a world at war to order a slugfest at the con

Summer 2005 $1.00

A quarterly newsletter devoted to A WORLD AT WAR, GMT Games’ strategic simulation of World War II. To order AWAW, go to www.gmtgames.com or phone 1-800-523-6111.

2006 Convention Game Report

Slugfest at the Con.................................... Front Cover By Bruce Harper and Eric Thobaben

Fighting the 800-pound Gorilla ................................16 By Bruce Harper

Next Issue: The Early War

SLUGFEST AT THE CON A Blow by Blow Description

by Bruce Harper and Eric Thobaben

Introduction There’s nothing like a good fight. And that’s exactly

what happened in the game between Ken Cruz/Bruce Harper (Axis) and Eric Thobaben/Steve Voros (Allies) at the 2006 Boardgame Players Association convention in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The game had almost everything, as you will see.

We should add that the game finished well within the available time, around 3:00 pm on Saturday. Partly this was because the game was set up and the first two turns played on Monday evening, before any of the other games started, and partly because the players maintained a measured, but not frantic, pace.

Planning The Japanese plan (Bruce Harper) was described in

detail in the Spring 2005 issue of ULTRA. Japan adopted what almost amounted to an anti-plan, deliberately restraining itself in the interests of trying to build a solid and resilient position.

The Germans (Ken Cruz) were by no means as modest. Germany’s plan was to conquer Russia, period. To this end, Ken intended to get two 5-6 armor units for a Summer 1941 Barbarossa, as well as two winter preparation results in time for Winter 1941. Longer-range plans included jets, radar, flak and interceptors to ward off Allied bombing.

For the Western Allies, the assumption was that Ken would adopt the standard Los Angeles plan of emphasizing submarine warfare, therefore the Western

Allies planned to counter in kind. This assumption proved correct. The Western Allies also emphasized military research, to build up a robust British army and, as we shall see, the Indians and Australians as well. Lastly, the Western Allies produced three air transports and three airborne by 1943 to allow for more flexible tactics to penetrate the Axis defenses.

Russia did what it always does: build up massive amounts of air and ground forces. The original Russian plan was to produce several early shock tactics results in an attempt to break the German line sooner than normal. But few plans survive contact with the enemy. While the first shock tactics result came in 1940, subsequent results had to be deferred until 1944 and 1945 because of the strength and success of the Axis Barbarossa campaign.

2 Summer 2005

1939 At Start

BRPs, DPs and RPs Ger Ita Jap Rus Bri US Fra BRPs 110 40 40 80 60 100 40 DPs 3 2 3 3 0 2 Total 5 3 5 RPs 8 2 6 6 6 0 3 Total 10 6 6 9

Fall 1939 Germany calls Ireland, but with no result. Otherwise

the game begins like any other, with the Germans taking out Poland. Russia responds by annexing eastern Poland and the Baltic States.

The European Axis put three RPs in military general research and achieve a breakthrough, while the Western Allies luck out and roll “6” for air range research, scoring an early result. (Later this is balanced by a string of lousy air range research rolls). Given the expected lighter transport losses from this earlier than anticipated research result, Eric is able to indulge his proclivity for

building big ships, and Britain lays down a BB5. The German High Command scoffs at the British extravagance, predicting “That BB5 will never be launched!” Despite the mockery of both his opponent and his peers, Eric manages to maximally accelerate both this BB5 and a second British BB5 throughout the game. As it turns out, the British super-battleships are useful and make headlines. One is even sunk by the Japanese, as described below.

RGT: 0 USAT: 1-1 USJT: 2

Winter 1939 The Germans attack in the west, and Italy declares

war. The Winter 1939 option has long been the subject of debate. It has its advantages (in 1940 Germany gets more BRPs, two extra DPs and an extra RP; Italy has more BRPs in 1940) and its disadvantages (fewer German forces available in Spring 1940, faster USAT increases, earlier Anglo-French cooperation).

The Germans take the Low Countries with light losses. Italy stands pat in the Mediterranean.

The Western Allies attrition and brace themselves for the Spring 1940 German attack. The U.S. lays down a CVL.

Russia demands the Finnish border hexes and is pleased to roll a “1”, which gives them an economic interest in Finland! These peaceful developments in the north prove to be short lived.

RGT: 2 USAT: 8 USJT: 3+1

EDITOR: Markus Kässbohrer GUEST EDITOR FOR THIS ISSUE: Bruce Harper ASSOCIATE EDITOR, ARTICLE DEVELOPMENT: Ed Schoenfeld PROOFREADERS: Tim Schroeder (lead), Bryan Brinkman, Michael Confoy, Todd Dunnavant, Bill Humphrey, Donald Stanley BUSINESS MANAGER: Maurice Buttazoni ULTRA BOARD: Bruce Harper, Don Moody, Eric Thobaben, Markus Kässbohrer, Mike Crowe, Vic Hogen.

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Summer 2005 3

1940 1940 YSS

BRPs, DPs and RPs Ger Ita Jap Rus Bri US Fra BRPs 210 70 104 135 170 144 90 DPs 7 2 5 4 1 2 Total 9 5 7 RPs 12 3 8 8 9 4 4 Total 15 8 8 17

Spring 1940 In Spring 1940 the Axis continue their attack in the

west, preparing to capture Paris in Summer 1940. The Axis declare war on Denmark and Norway and invade the beach southeast of Oslo. The Western Allies take advantage of the fact that the Germans don’t airdrop into Norway, and a British 3-4 infantry unit sea transports into Bergen and moves into Oslo. In addition, the British tranquilize Ireland for the rest of the war.

Germany produces an interceptor and two NAS. The Graf Zeppelin will be busy. Japan produces five NAS. The British produce one interceptor, one strategic bomber, one ASW factor, three transports, one 3-4 infantry, one airborne, and increase the shipbuilding in Glasgow to five. Russia produces one AAF, one 3-3 infantry, one (secret) shock tactics result, and one fort, which is built in Leningrad.

RGT: 4 USAT: 11 - M1 USJT: 4

Summer 1940 Germany misses its torpedo research result and the

Western Allies get an ASW research result. Britain places a spy ring in Spain, which is immediately eliminated by Axis counter-intelligence operatives, and Russia places a spy ring in Turkey.

Paris falls with light Axis losses. The Axis have one DP in France, but the Allies have three. The French surrender level is -3 (the maximum pro-Allied result), and Germany elects not to establish Vichy France, giving the British the largest Free French forces possible. Humorously, the two Free French AAF will not be built until Fall 1944 due to British construction limitations. More importantly, though, all the French colonies automatically go Free French, giving Britain a strong position in North Africa.

The British sea supply Malta under a small amount of Axis land-based air and remove two isolation counters.

The Russians demand Bessarabia and annex it without a fight. The German Foreign Minister is sacked for incompetence, although his replacement turns out to be worse.

