Q-Ball -> RE: Operation Monsoon (1/22/2009 2:04:05 PM)
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SRA from 1/5/ to 1/7 John posted a nice screenshot, so I wanted to add some comments, primarily on the invasion of Java. First, the other spots.... Malaya Johore Bharu fell on the 6th, and those troops are now marching on Singapore. We will keep our fingers crossed on how that attack across the strait goes. Phillipines Another 1-1 attack on Clark on the 7th, but the troops didn't budge. Forts are already at ZERO. I am going to rest the troops for 3 days, then try for a 2-1; we are almost there. Once we boot those troops to Bataan, the plan is to invest and capture Manila (held by about 1/3 of the USAFFEE infantry, but all engineers and HQ). Bataan should be low on supplies, so we'll let those units starve for a time. DEI Big news is the invasion of Java. I posted my OOB before, but it's basically 21st Div, 4 Mixed Bdes (4,21,23,56), plus tanks, engineers, base forces, and about 50K supplies. Paras took Kragen yesterday, and the first troops should be unloading tonight at the pier. The convoys got a bit strung out on the final approach, but I had alot of Zeros on LRCAP from Banjarmisan and Baby KB. Heavy Dutch attacks over two days acheived 4 bomb hits, and one transport had to turn back. Over 40 Dutch aircraft has been shot down though, and the remaining planes probably have terrible morale. The back is broken on their air power in Java. There is a large concentration of troops at Madioen, and another at Batavia. The KNIL will be effectively cut in two, which was the point of landing at Kragen. After everyone is ashore and CAP is up over Kragen, we will move on Madioen and Soerbaya, and send a screening force up the tracks in the other direction until we run into resistance. Elsewhere, Miri and Brunei have been taken, with minimal damage to Oil facilities. Those units are prepping for Medan, and will be clearing NE Sumatra. The DEI is basically cleared, except for Java, Sumatra, and Bali. Bali should fall shortly. We are saving Palembang for after Java; there are a reported 9 units there, I think they picked up and moved all their engineers here, which isn't a bad idea. OVERALL: I am very pleased with the pace of progress in the SRA. I hadn't done a Japanese opening in awhile, and really spent some time thinking ahead about Logistics and Base forces. Lack of those slows you down more than anything. We had base forces and supplies moving to Palau and Saigon turn one, and that really kept things moving. I think Logistical planning is the key to quick Japanese advance; if you have enough supplies with you, no reason you can't pick-up and move, pick-up and move 3 or 4 times until the troops tire out. The other key was the early destruction and neutralization of their surface fleet in the SRA. This was acheived though CV support early in the southern DEI, and rapid capture of Nell/Betty bases. Once Car Div 2 greased the Asiatic Fleet off Amboina, things really openend up. Although we lost the Naval Battle of Balikpapan, those 3 DDs did enough damage to the Dutch fleet to cause them to withdraw.
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