Taifun (Axis) v EarlyDoors (Allies)

[Taifun]

In the AGC area of operations our spearhead panzerkorps, advancing along the good road from Kaluga, reached the outskirts of Moscow. Orel was captured isolating the Soviet troops defending stubbornly Bryansk. Numerous Soviet troops still remained entrenched in the Rzhev-Vyazma area. No German HQ could be moved forward through the narrow corridor due enemy activity, so our forward troops received limited supplies.

AGC July.png (3.87 MiB) Viewed 1569 times

General Zhukov launched a counterattack aiming to reopen the railroad linking Stalingrad and Saratov. That would have allowed the transport/evacuation of his troops. But our recon unit held the ground stoically. The AT defending Saratov didn’t participate in the attack.
Stalingrad was captured and General Zhukov’s HQ attacked! He himself escaped but his personal diary fell in our hands. In his last entry July 31st we could read: “the war is lost, to continue this struggle is pointless!”.

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Advancing from Voronezh German troops attacked Ryansk (north) and Saratov, a panzerkorps even pushing further towards Kuybyshev. Some Soviet troops remained trapped at Kotelnikovo rail station and near Stalingrad. Krasnodar finally fell after a spirited defense. One of Baku’s oilfields was recaptured and Tbilisi was occupied after a garrison found the city deserted. General von Manstein’s HQ was still set at Rostov, and needed to be moved closer to the front lines…

AGS July .png (2.23 MiB) Viewed 1569 times

Yamamoto with the Kido Butai carriers was entering the Arabian Sea. Monsoon rains in India.

KIDO BUTAI.png (2.04 MiB) Viewed 1569 times

[Taifun]

Samoa was about to fall after a fanatical defense by our SF. A US CV was detected moving West towards the Australian coast.

July 42.png (2.18 MiB) Viewed 1565 times

Battle of the Atlantic. The US convoys to the UK were interrupted and the UK only got 50 MPPs after losing another 100 MPPs in the Atlantic.

UK convoy July.png (836.02 KiB) Viewed 1565 times

The USSR also received a reduced number of MMPs from the British convoys, about 130 MMPs. The UK economy was giving signs of being near exhaustion…

USSR convoy July.png (814.94 KiB) Viewed 1565 times

Terrible USSR losses ….

USSR July MPPs.png (855.53 KiB) Viewed 1565 times

[EarlyDoors]

August 1942

CCCXXII Corps defending the key Chinese town of Kweichow are destroyed. Also about Sian the fortified 200th Mech Light Tanks are lost.

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Further east, Vladivostock falls to the Japanese.

The Indian XIII Corps isolated at Basra succumb to Axis forces. The monsoon continues in India where the V Corps are destroyed at Alhamabad. The Port City of Karachi is found to be unoccupied and is liberated by an Indian Garrison.

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Canada loses a destroyer Columbia. Kreigsmarine loses U-32. 100mpp of merchant shipping lost.

[EarlyDoors]

August 1942 - USSR

Army Group Centre seems to be calling up all available axis units as Soviets scramble to save Moscow. The AT guns can't really dent the Panzers.

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Stalingrad falls and the south collapses.

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3 Armies, 1 Heavy Tanks, an Engineer and 1 Garrison are lost.

A Panzer from Army Group South A push on to the Baku oilfield again. A Soviet corps from across the Caspian Sea land behind them isolating their supply. I'm unsure whether this move will hold but its a risk that must be taken.
Tblisi falls.

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Japanese Special Forces are destroyed at Samoa.
Brazil joins the Allies.

[Taifun]

In Finland and the Baltic states, the Soviets still deployed important infantry forces. No less than 5 armies and several infantry corps defended Leningrad and the Baltic States. Limited offensive operations were planned in this area to fix these Soviet troops. The Tallin railroad was cut in the Gulf of Finland and Pskov attacked.

More and more Axis reinforcements detrained at Smolensk. The gap between Rzhev and Vyazma was widened and General von Leeb advanced to the Kaluga area to organize the final assault on Moscow. Bryansk and Tula were still in enemy hands. To our surprise Moscow was not heavily reinforced… where was Stalin? Why not send additional Armies to defend the Soviet Capital?

AGN August.png (2.68 MiB) Viewed 1475 times

In AGS the important city of Saratov fell in our hands while the Stalingrad area was cleared of the last Bolsheviks. General von Rundstedt, leading the German advance from the Saratov area, gathered his troops and bombers for an immediate attack on Kuybyshev.
At Voronezh detrained the dessert veteran 4th panzerkorps upgraded with our last model of panzers III and fully motorized and refitted.

AGS August.png (2.44 MiB) Viewed 1475 times

The isolated panzerkorps near Baku was rescued but von Bock informed that additional troops would be needed to capture the Primary Supply City of Baku.

