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Q-Ball -> Guns of August (5/21/2009 3:27:50 AM)
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Combat Report
August 7, 1942
We are finally back on track, with a replacement for Admiral Cochrane, whose plane went missing over Attu. Until he is back, Admiral Benoit is at the helm!
Today was fairly uneventful, though we expect imminent action in the Aleutians. A large US Fleet is gathering at Kodiak, and I suspect they are bringing the cavalry for the boys stranded at Cold Bay. KB is still repairing in the Home Islands, so we temporarily do not have a CV counter; however, we have fairly strong airpower, so any attempt should be met with Betty and Kates (weather permitting of course).
Otherwise, I sent a long note to Michael on the situation, I am copying it below:
INDIA: BBs will hit Bombay day after tommorow, I intend to co-ordinate that with Ground Attack Bombing and a Deliberate Attack to see if we can knock down a fort. Malir is almost to size 4, at which point I will move bombers there to supress Karachi. As you can see, Ceylon was recently cleared.
In terms of NAVY, the Nagatos are at Mangalore, and the 4 Old BBs are also on the Indian coast. I also have alot of CLs and DDs. THAT REMINDS ME: Please take that CL out of the Bombardment TF; I think John put it there. Bad idea, there are 9.2 in CD guns at Bombay. There are spare DDs here if you need them, we really only need ASW escorts for the DDs.
Please note that BABY KB and the CVEs are near Sinagpore; we pulled them from IO to move to Aleuts. I am on the fence on that one, ultimately I don't think the RN is going to come out anytime soon, so the choices are really:
1. Stand sentry in IO. That force is probably strong enough to give a good account vs. RN CV's.
2. Send to Aleutians. No good by itself though, really a KB supplement. or....
3. Send to Banda Sea; use to support landing at Darwin, or raid Perth.
....let me know your thoughts there.
CHINA: The planes at Hanoi, if you haven't guessed it, are really the Hanoi School of Pilot Training. Most of the other units in China are as well. I like to get the IJN units up in the high-70s, and IJA similar before committing. Do you know how to pull veteran pilots out of units for replacements? I just replenished all the KB fighter units this way.
PHILLIPINES: I pulled land units a long time ago. There are some Nav Gd there building, as well as a few more keeping an eye on things. I hadn't planned on attacking anytime soon, maybe late 1942 for the points if we want to, otherwise they aren't getting any stronger, and besides, the minute we destroy them all the fragments they pulled out begin to rebuild.....
ALEUTIANS: This is your show. You have seen several units in transit. Also, look at Ominato; there are 3 fighter units there for use. Let me know if you need more up there. The remainder of the IJN is basically repairing in Japan, or elsewhere in the Pacific. I would check where John stashed all the CLs and DDs.
PACIFIC: Check it out, in general I think the Marshalls, Wake, Marcus are well-garrisoned and in good shape. The rest needs some work, but I don't forsee a threat anytime soon to be honest. We think the USN is almost entirely at Pearl/NoPac. We think only light forces at Papete, though that is likely well-garrisoned and supplies stockpiled. In Australia, we have seen hardly ANY aircraft at all, hardly any naval activity. We suspect, from prior engagements, that a RN force is in Oz, with at least BC Repulse and a couple D-class CL. More than likely, PoW is there as well. The ANZAC cruisers are mostly in Ironbottom Sound, courtesy of KB.
There are RN CV's at Aden, and certainly RN BBs. We heavily damaged 2 R-Class BB's about a month ago off the coast of India, via miss Betty. (We would have sunk them if the weather gods had been kinder). I don't think they will be back anytime soon until they have an answer for the Betty. I am counting on Bettys to keep the RN at bay and away from karachi/Bombay.
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