War in the Pacific Elessar (A) vs. OldCrowBalthazor (J) [*NO* OCB]

[Elessar2]

T12

Operation Fire & Forget is one turn from activation:



My subs have scoured the entire area, he has nada there. Note I had to position my CVs 1 hex outside of the max strike search of a maritime bomber (17) PLUS my intercept distances for my carriers (7), else they'll intercept it and give away the game. He'll likely hit 2 of the subs and bring in some of his DD buddies. Just nailing some of them to protect my subs would be sufficient. I split off that DD to the N because of the S&I hit showing one of his up near the Aleutians.

China, lost 2 more divisions, not too worried as his corps all take 1-2 hits:



In India the monsoon finally hit, but a substantial part of his fleet is blockading my ports. Not sure why, I get substantial native supply, no convoys there.

The Wasp & NC will sail for Pearl next turn. I'll have to burn a turn's worth of MPPs to upgrade my old BBs at Pearl, but I need to do it. The Iowa is into the queue.



The 4 ship task force to the extreme SW is delivering the Australian engineer to India-they'll have 2 of them in 3 months. I'm not worried about Australia, he has too many land unit commitments elsewhere to be a credible threat, plus I have those US units already sitting there (and a sub triggered a militia unit to spawn). He took Port Blair-not worried about insubstantial pawngrabbing like that, because it's 50 smackers for those units to re-embark. India will next turn have all coastal ports garrisoned with something. Port Moresby held out (it's a secondary supply source, he'll need more than 2 SFs and his BBs to take it-maybe his carriers will ride in if it stops raining).

[Elessar2]

T13.

Boo. Rah. Fire & Forget went off without a hitch:



Killed the Maritime Bomber on Wake. At least 2 of his 4 Pacific CVs are S of Port Moresby (which fell this turn) along with all of his heavy units. If he wants to mix it up with his other 2 CVs and the estimated 2 CVLs that are currently unaccounted for he is welcome to it.

China. I killed another Inf Corps (red X), tho it put one of mine in danger (he's on a fort tho), but this is an attrition curve that he cannot win. I get more tempo because my shattered units can respawn near or even in the front lines, while his have to endure 2 extra turns being shipped over from Japan, plus the cost to do so.



India quiet, but he sailed an amphib too close (trying to find an unoccupied town to invade, unsuccessfully) and it triggered all of India's militias. I made that explicit in my notes.



My subs are moving in too. Looking pretty good tho I know he is disappointed with the Burma stalemate (I'll be making India less ready for war, all units unupgraded).

Got a US hit on Infantry Weapons, which will make my island garrisons even harder to kill.

Oh, took the Atomic Bomb option, tho the graphic (default from vanilla) overwhelmed all the text. -50 per turn for like 3 years, but can end the war quicker.

[Elessar2]

T14.

My task force got away to the E-all he sent my way was two subs to sniff my trail. Meanhoo my subs are wending their way into his convoy lanes (a British one as well). The Yorktown will have to go to the East Coast for replenishment after taking two hits in its bombing run. Discovered to my dismay that Hawaii does NOT have a secondary supply source in Oahu (I KNOW I made it so, months ago). So I can't operate planes in there.

Theatre map:



You may note a tiny bit of red on the Cape York Peninsula. Yep, he decided to invade there, with one SF. Note I have 6 US ground units there (2 HQs), just got my 2nd fighter in there as well, with the rest of my stateside air force to arrive next turn. Aussie Lend Lease cranked to the max. That would make it THREE ground fronts he would have to deal with; despite not attacking anything, he didn't reinforce all of his corps in S China. Again not worried, the NM hexes are way to the south.

China & India were very quiet, tho he managed to get a new Inf Corps into Shanghai to replace the one I killed (this one couldn't be the one I killed with the Communists (too soon), which means he is stripping the needs of his other fronts).

US bought another Maritime Bomber, and after my hit on Inf Weapons last turn a 2nd chit. The quicker I get to the next level the quicker my allies can benefit from the catch-up bonus (both China & India remain behind in IW despite having 2 chits each for several turns now).

