Europa Games and Military History

Month: February 2000 (Page 2 of 3)

Mar I 40

S,S,S,M & R,C

To try and drive the British out of the country, an attack is lauched by
198, 214 and 181 XXs on 49th WR XX, but mud and the woods they occupy turn
it into a German nightmare (3:1 -3 = AH). The German CinC language is very
ungentlemanly and totally lacks dignity in defeat. As a sop to his pride
the 170 and 196 XX finally destroys the Danes at Korsor. its only taken
them 8 weeks to do so………

In Finland another attack goes in at 4717 – again the Soviets flee from
battle! (4:1 = AR). Around Lake Janis an attack into Sortavala seizes the
town from its defenders (5:1 -1 = HX). The French in Ilomantsu are
subjected to a massive attack by the Red Army and are basically swamped by
the enemy, but not before forcing an exchange result. Rather than lose his
loyal NKVD regiment involved in the battle, Comrade Stalin throws a couple
of Rifle XXs into the scrap heap.

A quick count of the Demoralization Points for Finland reveals a total of
10. Stalin is chuffed until Chamberlain points out that due to Allied
Intervention the actual number is only 0! Stalin blames Molotov.

Allied Player Turn

A massive convoy of Allied units dumps its cargo at the beaches of Thyboron
– the 1st Canadian, 1st Swedish and 49 WR XXs wade ashore while French
Chasseurs continue to arrive in Finland. A pull back from Janis begins
towards the lakes wo the west.

Feb II 40

S,S,S, M & R,R

Axis Player Turn

The 181 and 198 XXs arrive in Denmark to counter the British threat. The
214 XX attempts to take Aarhus but is held back by the stubborn (and now
supported) Danes. 169 and 170 XX try and destroy the last of the Danes at
Hoelbaek but the Danes again retreat and live to fight another day (6:1 =
DR).

To open up Sweden and crush the spa dabblers once and for all, Army Group
Sweden attacks out of Malmo with its host of elite mountain units, tanks,
motorised AA and infantry. The advancing Germans run headlong into the
waiting Swedish infantry who, a bit peeved at the spa dabbler comment,
counter-attack and force the Germans back (AR result). With no space to
retreat to, the entire German expeditionary force (bar the two regiments to
the east) are lost! AG Sweden is no more! Berlin is stunned. With one
roll of the dice, Germany is basically out of the game.

In Finland another attack into 4717 fails – this time the Soviets are pushed
back from their start lines (AR). Stalin wonders why can’t he get a simple
EX result. At Lake Janis the Finns and British are subjected to a massive
attack which is bloody for both sides (2:1 -2 = EX). The road to Kubno is
opened up with the defenders outside the town pushed back (5:1 – 3 = DR).
At Ilomantsu the defenders are crushed and the town lays open to Soviet
occupation (9:1 = DE).

Allied Player Turn

In Finland the 21st and 23rd XX*s arrive at Lake Janis while the French 8CA,
27 CA and 302 Art IIIs occupy Ilomantsu to try and stem the Red Army
advance. Weelington Bombers arrive over Estonia and try and shutdown the
airbase in operation there but are unsuccessful (no hits). An assorted
range of units (French Mtn Art, the Scots Guards, 51st Art II etc) arrive
around Kubno to try and support the Finns.

At Kristianstad the Swedes encircle the remaining German forces and with
superior winter skill smash and destroy these pathetic remnants of the
Whermacht. (3:1 = DR). To show international solidarity, the 1st Swedish
XX arrives at Stavanger by rail, ready to head to Denmark.

In that flat country, the 49WR XX and battlegroup based around the 2 Jyl HQ
try and chase away the 214 XX from the outskirts of Aarhus but a stalemate
results (AS).

Feb I 40

S,S,S, Mud and R & C

Axis Player Turn

The thaw in southern Sweden and Denmark is greeted with groans of dismay by
the Germans. The 14th MG II struggles to make it to Thyboron – the only
port accessible to the British and french to reinforce the Danes but falls
16 miles short. At Copenhagen the 170th XX forms up and with airlifted
elements of the 196th XX attack the Danes in Roskilde. The mud interferes
with the attack and the Danes withdraw to Hoelbaek (5:1 -2 = DR).
Mittlegrund is captured. The 214th XX attacks the 2nf SF III in Frederica
and again the Danes escape, this time to Vejle (6:1 -2 = DR).

