Rio Bravo
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Joined: 7/13/2013 From: Grass Valley, California Status: offline
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INDIA DEFENSE As of January 25, 1942 Opening Note Early in the war, Defense of India is perhaps the most critical turf for the Allies for the following reasons: 1.) Considering El Lobo has already shown that he intends to conquer all of China, it makes good sense that he will want Burma and India too. 2.) The Allies plan to take back Burma commencing October 15, 1942, and from there move through China toward Manchukuo and Korea. 3.) On the other side of the world, the Allies plan to hit the Marianas Islands (but no doubt, not as early as October 15, 1942). 4.) The Allied Grand strategy is to hit the Japanese in the West and in the East, to stretch out his defensive lines making it more difficult for El Lobo’s troops, ships, and aircraft to support each other. Further, I think it will be great fun fighting a land war in China as early as possible. I am no doubt dreaming, but I would love to cross the Burma border into China during January, 1943. If El Lobo struggles in India, it might just be possible to roll into China during January of 1943. Military Forces Presently in India Of course, all of the Northern Command, Eastern Command, and Southern Command forces. ABDA: ABDA HQ, KNIL Army Command HQy, Burma Command HQc, B Sqn 3rd Hussars Armor Rgt, 2/2nd Ind INF Coy, Gull INF Bn, and Sparrow INF Bn. 129 AV. III India Corps: 85th British AT Rgt, 6th Heavy AA Rgt, 77th Heavy AA Rgt, 21st Light AA Rgt, 36th Light AA Rgt, 48th Light AA Rgt, 251st Recon Armor Bn, 5/14th Punjab INF Bn, 44th Indian INF Bde, 45th Indian INF Bde, 53rd British INF Bde, 54th British INF Bde, and 55th British INF Bde. 817 AV. Burma Corps: 100th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 104th, 105th, 106th, 107th and 108th BFs, 27th Indian Mtn gun ART Rgt, 1st Burma Auxiliary AA Rgt, 2nd Royal Tank ARM Rgt, 7th Hussars ARM Rgt, 2nd King Own YLI INF Bn, Tenassesrim BAF INF Bn, 1st Gloucestershire INF Bn, BFF INF Bde, Mandalay BMP INF Bn, Railway BAF INF Bn, Rangoon BAF INF Bn, Upper Burma RAF INF Bn, 9/11th Sikh INF Bn, 4/14th Punjab INF Bn, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th Burma Rifles INF Bns., 1st and 2nd Burma Bdes, 4/8th Gurkha INF Bn, 48th Gurkha Bn, and the 16th, 46th, and 63rd Indian INF Bdes. 1,272 AV. Eastern Fleet Forces: Not much. I Australia Corps: I Australian Corps HQ, 10th Light Horse ARM Bn, 1st Motor ARM Bde, 2nd Recon ARM Bn, 2/3rd and 2/4th MG INF Bns, and the 16th and 17th Australian Bdes. 517 AV. Aircraft: 221 Group RAF (75 aircraft), 222 Group RAF (6 aircraft), 223 Group RAF (66 aircraft), 224 Group RAF (119 aircraft), AHQ India (52 aircraft). 318 total aircraft in India. Military Forces In Route to India ABDA: B Coy/NG Rifles INF Bn, Lark INF Bn, Port Moresby INF Bde. I Australian Corps: 3rd Motor ARM Bde, 108th Anti-Tank Bn, 2/4, 2/5, 2/6, 2/7, and 2/11th ARM Bns, 19th Australian INF Bde, 6th Australian Calvary INF Rgt, 17th, 19th, and 25th INF Bns. The 2/8, 2/9, and 2/10 ARM Bns are loading at Perth. Chinese: the 36th and 88th Chinese INF Divisions are 1 nautical mile from crossing the Burma/India border. The 200th, 22nd, and 96th Chinese INF Divisions are 58 nautical miles from crossing the Burma/India border. The 2nd Reserve INF Division is 154 miles from crossing the Burma/India border (at Katha). The following Chinese INF units are in strategic mode loading on the train for Katha: 28th, 38th, and 39th New Chinese Divisions, 49th Chinese Division, 55th Prov Chinese Division, 93rd Chinese Division, and HQy Central Reserve China Command. Aircraft: In route from Aden-135th and 139th Squadrons. U. S. Forces: The II U.S. Fighter Squadrons, V U.S. Bomber Squadrons, Tenth USAAF, and the six U.S. Army Divisions (minus the four Infantry Regiments at Pearl that are earmarked for a long layover in Australia) supported with AA, ART, and BFs have all left the East Coast for Cape Town. The first of these U.S. forces arrive in Cape Town in 18 days. Many of these forces need to be bought out. I expect U.S. forces to begin arriving