Oak

December 10 The Allies are moving forward aggressively on all fronts: - the Axis have decided to try and retake Norway/Sweden, with transports appearing near Oslo. The UK carriers, now limited to sea targets, attack the transports with all 3 being intercepted. An Italian army transport is knocked to 2, a German army transport to 1 and the damage to a German corps transport is unknown. Allied units in Norway move to prevent the transports from landing. - the German rocket is bombed 4 times and then bombarded by the Russian cruiser. The rocket is down to str 3. - a Russian corps lands next to Bucharest, but goes nowhere. More Russian transports appear on the Bulgaria/Romania coast. - the 3 Russian air attack the Rundstedt HQ in Iraq, inflicting unknown damage. Russian troops in Turkey move to the border of Syria, attacking the Axis corps guarding that border. - the Russian front line moves west, and most of it is now 1 hex from the German border. - another Russian rocket (there are now 4) moves near to Konigsberg. - 5 US armies are now in western France, occupying a north/south line 3 hexes from Brest, where Patton is directing operations. - a newly formed Yugoslav partisan group moves next to Venice, but isn't quite able to reach the empty city.

November 12, 1944 The big news this turn is that the Allies have taken Brest, and have landed 3 US armies, the Patton HQ and 1 UK corps. The entrenched German corps in Brest was first bombed twice, followed by bombardment from 3 UK battleships, and then attacks by 2 UK air. Finally, a British corps landed, finished off the German corps and took Brest port. The US troops and HQ then landed using the port. Other action this turn included: - the German rocket detachment near Istanbul was bombed (3 strikes altogether) by USSR bombers in Russia and Turkey. A transport that moved next to it confirmed that it was knocked down to 9. - Russian transports appear on the Bulgaria/Romania coast. - Russian rockets attacked Konigsberg, knocking the Italian tank from 12 to 9. - 2 US air, now located near Minsk, attack a Russian corp just south of Konigsberg with interceptions by German air around Berlin. Note: Although the Axis control Istanbul and the port, Axis transports and naval units cannot enter the Black Sea because a Turkish army is sitting in the isthmus.

October 15 Actions during the Allied move: - Continued rocket attacks on Konigsberg, with minimal damage to the Italian tank there (now at level 2 heavy tank) - Antwerp is bombed and intercepted by Italian air (with escorts from the Courageous carrier) - a German army on the Syria/Turkey border is attacked and killed by 3 Russian air and 1 bomber located between Grozny and Tiflis. - transports move away from the European coast - the defenses of Turkey are strengthened, with more USSR troops appearing around the isthmus and the Syria/Iraq/Turkey/USSR border area.

September 17 In Turkey ... a Turkish corps moves towards Iraq and is surprised by a German panzer, while Russian/Turkish troops block the path into Asia and maintain control of the Istanbul port. Elsewhere ... Russian rockets attack Konigsberg but do almost no damage. It seems that the investment in rockets was pretty much a waste for both sides. With overwhelming Axis air forces now in northern Germany, Allied ships and transports move away from Denmark and the carriers huddle around London to protect it.

The Allied high command has decided to add a challenging (for the Allies) new dynamic to this game. From now on the carriers cannot be used to attack land targets. They can only be used for interception & escort duty, or to attack naval targets. That gives them more of a WW2 role, and will help to make the game a little more interesting. It will also make it difficult for the carriers to easily gain experience, while forcing the Allies to rely on troops, air fleets and bombers to attack/destroy Axis ground units.

Check out the game "AAR 'Limit' Game: Shaka (Axis) vs Oak (Allies)". The game is going into 1945.

It seems like the first priority has to be to establish a defensive line against Germany that is: 1) as strong and secure as possible, while 2) including as many resources as possible.

