RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (Full Version)

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rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/19/2015 6:59:30 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

You've got 6 Yugoslavian land units. The lowest factor INF goes for the capture of Bulgaria, the CAV moves into Albania (killing an Italian bomber in Tirana, That's 5 Italian BP's...). The other four land units are to be set up in Belgrade and Zagreb. You did give Zagreb to the Italians for free and they need the city to conquer the country.

It is difficult for Germany (even with the good INF and HQ around) to grab both Zagreb and Belgrade without losses, even with Hungarians and Rumanians to give aid to the German invasion. Now, I don't say that Yugoslavia would have survived this turn, but you've made it easy for the Axis to conquer the place...


Yeah ... I did some many things wrong on both sides. I got caught up in tunnel vision and made mistakes on both sides. But I'm finding that if you don't "replay" your mistakes when playing solitary then this game is full of surprises even when you're playing both sides. Now, I will redo moves in the case of unintentional actions cause by accidentally clicking the wrong thing or by some game mechanic. But in those cases, I try my best to faithfully recreate the situation up to the mechanical glitch. A prime example is the feature (or bug) report that I just posted in the tech forum.

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=3845017#

In this case, I did an undo naval move during the creation of Vichy that wouldn't let me proceed. This was after the rolls for Vichy / Free France determination and USA entry chits. Another problem was that you're unable to save the game after you declare Vichy until all those actions are done. I did spend 45-minutes getting through all this. Fortunately, I had screen caps of the critical rolls and could reproduce them. It took me two or three iterations to figure out what was causing the button to gray out. Anyway, I got through it and with the original die rolls and results. Phew ...

By the way, I found out the hard way that attacking Greece is a bad idea before the Germans have finished things in France. I don't plan to do this again anytime in the near future.





rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/19/2015 8:02:01 PM)

Sep/Oct 1940. Destroyed and Repair Pools.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/04389D87BDFC440C806338E1EF78ED65.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/19/2015 8:07:21 PM)

Sep/Oct 1940. Conquest.

69. Surrender China? No.

70. Yugoslavia conquered by Germany.

71. Bulgaria conquered by CW.

72. The USA draws s chit for the German/Italy entry pool because of the CW support of the attacked neutral Greece.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/CFB1B8A12A954957AB5E1415E4610501.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/19/2015 8:10:43 PM)

Sep/Oct 1940. German Establishes Vichy.

73. Germany chooses to establish Vichy. The US draws two more chits for the German/Italy entry pool for a grand total of three chits draw during this conquest phase.

74. Syria, Madagascar, Asian minor countries and territories, French Equatorial Africa and Pacific minor countries and territories go Free French. The allies decide to set up Free Frances home country in Syria.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/16CB86449C9248BF814166D58EB1446A.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/19/2015 8:15:41 PM)

Sep/Oct 1940 US Entry Options.

75. By the way, prior to these three additional chit pulls the US choose a chit for the Japan entry pull and select option 22(11), "Gear up production". This resulted in a chit being moved from the Japanese entry to the tension pool. All this transpired before the 3 additional chits covered in 71 & 72 were pulled.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/A2EB2A0AB2CF44AEBB88FDF030C09F0A.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/19/2015 8:16:32 PM)

Sep/Oct 1940. Victory Totals.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/C6D85053FB3344B1A8BCB7AE561D9AC1.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/19/2015 8:20:15 PM)

Sep/Oct 1940. Country Economic Reports.

76. USA production multiplier, due to US entry option 22(11), increased from 0.25 to 0.5. This resulted in production doubling from 10 to 20 build points.

77. The CW is amassing an impressive stockpile of oil. These resources will be useful when the CW/USA starts trade with the USSR or Free France.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/D54AD3C1A6DB443E9C497C21C47D53D6.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/19/2015 8:22:59 PM)

Sep/Oct 1940. Euro-Axis. Use Oil.

