Downfall 1942

[joegrundman]

Fall 1942
Italians prepare for renewed British offensive in Egypt



determined not to retreat the italians get ready for a new British offensive

[joegrundman]

Fall 1942

Panzers break out into the Steppe and Northern Caucasus




Stalingrad isolated as German panzers break into the steppe east of the Volga and also the northern Caucasus area

[joegrundman]

fall 42
Axis forces strengthen Tunis defenses



fortification of Tunis in preparation for allied assault

[joegrundman]

Fall 42

Battle of Bizerte Point



In an attempt to stop the axis reinforcing Tunis with French and Italian troops, the Royal Navy intercepted the convoy near Tunis

The British Taskf Force 2 encountered the italian TF2 close to the shore at the same time as Italy's TF1 made contact with British TF3.

In both engagements the British exploited their carrier advantage to launch an airstrike against the Italian forces.

Although Italian air defense was impressive, shooting down 3 of the 8 British NAS, the surviving British Nas succeeding in getting 1 hit on all of the Italian BB4s, Roma, Littorio, Veneto and Impero. This minor damage gave the British an advantage as the battleships closed to gunnery range



once in range for gunnery it becomes clear that the Royal Navy's new KGV class battleships, and new radar rangefinding have left Italy's battleships outclassed.

In the encounter between the two Task Force 2s, the Italian battleships Impero and Roma managed to get one round on to the Prince of Wales, but in the return fire the Impero took two heavy shells in addition to the torpedo damage from the Swordfish strike, and had to retreat from the battle trailing large amounts of smoke. The cruisers of the two forces exchanged gunfire and torpedoes, both sides taking losses, but again Italy lost more, losing CA4 to Britain's CA2.

In the even more dramatic encounter between Britain's battleship heavy TF3 and Italy's main battle fleet of TF1, losses were striking. All the Italian battleships concentrated their fire on HMS Anson and succeeded on landing 3 shells on her, badly damaging her and killing several of her crew, but in the return fire, a full salvo of 6 shells from HMS Anson hit the battleship Littorio. After a large secondary explosion a minute later she lost all power and started settling in the water and eventually sank. Most hands escaped onto lifeboats.

While the Italians were caught up pursuing HMS Anson, HMS Duke of York landed several salvos on the Veneto and after a large explosion she also capsized.
HMS Hood caught the Cesare with a full salvo causing complete loss of power. She sank while being towed back to port. And among the light ships, an italian ca2 was damaged.

The Regia Marina took severe damage. Apparently Italian submarines were in the vicinity and one fired on a British Aircraft Carrier, but no torpedoes hit.

Britain considers this sufficient revenge for the humiliating defeat at the hands of the italians 2 years ago

[joegrundman]

Fall 42

Allied Planes Bomb Japanese Airbases in Rabaul and Lae



Japanese forces in Lae and Rabaul were subjected to attack from Allied planes operating from Port Moresby.

In Lae losses were even, and the surviving Japanese planes relocated to Hollandia (1aaf lost each, 1 inverted each)

In Rabaul, the allies found 10 Naval Air squadrons associated with Japanese Task Force 2, in addition to the expected 3 aaf

the allies took heavy losses, but succeed in inflicting substantial damage too

Allies lose 2 AAF, Japanese lose 1 AAF, 1 elite NAS and 1 NAS. 1 AAF inverted

[joegrundman]

Fall 42

Battle of San Cristobal islands



The Solomons continue to be hotly disputed as an invasion force destined for San Cristobal was intercepted by the Combined Fleet of the IJN.

The Japanese Combat Group 3, consisting of the older battleships sailed to contact the American Combat Group 3. Unknown to the Americans their group had been spotted by planes from Japanese Combat Group1 whose location was still a secret to the Americans. The hidden Japanese force launched an airstrike at the Americans at the same time as the American carrier force struck at Japan's CG3.

The American torpedo bombers managed to fight their way through the screen and attacked the battleship Fuso. A series of torpedoes and bombs hit the battleship and she sank. But the Japanese planes caught the American CAP out of position and attacked the carrier Yorktown. She was damaged in the attack, although the battle was very costly for the elite Japanese naval aviators

Once the ships closed, the Japanese battleships scored 2 hits on the BB4 USS Washington, and the us ship got one hit on one of the japanese ships.

