Round 77

Updated 10/23/2018

FINAL! Round 77 Matchups (Second player listed has the first bid)

Congratulations to Richard Beyma Still atop the ladder!

Allies won 14 out of 18 games in Round 76!

1. Richard Beyma (Allies-1.5) vs Rob Drozd (Axis) Allied Victory

2. Karl Bodenheimer (Allies-2.0) vs Greg Hultgren (Axis) Allied Victory

3. Dennis Nicholson (Allies-2.0) vs Mircea Pauca (Axis) Axis Victory

4.  Andy Choptiany (Allies-2.0) vs John Lindley (Axis) Allied Victory

5.  Jonathan Lockwood (Allies-2.5) vs Bruce Monnin (Axis) Allied Victory

6.  Andy Gardner (Allies-?) vs Lee Kendter (Axis) Allied Victory

7.  Avi Solomon (Axis) vs Robert Frisby (Allies-1.5) Axis Victory

8. Jim Bodenheimer (Axis) vs Ken Pascoe (Allies-1) Axis Victory

9.  Jeff Lange (Axis) vs John Pack (Allies-1.5) Allied Victory

10. Vince Meconi (Allies-1.5) vs Phil Watkins (Axis) Allied Victory

11.  Mike Brophy (Axis) vs Mike Kaye (Allies-1.0) Allied Victory

12. Tim Tow (Allies-1.5) vs Bob Jameli (Axis) Allied Victory

13. Jim Kramer (Allies-1.5) vs Bob Hamel (Axis) Axis Victory

14.  Mike Ussery (Allies) vs John Sharp (Axis) Allied Victory

15 Dave Elkin (Axis) vs Tom Thornsen (Allies-1.5) Axis Victory

16  Erica Snarsky vs Scott Beale

EXTRA GAMES

17. Jonathan Lockwood (Allies-2.0) vs Robert Frisby (Axis) Allied Victory

18 Jonathan Lockwood (Axis) vs Mircea Pauca (Allies-2.5) Axis Victory

19 Jonathan Lockwood (Allies-2.5) vs Mircea Pauca (Axis) Allied Victory

20 Jonathan Lockwood (Axis) vs Mircea Pauca (Allies-2.5) Axis Victory

21 Jonathan Lockwood (Allies-2.5) vs Mircea Pauca (Axis) Allied Victory

Allied Victory     12          Axis Victory    8    Tie

Players looking for extra games (contact players directly)

Lee Kendter

Jonathan Lockwood

Vince Meconi

Mircea Pauca

Avi Solomon

58 Comments to “Round 77”

    
  1. Lee
    October 31, 2018 at 4:01 am

    I resigned 9/14. I’m surprised Andy didn’t already report.
    Suffered North Sea absurd ASW. Pretty much ended the sub battle.
    Barents was low odds desperation move the next turn to stop convoy, and it failed. Didn’t even finish rolling when I was done to just 2 healthy German ships. I was never going to be able break out due to sub slaughter.
    Some games the dice hate you and nothing you do matters.

    Reply
  2. Richard Beyma
    October 30, 2018 at 10:13 am

    I will play in the next round, and likely run out of my embarrassing good string of luck.

    Reply
  3. Karl Bodenheimer
    October 26, 2018 at 12:10 pm

    Karl Bodenheimer (Allies) defeats Greg Hultgren (Axis). Bid was 2.0 for Allies. Final score 3 for Allies after the bid getting a convoy with 3 hits to limp to Russia. Nice long game fought to the end.

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  4. Jim Bodenheimer
    October 26, 2018 at 6:49 am

    Jim Bodenheimer’s Axis defeated Ken Pascoe’s Allies in a dice enabled one-sided running battle. The trouble for the Allies began in Turn 2 when the Axis was able to inflict heavy damage to the Allied North Atlantic squadron. Yet, it was a near thing as the Axis held the zone with just one cruiser, Blucher, in the end. In Turn 3 the Axis exploited a weakened South Atlantic Allied squadron with Blucher (oiler) U-Boats, and the Italians. The loss of the zone, along with 2 more carriers was devastating for the Allied cause. At the end of T3 the POC was maxed out for the Axis before bid of 1.5 was added in. The Allies gallantly fought on, hoping to exploit any vulnerability in the Axis deployments. In T4 Allies successfully pushed through their first convoy. In T5 they were again successful with their convoy but continued to bleed carriers. In T6, subs sent the last convoy home. In T7 the Allies lost control of the North Sea, allowing the Axis to bring a heavy force to the South Atlantic in T8. What ensued was a very confusing battle that probably should have been given to the Allies due to ship confusion. If we use that default,, the final score was Axis 1 POC before the bid of 1.5, giving Axis the win with POC of 2.5. A gallant battle by Ken.

