The Setting Sun - Gotterdammerung, Japan 1944.

[E. Jünger]

On the other hand in arma partisans diminish over time, so occupied china and australia would have a partisan activity of about 2 by now. So it's not a that clearcut case of which would be easier for remble... Lose some airpower, but get rid of all partisans, win some lose some...

[Nathan Madien]

On the other hand in arma partisans diminish over time, so occupied china and australia would have a partisan activity of about 2 by now. So it's not a that clearcut case of which would be easier for remble... Lose some airpower, but get rid of all partisans, win some lose some...

Of course, with Arma, Remble wouldn't have to worry about time constraints since Arma extends out to 1964.

[Avatar018]

Good job beating up the Russian's Remble. I am interested to see if you are going to make it to Moscow by 1948. As Italy it took me almost a year to drive through the USSR, maybe Japanese troops run faster that Italians Like E.Junger said it would be cool if you found a secret document that gives us a hint what the Soviets are producing. Keep up the good work and may Japan rule all of Asia.

[Juan_de_Marco]

holeymoley, you're off on adventures, batman!

adventures in the orient - err, i mean occident...
look what happens when you don't look for a couple of months!

[Inner Circle]

Of course, with Arma, Remble wouldn't have to worry about time constraints since Arma extends out to 1964.

or he would set the enddate of the game to 1953...

[Nathan Madien]

or he would set the enddate of the game to 1953...

He can do that, too.

[E. Jünger]

Like E.Junger said it would be cool if you found a secret document that gives us a hint what the Soviets are producing. Keep up the good work and may Japan rule all of Asia.

or if you think that is cheating, perhaps what they're builds were say, one two years ago?

[cjwet]

Good Job.
What is with the anual slider move?

[safferli]

On the other hand in arma partisans diminish over time, so occupied china and australia would have a partisan activity of about 2 by now. So it's not a that clearcut case of which would be easier for remble... Lose some airpower, but get rid of all partisans, win some lose some...

Diminishing partisans are nothing compared to the ability to destroy the complete Soviet Army with air power alone. And airpower is all that stops the bear from tearing down China. See what happens in India/Persia without airpower. Remble wouldn't be where he is now in Armageddon.

I still believe he could pull off the trick in Armageddon, but he'd need different tactics. Someone whoi s willing to go into insane micromanaging by stopping all air orders at midnight and restarting them again at 0100 can find a way, I am sure...

[E. Jünger]

Diminishing partisans are nothing compared to the ability to destroy the complete Soviet Army with air power alone. And airpower is all that stops the bear from tearing down China. See what happens in India/Persia without airpower. Remble wouldn't be where he is now in Armageddon.

Sure, but you aren't completely without air power in armageddon, you just have to use it a bit more wisely. As long as your enemy is running to or away from you, you can still kick ass, if the enemy is entrenched however, it's suicide. That said, yes, it would probably be a bit harder in ARMA, but not as much harder as some make it out to be, how much manpower is locked into partisan duty at the moment? they could be infantry, they could be heroes. etc. We'll just have to try for ourselves I guess.

[harezmi]

and if this game was Arma, it would be impossible to recover the aircraft MP loss as Japan. even as Germany it hurts. so we need to consider it, too.

so, in Arma, airpower is very important but not as much as in Doomsday and i use airpower in Arma mostly for interdiction and logistical strike. ground attack is just used when i am absolutely sure there are just moving or retreating units in the bombing zone.
and i love logistical strike like Remble did in the Pacific. the best way to destroy the stacks. also in my last game my whole army was in Spain and Turkey when SU declared war upon me. I redeployed my units immediately and by mass logistical strikes they couldn`t even get to Warsaw

and Remble these are not for underestimating your success but for encouraging a new Arma AAR however, when you`ll be done with this, we will be likely playing HOI3

[Maj. von Mauser]

Meh, Arma isn't that great IMO.

[Grapp]

Remble wouldn't have any problems with manpower in Armageddon as he would receive a lot of manpower from China mainland. So he would use some other tactics, but I am quite sure he would still beat the SU and would be able to conquest the World.

