Slitherine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Orm

It is time for CW to begin acting in stead of just reacting. Show us that you are as good and daring attacker with the CW as you are with Axis.

I just tried to say that you can't wait for all that wonderful sea lift before beginning to act on the offensive.The war in USSR might be over by then. You need to prepare for offence now.

Edit: At the moment there is small need for sea lift against Japan. Singapore has its defence already. Australia and India might need more units but you do not need sea lift to reinforce there. Only place that might require sea lift is to get a unit to Burma.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

The situation in Egypt is dire, but not finished yet. Most of the units to the East of the canal are going to be needed to activate Iraq and conquer Syria. The 2 units shown in the insert, in Greece for the moment, can be brought over fairly safely by the 2 TRS in Bardia, giving Italy a somewhat dominating presence, but they'll still have to fight, and if I've learned anything, it's that anything can happen once the dice are rolled.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

quote:

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

The situation in Egypt is dire, but not finished yet. Most of the units to the East of the canal are going to be needed to activate Iraq and conquer Syria. The 2 units shown in the insert, in Greece for the moment, can be brought over fairly safely by the 2 TRS in Bardia, giving Italy a somewhat dominating presence, but they'll still have to fight, and if I've learned anything, it's that anything can happen once the dice are rolled.

Move the 4-2 IND unit one hex west and all the Italian units south of that are OOS. If the Italian units in Transjordan come scrabbling back to attack Wavell, the French can advance and take Jaffa. I do realize this will have to wait until the next Allied impulse when land moves are available.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

On the CW issue: I would suggest rebuilding Gort next turn (an HQ is always important). Also: I would wait and see what the Germans will do in regard of the French still being in Morocco. In Egypt: it sure looks like a nice move with that MIL, however: Wavell is going to get attacked with a 3-1 against him, if the Italians use the airplanes in ground support, together with the MECH and the HQ stack. And that's not so very nice, IMHO. No: keep that double stack in place, blocking Italian access to the Red Sea for the moment.

I agree with Steve that the only place the CW can start going on the offense is East Africa. I would suggest the TRS of the HQ in Britain, together with the MECH and some INF towards that area. Together with some TERR already in the area, you get a force of about 5 units, who should be able to eliminate those few nasty Italian TERR and can than start moving north.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Orm

Regardless that CW is to weak to go on the offensive now CW will need to make something in a few turns when Germany is aiming to conquer USSR. Unless CW (and USA) manage to distract the Axis by making some noise then USSR will fold like a badly built gingerbread house in a storm. And the units needed to do that needs to be built now. Territorials to stop the conquest of Africa by a couple of Italian territorials is not going to bother Germany one bit.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

quote:

ORIGINAL: Orm

Regardless that CW is to weak to go on the offensive now CW will need to make something in a few turns when Germany is aiming to conquer USSR. Unless CW (and USA) manage to distract the Axis by making some noise then USSR will fold like a badly built gingerbread house in a storm. And the units needed to do that needs to be built now. Territorials to stop the conquest of Africa by a couple of Italian territorials is not going to bother Germany one bit.

True. However the CW can't affort to let those TERR to continue grabbing nations in Africa. They should be stopped. Also: what if the Axis suddenly decide on invading the UK? They are capable of putting 5 corps into the place if they are really lucky. First things first: if the German airforce, the PARA and the Italian TRS aren't in a position for a Sealion end of this turn, the CW can look at building another strategic bomber this turn, together with some FTR2 two turns later, to keep the Axis FTR's in Western Europe next spring. Also: are there enough convoy points available to the CW? He should aim for putting a line in place towards Murmansk in the USSR, because the USSR should rail one or two factories there for the resources the CW is going to lend to them. I would suggest building some convoys this turn, since they take 4 turns to arrive and that's about the time the USSR will be at war.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

Also: I noticed that the CW units in Singapore aren't in a double stack. Put those two units together in Singapore. Single stacks are quite vulnerable in this game (as you should know by now). And how is the Indian - Burmese - Chinese border looking? There might be a Japanese invasion coming from China along the Birma road, if Kunming falls. Units are needed there in the mountains. If there isn't anyone there now, I might be tempted as the Japanese to start walking towards Calcutta if I go to war with the USA anyhow...
Did anyone say it's time for the CW to start looking at some offensive capabilities?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

Don't even think about surrendering China in 1940 . If the Japanese conquer China: fine.