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  5. Mike Kaye
    October 22, 2018 at 5:03 pm

    Mike Brophy’s Axis conceded on Turn 7 after Convoy 3C broke through to Russia. I bid 1 POC for the Allies; score after 7 turns was (raw) Allies +4 (after bid) Allies +3

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  6. Jonathan Lockwood
    October 12, 2018 at 3:23 pm

    Jonathan Lockwood’s Axis has defeated Mircea Pauca’s Allies (2.5 POC handicap) in a game which finished with the raw POC count at zero, so the margin of victory was the 2.5 POC handicap bid. The Axis accepted the initial Allied blockade, but saw an opportunity to exploit an Allied surface weakness in the North Sea on Turn 3 (even though the Allies had 3 carriers with 6 airstrikes backing it up). The Axis calculation was that, assuming average results from Allied airstrikes, the Axis fleet would suffer one disabled and one hit result before surface combat, which would still leave it with a significant surface superiority in battle strength and give it the opportunity to sink one or more carriers in the pursuit. In the event, Allied airstrikes scored two hits on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, crippling the Scharnhorst with 5 points damage and inflicting 4 points damage on the Gneisenau. In the ensuing surface combat, the Axis lost the Gneisenau and Adm Hipper, while the Allies lost 4 battleships and two aircraft carriers. The Axis surface fleet and U-boats were able to follow up their breakout on Turn 3 with a successful foray into the NATL on Turn 4 against the Washington, Royal Oak, Resolution (-2), the Ark Royal, and Convoy 2B, sinking the entire task force with the exception of the Ark Royal (which escaped before surface combat due to being disabled by the U-boats). The Allies were able to extract a significant price by sinking Graf Spee, Admiral Scheer, and Blucher, but the Axis were able to offset the successful landing of Convoy 1A in Murmansk as a result of their victory in the NATL. The remainder of the game consisted of the Axis repairing and preserving the remainder of its surface fleet in the Baltic while using its maximum strength U-boat fleet (which stayed at maximum strength for the rest of the game) to decontrol areas and sink Allied carriers wherever possible. This was Game 8 of our ongoing “extra game” series, but we will inevitably run into each other in the future for a regular ladder match. Until then, I wish Mircea the best of luck in his future ladder matches. 🙂

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  7. Jonathan Lockwood
    October 9, 2018 at 11:47 am

    Jonathan Lockwood (Allies 2.5 POC) has defeated Mircea Pauca’s Axis by a final margin of .5 POC after the 2.5 POC handicap was applied at the end of Turn 8, the slimmest of victory margins. This Game 7 of our ongoing series of “extra” matches was unusual because, although the Axis LBA sank Convoy 1A and Convoy 2B and the U-boats sank Convoy 3C, the Axis were never able to break the Allied blockade established on Turn 1 and successfully maintained throughout the game. The battle in the Barents on Turn 2, in which the Allies successfully repelled the Axis fleet while sinking 4 of its ships in the process, was decisive in this regard. Marat’s sacrifice in the Baltic in taking down another pocket battleship (Graf Spee) made the Axis position even more problematic. After we finish Game 8 of our series in which we have the sides reversed, we will probably dial back our level of activity in future rounds. 🙂

    Reply
  8. Mircea Pauca
    October 7, 2018 at 2:29 am

    Mircea Pauca (Axis) has defeated Dennis Nicholson (Allies, bid 2.0) by 2 points after-bid (0 raw). We have never played for AREA before.

