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Operation Red Island was declared active at 1pm on April the 6th.
Red - Submarine movements.
Blue - Air missions.
While hundreds of aircraft of the VVS swarmed around Okinawa, dozens of Russian submarines surged out of Vladivostock harbour, breaking out to establish a exclusion zone around the island, to lock it off from its supply convoy, to act as pickets to warn of the American Fleet, and every Soviet captain was instructed that in the event of a suitable target, such as a American carrier, that their submarine was expendable. With such draconian orders, the waters around Okinawa had a sense of danger surrounding them.
The island itself was subjected to a bombardment by rockets four hours earlier, with missiles crashing down onto the islands airstrip. The huge warheads caused significant damage to the roads and anti-aircraft emplacements, and a string of rockets destroyed the islands supply dump.
Over the day and into the early hours of the following morning the VVS hammered the American defenses. The systamatic campaign culminated with a brutal battle between the Soviet fighters and the American aircraft on the base, which left the Americans severly bloodied.
The question on everyones mind, from Moscow to Washington, was : will the Soviet Fleet sail?
Red - Submarine movements.
Blue - Air missions.
While hundreds of aircraft of the VVS swarmed around Okinawa, dozens of Russian submarines surged out of Vladivostock harbour, breaking out to establish a exclusion zone around the island, to lock it off from its supply convoy, to act as pickets to warn of the American Fleet, and every Soviet captain was instructed that in the event of a suitable target, such as a American carrier, that their submarine was expendable. With such draconian orders, the waters around Okinawa had a sense of danger surrounding them.
The island itself was subjected to a bombardment by rockets four hours earlier, with missiles crashing down onto the islands airstrip. The huge warheads caused significant damage to the roads and anti-aircraft emplacements, and a string of rockets destroyed the islands supply dump.
Over the day and into the early hours of the following morning the VVS hammered the American defenses. The systamatic campaign culminated with a brutal battle between the Soviet fighters and the American aircraft on the base, which left the Americans severly bloodied.
The question on everyones mind, from Moscow to Washington, was : will the Soviet Fleet sail?
Invade Alaska instead. For gamey reasons! 
(or do a World in Conflict inspired invasion of Seattle!
(or do a World in Conflict inspired invasion of Seattle!
good idea to use rockets to take out the supply and infra, at least any losses you now inflict will not be recovered.
unfortunately Paradox have an odd idea as to how wide the Baring straight is ... despite all the evidence, you can't get from Russia to Alaska - does make you doubt the veracity of a certain American politiician.
unfortunately Paradox have an odd idea as to how wide the Baring straight is ... despite all the evidence, you can't get from Russia to Alaska - does make you doubt the veracity of a certain American politiician.
Invade Alaska instead. For gamey reasons!
(or do a World in Conflict inspired invasion of Seattle!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-iZVjw7tAw
That is all.
I didnt have any real choice, with no Korea having cores on the other, it was either realease both or have Japan stay in control.
One good thing about that however, is that it forces the player to execute island hops in order to mount any sort of offensive.
i check this thread 5 times a day, that is how good this AAR is.
ALSO after this are you planning on doing another AAR on an axis/ allies country?
ALSO after this are you planning on doing another AAR on an axis/ allies country?
Thanks alot, its good to know that I am not the only one who keeps checking for comments xD
After this, I would like to do another AAR, but as to what, I dont know. I might do another Argentina or Brazil AAR, but I am torn between a Commonwealth country such as Australia or South Africa...
By April 7th, the VVS had seized control of the air and sea around Okinawa from the Americans. The cost had been high, most bomber units were down to fifty percent strength, and disorganised, though the tatical and naval bombing assets maintained cohesion and suffered few losses, as with the fighter groups.
By mid-day on the 8th of April, Phase Two of the operation began. With the protective cordon of submarines warning of American ships, the Soviet ships in the Far East Fleet surged out of port to carry the Soviet 1st Rifle Corps to Okinawa Island.
With a protective cordon of surface ships and submarines protecting the landing, the 1st Rifle Corps had a stroke of excellent luck. The Americans, following the concentrated bombing of the southern part of the island, had concentrated all of thier units there, and the beaches in the northern sector of the island were left undefended.
The battleship Sovetsky Soyuz firing in support of the landings. It was unnessiary, as the bunkers and trenches were found abandonded.
The American troops were quick to realize thier mistake, though it was too late to undo the damage. When a armoured and a mechanized division moved against the beachhead, they found the Rifle Corps dug in well, with thier cannon and rocket units too well set up for a easy breakthrough.
