Mayan storyline

[Kaiser Kirk]

Disclaimer : I wasn't planning on writing a backstory for this. Hopefully I struck the right note.
I will try to add another post on Weds.

The Aztec-Mayan-Roman incident happened in August 1921... and there have been shifts since then, but the ramifications have been digested.

The Mayans lost canal access, and then Wilno sank a torpedo boat on May 16, 1922.... marking a low point in relations, but while Wilno reinforced a little in July, since there's been no further Wilno action for nearly a year. Wilno discusses dispatching more forces in January 1923, but that would not be evident to the Maya or effect their planning.

Usually eschewing Foreign Legations, the Mayans originally only have one with the semi-egalitarian, but still horridly tainted, Confederation of 5 Tribes, and with the Inca and Berbers- ancient trade partners. In January 1922, a Consulate is established in Barcelona. This becomes the venue for rare Mayan statements to other diplomats and the Press. In each case, inquiries will consistently find that these are locuses for trading missions. The Confederation, Inca and Berber the oldest, the Iberians having a presence for some centuries, revitalized of late.

In July of 1922 they issue a statement :
In the past years, the Peoples Republic of the Maya have been maligned and attacked by the Bloodsoaked Forces of the Azteca Dominion and the Empire of Japan. Assaulted in our peaceable colonial efforts, our ancient lands occupied, we have now twice been offered recent insult at sea.

In our valiant navy's effort to defend our interests against the malign Azteca navy, a misunderstanding has occurred with the Empire of Rome. The slander wrought by the Azteca dominon against our good name has found it's corrupt home in the hearts of Wilno, for as our forces came to investigate the Azteca battlefleet off our shores, we found ourselves viciously attacked. Only once it was realized we were being hailed on short range frequencies long disused by our navy, did we understand the reason, and breakoff. This was to late for the sailors lost to this obviously Aztec engineered engagement.

We do not blame the peoples of Wilno, who at least acknowledge the people must have some power, despite being ruled by an easily corruptible elite. The exalted and enlightened Peoples of Maya only wish to secure our natural borders, bringing our all encompassing peaceful way of life to those who need it. We offer peace and knowledge to those who would accept it, and desolation to those unwise enough to bear arms against us.

[Kaiser Kirk]

In August of 1922 the following statement is made in Madrid, the occasion being the acceptance of the most recently constructed Iberian submarines into the Mayan Navy.
"With these vessels, the Glorious Defenders of the Mayan people grow stronger and more able to thwart the ambitions of those who, envious of our glory, try to subvert our peoples. We do not care if they are Parthian arms dealers supporting deposed elite rabble, or the stealthy spies of the Japanese, or the vicious warriors of the Aztec, we are prepared to stand fast and fight as a unified people. Be warned, the trespasses against us will not be quickly forgotten."

[Kaiser Kirk]

In November of 1922, from their Legation in the Confederation of Five Tribes, the Mayan Declare
"We wish to formally note the continued hostility of the Aztec and their puppet the Japanese Empire. Not content with initiating an undeclared state of war, they have conspired,  masterminding scenarios so that our actions in regards to their hostile ships resulted in conflict with the Roman Empire and Zwiazek Wilno. We acknowledge their scheming was successful, seeing our merchants banned from the canal, harming our commerce and prosperity. Now we have had freighters disappear from the high seas, the manner of their demise known likely only to the deceitful ones. Unsatisfied they continue to press our borders, emplacing fortresses armed with great cannon, and strategically encircling and threatening our national homeland.

[Kaiser Kirk]

In December of 1922 a statement is issued "The Mayan Republic wishes to acknowledge the petition received from the peoples of <San Diego>. This land was torn from us and occupied in an undeclared act of war. Much as the territories of Central America have been conquered by the same parties. We know the peoples they have subjected long for the egaltarian and cooperative way of the Mayan Peoples Republic. The Aztec and their Japanese minions, continue their hostile acts and plot against us,  fearful their people will break free, inspired by our model. We have walked the path of peace in the face of their trickery and hostility, but should matters remain grim and hostile, we shall reconsider by the equinox.