US Tech:



He hasn't bought any of the top tier techs (125 or 150 MPPs) since turn one, note.

Annnd 2 more pleasant surprises:



That will be a nasty surprise to spring on him, 2 levels gained in less than a year. Just a question of what I do with my flattops once the Yorktown is repaired...

[Elessar2]

Fairly quiet turn, except for this:



He failed to scout the path for his CVL, so it ran across one of my subs--and took 6 points of damage. [I made subs have a 50% surprise bonus for just such an encounter]

Then, he unwittingly parked ANOTHER CVL next to another sub of mine which was in silent mode! That one took 5 points on my turn! [:D]

As fortuitous as those events were, I have grave doubts that the Allies can run a dedicated unrestricted submarine warfare campaign in this game. Despite my giving them generous dive bonuses + the radar bonus (which fired once this turn as he tried to bomb one with his carriers) they simply run out of supply after too many attacks. He has a relatively small area to patrol too. [One of his ended up in E Australian waters, took 4 hits from my DDs there]

India, China, and Australia all remained utterly quiet. Got the Aussies a 2nd chit in Inf Warfare. He now knows in China that any corps which end up too damaged from their attacks can be hit by my tanks (I did agree to delete the Chinese tank corps from their builds for the next version tho, but will allow 2 tank divisions).

Now have 8 fleet carriers in the queue:



Two more tech hits-welp can't complain about the last one since it bumped my income up one turn early:



He bought a 125 tech chit-that almost certainly is in either Advanced Fighters or Naval Weapons.

[Elessar2]

T 16 Sept 12 '42

Only two bits of action to report. He got his retribution against my subs (even using some of his fleet CV units), sinking two and damaging 2 more, one down to 2 strength. Note while I've given sub warfare a go he's been content with raiding the temporary lines (before he takes the country in question), and hasn't touched the Lend-Lease lines. I still want to test the viability of this strategy so put another chit in on Sub Tech and bought a replacement.

Note I will likely eliminate AA tech from subs, since I have yet to see a single bit of damage done against a bombing air unit.

He tried an attack against the Communists:



He damaged one corps down to 4 (it retreated behind my other one entrenched in the city), but it cost his tank (circled) 6 points, and then my other corps dinged one of his up by 4.

The US got to the next levels in Inf Weapons and Long-Range Air, so will need to spend a lot next turn to upgrade things, tho I wanted to get another Iowa in. But now my Allies should get that catchup bonus (all are still lagging). I am a few turns from getting Naval Weapons 2, at which point I can do another raid somewhere, or just go and lurk somewhere and wait for him to attack something...

Australia still has him content with that one city (likely trying to bait me into moving up there), but currently have all of my US ground units there are under the umbrella of 2 of my fighters, far enough from the coast to avoid any of his carriers from bombing them.

I am still unsure of how to achieve a carrier engagement on my terms. The issue is how combat works in SC, with the non-active player just sitting there haplessly taking his pounding. If he has 8 fleet carriers and 5 CVL's, that's 21 actions. He'll save some for escorts, so we'll halve that down to 12 say. That will kill between 3-5 of my carriers if they get into a compromising position, and even if I try to get some retribution that will simply ensure the loss of my remaining ones on his next turn. So I anticipate a massive game of cat and mouse until one of us miscalculates. I will have a substantial edge in battleships however.



He bought a 110 chit somewhere-my guess is either AA, Long-Range, or maybe Logistics (if he has run out of HQ builds).

3 of the South Dakotas showed up this turn, yay.

[Elessar2]

T17

Only combat of consequence was in China. He took one of my divisions out, and damaged a corps, but one of his corps was down to 5, and some arty and 2 attacks later it was taken out (left X). Right X was where the Nanjing unit was, thanks to my tank. Note it was toast even in the new build (no tank corps but I would have built a mech div and it and my tank div right to the S would have still taken it out).



My subs either limped away to the E or continued their advance into his lanes (the one near Korea took 6 MPPs), including the British one.

