Global War: Japanese Aggression

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12. Jul/Aug 1941. Trade for Sep/Oct 1941.

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13. Sep/Oct 1941. Nazi-Soviet Pact.

The non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union remained in force this turn. And with deteriorating weather, especially in the arctic, neither side was interested in pressing to break the pact. So, the uneasy "peace" in Europe between the Germans and the Soviets continues ...

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13. Sep/Oct 1941. Destroyed and Repair Pools.

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13. Sep/Oct 1941. Bismarck Sea.

The weather in the Bismarck Sea for the entire turn was storm. Nevertheless, a decisive naval battle between the USN and IJN took place three spread over three rounds naval combat. A naval combat initiated by the USA as the non-phasing player during an axis impulse.

This decisive victory by the USN resulted in the sinking of the Japanese aircraft carriers Kaga and Ryujo and heavy cruisers Ryujo and Atago. The USN accomplished these sinkings in the 1st and 3rd rounds of the surface action. The second round, however, was won by the Japanese would managed to shoot up Nimitz's HQ unit by sinking the transport his HQ was loaded on. Also, the IJN managed to damage a loaded USN amphibious unit.

Nimitz's HQ unit was moved to the sea area with the intention of landing in Manila in the Philippines to support naval operations against the Japanese in the China and South China sea. That didn't happen because the USA, as the non-phasing player, chose to initiate combat.

While the naval victory in the Bismarck sea was a decisive one for the USA, it was also a costly one for them too.

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13. Sep/Oct 1941. West Indian Ocean.

A second decisive, but lost costly, victory by the allies over the IJN took place in the West Indian Ocean. A combined USN and RN task force swept the IJN for that area and managed to damage the heavy Japanese carrier Soryu. All without any allied losses.

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13. Sep/Oct 1941. Sea Areas.

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13. Sep/Oct 1941. Philippines. South China Sea.

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13. Sep/Oct 1941. Northern China. Korea.

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13. Sep/Oct 1941. Western Med. Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Western Libya.

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13. Sep/Oct 1941. Land Combat. Algeria.

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13. Sep/Oct 1941. Victory Totals.

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13. Sep/Oct 1941. Economic Reports.

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14. Nov/Dec 1941.

No change in victory totals.

This turn lasted 4 impulses with the allies moving first.

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14. Nov/Dec 1941. Nazi-Soviet Pact.

The Nazi-Soviet pact was still in force at the end of this turn. Both the Germans and Soviets are "stuffing" the border. The Germans in an attempt to get a garrison value that will allow them to break the pact. The Soviets in an attempt to keep the pact in force.

As a reminder, I am playing with the "break Soviet-Nazi pact" optional rule. Even so the Soviets are doing a really going job at preventing that. The Soviet pact chit always goes in the defensive pool and the two German pact chits always goes in the offensive pool.

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14. Nov/Dec 1941. Destroyed and Repair Pools.

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14. Nov/Dec 1941. South China Sea.

The USN challenged the IJN for control of the South China Sea. The USN force was centered around the aircraft carriers Yorktown and Enterprise, both of which left the area during the return to base, and several WW1 era battleships. This force was supported by four or five USA aircraft units, including two NAVs.

The IJN force was centered around their aircraft carriers Akagi and Zuikaku. The Zuikaku was damaged during the battle and the Akagi remained in the sea area after the turn ended.

The naval encounter lasted one round and by all accounts was pretty much a draw.

The USN aircraft carrier groups return to base in the Bismarck Sea area in order to avoid possible IJN port attacks next turn.

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14. Nov/Dec 1941. Bismarck Sea.

In addition to the Yorktown and Enterprise carrier groups that return to base in the Bismarck Sea area, a third carrier battle group centered around the Lexington based in that area in Rabul.

Also, a strong amphibious force based at Lae.

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14. Nov/Dec 1941. Bay of Bengal.

A combined RN and USN task force centered on the carriers HMS Ark Royal and USN Ranger, respectively, swept the IJN for the Bay of Bengal and gained total control of that area.

Though the Ark Royal was undamaged, she did lose her carrier wing and will have to return to England to get a new one. This leaves a single aircraft carrier, the USN Ranger, for this Near East allied naval force.

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14. Nov/Dec 1941. Australia to England Broken Convoy Routes.

Japanese subs operating in Cape Nautraliste and Italian subs supported by German u-boats operating of the Cape of St. Vincent, did manage to disrupt the flow of resources from Australia to England, which not only resulted in the loss of those two resources but cost the CW 1 of its 3 "food in flames" PP's.

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14. Nov/Dec 1941. Sea Areas.