[Kaiser Kirk]

In late January of 1923, from Mashauwomuk (OTL Boston) again "The Peoples Republic has noted the military activities of the Aztec and Japanese on our borders and are moving to counter their activities. The hostile actions date back nearly a decade. The  border incidents have markedly increased since 1917*, and the malevolent hand of the Aztec is seen in the occupation of our ancient territories in the South by the Japanese**. The Japanese have rushed troops onto our southern border, far in excess of what Wilno had and has commenced emplacing guns.  We do not know how the Aztec have enticed the Japanese to join their ancient war against our Peoples Republic, but they shall not catch us unprepared."

*that seems to be when the idea of the war was first floated, as I started to write news pieces meant to lead to a minor role for Parthia. So the 'border skirmishes'...regardless of who started them, probably date from there
** 1918.5 is when Japan took possession of Central America. From 3 troops initially, by 1922 they had 13, and have by war start built 3 fortress points.

[Kaiser Kirk]

The third week of January sees an unseasonable storm hit Costa Rica, with winds in the 35knot range and a brief drenching rain that simply soaks in. The weather seems to have little effect on the political temperature. The following week sees steady winds in the 20knt realm across the region.

The additional preparations along the Aztec border have proceeded forward, but along the Costa Rican border, the Mayans have long built up a network of depots and secondary roads to allow lateral movement safe from shelling along the border. Only during January do they bring in the trains at night to unload troops and move them into position. The buildup is not entirely unnoticed by the Japanese, but the scale exceeds their knowledge. Elsewhere the Mayan units move into position.

End of January of 1923, from Mashauwomuk (OTL Boston) "A cable has reached this office for release to the press. Two days ago, an aggressive Japanese patrol turned into an incursion in force.  Local efforts to repel the Japanese forces was followed by prolonged shelling by Japanese batteries, with devastating effects on several of our border villages. The Peoples Republic will not sit passively in the face of such aggression and has mobilized our reserves to continue the struggle against the Japanese and remove the threat from our Southern Border.

Since they attacked our possession at San Diego, we took no further direct action, hoping our path to peace would suffice. Instead the Japanese have moved to support their Aztec Masters, purchasing at great expense our former territories on our southern border. In the past year they have increase their forces there tenfold as part of their plot to attack the Mayan homeland from both directions. No MORE ! We have alerted our forces and called on them to defend our People's homeland from the depredations of which ever offers us offense.

We are aware that the Aztecs are the true villains of this tale, and wage war through their Japanese Proxies. We fully expect they will attack our noble forces in support of their puppets and stand prepared, as we know their uncaring Elite will choose to sacrifice sailors and soldiers in a futile attempt to shore up their minions.

[Kaiser Kirk]

Beginning of February :
Several days later, members of Confederation of 5 Tribes Embassy staff are shown villages along the Mayan-Japanese border which have been devastated by shellfire. They are then taken to an area where a battle has occurred and are shown a pile of bloated corpses in Japanese uniforms.

Reality : Whether this is an actual incursion, or a localized counter attack, or a completely staged false flag operation is irrelevant to the Mayans, they wish to create the narrative that the Aztec are masterminding the situation to create conflicts for the Mayans, and the Aztec-Japanese coalition are continuing hostilities.  The Mayans wish to be the victims and are now taking appropriate action against the Japanese aggressors.

[Kaiser Kirk]

Mayan War, Month one land conflict.

Preliminary note :
The Point system was deliberately meant to be vague and not tied to any specific number of men/equipment.
Having a requirement to detail one's land and air forces in a Naval game was viewed as unwelcome complexity. Tracking training status, the positions of subunits, or Kworld's proposal in the archives are  examples. Players are still welcome to storyline how their units are, which makes the complexity optional. 
The Caicos war brought home a problem with the system – namely.... so how many supplies does one have to transport to keep these units function when cut off. This also forecast the problem of  if a landprovince wants to attack naval units with 1 airpoint...how many planes are being sent.

