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This has been interesting to read. I've never played HOI3, but I have played 2 and (briefly) 4, so it's interesting to see the similarities between 2 and 3.
That being said, at least your metropolitan France lasted longer than in our timeline, and it'll be interesting to see what else is different.
That being said, at least your metropolitan France lasted longer than in our timeline, and it'll be interesting to see what else is different.
Hearts of Iron 3 (Their Finest Hour AAR): ‘The March of the Machines’
Chapter Forty-Eight : October to December,1942
Germans Fighting In Belgium
Chapter Forty-Eight : October to December,1942
Germans Fighting In Belgium
Welcome to Chapter Forty-Eight where things are happening. Let us try to make sense of them. Let us start with a little overview. There were no advances made in our Research Projects for this time period. I guess we just don't have the officers to really push research.
Among the Underground Resistance movement we gained twelve new cells but then lost four cells. Sad but it means that soon we will be able to launch a massive revolt which I hope to time with the upcoming German-Russian conflict. Which I hope is coming soon. Please?
There were two Revolts, one in Spain and one in Belgium. The one in Spain failed quickly while the one in Belgium is still holding out but will likely fail early 1943 (to be honest).
The Naval War
The only surface Naval Battle was for Terengganu Passage, on the 3rd of October, between a Fleet of Allied ships and a very small Japanese Force. While a Victory it will result in very little gain as Singapore would be captured by the Japanese anyway. Without that port the UK Navy would have a hard time projecting their military might over the Pacific Theatre. Sadly, the French would also lose eighteen convey ships and one escort to Japanese raiders and submarines. The Japanese really do have control of the sea and air within their territories.
The Air War
The Air War was even more one sided as the Japanese would launch five Naval Strikes and nineteen Ground Attacks, killing 2,890 French soldiers in Indochina. Our own remaining Wing would be reassigned to the African HQ when it become clear that Saigon was going to fall sooner or later. It fled to Beirut.
The Ground War
Much of the fighting, for the French, would happen on the Indochina Front and on the African Front. Funny enough the ground combat isn't as bad as it seems as our troops are now equal to any enemy soldier they face.
The Germans/Italians/Japanese will lose 3,028 soldiers while the French lose 2,673 soldiers to ground combat. The Total for the months is only increased to 5,563 because of the French men killed by the Japanese aircraft.
The Total Loses for the war for the Germans/Italians/Japanese is around 91,833 men.
While the Total Loses for the French/Allies are 220,077 soldiers. Ouch.
Indochina Front
As you can guess, we lost a lot of my holdings in Indochina including the Capital. Oh the horror! All those pretty Asian girls! *erm*...I mean, all that yummy food. Still, the HQ exists and continues to control the Submarines and the lone Infantry Division which is defending our Asian provinces. On the 1st of December I told the US to forget trying to take Hanoi. In other words I removed it from their Objectives. I can’t see them invading Indochina when they could invade Japan itself.
Pacific Theatre
Hard to tell what is going on here but with the fall of Singapore I did notice the Japanese air forces becoming more aggressive against my infantry and surface ships. Not a good sign.
African Front/Alger Foothold
The African Front seems just to be frozen in place while the UK Divisions in Alger seem to be doing okay.
Mostly they seem made up of Tank Divisions and Indian troops and other units. Kind of a mixed bag - units brought in from anyplace they could find them. The numbers would increase by late December as troops from the Invasion of Sardinia seemed to be shipped over. On the other hand, I was kind of shocked to notice Malta was under Italian rule.
How did that happen? I didn't even notice. There really needs to be some way to 'Flag' a province so I can be alerted if it changes hands or something like that.
Spanish Front
This Front is holding out a lot longer than I thought it would. Even Axis troops landing behind the lines did not bring about the collapse of this Front. Bravo! I can only assume that the ports are bringing in reinforcements and supplies at a huge rate.
Greek Front
No changes, kind of sad. I kind of assume that the Greeks are going to be ignored by the Axis for the next few years.
U.K Front
THIS is where things are bad. As you can see from the screenshots the defenders are made up of garrisons. Regulars are few and I fear that any reinforcements would have to come from Africa (the long way around) or some reserves in the Far East (if any). Of course, this may trigger the USSR to declare war on Germany but it would not help the Allies in the long run if the UK is taken out of the war. Also the invading units are Italian. I have noticed some American Fleets floating about the UK so there could be some GIs coming to reinforce their Allies. It better happen soon.
