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The State of the War

US and UK begin scouting for weak points, Italy, Western France, Spain, or Denmark.
Maritime bombers begin clearing the Med, but Italy has level 2 AA and upgraded docks. Yikes!
UK has decided it will invade Portugal and then Spain.
Spies shows what Spanish troops deployments are. UK can take Spain in 1 turn if Portugal is in Allied Hands. By Taking Spain, Germany will lose more NM to destroyed Spanish Troops. Increased MPP income for UK will be helpful. Axis cannot re-invade Spain as US strat bombers (level 3) that will arrive in January will destroy supply. I'm going for the long strangle game, taking every country apart.

Greece is diploid and is at 75%. Would like this to move Allied to open a Balkan front.

The First US based strat bomber has arrived and begins pummeling German Mining Operations. France is scouted and Allies take note of positions. UK ground based bombers are in Sweden and have received level 2 upgrade. Still figuring out how to best deploy those. Do not have LRA2 so will be hard for them to bomb Sicily from Tunisia, but we shall see.

Maybe by bombing Northern Germany, from Southern Sweden, Axis will have to divert 5 AA guns (max german) to German mines as those are effected by IT whereas French ones are not. With Ground Attack Bombers occupied, USA strat bombers can level France, providing a safe drop off point for Allies Troops.
Wiped a Mine
US has ordered fleets of aircraft BEFORE troops when it first entered the war. This was a great move. They will be ready in Dec (not shown as corps are slated). Normally I go tanks first, but I think securing the air power is actually correct. The corps will be deployed to the Pacific, as I think the UK can handle Germany.

Soviets Launch their second big offensive. The aim of this offensive is to bloody the German armor spearhead such that they must retreat, counter strike, and repair units. This ought to take 3 turns for the Axis. Those three turns will put the Axis squarely in winter / mud weather. Thus allowing Soviets to have a breather, order reinforcements, and prevent force the Axis to spend MPP on unit repairs instead of purchasing heavy tanks for spring '43 battles.
After
More Troops Deployed

Zhukov and the armored trains defend Moscow. Germans are taking decent chip damage off the steps of the Red City.

Engineers continue to fortify approaches to the city.
Red October MPP Losses for the Axis
Germans have now lost more than they have gained

The UK tests German Harbos, hits fighters, and the maritime bombers are almost destroyed.
UK invades and captures Portugal, per plan. NOT according to plan is Spain mobilizing to 99%. UK rushes troops to the Portuguese ports as it takes 1 turn of being in a harbor to unload if not strength 5. Army is shifted to Gibraltar. USAF has been deployed in America but will take 1 turn to upgrade, 1 turn to operate, and so will be late for the assault on Spain.

US HQ has landed in west Africa with an army and the tank corps from the Pacific. A small US troops but the first boots on the ground from the US of A since the war started. Hopefully this will make Elvis sweat.
This is a huge problem. If Axis operates heavy tanks to Spain, Allies will have to retreat from the Iberian Penninsula. USAF bombers only have range 1, so they cannot cut the Supply TO Spain, but the can bomb the towns in Spain near Portugal. Two USAF Strat Bombers have been deployed but will take some time to position them and bomb the rail lines down.

Allies have chosen the Spanish gambit as they did not have the time to prepare to invade Italy, but needed to open another front to divert Axis troops / resources.

Portugese West, East, and Timor all activate and join Axis!! Crap! Just gave the Axis ports to refuel on and destroy the convoy lines!

France still defended.
Japan is an MPP BEAST. Making almost 500 MPP a turn.

State of the Empires War Coffers

UK 470 MPP
France 10 MPP
USA 932 MPP
USSR 1039 MPP (but it never seems like enough ...)
China 50 MPP
India 119 (and only one HQ - not enough to defend the huge Japanese Invasion)

Oh holy hell I considered invading Portugal to get to Spain (As Allies) but didn't consider Angola, Mozambique, and Timor (Portuguese colonies all), either.
Well, that's one way to open up the Africa sandbox

There was a change in v1.05.00
- The pro-Axis effect on Spain when the Allies declare war on Portugal has been increased from 35-45% to 35-60% (crispy131313).

