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tabpub -> RE: General Confusion in Command (8/5/2007 9:59:43 AM)
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March 19-29 1944
Well, as you might know if you are reading the opposing thread on this campaign, Truk fell to US forces on the 21st; the 2 Marine Divisions, one Army Division, 3 amphibious LVT battalions, 2 tank battalions and a slew of support units were able to complete the capture and destruction of the garrison in 2 days of combat.
It was a bit of a disappointment in that there were not more valuable units there to destroy, as the planning had accounted for this possibility; but the capture of this base does go a long way toward the war aims of the Allied faction in this campaign.
Meanwhile, on the other fronts:
SEAC: Sabang is still a holding action currently. The 4 Commonwealth Brigades there don’t quite have the punch to break the Japanese position; their engineer elements suffered badly in the last attacks. So, it has settled into a siege, waiting for a tank battalion and another British brigade to rest and prep for this campaign. Additionally, Nicobar Island is building up to provide some closer support for the landing forces.
On the Malay, Bandou was threatened by a large force of 100k + Japanese, but no major attack was launched and it appears to have withdrawn back to Songkhia. It is believed here that the purpose of this maneuver was to mask the withdrawal of some forces from Bangkok. Submarines have torpedoed several transports off Saigon/Camrahn with troops aboard. It might be that the IJA is trying to save units from Thailand/Vietnam for use elsewhere; perhaps China, PI, or Formosa.
A push on Bangkok to test this is in the offing; plus the troops from Pisanaluke are moving deeper into the Indochina area to test the defenses. Chinese from Tonkin are moving on Hue.
China: Quiet, other than having a couple of Chinese Corps pushed off blocking areas near Kaifeng and Chengting. Pushes on Tatung and Hong Kong pending here.
North Pacific: is pacific
Central Pacific: With the capture of Truk, studies are being made on the desireability of taking Wake, perhaps with one of the new divisions that are arriving over the next 60 days. Other than that, CentPac is now combined with SouthPac for the future.
SouthPac: Planning is done for the first of the NG landings. Should take place in 3 weeks time at the outside.
DEI (now SWPac): The final 1st wave units are arriving to Darwin now; anticipate 1st landing in the SWPac plan to take place in 1 week’s time. Hope to time SW and SouPac operations in a “pendulum” pattern; will see if this aids in throwing off the Japanese balance on the defense. Plus, if one hangs up, the other can continue on; helping the stalled front regain momentum….at least, that’s what we think here at HQ…….
Subs: am not trying to do close in work off shores of Marianas, PI and HI for the near future. Am concentrating on 3 things, not in any particular order:
1. support of future offensives as scout, mining and interdictors.
2. mid-ocean patrols between known enemy nodal bases with some mining by obsolete types in the HI.
3. forming of reaction packs in areas like the South China Sea where air search can provide vectors to detected shipping without needing to patrol in heavily guarded waters.
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