ITAKLinus
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Joined: 2/22/2018
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ALLIED STRATEGY
The entire discussion about "where to send British reinforcements" has led me to the very simple and obvious conclusion that I cannot do the trick without having a strategy.
Delaying that to the end of amphibious bonus is probably a wrong idea under many possible points of view.
I am now in the process of analyzing the general picture and drawing some conclusions.
Broadly speaking, I think my main target is to "dilute" Japanese forces as much as possible, so that I can locally overwhelm them in offensive movements.
Having said that, I decided to go for a very CBI-centric strategy. It's something I'm naturally inclined to follow and I do believe in it.
The very basic idea is that in CBI I can discard (partially) Japanese naval supremacy and I can force a major strategic accomplishment, which is the opening of a land route to China, where the flow of supplies would create the interesting consequences of blocking there large IJA formations.
This has to be coupled with minor operations along the Pacific perimeter, where I can fight a logistical war against Japan and where a minor position can threaten multiple axis and thus make Japan commit relatively heavy amounts of materiel.
An added benefit is the amount of ENG Japan would need to fulfill its commitments in the area, ENG which are taken away from other duties.
The very basic concept can be summarized in creating the need for Japanese commitment in as many areas as possible, through the means of direct or indirect threats.
In this very framework, I do believe I need to create the conditions for an effective fight in Burma early on.
Ideally, I should be able to retake the upper half of it before fall '42. The key element is thus the creation of a sufficiently strong presence in India such as to discourage any fool Japanese move in the area while I'm heavily committed on the border with Burma. This, implies the ability to keep key bases along the coastline and to create a very heavy aerial deterrent.
Operationally speaking, I am still not sure on the path to follow to accomplish this. I suspect I will spend much of the initial months refitting my LCUs and creating proper infrastructures.
Strategically, I have needs that are to be met in order to accomplish my CBI-strategy and my "diluting" approach.
My forces operate on the arc of the circle that is the Co-Prosperity Sphere, while Japanese ones operate along the chord. This, implies a very basic consequence: I cannot credibly have a strategic mobility of my forces as strong as the Japanese.
Instead of trying to minimize the problem or solve it altogether, I have the conviction that the best approach is "holistic", meaning that each theater of operations will need to perform its tasks with minimal external support from other theaters. On top of that, operations will have to be multiple on multiple axis.
In better words: NoPac will need to perform a slow but constant advance on, fundamentally, its own. Same goes with CenPac and SoPac.
Small scale actions are paramount, so to minimize the exposure of materiel. Especially, I will need to operate along the lines of "passive aggressive advance", as I define it: basically, it's Guadalcanal logic, where the allies land in a lightly defended position and entail a Japanese answer, which, as successful it can be in the short term, is doomed to fail in the long one. He can shut down a base. He can shut down five bases. He cannot keep shut down a dozen bases thousands of KMs distant.
I see the Japanese as a dam and the Allies as a mass of water, which infiltrates through small cracks. The Japanese will try to close all these cracks but they cannot cope with many of them.
To recap these, very brief, strategic thoughts: contrarily to my initial assessment regarding the defensive needs, I need to actually send reinforcements to CBI theater.
On top of that, I have to start creating the logistical infrastructures which will favor minor operations in the Pacific Ocean (NOPAC/CENPAC/SOPAC).
Hope what I wrote makes sense and I, at least partially, expressed my thoughts.
EDIT: As far as I do remember, keeping the N-E area of Burma (Katha-Lashio) doesn't allow supplies to flow into China and instead the fellas there themselves have large supplies issue.
Other than developing all the bases on the Indian side, is there any trick to make the flow to China work or am I obliged to get Ramree Island and fix in the normal way?
My idea is to brutally exploit the fact that THAI cannot go into Burma and try to keep a hold in the area there with proper reinforcements coming from all around the world (but, mostly Chinese and US Army). This, obviously, provided India proper is sufficiently defended so to discourage the action I'd do as Japanese in such a situation: landing between Chittagong and Diamond Harbor and cutting everyone out.
< Message edited by ITAKLinus -- 8/6/2021 9:33:48 AM >
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