RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (Full Version)

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rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 1:33:29 AM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Start of Turn. In-Game Communication Log.

Note. {...} = private AAR comments

[al] CW:
- Scrap lnd2 Wellesly;
- Militias in Bombay, Batavia & Cape Town to their respective cities;
- HMS Glorious (CV) and cruisers HMS London and HMS Dorsetshire all to Liverpol;
- 7th Indian Corps (5-1 GARR) to Calcutta;
- 6th Canadian Corps (3-1 GARR) to Halifax.

[al] CW also removes Fairey Battle lnd2 from London

[ax] Scrapping.
Germany. Hs 123, He 111B, Do 17m, Ju 86G x 2

[al] France:
- scrap ftr2 D510;
- assign pilot to ftr2 MS 406, place in Paris;
- Marseilles MIL to Marseilles.

[al] USA:
- scrap ftr2 P-35 and all cvp0;
- scrap XXXI Corps (4-5 MOT);
- don't place any planes down;

[al] USSR:
- No scrapping;
- 2 USSR INF to Odessa;
- ComCh INF to Sian.

[al] Lending:
- No new lending;
- CW continues to send 1 (non-oil) resource, 2 bps to France.

[ax] Germany has no units to place or planes to fill.

[ax] Scrapping. Italy. CR 32bis FTR2, BA.65 LND2, SM.79 LND3.

[ax] Italy has no units to place or planes to fill.

[ax] Japanese Scrapped. {see graphic 01}

[ax] Japan. No planes to fill. MIL x 2. Fukuko & Nagoya. Both place in their respective home cities.

[ax] Resource Lending (new/changed).
Germany to Italy. 2 non-oil RP's.

{see graphic02}

[ax] Initiative. Axis=3+2=5. Allied=8. Axis request a re-roll.

[ax] Initiative (re-roll). Axis=1+1=2, Allied=9. Allies have the initiative. Do you wish to move first?

{I knew it, just knew it! I had a feeling that I was going to lose the initiative on the 16.2% off chance that I would.}

[al] Hrm. 40% chance of no planes in North Temperate - good for me in Netherlands, good for you at sea. Only 20% chance of bad weather in North Monsoon.

[ax] One thing about actually rolling the dice is that I have something to throw when I roll like that. 😡

[al] Hah! Yes, of course.

[ax] Do you wish to move first?

[al] Just looking at the situation in southern China.

[ax] Oh .. so I may have wasted a re-roll. 😡

[ax] You've got to love this game.

{Could it be? Could it be so? That my opponent will decide to move second? That definitely would take the sting out of losing this initiative, even through I might have wasted a re-roll}

[al] Okay, as much as the Chinese are probably okay, with a 60% chance that planes can fly in Europe, I think Allies had better go first.

[al] I think I need to reinforce Rotterdam first.

{ [:@] [:@] [:@] [:@] [:@] [:@] [:@] [:@] [:@] }

[image]local://upfiles/31901/97949E591E084D479F763C7B38F23A1E.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 1:46:43 AM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Allied #1. In-Game Communication Log.

Note. {...} = private AAR comments

[ax] Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Allied #1. Weather=9+2=11. Horrible weather everywhere.
Arctic, north temperate, Med - Blizzard
North Monsoon - rain, South Monsoon - storm, South temperate - rain.
Impulse Advance 3, Die Roll Modifier +3

[ax] 03-JAN-FEB-1940-AL-01.zip sent.

[al] Frightful weather to be out on the North Sea, chaps.

[al] Got it.

[al] Allied Impulse #1. No DoWs or border claims.

[al] Impulses:
Ch - land; everyone else combined.

[al] Naval moves:
- USA sails cp from Honolulu to 0 box China Sea, 0 box The Marshalls, and 0 box Christmas Island;
- France sails cruisers Lamont-Picquette and Suffren to 0 box Cape St Vincent;
- CW sails TRS from Plymouth to 1 box North Sea and embarks London MIL;
- CW sails Sumatra from Rotterdam to 0 box Bay of Biscay.

[al] Rail moves:
- CW rails Ulster TERR to Dover;
- France rails Marseilles MIL to HQ Georges position;

[al] Land moves:
- ComCh bring 8th Route Army (7-3 INF) forward, to mountains between Sian & Tungkwan;
- Red Army INF in Odessa move to new positions along Rumanian frontier;
- Red Army 3rd infantry division moves up to near Dnepopetrovsk while at gun takes its place in Odessa;
- NatCh forces move from behind Kweilin to reinforce MIL formations in southern forests;
- CW reinforces front line in Egypt; France sends XLII Corps to Sinai along Suez Canal;
- CW debarks London MIL into Rotterdam.

{So it's the 5-2 MIL & 4-1 garrison in Rotterdam. We're not playing with defensive shore bombardment so that'll help me when I try to clear out this redoubt. However, with blizzard in the north temperate I don't think it'll be my (next) impulse.}

[al] Rebases:
- France rebases ftrs to Franco-Belgian frontier and bomber to Paris;
- RAF rebases Hurricanes to Rotterdam;
- CVP from HMS Furious redeploys to HMS Courageous;
- Hurricane in Gibraltar rebases to Algeria.

