By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (Full Version)

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rkr1958 -> By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/13/2020 9:19:51 PM)

Preface:

Oh my goodness, not another solo AAR by that fellow who can't seem to stay in a competitive game with other opponents. Well other than himself and I'm not sure how competitive he is even when playing against himself.

I admit it. I'm a MWiF junkie. I've tried my hand at WiF CE using vassal, solo of course. And while I'm extremely impressed by the CE vassal module and its functionality, I keep coming back to MWiF. Why, well let me list 4 key reasons:
(1) Rules enforcement. I just like the fact that the computer takes care of all this for me.
(2) Book Keeping. Again, it just makes my life easier. (1) & (2) leaves me more time to play the game instead of having to search through the rules or keep track of the counters, various pools, etc.
(3) Map and Navigation. I've grown accustomed to the look, feel, scale and navigation of the MWiF map versus the CE vassal maps with their different scales.
(4) Features. Again, I've grown accustomed to the forms and mouse clicks in MWiF. I'm just able to work my way through the map, units and details of the game in MWiF versus the CE vassal module. Not to say that the vassal module isn't incredible, it is, I just prefer the way MWiF looks.

Call me lazy but I just like all the details, well most of the details, handled by the computer in addition to the look and feel of the map and units in MWiF.

I admitted earlier to being a MWiF junkie. Well that's not exactly true. I'd say that I'm a WW2 history junkie who's hook on MWiF. I usually have a book going on the subject. Here's a list (sorry for it's length) of the books that I've read the recently (past 3 years), am reading or will read soon:

1. The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy and King – The Five-Star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea. Walter R. Borneman
2. American Knights: The Untold Story of the Men of the Legendary 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion. Victor Troy Failmezger
3. Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle Nest. Stephen E. Ambrose
4. The Battle of Midway. Craig L. Symonds
5. Behind Japanese Lines: An American Guerrilla in the Philippines. Bernard Norling and Roy C. Hunt
6. Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters. Cole C. King Seed and Dick Winters
7. Dunkirk: The History Behind the Major Motion Picture. Joshua Levine
8. Easy Company Solider: The Legendary Battle of Sergeant from World War II’s “Band of Brothers”. Bob Welsh and Don Malarky
9. Helmet for My Pillow: From Paris Island to the Pacific. Robert Leckie
10. How They Won the War in the Pacific: Nimitz and His Admirals. Edwin Hunt
11. Inferno: The Epic Life and Death Struggle of the USS Franklin in World War II. Joseph A. Springer
12. Islands of the Damned: A Marine at War in the Pacific. Bill Marvel and R.V. Burgin.
13. The Liberation Trilogy Box Set. Rick Atkinson.
14. The Liberator: One World War II Soldier’s 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau. Alex Kershaw.
15. Midnight in the Pacific: Guadalcanal – The World War II Battle That Turned the Tide of the War. Joseph Wheelan
16. Miracle at Midway. Donald M Goldstein, Gordon W. Prange and Katherine K. Dillon
17. Never Call Me a Hero: A Legendary American Dive-Bomber Pilot Remembers the Battle of Midway. Laura Orr, N. Jack “Dusty” Kleiss and Timothy Orr
18. Nimitz. E.B. Potter
19. No Surrender: A World War II Memoir. James Sheeran
20. Nomonhan, 1939: The Red Army’s Victory That Shaped World War II. Stuart D. Goldman
21. Order in Chaos: The Memoirs of General of Panzer Troops Hermann Balck. Carlo D’Este, David T. Zabeck, David J. Biedekarken and Herman Balck.
22. Pacific Thunder: The US Navy’s Central Pacific Campaign, August 1943 – October 1944. Thomas McKelvey Cleaver
23. Red Blood, Black Sand: Fighting Along Side John Basilone from Boot Camp to Iwo Jima. Chuck Tatum
24. Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor. Clinton Romesha (Not WW II, but excellent and inspiring read!)
25. Shatter Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway. Anthony Tully and Jonathon Parshall
26. Twenty-two on Peleliu: Four Pacific Campaigns with the Corps: The Memoirs of an Old Breed Marine. George Peto and Peter Margaritas.
27. Under a Blood Red Sun: The remarkable Story of PT boats in the Philippines and the rescue of General MacArthur. John J Damagalski
28. We Were Going to Win or Die There: With the Marines at Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan. Fred H. Allison and Roy H. Elrod.
29. With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa. E.B. Sledge
30. You’ll Be Sor-ree!: A Guadalcanal Marine Remembers the Pacific War. Sid Phillips.
31. Landing in Hell: The Pyrrhic Victory of the First Marine Division on Peleliu, 1944. Peter Margaritas
32. Blood Red Snow: The Memoirs of a German Solider on the Eastern Front. Gunter K. Koschorrek.
33. Wade McClusky and the Battle of Midway. David Rigby.
34. Omaha Beach and Beyond: The Long March of Sergeant Bob Slaughter. John Robert Slaughter.
35. Enterprise: American's Fightingest Ship and the Men Who Helped Win World War II. Barrett Tillman.
36. Shadows in the Jungle: The Alamo Scouts Behind Japanese Lines in World War II. Larry Alexander
37. Tower of Skulls: A History of the Asia-Pacific War, Volumne I: July 1937-May 1942. Richard B. Frank.
38. Mortar Gunner on the Eastern Front: The Memoir of Dr Hans Rehfeldt. Volumne I: From the Moscow Winter Offensive to Operation Zitadelle. Hans Heinz Rehfeldt.
39. Mortar Gunner on the Eastern Front: The Memoir of Dr Hans Rehfeldt. Volumne II: Russia, Hungary, Lithuania, and the Battle for East Prussia. Hans Heinz Rehfeldt.
40. Countdown 1945: The Extraordinary Story of the Atomic Bomb and the 116 Days That Changed the World. Chris Wallace.
41. Command Missions: A Personal Story. Lucian K. Truscott.
42. Hell in the Pacific: A Marine Rifleman's Journey From Guadalcanal to Peleliu. Jim Mcenery.
43. Shifty's War: The Authorized Biography of Segeant Darrell "Shifty" Powers, the Legendary Sharpshooter from the Band of Brothers. Marcus Brotherton.
44. Black Shoe Carrier Admiral: Frank Jack Fletcher at Coral Sea, Midway & Guadalcanal. John Lundstrom.

