“UK Motorway” a Blitzkrieg-Scenario AAR

[El Pip]

I suppose given the circumstances you can take your time to slowly grind down the IJN, with Hong Kong back in the same hands there is no British territory crying out for liberation. Slow and steady probably wins this race as all the long term advantages are on your side, it may lack the drama of charging straight to the Japanese home islands but it minimises the risk of troop convoys being nastily surprised.

I'm a bit hazy on the exact numbers, but I'm not sure if taking the Home Islands alone is enough to get you the victory, some tidying up around the Pacific or even on the Korean peninsula may be required.

 

[markkur]

I suppose given the circumstances you can take your time to slowly grind down the IJN, with Hong Kong back in the same hands there is no British territory crying out for liberation. Slow and steady probably wins this race as all the long term advantages are on your side, it may lack the drama of charging straight to the Japanese home islands but it minimises the risk of troop convoys being nastily surprised.

I'm a bit hazy on the exact numbers, but I'm not sure if taking the Home Islands alone is enough to get you the victory, some tidying up around the Pacific or even on the Korean peninsula may be required.

So far, it looks like you are foretelling the future.

As far as VPs, I've never defeated Japan, so this is new to me but I'm going for the mainland and guessing that will work. If not, we'll find that out. No tips anyone...please.

 

[markkur]

“Controlling the Seas”
{22 March – 29 March, 1943}​

Despite Japan having the advantage of a long list of ports to use, the fact is, the RN is too much a capable foe at negating that advantage, while also being able to cautiously execute other operations, as evidenced in the last screen behind the many planes & guns of our potent Royal Navy.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

22-24 March – IV RM & 1st AEF Corps were delivered to Hong Kong without incident. The American Infantry is to relieve I RM Corps in defending Hong-Kong and the Chinese port we’d captured. IV RM Corps was brought at the same time but went to into the Hainan Strait to attack Zhanjiang. We would not being doing this if it were not because the port had 2 IJN fleets there. One having a CVL and the other a fleet-carrier.

05:00 hrs. 25 March – 14th RM division took Zhanjiang without contest.

After taking the port we had a serious problem. This is a French port. However, I was not about to mess about and tagged to make it ours; taking no chances about the enemy ships leaving.​

The 4th clash in the sea-zone.
And, as you can see, this is a 3rd fleet, since the carriers are still in port.
Soon the CVs Kaga & Ryujo came out to fight​

With the Americans nearly in place, two divisions were ordered to attack E.
The next day they won the Battle of Huizhou losing 258 men to the enemy’s 288.
BC’s Hood, Repulse & Renown all bombarded the entrenched Japanese positions.​

Where the hell did the enemy fleet-carriers go? Answer, the nearby port of Haikou.
Once again our Marines would have to take another port we did not want.
Because the enemy fleets fled W, HMS CVs Ark Royal & Furious were sent into Beibu Wan,
which is due W of The Hainan Strait, to prevent any later escape to the seas to the SW.
Heavy-Cruisers Berwick & Shropshire followed the old carriers to add hitting-power if needed.​

15:00 hrs. 26 March – Unidentified enemy vessels were spotted far to the S in what appeared to be the enemy’s move to dodge all this action. 1st CV-fleet’s Glorious & Courageous were ordered to intercept the mystery-fleet in The Bashi Channel just south of our newly captured port of Gaoxiong.​

21:00 hrs. 26 March The light-cruiser Mogami is sunk in The Hainan Strait.​

While Glorious & Courageous were still on an intercept-course, the Japanese-carriers blindly
stumbled into one of our old BB-fleets patrolling in the waters south of the action.
We added another fleet into the pursuit; we cannot lose these damned carriers a second time.​

Seeing the enemy try to evade our trap to the E? We put our BC’s directly in their path
and Glorious & Courageous were sent into The Pratas Reef as well.
The BC-action I want most, because of their speed and I am hoping they can take out at least one
of the Japanese menaces. We need to send both under the waves but will we even sink one?​

