For ASW fleets, I lost 40 convoys in two months and I have only 100 reserve convoys. So, I need to take counter-measures. I know I may lose some of these ships to bigger enemy fleets, but they are mostly obsolete ships, I should take that risk.
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Sure. However, he doesn't have enough IC for everything, so he needs to prioritise certain things over the others. Convoys are a high priority, but more powerful airforce and navy are even more important IMO.
PART XLV: FALL OF DUTCH EAST INDIES
Japanese troops entering Tjilegon
February, 1942
Admiral Nagano sank light carrier USS Langley in the West Andaman Sea.
Admiral Yamamoto's 1st Carrier Fleet and 2nd Submarine Hunter Fleet spotted American submarine group consisting of 7 submarines in the Bonin Trench.1 submarine was sunk by depth charges and the remaining ones were damaged.
While 6th Infantry Corps are landing at Hollandia in New Guinea. 2nd Battle Fleet of Admiral Ozawa spotted 3 American troopships near the coast. All of them were sunk.
After the defeat of Dutch forces in Tjilegon and the landing at Hollandia, Dutch government handed over entire Dutch East Indies to Empire of Japan.
Empire of Japan and her allies after the surrender of Dutch East Indies :
2nd Battle Fleet of Admiral Mikawa arrived at Osaja Port. The damaged 6 warships have left the Fleet to have repairs in Nagoya dockyard. Battlecruisers Haruna and Kirishima, two heavy cruisers and 2 destroyers were given as replacements to Admiral Mikawa.
While on his way back to Rabaul, Admiral Yamamoto spotted another American troopship fleet.3 troopships were damaged.
1st Naval Bomber Wing took off from Rabaul to finish off American troopship fleet. Two troopships were sunk.
Technological Researches
While preparing for offensive against Port Moresby, Admiral Yamamoto spotted 2 Australian warships, 1 light cruiser and 1 destroyer. Both of them were sunk by air attacks.
Australian Fleet is making desperate attempts to prevent our landing at Port Moresby. 2 Destroyers were spotted near the coast of Port Moresby. Then, 2 more destroyers joined this small fleet. Our air attacks damaged 2 destroyers.
Port Moresby, an important port and air base for opeations against Australia was captured.
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I hope you have garrisons ready to guard all these beaches. Australians are desperate, so they resort to kamikaze attacks against the superior Japanese fleet, haha 
Did you make some reconnaissance of the Australian mainland? Is it strongly garrisoned?
Did you make some reconnaissance of the Australian mainland? Is it strongly garrisoned?
I hope you have garrisons ready to guard all these beaches. Australians are desperate, so they resort to kamikaze attacks against the superior Japanese fleet, haha
Well, I have only 2 garrison divisions left as reserves in the home islands. I sent some of them to Singapore, Malaya, Sumatra and Philippines. I won't be able to protect all beaches. I am producing more garrisons right now, but even with them I won't be able to cover those many coasts. My hope is that Americans will not try to make big landing operations unless they obtain naval superiority. Under the current circumstances, this is not possible
For small scale landings, I can supress them quite easily by transporting troops to the related region.I didn't collect intelligence about Australian coasts ( I must admit that I somehow feared that there may be some bombers covering the area) but I don't think they can put more than 3 divisions at any coastal provinces. With support from my battle fleet, I may land at Australia. I will use 1st Battle Fleet for further operations in Australia. The Northern Pacific is completely defenseless and this makes me a little bit nervous
PART XLVI: OPERATIONS IN NEW GUINEA
Mitsubishi G3M Bombers above the coast of New Guinea
February, 1942
1st Naval Bomber Wing took off from Port Moresby to sink Australian Fleet stationed in Bougainville port. I heavy cruiser and 1 light cruiser were sunk. Admiral Yamamoto left Port Moresby to search for US Navy in the northern Pacific.
Our intelligence informed us about enemy aircrafts based at Popondetta. 1st Battle Fleet of Admiral Ozawa was ordered to make landing at the region. 2nd Marine Corps were given the task.
