Canoerebel
Posts: 21100
Joined: 12/14/2002 From: Northwestern Georgia, USA Status: offline
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8/3/44 Convergence: I'll post the usual maps with details later, but there were some developments today that lend themselves to written format. A number of Allied movements and attacks in China and Formosa were quite effective. There's a likelihood that the Allies will soon close all of Formosa's airfield unless John brings KB back. And in China, John's strongest coast stack at Tsingkiang was clobbered by B-29s and then underwent a 2:1 attack by four li'l ol' tank units. But the infantry arrived in the hex so that John got a good look at what's there ... and suddenly I see movement dots for Japanese units in several places around China. The Allied bombardments were very effective versus Hengchun, Takao, Taichu and Taihoku, and modest sweeps and bombing missions added to the effect. The latter two bases only have 15% damage, but Takao is closed now and Kagi nearly so. A few more attacks like today's and John won't have any viable bases left. And he sees the writing on the wall in coastal China: the Allies will take Tsinkiang tomorrow, and he's already pushed forward most of his troops from Amoy. He's going to lose that base in four or five days. I'm going to keep Death Star in position for two reasons: primarily to keep up the appearances of the threat against Formosa; secondarily to allow supply to come ashore at Tsinkiang (I have to allow the troops to draw supply from Foochow, so I think supply is quickly going to become an issue in China). There's no holding back now - I need to apply maximum pressure in China and Formosa to draw KB north. KB is currently at Balikpapan refueling. I think John will send it north afterwards. If so, that will complicate things around Formosa but will create a vacuum in the DEI, allowing me to push supply forward on an expedited basis. A lot of things went right today, and I think John realizes he has to commit KB or lose the Formosa campaign. To this point he's been willing to give up ground without committing his carriers, but there's no way he can handle Formosa that way. I don't believe he can afford to lose Formosa without exacting a heavy, heavy price.
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