Christmas Special

[jnimer]

spring 1940

so germany won the initiative and drew a 2. guderian shattered the french 3rd army in compagnie while hoth pinned the french 1st army in picardy. no casualties were sustained by either side during ground combat in picardy but in air to air fighting a british spitfire, hurricane and two french fighters were shot down against 1 me109. in the mech phase guderian smashed into paris soundly defeated the remnants of the french 1st army and mech reinforcements from picardy while the bef retreated to normandy. german losses were very light overall although two stukas were shot down by aa. in the atlantic uboats dealt another 15 damage points too britain and the commonwealth and with france defeated the economic warfare campaign shall surely reach a new intensity. in norway germany reinforced oslo and occupied trondheim pulling the fins closer into the german orbit. in the mediteranean italy continues to prepare for war against the british while in the east russia cleaned up the baltic states with no incident.

[jnimer]

summer 1940

the western allies win the initiative and draw a zero allowing them to save the bef from normandy. germany quickly occupies non-vichy france and finishes off norway. britain is faced by an intimidating french coastline and the battle of britain begins. the non-existent british fighter force offers no restistence to the intense german bombing. meanwhile the kriegsmarine sallies into the atlantic along with the wolf packs. it is a happy time as no uboats have been killed yet. in the med italy declares war and invades sidi barrani while the british reinforce mersa metruh - both sides might have the defensive advantage. meanwhile germany has deployed the afrika korps to italy and significant forces to the balkans.

[jnimer]

autumn 1940

in the atlantic the german merchant raider is finally hunted down by the exeter cruiser group in the south atlantic, bringing to an end a prosperous year of raiding. Germany with her balkan allies launch a cautious invasion of yugoslavia and greece while in africa graziani wins the initiative and dares to attack wavell. the british lose a tank and artillery against an artillery and two italian infantry. both sides pour reinforcements into the region and the british strip the british isles of fighters to send them to egypt. the british also attack italian shipping knocking axis mech units out of supply and making rommel angry at OKW. in the atlantic the german fleet sallies forth under lutjens to attack british convoys but is brought to battle by ramsey. in pitched battle the scharnhorst is sunk and the battered german navy retreated back to port only comforted by the thought that the bismarck will be launched soon. elsewhere the uboats and bombing of britain continues to wreak havoc on the british economy almost bringing them to their knees. one me109 is shot down but the net negative to britain is still 18.

[jnimer]

winter 1940

the germans finish conquering yugoslavia but are met with stubborn resistance in greece. guderian was redeployed to central poland leaving bastico in charge of attacking the peloponnesus. the greeks inflict four casualties, primarily against the italians and withdraw to athens. italy does launch an amphibious assault on crete which they easily take. in egypt wavell launches a daring counterattack against the italians ensconced at sidi barrani and sends them flying back across the border with heavy losses. in the atlantic thanks to advantageous initiative the weakened kriegsmarine again sallies forth to attack the convoys but the british begin to fight back - an ace is sunk and another sub and bomber are returned although a spitfire is shot down. with US lend lease picking up and the german air force redeployed to the east perhaps the worst is over for the british although many subs remain. in poland the germans prepare for a spring offensive against russia.

[John D.]

You can tell the Axis took few losses based on the Barbarossa set up. Looks like the Russians will have their hands full and Stalin will have a meltdown for a turn or two. Everything in the North African campaign is out of supply - tough to keep that going. Very nice playing on both sides...

[jnimer]

I hope so. Im sure we've missed some opportunities through the rules not being second nature , but both sides have done good things.

[jnimer]

spring 1941

in the west the british fleet blockades some of the u-boats in port but consequently open themselves up to krigsmarine raids under lutjens. meanwhile in italy the british invade bardia setting up a showdown in africa. In russia the germans launched operation barbarossa and bagged several large pockets. Hoepner invaded riga and then meched over the dvina river while guderian smashed bialystok and took minsk in the mech attack with no losses! it seems that whenever the germans win a victory guderian is somewhere close. in the south things went less well tactically but was strategically succesful. hoth took uman and then sent his tanks into zhitomir - a brutal battle took place and although they took the city they took heavy losses in mechanized units. the finns also took murmansk. things look bleak for russia and stalin did indeed have a meltdown.

