Rebels (Canoerebel) vs. Redcoats (Miller) - Big B 192

[Canoerebel]

9/16/42 to 9/19/42
 
Suva:  On the 16th, Miller uses multiple large bombardment TFs to hammer Suva, followed by a shock attack.  This time he gets a 15:1 (last time his odds were 0:1) because my guys are out of supplies.  The Japs take Suva.  Over the past three days, recon shows Miller has 550 aircraft there.  I'm not sure whether he's overloaded the airfield (a level 3) or if that includes his CVs. 

Where Does He Go From Here?:  As Miller put it in an email:  "Not sure what to do now. I dont think there are any more realistic targets left, your 4E bombers would make any future invasion very dangerous. Perhaps its time to dig in and wait...."  There are still a few exposed targets that he can select if he doesn't want to go over to the defensive yet - Midway and the Aleutians being two.  I think he would also hotly contest an Allied offensive into the Solomons.  Finally, he has an awfully long supply line to Suva.  What did Suva gain him if he doesn't use it as a base to send the KB to interdict my supply line between the U.S. and Australia?

NG/Solomons:  So far Miller hasn't molested my transports at Milne Bay and I'm not sure he's aware yet of what I'm doing there.  My base force unloaded first and then I sent the APs to Cairns while they still held supplies.  I allowed my Aussie division transports to unload for two turns, and now I've issue orders for that TF to head to Cairns (I got 300+ AV on the ground, but I'm shy on support personnel; I'll send them in via Dakota and/or FT convoy).  The aviation engineering unit will begin unloading tonight.  I pulled out my APs because those ships are precious and were vulnerable to any enemy combat TF that showed up, but this third unit is carried on AKs and those I have plenty of.  Airfield and port are 33% to level 1.   I've also diverted the transports carrying a Kiwi division and those carrying 2nd Marine Division NW toward Cairns.  I'm still mulling over a strike into the Solomons.  I didn't send the 2nd Div. to Noumea because that port is exposed to a KB raid now that Suva has fallen.

Koepang:  Miller has shifted many more aircraft here.  On the 18th, Bettys put 3 TT into an AK heading to Darwin.  I scuttled her.  Miller has 27,000 troops here.  This island seems to be exposed, but it'll be awhile before I could consider an invasion.

Ceylon:  Nothing new - Allied air strikes each turn.  I have small base forces closing in on Tivandrum and the port closest to Ceylon (Mannargudi).  These bases will soon get Beauforts.  I've assembled another mock invasion force in Aden and it should arrive in about two weeks. 

Mandalay:  Nothing new here either.  We're both sending reinforcements.

China:  Miller hasn't attacked at Kanhsien yet.  His force is up to 155,000 men, while my defense remains at 200,000 (5000 AV), forts 9, and on most turns full supplies.  The Chinese force heading for Ichang is moving indecently slowly.  It may be a month before it gets there.

[Canoerebel]

9/20/42 to 9/24/42
 
NG/Solomons:  I was right about the threat of a Japanese combat TF showing up at Milne Bay.  On the 23rd, Miller sent in 2 CL and 3 DD.  They sank one AK and damaged another.  I was fortunate in one respect and unlucky in another:  I had pulled out the vast majority of my transports already in anticipation of such a move, but I also had a stout FT convoy led by a CA and 2 CLs set to arrive the next evening.  As of 9/24, Milne Bay is 99% to level 1s for both airfield and port.  Next turn I'll transfer in a fighter squadron.  FT convoys will move between Cairns and Milne to bring in the rest of the Aussie division (mainly support personnel). On the 20th and 21st, Bettys and Zeros from Rabaul hit the airfield at PM (the first air strikes of the game against what is usually a hot spot).
 
Operation Platanus Occidentalis:  I'm sending the Kiwi brigade to Kiriwina Island and the 2nd Marine Division to Buna - assuming, that is, that Miller doesn't show up in overwhelming force, which is certainly possible.  I have the Kiwis and 2nd Division in three transport TFs just east of Cairns, so things are going to happen quickly.
 
KB:  No sign of it.  I expect it to show up in the Solomons, or to probe the shipping lanes south of Suva.  I'll be glad when it shows up again so that I'll know where it is.  Right now I'm worried about convoys from Milne Bay to Bora Bora.  (The US CVs are parked at Auckland covered by 48 Kittyhawks, 50 P-38s, and 24 Wildcats - so that's a worry too).
 
Koepang:  18 Betties and 26 Zeros strike Darwin on the 20th, facing 35 Hurricanes which get the best of things.  The Allies down 10 Zeros and a Betty while losing just 4 Hurricanes.
 
Ceylon:  Things are begining to happen here. On the 20th, my recon planes from Akyab sight a transport convoy moving NW between Andaman Islands and Rangoon.  I suspect this TF is heading to Ceylon, possibly to evacuate troops.  If so, I want to hit it.  I've sent a strong surface combat TF and my Brit CVs south from Karachi to Padang.  From there they'll move south and await developments.  Miller is also moving ground units from Trincomalee to Colombo, for reasons I haven't figured.  On the 23rd, recon shows Miller has moved auxilliary aircraft to Colombo.  I send in heavy and medium bombers and destroy 10 Topsies and 7 Tinas (though the game summary shows 42 aircraft destroyed on the ground).  Could Miller be planning an air assault vs. India?  I don't think so, because he doesn't have enough transports to mount anything here with so much committed in Cen- and SoPac.  I think he's planning to move troops out of Ceylon, by air and sea.  He moved the transport aircraft to Colombo on the 24th.  I've ordered a strike there.
 
Mandalay:  Miller had been sending unescorted bombers against this city for more than a week.  On the 22nd, I rearrange my fighters to cover Mandalay (by LR CAP) for the first time in weeks.  It works; they down 19 Sallies, 15 Helens, and a Dinah.  Then I get lucky.  I order the fighters to fly cap over Imphal where I had most of them based.  Miller sends in 230 Sallies and Helens plus 20 Zeros vs. 45 P-40s, Hurricanes and AVG.  The Japs lose 5 Z, 11 S, and 13 H.  The Allies lose a single Hurricane.  These two air battles and his losses at Trincomalee made for two days of high aircraft losses for the Japanese.  On the ground, both sides have reinforcements arriving.
 
