Pacific Storm: Allies AAR

[DavidUpton]

Time for a change from the normal HoI2 AAR's; let's try one in Pacific Storm: Allies now.

First, as it seems the game is not that well known, a quick description of the game.

Pacific Storm, as the name suggests, is set in the Pacific during WWII and mixes together the elements of grand strategy, real time strategy and simulation to give the player as much of an immersive experience as possible. The main campaign sees the player controlling the naval forces of either Japan or the USA in a way that is simmilar to HoI2 mixed with the TW campaign map. The expansion pack (Allies) adds Great Britain as a playable nation with the Netherlands, Germany and the USSR as non-playable (they can't be played in the campaign, but they are able to make an appearance as an AI controlled nation and also can be played in the single missions outside the campaign).

Battles take place in a style a lot like in the TW games. They can be auto-resolved or commanded by yourself. If you do choose to take control, like in TW, you are able to choose the deployment location of your units before the battle starts.

Finally, the game adds extra entertainment value by allowing you to directly control units. Ships can be steered, but as far as I am aware the main guns cannot be fired. The only guns that can be fired are AA guns. However, this doesn't matter, because the game makes up for it by allowing you to take control of any aircraft on the battlefield (that is on your side) and reminds me quite a bit of IL-2...

So there is a short overview. I started a new historical campaign yesterday and it was just as the war started that I realised I wanted to do this AAR (incidentally, just as my defences in Hong Kong were being bombed).

Watch this space...

[DavidUpton]

1st December, 1940: 00:00 Hours

David Upton is appointed Commander-in-Chief of all Royal Navy and Air Forces in the Pacific by the British Supreme Command.


(Stupid game saved it as a .png instead of .jpg. Grr...)

"The situation in the Pacific is, at best, delicate. By now Germany, along with the USSR, has invaded and annexed Poland and France and Great Britain have both declared war on Germany. However, this is not my concern; there are no German ships in the Pacific. However, both myself, Command and the British Government are worried by the aggresive expansion of the Japanese Empire.

Many of the senior commanders seem to be on edge, and I can't blame them. Going off Japans record so far, coupled with their relationship with Germany and Italy, it seems inevitable that some form of hostility is going to take place. The Government has already ruled out any pre-emptive military action on our part; with things as they are in Europe and public opinion very much against any further conflict there is not a lot we can do. So for me, the best course of action right now is to prepare for the worst. This will be easier said than done; there are few well developed bases in the Pacific. Calcutta is perhaps our only well established military and industrial presence. I will need to work on building up the industrial and military capabilities of the other nearby bases, and also concentrate on defences for some locations. I must admit I am particularly worried about Hong Kong, given its close proximity to Japanese territory."



The bases belonging to the British. Main base (Calcutta) is highlighted.

Production Summary

At this time there are already two ships (one King George V class and one Hood class) currently under production. Both are around 50% complete. Due to a lack of combat vessels, suitable protection in the area is not available. Therefore, the following orders have been placed:



- 20 Hunt class Escort Ships (primarily for convoy escort duties if war breaks out)
- 10 Tribal class Destroyers
- 6 Fiji class Light Cruisers
- 4 Dorsetshire class Heavy Cruisers
- 4 Illustrious class Aircraft Carriers

It is likely that additional Destroyer and Escort Ship orders will be placed in the future. There is also potential for additional Battleships.

In terms of base production; emphasis is being placed on improving the industrial capabilities of the bases, as well as expanding the barracks and constructing engineer schools so that buildings can be constructed quicker, and trained engineers can be dispatched to establish new bases.

Research Summary



At this time we are currently concentrating on a few technologies that would give us a great advantage in an upcoming war. This includes the developement of HF Radar and Electromagnetic Spectral Analyzer. Additionally, research into 20mm AA guns is being researched to increase AA capabilities.

Edit: Anyone know why my image tags aren't working?

[stevetheturtle]

Looks good and the game sound's intresting.

[Onearmy]

HOLY SHIT! I knew it was strategy, somewhat similar to HOI2, but I didn't know YOU, the PLAYER, could actually fly planes and steer ships! I've got to get this! Are the battles in 3d?

EDIT- Alright, I looked at a few videos on Youtube and the battles are in 3d. This game looks amazing, does it have a high learning curve like HOI2?

[DavidUpton]

Yup. Here are a few pictures:

British Carrier Fleet v Yamato






Midway Island under bombardment



I did take some of me attacking the Bismarck in a swordfish (in the cockpit view) but they didn't save...

[DavidUpton]

1st November, 1941: 03:10 Hours

"It's been nearly a year now, and things have improved somewhat. The Japanese have used this time to expand and set up new bases, but so have we; we now have a presence in Bangkok, Palembang, Tarawa and Canton. We've also been stepping up our presence in the region. So far we have a couple of destroyer battalions, thanks to our American friends selling us a couple of Benson class Destroyers. Most importantly though, we have been able to establish an Aircraft Carrier Division consisting of two Illustrious class carriers, both carrying 12 fighters, 12 dive bombers and 12 toperdo bombers, as well as a couple of destroyers to act as protection. Vice-Admiral Sir Bruce Frasier has been placed in command of this force.

