World in Flames Withdrawal Symptoms - Turn 1

For the past few years I have been playing in World in Flames games hosted by Mike.  This has been weekly, but we are currently on break and I find I am suffering withdrawal symptoms.  The solution was to have a go on Vassal.  I have tried to do this previously, but found it too complex, but with increased rules knowledge and game experience and driven by the WiF itch, this time I persevered and at least got it set up.  Vassal really helps in the set up, but there is still lots to do and check and decide and wonder about, etc.

Europe ready for Germany to pounce on Poland.

Japan already embroiled in China, but wait, there is a denuded border with the USSR.

USSR sets up first before Japan and I didn't put anything into this front.

Turns out the political penalty for Japan declaring war on the USSR is negligible.

While Japan could easily grab some resources and Vladivostok,

it is not well placed to bring about a quick resolution of the war

and might have trouble getting the resources out anyway.

So the Japanese will resist and focus on China.

First Impulse

Germany declares war on Poland.  The US receive 1 Entry Chit.  

Poland deploys centred on Warsaw.

Germany goes paid land, Italy free combined and Japan paid combined.

The Japanese use their Amph to transport a marine corps to Port Arthur to undertake temporary garrison duties.  Their other naval move is to transport Yamamoto, the engineers and the other marines to Shanghai.

The Italians move a transport to the Western Mediterranean and pick up the Sardinian territorial which debarks into Tripoli. 

Using their two long range naval bombers and Ann, the Japanese conduct strategic bombing of Chungking (4 factors). The die roll is just a five, but as the raid is not intercepted, 1 BP is lost.  

Germany uses all its air mission ground striking Lodz and Warsaw (a 4 and a 3 on each taking full advantage of surprise for double rolls).  Everything is flipped except a division in Lodz.

The trains are silent.

In China Terauchi moves to Peking following behind the cavalry while the 8th Army advances on Changsha.  The attack comes at Chengchow.  It is a straight +16 and the die roll is 12.

 The city falls.  The Chinese get 1 cadre point and the US Senate don't care.

The Germans advance into Poland, destroying the Polish convoys in Danzig.  The Germans assault Lodz committing von Bock and the engineers for a +12.7 attack.  To the south their armour blitz their way to Warsaw with a +14.5  attack.  

Lodz falls to a 11.1 die roll which produces a TOTT result. 

The blitz succeeds with a modest 7.8 die roll.

The Commonwealth and France declare war on Germany and call out their reserves. The US Senate takes notice.

The Commonwealth takes a paid naval, France a free land, the USA and USSR free combines and China a free land.

The Edinburgh and Glasgow loaded with mines sail into the Norwegian Sea.  The Home fleet comprising three carriers and four battleships and four attendant cruisers, sails into the North Sea.

Gort sails to Calais and Wavell sails to Marseille.  The Suffolk sails a division to garrison Malta.  The South Africans are transported as far as the Red Sea were they are joined by escorts from Alexandria.

British intelligence reports that the German Type IXC U-boat has a range of six sea areas and so escorts are dispatched appropriately.  The Pacific fleet is also ordered to sail for Atlantic waters with some ships putting in at Singapore on the way while some reach the Red Sea.

Resisting the urge to conduct some strategic bombing, the Commonwealth and French do ground strikes against German concentrations near the Netherlands.  Surprised the Germans decide to not fire their AA.

The MB174 misses its targets, but the Blenheim flips a division and the AA guns.

A nice feature in Vassal is tracking (and you can have sound effects as well)

The Soviets resist the urge to rail units to the Far East.  There are two schools of thought: one is "don't provoke the Japanese", the other is "bring it on".  In a compromise, the Mongolian cavalry are moved closer to the border.  Few other land moves occur.

The Polish airforce flees to Lithuania and is promptly interned giving the Commonwealth two pilots next turn.

Gort and Wavell reorganise the transports ready to get more troops next impulse.  French HQs reorganise newly arrived reserves.

Second Impulse

The weather roll is a 2: fine everywhere.  While tempted, Germany decides against declaring war on the Netherlands. German reserves are called out.

Germany contemplates its naval options, but with the clear skies decides the fleet will stay in port.  Germany takes a paid land, Italy a free combine and Japan a free land. 

Italy starts to move it submarines to Sardinia.  The Sardinian territorials decide to move closer to home by advancing to the Tunisian border.  

Germany makes a big attack on Warsaw at +14.4.  The defenders total 11 points, but are all flipped.

