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

[Canoerebel]

11/25/42 to 12/2/42
 
Miller and I have continued exchanging turns at an unprecedented rate (for us).  There haven't been any big changes on the map, but there's been alot of action.

India: My plan to draw Miller's attention to Madras has worked well.  My transports sailed around Ceylon, hugging the coastline, and arrived at Madras (as reported in the previous post).  On the 26th, Miller sent a surface combat TF steaming toward Madras, but my bombers tore into it, sinking at least 5 DDs.  His TF didn't have CAP, nor was there anything larger than a DD sighted.  I'm not exactly sure what he was up to, but it was nice to destroy a few ships.  "Remember the Battle of Maldive Islands!"  Things have been quiet since, but most of the Royal Navy is now following suit, rounding Ceylon, heading for Madras, and earnestly praying that it isn't on a collision course with the Mini-KB.  Once these ships arrive at Madras, I'll have everything in place to lauch the invasion of Ceylon (Operation Viburnum Rufidulum).  My shipping is vulnerable at Madras, but it's a risk I've decided to take.  Hopefully, my plentiful aircraft, combat ships, and harbor mines (about 140) will be sufficient to protect my transports from harm.

Burma and China:  Miller continues bombing resources, and his Tonys are eating my fighters alive.  We've had several big dogfights over Mandalay and Kunming, and my units have taken lopsided losses.  In one battle over Kunming, I lost 70 aircraft while Miller lost just 28.  I've converted one of my AVG detachments to P-38Gs (the pilots have 90 experience) and moved it to Kunming.  Perhaps it can exact a measure of revenge.  No ground battles recently.

New Guinea:  Still no signs of a major move by Miller.  On the 30th, Liberators escorted by P-38s struck Rabaul, damaging an AR and an AS.  Reinforcing base forces will arrive at both Milne Bay and Port Moresby in two or three days.  PM has a level 5 airfield and Milne is level 4.  My AV at the former is 600 and at the latter is 450.  I'm making progress on my goal of solidifying my NG defenses before my CVs head west to cover the Koepang operations.

Timor:  I blanched when recon sighted Jap APs at Koepang on the 30th.  I figured it was reinforcements, but the number of Jap ground troops did not increase over the next four days according to my recon flights.  Perhaps the APs are carrying supplies only.  I have not molested them, because I don't want to draw Miller's attention to the area.  If things remain as they are now, the invasion will assemble by mid- or late-December.

Suva:  Recon shows Miller has 40,000 troops here.  Much more than previously reported.  But that suits me - they're at the end of a very long supply line, and might be cut off and destroyed.

Pago Pago:  An MLE arrived here, as did five DMs.  This port is now protected by 2500 mines.I have a fast BB and seven DDs parked here too.  The airfield holds 150 aircraft of various sorts.

[Canoerebel]

12/3/42 to 12/9/42
 
So the first anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor comes and goes.  Once again, no changes have occurred on the map, but the Allies are laboring hard in preparation for major offensive operations.  Miller may well be doing the same.

China:  Miller's airforce is hammering my resource centers at Wuchow, Changsha, Lanchow, and other bases.  My fighters are helpless against the massed attacks.  Thanks goodness the Japanese suffer high operational losses.  Miller tried a deliberate attack at the hex between Canton and Kanhsien.  It came off as a 0:1 and he lost 2275/75/2 to my 662/12.  I've converted a second AVG detachment to P-38Gs.  One detachment is based at Chunking, the other at Kunming.

Burma:  On the 7th, Miller clobbered my fighters over Mandalay.  70 Tonys faced 70 Hurricanes and Spitfires.  He lost 20 (some to Ops) and I lost 31.  Neither side seems to be advancing here.  My forward post is Meikitla.  It looks like most of his units are in Rangoon.

India:  No changes here.  Miller hasn't molested Madras.  I can load the force invading Trincomalee when the time is right (one of its functions is to draw Miller's attention away from Timor and Suva, so I'll wait until right before those operations get started, unless an opportunity presents itself.

New Guinea:  Still no sign of major operations by Miller in New Guinea or the Solomons.  With the arrival of fresh base forces, PM can handle 150 aircraft and Milne can take 250.  I'm trying to scrounge up a SeaBee or engineer unit to land at Kiriwina, Woodlark Island, or possibly Irau to draw Miller's attention.

Timor:  Miller sent some Bettys or Nells to Koepang again.  They were there once before (right before I landed at Milne and Buna) and prevented me from sending unescorted transports from Perth to Darwin.  I sure would like to coax Miller into moving them again - by applying pressure in the Solomons or at Suva.  I really need to steathily move some APs and AKs to Darwin to handle the troops there that will be in the Koepang invasion, but I can't as long as Bettys or Nells are patrolling the sea lanes between Timor and Koepang.  That's a major reason I want to land engineers in the Solomons.