78. Unlike the allies, the axis don't have oil to "waste". So in the use oil phase both Germany and Italy made use of the fact that oil point is expended if 0.5 or more of it's used. So both countries forwent reorganization of a single unit to save 1 oil point each.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/02C2C8F50BD644658555BF3EAA98122E.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/19/2015 8:24:07 PM)

Sep/Oct 1940. Six Month Production Queue.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/3E24B5AC14F249EDB46C2C473AB242B6.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/19/2015 9:06:10 PM)

Nov/Dev 1940. Country Trade Reports.

Noteworthy Changes in Trade Agreements:

Romania's 1 oil to Italy has been cancelled now that Romania is an active German ally. That 1 oil point is now going to Germany. Currently, Italy has no oil income. It's oil stockpile is 2. So next turn Germany will have to start sending Italy an oil point per turn in addition to the 2 non-oil resources it's sending.

With USA production multiplier up to 0.5, it reduced the number oil points it was sending to the North American strategic oil reserve (i.e., traded to CW, sent and stored in Canada) from 5 to 4 oil points per turn.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/E9C586BE0D824D72AF757BD69E365FDB.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/19/2015 9:09:09 PM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Initiative.

The axis roll an 8 and the allies a 7. Neither side has a modified and both can elect to re-roll. This means the axis wins the first roll. The allies choose not to re-roll, which gives the choice of moving first to the axis. With bad weather likely the axis choose to let the allies go first.

Allied #1 & Axis #4. Weather.

Giving the initiative to the allies was the right choice. The weather is brutal.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/D3A77F91C4EE49629BB73AD4D0258E6D.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/20/2015 2:31:16 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Allied #1. Operation Dynamo.

As the CW player I debated (with myself) long and hard whether or not to keep the BEF, or part of the BEF, in France to harass the Germans. In the end I decided that the CW had lost enough in the defense of France and needed those two corps and two HQ units elsewhere. Specifically, in Egypt and the Med. The CW takes a naval and part of that naval was used to evacuate the BEF from France. I didn't want to do this on the cheap, with respect to escorts, and tempt the German player into going after the CW transports. I'm not sure if I over did it, but better safe than sorry especially when it comes to precious transports and HQ units.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/D715D9CAE64541508366F68E8EAC11C3.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/20/2015 2:35:38 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Allied #1. Eastern Med.

The RN reinforces the Eastern Med and brings the only air power which it has available, the RN carrier Ark Royal and it's Swordfish airwing. The problem the RN has in the Med is lack of air cover. If the axis get full control of Greece then they will be able to overwhelm the RN with land base air and possibly take sole control of the sea area.

Also, the situation on the ground in Egypt doesn't look very good either.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/2022982BCD634F8D99AA185655D4FFA6.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/20/2015 2:40:38 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #4.

The Japanese take a naval. They also align Indo-China. The US is furious at this action and pulls two chits for the Japanese entry pool. This puts the US within striking distance of getting the necessary 34 (17) entry (and tension) levels required in both pools to, "Pass War Appropriations Bill".

With tensions rising with the US, the Japanese feel it's time to put land forces into the lightly (i.e., notinally) defended islands of Truk, Saipan and Kwajalein. They use all four of the sea lift units (3 TRS and 1 AMPH) to do this. Only after the move did the Japanese player realize that he hasn't slated a unit for Hanoi in newly aligned Indo-China.

The Germans take an air and the Italians take a land.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/617983431FE54288A7E9B95DE13A435C.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/20/2015 2:43:51 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #4. El Alamein, Egypt.

The CW has only two units defending Egypt and they're both at El Alamein. The Italian airforce uses its only air mission of a land action to ground strike this stack. And low and behold, Wavell's HQ is disorganized. If the Italians can get lucky in the subsequent land combat then Egypt will be there's for the taking.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/D23D232C0C7142C8834AF79469EA3E24.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/20/2015 2:48:48 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #4. Land Combat. El Alamein, Egypt.