Also, I subscribe to WW II History and WW II Quarterly.



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/13/2020 9:49:56 PM)

Introduction. Part 1.

This isn't a game that I'm starting from scratch. In fact, I started back on May 5. That is May 5, 2020. I was playing through it regularly until our family vacation 7 weeks or so ago. Since getting back a little of 3 weeks ago I've been putting a lot time into my game file editor and very little time playing the game I love. I think it's time to balance between the two and get back to my game.

This AAR won't be a blow by blow account like I've done in the past:

1. Witness to World War 2
2. Global War AAR in Pictures
3. My Historical Global War AAR
4. Global War: Japanese Aggression
5. Winston's Soft Underbelly -- A Dream Realized?
6. An Attempt to use MWiF to Simulated WW2 Reasonably Historically

The above list of 6 AARs are Global War solo games/AARs that I've taken to the bloody end and some beyond. In addition to this list there's probably another half dozen solo global war AAR threads/games that I started but abandoned for a number of reasons. They're still out there as a reminder that it takes failures to produce successes.



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/13/2020 10:03:32 PM)

Introduction. Part 2.

I'm currently at the start of turn 11, May/June 1941. How I got there and where I'm planning on going, I summarize by campaign a bit later. As I mention in the previous post I won't be providing a blow by blow account but will summarize by campaigns and by numbers (hence the title of this AAR).

Before I get into the past campaigns (e.g., Case White, Case Yellow), let me give you a few numbers for this game so far.

1. 68 impulses played and remarkably balanced 34/34 by the axis/allies.
2. 67 land combats (28 blitz, 36 assault and 3 overruns).
3. 98 air combat missions (22 ground support, 35 ground strikes, 25 strategic bombing, 1 para drop, 15 intercept/CAP). (Port strikes included in naval combat).
4. 91 naval/attempt naval combats.
5. 21 CW CPs sunk and another 18 aborted.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/266D1711F092435EA6782E09DE267668.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/14/2020 4:02:33 AM)

Introduction. Part 3.

