Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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10/16/43 Naval Battle of Wake Island: Hiyo added to the confirmed sunk list today, bringing the total to eight CVE, two CVL, and three CV (including Zuikaku and Kaga). I am nearly positive one more CVL was sunk, and there's a small chance an additional fleet carrier was sunk. Carrier Balance: Since the big battle, I've lost CV Wasp and CVE Casablance, with CVE Sangamon heavily damaged and unavailable for Operation Big Tent. But I've also been reinforced by CV Bunker Hill, a CVL and a CVE. So Death Star should be larger than it was during the great naval battle (barring any attrition in the meantime). KB is still a force to be reckoned with, but I don't think it can take on Death Star one-on-one. Flying Trapeze: An IJN sub scores one hit on an AO, doing moderate damage. Lots of enemy subs between Wake and the Hawaian chain. John did a good job of vectoring them in, and they've done agood job of attriting Allied shipping. Other than that, a quiet day. Death Star is now 25 hexes from Pearl. All other combat TFs (except Baltimore) are closer than that. Big Tent: The last TF bringing ground troops to Pearl is now 14 hexes away. There are some housekeeping details - getting a zillion troops and supply loaded, replenising and cosmetic repairs to combat ships that have been at sea for two months, and awaiting a few remaining ships (for instance, two DE and a PF arrived at Mare Island today - with IJN subs so active, I'm glad to have these available). But I am optimistic that Big Tent will depart Pearl in less than two weeks. SigInt continues to look good. Bearded Lady: My fast transport TF recalculated its course due to threat of enemy air, so won't go in until tonight. Lion Tamer: Landings at La Foa on New Caledonia go without a hitch. The Allies should have this base tomorrow, allowing for PBYs to stage forward. Recon shows that Luganville, Efata, Tamma and Koumac are vacant and Noumea basically so. I think John probably withdrew all troops forward of Lunga, though I haven't check Ndeni yet. Comparison of Positions: One viable vector of attack in the spring was to commence in the New Caledonia region. Had that vector been selected, heavy fighting would have taken place there or in the Luganville area. The Allies might've done just as well or better. But there's no question that the surprise move on the Marshalls unhinged the entire Japanese forward defenses. John can take satisfaction from successfully vacating his forward bases since they are now irrelevant. I can take satisfaction in working the map in such a way that these islands became irrelevant and can now be taken cheaply. But these rear areas are no longer signficiant to the outcome of the war. The question is whether the Allies will be able to move forward in strength or whether John has configured (or is configuring) his defenses effectively. We'll know when Big Tent fully develops in November.
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