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A World at War (WAW) WBC 2024 Event Report
Updated October 27, 2024
21 Players Brad Miller Event History
  2024 Champion & Laurels
 

Miller Conquers The World!

WBC 2024 saw an increase of 25%, from 17 to 21 participants. These 21 players played in 5 games lasting the entire convention.

Below are reports from 5 of the games played as submitted by the players at each game.

Game 1: 4 Players – Randy Scheers (European Axis) and Chris Goldfarb (Japan) took on Bruce Harper (European Allies) and Eric Thobaben (Pacific Allies).

Pre-war games were played in both theaters.

Spring 1935 – Spring 1939

In Gathering Storm, Germany finished on a high note, drawing a +3 support event (“time for war couldn’t be better”). Taking the oracle’s advice at face value, Germany took Danzig and the Polish corridor in Spring 1939, then declared pre-emptive war on the Western Allies. This was partly driven by the high Russian purge level (27, not including +6 for the Nazi-Soviet Pact).

Axis research was balanced, with no 18-step results. German jets and rockets got to 15 steps, which meant a [+1] modifier for the Axis 1943 rolls for those projects. The West Wall ended at 8 steps, and the Axis had 6-step occupation policies (Vlasovs) and Moslem unrest results.

In contrast, the Allied research was more esoteric. Britain got an 18-step result for rockets, while Russia got an 18-step result for strategic bombers (!), as well as its standard 12 steps for armor, thanks to some timely random events and its high purge level at the end of the game. Storm Over Asia ended with Japan having a dominant position on the mainland, as China struggled because of a combination of Japan prioritizing diplomacy in China, Chinese research choices and poor Chinese random events. The Allies hope for compensation from a 12-step Australian army result, which gives Australian additional 3-2 and 2-2 infantry units in A World at War.

Japan did not emphasize research, even choosing diplomatic random events over research random events when it has the option, but it still got an 18-level naval air training result, thanks to gaining four steps from random events (which is not unusual). This allowed Japan to start the war with a stronger carrier force than would otherwise be the case.

All three tension levels were close to normal.

1939

Germany conquered Poland in Summer 1939, rather than risking an immediate attack on France, with hopes of bringing Poland into the Axis camp through diplomacy later on, as this would have caused Russia to prepare for war more quickly.

For the rest of 1939, Germany built its forces, while Russia occupied the Baltic States and eastern Poland, and fought a border war with Finland. The big Western Allied success was gaining hex control of Sweden, through a combination of a prewar modifier, the Axis prioritizing Belgium, and a lucky die roll. The Pacific was quiet.

1940

In Spring 1940, Germany declared war on and conquered Denmark, Norway and the Low Countries, and invaded France.

In Summer 1940, Germany refrained from the immediate capture of Paris, which risked high German losses and a pro-Allied French surrender level. Instead, Italy entered the war, and the Axis attacked both in northern France and at Marseilles. The attacks succeeded, but the Axis combat rolls were terrible, and Germany suffered very high losses. These losses, together with a perhaps too optimistic exploitation by Italian armor units, allowed the British and French to counterattack and retake Marseilles.

In Fall 1940, Germany conquered France and got a maximum pro-Axis French surrender level, but the damage was done and no further Axis offensives actions were possible in 1940. Britain finished the year unscathed, with all its units built and no BRP deficit – the same could not be said for Germany.

To top it off, in Winter 1940 the Axis rolled poorly for the Balkans and both Hungary and Rumania rebuffed the German attempts to win them over.

1941

In Spring 1941, Germany again rolled poorly for Rumania, managing only association, which was fortunately good enough – but the need for diplomatic points in the Balkans wrecked Axis diplomacy elsewhere for the year. Germany invaded Yugoslavia and set up for its attack on Russia, while the desert saw only minor skirmishing for the next year or so.

The Axis made a minor attack in Egypt to shorten the front to two hexes.

The Summer 1941 German invasion of Russia was roughly historical. An Axis Air Nationalist DRM increase fizzled when the Axis rolled poorly for the German counterair combat against the surprised Russian air force.

Russia being able to hang on in the north, thanks to a harsh Russian winter.

Japan attacked the Western Allies in the Pacific. No American carriers were lost at Pearl Harbor, but six slow BB3s were destroyed, with the other two slow BB3s being sunk in port.

The year ended with U.S.-Axis tensions at 40.

1942

In Spring 1942, both sides attrition in Russia. Britain attacked in the western desert and partially broke through the Axis lines. Japan consolidated its Co-Prosperity Sphere.

The Summer 1942 German attack was in the south, with German armored spearheads adjacent to Stalingrad and encircling Rostov. This stretched the Russian defenses.

Thanks to a lucky die roll, the U.S. entered the war in Europe and began to rocket the Ruhr from Great Yarmouth. The British supplied Malta, losing a BB4 to an Italian submarine, after which five British AAF based in Malta. The U.S. opened the Persian BRP route to assist Russia.

Japan announced an Air Nationality DRM increase, and invaded Australia, gaining a Japanese resistance point, although this advantage was short-lived.

In Fall 1942, Germany captured Kharkov and Maikop, and encircled Moscow, Stalingrad and Grozny. A Russian attrition re-established supply to Moscow. The position in Russia was very complicated.