China:  Still bombarding at Kanhsien.  My troops are beginning to gather in the two hexes to either side of Ichang.  Recon shows that Miller has 35,000 defenders.  I have about 80,000 Chinese.  He's dug in, but I'll give it a shot.
 
Small Craft:  My subs have scored a hit or two, but I've also had an alarming number of subs hit mines as they've been on minelaying missions to his ports.  It's almost like Miller just threw a "Allied Subs Hit Mines" switch, because it hadn't happened until a week ago, but now it's occured about five times.  I'll have to quit mining harbors I've been working on for weeks or months (Rangoon, Canton Island, etc).

[Canoerebel]

9/25/42 to 9/28/42
 
NG/Solomons:  After tweaking the plan a bit, the Allies proceed with Operation Platanus Occidentalis.  On the 27th, two transport TFs carrying a Kiwi brigade and part of the 2nd Marine Division, escorted by a combat TF anchored by a CA and two CLs, land at what appears to be an unoccupied Buna.  It seems my "soft-underbelly" evaluation was accurate - Miller just doesn't appear to have much available to contest my move.  Each turn, 25 or 30 Betties sortie from Rabaul escorted by 20 Zeros, and they tangle with my fighters over Buna.  My P-38s were ineffective on the 27th, so I swapped them for P-40s on the 28th and 29th.  Neither type performed well, but Miller didn't have enough to really hurt me.  He lightly to moderately damaged five APs.  Two transports still have men aboard, and they will remain at Buna.  The remaining transports are heading to Cairns - and they'll be  vulnerable for two or three days.  My combat TF is heading for Milne Bay.  Where are his combat ships?
 
I was tempted to land the Marines at Lae or even Shortlands, because I think I've caught Miller flat-footed.  But I  just don't have what is required to take and hold such advanced positions.  Buna offers many advantages - it's a forward base and its loss should irritate Miller.  I can build both it and nearby Dobadura.  Or, if he sends in a massive force, my troops can retreat to PM.  Landing at Buna should also divert Miller's attention from PM and Milne Bay (I hope), giving me a chance to build up both bases.  I need more base forces here if I'm going to make things hard on him.
 
Luganville:  On the 27th, a sub sighted a Jap transport convoy midway bewteen Suva and Luganville heading west.  This was unwelcome news!  I sent the US CVs north from Auckland.  The Jap convoy wasn't seen on the 28th.  I have about 150 4E bombers at Noumea, but Luganville is lightly defended and vulnerable.
 
KB:  No sign of it.  Is it protecting that transport convoy, making steam to New Guinea, heading south from Suva, or none of the above?
 
Ceylon:  Miller acknowledges in an email that his Lilies and Topsys were to transport his garrison OUT of Ceylon.  He had to pull the planes out because my bombers destroyed so many on the ground.  It seems he's given up here and wants to put these troops to use in Burma.  My bombardment TF hit Colombo on the 28th and didn't encounter any mines, but two DDs suffered severe damage to shore guns; I don't know if they'll make it.  The Brit CV TF has moved east of Ceylon for the first time since early in the war and is looking for targets of opportunity in the Bay of Bengal.
 
Mandalay:  Over several turns, at least three of Miller's Vietnamese divisions move to Mandalay triggering auto-shock attacks.  The first costs Miller 4241/107/5 to my 164/3; the second 1287/56/2 to my 83/1.  Both were at 0:1, 7 forts.  Miller has 126,000 soldiers engaged now.  I have about 80,000 with a tank regiment a few days away.  Miller has discontinued bombing Mandalay after the stinging losses of last week.  My fort level will rise to 8 in a few days.  I've directed the Indian division at Cox's Bazaar to begin prepping for Mandalay.  I may air transport some of these troops to Mandalay if things get worrisome.
 
China:  At Kanhsien, Miller continues to gather troops.  I still outnumber him.  Recon shows Ichang is much stouter than I had first thought.  I don't think I stand a chance there.  I'm leaving my troops a hex away for now.

[Canoerebel]

9/29/42 to 10/2/42

New Guinea/Solomons:  Map explaining situation in next post.  Buna captured by the Allies on the 29th.  The Allied occupation and build up of Milne Bay and the invasion of Buna has had the desired effect - drawing Miller's attention.  I think the KB is heading west from Suva, nearing the Santa Cruz Islands.  Ground troops at Milne have an AV of 400, so I should be able to hold against anything Miller can throw together in the short term.  Airfield and port at Milne will both reach level 2 in a few days.  I'll send in part of another base force via air transport.

Suva:  If Miller turns his full attention to the Milne Bay operations, I want to devote a little attention to his troops at Suva.  I have a SeaBee unit and an AV heading to Tongatapu.  I'll recon from there and build the base up to a level  5 airfield.  Then I can make the Suva garrison uncomfortable.

Luganville:  No sign of any Japanese transports.  One of the advantages of drawing Miller's attention to Buna and Milne Bay is that it may give me some time to breathe around Noumea, Luganville, and PM.

Bay of Bengal:  Brit CVs steaming around not doing much, but they drew Miller's attention there too.  I'm slowly pulling them back south and west.  I don't know whether Miller's still trying to extract his troops from Ceylon.

Mandalay:  On the 29th, Miller launched a deliberate attack.  0:1 odds, 7 forts.  He lost 4019/96/5 to 927/24.  My forts rise to 8 on the 1st.  On the 2nd, Allied airforce sprung another ambush on Japanese bombers escorted by a modest number of Zeros and Tonies.  Downed 8 Zero, 14 Tony, 9 Sally, and 14 Helens at a cost of 6 Hurricanes, 2 P-40, and 8 Mohawks.  My tank regiment should arrive by the 3rd or 4th.

China:  Japanese are present in force at Kanhsien but aren't even bombarding right now.  Nothing else of signficance happening.

[Canoerebel]

Map

[Canoerebel]

10/3/42 to 10/7/42

Mandalay:  The Allies have prevailed in the standoff in Mandalay.  During the Allied bombardment on the 5th, there was a sharp drop in the number of Japanese troops present.  I ordered a shock attack for the 6th, but by then the last of the Japs had pulled out.  This was a strategic withrawal by Miller rather than a big battle, but it is perhaps the biggest Allied victory to date.  I haven't figured out what he's planning next, nor do I know what I want to do next.  For awhile, I'll just rest my troops, figure out a plan, and begin prepping units.

