Global War : a Japanese AAR

[yvesp]

The British also suffer some losses, and the Japanese decide on staying. Should the supply convoy be destroyed, a minor invasion could still be attempted.

[yvesp]

Indeed, this is exactly what happens!

[yvesp]

But the last british cruiser forces the Japanese cruiser to flee the area.

[yvesp]

Itself being forced to turn tail... The Coral sea is empty, and probably nothing more will happen there for the turn. This small action stopped short an advanced invasion.

The Japanese still have most of their fleet ready to move, but the use for it is yet unclear. It is known that a huge American fleet has sailed from Oakland, led by seven carriers. It also contains sixteen old, but rather powerful battleships, along with two very modern Iowa class battleships and two modern North Carolina class battleships. Overall, it is an impressive force, even though the Japanese high command is quite certain that the american carriers, while bigger are not that efficient for not having very performant planes. But a gun battle could be devastating... The japanese admiral estimations is that this force should sail be sailing to brisbane, Manilla being too dangerous and unapprovisionned. Singapore is another possibility : it is still strongly defended by the Commonwelath, and it is doubtfull that it will be conquered anytime soon, even though this is in the plans.

They are annoyed knowing that 4 modern battleships will soon join this force.

Yet, there is still time for unopposed expension ; but the current setback is not good news!

[yvesp]

Barbarossa being in progress, it is difficult not to make a snapshot. Tis is the situation before the Russians move and attack

[yvesp]

A failed German attack has expensive consequences.

[yvesp]

The Japanese take the opportunity offered by the fact that most of the US fleet is sailing to raid the convoy routes.

The cruisers succeed in the Solomon and Christmas Island.
But they fail to find the most interesting prey : a poorly protected transport with a marine corps in a distant sea area.

[yvesp]

In the South China sea, the US subs find protected convoys, and must escape the nav units protecting them.

[yvesp]

The USA have a tough decision.
Declaring war on Germany is a 60% again ; but failure would lower this to 20% or so, and a large problem to move up : as a consequence, a failure could possibly push the declaration of war against Germany by more than one or two turns...

The USA prefer to wait the next turn and try to increase the tension which is just too low. Unlike Japan, where the US can be effectiv, the USA have little help to offer to the Commonwealth just yet : it's as good to be prepositionning forces.

[yvesp]

In the Christmas islands, a US patrol catches the raiding cruiser.

[yvesp]

While the commonwealth loses a para and marine unit trying to land on Syracuse, The Russians continue to exploit the inital failed German attack, and Zukhov wins his second engagement with maestria.

Wile the German forces look able to pierce the Russian defenses in the south of Ukraine, the German army takes a severe beating in northern Ukraine. While this does not endanger the German caterpillar, it will certainly weaken it for the forthcoming summer.

[yvesp]

The Japanese watch with unbelievable eyes the Italian navy being shred to pieces by the Royal navy, in an unnecessary combat which they started!

The Littorio was destroyed, which spells doom on Italian control of the Mediterranean.

Interestingly, there are too few planes in the mediterranean for any side to attempt naval air combat. Even though their losses where greater, the British are quite happy with the result ; with a naval air, they'd have only damaged a ship, for no damage on them.

[yvesp]

In China, the Imperial army gets rid of the last resisting nationalist troops that was blocking the railroad.

Now, troops may head North to tackle the communists...

Too little to gain now in the South.

[yvesp]

In Russia, things turn sour for Germnay as they are unable to roll any better than 9 (about 3 on the 1d10 table) in the four combat tey launch under a fine weather. They lose some units, and in particular Rundstedt and a mechanized. Not lauching these combat would have been foolish : they all had odds between +8 and +11 (i.e. 4-1 or 5-1 under 1d10), but for exemple +10+9 give 19 for the loss of 1 unit... But seeing the results, having lauched them now looks foolish, even though the Russians units had either to retreat or were outright send back shattered. But few were lost.

On the allied turn, the British decide to launch a port attack on the Italian fleet in La Spezia. The french Leo bomber soots down the fighter cover and the planes from the Argus and the Leo pass through and absorbs the full AA, while the Argus plane damage a cruiser, but miss the Conte di Cavour. Overall, another bad impulse for Italy.

Now, Zhukov turns back to again take the new opportunities offered by the previous failures of the Wehrmacht. The german losses begin to be heavy, and it becomes doubtfull that it will advance very far! Indeed, the German plan to isolate Zhukov fired back and it was the German units that found themselves isolated, with Zhukov at their tail...

[yvesp]

Barbarossa did not turn out as good as expected.

The Germans took a beating, one of the reason being sheer bad luck, the second reason being the preparednesss of the red army having already laid down all militias and parts of the reserves ; without these, the counterattacks would have been much more dangerous and Zhukov would likely have had to retreat in protection of the Russian territory.

For Japan, the turn is neutral : few losses, and China loses about as much as it produces. Two setbacks nevertheless : the failure to capture Manilla, well defended by Nimitz, and the failed invasion in the Coral sea. In the Netherland east indies, another trouble is looming : the British have been able to stay, and brought reinforcements. Battles will have to be fought there, especially since the oil fileds of Palembang were lost.

[yvesp]

Japan builds:
- 1 carrier (infrastructures)
- 1 carrier (superstructures)
- 3 carrier planes (1 at 0 cost)
- 1 pilot
- 1 territorial
- 1 militia

China builds:
- 1 infantry
- 1 infantry div

The Commonwealth builds:
- 1 para
- 1 marine
- 1 carrier (infrastructures)
- 1 carrier (superstructures)
- 2 convoys
- 1 amph (superstructures)
- 1 transport (infrastructures)
- 1 battleship repair
- 1 Lnd4
- 2 pilots
- 3 carrier planes (1 at 0 cost)
- 1 infantry
- 1 territorial

The USA build:
- 3 carrier planes
- 4 carriers (superstructures)
- 1 amph (superstructures)
- 1 sub (repair)
- 2 pilots
- 1 battleship
- 1 armor
- 1 mech
- 2 infantries


Vichy France has now lost most of its significant oversea territories.

[yvesp]

The situation in China in May 42 is under perfect Japanese control.
There is hardly any reason to bother ; nor many reasons to push and loses precious built points there...
But at some point, the Communists will be tried : there are now three artilleries over that that are only waiting : sure that if at any time a stack takes maximal disorganisation, an attack will follow!



May 42 impulse 1

[yvesp]

For information, Barbarossa at the start of May 42.

[yvesp]

The Japanese capture Manilla. The cost is acceptable.

Meanwhile, the Germans are blowing up the Russian units.

[yvesp]

In May 42, the US successfully declares war on Germany.
It was close.