Suva:  That's also the reason I want to proceed with the Nandi invasion, but that is a ticklish problem.   Miller has more than 100 aircraft at Suva, making my approach to the island dangerous.  I may just have to use bombardment TFs and B-24s based from Tongatapu to hit Suva, creating some noise and perhaps making Miller think I'm threatening Suva.  I've already begun loading the 40th Division and an engineer unit at Pago Pago, but now that I think about it I'll cancel those orders and create a mock invasion TF.

Aleutians:  Miller has been reconning the western Aleutians for more than a month now.  On the 3rd, I received signal intel that his 7th Division is on transports heading to Paramushiro.  I have at least a RCT at each of Adak, Dutch Harbor, and Kodiak.  They'll have to stand on their own for awhile, but I think Miller is probably looking at Attu Island.

[Canoerebel]

12/10/42 to 12/12/42
 
Kanhsien:  After weeks of recon and aerial bombardments, Miller finally tried a deliberate attack on the 11th and suffered a bloody repulse.  The 0:1 attack with 9 forts cost him 23,537/448/45 to 1148/22.  I counterattacked on the 12th, got 2:1 odds, and sent more than half the Japanese troops toward Swatow.  I lost 5141/335 to 1470/75/1.  I'll attack again on the 13th and should force the rest of Miller's army to retreat.  Then what do I do?  Do I pursue his defeated army or go after the four division he has in a hex between Kanhsien and Canton?  I'm unsure - I really don't have any visions of going on the offensive and trying for one of the major Japanese cities. 
 
China:  Miller's massive aerial bombings are shredding my supply levels, especially at Honan and Sian, and his Tonys are eating my fighters alive.  The only solution I see is to shift as many bombers from India to China as possible (or to airfields in Burma within range of his Chinese bases), and then to hammer his airfields unmercifully.  I don't want to do that until I take Ceylon.  That operation could well get underway soon.
 
Timor:  The invasion troops based at Sydney and Brisbane are loading on transports.  From there they'll head to Melbourne, link up with more transports, and move to Perth, where the routine will be repeated.  The invasion TFs should depart Perth for Koepang before the end of the month.  In the meantime, I'm trying to slip a few transports to Darwin, one at a time, to have some in place to handle the invasion troops currently stationed in NW Australia.
 
NG/Solomons:  Quiet, which suits me.
 
Suva:  My B-24s at Tongatapu struck Miller's airfield at Suva for the first time, destroying a few Bettys on the ground.  I'm sending a SeaBee unit from Christmas Island to Wallis Island to build up its airfield.  Rather than invading Suva/Nandi, I may focus on the little islands to the north, eventually isolating Suva and Nandi.
 
 

[Q-Ball]

Canoerebel: I am anxious to hear about this. I think you're doing extremely well, that loss in the Indian Ocean notwithstanding. I am surprised you did that poorly, when I have found UK CV's, I had ALOT of Val's and Kate's shot down from Flak, and hardly any hits. His aircraft were chewed up both times by Zeros, so the end result is everyone just sailed away, out of aircraft.

The move on Koepang is an excellent one. In my opinion, the Solomons are a waste of time. Suva, even more so. I think players might focus on them because they were so important historically, but going straight north from Australia (I guess NW because the map is tilted), gets you to the SRA much much quicker. From Koepang, you can immediately bomb Kendari and destroy all the Resources there. You can work up toward Java, because if you establish yourself on Java, the SRA is completely toast for Japan. I am playing Japan, and really concerned about this area.

He is doing you a favor by putting troops on Suva. It's debateable whether you should invade. You can pound the airbase to dust from Tonga. He can still put seaplanes there and guide sub attacks, but that's probably it in the long-run. Otherwise, it's a self-guarding POW camp.

[Canoerebel]

12/13/42 to 12/21/42
 
Over these nine days, I continued my preparations for the Allied invasions, and there was also a big change on the map.

Kanhsien:  The Allies were victorious in the 2nd Battle of Kanhsien.  My second deliberate attack occurred on the 13th, achieved 15:1 odds, and sent the remainder of Miller's troops back toward Swatow.  I lost 4120/52 to his 1700/14/4.  I decided to send a large contingent of troops after Miller's, but I made so little progress over three days (eight miles, for goodness sake) that I cancelled the orders.  I'll rest and regroup.

China:  Miller's aggressive bombing and dogfighting campaign continues.  I'm on fumes.  I've sent most of my planes to Chengshu where they are out of danger.  My P-38s at Chungking continue to fight gamely, downing more Tonys than they lose; but I don't have many of them and can't replace them fast enough.

India:  I think I'll load the Trincomalee invasion force about the same time that my Timor invasion force rounds Perth.  What I think is the Mini-KB (I sighted 7 or 8 CAs) showed up east of Ceylon on the 20th.  Several small transports - three of which carry aircraft from Australia - were in big trouble.  I issued orders for them to scatter to all points.  But Miller pulled his TF back on the 21st. 

