A&A Europe - Game 1 Round 2-3

Axis & Allies Europe (1999)

Round 2-3

Game: Axis & Allies Europe (1999 Edition – 2^nd Edition updates)

 

Pre-Round Notes

Pre-Round 2 thoughts, and notes on the Special Cash Advance

In AAR both the Axis and Allies receive a special pregame +12 IPCs, to be placed and used before the first round of the game. Allies can spread the advance out or give it all to one county.

Prior to this game, one of the beginning goals for Germany was to do their best to capture Convoy Centers and attack the Middle East as quickly as possible. Their goal was to stretch the game out by evening the moneyboard. Since they began with money units on the board, if they could even the IPC earnings, then they should be in a good position.

Germany spent there 12 IPC Bonus by adding units to Tunisia. This would serve two purposes – protect African IPCs from USA landing attacks and have extra resources to attack the Middle East with.

Round 1 was about clearing out the Atlantic of Allied navy, giving Germany a power advantage and allowing them to attack Convoy Centers. For Germany to succeed and have a chance to win the game, in Round 2 they must hold take away Allied Convoy Centers and successfully move into the Middle East.

The Allies for their part, plan on moving as many units into USSR to help defend the USSR and allow them the freedom to move units into the Middle East to slow Germany there.

Game Photos

The Battle for the Atlantic:

Round 2 - Back and forth between Germany and USA.

Round 3 - The back and forth battle continues.

The Battle for the Atlantic Results:

Germany is able to delay USA, but the USA economy is beginning to overpower Germany. Germany can't build enough submarines to keep winning these battles. Soon, USA will be building transports and German Africa IPCs will be threatened.

The Battle for the Middle East:

Germany is able to successfully defeat UK units defending the Middle East, but USSR has taken over the fight.

Germany is facing IPC problems in the Atlantic and in Europe. They needed to win the Middle East quickly to have the earning power to match the Allies. Germany is getting nervous and is failing to find answers elsewhere.

It is looking more and more like Germany must successfully invade USSR to have any chance in this game. And as we all know, this is NOT an easy task. But winning the game by evening the moneyboard is seeming like more and more of an impossible long shot.

The Battle with USSR:

Germany is facing problems in the Atlantic and the Middle East. They aren't picking up IPCs and they aren't costing the Allies IPCs by taking over the Middle East territories. Germany has to take USSR territories, but even this is a slow process.

Germany and USSR battle back and forth in Eastern Poland the Ukraine. After the first three rounds there is no clear victor. This is bad news for Germany as they aren't picking up IPCs anywhere on the map.

But Germany has built a large attack force and will be able to make a major push into USSR in the next several rounds. 

Post-Round Notes

Germany:

Germany was able to take two Convoy Centers -- one from USSR and one from UK. This has reduced Allied earnings by , but that’s it. And USA took back the UK convoy center. The Convoy strategy isn’t happening fast enough, and Germany isn’t earning enough to match the USA navy. Germany can still out-build USSR, but that won’t be enough to slow USA or UK. Can Germany break into USSR enough to earn extra IPCs before USA and UK start making gains?

USSR:

Even though earning less that Germany, still able to build large stacks of infantry for defense. UK plans are adding extra defense and perhaps building a new attack force for USSR? If USSR can begin attacking (and winning) then Germany will lose.

UK:

USA is clearing out the Atlantic. Now UK can start building some navy and try to clear out the last of the German submarines and begin focusing on attacking Norway and Europe.

USA:

USA has been able to build enough navy to stop Germany from reaching additional Convoy Centers. Now they can possibly start pressuring Morocco and perhaps Italy.