In Sweden units are airlifted or landed at Trelleborg to join the lone III
of the 69th XX. Malmo is captured and an effective beachhead is secured.
The other two 69th XX regiments and Div HQ move to Krisitanstad, away from
the Swedish build up in Karlskrona.

In Finland massive Soviet attacks are launched on the Finns. The RVV X* and
1/LR III are attacked but the Soviets suffer a terrible defeat (2:1 = AH).
The breakthrough to the beleagured defenders of Kubno begins with two
guerillas attacked. the results are mixed (9:1 = DE and 3:1 = AR – courtesy
of the NKVD). East of Ilomantsi in the forests the Soviets drive out the
Finnish defenders (8:1 -3 = DR). Attacks on Suojarvi and 4717 result in
bitter disapointment to Comrade Stalin with neither attack having any affect
(5:1 and 4:1 resulting in AS – where is an EX or HX when you need one??)

Allied Player Turn

The Danish 1 Jyl HQ forms up at Aarhus and Bornholm’s militia are called out
for service. The Norwegians and Swedes finish mobilising. The 49th WR XX
arrives in Halmsted by rail and the 24th Gds X* arrives at Stavanger
allowing the 44th HC XX to land at Thyboron and attack and destroy the 14th
MG II. The British have arrived in Denmark! The Danish Govt relocates to
Aarhus and the LG III is airlifted to to join it.

In Finland the 42nd EL XX arrives to join the Finnish 6th at Lake Janis
while the 5th XX, 27CA III and RVV 1 X* attack the 54th Rifle XX in
Suomussalmi. The battle destroys the 54th but shatters the 5th XX (6:1 – 3
= EX). Suojarvi is abandoned and Finns pull back towards the “new” line
around Lake Janis. Wellington Bombers base at Stockholm, able to threaten
most axis locations in the theatre.

Jan II 40

S,S,S,W & R & Calm

Axis Player Turn

Ribbentrop calls on the Scandanavian Ambassadors and announces their perfidity in dealing with Britain and France has meant Germany must protect its interests in the north. German troopships and the KM set sail in the Baltic to land troops at Kobenhjaven, Trelleborg, Oslo and Karlshamn while the Luftwaffe send troops to Aarhus.

Denmark – The PF Border III is overrun by the 214XX who attacks the 2SF III in Haderslev – the Danes pull back from the battle (DR). Aarhus is seized, with one para battalion disrupted while the GG II and 13th Motorised MG II race into Odense and Nyborg, seizing Fyn Island.

At Kobenhjaven the KM engages the CD of the city. Lutzow is hit by the Danes CD but it is suppresed by other units allowing two regiments of the 170XX to land in the city – massive unfavourable odds severly disrupt one regiment but the other III, with extensive air and sea support are able to seize the city from the defenders – unfortunately the Danish governemnt
escapes to Holbaek while the Life Guards fall back from the city. Much swearing and cursing is heard in the German HQ as it is realised that Denmark will continue to fight on.

At Trelleborg a III of the 69th XX lands and seizes the port. At Karlshamn another regiment of the 69th XX land and is joined in the follow up phase by a second III and Divisional HQ. Karlskrona, empty of units sent to the north under Abwehr forged orders late last year, stands ready to receive its new masters…… To support this effort LW planes attempt to break the rail line in Southern Sweden but intense cold freezes up the bomb sights and no hits are made.

The convoy bound for Norway presses past Mittlegrund but no hits are made on either side and the KM approaches the entrance to Oslo fjord. CD in 4109 inflict one hit on the Scharnhorst and DD Flotilla 1. The landing in Oslo appear to be looking good as the two transported regiments flood ashore against the King’s body guard battalion, but one regiment is severly disrupted and another eliminated – the resulting odds are too hard for the Germans and all are killed on the shore line by the single Norwegian battalion. Berlin is devastated. To add insult to injury, the Gneisenau
suffers two hits to Norwegian CDs on the way home.

