[Global 1940] Air units fly over question

@The-Captain

Thank you for clarifying.

@CWO:

@taamvan:

I am not sure what the British government’s back up plan was anyways if Sea Lion was successful.

The British government may not have had an actual “backup plan”, in terms of something serious and concrete and specific.  My impression is that Britain’s civilian and military leaders were focussed on preventing an invasion in the first place, and on defeating it if it did actually occur, and that they were sufficiently confident that they could accomplish one or the other of those goals that they didn’t need to give any detailed consideration to what to do if Britain ended up facing defeat.  Hitler, similarly, didn’t give serious consideration to invading Britain until he was forced to admit that Britain wasn’t going to come to terms with him after the defeat of France.

It’s quite possible that British government considered the possibility of setting up a government-in-exile in Canada (or elsewhere), but “considering the possibility” isn’t the same thing as preparing a functional contingency plan.  And in fact, there would have been two good reasons NOT to work on such a functional plan.  First, it would have taken up time and resources that could have been better used elsewhere, even if it only amounted to a small number of staff.  More importantly, preparing such a plan – even in secret – would have been politically very dangerous.  Churchill had famously been proclaiming in the House of Commons that “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”  If word had somewhow reached the public that the same Churchill was secretly preparing plans to decamp to Canada, it would have had two very serious negative effects: it would have told the public that Churchill believed that Britain genuinely risked being conquered by Nazi Germany (which would have been very bad for morale) and it would have convinced people that Churchill was hypocritical on a monumental scale (which would have ended his political career).  It would also have destabilized the British government, which was the last thing Britain needed at that time.

No, I completely understand why Churchhill did that, he was a very ballsy man and someone who was needed for UK but you’d still think you want some kind of back up just in case. I am sure his staff and the Royal Family would AT LEAST retreat to Ireland if need be.

“House Rules” changes or additions to Axis & Allies: 1914

To better balance play between the Allies and the Central Powers,  to improve historical accuracy, and to add a new Irish rebellion option. This is how I will play A&A 1914 henceforth, chez moi.

Germany Set Up
Add a German Cruiser and Transport to Sea Zone 24 and a German Cruiser in Sea Zone 26.

The Germans had a respectable navy operating in the South Atlantic and in the Pacific in 1914 and there were running sea battles between German and British flotillas during this time in these regions.  The game should reflect this, and it also adds a necessary element of tension in what is otherwise a complete sideshow (Africa) where the UK and France are not challenged at all.

Movement: ENTRAIN
Once a turn, before resolving combat, a player may move any number of pieces from one single space directly along a path of contiguous spaces to his capital, as long as the capital is uncontested and the route is not blocked by hostile or contested territory.  Any sea spaces involved also must be free of all enemy naval units and also contain at least one friendly Transport ship.  This movement must end in the capital; units may not stop elsewhere en route.

This reflects nations’ abilities to transfer troops rapidly along a rail system from front to front, as happened regularly during the war, particularly for the Germans for their big 1918 offensive after their Eastern Front stabilized; the current game, with its slow movement rates, makes this impossible.

Submarine Sneak Attack
Submarines always have a “first shot” ability when attacking or defending and then the option to submerge after any round of combat.  Submarines as defenders only hit on a roll of 1.  Hits by submarines are inflicted before returning fire.  Submarine versus submarine combat is considered simultaneous, as per normal combat.

Similar concept to “regular” A&A (WWII).  I don’t know why the 1914 game doesn’t allow for “sneak attacks.”  It was even harder to detect or avoid enemy subs in WWI than WWII.  And Germany badly needs this equalizer.

Swiss Mobilization
If  Switzerland’s neutrality is violated, it mobilizes 6 units (1 artillery and 5 infantry) hostile to the invaders.  Switzerland’s IPC value remains at 1.

Switzerland preserved its neutrality through two world wars by deterring attackers who would have faced a nation fully in arms and prepared to resist from many mountain strongholds and fortresses.  The Swiss should be much harder to subdue than this game provides and a special rule is in order, especially given the game board’s layout that makes Switzerland an overly tempting target out of proportion to to geography.

