Downfall 1943

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

Luftwaffe re-organised and equipped with improved units

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/8440/fw190v1xo8.jpg

germany and finland get air nationality dice roll modifier 3 (equal to western allies), italy and vichy get adrm 2, other minor allies of germany (hungary, rumania) adrm 1

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

Axis attempt to supply Tripoli, Tunis and Malta defeated by Allied Air and Submarine attacks

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-RAF-II/img/UK-RAF-II-9.jpg

Axis forces in Tunis, Tripoli and Malta are isolated by allied air cover and the patrolling British submarines

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

Grinding Attrition on Russia

http://www.militaryimages.net/photopost/data/823/3rdReich_pz4g_Panzer_IV_in_action_in_Russia-1943.jpg

Rainy weather forces halt to offensive operations, but grinding attrition all along the front results in heavy losses and much damage

russia takes 11 counters as losses and 5 hexes, and some areas of the Russian front isolated again

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

Germany produces interceptors and night fighters to defend the Fatherland

http://www.rafbombercommand.com/pics/archive/ju88withaerials.jpg

3 interceptors produced by Germany, along with 3 additional subs and a third 5o6 heavy armor division

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

Germany begins fortifying the Atlantic Wall, starting with the Calais area

http://www.dday-overlord.com/img/dday/mda/herisson_tcheque.jpg

2 beach defense counters places in North East France

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

U-boats still terror of the Atlantic

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Officers_on_the_bridge.jpg/300px-Officers_on_the_bridge.jpg

Allied ASW performance steadily improving and increasing numbers of merchants are getting through but still the U-boats are causing serious problems

1 uboat factor sunk for 5 merchants sunk and 5 aborted. 17 merchants available for use this allied turn, an improvement on last turn and permits carrying 6 oil

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

Black Day for US Submarines around Midway

http://www.ww2shots.com/gallery/d/18404-1/nomi+1944-ww2shots-navy.JPG

State-of-the-art Japanese destroyers escorting the supply mission to Midway overwhelmed the US submarine patrol near the island. The patrol consisted mainly of older American boats several of which were sunk.

US loses one submarine factor near Midway

This disaster was compounded by an organisational failure that led to a surface Task Force sailing for Midway much too late to intercept the Japanese force. Scapegoats are being actively searched for in Pearl Harbor at the moment.

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

Air strike near Rabaul

http://popartmachine.com/artwork/LOC+1117599/0/A-violent-explosion-staggers-Japanese-destroyer-escort-frigate-after...-painting-artwork-print.jpg

The Japanese supply mission to Lae came under American and Australian air attack. Fighting their way through the air cover provided from Japanese fighters in Rabaul, the allied forces attacked and sank several destroyers.

But losses from air defense were substantial and a second wave to finish off the transports before making lae harbor was fought off by the Japanese air cover

1 US and 1 Jp AAF lost, Japan loses DD1, supply makes it through to Lae

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

Fighting on Kokoda Trail sees steady stream of casualties

http://www.convictcreations.com/history/images/help.jpg

1 ANZAC factor taken as attrition loss

[joegrundman]

spring 1943
US Carriers raid Midway
http://www.aviation-history.com/douglas/tbd-6a.jpg

dramatic air battles raged over Midway as the Naval Aviators from four american carriers smashed the Japanese air bases on Midway

3 us nas lost for 2 japanese aaf

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

Dutch Harbor liberated from the Japanese after tough 6 week campaign

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Hauling_supplies_on_Attu.jpg

In harsh conditions and rough weather the USN forced a landing at considerable danger against the well-dug in defenders. The landing itself was relatively easy, but as the invasion force moved inland, resistance stiffened. CA2 was sunk while very close to shore to provide bombardment support and 2-2 infantry was lost in the tough fighting inland.

After 6-weeks the remaining pockets of Japanese resistance were eliminated

The capture of Dutch Harbor allows increased flow of supplies to Russia via the Alaska Highway

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

US submarines report ever increasing successes

http://www.tinosa.com/copyright/protected/gato_class_submarine_uss_paddle.jpg

Japanese ASW has increased in effectiveness, but improved intelligence and long range air patrols have assisted the Fleet Boats in their campaign.

4 Japanese transports sunk, 1 damaged

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943
Running the gauntlet

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/HMS_Nigeria.jpg

A small force of Royal Navy light ships were sent on a mission to cross directly from Algiers to Tobruk through waters that only recently were axis controlled.

The mixed force of cruisers and destroyers were subjected to repeated attack from air squadrons and italian submarines as it rounded Tunis and headed south-east towards Malta.

USAAF fighters providing cover kept all 4 axis attack squadrons at bay on the first axis attempt. The second, third and fourth waves were kept from making successful attacks by the superior AA gunnery of this flotilla.

Furthermore, several italian submarines were sunk, but one italian submarine managed to badly damage a light cruiser.

