Tag: Mini Europa

Allied Turn

The weather roll of ‘1’ means clear weather in zones C, D, and E, as well as calm seas. The US repairs 3x P-38’s and the British replace an A-30. US construction units finish a 3-cap airfield northwest of Marseille, and start upgrading it. US construction units also start quick construction of an airfield northeast of Marseille. Current Allied airbase capacity in southern France is now 42.

The convoy with 4 Inf X’s from GB rendezvous with the convoy from the US transporting the 36th Inf XX, an AA III, and a c/m ant. The Axis do not attempt naval patrol attacks in the face of so many Allied fighter groups. Following 2 naval steps behind are 6x NTs from Alger with the British 51st and 56th Inf XX’s.

In North Africa the final few British units admin towards Alger. With a port capacity of 6 left, the British put 3 Arm X’s in Alger to be transported during the Exploitation Phase.

In southern France the Allies mass stacks of 60 pts and 56 pts against a 21-pt German stack northeast of Avignon. The Germans fly in 8x Fw190 as a CAP. The Allies respond with 16 fighter groups on CAP, and then 14 groups on a GS mission which their CAP escorts. The German CAP intercepts and attempts to bypass the escorts. The first wave of escorts aborts 1 and returns 3 of the Fw190’s. The second wave of escorts can only abort 1 and return 1. The 2 surviving Fw190’s return a P-38, that jettisoned its bombs, and an A-30. At 6:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a disappointing DR. During exploitation 3x c/m units arrive from Alger, and disembark with 2 MP’s left.

Axis Turn

The German rebuild the 10th Pz XX and replace an Art III lost earlier. The Germans also repair 2x Fw190’s using up their last 2 ARP’s. There are no units for the Italians to replace, and the Italian air groups in the killed and aborted boxes are of too low quality to waste ARP’s on.

The Italians make a few small adjustments to their defense, their objective now is to insure as many Italian units as possible get disarmed by Germans in the event of an Italian surrender. Towards this end a trickle of German ants rail into northern Italy.

In southern France all 4 of the German Pz XX’s cluster around the 51-pt Allied stack that is bulging into their line along the Rhone River northeast of Avignon. Although the Germans could possibly get to 1.5: 1 odds, Allied DAS would push that down to 1:1, and the Germans can not afford to leave the Allies depleted stacks to attack during clear weather.

Allied Turn

The weather roll of ‘4’ means continuing mud in Zones C and D, clear in zone E, and calm seas. In GB the British break up the 79th Arm XX into the 27th Arm X and the 35th Tank Trng X. Both the US and the British each repair 3 aborted air groups. The Free French 6-8 Inf XX becomes full in Algeria.

The British TF escorts a convoy from Alger with the British 5th and 50th Inf XX’s, and disembark them at Marseille with 4 MP’s left. The TF and 6x NT’s get back to Alger in the last 2 naval steps of the Movement Phase, to hopefully embark 3 c/m RE’s during the Exploitation Phase with Alger’s remaining port capacity. Meanwhile in GB 2x 3-8 Inf X, and 2x 2-8 Inf X’s are loaded onto 4x NT’s as the Allied player realizes he can assemble the orphaned British 44th Inf HQ into an 8-8 Inf XX.

In North Africa the remnants of the British army stream towards Alger, the nearest port of embarkation for safe passage to southern France. During exploitation the 2 components of the British 10th Arm XX, historically disbanded June 1944, and another c/m units are embarked at Alger, move 2 naval steps, and are disembarked at Marseille with 2 MP’s left. This brings the number of Allied Arm XX’s in southern France up to 8, with the British 9th and 11th, Canadian 5th, and Polish 1st Arm XX’s remaining in GB.

In southern France the Allies mass 3 stacks with a combined attack strength of 151 pts against the 10th Pz XX in a stack with a defense strength of 23. The Germans stage in 8x Fw190 in a CAP over the obvious target. The Allies put up a CAP of 16 fighters over the same hex. At the start of the Combat Phase the Allies fly in a GS mission of 14 air groups, which the Allied CAP escorts. The Germans Fw190’s intercept and attempt to bypass the escort. The first wave of escorts kill 1, abort 1, and return 3x Fw190’s. The second wave of escorts abort another Fw190, but 2 get thru. They abort a P-38G and kill an A-30. The German AA aborts 2 and returns 1. With the odds of 7:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘6’ for a DE. The 10th Pz is reduced to a cadre, and 4 other c/m units get eliminated. The Allies advance a 39-pt stack into this hex just east of Avignon.

US NRP 3 + 1 = 4
US Inf 21.75 + 6 = 27.75
US Arm 19 + 6 = 25
US ARP 25 – 3 = 22
Res Pts 6 + 5 = 11

Br NRP 1 + 2 = 3
Br Inf 24 + 6 = 30
Br Arm 7 + 4 = 11
Can Inf 1 + 1 = 2
Ind Inf 2.5 + .5 = 3
Br ARP 39 – 3 = 36
Res Pts 12 + 5 – 1 = 16

Fr Met .25 + 1 = 1.25
Fr Arm 0
Fr Af 4 + 1 = 5
Fr Col 2 + .5 = 2.5
Fr ARP 2
Res Pts 3 + 1 = 4

Ge 4.5 spec.