The U.S. makes its first BRP grant to China. Later on, the Allies stockpile BRPs in India, so that they could continue to grant BRPs to China over the hump without tying up Pacific transports. This is an interesting idea, although quite costly to the U.S. in terms of lost BRP growth. In total, the U.S. granted something like 50 to 75 BRPs to China in this game.

RGT: 8 USAT: 15-1 USJT: 7

Fall 1940 The Axis roll for a slew of countries, getting good

results in the Balkans and a handful of enthusiastic Spanish volunteers. The Axis fail to get a coveted roll of “6”, which would have given them hex control of Spain, and the German Foreign Minister is very disappointed.

Russia obtains a “-1” result for Turkey (hex control), but opts for an economic interest so that its mobilizations are not slowed.

Germany bombs Britain, inflicting 7 BRPs of losses. The British begin to sweep though French North

Africa and target Tripoli. The Italians scramble to set up a defense along the Western border of Libya.

RGT: 19 - M1 USAT: 17 USJT: 10-2

Winter 1940 Germany again bombs Britain, this time inflicting 17

BRPs of losses. Germany builds up against Russia and produces a 5-6 armor unit.

The Western Allies roll a “6” for naval nationality DRM research. The British opt to deficit spend 15 BRPs in order to deploy more ground forces to North Africa so as to take advantage of their superior position in Libya and maintain pressure on Italy. The U.S. launches a CVL, which will be used to form a fifth carrier task force in Fall 1941.

RGT: 24 USAT: 23 - M2 USJT: 13+2 - M1

4 Summer 2005

1941 1941 YSS

BRPs, DPs and RPs Ger Ita Jap Rus Bri US Fra BRPs 325 71 151 187 175 294 - DPs 12 2 5 4 4 - Total 14 5 8 RPs 14 3 8 10 9 11 - Total 17 8 10 20

Spring 1941 The Germans get their first torpedo result, but it is

countered by a Western Allied naval nationality DRM increase (obtained on a research roll of “5”). Hungary activates as a Germany minor ally and Barbarossa is set to go in Summer 1941. Germany bombs London for the third time and again inflicts 17 BRPs of damage. The Luftwaffe High Command is most disappointed in not getting a firestorm after three turns of bombing.

The British sea supply Malta and again remove two isolation counters. The Western Allied attrition pushes into eastern Libya.

The Russians set up a more or less overrun-proof line from Riga through Bessarabia, with the exception of a hex row in the swamps, which are safe anyway. Although the line is solid for combat, it is open to encirclement during exploitation. Russia has ten 3-3 infantry and 20 AAF.

Germany produces its second 5-6 armor unit. Japan produces one marine. The U.S. produces its third marine

and one strategic bomber. Britain produces two interceptors, one strategic bomber, one ASW factor, one transport, one 3-4 infantry, and increases the Canadian shipbuilding to two. Russia produces four AAF, one 3-3 infantry, and one fort, which is built in Moscow.

RGT: 30 - M2 USAT: 29-1 USJT: 17

Summer 1941 The Western Allies achieve an air defense result

(better late than never from London’s point of view). Russia gets its heavy armor result.

The Axis attack Russia with 18 armor units (12 4-6 armor, two 5-6 armor, two 2-6 armor, and two 2-5 armor) and 36 AAF, but without the help of the Finns. The Germans slip armor units past Riga with an exploitation overrun and penetrate deeply in the north.

The Russians set up a “hedgehog” defense in front of Moscow and defend Leningrad, Rostov and Sevastopol. Central Russia is left wide open. Russian forces SR from Siberia to the Urals box.

In the Mediterranean, the Italians are starved for resources and fall back to western Libya. With Barbarossa in full swing the Italians must make do. The Australians return to the Far East; the Indians do not. Britain opens the Persian route and begins granting BRPs to Russia.

RGT: 36 (War) - M2 USAT: 36-1 - M3 USJT: 23+1 - M2

Fall 1941 Russia rolls for Turkey but doesn’t get a result. The Bismarck is damaged in a raid, and the Royal

Navy rules the Atlantic. The Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk ICs are

undefended and are captured during the Axis movement phase. The Germans cut off Leningrad, advance to the gates of Moscow, and take the hexes next to Rostov. The Russians set up a line that should hold in winter.

In the Mediterranean, the British continue to pressure Italy in Libya. Three Free French 2-3 infantry redeploy to Ethiopia.

RGT: War - M3 USAT: 40+1 - M4 USJT: 28-2

Winter 1941 Germany rolls a “6” for the Ukraine, the first in a

Summer 2005 5

series of good Axis diplomatic die rolls. The Germans reveal their two winter preparation results, and the winter die roll cooperates, with a “2”, yielding a net “5” winter level for the Axis. This allows for three Axis ground attacks using all their air on the eastern front. Germany captures Rostov and crosses the Don, creating a bridgehead. The Russian position in the oil-rich south is thereby open to attack in 1942.

For the third time, the British sea supply Malta under a small amount of Axis land-based air and remove two isolation counters. The British subs have managed to cut sea supply to Tripoli almost every turn of the game thus far, but their finest hour will occur next turn.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is a success, although no American carriers are sunk. Four American BB3s are destroyed and several others sunk in port or damaged. Two oil counters are also eliminated, with almost no Japanese losses. All five (!) American carrier TFs end up in the Pacific U.S. box.

Japan takes the two Dutch East Indies oil centers, lands in the Philippines, sea transports units into Malaya and invades Burma. Japan also captures Wake and one of the Gilberts and makes scattered landings in New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago.

In a curious development, the Chinese don’t rebuild units in the jungle/mountain hexes near Kunming, so the Japanese accept the invitation and move into China. Is it a mistake or a trap? Or both?

RGT: War - M4 USAT: 45+1 - M5 USJT: 34 (War) - M3

1942 1942 YSS


Spring 1942 The Germans get their second torpedo result.

Germany makes a diplomatic roll for Greece, but only gets five BRPs. In the Atlantic, the German raiders finally run out of luck, and the first German ship is sunk (the Scharnhorst). In a miraculous turn of events during the second raider engagement, a British cruiser faces off against the Tirpitz. The Tirpitz whiffs, and the British cruiser rolls “12” followed by a critical hit roll of “6”, damaging the Tirpitz! Eric laughs his pants off. Ken can’t believe his eyes. The Japanese try their best to be inscrutable.

In Russia, Germany takes a 132-factor attrition and expands the bridgehead next to Rostov. The Germans produce their third 5-6 armor unit, maintaining the Axis armor total at 18 on the eastern front, and prepare for their summer attack.

Because of the German bridgeheads over the Don, the Russian defense for Summer 1942 is very hard to set up. The Russians try to make the oil fields more difficult to attack because the Axis appear to be pushing south. The remainder of the Russian line is still relatively strong, but it is not impregnable to exploiting Panzers.

Russia produces one AAF, one 3-3 infantry, and two forts (to be built in Gorki and Stalingrad). Russia is fully built and up to about 20 3-3 infantry, but only has its seven 3-5 armor to slow exploiting Panzers.