Russian Revolution
The Russian revolution rule is always in effect, not merely an optional rule. If the Revolution occurs, Russian IPCs are returned to the bank, not awarded to a player, but the Central Powers DO get credit for “capturing” a capital (Moscow).

The Revolution knocks Russia out of the war and it’s silly to punish the Central Powers by denying them credit for this.

Revolt in Ireland
No non-British Allied land or air units are permitted in Ireland. The German player may invest a total of 3 IPCs during each Purchase Units phase in hopes of fomenting an Irish rebellion – similar to the technology tables in early edition A&A, 3 IPCs spent buys ONE immediate die roll THAT TURN only (i.e., the spent IPCs are not retained or carried over to succeeding turns).  Having any German ship adjacent to Ireland at this time provides a +1 to the die roll for this check. If a modified roll of 6 is rolled on a die, Irish nationalist republicans revolt.  Irish rebellion is also automatically triggered by any German land unit present in Ireland at the end of a German turn.+

If Ireland rebels, immediately place two infantry figures in Ireland under the control of the German player; these represent Irish rebel forces hostile to Great Britain.  If Great Britain loses control of Ireland or Ireland is contested, at the start of each British player Purchase Units phase the British player forfeits as many IPCs as there are enemy units in Ireland directly to the German player, up to a maximum of 8.  If Great Britain loses control of Ireland and Ireland is not contested Ireland becomes controlled by Germany and Germany receives its IPC value. At the start of each German turn that Ireland is controlled by Germany or contested, another Irish rebel infantry figure is placed in Ireland, up to a maximum of four rebel infantry units. Only infantry units are raised as Irish rebel units but there is no limit to other nation’s units that can be moved to Ireland.  Irish rebel units may not leave Ireland. Ireland will only revolt once in a game.

This rule simulates the complicated political situation existing in Ireland during WWI and the historical “Easter Uprising” of 1916. Because German submarines were often used to smuggle weapons and personnel to Ireland during this time, and German invasion prospects encouraged the Fenians,  the presence of German naval units increases the chances of rebellion.  The USA and France traditionally sympathized with Irish republicanism and their governments were not likely to agree to their militaries forsaking the war against Germany to suppress Irish nationalism.

Using BBs and CAs as bombers doing an SBR sounds pretty cool. I guess they would be impervious to interceptors though ? Maybe tacs could intercept ships only ?

Think it’s just a matter of finding the right numbers for your fortresses piscolar. You’ll just have to playtest it out. My concern would be that they’re not too powerful so they can’t be cracked. I like the idea of having a ground unit present to activate them.

@knp7765:

I think the other nations would welcome such a development. “Oh, you have a bunch of paratroops and transport planes? Good! Now I’m going to invade you with my stack of tanks and mechs.”

Yes, this would echo the principle of unequal force ratios stated in the proverbial Law of the Sword, which says “The guy with the gun usually wins.” Â

Global 1942: Quick Start Guide

This module uses Alpha 2 and original out of the box rules unless specified here. This scenario begins in Dec 1941 with the Japanese attack at Hawaii. Germany is at the gates of Moscow and pushing her last strength to capture Moscow. Positions and units quantity, and type are based on actual positions for Dec 41.

Japanese Surprise Attack: On the first turn all Allied Naval and Air units on the Pacific maps defend at ONE against Japanese attacks. Land units fight normally.

Soviet-Japanese Non aggression Pact:  The Japanese may attack the Soviets only by announcing one turn before this intention. The Soviets can attack Japan only if all Soviet territories are under Soviet control. Note: if Japan attacks the Soviet Union any Mongolian forces bordering any Japanese forces are automatically at war with Japan
(Exchange units with Russian Infantry).