[al] Sending impulse by email shortly.

RN. North Sea

My impulse may be a good time for Germany to take a naval and see if they can get lucky in the North Sea.
I've got 3 6-movers in the Baltic which could reach the 3-box. Though during blizzard this only gives me a 20% chance of finding. However, the RN has NO chance of finding given that they're in the 1-box during blizzard. If I could get lucky, it sure would be nice to bag one on those two RN transports. Especially, given that I was able to damage one last turn.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/9791165B52E54C5F9A925E0633B1414F.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 2:02:05 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

Actually, the naval battle was a victory for Italy. Italy lost a cruiser, the CW a battleship. One Italian was damaged. Neither ship is going to be replaced, but that is a win for Italy. If the CW had put the D on something else, getting a damaged BB and a damaged something else, against an Italian cruiser sunk and an Italian cruiser damaged, that would have been a win for the CW. So your opponent single-handedly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.


quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

quote:

ORIGINAL: brian brian

I disagree. The CW reinforced Egypt with their opening moves regardless of Italian decisions. Italy could have done nothing beyond setting the Balbo HQ in Egypt and the same level of CW commitment would have appeared. The Axis have zero chance to break Allied supply in Egypt and inferior ground forces. Raiding the East Med with Cruisers had a low chance to achieve only one thing, a successful surface battle result. But even 2:3 attrition in Italy’s favor is actually a loss over time and the Allies will achieve a 3:2 or better result in the next such battle. Italy needs a ‘Fleet in Being’ for a long time whereas the Allies get a 2nd, huge, fleet added to their side in the middle of the game.

The Allies will pay a small price via a weaker BEF, but without a France First attack heading in, that could likely be only on the M/J 40 turn as Alexander HQ might arrive in J/A 40 and Wavell will probably still be strong in Egypt.


The Euroaxis are roughly fighting 1-3 against the Royal Navy. So for every cruiser the Italians lose, they need to kill 3 CW cruisers to call a battle result a draw. This battle has ended in a phyrric victory for Italy...

Also: those ships use oil, something which is always in short supply for the Axis.

Now, if there had been a CW (or French) TRS in the sea area, I would have attacked. The opportunity to destroy one of those is to good to pass on. Otherwise, I stay in port...


Hey Guys thanks for the inputs. If you don't mind I'd like to explore this over the next few posts and would appreciate your inputs. But first, I need to make some screen caps and provide you with some of my thoughts.



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 2:38:53 AM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #4. Start of Impulse.

East Med. Egypt.

I think there's no doubt now that the CW is intent on offensive action against the Italians in Egypt/Libya. I'm not sure whether or not this land and naval strength is a reaction to the Italian feint, that's now be paid with the blood of 2 CA's, or this was the allied player's intent all along. I guess it really why the situation is ... just what it is ...

And what it is, is that Balbo and his ground forces stand little chance of getting out this.

The one up side to the Italian feint is that the strong RN forces devoted to the East aren't in the Italian Coast. Because if I lose supply in the Italian coast then I lose supply to Malta and the ability to reorg flipped ships and planes that are based there and on Sicily.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/B8C59305E42F4FD18ADCE4540E50580B.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 2:41:13 AM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #4. Start of Impulse.

Italian Coast. West Med.

Maintain supply in this sea area to Malta is Sardinia, and the flow of the Sardinia RP to an Italian factory is my first concern and highest priority for the Italian navy.

Maintaining the feint in the East Med and Egypt is second. But at what commitment and blood from the Italian navy?

[image]local://upfiles/31901/108AC61F774F4D2CAB4733AD9A3A4C02.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 2:42:31 AM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #4. Start of Impulse.

East Africa.

Italy continues to expand their control over East Africa with minimal forces but I'm not sure what, if any, significance this is.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/E68AF19D3C6D450EADD8C0B3A19A6B96.jpg[/image]



Courtenay -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 2:55:45 AM)

I find the CW builds extraordinary. The CW battleships are nice, but there are many better units out there. I am shocked that the CW hasn't built a fighter yet. Also the Sunderlands, although expensive, are tremendous. Oh well.



brian brian -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 4:10:44 AM)

If the CW builds an Armor division, then they will be serious about going on the offensive in Egypt. Until then, they don't really need to do anything, and they probably won't...unless you see a nice squadron of BBs docking in Egypt, or the RAF appears. Or 2 of 3, or all 3 of those, in late 1940.

The next -thing- to happen in the Middle East will probably be based on what happens when a die is rolled for Vichy France colonies.

If I had these Allies, I would have put a division in Rotterdam too; the Royal Engineers are a particularly mean choice for that job. That hex has cost many a German their most precious commodity: time.



Centuur -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 5:43:51 PM)

I agree on sailing the Kriegsmarine. The Allies can't surprise you and that's usually a good thing...

Also: I would suggest to start building aircraft with the Italians and the Germans. It's very strange to see the CW not building FTR's or NAV.

Japan don't need all those carrier planes. Carrier planes building can wait until the end of 1940. FTR2 and NAV are much better to have than carrier planes (especially the FTR2 force pool should be emptied by Japan. Those long range FTR's are the best planes Japan has). And you can use those planes in China, the CVP won't be doing anything until end of 1941...