S&I revealed 3 air units stationed near his lines in SE Asia (removed from the Indian front):



Got my 2nd level of Naval Weapons, w/ all of my key ships ready to be upgraded. Will sail somewhere in 3 turns. The Big Mo is now in the queue. Current build limits added to my queue:

[Elessar2]

T18 Oct 18th
---------------

More fun in China. I knew my tank would get some disproportionate attention, and it did. 2 of his eastern units hit it-and it retreated to the indicated position:



He then moved up a division and a corps to kick it down further, but it held on at 2. But it has its TD buddy to get retribution and with the help of the division to the N it got nailed (X). Two more hits knocked down a ID to 3. So as said that TC is going bye bye in the editor; the Chinese won't be able to buy any tanks or mechs until they invest in my new Army Mobilization tech. [I'll likely give them 1 mech division at start, Japan with 1 allowed for all 4]

Meanhoo I've decided that unrestricted sub warfare is pointless in this mod-my subs have nowhere to hide, they get swarmed by every destroyer (and carrier) in the area until it's Davey Jones' Locker time. I have no remedies in the editor either, and I doubt teching them up as fast as I can will do much good long-term either. My remaining ones will have to serve as scouts for my main fleet, so I'll be recalling them next turn.

Otherwise we're both refitting and repairing like crazy. Playtesting revealed that the first carrier group to get in its licks will have a big edge, loss ratio will end up being 3:1 at best. [2:0 if the defender withdraws without attempting retribution] I'll have to use my battleship edge to good effect then. All Central Pacific islands now have at least a garrison [except for the Phoenix Islands which are too close to his realm to risk a transport + escort(s)].

Aussies get Inf Weapons 2, US Ship Production 1 (which means an extra Essex and Iowa).

[Elessar2]

Turns 19-20 Nov '42

Very quiet two turns, exchanged some shots in China (btw I do agree that China has a bit too much firepower and will likely reduce more of their HQ ratings by -1 having already dropped some awhile back), but otherwise we both just kept refitting everything (Hawaii has been on a 24-hour nonstop work cycle getting every ship up to par, a process which will require 2 more turns).....

.....until I noticed two (3 actually) key spying hits during T20:



He intimated that he had something "big" in the works. So I get a fleet CV and an old BB moving due E from Tokyo (but one CV remains in port). That's either the Aleutians or the Northwest American coast. My carriers, heavy cruisers, and fast BB's were already ready to go so moved them N along with a couple of subs, my maritime bomber about to be put on duty on an Aleutian island, a Canadian division purchased and my remaining US West Coast forces upgraded and put on full alert ready to be operated N at a moment's notice. If I can ambush him and get the first strikes in... Main issue with carrier battles is the crap weather up there in the winter, but hope to get my old warhorses moving in 2 turns (I'll have an advantage of 12 to 10, with mine outclassing his; CV-wise it is 6 me to 8 his, + 4 CVLs). If he wants a surface battle it may very well favor me.

Chinese C&C came in, plus a Russian breakthrough also in C&C.

[Elessar2]

T21 early Dec '42

More quiet, some skirmishing in China, he took out a division, virtually isolating Ningpo, a loss I was already conceding given my fortification line to the west. I decided to not take retribution with my tanks.

This time no S&I hits on his big task force, so still not sure if he is going for Alaska/US West coast/Midway, but have 2 subs up near the Aleutians now + my Maritime Bomber. In India he hasn't even reinforced his units on the line there in like 7 turns now. The Indian force pool is being quickly bought out, with a tank corps likely bought next turn (something that can't happen in the next version with the reduced force pools + whatever the Mobilization tech brings in).

My old battlewagons are now all upgraded, now I have to decide what to do with my huge fleet in Hawaii-move to Point Luck near Midway? Back north if I really think he is going to hit the west coast? [You know you play & design for this game too much when you dream of a huge naval battle off of British Columbia, where I managed to get first strikes in with my carriers and my BBs then cleaned up nicely.]

Now have 8 Essexes & 4 Independences in the queue; bought a Maritime buff for the Aussies, put 1 chit each in for US Tanks, Ground Attack, and a 2nd one for Naval Weapons. Plan to start buying out the air force very soon then lots of ground units.