So , I have a general concept that Land Units are basically small Divisions, probably on par with US Civil War Division with 4 core units with some organic support- Brigades or Regiments, and an organic Combat support unit of Artillery or Cavalry or Armor- whatever fits the story. 
While Deployment points are one's quartermasters, mobile kitches, transport, medical, comms, combat engineers/pioneers, ...plus funding for a mobilizable merchant marine, extra rail cars, etc. Teeth and Tail.

For Aircraft, I very generally figure Air points are a 'Air Legion', with multiple types of aircraft.
However they can only get so many active in a sortie at once. For...whatever reason.
Plus they are expected to be reasonably arranged in the region.. If you have 2air units for 16 provinces, not all will be stuffed in a single airfield to counterstike the minelayer that wanders past.

For combat against point sources (like a ship) I currently define them as being able to to bring about 64 single engine fighters/light bombers, or 32 twin engine bombers / LR scouts/Dive bombers, or 16 heavy bombers /flying boats/torpedo bombers, or 4-8 large zeppelins, or some mix.  I have strongly considered dropping that to more like 32/16/8 ...but it's a vague system and the numbers aren't fixed so I'm not worrying about it...much.

Anyhow, I thought I would post this here, as the battles and 'lessons' are far less proprietary


Aztec- Mayan conflict

In the month before the conflict, Aztec reconnaissance assets had noted several new artillery embrasures, buildups at railheads and fields with crawler tracks hinting at mechanized vehicles. New spoils hinted at fresh entrenchment near the border. All this activity had led to the Aztecs to place themselves on alert and recall their forces. Train schedules to transport troops to the border could now be enacted.

In the meantime, the considerable Aztec border forces could open up.  The Yucatan border hums as six units of Aztec planes pour over, aiming for the Mayan Aerodromes, marshalling yards, and other assorted targets. Aztec Fortress artillery hammers the targets near them. Spotter aircraft become important to the endeavor. Aztec warriors begin infiltration to locate and scout the Mayan forces along the border.

The Mayan air force is certainly expecting the Aztec effort, and as the Aztecs swoop down to strafe aerodromes and other targets, they are met by equal numbers and while attacking get bounced by older, normally slightly slower aircraft diving down. The Aztec fighters account themselves well downing by their accounts (I'll pretend the numbers are real, not inflated as in real life) 2 full air points worth of Mayan planes. But the butcher's toll is high, as  losses mount and 2 air points of Aztec planes fail to return.  The Aztec warriors discover, most of the first line is weakly held and so Mayan forces suffer minimally from the brutal bombardment. Worse, time after time, they find the recently constructed embrasured artillery is painted logs. Surging further, they find the Mayans are force just slightly deeper in than expected, heavily dug in and backed by their own fortresses and artillery. The return fire is heavy.

[Translation : Functionally, Forts are defensive only and Land Units in a 'Home' province can't go invade or damage forces in another province without actually marching over there in conjunction with a deployment point. As an interesting aside, for "January" the Mayans had a 2:1 intelligence advantage, which went towards a bluff on their northern border, and towards knowing the paths reconnaissance flights flew out of Veracruz in the morning. So that creates a storyline where the Aztec shelling of border areas 'hits air'.  The planes were actually ordered to go shoot things, so the Aztec Air points mix it up with the Mayan Airpoints. They each do some damage to the other. Air combat is D20s, and a 1918 plane gets +4 /die (20%!!) compared to 1914, but the Mayans actually managed slightly higher total, hence the description. ]


Mayan-Japanese Conflict :

On the Costa Rican Border, Mayan Air Forces battle the valiant but outnumbered Japanese Fighters.
There, 4 Mayan Aerial Legions, led by some recent Iberian models, seek tactical air superiority over the battlefield and it's legion of Japanese defenders. Mayan bombers seek to paralyze the Japanese roads and harry their artillery parks. The Japanese fighters put up a stellar effort, sniping over eager Mayan units and destroying 2/3s of a Legion.  The jaunty pilots cause such a fuss the Mayans go out of their way, mouse trapping and completely obliterating one squadron [rolling for which squadron got hit, all were #1 of 2 except the last one]. The remaining aircraft fight on, but are substantially worn down by the end of the month. They can fight into the second month but there will be no one left by the end.

