The Setting Sun - Gotterdammerung, Japan 1944.

unmerged(59906) · Feb 2, 2008

Maj. von Mauser - Thank you. Fighting Americans is nt always one sided however, that is reserved for the Chinese.

TimEmm - You are correct. Open negotiation would provide a fairly good gain in stockpile yes. Three reasons I am using standard trade:

1. Not enough raw materials, particularly supplies, stockpiled to trade with.

2. It costs money to negotiate and I need those funds for getting Germany's blueprints.

3. Trading improves relations and is my current only attempt to try and stop the Soviets declaring war on me. Relations through trade improve fairly dramatically when you have multiple trades.

Once I can increase my supply stockpile enough to use it for trade open negotiation for energy would be a lot more viable.

stnylan - They got hurt, I didn't. That is good enough for me right now.

Von Uber, Deus - Thank you. Naval combat is fun most of the time and you don't see too much of it. Most games end long before ships get to sink eachother.

Mangudai - All hands to the pumps, even if they are old and wrinkled

Sokraates, Mangudai, Deus - Thank you. Higashikuni is concerned about the British because he gets paid to be concerned. Advancing along a narrow strip of land against a major sea power is fraught with danger. Something the British will no doubt find out a some point.

As far as time zones go. I know the times of day mostly through experience. The mini map helps a lot but more detailed knowledge comes from actual gameplay in various parts of the World. North America in particular has very strange day/night times compared to real life. The ground unit trick is also helpful

Update to follow ...

unmerged(59906) · Feb 2, 2008

Stemming the Tide

10

0500 August 8th 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Inland Sea.

Admiral Koga was keeping Yamamoto informed of the situation around Saipan as he tracked the American Submarine fleet closer to Japan.

Koga had delayed his departure towards the South East Mariana Basin long enough to ensure that he arrived at night. He was not about to attack an American Aircraft Carrier during daylight even if it was damaged.

Ozawa led the bomber and interceptor wings over the North Mariana Trench and attacked the Transport fleet rather than the fleeing Carrier Task Force. He would not manage to sink it.

The next Aircraft Carrier, IJN Amagi, rolled out of the Japanese shipyards and joined its sister ships in Carrier Group C currently based in Tokyo. A second Tactical bomber squadron had also been upgraded.

Yamamoto found the Submarine fleet again in the Ryukyu Trench at 0000 hours on August 9th. No ships were sunk during this second encounter but one Submarine Division sustained considerable damage. The Submarines had been trying to head back to the north but Yamamoto forced them towards the east away from Japan. The pursuit would continue.

0500 August 9th 1944.
Diplomatic Offices. Tokyo, Japan.

Mamoru was being forced to think of a different type of trade other than energy. The raw material was still in short supply but with the increasing speed of collapse of Axis forces in Europe Mamoru needed to broker deals to gain their technological blueprints.

Japan's ever decreasing stockpiles were used to purchase some German blueprints and a second exchange traded Japanese blueprints for Bulgarian energy. The amount of energy gained was not large but it all helped.

1100 August 9th 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Ryukyu Trench.

Admiral Koga had entered the South East Mariana Basin and expected to find an American Carrier Task Force containing the two Carriers USS Enterprise and USS Lexington.

The Carriers had already left the region but had left behind three Transport fleets now totally unescorted. They were heading towards Saipan but would not even get close enough to see the island let alone try and land on it or Tinian to the south.

IJN Yamato would sink two of the Transports with its sister ship IJN Musashi accounting for the third. Koga turned his fleet back towards Saipan to await the next American attempt to capture an island in the Marianas.

0200 August 10th 1944.
North China Army Headquarters. Wuzhou, China.

The situation in Burma was deteriorating more rapidly than Higashikuni had hoped. The two Motorised divisions had still not arrived in the region and the defences were looking decidedly weak.

Having occupied Rangoon the British now pushed on towards Sittang. Lt. General Hirota would be forced to withdraw towards the mountains of Nakhon Sawan.

Field Marshal Hata had arrived in Toungoo ahead of enemy forces and prevented any further advance into this province giving the infantry time to withdraw safely.

0600 August 10th 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro Ryukyu Trench.

An American Transport fleet had been spotted heading west through the East Celebes Sea. There were several undefended island in this part of Indonesia and an invasion could occur without much notice. The overflights by Japanese Interceptor squadrons were providing vital intelligence and it would be a waste to not act upon it.

