Ulvjager's Japan, a Hearts of Iron 3 AAR

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Ulf Norman

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I'm running a 1936 start campaign as Japan in Hearts of Iron 3 that has taken an interesting turn and figured I'd share it as it develops. I'm playing on Normal difficulty level.

From January 1 1936 to July 1 1937 I mainly moved troops from northern Manchuria to the Chinese border, where tensions were brewing. Focused research on infantry tech and doctrines to facilitate the expected war with China and naval research of new battleships and carriers to start expanding the IJN.

The situation on July 1 1937 when an incident at the Marco Polo Bridge turns into full scale war with Shanxi. The Nationalist forces under Shiang Kai-Shek and their puppets in the Gobi desert, Xibei San Ma, joins Shanxi, and so does the Communist forces under Mao. The Guangxi Clique and Yunnan in the south stay neutral.

 
After our Imperial Navy and air force destroy the fleet of the Nationalists, unopposed naval landings are executed near the port of Dagu in Shangxi and Qingdao across from Korea, increasing the pressure on the Chinese. After Beijing is surrounded and captured, our forces advance inland and on August 6 1937 Shangxi surrenders. At this point we also hear from the German government, who want to cement our relations with a formal pact, which we accept.​

 
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Shortly thereafter, the last stronghold of Mao's Communist forces is stormed on August 21.

 
On September 1 Mengkukuo annexes the eastern parts of the Gobi, claimed by the Xibei San Ma. Our forces advance southwards into Nationalist territory, later aided by more naval landings near Shanghai.

 
In Japan, we're training a corps of Mountain Divisions, that will be needed in the mountainous southern China. By March 16 1938, the Nationalist forces and the Guangxi Clique in the south, have both surrendered.

 
April 24 1938 our forces, including the new Mountain Divisions, advance across the border to Yunnan. Back in Japan, the IJN is training Marines to aid in our future expansion of the Empire and three modern aircraft carriers and one battleship are being built built, along with modernized destroyers and light cruisers.

 
By September 1 1938, Yunnan has surrendered and only the warlords of Xibei San Ma in the Gobi desert remain to oppose us in China. Back in Europe, Germany has Anschlussed Austria and are now negotiating with the UK and France about Sudetenland. Communications with the German embassy are indicating that our "warmongering" in China has made the UK and France suspicious and that they are determined to draw a red line about the Sudetenland. We may have to prepare for a major war and in response we are deploying our Marines and major naval assets to ports in southern China.

 
Sorry, I ended up buying the 'Their Finest Hour' expansion download on Amazon for $2.49 and its got new units and research, so I'm going to start a fresh Japanese campaign even though this one turned out interesting. And its got historical battle plans stored that you can use for your own operations, pretty cool.
 
Best WW2 grand strategy computer game I've tried. Hearts of Iron 4 is coming out next year :)
 
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