Gaika no Gouhou: Air Land Force (Windows)
     FAQ/Strategy Guide (Version 3.5 - Incomplete Struggle)

     Current Update: Saturday, 24 August 2002
     Previous Update: Saturday, 17 August 2002
     Created: Sunday, 16 June 2002

     By Don "Gamera" Chan (crs1219@hotmail.com)

1.   Acknowledgements
2.   Nutrition Information
3.   1st Impression
3.1    2nd Impression
4.   Strategies
4.1    Kantou region, Kanagawa prefecture
4.2    Kantou region, Tokyo
4.3    Kantou region, Dasaitama prefecture
4.4    Kantou region, Gunma prefecture
4.5    Kantou region, Tochigi prefecture
4.6    Kantou region, Ibaraki prefecture
4.7    Kantou region, Chiba prefecture
4.8    Chuubu region, Shizuoka Liberation Battle
4.9    Chuubu region, Battle of Aichi
4.10   Chuubu region, Battle of Hokuriku
4.11   Kansai region, Battle of Lake Biwa
4.12   Kansai region, Battle of Kansai
4.13   Kansai region, Battle of Hyougo
4.51   Kyushu region, Okinawa prefecture
4.52   Touhoku-Hokkaidou region, Hokkaidou
5.   Orders of Battle
5.1    All
5.2    United States Army/Air Force
5.3    United States Navy/Marine Corps
5.4    Russia
5.5    Germany
5.6    United Kingdom
5.7    Japan
6.   Links

"Setsunasa!" (*1)

     Disclaimer: I send the newest version of this file to
only seven Websites:
     - http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/game/33453.html
     - http://vgstrategies.about.com/library/doswin/blgaikanogouhou.htm
     - 
http://dlh.net/chtdb/chtindex.php?lang=&sys=pc&match=Gaika+no+Gouhou%3A+Air+Land+Force
     - http://www.gamesover.com/walkthroughs/gaika_no_gouhou.txt
     - http://www.cheathappens.com/showcheat.asp?ID=10995
     - http://www.ggmania.com/cheat.php3?cheat=5247
     - http://www.gamenemesis.com/
     If you downloaded or read this file at other Websites,
the SysOps of the other Websites probably leeched it from
one of the above Websites.

     Dementi: J'ai envoye la plus recente version de ce
fichier a seulement sept sites webs.
     - http://www.gamefaqs.com/
     - http://vgstrategies.about.com/
     - http://dlh.net/
     - http://www.gamesover.com/
     - http://www.cheathappens.com/
     - http://www.ggmania.com/
     - http://www.gamenemesis.com/
     Si vous avez telecharge ou lu ce fichier a partir
d'autres sites, les responsables de ces sites l'auront
probablement pompe a partir de l'un des sites
ci-dessus.

1.   ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

     Thanks to these sierra hotel persons/organisations:
     - Jean-Luc Barbera of France, for the French
translation of the Disclaimer, and the English
translation of the NOIR foreword. (After all, English
and French are the two official languages up here in
Canada, the True North Strong and Free.)
   - Shimanda-Lagi of Japan, for Q&A.

     (Social democracy in action.)

     No thanks to these lima delta persons/organisations:
     - Major H. "Psycho" S., the pilot of the F-16C of the
170th Fighter Squadron ("Flyin' Illini"), 183rd Fighter
Wing ("SI"), Illinois Air National Guard (based at Capital
Municipal Airport (KSPI), Springfield, Illinois, USA, and
temporarily deployed to Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait), that
attacked, with a 500-pound GBU-12 laser-guided bomb, members
of Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's
Canadian Light Infantry (3 PPCLI, based at Edmonton
Garrison, Alberta, Canada), Canadian Armed Forces, in the
Tarnak Farms training area near Kandahar, Afghanistan, at or
about 01:55 on Thursday, 18 April 2002 (local time). (X_X)
Four Canadian soldiers were KIA, and eight were WIA. (;_;)

     In memory of:
     - The victims of the terrorist attacks in the USA
in the morning on 11 September 2001. God bless America.

     "Le noir, ce mot designe depuis une epoque lointaine le
nom du destin.
     "Les deux vierges regnent sur la mort.
     "Les mains noires protegent la paix des nouveaux-nes."
     - NOIR (TV: 2001)

2.   NUTRITION INFORMATION (Introduction)

     Title:         Gaika no Gouhou: Air Land Force
     Genre:         Tactical war game
     Rating:        ?
     Players:       1
     OS:            Japanese Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP
     Maker:         Koei
     On Sale:       Friday, 31 May 2002 (Japanese Windows)

     This game was previously scheduled for Friday, 8 March
2002.

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3.   1ST IMPRESSION

     [Ramble ON]

     Gaika no Gouhou: Air Land Force is a turn-based
strategy game, based in modern day Japan and with post-1980s
military hardware. (No more whiskey delta Su-22s and T-62s.)
     The "Gaika no Gouhou" in the title approximately means
"Signal gun of victory song".
     The game is on one CD.
     The game doesn't allow the player to choose the install
size. After installation, the game squats on about 1.24 GB.
     (Seems the player doesn't need to keep the CD in the
CD-ROM drive to play the game?)

     The background story is fun. In the game world, in
1945, the US didn't nuke Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (D_mn.
They should've nuked Kyouto and Toukyou.) Instead, in autumn
1945, WWII in the Pacific TOP (theatre of operations) ended
when the Allied and the Soviet Union forces landed on
mainland Japan and partitioned her. (Hooray.)
     In 1990-1991, West Germany and East Germany re-united,
and the Soviet Union croaked. A new hope for peaceful
amalgamation spawned in Japan.
     In 1999, the Japanese military, angered by a 80% budget
cut, effected a coup d'etat and declared martial law.
     Finally, in spring 200X, the bird dropping hits the
propellor. The player's Freedom Liberation Army (Jiyuu
Kaihougun), like a modern day Tokugawa Ieyasu, began its
struggle to re-unify Japan and liberate her from the nations
that have partitioned her... including the Japanese
military... (-_-;)

     The controls are IMO intuitive, point-and-click, and
user-friendly. LMB (left mouse button) is Yes/Confirm. RMB
(right mouse button) is No/Cancel. The mouse scroll wheel is
the next active friendly unit.
     The game has other shortcut keys, such as L for load
game and S for save game. The player can load/save game
anytime, such as during a battle, or during the logistics
screens between two battles.
     The game has 99 screens of save game slots, with 20
slots per screen.

     When the player begins a game, the player chooses i)
the difficulty level; ii) the supplier of the player's
initial weapons, and iii) the prefecture of the first
battle.

     The six suppliers are:
     - USA/AF (United States Army/Air Force), for master
players. ("Aim High.")
     - USN/MC (United States Navy/Marine Corps), for novice
players. ("Looking for a few good men.")
     - Russia, for novice players.
     - Germany, for expert players.
     - United Kingdom, for expert players.
     - Japan, for expert players.
     Each supplier has different air units, ground units,
naval units, healing rates, and tech level costs. For
example, the USN/MC has the M60A3 as its MBT, and Russia has
the T-72.
     Choosing a supplier gives the player a free TL1 (Tech
Level 1) in that supplier. Like a multi-class chara in a
RPG, the Gaika player can spend Nu Yen to buy TL in any of
the suppliers after each battle. For example:
     - USA/AF, TL1: 10,000 Nu Yen.
     - USN/MC, TL2 (see below): 18,000 Nu Yen.
     - Russia, TL1: 9,000 Nu Yen.
     - Germany, TL1: 7,500 Nu Yen.
     - United Kingdom, TL1: 7,500 Nu Yen.
     - Japan, TL1: 7,500 Nu Yen.
     (I haven't figured out the cost of TL1 in USN/MC
because it's my initial supplier. "75!")

     FYI, TL1 in USN/MC gives the player:
     - AH-1 (Cobra) attack helo.
     - CH-53 (Sea Stallion) assault helo.
     - M60A3 (Patton) MBT.
     - AAV7 IFV.
     - Marines.
     TL2 in USN/MC gives the player:
     - F-4 (Phantom II) fighter/attacker.
     - Chaparral mobile SAM.
     (Actually, another chapter of this FAQ will list each
supplier's hardware at different TL. For now, I wonder how
much does a warship cost?)

     The prefectures of the player's first battle include
Okinawa, far away from Kyushu (Kyuushuu). f(-_-;)
     (Reminds me of Sentimental Journey for PS and Find
Love 1 -Zenkoku Seifuku Bishoujo Grand Prix-, but without
the heroines...
     Anyway. I predictably chose my favourite prefecture,
Kanagawa in Kantou, as my initial prefecture. I presume
the amount of Nu Yen that the player gets after a battle
depends on the prefecture in which the player fights the
battle.)

     After the player chooses the initial prefecture, the
player apparently fights the first several battles only in
the region of the initial prefecture. For example, in the
Kantou region, after the player liberates Kanagawa, the
player can then try to liberate only Tokyo (Toukyou). The
player can't try to liberate prefectures beside Kanagawa
that aren't in the Kantou region map, such as Shizuoka.
     (In Genghis Khan, another old war game for
DOS/Windows by Koei, the player also had to unify Mongolia
before he could conquer the world.)

     Later (2002.07.02): Contrary to how I cleared all the
initial, prefectural battles in the Kantou region (see
below), IMO the player should invest in just two (or at most
three) nationalities. One, the nationality that the player
fights in the initial battles, such as Japan in the Kantou
region, and two, another nationality that has cheaper or
more effective units (I chose USN/MC). Instead of spreading
the Nu Yen income into different nationalities, IMO the
player should concentrate on two nationalities, for their
better units in Lv.3 and Lv.4, by the time the player clears
all the prefectural battles and move onto the regional
battles.

     Before (AFAIK) each of the first and second battles,
the game has a brief tutorial that explains the game
mechanics, the units' stats, &c.

     Each battle has a time limit. For example, if the first
battle is in Kanagawa in Kantou, the time limit is 21:00 on
Day 4.
     Each game day has eight turns, two or more hours
apart: 2:00, 7:00, 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, 21:00.
On Day 1, the first turn is 7:00.

     Each 2D (not isometric) battle map isn't accurately
satellite photo-realistic. The battle map is more like a
wallpaper on which the game lays a hex sheet. For example,
drawn in the Kanagawa battle map are such tourist landmarks
as the Landmark Tower in Yokohama and the Daibutsu (Giant
Buddha) statue in Kamakura.
     Also, each battle map has no fog of war. The player
clearly sees all the enemy units.
     In a battle map, the RMB toggles on/off the mini-map in
the upper right corner. The player can click a spot in the
mini-map to zoom the battle map to that spot.

     Each battle map has city and airbase hexes. Each player
can only beam down units to a few designated city and
airbase hexes. For example, in Kanagawa in Kantou, the
player can beam down units to three city and one airbase
hexes in or about Kawasaki. The Japanese Army can beam down
units to the city and airbase hexes in or about Yokosuka,
south of the player. A city hex can generate ground and
rotary-wing air units, but (AFAIK) only an airbase hex can
generate fixed-wing air units.
     In a battle, the player initially gets 400 SP per turn
to beam down units from the player's inventory. Unspent SP
are accumulated to the next turn. The player gets more SP
per turn by capturing neutral and hostile city and airbase
hexes.
     The player doesn't need to spend all SP in one turn.
When able, save some SP to beam down a more useful unit in
the next turn. For example, suppose the player has 500 SP
and gets 400 SP per turn. In the current turn, the player
may beam down a USN/MC M60A3 or Japanese Type 74 MBT for
240 SP. In the next turn, the player will have 500 - 240 +
400 = 660 SP, enough to beam down an AH-64 attack helo
for 640 SP.
     As in Road War 2000 and Road War Europa, when the Gaika
player captures a city or airbase hex, the player may get a
bonus. For example, the citizens may give the player 1,000
Nu Yen, or the player may get an enemy unit. The captured
enemy unit keeps its original nationality WRT healing. For
example, in the Kantou region, when the player captures a
Type 90, the Type 90 added to the player's inventory is
Japanese, not the nationality of the unit that captures it,
or that of the Blue HQ during the battle.
     Reportedly, the player may even get some special enemy
units. For example, in Kantou region, the player may get a
F-3 Modified or a Type 74 Modified.
     An undesignated city or airbase hex can't generate
units. However, after the player captures a neutral city or
airbase hex, the player's units of the appropriate types can
park on a captured city or airbase hex and get resupplied
(fuel and ammo) at the beginning of the next turn. If the
unit is damaged, at the beginning of the next turn, the game
may ask if the player wants to spend SP to heal that unit. A
USA/AF or USN/MC unit heals up to three vehicles per unit
per turn. A Russian unit heals two vehicles per unit per
turn, and a Japanese unit heals four vehicles per unit per
turn.
     When the player's inventory has units from different
nationalities, a unit can resupply in any friendly city or
airbase hex, but it can only heal itself in a friendly city
or airbase of its nationality.
     After the player captures a city or airbase hex that
the enemy previously used to beam down units, the player can
use it to beam down friendly units.

     Later (2002.08.15): Probably because I began the game
in Kantou, my Blue Force didnft discover any Type 74
Modified or F-3 Modified in Kantou.

     To move a unit, click that unit, then one of the green
hexes. After that unit moves to the destination hex, if an
enemy unit is beside or near that destination hex, and is
within range of that friendly unit's weapon, and the player
wants to attack that enemy unit, click that enemy unit.
     Indeed, when the player clicks a friendly unit, all
enemy units temporarily get one of three symbols: circle,
triangle, or cross. Circle means that enemy unit is weak
when compared to the clicked friendly unit. Triangle means
that enemy unit is equal. Cross means that enemy unit is
strong. Place the pointer on an enemy unit and the game
predicts the damage that the friendly and enemy units can
cause to each other, adjusted by both units' experience
levels and terrains.
     When two units fight each other, the fight scene
features terrains and units rendered as texture-mapped 3D
polygon objects, with the appropriate lighting, sound, and
visual effects.

     Each unit represents 10 vehicles. After a unit attacks
or defends, and it survives the fight, it gets some XP.
Friendly units that survive a battle keep their XP and
experience levels to the next battle. OTOH, enemy units in
the next battle seem to begin with Lv.1, or at least this is
true in the second battle.

     Each unit has at least eight stats: Offence and
Defence, vs Ground, Air, Surface, and Submarine. All units
have Defence vs Ground, Air, Surface, and Submarine ratings,
but many units may not have all four Offence vs Ground, Air,
Surface, and Submarine ratings. For example, a MBT at Lv.1
may have an Offence vs Ground rating of B, but has no
Offence vs Air, Surface, and Submarine. When a unit gets
enough XP and advances an experience level, its ratings
improve by one blip. The above MBT at Lv.2 has an Offence vs
Ground rating of B+.
     Thus, Gaika inherits a... feature from other old war
games: the player can park an air unit in, for example, a
city hex, and because MBTs and IFVs have no Offence vs Air
rating, those ground units can't remove the air unit from
that city hex, and simply can't attack that air unit.
     AFAIK, the ratings range from E- to S+.

     Most units don't lose fuel points when it's immobile,
but fixed-wing air units lose half their movement points
(rounded up) as fuel points per turn, even when they are
immobile on a neutral or hostile airbase hex. OTOH, a
rotary-wing air unit can hover on a sea/lake hex for days
and lose any fuel point.
     When a fixed-wing air unit has 0 fuel point, it
crashes. Other units that have 0 fuel point become
paralysed. Unlike other war games, Gaika doesn't seem to
have supply trucks that can refuel friendly units parked
around it.
     Also, when a multi-role fighter/attacker begins its
turn on an airbase hex, when the player clicks the
fighter/attacker to move it, the player chooses whether to
load the fighter/attacker with air-to-air ordnance, or with
air-to-ground/surface ordnance.

