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The weather on the map was terrible from top to bottom for both sides, and air operations were severely curtailed this turn. Much remained status quo In China, Burma and the Philippines as both sides prepare for the next major push.

At Tarawa, DesertWolf sends major bombardment task forces to soften up the beaches. The invasion is imminent!

https://youtu.be/4fXfCuJcUQU

Judgment days for the besieged men of the Bataan peninsula in the Philippines! Wirraway decides to move. See how it turns out.

DesertWolf has commenced his seaborne invasion of Tarawa!

https://youtu.be/c1Tj9eIqyeI

Here's a short and sweet turn for you today. The Japanese make some gains in China on their drive towards Lanchow.

DesertWolf is consolidating gains in the Gilbert Islands and looking for his next objective. Makin Atoll was probed today and looks ripe for the taking.

https://youtu.be/ek-FIjHqfoA

Our Japanese opponent suffered a disastrous day on the ground! DesertWolf launched a massive aerial bombardment of an under-defended base in Thailand and caught DOZENS of Japanese Army aircraft on the ground. They never had a chance, and it again calls into question the practice of not flying CAP to protect critical assets.

https://youtu.be/h952UJ_cq6c

Lots of action in this one! DesertWolf sent some destroyers on a seek & destroy mission in the Gilberts and they found exactly what they were looking for.

In the Aleutians, DesertWolf has initiated his long-anticipated reconquest of Attu, but not everything went exactly to plan...

https://youtu.be/JPWpUdgGzvM

Allied airpower is on FULL display this turn as the Japanese foolishly leave aircraft on the ground well within range of American and British bombers. Needless to say the results were completely expected and dozens of valuable Japanese aircraft were blasted into oblivion.


https://youtu.be/5KlEHLSsfcY

A poor Japanese ground unit is caught in the open near Pegu, Burma and is turned into swiss cheese by a massive concentrated bombing operation by the Allied air forces.

In China, Wirraway makes a questionable decision to attack in the one place I said he would not break through. You don't even have to guess how that went down...

https://youtu.be/2AllLhBJjOc

I've been raging about the lack of Japanese aerial activity in Burma since I started covering this campaign, and today I got my wish: A MASSIVE slugest over Chiang Mai!

Over 200 fighter aircraft from both sides clashed over Chiang Mai this turn and it was knock-down, drag-out fight! I don't want to give away too many details but I will say this: The Japanese came to party today!

https://youtu.be/BhPvZ5DHBT8

Another quiet turn as both sides figure out how to recover from that blistering air battle two days prior. Also, we see a glimpse of where DesertWolf is going to hit next by some mine sweeping operations.

https://youtu.be/VQHnMyYuFx8

This was another quiet turn, but I did manage to find someone famous flying around in the latest and greatest American equipment!

https://youtu.be/5ANEofDILJ4

The Japanese attack plan in central China baffles me. Wirraway continues to attempt to force his way through terrain that I feel is impossible for him to take. Every time he attempts it, the same result occurs. The Japanese need to figure out a new plan in China. Don't worry, I've got the solution!

https://youtu.be/KhGY1pJQBJk

Today we get the payoff for the days of quiet turns before. DesertWolf gets caught in a MASSIVE CAP trap and his planes are harvested and massacred by the dozens. But it wasn't an entirely a one-sided show: DesertWolf found an under protected Japanese airbase and pummels it from maximum range with B-24s, leaving dozens of Japanese aircraft wrecked on the ground. It was a huge back and forth day for the air phase, but the Japanese take the cake.

It wasn't all great for the Japanese, however. The Americans land at another island in the Pacific and the result was exactly as I predicted.

You don't want to miss this one!

https://youtu.be/kRjlH0KY1_Y

The air war in Burma isn't over! DesertWolf is persistent and won't let yesterday's failure in the air go unpunished. There's a lot of action over Taung Gyi again today and it's time for some payback.

As an added bonus, we get to see just how powerful pairs of Allied destroyers can be. DesertWolf launches some raids in the area around Nauru and the action doesn't disappoint!

https://youtu.be/_ZnTi7TK04s

DesertWolf has completed his vengeance in Burma. As he predicted, Wirraway overcommitted at Taung Gyi and the Allied numerical superiority overwhelmed the enemy there and laid total waste to everything. There is nothing left... it was a complete destruction!

https://youtu.be/tcW0Rx8d6aE

This turn really demonstrated why I feel the Allied 4E bombers are just too overpowered in this game and an almost insurmountable burden for the Japanese in late 1942. Despite Wirraway putting up a good faith CAP, DesertWolf's Liberators slice through it like it wasn't even there and cause massive damage. I don't like it!

https://youtu.be/VNNzf3v03IY

In this turn we get to see another DEEP raid by B-24s flying at maximum range, causing damage and disruption to the Japanese rear areas. These bombers are making me want to never play as Japanese. It's infuriating how powerful and unstoppable they are! I pity the fool that has to play Japan in late 1942.

https://youtu.be/-_L3H9j_cZ4

The Allied four-engine bombers are at it again and today they decide to do some earth moving at Nauru. The garrison was targeted and hit and any remaining aircraft on the field are basically obliterated now. Nothing is safe from Allied airpower in the Central Pacific!

HOWEVER... Wirraway did show us a little sign of life this turn, and there was a little surprise at Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean. Take a look and see what he pulled off. Hint: Something Allied sank!

https://youtu.be/SrKc1vk2GNQ

Today we get to see the absolute power of the P-38 as DesertWolf launches a deep fighter sweep over Japanese-held territory in Thailand, leading to disproportionate casualties. Every day I watch how badly the Japanese are getting man-handled in late '42, it makes me more nervous to play Japan myself!

https://youtu.be/w55jOL_mgYY

We get to see Richard Bong and friends score some kills over the Marshall Islands. Since I discovered this pilot was in the game and the map I decided to track his progress closely. Let this be the first of many kills for this pilot during this campaign!

https://youtu.be/XKV5RZQkXWM

After days of preparation the Japanese led by Admiral Wirraway finally attack Lanchow. The actual ground combat was preceded by a massive aerial bombardment. Did they finally push the Chinese out or did they hold? Take a look and see!

https://youtu.be/YMWBLOrcePQ