American AAR : AI Experiments In HoI3

[Bullfilter]

Oh, the horror, the horror.

The Johnston Island Teddy Bear Slaughter of 28 July 1942. A day that will go down in infamy. Those little button eyes, dimmed for ever. Those teddy-bayoneting bastards must pay! Onwards to victory!

 

[Wraith11B]

Wait, Taco Hell in the 40s? Oh those poor people...

 

[Eurasia]

AI Experiments In HoI3
Chapter Two Hundred-Sixteen : In The Navy!

Where We Kill Our Fellow Man! Oh wait...
​

We open this chapter with me noticing that the American Fleets were trying, and FAILING, to hunt down and attack the passing Japanese Fleets. For example Kennedy, and the CAG units, had been sent out by the 1st Transport Fleet to find an unidentified enemy Fleet. But once the targets were out of sight they could no longer be tracked and, therefore, were forgotten. “A Fleet?” the AI said to themselves, “there can’t be Fleet here! There’s nothing here! There may have been one passing THROUGH here five second ago but not now. So it does not exist!”

As this was happening it looked like the 1st Transport Fleet was....moving? Or in Port? It’s hard to tell...it was in the ocean but the Fleet’s information said it was in Port? Or am I looking at this wrong....?

Either way its CAGs totally fail at finding a moving target. It says they are doing a Naval Strike but who are we kidding!

As I tried to figure out what the American Fleet were doing the Japanese pilots were back launching a Ground Attack on Johnston Island. It seems the Japanese knew what THEY were doing.

The result ended with 63 American soldiers dead. Along with countless seagulls and teddy bears.

The Japanese aircraft returned after lunch with more bombs.

Before the results came in I got a different kind of report. Seems the nation of Turkey was thinking of joining the Reds again. Bad Turkey! BAD!

Though....now that I think of it....Turkey joining the Comintern COULD push the Germans into invading the USSR? Or maybe not. I don’t know how that would change the balance between the two Factions.

Anyway, we finally got the result for the post-noon Ground Attack. The Americans lost another 51 soldiers.

Also it looks like Burke and the 3rd Marine Transport Fleet has landed at Maleolap, loaded up the 64th Cavalry Division, and is now on its way back to the Port of Davao. Reinforcements are on the way.

Then Guatemala canceled a Trade Agreement with the US. How could you Guatemala. How could you after all we have been through? I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed.

It also made me take a long look at those unaligned nations in the Americas. The Dominican Republic was the only one not being influenced by the Allies.

So of course I started influencing them at once.

And near the West Coast it looks like the 1st Marine Task Force is being sent out into the deep blue sea. Is there a plan or is this something totally random?

So we close this chapter with a lot of things happening. But will it HELP us or just fall apart?

 

[Bullfilter]

Seems the nation of Turkey was thinking of joining the Reds again. Bad Turkey! BAD!

Good Turkey! Here, have a chewy treat!.

The result ended with 63 American soldiers dead. Along with countless seagulls and teddy bears.

And near the West Coast it looks like the 1st Marine Task Force is being sent out into the deep blue sea. Is there a plan or is this something totally random?

All these fleets could try attacking something that is in plain view and pinned in place: the Japanese Teddy Murderers of Johnston Island!

 

[serutan]

AI Experiments In HoI3
Chapter Two Hundred-Sixteen : In The Navy!

Where We Kill Our Fellow Man! Oh wait...
​

You realize of course I have no choice but to post the real (i.e. corrected) version of that.

 

[Bullfilter]

You realize of course I have no choice but to post the real (i.e. corrected) version of that.

Nice one!

 

[Eurasia]

AI Experiments In HoI3
Chapter Two Hundred-Seventeen : Torture In The Pacific

Giving First Aide To Two Wounded Soldiers​

Sadly, we start another chapter of mostly Ground Attacks against the poor American Defenders of Johnston Island. The Japanese pilots came shortly after midnight on the 29th and woke the soldiers from their deep slumber with their bombs.

The result was another 133 Americans were killed by the Japanese attack.

While this is happening I noticed my Pacific allies were patrolling the oceans. Looks like they were engaging, periodically, enemy ships they ran into. Mostly one-on-one battles but every little bit counts.

I just hope this does not draw the attention of the Japanese Empire onto their nations. Australia and New Zealand under the Rising Sun would not be a good thing. Funny knowing the French AAR I have played but still not a good thing.

The Japanese pilots were back to attack Johnston Island. At least they waited till after first breakfast before launching the Ground Attack.

The result was another 46 soldiers dead.

The American Defenders were just finishing their M&Ms, after heaving their noon rations, when the Japanese pilots returned with more bombs.

And anther 65 soldiers were killed. The final butcher bill is going to be massive.

