Downfall 1942

[joegrundman]

Tiger Tanks



As a response to needs of the Eastern Front, the new Tiger Tank is operational.

Germany now has two heavy armor (5o6) units

[joegrundman]

Vlasov Units



General Vlasov enlists volunteers from captured Russian prisoners to fight for the Germans.

Second Russian Occupation Policy announced

[joegrundman]

US convoy arrives in Gibraltar



Braving attacks from the U-boats, the first American forces are deployed in the European Theater of Operations. A mechanized infantry division and 7 army air factors arrive in Gibraltar.

[joegrundman]

Summer 1942

Tide Beginning to Turn in Battle of the Atlantic



The U-boats still a major threat, reducing the convoys crossing the Atlantic by about half, but new weapon systems, doctrine and CVEs providing air cover beginning to make themselves felt.

4 transports sunk and 4 aborted for 1 u-boat factor sunk and 5 prevented from causing additional damage

[joegrundman]

Japanese airstrikes on Guadalcanal



Japanese air forces gain air superiority over the key Solomon island.

1 australian aaf lost, 1 japanese aaf lost

[joegrundman]

Japanese Invade Guadalcanal



Heavy fighting over Guadalcanal results in Japan taking control of the island after a campaign with heavy losses to both sides

[joegrundman]

Japanese Forces Take Tamana



Large invasion fleet sees Japanese special naval landing forces finally capture Tamana.

[joegrundman]

Dutch Harbor falls to Japan



An invasion force takes some losses, but succeeds in capturing Dutch Harbor and the Aleutians. Japan takes substantial losses in the attack, including some cruisers.

[joegrundman]

Japanese offensive on Indian border



Heavy fighting around Kohima results in a defeat for the Commonwealth forces. Japanese army forces take Dacca after suffering heavy losses. Japanese armor exploits westwards threatening to isolate defending Indian units in the Imphal area.

[joegrundman]

summer 1942
Air offensive heralds start of new German offensive in Russia



Large counterair campaign sees all Red Air Force units dislodged from the northern sectors of the Eastern Front

[joegrundman]

Panzer columns breakthrough the front in northern Russia



Breakthroughs occur north and south of the Moscow area of the line. Analysts say much of the Russian front appears to be about to crumple

[joegrundman]

German paratroops capture Gorky



German paratroops seize control of Gorky to cut vital raillinks while panzer divisions sweep in a giant pincer to the north and south

[joegrundman]

Germans complete encirclement in the North



Moscow is now truly isolated as the north-central front has been fully encircled by German divisions. Between Vologda in the north and Stalingrad in the south, almost all Russian units are in trouble.

Also a smaller german force has crossed the Kerch peninsular and is now threatening Maikop

[joegrundman]

Summer 1942

Regia Marina accepts two more heavy battleships



BB4 Impero and BB4 Roma now entering service with the Regia Marina

[joegrundman]

Summer 42

USAAF Begins Bombing Operations Over Germany



B17 Flying Fortresses begin daylight bombing operations over Germany, hitting Leipzig and causing considerable damage. Very little resistance was offered by Germany, with the Russian and Mediterranean fronts taking all Luftwaffe units, and only a few planes lost to ground fire.

The Americans devoted special attention to the synthetic oil facilities, and claim to have caused substantial damage to the refineries.

The amount of damage, although substantial, was fairly small compared to the earlier bombing campaigns over Britain, but a USAAF spokesman says "This is just the beginning".

Leipzig takes 10 brps damage, including damage to the synthetic oil plant, for no bomber factors lost.