Rio Bravo
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Joined: 7/13/2013
From: Grass Valley, California
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1943
Year End Report
Background
From December 7, 1943 through October 14, 1942 the Allies ran for their lives from Evil El Lobo’s relentless and greedy onslaught to expand his empire.
Allied troops, aircraft, and ships retreated to safe havens. The Allied “Retreat on Steroids” intended to preserve as many Allied assets as possible until such time as the Allies were prepared and ready to seek the head of El Lobo and his band of rapists, pillagers, and plunderers.
For over ten months, The Allies diligently organized their combat forces. The forces underwent extensive training, diligently prepped for their objectives, and moved to their “jump-off” locations.
On October 14, 1942, the Allies were ready to launch their first offensive operation. Numerous American, Australian, British, Burma, Commonwealth, and Indian ground forces and aircraft were poised along the India-Burma border.
On October 15, 1942, Operation Land Shark commenced as the Allies swarmed across the border into Burma.
Operation Land Shark
Operation Land Shark had a simple goal: drive east to liberate Burma and China, and to capture Manchukuo and Korea.
Though the Allied goal was simple, achieving their goal turned out to be a nightmare. The Allies met heavy resistance in Burma. El Lobo had stuffed Burma with approximately twenty Japanese Infantry Divisions supported by several Tank Battalions and numerous Aircraft Squadrons.
However, by the end of 1943, the Allies had liberated Moulmein and northern Burma. Additionally, the Allies moved into China; captured Paoshan.
Presently, the Allies are ninety-two miles from Tsuyung.
Operation Sea Shark
The Allies correctly predicted that El Lobo would not be prepared for an early Allied Invasion of the Marianas Islands.
On June 23, 1943, the Allies invaded the four southern Marianas Islands. Each Island was lightly defended.
On June 25, 1943, the Allies had captured Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam.
Initially, El Lobo attempted to contest the Marianas Islands. He sent his KB to bomb Saipan; his aircraft losses were extremely heavy.
For the next few months, El Lobo harassed the Allies at the Marianas Islands, but didn’t do much damage and never posed a real threat to the Allies to lose the islands captured.
Prior to 1943’s year end, the Allies had also captured Agrihan, Anatahan, and Almagon. Pagan remains in Japanese possession. However, Pagan is isolated, poses no threat, and Captain Haggard bombards Pagan every single day, causing Pagan’s Port and Airfield to be one hundred percent inoperative.
In conclusion, the Allies are firmly in control of the Marianas Islands.
Operations Bottle, Cork, and Culpepper Cattle Company
Again, the Allies had correctly predicted that El Lobo would not be prepared for an early Allied Invasion of Formosa, Pescadores, and the southern coast of China.
On September 23, 1943, the Allies simultaneously invaded Takao, Formosa; Pescadores; and Amoy, China.
Operation Bottle
Operation Bottle’s goal was to capture all of Formosa in a continuing Allied Grand Strategy effort to implement a naval blockade of Japan’s home islands and to secure a supply route to China for the Chinese, Operation Land Shark and Operation Culpepper Cattle Company.
Initially, the Allies met little enemy resistance. Takao, Kagi, Taichu, Hengchun, and Karenko were captured with a few weeks.
However, the Allies could not get to Taihoku prior to El Lobo heavily reinforcing Taihoku. The Allies simply did not have enough power on Formosa to drive Japanese forces completely off of Formosa.
El Lobo has continued to reinforce Formosa. It is readily apparent that he intends to fight hammer and tong for Formosa.
By the end of 1943, El Lobo had poured a minimum of 7,000 Japanese AV on Formosa, had deployed over 400 Japanese fighters and 150 Japanese bombers within striking distance of Formosa, and he had taken back Taichu, Karenko, and Hengchun.
Presently, the Allies have a little over 2,600 AV on Formosa which are distributed between Kagi, Takao, and just north of Hengchun.
