Hearts of Iron 3 (Their Finest Hour AAR): ‘The March of the Machines’
Chapter Fifty-Three : October to December,1943
Chapter Fifty-Three : October to December,1943
Germans Advancing In Russia
This Chapter is a lot more interesting then I thought it would be. And not in a good way. Now, overview!
Two major events happened during the three months. The Italians have shown a interest in my African colonies (and the other colonies belonging to the Allies) forcing my Navy to flee two port-cities. And forcing the 3eme Infantry Division there to bounce about, fighting off the Italian units.
Also, the Italians, in November, took the Suez Canal. Locking up the Mediterranean. Without the Canal the UK could not support their forces and they started to pull back or outright retreat. But it also hurt France because it cut off our conveys from the rest of the world. NO! My supply of anime!
Just to let you know. By the 12th of December the UK's Surrender Progress was 91.40%.
We have two technologically advances in October. We had Aircraft Carrier Anti-Aircraft Armaments (3) and Militia Anti-Tank Weapons (5).
Also during this time period we had four new Underground Bases in France, that spread from existing bases in France.
Revolts
There were three Revolts. The American backed Belgians had one rebellion start on the 24th of November but soon died on the 30th of November.
The French citizens took up arms on the 6th of December in Charmes and are still fighting.
A Second American backed Belgian Revolt rose up on the 10th of December and are also still fighting.
Navy/Sub Warfare
With the convey system being shut down and with the Navy being on the western coast of Africa there were no Naval Battles or submarine attacks.
The only Naval event was I reshuffled the submarines as the AI has two Fleets of one sub and one Fleet of eight subs. So NOW it has two Fleets of three subs and one Fleet of four subs.
Air War
We had one! What do you know? The fools, the Italians, in pushing across the Suez allowed themselves to be targets of the French Air Force. It lunched thirty-one Ground Attacks, killing 5,086 Italian soldiers.
While in Europe the Germans launched four Ground Attacks on our citizens, killing 534 French people.
But even the Italians got some revenge as they launched two Port Attacks and one Naval Strike against our Navy in Africa.
The Persian Air Force also tried to protect the Italians causing three Air Battles in which the French/British won two out of the three clashes.
Ground War
There were eighteen Battles - mostly on the African Front with a few in France. We won none of them. The French and our Allies lost 3,923 soldiers while the Axis lost 2,042 soldiers.
We also lost the 2eme Division, so add about 9,000 French soldiers now in a POW camp. So the total for the three months was 4,457 French KIA with 7,128 Axis KIA. A very good period for France (kind of). Not so good for the Allies.
That means the total loses for the WHOLE WAR are:
French/Allies Killed In Action: 257,218
Axis Killed In Action: 103,535
African Front/Alger Foothold
The Alger Foothold will disappear and the African Front is collapsing. Likely due to the Suez Canal being closed by the Italians. And when the British are wiped out we will be next!
Soviet Front
While the German advance seems slow, and very slow through the marshes, they are still digging deeper into the USSR.
Persian Front
The USSR, Iraq, and British India are eating up Persia even while its Air Force was pestering me.
Soviet Far East/Communist China Front
The Japanese seem to have been contained by the Russians but seem to be crushing the Communist Chinese. Either way, I fear that the USSR is doomed.
Chinese Soldiers On The Front
Pacific Theatre
Meh. Nothing. Where are the Americans?
Australian Front
Posters In The Land Down-Under
Why are the Australians not doing something? DO something! The Japanese are not just listening - they are in your provinces molesting your sheep!
New Zealand Front
More meh. Not sure why the Japanese have halted. Could be that the provinces are mostly mountains. But the Japanese do have Mountain Divisions in New Zealand, so I am not sure what is going on.
So, as you can see, I think France will soon have to move the Capital to either South America or the Pacific. Will Italy rule the world? Will British India survive long enough to see the end of the game? Will New Zealand be allowed to film the Lord of the Ring’s movies? Where are the Americans? Thanks for reading!