Admiral Nomura was based in Sorong with his Transport fleet and was ordered to sail with just his Heavy Cruisers and intercept the Transport fleet. This he did but he failed to sink the American fleet, merely forcing it to move back towards the east. He was not ordered to pursue the fleet.

Yamamoto caught the American Submarines in the South Kyushu-Palau Trench and finally manged to sink one of the divisions. The 29th Submarine division was sunk by the Light Carrier IJN Zuiho. The Submarines were forced south east towards Palau followed by BB Division 1.

0200 August 11th 1944.
North China Army Headquarters. Wuzhou, China.

The Kwantung Army was making good progress towards its objectives having just arrived in Enshi on their way towards Wanxian.

General Itagaki was ordered to use his infantry to force Chinese troops away from Fuling to protect the supply lines of the advancing troops. He would force their withdrawal at dawn the following day with support from the Tactical bomber wings.

unmerged(59906) · Feb 2, 2008

0300 Auguat 11th 1944.
Diplomatic Offices. Tokyo, Japan.

Another opportunity had presented itself for Mamoru to acquire energy. The trades with the Soviet Union were still somewhat beneficial.

This second large agreement would reduce the daily losses to Japan's energy reserves considerably. Relations with the Soviet Union were slowly improving as a result of the current trades between the two Countries.

1800 August 11th 1944.
North China Army Headquarters. Wuzhou, China.

More bad news was received at Higashikuni's Headquarters at 1800 on August 11th.

British forces had captured Sittang province and there were no Japanese or Siamese troops blocking their further advance south.

0200 August 12th 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Palau Trench.

The constant air patrols were keeping Yamamoto informed of his preys whereabouts. There was nowhere to hide in the western Pacific.

Two more Submarine Divisions were sent to the bottom by the Light Carrier IJN Zuiho during their latest clash with BB Division 1. The Submarines withdrew towards the east and where this time not pursued. Yamamoto turned towards the port of Palau to refuel instead. There was a line American ships could not cross, the Submarines were no longer on the wrong side of that line.

1000 August 12th 1944.
North China Army Headquarters.

News from Burma was almost invariably bad, conversely news from China was invariably good.

The arrival of Lt. General Endo in Ganzhou completely isolated the last remaining province in the south east China pocket. Higashikuni would await the rising sun before ordering an attack against Nanping.

0000 August 13th 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Palau.

Japanese interceptors had found another target that needed to be attacked. Admiral Nomura was ordered to sea again. Something would need to be done about the seas around Indonesia.

This time the Transport fleet would be sunk. The Heavy Cruiser IJN Ashigara would be responsible for sinking the 36th Transport Division.

0100 August 13th 1944.
North China Army Headquarters. Wuzhou, China.

Higashikuni gave the order to attack Nanping to Mj. General Kishigawa in Fuzhou. Kishigawa was a little surprised that the orders only went to him. He was Japanese and he had been given an order, he would follow that order.

Thirteen Chinese divisions were attacked by one Japanese division. Deprived of food and reinforcements for several weeks the Chinese forces surrendered without putting up a fight. What was left of 130,000 or more troops became prisoners of war.

0900 August 13th 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Palau.

Mj. General Watanabe had been conducting reconnaissance in the waters around Bali for a while now and had found nothing. Today that would change. He spotted an American Transport fleet heading west in the Bali Strait.

Yamamoto had to react differently this time. A Naval presence was required in this area as repeated attempts to possibly invade the islands in this region were increasing in number.

Admiral Nomura and his three Heavy Cruisers would be permanently assigned to operate in this region and set sail to intercept the latest American incursion.

Vice Admiral Kato was ordered to sail from Tokyo, with three Heavy Cruisers of Carrier Group C, to take over escort duties for the Transport fleet in Sorong.

"One less thing to worry about." thought Yamamoto. He was wrong of course.

Three American Light Carriers had begun to attack the Transport ships in the port of Sorong. Watanabe confirmed that it was only a small American fleet but it was still larger than Namoru could safely handle.

BB Division 1 sailed from Palau within the hour.

unmerged(87183) · Feb 2, 2008

Suspenseful ending!

How far can the British go into Siam before they meet anyone?

Great update.

unmerged(51709) · Feb 2, 2008

Remble said:
3. Trading improves relations and is my current only attempt to try and stop the Soviets declaring war on me. Relations through trade improve fairly dramatically when you have multiple trades.

Isn't there an event that makes the Soviets declare on Japan after Germany is defeated?

