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The Italian Job (2) - Comments from the Allies

 
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The Italian Job (2) - Comments from the Allies - 6/4/2005 12:54:32 AM   
mc3744


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ok

This is my very first attempt at an AAR ever.
The reason why I'm trying is that I feel the need to counterbalance all the bad things the Gen.Hoepner is surely saying about me in his AAR

Another reason is to provide to whomever is interested in that AAR some info on what's going on on the other side.

I'm really not sure if I'll have the time to do this regularly and I'm not even sure how I'll do it.
I think of this AAR as a further explanation/an addendum to Gen.Hopener's one. There you have all the details, here some hindsight on the Allies.
Since I'm somehow late I'll start with a description of my strategy and of what I believe is going on in my esteemed opponent mind.

Please, please, please. If you read this and feel there isn't such a need let me know and spare me the effort.

From now on Gen.Hoepner will be so kind NOT TO READ

Thanks

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RE: The Italian Job (2) - Comments from the Allies - 6/4/2005 1:27:14 AM   
mc3744


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The opening moves of GH have been pretty ‘classic’. Not much unexpected there, with the exception of the nice touch of mining Baatan to get my outgoing ships. It was against me but I’ve actually appreciated the creativity.
Overall his invasion has been real smooth and perfectly organized. I don’t think he could have done much better than that.

I’ve been real lucky with PH strike, not one ship sunk. Although not one BB is undamaged, the best is >20 sys damage.
Air losses have been quite severe, but basically useless planes. Hence not much has happened.

Based on my knowledge of GH, I expect and I’ve been expected from the start the following directions of attack.

He’ll try again to wipe me away from China, this time he won’t succeed

Sooner or later he’ll go for India or, at least, for Ceylon.

He is already going (as expected) for Northern Australia - Darwin.

He’ll soon go for GiliGili and PortMoresby.

I’m not so sure about Central and South Pacific. He feels that’s overstretching. I’m very happy about it because the strategy I’d hate to face is a Pacific one. He may go however for Baker and Canton, at least.

Ok, what am I going to hold the tide?

Central Pacific
I’ve already unloaded the 24th division in Canton plus the 4th marine defense battalion.
The other CD battalions are en route for Palmyra and Johnston.
Mine laying activity is also under way. All Central Pacific bases will have a minimum of 400 mines by the end of January.

South Pacific
Reinforcements are on their way but it is still far from being secure, if he comes I’m toast.
I’m going to let him take PM and GiliGili. I won’t garrison those bases. When he comes they’ll fall.
He is very good at preparing huge invasions and I’m not going to be able to fortify PM enough to hold off a major invasion.

Australia
From day one I’ve sent 3 ENG, 2 INF brigades, one Cav. brigade and two divisions towards Darwin. They should reach it in a couple more weeks. By then it will probably be in his hands but ...

DEI
I’m preparing ‘Fortress Timor‘, I’ve been using every single PP to move all the Dutch units I could to Koepang. I’m now reaching the 250 aviation support points and the airfield is reaching size 5 (B-17‘s are already stationed there). He is not aware of my movements because he never spotted anything and he never tried to interfere. Thanks God!!
I have a constant flow of fuel, supplies, oil, resources and troops from Java to Koepang. If I can keep at it another couple of weeks I’ll have a VERY strong airbase just between his DEI bases and Darwin. I’m also strengthening Lautern to have a cross protection system.
With Timor supplied and built up Darwin and the Japanese units there will be almost isolated and, hopefully, easy prey.

Tomorrow more about Indo-China


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RE: The Italian Job (2) - Comments from the Allies - 6/4/2005 1:15:15 PM   
mc3744


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I forgot.

rrobertson, General Billy and Gregg, PLEASE DON'T READ THIS



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RE: The Italian Job (2) - Comments from the Allies - 6/4/2005 1:58:30 PM   
String


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Fitting a division >here!< would be fun.. the length of the island is 10 miles from tip to the bottom..

