1 vs 1 Round3 MrQuiet vs Forwarn45

[MrQuiet]

Japan Fall 1946

Well, here we are at the final turn against the toughest opponent I have encountered in AWD.
My strategy is pretty much the same as the previous turn, to try and hold on to the required 10 pps.
Had to shift forces in Siberia due to Forwarn moving a strong force in Mongolia threatning Manchuria.

Another US sub was hunted and exterminated leaving a grand total of 1 left (although it is in striking range and will no doubt be used this turn)

As I had expected the entire WA airforce has been shipped to India (se SS) to try and clear a route for the Allied Navy into Japans territorial Waters. If you look closely you will notice a stranded Allied Airfield in Maylaya, they burned there last gallon of fuel last turn and I am trieing my damdest to keep them from being supplied this turn by sea or air.

Ceylon is to provide opfire on any shipping and my floating armada is to provide opfire on any air resupply.

Can we hold and keep the nukes away from Japan?
The fate of the Japaneese people depend on it

[Forwarn45]

And the game comes to an end. Japanese might proves too much to overcome in '46. Allied war leaders urged continuance of the war until '47, but people have had enough of war. A negotiated peace leaves Japan with a mandate over the former Dutch colonies and the oil of the East Indies, its main objective for war. The game ends in an Axis substantive victory thanks to a 1-level shift in favor of the Allies for keeping the Axis below its watermarks.

[Forwarn45]

Congrats to MrQuiet on a game well played. [&o] A few thoughts on this one. The Allies' containment strategy achieved results in the early war - and the Allies were in a good position until about '43. But things began to unravel when the Japanese pushed the Allies from the Indian Ocean. MrQuiet's well-timed uboat (with help from the Japanese sub fleet) offensive subsequently took down the Allied transport chain. The other key event was the Japanese invasion of Siberia - my Russians left it pretty much undefended in the early war. I don't think that's a bad strategy as an early-Japanese invasion puts the Japanese in danger from the abomb and there is some time to regain lost territory. But come '44, the Russians should have started to garrison the area. Without much other means of putting pressure on Japan, the Japanese had enough to keep the Russians at bay. I think this game (like my prior game with Kondor), confirms the Axis shouldn't abandon hope. In retrospect, the Allies needed to put a bit more emphasis on ASW and the navy (I actually disbanded some damaged ships for extra resources in a very short-sighted manner). I could have delayed developing the a-bomb a bit more. Timing is important for the Allies, and it is possible to throw them enough off balance to make the game competitive in the late game.

[MrQuiet]

Thanks for the compliments Forwarn. You played very well and I hope you play less well in our rematch (unlikely).
One unusual advantage I was gifted that must have made a big difference was Spain joining Germany and closing the Western Med. That really helped protect Italy which actually outlasted Germany. Spain built nothing but artillary 99% of the time and I still was no match for Soviet Art numbers. With all the Russian Artillary I was very surprised to see Germany last as long as it did.
 
I am glad to hear that the 112 transport fleets I sunk did have some effect on the Allied war effort. Wtih FOW it just does not really appear that way to the Axis. The bomb was built a year before history and Allied units just kept on showing up all over.
 
I also think your Germany first strat (or more like Germany only at first) allowed Japan to grow her economy unmolested and get very strong late war compared to history. One of my biggest mistakes was not getting to a point where I could comfortably rebuild to a nice high water mark, like you said, my Germans were contianed pretty early and instead of pushing hard I tried to conserve my forces for the inevitable.
 
I really thought the USA build up of 4/4 subs combined with nukes was going to be my death. Luckily things went pretty well for Japans ASW efforts.
I am now afraid you learned to much this game and I have no chance at all next game.
 
-MrQ