The Monroe Doctrine: the OTZ corrollary

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Difficulty: Very Hard
AI: Normal
Start Date: 1936
Country: USA

Just a note before i start...i have found that keeping the AI at a normal level allows you maintain to some sort of historical accuracy. the germans waited well into 1939 before going to war, while the japanese are still fighting in china.

In the first months of 1936, the Armed Forces of the United States underwent a massive reorganisation. Four Carrier taskforces were established (RANGER, YORKTOWN, LEXINGTON, FORRESTAL) with two more carriers under construction (ENTERPRISE, SARATOGA). The Army was redeployed into three infantry corps (1st, 2nd, 3rd) with an initial compliment of 3 Divs each. The Infantry Corps would form the cadre for any future American Expiditionary Force (AEF). It was quickly discovered by the new administration that research was lacking. Immediatly, resources were devoted to improving the quality of America's surface fleets, Army, and Air Force. Unfortunately, other avenues of research were limited and thus earmarked for possible examination in the early 1940s.

aside from several minor events occurring in the period 1936-8, such as the civil wars in China and Spain (Communist and Nationalsit victories respectively),very little occurred.
1939 would prove to be a hitorical year. The Germans gobbled up Austria and Czechoslovakia with little resistance, while the Italians declared war on Albania. In the Far-East, Japan launched a relentless campaign against the Red Chinese.

Late in the year, the Germans united with the Italians and Hungarians to attack France. The Low Countries were immediate victims (which allowed the JApanese to prey on Dutch colonies in the Pacific--a direct threat to the american position in the Phillipines). After France's fall, Brazil was swayed by the aggressors to join their cause! Similarly, the US was asked to join the allied war effort.

The Italians also began their african campaign in earnest, even waging war against the vichy. spain even joined the Axis crusade.

so now, it is november 1940. the world is embroiled in war. the germans are fighting the soviets and have captured moscow, but they appear to have been halted along a line from rostov to leningrad. the US is too weak to engage itself in Europe [altho 9 divs (1st,2nd,3rd Inf Corps) are currently in britain, with the 1st MEch Inf Corps in Casablanca). instead, it has been decided to pacify the brazillians. Operation Ignore Europe will be launched in the spring of 1941, aimed at driving down the coast to Rio. With any luck, Brazil will be friendly once again by the fall.

US OOB for OPIE
TS 2 (9) - transport squad
TS 3 (9) - transport squad
AT 1 (4) - air transport
At 2 (4) - air transport
RANGER Taskforce - escort fot TS 2
YORKTOWN Taskforce - escort for TS 3
4th Inf Corps - 9 divs
6th Inf Corps - 9 divs
1st Para Corps - 4 divs
2nd Para Corps - 4 divs

Reserves or OPIE
5th Inf Corps - 9 divs
1st Mtn Army - 5 divs
SARATOGA Taskforce -

Brazil has amassed nearly 20 divs along its north-eastern shore, while intelligence has yet to confirm the existence of a German expiditionary Force which was sited earlier in the year.

I will keep you posted...if there are any etails that you think im missin let me know...

 

[midos]

i've wondered what it might be like to focus only on an area not important (relatively) to the war at large. are you hoping to go through mexico or through the carribean? and how well is your research going?

 

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As hoped, the camapign (3 april - 1 august) for brazil was over by fall. the units used in this campaign were deployed from 2 transport fleets based in the atlantic, while 8 AB divisions were dropped from planes based out of the french territory of cheyene (sp?). it was more difficult than expected to link up with the paratroops, but this was eventually completed by may. the majority of brazil's army was stationed in the north. altho technologically inferior, there were over 33 divisions with a weeks march of the invasion beeches. strong naval and aerial participation helped to destroy the majority of these formations. after that was complete (mid-june), 4th infantry corps marched down the coast and captured rio on the 1st of august. VB day!
it was costly, however. during the mop-up of the brazilian army in the north, 3 US inf divs were encricled and destroyed before help could arrive. an unfortunate loss, but they made a valuable contribution to the campaign.

research is progressing rapidly, altho some aspects had been ignored until recently.

the year 1942 finds Germany and Romania in control of most of europe. italy's land grab in north africa has been brought to a halt by the US 1st Mech inf corps, but mussolini's troops still hold large swathes of territory. a larger threat looms in the pacific. japan has just declared war on the US, but seems to be locked in a bitter struggle with the british in northern india.

the united states is prepared to sit the next year out to focus on refitting obsolete divisions and raising new ones; all for the planned liberation of europe in the spring of 1943. there may be the possibility of a minor pacific campaign in the fall of 1942 if troops become available.