I'll get back to this AAR tomorrow. But in the mean time I wanted to apologize up front for my grammatical errors. The truth is that while I try to check, double check my grammar I general missed a few each post. Instead of worrying about this and going back to correct the grammar I've decided to let it ride and hope any interested readers will look past such mistakes.

Here are the optionals that I'm using and which I'll discuss more in detail later (tomorrow).

As I look back over my notes from 3 months ago the objectives for this game that I wrote down are/were:
(1) Fun
(2) Competitive
(3) Historical
(4) Naval

To these ends in addition to the optionals I select I've also decided to script a few things. For example:
(1) Soviet Invasion of Eastern Poland.
(2) Japanese-Soviet Tension.
(3) Japanese-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (April 1941).
(4) Soviet-Finnish Standoff and Impact on rail line to Murmansk.
(5) IJN/IJA tension.

I plan to cover these and any other that I've forgotten to list in detail as I proceed.

In the end, I'm looking for a fun, competitive and historical solo play including scripts (such as those above) and eventually bots (as discussed in my game file editing thread). I plan to use this play, and AAR, as a springboard into my Bots development. Who knows, maybe I'll have one or two developed and tried out by the end of this AAR. One can dream can't they. [8D]

[image]local://upfiles/31901/ABC6004B1BC04BC9B94FAD35269AEE88.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/14/2020 6:18:09 PM)

Introduction. Part 4.

Let me continue my rambling a bit more before getting into game details. I'd like to cover one of my optionals that I included (Synth Oil), the optionals that I didn't, and one script, which has to do with the Soviets and Japanese in Asia.

First, Synth Oil. I included this optional but set out to play the game not using it, and it looks like I won't. Currently I'm in turn 11 (May/June 1941), [allied] impulse #2 and haven't built any for any power. I wanted the axis to feel the pinch of oil shortages and give the allies incentive for going after axis oil via strategic bombing. It's still too early to see if the axis will feel the pinch but that was my rationale for not build any.

Optionals that I didn't include. I choose not to include 7 optionals, and with the exception of 2, I didn't include them because my experience was that they unbalance the game. These unbalancing 5 that I didn't include are: (1) Cruisers in Flames (and Rough Seas), (2) Unlimited Breakdown, (3) Carpet Bombing, (4) Food in Flames and (5) HQ movement. From what I've seen on this forum over the past few years I believe, or at least feel, that the general consensus is that these optionals are indeed unbalancing.

The other 2 that I didn't include, which were (6) Construction Engineers and (7) Bottomed Ships, I did so because I really don't like them and didn't want to play with them. So there ... [:D]

The Script. Well one of them anyway. I feel there's a balancing act in Asia between the Soviet and Japanese players. In this case, just me. In competitive play the two players controlling these MPs can decided to have a non-aggression pact or not have a pact. In several instances where they agree to a non-aggression pact I've seen the Japanese player, not having to worry about Soviet intervention, run rough shot over China. And, corresponding with the Soviets not having to worry about the Japanese, go after the oil Persia and Iraq. Without a pact, I've seen clashes between the Japanese and Soviets that have spanned the spectrum of success for both powers. What I've come to conclude from competitive play at the MWiF map scale is that it's a fine balancing act and cat and mouse game between the Japanese and Soviet players to keep both sides honest in Asia and the Middle East. For this play through (at least) I decided to script all this in a manner that I felt/hope is historical.

Historically, Japan and the USSR signed a non-aggression pact on April 13, 1941 that held until the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in August 1945 (a day or two after the US dropped the Atom bomb on Japan). At the generally accepted start of WW2 (i.e., 9/1/1939 or 9/3/1939 take your pick), Japan and the USSR are "wrapping" up a border conflict along the Soviet-Manchuria border in the Khalking Gol. This conflict officially ended in a ceasefire on September 16, 1939 with the Molotov-Tojo agreement. From then until the non-aggression pact was signed there was an unease peace between Japan and the Soviet Union.

The "script" that I'm using to represent all that is captured in the table below. This table I derived from the setup requirements of 7 WiF CE scenarios that started on the dates listed in the table. The Soviets will maintain a garrison in Asia, and within 3-hexes of a Japanese controlled hex, of the forces listed in the table. The Japanese will maintain a garrison anywhere in Manchuria or Korea of the forces listed in the table. Japan and the Soviets will have a non-aggression pact in place in time to move, or draw, pact chits for the May/June 1941. Note, DC=defensive pool chit and OC=offensive pool chits. Pact chits are drawn before the peace step this means that in game turns the neutrality pact must be made during the peace step of the preceding, Apr/May 1941 turn. I should explain that I'm not actually working the garrison numbers. Both the Japanese and Soviets have to meet the conditions in the table and as such neither to DOW the other until after the August/July 1945 turn. So it may appear that the pact chits are garnish and for the Japanese they really are. But not for the Soviets. This means that beginning in May/June 1941, the Soviets have to put 1 chit per turn against this pact. Since they only get 1 chit total per turn this means that they can't add any more chits than they already have to the Soviet-Nazi pact. Though they can choose to take the draw and move a chit from that pact to the Soviet-Japanese pact.

P.S. Forgot to add. The US must maintain a minimum of 2 chits in the Japanese entry pool on the behalf of the Soviet Union until the Japanese-Soviet non-aggression pact is made. Against a live opponent these two chits would be necessary to maintain the threat of a Soviet DOW on Japan.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/803435ECC5C14D4CA1C4B1D366A30817.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/14/2020 7:35:09 PM)

Introduction. Part 5.

Naval. As you can see by my book list in the first post, I have an interest in the naval history of WW2. Primarily in the Pacific, but the Atlantic and Med also hold an interest for me.

The scale of MWiF/WiF is armies,corps,divisions,individual capital ships (and light cruisers if playing with CLIFs), aircraft units in size of 250 to 500 planes for land based and 25 to 100 planes for carrier based (CVPs) and sub units from 25 to 30 subs.

The scope of MWiF/WiF is strategic even when it comes to the naval with individual capital ships represented. What I'm trying to say is that the naval decisions that one must make and the (battle) results obtained makes sense and can even track with history at that level. However the mechanics used to produce those results aren't. That is, MWiF/WiF is NOT an operational game. MWiF/WiF naval mechanics are NOT operational but "strategic".

For example, USN TF-1 composed of 7 aging US WW1 battleships was relegated to the US West Coast during the Battle of Midway due to lack of screens and air coverage. Though Admiral King and Vice Admiral Pye, commander of TF-1, pressed Nimitz to make use of these battleships Nimitz saw them as a liability. They were too slow to keep up with carriers and without screen and air coverage extremely vulnerable. He finally gave in to Vice Admiral Pye and let him "sortie" the battleships up and down the US West Coast while the carrier battle at Midway was raging. Sorta as a make work project to keep with Pye and King off his back.

Now, in MWiF, it's not usual for me, and I assume others, to use these BBs as ASW escorts (0-box) and patrols (3-box) in rear sea areas to guard against subs. In reality, one is using the destroyer screen assumed to be with these ships not the BBs themselves. The same applies to using CAs for ASW. In reality, these capital ships were highly vulnerable to subs if without destroyer screens.

I'm not dogging either MWiF or WiF wrt/naval. That is scope of the design and one that I think in general works very well. To, hopefully, get my fix at an operational naval game for the Pacific I did preorder Pacific War: The Struggle Against Japan, 1941-1945 from GMT. Though the initial version was put out in 1985, there's a (final) re-work that's "made the cut". Though it's been a while since I've actually played a military board game. But I might have to make an exception when this arrives.

Back out of the that rabbit hole ... and back to MWiF naval. When fighting subs with BBs and CAs I have to keep reminding myself that it's the screens of those ships that are attacking the subs (including any air that may be involved) and that damage received by the BBs and CAs represents those times when a sub was fortunate enough to run across, or evade their screens, and score hits on such ships.



