Early Rising Sun

[sebas379]

Finland doesnt have the infrastructure or the supplies to support such army. Theyr in deep trouble.
The Africa thing is because Vichy controls north africa and thus provides the supplies there.

Barba stalling is very historical, but not good for you. Maybe this is the right time to hit the SU hard with a land army in the far east.

 

[markkur]

Finland doesnt have the infrastructure or the supplies to support such army. Theyr in deep trouble.

Yes I guessed as much but could offer no assistance. I wanted to give Finland some LL, to at least give the A.I. some support for those Armored Units but unfortunately Finland does not have the transports nor sea-way to get the LL. Down they'll go for sure.

Barba stalling is very historical, but not good for you. Maybe this is the right time to hit the SU hard with a land army in the far east.

I agree but I'm already maxed-out. Remember, I was not ready for war when it happened because I had focused almost completely on my Navy and Air-Force. Now I am playing a sort of "catch-up" by building nothing but infantry. We'll see. TG I took complete control of the Pacific or I would be in even worse shape.

 

[markkur]

North from Vladivostok
{8 March - 15 March}​

Softening up the Enemy

Initially, state-of the art Zero-fighters and numerous CAG wings from our three invasion carriers, flew early missions, expecting Soviet planes to be based at the airfield in Vladivostok. However, it soon became clear that our men on the ground would not dodge bombs and strafing-runs and we would rule the skies during all engagements.

In a concentrated effort to demoralize enemy units and minimize Japanese losses, Tactical and Multi-Role Bombers from several air-fields were unleashed throughout the Vladivostok-peninsula.
- To support the attack in Kraskino, Kawabe’s 3- Zero Wing & Shimoyama’s 3rd Tac Wing both attacked the large Soviet force in Kraskino.
- To support the attack on Communist China’s capitol of Yan’an, Tojo’s 2nd Tacs made several bombing-runs before being sent back east to attack a lone Soviet armored division.
- Wing-Commander Shima had his Tactical bombers start bombing any Russian units that were in the north, before moving to enemy units found anywhere along the peninsula.
- 4th Zero Wing was ordered to fly air-superiority over the region but in the event, met no enemy fighters and would also take part in the air-attacks.
- The last planes that were to be involved in the campaign were the Paratrooper Transport Planes based in Kanazawa, awaiting orders.

Battles and Events on 8 March
Attacks began in Yan’an Communist China first and soon after followed the Marine assaults in the provinces of Vladivostok and Barabash. To the north Kahbarovsk was invaded and an infantry division landed at Innokentevsky. The last initial assault got underway against Mongolia.
08:00 Hours - Not knowing initially how the single Soviet divisions on both his flanks would react to the war’s outbreak, General Anami, commanding 7th Corps, sent only the 20th Infantry and Maddog divisions into Khabarovsk. Once Anami learned the Soviets on his flanks were trying to move further east (probably wanting to move towards Vladivostock) he took the rest of his Corps into the battle. His orders were to hold Khabarovsk till he had contact with 2nd Army leader General Kawabe once he had arrived in Innokentevsky.
17:00 Hours - The 1st Battle of Kraskino is won.
Japanese - 39,983 men, lost 231 vs. Soviet - 44,971 men, lost 906.

Battles and Events on 9 March
05:00 Hours - Battle of Hancheng - Communist Mountaineers counterattacked General Kawabe’s 1st Corps HQ and 17. Hoheishdan within Hancheng, trying to halt his supporting attack into Yan’an.
06:00 Hours - 2nd Marine Corps came onshore in Barabash behind a fleeing HQ unit. Too late, a Soviet force of 1 MOT and 2 INF tried to halt the landing and failed but did prevent our Marines from moving any further till the next day.
13:00 Hours - The 2nd Battle of Kraskino is won after the Soviets suffered a huge loss which made the total Soviet troops lost nearly 2,000 men. Forces, Japanese - 40,000 men, lost 89 vs. Soviet - 17,238 men, lost 977.

