Index updated -- got a little behind!
Update coming in the next few days.
Rensslaer
Update coming in the next few days.
Rensslaer
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Great update, I was getting awfully curious about your production queue. How do your naval capabilities compare to South Africa, though? Could you not supply your transport ships with sufficient escort to carry out a crucial landing? Will the ships you're building tip the balance in your favor? Anyway, your maneuvers in the Caribbean are the highlight for me. Hope to see some more of that in future updates! Any chance of a more permanent expedition against allied mainland holdings in that theater?
Thanks, Nuarq! Actually, I think I only have 1 or 2 destroyer flotillas, plus a light cruiser in production. I didn't start with much, my submarine subron was sunk, and that's all I'm left with. Which means South Africa alone outnumbers me in naval units by about 5:1 and in strength they overpower me by about 20:1.
It's like swimming in shark infested waters without so much as a pocket lighter (which, of course, won't light underwater).
Glad you enjoyed the Caribbean -- more of that ahead!
Renss
The peninsular fortress of Gibraltar remained a thorn in Portugal's side -- the indomitable base which Portugal could not seize, and which could be at any time used as a launching platform for air attacks or invasions of Portugal proper. Planners had tried to conceive of ways to approach Gibraltar, including overland through Nationalist Spain. But, though Spain had allowed Portuguese scouts -- and would-be invaders -- onto their territory, supply remained problematic, and the lack of such would have crippled the attempt.
It was decided that a portion of Portugal's precious and limited Leadership must be devoted to bringing Nationalist Spain closer to joining the Axis, whereupon Gibraltar would become fully exposed.
In the above screenshot, the red circle shows Spain's current position in the alignment pyramid, whereas the tooltip shows how fast it was moving toward the Axis. Their Neutrality was coming down, and it seemed like Spain might become a partner in a matter of a year or two... with luck. Interesting that we're most afraid of being invaded by Japan. Kind of makes the British Empire seem rather small, doesn't it?
In other worldwide news, the Greeks were proving unexpectedly obstinate in combat, having driven deep into Macedonian Yugoslavia, just to spite the combined forces of Axis Germany, Italy and newly allied Yugoslavia (having been puppeted).
The South African cauldron continued to seethe. The surrounded divsion at Walvis Bay surrendered to the Portuguese on 12 August, freeing those units to assist on the main front pushing eastward.
The 3rd Cavalry continued to hook south into Bechuanaland in its ongoing attempt to cut off enemy units. They were having some success, though the job was an enormous one.
In mid-August, in the Caribbean, a small number of troops with the support of a troop transport made what they could of their situation. Landing on New Providence, first, they raided the Bahamaian capital at Nassau, then crossed to the island of Ambon to capture the airbase there. However, they found the naval base at Freeport (Grand Bahama) guarded, and the garrison there held the threat of pushing the weak cavalry forces out of their position. The re-embarked, after having burned what facilities they could at the airport, and departed.
In a couple of days, they had checked Belize, finding it guarded, and then made their way to Jamaica, where they found the capital of Kingston free of protecting troops (the British infantry were in the west, on maneuvers, and hadn't gotten word that the Portuguese had slipped out of the Bahamas).
As soon as they'd landed, the 4th Cavalry came under attack from these troops, returning to their base. The 4th Cav was increasingly rag-tag, having been in several actions since they'd had time to rest or reinforce. They were in no shape to hold off a full British infantry division. But the Portuguese commanders were plucky and stubborn. Gen. Bastos being no exception...
Bastos urged his men to hold on while the transport hurried over to Barbados where the 20th Garrison Division boarded for a quick redeployment to Jamaica. They came off the ships just in time to relieve the 4th Cavalry on the firing line, allowing the cavalry to drop back and rest briefly. But then, the departure of the 20th having exposed Barbados to attack and reconquest, it was decided the cavalry would be best deployed there to hold the island while they rested. Sadly, but certainly to be expected, the gains in the Bahamas were lost.
