Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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Perhaps a more detailed explanation of grand strategy will give readers an idea of what I'm shooting for here. Over the first two years of war, I weighted all my punches in the IO and Bay of Bengal. There was the failed invasion of Pegu and Moulmein in early '42. There was the successful invasion of Christmas Island. With its patrols and subs and long-range recon touching bases as distant as Singapore and Soerabaja, it tickles Daves attention every turn. There was the feinting-invasion of Port Headland. There was the failed invasion of Port Blair that resulted in a noisy, hurtful carrier battle in the Bay of Bengal. There's the fact that there are no Allied troops in Burma, except at Akyab, so that Dave is aware that a huge invasion force could come at any time to flank Burma. And he was aware for more than a year that nearly all Allied carriers and heavy ships were at Colombo. There has always been a looming Allied interest in this region, and Dave reacted strongly to counter the threats. After that disastrous carrier battle, I spent nearly half a year organizing and preparing and positioning troops. The plan was to allow for attacks through SWPac and possibly CenPac, while Dave was focused on the DEI. Then, when and if he countered, the Allies would be able to move in strength on a distant region that I won't name at this early date. When the Allies took Wake, Milne Bay and Ponape, it became clear that Dave is still "leaning towards" an Allied invasion of the DEI. I need to give him a reason - a big reason - to shift his thinking to New Guinea. And if he fails to take the bait, I need to take advantage of his weakness in the area to take important bases. I don't want to meet KB in a 1:1 battle in waters distant from good Allied shipyards. I can't afford a major loss in the Arafura Sea. But if KB shows itself, I'm ready to move in other locales. And if it doesn't show itself, the Allies can do important work in New Guinea and the Admiralties since Dave is comparatively weak there and has holes.
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