Battles and Events on 10 March
04:00 Hours - 2nd Marines began moving north into Voroshilov, trying to prevent the Russians from escaping from 3rd Corps in Kraskino, while Tactical Bombers began bombing defensive targets in Voroshilov.
07:00 Hours - 2nd Army Commander Kawabe lands at Innokentevsky after it is taken by 2nd Corps and sets up his HQ. He immediately establishes radio-contact with 7th Corps to coordinate the Hammer & Anvil plan to cut-off supplies heading south to the Soviets.
12:00 Hours - Six CAG-wings from the carriers fly north and started hitting Soviet units trying to make their way down to Vladivostok and also units that were attacking Manchukuo troops on the border.
* Along the coast now, all three initial targets are occupied and a solid line was formed and began pushing north against the retreating units. There is little time for the retreating units to merge with the re-enforcements coming down from the middle of the peninsula.
* Reports from the island of Sakhalin state Russian units have left the port of Ohka and are in Alex Sakhalinsky marching south to our province of Shisuka. We have a full Corps waiting for them and the Yamato & Musashi Battleship Fleet rests just off-shore in the Zalev Ol’ga Gulf .
15:00 Hours - Wing-Commander Endo air-transports 1 Four-brigade Paratrooper division into Manchukuo’s Capitol of Harbin to fortify the city in case anything unexpected were to develop. With most Manchurian troops supporting us in the east or protecting their northern border, Mongolian troops have attacked Manchuria in the west. However, once 1st Mtn. Corps arrives inside Mongolian territory, this drive will likely be forced to end. The unwanted delay of our division, results from the only inadequate war plan so far. Had the terrain been better researched, 1st Mtn. Division would have been positioned further north and not started the war opposite impassable terrain.
15:00 Hours - Tokyo Imperial HQ sends a report; that the Stalin has called for “The Great Patriotic War”.
20:00 Hours - 1st Battle of Voroshilov -The first serious fighting begins in Voroshilov when Soviet 82nd Motorized unit enters the province to halt 2nd Marine Corps.

Battles and Events on 11 March
01:00 Hours - Soon after midnight the 4 remaining Paratrooper Brigades are transported to Vladivostock, chiefly to hold the city so that 1st Marine Corps can move out. All Japan’s Special Forces are now better organized than ever before…morale is high.
06:00 Hours - 1st Army Commander Yamashita moves his HQ to Fangzheng to be better placed when his Corps move north. On route the General gets the report of the defeat of our Holding-attack in Suide, Communist China. Of course 61. Hoheishidan (Araki) was not expected to win this battle but the cost of the strategic attack was high; 1,479 men of the 10,000 Japanese attackers were killed. Communist losses were low at 188. Good news soon followed the bad, we won the 1st Battle of Voroshilov. We had 115 dead and over 700 Russians died.
07:00 Hours - During a meeting of the Japanese High-Command in Tokyo a disturbing report is addressed. It was recently discovered that Netherland forces had remained hidden in areas along the coast of the Makassar Strait and at times were firing on our supply ships if they ventured too near. A transport was ordered to Singapore to pick-up 16. Hoheishidan (infantry) currently posted there and take the unit to the areas in question to bring all of the strait under our control.
08:00 Hours - We lost the Holding-attack in Shenmu. Again the cost was high, 07. Hoheishidan (Cho) lost 1,510 versus 284 Communist. A second lost battle proving the theory of “strength in numbers”. Nearby a single CC Militia division counter-attacked General Ishiwara’s full 5th Infantry Corps - in Shilou but that attack was doomed to failure before it started.
09:00 Hours - Takuro Shiro, Head of Intelligence, received a field report that both Yunnan’s troops were marching north and Xibei San Ma was sending their troops northeast towards Mongolia.
Battles and Events on 12 March
01:00 Hours - We won the Second Battle of Voroshilov. Forces, Japanese - 39,870 men, Infantry lost 34 vs. Soviet - 17,307 men, lost 608.
05:00 Hours - The battle for the capitol of Communist China still rages as General Mao Zedong desperately tries to hold the city by bringing in more units. Japanese Lt. General Nishihara orders in more Bomber strikes and Toyo’s planes arrive for more ground-attacks.
21:00 Hours - The Counter-Attack into Hancheng ends. Forces, Japanese - 13,982 men, Infantry lost 1421 vs. Com-China - 8,894 men, lost 559. Japanese troops continue The Battle of Yan’an and within the hour the capitol city falls. Forces, Japanese - 74,974 men, Infantry lost 595 vs. Com-China - 31,985 men, lost 2177. To the east The Battle of Pokrovka ends. Forces, Japanese - 39,971 men, Infantry lost 50 vs. Soviet - 7,474 men, lost 147. This is not surprising the Soviet units here were fleeing the coasts. Our Front line is established and now we can push north.

