I December 1940

British destoyers flee to Belfast.

With the invasion scrapped, the remainder of the game will be a scrounging for victory points. The weather continues crappy, both navies have sought refuge in safe harbours, air power is halved, and the British desperately want to force a draw.

For the Germans, the objectives will be to bomb UK destroyers in port and to conduct raids on RAF airbases. Every destroyer sunk will net 2 VP's, while every RAF group reduction (4 like squadrons destroyed over friendly territory, 3 over enemy-controlled) results in 5 VP's per.

Meanwhile, the Brits will attempt to inflict as many air losses on the Luftwaffe as they can (for the enemy group reduction bonus), and to sink as much German shipping as possible. This is complicated by the fact that, anticipating this plan, the Germans have rebased a majority of their shipping to Bergen, Norway, along with their torpedo boats. As a result, all such bombing raids will be at 1/3 strength due to the extended range. A small amount of shipping is still available for targeting at Rotterdam, but because the city is so heavily protected by anti-aircraft (coincidentally AA units to be transported to Bergen), the raids are extremely dangerous.

The turn started out well for the UK, what with a 10 VP German group reduction bonus left over from II November. It would be the only points the British would earn for the turn. The Germans sunk two destroyers in raids, one at Great Yarmouth and one at Harwich.


German shipping flees to Bergen.

Not a good 2 weeks for the RAF. Despite registering 6 aborts on German air units, they suffered 5 aborts and 6 kills at the hands of the Luftwaffe and a stiffening air defense over Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

The good news? If the game ended now, the Germans would have 257 points v. 131 for the British. This would be a draw, and considering how the Germans were flirting with a decisive victory early on...not bad!

The bad news? There's one more turn left, and the Germans can take big risks with their air units, as they won't have to worry about any further group reductions. The British, however, have to be careful...they do.