Herb VS Tabpub

[1275psi]

27/3/43
As the troops stream south -I bomb the enemy on the Akyab road -its at least 2 divisions strong -if it gets across the Irrawady -I will lose the entire Burma Army
Its a race -one i think I will win though!
The AKs get into Rangoon, all under what ever CAP I can muster -they try to load -some wierd stuff -I have 50 oscars it says under repair now -heavens know what is happening -i think they loaded OK, them and 30 sallies -and vital pilots.
They will flee to sumutra.
Run rabbit run!

Down south BB Mutsu is ordered to proceed through the timor straight, pick up troops and go to Buna
he has bombed Thursday every day -handful of escorts -tomorrow 50 zeros await him.

48th div loads for the Burma front -thats 8 divisions slated for this front now.

[1275psi]

A busy day
42 p 38 sweep Thursday island -29 zero engage
4 enemy shot down, lost 7

he is still bombing the Burma troops
he attacks rangoon -42 b17, 16 tonies and 7 oscars
Little effect, he bombs the port.

more action over thursday -3 zeros lost against the liberators
100 plus heavies hit lunga -soon the attack must come.

then bad news -another heavy raid on rangoon -and the ship carrying 27 sallies was sunk -a disaster.
But 50 oscars are clear, and headed to safety

The retreat continues.
Already i am planning something -AKYAB is looking empty -the paras sail from Japan[8D]
The fleet is almost ready to sail again -and to here it will go.
Mutsu approaches thursday island

And after an epic journey -BB haranua docks at Hiroshima - 58 system damage.

[1275psi]

29/3/43
The retreat continues in Burma - Tabpub tells me i caught him out and wrecked his plans.
I hope to continue to
pagan falls[8|]
Thursday island -mutsu is hit by 3 bombs on her way to Gilli, gilli, but a lot of troops from 5th div are picked up.
More air battles over thursday -I pull the survivors out.
I will hold the rangoon, moulimien and raehag line, and try to drop a big surprise into akyab.
if the fleet does not upgrade in the next 5 days -it sails anyway.

[1275psi]

30/3/43
I know now my rapid withdrawal in burma is going to be a success.
If tabpub gets stretched out in pursuit i might be able to bite him back.

The CA Ashigara hits a mine at good enough island, damage is terrible -she is out of the war, might even sink[X(]
he bombs thursday, but little else happens this turn -terrible weather
tabpub is complaining that his subs cannot find my ships -good -the new convoy routine is actually working very well.

[1275psi]

31/3/43
The entire fleet in the various ports in japan is ordered to sail for rendevous at palua.
I have spotted enemy CV planes operating near Ndindi -I think he is finally on the move
A huge raid bombs Thursday island, he might be getting seroius

In Burma I am able to bomb back a little, as the air farce tries to recover
he recons Adaman island -that might be next
The 48th div is off soerabaya -enroute
His troops are now bombarding at thursday as well.

[1275psi]

1/4/43
patched to 1.8 -and I like it -especially the new combat report with values -this i like very, very much[:)][:)][:)][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]

Burma front
I am all but established on the new defensive line -no losses incurred at all -and his army is scattered all over the place.
Its do or die here -all the ports to the south are garrisoned -so I do not fear outflanking
the 48th will be welcome, and the paras might allow for some real mischief, when they arrive

Dutch east indies
Its all convoys and training pilots here.
I am actually growing in confidence that no sea invasion is coming here -but an invasion on timor or the ambonia area is possible still.
I continue to build forts as best I can

Solomons
He deliberate attacks at thursday
He has 2 aussie brigades, 2 para regiments, 3 base force units
I have 2/3 of the 5th division, 2snlf,2nlf and a base force
here the new report works magic -70 attack to 269 defence!
0 to 1, and he suffers 1300 casos, and the forts stay up.

Mutsu is almost back to Rabual -and the elements of the 5th division I evaced to Buna are loading for Truk -for future rebuild.
The 5th div is scattered all over the planet -thats OK

The Phillipines
I am steadily building forts and airfields all over the place -it goes well

Home front/china/the rest
The carriers all regain their airgroups -all reconstituted and reasonably trained -not brilliant, but not too bad iether for 43
the fleet is steaming for palua, once there -it will hover somewhere North of Lea -awaiting his PM invasion I am sure will come soon.

the game is really starting to get interesting again
I cannot possibly win, but it will be a hard struggle for tabpub!

[1275psi]

2/4/43
I lose a sub off bombay
Rangoon hit, his fighters are at 100 feet -cheeky!
80 p38 attack tarwana
heavies as well
100 plus bombers bomb thursday island
i bomb with about 20
Munda gets a visit -no damage, no hits -minelaying????

Burma
the front is re established -and the wat he is strung out -a counter attack may be possible!
DEI
training, training, training continues

Solomons
the 5th div evac continues -troops at buna are going to truk
I send Mutsu battle group home -she is 19 system

the fleet streams south, full speed for palua

[1275psi]

3/4/43
OK, usual day all over the map

I write to tabpub -i believe you will invade PM, GG, Lunga all at once, possibly tarwana as well -and soon.

he writes back -Im right!![8|][8|][8|]

For me -its now a race -can I get the fleet to where I want it in time!
3 trained zero units make their way towards the solomons.