Great AAR, by the way, I'll be watching

Roman_legion · Feb 2, 2008

Go ahead and sink som carriers!

Good update

unmerged(58579) · Feb 2, 2008

nice getting those chinese out of there - hopefully you can save burma and Siam in time...

great stuff

Winner · Feb 2, 2008

The situation in Burma looks bad. British are close to invading Siam and Indochina, something should be done soon or the southern flank of operations in China will be in peril.

Von Uber · Feb 2, 2008

With the elimnation of chinese forces, Burma will eb a mere sideshow in the end.

Connavar · Feb 2, 2008

How many blueprints have the Germans left that you don't have yet?

unmerged(84739) · Feb 2, 2008

Exciting.

What triggers the Siamese surrender event again?

Btw, your reference to slave labor was a bit on the edge...

Sokraates · Feb 2, 2008

Remble said:
Higashikuni is concerned about the British because he gets paid to be concerned.

Then, I guess, Hirohito will have to raise his salary considerably.

Apart from that: nice going. It really surprised me to see light carriers attack a port. I've never seen that before.

echosand · Feb 2, 2008

Halsey seems to be jumping from fleet to fleet abit, he was commanding a force of carriers earlier, now just escort carriers.

Things are turning a little fast in burma, but hopefully you can reinforce the line with troops from the east china pocket.

Great updates!

unmerged(59906) · Feb 3, 2008

Maj. von Mauser - Thank you. Right now the British can go just about anywhere in Siam but the travel times will mean my troops redeploying will arrive before they can actually get anywhere.

-Delta- - Thank you. The only event I can find that might involve Soviet DoW on Japan isn't too clear and might not even be what I was looking for. It seems to suggest a 5% chance of a DoW almost continually after Germany surrenders. If that is right it is nothing but a matter of time.

Roman_legion - Thank you. Sinking Carriers is my main aim, although I am more worried about Battleships usually. You can't gain a large advantage against a Battleship just by making it fight at night.

Simon-1979 - Thanks. The Chinese stockpile is a must get and soon so I have to push for it.

Winner - Troops are already on the way to assist, I don't want to lose Siam so I will do everything I can to save it. The Imperial Japanese Airforce may also decide to make an appearance there soon as well. This depends on how well things go in China.

Von Uber - The elimination of China will allow more troops to go to Burma certainly. The elimination of Germany will allow almost 100 Allied divisions, mostly American and British, to also go to Burma. I don't think its going to be much of a side show unless I can stop those troops arriving.

Connavar - Around 15 blueprints to go. I am delaying a little to see if they will just hand them over to me rather than force me to buy them.

Mangudai - Again depending on my correct interpritation of the event, the loss of Bangkok and Thom Buri can make it happen. Just to be totally on the safe side I edited the previous update

Sokraates - Light carriers are remarkably versatile. Not only can they port strike they also provide air defence of a port that is being struck if they are in it. These ships are fast becoming my favourite type, although the SHBB will always be top of that list.

String Theory - Thank you. The AI loves to switch commanders around for some reason. It does it a lot with ground commanders in particular. Facing the same enemy commander in various battles all over a front is not uncommon but it is in effect reducing enemy troop organisation every time the commander gets switched. This is why I rarely change a commander as I don't like the organisation hit.

Update to follow ...

unmerged(59906) · Feb 3, 2008

Stemming the Tide

11

2300 August 13th 1944.
North China Army Headquarters. Wuzhou, China.

Things had been going fairly well in Burma despite the massive Allied superiority in both numbers and technology. Higashikuni's defences had been opened up to a degree which was causing some concern to the Field Marshall. All spare forces were being sent to strengthen the Burmese defences when they became available. An unexpected advance had been made against his forces, one which was actually of great benefit to Higashikuni.

Yunnanese troops had captured Lashio. This reduced the possible lines of advance for the British and would cause some considerable delays to Japan's foe as they moved their troops around what was a very effective blocking move. Higashikuni wondered if he could be lucky enough for the Yunnan force to advance into Mandalay as well.

0000 August 14th 1944.
Diplomatic Offices. Tokyo, Japan.

Mamoru had spent over a month increasing trade with the Soviet Union and the deals that he had made had reduced the energy deficit considerably. His time would need to be spent all over again.

With the situation deteriorating in Europe for Japan's Axis allies the Soviets had cancelled all of their agreements with Japan. This was a major setback to Japanese industry and would need to be rectified soon as the energy reserves were down to below one week of supply. Military advances were going according to plan in most areas of China but it would still be some time before any enemy stockpile could be captured.

