The position at the moment (start Autumn 43), from the Japanese perspective, is:
- MacArthur is fighting one hell of a defence of Bombay - it is very tight. If the US had lost the last initiative roll, India would have been unlikely to survive. In fact they won, so MacArthur can at least hold on with another pinning attack.
- The Allies are ashore on Papua New Guinea but will have to march up the island to the other end where the Japs are building a redoubt.
- The Japanese have a lot of airpower spread across PNG and the Phillippines. The Japanese fleet is spread between the Carolinas and Japan, with a secondary fleet off India.
- The Japanese were doing very well until the Summer of 43 - all carriers intact, all carrier air intact - then we lost two carriers to subs, one fully looaded with all air. We're now using islands as carriers (they seem to be harder to sink).
- China is getting ugly - we lost Shanghai due to force dispersal and being passive. Things are fairly balanced but the Chinese keep multiplying.
It is a WILD ride witrh all these carriers and rerolls.
The Japs have enjoyed a lot of PP - we have nice air, decent sub force, still lots of capital ships. Unfortunately the US have more: 2-hit carriers, 6 AA-value fighters, heavy bombers on the way, and our best naval commanders are gone now.
Banzai Banzai Banzai!!!!
Mike