Battles and Events on 13 March
- “Just after Midnight in the dead of night under pale moonlight” 4th Infantry embarks on transports for a new invasion. The target is the Russian port city of Ohka.
01:00 Hours - The Battle of Khabarovsk is won. Forces, Japanese - 31,986 men, Infantry lost 843 vs. Soviet - 8,895 men, lost 756. With this victory we have established our “Anvil” in the north. Further south the Soviets counter-attack in Third Battle of Voroshilov but the attack quickly falters. We only lose 8 men the enemy 55.

Battles and Events on 14 March
24:00 Hours - The assault begins against Ohka on Sakhalin.

Battles and Events on 15 March
03:00 Hours - We attack in Grodekovo in an effort to capture Russian troops fleeing 3rd Corps moving into Pokrovka. 3rd Marine Division finds a battered Mtn. unit, 101. Strelkovaya. It had probably suffered a lot of loss from our bombing missions we ran ahead of our troops. Three other soviet units were also cornered in Grodekovo and captured. At the same time we attack into Mikhailovka.
04:00 Hours - 4th Corps lands in Ohka without a loss. A full Soviet Corps is now trapped between two of our Corps. The Soviets have a long march ahead and no supplies will follow.
13:00 Hours - 16. Hoheishidan lands at Balikpapan (Netherlands) to seize the rest of the coast to hold all of the Makassar Strait.
15:00 Hours - 2nd Cruiser Squadron moves into the waters of the Okhotsk Approach to blockade the port Ulya. Surprisingly, in a week’s time, we have not seen a single Soviet vessel.
22:00 Hours - Japanese troops enter Yan’an. Com-China is expected to surrender.

 

[sebas379]

And so it begins. I'd say you definetly have the initiative at the moment and the potential for dealing a devastating blow to the Soviet Far Eastern Front is there. From what I can see the Soviet front isn't too well manned so breaking through shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

Tiny nitpick: I think I liked the more continuous flow of story in the earlier chapters better than the hour-by hour report here. On the other hand it is well organised and conveys the situation quite well. Playing the SU myself atm I am tempted to do the same, because there is simply so much happening. Nevertheless, good update, glad to see your army on the move. Down with the commies!

 

[Forster]

Great updates. American Samoa could be costly for you too. Britain must be hurting by now, with almost all of its resources cut off.

 

[markkur]

And so it begins. I'd say you definetly have the initiative at the moment and the potential for dealing a devastating blow to the Soviet Far Eastern Front is there. From what I can see the Soviet front isn't too well manned so breaking through shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

Success in the East is still on a knife-edge, as the saying goes. Anything can happen at this point.

Yeah, your last comment brings me to my answer for your next comment.

Tiny nitpick: I think I liked the more continuous flow of story in the earlier chapters better than the hour-by hour report here. On the other hand it is well organised and conveys the situation quite well. Playing the SU myself atm I am tempted to do the same, because there is simply so much happening. Nevertheless, good update, glad to see your army on the move. Down with the commies!

I agree "in part" but opted for a realistic "Report" because my I am steamrolling my enemies. Since I was not much in the mood for fabrication, I thought I would just post what happened in a "Let's Play" (minus a <imo> boring visual) fashion. I do hope the war will provide some suspense but since I conquered the entire Pacific, my armies are marching and cannot be stopped. Mongolia is actually provided a little "iffy" of which I'll explain later.

 

[markkur]

Great updates. American Samoa could be costly for you too. Britain must be hurting by now, with almost all of its resources cut off.

I spent 6 cag wings against a 66 ship doom-stack that included 2 CVs but they lost theirs too and 20+ ships.

