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O noez, the brave soldiers. So very far away from hoem, possibly dead. And if they have bad luck, lost in some asian jungle.
In the future it will be called "The curse of the golden Buddha". 
Some of those divisions were responsible for the missing golden Buddha if I am not mistaken.
If your marines are lost this would be your most devastating defeat through the enitre AAR - 5 divisions gone in one hit. Your naval loss should not be a suprise 4 screens and 6 transports against an Imperial Japanese fleet.
Let the scramble for Asia begin.
Some of those divisions were responsible for the missing golden Buddha if I am not mistaken.If your marines are lost this would be your most devastating defeat through the enitre AAR - 5 divisions gone in one hit. Your naval loss should not be a suprise 4 screens and 6 transports against an Imperial Japanese fleet.
Let the scramble for Asia begin.
Chapter Forty: Legiones Redde! (8/6/43 - 9/14/43)
After the defeat of the invasion fleet on July 30, 1943 in Hainan Straight off the coast of Macau, no one in the general staff could figure out the fate of the 45,000 marines. Mussolini was heard shouting like a modern day Augustus, "Ammiraglio Quilicci, legiones redde!“ ('Admiral Quilicci, give me back my legions!') It was feared that they were destroyed.
However, after some frantic diplomatic back and forth, it was learned that the marines made it safely ashore in Guangzhou. The Guangxi Chinese Clique had been maintaining an uneasy neutrality with both the Japanese and all the Western powers with a presence in Asia. When Portugal surrendered and Macau reverted to Italian possession, the Guangxi Clique, as a formality, offered Italy military access to its territory. Mussolini without thinking accepted the offer. It was lucky that he did, because that decision ultimately saved the lives of his marines
When the invasion fleet was forced to withdraw, leaving the Italian marines with nowhere to land, they found refuge in Guangzhou. The 45,000 marines quickly became a hot potato for the clique, who wanted to avoid the appearance that they were aiding the invaders against the Japanese that surrounded them, but they also did not want to come into conflict with the marauding Italians either. So, the clique accepted the the marines, but placed them in a containment camp. They were prohibited from attacking Macau from the clique’s territory and they were cut off from Italian supplies. They were fed and kept alive in the containment camp, but they soon ceased being a viable military force. They were, in essence, political prisoners until Macau could be liberated.
Mussolini ordered another invasion to be attempted as soon as practical. The general and admirals suggested that Macau be reduced by bombing before another attempt on Macau should be tried. The problem was that Italy did not possess an airfield within range and the range of Italy’s light aircraft was necessarily limited. However, Italian aeronautical engineers had just developed drops tanks that significantly increased the range of the plans, but still a closer based was required.
On August 10, 1943, three green marine divisions fresh from Italy led by former tank commander Gen. Zingales, were landed at P’ingtung -- the southern tip of Taiwan. They eventually defeated the garrison and seized the port and air based at Kaohsiung.
By August 20, 1943, three squadrons of Reggiane Re.2001 Falco II’s dominated the skies, and four squadrons of Reggiane Re.2005’s pounded the Japanese. It was during these air raids that Mussolini learned, much to his chagrin, that his rival, Churchill, had managed to recapture Hong Kong before he could recover Macau. Nevertheless, the bombing was having an impact, and soon, the marines would be ready for another try.
Meanwhile, also on August 20, 1943, marines under Gen. Reverberi were landed in southern Borneo at Bankung, just south of Balikpapan. The Japanese garrison immediately attacked the beachhead, per usual.
The attack was repulsed and by August 24, 1943, Balikpapan, itself was taken. The former Dutch possessions on Borneo were all but divided between the British and Italians. But there were still parts of the Dutch East Indies still under Japanese control.
On September 4, 1943, two carrier task forces consisting of four fleet carriers moved to the Tanjung Tembos in the channel between Singapore and Sumatra. Then four marine divisions were landed just to the east of Dumai.
On September 9, 1943, Dumai was taken by the marines led by Gens. Battisti and Stripoli as well as veteran Gens. Messe and Appiotti, who also volunteered to continue the fight in the jungles of Asia. The capture of Dumai forced a sizable Japanese fleet out to sea into the awaiting arms of the Italian carrier task forces. The Japanese fleet had been starved of supplies and was terribly disorganized, but they still managed to slip away in the night. The Italian fleet missed an opportunity to bag two carriers, the Soryu and the Zuikaku.
By this time, the bombing of Macau, as well as the deprivation of supplies, had reduced the Japanese garrison.