AllenK -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 5:48:37 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #4. Start of Impulse.

East Africa.

Italy continues to expand their control over East Africa with minimal forces but I'm not sure what, if any, significance this is.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/E68AF19D3C6D450EADD8C0B3A19A6B96.jpg[/image]

quote:

Italy continues to expand their control over East Africa with minimal forces but I'm not sure what, if any, significance this is.


It gives the Allies more territories to have to liberate, which diverts forces and takes time. If the Allies don't attend to them, the Italian government could relocate there in the event of an incomplete conquest.



Courtenay -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 5:59:57 PM)

I agree that the Germans should build FTRs. The Germans should ALWAYS build FTRs. My games usually turn into a fighter arms race. The rest of the airforce is not worth much you fall behind in the fighter race.



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 10:20:49 PM)

Thanks guys. I agree ... time for German to start build fighters.



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 11:51:30 PM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #4. In-Game Communication Log.

Note. {...} = private AAR comments

[ax] Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #4.
No DOW's. No Alignments.
Actions. Japan - combine, Germany - naval, Italy - naval.

[ax] Naval Air. None.

[ax] Naval Move. IJN x 1.
TRS + Fukuoka MIL, Amph in Fukuoka to China Sea
Amph loads Nagoya MIL
Loaded TRS & Amph to 0-box (China Sea).

[ax] Naval Moves. KM (Germany).
1. 2 CP's to Baltic (5 total)
2. Baltic ports to North Sea. (3-box) BB Scharnhorst, CA Admiral Hipper, CA Blucher. (0-box) BB Schleswig-Holstein & BB Schhiessien.

[ax] Sub Moves. Euro-Axis.
1. North Sea. German U-boat & Italian sub 1-box.
2. Cape St. Vincent Italian sub 3-box, Italian sub 2-box.

[ax] Naval Moves. RM (Italy).
1. Trieste. CP to East Med. Restores supply (for now) to Balbo in Egypt.

[ax] 2. Italian Coast.
CA 3-box moves down to 0-box (w/1 CP, CA).
2 BB's & 2 CA's in Malta to 4-box.

[ax] 3. East Med.
2 CA's to 4-box
CA joins CP in 0-box.

[ax] Sub Combat. Cape St. Vincent (storms) .
Italian sub 3- & 2-box vs 6 CP's in 0-box w/RN CA in 3-box.
Sub 3-box initiates.
Search. Axis=3, Allies=4. Neither side find (Axis missed by 1, allies by 2).

[ax] North Atlantic (storms).
2 subs (German & Italian) in 0-box vs 10 CP's.
With no chance of finding during storms, the axis choose not to initiate.

[ax] North Sea (storms).
BB Schlesiwig-Holstein in 1-box initiates.
Search. Axis=2, Allied=7. Only the axis (in 3-box) find.
Axis SP's=7. Axis lets combat default to surface.
KM has 3 ships w/12 surface vs RN 9 ships w/31 surface.
Initial risk (by my calculation). KM X, D, 3A. RN X.

[al] Okay.

[ax] KM uses 4 of the 7 SP's to reduce their risk to X, A.
KM uses remaining 3 SP's to put X on the organized RN TRS.

[al] Got a bad feeling about this.

[al] RN chaps definitely thought the Germans wouldn't come out to fight in this weather.

[ax] Well's it 50/50 for the TRS (i.e., 50/50 sunk/damaged). The way I've been rolling, I fully expected to get the damage.

[al] Bit of a cock-up letting them slip through to the troopships like that. 😀

[ax] Sneaky krauts ...

[ax] Surface combat. North Sea.
X on TRS=8, damaged.

{DANG IT!!!! That's the second RN transport that I've let off the hook in as many turns}

[ax] KM resolution.
X on CA Blucher=6, sunk.
A on Admiral Hipper=8, 1/2 aborted.

[ax] KM stays. Assume RN does too?

[al] Yes.

[ax] Round 2. Search. Axis=4, allies=3. Nobody finds. Battle over.

[al] Whew!

[ax] A second RN transport in as many turns escapes an X risk with damage. 😡

[ax] Strategic Bombing. None.

[ax] Ground Strikes. None.

[ax] Rail. None.

[ax] Land Movement. Japan moves 1 army and disembarks the 2 MILs (Canton, Shanghai).

[ax] Air Rebase. Japan x 1.
Hengyang to 88,140. Ki-51.

[ax] Air Rebase. Germany x 2.
(1) Ge[50,38] to Amsterdam. Ju 87B Stuka.
(2) Leipzig to Ge[53,34]. Ju 52 ATR.

[ax] No HQ reorg so the game went directly to your next impulse (#7) and the weather roll.

[al] Sounds good.

[ax] Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Allied #7. Weather=10+2=12. I don't think the weather could be any worse ...

[image]local://upfiles/31901/F00CD8129AF04A05A04B62EFC70D0621.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/7/2020 11:52:03 PM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #4. North Sea.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/33EE776CF20544829622D325F11B2DB8.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/8/2020 12:56:41 AM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Allied #7. In-Game Communication Log.

