Line of Communications 02

Line of Communications
Line of Communications September 2007
Number 2
September 2007
Brazil Goes To War
The Italian Fleet
RAF Airfield
Construction Wings

Contents
Joe Carioca And The War................................................................................................... 3
The Italian Fleet................................................................................................................... 4
Brazil Goes To War............................................................................................................. 7
What Will Grand Europa Look Like?............................................................................... 10
Missing Units of the Royal Air Force —The Airfield Construction Wings...................... 12
Operation Compass........................................................................................................... 16
Origins 2003 Playtest........................................................................................................ 17
Letters................................................................................................................................ 25
Got anything to say?

Then write to LOC at [email protected].
Editor: Luiz Cláudio Duarte

Published quarterly at Brasília, Brazil
http://www.luiz.claudio.nom.br/loc/
LOC is distributed free of charge. We will publish small ads for free, as
long as they’re Europa-related.
The Europa series and trademark are a creation of Rich Banner and
Frank Chadwick. The Europa trademark is used by permission of Paul
Richard Banner,
Cover: Roosevelt and Vargas at Natal (Raymond P. R. Nelson, 1943)

Agência Brasil

Editorial Lines
Joe Carioca And The War
Luiz Cláudio Duarte
I n August 1942 Brazil declared war on Germany and Italy. Brazil would go on to become
the only Latin American nation to send troops to fight in the ETO (Mexico sent a fighter
squadron to the Philippines).
Yet, in many ways Brazil has been a “forgotten ally”, as an article by Frank D. McCann
aptly puts it. In Europa, the Brazilian Expeditionary Force makes an appearance in Second
Front in the MTO, but as a lowly second-line infantry division it easily gets lost in the
shuffle.
The main Brazilian contribution to the Allied war effort, however, wasn’t in the ground
fighting. Since 1942, the airbases in Northeastern Brazil were serving as important stepping-
stones in the air road to Africa and Asia; and Brazilian naval bases were being used as early
as 1941 to service what would become the American 4th Fleet. Brazilian ships and planes
played their part in the Battle of the Atlantic, and Brazil suffered more casualties in this battle
than in the Italian field of battle. In this issue, we take a look at the road that took Brazil to
war.
Further, you’ll find an article on the Italian navy in Second Front by Joey Sabin, and one
on the missing RAF Airfield Construction Wings by Alan Philson. Also, we take a look at
what a Grand Europa map will look like, thanks to Magnus Berglund and Ralph Sunley.
Speaking of photos, we have James Broshot’s photos of the Origins 2003 playtest game
combining March to Victory, Bloody Eagles and Balkan Web.
There were no contestants for our Anzio Beachhead contest. A pity, but we have a new
contest in this issue. Please send in your entries and your suggestions for new contests.
Rounding up the issue, we have our first Letters section. My e-mail account was acting
up during some weeks, so some people weren’t receiving my messages. If you send me a
message and you don’t hear from me in a couple of days, please resend it.
LOC is now a quarterly publication. Issue no. 1 was downloaded more than 1,000 times.
Thanks to all who contributed and to all who read it. Remember, we need your help to
continue — LOC is meant to be the voice of the Europa community, not one man’s only. g

Sea Lines of Communication

The Italian Fleet
Joey Sabin
L ike seasoned marksmen, veteran players of Second Front are often looking to see what
they can do to “tighten their shot group,” by adding realistic improvements without
compromising the game and its aspects. Once a player has mastered the concepts and rules of
this game, it’s time to step up from “Novice,” and move into an advanced status as perhaps
Dictator or SHAEF Commander, as the individual case may be desired. An advance need
not mean compromising the game in any way, in fact an advance can often make an abstract
or free floating concept very realistic. One such concept involves the Italian Navy in Second
Front.
One of the significant “what ifs” in the MTO is the use of the Italian fleet. At this point in
the war, the Italian fleet was huddling in harbor, trying to stay hidden from Allied air strikes.
The Italian Naval command had all but given up hope of any offensive actions. Using air
power to attack naval vessels was a fairly new concept, which was proving to be both a cost-
effective and a swift way to eliminate naval vessels throughout the globe. In spite of this,
the Italian surface fleet did make two attempts to aid the Axis armies in Sicily in 1943. The
light cruisers Eugenio di Savoia and Montecuccoli departed Napoli on August 4, hoping to
surprise Allied shipping off the coast of Palermo. The Allies spotted the cruisers near the
Lipari Islands, and, with surprise lost, the Italians ran home to La Spezia. On August 7, the
Italians tried again, this time with the cruisers Garibaldi and Aosta. USN Task Force 88
sailed to intercept and was itself detected by the Luftwaffe in turn. Now aware they had been
discovered, the Italian ships again returned to port.
In Second Front, the Axis player knows that, upon the Italian surrender, there is a poor chance
of the Italian Fleet converting into Kriegsmarine Naval units. As a result, this can generate a
“use it” or “lose it” attitude toward the Italian Navy. This attitude will often result in an Italian
Naval sortie whose sole purpose is the death and destruction of any Allied naval units, whatever
the cost in Axis naval
units may be. Given
the actual historical
situation at that time,
a “blaze of Glory”
strategy might have
been remotely possible,
but it was highly
unlikely. Navies of that
era tended to be more
Eugenio di Savoia civil than their air and
(www.regiamarina.net) ground counterparts.

