The Setting Sun - Gotterdammerung, Japan 1944.

[unmerged(59906)]

Simon-1979 - Thank you. I don't think that Germany or China will be seeing 1945 as independant Countries.

Cpt Rossi, trekaddict - As trekaddict pointed out I don't have any spare IC. Also I don't have the time. I might get them to level 2 in time for the Soviets but that is unlikely. I would need level 5+ to stop them using this method.

Nathan Madien - Conservative is the way to go. I can't afford to lose anything really and will try not to.

Murmurandus - Maybe, maybe not. Either one of them can fold by event and both are close to the point when they could. Who knows Germany might decide to say stuff you lot and fight to the last VP, which will probably be deep inside the Norwegian fjords.

Admiral Yamamot - Thank you

Deus - I am sensing a certain need for speed. China is the fastest to kill so it must be first.

Mangudai - The AI did what it could I guess. Still its not dead yet. You hit the biggest problem on the head. Not enough troops and not enough time to make enough troops either. There will be some going backwards soon enough I think. That is discounting Burma, which is just bartering time for terrain. I have a secret plan that is aimed at the British and my secret plans tend to hurt my enemy on most occasions. It is too late in the year for the sheep plan as winter is almost upon us, so my troops will have to wait for new winter clothing.

Sokraates - Plans change constantly and more or less have to. Unlike the AI I need to see my enemy before I can react, it doesn't.

Connavar - A lot of the Kriegsmarine has been sunk already but they do have most of their Subs alive which could come in handy if I can get them to Asia.

Panzer6, Sokraates - Remember I don't edit unless its game breaking. The trigger is there I just have to force it. I also have to hope the German surrender works for me as well, but that is not likely.

cjwet - Thank you and welcome to both this AAR and the boards

I could beat the Chinese without the airforce but I can beat them a lot faster with it and I need speed. Militia are a good idea and I will build them when I can. Right now I would be on Militia I, after I research Inf '43 its Militia II so I will wait for that advance first. I might need to appoint you to head of secret plans.

PrawnStar - I took a two week break and got bored so had to start another AAR

SoulStealer - It is far more fun trying to play realistically for sure. Uberfleets fear the airforce, which Japan has even if its not too modern or large. I don't like mega Carriers stacks both for a gameplay point of view and from a player point of view. You know what I can do to CTF's from my previous AAR, I only fear Battleships, never Carriers.

rcduggan - Maybe I need to slow down a little

More mayhem to follow ...

 

[unmerged(59906)]

An Alliance Shatters​

1​

0600 September 1st 1944.
Carrier Group C Flagship. IJN Zuikaku, Japan Trench.

Admiral Nagano, commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Aircraft Carriers, was in pursuit of some Transport ships that had ventured too close to Japan. He had no escort vessels which made him and his Carriers almost sitting ducks for anything with a gun or a torpedo tube. Nevertheless he had his orders.​

He caught up to the two American Transport fleets in the Japan Trench and aircraft from his fleet sank them both. IJN Hiyo would take the credit for sinking the 20th Transport division with no clear claim on the second. Nagano ordered his ships back to the safety of Tokyo before they ran into anything that could shoot back.​

1100 September 1st 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Palau.

Japan's Naval bombers, operating out of Saipan, had been ordered to try and sink some of the big ships of the British fleet heading their way.​

Mj. General Genda was the first of the two flights to find them and began targetting the lead vessel, HMS Warspite, in the West Marian Basin. The enemy fleet was now confirmed to be heading towards Saipan.​

BB Division 2 had set off after the Transport ships that they had encountered off the Bonin Islands and found them in the North East Mariana Trench. One had already been sunk by interceptors flying from Iwo Jima leaving only three for Koga to deal with. The Battleship IJN Nagato would sink one and IJN Musashi the other two. Koga was ordered to hold his present position to await the Submarine fleet also heading in his direction. He could not return to Saipan until the British fleet either left voluntarily or was forced to leave by Japanese bombers.​

Vice Admiral Godo, a veteran of the old war, had been placed in charge of a second Transport fleet which had been given three Heavy Cruisers from Carrier Group C as protection. He embarked all six of the new infantry divisions in Tokyo and headed for the Bonin Islands to pick up Mj. General Banzai and his marines. The Bonin Islands would now make do with just one infantry division as a defensive force.​