Production has also been stepped up, with more destroyers on order as well as a few more battleships. HMS Hood and HMS King George V have both been completed, but we will need more of these kinds of ships if we are to ensure the security of the Pacific."

Production Summary

- An additional 10 Hunt class Escort Ships have been ordered
- An additional 20 Tribal class Destroyers have been ordered
- 3 Hood class Battleships have been ordered
- 3 King George V class Battleships have been ordered
- Ongoing production of Walrus class Scout Planes (depending on the number required by the ship)

The aim is to create two battleship battalions using the Hood class battleships, and to create one fleet using all four King George V class battleships as well as additional ships.

Research Summary

So far most research is being concentrated on radar and gun targeting. There is also research being conducted into improving the 20mm AA guns to 30mm AA guns.

Upgrade Report

Two types of unit have been upgraded within the last year.

The Supermarine Spitfire 5C was upgraded, with it's .30 cal machine guns replaced with .50 cal machine guns, as well as an increased armour protection from 6mm to 12mm. The Merlin X engine was also replaced with a new Merlin XX, increasing speed. The overall result was dubbed the Supermarine Spitfire 5D, and is both faster and tougher, albeit it a slightly raised cost.

The Swordfish, before being put into production to be used in Aircraft Carrier Division 177, was also upgraded from the standard model. It was decided to add 12mm armour plating, much like the Spitfire 5D, except the Swordfish had no armour plating originally (except for around the fuel tanks), so this would be a huge advantage. It was also decided, after some debate, to add twin forward-firing .30 cal machine guns to help improve it's air-to-air combat ability.

[Sgt So and So]

Interesting.

I shall now brood in my seat and await further intel.

[Hells Angel]

That actually sounds pretty cool. You get that and all i get is this shitty Battlestations: Midway

May have to buy that game, i await further updates.

[DavidUpton]

Originally Posted by Onearmy

EDIT- Alright, I looked at a few videos on Youtube and the battles are in 3d. This game looks amazing, does it have a high learning curve like HOI2?

Unfortunately, yes. The tutorials are a bit of a pain as they take a while to complete, but you won't really understand the game unless you complete them all.

The game isn't perfect though. It does have a few bad points. My main one is that foreign countries insist on trying to sell me units, but then when I use them in game instead of finding a foreign model with British markings and British pilots, I am flying a Japanese plane with Japanese markings and also a Japanese pilot.

The first time this happened I was basically attacking two Japanese transports with a bunch of Japanese torpedo bombers and it confused the hell out of me.

[DavidUpton]

16th November, 1941: 02:51 Hours

War!!



"I can't say I am exactly surprised, but it certainly seems the Americans were. I must admit though, I didn't expect the Japanese to attack Pearl Harbour, especially without making a declaration of war first...

Now comes the important task of doing what I hoped would never come, but knew it would anyway; commanding the Pacific forces against the Japanese. No doubt the first battles will take place soon, and I suspect places like Hong Kong and Bangkok will quickly fall unless they are well defended."

CiC's Orders

- Reinforcements to be transported to Hong Kong and Bangkok immediately. No less than 4000 soldiers should be stationed at each base in order to provide effective defence against any invasion force.
- Aircraft Carrier Division 177 to rebase at Bangkok.
- Heavy Cruiser Division 21 to rebase at Hong Kong.
- Light Cruiser Division 67 to rebase at Bangkok.
- Light Cruiser Division 58 to rebase at Hong Kong.
- All other forces stand fast and await further orders.

Battle Report: Hong Kong



As feared, the Japanese have started attacks against Hong Kong. In this instance, they have sent three bomber regiments against us.




For the most part they were trying to hit our coastal defences, but they also tried to hit our destroyers as well. Fortunately, they missed the destroyers, but did succeed in destroying a few defensive structure.



The Spitfires were scrambled and were able to pick off a few straglers.



Overall, we lost no aircraft or ships. We lost 1 artillery bunker and 1 AA position. The enemy lost 4 bombers.

It has was noted that two factors contributed to the lack of enemy kills. Firstly, the lack of pilot experience and secondly, the poor accuracy of the AA guns (not one bomber was lost to AA fire). This will be reported to the CiC.

[stevetheturtle]

Do u need both games or can you just have Allies?

[DavidUpton]

You can just have Allies.

[stevetheturtle]

OK thank's

[Timblesink]

This is relevant to my interests.

I shall consider purchasing this game some time in the future have bought it off eBay.

[Timblesink]

List of "Pacific Storm: Allies" mods

I'm putting this link in a new reply to bump the thread. Just thought anyone who has PS:A could benefit from these mods. I really encourage the use of the use of number 35 on the list, the transparent tactical-mode GUI. Really makes it look more streamlined.

[DavidUpton]

Thanks Timblesink.

I have given up on my AAR, purely because of historical inacuracies. Although I enjoy the game, I find it hard to carry on with the AAR when the Netherlands has declared war on the US and Germany has declared war on Japan...

[Timblesink]

Originally Posted by DavidUpton

Thanks Timblesink.

I have given up on my AAR, purely because of historical inacuracies. Although I enjoy the game, I find it hard to carry on with the AAR when the Netherlands has declared war on the US and Germany has declared war on Japan...

That's a bit... funny. :\

What could Germany possibly have to gain by declaring war on Japan?

Or for that matter, the Netherlands on the US?! D: