Downfall 1944
 

Spring 1944

Battle of the Atlantic still a struggle with new generation of German u-boats

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg401...pg&res=landing

New models of U-boat, new equipment such as radar and snorkels, and new torpedo types mean that the U-boats continue to be a threat, although allied asw efforts resulting in more sinkings of uboats

Axis announces third torpedo result

allies play ultra card which offsets this

axis sink 4 transports and abort 7 for 2 uboat factors lost

Spring 1944

Germany puts into service the world's first operational jet fighter

http://www.luftwaffen-projekte.de/lw...62_staffel.jpg

The Me 262 with advanced propulsion and wing design is a revolution in fighter design that heralds the coming of a new era.

Spring 1944

Germany steps up night fighter construction

http://www.radarworld.org/images/sca...htenstein1.jpg

to counter the bomber threat, germany has increased the number of night fighters to intercept the allied bombers.

germany has also increased shipyard capacity in kiel and produced a number of flak factors to defend the heartland

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...erstellung.jpg

4 interceptors, 2 aaf, 6 flak factors, three 3-3 infantry produced

Spring 1944
Japanese ASW improved

http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/boats...ungostrait.jpg

The Imperial Japanese Navy has improved the design of the depth charges, operating at increased depths and with a heavier payload.

However this advance has been to some degree offset by improvements to US torpedo design and manufacture. The US now fields certain types derived from captured German torpedoes.

Spring 1944

US air and submarine forces cut supply to Marshalls, Solomons and Gilberts

http://www.southsearepublic.org/imag...arcksea001.jpg

US land based air in the contested marshall islands destroyed a small convoy of merchantmen attempting to supply the Japanese held islands in the Marshalls. However there was a pair of anti-aircraft ships in the convoy which the Americans were not expecting, and several planes were shot down. 1 NAS lost.

American submarines also prevented useful supplies from reaching the Japanese garrisons in the Solomons and Bismarck islands.

The Japanese decision not to reinforce these convoys may indicate a decision by the IJN to withdraw to the "inner perimeter"

Spring 1944

Battle of Rennes

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...a_Beach_02.jpg

A seaborne invasion from Great Britain combined with a breakout from the Allied forces in Brittany led to a major battle in the region centered around Rennes.

The seaborne invasion was very costly, with 4 Royal Navy cruisers sunk by coastal artillery and one older dreadnought class battleship damaged when a manned torpedo hit her in the night time after D-Day.

Allied planes softening up the target area were also exposed to severe anti-aircraft fire with heavy losses.

Eventually the forces breaking out from Brittany captured Rennes in a battle that almost demolished the well-defended town.

http://www.kurt-brun.ch/berichte/10/...aen%201944.jpg

Germany loses two 3-3 infantry
Allies loses three 3-4 infantry, 4 aaf, CA4, BB3 damaged

Spring 1944

Attack across the Po

http://www.custermen.com/ItalyWW2/History/VeronaRR.jpg

US 101st airborne airdropped onto key bridges at the Eastern end of the river Po allowing the US 30th armored division to pour across and capture Venice.

The attack was supported by counter-air strikes on axis airfields near Milan and Turin.

Germany loses 3-3 (italian), 3aaf
Allies lose 2AAF (us)

Spring 1944

Commonwealth forces reach Sofia, Bulgaria

http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib...7702/large.jpg

British forces in northern Greece attack into Bulgaria and reach the outskirts of Sofia. There were substantial losses, mostly to the South African division that took losses in the mountain fighting south of Sofia.

British 3-4 lost, 1-3 bulgarian infantry lost

Spring 1944

Allied Bombing Campaign hits the new German air defenses

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._by_Me-262.jpg

The speed advantage of the new German jet fighters has given the defenders a distinct advantage. The new Me 262 supported piston-engined interceptors in defending the American daylight bombers, while night fighters engaged the British.

In air to air losses, the Americans and the Germans both lost 4 factors, with 2 American bomber factors forced back.

The british lost 3 factors and had 3 more turned back for the loss of just 1 interceptor

Then the new radar-linked massed flak factors defending Leipzig and Berlin also shot down a British and an American bomber factor, and forced the others to bomb in a disordered fashion from high altitude.

http://lancasterdiary.net/images/assets/flak3.jpg

Germany loses 3 brps, 5 air factors (2 aaf, 2 jets, 1 interceptor): total value 18 brps

Britain loses 3 bombers, 1 escort : value 12 brps
US loses 3 bombers, 2 escorts: value 15 brps

Spring 1944

Battle of St.Nazaire

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ttany10136.jpg

The French province of Brittany has been secured after the allies exploited South after Rennes, capturing St.Nazaire from the Germans in some very tough fighting.

Allied losses were very heavy as the result of the thorough field fortifications that the veteran Germans had prepared over the previous six months since the allies first landed in France.

With the fall of the St.Nazaire u-boat base, only La Rochelle remains as a major French Atlantic port for conducting the Battle of the Atlantic.

Spring 1944

New Bulgarian Government Surrenders to British

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...0%95%D0%92.jpg

With British forces on the outskirts of Sofia, a revolt occurred in the Bulgarian army led by Zveno officers. The pro-nazi government was swiftly removed from power and a new government installed under Kimon Georgiev.

One of his first acts was to declare a ceasefire and surrender to the Allies.

Spring 1944

Allied Air Strikes in Burma neutralise Japanese Air Forces

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._personnel.jpg

The Flying Tigers operating from China and USAAF factors operating from the allies airbase in the Andaman Islands raided Japanese bases in Burma with stunning success.

Despite being outnumbered, the allies managed to inflict severe damage on Japanese airfields around Rangoon and Toungoo(V13). Although air to air combat saw many allied losses too, all the airfields that were targetted were neutralised.

3 USAAF and 2 flying tigers attack 7 Japanese aaf

Japan loses 3 aaf, and 4 aaf neutralised, allies lose 2 AAF (both usaaf)


US air Strike on Tarawa

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/...berts-p196.jpg
In the Gilberts, the carrier CV3 USS Ticonderoga and light escort ships launched an attack on the small Japanese airfield at Tarawa.

The Japanese Naval Air Squadron was caught on the ground in the dawn raid, and all 25 planes were destroyed. One US plane had engine problems and was lost. The pilot bailed out and was rescued by submarine. No other losses to US forces occurred.

1 japanese NAS lost in tarawa

Spring 1944

Battle of Cape Gloucester

http://media-1.web.britannica.com/eb...4-23C21E58.jpg

Atrocious weather the main problem for the marines as they storm Cape Gloucester on the Western portion of New Britain

No losses to the US

Japanese 1-2 eliminated

Spring 1944

Capture of Hollandia

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qS89QMx1h_...ases2-p306.jpg

A combined marine invasion with army units attacking from landward led to the capture of the port of Hollandia after a tough battle, particularly in the jungles east of the port

US 2-2 infantry eliminated in the attack
japanese 1-2 eliminated

Spring 1944

Kwajalein atoll and Nauru captured after short battles

http://www.coretek.org/gsmith/newpic...ajleinIsSm.jpg

The lightly defended Kwajalein atoll in the Marshalls fell after only light resistance from the small garrison. A similar story unfolded in Nauru in the Gilberts which was also captured at a similar time

no losses to the US