======================================================================== Turn: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Axis POC: +4 +4 +5 +2 Allied POC: -2 -2 -3 -2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net POC: +2 +2 +2 +0 Cumulative POC: +2 +4 +6 +6 ========================================================================
The Allied Home fleet elected to abandon the Med in the face of the threat to Altanitc convoys posed by the Kriegsmarine. Hoping for maximum attrition, the Allies distributed their fleet fairly evenly throughout the Atlantic and tried to establish a blockade of German held Norweigan ports. The Germans responded by directly challenging the strongest and fastest part of the Allied fleet in the Barents Sea while U-Boats threatened the North Atlantic.
The R.A.F. drew first blood by sinking the Zara while she shelled Malta with the Italian Supermarina.
The action in the North Atlantic was not decisive as neither side gained the upper hand or could claim control.
Meanwhile, in the Barents Sea, aviators on both sides struck first. The Lutzow took minor damage and returned to port without firing a shot. Meanwhile, the Luftwaffe inflicted severe damage (3) to the HMS Hood, flagship of the Barents fleet. Once surface action began, the Admiral Hipper was forced to return to port while the Gneisenau took heavy damage (3). The Repulse was sunk in a valient, but failed, effect to save the Hood (which suffered the same fate). The Renown and Devonshire were also forced by minor difficulties to abandon the fight. The British command elected to withdraw at this point. During subsequent pursuit, the Scharnhorst, Cumberland, and Exeter were sunk.
Herr Goebbels declared a great victory over Radio Berlin. The Allies were content that it could have been much worse -- at least the Scharnhorst was sunk! The Bismark looms, however...
North Atlantic (3/1; None): 4-4-4 Barham, 4-4-4 Warspite, 4-4-3 Royal Sovereign, 4-4-3 Ramilies, 3 U-boats --> 1 U-Boat disabled
Barents Sea (2/1; None): 4-4-7 Hood, 3-3-6 Repulse, 3-3-6 Renown, 1-1-7 Sussex, 1-1-7 Exeter, 1-1-7 Suffolk, 1-1-7 Cumberland, 1-1-7 Norfolk, 1-1-7 Kent, 1-1-7 Dorsetshire, 1-1-7 Devonshire, 0-2-7(3) Ark Royal, LBA, 3-5-7 Gneisenau, 3-5-7 Scharnhorst, 2-2-5 Lutzow, 2-2-5 Graf Spee, 2-2-5 Admiral Sheer, 1-2-7 Blucher, 1-2-7 Admiral Hipper --> (Air) Lutzow disabled, Hood takes 3 damage; (Surface) Admiral Hipper disabled, Gneisenau takes 3 damage, Hood and Repulse sunk, Renown and Devonshire disabled; Allies withdraw; Scharnhorst sunk, Cumberland and Exeter sunk;
Baltic Sea (1/2; None):
North Sea (3/1; None): 5-5-3 Rodney, 4-4-4 Malaya, 4-4-4 Valiant, 4-4-4 Queen Elizabeth, 1-2-4(1) Eagle, 0-1-6(2) Courageous, 0-1-6(2) Glorious
South Atlantic (3/1; None): 5-5-3 Nelson, 4-4-3 Resolution, 4-4-3 Royal Oak, 4-4-3 Revenge
Mediterranean (2/1; None): LBA, 4-6-6 Vittorio Veneto, 4-6-6 Littorio, 4-3-5 Conte di Cavour, 4-3-5 Caio Duilio, 4-3-5 Andrea Doria, 4-3-5 Giulio Cesare, 1-1-7 Gorizia, 1-1-7 Zara, 1-1-7 Pola, 1-1-7 Fiume --> Zara sunk.
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South Atlantic Ocean (1) |
Mediterranean (2) |
Baltic Sea |
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The Admiralty ordered patrols of the entire Atlantic again -- trusting the batteries at Gibralter to contain the Italian Supermarina -- continuing its strategy of luring the Axis into a battle with heavy attrition.