Montecuccoli
(www.regiamarina.net)
I have always taken issue regarding this use of the Italian Navy in the MTO. I have been
torn between the historical reality of the time and the desire to allow the Axis player free run
with all available naval assets. I believe I have come up with a solution that keeps in harmony
with historical accuracy and still makes the game very playable at the same time. It all started
during a game of Second Front, around the Sep I 43 game turn, just prior to an inevitable
Italian Surrender, as I was about to adopt a “use it or lose it” attitude as the Axis player. I
took the usual action with the Italian Task Forces RM-1 and RM-2, paid my Resource Points
and put to sea. The Italian naval units were grouped into a task force called TF-A throughout
most of this action, only splitting up once all enemy naval units had been eliminated or had
departed the map and were unreachable. TF-A departed Northern Italy and proceeded due
south toward a USN TF on coastal duties in 26:3728. Upon reaching the Danger Zone around
the 2000 hex row, a detection die roll was rolled failing to detect TF-A. A few hexes later an
attempt was made to detect TF-A using Allied naval patrol air units from the North Africa
holding box and it too failed to detect TF-A. Once TF-A moved within fifteen hexes of the
Allied Naval Unit, a reaction die was cast and it too failed to detect TF-A. TF-A moved to
hex 26:3727 and proceeded to remove Allied Naval Points from the game. At one point the
Allied player even successfully broke off contact but, due to his unfortunate location, was
still adjacent to TF-A, and was summarily annihilated.
As Second Front players interested in historical accuracy, we can have our cake and eat it
too. These simple modifications to the rules (I know, I know! Nothing in this game system is
simple…) can make the game more realistic and still give players the freedom of choice they
so crave. First, the Italian Task Forces RM-1 and RM-2 can do anything they desire within the
scope of the rules as written; however, if RM-1 or RM-2 are detected by any means (ie, Naval
Patrol, Danger Zone, Enemy Naval Reaction, etc.) they must stop in the detected hex, suffer
any results due to the detection and then immediately move (using normal and/or reaction
movement) to the nearest friendly naval base (not just any port) and put into port there. In
the case of more than one naval base equidistant from the Italian unit, the owning player may
choose one as desired. If however, RM-1 and RM-2 go undetected prior to engaging a target

of their choosing, they

may do as they please
within the scope and
wording of the rules as
written (i. e., attack).
Note: once engaged
with their target of
choice, RM-1 and RM-
2 no longer need worry
about detection and
retreat as stated above,
Garibaldi
and revert strictly to (www.regiamarina.net)
rules as written until
the intended target is either destroyed or the attack has been broken off (by either player).
Once the Italian units RM-1 and RM-2 have destroyed the intended targets or the attack
has been broken off (by either player), they revert back to their original status (locating a
new target) and once detected, must return to the nearest naval base. Note that this may go
on indefinitely as the Axis player sees fit, within the RAW governing naval movement and
detection. Note that, under these rules, RM-1 and RM-2 cannot move into enemy-owned
coastal hexes. Moving into or through an enemy coastal hex will reveal the Italian units, and,
as a result, they must return to the nearest Axis-owned naval base. Note also that the Italian
naval units RM-1 and RM-2 can always defend themselves within the scope of the rules as
written.
Like many changes, there are benefits and drawbacks to each. Any changes or modifications
to any game should list each benefit as well as each drawback if they want to be taken
seriously, so that the readers can make complete educated decisions regarding its use or
implementation. First, all related rules must be examined, no mater how insignificant they
may seem, so as to ensure no conflict in the rules arise with its use. Second, there needs to
be playtesting to evaluate its impact. Third, it must challenge the veteran players among us
and create a lasting impression. Lastly, it must have significant historical relevance as its
basis and aid the game and players to that end. It is known in our small community that some
players feel any changes to the play of the game are “dummy rules.” I submit that there are so
called dummy rules and indeed even idiot rules, but that the preceding is neither. As I see it,
a dummy rule removes a player’s options in order to create a historical result. Here we only
attempt to place a historical modification to the rules as a game upgrade in order to challenge
veteran players and add historical relevance. In the end each player must decide, and an
open mind is helpful. The first challenge here is to find all the relevant rules, see if there is a
conflict and let all us readers know. The next challenge here is to playtest this new option and
see if it works within play of the game and report your findings. Once all this is done, a more
serious evaluation can be given and it may be even adopted as an optional rule someday. g