I pull a lot of air back -i need his 1st CV strikes to hit empty air

[1275psi]

4/4/43
Mostof the fleet approaches Palua
Rangoon pounded -his army approaches -the temptation to race forward to engage
tabpub states in a mail that "at this rate I will be in malaya by end of 43"

I do not think so -he has not seen half the forces deployed, in depth here.
I am moving about my oscars and some sallies -hitting him lightly here and there.

Thursday island gets the full treatment -he keeps bombing troops with 100 plus heavies a day, and tarwana as well

Burma front
11000 more troops approach bangkok, and I am very happy now with my defences

DEI
21st division loads for the solomons from kendari

Solomons
a big re organising, concentrating of my airforce is occurring

All else quiet

[1275psi]

5/4/43
more of the same -I lose a tanker to a SS today -just when I thought Id outfoxed it too[:@]

OK

This is a thinking aloud time
The enemy will land at PM, Gilli, gilli, and Lunga -all at once.
What to do

I must minimise my losses, for max damage inflicted
I must accept that his invasions will succeed -regardless of what i do.
so -how to inflict max losses, for least pain.

My primary target is his naval lift -transports!

Lunga would allow the BBs to steam down the slot under LRCAP -but what then?
A massive battle -and they are out for no gain, as I cannot see them getting through his BBs

Gilli, gilli, same, same
PM -might be able to achieve surprise coming through timor straight -but what then -no fuel, and far too long a journey from any base

The best thing I can achieve is another Thursday island -dropping a bunch of troops off unexpectedly -I have tanaka ready with 8 CAs for this at rabual.

gawd -whatever I do -its going to hurt.
Ok.
KB main will sail to the bismark straight -and hit his transports after LBA has tired him out
KB minor will escort 4 old BBs, loaded with troops to thursday -and carry on to PM, hopefuuly to cause carnage -absorb op points of his CVs, so that KB can get a shot in
tanaka will attempt his trick only if the weather and an opportunity appears
Mushia and the 3 kongos will wait , an opportunity will come as he advances up the north coast of PNG -they will act as escorts for the time being

LBA
Army air will engage on day 1, day 2 -oscars and sallies on ground attack.
KB will strike on day 3
all the betties, all the navy LBA on day 4
CAP is out, LRCAP is the word of the day -that or 100% escort.
To sum up -i see no sense in destroying my forces in a battle that I am going to lose, its the subsequent, less well planned tabpub battles I am going to need forces .
delay, delay, delay!

[1275psi]

6/4/43
ooooops -vals give away my Cvs at Palua hunting a sub
tarwana hit again and again -it won't be long now I think
48th div arrives bangkok
The fleet forms up at palua, and organises into its battle formation.
Little else today

[1275psi]

7/4/43
Ak sunk by ss off japan
I clear mines off goodenough island
Tanker finished off near manilla
rangoon bombed
Tulgia bombed
Heavy stuff against thursday island
Another tanker hit near Bataan

And then the fireworks start
Tabpub bombards tarwana -and his escorts are ambushed
3 BBs bombard, and 8 DDs are very heavily hit -they will not be back for this year[:)]

I order the CVs to the Admiralties -full speed ahead!

And in Burma the 18th div shocks a Naval guard unit crossing the irrawady river on the akyab road -it suffers heavily, and the NG holds firm.

Burma
We are dug in. I need more bombers -they are coming at last

DEI/Timor
operation needle is launched -the reinforcement of Thursday island by the 21st regiment, it begins to load at kendari -and 4 old BBs, 2cvl,4cve and other naval units begin gathering to cover the op

Solomons
Spent all day getting the final air ops worked out
9 navy, 9 army bomber units, and16 fighter units, plus other bits and pieces are deployed.

4th fleet
So the gilberts at last are his target -hope he wastes a lot of assetts on emty bases and given up possessions
8 DDs so far [:D]

China
he is on the move towards nanning I think!

[1275psi]

The gun heroes of tarwana!
2 bbs bombard
then 3 more
and the invasion goes in
I count 8 AP, 4lci,6lst,2APD,2ak,2 msw, 1 cl very heavily hit
1 lst, 2lci, a sc sink
The troops -25th div, 2nd marine shock attack -forts to 7
6th base force,31 const,1st and 2nd gun will fight on -only 1 gun left functioning now!

Burma front
The air transports begin to move from the pacific towards this front
By the time they arrive, the paras will have too

DEI
Operation needle sails

Solomons
Go faster fleet!
Go faster troop transports
I need 5 more days I think

Gilberts
vale troops

I am so pleased - the gilberts are basically empty, as are the marshall islands, and he is wasting time and effort and ships on something he could by pass.

china
he is in offensive mode -a attack is leaving wuchow towards nanning -and another is coming towards kaifeng -again!

man, he is a busy, busy boy at the moment!