Britain consolidated its position in the central Mediterranean.

The Pacific stabilized, while in Southeast Asia Japan eliminated the last Western Allied units in Singapore.

An average Russia winter allowed some German attacks in Winter 1942, and the Germans opted to take Grozny, increasing the Russian oil pressure. Both sides were stretched thin, as the front was a ridiculously long 40 hexes.

The Western Allies took a quiet turn, to optimize American BRP growth.

1943

The Spring 1943 turn was quiet in Russia, while in Libya the British overran a German 3x3 and exploited next to Tripoli, aided by the British air in Malta.

The intensity of fighting in the Pacific began to ramp up, with the U.S. raiding the Solomon islands.

In Summer 1943, Germany retreated in the Caucasus and attacked in the Moscow region. By this point, Russia was strong enough to withstand this attack, while in the south the Russians recaptured Grozny and Maikop, and resupplied Stalingrad.

The Western Allies announced a Combat Training Level increase, but nothing dramatic happened, as the buildup of American forces in Britain continued to be matched by stronger German defenses in France – at the expense of the Russian front. Britain captured Tripoli and took Sardinia.

The Pacific remained relatively quiet, as the U.S. waited for a greater carrier superiority.

Fall 1943 saw a further strengthening of the German defenses in France, which deterred a Western Allied invasion. Britain invaded southern Italy, but this did not trigger an Italian surrender, because of the Axis control of Greece.

The U.S. invaded San Cristobal, losing one carrier to a surprise Japanese air strike.

The Germans continued to retreat in Winter 1943, while Russia ended the year with 130 BRPs and 11 strategic bombers.

Additional British advances in southern Italy triggered an Italian surrender, with Germany controlling Italy down to, and including, Rome.

The Western Allies made two mysterious moves. In Italy, the British withdrew to Sicily, transferring some armor units to Britain, presumably to assist in a Spring 1944 invasion of France. In Burma, the Indian army conducted a 1:3 attack, eliminating a Japanese 3x2, as well as all the attacking Indian infantry.

The significance of these mysterious moves soon became apparent.

1944

In Spring 1944, the Western Allies rolled for a guaranteed Combat Training Level increase, which meant Western Allied armor units exploiting from an invasion hex reduced the Defense Multiplier of defending German infantry units. Because the Axis didn’t conduct any attritions against the Western Allies during their turn, because of the two mysterious moves described above, the Western Allied CTL increase, which modifies attrition combat, didn’t have to be revealed. The mysterious moves were themselves clues as to what the Western Allies were up to, as was the code name of one of the Western Allied projects selected for a research roll, but after four days of hard fighting, it’s not always easy to connect the dots.

The results were dramatic. In Spring 1944 the Western Allies invaded Dieppe, overran the German infantry unit and replacement meant to block exploitation, and took Brussels, collapsing the German defenses in northern France.

In Summer 1944, the Western Allies exploited across the Rhine, getting adjacent to Berlin and Leipzig, and in Fall and Winter 1944 the Western Allies captured Berlin, Leipzig and the Ruhr.

Meanwhile, the Russians advanced from the east, capturing Kiev in Summer 1944, entering east Prussia and Poland in Fall 1944 and knocking out Rumania in Winter 1944. The Allies couldn’t quite force a German surrender in Winter 1944, but it was clear that Germany would surrender in Spring 1945.

In the Pacific, the U.S. began its advance, with Japan being unable to withstand the American carrier superiority. In Spring 1944, the U.S. invaded Manus, the westernmost island in the Bismarcks, and in Summer 1944 the U.S. built a port in Manus. However, the U.S. forgot to fortify Manus, and in Fall 1944 Japan launched a daring 19:18 counter-invasion of Manus. This succeeded on a full Exchange, which cost Japan a number of naval and ground units, but this set the U.S. back a turn.

In Winter 1944, the U.S. consolidated its advances, as Japan withdrew to the Marianas, West Carolines and the Philippines. Japan needed to last only four more turns for a one-point victory, and an overall tie.

1945

With Germany surrendering in Spring 1945, Russia built up for it attack on Manchuria, while some Western Allied forces were sent to India.

In Summer 1945, while the U.S. continued to advance and built a port in Saipan, Russia declared war on Japan and captured Harbin and Peking, exploiting south. Russia bombed Tokyo and Osaka with 10 strategic bombers, while the U.S. bombed Kagoshima with 10 strategic bombers as well. All three targets were fire stormed. Britain invaded Singapore.

The big question in Fall 1945 was whether the rapidly dropping Japanese resistance level would hit zero, forcing a Japanese surrender.

The U.S. dropped its only atomic bomb on Tokyo and invaded the most weakly defended Japanese beach, while Britain invaded and captured Canton, and Russia took Mukden and Nanking. Russia had a 2:1 exploitation attack on Shanghai, but the outcome of the game didn’t depend on this attack, which might have failed, because Russia’s strategic bomber force was able to attack the secondary targets Hiroshima and Nagasaki (!) and firestorm them, forcing a Japanese surrender.