On September 12, 1943, four marine divisions led by Gen. Frattini made another amphibious assault on Macau. This time Quilicci's invasion fleet was accompanied by the two carrier task forces. The Japanese garrison, deprived of provisions and bombed into submission, surrendered without a fight.
The next day, September 13, 1943, the 45,000 marines in Guangzhou were released from their containment camp and permitted to march in procession to Macau. Soon, they would be refit and ready to rejoin the war. Upon Mussolini's orders, Quilicci did in fact return his legions -- something even Augustus could not manage to do after Teutonburg Forest. Il Duce was surpassing his idol in every way imaginable.
By this time, the New Roman Empire had considerable island holdings in the South Pacific. From Portugal it had inherited Timor and Macau, and from the Dutch, via the Japanese, they inherited all of Java and the best parts of Sumatra and Borneo. The Empire even seized Taiwan from the Japanese. The Americans were slowly advancing north in the Japanese home islands, but the wobbling empire still possessed significant land holding in mainland Asia. The scramble for Asia continued.
After the defeat of the invasion fleet on July 30, 1943 in Hainan Straight off the coast of Macau, no one in the general staff could figure out the fate of the 45,000 marines. Mussolini was heard shouting like a modern day Augustus, "Ammiraglio Quilicci, legiones redde!“ ('Admiral Quilicci, give me back my legions!') It was feared that they were destroyed.
However, after some frantic diplomatic back and forth, it was learned that the marines made it safely ashore in Guangzhou. The Guangxi Chinese Clique had been maintaining an uneasy neutrality with both the Japanese and all the Western powers with a presence in Asia. When Portugal surrendered and Macau reverted to Italian possession, the Guangxi Clique, as a formality, offered Italy military access to its territory. Mussolini without thinking accepted the offer. It was lucky that he did, because that decision ultimately saved the lives of his marines
When the invasion fleet was forced to withdraw, leaving the Italian marines with nowhere to land, they found refuge in Guangzhou. The 45,000 marines quickly became a hot potato for the clique, who wanted to avoid the appearance that they were aiding the invaders against the Japanese that surrounded them, but they also did not want to come into conflict with the marauding Italians either. So, the clique accepted the the marines, but placed them in a containment camp. They were prohibited from attacking Macau from the clique’s territory and they were cut off from Italian supplies. They were fed and kept alive in the containment camp, but they soon ceased being a viable military force. They were, in essence, political prisoners until Macau could be liberated.
Mussolini ordered another invasion to be attempted as soon as practical. The general and admirals suggested that Macau be reduced by bombing before another attempt on Macau should be tried. The problem was that Italy did not possess an airfield within range and the range of Italy’s light aircraft was necessarily limited. However, Italian aeronautical engineers had just developed drops tanks that significantly increased the range of the plans, but still a closer based was required.
On August 10, 1943, three green marine divisions fresh from Italy led by former tank commander Gen. Zingales, were landed at P’ingtung -- the southern tip of Taiwan. They eventually defeated the garrison and seized the port and air based at Kaohsiung.
By August 20, 1943, three squadrons of Reggiane Re.2001 Falco II’s dominated the skies, and four squadrons of Reggiane Re.2005’s pounded the Japanese. It was during these air raids that Mussolini learned, much to his chagrin, that his rival, Churchill, had managed to recapture Hong Kong before he could recover Macau. Nevertheless, the bombing was having an impact, and soon, the marines would be ready for another try.
Meanwhile, also on August 20, 1943, marines under Gen. Reverberi were landed in southern Borneo at Bankung, just south of Balikpapan. The Japanese garrison immediately attacked the beachhead, per usual.
The attack was repulsed and by August 24, 1943, Balikpapan, itself was taken. The former Dutch possessions on Borneo were all but divided between the British and Italians. But there were still parts of the Dutch East Indies still under Japanese control.
On September 4, 1943, two carrier task forces consisting of four fleet carriers moved to the Tanjung Tembos in the channel between Singapore and Sumatra. Then four marine divisions were landed just to the east of Dumai.
On September 9, 1943, Dumai was taken by the marines led by Gens. Battisti and Stripoli as well as veteran Gens. Messe and Appiotti, who also volunteered to continue the fight in the jungles of Asia. The capture of Dumai forced a sizable Japanese fleet out to sea into the awaiting arms of the Italian carrier task forces. The Japanese fleet had been starved of supplies and was terribly disorganized, but they still managed to slip away in the night. The Italian fleet missed an opportunity to bag two carriers, the Soryu and the Zuikaku.
