Back to the FutuAARe - Part 3 - or: Back in the USSaaR

[Killerjes]

***Part twentyeight***

June 1942 - Third Try is a Charm!

In order to break the stalemate on the Balkan front a new plan was devised. Tukhachevsky and his armor divisions was ordered to strike north-west into Romania, as the link between the Bulgarian and Romanian forces was seen as the weak link. Additionally the province of Craiova would provide new angles of attack on both Bucharesti and Sofia.
The initial assult from Tukhachevsky was a success and the second echelon consisting of the Turkish 3rd and 5th CAV DIVs exploited the breakthrough at Craiova to the maximum. The two divisions roamed more or less freely behind the Axis lines and wreaked havoc to their supply lines and rear units.
Meanwhile Tukhachevsky worked hard to keep the lines of supply open, as the Romanians was trying to close the gap at Craiova.

June 9th 1942 - Tukahchevsky and the Turkish cavalry ripping up the Axis frontline.

After a couple of weeks of frantic maneuver combat the real objective of the offesive is within sight as Tukhachevsky and the Turkish army starts the third assult on the Bulgarian capital Sofia.
July 2nd the price was taken - Bulgaria surrendered unconditionally and was annexed by Turkey!

July 2nd 1942 - After months of bitter fighting BUlgaria finally surrenders!

Unfortunately the brave 3rd and 5th CAV DIVs were lost in an encirclement far behind enemy lines in the province of Kraljevi. Only a few scattered remnants found their way back to the Turkish lines, the rest perished or were taken prisoners, but it was due to the deeds of these brave men that the stalemate against the Bulgarians was broken.

Now it only remained to been seen what it would take to break the Romanians!

***End of part twentyeight***

 

[Killerjes]

Please note that this was probably the last installment for 2-3 weeks as I'm of on holliday (again ), so don't expect much...
See you all later...

 

[Killerjes]

***Part twentynine***

Fall 1942 - Two Fronts, Four Dimensions

The frontlines in the eastern theater had become very fluid. The breakthrough during the summer was turning into a full scale offensive all along the frontline. The front had been moved hundreds and hundreds of kilometres south and south west.

Situation map of the far east theatre - September 2nd 1942.

The Red Army had reached the borders of Tibet and had thereby cut of large Japanese forces in north western China, Sinkiang and Mongolia. Furthermore field marshal Khetagurov had been manouvering behind enemy lines for weeks wreacking havoc with his lone cavalry division, cutting lines of communication and disruption Japanese rear echelon units. The experiences with guerilla warfare learned during the Finnish Winter war was really paying of now! Letting the commanders in the Red Army seize the initiative whenever the opportunity arised had proven very efficient.
The Japanese lacked the forces to establish a stabil frontline, and their generals lacked the big picture due to their army being cut in two.
This meant that the advance south through China was continiuing steadily throughout the fall and the first winter months. The armored divisions and cavalry drove south through the plains and along the coastline encountering only little resistance.

During those succesfull weeks in the East things had also begun to move in the western theatre, but most regrettably it was in the wrong direction!
Stalin had summoned Gorbachev, in order to find a solution to the current situation.

Situation map, Western theatre of operations, October 29th 1942

Stalin and Gorbachev was studying the map in silence. Both men looked at the map with grave concern. Gorbachev glanced at Stalin, but did not dare to speak. He had never seen Stalin so concerned before.
When the silence finally was broken it was Stalin who spoke: "The Germans have never attacked us with this much force during the winter. They have crossed the Dneipr near Stalino and broken our river and fortress line there. In the North they are poised for an attack on our stronghold Minsk, if Pavlov can't hold the line field marshal Budenij will have to fall back as well or risc encirclement."
Stalin went silent, but Gorbachev didn't really think he was finished and Gorbachev didn't think he had anything to add.
Stalin went on. "We have moved our reserves to bolster the defense of Sevastapol and our Caucasus oil fields. The defense in Minsk will be reinforced with the divisions from Timoshenkos corps within a few days."
Gorbachev thought this would be a good time to flatter the Soviet leader, as he still hadn't forgiven Gorbachev for the situation with Sinkiang. "Yes, comrade Stalin, you have deployed the forces of our glorious Red Army with great skill and wisdom. Any further German attacks during the winter will surely fail."
Stalin looked at Gorbachev with poorly hidden irritation and replied: "Please spare me for flattery and rhetoric which can be put to better use in speaches to the people!"
Gorbachev nodded, realizing he had went a bit overboard.
Stalin continued. "I would rather like to hear your honest opinion of our situation, and suggestions to deal with it."
"I don't have much to add to your summing up of our situation in the West." Gorbachev said, and continued. "We must, however, not forget the big picture. We are currently in a unique position to push the Japanese of the main land and use the vast resources of China to aid our own cause directly. We have never done that before. The first two times the Japanese outwitted our generals and used carefully planned invasions to take Vladivostok. We can still afford to loose some land in the West, legend has it that we have prevailed loosing far more land than what we have lost so far."
"Legend!?" Stalin burst out, looking inquisitively at Gorbachev.
Gorbachev went red. "Ehh, yes..." Gorbachev muttered, then composing himself and went on to explain. "I'm afraid I haven't been totally honest with you concerning the Paradoxic machine for travelling through time. You see the Swedes were actually the ones that originally invented the technology and some neo nazis in my time decided to use it for resurrecting the Third Reich."
"If the nazis has the machine what good will it do us that you are here now?" Stalin asked.
"In order to save our timeline and our beloved mother Russia we have to win this war. I'm here to help with that." Gorbachev explained, and continuing. "As we speak, one of our best assasins is working in Germany trying to prevent them from ever getting their hands on the Paradoxic machine."
Stalin looked flabbergasted. "well, I suppose we just have to concentrate on the job at hand, this time travelling business is quite complicated!"
"Yes, comrade Stalin." Gorbachev said in a soft voice, looking at Stalin he saw what he had never seen before: despair. That was the second new feeling he had seen in the otherwise calm and collect Soviet leader today. Gorbachev wondered if the plan would work out in the end. He had had his doubts when he was sent for this third time. Only time could tell...

