ITAKLinus
Posts: 630
Joined: 2/22/2018 From: Italy Status: offline
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18-21 DECEMBER 1941 TURN 12-15 I. NOPAC Nothing has happened over here. II. CENPAC Some days ago, I sent various TFs out of PH in order to reinforce and resupply bases around. KB turns back and goes in the middle of my TFs, but he has very bad weather. I lose a xAK only due to a small (14) Val strike. My bases are still astonishingly empty of supplies and defenders. KB is sailing toward the SOPAC area. EDIT: I'm currently reinforcing Johnston Island (landing a Marine Defence Battalion tomorrow) and Canton Island is receiving another Marine Defence Battalion in few days (and supplies). Christmas Island, Pago Pago and Palmyra are still to be reinforced (no ships, no troops, no hope). In SoPac, I've lost any hope for Noumea and Suva: I think I won't reinforce them, given the lack of time, PPs and the foolishness of sending precious Australian troops in the area. III. SOPAC KB arrives on the 21st of December 2 hexes SOUTH-WEST of Baker Island. Route indicated is "WEST", which is straight to Tulagi. There are 9xDDs 2 hexes SOUTH-WEST of Shortlands, where he landed today. My forces are small and scattered, but the USN can muster 2xCVs+11xCAs+22xDDs in Townsville area. Other DDs are coming from PH. I haven't reinforced Noumea, something I might pay badly in case he lands with token forces. IV. DEI Last turn, he landed in Legaspi and he's sending reinforcements to Aparri, where he landed days ago. Japanese troops in Luzon, however, are not moving. He seems quite static. I have no idea of his strength, but I am fascinated by the idea of a massed counter-attack on his position SOUTH-WEST of Aparri. I don't think it would end prositively, but it would be very glorious. Last turn (21-DEC-41) he landed also in Davao, probably with token forces. He also conquered various minor bases on the northeastern tip of Borneo (Beaufort, Jesselton, etcetc). I don't understand his logic, but fair enough. The TFs spotted yesterday have remained precisely where I left them, one hex WEST of Groote Natoena. Probably he wants to absorb my airstrikes on his combat TFs covered by a CVE so that I remain without planes for the real landings. Provided there will be any. Given the bizarre composition of his TFs at Groote Natoena, I decided yesterday that it was a feint and I started moving my airforces and ships in shouthestern Java, thinking that he might very well try a coup de main in Timor. US CVs will be there in a couple of days as well. A force of 2xCA+1xCL+8xDDs is currenty there and Force Z is still in Soerabaja area. Last turn, I moved it to Malang, thinking that the apparition of his TFs at Groote Natonea could be a trick to make me move my planes and then strike Soerabaja harbor, where he guesses Force Z is hiding. (see below for an image of the area) Situation in Malaya is desperate instead. Singapore has roughly 800AV behind forts lvl3 and it's unlikely I'll have much more for the time he will attack the place. If I'm lucky, I can muster 850AV, but for sure I cannot reach forts lvl4: without air bombing, I do +5% circa per-day to the forts and I'm now at 7% of lvl4... No way I can reach it: I'll need to do with the current lvl3. V. CBI Here the situation is very very complex. In China he's overwhelming my forces everywhere around Sian sector. There is a Japanese flying column of 1,000AV (2 InfDiv + 1 IndMixedBDE + 2xARM + 1xART) coming straight from the EAST and it's going to be a mess in few turns. Another column of 650AV is exploiting the Ankang-gap and marchin NORTH. Nothing can stop them. I have however circa 4,800AV in the whole sector, so I plan to offer an active resistence. The two roads SOUTH of Sian are defended by 1,000AV each and Sian itself is defended by over 1,700AV. AT guns are slowly marching from Chungking and it's unlikely they'll arrive on time. Changsha sector looks quite fine, also. SOUTH-EAST is somewhat a low-intensity fight. I've repulsed a Japanese offensive on Chuhsien and almost encircled the enemy units inside it, but Omar withdrew on time. My attempt to capture Chaochow has failed, though. (see next post for an image) VI. OTHER Logistical situation is still desperate and I've made little to no progress in organizing proper convoys. My idea is to ship as much as I can as soon as I can to Australia and start organizing proper convoys over time. Omar has many subs around the West Coast and PH. They've sunk a AK few turns ago and today they attacked the Queen Elizabeth (escorted by 4xKVs). American planes currently totally ineffective. ASW patrols ineffective. Praying is moderately effective instead. Chinese replacement pool of InfSquads went down of 42 today, when I stopped the stockpiling of squads. Interesting. I have intentionally put many units on rest accepting replacements in Changsha, Sian and Chungking. Plus, of course, the ones already in Calcutta. In all this madness, Saratoga will be in Cape Town in few days, being thus able to join my other two CVs coming from Townsville. I plan to establish some kind of refuel and gathering area in either Cocos Island or Christmas Island IO. Situation in southeastern DEI:
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< Message edited by ITAKLinus -- 8/9/2021 9:07:52 AM >
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Francesco
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