So, thanks for reading. Will the UK Fall to the Italians? Will Spain finally fall if the UK Falls? Will anybody EVER be able to defeat Greece? Does Beirut have good food? I don’t know. Stay with me and find out!
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The Axis just will not let you have a breather.Hang it there.
No, the Axis will not let me have a breather. As you can see.
I will try to hang in there. But I will miss the cute Indochina girls. Thank you for reading up to now. I am kind of okay with how long I lasted but I could have done better if I had more experience with the game. I am sure other players could have lasted longer.
Your tough war continues: now the Italians invade the UK in force!? Oh noNo, the Axis will not let me have a breather. As you can see.
Thank you for reading up to now. I am kind of okay with how long I lasted but I could have done better if I had more experience with the game. I am sure other players could have lasted longer.
! This is all even worse than the Free French had to endure in OTL.Don't beat yourself up: marching with the machines was always going to be hard, even more so with France. I think you have done a grand job with the game and also the AAR, which richly deserved its recent AAR Showcase. You are providing something well written and off the beaten track, so should be happy with what you have achieved so far, with some good learning experiences for your readers too
.On a personal note, thank you very much once again for your Showcase referral: I will be passing on the baton later today.
Finally, I hope you will keep plugging on with the report: it's always darkest before the dawn and perhaps the Soviets and Allies will still rally to see France liberated later. I was really pleased to see your latest update (which I had been looking forward to) and your loyal fan base will keep reading as long as you keep writing
! Will be curious to see whether Britain becomes a Roman province again 1900+ years after Caesar came, saw and conquered!Ps: what is the reason for the civ nuclear research? If it was mentioned before I must have missed or forgotten it.
Unlikely. I only developed atomic bombs in my first full German HoI3 game*. But you never know. Also, may not have the aircraft to carry any atomic bombs anyway.
* See my Sig.
Well there's nothing wrong with tilting at a windmill in your positionUnlikely. I only developed atomic bombs in my first full German HoI3 game*. But you never know. Also, may not have the aircraft to carry any atomic bombs anyway.
* See my Sig.
Solid update. Man oh man, as if you were not already in a bad way...now Mother England is throwing Garrisons at the invader! Talk about flank-meat.
Solid update. Man oh man, as if you were not already in a bad way...now Mother England is throwing Garrisons at the invader! Talk about flank-meat.
Yeah, not good. I assume most of their regular forces are in Africa or hanging around the Pacific Theatre. Still, in all my games, no matter which side I am on, the UK is a tough nut to crack. I hope they can hang on till help arrives. Or the Soviet War Machine roars to life.
You have to admit, Italy invading the UK via Liverpool is one of the last things anyone would expect (in any other context than HOI3 obviously).
I have never seen them hold Gibraltar in any of my full length games. Kind of weird.
In my games, yes. Italy is kicking some a$$.
I think in every game, it depends on how well the RN does, because if it does not completely take down Italy's Navy, a single GAR in Gibraltar or Malta is soon overrun. In my games Italy is always a doormat, if I am in the Axis.
I think in every game, it depends on how well the RN does, because if it does not completely take down Italy's Navy, a single GAR in Gibraltar or Malta is soon overrun. In my games Italy is always a doormat, if I am in the Axis.
Fair enough. Well, I am spending this following week of Easter with family so you will not see me again till the end of the month and a update will likely show up then or in May.
Just to let you see Europe at this moment:
Looks like the Soviets are taking an even longer break! Happy Easter.
Hearts of Iron 3 (Their Finest Hour AAR): ‘The March of the Machines’
Chapter Forty-Nine : January to March,1943
Chapter Forty-Nine : January to March,1943
Who Invaded Who?
A few things happen that will change the whole course of the war. But many of them may have made things HARDER for France not better. First, a little overview of the political events that happened during the three months and some changes that happened to the French military.
On the 30th of January a new Infantry Division finally was deplored to the Middle East, to Beirut, under the direct command of the African HQ. The 3eme Division d'Infanterie Nord-Africaine is made up of three Infantry Brigades. 9,000 soldiers.
On the 1st of February I changed the Civil Laws to Repression. It felt wrong to do so, as doing such a thing was what many Americans feared during our Cold War years. That we would slowly become our enemy. And now France, in a game, is slowly losing what makes it a Democracy. But I either win the war or die. I don't have much of a choice.
The Saigon HQ, along with much of the Armed Forces in Indochina, were wiped out around the 5th of February and the AI made a new Theatre HQ called Pondicherry - which had little to do as much of the French in Asia were all dead but for the 2nd Army HQ.