Timor:  My CVs left Brisbane on the 19th and will arrive off Melbourne in three days or so.  Many invasion TFs are already in Melbourne, loaded and ready to go.  My units in Perth will load soon.  I've been successful in sending more transports to Darwin - some from Perth and two around the top of Australia.  Around the 16th, Miller sent Zeros from Koepang to Darwin.  Then, the following day, he pulled all of his fighters and most of his bombers out of Koepang.  Why?  (He also pulled nearly all aircraft out of Suva.  Why?)  I don't know exactly how long it will take my TFs to move from Melbourne to Koepang, but I'm guesstimating that D-Day will be early January.  In my next post I'll detail the air, sea, and land units involved in this gambit.  Oh, I should note that continuing recon doesn't show any strengthening of the Japanese garrison at Koepang, which is holding steady at about 27,000.

New Guinea:  Quiet.  A small TF with SeaBees arrived at Irau on the 21st, but didn't have time to unload.  Then it occurred to me to check Irau to see whether it's a viable airfield/port like it is in Uncommon Valor.  It isn't!  So I've issued orders for the TF to move south.  When it's out of range of Miller's bombers at Lunga, it will head to Kiriwini or Woodlark.

Suva:  Miller's moved his aircraft out.  I don't know what he's up to.  One of my SeaBee units will arrive at Wallis Island tomorrow.

US CVs:  Six are part of the Timor invasion.  CVE Nassau is approaching Auckland.  I'll likely send her west to serve in a backup role.  Three CVEs have arrived at Panama City with another to follow in a week or so.  CV Essex is just two weeks away.

KB:  No idea where it's at.

Aleutians: Miller hasn't made a move here. I have a SeaBee unit at Umnack (or something like that). I have two more on the way from Seattle. I'm debating whether to post one way out at Attu.

QBall: I always lose all my CVs whenever they go into battle. I had a UV game with Miller in which i lost something like 15-20 CVs. He lost 2. I'm surprised I haven't gone and sunk all the US CVs in this game. There's still time to do so, but I'm doing my best. Thanks for the observations about Suva, the Solomons, and Koepang. From reading AARs, I knew that Timor/DEI are a better vector of attack than are NG/Solomons, but I decided to strike because I was sure Miller was weak in this area, and hitting him in his soft underbelly would create a pressure point. I think it's worked well. In taking Buna, establishing and building up my base at Milne, and building up Port Moresby, all I lost were a a CA, CL, and AP. Now it gives me a place I can probe and "trouble" Miller, drawing his attention (hopefully), while the real show takes place at Koepang.

[Canoerebel]

12/22/42 and 12/23/42

China: Miller is systematically wiping out Chinese fighters, resources, and heavy industry. The P-38s are holding their own, but by the 23rd only one was fit to fly CAP over Chungking. China needs help. It'll get there eventually - once Ceylon is in Allied hands.

India: The Trincomalee invasion troops start loading on transports on the 23rd. The invasion fleet will get underway before the New Year. The first wave will include 222nd HQ, 23rd Indian Division (AV 346), Bombay Engineers, 28th Artillery, Indian Artillery, and 18th UK Division (AV 337). In reserve at Madras are 7th Tanks (AV 263), 44th Indian Brigade (AV 114), and 224th Air Base. Recon indicates Miller has 9,000 troops at Trincomalee and about 30,000 at Colombo.

Timor: The invasion fleets left Melbourne on the 24th. Breakdown of the invasion TF thus far (I'll edit to add the Perth and Darwin elements when they load up). In NW Australia, the Allies can base 30 aircraft each at Derby and Broome, and 90 each at Wyndham and Darwin. I'd like more and may send a BF from Cairns around the top of Australia.

Invasion TFs:

TF# Type Flagship Ships Ground Forces
1245-- Combat-- Indiana/N.C.-- 2 BB, 4 CA, CL, 5 DD, DMS
1256-- Combat-- Washington-- BB, 5 DD, DMS
1010-- Air-- Yorktown-- CV, 2 CA, CLAA, CL, 9 DD
1135-- Air-- Enterprise-- CV, CA, CLAA, 2 CL, 9 DD
1143-- Air-- Saratoga-- CV, CA, CLAA, 2 CL, 9 DD
1155-- Air-- Wasp-- CV, CA, CL, 11 DD
1236-- Air-- Hornet-- CV, CA, CLAA, CL, 10 DD
1238-- Air-- Lexington-- CV, 2 CA, CL, 11 DD

1076-- Transport -- 4 AK, 2 SC-- US I Corps HQ
1026-- Transport-- 9 AP, MSW, 2 SC-- 6 Aussie Div., 101 A.T. Regt.
1027-- Transport -- 5 AK, MSW-- 11 US Combat Engrs.
1087-- Transport-- 4 AK, MSW, SC-- 2nd Aussie Tanks
1103-- Transport-- 3 AP, MSW, SC, PG-- 32nd Aussie AA Regt.
1158-- Replenishment-- 3 AO
1216-- Transport-- 9 AP, 2 DD, 2 MSW, 2 SC-- 1st US Marine Div., 810 EAB
1219-- Transport-- 6 AP, 2 DD, 2 MSW, 2 SC-- 3rd Aussie Div.
1246-- Transport-- 2 AK, AP, DD, MSW-- Part of 1st US Marine Div.
1105-- Transport-- 3 AK-- Supplies