Yamamoto's BB Division 1 was refueling in Palau when a report was received of enemy activity off Palau. An American fleet containing a Battleship had been spotted by Yamashita and his interceptor squadrons. Yamamoto sailed at once to intercept the enemy fleet before it could escape.​

By 2200 hours on September 2nd the British fleet had already entered the North Mariana trench and left. It headed back south west towards Burma pursued by Ozawa as it went. HMS Warspite would receive some more damage as it left Ozawa's range. The Submarines protecting Saipan had taken shelter in its port while the hostile fleet was in the area and they set sail again to continue their roll of protecting Saipan and Tinian from invasion.​

0000 September 3rd 1944.
North China Army Headquarters. Anshun, China.

Higashikuni had arrived safely at his new location in China and had already sent out more orders to launch another attack on the weakening Chinese forces.​

The arrival of an additional infantry korps in Wanxian had allowed a two pronged attack against the new Nationalist capital of Nancheng. General Yamashita would win another battle against his inferior opponents after an eight hour fight.​

0300 September 3rd 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Palau Trench.

Yamamoto caught the small American fleet before it could leave the Palau Trench. The defensive Submarines had wisely stayed away from the hotile ships until some of Japan's big guns had arrived.​

The USS Nevada would survive the battle but two of its escorts were sunk. Yamamoto's ships received only very minor damage in return. The Battleship IJN Ise would sink the 42nd Destroyer Division and IJN Yamashiro accounted for the Light Cruiser USS Marblehead. The other escorting Light Cruiser was also critically damaged. Yamamoto returned to Palau rather than chase this fleet into territory that was currently not being patrolled by aircraft.​

Admiral Nomura had been ordered to chase down a British Transport flotilla that had been spotted passing Singapore. He caught it in the Bangka Strait, with the Heavy Cruiser IJN Ashigara sinking the unescorted fleet. Nomura would now operate from Singapore.​

Koga had been waiting for Submarines to enter his current operating zone but instead found a small American Cruiser fleet. IJN Musashi would sink the Light Cruiser USS Brooklyn with the Heavy Cruiser USS Louisville sustaining a large amount of damage before it could flee. Ozawa would finish off the stricken Heavy Cruiser the following morning.

Koga ordered BB Division 2 back to Saipan for repairs now that the British Battleships had left the area.​

 

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0000 September 4th 1944.
Diplomatic Offices. Tokyo, Japan.

Mamoru was in a discussion with Minister Ginjiro over possible future purchases of resources for Japan and its industry when an aid knocked on his door.

"Excuse me one moment." he said as the aid entered and handed him two messages, one of which was marked urgent which he opened first. As he read it his facial expression did not change, he was a diplomat after all.

"Trouble?" asked Ginjiro. The Industry Minister had known Mamoru for a very long time and knew when he was not happy by instinct.

Mamoru handed him the message and began to open the second one.​

The Soviet Union had over run and annexed Romania. The Axis had lost its main oil producer.

"Ok thats not good." Ginjiro said as he noticed Mamoru's countenance change as he read the second message. "I take it the second message is more to your liking."​

"Your stockpiles just got a fair bit larger. General Sakai captured Kunming before the Nationalists could steal away all of the Yunnanese reserves."

"I was going to ask you to purchase more oil and energy fairly soon but I see that won't be needed just yet."

"I guess not. We had two hours scheduled for this meeting, how about some breakfast?" asked Mamoru.

