======================================================================== Turn: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Axis POC: +5 +3 +3 +3 +5 +3 +2 Allied POC: -3 +4 -4 -6 -5 -4 -6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net POC: +2 -1 -1 -3 +0 -1 -4 Cumulative POC: +2 +1 +0 -3 -3 -4 -8 ========================================================================
The Allied opening is an attrition maximizer. The only chance for total disaster is really awful dice OR the Axis getting away with no damage during air strikes in the North Sea and having enough fast ships to harass the carriers later (a low probability).
The Axis started off the turn by missing two speed rolls and setting up an excellent chance for the Allies to gain significant attrition. The Axis LBA was insignificant. The Allied LBA, on the other hand, put two damage on the Graf Spee after it returned to Germany (those speed rolls pay dividends for the Allies already).
The Allies then proceeded to sink a U-Boat and disable another--preventing the U-Boats from eliminating an Allied BB early.
During the first round, the Allies sink the Scharnhorst while disabling the Gneisenau with 1 damage and the Blucher with 2 damage. The Admiral Sheer also took 2 damage. The carnage was looking like it might be very heavy. The Axis, however, gained a bit of luck and sunk the Royal Oak and Royal Sovereign while disabling the other two WWI BBs (the Resolution with 1 damage). The damaged Admiral Sheer and also the Admiral Hipper were able to oil (ensuring the Sheer's eventual arrival in Germany for repair).
The Axis gain 2 PoC overall. The next turn will see the effect of two damaged German ships in the Neutral Port!
Link to Turn 1 map (large file).
Bruce moves to maximize the attrition of Axis forces--particularly those in the Neutral Port. For a neutral port, all I have to say is that there are a lot of hostile ships around!
The "vacationing" Axis ships flee to the safety of the Mediterranean while the remainder of the Axis fleet stages practice drills in the Baltic Sea--including the returning oilers.
LBA from both sides were unable to locate targets (let alone hit them).
Allies gain 1 PoC for the turn (plus the full blockade). Axis lead by 1.
Link to Turn 2 map (large file).
On turn 2, the blockade of Germany forced the Axis to consolidate their forces in the Med and the Baltic. The Allies gain 1 POC for the turn, but the Axis still have a 1 POC lead.
The Allies slam on the blockade with everything they've got. The North Atlantic is covered with a mere 10 ASW, but it's enough. The Allies are confident enough that they refuse Russian help. The Axis cower and repair.
The score returns to 0 as the Allies gain another net PoC and maintain the blockade.
Link to Turn 3 map (large file).
On turn 3 the blockade continues as both sides gird for the possible decisive turn 4. The Allies again gain 1 POC for the turn, evening the match at 0 POC.
The BBC reports: On turn 4 the blockade again continues. The Italian cruisers get mauled in the South Atlantic. In the Barents, Axis LBA sinks the Ark Royal and the Repulse, but Convoy 1A get through to Russia.
The Axis control the Baltic and Med, while the Allies control the Barents, North and North Atlantic and get the convoy to Russia. The Allies gain 3 POC for the turn, making the overall tally +3 POC Allies.
Radio Berlin claims: The Russians (snubbed last turn) and the Americans withhold their assistance.
Bruce deploys his surface firepower almost equally amongst the 3 blockade areas. The ASW is largely split between the North Sea and Barents Sea - just enough to offer a significant change of defeating the wolfpack.
After much mulling, Axis High Command plays it safe with the main fleet but elects a risky move with the Mediterranean squadron and the wolfpack in the South Atlantic.
The Luftwaffe comes out with guns blazing - sinking the Ark Royal and the Repulse - but missing the vital convoy. Axis High Command is still pleased!
Allied LBA wiffs but their ASW manages to sink two U-Boats with only six shots - dampening Axis chances of breaking the blockade. The subsequent Allied salvo turned an Axis disaster into an utter fiasco -- sinking four of the Axis ships (including Gneisenau), damaging another, and forcing the remainder to the neutral port.
That leaves the Allies outgaining the Axis by 3 PoC (leaving the Allies with a 3 PoC lead). The Allies continue to enjoy a blackade with a less-than-full-strength wolfpack. With the right Allied assistence, the Axis have even less chance to break out this turn than previously.