Note. {...} = private AAR comments

[al] On the one hand, I like that weather. On the other, one more search result like that first round in the North Sea with no planes to eat surprise points, and the CW will be desperately short of troopships.

[ax] It was only good weather for the KM. Bad for everyone else including the other axis services.

[al] Allied impulse 7.

[al] No DoWs or border demands.

[al] Still thinking it through, but I think I'm going to do an all-but-one-pass impulse.

[ax] Interesting.

[ax] I bet I know who isn't passing.

[al] I daresay you do.

[al] CW calls a naval, everyone else passes.

[ax] 😎

[al] Naval Moves (Remote & Convoys/Escorts):
- Queens sail to 0 box Mozambique Channel and pick up the Cape Town MIL;
- HMS Berwick and HMS Terror sail from Halifax to 0 box North Atlantic;
- HMS Cumberland drops to 1 box E Coast;
- HMS Edinburgh drops to 1 box North Atlantic;
- HMS Valiant (BB) sails from Liverpool to 0 box North Atlantic;
- HMS Norfolk sails from Liverpool to 4 box North Atlantic;
- HMS Erebus, HMS Exeter and HMS Resolution (BB) sail from Liverpool to 0 box Cape St Vincent;
- HMS Glasgow sails from Liverpool to 4 box Cape St Vincent;
- HMS Sheffield drops to 1 box Cape St Vincent;
- HMS Newcastle drops to 1 box Bay of Biscay;
- HMS Southampton sails from Liverpool to 4 box Bay of Biscay;

[al] Naval Moves (Med):
- HMS Eagle (CVL) & HMS Malaya (BB) sail from Suez, joining HMS Revenge (BB) and cruisers Cornwall, Birmingham, and Kent out of Port Said, in 3 box E Med.

[al] One more out-of-the-way naval move: The Dutch TRS in Batavia sails to 0 box East Indian Ocean.

[al] Pretty sure that's it...

[ax] Apparently the KM and RM have stirred up a hornet's nest.

[al] Okay, one more move. Last impulse, the CW double-stacked both CVPs on its carriers in Gibraltar onto HMS Courageous. This impulse, the empty carrier Furious is trying to get back to the UK to load up on CVPs (as pilots and planes permit).

[ax] No intercept.

[al] Okay.

[al] Furious sails right into Liverpool.

[al] Naval combats:
- CW can initiate in North Sea, Cape St. Vincent, and North Atlantic, but won't.

[al] CW does initiate in Eastern Med. {graphic 01}

[al] Search results for E Med are CW 6, Italy 10. No combat.

[ax] I'm good with that.

[al] Axis can initiate in North Atlantic and in Cape St Vincent. Because of the weather, I don't think the Axis can find in the North Atlantic.

[ax] North Atlantic, no that can't so they won't.

[ax] What about the North Sea?

[al] I didn't sail anything out, so they can't initiate.

[ax] Copy that.

[ax] Will definitely initiate in CSV.

[al] Okay.

[al] Here's how that's shaping up. {graphic 02}

[al] Search rolls are Italy 9, CW 10. Nobody has any idea where the hell anyone else is in this weather.

[al] No action on land. The RAF fighter squadron in Algeria rebases to Tunis.

[al] Pretty sure all that's left is end of turn roll.

[ax] 3 or less?

[ax] If it ends, both German pact chits to offensive pool.

[al] ust 2 or less. Still twice as good as if everyone had taken their impulse.

[al] End of turn roll is 8.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/0BE84874844044469089A212CF3235E5.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/9/2020 11:59:17 PM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #11. In-Game Communication Log.

Note. {...} = private AAR comments

[ax] Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #11. No DOW, no alignments. Japan - land, Germany - combine, Italy - land.

[al] I feel bad for all the troops on the move this impulse. Going to be a miserable time on the march.

Wait, what am I saying? These are enemy troops on the march! They can get frostbite on their privvies for all I care. 😉

[ax] 😀

[ax] Naval Air. None.

[ax] Naval Moves (Germany). None.

[ax] North Atlantic (storms). German & Italian subs in 1-box with no chance of finding elect not to initiate.

[ax] North Sea (storms). KM will (again) attempt to initiate with the CA Admiral Hipper.

[ax] Search. Axis=4, Allied=1. Nobody finds.

[ax] Worth a shot at that remaining RN transport.

[al] Oh, definitely.

[ax] Strategic Bombing. None.

[ax] Ground Strikes. None.

[ax] Rail. Germany x 1. 5-3 white print inf. Karlsruhe, Germany to Frederikshaven, Denmark

[ax] Rail. Japan x 2.
(1) 4-3 MIL. Shanghai to Changsha, China.
(2) 5-2 MIL (white print). Canton to Wuhan, China.

[ax] Land Movement.
(1) Japan pushes forward on all fronts in China.
(2) Germany uses their 6-land moves of the combine to adjust their line along the Dutch, Belgium and French borders.
(3) Italy pulls back slightly in Egypt and makes some adjustments in Italy and East Africa.

[ax] Land Combat. None. Which I know has to be utterly surprising. 👨🏻‍🎨

[al] I mean, nothing sounds more appealing than trying to attack an enemy city across the Rhine in the middle of a howling blizzard.