"That sounds like a reasonable proposition Foreign Minister." replied Ginjiro.​

0300 September 5th 1944.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Palau.

Mamoru was not the only person to receive some bad news. Yamamoto was not too happy about his latest message, that had just been received from interceptor squadrons operating around Java to the south.​

Apparently even the French had a fleet. Yamamoto didn't really need to know where it was heading, he could guess well enough.​

Interceptors had picked up the American Submarine fleet again as it passed through the Mariana Trench. The British fleet had not been sighted for two days and was therefore nowhere close, and the French fleet was too far away for now. Yamamoto set sail after the Submarines that were undoubtedly heading for Japan.​

0000 September 6th 1944.
Diplomatic Offices. Tokyo, Japan.

The need for energy and other raw materials had abated slightly which allowed Mamoru to concentrate on other diplomatic moves. One of the things he kept a close eye on was his Countries enemies.​

Nationalist China had reacted as expected when the Yunnanese capital had been taken. They had annexed their Puppet state. One Country less for Mamoru to have to bother keeping a watch over. He passed the news on to Kuniaki in Intelligence just in case he wasn't already aware of the situation, which was unlikely.​

0200 September 6th 1944.
North China Army Headquarters. Anshun, China.

Tactical bombers had cleared the area immediately north and west of the former Nationalists capital and Higashikuni gave them a new area to operate in.​

The forced withdrawal of Japanese troops from Datong could actually be a blessing. Chinese forces in Yuling had begun to advance towards the now vacant province making them an ideal target to be bombed. The bombers would need to clear the other enemy forces from the zone first before they could effectively target the more advanced troops.​

Advances were occuring throughout the south part of the Chinese lines. Follow up attacks in both Nancheng and Ya'an would be short victorious battles.

Interceptors were keeping a close watch on both the American Submarine fleet and the French fleet as they headed into Japanese controlled territory.​

Mj. General Tanaka would sight the Battleship USS Nevada as it made its way out of bomber range towards Pearl Harbour. He would not sink the crippled Light Cruiser.​

General Itagaki had arrived in Fuling with three exhausted infantry divisions at 0900 hours. Higashikuni immediately attacked the now completely surrounded Chinese troops in Zunyi before they could force Itagaki to retreat. The starved defenders did not hold out for long and another eight Chinese divisions would fight no more. Itagaki was ordered to move north to Wanxian by train as it was quicker with his troops in their current state.​

0000 September 9th 1944.
Diplomatic Offices. Tokyo, Japan.

More news had arrived from Europe. Mamoru did not expect it to be good news and was not disappointed.​

Finland had not only abandoned Germany they had switched sides. The Soviets did not really need more Allies and were becoming more and more dangerous.​

 

[Deus]

Good job on those 8 Chinese divisions. I agree that the Soviets are becoming a bigger threat. On with the war!

Are the Americans operating their fleets on full capacity in the pacific or are they just sending some skeleton fleets for you to fight?

 

[unmerged(91766)]

A fascinating AAR. Blame on Germany for losing the war so fast. Hopefully they will not surrender until New Years Eve.

Is there any possibility to ally with the Sowjet? Or to chace them into war with the Allies?

 

[Murmurandus]

Hurry, hurry, hurry...

 

[trekaddict]

It is interesting to see that both sides could win the race to berlin. In my experience with the 1944 scenario ( which is as I must confess limited ) the allies almost allways tend to get bogged down in France and allow the Russians to overrun the rest of europe.

 

[Admiral Yamamot]

This AAR is awesome and it's a lot harder than my 1944 JAP game.
But this one has been with HoI2 1.2

The AI definitly improved a little bit.

 

[Sokraates]

Isn't this nice? It seems that Saipan has become the sightseeing attraction of every allied sailor. Apart from that their appearance can mean only one thing: the Kriegsmarine is no more.

 

[unmerged(84739)]

Is that "Finland switches sides" event in vanilla? Hasn't happened to me, and I couldn't find it in the files.

I checked around a bit, and the French did indeed have an aircraft carrier named Bearn. Most of the French fleet ended up in Vichy hands after the Battle of France, but not that ship.

 

[Sokraates]

Is that "Finland switches sides" event in vanilla? Hasn't happened to me, and I couldn't find it in the files.

According to his answer to my question in this post, Remble plays HoI2 DD patched to v 1.3a without any mods.

Then again, neither have I seen this event in any of my games. Finland was either protected by myself, eaten by myself or clobbered by the Soviets before they could even think about sending a diplomat.

 

[Murmurandus]

According to his answer to my question in this post, Remble plays HoI2 DD patched to v 1.3a without any mods.

Then again, neither have I seen this event in any of my games. Finland was either protected by myself, eaten by myself or clobbered by the Soviets before they could even think about sending a diplomat.