[1275psi]

9/4/43
More enemy troops landing at tarwana -another Ap smashed
I continue to clear mines near goodenough
A lst sinks near tarwana -as well as a DD
Subs sink a AK near manilla
I will have to move the convoy routes again
Rangoon bombed
Thursday very heavy bombing
9 bettys attack ships at tenibar island -miss a dd

Tarwana falls to a shock attack

Burma
The paras will arrive soon, transports enroute, and extra bombers at last

DEI
operation needle crawls south east , past tenibar -I could attack the ships there -will leet them alone

Solomons
Im ready

All else is quiet

10/4/43
I sink a ss today in the ongoing sub war

I moved some float planes to PM -he sees the new symbol appear, and a gazzillion bombers pound the place -nice -I have a single AP at Thursday unloading 2000 troops!

I fight on in tarwana

When will he attack in the solomons?

I have been totally out generaled by wobbly in that game -chasing him all over the place, but not here in this game -I am concentrated, and will remain so
I really hope he attacks in the solomons, I need him to attack in the solomons!!!

[1275psi]

11/4/43
Tabpub mails me -he expects our game to have "at least 2 Leyte type battles"
He may be right[:'(]

bad day in the SS war -another tanker hit
18th UK div deliberates a single Naval guard unit -1 to 1 - this is good

The paras arrive in burma, begin unloading, and I now begin to assess targets
The invasion of tarwana continues.

[1275psi]

Operation A-go

From Imperial HQ to

Combined Fleet
South East Fleet
Southern Army
8th Army
17th Army

Situation
The enemy has begun its counter offensive
In Burma we are confident that the enemy will not be able to advance one step further
In the Pacific he has begun investing the Gilberts
But it is our assessment that the main thrust -in the solomons area is yet to begin.
It is the intention of this HQ to inflict such a level of casualties to him that he will tire of this war , and sue for a peaceful settlement favourable to us.

To this end a decisive battle will be fought in the Solomons area

Enemy intentions
It is believed that under cover of heavy carrier forces, landings will take place at Lunga (or the near area), Milne bay, and Port Moresby
An effort to clear Thursday island will also probably occur.

Lunga is of least concern
Should a landing occur here, Navy shall confine its self to the running off fast tranports to tassafroga point, to enmesh the enemy in another Thursday island type battle, until such time as our full wieght can be turned to here.
Should the enemy land at the point, or at Russell island -then a greater effort will be required -BB Mutsu shall destroy this landing, TF Tanaka to also attack
Air commander Shortlands/ Munda to give full support

Combined Landings Milne Bay/ Port Moresby
Upon issue of A-go

Air force
Army will immediately engage the enemy -moving all short range dive bombers/fighters to woodlark/goodenough islands, and attack shipping
Army air at Lea shall attack targets of opportunity
The aim of Army air is to fatigue and occupy the enemy CAP
Navy Air shall LRCAP the TF Tanaka, and the TF Kako cruier group
Light Naval forces shall immediately ship extra troops to Milne Bay

On the second day all naval airforces (KB) will attack
On day 3 -betties shall be released to attack all damaged cripples

Simultanousely 21st regiment shall be run into thursday island via forces gathering form Operation needle -the BB group is to expend itself after troop delivery in attacks on the invasion fleet
Loss of the 4 old BBs to potential damage they can cause has been considered -every effort is to be made to damage as many enemy ships as possible -giving a greater chance for the betties
If the battle produces an Opportunity -BB Mushia will be detached to attack the beach heads.

The secret is aggression -we will hit the enemy hard, take our losses, but inflict terrible losses upon him.
Attack with fortitude -for the empire!

[1275psi]

12/4/43
little to report today
In Burma preparations continue -flying paras to a jump of point
In the DEI operation needle gets closer,and some troops are going to the marshalls to give the impression of a defence.

Tabpub seems to me to have stalled.

[1275psi]

13/4/43
A really nasty day today[:@][:@]
Liberators and b26s attack oil installations at Anshan,Mukden,tietsan.
damage is light, but its panic time here!

This decides it, more divisions are ordered north .

I do have lots of Nicks, and some fighters about to cover the bases, they are deployed -a nasty surprise

In Burma, I have picked my target for the paras, I need a week

In the solomons i begin unloading at Merauke lots of supplies , and troops,
The 21st div arrives at the admiralties
I am now officially as ready as I can get.

[1275psi]

14/4/43
Cursed guided misslie liberators sink a dd, cripple another at Merauke
But the supply runs to Thursday can begin
He bombs Peking today using liberators -wonder how his supplies can support the op

The war is eerily quiet really, he has to attack soon, its April 43 for heavens sake!

[1275psi]

15/4/43
Lost a Ss near new Caledonia
Some air action over Homan
I bomb his Burma troops
He bombs naru island
I split the marshall island reinforcement convoys -speed some of the troops up

Burma is quiet
The run from Merauke to thursday island begins
Some betties enroute to the marshalls