Angeldust2 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/14/2020 8:00:44 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

Introduction. Part 4.

The other 3 that I didn't include, which were (6) Construction Engineers, (7) Limited Supply Across Straights and (8) Bottomed Ships, I did so because I really don't like them and didn't want to play with them.



rkr1958, this contradicts with your chosen option ON for Limited Supply Across Straits, not?



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/14/2020 8:22:46 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Angeldust2


quote:

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

Introduction. Part 4.

The other 3 that I didn't include, which were (6) Construction Engineers, (7) Limited Supply Across Straights and (8) Bottomed Ships, I did so because I really don't like them and didn't want to play with them.



rkr1958, this contradicts with your chosen option ON for Limited Supply Across Straits, not?
You are right. My notes are wrong. Limited supply across straights is on. Thanks for the catch. [:)]

I'll go back and edited my earlier post(s) to correct this. [:(]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/14/2020 8:28:01 PM)

Introduction. Part 6.

I'm going to try a narrative by campaign style with combat logs format. I encourage any and all comments, feedback, questions or suggestions.

I'm going to give my AAR format a go with Case White. That is, the German invasion of Poland.



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/14/2020 8:54:14 PM)

Setup. Europe. August 23, 1939. The Script.

1. Molotov-Ribbentop (Nazi-Soviet) Pact signed and which secretly divides Poland between Germany and the Soviets.

2. Also, either explicitly or implicitly, this Pact gives the Baltic States and Bessarabia to the Soviets. An option that they won't exercise until/if the Germany is tied up in elsewhere (e.g., the West). Stalin is a patient man, especially when it comes to territorial acquisitions/conquests.

3. Germany assumes that with a decisive and swift conquest of Poland that the Great Britain and France will back down even with their pledge to Poland. As such, the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe deploy most of their forces against Poland.

4. As a hedge against Great Britain and French intervention, Germany deploys a "static" army group make up of active garrisons, slow inf corps and ready to call up reserves to their border with France. Opposite the French Maginot line. Also, Germany deploys an army make up of mobile divisions on their border with Denmark and in position to swiftly conquer that country and close off the Baltic to allied navies if the allies are foolish enough to go to war with them over Poland.

5. Molotov in concert with working a non-aggression pact with Germany is also working a cease fire with Japan over the border war between Mongolia and Manchuria near Khalking Gol.

6. As soon as the cease fire with Japan is secured, the USSR plans to march in and claim, uh that is protect, their agreed upon portion of Poland. The Soviets have deployed 7 field armies totaling over 1/2 million men on their border with Poland to this end.

The Script. In addition Germany's strong setup in the east against Poland, the Soviets also are required a strong setup. On the first allied impulse the Soviets are required claim Eastern Poland and to capture (i.e., occupy or march through) Brest-Litovsk, Vilna and Lvov. This will represent the historical invasion of Eastern Poland by the Soviets on September 17, 1939 when 1/2 million men marched in and swept aside the 20 Polish battalions arrayed against them. In effect, a stab in the back as the Polish Plan West, assumed that the USSR would remain neutral and, as a result, the bulk of the Polish army was in western Poland fighting the Germans. For a game point of view this "invasion" has a practical purpose along with their garrison requirements in Asia. It keeps the Soviets out of Persia and Iraq and elsewhere they don't need to be at this time.

Competitive. A lesson I learned in one my competitive games was that a luck shot against a single garrison holding the line SW of Stuttgart could allow the French to eventually get 4 corps into German and aligned Yugoslavia. Though the odds are low they're still not low enough for me to not take that threat seriously. Therefore I deployed two corps to that hex that I know the French played by me wouldn't risk the combat against a single corps.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/2AE3E95F3FB7491B803857E06B2FE79A.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/14/2020 9:12:57 PM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. Case White. Combat Logs.

Axis 1.
1. Germany invades Poland.
2. Luftwaffe disrupt Polish forces in Lodz and Warsaw.
3. Double pincer maneuver captures Pozan, Kotowice, Krakow and surrounds the disrupted remnants of the Polish army in Lodz and Warsaw.

