A&A North Africa - TO I8.pdf Hello everyone, I propose the position on the board at the beginning of the eighth turn of Italy in the “Operation Torch” scenario to have your opinions on the strategy of the game in practice (often “abstract” considerations are made, before playing, which then “clash” with what actually happens on the board). In this game I was assigned the American (we decided to draw by lot at the beginning of each game the power with which we will play in order to be able to experiment and try the game under various aspects). This is only the third game we play and the first ever with “Operation Torch” (so there may again be involuntary errors in the rules, but games also serve this purpose: to clarify doubts and avoid errors for the future). The English have (as I think is obvious) heavily attacked MM in the first turn and took Tobruck in the second, wiping out all Axis resistance, but they lost Malta (this also seems to me an almost inevitable thing if the Axis decides to concentrate on it) and a good part of the fleet has sunk due to the mines around the Mediterranean Channel (very lucky shots by the Axis) and the action of the Italian air force, managing however to eliminate some German supplies. The Axis has destroyed a good part of the American convoy with its 3 U-boats (it sank the 2 destroyers and part of the cargo) and is preparing for an offensive to the West towards Casablanca. The Italians I imagine will try to create a front around Tripoli, waiting to be able to organize a counteroffensive against the English if the latter “stretches too far” without due preparation. As an American I plan to invest in the very first turn in planes (forbidden in turn 7) that can serve as escorts to convoys against the terrible German U-boats, but also as attack/defense units; I will also take destroyers and some ground troops (in addition to the fixed 10 supply) trying to contain the German initiative in Algiers to try to organize a counteroffensive as soon as there are enough troops. I also have to understand which convoy to use and which is more convenient (considering that in the seventh turn I could not choose being forced to use the one in Casablanca). It is the first time that we play this scenario which, however, gives me the impression of being a bit unbalanced in favor of the Allies (maybe it will have depended on the initial moves, on strategic and tactical errors, I don’t know). However, it seems clear to me that only the Allies can, in this scenario, aim for a total victory (since Tunis is a concrete and achievable objective, if everything goes well), while Cairo seems to me really a utopia for the Axis. But I would like your considerations as experienced players. Eventually I will update you on the continuation of the match (I think we will resume it on Saturday).
Question: Air-Naval Combat
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I need a clarification (I already know that the question will be stupid for most people): in an air-naval battle, does the presence of a destroyer make it possible for the planes to hit the submarines for the entire duration of the combat or until the destroyer participates in the combat? I’ll give a practical example to try to be clearer: 3 German submarines and an Italian one are attacked by 1 English submarine, 1 destroyer, 2 fighters and 1 bomber. Given the presence of the English destroyer AT THE BEGINNING OF THE COMBAT, the Axis submarines cannot submerge, they have no surprise attack and CAN BE targeted by English planes (if I understood the rules correctly). The English score 2 hits in the first round of combat and the Axis submarines 3. My doubt is: will the losses for the English be 3? That is, will the third hit of the German submarine hit an English plane or will it be lost? Continuing with the question: if the English (with 2 or 3 hits suffered and in any case WITHOUT HAVING the destroyer) can continue to attack the German submarines (without, I believe, being hit in turn, as happened in the first edition of A&A) or does the sinking of the destroyer restore the rule according to which submarines and air units cannot hit each other? I hope I was clear.
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@OlivieroRuggieri Buon giorno.
The Submarines can never hit a plane .If the Axis get more than two hits , like in your example , the excess hits would be lost. The Subs can only hit ships and the U.K. has just two.
The combat would end , after R1, and the loss of the U.K. Destroyer .
Spero che tu mi abbia capito.
Dove sei in Italia? Io sono in Inghilterra da 55 anni , ma nato a Firenze
Leo. -
@Witt thanks for the explanation and the answer; the doubt (but it was only to be sure) is that the presence of the destroyer (to allow the planes to hit the subs) was necessary ONLY in the first round of combat and the planes could continue to hit the subs even after the sinking of the destroyer because this mechanism had been triggered at the BEGINNING of combat. However, the situation that was created in the first edition of A&A would have occurred where the planes could hit the subs with impunity without fearing any response from them (a problem that I believe has been largely overcome in subsequent editions of A&A). However, I am from Ragusa, Sicily, I am 53 years old and I am a teacher.
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@OlivieroRuggieri I saw that you were a teacher from an earlier post and sort of my age (56).
Non sapevo dove, pero’.
Good game , vero? I have been playing with my 9 year old (and the odd adult ). -
@Witt Yes, if you read my previous post (but I also posted one today where I report yesterday’s game), you know what I think: I am an International Chess Master and strategy games have always been my passion; I played the very first edition of A&A many years ago (and for many years), then I gave up because I had no one to play with. Now I have bought practically everything that has come out (Europe and Pacific 40 SE, Anniversary, WWI and Nord Africa. My son (20 years old) is also passionate about wargames and so we often play together and with some of his friends). We started with Nord Africa (and I think we will continue to play it for a while because I really like how it is made), even if we will start Europe 40 soon.
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You and I are lucky men , having a son who will play with us . Knowing and loving history , is very important to me.
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@Witt I am a history enthusiast (like all wargamers I think) and I have taught it for many years.
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