Second: the USSR border is looking good until the last turn of 1940 starts. From that turn onwards: sorry Commies: no movements for your units, I need to look at myself... Signed: Uncle Joe.
Starting that turn, you should start moving units away from the border, starting with the precious HQ's and expensive aircraft and MECH/ARM units. If possible: try to screen Odessa in Bessarabia with the goal of getting that factory railmoved out of the place in the first allied impulse of the war (this means defending with double stacks, and that might become difficult).
If Mannerheim opts for a capture of Murmansk, rail another unit to Murmansk and double stack the place. Double stack always in USSR cities with cheap INF units. Retreat the GAR near Leningrad into the city and get that INF out of Hangö to the USSR.
Double stacks in Riga, Kaunas, Vilna and Minsk are difficult to put out of supply (since the ZOC's there will mean the German Panzers cannot move past those cities). A speed bump in Brest Litovsk or Lvov is useless IMHO, since a ground strike in the surprise impulse will disorganise the defenders. Movement of Euroaxis units will than put the defenders out of supply and with only 2 defense points, they will die without doing a lot of good. A defense of the Carpathian mountains is also not advisable (yes, I now, it's double defense points), because of the fact that the Axis can affort to bypass these units, which than means they are out of the action. Also, a double stack in Cernauti might look nice, I usually give it up, in favour of defending further backwards at the Dnjepr river. Only if the USSR has got some land units to spare, I would put a double stack in the place.
I would suggest defending in the Persian/Iraq border mountains and not in the USSR itself. There are only Italian units now at that front and at least 2 Axis HQ's will be needed in the Syrian desert to keep Axis units in Iraq in supply. It isn't that easy to fight through the mountains there towards Teheran and the Turkish-USSR border. 2 double stacks in the Persian mountains with an Russian HQ (Zhukov, I would prefer him to be in Persia) to provide supply should do the trick.
Now: I hear you say: "that's 24 INF/CAV type units you are talking about on the Western European border and in Persia"... Yes it is: so build INF/CAV type units and the coming HQ from now on by the USSR, and nothing else, untill it looks like the USSR can affort it (and believe me, it will take a long time, before you are going to put an MECH or ARM on the spiral for the USSR). Never, use a MECH or ARM for a speedbump. Even with the reserves you are getting (and look closely where they appear, don't make the mistake of having a double stack somewhere, so you can't place a reserve), you should have this kind of a defense in place in M/A next year at the latest...
This is my advice on the defense of the USSR. Preparations should start about... now...

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

If the Germans attack the USSR, the first option the USA have to take is that they sent resources to the USSR. Only if War Appropriations can be chosen at that moment, the USA should do that. Uncle Stalin wouldn't be pleased if the precious factories he's railed into Murmansk in the first turn aren't going to be filled with CW/US resources as soon as possible. He needs them a lot...

By the way: take into account what I've written about USSR deployment (post 994) also, when contemplating what to do...

quote:

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

Also: I noticed that the CW units in Singapore aren't in a double stack. Put those two units together in Singapore. Single stacks are quite vulnerable in this game (as you should know by now). And how is the Indian - Burmese - Chinese border looking? There might be a Japanese invasion coming from China along the Birma road, if Kunming falls. Units are needed there in the mountains. If there isn't anyone there now, I might be tempted as the Japanese to start walking towards Calcutta if I go to war with the USA anyhow...
Did anyone say it's time for the CW to start looking at some offensive capabilities?