The following TFs formed at Perth and will join the invasion TF as it passes Perth on or about January 3, 1943:

1284-- Transport-- 10 AP, MSW, DD, PG-- Most of 4th Aussie Div., 5th AF HQ
1002-- Transport-- 3 AP, MSW, SC-- Balance of 4th Aussie Div.
1004-- Transport-- 5 AK, MSW-- Supplies
1077-- Combat-- Mississippi-- BB, 3 DD

The following TFs formed at Darwin around January 12:

1051-- Transport-- 4 AP, MSW-- Most of 7th Aussie Div.
1149-- Transport-- 3 AK-- Supplies
1160-- Transport-- 7 AK, MSW-- 2nd Aussie Cav. Div.
1164-- Transport-- 4 AK-- Supplies

There are also several PT TFs at or nearing Koepang as of the 16th.

The fully prepped reserve in Darwin is the 31st Aussie Brigade and 106th RAF Base Force (30 aviation support). There are several other brigade/divisions in Darwin preppred for Darwin, but they can serve in an emergency. The 3rd Marine Parachute Battalion is at Wyndham. Not sure whether it will be used yet. Not even sure Dakotas have the needed range.

Edited to try to make the table easier to read and to add TFs formed at Perth, and then at Darwin.

[Canoerebel]

12/24/42 to 12/26/42
 
Ceylon:  The invasion TFs are loaded and ready to leave Madras for Trincomalee "when the time is right."  A bombardment TF went into Trincom on the 26th.  One DD hit three mines and took moderate damage.  The TF knocked out 7 guns and caused 1450 casualties.  My sub picket line near the Nicobars and Andaman Island reported contact with a large Japanese combat TF.  Only DDs reported.  I'll wait and see where this group goes.  As soon as I get the all-clear, the invasion force will embark.  I'll be glad to begin the liberation of Ceylon as that will eventually free up ground troops, base forces, and bombers for Burma and China, but in the short term this invasion is intended to draw Miller's attention - and some of his assets - to the Bay of Bengal and to hopefully deflect his attention from Timor.
 
China:  The Japanese troops that retreated from Kanhsien seem to be heading NW toward the hex west of Nanchang.  I have some 4 Chinese corps/divisions there along with an armor, HQ, and artillery unit.  More Chinese are heading that way from Kanhsien (moving oh so slowly) and Changsha.  Miller will arrive with first and with overwhelming numbers, but perhaps his units will be disprupted, fatigued, and demoralized enough to prevent a successful attack before my reinforcements arrive.  A handful of P-38s and P-40s took to the skies over Chungking on Christmas day, downing 9 Tonys and 2 Dinah against the loss of a single P-40.
 
Timor:  The invasion fleet is two days west of Melbourne.  The ground troops at Perth are loading up.  I've been slowly swapping out the Hudsons and other less useful aircraft from NW Australia and replacing them with B-24s and B-25s.  No signs of "unrest" or "unease" on Miller's part yet.  Recon continues to show the Koepang garrison at about 27,000 troops with a handful of fighters.
 
NG/Solomons:  Quiet.  My Seabee unit should arrive at Kiriwina or Woodlark in four or five days.  This is primarily a diversion.
 
Suva:  Quiet.  Wallis Island airfield will reach level one in two days.  This is also primarily a diversion.

[Canoerebel]

12/27/42 to 1/2/43

Ceylon:  The invasion of Trincomalee (Operation Juglans Nigra) is under way.  D-Day will be tomorrow, January 3.  Miller is moving his troops from Tincomalee to Colombo and pulling them out from there via fast transport.  Bombers from Madras caught one of his TFs east of Ceylon and hit five DDs once each and one DD twice.  I'm worried about the Mini-KB showing up.  P-38s from Managardi will fly LRCAP over Trincomalee, but that's minimal protection against any massed attack.  Here's hoping that Ceylon has Miller looking in the west while the main threat gathers far to the southeast.

Timor:  The Allied invasion fleets will rendezvous at and near Perth on the 3rd and then make for Koepang.  Guesstimated D-Day is around January 10-12.  More Allied transports and base forces have arrived in NW Australia.  As best I can tell, Miller's curiosity hasn't been piqued there yet.  May that status continue.

Suva:  Miller is pulling out his troops.  A large convoy arrived on the 1st.  A surface combat TF including a BB and DDs was sent from Pago Pago, but just missed interception when Miller's transports pulled out and ended the turn a hex from Suva.  I tried again on the 2nd, but missed by two hexes this time.  I'll give it one more try on the 3rd and continue to hope his CVs don't show up.  Intercepts shows he's loaded the 4th Division and will transport it to Tarawa.  Recon shows only 11,000 troops left at Suva.  With the evacuations here and in Ceylon, Miller is aggressively pulling back.  Wallis Island airbase is already level 2, and Efate Santu is nearing a 1, so Suva is about to be surrounded by Allied airbases.