Once German and Italian troops were able to fully concentrate against Greece, the Greeks had no chance. By the end of August, Athens had fallen and the defenders had retreated to the hills and islands for survival. A puppet government was set up in Athens, and Greece joined Italy, Portugal, Slovakia and Yugoslavia as Axis allies.
In South Africa, the end of the month brought good news – the suspected threats to Portuguese positions there had been only a chimera. The Portuguese were again dominant. The 3rd Cavalry was speeding south to cut off the lines of retreat from the deep south of the country, and a second landing on the southern coast at the Cape had succeeded, raising another obstacle against Capetown. Enemy units further north had either been cut off or were running for their lives!
In Jamaica, the enemy infantry kept pounding upon the Garrison division commanded by Gen. Barras. These troops were not conditioned for combat with heavy units of superior size (this, like the other garrison divisions, was a two-brigade division), and so it was quickly worn down. Something else had to be done.
Fortunately, new units were being recruited in Lisbon and other major Portuguese cities, and one was made ready in time to arrive in the Caribbean at the beginning of September. The 10th Garrison Division arrived, and was able to take the pressure off the 20th at a critical moment, just as the 20th had for the 4th Cavalry. Faced with the resistance of now four brigades, the English ceased their energetic campaign and settled into defensive positions.
On the 6th of September the good fortune which somehow had protected the South African capital for weeks gave way. Her final defenses crumbled with the addition of the western flank attack, and they were forced to either retreat through a narrow gap or risk becoming trapped forever. They chose to run, as best they could.
Some Portuguese units converged upon the capital, while others fanned out in every direction, making use of the opportunity to expand their bridgeheads and perhaps set up traps for other units..
Back at home, in Lisbon, some more of the defensive militia and garrisons which had been recruited to protect the Portuguese capital were deployed into positions. The scramble to find troops for catch-as-catch-can operations had slowed, so these units – the militia, especially – were expected to remain in the capital to respond to any threats.
By mid-September, the fears of July seemed far away. The feeling that victory was slipping away had been replaced by the confidence that comes after being frightened by a shadow – the belief that neither was there any danger now, but there really never had been any danger in the first place. The Allies, it seemed, were more or less beaten already, and continued Portuguese expansion simply proved that.
It was decided that a portion of Portugal's precious and limited Leadership must be devoted to bringing Nationalist Spain closer to joining the Axis, whereupon Gibraltar would become fully exposed.
In the above screenshot, the red circle shows Spain's current position in the alignment pyramid, whereas the tooltip shows how fast it was moving toward the Axis. Their Neutrality was coming down, and it seemed like Spain might become a partner in a matter of a year or two... with luck. Interesting that we're most afraid of being invaded by Japan. Kind of makes the British Empire seem rather small, doesn't it?
In other worldwide news, the Greeks were proving unexpectedly obstinate in combat, having driven deep into Macedonian Yugoslavia, just to spite the combined forces of Axis Germany, Italy and newly allied Yugoslavia (having been puppeted).
The South African cauldron continued to seethe. The surrounded divsion at Walvis Bay surrendered to the Portuguese on 12 August, freeing those units to assist on the main front pushing eastward.
The 3rd Cavalry continued to hook south into Bechuanaland in its ongoing attempt to cut off enemy units. They were having some success, though the job was an enormous one.
In mid-August, in the Caribbean, a small number of troops with the support of a troop transport made what they could of their situation. Landing on New Providence, first, they raided the Bahamaian capital at Nassau, then crossed to the island of Ambon to capture the airbase there. However, they found the naval base at Freeport (Grand Bahama) guarded, and the garrison there held the threat of pushing the weak cavalry forces out of their position. The re-embarked, after having burned what facilities they could at the airport, and departed.
