Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2002 22:33:56 +0200

Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2002 22:33:56 +0200

From: Mattias Román <mattias.roman@nacka.mail.telia.com>

Subject: GR: Nacka in Flames III, part 1, 1939-1940

This is a game report of a game played in Nacka, Stockholm, Sweden from 02-05-19 to 02-06-10.

Game started: 2002-05-19

Rules in use: RAW6, 1 die CRT/separate results/fractional odds land cbt, SiF, LOS, no DSB, no CAP, house oil & victory

Campaign: Fascist Tide

Players: Axis Mattias Román, Allies Nicklas Román

Game finished: 2002-06-10

Strategic overview: Axis Sea Lion. Axis fail to conquer France but invade England anyway. Game ends with German surrender in M/J '42.

Victory: Decisive allied victory.

Setup 1939 1940 1941 1942

Setup

Standard setup. USSR v. Rumania. Germany v. Poland but with v. Leeb and four corps on the Yugoslavian border. German fleet in Kiel, Italian fleet in Spezia. French fleet divided between Marseilles and Beirut, CW fleet divided between Plymouth and Gibraltar. No surprises.

S/O '39 - War

On September 1st, Germany declares war on Poland. The CW and France honor their pledge to the Poles and promptly DOW Germany. The enraged Germans respond with DOW against Denmark and Yugoslavia, and persuade their Italian allies to also DOW the CW. Rumania joins the axis side. The USSR occupies Eastern Poland. Germany conquers Poland, but the Poles fight valiantly, destroying one INF, one GAR and one LND2 for the Germans. The Yugoslavs leave Zagreb undefended and set up their defence around Belgrade. The Germans move in from Austria but make no attacks. France bombs German production for 3 PP. German troops in Denmark reach Copenhagen before the Danes are able to mobilize, and Denmark is conquered for no losses.

However, the CW sends Gort with two corps to Denmark. Italian forces move into Egypt.

The British fleet drives the Italian fleet out of the Eastern Med, and Wavell leads a successful attack against the Italians, leaving them face-down and OOS. US congress decides to support the allies with resources.

N/D '39 - The CW retreats in Denmark

In Denmark, the British reinforce and attack the Germans at Århus. The Germans then counter-attack the British strongpoint (MECH+MOT), destroying it completely. The remaining British retreat across the straits to the northern island, still holding Fredrikshavn. The Germans in Yugoslavia slowly advance towards Belgrade. In the Med, the British again drive the Italians out of the Eastern Med. Both Italian TRS are now damaged. Wavell leads another attack against the reinforced but OOS Italians in Egypt, now commanded by Graziani. All units but the two HQ-A are destroyed in the attack, leaving them as the only two units in Egypt at the end of the turn.

In the last impulse, Germany DOW and conquers the Netherlands for no losses.

The US grants the CW a gift of several old destroyers, and promises to escort British shipping in the American East Coast.

J/F '40 - The CW reinforces Denmark

The CW sends fresh corps to Denmark and take up positions two-high on the straits hexsides. CW naval air arrives to hunt German CONV in the Baltic.

Germany sets up to attack Belgium, but leave a strong contingent in Denmark.

The Germans also continue moving towards Belgrade in Yugoslavia. In Africa, Graziani retreats to Libya in the face of CW reinforcements. The US agrees to use its aircraft to protect British shipping.

M/A '40 - Italy reinforces Africa

Atrocious weather prevents Germany from going into Belgium. More German forces are moved from Denmark towards the low countries. The Germans in Yugoslavia reach Belgrade but make no attack. Newly repaired Italian TRS reinforce Libya to achieve numerical parity with the CW. The US occupies Greenland and Iceland.

M/J '40 - Germany conquers Belgium

Germany DOW Belgium and easily destroy the Belgian army. Liege, Antwerp and Brussels are taken for no losses and Belgium is conquered. France moves its army into Belgium to start the real fighting. Germany is unable to break the French line, and by the end of the turn the Germans are still not out Of Belgium. Hungary decides to join the war against Yugoslavia, which is conquered for the loss of two Hungarian INF. In Denmark, Germany retreats the British defenders out of Fredrikshavn with a combined blitz/invasion attack, supported by the Kriegsmarine. Four British corps remain in the NW corner of Denmark. CW naval air in the Baltic is unable both to find the German CONV and to prevent the invasion of Fredrikshavn.

The Italians, desperately struggling to maintain supply to Graziani's army in Africa, are badly beaten up on the seas. The Royal Navy has an extremely successful turn, destroying the first Italian TRS in the Eastern Med and the second in the Italian Coast. The Italians are forced to abort both sea areas. To top it off, the British also destroy all six remaining Italian CONV, four in the Italian coast, and two by port striking Spezia. Italy thus finds itself without both TRS and CONV.

J/A '40 - Italian African army destroyed

Germany has a horrible turn, managing only to take a single hex in Belgium.

