Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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10/28/42 Lots of firepower in close proximity. Things are heating up fast. Later or sooner (probably sooner), big forces will collide. Bay of Bengal: The enemy strike force - including at least four BBs and at least one CVE - took station (or halted or whatever) just two hexes from Akyab. This enemy armada was protected by just 15 Zeroes, which is nothing. Allied bombers (4E, 2E, 1E) sortied in modest numbers ineffectively (an RAF Hudson scored one hit on a BB). Many of these little strikes came in unopposed after the 4EB wore out the CAP. Unfortunately, two torpedo squadrons (16 Avengers, 8 Beuforts) at Akyab failed to fly. Putting a torp or two into an IJN BB or two would've had John hopping out windows. No sign of that enemy carrier force that raided into the Bay two days ago. Burma: Fairly stout enemy air raids vs. Ramree, doing moderate damage (now 31/31), but nothing targeting Akyab. On the ground, quiet. Tomorrow, the fully supplied Allied army will try another shock attack vs. 21st Div. NoPac: Part of the Allied feint TF finally registers with enemy awareness. Kates and Zeroes sortie against the advance TFs, which have 24 F4F-4s on patrol from CVE Prince William. The USN fighters down 7 Kates, lose 2 of their own number, and lose one xAK to bombs. Based on John's email comments, there is little if any chance he's going to fall for this feint, so I'm beginning to move my ships out. SoPac: An IJN CL/DD TF tangles with picket DD Blue north of Lord Howe Island. The American ship puts up a good fight, damaging several Japanese destroyers, but eventually gets destroyed under a hail of gunfire. Lots of IJ activity all over the place. Recon shows 6,000 men at Gove Island! Holy acts of Congress, Batman! This is looking more and more like what took place in the Aleutians two months ago. Just In Time Reinforcements, Part II! I'm now weighing whether to continue my "stand down/dark hole/mislead" strategy or whether to blast my way to Horn Island and New Guinea. There's a good chance John has the KB within hailing distance, but the Allied force is incredibly strong. It might just be time to face off at ten paces. I'll give the matter further thought over the next day or two. 71
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