The game ended in a one-turn victory for the Allies – the closest possible margin of victory. As is usually the case in a hard-fought game, play was difficult and challenging for all sides, with there being many epic and memorable moments. A really outstanding game!

Game 2: 5 Players – Phil Lahue (European Axis/Japan) took on Aaron Miller, Thomas Sessler and Mark Rasich (European Allies), and Brad Miller (Pacific Allies).

This was a “learning” game with Arron, Thomas, and Mark having never played the game previously. Two face-to face-training sessions were held prior to the con to go over game play and strategy planning for the Allies. Thomas and Mark managed the European Allies until Tuesday afternoon and then Aaron took over all European operations on Tuesday afternoon.

1939-1941

Europe

The game followed a standard path during these years. Poland fell to the Germans on the first turn followed by a Russian push into Finland claiming the border hexes. Diplomatically the WA made a failed attempt to turn Spain while the Axis successfully turned Ireland in ’39 which the Allies reversed in Spring ‘40. In Spring ’40 the Germans turned west taking Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Paris fell in Fall of ’40 Prior to the French surrender, the French fleet attacked the Italian supply effort and took out 1/3 of the Italian fleet which hurt the Axis but, in the end, cost the Allies when the French surrendered, the result being no Free French and the maximum in Vichy forces. The British followed up with a patrol off Sicily and attacked the fleets in Sicily and southern Italy sinking 1 ship. The Germans move air into Sardina to protect Against this in the future. The Russians tried to push into Bessarabia and failed resulting in Rumania being an associated Axis minor. The Axis rolled for Hungary and Bulgaria. Hungary turned an Axis ally and Bulgaria remained neutral. In Barbarossa made the standard push through the front lines but the Russians recovered nicely and there was never a serious threat to central Russia.

Pacific

In the Pacific all the action was in China and back and forth attritions. The Japanese also were building up for the big attacks and the winter of ’41. In winter of ’41 the Japanese declare war on the US and attacked Pearl Harbor. They caught 1 carrier in Pearl along with the battle ships and sunk 4 battleships and the carrier. Bad but it could have been worse.

1942

Europe

Germany continued a very successful strategic warfare campaign resulting in crippling levels of transports and oil. The best thing that can be said about 1942 in Europe is that the US is finally in the war. Things in North Africa have ground to a halt at the Egyptian border with multiple bouts of attrition taking place. In the east Russia was able to plug the holes in the line and start to build up for a counterattack. The war of attrition continues.

Pacific

Japan continued to build the empire to 8 island groups but failed to take Port Moresby or Rabaul. The war of attrition in China continued with Japan making advances. India and Dacca appear to be in jeopardy. Japan is also beginning to build Wang units due to China’s deteriorating situation.

1943

Europe

Germany continues to be a force, but Russia is putting the pressure on and has a solid front. After 5 to 6 turns of little or no transports and little or no oil, the Allies are finally turning the tide and building up for an air war and making plans for the conquest of Europe. In the east Turkey came out as an Axis ally and forced the Russians to commit troops to retake Grozny.

Pacific

China and Japan have been in a viscous attrition battle with the Japanese gaining Chinese occupation and have been producing Wang units. In India, Japan captured Dacca and continue to push hard. The US is working on sending troops to help with the relief however the Japanese took Darwin so that had to be dealt with first. For some good news, the US seemed to get its act together, and the Marines took the Solomons when the Japanese declined to force a major naval engagement. The stage is now set for the push north.

1944

Europe

The Allies finally go on the offensive. Early in ’44 the US execute Torch and land a heavy armored force on an unprotected beach in Morocco and the race across North Africa is on. By the end of ’44 the Axis is out of Africa and Ethiopia. In fall ’44 Overlord is executed and the relief of Europe is under way. ’44 also saw the start of allied strategic bombing in Europe4 attacks on Essen.

Pacific

The US begins to take ports in Southeast Asia and start to move north trying to stay clear of heavy Japanese fleet action in the central Pacific Island areas. Japan declares war on Russia and the Russians get into the act in the Pacific.

1945

Europe

1945 saw the allies retake France, and Belgium, a failed atomic attack on Berlin, a successful atomic attack on Cologne, and allied armor units take Berlin by the end of fall ’45. The Russians continued the push west.

Pacific

The US liberates Dutch Harbor but fails to take Wake Island due to some really bad 1:1 rolls. The Japanese are being pushed out of India and the Russians are putting on pressure in the north.

Conclusion

The game was stopped at the end of Fall ’45. It was clear that the Germans were going to fall in Winter ’45 however they will achieve a +2 victory. In the Pacific the Japanese looked to hold out until Summer of ’46 with a +3 to +6 victory.

As was noted at the beginning this was a learning game with Phil and Brad being the “experienced” players of the group. Tom, Mark, and Aaron did fantastic jobs of playing the game with Aaron finishing the game out in a very respectable manner.

Game 3: 4 Players – Chris Collins (European Axis) and Keven Leith (Japan) against David Hanson (European Allies/Russia) and Peter Lewis (Pacific Allies).

Game commenced with Gathering Storm/Storm Over Asia. The parties played on-line through Winter 1940.