The Axis attack on Turkey will definitely bring some changes to the game. In particular, the Axis will now have access to the Black Sea (since there is no way the Allies can prevent the Axis from taking Istanbul port) and the potential for the Axis to attack the USSR across a much broader front. The Allies have a 2-fold strategy for dealing with this new challenge which, we hope, will safeguard the Russian homeland. First, the USSR will move in Russian troops to defend the 2 eastern Turkish cities. We believe that it will be virtually impossible for the Axis to break through a line of USSR troops (at level 4 AT) entrenched in the mountains and having HQ support. Second, the Allied policy has always been to use bombers to help defend against subs and transports. Any transports or Axis naval vessels (which seem to be all subs right now) entering the Black Sea will be bombed into oblivion before they ever have a chance to land. At least, that is the plan. It has been a long time since I've enjoyed a game as much as this one. Part of the reason is that the Axis high command is always full of surprises and each turn brings new challenges. I look forward to seeing how the Axis campaign in the south unfolds.

August 27 The Axis attack Turkey and the USSR rushes troops in to protect the eastern cities of Ankara and Erzurum. The Turkish corps holding the Istanbul port transports across to Asia, attacking the German panzer spearheading the invasion when it lands. In the north ... Rommel is dead! Rommel and his HQ staff were assinated by UK air strikes, as was a nearby German army guarding him (with the army being finished off by the US corps that landed last turn. The 2 Italian armies guarding Copenhagen are now isolated from the rest of the Reich. The Italian tank in Konigsberg is attacked by the 3 USSR rockets and knocked down to 7. The German sub is bombed and then finished off by a UK battleship. Extensive diving meant that 3 bombers and 2 battleships were needed to kill the sub. Antwerp was bombarded and the 2 Allied cruisers move away from Gibraltar having been surprised and severely damaged by an Italian sub.

Turkey I have yet to see Shaka's latest move, but did want to comment on Turkey. I have realized that Turkey was more of a threat to the Allies than an asset because of the access it would provide into the Black Sea for the Axis. I also realized that whoever declares war on Turkey in this game will be at a disadvantage because the opponent can operate units in and turn it into a veritable fortress. So, I cannot imagine anything that the Axis could have done that would have made me declare war on Turkey. However, I have made sure that the USSR would be in a good position to defend Turkey if the Axis do so.

The Axis have not bought any carriers. They would be expensive, but they would also require experience in order to be of much use. Getting that experience would be very difficult for the Axis because there are few Allied units or targets that do not have air cover. Also, the Allies have a lot of bombers all of the sea approaches to Allied territory are covered by long-range bombers (as the Axis subs have found out the hard way). So, any Axis carrier would probably be bombed before it could get close enough to an Allied target and would probably be intercepted by Allied air in any attack it did try to make. I think it would have made sense for the Axis to have invested in carriers early on in the game, but at this point in the game I think it would be difficult for an Axis carrier to gain the experience it needs to be effective.

The game has reached an interesting stage. The USSR/German border is a no man's land that neither side can break through ... at least, so far. Normally, large number of air would be used to break through a line, but the air limits in this game make that very difficult. The wild card right now is Turkey. Both sides would like to have control of Turkey. For the Axis, it would provide access to the Black Sea and the ability to attack Russia across a much broader front. It would also provide additional MPP to make up for the loss of Norway/Sweden. For the Allies, it would provide access to the Med and the ability to threaten the Iraqi oil fields. There were no Axis air intereceptions last turn, even on units at the Denmark/German border. So, all of the Axis air must be in the south. This raises lots of interesting questions: - is the Axis planning to attack Turkey or is this just a ruse? if a ruse, what clever scheme is the Axis pursuing? - if the Axis DOW Turkey, will the Allies be able to prevent the fall of Turkey? will Allied efforts to help Turkey relieve the pressure on the Axis in the north? - how long can the Axis hold Denmark with an Allied force of 4-8 bombers, 4 air and 3 carriers hammering away at the Axis forces there with no Axis air cover? or, is the invasion of Denmark just a ruse by the Allies? - is this commentary all part of an effort by the Allies to mess with the minds of the Axis high command? or, is the Allied command just shooting themselves in the foot by inadvertently divulging confidential information? Stay tuned, folks, to this continuing saga. Don't miss the constant twists and turns that come with each exciting episode.