Going back to more (graphically) detailed entries once he shows his hand.

[Elessar2]

T22

Welp, things just got VERY interesting in the north central Pacific, thanks to a couple of fortuitous S&I hits on 2 DD's, then a successful scouting mission by one of my subs. That's Midway to the lower right:



So history is about to be duplicated: moved my CVs so that they can strike his carriers if they get within range of Midway, but far enough back that he can't hit me this turn (based on what my other 4 subs didn't find). My old battlewagons meanwhile are within range to hit back at any surface ships which bombard Midway:



Yes, by moving my subs in there I gave away that I have been onto him; I could have played it cool and lured him in, but that would have required me to have less confidence in where his carriers are (and aren't). Plus this battle either gets fought on my terms, or it doesn't at all. Midway isn't a NM hex so he can have it if he really wants it.

China also just got very interesting. I figured I got enough of a reserve down there to start a breakthrough, while he is distracted by that partisan:



China also just got Infantry Weapons 2 and AA 1, which makes this even safer for me tho I could lose my tank. [US got Amphib 3]

Took out a division and damaged another. Yes, I am already nerfing the Chinese a bit, taking away an HQ, reducing their ratings across the board, and the new Mobilization tech will mean all of the toys I have bought will have to come along later, allowing Japan to maintain the initiative there at least for the first year or so.

[Elessar2]

Turn 23 Early January 1943

Things get even more intense around Midway. He sunk 2 of my subs, all 4 of his CVLs did strikes on them. My remaining 3 tho ferreted out where his main CV force is:



They were c. 3 hexes too far for me to it, but it was stormy anyway.

I decided to park my entire force SE of Laysan Island, just out of his strike range at max move. He can still ferret out where my guys are by doing random strikes and seeing if I try to intercept them, but with the new ZoC rules my surface units might not get any attacks in if they move more than 8 hexes and hit a ZoC.

More good news as I got a hit on Radar Tech 2, which will provide a defense bonus to my carriers and an offensive bonus to my surface ships. I don't need to park my ships because those are automatic upgrades. [He confided in me that he has L1 now.]

Now it's just a waiting game, depends on who gets in the first licks...

In China he unwittingly gave my line breathing room-right after the Chinese got IW2, allowing me to upgrade all of the front line units down there. Once again my tank corps retreated at strength 4:



India also got IW2, will get to upgrading en masse next turn.

I goofed the Chiyoda/Chitose scripts, should have come in on Christmas '43, came in a year early, but he promised to park them until then.

Got another Iowa in (I may have to press my BB advantage for all its worth), and started building up my air force with a Tac Air.

MacArthur started moving on that Australian peninsula. My homeland Med Bomber will likely cross over next turn.

[Elessar2]

Turns 24 & 25 February 1943

He inched a bit closer to Midway, a submerged sub IDed all 8 of his fleet CVs:



I would have had the chance to strike him first, EXCEPT that the weather zones cut across this area and while he was in the clear I would not have been. Clear hexes were too far E for me to be in range. I likely wouldn't have hit him anyway because at best I would have equalized the fleet CV ratio on my turn (by sinking 2 of his), but he would have gotten 2-3 of mine on his riposte (with the CVL's figured in). But he kept using his lights to attack my subs (got one more), and they and his destroyers would have been in low supply from all of their sub attacks. But the odds still would have favored him. Plus on T25 I got another Essex, Advanced Fighters 3 AND Ack Ack 2, so made the most sense to park everything and upgrade them.

In any event he moved his force back west near Wake, so that takes care of that. My land-based air and supply from Hawaii would have made a raid there a very iffy proposition, so don't blame him. We'll get it on likely before the year is out, not to worry.



Meanhoo upgrading in China, saw a unit sneak into Chinchew, but everything down there is now fully upgraded. I doubt he'll be able to do much down there, but I could be wrong. Likely he sprung for another HQ and moved that in there too. Chinese just got Advanced Fighters 2, but his bombers seem to be scattered all over SE Asia. India remains as still as a morgue; upgrading there too.

