Lake Baikal is free! Hurrah and Huzzah! Some very positive developments as the year moves. I look forward to future progress.
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Decent progress, except for the frozen north and Mongolia. The 7th army seems to be doing exactly what you want from it. Soon the Pacific coast will be reached, and the Northern Siberian pocket will be closed.
Strange, you went straight from the Yak-3 and the La-5 to the Yak-15 and the MiG-9. Where were the Yak-7 and the La-7? Was development so rapid that they were obsolete before entering into service?
I'm really liking your experiments with the battles etc. I've made all new templates for my own battle reporting, and have been incorporating some of the feedback people have given here.
Strange, you went straight from the Yak-3 and the La-5 to the Yak-15 and the MiG-9. Where were the Yak-7 and the La-7? Was development so rapid that they were obsolete before entering into service?
I'm really liking your experiments with the battles etc. I've made all new templates for my own battle reporting, and have been incorporating some of the feedback people have given here.
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The offensive continues making progress, despite fierce resistance from the Japanese. If you can keep the momentum up, we might see the Soviet Far East effectively reclaimed before winter comes.
I'm still flabbergasted at the design. I hope my eyes get used to it.
I didn't know a piston MiG-9 existed
I confirm there's a broken pic
Operational summary, Far East – Mongolian Sector, April 1945.
Wheeee!!!!
I believe this is going to be quite useful, combined arms in 3 dimensions! encirclement from above!
unfortunately this is the case for so many lines of tech
What is the name of the new model?
This paragraph answers 2 of my earlier questionsAnd on 10 April, the latest interceptor model had been upgraded to the Yak-15 ‘Feather’, though none had yet been put into operational service, meaning the Yak-3 was the front-line fighter until upgrades had been completed. The latest multi-role fighter was still the MiG-9 ‘Fargo’. There were plans for both designs to be equipped with jet engines, but these were not yet ready [just me trying to gloss over the obvious Paradox discontinuity in the pictures/models
Excellent progress, about to shut the doors for the grand pocket
It feels like it's Paradox dropping the ball massively
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Hoping we can have August Storm early!
Thanks for reminding me about the map legend! I meant to include it again and forgot. Will work something out to update without going over the image limit Or overcrowding each map.Yes - these last couple of months went a bit better than expected, for me. After January-February, I thought this might have taken longer.
7th Army has been great! The lack of air support in the south really showed this month. Happy for the Japanese to stay where they are in the north and get cut off, though they do have another port in the north I’ll need to take to cut off all their supplies.
Not sure what’s happened there!Thank you! I’m also applying some of the things I’m developing here for my TT AAR as well, as you probably noticed. Still working on it as I go, trying to reduce effort and improve the clarity.
That really would be good. Then I can start concentrating on how to knock the Japanese right out of the war. After that, some interesting strategic choices to be made, regarding the rest of Asia that isn’t yet aligned (though not too much of that) and the Allies.
A bit of a shocker! My biggest gripes are the elimination of threadmarks (May have to go back to contents pages again!) and how it looks on a PC especially.
Will fix later today, along with a map legend solution. Also, I have some bonus material I didn’t have room for in the main post.
It’s another thing I haven’t used much in past games that I can experiment with here.I believe this is going to be quite useful, combined arms in 3 dimensions! encirclement from above!
Hoping I can digest the lot of them, though the speed in the far north is quite slow.
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Bonus Material
In Europe, the border with Germany once again resembled a competition between Duelling Deathstacks.
The Troopers were ready to roll – on both sides. Just waiting for the order to charge.
Iron Maiden – The Trooper (4.23m)
******
While some described the almost complete opposite force array in Romania as Joseph’s Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat!
“My dream is to cleanse all the border gore, Comrade General Secretary!” exclaimed an enthusiastic Marshal Zhukov as he surveyed the alarming map.
“Any dream will do, Marshal!” was Stalin’s reply.
Any Dream Will Do (3.17m)
In Europe, the border with Germany once again resembled a competition between Duelling Deathstacks.
The Troopers were ready to roll – on both sides. Just waiting for the order to charge.
******
While some described the almost complete opposite force array in Romania as Joseph’s Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat!