Our U-Boote retired to French ports to refit and rest. A powerful Axis Task force was deployed near Gibraltar, patrolling the Strait in case any Allied ships tried to enter the Mediterranean Sea.

Under Admiral Yamamoto the Kido Butai entered the Red Sea followed by Admiral Ozawa, who was escorting our invasion force of 4 LRAT Special Forces in the Arabian Sea.

August 42.png (2.77 MiB) Viewed 1475 times

Things were heating in the South Pacific as again a US CV was spotted near Brisbane. Our intelligent officers believed that now 2 US CVs were operating in the Coral Sea. The US Navy was certainly organizing an amphibious operation… will they aim the DEI, Port Moresby or the Solomons?

In China our troops finally reached the Capital Chungking … Our troops were exhausted as no reinforcements were earmarked for China for many months.

China August 42.png (2.03 MiB) Viewed 1475 times

[Taifun]

The USSR was down to 40 land units. The Axis had now more ships that the Allies…

Roster August 42.png (906.67 KiB) Viewed 1474 times

As our subs left the Atlantic Ocean the UK received an amazing 450 MPPs via convoys…

UK convoys.png (825.9 KiB) Viewed 1474 times

[EarlyDoors]

September 1942

The Admiralty did not have a clear picture of the size of the IJN fleet transiting the Arabian Sea. Last month scouts in Sudan had spotted 2 Carriers and this month ULTRA reported a third in the Red Sea and the presence of 1 LRAT steaming behind. The remnants of the Eastern Mediterranean fleet had been repairing about Mombassa and now were ready to sail. The force was not strong, just 1 sub, 1 Destroyer, 1 Heavy Cruiser and the Carrier Ark Royal. The LRAT was tempting. It probably had an escort and may be on its way to Gibraltar. The units moved in to strike and ran into a whole world of pain.

1942-09-11-ijn-heads-for-mediterranean.png (1.26 MiB) Viewed 1439 times

With the monsoon continuing to ground Allied Air Force in India, Japanese forces targeted Calcutta. India received timely re-inforcements with the 254th Tanks and 224 Group.

Gandhi calls on the British to quit. He is promptly arrested.

1942-09-11-japanese-target-calcutta.png (1.38 MiB) Viewed 1439 times

US diplomatic success swings Turkey 15% back towards the Allies. A US marine Tank division spawns at Samoa. boffins discover ASW level 3.

Japan destroys the re-constituted Chinese XIV Corps and heads for the Capital Chungking.

1942-09-11-japanese-advance-on-chungking.png (982.72 KiB) Viewed 1439 times

[EarlyDoors]

September 1942

Axis naval forces loitering around Gibraltar begin a reduction of the ports. This will aid a seaborne assault from the south-west.

1942-09-11-reduction-of-gibraltar-ports.png (419.97 KiB) Viewed 1435 times

The Royal Marines (resting at Narvik) had been earmarked for an assault on the Norwegian airfields of the luftwaffe. The Norwegian Sea is still contested but navigable. They load up. Meanwhile 2 British carriers destroy the same target - the FleigerKorps X Maritime Bombers at Bergen - this will have unintended consequences.

1942-09-11-maritime-bombers-shot-down-at-bergen-rm-prepare-at-narvik.png (1.19 MiB) Viewed 1435 times

Merchant shipping losses were only 17mpps last month and they were all on the Commonwealth convoys. US Maritime Bombers are delivered to south-west England.

1942-09-11-uboats-raid-commonwealth-convoys.png (1.15 MiB) Viewed 1435 times

Bezrodnoye, Kotelnikovo and Saratov are all captured.
USSR loses 1 Mechanized, 2 Corps, 1 Anti-tank and 1 Anti-Air unit.
Prayers are said for Moscow.

1942-09-11-prayers-for-moscow.png (1.56 MiB) Viewed 1435 times

[Taifun]

Japanese naval units entered the Mediterranean Sea, while Admiral Yamamoto with the main Body of the KIDO BUTAI was about the enter the Suez Canal. Admiral Ozawa operating near the Gulf of Aden
sunk 1 CA and 1 DD and damaged the British sub while chasing another US sub in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Calcutta was at last captured by our troops in India.

September 42.png (1.84 MiB) Viewed 1413 times

Our intelligence Office in Tokyo signaled the presence of a US LRAT near Brisbane. Shortly afterward 2 Japanese subs surprised and sunk the 1st Marines SF.

The pressure against Pskov continued in AGN. The town of Vyazma was captured and our troops reached the town of Rzev, almost enveloping the whole fortified defensive Soviet positions. The 2 panzerkorps near Moscow were moved west as assault armies reached the capital.
Bryansk was occupied without a fight, as the defending Soviet Army moved southeast and liberated Orel. Tula resisted south of Moscow. Italian artillery detrained at Smolensk.