CA2 damaged and 1 us air squadron lost, for 1 german air squadron, 1 italian and 2 italian naval air squadrons and an italian submarine factor lost

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943
2nd Battle of Malta

http://www.cityofart.net/bship/rn_cesare_punta_stilo_grande.jpg

The remnants of the Regia Marina, consisting of the modern Battleship BB4 Roma and the older battleship BB3 Cesare, escorted by Italy's large surviving destroyer force of DD10 sailed forth to interrupt the attempted British landing on malta.

British TF 3 sailed from Algiers to cover the invasion fleet.

In the opening of the engagement the Italian fleet caught the British by surprise, with the Roma hitting HMS King George V twice, knocking out a turret and causing sufficient smoke to make the Royal Navy battleship's return fire inaccurate.

But KGV's sister ship HMS Prince of Wales hit the BB3 Cesare hard. One hit caused an explosion in the engine room causing complete loss of power, and the turrets unable to traverse.

The lights ships of the Italians managed to sink a pair of Royal Navy cruisers (CA2 )with torpedoes, for the loss of DD1

With the KGV screened due to damage, the HMS Prince of Wales then landed 2 hits on the Roma causing some damage before disengaging to get KGV repaired.

The Italian fleet then engaged the invasion fleet, but HMS Revenge covering the invasion hit the already wounded italian Battleship again, causing her to begin to list and forced her to retreat.

The large number of British cruisers surrounding the invasion very badly smashed up the remaining Italian destroyers, and that was the end of the Regia Marina

The Cesare, dead in the water, signalled to some passing Royal Navy ships for assistance in getting the crew off. Cesare was then scuttled.

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943
Long range fighter escorts help allied bombers take fight to Berlin

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Bott4.jpg/785px-Bott4.jpg

Escorted by ling range interceptors, the Americans bomb Berlin with 4 bomber factors and 2 interceptors

the air battles with German dedicated interceptors results in the loss of 2 factors each. of the 2 bombers that get past, they inflict only light damage on Berlin (1 brp) and lose another bomber factor to air defenses.

The allies have more bombers in production however.

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

British invade Malta

http://www.maltaatwarmuseum.com/uploads/8/4/8/5/8485988/9560028_orig.jpg

The Malta Invasion force during the unsuccessful attempt by the Italian fleet to interrupt the invasion

Using Free French forces under de Gaulle that have been preparing specially for the invasion for the last two months, the Royal Navy landed on Malta. The beleaguered Italian defending force put up a small show of defiance for the sake of honour before surrendering.

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

Allies capture Tunis and Tripoli, axis forces in North Africa now eliminated

http://www.nzetc.org/etexts/WH2Medi/WH2Med45b(h280).jpg

Allies capture Tripoli and Tunis in heavy assaults. Casualties were significant in both cases - but especially in Tunis.

The axis forces have been swept from North Africa, and now the Allies can contemplate an attack across the sea to Sicily.

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

Britain's fleet of Avro Lancaster bombers is now ready to begin operations

http://lancasterdiary.net/images/assets/lancbomber11.jpg

Britain constructs her bomber forcepool and can now join the Americans in the strategic bombing campaign over Germany.

The American bomber force has also grown in strength

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

United States Task Force Recaptures Dutch Harbor

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Dutch_Harbor_Attack_-_June_1942.jpg/723px-Dutch_Harbor_Attack_-_June_1942.jpg

Catching the Japanese by surprise, an American Task Force arrived at Dutch Harbor and landed troops to recapture the island and port from the Japanese.

The assault was victorious, but two cruisers were lost to mines and shore-based gunfire while providing shore bombardment of the Japanese defenses.

The recapture of Dutch Harbor allows an increase in economic aid to flow to the Soviet Union via the Alaska Highway. Up to 10 brps/turn

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

Attrition on the Eastern Front, Russia reopens communications between the Ural and Caucasus regions
http://www.ushmm.org/lcmedia/photo/lc/image/09/09579.jpg

russian attrition regains key hex in the Astrakhan region.

Isolated pockets of russians overrun in the north

[joegrundman]

Summer 1943

Naval Aviators from USS Saratoga sink Japanese cruisers near Midway

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Midway/img/USN-CN-Midway-1.jpg

Magic intercepts revealing the ETA of a naval force escorting supply to Midway enabled a small task force centered around the USS Saratoga to intercept.

A float plane flying from one of the American cruisers identified the Japanese convoy on course and schedule and the Saratoga sent all her attack squadrons out to engage.

The Japanese were caught completely by surprise and put up an ineffectual air defense. Two heavy cruisers were left "gutted and abandoned" after being hit by bombs and torpedoes from the American planes.

After the strike, the Japanese convoy returned to Japan leaving Midway isolated. CA2 sunk, 0 nas lost

Supply was also challenged to the Japanese port of Lae. Air battles raged, but the Americans were not able to get through to attack the convoy. Some ships were lost to American patrols operating in the Bismarck sea area.

1 aaf and dd1 lost to Japan, 1 aaf lost to the US

[joegrundman]

Summer 1943

U-boats suffering increasing losses

http://markdenny.shawwebspace.ca/asset/view/2104/preview_uboat.jpg/

U-boats still causing significant disruption to convoys, but losses are increasing.

