Rio Bravo
Posts: 1794
Joined: 7/13/2013
From: Grass Valley, California
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Operation Rope A Dope
(Implemented April 19, 1942)
Opening Note
As most of The War College members are aware, the Allies want a land war in Burma, China, Manchukuo, and Korea. This is Operation Land Shark. Operation Land Shark is scheduled to commence after the Monsoon season ends in Burma (October 15, 1942). Operation Land Shark contains the following Objectives:
1.) Complete control of Burma, China, Manchukuo, and Korea.
2.) To draw Japanese forces to his extreme Western and Eastern flanks to make support of either flank from the other flank most time consuming, difficult, and costly in terms of fuel and supply. Remember, Operation Sea Shark will attack Japan’s East flank via the Marianas Islands and through Yap, then Northwest to Formosa and Okinawa.
3.) Upon capture of Chungking, receive Chinese replacements and rebuild the Chinese Army.
4.) Upon reducing the Manchukuo Japanese Garrison requirements below 8,000 AV, hopefully trigger the activation of Russia to join the war.
5.) Upon the conquest of Korea, bomb Japan Proper to dust.
6.) Upon conquering all of Burma, China, Manchukuo, and Korea, complete elimination of that land logistical path to Japan Proper (and remember, Operation Sea Shark scheduled to commence June 15, 1943 is intended to eliminate any Sea logistical path to Japan Proper). Combined, Operation Land Shark and Operation Sea Shark will blockade Japan Proper to strangle its industry.
Since the outbreak of hostilities with Japan, the Allies have been prepping for Operation Land Shark by stuffing India with ground and air forces. As a precautionary measure toward any Japanese designs to capture Bombay, Surat, or Karachi, the vast majority of the Allied forces in India have been concentrated in the North.
It is time to head South, boys!
Operation Rope A Dope
The Japanese have invaded Burma. The Allies have fully evacuated Burma except for the 11th Group Army Headquarters and the 54th Chinese Infantry Corps; both of which are 60 Kilometers from reaching Imphal.
Operation Rope a Dope has commenced this date for two main reasons:
1.) To trap and annihilate Japanese forces should they enter India.
2.) To be closer to the Burma-India border in preparation for launching Operation Land Shark.
The following ground and air forces heading south are as follows:
NW BF to Cox’s Bazar.
1st Bengal BF and ABDA Command units to Chittagong.
26th Indian Division to Diamond Harbor.
III India Corps to Calcutta.
20th Indian Division to Howah.
Burma Corps dispersing to Cox's Bazar, Ranchi, Assanal, Jessore, Dacca, and Cormilla.
Bomber and Fighter Squadrons from AFQ India, 222 and 223 Group RAF will be dispersed to the above locations. All transport aircraft to Calcutta to train to transport supply.
The above forces will block any attempt by Japanese forces to move East in India.
The following ground forces will be held in reserve:
Northern, Eastern, and Southern Command ground forces at Karachi, Surat, and Bombay.
Chinese forces at Hyderabad (Sindh).
I Australian Corps at Ahmedabad.
U.S. forces at Hyderabad.
Bomber and Fighter Squadrons 221 (at Karachi) and 224 Group RAF (at Bombay), II U.S. Fighters and V U.S. Bombers (at Hyderabad).
Should Japan attempt to capture Karachi, Surat, or Bombay, the above forces will support these bases.
Should Japan invade India between Calcutta and Madras, the above forces will block and surround the Japanese forces from the North (I Australian Corps) and the West (U. S. Forces). Chinese forces will be held in reserve to assist as need be.
Lastly, substantial Fuel and Supply convoys are in route to Calcutta.
Note: Should Japan invade Ceylon, the II U.S. Fighter Squadrons and V U.S. Bomber Squadrons will give the Japanese sleepless nights!
Arrival of Additional Ground Forces In India
Additional U.S. ground forces and I Australian Armor continues to pour into India almost on a daily basis.
Within ten days, the 26th Indian Brigade and 22nd East African Brigade will arrive in India. The 26th will join the Eastern Army at Jamshedpur. The 22nd will head for Chittagong.
Estimated AV at Primary Bases in India by April 30, 1942
Note, many of the following bases will have AA and Artillery units present. And, as U.S. ground forces get bought out at Cape Town and transferred to India from Australia, the U.S. ground force AV should ultimately be around 3,000.
Karachi: 542 (Primarily Northern India Command forces); 139 Aircraft.
Hyderabad (Sindh): 3,000 (The Chinese).
Ahmedabad: 2,000 (I Australia Corps).
Surat: 414 (Primarily Eastern India Command forces).
Bombay: 539 (Primarily Southern India Command forces); 166 Aircraft.
Hyderabad: 1,000 (U.S. forces); 381 Aircraft.
Madras: 350 (Primarily Easter India Command forces).
324 Aircraft spread among the following bases:
Jamshedpur: 540 (Eastern Army).
Howah: 405 (Primarily Southern Command).
Calcutta: 923 AV (Primarily III India Corps).
Diamond Harbor: 276 (ABDA forces).
Chittagong: 170 (IV India Corps).
Cox’s Bazar, Ranchi, Assanal, Jessore, Dacca, and Cormilla: 1800 AV total; 300 AV each (Primarily Burma Corps forces).
Total Estimated Ground Forces and Aircraft at Above Bases Prior to April 30, 1942:
AV: 11,954
Aircraft: 1,010
End Note
I don’t think El Lobo is aware of the following:
1.) Substantial U.S. ground and air forces are in India and that more are on the way.
2.) I Australia Corps is in India (though he may suspect) and that it has been supplemented with substantial armor bought out with PPs and that three New Zealand armor units are in route to India.
3.) How strong the Chinese are in India.
I think that should El Lobo invade India, he will be surrounded and crushed.
If El Lobo has no intent of invading India, that is fine too, as Southern India bases will be growing in aircraft capacity, supplies, and fuel. Further, both troop and aircraft numbers will grow along with their upgrades. The Allies will be in a good position to launch Operation Land Shark on October 15, 1942.
As always, Operation Rope a Dope (alias Thriller in Manila), Operation Land Shark, and Operation Sea Shark are tentative plans. The Allies shall remain flexible to adapt to future situations circumstances.
As always too, criticism, comments, and advice re welcome from my fellow War College members.
Best Regards,
-Terry
< Message edited by Rio Bravo -- 11/4/2015 12:27:22 AM >
_____________________________
"No one throws me my own guns and tells me to run. No one."
-Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven
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RE: THE WAR COLLEGE-Rio Bravo (A) v. El Lobo (J) - 
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