Allied 2
1. 7 Soviet field armies (500,000 men) sweep aside the 20 Polish battalions arrayed against them.
2. Soviet 2nd cavalry corps races in to capture Brest-Litovsk.
3. Soviet 4th mech army captures Vilna.
4. Soviet 11th inf army captures Lvov.
5. The US reacts adversely to the Soviet invasion of Poland. 1 remaining chit in the German/Italy entry pool is removed.

Axis 3
1. The fine weather turns. Fall rains hit Poland (arctic and north temperate).
2. Even during the rains the Wehrmacht advance continues. Lodz is captured in a decisive assault.

Axis 7.
1. The weather continues to worsen. Snow in the arctic and storms in the north temperate part of Poland.
2. Still, Warsaw falls to a decisive victory by the Wehrmacht.

Land Combat Logs. WIN=Level of victory flag, 0 - 4.
4=decisive. Target hex captured. Breakthrough/defending survivors shattered (if applicable) achieved. Attacker no losses and no flips. Defender max losses.
3=major. Target hex captured. Breakthrough (if applicable) achieved. Attacker no losses but may have flips.
2=tactical. Target hex captured. Breakthrough (if applicable) achieved. Attacker may have losses and flips.
1=marginal. Target hex captured. Breakthrough (if applicable) not achieve. Attacker takes losses and flips.
0=loss. Target hex not captured. Defenders hold.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/44BC7C901E4145F7B594F413F089CEE8.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/14/2020 9:25:55 PM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. End of Turn.

A Conquered Poland: German and Soviet Troops Mobilizing Elsewhere.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/476048C9F3E1495DB5343C0C25F2946F.jpg[/image]



Falken -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/14/2020 11:17:23 PM)

Hi rkr1958.

Thank you so much for your AARs. I've bought this game when it first came out, and last year, bought the Boardgame itself, but i've only just now really gotten into it. I play quite a bit of WITP:AE, and yet, I find this game very hard to get into, but I still luv it.

Your AARs, and the ones from composer99, are really helping me understand how to start playing this game, but also, why play a certain way to get the most out of it. I read your AARs from top to bottom, and your thoughts/ideas/feedback really do provide people like me, people who are trying to get into this, understand the potential.

So just wanted to send this to simply say : Thank you....




rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 2:13:44 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Falken

Hi rkr1958.

Thank you so much for your AARs. I've bought this game when it first came out, and last year, bought the Boardgame itself, but i've only just now really gotten into it. I play quite a bit of WITP:AE, and yet, I find this game very hard to get into, but I still luv it.

Your AARs, and the ones from composer99, are really helping me understand how to start playing this game, but also, why play a certain way to get the most out of it. I read your AARs from top to bottom, and your thoughts/ideas/feedback really do provide people like me, people who are trying to get into this, understand the potential.

So just wanted to send this to simply say : Thank you....


Thanks! [&o]

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. Events Summary Log.



[image]local://upfiles/31901/0C5471CF95B04373B4949D7538BFEDCD.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 2:30:45 AM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. Europe. Atlantic. Combat Logs.

Allied 2.
1. Great Britain and France both honor their commitment to the defense of Poland and declare war on Germany. One chit lost, leaving one, in the German/Italy entry pool.
2. RAF and French bombers launch surprise strikes against multiple targets in the Reich.
3. 2 German oil knocked out by RAF and French strategic bombers.
4. 2 of 3 German divisions on the Danish border flipped by French carrier planes flying from the Beam operating in the North Sea. This unexpected but successful ground strike all but ends any threat of a successful German invasion of Denmark this turn.
5. RAF bombers also managed to hit the KM fleet at Kiel. The Grap Spee is sunk and the CA Deutschland sustains minor damage.

Allied 5.
1. British BEF arrives in France led by Lord Gort. HQ-I and XV mech corps deploy.
2. British IV mot corps remains embarked in the North Sea and ready to deploy to either Denmark if the Nazi's choose to invade or France if not.