In a couple of days, they had checked Belize, finding it guarded, and then made their way to Jamaica, where they found the capital of Kingston free of protecting troops (the British infantry were in the west, on maneuvers, and hadn't gotten word that the Portuguese had slipped out of the Bahamas).
As soon as they'd landed, the 4th Cavalry came under attack from these troops, returning to their base. The 4th Cav was increasingly rag-tag, having been in several actions since they'd had time to rest or reinforce. They were in no shape to hold off a full British infantry division. But the Portuguese commanders were plucky and stubborn. Gen. Bastos being no exception...
Bastos urged his men to hold on while the transport hurried over to Barbados where the 20th Garrison Division boarded for a quick redeployment to Jamaica. They came off the ships just in time to relieve the 4th Cavalry on the firing line, allowing the cavalry to drop back and rest briefly. But then, the departure of the 20th having exposed Barbados to attack and reconquest, it was decided the cavalry would be best deployed there to hold the island while they rested. Sadly, but certainly to be expected, the gains in the Bahamas were lost.
Once German and Italian troops were able to fully concentrate against Greece, the Greeks had no chance. By the end of August, Athens had fallen and the defenders had retreated to the hills and islands for survival. A puppet government was set up in Athens, and Greece joined Italy, Portugal, Slovakia and Yugoslavia as Axis allies.
In South Africa, the end of the month brought good news – the suspected threats to Portuguese positions there had been only a chimera. The Portuguese were again dominant. The 3rd Cavalry was speeding south to cut off the lines of retreat from the deep south of the country, and a second landing on the southern coast at the Cape had succeeded, raising another obstacle against Capetown. Enemy units further north had either been cut off or were running for their lives!
In Jamaica, the enemy infantry kept pounding upon the Garrison division commanded by Gen. Barras. These troops were not conditioned for combat with heavy units of superior size (this, like the other garrison divisions, was a two-brigade division), and so it was quickly worn down. Something else had to be done.
Fortunately, new units were being recruited in Lisbon and other major Portuguese cities, and one was made ready in time to arrive in the Caribbean at the beginning of September. The 10th Garrison Division arrived, and was able to take the pressure off the 20th at a critical moment, just as the 20th had for the 4th Cavalry. Faced with the resistance of now four brigades, the English ceased their energetic campaign and settled into defensive positions.
On the 6th of September the good fortune which somehow had protected the South African capital for weeks gave way. Her final defenses crumbled with the addition of the western flank attack, and they were forced to either retreat through a narrow gap or risk becoming trapped forever. They chose to run, as best they could.
Some Portuguese units converged upon the capital, while others fanned out in every direction, making use of the opportunity to expand their bridgeheads and perhaps set up traps for other units..
Back at home, in Lisbon, some more of the defensive militia and garrisons which had been recruited to protect the Portuguese capital were deployed into positions. The scramble to find troops for catch-as-catch-can operations had slowed, so these units – the militia, especially – were expected to remain in the capital to respond to any threats.
By mid-September, the fears of July seemed far away. The feeling that victory was slipping away had been replaced by the confidence that comes after being frightened by a shadow – the belief that neither was there any danger now, but there really never had been any danger in the first place. The Allies, it seemed, were more or less beaten already, and continued Portuguese expansion simply proved that.
Well, this update seemed pretty quiet... Which means one thing, either the allies are done... or they're preparing an invasion force...
Lets hope its the first...
Lets hope its the first...
You repeated the landing and surprised the ai. Kind of expected that. Slightly surprised that you didn't cut off the retreat out of Cape Town before you took them down. Your actions in the Caribbean probably convinced the British you had given up on South Africa. I still believe that there will be an assault on Portugal.
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I truly hope this update does mean that the South African Campaign is drawing to a rapid and successful close. It's needed! Portugal must then focus on its next target. I wonder where those troops might go.... I guess we will wait and see.
Nice update! How is your heavy cruiser research going(seeing it in the last screenshot)? And when do you plan on launching the first ships?
