John 3rd
Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005 From: La Salle, Colorado Status: offline
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Combat Report December 20-26, 1943 The battle for Hokkaido dominates everything the Japanese High Command thinks about right now. It is now easily feasible to predict the reconquest of this island by the Japanese within a period of 10-14 days. This being said, the Japanese also realize that the Allies will undoubtably try moving elsehwere for some cheap victories throughout the Empire. I will do a Regional Report once done with the battle for Hakkaido. Hokkaido This week long period sees the Japanese unload convoy after convoy at Hakodate. A MASSIVE Japanese army (detailed in the last post) now is in motion to take the island back. On the 24th, the last American units were driven out of Hakodate and the army is now moving NE towards Wakkanai. I will avoid Sapporo unless Dan evacuates it. The Americans are trying to take Wakkanai and I want to save it before it falls. All the American units on this Home Island are badly bearen up so they don't have too much combat power. The only exception to this statement is the 3rd Marine Division. I have about 800 planes involved in attacking and/or CAP with this operation. My bombers are in great shape, however, my Fighters are in pretty sad shape. They are adequate for CAP but there are only 4-5 Daitai/Sentai usable for Sweeps/Escort. My Lily's have been flying ASW Sweeps between Aomori and Hakodate and have had GREAT success against the American SS! Over the last 7 days I have sunk 4 SS and damaged nearly 20 more! If Dan keeps them operating in the area--and I am sure he will--those numbers shall only climb. The only major Fleet loss for the Japanese in this week is the BB Mutsu which was disbanded in Wakkanai's Port. Dan attacked it everyday of this week with Avengers and SBDs. The BB finally sank on the 24th. I have two light STF working the area. One TF of 1 CL and 5 DD plus another of 2 CL and 4 DD have managed to do some work as Dan tries to evac troops from Sapporo. On the 26th they surprised a group of LSTs (15 total) and managed to sink 5 and damage 5 more. There are REAL problems in moving troops from Honshu to Hakkaido. I posted the concern in the War Room for input. How can I not be able to move troops between these islands? Is that a Big B/Map problem or am I being stupid? KB The rampaging CV TF that have sunk ship after Allied ship are about done with the easy pickings. I have ordered nearly all Japanese CV to Marcus for supplies, fuel, and orders. This will be a massive force once it is concentrated. The problem is my Fighters (again) terrible experience. I am thinking of sending these CVs on a raid somewhere elsewhere to try to catch Dan flatfooted. My eyes keep getting drawn to either Noumea (he has taken Norfolk Island and I bet will move on New Caledonia) or Sumatra (the British Fleet). I simply cannot stand up to the massed American CV Fleet. With this realization comes the knowledge that I CAN stand up to other forces and still be able to do well. I'll take any thoughts here... Central Pacific My troops at Wake and Marcus can withstand much of whatever the Americans throw here. I have plenty of supplies and good AS (700-800) at both locations. South Pacific I have evacuated the major forces out of the Society Islands and have pulled troops out of the Canton--Pago-Pago--Suva arena. There are still solid garrisions in the Marshalls, Carolines, and Marianas. NONE of those targets will be easy to take. There are NO Japanese aircraft here... Australia I continue to hold Broken Hill and Adelaide. I do not know why this is the case but it is true. I have a total of ONE Inf Div holding this entire area. There are about 80 Fighters and 60 Bombers flying out of Broken Hill. Since Dan has done little here, I manage to pull 50,000 in resources every two weeks out of Perth as well as gain the HI from the area too... DEI Everything is solid here and I am dealing with few--if any--Allied SS. Still running normal convoys carrying oil and resources to the Home Islands. CBI The war was lost in Burma/Indochina about a month ago time wise when Dan landed at Tavoy and I retreated from Moulmein. Since taking those locations my esteemed opponent has refused to press me. This is a typical issue with Dan. He makes a bold stroke, grabs it, and then sits for way too long. When he took Iwo Jima he could have had ANYTHING within 12 hexes yet nothing happened (thankfully). The same can be said here when Tavoy fell. He could have had Bangkok in a heartbeat and driven down the Malay Peninsula with little difficulty. Luckily this did not happen. I expect him to try to flank my lines again. With this in mind, I am moving my damaged Inf Div and Brigades down to Singora, Georgetown, and Singapore. They can rebuild down there and serve as my reserve. The Japanese AF have redeployed some asset into the same area. I now have about 150 decent fighters, 100 LB bombers, and 100 TB/DB ready for action. In a little surprise I had a small strike of 27 Fighters, 27 LB bombers, and 20 TB attack a convoy at Tavoy on the 25th. These planes easily fought there way past 12 Spitfires and hit 8 AK that were carrying troops. A small TF of 6 DD will hit this area on the 27th. When more troops reach Georgetown, I will shuttle them over to Sumatra to help hold Sabang and those ports to the SE of there. Right now I have at least a Brigade at each of those 3 locations. Engineers and Combat Battalions are furiously digging in there. China Nothing happening but I am moving my worst experience planes here for training. This is most of everything happening and is my first true combat update in long time. If anyone has any thoughts, comments, or suggested strategic thinking, I am wide open!
< Message edited by John 3rd -- 8/7/2008 10:31:05 PM >
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