Axis Turn

The Germans receive a large Inf X and a Pz II as reinforcements. The Italian receive 2 more Coastal XX’s as they build up to their Jul I 43 total, and an Air Lndg II. The Germans replaced an AA III and an AT II. The Germans replace a Fw190 and repair 2 more. The Italians replace a Ju87B. The Italians start quick construction of forts at Citavecchia and the coastal hex just north of it.

The Italians now defend Sicily with a 3-4-6 Inf XX each at Trapani and Marsala, and Coastal XX’s at every other port on the island. Likewise the ports of Calabria are defended by Coastal XX’s. Napoli is defended by a 9-pt stack with an AA of 10. The coast from 1 hex north of Citavecchia down 1 hex past Roma is well defended, including an Arm XX. Citavecchia is defended with a 9-pt stack with an AA of 10, and Roma is defended by the 184th Para XX and a Para III. Livorno is defended by a 9-pt stack with an AA of 10, and 7-pt stacks on either side. La Spezia is defended by a 7-pt stack with an AA of 7. Genova is defended by a 9-pt stack with an AA of 7. Finally Savona is defended with a 9-pt stack with an AA of 7. The Italian defense line thru the Maritime Alps remains unchanged.

In southern France the Germans patch together stacks of 21 and 17 in the non-mountain hexes on the east side of the Rhone River. Along the west bank of the Rhone they have a stack of 15 in Nimes, and stacks of 17 on either side of Nimes. The Germans squeeze the newly arrived self-supported Inf X into their English Channel defense with minimal shuffling of units.

Ge Inf 11 + 4.5 Spec. + 6 – 1.5 = 20
Ge Arm 0 + 6 – 1.5 = 4.5
Ge ARP 6 – 4 = 2
Res Pts 19 + 9 = 28

It NRP 2 + 1 = 3
It Inf 11.95 + 4.25 = 16.2
It Arm 2 + 2 = 4
It ARP 17 – 2 = 15
Res Pts 0 + 2 – 2 = 0
It RE’s eliminated: 17

Allied Turn

The weather roll was a ‘4’ which continued clear in zone E, mud in zone D and C, and calm seas. The French replace 2x 1-8 mot Inf III’s. Using a house rule that requires players to disband units on the map when the OB calls for their removal from the Replacement Pool, the British disband the 2nd mot Support Group for .5 Inf RP’s and .5 Arm RP’s. This house rule prevents duplicate units roaming the map when a unit never gets removed and later re-appears in the OB with the same unit ID. The permanent airfield at Port de Bouc upgrades to 12 capacity. The Allies start quick construction of a permanent airfield northwest of Marseille. In GB the British expend a NRP to start repairing the 2nd hit on KGV.

The British TF at Marseille puts to sea to rendezvous with the convoy from the US at dawn in hex 17A:4916. The Axis decline to attempt naval patrol attacks. The convoy with an AA III and 2x c/m ants puts into Port de Bouc. Meanwhile the British convoy in Marseille disembarks the British 1st and 7th Arm XX’s in the 1st naval step. The British TF and all the NT’s make their way back to Gibraltar to replenish, and from there will make their way back to Alger before the end of the turn.

In Tunisia the British 8th and 10th Arm XX’s, the British 51st and 56th Inf XX’s, the Indian 4th Inf XX, and the NZ 2nd Inf XX move in to attack the German stack in Bizerte. The Allies fly in a CAP of 5 fighter groups over Bizerte, and then fly in a GS mission of 8 air groups escorted by 6 fighter groups. Although the Axis have a handful of fighters in Sicily, they decline to respond. The German AA of 5 aborts an A-30 and returns another. At 5:1, -1 odds the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DR, which pushes the Germans into the sea. With no friendly ports left in North Africa the remaining Axis stack surrenders. During exploitation the British 8th and 10th Arm XX’s and assorted other c/m units stream towards Alger for transport to France.

In southern France the Allies mass 4x Arm XX’s, 2x Mixed XX’s, and 3x Inf XX’s for an attack on Avignon. The Allies fly in a CAP of 12 fighter groups over Avignon. They then fly in a GS mission of 10 air groups, dropping the 12 fighters out of CAP to escort. Because they didn’t think the Allies would attack in the mud, all the Axis bombers are assigned to naval patrol. The Germans choose to let their AA of 10 do its job. The AA aborted 5 and returned 1, 60% of the GS mission force. This dropped the odds down to 4:1, -2, but the Allies roll a ‘6’ for an anticlimactic DR. The Allies advance into Avignon and expand their perimeter in southern France to 14 hexes long.

