117

Bruce Monnin
September 30, 2025 at 6:48 pm

Bruce Monnin has defeated Jacob Anderson on a Turn 8 concession. Bruce bid 1.5 POC to be the Axis player.

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Tim
September 13, 2025 at 11:03 am

In 117-4, a subsequent AREA game of War at Sea, Tim’s Axis defeated Vince’s Allies (-2) with a final score of +3 Axis after the bid.

The game started out lopsided in terms of casualties for the Axis with 3-1 casualty rate with 7 British cruisers, 1 battleship, and 1 carrier being sunk to 2 German pocket battleships and 1 German, 1 Italian cruisers, and 2 U-boats being sunk by turn 2.

Turn 3, The Axis won the Barents but lost the Scharnhorst and sank the Ark Royal, but lost a second Italian cruiser, reaching a high-water mark of +7 POC Axis.

Turn 4 saw the tide turn as the Allies landed Convoy 1A in Russia and won the Barents, sinking the last pocket battleship and the Graf Zeppelin.

Turn 5, Convoy 2B landed in Russia.

Turn 6, the British sank the last 2 Italian cruisers in the SOATL when the full 7 U-boat force accompanied them to challenge 3 battleships. The British failed to sink a U-boat on that turn and turn 7.

Turn 7, Convoy 3C landed and with all three convoys safely arriving in Russia put the score at +2 Allied before the bid at the end of turn 7.

Turn 8, the reduced Kriegsmarine of 2 BBs, 1 BC, and 1 CA headed to the North Atlantic to challenge the American fleet and a carrier.

Playing for the win, the Axis sent 1 CA to the Baltic and split the U-boats between the NOATL and SOATL with 4 going north. The SOATL ASW eliminated all of the U-boats there, but 2 U-boats survived to sink the carrier in the North Atlantic. In the subsequent fight, the Axis were able to prevail after 3 rounds winning the North Atlantic and gaining 3 POC to put the score at +1 Axis adjusted to +3 Axis with the bid.

Good game Vince!

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Tom Thornsen
September 3, 2025 at 8:19 am

Andy Choptiany bidding 1.5 POC to play the allies has resigned to Tom Thornsen as the axis as turn 4 draws to a close. This is the first time we have played each other.

It was one of those games where the dice heavily favored the Axis. There was a turn 1 battle in the North Sea, followed by turn 3 and turn 4 battles in the Barents Sea. As turn 4 drew to a close the allies had lost 7 BBs, 2 CAs and 2 carriers. The axis had lost 1 Italian CA to an RAF airstrike. The Axis had 15 points of damage distributed among 4 German ships, but all were still in service. The Axis stood to gain another 2 POC at the end of turn 4 for a current score of Axis +9 at the end of the turn and with one convoy almost certainly sunk there seemed little point in continuing.

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James Kramer Jr.
September 3, 2025 at 7:38 am

Jim Kramer Jr. (Allies – bid 1.0 POC) has defeated Jim Bodenheimer (Axis). The game was played the full 8 turns. The raw score was +5 Allies reduced to +4 by the bid.

T1: Allied deploy protects NA, SA and NS. To the Barents 3 4-4-4 were sent with all 3 successful. The BBs are there to damage the DKM. Axis deploy – MED: Italians split fleet with half at sea and half in port. Barents is patrolled by the 2 3-5-7 BC, the 3 2-2-5 PB and the LBA. The remaining German forces go to the Baltic. Allied LBA disable an Italian CA in the MED. In the Barents Axis LBA miss. In surface combat the allies disable 2 2-2-5 PB. Axis return fire sinks 2 4-4-4 and disables the third. The Axis gains 2 POC on the turn. Game score to +2 for the Axis.

T2: Allied deploy – NA: 2 5-5-3 and a 4-4-3. SA: 2 4-4-3, Glorious and Eagle. NS: Has 2 4-4-3, 3 4-4-4, 3 CA, Formidable and Courageous. Barents: Hood, Ark Royal, 5 CA, 2 4-5-6 and 2 3-3-6. A 3-3-6 failed its speed roll. Axis deploy – MED: The BBs and 2 CA sail. The other 2 CA stay in port. The 4 subs and Lutzow patrol the Baltic. The LBA to the Barents with the remaining 8 German ships going to the NA, speed rolls successful. Combat – Allied LBA in the MED misses. Axis LBA cripples the Hood. NA Allied fire sinks both of the 3-5-7 BCs. The 3 allied BBs are sunk by return fire. The Axis gain 3 more POC. Game score is now +5 Axis.

T3: No Soviets. Allied deployment – NA: A CA, Courageous, Glorious and Convoy 1A. SA: Has 2 4-4-3 and 3 CA. NS: 3 4-4-4, 2 4-4-3, a CA, Ark Royal and Eagle. Barents: 3 CA, 2 CV, by speed 3 4-5-6 (1 fails) and 2 3-3-6 (both succeed). Hood repairs in England. Axis deploy – NA: 5 subs. MED: 5 BB and 2 CA sail. An old BB and 2 CA stay in Italy. Barents: LBA only. The German surface fleet (8 ships) moves to the Baltic. Combat – Allied LBA disables a CA in the MED. Axis LBA misses in the Barents. ASW sinks 1 sub and disables 2 subs. Return fire hits the convoy but for only 3 damage. No change to the game score, game score stays +5 Axis. Convoy 1A moves to the Barents.