CA2 each was also lost and an american ca2 was damaged



while this battle raged on some way out into the Coral Sea, Japanese fast carrier CG2 fell upon the American CG2, carrying the invasion force.

The Japanese launched an airstrike against the US invasion force. The force had air cover of 2 NAS flown out of Espirito Santos



the air cover lost 1 nas, and shot down 1 enas an aborted one more

The air defense gunnery of the surface fleet took over and put up a withering fire, shooting down two more elite NAS in a great display of effective gunnery



only 1 nas got through, targetting the bb4 USS S.Dakota, successfully landing a bomb on teh Battleship. But she is still battle ready

As the ships drew to gunfire range, the battleships of the two fleets exchanged fire inconclusively, although the Japanese Battlecruiser BC3 Hiei is now damaged. CA2 was sunk on each side.



Us submarines were not effective, but 2 US heavy cruisers were sunk by the superior Japanese torpedoes, and another badly damaged. CA2 sunk, CA2 damaged

The Japanese have seen serious losses to their elite naval aviator force, losing in total 8 eNAS this turn


Round 2

Somewhat later the two main carrier forces found each other, but since both had air cover and combat air patrol and effective air defense, neither side was able to launch a successful attack on each other's ships. But raging air battles saw lots of destroyed navy airplanes from both sides



as the fleets closed to range, the difference between the cruisers defending the American task force and the battleships, including the yamato, on the Japanese side became apparent.

Heavy long range fire sank 4 american cruisers and damaged one other, while the americans were only able to damage 1 japanese cruiser

Separately 2 us NAS ind Japans CG3 and launch an attack, but they were defeated in the attempt

US CA4 sunk, CA2 damaged vs CA2 damaged for Japan

total NAS losses now 10 for japn, 12 for us

The display of the superiority of the Yamato convinces the Americans to leave and come back after regrouping

The invasion is called off, but the huge losses to Japan's naval aviators will be long felt

[joegrundman]

Fall 1942

US submarines inflicting damage on the enemy



US submarines sink 2transports and abort 2 others as they increase their effectiveness in the pacific

[joegrundman]

Fall 42

RAF attacks axis airbase in Tobruk



2 Axis AAF eliminated for 1 British AAF. Surviving German planes flee to a new base in Bengazi

[joegrundman]

Fall 42

Monty Launches Second Offensive in Egypt



Commonwealth forces crush Italian defenders in the coastal sector of the Egypt-Libya frontline. The Italian defenders put up a tough fight and Commonwealth losses were substantial. But in the end a breakthrough was made and the British forces have exploited forward bypassing the rest of the axis defense further south.

The axis defense is in serious danger of being encircled completely and probably must fall back to a better position in Libya.

[joegrundman]

Fall 1942

Allies capture Algiers, Constantine, advance on Tunis



American-led forces make rapid advance in Western North Africa. Algiers and the port at Arzew captured, the town of Constantine now held by British armored forces and a mechanized infantry division is advancing west to take control of Morocco

[joegrundman]

Fall 1942

American Bombers raid Berlin


This time, axis air forces prevented the raid from doing much damage, but the defensive strength of the bombers was demonstrated very clearly with 2 german aaf shot down in the air battles over germany

2 german aaf lost and 2 brps of bomb damage for 1 allied bomber shot down

[joegrundman]

Fall 1942

Soviet troops rapidly redeploy to put up new defensive line against the Germans



A new line is put up to defend against the north caucasus region and also the khazak region

[joegrundman]

Fall 1942

Stalingrad isolated, defenders dig in



Soviet troops in the beleaguered city of Stalingrad prepare for the onslaught

[joegrundman]

Fall 1942

Stalin meets with Churchill, demands allied aid



In the first wartime meeting between top western leaders and Stalin, Stalin demands that allies send aid to assist the battle against the German invader.

According to official sources, Stalin said: "Your North African campaign is, like, totally cute, you know, and i wouldn't want you to stop, but dude, over here is the real deal. We need planes, trucks, ammo, food, condoms, clothes, radios, atomic secrets. You can keep your tanks."

[joegrundman]

Winter 1942

Mild Winter in Russia



An unusually mild winter this year threatens the possibility of renewed German operations.