March, 1942
1st Battle Fleet spotted and sank the remainings of Australian Fleet that 1st Naval Bomber Wing bombed at Bougainville. Our intelligence detected enemy ground and naval forces in Lae.
Admiral Ozawa sank 1 light cruiser and 1 destroyer near Popondetta coast. Australian Navy is sacrificing all its ships in desperate battles.
1st Naval Bomber Wing was sent to sink whatever it finds in Lae Port. Our bomber force found the Australian transport Fleet there. But due to heavy rain, only minor damage could be inflicted on the ships.
With the end of rainfall, Our bombers made much more accurate attacks on Australian ships at Lae Port. 1 destroyer and 1 troopship were sunk.
In Burma, we finally captured Tongyyi and launched offensive against Mandalay. 2nd Cavalry Corps is also advancing towards Akyab. The task force General Yamashita requested for his operations against India arrived at Bassein. The task force consists of 1st Mountain Corps, 2nd Infantry Corps and 1st Motorized Corps.
General Yamashita prepared a plan to encircle the entire British Burma Army. According to the plan, The task force in Bassein will land at Calcutta and will advance towards the north as quickly as possible using the good terrain and then will cut the rear of British Burma Army in the mountanious Gangtok region. At the same time, all coastal provinces between Bassein and Calcutta will be captured and supply from the seas will be prevented. Once the encirclement operation is complete, Our force will began to reduce the pocket quickly. 2nd Battle Fleet of Admiral Mikawa will conduct landing operations at Calcutta.
Instead of Calcutta, the Task Force began to land at defenseless Kharagpur. General Yamashita decided to attack Calcutta from land.
Admiral Ozawa sank 3 troopships and 1 destroyer in the Huon Gulf.
2nd Transport Fleet was intercepted by Australian-American Fleet near Milne Bay. Our Fleet managed to escape without any harm. Admiral Ozawa immediately changed his course to Milne Bay.
Admiral Ozawa sank all 4 destroyers that attacked our transport fleet in Milne Bay. However, he couldn't find enemy transport ships that were present in the previous encounter.
Our forces landed at Kharagpur and launched offensive to Calcutta.
Admiral Ozawa spotted American troopships in the Torres Strait at 200 km. Troopships managed to escape.
Our continuous air attacks on Lae port resulted in further sinking of 5 troopships and 1 destroyer. Only 2 troopships remained in the port. American troopships anchored at Kerema. Our intelligence informs us that 3 enemy divisions landed at Kerema.
Technological Researches
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Looks like the Americans desperately want to reinforce Australia. It's a pity that the AI in all HOI games fails to escort its transports...
We will see whether the UK reinforces India. Your plan in Burma may just work, although I wouldn't be surprised if the British Raj transferred more troops to the region.
We will see whether the UK reinforces India. Your plan in Burma may just work, although I wouldn't be surprised if the British Raj transferred more troops to the region.
Well for transport escorting, I only escort my transports when I make amphibious operations. Otherwise, I don't attach them single destroyer. I think lower visibility is more important for transport fleets. Few cruiser wouldn't save my transports if they encounter with enemy battleship or carrier fleets. I can't send my main fleets together with my transport fleets to everywhere either. That would mean a lot of extra fuel and waste of time for naval operations. I transported a lot of garrisons to my new possessions without any escort. If we consider smaller encounters, transports generally manage to escape them.
Since the beginning of war, my transport fleets were intercepted three times by enemy fleets but were lucky to survive all of them. In fact, AI is usually escorting his transport fleets with few destroyers. But that doesn't make any difference when I spot them with my battleships. By the way, AI may count itself lucky, I sank dozens of transport ships but only 3 of them had any troops on board. ( not necessarily 3 divisions, maximum 3 divisions).
Everything is eventually about luck. American destroyers spotted my 6 transport ships in Milne Bay and this also showed the location of his transports. Then I sent my battle fleet to sink them. AI made good move by trying to escape from the Torres strait but I spotted them again. And finally, AI landed its troops on Kerema, probably this move saved all his troops because I know the location of transports and soon will conduct air attacks on them.