“My dream is to cleanse all the border gore, Comrade General Secretary!” exclaimed an enthusiastic Marshal Zhukov as he surveyed the alarming map.
“Any dream will do, Marshal!” was Stalin’s reply.
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I like to be a pioneer
And I thought the two songs were as contrasting as the maps . Tried to look for some death/thrash metal but while appropriate to the vibe it sounded like ... (without offending aficionados, it’s all personal taste) um, tuneless noise! Early Iron Maiden is more my vintage, and the video clip was very on topic.- 1
Now now now, those aren't opposing deathstacks. They are just a large bunch of lads who with to engage in an active, not to say rumbunctious "get to know" you exercise in the healthy outdoor mud and sleet. Call it a physical cultural exchange?
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A cultural exchange of each respective culture's forms of flying metal balls, perhaps.
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That is a good point. One should not forget the aggressive exchange of practical metallurgy
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Something tells me you might take a liking to Sabaton if you haven't already, Bullfilter:
I'm not typically a hard rock / metal guy myself (though I have a couple bands I like), but these guys get a free pass for both their choice of subject matter and for the fact that the songs themselves are enjoyable to listen to in their own right.
I'm not typically a hard rock / metal guy myself (though I have a couple bands I like), but these guys get a free pass for both their choice of subject matter and for the fact that the songs themselves are enjoyable to listen to in their own right.
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Same here. I do like a wide range though. I will have a listen to these when my wife isn’t around. The Iron Maiden track accidentally started playing loudly (delayed load) last night as I was sitting next to her watching Homeland and checked the iPad. I don’t want another one of those looks any time soon!
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Chapter 15 – May 1945
Chapter 15 – May 1945
AuthAAR’s Notes: A busy but tough month game-wise. The number and workload of my AARs at the moment causes delays in the post rate for each as I cycle through their updates. So, I’ll try even more abbreviation of combat reporting, trying to make it even more ‘campaign operational level’. Will see how it goes!
Introduction
As May began, the Soviets were engaged in seven battles carried over from April. To the north, fighting went on as the Soviets attack Curapca [51% progress], in the centre the defence of Ust’ Nyukha [-92%] had almost failed, while that of Nejungri [-42%] fared a little better. South of that, Mogoca [-59%] was also in some trouble, the attack on Chita [45%] was doing it tough, but that on Bukacaca [77%] better. In Mongolia, the Japanese attack on Dzhirgalanta [-64%] against Soviet and Mongolian defenders was progressing in the enemy’s favour.
1. Northern Sector
Operational summary, Far East – Northern Sector, May 1945.
The balance of effort in the ‘breakthrough’ sector was in Soviet offensive operations, but the Japanese did attempt a number of counter-attacks. By the end of the month, the Soviets had regained Tomtor, Tommot and Curapca and were advancing on Ust’ Maja. The Japanese had taken Susuman in the far north, but that did not overly concern the Soviet 6th Army, which hoped to encircle those enemy forces north of the port of Ulya – and cut them off from supply.
The first of the most significant battles of the month was a Soviet victory in Aldan (2-6 May) against a strong Japanese attack, (926 Soviet v 1,140 Japanese casualties). A lull of a few weeks was followed by series of Soviet attacks on Tommot ending on 24 May, the last and largest with 222 Soviet against 1,869 Japanese casualties. The province was liberated on 25 May and a Japanese counter-attack comfortably beaten off over 27-28 May.
The Soviets initially failed to take Ust’ Maja in their first attack (Soviet 1,224 v 239 Japanese killed), but then succeeded the next time, winning on 29 May and still advancing on the province as the month ended.
In Curapca, occupied on 28 May after the second attempt, a strong Japanese counter-attack was repelled from 28-30 May.
Tomtor had been reoccupied on 9 May after a victory there in April. As the month ended, a strong Japanese counter-attack from Lazo continued [-52%].
Soviet air power again exerted itself strongly during May, with the hardest hit provinces over the month being Tommot (3,167), Curapca (1,467) and Ust’ Maja (1,021).
2. Central Sector
Operational summary, Far East – Central Sector, May 1945.