While I can't help but read your last paragraph and wait for the other shoe to drop, I must say that your progress is quite impressive, especially in South Africa. Your raids in the Carribean, while entertaining and tying down British divisions, isn't exactly delivering lasting results.
again all very nicely done, good thing is that UK division in W Jamaica is going to out of supply soon & cease to be an offensive threat unless the UK retake Kingston. So for maybe the long term cost of leaving a 2 brigade gar unit there you effectively remove a combat division from the war -- pretty good trade off for all your hopping around.
Go Portugal go!!! Take Egypt from the hated British! And the go for the rest of Africa. But i guess we'll see what happens You allready know
You allready know
Yeah... Maybe the quiet before the storm! Or maybe not.
We'll see soon.The major who was (emphasis on WAS) the Divisional Training Officer just wanted a change of scenery, and forgot to coordinate with the invasion forces. He also left his radio at home, so news about the invasion of the Bahamas was slow in getting to them. They had a great time, though, really! In fact, they still have those same western beaches to enjoy themselves on. And some tropical fruit as food. Other supplies are a little pinched.
There was some reason why I was afraid I wouldn't be able to finish the encirclement. There were so many S. African divisions running this way and that, I may have feared I'd get in another battle before I could make it across the escape route.
Well... Drawing to a close may be asking a bit much, since British territory leads from South Africa all the way up to the Mediterranean. But this region of it mayhap will be.
That may be answered in the next update. I don't remember whether I leaped immediately into building one once research was finished (which should be anyday now), or not. But I think those guys have about a 12-14 month production period, so...
While I can't help but read your last paragraph and wait for the other shoe to drop, I must say that your progress is quite impressive, especially in South Africa. Your raids in the Carribean, while entertaining and tying down British divisions, isn't exactly delivering lasting results.
Thanks! I can't promise there might not be other difficulties to run into....
The Caribbean turns into quite a fight -- much more ahead on that front!Yes, the supply situation is key. As Enewald points out, they were quite stupid to have left their strategic position at the port. Who knows why they did that. Maybe they had "intelligence" reporting that I was checking out Belize, and might be landing in West Jamaica soon. Dunno.
But I'm happy with the result.Go Portugal go!!! Take Egypt from the hated British! And the go for the rest of Africa. But i guess we'll see what happens
I'm not actually finished with the scenario. I was actually hoping to switch to a newer patch to see if the AI would improve a bit. But I don't know which savegames are compatible. I think this was in v1.3 -- is 1.3 compatible with v1.4?
Thanks, everybody! Sorry things have slowed down update-wise, but I'll get back into it. Should be an update within the next few days -- over the weekend at the latest, I think.
Appreciate your comments! Anyone new watching?
Rensslaer
I recall Myth managed to nurse his game from 1.3 to 1.4 but in the end the AI seemed to just give up in confusion, so whatever technical gains to the AI that 1.4 offered had no effect ... may even have swamped the 1.3 AI (I'm sure thats not the technical term? but not only was his game ended with some variant of the expeditionary forces bug it seemed as if the AI became inert in any case), so you're prob best sticking to 1.3?
You know, now that I look I'm still in v1.2.
So I guess I'll just keep going with this.I'm on board - show those Brits who truly rules the seas!
Welcome, ViperhawkZ! Thanks! I'll be sure to keep it exciting.
I am half-way done with the new update, which I hope to post at lunch today or thereabouts (a few hours).
Stay tuned!
Rensslaer
Is this whats called an Emu?
edit: Now that i look at the time, it's not really and emu...
edit: Now that i look at the time, it's not really and emu...
To give you an idea about the kind of volume in valuable resources we’re getting from our East Indies conquests, I wanted to show you this – just one convoy which transports our take from just the northern part of the Malaysian peninsula.
We’re getting similar convoys from Borneo and Sumatra and Java, and elsewhere – the ones from Borneo have large amounts of Oil, as well as Rares and Metals, etc.