Lines of History
Brazil Goes To War
I n 1930, the Brazilian government was toppled by a revolution and Getúlio Vargas stepped
in as President of the Provisional Government. After being confirmed in office by a
Constitutional Assembly in 1934, Vargas defeated a Communist coup in 1935 and, using
forged Communist documents, staged a coup himself in 1937 and established a dictatorship
— the Estado Novo (New State). The Estado Novo was partly based on the Italian Fascist
model, but it was more akin to the Portuguese Salazarian corporative state, which even had
the same byname. Unlike Fascist states, there was not a government party; Vargas outlawed
all political parties soon after his coup.
Vargas was able to rally strong support — both domestic and foreign — to his government.
The United States was at first worried about the new regime, fearing that Fascism had gained
a toehold on the continent; but these worries were soon allayed, first when Vargas defeated a
Fascist coup and, second, when Vargas designated Oswaldo Aranha as Foreign Minister.
Aranha had been Foreign Minister to Vargas during the Provisional Government and had
recenlty been Ambassador to Washington. He was well-known and well-liked in the United
States, and he was a firm believer in Pan-Americanism; furthermore, he had worked for years
in strengthening the ties between Brazil and the United States.
Meanwhile, Germany had been steadily growing as a commercial partner to Brazil. Both
countries being starved of hard currency, Brazil accepted the German compensation marks
commercial scheme and steadily increased its commerce with the Nazi state.
Other ties followed. Brazilian Political Police established an interchange of information
and techniques with the Gestapo. The Army, after years of French influence, was eager to
embrace the new technology of the German Army. In 1938, Brazil bought weapons and
ammunition from Krupp, including the new 88mm anti-air gun. Vargas and the pro-Germans
in his government skillfully used German influence to counterbalance American influence.
At stake was an ambitious project for the industrialization of Brazil, and Vargas wanted
above all to create a modern steel mill to jump-start the industry. American government and
industry was reticent, which was seen in Brazil as a sign that the United States did not want a
local industry in Brazil. Germany, on the other hand, promised to help install the steel mill.
Even so, relations with Germany sunk almost to the breaking point in late 1938. The German
Embassy and the Ausland Organization of the Nazi Party had been steadily establishing a
network of Nazi-controlled organizations among the large German community in Brazil.
When the government cracked down on these organizations, bent on assimilating the German
immigrants, the German Ambassador protested and was declared persona non grata. Both
countries recalled their respective Ambassadors, and new ones were not exchanged until
1939.

On January 27, 1943, Presidents Vargas and Roosevelt inspected the military installations in Natal
(Fundação Getúlio Vargasl).
When war broke out in Europe, Brazil aligned itself to the United States in the collective
neutrality of the American continent. The commercial ties with Germany were severely affected
by the British blockade, and Britain and the United States became the main commercial
partners of Brazil.
The great German victories in 1940 strengthened the pro-German faction in Vargas’s
government, and the President himself gave an oration to senior military officers that was
interpreted as laudatory of the Axis, and contrasted to President Roosevelt’s Charlottesville
address, given the day before. But Aranha managed to keep Brazil aligned to the United
States, and even the Army was slowly accepting the prospective alliance.
Already in 1939, the then Chief of Staff designate of the United States Army, General
Marshall, had visited Brazil; months later, Brazilian Army Chief of Staff General Góis
Monteiro visited the United States. General Góis Monteiro promised his counterpart that, in
case of war, Brazil would allow the use of its air and naval bases by American forces.
This was good news for the planners in Washington, for both the Army and the Navy
considered that the Panama Canal was the main focus of the defense of the continental United