The Central sector witnessed heavy Japanese offensives, especially against Ust’ Nyukzha (five attacks) and Mogoca. Heavy Soviet air support helped to blunt these, while the Japanese made brief foray to support their attack on Ust’ Nyukzha. As the month ended, the Japanese were not finished with Mogoca, their second attack there hitting hard, while the Soviets were advancing on Efrofej Pavlovic.
The first attack on Ust’Nyukzha was the largest. The first (25 April-1 May) was defeated early on (Soviet 1,870 v 2,146 Japanese casualties). They decreased in size after that, but persisted until the end of the month, conducted under remorseless Soviet air attack.
The Japanese tactical bombers managed to strike Ust’ Nyukzha on the morning of 19 May. They returned at midday, but this time were met by five wings of Soviet interceptors and were forced to abort their attack, though 39. IAD had become thoroughly disorganised after the Soviets inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese flyers.
A first Japanese attack on Mogoca, also carried over from April, ended in enemy victory on 2 May (Soviet 1,129 v 1,362 casualties). But 5 Mot Div arrived on 24 May, before the Japanese could occupy the province. Their hasty defence was still continuing by month’s end, but was in trouble [-75%] despite steady air support.
In the Soviet air support focused on attempting to break up Japanese attacks, with the heaviest tolls taken on Ust' Urkima (a massive 6,838 total Japanese casualties), Efrofej Pavlovic (1,997) and Petropavlovsk Kamchatskiy (1,569).
3. Southern Sector
Operational summary, Far East – Southern Sector, May 1945.
Japanese pressure in the Southern sector was also strong during May, resulting in the previous month’s Soviet gains of Petrovsk Zabaykal'skiy and Goryachinsk being lost, though the Soviets had heavily counter-attacked the latter and were advancing on it by the end of the month. However, some strong Soviet victories in Bukacaca had failed to liberate it as yet.
The month began with the Soviets losing their attack on Chita on 3 May (Soviet 832 v 1006 Japanese casualties). That led to a Soviet loss in Petrovsk Zabaykal'skiy on 4 May (Soviet 1,054 v 918 Japanese lost). A subsequent Soviet counter-attack after it was occupied by Japan on 11 May succeeded, but the advance was halted when fresh Japanese reinforcements arrived to secure their gain.
North of that, the month began with the large Soviet attack on Bukacaca (28 April-1 May) saw victory (Soviet 1,007 v 909 Japanese casualties). This was followed up with a quick victory against reinforcing Japanese troops from 11-12 May, but a second contingent of Japanese reinforcements halted the Soviet advance later that day.
But the Soviets met with more success in Goryachinsk. 81 Mot Div had voluntarily vacated the province after being badly disorganised during their failed attack on Chita early in the month.
The Japanese occupied Goryachinsk unopposed on 25 May, but were being counter-attacked by 27 May, with Soviet victory coming on 30 May (Soviet 723 v 1,485 Japanese casualties). It was hoped they would retake the province in June.
The air war saw in the south two Japanese sorties during May. On 5 May, 4 Zerosen no Hikodan was ambushed by two wings of Soviet Yak-15 [non-jet!] ‘Feather’ interceptors over Romanovka. The Japanese had been trying to intercept a Soviet air raid on the province. They were badly savaged, with an air victory being declared.
4 Zerosen returned, repaired but still heavily disorganised from their fight earlier in the month, to contest the heavy Soviet raids on Goryachinsk during the counter-attack there. They were engaged by the escorts initially, then two additional Soviet interceptors arrived in support. The bombers of 2. BAD took some casualties and the raid’s effect was somewhat diminished but went ahead.
The main Soviet bombing effort in the south fell on Goryachinsk (2,147 casualties), Romanovka (1,035) and Petrovsk Zabaykal'skiy (731).
4. Mongolian Sector
Operational summary, Far East – Mongolian Sector, May 1945.
The fight for Dzhirgalanta was lost early in the month – the Soviets retreating first, then the Mongolians (so no final casualty report was available).
The Mongolians were under attack in Taryacin by 20 May, from Japanese forces in Tsetserlig and Ubur Khangaiin.