It turns out our CAGS got one but I know HMS Hood and the other BCs played a large role.​

Now it was time to remove the next “hiding-place” and here sits that CVL.​

The Americans “hold the fort” and to the E IJN Kaga hides in the port of Shantou.​

The present overview & also the new command for the move to Japan.
The circles? Our present threats or maybe better said; “our unfinished-business.” ​

 

[Bullfilter]

The Empire on which the sun never sets pitted against the Empire of the rising sun! Now more the Empire of the setting sun. Still some fight left in the IJN. Next update, a wider angle regional view would be interesting, perhaps one taking in northern China and the Soviet-Japan front and maybe another on eastern China, Korea and the Japanese Home Islands. Just to situate the current events.

Thanks as always for the very assiduous updates!

 

[guillec87]

the IJN has put a very strong defense of the seas

 

[markkur]

“In Plane Sight”
{29 March – 30 March, 1943}​

No, this chapter’s title is not a misspelling of an old phrase, it simply well conveys the next move of Britain in this theater and highlights our Air-Force. With our victories at sea and the RN slowly bringing the IJN to heel, it was time to bring in some members of our vaunted RAF. Now that we had plenty of supplies in the region, two Naval-bomber Wings were re-based here; one in Haikou and the other in Hong Kong. The plan was, if the RN battered the remaining IJN fleets enough, then we would strike remaining ships in ports. In our effort to flush out the enemy ships, our Marines had taken two ports we did not want nor need but we want no more sidetracking delays. Japan is the target...not China.

Once again, we return to Hainan Strait and news that 2 Japanese DD-groups went down before the IJN fled. With our Marines holding the port at Haikou now, Admiral Kurita needed to find another safe harbor.

However, before Kurita can flee he will have to fight.
To the W, some ship is running for the safety of Beihai.​

From the airfield at Haikou, Commander Bowhill strikes the unknown vessel.​

It has been a long while since I have reported a word about our “two stand-offs” on the Malay Peninsula. After we drove the enemy back out of Burma, we have not made a move in this region since. In fact, we are not doing so now, at least on the ground. Presently, I am only interested in Siam’s master Japan and not in fighting where there may be no need; if Sunset does fall according to plan.

However, we are attacking Siam from the air and more heavily than ever. American Strategic Bomber Wing Commander Partridge’s planes, were now based in Kuching and because our spies informed us that the Japanese troops stacked against us in Malay were supplied through Saigon? He was ordered to bomb the infrastructure of the city into oblivion. That order was quickly accomplished. Very soon, Siam had to take command of the Japanese forces on our two fronts.

Our Air-offensive did not stop there. For many long months, a Brit TAC-wing kept the Province of Trang in ruins. Now a second bomber wing was brought in to do the same in the port of Nakhon. Between these two Wings, the massed enemy north of Singapore will go without food & rest. In short, the RAF with the assistance of the USAF, destroyed the enemy supply-network at key places in the region.

Bowhill’s men go to work​

Since we see no resistance coming this way; it’s time to pull our Marines out for other matters.
As long as Bowhill’s planes are there, Supply will continue to Haikou.​

The enemy has no defense against these strikes. Their CAGs are a spent force.​

The final target in these waters​

Further up the coast, Conigham’s Bombers find their target sitting alone.​

The last two of the three enemy carriers have been removed. It’s time for Sunset.​

Hmm, what can that development be, in the upper-right of the screen? ​

 

[racebear75]

Wait, did Australia land there or Canada or even the US?

Btw: Very nice success against the IJN now.

Please let me know, it the research plan needs some adjustments.

 

[markkur]

The Empire on which the sun never sets pitted against the Empire of the rising sun! Now more the Empire of the setting sun. Still some fight left in the IJN. Next update, a wider angle regional view would be interesting, perhaps one taking in northern China and the Soviet-Japan front and maybe another on eastern China, Korea and the Japanese Home Islands. Just to situate the current events.

