John 3rd
Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005 From: La Salle, Colorado Status: offline
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May 2, 1943 It is time to start detailed AAR reports again. Looks like the game is finally getting fully underway. Troops are spotted advancing on Tennant Creek and Exmouth Bay. Dan LOVES to coordinate his moves in an attempt to mask the true attack. Since he KNOWS I have spotted these guys, I shall discount the overland approach as the true threat. There is trouble there--don't get me wrong--but it is a long ways off in the big picture. Just got enough Political Points to buyout the 116th ID at Shanghai. There are six large AP waiting and it immediately loads heading for Darwin. Figure Darwin is a decent location that can be flexed to move east or NW pending on developments. Have a reinforcement of Horn Island moving. A CD unit at Buin is loading for there. This base (Horn) is solid with Sz-5--almost (91%) 6 Forts. There are 54 Tina Transports flying in a Brigade of Infantry to bolster its defenses. This is sneaky since Intel shouldn't pick it up. He'll probably read about the TF carrying the CD but not the Air Move. Should note that I have purposefully left this base 'looking' weak (Two Engineers and two Base Forces) as a lure to bring him in. NOW we toughen it up. As I have chatted with Michael about, I am convinced the next offensive will be centered on the Eastern DEI. It is far more dangerous to Japan then attacking in the South Pacific. My personal bet would be a major amphib movement from Perth moving on Timor--Ambon--Saumlaki, coupled to a move up the east side of the coast to grab Horn--Gove--Marauke. This move--with my forces being fixed in NW Australia--would have the effect of cutting them off. This thinking is what has led me to gather my carriers at Soerabaja. Currently have CARDIV2: Hiryu--Soryu and five CVLs (Shoho--Mizuho--Chitose--Chiyoda--Ryujo) at this location. Over the last three days I have flown Judy and Jill strikes against ground forces in Sumatra blatantly showing my carriers to be at or near Georgetown. OK. We have waved the flag--now time for the deception. The four heavies (CARDIV1-CARDIV5) leave on the 2nd heading for Soerabaja. The remaining three CVLs gain four CVEs to make it LOOK more then it is. The CVLs and CVEs depart and move towards Port Blair. Am hoping his few PBY in the area 'lose' them for a day or two...because they will then show up between Sabang and Ceylon to sink some pickets, make noise, and then head for Sinabang. Figure I need a 7-9 days to concentrate all my Striking Power with a tally of 9 CV and 5 CVL forming the core of the Fleet. To shorten that time I will depart Soerabaja and move to Kendari so I can link-up with the Home Island CV reinforcements. Link-up should be about May 13th. There are five 8,000T AOs moving to Kendari so I can fuel everyone when they arrive. We'll have to see just how fast Dan is moving. If there has been no major developments then this Fleet departs Kendari and moves on Perth... Roughly 25 SS now are deployed/deploying along the coasts of Australia. Six Glen I-Boats will begin recon of Perth, Albany, Esperance, Melbourne, and Sidney over the next few days. Hopefully they will glean some serious intel to tip off whatever might be happening. Currently Makassar, Kendari, Ambon, and Koepang are busting at the seams with aircraft. On the other side, Rabaul, Lae, and Tagula do the same. I have nearly 600 aircraft ready at these bases. To do this, I have taken almost everything out of Burma and pulled about 40% of what was surrounding Sabang. This is a gamble but I am following my gut here... The Invasion Force at Medan will be ready to load tomorrow. This is STUPID! I am loading six Infantry Divisions all at 75%+ Prep now to land at Sabang. This attempt MUST be made but I have little faith in it. Lords knows what his Forts are and the jungle pretty much defeats all other efforts. We shall try it and see what happens. EVERY heavy gun in the Fleet will bombard on the Invasion Day: 3 BB, 4 BC, and 6 CAs. We'll see if disruption can be my friend. There is little point in Dan moving troops to Northern Sumatra since he is busting at the seems with what is currently present. His only real concern is probably supply but I have always figured he brought nearly a 1,000,000 supply with him when he launched the Sumatra Operation. The defeat in Burma--and his withdrawal--leads to me to KNOW he comes from another direction. Logically---it is from Australia. It is this thinking that has governed my deployments for nearly a month of game time. Time to roll the dice my friends and readers... BANZAI!
< Message edited by John 3rd -- 3/8/2016 3:18:49 PM >
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