Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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12/22/41 and 12/23/41 My family and I are getting ready for a long camping trip out west. This, in turn, has pushed me at work to be fully prepared, leaving not enough time to play and report. But the big push is past now, so the interim before we leave (late next week) should be a bit more relaxed: NoPac and IJN Carriers: The KB is up at Kodiak Island in the presence of a big combat TF. Target could be a raid on Anchorage. Steve has an open opporunity up here, but I'm telling you it's worth it from my perspective. At the moment I think I know the location of all of the Japanese carriers. The main group is in the Gulf of Alaska; two fleet carriers (part of the KB that shot for Enterprise at the start of the war) may be detatched; one Mini KB is north of Ambon; and one Mini KB is south of Davoa. Having such detailed information for so long really helps me in handling my ships. SwPac: 144th Regiment is coming for Rabaul. My CA Australia TF is likely to contest the move on the belief that there are no IJ carriers present. Steve may well employ a powerful combat TF. Eastern DEI: Ent and Lex are on station south (true) of Koepang. Force Z just re-fueled at Darwin. Steve has taken Kendari, so the he's made some inroads, but he can't come any further without facing carriers...and his Mini KBs aren't strong enough to take my carriers on, in all likelihood. Koepang's garrison is up to 140 AV. I probably won't get much more in place. Maybe I can get it up to 200. Western DEI: Steve has taken Oosthaven and Merak. The first of the Dutch garrison has arrived at Cocos Island. This buys me some much-needed piece of mind as this helps guard against a blitz move on India (this along with the Allied garrisons at Port Blair and Diego Garcia). Malaya: Steve has moved to pin part of Singapore's defenders west of Mersing. I'm okay if my guys choose to retreat after battle towards rather than away from Singers, but that's no sure thing. Burma: Burma army got a 1:1 at Meiktila. There's a chance the Allies can retake this base. China: Some Chinese units have been getting caught and roughed up as they were retiring to my various MLRs. Nothing major has taken place that would seriously undermine either side in China. But Steve is moving fairly aggressively, which may create some opportunities to attack enemy elements exposed in detail. Philippines: Steve moved a big army to Manila, where I had a small rear-guard defense of about 250 AV. These units might retreat the wrong way when Steve's army succeeds in pushing them out (his shock attack failed today). My units are retiring to Clark, but I don't know if they have time to make it before Steve attacks again. Strategic Sitaution: As usual, India and Oz are the two biggest concerns for the Allies early in the war. Still no indications of which, or whether, Steve will target one. 27th USA Div. just arrived at March Field and will report to Los Angelese for shipment to Oz (Queen Elizabeth will help in this move). I need another 10 to 15 days to accumulate the PP to buy this unit, but it's a very high priority. Getting her to Melbourne will give that base about 500 AV. Sydney has about 750 AV. Other bases have much smaller garrisons designed primarily to prevent "smash and grabs" by Japan. As far as India is concerned, two Brit brigades that start at Capetown are bound for Bombay. Several USA units that start on West Coast just reach East Coast and are on the way to Capetown and ultimately Bombay. This includes some infantry, HQ, and engineers. A Marine CD unit will go to Socotra. It's too early in the game for me to detect any major problems at this point. Steve is moving fast, but thus far he hasn't gotten in any good licks on the Allied fleet, meaning I'm still able to pick and choose places to oppose him.
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