Jan / Feb 1943:
The Japanese start with grand naval maneuvers (in the Indian Ocean) safely away from the superior USA Navy.
Against the USA they screen the seas with picket cruisers and send some submarines to raid the USA convoys, actually achieving some sinking (2 UK CPs and 1 USA CP) leaving the assets in Eniwetok out of supply.
The Germans storm Moscow, and finally capture the Soviet capital.
Italo-German aerial forces fly patrols over the sea west of Gibraltar and Morocco.
The Allies issue ships out, replace lost convoys and send escorts en-mass to link up again with India after the Japanese raiders got to dominate the waves.
To much dismay for the British Admiralty the Japanese prove themselves a far too superior opponent, jewel of their navy the modern carrier Implacable is torpedoed twice by a submarine and finds its way to the bottom of Azanian Sea; meanwhile a Corageous class carrier slugs back to the docks in damaged status after having been caught in nocturnal combat against Japanese cruisers.
The Japanese raiders lost a cruiser, compared to 1 CV sank, 1 CV damaged, and 3 CPs total destroyed, that was a good hunt.
In the following weeks the new armada of Donitz sails from Kiel to strike at Faroes Gap, meanwhile Raeder guides with Campioni the respective naval squadrons west of Gibraltar. The Allies sent a token force (a bait probably) with a transport to supply their units in Morocco.
The Axis got favored by sheer surprise, sinking the single Royal Navy battleship, the Royal Sovereign, and some escorts being damaged but the transport managed to slip away only damaged. Nonetheless the Allied invasion force was stalled. (Fun enough, the only time the Allied found the Axis, their Supermarine Spitfires topping a +9 with surprise vs a Gabbiano managed only to abort it.)
The Allied reaction (in their impulse) was to send over 60 naval assets in the sea zone with heavy air support, preparing for holding the sea and obliterate anything that moves on the watery surface. The Blinded Lady (Luck) kisses the Axis still, they find the Carrier Task Force (30-35 ships still!) with their land based planes and embattle it. The Gladiators fight heroically against the modern single wing fighters of the fascist powers; and they even manage to get a Swordfish on the Axis fleet (damaging the Graf Spee). But once the swarm of Sparvieros and Alcione reach their target, making through with some difficulties due to the antiair barrage, the Ark Royal is damaged (for the 3rd time in the game!).
On the other hand, sensing the fate cannot always favor them, the Axis naval and air assets are withdrawn from the sea zone.
Donitz was as well pretty fortunate, stormy weather kept grounded the CW planes on the two escort carriers of service in the Faroes Gap; spotted the prey the submarines along with two German heavy cruisers hooked up in surface battle against the few escorts, electing to torpedo a shining new (it arrived this very turn) Canadian transport (that had aboard the Hurricane IID) and other ships were sunk. Even better, the Royal Navy royally failed to do any damage (all the subs passed their saves for damage, and a few got only aborted).
In praparation for future land attacks, the Allies bomb the Italian positions. A Macchi squadron flies to the defence but to no avail, superior American escorts gun the Italians down without mercy (Pilot killed as well).
The USA establish again the supply with Eniwetok, only to see their newly arrived convoy sank. Not only, Japanese long range naval bombers fly from Truk to aggress the convoys in the port, sinking one and doing minor damage to the other (Abort) forcing them to stay for the repairs in Eniwetok.
With the new year Admiral Nimitz rearranges the air squadrons aboard of the USA Carriers. Up to three carriers get pratically free to get new squadrons, and are ready to be sent home where the planes already wait for them at San Diego; new amphibious ship sail from the USA mainland - one per ocean. And the Royal Marines of the UK arrive in the Spanish Morocco zone, ready to debark.
After the snowfalls in Russia turn moderate (regular snow, 3rd impulse. 1st was rain when Moscow fell, 2nd was Storm and Germany took a rare Naval action), Germany burns offensive reserves (an O-Chit) and storm Leningrad with the leadership of Kesserling. Both Moscow and Leningrad have fallen, as planned. At the Wolfenshatze champagne bottles are uncorked.
The Japanese Imperial Marines advance and seize Dacca against Indian defenders, terrorized by massive shore bombing and minor aerial (non effective) support. (It was the 3-3 INF, an easy prey).
The British situation in Birmania grow desperate, with a large army isolated and out of supply. (Though the Japanese lack meaningful ground bombers to exploit the situation). But the China situation for production seems quite hopeless, as the Burma road has been closed by military occupation of the zone.
In the Caucasus minor advance happens, the Germans are hindered by bad weather for now. But they hope to relocate assets to lead a strong assault in summer '43.
Morocco is reinforced even more, with Italian troops being poured. Even an elite SS alpine corp arrives in southern Spain - a concern that the Allies "hop" there from Morocco is present in the OKW.
The turn has not finished yet - the Allied 3rd impulse waits - and clear skies are over Morocco.
