Nations at War with Hexes

Simon invited me to join in another game of Nations at War and I suggested trying out my hex mat.  NaW was originally a boardgame after all.

As it was a club night and some of us are still learning this rule's system, we went simple, two formations per side, but with the added twist of hidden set up.

In the fields and houses hides the Devonshire Regiment.

German recon battalion can be seen in the distance.

The Germans are getting closer.

A lot closer

Too close.

The Devonshire's open up.

The Germans get a move on and try an outflank.

The County of London Yeomanry have finished refueling

and have arrived to put a stop to the German recon.

The Germans are backed up by a panzer battalion,

but that doesn't save their recon force receiving some concentrated fire.

However it is not all one way and the British Cromwells come under return fire.

The battle lasts a few more turns.

The recon troops withdrew and then tried their luck on the other flank.

However the British were able to make use of their interior lines to shift the focus of their fire.

The panzer battalion was smashed and the few surviving recon elements withdrew.

In the last decade I have played a few WW2 miniatures games.  Blitzkrieg Commander, to which Nations at War most resembles, gave some good if at times rather odd games.  Crossfire is always fun, but at the low end of the scale (squad).  Rommel is a better fit for me, but it is good to know that I am able to use my miniatures for different WW2 rule sets.

World in Flames via FB - 30 and 31

 Bad weather delays play.

Long post - a couple of sessions

1942 S/O EOT – N/D

Axis 2nd Impulse and with Snow in the Arctic Storm in the Temp and N Monsoon. GERM takes a land and resets its line, moving forward several Axis Minor Mtn units, including the Italian Alpine Corps. Italy a no cost Comb sails a conv out to the E Med and under instructions from Berlin sends another land unit to the French Coast to man the Atlantic wall, acft are rebased. Japan takes a no cost Comb, conserving oil – they land units in China and in Manchuria, withdraw another hex South as they straighten their line and more Zeros are redeployed to Hong Kong.

Allied 3rd Impulse - Russia rolls weather +1 ( – same roll as before - snow again in Sept 10% chance, GERM complains bitterly about the weather – 2nd Arctic snow impulse in Sept! The Russian launches its second winter attack for S/O, this time in the Pripet marsh against two low grade units a 3.3 SS and a 2.5 Rum Cav – GERM groans as the expected result will create another GBA with a probability of a dead unit, possibly two. Russian orchestration is not as good as it should have been with a Mech Div left out of the battle and a their best Ftr (6) in Kiev not flying offensive CAP. The GERM support with several acft and elect a Blitz hoping to see a retreat on the units and limit the GBA opportunities. Another ‘get out of free card’ is handed to the GERM as the Russian rolls a below average 8 for modified (19) and losses a WP Corps as the SS and Rum Cav are spiralled – Stalin not happy – two +11/12 attacks and the only losses are Russian, having rolled a 5 and an 8. Anything rolled marginally above average would have seen GERM A/T, Arm, SS and/or the Rom Cav eliminated and two hefty GBAs on the table. Instead, the Russian first winter offensive has cost Stalin 11 valuable O-points and a 6.4 SIB Inf for 1 x INF GBA upgrade and recapturing 1 hex with no loss to the GERM – not the return of investment he was hoping for – so much for the two ‘bonus’ S/O snow turns. The CW takes a Naval to move Tpts as the turn is likely to end as the US takes a combined to search for Jap conv and SCS, again all their searches fail as they roll more 9’s and 10’s. To add salt into the wound, the Russian rolls the EOT – helping the Axis position (Initiative roll shift to the Axis) and again the Partisan EOT roll of 6 sees no Partisans in China for the sixth consecutive turn, over a year of no Chinese Partisans.

EOT rebasing, production, and reinforcements. The US delivery of 3 x BPs to France; sees that construction of the Brazzaville factory. Japan bites the bullet and builds its second oil facility – sucking up most of this turns production.

1942 N/D

A new month, the last of the year and GERM finally rolls a respectable Initiative with a very handy 9, and the Allies do not contest/re-roll as the weather is likely to be bad and no Allied theatre is under threat – Russia rolled a 2. The Axis weather roll of 8 +2 for a 10, mixed poor weather Blizzard in the Artic and snow in the Temp/Med with rain in the N Monsoon – advancing by 3 – this will be another short bad weather turn – not what the Allies want.

