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.

Norway - the British are still there

The first US land forces arrive - the Marines arrive in N Ireland

Russian Front - first to blink - GV check and recheck - 

waiting for M/A when the DEF GV halves - then it gets interesting 

W Med still in Axis hands - the Italian Navy delivers GERM units into Morocco

Morocco - erhm 'liberated' by the British, Clark arrives to supervise

Arabia - Mech forces arrive in British Somaliland

Far East

The Japanese front line is 'tidied up' no more partisans until the next roll

Manchuria

THE PTO - still green

The big picture - the Pacific a very large Allied lake.

The US will get back some of the 50+ oil stored in Canada 

Losses - the war of attrition has started - losses minor on both sides. 

Operation Splendour - The DAK are back!

This is the fourth time I have played or umpired this scenario, the second time using hexes.  The club games day came up so fast I was lucky that I still had everything labelled from last time, even though it was six months ago.  This time I took the Afrika Korps and Simon the Allies.

21st Pz on the left, 15th Pz on the right.

15th Pz go into action against the 161st Indian Motor Brigade 

which has been pushed forward to seize the northern(?) most objective.

The 6th NZ Brigade has taken the objective to the south on the Ruweisat Ridge line.

After receiving a bloody nose on its first attack,

15th Pz again attacks, only by now the Indians have had a chance to dig in.

15th Pz keep attacking, their objective is to isolate the Indian troops on the high ground.

Meanwhile 21st Pz has advanced against the New Zealanders.

DAK operations are cut short by a poor roll for ops dice 

(ones are a fail).

The British 23rd Armored Brigade has now arrived.

21st Pz attack!

After a pause 15th Pz resume the attack.

DAK Reserve have arrived.

In a battle of maneuver,

23rd Armored have by passed 21st Pz and are heading for the other objectives.

However 21st Pz is not going to let the Valentine equipped British pass 

without inflicting some casualties.

After another repulse suffered by 15th Pz,

the DAK Reserve make an attack on the northern objective.

 

23rd Armored have taken one objective.

They also then take the second objective in their sector.

At this stage the Allies hold all four objectives.

The DAK Reserve again attack.

21st Pz attack to try and retake the objectives captured by 23rd Armored.

The northern attack is reaching its limits of sustainability.

21st Pz seems trapped between the New Zealanders and the Valentines.

Luckily it can trace its supply lines through the Axis minefields.

The climax of the battle is upon us.

15th Pz and the DAK Reserve press their attacks.

21st PZ seems to be getting the upper hand against 23rd Armored.

15th PZ have broken through,

isolating the Indians holding the northern objective.

A final attack carries the position, sealing an DAK victory.

21st Pz mops up the last of the Valentines.

Victory was achieved on the last turn.

Carthaginians versus Romans

This time Dave and I went for a more historical match up as we tried to get back into Impetus Second Edition.  Just 300 points.

Deployment.

Turn one advance.

Turn Two advance

Roman CnC is downgraded.

Turn Three contact.

I threw plenty of sixes, Dave threw plenty of ones.

My sub-general is killed.

The Roman sub-general is downgraded.

Turn Four and Roman morale breaks.

I am not sure that Second Edition, for the effort involved, provides a more enjoyable game than Basic.  If there was only Second Edition I would be happy playing it, but given Basic...

Red Star White Eagle - Campaign Part 5

Life has a habit of getting in the way of things, but the boardgame must go on!

I don't think I've ever played a game with such a fluid front line.

The Poles have continued their attack against the West Front (northern sector).

In retrospect I should have withdrawn.

Having learned my lesson (maybe),

both West Front and South West Front have pulled back.

The Poles move up, attacking the extreme south of the West Front.

The South West Front pulls back.

But the West Front has actually attacked on the extreme northern end of the line.

More surprisingly this was actually successful, although with casualties.

The Poles move up cautiously against the South West Front.

But in the north they launch a bloody counterattack 

which for once doesn't see vast numbers of Soviet units destroyed.

The game plays slowly, not because the rules are complex or that there are a lot of counters, but because deciding when and where to attack takes a lot of consideration.  In the top left hand corner of some of the above images can be seen a pile of counters that Richard has resorted to using to mark units' start and end points to aid in planning for the launching of attacks.

World in Flames via FB - 20

German build up on the Soviet border, Vladivostok holds, Iraq conquered, Iran in the grip of Partisans.

Elsewhere, Commonwealth invades Morocco, Vichy fleet largely destroyed.

AUSGAME 2020 1941 – S/O 41 EOT

Due to time constraint, abbreviated summary of this week’s session:

No GERM DOW from the US. The CW DOW Vichy France and invaded Morocco – no USE Chit, 5 needed, Russia DOW Iraq 1 x USE entry Chit lost, 9 needed, GERM Aligned Yugoslavia 1 x USE Chit gained, GERM rolled 2, 3 needed.

