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Jushu said:
feuer frei! = open fire! :s...
Wouldn't it more accurately mean "fire at will?" I know technically, it's still a fire command, but to be precise.... Well, I'd like to know. lol

Oh, and Remble, "morale" is spelled with an 'e,' for future reference. :)
 
Literaly translated feuer frei = fire free = fire at will.

Nice update, I can't wait for the next one, hopefully the warlord Guangxi won't integrate itself into China.
 
SoulStealer said:
Wouldn't it more accurately mean "fire at will?" I know technically, it's still a fire command, but to be precise.... Well, I'd like to know. lol

Well, just don't fire at me. :p

Anyhow, I think after China gets conquered, it might be a good idea to puppet the Nationalists. I heard they pop out divisions rather well.
 
Nathan Madien said:
Well, just don't fire at me. :p

Anyhow, I think after China gets conquered, it might be a good idea to puppet the Nationalists. I heard they pop out divisions rather well.

Remble does not want to do anything too gamey and having the Chinese give him lots of divisions that don't have the attack difficulty (very hard), that would be a little gamey. Also I think its a bit unrealistic if China built a lot of divisions when a puppet of Japan. If they made that many divisions, they would turn around and kick Japan out. So I say counquer it all Remble.
 
Remble said:
...

Murmurandus - What is this talk of defence?

...

Euh, I'm sorry, I mean a tactical withdrawal perimeter in preparation of an all-out victorious offensive... ;) :D
 
Panzer6 said:
Well thats true for the naval part (darn unlimited range) but for the air part it's different. For the airforce, the can be based anywhere and attack any province within range of any airbase. So a plane based in Australia can hit Paris due to airfields in Britain, but that same plane can't hit Berlin if no airbase is close enough.

So capturing airbases is still a sound deal.

Thanks, I didn't know that. I always thought the planes hat unlimited range, too, due to the AI's ineptitude to rebase them.
 
It took me ages to read through your last aar -- and I loved every minute of it! Lucky for me I can now read this aar from the beginning. Excellent choice, I never had the heart to try this scenario myself, but always wanted to! Japan is my favorite country to play in HoI and it'll be a very educating experience to watch such a master of the game turn the Japanese tide in the '44 scenario.
 
safferli said:
It took me ages to read through your last aar -- and I loved every minute of it! Lucky for me I can now read this aar from the beginning. Excellent choice, I never had the heart to try this scenario myself, but always wanted to! Japan is my favorite country to play in HoI and it'll be a very educating experience to watch such a master of the game turn the Japanese tide in the '44 scenario.
Indeed. I actually started one myself. It's an organizational nightmare. I'm not just duplicating what he's doing so far. Except for the pocket, which always seemed like a good idea. :p I'm still working out troop redeployments myself. But I imagine he's already put a lot more thought into this.
 
Panzer6 said:
Remble does not want to do anything too gamey and having the Chinese give him lots of divisions that don't have the attack difficulty (very hard), that would be a little gamey. Also I think its a bit unrealistic if China built a lot of divisions when a puppet of Japan. If they made that many divisions, they would turn around and kick Japan out. So I say counquer it all Remble.

Hmm...I hadn't thought of that (even though I should have). :eek:

Of course, conquering it all will just destroy whatever transportation capacity he has I would imagine.
 
Nathan Madien said:
Hmm...I hadn't thought of that (even though I should have). :eek:

Of course, conquering it all will just destroy whatever transportation capacity he has I would imagine.
The price of conquest. Besides, if the Soviets get involved, they would relieve him of the burden anyway.
 
Originally posted by SoulStealer:
The price of conquest. Besides, if the Soviets get involved, they would relieve him of the burden anyway.

Hm, brilliant. ;)
 
Last edited:
stnylan - Intelligence or lack there of :) A much more modest and easier start than Germany gets for sure.

Sokraates - I am ignoring the fact that the AI cheats and am asking it to engage in a 'fair' war. It will continue to cheat of course which will make me a lot less upset if something gamey were to suddenly befall the AI.

Mangudai - I think the defenders of Saipan headed towards Wake Island, they were marines after all and they hate garrison duty. Not much I can do about the British, I don't have the troops to stop them and attack China. The terrain being as it is I am sure I can find a suitable mountain/jungle to defend somewhere.

Jushu - I think firing will be consistant from now on. I forsee no peace for a number of years, unless the Americans land 40 divisions in Tokyo of course.

Panzer6 - Yup, even the AI has to obey some range rules even if its only aircraft.

Reado - I am undecided on World Domination, right now I just want to stay alive which will get progressively harder to do for a while I expect.

Connavar - I really would love for Germany to survive until 1945, that would be a huge bonus for me.

I Killed Kenny - Thank you very much and welcome :)

SoulStealer - The one case where I used morale has been fixed, thank you for pointing it out :)

Maj. von Mauser - Warlords and annexing is always a dicey business.