Having won the initiative, GERM takes a Land as it needs to adjust its Russian front line, needing more than 6 x land moves – the U-Boats stay in port. The Italian takes a Naval and Japan a Comb. GERM attempts a GS on Chisinau losing a Stuka with its pilot for the cost of the intercepting Lag9, the Russian AA averts any GS success by the remaining bombers. Italy transports two more Garrison Corps to Libya/Egypt to counter the Allied build up in Morocco and Saudi Arabia landing a 6.1 Gar in Port Said and railing a 6.4 Inf into the Egyptian city of Asyut, Italy escorts its valuable Tpts with SCS and air in the E Med. Japan aborts surplus Convs from the South China Sea, leaving only 2 to deliver the oil. Escorts are sailed into the China Sea, the US subs patrolling search and finally roll a 3 for a find, but their delight is soon overshadowed by the Japanese roll of a 1, the dice gods have favoured the Axis as Japan damages one sub and aborts the other. The Italian sub operating in the Arabian Sea likewise rolls a 1, yep two searches, and two 1’s, damaging and aborting 3 British Convs.

End of session – A pleasing turn for the Axis, especially Japan whose convoys were not found so they are able to ship resources and oil to Japan, losses on the US Subs were welcomed, and again no partisans in China. GERM and Italian losses are minimal as the weather has stopped further land operations.

1942 N/D (EOT) - Bad Weather Worsens

Allied 1st Impulse, and the US takes its mandatory Naval with reinforcements arriving in the (Pacific) Pearl and Europe, two more Essex arrive, the Essex and Lexington II and the first US CVL Cowpens. The US Pacific Fleet sails into the South China Sea under the cover of two 7 factor long rng Ftrs – issuing the challenge to the Japanese fleet to fight for this sea area if they want to keep their NEI oil. A US CV and several CA’s are despatched to support the CW enterprise and provide valuable air cover to the British Tpts in the Red Sea. The US Ftr searches for the GERM Conv in the Baltic supported by Russian and CW Nav air operating out of Riga – and so it begins – no find. US searches for Convs off the coast of Japan and in the South China Sea are non-events as the US rolled 10’s and the Japanese not much better. The US naval forces in W Europe take up the duty of Conv escort as the CW has elected a land. Launching from Saudi Arabia CW MECH and MOT units advance West capturing the Jordanian port of Aqaba as Mountbatten HQ debarks from India to direct operations to retake the Suez. Alexander and a 7.4 Inf commence a long rail journey, not quiet the Orient Express, from Archangel to Iran’s port of Basra and Aust Inf advance into the Egyptian city of Aswan. The Axis seemed to be aware of the CW plan as a GERM 6.1 had railed into Asyut to bolster their Italian Allies and a 6.1 Gar had arrived in Port Said. The arrival of CW forces led by Mountbatten into Jordan, threatening the Suez will illicit further responses from the Axis as the back door to the Med, now ajar needs to be kept firmly closed.

2nd Axis Impulse and the weather roll of 8 +2 (10) sees the weather remain the same, importantly for the GERM it is Blizzard in the Artic, so there will be no attacks on their line. GERM and Italy take land actions as the CW venture in Jordan attracts some attention as the Italian and GERM garrisons advance to cover the eastern approach to the Suez. A number of Axis Ftrs and Navs are redeployed to the E Med. Japan decides to take a Naval and challenge the US Pacific fleet in the S China Sea, flying long range zeroes and Navs into the 3 box to support the combined fleets of Advance and Strike – both sides fail to find with a roll of 10 from the US and a 8 from the Japs – no one wants to play apparently – hundreds of ships and acft all fail to find each other!

2nd Allied Impulse. The US takes a combined, Russia a Land and the CW a Naval. The CW Naval sees more Tpts sent to N Africa, convs sailed and escorts to cover convoy routes, Amphs and Tpts left out at sea. An Indian and S African Ftr arrive in Jordan’s Red Sea port of Aqaba to provide at least some modest air cover. The US combined sees additional ships committed to the South China Sea but a third in a row 10!, yes three 10’s in a row by the US leaves him more than perplexed. Japan also fails to find which is another huge relief for the US. Allies fail to roll EOT.