The Soviets provided heavy air support by hitting the provinces with repeated air raids: 2,428 Japanese casualties in Tsetserlig, and 1,846 in Ubur Khangaiin. But this could not prevent a Mongolian loss by 28 May.
5. Intelligence
Increasing Japanese domestic intelligence strength caused the Soviets to abandon NU disruption (then at level 2, even with counter—espionage) on 5 May, putting all efforts on destroying Kempeitai teams. The Japanese Kempeitai started and finished the month with two teams, producing and losing the two during the month, but three Soviet agents were lost. Japanese national unity had decreased marginally by 0.2% from 66.2%.
A Finnish partisan cell was destroyed by the NKVD on 13 May, showing they remained restless under Soviet occupation.
Manchukuo started the month with two agent teams at home, producing but losing four to finish with one, with no Soviet spies neutralised, after the Soviet priority remained on counter-espionage. Manchurian national unity had fallen from by 0.1% from 68.0% to 67.9%, but not through any Soviet efforts.
Overall, the Soviets had lost three teams in the month, adding five again, therefore finishing with 13 in reserve. No new mission was yet broached.
There was a sharp increase in enemy agents rounded up in the Soviet Union (and overseas in Japan and Manchukuo) during May: 37 were neutralised compared to 23 in April. This time the UK had lost the most with six agents neutralised. There was the four from Manchukuo, three from Germany, two each from Iraq, Italy and Japan, the remainder single agents from a range of Allied counties, plus Sweden and Xibei San Ma.
6. Diplomacy
Tibet began aligning to the Comintern on 8 May and ceased doing so on 27 May. Sweden had been aligning to the Comintern all month, but then stopped on 28 May. Neither were close to joining the bloc.
As the month ended, the Soviets reviewed their war goals for Japan and added a claim on Sakhalin to them.
******
7. Research
Another important milestone in the atomic weapons program was hit on 2 May with nuclear research attaining Level 3: one more level (due at the end of the year) and, with a nuclear reactor already completed, research of the specific weapon technology could be embarked upon.
Air force modernisation took another step on 12 May with TAC ground crew training improved – but still at pre-war levels by international standards. This doctrine research was also continued.
The first Soviet airborne radar was developed on 27 May and was gradually introduced to active single engine aircraft wings. Night fighting capability would finally begin to improve. Work on a complementary navigation radar was commenced. [It seemed like the ‘right thing to do’, but are there views on the usefulness of the surface detection buff that results?]
******
8. Production
A new TAC wing deployed to the east on 12 May. Two infantry and one RArt brigades were put in training, the rest going to service upgrades, reinforcements and supply production.
The Olenek air base upgraded to Level 5 on 15 May, but the expansions ended there – the advance of the front in the north was such that further expansion may be largely redundant by the time it would be completed. Another RArt brigade was queued.
The first Soviet radar installations were finished on 22 May: one was deployed Kaunas and another in Lwow, while both had expansions commenced as soon as they were built at the same time one more new radar station was queued. The aim was to build an interlocking radar network all along the Western Front in Europe. The third new station opened in Brzesc Litewski the next day and its expansion was similarly started straight away.
The first Soviet marine brigade was completed on 26 May – but it could not be deployed directly to the Far East fleet base in Petropavlovsk Kamcackij. It was instead sent to Irkutsk and awaited its subsequent brethren to form a new marine division. They began training for the possible invasion of the Japanese Home Islands.
Two more new radar stations became available on 27 May. One was set up in Irkutsk, which remained near the front and a main air hub for the VVS. It too had expansion started straight away. The other was held in reserve for now, to be deployed later depending on need (along with one stored air base). Another new wing of Tu-2T NAV bombers was started.
On 31 May, two new RArt brigades became available: they were both sent to Far East Theatre divisions that at that point only had 3 x INF structures.
9. Theatre Summaries
The far eastern Theatre saw limited Soviet gains in the Centre, but reverses in the Northern, the Southern and Mongolian sectors.
Total recorded Soviet losses to land combat for battles were significantly higher than for April at 13,331 (up from 8,397) with just 147 lost to Japanese air raids.
