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al_faris said:
after 2 days of high entertainment and enjoyment i have decieded to come out of the shadows and i have to say remble have inspired me to even consider starting my first AAR keep on the excellent show and consider me subscribed.
Very nice. Remble seems to get a lot of first time posters.
 
Originally posted by sbr:
Very nice. Remble seems to get a lot of first time posters.

Yes, and this time a Kuwaiti one! :cool:
 
Chipseal - Sinking transports was easy enough :) Panzer6 is totally correct in that different scenarios have different bases of all types.

Riptide - Welcome aboard :) You are correct they will be squeezed to death.

Sokraates - I expect the 'dark forces' of the Soviet Union will come out to play soon enough, although I think some people would like to see them now. The secret operation is secret and does not need its own codename as it is an extension of Operation Dilemma :)

Thurak - June is a fair estimate I would say. Those darn Brazilians scuttled their ship so no sinking for me :mad:

Murmurandus - Maybe its one of those one year in the making type of secret operations ;)

al_faris - Thank you. I will echo germanpeon and welcome you to both this AAR and the forums :) Good luck to you if you start an AAR :)

Nathan Madien - Would the shy, quiet Emperor of Japan cause his puppets any harm?

Maj. von Mauser - Thank you :)

sbr, Mangudai - I use good bait I guess :p

Update to follow ...
 
Operation Dilemma
11





0000 February 1st 1945.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Gulf of Martapan.

Yamamoto had several things on his mind not the least of which was the re-appearance of Admiral Spruance in the North Mariana Trench.​

feb1450000gr1.jpg

He was still aboard his Flagship, the USS Indiana, when he was greeted by the Naval bomber squadrons of Ozawa and Genda. The rain made operations slightly more difficult for the bombers who immediately began targetting the lead ship in the enemy fleet.​

feb1450000gr.jpg

Naval air patrols also informed Yamamoto of another British Transport fleet heading his way. He had already given the orders for the latest secret operation in the Japanese arsenal to commence.​





0100 February 1st 1945.
North China Army Headquarters. Jinghong, China.

The loss of Phitsanulok had been no surprise to Higashikuni, in fact it had been a necessary sacrifice.​

feb1450100gr1.jpg

Field Marshal Hata led the response to the enemy advance, consisting of nineteen Japanese divisions and ten squadrons. The battle would be over before nightfall and Hata would continue onwards with his seven divisions in an attempt to retake the province.​





0500 February 1st 1945.
The North Mariana Trench.

"Welcome aboard Admiral." the captain of the USS Iowa greeted Admiral Spruance.

"Thank you captain. Do you happen to have some dry clothes, I seem to have got my gear a little damp." replied Spruance.

"Of course Admiral, if you would like to follow me to my cabin."

"Actually its my cabin now captain." replied the Admiral as he headed for his latest birth on his latest Flagship.​

feb1450500gr1.jpg

Ozawa and Genda had made short work of the USS Indiana which had resulted in the crew of the USS Iowa having to fish their Admiral from the hostile seas.

Spruance ordered his fleet south east at full speed to avoid any further damage from the prowling bombers.​





1000 February 1st 1945.
North China Army Headquarters. Jinghong, China.

The attack on Phitsanulok had brought out the expected response from the British in Siam.​

feb1451000gr2.jpg

They had sent reinforcements to aid the defence of the province, which played directly into Higashikuni's hands, as the Dive bombers began the job of destroying the two motorised divisions in the province.​





2300 February 1st 1945.
The Skies Above Palau.

"Are you sure this will work?" Mj. General Tanaka asked.

"Chief of Staff Jun devised this plan himself after much thought Major, I am sure everything will be fine." replied Air General Yamashita as he led his pilots towards their waiting Swallow interceptors.

Four British Strategic bomber squadrons had unwittingly made themselves the trial target for the Chief of Staff of the Imperial Japanese Air Force. The results were devastating.​

feb1452300gr1.jpg

Over the course of three hours of aerial combat over 100 enemy bombers and their escorts fell prey to eight interceptor squadrons. The loss of only 34 aircraft in response could only be considered as a most successful trial run of the new anti-bomber tactics that were to be employed by the Imperial Japanese Air Force.

The concept had been fairly sound. If you cannot win a fight when the odds are even then you alter the odds in your favour, preferably by a considerable margin.