     Each unit also has some special abilities. These
special abilities differentiate units of the same type from
different suppliers.
     For example, all assault helo, IFV, and Infantry units
can capture/occupy city hexes, but some of these units have
the special ability "Occupation speed is fast". A Lv.1 unit
with slow occupation speed decreases the HP of a city hex by
70% (7% per vehicle) in one turn, and take two turns to
capture that city hex. OTOH, A Lv.1 unit with fast
occupation speed decreases the HP of a city hex by 140% (14%
per vehicle) in one turn, and takes one turn to capture that
city hex. The number of vehicles in the unit evidently
affects its occupation speed. After the player clicks a unit
that can occupy a city hex, place the pointer on a city, and
the game displays the number of turns the unit needs to
occupy that city hex.

     Between two battles, the player gets some Nu Yen and
can buy TL in any of the suppliers, buy/sell units from the
suppliers, resurrect destroyed friendly units, and arrange
the units in the player's corps (rosters) and inventory.

     Each unit has a Nu Yen cost and a lower SP cost. The Nu
Yen cost is the cost to buy that unit between two battles.
The SP cost is the cost to beam down that unit during a
battle.

     The player can have more than 40 units in the
inventory, but in a battle, the player can beam down a
maximum of 40 units. The player has to choose these 40 units
before the next battle, and can save these weapon
configurations as a corps.
     The CPU has the same maximum. Unlike other war games,
in a battle, the Gaika CPU can't endlessly beam down units
until the cows come home, or the fat lady sings, or R'lyeh
rises. (^_-)
     OTOH, in some battles, the CPU has more than one force,
such as Red and Yellow. The player sometimes needs to
neutralise just one of the CPU forces to win a battle.
     BTW, when the player's choosing the units in a corps,
the player can click the "CORPS 1" to rename it.
     Also, the player can't begin a battle after the player
chooses an empty corps.

3.1  2ND IMPRESSION

     A unit with slow occupation speed and 10 vehicles
decreases the HP of a neutral or enemy city, airbase, or
seaport hex by 70 points. In the next turn, if the player
doesn't move that unit, it doesn't automatically capture
that city/airbase hex. The player has to manually end its
movement in that city/airbase hex in the second turn.

     The damage forecast is based on the terrain of the
attacker's current hex, not the terrain of the hex beside
the defender to which the attacker may need to move.
     Also, when a wounded attacker attacks, the damage
forecast may claim the attacker can cause more damage points
than the wounded attacker's number of vehicles.

     Other players who've cleared the game commented it has
these bad points:
     - No fog of war.
     - No stacking of air units atop friendly ground units.
     - The enemy AI programming is dumb.
     - The game is generally too monotonous.
     - The gunships that can move-attack-move are too
strong.
     - The healing rates of different nationalities are too
troublesome.

     The nationality of the player's HQ and teleporter
hexes seem to depend on the highest tech level that the
player has. In 1st Play, I began with USN/MC Lv.1. After I
had Russia Lv.3 and USN/MC Lv.2, in the next battle, my HQ
and teleporter hexes became Russian. This was bad because
most of my units, esp the air units, were mostly Japanese
and USN/MC.

     After a battle, the score for the battle can exceed
100.

     IMO, the game has these good points:
     - No fog of war. In some other war games, though the
terrain in a battle map was completely visible, the player
had to beam down a recon plane with a search range of two or
more hexes, to patrol the battle map and detect/reveal the
enemy units. The enemy units, which knew where the player's
units were, could come out of nowhere and brass up the
player's units.
     - The assault/transport choppers and IFVs include the
assault troops. In some other war games, the player had to
beam down an Infantry and an assault helo or APC, then load
the Infantry into the helo or APC.

     And these bad points:
     - No voice effects. It would be way cool when, for
example, a F-4 attacks a ground unit, the F-4 pilot says
"I'm rolling in, hot!" or "Bombs away!" Or, when a F-4
attacks an air unit, the F-4 pilot says "Fox One!"

     Later (2002.06.27): The USA/AF, even at Lv.1, is plain
Evil.
     The AH-64, despite its relatively high Nu Yen and SP
costs, can move and attack. When its attack wipes out the
enemy unit and it has any MP left, it can move and attack
again, and again, till it has 0 MP. Or, the the player
voluntarily parks it somewhere. Even when it uses the last
of its 8 MP to move to a hex and wipes out the enemy unit
next to it, the AH-64 remains active, can end its turn in
its current hex, and attack another enemy unit that's next
to it. Thus, one Lv.1 AH-64 can clean up several enemy
ground units in one single turn with its 8 shots of
anti-ground ammo! A pair of AH-64s can be as combat
effective as a fleet of USN/MC AH-1s, Russian Mi-24s, and
Japanese OH-1s. No wonder in the first two turns, the CPU
forces always beam down some mobile AAAs and mobile SAMs.
     The M1A1, despite its high Nu Yen and SP costs, is
very tough. A Lv.1 M1A1 can survive multiple hits by enemy
Lv.1 M60A3s in the same turn.

     Later (2002.07.16): In Gaika no Gouhou, I don't think a
high-level unit can change class. In some other war games,
for example, when an AH-1 becomes Lv.10, it transforms into
an AH-64. Or a Mi-8 into a Mi-24.
     Also in Gaika no Gouhou, when a high-level unit is KIA,
IMO it's better to resurrect it after the battle than to buy
a new and better Lv.1 unit. The high-level unit may have
only mildly better stats than the new Lv.1 unit (for
example, a Lv.5 M60A3 vs a Lv.1 M1A1), but the high-level
unit costs fewer Nu Yen to resurrect and fewer SP to beam
down in a battle, than the new unit. Also, the level of an
unit apparently increases/decreases the damage it
causes/receives. Besides, the Blue Force may capture the new
unit from the hostile forces in the next battle.

     "kanasii kedo, kore, sensou nano yone."
     - Slegger Lau (KIA), Kidou Sensi Gundam (Mobile Suit
       Gundam)

     Later (2002.08.02): The damage that a Blue unit cause
in an attack can vary by up to three points, esp at night.
When necessary, such as i) when a Blue attacker or MBT must
wipe out the enemy unit on the enemy HQ, so a Blue assault
helo loitering nearby can capture the enemy HQ and
neutralise that OPFOR, in a battle where the Blue Force is
fighting three CPU forces; or ii) a wounded Blue fighter is
surrounded by five OPFOR units, and nearby Blue units must
wipe out two of the OPFOR units to remove their ZOCs and let
the Blue fighter RTB; then the player can save and load game
to make sure the friendlies wipe out that enemy units.

     Revision history of this file:

     Version 0.5 (Limited Edition) [33 KB]: Saturday, 22 June 2002
     Version 1.0 [54 KB, +64%]: Monday, 1 July 2002 (Canada Day)
     Version 1.5 [69 KB, +28%]: Saturday, 13 July 2002
     Version 2.0 [78 KB, +14%]: Saturday, 20 July 2002
     Version 2.5 [88 KB, +13%]: Thursday, 25 July 2002
     Version 3.0 [112 KB, +28%]: Saturday, 17 August 2002

     While I was playing this game...
     - I learnt more about the military hardware of the
JSDF, esp the JGSDF. Previously, mostly from Gamera and
Gojira movies, I knew only about the AH-1, F-1, F-2, F-15,
F-86, T-2, T-4, Type 74 MBT, Type 81 mobile SAM, and Type 90
MBT. In Falcon 3.0, the JSDF wasn't particularly potent.
     - I've increased respect for the CH-53 series: the USMC
CH-53E, USN MH-53E, and USAF MH-53J/M. In the game, my
CH-53s, unarmed and unescorted, frequently flew to and
captured airbases, cities, and seaports far from the Blue
HQ, so the Blue Force gets more SP per turn to beam down
better units. In the Real World (TM), the Super Jolly Green
Giant (HH-53) is famous for its CSAR missions in the Vietnam
War, but is also infamous for the Eagle One disaster that
aborted Operation Eagle Claw in Iran in 1980.

     Later (2002.08.19): In the Real World (TM), Boeing
bought out McDonnell-Douglas. Lockheed and Martin
Marietta merged into Lockheed-Martin, and bought out
General Dynamics. Northrop and Grumman merged in '94. The
USAF retired its F-111s in '95.

     [Ramble OFF]

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4.   STRATEGIES

     YMMV. The strategies in this chapter are for reference
only, because this game has too many variables, beginning
with the player's initial supplier and initial prefecture.
(For comparison, my campaign began with the USN/MC and
Kanagawa in Kantou.)
     OTOH, some hints are generic.

     1. Beam down assault choppers and IFVs (or Infantry
in the first few battles) to capture neutral cities and
airbases near the Blue HQ, to increase the SP per turn
income.
     Units that can capture a city in one turn certainly
help. For example, the USN/MC CH-53, AAV7, and Marines,
and the Russian Mi-8.
     Be careful with the nationality of the unit that
captures an airbase, because only jet fighters and
fighter/attackers of the same nationality as the airbase
can heal at the airbase, though all air units can resupply
at the airbase.
     2. Beam down gunships for CAS/BAI (Close Air
Support/Battlefield Air Interdiction), to defend and
escort the friendly IFVs and Infantry.
     The Japanese OH-1 has comparatively low endurance,
but is very cheap at 220 SP each.
     3. Beam down mobile AAAs, mobile SAMs, and SPAs to
counter hostile assault choppers, IFVs, and recon
vehicles. The SPAs can also counter hostile mobile AAAs
and mobile SAMs.
     4. Beam down fighters and fighter/attackers to
counter hostile air units.
     5. Beam down MBTs, along with the above friendly air
units and SPAs, to counter hostile MBTs.
     Cheap MBTs aren't always worse than expensive MBTs.
For example, the player can beam down a high-level USN/MC
M60A3 or Japanese Type 74 at 240 SP each earlier than an
USA/AF M1A1 at 480 SP each.

     The above hints are my SOP or style, and are for
reference only. For example, another player who played the
game at Hard difficulty and with Japan as his primary
nationality commented his inventory had:
     A lot of OH-1s for anti-ground and anti-helo.
     A lot of Type 96s and some Type 74s, for anti-ground.
     Some MiG-31s and SA-6s, for anti-air.

     Before a battle, the game displays the objective, the
time limit, and the types of units that the OPFOR will
deploy in the battle. For example, in the first two battles,
the OPFOR may not have air units.
     When the briefing says the player must destroy all
OPFOR units, the player can also win by capturing the OPFOR
HQ.

     When the battle begins, save game. Then do nothing and
end several turns to gather intelligence, that is, preview
the exact units that the OPFOR beams down and where they
will go.
     After the first battle and before each of the later
battles, save game, don't buy any TL or unit yet, and begin
the next battle. Preview the next battle as above, then load
game and buy the TL and units appropriately.

     Infantry are mostly harmless. In the early turns, when
the player has few SP, after the player has beamed down, for
instance, a helo or a MBT, and has enough SP left in that
turn to beam down an Infantry, I don't think the player
should bother to beam down the Infantry. Save the SP, so the
player can beam down one more helo, MBT, or IFV in the next
turn.

     A typical SPA has a range of 4, but it can't attack
after it's moved. OTOH, the USA/AF MLRS has a range of 6 and
a blast radius, and some high-level SPAs can attack after
they've moved...

     Later (2002.08.20): When two or more neutral or hostile
airbases, cities, or seaports are within range of a Blue
assault helo or IFV, save game. Move the assault helo or IFV
onto each airbase, city, or seaport to test if it has any Nu
Yen, SP, or unit bonus. Then load game and move the assault
helo or IFV for real. A 500 or 1,000 SP bonus means the Blue
Force can beam down a fighter, an attacker, or a gunship or
two earlier.

     Later (2002.08.22): When an OPFOR attacker reaches the
frontline, the player's units can entrap it. Park a gunship
beside the attacker, and park a second gunship beside the
attacker and on the opposite side from the first gunship.
Thus entrapped between two gunships, the attacker can move
only one hex in its turn. Most attackers have poor or no
air-to-air ordnance, so the gunships may even attack the
attacker to wound it during the entrapment, and to decrease
the damage that the attacker can cause to mobile AAAs and
mobile SAMs that attack it from the other four empty hexes
beside the attacker. An exception is the Japanese F-1, which
apparently has better air-to-air ordnance than other
attackers. IDK about the UK Jaguar?

     Later (2002.06.26): Forgot to mention in the v0.5 of
this FAQ that I'm cowardly playing at Easy difficulty.
AFAIK, Easy difficulty lowers the OPFOR's tech levels and
experience levels, which affect the offensive capabilities
of the OPFOR. This probably explains why the Japanese Army
in Kantou that I'm fighting deploys only Lv.1 units
available at Japan Lv.2.
     At Hard difficulty, the briefing before a battle
doesn't highlight the types of units that the OPFOR will
deploy in the battle.

     Later (2002.07.01, Canada Day): When the player begins
in Kantou, after the Blue Force liberates all the
prefectures in Kantou, the next battle is called "Shizuoka
Liberation Battle" (Shizuoka Kaihousen).
     The SLB battle map includes cities in multiple
prefectures (Kanagawa, Shizuoka, and Yamanashi), and is
about 1 1/2 times the size of the single-prefecture battle
maps. (I guess the programmers drew the battle maps of the
whole d_mn nation as a giant tapestry.)

4.1  KANTOU REGION, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE (Hoshino Asuka hen)

     The player begins in or about Kawasaki near the
northeast corner of the map. The Japanese Army, the OPFOR,
begins in or about Yokosuka near the southeast corner of the
map.
     The frontline is probably in or about Yokohama, as the
Japanese Army sends its Type 74 MBTs, IFVs, and a few mobile
SAMs and mobile AAAs towards the player. (As I've played
over a decade of combat flight sims, I HATE SAMs, especially
FSU SAMs.)
     The Japanese Army also sends an IFV or two towards
Atsugi AB in the west and Fujisawa in the southwest. So the
player should also send an assault helo or two (I sent an
USN/MC CH-53, escorted by an AH-1) to capture those city and
airbase hexes, and to destroy those Japanese IFVs.
     The Japanese Army finally beams down some infantry
units to defend Yokosuka. Fortunately, the Japanese Army has
no air unit.
     In the end, I lost two AAV7s.

     After the liberation of Kanagawa, the player can then
try to liberate only Tokyo.

     Also, I got 23,000 Nu Yen. This could buy:
     1. USN/MC Lv.2 and some units.
     2. Russia Lv.1, Germany or UK Lv.1, and some units.
     3. Germany or UK Lv.1 and Lv.2, but no unit.
     Plan 1 is attractive, because USN/MC Lv.2 has the F-4
fighter/attacker and Chaparral. But I chose Plan 2 and
bought Russia Lv.1 and UK Lv.1, because Russian units are
comparable to but cheaper than USA/AF units, UK levels are
cheaper than USN/MC levels, and UK Lv.2 will have the Jaguar
fighter/attacker.

4.2  KANTOU REGION, TOKYO

     The player begins in Hachiouji in the west.
     For comparison, my Corps 1 contained: four AH-1s, two
Mi-24s, two CH-53s, two Mi-8s, eight M60A3s, two AAV7s, four
BMP-2s, and two Marines.
     I thought of buying some T-72s, but their low ammo and
fuel points discouraged me.

     The Japanese Army begins in Shinjuku, Shibuya,
Setagaya, and Shinagawa in downtown in the east.
     In turn 1, the Japanese Army probably beams down some
Type 87 mobile AAA and Infantry.
     In turns 2-3, they probably beam down some Type 96 IFV
and Infantry.
     In turns 4-5, they probably beam down some Type 74 MBT
and Type 81 mobile SAM.
     By turn 6, or about midnight of day 1, they probably
beam down some Type 90 MBT.
     On days 1 to 3, they probably also beam down some Type
75 SPA and more Type 90 MBT.

     On day 1, the Japanese units advance west towards
Hachiouji, picking up Suginami, Musashino, Koganei, and
Tachikawa on their way.
     Because the Type 87 and Infantry remain in or between
Setagaya and Shinagawa, it's not practical to send an
assault helo and an attack helo to preemptively capture
those city hexes. I also thought of diverting an IFV and a
MBT to capture those city hexes, but the Japanese Army kept
beaming down Type 90s.