New Guinea:  Miller is marshaling his naval forces at Rabaul, but so far hasn't unleashed anything.  I'm shuttling troops from Cairns to Milne Bay via FT convoy and air transport.  Milne's airfield and port are both level 2.  My CVs are moving slowly south toward Sydney from a point between Rockhampton and Townsville.  I believe the KB arrived at Rabaul a day or two ago.  Thus far Operation Platanus Occidentalis has been a resounding success.  At the cost of one AP, one CA, and one CL, the Allies have a solid start at Milne Bay, have seized Buna, and I believe prompted Miller to scramble to assemble forces at Rabaul, thus taking some of the heat off other areas, particularly the sea lanes between Bora Bora and New Zealand, and the route from Perth to Darwin.

Australia/New Caledonia/New Zealand:  Many transport convoys are in the ocean between Bora Bora and New Zealand, bringing base forces, aircraft, HQ units, and engineers.  Most of these will go to Northern Australia, with some to Noumea, Luganville, and Espiritu Santo.

Ceylon:  Brit CVs returning to Pangim.  The two UK DDs badly damaged while bombarding Colombo are slowly pumping out water at Trivandrum.  A Jap sub is loitering there.  I hope I get it before it gets my DDs.

China:  Nothing new.  I continue to bombard at Kanhsien while Miller's troops haven't tried anything yet.

Aleutians:  Miller just began reconning Adak Island from Paramushiro.  I have a RCT digging in and two SeaBees on the way.

Edited to ad: Miller crossed the river and attacked Mandalay on June 29, 1942. At that time my AV was 600. Over the next three months it climbed to 1600+. His troops remained in force until October 5, 1942.

[Canoerebel]

10/8/42 to 10/11/42

New Guinea:  Each side continues to build up forces in this theater, but no pitched battles have occurred yet.  Miller is shifting forces to Rabaul - he has 340 aircraft and 50,000+ troops there, and recon shows many ships moving in and out.  I'm working hard at Milne Bay - I landed part of the 51st Aviation Regiment.  I have sufficient aviation support to handle 170 aircraft, though I only have 98 (3 recon and 2 fighter squadrons and a squadron of Beauforts) there at the moment since the field is just a level 2.  My AV is 400+ with a few mines in the harbor.  I'm 55% to level 3s for port and airfield, and level 1 forts.  I'm concentrating on Milne, so PM and Buna haven't received any reinforcements, though the garrisons are working on both forts and airfields.  PM:  port 1, airfield 3, forts 6, AV 170, av support 30; Buna:  port 1, airfield 0, forts 0, AV 70.

Australia:  The remainder of the 51st Av Regiment is at Cairns, which can handle 170 aircraft and has a 64 plane B-24 squadron (airfield is level 4).  I'm running supply and FT troop convoys to PM and Milne from Cairns and Townsville, trying to beef up the defenses as quickly as possible before Miller figures out how tentative my hold is and strikes with overwhelming force.  He's had to scramble to shift forces to Rabaul, and he's probably not sure how stout my defenses are, nor of the location of my CVs (which will arrive at Sydney on the 13th to upgrade).  He's also worried about Allied 4E bombers (more about that below). 

Cen- and SoPac:  Operations in NG seem to have taken the heat off these areas.  My convoys are moving unmolested, and I'm building up the airfields at Bora Bora, Raratonga, and Tongatapu.  I also sent a mock invasion force SW from Pearl towards Kwajalein about a week ago.  It's meandering around about 600 miles ENE of Maloelap.  I don't think Miller's sighted it yet.

Darwin:  I'm moving two small base forces this way; once they arrive, I can base 90 aircraft here and will begin bombing Koepang.  Miller shifted his bombers out of Koepang, probably to employ them in New Guinea.  Thus my transports are free to move between NW Aussie and Perth once again.

Ceylon:  Miller sent in to large FT convoys (DDs and CAs) to presumably evacuate troops from Trincomalee.  B-24s from Madras caught one DD and sent it to the bottom.  My CVs were nearing Pangim at the time.  I've sent them back to the area in case Miller returns, but I doubt he will because he's sighted them.  I'll have to pull the CVs back soon lest Miller send some of his carriers this way.

Burma:  Miller has retreated at least 120 miles east of Mandalay.  This surprises me.  I can't believe Miller is giving up this easily.  The only thing I can come up with is that he might try an invasion end-around in an effort to seize Akyab, Chittagong, or some other rear-area base.  That too seems unlikely given the vast number of Allied 4E and 2E bombers in that area.  On the 10th, 58 B-24s and 131 B-17s hit Rangoon facing light opposition and destroying only about 10 aircraft on the ground.  Miller seems to have pulled his airforces out of Rangoon and Moulmein due to the threat of Allied 4E bombers.  In a recent email, he brought up the possibility of further house rules to address my use of 4E bombers.  They've made things awfully difficult for his airforces in Ceylon and apparently Burma, and certainly hurt his ground troops at Mandalay.  I want to hear his thinking on the subject. 

China:  Right now, though, I'd like to request some ground rules for his airforce in China.  I'm joking, but they have been pounding Kanhsien and Honan for months now without any opposition.  My fighters don't stand a chance.  Still no attacks on the ground yet.  My AV at Kanhsien is nearly 6,000 with 9 forts, so I feel fairly secure here.  Miller sent out a "recon" tank regiment to the hex across the river from Kaifeng.  I have 9 Chinese corps/divisions, an artillery regiment, 2 HQ, and 2 engineers there.  They evicted his force, but he is gathering troops 60 miles east.  If he prevails here, then he'll probably besiege Honan next.

[Canoerebel]

10/12/42 to 10/17/42
 
China:  On the 16th, I felt frisky so I launched a deliberate attack at Kanhsien.  Over the prior week or so, action reports after my bombardments each day indicated my AV was at 5800 while Miller's was 3400.  I had full supplies.  Nearly all troops prepped 100%.  Fatigue 0.  Disruption in the single digits.  And my last attack (in September) was a 0:1 with the "computer" recommending I continue the attack the next day (which I declined to do as I was concerned about my AV drop).  Things looked propitious for a great Allied victory, but the mighty fell hard.  The attack was 0:1 and cost me 13795/325 to just 1850/91/3 for the Japs.  My AV fell from 5800 to 4200 (!) and my fatigue/disruption levels are now in the 70s.  A disaster, and now I've got to sweat a counter-attack by Miller.  Fortunately, he didn't attack on the 17th and my AV rose to 4300 with disruption/fatigue falling back into the 50s.  I hope he'll give me another week to recover.  I learned my lesson.  I'd better stick to the defensive in China for the foreseeable future.  Summary:  Ugh.
 