With a die roll of 16.4 Warsaw falls and Poland will be conquered.

Rundstedt reorganise the reserves to get them ready for the next move.

The Commonwealth takes a free naval, France a free land, the USA and USSR free combines and China a free land.

The Commonwealth mine the Norwegian coast. The US think this is a good thing.  Norway is undermined!

For their one move the Commonwealth move their transport from Marseille to the Gulf of Biscay and embark a mechanised corps.

The French reinforce their border with Belgium.

The USSR "controls" eastern Poland.  The US takes notice.

While in China... It's all quiet.

Third Impulse

And the weather is... a 6.  Rain the Arctic and North Monsoon, fine everywhere else.  Advances by 2.

Germany declares war on the Netherlands. The US take note. The Dutch sub, transport and 9 convoys are set up in Dutch Guiana, with the remaining 4 surface ships and 1 convoy in Amsterdam.

Germany takes a paid land, Italy a free combine and Japan a free land. 

Japan successfully ground strikes one unit in Sian, but declines to attack.  Troops are moved south, mostly flipping in the mountains and mud.  They have become concerned about partisans and Yamamoto hangs back to guard the transports in Shanghai.

Germany makes a massive attack on Amsterdam at +22.5 guaranteeing a TOTT result.

The Samatra, De Ruyter and a convoy are destroyed, but the two Javas escape.  

Germany completes its move by rebasing aircraft to Rotterdam and hoping for a long turn.

The Commonwealth takes a paid combine, France a free land, the USA and USSR free combines and China a free land.

The Commonwealth sail Gort's transport back to Plymouth using dynamic movement. The newly acquired Dutch transport sails out to the North Atlantic.

The Commonwealth drop leaflets on Prague, but failed to print anything on them. Their mech corps debarks in St Nazaire and the South Africans hop off at Port Sudan. The Dutch convoys are replaced by Commonwealth ones.

The turn doesn't end.

Fourth Impulse

The weather is... a 5.  Same as before, rain in the Arctic and North Monsoon, fine everywhere else, but only advances by 1.

Germany declares war on Belgium. The US think poorly of this. The Belgium aircraft and 2 convoys are placed in the Congo.

Germany takes a paid land, Italy a free combine and Japan a free land. 

Japan sulks and tries to let off steam with some strategic bombing but miss.

Italy sends the Trento to the Eastern Mediterranean on its way to Asmara.

Germany forgoes Ground Strikes in favour of Ground Support in the surprise impulse. It is also running short on units and has to rail an artillery division to garrison Amsterdam.  Mustering all its forces, they surround Brussels and subject it to a +16.8 attack.  They use five aircraft in this attack, but do not commit Rundstedt.

A 14 on the dice takes the city without loss.

They use the air transport unit to reorganise an infantry corps in the hope of a further turn.  A 3 was needed to end the turn, but an 8 was rolled.

The Commonwealth takes a paid combine, France a free land, the USA and USSR free combines and China a free land.

The Commonwealth transport a motorised Corp into the Bay of Biscay which then disembarks in St Nazaire.  The mech corps is railed to Gort. The Far East cruiser fleet leaves Singapore and arrives off Cape St Vincent.  The Hampden bomber fleet is sent to raid Dortmund, but is ineffective. The Belgian airforce rebases to Angola and is promptly interned, giving the Commonwealth an extra pilot.

Will the turn end?

Yes. (2 rolled, 4 or less needed)  Allies are relieved.

End of Turn Stage

Partisan roll is a 10. Red Africa - Germany selects Algeria.  A 2 is rolled.  Partisans appear, occupying the resource the French needed to use the French.

The US take an entry chit, but don't pick any options.

Production

China 4 BP 1xMil and 1xCav

Commonwealth 11 BP 2xTerr (Sudan & India), 1xCVP0 [Note: 4 turns to build!], 1xNAV3, 1xPilot, 1xTRS(fd)

USA 12 BP Build 2 Oil and save 1 BP.

USSR 8 BP 1xArm and 1xGar

France 5 BP 1xHQ

Germany 17 BP 1xHQ, 1xLND2, 1xPilot, 1xRaider, 1xSub(0), 2xMil

Italy 5 BP 1xNAV3, 1xPilot

Japan 9 BP 1xTerr (Manchuko), 1xMech Div, 1xPilot, 1xLND2, 1xCVP0

Japan also scraps a plane for 1 BP each next turn.

Peace

Poland and Netherlands are conquered.

But there is no peace in China.

And Europe looks set for further fighting.