    T1: Unusual Allied opening with weaker Barents (3BC,6CA,1CV) still not enticing to Germans when both 336 arrived. North Sea weaker against submarines (8ASW) so Germans try to open all ways to the fleet with their 3 U-flotillas. 2 U were sunk but they uncontrol the area. Stukas also critically damage Ark Royal. Score 0.
    T2: Spread out Allies keep only North Sea in deterrent strength. Germans could choose NAtl (only 1BB there) as safer PoC or Barents (5BB of which 1 misses SR,5CA,1CV). I chose Barents to destroy as much of the irreplaceable fast British ships, but losses set back the Allies a lot. KGV, Renown vs Lutzow, Scharnhorst are sunk. Allies retain control. Score 1 Allied.
    T3: Both Russians appear in the Baltic (and are made irrelevant by U-boats) while British try again Barents. 3 battleships fail to arrive due to logistics, so Germans even depleted come again to fight. This time Germans win with minor damage vs 1BB,2CA British sunk. Score 0 again.
    T4: Allies seem to forget the access hole in Barents [a blunder I made in the previous unofficial game], putting strong blockades up front in N.Sea and Barents but leave N.Atlantic weak with only recently arrived Americans, 2BB. New York and Blucher get sunk, Germans show their flags in front of Canada. Stukas miraculously destroy Convoy1A. Score 3 Axis.
    T5: A Russian appears again, this time the Germans send most of the fleet and sink it. The wolfpack disables Convoy 2B in North Atlantic (7U vs 7 ASW), creating port bottlenecks but lose 1 U. Bismarck and Gneisenau repair light damage but are caught by German bombing and damaged much heavier. Score same 3 Axis.
    T6: Wolfpacks strike again North Atlantic (7 U vs 9 ASW), convoy2B is disabled again, prolonging the bottlenecks. Score same 3 Axis.
    T7: German fleet sinks the other Russian in Baltic. Allied blockades are strong again, even the 13 ASW escort of Convoy 2B is deterrent enough, so 6U hunt on easier South Atlantic, still losing 1 U. Score still 3 Axis.
    T8: Allies could end in a draw IF both convoys unload (2B to Russia, 3C to England) and all ASW prevent U mischief. But 6 U get through vs 12 ASW in North Atlantic and disable Convoy 3C with damage.
    Germans also try a desperate battle in Barents for control and stopping the convoy, even starting slightly inferior. They fight to the last. Tirpitz sinks 2BB and returns alone in Germany with 8 damage. Convoy2B still gets to Russia for 3 Allied PoC.
    Score ends 0 raw, or 2 Axis after bid.

    Reply
  9. Mircea Pauca
    September 28, 2018 at 3:18 am

    A few more details on the Lockwood-Pauca extra test matches.
    T1 in both games a 336 was damaged by LBA, and it was repaired in England on T2. So far, a true mirror.
    T2: The mirror broke when in in Game6 only (my Allies) German LBA sunk Renown.
    T3 Game6: So I was prompted to try a 444 to Barents instead, besides the fast 3×456 and 336 Repulse. This were barely adequate if 1 SR failed (my hoped-for near average) but with 2 failed SR it became a German-magnet. The alternative of sending 2×444 were risky-weak in NSEA, or sending another carrier, a 027/2 risky against a wolfpack again in NSEA (13 ASW vs 5 U).
    T3. Barents battle: Germans sunk KGV and 4×117 while losing only 2×1+27 and 1 damage on Scharnhorst. Then in the pursuit Sussex got ignored and Ark Royal miraculously survived with a disable from 4 bonus dice!
    T4: A **gross, straight blunder** by me. I forgot Barents just became open!! No Allies cooperated with support either.
    Possibly by spreading the battleships around (so weaker Barents and NSEA) I could have endured another lost battle somewhere – but with enough Germans sunk to stop their rampage.

    Game5 T4: Yes, I risked too much on the widest (NSEA) breaking of the blockade with 7U on 18 ASW (61% to open, didn’t happen). Could have hit Convoy2B in NATL instead, same 7U vs 6 ASW.
    Also my style avoided risking the wolfpacks earlier (4-6 ASW each time) to get sure to get this attempt in T4.
    Else with up to 2U sunk in T1-4 skirmishes, the 7U attempt could be made in T5 – but by this time a) ASW only gets stronger and b) USA gets the 3/6 chance to add reinforcements in NATL in T6, so even if the opening succeeds, the resulting battle options are not as good for Axis.

    Also we found WaS depends quite much on the three purely random results of LBA vs convoys in Barents (3 attempts at 25% each = 8.33% sunk, 16.67% disabled = try again later).

