Best posts made by Trout

@barnee Rolling for 15 fighters attacking London with Flak Tower during G40 Game 11 between Barnee and Trout

[dice 15d6<=1]

@barnee Ahh! Good catch. Maybe we have been using the CE’s incorrectly then. If you are correct, then I guess Axis moving the France factories eastward is about the only effective place the CE moving a factory can come into play. Since the Soviets can move their factories without a need for CE’s.

@barnee Barnee - thanks. The way you laid it out is the way we have been playing our games but I wanted to confirm as it wasn’t crystal clear in my head anyway.

Hey Axis-and-Allies Friends,
Couple of Pacific Theater questions for HRE. First, the easier question: Regarding the increased shipbuilding, are you required to place the free ships on the turn they become available or can they be delayed? I have a game going right now where the Axis player chose to disregard the standard strategy of going after Philippines/Money Islands and instead did a Pearl Harbor attack and took Midway/Wake/Hawaii/Aleutians. So the bulk of his IJN is camped out in SZ 26 after J5 to where it’s pointless to deploy the free cruiser/sub this turn.

Second question, a bit more complicated is: If on US3, the Allied player declares war on Germany but not Japan as is often the case, does the Allied player collect the 5 IPC bonuses associated with the Pacific?? i.e. the Philippines and the Alaska/Hawaii/Line/Johnston/Aleut bonuses. It struck me the other day that it seems wrong for USA to get Pacific bonuses for going to war if no war yet in the Pacific. Or maybe it’s a game balance issue since Japan gets the 10 IPC peace bonus if they choose to keep the peace?? Clarity requested please.

Thanks.

@The-Captain Hello there Cap. Any update on this topic. Heavy Carriers sound very interesting

@The-Captain Thanks for the reply. That makes sense. I can see where if Germany is having enough success with Barbarossa to hold those three territories and then capture Gibraltar too, that would be extremely difficult for the Allies to overcome. The two extra IPC’s from Spain joining the Axis is not unwelcome either.

Hey Captain. Have you ever thought about creating an HRE variant for Tech? Tech OOB is rarely used, I don’t use it either. And alot of the HRE additional units overlap with some of the Tech. Biggest example of course is the Super Sub tech for G is already covered with the U-Boat special rule. Anyway, just a thought. I don’t even have specific suggestions for what those could be. But as it stands, all of us just ignore tech and never use it. Whether we play OOB or HRE

@The-Captain Hey there Captain. Got a question regarding Flak Tower. I know that AAA cannot shoot at Super Heavy Bombers but what about Flak Tower? I may have missed it but I didn’t see that addressed in the Flak Tower rules. There’s a statement about Flak following AAA rules except where noted but I am in a game with Barnee currently where I am doing a Sea Lion attack, so I think it best to get answer from you before making the air raid. Thanks!

@The-Captain Got it. Makes sense. The Super Heavy Bombers, Carriers, and Battleships are some of the most powerful units in the HRE.

@The-Captain Thanks for the reply. Yes, I think as I meditate on it. Intel would probably not get used much for the same reason that Weapons Tech doesn’t. Every IPC is crucial and needs to be driven towards producing war machines that can be used right away. No matter which nation one plays, every IPC is crucial and needed to obtain victory.

@The-Captain Thanks for the response. I have done a variation of your strategy to good effect in a few games with Combat Engineers which I believe is one of the best House Rule units which you have created. I just haven’t found a way to use the Waffen Pioneers much because the CE’s can perform what you laid out in your Strat Plan.

Global 1940, Game Report:
Game #2 between:
Axis player: Mussolini Pizza Emperor
Allied player: Trout