The RN is in shambles and no threat however Britain still packs a small-punch...they have tanks rolling in the Med. Since I did not invest in a large Sub-fleet and go after their shipping and everything depends on Germany's U-boats, I doubt resources are in bad shape. (except what I have stolen) I did take their rubber though, so maybe they will be limited for motorized?...IDK.

The U.K. gets large LL from the Americans, so the British still have an able land force; they just can't reach Japan.

 

[Forster]

They get lend lease, but the are probably limited to that. Britain has all of those convoys going everywhere, but mostly, I believe, to Asia. Now that you have captured all of those countries, I suspect the effect would be the same as a concerted Uboat action against Britain. It would be interesting if you would pop in as Britain just to see what you've done to her,

 

[markkur]

It would be interesting if you would pop in as Britain just to see what you've done to her,

It looks like I have done some hurt on Rares. At their current rate they have a 6 month supply. The most damaging success I think is taking Rubber out of Allied hands, they shouldn't be able to make MOT. Everything else they are in good shape except for convoys, they have zero atm and many potential convoys cannot run. That might explain, sinceNorth-Africa, they've made no landings anywhere; with no convoys for supplies...that's a wise A.I..

 

[markkur]

Japanese Juggernaut
{16 March - 27 April}​

On 16 March 1942 Communist China became the 7th Puppet-Nation of the Empire of Japan. Our two infantry divisions there were strategically redeployed to the port of Tianjin and from there would be transported to captured Soviet ports to hasten the Russian defeat in the Far-East. However this redeployment took many days and these men would not see further action for some time while the battles raged north of Vladivostok.

From Japan

As reported earlier, our units continued to achieve victory after victory on the battlefields; improvement to our Operation Command Structure proved timely and greatly added to the speed of our Corps' maneuvers.
When the news of our Victory in Communist China came from Tokyo Imperial HQ it was also reported Japanese scientists had succeeded in perfecting our Radar technology. Many good things were happening for the future success of our Empire.

Other Imperial Concerns
* Our clearing of the Makassar Strait is now half-completed. Tokyo was not pleased that this had not been accomplished when we had a large force in The Dutch East Indies but had to concede, that, at the time, our Generals were conducting a massive logistical operation and we did not know then, how critical some unimportant-looking provinces were to our totally controlling the important strait. Occupying all ports was not enough.
* With heavy Rebel uprisings continuing in India. Tokyo HQ decided to install a Collaboration Government. Even with 8 Mil-units in the region the terrain made it very difficult to keep the rebels in a single province and often they would spread to 3 or 4 adjoining provinces before our units could arrive to quell the rebellion. It is hoped this conciliatory move will lessen the uprisings.
* On 27 March, news from the Med came into HQ, that Greek rebels had risen on Crete and worse news followed when it was announced that Casablanca had fallen to British Tanks and the Italians fighting for Vichy France were out of supplies and being surrounded on the Turk border. Tripoli is the only Axis hold-out south of Malta. We know that one important Italian commander will be lost, the logistical-expert General Balbo
* On 1 April it was announced by Tokyo high-command that we could now build Strategic Bombers. When many asked about this research being pursued at all, the response was “Our engineers needed the work.” We can only guess that Japan is very technologically advanced to be researching planes that “may” later be of use.
* On 2 April Imperial HQ received word that the Germans were now 4 provinces away from the Soviet capitol. We can only hope that our attack in the east is having an impact on the greater war. However, soon after, news of rebels in both Norway and Denmark was also transmitted.

* Reports continue to come in, that we are still sinking enemy convoys trying to bypass our patrols in the Gulf of Aden.
* 14 April - After a series of see-saw battles between the Finns and the Soviets, the Red Army is beginning to gain the upper hand and many Finnish units are in retreat. It was a gallant effort for weeks.
* This report went out to all HQs.

22 April, 1942
From Imperial High Command Tokyo;
General Yamashita has been promoted to 1st Army Group Commander and General Dohihara will take command of 1st Army.