The Supermarina shelled Gibralter in an attempt to soften its defenses without much success as they were harried (but undamaged) by the R.A.F.
The wolfpacks of the Third Reich struck in the South Atlantic, sinking many merchants and sending the Queen Elizabeth into a Columbian port for minor repairs (disabled). Axis Sally made sure all the Brits knew full well that the wolfpacks suffered no losses themselves!
The Kreigsmarines again challenged the blockade in the Barents Sea with Luftwaffe support. British carriers caused severe damage to the Bismark and Admiral Sheer while the Luftwaffe force the Prince of Wales to return to port before engaging. As the fleets closed, the Bismark took fatal damage. Her batteries continued to fire as she went down, taking the King George V and Renown with her to a watery grave. In other action, three British cruisers lost contact and withdrew (disabled). The remaining Allied cruisers then escorted her majesty's carriers to safety despite pursuit. During the pursuit, Prinz Eugen was sunk. The Allies split up ad successfully avoided further pursuit when the Blucher was disabled and the Admiral Hipper couldn't find the Formidable in the dense fog.
Herr Goebbels proclaimed victory and encouraged the Allies to give it up. Meanwhile, despite the defeat, the Admiralty was secretly pleased with the outcome (an even exchange that included the mighty Bismark and the prospect that it might be enough to bring the Russians into the war).
North Atlantic (3/1; None): 4-4-3 Ramilies, 4-4-3 Resolution, 4-4-3 Royal Sovereign, 4-4-4 Warspite, 0-1-6(2) Glorious
Barents Sea (2/1; Axis): 4-5-6 Prince of Wales, 4-5-6 King George V, 3-3-6 Renown, 1-1-7 Devonshire, 1-1-7 Sussex, 1-1-7 Suffolk, 1-1-7 Norfolk, 1-1-7 Kent, 1-1-7 Dorsetshire, 0-2-7(2) Formidable, 0-2-7(3) Ark Royal, 4-9-6 Bismarck, 3-5-7 Gneisenau (-3), 2-2-5 Graf Spee, 2-2-5 Admiral Sheer, 2-2-5 Lutzow, 1-2-7 Blucher, 1-2-7 Admiral Hipper, 1-2-7 Prinz Eugen, LBA --> (Air) Bismark takes 5 damage, Admiral Sheer takes 1 damage, Prince of Wales disabled; (Surface) Bismark sunk, King George V and Renown sunk, Sussex, Norfolk, and Kent disabled; Allies Withdraw; Prinz Eugen sunk, Suffok and Dorsetshire disabled; Allies split into two groups; Blucher disabled, Formidable disabled; Devonshire and Ark Royal escape.
Baltic Sea (1/2; None):
North Sea (3/1; Allied): 5-5-3 Nelson, 5-5-3 Rodney, 4-4-4 Barham, 4-4-3 Royal Oak, 4-4-3 Revenge, 1-2-4(1) Eagle, 0-1-6(2) Courageous
South Atlantic (3/1; Allied): 4-4-4 Malaya, 4-4-4 Valiant, 4-4-4 Queen Elizabeth, 4 U-Boats --> Queen Elizabeth disabled.
Mediterranean (2/1; Axis): 4-6-6 Vittorio Veneto, 4-6-6 Littorio, 4-3-5 Conte di Cavour, 4-3-5 Caio Duilio, 4-3-5 Andrea Doria, 4-3-5 Giulio Cesare, 1-1-7 Gorizia
Italy (4): 1-1-7 Pola, 1-1-7 Fiume --> RAF raids fail.
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North Atlantic Ocean (1) |
Mediterranean (2) |
Baltic Sea |
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With no blockade, the Home Fleet elected for a gamble -- very little to protect the South Atlantic from Mussolini's raiding cruisers and barely adequate protection elsewhere in the Atlantic. The Russians, fortunately, lent a very needed hand in the Baltic.
