Speedy vs Fabertong: Death to the Penguin!

[Mike Solli]

Down to 15.69. Oops.

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi all,

I can't keep this from you any longer. I have been planning a secret operation ever since Moulmein was taken and Faber reacted as he did. I now present to you Operation Bustard (since that's what I feel I am going to be to Faber[;)]):

"Operation Bustard will involve the invasion and capture of the Burmese Capitol Rangoon."

You may ask where I have the forces for this. I have been holding some back despite the Moulmein invasion. My forces will gather at Chandpur before safely moving down the coast towards Rangoon. Due to Moulmein being mine I control the air in the region.

Forces allocated for this:

23rd Indian Division
26th Indian Division
23rd Chindit Brigade
50th Indian Para Brigade
16th Indian Brigade
+ HQ's
+ Engineers
+ BF's
+ supply and fuel.

I'm quite happy with this little ruse[;)]

Intel indicates 2 units at Rangoon. I have deliberately not reconned it as yet to keep Faber unawares.

Im hoping to get the place and then he'll be in trouble IMO since his forces north of Moulmein either retreat or they will be cut-off but if they do then Moulmein is unleashed. Either way i'm hoping Mandalay is a gonner and the IJA troops with it[:)]

Now, now Speedy... such an EVIL plan shouldn't be posted without an EVIL laughter! [:-]

Muahahahahahahaha!!

I want you to practice your evil laughter at least 1 hour each day from now on...

[;)]

Really nice, Speedy.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi VSWG - Thanks. I am more wary now. Faber appears to have moved in 6 units to Rangoon now! We'll see how tomorrow goes.

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Today was a day of frustration in the undersea war:

SS Grouper fired 6 torpedoes at CVL Ryujo 60 miles SE of Soerabaja.......they hit but did not detonate[:@][:-]

SS Tactician and SS Stonehenge were both attacked by enemy SC TF DD'as in the Malacca Strait. Both suffered 1 near miss DC - 6/0/0.

SS Peto was attacked by convoy escorts 300 miles north of Pagan. 2 x DC landed nearby - 11/0/0

SS Aspro sank AP Eihuku Maru with 3 torpedo hits 180 miles NE of Guam. Enemy troops were aboard..............

Air sightings = 15
Air attacks = 0

--------------------

Massive air attacks on IJA troops positions around Mandalay.

The Allied forces ahve been given orders for a general attack tomorrow....we shall see.

With enemy SC TF's spotted in the Malacca Strait I have decided to move out my British CV's in a vain effort to engage them near Victoria Point.

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Tenimbar Island was captured by 4th USMC Para's today. As it's empty they will be picked up by Commando's tomorrow.

Roti Island near Koepang was occupied by scouts of 164th RCT.

--------------------

Wake Island was smashed again today by a BB Division and CV air. Little response from the enemy.

The transports and men go ashore tomorrow!

WE WILL RETURN![8D]

Good luck boys...............

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An LST, AGP and DD arrive in theatre tomorrow.

[DuckofTindalos]

"...arrive in theatre tomorrow. "

Got it! Now to meet my contact in the Penguinista Secret Service (aka the Pez)...[:'(]

[Mike Solli]

Speedy, when do you plan on hitting Rangoon? Will it be from land or sea?

[DuckofTindalos]

Far as I understood, Bustard was an advance down the Burmese coastal corridor. He holds Akyab...

[Speedysteve]

Hi guys,
 
It will be via sea from Chandpur over the next week. All forces should be aboard in the next 1-2 days and then 5-6 days travel.
 
I am wary now with a reported 6 units there.
 
We'll see how tomorrow's attack at Mandalay goes.

[Mike Solli]

I had read somewhere in the forum that Akyab was a supply line terminal heading both north and south; that the Allies couldn't supply troops south of the base and the Japanese couldn't supply troops north of the base. Is there any truth to that?

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi guys,

It will be via sea from Chandpur over the next week. All forces should be aboard in the next 1-2 days and then 5-6 days travel.

I am wary now with a reported 6 units there.

We'll see how tomorrow's attack at Mandalay goes.

To be serious here (believe it or not) I've always found that the recon reports of troops are much less than reality. Have you done enough recon of Rangoon to get some numbers?