[safferli]

No manpower from China in Arma. Also, don't forget that in Arma you will need tons of IC for repairs of your mangled airforce. IC that Japan just cannot spare.

[Remble]

Middelkerke - Zhukov was enveloped and not dug in and CAS arrived at dawn to give him little chance of winning Russians have an even mix of 43 and 45 Infantry with some 47, which would be the newly produced ones.

Cyphers Fury - The 47 Infantry would be new you are correct. The AI is doing its usual auto modernising of its production queue. The capture of enemy divisions is always nice especially when I am going out of my way to avoid it most of time.

E. Jünger - Thank you. In January of 1947, where I got my figures for the Red Army size, the production AI of the Soviets was only building around a dozen ground divisions at once. Several aircraft and some Destroyers were also being produced.

Thurak, Pwn*Star, ColossusCrusher - That attack would not have occured without the air support certainly. It was manpower intensive but I did not fancy chasing Zhukov around China. This particular 1947 Infantry was Soviet but most I have seen are Polish.

Inner Circle - This type of encirclement I am happy to do as I forced it to happen. The deep penetration encirclements won't be happening though, even if I could manage to pull one off.

Maj. von Mauser - Canadian BB would be facing two Japanese BB's as well as the BC's right now as they are in BC Division 1. Of course that Canadian BB is not looking for trouble as it is very carefully avoiding any major Japanese fleet.

robou - Correct, Zhukov will need a new army once he gets out of Kangding. Higashikuni has the Offensive trait so he won't be forgetting how to use it

Sokraates - Hello again and welcome back Congratulations on passing what is a rather tough exam. Not much has happened since you have been gone, honest.

BobaFett696, Nathan Madien - I wonder why it is always the same area of Australia that revolts

Timmie0307 - Thanks. I didn't want to have to encircle him as it takes months in that terrain. Quantity usually overcomes quality at sea as long as they can still shoot. Moscow by April 1948 was what the Emperor asked for, who knows maybe it might actually happen.

harezmi - I don't actually have Arma so have not witnessed the air combat changes. I can explain why my own airforce rarely gets hurt though. Org in DD does not really drop during bombing missions and is normally actually gained during the day as the bombers rest at their airbase for some of the time. I have my bombers set to 5% so they fly unless exhausted. I take some moderate damage from bombing large stacks or Carriers but that is about it.

Arma ground defence is much much higher I believe which means higher casualties for bombing. The advice others have given looks to be good as retreating troops don't shoot back much. Other things I have read is to only do logistic strike against dug in enemy forces and ground attack retreating troops.

Targetting is something I am very careful with. I chose my defensive lines using the area map mode so that I can dictate where my enemy usually ends up. Erenhot is a prime example of this strategy. The Soviets are not losing dozens of divisions there by accident as it was very deliberate to let them advance into it to allow my bombers no choices. I agree there are times when its not possible to do this as my bombers have targetted dug in troops often enough in other areas.

Regarding the problems with retreating from air combat. I can always retreat after two hours in DD. Arma may prevent that happening but I have not heard it to be so. It is very similar to the four hour sea retreat. Sorry I cannot be of more help but others have answered your question I think.

We shall see what develops in Persia

Panzer6 - Correct as always

Zatapatique, E. Jünger, safferli, Nathan Madien - Should I ever get Arma (not too likely as HoI3 will probably be out before that would happen) I would try this scenario certainly. There is more than one way to skin a cat as the saying goes. Doubtless I would require some time to get used to how much damage my aircraft would take but they do still kill in Arma by the looks of it. The nine divisions I have in Australia would be in Asia by now in Arma. Zatapatique said Naval attack is similar which means the USN would suffer as badly which just means the ground war will be different. How different I cannot say but I would hazard a guess that it is not so bad as to alter the end result, just the time taken to achieve it. The AI is the AI after all.

Avatar018 - Thank you. Moscow by April 1948 is a hard target but I would say its not totally impossible right now. The Soviet builds were not particularly good as I explained above.