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RE: The Italian Job (2) - Comments from the Allies - 6/4/2005 2:05:21 PM   
mc3744


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quote:

ORIGINAL: String

Fitting a division >here!< would be fun.. the length of the island is 10 miles from tip to the bottom..


It's nice , but I must say that I don't get your point

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RE: The Italian Job (2) - Comments from the Allies - 6/4/2005 2:35:44 PM   
invernomuto


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Thread subscribed

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RE: The Italian Job (2) - Comments from the Allies - 6/4/2005 2:45:10 PM   
String


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quote:

ORIGINAL: mc3744


quote:

ORIGINAL: String

Fitting a division >here!< would be fun.. the length of the island is 10 miles from tip to the bottom..


It's nice , but I must say that I don't get your point


Well what i'm saying is that it's a bit small for a division. .. Okay maybe one division can effectively defend it. But any more troops and every japanese shell or bomb is going to find someone to kill

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RE: The Italian Job (2) - Comments from the Allies - 6/4/2005 4:11:23 PM   
mc3744


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quote:

ORIGINAL: invernomuto

Thread subscribed


Thanks

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RE: The Italian Job (2) - Comments from the Allies - 6/4/2005 4:12:45 PM   
mc3744


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Ok, now I get your point.

But I feel that one brigade or regiment wouldn't be enough.
With one division, CD and base force he really has to commit seriuosly ig he wants to get it.
And that would mean delaying someplace else.

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Northern Australia under attack - 6/5/2005 8:16:02 PM   
mc3744


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28th December

He has arrived, Darwin is being invaded. No big surprise there. I hope the PT boats will be able to inflict some casualties but I have no big hopes. I’ve split the TF in two smaller ones. I’m trying to catch the CV TF one hex out of Darwin.
I don’t entirely understand the invasion of Darwin. He will be now forced to keep a consistent garrison there if he wants to hold it. AND he’ll need to take care of Timor too, this will require to use up some 20%-40% of his available troops. Some in Northern Australia some to invade Timor. Of course if he succeed he’ll be unchallenged (almost) in Northern Australia, but he still has a long way to go.
I’m not very worried right now. We’ll see.

See Koepang base in the picture. 3 more ENG units already on their way.

CHINA
As expected, because it only makes sense, he is going for Ichang. That’s the weak spot. There’s no second line of defense. If Ichang falls Chungking is the next one and also all the other bases can be cut out.
Hence Ichang will be crucial for the survival of the whole China.
That is why every available unit is already en route towards Ichang. It’s now only a matter of time.
Will my units already stationed in Ichang hold long enough? Till reinforcement arrive? I’m optimistic, but ...

The good news is that his air force hasn’t got many big airfields available and he is feeling my pressure on Hangkow (Andrew Map Mod).
I have several B-17’s on the way through Java to Indo-China. I’m planning to inflict several losses on the ground and/or to shut down his main airfields.
If he backs off, I’ll start bombing HI, oil and resources.
With the 1.5 there are many more heavies available - LB-30 Liberators - and he is going to like them .
In my experience however GH has proven to be a very tough opponent. Hence I believe that he’ll do his best to shut down MY airfields. I hope the heavies will prevail.

INDIA-BIRMANIA
I’m already retreating. Not much to do there. Just some delaying action.
The main positive thing is Akyab. I now have an excellent training field for my pilots - even for the short legged Hurricane’s and Chinese fighters - and I can retake it quite easily whenever I’ll need it. I never thought I would have been happy to loose a base, but actually I am.





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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/5/2005 8:33:36 PM   
Blackwatch_it


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Could you tell a little more about the situation in DEI and SoPac? Who is in control of Rabaul? What DEI bases did GH capture?

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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/6/2005 1:38:19 AM   
mc3744


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29th December ‘41

100.000 men have unloaded in Darwin ... WOW!

I’m really confounded. Obviously I’m not going to be able to retake Darwin (it will fall real soon) with such a powerful force stationed there.
At the same time however, he’ll need to keep that power there to hold Darwin. This should mean a slowdown someplace else. It’s not like in DEI where you can move in, wipe everything clear from opposition and then load again towards the next objective. He has to stay there. How is he going to manage that? 100.000 men already stuck in ‘41? I don’t get it.

