Once again I bring you Mike's posts that would otherwise be limited to Facebook readers.
In this game I am playing the Commonwealth.
AUSGAME2 2023 - WAR IS DECLARED (again)
SEP/OCT 1939
After a hard-fought win by the Allies with our last game going through to M/A 45 – nations changed, options selected, and sides taken.
Axis 1st Impulse, Germany and Japan both take Land actions with Italy a mandatory Comb. Germany’s first action is to DOW v Poland, rolling an 8 to give the US only a single chit, Poland aligns itself with the CW setting up two units in Lodz and the ‘wagons’ around Warsaw – see photo. Germany’s initial GS v Lodz with his 4 factor Stuka all fail, but the Polish HQ in Warsaw is flipped. With limited options Germany elects to attack the surrounding Polish defenders using his ARM/MECH on the Blitz table. Three blitz’s are declared +19, +18.3 and +16. Rolls of 3, 11 and 20 take all 3 without loss or flips. The 8 ARM overruns the 1 factor Polish Div on the outskirts of Warsaw and is re-inverted by Leeb. The 3 factor Art, adjacent to Lodz was also re-inverted by Junkers acft for future ground strikes against either city. Germany managed to overrun and capture the Polish Conv as a prize of war.
Japan’s land sees two attacks against the forward MIL defenders, who are sacrificed for the ‘greater good’ knowing that they will get a Cadre (1BP) for each and a roll on the USE of 4 or less for each city captured. The attacks are +18 v Chengchow, 14 rolled TOTT and on then on Changsha – bad luck for the Japanese as a poor roll of 8 on the +11.5 (19) results in two losses for the Japanese – not a good start for the IJA, but conversely an excellent exchange for the Chinese. The USE rolls are average and generate 1 chit as a 2 is rolled for Chengchow’s capture. An early attempt to Strategic bomb Chinese production with a Long Rng NAV sees a miss, but only just with a 6 rolled. Italy sails a sub to Cape St Vincent on a training exercise, EOT advances by 1.
Allied 1st Impulse, France and CW’s first act is to DOW v Germany and a very lucky roll with a 10! No (–) Chit the US is delighted as this is a rare occurrence. Allied Res are placed for the CW and France. The CW takes a Naval sending out a 3 x CV Fleet out to the North Sea and multiple SCS to escort its Conv’s. Gort and Wavell arrive in France – looks like the BEF will be bigger than normal with the CW committing both HQ’s to France putting the defence of Egypt at risk if the Italians get ‘frisky’. Long Rng GS against the two German HQ hiding in woods by both France and the CW result in Rundstedt being inverted on a 1! This is significant as it stops 4 German Res units, including the 8.6 Res MECH from being reinverted on the 2nd impulse. The British HQs reinvert their Tpts to enable a second uplift of CW units. France sends units to the front line and reinverts its Res units with HQ’s. China vacates the forest resource hex in SE China and double stacks its line where it can, flipping several units to get into the Mtns. The Communists vacate Sian which is occupied by the Nationalists.
Russia decided to take an interest in Iranian politics and sends Zhukov to the border to conduct exercises. Most of the Russian long Rng Acft arrive for flight training. The 2 x Polish planes are interned in Lithuania and their pilots sent to the UK for retraining on British acft. EOT advances by 1.
Axis 2nd Impulse, The Axis are delighted as Germany rolls a handy 2 – fine weather everywhere, EOT advances by 1. Germany takes a Land, Japan and Italy a Comb. Germany declares war on Denmark and Netherlands. USE rolls of 7 (v3) and 3 (v7) sees another USE chit added to the GER/ITAL Pool. The Netherlands fleet is overrun with only 1 Conv captured, and 2 Conv’s sunk. All their CA’s and 1 Conv escaped which is a handy addition for the CW naval escorts, gaining three extra CA’s. German planes in the 2 box fail to find the escaping fleet, rolling a 9. Copenhagen is occupied and assaults are declared against Amsterdam and Warsaw at +19 and +12.3. Rolls of 11 and 15 see TOTT results as Germany take the cities without loss. Denmark’s capitulates without a fight as German Panzer Jagers roll into the capital. The last upright HQ re-inverts the 4 factor Art and the 2 best Res (9 Inf, 8 Mot).
Italy sails a CA to Cape St Vincent on a training exercise, British Merchant ships wave a friendly hello, EOT advances by 1.
Japan’s Combined sees units sail into Canton in anticipation of the opening of the N Monsoon campaign season, the Chinese resource hex is occupied, and acft rebased South. Attempted GS using 250LB HE in woods is fruitless, so no attacks and the EOT advances by 1.
Allied 2ND Impulse, Tonight the Allies kick off their 2nd impulse, almost certainly with the mining of the Norwegian seas as Churchill has directed the Admiralty to patrol the N Sea and Norwegian Coast and the German has not intervened. The French are comfortable, although another fine weather roll for the Axis will see another DOW against Belgium, and its probable fall. The USE has a handy 5 Chits in the GER/ITAL pool and 1 in the Japanese, being 1939 chits this will mean some big numbers for the US to consider the EOT, although they may loose a chit for the Mining of Norwegian ports and actions by the Russians when they occupy the Polish border lands.
Germany had a mixed night, average USE rolls, poor ground strikes but on the positive side no losses yet, decent attack rolls (5 at av 12) and an excellent weather roll. Captured CPs are of little value whereas the flipping of Rundstedt and the failure to engage the CW fleet in the North Sea were more crucial. The ARM and MECH which were earmarked to move West remain behind in Poland to support the assault on Warsaw. If the weather remains fine for a 3rdimpulse, Warsaw will fall and a DOW on Belgium is likely albeit with less units and the units required to break the French line still in Poland but upright.
· ACFT – Aircraft
· Conv - Convoys
· OOS – Out of Supply
· Rng - Range
· TOTT – Top of the table a 23 or more
Western Front - Netherlands Fall but the Netherland Navy escapes to fight on
Polish set up - Warsaw surrounded by the wagons.
End of the 2nd Impulse and only Lodz survives
British prepare to mine the Norwegian waters
British fast mine layers are deployed to the North and Norwegian Seas
Typical start to the war in China - the Chinese run to the Mountains and dig in.
China is happy that there are two losses for Japan from their first attack.
USE - great start for the US, Japan ominous signs - but early days.