The Japanese were not caught unprepared, they had detected the Mayan buildup, but had underestimated the scale. The final weeks before the assault the Mayans had moved trains by night, and unloaded after dark, troops hiking to their distant border positions, where supply depots had long been arranged. The result was the numbers of Mayan soldiers swelled rapidly right before the assault. The Japanese had become alarmed by the signs they did detect, and had feverishly worked on their field fortifications and contingency plans.  Eventually, Mayan artillery opened fire in saturation attacks in the early morning. Like the Aztec, aerial reconnaissance helped assist in artillery spotting. The Mayan infantry came next, in vast numbers as 25 Legions poured over the border. The 13 Japanese Legions were well dug in, and interspersed with fortified strategic points.  (i.e. 100 regiments to 52).

The prepared positions with prepared fireplans allowed the Japanese to concentrate on their foe, inflicting far more damage [7dice rather than 5] than the Mayans expected. Repeatedly Mayan regiments were shot to pieces, with 11 being reduced to fleeing rabble, and a further 2 being crippled. Japanese fortifications, limited in number, still absorbed some of the damage that would otherwise be visited on Japanese infantry, and added their artillery to the mix. For strong points, the Mayans brought a limited number of tanks, acting in small formations and serving as mobile artillery to address strong points or shield infantry. 

The iron willed Japanese soldiers knew of such machines, and fought solidly to destroy them. The  Japanese field guns could effectively deal with the new threat, they were not designed to traverse rapidly to engage such targets, and so were of modest utility, yet claiming some of the steel beasts.

Despite the tremendous odds against them, at the end of the first month, the Japanese had lost 13 regiments, with a half dozen more being severely degraded. The  Mayan command of the air complicated matters, and led to higher losses, but was merely one more threat. However, the Japanese needed to fall back in the NE coastal plain, occupying new prepared positions, while trying to hold the line in the NW. The Fortifications are throughout the region, firebases commanding strategic points and so still are of value. Those forces only had a limited line of retreat, and it would be necessary to hold the mountain passes to keep if from being severed, while also shielding the developed Southland.

[Translation : The Japanese fought well but lost a large part (~56%) of the army, forcing a retreat, abandoning the NE province. The Mayans lost the same number of subunits, but having more means proportionately lower losses.  From a wargaming perspective, at 3:2 you should prevail with difficulty, with 2:1 you should prevail with some certainty... the Mayan numbers were 2:1.  History is replete with such odds that did not work out, but a lot of that has to do with command and control and firepower multiples, concentration of mass, etc etc. ]


At Sea :
Mayan raiders in the Caribbean are presumed responsible for 4 missing Aztec freighters. Merchant captains report that in weeks prior to the war they had repeatedly been seeing Mayan cruisers.

The Aztec fleet from Acapulco misses the Mayan Pacific fleet, which makes it's home port.

Heavy clouds for several days after the battle of Veracruz make scouting by zeppelin difficult. Attempts to scout the Mayan Naval Station at Carmen meet fighters, and the Zeppelins have to climb above them into the clouds. By the next week, if the Mayans had stopped there, they had conducted whatever necessary emergency repairs and departed.

In the 3rd week of the month, Japanese reinforcements reach Acapulco.
In the 4th week, more Japanese reinforcements reach Acapulco.

[TacCovert4]

The Damage to the Fleet had been considerable.