1935-1938

GS/SOA started in Spring 1935 as usual and continued through Fall 1938. That turn Germany launched preventive war against the Western Allies.

European Axis performed very well overall, winning dominant diplomatic position in Europe. Combinations of timely support events and mobilizations allowed Germany to conquer all countries that it could conquer, Baltic States excepted. Germany entered the Rhineland in Summer 1935, annexed Austria in Winter 1936, and followed with demand for the Sudetenland in Spring 1937. Germany swallowed the rest of Czechoslovakia in Fall 1937, then waited until Summer 1938 to make a Pact with Russia. Germany and Russia split the Baltics in a Pact established at (only) 22 purge events. Germany then took over Danzig and Poland. Russia received only East Poland, Estonia and Latvia. Meanwhile Italy succeeded in operating in Germany’s shadow. Italy acquired all of Ethiopia (Fall 1935), Albania (Winter 1936), Yugoslavia (Summer 1938), and Greece (Fall 1938). Civil War divisions weakened the last two.

The GS/SOA Allies tended to emphasize research programs over diplomacy. Britain scored two 18 step projects (Transports, Special Units) against Germany's none. In Asia Britain lucked into 12 steps in Singapore, creating full fortress status. Australia gained nine steps of Light Ships.

In Asia Russia attacked Manchukuo in Winter 1936, scoring a level 3 victory that reduced Russia’s garrison requirement in AWAW. Later combat never changed this result. Japan secured Northern China in Winter 1937 and Central China in Fall 1938. Japan also flew four flags in Shanghai. Nationalist China controlled all other regions (including Shensi). Britain and Japan split Southeast Asia. Japan influenced the Dutch East Indies, Malaya, and Thailand; Australia, India and Burma inclined toward Britain. Each power raised one flag in each of the three countries (Britain scored a second flag in Australia).

First turn of AWAW: Winter 1938. Russo-German Tensions (RGT) start at -8. US-Axis Tensions (USAT) start at +6. US-Japan Tensions (USJT) start at -9. Germany declared war on and conquered the Low Countries at no loss. Italy stayed neutral. Japan conquered Shanghai. Russia mobilized its third GS idle factory.

1939

Germany conquered France in two turns. Italy managed to conquer Tunisia. French Surrender level hit +3 but Germany kept all of France and refused to establish a Vichy government. French imperial possessions went “independent” (at least for a year or so). Wehrmacht heavy ground units moved from northern to southern France, threatening invasion of Spain. In Summer 1939 Russia finished its idle factory mobilizations from GS. U.S. commenced Atlantic mobilizations in Fall 1939 and kept them up each and every one of the following 12 turns. Russia deliberately stayed out of Estonia and Latvia in order to not hinder advancement of either RGT or USAT, and to bait Germany into taking them and boosting RGT. Germany declined the worm, and also declined to activate any Balkan minors. Germany announced strategic bomber research and produced a bomber and an interceptor. In Fall Germany commenced a seven-turn-long bombing campaign against Britain. Also, in Fall Japan took an offensive. Japan invaded Hainan, and sea transported heavy units into Haiphong to attack and capture a mountain hex in Southern China.

1940

Germany rolled “6” in Spring 1940 and roped Spain into the Axis Alliance. Siege of Gibraltar commences in earnest with 15+ air squadrons of various nationality. The Royal Navy lost 22 fleet factors (mostly capital ships) sunk in a successful supply run to Gibraltar in Summer.

Submarines in the Atlantic Ocean (AO) box (aided by German BB4 raiding) never completely shut down the sea lanes. But materiel kept moving, thanks to that 18 step Transport research, expansion of Canadian shipbuilding, plus the U.S. use of their own light shipyard slots for transport rebuilds. Outmatched Commonwealth forces withdrew from Egypt. More German armor deployed in the Middle East, and led a drive into Iraq that ultimately expelled the British. A refugee British 3x4 went to India and from thence to Fortress Singapore. At last, RGT reached 10 and Russia mobilized its first civilian factory “on schedule” with Classic AWAW. Very much ahead of Classic “schedule” the U.S. entered the European War in Winter. Their Atlantic Fleet bolstered the Royal Navy’s second supply escort to Gibraltar. The U.S. lost their first CV3 and BB3 in the successful effort, and another British BB3 went down. Other British units in South Africa passed on to India to bolster the Raj and Singapore. At least one Atlantic oil transport now diverted to send oil to South Africa. South Africa would forward oil counters to India to fuel the Army garrison. A German submarine deployed to the (Indian Ocean) IO box to annoy Allied transports, for a year. Italian BB4s attempted several IO raids but didn’t accomplish much beyond sinking some British CA2s. Between bombing, submarine war, loss of colonies and necessary builds Britain ended 1940 with -88 BRPs. Usable transports in Winter dropped to 8; that number was reached only thanks to the two U.S. transports from GS.

