Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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12/7/45 to 12/27/45 Here at the End of All Things: The game doesn't end at the end of 1945. It just feels like it does. Score: The Allied lead is 161k to 89k, or 62k points. About 27k from auto victory. Many moons ago, I posted that the Allied lead would likely be between 40k and 60k by the end of the year, and between 55k and 70k by the end of February 1946, which is when the game ends (I think). So the Allies have outperformed what I had expected, back then. The war in China and the Strategic Bombing campaign have gone better than expected. China: The combined Allied powers eventually broke through the main enemy force barring the way to Chungking. That main enemy force is now retreating in tatters. The Allies army may cross the river and assault Chungking right at New Years Eve or New Years Day. I'm not sure if Erik has a strong reserve force or if he's really on fumes now. Supply is definitely an issue. There are a lot of points remaining in China - base points and enemy army points. I think the Chungking/Chengtu area will be secured within two weeks. As soon as Chungking falls, elements of the Allied army will move south, to work on the remaning large enemy pockets at Changsha, Hangkow and Canton/Hong Kong. Strategic Bombing: The Allies have 39.7k. The Allies lose a material number of 4EB but far less than points scored, so that the campaign has been efficient. Most enemy bases are battered now, though Tokyo, Yokohama and Kobe are still in pretty good shape, as are some of the big aircraft plants that don't have Manpower centers. The New Year Invasions: DS just escorted a bunch of assault shipping into the Pacific. Those TFs will evnetually go to Shikuka, for use in a possible invasion of the Home Islands. DS is now on its way back to China. The Allied army in China is mostly prepped for Korea. That invasion is also possible come the new year, once China is complete. But I Don't Know:…if it's worth taking the chance of coming within range of Erik's uber air forces, which I believe are indeed uber even though Japan's been battered for a year. It probably isn't worth taking a chance. But I haven't made any final decisions yet. Zzzzzzz: Erik hasn't engaged in any offensive activity in about a year. It's been a real snooze-fest, at least compared to the games vs. Dave and John III. He doesn't need to attack, but will do so with a vengeance when he feels the circumstances are right. He's been able to hole-up and rely on his denominator to keep the game afloat. So the war is two dimensional - ground war in China and strategic bombing vs. Home Islands.
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