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A Rock and a Hard place. Japan 1944 DH Lite (Pic Heavy)

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Soviets got a trigger on attack (IRL august storm operation) you can win some time if you send some troops on borders manchu-USSR
 
Ericafaq- I will probably have to put some divisions in the North and near the borders with the SU but probably not enough to make a huge difference if they attack. Just enough to slow them down some. If I put the whole army there I'd still be badly outnumbered and I have other things to do in the meantime. If I have to give up some land in China then I have to give up some land in China. It's probably unavoidable but I don't usually like to give up anything once I have it. I'm actually thinking about trying to hold on to Sorong and kick the Americans off new Guinea just because I hate to give up territory.:laugh:
 
On July 9th, Yamamoto receives word that the American battleship fleet is spotted heading East after losing two ships. He is disappointed that the fleet couldn’t be destroyed but if it goes to port for repairs perhaps it will be within striking distance at Eniwetok or Kwajalein.



An interception is made over the St George’s Channel. These American planes have been bombing our division that is attempting to occupy Gasmata.





It appears as though 20 Chinese divisions are out of the fight.



Another air battle occurs over Guam. This time we are defeated. Saipan must be taken from the Americans to prevent them using aircraft this close to our territory.





On the 11th, Japanese aircraft report that they have sighted the American battleships again. After further review of the report, it’s determined that this is, in fact, a 3rd major American battle fleet. This fleet is comprised of older Battleships.





The Americans continue their advance.



The older battleship fleet seems to be headed North, having been sighted in the Bonin Trench.



Meanwhile, in China, 17 divisions have completed their redeployment from Manchuria and are now ready to begin offensive operations against the Chinese.



In Burma, the first allied division has completed their long march to Arakan. They now come within range of Air General Yamashita’s bombers.



Field Marshal Kanin orders an attack from Rangoon, supported by his own corps in Prome and the headquarters division in Mandalay to keep the allied unit from being able to dig in.



Air strikes continue against the American fleet in the Bonin Trench. Eventually decimating this slower fleet as it is unable to escape in time.





The whereabouts of the American carrier fleet becomes known on the 21st. The Americans have undoubtedly managed to infiltrate the Empire with enough spies to make them aware of the fleet’s location in Qinzhou. A Strike by the American Carriers begins against the port near dawn.



The three fighter squadrons based at the nearby airbase allow us to decimate the American aircraft quickly, saving our fleet from major damage. One heavy cruiser is sunk during the strikes however.



On the 22nd, having rebased from Iwo Jima, our aircraft begin attacking the American carrier fleet.



After nightfall on the 22nd, Admiral Ozawa convinces Admiral Yamamoto to allow him to sail from port in Qinzhou and attack the American fleet. It’s location, speed and heading are all known, due to reports from earlier air strikes.







What the IJN learns from this encounter confirms Admiral Yamamoto’s existing beliefs; Aircraft Carriers, with modern aircraft aboard, are the future of naval warfare.

Admiral Ozawa sailed with complete radio silence, blackout conditions and foreknowledge of the American’s probable location. Despite all this, he was spotted, tracked, avoided and his ships bombed mercilessly by the American carriers. This encounter would cement, in Japanese Naval Doctrine, a seismic shift that had been proposed years before. The Battleship had just been relegated to secondary duty, fighting small patrol fleets and supporting shore operations.
 
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Good job in China. The situation in the Pacific isn't as good, but at least you haven't lost many ships yet. At this point, I think that you should use BBs only to escort your transport fleets and engage targets of opportunity.
 
I went through and changed the color on all of the posts back to white for people who might be reading with a dark background.

Cybvep- Thank you! I hate losing ships, since they're so time consuming to replace, but Japan has a lot of CAs at the beginning of this scenario so that's something that's not a big deal to lose. I agree with you on the BBs. If they were faster, it might be different, but at 20 Km/h they just can't close with modern Carriers and their modern escorts. By the same token, I fear what will happen when my old, slow, carriers encounter fast American BBs
ohnoes.gif
I fear that they will chase down my old CVs and lay waste to them. The bottom line is that I need newer carriers and once I have finished researching the '44 CV tech, I will start a build for 3 or 4 more. I currently have one CV4 ('38 tech I believe) and one CV6 almost finished. The rest of my carriers are antiques. The current research is CV7 and I will build that model.