The Med adventure turns into a debacle for the Axis as two U-Boats are sunk without doing anything in return. All in all, three Italians and the Gneisenau are sunk while the remaining Italian is damaged and, together with the surviving German cruiser, are disabled to the neutral port. The Allies lose a single BB.
Overall, the area PoC is equal but the Allies gain three as the convoy arrives in Russia for a total Allied lead of 3.
Link to Turn 4 map (large file).
The BBC reports: On turn 5 the Axis win a giant battle in the north Sea with few losses while sinking two Allied battleships and three carriers, thus opening the floodgates for another sortie on turn 6. In the Barents, Convoy 2B gets through to Russia, evening the POC for the turn.
The Axis control the North and Med, while the Allies control the Barents and North Atlantic and get Convoy 2B to Russia for 5 POC apiece. The POC is even for the turn, making the overall tally +3 POC Allies.
Radio Berlin claims: The Russians (still feeling snubbed) withold support. The Americans contribute generously to the war effort with two BBs (including the big one).
Axis LBA completely wiffs as does Allied LBA & ASW. U-Boats disable the Marat and Sussex and put one damage on the Queen Elizabeth. In the key North Sea airstrikes, the Bismarck takes 2 damage while the Graf Spee is disabled. On the Axis side, the Graf Zeppelin's airstikes disable the Nelson.
In first round action, the Tirpitz, Graf Zeppelin, and Blucher are disabled while the Bismarck takes an additional 5 damage. The mystery is why the Blucher was targeted rather than the Admiral Sheer. On the Allied side, the Eagle and Illustrious were sunk while the Barham was disbled and the Rodney took two damage. The second round was decisive as Bismarck and Lutzow were disabled (Lutzow with 1 damage). However, the Rodney took 3 additional damage and the other two BBs were sunk. As a result, the Allies fled in four one-ship groups. During pursuit, only Glorious was sunk (and no other damage done)
The PoC was 5 for each side (as the convoy arrived) -- leaving the Allies up by 3 PoC.
Link to Turn 5 map (large file).
The BBC reports: On turn 6 the Axis repairs in Germany and take the Baltic and Barents Seas. T subs attempt to break Allied control of the North Sea, but are repulsed by a weak 13 ASW force there. Convoy 3C debates porting in England, then pushes on to the Barents.
The Axis control the Baltic and Med, while the Allies control the Barents, North, South Atlantic and North Atlantic to gain 1 POC for the turn. The Allies gain 1 POC for the turn, making the overall tally +4 POC Allies.
Radio Berlin claims: The Russians again refuse to engage the enemy. On the other hand, the entire six ship American squadron reports for duty. The Rodney takes much needed repairs. The Lutzow, Bismarck, and Pola also go into dry dock. As a result, the two fleet avoid engagement this turn. Meanwhile, the entire wolfpack commits to the North Sea.
Axis LBA puts one damage on the Devonshire. Allied LBA misses. Then, in a debacle for the Axis, 13 ASW sank 3 U-Boats and disabled the other 4 to reinstate the blockade (despite only a roughly 6.5% chance to do so). The Axis fleet will, therefore, be forced to fight in the North Sea or Barents Sea in the next turn while the U-Boats have lost their sting.
The Allies gain 1 PoC overall (4 to 3) to increase their lead to 4 PoC.
Link to Turn 6 map (large file).
As expected, Turn 7 features an attempt by the German fleet to break the blockade the old-fashioned way (after the U-Boat failure on Turn 6). Initially, the turn favors the Axis as U-Boats deny control in both the South Atlantic and Baltic Seas. In addition, airstrikes don't affect the Kriegsmarine at all but do send the Hood packing.
However, thereafter, the turn belongs to the Allies. Disabling 4 and sinking 2 Axis ships on the first volley (compared to 1 and 2 repsectively for the Axis volley), it takes the Allies only two rounds to remove all German ships.
At this point, the German High Command sought surrender terms (as the PoC would have gone up to an Allied lead of 8). Congratulations to Bruce!
Link to Turn 7 map (large file).
