Biscay with a view to a Port-Strike on Brest. [image]local://upfiles/47730/185F217A3F3345A39FB3E3B08A55A5FB.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/26/2014 4:45:56 PM)
In the Med, the CW takes a gamble and deploys all CV's that can make it (plus escorts) into the West Med. Sinking the Italian transport as a priority, then anything else as a bonus. [image]local://upfiles/47730/C55E65BACEAE49AAB9FBF06C38C19EF7.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/26/2014 4:53:54 PM)
In the Pacific, the US deploys subs into the Marianas and a substantial invasion fleet into the Marshalls, aiming for Eniwetok Jap NAVs. The stage is set for potentially a few Naval clashes. [image]local://upfiles/47730/3F6B0CC20FB64C618FEA5DFF347500BF.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/26/2014 5:30:11 PM)
First up, the West Med. The Italians fly 3 NAV support, making 4 in sea-box 2. The Germans decline as they could only get to the 0 box. The allies decline to commit subs, holding them in reserve in case of subsequent Italian CP appearance. The CW still haven't found their binoculars (rolled a 5) and the Italians fare no better with an 8. No combat. Next up, the Baltic. Neither side has any air power worth contributing so it's down to searches. The allies just about manage to find the Germans (roll of 5), the German's don't see the Allies until they are on top of them (roll of 8). A US task force in the 3-box prepares to engage. The allies decline a naval air combat (with a 1-attack point F4F-3, it wouldn't be worth it) and clear guns for a surface action. With 7 surprise points to boost the results to 2X, 2A, the 4 CP points are swiftly sent to the bottom. The allies decline combat in Biscay. In the Arabian Sea, the RN look-outs prove as (in)adept as their colleagues in the Med and are unable to spot the Italian CP. Over to the Pacific and to the US subs in the Marianas. The Japs fly a D3A2 from Truk to support the CP's in the 0-box. Dismal search rolls of 8 and 7 end matters there. Finally, the German subs decide to have a punt at the CP's in Biscay. Nobody flies in any air support and with another set of poor searches (6 and 7) naval proceedings for the impulse come to an uneventful end.

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/26/2014 6:11:45 PM)
Next to the Strategic Bombing phase. The US needs its air-moves for rebasing and the Soviets are keeping their air-power to support the ground forces. The CW sends 3 Lancaster's to Prague, with a Mosquito as escort. The Germans send up the only FTR in range, a Bf-109 G-2, based at Nuremburg. Before the RAF escort can act, the 109's tear into the Bomber stream downing the first Lancaster (roll of 19) and then breaking away without loss (11, no effect). While the 109's are reforming, the RAF clears one bomber through (roll of 12) but are unable to do anything about the 109's (roll of 13). Once again, the 109's tear into the bombers, downing another Lancaster before finally being chased away by the escorts (4 vs 8)Keen to get out of the area, the RAF release their bombs too early, missing the target (roll of 3). I thought I'd messed up by choosing to destroy the 1st Lanc, rather than the Mossie, which would then have aborted the 3 bombers. As it turned out, two shot down for no return is a bitter pill. [image]local://upfiles/47730/89DB311E62844CFCB431D49C29F79A0F.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/27/2014 6:56:26 PM)
All the allies decline carpet bombing. Similarly, the US and CW decline Ground Strikes. The Soviets declare two. IL2-M3 and Yer-2, escorted by an LA-3 to have a go at Rommel. Meanwhile a TB-3 to have a go at a Panzer Army stack to the East. The German's have a dilemma. There is only one fighter to cover two strikes. They could go for the TB-3, forcing the Soviets to commit their remaining FTR to protect it but leave a free run at Rommel or protect the HQ, giving a free run at the Panzers. They decide to cover Rommel. [image]local://upfiles/47730/483D90AB47EF4230AC5151A248D1D466.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/27/2014 7:01:48 PM)
In China, the Nationalists try to bombard an out of supply Mechanised army in the mountains. Well, you never know! [image]local://upfiles/47730/3DA297FAA35E4120B09E793C758D03BA.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/27/2014 7:25:21 PM)
So, it's to the air combat. The German HE-100's sweep into the formations of Yer-2's scattering them and forcing them to jettison bombs and return to base. Axis roll 7 DA, defender's choice to abort front fighter of bomber. I was tempted to send the FTR back to base but didn't want to risk the HE-100's having a go at unescorted bombers. However, in chasing off the Yer-2's, the HE-100's are careless and do not pay sufficient attention to their escorts. The LA-7's dive into the fray shooting down the German aircraft. Remaining bomber is cleared through. Hm.. Wish I'd picked the LA-7 and not the Yer-2 to abort. In hindsight that might have been the best move. If this result or an abort had resulted, both bombers would have cleared through. If the HE-100 had not been dispensed with, I would have had the option of bugging out before further combat, preserving the two bombers for later. [image]local://upfiles/47730/32EBFF6EC81A47C89D74D841510A9302.jpg[/image]

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/27/2014 7:34:28 PM)
In the resulting strikes, the main one on Rommel failed with a 7. One of the two ARM in the adjacent hex was disorganised (6 and 1). In China, the artillery are 50% successful, disorganising the Jap 2 Arm. Nobody does any rail moves, so it's on to land moves for the Chinese and Soviets.

AllenK -> RE: Decline and Fall The Long Way Round (10/27/2014 8:46:09 PM)
In Russia, the Soviets move forward to start pressing the German screen NW of Moscow and begin infiltrating past the units around Ryazan aiming to put them out of supply. The availability of plentiful Luftwaffe support means attacking would be too risky. Along the Saratov-Penza railway, the Soviets advance looking to attack Rommel. Realising this would be foolish with part of the attackers having to cross a river and German air support available, the Soviets change plans and decide to attack the partially disorganised panzer army to the east of Rommel. If the Luftwaffe want to provide support here they will be unescorted and the Soviets have a FTR for air-cover. The Soviets declare a single attack. [image]local://upfiles/47730/C4A72925050E487C86F5C6FD18314173.jpg[/image]

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