The Allied presence on Formosa is tenable. Whether El Lobo can drive the Allies off of Formosa depends on how quickly the Allies can reinforce Formosa. It is a footrace.
Operation Cork
Similar to Operation Bottle’s goal, Operation Cork’s goal was to capture Pescadores in a continuing Allied Grand Strategy effort to implement a naval blockade of Japan’s home islands and to secure a supply route to China for the Chinese, Operation Land Shark and Operation Culpepper Cattle Company.
Pescadores fell quickly to the Allies.
To date, El Lobo has not made an effort to take-back Pescadores from the Allies.
Operation Culpepper Cattle Company
The goal of Operation Culpepper Cattle Company was two-fold: 1.) To open a supply route to the Chinese under siege at Chungking, and 2.) To assist Operation Land Shark forces with the liberation of China and with the capture of Manchukuo and Korea.
Since the U.S. Marines landed at Amoy on September 23, 1943, they have made steady progress in driving north and east in China. As predicted by the Allies, base garrisons were light at cities in southern and eastern China.
The U.S. Marines have opened a supply route to Chinese troops that had managed to escape Chungking and were heading south. Presently, Chines troops with an approximate Assault Value of over 6,500 are fully supplied. These Chinese troops grow in strength every single day as they take replacements.
Presently, the Chinese with the assistance of the U.S. Marines control China from ninety-two miles south of Chungking to Amoy and from Foochow west to Liuchow with the exception of fierce fighting which occurs at Kweiyang and Kweilin.
Supplying the Chinese has enabled the Chinese to fight. The Chinese block Japanese forces from moving south. Additionally, they have marched out of the Himalaya Mountains and have blocked the Japanese retreat from Paoshan just west of Kunming.
Combined, the Chinese and U.S. Marines have completely interdicted Japan’s supply route from the south and from the east except for Japan’s supply line through Sian.
The capture of Paoshan by Operation Land Shark and the capture and retention of Pescadores, Kagi, and Takao, have provided the Allies with the opportunity to fly numerous squadrons of fighters and bombers into China.
Presently, El Lobo continues to trap the Chinese in Chungking (approximately 6,500 AV). El Lobo has also effectively blocked the U.S. Marines advance north at Kweilin and just south of Kweiyang. The Marines and the Chinese do not have enough power to make further advances.
Further advance in China will have to wait for Operation Land Shark forces to capture Tsuyung, Kunming, and advance west to link with the Chinese and Operation Culpepper Cattle Company marines.
Operation Bella Arbel
The goal of Operation Bella Arbel was to capture Talaud-elanden in a continuing Allied Grand Strategy effort to implement a naval blockade of Japan’s home islands.
On December 21, 1943, the Australians captured Talaud-elanden.
However, the Allied capture of Talaud-elanden came with a considerable cost to the Allies. El Lobo naval strike bombers sunk and damaged numerous Allied ships.
End Note
Perhaps the most important thing the Allies have learned during 1943 is, although driving early into the heart of Japan’s Empire catches Japan off guard and provides the Allies with multiple benefits toward ending Japan’s Reign of Evil, it has also provided considerable anxiety to this Allied Supreme Commander.
Not knowing exactly what Japan might have had at the Marianas Islands, Formosa, Pescadores, and the heartland of China caused grave concern as the Allies moved to invade such locations.
In essence the Allies been on pins and needles since October 15, 1942.
The worry seems to never subside.
Will the Allies prevail in maintaining a foothold on Formosa?
At this point, the end of 1943, this Admiral would place the odds in favor of the Allies at 60% to Japan’s 40%. A bet I remain willing to wager, but not without a great deal of stress.
Best Regards,
-Terry
A Strategic map for 1943 Year End is depicted below.
 Attachment (1)
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"No one throws me my own guns and tells me to run. No one."
-Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven
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RE: THE WAR COLLEGE-Rio Bravo (A) v. El Lobo (J) - 
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