With the Italian position collapsing on both sides of Libya, Italy is forced to protect sea supply to North Africa in a last ditch effort to fortify Tripoli and force the Western Allies to make a ground attack to kick Italy out of North Africa. The British subs roll an “11” (modified to “12”) and “12”, sinking a total of CA8 and DD2. Sea supply gets through to Libya, but at a high cost to the Italian navy. Ethiopia surrenders. On the upside, Italy is able to safely NR reinforcements into Tripoli, including a 2-5 armor that served in Russia, but will now bravely hold the southern flank of the Italian

6 Summer 2005

line in western Libya for two turns against would-be advances by a British 2-5 armor.

Britain launches the Lionheart, the first of two British BB5s. It is sent to the Pacific. Steve welcomes it with open arms. The Western Allies will eventually launch seven BB5s this game. In the Mediterranean the Western Allies attrition, but are unable to break the Italian lines. Britain produces one air transport, two ASW units, two transports, one 4-5 armor unit, the commando, and the Chindit. India and Australia each produce one 2-2 infantry and one 1-2 infantry. The U.S. produces two strategic bombers, two interceptors, two subs, and increases its NAT to five. Britain ends the turn with the commando, an airborne, and the British air transport built and ready for action from southern England in Summer 1942.

The Japanese conquer the rest of the Dutch East Indies, assuring themselves of oil (at least for the moment) and take Manila on a 2.5:1 exploitation attack from the empty beach at Lingayen. The Japanese plan is to attrition the five Western Allied ground factors in Malaya, but this has to be deferred because Japan has to conduct a full offensive on the Southeast Asian front.

In the south Pacific Japan attritions Rabaul, which is isolated. In China Japan attritions and continues to infiltrate units near Kunming.

Overcome by optimism, Japan builds a fort in Okinawa.

Japan produces one interceptor, one NAS, one ASW unit and one 3-2 infantry unit.

RGT: War - M5 USAT: 49-2 - M6 USJT: War - M4

Summer 1942 The Western Allies achieve their second and third

ASW research results, increase their CTL to 2, and achieve a controlled reaction. The bomb is on schedule. Russia increases its CTL to 2.

Finland associates with Germany on a die roll of “6”. Germany attacks Russia in the north and center. Moscow is cut off, Gorki is threatened and Vologda is captured. No Axis units are adjacent to Leningrad, although Leningrad will likely be isolated next turn. German units are adjacent to Stalingrad, and two-thirds of the Russian Army is isolated.

Russian salvation comes from an unexpected source. Russia makes a diplomatic die roll for Turkey and rolls a “2”. Turkey joins the war as a Russian minor ally, as the Axis placed no DPs in Turkey, as known by the

Russians because of their spy ring in Turkey. The two DPs for Turkey and the Turkish forces and BRPs boost Russian resistance, and Turkey soon provides another front from which Russia can attack the Axis. The German Foreign Minister is summarily shot for incompetence, but the damage is done. This result saves the Russians from an imminent collapse. The German high command never recovers, and Joe Brophy has something new to write about in his blunders column.

The Russians rebuild yet again and try to construct a line from near Moscow to the oil fields. Because the Russian line is so long and stretched so thin, a Turkish 2-5 armor and 2-3 infantry are SRed to Leningrad to join a Russian airborne unit in an unlikely defensive formation. The remaining Turks hang out in European Turkey and attrition the Bulgarians. Observers are still ready to write off the Russians. Eric counters, “the Russians will be fine.”

The Germans finally declare war on the U.S. American mobilizations were delayed somewhat in late 1940 and early 1941, as while the Western Allies were hot with the research dice, the random tension rolls favored the Germans and in 1940 the Western Allies invested three DPs in France instead of USAT. In the end the rate of American mobilization didn’t really matter. More importantly, with the U.S. now in the war, the Alaskan highway is opened and the U.S. begins covering the BRP grants through Persia, so more aid begins to flow to Russia.

With the Western Allied CTL at 2, the British threaten to both airdrop and commando raid from Britain into northern Europe. The Germans are prepared, though, so the threat only manages to draw light Axis forces from other areas. The British therefore NR an air transport and an airborne unit to Algiers, where they TR forward for possible use in Fall 1942.

In the Mediterranean, the Italians finally must abandon the chokepoint in central Libya and try to dig in closer to Tripoli. The Germans NR two 3-3 infantry units to Tripoli, which allows the Italians to fan out a few hexes south of Tripoli, creating a buffer. The Western Allies now have four armor units in western Libya and, during attrition advance, are able to encircle several Italian units several hexes south of Tripoli.

But the Italians have a last laugh. With Turkey now under Russian control, the Western Allies attempt to send a BRP grant to Russia through the Mediterranean and Turkey. With only one Italian submarine to “threaten” the naval force carrying the grant, the Western Allies only send a cruiser to accompany the

Summer 2005 7

two Atlantic transports assigned to carry the BRPs. The Italian sub rolls a “12”, reduced to an “11”, which inflicts four hits, sinking the cruiser and both transports. The much needed supplies don’t even make it to Turkey, let alone Russia.

Dramatic events occur in the Pacific. A naval battle is sparked by the struggle for Rabaul, with four Japanese CVs and two Japanese CVLs squaring off against four American CVs and one American CVL. Each side has about five AAF which can reach the battle, but not each other.

The end result is a Japanese victory. While the naval air units wear each other down, one American CV is sunk by Japanese land-based army air squadrons, and a second American CV is sunk by a Japanese submarine. An American submarine damages a Japanese CV.

The scariest moment for the Japanese comes when the Yamato is attacked by 22 American fleet factors, but is saved by the Japanese naval nationality DRM research result, which turns a “4” result (damage) into a “3” result (no effect). The Japanese naval scientists are vindicated, not for the last time.

Readers perplexed as to the location of the other two Japanese CVs during this crucial battle should imagine how the Japanese admirals felt. Both were assigned to China duties, where the Japanese launch a sudden armor attack to try to take advantage of what they perceive to be weaknesses in the Chinese defenses. The exploiting armor split the Chinese into three attrition zones, which are then to be ground up by the Japanese in a series of attritions.

China always looks easier than it is. USAT: War - M7 USJT: War - M5

Fall 1942 The Germans roll a “5” for diplomacy, and the

Swedes associate with Germany. Germany attacks and isolates the forward line of Russian units protecting the oil fields. Maikop is isolated along with a sizeable amount of Russian units. Leningrad falls to an infantry assault. The Russian resistance level is +4.

In the Mediterranean, the British take advantage of their CTL of 2 and the reduced Italian CTL (due to limited supply) by rolling “6” for a 21-factor attrition. The 5C/2H result vaporizes 11 factors of Italian infantry that surround Tripoli. Ken winces and Eric grins. The only Axis units remaining in North Africa are two German 3-3 infantry fortified in Tripoli.

Weakened by its losses against the Japanese last

turn, the American navy stays in port, and a series of counterair battles start in New Guinea and the Solomons. The Japanese roll well and come out ahead.

