Archibald

Count me in.

2 Aug 42 North east of Tripoli, the Italian 10th Army has been destroyed. Tripoli itself has been badly battered, and is now surrounded by the Americans in the west and British Empire forces in the east. In the Soviet Union the ruthless Fascist advance is slowing to a crawl. The line between Smolensk and Minsk, which appears to be the Fascist main axis, is still holding. Another spoiling attack has badly damaged a Finnish corps on the static northern front north west of Vologda. Greece falls... Heroic four month struggle... George II and government... Submarine... Egypt.. etc... etc... [ September 12, 2003, 02:56 AM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

19 Jul 42 The Anglo- American push towards Tripoli continues. The Italian 10th Army north east of Tripoli takes 80% casualties. With little hope of relief, the Italian overseas empire appears doomed. USS Alabama appears off Marseilles and destroys the crippled Jean Bart, so finishing off the Vichy fleet. In the Soviet Union, the line is successfully straightened east of Minsk. Spoiling attacks are launched on the Bulgarian 4th Army and the Rumanian 3rd Army west of Odessa. They are knocked down to 40% and 60% respectively. A similar attack in the north reduces a Finnish corps by 50%. Comrade Stalin makes a rare radio appearance to assure the Soviet peoples that the USSR is accumulating massive reserves as the Fascist onslaught slows. The time for revenge draws nigh...

5 Jul 42 Vengeance for Rodney and Warspite In a fierce aerial battle off the coast of Greece, HMS Glorious and HMS Courageous have sunk Caio Diuilio and damaged Andrea Doria. Off Apulia, the USN has put paid to the Vichy task force headed by Richelieu. Only two Axis surface units now remain in the Mediterranean. In North Africa the Americans and the British Empire are closing in on Tripoli from both east and west. A luftflotte has arrived in Greece, presumably with an HQ in support. This will be some relief for our gallant Russian allies. In the Soviet Union, Minsk has been evacuated after a hard fought and successful delaying action. Local spoiling attacks have been launched on Finnish and German corps for little loss to ourselves. As the Fascist advance slows, the Soviet defence grows stronger. [ September 12, 2003, 01:34 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

21 Jun 42 French North Africa and Syria are liberated. The Free French have taken Damascus with the support of the RAF, While the Americans have landed and taken Algiers. Both fell after token resistance, although the French fleet in Mers-El-Kebir refused to capitaulate and has been all but destroyed. Thousands of French colonial troops are now flocking to the allied cause. Off the western coast of Greece, the Royal Navy intercepted Caio Diuilio and knocked her down to 40% It will be interesting to see whether the Regia Marina fights it out or runs for port. In the USSR, the front is quiet while the Fascists move their air forward for another expensive assault. The Soviet Union is more than ready for them.

31 May 42 The sacrifice of the Greek armies on the Metaxas Line has bought time for a British expeditionary force to land in Athens to aid in it's defence. The Gibraltar corps is now in position north west of Athens. This has halved the frontage available to the Italians for attacking the Greek capital. It is hoped that Yugoslav resistance fighters will be encouraged to rise against their occupiers by the continued resistance in Greece. In the USSR, the hero city of Leningrad has fallen after fighting to the last defender and the last cartridge. Similar attacks were launched against Minsk, but were successfully repulsed. Spoiling attacks have been launched against the German 4th Army west of Kiev and the German 5th Army north of Minsk. Both have been reduced to about 60% with little loss to the Soviet attackers.

3 May 42 Under Italian leadership, a brutal attack has been launched on Greece. British Empire forces are hurrying to their new ally's aid. In the Soviet Union, the planned withdrawal north of Minsk and Smolensk continues with little interruption from the Fascists. Soviet infantry is now at L1, which will make our main defence line all the tougher when the aggressor reaches it. [ September 17, 2003, 06:52 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