In order to better allow for a advance against the southern redobut on Okinawa, the Soviet Navy decided to risk a second landing. With temporary naval facilities ashore established, two divisions of the 2nd Guards Tanks Corps, along with headquarters staff were put ashore, and the fleet slipped away with no losses.
The USN was quick to realize the severity of the situation, as they would lose thier advance base against the main Soviet base at Vladivostock, and quickly came up with a plan to ship supplies into the besiged island. With Russian submarines on watch for any large targets, the Americans were forced to use small groups of ships, which proved easy pray for Soviet Naval Aviation.
Many American destroyers suffered the same fate as this one. Soviet torpedo bombers made the ships task fof supplying Okinawa impossible.
The USN also decided to capitalise on its supremacy in aircraft carriers, deploying one escort carrier and two fleet carriers to the Japanese coast. However, over a two day air battle with Soviet aircraft based from Japan, the American carrier-aircraft were soundly beaten, and facing mounting losses and the risk of Russian naval bombers and submarines, drove the Americans east, back into the saftey of the Pacific Ocean.
With the American carriers flight to the Central Pacific, Soviet aircraft could destory American resupply convoys unopposed.
With the isloation of the Okinawa base, the American counterattack on the Russian foothold groun to a stop. By April 26th, the situation had been reversed, with the Russian infantry and tanks pushing agaisnt the American base. The Russian advance was supplied from the air, the regular supply shuttle uninterupted by the American Air Force.
With 28 American divisions trapped on Okinawa with little supplies, badly depleted and with no hope of resuce, it looked to be the worst defeat of the American Army so far.
The entrapment of the American troops caused the rise of a new wave of optimism in STAKVA. The opeational plan of a air and submarine blockade and landings supproted by close air support had been vindicated, and though the resistance on Okinawa was far from ended, the eyes of the High Command were turned elsewhere.
American troops trapped on Okinawa fighting of a Soviet armoured attack. With the sea to their backs, and the cream of Chuikov's 1st Guards Army in front of them, they had little option but to stand and fight.
By mid-day on the 8th of April, Phase Two of the operation began. With the protective cordon of submarines warning of American ships, the Soviet ships in the Far East Fleet surged out of port to carry the Soviet 1st Rifle Corps to Okinawa Island.
With a protective cordon of surface ships and submarines protecting the landing, the 1st Rifle Corps had a stroke of excellent luck. The Americans, following the concentrated bombing of the southern part of the island, had concentrated all of thier units there, and the beaches in the northern sector of the island were left undefended.
The battleship Sovetsky Soyuz firing in support of the landings. It was unnessiary, as the bunkers and trenches were found abandonded.
The American troops were quick to realize thier mistake, though it was too late to undo the damage. When a armoured and a mechanized division moved against the beachhead, they found the Rifle Corps dug in well, with thier cannon and rocket units too well set up for a easy breakthrough.
In order to better allow for a advance against the southern redobut on Okinawa, the Soviet Navy decided to risk a second landing. With temporary naval facilities ashore established, two divisions of the 2nd Guards Tanks Corps, along with headquarters staff were put ashore, and the fleet slipped away with no losses.
The USN was quick to realize the severity of the situation, as they would lose thier advance base against the main Soviet base at Vladivostock, and quickly came up with a plan to ship supplies into the besiged island. With Russian submarines on watch for any large targets, the Americans were forced to use small groups of ships, which proved easy pray for Soviet Naval Aviation.
Many American destroyers suffered the same fate as this one. Soviet torpedo bombers made the ships task fof supplying Okinawa impossible.
The USN also decided to capitalise on its supremacy in aircraft carriers, deploying one escort carrier and two fleet carriers to the Japanese coast. However, over a two day air battle with Soviet aircraft based from Japan, the American carrier-aircraft were soundly beaten, and facing mounting losses and the risk of Russian naval bombers and submarines, drove the Americans east, back into the saftey of the Pacific Ocean.
With the American carriers flight to the Central Pacific, Soviet aircraft could destory American resupply convoys unopposed.
With the isloation of the Okinawa base, the American counterattack on the Russian foothold groun to a stop. By April 26th, the situation had been reversed, with the Russian infantry and tanks pushing agaisnt the American base. The Russian advance was supplied from the air, the regular supply shuttle uninterupted by the American Air Force.
With 28 American divisions trapped on Okinawa with little supplies, badly depleted and with no hope of resuce, it looked to be the worst defeat of the American Army so far.