The picture attached to show the situation in the Solomons and surrounding area. It is however still a very unstable situation.

More about DEI in the next post.

CHINA
I’m planning an air raid on Kaifeng. It’s 8 hexes from Chunking, hence I’ll bomb unescorted, but he seems to have lots of DB stationed there. And he is expecting me on Hankow. With some luck I may manage to inflict more losses on the ground than what I’ll loose in the air. On Hankow it’s been good, I’m looking for a double.





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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/6/2005 2:01:42 AM   
Blackwatch_it


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100.000 men in Darwin mean that the japanese will be short of units in Malaya of PI. As for my experience as Japanese four divisions are needed to conquer Malaya and 4-5 divisions fo Luzon. 100.000 men in Darwin mean something like 4 divisione that won't be used elsewhere.

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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/6/2005 2:20:06 AM   
mc3744


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He has indeed four full divisions, plus tons of other units: tanks, engineers, base forces, HQ.
He is here to stay. It may not be that bad after all. It may be the reason ha has slowed down in PI.

The fight is still very long. I need at least till the end of January to stabilize the situation in DEI, once the transfer of the Dutch units to Timor is complete (if I'll ever manage it), I'll be able to start relaxing a bit.

The air raid on Kaifeng as been moderately succesful. 8 planes destroyed on the ground vs. one of mine lost.
Next time I'll go for Hankow again.

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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/6/2005 3:33:17 AM   
BLurking


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He's made a huge mistake, and made it early. If you can figure out where he's going next (probably West) and hang out to intercept - he's going to pay big time. Build up fortifications, set PPs, and get what you can to hold him up. This is a case where it looks ugly for the Allies early, but could be a disaster for the Japanese in the long term.
Don't make a mistake and overreact - that's the only thing that can make this a victory for him...

Best of luck.

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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/6/2005 1:14:43 PM   
mc3744


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31st December, 1941

Darwin has fallen. No big news.
I think GH is an excellent player, hence I’m sure he has his good reasons for coming to Northern Australia and he must have some sensible plan.

I do however agree, to some extent, that this move my prove to my advantage in the medium term.

IMHO the main obstacle preventing the Allies from starting a counter-offensive in the early summer of ’42 is the utter lack of air cover. The Wildcat’s carrier based fighters are just not up to the task and the Warhawk’s don’t have the legs.
Hence you can’t protect any amphibious TF.
In this case however I won’t need any air protection or amphibious TF to regain Darwin. All I nee is some patience. The time it’ll take to travel from Adelaide up to the North: roughly 1,5 months.
I’ve therefore made up my mind for my future strategy.
1) Secure New Caledonia and Fiji. One division for Noumea and one more brigade in Fiji.
2) Let him take New Guinea, the road to Northern Australia is temporarely closed anyway.
3) Move every additional available LCU to Adelaide and from there to Northern Australia.
4) If the above works, my main direction for the counter offensive of ’43 will be DEI as opposed to the Solomons as I initially believed.
This way I might be able to trap some of his units as early as summer ’42.
It is obviously early but, so far, it looks good.

In the picture the situation in PI.

Thanks to all the readers for taking the time. Any suggestion will be of course welcome.





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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/6/2005 3:21:30 PM   
Bliztk


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Don´t know, but I would let him have Northern Australia.

You know, here there is nothing interesting to die for. The only thing that you can do is lose units rushing to fight at unfavourable odds.

I would put some blockading units, and let the Japanese attack. I bet that in late-42 you will retake Northern Australia for free. He already committed 100,000 troops here. He must be weak in other spots.

Use this time to reinforce the chain between Hawaii and Noumea, and to send every air unit of South Pac, and SW Pac to Australia.

When bombers start pounding his ground units far away from base hexes (thus few CAP), he is going to regret his commitment to a zone that he can´t hold.