     In the first few turns, I beamed down a USN/MC MBT and
a Russian or USN/MC assault helo or IFV each turn. I sent
the Russian assault helo or IFV to capture the cities far
north or south of Hachiouji. The USN/MC MBTs, escorted by an
attack helo and Russian or USN/MC IFVs, advanced towards
Choufu.
     The frontline was eventually between my units in
Koganei and Choufu, and the Japanese units in Houya and
Musashino. Some Japanese ground units formed a spearhead and
thrusted towards Koganei, but a few of my M60A3s and AH-1s
were waiting for them. The M60A3s took down the Japanese
anti-air vehicles, and the AH-1s took down the Type 90s and
Type 74s. Because of the other Japanese anti-air vehicles
that remained in downtown, it was risky for my AH-1s,
Mi-24s, or Mi-8s to chase a wounded Japanese ground unit,
unless the helo unit can wipe out the ground unit with one
strike.
     Though they are all Lv.1 and they've no air unit, the
mobile AAAs and mobile SAMs are a pain to my (mostly Lv.3 to
Lv.4 rotary-wing) air units. (I believe in using tac air and
air cav to soften hostile ground units before friendly
ground units charge in and clean up the mess.) OTOH, if I
had a Lv.1 F-4, it could've rolled in hot and wiped out the
IFVs in one pass.
     Finally, my units counter-attacked the surviving
Japanese Type 90s, and they were down to one Infantry and
the Shinagawa city hex. Whether my units wiped out the
Infantry or captured Shinagawa, I still got two more OH-1s.

     These hexes have these special events when the player's
units capture them:
     - Houya: Type 90.
     - Machida: 1,000 Nu Yen.
     - Shinagawa AB: F-1.
     - Shinjuku: 500 SP.
     - Tachikawa: OH-1.

     Shinagawa (city) was the last city hex that my units
captured, so I don't know if it has any spcial events?
     The OH-1s are an omen that though the low-level
Japanese Army has no air unit, they will eventually have
USA/AF types of air units, such as the F-4, F-15, AH-1,
UH-1, and UH-60; and domestic F-1 and F-2.
     If I want to use the captured Japanese units, I need to
buy at least Japan Lv.1 and buy some Japanese IFVs or
Infantry, so they can capture some city hexes and heal the
wounded Japanese units.

     After the liberation of Tokyo for a score of 85 and
30,000 Nu Yen, the player can then try to liberate Dasaitama
(dasai Saitama) or Chiba.
     Dasaitama has, as expected, nothing special. Chiba has
the Narita IAP (NRT). I chose Dasaitama anyway.

     Also, I got a total of 31,050 Nu Yen.
     I bought Japan Lv.1 and USN/MC Lv.2. Japan Lv.1 because
I want to buy some Type 96 IFVs to capture city and airbase
hexes to resupply/heal the captured F-1 and OH-1s. In
practice, the F-1 has a high SP cost, and the OH-1s have
fewer ammo than the AH-1s and Mi-24s.
     I thought of buying UK Lv.2 for its Jaguar, because UK
Lv.2 and the Jaguar are cheaper than USN/MC Lv.2 and the
F-4, but if I bought UK Lv.2, then I also need to buy some
FV432s and UK Infantry to capture airbase hexes to
resupply/heal the lone Jaguar. OTOH, I already had USN/MC
Lv.1, CH-53s, and AAV7s, so I could capture airbase hexes as
USN/MC nationality to later support the lone F-4 that I
bought.
     (Personally, I've always wanted to buzz a Japanese city
in a US jet fighter, but I already did that in Microsoft
Flight Simulator 2000.)

     Later (2002.08.15): On second thought, I don't think
the Japanese units in this game include any American or
foreign unit. Maybe except the F-2.

4.3  KANTOU REGION, DASAITAMA PREFECTURE

     The player begins in Kumagaya in the northwest, and
gets 500 SP per turn.
     For comparison, my Corps 1 contained: one F-4, one F-1,
four AH-1s, two Mi-24s, three OH-1s, two CH-53s, two Mi-8s,
one Type 90, ten M60A3s, two Type 96s, four AAV7s, four
BMP-2s, and three Marines.

     The Japanese Army begins in Saitama City in the
southeast.
     In turn 1, the Japanese Army probably beams down some
Type 87 mobile AAA and Infantry.
     In turn 2, they probably beam down some Type 96 IFV and
Infantry.
     In turn 3, they probably beam down some Type 96 IFV and
Type 87 mobile AAA.
     In turn 4, they probably beam down some Type 90 MBT,
Type 81 mobile SAM, and Infantry.
     In turn 5, they probably beam down some Type 90 MBT and
Type 87 recon vehicles.
     Most of them moved northwest towards Kumagaya, and
weren't too interested in capturing the neutral cities
around Saitama City.

     In each of the first few turns, I beamed down a USN/MC
MBT and a Japanese or Russian or USN/MC IFV. I captured one
of the airbases in the middle of the map as Japanese and the
other as USN/MC.
     After my ground units captured all the neutral cities
between Kumagaya and Saitama City, my gunships didn't arrive
in time, and the Japanese (OPFOR) MBTs and recon vehicles
managed to dodge my MBTs and wipe out two of my BMP-1s and
one AAV7. (T_T)
     So I didn't have spare BMP-1s to capture another
airbase as Russian to support my Mi-8s, and I didn't have
enough SP per turn to beam down Mi-24s anyway, before my
units had routed the Japanese units.
     While the Japanese units were concentrating on the
middle, I diverted a BMP-2 to capture the city far east of
Saitama City.

     These hexes have these special events when the player's
units capture them:
     - Hikawa: 500 SP.
     - Koshigaya: Type 89.
     - Niiza: Type 87.
     - Warabi: 1,000 Nu Yen.

     After the liberation of Dasaitama for score 85 and
30,000 Nu Yen and two Type 75s, I could then try to liberate
Gunma, Ibaraki, or Chiba.
     Gunma has the legendary Hachiroku of Akina Mountain,
that is, a sierra hotel Toyota Trueno GT-APEX AE86 used for
tofu delivery. (^_-) Ibaraki has the Tsukuba research
centre.
     For the next battle, I arbitrarily chose Gunma, because
I noticed I was liberating the prefectures in the Kantou
region in a clockwise direction...

     Also, I got a total of 31,050 Nu Yen.
     I bought Russia Lv.2, repaired all dead units, and
saved the rest of the Nu Yen, so I can buy a Lv.3 and some
Lv.3 units after the next battle.

4.4  KANTOU REGION, GUNMA PREFECTURE

     Gunma, about 100 klicks from Tokyo, has very
mountainous terrain. The cities and towns are connected by
straight roads. Ground traffic can move only on the road
hexes and the hill hexes on both sides of the road hexes.
This is disadvantageous to the Red Force (Japan) when it has
no air unit.

     The Blue Force (player) begins in Takasaki in the
southeast.
     For comparison, my Corps 1 contained: one F-4, one F-1,
four AH-1s, two Mi-24s, three OH-1s, two CH-53s, two Mi-8s,
one Type 90, ten M60A3s, two Type 75s, one Type 87, one Type
89, two Type 96s, four AAV7s, four BMP-2s.
     My three Marines took a break.

     The Red Force begins with its teleporter hexes in
Nagano in the northwest, and Kusatsu as the HQ. The Red
Force also owns Numata in the northeast, far north of
Takasaki.
     (Hmm. Blue and Red Forces. Reminds me of the USAF's Red
Flag training courses at Nellis AFB (near Las Vegas),
Nevada, USA.)

     In turn 1, the Red Force probably beams down some
Type 87 mobile AAA and Infantry.
     In turn 2, they probably beam down some Type 96 IFV and
Infantry.
     In turn 3, they probably beams down some Type 87 mobile
AAA and Infantry.
     In turn 4, they probably beam down some Type 90 MBT,
Type 96 IFV, and Type 87 recon vehicle.
     In turn 5, they probably beam down some Type 75 SPA and
Type 81 mobile SAM.
     In turn 6, they probably beam down some Type 90 MBT,
Type 75 SPA, and Type 87 recon vehicle.
     In turn 7, they probably beam down some Type 74 MBT and
Type 75 SPA.
     Two Type 87s and two Infantry defend their Kusatsu HQ.
The others move south to capture Karuizawa, then east to the
Blue Force's Takasaki. They ignore and doesn't defend their
cities and airbases in the northeast.

     In the turns 1-2, I patiently did nothing. (@_@;)
     In the turn 3, I beamed down a F-4 (Lv.4), AH-1, and
Mi-8.
     The Mi-8 was tasked with capturing the Red airbases and
cities in the northeast. The F-1's air-to-mud stat is
actually better than the F-4's, and costs 720 SP to beam
down, lower than the F-4's 800 SP.
     Afterwards, I beamed down a Japanese Type 96 IFV and
more gunships, esp the Japanese OH-1s.
     The Type 96 was tasked with capturing Karuizawa, so the
OH-1s could resupply/heal in Karuizawa. Some of the
gunships, even when they depleted their air-to-mud ordnance,
were parked in a horizontal line five or six hexes north of
Karuizawa, to blockade the incoming Red ground units. This
was dangerous because the Red ground units included Type 81s
and Type 87s, which were lethal to the gunships. A Lv.4 OH-1
probably can survive two hits by two Type 81s in one turn...
     Even as the gunships and Type 96 were on their way to
Karuizawa, I beamed down my load of M60A3s and Type 75 SPAs
to fortify Karuizawa.
     BTW, the Type 96 also captured the Red town north of
and closest to the Blue HQ, so wounded OH-1s could withdraw
from Karuizawa and get healed.
     After my F-4, gunships, M60A3s, and Type 75s were
counter-attacking the Red ground units, my Russian and
Japanese IFVs were drifting up and down the roads west,
northwest, and north of the Blue HQ. (-_-;)

     These hexes have these special events when the Blue
units capture them:
     - Karuizawa: 500 SP.
     - Naganohara: Type 90.
     - Numata City: Type 90.
     - Yoshioka AB: F-1.

     After the Blue Force wins the battle, the Blue Force
captures two more Type 89s. This time, none of my units was
KIA, though one Type 90 was taken down to one vehicle, after
it was brassed up by a Red Type 75, then pummelled by two
Red MBTs.

     After the liberation of Gunma for score 91 and 30,000
Nu Yen, I could then try to liberate Tochigi, Ibaraki, or
Chiba. I don't remember anything special about Tochigi, but
chose it for the next battle anyway.

     Also, I got a total of 41,900 Nu Yen.
     I bought Russia Lv.3 (which has the MiG-31 and Su-25)
and a transport plane. After the next battle, I'll probably
buy USA/AF Lv.1 (for its game-unbalancing AH-64 and M1A1).

4.5  KANTOU REGION, TOCHIGI PREFECTURE

     The Blue Force (player) begins in Tochigi in the south.
     For comparison, my Corps 1 contained: one F-4, two
F-1s, four AH-1s, two Mi-24s, three OH-1s, two CH-53s, two
Mi-8s, one transport plane, three Type 90s, eight M60A3s,
two Type 75s, two Type 96s, three AAV7s, three BMP-2s, and
two Marines.
     The Red Force (Japan) begins in Nikko in the north.
Between Nikko and Tochigi are Kanuma (west) and Utsumiya
(east).
     In and after this battle, all Red units begin as Lv.2,
not Lv.1.
     I didn't preview the Red units' deployment. They were
the usual suspects of Type 90s, Type 74s, IFVs, SPAs, recon
vehicles, mobile SAMs, mobile AAAs, and HQ-hugging Infantry.
     They move south towards Kanuma and east towards
Kamikawachi.
     On Day 1, by about 17:00, they began to beam down Type
90s.

     In turn 1, I beamed down a transport plane and a BMP-1.
     In turn 2, I beamed down a Type 96 and two Marines.
     In and after turn 3, I beamed down gunships, MBTs, and
SPAs.
     I didn't beam down a F-1 until 13:00 on Day 2. I'm
training my jet fighter/attackers for when the time they
will fly CAP to watch over friendly ground units and wipe
out hostile gunships.

     These hexes have these special events when the Blue
units capture them:
     - Nikko City: Type 90.
     - Kanuma AB: F-1.
     - Kanuma City: Type 74.
     - Utsumiya City: 1,000 Nu Yen.

     At the end of the battle, I got 27 kills, no KIA,
30,000 Nu Yen, score 90, total score 431, and Chuui (O-2,
First Lieutenant). Also captured two OH-1s.

     I sold one OH-1, one AAV7, and one BMP-2. Bought USN/MC
Lv.3, one BM-21, and one SA-13.
     IMO, the SA-13 is cheaper and more efficient than the
USN/MC Chaparral.

4.6  KANTOU REGION, IBARAKI PREFECTURE

     The Blue Force (player) begins in Mito in the
northeast, and gets 500 SP + 400 SP per turn. Neutral cities
are in the middle and the northwest.
     For comparison, my Corps 1 contained: one F-4, three
F-1s, four AH-1s, two Mi-24s, four OH-1s, one CH-53, two
Mi-8s, one transport plane, one Type 74, four Type 90s, six
M60A3s, two Type 75s, one BM-21, one Type 87, one SA-13, two
Type 96s, two AAV7s, and two BMP-2s.
     I'm phasing in the Japanese Type 90s and phasing out
the USN/MC M60A3s.

     The Red Force (Japan) begins in Tsukuba and Tsuchiura
in the southwest.
     In and after this battle, the Red Force had attackers
and gunships.
     In turn 1, they beamed down some Type 87 and Infantry.
     In turn 2, some Infantry.
     In turn 3, some OH-1, Type 75, and Type 96.
     In turn 4, some Type 81 and Type 90.
     In turn 5, some Type 81 and Type 87.
     In turn 6, some F-1 and Type 75.
     In turn 7, some OH-1 and Type 90.
     Through Day 3, they still beamed down Type 90s.
Overall, they beamed down a lot of SPAs and mobile SAMs, and
some MBTs and mobile AAAs.
     Also, they beamed down at least two F-1s and three
OH-1s. (T_T)
     The Red units advanced northeast towards Mito. They
ignored the neutral cities in the northwest, even after the
Blue Force captured those cities.

     In the first two turns, the Red Force beamed down
ground units to defend its HQ, so it would take another turn
or two before it beamed down other ground units that would
threaten the Blue Force.
     Thus, in turn 1, I beamed down a BMP-2 and a Type 96.
     In turn 2, a CH-53 and a F-4. The extra 500 SP from
Ooarai certainly helped.
     In turn 3, two AH-1s.
     The IFVs were tasked with capturing the neutral cities
near the Blue HQ. The CH-53 was tasked with capturing the
neutral cities in the northwest. I captured the neutral ABs
as Japanese or USN/MC, to support the F-4, AH-1s, and OH-1s.

     These hexes have these special events when the player's
units capture them:
     - Kasama: Type 75.
     - Minori: F-1.
     - Mooka: Type 87.
     - Ooarai: 500 SP.

     At the end of the battle, I got 31 kills, three KIAs,
30,000 Nu Yen, score 86, total score 517, and Chuui (O-2,
First Lieutenant). Also captured two more Type 90s.
     The KIAs were: two AH-1s and a BMP-2. They were taken
down by Red air units and anti-air units. Before this
battle, I should've bought more anti-air units.

     Also, I got a total of 30,075 Nu Yen.
     I bought USA/AF Lv.1, two AH-64s, a SA-13, and two M2s.

4.7  KANTOU REGION, CHIBA PREFECTURE

     Chiba has a lot of AB hexes, including Narita IAP in
the northeast, but no seaport hex.

     The Blue Force (player) begins in Matsudo in the
northeast, and gets 500 SP + 400 SP per turn. Neutral cities
and ABs are to the east and southeast.
     For comparison, my Corps 1 contained: one F-4, four
F-1s, two AH-1s, two AH-64s, one Mi-24, three OH-1s, one
CH-53, two Mi-8s, one transport plane, one Type 74, four
Type 90s, four M60A3s, three Type 75s, one Type 87, two
SA-13s, one Type 89, one Type 96, two AAV7s, and two M2s.