Of the cruisers present, both Frigates, Corvettes, and Razees, only one, HMS Revenge, was fit for action with very minor damage.
Of the Destroyers and Gun-Torpedo Boats, Seven divisions had gone out, Three Divisions could be cobbled together of what was fit for action now, and another Division was in various states of damage ranging from directly into drydock to prevent progressive flooding to pierside with substantial superficial damage. 
Aside from Monarch's report of 'Sweepers, Man your Brooms', the battle line was unscathed. 

It had not been as expected.  True the Mayans had been traded for, and true the losses to their fleet were not insubstantial with a number of destroyers and cruisers being sunk outright or sinking as they retired.  But their battleline was also mostly unscathed, and the Mayans had more ships to give.  It was not a disaster, but the complete ineffectiveness of torpedoes had effectively torpedoed the plan to even the numerical odds in the battle.  But the entire fleet, indeed the nation had been awakened, and filled with a powerful resolve.  The Mayans had attempted a surprise attack on the home anchorage of the RAN, and had at least been repulsed from that.  Destroyers had been laid down, and would be ready by years' end, more powerful cruisers were well in construction, and the lessons learned from the battle would be applied heavily in future. 

[TacCovert4]

The Sultan condemns the People's Republic for their unprovoked attacks upon the Sultanate and the Empire of Japan.  He announces the sinking of numerous Mayan ships as their battle fleet attempted unsuccessfully to engage in a dastardly attack upon the Aztec home port of Veracruz and violating accepted economic zones off the coast, forcing the RAN to sortie into a fleet battle in order to protect Aztec lives and property ashore.  Mayan sailors rescued from the waves after their fleet fled have been recovered and placed in prisoner of war camps in accordance with international custom.  The attacks on Aztec Shipping, and sale of Prizes to the 5 Tribes, are condemned, and all trade with the 5 Tribes has been summarily terminated and all 5 Tribes assets in the Sultanate have been impounded until the ships are returned to their rightful owners.

Aztec land and air forces, once alerted to the perfidious actions of the Mayans at sea, have engaged in operations to ensure that the Mayans will not be able to assault the Oaxaca Line.  Whatever actions that need to be taken to prevent further attacks against the Sultanate will be taken as appropriate. 

The Sultan further announces a blockade of all Mayan ports until all Aztec property is returned and an apology provided by the People's Republic for their egregious actions, and advises all nations to avoid trade in military goods with the People's Republic until such time. 

The Sultan announces cooperation with the Emperor of Japan in protecting Japanese Lives and Property and decries the false flag operations of the Mayans.

[Kaiser Kirk]

Mayan Admiralty report.

"Our Caribbean Fleet on patrol in the Gulf of Canpeche encountered the Aztec Fleet.
The fight which followed opposed the scout squadrons of cruisers and torpedo boats.
Our losses are severe:
5 torpedo boats and 4 cruisers were sunk.
Several other damaged
Among our enemies they are equivalent.
9 torpedo boats and 2 cruisers sunk and several badly damaged.

The battles of the battleship squadrons were brief.
The enemy preferred to flee in front of our battleships line.
Thus the Aztec Fleet, however superior, to prefer to find refuge in these harbors."

[Kaiser Kirk]

Early February 1923

Parthian diplomats release Parthia's formal declaration of stance in the Central American conflict.

Parthia recognizes that a state of war exists between the Maya, Aztec and Japanese.

Parthia does not claim blanket neutral status, but neither shall it become a belligerent.
Parthia declares neutrality within the bounds of the Caribbean Sea, but will continue conducting it's business as it sees fit elsewhere.

Parthia Declares that Parthian shipping would comply with blockades  of war material.
Parthia will demand all parties comply with traditional commerce warfare rules in regards to all merchants, or Parthia will reserve the right to consider that failure a causus belli.

Parthia declares that it had a special obligation in the case of San Diego, and should it come under attack, they would move to defend or reclaim it.