Juan_de_Marco - I do appear to have stopped going backwards

cjwet - I forgot the annual slider move but it will be done on September 1st as that is the last save game I have. Probably will be towards Open Society to reduce partisans a little.

The Arma issue is of course interesting but I suspect my next AAR will be using HoI3 and not Arma. HoI3 is likely to have a similar air problem to Arma so we shall see.

Update to follow ...

[Remble]

Operation Improbable

16

0100 August 19th 1947.
Kwantung Army Headquarters. Qiqihar, Manchukuo.

Soviet troops were still trying in vain to reinforce Manchuria and its borders as the Kwantung Army continued to advance against increasingly sparse opposition.

The three divisions in Hailar had been trying to dig in to protect themselves from the prowling Tactical bombers but Terauchi would prevent them from doing so. Thirty Japanese and Manchurian divisions soon had the Soviet Infantry in full retreat which allowed the bombers a much easier target.

At 1500 hours the Red Army tried to remove the invasion force of General Minami from the coastal province of Khabarovsk. The battle would end before sunrise with yet more Soviet casualties as the superior Japanese night fighting abilities told.

0100 August 20th 1947.
The Skies Above Dasht-i-Kavir.

Shima's Tactical bombers were slowly reversing Japanese fortunes in the Middle East as they protected the right flank of the Persian defence force.

Having dealt with the Soviet troops further east Shima turned his attention back to Dasht-i-Kavir where another modern Polish division had arrived. The Red Army had a sizeable force moving towards Esfahan which could easily cut off the Japanese troops in Iraq if it could not be stopped.

0000 August 21st 1947.
Industry Offices. Tokyo, Japan.

The completion of the two Battlecruisers earlier in the month had not made any production available as more had been ordered, but the latest ships to finish their build would allow Ginjiro some free capacity.

The final two Light Carriers, IJN Chuyo and IJN Unyo, arrived in Toyko on time and the small amount of production that had been used to construct the ships was allocated to upgrades.

0000 August 22nd 1947.
North China Army Headquarters. Lanzhou, China.

The use of both Close Air Support groups in northern China and Mengkukuo had managed to turn a possible rout of the Japanese center into an opportunity to advance. There were still several large Soviet armies around the region which Higashikuni would have to force back one at a time but he could at least think offensively in China now.

Konev had returned to Erenhot with the remains of his army and was repulsed by General Nishio who commanded the forces in Changde. The losses of Soviet Infantry in this province would rise again as the Dive bombers preyed on the retreating enemy troops.

Late on August 23rd Syrian troops occupied Baghdad which had been abandoned to prevent Japanese forces being isolated by the advancing Red Army. Higashikuni had set up his defences as best he could given the manpower available and would have to hope that it would be sufficient.

On August 24th Japanese troops from Ya'an were ordered to march towards Kangding after recovering from their earlier battle with Zhukov over the province. The six Japanese divisions that had been in Xiaguan were redeployed north to Ya'an to take over the defence as the force in that province advanced. The redeploying troops would arrive before the advance could be completed keeping Ya'an defended.

By 1200 hours on August 24th Konev's army had suffered huge losses to the Japanese Dive bombers and there was little sign of the casualties abating. Most Soviet troops were heading north east and not towards Erenhot which could allow one Dive bomber wing to return to Manchuria to assist the Kwantung Army.

An attack towards Abadan was not what Higashikuni had wanted as it could cut his forces in half in the Middle East if it proved successful. General Sakabara was commanding the defence of the province with three divisions when the Red Army captured Esfahan at 1600 hours on August 25th and immediately tried to sever the land connection between Persia and Iraq. Fortunately the attack began at dusk which allowed Sakabara to hold firm until the Tactical bombers could assist at dawn. Sakabara would succeed in preventing the Red Army from advancing on this occasion and Higashikuni hoped that no more defensive battles would be required.