in India mid March. Reinforcements Arriving Within the Next 30 Days and Earmarked for India At Aden: RAF 221 and 224 Group BFs, 25th Indian Mtn Gun Rgt, 7th Aus Div Cav Rgt, the 2/9th, 2/11th, and 2/13th Field Rgts, and the 18th, 21st, and 25th Aus Bdes. At Madras: 2nd Indian Cst Art Rgt, 23rd Indian Division, and 1st Madras Cnstr. Bn. At Rangoon: RM Viper Force. At Bombay: 1st Bombay Cnstr. Bn. At Diamond Harbor: 1st Bengal Cnstr. Bn. At Karachi: RAF 221 Group Wing and 95th Heavy AA Rgt. India Two Main Defensive Lines The first Defensive line (Karachi-Bombay Line) runs North to South along the West Coast of India and consists of the following bases: Karachi, Hyderabad (Sindh), Amedabad, Surat, and Bombay. The garrisons for these bases are as follows: Karachi: Most of the Northern Command forces. Hyderabad (Sindh): Half of I Australian Corps Forces (Reserve Force to Support Karachi if needed). Surat: Most of the Eastern Command Forces. Amedabad: Half of I Australian Corps (Reserve Force to support Surat and Bombay if needed). Bombay: Most of the Southern Command Forces and all Chinese Forces that escape to India. The Second Defensive Line (Bombay to Lucknow) runs West to East and consists of the following bases and hex: Bombay, Jalgaon, Bhopal, Hex 47/24, Cawnpore, and Lucknow. The garrisons for these bases are as follows: Bombay: See above. Jalgaon: All ABDA Forces. Bhopal: All III India Corps Forces. Hex 47/24, Cawnpore, and Lucknow: All Burma Corps Forces. The Chittagong-Ledo Line The Chittagong-Ledo Line is not really intended to be a major defensive line, but rather is viewed as an attempt to hold as long as possible to build up the airbases. This line will be the staging area line for the Allies to launch the Burma Offensive (hopefully on October 15, 1942) to take back Burma. The Chittagong-Ledo Line consists of the following bases: Chittagong, Silchar, Imphal, Kohima, Dimapur, Johart, and Ledo. Each of these bases is presently garrisoned with one infantry battalion and one Base Force. If the Japanese press this line or attempt to cut these troops off, these troops will withdraw to points North of the Bombay-Lucknow Line. Outpost Bases The Allies would like to hold Madras and Calcutta. Should the Japanese press hard in India, the garrisons at these bases will most likely withdraw to points North of the Bombay Lucknow Line. The U.S. Forces, Aircraft, and Combat Ships As U.S. Forces arrive in India, those forces will consolidate and be held in reserve at Indore. Aircraft groups are presently primarily training for ground attack and are presently situated at the following bases: Karachi: 221 Group RAF Hyderabad (Sindh): 222 Group RAF Surat: 223 Group RAF Bombay: 224 Group RAF Delhi: AHQ India When the II U.S. Fighter Squadrons, V U.S. Bomber Squadrons, and Tenth USAAF Squadrons arrive, they will be distributed to bases within the interior of the Karachi-Bombay and Bombay-Lucknow Lines. Most all of the major surface combat ships that started the war West of Pearl Harbor, including the Prince of Wales, Repulse, Houston, and Marblehead are either at Bombay or soon to arrive in Bombay. The Hermes and Indomitable are at Bombay. Support ships are also in Bombay. All Dutch and British subs (17 total) are presently either at or around Colombo. AS (4 total) are at Colombo. End Note If the balance of the I Australian Corps and the balance of the Chinese Divisions arrive in India prior to the Japanese arrival, I think India can give the Japanese a good fight for their fuel and supply expenditures. Once the U.S. Forces (including all Aircraft Groups) arrive in India, I think the Japanese can be shoved out of India. Well, for now, that is the defensive plan for India. However, as with all plans, one needs to be flexible to adapt to the circumstances of the war, as needed or as appropriate and beneficial. Have I confused all of you yet? As always, your analysis and comments are welcome. Best Regards, -Terry
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"No one throws me my own guns and tells me to run. No one." -Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven
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