New Guinea:  I keep waiting for Miller to come down on me with a hammer blow, but things are remarkably quiet.  Milne Bay's port and airfield will both reach level 3 in a day or two.  I'm sending in suppy via Dakota, small FT convoys, and occasional solo-AKs.  My supply level is just 5,000, so it needs alot of work.  Why have I thrust north?  I've read plenty of AARs, so I realize the Solomons do not offer as good a vector of attack as Timor and the DEI, but in this case it appeared to be a great target of opportunity: lightly defended, which was important since it's still early in the game and I don't have the ability to take a heavily defended area yet, and it also makes Miller's long, long supply line to Canton Island and Suva more precarious.  IE, I think this puts pressure on Miller and I wasn't taking a big risk.  So far so good.
 
US CVs:  At Sydney upgrading - 3 are finished with 3 to go.  My DDs have all upgraded with SYS damage of 10-15, while my CVs are all in the mid- to upper single digits.  I detailed about 25 of the DDs to head to Melbourne, hoping that having another port assisting in repairs will speed things up.  I need my fleet ready to sail ASAP, because I have a feeling that Miller will hit either New Guinea or Luganville.
 
KB:  No sign of it.
 
Ceylon:  With my CVs cruising just off the coast, Miller loaded up his airfields again, but I skedaddled.  His Betties sank one of my already severely damaged DDs at Trivandrum and also hit two AKs moderately hard.  Then my bombers hit his airfields and he pulled out again.
 
Small Craft:  KXV sank an MSW off Tavoy.  ML Weehawken arrived at Panama City.  I'm sending her west with a destroyer escort.  Three MLEs will arrive in San Fran shortly.  I want to park MLEs at Townsville and Noumea so that I can mine Northern Australia, and Luganville and vicinity, more effectively.

[Canoerebel]

10/18/42 to 10/22/42
 
Magical Mystical Tour:  There's alot going on in China - with developments elsewhere too - but the most surprising thing over these five days is that my mock invasion force I've had nosing around between Malaolap and Canton Island for several weeks continues unmolested.  With nothing happening, I sent it further south, sailing slowly between Tarawa and Baker Island.  Much to my surprise, it's still unscathed and apparently undetected.  Makes me think Miller isn't making Cen- and SoPac a priority, a suspicion confirmed when....
 
Suva:  I deployed PBYs to Tongatapu (and an AV arrived a few days later to provide support).  Recon of Suva shows that Miller has evacuated most of his troops - I'm showing just four units (about 2500 soldiers) there now.  Looks as if he's pulled out to save his troops from a Ceylon-like "hung out to dry" situation.  I think it's a great move on his part.  He wiped out my garrison there and now has removed nearly all of his men.  I've begun prepping troops at Pago Pago to seize Suva, but it'll be awhile because I don't have transports nearby and I'm not sure I want to commit them to an operation there right now.
 
Kanhsien:  Whoa, nelly!  Still licking my wounds after the thrashing I took at Kanhsien, I watched my AV there climb back up to about 4600, with disruption and fatigue dropping back into the 20s.  Then Miller launched a deliberate attack there on the 22nd.  I was prepared for the worst, but this time my troops got revenge.  His attack went off at 0:1 (9 forts) and he lost 14565/194/17 to 1337/30.  He only has one engineer unit there, which may hurt him.  His supply line runs down to Canton, and he has several units on the road between the two cities, but nothing major.  I'm sending a sizeable force from Wuchow and Hengchow to interdict his line in one of the hex midway.
 
Near Honan: Miller's unit begin arriving in the hex I'm holding across the river from Kaifeng.  I order a deliberate attack, but in the meantime the rest of his units show up.  He has a stout force of more than 100,000 troops.  My attack comes off at 0:1 and I lose 3443/33 to 597/12/1.  I may well lose this hex and have to pull back to Honan, where the supply situation is awful.
 
Burma:  On the 19th, I'm startled to see a Japanese unit show up at Akyab.  I didn't see it coming and can't tell how many more will follow.  I begin air transporting in some Inidan units to bolster my defenses.  On the 22nd, I try a deliberate attack and learn that it's just Miller's 55th/B division element.  I get 5:1 odds and dislodge the invaders, inflicting 268/3 to just 51/4.  What's he doing here?  Also, a unit advancing from Mandalay takes Meiktila on the 22nd.  It seems that Miller has indeed pulled all the way back to Moulmein/Rangoon.  Will he try to come around my lines by sea?  I don't believe so, simply because of the air power I have in India and Burma.  Just in case, I've ordered several units to reinforce the Indian division at Cox's Bazaar.
 
CVs:  Four of six U.S. CVs at Sydney have upgraded, but SYS damage remains 4-8.  It's going to be awhile before my ships are ready to go.

[Canoerebel]

10/23/42 to 10/28/42

Magical Mystical Tour Continues:  My mock invasion TF (three small TFs with AKs and a few small craft like SCs) continues its tour of Japanese waters without incident.  By the 28th, the force was one hex from Japanese-held Funafiti and is heading SW in the general direction of L'ville.  Over the next several days it will cross Miller's sea lanes to Suva, so it could encounter shipping.  Over the past month or more, this force left Pearl Harbor on a SW heading, passed between Kwajalein/Maloelap and Baker Island, and moved south without ever being sighted, as best I can tell.

Kanhsien:  On the 24th, most of the troops ordered to interdict Miller's supply line between Canton and Kanhsien arrived.  A bombardment by one division the next day revealed that the "one unit" Miller had in the hex is his Imperial Guards division.  Miller was perhaps deceived by my having just one unit bombard and therefore not aware of the size of my force, tried a deliberate attack on the 28th.  It failed at 0:1 odds with him losing 1045/34 to my 70/3.  I've ordered a counterattack for the 29th.  At Kanhsien, my AV is up to 4930 and I have full supply and low disruption/fatigue.  I think I'm in decent shape.