    I think with these tests we get close(r) to a stochastic Nash equilibrium a.k.a. “solving” the game of WaS, at least for the first 4 turns or until some rare hit takes the history out of the ‘safety channel’. Jonathan’s recent opening innovation, laser-sharp responses and my analytic style lend themselves to “progress” on this way…

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  10. Jonathan Lockwood
    September 27, 2018 at 5:18 pm

    Jonathan Lockwood (Axis) has defeated Mircea Pauca’s Allies (2.5 POC handicap) as of Turn 4, when the Allies conceded after the Axis successfully followed up on its Turn 3 surface victory in the Barents. The Axis built up its surface fleet for the first two turns, then committed everything to the Barents on Turn 3 when the Allies failed 2 of 5 speed rolls. When the Allies left only the Courageous and Convoy 2B in the NATL on Turn 4 in order to protect Convoy 1A in the Barents, the Axis exploited the opening and sent 7 ships to the NATL while repairing Scharnhorst and leaving Graf Spee to garrison the Baltic Sea. The Allies conceded at that point, since the Axis would have a 2.5 POC lead after handicap applied, and able to oppose the last remaining Convoy with a full strength U-boat fleet and a 9 ship surface fleet. This is Game 6 in our ongoing series of extra matches, and we will probably complete two more during this round (we play fast). 🙂

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  11. Jonathan Lockwood
    September 27, 2018 at 5:10 pm

    Jonathan Lockwood (Allies 2.5 POC) has defeated Mircea Pauca’s Axis in an “extra” ladder game (Game 5 to be exact) where the Axis never succeeded in breaking the Allied blockade, even with a maximum effort of 7 U-boats against 18 ASW on Turn 5 in the North Sea. Although the German fleet remained intact by the time they conceded on Turn 6, the Allies had gotten Convoy 1A and 2B through to Murmansk along with successfully controlling the North Sea to eventually build a lead of 10 POC (7.5 POC with handicap applied). This was aided by the fact that the Axis choose to build their U-boat fleet on Turns 1-3, thus giving 1 POC per turn to the Allies. A remarkably quiet game overall, mostly decided by ASW and positioning of the blockade. We have obviously played before, and will no doubt be playing extra games in future rounds of the ladder.

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  12. chopper
    September 20, 2018 at 5:44 am

    Andy Choptiany( Allies) defeated John lindley( Axis).The bid for the Allies was 2 POC. The decisive battle in the Barents Sea on T5 sealed the Axis fate, forcing them to concede after the hard fought game.

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  13. punditas
    September 20, 2018 at 5:14 am

    Robert Frisby surrendered as the Allies at the end of Turn 7 when Convoy 3C was disabled in the NAO, thus being unable to get it to Russia in order to possibly obtain an Allied victory. The bid was 1.5 POC for the Allies and the score at the end of Turn 7 was Axis 1 POC. With 6 U-Boats for T8 and a depleted Allied Fleet, the Allies could only realistically hope for a +1 if the convoy reached England. This was the first game between the two players, Robert Frisby (Allies) and Avi Solomon (Axis).

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  14. David M. Elkin
    September 15, 2018 at 7:41 am

    A long awaited victory for the Axis by this commander. The game was decided at the end of turn 6 when the second convoy was destroyed in surface battles. The allies had some really bad dice rolls and the U Boats were able to control vital areas in the early game. The British contested the Mediterranean sea and the Italians held their own for much of the game. An enjoyable match up that ended when the Allies conceded at the end of the above turn.

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  15. James F. Kramer Jr.
    September 10, 2018 at 2:35 pm

    Bob Hamel (Axis) has defeated Jim Kramer (Allies – bid 1.5) in an 8 turn game. Jim chose to open with the Barents in 2 option.

    T1: Barents in 2 give the Axis a 2 POC advantage to start with. Bob took the opening advantage not making any surface combat moves. The Allied LBA did manage to sink 2 Italian CA’s in the MED. Game score +2 Axis.

    T2: Allied deployment: SA – a BB, 2 CA and Eagle, NA – Nelson, Rodney, 3 R-class BB and Ark Royal, NS – 5 BB, 2 CA, Glorious and Courageous, Barents – Hood, Formidable, 5 CA, KGV, POW, Repulse, Renown (all make speed). No Axis ships or subs attack. Allied LBA cause no damage in the MED. Axis LBA hit POW for 3 damage. The Allies establish the blockade and pick up a POC reducing the game score to +1 Axis.