EOT Losses – see photo

Notable events:

• The weather in S/O was diverse went from 10 to 1 in two impulses – storm to fine everywhere.

• 4 impulse S/O turn both sides – Axis started, Allies ended.

• Last bonus fine weather GERM failed to dislodge the British from Trondheim, + 6 Aslt needed to roll 14 or more rolled 12, so close.

• British RN again failed to find GERM Surface ships in the N Sea (Bismarck) rolled 7 and 8 or find anything else except for teh poor V French ships.

• On the Surprise attack 4 x V French ships BS Ricelieu, CA’s Colbert, Algerie, Primaguet and 3 x Conv were scuttled by their crews as British invade the ports but captured CA Duquesne

• Manchurian Front - No Change

• Russia rolled a 4! v Iraq 2 Cav – Russia lost Cav Div

• 2 factor Partisan in Iran oil port of Bandar Shapur still causing angst for the Russian, denying oil and tying up units, likely to take two full turns to eliminate.

• Japan lost the CA Chikuma and DIV with an unlucky find by the US CA Salt Lake City – she rolled a 1, 1 – 8 split in US favour.

• GERM continues to build up on the Russian front. GERM GV now 64 + 18 chits average at 2 (36) or average at 3 (54) Total either 100 or 118. Russian GV 42 +27 chits + 7 points reinforcements. Total GV 76 – GERM needs 152 to break Pact until M/A 42 when GV is halved.

• Japanese oil constraints will ease a little as Japan has captured 2 x NEI oil (Borneo) and now have an oil factory in Japan – 3 oil per turn still marginal to wage war. Japan’s build still only 8 BPs as she has not cleared partisans occupying Chinese resources yet – been busy with the Russians and the US.

• EOT rolled by Allies - no shift in Initiative tracker – still +2 Axis.

• EOT Partisan roll 5 – 2 x Partisans turn up in China.

• Japan did miss an opportunity to destroy a Part in S China in the bonus clear – distracted by the US Naval ops – he won’t do that again.

Summary

The early US DOW v Japan is going to be a significant challenge for the Japanese, juggling a land war with China and Russia whilst keeping the US at bay with only 3 oil and 8 BPs per turn is not an easy ask – especially with Rabaul, Kwajalein Singapore and Batavia in Allied hands. The focus needs to be capturing the other NEI Oil, Malay resources and dealing with the pesky Partisans to free up more resources. On the brighter side winter will see little action so oil should be accumulated and there are free resources in Malaya that the CW can do little to protect, Singapore is only marginally garrisoned and is currently OOS and the Japanese CV fleet is larger and has significantly better CVP than the US – so the US has to be a little cautious. GERM looks as it is preparing for a 42 Barbarossa whilst defending the Med, Norway and Western Europe. GERM was a little unlucky not to take Trondheim but did need an above average roll – this is tying up 9 units including two x Arty and 4 acft – many of which will be needed in Russia. Italian acft, bombers have arrived near the Russian front and this will give the GERM a bonus ‘Air’ on the surprise impulse, one significant weakness of the GERM is his lack of aircraft in Russia.

The Allies are well position, the CW loss of Egypt is still annoying and the loss of the Suez strategically limiting. However, the build-up, albeit slow in India and Arabia is gaining momentum and being able to reinforce Batavia and challenge the Japanese if they stray too far east bodes well for future operations. The Royal Navy continues to be the bane of the CW with few successful finds, luckily the axis subs seemed to be plagued by the same malaise and the conv lanes remain intact. With the US entering the war this will be less concerning as both supply, extra US convs and escorts will be arriving in the next couple of turns. Russia is struggling to remove a single Part off their Iranian oil fields, which may take two turns and an inordinate number of units – and with bad weather and the threat of Barbarossa this will need careful management, and further assessment if it is worth the late investment? The USA is very happy as it finds itself in the enviable position of having achieved all its 1943 objectives in 1941! He will be able to operate his main fleet out of Rabaul and his subs out of Batavia. Truk is very vulnerable and the biggest risk to the US is the US itself becoming overly confident and risking a major naval CV battle too early – needs to control his blood lust. China will continue to ping away against single ‘at risk’ Japanese land units in a war of attrition that will be uncomfortable for the Japanese, especially if the dice are kind to the Chinese.

The Battle of Norway - the British are still in Trondheim despite the best efforts of the GERM.

The Russian Front - the 1942 OP BARBAROSSA build up continues.

All the Way USA - convoys and escorts out patrolling the high seas

Morocco invaded by CW forces.

Morocco invaded by CW forces.

Morocco invaded by CW forces.

Destruction of V French Hvy Ships the harsh realities of War.

The Axis W Med blockade - a NAV Wall of Death and Naval destruction - none shall pass!

Arabia - in Allied hands ATM

China - little change

The Far East

Manchuria No Change

The USA claims the Pacific in S/O 1941 - two years early!

Losses mixed bag.