Early 1940
G1: Germany clears Sea Zones 110 & 11 but loses 106 as he only attacked with one U-Boat. France, Normandy, S. France, Yugoslavia all taken and Bulgaria/Finland activated. Collect 83 IPC’s after deploying five U-Boats in SZ 112.
J1: Tojo attacks Yunnan and Hunan provinces and builds two minor factories in Chinese provinces.
UK1: Captured Sumatra, killed the G Battleship anchored in SZ 111 and cleared SZ 96 while building a minor factory in Egypt.
Italy 1: Destroyed the Marine Nationale located in SZ 93 and captured Greece, Tunisia, Algeria
ANZAC 1: Activated Dutch New Guinea and Java
Late 1940
Germany 2: Axis strategy was to dominate the Mediterranean and Middle East after all his name is Mussolini Pizza Emperor. As such, the Luftwaffe performed an air raid on SZ 92 destroying the main UK Royal Navy anchored there which was two destroyers, two cruisers, and one loaded carrier at the price of three Luftwaffe fighters. Luttwaffe fighters and tac bombers landed in Algeria after the fight. Bismarck was built in Toulon/SZ 93
UK 2: The Luftwaffe based in Africa opened the door for the RAF to kill the cruiser & transport located in SZ 112 and the Allies at that point decided upon a strategy of the Soviets & Brits focused on European theater while the US & ANZAC focused on the Pacific theater.
Early 1941
Italy captured Gibraltar and dominated the Mediterranean while max German paratroopers built last turn staged to Romania and U-Boats continued to be launched in SZ 93 & 112. However, UK managed to detonate the Gibraltar naval base before its capture.
Late 1941
Germany launches Barbarossa taking Baltic States, E. Poland, Karelia, and Bessarabia but Soviets not too worried as the Axis focus on the Mediterranean kept the push from being overwhelming. Nonetheless, the Soviets retreated to Bryansk while building the Russian Guards and making some paratroop drops where possible in Axis-held European provinces. Meanwhile, Japan launched a surprise attack on the Allies this turn. Capturing Hong Kong, Indochina, Shan State, and the Philippines. Major battle in Kansu left the Chinese with just one infantry in Tsinghai but Japanese losses were not insignificant. USA activated the National Guard and attacked Iwo Jima but the Kriegsmarine anchored in SZ 91 prevented any offensive action in the Atlantic. UK believes that the fall of Egypt is eminent so the minor factory is moved underground in case detonation is necessary. Three UK fighters fly to Soviet Union to prepare for rearmament as Soviet aircraft. Italy repairs the naval base in Gibraltar & builds a shiny new air base in Greece.

Early 1942
Kriegsmarine reinforces SZ 91 with several additional U-Boats. Barbarossa stalled in E. Poland. Soviet Union calls up full Red Army Conscription and rearms three Spitfire squadrons for service in the Soviet Air Force. Japan completes the conquest of China. USA captures Caroline Islands with naval forces of USA & ANZAC now concentrated in SZ 33. Kriegsmarine U-Boats are so numerous that USA & UK move their Atlantic fleets to SZ 64 and build naval base in Central America to retain ability to reach SZ 91 and 106. Allies concede Atlantic to Germany for now and USA builds air transports in order to supply UK with infantry for London defense in case Axis consider winning via Sea Lion. Italy has massed forces in Alexandria and activated Iraq. Regia Marina surface combat ships anchored in SZ 98
Late 1942
Germany stages max paratroopers to Alexandria and begins full convoys of the UK & Scotland. Barbarossa remains stalled in E. Poland. Soviet Union pushes its main land force back into Belarus and captures Finland. Japan captures Malaya and Sumatra while the majority of the IJN is anchored in SZ 35. USA liberates Philippines after a massive naval battle in SZ 35 leaves USA as the victor barely with only damaged battleships left. UK decides to not retreat from Egypt but instead strafes Axis forces in TransJordan while capturing Iraq via amphibious assault supported by shore bombardment. UK income now under 40 due to loss of Malaya & Sumatra plus convoying naval units in SZ’s 109 & 98. Italy attacks Egypt with all available assets and wins with one tank plus the Regia Aeronautica remaining. ANZAC Navy moves into SZ 35 to prevent the IJN from sinking the USA Super Heavy Battleships.

Early 1943
Soviets capture Norway. USA’s first contingent of infantry on London defense duty arrive via air transport. Italy in its last turn prepares itself for German takeover. In the Pacific, Japan consolidates naval forces in SZ 36 along with newly mobilized navy in SZ6 which forces USA/ANZAC to retreat back to SZ 33.
Late 1943
Germany completes the Italian Takeover and builds majority of its cash pile on the Wehrmacht to stop Soviets from advancing into Eastern Europe. German paratroopers land in AES. Soviets push 1st Army into Persia along with a contingent of supporting infantry. Japan captures Borneo and recaptures Philippines. USA/ANZAC continue to mass naval ships in Caroline Islands. USA takes Okinawa and AZAC takes Formosa with transports as they had no defensive forces in place. UK attacks Burma in force and intends to hold. UK income drops to 22 as Africa continues to be assaulted by Axis while UK itself is convoyed without mercy.
1944/1945
By late 1944, Germany continues to turn the African continent into Lebensraum for the Reich, the Allied navies continue to be shut out of the Atlantic by the large Kriegsmarine flotilla in SZ 91. Middle East now firmly Axis as well. Only joy for the Allies in the European theater is Soviet Union capturing and holding Norway/Finland. In the Pacific, Japan continues to have China, DEI, and Philippines in firm control of the Rising Sun. ANZAC holds Carolines and USA has Iwo Jima.
In early 1945, a large land battle takes place in Eastern Poland and the Soviet Army is destroyed. Allies surrender. Photos follow

@Trout

@The-Captain Hi Captain. Got a few additional Naval Mines questions as this HR unit continues to befuddle me more than any other.

1. Do the rules about carrier hits before battleship hits apply to NM’s?? I would think not as they don’t have any brains to focus hits towards certain units. They just blow up as somebody hits them. But sometimes my assumptions are wrong. I have a game now where I will be moving a large naval force into an SZ with multiple naval mines so wanting to know if battleships can take damage first or not for NM hits.

