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The invasion of Java has begun!

In a massive show of force, dozens of Japanese ships arrive near Semarang on Java, and land an entire Japanese infantry division. This marks the start of the invasion of the island, and spells impending doom for the thousands of Dutch and colonial troops on the island. This is FAR ahead of when I was expecting it to occur, and I'll be scrambling to implement my contingency plans.

Due to an unfortunate error on my part, many ships near Tjilatjap fall victim to Japanese carrier aircraft, but the most important ones miraculously survive the onslaught.

In China, another day, another defeat on the ground. Hellsen may have found a chink in the armor now and we are scrambling to plug the hole.

Finally, Hellsen continues to land troops in Palembang, but not the ones you think! I will analyze what's being dropped off and see if we can figure out his plan there.

https://youtu.be/V_BmAiV9zL0

At long last, we finally get a naval victory!

Task Force Houston and its ABDA compatriots have successfully located two lightly escorted transport fleets and sent them both to the bottom with little more than a few bullet holes for their troubles! While this engagement won't win us the war, it's an act of defiance and a reminder to Hellsen that we are still in this and not going down without a fight!

Unfortunately, that's where the good news ends. The invasion of Java is accelerating with two additional infantry divisions landing at key locations on the islands.

In China, Hellsen continues to tighten the noose on the northern oil producing cities of Sian and Lanchow. He's also marching on our enclave at Wenchow.

In the South Pacific, the Kido Butai has once again been spotted to the northeast of Espiritu Santo under heavy escort. It's no secret what direction they're heading in.

Finally, Hellsen launched his attack on Palembang. Will we withstand the assault, or will the Japanese invaders capture the Jewel of the Dutch East Indies before New Year's Eve?

https://youtu.be/6IsiQ6D--N4

The Japanese were all up in here smashing and grabbing everything they could today.

While we were mostly okay with the naval and air combat this turn, the Imperial Japanese Army had other things in mind. We suffered multiple defeats in ground combat, and multiple bases fell this turn. At the rate we're going, Hellsen will own half the map by March.

The Kido Butai is still sighted (mostly) and they're heading in a curious direction. The jury is out as to where they're going. If you've got a theory, I'd love to hear it, because I can't figure it out.

https://youtu.be/9XI05g2Gi_g

Hey friends! I am going to be doing my turn setup live in the Hellsen v. Heiden Scenario 1 Campaign, 29 Dec41 Turn. Tonight I'll be figuring out to avoid the KB heading for us in the South Pacific, finding mitigation strategies for the invasion of Java, getting my naval act together in India, and slowing down advances in China.

https://youtu.be/vnGvFYbSteQ

Do you see what I see? Yes, that's right, open ocean!

Our patrols planes report seeing absolutely nothing out in the Pacific Ocean where the Kido Butai *should* have been. It's anyone's guess where they've gone to. Did they simply leave the area, or are just hiding in a rain squall? It's a very concerning development to be sure!

In China, Hellsen is choosing finesse and maneuver over brute strength, and is executing a surgical 3-pronged advance on the Northern oil producing centers of China. It's quite entertaining and terrifying to watch at the same time.

On Java, Hellsen is going in HEAVY and wasting no time wrapping up things there. We will be lucky if we see February 1942 with any bases left in our possession.

Finally, and a matter of channel admin, I'm going to be trying a slightly different approach to my War in the Pacific videos. I feel they've been getting a little long-winded so I'm going to be attempting some brevity and getting to the point quicker and only talking about truly important things. Let me know what you think about the shortened up presentations.

https://youtu.be/Zgu-5_hn-F0

This one really hurt.

Despite my best efforts to get Task Force Houston out of the danger zone, Hellsen pulled a Lodrik patented task force teleportation move ® and somehow overtook it without being spotted. The lightly armored ships of Task Force Houston were no match for the might guns of the battleship Mutsu, and the results were inevitable.

In China, Hellsen continues his line drive for the oil producing cities of Northern China, and it's quite clear what his intentions are. We are in a race against time to block the roads to the North before he beats us there.

In Burma, Royal Thai Army troops are already at Moulmein. An attack is imminent, and once it's done, the Burma Road and Rangoon will be the next targets.

In the South Pacific, Kido Butai is still missing in action, but I am confident they've returned to Truk or elsewhere to refuel. This should give us a few days to get done what we need to do down there.

Finally, I would like to extend an invitation to you all to follow me on Twitch! I am not intending to move my whole operation there, but I do intend to start livestreaming there as Twitch uses better codecs than Youtube does for livestreams, which means better picture quality for you! I will still post the videos on Youtube afterwards of course. Join me!

https://www.twitch.tv/jochenheiden


https://youtu.be/lyeYLEkN-D4

The Dutch Air Force actually performed for a change!

