Axis and Allies Game II - Round 7 UK - FINISHED: AXIS WIN

[Gustaf]

The British built a new factory in India and further strengthened the home navy, while also drawing together their colonial forces in Egypt and India.



Japan's turn! You have 30 IPC.

[Gustaf]

I want to applaud the speedy PMing from most of you.

Japan launched to major land offensives against China and India. In China, the Japanese air support failed miserably in affecting the well dug in Chinese troops but, this turned out to not matter much as the numerous Japanese ground forces quickly overran the Chinese positions, while incurring only light casualties.

In India, the Japanese were utilizing only a weak land force but with considerable air support. After some initial skirmishing where both sides suffered light losses the Japanese forces cautiously withdrew to Indochina. They had tested the British resilience and were likely to be back.

Outside Hawaii, Japanese naval and air forces combined to wipe out the American naval forces there, although the Japanese submarine fleet was lost in the process.

[Gustaf]

The Japanese gathered their Southern naval and air forces off the coast of Indochina, while the Northern fleet menacingly surrounded Hawaii. More troops were shipped from the homeland to guard the newly developed industrial complex in Manchuria, where they were joined by most of the Japanese airforce. On the scattered Japanese islands, infantry moved around staring menacingly out at the sea (yes, that was a real order )



It is now the US! You have 42 PUs.

[Gustaf]

So, some quick stats at what is typically an Axis high-point in the turn-cycle:

In battles so far the Allies has lost a net 96 IPC

(Allies numbers first)

Production: 95 v 71
PUs: 102 v 72
Units: 90 v 92
Total Unit Value: 553 v 590
Victory cities: 5 v 7

[Gustaf]

The Americans attacked the Japanese navy outside Hawaii. The battle was 50-50 oddswise, but the allies had insanely bad luck again and lost everything while killing a destroyer.

[Gustaf]

Tmth, if you are unsure, why not contact your allies? I'm sure they're willing to offer advice.

[Gustaf]

The US moved all of its East Coast forces to the United Kingdom and deployed new forces on both coasts, as well as adding submarines and moving the destroyer guarding the Panama Canal to the West Coast naval defence.



It is now Soviet's turn! You have 26 PUs.

After round 1:

PUs: Allies lead 101-72
Production: Allies lead 95-71
Units: 91-91 tie
Total unit value: Axis lead 578-535

So pretty close right now.

[Gustaf]

Okay. Back now. Would have sent sooner but my laptop broke while I was away. Will send orders in the next few hours.

Well, cough, cough.

[Gustaf]

The Soviets counter-attacked Leningrad. In a battle that turned out as slow and inefficient as the Soviet order structure the Soviet forces eventually prevailed after a close and bloody struggle.

In the East the concentration of forces in Buryatia continued while infantry was sent into China to bolster the Chinese lines against the advancing Japanese forces.

New troops were mobilized in Caucasus and Moscow.


It is now Germany's turn! You have 40 PUs.

[Gustaf]

It has been very slow so far so I hope everyone will pick up from now on. Turin has promised me orders soon, at least.

[Gustaf]

The Germans made multiple attacks, retaking Karelia and West Russia on the Eastern front and also launching a combined air-land-naval assault on Egypt. Once again, the Gods of luck were smiling on the Axis and only light casualties were incurred as the Allied forces were swept aside.

[Gustaf]

The Germans regrouped, leaving Ukraine for Belarus and mobilizing armoured and air force units in Germany.

[Gustaf]

Terribly Sorry, could someone tell me how many IPCs I have to spend?

I think you should be able to see it in the bottom left corner of the map.

But I can also tell you of course. You have 34 IPCs. I usually try to add that piece of info after each turn but I forgot it this time.

[Gustaf]

I made a mistake, hang on.

[Gustaf]

The British, undaunted by the costly failures of last year, proceeded to launch a new series of daring attacks. In Europe the British navy attacked the Germans in the Baltics and when the smoke had cleared the HMS Rodney was left controlling the Sea. Sadly, the HMS Walrus (goo goo g'joob) was destroyed in the battle.

