Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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9/10/43 NoPac may be the center of a lot of excitement the next few weeks, but since CenPac is the key to victory (IMO), I'll start there. Thin Man: Allied barges landed some supply at Kwaj. The troops there have gracious plenty, but I want John to think they're struggling. He's bombarding each turn, I think on the assumption that supply is an issue. It isn't for me, but it may be for him. Tomorrow, a series of ASW, combat, and bombardment TFs will target Kwaj. This may be the last such mission...or not, if KB shows up in NoPac. No sign of Steroid KB or Mini KB. Three restricted battalions in Hawaii are 100% prepped for Wake. I bought them out and they will reach Pearl in a day or two. A RCT 100% prepped for Eniwetok departed Anchorage three days ago. A tank battalion at Anchorage switched prep from Shemya Island (in the Aleuts) to Wake and will depart Anchorage in about three days. 1st Marines just arrived at Pearl. It's broken into three to expedite rebuilding (already at 37 AV after one turn - before it left San Fran). I may prep it for Truk, or I may prep each RCT separately - Eniwetok, Marcus, Wake. Not sure yet. The string of merchantmen is nearing Johnston Island. The most important thing is to get the APAs home safely and to get 7th Division into Pearl and to recombine it. I think it's now 100% prepped for Ponape. Already at Pearl is 33rd Division 100% prepped for Ponape and 41st Div. 100% prepped for Kusaie. I'm lacking in other units - combat engineers and armor in particular - since so much of that is in NoPac prepping for Amchitka and the western Aleuts (not to mention the units devoted to Kwaj and Roi-Namur). Speaking of Roi, the transports carrying those units are returning to Pearl to unload and then reload. At the moment, I think I prefer moving on Wake Island first. It's isolated and therefore neither side will have the LBA advantage. Circus: Enemy CLs tried to hit two LSTs and a YMS inbound to Adak, but apparently they were short on ammo. Both sides declined combat. A large merchant TF (quite possibly and invasion TF) is four hexes SW of Attu (9 hexes west of Ulak, 11 from Adak). This has my full attention. This could be the invasion force. I think John knows Adak is strongly held, so he'll have to bring the kitchen sink. That will create friction and it might also create opportunities in CenPac. I hope so. Four Fletchers suffered minor damage yesterday, refueled and replenished at Dutch, and will return to Adak tonight (where CL Honolulu is posted with another Fletcher - these on the belief that John's combat TFs expended a lot of ammo during the bombardment two days back). Four more Fletchers just departed San Fran for Dutch, and another is en route from Seattle. The Pacific is catching fire indeed.
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