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mc3744 -> RE: The first carriers battle (11/12/2005 1:24:50 AM)
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December 12th, 1942
Tom has been complaining [;)] because I’m not describing my long term strategy.
Wouldn’t want to make a veteran like Tom unhappy! [:-] So let’s talk medium term (I’m not sure I have long term!) [:D]
IBC
Obviously India is in no imminent danger whatsoever: the main KB is in the Pacific.
GH has retreated his troops from all Northern Burma, but for a small garrison in Mandalay. Going southbound, Rangoon is the first heavily defended base I’ll encounter.
Some ‘bunker tactic’!
I can see - at least - part of his reasons: a) the Burma road has no longer any value since China is Japanese, b) those bases have very low VPs, c) nearby the Indian border I enjoy total air superiority, d) any valuable resource has been erased long ago by my bombers. He may have more reasons, but those could be enough already.
My strategy here is pretty straightforward.
1) Move all the available units - by land - southbound. They’ll go as far as their strength will allow to.
2) Keep the Chinese troops (actually they are so many that a part will suffice) for garrisoning duty.
3) The air force will provide the main defense vs. an unlikely seaborne invasions and will suppress enemy ground units barring the way.
4) Ground all the bombers till Jap planes appear in any nearby airfield or until I need to soften up any Jap LCU’s.
5) Once Northern Sumatra and/or Andaman will be within reach of my Burma’s air force I’ll conduct a seaborne invasion with my Indian reserve troops and the best Chinese ones.
6) I’m yet undecided on the CV’s role.
AUSTRALIA – NG
Not much to do here.
Without Northern Australia I have one target only: NG. I have not yet decided when to attack. But I’ll do it within the first quarter of 1943.
Right now I think I’ll wait to engage his carriers once again when the Essex will be deployed (one month to go). Hopefully I may be able to cripple some more Jap CVs. Then I’ll go for NG. The hundreds of heavies I now have will pave the way from Cooktown and Cairn.
Meanwhile Coen has reached airfield size (2). Tonight the first Australian fighters will start their training.
The base is not drawing any supply by land, I have to airlift everything. Sounds like a minor map problem to me.
PACIFIC
The bittersweet victory of yesterday h[:o] as not altered the balance heavily, but has eroded part of his advantage.
The (24) ships strong carrier TF is headed back to Suva. I need to dock the Enterprise and to replenish the air squadrons of the Saratoga and Wasp.
The other carriers will join this group within two days.
Some 500 planes are at Fiji airfields, he cannot come close or it’s game over.
I now have (5) CVE’s available. (1) is in SF, (3) on their way to PH and (1)a few hexes from Suva.
The strategy in the Pacific is quite simple.
Canton is out because I cannot use LBA and it’s too far from my bases. Unless I win a more decisive carrier battle I have to stay within a couple of days distance from my airfields. To run back under air cover if I’m wounded.
There are two possible attack vectors and two only: Guadalcanal and Tarawa.
When will it happen? It all depends on the speed at which my Seabees build up the bases and, of course, by any Jap reaction.
Given the relatively short distance (max one week) between the three potential objectives - NG, Guadalcanal and Tarawa – I’ll switch the intensity of the push mainly according to his reaction.
On my side I have a) the increasing exp of my pilots, b) a powerful US Navy (albeit with low crew experience): I have all BBs but one and all CV’s, c) the Seabees, d) the P-38.
On the Jap side: a) GH’s skills!! [8|], b) my damned patrol planes, they always spot the carriers when it’s too late. [:@] I cannot rely on them. C) Japanese Navy’s fighters.
That’s all folks for today.
I hope Tom is a bit more satisfied. [;)] [:)]
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