Ever the gambler, Der Fuhrer ordered his forces to challenge the strongest force in the North Sea while Mussolini greeted the opportunity in the South Atlantic with celebration and pleaded with Der Fuhrer for U-Boat support.
The wolfpack neutralized the Russian threat and also provided support for the Italian raid. While one wolf was sunk, the Unterseewaffe exacted a heavy toll -- sinking the Queen Elizabeth and heavily damaging the Nelson (3). The Italian cruisers circled around the Nelson, which was dead in the water. They avoided her heavy guns (though one suffered minor damage and put into Argentina for minor repairs) and finished the Nelson off.
The RAF inflicted damage on two of the Supermarina's largest battleships, but it is unlikely they will be out of action for long as the bombardment of Gibralter continued.
In the North Sea, Gneisenau and Lutzow were intercepted and forced to turn back by carrier pilots determined to stem Axis aggression. In the initial surface engagement, the Axis were caught by superior Allied forces. The Graf Spee and Blucher were sunk while the Admiral Sheer fled. Allied forces also took damage before the Axis beat a hasty retreat. The Valiant was sunk by the Tirpitz while the Revenge and Malaya took heavy damage (2 and 3 respectively).
Radio Berlin trumpeted the South Atlantic action and emphasized the sinking of yet another enemy battleship while the Allies took cheer from the strength of the blockade and Axis losses.
North Atlantic (3/1; Allied): 1-3-3 Convoy 1A, 5-5-3 Rodney, 4-4-3 Resolution, 4-4-3 Royal Sovereign, 0-2-7(2) Victorious, 1-2-4(1) Eagle
Russia (2): 4-4-4 Warspite (Failed Speed Roll to Barents)
Barents Sea (2/1; Axis): 4-5-6 Prince of Wales, 4-5-6 Duke of York, 4-4-4 Barham, 1-1-7 Sussex, 1-1-7 Norfolk, 1-1-7 Kent, 1-1-7 Suffolk, 1-1-7 Dorsetshire, 1-1-7 Devonshire, 0-2-7(3) Ark Royal, 0-2-7(2) Formidable, LBA --> Luftwaffe ineffective.
Baltic Sea (1/2; None): 3-3-3. Okt Revolutia, 2 U-Boats --> No effect.
North Sea (3/1; Allied): 4-4-4 Valiant, 4-4-4 Malaya, 4-4-3 Royal Oak, 4-4-3 Revenge, 4-4-3 Ramilies, 0-1-6(2) Glorious, 0-1-6(2) Courageous, 4-9-6 Tirpitz, 3-5-7 Gneisenau (-3), 2-2-5 Graf Spee, 2-2-5 Admiral Sheer (-1), 2-2-5 Lutzow, 1-2-7 Admiral Hipper, 1-2-7 Blucher --> (Air) Gneisenau and Lutzow disabled; (Surface) Graf Spee and Blucher sunk, Admiral Sheer disabled, Valiant sunk, Revenge takes 2 damage, Malaya takes 3 damage; Axis withdraw.
South Atlantic (3/1; None): 5-5-3 Nelson, 4-4-4 Queen Elizabeth, 3 U-Boats, 1-1-7 Gorizia, 1-1-7 Pola, 1-1-7 Fiume --> (ASW) 1 U-Boat sunk, Nelson takes 2 damage, Queen Elizabeth sunk; (Surface) Gorizia disabled, Nelson sunk.
Mediterranean (2/1; Axis): LBA, 4-6-6 Vittorio Veneto, 4-6-6 Littorio, 4-3-5 Conte di Cavour, 4-3-5 Caio Duilio --> Vittorio Veneto takes 2 damage, Littorio takes 5 damage.
Italy (4): 4-3-5 Andrea Doria, 4-3-5 Giulio Cesare
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Barents Sea (1) North Sea (1) |
Mediterranean (2) |
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Spurred by their success in the South Atlantic, the Italian raiders set course for the North Atlantic. Instead they found two Allied Battleships and escorts. The wolfpack was unable to provide any assistance though they made several attempts. Two Italian cruisers were immediately sunk while the other managed to slip back to France. No Allied losses were recorded though one cruiser did take significant damage.
