Matrix Games Forums

My attempt at a campaign game, playing Japan and her allies against the AI.

Almost alone against the world, Japan dares the fates.

decisions, decisions

Do I choose Sprites, Nato style, or platform figures?

The political/military situation in China appears chaotic at first, as in real life I guess, but the 'control/ownership' map modes in the game start to clarify things.

The territory controlled by the warlord brothers Xibei San Ma are in green, the Japanese controlled areas in yellow, the RoC in a light brown, and the Communist Chinese in darker brown.

I need to get my brain around the force mix available for my world conquest. Fortunately, that is easily obtained through the handy, tabbed OOB screen which can be toggled to display at any time.

Narrowing in on the task force which is slated to land forces to take Singapore, and choosing the 'classic' map mode, I can easily see what forces are steaming forward in the Gulf of Thailand.

I was hoping you will choose sprites

nice AAR btw

In the Malaya invasion task force, a couple of carrier support groups are available. Carriers can perform recon and air strikes.

I want some recon done. The range of the recon planes onto the Malay Peninsula is shown with the target circles.

Recon failed to find any enemy units around Khota Baru, where I intend to land. The port there is not big enough to be of any special value for bringing in supplies, but it may help as a defensive block as I drive south to Singapore. Or make further landings farther south. I'll be getting supply from the beachhead for a while. As long as I can maintain a fleet in the Gulf of Thailand, I can supply my troops. I'll have to bring in more support ships to get the maximum beachhead supply, however.

I also went back to the normal map view. Really shows up the heavy jungle terrain.

Proving my incompetence as a commander, I bring in my remaining four landing units south of Kota, losing one completely to rough seas and beachhead resistance. My sole armored unit is isolated from the rest of the force. I'll have to attempt to consolidate my position in the very face of the enemy.

Is that saying that the two Maru's are carriers? They are both seaplane tenders and only had reconnaissance planes on board.

The strength of those Maru groups will have to be adjusted. Everything in the game, practically, is easily configurable.

Fighters based in Taiwan are in range of Philippine air bases, including Clark Field. Preparatory to the landings on Luzon, the US bombers need to be taken down, or caught on the ground. The unit info for the fighters shows that several options are available, including recon. Let's just home the weather clears as those fighters return to base.

Clark air base is in recon range.

Recon reveals Luzon defenses around Clark.

Now I can strike those bombers, selecting the air strike/air-to-air icon for the Japanese fighters. Target circles appear. Note that the Japanese unit info box can be moved around on the screen. I placed it next to the targets for the screenshot.

I hit the bombers with two strafing passes and catch them on the ground, defenseless.

Having taken out the bomber force at Clark, the surprise landings in Northern Luzon are launched against minimal resistance. There are several Filipino infantry units stationed there that must be destroyed. Another landing force is enroute and scheduled to make its amphibious assault a bit farther south from the Lingayen Gulf within the next two weeks.

Guam was taken with only token resistance.

Bombers out of Taiwan struck hard at the Filipino 21st Division, reducing its strength to the point that the Japanese 5th Naval Guards will attack it, hoping to thereby linkup with the other landing forces.