     The Red Force (Japan) begins in Tougane in the
southeast. They have a ground unit teleporter hex at
Yachimata city, northwest of Tougane.
     In turn 1, they beamed down some Type 87 and Infantry.
     In turn 2, some Type 87, Type 89, or Infantry.
     In turn 3, some Type 89 and Infantry.
     In turn 4, some Type 90 and Type 75.
     In turn 5, some OH-1 and Type 87.
     In turn 6, some Type 74 and Type 87.
     In turn 7, some OH-1.
     Red units beamed down at Yachimata moved towards Sakura
and Narita cities and ABs.

     In turn 1, I beamed down a M2. In turn 2, an AH-64. In
turn 3, an AAV7, a Type 96, and a Type 75.
     I sent the fast Japanese and USA/AF IFVs to speed down
the highways and capture the ABs southeast of the Blue HQ,
such as Chiba and Ichihara. Later, I sent a pair of Mi-8s to
capture Narita cities and ABs.
     My units captured Yachimata early and smoothly. By the
afternoon of Day 2, my units had surrounded the Red HQ. Saw
only two or three Red OH-1s.

     These hexes have these special events when the player's
units capture them:
     - Chiba City (south): 1,000 Nu Yen.
     - Funabashi City (southeast): 500 SP.
     - Narita IAP (north): OH-1.

     At the end of the battle, I got 26 kills, no KIA,
30,000 Nu Yen, score 49, total score 566, and Chuui (O-2,
First Lieutenant).
     In the next battles against the USA/AF, I need more air
and anti-air units... (T_T)

4.8  CHUUBU REGION, SHIZUOKA LIBERATION BATTLE (SLB)

     In the SLB (no relation to the "Self-Loading Baggage"
(also known as a GIB (Guy In Back), RIO, or WSO) in the back
seat of a jet fighter/attacker), the time limit is 21:00 on
Day 6.
     The Blue HQ is in Shizuoka in the southwest. East of
the Blue HQ is a Blue seaport hex.
     The CPU has two forces, Red and Yellow. The Red Force
begins in Mishima and Numatsu, east of the Blue HQ. The
Yellow Force begins in Koufu, far north of the Blue HQ.
     Both beam down USA/AF Lv.3 units, such as F-16 (!),
A-10 (!), AH-64 (!), UH-60, M1A1 (!), M109A6, and Avenger.
(Oh sh_t.) All these units are Lv.2.
     (BTW, I don't know whether Red units can resupply/heal
in Yellow cities, and vice versa?)
     All three forces begin with 1,000 SP. Afterwards, the
Blue Force gets 500 SP per turn, Red Force 1,200 SP, and
Yellow Force 700 SP.

     The Yellow units moved due south towards Shizuoka.
     The Red units, esp the UH-60s, arched west to Fuji,
then moved north to Nanbu, and met the Yellow units.

     In turn 1, the Red Force beamed down some Avengers and
Infantry.
     In turn 2, two UH-60s and a M2.
     Then, through Day 1, some M1A1s and M109A6s, and more
M2s, Avengers, and Infantry.
     Then, in the night of Day 1, an AH-64 or even a F-16!
     The Yellow Force beamed down similar ground units, with
lots of M1A1s, Patriots, and Avengers. The Yellow air units
had some A-10s, AH-64s, and UH-60s, but no F-16, even when
they had thousands of SP.

     For comparison, my Corps 2 "arbitrarily" contained: one
F-4, four F-1s, two AH-1s, two AH-64s, one Mi-24, three
OH-1s, one CH-53, two Mi-8s, one transport plane, one Type
74, six Type 90s, three M60A3s, three Type 75s, one Type 87,
two SA-13s, one Type 89, one Type 96, two AAV7s, and two
M2s.
     Additional air units available in the inventory, but
excluded in Corps 2, were: two AH-1s, two OH-1s, and one
Mi-24.

     IMO, the Primary objective of this battle is to ignore
the Yellow Force, and neutralise the Red Force first. The
Secondary objective is to wipe out the Yellow Force.
     To neutralise the Red Force, IMO a conventional battle
of attrition isn't practical, because the Red Force has
much, much more SP than the player. Plus, the Yellow Force
will eventually arrive to spoil the party.
     Thus, the fastest way is unconventional warfare: to
capture the Red HQ.

     In turns 1 and 2, I beamed down a transport plane, a
M60A3, and an AAV7. In theory, the transport plane would
land at Mishima AB or Nirayama AB, the M60A3 would wipe out
the Red unit on the Red HQ, and the AAV7 would capture the
Red HQ.
     In practice, the Red Infantry on the Red HQ city hex is
difficult to wipe out, and heals three persons per turn. So
I also beamed down some cheap OH-1s (220 SP each) and Mi-8s
to escort and assist the transport plane.
     Note that both the Mi-8 and AAV7 can capture a city hex
in one turn...
     Two or three turns later, the Blue transport plane
waited just one hex beyond the Red Avengers' ranges, but
close enough to land on Mishima AB or Nirayama AB in the
next turn, while the Blue Mi-8s or OH-1s were also close
enough to engage the ground units on the hexes around the
Red HQ.
     In the next turn, the Blue transport plane landed on
Nirayama AB, southeast of Mishima and Numata.
     During the consequent melee, the Blue M60A3 and/or the
AAV7 wiped out the Red Avenger on the city hex south of the
Red HQ, a Blue Mi-8 captured that city hex, and the Blue
gunships engaged the Red M1A1s, M2s, M109A6s, and Infantry
on or around the Red HQ, to defend the captured city hex.
     The Red Infantry on the Red HQ healed three persons per
turn, so if the Blue units that could engage this Red
Infantry couldn't cause four or more damage points, the Blue
units engaged other Red units.
     The Blue units didn't always need to wipe out a Red
unit in one turn. When a Red unit was decreased to three or
fewer vehicles, it would bug out in its turn.
     Because the captured city hex is a teleporter, I used
it to beam down an AH-1 and/or M60A3 for fire support.
     Also, to conserve vehicles, the Blue unit squatting
on the Red city hex didn't attack the neighbouring Red
units. Let the Red units attack it in the Red Force's
turn.
     BTW, the Red units ignored the transport plane, so it
RTB to Shizuoka AB.

     At 7:00 on Day 2, the Blue units in or near the
Mishima-Nirayama-Numata triangle were: a heavily wounded
M60A3 (on the Red HQ city hex), a lightly wounded (9 HP)
CH-53 Pave Low (beamed down to the captured teleporter city
hex before the end of the previous turn), and
defending/surrounding them were an air cav of two AH-1s (one
of which was Lv.7) and three OH-1s (two of which had 0 shot
of anti-ground ammo).
     I just needed to move the M60A3 off the Red HQ, move
the CH-53 onto it, and all Red units would evaporate like
morning mist!
     For this privilege, the Blue KIAs by now were: two
Mi-8s, a M60A3, and an AAV7. <(:_:)
     Other Blue units that I beamed down but didn't
participate in the siege were: a F-1, a Mi-24, a Type 96,
and two SA-13s. The two SA-13s defended the neutral Shimizu,
in case the Red UH-60s in Fuji moved southwest.

     OTOH, at 7:00 on Day 2, the Red units in or near the
Mishima-Nirayama-Numata triangle were: two F-16s, two
AH-64s, two M2s, two M109A6s, and two Infantry.
     One of the F-16s, with anti-air ordnance, was engaging
the Blue gunships. The other, with anti-ground ordnance, RTB
to Nirayama AB, to either refuel or re-arm with anti-air
ordnance. It previously engaged the Blue MBTs.
     IIRC, the Red KIAs by now included a M1A1, an Avenger
or two, and an Infantry or two.
     In the previous turn, 2:00 on Day 2, a Red AH-64
engaged the sitting duck Blue CH-53 and fortunately caused
just one damage point. If the F-16 with anti-air ordnance
had engaged the CH-53, the result would be unfortunate...

     The Blue units had no time to relax yet, because the
Yellow units were already on their way, and the Blue units
haven't really captured any city to increase their SP per
turn income.
     As in other mountainous prefectures, such as Gunma,
the Blue air units halted the advance of the Yellow tank
column by blocking the road west of Fujimiya, northeast of
the Blue HQ. Yellow A-10s and AH-64s west of the road and
Yellow M2s east of the road tried to circle around the Blue
air units, so the Blue SA-13s moved north from Shimizu, and
more Blue air units were beamed down to fly CAP above the
mountain north of the Blue HQ.
     Made sure each Blue air unit could get hit by at most
two different Yellow mobile SAMs in one turn, and more Blue
air units would replace the wounded Blue air units along the
frontline when the wounded Blue air units RTB to a Blue
airbase or city for healing. Also, beamed down Blue MBTs and
SPAs to clear the Yellow mobile SAMs, esp the long-range
Patriots.
     Simultaneously, the Blue USN/MC CH-53 and a Blue
Japanese IFV captured the airbases and cities near the
former Red HQ. Also, the transport plane carried two IFVs to
capture the airbases and cities far northeast of the former
Red HQ.
     Later, the CH-53 and a Mi-24 captured the cities
southeast of the Yellow HQ. I considered using them to
capture the Yellow city east of the Yellow HQ, but by then,
Yellow Avengers and Patriots were defending the Yellow HQ.

     These hexes have these special events when the Blue
units capture them:
     - Atami: 500 SP.
     - Fuji AB: AH-64.
     - Fuji Yoshida: 1,000 SP.
     - Gotenba: Patriot and 1,000 SP.
     - Itou: Two M1A1HAs.
     - Koufu City (north): 1,000 Nu Yen.
     - Mishima AB: F-111.
     - Shimobe City: M1A1.

     I think the M1A1HA is a special unit.

     At the end of the battle, I got 39 kills, five KIAs,
50,000 Nu Yen, score 80, total score 646, and Taii (O-3,
Captain). Also captured a F-16, an AH-64, and an UH-60.
     The three KIAs during the siege of the Red HQ were: two
Mi-8s and an AAV7. They were taken down by Red air units and
anti-air units. Before this battle, I should've bought more
anti-air units. The later two KIAs were: a F-1 and a M60A3.
The F-1 ran out of fuel m(_ _;)m and the pilots had to bail
out.

     Note: The above strategy was how I cleared this battle
the second time I tried it, which is why I described my
Corps 2 as "arbitrary".
     Before I tried this battle, another Gaika player
suggested this ideal strategy WRT neutralising the Red
Force:
     In turn 1, beam down an Infantry, a Type 74 or two, and
a Type 87 or two.
     In turn 2, beam down a LST, and load the ground units
into the LST.
     In turns 3-4, move the LST towards the Red HQ.
     In turn 5, the Infantry, Type 74s, and Type 87s become
feet dry. The Type 74s and Type 87s wipe out the enemy
mobile SAM on the Red HQ, and the Infantry captures it.

     Before I tried this battle, my Blue Force had no LST. I
wondered if I could emulate the above strategy with the
units I had at the end of the previous battle, without
buying any new tech level or unit? So, after I replaced the
KIAs of the previous battle, I began this battle.
     The first time around, the Blue transport plane landed
and downloaded its payload one turn before the Blue gunships
could arrive. The two Blue ground units wounded but couldn't
wipe out the Red Infantry on the Red HQ. In the next turn,
the Red units wiped out the Blue transport plane and two
ground units, and the Red Avengers wounded the Blue
gunships. The siege failed before it really began. (-_-#)
So, I restarted this battle and the second time around, I
switched timing and switched targets.
     When I was staring at the Red Vipers and Warthogs
(F-16s and A-10s), I realised the problem with the inventory
of my Blue Force. My Blue Force was using 1960s Vietnam War
hardware (F-4, AH-1, M60A3, &c) to fight the Red and Yellow
Forces that were using 1980s Second Persian Gulf War
(Operation Desert Storm) era hardware. (T_T)
     Before I restarted this battle, I considered buying
some MiG-31s to counter the Red F-16s and AH-64s, but forgot
to buy them...
     After my Blue Force neutralised the Red Force, I
decided to not re-arrange my Corps 2 and restart the battle
again. Also, I wondered if the Yellow Force had F-16s?
     If the Yellow Force actually had F-16s and they cut
through my F-1s and F-4 like a hot knife through warm
margarine, then I would've reluctantly re-arranged my Corps
2, gotten a MiG-31 or two, plus some mobile AAAs and mobile
SAMs, and restarted the battle again.

     Later (2002.08.15): I don't think a Yellow unit can
resupply/heal in a Red city, and vice versa. At least I
didn't see any Yellow unit retreat to and heal in a Red
city, or vice versa.

4.9  CHUUBU REGION, BATTLE OF AICHI (Yamamoto Rurika hen)

     Before this battle, the tech levels of my Blue Force
are: USA/AF Lv.3, USN/MC Lv.4, Russian Lv.3, Germany Lv.0,
UK Lv.1, and Japan Lv.1.

     Don't bother to buy or allocate any warship. Both the
Red and Yellow Forces have seaports, but a peninsula
completely blocks the sea/lake hexes between the Red and
Yellow HQs.

     Before this battle, the briefing announces the Red and
Yellow Forces have no fighter or fighter/attacker, but this
means they will have a lot of attackers and gunships...
     All three forces begin with 1,000 SP. Afterwards, the
Blue Force gets 400 SP per turn, Red Force 800 SP, and
Yellow Force 800 SP.

     In this battle, the time limit is 21:00 on Day 6.
     The Blue HQ is in Gifu in the northwest.

     For comparison, my Corps 3 contained: one F-16, one
F-4, one MiG-31, two F-1s, one F-111, two AH-1s, three
AH-64s, one Mi-24, three OH-1s, one CH-53, one Mi-17, one
UH-60, one Type 74, three Type 90s, one M1A1, two M1A1HAs,
three M60A3s, one Type 87 recon vehicle, three Type 75s, one
Type 87 mobile AAA, two SA-13s, one Patriot, one Type 89,
one Type 96, one AAV7, and one M2.

     The theory is to have two assault units (assault helo
or IFV) per nationality, and no more than three units of
the same unit.
     I bought USN/MC Lv.4, a MiG-31 for its BVR AAM ability,
and a Mi-17. A Mi-17 for 750 Nu Yen is cheaper than
resurrecting the two Mi-8 KIAs for 1,000 Nu Yen. During this
battle, the Mi-24 didn't do much air-to-mud attacks or
capture many cities anyway. Also, I predict I'll need only
one Russian airbase to heal the MiG-31. Didn't get any
short-range fighter, fighter/attacker, or attacker, because
I knew the Blue Force will capture some USA/AF ones in the
next battle.

     The CPU has two forces, Red and Yellow. The Red Force
begins in Toyohashi and Toyokawa in the southeast. The
Yellow Force begins in Yokkaichi in the southwest.
     In turn 1, both Red and Yellow Forces beamed down some
UH-60s and Infantry.
     In turn 2, some Avengers.
     In turn 3, some AH-64s and M2s.
     In turn 4, some A-10s and Avengers.
     In turn 5, some M1A1s, M2s, and Avengers.

     The Red units moved northwest towards Nagoya and
captured the neutral cities between Nagoya and
Toyohashi-Toyokawa.
     The Yellow UH-60s captured the neutral cities east of
the Yellow HQ, and the Yellow ground units moved northeast
towards Nagoya.
     Overall, the Red Force beamed down a lot of A-10s,
M1A1s, M2, and Avengers; and a few AH-64s, M109A6s, MLRSs,
and Patriots.
     The Yellow Force beamed down a lot of M1A1s, Avengers,
and Infantry.

     OTOH, in turn 1, I beamed down a UH-60, a Mi-17, and a
Type 96. Tasked with capturing airbases and cities to
resupply the eventual American, Russian, and Japanese air
and anti-air units.
     In turn 2, beamed down nothing.
     In turn 3, two OH-1s.
     In turn 4, a F-4.
     In turn 5, a M60A3 and a Type 87 mobile AAA.
     Engaged and kept the Yellow units no farther than the
area between Tsushima and Kuwana.
     Prioritised the Red and Yellow UH-60s, M2s, and
Infantry, because they could capture cities and increase the
SP per turn incomes of the Red and Yellow Forces, unless the
Red and Yellow MBTs could end their next turn beside a Blue
ground unit.