In what has to be one of the best decision so far in the war, the CW chooses to fight the land combat on the blitzkrieg table. Both defending units are forced to retreat, but survive. The Italians see half of their attackers disorganized. Reinforcements are 1 turn away. Will Wavell and the Egyptian territorial be able to hold on?

In the ground strike and land combat, the RN declined to commit Ark Royal's air wing to combat. The thought for the RN is to use its only air power and surface ships in the East Med to try to clear the Italians out of the area. If the RN can accomplish that, which is somewhat of a long shot but one worth taking, then the Italians in Libya and Egypt will be out of supply.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/B432B8EF9CAC4A0495816D03F78A4538.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/22/2015 1:54:28 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Allied #7 & Axis #9. Weather.

The winter weather lets up a bit and turns fine in the Med and southern China.

Allied #7: The CW takes a naval, China a land, the USSR and USA a combined and Free France a land. 10% end of turn chance.

The land situation in Egypt is desperate so the CW decide to use the naval to move forces in position to reinforce Egypt this turn and next.

The CW decides to use its naval to move Alexander's HQ transport from the North Sea to Malta. The only obstacle is a lone Italian sub group in the Western Med which tries to intercept but fails. Alexander is now in Malta.

Also in the North Sea is a 5-4 CW infantry corps loaded on the Queens. This transport along with a couple of fast cruiser escorts have the MPs to make it to the Med port of Dametta in Egypt and the CW gives it a go. The intercept attempt by the Italian sub in the West Med fails (again) and things move to the East Med. The Italians fail the intercept there so the transport now can move its corps, though disorganized, directly to Egypt. But, the CW player messes up and keeps the transport at sea. The upshot of this mistake by the CW player is that if the Italians can take Cairo and Suez City unopposed if they can get two fine weather impulses in the Med before this turn ends. This also assumes that the Italians are able to maintain one or more SCS in the Eastern Med.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/340667B366354431B6DC263DC2B4586C.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/22/2015 1:59:28 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Allied #7. Eastern Med. Naval Combat Round 1.

The CW decides to initiate combat in the East Med. The Italians fly in two fighter units from Greece and the Germans fly in a fighter-bomber unit also based in Greece. The only air that the CW has is the aircraft carrier Ark Royal and it's air wing. The only positive for the RN is that the Ark Royal is in the 4 box (along with several escorts) and all the axis air units are in the 0 and 1 box. In the first round both sides find each other, however, only three Italian cruisers and no axis air searches are successful. The Ark Royal sends the three Italian cruisers packing. Round 1 goes to the RN.

Both sides elect to stay (what a surprise!).

[image]local://upfiles/31901/F16ADF55B4574309B6DE78E8074D3482.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/22/2015 2:05:42 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Allied #7. Eastern Med. Naval Battle. Round 2.

The second round goes even better for the RN and the Ark Royal. The RN search is successful and the Italian RM isn't. The Ark Royal air unit is able to surprise, isolate and send two Italian battleships and one light cruiser home.

The naval combat ends for now as neither side finds the other for a third round. All in all things went exceptionally well for the RN. And, the two rounds wound up aborts all the Italian SCS in boxes 1 and higher. So the Italians in Libya and Egypt are in danger of losing supply if the Italians don't rectify this situation before the turn ends. And, since like me they weren't fully aware of this situation until the turn end, they don't. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/4CB0D214297F48808FAD34F41FD47FF2.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/22/2015 2:08:34 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Allied #7. RAF Strategic Bombing. Lille, France.

The RAF makes a massive bombing raid on the city of Lille, France, which only manages to reduce German production by 1 PP. It was only a few weeks ago that the CW was fighting tooth and nail to keep France alive. Now, they're bombing their cities and population.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/81062101312545FCBD5825DEBDB137F3.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/22/2015 2:12:55 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #11. Egypt and the Eastern Med.

