Ask and you shall receive, CivAgamemnon
Time for another story update.
By Week 15 of 1906, the war in French Indochina has grown to include three full Russian armies, the 2nd, 6th and 7th Armies. I have unleashed my Far East squadrons into British territorial waters in hopes of damaging the British shipping lanes. The British surprise me when they sign an MA with the Persians and Portuguese against me in Week 15 of 1906. Even with three full armies in French Indochina, I am considering shifting one more army from the European front to the theater...
I will cover the Russian naval operations first.
Russian 1st Cruiser Squadron
After causing considerable damage around Vancouver off the coast of Canada, the 1st CA Squadron turns from the coast and steams west to prowl the North Pacific Ocean. As the squadron streams into the North Pacific Ocean, it spots a lone British warship, the cruiser HMS Ardent steams furiously from the northeast.
When lookouts on the cruiser, Nikolevski, spotted the Ardent approaching, the captain gave the order to turn his vessel and engage the enemy cruiser head-on. The Nikolevski was larger and faster than the Ardent, but still the fight went on for nearly an hour. Early on, the Ardent managed to knock out a gun on the Nikolevski and was struck two more times (2/5 hp at the end) by shells from the Ardent before the Nikloevski’s guns were able to sink the British warship. Heavily damaged, the squadron was forced to head straight to port at the Kuril Islands for repairs.
Russian Far East Naval Operations
The majority of Russian raider squadrons, four in all, have been sent to Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean to attack British shipping lanes. However, during the four-month period, there are no British ships spotted for the raiders to attack and they are forced to engage land targets instead.
The Russian 5th Squadron attacks the British city of Singapore for three months, destroying roads all around the city (including an iron and oil source now disconnected). Hoping for fresh targets, the squadron turns from Singapore and steams to the northwest towards the British city of Kuala Lampur. Again, the Russian warships finds the region devoid of any and all British shipping. The squadron instead shells around the city causing some road damage.
The Russian 3rd Squadron had been patrolling off the Indian west coast for some time, and had turned south east to head for the British city of Madras. For three continuous months, the Russian war ships pound Madras in a constant barrage. With no friendly war ships to drive the Russian ships off, Madras is helpless under the constant pounding (4 roads and 2 rails are destroyed).
The Russian 2nd Squadron was cruising off the eastern coast of Africa and now steams north past Mombassa to raid Persian shipping lanes. The squadron steams north to Hurdiyo and shells the city for several hours causing no considerable damage.
However, aboard the destroyers, Kiev, and Keisk, smoke is spotted on the horizon to the north. Steaming furiously north, the two warships spot a pair of unescorted Persian steam transports making their way south along the coast. With no escort, the Persian transports are quickly sent to the bottom by the small but accurate guns aboard the Russian destroyers.
Regrouping, the 2nd Squadron then steams northwards again towards the city of Aden in the Arabian Peninsula. Finding no other naval targets, the squadron attacks the Persian oil fields north of Aden (disconnecting 1 oil source).
Far to the east, the Russian 6th Squadron had been steaming at full speed towards the northern coast of Australia in hopes of attacking the British shipping lands there. At the city of Port Moresby, like the other Russian squadrons, the Russian ships meet
no British vessels, not even transports. The squadron, deprived of real naval targets, shells around the city, destroying a good deal of Port Moresby’s road works (2 roads are destroyed).
Russian 1st BB Division
The Russian 1st BB Division from Romanov-on-Murman had left port months ago and headed into the Barents Sea and south straight towards the north English coast.
Once reaching the north English coast, the squadron spots a couple of small British fleets (three ships each), steaming south but the Russian squadron is unable to catch up with them. Instead, the squadron steams for the city of Glasgow and shells the area, destroying one rail and two roads, isolating a coal source.
Russian Invanov Offensive
In Week 15, the decision to renew the offensive into British-held territories of French Indochina was ordered. Renamed the Invanov Offensive, the main attack was to be regulated to the Russian 6th Army which had previously fallen back towards Hong Kong, with the 7th Army in support.