NG/Solomons:  Seabee unit landed at Kiriwina and will establish a level 1 airfield in just a few days.  No signs of offensive activity by Miller, which suits me since the US CVs are way down south.

US CVs:  CVE Nassau will arrive at Perth shortly and will support the invasion.  Four CVEs are at Panama City, and CV Essex will arrive in four days.  These CVEs and the CV will form into a TF with a BB, CL, and six DDs and make for Bora Bora.

KB:  No sign of it.

China:  The vanguard of Miller's troops (70th Division) moving toward the hex west of Nanchang arrived on the 1st.  The Chinese attacked on the 2nd - a deliberate attack at 6:1 which forced the 70th to retreat.  On the 29th, Miller's fighters hit Kunming and Chungking - he lost 16 Tonies at K and 2 at C.  The Allies lost 5 Spitfires and 8 P-40s at K and nothing at C.  Miller hasn't sought fighter engagements since then, but his bombers continue to wreak havoc on Chinese supply, resources, and heavy industry in many cities.

I'll post maps later today.

[Canoerebel]

01/02/43

Map of the Invasion of Ceylon:

[Canoerebel]

01/02/43: Timor Map at D-Day Minus 10 (or thereabouts). I've updated the list of TFs involved in the invasion, adding those at Perth. See Post #145 covering 12/22 and 12/23/42.

[Canoerebel]

01/03/43

Ceylon:  The invasion TFs arrived at Trincomalee harbor.  A number of ships suffered damage from mines, none more than moderate.  A goodly number of troops unload (500 AV, most of 2 artillery units, and part of an HQ unit) with less than 1,000 casualties to shore guns.  But the Mini-KB showed up SE of Ceylon and launched two sorties against the invasion fleet.  The first - 12 Kates - squared off against CAP of 13 P-38s and scored one TT hit on an MSW; the next sortie was the big one - scores of bombers and fighters - and scored two bomb hits on BB Repulse (minimal damage), and 5 TT and 2 bomb hits on BB Warspite.  The MSW and Warspite sank.  Flak and the CAP knocked down 25 Kates, 7 Zeros, and 3 Vals.  I've ordered the remaining combat ships to return to Madras along with some of the faster transports.  The remainder will stay at Trincomalee.  I've moved some P-40s to Managardi to boost the LRCAP provided by the P-38s.  The ground troops will shock attack tomorrow - I have about 500 AV partially supplied, but Miller apparently has only a handful (1500) troops on the ground.  I should take Trincomalee (right?), and I'm glad the Mini-KB was drawn this way, but I hope I didn't launch this diversion too quickly.

Timor:  Most of the invasion fleet will arrive 120 miles WNW of Perth tomorrow.  There they will wait a day or two to allow all TFs to catch up and refuel - wow, my CV TFs have used up alot.  It's going to take about 10 more days to get my ships to Koepang.  Miller's recon sighted more transports moving off the NW Australia coast, but still no sign that he's suspicious.  He's no dummy, so he probably wonders if something is up.  I just hope that his Mini-KB is too far away to link up with the KB when the invasion takes place.

New Guinea:  Miller's recon picked up the transports unloading the SeaBees at Woodlark Island.  I hope that gets his attention and convinces him that's the direction of my next attack.

China:  No changes today.

Suva:  The combat TF missed intercepting Miller's transport fleet yet again, but SS Grunion did put a TT in an AP.

[Canoerebel]

01/04/43
 
Ceylon:  My invasion has been messy.  More troops landed, then Miller sent in a small surface combat TF (CL, 3 DDs) which damaged several transports (my combat ships and some transports had withdrawn to Madras for safety from the Mini-KB).  The remaining transports and support ships I have at Trincomalee decided to withdraw a hex - out of LR CAP - against orders.  During the daylight hours, Miller's ships were under cloud cover, so none of the hordes of LBA that I have sortied (grrr).  Miller transferred some aircraft to Colombo, and they sortied damaging an AK moderately and a CL lightly.  The Mini-KB launched her planes, which damaged a host of transports and service ships that had no CAP.  Thus far in the invasion of Ceylon, I've lost a BB, PG, 3 MSW, 2 AP, and 2 AK.  Several more have severe damage.  Trincomalee fell on a 156:1 attack.  Miller only had an engineer unit left in the city.  Trincom had 7 forts, though, and it would have been a tough nut to crack, especially given the mess this invasion has turned into, had Miller stuck around.  The airfield is moderately damaged, but I'm transporting in a base force from Madras via Dakota squadrons and I've moved in two Beaufort squadrons from Trivandrum.  I believe Miller will be worried about what I might base at Trivandrum and will therefore move the Mini-KB out of range.
 
Timor:  My fleets are rendezvouing two hexes west of Perth to refuel and reorganize.  They will proceed toward Koepang on the 5th.  D-Day is likely ten days away.
 
NG/Solomons/Suva:  Quiet.   