1941

Allied AO transports remained in single digits until Winter 1941, when a dozen survived the submarine depredations. Spring diplomacy gave Germany alliance with all Balkan minors it didn’t already control, and also yielded hex control of Turkey. Spring also saw the U.S. impose an oil embargo against Japan and build a highway across Canada to send BRPs to Russia. U.S. aid started pumping through Siberia each turn, from Fall 1941 through Fall 1944. Germany sent a final bomber strike against London in Spring. Bombers and submarines together burned up, during Axis player turn, over half of the 60 BRPs with which Britain began 1941. Axis captured Persian oil and the northwestern part of the country. Axis thereby set up a two pronged attack against Russia. The Russo-German War erupted in Summer. Germans attacked European Russia from Bessarabia and Lithuania, as well as Poland. Although half the German armored force operated in Iraq and Persia, the half that remained in Poland made roughly historical progress. Interestingly, the forces in the south never broke Russia’s Caucasus defenses. German bombers went to work against Rostov. Germany captured Rostov with its one ground attack allowed by a level 8 Winter: roll “4” plus one announced Axis Winter Preparation (WP). Germany also captured Dnepropetrovsk and Kharkov in Fall 1941. In Asia, Japan occupied Indochina in Spring and declared war against Britain and the U.S. in Fall. Pearl Harbor attack came out historically: one BB3 destroyed, three sunk in port, and three damaged. In two 1941 turns Japan scooped up all of the British Empire (except Singapore), the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies, Rabaul, and various Pacific islands. British suffered 1941 deficit of “only” -44.

1942

Turkey entered the war as an Axis minor ally. But despite heavy German pressure Russia in 1942 lost no more ICs to conquest (Moscow in Winter proved a close-run thing!). So, the ICs kept on growing after Russia’s final mobilization in Spring. German bombers pounded ICs (Stalingrad, Orsk) all year long, causing long-term economic damage. Turkey caused some trouble in the Caucasus when its 2o5 armor unit exploited toward Maikop in Summer but Russia fended off the Caucasus attackers. The attack proved useless when an Army Group Center pincer attack failed. Russia dodged a potentially lethal attack across the Don River in Summer when Germany rolled “1,1” on a 2:1 attack against R45. Germany went with 2:1 odds because ten AAF, which could have enabled breakouts in Russia, were tied down on siege duty over Gibraltar. Britain and the U.S. managed one further supply run to Gibraltar, in Fall, and lost more heavy ships sunk (including two fast BB4s, gulp). Japan besieged Singapore all year long. Eventually two TFs had to be diverted to deal with the British outpost—one in the PO SW box to escort oil out of Palembang, and one (slow battleship) TF based in Kuching to intercept and fight Allied TFs escorting supply. The latter TF managed to roll well enough to drive off equal-sized Allied escort TFs. Australian infantry and American AAF captured Lae on an over-the- mountains ground campaign. Japan and the U.S. trade Wake Island back and forth. Italy ran raids out of Suez and loses a BB4 sunk by British CA2s. German sub in IO cost at least one transport per turn until the sub withdrew for AO duty. German surface raiding ceased, but submarines in the AO caused logistical shortages for the Allies all year long. Fortunately U.S. assembly-line transport rebuilds kept the fuel and munitions coming to Britain and Russia. Later in the year the U.S. commenced building CVEs. A Murmansk convoy in Summer resulted in the only Anglo- German naval battle of the war. Two A-team battleship TFs battered each other; Britain sank a German BC3 and the Germans withdrew. In Fall the German armor swung north to isolate Fort Leningrad and un-forted Moscow (held by Russia’s largest ground units, a pair of 5o6s). Russia counterpunched along the Don, driving German units away from Stalingrad and closing on Rostov All Russian units surrounding Moscow died out of supply; Russia had to rebuild a line to the east based on Gorky. Winter roll of “2” allowed Germany several attacks, and Germany had four WPs. Allies expected that Germany would seize both Leningrad and Moscow. But Axis chose to attrition, surrounding and snuffing the 5o6s in Moscow and leaving Russia’s capital to be occupied in Spring at no cost. But Russia recovered Moscow by designating two hexes to capture: G47 and I47, isolating four 4o6s in G48 and H48. Then Russia demanded possession of those hexes also, sent the 4o6s to Siberian prison camps, and rebuilt the pair of 5o6s in Moscow. Russia ended 1942 with -26 BRPs, even after receiving 96 BRPs from the U.S. during the year. Britain ended 1942 with +7 BRPs thanks to 70 BRPs of U.S. aid. As 1942 runs out the tide appears to turn.

1943

Spring saw the Axis high water mark in the AO. Allied usable transports sank to their game-low number: 7. Worse, the Axis launched a 19:16 1:1 air/land attack on a three-turns-isolated Gibraltar. Axis captured the Allies’ last door into the Mediterranean theater. This victory probably sealed the eventual Axis win in Europe. But the Allies struck back. They announced CTL2, invaded Lorient (two 3x3s and a beach defense) in Spring and captured Brest and St. Nazaire on exploitation. Having built up AAF superiority in the West (which they never thereafter lost), the WA were on the Continent to stay. During 1943 the Allies’ growing forces ground westward across France, to Caen, Cherbourg, and eventually (in Winter) Paris and a BH across the Seine. By Winter the Axis withdrew from Western France, back to the Alps and hex row 24. Meanwhile in Russia full offensives filled the dance card. In Summer Germany struck again at R45, this time succeeding on 3:1 odds and exploiting north and southeast of the Don. Exploiters captured Maikop and isolated the Russian infantry and armor west of the Don. But Russia punched back across the upper Don, reopening supply to its units north of Rostov and leaving the Germans only a narrow, one-hex escape corridor through Rostov. The Germans take it, and (unfortunately for them) send three Rumanian infantry factors to hold Maikop. Russian armor use this unfortunate force to create a Summer breakthrough, from which they roll across the Kerch and Crimea into Sevastopol and southern Ukraine. In their Fall turn the Germans managed to plug this hole on their flank, but at cost of weakening the eastern defense. Russia liberated Rostov and commenced a game-long westward drive. German bombers ceased to fly.

