Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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4/13/45 to 4/16/45 The Next Next Big Thing: Planning for the loading of this invasion fleet is so complex that my head hurts. Troops at Shikuka are divided between Combat and Strat Modes. Each unit is loading separately (to make sure I've allocated the proper space). The loading has gone well, thus far, with the assault shipping more than sufficient to carry the 18 or so divisions involved. The main assault TFs have unloaded now, so that their units won't accrue disruption. They'll load again in a couple of days. Meanwhile, a host of TFs are still retrieving units from Kushiro and the Kuriles. This is complicated by some good units being on 0(0) port bases. So some of my best ships (LSTs, LSDs, LCIs) are required, meaning they aren't at Shikuka loading assault troops. It's the most complex thing you've ever seen. Despite this Wal-Mart on ice complexity, the loading is actually going well and it's fun. I'm starting to get itchy fingers. I want to press "Go! Now!" but 1st Marine Div. and 37th Div. are still inbound from forward bases. They'll arrive at Shikuka in two days. I think Departure Day will be in four days. I'm leaving behind pretty solid defenses, especially at the two Hokkaido bases and the two Sikhalin Island bases. I think there's a decent chance Erik will get frisky in some form or fashion - combat TF raids, bombardment raids, counter-invasions or counterattacks (Kushiro would be the most likely target) or bombing raids, or combos of all of these. I don't think he can make real trouble, but he's a clever guy. Each day, his good fighters pick on an second-teir Allied airfield to sweep. Usually I have no fighters anywhere but Shikuka, but some are required forward to protect the loading transports. Today, his good fighters were handled well at Kushiro, mainly due to P-47Ns being present. SEAC: The chase is on in the jungle between Moulmein and Bangkok. Right now his retreat is a bit ragged. Pretty soon, the Allied advance will become ragged. He's tried to LRCAP his guys on occasion. When my sweepers catch his LRCAP, my guys win. Today was one of those days. He has 300+ good fighters at Bangkok the past ten days, so he's taking this seriously. A large Allied invasion force is assembling at Madras with a good RN Death Star. That DS is large enough to handle the LBA threat or KB threat but not both. So I have to pick the right time - IE, I have to be pretty sure KB isn't loitering around Singers. At some point, Death Star and RN DS may work together. May should be a very exciting month.
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