0000 August 14th 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Palau Trench.

Yamamoto was heading south to intercept an American Light Carrier fleet that had been bombing Transport ships in Sorong. The latest intelligence from over flights by Japanese aircraft caused him to alter course.

The Carriers had been spotted moving away from Sorong to the east, so Yamamoto plotted an intercept course that would place him in range of the enemy fleet in Geelvink Bay.

having failed to damage the Transports to any degree by port strike the Allies called in South African Naval bombers. These could easily decimate the Japanese ships. Saboru would temporarily rebase to Sorong to deal with this new threat.

By 0800 hours on August 15th his two Interceptor squadrons had caused enough damage to prevent further bombing runs for some time. One of the Transport ships had been severely damaged but was still afloat.

Just as Yamamoto received this good news he was handed another message that was not so good. The American's and their Allies were determined to land in the Marianas and had sent another fleet into the North Mariana Trench.

Mj. General Lee had spotted the fleet, containing the already damaged Carrier USS Essex, and had made an immediate report back to base.

Unfortunately for Vice Admiral Scott there was a force more than capable of destroying his fleet very close by. Koga ordered BB Division 2 to sea noting that his fleet would arrive in the rain swept North Mariana Trench as night fell.

1000 August 14th 1944.
North China Army Headquarters.

General Yamashita, who was leading the main advance of the Kwantung Army, reported his arrival in Wanxian to Higashikuni. His initial intelligence on the defences of Chongqing, the Nationalists capital, was not favourable.

Eight divisions were defending against Yamashita's nine. Higashikuni would have to decide if the possible gains outweighed the possible losses if he were to order an attack.

1400 August 14th 1944.
BB Division2 Flagship. IJN Yamato, North Mariana Trench.

Koga had needed an hour to locate the American Carrier Task Force as he had entered the North Mariana Trench. Night and rain had made it slighty harder.

It took a further hour to close to firing distance for his big guns. By 1700 hours no ships had been sunk but the American fleet was suffering fairly large amounts of damage. Koga's ships had barely been scratched as his opponents force required daylight and good weather to allow its firepower to be brought to bare. Koga would win the battle and force Scott to withdraw but he had not managed to cripple this fleet.

One ship, the Light Cruiser USS Houston, would be sunk by IJN Yamato as the fleets opened range. Yamamoto ordered Koga to pursue Scott immediately. This would result in a day time encounter between the two fleets unless Koga's fleet was faster than the American Admiral's. Yamamoto reasoned that this American fleet was fairly weak and it was facing the largest Japanese Battlefleet in terms of firepower. He also hoped that Japanese bombers could sink the USS Essex before it could reach the South East Mariana Basin.

Ozawa would certainly try as his bombers arrived above the American fleet at dawn.

unmerged(59906) · Feb 3, 2008

2100 August 21st 1944.
North China Army Headquarters. Wuzhou, China.

Japan needed energy. This was the most important thing impressed upon Higashikuni when he was given command of Japanese forces in China. The nearest enemy stockpile that could contain such a resource was in Chongqing. Yamashita was given the order to attack just before dawn. All Tactical bomber wings were ordered to provide all assistance possible to Yamashita.

The battle for control of Nationalist China's capital began at 2100 hours. The initial forces were fairly even, with Yamashita's troops tired from marching and the Chinese forces similarly tired from redeploying.

Four hours after the battle began a further four Chinese divisions arrived to assist with the defence. Even with bomber support the battle had turned away from Yamashita but he would continue to press his attack until his forces could be pushed no more.

The situation in Burma eased somewhat as the British tried to walk around the Yunnanese road block in Lashio. This had given Japanese reinforcements slightly more time to arrive. The first of these was Mj. General Wakamatsu and his motorised division that arrived in Moulmein to block any Allied advance south. So far the British had not added to the single division in Sittang which was allowing precious time for Japanese troops to arrive to bolster the areas defences.

Higashikuni was concentrating on the battle being fought for Chongqing but he did note the arrival of Lt. General Hoshinato in Anshun province. He was ordered north towards Zhaotung to provide a second attack avenue on Chongqing should it be needed.

0400 August 15th 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Geelvink Bay.

Yamamoto's force had arrived in Geelvink Bay to try and intercept the American Light Carrier fleet heading this way. A report arrived from Koga in the north as his ships began their search for the enemy Carriers.