Nathan Madien, Panzer6 - Puppeting Countries is not going to happen. Firstly, as Panzer6 pointed out it makes it too easy, and secondly I dislike doing it as I consider its gamey. If they don't want to be annexed then they must take Tokyo and annex Japan.

Murmurandus - Much better :D Tactical withdrawal line is likely to be Java, Borneo, Palau, Saipan (if I get it), Bonin islands. This means the Philippines is behind that line and it keeps American Strategic bombers away from my Homeland. Mind you if they want to try and fly them there with 20 interceptors flying around they can try.

Alfred Packer - Welcome to the new one. Hopefully I can keep this interesting, Germany had a whole lot more action early on than Japan seems to have.

UncleAlias - :)

safferli - Welcome aboard :) Japan is certainly different and offers some unique problems. I will do all that I can to win, I can lose though.

SoulStealer - If the AI wants to continually fly its aircraft around the World who am I to try and stop it. Its annoying though and one of the main reasons the AI is terrible at the air war. I know where nearly all of my troops are trying to get to yes.

Nathan Madien, SoulStealer, Mangudai - TC is going to be a problem at some point it always is. As long as I am not in a major ground war at the time its not too much of a problem though.

Update to follow ...
 
Originally posted by Remble:
I think the defenders of Saipan headed towards Wake Island, they were marines after all and they hate garrison duty. Not much I can do about the British, I don't have the troops to stop them and attack China. The terrain being as it is I am sure I can find a suitable mountain/jungle to defend somewhere.

Yeah, they couldn't stand hanging around, doing nothing, so they went for a boat trip? Rumors about the US marines as a disciplined force are apparently false. ;)
 
Stemming the Tide
4





0000 July 1st 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Bonin Trench.

Yamamoto knew that plans changed. The previous plan for the Pacific had already been altered. He made the decision to not wait for his fleet to return to Tokyo before further moves were put into motion. He did not think that he had the extra three or four days required to make the journey back to Tokyo.​

july1440000gr1.jpg

The fleets in Tokyo were reformed to make several smaller fleets, all of which had their own tasks to perform. His own fleet would remove the Transport ships as soon as he entered the Bonin Islands and then rendezvous with two new fleets that would sail immediately from Tokyo.

BB Division 2, commanded by Admiral Koga, and containing the remainder of Japan's Battleships and Battlecruisers, would accompany 1. Kaigun, commanded by Admiral Nomura, to the Bonin Trench. Nomura's fleet contained six Transport ships and three Heavy Cruisers and had embarked two infantry divisions from the Tokyo garrison.

Once all three of these fleets were in the Bonin Trench they would sail south towards Saipan and attempt an invasion of that island.

Kaiguns 4, 5 and 6, all commanded by Sea Wolf captains, would be used to cover vital areas in an attempt to stop any invasions of those areas.

4. Kaigun, containing six of Japan's most modern Sensuikantai, would head for the seas around Wake Island.

The next most modern Sensuikantai would head south for Palau and provide protection for this island.

All six of the oldest Submarines would move to the Japan Trench until such time as Saipan was captured, when they would then move forward and cover this island.

Yamamoto knew that these fleets would stand little chance against any well escorted invasion fleet but they could prevent any attempts by anything not escorted. They could all provide intelligence which would allow other forces to react to any situation in their areas.

Carrier Group C would stay in Tokyo for the time being. Yamamoto would have liked to have his Carriers at sea hunting the Americans but he only had so many escort vessels, and he would rather leave the Carriers in port awaiting the new ones that were almost complete, than risk losing them because of a lack of escort. The Carriers had some Heavy Cruisers with them and could provide emergency protection to Japan's main islands should the need arise.

He also decided not to actively search for the damaged American ships and would instead concentrate what little airpower he had to try and prevent any interference to his landing.​





0000 July 1st 1944.
Diplomatic Offices. Tokyo Japan.

Mamoru had been ordered to find energy. He had very few options open to him, but chose the one that provided the best deal and had the highest chance of successfully providing energy to his Country.​

july1440000gr2.jpg

Argentina would be the chosen source, with that Country gaining a large amount of rare materials for a relatively small amount of energy. More than 70% of the promised goods arrived in Japan and pushed the energy reserves up to over 3000 tons. Where he was supposed to find another 6000 tons to sustain production throughout July he had no idea. Guilin might solve most of his problem but he would not count on it.​





0400 July 1st 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. Bonin Islands.

Yamamoto had completed his first objective without a hitch. Two divisions now guarded the port and airbase facilities of the Bonin Islands and these troops were no longer under threat on outlying islands. He would need to strengthen the defences of Iwo Jima when forces became available to him, but that island was at least garrisoned.​

july1440400gr1.jpg

His Transport ships were split from his combat forces and sent back to Japan without escort. The Transports would be escorted by his fleet until they left the Bonin Trench, and would be covered by Admiral Koga's fleet as it headed south, for most of the remainder of their journey to Tokyo.​

july1440700gr1.jpg

The importance of taking Saipan quickly was already becoming apparent as Air General Yamashita intercepted American fighters trying to land on the island. These aircraft were more modern than anything Japan possessed and could not be allowed to gain air superiority in the region.​





