Rio Bravo
Posts: 1794
Joined: 7/13/2013 From: Grass Valley, California Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Rusty1961 quote:
ORIGINAL: Rio Bravo quote:
ORIGINAL: Rusty1961 How are the Oil fields of Indonesia doing? You ever hit them or just lightly? Rusty- The Allies haven't had any left-over assets to give the Indonesia oil fields hell as every toothbrush bought or stolen was dedicated to the Invasion of the four southern Marianas Islands and now are dedicated in preparations to invade Takao and Pescadores as near as possible to October 1, 1943. As Captain Haggard indicated, the Allies have planned from day one to initiate a naval blockade of Japan Proper commencing January 1, 1944. To that end the four southern Marianas Islands were captured, Takao and Pescadores are next on the hit list, and the Allies will move to secure the islands running west from Guam to my girlfriend Taluad-Elanden, south from Formosa, and north from Saipan to Marcus Island. The idea is to sink any Japanese vessel that enters the Philippine or china Seas in an effort to get anything to Japan. It should be fun as if we are successful capturing Takao and Pescadores or either of those two bases, then El Lobo's Kamikazes will become active on January 1, 1944. Welcome back to The War College, Rusty. Best Regards, -Terry I understand and appreciate the wisdom of this strategy. It was what the US Navy wanted to do originally. My only question/concern is that doing this in August/September of '43. Currently in my game, 6/43, I know I wouldn't have the LBA to enforce this blockade given how strong the IJ Airforce is at this period. You'll have to go back to Pearl after the invasion and than he'll pummel you from China. Or have you so destroyed him in the air his plane losses and pilot quality isn't a concern to you? Just doing a Red Team analysis. Rusty- As you have astutely noted, the Allies anticipate that El Lobo will order a substantial number of fighters and bombers to converge and attack Pescadores and Takao. I agree that the Japanese Air Force will be overwhelming. Initially, the Allies intend to counter El Lobo's Air Force as follows: -When the Operation Bottle and Cork Invasions fleets leave Pescadores and Takao, 100 Hellcats and close to 60 Helldivers will be left on Pescadores and 100 Hellcats and close to 60 Helldivers will be left on Takao. -Each base will have two CD units. -Takao will have 16 Marine Corps Defense Battalions. -Pescadores will have 8 AA units. -Each base will have numerous engineer units of every type. The Hellcats and the anti-aircraft guns will hopefully take a significant toll on El Lobo's Air Force. The engineers should be able to repair damaged Allied aircraft and the bases runways almost as fast as El Lobo can damage those runways. Operation John B. Hood is presently scheduled to land six plus U.S. Army Divisions with tank and other support on the southern coast of China on or about November 1, 1943 and these ground forces will push north. Hopefully, a few of El Lobo's airbases in China will be lost to him. Lastly, the Allies have expended substantial Political Points to change the restricted commands of LBA aircraft. After the Operation Stockpile Fleet unloads, the four southern Marianas Islands will have close to 500 LBA fighters and close to 110 LBNA bombers. Approximately 50% of the fighters (primarily Corsairs and Spitfires) will be transported to Pescadores and Takao as soon as possible, perhaps with the Bottle and Cork Invasion Fleets (not sure about this yet as initially the captured bases may not be a able to support these additional fighters). Further, as soon as possible, a few squadrons of carrier capable Dauntless Dive Bombers and Avenger Torpedo Bombers will be sent to Pescadores and Takao. The Allied plan is not without considerable risk (one being the dread that El Lobo will send Bombardment Task Forces to bombard Pescadores and Takao). However, speed is of the essence. The Chinese need support from the U.S. Army and the Chinese need supply. Further, it is critical to implement the blockade of Japan Proper on or about January 1, 1944 to strangle Japan's economy. The Allies are ready to fight. The fight may as well be in El Lobo's backyard. The fight will no doubt be bloody. Wish us luck! *chuckling* 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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