[jnimer]

russia

[jnimer]

summer 1941

mixed fortunes for both sides. in the atlantic the uboats sally forth while the british move to defend the convoys and blockade lutjens's fleet. however this early move allows the bismark to sally forth to attack convoys. the british are not getting good die rolls and despite decent protection take 20 damage points and inflict no losses. in africa there is better news as rommels attack on auchinlek in bardia fails miserably despite excellent air cover and his infantry are destroyed. in worse news the british fleet attacks italian shipping doing 15 damage points and cutting most axis mech units and two artillery out of supply. rommel wisely chose to retreat over Mussolini's protestations and tobruk seems likely to fall soon.

in russia the german southern fortunes reversed as the germans utilized the summer double mech move to encircle russian troops at odessa. in the center guderian advanced to the gates of a well defended moscow and destroyed some small soviet forces. however, in the north while the finns managed to take vyborg, hoepners attack against pskov bogs down in the lakes around leningrad - numerous infantry are lost and a bomber and stuka squadron are shot down by aa. the germans are forced to retreat and receive most of the german reinforcements.

[jnimer]

autumn 1941

in the atlantic the u-boats continue to deal significant damage to britain and the commonwealth and sustain no losses. only one u-boat has been lost the entire game. the german atlantic success has been tempered by a series of disasters in africa - while the axis devoted all of their Mediterranean air assets to defending shipping headed to el agheila and resupplied the africa korps.

in russia axis forces liquidated the odessa pocket and finally took pskov. german commanders opt for the cautious approach before the russian winter hits.

[John D.]

Well guys - You are really both playing stellar! Amazing first time game! As the rules become second nature you will pick up speed but certainly impressive progress so far. Looking forward to seeing more!

[Mark]

Love the Rodney miniature and the mixed vehicles you are using for the German Motorized units.  I need to go pick up some of those. . .
Game looks like it is going well - whoever you are playing against seems to have picked up the game pretty quickly.
Are you playing with the variable US entry rules?  I noticed some playing cards on the table.  We usually do not play with that option - so I am interested in how it is going?

Hope you guys are having fun with it!

[jnimer]

thanks. for the motorized infantry i used what used to be italian motorized infantry miniatures before they were banished and some of the trucks from GHQ artillery sets. We are not playing with US variable entry but did with russia. tons of fun so far! I really like the new naval movement rules. Quick question, when ships return to port at the end of the turn, does it doesnt have to be a large fortified port right? and can a fleet be based at a port they took in the regular movement phase? thanks.

[Mark]

A ship can return to any port (but must adhere to port capacity - so a 5 point port can only accommodate 5 ships).  Note that if your Italian ships end the turn at a North African port, each ship ported there also counts for North African Supply.

You can dock your ships at a port taken during the combat phase.

cheers!  John and I are starting a game tomorrow too!

[jnimer]

ah, we got that slightly wrong and put too many brit ships at benghazi but i dont think that it made much difference to the 1941 winter. good luck with your game!

winter 1941-42

the russians counterattack driving the germans back over the dnieper and retake vyazma. they also shoot down another stuka. however the germans rail reinforcements to smolensk and the south, and appear poised to launch a devastating spiring/summer offensive.

in the mediteranean the italians throw their fleet at the british, fearful that the pending loss of tobruk will reduce morale and combat effectiveness. lachino trusts in the number of his planes irrespective of quality to see the italians to victory. alas it was not to be, while the italians shoot down two british fighters, they inflict no naval casualties on britain while losing a cruiser and submarine. meanwhile on land slim finishes off tobruk before heading to the pacific while monty takes over the 8th army and institutes a lengthy training regime in preparation for the assault on el agheila in the spring. the germans land a transport plane at tripoli in preparation for the coming evacuation. maybe the regia marina will redeem itself and rescue the german heavy units.

in the atlantic the u-boats have a time time of things. two are returned and one sunk; only 10 damage points are inflicted on the british. meanwhile chit draws prevent any opportunity for the kriegsmarine to raid.