August 13 Interesting! No DOW on Turkey. Allied command was sure one was coming ... and may still be coming. The 2 German subs that attacked the Russian transports off the coast of Denmark are, in turn, attacked by 2 US air, 1 US bomber, 2 Russian bombers, 1 UK battleship and a Russian cruiser. After lots of diving, 1 sub is sunk and the other remains at full strength (13). The German corps in northern Denmark is attacked and killed by UK bomber and air. The other UK air and 2 carriers attack a German army in southern Denmark. A UK and US corp then unload in northern Denmark, attacking a nearby Italian army. The 3rd UK carrier hits Antwerp. In the western Med, the cruisers Dunkerque and Hood bombard Tangier (empty) and Gibraltar (occupied by an Italian corp). The Malta air spots a German army transport next to Algiers and attacks it. And, additional forces are sent to the Turkey/Iraq border.

Caught a mistake: "with the Axis command go through with the attack?" should have read "will the Axis command go through with the attack?"

The tension mounts in the Allied command HQ. Having uncovered the Axis's fiendish plot to attack Turkey, with the Axis command go through with the attack? If they do, will it provide the Axis with the opening into the Russian south that they have been seeking? Or, will it simply provide the Allies with more MPP and an opening into the Med? Will the Axis get Turkey's surrender or will the Allies safeguard Turkey's independence? If the Axis don't attack Turkey, what new fiendish plot will they come up with? And, don't forget the north! Are the Allies seriously planning an invasion of Denmark or are the transports near Copenhagen just a bluff? Are there more Allied transports lurking about northern Europe? And, can the Axis do anything to stop the wanton destruction of their western mines and ports? Stay tuned, folks, for the next exciting episode. Same Bat time. Same Bat channel. (for those of you who used to watch the old Batman TV program).

July 30 The Allies have learned that a quiet period means that the Axis are up to something. We've been trying to figure out what evil plans the Axis are developing, and get a hint when they observe a German air in Iraq and get reports of Italian transports in the water. Based on these hints, the Allies fear for the neutrality of Turkey and rush reinforcements to the Iraq/Turkey border. Elsewhere ... - Russian rockets attack the Italian tank in Konigsberg (now at level 1 heavy tank), knocking it from 11 to 8. - Russian troops in southern Sweden wave to their German opponents 2 hexes away in Copenhagen. The Germans seem kinda friendly, so 2 Russian transports move near to Copenhagen and wave to the sailors on the 2 German subs as they pass by. - Brest port is bombed and the German corps in Brest is attacked by 2 carriers. Strangely, the 2 attacks inflicted no damage on the entrenched corps. Are the super-carriers losing their touch?? - Brussels is bombarded while the French mine and Antwerp are both knocked to zero by UK air.

July 16 Another quiet move. Axis activity the past few moves involves only attacking Odessa with its rocket. Allied activity this turn: - Allied transports have begun appearing along the European coast. One transport found an empty Essen, but it was occupied before the UK troops could land. - Antwerp is bombed; Brussels is bombarded and attacked by 2 carriers. - Brest is attacked by carrier - The French mine is attacked by air and knocked back down to zero.

July 2 The quiet period continues. The calm before the storm. The Axis has used this time to rebuild its air fleet and it is back up to 4 German air fleets. The turn, the Allies ... - attacked the German army in Paris with 2 carriers - attacked the Italian tank in Konigsberg, with little effect - moved the Russian lines back to a more defensible position

June 18 Things have gotten very quiet on both sides right now. Allied actions consisted of: - The 3 rocket detachments hit the Italian tank in Konigsberg, but cause very little damage. - The UK bomber and 2 UK air attack the French mine (no interceptions) knocking it down to zero. - 2 UK carriers attack the entrenched German corps in Brussels, causing no damage at all.