     These hexes have these special events when the Blue
units capture them:
     - Nagoya Airbase North: F-15.
     - Nagoya City Northeast: M109A6.
     - Tajimi: MLRS.
     - Toyoda City: 1,000 SP.
     - Toyohashi City North: 1,000 Nu Yen.
     - Yokkaichi City Southwest: 2,000 Nu Yen.

     At the end of the battle, I got 57 kills, three KIAs,
50,000 Nu Yen, score 88, total score 734, and Taii (O-3,
Captain). Also captured a F-15, a F-111, and a Patriot.
     The KIAs were: a Type 75 SPA (blown up by a Red A-10),
a Type 96 (blown up by a Red M109A6), and a Mi-17 (ended its
turn exactly seven hexes from a Patriot...).

     Later: After the battle, I thought I should've
allocated a transport plane. After a Blue assault helo or
IFV was KIA here or there, it took too many turns for the
new IFVs beamed down to Gifu or Yokkaichi to reach the
cities and airbases northwest of the Red HQ, where the
wounded Blue fighter/attackers were loitering and checking
their joker. The other Blue assault choppers were busy
capturing the cities/airbases in or about Nagoya.
     Partly because the OPFOR had no fighter or
fighter/attacker, the expensive Blue units, including the
MiG-31 and M1A1HAs, were beamed down too late to engage
anything. The F-1s, F-4, F-111, gunships, SA-13s, and Type
87 mobile AAA were enough to clear the OPFOR A-10s, AH-64s,
and UH-60s.
     I could've allocated fewer MBTs and more air or
anti-air units. OTOH, in the next battle, I'll allocate more
cheap MBTs, such as the M60A3s, that can be beamed down
earlier, to clear the OPFOR mobile SAMs (Avengers and
Patriots). The Russian T-72's 6 MP doesn't sound so bad
after all, compared to the Patriot's surface-to-air range of
7.

     For the next battle, the player can choose: Hokuriku
(Nagaon-Niigata-Toyama) or Ishikawa.
     - In Hokuriku, the Blue Force begins in Toyama.
     The CPU has three forces: Green, Red, and Yellow. In
theory, the player can win by clearing only the Red Force.
     Only the Blue Force has a seaport.
     - In Ishikawa, the Blue Force begins in Kaga.
     The Red Force begins in Kanazawa.
     Neither force has a seaport.
     In both battles, the OPFOR will have fighters,
attackers, attack choppers, assault choppers, MBTs, SPAs,
mobile SAMs, IFVs, and Infantry.
     I chose Hokuriku.

4.10 CHUUBU REGION, BATTLE OF HOKURIKU

     In this battle, the time limit is 21:00 on Day 6. The
snowy terrain decreases the off-road movement rates of
ground units.
     The Blue HQ is in Toyama in the mid-west.
     The Green HQ is in Takaoka in the west.
     The Yellow HQ is in Itoigawa in the northeast.
     The Red HQ is in Kurobe Dam and Oomachi in the
southeast.
     The Blue Force has two airbases and one seaport. The
Green and Yellow Forces have one airbase each.
     All four forces begin with 1,000 SP. Afterwards, the
Blue Force gets 600 SP per turn, Green Force 400 SP, Yellow
Force 400 SP, and Red Force 400 SP.

     For comparison, my Corps 3 contained: one F-15, one
F-4, one MiG-31, two F-1s, one F-111, two AH-1s, three
AH-64s, one Mi-24, three OH-1s, one CH-53, one Mi-17, one
UH-60, one transport plane, one Type 74, three Type 90s, two
M1A1HAs, three M60A3s, one Type 87 recon vehicle, one
M109A6, one MLRS, one Type 87 mobile AAA, two SA-13s, one
Patriot, two Patriots, one Type 89, one Type 96, one AAV7,
and one M2.
     I at first thought this battle was like the 1973 Yom
Kippur War, where the Blue Force would be outnumbered and
surrounded by the OPFOR.
     In practice, the Green Force was meek. The Red units
only swarmed around the Red HQ, didn't advance northwest
towards the Blue HQ, and didn't beam down any fighter or
helo. The Yellow Force was the most aggressive, as Yellow
UH-60s, M1A1s, and M2s advanced southwest towards the Blue
HQ. However, neither the Green Force nor the Yellow Force
accumulated enough SP to beam down any fighter or
fighter/attacker.
     Thus, instead of the transport plane and one of the
Patriots, I should've allocated another pair of F-15 and
F-111 from the inventory. OTOH, didn't buy any new AH-1W to
replace the old Lv.6 and Lv.7 AH-1s. The Blue MiG-31 shot
down just one Yellow helo or two before it became useless,
as its low endurance meant I couldn't use it as a decoy
against the Red Patriots either.

     Anyway. In turn 1, I beamed down a F-1 and a M60A3.
Scrambling a jet fighter in the first turn is way cool.
     In turn 2, Type 87 recon vehicle, M109A6, and SA-13.
     In turn 3, CH-53 and Mi-17.
     In turn 4, UH-60 and Type 96. From this turn, the Blue
units begin to move northeast.
     In turn 5, M2 and Patriot.

     OTOH, in turn 1, each OPFOR beamed down two Avengers
and Infantry.
     In turn 2, Green: UH-60. Yellow: UH-60 and M2. Red:
Avenger and Infantry.
     In turn 3, Green: Avenger or Infantry. Yellow: UH-60 or
M2. Red: MLRS, Avenger, or Infantry.
     In turn 4, Green: UH-60. Yellow: Avenger and Infantry.
Red: M109A6 and MLRS.
     In turn 5, Yellow: UH-60. Red: M1A1.
     In turn 7, M109A6, MLRS, or Patriot.

     Because the Yellow Force didn't beam down any anti-air
unit in the first few turns, after the Green Force was under
control, my Blue assault choppers flew as far northeast as
possible to prevent the Yellow UH-60s from capturing the two
or three neutral cities northeast of the Blue seaport, while
the slower Blue IFVs capture these cities.
     When the Blue Force captures the Green and Yellow
airbases, be careful with the nationality of the Blue units
that capture these airbases. The Blue, Green, and Yellow
airbases are along the coast in the northwest and north, and
the Red HQ is in the mountains far in the southeast. First,
this geography deters Blue air units with low endurance,
such as the USA/AF F-16 and A-10, Russian Mi-24 and Mi-17,
and Japanese OH-1. Second, as my fixed-wing air units are
the USA/AF F-15 and F-111, USN/MC F-4, and Japanese F-1, my
Blue Force captures the Green and Yellow airbases as USA/AF
and Japanese for healing/resupply.
     Further, the Red Force has at least two Patriots and a
few Avengers. After the Green Force is neutralised, the
Yellow Force is under control, and the Blue air units begin
to raid the Red ground units, each Blue fighter/attacker
should prepare to survive getting hit by both Red Patriots
in one turn. Because a Blue fighter/attacker can attack the
Red units just once (or at most twice) before it must RTB
because of bingo fuel or damage, one method is to loiter
available Blue AH-64s near the Red units and task them with
cleaning up the Red ground units heavily wounded by the Blue
fighter/attackers. If an AH-64 wipes out a Red ground unit,
and can't retreat to more than seven hexes from one or both
of the Red Patriots, then hope that the Patriots attack the
fighter/attackers instead. Thus, my Blue Force captures
Hakuba, the city northeast of the Red HQ, as USA/AF.
Gunships that can't hit-and-run aren't appropriate as the
clean-up hitter because if a normal gunship ends its turn
beside the Red units, then even the Red Infantry will cheap
a couple damage points off the gunship. When a Red Patriot
depletes its ammo, it will go to a Red city for resupply.
     (I hope the Harrier that (AFAIK) the USN/MC and UK
eventually get can heal/resupply in cities.)
     After the Green and Yellow Forces are neutralised, some
Blue ground units will probably run out of fuel when they
drive up to the Kurobe Dam.

     These hexes have these special events when the Blue
units capture them:
     - Itoigawa City North: 1,000 SP.
     - Oumi Airbase: UH-60.
     - Takaoka City: M1A1.
     - Uodu City: 1,000 Nu Yen.

     At the end of the battle, I got 54 kills, two KIAs,
50,000 Nu Yen, score 81, total score 815, and Taii (O-3,
Captain). Also captured a F-15, an A-10, and an AH-64.

     With 119,925 Nu Yen, I could buy USN/MC Lv.5 or Russia
Lv.4.
     USN/MC Lv.5 has the F-14 fighter and AV-8 attacker. As
everyone knows, the F-14 is the best fighter in the Real
World (TM), because it can track and engage multiple targets
from 100 NM (nautical miles) away with its AIM-54 Phoenix
SARH (Semi-Active Radar-Homing) with terminal-phase ARH
(Active Radar-Homing) AAM (Air-to-Air Missile). Only Pete
"Maverick" Mitchell and Tom "Iceman" Kazansky in Top Gun
were dumb enough to dogfight the bandits in cannon range.
(OK. They were flying under peace-time ROE, while this game
is a conventional hot war.)
     In the game, the AV-8's two advantages are it can
heal/resupply on airbase and >city< hexes, and doesn't waste
fuel points when immobile. Its three shots of anti-ground
ammo are adequate, based on past experience with the USN/MC
F-4 and Japanese F-1, each of which also has three shots of
anti-ground ammo. However, the AV-8 is comparatively
expensive to beam down for 1,000 SP: more than the F-1 (720
SP) and USN/MC F-4 (800 SP). By the time the Blue Force can
spend 1,000 SP in one turn, I probably have several gunships
in the air already, but the AV-8's 12 MP is faster than all
gunships.
     OTOH, Russia Lv.4 has the SA-6 mobile SAM. The SA-6,
unlike the USA/AF Patriot, can move and attack. As the CPU
forces have fighters and attackers by now, the SA-6 is
comparatively cheaper and earlier to beam down than Blue
fighters and attackers.
     Though Russia Lv.4 is the more practical choice, I
bought USN/MC Lv.5 anyway.

     For the next battle, the player can choose: Lake Biwa
(Kyouto-Shiga in Kansai) or Sado (Niigata in Chuubu). The
Ishikawa (Chuubu) choice disappeared.
     - In Lake Biwa, the Blue Force begins in Oogaki in the
northeast.
     The CPU has three forces: Green, Yellow, and Red. The
Green Force begins in Yokkaichi in the southeast. The Yellow
Force begins in Hikone in the middle. The Red Force begins
in Kyouto in the southwest. All three forces use UK units
that are Lv.3, instead of Lv.2. In theory, the player can
win by clearing only the Red Force.
     Airbases are all over the map.
     The OPFOR will have fighters, attackers, attack
choppers, assault choppers, MBTs, SPAs, mobile SAMs, IFVs,
and Infantry.
     - In Sado (not Sawatari), the Blue Force begins in
Nagaoka in the south.
     The CPU has two forces: Yellow and Red. The Yellow
Force begins in Niigata in the northeast, and uses USA/AF
units. The Red Force begins in Sado in the northwest, and
uses USN/MC units.
     The Blue Force doesn't begin with any seaport. The
Yellow and Red Forces do...
     The OPFOR will have fighters, attackers, attack
choppers, assault choppers, MBTs, SPAs, mobile SAMs, IFVs,
Infantry, and warships.

     I chose Lake Biwa, because I was allergic to hostile
USN/MC warships, and I wanted to advance farther towards
Oosaka. The Blue Force can reportedly capture the IJN (not
JMSDF) battleship Yamato in Hiroshima...
     BTW, if the player begins a new game in Niigata, then
the Sadoshima isn't in the prefectural battle map. The top
margin of the map is just above Niigata City.

4.11 KANSAI REGION, BATTLE OF LAKE BIWA (Ayasaki Wakana hen)

     Lake Biwa (Shiga) has no seaport.
     All four forces begin with 1,000 SP. Afterwards, the
Blue Force gets 400 SP per turn, Green Force 300 SP, Yellow
Force 400 SP, and Red Force 500 SP.

     My active Corps contained: one F-14, two F-15s, one
F-4, one AV-8, two F-1s, one F-111, two AH-1s, one AH-1W,
two AH-64s, one Mi-24, two OH-1s, one CH-53, one Mi-17, one
UH-60, one transport plane, one Type 74, three Type 90s, two
M1A1HAs, three M60A3s, one Type 97 recon vehicle, one
M109A6, one Type 87 mobile AAA, two SA-13s, two Patriots,
one Type 89, one Type 96, one AAV7, one M2.
     I bought one each of the F-14, AV-8, and AH-1W to
evaluate them in real combat.
     Also, I replaced the MiG-31 because it was the only
active Russian fixed-wing air unit. The others were USA/AF,
USN/MC, and Japanese. Now, I only needed to capture cities
as Russian to heal the Russian choppers and mobile SAMs, and
didn't need to capture any AB as Russian to serve the one
MiG-31.
     I kept the F-111 for its high endurance, unlike the
A-10 and Su-25.

     In turn 1, I beamed down a F-1, a SA-13, and a Type 96.
     Instead of the F-1 for 720 SP, I could've beamed down a
few gunships, or a blend of gunships and assault choppers.
Other players may prefer to beam down more ground units,
instead of air units.
     In turn 2, a M60A3, a Type 87 recon vehicle, and a
SA-13.
     The Type 96 was tasked with capturing Ibuki AB (to heal
the F-1) and Nagahama, west of the Blue HQ and north of the
Yellow HQ. The F-1 and Type 87 prevented the Yellow Lynx
Mk1, FV432s, and Infantry from advancing north and
threatening the Type 96.
     The SA-13s were tasked with advancing as far south as
practical, and preventing the Green Lynx Mk1s and FV432s
from capturing the neutral cities north of the Green HQ.
     Blue assault choppers that would be beamed down in the
following turns were tasked with neutralising the Yellow HQ,
and Blue gunships and IFVs that would be beamed down in the
following turns were tasked with clearing the Green Lynx
Mk1s and FV432s, and capturing the the neutral cities north
of the Green HQ.
     In turn 3, a M109A6 or M2.
     The M109A6 moves as slow as a MBT, but after the M109A6
moves, it can still attack a hostile unit within four hexes.
     In turns 4-5, two OH-1s, a CH-53, and others.

     OTOH, in turn 1, each OPFOR beamed down Lynx Mk1s,
Rapiers, and Infantry.
     In turn 2, Lynx Mk1s, Warriors, FV432s, Rapiers, and
Infantry.
     All three CPU Forces will capture the neutral airbases
and cities in the triangle defined by the Green/Yellow/Red
HQs as its corners.
     Overall, the Yellow Force beamed down: Lynx Mk1,
Chieftain, FV432, Rapier, and Infantry.
     The Green Force beamed down: Lynx Mk1, Challenger,
Chieftain, FV432, Rapier, and Infantry.
     The Red Force beamed down the above units, plus:
Eurofighter, AS90, and Warrior.

     By 02:00 on Day 2, when a Blue Mi-17 neutralised the Yellow
HQ, I'd divided the Blue Force into two teams, West and South.
     The West team had: a F-1, a Mi-17, a M60A3, a Type 87 recon
vehicle, and a Type 96.
     There were still several Yellow units near the Yellow HQ, but
not enough Blue units could attack the Yellow units and cheap some
XP off them, before they were disintegrated.
     The South team had: a M109A6, an AAV7, a M2, and two SA-13s.
     The M2 and SA-13s were defending Touin, the first city north
of the Green HQ.

     By 15:00 on Day 2, the Red Force began to beam down
Eurofighters. (X_X)
     The Red Force beamed down at most four Eurofighters,
and these were the final units it beamed down.

     Against the Red units, my air units prioritise the Red
Lynx Mk1s and FV432s, because they can capture cities.
     Then, the Lynx Mk9s, AS90s, Chieftains, and
Challengers. The AS90 is a bigger threat than the MBTs
because they can attack Blue units within 9 hexes: they can
move 5 hexes, then attack 4 hexes. The Red MBTs can attack
only Blue units next to them, and their attacks are rarely
fatal.
     Also, the Blue ground units prioritise the Red Rapiers
and other ground units wounded by the Blue air units. Don't
underestimate the Red Infantry, because their ZOCs can
hinder the movement of the Blue air units.
     When the Red Eurofighters arrive, the Blue air units
engage them to wound them, decrease their HP and damage, and
convince them to RTB for healing. OTOH, after they RTB, they
probably switch to air-to-mud ordnance.

