RE: Groundhog Day AAR (Full Version)

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rkr1958 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (7/29/2016 2:15:57 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Jagdtiger14

As for splitting up the AAR into a branch #2 game would have to begin at German set up to correct the border issue (one or two unit difference only on the western front), then keep everything the same after that including the crappy Danzig roll as well as the Polish navy getting away.
I know how to edit a game file and move units. So, if you're interested I could take a game file where you wanted to branch, edit it and moves the two units to where you wanted them moved. If interested, post the game with instructions on which units you'd liked moved and to were you would like to move them.



Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (7/29/2016 3:39:48 PM)

Thank you Ronnie! I'll keep that in mind for the next time. I've already worked through it the hard way last night.



rkr1958 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (7/30/2016 12:00:57 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Jagdtiger14

Thank you Ronnie! I'll keep that in mind for the next time. I've already worked through it the hard way last night.
Good deal! By the way, enjoying your AAR immensely. Can't wait to see where the branches "grow". [:)]



Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/1/2016 7:29:56 AM)

Axis impulse 3 S/O'39

Fair weather everywhere.

Germany DOW's Denmark.
Italy DOW's CW and France.

Germany Land
Italy Naval
Japan Combined

No air missions prior to naval step.

Japan sends Yam and the 3ptARTY into Canton, CV Akagi and CA Tone move out to the 4 box of the South China Sea
Italy sails two subs (5-3 and 4-3, 2 and 1 box repectively) into Cape Verde, and the 4-2 sub into the 2 box of CSV.




brian brian -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/2/2016 5:42:30 AM)

Well on a long drive today I was able to think about a current game of World in Flames - how delightful.

On the subject of learning an obscure rule the hard way, I know Jt14 will understand this angle to it - what would happen at WiFCon? I learned several rules the hard way at my first WiFCon.

Re: setting up in Danzig - I am now slightly unhappy with my Polish set-up. I could have done better, I think. It did achieve one basic goal, but I could have achieved others.

Pluses & Minuses - are my Commonwealth CVs about to go Blub, blub, blub? We'll find out tomorrow. Definitely a +/- decision I'll reflect on in a post-AAR maybe in the year 2017.



Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/2/2016 4:27:30 PM)

Saving the best for last[:)]

First, 2 subs in Cape Verde vs 5 naked cp's: Italy rolls a 4 just missing. Hurricane season dust clouds off of Africa mask funnel smoke.

Second, 1 Italian sub and 1 Italian CA loaded with an INF div in CSV sailing together with a CW fleet sharing tea in time of peace suddenly find themselves at war over the radio. Both sides roll a 1 (5 surprise points for Italy). Italy decides to not take CW up on its offer to sail away peacefully (avoid combat) opens fire and a torpedo spread at close range getting a D,2A result on CW. CW returns fire getting a D,A result on Italy. Surprise points spent (decrease CW one level, increase Italians one level). Waiting for CW allocations.

CW fleet: BB Warspite, BB Royal S., CA Newcastle.



Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/2/2016 10:07:18 PM)

Torpedo spread by sub hits nothing, but forces the Royal S. and Warspite to bug out while the Newcastle screens them from the Italians. Italian sub escapes the Newcastle, the Eugenio takes damage but continues the fight.

Royal S. Aborts
Warspite Aborts

Italian sub Aborts
Eugenio Damaged

Waiting to see if CW wants to continue the fight.



Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/2/2016 11:10:41 PM)

As the Newcastle is pre-occupied with chasing down the Italian sub, the Eugenio speeds off to escape further damage losing sight of the Newcastle. Suddenly in the distance appears a long line of funnels and trailing smoke. What luck! This must be the convoy the Eugenio has been instructed to search for. There is also an escort ship much larger than a cruiser...the battleship Barham? It appears no one has spotted the Italian...

Rolls of 5 (Italy), 9 (CW)=13 surprise points.

4 spent to make Barham have NE, 8 to increase Eugenio effectiveness (X,3A).

Since its rear turret has been destroyed in previous combat, the Eugenio charges in on the opposite side of the big escort peppering off some quick shots at freighters as it turns away to avoid clashing with the big guy.

2cp's sink, 3 abort.