Axis 7.
1. RN inflict heavy losses on German u-boats while only sustaining minor damage to one of their battleships.

Axis 13.
1. Luftwaffe bombers hit Birmingham inflicting some damage to Great Britain's war production.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/F844115A43E143F492621D6B34FA3410.jpg[/image]



brian brian -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 3:27:44 AM)

Once upon a time, somewhere, I read that SUBs in "Classic" represent 30-ish SUBs and if Ships in Flames is in play, that # changes to 15 SUBs. WiF scales are deliberately vague, and I am fine with that as the game works the way it is.

Note that Germany commissioned something like 1,100 U-Boats.



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 5:05:28 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: brian brian

Once upon a time, somewhere, I read that SUBs in "Classic" represent 30-ish SUBs and if Ships in Flames is in play, that # changes to 15 SUBs. WiF scales are deliberately vague, and I am fine with that as the game works the way it is.

Note that Germany commissioned something like 1,100 U-Boats.
Each SUB represents 50-60 (SiF option 5: 25-30) submarines

What I knew instinctively but hadn't really check it out is that for SiF (i.e., how MWiF is played), 2 to 4 destroyers are assumed with each ship.

Entire section from the latest WiF rule set.

quote:

1.2 Scale
1.2.1. Units
In World in Flames each land unit represents a corps (XXX), army (XXXX) or army group (the HQs, XXXXX). These are all corps sized units.
DiF options 2, 3 & 14 and PiF option 24: These options include divisions (see 22.1), artillery (see 22.2), supply units (see 22.3) and A-bombs & V-weapons (see 22.17). These are all division (XX) sized units.
An aircraft unit represents 250 aircraft in 1939 gradually increasing to 500 aircraft by 1945. Each counter consists of a variety of types, but with the predominant aircraft being that depicted on the counter.
PiF option 4: Planes in Flames includes more and varied aircraft to add to your game.
A surface naval unit represents a squadron of 4 to 6 destroyers attached to either 1 aircraft carrier, 2 battleships or battle cruisers, or 4 heavy or light cruisers.
SiF option 5: each surface naval unit represents only 1 aircraft carrier, battleship, or heavy cruiser in addition to 2 to 4 destroyers.
CliF option 6: each light cruiser is also represented in the game.
CVPiF option 45: each carrier plane class represents between 18 and 24 carrier planes.
Each SUB represents 50-60 (SiF option 5: 25-30) submarines. Each convoy point represents about 200,000 tonnes of merchant shipping. Each naval transport represents about 200,000 tonnes of troop transports and another 200,000 tonnes of support merchant ships while each AMPH represents an equivalent tonnage of specialist invasion craft and support ships.
CoiF option 7: Escort carriers, destroyer escorts, specialist subs and merchant raiders are also all represented in the game.
You are limited by the number of units included in the game except for convoy points (CPs). If you run out of these just use any numbered marker to show CPs.



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 9:37:44 PM)

Asia. Battles of Kalkin Gol (11 May - 15 September, 1939).

Mid level offices of the Japanese 6th army contrived and even lied to Emperor Hirohito and senior Japanese Military leaders in Tokyo about a border clash with Mongolian and Soviets forces along the Khalkin Gol. Zhukov who was in Minsk and was the commander of the Belorussian Military District was picked by Stalin to right the situation and teach the Japanese a lesson. This being just less than a year of the great purge of the Red Army so failure was more than a career ender. It was a life ender.

Through a remarkable feat of logistics and supply, Zhukov not only managed to right the situation but also managed to give the Japanese and their 6th army a bloody nose. A lesson that would have ramifications for the Japanese and the Soviets for the rest of the war. Well, that is until the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in August 1945 after US dropped the Atomic bomb on Japan. In game turns, that's late turn 36.