The operational tempo had remained high, with the Japanese and their puppets losing 16,929 men (almost the same as for April) in ground combat and 25,280 to air strikes (a little than in April). Total Japanese/Axis casualties were therefore about 1,200 fewer than in March at 42,209.
The month of May in South East Asia (and southern China) had seen the Allies wrap up their reoccupation of all of Indo-China, but they had taken the eye off the ball Malaya. And there had been an isolated landing in southern China.
Cam Ranh had fallen to France on 8 May and, deprived of their last supply point, the rest of the Japanese forces had apparently been wiped out.
No details were available, but a French landing in Japanese-occupied Guangzhou had been defeated by the end of the month, but the port not yet retaken as Japanese forces advanced on it.
For some reason, the Thais had left Malaya unguarded during the month, allowing the Japanese to break out, taking Kuala Lumpur on 8 May and now threatening Singapore. With Indo-China pacified, the Allies were belatedly sending troops all the way back to Malaya, to remedy their joint incompetence.
The Japanese had made a little ground in Borneo.
Against expectations, the Japanese had a limited resurgence in Australia during May. The Allies had made no ground in the north and things had gone worse in the south. Melbourne had fallen to the enemy during the month and, by the latest report, had only just been regained. This meant the capital had been relocated to Brisbane.
AuthAAR’s Notes: A busy but tough month game-wise. The number and workload of my AARs at the moment causes delays in the post rate for each as I cycle through their updates. So, I’ll try even more abbreviation of combat reporting, trying to make it even more ‘campaign operational level’. Will see how it goes!
******
Introduction
As May began, the Soviets were engaged in seven battles carried over from April. To the north, fighting went on as the Soviets attack Curapca [51% progress], in the centre the defence of Ust’ Nyukha [-92%] had almost failed, while that of Nejungri [-42%] fared a little better. South of that, Mogoca [-59%] was also in some trouble, the attack on Chita [45%] was doing it tough, but that on Bukacaca [77%] better. In Mongolia, the Japanese attack on Dzhirgalanta [-64%] against Soviet and Mongolian defenders was progressing in the enemy’s favour.
******
1. Northern Sector
Operational summary, Far East – Northern Sector, May 1945.
The balance of effort in the ‘breakthrough’ sector was in Soviet offensive operations, but the Japanese did attempt a number of counter-attacks. By the end of the month, the Soviets had regained Tomtor, Tommot and Curapca and were advancing on Ust’ Maja. The Japanese had taken Susuman in the far north, but that did not overly concern the Soviet 6th Army, which hoped to encircle those enemy forces north of the port of Ulya – and cut them off from supply.
The first of the most significant battles of the month was a Soviet victory in Aldan (2-6 May) against a strong Japanese attack, (926 Soviet v 1,140 Japanese casualties). A lull of a few weeks was followed by series of Soviet attacks on Tommot ending on 24 May, the last and largest with 222 Soviet against 1,869 Japanese casualties. The province was liberated on 25 May and a Japanese counter-attack comfortably beaten off over 27-28 May.
The Soviets initially failed to take Ust’ Maja in their first attack (Soviet 1,224 v 239 Japanese killed), but then succeeded the next time, winning on 29 May and still advancing on the province as the month ended.
In Curapca, occupied on 28 May after the second attempt, a strong Japanese counter-attack was repelled from 28-30 May.
Tomtor had been reoccupied on 9 May after a victory there in April. As the month ended, a strong Japanese counter-attack from Lazo continued [-52%].
Soviet air power again exerted itself strongly during May, with the hardest hit provinces over the month being Tommot (3,167), Curapca (1,467) and Ust’ Maja (1,021).
******
2. Central Sector
The Central sector witnessed heavy Japanese offensives, especially against Ust’ Nyukzha (five attacks) and Mogoca. Heavy Soviet air support helped to blunt these, while the Japanese made brief foray to support their attack on Ust’ Nyukzha. As the month ended, the Japanese were not finished with Mogoca, their second attack there hitting hard, while the Soviets were advancing on Efrofej Pavlovic.
