Feb 3rd Hartford Game (w/Pics)

[Mark]

We have folks coming in from Cape Cod, Boston and from Connecticut for a big game this weekend.  We are getting together at 9am and nobody leaves until the war is won (or lost. . .)  I'll bring my digital camera this time. . .

[Mark]

So, we had a long game that went all day Saturday into the wee hours of the morning before we could finally call it!  I think everyone had a great time - I know I did!

Players broke down like this:

Mark and John: Axis (can you believe it. . . )
James: Britain and France
Joe: Soviet Union
Todd: U.S. and China

We tried out a couple of optional rules governing uncertain entry of the US and the Soviet Union into the war (card driven).  These optional rules are under playtesting and discussed in the optional rules.  They worked out great in this game.  Also for this game, we also gave the Chinese the ability to build artillery and AA guns.

It is rare that John and I get to play on the same side!  Let's get it on!!!

[Mark]

Germany takes out Poland and Denmark on the first turn and launches a surpirse combined land and naval invasion of Holland!  John comes out of the gates swinging. . . The Brits only lightly reinforce France and decide not to contest the German invasion of the Netherlands due to the heavy Luftwaffe presence in the Ruhr. . .

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[Mark]

Winter 1939 - The Japanese advance a little more cautiouslly into China due to the reinforced Chinese builds.  In Europe, the Germans take Belgium and prepare for a Spring offensive into France.  John's maxing out on his German armor builds out of the gates.

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[Mark]

Winter 1939 - Allied turn. . .The Russians lost 4 infantry units taking out the Finns in the Winter war, but other than that - its been quiet.  In the West, the Brits leave the French on their own and the French decide to not contest the border too much.

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[Mark]

Spring 1940.  In Asia, the Japanese continue their attacks in China.  In the Med - the Italians declare war and pounce on the British fleet off of Egypt despite the Brits having 2 battleships present.

The Italian leadership was vastly superior and caught the British admiral sipping tea in port appaerently.  The Italians hit with every one of their ships I believe and the Brits missed with every roll except one. . . The result was the sinking of two out of three British battleship units in the world and the ellimination of the British Naval presence in the Eastern Med.  Talk about Pearl Harbor. . . What's Tora Tora Tora in Italian?

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[Mark]

The Germans enter France against weak resistance and decide to blitz into Paris.  It's a major showdown and risk for a mech attack - but John goes for it. . . and is repulsed - the French exact significant losses on the German armor and hold Paris. . .

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[Mark]

Since Italy declared war - the French fleet pounced on the Italians off of Egypt - who were apparently still basking in the glory of their recent British victory to notice the French fleet pulling up behind them. . .The French succeeded where the Brits failed and smacked the Italians pretty well.

Meanwhile. . . with the Germans in Burgundy, the French decided to sit tight in their trenches around Paris.  But then thought that they should give up and sue for peace with the Germans instead (especially becasue the English left them hanging by themselves!).  So, The French surrendered in the Spring of 1940.

But, the French navy deserves some sort of award - because, after France fell and they nailed the Italian fleet - most of the French fleet decided to go allied and join the Free French.  This was a tremendous boost for the Allies - after losing two British battleships - to get the French one to help reconstitute the fleet at Alexandria!

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[Mark]

The Japanese take advantage of the French collapse and occupy French Indo-China and Siam joins the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity sphere. . .

Meanwhile. . .the Italian fleet retires to the Adriatic for repairs and is replaced by the Luftwaffe - fresh from its victories in France.

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[Mark]

In the Summer of 1940 - the German's garrison France and the RAF reinforces Egypt and the Middle East

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[Mark]

Summer 1940 - Romania, Hungary, Finland and Bulgaria join the Axis.  Russia builds its defenses on the border.  the Japanese reinforce Southeast Asia

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[Mark]

Surprise!      The Italians (that tricky John again. . .) spring a surpise assault on Gibraltar with 3 transports loaded with German and Italian infantry along with a German bomber supporting from Northern Italy.   The unsuspecting British have only 2 forts defending the rock! 

But - providence shines upon the Brits again - they barely escape defeat, dodging Italian battleship shells and German bombs, they hold out long enough to elliminate all 6 of the infantry divisions assaulting Gibraltar and emerge victorious.

Meanwhile, the Italian army builds up in Egypt for an assault on Cairo. . .

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[John D.]

What's Tora Tora Tora in Italian?

Tora Tora Tora in Italian is....

Tora Tora Tora!

[Darkman]

Hehe nice pics.

But i think France & Britain did a mistake with not fortifying picardy with bunkers and not moving many british troops & fighters to france
(Very hard to beat)

[Mark]

I like to make France more of a fight too - knock the Germans down a bit if you can in Spring - Summer 1940 to try and weaken them for Russia - I'm not sure why James did not - he invested quite a bit in ASW and an airforce as well as really beefed up the Brits in the Pacific prior to Japan going to war.  Maybe that was what was behind his strategy