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Canoerebel -> RE: The Good The Bad & The Indifferent (11/18/2016 1:12:14 AM)
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1/12/44
Roller Coaster: The Allies take all-but-vacant Kwajalein, bringing a six month op to a close. BB Washington, badly damaged in the original invasion, just made it to Alameda today, after holing up at Maloelap for months. She'll be ready for action in seven months. What happens from here in the Marshalls? I'll withdraw some of the better troops (the gritty, powerful Aussies) for use elsewhere.
KB and Third Ring: Spotted near Truk. Where does she go next? If to the Solomons, then I have a surprise for John. If she goes to the DEI or somewhere else, then Horn Island is the next major undertaking. See map for more info about the garrison there. I think it's ripe for the picking after months of attention from 4EB.
Big Tent: Death Star and the Herd move without incident. The Saumlaki TFs are already in place and unloading. The Babar TF will arrive tomorrow.
Except for one supply TF lingering at Ambon, Big Tent has closed. It is complete. I think it was successful beyond my wildest dreams. All five major objectives were taken (see info below). Some 15-20 minor objectives fell. The op dislocated the enemy defenses, forcing John to scramble. His navy suffered some attrition, which prompted him to withdraw a bit. And the cost to the Allies was minimal: one capital ship (CLAA Richmond) and a handful of high-value ships (APA, AKA, AK and TK). The war has turned. John is scrambling hard (and with some success) to reconfigure his defenses. Early on, he was working on north New Guinea, Java and Makassar. Now I see mostly signs of him working in the lower half of the Philippines, including SigInt today of Guards Mixed Brigade at Cebu + arty and engineers bound for Manila. SigInt that 48th Div. is aboard a ship bound for Rabaul (I think this unit was at Ponape; Rabaul is probably a waypoint).
When Big Tent got underway in late October, I thought it would last until late January. The plan was to keep Death Star in theater for months to provide security while the engineers built facilities. That, in turn, would allow merchantmen to unload the supply reserves brought along. The op unfolded much along those lines.
The status of the five major bases (P=port, A=airfield, F=forts, S=supply; and AV=assault value)
Manokwari: P 2.09; A 4.30; F 3.71; S 72k; AV 428 (1st Cavalry Div.)
Sorong: P 4.41, A 6.52; F 3.38; S 235k; AV 354 (41st Div.)
Morotai: P 2.04; A 3.72; F 3.34; S 82k; AV 455 (5th Indian Div.)
Boela: P 3.19; A 5.62; F 3.03; S 111k; AV 424 (40th Div.)
Ambon: P 2.00; A 4.00; F 2.51; S 43k; AV 289 (33rd Div.)
Other bases are being developed, such as Galaia (near Morotai), Babo, Dobo, and Babar. But the only other base I'd really count on at the moment is Saumlaki: P 1.13, A 1.15; F 2.07; S 11k; AV 154 (19th Regiment reinforced).
In addition, Merauke, Groote Eylandt, and Mornington Island (Third Ring objectives) have been taken, the invasion of Gove (Third Ring) is imminent, and amphibious TFs are moving to occupy vacant Bathurst Island and Wessel Island (Carousel objectives).
Death Star and the entire fleet is in great condition, with minimal SYS damage after months of campaigning. The development of Normanton as a seaport allows replenishment of the fleet and the loading of supply and reinforcements for future operations. If John keeps KB in the Solomon Sea area, I'll trigger Carousel full force before I hit Horn Island. The Allies will move in strength back towards Java. But if John moves KB to the DEI, then I'll proceed with the Horn Island invasion.
In the medium term, I plan to proceed with Fun House, the next major operation, sometime in March. Reinforcements are gathering at Pearl. Already, there is a CV, two CVL, and nine CVE present there, along with two BB. Three other BBs, including New Jersey and Iowa, are currently inbound.
[image]local://upfiles/8143/11FAD4A0DEE94FA292B4F253C88D959E.jpg[/image]
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