In Africa, by the end of September, we’ve successfully taken Capetown and much of the whole southern coast of South Africa. The country itself – its cities, essentially – is about 38% conquered. Lots to go, but we’re in good shape.
Pretty much the entire Atlantic coast of Africa – all the way up to where the Vichy French colonies begin, north of Dakar, is in Portuguese hands. That’s better than Portugal had in previous centuries, even!
The South Africans are fighting us at Port Elizabeth – pretty doggedly, as it turns out. But we turn back the first attack. They have to reinforce, and then they try again later, in mid-October.
While we’re landing relief troops at Port Elizabeth, the South African cruisers show up again, causing more damage before our ships escape into the port.
On the 14th, one of our cavalry divisions in the far north is continuing to push through Bechuanaland, and is within reach of connecting our Angolan colony in the west with our remaining property in Mozambique, in the east!
This would “cut off” the South Africans, and some British divisions, entirely! They would still be able to receive supply through their eastern ports – Durban, etc. – but they couldn’t get supply down the Rift Valley, and it might have other major effects upon their ability to operate.
Now, remember when we landed in the Americas for the first time? We landed in Dutch Guyana, then found that the British had a division there that we had no hope of defeating, so we retreated, landed in Barbados instead, and for several months forgot about Guyana. The land was re-taken.
But I finally figured out a way to turn geography in my favor. Watch….
On the 21st, we landed in the northernmost province of British Guyana. They began fighting us, but our cavalry retreated back to the ships as soon as we were able.
The British won that fight, of course, and advanced into the province to retake it. While our cavalry was still loading onto the ships though (while they were still “retreating” – a process that takes a while), we brought another garrison division in, and landed at the port of Georgetown!
This undefended territory – abandoned by the British, who wanted to recapture the north – was easily taken, along with its port and airbase. The British 5th Infantry, under command of the auspicious Gen. Mountbatten (presumably not Louis, who was an admiral, but some relative), was trapped in the north without access to supply.
Our tactical bombers flew into the airbase and began pummeling the 5th Infantry from the air while they attempted to push our defending troops out of their former base! This was all a near-run thing, of course, as the British were far more capable than our own units, and we suffered terribly under their guns. There began to be a fear that we had overstepped, and might have to retreat from this position because of battle casualties and disorganization.
But, all things considered, the British didn’t quite have the strength to do what they were doing while out of supply (-40% to combat), plus they were attacking into mountains (another -40%). It looked like Gen. Barras might pull it off! As our cavalry was virtually spent, we sent them on “vacation” doing a round-robin around Guyana. Another garrison division was brought in to help hold their spot.
With the arrival of those reinforcements, the British were forced to cease their futile attack. The adventurous 4th Cavalry (Guyana, Barbados, Bahamas, Jamaica, Guyana again) trotted around the jungles and highlands of the British and Dutch colonies until it had wrapped up the whole thing – all but the northern province where Mountbatten sat.
Wrapping up was underway elsewhere too. In the months since we’ve paid any attention to Nigeria, our units have made a circuit of the country, all the way along the perimeter with Vichy French territory, and has entirely isolated the 8th Indian Division, which is the only British unit remaining within this whole region of Africa.
A battle begins to force their surrender.
And a similar battle of mobility has caused the one British division (I swear this was a Dutch division which must have become a British expeditionary army or something) remaining in Sumatra to also become surrounded.
A battle also begins to decisively defeat them, and force their surrender. Portuguese forces have been systematically landing and taking provinces throughout the dozens of islands of the Dutch East Indies, so that Portugal now controls most of the whole colony.
We’re getting similar convoys from Borneo and Sumatra and Java, and elsewhere – the ones from Borneo have large amounts of Oil, as well as Rares and Metals, etc.