[ax] I looked. The best odds I could get on Rotterdam was -0.944, which for Assault would give me only a 1% chance of capturing the city. And that was with +2 HQ support from Rundstedt.

[ax] Air Rebase. Japan x
(1) D3A2 (Val). Ch[81,142] to Hengyang, China.
(2) Ki-27 (Nate). Ch[79,141] to Ch[78,140].

[ax] Air Rebase. Germany x 1
(1) Bf-109 E4. Ge[49,36] to Amsterdam.

[ax] Air Rebase. Italy x 1
(1) Ca. 135 LND3. Egypt[82,55] to Egypt[82,53].

[ax] Game turn 03-Jan-Feb-1940-Axis-11-EOI.zip sent. Just end the Japanese HQ reorg phase.

[ax] If turn ends, then both German chits go into the offensive pool.

{KM Naval Opportunities.}

{North Atlantic. No way for the axis subs to find. So, no initiate.}

{North Sea}. No way RN can find.


[image]local://upfiles/31901/5E52AEFBFF924B5F9B37D3EB5400E985.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/10/2020 12:01:01 AM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #11. German Land Combat Planning. Rotterdam.

I was so close to taking Rotterdam end of last turn/start of this turn only to be thwarted by an allied double move.

Rotterdam is just going to have to wait.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/4B9642A8FFCA4DDFBEC16CC0D89C0021.jpg[/image]



brian brian -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/10/2020 12:10:45 AM)

I think I would have gone for an X on the Ark Royal. Sinking the enemy Flagship always has a subtle effect. & in this game, no Ark Royal in the Med is a very good thing for 40-41.



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/10/2020 12:57:31 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: brian brian

I think I would have gone for an X on the Ark Royal. Sinking the enemy Flagship always has a subtle effect. & in this game, no Ark Royal in the Med is a very good thing for 40-41.

Spoken like a true sailor. [:)]

Wouldn't matter through, I'd only damaged it just like I damaged the transport. [:(]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/10/2020 3:19:52 AM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Allied #15. In-Game Communication Log.

Note. {...} = private AAR comment

[al] End of turn roll is 7; turn ends on 6 or less so the turn continues

[al] Allied Impulse #15

[al] Weather roll is 3, which becomes 6. {see graphic 01}

[al] No declarations of war.

[al] No alignments or border claims.

[al] Impulses:
Ch land
USSR, CW, Fr combined
US pass

[al] Do you want to CAP for port attacks?

[ax] No thank you.

[al] Okay. Gladiators on HMS Ark Royal are fitted with torpedoes and sent to raid Kiel.

[al] Search/surprise rolls are CW 4, Ge 9.

[al] Axis damage is 1 abort. 1 cp is aborted.

[al] .... yay?

[al] So I guess Gladiators aren't really good at the whole "carrying torpedoes"... thing.

[ax] That hurt ... NOT!

[al] HMAS Australia, loaded with the 2nd infantry division, has entered the Eastern Med, and intends on putting through to the Red Sea if it can get through the blockade. Do the Italians wish to intercept?

[ax] Yes.

[al] Initiate with Garibaldi (the cruiser in the 0 box)?

[ax] Please.

[al] So done. Interception succeeds with a roll of 3. Australia decides to stay. (Goes to 3 box with rest of RN.)

[al] Other CW naval move is the HMS Hermes (CVL) with carrier planes (Baffins) sails to 0 box North Atlantic.

[al] France sails Primaguet from Marseilles to W Med 4 box.

[al] Naval combats: CW chooses not to initiate in the North Sea, Cape St Vincent, and North Atlantic.

[al] CW initiate combat in the E Med. Any interceptions?

[ax] Yes. FTR2 in Malta to 0-box. One with the highest Air-to-air and lowest tactical.

[ax] Also.

[ax] Italian Nav2 from Malta and German FTR2 on Sicily to 1-box.

[ax] And ...

[ax] Italian fighter2 to 1-box.

[ax] Let me look and I'll be more specific if that helps.

[al] No, that's all four planes you had available. Both Italian FTRS have same a2a factors, so based on your criteria I know which one flies to 0 box and which one flies to 1 box. {see graphic 02}

[ax] Ok. Thanks.

[ax] Now all I need is for the axis to roll a 1. :)

[al] Search rolls are CW 4, Axis 5. CW would have found in fine weather, but with the rain nobody finds.

[ax] That'll work too.

[al] CW didn't sail ships to sea in North Sea or CSV, so no Axis combats there, but the Axis can initiate in the North Atlantic.

[al] With the better weather, I think they can find on a roll of 1.

[ax] Yes, most definitely. And while I'm at it I'd like to request an axis search roll of 1. German sub initiates.

[al] Well, MWiF will see what it can do.

[al] Axis initiates and commits subs. Search rolls are Axis 3, CW 8. No combat. With the CW search roll, I'm pretty sure either the British/Canadian merchant marine or the HMS Hermes dodged a torpedo or two. Possibly literally!

[ax] Close but no cigar.

[al] You can CAP for strat bombing and ground strikes, but the Allies will attempt neither, so don't worry about it.

[ax] Copy that.