If I were AI, I wouldn't assign any escorts to troopships that are not making any landings, not even destroyers. They increase visibility. AI may be little careful about New Guinea though, Australian AI is a little bit overreacting.
Looks like New Guinea will be your Guadalcanal In India, speed is of the essence, you need to seize the coastal provinces before they realize what's happening.
Yes, exactly. I thought DH would correct this.
Indian forces seem to be mostly militias, so their combat value is probably rather limited.
In India, speed is of the essence, you need to seize the coastal provinces before they realize what's happening.Yes, exactly. I thought DH would correct this.
Indian forces seem to be mostly militias, so their combat value is probably rather limited.
Yeah, but you probably have some ships or aircraft nearby, right? The AI usually doesn't. Transporting troops back and forth without any naval or air cover is pointless, as sooner or later your TPs will be attacked and potentially sunk.
I think that those destroyers are supposed to counter subs, which they can do rather well. Of course that they will have no chance against battleships or carriers, but it will take an entire fleet to counter such threats, anyway. That's why it's best to transport troops in areas which your own fleets or aircraft can reach.
PART XLVII: ENCIRCLEMENT OF BURMA
Japanese troops marching in Burma
March, 1942
After loading off 3 divisions in Kerema, American troopships were spotted by 1st Battle Fleet at 200 km. Troopships had managed to escape before our fleet got close.
Our G3M bombers attacked American troopships in the Torrest Strait. Two of the ships were heavily damaged.
Two of the troopships were sunk near the coast of Kerema.
Admiral Ozawa spotted another troopship fleet near Torres Strait. 1 escorting destroyer and 2 troopships were sunk.
British garrison force in Calcutta finally surrendered. 1st Motorized Corps turned to the north to cut Burma from the back.
1st Battle Fleet spotted British Transport Fleet going to Kavieng island. For the last two weeks, the British reinforced the island with 2 divisions. Troopships managed to escape to Bougainville port.
G3M bombers from Port Moresby attacked Bougainville port to sink British troopships. 1 troopship was sunk and 1 troopship was heavily damaged.
We launched massive offensive against Lashio with 25 divisions. 13 of the attacking divisions are Chinese divisions.
Remaining troopships in Bouganville were sunk by our naval bombers. 11th Infantry Corps is landing at Buna. Admiral Ozawa spotted enemy aircrafts in the region few days ago. Imperial Headquarter ordered the capture of the airbase to prevent Americans using it against our Navy.
Buna airbase was captured. Admiral Ozawa intercepted 2 New Zealand destroyers in the Milne Bay. Both ships were sunk.
After Calcutta, Siliguri and Khulna were captured. 1st Motorized Corps is advancing towards Gangtok to cut land connection of British Burma Army from the rest of India. 1st and 2nd Cavalry Corps are advancing towards Cattagram and Akyab to complete encirclement.
1st Marine Corps began to land at the island of Bouganville. Admiral Ozawa wants to destroy British forces in the island and capture the port.
6th Infantry Corps captured Wevak. Lae is the last important city on New Guinea that has naval and airbases. After the capture of Lae, New Guinean campaign will have been concluded. Battle of Bougainville continues, the British is resisting fiercely and jungle is slowing our troops down.
April, 1942
In Burma, Gangtok and Akyab was captured. The British now is only able to send supplies to Burma through Cattagram port. 2nd Battle Fleet of Admiral Mikawa was sent to the coast of Cattagram to sink British supply convoys.
Admiral Yamamoto is searching for American Fleet near Hawaii.
British forces in Bougainville surrendered. Admiral Ozawa spotted American troop concentration on the Manus island.
British brought their best divisions in Burma to Mandalay in order to counter our offensive.
Unit Deployment
2 destroyers were commissioned in Nagoya dockyard. 37th Garrison Division is also ready for deployment.
Cattagram was captured by 1st Cavalry Corps. Now, entire British Burma Army, approximately 20 divisions were trapped in the jungles of Burma without any supply.