The first attack on Ust’Nyukzha was the largest. The first (25 April-1 May) was defeated early on (Soviet 1,870 v 2,146 Japanese casualties). They decreased in size after that, but persisted until the end of the month, conducted under remorseless Soviet air attack.
The Japanese tactical bombers managed to strike Ust’ Nyukzha on the morning of 19 May. They returned at midday, but this time were met by five wings of Soviet interceptors and were forced to abort their attack, though 39. IAD had become thoroughly disorganised after the Soviets inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese flyers.
A first Japanese attack on Mogoca, also carried over from April, ended in enemy victory on 2 May (Soviet 1,129 v 1,362 casualties). But 5 Mot Div arrived on 24 May, before the Japanese could occupy the province. Their hasty defence was still continuing by month’s end, but was in trouble [-75%] despite steady air support.
In the Soviet air support focused on attempting to break up Japanese attacks, with the heaviest tolls taken on Ust' Urkima (a massive 6,838 total Japanese casualties), Efrofej Pavlovic (1,997) and Petropavlovsk Kamchatskiy (1,569).
******
3. Southern Sector
Operational summary, Far East – Southern Sector, May 1945.
Japanese pressure in the Southern sector was also strong during May, resulting in the previous month’s Soviet gains of Petrovsk Zabaykal'skiy and Goryachinsk being lost, though the Soviets had heavily counter-attacked the latter and were advancing on it by the end of the month. However, some strong Soviet victories in Bukacaca had failed to liberate it as yet.
The month began with the Soviets losing their attack on Chita on 3 May (Soviet 832 v 1006 Japanese casualties). That led to a Soviet loss in Petrovsk Zabaykal'skiy on 4 May (Soviet 1,054 v 918 Japanese lost). A subsequent Soviet counter-attack after it was occupied by Japan on 11 May succeeded, but the advance was halted when fresh Japanese reinforcements arrived to secure their gain.
North of that, the month began with the large Soviet attack on Bukacaca (28 April-1 May) saw victory (Soviet 1,007 v 909 Japanese casualties). This was followed up with a quick victory against reinforcing Japanese troops from 11-12 May, but a second contingent of Japanese reinforcements halted the Soviet advance later that day.
But the Soviets met with more success in Goryachinsk. 81 Mot Div had voluntarily vacated the province after being badly disorganised during their failed attack on Chita early in the month.
The Japanese occupied Goryachinsk unopposed on 25 May, but were being counter-attacked by 27 May, with Soviet victory coming on 30 May (Soviet 723 v 1,485 Japanese casualties). It was hoped they would retake the province in June.
The air war saw in the south two Japanese sorties during May. On 5 May, 4 Zerosen no Hikodan was ambushed by two wings of Soviet Yak-15 [non-jet!] ‘Feather’ interceptors over Romanovka. The Japanese had been trying to intercept a Soviet air raid on the province. They were badly savaged, with an air victory being declared.
4 Zerosen returned, repaired but still heavily disorganised from their fight earlier in the month, to contest the heavy Soviet raids on Goryachinsk during the counter-attack there. They were engaged by the escorts initially, then two additional Soviet interceptors arrived in support. The bombers of 2. BAD took some casualties and the raid’s effect was somewhat diminished but went ahead.
The main Soviet bombing effort in the south fell on Goryachinsk (2,147 casualties), Romanovka (1,035) and Petrovsk Zabaykal'skiy (731).
******
4. Mongolian Sector
Operational summary, Far East – Mongolian Sector, May 1945.
The fight for Dzhirgalanta was lost early in the month – the Soviets retreating first, then the Mongolians (so no final casualty report was available).
The Mongolians were under attack in Taryacin by 20 May, from Japanese forces in Tsetserlig and Ubur Khangaiin.
The Soviets provided heavy air support by hitting the provinces with repeated air raids: 2,428 Japanese casualties in Tsetserlig, and 1,846 in Ubur Khangaiin. But this could not prevent a Mongolian loss by 28 May.