Japan, observing Axis success against Gibraltar, mounted the same low-odds 1:1 attack. A 15:14 attack rolled the same “Ex” as at Gib and eliminated the final vestige of the British Empire. Japan could send more forces to deal with the metastasizing Allied power in the South Pacific. The U.S. captured Rabaul and Manus and ousted Japan from the Solomon Islands. An American invasion of Majuro from Pearl Harbor led to the War’s first carrier battle, in which each side lost two carriers (all CVLs save one Japanese CV3), and some light ships. Japan abandoned Majuro to the U.S. Japan did recapture Sorong after a U.S. invasion. Sorong became (temporarily) a southern anchor for an Ambon-Sorong-Carolines-Marshalls defense line.

1944

Italy faced scant pressure in this war, aside from affording some units to help Germany. Germany, meanwhile, begins to face BRP pressure from loss of conquests, and UCL pressure from rebuilding lost units. The Allies clearly followed a “Germany First!” strategy. Germany deployed at least 60 percent of its AAF and ground factors against the U.S. and Britain in the West. These highest-quality units include Germany’s first jet counter and its first pair of 5o6s. In the East, Germany took up a series of defensive lines (the Dnieper/Dvina, the Pripet/Dniester, the Vistula), guarded by mixed German and minor allied units backstopped by 4o6s. Russia successively cracked each line, and by Winter 1944 Russia had reached into East Prussia and Poland. The Western Allies, facing sterner resistance, did not travel even half of Russia’s distance but still managed to liberate Belgium and French KEAs during Summer/Fall and capture both Forts Essen and Koln during Winter turn. Britain liberates the Hague.

Japan tried to hinder but could not stop the U.S. Navy’s forward grinding forward. Japan fortified the resistance objectives (Manila, Singapore, Okinawa) and Japanese beaches and KEAs. The U.S. captured Kwajalein, Truk, and Hollandia, then broke into the Dutch East Indies to capture first Makassar and Timor then the next turn Balikpapan, and finally in Winter Palembang. Those last captures forever shut off Japan’s Oil spigots. The U.S. recovered Wake, invaded first Saipan and Iwo then Guam and Yap, gaining 10 island groups. Pacific bombers began striking Japan in Summer (from Kwajalein to no effect) , then in Fall from the Marianas and Iwo for damage.

1945

Allied attacks in Europe crossed the North German Plain to place a BH across the Elbe. Britain air dropped a division into vacant Copenhagen, The RN invaded H31 defended by a single 1R, and an exploiting 2o5 with GS captured Hamburg from a pair of 1Rs. Another, southern drive also captured Fort Mannheim and crossed the Rhine to place a BH. The Russians isolate Warsaw and crush both Rumania and Hungary in Spring. In Summer Russia snuffs Croatia and Bulgaria, captures Athens and Fort Berchtesgaden while American armor took Fort Berlin (requiring two full Exchanges). Allied First Airborne Army drops six 1m3s to occupy vacant German hexes, isolating much of the remaining German Army. Sole pockets of supplied German units sat in and next to Fort Leipzig and Fort Breslau. (These would surrender in Fall). As many more remained out of supply. U.S. units held hexes next to Genoa and Milan. They would be reinforced by the rebuilds from Berlin, ready to crush Italy in Fall. In Summer the Allies tried for a one-turn win against Japan. They dropped an atomic bomb on Kagoshima and used a tactical bomb to aid invasion of Okinawa. Allies also invaded Singapore. Both invasions suffered grievous exchanges. Due to 140 BRPs worth of losses, Japan survived Summer 1945 turn at ONE resistance point. German resistance was calculated at about +9 due to Italy’s strong Med position. Adjudication of the game: Japan would certainly surrender in Fall, and the Reich would be completely overrun. Italian resistance might sink to zero, leading to Axis surrender in Fall—IF the U.S. forces could capture Rome. This outcome was not certain. So, the Axis won at least a one-turn victory in Europe, while Japan tied its game.

Game 4: 4 Players – Walter Hamscher (European Axis) and Martin Smith (Japan) against Kozan Soykal (Western Allies) and Ed Trovato (USSR/China/France).

Player Comments

Japan

It’s really hard fighting the late-war Allies. Japan had a good DoW turn. (I think 7 of 8 BB3s were sunk at Pearl Harbor.) The perimeter (which included Port Moresby and Noumea) held until Sp44. After that, the Allies made consistent progress. Two atomic bombs plus Russian control of Asian objectives sealed the deal.