3rd Axis impulse – weather worsens with a roll of 10 +2 for a 12 Blizzard/Storm everywhere. GERM finally feels confident to take a Naval and the U-Boats are released to hunt Allied Convs. The BC Scharnhorst and Gneisenau sail out to the N sea and roll a 1 – a find and D the British CA Ceylon, clearing the sea area, U-boat searches are favoured by the dice gods as the Germ rolls two more 1’s and a 3 – four finds out of five searches in terrible weather – the sub commanders were well pleased. In the Bay of Biscay, the 1 – 5 split sinks 3 Conv’s and the British with a loaded Amph at sea elects to abort the Bay and return to port as the GERM die rolling is superb and the night is theirs. The Vichy Sub in the Cape St Vincent, its crew sacrificed by the GERM, gets a 1 – 8 split and selects a loaded Tpt (Mech Corps) for an X – a 50/50 roll favours the CW as a save is rolled, damaged it aborts with its cargo – a close run thing as the Vichy Sub is sunk by return fire from the Allied escorts. GERM Search rolls were 1, 1, 3, 7, 1, four finds in five searches in bad weather. The Italian takes a no cost land as the Italian Egyptian Garrison occupies a forward defensive line and ‘digs in’ and welcome the arrival of its Piaggio Hvy Bomber from central Europe to assist with defensive support of the Suez. With Blizzard in the N Monsoon, Japan takes a combined and seeing an opportunity to ‘take on’ the Pacific Fleet aborts all its CV from both its fleets so that they cannot be found – in the irony of dice rolling that has been the session tonight both Japan and the US roll 10’s! Axis roll the EOT to set up a double impulse, but more importantly deny the Allies a third impulse, the initiative shifts to the Allied +1. The Axis roll Partisan and again a 10 sees no Partisans in China for the seventh consecutive turn.

J/F 1943

A new year J/F 1943 and the dice gods still favouring the GERM, they win the initiative roll and elect to go first, ironically the US rolled a 1 for the Allies (he could have used that roll in any search last turn), on a hiding to nothing the Allies do not contest/re-roll as the weather will be certainly bad. The Axis roll weather and roll bad weather 7 +2 for a 9 Blizzard on the Artic again (Russia mumbles) Snow in the Temp and Med but fine in the S China Sea – the US is pleased – not so the Japanese. A good roll for the Axis – again, advancing by 3 – this will be another short and bad weather turn, excellent start for the year.

End of session – Another pleasing turn for the Axis, almost a replication of the previous N/D session with few Axis losses and Japan’s convoys and fleets remained unfound allowing her again to ship resources and oil to Japan, further losses on the US Subs and yet again No partisans in China extending the record to 7 consecutive turns since a Chinese partisan has been rolled. A bonus for the Axis with the EOT U-Boat attacks sinking 3 Convs, aborting 3 and cutting one of the main CONV links to the UK forcing it to use its last 8 UK stored oil to maintain CW production. The Allies having only two impulses has severely curtailed the opportunity to develop the land operations in Morocco and Jordan – both were about to be launched. The Allies are stretching the Axis and forcing them to react and commit both land and air units to multiple fronts, rather than reinforce the Russian Front. Ominously for Japan the Pacific fleet has elected to base out of Manila threatening both the South China Sea and the China Sea

End of Year Summary.

A mixed year for both sides – but clearly still in the Allied favour with the failure of the GERM 42 Barbarossa Campaign – this was huge – to be on the Polish/Rumanian border at the commencement of 1943 is rare. The poor Japanese position, compounded by the entry of the US into the war does not bode well for the Axis when the 43 weather finally clears. That said, the Allies have had their opportunities curtailed by the bad weather and consequent short turns during 42. This has seen the last 6 months (3 turns) of offensive operations result in marginal losses to the Axis allowing the GERM and Italian to focus on new builds rather than replacements. Typified perhaps by the two Russian S/O Winter (Snow) attacks that failed with rolls 5 and 8, with the only loss a Russian WP INF Corps and the inability of the Western Allied air forces to find neither Italian SCS or Axis Acft in the W Med has given them the opportunity to build out force pools – the GERM has been advance building FTRs in 1942 and with little progress in Europe has created a tactical pause to build up Axis defences.