General von Rundstedt’s troops reached the outskirts of Kuybyshev. With 4 panzerkorps and 4 bombers he commandeered now the strongest group of German forces in the East.

USSR SEP.png (3.4 MiB) Viewed 1413 times

The Soviets still deployed 39 land units at the end of this turn, but the writing was on the wall. The USSR was a defeated country. They will soon be cornered around their last Capital in the Urals and around Leningrad.

The Allies were still providing large convoys, around 200 MPPs per turn.

USSR convoy.png (819.94 KiB) Viewed 1413 times

But it was a drop in the sea of Soviet losses…

USSR MPPs Sep.png (845.12 KiB) Viewed 1413 times

[Taifun]

The Allies have lost a large number of ships. The UK lost 7 DDs, 6 CLs, 5 CAs, 5 MTBs and 3 BBs and the US Navy another 10 ships against 5 Axis ships. A lost ratio of 7,2:1 or 6,2:1 not counting Pearl Harbor losses…

Units lost.png (1.18 MiB) Viewed 1412 times

[EarlyDoors]

October 1942

China's 13th Army is destroyed. The Nationalist Capital of Yenan is now under threat.

1942-10-09-nationalist-capital-yenan-under-threat.png (803.04 KiB) Viewed 1375 times

Bengali Corps were destroyed and Calcutta has fallen dealing yet another morale blow to the British. The monsoon lifts and the air arm begin the reduction of japanese supply resources in India.

1942-10-09-monsoon-lifts-over-india.png (1.19 MiB) Viewed 1375 times

In the Arabian Sea, the heavily destroyed Australian destroyer Vendetta and Heavy Cruiser Canberra are lost with all hands.

Japanese subs surprise and destroy the 2nd Marine Division in the Coral Sea.

1942-10-09-japanese-subs-surprise-marine-corps-in-coral-sea.png (1.11 MiB) Viewed 1375 times

The Axis continue the reduction of Gibraltars ports.

1942-10-09-reduction-of-gibraltar-ports-for-ijn.png (560.64 KiB) Viewed 1375 times

[EarlyDoors]

October 1942 - Europe

Bergen is occupied by a luftwaffe fighter wing. Royal Marines land and blast fighters out of town. A sub stations itself just south of Bergen to catch a retreating Battle Cruiser or incoming garrison transport.
HMS Prince Of Wales batters the Tirpitz down to 1 strength point but it slips away back into port at Trondheim. It survives repeated air attack from USAAF Maritime Bombers.

1942-10-09-norway.png (1.63 MiB) Viewed 1372 times

There are u-boat skirmishes in the Channel.

1942-10-09-uboat-skirmishes-in-the-channel.png (1.27 MiB) Viewed 1372 times

An out-of-supply Finnish Corps has been menacing the Murmansk railline and somehow manages to blast a garrison into retreat severing the convoy route. Soviet Special Forces react. Fortunately the Archangelsk route is still operating.

1942-10-09-garrison-retreats-and-convoy-line-is-broken.png (411.92 KiB) Viewed 1372 times

[EarlyDoors]

October 1942 - USSR

Bryansk and Vyazma are captured. Orel liberated. Moscow is braced. USSR is undergoing drought this year. Nothing can halt luftwaffe air bombardments.

1942-10-09-moscow-on-the-brink.png (1.4 MiB) Viewed 1370 times

The 1st Tanks and 26th Army are lost. Kuybyshev looks doomed.

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[Taifun]

The fighting in Finland has been raging for many months but the front barely moved. The Soviet troops in the far north were gone but a few Allied infantry corps still defend the area.

Finland.png (1.45 MiB) Viewed 1354 times

The good weather was gone in northern Russia. Pskov resisted our attacks near lake Peipus. Considerable enemy troops still defended the Leningrad approaches and the Baltic States. The isolated Soviet troops near Orel were destroyed. Moscow was captured by the Italian ARIETE tank corps!

October 42.png (3.72 MiB) Viewed 1354 times

The alternate capital Kuybyshev also fell in our hands. General von Manstein arrived at Saratov and already planned the capture of Pern, the last Soviet capital where Stalin was surely organizing a last-ditch defense.


Hitler and Mussolini agreed to parade together to celebrate…

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[Taifun]

Baku was still holding in the Caucasus. Admiral Yamamoto was approaching Gibraltar. The British CV Ark Royal was sunk by Ozawa, the first carrier to be sunk in this war. Our subs retired from the Australian Coast.

World.png (1.75 MiB) Viewed 1351 times

[EarlyDoors]

November 1942

China loses the 4th Army and CXXX Corps. The nationalist Capital of Yenan is under pressure.

1942-11-06-pressure-on-yenan.png (1.03 MiB) Viewed 1309 times

Buin and its port are liberated.

