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Khan_

Indeed. And now onto the next update! A short one though. :)

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Towards the Day of Liberation - August 1942

As Marcos, Borbon, and company continued to slog their way towards Australian positions, a campaign of a different nature was unfolding in the West. Buoyed by military success and reinforced by American shipyards the Commonwealth decided to expand the scope of the offensive campaign against the Japanese. The 'American-British-Dutch-Australian Command' was revived with the Commonwealth representing the American interests in East Asia. Field Marshal of the Commonwealth and US General Douglas MacArthur was named Supreme Commander for this region. The Commonwealth placed eight infantry divisions, two marine divisions, six militia divisions, one division of tanks, four transports, and two fighter and two bomber wings under the 'ABDA' umbrella. The Japanese had begun to gut troop placements in Indochina and Indonesia to reinforce the stagging Japanese resistance against the Americans who had begun their thrust into the Japanese Pacific Mandates. This created the perfect opportunity to punish the Tojo and his cronies for underestimating the Commonwealth.

The campaigns on Java, Sumatra, and Borneo were straightforward. Regulars and Marines would clear out Japanese regular infantry and garrison troops. The newly establish Indochina Squadron would cover landings and transport troops where needed. The job of occupying and capturing provinces once an island was free of the two to four garrison and regular divisions on it would be left to Militia. Mainland Malaysia and Indochina were a different matter; Thai forces in collaboration with the Japanese provided a strong resistance to any Commonwealth army. Fortune permitting the invasion of the Malay peninsula and Indochina would commence in early Novembers after regular and marine divisions could be freed from duty in the Indochina sector. Furthermore the timing of this operation hinged on the rapid deployment and stockpile of supplies for newly purchased military assets from the Americans. On the Theatre level the Mekong Delta and Singapore were singled out as the first targets to fall. Saigon would provide a ready made base to strike out north and into the interior while the liberation of Singapore would avenge the humiliating surrender of the British to the Japanese earlier in the year.
 
Even if Halo 3 is claiming all my waking hours this AAR will be updated by Sunday September 30th at 8 PM PST. A round of thank yous go out to any and all who have taken the time to read this AAR.

EDIT: We'll have to move that update back to the 2nd of October. Real-life issues and other activities call!
 
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Hannibal Barca2

Yep, though occupied Tokyo might be a bit out of our reach just yet. The US never did carry much weight in the Orient and due to poor Allied AI the liberation of Asia from Japan is mostly a Filipino show. That being said, i've already completed the game play and am writing the rest of this AAR from my notes. Overall i've found this to be great practice for my next AAR which might be done concurrently with this AAR should my readers wish something more historical and set in the modern era.

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The Beginning of the Air War- September 1942 through January 1943

The island hopping campaign in Indonesia was straight forward. The Japanese could hardly afford to cover every landing beach from Sumatra to New Guinea, the Filipinos would find somewhere to land several divisions, and one by one Japanese garrisons were overwhelmed. Only in New Guinea were the odds somewhat even between the Japanese and the Commonwealth but even then fresh Filipino troops quickly overcame the worn out and under supplied Japanese forces.

By November of 1942 the islands of Indonesia and New Guinea were liberated from Japanese occupation at the cost of the Commonwealth over stretching her supply lines. Borbon's force in New Guinea alone took up a sizable portion of the Commonwealth's transport capacity and industrial infrastructure was unable to keep up with repeated Filipino success in the field. Unable to ignore the problems with keeping existing Commonwealth troops in the field, Quezon directed Chief of Staff Valdez to create a new naval strategy that could spare the Army from being stretched thin. Instead Valdez suggested that the Commonwealth begin a long range bombing campaign of Taiwan, Korea, and the Japanese Home Islands. The fleet needed rest from escorting Army movements in Indochina. It did not take much work to convince the Roosevelt Administration to release several B-17s for Commonwealth use. While the Commonwealth geared her assembly lines to produce bombers and escorts the Filipinos could count on a steady supply of bombers flown in from the United States via Australia.

The break from the land and naval war was greeted with cheers by the Army and Navy. Land combat was found to possess none of the glory and adventure alluded to in recruitment offices. It was always a hard slog to the next objective, constant enemy ambushes, and friends and townmates dying all around you. Fighting and attrition in New Guinea had bled the 3rd Division dry, leaving only a few trophies of war as a reward for those who survived. The 1st Division under Marcos' guidance had suffered the most from being assigned as vanguard but had come out as the most decorated outfit in the entire Army. Still, even Marcos did not hunger for more glory if the next target would be an assault against Japanese positions on the Malay Peninsula. The Japanese and their Thai allies still held the advantage in numbers on the mainland. The Commonwealth had no choice but to wait till Japanese numbers were reduced by bombing and Filipino industry could catch up to the extent of the current Commonwealth occupied territories.
 