Allied bombers like B-17, B-26 and B25, plus Aussie Wellingtons can make the life of a Japanese Divisional miserable.

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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/6/2005 4:07:17 PM   
Titanwarrior89


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Please continue with the reports. I would like too know where he is going with his OZ invasion. Interesting so far.

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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/6/2005 6:08:55 PM   
mc3744


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I totally agree.

This is what I'll try to do.

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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/6/2005 6:09:12 PM   
mc3744


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Titanwarrior89

Please continue with the reports. I would like too know where he is going with his OZ invasion. Interesting so far.


Thanks

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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/7/2005 12:10:38 AM   
Tom Hunter


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I am enjoying the way your writing this. Hoepner puts in a lot of combat reports so we don't need them hear, but reading your strategy and your interpretation of his strategy is very interesting.

Keep it up


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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/7/2005 12:15:18 AM   
mc3744


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Tom Hunter

I am enjoying the way your writing this. Hoepner puts in a lot of combat reports so we don't need them hear, but reading your strategy and your interpretation of his strategy is very interesting.

Keep it up




Thanks again, your comments help keeping the motivation to write

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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/7/2005 12:30:44 AM   
mc3744


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January 1st, 1942

Attached a picture showing the situation of the reinforcements for Northern Australia.
The following Australian units are on their way:
180 RAN Base force
105 RAAF Base force
102 RAN Base force
2nd Cavalry division
6th Cavalry Brigade
3rd Brigade
3rd Division
4th Division
My assumption is that they’ll be enough to hold Daly Waters until the first US divisions arrive. Probably in March-April.

I’m keeping a wolf pack of 5 subs in Darwin hex. That’s because Darwin is port size 2 and he cannot dock. I’m hoping for some lucky shot. So far I’ve only been diving deep!

INDIA
The 18th UK Division has arrived and is being loaded in Karachi for transportation to Ceylon.
I can’t shake the idea that, sooner or later, he’ll come for Ceylon. The Carabineers Tank Brigade is there already. Together with the 18th and the fragments taken from Singapore Ceylon should become a tough nut to crack, should he ever decide to come.

I had to use up all the available PP’s to convert 4 ABDA air units stationed in Koala. Medan has fallen and Northern Sumatra will soon be Japanese. Hence I had to evacuate those squadron temporarily stationed in Medan.
They are now in Victoria Point on their way to India.
The units are 2 Falcon’s recon, 1 Lockheed and 1 Catalina I.
I need the recons for obvious reasons (they help a lot the bombing efficacy), the transport to airlift as many supplies I can from Ledo to China. 8 Loadestar’s are already at work.

SOUTH PACIFIC
The 2nd Marine Division is en route to Noumea. Once on station I’ll consider Noumea secure enough.






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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/7/2005 12:55:35 AM   
WiTP_Dude


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Hi, interesting game. I'd be very carefully about not getting all those units destroyed at Daly Waters. You state he has brought several divisions into Northern Australia. Well, that is quite a large force at this early stage of the scenario. The terrain up there looks open so I think the Japanese could send their tank regiments around the flanks. It wouldn't be too difficult to find yourself trapped. Plus your supply line is very long while he has the short railroad back to Darwin.

Maybe Alice Springs is the better defensive position in the short term? I don't see any big advantages to holding Daly Waters at this point. If you wait for more reinforcements to arrive you can be sure to overwhelm the Japanese at that point.

Just some thoughts.

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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/7/2005 1:30:39 AM   
invernomuto


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Really interesting game and great AAR!

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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/7/2005 2:33:54 AM   
mc3744


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Thanks

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RE: Northern Australia under attack - 6/7/2005 2:36:08 AM   
mc3744


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January 2nd, 1942

It looks like he is not going to let me keep Daly Waters. He is already pursuing (see picture).
Despite the risk of being surrounded - true - it would have been an excellent air base to try to attack Darwin.
My reinforcements however won’t make it. By the time they get there it’ll be Japanese already. To retake it will be much harder than to keep it.
It’ll be a tough fight.