    T3: Allied deployment: SA – 2 BB, 3 CA and Eagle, NA – 2 CV, a CA and Convoy 1A, NS – 8 BB and 2 CV, Barents – Hood, Ark Royal, 4 CA, KGV, DOY, Repulse, Renown (all make speed), Valiant and Warspite (1 fails to Russia). Both USSR BB are available and sail to the Baltic. POW repairs in England. Axis response sends the German fleet to the Baltic, 5 subs to the NA and the Italians hold the MED. In combat the USSR BB’s are sunk causing no damage to the Germans. The Allied and Axis LBA both miss. The ASW sink 2 subs and disable 2. The remaining sub misses it’s shot at the convoy. POC is 3 to 3 and the game score does not change. Convoy 1A moves to the Barents.

    T4: Allied deployment: SA – same as T3, NA – same as T3 (Convoy 2B now here), NS – 8 BB, 3 CA and Ark Royal, Barents – Convoy 1A, Hood, 2 CA, 2 CV, 4 BB and 2 BC (from Russia), POW and Anson (make speed rolls). No US ships arrive. Axis deploy split Italian fleet in the MED, 5 subs to the NA, a German CA in the Baltic and the remaining German ships to the Barents (Bob said it’s time to fight). Allied ASW sink 3 subs and disable 1. The remaining sub hits the convoy but does not sink it. Allied air in the MED sink a 4-3-5. In the Barents CV fire damage Bismarck (2d) and disable Tirpitz. Axis Barents air cripple Hood, disable KGV and hit DOY (1d). In combat round 1 the Allies sink Graf Spee, damage and disable Bismark (8d total) and Adm. Scheer (2d), disable Graf Zeppelin, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen and damage Scharnhorst (1d). Axis return fire sinks DOY and Repulse, cripple POW and damage Warspite (3d). The remaining 3 German ships withdraw together (Scharnhorst (1d), Blucher and Lutzow) and are pursued by Anson, Renown and 2 CA. In pursuit combat the UK disable Blucher but see Anson disabled and Renown and a CA sunk. With combat done POC for area control is again 3 to 3. The allies decide to land both convoys to gain 4 POC moving the game score to +3 Allies.

    T5: US rolls see Texas and Tuscaloosa come in. Allied deployment: SA – 2 BB, a CA, Formidable and Eagle, NA – 2 US ships and 2 CV, NS – 7 BB, a CA and 2 CV, Barents – Ark Royal, 5 CA, KGV, Anson, Valiant, Warspite (3d), Howe (passes speed). QE also attempted to move here but failed speed to Russia. Hood and POW each repair a point of damage in Russia. Axis : The Italians continue to patrol the MED (split fleet), send the crippled Adm. Scheer and 4 subs to the Baltic and the remaining German ships (Tirpitz, Bismarck (8d), Gneisenau, Scharnhorst (1d), Lutzow, 3 CA and the CV) again go to the Barents. Allied LBA sink another 4-3-5 in the MED. In the Barents the CV disables Tirpitz and damages Gneisenay (2d). Axis air in return disables Howe. Allied surface combat round 1 sinks Scharnhorst, disables Lutzow, cripples Gneisenau and hits and disables Graf Zeppelin (1d). Axis return fire sink Valiant, damage and disable KGV (3d) and disable Warspite and a CA. Both sides stay for round 2 (Allies – Anson and 4 CA / Axis – Bismarck (8d), Gneisenau (5d) and 3 CA). The allied fire is at the 3 German CA hoping to eliminate some but only disable 1 and damage 1 (1d). Axis return fire sink a CA, disable a CA, damage a CA (1d) and damage Anson (4d). Both go for round 3 (Allies – Anson and 2 CA / Axis – Same less a CA). Allied fire again concentrates on the CA’s sinking both. Axis return fire sink Anson and disable the undamaged CA. The last UK CA and CV retreats. POC for the turn is 5 to 3 Axis picking up 2. Game score is now +1 Allies.