A British Transport fleet had entered the North Mariana Trench as BB Division 2 headed south east. The 11th Transport flotilla was shreaded by IJN Yamato's 18 inch guns.

Yamamoto's lookouts had spotted the American fleet quickly and both fleets were already in capital ship range.

Within an hour the range had closed further as the 9th Destroyer Division was sunk by the Battleship IJN Hyuga.

By 0700 hours the second escort ship, the Light Cruiser USS Montpelier, had also been sunk by IJN Yamashiro. Yamamoto ordered his ships to close to point blank range with the American Light carriers which were suffering huge damage.

Only one would sink, the USS Monterey, with the other two managing to open the distance and flee from the superior Japanese fleet. IJN Hyuga would sink the USS Monterey.

0400 August 15th 1944.
North China Army Headquarters. Wuzhou, China.

The battle for Chongqing was still undecided even with the large amount of air support being provided to General Yamashita. Casualties were mounting for both sides and it was looking increasingly likely that the victor would be the one who could keep his forces moving despite their exhausted state.

The superior morale of Japanese forces was to prove the deciding factor as the Chinese forces broke and ran at 0600 hours. To Yamashita and his troops the battle had lasted for what had seemed an age. It had only taken seven hours to rout the Chinese defenders.

Japanese troops marched towards Chongqing hoping that they would not encounter more defenders as they were already tired from a long march and a ferocious battle.

0100 August 16th 1944.
BB Division 2 Flagship. IJN Yamato, South East Mariana Trench.

The American fleet had been faster than Koga's and had arrived ahead of BB Division 2. It had not managed to flee the South East Mariana Trench though and Koga ordered his fleet to close with the American's once more.

A clear sky with the sun shining was not a good time to attack an American Aircraft Carrier, even one that seemed to be nothing more than a floating platform that was emitting smoke from almost every deck of its structure. Yamamoto desired a decisive victory against an American fleet and Koga was being asked to provide that victory.

Within an hour the range had closed allowing the large guns of the Japanese fleet to open up. The first ship to sink was the 13th Submarine Division. It would remain a mystery as to what had provided the final fatal blow to the Submarines.

By 0300 hours a further three American ships were sunk. The Light Cruisers USS Miami, USS San Diego and USS Vincennes were all destroyed by the much larger Japanese Battleships IJN Musashi, IJN Nagato and IJN Yamato. IJN Yamato was sustaining some damage from the USS Essex and her aircraft.

The USS Essex no longer had any escort class vessels to protect it and it was sent to the bottom by shells from the Battleship IJN Nagato. The Light Carrier USS Bataan followed her to the bottom of the South East Mariana Trench with several direct hits to her waterline by IJN Musashi.

As Vice Admiral Scott tried desperately to escape with at least one ship still afloat more shells from the massive guns of IJN Yamato and IJN Musashi tore through the remaining two Light Carriers. The USS Cabot and USS San Jacinto would follow the remainder of Scott's fleet to the bottom of the extremely deep Mariana Trench.

Yamamoto had finally been handed his first major victory against an American Carrier Task Force. Maybe now the Americans would stay away from the Marianas and allow Yamamoto some time to develop an offensive. It could of course have the opposite effect, and the Marianas could be flooded with the strangely absent American Battleships that had not been seen for some weeks now. Either way Koga led BB Division 2 back to Saipan to await further developments and to begin the repairs to the IJN Yamato.

unmerged(87183) · Feb 3, 2008

Nice job with the carrier fleet!!

Make shure to send a card to Yunnan.

unmerged(84739) · Feb 3, 2008

Brave storming of Chongqing. I would probably do the same, cuz of the energy crisis.

germanpeon · Feb 3, 2008

Very nice progress on all fronts, except the Burmese one, of course. Any ideas on what to do about the British advance?

unmerged(91766) · Feb 3, 2008

Two victorys for the Japanese!
Great deal with the carrier fleet and the chinese capital. Hopefully you'll get enough energy to keep on your production for some times further.

What about the cancelled deal with Sowjet Union? Maybe they are preparing for turning east after the capture of Berlin?

I would like to see a screenshot of Europe.

The Setting Sun - Gotterdammerung, Japan 1944.

General

General

General

Field Marshal

Captain

Colonel

The Grand God of Fried Eggs

General

Baron

Second Lieutenant

Camorra Potentate

I am the Law

Sergeant

General

General

General

Field Marshal

Camorra Potentate

Angel of Death

Sergeant