2. Same scenario - large naval force attacking SZ with multiple naval mines. That naval force includes Escorts.
   a, So do they sweep before or after the general naval combat?? There is a single defending Escort which laid the NM’s in the SZ being attacked. I am not clear on anything in this scenario except that the sweeping occurs in Combat Movement and my Escorts cannot participate in the naval battle with the defending Escort.

b. If the idea is to be consistent with LM rules, then I believe the process is:
i. Escorts sweep
ii. Next, Naval Force crosses into the SZ and the NM’s not cleared by Escorts roll for hits
iii. After hits applied, the naval combat takes place which in this case is naval task force against one defending Escort.

What is the answer for #1 and are my assumptions about how the sweeping works in #2 correct?? Thanks in advance for the help.

@barnee Actually I just remembered that the new Naval Commander rule does boost battleships. So that will make it worthwhile to have one or two with the Commander rules. The alternate hits is in my opinion one of the reasons to not buy battleships and instead buy empty carriers which just seems kind of stupid. I think it’s realistic that in a navy battle, the dive bombers and submarines would focus on the carriers but naval mines not so much.

@barnee Good Morning. I am chiming in very late on this but confirmed that essentially the Allies lost due to the emotional health of the US Navy leadership in the Pacific and the UK Army/Air Force leadership in India being irreparably damaged. So we had a new HRE victory condition kick in which was Axis Psychological Victory because the Allied Generals and Admirals on one side of the board were sitting in their HQ rooms sucking their thumbs. Unclear if victory due to outstanding psyops is an official way to win but that’s what happened. Congratulations to Barnee for being the first to win HRE by virtue of outstanding tactical prowess which destroyed all of the Allied Strategic Plans in a way that demoralized them beyond repair 👍

This is in response to Game 5 between Barnee and myself posted in Fall 2025

Global 1940, Game Report:

Global 1940 two-player game conducted with Triple A which ended yesterday as follows"

Players:
Axis: Trout
Allies: Barnee

Germany captured all French territories and was able to reduce the UK navy in the Atlantic to one destroyer, one transport, and one cruiser at the close of Early 1940. UK had a very strong counterpunch which reduced the Regia Marina to just its SZ 95 fleet in addition to destroying the Italian Army in Ethiopia and sinking the German battleship in the North Atlantic. In Asia, Japan’s Strategic Plan called for an initial focus on turning China completely yellow which did happen by the end of Fall 1941.
The very effective UK1 turn caused Germany to scrap its initial Strategic Planning and instead conduct Luftwaffe air raids in the Mediterranean, launch the Bismarck from Kiel and the Graf Zeppelin from Marseilles all in Late 1940 in order to replenish the surface assets of the Kriegsmarine and try to stave off utter early destruction of its Italian neighbor.
In the Pacific, Japan opened hostilities with the Western Allies in Fall 1941 with successful attacks on Philippines, Hong Kong, and FIC.
Meanwhile, the Soviet Union decided to re-write history and instead conducted a surprise attack on Germany in Fall 1941. The Soviet Union would remain strong all game as the Nazis never were able to push into Soviet territory past E. Poland for the entire game.
Japan captured all DEI in Fall 1942 and that extra boost to their economy would contribute to them having a strong position in Asia and the Pacific for the rest of the game although the vital Allied locations of India, Queensland, Midway/Wake/Hawaii remained in Allied hands for its entirety.
If there was a turning point in the game, it may have been the year 1943 in the Mediterranean. In the Fall of 1942, the USA made their first strong Atlantic moves with the USN moving into SZ 91 in force and capturing Morocco as well. The Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe however were able to destroy that USN Main Fleet in Spring 1943. Germany had sustained heavy losses in that battle so it took over the Italian government in Spring 1944 which allowed them to use all Axis forces to recapture Morocco that had a strong combined US/UK contingent of land and air forces and boost their income substantially.
After that, Germany focused on rebuilding the Luftwaffe and landing a large force in Syria for a planned conquest of the Middle East. However, the Allies responded in strength and the Axis were never able to advance past Syria. The war dragged on for a few years afterwards at close to a stalemate. The Axis had firm control of the Mediterranean and Japan maintained a strong position on land in Asia as well as on the high seas in the South Pacific. Meanwhile the Soviet Union remained in a strong position and the Allies never relinquished Egypt, India or the Middle East besides Syria. In addition, Japan was never strong enough to start pushing into the US Pacific territories other than Philippines and Guam.
To break the stalemate, Germany in the Spring of 1947 relocated the entire Luftwaffe to Western Germany which by that time included four jet fighters and both Heavy Bombers, withdrew forces from Syria and invested all IPC resources in transport production at Kiel. The UK was caught unprepared and a successful Sea Lion attack ended the game in the Fall of 1947.
Photos to follow from Barnee in next few days if not later today.