It is a vanilla DD event for sure. I also got it...

 

[SouthCarolinian]

looks like you are making good progress against the chinese!
and you are also doing a good job of holding the American, British and French fleets in check.

and it seems that Syria hasn't started taking a large part, probably getting their industry on a war footing then they will produce a giant fleet to contest the seas!. :rofl:

 

[Nathan Madien]

So it seems Finland may wind up being an enemy of Japan soon enough, although it isn't clear yet how big a role they will play.

and it seems that Syria hasn't started taking a large part, probably getting their industry on a war footing then they will produce a giant fleet to contest the seas!. :rofl:

Yeah, because Syria needs to get those five factories ready in order to make paper boats.

 

[unmerged(84739)]

Paper boats? They have the capacity to make papyrus boats, no doubt...

 

[SgtPepper20]

Everytime when I'm at the end of a new update I scream inside: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I want more!"

So that having be said, as usual a great update and I hope you will stand a chance against those Russian hordes.

 

[unmerged(87183)]

France sent a carrier fleet? I hope you deal with it quickly.

Things in the west are definitely looking grim, but I have confidence in the Japanese to hold out to the last.

Excellent update.

 

[unmerged(59848)]

Remble, I think I may have a solution to your dilemma.

Take over and annex China and all its puppets, then release Nationalist China as an independent fascist state and maintain very high relations with them. The Soviets will still steamroll you in Manchuria and Korea, but you can later ally with the Chinese gov't against the Bolshevik horde when WW3 happens and it would allow you to concentrate all your resources on Southern Asia. You could drive the British out of Burma and India, intervene in the Chinese Civil War to make sure the Commies lose, and you'll be in a great position instead of having your troops pushed up against the Sea of Japan and massacred by the Red Horde.

Later on you could stab Nationalist China in the back and re-annex them.

But I suppose that would be too gamey for you, so you'll probably just give the whole Eurasian continent to the Russians and go after Australia and New Zealand.

 

[ColossusCrusher]

Or, you can use AIR POWER!
Build some forward air bases and blow up anything that moves.

Alternatively, you can hope you take India before they DoW, and get a nice little MP boost...oh, wait, overseas. Still, you have options.

 

[unmerged(59906)]

Deus - Thank you. The American fleet is operating badly. A lot of their capital ships, particularly Carriers, are damaged which is forcing them to send these damaged ships in to escort transports. I still haven't seen any American Battleships for some time with the exception of the one in the small fleet. They did have three large Battleship fleets in the beginning and I didn't sink many of them so I guess they are being repaired.

Hermann Steiner - I haven't checked all the events that are possible. There might be one that makes the Allies DoW the Soviets if they decide to seize most of Europe but I don't think so. My relations with them are bad so there is no way I could ally with them. I can only hope that the third world war starts fairly quickly.

Murmurandus - I am moving as fast as the terrain will let me

trekaddict - Betting on the race between the Allies and the Soviets for Berlin would have cost you some money I think

Admiral Yamamot - Thanks. The AI is better at some things in 1.3a for sure but it still has some very big flaws.

Sokraates - I don't mind them going for Saipan, although I think its actually Tinian they are after. I would much rather they attack here than in many other places.

Mangudai, Sokraates, Murmurandus - v1.3a vanilla it is. The event is common, it also happened in my other AAR. Its rare for them not to switch sides.

SouthCarolinian - Thank you. Once the Syrians get up to war speed I will have no chance at all

Nathan Madien - Finland had a decent sized army, although a lot of it got killed I think. Not like the Soviets need another 10-15 divisions though.

SgtPepper20 - Thank you. Fighting the Soviets will be a testing time for sure.

Maj. von Mauser - Thanks. The French fleet will be treated much like the British. Largely ignored.

bbcrackmonkey - Much too gamey for me correct Who knows maybe I can defeat 500+ Soviet divisions with my 50 or so when the time comes.

ColossusCrusher - An interesting observation is the use of airpower. I have been looking a lot at the possiblilties here. You might want to look at a map of Siberia in 1944 and check what airbases the Soviets have in the region. It is pretty obvious what I will try and do when the time comes

Update to follow ...