Japan attritions in China, but American BRP grants keep China afloat.

USAT: War - M8 USJT: War -M6

Winter 1942 The Western Allies roll a “6” for air nationality

DRM research. A mild winter allows Germany to make three ground

attacks using all its air units. Moscow falls to an infantry assault, and Gorki falls to a 1:1 assault with heavy Axis losses. The Axis have reached their zenith and are forced to take a defensive posture in the south, retreating somewhat to consolidate their position around Maikop.

Russia would have offered a -2 surrender if not for the Turkish BRPs and the two additional Russian DPs for controlling the key cities in Turkey. The Germans gnash their teeth at the lost opportunity. Instead, Russian resistance is +2 this turn, and it is clear that the German invasion of Russia has failed, to achieve a decisive result, although Russia would have rebounded even if it had surrendered. Feeling the swing in initiative, Russia redeploys (in part using the Russian and Turkish navies!) a large force (ten AAF, two 3-5 armor, two 3-3 infantry) into western Turkey in order to attack Bulgaria, currently defended only by the Bulgarians.

The Western Allies make a diplomatic roll for Spain, roll a “2”, and Spain allies with the U.S. The Axis had 2 DPs in Spain, but the Western Allies had 5 DPs, a British spy ring, and both Britain and Russia play a covert operation. The latest German Foreign Minister gets the firing squad, despite his successes in the Ukraine and Sweden.. The tide has turned badly against the stunned Germans. No one seems to want the Foreign Minister job anymore. The Western Allies deploy a small army into Spain. Western Allied bombing is still largely ineffective due to German interceptors and radar. With the opening the Spanish front, American AAF are deployed to Spain instead of bombing from Britain.

In the Mediterranean, the British capture Tripoli in a costly 2:1 attack and airdrop into Cagliari (Sardinia). A Canadian infantry division NRs into Cagliari to ensure that Sardinia will be under British control at the end of next turn. Eric points out to Ken that, next turn, the Western Allies will invade Ajaccio (Corsica) and airdrop into northern Corsica, forcing an Italian

8 Summer 2005

surrender, unless the Axis can prevent it. The Japanese and Americans continue their air

attrition in the south Pacific. The U.S. reinforces Lae and begins its push up New Guinea.

Japan ends the year with seven AAF unbuilt, its naval construction chart clogged up and seven oil counters in its oil reserve.

USAT: War - M9 USJT: War - M7

1943 1943 YSS


Spring 1943 Finland and Sweden ally with Germany. The first of several boring turns for the Luftwaffe

begins. The Axis transfer all their air units to northern Italy and Corsica in order to prevent Allied invasions and airdrops into Corsica and, thus, keep Italy in the war. (The rules have now changed in this area to remove such cheesiness: control of Sicily, but not Sardinia and Corsica, triggers this –1 DP modifier for Italy.) This Luftwaffe Sitzkrieg will save Italy until Winter 1943, when the Germans decide that there are

other, more pressing uses for their air units. The Germans build a railhead in Bucharest and

redeploy three Panzer Armies to stop any Russian advance into Rumania.

Japan produces two interceptors, two ASW and two 3-2 infantry units.

In the Pacific, the Americans invade Hollandia under their air umbrella. Otherwise, the Pacific theater is static, which is fine with the Japanese. Of course the American navy continues to expand, but at the moment Japan retains a carrier superiority. The U.S. has many, many unbuilt NAS.

The Western Allies reposition their units in the Mediterranean, including deploying more air, armor, and infantry to Spain, using the Free French and Spanish destroyers that constitute most of the Western Allied DDs in Europe. The Western Allies capture a few hexes along the Franco-Spanish border as the Germans get in position to defend. Britain produces two strategic bombers (five total), two ASW factors, an (ASW) ULTRA card, and a second French partisan. The U.S. produces three interceptors (five total), one strategic bomber (five total), two air transports, one sub, one marine (four total), one airborne, one winter prep result, a (tactical) MAGIC card, and will increase its naval air training by three this year (up to eight total). The RP in port production has to be used to supplement the “1” rolled for ASW technology to secure the fourth Western Allied ASW result.

Meanwhile, Russia attacks into a paper-thin Bulgaria and captures Sofia, knocking the Bulgarians out of the war. However, in order to do so, Y32, the mountain hex east of Plovdiv (which is east of Sofia), must be left weakly defended. This will matter later. Russia produces four AAF, one air transport, and one 5-6 armor. A mobilized 5-6 armor is also added to the Russian force pool. The Russians build a railhead in Istanbul and redeploy the rest of the Red Air Force, two 5-6 armor, one 3-5 armor, an airborne, and an air transport to western Turkey. If the Germans retreat (as they likely will) in Russia next turn, then this will allow the Russians to use their air force and their position in Turkey to greater effect.

A Russian limited offensive recaptures the eastern Crimea and the Russians continue their attrition advance from Sevastopol into T39, the Ukrainian chokepoint north of the Crimea. While the Germans had other priorities, the failure to take Sevastopol has a price.


Summer 2005 9

Summer 1943 The Western Allies announce an air nationality

DRM increase and a torpedo result. Germany again make a diplomatic roll for Greece,

but with no effect. With the bulk of the Red Air Force and half the Russian armor in Turkey and Bulgaria, the Germans stand and fight in Russia. Germany’s three 5-6 armor and two 4-6 armor in Rumania are able to easily capture Y32 (Bulgaria) from the Russians (only a Turkish 2-3 infantry defending, so Russian defensive air support would be a lost cause). Two German 4-6 armor advance into Y32, giving the mountain hex a whopping defense of 24 and extending a ZoC into the only two hexes through which Russia could trace land supply to its units in and near Sofia. Y32 becomes a key hex for the Axis to stop the Russian advance because the Russians cannot trace supply past Y32 unless it is under Russian control.

In the Mediterranean, the Germans counterattack the Western Allied army in the south of France, cutting off a good portion of it. A 4-6 armor unit exploits into a hex in the Pyrenees. Italy braces for a possible invasion in Sicily and south of Rome. The beaches in France are reinforced.

The Western Allies respond by invading the French beach west of Bordeaux and exploiting inland. The bridgehead from the invasion was able to supply all of the isolated Western Allied units in France. The commando, now in Malta, invades Durazzo (Albania).

The Russians attrition in Russia and begin to ooze out of the Crimea south and east of the Dnieper. But the focus this turn is Bulgaria. Using most of its available AAF, four armor, and two infantry, Russia attacks Y32 at 48:24, or 2:1. Two “1”s! So the Russians “redeploy” their expensive losses to Russia in order to properly attack the Axis line next turn. This could have been a turning point in the war in Europe. If the Russians had captured Y32 (which Eric whined about for the rest of the game), there were three lines of clear hexes to the north that the Germans would have had a hard time defending. Russian control of Bucharest would have knocked the Rumanians out of the war, and Russia’s capture of Ploesti would have created substantial problems for the Axis oil supply. Instead, a smaller Russian-Turkish garrison (including two 3-5 armor) remains in Bulgaria to tie down German forces that must defend Ploesti.