MrCrispy109- Thank you! The Chinese are going down! It just takes so long to march to capture VPs in that place that it may not be until next year. LOL.

Since you guys are showing some interest, I will get another update done today if I can. The more interest there is in this, the more it energizes me to play and update.
 
I don't remember exact combat modifiers, but I think that depending on techs, US BBs and CAs may only be a threat to your carriers at night, when CVs are presumably less effective. During the day, you probably need to be worried only about US carriers. You have been recently attacked by four lvl 5 CVs just on your doorstep, so, yeah...

And the AAR is quite fresh, because there are not many that start in 1944... RL situation of Japan was FUBAR at this point. In-game, it probably won't be so hardcore, but it should still be quite a challenge for you.
 
Cybvep- I know in the older iterations of the game, DD and vanilla, BBs were quite deadly, as were CAs, if accompanied by CVLs, which would allow them to magically teleport to almost point blank range against carriers, and carriers were almost useless at night. In the later versions of Arma IIRC, and from what I've seen here playing the DH light mod to Arma, the speed of the fleets seems to have a much greater effect on setting the combat distance. Only time will tell but if all those American BB 4 and 5s are able to close with my fragile older carriers it could be a bloodbath for me.

Update next.
 
July 23, Gulf of Tonkin. Admiral Hirohito, seeing the failure of one of his most trusted admirals to destroy that American fleet in the gulf orders 8 tactical bomber squadrons after the American fleet at dawn. The damage begins to add up immediately. This will be a running engagement almost all the way to Sorong as the bombers use bases at Saigon, Clark Field, Palembang and Davao in the south Philippines to keep the American fleet within range.









The final carrier in the fleet manages to somehow slip away to safety and isn’t seen again.



On the 24th news arrives on Minister Fujiwara’s desk that has him elated. Both he and Emperor Hirohito have been lamenting the lagging aircraft technology that Japan possesses. With the breakthrough that will allow research into practical turbojet engines this technology might be able to be accessed through the Germans before they lose their fight in Europe.



The British have been regularly trying to bomb the airfield at Mandalay but have, so far been intercepted by one of the two interceptor squadrons operating from the area. Losses are high to our older interceptors on each intercept but with a fully functioning air field to operate from, repairs are quick. Field Marshal Kanin considers trying to launch an attack against the British airfield at Imphal, to slow their recovery from these encounters.



The IJN Ryujo completes construction in Osaka. It will wait some time to organize and obtain escorts before seeing action.







With all three of the large American fleets thought to be out of action for the time being Admiral Mikawa departs Wake for Marcus Island to bolster the garrison there and then to deliver a division to the undefended Bonin Islands.



Admiral Tanaka also resumes his own operations to the south. He will be interrupted briefly however.



Receiving a contact report from the Madura Strait, Tanaka changes course to intercept an American tansport fleet. He changes his plans again and briefly stops at Makasar to detach his transports before engaging.







He begins sinking American shipping as great news on the technology front arrives.





Admiral Mikawa also has his plans interrupted but manages to keep the American submarine flotilla from closing with his transports.



British strategic bombers are savaged in 3 hours of fighting over Rabaul.







And British led divisions suffer in Arakan. Field Marshal Kanin is using his forces to the utmost to keep pressure off of his front lines in Burma.



A flurry of activity on the 4th of August causes minister Tojo to take an early lunch. Most is good news, with another carrier finishing construction in Osaka and two tactical bomber squadrons updating to a more advanced model of aircraft. The Chinese also advance themselves further from any area of real need.





The opening Phase of our second offensive in China will attempt to clear the southern flank of our planned advance.
 
good moves you got with your troops. this scenario as japan is much more hopeless than playing as germany in 44. even though you fight valiantly there seems to be no way of winning or even surviving this conflict. well I will stick around to see how it turns out.
 
Weserubung- I don't think it will be hopeless. I might lose but I think I have a shot. I am playing against the AI, and I have put no restrictions on myself regarding the use of airpower, other than no more than the starting 4 navs.

Cybvep- Well yeah. That was the plan. I'm certainly not planning on letting them trash the IJN.:laugh:

Update next.
 


A quick check on research shows things progressing. Unfortunately the Germans haven’t seen fit to provide a blueprint for improved computing machine, small arms assembly line or advanced destroyer. We aren’t sure if they have advanced destroyer researched though.