The Pacific Freeports are Parthian territory, attacks within that territory is attacks on Parthia.
They shall otherwise remain open to  all nations

Parthian Military movements :
Pacific forces had already been gathered at Peris Bay (San Francisco bay, actually Suisan Bay),
and the Hawaiian-based Pacific Marine force (2LP/2DP) moved to Kalifern.

Parthia would advance the Marines and  South American Fleet to Trinadad, while the Marines and fleet at Brunei would advance to Peris Bay.  The Bushere Fleet would sail for Trinadad to join the Ria fleet.

The reserve fleet at Abbas would be activated and sent to Pearl. Two Asdar class armored cruisers and 2 Kanthaka class would be dispatched to Peris Bay.

[snip]

On March 5th, in response to the outbreak of war, the Imperial Roman Navy begins transfer of several detachments of the Atlantic Fleet to the Caribbean Fleet to reenforce the Caribbean Fleet's ability to provide for the safeguarding of Roman and other neutral civilian maritime traffic in an active conflict zone. The transfer of these ships is expected to complete by mid-late April 1923. If asked, it would be unofficially confirmed that more offensive types present in this transfer such as submarines are intended to at the time of this transfer replace forces currently assigned to the Caribbean Fleet which are being reorganized.

IRS Jeanne d'Arc
IRS Tullius Leofric
IRS Invicta
IRS Indefessus
IRS Praeventores
IRS Termine
IRS Vesontio
IRS Tolosa
IRS Bresta
IRS Cemenelum
IRS Arquese
IRS Carantonus
IRS Tiberim
IRS Mancunio
IRS Royan
IRS Thibault D'Aramitz
IRS Solène Girard
IRS Agincourt
IRS Dertona
DD-81
DD-82
DD-83
DD-84
DD-85
IRS Pilum
IRS Bipennis
IRS Rainier Marion
IRS Marcel Langley
IRS Einion Albrici
IRS Célestin Paul
IRS Krištof Borgnino
IRS Yannic Salucci
IRS Thibaut Franjić
IRS Perica Trudeau
IRS Nicodemo Lachapelle
IRS Karel Traversini
IRS Giacobbe Ferreyra
IRS Havel Duchamps
IRS Florián Gimondi
IRS Hyacinthe Lefebvre
IRS Murmuro
IRS Crispico
Sloop SL-46
Sloop SL-47
Sloop SL-48
Sloop SL-49
Sloop SL-50
Sloop SL-66
Sloop SL-67
Sloop SL-68
Sloop SL-69
Sloop SL-70
Sloop SL-71
Sloop SL-72
Sloop SL-73
Sloop SL-74
Sloop SL-75
IRS Faber Ferrarius
IRS Malleus Vulcani
Submarine B-9
Submarine B-10
Submarine C-1
Submarine C-2
Submarine D-5
Submarine D-6
Submarine D-7
Submarine D-8
Submarine D-13
Submarine D-14
Submarine D-15
Submarine D-16
MTB D-73 to D-84
MTB D-85 to D-96
MTB D-97 to D-108

Note: I've got this all in a nice spreadsheet, but until I've got it spiting out the lists how I want, this goes here in text. Said spreadsheet will be upload in the Order Of Battle thread soon.

[Kaiser Kirk]

The Confederation of the Five tribes Foreign Minister Announces the Following :
The Confederation is neutral in the matter of the renewed Mayan-Aztec-Japanese war.
It has come to the attention of this ministry that Prize courts were improperly constituted on Confederation Territory, rather than on Mayan territory.
Given the Confederation is not a party to the conflict, that prize court invalid.
The sales have been rescinded as invalid. Prizes have been returned to their prize crews and have been given 24 hours to vacate the territory of the Confederation.

[The Mayan prize crews will take the ships out beyond cannon shot, and then scuttle three of them, steaming the other elsewhere]

[Kaiser Kirk]

March 1923

Yucatan Border :
Minor land skirmishing continues along the border but no serious assault. The Mayan line is well fortified with large numbers of troops inline.

