Corona Wars

[Marcinos1985]

North Africa

In October US planes joined the party and writing was on the wall. In December breakthrough was achieved and Axis is on the backfoot now. Unless Germans send some forces in, there will be no hope. Gates to Balkans and Italy will be open soon.

[Marcinos1985]

USSR - North&Center

Riga frontline was generally holding ok up to December, but (spoiler alert) things will change soon. Situation heated up in the Center, where Germans are closing on Smolensk. City is defended by an elite army, but this heavy artillery does not bode well. Timoshenko may be forced to create a new defensive line, closer to Moscow. Maybe weather will come and save us all?

[Marcinos1985]

USSR - South

Heavy fighting was raging, but resistance is getting stiffier. There are some local counterattacks, only if odds are favourable. Up to December weather was very good, so no help from mother nature. Fate of this front depended on tank support and indeed soviet heavy tanks are paying for themselves (though you get them for free, haha. Ha.) We will see, Germans have to put some effot to smash defensive lines.

[Marcinos1985]

First quarter of 1942 was quite eventful, even though weather hampered most activities.

China

Chang's and Mao's troops finally got a blessing of weapons lvl 2 and put it to use at once. Whole front moved towards Japanese, to engage them everywhere we can and bleed them from MPP's, even if China looses in net terms. No spectacular successes, but human wall seems daunting, especially in the north.

Japanese were very active on other fronts though. Thailand has been conquered, as Philipines nad Rabaul in New Guinea. We will see what will be an other direction of Japanese attack. Speaking of attack, in their offensive ferocity IJN left Hanoi without defense, and chinese 'Dare to Die' SF unit took the city, for the time being liberating Indochina.

In Syberia pressure is growing and soviet SF will probably fall soon. Next step for Japanese is Ulan Ude.

[Marcinos1985]

Other theaters except USSR

There is really not too much to say about other theaters except USSR of course. In North Africa Allies chase remnants of Axis army and Rommel tries to flee to Algiers. Syria also fell. In Atlantic some skirmishes followed, but for the moment Mr. Donitz is very cautious. Pacific is all silent, US fleet stays at home.

There were some Diplomacy going on. Sweden was convinced by US friends ther party with Adolf is not well seen and soon they ceased their iron ore convoys. A minor blow for German income, which will add up.

[splashell]

Well, some things have happened since we are now in June 1942. The Pacific area first:
-Japan has invaded Malaya and DEI holdings on Java closing to Soerabaya, capture the Philippines, Hong Kong, closing on Singapore. Although truth be told they were a bit sluggish with everything due to losing income after mid 1941 due to the embargo, and otherwise not having all necessary preparations in place immediately. Especially we could have more offensive air power. On the other hand we have met minimal allied opposition, though it is surely coming. In Siberia, we are slowly pushing towards Irkutsk but the resistance will surely encounter increasing resistance before reaching it.

The Chinese have started their offensive, actually capturing Hanoi and cutting the rail line with an army and special forces unit. The Japanese are trying to recapture it from both sides (south and east). In China proper the Chinese launched their offensive in the north and near Wuhan, along with 2 communist armies. In the central Pacific Japan is on the defensive, waiting for the US onslaught. Rangoon and Burma was captured. Losing income from the DEI due to the embargo hurt Japan, along with the early US entrance to the war. We were unable to inflict too much damage on the PH strike with carriers, due to strong AA defenses and withdrew.

North Africa/Libya broke down in early '42 and it seems that Rommel is having his last days. We are prepared to defend Italy and keep her in the war as long as possible. Allied air power and naval based air was a decisive factor, the axis are just unable to find enough resources to counter it and the weak Italian economy can support only so many things not to mention researching and fielding enough advanced airplanes. Now she must be ready to defend herself.

The submarine war has nearly ended as Germany hasn't many left and in bad shape and don't think it will recover any time soon, if at all.

In Russia the Germans are bogged in Estonia and near Pskov were there are entrenched Soviet corps. The fight for Smolensk is ongoing and it remains doubtful that we can capture this summer, although it is not out of the question yet. In the south there is a strong defensive line in front of Rostov which we are struggling to smash despite basically all offensive air power in the Ukraine, but we managed to break through north west of Rostov and have some mechs and more tanks on the way to exploit it.

Allied diplomacy stole the Swedish iron ore shipments from the Germans.

[Marcinos1985]

USSR

1Q 1942.
Bad weather finally struck and Soviet Winter took its toll on Axis troops (usual few hundred mpp's). Ivan's are upgrading to weapons lvl 2 where possible and counterattack only if odds are in their favour. Russian tanks experience some heavy fighting. What is more, two panzers were destroyed in Charkow region . This is not without a price though - one soviet army got encircled in the north and destroyed, without ability to rebulid cheaply.

[Marcinos1985]

USSR - South
And for reference, situation in Ukraine.

[Marcinos1985]

ORIGINAL: splashell

Well, some things have happened since we are now in June 1942. The Pacific area first:
-Japan has invaded Malaya and DEI holdings on Java closing to Soerabaya, capture the Philippines, Hong Kong, closing on Singapore. Although truth be told they were a bit sluggish with everything due to losing income after mid 1941 due to the embargo, and otherwise not having all necessary preparations in place immediately. Especially we could have more offensive air power. On the other hand we have met minimal allied opposition, though it is surely coming. In Siberia, we are slowly pushing towards Irkutsk but the resistance will surely encounter increasing resistance before reaching it.

