By the beginning of May, Portugal was two months away from launching her second Heavy Cruiser,
NRP Figueira da Foz. Another subron was on the way also, and a third Heavy Cruiser which would be due for launching toward the end of 1942. Portugal was also struggling to try to create more Industry, making up for a tremendous deficit compared to her outward appearance of power. Less than 50 IC was available for production, and it was too little.
Portugal was also still struggling to construct convoy freighters, enough to keep up with the continual sinkings along her far flung trade routes. Below is one of the most interesting screenshots I think I've ever taken, showing graphically the complicated net of trade routes which Portugal's empire now required. The apparent disorder is because the game engine shifts convoy routes to avoid areas where the enemy has been raiding shipping, and so each convoy ends up setting its own route in a way calculated to take it away from harm's way. Unfortunately, there is not much anyone can do at certain choke points, such as the Cape of Good Hope.
There was one other need which went unmet, besides cruisers and more small units to garrison the Empire. Portugal needed a division with mobility (like the Armored Cars which had proved so valuable), but which had the staying power to survive and surpass enemy units in open combat. Not having been able to develop her own, Portugal turned to Germany for her expertise in creating Motorized Infantry divisions.
Any heavier units would take too long to build. Anything smaller would just duplicate capabilities Portugal already had. This would do fine.
By now, Portugal's cruiser was handling things in the Caribbean, which freed her fleet of FW-200 Condor long-range bombers for reconnaissance duty over the vast stretches of Australia. A series of overflights, from Port Moresby to Perth, showed that most Australian army units were still at the major cities and ports of the north and east, but a scattering of enemy units was making its way toward Perth to contain the Portuguese invasion.
Meanwhile, Portugal's army was completing a slow, comprehensive occupation of southwest Australia, making sure to secure each region before moving on, so they could present a solid front when those Australian divisions arrived.
Portuguese technology improved during this period. The naval design boards developed a Portuguese-native design for a Battlecruiser, which would be placed in production as soon as room was found in the yards. And Portuguese military units began to have a new, improved primary rifle introduced into service, and it was slowly distributed, as it became available. This would greatly improve our ability to inflict casualties upon the enemy.
Improvements in developing and recruiting manpower were made, too. Finding enough troops to fill the ranks, both for new units and replacements for casualties, was a constant struggle for Portugal.
Around the world, the big news was that the Italians and Greeks had turned the Turks back, over the spring months, and by the 1st of June, Istanbul threw in the towel.
Turkey surrendered, and a new government was placed. New target cards were distributed to Portuguese aircraft so they would now no longer attack, but rather protect, Turkish shipping. This had the overall effect of redeeming Italian pride, as they could now claim (justly or not) to be on par with Portugal as a world power.
Canadian attempts to land in the Bahamas continued, just as Australian attempts to land near Port Moresby continued. It was interesting how the Dominions of the British Empire had overtaken their master country in relevance.
The Portuguese defenders were holding their own, and no serious worry that Australia might succeed was yet entertained. Though, over time, this might change. Meanwhile, progress continued in taking the interior of New Guinea for Portugual, and isolating the Australian survivors more fully.
In Egypt, sniping along the perimeter of Alexandria continued, as, further south, the isolated British divisions were furthre corralled and starved.
On July 1st,
Figueira da Foz was launched. Many admirals argued that she should be sent to the Caribbean to settle things there. But another plan was foremost in the minds of the General Staff, which was (of course) dominated by Generals.
Another attempt was to be made to conquer Gibraltar. It was felt that if Hong Kong could be taken, so too could Gibraltar. The defenses were, theoretically, approximately equal.
Two heavy cruisers (
Vila Nova de Gaia having been brought in, suddenly, from the Caribbean) provided naval bombardment support. The Terrain modifiers, though, at "the Rock", were higher. And the likelihood of being chased away by British naval forces was infinitely greater.
Would this most recent invasion (the third) succeed?
Lastly, in case you've been wondering about the British Isles, so have I. There don't appear to be any major changes on that front.
The only exception, perhaps, is that the Royal Air Force seems to be very beleaguered, such that they almost don't matter any longer.