Near Kaifang:  A Japanese deliberate attack in the hex across the river from Kaifang on the 25th achieves 34:1 odds, and evicts my troops toward Honan, but Miller loses 3919/112 to my 1573/14.  He achieved these odds because my units have no supply.  Miller has about 150,000 troops.  I have plenty to hold Honan if I had supply, but for some reason my garrison there isn't drawing supply although I have about eight HQ present.  I'll probably have to pull back to Sian.

Burma:  Miller has indeed pulled back to Moulmein and Rangoon.  My units took unoccupied Magwe and Meiktila.  I'm surprised he gave up so much territory without a fight.  I'm not advancing any further, however, until I know exactly what he's doing here.

New Guinea:  Still quiet.  I'm slowly but surely seeing forces arrive in Australia.  It will take me awhile to get everything into place and fully supplied, but I plan to build up both PM and Milne Bay.  If Miller doesn't do something in the meantime, eventually the Allies will move towards either Lae or Shortlands. 

Timor:  More units are prepping for Koepang.  Recon shows that Miller has about 25,000 troops there.  I've ordered 2nd Marines at Auckland to begin prepping.  Several Aussie infantry divisions and a cavalry division are either fully prepped or prepping.  If the situation doesn't change (IE, Miller doesn't heavily reinforce), I plan to assemble the invasion TFs as soon as my CVs are ready to go (about two weeks).  This will be a major operation (Operation Diospyros Virginiana) with all US CVs providing cover.  This will likely draw Miller's full attention, which should allow me to conduct some lesser operations in the Solomons against his lightly defended bases.  If Miller commits his CVs to either area, I might then also move against Suva and Nandi.

Edited to correct ridiculous mistakes.

[Canoerebel]

10/29/42 to 11/03/42
 
Magical Mystical Tour:  My mock invasion TF crossed Miller's sea lanes to Suva and moved on toward Luganville, again unmolested and undetected.  I've extended the tour, sending the TF north toward the Santa Cruz Islands.  This TF's purpose - way back when it left Pearl Harbor - was to give the impression that I was invading one of Miller's islands - first CenPac and then, when he didn't sight it, SoPac.  The make-up of the mock invasion force:  TF 1 = 2 AK, SC; TF 2 = 2 AK, AE; and TF 3 = 3 AK, PC.
 
China:  Lots going on here:  (a) Kanhsien:  On the 29th, my Chinese units in the hex between Kanhsien and Canton counterattacked Miller's Imperial Guards division and administered a nice thrashing.  The attack went off at 4:1 and forced the IG to retreat toward Canton with losses of 336/20 to my 485/11. A few days later, another Japanese unit showed up in the hex and I ordered another deliberate attack.  When this occurred on the 3rd, I learned that Miller had two fresh divisions (51st and 28th) present.  My 0:1 attack cost me 1243/46 while inflicting just 79/5.  Fortunately, my units didn't suffer too greatly and may have a chance of withstanding any counterattack.  But the bottom line is that Miller has alot of troops at Kanhsien already with alot more on the way.  My AV is up to 5225 with another unit on the way, but this will be a critical battle.  (b)  Honan:  Miller has six divisions (6, 34, 39, 36, 37, and 58), three independent brigades, artillery regiment, mortar batallion, and engineer reg't present.  My troops have zero supplies so, reluctantly, I've ordered a retreat to Sian.  I'm giving up a city that has 9 forts.  Hopefully my guys get out of the hex before Miller tries a deliberate attack. 
 
New Guinea:  Remains quiet.  Miller has pulled alot of aircraft away from Rabaul, but to where and for what purpose?  Rabaul is strong, but most of the rest of NG and the Solomons appear lightly defended.  What's Miller thinking?  I've transported a small base force to PM, the first reinforcements to this key city.
 
Koepang:  1st Marines at Auckland are loading onto transports.  This unit is the farthest from Koepang, so it's first to embark.  Over the next week other units in Australia will follow suit.  I expect this invasion TF to assemble at Peth in about two weeks.  This will be a "main show" event - I'll have a big force and expect to win this battle and to draw lots of opposition.   I hope that this will creat voids elsewhere that will allow me to make quick, low risk strikes at some of Miller's bases in NG, the Solomons, and Suva.
 
Ceylon:  Miller continues to withdraw his forces via large FT convoys (at least that's what I think he's doing).  I'm preparing an invasion of Trincomalee.  It will take about two-and-a-half weeks to get all the forces in place, but D-Day should be by the end of November.  I'd like to maroon as many of Miller's troops on the island as possible, to reduce the numbers he shifts to Burma or wherever he plans to go.
 
KB:  No sign of it.  It may be upgrading.
 
US CVs:  All have upgraded.  Sys damage ranges from 2-7.  They should be good to go by the time the Koepang invasion comes off.  My CVs will cover that since, as noted, it's the main event.  USS Nassau is nearing Papete.  NOt sure what I'll do with her yet.  CVEs Sangamon, Altamaha, etc. will arrive in about a month and CV Essex in 60 days.  If I don't squander my CVs in the meantime, the US fleet is going to be quite impressive when the New Year arrives.

[Canoerebel]

11/04/42 to 11/06/42
 
Battle of the Maldive Islands:  With Miller moving fast transport convoys into Ceylon, I sent my CVs south from Pangin a few turns ago, positioning them off India's south tip just in case I had a chance to strike.  On the 5th, I noted that Miller had shifted aircraft back to Colombo, so I ordered my CVs to sprint south out of harm's way.  I had also detected another surface force moving on Ceylon from the direction of Port Blair, but recon showed the group included APs, so I decided it probably wasn't Japanese CVs.  Well, I was right, but Miller did have a CV force moving toward the tip of India at flank speed.  No doubt he had figured out my pattern of moving my CVs south from time to time when I detected FT convoys moving to Ceylon.  I made the critical mistake of being predictable!  My CVs reacted to his, moving a hex closer to Ceylon, and his Colombo aircraft sortied first: 18 Sallies and 15 Zeros attacked, but none got through to launch attacks.  After the morning phase, my CVs moved a hex closer and sighted his CVs.  Mine launched first, but the assortment of Sea Gladiators, Hurricanes, and Swordfish didn't get through.  Miller then sent in several large strikes totalling some 70 Zeroes, 34 Vals, and 121 Kates.  His force includes Junyo, Zuiho, and probably three or four other smaller CVs and CVLs and CVEs.  My cap got in some licks, took it on the chin, and then the carnage began.  Miller sank BB Soveriegn outright; Prince of Wales took heavy damage and is down to 9 knots; CVL Hermes took light damage and can do 19 knots; CV Illustrious took moderate damage and can do 15 knots; CV Indomitable took heavy damage and can do just 3 knots.  I've formed each of these into separate TFs.  Most were ordered due west (rather than north, toward the Indian ports which are too close to his airfields in Ceylon).  I'm almost certain to lose Indomitable.  The others could make it if Miller doesn't follow, but he probably will.  I've loaded the airfields at Trivandrum and Madras with 2E and 4E bombers hoping to get lucky tomorrow.  The first big naval battle of the war is a decisive Japanese victory.  As Bill the Cat would say: *ack*.