The Chinese have started their offensive, actually capturing Hanoi and cutting the rail line with an army and special forces unit. The Japanese are trying to recapture it from both sides (south and east). In China proper the Chinese launched their offensive in the north and near Wuhan, along with 2 communist armies. In the central Pacific Japan is on the defensive, waiting for the US onslaught. Rangoon and Burma was captured. Losing income from the DEI due to the embargo hurt Japan, along with the early US entrance to the war. We were unable to inflict too much damage on the PH strike with carriers, due to strong AA defenses and withdrew.

North Africa/Libya broke down in early '42 and it seems that Rommel is having his last days. We are prepared to defend Italy and keep her in the war as long as possible. Allied air power and naval based air was a decisive factor, the axis are just unable to find enough resources to counter it and the weak Italian economy can support only so many things not to mention researching and fielding enough advanced airplanes. Now she must be ready to defend herself.

The submarine war has nearly ended as Germany hasn't many left and in bad shape and don't think it will recover any time soon, if at all.

In Russia the Germans are bogged in Estonia and near Pskov were there are entrenched Soviet corps. The fight for Smolensk is ongoing and it remains doubtful that we can capture this summer, although it is not out of the question yet. In the south there is a strong defensive line in front of Rostov which we are struggling to smash despite basically all offensive air power in the Ukraine, but we managed to break through north west of Rostov and have some mechs and more tanks on the way to exploit it.

Allied diplomacy stole the Swedish iron ore shipments from the Germans.

Excellent writeup, thank you. This sums situation pretty well. Maybe it's worth to add that US planes began their bombing campaign in Europe, opposition in the skies is still to be seen. Some screenshots:

[Marcinos1985]

And USSR - Smolensk region:

[Marcinos1985]

And most notable - Rostov outskirts:

[Marcinos1985]

Time for Q3 1942 update

China&Pacific

China's soil soaked even more blood. All-out offensive was quickly put to a halt, because Japs defend well and have experienced soldiers. Plan was to bleed IJA, but instead they are bleeding Chang. CHN will probably have to refit before next offensive. What is worth to add, there is some fighting in Burma for oilfields and pressure on Hanoi is growing.

Siberia became all quiet, Japanese soldiers seem to be satified with stalemate. The best price, Vladivostok, is long taken so probably there is no need to push?

In Pacific Japanese finish to take remaining islands, practically no naval encounters. Apparently major powers don't perceive this region as important, for time being at least.

Other theaters except USSR

All quiet. There is no activity from Germans on the Atlantic (or it wasn't spotted), UK finishes conquering North Africa. In the med it is similarly quiet, but Heraklion Island was taken by RPA soldiers. Possible foothold for inavasion into Balkans? Or maybe simple message to Turks, with whom should they allign. In the meantime, bombing campaign from US is intensifying.

[Marcinos1985]

Q3 1942 in USSR

3rd quarter was dominated by 2 events - German panzer thrust between Charkov and Kursk and siege of Smolensk. North was generally calm, both sides don't have enough forces to both attack or counterattack. Soviet paratroopers were holding Talinn stubbornly:

[Marcinos1985]

At one time Smolensk finally gave in, but on the next turn it was retaken. Reverves previously preparing to defend Moscow now are approaching the city:

[Marcinos1985]

Rostov front saw the most action, with German trying to pass around Russian entrenchements with Panzers. At one time Romanian tanks get close to Voronezh, but were repulsed. Battle is ferocious in Ukraine, both sides are playing ping-pong this year (look at this glorious Luftflotte):

[splashell]

Dec '42, here are the different fronts. Italy just collapsed:

[splashell]

USSR north/center

[splashell]

USSR south:

[Marcinos1985]

Thank you for your post. Situation in USSR is very dynamic, as Germans have armour advantage in Charkow-Kursk region. On the other hand, Soviets are concentrating next to Smolensk. Objectively it is quite equal in Russia. However, it's quite late in the game, and both UK and USA have plans of their own. These materialized in landings in Italy, forcing Mussolini to concede. Italy is now quite empty and Allies are taking free cities with help of transported in units. That is very problematic.

On Pacific it is generally quiet, some minor skirmishes between subs and planes. Ultimately all Minor countries between Asia and Australia have fallen to Japan. Emperor is doing quite good actually - IJN managed to stop chinese offensive easily. Chang definetely overestimated his abilities.

This game is interesting. Current situation is an outcome of decisions and actions taken 1,5-2 years ago (in game ofc). More details about it will be provided in writeup after the game.

[splashell]

Just an update - the game is in January 1943 and probably considered ended as allies victory. The allied took North Africa and landed in Italy, which surrendered the turn after landing followed by landing to France. The whole soviet front was more or less a stalemate, with more or less grinding to the end. The Soviets did try to push from the marshes cut off Ukraine but it was halted. I doubt that could have holded those allied landings for too much longer anyway.