Italy and German both take a land. In Egypt, Italy moves it's only organize unit, a 4-5 motorize corps in position to capture Cairo, Suez and 2 oil points if this turn continues for one more axis impulse.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/50060E9B27004587A4686C174F492ED6.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/22/2015 2:16:14 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #9. China.

Japan also takes a land. In China, Japan uses its two air missions to maximum effectiveness. The first is a strategic bombing attack on Chengtu that reduces Chinese production by 1 PP. And since China is currently getting 5 PP's per turn, that's a 20% reduction!

The second air mission is a ground strike that disorganizes the Chinese cavalry unit holding Nanning, China in the south.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/9E84171EA0F64BFDB883A92F5FF3D530.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/22/2015 2:20:13 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #9. Land Combat. Nanning, China.

The Japanese follow up the successful ground strike on the defenders on Nanning, China with a successful land combat. The Chinese elected to fight this battle on the blitzkrieg table in the hopes that the cavalry unit might survive. However, it didn't, and even through it would have been lost with either table, if the Chinese player had chosen the assault table the Japanese would have also lost 1 unit and see half of the remaining units disorganized. Decisions, Decisions ...

[image]local://upfiles/31901/BCD6A8ACAB4F4229B92D79B0F319FBF9.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/22/2015 2:23:26 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Axis #9. The Western Pacific.

With tensions (and entry levels) getting high with the USA, the Japanese decide to reinforce the Western Pacific, specifically the islands of Truk, Saipan and Kwajalein. The US made some noise about the Japanese "militarization" of Kwajalein but had no reaction beyond that (i.e., no chit was drawn).

[image]local://upfiles/31901/CC700C2E2AC247C194F7F271E7F15245.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/22/2015 2:27:36 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Allied #11 & Axis #13. Weather.

Allied: The allies REALLY NEED the turn to end after their impulse. The end of turn chance is 50/60/70%. That is, 50% if two more allies take a non-pass option, 60% if only one ally takes a non-pass option and 70% if they all pass. With no allied nation really needing to do anything specific they all decide to pass and keep their fingers crossed for the end of turn roll. And the roll is ...

[image]local://upfiles/31901/F96B7EE0CDF449FCA23F96AF4E559A7B.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/22/2015 2:31:11 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940.

O.K., I want keep you hanging any longer. The end of turn roll is a 5 so the turn ends. The US decides to pull a chit for the German entry pool. They're close, oh so close to being able to Pass War Appropriations Bill. The entry level for the German pool is less than 34 but the tension level is greater than 15. In the Japanese pool the entry level was above 34 but the tension level was way too low. So the USA chooses option 26, Relocate fleet to Pearl Harbor.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/03E0573EA0BB496D8B3C24BC28AE9E63.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/22/2015 2:33:51 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Balkans.

With the situation in Greece and the opportunity for the axis to capture Egypt and the Suez Canal, the invasion of the Soviet Union may just have to wait. As the German player I don't like doing that but they may have no choice because ...

[image]local://upfiles/31901/0622A8E9215549D5BDBB28C274DE0233.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/22/2015 2:35:18 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Western and Eastern Europe.

... the Germans may not have the levels to break the pact this year given the need for troops and air units in the Balkans and Egypt.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/E5502B4521DB4C71A1A44BB42BCAD678.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/22/2015 2:38:02 AM)

Nov/Dec 1940. China.

I'm not really sure what to say about Japan's situation in China. Or Nationalist China for that matter.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/8427352450EC4BA4B38759FC4DD6C8B1.jpg[/image]




rkr1958 -> RE: Historical Global War AAR #2 (4/23/2015 11:37:25 PM)

Nov/Dec 1940. Destroyed and Repair Pools.

Only 1 ground and 1 air unit destroyed this turn. A fairly bloodless turn.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/70A3E960B7784CF3A82AB41F9F691F09.jpg[/image]




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