* Also on the 22nd the British made a strategic bombing run against Karachi but the mission was quickly met by Zero fighters already based there and did only minor damage.
Finally on 25 April Japan completed it’s research on Isotope Separation but this information was kept secret.


Contacts with the Soviet Navy

On 17 March we had 1st contact with a lone Soviet Light Cruiser; The Provintern was sunk by the Markko battle-fleet patrolling in the now “perilious to the Allies” Gulf of Aden. Three days later just off shore from Vladivostok in the Gulf of Peter the Great, the Soviet Heavy Cruiser Maxim Gorky and a Destroyer Flotilla ran into Admiral Yamamoto’s Carrier Fleet and met the exact same fate. What were the Soviets trying to accomplish in the Far East?
Returning to the IJN’s stranglehold of the Gulf of Aden; in the morning hours of 27 March, Soviet Admiral Gorshkov met his end along with his flagship Battleship Murat after a fatal salvo was fired from IJN Heavy Cruiser Kako.
After our capture of additional Ports, about the beginning of April, some Soviet Submarines began attacking our transports with some success. Oddly we managed to send one of our battle-fleets into a port where a Soviet Sub lay hidden for days. Another quirk about this; we were getting supplies into this port. It finally came out of port and where it went since is not known. On 2 April, 13. Flotiliya Podlod (subs) was detected twice by different patrol-fleets but managed to escape both times.
17 April A single Soviet battleship, the Parizhskaya Kommuna tried to make a break but was soon engaged and retreated back to the tiny island port where it was harbored. Our Cruiser squadron now lies in wait.
25 April - One of our convoys is sunk in the Strait of Malacca.
27 April - Rumors surface that both Bismarck and Tirpitz are in the port of Brest.

The Peninsula

On 16 March, provinces started falling like dominoes. We won the Battles of Khabarovsk and Fuyuan with minimal losses on both sides (the “Anvil” was now in place and the “Hammer-stroke” beginning) and in the Battle of Mikhailovka we won losing 169 versus 512 enemy dead. The south was sealed-off on 21 March with the meeting of 7th Corps and 2nd Corps. No supplies could now reach the Soviet Forces on the Peninsula.
That one day signaled the end to Soviet presence on the Peninsula. Victories to the east against what Soviet armor and motorized units were at hand, forced retreating units into Grodenianski, where 27,000 troops were encircled and captured. The same fate awaited the remaining 46,000 Russian soldiers. After being pushed by 1st and 2nd marine Corps and the battle-hardened 3rd Infantry Corps (a veteran Corps from the Wars in China and Burma) north through province after province to the solid Japanese infantry line that stretched from Khabarovsk to Innokentevsky.

I should mention one small battle that could of had big consequences when 40. Bogucharska (inf div) attacked into the corner province of Manchuria against a weak Militia brigade, trying to create a corridor for the trapped Soviet army to escape. Seeing the danger, General Nishio took his 20. Hoheishidan into Volochaevka from Khabarovsk. At this same moment 13. Hoheishidan attacked south to occupy the eastern of those 2 adjoining provinces and ensure the route could not be opened. Manchukuo’s forces responded in excellent fashion and supported both attacks. Our Allies played a solid role in our rapid offensive.
On 14 April the Imperial Guard Division left Toyohara to attack the 19,000 trapped Soviet soldiers on Sakhalin. These troops are cut-off from supplies and will be attacked from the south and by 61st Infantry from the north. In the end we will have captured 100,000 Russian troops and several important commanders.
On 16 April 1st Corps finally returned from China and was ordered to disembark at Akita Japan to await its next assignment. 5th Corps also returned but was sent to capture the northern Russian port of Ulya and did so on the 19th without loss of life.
By 24 April the Soviet units were driven from the province of Nelma and all remaining Soviet troops surrounded in their final province of Sikhote Alin. 47,000 men would soon surrender.

The War against the Communists has been costly to both sides. Here are the losses. Japan has lost 7,571 men fighting the Soviets while they have lost 11, 275. In Communist China we lost 5,005 men taking the country while Com-China lost 3,208, the holding attacks were very costly. In Mongolia so far, we have 715 dead versus 1,137 Mongols killed.