6 transports sunk, 8 inverted for 2 uboats sunk. 16 transports remain in atlantic

[joegrundman]

Summer 1943
Renewed German offensive in Russia creates major breakthrough

http://northville.k12.mi.us/MEADSMILL/STUDENTS/2013/DeckerReid/kursk_148.jpg

German forces launched a new offensive in Russia, hoping to force a surrender.

The offensive smashed the central sector of the Red Army that was defending the southern approaches to the Urals, leaving the Northern Red Army command separated from the Caucasian Red Army command.

Large numbers of prisoners have been taken and the Red Army between Kuybyshev and the Caspian has been isolated.

An airdrop by the 1st Fallschirmjaeger completed the encirclement.

Russia is again facing great peril

[joegrundman]

Summer 1943

Fall of Leningrad

http://www.opendemocracy.net/files/Leningrade_blockade(1).jpg

After an enormous siege, Leningrad finally fell under assault from German, Finnish and Vlasov troops.

[joegrundman]

Summer 1943

Italian forces in Ethiopia surrender to the Allies

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/HobokEastAfrica1941.JPG/800px-HobokEastAfrica1941.JPG

After a 6 month campaign, the surviving Italian forces surrendered to British Commonwealth troops in Ethiopia, marking the final removal of axis soldiers from the African continent.

This has triggered a political crisis in the Italian government.

[joegrundman]

Summer 1943

Allied ASW sinks Italian subs off Tunis

http://www.wrecksite.eu/img/wrecks/pc-496.jpg

Italian submarines attempting to disrupt allied supply to Malta came under attack from Allied Air and Naval units. Several submarines were sunk using advanced allied ASW techniques. No allied ships were lost.

Italians lose 1 sub factor

[joegrundman]

Summer 1943

Allied Heavy Bombing over Germany

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu53/LAF-Forum/Bombing%20Photos/RAF_Master_Slave_Bombing_Photo.jpg

With the RAF heavy bomber fleet now operational, the allies have split the workload with American B17s bombing in the daylight and the RAF Lancasters bombing at nighttime.

The German defenses have so far chosen to defend only against the daylight bombers, substantially reducing the effectiveness of the American bombers. But the RAF's unchallenged campaign has been immediately devastating.

The Americans lost 4 air factors in air combat, the Germans 3, and bombing over Berlin caused 7 brps damaged

The British over Leipzig caused terrible damage, getting 19 brps and damaging the Synthetic Oil Facility in the city.

[joegrundman]

Summer 1943

Allies take control of Sardinia and Corsica

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm150/6134rdm/Page0001-beau1.jpg

The United States 82nd Airborne division drops onto Cagliari, Sardinia and takes control of the island from the Italian garrison. The 101st Airborne, making like marines, land on Corsica supported by the Royal Navy Task Force1 and take control of that island too. The island cities promise important air basing capability for further Mediterranean operations, according to a British government spokesman.

[joegrundman]

Summer 1943

Operation Overlord

http://members.shaw.ca/junobeach/images/juno-4-5.1-Winnipeg%20Rifles%20LCA.jpg

http://www.yourdiscovery.com/dni-media/mu-33/media-14174-37283.jpg

An invasion of France has taken place at the more lightly defended area of France in Brittany, around the port of Lorient.

The invasion was by Canadian and American units, with a British light armor division exploiting from the bridgehead to secure Brittany and the port of Brest.

Even so, German defense was very strong and inflicted very heavy casualties on the attackers.

But the allies have a toe-hold in western France. It is hoped that this invasion, rather than knocking out Italy, will relieve some of the pressure on Russia.

Attackers lose 9 factors to Germany's 3. Losses were taken from supporting naval units. CA8 and 1 AAF

[joegrundman]

Summer 1943

Invasion of Midway

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/8-inch-japanese-gun-betio.jpg

United States Forces invaded Midway. After a two day battle, the well-defended island was declared secure.

American losses were substantial

But a second disaster struck on day +2 of the invasion when the new super-carrier USS Constellation came into the periscope crosshairs of the submarine I-53. Hit by two torpedoes while retrieving aircraft returning from strafing defense positions on Midway, the carrier erupted in flames.

The submarine captain reported a successful sinking, however the carrier was saved by the very impressive damage control procedures of the USN. The flames were extinguished within an hour and although power was lost, the carrier was taken in tow back to Pearl Harbor

http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib/15/media-15243/large.jpg

Midway taken 2-2, 1n2 lost, CVB4 damaged

[joegrundman]

Summer 1943

Zhukov leads rescue of isolated pocket on the Ural front

http://ww2total.com/WW2/Weapons/Vehicles/Tanks/Russian/T34-tank/images/T-34-Strassenkampf-px800.jpg

A weak point in the german envelopment maneuver was attacked by the Russians and thereby managed to restore supply and fighting capability to the isolated units.