5 Apr 42 Baghdad has fallen. the first troops into the city were the 2nd Battalion Black Watch, who took the bell from Baghdad Railway Station to complement the one they removed from the same location in March 1917. Victory in Iraq is a huge boost for the Allied cause: - A direct land connection now exists to the USSR, allowing British military support to be sent there. - The Iraqi oilfields will add 64 MPP per turn to the British economy once they are fully operational. - With a direct connection to Moscow, British possessions in the Middle East will now increase in value from 5 MPP up to their maximum. This has important military and economic implications. In the Soviet Union, the desperate battle against the Fascists continues. A secondary defence line in the north has been formed running from Minsk to Smolensk, then north to Leningrad. Once again, the Leningrad garrison attacks the Finns to the north, causing them heavy damage. Nine L4 luftflotten are now active against the USSR, but there has been encouraging news for the Allies on the research front... [ September 17, 2003, 06:51 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

8 Mar 42 Rashid Ali and the Golden Square continue to put up fanatical resistance against the allied intervention in Iraq. Another attack by a combined British - Free French force on the western suburbs of Iraq came close to success, but was unable to take the city. Iraqi propaganda has dubbed it "The Mother of All Battles". In the Soviet Union, powerful fascist attacks along the Baltic coast have been stubbornly resisted and the line straightened to the east. Once again, the Leningrad garrison attacks Finns advancing from the north with no damage to itself. [ September 09, 2003, 09:23 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

11 Jan 42 Baghdad is proving surprisingly difficult to crack. This time the Iraqi corps was battered down to one point. British Empire and Free French forces are beginning to develop a grudging admiration for their arab adversaries. After an epic defence to the death, Riga has been occupied by the Fascists. An orderly withdrawal has been conducted to a solid line running Odessa-Minsk-due north. Blocking forces have been moved to the coast near Kronstadt to forestall imminent Fascist landings. In another counter attack, the Leningrad garrison has again mauled a Finnish corps to the north of the city. Yugoslavia falls... Fierce resistance... King Peter II evacuated... Gold reserves... Submarine to Egypt... etc... etc... [ September 17, 2003, 06:50 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

Congratulations on your enlistment. From my own experience the best advice I would give prior to basic training is to get as fit as you can possibly be. This will make the physical demands on you much easier, although it won't alter the lack of sleep you'll doubtless endure, or avert the psychological barrage from your instructors.. Concentrate on cardiovascular fitness rather than weight training. If you're over-muscled it will slow you down, while a good level of cardiovascular fitness will give you the endurance you will need. Best of luck. Nil desperandum! [ September 09, 2003, 03:54 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

Surely you must have tried Combat Mission?

30 Nov 41 The Soviet Union, the British Empire and the United States are now united in the crusade against the Axis. The only activity in the USSR is a spoiling attack from Leningrad on a Finnish corps to the north. Otherwise, the main front against the fascists is unusually quiet. Germany now has L1 infantry and L3 jets. We expect a major attack soon. Meanwhile, vexed by Axis attempts to subvert the legitimate government of Iraq, the British Empire has launched a pre-emptive strike on Baghdad. A concerted air ground offensive has reduced the single Iraqi corps to two. [ September 09, 2003, 03:59 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

2 Nov 41 The sacrificial heroism of countless Soviet soldiers has given the Soviet Union more time to prepare it's main defence line against the Fascists. Their ground forces are only now coming in contact with our well prepared positions between Riga and Minsk. In the Southern Ukraine, the invaders have formed up 50 km short of our line. They are scared to attack the Red Army of Workers and Peasants! Yugoslavia is still holding out, with two corps in and around Belgrade, and a third corps ensconced in the mountains of Croatia. In the USA, a declaration of war against the Axis now seems inevitable. [ September 17, 2003, 06:47 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

5 Oct 41 The gallant sacrifice of the Soviet frontier forces has bought time to form a solid defensive line running Riga-Minsk-Kiev Odessa. The first counter attack against the Fascists has been launched north of Odessa against an Italian corps. It was reduced to half strength for no damage to the attackers. We will defend the achievements of October! In the north, an air attack on Gneisenau near Kronstadt was intercepted by a luftflotten in Finland. A fierce air battle resulted. The cruiser Marat broke through the German blockade to intercept the crippled Scharnhorst, but was sadly unsuccessful in making contact. Elsewhere, an anti-Axis coup has taken place in Yugoslavia, while the USA, increasingly angered by German aggression, is now preparing for war. [ September 08, 2003, 04:19 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

7 Sep 41 The Axis attack on the Soviet Union has yet to penetrate more than a hundred kilometres. The Red Army is preparing a powerful counter attack. On the northern front, 13th Army attacks out of Leningrad and reduces the Finnish Isthmus Army to seven, while the cruisers Marat and Oktyabrskaya attack and cripple Scharnhorst. After two months of gallant resistance, Sweden has been overwhelmed in a last desperate battle in the streets of Stockholm. King Gustav V was evacuated by submarine to London, where he has set up his government in exile. Sweden will fight on!