The new turn order, starting IPC total and control changes:
Soviet Union: 28
Control lost: Baltic States, Vyborg, Eastern Poland, Belarus, Smolensk, Western Ukraine, Bryansk, Bessarabia, Ukraine.
Germany 41
Control lost: Romania, Hungary
Control gained: Baltic States, Vyborg, Eastern Poland, Belarus, Smolensk, Western Ukraine, Bryansk, Bessarabia, Ukraine, Normandy, France, Yugoslavia, and Crete
Italy: 12
Control lost: Ethiopia, Italian Somaliland
Control gained: Greece, Tunisia, and Cyprus
Japan: 28
Control gained: French Indo China
USA: 52
UK: 30 Europe, 16 Pacific
Control gained: Ethiopia, Italian Somaliland
ANZAC: 10
China: 12 Territories
Vichy France: 7 (strict neutral)
Control gained: Southern France, Morocco, Algeria, Syria, and Madagaskar

Lend Lease: The US or UK player can send a total combined aid to the Soviet Union of 30 IPC. Procedure: Buy a transport(s) and place it off board in a Lend lease Box. These transports can’t be used for any other purpose other than Lend Lease. Each Transport sends a fixed 5 IPC (place IPC under transports). No more than 6 transports can be allocated for this purpose. Lend Lease aid is first available on turn 1. However, the Soviet player does not actually get the aid until turn 2. The IPC sent can only purchase non-infantry land units and air units of any type. Lend Lease cannot be used for Naval, Infantry, or factories, etc.

Interdiction: Any European Axis Submarine, Plane, or Surface ship located in open sea
(Not Baltic, Black, Mediterranean) can deduct 2 IPC each from this total. If they are located in any convoy box, they can cost 3 IPC each from this total.

Note: If Japan and the Soviet Union are at war, Japanese Submarines, Planes, and Surface ships located in Sea Zones in 3, 4, and 5 can cause reductions to Lend Lease payments.

Minor Axis Allies: Finland, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary have unique forces (use German pieces) these automatically join the axis on turn 2. They can freely move on that turn and Germany can move into them or build units (Romania). Germany does not gain the income from these areas until they are activated on turn 2, or attacked earlier by the Soviet Union. The factory in Romania can start producing units on turn 2 as well.

This module does not use technology or National Objective rules. However, Paratroopers and Mechanized Infantry technology are standard rules. Paratroopers however are restricted to a one sea zone rule, which means they can’t cross any more than one sea zone before landing.

Changes in Strict Neutrality:  Attacking a strict neutral only activates other strict neutrals within 2 spaces of the invaded neutral. Vichy France is a special case. It is strict neutral; however, axis units may fly over or move thru these areas without triggering any change. Also, an attack from any player results in only war with the area under attacked; all other Vichy areas still remain neutral.

SETUPS:

SOVIET UNION:
Sea Zone 127: 1 Destroyer
Sea Zone 115: 2 Submarines, 1 Destroyer
Karelia: 3 Infantry
Novgorod: 6 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Artillery, 1 Armor,
1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Air Base, 1 Naval Base, 1 Minor Factory, 1 AA gun
Archangel: 3 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Vologda: 2 Infantry
Russia: 10 Infantry, 4 Mechanized Infantry, 3 Artillery, 2 Armor,
2 Fighters, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Bomber, 1 Major Factory, 1 Air Base, 1 AA gun
Tambov: 3 Infantry
Rostov: 3 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Volgograd: 6 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Artillery, 1 Armor
1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Air Base, 1 Major Factory
Urals: 1 Minor Factory
Kazakhstan: 1 Minor factory
Sea Zone 100: 1 Cruiser, 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine
Amur: 4 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor, 1 Naval Base
Sea Zone 5: 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine
Sea Zone 4: 1 Submarine

