Bob Flemin's MWIF AARse IV - Nice AArse

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1940
Impulse: 4

That's interesting. I am asked if I want to use the Notional Unit and for the first time there is a change of odds dependent upon the answer. 3:1 (but giving away a +1) or 4:1 (with no modifiers). The French choose the 4:1 and hope the Germans roll low.

The Germans can increase the odds of one of the battles - but not both as they are almost out of aircraft. They take a chance and do not fly. There is only von Bock left for re-organisation.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1940
Impulse: 4

So to the first attack, north of Paris. Its a 4:1 +2 on the Blitz table....

...its a 7(9) and the French lose their Militia, with the 7th Infantry Shattered. I do not convert.

The French D500 fighter is destroyed too.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1940
Impulse: 4

The result is a Breakthrough meaning that Paris falls to two German Panzer Corps!! Problem is I moved my units too early and cannot undo [:@]

The hexes southeast of Lille and northwest of Rheims are vulnerable to counter-attack. The German units could be out out of supply if those attacks are successful!

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1940
Impulse: 4

For the 5:1 attack on Rheims (fractional odds must have come into play) the Germans throw a 4. They are allowed to choose Blitz so presumably Rheims is not actually a city hex (there is no yellow dot)*.

The defending 5th Infantry Corps is Shattered (no retreat conversion) and the Panzers move in....

* Just checked the WIF maps and sure enough Rheims is not on there.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1940
Impulse: 5

In the real Case Yellow the Germans got just about as lucky as it was possible to be -everything fell right. Well in this AAR they have not been quite as fortunate, but what a break. The weather throw is a 10 - Storm in the North Temperate. The Allied counter attacks will be at -2 odds levels. Now THAT is unlucky or the Allies.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1940
Impulse: 5

There is just tooooooo much to consider in this game.... [:(][&:]

... its one of the things that makes it so brilliant [&o].

While the weather has saved the Germans - neither the French in the south or the CW in the north can get even 1:1 odds - this has also put the Germans in Paris and environs out of supply. I should have moved von Bock but did not consider weather and supply (although in fairness I also did not consider the possibility of a breakthrough to Paris so my total incompetence at this game has been made clear for one and all to see).

[composer99]

The good news for the Germans is that the Allies can't ground strike the German positions with aircraft or artillery in storm, meaning their panzer spearheads in Paris are safe, as is the unit linking them up.

(The breakthrough is a lesson learned for French players: leave a unit in Paris to prevent breakthroughs and paradrops.)

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1940
Impulse: 5

The Allied moves are very limited due to the ground strikes previously. The only plan is to surround Paris - as far as is possible, and hope that a counter-attack becomes possible...

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1940
Impulse: 7

The Axis impulse ends equally as quickly. The Germans are able to beef up their units on the outskirts of Paris. If the weather changes and the French have the impulse they are not out of the woods yet - but it looks better than it was...

But in the meantime the turn continues and the weather is rubbish... another 10.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1940
Impulse: 9

The Allies pass with all except the French for a 40% chance of ending the turn.

This way they can continue to manoeuvre units toward Paris and hope they get lucky.

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1940
Impulse: 12

But its a 6 and the turn carries on. The Wehrmacht can continue to gravitate troops west.

And, on a 2, the turn ends with the German troops in Paris still out of supply - there will be no Vichy this turn...

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1940
Impulse: Production

Germany:
INF
ARM
NAV
2 x Pilot
Sub (2nd Cycle)

Italy:
Impero (2nd Cycle)
Pilot

Japan:
Asama (Repair)
MIL
MECH
2 x Pilot
Chitose (2nd Cycle)

[warspite1]

Sep/Oct 1940
Impulse: Production

China:
INF HQ

Commonwealth:
INF
ARM
2 x AMPH (2nd Cycle)

France:
GARR
INF DIV
Saved 4 BP's by mistake [8|]

USA:
AMPH (2nd Cycle)
USS Hornet (2nd Cycle)
USS Indiana (2nd Cycle)

USSR:
INF
ARM
MOT
LND

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1940
Impulse: Reinforcement

China:
CAV DIV
GARR

Commonwealth:
HMS Lion has been placed in the Construction Pool
NAV
HMS Victorious
HMS Frobisher
INF
MECH (IND)
MOT (IND)

France:
4 x INF
MOT

USA:
AMPH has been placed in the Construction Pool
USS Massachusetts has been placed in the Construction Pool
USS Denver has been placed in the Construction Pool
USS San Diego has been placed in the Construction Pool

USSR:
INF

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1940
Impulse: Reinforcement

Germany:
FTR
LND

Italy:
NAV

Japan:
AMPH has been placed in the Construction Pool
Junyo has been placed in the Construction Pool
MIL
ARM DIV
ART
Aoba
Submarine

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1940
Impulse: Weather and Initiative

This could be really key! The Axis throw an 8, the Allies a 4(6) and have the chance of a re-roll. They choose to take it (unsurprisingly): Axis 4 Allies 10(11) - the Allies will have first go this turn.

Now, what will the weather decide to do?

7 - North Temperate is Snow.....

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1940
Impulse: 1

The CW choose a Land - there will be no naval gunfire support but, frankly, the CW would rather take the pressure off the French.

So what is the plan here? Well its Snow so the Germans in the French capital are out of supply still. With a -2 odds level the French cannot attack - they have no air force left to ground strike with anyway!

What they can do is surround the capital and then attempt to attack in the next impulse if weather conditions improve. Its all pretty desperate stuff....

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1940
Impulse: 1

The British leave a rear-guard - the 14th Motorised Corps - as sacrificial lambs in Antwerp as the great pull back begins....

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1940
Impulse: 4

The impulses advance 3....

The Germans align Bulgaria - there is no impact on the US.

The Germans will use this impulse to try and optimise their air force positioning and to ensure their Paratroopers are available once more. The HQ's - von Rundstedt and von Bock move forward to put the Panzer Army in Paris back in supply. Its almost all over for the French....

[warspite1]

Nov/Dec 1940
Impulse: 7

The weather shows no signs of cheering up.... Its a 7 and the North Temperate remains Snow. If the Allies cannot counter-attack then Paris falls...assuming the Germans want to declare Vichy.