The Russian 7th Army marches from their positions east of Hanoi to occupy hills to the north of the city. While the Russian artillery gun positions are being set up for the up-coming attack on the city in conjunction with the 6th Army, patrols report sighting British supply depots just to the west and south of the army. As the Russian guns dig in, the Russian 87th and 91st cavalry are ordered to sweep south and west to capture the unguarded supply depots, which is accomplished with no enemy resistance (capturing 3 Brit, 2 former French and 4 former Portuguese RM’s).
The offensive was to be a lighting attack preceded by a short but powerful artillery barrage that was hoped would sufficiently weaken the British defenders. The Russian
6th Army was shipped to the front via rail and after a short march, quickly set up its artillery for the upcoming barrage. The battle begun on April 23rd at 5.50 am with a short seven-hour artillery bombardment firing over 900,000 shells by thirteen artillery batteries (mostly of the 7th Army positioned on the high ground overlooking the city). The incessant pounding incurred by the British troops in the city was so heavy that the ground in the ground could be felt up to one hundred miles away. The short but devastating bombardment proved to be quite deadly to the British defenders - most of the troops were encamped without entrenchments in parade-style camps and were caught unaware and unprotected by the barrage. Thus, casualties were so severe in the seven-hour bombardment that typical unit effectiveness dropped to as low as 20% in most units (all defending units were red-lined by the artillery barrage).
At 1.03 pm, as the artillery had gone quiet, the order was given for a full frontal assault to begin. Having not to advance in the face of enemy artillery or machine gun fire, the Russian troops on the left flank (the 7th Cavalry and 2nd Infantry corps) swiftly advanced to the city outskirts, easily capturing the southern portions of the city. The state of the British defenders was such that the Russian troops overran five Indian colonial cavalry and a Indian home guard divisions with virtually no losses (not a single Russian unit took a hit).
On the Russian right flank, the attack progressed more slowly and with much heavier casualties - the Russian 13th Infantry corps was thrown back in its initial assault, suffering the destruction of an entire division, the 38th Infantry Division. To their right, the Russian 6th Cavalry Corps faired better, having overrun two Indian infantry and one Indian Colonial cavalry divisions, but at the cost of the Russian 44th Cavalry division in the bloody final assault. By dusk, the garrison commander agreed to a ceasefire and capitulated. As the victorious Russian forced marched into the city, they were overwhelmed by the discovery of huge stockpiles of war supplies in the city (in all, I capture 3 Brit and 5 former French RM’s once the city falls).
The Mekong Offensive
The Russian 7th Army move in and occupies the city of Hanoi, while the Russian 6th Army marches south towards the British-held city of Vientiane. Meanwhile the Russian 2nd Army had reached Hong Kong and were unloaded from their transports to advance towards Hanoi.
While the Russian 2nd and 6th Armies move forward, the 7th Army launches a series of attacks southeast of Hanoi. On May 3rd, the Russian 87th Cavalry overran a British Indian Colonial cavalry division occupying the high ground overlooking Hanoi to the west. A short artillery bombardment from the Russian guns in the city makes the Russian cavalry attack easily successful and without Russian losses. As the Indian prisoners were grouped to be sent back to the city, the commander of the 87th Cavalry discovered that the Indian cavalry had been guarding another British supply depot (2 former French RM’s). In fact, as the Russian commander took stock of the captured enemy supplies, he spies more British supply depots just to the south of the hilltop.
The Russian 91st Cavalry Division is ordered forward from Hanoi and sweeps southeast to capture the second supply depot (amounting to 2 former French and 1 former Portuguese RM’s).
It is at this time that the British and her allies decide to launch an offensive of their own into French Indochina, named the Mekong Offensive. The British/Indian 3rd Army (comprised of 6 Indian Colonial cavalry divisions) marches up towards Hanoi cautiously and halt their advance before even crossing the Mekong River to the north of Hanoi. The Persian 2nd Army (consisting of 11 light cavalry and 18 rifle divisions) makes a lighting dash across the Mekong River to surround Hanoi from the north.
I am unsure as to the goal of the Allied attack - the Persian army has almost completely marched past Hanoi without attacking it. All I can assume is that they are gearing to attack the long extended line of captured RM's that are being shipped back to Hong Kong from Hanoi...
Seriously, you could see what they have now, record the numbers, check again in a few turns. That should give you some idea.
I like the new maps showing naval movement. Excellent way to show the action. Keep up the great work. 
