A&A Europe - Game 1 - Final Rounds and the Push For Victory

Axis & Allies Europe (1999)

Final Rounds and the Push For Victory

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

 

Pre-Round Notes

Pre-Round Thoughts

Germany has many many problems. USA is building too much navy in the Atlantic and Germany is slowly being beaten back. In earlier rounds, Germany was able to take Allied resources by taking over the convoy spaces. Now, Allied navies are growing too powerful and Germany doesn’t have the economic power to win these fights anymore.

Delaying the enemy can only do so much, and Germany needs a route to victory. Instead of worrying about the Atlantic, Germany focuses their economic and military might and moves east, hoping to find a way to win the game that way.

Germany makes one big push to secure the Middle East and the bonus IPCs there. Then they focus on moving into USSR and trying to make it to Moscow before the other Allies can land in Europe.

The Allies might have lost their ability take back the Middle East, but they are gaining ground everywhere else. USA has control of the Atlantic. UK is building navy to invade Europe. And while USSR is losing a few battles in Eastern Europe, Moscow seems secure. With new units that have been transferred from the other Allies, USSR has a strong air force and is even able to push to take over Norway.

Game Photos

The Middle East:

Germany’s big power play. Germany uses all available resources to push into the Middle East and secure these bonus IPCs.

The only question is, has this success come too late in the game to help?

The Atlantic:

Germany has lost control of the Allied Convoy Centers and now braces for Allied attacks on North Africa. Germany still has transports to to reinforce Africa with and Submarines to destroy Allied forces.

UK liberates the USSR Convoy Center and prepares for their own attack on Western Europe.

USA reinforces their naval forces and prepares for their attack on Morocco and Algeria.

Eastern Europe:

Germany pushing to secure Eastern Poland and Ukraine.

USSR Fights Back:

Germany has no navy to help reinforce Finland and Norway and USSR shows no mercy and takes full advantage of the situation.

German’s Final Hope:

Germany has made it as far as the Ukraine. And they can perhaps connect armies there with their forces in the Middle East. But what does this really mean?

There is no clear path to Moscow. Germany's hope is to defeat the forces in Belorussia. Without this, they will have no chance at attacking Moscow.

Meanwhile, the Allied forces in the Atlantic are only getting stronger. Soon Allied forces will be in France and Germany will have to contend with a true two-front war.

Post-Round Notes

Germany:

Germany has a foothold in USSR and in the Middle East. Perhaps these extra IPCs will give then the strength to hold on. Perhaps they still have an outside chance to break USSR before USA and UK liberate France and Africa.

USSR:

USSR has been successful in Norway and Finland. Their economy is strong. Their forces are strong, and they seem to be more than a match for Germany.

UK:

UK now has a strong navy and can begin landing units in France.

USA:

USA has cleared out the Atlantic and has begun building the transports and infantry needed to begin landing in North Africa and Western Europe.

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.

A&A Europe - Game 1 Round 1

Axis & Allies Europe (1999)

Round 1

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

Round 1

Germany:

Germany ignores USSR for now, deciding it is more important to threaten UK. Their lone attack is to disrupt the USSR Convoy Center.

Right now, the name of the game is OVERKILL. Germany must destroy as much of UK's navy as possible.

Germany must create a clear path so they can attack Convoy Centers and threaten an Operation Sea Lion attack against UK.

The Battle of the Atlantic Results:

Germany losses:

3 Submarines (24 IPC value)

UK losses:

3 Transports (24 IPC value)

4 Destroyers (48 IPC value)

1 Battleship (24 IPC value)

24 vs. 96 – a VERY successful German victory.

The Atlantic is now open and Germany has lots of options.

Secondary goals include slowing USA’s navy and preventing them easy access to Africa or UK.

If possible, Germany must prepare naval units in the Mediterranean to help defend Africa and begin the invasion of the Middle East.

USSR:

A game of stacks. USSR is going to build and build and make Germany come to them.

USSR will send men to the Middle East when possible.

USSR leaves Stalingrad mostly open and they retreat their Anti-Aircraft Gun to use to protect their larger army. This is a risky move, but USSR has decided to try to trick Germany into focusing on Stalingrad as opposed to Moscow.

Even if Stalingrad falls, Germany will only be able to build one unit per round there, and Allied Bombers can begin Strategic Bomb Raids. These raids should be more successful because the Anti-Aircraft Gun has been removed.

UK:

UK’s first goal is to destroy German transports to prevent any invasion of the British island.

Germany gambled their naval aspirations here and it was a failure. An expensive failure. Perhaps Germany would have been better off building off of Italy. 

UK’s other goals include coordinating naval efforts with USA in the Atlantic and sending fighters to USSR to help defend against the eventual German invasion.

USA:

USA builds naval units. Their goal is to clear out the Atlantic and open up several options of operations – Africa, Norway or the liberation of France.

Economic Results:

IPCs	Start of Round	IPCs Saved	Convoys	Middle East	End of Round	Change
Germany:	40	1			41
USSR:	24		-4		20	-4
UK:	25	10			35
USA:	40	4			44

NPC	Start of Round	End of Round	Change
Germany:	40	40
USSR:	24	20	-4
UK:	25	25
USA:	40	40

Victory Conditions:

Germany: No capitals taken

Allies: Germany not taken