In Australia he didn't even bother garrisoning that one Australian town on the peninsula, just walked in. I would try a quick invasion of Port Moresby, except now his carriers have nothing to do and undoubtedly would just sail down there and give me grief.

US Tech, got new chits into Bombers and Long Range (thinking of B-29 raids down the line):



Bought my last Essex for awhile, last Iowa awaits my build order next turn, and from then on it will be planes and ground units for the most part, some heavy cruisers and destroyers if I can spare the funds.

[Elessar2]

Turns 26-27 February-March 1943

The Sitzkrieg continues, so not much to report.

In China another unit or two sneak in from the south, and move to attack. My fully upgraded infantry; he takes several hits on his units.

The only other event of note is one of his bombers scouting out the NE Australia coast, revealing my air force down there. I'll now have to withdraw it out of range of his carriers (which are still camped out near Truk).

Tech wise the big news is two straight hits on Naval Weapons [41% to 98%], which will give me L3 next turn. I've had to temporarily cut off Lend Lease to pay to bump all my ships up, tho I did manage to get in the last Iowa. Also got Subs L2, and a hit on Industrial.

Right now once my 12th carrier comes in June (and is made ready), I'll be going over to the offensive somewhere. I plan to have 2 6-7 flattop task forces working the Gilberts and E New Guinea, with some land-based air; pop in and destroy every plane I can find, keeping each TF within one turn's move of its partner for mutual support. Each will work in conjunction with 2 other bombardment TFs with my old battleships. Take the Gilberts take Port Moresby and Lae, and proceed NW.

Build plan for the rest of the year is now 3+ heavy cruiser builds, a strategic bomber, at least one more Independence, at least 1 medium bomber and fighter, then a tank corps and pretty much all of my Special Forces. My only regret was not springing for a Montana when I had the chance, but it will take until Sept. '44 for one to show up now, and by then most of his BB's I expect to have sunk.

[Elessar2]

Turns 28-29 April-May 1943

Sitzkrieg ended pretty abruptly on Turn 29, but he did EXACTLY what I hoped he'd do. He even said he was about to do something (see the text message in the UL corner of screenie 2). I was worried about him plopping down a lot of units in SW China and pushing towards Chungking... Nope. Amphibs assaulting India? Nay. 2nd Pearl Harbor strike? Negatory. [Most of my fleet is there]

He raided Australia with his carriers.

I knew he was coming there after that little scouting mission on T27, and when on T 28 I saw a couple of ships zipping around within the view area of my bombers, figured he was coming the Aussie's way.



You will note the two Fighters next to the AA gun and the HQ. I had a choice to move the fighters west and out of range (where my bombers are, he has a strike range of 8). But that would give his carriers free reign to strafe my garrisons (he hit one, for 1 measly point of damage). I knew he'd launch a phony strike into the desert somewhere to draw my intercept, then would proceed to strafe my fighters.

Which is exactly what he did.

Yay.



They and the AA gun thus got in 6 licks, knocking 2 fleet CV's air components down to 6 and another to 8, and dinging a couple of lights to 9. They can only be repaired fully in Japan. He also still just has 222's across the board note, while my carriers have 332's (fighter/naval/long range), and got fully upgraded this turn. I only am waiting for my ASW tech to go to level 2 in a couple of turns (to deal with all of his pesky subs--it will take that long to upgrade everything anyway), then I'll likely have a 9 fleet CV force hitting the Gilberts. With his weakened Kido Butai I doubt he'll be able to do much against me. All for 230 MPPs to get my fighters back in 3 months, beeg whoop; I moved the Hawaiian one and the British one down there, note (out of range this time but still able to cover all of my key American units). I hope he sticks around another round and attacks more garrisons; if he does move an amphib down there all of the remaining militia spawns will pop in.

Long story short this isn't a war-winning strategy for him; he needs to keep his flattops hale and hearty and ready to hit me at the right moment.

China, shuffling some more stuff around to upgrade them all (started on Mao's this turn), and that got me 2 damaged divisions, but am planning a southern adventure down there too. They now have 2 artillery units, plus my 2 tanks, all 100%.