The axis even pass on their fourth impulse to prevent French counter-attacks against the flipped German line. The turn does not end and the French consequently recapture the forest hex in the SW of Belgium (a.k.a. "the Hex of Death"). The French are looking strong. In Africa, Graziani's OOS army is completely destroyed and the CW captures Bardia. The bad news continue for the Italians, as their entire naval air force is shot down in the Western Med. Only the German NAV remains. To sum it up, Italy is in horrible shape, with no TRS or CONV, no naval air and no African army. Aggressive CW play has really payed off in the Med.

S/O '40 - US gears up

Again, Germany takes only a single hex in Belgium. German losses are starting to accumulate as well. In Africa, Wavell's army continues west to capture Tobruk. The US shifts more resources to armaments production.

N/D '40 - The Kriegsmarine defeats the Royal Navy in the North Sea The Kriegsmarine sorties to the North Sea for the first time, brandishing the newly fitted Graf Zeppelin as its most potent weapon and aided by land based naval bombers. The Royal Navy is somewhat taken by surprise, and Loses two CVP before aborting the area. In Africa, The CW captures Benghazi and continues west. Germany takes another hex in Belgium.

1941

J/F '41 - German wolf-packs in the Atlantic

Germany sees itself short of land units because of all the ships it has been building, and is forced to withdraw the garrison from Yugoslavia to guard the Russian border. Bulgaria aligns with Germany and rails its units to Poland. This turn Germany takes no hex in Belgium. Instead the German SUB score a victory in the North Atlantic, with 8 CW CONV destroyed. The Royal Navy re-establishes supremacy in the North Sea after a small encounter with the Kriegsmarine. The badly bruised Italian navy returns to the Eastern Med, and achieves its first victory over the RN. The British have moved a few of their BB from the Med to deal with the Germans, so the Italians are now at better odds. The CW strat bombs Berlin for 2 PP. On the stranger side, the turn seems to go on forever as the EOT# is at "8" six times before actually ending.

M/A '41 - The Royal Navy dominates the North Sea

Another skirmish between the Royal Navy and the Kriegsmarine in the North Sea ends with a British victory. The Italians keep exploiting the opportunity in the Med, and sink a CW TRS in the Western Med. The CW strat bombs Prague and Stuttgart for 3 PP. Since Germany has removed the Garrison from Yugoslavia, both Yugoslavian resources are now infested with partisans.

M/J '41 - Germany invades England

The moment of truth for the Germans has arrived. In the face of massive CW/French commitment in the 2-box of the North Sea, Germany starts the invasion of England. The skilled German naval commanders manage to avoid to engage the enemy throughout the entire turn, maintaining supply and reinforcing the beachhead in dangerous waters. Rittercreuzes are awarded across the board. Initial invasions are made in Harwich (7:1) and in hex 1336 SW of Harwich (4:1). Both are successful and Germany is able to expand the beachhead. The British move to screen the expansion while the French take air actions to ground strike the invaders. Germany maintains a sligh edge, and by the end of the turn there are six German corps in England, led by v. Bock, facing five British led by Alexander.

The CW evacuates Denmark in favour of defending the home country. The evacuation can however not be carried out fast enough to prevent the destruction of the last two corps. Total losses in Denmark has for for the CW been 20 BP (MECH, MOT, FTR2, INF, GAR, MIL) and for Germany 11 BP (FTR2, INF, 2 MIL). The German SUB screen around the British isles destroys 8 CW CONV in the Bay of Biscay. The CW strat bombs Dresden and Nuremberg for 2 PP, but regret this only moments later as the invasion of England begins. In Africa, Wavell's army reaches Homs and starts preparations for assaulting Tripoli, where Italy has stationed two BP corps with 8 CF. US congress, appauled by the German invasion of England, approves the war appropriations bill.

On the whole, German high command is not at all pleased to start the invasion of England without first having defeated France. Germany needs the extra production from French factories and needs to base SUB in Brest to maintain an effective SUB screen around England. The French air force Is also a major problem for the Luftwaffe, which can't both protect supply through the North Sea and at the same time fight the British and French air forces on land. The Luftwaffe is simply too far outnumbered when the French can take air actions. To top it off, the US got to war appropriations early.

Operation Seelöwe needs to be a major success to turn this game around for the Germans. Next turn will be crucial.

J/A '41 - British army broken

This turn the Royal Navy, with good help from the French Royale, starts hitting its mark in the North Sea. 3 German TRS are damaged but the supply line remains intact. Bock's army in the UK exploits the opportunity, and strengthened by an OC from Rundstedt across the channel, the Germans Break out of the CW containment. The German thrust goes W-NW from the beachhead around Harwich. Several CW corps are destroyed in high-odds attacks during the turn as the Germans capture Coventry, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, Leeds, Hull, Newcastle and Edinburgh. The remaining British forces take shelter in London, Bristol and Glasgow. In the first impulse the Germans attempt an invasion of Scapa Flow, but the TRS carrying the MAR is damaged by CW/French naval air and the invasion fails. By the end of the turn there are 7 German corps in England facing 3 CW corps. The CW holds air superiority. German SUB start arriving in Liverpool en masse.