General Okamura wins his battle against the Chinese in Shaoyang. He will advance into the province with 4 cavalry divisions, being followed by a HQ division and a single infantry division.



On the 7th a French transport fleet is spotted by naval bombers operating from Makassar.



Strikes continue against the fleet as General Yamashita informs Field Marshal Hata that hiss troops have arrived and are ready for offensive operations.





Admiral Mikawa drops off the marine division from Wake and sets sail for the mainland.





Admiral Tanaka sets sail to intercept an British transport fleet sighted by naval bombers.



Admiral Kurita continues replacing mobile and HQ divisions with infantry divisions, more suited for jungle and island duty.







An attack is begun and quickly successful against the Chinese in Changde. The Nationalists realize now that they can’t hope to contain the armies and air force of Japan and attempt to sue for peace.



Admiral Nagato runs across an American submarine flotilla on his was to Japan. He is ordered to hold contact until our carriers arrive. They are leaving Japan on a mission to attempt an invasion of Saipan after determining the strength of any garrison that might be there. Unfortunately the American submarine force retreats immediately upon the arrival of our two carrier fleets.






The British transports moving in the Celebes Sea are less fortunate. Admiral Tanaka makes contact with the fleet and savages it with Yamato and Musashi’s 18” guns.

Yamato-Battleship.jpg


The Yamato steaming north of Menado.
 
I can never read AAR's using that map as I can feel the eye cancer growing by looking at it, but I must say this AAR has me hooked, I am fascinated how you do and what tricks you can pull at such a late stage when the odds are heavily against any Axis player, let alone Japan.
 
Oberstbrooksy- I really felt like I was getting some kind of mold spore infection when I first started playing a game with DH full, so I know what you mean:laugh:

MrCrispy109- The number of offensive capable divisions over there is small. Mostly it's garrisons but you do have a good point. I haven't been posting screens of it, but I have launched a few attacks over there to check on the ORG of the Chinese. I need it to be zero since most of those provinces will be attacked with 1 division against 3-5 defending. The operation to clear that up has already taken place so your question was quite prophetic.

Cybvep- Exactly. I needed them to be at insta-retreat org level so as not to waste any manpower on the battles to reduce that pocket.

De Cive- Yes. I did not get a popup for the event whenever it happened or it would surely have been included. I am planning one more update for August and then a monthly cabinet meeting on Sept 1. I will work something about it in then.



Update coming...
 
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In Burma, more British troops arrive in Arakan and immediately come under attack by our bombers operating from Mandalay.



More transports are sighted by Ozawa’s Nav 1. These ships are transiting the Savu Sea, heading West. Perhaps attempting to reinforce the British fighting our forces in Burma.














Another assault is launched in Burma to try to keep the allied divisions from digging in and allow our bombers easier targets. Unfortunately allied divisions just continue to arrive faster than they can be destroyed and this attack is eventually called off. The allies have Arakan.





The pesky American submarine flotilla that has been raiding convoys for weeks off the coast of Japan, in addition to attacking, unsuccessfully, our troop transports is finally pinned down and destroyed.






As our carriers arrive near Saipan they launch aircraft to check the island for defensive forces and amazingly find none. The island is completely deserted and a landing operation is begun immediately with both of our two elite marine divisions.





The advance in China continues with an attack on Huaihua.






Almost immediately, upon consolidating their position in Arakan, British forces launch an attack against Rangoon. The intervention of almost all of the bomber forces allows the defenders of Rangoon to hold on.



Transport Fleet 4 arrives in Palembang. They have been gathering two armored divisions to be used with the mororized division already on the island to form one of 3 armored corps.












On the 21st, an almost unbelievable report reaches Admiral Yamamoto’s desk. General Imamura on Saipan reports that he is under attack by soldiers he doesn’t recognize, speaking Spanish. Both naval bomber wings are rebased to the island to try to hunt down and destroy the Mexicans' transports and Carrier Fleet 1 sets sail from the Bonin Islands.

The Germans send some blueprints that we will find quite useful during this time as well. Small arms assembly line and improved computing machine are technologies currently under study by Japan’s scientists.

Carrier Fleet 1 arrives on the 22nd and puts an end to the invasion attempt.


On the 23rd research is completed into advanced destroyer. Tokyo Arsenal is tasked with researching more advanced infantry weapons. This research will be helped by blueprint.
 
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