    T6: US rolls, Washington and Wichita join in. Allied deployment: SA – a BB, 2 CA, Glorious and Eagle, NA – 4 US ships, 2 R-class BB and Courageous, NS – 6 BB and 3 CV, Barents – Ark Royal, Howe, QE, 3 CA and the damaged Hood (3d), POW (4d), KGV (3d), Warspite (3d) and CA. Convoy 3C did not sail. The Axis sail Bismarck (8d), Tirpitz, Lutzow and Prinz Eugen to the Baltic and 7 subs to the NS. The Gneisenau, Adm. Scheer and Graf Zeppelin repair in Germany. Italian fleet as before. Allied LBA strike at Germany but all miss. The 15 ASW sink 2 subs and disable 1. The Axis subs and LBA now strike major blows with a CV sunk in the NS and Ark Royal and Hood sunk by LBA in the Barents. POC is again 3 to 3 with no game score change. The NS is now open for the revitalized German fleet to cruise through.

    T7: The last 2 US ships arrive. Allied deployment: SA – Rodney, 3 R-class BB, 2 CA, Glorious and Eagle, NA – 6 US ships, Courageous and Convoy 3C, NS – 5 BB, 2 CA and a CV, Barents – Howe, QE, 3 damaged BB, a CA, a damaged CA and Illustrious. Axis patrol the Baltic with a CA, 6 subs to the NS, Italians sail but leave a CA in port, The 6 remaining German ships (Bismarck (8d), Tirpitz, Gneisenau, Adm. Scheer, Lutzow, Graf Zeppelin) go to the Barents. Allied LBA sink another Italian CA in the MED, Allied ASW sink 2 subs and disable 1, the Allied CV in the Barents disabled Tirpitz. The subs miss the CV in the NS. Axis Barents air disable QE and the damaged Warspite and damage Howe (1d). In surface combat the Allies sink Adm. Scheer, disable Lutzow and Graf Zeppelin and damage Gneisenau (1d). The Axis return fire sink KGV, Howe and a CA and disable POW, To save the CV the allies retreat with no pursuit possible. POC for the turn is 5 to 2 Axis changing the game score to +2 Axis. Convoy 3C must move to the Barents.

    T8: Allied deployment: SA – Same as T7 less the CV Glorious, NA – 6 US and Courageous, NS – 5 BB, a CA and Glorious, Barents – Convoy 3C, 2 CV, QE, 2 CA and the damaged POW (4d) and Warspite (3d). Axis, the Italians hold the MED, 5 subs to the NS and the remaining 6 German ships (Bismarck (8d), Tirpitz, Gneisenau (1d), Lutzow, Prinz Eugen and Graf Zeppelin) go to the Barents Bob believed this full deployment was necessary due to the 2 UK CV here. The Baltic is not patrolled. Allied LBA do attack the MED sinking another 4-3-5. ASW sink 3 subs and disable 1, NS POC denied. Everything comes down to the Barents, Allied CV’s do well disabling Tirpitz and Lutzow bolstering allied hopes. Those hopes were dashed when Axis scored the one hit needed sinking the convoy. An allied resignation was in order but Bob and I agreed to fight the battle out for a final score. Each side lost another BB in the fight with allied disables of the remaining German ships winning the area for the UK. POC for the turn would be 3 to 2 allies with the raw game score +1 Axis adjusted to +2.5 Axis for the bid.

    All in all a very tightly contested game where my Allied force could not make a killing blow on the German fleet even though several battles were joined. Also my ASW was good overall but came up short by 1 sub three times, when a clean sweep would have made my life easier. Luck was with me to sink 2 Italian CA on T1 and disable Tirpitz 3 times before she could fire but not for 3 attacks on the Graf Zeppelin which was disabled each time. Also Bob’s T6 subs and air dealt a devastating blow with the sinking of 3 very important ships. Frustrating but enjoyable.

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  16. Tim T
    September 9, 2018 at 9:29 am

    In Game 77-12, Bob J (Axis -1.5) vs. Tim T (Allied) resulted in an Allied victory by concession on turn 5.

    Facing a Barents on 1 defense, the Axis sortied to the North Sea against 4 BBs, 1 CA, and 2 CVs. Allied Air strikes were on target and the Axis lost 3 ships to none sunk for the Allies. The lop-sided exchange rate continued and the Axis nadir was reached on turn 5 when the last of their heavy units went down in a Barents battle. The Axis conceded with the score going to +10 Allied, before the bid.