Meanwhile, in France, Germany has weakened its Belgium line to the point where the French can attack it safely. They do, with spectacular results.

The French destroy the Rundstedt and v. Leeb HQs along with several face down AC, and capture Antwerp, Brussels and Rotterdam. Belgium is liberated while th French continue into the Netherlands. Germany has far too few units left in the area to properly contain the French. In Africa, Wavell sets up the assault on Tripoli at 5:1 and takes it. Libya is conquered, and the last Italian units have now left North Africa.

S/O '41 - French offensive continues

The weather is fine during the whole turn. For the first time the Germans are forced to abort the North Sea and leave v. Bock's army in England OOS.

The British Army is unable to take advantage of this however, as it is mostly face-down. Before the supply line is cut the Germans take out Glasgow, the last northern stronghold. The Kriegsmarine has suffered heavy casualties and is down to 3 operational capital ships and 2 TRS, but has done a good job of keeping the German English army in supply. The British in turn are down to 3 factory stacks: London, Southampton and Belfast and are still outnumbered 2:1. The French main fleet rebases from Marseilles to Brest.

The French offensive through the low countries continues. France captures Liege and Amsterdam and liberates the Netherlands. All German forces have now withdrawn into the German home country, but the line is looking very thin.

In the Med, Italy attempts a risky invasion of Gibraltar with its fresh AMPH. Gibraltar has been emptied by the CW because of the desperate situation in England, and Italy can invade with a 4 CF INF to get 2:1 against the notional unit. A 28% chance to take the rock... The invasion fails, the CW breathes a sigh of relief and moves the London MIL there. German SUB tried to cut supply (by CONV) to Gibraltar to make the assault automatic but failed as well. A pinch of critical luck for the CW.

N/D '41 - Standstill

Germany re-supplies the UK army. No naval combat in the turn. France stops at the German border to avoid giving Germany the PM boost. Japan declares war on the US, making it active.

J/F '42 - Germany advances in the UK

While the CW reinforces the UK, Germany advances further south to cut the railway to the London factories. At the end of the turn there are 7 German corps in the UK, facing 7 CW corps with air parity. DeGaulle arrives to take command of the French army. The US starts production of strategic bombers, allows North Atlantic escorts and rebases the US Navy to London.

M/A '42 - Axis declare war on the US

Germany, enraged to see US TRS carrying CW troops to the UK, declares war on the US. The Italians follow suit, and also DOW France while they're at it.

The Italian MAR invades Sousse in Africa and walks into an undefended Tunis to conquer Tunisia. The CW moves CONV into the North Sea to tranport resources to London and Southampton. The allies also score a major victory in the North Sea, when their 106 surface factor fleet sinks the Bismarck and the Scharnhorst and forces Germany to abort. Fortunately for the Germans, v. Bock's entire army is face-up. Previously, careless CW units fail to notice that the German MAR has moved into position to walk across the all-sea hexside from Pembroke into Plymouth. Before German supply is cut, it does, forcing a large part of the Royal Navy to abort to Belfast.

M/J '42 - Germany surrenders

In Africa, the Italian MAR conquers Algeria. In England, Germany first re-supplies the UK army and then drops the last OC on v. Bock. He captures London and scuttles the New York in the London harbour. The CW retreats SW, holding Bristol and Southampton. They also blitz the German MAR out of Plymouth. In the North Sea, axis naval air get the upper hand against the alllied fleets, and in multiple rounds Hornet, Wasp, Ark Royal, Iowa and Repulse all go the bottom. One of those rounds is a 1-10 search roll in axis favour and the allies finally abort, a great axis victory. It is all for nothing however. As the good weather arrives, France takes the fight into the German home country. Germany has no possibility to hold off the onrush of French units, twice the number of German units. The French easily break through the German line and capture Saarbrücken, Bremen, Stuttgart, Magdeburg, Düsseldorf, Aachen, Karlsruhe, Cologne, Essen, Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig and Stettin. This leads the USSR to see an opportunity to expand against non-existant German opposition. The Russians capture Vienna, Prague and Breslau, liberate Poland and claim the Finnish borderlands. Germany is destroyed. The game is over. Germany controls less than half of its own factory stacks and surrenders to France. The French graciously return control of England to the British in exchange for some serious ass-kissing. The Italians promise to behave in the future and join the European alliance against communism.

The Russians grumble a bit and swiftly occupy the Balkans. The Americans pull all of their units out of Europe to go fight the Japs. A new world order is established, with France as the leading power...

A.D.G. Copyright notice

Group.

Permission is hereby granted to copy these rules electronically for your personal use only, provided that they are copied in their entirety (including this message). Any

deletion or alteration or on-selling, without the express written permission of Australian Design Group, is a violation of domestic and international copyright law.

Please refer questions and comments to:

Australian Design Group

PO Box 6253

Los Osos, CA 93412 USA

wiflames@slonet.org.