The entrapment of the American troops caused the rise of a new wave of optimism in STAKVA. The opeational plan of a air and submarine blockade and landings supproted by close air support had been vindicated, and though the resistance on Okinawa was far from ended, the eyes of the High Command were turned elsewhere.
American troops trapped on Okinawa fighting of a Soviet armoured attack. With the sea to their backs, and the cream of Chuikov's 1st Guards Army in front of them, they had little option but to stand and fight.
28 Divisions .... 200,000+ thats one huge dent in the American forces. Good use of land based air to deal with the USN as well
187,000 American troops by my count. I was lucky that the American Navy was so slow to move those carriers into action, if they ended up going toe-to-toe with my own ships, those CAG's would have tore up my heavy crusiers and battleships...
two days without an update on my favorite AAR, OH NOES!
btw whats your plans for invading australia and new zealand certainly you dont have the men to luanch a prolonged invasion on australian territory?
btw whats your plans for invading australia and new zealand certainly you dont have the men to luanch a prolonged invasion on australian territory?
Haha, look at it like a addiction, the longer you keep off it, the better it is when you relapse!
Ive yet to consider my next step. I havent played ahead so far, but my plans will probably be one of two cources of action.
Island hop through the central Pacific, let Australia wither on the vine or attack Australia directly and hope the USN rushes to the rescue.
As for troops, I have plenty of them, just that most are ARM or MECH, and really unsuitable to invasions, but in a pinch I can redeploy troops from India, and in the worst case there are always my VDV troops sitting in Ireland comparing vodka to Guiness.
As April turned to May, the fighting on Okinawa intensified. With Soviet submarines turning the waters around the island into a deathtrap for any large ship, the American carriers in the Western Pacific were forced to seek shelter in their Naha base.
As a result, the American carriers in the Western Pacific were docked at Naha harbour in order to best avoid Soviet sub attacks. On land, the fighting reached a whole new phase. The Soviet troops had developed new tactics around mixed groups of tanks and infantry to clear out the American defenders, backed up by the rocket support units in the rear.
A bombardment firing on American positions. Attacks such as these made advances possible, and caused high casualties to the American units.
At sea, the USN was, in desperation, trying to rush supplies and reinforcements to the battle regardless of losses. As all large concentrations of ships were easily detected and attacked, the Americans attempted to slip through using groups of destroyers and transports small enough to avoid detection. The Soviet Navy could not determine if any slipped through, but a careful tally of sunk American ships was kept.
This American ship was crippled by a Soviet sub. Photograph taken from a Tu-14 of Soviet Naval Aviation before finishing the crippled ship.
The USN endured these losses despite the apparent futility of any attempts to break through the Russian blockade and the strain it was having on the American assets in the Pacific.
By the start of June, the situation had turned critical. The American troops on Okinawa were so low on supplies, that if they were not resupplied, the lack of ammo and food would result in a complete collapse in resistance.
The USN was quick to respond, and a large convoy, well armed and with plenty of escort ships, to smash through the blockade and reach Okinawa to restock the American units with enough ammo and supplies to resist for that little bit longer.
The convoy, code named Reforger, ran into Russian submarines on the 8th of June around mid-day. Over the rest of the day and well into the next morning, Russian wolf packs surrounded the convoy and began systematically targeting the ships.
Few ships escaped unscathed. The main body of the transport ships were sank, and the escorting ships themselves were badly hurt by Soviet torpedo strikes from both submarines, and later in the day, Russian naval aircraft.
A Tu-14 loading a torpedo to attack the Reforger convoy. Torpedos, both from the air and from submarines, were instrumental to the Soviet Navy gaining the upper hand.
By morning on the 9th of June, the convoy had no choice. It had to turn back. Few ships were not damaged in some form, and numerous American ships limped away with torpedo damage.
On Okinawa itself, the 9th of June was a important day. Soviet advance units had made a breakthrough at a the heavily defended village of Ginowan, the last real line of resistance on Okinawa. Now, Soviet units had a direct line of sight to Naha itself, and within the hour, a observed bombardment was falling on the city, destorying what little supplies were left.
That knowledge, combined with the news of Reforger turning back, was the last straw for the American commander, Major General Davis. He ordered a general surrender at 2pm.
American losses had been very heavy. Of the 188,000 troops deployed on Okinawa before the Russian landing, at least a quarter were killed by the Soviet troops, a unknown number having fallen to attrition and lack of supplies, leaving more than half marched into captivity.
For the first time, the Pacific was open to the Soviet Navy.