States. An enemy force based in Natal (at the Northeast bulge of Brazil) could threaten the
Canal, and there were already plans for defending Natal in the Army files.
However, Brazil was adamant in one point: Natal should be defended by Brazilian troops,
not American troops, and certainly not Latin American troops. This meant that the Brazilian
Army wanted modern equipment and modern training in order to conduct this defense.
Unfortunately, the United States Army was itself undergoing a major expansion, and there
was no surplus equipment to be delivered to Brazil, even should Congress allow it. A Military
Mission was sent to Brazil, but only paltry funds were offered to Brazil, who declined the
offer, deemed insufficient for national needs.
Meanwhile, naval cooperation was progressing. In May 1941, Task Force 3, under Rear
Admiral John Ingram, began using Brazilian naval bases, especially at Recife. Later, during
the war, Admiral Ingram would be put in command of all Brazilian naval forces in the South
Atlantic.
In December 1941, after Pearl Harbor, the use of Brazilian airbases by American forces
was authorized by Vargas. In January 1942, Brazil hosted a Pan-American Conference in Rio
de Janeiro and broke relations with the Axis countries.
American ASW forces were already based in Brazilian installations. Brazilian forces
started ASW missions in May 1942. This prompted the German Navy to ask the OKW for
permission to attack Brazilian shipping and ports; some Brazilian ships had already been
sunk in international waters. According to Admiral Raeder’s deposition at Nuremberg, Hitler
ordered in June a “serious attack” against Brazilian shipping. Indeed, in August, several
Brazilian cargo ships and liners were sunk by German and Italian submarines, with severe
loss of lives. When Brazilian protests went unheeded, Vargas declared war on Germany and
Italy.
Brazil went to war unprepared. Even so, its contribution to the final victory was not minor.
Natal would soon become the greatest American airbase outside the United States, and
was a vital step in the air route to Africa and the China-Burma-India theater. The Brazilian
Expeditionary Division was sent to the Italian front, where it engaged in heavy fighting.
Brazilian ships and aircraft conducted ASW operation in the South Atlantic. Brazilian
rubber, cotton and other commodities were a vital cog in the Allied industry. All in all, a fair
participation for a minor country. g

Grand Europa
What Will Grand Europa Look Like?
Magnus Berglund and Ralph Sunley
[Editor’s note: Magnus Berglund and Ralph Sunley (next page) have put together the
Europa maps (minus the ones from Wavell’s War), in order to visualize what Grand
Europa will look like. Magnus even asked his nine-year old daughter Hanna to lie down
over the Balkans so as to serve as a living scale.
Of course, it would be physically impossible to move the counters on a map this size.
Word from those who have engaged in GE experiments recommends setting up the maps
in three tables — one for the Eastern Front, one for the Western Front, and one for the
Mediterranean.
But it surely looks impressive when assembled like that.]
10
g
11
Units
Missing Units of the Royal Air Force —