The german armored thrust into the Ural area is still dangerous, but there is a risk of the tables being turned and the germans finding themselves cut off

[joegrundman]

Summer 1943

Reformed Japanese ASW thwarts the US subs

http://www.timemoneyandblood.com/images/aircraftJapanese/kawanishiH8K.jpg

The last quarter has seen reduced effectiveness of American submarines even while US losses increased

1 sub sunk, 2 transports damaged

[joegrundman]

Summer 1943

Russian factories producing ever larger numbers of aircraft

http://ww2total.com/WW2/Weapons/War-Planes/Fighter-Planes/Russian/Yakovlev/images-Yak7/yak-1-03-px500.jpg

despite losses, with the help of western materiel grants, Russian factories are putting out ever larger numbers of aircraft.

12 AAF constructed this turn

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

North Wind Cloudy

http://homepage.tinet.ie/~steven/images/JapaneseInfantryPassSovietTankManchuria1939.jpg

Negotiations between Japan and the Soviet Union have broken down and Japan has consequently decided to honour its Tripartite pact commitments and declare war on Russia.

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Renewed offensive sees major air battles over Russia

http://ww2total.com/WW2/Weapons/War-Planes/Bomber-Planes/German/Ju-87/images/Kette_Stukas-pxh1000.jpg

Counter air attacks on Red Air Force bases near Kuybyshev and the northern Caucasus regions see heavy air battles

Germany loses 6 AAF, Russia loses 8 AAF

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Battle of the Bismarck Sea

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/BismarckSeaLowLevel.jpg

The convoy supplying Lae was intercepted by a large scale attack from land based air in Port Moresby.

American fighters swept away the Zeros flying air cover over the convoy in a sudden attack that took advantage of patches of bad weather to gain surprise. B25s and Royal Australian Air Force planes then launched attacks on the convoy itself. Apparently newly developed skip bombs were used that bounced on the surface of the sea before crashing into the sides of the enemy ships.

In the repeated air strikes, several Japanese merchant ships and destroyers were hit, and one hit was scored on the battleship Yamashiro (BB3). The Yamashiro with maximum speed reduced after the air attack was subsequently hit by 3 torpedoes launched from the submarine USS Gar. The battleship sank three hours later from flooding with great loss of life while steaming for Rabaul.

The supply mission to Lae failed and Lae is now isolated

Elsewhere, US submarines managed to successfully blockade the Japanese garrison on Niutao in the Ellice islands.

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Battle of the Atlantic still in balance

http://www.kiwiauthor.com/userimages/user4047_1173169055a.jpg

Many convoys getting through but the U-boat menace still substantial

7 transports sunk, 5 aborted for 2 u-boats lost

18 tps available for use

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Operation Seppuku

http://hitlertriumphant.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/kg2.jpg?w=497

A Japanese offensive captures Vladivostok with substantial losses in the fighting.

The Small Far Eastern Russian fleet escapes to Nikolaevsk

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Fall of Stalingrad

http://sosheimat.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/russians_fighting_in_stalingrad.jpg

After a one year siege, and with the supply lines long cut, Stalingrad falls to a German assault. German losses were light

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

More air battles over Kuybyshev

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Il2_sturmovik.jpg

Yet more air combat over Kuybyshev as Germans try to prevent the Red Air Force flying defensive ground support.

Some russian defensive ground support made it through.

The German attack on Kuybyshev was forced to gamble on a night assault as a result

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Assault on Kuybyshev

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg511/scaled.php?server=511&filename=stalingrad3ss9.jpg&res=medium

More urban fighting, this time at unfavourable odds nevertheless turned into a major German victory as the Russian defense crumbled.

In the end German losses were light, and this vital city has fallen.

Losses to both german and russian air forces were very heavy this turn

german has lost 8 aaf, russia 11.

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Battle to reopen supply in southern Russia is costly for Germans

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k554/incomitatus1/Eastern%20Front%202/Sommer%20in%20Russland/1ace9168.jpg

Battle near Astrakhan to reopen a supply route to the german armored forces in the east results in heavy losses for Germany, but is successful in the objective

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Axis attempt to engage Allied forces in Brittany easily held off

http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/resources/csi/doubler/Images/22a.JPG

So far the beachhead in Brittany has been held against German counter attack with relatively light losses. 1 replacement lost to attrition

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Stalemate in Burma-India theater

http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/files/images/090109_burma2.jpg

no progress made either way in India-Burma region, although losses continue to mount

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Japan launches new carrier "Taiho"

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/HIJMS_Taiho_02.jpg/800px-HIJMS_Taiho_02.jpg

First of the next generation of Japanese carriers is now ready for service

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

U-boat construction slows down as resources diverted to replace losses from the Eastern Front

http://wreckhunter.net/images/class-xxi-section.jpg

much to allied relief and an indicator that the battle of the atlantic has become too costly for the germans, industrial capacity has been shifted away from uboats and towards ground and air forces to meet the needs for replacements due to the large losses accumulated in the recent offensive in Russia.

no u-boat factors launched this turn for the first time in the war

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

German oil reserves "half-empty"

http://www.ausairpower.net/15th-AF-B-24-Raid-Refinery-1.jpg

as a result of the allied bombing of the synthetic oil plant in the Leipzig area, German construction has had to draw heavily from the already depleted reserves.