[Canoerebel]

01/05/43 to 01/07/43
 
Ceylon:  Miller pulled back the Mini-KB on the 5th, but Vals from Colombo hit two already damaged AKs and two APs.  One of the AKs went down.  By the 6th, there was no more sign of Japanese shipping, and I concentrated on shifting some aircraft to Trincomalee and organizing some supply convoys to head that way.  On the 7th, I was surprised to find the Mini-KB had returned, stationed at a point a few hexes east of the island.  None of his naval aircraft launched - and there weren't any targets around - but finally some Allied 4E bombers struck.  42 B-17s and Liberator IIIs faced 130 Zeros, ten of which went down while 16 bombers didn't make it.  The rest hit CVL Zuiho thrice, doing heavy damage, and scored on hit on CVE Chuiyo.  His TF is a long way from port, so perhaps Zuiho will sink, which would be a great moral victory.  But the most important thing about it is that these CVs are far from Timor and may be slowed down by the damaged ships - if the ultimate affect of the Ceylon invasion is the prevent or dissuade Miller from sending the Mini-KB to Timor, it was a success.  Miller has 30,000 troops marooned - I think - in Colombo.  Once I get supply distributed to Trincomalee, I can begin shifting a portion of the massed bombers in SE India to Burma and perhaps China.
 
Timor:  As of the 7th, the Allied invasion fleet is 180 miles west of Geraldton and heading for Koepang.  No changes detected in Japanese forces there, nor that Miller suspects anything.  I can base 300 aircraft at the four NW Australia cities.  In addition there are the six CVs and CVE Nassau.  I'm trying not to create the sort of mess that ensued when I invaded Trincomalee, but this operation is far larger and more compicated.
 
NG/Solomons/Suva:  Remain quiet.
 
China:  Miller launched back to back deliberate attacks at Honan on the 5th and 6th.  The first came off at 0:1 and dropped forts from 9 to 8; Miller lost 9896/125/6 to 1696/2.  The next attack was half-hearted - a 0:1 that cost him 36 and the Chinese 100.  He has two units on the way.  Honan will fall eventually, but the irony is that I was evacuating the city a month or two ago when he attacked, unsuccessfully to my surprise, and stopped my units from leaving.  On the 6th, in an air battle over Chungking Miller lost 11 Tonys while the Allies lost 6 P-40s and 4 P-38s.

[Alfred]

Canoerebel,
 
Nice diagrams - they succinctly "paint the picture".  Are they labour/time intensive?
 
Alfred

[Canoerebel]

01/08/43
 
Alfred:  After some trial and error, I found a routine that's simple and doesn't take much time.  I create the diagrams in Word, convert them to a .pdf, crop them, and then save a .jpegs.  Most of them only take 10-15 minutes now.
 
Ceylon:  It looks like Miller's sending in a transport convoy to pull out troops from Colombo.  I don't see how they can make it with all the bombers I have based at Trincomalee, Trivandrum, Managardi, Madras, and Bangalore, but you never know.  He sent in Tonys to provide cover, but a large raid of B-24s and other bombers destroyed 15 to 20 on the ground.  I want to see what happens next turn.  Another one of my AKs sank on the 8th.  That should be the final ship casualty of the Trincomalee Invasion.  Miller has thus far lost a DD and may lose CVL Zuiho.  His Mini-KB moved due east from Ceylon and seems to be going slowly, which is the key as - may I repeat myself - the chief objective was to keep the Mini-KB tied up in the Bay of Bengal while I invade Timor.
 
Timor:  No changes detected in Japanese defenses.  The invasion force is tightly packed 600 miles NW of Perth.  It should near Exeter on the 9th, rounding the "hump."  On the 9th or 10th, the transports at Darwin will begin loading. 
 
New Guinea:  To create a diversion in NG/Solomons, I'm sending a surface combat TF to Milne Bay.  I may try a bombardment run against Shortlands.  I'm also moving an MLE and two small ML to Milne from Townsville.  These two ML were working Melbourne and Sydney for most of the game, but moved to T'ville about one week ago.
 
Other Allied MLs:  Large MLs are working from Auckland, Noumea, and Pearl Harbor, with DMs working from Pearl and Pago Pago.
 
Suva:  The KB may show up for the Timor invasion, or otherwise reveal itself.  When that happens, the Allies will proceed with the invasion of Nandi.  The 40th Division and a few smaller units are loading at PP. 
 
Aleutians:  Transports are carrying a RCT from Anchorage to a western island - possibly Kiska, or perhaps Amchitka.  A Seabee unit is hard at work at the latter.
 
China:  Some indications Miller is shifting his focus to Changsha. 

[Canoerebel]

01/09/43 to 01/11/43
 
Ceylon:  Things got hot in Colombo, and it doesn't appear that Miller will be able to evacuate his troops - if that's what he was doing.  Japanese transports have been hit hard by Allied bombers for the past three days.  At least five AKs and an MSW were destroyed, with others suffering severe damage.  Jap fighters tried to provide CAP, but on the 10th a sweep by 50 P-40s from Manargudi destroyed 12 Tonys and Tojos while losing but 3.  Miller pulled his planes out of Ceylon.  None of the multitude of strikes caused any ground casualties, however, leading me to question my assumption that these transports were for evacuation.  Perhaps they were bringing in supplies, or could they have brought in reinforcements?  Recon shows 40,000 Japanese troops - previously there were 30,000, but the additional number may be the Trincomalee refugees.