The Airfield Construction Wings
Alan Philson
T he origin of the Airfield Construction Service of the RAF goes back to 1939, when it
was decided to set up flying training schools in France. After agreement with the French
Government, an area of the Loire valley was allocated to the task, and the RAF approached
the Army to provide the troops and equipment to construct the new airfields. To their horror
the army refused, citing the fact they had already agreed to provide over 100 airfields and
satellite-landing grounds for the RAF in the north and no more resources were available.
This resulted in the RAF setting up its own unit, No 1 Air Ministry Works Unit, controlling
No 1 Works Area (France), to supervise the construction of these new airfields by whatever
French and Belgian civil companies could be found to do the work. Three of the airfields in
the Vendôme region were ready by June 1940, when the unit was evacuated. In July 1940 it
changed its title to No 1 Works Area (Field) and took on the same tasks at home.
The next phase of the organisation’s existence developed during the summer of 1940.
With the threat of heavy bombing of its airfields, the RAF requested the army to provide
engineers to repair bomb damage and keep the airfields operational. Again the army refused,
citing the need for constructing beach defences. However, since they had hordes of unskilled
labour unemployed in the Pioneer Corps, they agreed to provide these for filling in bomb
craters,;repairs to damaged airfield services would have to be found from within the RAF’s
own or civil resources.
This proved acceptable until towards the end of the year, when the Pioneers were withdrawn;
to fill the gap, the RAF formed its first real construction units, Nos. 1& 2 Works Squadrons,
later renumbered as 5001 and 5002 Squadrons. Each Squadron consisted of a HQ and 10
Flights of 80 men, although very few of them were skilled in any trade, and only hand tools
were available — and few of those.
Further squadrons soon followed during 1941 and, by the end of the year, 6 had been
formed. In the same period the organisation gradually developed from a crater filling basis to
an engineering role, and future plans were laid to expand the organisation to be fully capable
of constructing any type of airfield and providing the services that go with it. In July 1942
it was officially titled the RAF Works Service and finally as the RAF Airfield Construction
Service in May 1943. By this time the organisation had 19 Squadrons and various Flights
equipped with mechanical plant and specialist quarrying and construction units, employed in
expanding and improving airfields all over the country.
The expansion brought with it the need to reorganise, and the Wing was adopted; each
Wing would have 4 squadrons, each consisting of three construction and one plant squadron.
12
Within the Plant Squadron there were 64 items of mechanical plant including dumpers, graders,
scrapers, excavators, bull & angle dozers, rollers, rooters, pumps, mixers, and compressors.
In addition, some units were organised to serve overseas, and some were actually formed
overseas. 5021 Sqd was formed on Iceland in May 1942 from drafts sent out from the UK,
and spent the rest of the war stationed there providing support facilities to the RAF units and
laying concrete runways at Reykjavik and Kaladarnes. In September 1943, 5020 Sqd was
formed to construct Lagens airfield on Terceira in the Azores as part of a mixed Army/RAF
force for Coastal Command aircraft. 5051 Sqd was formed for service in the Middle East but
details of its activities are sketchy.
Meanwhile, the units at home were building up to strength in men and equipment. Each
Wing had 49 Officers and 2,341 men, excluding Mechanical & Electrical Flights and any
specialist units attached. All were finally ready by February 1944. Each Squadron also
designated one of its Flights as a Field Flight, composed of men in the top medical grade and
trained as infantry.
For the invasion of France and subsequent operations, the ACS were put at the disposal
of the army to augment their own Airfield Construction Groups and were heavily involved
in constructing the advanced landing grounds in Britain to be used to cover the invasion
phase.
The army was not keen on accepting the ACS for operations on the continent, but recognised
that their own resources were insufficient to meet all the demands for airfield construction
that operations on the continent would bring. They insisted that the units be militarily capable
in addition to their construction role. To a certain extent they already were, since the RAF
Regiment had furnished many of the personnel, but to keep the army happy the units were
put through battle school and military engineering schools to learn the techniques used by
the army in the field. In addition, the army required a unit that could serve in a field role and
operate in the front line as normal engineers and have the mobility to move quickly with the
army.
This new unit was 5357 Wing, organised as an HQ and 2 squadrons, 5022, 5023, each
consisting of 6 Field Flights, a Plant Flight and an MT Flight formed from the Field Flights
of the existing Wings. To administer these units, the RAF formed 85 (Base) Group HQ in
December 1943, and in March 1944 it took control of 5352, 5353, 5354, 5355, 5357 Wings.
The organisation of these at that time was:
Wing: Sqds
5352: 5001, 5013, 5014, 5202
5353: 5005, 5008, 5012, 5203
5354: 5006, 5006, 5016, 5204
5355: 5002, 5009, 5017, 5205
13
Each wing also had an Electrical & Mechanical Flight for repairing or installing power
generation plant. Specialist units attached to the Group included quarrying and well boring
flights.
The remaining Wings would remain at home and carry on with airfield construction tasks
and provide a force to cope with the expected attacks by the Luftwaffe on airfields supporting
the invasion; these units were:
Wing: Sqd
5351: 5003, 5004, 5011, 5015, 5201
5356: 5010, 5018, 5027, 5206
Elements of 5357 were ashore in France on D-Day but, due to congestion in the beachhead
area, the main body did not arrive until D+30, and the other Wings were likewise delayed in
their deployment. All were finally ashore by late August.
One other wing was formed in 1945 from elements of the existing units as they began to
disperse after the end of the war in Europe. 5358 Wing with 5024, 5025, 5026, 5207 Sqds
was formed to construct airfields for the RAF on Okinawa and was en route there when the
war ended.
Draft OB for these units.
March 1 1941
Britain
1x 0-5 Con X 1 (RAF)
April 1 1941
Britain
August 1 1941
Britain
February 1 1942
Britain
January 1 1944
Convert:
4x 0-5 Con X 1, 2, 3, 4 (RAF) to:
4x 0-2-6 Con X 5351, 5352, 5353,
5354 (RAF)
14
March 1 1944
Britain
2x 0-2-8 Con X 5355, 5356 (RAF)
May 1 1944
Britain
1x 1-10 mot Eng X 5357 (RAF)
June 1 1945
Britain
1x 0-2-6 Con X 5358 (RAF)
July 1 1945
Britain
Transfer to Far East:
1x 0-2-6 Con X 5358 (RAF)
Table 1
Airfield Construction Service Organisation 1944
5357 Wing Officers Other Ranks
Wing HQ 10 32
2x ACS Sqd, each 16 605
Sqd HQ 12 66
6x Field Flight, each 58
Field Plant Flight 3 112
MT Section 1 79
Total 42 1,242
5352-5355 Wings Officers Other Ranks
Wing HQ 13 56
3x ACS Sqd, each 9 560
Sqd HQ 9 50
7x AC Flights, each 58
2x Artisan Flights, each 52
Plant & MT Squadron 9 605
Total 49 2,341

