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

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Don't Mention The War - Part 31 via Facebook

AUSGAME 2022

S/O and N/D 1943 The Axis get a break – A Hat Trick - EOT roll of 1, Initiative Win and Bad Weather.

Allied 2nd impulse As predicted the US takes a Super Combined spending his last 16 O-Points, the CW goes Naval/Land (10 O-Points) and Russia and China Land, France takes a NCC. The US Pacific fleet commits to the S China Sea taking on the Japanese Strike Fleet and the Royal Navy’s ABDA Fleet (3 x CVs and 5 BS) sails from Ceylon to support with both Allied fleets in the 2 box, and under the cover of US land based air. The US finds on a modest 3 and the Japanese a 6 for 3 points of surprise, which the US holds back. The first massed air battle of the Pacific is short lived as the US starts with a +4 on the A2A, Japanese -4. A few rounds of air combat and the Japanese lead 8 factor 12 Rng Ftr (Frank) is shot down and the A2A jumps to +7/-7 bad news for the Japanese who aborts the air battle. Excellent AA by the Japanese gunners rolling an 8 – destroying a US CVP bomber and aborts 3 factors, but the cleared through Allied bombers sink 3 CVs (Soryo, Junyo and Ryujo) not fleet CVs but a substantial loss of 3 x CVs and their CVPs/Pilots. The Japanese aborts the S China Sea and most of their S Asian holdings are now OOS and isolated (see pix). Allied naval and air assets are rebased forward.

In Europe Tpts and Amphs deliver US and CW land units into France and the W Med. The Royal Navy contests both the E and W Med and an Amph in the E Med embarks the Greek Mtn unit and disembarks it on a Greek Partisan on the Greek/Bulgarian border – claiming the hex and interdicting the Bulgarian resource and the Sophia/Istanbul rail line. The US land units advance and launch two attacks against Paris and Lille rolling TOTT on Paris (+11.9 Aslt) and a ½ invert on Lille’s +8.9, rolled a 14 for a 22. Both triple factory major cities are taken by the US – France will be liberated S/O 1943. In S France the CW launch an Blitz attack against the inverted Italian HQ Cavallaro, supported by Parras and air with a +7.5, disappointingly for the CW they roll a very average 10, forcing a retreat - Cavallaro survives. In Russia, with rain in the Arctic limiting attack options the Russian launches a single Blitz attack, led by Zhukov, again an average roll causes the stack of German Units to be blitzed back to the spiral, no GBA (none available) – not a good round for the Russians, a hole in the line but no units Axis eliminated, and only one attack.

Axis 3rd Impulse,Weather roll was a 6, another mostly fine impulse, rain in the Arctic. Germany and Italy both take Land actions and Japan a Comb. Axis land units in France reform a line on the Belgium/French border and hinged in the N East on Metz and the Swiss Alps – mostly double stacked their line has stabilised. In Southern France however, single units, mostly OOS step back in a thin ‘gray/black/green’ line to maintain supply through Lyon and the Italian Alps. In response to the Greeks arriving on the Bulgarian border, the Italians start to withdrawal from Greece and Bulgarian units are recalled to defend their capital. In Russia the line is reformed, easily filling the single hole that the only Russian Blitz attack last impulse. Japan, now having lost the S China Sea consolidated its Naval assets in the Sea of Japan and sets up and heavily protects its 8 Convoys – it only needs 8 as it has lost access to the oil and resources in the S China Sea AO. Another unit is railed to Manchuria and aircraft are rebased, including several CV planes that are now somewhat surplus with the loss of three CVs. They are heading back to Japan so that their pilots can be retrained. Germany picks up the dice to roll EOT, and promptly rolls a 1! Oh, happy days as both the German and Japanese congratulate themselves with back slaps and chest thumping – well figuratively speaking. The initiative track advances +1 to the Allies and they win ties. Two Partisans turn up in China. Rebase and production, the US gains two extra Red factories (Lille and Paris) for a few more bonus BPs before they hand over the factories to the French as France is Liberated at the end of the turn. The only French unit is the 7 Factor Ftr whose pilots and supporting squadron members are welcomed in the Paris liberation parade and celebratory diners, their will be some sore heads next week. The Allies open an excellent bottle of Chateau Pap de Neuf (see picture) to recognise this important event – it was excellent wine.

Last week’s post regarding EOT and I quote “and possibly last for A/S 43 as the EOT roll is a 1 on the Axis impulse” was prophetic as the German rolling a purple dice – no reason – rolled a 1 for the EOT limiting the Allies to only 2 impulses! This was an important EOT roll as the bulk of the Axis Armies in Southern France were inverted and about to be put OOS with an automatic attack against Lyon as it was only defended by a single inverted 3 factor SS Cav – its fall would have secured the whole of the Southern French front. Instead, all the units are now reinverted and can execute an orderly withdrawal – a well-timed and lucky roll by the German. And it only got better with the German rolling a 9 to win the initiative and then rolling a 10 for weather, another short bad weather turn to end 1943. A welcome break for the hard-pressed Axis forces who are under a lot of pressure on multiple fronts.

Next week a new year 2023 with the start of N/D 1943 and end of 1943, with the Axis going first and Blizzard in the Arctic, Snow in the Temp and Med and storm or rain everywhere else – it will be a short turn with few opportunities for the Allies.

HAPPY NEW YEAR and thanks for reading.