Finland

Another attack is launched on 4717 but is repulsed (3:1 -3 = AS). Near Suojarvi the renegade FNA XXs attack at full strength, inspired by unit commissars exhorting them to patriotic deeds. With other Soviet forces they push the Finnish 12th XX and RV Ski X back into Suojarve itself (4:1 – 2 = DR). On the road to Ilomantsi just inside the SU boder area, the 13th XX is destroyed in a bloody battle but the Soviets also lose several units (3:1 – 3 = HX).

In the far north the attempt to Salia begins but despite the favouable numbers the Soviets nearly panic and flee from battle but NKVD units stationed behind them hold them steady with a few well aimed bursts of machine gun fire. (4:1 = AR changed to AS). At Kutsamo the Soviets try and
drive back the single Ski units defending the wooded rough terrain leading to the town. Uncle Joe has a quick roll about on the floor and snaps his pipe stem when despite odds of 9:1, the result allows the Finns to escape unharmed (9:1 = DR). At Suomussalmi the 2/LR III* is exchanged for the 9th Eng III (5:1 = EX)

Allied Player Turn

Full mobilisation begins and Swedes pour south to block off the German beachheads. Karlskrona is filled up and ports and towns along the Skagerrak garrisoned. Lund is stuff full of troops. In Norway units begin to gather together in preperation to convert to tougher formations. In Finland the British 5th XX and 27CA arrive by rail just west of Suomussalmi while the RVV Ski X* arrives SE of Kutsamo. Near Lake Ladoga the 6th XX falls back from its long held positions in Pitkaranta to the isthmus between Lakes Janis and Ladoga while the 12th XX and 67/23 III dig in at Suojarvi.

In transit, the 42nd XX, 302 Art III and 5 CA arrive at Tomio ready for being railed into Finland next turn. The RMFU arrives at Stavanger while the 49th WR XX arrives in Trondheim. Gladiators fly into Joensuu and the Blen 4F HF rebases to Lappeenranta.

In Denmark, the Danes attack the paratroopers in Aarhus with Bomber Command flying ground support. Much to the delight of the allies, the paras are herded up into captivity and sent by tramp ship to prisons in Scotland. (2:1 = HX) The JD Cavalry unit is lost in the exchange.

Jan I 40

Weather – no change

Soviet Player Turn

The whole strategic reserve is released and Uncle Joe peers at the situation
map in the Kremlin and can’t locate Leningrad for the mass of cardboard.
Some are railed north to the front NE of Ladoga while a reorganised stack
and reduced stack again go in against 4717 but again fail (3:1 -3 = AS). In
order to relieve Kubmo the 17th XX, 214 Para-Inf X and 56th Art X attack the
2/KR Ski III* in forest on the border and destroy the Finns (7:1 – 3 = DH)

Allied Player Turn

No guerillas are available for call up by the Finns as the only hexes Soviet
owned are Soviet occupied. RAF Blenheim bombers and heavy fighters arrive
at Turku while more troops pour ashore at Narvik and into north Sweden
(Royal Engineer demolition officers are caught by local police photographing
the ore facilities enroute to Finland and the Foreign Office explains to
Stockholm that the British are irrepressible tourists and will photograph
anything) AA arrives at Bergen and the Fleet positions itself astride the
North Sea. In Finland little happens with the Finns awaiting the western
allies.

Dec II 39

S,S,S,W & R,R

Sweden and Norway

In response to the actions in Finland, a partial call out is made of
reserves and civilians form up at depots throughout Scandanavia. The
mobilisation is influenced by local German diplomatic personnel who point
out the threat of Allied incursions into Scandanavian territory so Narvik,
Mosjoen and Trondheim are focused. Berlin plans to send forged orders to
these units ordering them into the hinterland in case German forces should
need to arrive at these ports for “security” purposes.

Soviet Player Turn

Several units released from the strategic reserve are diverted to the front
around Medvezhyegorsk to prevent the Finns cutting the precious rail line
north.