     As I expected, when my Blue Force could afford to beam
down a F-14, the existing Blue attackers, mobile SAMs, and
mobile AAA had wiped out two of the four Red Eurofighters
already. After all the Eurofighters were gone, only a few
Red MBTs, Rapiers, and Infantry remained, so the Blue
fighters became jobless and withdrew to the airbases around
Lake Biwa.

     These hexes have these special events when the player's
units capture them:
     - Kamiishidu: Challenger.
     - Kyouto City Northwest: 2,000 Nu Yen.
     - Nishiazai AB: Tornado IDS.
     - Ootsu City: 1,000 SP.
     - Oumihachiman City: 1,000 Nu Yen.
     - Yokkaichi City: AS90.

     The 1,000 SP from Ootsu City, so close to the Red HQ,
is useless. OTOH, the AS90 is useful, as explained above,
but I need to buy a Lynx Mk1 or FV432 to support it.

     At the end of the battle, I got 58 kills, one KIA (a
Type 90 blown up by an Eurofighter), 50,000 Nu Yen, score
83, total score 898, and Taii (O-3, Captain). Also captured
an Eurofighter, a Lynx Mk9, and an AS90.
     The Lv.1 AH-1W wasn't impressive, but at high-level, it
probably has better stats than a high-level AH-1. (_ _) Zzz

     For the next battle, the player can choose only Kansai
(Oosaka-Kyouto-Nara). The Sado choice disappeared.

4.12 KANSAI REGION, BATTLE OF KANSAI (Morii Kaho hen)

     Still no seaport.
     The Blue Force begins in Kyouto in the northeast.
     The CPU has two forces: Yellow and Red. The Yellow
Force begins in Oosaka in the southwest. The Red Force
begins in Nara in the southeast. In theory, the player can
win by clearing only the Yellow Force.
     The Blue Force begins with 1,000 SP. Both the Yellow
and Red Forces begin with 2,000 SP. Afterwards, all three
forces get 500 SP per turn.

     My active Corps contained: one F-14, two F-15s, one
F-4, one A-6, one AV-8, two F-1s, one F-111, one AH-1, one
AH-1W, two AH-64s, one Mi-24, two OH-1s, one CH-53, one
Mi-17, one UH-60, one Lynx Mk1, one Type 74, two Type 90s,
two M1A1HAs, two M60A3s, one Type 87 recon vehicle, two
AS90s, one M109A6, one Type 87 mobile AAA, two SA-13s, two
Patriots, one Type 89, one Type 96, one AAV7, and one M2.
     I expect both CPU forces will have fighters and attackers,
so I added/kept Blue fighters and attackers that have air-to-air
ordnance. I shall beam down the fighters, mobile SAMs, and mobile
AAAs as early as practical to struggle for air superiority.
     Dropped the transport plane and added the A-6 and Lynx Mk1.
The terrains are mostly flat or urban, so I don't think I'll need
the transport plane to ferry critical ground units.
     Bought the A-6 to evaluate it in real combat. Both the A-6
and F-1 can attack a surface unit (warship) from 8 hexes away.
Unlike the F-1, the A-6 is navalised (can operate off a CV), but
has no air-to-air ordnance for self-protection and heals slower.
     Bought the Lynx Mk1 to support the captured AS90s.

     In turn 1, I beamed down a Mi-17, UH-60, and Type 96.
     My initial tactic is to capture the airbases east and west
of Hachiman as USA/AF and Japanese to support the F-15s and F-1s,
to capture Hachiman City North and South as USA/AF and Russian
to support the Patriots and Gophers, and to momentarily ignore
the neutral cities between the Blue HQ and Hachiman, and the
neutral cities east and west of the Blue HQ. If possible, the
assault choppers will attempt to capture the neutral cities south
of Hachiman. This might mean my Blue Force will miss any bonus
from the cities near the Blue HQ, but I want to push the frontline
as south as practical.
     In turn 2, a Patriot and a SA-13.
     In turn 3, a Lynx Mk1.
     Tasked with capturing a neutral city near Hachiman to support
the AS90s.
     In turn 4, a F-4.
     In turn 5, nothing.

     In turn 6, an AV-8.
     In turn 7, a F-14, an AH-1, an AH-1W, and a Type 87 recon
vehicle.
     The 1,000 SP bonus from Uji certainly helped in this turn.
     In turn 8, two OH-1s and a SA-13.
     In turn 9, two AS90s and a Patriot.
     In turn 10, an A-6 and an AAV7.
     Beamed down the A-6 because the Blue Force temporarily had
partial air superiority. The Yellow Force had an attacker and
choppers in the air, but no fighter.

     In turn 11, a CH-53, a Type 74, and a M109A6.
     In turn 12, an AH-64 and a M60A3.
     In turn 13, a F-111.
     In turn 14, a F-1 and a M60A3.
     In turn 15, two M1A1HAs.

     In turn 16, an AV-8.
     In turn 17, a F-15.
     In turn 18, an AH-64, a M2, and a Type 89.
     In turn 19, a F-1, a Mi-24, and a Type 90.
     In turn 20, a F-15.

     In turn 21, a Type 87 mobile AAA.
     In turn 22, a Type 90.
     And that's the ball game.

     OTOH, in turn 1, each OPFOR beamed down Lynx Mk1s,
Rapiers, and Infantry.
     In turn 2, Lynx Mk1s, FV432s, Rapiers, and Infantry.
     In turn 3, Yellow: Lynx Mk9s. Red: Challengers and Warriors.
     In turn 4, Yellow: Tornado IDS and Chieftains.
     In turn 5, AS90s.

     The OPFOR Rapiers and Infantry were more aggressive than
before, and advanced towards the Blue HQ, instead of defending
the Yellow and Red HQs.
     When the Yellow units approached Hachiman, the Blue
attackers and gunships cleared the Yellow IFVs, and the Blue
fighters and mobile SAMs cleared the Yellow assault choppers.
When the Yellow/Red MBTs, mobile SAMs, and Infantry arrived, the
Blue attackers and gunships engaged the OPFOR MBTs and Infantry,
and the Blue recon vehicle and SPAs engaged the OPFOR mobile SAMs.
     The Blue units didn't always wipe out the OPFOR ground units
in one turn. The tactic is to make most of the OPFOR ground units
combat ineffective in their turn, so the OPFOR MBTs couldn't
really harm the Blue recon vehicle, and an OPFOR Infantry
couldn't capture a Blue city in one turn.
     When the OPFOR fighters, attackers, and gunships
approached, the Blue ground units withdrew, and the Blue
fighters, attackers, and mobile SAMs engaged them. When the OPFOR
SPAs approached, the Blue ground units, including mobile SAMs,
withdrew, and the Blue attackers and mobile SAMs engaged them.
     Beaming down the Tomcat early was groovy. Even when no OPFOR
air unit was nearby, the Tomcat could do 1-4 HP to soft OPFOR
ground units. Blue air units sometimes ended their turns on a
Blue AB to defend it from OPFOR IFVs and Infantry.
     After the Mi-17 and UH-60 captured Kameoka, west of the Blue
HQ, they went southwest to (try to) capture Ikeda and other
neutral cities northwest of the Yellow HQ and ignored by the
Yellow Force.

     Overall, WRT OPFOR fighters and attackers, the Red Force
didn't beam down any. The Yellow Force beamed down: two Tornado
ADVs and two Tornado IDSs.
     The first Yellow Tornado IDS attacked the southmost Blue
ground unit, a Patriot. The Tornado IDS did more damage (4 HP)
than it received (2 HP), but in the next turn, the Blue Tomcat,
Phantom II, and Gopher shot down the bandit. Took three Blue units
because it was at night. (With a Tomcat and a Phantom II in the
air, and a Russian mobile SAM and no MBT on the ground, my Blue
Force felt more like the IRIAF (Islamic Republic of Iran Air
Force) than the USN/MC.) (-_-;)
     The first Yellow Tornado ADV seemed afraid of and didn't
fly into the overlapping ranges of the Blue Tomcat and Patriot
in or near Hachiman.
     After the second Yellow Tornado IDS reached the
frontline, though the Blue Tomcat wounded it, it damaged a
Type 87 recon vehicle. Two Blue gunships parked beside and
on opposite sides of the Tornado IDS to limit its movement
in its turn to one hex, and it was wiped out in the next
Blue turn.
     When the Yellow Force beamed down the second Tornado
ADV, it ignored the two Blue assault choppers (9_9;) on the
cities north of the Yellow HQ and flew to the frontline. It
only heavily damaged the Blue CH-53, instead of an attacker
and gunship, before it was wiped out.

     On second thought, instead of two Strike Eagles and an
Aardvark, I couldfve beamed down a Fighting Falcon, a second
Intruder, and a third F-1. The Strike Eagles werenft beamed
down before the Blue Force had air supremacy. Though the
Fighting Falcon has lower endurance, itfs cheaper to beam
down. For now, I wonder whether the Hornet in the game has
long-range anti-ship missiles, or is just a navalised
Strike Eagle or Fighting Falcon? That is, just an upgraded
Phantom II?
     This battle wouldfve been more challenging if the OPFOR
had more jets, or beamed down jets in consecutive turns.

     These hexes have these special events when the player's
units capture them:
     - Ikoma City: Two Challenger 2s.
     - Kameoka City North: Spear.
     - Nara AB: Tornado IDS.
     - Oosaka City North: 500 SP.
     - Takatsuki City: Challenger.
     - Uji City: 1,000 SP.

     At the end of the battle, my Blue Force got 62 kills,
two KIAs, 50,000 Nu Yen, score 91, total score 989, and
Shousa (O-4, Major). Also captured a Tornado ADV, a Tornado
IDS, and a Lynx Mk9.
     The KIAs were: an AH-1W (shot down by a Tornado ADV),
and a Patriot (blown up by an AS90).
     The (unlucky) low-level AH-1W continued to...
unimpress. I would be more concerned if one of the
high-level AH-1s was KIA.

     The Tomcat, because of its speed, is useful for hunting
down OPFOR MBTs with 1-2 HP that are retreating towards
OPFOR cities, after the Blue Force has air supremacy. Using
the Tomcat (not even a Bombcat) for ground attacks sounds
like a dumb idea, but seeing the animation of the Tomcat
strafing the OPFOR MBTs like a Frogfoot is believing.
     Hmm. I've only three active high-level attackers with
long-range anti-ship missiles. An Intruder and two F-1s.
Maybe I'll remove a Strike Eagle, and buy another Intruder
or level up another F-1 from the inventory.
     I wonder whether a CV can resupply/heal the air units
it's carrying?

     Didn't buy USN/MC Lv.6 for its F-18 or Nimitz. Bought
Russia Lv.4, another F-14, a Ka-50, a 2S6, two SA-6s, an
Aleigh Burke, and a LST. The F-18 felt like just an upgraded
and most expensive F-4 anyway.

     For the next battle, the player can choose only Hyougo
(Koube-Himeji-Naruto).
     The OPFOR will have fighters, attackers, attack
choppers, assault choppers, MBTs, SPAs, mobile SAMs, IFVs,
Infantry, and warships.

4.13 KANSAI REGION, BATTLE OF HYOUGO

     The Blue Force begins in Koube in the northeast. (I
can't seem to see the Port Tower in Koube...)
     The CPU has two forces: Yellow and Red. The Yellow
Force begins in Himeji in the northwest. The Red Force
begins in Naruto in the southwest.
     The Blue and Yellow Forces have seaports.
     All three forces begin with 1,000 SP. Afterwards, all
three forces get 500 SP per turn.

     I expect both CPU forces will have fighters, attackers,
and a Manchester-class warship or two. The strategy is, as
in the Real World (TM), to not prepare for what assets the
OPFOR actually has, but to prepare for what capabilities the
OPFOR apparently has.
     My active Corps contained: two F-14s, one F-4, one A-6,
one AV-8, three F-1s, one F-111, two AH-1s, one AH-1W, one
Ka-50, two OH-1s, one CH-53, one Mi-17, one Mi-8, one UH-60,
one Lynx Mk1, one Type 74, two Type 90s, two M60A3s, one
Spear, one Type 87 recon vehicle, two AS90s, one M109A6, one
2S6, two SA-13s, two SA-6s, one Type 89, one Type 96, one
AAV7, one Aleigh Burke, and one LST.
     Kept the F-111 for its high speed, endurance, and ammo.
Could've removed the AV-8 or F-111 or both, and added...
something else.
     Though both the AH-1W and Ka-50 cost 480 SP, I didn't
drop the AH-1W and allocate two Ka-50s because the Ka-50 as
a Russian unit has a sh_tty healing rate of just 2 HP per
turn. The Russian air defense units have this risky
disadvantage too, despite their attractively low SP costs...

     The geography of this map is a Z-shaped strip of land,
with plenty of water on both sides of the Akashi Strait
Bridge.
     In turn 1, I beamed down a UH-60, two SA-6s, and a Type
96.
     In turn 2, a Mi-8, a Lynx Mk1, and a Type 87 recon
vehicle.
     In turn 3, two OH-1s and a SA-13.
     In turn 4, a 2S6. Reserving SP.
     (I thought the 2S6 is like the American ADATS and
equally effective against air and ground targets, but it
isn't.)
     In turn 5, a F-4!

     In turn 6, an AH-1. Reserving SP.
     In turn 7, a F-1!
     In turn 8, a Type 74 and a M109A6.
     In turn 9, an AH-1 and a SA-13.
     In turn 10, an AS90.

     In turn 11, an AS90. Reserving SP.
     In turn 12, a F-14!
     In turn 13, a CH-53.
     In turn 14, a F-14!
     In turn 15, an A-6 and a Spear.

     In turn 16, an AH-1W and a Ka-50.
     In turn 17, a M60A3 and two Type 90s.
     In turn 18, an AV-8 and a M60A3.
     In turn 19, nothing.
     In turn 20, a LST.

     In turn 21, an Arleigh Burke.
     In turn 22, a F-1, a Mi-17, and an AAV7.
     In turn 23, a F-1.
     In turn 24, nothing.

     My initial tactic is to capture Akashi City North and
West as Russian to support the Gainfuls, Gophers, and 2S6,
an AB and a city south of Akashi as Japanese to support the
F-1s and OH-1s, and another city south of Akashi as UK to
support the AS90s. The Blue Force prioritises the OPFOR
choppers, IFVs, SPAs, and Rapiers.
     The Black Hawk flies south to capture Wakayama.
(Because Wakayama is a cluster of cities, AB, and seaport, I
guess it's a HQ city in another battle.)
     After the Lynx Mk1 captures a city south of Akashi and
the city is secured against OPFOR assault choppers and IFVs,
the Lynx Mk1 flies southeast to help capture the cities
between Wakayama and KIX (Kansai International Airport).

     In turn 1, the OPFOR beamed down a Lynx Mk1, a Rapier,
and Infantry.
     In turn 2, Yellow: Lynx Mk9, FV432. Red: Warrior.
     In turn 3, Yellow: Lynx Mk9, Chieftain. Red: AS90.
     In turn 4, Yellow: Lynx Mk9, Lynx Mk1. Red: Lynx Mk9,
Chieftain.
     In turn 5, Yellow: Rapier. Red: Challenger.

     In turn 6, Challenger.
     In turn 7, Lynx Mk9, AS90.
     In turn 8, Lynx Mk1, Chieftain.
     In turn 9, Challenger, Chieftain, AS90.
     In turn 10, Yellow: Chieftain. Red: Lynx Mk9, Rapier.

     In turn 11, Challenger, Chieftain.
     In turn 12, AS90.
     In turn 13, Yellow: Tornado IDS. Red: Challenger, AS90.
     In turn 14, Yellow: Tornado ADV.
     In turn 15, Red: Eurofighter.