As a result, the American carriers in the Western Pacific were docked at Naha harbour in order to best avoid Soviet sub attacks. On land, the fighting reached a whole new phase. The Soviet troops had developed new tactics around mixed groups of tanks and infantry to clear out the American defenders, backed up by the rocket support units in the rear.
A bombardment firing on American positions. Attacks such as these made advances possible, and caused high casualties to the American units.
At sea, the USN was, in desperation, trying to rush supplies and reinforcements to the battle regardless of losses. As all large concentrations of ships were easily detected and attacked, the Americans attempted to slip through using groups of destroyers and transports small enough to avoid detection. The Soviet Navy could not determine if any slipped through, but a careful tally of sunk American ships was kept.
This American ship was crippled by a Soviet sub. Photograph taken from a Tu-14 of Soviet Naval Aviation before finishing the crippled ship.
The USN endured these losses despite the apparent futility of any attempts to break through the Russian blockade and the strain it was having on the American assets in the Pacific.
By the start of June, the situation had turned critical. The American troops on Okinawa were so low on supplies, that if they were not resupplied, the lack of ammo and food would result in a complete collapse in resistance.
The USN was quick to respond, and a large convoy, well armed and with plenty of escort ships, to smash through the blockade and reach Okinawa to restock the American units with enough ammo and supplies to resist for that little bit longer.
The convoy, code named Reforger, ran into Russian submarines on the 8th of June around mid-day. Over the rest of the day and well into the next morning, Russian wolf packs surrounded the convoy and began systematically targeting the ships.
Few ships escaped unscathed. The main body of the transport ships were sank, and the escorting ships themselves were badly hurt by Soviet torpedo strikes from both submarines, and later in the day, Russian naval aircraft.
A Tu-14 loading a torpedo to attack the Reforger convoy. Torpedos, both from the air and from submarines, were instrumental to the Soviet Navy gaining the upper hand.
By morning on the 9th of June, the convoy had no choice. It had to turn back. Few ships were not damaged in some form, and numerous American ships limped away with torpedo damage.
On Okinawa itself, the 9th of June was a important day. Soviet advance units had made a breakthrough at a the heavily defended village of Ginowan, the last real line of resistance on Okinawa. Now, Soviet units had a direct line of sight to Naha itself, and within the hour, a observed bombardment was falling on the city, destorying what little supplies were left.
That knowledge, combined with the news of Reforger turning back, was the last straw for the American commander, Major General Davis. He ordered a general surrender at 2pm.
American losses had been very heavy. Of the 188,000 troops deployed on Okinawa before the Russian landing, at least a quarter were killed by the Soviet troops, a unknown number having fallen to attrition and lack of supplies, leaving more than half marched into captivity.
For the first time, the Pacific was open to the Soviet Navy.
that was well done ... construct a situation they feel they have to defend and then extract the maximum damage ... be interesting to see how you manage the process of moving westwards, it could still be quite tense
Stacking penalty and lack of supplies were major contributors. I wish I could see how many men they lost to attrition in that 187K stack
I really am stumped from where to go from here. The Phillipines are the logical next step. Not the easiest option though, as there is a significant American presence. I could also hop across the Central Pacific, but then that leaves the Aussies and Kiwis to irritate my flank...
In a roughly similar position, I went for the US islands in the Central Pacific (midway, Hawaii, theres another I can't remember). I made a huge mistake in tangling with the Phillipines, by late war they'll have a large army (even if mostly militia) in horrible terrain. Given your subs, I'd set up a naval blockade and then ignore it. You can make sure that supply and fuel is scarce there and it becomes a sort of holding pen for any US units (of course get this wrong and you'll have strat bombers and the USN in your rear). I'd take a similar view with the Australians. If they venture out, you can isolate any landings by feasting on their convoys and again they'll be stuck.
you might want to cast an eye over my old AAR Red Sheep, its in 1.3 so not that relevant but the approach I took got me over the Pacific onto the West Coast of the US at much the same time as I hit the Atlantic coast (the link should take you to p.14 where all this started). I'm not really sure how much of that would work in SF as in my current game, I've not played beyond mid-45 and am still trying to work how the heck to get to Latin America with some force.
one danger in SF is subs are so much better at crippling convoys, so you too might be vulnerable to the USN hitting your supply lines.
The only thing is that the US strat bombers are based on the Phillipines, and they have nukes. Whereas its not a huge threat to me, it leaves ComChi very exposed. For the sake of realism, I think its only fair a invasion of the Phillipines is considered, though I would much rather start hitting the Americans on the coast.