    Reply
  17. Jonathan Lockwood
    September 8, 2018 at 3:19 pm

    Jonathan Lockwood (Allies 2.0 POC) has defeated Robert Frisby’s Axis in an “extra” match which was essentially a rematch of our previous extra match during Round 76. Robert’s Axis came out aggressively on Turn 1 in the SATL with the Germans and Italians, leaving Blucher in the Baltic, and failing one speed roll with a pocket battleship which based in the neutral port. He also sent 3 U-boats to the SATL which succeeded in decontrolling the area with the loss of 1 U-boat. This was fortunate for the Axis, since they failed to gain control of the SATL and had all of their ships basing in the neutral port with the loss of several ships on Turn 1 to the Allied loss of the Eagle. After a risky combat in the NATL on Turn 2, the Axis were driven back into Germany, where they were blockaded until the end of Turn 6. At this point the Axis conceded, since the Allies were leading by 9 POC (7 POC with handicap applied), the Allies having gotten their first two convoys through to Murmansk and stopping an Axis attempt to neutralize the North Sea with 7 U-boats by sinking 4 U-boats and disabling the remaining three with 20 ASW. This was a fairly conventional game that demonstrated the inherently risky nature of coming out on Turn 1 in the SATL. We have played before.

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  18. John Sharp
    September 6, 2018 at 6:01 pm

    Out round 78.

    Reply
  19. John Sharp
    September 6, 2018 at 6:00 pm

    Michael Ussery’s Allies stomped John Sharp’s Axis in six turns of great ASW work and a T6 battle in the North Sea, to the Kriegsmarine’s regret. Nicely done, Michael!

    Reply
  20. Vince Meconi
    September 1, 2018 at 7:53 am

    I don’t know whatever happened to “average dice.” It seems like every game I play any more one side or the other has everything their way. In this case, my Allies, bidding 1.5, had it all vs. Phil Watkins’ Axis. Turn 1, Allied LBA sank 2 Italian cruisers in port. Turn 2, Axis sailed 9 ships vs. Allied 5 BBs & 6 CAs in the Barents. The Ark Royal disabled 2×357 while the Axis LBA whiffed. Then, on the first round, Allied gunnery sank 5 of the remaining 7 Axis ships, disabled one, and put 6 damage on the Bismarck. Facing the inevitable, the Axis resigned, having not rolled a single 5 OR a 6.

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  21. John R Pack
    August 31, 2018 at 6:51 am

    I took the Allies with a 1.5 bid. The first turn saw a U-Boat lost and catastrophe hit the Axis fleet in the South Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. The Italians lost two BB for one while the Germans lost one ship to speed rolls, two to the neutral port with airstrikes, and Gneisenau, Fiume, and the area lost in exchange for Ark Royal. On Turn Two, the U-Boats lost two more and Allied airstrikes sank an Italian BB, disabled another (leaving the remaining two to face five BB), sank Admiral Hipper, and crippled Scharnhorst with a fleet of 5 BB waiting to take on the remaining 5 Axis cruiser-equivalents. That drew Jeff’s surrender.

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  22. Jonathan Lockwood
    August 30, 2018 at 8:24 am

    Jonathan Lockwood (Allies 2.5 POC) has defeated Bruce Monnin’s Axis in a real barnburner of a match that was in doubt until the end of Turn 7 when the Axis conceded. The Axis came out in force on Turn 1 in the SATL, taking the area with no losses while sinking two battleships and the Eagle. Axis U-boats decontrolled the NATL with the loss of 1 U-boat. The Axis then successfully oiled 4 ships. In response, the Allies left the Barents vacant on Turn 2 while concentrating their forces to hold the SATL, North Sea, and NATL. The Axis decided to go for a knockout blow on Turn 2 by concentrating all of their available forces in the SATL while using the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen to occupy the Baltic and vacated Barents. This proved to be a fatal miscalculation, as the Allies successfully controlled the SATL on Turn 2 and bottled up the Germans and Italians in the neutral port. At this point the Axis had a lead of 7.5 POC with handicap applied. Turns 3-7 then became a series of battles in the SATL which saw the Axis forces defeated each turn and eventually worn down to nothing by the end of Turn 7. In the meantime, the Allies conducted a successful blockade of the remaining German forces in the Baltic while safeguarding the passage of the convoys to Murmansk. Allied ASW played a decisive role in this effort, keeping the Axis U-boat fleet from ever exceeding 5 U-boats in total strength, and eventually destroying the entire U-boat fleet on Turn 7 when it challenged 15 Allied ASW guarding Convoy 3C in the Barents. Axis LBA kept the Axis in the game by twice disabling Convoy 1A back to the US. The Allies finished with a cumulative lead of 5 POC (2.5 POC with handicap applied). A most exciting and challenging match that in my opinion turned on the decisions made in response to the initial Axis victory in the SATL at the end of Turn 1.