By this time, the bombing of Macau, as well as the deprivation of supplies, had reduced the Japanese garrison.
On September 12, 1943, four marine divisions led by Gen. Frattini made another amphibious assault on Macau. This time Quilicci's invasion fleet was accompanied by the two carrier task forces. The Japanese garrison, deprived of provisions and bombed into submission, surrendered without a fight.
The next day, September 13, 1943, the 45,000 marines in Guangzhou were released from their containment camp and permitted to march in procession to Macau. Soon, they would be refit and ready to rejoin the war. Upon Mussolini's orders, Quilicci did in fact return his legions -- something even Augustus could not manage to do after Teutonburg Forest. Il Duce was surpassing his idol in every way imaginable.
By this time, the New Roman Empire had considerable island holdings in the South Pacific. From Portugal it had inherited Timor and Macau, and from the Dutch, via the Japanese, they inherited all of Java and the best parts of Sumatra and Borneo. The Empire even seized Taiwan from the Japanese. The Americans were slowly advancing north in the Japanese home islands, but the wobbling empire still possessed significant land holding in mainland Asia. The scramble for Asia continued.
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Maybe once you are done with the islands, you should take Siam and cut off the British advance in Asia.
What's the status of the Phillipines? My eyesight's too bad to be able to make out what colors are even on it right now.
What's this whole "Ammiraglio Quilicci, legiones redde!“ - is this meant to be Latin? I was thinking it was some Italian dialect.. still, thankfully those marines are safe! When will you smash the home islands?
It's Latin. In 9 AD, 3 Roman legions led by Publius Quinctilius Varus were annihilated at the Battle of Teutonburg Forest. According to Augustus' biographer Suetonius, upon hearing the news, Augustus tore his clothes, refused to cut his hair for months and, for years afterwards, was heard, upon occasion, to moan, "Quinctilius Varus, give me back my Legions!" ("Quintili Vare, legiones redde!"). Mussolini had better luck with Admiral Quilicci.
It's Japanese controlled, but I'm not messin' with a former US puppet. Siam is an Axis member.
BTW I've got a problem. I reached the maximum number of shared images on my MobileMe account. I need to figure a new way to share images before I can post the last few Chapters.
I figured it out. A basic imageshack account will permit 100 images. That'll get it done.
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On my photobucket account, I have 732 files, yet only have used 25% of my bandwidth. I'd recommend it. Also, I've found out I've had 431'665 views of my pictures (that would be mainly on the forums).
I'd recommend it. Also, I've found out I've had 431'665 views of my pictures (that would be mainly on the forums).
Oh, I see. Still, it seems like you've mixed Italian and Latin! Great work with the Italians though, aren't the Soviets wondering what's going on?
No, his interpretation with Ammiraglio. Perhaps Ammiraglio is also Latin, I don't know!
Did those marines end up in Guangzhou automatically, with an Invade order for Macao? Did not know that was possible.
When you designate a territory for an invasion mission, your troop can be landed there or any other adjoining coastal province. That happened earlier when my marines had trouble taking Athens and some were landed on Chalkis instead. It surprised me here, because Macau is a single province surrounded by what I thought was impassable neutral territory. I had forgotten that I had accepted transit rights from the clique. Lucky I did.
Yes, I conflated the Italian word for "admiral" with the famous Latin line -- poetic license.
"Quintili Vare, legiones redde!“
"Ammiraglio Quilicci, legiones redde!“
I thought it was cool...
It was cool, dont let them tell you it's not.
And Im so proud I was the onlyone thinking your marines were still alive
Thanks for the clarification. IMHO, this is yet another example of how unbalanced invasions are in this game. But you put it to great use here
Looking forward to the next post.
I thought so! No question is it cool, of course it is! Time to add some more nations to the new Roman Empire...
That was a lucky break for your "dapper' Marines.
You seem reluctant to attack Japanese held mainland China. Are you waiting for the US to finish the Japanese home islands for some reason?
You seem reluctant to attack Japanese held mainland China. Are you waiting for the US to finish the Japanese home islands for some reason?
I don't think he has enough troops in eastern asia yet to do this. Plus, if he goes straight for the mainland, he runs the risk of getting cut off by Japanese Naval forces (as nearly happened in his recapture of Macau) If he can sieze the ports of the Japanese that are near his axis of supply running through the suez, and then indonesia he stands a better chance of getting troops and supplies into the theater without having to devote massive naval forces for escorting each group of transports.