4th Infantry corps, after capturing the Sakhalin port of Ohka divided and also captured the port of Nikolayevsk across the strait. This port coupled with the capture of Ulya will become an important part of the next stage offensive plan; Operation Bear Traps.

 

[Forster]

Too bad the Italians are doing so poorly. You are doing quite well against the Soviets so far.

 

[markkur]

Too bad the Italians are doing so poorly.

That's my luck. If I am having trouble and Germany is out to lunch, that's when Italy closes the Med. Even with the shortcomings, this is an excellent game. Case-in-point; We all know how critical Malta was in the real war, because of the havoc that was wrecked on Italian shipping, and therefore also effective planning and movement.

In-game, it still is important but this time Italy took the port and nearly occupied all ports. However, they never captured two places, Cypress and "The Rock". Because of this huge failure, the British would later regroup and burst right back into the Med in convincing fashion. After losing any "current" hope in the far-east, the U.K. A.I. re-directed everything available and ended any notion of an Italian lake.

You are doing quite well against the Soviets so far.

Yes, this actually surprised me because I did not think I had enough ground forces to "quickly" deal with Com-China and the Soviets at the same time. So far, my plans have worked out very well. The bear-traps will be devastating, because I absolutely overwhelm them in numbers now after they lost that many defenders. The fog of war also played a big role; I thought they would have more there. When I saw ARM I worried how much do they have? and it turned out that unit was the only ARM-division. They did have 3 MOTs but the plans were solid and they could not freely move and lost their speed-advantage and I kept them on the defensive.

I am certain I will win in the Far-East but what is not known is how will Germany fare? Finland is falling and those Soviet units could bolster some needed part of the line. I am much too far away to impact any of that. And of course now those game-spoiling uprisings are firing behind the lines. This war/game can go either way.

Probably the most surprising thing to me is the in-activity of the U.S. Not against me; I think a human player would have a challenge to get something going with zero Pacific bases but with the British success in the Med, I expected to see (at minimum) lots of MAR coming in and maybe going for the Balkans etc. There probably is American planes there (have not peeked) but I've seen no ground support. If this changes, this too could end Barbarossa. The war is not won yet.

 

[Forster]

I think what you are doing can only help the Germans. The way the AI operates, there should already be units headed your way. It Is too bad you can't help Italy, Having chased Britain out of the Pacific will give Italy all kinds of headaches. Still, if Britain's supply situation is as bad as I think it must be, Italy may do better than we think. Are you sure you can't send a marine corps or two to Egypt from the south?

 

[markkur]

It Is too bad you can't help Italy, Having chased Britain out of the Pacific will give Italy all kinds of headaches. Still, if Britain's supply situation is as bad as I think it must be, Italy may do better than we think. Are you sure you can't send a marine corps or two to Egypt from the south?

You are correct Japan's vast Pacific Empire has made a difficult war for Italy. At first, with the destruction of most of the RN they did OK but once Barbarossa was underway, things quickly went south.

I was in the middle of trying to get a full army extracted from Japan's present circumstances and quickly redeploy them to the MED to prevent the collapse of Vichy France but I was "too late" when you suggested it. VF fell before I could get all the needed units to ports, let alone...in boats. Terrain and Supplies are so bad everywhere, it takes forever for any change of plan. I did need an army because there are a lot of U.K forces there now...everywhere in the southern MED

I had a major unpleasant surprise that I was able to mostly fix. When Vichy fell, it went to the American's even though they had no men or ships anywhere in the world!?! I reloaded my last save and tagged to ENG and set "conquer" and replayed the week. The British kept everything they had won and that Blue-Blob was gone from in and around Lebanon. However, the U.S. still got all the North African provinces deeper in from the British held coastline. Weird. The U.S. didn't lift a finger in the region but would have been handed a tremendous staging area into the main theater of the war. And right at the most critical time of the clash of titans.

 

[markkur]

“Imperial Concerns”
{28 April to 9 May}​

As with any powerful Empire, not all issues or attentions are directed towards glory or riches. Minor troubles and major events can arise that must be addressed and lesser actions for various purposes executed. Since this is so, it often happens that when Imperial Commanders are sweating the news from the front regarding their latest orders, matters arise that are unwanted and more akin to mosquito-bites, however small, some could fester into serious infection or invasion.