The Japanese dodge a bullet in the Pacific, as the Americans send a patrol to attack two Japanese TFs in

Palau, which has no ground forces. The Japanese have three AAF and one NAS, in addition to the nine NAS on their carriers. When the Americans roll a “2” for their crucial first counterair dice roll, the Japanese defenses turn out to be just strong enough. The failed attack turns into a Japanese victory because of the American NAS losses, but the Japanese quickly build an airbase in Palau and send in ground units.

In China, the Nationalist Chinese are close to collapse because they keep attacking, but the Japanese are unable to see a way of finishing them and restrain themselves in favor of getting all their forces built. The Japanese hope the Chinese will keep attacking and roll badly, but on this front (contrary to the Pacific) the dice favor the Allies.


Fall 1943 The Western Allies announce their second air range

result, four years after their 1939 result. The Germans begin their “brave” retreat in Russia by

setting up out of range of the Russian infantry. Because the Russians have been careless in their oozing out of the Crimea, they left only a partisan to defend Sevastopol. To stymie the Russians, the Germans counterattack, exploit into the Crimea, and capture Sevastopol. The Axis forces in France reposition to defend against the counterattack from Spain.

Russia advances and attacks Gorki. Otherwise, the Russians just move forward. All of the mobilized Russian armor are now in play. Moscow and Kharkov will be within range of attack in winter.

The Western Allies pound away in France, capturing a few hexes and placing a bridgehead over the Gironde to try to maintain control of key hexes against Axis attrition advance next turn. Now that the threat of a German attack into Spain has materialized and been countered, the Spanish army, may not be used on the western front, is beginning to get bored. The British commando occupies Tirane (Albania). Western Allied bombing of the Ruhr is still largely ineffective because there are no AAF escorts (the AAF are being used in Spain) and the German radar and interceptors are an effective defense.

Another quiet turn in the Pacific, as the U.S. replenishes its carriers with NAS. The Americans recapture Rabaul under a large land-based air presence. China is quiet as the Japanese begin to withdraw from the interior.

10 Summer 2005

The Allies start sending American AAF to India. USAT: War - M12 USJT: War - M10

Winter 1943 The Western Allies announce their first post-war

strategic bombers result and reveal their first winter preparation result.

Germany gives up on Italy and redeploys the Luftwaffe to Russia. The Western Allies still don’t have the armor and AAF to break out of southern France, so Germany maintains a line that runs (roughly) from La Rochelle to Lyon and then south along the west bank of the Rhone. German forces are in position to defend central Italy when the Italians fold. The German positions in southern Rumania and Russia are solid for now. This is the last turn that the German subs will conduct submarine warfare; rebuilding ground and air units will take priority from now on.

The Western Allies attack and exploit in France, bagging a few Axis units around Vichy city. Corsica is liberated by a Free French invasion of Ajaccio and a British airdrop into northern Corsica. The invasion of Corsica triggers the final engagement for the Regina Maria, which is easily defeated by the combined Western Allied navies. The commando raids Brindisi from Durazzo to open the strait of Otranto for future Western Allied naval missions in the Adriatic. In addition, a multinational force of British, Free French, and (mostly) Spanish infantry and armor redeploy into Albania. Italy surrenders, and three British task forces (one fully loaded with CVLs) redeploy to South Africa en route to the Pacific.

In the east, Russia pounds away at the German line. Russia recaptures the Moscow and Kharkov ICs and places a bridgehead across the Donets during an exploitation attack. Russian exploiters near Orel to the north combine to bag a few Axis units, but the German line generally holds. More interesting, though, is the Russian presence in western Bulgaria that, together with the Western Allied forces in Albania, threatens a joint Allied attack into Yugoslavia.

The Americans trigger a big naval battle at the western tip of New Guinea, but the Japanese are stronger in every department and the outcome isn’t really in doubt. Losses are relatively light for both sides, and the Japanese perimeter continues to hold. Time is running out, though.

Japan builds a fort in Tokyo. The Japanese policy is to build forts in key hexes in and near Japan, provided

this doesn’t leave important forces unbuilt or require an extra oil counter.

Japan ends the year with its oil reserve full. USJT: War M11

1944 1944 YSS

BRPs, DPs and RPs Ger Ita Jap Rus Bri US Fra BRPs 571 - 276 307 155 982 - DPs 13 - 8 7 14 - Total 13 8 21 RPs 21 - 12 12 9 29 - Total 21 12 12 38

Spring 1944 Russia increases its air nationality DRM to 2.

Worried about an Allied coup, the Germans call Yugoslavia and are happy with no result.

The Germans hold the line in the east as mud forces mundane attritions. In France, the Germans pull back in order to reform a straight line running Caen-Lyon-Marseille that is overrun proof and will stop any exploitation attack. Following attrition advance, a few armor and infantry remain around Vichy city to slow/annoy the Western Allied advance. In Italy, Axis forces lock down the area east of Rome. A thin line of Axis infantry are deployed to the Yugoslav border to respond to any Allied advances through Yugoslavia. Rumania remains well defended. Germany produces three interceptors (nine total) and a jet.

Summer 2005 11

The U.S. gains hex control of Greece, which finally allows the Russian armor and infantry near Sofia to receive full supply. The U.S. declares war on Yugoslavia, and a truly multinational force (Russians and Turks from Bulgaria; Americans, British, Free French, Indians, South Africans and Spanish from Albania) invades Yugoslavia, using the increased Western Allied sea transport capability to bring armor from France to Albania. Belgrade is captured, Western Allied armor cross the Danube and a Russian exploitation attack captures the southwestern hex in Rumania. The Balkan front will no longer be bottled up in Bulgaria. Allied partisans pop up in Italy to slow German reinforcements from Milan.

The Western Allies also invade Bergen at 2:1 odds. The Kriegsmarine opposes the invasion, but is outnumbered and defeated. The invasion succeeds, and the nearest Axis reinforcements are the Swedish ships in Stockholm (the Swedes and Finns are both fighting in Russia). Allied partisans appear on either side of Stockholm. The Scandinavian front is meant to spread out the German defenses just a little more. Western Allied reinforcements pour into Bergen during redeployment.

In France, the Western Allies attack and exploit just north of each of Lyon and Marseille, bagging a few Axis units in southern France. Some Axis units near Vichy city are attacked, but a few are left to evaporate out of supply. Additional American infantry arrives and the Western Allied line in France is now looking more respectable. Some Spanish infantry advance north from Brindisi.

Britain produces two strategic bombers (seven total) and two partisans (one Polish, one Italian). The U.S. produces three interceptors (eight total), three strategic bombers (eight total), five Pacific strategic bombers, four subs (nine total), one port, one 3-4 infantry, one 2-3 infantry, one marine (five total), one airborne (three total), one winter preparation result (two total), one uranium plant, one plutonium reactor, a (sub warfare) MAGIC card, and will increase its naval; air training by three this year (up to 11 total).