The British bombers had managed to complete their mission. The airfield on Palau was almost useless as a result.​





1100 February 2nd 1945.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Gulf of Martapan.

The appearance of an enemy fleet was not unexpected, Yamamoto even knew what the fleet would contain. His mind was on other matters that were, for the moment, highly classified.​

feb2451100gr1.jpg

Perhaps it was his fault for not paying close attention to the unfolding battle, but he should be able to allow his subordinates to complete simple tasks by now. The gun fire of the IJN Yamashiro could not really be questioned as she did sink one of the Transport Flotillas, but there would be extra gunnery practice for a large part of BB Division 1 after allowing two completely defenseless Flotillas slip past their blockade.

They were fortunate that these ships had been empty.​

feb2452100gr1.jpg

A similar problem afflicted BB Division 2 as they also allowed one ship to escape their own surface engagement in the Gaspar Strait. The more modern Light Cruiser, HMS Penelope, was sunk by the Battleship IJN Fuso.​





1900 February 3rd 1945.
North China Army Headquarters. Jinghong, China.

Higashikuni had given the orders an hour earlier and timing was extremely important. He did not wish to wait another month for his forces to advance again.​

feb3451900gr1.jpg

Two infantry divisions had arrived at precisely 1900 hours in Kalewa province. At 1800 hours three of the six divisions tasked with preventing the British controlled troops in Akyab from counter attacking the advancing force had begun their attack. The other three divisions in Arakan joined in an hour later with bomber support not far away.

The attack prevented any move against the two disorganised divisons in Kalewa who would capture what was left of the retreating armoured division to the east.

The initial defence by General Stillwell went very well but he soon became beset by problems not of his own doing. Firstly nine Tactical bomber squadrons arrived overhead, and they were definately not friendly, and secondly his supplies ran out shortly after dawn. His troops defended bravely but had no choice but to surrender after a battle lasting just over twenty four hours.​





0000 February 5th 1945.
Industry Offices. Tokyo, Japan.

Production had been going according to plan and the first fruits of that labour began arriving on February 5th.​

feb5450000gr1.jpg

The first new Convoy Transport ships had begun to arrive which would recover some of the losses sustained thus far.​
 
0000 February 5th 1945.
North China Army Headquarters. Jinghong, China.

Unfortunately for Higashikuni someone within the British headquarters had managed to work out his plan.​

feb5450000gr2.jpg

With nothing more than a few stragglers to mop up in Phitsanulok the British had already turned their forces away from the province and they were moving north. Not every trap could work.​

feb5450800gr1.jpg

There were no shortage of targets for the bombers with the armour in Chiang Rai being targetted in the south, and the process of softening up Lashio province beginning in the north.​

feb7450200gr1.jpg

The assault on Lashio began at 0200 on February 7th with a total of seventeen Japanese divisions, including three armoured, attacking the three defending divisions.

Air support was provided which was targetting the rear lines and command and control of the defenders. Higashikuni himself led the attack which would prove successful after seven hours of brutal jungle fighting.

The fourteen divisions advancing from Baoshan would arrive together with his own forces following along behind at a different speed.​





0600 February 6th 1945.
BB Division 1 Flaghsip. IJN Yamashiro, Gulf of Martapan.

Whilst the gunnery officers of his ships conducted target practice Yamamoto read through the latest reports on his desk.​

feb6450600gr1.jpg

Ozawa could find nothing but almost unsinkable Submarines in the Mariana Trench. Carrier Aircraft were still proving to be the only reliable force for this type of combat.​

feb7450500gr1.jpg

Nomura had reduced his own fleet in Japan to a mere three Heavy Cruisers and four escorts to try and sink Submarines around Japan. He had also not scratched the enemy vessels even after pursuing them east for a few days.​

feb7451000gr1.jpg

There would also need to be some sort of inquiry as to how four American Fighter squadrons had been able to engage one of Japan's interceptor squadrons south of Taiwan. Yamamoto had already checked his map several times and the enemy had no airbase within a thousand miles.

Fortunately the enemy aircraft were totally disorganised and Mj. General Ugaki knew what he was doing. Minimal damage resulted from the combat and Ugaki was back on patrol the following day.

The first report he received on February 8th resulted in a report back to Naval headquarters to announce the completion of the latest classified mission. Yamamoto included all of the reports of action for this small task force over the passed week.​

feb2450400gr2.jpg

Carrier Group C had left Colombo at 0100 hours on February 1st and had waited in the Nine Degree Channel for the Transport fleet of Admiral Godo, which had sailed from Trincomalee at the same time.

During their wait they encountered two seperate enemy fleets on the 2nd and 3rd. The Carriers IJN Zuikaku and IJN Junyo had sunk one Submarine and Destroyer Flotilla each.