In Indonesia, a bloody attack on the Japanese navy left the plane from HMS Ark Royal, the HMS Badger and the HMS Astute sunk with only a dent made in the strength of the Japanese navy. On land, things went better with the Indian divisions wiping out the Japanese defenders in Indochina without casualties.


It's now UK non-combat moves.

[Gustaf]

The British mobilized armour and infantry, both in India and the UK.


It is now Japan's turn! You have 32 PUs.

For reference, the Allies have now moved ahead in number of units, where they lead the Axis 91-83. In TUV terms the Axis still lead though, although only by 40 IPC. The Axis have destroyed almost 200 IPC in net terms so far in the war.

[Gustaf]

The Japanese were on the move. Operation "Baby needs a new pair of shoes" had been launched. As retribution for the cowardly RAF air strike on the Japanese transport fleet Japanese fighters descended on the unsuspecting British ships off the coast of New Guinea. The British sailors turned out to be made of rougher stuff than expected and brought the Japanese planes down with them into the depths of the ocean.

A brutal assault on French Indochina combining all branches of the armed forces quickly retook this strategically important province with only light casualties. In Buryatia a similarly advanced operation including amphibious units turned much more bloody, with all Japanese ground forces lost in the process*



*Since Junkie didn't make explicit instructions for the Buryatia battle I will give him the option of letting a fighter die instead of the tank and capture the territory, since it made no difference to the outcome in this case.

PS: quite bizarrely, the Japanese failed to kill anything on the first round of combat in both battles (except for the battleships). That is, in total, 6 infantry, 1 artillery, 1 tank, 4 fighters and 1 bomber not scoring a single hit.

[Gustaf]

The Japanese planes returned, landing on their carriers. New forces were mobilized, notably tanks and artillery in Manchuria. On the islands the Japanese infantry engaged in physical training to stay fit for potential future battles.



It is now the US! You have 41 PUs.

[Gustaf]

So, some quick stats at what is typically an Axis high-point in the turn-cycle:

In battles so far the Allies has lost a net 96 IPC

(Allies numbers first)

Production: 95 v 71
PUs: 102 v 72
Units: 90 v 92
Total Unit Value: 553 v 590
Victory cities: 5 v 7

At the second Axis peak:

Production: 91 v 75
PUs: 100 v 75
Units: 81 v 84
Total Unit Value: 464 v 543
Victory cities: 5 v 7

So, basically the Axis have improved on all counts. It is also notable that despite everyone building new troops the carnage has reduced forces quite a bit on both sides (but especially on the Allied side).

[Gustaf]

Tmth seems to be slow and has also expressed some doubts about his ability to take part. Is any of the other allies (or anyone else) interested in taking over? If I don't get any such reply with the next day or two I'm going to do the best given the situation and execute orders for the US myself, so we can keep this going.

[Gustaf]

The Americans sneakily captured the unoccupied Norway, moved their fleet to guard the Panama canal and built transports and troops on the East coast.


And, yes, these moves were mine. If any of the current allied players (or anyone else watching) wants to take over the US, just speak up, but I felt that the game needed to get moved along.

It is now Soviet's turn. You have 26 PUs.

[Gustaf]

Wait...is Secretary Baconking still playing or has the USSR vacant too?

No, no. As I'm sure you already knew the Communist party pretty much controlled the FDR administration to begin with. So the politburo has seen no changes.

[Gustaf]

I'll take over for tmth if no one else is interested.

Great! I advise you to contact your allies. PM me if you have any questions.

[Gustaf]

The Russians invaded West Russia, where the hapless German defenders quickly surrendered without a fight. A small expeditionary force also moved in to take control of Archangelsk. In the East the Far East forces moved southwards into Buryatia to take over the border patrol duties. New infantry and tanks were mobilized.



It is now Germany's turn! You have 44 PUs.

[Gustaf]

The Luftwaffe had to step in to cover for the failures of the German navy (as usual, sighed Goering) and attacked the British and Russian naval forces in the Baltic. While the Russian submarines could not fire on the air planes they could cover for the British long enough to allow them to destroy 40% of the total German fighter force. In the Northeast German forces with air support occupied Archangelsk and recaptured Norway.