In Russia, the mud forces attritions. Russia produces three AAF, one air transport, one 5-6 armor, one 3-3 infantry, and two shock tactics results.

Japan produces two AAF, one interceptor, one ASW, three flak units and increases it naval air training rate to four. Japan builds almost everything, including a fort in Osaka, and waits.

The U.S. pauses to rebuild NAS because the U.S.

carriers are built, but there aren’t enough NAS for them. This is an important step to break the cycle of losing so many NAS that the U.S. cannot achieve carrier superiority.

USJT: War - M12

Summer 1944 The Western Allies announce their second strategic

bomber result. Given the global board positions, Steve and Eric opt to wait to roll for uranium separation and plutonium production until 1945. Both boards will definitely go into 1945, there is little point to risk losing an RP in an attempt to go for a bomb in 1944 which likely will not be used before 1945 anyway.

With the Allies opening up fronts across Europe, the Germans have to retreat somewhere. Because the Germans pushed so deeply into Russia, they are able to retreat one more turn in Russia and fall back to the Pact Line, just out of Russian infantry range. Small reinforcements are sent to Oslo to slow the Western Allied advance into Scandinavia. An attrition in France resupplies some Axis units, but there was little repair required due to many of the Western Allied armor being deployed to Yugoslavia. German air superiority over northern Yugoslavia allows a German counterattack to blunt the Western Allied penetration near Zagreb. German armor deploy along the Yugoslav border of Hungary and Rumania to slow the Allied push into the Balkans.

The Western Allies advance and capture Oslo while also invading the Danish beach. American armor overrun a German infantry northwest of Paris, attack over the Seine aided by an airdrop, and exploit and attack into Brussels. This uses all of the Western Allied AAF, so the German line from Paris to Lyon is left largely unmolested. Without AAF escorts, Western Allied bombing also remains ineffective. Such is the cost for tactical gains on the ground.

In the Mediterranean, the Spanish and pro-American Italian infantry march toward Rome in an act of futility in what has become a secondary front. The Western Allies consolidate their position in Yugoslavia, but are unable to advance due to the German air superiority in the area. Still, the intended result, to draw Axis forces from elsewhere, has made the Yugoslavian campaign a success.

Because of the Axis withdrawal of armor from southern Rumania, the Russians are able to pummel their way into Bucharest and southeastern Rumania. Ploesti is well defended, but threatened to be encircled.

12 Summer 2005

In Russia, the Russians liberate Leningrad and exploit south through the Baltic States. The remaining Russian armor surge ahead of the Russian infantry and advance into contact with Axis ground forces. A small offensive in southern Russia links the Russians in Rumania up with those in Russia. This will be the last turn where Germany can afford to retreat in the east.

In the Pacific, the Western Allies make a very risky 1:1 (22:20) attack into the jungle/mountain hex west of Kunming. The attack succeeds with acceptable losses and the Allies announce that they now have established a land supply line into China and therefore can bomb Japan from China.

The Japanese believe them, but in fact this isn’t so – the Allies may only send land supply to China via the Burma road: 30.326 BURMA ROAD: The Western Allies may trace supply to China by land only from the India box to Mandalay, then from Mandalay to Kunming. This does not prevent the Western Allies from tracing supply to China by sea through Haiphong or a Chinese port, provided the requirements for such a sea supply line are met.

The Americans invade Sorong with the hopes of using it as a forward air base for subsequent invasions into the DEI and the Philippines.

Fall 1944 Germany rebuilds a Swedish infantry unit in

Stockholm to keep the Swedes afloat. German infantry digs in at Kiel to protect against the Western Allied infantry on the Danish beach. In France, the Germans bottle up the exploiters near Brussels so that they will be ineffective during the Allied player turn. In central France, Germany maintains a strong presence from Paris to Switzerland. The fortified 5-6 armor and 3-3 infantry units in Paris will have to be eliminated in order for the Western Allies to continue advancing strongly into the Low Countries. Some German air is deployed near France to oppose bombing or fly defensive air support, but the majority of the German air units are deployed from Vienna to Warsaw, where they can defend against joint Allied incursions from the south and Russian attacks near Poland. The Western Allied threat from Yugoslavia is relatively weak now that the Germans have had time to reposition their forces, so the main threat this turn is from Russia. The German oil reserve is at eight.

An American 5-6 armor unit advances south through Sweden to gain a bombing air base near Berlin. A few other infantry push east towards Stockholm. In Denmark, Western Allied infantry advance to northern

Denmark and Copenhagen to open up the straits for Western Allied naval missions into the Baltic, should the need arise.

In France, the Western Allies attack more strongly in the south, capturing Lyon and Marseille, while also making a massive 2:1 attack on Paris. All the attacks succeed. Because the American armor that exploited last turn are bottled up near Brussels, they advance through Dieppe, Calais, and Antwerp. Western Allied forces begin concentrating near Zagreb as the Russians begin pushing in from the east.

With the Axis finally standing still long enough to get punched in the face, the Russians pile on the hurt. Exploiters slice into east Prussia, Poland south of Warsaw, Hungary, and Rumania. Ploesti is captured, and numerous Axis troops are encircled all along the line. Things are finally starting to look bad for Germany.

The Japanese, panicked at the thought of American bombers that close to Japan, improvise a counterattack and cut off the (seeming) Western Allied land supply route into China. With both sides fighting ferociously over imaginary stakes, the Burma campaign takes on a frightening air of reality...

The Japanese withdraw from Truk and set up their main naval base at Guam. Japan builds a fort in Kagoshima. The Americans take Truk at 3:1 odds. The Japanese have eight oil counters in their oil reserve.

Winter 1944 As a last ditch effort to reconstruct their defensive

line, the Germans try a massive counterattack in the east. Using most of the German AAF and jets, the Germans attack and destroy seven Russian exploiters with no (!) German losses. Eric is dumbfounded. Ken cannot believe how hot he is with the combat dice. With the east under control, Germany constructs a solid line from Rotterdam to Switzerland and then from Turin to Genoa. It seems that the Allies may be slowed for another turn. Germany ends the turn with five oil counters in their oil reserve.

With most of the Swedes unbuilt, the Western Allies make a diplomatic die roll for Sweden and it switches sides, becoming an American minor ally. This is more for show than anything else. Not to be outdone, Russia uses a –5 subversion result and a few DPs, in conjunction with all of the unbuilt Hungarians, to entice the Hungarians to switch sides. The only result is that the Russians gain control of Budapest, as every other Hungarian hex either contains Axis units or is already

Summer 2005 13

under Russian control. Crunch time. The Western Allies reveal their second

winter preparation result. With the Luftwaffe out of position in the west, the Western Allies pound their way into Kiel. By the turn’s end, the Western Allies will be able to base 35 AAF in Denmark and Kiel. In France, American, British, and Canadian armor smack into the German lines and reach the German border. Every city in France is under Western Allied control except for Sedan. An attack into Turin threatens to break out into northern Italy next turn. The multinational Western Allied forces near Zagreb are finally able to push into Italy and southern Germany because the German air is defending against the Russians.