g
15
Contest
Operation Compass
S ituation It is the beginning of a Western Desert campaign, using the rules from Wavell’s
War and the components from War in the Desert. Operation compass is about to begin.
Send us your best set-up plans for the British compass forces and your orders for the surprise
attack turn and the regular Dec I 40 Allied player turn.
All optional and advanced rules are in effect. Besides the set-up instructions and the orders
to your units, write also a description of why your strategy is the best one; this description
will help the judges better evaluate your entry.
Please send your entry to [email protected]. All entries must be received by October
31, 2007. g
16
The Great War

Origins 2003 Playtest
James Broshot
[Editor’s note: These photos were taken at Origins 2003, during the playtest game com-
bining March to Victory, Balkan Web and Bloody Eagles.]
BW map excerpt, looking from south to north, with corps sheets in background.
17
North sections of MTV + BE maps, looking from west to east.
18
North sections of MTV + BE maps looking from east to west. Russians are in green.
19
MTV + BE maps looking from west to east. Arthur Goodwin on left, David Stokes on right.
20
BW map excerpt, looking from north to south, late in the game. Some German reinforcements (from MTV) have appeared, as
have the Bulgarians (in green). Serbs are yellow and orange.
21
A different view from the one on page 20, above. Arthur Goodwin on right, David Stokes on left.
22
David Stokes looking at the BW section and corps charts.
23
Combat in Galacia. Russians are in green.
24
Lines from Home