[al] Land Stuff:
- Sydney MIL rails from Sydney to Adelaide;
- Red Army 3rd Infantry Division moves down to Sevastopol;
- CCCP forces withdraw from Tungkwan into the mountains just west;
- KMT 2nd Cavalry Corps withdraws one hex westwards towards Ankang;
- KMT forces in far south finally retire back across the Hsi river;
- Chungking WLD joins up with HQ Chiang and at gun in hex southwest of Chihkaing;
- Egyptian TERR moves to Port Said while French XLII Corps takes its place on western bank of Suez Canal;
- British 2nd Infantry Division disembarks into Alexandria;
- No land combats.

[al] Not even the Japanese division sitting by itself was tempting enough. Best I could get in this weather was +9.5 - far too low for an attack on a single 1-factor division.

[ax] Sneaky Japanese ...

[al] Rebases:
- RAF Fighter Command thinks better of leaving aircraft in Rotterdam and sends the Hurricanes back to Dover.

[al] - Hurricanes in Tunis fly to hex at Libyan frontier, southeast of port of Gabes.

[al] And that's the Allied impulse. Do you want to roll to see if the turn ends, or shall I do the honours?

[ax] Please, you do the honors.

[al] Done.

[al] Turn ends on a roll of 8 or less.

[al] End of turn roll is... {see graphic 03}

[al] Ta-da! Turn continues.

[ax] Drama ...

[al] On the one hand, I'm glad I didn't just waste the initiative shift by ending the turn. On the other hand, the CW and China probably wanted the turn to end.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/9AA5186EB598470FA332ED57E9AB9551.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/10/2020 3:27:03 AM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #17. In-Game Communication Log.

Note. {...} = private AAR comment

[ax] Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #17. No DOW's, no alignments. Japan - land, Germany - land, Italy - combine.

[ax] Port Attacks. None.

[ax] Strategic attacks. None.

[ax] Ground strikes. Does the RAF wish to fly CAP to Rotterdam?

[al] No.

[ax] Naval Combat. East Med. Axis no. Allies cannot initiate.

[ax] North Atlantic. Italians will initiate. Search. Axis 6, Allied 3. CA in the 4-box finds.

[al] That's 3 off the dice and 3 off the box for 6 surprise points, correct?

[ax] Yes.

[al] Okay. I believe the base damage/risk is:
- CW 3 naval factors vs 2 targets is 2A;
- Axis 5 naval factors vs 1 target is 1A.

If that's the case, I'll call a surface combat (no surprise), spend 2 surprise to reduce damage/risk to CW, and remaining surprise to increase damage/risk to Axis to... 1D 3A (I think).

[ax] Copy that.

[ax] Axis subs. D risk on Italian sub=7, damaged. A risk on Italian sub=6, (damaged) & aborted. German sub aborted with 2 A risks remaining.

[ax] With no axis subs left in area, combat ends.

[al] Medals all around for the crew of Norfolk.

[ax] Aborted German sub returns to Kiel and damaged/aborted Italian sub to Malta.

[ax] Definitely some very good shooting on their part.

[al] They were probably aided by some quality and timely decryption of intercepted KM signals.

[ax] Dang Poles!

[ax] Ground strikes. Japan x 2. Germany x 1.

[ax] Ground Strike. Germany vs Rotterdam (snow).
(1) He 115c (1/2=1). D10=7, 6. Missed both defenders.
(2) Stuka Ju 87B (5/2=3). D10=4, 8. Also missed both defenders.

[ax] Ground Strikes x 2. Japan.
(1) Ki-27 F/B (1/2=1) vs Mao + Gar. D10=6,1. Missed Mao, flipped 4-1 Gar.
(2) Ki-30 (1/2=1) vs Chiang + Warlord + A/T div . D10=9, 2, 8. Missed all three.

[al] Hrm. Either I missed some potential attacks/outflanks, or the Japanese were hoping to run China out of oil with those ground strikes. (Or both.)

[ax] Was going after the Chinese HQ's in the hope, on the off chance, that I could flip both and then you could only reorg 1. Long shot but worth taking.

[al] Oh, for sure.

[ax] No rail.

[ax] Japan captured the open city of Tungkwan, China. USE=1, chit added to Japanese entry pool. Draw(0-365) = 122.

[ax] Land combat. Rotterdam was very tempting but in the end decided to wait.

[ax] No land combat.

[ax] No air rebases.

[ax] Game file sent back for end of turn roll. 03-JAN-FEB-1940-AX-14-EOI.zip

[al] Okay.

[ax] I think I'm pretty much shot for the night but will be able to answer a question or two if needed.

[al] Going to call it a night myself.

[ax] Okay ... we can handle all this tomorrow then. Goodnight.

[al] Good night!

{North Atlantic. Naval Combat.}


[image]local://upfiles/31901/487D831822114DB085640ED6238711DE.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/10/2020 3:27:41 AM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #17. Rotterdam. Checking the Odds.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/9FAD125D612846D1B2E5018B8ED53868.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/10/2020 3:28:15 AM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #17. East Africa.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/7F78C83552B247D783E2A95BF3B4B4C8.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/10/2020 3:29:21 AM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. Axis #17. Japan. China.

