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As the weather turns sour, the allies launch thier massive fleet in the seas controlled by Japan. Unfortunately, despite being in the 1 box, the allies find the japanese anti-sub air force.


March 1944 impulse 3

It cannot withstand the incredible amount of air squadrons it meets.


March 1944 impulse 3

Bad luck is sticking!
The US fleet finds the remaining Japaesese assets in the area.


March 1944 impulse 3

Even the Japanese air cover cannot withstand the ouslaught.
The D3A1 flees the unequal combat.


March 1944 impulse 3

Two third of the convoys are either destroyed or forced to flee.
The Imperial Command decides not to risk what remains and vacates the area. This cuts all suplies to the Japanese mainland troops : this is not an issue, as the lines are strong and no unit is likely to have to move.
However, there are bad consequences: the fleet cannot stay in Tokyo, or it will risk being struck in port. So, meeting the Americans is a serious option! Especially considering that the worst, a combined action with the British in addition, is not yet there!


March 1944 impulse 3

Indeed, the British are occupied in the South China sea where they too find the Japanese air cover.


March 1944 impulse 3

But the squadron manages to flee.
A bug in the naval combat stops the search there and the convoys are left alone.


March 1944 impulse 3

The Chinese troops are emboldened and close to the Japanese front line, in order to cause an unrest increase and produce some partisans. With winter on one side, and the USA and Commonwealth on the other, the risks are limited that Japan can mount a powerfull offensive.

Little change in North China where the front was active.

On their turn, the Japanese move their fleet but fail to find the US fleet.

However, on the allies turn, they succeed with a good surprise rating.

This result in a huge air naval combat.

The Japanese choose to place all their surprise combat to ensure that the planes penetrate the allied air defense as well as protecting their own fleet. The result is rather satisfying.

The Japanese flak manages to destroy an attacking squadron.

But the powerfull US flak destroy three Japanese squadrons, and makes another useless.

The Japanese lose two carriers, and two unimportant cruisers.

And the US lose only one carrier and some cruisers.

Overall, despite the excellent Japanese surprise rolls, the US get out the winner of this behemoth combat. Both countries have lost 7 carrier air squadron, but the US have now a lot more power: 18 air squadrons against 13. The Japanese have lost half of their bombers, so there is little hope that another round might pass the heavy US flak.

The Japanese decide on retreating to Monomato, which is out of reach of a possible port strike by the US fleet which is unlikely to leave the area!

131 anti-aircraft factors! [X(]

ORIGINAL: composer99

131 anti-aircraft factors! [X(]

Yes ; that's the second reason why I love these US battleships.
But the whole US fleet (but for a handful of ships) was mobilized for that operation

The March 44 turn ends on many more destroyed units than expected.
We don't see 4 units lost by the Commonwealth, among which 2 Lnd4.

Considering their production of 80+, the US losses are small.
At 13BP lost, the Commonwealth losses are also minimal, compared with a production of 56.
At 17BP lost, the soviets suffer a bit more, but once again, this doesn't slow them down, and they still can buy 2 offensives per turn with their 52BP production, which will certainly see good use in the coming summer.

The axis powers suffer. For a long time, Japan was on an ascending slope, with the latest production reaching in the 26BP. But the turn losses of 42BP, to which we must add the lost convoys (at least 7BP, I did not count exactly), and the lost production (because all resources won't reach the factories) : 15BP are expected this turn (but I think the convoy planner missed something : there should be more I believe.)

As for Germany, it will lose 59BP in destroyed units, against a nice 40BP production. The decline is slow but steady, and the allies still face strong defense lines.

As I foresaw, the Japanese lose 1 resource (2BP) to the inapt convoying algorithm, which fails to use the minor port of Wonsan. With Pusan full (4 resources convoyed), the game doesn't look further...

However, there are 8 convoys in the sea of japan, and the additional resource could well get through.

Other reources are obviously lost, because they rely on shipping in the China seas (Hanoi, Hainan, Formosa, Philipines.)

In April 44:

Japan builds:
- 3 convoys
- 1 mechanized
- 3 carrier planes
- 2 pilots

China builds:
- 1 armor

The Commonwealth builds:
- 1 infantry
- 1 infantry div
- 1 armor div
- 1 artillery
- 2 convoys
- 2 subs (superstructures)
- 1 Lnd4
- 3 Ftr2
- 1 Ftr3
- 3 pilots
- 1 offensive
- save 3BP

The USA build:
- 1 para
- 1 engineer div
- 1 mechanized
- 1 armor div
- 2 carriers (superstructures)
- repair 1 Battleship
- 2 sub (superstructures)
- 6 carrier planes
- 2 Ftr3
- 1 Lnd3
- 4 pilots
- 2 offensives