Imperial Japan 1944 AAR - History Rewritten

[Jusas]

Foreword

It's been a long time since I've been around on these forums. It's been a long break from the wonderful game of HoI2 and now I'm determined to make a comeback both to the game and the lovely Paradox forums community I've written two AARs in my time, one abandoned due to lost savegames - The Rising Sun - Coral Sea 1942 and one completed - The Lions of Limburgia, first one being a seriously written AAR and the second a complete fictional comedy AAR. Both were completely different in style and it was quite fun writing both of them. This time it's going to be a serious AAR about a fictional "what if" scenario. The style will be pretty much like in the Coral Sea AAR and I suspect the pace and the detail of the updates is a bit different - after all I can't report every battle since this is not a small battle scenario I'm a bit short on time nowadays but we shall see how this goes...

The scenario will be based on the original but modified-as-needed 1944 scenario, playing as Japan. No real game started yet.

Here goes.

Imperial Japan 1944 - History Rewritten

Prologue

Pacific, June 20, 1944.

The Japanese expansion was at its peak. It was almost seven years from the date when the Imperial Japanese Army invaded China. What began as a subtle "political incident" had turned into a "holy war" in the eyes of the Japanese war propaganda machine. Even though the preparations couldn't have been better with the Chinese warlords fighting each other the Japanese forces failed to bring the war to an acceptable conclusion. The goal of acquiring the vast Chinese resources had ultimately failed and the fighting in China had taken its toll, Japan was now fighting against a unified front and the advance had come almost to a halt. The Japanese Army, strong in appearance was actually getting into a troublesome situation - failing to secure the Chinese resources the Imperial Japanese Navy and Army had to turn South in an effort to secure resources elsewhere. Already draining its limited resources in China, Japan desperately needed access to the resources that kept its forces in a fighting condition - the resources that were denied from them by US and Dutch trade embargoes. To fight a war another war had to be fought. Sunday, 7 December 1941 the IJN launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor attempting to disable the US Pacific Fleet in order to begin operations in the East Indies, which succeeded to a certain extent but everyone knew, especially Admiral Yamamoto, that an extended war against the US could not be won.

The initial strike was devastating. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor the IJN and IJA had seized Wake as well as invaded the Philippines and within five months Philippines were under Japanese occupation. Almost simultaneously after the attack on Pearl Harbor Japanese forces invaded Hong Kong, Malaya, Borneo and Burma and seized the territories in a matter of months. The Royal Navy Pacific Fleet was completely decimated, most notably in the Battle of the Java Sea early 1942. With the US battleships sunk at Pearl, the RN decimated the IJN was ruling the seas. The problem was that the USN was not going to sit idle and it was only a matter of time until they would counterattack.

...And the sleeping giant woke up

With the Japanese planning to stretch themselves even further all the way to Port Moresby, the Allied forces responded. June 1942, The Battle of the Coral Sea pitted the IJN and USN on each other and the IJN struck the US forces hard achieving a tactical victory but at a cost - with two of their carriers damaged and unable to participate in operations the effects were serious. The naval supremacy was ultimately transferred to the US Mobile Fleet in June in the Battle of Midway where IJN lost four carriers, only managing to sink one USN carrier, which was partly attributed to the costly IJN victory at Coral Sea.

A violent explosion aboard USS Lexington
The Battle of Coral Sea

1942 was the turning point for Japan. The Allied forces had started a series of counterattacks managing to challenge the Japanese forces in New Guinea as well as the nearby Pacific islands. In the end of 1943 the Allied forces had already taken Guadalcanal and Tarawa, although with heavy losses. The fighting continued and Japanese forces defending their bases in Saipan, Kwajalein and Eniwetok were defeated. The IJN and IJA were severely overstretched fighting the war on multiple fronts, trying to advance into British controlled India while defending their assets in the China, Pacific islands and SE Indies. It was becoming obvious that the Japanese could not hold the SE Pacific secure, the area from where all the necessary resources were acquired in order to drive the war effort forward. Although the high commanders hated and refused to accept it, Japan was losing the fight.

The Time of Realization
Very little attention had been paid towards the Northern territories. The Soviets were still busy fighting the Germans and were waiting for the Japanese forces to weaken by this war of attrition. Japanese forces were occupying Machuria with relatively light garrisons, mainly guarding the Soviet border which seemed to be relatively quiet for the time being. Very little attention was paid indeed, until in June 20th, 1944 the news broke out.

The news of a discovered oil field.

[Herbert West]

Hmmm. A bold thing to do, a 44 Japan AAR is.

[W. Iljitsch]

Ooo! That sure looks like a modified google map! I'm gonna watch it!

[Ksim3000]

I shall be watching. And an oil field, eh? Should be interesting.....

[Raze]

I hope there's a west coast USA invasion.

[GeneralHannibal]

Another AAR from our glorious Limburgian Leader


I wish you luck!

[Jusas]

Thank you for your kind words GeneralHannibal

Although I'm beginning to wonder whether I'm doomed to fail. I took a little peek at the '44 scenario and seeing the numbers of the Japanese Army almost made me cry... but ooh, just look at the IC! Crazy!

I'm also still wondering what my plan will be. Obviously I'll be attacked from every direction...

[Gigalocus]

Good luck! you'll need it, japan 44 is one of my favourite games.

Also, your little history thing is kinda wrong, Your saying that Japan wasted her resources in China, and it pearl harboured the USA to secure the resource rich areas. In truth, Japan was doing quite well against china, then the USA embargoed Japan, which got most of its oil from America, so they made a plan which was to destroy the USN, then capture lots of things in 6 months, then get a peace that lifted the embargoe and maybe let them keep some of their possesions. In real life, after 6months of rampaging through Asia, they were defeated at midway .... and a peace was never settled.

again, good luck! don't let the home islands be conquered!

[Ermac]

Fight Hard for your God Emperor!!!

[Drasin]

hmm sounds interesting good luck.

[Mirehn]

Good luck. The hardest '44 campaign of the five major powers left has to be Japan. Her industrial capability is no where near that of Germany's and her naval power is nearly all gone.

Once again, good luck.

[rcduggan]

Jusas is back!


jusas, any chance of you working on that hoi2 map editor thing you were doing?

[Jusas]

Originally Posted by rcduggan

Jusas is back!


jusas, any chance of you working on that hoi2 map editor thing you were doing?

Thanks man! Unfortunately I'm just about up to my neck in coding already, at work that is... so I don't feel like doing it at the moment. Sucks, I know...

[lionhead]

Resources are your biggest enemy. I've learned that much.

[GeneralHannibal]

First of all, may I ask you to give no quarter and to China. No peace for them!

[General Jac]

Good luck, I will follow (when I have the time that is ).

[Bad Santa]

Originally Posted by General Jac

Good luck, I will follow

Seconded

[Hannibal Barca2]

Originally Posted by Bad Santa

Seconded

thirdied

[Inner Circle]

Originally Posted by Hannibal Barca2

thirdied

fourthe one!

[Bad Santa]

Originally Posted by Inner Circle

fourthe one!

Nooo! It's fourthied.