1944, July 5th:
- German paratroops again land in Birmingham, reducing British IC to an all-time low: 120/89. Brazilian close support planes fly to Liverpool and annihilate the reckless enemy before reinforcements can be brought up to support them.
1944, July 15th:
- Pereira proudly announces the construction of eight new factories ... and then leaps frantically to one side as the Army and Navy go berserk over the new production available (the Air force admits it has plenty for present needs).
- The Navy take little time in deciding to procure ten troop transports, one medium-range assault transport, and to protect our convoys, one group of escorts. The Army has a harder time deciding.
Marines or Regular Infantry?
Comparison between '43-model regular and '43-model marine infantry:
Manpower usage: 10 versus 11
Cost to build: 156 versus 288 IC/days (we are highly efficient at building marines)
Cost to maintain: 1.9 versus 1.4 supplies/day
Soft attack: 19 versus 16, after artillery bonuses
- So far, the advantage mostly lies with regular infantry (logistically, marines are superior). However, marines also get some major combat efficiency advantages, and not just when conducting amphibious assaults:
- The greatest advantages of marines over regular infantry occur precisely in those cases where the mainstay of our army -- mechanized infantry -- are weak: amphibious assaults, river crossings, and jungle and swamp warfare. Therefore, despite their higher cost to build and slightly weaker combat stats, Brazil will build quite a few marines and no regular infantry for the Pacific campaigns (we may have to re-evaluate if we need a truly mass army).
Light Tanks or Artillery?
- Our three existing Marine divisions have artillery attachments. However, we're going to go with American-designed M7 Stuart light tanks for all new units, for several reasons. The first is speed: light tanks add +1 speed; artillery has no effect. The second are the bonuses light tanks give to toughness, organization, morale (important for amphibious troops), and hardness. The third advantage is reduced supply usage; although light tanks also require 0.3 oil (when moving), oil is cheaper then supplies. The only real disadvantage is that we sacrifice 2 soft attack.
- Army minister de Azevedo orders nine light tank attachments (and will order as many marines about three weeks from now).
1944, June 20th:
- Some smack-talk in the skies. It's never been the same since Richthofen and dos Santos discovered each other's radio frequencies.
1944, July 25th:
- CCNA starts work on basic naval bombers. This diversion of effort from badly needed alternatives requires an explanation, and Martins offers one:
1944, July 26th:
- Brazilian troops have all arrived in Colombo, Ceylon and now board transports to the Philippines.
- Naronha and 18 destroyer flotillas head for the southern Atlantic.
1944, August 1st:
- As German subs continue to ravage the convoy routes from Britain unchecked, the continuing British convoy crisis worsens. Now she cannot supply Ceylon anymore. Today, supplies finally run out, which means that, if more don't arrive soon, our troops and ships will start to die. Fortunately, this wasn't a sudden crisis; Mascarenhas de Morais had fair warning and prepared by keeping a transport in reserve. We'll supply ourselves until Britain can again succor her far-away possessions.
1944, August 2nd:
- Battle damage forced dos Santos to stand down for more than a week. With the cat away, the German mice are at play.
1944, August 2nd:
- We take wing and engage the enemy, but, despite radar support, are overwhelmed by sheer numbers and defeated. There are approximately 2500 German fighters and interceptors over Britain right now. We will have to cede air superiority until Goring's focus shifts elsewhere.
1944, Summer:
- Brazilian close air support planes harass German ships passing through the Faroes Gap.
1944, August 14th:
-
Itamaraty's Naval Situation Group keeps constant tabs on Brazilian ship movement. The below is their position report as of today. From west to east:
- Admiral Noronha's 16
Parana-class destroyers are moving to the US East coast in an attempt to clear the sea lanes between us and our most important trading partner. We're beginning to run low on coal and trade efficiency with Washington has run between 50% and 10% for perhaps the past month or two.
- 11 newly-built transports and some escorts are moving to the Cape, where the just-repaired battleship
Para will join them. The combined force will then make for Colombo to pick up the last remaining troops there.
- Our main transport fleet is making its second (and last) trip from Colombo to Manila, to which city our battleship bombardment fleet is also steaming. One transport remains at Colombo to ensure supplies there.
.