******
5. Intelligence
Increasing Japanese domestic intelligence strength caused the Soviets to abandon NU disruption (then at level 2, even with counter—espionage) on 5 May, putting all efforts on destroying Kempeitai teams. The Japanese Kempeitai started and finished the month with two teams, producing and losing the two during the month, but three Soviet agents were lost. Japanese national unity had decreased marginally by 0.2% from 66.2%.
A Finnish partisan cell was destroyed by the NKVD on 13 May, showing they remained restless under Soviet occupation.
Manchukuo started the month with two agent teams at home, producing but losing four to finish with one, with no Soviet spies neutralised, after the Soviet priority remained on counter-espionage. Manchurian national unity had fallen from by 0.1% from 68.0% to 67.9%, but not through any Soviet efforts.
Overall, the Soviets had lost three teams in the month, adding five again, therefore finishing with 13 in reserve. No new mission was yet broached.
There was a sharp increase in enemy agents rounded up in the Soviet Union (and overseas in Japan and Manchukuo) during May: 37 were neutralised compared to 23 in April. This time the UK had lost the most with six agents neutralised. There was the four from Manchukuo, three from Germany, two each from Iraq, Italy and Japan, the remainder single agents from a range of Allied counties, plus Sweden and Xibei San Ma.
******
6. Diplomacy
Tibet began aligning to the Comintern on 8 May and ceased doing so on 27 May. Sweden had been aligning to the Comintern all month, but then stopped on 28 May. Neither were close to joining the bloc.
As the month ended, the Soviets reviewed their war goals for Japan and added a claim on Sakhalin to them.
******
7. Research
Another important milestone in the atomic weapons program was hit on 2 May with nuclear research attaining Level 3: one more level (due at the end of the year) and, with a nuclear reactor already completed, research of the specific weapon technology could be embarked upon.
Air force modernisation took another step on 12 May with TAC ground crew training improved – but still at pre-war levels by international standards. This doctrine research was also continued.
The first Soviet airborne radar was developed on 27 May and was gradually introduced to active single engine aircraft wings. Night fighting capability would finally begin to improve. Work on a complementary navigation radar was commenced. [It seemed like the ‘right thing to do’, but are there views on the usefulness of the surface detection buff that results?]
******
8. Production
A new TAC wing deployed to the east on 12 May. Two infantry and one RArt brigades were put in training, the rest going to service upgrades, reinforcements and supply production.
The Olenek air base upgraded to Level 5 on 15 May, but the expansions ended there – the advance of the front in the north was such that further expansion may be largely redundant by the time it would be completed. Another RArt brigade was queued.
The first Soviet radar installations were finished on 22 May: one was deployed Kaunas and another in Lwow, while both had expansions commenced as soon as they were built at the same time one more new radar station was queued. The aim was to build an interlocking radar network all along the Western Front in Europe. The third new station opened in Brzesc Litewski the next day and its expansion was similarly started straight away.
The first Soviet marine brigade was completed on 26 May – but it could not be deployed directly to the Far East fleet base in Petropavlovsk Kamcackij. It was instead sent to Irkutsk and awaited its subsequent brethren to form a new marine division. They began training for the possible invasion of the Japanese Home Islands.
Two more new radar stations became available on 27 May. One was set up in Irkutsk, which remained near the front and a main air hub for the VVS. It too had expansion started straight away. The other was held in reserve for now, to be deployed later depending on need (along with one stored air base). Another new wing of Tu-2T NAV bombers was started.
On 31 May, two new RArt brigades became available: they were both sent to Far East Theatre divisions that at that point only had 3 x INF structures.
******
9. Theatre Summaries
The far eastern Theatre saw limited Soviet gains in the Centre, but reverses in the Northern, the Southern and Mongolian sectors.
Total recorded Soviet losses to land combat for battles were significantly higher than for April at 13,331 (up from 8,397) with just 147 lost to Japanese air raids.
The operational tempo had remained high, with the Japanese and their puppets losing 16,929 men (almost the same as for April) in ground combat and 25,280 to air strikes (a little than in April). Total Japanese/Axis casualties were therefore about 1,200 fewer than in March at 42,209.
******
The month of May in South East Asia (and southern China) had seen the Allies wrap up their reoccupation of all of Indo-China, but they had taken the eye off the ball Malaya. And there had been an isolated landing in southern China.
