One Sided Miniature Wargaming Discourse: World in Flames via FB

Monday, April 19, 2021

World in Flames via FB - 21

Further action depends on the weather...

On the Russian Front it all depends on the Garrison Values.

AUSGAME 2020 1941 – N/D 41 

Another abbreviated summary of this week’s session: 

Axis won the Initiative so Zen balance as the Allies won the first three turns and the Axis the last three turns of 41.

Axis go first and roll another clear weather !

This session 2 x Axis and 2 x Allied impulses 

EOT Losses – see photo

Notable events:

• The weather in N/D first impulses –  fine everywhere.

• 2 impulse played N/D both sides – Axis started, can roll EOT with a 1.

• Another 41 bonus fine weather and the GERM again fail to dislodge the British from Trondheim, + 7 Aslt needed to roll 13 or more, GERM rolled 6 for a below average result of 13 -/- all inverted.

• The GERM Raider Atlantis again finds the British CONVs – 3 times in a row, with a big split they sink 3 conv and abort 2 and return to Angola – Happy Times. 

• British RNavy escorts finally defend their Convs with two finds – 1 x Italian Sub Sunk , 1 Vichy Sub ‘D’.  

• Manchurian Front - Little Change – Russia declines any attacks and rails ARM Corps to the West.

• Japanese conduct anti-partisan sweeps, destroying 2 x Partisans in Central China ROLLED a 20! and a Comie Cav in Manchuria.

• Jap front line now consolidated.

• Chinese launch 3 attacks and elim a JAP Cav, retaking the Northern Mountain range but lose a Warlord and several Divs, incl a 1.1 GAR Div that did a soak off attack v the Jap HQ.

• Russian sub and US Subs/CA’s strike the poorly defended Jap Convoy system but come off second best as the Jap rolls three x 1’s in a row on the search dice as the US roll 2 x 10’s and a 9 – the Japs seem to have broken the US Naval codes.  No Jap conv/shipping losses!

• The CW CV group fail to find a lone Jap CA in the Bay of Bengal.

• CW Forces liberate Rabat from Vichy Control, GERM land a HQ and two GERM units in Morocco to block any advance, occupying the Eastern Mtns – more GERM forces arriving along the N African coast.

• The Italians seem to be Garrisoning the French/W European Coast

• GERM built their 3rd Oil Facility this turn.

• US Marines, HQ, Conv’s, CV’s and CA’s arrive in the European Theatre. 

• No DOW by the USA or GERM.

Summary.

A good turn for the Japanese, rolling a natural 20 and 3 x 1’s on naval searches has seen his luck turn for the better. The GERM failing to dislodge the British from Trondheim will be annoying to the GERM as it is tying up significant units. The arrival of US Convs into the ETO will mean that CW will remain in supply unless GERM or the US DOW. GERM has now heavily committed to N Africa, Sicily and Norway, with some of its best units – the question of whether it will DOW v Russia remains unanswered as the Axis Garrison is not being ‘maxed out’ and the building of 3 x Oil Facilities (21 BPoints) may suggest a fortress Europe with denial operations. Current combat indicators suggest that the most dangerous course of action (MDCOA) will be a spoiling attack by GERM v Russia in 42 to maximise the surprise turn effects using axis air incl Italian Land to invert units and attack to cause as much early damage and then defend, minimising losses. GERMs most likely course of action (MLCOA) is to maintain the GV on the Eastern front for as long as possible without a DOW v Russia in an attempt to keep the US  out of the European war (and a build increase) whilst ensuring it is high enough that the Russian cannot DOW. In the Med – to keep out the Allies as long as possible and if the opportunity presents itself, to kick them out of Morocco cutting off and taking Gibraltar, closing the W Med. Time will tell – as for the Allies keeping up the pressure on the Japanese both on land and Sea without too much loss until the US Essex CVs and long rng Acft arrive to take the war to Japan. Japan has a window of 4 -5 turns before they lose their freedom of action of the high seas. The critical vulnerability is Japan’s lack of oil – with only 3 oil per turn, that is only just enough to conduct 2 x Lands and 2 x Naval – not enough for a long turn, 7 impulse turn. An interesting game.