1943 should be the turning point. The Russian will hold the key to defeating Germany. Germany is stretched as it is fighting in Russia, Rumania, Poland, Norway, N Africa, Egypt and having to maintain a viable defence along the Western European Coast. The clear weather turns of 43 will be decisive as the Russian air-force will be substantial, Russia will have ‘spare’ land units and O-Points to burn in order to break the German line. In Europe Allied air supremacy is increasing with every turn, paras and marines are already stationed in N Africa and the UK and the first of the Mdm and Hvy bombers are arriving from the US. Japan’s maritime advantage has dwindled with the arrival of 5 x Essex class CVs and their 6/5 ftrs air groups supported by long range land based Ftrs and Navs. It will be very surprising if Japan is not isolated from the Chinese mainland in 43 leaving the land forces in China OOS and vulnerable to the Chinese land attacks who have had unprecedented success in 42 and seek their country’s liberation. There will be little to stop the Pacific fleet, now based out of Manila from simply sailing into the China Sea – well apart from rolling 10’s! In the Med the Allies will be pushing from both the E and the W, from Morocco and Jordan as the CW seeks to liberate the French Territories and the Suez.

The Second Front - when is it coming demands Stalin, Churchill responds that he has a 2nd front Norway, a third front Morocco and now a fourth front Jordan! The CW only has so many troops

Morocco the US/CW build up continues

Gibraltar and the huge airfield that is Morocco

Jordon - the Suez campaign is launched

British Troops arrive in Jordon to take back the Suez Canal

The Russian Front 1943 - not a sight that you will often see

Army Group North - very safe under the cover of Blizzard

Army Group South - Blizzard as well

The Far East - ominous signs for the Japanese

The US Pacific Fleet arrives in Manila and is welcomed by MacArthur

The Pacific Fleet in Manila

The Pacific

Pacific Fleet reinforcements in Kwajalein

EOT N/D Losses - minor for both sides - it is a winter turn after all.

From Salerno to Rome - Part Seven

We only had time for one impulse (the second one in December 1943), but it was a clear weather impulse and the Allies had to make the most of it.

West coast and the V Army surges forward in an attempt to destroy all Axis forces before them.

East coast and the VIII Army renews its attacks.

While they were probably planning on pulling back anyway,

the success of the Allied attacks have hurried the Germans along.

Do the Allies have enough remaining activation points to follow up on their success?

Sadly no.

110 grams of Soviets

Oh dear, my output has drained to a trickle.  However these are the models/figures I need  to complete the Soviet force for the Smolensk scenario for Hexes and Miniatures.  Of course, now I find I am a few units short on the German side, not to mention terrain.  But I will get there!

I'm short on crew and the gun models weren't the best made, but the table top they will look fine I'm sure.  On the table all models are grey (or green).

Three 3D AB40s and a Lancia 3Ro 6x4 Command Truck

These had been finished a while back.  Happy how the armoured cars turned out, but my brush technique with the truck left me a bit nonplussed.  

From Salerno to Rome - Part Six

I did not expect this game to take as long to play as it does doing.  While occasionally things need to be checked in the rules, the main time consumer is deciding what to do.  There is so much to do and often very little you can actually do. As Turn 3, November 1943, wound down, I had 40 units I would like to move, but only one or two I had the ability to move.  Making the decision was a tricky process. 

The situation at the end of November 1943 after four or more impulses of bad weather.

The storm clouds lift (cleverly depicted by the photographer's shadow)

and preceded by a massive bombardment

the attack on Naples goes in.

End of the Allied first impulse for December 1943.

While Naples has been captured, which opens up further opportunities for invasions,

a major attack by the 8th Indian, 2nd NZ, newly arrived 1st Division on the east coast,

 failed to break the river line.  It was close.  

German counterattacks north of Naples fail to achieve much.

World in Flames via FB - 29

A full day's session and not much happened, which given it was summer 1942 was probably a good thing for the Allies and particularly the Soviets.

AUSGAME 2020 1942 J/A – OPERATION BARBAROSSA 42 STALLED

The full day session started with lots of promise for both sides but ended up being a somewhat frustrating day of gaming as neither side achieved any significant gains.

There were only two more Axis and Allied impulses for J/A 42 much to the chagrin of the GERM who watched as Japan, ignoring his pleas of a long turn so that he could take advantage of the last of the guaranteed clear weather turns and the destruction of the Russian Ftr cover, but no, Japan rolled a 1 to end the turn.