In Africa, by the end of September, we’ve successfully taken Capetown and much of the whole southern coast of South Africa. The country itself – its cities, essentially – is about 38% conquered. Lots to go, but we’re in good shape.
Pretty much the entire Atlantic coast of Africa – all the way up to where the Vichy French colonies begin, north of Dakar, is in Portuguese hands. That’s better than Portugal had in previous centuries, even!
The South Africans are fighting us at Port Elizabeth – pretty doggedly, as it turns out. But we turn back the first attack. They have to reinforce, and then they try again later, in mid-October.
While we’re landing relief troops at Port Elizabeth, the South African cruisers show up again, causing more damage before our ships escape into the port.
On the 14th, one of our cavalry divisions in the far north is continuing to push through Bechuanaland, and is within reach of connecting our Angolan colony in the west with our remaining property in Mozambique, in the east!
This would “cut off” the South Africans, and some British divisions, entirely! They would still be able to receive supply through their eastern ports – Durban, etc. – but they couldn’t get supply down the Rift Valley, and it might have other major effects upon their ability to operate.
Now, remember when we landed in the Americas for the first time? We landed in Dutch Guyana, then found that the British had a division there that we had no hope of defeating, so we retreated, landed in Barbados instead, and for several months forgot about Guyana. The land was re-taken.
But I finally figured out a way to turn geography in my favor. Watch….
On the 21st, we landed in the northernmost province of British Guyana. They began fighting us, but our cavalry retreated back to the ships as soon as we were able.
The British won that fight, of course, and advanced into the province to retake it. While our cavalry was still loading onto the ships though (while they were still “retreating” – a process that takes a while), we brought another garrison division in, and landed at the port of Georgetown!
This undefended territory – abandoned by the British, who wanted to recapture the north – was easily taken, along with its port and airbase. The British 5th Infantry, under command of the auspicious Gen. Mountbatten (presumably not Louis, who was an admiral, but some relative), was trapped in the north without access to supply.
Our tactical bombers flew into the airbase and began pummeling the 5th Infantry from the air while they attempted to push our defending troops out of their former base! This was all a near-run thing, of course, as the British were far more capable than our own units, and we suffered terribly under their guns. There began to be a fear that we had overstepped, and might have to retreat from this position because of battle casualties and disorganization.
But, all things considered, the British didn’t quite have the strength to do what they were doing while out of supply (-40% to combat), plus they were attacking into mountains (another -40%). It looked like Gen. Barras might pull it off! As our cavalry was virtually spent, we sent them on “vacation” doing a round-robin around Guyana. Another garrison division was brought in to help hold their spot.
With the arrival of those reinforcements, the British were forced to cease their futile attack. The adventurous 4th Cavalry (Guyana, Barbados, Bahamas, Jamaica, Guyana again) trotted around the jungles and highlands of the British and Dutch colonies until it had wrapped up the whole thing – all but the northern province where Mountbatten sat.
Wrapping up was underway elsewhere too. In the months since we’ve paid any attention to Nigeria, our units have made a circuit of the country, all the way along the perimeter with Vichy French territory, and has entirely isolated the 8th Indian Division, which is the only British unit remaining within this whole region of Africa.
A battle begins to force their surrender.
And a similar battle of mobility has caused the one British division (I swear this was a Dutch division which must have become a British expeditionary army or something) remaining in Sumatra to also become surrounded.
A battle also begins to decisively defeat them, and force their surrender. Portuguese forces have been systematically landing and taking provinces throughout the dozens of islands of the Dutch East Indies, so that Portugal now controls most of the whole colony.
Another great update only one question though,Do the Brits pose much threat to your convoys and if they are,how much do they sink every week(approximatly)?
only one question though,Do the Brits pose much threat to your convoys and if they are,how much do they sink every week(approximatly)?- 1
Very nice gains! and clever strategy for taking over guiana. Also have you thought about building some armour? it could probably punch through most of the places you're having trouble with