The Battle of Johnston Island, while seeming to go on forever, was really swiftly coming to a end. It was just a matter of time, maybe days, before defeat was announced.

The Japanese aircraft were back early the next morning to drop more bombs on the poor Defenders of Johnston Island.

As this was happening a Japanese Convoy Raider sank a cargo ship heading for the Island of Mili. Damn it.

And at the SAME time the 1st Marine Task Force was heading BACK to San Diego. You know, you could PATROL the area around Hawaii and HUNT down the enemy Submarines? Just a suggestion. *SIGH*

As I pondered if this experiment had already shown us all the final answer, that there is NO WAY to structure the AI to be able to fight in a ocean theater on its own, the game showed me the results of the last Ground Attack in Johnston Island. Another 74 American soldiers dead.

So we close this chapter with more dead, the loss of a cargo ship, and a Navy not doing as well as I had wished.

 

[roverS3]

The teddy bears in pieces, blood soaked stuffing spread all over the foxhole, button eyes missing, tiny paws clawing at the star filled sky.

I'm going to have nightmares about this. This should be qualified as a war crime!

The Navy is definitely doing things, though they aren't very useful. At least it's not sitting in port waiting for the war to end.

 

[Eurasia]

I'm going to have nightmares about this. This should be qualified as a war crime!

 

[Eurasia]

AI Experiments In HoI3
Chapter Two Hundred-Eighteen : Why You Germans Pick On Boston?

Bad Sweden! BAD!
​

We open this chapter with another Ground Attack by the Japanese on Johnston Island. Which was launched at a reasonable hour. At least no meals were cut short.

And....the 8th Air Wing made up of the 11th CAG is buzzing around. It says it is carrying out a Naval Strike but it isn't anywhere NEAR a Japanese Fleet.

The Japanese planes withdrew from the airspace above Johnston Island and left behind 26 dead soldiers.

​

The Japanese planes were back after lunch with new bombs for the American Defenders.

By the time the Japanese planes had dropped all their bombs and withdrew they had killed another 80 soldiers.

And they were soon back early the next morning with new bombs. This, of course, woke up the Americans from their slumber and forced them to flee to the foxholes and shelters.

The result of this attack was 116 soldiers dead. Along with many innocent seagulls, harmless teddy bears, and a couple of surprised land crabs who had been taking a romantic walk on the beach.

Then I received news about Sweden thinking about joining the Axis powers. Maybe threatened by the Soviets? Or feeling they have no choice BUT to join the Axis?

Then it was reported that a shipment of Boston Cream Pie Snacks, meant for Turkish restaurants in Izmir, was sunk by German Raiders. Looks like Turkey will not be getting pastries they ordered from the USA.

My attention was drawn back to Johnston Island where the Japanese were back with fresh bombs. At least the Americans were able to finish their waffles before the enemy planes filled the sky.

Then more bad news on the convoy front. The Germans sunk a shipment of more yummy pastries. This time heading out of Boston to Sweden. Maybe the Axis don't want their future partners eating anything but German baked goods?

Then the result from the last Ground Attack on Johnston Island was reported. Another 26 American soldiers had died.

And so we close this chapter with more deaths and the Germans picking on Boston again.

 

[stnylan]

Not much levity about in these last few posts.

 

[Wraith11B]

Almost none at all. We can foist that blame on the AI though.

 

[Eurasia]

AI Experiments In HoI3
Chapter Two Hundred-Nineteen : Defeat At Johnston Island

Target : Bislig
​

We open this chapter with another Ground Attack on Johnston Island by the Japanese pilots shortly after lunch. As you can see the American Defenders are on the verge of collapse.

The enemy bombs killed 25 soldiers.

Then the Japanese surprised me. They marched into the Province of General Santos and started a fight. Two of their Marine Divisions against two of my Armored Divisions and a Mountain Division.

While the American Defenders clearly have the Superior Leadership in Eisenhower they BARELY outnumber the Japanese and are heavily worn down from earlier clashes. And while they have Tanks they seem low on supplies.

As we entered August a spy from Cuba was captured and neutralized by being forced to eat the American versions of his nation's dishes.

Then I noticed that Halsey and the 1st Marine Transport Fleet had reached the Philippines and were unloading their Divisions onto the beaches of Bislig. It was unlikely the Japanese would be able to stop this operation in time.

In the early morning of the 1st the Japanese launched another Ground Attack on Johnston Island.

But even before the results could be reported the Battle of Johnston Island came to an end. The Americans had lost 1,199 men in the Land Combat and another 1,515 men to the enemy Ground Attacks. This left 9,027 Americans soldiers to be marched off to the Prisoner-Of-War camps. The Japanese only lost 876 to the Land Combat.

After an hour the Island was officially taken by the Japanese invaders. All that was left to do was bury all the dead and rise the Japanese flag over the remains of the island.

