DQ2004's AAR #1 - A 'sort of' AAR

[DQ2004]

While Japan continued its rampage in the Pacific, the Wehrmacht advanced into Russia. In this campaign, the priority was the Ukraine and its resources and factories. But the Soviets were prepared, and were railing out factories as fast as possible. Unfortunately German forces had already arrived next to Odessa, and that was lost.
In the north, Guderian had fewer forces, but with this attack forced the Soviets to retreat some more.

[DQ2004]

By the end of May/Jun 1942, the only blot on the Axis overall position was that the US carrier fleet was intact (apart from some damage to USS Lexington), and those pesky communists in China.
They could now only hope that Russia could hang on.

[DQ2004]

In July, the Wehrmacht unleashed Manstein, providing him with a vast influx of supplies and reinforcements to smash the Soviet line in the Ukraine. By the end of the turn, they were indeed only just hanging on.
In desperation, all other Allied powers passed the turn... and failed.
But then it passed at the end of the Axis turn anyway! Far too short a turn than the Third Reich wanted.
Here is the situation at the end of Jul/Aug in the Ukraine.

[DQ2004]

In the Pacific, some further nasty things were done by the Japanese fleet. But US intelligence had made a crucial discovery. Unlike the American fleet, the Japanese hadn't been upgrading their carrier planes.
With a decided advantage they snuck into the Solomons, and surprised a portion of the Japanese fleet, sinking Akagi.
But the damage had been done, and Japanese marines stormed ashore ...in Brisbane, Australia. Oops.

Also during this turn, Vichy France was collapsed, and many French ships scuttled.
The fight for Egypt was over, but there were still powerful (albeit out of supply) British forces in the Sudan. The fight moved south. At the same time, Syria, Palestine and Jordan were overrun, and Iraq aligned to Italy.
The Germans invaded Cyprus too.

[DQ2004]

So things are now pretty much up to date.
Here's the situation at the start of Sep/Oct 1942.
The US fleet is in Fiji and Auckland, the Japanese fleet spread between Honolulu, Rabaul and Tokyo (4-5 carriers waiting for new aircraft, - ooops, although most are light carriers).
The Soviets have survived the two likely long turns, but its not over yet, as they now have to divert resources to the Caucasus, to stop the advancing Axis armies coming from Iraq and soon Persia.

The US will be sending forces to French North Africa, and the Italians and Germans will have that soon-to-explode theatre demanding urgent reinforcement.

Meanwhile the Commonwealth will focus on sending reinforcements to the Indian Ocean and East Africa, to guarantee supply to Suez, to stop the Japanese from overrunning anything else, but first to sieze Madagascar. The Royal Marines are on their way, and ready to strike!

[DQ2004]

Oh, and I should mention that whilst there is significant concern about the loss of Brisbane, the Australians are now much more confident than they were, thanks to their latest reinforcement...

[DQ2004]

Now I'd better get back to playing the game!!
I've been stuck with a bug recently (reported), so hopefully the latest 1.04.1 patch will help (haven't had a chance to try yet).
The next updates will be in a little longer, because they haven't happened yet!
Incidentally, here's the global situation with the grey/white version of the map. I've upped the contrast so that the grey stands out better. I quite like looking at the global control like this, except for the pacific where it's hard to see which islands are grey

[DQ2004]

Unfortunately the aforementioned bug seems to be irresolvable until possibly the next update of the game.
Because I could not progress this game, I have started another one. This time the Germans began with a completely different strategy in mind...
I will start a new thread when I have time, and post the full update/s, but in the meantime here's a teaser. I'm now up to the end of 1940 in this new (also solitaire game). I have 35 screenshots of the game to post up (!!).
Here is the Global Control as it currently stands ... you may want to hold on to something

[Neilster]

Those Boomerangs will sort the Japanese out [;)]

One of my mate's grandfather was Lawrence Wackett, who was General Manager of Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation when then the Boomerang was developed. In fact he was named after him. Wackett hired Fred David, an Austrian Jewish refugee who was experienced in advanced fighter design to work on the Boomerang.

It was always hampered by its relatively low powered engine but performed well at lower altitudes. It was tough, well armed, long-legged and easy to fly. As a result they became excellent ground attack aircraft (Hmmm...not reflected in a TAC rating).

Enhanced prototypes were found to be mostly a match for contemporary fighters but by that time American and British types were available in numbers. Advanced Boomerang variants eventually morphed into the CAC-15 Kangaroo, which would have been extremely formidable but was overtaken by events and the jet age.

Good to see an AAR from a fellow Hobartian. There are others lurking down here at 42 degrees South too [;)]

Below is the CAC-15 Kangaroo

Cheers, Neilster

[DQ2004]

ORIGINAL: Neilster

Those Boomerangs will sort the Japanese out [;)]

One of my mate's grandfather was Lawrence Wackett, who was General Manager of Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation when then the Boomerang was developed. In fact he was named after him. Wackett hired Fred David, an Austrian Jewish refugee who was experienced in advanced fighter design to work on the Boomerang.

It was always hampered by its relatively low powered engine but performed well at lower altitudes. It was tough, well armed, long-legged and easy to fly. As a result they became excellent ground attack aircraft (Hmmm...not reflected in a TAC rating).

I agree the Boomerang should have a TAC rating of at least 2, perhaps even 3.
Interesting info re your friend's grandfather Neilster, my grandfather worked at the Gov. Aircraft Factory many years ago now. I can't remember what his role was though.

Given what I've read on the CAC-15, I don't know that its potential for production is enough to justify a WiF counter, unfortunately