IRL Strategy question - Formosa or Luzon?

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IRL Strategy question - Formosa or Luzon?

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> IRL Strategy question - Formosa or Luzon?

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IRL Strategy question - Formosa or Luzon? - 12/24/2010 9:40:25 PM

JeffroK

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At the time of the US landings in the Marianas the US Armed Forces faced a number of questions as to the next steps to be taken.

There were a number of options available, a quick step to Iwo Jima, a left hook from New Guinea through Mindanao to Luzon, a direct attack on Luzon or the occupation of Formosa.

The proponents of each plan gave their theories, it wasn't a strict Army v Navy argument as commanders from both branches were in favour of different approaches.

In the end, the decision was to recover the pre war US Dominion of the Philipines through the small island of Leyte and later Mindanao to form a base for the next step, again a choice between Luzon and Formosa.

Given the historical force levels and deployments, What would you do?

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RE: IRL Strategy question - Formosa or Luzon? - 12/24/2010 9:47:25 PM

herwin

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They chose to stick with the pre-war plan. It had the advantages of being fully thought through and focussed on the endgame--close blockade of Japan.

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RE: IRL Strategy question - Formosa or Luzon? - 12/24/2010 11:55:22 PM

wdolson

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The invasion of Leyte came about because a Hellcat pilot got shot down over the PI during one of the carrier raids during the summer of 44 and was picked up by natives off Leyte. The natives told him that the Japanese presence on Leyte was very thin. When he was picked up by a sub and reported his intel, the invasion of the PI was switched from Mindanao to Leyte. Mindanao had advantages because it was the closest large PI island to New Guinea and there was a strong partisan presence there. Leyte was a better strategic choice because it enabled US air cover to shut down traffic throughout the PI.

There was a plan to take Formosa to enable the US to supply China directly through the few ports the Chinese still controlled, but the Japanese offensive in 1944 took those ports and made the invasion of Formosa moot.

The Japanese became very food at predicting the pace of American operations and guessing the next target. For September/October 1944 they figured that the next target would be one of three: the PI, Formosa, or Okinawa and drew up "Go" plans for each. In preparation for the Leyte landings, Halsey conducted a major raid on Formosa to eliminate air power all around the PI. When his attacks started, someone in Imperial HQ misread the intentions and thought that Formosa was the next target. He ordered all available air power to Formosa to protect the island, which was most of the carrier groups in training.

The carrier groups were decimated, which left Ozawa with only 100 aircraft for his carriers when the next invasion did come in October. The carriers had to act as just bait and hope the BBs could do the job. Ironically, Ozawa chose to situate his carriers off Point Egano, which means Point Deception in Spanish.

Bill

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RE: IRL Strategy question - Formosa or Luzon? - 12/25/2010 4:28:35 AM

bradfordkay

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My opinion is that the PI was the more logical, safer step. Any landing directly on Formosa without having first secured the PI would have been too risky, as the LOC would have been to open to attacks from the PI.

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RE: IRL Strategy question - Formosa or Luzon? - 12/26/2010 5:20:22 PM

topeverest

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JeffK,

IMHO, Formosa is difficult to project from if Luzon is not in allied hands. From a WWII strategic capabilities perspective, Formosa before Luzon is a bold and challenging endeavor ripe with Empire opportunity for counterthrust from multiple directions. Not that it couldnt work, just more risky.

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RE: IRL Strategy question - Formosa or Luzon? - 12/26/2010 6:06:38 PM

oldman45

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I always liked the idea of shifting the SW Pacific targets to the DEI after they moved up the New Guinea coast. Take the Celebes and move over to either Java or south coast of Borneo. Once that has been consoldated, you can move into the southern PI which also opens the door to Formosa. If you control Formosa, you can cut all the supplies moving from Singapore, Sumatra, etc to the HI, also your heavy bombers can reach Japan.

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