Khan_

From the 1938 converted game I started with 15 and when 1942 rolled around I had around 21. The Commonwealth relied on good relations with the US, policy slider tweaks, and the 'intervention' of the narrator to ensure the US ponied up equipment when needed. :p

But even with all that aid 1943 turned out to be a disaster... and now i've said too much. :)
 
This has been a truly excellant AAR. From the beginning your layout of the story was very well done, giving a very good account of how things came to be. Even with Halo 3, I am sure you will give this AAR the ending it deserves.

BTW I am voting for this AAR in the Q3 readers choice. It was hard to clasify, not truly narrative, so I am putting it in the history category. Hope more of your fans will go and vote for you. Your hard work deserves it.
 
Khan_ said:
Disaster? That's a bit of a bugger. Still, I guess you gave the Japanese a good run for their money.

grayghost: Where might I fight the readers choice thread? I don't lurk around here much.


here. :eek:
 
grayghost

Many thanks and i'm at the halfway point in the AAR in terms of posts. There's a lot more to report but i'm not trying to write an epic. Just a story with a definite beginning, middle and end. :)

rcduggan

Late 1942 and 1943 was quite dull in terms of hands on gameplay. Indonesia was pretty straight forward and I won't give away too much but the air war was your basic infra and facilities strike series. WWII in Europe was much more interesting to watch. The Allied AI seemed to be kicking in there at the cost of neglecting the Orient. :(

Khan_

The tipping point pretty much passed in late 1942. The Japs lost control of the means to cut off my access to US trade and the Allies out produce them in every category; which allowed me to trade for US strat bombers and replace my losses. But i'm always happy to fight a game where Japan doesn't go down without a fight and the US AI doesn't launch an invasion of Japanese occupied China. :)
 
Broken Spears: January through February 1943

Temporary Command Headquarters Philippine 2nd Army, Escuela Municipal de Manila, Manila

"Your request for transfer to front line duty has been approved. You do understand that your pay grade will drop, which is to be expected with Quezon reshuffling staff officers and forcing our more aged generals into reserve commands. But i'm sure you could care less and besides Colonel Borbón has a nice ring too it." General Valdez, Chief of Staff for the Commonwealth, appreciated Borbón's cooperation in recent administrative reforms initiated by President Quezon. With more generals than divisions to command, Quezon had adjusted ranks to ensure experienced officers were given commands while those of the old guard shifted to reserve duty. "And this will be all for the better. The Assembly raised some questions about the conduct of the war in Indonesia; concerns mostly dealing with losses incurred during the initial landings in New Guinea. Though this will not effect your standing or eligibility for promotion in command... heads had to roll. And interestingly enough your 'demotion' has awakened the hawk in some Assembly doves, you've gained quite a reputation in your short time in the Commonwealth Army. That being said is there any thing else?"

"Permission to speak freely sir?" Luis Borbón did not miss his old rank but did take some offensive to Quezon and company using him as a scapegoat for setbacks early in the New Guinea campaign."

"Granted. Speak your mind."

"If I may humbly suggest the following course of action. Instead of launching a bombing campaign against Japan might the Army Air Corps efforts be best geared towards close air support for the upcoming campaign in Malaya?"

"Quezon wishes to 'take the war to Japan' and an the Roosovlet Administraion is pressing him along that path. As Clemenceau put 'La guerre! C’est une chose trop grave pour la confier à des militaires.' Utter hogwash in my opinion but we live in a democratic society so military necessity must be subordinated to political expedience."

"I find though to have been the most grounded of the delegates at Versailles. Tainted with a dose of whimsy but grounded when it counted. A pity his countrymen and the world did nothing to enforce the peace he created. I should hope that our political leaders construct a peace after this war that lats."

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Kagoshima, Kyūshū, Morning

Traveling from Clark Field under the cover of darkness four groups of Commonwealth B-17s began to take up position for a high altitude bombing run. Lacking the aircraft to field an effective screen, a smattering of escorts were attached the bombers. The goal was to damage the naval anchorage and to strike at industrial centers in the city. Though sunlight at dawn was lacking the fires that began to break out below provided light enough for the crew. At this point the Japanese launched their counterattack.

