The British Empire was selected for my first game and we're off. First off, the map and interface look terrific. Great terrain choices and lots of interesting details to take in. Also, the scale of the map is perfect for finding that balance between tactical/operational and overall strategy. The incorporation of many small units that don't fit into epic games such as mortar teams and floatplanes are superb editions. Each of these unit types have their own niche which is part of the fun of figuring out how to use them. The scale also means that you have to watch out for doomstacks, especially when it comes to enemy air.
The first order of business was to organize a fighting withdrawal down the Malay peninsula and keep Singapore defended at all costs. There is a mountain in KGV national park that controls the lines of communication leading south so that became the anchor of the defense. The troops began a process of leapfrogging and consolidating on the move, where units would alternate fortifying and moving while the artillery would shoot and scoot to wear the invaders down. The preponderance of Japanese forces are too much to engage head-on so the idea was to draw their mobile forces forward and separate them from the infantry. Then their guns and motorized units could be whittled down and counter-attacked whenever possible by our limited tank and armored car units. The rearguard echelons suffered grievously but bought time for the defenders to move. The Japanese advance continued inexorably but they paid a heavy price, especially in tanks and aircraft. The use of key fortifications and radar helped the retreating troops inflict heavy casualties before succumbing. Twice we almost took out General Yamash@ta but he slithered away to heal up. By Spring of '42 all of our towns and troops had been captured or wiped out, but the remaining Japanese forces couldn't hope to take Singapore, which at this point had constructed landward-facing fortifications and anti-aircraft.
Meanwhile, Admiral Phillips allowed himself to be convinced that sending Force Zed up the coast without adequate air cover was an exercise in suicidal lunacy.
Repulse and
Prince of Wales promptly pulled a 180 and steamed back to Singapore at all speed. They and their escorts were pounded by enemy air, but despite heavy damage none were sunk. They continued through the straits of Malacca and heading for the Andamans.
Indomitable and
Hermes along with their escorts headed east with all speed to link up with the retreating battlewagons. Meanwhile, the limited British and Indian troops available were loaded up and consolidated with the carriers. At the limit of their endurance, the battleships barely survived long range surface action and continued bombing to link up with the carriers. Unfortunately, Mother Nature's 35th Pit Viper Battalion and the veteran cobras of the 5th Venomous Fusiliers overwhelmed the local police and seized the Andamans, destroying the much needed port facilities. An ad hoc landing was launched, with naval bombardment provided by the weary Royal Navy ships. After two weeks of heavy shelling, the enemy snakes were either dead or in POW cages. A massive effort was made to rebuild the shore facilities and repair the damaged ships. The combined task force, now with air cover and additional destroyers and cruisers, steamed back to Malaya. Seeking to keep a close formation against enemy bombers, the ships engaged local IJN vessels with Swordfish strikes and long range gunnery. Japanese airbases at Kuala Lumpur were shelled and the ships continued to move and bombard as they went. Finally, in Spring of 1942, the Indian and British troops were off-loaded in Singapore. The city was saved, and now the long process of rebuilding the roads and outer defenses is underway. Next will be a combined sea and land operation to attrit Japan's air and sea forces and slowly recapture the peninsula.
Meanwhile, the defenders of Hong Kong had a lovely Christmas present for General Sakai and his 23rd Army. Rather than seizing the city, his forces were routed and settled for destroying the infrastructure north of the city in frustrated vengeance. The defenders of Hong Kong has settled in, conserving their ammunition and suffering little damage from the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force's unwelcome visits.
The defense of Burma has been centered around Moulmein. All available forces have slowly gathered here to keep the fighting away from Rangoon as long as possible. The Japanese bombed the road and have made probing attacks, but artillery and air power have so far kept them at bay. No attempt is being made to move forward until the situation develops further. General Iida's main force has been scouting along the border but so far hasn't made a run for the city. Pity, it would nice to draw in and destroy at least one of the armies. The real enemy in Burma as you well know is nature. They have captured numerous cities and overwhelmed the local workers and police at every opportunity. The oil wells outside Mandalay have been overrun. The only success has been recapturing Dacca with the limited artillery and mobile units available. Otherwise it's just time to batten down the hatches and sit tight.
Some thoughts on the scenario: If you can't tell, I'm really enjoying it. Your years of work clearly show through. The scenario doesn't need error corrections but just a couple suggestions. As in many Always-War games, the unhappiness is brutal. I am halfway through 1942 and already at 80% luxuries. Since war weariness can never go away due to the locked alliances, it would be nice if there were some ways to mitigate this. The few happiness buildings are very expensive and not able to counter the tide. I like the choices you've made in limiting growth and expansion and I think this is part of your design, but I worry that by the time I can build late game units my cities with be in a death cycle of unhappiness. I will keep you posted. Also, I noticed that lethal bombardment for aircraft and ships is limited. This is an interesting choice but near as I can tell is not identified in the civilopedia. This would be a tedious task to add in but would help in determining which aircraft can kill ships. I suspect that the only reason the two battleships survived is that there were insufficient Japanese aircraft with the lethal sea bombard flag.
Otherwise it's going great. I will post again when I get further along.