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  23. Ken Pascoe
    August 23, 2018 at 5:11 pm

    I plan to play this round

    Reply
  24. Mike Kaye
    August 21, 2018 at 8:18 pm

    I’ll play this round; thanks for running the ladder

    Reply
  25. Gregory M. Hultgren
    August 21, 2018 at 12:49 pm

    I am in round 77

    Reply
  26. Richard Beyma
    August 20, 2018 at 7:46 pm

    Count me in for round 77

    Reply
  27. John R Pack
    August 20, 2018 at 1:15 pm

    Count me in!

    Reply
  28. Michael Ussery
    August 20, 2018 at 8:15 am

    I am in for round 77.

    Reply
  29. Andy Gardner
    August 19, 2018 at 12:28 pm

    Hi Greg! Thanks for running the ladder! Please sign me up for round 77.

    Reply
  30. Scott Beall
    August 19, 2018 at 11:15 am

    Returning to Board for Rd 77 after prolonged abcense

    Reply
  32. Mircea Pauca
    August 18, 2018 at 10:28 pm

    I will play in Round 77. Thank you for keeping keeping the Ladder well organized !

    Reply
  33. David M. Elkin
    August 18, 2018 at 8:31 pm

    Set sail boys, we are up

    Reply
  34. Philip Watkins
    August 18, 2018 at 6:57 pm

    Count me in

    Reply
  37. Pete Shelling
    August 18, 2018 at 4:27 pm

    I will skip this round, as I need to prepare my new ASL scenarios for Oktoberfest.

    Reply
  38. jlindley61
    August 18, 2018 at 3:08 pm

    In for round 77

    Reply
  39. Mike Brophy
    August 18, 2018 at 2:42 pm

    Count me in.

    Reply
  40. Rob Drozd
    August 18, 2018 at 2:22 pm

    Playing in Round 77

    Reply
  43. Rick Virost
    August 9, 2018 at 12:50 pm

    Due to other commitments Rick Virost will NOT be able to play in Round 77 (for September and October 2018).

    Reply
  44. chopper
    August 2, 2018 at 8:48 am

    In for Rd 77

    Reply
  45. Tim
    August 1, 2018 at 7:42 am

    I will play. Tim T

    Reply
  46. Tom Thornsen
    July 31, 2018 at 1:09 pm

    I thought I knew how to play this game…but so far my perfect record keeps me at the bottom of the ladder. So…sign me up for the next round! The tide will turn…at some point.

    Reply
  47. Robert Frisby
    July 30, 2018 at 11:01 am

    Please count me in for round 77.

    Reply
  48. James F. Kramer Jr.
    July 30, 2018 at 9:12 am

    Put me in round 77.

    Reply
  49. brucemonnin
    July 12, 2018 at 4:44 am

    I’m in again for next round Round 77

    Reply
  50. Bob Hamel
    July 12, 2018 at 2:43 am

    I’m in again for next round Round 77

    Reply
  51. John Sharp
    July 8, 2018 at 11:16 am

    I’m in for the next round.

    Reply
  52. Dennis Nicholson
    July 5, 2018 at 4:13 am

    I’m in for rd 77.

    Reply
  53. Jeff Lange
    July 3, 2018 at 6:13 pm

    Count me in for Round 77

    Reply
  54. Jim Bodenheimer
    July 2, 2018 at 8:40 pm

    PLease Please Please change my email to bodiegame@gmail.com, I have not been in the Army for 15 years, I do not get that email………

    Reply
  55. Jim Bodenheimer
    July 2, 2018 at 8:23 pm

    I will play.

    Reply
  56. Karl Bodenheimer
    July 2, 2018 at 7:01 am

    I will play.

    Reply
  57. Vince Meconi
    June 26, 2018 at 5:40 pm

    Jonathan, I bet you and I will be playing in Round 88 and Round 99, too!

    Reply
  58. Jonathan Lockwood
    June 25, 2018 at 7:20 am

    Leaping in advance into Round 77 to show my confidence that I will still be around to play in it. 🙂

    Reply
    

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