* 27 April The entire island of Sakhalin become part of the Japanese Empire after the Soviets lost the Battle of Shisuka during which we lost 516 men and the Soviets lost 656 before the remaining 11,000 surrendered. This brought our current total enemy troops captured to 100,000. Even when adding the 12,000 men lost in battles thus far, we know the Soviets have not suffered a heavy defeat yet. However, they are losing the Far East.

* 2 May Imperial High-Command received better news from our Finnish diplomat than expected. It seems the Soviet-tanks are not effortlessly rolling through the Finnish countryside. In fact German General Model is working with Finnish command and a joint operation led by German panzers has driven Soviet Armor out of Viipuri. However, the diplomat was realistic he also added; “More Soviet tanks are coming up from the Lake Ladoga region.” He is hopeful about the situation, since the Soviets took 6 provinces, they have been held in-check. “We are not pushing the Soviet-line back but we are making their forward progress very costly and have nearly stalled their drive.” Many Generals at Imperial HQ hope Finland can hold the line because the more every Soviet front is challenged, the more likely the success of Barbarossa and our efforts in the East.

* After Japan’s successful Peninsula-Campaign the Soviets decided to disrupt the calm waters around the Japanese mainland by sending Submarines from western Russia to remaining ports in the far east. In a few sea-zones convoys began to be attacked and the threat needed to be met and ended quickly; too many units in the field already had problems with supply. To solve this problem, an Infantry Corps was pulled from Ulya to use in the captures of the remaining Soviet ports. Bolshoy Shantar was taken on 3 May and the Soviet Battleship Parizhskaya Kommuna was driven out of port and soon sunk. Next, Soviet subs were discovered in Petropavlovsk Kamcackij and that port was taken 9 May. 13. Flotiliya Podlodok was also soon sunk in the Eastern Kuril Strait. On 14 May the last remaining Soviet port in the Far East fell to Japanese forces; there will be no more Soviet subs stationed in Japan’s home waters.

* On 8 May, after a lone Japanese Infantry division had been embarking and disembarking at various captured Dutch ports in an effort to secure the Makassar Strait, rebels on Java arose in Semarang and for the moment have halted final progress on the important objective of securing the Strait and reaping the benefits. Partisan risings in India also continue to cause problems but it is hoped the change in Government will lessen the needed efforts to control the country.

* On 9 May 1942 the British conquered Vichy France. Imperial HQ was assembling an Army for the relief of Vichy (Lend-Lease could not be achieved) when the news came in, that Japan was far too late to stop this disaster. High command needed to identify what this event might mean to the Empire of Japan. All maps and intelligence documents regarding Vichy-possessions were quickly scrutinized. Although the British had won that war the Americans gained African lands and additional islands from the old colonial French empire. Intelligence revealed that the U.S. now held Madagascar and it’s 3 ports as well as 2 more island ports. Although these holdings are not necessarily immediate threats they do pose a danger. These ports, especially the large naval base of Antsiranana, could be used to stage raids on Japanese shipping and possibly an invasion into India. The powerful, captured British Island base of Diego Garcia could also soon become a target for American invasion plans.

One clear danger is obvious and that is our current patrols around the British island of Socotra could soon become a target either from American-fleets or joint-Allied-fleet operations. Many British & French warships and trading convoys have been sunk in the sea-lanes around the Gulf of Aden.

This event also revealed (in hindsight) a wise previously made decision by High-Command. It was never doubted that every allied port in the Pacific had to be taken and that resolve now prevented the U.S. from gaining two vital Pacific ports, Noumea and Luganville. Had these two islands eventually came into Vichy hands and not the Empire of Japan, we would now be facing a challenge that could not easily be met, as these lie near two very weak puppet nations - Australia and New Zealand.

Another important consideration surrounding the Fall of Vichy was Portugal’s diplomatic-stance towards the American’s. Currently the nation is inclined towards the Axis and is highly unlikely to ever grant use of its world-wide bases to the Americans. This was important to verify, since Portugal holds Macau in China and Goa in India; 2 bases that are within the Japanese Empire. This situation must not be forgotten in the years ahead.
Mongolia and the other Soviet-allies.