May 28 In the north ... Norway is liberated! The German army in Oslo was attacked by surrounding Allied troops (2 USSR corps, 1 US army & 1 US corps) and then finished off by a carrier. A US corps then moved into Oslo. Also, Antwerp was bombed without being intercepted. In the east ... the 1st USSR rocket detachment attacks the Italian tank in Konigsberg, while 2 other USSR rocket detachments move into position near Konigsberg. In the west ... the Axis decided to check out the coastal defenses of North America and learned all about them the hard way. The U-460 sub was spotted some distance off the US coast but still within bomber range. It was then bombed by 2 US heavy bombers (1 in Canada and the other in the US) and finished off by the Royal Oak battleship. Reports indicate that the Axis still have 2 German subs and 2 Italian subs.

In one recent game I played, the Allies declared war on Portugal and Spain joined the Axis 2 turns later. So, I'm pretty sure that the 75% chance is checked each turn. That makes it pretty much a certainty that if the Allies DOW Portugal that Spain will join the Axis soon after that.

April 30, 1944 In Scandinavia ... the 4 Russian corps attack the German army northeast of Oslo, knocking it down to 1. One of the US air then finishes it off. The army southeast of Oslo is attacked by the other US air, and finished off by the Ark Royal carrier. The other 2 carriers then attack the army in Oslo, knocking it down to 7. Oslo port is bombed from Stockholm, ensuring that the port remains out of commission for several moves at least. In Russia ... a new Russian rocket detachment approaches Konigsberg in the north. The Kleist HQ is bombed 3 times, with the 2 German air (now in Berlin and Prague) intercepting.

April 2 In Scandinavia ... US troops are reinforced while the 2 US air kills the Bock HQ. 2 of the UK carriers take out the Oslo port. The 3rd carrier and a Russian bomber in Stockholm then attack the German army southwest of Oslo. The army northeast of Oslo is attacked by 4 Russian corps, but they only succeed in doing damage to themselves. The 3 German armies in Norway now have no HQ support, no way of getting reinforcements and no way of getting out. (I should have thought to knock out the Olso port long ago). In the east ... the Russian line moves forwhile, coming into contact with the Italian tank in Konigsberg but still not in contact with the rest of the Axis line. Russian air again attacks the German corps south of Konigsberg (with the German air in Berlin again intercepting) Elsewhere ... the Italian U-003 sub sitting in the middle of the Bay of Biscayne is bombed. Another Yugoslav partison group is formed and they join their collegues in heading for the Med.

March 5 In the east ... the 4 Russian corps at Stockholm rush across Sweden, with 2 attacking the Bock HQ. Bombers also attack Bock, knocking him down to 3. Russian air attack the Kleist HQ and a German corps on the border, the the German air in Berlin intercepting. In the west ... Germany moves 2 more armies into Norway (one southwest ans one northeast of Oslo). One US corps attacks, losing 3 to the German army's 1. The US 4th army is reinforced, while another US corps approaches from the west. No activity by the US air. The German rocket moves away from London, and there are no bombing runs by the UK. Reports indicate that the Axis are either putting troops into transports or building subs. We suspect the latter. Another Yugoslav partisan group is formed, and heads for the hills.

January 9, 1944 Things are heating up in the north. Seems like the Axis are betting the farm on keeping the Axis from taking Norway. In the east ... Sweden is liberated! Stockholm is attacked by the surrounding Russian corps, and also bombed and bombarded. The corps in Stockholm is destroyed, a Russian corps moves in and Sweden is liberated. Russian air attack the Kleist HQ next to Warsaw, with an interception by the German air in Berlin. A 2nd air strike on Kleist is not intercepted. No action on the Iraq border and the Russian cruiser moves away from the Bulgarian coast. In the west ... the German rocket moves within range of London and is bombed. UK air escorts while German air (in Hamburg) intercepts. US air in Norway attacks the recently arrived German corps, and is intercepted by an Italian air that has moved to the tip of Denmark. Again, the Allies are surprised by the suicidal tendencies of the Axis air. The recently arrived German corps in Norway is killed by US troops with assistance from a UK carrier. Another carrier then attacks the Italian air, with that attack intercepted by an Italian air in Copenhagen. A battleship bombards the Italian air at the tip of Denmark with no effect (which is a pity because the Italian air was down to 1).