The 1st Indian garrison destroyed and Bhagalpur settlement captured.
221 Tactical Bomber Group Forms up.
Despite air pounding, readiness of the frontline Japanese troops is still too high.
To the south Ark Royal is lost.

1942-11-06-india.png (1.87 MiB) Viewed 1309 times

Gibraltar countsdown to the attack.

1942-11-06-countdown-to-gibraltar.png (929.04 KiB) Viewed 1309 times

U-boats continue to attack the Royal Navy in the Channel. Maybe the Japanese invaders have grander plans.

1942-11-06-skirmish-in-the-channel.png (1.02 MiB) Viewed 1309 times

[EarlyDoors]

November 1942 - Europe

Italian Maritime Bombers flying north from Bremen spot and attack the UK sub to the south of Bergen. A shipping lane is opened allowing the transport of German Infrantry Corps to Bergen. The Axis are going to fight for Norway. Royal marines yomp towards Oslo.

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About Kandalaksha the Murmansk railline is reopened and Finish II Corps continue taking attrition.

1942-11-06-convoy-line-saved.png (383.19 KiB) Viewed 1307 times

Then the news of Doom. Moscow falls to the Ariete Tanks.

1942-11-06-moscow-falls.png (946.87 KiB) Viewed 1307 times

Germany celebrates the capture of Moscow, Kuybyshev, Velikiye Luki, Ulyanovsk and Orel.
Losses are high: 1 Paratroopers, 1 Fighters, 2 Armies, 2 Anti-Tanks, 1 Corps.

Remanants of a Government move to Perm.

1942-11-06-kuybyshev-falls.png (1.59 MiB) Viewed 1307 times

[Taifun]

Med.png (2.08 MiB) Viewed 1300 times

Admiral Yamamoto leading the Kido Butai reached the Strait of Gibraltar. The Fortress was to be invaded next turn. 6 CVs and 7 BBs were ready to intercept any Allied Task Force should they decide to approach the area.

World.png (1.7 MiB) Viewed 1300 times

The area to the north of the Coral Sea, The Solomons-Papua, was swarming with Allies subs. At least 3 US subs and 1 Dutch sub were clearly scouting ahead of an invasion armada. Rear Admiral Mikawa was sent to protect the Japanese interest in the region. He took control of the few remaining Japanese ships in the Pacific. A lone CV, 1 CVL, 1 BB, 1 CA, 1DD and 2 subs but was assisted by 2 naval bombers. No additional land units were available to be shipped to this theater of war.
´

South Pacific.png (1.36 MiB) Viewed 1300 times

Clearly the Japanese naval forces were inferior in number to their American counterparts, who could count with the services of at least 3 CVs. A few additional ships will be shipped to Mikawa in the near future, but for the time being he was instructed to avoid any naval engagements with the enemy unless a clear favorable situation developed. He decided to await north of New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago.

[EarlyDoors]

December 1942

With the obvious German investments in submarine tech, and to further secure the arctic convoy, the USA had spent on maritime and anti-submarine tech and units. Their Atlantic fleet diverts from the West of Ireland to the Azores to shadow the Axis Capital ships at Gibraltar. At the moment they are out-matched.

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The Royal Navy scores a success with the destruction of the destroyer Z3 about Bergen but the battleship Bismarck is at port protected by rain skies. Prince of Wales lurks.
Royal Marines head for Lillehammer.
Canadian HQ Crerar is on route to Petsamo (tanks will follow later) with Anderson earmarked for the north Norway front via Narvik.

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To the south, about the Gulf of Finland, the Finnish II Corps are destroyed but Paratroopers are spotted. The Murmansk rail-line could agin be threatened forcing the redeployment of garrisoning forces.

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Moscow and surrounds are secured. The Soviets have nothing left to block the Axis now.

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[EarlyDoors]

December 1942 - Dark Days

The weather remains favourable for the axis and the ground firm. They push on toward an undefended Perm.

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Some remaining forces around Baku throw themselves at Axis supply lines in desperation. Their chances of success are slim.

1942-12-04-baku.png (716.72 KiB) Viewed 1261 times

Soviets losses are 1x : corps, tanks, fighters, garrison this month.

In the Arabian Sea, UK's Parthian sub is sunk.
Indian forces are holding but do not yet have the strength to force back the Japanese.

1942-12-04-india.png (1.4 MiB) Viewed 1261 times

The loss of the US Marine Division outside Brisbane caused US Pacific Command a dilemma. The next deployment of Special Forces were some months away and time was of the essence. An Amphibiously Transported Corps could reach just one hex of the Solomans on maximum naval cruise and would be out-of-supply without HQ support. A decision was made to land both in harm's way with a goal of destroying the Japanese defenders before they themselves were lost.

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