     In turn 17, Yellow: Tornado IDS.
     In turn 19, Yellow: Manchester.

     In turn 21, Yellow: Tornado IDS.

     Overall, the Yellow Force beamed down two
Manchesters...

     The Red Force initially ignores Wakayama and KIX. After
the Red and Blue Forces have captured all the cities
northeast of the Red HQ, a wounded Red Lynx Mk1 (with 7 HP)
finally flies east towards Wakayama. When the Red Lynx Mk1
is within range of Wakayama, the Blue Black Hawk has
captured Wakayama City North and East and the Wakayama AB.
Instead of capturing one of these three low-HP, vulnerable
hexes, the Red Lynx Mk1 spends three turns (-49 HP per turn)
to capture the neutral Wakayama seaport. (?_?)
     After the Blue Force has air superiority against the
Red Force, that is, when only one or two Red choppers are in
the air, and no Red fighter or attacker are, the Blue
Gainful south of Akashi goes north to help the few Blue MBTs
and SPAs counter the Yellow choppers, MBTs, and Rapiers west
and north of Akashi.
     When the Yellow Force beams down its first Tornado IDS
in turn 13, my Blue Force incidentally has two Tomcats in
the map v(^_^;) to complement the Blue mobile SAMs. (This
time, my Blue Force was ready for the bandits.)

     These hexes have these special events when the player's
units capture them:
     - Higashiura City: AS90.
     - Himeji City North: 1,000 SP.
     - KIX North: Eurofighter.
     - KIX West: Tornado ADV.
     - Mihara City: Two Spear Bs.
     - Miki City: Challenger.
     - Wakayama Seaport: 2,000 Nu Yen.
     (I'll probably sell all the d_mn UK fighters and
attackers.)

     By the end of the battle, Blue ground units captured
all Yellow ABs, cities, and seaport, except the Yellow HQ,
which was partly captured by a Type 96. With a Type 74
squatting on the Yellow seaport, the second Manchester
parked itself two hexes away from the seaport. An Intruder
and three F-1s took turns wounding the Manchester, but left
the coup de grace to the Lv.1 Arleigh Burke, which didn't
become Lv.2.
     OTOH, the Blue Aardvark and LST wandered about, burnt
up fuel points, and did nothing.

     At the end of the battle, my Blue Force got 66 kills,
four KIAs, 50,000 Nu Yen, score 91, total score 1,080, and
Shousa (O-4, Major). Also captured an Eurofighter, a Lynx Mk9, and a 
Manchester.
     The KIAs were: an AH-1 (shot down by a Red Eurofighter;
(momentarily) forgot the Eurofighter is a fighter/attacker
and it changed its ordnance from air-to-mud to air-to-air),
a Ka-50 (shot down by two Yellow Rapiers), a Mi-8 (shot down
by a Yellow Tornado IDS), and a Type 87 recon vehicle (blown
up by a Red Eurofighter, Challenger, and AS90; this Type 87
is high-level and a tough bugger).
     Maybe I'll buy Japan Lv.2 and more Type 87 recon
vehicles. BTW, I wonder what kind of fighters are the F-3
and F-3 Modified in this game? Maybe akin to the F-15?

     For the next battle, the player can choose: Okayama or
Seto (Hiroshima).
     Okayama looks like a standard search-and-destroy battle
of mass destruction. Seto is... more complex. To verify the
(WWII IJN battleship) Yamato rumour (see below), I chose
Seto.

<TO BE CONTINUED>

4.51 KYUSHU REGION, OKINAWA PREFECTURE

     I read that when the player doesn't begin the game in
Hokkaidou or Okinawa, then near the end of the game,
ampibious assaulting Hokkaidou and Okinawa will be painful.
So I experimentally began a new game at Hard difficulty, and
chose the USA/AF and Okinawa in the Kyushu region.
     The USA/AF player begins with: three AH-64s, one UH-60,
five M1A1s, two M2s, and three Infantry.
     The first battle in Okinawa has a time limit of 21:00
on Day 4.
     The player's Blue Force begins in Naha in the
southwest.
     The USN/MC's Red Force begins in Kadena in the north.
The Red Force deploys USN/MC Lv.2 units, but thankfully no
F-4.
     The Red Force beams down a total of 17 units. Mostly
Lv.1 M60A3s and a few AAV7s and Chaparrals.
     I beamed down one heinous AH-64, and as many M1A1s,
M2s, and even Infantry as possible.
     My units engaged the Red units about five or six hexes
from Naha, between Naha and the closest town to the
northeast of Naha.
     Because of the AH-64's air-to-mud lethality and
mobility, and the M1A1s' toughness, by noon on Day 2, the
column of Red tanks northeast of Naha became a Highway of
Death. Only the two Red Infantry at the Red HQ were still
breathing.
     In the morning of Day 2, when my handful of M1A1s, M2s,
and Infantry were apparently enough to barricade the Red
units, I beamed down the UH-60 to capture the towns behind
the Red tank column.
     I liberated Okinawa for score 124, 23,000 Nu Yen, and
Shoui (O-1, Second Lieutenant). For the next battle, the
player can choose only Kagoshima.
     In reality, Kagoshima is famous for Saigou Takamori, a
protagonist in the Meiji Restoration in 1868, and a
respected antagonist in the Southwest War (Japanese Civil
War) in 1878.

4.52 TOUHOKU-HOKKAIDOU REGION, HOKKAIDOU (Sawatari Honoka
     hen)

     Just checking what happens if the player begins an Easy
game with Russian units from Hokkaidou, occupied by Russia.

     The first battle in Hokkaidou has a time limit of 21:00
on Day 4.
     The player's initial Russian units are: four Mi-24s,
two Mi-8s, six T-72s, two BMP-2s, and three Infantry.
     The Blue Force begins in Hakodate in the south.
     The Red Force begins in Sapporo in the northeast. The
Red Force deploys 15 Russian units: T-72 MBTs, BMP-2 IFVs,
SA-13 mobile SAMs, and Infantry.
     The Red Force has teleporters all over the map,
including just across the bay from the Blue HQ.

     The frontline was eventually between Oshamanbe and
Shimamaki.

     The tactics are simple. Blue BMP-2s and Infantry are
tasked with capturing cities. Mi-24s are tasked with CAS/BAI
against the Red MBTs and IFVs. Mi-8s are tasked with CAS/BAI
and capturing cities. T-72s are tasked with wiping out the
Red mobile SAMs.

     The Russian units s_ck. The Mi-24 has very low
endurance (30 fuel points). The Mi-8 has just two shots of
air-to-mud ordnance. The T-72 moves slowly on the ground.

     At the end of the battle, I got 15 kills, no KIA,
23,000 Nu Yen, score 81, total score 81, and Shoui (O-1,
Second Lieutenant).

     BTW, in military aviation history, Hakodate became
famous on 6 September 1976, when Lieutenant Viktor Ivanovich
Belenko of the 513th Fighter Regiment, Soviet Air Defense
Command, based at Sakharovka in Siberia, landed his MiG-25P
Foxbat A (#84) at the Hakodate AP (airport).
     http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/MIG-25FOXBAT.htm
     http://www.wvi.com/~lelandh/mig25.html

5.   ORDERS OF BATTLE

     NATIONALITIES

     The USN/MC and Russia have expectedly good units for
novice players. OTOH, the USA/AF has the best and most
expensive units. For example, the cost of a USA/AF M1A1 MBT
is about double the cost of a USN/MC M60A3 or Russian T-72
MBT.
     Russian units have lower (cheaper) SP than USN/MC
units, so the player can beam down more Russian units in
each turn. OTOH, at Russia Lv.1, the Mi-8 and BMP-2 aren't
very deadly, even against Infantry. The Mi-24 and Mi-8 have
fewer fuel points than the USN/MC AH-1 and CH-53, but the
Mi-24 can capture cities, and the Mi-8 has a bit of
air-to-mud ordnance. The AH-1 can't capture cities, and the
CH-53 isn't armed. The T-72's six MP are faster than the UK
Chieftain's four (slower than snail mail) and the USN/MC
M60A3's five, but the T-72's four rounds of ammo are fewer
than the USN/MC M60A3's six.

     Some nationalities have the same units. For example,
every nationality inevitably has Infantry (ground-pounding
grunts). Also, both Germany and the UK has the Eurofighter.
     BTW, my personal interest is primarily in military
aviation, including naval aviation, so I don't know the
formal names and nicknames of most non-US and non-Russian
ground, surface, and submarine units.

     USN/MC reportedly has no organic SPAs.

     Germany has many MBTs and AFVs (not IFVs), but it first
gets an assault helo, the NH90, at Lv.3.

     Units that belong to the "All" nationality are
complementary units. For example, when the player buys
USN/MC Lv.3, the player also gets the ability to buy All
Lv.3 units, a transport plane that looks like the C-130, can
carry two ground units, and land at neutral and even enemy
airbases.

     FIGHTER AND FIGHTER/ATTACKER

     Nationality    Unit           Air-Air Range  Air-Sur Range

     USA/AF         A-10           1 : D- : 3     1 : B+ : 6
     USA/AF       * F-15           1 : B  : 4     -
     USA/AF       * F-16           1 : B  : 3     1 : A- : 3
     USA/AF         F-22           ?              ?
     USA/AF         F-111          1 : D+ : 2     1 : A- : 6
     USN/MC         A-6            -              8 : A- : 2
     USN/MC         AV-8           1 : C+ : 3     1 : B  : 3
     USN/MC       * F-4            1 : B- : 4     1 : ?  : 3
     USN/MC         F-14           6 : B  : 3     -
     USN/MC       * F-18           1 : B  : 3     ?
     Russia         MiG-31         5 : B  : 4     -
     Russia         Su-25          1 : D  : 3     1 : A- : 5
     Germany        Alpha Jet      1              1 : B
     Germany      * Eurofighter    1 : B  : 3     1 : A- : 3
     Germany        Tornado ADV    1 : B  : 4     -
     Germany        Tornado IDS    1 : D  : 3     1 : A- : 6
     UK           * Eurofighter    1 : B  : 3     1 : A- : 3
     UK             Jaguar         1 : D  : 3     1 : A- : 3
     UK             Tornado ADV    1 : B  : 4     -
     UK             Tornado IDS    1 : D  : 3     1 : A- : 6
     Japan          F-1            1 : C- : 2     8 : A  : 2
     Japan          F-2            ?              ?

     In the above list, WRT the multi-role
fighter/attackers (*), such as the USN/MC F-4, the Air-Air
Range/Stat/Ammo at Lv.1 assumes they are carrying air-to-air
ordnance, and the Air-Sur Range/Stat/Ammo at Lv.1 assumes
they are carrying air-to-surface (anti-ship) ordnance.

     The USA/AF F-16 has low endurance (fuel points).

     The USN/MC F-4 fighter/attacker (2,000 Nu Yen, 800 SP)
has good anti-air ordnance and poor anti-ground, or poor
anti-air, excellent anti-ground, and good anti-surface
ordnance. OTOH, the Japanese F-1 and the UK Jaguar (1,800 Nu
Yen, 720 SP) are full-time attackers with poor anti-air
ordnance and excellent anti-ground/surface ordnance.
     For reference, the damage forecast of Lv.4 F-4
(anti-air) vs Lv.2 OH-1 is 0:6. Lv.4 F-4 (anti-air) vs Lv.2
F-1 is 1:4.
     Actually, even when a F-4 is carrying anti-air
ordnance, it's effective against soft ground targets, such
as recon vehicles, but not hard ground targets, such as
MBTs.
     (Reminds me of the first scene in the first volume of
the Area 88 OVA series, where Kazama Shin's F-8 Crusader
strafed a platoon of FSU MBTs. BTW, back when they first
came out, I watched Aozora Shoujotai and Area 88 not for its
chara or stories, but for its jet fighters.)

     The USN/MC AV-8 can be conveniently beamed down to a
city hex.
     IMO, the differences between the USN/MC AV-8 and attack
choppers are: i) the AV-8 is more expensive to beam down
(1,000 SP vs 640 SP for an USA/AF AH-64, or 220 SP for a
Japanese OH-1); ii) the AV-8 moves faster and farther (12 MP
vs 8 MP for an AH-64); and iii) the AV-8 has better
air-to-air stats.

     The Russian MiG-31 has good anti-air (4 shots) and poor
anti-ground (3 shots), but is effective against soft ground
targets. It can attack an air unit from 5 hexes away.

     The Nu Yen and SP costs of some fighters and attackers:
A-6, 2,000/800; AV-8, 2,500/1,000; A-10, 2,200/880;
Eurofighter, 3,500/1,400; F-1, 2,000/720; F-4, 2,000/800;
F-14, 3,000/1,200; F-15, 3,500/1,400; F-16, 3,000/1,200;
F-111, 2,500/1,000; MiG-31, 2,800/1,000; Su-25, 2,000/1,200;
Tornado ADV, 2,000/?, Tornado IDS, 2,300/920.

     ATTACKER

     The USA/AF A-10 has low endurance.

     The USN/MC A-6 has no anti-air, excellent anti-ground
(5 shots), and excellent anti-surface (2 shots). It can
attack a surface unit from 8 hexes away.

     The Russian Su-25 has poor anti-air (3 shots),
excellent anti-ground (5 shots), and excellent anti-surface
(5 shots).

     TRANSPORT PLANE

     The transport plane is actually not too efficient,
IMO. It takes SP and time to beam down the transport
plane, then the two ground units, then upload the ground
units into the transport plane in the next turn, then fly
towards an airbase. The transport plane has 10 MP, so if
the destination airbase is fewer than 10 hexes away, the
ground units might as well yomp there. BTW, when the
transport plane lands and downloads the ground units, the
ground units can immediately move their full MP and attack.
     To boldly land a transport plane on the airbase
beside the OPFOR HQ is risky. Mobile AAAs and Infantry
always defend the OPFOR HQ.

     Later (2002.08.06): The transport plane is useful in a
battle where the Blue Force fights two or three CPU forces.
After the Blue Force neutralises the HQ of one CPU force,
beam down a transport plane to the airbase next to the
neutralised HQ, and use the transport plane to ferry the
Blue IFVs or other ground units to the HQ of the next CPU
force.
     BTW, attacks that damage the transport plane don't
damage the ground units in the transport plane.

     ATTACK HELO

     The USA/AF AH-64 is a "must have". Both the AH-64 and
Russian Ka-50 can move-and-attack (eat-and-run). The AH-64
costs 640 SP and has eight shots of air-to-mud ordnance. The
Ka-50 costs 480 SP and has four shots of air-to-mud
ordnance.

     The 480 SP cost of the USN/MC AH-1W is... inconvenient,
IMO. There were times when the Blue Force had enough spare
change to beam down two AH-1s, but not enough to beam down
an AH-1 and an AH-1W, when the active Corps had only one
AH-1 and one AH-1W.

     The Japanese OH-1 is s_cky. The Cup Noodle of gunships.
It costs just 220 SP to beam down, but it has only two shots
of anti-ground ammo.

     The Nu Yen and SP costs of some attack choppers: Ka-50, ?/480 SP; OH-1, 
?/220 SP.

     ASSAULT HELO

     The USA/AF UH-60, USN/MC V-22, Russian Mi-24, German
NH90, and UK Lynx Mk1 don't have fast occupation speed.
     The Russian Mi-24 has feeble endurance: only 30 fuel
points.

     MBT

     The UK Spear and Spear B (no relation to Britney) are
relatively cheap (320 and 350 SP) and fast (7 MP), because
its gun has only three shots. Lean and mean enough for
clearing OPFOR IFVs and mobile SAMs for the Blue air units,
IMO.

     IFV

     Ground units with tires move fast on roads, but ground
units with caterpillar (threads) move fairly fast off-road.

     The USA/AF M2, USN/MC LAV-25, Russian BMP-2 and BMP-3,
UK FV432, and Japanese Type 96 don't have fast occupation
speed.
     OTOH, the Japanese Type 96 moves fast: 9 MP.

     The Japanese Type 96 IFV icon looks like a Toyota
Estima, Lucida, or Previa, IMO.

