kfsgo -> RE: Idas of May (9/6/2011 2:49:06 AM)
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May. 7 Quiet everywhere but China, where the CAF trips over its own shoelaces trying to engage a Japanese sweep over Chungking. They're not bad pilots, but they don't have much flying experience - I've kept most of the force in China, on the basis that there's no way Chiang would've let go of it, and their flying has been curtailed in favour of actually feeding troops. Gosh, if only the war were as simple as drawing lines on a map... [img]http://i.imgur.com/Il5as.png[/img] That is my strategic conceit (and I do mean conceit) for the next year, laid over Japanese effective sea control at present. The last few months have been very constructive, even if also very conservatively played; truth is I had no real idea what I was doing for the first few months, beyond "don't lose the war in an afternoon"; that's had its consequences, but we'll get by. The big change is psychological, I think - I am starting to think of everything in terms of HQs, not of units, and I think that's helpful when it comes to the big picture. Anyway, jobs list so I don't forget: May - August: SEAC: Return to Diego Garcia, along with Addu if necessary. I still hold the latter, but it might get a brigade dropped on it at any time. Resume construction activity on the Burmese border once the Ceylon-facing situation is sorted out. Australia Command: Take Norfolk Island, assist around Tonga as required. Lots of infrastructure work to be done before we can do anything overland. South Pacific: Occupy as much of Tonga as is practical to do in one stroke; the intention with these two is to complete the fighter air route from Hawaii to Australia and to threaten a direct assault on Fiji and New Caledonia. Shorter sea supply is nice, but most stuff is going by the Cape anyway. North Pacific: Dig. No Japs so far...I'd like to keep hold of Adak and interior islands if possible. China Command: Die of starvation. September - November: SEAC: Resume Ceylon. Force required will depend on air and sea campaign; anywhere from 3-9 Divs. Aus Corps, Ind Corps, US Corps can be available, 3 Divs each plus support. Reinforce Cocos Islands if still held; otherwise feign indifference. AusCom: Resume as far as Port Hedland if not still held; if held, dig. Base supply will have to ship in but unit supply can be fudged overland if absolutely necessary - supply movement peters out one hex west of PH. Move on southern New Guinea and environs if possible; practicality will depend on situation around Ceylon, which is a bigger priority. NG is currently very lightly held and not being developed by Japanese; focus is on Rabaul, New Caledonia, Fiji, and we can go around the latter two albeit at some risk. South Pacific: Pick low-hanging fruit. North Pacific: Dig. Hold outer Aleutians if possible, don't lose sleep if not. China Command: Die of starvation. December - February: SEAC: Resume Burma as far as possible. Ideally take the lot; if impractical shoot for Ramree, Shwebo, Meiktila, Lashio by monsoon break. 3 Indian Corps, Aus Corps, US Corps overland; sea delivery of one of them may be possible if we have a Midway. If we have two Midways consider just going straight to Malaya or Java. If we have a reverse Midway, hide in a corner and cry. AusCom: Move up NG. Will depend on response; objective is to draw in troops, not take territory; don't care if I can't even keep hold of NG as long as troops are drawn in. South Pacific: Toy with Marshalls if opportunity arises, which it's unlikely to. North Pacific: Resume Aleutians if lost. Try to look threatening. China Command: Die of starvation. Everything's subject to alteration at any notice. SEAC is getting first pick of stuff; unrealistic, but keeps things interesting. China may completely collapse; most people seem to opt to hold northern Burma so some supply gets through; I chose to pull out. If that happens Burma ceases to be relevant, NEI becomes critical. Worst-case scenario I dump US Army onto Hokkaido and Kuriles in 1945; if that has to happen Tokyo's definitely getting nuked. I will take a carrier battle at any point beyond next week if the stars align. Jap carriers lost a lot of aircraft over PH etc and have done a lot of escorting and not a lot of fighting since.
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