The wolfpack suffered heavy losses but created fear in Allied forces in the South Atlantic (denied control).
In the North Sea, Axis forces struck again. And once again they were repulsed -- first by air, forcing Gneisenau and Admiral Hipper to miss the battle and damaging the Tirpitz. The Luftwaffe managed to sink the Malaya. In the surface engagement, Lutzow was damaged and all German ships took enough minor damage to cause them to return to port. The Eagle, caught in the surface action, took heavy damage and return to port heavily listing to the starboard. Royal Sovereign also took some damage (1).
The Allies were encouraged by the continued success of the blockade and the virtual elimination of the Italian raiding threat. Herr Goebbels announced that the Allies had lost yet another battleship while German forces had returned to port with no loss. Luftwaffe commander Goering announced his forces had thwarted the shipment of goods to Russia and sunk the carrier Formidable spuring Axis morale to new heights.
USA (10): 1-3-3 Convoy 2B
North Atlantic (3/1; Allied): 4-5-6 Prince of Wales, 4-4-3 Revenge (-2), 1-1-7 Kent, 3 U-Boats, 1-1-7 Pola, 1-1-7 Fiume, 1-1-7 Gorizia --> Sub warfare ineffective; Pola and Fiume sunk, Gorizia disabled, Revenge disabled, Kent takes 1 damage.
Barents Sea (2/1; Allied): 1-3-3 Convoy 1A, 4-5-6 Duke of York, 4-4-4 Barham, 4-4-4 Warspite, 1-1-7 Suffolk, 1-1-7 Dorsetshire, 1-1-7 Devonshire, 1-1-7 Norfolk, 0-2-7(3) Ark Royal, 0-2-7(2) Formidable, LBA --> Convoy 1A disabled, Formidable sunk.
Baltic Sea (1/2; None):
North Sea (3/1; Allied): 5-5-3 Rodney, 4-4-4 Malaya (-3), 4-4-3 Royal Sovereign, 4-4-3 Royal Oak, 1-1-7 Sussex, 0-1-6(2) Glorious, 0-1-6(2) Courageous, 0-2-7(2) Victorious, 1-2-4(1) Eagle, 4-9-6 Tirpitz, 3-5-7 Gneisenau (-3), 2-2-5 Lutzow, 2-2-5 Admiral Sheer (-1), 1-2-7 Admiral Hipper, 1-2-8(2) Graf Zeppelin --> (Air) Tirpitz takes 3 damage, Gneisenau and Admiral Hipper disabled, Malaya sunk; (Surface) Lutzow takes one damage, All German ships disabled, Eagle is disabled with 2 damage, Royal Sovereign takes 1 damage.
South Atlantic (3/1; Axis): 4-5-6 Anson, 4-4-3 Resolution, 4-4-3 Ramilies, 3 U-Boats --> 2 U-Boats sunk.
Mediterranean (2/1; Axis): LBA, 4-3-5 Conte di Cavour, 4-3-5 Caio Duilio, 4-3-5 Andrea Doria, 4-3-5 Giulio Cesare --> RAF Ineffective.
Italy (4): 4-6-6 Vittorio Veneto (Repairs -2), 4-6-6 Littorio (-3; Repairs -2)
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North Sea (1) |
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Baltic Sea South Atlantic Ocean |
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Message from John Pack:
Hi Nick!
Sorry it's taken so long to get the final update on my BPA tournament WAS game to you--unfortunately, I discovered that my own records were missing a lot of information that I no longer recall adequately to provide an in-depth report!
The Axis won by 2 PoC. The game looked like it was going to be close, as Turns 5-6 favored the Allies, until the last convoy was sunk by the Luftwaffe to put the final nail in the coffin.
John