Germany down to 5 oil reserves

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Germany deploys substantial ground and air forces to France

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-341-0481-39A%2C_Frankreich%2C_Luftwaffe_bei_Vorbereitungen. jpg

Substantial German Air forces now operational in France to meet allied threats

Apparently air forces have been withdrawn from Italy to meet the needs in france provoking a further stormy session in the Italian government.

10 german AAF now in France

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Attrition in Russia puts pressure on Axis salient

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LoPTdkHrjjk/So6xPxejO7I/AAAAAAAAEx4/GfFdUjt8yu8/s1600/second-world-war-russian-front-06.jpg

Russian attrition in the steppe area of Russia has put some supply pressure on Axis forces threatening the Urals. Nonetheless, German forces are mopping up isolated pockets north of the Caspian.

Intelligence reports suggest that the Soviet Union is preparing a surrender offer that may be acceptable to German high command.

This prospect has caused some consternation in western capitals.

[joegrundman]

Fall 43

RAF forces raid German airbase in Bordeaux, France

http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/images/c3490.jpg

Catching the German air forces by surprise the dawn raid by RAF Mosquitos caught over a hundred Luftwaffe planes on the ground. Those Luftwaffe planes that got airborne to engage the attackers found themselves outnumbered by the attackers and German losses in air-to-air combat were also high.

4 German AAF lost for 1 British AAF

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Allied Strategic Bombing getting ever heavier

http://www.historyofwar.org/Pictures/b-24_austria_1944.jpg

massed formations of allied bombers are causing serious damage to Germany's heartland. American bombers focusing on the Berlin area have damaged another synthetic oil plant, while British bombers inflicted more damage in the leipzig area. Losses to the allies were substantial (5 air factors total) but the axis interceptors also took damage in the air battles (4 factors total)

in addition the bombers inflicted 22 brps of damage to germany. The bombing campaign is now causing real damage to the axis

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Submarine attacks on Siciliy invasion

http://www.rafbanff.org.uk/images/U-Boat_Attack.jpg

The Italian and German U-boat flottilas in the med engaged the allied invasion fleet heading for sicily

An Italian submarine managed to hit the BB3 USS Colorado with one torpedo, but the aging battlewagon was able to continue her mission.

Destroyers escorting much of the invasion force managed to suppress other italian submarines, sinking several.

A German u-boat managed to badly damage a Royal Navy light cruiser, but was unable to inflict substantial damage on the invasion forces.

total losses, 1 hit on bb3 uss colorado, ca2 damaged, 1 italian sub factor lost

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Invasion of Sicily

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/SC180476.jpg/800px-SC180476.jpg

Although desertion and poor morale weakened the Italian defending forces, the Italian forces that remained defended stoutly before being overwhelmed by the Anglo-American ground forces.

Shore-based artillery destroyed some ships and infantry losses were not negligible.

None the less, by the end of the day, organised Italian resistance in the area around Syracuse had ended.

Rumors are rife that the Sicilian mafia have risen up as part of the deal with their US-based cousins.

Italian 3-3 lost for british 1-3 and CA2 sunk

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Race to Messina

http://www.americainwwii.com/images/galleries/2010/patton/08-patton-montgomery-palermo.jpg

British armored forces under Montgomery and American armored forces under Patton race each other to Messina. With massive aerial ground support, Patton wins the race and the Italian defenders of Messina are overrun, although many fled across the Messina Strait into Italy

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-MTO-Sicily/img/USA-MTO-Sicily-p334.jpg

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Attack across the Messina Strait

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-MTO-Salerno/img/USA-MTO-Salerno-p52.jpg

after two weeks to regroup and reorganize, the allies attacked across the Strait of Messina into the toe of Italy.

Again the defenders put up some resistance but the landing was successful

Italy loses 3-3 infantry, allies lose 3AAF

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

101st Airborne siezes area around La Spezia

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-MTO-Sicily/img/USA-MTO-Sicily-p180.jpg

Paratroopers captured an airhead in the Spezia area of northern Italy. Transports rapidly landed support equipment and vehicles to strengthen the airhead hopefully well enough to last until a seaborne convoy can rush reinforcements.

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Battle of Lyon Gulf

http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/photolib/transport/HMS%20Anson%201955.jpg

After much heated discussion, the Vichy Admiral in charge of the fleet in Marseilles was reluctantly ordered to interdict the Allied supply column to La Spezia.

American aircraft operating out of Corsica tracked the moving Vichy fleet and long before the Vichy forces reached the convoy they encountered three Royal Navy Battleships, the BB4s HMS Anson, HMS King George V and HMS Howe sitting squarely athwart the planned French line of advance.

