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In North China, the communists are not yet ready to try an assault on the Japanese lines. Not since the last attack failed. Conversely, the Japanese are too busy trying to kill the annoying partisans that deprieve them from hard earned resources! And anayway, the Chinese position is too strong to warrant any significant gain.

In South China, the Chinese are certainly not going to recapture the lost terrain ; but the numerous nationalist units make any Japanese progress unlikely.

While not yet a war theater, Egypt may well soon see action again, as the British have just brought a HQ and mech unit from India! They can't be there just for the show...

For once, considering there is nothing of immediate importance to do, and that this opportunity may not present itself again, the axis powers launch a naval.

For Germany, the purpose is to lauch all of its subs, most notably these in Germany, as well as try to repatraite its ships to a German port (unlikely as it seems.)

Italy just wants to launch it subs. A combined is sufficient for that.

Japan knows that it will have to react to the US move. It will also want to break the convoy line that sends supplies from the USA to the Philippinoes.


And indeed, in the China Sea an impressive ship buildup can be seen : both sides are willing to fight. The Japanese know that they may not have any better opportunity to weaken the US fleet ; a large success would probably pull back the US hopes for months. And anywhy, can they let the US fleet raid their sea lanes unmolested ? For the amricans, the logic is similar: force the Japanese out of their ports to confront the US fleet: any losses on the US side will be shortly replaced ; not so for the Japanese fleet, which still suffers from the previous confrontations: many carriers do not yet have their planes and pilots, whereas the US carriers are full. However, the Japanses planes are a notch above!

Thirteen sea areas, no less, where combat could happen.

The axis declines in some, but the allies will not...
In the others, the axis try their luck, beginning with the American East Coast, where the Germna subs are raiding a poorly defended area.

Unfortunately they find... a Catalina patrol...

Which is not exactly efficient.

However, the Germans do insits.

The Catilinas too...

The subs turn tail to Bordeaux, where they were headed anyway. With their long range, this will be a good place to raid the Southern Atlantic, where patrols are not so heavy yet.

In the Northern Atlantic, the 3 sub German pack tries it chance too.

It finds... our Catilina's friend, the Sunderland!

The British decline to avoi the combat.

Even though a sub is damaged and another aborted, the Germans decide to stay.
One good strike is what is needed... After all, the chances to be found by the escorts is less than 50%...

However, the Sunderland is no less vigilant than its friend...

But it's too weak to do serious damage...

At long last, the subs finally locate their prey!

The German subs are forced back after the attack, with no losses.

While some convoys are destroyed and others forced to go back to their ports.

In Cape St Vincent, the Italian subs find a host of convoys!

But the sea is so filled with enemy ships that the subs barely escape.

While still pulling shome convoys to the bottom.

Against all expectations, none of the Japanese subs or ships find any US convoys...

But in the China sea, the USA are lucky enough to locate the Japanese fleet before beeing itself seen.

Of course, I made a huge mistake and clicked too fast, including the Japanese land based air units... To complicated to go back, so I'll have to do with the result!

The American commander chooses to send most of his air units as bombers. He expects that some at least will get through... by sheer numbers.