The Plague Diaries

[John B.]

Finally, you know, you get a great idea, you plan and plan and plan for it and then you want to show off your cool torpedoes that work at shallow depth and great airstrikes at the enemy ports and when you show up, they're gone. Sometimes life is not fair.

I suspect that this raid on Pearl Harbor is pre-scripted but, if possible, there should be some adjustment made if the US is already in the war (even if it is not at war with Japan). Make it a bit more random.

[John B.]

It's the end of February 1942 and on the Eastern Front the Germans appear to be attempting a large encirclement in the center. We're both hampered by a lack of supply and I'm hesitant to pull out. If I can kill his spearheads it's a good position. In the south an Italian corps died but no real grand offensive by the Soviets as the mud and upgrades slow things down. Still, killing his units is a good thing and makes his attacks in the summer just that much harder.

[John B.]

The Western allies started their strategic bombing campaign by hitting Paris with American B-17s and destroying 6 MMP. But, the greater cost to the Germans was the loss of a total of 6 interceptor steps. the British escorts lost about the same but anything we can cost the Germans is that much less they have to devote to the Eastern front.

[John B.]

In the East the Japanese are pushing the Chinese back. Japan conquered Nanning and destroyed a couple of Chinese units. China is slowing upgrading to Infantry weapons 2 and the extra 60 a turn they are getting over the hump is a huge plus.

Japan has pushed into Burma and is stymied at Rangoon right now and has started its attacks into Malaysia.

The US is just this close to getting Naval weapons 2 so it's waiting to upgrade all of its ships.

[John B.]

I've played ahead to the end of May 1942 so the Germans are getting ready for their summer offensives. Here is a look at the loss chart. Lots of dead Axis ships, but the AI has trouble with the naval war anyway. I think the biggest thing is the three dead German armor corps. Those really reduce the overall German offensive punch.

[John B.]

In Russia the Germans have been stuck on the Luga but they have pushed through the Valdai hills. I'm not sure how they're really maintaining themselves in supply, but there you have it. My poor armored train is isolated there and will almost certainly die this turn.

[John B.]

In the south the Soviet offensive did not punch through (and was not really expected to) but the Germans right now have failed to make any headway. I did lose a Soviet heavy tank unit and that was a sad loss. Soviet fighters have had some effect but the German/Italian airforce has a lot of bombers over here.

[John B.]

China is slowly crumbling under relentless Japanese pressure. Changsha just fell and the Japanese are killing Chinese faster than the Chinese can replace themselves.

[John B.]

But, Japan is not having everything its own way. They are having a tough fight in S.E. Asia. Malaya is holding out so far and the Japanese cannot make any headway at Rangoon. There is a chinese corps there to help out and an Indian one on the way.

[John B.]

Summer of 1942 and I finally had to pull back in the south. I was losing too many troops so now I'm just trying to save as much of my army as I can. We're watching for bad weather again as the German are poised for a big advance. Let's hope I can keep them out of the oil fields!

[John B.]

In the north I managed to eliminate the paratrooper and the tank unit is in danger of getting cut out of supply. But, the Germans keep pushing here and I need reinforcements. Of course, every part of the front needs reinforcements!

[John B.]

Meanwhile, there is a gathering storm in the Med.

[John B.]

Soviets still being pushed back in the Ukraine. the Nazis have level 3 tanks which is not helping. But, in a major boost the Russians have developed level 2 infantry weapons and it does not appear as if the Germans/Italians have that yet. It's hard to have units free to upgrade (you can't be in an enemy zoc and upgrade) but each turn a couple more make the leap.

It's near the end of September so hopefully we can see some mud before too long!

[John B.]

In China the two countries are like punch drunk fighters. Hitting each other over and over hoping that the other one falls down first. The Japanese have continued their strat bombing of Chinese industry. In Malaya the Japanese are grinding south.

[John B.]

But retribution is coming! In the Pacific ship recon shows that Einewetok is empty and the American navy is on its way.

[John B.]

While the British have landed in Sicily! I cleared out Syracuse but was unable to take it. Let's hope that the Italians can't get anything into there to hold it. If so, it will be a bad day for the British!

[John B.]

It's early October 1942 and I'm scouting out invasion sites in France, but there is not too much that looks tempting. I need to seize a port but that can be tough to do. Cherbourg is vulnerable, but I'd have to clear the fighter out of the way first.

The Allies did pile on the Strat bombing this turn inflicting some heavy losses on the Luftwaffe and damaging Amsterdam and the Ruhr.

[John B.]

The British did manage to seize Syracuse and now have two armies ashore. I need to look how to take Italy out of the war. It would reduce Germany's forces in the east and may lead to rebellions in Greece and Yugoslavia.

[John B.]

The Americans have started their counter offensive in the Pacific. I'm going to ignore Japanese gains in the South Pacific because I don't really care. And, if they want to leave garrisons in the Solomons that's fine with me. Japanese bombers do some damage to the Australian economy, but I think going straight across the Pacific works better.

Now, where is the Japanese fleet?

[John B.]

It's not in China. More death and destruction going on there.