Some sink, more scatter, but some remain in formation.

Round 3: Then out of nowhere, the Newcastle appears at full speed, lays down smoke between the Italian and the remaining convoy. Eugenio turns to engage Newcastle, fires off several salvos, but can not keep up with Newcastle as the cruiser disappears into the distance leaving the scene.

Italy 7, CW 4 (8 Italian surprise points)...NE on Eugenio, Newcastle avoids damage and aborts.

Round 4: Italy 2, CW 1 (4 surprise points). Eugenio decides to charge through the smoke screen layed down by Newcastle and have another go at the remaining convoy. Barham is seen rounding the front of the convoy with no clear shot, while Eugenio is on the opposite side getting into position to fire on the convoy, or the Barham?...commander cant make up his mind. Italy spends 4 surprise points for an NE on the Barham.

Both sides NE.




Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/3/2016 2:26:12 AM)

Round 5: Italy 1, CW 10. 14 surprise points. 4 surprise points on Barham for NE. 10 surprise points for max damage.

Eugenio finally decides in time before Barham can fire, to go for the remaining freighters in the convoy...firing at close range. The smoke from the burning fires gives Eugenio its own smoke screen, the Barham gives up and sails for England.

Final result: CSV cleared. Final tally: 4 destroyed cp's, 3 cp's aborted, CW fleet aborted (Barham, Royal S., Warspite, Newcastle). Italian sub aborted, Eugenio Damaged...

Could have been worse for CW, but Brian did an excellent job minimizing damage. However, besides 4 BP's worth of cp's destroyed, production looks like it might be effected this turn.

Still have Eastern and Western Med to go...



brian brian -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/3/2016 2:50:57 AM)

It was a little frustrating. Not the sea battle ... trying to get my phone to keep up.

The rest of the impulse should be - smoother. I hope.



Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/8/2016 4:49:21 AM)

Eastern Med, CA Abruzzi searching for anything CW finds nothing. Western Med the Italian fleet also finds nothing, but the CW fleet finds some Italian freighters, sinks them...senses danger heads home to Gibraltar.

Stuka group pounds the Georges hex in Germany nails the INF and AT gun, but misses their main target HQ-Georges. A small air battle between the French MS 406 and some Me 109's flying cover for the Stuka's came to nothing.

German army Poland still capable of maneuver heads south.

Germany army Denmark secures the country. Danes manage to scuttle the notorious Peter Scram, rest of fleet gets away.

Within Germany, some single hex moves other than a 7-5ARM moving south between the French encroaching army and Munich.

HQ-Bock plus ATR Ju 52 re-org Stuka, 9-4INF, 8-4MOT.

Japan HQ-Yam, ARTY move together one hex towards the enemy, HQ-Ter keeps moving south.

No attacks, back to Allies and the impending Serbian back-stab. All of the above German moves had already been planned on before the discovery of the Yugo cables.




Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/8/2016 5:02:36 AM)

South China.

[image]local://upfiles/28013/121E15AEB0E741CBB0F1183DBC5AA68B.jpg[/image]



Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/8/2016 5:04:41 AM)

Polish front.

[image]local://upfiles/28013/993609D03F534245B6E98AEB73B6ED6F.jpg[/image]



Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/8/2016 5:06:17 AM)

Danish front.

[image]local://upfiles/28013/1482D153D7BD47B99EE3995BEEBDE645.jpg[/image]



Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/8/2016 5:09:27 AM)

Western front.

[image]local://upfiles/28013/65D8E08BF5E941B0A79195C9FE9BE743.jpg[/image]



Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/8/2016 5:10:28 AM)

More Western front.

[image]local://upfiles/28013/50B685E47D7948BFA6B69009C2AC95B0.jpg[/image]



Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/8/2016 5:11:17 AM)

And one last Western front.

[image]local://upfiles/28013/A4B4B2D464254D3198F6AC6128CB62FF.jpg[/image]



Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/8/2016 5:12:37 AM)

Next up...photo of Yugo set up when revealed.



brian brian -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/8/2016 4:32:19 PM)

After extensive Allied staff talks over the possible formation of a new High Command, the Quai d'Orsay in Paris calls a Press Conference to announce a new military Alliance with the Kingdom of the South Slavs. "Military operations to liberate the West Slav territory brutally occupied by German forces will commence immediately. Hitler's craven Fascist ally in Italy will not be allowed to interfere."

