Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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3/9/44 This turn was like a modern air battle - lots of missiles filed, some mistakes made, some important hits scored, and some flashes and smoke as missiles take off after chaff. It was a tumultuous, confusing, noisy, and productive turn. So much so, in fact, that I think it'll be easier to follow without using a map. I'll begin with the minor, easier to understand events and move on from there. Marshalls: I made two mistakes in this theater, though both amount to chaff more than substance. (1) I committed a small unit to invade Tabituea. Recon misled a bit and the landing force isn't enough to wrest the base from a small but more potent force ashore. I'll try again later; (2) I accidentally set a US RCT to deliberate attack instead of bombard at Roi-Namur. That didn't turn out well and the attack failed. The unit is slated to withdraw in 20 days, so I'll deal with this base later. I also had a little plan that didn't work out: I sent four DDs to Roi hoping John might also send a combat TF. He did, but I lost the only ship (a DD). None of his ships were wounded and slowed to draw attacks from strike aircraft. So it was an unsatisfactory day in the Marshalls, but this theater is pretty much irrelevant and the losses were minimal. Burma: John didn't put up any CAP. Allied 2EB mauled unprotected 12th Div/D, which then got pushed back by Allied mechanized units. 4EB worked over 12th Div/B at Mandalay. Allied units continue to advance and I think, but I'm not quite sure, that the Japanese are withdrawing more expeditiously. John has to commit fighters here or he's going to have 3 to 5 divisions really messed up. He may be in a position to do so given what happened in the DEI. Celebes: John scored an important and strong victory at Pare Pare, pushing back a stout Allied force and doing considerable damage. This resulted from two big bombardment TFs, several air attacks, and then a shock attack by fresh 19th Div. The Allied positions on Celebes are in peril. But what really has my attention is the speed, which resulted mainly from his use of his BBs. I don't want Celebes to collapse too soon, so I'm working on a way to address this. This was an important victory for John. He has at least three BBs and at least part of KB committed. Fun House: All preparations in CenPac are on schedule to make that March 20 departure. Death Star Junior is still in Shangri-La. In SoPac, Death Star was en route from Normanton to Townsville. I didn't really like the feel of this as it seemed to be taking the carriers out of the impact zone for a bit too long. The situation in Celebes made me reconsider. I'll probably recommit Death Star to the DEI (two carriers need one more day in port, so I have until tomorrow to finalize the plan). The carriers and their aircraft are refreshed and replenished and ready to go. Two good units 100% prepped for Taulaud-Eilanden have been ordered to load aboard good transports. This op was slated for later, but if Death Star is heading back to the DEI, I want the option of moving on Talaud, which is still lightly garrisoned. What happened in Celebes is the big news of the day. The German army is smashing through the Ardennes. I'm concerned, but I think I know what to do and when and where to do it. Let's see what happens.
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