Tampere is again subjected to bombing runs but agin AA carves up the
attackers – 3 groups are aborted. NKVD operatives interview air planning
staff to determine if counter-revolutionary sabotage is to blame. The
Rodina’s air woes continue with strafing runs on Lappeenranta Air base
failing to have any effect.

The 12th XX is attacked and a glorious proletariat victory occurs with the
Finns being thrown back in confusion (3:1 – 2 = DR). The defenders of
Medvezhyegorsk attack but are held up by the poor weather (3:1 – 2 = AS).

The clearance of the Mannerheim line begins with attacks on the
fortifications in 4717. Despite valiant efforts the Red Army is checked –
for the time being (3:1 -3 = AS)

London and Paris

In a joint communique, the Allied Governments indicate they have determined
that the security of Finland and the protection of Scandanavian territorial
integrity is vital to western interests. Chamberlain announces that a
British Taskforce is to be dispatched to Helsinki immediately and warns
Berlin that any interference will be met by the full weight of the Empire.
The French mutter something about not letting the English get away with all
the fun and announce the committment of several brigades and regiments of
Chasseur Alpins. (Rolled Snake eyes). Helsinki citizens are delighted at
this Christmas present.

Berlin and Moscow are outraged and denounce this intervention in a regional
affair, Berlin is confident however that Sweden and Norway will block any
access through their territory.

This smug illusion of security is totally shattered when the Monarchs of
Sweden and Norway welcome with open arms the request for transit rights
through the two nations. Comrade Stalin swallows his pipe while Adolph
throws a hissy fit of dictatorial proportions and considers re-writing basic
Aryan philosphy to exclude anyone north of Bornholm island.

[This was a titanic blow early on in the game – Finns stand at 1 DP, rolled
two 1s for intervention followed by two 6s immediately after – no loaded
dice in this game! Suddenly I’m looking at trying to get 34 DPs on the
Finns while the Atlantic is rough and most of the Baltic ice bound limiting
any German intervention.]

French Artillery and the 2 CA III arrive at Petsamo while more French
artillery and the 5CA III arrive at Narvik. The 44th XX breakdown into
supported Xs and lands at Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim causing Berlin to
ask how are these troops movements related to protecting Finland? “Moral
support” is the answer from Whitehall (followed by a “damn your eye’s for
asking”).

The Finns send the 9th XX into the fortifications at 4717 while in the north
the Soviet 163 XX is surrounded by Ski units and guerillas.

Dec I 39

Weather – Zone A = Snow, B = snow, C = snow, D = winter, Sea = Rough, Baltic
= Rough
(Note hereafter weather is summarised as S,S,S,W & R, R)

Soviet Player Turn

North of Leningrad – the Red Army lurches ungainly into the forests towards the Mannerheim Line. They are delayed in their advance by Ski units who force the Soviets to deploy into attack formation. When the attacks are launched, they are surprised to find the Ski troops have fled! Capitalist running dogs – obviously no stomach for standing up to good old Socialist steel. The delay has pushed the timetable in this area back by a couple of weeks. (Ski units all successfully retreat before combat back to the main defence line).

Along the border running north east from Ladoga, several attacks are sent in against the handful of Finns who defend the roads and railway transportation lines. The results are poor for the Rodina. SE of Suojarvi the 12th XX stands firm aginst a Soviet corp and send the attackers reeling back (3:1 -2 = AR).

In the forested border region, the 13th XX destroys the attacking Soviets by stubborn defence (2:1 -3 = AE). Comrade Stalin spits his pipe across the room.

North from here Kubmo is captured by the troops of the 163 Rifle XX while the 44th motorised moves up to the border from Rugozero.

The 54th with attached engineering support tries to engage the Finnish 2/LR III but its troops are from Turkestan and frightened by the snow and runaway much to Comrade Stalin’s annoyance (4:1 -2 = AR).

Murmansk – A single winterised XX plods towards the border and engages the
Finnish ski regiment in the area but fails to dislodge them (AS). Petsamo
remains safe for the short term.

The Soviet navy sorties out past Helsinki, trailing its cape to invite a Finnish respone – the Ilmar battle group remains at port drinking Cocoa and staying warm.