Using maneuver, and not combat, to (attempt to) flank the Chinese on multiple fronts.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/FA92737680884DBEB50B5ADD41C9D68E.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/11/2020 3:36:50 PM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. End of Turn.

[al] Okay, so I'm going to roll for end of turn.

[al] Turn ends on a roll of 8 or less.

[al] The end-of-turn roll is 3, ending the turn.

[al] Partisan rolls:
- Korea 10; garrison test 3;
- China 65;
- Malaya 38;
- NEI 29;
- Burma 56;
- India 61;
- Poland 21;
- Indochina 17;

[al] No partisans result.

[al] The last direction I had regarding entry markers for Germany was that both markers go into the offensive pool. Is that direction still good?

[al] For its part, the USSR will place its marker in the defensive pool. Since that information is public, I can say the marker vaue is 1.

[ax] Correct

[al] Okay. Germany draws 2 offensive markers. The markers (and, in parentheses, their draw "rolls") are 1 (177 "roll") and 2 (261 "roll"). This message will self-destruct.

[al] US draws 1 marker versus Japan.

[al] US chooses option 9 Resources to China. Tension roll is 9, so no tension.

[al] US passes no other options.

[al] I'll deal with Allied preliminary production, then pass the file back.

[ax] Copy that.

[al] File sent.

[ax] Got it.

[ax] (Finished) Axis Preliminary Production.
Germany. 22 PP's x 0.75 = 17 BP's (-2 to USSR). 4 additional oil saved.
Italy. 6 PP's x 0.75 = 5 BP's. 1 additional oil saved.
Japan. 17 PP's x 1 = 17 BP's (-1 to USA). 0 additional oil saved.

[ax] 03-JAN-FEB-1940-AL-Stay-at-Sea.zip game file sent.

[ax] Axis Stay at Sea and Return to Base Instructions.

[ax] East Med.
It FTR2 (1-box) to 0-box (stays).
IT CA x 2 (4-box) to 3-box (stays).
IT NAV (1-box) returns to Malta.
Ge FTR (1-box) returns to Sicily [75,40]
IT FTR2 (0-box) returns to Malta.

[ax] Italian Coast.
IT CAx2, BBx2 (4-box) to 3-box (stays).
IT CAx2 (0-box) returns to Malta.

[ax] All Italian subs return to Malta.

[ax] North Sea.
BB x 2 (1-box) to 0-box (stays).
BB, CA (3-box) returns to Danzig.

[ax] I think that covers all axis stay at sea and return to base

[ax] Probably best if you keep the master game file through factory destruction and send me copies at use oil, axis final production and axis production.

[ax] Of course, if that's ok with you.

[al] Sure, can do.

[al] I'll record Allied units staying at sea. Not-CW units:
- USSR has no units to return (1 cp at sea).
- US returns 1 cp from China Sea to Manila; all other US cps stay at sea.
- French cruisers Duguay Trouin, Tourville, and Primaguet remain at sea, dropping to the E Med 1 box, Italian Coast 2 box, and W Med 3 box, respectively.
- French cruisers Foch and Algérie return to base from Cape Verde Basin and Gulf of Guinea, respectively, to harbour in Pointe Noire, Middle Congo.

[al] CW ships staying at sea:
- Polish destroyer flotilla stays at sea, dropping to 2 box Faeroes Gap.
- HMS Southampton stays at sea, dropping to 3 box Bay of Biscay.
- HMS Edinburg and Norfolk stay at sea, dropping to 0 and 3 boxes, respectively, of North Atlantic.
- HMS Sheffield and Glasgow stay at sea, dropping to 0 and 3 boxes, respectively, of Cape St Vincent.
- HMS Effingham and York stay at sea, dropping to 0 box North Sea.
- Convoy points at sea stay at sea.
- All other CW ships at sea return to base. (Recorded later.)

[al] Where do you want the Japanese AMPH and TRS? Fukuoka?

[ax] Yes, Fukuoka.

[al] Okay, it will be done.

[ax] Thanks.

[al] RTBs not mentioned above (including CW):
- French cruiser Lamont-Picquette returns from 0 box Cape St Vincent to Marseilles.
- French cruiser Suffren returns from 0 box Cape St Vincent to Bingerville in Ivory Coast.
- HMS Hawkins and Cumberland return from 0 and 1 box East Coast to Halifax.
- HMS Hermes, Valiant, Berwick, and Terror return from 0 box North Atlantic to Halifax.
- Dutch cruisers Java and Sumatra return to Liverpool from Bay of Biscay 0 box.
- HMS Resolution Exeter, and Erebus return from 0 box Cape St Vincent to Liverpool.
- Dutch TRS returns from 0 box E Indian Ocean to Adelaide (where the Sydney MIL is).
- The Queens return from 0 box Mozambique Channel to Mombasa, Kenya.
- HMS Eagle, Revenge, Malaya, Cornwall, Kent, Birmingham, and HMAS Australia return from 3 box E Med to Port Said.
- HMS Ark Royal, Nelson, Rodney, Royal Sovereign, and Royal Oak, along with the CW TRS, return from 1 box North Sea to Plymouth.