     SPA

     Nationality    Unit      Range          Blast Radius

     USA/AF         M109A6    4              No
     USA/AF         MLRS      6 : C          Yes
     Russia         2S3       4 : C+         No
     Russia         BM-21     5 : D+         Yes
     Russia         Smerch    6 : C  : 3     Yes
     Germany        PzH2000   5 : B  : 5     No
     UK             AS90      4 : B  : 5     No
     Japan          Type 75   4              No

     When a SPA attacks another SPA, the defending SPA can't
counter-attack.

     The USA/AF M109A6 and UK AS90 can move-and-attack!

     The USA/AF MLRS and Russian BM-21 have blast radius,
that is, they will collaterally damage the (up to six) enemy
units around the target enemy unit.

     RECON VEHICLE

     All recon vehicles can move through the enemy units'
ZOCs.

     MOBILE SAM

     Nationality    Unit           Range          SP

     USA/AF         Avenger        1
     USA/AF         Patriot        7 : B  : 4
     USN/MC         Chaparral      1 : B- : 4
     USN/MC         LAV-AD         1 : B  : 8
     Russia         2S6            1 : B+ : 8
     Russia         SA-6           6 : B  : 3
     Russia         SA-13          1 : B  : 4     180
     UK             Rapier         1 : B  : 8

     Attacking an air unit with a mobile SAM is a 50:50
affair, because the mobile SAM probably has anti-air at B or
A, but the air unit, esp a fighter/attacker or gunship, may
also have anti-ground at B or A. Both units cause 2 or 3
damage points to each other, but the air unit can retreat
farther and faster to an airbase for healing, while the
mobile SAM moves slower on land to a city for healing.
     OTOH, a mobile AAA has a damage bonus against gunships.

     The Russian SA-6 reporedly can move-and-attack?

     The Japanese Type 81 moves fast: 8 MP.

     MOBILE AAA

     Nationality    Unit           Range

     USA/AF         Sergeant York  1
     German         Gepard         1
     Japan          Type 87        1 : B  : 5

     After so many years of combat flight sims, I miss the
ZSU-23-4 Shilka and ZSU-57-2. (-_-;)

     WARSHIP

     The guided missile destroyers and frigates are useful
primarily for ASW (anti-submarine warfare), and secondarily
for long-range air defense in battles that have a lot of
sea hexes.

     An USN/MC Arleigh Burke costs 6,000 Nu Yen and 2,800
SP. It has anti-air range of 6 hexes for B+, anti-surface
range of 8 hexes for B, and anti-submarine range of 4 for
B-.
     An USN/MC Iowa costs ? Nu Yen and 2,800 SP. It has
anti-air range of 1 hex for C+ (25 shots), anti-ground range
of 5 hexes for B (20 shots), and anti-surface range of 8
hexes for B+ (16 shots).
     An USN/MC Nimitz costs ? Nu Yen and 3,000 SP. It has
anti-air range of 3 hexes for B- (10 shots). It can carry
eight aircraft and choppers.
     An USN/MC Seawolf costs 2,000 SP. It has anti-surface
range of 2 hexes for A- (10 shots) and anti-submarine range
of 1 for B (10 shots).

     An UK Manchester costs 5,000 Nu Yen and 2,800 SP. It
has anti-air range of 5 hexes for B+ (20 shots), anti-ground
range of 1 for B- (90 shots), anti-surface range of 3 hexes
for B- (4 shots), and anti-submarine range of 3 for B (6
shots). Or A-/B/B/B+ at Lv.3. Inferior to the Arleigh Burke.

     A LST can carry four ground units. The nationality of the LST isn't 
All.

<UNDER CONSTRUCTION>

5.1  ALL

     LEVEL 3 (0 Nu Yen)

Transport      Transport plane. C-130 Hercules (Fat Albert,
               Herky Bird).

     LEVEL ? (? Nu Yen)

Gamera         Monster.

5.2  UNITED STATES ARMY/AIR FORCE

     LEVEL 1 (10,000 Nu Yen)

AH-64          Attack helo. Apache.
UH-60          Assault helo. Black Hawk (Catfish, Crash
               Hawk, Lawn Dart, Velcro Hawk).
M1A1           MBT. Abrams.
M2             IFV. Bradley.
Infantry       Infantry.

     LEVEL 2 (20,000 Nu Yen)

M109A6         SPA. Paladin.
MLRS           SPA. M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System.
Avenger        Mobile SAM.

     LEVEL 3 (40,000 Nu Yen)

F-16           Fighter/attacker. Fighting Falcon (Electric
               Jet, Lawn Dart, Little Hummer, LWF (Light
               Weight Fighter), Viper).
A-10           Attacker. Thunderbolt II (Porker, SLAT (Slow
               Low Aerial Target), Tank-Killer, Warthog).
Sergeant York  Mobile AAA.

     LEVEL 4 (80,000 Nu Yen)

     LEVEL ? (? Nu Yen)

F-15           Fighter/attacker. F-15E Strike Eagle
               (Beagle, Big Bird, Rodan, Tennis Court).
F-22           Fighter. Raptor (ATF (Advanced Tactical
               Fighter), Lightning II, Rapier).

F-111          Attacker. Aardvark (Flying Edsel, Swinger,
               Switchblade).
F-117          Attacker. Night Hawk (Bat Plane, Black Jet,
               Ghost, Wobblin' Goblin).
B-2            Attacker. Spirit (Boomerang, Budget Bomber).

RAH-66         Attack helo. Comanche.

M1A1HA         MBT. Abrams.

Patriot        Mobile SAM. MIM-104 PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced
               Capability-3).

5.3  UNITED STATES NAVY/MARINE CORPS

     LEVEL 1 (9,000 Nu Yen)

AH-1           Attack helo. Cobra (Snake).
CH-53          Assault helo. CH-53 Sea Stallion, CH-53E
               Super Stallion, MH-53E Sea Dragon, MH-53J
               Pave Low III, MH-53M Pave Low IV (BUFF,
               Super Jolly Green Giant, Super Sh_tter).
M60A3          MBT. Patton.
AAV7           IFV. Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7.
Marines        Infantry. (Leathernecks, Seventy Five,
               Semper Fi, Semper Fidelis.)

     LEVEL 2 (18,000 Nu Yen)

F-4            Fighter/attacker. Phantom II (Double Ugly,
               Rhino).
Chaparral      Mobile SAM. M730/MIM-72.

     LEVEL 3 (36,000 Nu Yen)

A-6            Attacker. Intruder (Dogship, Tadpole).
LAV-25         IFV. Piranha.

     LEVEL 4 (77,000 Nu Yen)

AH-1W          Attack helo. Super Cobra.
V-22           Assault helo. Osprey.
M1A1           MBT. Abrams.
LAV-AD         Mobile SAM. Light Armoured Vehicle-Air
               Defense.
Arleigh Burke  Guided missile destroyer. DDG 51.
LST            Landing Ship Tank.

     LEVEL 5 (100,000 Nu Yen)

F-14           Fighter. Tomcat (Turkey).
AV-8           Attacker. AV-8B Harrier II (Jump Jet,
               Scarier, Whistling Sh_tcan).
Seawolf        Submarine. SSN 21 (not SSN 575).

     LEVEL 6 (100,000 Nu Yen)

F-18           Figther. F/A-18A/C Hornet (Plastic Bug).
Iowa           Battleship. BB 61.
Nimitz         Aircraft carrier. CVN 68 (Carrier Vessel
               Nuclear).

     LEVEL 7 (100,000 Nu Yen)

     LEVEL ? (? Nu Yen)

5.4  RUSSIA

     LEVEL 1 (9,000 Nu Yen)

Mi-24          Attack/assault helo. Hind.
Mi-8           Assault helo. Hip.
T-72           MBT.
BMP-2          IFV.
Infantry       Infantry.

     LEVEL 2 (18,000 Nu Yen)

BM-21          SPA. Grad ("Hail").
2S3            SPA.
BRDM2          Recon vehicle.
SA-13          Mobile SAM. Gopher.

     LEVEL 3 (36,000 Nu Yen)

MiG-31         Fighter. Foxhound.
Su-25          Attacker. Frogfoot (Grach).
Mi-17          Assault helo. Hip H.
BMP-3          IFV.

     LEVEL 4 (77,000 Nu Yen)

Ka-50          Attack helo. Black Shark, Hokum, Werewolf.
T-80           MBT.
Smerch         SPA (MLRS type).
2S6            Mobile SAM.
SA-6           Mobile SAM. Gainful.
LST            Landing Ship Tank.

     LEVEL 5 (100,000 Nu Yen)

     LEVEL ? (? Nu Yen)

Su-24          Attacker. Fencer.
Su-34          Attacker. Flanker.

S-300          Mobile SAM. Favorit, SA-10 Grumble.

Kuznetsov      Aircraft carrier. Admiral of the Fleet
               Kuznetsov.

5.5  GERMANY

     LEVEL 1 (7,500 Nu Yen)

PAH-1          Attack helo. BO-105.
Leopard 1      MBT.
Marder         IFV.
Infantry       Infantry.

     LEVEL 2 (15,500 Nu Yen)

Jaguar         MBT.
Gepard         Mobile AAA.
Luchs          Recon vehicle.

     LEVEL 3 (30,000 Nu Yen)

Alpha Jet      Attacker.
NH90           Assault helo.
PzH2000        SPA.

     LEVEL 4 (67,000 Nu Yen)

     LEVEL ? (? Nu Yen)

Eurofighter    Fighter. Typhoon (EFA, EF2000).

Tornado IDS    Attacker. Interdictor/Strike.

PAH-2          Attack helo. Tiger.

Lowe A2        MBT. Lion.

5.6  UNITED KINGDOM

     LEVEL 1 (7,500 Nu Yen)

Lynx Mk9       Attack helo.
Lynx Mk1       Assault helo.
Chieftain      MBT.
FV432          IFV.
Infantry       Infantry.

     LEVEL 2 (15,500 Nu Yen)

Jaguar         Attacker.
Rapier         Mobile SAM.

     LEVEL 3 (30,000 Nu Yen)

Tornado ADV    Fighter. Air Defence Variant.
AS90           SPA.

     LEVEL 4 (67,000 Nu Yen)

Challenger     MBT.
Warrior        IFV.
Manchester     Type 42 destroyer, Batch 3 (Stretched). D95.
LST            Landing Ship Tank.

     LEVEL 5 (100,000 Nu Yen)

     LEVEL ? (? Nu Yen)

Eurofighter    Fighter. Typhoon (EFA, EF2000).

Tornado IDS    Attacker. Interdictor/Strike.

Challenger 2   MBT.
Spear          MBT.
Spear B        MBT.

Invincible     Aircraft carrier.

5.7  JAPAN

     Later (2002.08.13): The JGSDF units' amusing but
official nicknames are from the JGSDF official HP. (^_-)
The JASDF F-1 and F-2 have no official nicknames, AFAIK.

     LEVEL 1 (7,500 Nu Yen)

Type 74        MBT. 74TK, Nanayon.
Type 96        IFV. WAPC, Cougar.
Infantry       Infantry.

     LEVEL 2 (15,500 Nu Yen)

Type 75        SPA.
Type 87        Recon vehicle. RCV, Black Eye.
Type 81        Mobile SAM. Tan SAM, Short Arrow.

     LEVEL 3 (30,000 Nu Yen)

F-1            Attacker.
OH-1           Attack helo. Ninja.

     LEVEL 4 (67,000 Nu Yen)

Type 90        MBT. 90TK, Kyuumaru.
Type 89        IFV. 89FV, Light Tiger.
Type 87        Mobile AAA. 87AW, Sky Shooter.
LST            Landing Ship Tank.

     LEVEL 5 (100,000 Nu Yen)

     LEVEL ? (? Nu Yen)

RX-78          Mobile Suit. RX-78-2 Gundam.

F-2            FS-X (Fighter Support Experimental),
               Viper-Zero.

Asagiri        Destroyer. DD 151.
Kongou         Guided missile destroyer. DDG 173.

6.   LINKS

   - http://www.dnd.ca/
     D-NET: The (Canadian) Department of National Defence
Internet Site.

   - http://www.jda.go.jp/jgsdf/info/equipfr.html
     The "Main Equipment" section of the Japan Ground Self
Defense Force official HP.

   - http://www.usiwakamaru.or.jp/~strgzr/index.html
     Aircraft of Japan, by Aoki Norio of Gifu, Japan. Partly
English.
     "Some information and photos of aircraft in Japanese
militaly [sic] services."

   - http://homepage2.nifty.com/oh1ninja/index_j.html
     Kawasaki OH-1 "Ninja" Kansoku Helicopter (Kawasaki OH-1
"Ninja" Scout Helicopter) Homepage. Party English. An OH-1
fan page.

   - http://www.f-16.net/index.html
     F-16.net/Three-Four-Nine, by Lieven Dewitte and
Stefaan Vanhastel of Belgium. English. A comprehensive F-16
fan page.
     "The Ultimate F-16 Reference."

   - http://www.fas.org/man/index.html
     Federation of American Scientists - Military Analysis
Network HP. Has photos and stats of even such "lost"
aircraft as the American YA-9 and YF-17 Cobra, and the
Israeli Lavi.

   - http://www.airforcesmonthly.com/
     The Air Forces Monthly Magazine HP.
     "The World's Leading Military Aviation Magazine."

   - http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/products/products/ee/Rlgaika.htm
     http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/products/products/ee/new/gaika/index.htm
     The Gaika no Gouhou official HP in the Koei Game City
HP. Has a Users' Page and a Koei Fan Club.

   - http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20020524/demo0524.htm
     http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20020218/airland.htm
     http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20020109/gaika.htm
     A Gaika no Gouhou demo dated 2002.05.24, a review dated
2002.02.18, and a preview dated 2002.01.09 in the Game Watch
HP.

   - http://eg.nttpub.co.jp/pickup/20020607spe01_01.html
     A Gaika no Gouhou review dated 2002.06.07, by Iraija,
in the Game Site eg HP.

   - http://www.4gamer.net/news/history/2002.01/20020130203545detail.html
     A Gaika no Gouhou preview dated 2002.01.30 in the
forGamer.net HP.

   - http://game.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/game/1009676403/l50
     A Gaika no Gouhou message board in the 2ch (2channel) HP.

   - http://www.westside.co.jp/download/sale/20020610/gaikaedit.htm
     (http://www.westside.co.jp/index.html)
     A Gaika no Gouhou utility in the Westside HP. This util
allows the player to edit the game parameters. But it
doesn't seem to be a freeware. The downloader has to pay by
BitCash.

   - http://www.vector.co.jp/soft/win95/game/se244041.html
     http://www.vector.co.jp/soft/win95/game/se244042.html
     Gaika no Gouhou utilities in the Vector HP.

   - http://shop.himeya.com/products/win_koei/gaika/gaika.html
     The Gaika no Gouhou mail-order advertisement in the
Himeya HP.

   - http://sega.jp/pc/soft/advd2001/
     Advanced Daisenryaku 2001 for DC and Windows official
HP in the Sega HP.

   - http://local.yahoo.co.jp/
     Yahoo! Japan Get Local.
     I use its postal code search engine to look for the
pronunciation of the names of the minor cities and inaka
towns.

     [Ramble ON]

   - http://selios.free.fr/
     Selios' Lairs, by Jean-Luc Barbera of France. English.
     "Selios' Lairs is primary a fan site on different
things I enjoy a lot, some of which are not well known
outside Japan or by rare fans worldwide.
     "Les Antres de Selios sont avant tout un site de fan
sur differentes choses que j'apprecie beaucoup, don't
certaines sont tres meconnues en dehors du Japon hormis
de rares fans de part le monde."

   - http://home.attbi.com/~kagamix2/xp-compatible/
     The Japanese Gaming Guide to Windows XP, by Kagami of
USA. English.
     "Windows 95/98/Me/2000 Japanese PC Games on Windows
XP."
__

Don "Tsuru Hiromi Inochi" Chan (Aho)
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/146.html
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/12042.html
http://www.cheathappens.com/author.asp?ID=81

*1   "Sakuretsu!"

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