There is a perfectly valid reason why the units in Malaya aren't in a double-stack. They were both in Kuala Lumpur until they had to take out the Partisan. after that, I left the white-print in Singapore, moved the fast INF back to Kuala Lumpur in preparation to be loaded on the Liner to go elsewhere. Why waste a fast INF on Garrison duty, particularly when there is a GARR in Calcutta that could take its place.

Unfortunately, the CW plans fell apart and the Liner was needed elsewhere. Also, I didn't have enough land moves to return the INF to Singapore last turn.

As for the Chinese border, in the posts I created this morning, I showed or described the position of every single land unit the CW has on the map. Review them and decide for yourself what that means. The problem I've had with the CW the last two turns regarding land units is that I've been forced to react to Axis aggression. If I hadn't, 1/3 of the RN would now be stranded in the Med. At the same time, I still needed to make some land moves . . . that meant more Combined Actions than I would normally like to take. I haven't had a "spare" Land Move for the CW since J/F '40, so southeast Asia hasn't really changed at all since then.

(This also hinders plans to move up East Africa, but I'm hoping that I can eventuatlly get the fleet organized correctly, allowing for more Land Actions).

All of those failed Naval Actions have taken a toll on the CW, not only in lost ships and surviving enemy ships, but in terms of lost Land Actions, too.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

quote:

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

Also: I noticed that the CW units in Singapore aren't in a double stack. Put those two units together in Singapore. Single stacks are quite vulnerable in this game (as you should know by now). And how is the Indian - Burmese - Chinese border looking? There might be a Japanese invasion coming from China along the Birma road, if Kunming falls. Units are needed there in the mountains. If there isn't anyone there now, I might be tempted as the Japanese to start walking towards Calcutta if I go to war with the USA anyhow...
Did anyone say it's time for the CW to start looking at some offensive capabilities?

There is a perfectly valid reason why the units in Malaya aren't in a double-stack. They were both in Kuala Lumpur until they had to take out the Partisan. after that, I left the white-print in Singapore, moved the fast INF back to Kuala Lumpur in preparation to be loaded on the Liner to go elsewhere. Why waste a fast INF on Garrison duty, particularly when there is a GARR in Calcutta that could take its place.

Unfortunately, the CW plans fell apart and the Liner was needed elsewhere. Also, I didn't have enough land moves to return the INF to Singapore last turn.

As for the Chinese border, in the posts I created this morning, I showed or described the position of every single land unit the CW has on the map. Review them and decide for yourself what that means. The problem I've had with the CW the last two turns regarding land units is that I've been forced to react to Axis aggression. If I hadn't, 1/3 of the RN would now be stranded in the Med. At the same time, I still needed to make some land moves . . . that meant more Combined Actions than I would normally like to take. I haven't had a "spare" Land Move for the CW since J/F '40, so southeast Asia hasn't really changed at all since then.

(This also hinders plans to move up East Africa, but I'm hoping that I can eventuatlly get the fleet organized correctly, allowing for more Land Actions).

All of those failed Naval Actions have taken a toll on the CW, not only in lost ships and surviving enemy ships, but in terms of lost Land Actions, too.

Things aren't easy at all, for the CW, are they? It seems that he never gets enough units in the right place at the right time in the first couple of years of the war. The trick is to aim to get those units in place at the time they are needed somewhere. Now, on India, there's still time left, however it's not much. I figure next spring those units should be in place there, since the next turns are normally short turns. Aim for M/A to get those INF units in place (not easy, but it should be doable). Anyway: I didn't want to give the impression that those units in Singapore should double stack now, but they should in the next couple of turns. So if a land impulse comes around: move them together.

quote:

In the past, I started to have pen and paper ready when we played the game. I kept making notes of things I needed to do (especially when playing the CW), because it's so very easy to forget a unit or two which aren't in a interesting theater. I write this to show you how very difficult WiF really is. At the end of every movement phase (naval or land) I checked the list, if I didn't forget moving some unit.
In the case of the game you are playing: one of the things on my list would have been: "move US SUB's toward Pacific" or "move Italian TERR". These kind of notes. And as long as I should do them, that note stayed on the list. Only things you might easily forget. When I first started making those notes, the other players laughed at me. However: later they all had pen and paper around... You see: I like to win...

quote:

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

If the Germans attack the USSR, the first option the USA have to take is that they sent resources to the USSR. Only if War Appropriations can be chosen at that moment, the USA should do that. Uncle Stalin wouldn't be pleased if the precious factories he's railed into Murmansk in the first turn aren't going to be filled with CW/US resources as soon as possible. He needs them a lot...

By the way: take into account what I've written about USSR deployment (post 994) also, when contemplating what to do...

See the above post regarding deployment.

If I take Resources to USSR, it's an 80% chance of moving a chit to the Tension Pool. Those pools are as high as they should be right now (higher, really). If the chit draw is one of the higher ones, then the USA could end up adding as much as a year to the time it takes to enter the war. (That's just a guess). With Japanese Entry at 20 right now, I am not comortable making any more picks with so high a chance of moving a chit.

Right now the only Entry Option I'm going to take at the end of this turn is Chinese Build Aircraft . . . for two reasons:

1. If China does get conquered this turn, unless I pick this now, China will never be able to build aircraft (I think).
2. I can reduce the Tension Roll to '0' and not risk moving a chit.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

quote:

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

If the Germans attack the USSR, the first option the USA have to take is that they sent resources to the USSR. Only if War Appropriations can be chosen at that moment, the USA should do that. Uncle Stalin wouldn't be pleased if the precious factories he's railed into Murmansk in the first turn aren't going to be filled with CW/US resources as soon as possible. He needs them a lot...

By the way: take into account what I've written about USSR deployment (post 994) also, when contemplating what to do...

See the above post regarding deployment.

If I take Resources to USSR, it's an 80% chance of moving a chit to the Tension Pool. Those pools are as high as they should be right now (higher, really). If the chit draw is one of the higher ones, then the USA could end up adding as much as a year to the time it takes to enter the war. (That's just a guess). With Japanese Entry at 20 right now, I am not comortable making any more picks with so high a chance of moving a chit.

Right now the only Entry Option I'm going to take at the end of this turn is Chinese Build Aircraft . . . for two reasons:

1. If China does get conquered this turn, unless I pick this now, China will never be able to build aircraft (I think).
2. I can reduce the Tension Roll to '0' and not risk moving a chit.

From RAW (how nice it is to have a electronic version of the thing available on the net...):

"When the US is at war with every unconquered Axis major power, you
are treated as having chosen every entry option (except US entry
option 44)".

I don't know if it is my English (it probably is), but I don't mean that you have to choose the USSR option now. You can wait a bit. However: the turn Barbarossa starts: it is War Appropriations Bill passed. If that's not possible: you should choose the option of lending resources towards the USSR. It's the only alternative at that moment IMHO. The railed factories in Murmansk should be fed with resources the moment they are available for production. And that's two turns after they have been railed into the city. So if you don't choose either option at that moment, and the next turn you can do the War Appropriations Bill, the USSR is going to lose two very precious build points. And believe me, Uncle Joe will be just as nasty as in the real war. Uncle Joe always want more resources from the Western Allies...
Well, I'm going to bed now. Tomorrow another very, very busy day at the office...

quote:

ORIGINAL: Red Prince
Just to clarify, the reason I think I may not get to auto-select that option is based on 2 other options that aren't auto-selected under certain circumstances:

4. The Bearn, if not on-map and with Paris under Allid control, is not automatically selected.
24. Re-Open Burm Road, if it hasn't been closed, it is not automatically selected.

