Gary vs. VSWG (Martin DON'T READ)

[timtom]

ORIGINAL: Gary Childress

I have yet another ambitious plan in motion, which may yet backfire, this time to take PM ahead of Rabaul. I have a transport TF heading parallel to the Solomons from Truk which will turn toward PM as soon as it reaches a favorable junction in the Solomons just south of Rabaul. Behind it will be a second TF containing a base force, construction Bn. and supplies. Backing up the invasion force will be BBs Ise, Hyuga, Nagato, and Mutsu, 1 CL and several DDs which will escort the invasion force in and act as a bombardment force. As soon as I've taken PM and the Bombardment force retreats back to Truk, I'll send about 8 RO class subs to form a blockade of PM to hamper allied bombardment forces from seeking retaliation. Unfortunately there was a mix up in orders at Truk (ie I forgot to move the subs this turn) and the subs will have to follow a little later than anticipated.

Once PM is taken and Rabaul is isolated I'll concentrate on it.

Hi Gary,

What will you do if the PM invasion stalls? It's a long way to Truk, and you'll have Rabaul across your LoC. More to the point, I'm not sure I see the advantage of going straight for PM - either way, if you really want it, there's not much your opponent can do to keep it from you in the coming months.

Furthermore, it seems you're moving in blind and without aircover to boot. You have to plan on his patrol planes out of Rabaul spotting you well in advance. Do you know where the US CV's are? He knows where KB is and thus won't be afraid to deploy. Devastators sink uncapped BB's just fine.

I think you're taking a big risk for no appreciable gain.

Regards,

Tom

[GaryChildress]

timtom wrote:

Hi Gary,

What will you do if the PM invasion stalls? It's a long way to Truk, and you'll have Rabaul across your LoC. More to the point, I'm not sure I see the advantage of going straight for PM - either way, if you really want it, there's not much your opponent can do to keep it from you in the coming months.

Furthermore, it seems you're moving in blind and without aircover to boot. You have to plan on his patrol planes out of Rabaul spotting you well in advance. Do you know where the US CV's are? He knows where KB is and thus won't be afraid to deploy. Devastators sink uncapped BB's just fine.

I think you're taking a big risk for no appreciable gain.

Regards,

Tom

< Message edited by timtom -- 7/14/2006 11:54:25 AM >

You have a good point. I may just turn around and invade Rabaul. Still I'd like to take PM now before his defenses get beefed up there. But I don't want to loose my landing force or bombardment force and have a repeat of Kendari. So Rabaul may have to do. [:(]

[KDonovan]

only a Rgt at Palamberg? I would consider a Brigade. I have no doubts that you will take it with a Rgt, but the faster you take that base, the less damage to the oil refineries there will be

[GaryChildress]

I apologize for my recent absence. I had a few things to straighten out at my job and they seem to have worked out for the better so far. [:)] Shortly I will try to post an update on my plans and perhaps a screen shot or two, even though little has changed since my last posts.

I sent the turn off to VSWG. I can only hope he hasn't completely lost interest in the game. [:(]

[GaryChildress]

My plans for the near future in the Central Pacific are to first take Midway and then shortly afterward capture Johnson Island. From Johnson I'll island hop down to Christmas Atoll to form a patrol barrier. The Allies will be hard pressed to sneak their carriers from Pearl anywhere into my territory. Their only hope will be to send their carriers to the South Pacific to operate. However, I hope to cut off supplies from the U.S. to Oz, making it difficult to fuel his carriers should Martin decide to send them toward Oz to operate. In the west I'll occupy Christmas I. IO and operate Mavis's of it to try to cut supplies to Oz off from India.

[GaryChildress]

Plan "Z" will involve landings at Mersing in an attempt to cut off the southerly retreat of Martin's forces into Singapore. According to intelligence, he currently has 13 units there. If I can cut off his retreat and supplies it may make the conquest of Singapore a little easier and allow me to destroy his units somewhat piecemeal.

[GaryChildress]

The Emperor's glorious fighter pilots today had their single best sortie against the Allies. Zeros from Kuching did a sweep of Singapore where Martin has amassed a great deal of his planes. The AVG received 22 casualties. I hope to significantly reduce Martin's P-40 pool with a few more victories like this one.

[GaryChildress]

woops the image didn't come out quite the way I thought I had it. I'll have to go back and retake them. BRB.

[GaryChildress]

OK here we are, the demise of the AVG in Singapore. Banzai! [:'(]

[DuckofTindalos]

Ow! Buh-bye, Yankie Air Pirates!

[GaryChildress]

Hi Terminus, your signature says you are a beta testor of FoF. What is FoF?

[DuckofTindalos]

Forge of Freedom, the new Civil War game...

[GaryChildress]

Baby KB is camping out near Soerabaja to try to pick off a few ships. I'll move it out shortly, before Martin can send subs after it.

I-10 is headed to plug up the Sunda Straight between Java and Bali. It's Glen can also keep an eye on Soerabaja.

Baby KB's replenishment TF is on it's way to rhondevous with it to the West (IRL South) of Java. KB will be able to hang around for a little while and try to pick off ships running to the Indian Ocean.

[GaryChildress]

Baby KB will get a boost before too long. Shoho is 8 days from completion, accelerated that should be 4 days I believe.

In CHS Shoho has a pretty lame airgroup it looks like. I'll probably take its assigned planes off and put a daitai of 27 Kates on it. Baby KB is in dire need of more TBs. I think it has enough fighters to stave off most Allied air attacks for now.

[GaryChildress]

Clark Field should fall tomorrow. In a few days my forces on Luzon from the north and those to the east should link up in Manilla. I have them backed up by artillery and engineers and 16th Army HQ is on its way to coordinate the final assault on Luzon. 4th Aviation Rgt has just landed on the Northern side of the Island and is on its way to take over at Clark Field. That should put the nail in the coffin.

[GaryChildress]

Things are going a little slow in the South China Sea in SRA. I haven't attempted to take Palembang nor Batavia yet. Malay is progressing and I have another one of those daring landings behind enemy lines planned. A TF containing 35th Bde. and 4th Mixed Rgt is on its way to land at Johore Bahru. I have it headed toward Palembang for the moment to give Martin a decoy to prepare for then they'll make a sharp turn and head for Malaya. According to intelligence there is only one unit there and if I can take and hold the base I can cut off the rest of Martin's troops from escaping into and furthur fortifying Singapore. It's a risky venture but I don't want to spend the next 3 months fighting for Singapore either. It should be a bloody battle though. Martin has over 70 4Es massed at Singapore.

MTBs are driving me crazy. The Allies must have a hundred of them in SRA and PI at the outset of the war. They chase away landing TFs and make mincemeat of PGs and PCs.

[GaryChildress]

The overall progress of the war isn't all red wine and roses for the IJ, however. Air losses are disappointing. Of the 113 ships lost by the Allies the vast majority of them are merchies. My ship losses have been almost exclusively combat ships on the other hand. Not a very good trade off IMO.

[GaryChildress]

The AC pool is resonably stocked. Everything above the Sonia pool are obsolete planes Claudes, Nates, Idas, etc. so I didn't include them in the screen shot. Still trying to build up Zeros and Oscars as fast as possible. Most of my fighters are still Claudes and Nates.