Although there are a few exploitation attacks, the Russians use their infantry to do the grunt work this turn because half their armor units were eliminated by the German counterattack. The Russians push through Hungary and again encircle Warsaw. Danzig is captured in an exploitation attack. The Russians can base 10 AAF within range of Berlin in Spring 1945.

In the Pacific, the Americans, under the cover of nine AAF based in Truk, conduct a massive patrol against Guam, and the Japanese, supported by six AAF in Guam, come out to fight with everything. The resulting naval battle ends in an inevitable, but honorable, Japanese defeat, with much of the Japanese navy still intact (four TFs). Some considered it a Japanese moral victory because they managed to sink one of Eric’s precious British BB5s, the Marlborough. So there!

In a curious double-oversight, the Americans pack their combat groups with CVEs, not realizing that CVEs are not “fleet factors”, and the Japanese don’t notice:

Eric pleaded guilty, attributing this mistake to four straight days of gaming past midnight, with little sleep, and his suggestion to Steve that CVEs are fleet factors because CVEs fight and take losses as light ships during fleet combat.

This mistake did not turn out to be too important, because most of the casualties incurred by the Americans were NAS (resulting from air battles against attacking Japanese NAS) or were from fleet combat (when the CVEs justified their characterization as “combustible, versatile and expendable”). Had the CVEs been cruisers and destroyers, the American casualties might well have been less.

In any event, the Japanese eventually pull out of the battle, and Guam is invaded and captured by the Americans. Meanwhile, the Western Allies take

advantage of the Japanese pull-out from the Dutch East Indies and, using Hollandia as the forward port, make a number of small invasions to snag forward ports to use in subsequent invasions.

The naval combat system, by the way, worked perfectly, and Euro-centric players should take the plunge and play the Pacific theater as well. It’s a hoot.

Japan continues to withdraw from China, in favor of building up forces in Japan and Manchuria. Japan builds beach defenses in Shikoku.

1945 1945 YSS

BRPs, DPs and RPs Ger Ita Jap Rus Bri US Fra BRPs 366 - 316 398 165 1051 - DPs 4 - - Total 4 RPs 16 - 13 13 9 31 - Total 16 13 12 40

Spring 1945 The Western Allies announce their third air range

result and second torpedo result. With the Reich collapsing, Germany digs in on all

fronts as best it can. The West Wall is defended

14 Summer 2005

reasonably well, especially near the Ruhr, and the mountains in northern Italy and southern Germany are as solid as they can be. With too few ground units to go around, the Germans pull back to western Poland and eastern Germany in order to form a better line against Russia. Germany produces the National Redoubt, four interceptors (13 total), two jets (three total) and five Flak. With Berlin and Berchtesgaden both fortified, it looks as if the Allies will have their hands full. The German oil reserve is down to two.

The Allies agree to split the responsibilities in Germany: Russia will capture Berlin and the Western Allies will pound their way into Berchtesgaden. But to take both hexes as well as several German key economic areas in Spring 1945 would require several low odds attacks to soften up the targets. So the Allies opt for the safer approach of smashing the German defenses this turn and capturing the targets next turn.

Western Allied AAF counterair stacks of German AAF and jets across Germany, which frees up more Russian AAF for ground support. The Western Allies breach the West Wall just north of Switzerland and exploit to Munich. Other American and British armor attack through Italy and capture most of the mountain hexes near Berchtesgaden. The multinational Western Allied forces near Yugoslavia also push up near Berchtesgaden. The Western Allied bombers are finally able to do some damage this turn, but only bomb Cologne for 24 BRPs of damage – one BrP shy of a firestorm.

Britain produces nothing. The U.S. produces eight interceptors (16 total), eight Pacific strategic bombers (13 total), one 5-6 armor, one marine (six total), one airborne (four total), its second uranium plant, its second plutonium reactor, a (tactical) MAGIC card, and increases its naval air training by three (up to 14 total). The Western Allies achieved their fourth air general breakthrough in 1944, which has its benefits.

The Russians are able to pound their way through the Germans and capture three of the hexes adjacent to Berlin. Breslau is also captured, although a fortified Warsaw is simply encircled. Russia produces five AAF, one air transport, one 5-6 armor, one airborne, two shock tactics results (five total), and two airbases and railheads that will be used in Siberia.

With the war in Europe winding down as Germany collapses, the Japanese consolidate as best they can. Okinawa and all the invadable Japanese hexes are stacked as high as they can be, and around 20 Japanese NAS are prepared to act as kamikazes. Japan produces

five flak units and increases it naval air training rate to five.

The Americans find the flaw in the Japanese defenses and invade Foochow, gaining an airbase within range of Okinawa. In addition, the Western Allies capture ports and beaches from Sumatra to Formosa, including Palembang, Singapore, and Lingayen.

Japan builds beach defenses in Kagoshima and the hex north of Tokyo.

Summer 1945 The Western Allies announce their third strategic

bomber result. The Germans rebuild their jets and enough AAF to

make Berchtesgaden difficult to attack because there are only five cities/airbases under Western Allied control within range of Berchtesgaden, with two more airbases to be placed at the start of the Allied player turn. With only 35 AAF, and Berchtesgaden defending at 52 (two 5-6 armor units and three 1-3 airborne units at a DM of +4), the Western Allies will have to attack Berchtesgaden at 1:1 or, at best, 1.5:1 odds next turn. Ken ends his turn knowing that he’s done all he can and thinking that he can survive until Fall 1945 and score a marginal victory. The German oil reserve is gone.

Unbeknownst to the Axis player, the Western Allies have two plutonium reactors and achieved a “10” plutonium production result in Spring 1945. 10 Each plutonium reactor produces material for one plutonium

bomb in one turn and produces material for one additional plutonium bomb every two turns thereafter. [+3]

Thus, the Western Allies have the material for two plutonium bombs that may be used in Summer 1945.

At this point Steve and Eric convene to discuss global atomic strategy. The situation in the Pacific is clearly favoring Japan, and it seems unlikely that Japan will surrender before Winter 1945. But the Allies are playing to win, or at least to tie, so they have to hope to beat Japan by Fall 1945. One plutonium bomb must be tested to ensure that the second plutonium bomb will work. From the Atomic Bomb research table: 7+ *Plutonium implosion trigger designed. One die is rolled

whenever a plutonium bomb is used in a strategic or tactical atomic attack: the bomb detonates only on a die roll of “6”. The material in a bomb which fails to detonate is wasted. The detonation die roll is modified by +1 for each turn after the first plutonium bomb is available for use and by +1 for each failed detonation.

A detonation roll is no longer required once a plutonium bomb is successfully used in a strategic or tactical atomic attack or if a plutonium bomb is tested (no detonation roll is required for a test).