On the 11th of February the Soviet Union declared war on Germany. In doing so, by being the attacker, it basically declared war on the Axis.
Japanese declared war on Communist China on the 20th of February and Sinkiang started to mobilize the day after, no doubt in reaction to this.
In March, on the 7th, Yugoslavia joined the Axis and, then on the 15th of March, joined the war against Germany's enemies.
On the 10th of March a Infantry Division in Africa was wiped out (many of their men captured) by an Italian offensive. This means the Ground Forces have only TWO Infantry Divisions on the planet by the end of March. One of which is the Gnorf's Desert Grunts made up of 10,000 veterans. Our best unit.
Underground Resistance Cells
During this period we gained a total of seven new cells. With the Soviet Declaration of War on the Germans I ordered the surviving Cells, thirty-one in total, to do nothing and build up strength. The plan is to have them rise all at the same time when they are all ready. In other words, when all bases are 100% they will be ordered to start spawning resistance fighters.
Tech. Advances
During this period was gained two advances. Heavy Cruiser Anti-Aircraft Armament (3) and Battlecruiser Anti-Aircraft Armament (4). Which would have been much more useful earlier.
Naval War/Sub Warfare
On the 27th January, fearing that the Saigon HQ was trapped and about to be wiped out, all remaining submarines in the Far East was assigned to the Naval Operations HQ in Africa.
There were no surface battles and the Japanese launched two Naval Strikes against our subs. As the subs left the region the Japanese aircraft (and warships) would have nobody to attack during the months of February and March. At least nobody French. There were not even any Ground Attacks. I assume their Air Force had bigger fish to bomb.
We sunk one enemy transport and the Japanese sunk five of ours. Once again the low numbers have to do with us losing our Far East provinces and our Navy withdrawing to Africa.
Air War
What Air War?
Ground War
There were twenty-nine Battles with the Italians and Japanese. We won ONE. We lost 920 French soldiers killed in action (likely more as many battles ended without a proper announcement) and we also lost another 13,732 plus men as they were captured and taken to prisoner of war camps. The Japanese and Italians lost a total of 749 troops killed in action. Once again they may have lost more as after battle reports sometimes failed to appear. Battles just ended as if one side or the other just gave up. Most likely my side.
The Total Loses for the war for the Germans/Italians/Japanese is around 92,582 men.
While the Total Loses for the French/Allies are 220,997 soldiers. I did not count those captured.
Spanish Front
The Spanish are holding out still but they only have one major mainland city left and once that goes they will have to give up unless they go into exile. I assume they are getting a lot of help from their Allies and therefore the survival of the UK is important. If the UK falls the Germans will likely be able to cut off the Spanish pocket from the outside world and starve it to death.
African Front/Alger Foothold
Africa goes back and forth and Alger seems to be in trapped in a bottle between German and Italian forces. Once again, if the UK falls this will change everything. The French units in Africa may be trapped in enemy territory and wiped out.
Indochina Front
Totally one-sided. We lost it in the end. Well, at least our Capital in Beirut is safe. Nice beaches. Lots of sand to play with.
Soviet Front/Finland Front
While the Soviets are quickly gaining against the Fins they are losing ground to the Germans. Why did they declare war if they did not have the advantage? I thought the AI only declared war if it saw the numbers were to its advantage? I don't care if they mess up when I am playing Nationalist Spain but I need them to be effective now! Do something Stalin!
Soviet Far East/Communist Chinese Front
The Japanese are gaining ground on the Soviet Union AND Mongolia BUT the Communist Chinese are gaining ground on THEM! To me this was a sign that the Japanese might be having problems. Until I saw that the Japanese had taken the port of Vladivostok. Also the Pacific Theatre suggests otherwise.
Pacific Theatre
While the Japanese and Americans play hot potato with the islands the Japanese forces have almost taken all of Borneo and are threatening to take all of New Guinea. They have captured a lot of important provinces from both Australia and New Zealand and unless stopped I foresee them taking both nations out.
U.K. Front
Not good as you can see. London fell around the 26th of February AFTER the USSR declared war on Germany. It was taken by the Italians (many of which are Germans in Italian uniforms) who now are marching towards Scotland. Some Americans units are appearing on the battlefields but too little and too late I fear.
In the end it all depends on two things. Can the UK survive? And can the Soviets win? And neither look good at this point. Will the French uprising help when it happens? Or will it just delay the Axis Victory? We will see next time.
Thanks for reading!