Thanks as always for the very assiduous updates!

If you look back at the last screen...hardly a thing has changed. Since the fall of Germany, the Soviets have appeared to do nothing in the Far East. I suppose if we were in their place about now we would do the same. Soviet spies have to know that The Allies are steaming towards the Japanese mainland.

Thank you for the nod by the way.

the IJN has put a very strong defense of the seas

Yes they have and how very different from what I thought we would see.

On a side note: for me the IJN is always the best A.I. handled fleet. <imo> For whatever reason, the Japanese carriers are formidable enemies if I am playing as the USA. They're very hard to catch with my fleet-configurations and their CAGS are wicked...especially early-game.

Wait, did Australia land there or Canada or even the US?

Btw: Very nice success against the IJN now.

Please let me know, it the research plan needs some adjustments.

Those are British Marines there. I had two stories overlapping by a wee bit at the end and thought I might as well save the tale of landing in Japan all by its lonesome. Fyi, those Marines went in just ahead of our sinking the last carriers behind us.

About Research, If you'll notice, the last update is only two days. So everything is grinding to a halt,

I want to thank you for all your efforts during this war and point out something that I think you will enjoy. Remember the last "tweak" where you ordered all the Infantry-Techs back-in? Well, all have finished and these troops you are seeing now, are all getting upgrades for the second stage of Sunset. Nice timing racebear! Very nice.

 

[markkur]

“Twilight”
{20 March – 1 April, 1943}​

I need to turn back the calendar several days to tell the events that follow. Because, as Britain dealt with the IJN off the Chinese coast, other maneuvers were also underway. I have already mentioned our transports running routes behind our iron-walls of the RN but near the end of that action we also began operations on the mainland.

20 March Before starting the final push, I sent a lone SS-group into the East China Sea. Captain Collinson was not to sink convoys, the Allied-subs were doing so everywhere already it seemed, but his sub was only to act as a forward-scout. We were about to send invasion-fleets towards the mainland, so it made sense to at least try to receive some sort of warning in the event of an approaching enemy fleet, that could muddle-up our efforts.

Remember my request for the Americans to create a diversion? Well heavens to Betsy they did!
Iwo Jima & Saipan were also tagged for them but I’m happy with this bit! Finally, something decisive!​

Our intended Plan but as you know, the best of plans, still need flexibility to strategically react.​

Like our executed invasion of Germany we intend to overwhelm whatever defenders are on the mainland. We now have a powerful RN, loaded with several fleets, either already present or “on their way” in this theater now and our transport fleets are growing more numerous and working around the clock. Our Sea-Techs for these operations are very good and our Marines & Infantry are getting the newest equipment now. We couldn’t be in better shape to conduct this “Blitz from the sea.”

19:00 hrs. 26 March, 1943 – From Taiwan, our first captured Japanese port, taken last as the final part of the 1st stage of Sunset, Admiral Sommerville’s 1st Combined Fleet was sent as a probe to the Enshu Sagami Sea, south of Nagoya. For over a day, we saw no enemy ships on the horizon and the invasion began.

1st Marine Corps was ordered to assault not only Nagoya but to hit Tokyo too.​

Nagoya only had an HQ and we walked in, then beginning a 28 Supply-convoy run.​

03:00 hrs. 29 March – 2nd Transport-fleet (8 TPs) leaves Singapore, carrying IV Infantry-Corps & 1st Provincial Infantry-Corps. The Americans hold Hong-Kong & vicinity and all other units will soon be on their way to the mainland of Japan. Since Tokyo is still a fight, these two Corps are ordered into captured Nagoya. IV Infantry-Corps is intended to eventually be shipped over to Tokyo to free-up 1st Marine Corps for a next assault.