Axis Turn

The Germans rebuild the 6th Pz XX. They also start quick construction of 4 forts along the English Channel. The Italians scan the North Africa Replacement Pool with regret for the few non-c/m units they should have flow out, including a potentially loyal fascist Para III. The biggest regret for the Germans is that they could not evacuate the Ramcke brigade which historically formed the basis of their 2nd Para XX.

The Italians continue to strengthen the coastal defenses in front of Roma and at the northeastern corner of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The air groups that were defending Sicily are transferred north to defend these areas.

The Germans do not attempt any attacks against the ever stronger Allied stacks and their numerical air superiority. They do manage to pull 2 of their 5-6 Inf XX’s out of the front line to start the beginning of a second line. The Germans have the 6th and 7th Pz XX’s, which they kept from going east, the 10th Pz XX, which they kept from going to Tunisia, and the 26th Pz XX, the only Pz XX historically in France in this period. The Allies now have 7 Arm XX’s in their beachhead, and there is a 1/3 chance of clear weather next turn.

Mar II VP Check

Former Axis Major Cities: Tunis = 3
Former Axis Medium Cities: Tripoli = 1
Former Axis Naval Bases: Tripoli, Tunis, Bizerte = 3
Net Ground Losses: 0
Net Air Losses: 0
Net Naval Losses: 0
Previous Total: – 11.5 VP’s
New Total: – 4.5 VP’s

Allied Turn

The weather roll was a ‘1’ again which continued clear in zone E, continued winter in zone D, remained mud in zone C (high up in the central Alps), and calm seas. The US gives the French 1x Arm RP. The permanent airfield at Toulon upgrades to 9 capacity. A new permanent airfield is started just southeast of Marseille. The US replaces a P-38F and repairs 3 other fighter groups, the British replaced 2x Bftr’s and repair 3 other fighter groups. With arrival of another heavy bomber in the MTO, the Allied player transfers 3x B-17’s, 3x B-24’s, 1x Halifax, and 4x Wellingtons from operational duty in the MTO to strategic duty in the ETO. Tripling the number of heavy bombers already there (per TEM 50) this early should allow the Allies to start the Strategic Air War rolls in SF on Apr I 44.

The Rodney and Nelson, now repaired, sail back to the MTO, while the Duke of York sails back to the Home Fleet. There is no convoy from GB nor the US this turn. Instead the West Med’s 10x NT’s and the British TF congregate at Alger.

In Tunisia the British and French close in on the last 3 Axis stacks. The crowding is such that the British 1st and 7th Arm XX rail out of the way towards Alger. The Allies fly in 4x fighter groups on CAP, and 7x groups on GS. The Axis decline to respond. Using 3 full stacks the Allies attack the 21st Pz XX at 9:1, -1. The Allies roll a ‘1’ for a DH that reduces the 21st Pz to a cadre. It along with the 90th Mot cadre fall back into Bizerte. During exploitation the British 1st and 7th Arm XX’s move to Alger, embark on NT’s, sail 9 sea boxes to Marseille, but don’t have enough MP’s to disembark.

In southern France the Allies line up 2x US Arm XX’s, 2x British Mixed XX’s, and 2x Canadian Inf XX’s to attack the stack across the Rhone from Nimes. They fly in 10x groups on GS with an escort of 4x Spit IX’s. With only 2x Fw190 and a Me109G available the Germans decline to respond. The Allies attack at 5:1, -2, and roll a ‘6’ for a DH. The Germans reduce the 6th Pz XX and retreat back across the Rhone River. The Allies advance a 33-pt stack with full ATEC into the hex.

Axis Turn

The German reinforcements of Luftwaffe ground units are all placed just inside Germany’s border with France. The Germans replace a Mot III and a mot Art III lost earlier in the campaign. The Germans replace 2x Fw190’s and a Ju88.

In North Africa the Axis retreat into 2 hexes, a 17-pt stack in Bizerte, and a 12-pt mostly Italian stack across the narrow strait from Bizerte. They are all praying for mud.

The Italians thin out their defense in Sicily and continue to strengthen their coastal defenses around Roma and along their northwestern coast. The Italians send no more units into France, convinced their average defense strength of 7.4 pts along 9 mountain hexes, many protected by high mountain hexsides, will deter any Allied attacks into the Maritime Alps.

In southern France the Germans shuffle units along the front in order to pull the 6th Pz cadre out of line for rebuilding. They also strengthen the defense of the ports of Sete and La Nouville to 9 pts each. The north coast of France has a solid defense line from Oostende to Le Havre, although many hexes are defended by just a port fort. There is another solid defense line from Granville to Brest along the north coast of Brittany. There is not a single Axis air group in the northern half of France. In southern France the major city of Lyon and the medium cities of Grenoble, St Etienne, and Toulouse are filled to capacity, but add up to less than half the air groups the Allies have in southern France.