With superior range the Royal Navy ships opened fire, immediately setting the French cruisers ablaze, and landing two damaging hits on the French Battleship, BB3 Dunkirque. The French battlewagon managed to land two shells on the advancing HMS Anson while she was turning to withdraw. These lucky hits forced HMS Anson to pull back away from the battle, allowing the damaged French battleship to withdraw back to Marseilles along with the surviving French destroyers.

Where was the rump Italian navy during this coordinated attempt to intercept supply? Still south of Sicily at the time of the engagement. Taking advantage of darkness, she slipped back to Taranto, whereupon the Italian Admiral in charge tendered his resignation.

French BB3 seriously damaged, CA2, DD1 sunk. No Royal Navy losses. Light damage repaired on return to port.

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Raids on Makin and Kwajalein

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/SBD-2_CV-6_Feb1942.jpg/764px-SBD-2_CV-6_Feb1942.jpg

American naval air squadrons struck the small Japanese airfields on Kwajalein and Makin. At Makin the Japanese were caught on the ground and destroyed without loss to American planes. Over Kwajalein Japanese aviators got airborne and engaged the Americans, but were still shot down after a brave fight.

Japan loses 1 NAS from both Makin and Kwajalein, US loses 1 NAS

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Battle of the Marshalls

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/B5N_Type_97_Carrier_Attack_Bomber_Kate_B5N-31.jpg

Turned out that the Japanese had predicted the US intention to invade the Marshalls and were lying in wait just South of the Marshalls waiting for the airstrikes on Kwajalein and Makin to indicate the arrival of the US forces.

Upon hearing of the airstrikes, the attack planes of 4 aircraft carriers streaked north to catch the Americans. By some irony the planes actually missed the American group that had conducted the raid but found the second group.

The Americans detected the threat rather late and hurriedly sent the combat air patrol to protect the fleet. The american CAP underperformed and although they held off the torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier Kaga, shooting down many, their own losses to Zero fighters were heavy.

American air defense gunnery managed to keep more torpedo bombers away.
However dive bombers from the carrier Shokaku flew in unopposed from altitude and nosing down over the American carriers, they managed to drop bombs into the flight decks of both Wasp and Saratogo starting severe fires on both.

With the American CAP running out of fuel and ammo, they were forced to seek landing on the other carriers, Enterprise and Lexington. The resulting confusion resulted in a delay in getting replacement planes into the air and many of the landing American planes started to ditch, although some made successful landing on the other American Task Force.

The bombers and torpedo planes from the carriers Soryu and Hiryu and with cloud cover obscuring the undamaged carriers, focused on finishing off the damaged carriers. Torpedoes and bombs resulted in catastrophic damage to USS Wasp and Saratoga. Wasp sank shortly after with severe loss of life, Saratoga was abandoned as a blazing wreck and finished off by torpedo from a US destroyer after the crew had been transferred.

Japan loses 2enas, us loses 2 nas in air combat, US loses two CV3 sunk. 1 nas flies to second patrolling CG. 3 more NAS lost with the ships or forced to ditch.

http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/aircraft_carriers/bunker_hill_cv_17/05_uss_bunker_hill_cv_17.jpg

USS Saratoga ablaze after Japanese attack

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Japanese Submarine Sinks USS Lexington, compounding disaster

http://www.cairnspeacebypeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/lexington.jpg

As the American task force tried to recover from the shock of the Japanese Air onslaught, they discovered they had sailed into the Japanese submarine screen. The destroyer escort and some dive bombers managed to keep the Japanese submarines at bay, sinking 3 submarines, while the capital ships sailed away from the submarine threat at high speed.

Sadly, the capital ships sailed into the path of a second group of Japanese submarines, particularly close to I-19, which fired a spread of 6 torpedoes at USS Lexington from a range of 2000 yds. 3 of the powerful Type 95 torpedoes hit the carrier, starting severe fires and the ship started listing.

The order to abandon ship was made after 30 minutes, although the carrier didn't finally sink until hours later, after another explosion was heard.

The third US CV3 to be lost in this battle, along with 3 more NAS. 1 Japanese submarine factor lost.

[joegrundman]

fall 1943

Aftermath of Battle of Marshalls

http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/aircraft/Hellcat_F6F-3_BuNo41090_VF-1_AirGroup1_USSYorktownJuly1944-wartimecolor.jpg

The US decided to withdraw the battered Task Force back to Pearl, while the second Task Force, TF3, remained searching for the Japanese fleet.

Sailing hard in the direction from which the Japanese strike originated and scouting thoroughly, no contacts were made.

In disbelief, the US admiral continued searching fruitlessly for a further three days. When a radio intercept identified the carrier Kaga's callsign already back in Truk harbor, the Admiral in charge of Task Force 3 gave the go ahead for the planned invasions.

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Mush Morton says "Don't give up until they are on the bottom"

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g30000/g37033.jpg

While the news from the surface may have been grim for the allies, the news from under the surface has not been.

The Americans are getting their groove and are now sinking Japanese merchantmen with a vengeance.

