Aurorus
Posts: 1314
Joined: 5/26/2014 Status: offline
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In my humble opinion, a paradrop in Bassein would depend upon how much is available to transport in by air after the drop and how quickly (i.e. how many transports and troops are available). It would also depend upon if the allied stacks moving there contain much armor. I would not simply sacrifice a unit, especially a paratrooper, to cut off supply for a couple days. I find the paratroopers to be very useful in counterattacking atolls in CentPac or SouPac (which is my preferred strategy as it seems to be yours. Also the transport planes are very helpful for emergency evacuations in CentPac and SoPac). Rather than building up significant defensive positions on forward atolls, I like to just leave a SNLF or 2 on the forward bases and maintain a mobile counterattacking force at 2nd or 3rd line bases to repel any advance that is not sustained and continuously covered by substantial air and naval assets. As such, I think a move on Ndeni is ok, but not if it requires many assets, and only if you can secure Port Moresby. As you point out, without Moresby in Japanese hands, all of CentPac and most of SouPac can be bypassed by the allies. However, the more forward your position in CentPac and SoPac, the more opportunities you will have to counterattack stretched out allied forces, and the more secure your 2nd and 3rd line bases will be (where you will have many of your naval and air assets). For this reason, I tend to prefer "overextending" a bit as Japan into Centpac and SoPac, if it can be done on the cheap. If you can cut off supply from a move out a Ramree and fly in a few additional units, this may be preferable. I would also expect an allied amphibious assault on Ramree in the very near future, so try not to weaken Ramree much by moving large units out onto the roadway to the the east. If possible, I think, at this point, it may be wise to try to cover Ramree with some anti-naval surface and air assets. I would be very surprised if the allies do make a major move against Ramree in the next week, whether he decides to withdraw from Rangoon or not.
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