Germany

Germany adopted the conventional strategy of focusing on preparation for Barbarossa with a maximum of available armor, AAF, and BRPs, while maximizing submarine builds, torpedo, air range and codebreaking research to slow the Western Allies.

Through 1941 and 1942 the subs sank an average of 1 transport and damaged 4 every turn, totaling 10 sunk by Summer 42. Surprisingly, the combination of Bismarck and Graf Zeppelin, and later Tirpitz and a BC3, were able to contribute 10 additional sunk transports through Summer 42. The British suffered 70 BRP and 74 BRP transport fines in 41 and 42 - painful but not crippling, and perhaps not a great bargain given the cost to Germany in RPs and BRPs of building up to a 10-sub presence while losing at least one sub every turn.

The Italian navy sought frequent engagement with the British fleet particularly when a tactical card was available. Italy sank three British BB4s but of course suffered ever greater losses with each passing turn. An additional SBP in Trieste in Spring 42 was needed to rebuild DDs lost during supply runs. As Germany focused resources on Russia in 1941, Italy withdrew across the desert to Tripoli, there hanging on until 1944. Italy took Malta on a 1:1 invasion gamble in Spring of 1942, resulting in an EX, and the island then occupied via exploitation movement by a German AB drop.

The Barbarossa attack initially isolated most of the Russian forces in the usual way, but Russian units held in reserve and air supply to a key unit for a low odds attack opened a supply path to several units on the Ukraine front. The German invasion stalled at the Dnieper and never got further than Dnepropetrovsk and Smolensk. By Summer 1944, with the Western allies already advancing on Paris from Brittany, Germany was forced out of the Baltics, Russia and Ukraine. In the Mediterranean, a bizarrely ahistorical situation evolved. As the Axis abandoned eastern Libya during 1942, retreating to Tripoli. The Western Allies reduced their commitment to the Mediterranean, with no AAF and sending all British carriers to the Pacific. In Summer 1943, the Axis declared war on Vichy and sent a 25 factor fleet carrying a German 3-3 from Bergen to Morocco (operation Fackel), while the Italians occupied Oran and Tunis. The British fleet was only able to intercept the German fleet near Trafalgar with slow BB’s, the German heavy ships were able to protect the invasion, and the British withdrew. Admiral Nelson turned pinwheels in his grave, and the Germans soaked up the sun in Casablanca for another year. The western allies reacted by transferring more forces back to the Mediterranean. Although a small British force landed at Salerno in Spring 1944, Tunis didn’t fall until Summer 1944. Italy surrendered in Fall 1944, mainly due to the loss of Genoa and Milan to a cross-alps US exploitation.

The Western Allies gained hex control of Spain and landed in Brittany in Spring 1943. Germany responded in force, relieving the Russians from having to fight over a dozen units. Initial Allied progress was incremental, but multiple US 5-6 breakthroughs in Summer 1944 isolated all German forces and opened a clear path to the Ruhr. With Russians just two hexes from Berlin, Germany abandoned western Germany in the Fall to get out of Western AAF range. In the skies over Germany, lucky rolls for Jets in Summer 43 and Summer 44, five interceptors and all available German AAF limited the allies to only 14 BRPs of damage in 1943 and 18 BRPs and no firestorms in 1944. Germany still held Leipzig and Berlin in Winter 44 and could still muster a build of 42 BRPs of units, but by the end of the turn, holding only Berlin, Germany surrendered.

Western Allies

My hypothesis at the start of the game was that BRP base reductions do not hurt Britain as much as they hurt the Axis and Britain could afford to be hyper aggressive in 40 and 41. My main strategy was to cripple the Italian navy, and have the British carriers in the Pacific to get carrier parity with Japan early.

ETO

In 40Su, Britain tried a 10 nas strike on Taranto, targeted lights, rolled badly and did minor damage. In 41Su, they repeated the strike with 12 nas, rolled well and sank most of the Italian lights. Also in 41Su and 41Fa, they broke through the Italian line in Libya with two 1:1 attacks. Italy had DD3 left in the game at that point. Britain sent the carrier TF to the Pacific, and minimized Med commitment, assuming Tripoli would be an easy conquest. (Naturally Tripoli was the last Italian objective to fall, in 44Fa, and survived longer than Essen). Britain ended 40 with -46 BRPs and 41 with -36 BRPs.

The WA did a shoestring invasion at Lorient in 43Fa at 18:9 odds to open a new front against Germany. Germany reacted by DoW’ing Vichy in 44Sp and landing on all French colonies. The WA had to commit forces to the Med to capture the colonies, but France was the priority and German forces were spread thin across eastern, western and Africa fronts. The WA did another shoestring invasion of AA23 (Salerno) at 24:12 odds in 44Su, opening another front. The German line in France collapsed in 44Fa. US armor exploited near to the West Wall and captured Genoa, Milan, Tripoli and Rabat, forcing Italian surrender. Germany surrendered in 44Wi.

PTO

Japan went for Noumea and to split the WA forces between Australia and the Pacific area of operations. In PTO, my hypothesis is people run out of nas before they run out of carrier decks. I commit heavily into NAT and don’t shy away from battles at a disadvantage.