In the air above, the bombers fly deep into Finland to strike at key rail and factory networks. One hit on the vital rail system is scored SE of Sortavala by SB-2bis squadrons while Tampere sees the pride of the Motherland turned back by accurate AA fire (3 groups rtb, 2 abt) the
remaining units fail to locate their targets and scatter their bombs into a cow paddock.

Finnish Player Turn

The Helsinki Government is offered notes of support and declarations of outrage at the Soviet unions heavy handed tactics in Finland by western democracies, offers of support flow in but no firm mcommitment to send troops or take any action stronger than harsh language to their Soviet Embassies.

The Finns themselves reinforce the fortifications in 4717 with some extra units as the positioning of Soviet forces makes it obvious that this is going to be the first victim of the Red advance. Around Lake Janis the 13th XX advance into the Soviet Union to the outrage of the central committee, their target – Medvezhyegorsk. Comrade Stalin signs a few orders suggesting the “removal” of local unit commanders to stiffen the resolve of the soldiers defending in this area. The NKVD Border regiment in the area promises to defend the town to the last.

The Karelian Construction group moves to repair infrastructure damage on the rail system.

Apr III 1942

Japan

Weather: C&C, C&C, M&S

Supplies arrive from Formosa and allow an attack to be launched against the Pascao garrision. Fighting is desperate and bloody but the japanese prevail and seize the town from the allies. Two US IIIs, a Filipino III and assorted artillery are lost while the 1st J XX scuttles across the river to join the main defence line. In return the 38th XX and 53rd Light XX are cadred. (3:1 -1 = EX).

In Cebu Japanese forces still face off the Filipino units in the city.

US

A handful of units are scraped up at Legaspi and sent into the line.MacArthur is evacuated by sub to take up command in the Alaskan theatre under direct orders of Roosevelt. The Japanese commander is transferred tothe mini subs for suicide runs into Sydney harbour with the express orders to take out the coathanger. The North Borneo Volunteers continue to sit out the war drinking G&Ts and watching the sun rise over the beach at Sandakan.

The game is mutually agreed to end at this point for several reasons -Corregidor wouldn’t hit U-4 until the last week of May, lack of Japanese Attack Supply, the high number of cadred units and the likelihood the remainder of the battle would be bloody and the writing was on the wall -sooner or later an EX or something would occur allowing the Japanese (what was left of them) to take Legaspi. Besides, we were tired.

VPs were tallied – US 165, Japanese 177 – note this did not include losses inflicted by the Japanese as once we saw this number and the mass of green cardboard in the replacement pool it was seen the Japanese had clearly won.

Apr II 1942

Japan

Weather: C&C, C&C, M&S

An attack is launched on the defenders based around the rock of the Filipino1st XX – despite massive odds (5:1 -2 wooded rough +1 Light forces), theallies slowly retreat avoiding casualties(DR). The Japanese commander isresting in his command tent folding napkins into paper hats (oragami notbeing his strong point) when his supply officer nervously approaches andannounces that there are no more supplies left for the offensive. Aghast,the Japanese commander surveys his battle map – not a Res Pt anywhere to befound! Will the offensive stall?

US

All units fall back to the Bicol defence line with a garrison based on the1st Filipino XX left in the rough terrain west of the river at pascao. AtCorregido the last Res Pt is spent. The Japanese commander realises thatthe fort will not reach U-4 status until the end of May!

 

Apr I 1942

Japan

Weather: C&C, C&C, M&S

4th Inf XX moves to Bataan to face off over the straits at Corregidor. In the area north of Lopez the 4th Dan XX leads infantry forces against the defenders and wipes out the defenders although the 4th Dan is cadred (3:1 +1 AECA = HX). In the wooded rough terrain NE of Lopez the Japanese light units fail to push the defenders back (2:1 -1 = AS).

Apr I 1942 US

The Allies fall back past Larap into wooded rough and jungle rough terrain. The Japanese commander is reportedly frustrated at his inability to finish the enemy – especially as several divisions are now cadred and reinforcements are few and far between.

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