Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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4/9/42 Activity all over the map, which certainly makes for a tense and rapidly developing situation... NoPac: Large enemy TF, apparently transports, nearing Onnekotan Jima, with a variety of combat TFs nearby. Surprisingly, the enemey carriers retired just when they had gotten into the hen house. This is evidence - not proof mind you - that Steve is unsure whether I have carriers in theater. He had two crippled CLs and a variety of transports TFs in his sights but didn't close for the kill. SoPac: The large enemy amphibious TF is one hex from Pago Pago. SigInt reports it includes 20th Engineering Regiment. This will be interesting simply because of the coast defense guns. The Allies have 137 AV, three forts, eight 6" guns, six 5" guns, eight 155mm guns, and a couple of 3" guns. Neither of my previous opponents went for Pago Pago, so this may be the first chance I've had to see how effective is Allied coastal defense. I'm also interetsed in seeing whether Steve allocated any cruisers, battlewagons, or carriers to this force. The allocation of strength here and in NoPac would be important news for the DEI defense. Bay of Bengal: Surprising SigInt that 56th Infantry Regiment is aboard a maru bound for Port Blair. To my way of thinking, Port Blair is still in Allied dominated waters since the Allies just reclaimed Sabang and Langsa. The base is defended by 120 AV behind three forts. An IJ three-DD TF has been raiding to the south, sank a xAK, but then ran into an RN two-BB TF. The Japanese lost a DD in that skirmish. So, Steve knows the Allies are present in strength, but he probably isn't aware that CVs Ent and York are on patrol just south of Sumatra. I have to assume that Steve might have been able to slip his own carriers through the Malacca Straights unsighted, so I can't rush off pell-mell yet. I'm reconfiguring my picket ship line and I've sent a PBY squadron to Port Blair. I am willing to commit my carriers since holding Port Blair is critical to Allied plans to invade Malaya and Burma. Reading Tea Leaves: That Steve seemingly is willing to try to force his way into the Bay of Bengal, added to his previous violent reaction to the fall of Sabang, is most interesting. You would think all his focus would be on Java (easy pickings for him) and Sumatra (a major problem for him), but instead it's as if he wants to isolate Sumatra and make a move on India. :) Allied Carriers: Lex and Sara will be available at Colombo in four days, where Formidable is stationed. Hornet is five days out of Capetown. Indomitable and Hermes are on station south of Padang. Sumatra Garrison: Here's more information about the Allied MLR, including info about CD and AA: Palembang: 1436 AV, 4.76 forts, 2852 support (2474 required), one American CD unit (eight 155mm guns), seven AA units totaling 115 3.7" guns. Oosthaven: 1372 AV, 3.82 forts, 1728 support (2008 required, so need to bump this up), three CD units with a total of six 6" guns, ten 120mm, and six 75mm. Benkolen: 637 AV, 3.46 fortsm 1468 support (1102 required), one CD with four 150mm and six 75mm guns. Political Points: The lack of PP continues to be the biggest problem the Allies have in the game. I'll buy 27th USA Division with 1500 PP tomorrow. Accumulating that total has prevented me from spending 300 PP to buy two Australian CD units waiting at Perth for deployment to Sumatra. I need about 500 PP to buy some Canadian units to hit Amchitka Island (not a priority at the moment), and I probably need about 750 AV to round out the units prepping for various points in the Pacific. If I had an abundance of PP, I'd buy Indian divisions and use them for the Malaya invasion, or I'd send them overland through the jungles to Burma. Managing PP is a terrific challenge.
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