In India I also just got them a tank corps, plus my existing 2 TDs and a para that I can likely use to good effect. Note I decided for the next build to slow down the tech rates of India, China, and Australia by lowering their max chits by 1 across the board. Unfortunately the Dice Gods have refused to get Mountbatten on board 5 months in (25% chance per turn since the 1st of the year), and I'll need him to do anything down there. Ideally I would like to time it to happen when I start the Chinese natch.

[Elessar2]

T30 05/23/43

No More Mr. Nice Guy

After that massive raid last turn on Australia, I was expecting a 2nd round. I couldn't quite get my HQs out of range, so was worried both would be shot up and/or shattered...

...Nope. He buggered off. No real surprise: checking the MPP graph showed he lost that turn 660 to 550. S&I got 2 of his carriers, one parked in Celebes of all places, the other near Port Moresby.

So I decided to take advantage and begin my South China offensive, force him to choose between spending on his army and navy:



Took out a corps and a division, knocking another corps down to 5. Mao's boys are all fully upgraded now too, and will likely switch over to the offensive next turn as well. The no-man's land there along the central front is simply because whoever moves in there first will get pounded-was tempted, but no reason when the initial offensive proved to be a smashing success. Maybe once Mao comes in and I can shift my tanks and arty back NE; will likely sacrifice a couple of divisions to weaken him, then in go my corps and tanks backed up by my arty.

India awaits their very tardy general, but all 3 tanks are upgraded now. Have 2 F 1 Tac 1 Med.

US awaits ASW L2 (only went up one point); amending my original plans to head on out with 10 CV/2 CVLs (my 4th Essex came in this turn, 2 Independences next turn) and try to hit the Gilberts while his carriers are tied up in Japan and/or weakened.

[Elessar2]

T31 6-9-43

China, took out a corps near Chinchew, will now beseige the HQ there. If I were him I'd evacuate the guy.



Otherwise quiet, EXCEPT for a S&I hit on a long-range Amphib near the Philippines (orange circle):



There isn't a target to invade within 3 turns regular movement. Is he going to reinforce S China? OK N Australia, but he would have done that during his recent CV raid there.

Tech, US finally got ASW L2, along with Ind Tech L4 & S&I L3. Also a hit on Ship Production (which means another Essex & the 5th Iowa, never built). Got a heavy cruiser and a medium bomber. Plan to get my fleet's rear in gear is still in the works in 4 turns (late August).

There is an issue in the game system (not a bug, but a design feature) where the game assumes that a country at war is going to be constantly buying reinforcements & replacements since the assumption is that they will be constantly active against their enemies. If a front goes quiet for a stretch, a country on that front can relatively quickly build up its forces without interruption and soon unbalance that front. Russia only gets a "measly" 25 MPPs per turn, but over a year that's 500, which has allowed her to make Vladivostok completely impregnable. China with 140 per turn has become a monster, and India currently is gathering her forces for her own offensive. I want to increase Japanese income sure, but she shouldn't be able to be constantly active on all fronts simultaneously. My recent brainstorms (phased Army Mobilization and reducing tech chits for the "minor" major countries) will help to allieviate that issue.

We'll likely be restarting with the new version once we test that big fleet battle in the early fall.

[Elessar2]

Turns 32-33 June 29/July 15 1943

Operation Suck His MPP Well Dry continues apace. Made lots of progress in China:



He had brought in ANOTHER SF and a Inf Corps, but made the mistake of hitting one of my Inf Divs. It died, but in so doing knocked them both down to 5. My tank promptly took them both out. That's 3+ units which won't be garrisoning his islands. Note he also brought his HQ back in, which means another pretty penny to ship it back out (if I don't kill it first). I did agree to allow him the use of his 2 early CVLs (Chitose & Chiyoda), which is ok since the Shangri-La came in this turn. I'll be moving out now in 3 turns since everything will be fully upgraded by then.

In Australia after I got 3 S&I hits on his carriers in or near Japan (upgrading*) I started moving my forces back towards the coast. Plan now is to attack New Guinea once I get his attention with my attack on the Gilberts. The Aussies will join the fun by assaulting NG farther W with their 2 SF's and TD. I plan to have 8 aircraft units in NE Australia in 3 turns.