This "border clash" ends in a ceasefire and an uneasy peace settles begins between Japan and the Soviet Union in Asia with the Molotov-Tojo Agreement which went in effect on September 17, 1939. And as I stated in the introduction this ceasefire remained in effect until the Japanese and Soviet non-aggression pact signed on April 13, 1944. In game terms this means a neutrality pact has to be agreed upon during the peace step of the Jan/Feb 1941 turn so that both sides will be able to draw a chit during the Mar/Apr 1941 turn. All this in order that both sides can begin the May/June 1941 with their 1 required defensive chit.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/8DC8D530BC0C459C82FE4B67EE2AFE10.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 9:40:21 PM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. End of Turn. Manchuria, Korea & Soviet Asia.

The Script. The cost of an "uneasy" peace.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/E769D414728B482398BBDF80981A89D2.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 9:47:49 PM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. China. Setups & Combat Logs.

Axis 1.
1. China incident continues as IJA forces use maneuver to increase their territorial gains China and threaten both CCP and Nationalist forces.

Allied 2.
1. Chaing's Nationalist also through maneuver make a push east through central China.

Axis 3.
1. IJN army group commanded by Admiral Yamamoto disembarks into central China (Shanghai) in order to check Chaing's Nationalist push.

Allied 5.
1. Chaing's Nationalist continue their careful advance in central China (Wuhan district) wary of Yamamoto's entry into the country.

Axis 7.
1. Admiral Yamamoto officially takes command IJN Army Group (Central China) and moves to stabilize the front there.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/DC96A5CC09DC445294628E5598D32908.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 9:48:25 PM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. China. End of Turn.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/52BCAA5EF9614A04B3DC097D871BA9E4.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 9:59:02 PM)

Turn 1. India.

Allied 2.
1. The TNG Terr and the Queens, which setup together in Tanzania, are moved to the Arabian sea.

Allied 5.
1. The TNG Terr disembarks to Bombay.

Partisan Phase.
1. The British people are stunned as Indian separatists seize control of a magnesium mine in the interior of India disrupting the shipment of vital raw materials needed for full war production.

Competitive. As the CW player there are several critical hexes I make sure are garrisoned by the end of turn 1. Two of these are Calcutta and Bombay. I've learned the hard way the trouble that a partisan popping up in an empty Bombay can cause! It happened to me once and I vowed never again to allow it to happen!

[image]local://upfiles/31901/44A864877EE849B39F26A57804C6141A.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 10:00:00 PM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. Destroyed & Repair Pools.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/CD0BE41CB2854155873B5195A693357D.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 10:01:24 PM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. Weather and Actions Summary.

[image]local://upfiles/31901/E31C09CE1E0A43FA953E44D0E119F1DB.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 10:29:12 PM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. Economics. Germany.

4 oil (total) saved, 15 BPs. PIL(2), LND(2), HQ-A(8), Sub Repair(1), MIL(2)

[image]local://upfiles/31901/1FF0563672CA450382B52A90E5699BC5.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 10:33:11 PM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. Economics. Italy.

1 oil stockpiled. 3 BPs. NAV(2), Sub 2nd(1)


[image]local://upfiles/31901/E5B2B9ADB25641C8AF67CC3A2F2A1F69.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 10:34:02 PM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. Economics. Japan.

6 oil stockpiled. 10 BPs. CVP(0), CV 2nd(2), PIL(2), CA Repair(1), Terr(2), MIL(2), BP (army) x 1.


[image]local://upfiles/31901/90A30BA9CA0D4831800D40E7C51EFCB8.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 10:34:42 PM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. Economics. China.

1 oil stockpiled. 4 BPs. Inf(3), Cav Div(1)

[image]local://upfiles/31901/3802BD32E14F48AF947F0D09BFE80F43.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 10:35:35 PM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. Economics. CW.

9 oil stockpiled. 10 BPs. CVP(0), PIL(2), CV 2nd(2), FTR(2), CP(1) x 2, MIL(2)


[image]local://upfiles/31901/FED3DDE42D454729994C18665A9129B5.jpg[/image]



rkr1958 -> RE: By the Numbers: Another Solo Global War AAR (8/15/2020 10:36:55 PM)

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939. Economics. France.

5 BPs. 1 oil stockpiled. Builds: Cav(3), MIL(2)


[image]local://upfiles/31901/1A14DCDF57CD4B29ADA1637C58CFDB4B.jpg[/image]



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