[Remble]

2100 August 25th 1947.
Kwantung Army Headquarters. Qiqihar, Manchukuo.

Eight Japanese divisions had been embarked from Vladivostok and Iman with Terauchi having to decide where he wished to use them. His defensive goal had been set so he chose to try and secure one flank of that defence with this fairly substantial force.

General Okamura would command the landing towards Chumikan as Terauchi tried to outflank the retreating Soviet forces to the south east and form his defence. BC Division 1 was providing protection for the invasion as always.

The arrival of Field Marshall Hata's army in Jiamusi allowed Terauchi to relieve the pressure on General Minami in Khabarovsk. Hata's force was slowly tiring but would be able to overcome the defences of Komsomolsk-na-Amure with support from Minami.

2300 August 25th 1947.
North China Army Headquarters. Lanzhou, China.

North China Army's center was still fairly short of divisions but they were not facing any large concentrations of Soviet troops, which would allow some small advances by Higashikuni.

General Sakai advanced into Yan'an at 2300 hours on August 25th and was counter attacked upon arrival. Higashikuni wished to keep the mountain province so he ordered General Dohihara to attack the flank of the Soviet attacking force from Datong. This intervention would allow Sakai to hold onto Yan'an for the time being but he knew he was outnumbered, even if only slightly.

American Strategic bombers returned to Abadan on August 26th and were met by Yamashita and his two Interceptor wings which scrambled to meet them. The results were as devastating as was becoming normal as the outnumbered bombers suffered heavy casualties, but all four would escape on this occasion.

Yamashita would have to split his time as his Infantry corps arrived in Sukkur in India. Fortunately both his Interceptor wing and Infantry corps were close enough together to allow him to command both for now. The newly arrived Infantry headed north towards Peshawar to secure the border between India and Sinkiang.

The arrival of an Armoured division in Bakhtaran drew the attention of Shima's bombers as this province could not be allowed to be occupied by enemy forces or Abadan could fall. The already damaged Armour would not last long in the open terrain.

1100 August 28th 1947.
Kwantung Army Headquarters. Qiqihar, Manchukuo.

Okamura landed in Chumikan at 1100 hours on August 28th and would not suffer an immediate counter attack. The Red Army was mustering close by though.

The large Soviet army in Tynda to the south west was a cause for concern for Terauchi and he would debate whether to withdraw Okamura and invade a little further east instead. He would have to leave the Transport fleets close by just in case Okamura was forced to withdraw but that made them sitting ducks if any decent sized enemy fleet were to show up. The presence of BC Division 1 offered some protection but American Carriers could easily cause severe damage if enough were to arrive. If Canadian ships could operate in this area then so could the United States Navy.

The destruction of the remains of Konev's army in Erenhot allowed Nakajima to move back to Harbin where he could control Soviet forces in northern Manchuria. This would allow Kondo to move further north to begin targetting enemy forces closer to Chumikan.

2300 August 30th 1947.
Intelligence Offices. Tokyo, Japan.

A messenger arrived for Kuniaki as he was about to make his way to the monthly meeting with the Emperor and Cabinet.

The message came from Kawasaki Heavy Industry which had completed its research project into Modern Agricultural Production. This advance would enhance Japanese manpower recruitment as less people would be required to farm. He ordered Mitsubishi to begin research into a Frontline Vehicle Repair Shop.

[Edzako]

Sweet update. Sadly good situation in Eastern theater is overshadowed by shaky situation in Persia. And, while you probably can rescue your troops to transport ships in case of bigger Soviet troops build-up combined Russo-Allied offensive could result in unneeded defeat. But you are facing AI, so it probably won't happen.

[Velko]

And, while you probably can rescue your troops to transport ships in case of bigger Soviet troops build-up combined Russo-Allied offensive could result in unneeded defeat. But you are facing AI, so it probably won't happen.

But we must remember that AI has no fog of war, meaning that it sees all unescorted transports and most often it also tries to take advantage of that. However, I'm confident that Remble's early warning systems in Pacific and Indian ocean would give a hint of an upcoming naval incursion.

[Thurak]

Wow, surprisingly large stack in Tynda...

Nice update... and may you hold the oil fields of Abadan!