The USA's premiere foreign correspondent William Shirer, having traveled to the seeming center of gravity of the war in Paris, sits in the front row and sends extensive dispatches home, where the good news from the expanding Allies is widely published on newspaper front pages for a relieved American public.

Not to be out-done, in London Prime Minister Chamberlain meets with the British Press. Ignoring questions from the commercial press over numerous merchant ships increasingly over-due to arrive at the Liverpool docks, the PM makes this announcement: "The time for Germany to bully it's smaller neighbors is over. We shall give Mr. Hitler what he seems to want: A Four Front War."



brian brian -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/9/2016 8:53:26 PM)

OK, a little game commentary rather than imaginary historical commentary.

The Royal Navy has been more lucky than not so far at sea. Attempting a Surprise Port Strike on the Italian TRS is sometimes considered almost a standard opening move in the game. But it comes with a risk as the CVs have to sit there for an impulse, allowing the Italians their own shot at the carriers instead. And the more you set-up for a maximum chance at the TRS, by starting in Gibraltar and sailing to the 4 box (unless a cagey Italian sets the TRS up in an Italian Coast port), the greater the chance the Allied search roll inadvertently exposes the CVs to an Italian surface fleet.

That was a mistake I made by keeping the CA in the 4 box of the Cape St Vincent. I could have set a few combat results on it but forgot that the usual 'picket' type force in the 4 box is useless on a surprise impulse, and this eventually cost me.

Even attempting the Port Strike is a risk, but it comes with up-sides I will discuss later; I don't consider it an automatic Allied decision. The CW could easily lose a CV in the process, which seems like a big deal to WiF players, but I would note that the Royal Navy won the historical naval war in the Med quite handily despite the loss of the HMS Courageous on what would be essentially the second impulse of the game.

The Allies went with a Land impulse for the French again, and a Combined for the Commonwealth. The raiding CA that hoped for a big surprise point split in the East Med was dispatched, leaving the Regia Marina down two Heavy Cruisers so far, at an Allied cost of several CW CP sunk and several more aborted and the main convoy line broken.

The Yugoslavians opted to cover a few bases and mount just a small incursion into German territory. I would note here that MWiF handicaps the Germans for 1939 operations in Central Europe somewhat as the City-Based Volunteer units aren't coded yet, and they would be due to receive an SS MIL in Vienna and another MIL in Bratislava as reinforcements in Nov/Dec 39. But then recruiting efforts in those two cities would have been rather disrupted in this particular game...



brian brian -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/10/2016 4:45:53 AM)

Meanwhile shortly after midnight on a late September evening, the entire staff of the Belgian embassy in Paris appears at the gates of the French Army HQ in Vincennes. "German troops are crossing the frontier!" they report. Though situational maps remain unavailable, Allied contingency plans to form a unified High Command including yet another viciously attacked neutral minor country are unsealed. Belgium's King Leopold orders his forces to take command from French C-i-C General Gamelin.

Within an hour CBS radio correspondent Shirer begins a live broadcast to a stunned American public just sitting down to dinner. Newspaper editors around the USA scrap their nearly completed front pages for the next morning's papers and start over.



Jagdtiger14 -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/10/2016 4:51:27 AM)

quote:

Attempting a Surprise Port Strike on the Italian TRS is sometimes considered almost a standard opening move in the game.


Funny, it used to be standard in our board games as well (surprise port strike)...including setting up in Naples as a counter (Taranto is considered bad luck[:)]). Then after the Italians nailed the CW CV's and its escorts a few games in a row, CW players decided it wasn't the risk (in fact other than subs, stayed out of the Med completely until at war). Neither side wants to risk the surprise disaster possibility, so other than a few CA's Italy stays in port as well.

I agree losing a carrier is not that big a deal, but two orange-class CV's? And then there are the valuable pilots as well.




brian brian -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/10/2016 5:01:15 AM)

The odds the CW loses 2 CVs are probably similar to the odds that the Italians lose both TRS, maybe a little higher but not all that much. One is likely to go for either side though.



brian brian -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/10/2016 8:30:34 PM)

OK now to backtrack a little with the game reporting.