Therefore, I'm wondering . . . if China no longer exists, how can you auto-select the option for it to build aircraft?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

quote:

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

The situation in Egypt is dire, but not finished yet. Most of the units to the East of the canal are going to be needed to activate Iraq and conquer Syria. The 2 units shown in the insert, in Greece for the moment, can be brought over fairly safely by the 2 TRS in Bardia, giving Italy a somewhat dominating presence, but they'll still have to fight, and if I've learned anything, it's that anything can happen once the dice are rolled.

Move the 4-2 IND unit one hex west and all the Italian units south of that are OOS. If the Italian units in Transjordan come scrabbling back to attack Wavell, the French can advance and take Jaffa. I do realize this will have to wait until the next Allied impulse when land moves are available.

That's the general idea. But the troops won't be coming back for Wavell, since he'll then have another INF stacked with him. This is the hope for the CW, that they can keep bringing in just enough units to prevent Italy from mounting a strong attack.

I haven't yet decided if Italy will need a Land, Naval or Combined Action to start with. It probably will be Land or Combined, since half the Italian navy was not able to reorganize. Too much Oil was needed, and Italy used up all of its navy in the Gibraltar and Egypt attacks, disorganizing practically everyone. The Combined Action would let the Italians load the TRS with 2 units, plus block the 4-2 unit from ZOCing the supply lines. The Land Action is probably less likely, since S/O should give this region pretty good weather most of the turn, and that means more time to get the job done here.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

On the CW issue: I would suggest rebuilding Gort next turn (an HQ is always important). Also: I would wait and see what the Germans will do in regard of the French still being in Morocco. In Egypt: it sure looks like a nice move with that MIL, however: Wavell is going to get attacked with a 3-1 against him, if the Italians use the airplanes in ground support, together with the MECH and the HQ stack. And that's not so very nice, IMHO. No: keep that double stack in place, blocking Italian access to the Red Sea for the moment.

I agree with Steve that the only place the CW can start going on the offense is East Africa. I would suggest the TRS of the HQ in Britain, together with the MECH and some INF towards that area. Together with some TERR already in the area, you get a force of about 5 units, who should be able to eliminate those few nasty Italian TERR and can than start moving north.

The 3rd impulse (Allied) will allow the 4-2 to move to another hex (probably southeast) AND have a reinforcement debark into Suez. With so much of the fleet in Aden, I can spare a few of those units to provide them with Defensive Shore Bombardment. I took Steve's advice a few pages ago to heart. Make the Italians work to win Egypt . . . or Suez, at least.

The only problem here is that the Italians, if they wish, can reinstate supply to any units along the Red Sea, by flying the NAV out there. Unless the CW commits a lot of AA factors, it's unlikely to get aborted. There are 2 TERR units in the Horn of Africa at the moment that would benfit from this. I also intend to build more TERR units with Italy, along with ship repairs each turn. Italy knows the CW can easily start taking back Africa, and the more "speed bump" TERR it puts in the way, the better off it will be.

If Italy does manage to take Suez, which is looking more difficult now, then the CW might have a problem with an East Africa attack. They could get bogged down, and Italy would be fine if that happened anywhere short of Eritrea and/or Somaliland.

The problem with sending the HQ from the UK to S. Africa is that I may need him to reorganize as many as 8 Convoys . . . if I want to reset my pipelines this turn. I'm not going to start playing this turn for a day or two, because I want to really examine the map to see what is possible, when it is possible, and what should be the priorities here.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

quote:

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

quote:

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

The situation in Egypt is dire, but not finished yet. Most of the units to the East of the canal are going to be needed to activate Iraq and conquer Syria. The 2 units shown in the insert, in Greece for the moment, can be brought over fairly safely by the 2 TRS in Bardia, giving Italy a somewhat dominating presence, but they'll still have to fight, and if I've learned anything, it's that anything can happen once the dice are rolled.

Move the 4-2 IND unit one hex west and all the Italian units south of that are OOS. If the Italian units in Transjordan come scrabbling back to attack Wavell, the French can advance and take Jaffa. I do realize this will have to wait until the next Allied impulse when land moves are available.

