Edzako - Things could be worse. One thing to remember is that the Red Army was slowly winning a War with Germany in 1944 and that process was greatly speeded up by an Allied invasion in France. There will be no cavalry arriving on this occasion and they are very much on their own.
Phax - I think I can safely say that only my manpower is a probem and the enemy has no such worries.
Nathan Madien - The year has a long way to go and I will let you do the maths. 20-25 divisions destroyed per month during good weather at a minimum. With that sort of loss rate the Red Army may well be half its current size by 1948 unless it starts to build a lot more troops.
Murmurandus - Thank you
Inner Circle - They don't seem to be building too many do they. They do have the manpower to double their army if they wish but we all know the AI won't do that.
harezmi - A draw is a possibility of course. I wouldn't bet on me taking many risks. I much prefer to be certain of success when I am outnumbered.
Deus Eversor - 10 years is not very long
robou - The Emperor has a few reasons to be confident. Before he took direct charge of the War Japan was under almost direct threat, that is no longer the case.
cosminus - 12 is probably very accurate with 10 spies. They are all CV's as CVL's come under smaller ships. My ships are also undergoing doctrine research and they do not plan on fighting American Carriers unless they absolutely have to, which is rare.
Argus Eritarami - Correct on all counts. The AI only has so much its allowed to allocate which is why it can be defeated even with overwhelming odds.
harezmi - The last week has been pretty hectic for me hence the lack of updates. Normal service should now resume
Kanitatlan - Astute observations all around Nothing is going to change quickly thats for sure but I will continue to try and reach Moscow by April 1948 even though that looks to be about as impossible as it gets for the time being. You can be certain I won't be trying anything too dangerous to achieve that goal.
A more extreme ground strategy is, of course, not going to happen. Dissecting an AI controlled Army by various means is not too difficult but I will stick to trying to give the AI as much chance as I can. It will remain a more or less straight up fight between two large armies, one of which knows how to use its airforce.
Concentration of airpower will occur from time to time as required. You will see this demonstrated many times I expect with the little adventure of the Red Army into Datong being the first. For now my airforce is used to break up attacks but that can easily change to massed destruction of retreating forces if the AI gives me an opportunity. Unlike the AI if I find a hole I make sure what I send into it is very safe.
Brad1 pointed out the more accurate losses. All in all I would say the Soviets have lost over 200 divisions given that they are replacing at least some. I am still very much of the opinion that a fair amount, anything from 1/5th to 1/3rd, of the Red Army is still in the west. I have not seen enough troops to think otherwise.
Releasing a major puppet is out of the question as you are 100% correct that it turns the game into a certain victory. I can probably cede territory to my puppets but that falls under a similar veto. The largest problem I can forsee for myself in the long run is trying to control my TC without the manpower to build garrisons.
A stalemate is a concern and trying to paint the World yellow in the timeline allotted is not going to be that easy to achieve. The Russian front is my main concern and will remain so. The little attacks into the Middle East are there to break things up a little and are not any serious attempt to advance too far.
Update to follow ...
Phax - I think I can safely say that only my manpower is a probem and the enemy has no such worries.
Nathan Madien - The year has a long way to go and I will let you do the maths. 20-25 divisions destroyed per month during good weather at a minimum. With that sort of loss rate the Red Army may well be half its current size by 1948 unless it starts to build a lot more troops.
Murmurandus - Thank you
Inner Circle - They don't seem to be building too many do they. They do have the manpower to double their army if they wish but we all know the AI won't do that.
harezmi - A draw is a possibility of course. I wouldn't bet on me taking many risks. I much prefer to be certain of success when I am outnumbered.
Deus Eversor - 10 years is not very long
robou - The Emperor has a few reasons to be confident. Before he took direct charge of the War Japan was under almost direct threat, that is no longer the case.
cosminus - 12 is probably very accurate with 10 spies. They are all CV's as CVL's come under smaller ships. My ships are also undergoing doctrine research and they do not plan on fighting American Carriers unless they absolutely have to, which is rare.
Argus Eritarami - Correct on all counts. The AI only has so much its allowed to allocate which is why it can be defeated even with overwhelming odds.
harezmi - The last week has been pretty hectic for me hence the lack of updates. Normal service should now resume
Kanitatlan - Astute observations all around Nothing is going to change quickly thats for sure but I will continue to try and reach Moscow by April 1948 even though that looks to be about as impossible as it gets for the time being. You can be certain I won't be trying anything too dangerous to achieve that goal.
A more extreme ground strategy is, of course, not going to happen. Dissecting an AI controlled Army by various means is not too difficult but I will stick to trying to give the AI as much chance as I can. It will remain a more or less straight up fight between two large armies, one of which knows how to use its airforce.
Concentration of airpower will occur from time to time as required. You will see this demonstrated many times I expect with the little adventure of the Red Army into Datong being the first. For now my airforce is used to break up attacks but that can easily change to massed destruction of retreating forces if the AI gives me an opportunity. Unlike the AI if I find a hole I make sure what I send into it is very safe.
Brad1 pointed out the more accurate losses. All in all I would say the Soviets have lost over 200 divisions given that they are replacing at least some. I am still very much of the opinion that a fair amount, anything from 1/5th to 1/3rd, of the Red Army is still in the west. I have not seen enough troops to think otherwise.
Releasing a major puppet is out of the question as you are 100% correct that it turns the game into a certain victory. I can probably cede territory to my puppets but that falls under a similar veto. The largest problem I can forsee for myself in the long run is trying to control my TC without the manpower to build garrisons.
A stalemate is a concern and trying to paint the World yellow in the timeline allotted is not going to be that easy to achieve. The Russian front is my main concern and will remain so. The little attacks into the Middle East are there to break things up a little and are not any serious attempt to advance too far.
Update to follow ...