Bay of Bengal:  Miller had two large FT convoys moving suspiciously close to the Indian coast - undoubtedly to make sure I noticed them (I think they were bait for my CVs) and to draw as much of my land based air away from his CVs as possible.  My Madras bombers struck his combat ships, scoring the following hits:  CA Atago (1), CA Nachi (2), CL Tenyru (1), and CL Tatsuta (1).  Some of these ships are on fire.

China:  At Honan, Miller did just what I had hoped he wouldn't do - launching a deliberate attack before my troops could vacate the hex.  My troops performed well.  He got a 0:1 attack with 9 forts.  Although my troops had no supplies, they held easily, inflicting 11909/32/4 to 3761/13.  I'll stick around now.  Ironically, had Miller waited just another turn or two, I would have left the city vacant.  One of those blind-squirrel-finding-and-acorn moments. Near Ichang:  Miller sent a unit SW out of Ichang.  I launched a dliberate attack and found out it's his 13th Division.  My 0:1 attack cost me 1108/22 to his 160/7.   At Kanhsien, my AV is up to 5358.

Koepang:  I'm repositioning my APs so that they will be in place to pick up the scattered elements of the invasion force (participating ground units are in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth).  The 1st Marines at Auckland have embarked and are on the way to the first assembly point near Melbourne.  I also have a cavalry division in Darwin that will participate, but I'm not sending transports there quite yet.  I've used a F-5 recon squadron to overfly Koepang for months now.  Intel shows Miller has 27,000 troops there.  I've alloted the following force for the invasion (with AV in parentheses):  1st Marines (AV 480 or so); the following Aussie divisions:  6th (346), 3rd (418), and 4th (346); 2nd Aussie Cavalry Division (169); 2nd Aussie Tank Regiment (55); 101st Aussie Anti-Tank; and AA unit, and a base force.  I need to add combat engineers.  Is an AV of about 1750 enough?  I need to give it more thought.

Edited because I can't type and to remind myself (1) to detail adequate HQ units for the Koepang invasion, (2) to shift some fighters with longer range to Madras for the Ceylone invasion; and (3) to have adequate transport somewhere near Pago Pago to pick up troops and head to Suva/Nandi as soon as the KB shows up far, far away.

[Canoerebel]

11/7/42
 
Battle of the Maldive Islands (Continued):  Miller sent his CVs west in pursuit of cripples (the right move, as opposed to withdrawing out of fear for safety mixed with satisfaction that he had already accomplished alot). He found them and sent CVL Hermes and CV Indomitable to the bottom.  He hit a few other combat ships, but they should get away, except for CV Illustrious and BB Prince of Wales which are in bad shape. He'll probably get them tomorrow.  It's been an ugly battle for the good guys.

Bay of Bengal:  My 2E and 4E bombers at Trivandrum and Madras went after Miller's FT convoys north of Ceylon rather than his CVs, but that's not a big surprise.  My bombers scored multiple hits against CLs Tenyru (which sank) and Isuzu, CA Nachi, and two DDs.  I'm looking for silver linings. 

Tongatapu:  The first insult of the day occured when ML Weehawken, accompanied by a DD, arrived to mine Tongatapu (enroute from Panama City to Auckland), but bumped into two CLs Miller sent to the island to engage my AV.  He damaged all three ships.  Weehawken is hit hardest, but there's a chance she will make it to Pago Pago.

Koepang:  My closest available combat engineers for the Koepang invasion are at Pago Pago (I have one or two others involved at Port Moresby and Milne Bay, but I'd prefer to leave them in place rather than to try to extract them from the "front lines.").  I'm sending some transports from Pearl Harbor to Pago Pago to collect this unit and move it to Australia.


Edited because I edit for a living and can't believe all the typos I make, not too mention bad grammar.

[Alfred]

Canoerebel,
 
Isn't it an unnecessary risk to expose an AE in magical mystery tour task force 2?
 
Alfred

[Canoerebel]

11/8/42 to 11/11/42

Alfred: To be honest, I don't know what an AE does. So I have some homework to do. I don't think I had AEs in Uncommon Valor and the only auxilliary ships I've paid attention to thus far in WitP are AR, AV, AS, and MLE. When I first organized this mock invasion force, it was intended to probe Miller's outer recon perimeter near Kwajalein and Baker Island, and to then beat it back home. But as I continued to advance (very slowly, I might add) without detection, the mission morphed into an experiment to see if the ships could make it through without detection, thus revealing what I surmise is Miller's rather weak air defenses of these islands.

Battle of the Maldive Islands: Miller sent his CVs further west on the 8th, putting more torps into CV Illustrious, a CL, and a DD. I lost the CV and DD and scuttled the CL. Prince of Wales escaped to the south, but has 88 float damage. She probably won't make it safely to port. If not, my losses in this battle will be 2 BBs, 2 CVs, 1 CVL, 1 CL, and 1DD. Miller lost a CL and a DD thus far, with several other CAs and CLs hit hard enough to possibly go down. On the 11th, Miller's Mini-KB pulled into Colombo. I hoped my massed 2E and 4E bombers would sortie from Trivandrum and Madras, but no luck, even with a P-38G squadron available for escort duty. A recon bomber did score one hit on CVL Shoho.

Invasion of Tongatapu: I've been operating a PBY squadron from Tongatapu for several weeks, serviced by the AV that Miller's CLs sank a day or two past. Miller did a FT invasion on the 8th, but his troops faired poorly against the garrison (a CD force and a SeaBee unit). His force - 4th Naval Guards - was eliminated by attrition on the 9th. Part of a base force is moving here from Pago Pago, assuming the transport makes it safely. I have a fast BB with five DDs in the vicinity, but I'm worried about the possibility Miller will send CVs if he really wants this island. I want to keep it as it allows me to recon Suva and Nandi, which I have my eyes on as set forth below.