GERMANY:
Normandy: 2 Infantry, 1 Minor Factory, 1 Naval Base
Holland: 2 Infantry, 1 Naval Base
Paris: 1 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 2 Fighters, 1 Airbase, 1 Minor Factory, 1 AA gun
Denmark: 1 Infantry
Norway: 2 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Sea Zone 113: 1 Battleship, 1 Cruiser, 1 Destroyer, 2 Transports
Western Germany: 1 Infantry, 1 Major Factory, 1 Naval Base, 1 Air Base, 1 AA gun
Greater Southern Germany: 1 Infantry, 1 Minor factory, 1 AA gun
Germany: 2 Infantry, 2 Bombers, 1 Fighter, 1 Air Base, 1 Major Factory, 1 AA gun
Poland: 1 Infantry
Eastern Poland: 1 Infantry
Yugoslavia: Control
Greece: 1 Artillery
Crete: 1 Infantry
Vyborg: 2 Infantry
Libya: 1 Armor
Tunisia: 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Naval Base
Baltic States: 3 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor
Belarus: 6 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Artillery, 2 Armor, 1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber
Smolensk: 6 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Artillery, 2 Armor
Western Ukraine: 1 Infantry
Bryansk: 6 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Artillery, 2 Armor, 1 Fighter
Ukraine: 6 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Artillery, 2 Armor, 1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber
Sea Zone 103: 1 Submairne
Sea Zone 107: 1 Submarine
Sea Zone 118: 1 Submarine
Sea Zone 125: 1 Submarine

JAPAN:
Manchuria: 3 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor, 1 Fighter, 1 Minor Factory
Korea: 1 Infantry
Jehol: 2 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Shantung: 1 Infantry
Kiangsu: 1 Infantry
Kiangsi: 1 Infantry
Kwangsi: 2 Infantry
French- Indo China: 1 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Fighter, 1 Bomber
Siam: 1 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Japan: 1 Infantry, 1 Major Factory, 1 Air Base, 1 Naval Base, 1 AA gun
Sea Zone 6: 3 Battleships, 1 Cruiser, 2 Destroyers
Sea Zone 19: 1 Cruiser, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 20: 1 Destroyer, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 36: 1 Cruiser, 2 Destroyers, 1 Submarine, 1 Transport
Formosa: 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter
Sea Zone 25: 3 Carriers, 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine, 3 Fighters, 3 Fighter-Bombers
Caroline Islands: 1 Cruiser, 1 Naval Base, 1 Air Base
Marshall Islands: 1 Naval Base

ITALY:
Northern Italy: 3 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Air Base, 1 Major Factory, 1 AA gun
Southern Italy: 3 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor, 1 Fighter,
1 Bomber, 1 Air Base, 1 Naval Base
Sea Zone 95: 2 Battleships, 1 Cruiser, 2 Destroyers, 1 Submarine, 2 Transports
Sardinia: 2 Infantry
Sicily: 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter
Sea Zone 94: 1 Submarine
Sea Zone 96: 1 Submarine
Yugoslavia: 1 Infantry
Albania: 1 Infantry
Greece: 2 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry
Tobruk: 2 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber
Bessarabia: 1 Infantry
Ukraine: 2 Infantry

MINOR AXIS ALLIES:
Finland: 5 Infantry, 1 Fighter
Hungary: 4 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Romania: 6 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor,
1 Fighter, 1 Air Base, 1 Minor Factory
Bulgaria: 4 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry

VICHY FRANCE:
Southern France: 1 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Fighter, 1 Naval Base
Morocco : 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter
Algeria: 1 Infantry
Syria: 1 Infantry
French West Africa: 1 Battleship, 1 Cruiser, 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine, 1 Naval Base
French Madagaskar: 1 Infantry