I was a little surprised to discover that after Japan declares war on the US, that Australian troops can conquer Timor with no diplomatic penalty. On the other hand, I heard that there is a 10% chance that Portugal will join the Allies if Japan declares war on Timor.

Mithrilotter wrote: Wed Nov 01, 2023 1:41 am There was a change in v1.05.00
- The pro-Axis effect on Spain when the Allies declare war on Portugal has been increased from 35-45% to 35-60% (crispy131313).

I was a little surprised to discover that after Japan declares war on the US, that Australian troops can conquer Timor with no diplomatic penalty. On the other hand, I heard that there is a 10% chance that Portugal will join the Allies if Japan declares war on Timor.

Yeah man I tested the AI and it only was bumping around 40%. Wish I would have known that. Invading Portugal and mobilizing Spain has been the worst decision of war so far by Allies. Total slaughterhouse. Playing on Axis homefield, they got tanks, mechanized troops, and UK troops getting slaughtered in the beaches. IF I had waited 5 turns to invade everything would be a-ok but I got too greedy, moved to fast, and now British and Canadian Troops are paying a heavy price until the USAF can show up and save the day ... but even then lvl 3 Axis AA will down many a US Airman

In the Pacific, Combined Fleet inches forward.
US AA is brought in and settlements and ports are upgraded to level 3.
US Research is still churning
State of World in January 1943

UK invasion of Portugal and Spain is a disaster! Churchill, after learning nothing from Gallipoli, decides to waste more Commonwealth lives in scenarios where there is no air cover, no ports that can reinforce troops, and little room to make entrenchments.

Initial Stages: UK invades, Spain Mobilizes, Germany moves an Army and Corps into Spain.
Supply is low for Allies, and ports NEED to be held until they repair up to 5 to allow a stream of reinforcements. Its the battle of hex controls.
A German corps is surrounded that tried to capture a port
UK responds by portecting the ports

Initial Airforce elements arrive and USAF has moved the first batch of planes to Casablanca.
Rick does his duty and helps the Allies!
Axis respond with heavy armor and mechanized troops, threatening the HQ and ports.
UK bashes back, destroying 3 Axis Units. Initial Strat Bombing runs by the UK hope to lower supply. IF the USAF can bomb the smitheries out of Spain, there is the potential the Spanish Army group could be caught and completely eliminated. Worthy to note: cannot spot a German HQ anywhere in Spain so the German units seem to be performing poorly. Hoping for bad weather to impede movement.

Allies drum up reinforcements to potentially open up a third front / push.

The Allies units in Portugal are split down the middle. This is horrid for HQ control and supply but requires the Axis to commit more troops. A solid schwerpunke drive by the Axis can split these troops. Allied strategy may require opening a THIRD front, though seemingly idiotic, because the ports and town in East Spain can be isolated and taken. This would force the German to fight on another front. USAF could then strat bomb Madrid to 0 and completely gut the supply. With the shore towns occupied or shelled by battleships, Axis troops will be culled by the airforce.

Africa goes Axis!
Another for the Furher

India is under heavy siege. Will be destroyed no doubt.

Russia is completely static.
Snow grounds soviets and axis.

Bombing runs on the Reich.
Berlin is open, Paratroops ordered to jump on it, but will arrive in late spring.
Allies cannot afford to destory docked german ships. Too much AA defence.

Axis surrender February 1943

With all the diplomacy and the triple team in Europe, Germany surrenders.
With the ports in Portugal open, it's over.

Going to finish up the last of my ARR screencaps.

Germans Push back hard in Spain. Level 3 AA inflicts serious casualites on low supply allied planes (max 8 in NA). US delivers 3 AT units (the last of the ground units - USA did not have any new ones for 5 months if those were destroyed). I think Elvis surrundered too early. China was about to capitulate, India was about to Fall and Japan would have made over 700 MPP a turn!
Heavy fighting
Strat Bombers hit supply

Continued Allied assualts
Bombing the Reich commences
The Spanish get a real war.