The notable events for this turn, and there only a few, were:

• Japan contested the South China Sea and sent out her fleets and convs – no finds by the US who rolled 10.s and 9’s – no search attempts by Japan, who was very content to have her convs remain at sea ‘unfound’ and successfully ship oil and resources back to Japan.

• Only one attack by Army Gp N rolling an 18 on a +9 Blitz attack – destroying the newly promoted 9 INF GBA, but only one attack on a clear weather turn was a bonus for the Russian.

• Only one attack by Army Gp S rolling an 11 on a marginal +3 Blitz attack, for a 1/1 – both Russia and GERM lose a Div.

• On the Axis 4th impulse, a run of good luck in the air for the GERM as he shoots down 3 x Russian Ftrs in a row for no loss. The EOT losses were a little more balanced with 5 x Russian Ftrs V 2 x Axis Ftrs and 1 Italian Land lost.

• Russian AA units were very effective again, driving away multiple GS again! and reducing 6 and 5 point Stuka’s to 2’s and 3’s – distracted by the dense AA the Stukas failed again to invert much of the Russian front line, limiting GERM attack opportunities – 9 GS and only 1 Russian Corps inverted – GERM not happy.

• CW HQ (Gort) and CW Marine arrive in Riga, to supply Western Allied acft – the first US 6 factor long range Ftr arrives in Riga and threaten Helsinki. GERM Happiness level moved -1.

• The first Baltic attack by Soviet Subs sees a damaged sub for 3 damaged convs – call that a draw.

• Hi-light for the CW as he rolled a 1 in the Norwegian sea to avoid being found by the Italian Z511 NAV (what an acft 19 Rng and a 4 A2A rating and 5 Nav factors – WOW) that had flown from Norway to hunt the CW convs supplying the Norwegian CW Garrison in Trondheim.

• The one Chinese land attack for the turn sees success again as a +6 with a 19 rolled – Japan losses 2 more units.

• Partisan EOT roll of 6 again sees no Partisans in China, nor elsewhere no partisan activity J/A.

EOT rebasing, production, and reinforcements. The US declares 2 x BPs to the CW shipped to the UK and 3 x BPs to France; mostly in the form of factory parts and machinery so they can start building a factory in their capital Brazzaville – Mid Congo.

1942 S/O Bad Weather Arrives Early

Yet another important roll for the GERM and Russian – the initiative! The Allies with a +1 (no re-roll for the Axis but winning ties) is won by the Russian roll, and with no hesitation Russia takes the initiative. The weather roll is a 9, very bad weather, Storm in the Artic and N Monsoon, with rain in the Temp, a +1 on the next weather roll and advancing by 2, it is looking like another short turn. Storm in the Artic means no Gs on the Russian front line – more breathing room for the Russian.

Allied 1st impulse and a land for Russia as reinforcements, both air and land are rushed to the front, Russia declines a combined to search for the unescorted Baltic convs – a missed opportunity to have a ‘free’ shot at GERM production in favour of land moves. The CW and US take their first impulse obligatory Naval actions – these first impulse naval moves for these ‘big naval’ powers take time as they need sail out additional convs and escort them, as well as transport units from the US. The combined Allied W Airforce in Morocco and Gibraltar launches into the W Med to hunt for the lone Italian CA – AGAIN, for the first time the Axis decline to contest, as the combined Allied A2A challenges the Axis value. Content to remain in their airbases in Sicily the CW searches and against fails to find – some sort of record, in failed searches here. The CW player complains again about the Allied lack of ‘return of investment’ in the W Med venture and is promptly castigated by the GERM, reminding him that the allies are ‘doing well’ – point taken, but still frustrating. The Royal Navy not expecting to challenge the Regina Marina in the E Med retire to Convoy and Tpt/Amph escort duty as reinforcements from the USA and UK arrive off the shores of Morocco. The US reinforce the Pacific as the brand new BS New Jersey and the first two Essex Class CVs, Yorktown II and Bunker Hill arrive in Pearl with a Tpt and its cargo of 7 long range Ftr. A BS squadron sails into the South China Sea under the cover of Storm and gets lost as it promptly rolls a 10 on its search – nothing to see here.

Axis 1st impulse and GERM takes a Comb and sails a BS squadron led by the Bismarck to escort its valuable Swedish iron ore resources, from Russian naval interference. And adjusts his font line and rebases acft. Italy takes a naval and transports another GERM Corps to Libya and sends escorts into the Med high boxes, a British Sub finds the Italian Conv in the W Med and sinks it. Japan takes a naval, aborts excess Convs from the S China Se and heavily escorts the China Sea, and ships an additional Mil into China.