And so we end this chapter with the fall of the Island of Johnston to the Japanese Empire

 

[Bullfilter]

Johnston falls - and all those poor teddy bears are either eaten, have their stuffing ripped out or sent to POW camps. They must be avenged!

And more amour for the jungles of Mindanao? US AI force allocation is once again rather off.

 

[stnylan]

I wonder if it might have been better to reinforce General Santos than make an additional landing, but I am sure the AI knows what it is doing

 

[Eurasia]

AI Experiments In HoI3
Chapter Two Hundred-Twenty : Punching Back

US Naval Troopship​

We open this chapter with the Japanese striking first. They try to invade the Province of Manay. A Japanese Marine Division and Infantry Division against the 3rd Infantry Division.

The American Defenders are outnumbered and already showing wear. Even the enemy General is Superior to their own. I am not sure how long the Battle of Manay will last or even if we will win it.

But surprise! The 11th CAG, from Halsey's 1st Marine Transport Fleet, is launching a Ground Attack on the Province of Bunawan. Looks like the CAG was sent to hit the most crowded of the enemy occupied Provinces. And one of the Marine Divisions it is dropping bombs on is the 16th Rikusentai who is involved in the Battle of Manay. I wonder how that will tilt the scales?

To make things even hotter for the Japanese the Americans launched an attack on Tagum. A Infantry Division and a Mountain Division were attacking the 42nd Hoheishidan who were ALSO involved in the Battle of Manay. That WILL tilt the scales into the 3rd Division's favor. I hope.

A few hours later the American pilots withdrew from their attack on Banawan after killing 9 Japanese soldiers.

Soon the Americans were back to unload their bombs right onto the Japanese during their noon meal. Explosions and rice were everywhere as the Japanese Marines, Infantry, Engineers, and Gunners made a run for their foxholes.

A few hours later, as the last bombs were dropped and the American pilots flew back to their Escort Carrier, they reported having killed another 19 enemy men.

Of course the Americans were back just in time to launch an Ground Attacking during supper time. Once again the Japanese has to make a dash for their foxholes as the bombs destroyed their cooking fires and ruined their rice dinners.

Before I received the results of this bombing run the 3rd Marine Transport Fleet docked in the Port of Davao and delivered the 64th Cavalry Division to the southern island.

​

And so we close this chapter with a slightly mixed view of the conflict in Mindanao. This time the American aircraft control the skies!

 

[stnylan]

Having American bomb the Japanese is a rather nice change from what has become the ordinary situation

 

[Bullfilter]

Some enemy meal interdiction - only one wing, but it’s something at least. With that naval landing happening as well, there is a least still a bit of fight left in Mindanao.

But the Japanese fleet needs to be engaged and at least bloodied. Especially when it is pinned offshore supporting naval landings. I wonder if it will ever get around to it.

 

[roverS3]

Fresh troops arriving in the Philippines, the US Navy bombing Japanese ground troops, and using their own tactics against them. Suddenly things seem to be looking up just a bit...

 

[Eurasia]

AI Experiments In HoI3
Chapter Two Hundred-Twenty-One : Japanese Try To Cancel Christmas

Be Nice! Buy Bonds!​

We open the chapter with some bad news. Seems the Germans sunk another cargo ship from Boston that had been on its way to Sweden. Did I run out of Escorts already? Well, no unsweetened tea for the Swedish. Not that the northern tea is that good. I prefer southern tea. I mean, horrible for your teeth but I just prefer it.

And we finally got the results from the last Ground Attack on the Japanese in Bunawan. Only 4 enemy soldiers were killed. Why are my pilots so bad at this? Lack of experience?

A few hours later the 3rd Marine Transport Fleet left the Port of Davao. I wondered if it was heading east to fight the Japanese Fleets or was it going to pick up more forces?

On the Mainland a new Wing of A-17s was placed in Gulfport to Organize and wait for more units to join with.

The American pilots were back, just past midnight, to drop bombs on the Japanese in the Province of Bunawan. I guess the enemy would get little sleep tonight.

The result was just another 9 Japanese soldiers were killed and thousands were sleepy.

The Americans were soon back again with fresh bombs. They were polite enough to wait till the Japanese had finished their breakfast before launching the Ground Attack.

This time only one enemy soldier died. Maybe he was slow in finishing his meal and failed to make it to a shelter in time?

Then I got a surprise. The Japanese were launching a Ground Attack on the Island of Christmas. The Japanese were going after Santa! NOOOOOOO!!!!!

What next? The Island of Misfit Toys? Anyway, this is a BAD thing. Because part of the Marine's Chain-Of-Command is stationed on the Island! CRAP!

So we close this chapter knowing which island the Japanese plan to invade next and also knowing that, in the future, I will have to rebuild the Chain-Of-Command. Maybe.