T4: Allied deploy – The US has an old BB come out. Again no Soviets are available. NA: The US BB, a CA, Glorious and Courageous. SA: 3 4-4-4 and 2 CA. NS: Anson, 4 4-4-3, 3 CA, Victorious and Eagle. Barents: Formidable and Ark Royal, Convoy 1A (damaged), 3 4-5-6, 2 3-3-6, Hood and a CA. Convoy 2B does not sail. Axis deploy – SA: 6 subs. Baltic: The 9 German surface ships. MED/Italy 6 BB and 2 CA sail and 2 CA stay in port. Barents: LBA only. Combat – Allied LBA sink an Italian 4-3-5 in the MED. SA ASW disables a sub. Subs damage QE (3) in return. Barents: Axis LBA misses all targets. With Convoy 1A making Russia, the allies pick up 3 POC on the turn. Game score drops to +2 Axis.

T5: Again no Soviets are available. An additional US old BB arrives. Allied deploy – NA: The 2 US ships, 3 CV, 2 CA and Convoy 2B. SA: 4 4-4-3 and a CA. NS: 2 4-5-6, 3 4-4-4 (1 damaged), 3 CA, Ark Royal and Eagle. Barents: 2 CV, 2 CA, Hood, 3 4-5-6 and 2 3-3-6. Axis deploys – SA: 7 subs. Baltic: The German fleet (9 ships). MED/Italy Sail 5 BB and 2 CA. Keep 2 CA in port. The Axis LBA goes to the Barents. Combat – SA the ASW causes no damage. Axis return fire also does no damage. Allied LBA misses in the MED. Barents – Axis LBA also miss. No change to the game score, game score stays +2 Axis. Convoy 2B will move to the Barents.

T6: The Washington and 2 CA arrive for the US. Both USSR BBs are available. Allied Deploy – Baltic: Both Soviets. NA: The 5 US ships, Convoy 3C, 2 CV and Eagle. SA: A CA and 4 4-4-3. NS: 2 4-5-6, 3 4-4-4 (1 damaged), 5 CA, and 2 CV. Barents: Ark Royal and Victorious, 2 CA, 3 4-5-6, 2 3-3-6, Hood and Convoy 2B. Axis deploy – MED/Italy: Sail 6 BB and 2 CA. Keep 2 CA in port. NS: The 7 subs are here. Barents: LBA only. Baltic: The 9 German ships are here. Combat – Allied LBA sink a CA in the MED. Axis LBA damage Convoy 2B (2) in the Barents. NS: ASW is decisive with 6 subs sunk and the last one disabled. Baltic: Graf Zeppelin air sinks a Soviet BB. The remaining BB is sunk in surface combat without causing any damage to the DKM. Convoy 2B lands in Russia and the allies chose to land Convoy 3C in England. Allies gain 5 POC for the turn. Game score moves to Allies +3.

T7: The last US ship waits. Allied deploy – NA: The 5 US ships and a CV. SA: The damaged 4-4-4, 4 CA and Eagle. NS: 2 4-5-6, 2 4-4-4, 4 4-4-3 Ark Royal and Glorious. Barents: 4 CA, 3 4-5-6, 2 3-3-6, Hood and 3 CV. Axis deploys – Barents: Has 8 German ships (2 BB, 3 PB, 2 CA and the CV) and the LBA. MED: 7 Italian BB and a CA sail with 2 CA staying in port. Baltic: A 1-2-7 patrols here with the 2 subs. Combat – Allied LBA cause no damage in Italy. Barents: Allied airstrikes disable 2 2-2-5. Axis airstrikes sink a 3-3-6, disables a 4-5-6 and damage another 4-5-6. Surface round 1 – Allies sink the CV, Disable a BB and damage a BB and a PB. Axis fire sinks a 4-5-6, cripples and disables another and damages Hood and a 3-3-6. Surface round 2 – Allies sink a CA, disable another and the remaining BB. Axis fire sinks a CA and disables Hood. Surface round 3 sees the remaining Axis PB sunk with no additional damage to the allies. Allies gain another POC for the turn. Game score moves to Allies +4.

T8: The last US ship waits again. Allied deploy – NA: The 5 US ships and 2 CV. SA: 2 4-4-4 (1 damaged), 3 CA and 2 CV. NS: A 4-5-6, a 4-4-4, 4 4-4-3, a CA, Victorious and Eagle. Barents: Ark Royal, 3 CA, DOY, Anson (makes speed), POW (crippled), Hood and Renown (both damaged). Axis deploys – Barents: Has 5 German ships (2 BB (1 damaged),2 PB and a CA) and the LBA. MED: 7 Italian BB. SA: 3 Italian CA and 3 subs. Baltic: A 1-2-7 patrols here. Combat – Allied LBA cause no damage in MED. SA: ASW remove the 3 subs. Allied airstrikes are ineffective. Surface combat, 2 rounds sees the 3 Italian CAs also removed from the area leaving it in allied control. Barents: Allied airstrikes disable a 2-2-5. Axis airstrikes damage a 4-5-6 and disable Hood. Surface round 1 – Allies disable the undamaged BB and PB. Axis fire sinks Renown and a CA, disable 2 4-5-6. Surface round 2 – Allies disable the remaining BB. Axis fire sinks a CA. Surface round 3 sees the remaining Axis CA sunk to earn allied control. With that Jim conceded the game. Allies would gain another POC for the turn. Game score moves to Allies +5 adjusted to +4 by the bid.

This game was a nail biter throughout for my allies. T1 Barents BBs fail completely but T2 NA gamble pays off. Axis of course moved ahead. T3 and Convoy 1A barely survives the subs. T4 and 1A thru to Russia beginning the allied comeback. T5, protect Convoy 2B. T6 Convoy 2B survives an air strike and most importantly allied ASW holds the line with 6 subs sunk. Here the game flipped, but it was not over. The allies had to survive necessary T7 and T8 Barents battles and a final U-boat/Italian CA SA sortie on T8. Truthfully, change a half dozen die rolls and the game would have been an Axis victory. My complements to Mr. Bodenheimer for a challenging game each turn.

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