At this same moment, newly formed V Royal Marine Corps waits in Liverpool for a new LCT-fleet.

Japanese Marines are brought in to Tokyo to defend the city but they are not ready for a battle.
I have to think those men...just deployed. Bad luck for them.
In Nagoya I decide to send the Marines out anyway, I can soon pull them back.​

Japanese Surrender Progress is 14.2%​

01:00 hrs. 30 March – The Singapore-Fleet is ordered to The Amakusa Sea just off Nagisaki. This fleet has the battleship bad-boys HMS Nelson & HMS Rodney. 1st CV, with the old fleet-carriers Glorious & Courageous, is ordered into Tsushima Strait, just NW of Sasebo. They will be in a good position to intercept enemy fleets and also provide air-cover in the events soon to follow.

We had bypassed Naha but now we serve notice.​

Japanese Surrender Progress is 17.1%​

02:00 hrs. 2 April – I ended 2nd RM-Division’s attack across the river into Yokkaichi, now that proper ground troops are coming into port. I want these Marines anywhere but slogging it out across a river. Losses were Britain 128 Japan 124; not a bad, if brief, showing.

Halting 2nd RM did not mean we would not drive the enemy back. 1st Provincial goes in.​

Time to begin another assault.
Notice we have company to the W.​

Another RN-Corps arrives and is set to work in a larger attack.
Other units are on the way as well as more fleets.

Sunset is falling a wee bit faster now.​

 

[markkur]

“Turning Up The Heat”
{3 April – 12 April, 1943}​

It is early April, so the weather it is wet and chilly. To keep the invasion forces comfy, our remedy is to strike everywhere and especially keep our Marines embarking and disembarking as fast as possible.

18:00 hrs. 3 April – We left off last report with another RM Corps going ashore at Sasebo and by this time, they had entered the city without firing a shot. However, one of those last screens did reveal we had a threat to the W. However, the threat proved real but from inland instead, when our CAGs met the enemy Zeroes over the skies of Seto Naikai. At this time, we had four CVs, two on each side of the fighting; so there was no way for the Japanese air-force to evade our temporary air-defense.. In this dogfight, we had both superior numbers and better organization, so the battle was soon won. I will guess that these enemy interceptors were sent back to the mainland from the Soviet Front-lines because of the huge response-problem we were inflicting on Japanese-command strategy.

18:00 hrs. 4 April – By this hour General Montgomery has 3 Marine Corps & 2 Infantry Corps reporting to him. Monty, like his AG General Gort has set-up his HQ in Nagoya. These two men are now commanding 205,000 men, that are either already landed or nearly here. Note: Every Japanese port we take is pristine and able to handle lots of convoys. So far, we’ve established nearly 80 convoys.

Now, that put a big dent in my “free-convoys” taking down to about ZERO but that is not a concern. Because this is the final-act, so to speak and we have no threats from any nation’s subs, I will not only create max-convoys in every port taken but halt all resource convoys etc. to gain the needed free-convoys. Britain is nearly maxed in most resources, so we actually need nothing in the way of trades either. After doing so, I was back to 160 free-convoys. Further I am re-basing fleets and planes in these new ports and I want no man, ship or plane to be short on Supply...this is NOT the time for “Stockpiles or Diplomacy”.

The Americans reach an important province on Taiwan.


After the fall of Tokyo, Sasebo and now the screen above, Japan’s Surrender Progress is 74.2%​

A Bird’s Eye View​

In Nagoya, 1st Provincial still pushes S and 2 Brit-divisions drive N.​

It’s time to see if the USA would like to play another role in Sunset? So we invite them to Tokyo.
Remember, American forces are the only units holding our beloved Hong Kong.​

1st Combined Fleet’s Patrol is successful​

We continue to widen the Front​

14:00 hrs. 5 April – 1st Battle-Cruiser, Hood, Renown & Repulse are re-based in Sasebo. I want these fast-predators ready, in case an expected IJN tries to derail any landings on the western-mainland. After the instant fall of Osaka, Hiroshima & Susaki, BBs Nelson & Rodney sail into the harbor at Susaki. The BBs KGV, Prince of Wales & Duke of York all re-base in Nagoya and begin patrolling off Tokyo. Our best CV-Fleet, “Pacific Carrier” consisting of Victorious, Illustrious & Formidable also re-base in Sasebo and began patrolling the seas W of Kanazawa.