6 tps sunk and 1 damaged for no losses to the americans. These losses exceed Japan's abilty to replace them

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Allies fight their way to the New Guinea North Coast

http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e2/-images/2009/10/25/53368/size0-army.mil-53368-2009-10-27-121010.jpg

Having crossed over the Owen Stanley mountains, American and Australian troops reach the beach just north west of Lae.

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

US Navy captures Majuro and Wotje in the Marshalls

http://abbot.us/DD629/book/pixPages/majuroFleet.gif

After the Battle of the Marshalls, which is already being optimistically touted as "a tactical defeat but a strategic victory", the invasion fleet moved in to take control of Majuro and Wotje. Majuro was first, and the well dug-in defenders fought hard for the two days it took to pacify the atoll, with significant losses.

Lessons were learned and applied to the following attack on Wotje which was taken with far fewer casualties.

Americans take CA2 as losses, both islands captured

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Invasion of Singapore

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b5/Infantry_Balikpapan_%28AWM_110383%29.jpg

Anglo-American forces with Royal Navy support make landings at various points around Singapore and across the Straits at Johore. Within a few days they had surrounded the beleaguered Japanese garrison, which as normal for the Japanese, fought to the death in a terribly violent battle.

4 factors lost to the allies. Singapore is now in allied hands again, and this is serious threat to the viability of Japan's oil fields in Borneo.

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Air raids over Burma

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Hawker_Hurricane_attack_bridge_in_Burma.jpg/766px-Hawker_Hurricane_attack_bridge_in_Burma.jpg

Allied air forces attacked Japanese air force positions in Mandalay and Rangoon in Burma. Japanese lost 4 AAF, Allies lost 3 (2 US, 1 GB)

[joegrundman]

Fall 1939

Soviet forces advance into Manchuria
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Khalkhin_Gol_Soviet_offensive_1939.jpg

Red Army units advanced into Manchuria to attrition Japanese positions

2 counters lost to Japan

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

Surrender of Italy

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_931gr8XgT7g/SFseOq0-7mI/AAAAAAAAAU4/h5HllM3bReM/s400/italian_surrender.jpg

Once the reality of the Allied Invasion of Italy kicked in, Italian morale and order disintegrated, with military units rushing to surrender to the nearest allied unit, and in many cases simply going home. The Italian army no longer exists.

At the same time the government collapsed and the Italian dictator fled with his family. His whereabouts are currently unknown. At present a German military commission has established control of Rome and several other northern cities.

Quite a lot of Italian soldiers in the North offered their services to the Germans, and the remaining ships of the Reggia Marina sailed through the Adriatic to Trieste, where it put itself under German command.

Italy is now out of the war.

[joegrundman]

Fall 1943

[joegrundman]

Winter 1943

Americans prevent Japanese supply to Aleutians

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Qc56ApMnF8/T2kP8kiKZVI/AAAAAAAAAwg/DM2tkzIqlws/s1600/Picture+15.png


American units in Dutch Harbor prevent Japanese ships from supplying the small garrisons in the Aleutian islands

[joegrundman]

Winter 1943

US subs and planes maintain isolation of Japanese forces in New Guinea

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g30000/g35738.jpg

US subs with air cover sink the merchant ships attempting to supply New Guinea

The Japanese forces there are suffering from severe depletion of strength

[joegrundman]

Winter 1943

Battle of Midway

http://ww2.wwarii.com/var/albums/Events/ThePacificWar/The-Battle-of-the-Coral-Sea/Battle%20of%20the%20Coral%20Sea%20May%201942.jpg?m =1304715262

American codebreakers worked out that Japan, wanting to take advantage of American weakness after the Battle of the Marshalls, planned to recapture Midway and cut the supply line to the American forces in the Marshalls.

The Americans raced their remaining operational fast carrier force to the region and waited for the Japanese fleet to appear ... on schedule.

An American submarine radioed in the location of the invasion fleet, and the Americans finding themselves luckily bypassing the Japanese support fleet, launched an attack.

The americans launched in the dark before dawn and found the Japanese force, with their approach masked by the rising sun.

Coming in low the Japanse radar failed to pick them up until too late. The American hellcats crushed the small Japanese CAP with almost no losses to themselves.

The Japanse air defense was also unready, and many stations were not even manned by the time the American torpedo bombers began their attack run.

The carrier Zuiho was hit by two torpedoes from American torpedo bombers and burst into flames. With raging fires and secondary explosions the order to abandon ship was made and people started jumping overboard to escape the inferno. The ship eventually sank an hour later.

http://www.poorwilliam.net/pix/coral-sea-shoho.jpg

Other American planes attacked the BC3 Hiei, getting a bomb hit on a forward turret. The battlecruiser is now trailing smoke, but still operational.

