@thrasher1 I saved my Christmas money in 1995 and bought Axis and Allies.

@ABWorsham4 Currently I’m reading False Flags, Disguised German Raiders Of World War 2.

@thrasher1 If I remember correctly the 2nd Edition Axis and Allies cost me around 60.00-70.00 dollars. At age 16 that was a lot of Christmas cash.

@The-Pripet-Martian said in What are you reading:

@ABWorsham4 The more I read, the more I learn that American neutrality pre-Pearl Harbor was extremely nuanced, to say the least. Very interesting stuff.

No doubt, escorts were taking an active role in the Battle of the Atlantic. American made jeeps, trucks, tanks and planes were operating in North Africa, firing munitions fabricated in the States.

@ABWorsham4 I’m currently reading George Marshall, Defender of the Republic.

I finished Hitler’s Secret Pirate Fleet by James Duffy. Also I read a 1955 classic, The Secret Raiders by David Woodward. These two books finished my quest for knowledge of German Commerce Raiders.

@Caesar-Seriona We play a homemade version of A&A that has Canada as it’s own nation, allied with Great Britain. The British Far East and ANZAC are Independent. The Communist in China are also represented. It’s a fun game.

The game also rolls for French territory and Navy units after the fall of Paris. With a D-20 dice, 1-4 goes to Allies, 16 -20 goes Germans, 4-10 is scuttled, 10-16 goes to Vichy France.

@Wittmann I took the family to watch the film. It was great.

@ABWorsham4 I’m currently reading H.W Schmidt’s With Rommel In The Desert.

It’s a great read. Its interesting to see the war in the desert from a staff officer and company commander’s view.

@CWO-Marc good to hear from you

@The-Pripet-Martian I have read two books concerning Atlantis, The German Raider Atlantis and Ship 16. I’ll look for this book.

False Flags doesn’t cover Atlantis much. It covers the lesser known raiders and supply ships.

I didn’t realize the US Navy actively hunted for the raider Komet. The raider entered the Pan American Zone in the Pacific near the Galapagos Islands sinking 3 Allied vessels.

I’m reading a book titled Stalin’s War. The book is mainly about pre June 1941 and Stalin’s attempts to cause a prolonged conflict. It’s fantastic.

I learned that Italy nearly declared war on the USSR over the Finland invasion. Instead the government sent arms.

Question: Had France and Britain established a base at Petsamo in the North and attacked the Caucasian oil fields. And Italy declared war on the USSR. How would a continental war between France, Italy, and Britain vs Germany and the USSR?

Where would Turkey and Eastern Europe choose in this fight?

Question: How much of the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility was in use on December 7, 1941?

@superbattleshipyamato I chose my matchup by personalities I would like to see play a board game together. My matchup would be entertaining.

@superbattleshipyamato In my WW2 general match up I want Fedor Von Bock as Germany, Yamashita as Japan, Claude Auchinleck as Great Britain, Ivan Konev as USSR and Mac Arthur as US.

Bock and Mac Arthur would make fantastic table talk.

Do we overestimate the importance of a Japanese missed opportunity by not launching a third wave?

Just how much damage could Japan inflict on the Harbor and remaining ships? These were planes carrying single bombs or several light bombs.

The third wave would more than likely been made of dive bombers and level bombing attacks. Torpedo bombers would have little chance of survival.

Question: How many aircraft would the Japanese lose in this next wave? I believe between 20 and 50.

The Germans and Italians dropped 15,000 tons of bombs Malta’s Grand Harbor and airfields and never completely knocked out full operations. How could a wave of Japanese light bombers hoped to have inflict serious damage.

More than likely bombers would have focused on more attractive targets like the remaining warships instead on the surrounding port facilities.

You thoughts?

@captainwalker My grandfather was in the US 2nd ID in the Ardennes on day one of the Bulge.

@superbattleshipyamato Agreed, I knew of his damaged arm. I didn’t know he lost a kidney.

Bob Dole’s death is a reminder that our World War Two veterans are quickly departing our lives.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/bob-dole-dies-at-98-170812702.html

Found this article interesting.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/nationalinterest.org/feature/the-ultimate-world-war-ii-what-if-japan-attacks-russia-16901%3Famp

Have any of you read Sean McMeekin’s book, Stalin’s War?