0000 July 2nd 1944.
Diplomatic Offices. Tokyo, Japan.

The Hungarian Ambassador wished to speak with Mamoru on a matter of some importance. Hungary was an ally of Japan and the Ambassador was ushered into the offices of Japan's Foreign Minister with a minimal of delay.​

july2440000gr1.jpg

The Ambassador wished to provide various papers concerning technology to Japan. He did not want anything in return for his gifts and Mamoru was certain that at least some of these plans would be useful to Koiso Kuniaki and his research teams.​





0100 July 2nd 1944.
North China Army Headquarters. Zhuzhou, China.

Higashikuni could hope that his opposite number in the National Chinese Army would make more mistakes like the one in Zhanjiang that had cost him two divisions.​

july2440100gr2.jpg

He did not have to wait long for a second mistake to occur. Field Marshall Li Zongren had decided to move his division in Wuzhou to prevent it being cut off by possible Japanese advances. He had guessed correctly as this was indeed Higashikuni's plan. Li Zongren had merely accelerated the death of his troops by opening them up to Nakajima's dive bombers.​
 
0800 July 2nd 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Bonin Trench.

Reports continued to reach Yamamoto of fighting throughout the Pacific. One such fight was still ongoing to see who would control the island of Truk.​

july2440800gr1.jpg

Despite the odds Mj. General Koike was still holding on although it did not look like he would for much longer.

A second report reached the Commander of Japanese forces in the Pacific at dawn. This report was also not good news and could prevent his current plan to invade Saipan.​

july2442200gr4.jpg

Ozawa had encountered yet another large American fleet during his routine patrols around the Pacific. The Aircraft Carrier USS Ranger was leading a powerful fleet that also contained several Battleships and a Battlecruiser. This fleet was currently heading north towards Marcus Island but it could easily alter course and block Yamamoto's invasion plans. The enemy fleet also contained a large Submarine component.

Yamamoto would be prepared to fight this fleet without the Carrier once his second BB Division arrived, but he did not wish to risk attacking it whilst the USS Ranger was alive. He was fairly certain he could close with the Carrier but this would present too much risk to his invasion fleet. Ozawa would need to sink the American Carrier and soon.​

july3440100gr1.jpg

The news did not get any better in the early hours of July 3rd. Koike had finally lost his fight for Truk and the New Zealanders were currently marching to occupy the island.​

july3440100gr5.jpg

A second message arrived straight after the loss of Truk. Ozawa was still doing all that he could to sink the USS Ranger and had managed to inflict substantial damage to it. The damage alone might force the American fleet to move away. Yamamoto had been joined by BB division 2 in the Bonin Trench and he was now only waiting for the slower Transport ships to arrive.

A smaller American fleet had been sighted futher east and looked to be heading towards Saipan. The Transport ship in this fleet could contain troops and if they made it safely to Saipan it would be almost impossible to land there with his current limited forces. Aircraft could attempt to bomb these troops but Saipan was bristling with anti-aircraft guns which would cause large casualties should any bombing be attempted. There was also the matter of fighters and interceptors that were almost certainly based on the island.

These ships could not be allowed to reach Saipan, of this Yamamoto was certain.​

july3440300gr1.jpg

By 0300 hours on July 3rd the USS Ranger was burning out of control and was close to sinking. Ozawa had done his work well and just a few more hits would remove another American Carrier from the War. Fuel and lack of any further bombs would force Ozawa back to Iwo Jima before the stricken Carrier could be finished off. He hoped it would still be there when he returned.​

july3440500gr1.jpg

At 0500 hours 1. Kaigun arrived to join forces with both Battleship fleets and all three headed south towards Saipan. The island was still defenceless but there was a fleet in its port.​





0900 July 3rd 1944.
North China Army Headquarters. Zhuzhou, China.

Nakajima's dive bombers had done their job well despite the mountainous terrain. At least things were progressing well in China with almost no setbacks. Burma was another story but advance was slow there for the British.​

july3440900gr1.jpg

Another Chinese division would shortly no longer be a problem for Higashikuni as it was forced to scatter and cease to function as a military unit.​

july4440000gr1.jpg

Midnight on July 4th saw the arrival of General Nishio and his Cavalry in Guilin province, the capital of Guangxi. The Nationalist Chinese annexed Guangxi as soon as Japanese troops entered its capital. Japan had one less enemy but Nishio had orders to capture any supplies of raw materials in Guilin. These raw materials were typically found in a Nation's capital city, Guangxi no longer existed let alone had a capital city.​
 
Did Guangxi yield much?