24 Aug 41 Stockholm still holds out, but the end can't be far off. Soviet readiness now at 96% - if Germany doesn't attack now, it will be too late.

10 Aug 41 Britain continues to bend all her efforts to vicory. Elsewhere, relations between Germany and the USSR continue to deteriorate over the issue of Sweden. The Soviet Union begins preparing for war.

27 Jul 41 The Italians have evacuated Tobruk, which has now become the first Axis possession to fall to the Allies. Sweden's gallant defence continues with a corps moving into a blocking position north west of Stockholm and unsuccessfully attacking Von Rundstedt's HQ again. German-Soviet relations continue to deteriorate.

13 Jul 41 With the German attack on Sweden, USA readiness has jumped to 59%, while the USSR is now at 80%. Germany now has eight positively id'd luftflotten - two supporting the invasion of Sweden, with the remaining six bombarding London. British air defence is proving it's worth however, and London is shrugging off the attacks while inflicting steady damage on the Luftwaffe. A single German corps has appeared off the Sussex coast. The Royal Navy declines the opportunity to sortie and be destroyed by the Luftwaffe. In Sweden, the remnants of the Royal Swedish Air Force attack and damage the German First Army as it sits on it's transports near Stockholm. A Swedish corps has moved to block the landing of First Army, while a Swedish Army has counter-attacked, turned the German left flank and damaged Von Rundstedt's HQ. Sweden intends to fight as hard as the Norwegians did.

29 Jun 41 The British Empire has won a mighty victory. Vittorio Veneto and Fiume are sunk, Andrea Doria is a blazing hulk, and Caio Diuilio has taken substantial damage. No British units have been lost. In a combined air-sea operation a gigantic trap was sprung on the Italians by the following: Two air fleets and a strategic bomber attacking from Egypt. Three aircraft carriers sortied from Malta. HMS Warspite and HMS Rodney turning on their attackers. At a stroke, we have won naval supremacy in the Mediterranean and secured the Canal Zone. GOD SAVE THE KING! [ September 06, 2003, 11:12 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

15 Jun 41 Dramatic developments in the Mediterranean with a major naval battle developing around Tobruk with the Regia Marina. Scouting well east of Malta, HMS Rodney spotted Vittorio Veneto immediately west of Tobruk Port. HMS Resolution was sent in to get the first blow in, and ran into Andrea Doria immediately north of the port. This contact also revealed the cruiser Fiume in Tobruk Port and Caio Duilio immediately east of Tobruk. in short, the entire Italian surface fleet in and around Tobruk. To maximise the element of surprise, HMS Warspite was sent in to further attack Andrea Doria, knocking it down to half strength. Three relatively experienced British capital ships now face a less experienced Italian surface fleet which has the advantage of supply from Tobruk port. The next round of the battle will be critical for allied prospects in the Mediterranean. [ September 06, 2003, 09:44 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

25 May 41 In the face of powerful German attacks, Bergen has been reluctantly evacuated; six months after the initial German invasion. Norway's heroism has bought the British Empire precious time.

27 Apr 41 Minor damage to the London and Bergen garrisons, but both are standing up well to the German onslaught. The RAF are still refusing to be drawn into a battle intended to give the Luftwaffe much needed experience before it inevitably turns east. Of the six known luftflotten, three have been identified in France, with another two in Norway. The location of the sixth is unknown, but we would assess that it is in position to attack an increasingly restive Yugoslavia.

30 Mar 41 Despite the attentions of four luftflotten, the corps garrisoning London lost only two strength points while two of the luftflotten took damage. British air defence seems to be proving it's worth. Meanwhile in Norway, German ground units draw closer to Bergen. The Italian submarine fleet has withdrawn out of range of the French air in Malta. Elsewhere, all is quiet. The Soviet bear is beginning to stir though - USSR readiness is now at 65% and climbing.