Martin’s Japan, of course, immediately put it to test by sinking 4 US CVs at Noumea, and also getting the island. Both sides lost large amounts of nas. Japan also took all the Solomons and PM and heavily fortified the PM-Lae-Rabaul line. The WA kept carrier parity by bringing a British carrier TF in. Noumea in Japanese hands forced WA to trace oil to both Pearl and Australia, which was annoying, but not crippling.

WA went for a mid-Pacific advance. In 43Sp, WA built a port in Efate. In 43Sp and 43Su, WA captured Wake and Majuro. In 43Fa WA jumped to Ponape and Oroluk and built a port in Majuro. 43Fa saw another carrier battle at Noumea, where Japan engaged the British TF under US LBA. Britain lost 3 CVLs and 2 more damaged at a cost of ~18 Jnas and 1 JCVL. In 44Sp, there was another carrier battle, with minor losses on both sides and WA landed on Hollandia, Kavieng and Manus and built a port in Oroluk. By 44Su, WA had clear carrier, nas and DRM superiority and got Truk. The rest of the game saw regular hops to Palau, Davao, Lingayen and the oil centers, Okinawa and then eventually to Japan. Japan surrendered in 45Fa with two atomic bombs (Tokyo, Osaka), two hexes captured (N29 and M30) and all Asian objectives except Seoul under Russian or WA/Chinese control.

Russia/China/France

Russia played a traditional strategy, in the belief that in classic AWAW the Axis will have to fully commit to Barbarossa to have a chance of making a dent in Russian in 1942. As such, the Russian occupied Eastern Poland and the Baltic States in Fa 1939, and then demanded the Finnish border hexes in Wi 1939. The Russian took Bessarabia in Fa40, and then hunkered down to await Su 41.

The German attack in Su41 was at slightly less than full strength, as a few German air factors and the second airborne were still in the Med. The only impact of this was the Russians did not have to defend against 2 airborne threats in Su41. Apparently, the Axis was having too much fun in the Med to send everyone to the party in Russia.

The speed at which the game was played created lots of opportunities for the players to make mistakes, of which there were many on all sides.

Game 5: 4 Players – Elihu Feustel, Dave Casper, Bill Moodey, and Tim Francis Participated in this game.

The team agreed to play online at least through the fall of France, to continue F2F at Seven Springs on Sunday the 21st, with the goal of playing to completion.

However, the European Axis and Japan dominated early and to such a degree that the game was called in their favor in Summer 1943.

By Fall 1942 Russia had lost everything from Maikop to Kuibyshev, with Moscow and Stalingrad isolated, its troops up against the Urals and Caucasus, and an imminent -3 resistance level cutting its force pool by 60 BRP. Although the Winter allowed rebuilding, the line of resistance at the Volga in 1943 was ripe for another series of German armor encirclements.

Japan suffered bad luck and sank only light ships at Pearl Harbor while losing 5 eNAS. Yet they seized enough island groups and were within a turn or two of eliminating China through strategic bombing, inflicting 5 BRP damage each turn, that the freed up infantry was sure to make the coming allied counter offensive prohibitively expensive.

The western allies suffered heavy losses from German submarines and raiders, resulting in transport deficits every turn, losing 88 BRP in transport fines in 1941, and 80 BRP in the first three turns of 1942, depleting their oil reserves and hampering their defense in the Pacific and preventing early aid to Russia.

Player Comments

Japan

Japan pursued heavy shipbuilding strategy, laying 2 extra CVs prewar and entering the war with 30 DDs. Japan also researched bombers, with the idea of bombing China out of existence at low BRP cost. Japan took Colombo, raided heavily into the Indian Ocean with the goal of reducing BRP grants to China, and also to hit transports. The strategy mostly worked, with China having left with no replacements or 1x2s on the board and having no BRPs in 43Su. There were also 10+ Wang factors on the board and the Wang count would have capped late 43.,/p>

The Pearl Harbor attack was epic. Surprise was minimal and the WA lost a total of CA4, DD1 and 1 AAF against a loss of 5 JENAS. No BB3s were harmed. Germany got a lucky 1939 intel breakthrough and decided to follow it up with Wafdist and Vlasov production. Good rolls helped raiders do a lot of damage to Allied transports, somewhat offset by below-average torpedo research (results in 1940 and 1943).

Western Allies

No comments.

Russia/China/France

The French setup allowed Germans to exploit through the Alps. Russia did not ramp up Air and Military production to 15 brp’s/turn in 1942 which left too few units for too wide a front. Russians’ early use of subversion against Rumania in Fall 1940 made it too easy for Germany to recruit Balkan allies. Russia had advantages - gaining CTL=2 in 1940 and ADRM=2 in 1941, as well as hex control of Turkey in 1942 - to minimal effect.

 
2024 Laurelists Repeating Laurelists: 1
Collins, Christopher Goldfarb, Chris Smith, Martin Miller, Aaron Harper, Bruce
2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
 
Forces collide in the East. Combatants still being Cordial in Fall 1944.
Winter 1942 not as cold as predicted in Winterberry. Battles in the Pacific continue.

 

 
GM  Peter Lewis [1st Year]