Cam Ranh had fallen to France on 8 May and, deprived of their last supply point, the rest of the Japanese forces had apparently been wiped out.
No details were available, but a French landing in Japanese-occupied Guangzhou had been defeated by the end of the month, but the port not yet retaken as Japanese forces advanced on it.
For some reason, the Thais had left Malaya unguarded during the month, allowing the Japanese to break out, taking Kuala Lumpur on 8 May and now threatening Singapore. With Indo-China pacified, the Allies were belatedly sending troops all the way back to Malaya, to remedy their joint incompetence.
The Japanese had made a little ground in Borneo.
******
Against expectations, the Japanese had a limited resurgence in Australia during May. The Allies had made no ground in the north and things had gone worse in the south. Melbourne had fallen to the enemy during the month and, by the latest report, had only just been regained. This meant the capital had been relocated to Brisbane.
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Getting closer to shutting down the pocket in the north is good, but except that this has been a less than ideal month on the field. At least the frontier against nuclear forces of nature is steadily progressing. Again about tech, I'm looking forward to having jet engines so aircraft model names aren't ahistorical as hell.
Australia moved its capital somehow through enemy lines and popped up behind them I hope this doesn't hinder the supply situation in the developed south coast with majority of units located there and cause losing it entirely.
A very good episode overall, thank you for keeping us entertained especially in these times!
Australia moved its capital somehow through enemy lines and popped up behind them
I hope this doesn't hinder the supply situation in the developed south coast with majority of units located there and cause losing it entirely.A very good episode overall, thank you for keeping us entertained especially in these times!
I always research this but have no idea if it's really helpful or not
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Pretty much seconding @diskoerekto on this, with the added caveat that I'm not entirely familiar with how it works in HOI3 specifically. From the description it sounds like it should improve "accuracy" against ground units, which will hopefully manifest in the form of more casualties per strike.
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Japan appears to be waking up from its long winter's nap. It doesn't look like the front is in danger of an overall collapse, thankfully, but these apparent reverses especially in the south are certainly cause for concern. It appears the Japanese might be trying to anchor their flank on Lake Baikal, which would explain the ferocity in that sector.
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More mixed news, but it seems like with the turn in the weather the whole Russian front is in fierce conflict (if not necessarily in motion).
I am remain riveted by what is going on in Australia.
I am remain riveted by what is going on in Australia.
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It's not over yet. Of course, the Japanese are concentrating their forces far from where they are most needed, so you'll probably be able to close the pocket without too much trouble. That said, Mongolia isn't looking too good right now. I'm sure the tide will turn again, and even more in your favour, especially once that pocket is contained and cleared up and you get troops rolling down the Chinese Coast, forcing the Japs to frantically redeploy troops to protect their lifeline. The further West the Japanese forces are when you take Korea, the worse for them...
The Allies remain busy in a game of whack-a-mole to evict the Japs from their colonies (and former colonies). That buys the Soviet Union time to take more territory from the Japanese, and maybe even for the Red Army to get to the Japanese mainland first, be it with troops, or with nukes. There will be no need for a Korea war and a demarcation zone...
From what I understand, Navigation radar mostly increases the impact of your bombers at night. The medium variant is much more effective than the small version, or the large version. Out of all the aerial units, Naval bombers get the most bonuses from Nav Radar, giving them a higher chance to detect a fleet. (depending also on the visibility of the fleet ofc.)
The Allies remain busy in a game of whack-a-mole to evict the Japs from their colonies (and former colonies). That buys the Soviet Union time to take more territory from the Japanese, and maybe even for the Red Army to get to the Japanese mainland first, be it with troops, or with nukes. There will be no need for a Korea war and a demarcation zone...
From what I understand, Navigation radar mostly increases the impact of your bombers at night. The medium variant is much more effective than the small version, or the large version. Out of all the aerial units, Naval bombers get the most bonuses from Nav Radar, giving them a higher chance to detect a fleet. (depending also on the visibility of the fleet ofc.)
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The attack in South China will draw a lot of divisions away from the Soviets.
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