At this time, we have two air-bases ready to use some place but where? I looked about and the ports we’ve captured have no need. In fact we already have many airbases on the mainland. So, I put one in Singapore to allow us two repair 3 full x3 Wings and the other did go into Sasebo

06:00 hrs. 6 April – In the seas between Tokyo & Iwo Jima, Somerville’s 1st Combined Fleet found a Transport-Flotilla made-up of 1 DD, 2 LCs & 2 TPs; HMS Warspite & Co. sank all but 1 LC.

Two more very quick landings and the river-fight finally ends.

We are surprised while on-patrol near Vladivostok.
Again, I can only guess that this IJN fleet was in Supply, while other enemy-fleets were not.​

How cool is this? The U.S. fleet arrives and American Marines enter Tokyo! ​

A final look at Britain’s two commands in this Theater.​

The Imperial Rising-Sun has been replaced by an Allied Sunset.​

There will be another episode because with the fall of Japan, believe this or not,
Siam is the new faction-leader and this means that Bulgaria is also still at war with the Allies.​

With this result I need to defeat Siam but far more importantly,
I intend to end this AAR in fine fashion inside the final chapter of “U.K Motorway.”​

 

[Bullfilter]

Congratulations!

It's gone from UK Motorway, to the Berlin Autobahn and now Sunset Boulevard! A very quick and clinical takedown of Japan, with far fewer electronic casualties than the real deal.

Mop and bucket out again: beware the New Bulgarian Empire - not sure if you can handle them and Siam siamultaneously

 

[racebear75]

Wow! That was really a Blitz!

But where was the Yamato? That ship could have made at least a little bit more problems to your fleet. Anyway, now: Move on, Army of India, Siam is calling! And let your tanks roll again in the road to Sofia.

 

[markkur]

Congratulations!

It's gone from UK Motorway, to the Berlin Autobahn and now Sunset Boulevard! A very quick and clinical takedown of Japan, with far fewer electronic casualties than the real deal.

Mop and bucket out again: beware the New Bulgarian Empire - not sure if you can handle them and Siam siamultaneously

Wow! That was really a Blitz!

But where was the Yamato? That ship could have made at least a little bit more problems to your fleet. Anyway, now: Move on, Army of India, Siam is calling! And let your tanks roll again in the road to Sofia.

Thanks men and now we come to the end.

 

[markkur]

“Rear-View Mirror”
{“A Final Glance Back”}​

First-up, a rapid final clean-up. ​

After the loss of many Imperial-troops, Siam was a non-contest.
Then Ethiopia agreed to Peace and finally Bulgaria’s GIE ended their hold-out.​

Caution: “Tolls may apply”

A final look at what was underway, besides that Mountain-Army.
I hate the idea of using Nukes (in-game too) but started a Reactor anyway.

Where Britain’s Practicals were at the end of this war.
Infantry & Armor were “finally” on the rise but there is nothing here to brag about.

Some info on how Britain stood mid-April, 1943.
It’s hard for me to believe that Britain could sink so many Axis warships & transports
and not be considered a Veteran Navy.

The World after the Allies won

Time to let the lads go home and celebrate!!

8

My thanks to the followers of this Blitzkrieg Scenario UK-AAR that have endured a very different game that I punctuated with unusual events and a silly addition here and there for a wee bit o’ fun.