Summer 2005 15

Allowing Germany to survive until Fall 1945 to ensure that the Western Allies have one plutonium bomb for use against Japan in Fall 1945 gives the Axis a +1 victory in Europe. The Allies would then lose overall the global match by the slimmest of margins.

The alternative is to use one plutonium bomb against Germany to secure a Summer 1945 German surrender (a tie in Europe) and try to nuke Japan in Fall 1945 using uranium bombs. The only catch is that no uranium bombs yet exist! The Western Allies have produced two uranium plants, so it will come down to the uranium separation research roll. It’s a difficult decision because if the Western Allies nuke Germany, they have to roll for the atomic bomb in Summer 1945. That means delaying the roll for uranium separation until Fall 1945, which means a research roll of “5” + 3 breakthroughs + 3 RPs = 11 is needed to produce material for uranium bombs immediately: 11 Each uranium plant produces material for one uranium bomb

immediately and produces material for one additional uranium bomb every three turns thereafter. [+4]

In the end, Steve and Eric decide to roll for the atomic bomb in Summer 1945 and drop a bomb on Germany to secure a tie in Europe. A surrender in the hand is worth two in the bush! The Western Allies will have two more plutonium bombs available in Winter 1945 to be used to (hopefully) secure at least a one-turn defeat in the Pacific, if it came to that. There would be nail-biting when the research roll for uranium separation was made in Fall 1945.

The atomic bomb roll is made, and both triggering mechanisms are a go. One plutonium bomb is tested so that the other one is sure to work.

The Americans bomb Berchtesgaden and nuke it while the British bomb and firestorm Leipzig. The Western Allies attack near the Ruhr and capture Essen during exploitation.

Meanwhile, the Russians carefully set up a series of attacks to capture Berlin, which is fortified and defended by two 4-6 armor units (for a defense of 24). A 2.5:1 regular attack will create the breakthrough that will be followed by a 2:1 exploitation attack. But to soften up Berlin, the Russians attack Berlin from an adjacent hex using seven 3-3 infantry (five of them using shock tactics) and six AAF at 1:1 odds (27:24). The Russians roll a “5” and capture Berlin without the need for the other exploitation attack, and look cool doing it.

Germany therefore surrenders and the war in Europe ends in a tie, but the Western Allies are forced to use a

plutonium bomb to do it. Germany claims a moral victory and hopes the Japanese will last past Fall 1945.

In the Pacific, Japan builds beach defenses in Tokyo and Seoul.

The Americans, using AAF based in Foochow and along the China coast, take Okinawa at 2.5:1 odds. The Japanese are unable to oppose the invasion. Manila falls, and Japan is confined mostly to the home islands.

The Americans bomb Kagoshima with 13 strategic bombers and nine interceptors, but do not penetrate the Japanese defenses.

Fall 1945 With the war in Europe over, it comes down to

Japan. And as it did historically, it would depend on whether the Western Allies had enough atomic bombs available in time for use against Japan. As Steve was the one affected most by this roll, and in part to give him a chance to redeem some abysmal dice rolls that he had made earlier in the game at key moments, he was given the honor of rolling for uranium separation. Steve came through – two sixes and a one, which becomes a “6”, gave the Western Allies the maximum result!

Now armed with two atomic bombs, the Western Allies have a chance at a tie. The Americans have 13 strategic bombers and 16 interceptors – perhaps enough to bomb and nuke two targets. But could they pull it off?

At this point the game had more or less run its course. Both sides analyzed the position and concluded that Japan would either surrender at the end of Fall 1945 (whether because of two atomic attacks or a combination of atomic attack and seaborne invasion) or at the end of Winter 1945, and that it didn’t really matter much either way. We also all concluded that either Japan had misplayed its defense by allowing American forces into eastern China or that there was something wrong with the rules in this area, but we weren’t sure quite what. And so a hard-fought game ended in a tie or a slight Axis victory.

From a design point of view, there were many satisfying aspects to the game: the Russian campaign was a nail-biter, there were some tough decisions to be made with respect to the Western Allied atomic program that weren’t present under the previous atomic rules, both theaters were well balanced, and the game was a lot of fun! Overall both this and the other convention games were very enjoyable and only a few minor rule changes came out of the games.

Time to start planning for next year’s convention!

16 Summer 2005

FIGHTING THE 800-POUND GORILLA

by Bruce Harper After over three long years of fighting, the

Japanese position usually has shrunk to this (apart from Manchuria, which will hold out indefinitely or until the Russians attack it, whichever comes first):

The challenge for the Japanese at this point is to

stop Mike Stone’s legendary (in A WORLD AT WAR circles) “800-pound gorilla” – the American armed forces.∗

The 800-pound gorilla consists of an invasion force of six 1x2 marines, six additional ground factors (12 ground factors in all), 36 factors of shore bombardment and 36 factors of ground support (usually CVEs), for a total invasion force of 84 factors.

In my 2006 convention game, I dutifully built forts and beach defenses in all the invadable hexes in Japan and Okinawa, and stacked them with at least two 3-2 infantry units, to give a defense of 24 against an invasion led by marines. Some key hexes had specialized units, so the defense might be more like 38 or 32, and Okinawa is also a mountain hex, so its defense would be 30-35 factors.

∗ Question: “Where does an 800-pound gorilla go?” Answer: “Anywhere it wants.”

Add in Japanese AAF and kamikazes which might be able to reduce the invasion force or its shore bombardment, and the Japanese are as ready as they can be for the final battle. At the very least, they can force the Americans to attack one hex at a time.

The other components to the Japanese defense are: • have all Japan’s units built at the end of 1945,

to avoid adverse resistance modifiers. • a large BRP base so that Japan can build

necessary units without using oil. • a sufficiently large oil reserve to allow

maximum Japanese unit construction in an emergency and to permit newly constructed air units to be uninverted.

• have whatever is left of the Japanese fleet ready to intercept in order disrupt American planning.

However, there is one more essential element to the Japanese defense, to which I failed to assign sufficient importance: Foochow.

Foochow One look at the mapboard, uncluttered with units,

makes the importance of Foochow clear. The Americans have three ways to try to take control of the crucial China coast, which gives them bases for their innumerable AAF within range of Okinawa and Japan. Fighting their way overland into China via Burma or invading Hong Kong or Canton and fighting their way across China both take a long time. The faster way is to invade Foochow.

It follows that China and especially Foochow are essential parts of Japan’s final defensive perimeter, although this may not be intuitively obvious. Japan should hold on to Foochow and also gain control of eastern China and hold onto it, rather than abandoning China to the Nationalists. Foochow should be fortified and a beach defense built there. Since Foochow is a bridgehead, Japan can overstack lower quality 2-3 infantry units, including Wangs, for its defense. If Japan also defends Formosa and can turn Canton and Hong Kong into speed bumps, the 800-pound gorilla may have to go through Okinawa to get to Japan, which at least gives the Japanese a fighting chance to prolong the war into late 1945 and 1946.

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