Mrs Thatcher's War

[judgedredd]

Like I said, i don't know if I'll do an AAR for this...but in case I do I'm posting this here.


It's Friday 2nd April 1982 and the bloody Argies have decided they want their islands back. In an attempt to stifle unhappiness at home and garner support for the Junta, they have invaded British colonial islands of The Falklands.


Maggie's response is swift. It's now the end of April and the British Task Force is in the Total Exclusion Zone

[bbmike]

I've got that one planned for a video playthrough at some point. 

[bob48]

Where is it on the list in relation to 'The Scheldt Campaign'? 

[bbmike]

Not even planned yet. The guy that was going to teach me keeps rescheduling.  

[bob48]

Tell me who he is and I'll sort the bugger out!

[bbmike]

Sounds like we have our New Year's Resolution!   

[bob48]

 

[judgedredd]

So I haven't done an AAR for this, but I've decided I will play through the next turn (and possibly the following turn when I can land my ground forces) on here to show you how it plays.

I'm at turn 6 at the moment. It's mostly about reducing the Argentinian Air Force and managing diplomacy up to turn 7 when the British get the chance to invade off they want.

It's a fairly fast paced game once you get to understand the rules

[judgedredd]

Turn 6
This is the situation at the beginning of turn 6

The Argentinians are down to 2 Exocets. They've lost both Pucarra units (give assistance during ground combat) and 3 other fighters...including a powerful Super Entendard. They've also lost the survey carrier 25th de Mayo and 2 units of infantry are broken out of Stanley.

The British are faring better. They've had reinforcements of Sea Harriers from Ascension Island though they have lost a Harrier.

Turn 6 will be about reducing the Argentinean air force a bit more prior to landing troops and also keeping the BBC News up high for ground combat assistance

[bbmike]

I see that the Pope is hanging out in the Little Shop of Vegans again. 

[judgedredd]

Weather Phase
Roll for weather. 2 dice. A roll of 7 means its Rain/Snow.

Weather is important for a couple of reasons.

It can limit the number of aircraft that make it back from the force pool. It can also prevent air battles of it's  Squalls or Fog.

[judgedredd]

I see that the Pope is hanging out in the Little Shop of Vegans again. 

Ha... can't get him out of the shop. I haven't come across what part he plays as yet...likely something to do with diplomacy and the News Headlines Phase

[judgedredd]

SAS Raids Phase
As the SAS marker is not on the current turn (it's on turn 9) there are no raids. They can

... Raid an Argentine Airstrip...attack ground support aircraft on East Falklands (which is why the two Pucarra units are destroyed)
... Conduct Operation Mikado... destroy Exocets
... Recce...turn an enemy unit face up
... Combat...help with a fire fight
... Spoof...spoof a Groupon so it can't send aircraft to East Falklands

When they are used,  you to a site and place the marker that many turns ahead which is why is currently sitting on turn 9

[judgedredd]

Grupos Phase
To two dive and place 2 Grupos markers on the relevant sea zones. I rolled a 2 and 6 so I place Grupo markers on sea zones 2 and 6.

Grupos get to send 2 fighters each to Eat Falklands during the Air Phase...so the more they're are,  the more aircraft they can send. That's why it's important for the Royal Navy to attack them...try and keep their numbers down.

Had I not attacked them in previous turns  there might be 10 there now.

Also, you can only have 2 Grupos per sea zone. If you roll and there's already 2 in that zone,  you don't reroll.

[judgedredd]

Task Force Phase
During the Task Force Phase the Royal Navy gets to perform.

They can
... Attack an Argentine ship if it's in a sea zone
...Man the Gun Line off Stanley to support troops but only if the British troops are on Mount Kent
... Apply Ground Forces but I have no ground forces landed yet
... Attack Grupos which i will do.

Getting rid of Grupos from the mainland means less aircraft showing up on East Falkland.

I've decided just to use the escorts to get rid of a couple of Grupos. You can use your carriers,  but you'd have to send 3 Harriers with each carrier and if a carrier is in a sea zone on its own,  it could be sunk by an Exocet.

By doing it this way,  I could get rid of a couple of Grupos and keep all my Sea Harriers for the fight over East Falkland