[al] Sending the game file right at the end of Axis RTBs. I'm pretty sure I got all the Axis RTBs as per directions, but please do double check.

[ax] Is the file sent a copy or the master?

[al] It can be either, since I haven't proceeded any further, although as I recall you'd suggested I use my game file as the master version.

[ax] Copy that ... I hold a copy and you hold the master.

[ax] Use Oil. Axis.
Japan. Need=0.4, reorg all. No oil expended.
Germany. Need=0.85, reorg all with saved oil at Prague. 1 oil expended.
Italy. Need=0.7. Do not reorg 3 CA's at Malta. Oil Used=0.4, no oil expended.

[al] Allied Oil:
- China doesn't need to use any oil.
- CW expends 3 oil from Montreal, Calcutta, and Delhi to reorganise 2.7 oil worth of units.
- France expends 0 oil to reorganise 0.4 oil worth of units.
- US expends 0 oil to reorganise 0.05 oil worth of units.
- USSR doesn't need to use any oil.



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/11/2020 3:37:22 PM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. End of Turn. Destroyed/Repair.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/E2F30F9BC1DE47EB8A92A06B9B41886F.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/11/2020 3:37:47 PM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. End of Turn. Use Oil. Axis.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/62E5CEEB50824F5DA58C15433017C035.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/11/2020 4:27:12 PM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. End of Turn (con't).

[al] So you might have noticed that I posted a thread in the tech support forum (https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4748329).

[al] Long story short, the Cyprus resource isn't getting through, and I don't know why.

[al] It's not a big problem - I'm happy to play on. But it is probably good if it gets looked at by Steve.

[ax] You're welcome to edit the game file at cw production and up it by 1 BP to compensate.

[al] Maybe. I can live without it - it's not like the CW was using the Cyprus resource. In all honesty, having 10 versus 9 bps for France is encouraging a bit of a sloppy gamble on my part. 😀 I have a much "safer" build plan for 9 bps.

[ax] Okay

[al] Allied Final Production:
China 6 pp x 0.75 = 5 bp; 0 additional oil saved.
CW 21 pp x 0.75 = 16 bp -2 (Fr) = 14 bp; 6 additional oil saved.
France 9 pp x 0.75 = 7 bp +2 (CW) = 9 bp; 1 additiona oil saved.
USA 40 pp x 0.25 = 10 bp +1 (Ja) = 11 bp; 1 additional oil saved.
USSR 22 pp x 0.5 = 11 bp +2 (Ge) = 13 bp; 1 additional oil saved.

[al] Sent game file at scrap destroyed step.

[ax] Got it. Give me about 15 to 20 minutes to get to it.

[al] Sure thing.

[ax] Germany scraps the CA Blucher. Out of general principal I make it a rule (for me) to scrap named ships that are sunk.

[ax] Production. Germany 15 BPs.
Inf Div(2), HQ-A Rommel (8), PIL(2), FTR(2), Sub 1st(1)

[ax] Italy 5 BPs.
Sub Repair(1), Mar Div(3), CP(1)

[ax] Japan. 16 BPs.
Mar Div(3), Mtn Div(2), Terr(2), PIL(2), FTR(2), ATR(4), CP(1)

[ax] 03-JAN-FEB-1940-Axis-End-of-Production.zip game file sent.

[al] Got it.

[al] Allied Production:

[al] China (5 bp): 1 INF (3), 1 MIL (2)

[al] CW (14 bp): 1 BB (rep) (2) (HMS Queen Elizabeth), 1 TRS (rep) (2), 2 cp (2), 1 INF (3), 1 MIL (2), 1 pil (2), 1 cvp1 (1)

[al] France (9 bp): 1 INF (3), 1 GARR (2), 1 pil (2), 1 ftr2 (2)

[al] USA (11 bp): 3 BB (1st) (6), 2 cp (2), 1 sub (1st) (1), 1 GARR (2)

[al] USSR (13 bp): 1 ARM (6), 1 HQ-I (5), 1 GARR (2)

[al] File sent at factory destruction step.

[ax] Got it.

[al] Might step away from computer to do stuff around house.

[al] Why don't you take it from here, send me the file back at Allied reinforcements, and I'll send it back before ending the reinforcement step (so you get to roll for initiative)?

[ax] Copy that ... will work through what I can and then send the file back to you ... don't worry about rushing to get back to it ... get it at your convenience. Enjoy your chores. :)

[ax] You beat me to it. :)

[al] Since that means you'll handle lending, here is new Allied lending:
Lending: US lends China 1 resource, CW lends China 1 oil.

[ax] Copy that.

[ax] Actually it looks like it's better if you proceed with the file you have through place units for the allies and then send it back when it's the axis turn. Axis have no factories to destroy.

[ax] So, back to you when you're ready.

[ax] Figuratively that is ... since you already have the file. :)

[al] Okay.



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/11/2020 4:28:40 PM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. End of Turn. Strategic Losses and Resources.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/F950B6B6991A42D89E154B0ED8E2B1BF.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: Axis Only. Ronnie vs Composer99. (1/11/2020 4:29:23 PM)

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940. End of Turn. Victory Points.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/6E2E1B79AD854B969180F12203BBA781.jpg[/image]



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