One Sided Miniature Wargaming Discourse: Don't Mention The War

AUSGAME 2022

J/F 1943 A New Year – The Weather Gods lend a helping hand to Germany and Ukraine.

Reinforcements are placed including the 15 BPs allocated by Germany to align Ukraine – something that has never occurred in our group, ever. We had previously and collaboratively agreed the return of investment was simply not worth the 15 BP and the loss of the SS units, especially when you have to withdraw some from the front line. However, other games have extolled the advantages and so the German Player has decided to test the waters. The Allies, AKA Stalin win the initiative for the first turn of 1943, and roll a perfect 4+2 (6) for snow in both the Arctic and Temperate, Stalin dances a little as he considers the first winter offensive of the war.

Allies 1st Impulse. The CW and US take Naval actions as CW escort their convoys and take the opportunity to move Tpts/Amphs around with no storms at sea. The USA subs sail against the Japanese convoy lines and fail to find but are found with lady luck helping Japan, a US sub is sunk and another damaged for no loss. The CW searches in the Baltic for Germ Convs, off the Italian Coast for the Italian convoys and for a Japanese CA and fails to find any. Searches for the Japanese patrolling CA Aoba by the US is more successful, with a find and sink. Reinforcements arrive from the US W Coast including the first two, long range 7 factor Ftrs and another Essex class CV which are all needed to contest the Japanese air superiority. China declares a land and attempts to GS the occupied city of Kwei Yang, with only 1 inversion they decline an attack, and reinvert the Arty, for a second GS next impulse. France now with a few units looks for opportunities against the V French in W Africa.

Russia declares an O Chit on Rokossovsky spending 9 O-Points and launches a winter assault from Dnepropetrovsk and across the Dnieper using massed winterised units and an Eng, with a handy +9 blitz and shooting down several German land-based Acft which were called in to support the German defenders. Russia rolled a 16 for a TOTT roll taking the hex and eliminating two defenders. The Russian 1st ARM Corps was promoted to GBA Status becoming a 12-5. Russian ARM advance across the Dnieper River hoping to continue the momentum of the winter offensive and threaten the City of Kirov Roy. Further North, in the Pripet marshes a lone German 7 Inf is attacked by Russian winterised units taking the hex with ease and eliminating a valuable German Corps, the 6th Inf Corps (8.4) is promoted to GBA status for heroic efforts and leading the assault. Russia rails out the factory from Stalino as the Ukrainian workforce has become agitated with rumours of independence, several German spies and agitators have been apprehended dressed as Ukraine union and committee members and have not been heard of since. May the snow continue as the German Line is starting to be stretched. EOT advances 2

Axis 1st Impulse. Japan takes a Naval and escorts its convoys and send its subs on patrol in the Pacific, the only sub search by the Japanese is against a Greek conv in the Arabian Sea, which is found and another big split by the CW sinks it. Transports and Amphs deliver reinforcements to China as the land war becomes a priority as the navy transitions to DEFOPS. A large anti-partisan sweep is certainly about to be initiated. Germany takes a land to reinforce its Russian front line and to block the holes from the Russian success, especially in the vicinity of Kirov Roy where a dangerous breakthrough threatens. Several SS units are withdrawn from the frontline both in the West and East – indicating support for Ukraine independence. Italy takes a no cost combined conserving her oil. EOT advances 2

Allied 2nd Impulse.Russia looking forward to a second ‘double snow’ is deceived by the dice gods who take pity on the Germans – a pleasant change for the Axis - with a 9 +2 rolled for horrible weather even by Russian standards, Blizzard everywhere and snow in the Med, and EOT advances by 3 – another short turn. Russia takes a no cost land and rails out the Ukraine factory of Kharkov, again Ukraine workers have been seeking to slow production, so it is off to the Urals for the factory and its workers. With few attack options the Russian declines to attack and repositions itself for the next impulse by concentrating its white print units – just one more snow turn. HQs are moved forward to assist with logistics should the rumours of Ukraine independence manifest themselves. The CW and US take combined actions, The CW search again in the Baltic for the German Convoys and again fail to find rolling a 10, worse in the Bay of Bengal the first search roll the CW rolls a 10, and the Japanese finds and damages a CW Sub. In the second search roll the CW rolls another 10, and CA Kent is sunk by a single Japanese CA rolls a 1:10 split on its search and surprises the hapless cruiser which suffers a 2 x D, with both save ironically being a 1 and 2 the CA is sunk. The CW has rolled three x 10’s in its last three search rolls and is becoming somewhat frustrated. France and the US attempt to assault the capital of Mid Congo, but the Vichy Garrison sensibly surrenders. The US rebases naval and air assets in the Pacific. China fires its Arty against Kwei Yang and gets the inverts it needs to assault the city, in an impressive performance in the air the Chinese air-force shoots down both a Land and Ftr for no losses – alas this is not reflected in the ground assault, as a 6 is rolled which results in a Chinese loss. EOT advances 3.

Axis 2nd Impulse. Germany declares the state of Ukraine promising independence, having expended the mandatory BPs to install a puppet government. Suspiciously, the results of the referendum are more numerous than the population with many deceased Ukrainians apparently voting to join the tripartite Axis nations. Ukraine becomes an ally of Germany as many German SS units are disbanded, including many from the front line as purges within the German SS officer Corps continue as a condition of the signing of the pact. No more supply, reinforcement from these now occupied Ukraine cites, and no more Cadre from lost units fighting in the Ukraine – a big loss to for the Russian replacement strategy – and no forward reinforcement cities which has implications, especially for EOT rolls. However, with a depleted line as multiple SS units have been disbanded, Russia looks at the reduced stacks and prays for another impulse of snow. Italy takes a no cost combined to conserve oil, and Japan takes a land action to bolster its garrison and prepare for anti-partisan sweeps in their rear areas.

… and then, the German roles a 1 for the EOT roll, wiping his brow and for the first-time smiles as his vulnerable front line is saved by the EOT roll and thanks the dice goods. Partisans roll, and a 4 factor Ukrainian Partisan turns up in the city of Voroshilovgrad – it seems the rumours of independence were true the city has rallied to the Ukraine cause, possibly prematurely as it is a long way from the German line. Rebase, production and reinforcements. For the first time the Russian reinforcements, especially acft cannot be placed in the now occupied Ukrainian cities, this has changed the face of the game.

M/A 1943

Allies, AKA Russia rolls a 1 for the initiative, the Axis do not need to contest and roll a 9 for the weather, with only rain in the Artic, EOT goes up by 1. Axis will start M/A next session.

· TOTT – Top of the table a 23 or more

· LOC – Line of Communications

· NCC - No Cost Combined – no oil used

· USE - US Entry