DEI
I’ve converted, in Teloekbekoeng, the 4th NEIAF base force to SWPAC and it’s loading for Lautern and, in Banjarmasin, the 8th NEIAF base force, also on the way to Lautern. 1 PP left.
The problem will be to survive his TB‘s. Darwin has just reached size 4. I’m sure it’s packed with Nell’s and Betty’s. I’ve moved one squadron of Brewster’s and one of Demon’s to Lautern. My goal is to manage to unload before sinking. Those fighters won’t probably be enough. I think I’ll also move one squadron of Warhawk’s from Koepang, but I’ll do it just before the transport arrival. There isn’t enough air support.
Koepang meanwhile is now at 253 aviation support points! And this is some good news!!
It should get over 20k supplies in 2-3 turns. That will be a nice day.

CHINA
Ichang is under attack, but holding. However I only have 1 INF division and 1 HQ close (1 hex). The other reinforcements are at least one week away. I’m worried, if it falls everything is in peril.
The air bombing campaign is going quite well anyway. Chungking will soon be size 6 and I have 32 Liberators and 16 B-17’s waiting in Diamond Harbor to move to Chungking. That will provide me with some 100 heavies. I’ll probably be able to do give him some headaches.

INDIA
The pilot training over Akyab runs splendidly. Every turn one more exp point. I’m really satisfied.
I am however moving one Indian brigade, 2 base forces and one artillery battalion towards Akyab. But I won’t attack unless necessary.
Two Dutch ML’s are mining the Eastern Indian coast from Trincomalee. Just in case.
Three supply convoys (2 cargo’s and 1 tanker) are en route to Timor from Karachi. The first one is just South of Ceylon now.





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Stemming the tide - 6/7/2005 1:02:55 PM   
mc3744


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January 3rd, 1942

CHINA
In the picture the situation in China. Ichang is hard pressend, but holding. Help is on its way.
Sian is also besieged, but with a fortification level of 5 already I try to be optimistic.
I’m moving one infantry division from Pakhoi to Canton. The idea is to threaten his supply lines. If he moves forward I move in between Canton and his advancing units. Hence he’ll have to keep a rearguard of 2-3 units. It’s nothing substantial but it should annoy him somehow.
I’ve ordered an air resources strike on Yenen, it seems to be without CAP, I hope it’s not an ambush. I’m changing target every single day. It’s the only way with GH. He is too good at reacting. I’m sure he’ll soon start to guess well enough.

CENTRAL PACIFIC
Midway is now at 25k supplies (which makes it entirely autonomous replacements wise) and the supply convoy will now head for Johnston Island.
The 161st US Rgt. is loading in PH, final destination Luganville. The goal being securing South Pacific. I’m roughly one month away from the objective. But with so many units engaged in Northern Australia, I doubt the Pacific is in any serious danger right now.

Last, but not least the following BB’s have reached the safe harbour of SF where they’ll undergo a long time of repairs: Arizona, Maryland, Oklahoma, Nevada and California.
Tennessee is getting closer but flotational damage is up to 84, I don’t think it’ll make it. It will be my first flagship to go down.





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Mandalay is next - 6/7/2005 11:33:05 PM   
mc3744