Both fleets sailed north together and arrived at their destination, the Mouth of the Indus, on February 5th at 2100 hours.​

feb5452100gr1.jpg

Mj. General Amano led his Cavalry to the waiting landing craft and they set sail for the undefended beaches of Ahmadabad. There were some enemy ground forces observed close by including a South African marine division. The invasion force would be vunerable until February 8th when the cavalry were due ashore.

The entire operation was for one purpose. The capture, albeit temporary, of the only enemy airbase in India. Activity showed that there were some enemy formations using the airstrip.​

feb5452300gr1.jpg

During the wait for the landing to be completed two enemy Transport fleets were sunk, one Canadian and one South African. Aircraft from IJN Zuikaku would account for both. There were other ships in the port of Ahmadabad but what they were was unknown.​

feb8450300gr1.jpg

Mj. General Amano captured Ahmadabad without a fight at 0300 hours on February 8th and an estimated five enemy squadrons were destroyed as a result.​
 
Remble said:
...
Murmurandus - Maybe its one of those one year in the making type of secret operations ;)

...

Oh, no! Not again! :mad: :D
 
Remble said:
Mj. General Amano captured Ahmadabad without a fight at 0300 hours on February 8th and an estimated five enemy squadrons were destroyed as a result.​

how can you know that? are you estimating the destruction or estimating the numbers of squadrons you destroyed?

may be in the last minute the enemy squadrons took off and rebased somewhere else?

good work, good job and don`t forget, people are gonna read this for years. you will continue to take messages in the future like this: "i read whole AAR, 200 pages, i`m exhausted but ..." like me after your Germany44 AAR :)
 
Remble said:
Sokraates - I expect the 'dark forces' of the Soviet Union will come out to play soon enough, although I think some people would like to see them now.

I am one of those people who sincerely hope that the Bear will wait as long as possible before going south. The game is hard enough as it is. Of course, "going south" also has another meaning and I'm sure that the second meaning will be realized with your ... help. ;)

How many divisions have you destroyed in and around Phitsanulok yet?

After all the discussion about blocking the Red Sea I was convinced that you would try your luck in Ahmadabad. Though I didn't expect you to invade it just to deny the Allies an airfield.
 
sbr said:
Outstanding job putting Spruance into the drink. :rofl:

Well, it is certainly an fitting revenge for what Spruance did to the Japanese navy at Midway. :cool: Of course, Midway might seem like ancient history now.
 
Good idea with taking down the airbase. Random the american fighters over taiwan.
 
I don't understand? Why are your interceptors suddenly so competent against escorted strategic bombers? Did you research new doctrines?
 
safferli said:
I don't understand? Why are your interceptors suddenly so competent against escorted strategic bombers? Did you research new doctrines?

My guess... difference in leaders, tech advantage, and yes, doctrines. AA defenses might have played a role too.
 
Galleblære said:
My guess... difference in leaders, tech advantage, and yes, doctrines. AA defenses might have played a role too.
Proximity of airbase, and it looks like someone is unsupplied. Probably the enemy.

A question for Remble: How do you manage to supply all your divisions on the Asian mainland? I started a Japanese GC recently (guess who inspired me!) and even with about 1300 convoys tasked on that alone I have NO spare convoys. I have probably about 80 of my own divisions as well as 15 Manchukuoan and six Mengkukuoan divisions, as well as about ten aircraft squadrons on the mainland. None of them are even moving though, as it is 1942 (no war yet) and I've taken out China n' Friends. Is this abnormal? Is something wrong with my game? Do you have this happening to you as well?
 
I had to laugh at Spruance's predicament, also at Inner Circles observations about that Squadron Leader, my guess is that he was ashamed.

Destroying all thos enemy planes was an excellent idea, hopefully they were South African.

Good update. :p
 
safferli said:
I don't understand? Why are your interceptors suddenly so competent against escorted strategic bombers? Did you research new doctrines?

Well before it was 4 interceptors vs 4 strategic bombers with escorts. AKA equal odds. So to counter it Japan made it 8 interceptors. That made it much more effective then only four.

Remble said:
The concept had been fairly sound. If you cannot win a fight when the odds are even then you alter the odds in your favour, preferably by a considerable margin.
 
I don't think Remble has a year. I've seen the vanilla AI in the '44 scenario drop the bomb - and while it doesn't always happen, certainly it can.

And even if it doesn't happen, he still has to face Operation August Storm.