Round 2, Match 8 Status Report

Ray Freeman (Allies) vs. George Young (Axis)

British Flag

Allies win by 2 POC at the end of Turn 8.

BPA 1999 WAS PBeM Tournamemt - Round 2, Match 8 Status

======================================================================== Turn:             1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Axis POC:        +4     +6     +6     +3     +3     +3     +3     +3 Allied POC:      -3     -3     -2     -6     -3     -6     -6     -4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net POC:         +1     +3     +4     -3     +0     -3     -3     -1 Cumulative POC:  +1     +4     +8     +5     +5     +2     -1     -2 ========================================================================

Turn 1

The Admiralty reported a Barents on One gone wrong. One BC failed it's SR, the Germans came out to fight in the Barents. Subs stayed home. In the air exchange, Hood and a British cruiser were disabled. The Germans lost only a 127 while miraculously the Brits lost only a 117 and Repulse was crippled. Repulse was sunk in the pursuit.

Radio Berlin announced that disaster struck for the Brits on turn 1 when Renown failed it's SR and the Germans challenged the Barents. In the air exchange, the Brits missed, while Hood and a cruiser were disabled. The Germans shot poorly after that, sinking a 117 and Renown while losing a 127. The Eyties lost a 117 to the RAF.

POC=+1 Axis

Turn 2

The Admiralty reported that the German fleet (including subs) sailed to the N. Atlantic vs 4 BBs. One 225 stayed in the Baltic and one failed it's SR. 3 British 443s were sunk in two rounds of battle. 20 British shots failed to score a single hit!

Radio Berlin announced that on turn 2, the luck continued to favor the Germans as in a battle in the North Atlantic, 3 British BBs were sunk while 20 British shots failed to score a hit. One U-boat was sunk.

POC=+4 Axis

Turn 3

The German fleet sailed to the Baltic and wiped out Marat without loss. Three Italian cruisers and the subs took on two 553s and Eagle in the South Atlantic. The subs disabled Rodney. Eagles air and guns missed. Nelson sunk Zara. Then in the riposte, both Nelson and Eagle were disabled. 5 Axis shots removed 3 British ships! +8 Axis.

Turn 4

The Italians and subs were once again committed, this time to the N. Atlantic vs Convoy 1A and 3 CA. This time the dice caught up with the Axis as two UBoats were sunk, along with an Italian, leaving only one Italian CA still afloat. One Brit CA was sunk. +8 Axis.

Turn 5

The Luftwaffe and U Boats strike, sinking Kent and Formidable. The RAF sinks Fiume in St. Nazaire, while the S. Atlantic squadron amazingly sinks 2 U-Boats. Convoy 1A gets thru. +5 Axis. The game is getting very tense.

Turn 6

Marat is sunk by the Kriegsmarine, but manages to at least knock out Graf Spee's gunnery control system. Sussex is sunk by the U Boat fleet. The next turn will likely be decisive. Convoy 2 gets thru. +2 Axis.

Turn 7

Victorious is sunk by the Luftwaffe, but the Allies luck with convoys continues and 3C gets thru. +1 Allies. The Axis made a mistake with their subs this turn. This will have serious implications for turn 8.

Turn 8

If the subs had been used as suggested, I would have had to spread my ASW more thinly this turn, weakening the blockade areas. As it is, I can load up the blockade to the max knowing he has to win a surface battle to win the game. The air exchange is favorable to the Brits and they blow away the German fleet in the Barents in only two rounds of combat, resulting in a final score of +2 Allies.

Summary

Axis luck was very very good the first three turns enabling them to run up an 8 POC lead. Luck reversed itself as the Luftwaffe was unable to disable or sink a single convoy which allowed the Allies to eventually overtake the Axis. The Germans lost one cruiser in the first seven turns, but still couldn't win the critical battle on the final turn due to lack of sufficient threats.

[ Return to the Tournament Round 2 page.]