The other American planes attacked the cruisers, destroyers and transports escorting the invasion force. 2 heavy cruisers, several destroyers and merchant ships were sunk, causing about a quarter of the Japanese infantry contingent to be forced into lifeboats.

http://www.myplace.edu.au/verve/_resources/Darwin_42.jpg

In this first round of the Battle of Midway, Japan loses CVL2 Zuiho, CA2, DD2, 1-2 infantry, 2NAS, 1 hit on BC3 Hiei. US suffers no losses.

[joegrundman]

Winter 1943

Battle of Midway round 2

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Dauntless_bomb_drop.jpg

It was later found out what happened. The Japanese carrier strike force was positioned 60 nm north east of the invasion force, intending to hit any american forces in the flank and cut off the line of retreat.

But with the American approaching from the South, they hit the invasion fleet while the Japanese carrier force was out of position.

Worse than that, the loss of the light carrier Zuiho denied the Japanese the scouting planes which could have found the Americans and enabled a long range strike from the Japanese carrier force.

The Japanese admiral in charge of the invasion fleet broke radio silence to report the probable direction of the americans, but in fact the airstrike from the south had changed direction to approach from the morning sun and so the direction reported was inaccurate, and operating at extreme range the planes of the carrier strike force could not spend time searching thoroughly.

So the Americans remained undetected as the strike force returned, hurriedly rearmed, refueled and relaunched for a second strike.

With no CAP able to prevent the strike, it was only the guns of the air defense able to prevent the American planes. Although ready this time, the anti-aircraft gunnery of the Japanese proved woefully inadequate and almost all the American strike planes got to make an attack on target.

http://blog.usni.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Japanes_air_attack_on_shipping_off_Guadalcanal_12_ November_1942.jpg

Hit by bombs and torpedoes, the already lightly damaged battleship lost all power, and the order to abandon ship was given after two hours of fire fighting.

The rest of the American squadrons attacked the cruisers, destroyers and merchantmen escorting the troops and invasion equipment. Two more cruisers were lost, as well as destroyers and another heavily laden troop transport was sunk.

The Americans returned to their carriers with only light losses to themselves having severely damaged the Japanese Task Force

BC3 Hiei sunk, CA2, DD1 damaged. 1-2 inf lost. No losses to the Americans

[joegrundman]

Winter 1943

Battle of Midway Rd3

http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/aircraft/Grumman-Avenger/IMAGES/Grumman-Avenger-WWII-4.jpg

After landing the American planes were again hastily rearmed, refueled and relaunched. In the early afternoon, the the Japanese invasion fleet was milling around trying to collect the survivors of the previous attacks when the Americans came in for their third strike, sinking two more cruisers, some more destroyers and more transports, again for no losses.

The invasion fleet is now shattered.

However, at about the time the americans launched their third attack, a float plane from the Japanese carrier strike force made visual contact with the American Task Force. The Japanese launched a carrier strike with the elite naval aviators, veterans from Pearl Harbor and many of the other encounters of this war, to attack the Americans at extreme range.

The Japanese attack encountered the American CAP as the American strike planes were landing after their third successful attack on the invasion fleet. Already exhausted from the mornings activity the Americans struggled to clear the decks of strike planes fast enough to get more fighters airborne before the Japanese closed to attack. The air combat between Japanese and American planes saw substantial losses on both sides, and the withering anti-aircraft gunnery on modern American warships shot nearly fifty irreplaceable Japanese planes, but nonetheless, enough Japanese planes were able to attack.

The Japanese focused their attack on the CV3 USS Yorktown, which was hit several times with bombs.

The carrier was abandoned after 45 minutes, and sank the next day, after a mysterious explosion occurred in the middle of an attempt to set up a tow system to salvage the wrecked carrier.

http://www.daveswarbirds.com/navalwar/shippics/cv5midwy.jpg

3 Japanese eNAS shot down. US CV3 Yorktown sunk, 2US NAS lost, 1 NAS lands at Midway

total losses to Japan, 3enas, 2 nas, ca6, dd5, cvl2, bc3

Japanese submarines in the area fired torpedoes at the American Task Force, but they missed

[joegrundman]

Winter 1943

Aftermath of Battle of Midway

http://amhist.ist.unomaha.edu/module_files/Battle%20of%20Midway.jpg

With the effective destruction of the invasion fleet, Japan called off the attempt and went home again. The sinking of the Yorktown put a tarnish on the American victory, but clearly this was a decisive event that means the Imperial Japanese Navy is now on the defensive (after resolving Singapore, that is).

The carrier striking power of Japan remains a formidable threat and the US will still have to take into consideration with every move.

The American fleet stayed around to pick up many of the abandoned Japanese troops left floating in the water. At least those that agreed to be rescued.

[joegrundman]

Winter 1943

Re-invasion of Singapore

http://sm.headweb.com/factualtv/title_pix/Battlefield_Fall_Of_Singapore.jpg

Japan attacked with air support and a fleet, covered by a second fleet in Kuching. The Royal Navy made the difficult decision to decline to interfere with the invasion and after a tough two week campaign, the Japanese were again in control of Singapore.

Japan loses 1-2 inf, 1 AAF, CA2. Allies lose 1-2 and 1 marine