[BTS] WWII in Pacific

[Tigranes]

Oh boy... I didn't realize even Doolittle's raid was scripted, to some extent.

I asked you to play several sides in Single Player, remember?

 

[Areg]

Pretty quiet turn overall for US. Lost a B-17 bomber in China to a flak (to a FLAK! grrrr).
At least Takeo Yoshikawa (your spy) was caught in Pearl Harbor. He is now enjoying the hospitality of Naval Intelligence. He hasn't provided much information of Kido Butai's whereabouts but give our boys some time and we will break him.

 

[Tigranes]

Battle of Makassar Straight occurred this turn, in almost the same place as in the real life, but this time Royal Navy was victorious, sinking a battleship, several cruisers and destroyers, for the price of 2 cruisers. I think this was the first major naval battle in open sea in our game and marks the first occasion for IJN to lose a capital ship! RAF meanwhile, had a terrible turn, with several planes lost without causing any damage

Chinese Communists are celebrating a major propaganda victory, describing how the huge Japanese force retreated from Yan'An with their tails between their legs, all thanks to the unwavering Allied air support!

 

[Hickman888]

Although suffering a defeat at the Battle of Makassar Strait, the Japanese have repaid this counter-attack with further aggression; further advances on the islands of New Guineau and Borneo, forcing the British to scuttle the Battleship HMS Repulse to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Japanese. Meanwhile, the Japanese march into Nationalist China continues mostly unabated, pushing the frontlines further and further forward.

Spoiler New Guinea Front :

 

[Areg]

U.S. forces have pushed into the Central Pacific, capturing the valuable islands of Kwajalein and Tarawa, with the latter handed back to the British Commonwealth. American air units suffered some losses after being intercepted by Japanese Zeroes, but once Kwajalein fell, U.S. troops overran the airfields and destroyed a large number of Japanese aircraft on the ground. Even with these gains, the situation remains precarious: the U.S. Navy is exposed to a potential strike from the Japanese carrier force, and it’s unclear whether this vulnerability is a dangerous oversight or an intentional lure. Meanwhile, American cryptographers continue to make steady progress, closing in on the Japanese battle plans and the location of the Kido Butai. A decisive moment may be approaching...

 

[Tigranes]

The hastily combined forces between the Royal Thai Army, and the Royal Thai Air Force, known as Phayap Army, invaded present day Shan State of Burma and saw the first ever action by Thai forces against the Commonwealth divisions, shielding all important Burma road. Let's just say -- it didn't go all too well for Thais . (By the way, I did a lot of playtesting prior to this game and can confirm, that trade with China will indeed be severed once Japanese control Burma, just like in real life, so it's a very cool design).

 

[Hickman888]

Showdown in the Pacific! The American fleet has taken a huge loss, losing several Cruisers, Destroyers, and 4 Aircraft Carriers!

Spoiler Pacific Showdown! :

Meanwhile, the island of Borneo has finally been secured for the Japanese Empire, and for the first time, Japan has secured for itself an oil source to feed its war machine.

In other news, Mitsubishi and Kawasaki both commemorate a momentous occasion, having establishing offices in every major city in the Japanese islands.

 

[Areg]

The devastating attack on the American carrier fleet by the Kido Butai drew the Japanese strike force out into the open sea. There, the second American fleet—where the main naval firepower was concentrated, managed to locate the Japanese and force an engagement.

Some of the ship-to-ship duels went spectacularly in Japan’s favour, showcasing the precision and ferocity of their gunnery. But as the battle went on, losses on both sides mounted.

In the meanwhile, several British Commonwealth warships, assigned to escort the American fleet, are now closing in on the battlefield—threatening the once mighty Kido Butai.

The battle is not over yet!

 

[Tigranes]

No, it is not! 4 more IJN warships went down in a warm waters around the Marshall Islands. All in all, Japan lost 3 BBs, 10CAs and 4 DDs -- but all 6 CVs survived, all thanks to the heroic performance by the screen. Some are still afloat with 0.9 health! Truly an epic battle, involving World's top 3 Navies,and it still will continue the next turn, before IJN disengages.

 

[kiwitt]

Lurking.

 

[Hickman888]

The massive confrontation in the Pacific comes to a close, but not before the mighty Japanese Zero claims one more casualty, the mighty HMS Warspite.

Ultimately, the Japanese claim a pyrrhic victory, as though the Imperial Navy sunk 4 American carriers, they lost several Battleships and Cruisers themselves. For now, both sides pull back to lick their wounds, and eye the other side from across the ocean.

 

[Tigranes]

Yet another Japanese submarine was sunk by the Royal Navy in Late April 1942. I think Japan must have lost like 16 of them from the beginning of the war.

 

[Hickman888]

As the Pacific War against the Americans lies dormant for the time being, the Japanese Imperial Navy in the Dutch East Indies claims another victory, as the HMS Resolution is spotted and sunk on its way to help reinforce the besieged British garrison in Singapore.

Spoiler Air Attack :

 

[Tigranes]

Undeterred by heavy losses, the Royal Navy showed some teeth this turn, by naval bombarding enemy's precious Oil Wells! What a majestic display of firepower of eight 15-inch (381 mm) guns!

 

[Hickman888]

The governor of Borneo is struggling to gather the resources needed to secure the vital resources located on his island that are necessary to the war effort. The British holdout in Singapore is proving to be quite the nuisance! In response, a daring amphibious invasion has been ordered against the Malay Peninsula.

Spoiler Siege of Singapore :

Meanwhile, the war against China rages on, with Chinese resistance threatening to collapse in on itself as the Japanese Imperial Army secure the city of Changde, capturing two Chinese P-40 Warhawk units. Shunroku Hata has demonstrated himself to be among the Great Generals in history as the city is taken, and he goes on to found his own Military Academy.

Spoiler Capture of Changde :

And another victory in the Pacific, for our glorious Imperial Navy! An American Carrier, being escorted by several Commonwealth Cruisers, have been ambushed and sunk by our brave airmen aboard the Japanese Carriers!

Spoiler Sinking the USS Hornet :

 

[Tigranes]

The Royal Navy has finally even the score "just a little" this turn, by sinking 1 BB, 10 CAs, 6 DDs, and, very critically, 7 Transports! Brave artillery detachments left the safety of the besieged Malayan capital to surprise IJN with a powerful shore bombardment. RAF scored a single hit, but lost 2 Swordfish Torpedo Bombers for their effort. Even with all these preparations, IJN still managed to sink 3 BBs and 2 CAs, but now only 6 out of original 13 transports can ferry IJA troops around, leaving many of them stranded. The list below can be read as a list of Japanese losses, with the lone survivor -- IJN Aoba (CA) -- who lived to tell the tale!

Spoiler Naval Battle of Singapore :

 

[Tigranes]

Following the defeat of IJN at Singapore, it was IJA's turn to suffer the similar fate around the same fortress. We shall fight in the water, on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!

 

[Veritas Invictus]

Hello all, been having a great time watching the series and ya'all have inspired me, I have an itch to play a MP game and Hickman said I should come here, Tigranes or anyone who would like to play a game I would be down, so let me know if that would be something you guys are interested in and when we could make this work. Thank again, great show.

 

[Tigranes]

Welcome and yes, I am always in search of players. My dream was to start all human game with 4-5, some of them controlling multiple civs at once. We can discuss format and house rules here, and then I will open a new thread.

 

[agent__]

Hi, I don't log in often, but I've been following this thread and Hickman's videos. I'd like to be the 5th player in a future game if you'd like to. Anyways, keep it up guys!