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But the first Japanese attack, the invasion of Java, is a total disaster!
Mental note - NEVER invade in the rain!

Initially the Japanese just attacked the Commonwealth, but in their 2nd impulse, the Japanese declare war on the USA and France

The line up at Pearl Harbor;

Although surprised, the defenders at Pearl put up a lot of AA

The Japanese pilots mistake some transports for battleships somehow, and sink them.
But they also hit the magazine of USS California, which detonates in dramatic fashion.
USS Nevada is also damaged.
The loss of the transports is probably more concerning to the US than the battleships, of course, although all can be replaced.

Nice to see this resume from hiatus.

In the North Sea, the Germans sink the British CONV supplying their troops in Bergen

Stukas fly in and pound the British positions - but they are well dug in

The US now has a 30% chance of succeeding in a declaration of war against Germany and Italy.
They get the roll

I can't show you all the moves, due to lack of screenshots, but we have skipped to Mar/Apr 42, I'm afraid.
Other than the attack on Pearl Harbor, the failed invasion of Java, plus several automatic landings, there wasn't much activity.
Now, in Mar/Apr 42, in the Polynesian sea, three Japanese carriers with a cruiser escort find five US battleships - with no escort! .

But Arizona is only damaged.

In the Faeroes Gap, three U-boats finally find the British convoys. The slaughter begins.

Then in the second round, they succeed again!

The British player (Bomber Harris) sends a strong cruiser group through the Faeroes Gap. I can't remember where they came from or where he was trying to get them to - but the U-boats intercept them.
the cruiser Newcastle is damaged and Gloucester sunk.

Due to some spectacular rolling, plus the surprise points they had, the U-boats suffer just one damaged and aborted

As if things could not get worse - the remaining U-boats then find the British yet again!

A lot of surprise points are available, and they are used to maximise the damage

Two more CONV are destroyed and another aborted, leaving just five (some of which had only just been moved in there)

In the Pacific theatre, war comes to Australia as a Japanese carrier strike force Port Attacks Brisbane, with a small US squadron sheltering there.

The defenders fire desperately at the attacking Japanese aircraft