Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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12/29/42 Bay of Bengal: Things go very well for the Allies in a dangerous, chaotic environment in which they might not have. CA Devonshire/CL Boise TF hammers an IJ troop transport TF at Pegu, sinking a handful and persuading the Japanese to weigh anchor and leave. Then the Allied TF squares off against the CA Atago TF, with a couple of damage-registering hits scored on the IJN flagship. More importantly, the Japanese TF was slowed and had expended ammo, so that when the CA Chicago/CL Honolulu TF came in the table was set. Chicago scored a series of 8" hits on Atago, which was left a burning hulk that may not be able to retire. A number of Japanese DDs were also damaged, some by RAF Vengeance bombers flying out of Toungoo. No Japanese strike aircraft sortied against the vulnerable Allied capital ships. Pegu: I had feared that Japan had sufficient time to unload a massive army at Pegu, but Japan only brought 53rd Div. and not much managed to get ashore for various and sundry reasons. I'm reading that 53rd is comprised of 175 AV, of which only 100 is combat ready. The Allied force is just 75 AV and is prone to losing a battle, but Japan didn't even attack. Japan should take the base, but it's not a flat-out guarantee. Magwe: Allied attack comes off at 13:1 and an IJ unit evaporates, a sure sign that the enemy troops are on their last legs. We'll attack again tomorrow. Padang, Sumatra: The Allies try their first deliberate attack here. It comes off at 1:1 despite the defensive terrain bonus. The Allies take higher casualties (mainly disruption), but will try one more attack tomorrow. DEI: Lots of enemy patrol planes again. Something must be about to happen. The Allies may move on Banjermasin in about four days. SWPac: Important day tomorrow as vulnerable Allied transports to unload Fiji brigade and support units at Sorong. No signs of detection here, but that may be about to change. An enemy transport TF is not far from Morotai and Steve is paying alot of attention to Allied shipping moving north out of Sydney. He's going to put this puzzle together very soon and figure out that something bad has been going on in the eastern DEI. NoPac: Nothing happened, but I think an IJN combat TF is at Shimishura Jima. New Years: The string of bad things for Japan continues. New Years is a time to pause for reflection. It is possible that Steve could take stock of his sitaution give the date. He will probably elect to proceed, but we'll see if the subject of surrender is broached. I'm fine with the game continuing - it offers some relief from the carnage of my game with PH - but I'm also fine if it ends as carrying on two games is very hard for me. Whatever happens, though, the Allies are just in a marvelous position entering 1943.
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