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1943, Spring – Kiwi Campaign[/size]
Here’s the situation as we head towards the middle of ’43-
The Axis powers are dominant in Europe. Soon, I will set them to war against the Comintern. This might make Japan suffer a little bit since the Russian Far East Army is the dominant power in Manchuria, but that’s okay since they don’t need to hold out for long. Even if they don’t hold out, Bitter Peace will fix everything.
My empire in SE Asia is growing apace. I am making inroads into India from the west, east, and south. I am mopping up in Australia and will attack New Zealand soon. I think somebody was asking me to invade them way in the beginning of this AAR- you should get your wish forthwith. I also have troops actively attacking in Nepal and Bhutan, shouting cries of “Remember ’40!”
Once New Zealand is out of the way, I will focus on cleaning up these islands and getting ready to support Axis offensives in Kamchatka. I mentioned earlier that going to war with the USSR would be a blow to my economy. At this stage of the game, I have enough stockpiles that I can last for a while without further trade.
2 April: I win the battle of Thimphu, which should take Bhutan out of the war.
7 April: Bhutan is annexed. The Japanese dump another horde of expeditionary forces into my lap. This is great, but I thought there was supposed to be a mechanic where I could refuse these troops if I wanted?
8 April: In India, I take Bombay.
22 April: Allied raiders are back to doing a number on my Convoys, I almost have none left again. Most of the losses are happening near the coast of Viet Nam, and since there are no nearby ports in enemy hands, I don’t know where these raiders are based from.
26 April: I’ve reclaimed Lhasa.
29 April: I’ve already lost 20 Convoys in the last two weeks. I think Convoy raiding is just far too effective with zero risk for the person doing the raiding. I just can’t keep up with demand on making new Convoys.
6 May: I win the battle of Kathmandu.
10 May: Germany annexes Poland.
12 May: I enter Kathmandu and annex Nepal. The injustices of 1940 are finally avenged!
13 May: I declare war on the Soviet Union. The European Axis look to have enough troops handy, and I want to stop the Bulgarians from pulling all their men out of Turkey.
Of course, I am sure Japan won’t appreciate this…
This action causes Romania to mobilize their army. My forces in the Burma theatre have linked back up with Japan for the second time.
17 May: I’ve arrived to retake that port in Borneo.
28 May: I take Delhi.
29 May: I defeat the US garrison at Tarakan, which means I once again possess all of Borneo.
” So once again, Jones, what was briefly yours is now mine” – Dr. Rene Belloq
30 May: Germany annexes Lithuania. I had declared war on them since they could be picked up without making a larger front with the Soviet Union. My third warship is done, and I am pretty much forced to devote those ICs to making more Convoys. Later this same day Saudi Arabia joins the Axis.
6 June: Soviet Union transfers industry to Siberia.
10 June: For whoever wanted an attack on New Zealand, this is it. I begin with the North Island since the capital is there. The way the Kiwis' VPs/national unity works out, I will have to conquer them completely to force surrender.
24 June: I take Wellington.
3 July: I declare war on Romania. They are being influenced by both the US and Germany, so they won’t be joining us willingly any time soon. I decide to go to war with them to extend the front vs. the Comintern to the south, since I see a lot of Russian stacks on the Polish border that the Axis appear to be afraid to attack. Looking back on this later, this will prove to be my main mistake of the war, and thus, the game.
”Sir, anyone can make a mistake” – British Medic, The Longest Day
15 July: My last Convoy is sunk; I won’t have any more until August. The thing that really enrages me is that I can have the game paused, assign Convoys to a new route, and then have them
instantly sunk the moment I resume the game.
Oompa Loompa doom-pa-dee doo
I've got a final puzzle for you
Oompa Loompa doom-pa-dah-dee
If you are wise you will listen to me
What do you get when your Convoys are
gone?
A pain in the neck and production that’s
wrong.
Why don't you try adding more to your
queue?
Or could you just not bear... to...
do?
You'll get no
You'll get no
You'll get no
You'll get no
You'll get no resources!
Oompa Loompa doom-pa-dee-dah
Build enough Convoys and you will go far
You will ship in happiness too
Like the Oompa,
Oompa Loompa doom-pa-dee-do
Hey! I thought I ditched you guys back in ’41!
“Our contact is rock-solid. Besides, we’re union! Oh, and speaking of the contract, we couldn’t fail to notice that the bowl of green M & Ms is missing from our dressing room”
23 July: I’ve taken Auckland. If the last VP on South Island wasn’t blocked by bad infrastructure, the New Zealanders would be finished by now. The Kiwis’ hospitals are piling up with wounded soldiers.
27 July: I am desperately trying to get my fleet over to the Persian Gulf to save my army over there which has been cut off from supply for many months. Since these are bona fide Chinese troops and not Japanese volunteers, I actually care about them.
I also have one warship and one Transport sailing to New Zealand to help take the last VP, which I hope is undefended. Expectations are high since I think the Kiwis had everyone deployed on the North Island.
And with this, I will leave you in suspense.