Allied Impulse #4 - CW Combined, France Land; the other 3 you should probably know

France aligns Yugoslavia and rolls a 2 for the US Entry Effect = one chit lost (a 4 I believe)

The Royal Navy sends their 2 CAs in reserve in England to escort convoys in the Cape Verde Basin; they also send a troop transport convoy escorted by the main Battleship squadron of Home Fleet to the North Sea. They search for and destroy the CA Abruzzi in the East Med and survive an Italian SUB activation attempt in the Cape Verde Basin.

The troops afloat in the North Sea (HQ Gort, MECH, Infantry Division) disembark in northern Denmark and seize the port of Frederikshavn from a German motorised division that had occupied the place. ( +21 Blitz)

The French shuffle their lines around the Maginot, withdrawing Georges back into France and using his re-org points to regroup the INF and AT Gun in Germany that had been ground struck by the Stuka, as well as one of the GARR units in Strasbourg.

China shuffles a few WarLords in their rear areas but puts the front line on pause. The Russians rail a second GARR unit from Odessa to Omsk and withdraw their mobile forces on the Galician frontier back into the Kiev Military District.



brian brian -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/10/2016 8:33:47 PM)

The Weather Roll for Impulse #5, the third Axis impulse, is a 3.

The Germans DOW Belgium and roll an 8 for the USE, drawing a new "4" chit.

The French align the Belgians and set up their CAV in Liege with both of their INF ordered to form up on the coast west of Antwerp.

All 3 Axis powers take a land impulse.

A Stuka strike on the main French Army concentration on the Belgian border manages to dis-organize the crucial French AA reserve though OKH curses the ineffectiveness of the Luftwaffe, which also proves unable to suppress the French invasion force in the Rhine woods a second time.

Germany regroups it's forces in Poland around the von Leeb HQ moving south and takes Katowice:



[image]local://upfiles/18796/1F3161AF83474637858320EB33BBA7C4.jpg[/image]



brian brian -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/10/2016 8:34:47 PM)

In the north the Germans withdraw their MTN unit from the Dutch border and move it towards Denmark. Copenhagen is occupied by a 4-4 INF:



[image]local://upfiles/18796/8CB7385044E64CD7B31034DFB382D9B5.jpg[/image]



brian brian -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/10/2016 8:36:40 PM)

The Italian land impulse has them invading Tunisia as well as taking the capital of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. (This is now actually closer to Eritrea on the new maps, go figure)

In Italy some of their forces begin moving east in the Po valley:


[image]local://upfiles/18796/7C2A6A662A954F1183F986239EFE48C1.jpg[/image]



brian brian -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/10/2016 8:38:42 PM)

The Japanese mostly sit tight in the north:

[image]local://upfiles/18796/1FCDD7B9F2B04CC3B049049DC4A09379.jpg[/image]



brian brian -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/10/2016 8:40:11 PM)

In the south the Yamamoto HQ enters the front lines after a Japanese Combined Impulse on the 2nd Axis Impulse (#3) delivered a troop convoy (also ART) from Japan directly to Canton:



[image]local://upfiles/18796/AF8C1FB09A0C47729BE7F9791B519D01.jpg[/image]



brian brian -> RE: Groundhog Day AAR (8/10/2016 8:45:58 PM)

That brings us to the third Allied impulse, #6 of the turn.

The CW again selects a Combined and the French a land.

The CW lands 2 MOT corps in Antwerp and moves their MECH unit up to the border of Germany itself, as well as bringing in Hurricane squadrons from England while the Spitfire squadrons are ordered into NW Belgium behind Antwerp. The Polish air forces have previously re-deployed into their industrial cities.

The French send the Belgian INF to defend their capital while the French occupy the lines from there to the Ardennes. The expeditionary force in Germany is withdrawn in light of the new developments; several French INF formations move to the west post-haste.

The Russians transfer their mobile units around Kiev on northwards to the Western Military District.

The Chinese continue their basic movement of retreat-one-province-west.



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