As you can see above, Mongolia will not be around long. Not only does Menchukuo have plenty of troops now moving west but Yunnan has solid forces arriving in the area and of course 1st Mountain Corps can defeat any enemy, in this part of the world it meets. Nearby to this action, Axis ally Xibei San Ma has a numerous and able army that is now invading Sinkiang and will have no difficulty in winning their small war.

Because of the crushing blow given to Soviet Far-East forces, our smaller Asia-Axis nations are more potent now. With Soviet priorities necessarily being with Barbarossa and the fight against Germany and the other European nations they cannot have a great number of reserves to send east. As all Axis power unites, a large army is on the move and the smaller Communist powers cannot hold out. Terrain will take many days off the year but eventually the Soviet Union will be fighting alone.

What’s the next step?
What Japanese High-Command must do now is decide its future conduct of the war.

Considerations
1. Russia is essentially beaten in the Far-East and since logitics are not good for supporting the full Army Japan can currently field, it needs to be determined how many units to pull from this theater for another front.
2. To support the above #1, the armies of Manchukuo, Mengchukuo, Xibei San Ma and Yunnan all appear to be moving towards the Soviet Union. Our Generals can use this force and reduce the numbers of our own troops.
3. At the moment we have no enemy coming into the Pacific and with the recent capture of all Soviet bases, the situation is better than ever. Going by the old adage ”Offence is the best defense" a large scale Campaign somewhere is in order, to keep all Japan’s enemies on their heels and reacting to our aggression, instead of the Empire resting on its newly won laurels and allowing the enemy to build-up strong invasion forces.
4. Tripoli is still in Italian hands but is the area worth an invasion? Maybe
5. With the British victory in the southern Med they will likely look towards the Balkans. An Allied invasion there would likely cause a catastrophe for Axis success against the S.U.

 

[sebas379]

Cleaning up the endless list of allied ports everywhere can be tedious, but it is indeed vital. I am somewhat surprised at the lack of US attack in the pacific, then again they probablydont have the forces for it.

The attack on he soviets appears to have the desired effect in drawing enemy attention, but with supply issues it can be tough to keep that up.

What about persia? If you invade them from the south you can move through with marines and mountaineers and cause havoc on the soviet south flank.

Though i think that even if no new invasions were launched the soviets have to collapse to this onslaught at some point. Even they cannot defend everywhere forever.

 

[markkur]

sebas, I think you are correct in the idea of DOW-Persia as a springboard into the Caucasus. although it really sux having to do that to a nation that is near joining the Axis, just to get <ahem>...Access.

Btw, I just looked and the British have now captured Tripoli with ARM, so now more Italian troops are going to disappear. "My Kingdom for a horse!" No, forget that..."A cookie for a game where Italy does well when I do."

 

[sebas379]

sebas, I think you are correct in the idea of DOW-Persia as a springboard into the Caucasus. although it really sux having to do that to a nation that is near joining the Axis, just to get <ahem>...Access.

Btw, I just looked and the British have now captured Tripoli with ARM, so now more Italian troops are going to disappear. "My Kingdom for a horse!" No, forget that..."A cookie for a game where Italy does well when I do."

*cough* my old Hochsee AAR where I sank the Royal Navy *cough*

 

[Balda]

Seize all the initiative! Full scale war on the Americas no? Pacific Empire. Seems like you might have the time, space, and control of the Pacific required. And without the Americans I doubt the British can singlehandedly turn the tide in the West. Nice AAR btw

 

[markkur]

*cough* my old Hochsee AAR where I sank the Royal Navy *cough*

Well, with your current <ahem> "problem" (not stated for spoiler reasons) at least the game is balanced. But I don't have to look further than my own games to see Italy can do very well but in this game I too destroyed All Allied Navies and Italy still got steam-rolled in the Med. It was an early start to the war so I don't know if that impacted things but I doubt it; six months is not THAT long. Leaving the Rock alone and leaving one Med-port in Allied hands was the mistake in the end.