Downfall 1943

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

Luftwaffe re-organised and equipped with improved units



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



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



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



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



2 beach defense counters places in North East France

[joegrundman]

Spring 1943

U-boats still terror of the Atlantic



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



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



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



1 ANZAC factor taken as attrition loss

[joegrundman]

spring 1943
US Carriers raid Midway


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



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



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



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



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



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.