A special universal shout-out (in no particular order) to sebas aka (sebas translates to “Red Bears”), racebear (he’s not Red but enjoys Schnapps after his Haggis & Bannocks), El-Pip (who makes “non-flowing-molasses in January” look like a Tsunami), Bullfilter (is actually an Aussie Mafia Don that enjoys the worst of stage-productions and has a strong appetite for “Turkey-sandwiches”) and last but not least by a long stretch...you dear Readers for your participation in this...<ahem> “Adventure”.

The End​

 

[guillec87]

you could always ttry to destroy the US... Operation Unthinkeable hehe

 

[markkur]

you could always ttry to destroy the US... Operation Unthinkeable hehe

In this game, the USA still heavily-guarded their border with Mexico and spent all their time drinking Tequila in border-bars than ever thinking about WWII.

 

[El Pip]

Made it just in time for the end, congratulations on a well deserved epic victory and I am delighted to see the very rare clean sweep of successful objectives.

It was a stunning achievement, but not quite as stunning as something I saw in one of those last updates. I imagine it went a little like this;

"You can't be serious."

"I assure you I am, you young whipper-snapper."

"But the invasion of Japan will be incredibly difficult and dangerous."

"See this VC, I didn't earn that in the Sudan by sitting about while others did the fighting and I don't intend to start now."

"But leading the Royal Marines is a young mans job."

"Tosh and nonsense. I'm doing no good back here in Australia so I'm going in with the lads."

And thus the 71 year old Arkwright Hore-Ruthven, also known as Earl Gowrie Governor-General of Australia, was appointed commander of 10th Royal Marine Division for the invasion of Japan.

 

[markkur]

...but not quite as stunning as something I saw in one of those last updates. I imagine it went a little like this;

"You can't be serious."

"I assure you I am, you young whipper-snapper."

"But the invasion of Japan will be incredibly difficult and dangerous."

"See this VC, I didn't earn that in the Sudan by sitting about while others did the fighting and I don't intend to start now."

"But leading the Royal Marines is a young mans job."

"Tosh and nonsense. I'm doing no good back here in Australia so I'm going in with the lads."

And thus the 71 year old Arkwright Hore-Ruthven, also known as Earl Gowrie Governor-General of Australia, was appointed commander of 10th Royal Marine Division for the invasion of Japan.

<LOL> You must have been in the next room - the man would NOT be denied.

Cool info. Here's a bit from me. Your story makes me think of...ever seen Hitchcock's "39 Steps"? I was a tad surprised to see in this game that Canada's Gov-General is the author John Buchan who wrote 39 Steps and quite a lot more. The only book I read of Buchan's was "John Burnet of Barns" a tale set in Scotland, pretty much in the vein of Sir Walter Scott or Robert Louis Stevenson.

Currently and nothing to do with the game...I am reading a book by James Hogg entitled "The Three Perils of Man or War, Women & Witchcraft"

 

[racebear75]

Finally it's done: THE WIN!

And I hope, my advises for a well-balanced research part helped you to concentrate on the fightings. It was only a bid sad for me that navy research has to be cutted down so much because so much else were so much behind.

 

[Bullfilter]

<LOL> You must have been in the next room - the man would NOT be denied.

Cool info. Here's a bit from me. Your story makes me think of...ever seen Hitchcock's "39 Steps"? I was a tad surprised to see in this game that Canada's Gov-General is the author John Buchan who wrote 39 Steps and quite a lot more. The only book I read of Buchan's was "John Burnet of Barns" a tale set in Scotland, pretty much in the vein of Sir Walter Scott or Robert Louis Stevenson.

Currently and nothing to do with the game...I am reading a book by James Hogg entitled "The Three Perils of Man or War, Women & Witchcraft"

Once again, best of British for getting to the end of the Motorway - quickly too!

"Are we there yet Winnie?" "Yes, Joe and Franky, we are. You can get out and stretch your legs now. Then it's back into the car to drive back along the Cold War Highway!"