Allied 2nd Impulse and the weather worsens with a 10 rolled +1, for an 11, Snow in the Arctic Storm in the Temp and N Monsoon. The loss of the initiative and two bad weather rolls in a row puts paid to the hopes of the GERM renewing the 42 land offensive and making any further gains in Russia – 1942 OP Barbarossa has failed. Stalin takes a break down at his winter Dachau in the Black Sea, content that Mother Russia is now safe.

With the early onset of snow in the Arctic the Russians declare their first winter offensive led by Gen Yeremenko and spends 11 O-Points and launch an attack against the GERM double stacked Arm that had advanced in J/A – at a +12 blitz the dice gods were kind to the GERM delivering a very poor roll of 5 (17) for the Russians – R and half invert. To add salt to the wound another Russian 6 factor Ftr and its pilot was shot down on a 19 by the GERM Stuka! The GERM had played a ‘get out of jail free’ card and breathed a sigh of relief. The CW and US took combines, The US continued to search for the convs in both the China and S China Seas and continued their trend of rolling high – no finds, worse the Japanese escorts on the China Sea found the two US subs sinking both – Japanese morale improved as celebratory Saki was shared in the messes. The US has some grounds for complaint to the dice gods, his last 6 searches looking for Japanese were 10/10/9/8 7 and 6, at least they are reducing. The S/O turn could end this impulse if the Axis roll 2 or less 1943 beckons.

Summary

The full day session started with lots of promise but ended up a frustrating day for both the Allies and Axis, as neither achieved any significant success. The Allies were frustrated with the US inability to find the Japanese naval assets and the less said about the Allied efforts in the W Med the better. The only highlight for the GERMs was his superior rolling on the A2A table where he destroyed 6 Russian Ftrs , 5 in one turn (J/A) for the loss of a single FTR and an Italian Bomber. The destruction of half of Russian air-forces Ftrs although one sided is not calamitous as the bad weather has arrived and stalled the offensive land operation by the GERM. In simple terms GERM was not able to exploit his success in the air as by the time the clear weather returns to Europe the Russian air force will have been replaced and with better acft. The loss of the initiative in both J/A and S/O compounded by the severe weather in S/O has meant that OP Barbarossa has failed, and Russia is safe. The Atlantic wall is being reinforced and will take a major effort to breach as the majority of hexes are now garrisoned with Corps.

As we transition into 1943, the initiative is, as it was historically shifting slowly into the hands of the Allies who are now on a time line, albeit fairly generous to reduce the Axis empire before the end of 1945. They cannot be complacent or hesitant, which will force a degree of risk taking, and with risk opportunities are created for both sides. The game is tracking to an Allied victory, but it may well be hard fought; short turns, unlucky attack rolls and bad weather – the nemesis of the Axis 39 – 42 campaigns in France and Russia could result in a marginal Axis/GERM victory if they can hang onto 9 victory cities by the end of S/O 45. The GERM player is experienced and an excellent defensive player, so it is not game over – but an Allied Victory can be lost to complacency, bad luck and the Allied players. It is now up to Allied and Axis players to create and take opportunities, to implement their plans and frustrate their opponents.

J/A EOT Losses, mostly Soviet but enough Axis losses to make it costly.

The Atlantic wall is garrisoned - DDay 43 is going to be very tough to get ashore and stay ashore - note GERM MECH and ARM in reserve.

The Russian Front - S/O 1942 OP BARBAROSSA has stalled.

Army Group North - Stalled in bad weather but the 1st Russian winter offensive was shrugged off after a very poor 5 from the Russian +12 attack.

Army Group South - Stalled, no advance no retreat.

Russian Front in detail

China - no change - bad weather will do that.

South China Sea - Storm and it is the battle Wagons looking for Convs

New Arrivals - the first of the Essex class arrive escorted by the New Jersey - bad news for the Japanese.

The Far East and the Japanese are limiting their losses by taking small risks.

Truk still Japanese?

Saudi Arabia - Mountbatten (HQ) ready to sail to distant lands to co-ordinate land operations.

First impulse losses S/O 1942 - early days BUT the turn could end this Axis roll!