[Speedysteve]

Akyab was a hell hole. Very poor lines of entry to it from both north, south and north-east.
 
IIRC from reading Allen's book there were some key roads/hills just ouitside Akyab itself which controlled who could keep Akyab itself.
 
The area was infested with jungle, disease and wild animals etc. Not the ideal place for warfare.

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Hi guys,

It will be via sea from Chandpur over the next week. All forces should be aboard in the next 1-2 days and then 5-6 days travel.

I am wary now with a reported 6 units there.

We'll see how tomorrow's attack at Mandalay goes.

To be serious here (believe it or not) I've always found that the recon reports of troops are much less than reality. Have you done enough recon of Rangoon to get some numbers?

Since I have units in Moulmein they provide 'on the spot' next hex recon.

[Mike Solli]

I'm very curious to see what kind of numbers you get for Faber's troops and what troop ratio you determine to be acceptable for your little visit.

[DuckofTindalos]

Would depend on his (faber's) fortifications and suppy status. 4 to 1 or 5 to 1, at least.

[Mike Solli]

Hey Speedy, your hit/post ratio is 15.66. Faber's is 15.67. [:D] I guess the masses like the Japanese better than the nasty Allies. [:D]

[DuckofTindalos]

No, they just like faber better than Speedy...[:D]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

I guess as you have read Faber's AAR you know I have taken Wake Island.....at long last. You may have called this sustained bombardment overkill and revenge but it was necessary to take the place.

TAKE HEED ALL THOSE LOOKING TO INVADE AN ATOLL

With only 3 x Large NG units there, + BF x 2 and a CD unit it has taken me 4-5 weeks sustained attacks from the sea and air to reduce him. It still cost me 8 damaged ships during the landings (from mines) and about 15-33% disruption on my LCU's!

So even with the massive air assault some units have 33% disruption. ALMOST MINIMAL permanent loss though which is good.

By the end of the first day the main airfield and port were mine with the Japanese retreating to hideouts and bunkers. They will be ferreted out in due course.

4000 casualties were sustained during the landings and first day's combat.

I have returned![8D]

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My SC TF's need a couple of months to repair 5-15 SYS damage due to wear and tear. This will also coincide with the return of CV Bunker Hill and CV Intrepid[:)]

My LCU's at Wake will require 2-3 months to recover.

No problem here though. I have 9-10 divisions in the Marshalls all raring to go.

-----------------

The question is where next? The original plan in my mind was Eniwetok and then the Mariana's. It's almost February 1944 though. Maybe to Marcus Island or maybe even the the Mariana's direct????

Marcus is tempting due to it being closer to HI BUT it's another Atoll.

Mariana's are tempting since it will be THE battle and they are NOT Atoll's............

------------------

Mandalay was a failure today. Despite a year's pounding from the ground and air:

Ground combat at Mandalay

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 162953 troops, 1441 guns, 1451 vehicles, Assault Value = 3988

Defending force 196542 troops, 728 guns, 262 vehicles, Assault Value = 3801

Allied max assault: 3924 - adjusted assault: 683

Japanese max defense: 3111 - adjusted defense: 6279

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 9)


Japanese ground losses:
1474 casualties reported
Guns lost 23
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
10788 casualties reported
Guns lost 370
Vehicles lost 23

Burma is beginning to p*ss me off.

I will recon Rangoon tomorrow to see what magical 6 units he has there.............

My CV's are heading towards Sumatra to see if any TF's are snooping around there.

---------------------

SS Scorpion damaged AK Kenyo Maru with a torpedo 60 miles SE of Balikpapan

Air sightings = 17
Air attacks = 1

---------------------

4 x AK, 2 x DE, 2 x DD, SS Guitarro and an LCI(G) arrive in theatre tomorrow

[DuckofTindalos]

Hmmm, taking Marcus activates Kamikazes, doesn't it?

[Nikademus]

actually it was a sync error.....Wake is still in Faber's hands. your LCU's surrendered. You still suck.

[Mike Solli]

[:D]

[Speedysteve]

T- not sure. May still go for it. I am literally 33.3333333% on all 3 options at present..............
 
Nik - jelous dumbass that you could not co-ordinate an Op like this.....
 
Mike - pffft. Dumbass[:'(]