Aerial dogfighting continues, the Aztec managing to concentrate on Mayan squadrons twice and cut them to pieces in spiraling dogfights.  The fighting over the Mayan homeland seems to lend favor to their wings, as the butcher's bill for both side continues to spiral upwards.

Each side had started with 18 squadrons, and now each reckoned the other side had lost 40 or more.
The reality is the Aztec had 5 left, and the Mayans always seemed to field similar numbers, if not slightly more.

Costa Rican Border
The aerial picture in the south was far different.  The 4:1 odds had seen the Japanese force battered in February, and in March they final squadrons are eliminated.  Mayan fighters of Iberian design rule the sky and harass the efforts of Japanese forces to make a fighting retreat. This is mostly felt in the Northwest, where Mayan planes fly from their homeland airbases, but towards the end of the month, they seem to have brought one or more of the NE Costa Rica airfields into commission, as planes attack the Japanese forces defending the mountains.  Soon the Mayans will be able to launch airstrikes into the Southern province.

while Japanese naval units attempt to interdict the Mayan supply routes near La Cruz on the Mayan-Japanese border, the route being only a couple miles inland. Still this requires a great deal of blindfire, so the damage done was unsure. They do  intercept some Mayan supply barges, sinking them, but
Mayan Seaplane bases on Lago Cociboica are well within range and launch a pair of attacks, scoring a 50kg bomb hit...well a dud that skips off. 

As the Japanese forces retreat from the NW border, they move beyond fire support range. The push of the Mayans at the mountain passes spur furious fighting, as the Japanese battle to keep the retreat route for their NW army open, allowing it to fall back.

The Mayan pacific fleet does not show, allowing the Japanese littoral forces free reign along the coast. When some battalions of the Japanese army is cut off in the Western peninsula, a hasty shuttle of Japanese freighters and Auxiliaries  take off a  thousand troops while fire support encourages the Mayans to keep their distance.

The mountain fights are bloody, with the Mayans taking losses as they push the Japanese out of the central passes around the village of San Jose. The critical advance though is the southern pass towards San Isidro, threatening to cut the coastal road and trap the Japanese NW Army. Vicious fighting allows the Japanese to hold the mountains, allowing the NW army to reach and withdraw down the coastal road. This road is right along the coast, and slightly beyond airstrike range from the Mayan homeland, so the Japanese ships can bar the Mayan passage with little worries. There is a submarine scare, but if there had been a sub, it did not hit any Japanese warships.

The end of the month sees the Japanese retreat from the NW province complete. Their force has been substantially battered. Only 12 of the original 28 regiments are left, four entire legions reduced to just a regiment and and supporting artillery.  The Mayans have lost slightly more troops, but started with twice as many, and have potential to move more reserves into the fight.

In the Pacific, it is quite obvious a recall has been issued, as Aztec merchants reach ports only to re-coal and head off as quickly as possible, heading home.  In the Atlantic, the

Commerce warfare by both sides focuses on cruiser rules captures of merchants. Mayan cruisers and subs operating in the Florida straits down to Haiti are seen by many merchants, and conduct themselves well. Over the course of the month, six Aztec freighters are caught and called on to heave too.  The cruisers put prize crews aboard, which try to make the run to Mobile. The Mayan submarines attempt the same, but have to escort their prizes back, so they can reclaim the crews.  Some Mayan ships must be operating on the sealanes east of Panama, as a Japanese freighter from Guyana goes missing.

Aztec ships operate in opposition, and recapture one captured freighter en route to Mobile, while capturing two Mayan vessels off Mobile.  Mobile has active air patrols and is well fortified. Cumana is similar. Operating out of Martinique, Aztec submarines find a half dozen merchants near cumana, but only two are Mayan.

One Aztec submarine has the near fortune to encounter a Mayan cruiser.....but at night in a sea fog, the sub passes astern of the cruiser. Otherwise, the Mayans and Aztec are seen by others, but do not manage to encounter each others.