***End of part twentynine***

 

[Jopi]

Good to see this one surviving the dreaded summer months. The Japanese look like goners. Their invasions will be a royal pain in the @$$, however. I do hope that Minsk can hold!

 

[Killerjes]

***Part thirty***

December 1942 - Victory in the Far East

In the far eastern theatre everything went very well. The Red Army would soon reach the southern coast of China. In Korea it was the same stalemate that had been there for months, and the north western front was being mopped up by Sinkiang, Mongolian and Russian forces in union. As many as 20 japanese divisions was thought to have perished trying to flee through the Gobi desert without any supplies.

Mj Gen Missan tries to complete the encirclement, December 7th 1942.

The Japanese had failed in holding the riverline of the river Yangtze by the coast, by Shanghai, and was now desperately trying to hold the central part of the river in the provinces of Changsha and Huang Shi. Major general Missan moved into Shaoguan, trying to close the encirclement of the two Japanese divisions in the provinces Changsha and Huang Shi. Despite heavy air support the efforts of Missan and his brave troops was not enough, and the Red Army had to withdraw.
The Japanese counter offensive came within a week after Missans failed attempt at encirclement. Six Japanese divisions attacked the province of Henyang from all directions, including the ones Missan had tried to encircle.

Japanese general Yamamotos offensive in Henyang, December 18th 1942.

As a response to the Japanese offensive Red Army forces was ordered on the offensive all along the front. The hope was that general Katukov and field marshal Egorov would be able to hold the line in Henyang, when given heavy air support. Even if Katukov and Egorov were unable to stand their ground an encirclement of Henyang, it was still a possibility for the Red Army to reach the river Xi and thereby encircle the provinces of Henyang and Guilin.

Soviet plan for enciclement of Japanese troops in the Henyang offensive, December 18th 1942

The Soviet counter offensive was a partial succes. First of all the defense of the Henyang province was a success, forcing the imperial Japanese army to retreat. Meanwhile three tank divisions under the command of general Katkov took Shaoguan and Guangzhou and reached the bank of river Xi. This meant that Katkov and his tanks had succeeded where Missan had failed, as his advances resulted in the encirclement of the provinces Changsha and Huang Shi. The advance into Liuzhou was delayed too much by bad weather and the though terrain in the mountains west of the province.

The Japanese had been beaten on the open plains, soon the Soviet soldiers would find out if their jungle traning was any match for the Japanese!


***End of part thirty***

 

[Killerjes]

Good to see this one surviving the dreaded summer months. The Japanese look like goners. Their invasions will be a royal pain in the @$$, however. I do hope that Minsk can hold!

Thanks!
Updating has (and will be) on a not so regular basis. We have been moving into a new house (well, old actually ), and is currently planning our wedding, so RL interferes pretty much with my HoI schedule

 

[elbasto]

I see.

Congratulations then.

But coming back to HoI, China's terrain and infra is a royal pain in the @r$e

 

[Killerjes]

***Part thirtyone***

1942 in Review

During the year 1942 production rose from 510 IC in January to 612 IC December 31st. This rise came from the continued US Lend Lease and from the conquered provinces in the far east.

Below is an overview of the armed forces (numbers represent airwings, i.e. 100 aircraft and divisions) the first number is January 1942 and the second is December 31st:

Airforce:
FTR: 22 - 23
TAC: 15 - 20
---------------
TOT: 37 - 43

Army
INF: 212 - 228
CAV: 10 - 7
MOT: 17 - 26
ARM: 22 - 21
MTN: 13 - 20
MIL: 64 - 75
---------------
TOT: 338 - 377

The airforce had done well, shooting down many more German planes than they had lost themselves. The largest expansion was therefore in the tactical bomber force.
The army was expanded slightly. It was believed that the current size was enough to hold of Germany and crush Japan at the same time.
Losses were one tank division was lost and several cavalry divisions, but the latter was now considered obsolete and phased out as they were worn down in combat.
The transition from focussing on quantity to focussing on quality could begin, therefore several mountain troops and motorized units were deployed. Any further large scale expansion of the tank corps was postponed until new improved tanks were ready.
Research was concentrated around the immediate improvement of the armed forces, assult guns, tank destroyers, anti-tank guns, anti-air guns, and howitzers were all introduced in higher calibre models. On top of that self-propelled models were introduce as well!
Several advancements in the field of radar technology was made. And last but not least the Red Army in the far east was issued jungle warfare equipment, as the battle was expected to reach the jungles of South East Asia soon.

***End of part thirtyone***

 

[Killerjes]

But coming back to HoI, China's terrain and infra is a royal pain in the @r$e

Actually I haven't encountered any real problems.
Fighting in the jungle on the other hand (coming soon to a post near you!) - that was a real pain!

Concerning production, I had to reload a couple of times. When starting up after a save, as the US kept giving me lend lease.
It became quite insane! So I actually reloaded to avoid it a couple of times! Otherwise my production would have been even higher.

 

[unmerged(19542)]

Nice update.
Still making militias?

 

[Killerjes]

Nice update.
Still making militias?

Thanks

Well, militias have been a cheap way to garrison the Chinese coast as well as add some bulk on the western front against the Germans. But as mentioned I'm going for quality from now on, so no more militia.