[*It just cost me close to 2000 smackers over ~6 turns to fully upgrade my fleet. He won't be able to do so while trying to keep the Chinese front viable.]

Indians got into the act too, with my 3 tanks moving up to the front lines. Rain denied me the use of my air force and 2 of my Inf Divs took some hits but I just want to get his attention and give him another thing to worry about (and suck MPPs from). [Pic got lost in the shuffle promise one for next turn]

I had just put in 2nd chits on US & Aussie Advanced Fighters, and they instantly paid off:



Everything is going perfectly so far.

[Elessar2]

T34 Aug 2 1943

Made more progress in China, took out a SF thus cutting off Chinchew (X, where the TD is now, after he landed 2 more to the W):



Fine by me, 4 SF's which won't be garrisoning any of my upcoming targets. He has another on Port Blair in the Indian Ocean.

India I dinged down one division tho it did hurt the Indians a bit. Again just want to get his attention. Mountbatten STILL hasn't shown up: for 13 turns the chance of that not happening is 2%...



Australia, moving everything into position for my upcoming assault against the soft underbelly:



I'll have 7 planes there in 2 turns, plus a Maritime Bomber in Espiritu Santo.

Fleet is almost ready to go, will upgrade the Shangri-La in Pearl next turn, then it is ROCK AND ROLL time.

Chits in on Tanks and Ground Attack:



Then got a 20% hit on ASW, yay.

[Elessar2]

T35 Aug 20, 1943

He spotted one of my Aussie SF near Darwin-that's ok it will give him something else to worry about and maybe bleed off some ships from his main armada. I now have spotted 4 of his planes along his empire's perimeter and thus can quickly take them out when the time comes.

Amazingly, he didn't do a durned thing in China, not even rein'ing any of his units. I couldn't take advantage with many of my units all dinged up, so repaired them vs. attacking:



Nor in India (he just rein'ed the one ID). I again repaired too. Since the Mountbatten script wasn't working for some reason, I needed to spring for an HQ. Had 321 MPPs, the other L7 one (Giffard) cost...321 MPPs. Monsoon means I likely don't need to sweat any more Jabo raids on my fighters while I give my ground units their extra AA levels.

The implication is that he is furiously upgrading his navy and simply couldn't afford to spend a single point in China.

Meanhoo Operation Tsunami will be launched in 2 turns-only ship left to upgrade is the Shangri-La which is in the SW-most Hawaiian port.

Got a Tac Bomber and another Mari Bomber into the queue:



Hit end turn-and get two VERY pleasant surprises:



Perfect Timing award, since my ground units were two turns away from embarking on their glorious missions.

Stay tuned...

[Elessar2]

T36 Sept 7 1943

Calm before the storm...

China, dinged 2 of his SFs down but didn't shatter. That's ok because if he is still trying to get his fleet up to speed he has yet another set of hard choices. Also took out an Inf Corps on the road to Hanoi which he didn't reinforce. [At least part of his fleet is now in motion based on S&I hits on 2 battlecruisers ~15 hexes SE of Tokyo]



India quiet still, monsoon kept all planes grounded on both sides.

Australia now have 4 fighters down there (the British one moved to cover the Aussies, while their Maritime Bomber severely damaged a destroyer. Just more stuff for him to think about...



Annnd my fleet is FINALLY ready to roll. Moved the old warhorses out first since they are slower (they'll have the CLs to keep them company, one CVL to look for subs, while my CA's & fast BB's will stick with my carriers). Subs in position to scout ahead in submerged mode. Another fleet CV popped into California along with the Iowa-will upgrade and send them after the main body as soon as I can...



End turn got me another pleasant surprise as Long Range Air went to L3. I decided that if I wait another two turns to upgrade he'll be that more prepared to take on my onslaught (some ships on the S&I sweep remained in Japanese harbors). Hope his likely edge there won't be much of a difference-maker. My Aussie-based planes however will all get the boost.