Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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8/30/43 Thin Man: Steroid KB remains posted at Rabaul. Mini KB is no longer on the screen. Neither are the Kongos. Oddly, Death Star plus combat TFs and most Allied bases show no detection. That's several days in a row that John has had sketchy info - I think. Anyhow, with Steroid KB that distant, the amphibious TFs will weigh anchor from Maloelap and steam two hexes west towards Ailinglaplap. The carriers and major combat TFs will move to a point one hex west of Maloelap (and one hex east of the amphibis). If all goes well, D-Day Kwaj is day after tomorrow. Recon shows about 9k troops (7 units) at Kwaj. Repeated DD forays show no mines. I have DMS along. There will be shore guns and there will be a slow BB embedded with the amphibs. I think this will be a tough nut to crack. My troops are not well prepped. But I want to get them ashore, see what's there, and bombard the hex for two days. Then we'll see what's what. Quiet otherwise in the Marshalls today with good supply unloading, especially at Maloelap, which now has 27k. Lots more supply TFs inbound from the east (the ones that had to pull back when Mini KB made her run). Circus: Supply LST's reached Adak. Let's see if it draws combat ships. SigInt that an IJA division is prepping for Adak. With 650 AV, I don't see that happening unless supply becomes an issue. Elsewhere: Subs claimed a PB near Sabang and put two fish into an AP carrying something motorized near Sunda Strait (it didn't sink). Also sounds of a mine hit - nothing showing in the combat report, so almost certainly an IJN sub hitting a mine at Mili or Maloelap. Regarding JeffK cautionary post, I've detailed at length a few pages back Allied efforts to address defense in Oz, India and China. John can punch a "Battle of the Bulge" bulge somewhere if he achieves local superiority, which is certainly a possibility. But I'd welcome the effort if it involves KB (and Oz or India pretty much have to). The Allies have the initiative. Death Star will be covering important amphibious ops over the coming months, so I won't go off chasing Steroid KB unless a crisis greater than the opportunities presented arises. I don't think that's likely.
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