Letters
Terry Foskett
Excellent effort. Now that Europa Mag seems to be in suspension and with no issues
for nearly two years LOC is very welcome. I look forward to future issues.
Terry’s letter is a sample of several others sent with congratulations on the first issue. Thanks
to you all, your words are very much appreciated.
Dean
First of all - thanks for doing something with Europa!
The cover - Great!!
The content was Very Good (I am very much an amateur though).
VP point analysis was GREAT!
I have seen some excellent content on the EuropaAssociation list, including the John
Astell tank/artillery data.
Also were there any post April 1945 cold war scenarios for the system?
Also the magazine could use a humor section. Maybe a pre 1939 German-Polish
border guard situation. (like “Laugh In”). Or two guys in a foxhole sort of thing. Or
maybe some example of Ally or Axis examples of humor or propaganda. (or links to
whatever is already out there).
I always enjoyed the TEM examples of “Counter History” from a historical
standpoint.
Anyway, thanks for puting this out and please keep on going.
Thanks for your kind words, Dean. I haven’t seen any post-WWII scenarios for Europa, but
I’d certainly publish them if someone wrote them. A humor section would indeed be a good
idea, but alas — this is beyond my skills.
John M. Astell
Congratulations on issue #1 of Line of Communications. I am very pleased to see a
new Europa newsletter being published, and I wish you continued success.
I’ve read Alan Tibbetts’ “The Wayward Account” and have a couple of comments:
1) Alan quotes from the Second Front rulebook:
“Levels of victory are:
Marginal Victory: The player wins a marginal victory. His performance is about equal
to or slightly better than his historical counterpart.
25
Substantial Victory: The player wins a substantial victory. His performance significantly
surpasses that of his historical counterpart.
Decisive Victory: The player wins a decisive victory. His performance greatly surpasses
that of his historical counterpart.
Note: Unlike most previous Europa games, these victory conditions judge players’
performances against their historical counterparts. An Axis decisive victory, for
example, means the Axis player did much better in the game than the Axis did in
the war-it does not mean, however, that the Axis actually won the war. By 1943 the
historical (and game) situation is such that, given competent play on both sides and no
freak occurrences, the Allies will almost always win the war.”
He goes on to point out that in game terms the historical victory levels actual indicate an
Allied decisive victory. This is correct. Second Front had a convoluted and complicated
development process that resulted in many problems, as is evident by the copious errata
for the game. (By the way, I think LOC should mention your SF errata and ruling web
page, http://www.luiz.claudio.nom.br/sf/sf.html, which is extremely useful.) The SF
rules booklet went to the printers before many other components did. Thereafter, as I
recall, I revised the victory chart to the present form. A better phrasing of the SF rule
thus would be:
“Levels of victory are:
Marginal Victory: The player wins a marginal victory.
Substantial Victory: The player wins a substantial victory.
Decisive Victory: The player wins a decisive victory.
Note: Unlike most previous Europa games, these victory conditions provide a
framework to guide players in the playing of the game. An Axis decisive victory, for
example, means the Axis player did quite well in the game-it does not mean, however,
that the Axis actually won the war at all, let alone decisively. By 1943 the historical
(and game) situation is such that, given competent play on both sides and no freak
occurrences, the Allies will almost always win the war.”
2) That said, it seems clear that Alan overstates the number of victory points the Allies
achieve in a “Second Front as history” exercise. He underestimates Allied Disastrous
Losses, even when giving a 50% bump for the ETO from what he calculates. For just
one example, “The Battle for Normandy” in the Europa Magazine #59/60 shows much
higher Allied losses for D-Day, which all are disastrous losses since the forces that
landed by air and sea were isolated in the Jun I 44 combat phase.
Alan also dismisses the possibility of excessive losses, but this seems incorrect for the
late 1943/early 1944 period. The late 1943 period saw the Salerno landings in September
(where the Allies landed exactly where Kesselring had expected and prepared for),
the crossings of the Volturno and Trigno Rivers in October in the autumn muddy
season, and the assaults (“at enormous cost”, per Atlas of the Second World War, Peter
Young) on the Gustav Line in November and December in muddy and increasingly
26
wintry weather. The Allies historically incurred heavy losses at this time. I no longer
have my design notes on this topic nor time to work it our again, but I think excessive
losses is very likely for the Dec II 43 victory assessment.
The Allies suffered again in early 1944, at the blocked-up Anzio beachhead and with
unsuccessful assaults at Cassino. Some excessive losses were thus likely incurred for
this period. A glance at the Allied OB for the Apr I 44 scenario shows that the Allies
have about 46 points of ground unit losses in the MTO but only about 35 accumulated
infantry replacements in both the ETO and MTO, indicating excessive losses must
have been incurred on the Mar II 44 victory assessment.
Overall, I suspect if you did a true “Second Front as history” exercise, you would find
the Allies achieved fewer victory points than Alan gives them. As I recall without my
notes, the Allied victory would still be in the decisive victory range, but much closer
to the cutoff for a substantial victory. Overall, I think this is a fair assessment of the
historical situation: The Allies won a decisive victory but certainly could have done
better (could have achieved a higher VP total). More Allied mistakes or better German
resistance could have prolonged the war or increased the war’s human and economic
costs to the Allies (or both), which would be represented by a lower victory level.
Thanks, John, this is high praise indeed.
27

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Line of Communications

Line of Communications September 2007

Brazil Goes To War

The Italian Fleet

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Editor: Luiz Cláudio Duarte

Cover: Roosevelt and Vargas at Natal (Raymond P. R. Nelson, 1943)

Sea Lines of Communication

of their choosing, they

Missing Units of the Royal Air Force —

Draft OB for these units.

The Great War

North sections of MTV + BE maps, looking from west to east.

David Stokes looking at the BW section and corps charts.

Combat in Galacia. Russians are in green.

Lines from Home

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