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This last update is a good example of a "bug" with Darkest Hour and how it deals with transports. Notice how every time you engaged enemy transport ships that had no escorts the engagement distance was 200km and the transport units got away, but if they had a destroyer with them they got pounded at 22km? That's very messed up and needs to change. Unescorted transports should be easy meat, similar to unescorted convoys.
I wonder what the endgame for this AAR will be - ground invasion of the US? I wonder if you'll be able to do it before their nukes start showing up.
I wonder what the endgame for this AAR will be - ground invasion of the US? I wonder if you'll be able to do it before their nukes start showing up.
They are from China-Nanking.
Look at PART XLV, there is a screen near Hollandia, where my battle fleet spotted 2 troopships at 130 km, closed them and then sank all of them. They were without any escorts either. I think it may be the combination of speed and luck. I witnessed that it is really cakewalk to sink tran-1 transports. But for example, tran-3 transports ( that I sank at Bougainville port ) was much harder, mainly because they are faster.
As long as US won't be able to nuke my home islands, nuke shouldn't be that much problem. I am trying to take every airport that can reach my important targets.
For next move, my plan was to make landings on Australia. But I think I will give up this plan. My Army in New Guinea is not enough for this task ( 12 divisions ) and US-British are continuously reinforcing the islands near New Guinea. I don't want to risk New Guinea. There are valuable airfields there. I plan to go for Midway and then Hawaii as fast as possible. After this point, I will try to land somewhere near Los Angeles and march on Washington to dictate my peace terms
Not really, Only undefended coastal province was Tokyo and I placed new garrison division on it now. I sent the previous Tokyo garrison to Rabaul about a week ago.
Congrats to the success in Burma. Now use the Chinese to guard the pocket while the Brits slowly starve to death (or are eaten by mosquitoes and other jungle insects) and use your crack Japanese troops to seize the rest of India!
I wonder about that too. Invasion of the US would be a huge task, and I don't think makif has enough troops to pull that off. I mean, the Americans must be churning out divisions at an insane rate by now. (A small raid to destroy the nuke reactor site would be great though.)
Yeah, but they look Croatian
Makes sense. The AI really seems to be determined to retake the New Guinea area and the surrounding islands. You should garrison it heavily to free your combat troops for operations elsewhere. Use the Chinese for garrison duty if you can't produce enough garrisons yourself.
Whawhawhat? You don't think you have enough troops to invade and hold Australia, so... you're going to invade the US? I like your way of thinking - "we're surrounded, outnumbered, outgunned... ATTACK!" :rofl:
I wonder about that too. Invasion of the US would be a huge task, and I don't think makif has enough troops to pull that off. I mean, the Americans must be churning out divisions at an insane rate by now. (A small raid to destroy the nuke reactor site would be great though.)
Yeah, but they look Croatian
Makes sense. The AI really seems to be determined to retake the New Guinea area and the surrounding islands. You should garrison it heavily to free your combat troops for operations elsewhere. Use the Chinese for garrison duty if you can't produce enough garrisons yourself.
After this point, I will try to land somewhere near Los Angeles and march on Washington to dictate my peace terms
Whawhawhat?
You don't think you have enough troops to invade and hold Australia, so... you're going to invade the US? I like your way of thinking - "we're surrounded, outnumbered, outgunned... ATTACK!" :rofl:
Caught up with this not too long ago. I'd have to say this was the most interesting invasion of China I've read in an AAR. Still enjoying it, nice job on the Burma encirclement. Although these opening invasions are almost inevitably easy, I hope it all goes much worse for you in the long run. Nothing personal, I'm just a huge fan of desperate struggles in AARs.
Anyways, good work so far. I'm looking forward to continued reading of this.
Oh, and really liking the use of pictures.
Anyways, good work so far. I'm looking forward to continued reading of this.
Oh, and really liking the use of pictures.
First take Hawaii and India. Then you can think about implausible invasion of the USA
(BTW, what are the conditions in DH for the US surrender (or negotiated peace)? Is that even possible, I mean without a full annexation?
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