China: Miller and I are engaged in a hard-fought battle between Canton and Kanhsien, which is an important hex for him because it is on his supply line to his troops at Kanhsien. He has four divisions (51, 104, 28, and Imperial Guards). I have about 8 Chinese divisions/corps, 2 HQ, and an engineer. He has attacked (deliberate) three days in a row at 1:1, 2:1, and 1:1 odds. Losses have been: 946/21/1 (Japs) to 586/10 (Chinese); 511/25 to 930/12; and 971/35/2 to 1641/10. This will be tough for me to win. At Kanhsien, my AV is up to 5500 and I am fully supplied. We also have troops engaged at Honan and Ichang. I expect to lose Honan eventually, and then I'll fall back to Sian. The battle near Ichang is a sideshow right now.

New Guinea: The quiet continues. Intel reports Miller's 8th Fleet is prepping for Port Moresby. I don't want to lose this base now, so I'm air transporting 2nd Marines from Cairns to PM. My AV is about 240 with 6 forts and 27,000 supplies. My AV at Milne Bay is about 500 with 2 forts and 12,000 supplies. My best defense is the availability of the 6 US CVs (at Sydney) and land-based air at PM, Milne, and Cairns (the latter with 270 air support). In a month, however, I want to use my CVs to cover the planned invasion of Timor, so I really need to beef up my defenses in NG.

Japanese Capabilities: Miller's use of his Mini-KB south of India and the invasion of Tongatapu proves he isn't ready to go on the defensive yet. He is very strong and probably encouraged or emboldened by his victory at the Maldive Islands, so he may take the initiative away from me and force me to react to his moves rather than to implement my grand plan, but if he doesn't, then my plan is to:

Allied Grand Plan: The main thrust will be the invasion of Timor/Koepang. I am prepping and assembling forces. Things won't be in place for another 4 to 6 weeks. I want to create diversions and opportunities elsewhere to divide Miller's attention and perhaps mislead him as to my true intentions. I sure don't want him to send the Mini-KB from Singapore and the KB from Truk (or wherever they are based) to converge on my forces at Koepang. So I have three diversions/opportunities:

Diversion/Opportunity One: This will be the build-up of forces in SE India. I'm going to move a substantial number of transports and combat ships to Madras as soon as the Mini-KB vacates the area. I think Miller will see this as a tempting target since my Brits CVs are gone. To protect them, I'll base a large number of fighters at Madras. I'll base many bombers at Tivandrum and other SE India bases. When and if the Koepang invasion comes off, I'll then convert this diversion into an opportunity to invade Trincomalee. I have the ground troops on the move to Madras now.

Diversion/Opportunity Two: I'll continue to reinforce PM and Milne Bay, and I hope to also send a SeaBee unit to Kiriwina Island (north of Milne) to build an airfield there. When the Koepang and Trincomalee invasions come off, I plan to have enough transports available to strike at a lightly defended base or two in NG or the Solomons. This operation will have the least amount of forces committed.

Diversion/Opportunity Three: Once I'm sure the KB is far away attending to any of the other matters, I'll invade Nandi and then move over to Suva. Units at Pago Pago are already prepping and I'm working to assemble the transports that I'll need. This is why Tongatapu Island is so important right now - recon.

D-Days: The shifting of ships to Madras should take place within two weeks, but the real event (Invasion of Koepang) won't occur until mid- or late-December.

[Fishbed]

Hey Canoerebel, just wanted to say I appreciate very much your clear, short and well-thought reports. You've got a nice game here [:)]
Don't loose faith - RN will come back stronger, and angrier!

[Canoerebel]

11/12/42 and 11/13/42
 
Reply to Fishbed:  Thanks for the encouraging words. 
 
Battle of Maldive Islands:  Miller's Mini-KB TFs pulled east from Colombo, but only made 120 miles, slowed undoubtedly by the damaged CVL Shoho.  During the morning, 9 Blenheims and 13 Liberators sortied from Trivandrum, faced 89 Zeros, and failed to make it through.  In the afternoon, 32 Liberators from Madras faced 115 Zeros, but some made it through and put two bombs in Shoho doing heavy damage.  The next day, 28 Liberators from Madras faced 97 Zeros and scored 9 hits on Shoho in the morning.  The Allies smelled blood.  In the afternoon, an even large strike scored 12 more hits.  Shoho finally went down.  Further good news is that float damage seems to be dropping a bit on Prince of Wales (down to 82 from 88).  She's a long way from port, but there's a chance for her.  So right now, if PoW makes it, the score for this battle stands as follows:  Brits lose 1 BB, 2 CV, 1 CVL, 1 CL, 1 DD; Japs lose 1 CVL, 1 CL, 1 DD.
 
SoPac:  ML Weehawken arrived at Pago Pago, layed her mines, and promptly sank.  I really hate to lose an ML!
 
Burma:  Miller sprung a trap over Rangoon, flooding the sky with Tonys.  An assortment of Blenheims, Wellingtons, and Liberators walked into the trap.
 
CapMandrake v. John III:  I've been following this AAR for more than a year as John was a frequent UV opponent.  They've been playing their game so long that it just felt like they have always been way ahead of my game, which only began four months ago.  I was surprised a few days ago when I checked Cap's AAR and discovered that Miller and I have actually pulled about six weeks ahead in game time.  One of the other games I'm following - Moses v. JWilkerson - is still well ahead (March or April '43), so I'm paying even more attention to it to get a feel for the arrival of reinforcements and the capabilities of the forces engaged.
 
AE Ships:  Thanks to Alfred, I did some homework to learn more about AEs and other replenishment ships.  I gather it will be helpful to have an AE around after a big air or sea battle, so that my fleets can re-arm.

[Alfred]

Canoerebel,
 
AE are most useful in 1945 and 1946 when they allow for ammunition replenishment at sea.  Prior to then, they can only be used at ports sized 1 or more, but they can still be of benefit.  For example, a base which has a combined port + airfield size 1 can only have 8k supplies before wastage occurs - therefore you can use an AE in 1942 as a mobile supply dump which visits small bases and thereby avoids supply wastage.  You don't normally get many AE (certainly not in comparison with AD etc) and it would take 180 days to convert a large AK in San Francisco.
 
