[BTS] WWII in Pacific

[Tigranes]

Spoiler I shall return! :

If you know your Pacific War history -- you know this famous vow by General Douglas MacArthur to the Filipino people during WWII, promising to come back after being forced to flee the Japanese invasion, a promise he fulfilled by returning to liberate the Philippines in 1944. Well, in our game Christmas came early: Australian liberators fought their way into the Victory City in the late September 1942, and will be attending American Flag raising ceremony in a fortnight!

 

[Hickman888]

The large Chinese army, originally going to help reinforce the city of Chengdu, has diverted to instead go reinforce the city of Baiyu. As a result, the Imperial Army was able to push into and capture the city of Chengdu.

Spoiler Capture of Chengdu :

Meanwhile, the assault on the big island, the island of Hawai'i, has begun, with American defenders being unable to offer an effective defense in the face of the overwhelming naval bombardment.

Spoiler Hawai'i Invasion :

Over on the home front, the greater military council is busy plotting. How to stave off the British fleet that threatens the South China Sea?

 

[Tigranes]

Here is another task to add to my to-do list: Garrison I and Garrison II are currently immune from collateral damage from siege weapons, but not from naval bombardment or areal bombardment! Big oversight, if you ask those cave defenders on Iwo Jima, who simply dusted off and got back to their positions after relentless naval bombardment from the entire US Navy.

 

[Tigranes]

So it finally came to pass, in the Late October 1942, that the Japanese Empire was not only denied the Oil of Borneo, but also the very island of Borneo itself! The Fortress of Singapore, designed to be the linchpin of British defenses in SE Asia, has proven it's worth, defeating 2 invasions and counter-attacking with the valiant help of US Marines. Not to be outdone, US also returned it's Philippine colony in Cebu. Finally Chinese allies were urgently supported by the Assault Rifle technology and generous gift of 2000 , in order to instantly improve their Infantry, in accordance with 1943 standards! Overextended Japanese, on the other hand, would have to hike all the way to Manchuria, in order to get upgraded!

Spoiler Borneo is free again! :

*free ... under the former colonial rule that is

 

[Hickman888]

Terror on the big island of Hawai'i as the Japanese Imperial Navy has secured the island! All eyes of the world are on the Pacific front- what will be the next development in this ongoing theater of war!??

Spoiler Invasion of Hawai'i :

 

[Hickman888]

Over in Hawaii, while the Japanese Navy conducts a massive naval bombardment onto the defenders of Pearl Harbor, they simultaneously launch an invasion of the island of Maui, capturing a couple of American recon air units.

Spoiler Maui Invasion :

Meanwhile, over in China, the chess pieces are being moved into the area around the city of Baiyu, as the Commonwealth sends a large detachment north to help relieve the desperate Chinese army. A massive showdown looms between the Japanese on one side, and the Chinese, British and Indian forces on the other. Will the Allies be able to mount a suitable defense of the city of Baiyu in the coming turns? Time will tell!

Spoiler Forces around Baiyu :

 

[Tigranes]

Spoiler Lae liberated! :

After many months of grueling campaign along the Kokoda Trail connecting Port Moresby with Lae across a malaria infested jungle, heroic ANZACs finally broke through the stubborn Japanese resistance! Lae was liberated with some heavy losses on both sides. Special thanks goes to the valiant American artillerymen, who lost half their unit to tropical diseases, but managed to wipe away the last defenses of Japanese stronghold overlooking the Huon Gulf. Next stop -- Wewak!

Also, modest Americans forgot to mention, that during the last turn, a lucky Dauntless bomb diver squadron has managed to sink Yamato's sister -- superbattleship Musashi! This is a very grave loss for the IJN, no doubt. (In real life it took 19 Torpedo and 17 Bomb Hits from 259 Aircraft)!