That's the general idea. But the troops won't be coming back for Wavell, since he'll then have another INF stacked with him. This is the hope for the CW, that they can keep bringing in just enough units to prevent Italy from mounting a strong attack.

I haven't yet decided if Italy will need a Land, Naval or Combined Action to start with. It probably will be Land or Combined, since half the Italian navy was not able to reorganize. Too much Oil was needed, and Italy used up all of its navy in the Gibraltar and Egypt attacks, disorganizing practically everyone. The Combined Action would let the Italians load the TRS with 2 units, plus block the 4-2 unit from ZOCing the supply lines. The Land Action is probably less likely, since S/O should give this region pretty good weather most of the turn, and that means more time to get the job done here.

But Italy did have 33 points available to attack Suez. They should have done so immediately instead of wandering far afield. Leaving units in supply in your rear areas is a recipe for disaster. Especially if they can be reinforced (as the CW can here). Dreams of Iraq should be set aside until after the real work is done.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

quote:

ORIGINAL: Red Prince

quote:

ORIGINAL: Centuur

On the CW issue: I would suggest rebuilding Gort next turn (an HQ is always important). Also: I would wait and see what the Germans will do in regard of the French still being in Morocco. In Egypt: it sure looks like a nice move with that MIL, however: Wavell is going to get attacked with a 3-1 against him, if the Italians use the airplanes in ground support, together with the MECH and the HQ stack. And that's not so very nice, IMHO. No: keep that double stack in place, blocking Italian access to the Red Sea for the moment.

I agree with Steve that the only place the CW can start going on the offense is East Africa. I would suggest the TRS of the HQ in Britain, together with the MECH and some INF towards that area. Together with some TERR already in the area, you get a force of about 5 units, who should be able to eliminate those few nasty Italian TERR and can than start moving north.

The 3rd impulse (Allied) will allow the 4-2 to move to another hex (probably southeast) AND have a reinforcement debark into Suez. With so much of the fleet in Aden, I can spare a few of those units to provide them with Defensive Shore Bombardment. I took Steve's advice a few pages ago to heart. Make the Italians work to win Egypt . . . or Suez, at least.

The only problem here is that the Italians, if they wish, can reinstate supply to any units along the Red Sea, by flying the NAV out there. Unless the CW commits a lot of AA factors, it's unlikely to get aborted. There are 2 TERR units in the Horn of Africa at the moment that would benfit from this. I also intend to build more TERR units with Italy, along with ship repairs each turn. Italy knows the CW can easily start taking back Africa, and the more "speed bump" TERR it puts in the way, the better off it will be.

If Italy does manage to take Suez, which is looking more difficult now, then the CW might have a problem with an East Africa attack. They could get bogged down, and Italy would be fine if that happened anywhere short of Eritrea and/or Somaliland.

The problem with sending the HQ from the UK to S. Africa is that I may need him to reorganize as many as 8 Convoys . . . if I want to reset my pipelines this turn. I'm not going to start playing this turn for a day or two, because I want to really examine the map to see what is possible, when it is possible, and what should be the priorities here.

No. Having an Axis NAV in the Red Sea does nothing for the Italian supply in Egypt. They would need full control of the Suez Canal to trace back to Italy.

quote:

ORIGINAL: composer99

I should like to re-emphasize my suggestion that CW real units (non-TERR) be used to crush the Italian territorial which is being a nuisance. The CW TERR can make the long slog up the East African coast. The CW real units can land on the plentiful beaches of Sudan or Egypt (the mountains on the coast north of Thebes are promising), facing most likely just 2-factor notional units (1 factor doubled).

To deal with Axis airpower in the Red Sea, until the Axis brings in actual FTR the CW carriers with Gladiatiors should suffice.

quote:

ORIGINAL: composer99

Hey, I'm not saying you want to do those things right away. Once you've got some forces assembled will be fine.