UNITED KINGDOM:
Sea Zone 106: 1 Destroyer, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 111: 1 Battleship, 2 Cruisers, 1 Naval Base
Sea Zone 119: 1 Submarine, 1 Transport
United Kingdom: 3 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor, 3 Bombers, 1 Fighter,
1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Major Factory, 1 Air base, 1 Naval Base, 1 AA gun
Sea Zone 110: 1 Carrier, 1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 2 Cruisers, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 125: 1 Destroyer, 1 Transport
Gibraltar: 1 Infantry, 1 Naval Base
Sea Zone 91: 1 Destroyer, 1 Transport
Malta: 1 Infantry, 1 Air Base
Alexandria: 1 Infantry
Egypt: 2 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Armor, 1 Fighter, 1 Naval Base
Sea Zone 98: 1 Cruiser, 1 Destroyer, 1 Transport
Trans-Jordan: 1 Mechanized Infantry, 2 Armor, 1 Fighter
Anglo Egyptian Sudan : 1 Mechanized Infantry
Union of South Africa: 1 Transport, 1 Minor Factory, 1 Naval Base
Iraq: 1 Mechanized Infantry
West India: 1 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Fighter
Kwangtung: 1 Infantry
Shan State: 1 Infantry
Burma: 1 Infantry
India: 2 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Fighter, 1 Minor Factory, 1 Air Base
Ceylon: 1 Carrier, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Destroyer, 1 Naval Base
Malaya: 1 Infantry
Sea Zone 37: 1 Battleship, 1 Submarine, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 41: 1 Submarine

UNITED STATES:
Eastern United States: 1 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Armor,
2 Fighters, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Major factory, 1 Naval Base, 1 Air Base, 1 AA gun
Central United States: 1 Major factory, 1 AA gun, 1 Naval Base, 1 Air Base
Sea Zone 101: 1 Battleship, 1 Cruiser, 2 Destroyers, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 89: 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine, 1 Transport
Sea Zone 64: 1 Cruiser, 1 Transport
Western United States : 1 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Bomber, 1 Major Factory, 1 Air Base, 1 Naval Base, 1 AA gun
Sea Zone 10: 1 Carrier, 2 Cruisers, 1 Destroyer, 1 Fighter, 1 Fighter-Bomber
Sea Zone 31: 1 Destroyer
Hawaii: 1 Fighter-Bomber, 1 Naval Base, 1 Air Base
Sea Zone 26: 2 Battleships, 2 Destroyers
Sea Zone 13: 1 Submarine
Philippines: 1 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Fighter
Sea Zone 35: 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine, 1 Transport

CHINA:
One Infantry on each Chinese territory and one Fighter in Szechwan

ANZAC
Sea Zone 42: 1 Cruiser
Northern Territory: 1 Infantry
Queensland: 1 Infantry
New South Wales: 1 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Fighter, 1 Minor Factory, 1 Naval Base
Sea Zone 62: 1 Transport
New Zealand: 1 Infantry
Sumatra: 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter ( ANZAC does not control Sumatra for income purposes)

Air Transport planes will make it so much easier to get that Egypt NO for Germany.  In a number of our games Germany never gets that one because they have no transports in the Med (actually no naval presence period) and too often the Italians are using their transports too much to keep sending troops over from Italy to Africa to keep fighting the Brits and don’t have time to ferry over any Germans.  Plus, if the Brits have fighters about, then it can be dangerous for a German land unit just sitting on an Italian transport waiting to be ferried over to Egypt.  A lot of the time Italy keeps having to replace transports because of British air power and not enough naval protection.

If Germany had an air transport plane, they could wait until Italy captured Egypt and just fly a couple of guys down there then send the plane back to Germany.

In my version the oil tanker is the only new unit added.  Well, apart from Radar installations and Rocket pieces.

But then one key rule I introduce is that all ships must refuel every turn, tying them to friendly land areas.  With tankers it becomes possible to carry out long range naval operations, but the pieces themselves are expensive and have no combat value.

I’m not convinced that cruisers are anything more than a piece for the sake of having a 3-3 ship, with destroyers becoming 2-2, but we’ll see what LH has come up with in Guadalcanal.  Eventually.

The problem with cost reduction is that you might create naval cannon fodder units bought in vast quantaties just to soak up hits.  A ship costing 4 IPCs and having no combat value would probably be a good buy.