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January 4th, 1942

INDO-CHINA
Mandalay has been heavily bombed. I had 16 Hurricane's as a defense. However, despite the 5 vs. 5 losses, I can’t take over 30 Zero’s and at least 3 squadrons of Sally’s. I’m not ready yet. I have too few Hurricane’s and not enough pilot experience.
Hence I’ve retreated the Falcon’s and the Hurricane’s from Mandaly. It’s going to fall anyway.
Myitkyina has been assaulted by two paratroopers regiments. The base force there held the first attack, but the odds were already 2:1.
I don’t care so much for the base itself, but he is clearly trying to cut my escape route from Mandaly (see picture).
I’m moving the 13th Indian brigade in (2-3 days to get there). It should be enough to keep the road open if not to succeed in pushing them back.
I’ve also put one AVG (24) from Imphal on LR CAP and one Buffalo I squadron in Ledo. That should at least reduce any reinforcement he’ll be bringing in.
As a last countermeasure I’ve also ordered 16 B-17’s and 28 Blenheim I to ground attack. That’s all I have available right now. (36) LB-30 are repairing in Diamond Harbor and the other LB’s are in Chungking.
The last air strike against Yenen has been successful and unchallenged. I’m really looking to attack Hankow again. He has tons of planes there.
I’m preparing. One squadron of Hudson I is flying recon missions to increase the hit chances and I have 5 heavy squadrons (LB-30 and B-17C/E) now resting. Once they are at full strength I’ll take the chance and I’ll attack with 1 AVG of 24 Tomahawk’s as escort. I’ll disperse the squadrons at different altitudes between 3.000 ft. and 15.000 to reduce the losses. With some luck I’ll inflict more losses than I’ll suffer and I may be able to cripple somehow his main air base.

DEI
Lautern has reached size (2). The first additional base force is now unloading in Lautern. Unchallenged by his Betty’s and Nell’s. I wonder why?
However the main problem is represent by the lack of supplies. I only have 600 in Lautern. It’s really not enough, so far I’m only in the orange, but it’ll be red real soon.
Koepang is growing real nice, 120 assault points, 280 aviation points, 12k supplies and growing.
I’ve reassigned a PBY Catalina’s USAFFE squadron based in Davao to SWPAC (I‘ll have to evacuate it sooner or later). Used up most of the PP’s, I still have one to reassign in Manila.
I’m force to keep several AP’s at Sorebaja because I just don’t have the PP’s to convert the units there. I have to wait and hope.

PACIFIC
The picket line is almost ready ... What’s that? It’s an idea I had since I have no AWACS!
I’ve already experience, in other games, the devastating effect of raiding carriers slashing through my transport lines. The Catalina’s just aren’t enough.
Hence I’m sacrifying some AK’s to act as an early warning system. I have a screen of one AK every 5-8 hexes on the various potential carriers approaches. If the come they are going to find and hit one of those AK, when it happens I know they are coming and I can retreat the convoys under threat. I’ve used this system once already in another game and it seems to work.

Last couple of news.
I’m unloading fuel in Palmyra and I’m loading HQ South Pacific in PH, final destination Noumea. A week behind the 2nd Marine division. Better safe than sorry.





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Post #: 29
Ambush over Akyab - 6/8/2005 12:48:59 AM   
mc3744


Posts: 1957
Joined: 3/9/2004
From: Italy
Status: offline
January 5th, 1942

Ambush over Akyab!
I’ve been an idiot, he almost ‘had to’ try and get me over Akyab. I would have done the same and still I kept sending the flight school with no escort. My idiocy.
In the picture the result. Overall it’s a 25:20, not so bad, but the air to air ... better forget it.
Anyway I’m not going to give up so easily this important training field. I’m placing (48) P-40 from the AVG as escort.
Half the training planes are set at their top altitude the other half at 5.000 ft. Let’s see how the AVG will perform. He is in LR anyway. Maybe it’ll be good for me. If not I’ll have to consider to retake Akyab earlier than expected.
The problem is that it’s 3 hexes away, the only good fighters I have right now to use as escort are the AVG‘s, not enough for India and China.. I’m converting (2) Australian squadrons of Buffalo’s I into Hurricane’s. I need the Buffalo’s (the pool’s dry) and I need more real fighters for CAP duties.
I guessed correctly that he would have tried to bring in more troops in Myitkyina, I shot down four transport over the base .

PACIFIC
I’m in dire need of AP’s, I have the troops but I don’t have the transports.
I’m also short of AK’s, not for long but now it’s hurting.

The Enterprise has docked at PH after her successful ride near Baker. Her fighters have been upgraded to F4F-4.

BB West Virginia has arrived in San Francisco, sys damage 99!!!
Also the Pennsylvania has arrived, over 60 sys damage.
They are going to stay docked for a very long time.





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