I stationed some Dutch 139s on Timor hoping to take a bite out of the Mutsu as it returned to Java, but our bombers found something entirely different and put some dents in the armor!

It isn't all good however. We just detected a doom stack heading down the coast of Java right into the heart of the Dutch East Indies with unknown intentions. I can tell you that they're not good, however.

On the ground, we suffer several defeats, but they were all more or less expected and not surprising. The situation in Northern China continues to grow more dire by the day however, with Emperor Hellsen's troops advancing on multiple fronts for one objective: Chinese Oil.

Lastly, has anyone seen the Kido Butai? They're conspicuously absent, and it has me worried...

Happy New Year! We made it out of 1941! Now begins the year of hell. Can we make it to 1943 or are we destined for failure?

https://www.twitch.tv/jochenheiden

https://youtu.be/YIcWHJSmt6U

It's been a while but we're back!

After a long layoff, the action's back on. Hellsen is continuing his slow and steady grind and is making points every single turn.

https://youtu.be/8vj2DVV_j9I

Join me as I setup my 2 Jan 1942 turn against Hellsen. His carriers are all over the place, let's see if we can find a way to take out all that trash.

https://youtu.be/Wp76KHSDllw

First of all, you'll have to forgive my voice on this one. I'm undergoing a bout of COVID at the moment and I may be a little sniffly.

To get the point, Hellsen's Chinese Strategy is perfectly clear to me. He's going for a line drive for Lanchow and is moving headlong in 3 directions to obtain that objective. And it's up to us to figure out how to stop it.

Even more concerning, the KB has disappeared from the Canton area again... we need to reestablish contact with it again, and soon.


https://youtu.be/ZU3cPrsJUgY

My worst fears were realized: The Japanese carriers have penetrated deep into our convoy lanes have brought massive destruction. We lost a critical convoy loaded with our best aircraft, and they're irreplaceable.

In China, Hellsen continues his drive towards Sian and the oil rich city of Lanchow. We must stop his advance at all costs.

On Timor, Hellsen's battleships bob and weave their way through a minefield and law waste to Koepang base without so much as a scratch to their point.

This turn was awful, and I fear more awfulness is coming. Tune in to see why.

https://youtu.be/qNrTM3AktRA

Join me as I setup my 4 Jan 1942 turn against Hellsen. We're going to set up for you know what...

https://youtu.be/2HQqfPpZ050

Sadness turns into misery as my carriers and surfaces destined for the Great Decisive Battle fail to accomplish much of anything.

All over the map, we take defeat after defeat, as some key locations fall to the Japanese and the score finally flips in favor of the Japanese.

This is turning into a miserable campaign.

https://youtu.be/DNHBczUb9Ng

As we pick up the pieces from our failed carrier interception in the South Pacific, the Japanese are back to work in the Dutch East Indies, making gains and setting up for more critical base captures.

https://youtu.be/r5g14sDiX1U

I've always had terrible luck with subs, but today the Dutch show why they're the best subs the Allies can get in early 1942!

Despite some local success, Hellsen is still rampaging all over the DEI. And the desync issues I've been having in my other campaign finally make their way to this one. Maybe it's me?

https://youtu.be/dtixFIgRDv0

Hellsen is coming on strong in the Dutch East Indies, and despite some minor victories, our troops are the key locations continue to hold strong.

In China, we are scrambling to get into position in the North, but lines are being drawn and I think we may be able to stem the tide of Hellsen's rapid advance towards Lanchow.

Finally, our carriers are all fueled up and heading back home so we can plan the next disaster.

https://youtu.be/AGEacovj1S4

My Chinese troops stop one of Hellsen's armored thrusts into my supply lines COLD and save the day, buying precious time for my reinforcements to get into position!

In the Dutch East Indies, Hellsen continues to press hard and is making major gains.

https://youtu.be/v3e7YKvwiSw

Hellsen continues to press the attack on the beleaguered defenders of Ankang in China, but we continue to hold out while help continues down the roads. Can we save the troops in Ankang before it's too late?

Also, Hellsen grabs another oil-rich base on Sumatra. Pretty soon he'll have more oil than he can use!

https://youtu.be/sKirBz3rqIU

Our Chinese troops did the best they could, but they just couldn't hold out at Ankang any longer. The road is now open for further Japanese advances. It'll be up to the troops further north to slow the advance now.

Hellsen's Japanese invaders had victories all over the map this turn. Today's turn was tinted red with Allied BLOOD.

https://youtu.be/20mgpnUJa2Y

In a weird and unexplainable circumstance, one of our bases in the DEI inexplicably swapped back to British control behind the Japanese, and there is no good reason for it. Help me crack this mystery.

https://youtu.be/ekf639y-diM