jolly_pillager
Posts: 206
Joined: 1/15/2006 Status: offline
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CL Isuzu and 4 DD's snuck into Palembang harbor last night and raised absolute hell. The final score was 3 AK's sunk, 3 TK's full of oil crippled, 30 Buffalos and 3 Vildebeasts in crates on the AK's drowned. the raiders got away clean. The next morning saw MASSIVE convys off the coast of Rangoon...at least 6 TF's totaling perhaps 30 ships were seen. Unfortunately rain and range made our torpedo attacks less than an all out slaughter, but we still got torps into 4 AK's and 3 TK's plus an AK in the S China Sea. Many of the ships had troops onboard, and one AK had fuel cargo. I think Wlater is trying the Sir Robin theory...I am not facing stiff opposition anywhere (except Hangchow, where 3 Chinese Corps stopped a Divisional attack cold, and San Fernando where the provisional arty managed to beat the snot out of my amphibs...I will probably lose on AK...and I have to unload again tommorow to get supplies on the beach.) 4th FLEET: Kwajelein is empty of AP's and is in desperate need of reinforcement to meet it's strategic goals. OPERATION AZRAEL (Fiji/ Pago Pago) will go first supported by OPERATION GABRIEL (Canton/ Palmyra). GABRIEL is more of a feignt as I don't think I can really hold that close to the Americans without more troops. AZRAEL is designed to help cover RAPIER, which will be a pretty shoestring affair. SOUTHEAST FLEET: Invasion convoys are about to pounce on the lightly held areas that Allied troops can withdraw from Rabaul and Kavieng into. OPERATION BROADSWORD (the invasion of Rabaul) is awaiting troops from Japan. OPERATION SABER (PM) will go in soon after and will be concurrent with OPERATION RAPIER (the Solomons). RAPIER will definately be sucking hind teat on this one with SABER getting the most and best support. To cover this AZRAEL will be going at the same time to make lots of noise, and CarDiv 1 and 2 will be present to break up any naval interference. SOUTHERN AREA ARMY: OPERATION WINTERNIGHT (Amboina and surrounding bases) is well underway. I am slightly worried about the lack of information on Allied surface units, so WINTERNIGHT is probably over escorted. I *think* his surface forces have left the theater by and large...but without proof I cannot risk it. I must ALWAYS look to force preservation as one of my highest goals...high risk moves at this stage really don't get me anything I won't get anyways. OPERATION EVENING BREEZE is coming together. I intend to run CarDiv 3 an 4 together through the DEI in an attempt to cull out some of the poor quality Dutch pilots before numerous bomb runs on lightly defended ships can make them competant. Todays destruction of 30 Buffalos at Palembang will go a long ways towards this goal. MALAYA: My Northern armies are advancing rapidly, taking advantage of the precipitous flight of the British units here. I am unsure if I will now be able to cut them off before Singapore...but he has abandoned Singapore airspace and so this is less important. I can now blast Singers from altitude with replaceable Army Bombers in order to reduce their supply potential. Also the lack of air cover here is allowing me to run light raider units into the heart of the oil producing areas of the DEI and put a quick stop to his resource evacuations before they really get underway. My goal is to create such a rapid tempo of destruction that I can unerve him completely and force him to withdraw farther than he needs to...I think this is possible, even probable due to his already demonstrated desire to withdraw. If I can push him far enough and fast enough I might have a chance of invading India...certainly I can cut China off, which may or may not be helpful at all. PI: American units are fleeing to Bataan without any real pressure at all. In giving up such good defensive positions as Baguio, San Fernando and Manilla he is handing me time. I have no problem botling the Americans up in Bataan and bombing them mercilessly while my army goes off to do other things (not to train...I won't use fighters in this role...but to keep the Americans incapable of offensive action). Paratroops today dropped on Lucena and tommorow on Lamon Bay...both of these attacks would be more meaningful if I was actually cutting anyone off! As it is they are nice in that they keep the tempo high and the pressure on. Hong Kong is TOUGH in CHS. I have 2 Divisions there now and am moving armor in, as well as 4 Arty units.
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