Global War: Japanese Aggression

[rkr1958]

10. Mar/Apr 1940. Western Med. Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

Though not at war with Italy, USA army troops deploy to Morocco and move towards the border with Algeria.

[rkr1958]

10. Mar/Apr 1941. Victory Totals and Captured Facilities.

[rkr1958]

10. Mar/Apr 1941. Economic Reports.

1. Germany loses 1 PP to RAF strategic bombings.

2. The CW gains 3 PP's from "food in flames".

3. Japan who does have plenty of oil is having to use that oil for production, which is only provided them with 11 BPs this turn. Less build points that all the allies except for China.

4. CW war production (i.e., BP's) matches that of Germany's.

5. Biggie ... through trade, actually a gift, from the Soviet Union, China now has two saved oil points.

[rkr1958]

10. Mar/Apr 1941. Southern China. Japanese Ground Strike.

I meant to post this earlier after the post of Southern China, but forgot. While the situation on the ground in southern China is and will likely remain a stalemate, Japanese bombers continue to harass the Chinese, forcing them to use oil by disorganizing Stillwell's HQ. This is two turns in a row that the Japanese have done that.

[rkr1958]

Commander Paul Eddington: "Old Rock of Ages, we've got ourselves another war. A gut bustin', mother-lovin' Navy war."

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. Germany & Italy Declare War on the USA.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. Nazi-Soviet Pact.

The Nazi-Soviet pact remains in place, which means that Germany and the Soviet Union are still not at war. And given the pact, are unlikely to be at war this year. This effectively means that no land war is (currently) raging in Europe and that the Germany army is at "peace".

The majority of the land fighting, thus far, has been in Asia and that's winding down as you shall see. So the trajectory that this version of WW2 has taken is one of naval action in the Pacific, Med and now in the Atlantic.

Germany and Italy decided to declare war on the USA to "preempt" any surprise plans that the USA may have for North Africa or the Med against the Italians. Also, German u-boats and Italian subs used the DOW against the USA to wreak havoc on allied convoys. A 70% chance of a success DOW by the USA on Germany and Italy also factored into the Euro-axis preemptive DOW on the USA.

I must say that, being a fan of the naval history of WW2, I'm really enjoying this naval centric game. The trajectories of the global war scenarios that I've played so far have all been different and enjoyable. Even in solo mode the replayability of MWiF amazes me.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. Cape St. Vincent, Western Med, West North Africa.

One factor behind the Euro-axis preemptive DOW on the USA was USA ground forces in Morocco.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. Destroyed & Repair Pools.

A second factor was to hit USA convoys, which prior to the DOW were off limits to Germany u-boats and Italian subs.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. CP Losses.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. British 8th Army in North Africa Capture Benghazi.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. Eastern Med. Egypt and Eastern Libya.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. Red Sea.

The RN supported by the Free French Navy run the Italians out of the Eastern Med and clear the Japanese from the Red Sea.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. Sea Areas.

The RN and USN put a dent in the western part of the IJN naval shield.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. Arabian, West Indian and Bay of Bengal.

And here's the dent. That is, the RN now is in complete control of the Arabian Sea and the USN the West Indian Ocean.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. Bismark Sea. Philippines.

And to the east of the IJN naval shield, the USN moved strong air and naval forces into the Bismarck Sea, but were unable to force the IJN out.

Also, the USA reinforced the Philippines and now will being to use those islands as a forward base of operations against the Japanese.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. IJN Fights back in Bismarck Sea.

The IJN surprised the USN in the Bismarck Sea and had a chance to sink the V marines. Fortunately for the USA, the IJN only managed to damage the transport instead of sinking it. The result was that the V marines went to the force pool for re-entry to the game next turn.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. Coral Sea.

US command has made it to the contested Bismarck Sea area (i.e., Coral Sea just south of Bismarck Sea) and additional allied ground troops and naval assets as well.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. The Marshalls.

More USA command and ground forces are waiting to move up and join the action.

[rkr1958]

11. May/June 1941. Northern China and Korea.