AcePylut
Posts: 1494
Joined: 3/19/2004 Status: offline
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Right now, Dec ’41, from a grand strategic point of view, there’s not much I can do other than prepare for the future. I simply don’t have the “free troops” available to create a self-sustaining pocket of bases that can withstand the IJ, at this time. All you can do is begin setting up the rear transport hubs. Knowing this, I’ve chosen to start the preparations for that time when I can and will be able to create a few bases and “leave them alone”. It’s far too early to get a feel for “where” CB is going to go post-DEI (if he does go anywhere). Here’s what my gut tells me: India? Not likely. Oz? Darwin for sure. Perth – if that’s not taken by the IJ, I do suspect “raiding season”, so I’ll have to set up a string of pickets from Exmouth to the map edge. I have numerous xAKL’s and those bitty amc ships for this. All I need to do for this, is build up Exmouth to port level 1 or 2 and get a steady stream of fuel up to the base. Shouldn’t be too much trouble. NE Oz – if CB goes for Perth, then I suspect he’ll also take out NE Oz. Townsville/Charter Towers is being built up. Below that, Brisbane and Twoombua (sp – that base 2 hexes W/NW of Brisbane). Below that, Sydney and surrounding bases. Below that, Melbourne. I have my Wirraway squads setup for ASW patrol in the Melbourne shallows. South Pacific – He’ll probably take Noumea. I have nothing there to stop him, and won’t for at least 2-3 weeks at a minimum, if I decide to re-route some convoys right now. Even if I do, these troops won’t stop the IJ. If he takes Noumea, it seems logical to take one or both of Pago Pago /Suva . That can be done right now, and nothing I can do about it for a while, so not going to worry about it at the moment. SE Pac – Tahiti is getting an infusion of units in about a week. Canton/Baker/Christmas/Johnston – haven’t been touched yet by the IJ – I’ve moved minimal supply into the bases for my Cats. Wake/Midway – CB hasn’t invaded Wake. His bad as I just put another marine Arty unit on there and am building forts. I would like to hold this base if at all possible. It keeps open a gateway to Marcus and thus the Marianas. If I am going to “forward push” right now – it’s going to be at Tabiteuea and the surrounding isles in the Gilberts. This collection of bases is a hinge point between PH and Oz - in that if I control Tabby and the surrounding isles, there’s a whole lot to the South and East that doesn’t need to be covered… but if I don’t control Tabiteuea , then the amount of bases to the S and E that are vulnerable and/or need attention to provide Cat coverage increases dramatically. I need/want to bulk up Canton and Baker Island in concert, as it would be easy for the IJ to bypass Tab, take Canton, and semi-effectively isolate Tab from supplies. Of course, tomorrow may shift everything around should an invasion fleet show up at Tabby 😊 For the latest turn – there was more positioning of the troops, but not much as far as combat goes. Two things of note: Since the PoW and Hermes foray into the DEI – CB has been sending in itty bitty sctf’s that have inched forward and are sniffing around every turn. These are a combination of scout and “bait” ships. It's almost as if CB put a big "shoot at me" flag on the ships. I won’t bite for this small fry, because I bet there are bigger fleets “just out of sight” waiting for me to jump on these ships. I'll know in a couple days when I turn "on" my search aircraft again (right now they are standing down, repairing, reducing fatigue, gaining morale, etc.) At Port Moresby, a squadron of “25 exp” A-24’s launched against a pair of DMS’s at Gili-Gili. Scratch 2 DMS’s 😊 I think the Brit navy can take some marksmanship lessons from these green and inexperienced pilots. A pair of DMS’s entering a hex all alone…. where have I seen this before hahahaha? A pair of DMS sweeping potential mines can only mean one thing: invasion. Look for Gili-Gili and the IJN to become acquainted shortly. I'll leave the A-24's on Naval Strike this turn and see if anything else shows up, if not I'll retire them to Townsville. In China - I'm going to LRCAP a couple of units that are really weak and behind enemy lines, but have been subjected to daily "crap bomber" attacks. maybe I can down 10-20 Lily's, Sonia, Marys and/or Anns or whatever the code names are for those pre-WW2 bomber designs. Both of the Dutch 100 Av Support base units are in OZ. one is moving to Charters Towers, the other is moving to Brisbane. The Eastern Fleet should arrive at Perth in another 3 days.
< Message edited by AcePylut -- 11/9/2018 6:52:15 PM >
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