Inexperienced Commonwealth gunners and pilots were no match against even the smattering of Japanese reservists arrayed against them. Several planes began retreating from the combat zone, triggering confusion in the ranks and as a result the B-17s and their escorts broke formation. At the end of the day only one flight of B-17s arrived in Clark Field. The mission from a strategic standpoint had been successful; the Japanese now had one less harbor to work with. But from a tactical standpoint it was a disaster but with the US and British experiencing the same attrition rate among bomber crews in Europe, the Quezon was encouraged to pour more men into the gaping hole now filling the skies over the Japanese Home Islands.
 
Spacehusky

I sent a stack of four up and got mobbed by a selection of Japanese fighters and interceptors. Only one came back and even then it was at around 19 strength if my notes are correct; I blame my slacking research in strategic air doctrines which isn't keeping up with the level of US aid. And of course lack of any real escort planes. :(

Hannibal Barca2

Never did try tactical bombers in-game against Japan; the US had more strategic bombers to offer through the division trade scene. Though as I write this AAR from notes with gameplay completed in hindsight it is something I should have tried.
 
Just read your last update. Serious loss of bombers there, maybe they should have listened to Borbon.

I will patiently wait until you laptop is fixed for updates.;)
 
Broken Spears Pt. II: Febuary through July 1943

The ‘Army and Navy Ordinance of 1943’ ended much of the title inflation present in the Commonwealth Army from its earliest days. Ranks would now matter and no longer was a good word from an Assemblyman or Friar enough to make one a Lieutenant. Some officers such as Borbón accepted the Ordinance and the demotions as both a political and financial necessity. Other such as the now Colonel Ferdinand Marcos complained loudly, even going so far as accusing the Nationalistas of undermining the war effort. Yet one effect of the Ordinance that even won Marcos’ grudging respect the gutting of the ‘Aviation Faction’. This cabal of officers had convinced the Quezon Administraion of the wonders of airpower over the loud protests of groundings. Now the field was open for both navy and army planners to draft a proposal to evict the Japanese from their remaining positions in the Dutch East Indies and in Indochina.

‘Badger Pole’ was the designated term for the umbrella project that would aim to end onerous garrison duties for Commonwealth forces and transfer the administration of occupied Indonesia to a American, British, Dutch, Australian, and New Zealander force. ‘American-British-Dutch-Australian Command’ would be reconstituted as a garrison force under the command of Dutch General Hein ter Poorten, commander of the Royal Netherlands Indies Army. This would free up the bulk of the Commonwealth Army to undertake the liberation of the Malay Peninsula. With the departure of the Aviation Faction and the clear failure of the air war to soften up the enemy Quezon gave his reluctant approval.

In March the plan for the invasion of Malaya was submitted to Quezon as ‘Operation: Broken Spear’. This joint Army and Navy action would land multiple divisions along the peninsula, taking advantage of Commonwealth control of the South China Sea and Java Strait. Quezon gave another reluctant nod; Indonesia was now the responsibility of the reconstituted ABDA command the reformed KNIL Hein ter Poorten, the Commonwealth’s war aims in the East Indies had been achieved. The war for Malay would mirror similar moves by the Allies in Sicily and revive a train of expansive actions ruined by the setbacks in New Guiena.

As July dawned eight divisions escorted by Commonwealth Naval Task Force 10 steamed out of Sangley Point towards Singapore…


[OOC: It's a rather short update for the long wait but the meat of the AAR is yet to come. This is the halfway point of this AAR and from here on out things move towards the land, rather than the naval aspect of war. But, there is one last major battle to be fought between the Philippines and Japan; the US Navy rules the seas right now but not trying to give too much away it'll be up to the Philippines to mop the sizable remnant up in something quite epic.[/i]
 
Cloud Strife said:
[OOC: It's a rather short update for the long wait but the meat of the AAR is yet to come. This is the halfway point of this AAR and from here on out things move towards the land, rather than the naval aspect of war. But, there is one last major battle to be fought between the Philippines and Japan; the US Navy rules the seas right now but not trying to give too much away it'll be up to the Philippines to mop the sizable remnant up in something quite epic.

Hey, I'm just happy to see your back! I was just telling a friend, who I introduced to the this game not long ago, about how it is possible to actually do well as the Philippines, and I cited this AAR as an example!

I'm so glad to see you are still at it! :D