Alfred

[Canoerebel]

11/14/42 to 11/17/42

It's been quiet the past few days, except:  Prince of Wales finally succumbed to flotation damage after briefly giving me hope she might make it to port.  Also, my transport arrived safely at Tongatapu and unloaded part of a base force.  Now my PBY squadron can fly recon again - actually, I'll swap the PBYs for an F-5 squadron based at Pago Pago.  Status quo elsewhere, from New Guinea to China to Ceylon.

The Big Picture: I'm continuing to gather, train, and arrange forces needed to implement the operations aimed at Ceylon, Koepang, the Solomons/NG, and Suva/Nandi, as set forth in my post covering 11/8 to 11/11.  In three or four days, the first transports will round Ceylon and make for Madras.  In the short term, these ships are bait to draw Miller's attention toward India.  That is the beginning of a complex chain of events that will really heat up when I move on Koepang in about a month.  But I think there's a good chance that Miller will make a big move somewhere, in the meantime, that may require me to employ my CVs agains the KB and may prevent or delay the implementation of my plan.  The targets that concern me most are PM, Milne, and Luganville.  I will commit the US CVs to defend these bases.

US CVs: The US CVs are at Sydney, completing upgrades and repairs.  Sys damage ranges from 1 to 4, so they are ready to go if needed.  I have a multitude of combat ships at Sydney, Melbourne, Townsville, and Auckland, plenty to organize each CV into a separate TF.  CV Essex will arrive at Panama City in less than two months, and a handful of CVEs will arrive in about a month.  CVE Nassau is at Papete.  CVE Long Island is at Pearl.

KB:  I don't know where the KB is, but Truk is my best guess.  If the KB comes south, I will probably go after it; certainly I will if he moves on Milne, PM, Luganville, or any point south of that line.

Allied Forward Line of Defense:  My situation at key points:  PM (AV 350, forts 6); Milne Bay (AV 450, forts nearing 2); Luganville (AV 100 - but a NZ brigade is about to unload to bring it to about 180 - and forts 3); Noumea (AV 1200, forts 7).  Other strongly held points include Darwin, Perth (because units are gathering there in preparation for the operation against Koepang), Auckland, Pago Pago, and Pearl Harbor.  Midway, Palmyra, Adak Island, Dutch Harbor, and Kodiak Island each have at least a RCT. 

Game Balance:  Despite my ugly losses at the Battle of Maldive Islands, I still feel good about my situation.  While Miller took Ceylon, Canton Island, and Suva, he hasn't (yet) threatened NW Australia, PM, Milne, L'ville, or Noumea. And Pago Pago easily held against attack.  It's only late '42, and if I can further my solidify my grip on Buna and Milne Bay, and successfully invade Koepang and Ceylon, I'll start '43 in good position. 

Points:  Japanese 21751, Allies 12659
Aircraft Losses:  Japanese 6020, Allies 3702
Ground Losses:  Japanese 1370, Allies 9641
Naval Losses:  Japanese 202/1498, Allies 193/2329

[Canoerebel]

11/18/42 to 11/24/42
 
Miller and I have played a bunch of turns today - he's on vacation and I have a lenient schedule at work.  There haven't been any significant changes on the map, but things are heating up.
 
China:  Miller announced via email a major shift in policy.  He's begun bombing my resources at Changsha.  Being the sportsman he is, he checked with me to see if I felt it was gamey.  It's in the rules, so I told him to proceed.  He's hit Changsha three or four days in a row.  My supply levels are already plummeting.  I moved some 24 P-40s and the AVG (22 aircraft) to cover the city, but a massive raid the next day - including 180 Tony's - obliterated my planes.  I slunk away with about 4 P-40s and a single AVG.  The AVG now consists of two aircraft!  It wasn't a total loss - my guys did score a fair number of Tony's downed.  There hasn't been any ground combat in China in well over a week.  Miller must be resting and prepping and allowing his bombing campaign to gain results.  Most of my bombers are currently stationed near Madras and Dacca, although I have had two large B-17 groups hitting Hanoi, Amoy, and some ground troops.  I have several large bomber squadrons on  the way to India from Australia.  Eventually, I'll have so many bombers in China that I'll make Miller pay for this change in policy!
 
India:  Just as scripted, my transport convoys rounded Ceylon and made for Madras.  Yesterday (11/24), recon sighted what appears to be a powerful Jap surface combat force in the Bay of Bengal.  I've loaded up Madras with fighters and bombers, with more planes stationed nearby at Bangalore, Trivandrum, and Managudi (or somesuch name).  I want to keep Miller focused on Ceylon and India, tying down at least some respectable portion of his naval assets there so that he doesn't gang up on me elsewhere.  Eventually, my transports (if they survive) will carry an invasion force to Trincomalee.  Many of my ground units have already arrived at Madras.  Miller has 5 to 10 subs working the area.  I'm not sure whether they are minelaying or hunting.  I-29 took 9 hits from depth charges on the 23rd, but I-17 torpedoed CA Hawkins the same day.  Hawkins made Madras with moderate damage.
 
Small Craft:  Seawolf, stationed in the South China Sea, has recently torpedoed two transports.  Haddo torpedoed an AK near Tori Shima, but suffered moderate damage to depth charges.  I-160 hit a mine at Johnston Island and sank.
 
New Guinea:  I thought the show was on.  On the 19th, recon sighted a large transport convoy west of New Britain.  Bombers sortied from PM and Milne and hit an AP, with loss of ground troops.  I suspected this group wa heading to Buna or Milne Bay, so I assembled my CVs and started them north from Sydney.  On the 20th and 21st, my NG bombers scored hits on many APs.  His convoy went to Lae, likely to unload some reinforcements and perhaps a base force, though Miller hasn't based aircraft there yet. I sent my CVs to Brisbane once it became clear Buna wasn't a target.  I'm worried about NG, but I think Miller is worried about my land-based air.  Perhaps he won't mess with Milne and PM.
 
Suva:  The F-5 squadron at Tongatapu has worked Suva day after day, revealing that Miller's garrison is much stronger than my PBY recon had indicated.  He has perhaps 30,000 troops there.  If Nandi is lightly held, I'll still proceed with my invasion when the other invasions take place.  WEre I to take Nandi with a stout force, and then build up the airbase, Miller's troops at Suva would be in an uncomfortable position.
 
The next few days could be interesting at Madras....