Mini-KB:  moving slowly east and now near the Nicobars.  It seems certain that the Mini-KB will have to refuel before moving elsewhere, so it should not be available for at least the opening events of the Invasion of Timor.

Tmor:  The Allied invasion TFs are now about six days away.  Still no signs of unusual Japanese activity at Koepang.  Allied transports at Darwin are loading cavalry and infantry divisions.  Another base force will arrive at Darwin within three days, permitting the Allies to base more than 200 aircraft there.

New Guinea and Vicinity:  Quiet.

KB:  Where is it?  I have no idea what offensive plans Miller is contemplating or carrying out in the Pacific right now.  He's been laying low.

[Canoerebel]

1/12/43 to 1/14/43
 
Koepang:  The invasion convoy has split into two bodies as it makes the final run to Koepang.  The transports will follow a bombardment TF into Koepang and will be covered by CVE Essex.  The CVs will follow another surface combat TF and take station between Koepang and Australia.  The transports are only 540 miles (9 hexes) from Koepang, so D-Day should be January 17 or 18.  I don't believe Miller has seen the invasion TF yet.  Recon shows three or four more bombers (a total of 10) at Koepang, but everything still seems quiet.  Allied bombers will hit Koepang tomorrow (assuming they decide to fly).  I've also sent my main combat TF - the one the transports are following - toward Koepang to bombard.  It should arrive on the 16th.  I think Miller will know - or have a very good hunch - what's happening by tomorrow. 

Ceylon:  Quiet now.  Supplies building.  45,000 Japanese troops seem marooned in Colombo.

Burma:  Quiet.

China:  Miller is gathering for his push to Changsha.  He's got to get by my troops two hexes east (near Nanchang) first.  Honan's defenses are cracking.  Miller's tried deliberate and shock attacks.  He's taken heavy losses, but reduced my forts to 5.  My troops are without supplies and their adjusted assault values are very low.

Suva:  My troop transports are loaded and ready to move out from Pago Pago if and when the KB shows up at Timor or elsewhere.

[Canoerebel]

1/15/43

Timor:  All eyes are on Koepang.  The invasion TFs continued to sail undetected on the 14th, but on the 15th Betties flying recon from Koepang found ships all over the place - mainly to the SE.  Miller then shifted aircraft to Koepang, but not as much as I had feared.  I'll update this tomorrow, but if memory serves he has about 25 fighters, 25 bombers, and 60 or 70 "auxiliary" which means Kates, Vals, and the like.  The only other base in range with aircraft is Kendari, and I don't think he has much there.  At this early point, it doesn't appear that Miller was "looking this way."  No sign of massive air or navel assets, but it's still early.

Then Things Got Crazy:  Some of my transport convoys had become scattered and were lagging behind, so rather than sending only a part of the transports in, orders were issued for most of the Allied TFs to rendezvous one hex east of Koepang.   This includes all troop and supply transports, replenishment ships, US CVs and the CVE, and most of the surface combat TFs.  The largest combat TF - which was just one hex south of Koepang - was changed to bombardment.  Then I noticed it didn't have a DMS. So I changed things.  I sent that TF to the main rendezvous hex to meet up with two extra DMSs heading that way.  In its place, one of the surface combat TFs in the main CV group will bombard Koepang.  Then I received an emergency phone call that required a visit to a local hospital.  I ended my turn and sent it to Miller.  Later, after things quieted (the emergency turned out fine), it occurred to me that originally my CVs had orders to follow one of the combat TFs.  I can't remember whether I canceled that order and whether it's the combat TF heading to Koepang.  I think the follow order was canceled, but if not, my CVs will follow that TF to Koepang, probably encounter mine fields, and remain there.  The minefield could be a calamity, and the fact that CV CAP is halfed when CVs are in a land hex could be disastrous.  I think I had canceled those orders, but I won't know for sure until Miller runs the turn file tomorrow.

New Guinea:  Japanese troop and/or supply convoys arrived at Lae.  Several were damaged by bombers from Port Moresby and Milne Bay.

Suva:  Another Japanese convoy arrived at Suva, almost surely to evacuate troops.  Swodfish torpedoed one AP.  I'll send the Pago Pago-based combat TF to try for an intercept.  I expect the KB to respond to the situation at Timor, and if so invasion TF at Pago Pago is ready to make for Nandi.

Edited to correct date covered by post.

[Canoerebel]

1/16/43
 
The Great Goof:  I did what I had feared:  left my CVs with orders to follow a combat TF that I decided at the last minute to send to Koepang.  But I didn't pay for the goof.  I had visions of my CV TFs encountering massive minefields, but there were no mines.  I had visions of my CVs being clobbered by Japanese bombers since CAP is halfed when CVs are in a land hex, but the KB didn't show up and my CAP was more than enough to handle the Japanese strikes from Koepang and Kendari.  All's well that ends well - so far.
 
Ships:  On the 16th, two bombardment TFs and the CVs took station at Koepang.  CVE Nassau, a combat TF, and five or six transport convoys arrived at the hex to the east.  The bulk of the transports will arrive at this hex on the 17th, so the landings will take place on the 18th.  Slow unfolding, but this is a massive operation.  See Post # 145 for a list of the TFs involved (I'm editing that post to add the TFs that came from Darwin).  I was surprised that Koepang wasn't mined.
 
Aircraft:  The first pre-invasion strikes take place.  In the morning, 56 Liberators from Darwin and Broome bomb Koepang airfield and score 103 runway hits.  16 Zeros and 12 Bettys manage to get off the damaged field.  They face 101 F4F.  All but one of the Jap aircraft are downed while two F4Fs go down.  Then 63 Zeros and 13 Bettys come in from Kendari (Miller had more aircraft there than I thought) and face 98 F4F.  This time the Japanese lose 51 Z and 7 B and the US Navy loses 11 fighters.  Next, 180 SBDs (set for naval strikes with the airfield as an alternative) come in and score 104 runway hits.  Finally, in the afternoon, 24 Zeros and 6 Bettys square off against 72 F4F.  17 Z and 1 B are destroyed; no F4Fs fall.  For the day, the Allies lose 17 aircraft (13 air-to-air, 1 flak, 3 operations) while the Japs lose 114 (98 air-to-air, 6 on the field, 7 flak, and 3 operations).
 
Bombardment:  Two small bombardment TFs strike in the afternoon, scoring 33 runway hits and 800/24 to the ground troops.  Tomorrow (the 17th), the main bombardment force will arrive and one of the two small ones will take station with the CVs a hex east of Koepang.
 
Koepang:  Suffered 64% runway damage.  The Allies hope to knock out the airfield tomorrow.  That would leave Kendari as Miller's only base until the KB shows up.
 
KB:  No sign of it nor did I have any solid evidence about its location in the weeks preceeding the invasion.  My guess is that it was at Truk.  If so, it ought to several days before it shows up.  I think the Mini-KB couldn't make it for at least four or five days (it was at the Nicobars and probably heading for Singapore when seen a few days ago.
 
China:  Another shock attack at Honan.  Miller gets 5:1, reduces forts to zero, and loses 6279/102/18 to my 1659/2.  Next attack the city falls.  Sian is strongly held (4100 AV with 9 forts) but supplies there are a worry.  In a few days Allied bombers will shift to Burma/China from Ceylon and SE India.  Perhaps they can help restore equilibrium.  Miller's massive bombing campaign against Chinese resources, heavy industry, and oil has my guys on the ropes.
 
Suva:  The Allied invasion TF leaves Pago Pago.  I won't commit the troops until I know where the KB is.

[Canoerebel]

1/17/43

Koepang:  All transports arrived at the rendezvous hex and will go in tonight.  Bombardments:  On the 17th, two surface combat TFs bombarded Koepang scoring but 15 runway hits and destroying 8 guns.  Aerial:  CAP for these TFs was provided by CVE Nassau and the F4Fs from one CV.  They performed much more poorly than the CAP of the day before.  The only air attacks came from Kendari.  The first strike of 23 Z and 4 B faced 46 F4Fs and none of the attackers released.  The second strike of 57 Z and 32 B faced 39 F4F.  4 Z and 4 B were destroyed as were 14 F4F.  The Bettys put two torpedoes into BB North Carolina doing moderate damage (the NC is heading for Darwin, which is a level 6 port with one AR).  195 SBDs then hit Koepang's airfield.  Service damage is 71%.  Only a handful of my 4E bombers from Australia flew missions today.  D-Day: The two bombardment TFs remain on station at Koepang tomorrow, joined by the invasion transports.  The only CAP will be provided by CVE Nassau's handful of F4Fs.  A surface combat TF, 6 CV TFs, and replenishment TF will take station two hexes east of Koepang.  A little additional CAP to be provided by P-38s from Wyndham.  Will Jap CVs show up on the 18th or 19th?  If so, I'm in trouble. If not, I should be in good shape.  Alot of troops should unload on D-Day, but the supply situation will be iffy for several more days.  My transports aren't well covered, but I suspect the KB, if it's coming and near - would seek combat with my CVs rather than my transports.  This is nerve-wracking!

Burma:  B-17s from Dacca make a suicide run against shipping at Rangoon.  A bunch are shot down, but two AKs are damaged (one heavily).

China:  Honan falls to a 3:1 shock attack.  Japs lose 5217/64/7 to 1302/1.  My units will head to Sian.  Honan held two months longer than I had expected.

New Guinea:   Bombers hit Japanese shipping at Lae, severly damaging two AKs and a PG.

Suva:  S-34 torpedoes an AP.  Several Japanese transport convoys still present.  My surface combat TF goes in tonight.  My invasion TF can reach Nandi in two days.