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

[Canoerebel]

7/29/43 to 8/4/43
 
Both the Java reinforcement fleets and the Davao invasion fleets are ready to go, but I'm afraid to send either of them.  Jap fighters and bombers consistently get the best of the Allied airforce, and Miller is expecting an Allied move in both places.  So I'm reluctant to send in either of the two forces.  In fact, I'm toying with the idea of combining the two, most probably to invade the Philippines, but possible to move on Samarinda or Tarakan.  That would leave the Brit Empire forces in Java unreinforced and vulnerable, but I believe a major Allied advance in the PI is a bigger threat to the Japs in the long run.  Davao is still lightly held and I know I can take the base, although it could be really tough on Allied ships if the Japs win another major battle.  The more I think about this idea, the more I like it.
 
Java:  Jap bombers and bombardment TFs are regularly hitting Tjilitjap (totally shutting down the airfield) and Bali (just about shutting it down).  Too, I'm losing alot of aircraft on the ground.  Allied fighters just aren't performing well, and massive B-24 raids from Koepang, Kendari, and Makassar haven't succeeded in really denting the Jap base at Soerabaja.  In Uncommon Valor, these kinds of Allied aircraft (both fighters and bombers) employed in the numbers I'm using would have quickly and decisively taken control of the air, but instead Miller is killing me here.  Frustrating.
 
Morotai:  The Allies have a level one airbase with a base force capable of handling 35 aircraft on the little island just north of Morotai and Manado.  This is just three or four hexes from Davao, and will help in the invasion.  The Allied fleets gathered at Morotai are truly massive.  No matter what air and sea forces Miller employs, I'll have enough to seize Davao and probably the rest of Mindanao to boot.  Morotai is about to go to a level 5 airfield, which will enable me to base another 50 aircraft there, which will be a help.  Manado will go to level 6 in about two weeks.  Weda is a level 5, but only has a small base force.
 
CenPac:  If the Japs react strongly to whatever the Allies do in the DEI or Philippines, I have a tremendous fleet in Hawaii with three divisions, two RCT, and support troops.  I could move on Wake or Marcus, but this invasion fleet wouldn't have air cover.  I'll probably wait and hope that the Allied CVs can move this way after the Davao invasion is finished - that would be feasible simply because once I have Davao in hand the Allied moves in the PI could be covered by LBA.
 
Situation:  The Allies did a fine job seizing Timor, Celebes, etc. at minimal cost, but the last two months have been very difficult.  Miller has done a fine job stopping the bleeding and lashing back.
 
 

[Canoerebel]

8/5/43 to 8/7/43
 
Burma:  After sitting in the hex outside Rangoon for several months, the Allied troops moved into town to gauge the strength of the defense.  I have felt all along that it would be nearly impossible to take Rangoon at this point, partly because Miller has maintainted a huge fighter presence that made it prohibitively costly for the Allies to maintain a bombing campaign.  But a week ago Miller withdrew about five units from Rangoon - this caught me by surprise, and I think he must want them for the Battle of Java.  I figured there was at least a chance he had weakened his defenses enough to make a difference.  When the Allies arrived, the Japs launched a deliberate attack, which also surprised me - I had looked for a bombardment first to "feel me out."  The Jap attack came off at 0:1 and cost them 6084/253/13 to 1592/66/1.  The Allied bombardment did little damage.  Both sides have a little more than 100k troops here.  The Japs have three divisions (5th, 55th, and 56th).  The unmodified Allied AV is probably about twice as large.  I still don't think the Allies have enough, but I'll try a "probing" deliberate attack tomorrow to see.  The Allies still have about 4 Indian divisions in India and Ceylon, where I planned to use them in amphibious efforts.  I am sending one to Burma.  Others may follow.
 
Java:  Jap bombings and bomardments are really hurting the Allied defenses at Jakarta and Tjilitjap, but I think Miller has to bring reinforcements before he can try to re-take these cities.  Rather than reinforcing Java - which would expose the Allies ships to attack by overhwelming numbers by sea and air - I've decided to combine all forces in the move toward Davao.
 
Philippines:  The Brit reinforcements slated for Java are steaming east to rendezvous with the US CV TFs just west of Broome.  Miller's recon planes have caught wind of TFs SE of Java, but I don't know if he knows what's there and what's going on.  Given the position, he may well figure these are moving toward Java.  Once the two fleets combine, they'll sail north and refuel, probably at Amboina.  Then the Allied forces will rendezvous at Morotai for the final move on Davao.  Without a doubt, Miller will see this coming and he should have everything available to contest the landings.  The Allies will have two Brit CVs (really equal to CVLs, I think), two fleet CVs, 5 CVLs, and another fleet CV and CVL if I wait for the Bunker Hill TF to arrive (she's currently approaching Suva).  No matter how much force Miller employs and no matter how badly the battle goes for the Allies, I don't think the Japs can stop the Allies from taking Davao.  But of course I don't want a worst-case-scenario outcome - I'd like to finish the invasion in such good shape that the Allies can move out from there.  Also, I hope to use the Allied CVs to cover an invasion of Marcus Island before the end of the year.

[Canoerebel]

8/8/43 and 8/9/43
 
Timor Sea:  A big carrier battle began on the 9th, with the Allies coming out on top thus far.  On the 8th, what apepared to be a relatively small Jap CV force showed up SE of Soerabaja and seemed to be on the trail of something - perhaps Miller was coming for the transports he sighted south of Koepang, or he may have other things in mind.  I don't think he was aware that the Brit and US CVs had just rendezvoued south of Koepang.  Since I thought he had a small force, and given the tremendous Allied LBA in the area, I moved west thinking that Miller probably would skedaddle, but that possibly I might get to tangle with a small CV force.
 
But it wasn't a small force and it wasn't skedaddling.  Miller moved a force including at least 8 CVs (Amagi, Taiho, Kaga, Akagi, Unryu, Hiryu, Katsuraga, and Soryu) to a point between my force and Australia.  He ended up just four hexes west of Derby, while my CVs (including two US CVs, 5 US CVLs, and two Brit CVs) were to the west, and the Brit transport convoys just north of the Jap CVs.
 
The Allied naval air launched first - one large, effective strike followed by a handful of small, ineffective strikes.  The Allies strike included 49 F6F, 8 Sea Hurricanes, 28 TBM, 68 SBD, 24 TBF, and 12 Swordfish.  The Japs put up 91 Zeros and 54 Zekes.  Both sides lost alot of aircraft, but the Allies scored 2 TT hits on CV Taiho, a bomb hit on Kaga ("on fire"), two bombs on Akagi ("on fire") and 2 bombs on Katsuragi ("on fire").
 
The Japs launched a number of strikes, a large one going in against the unprotected Brit transport fleet 180 miles to the north.  This damaged about five transports, sinking one. 
 
Many Jap strike forces came in against the Allied CVs, but it was usually groups like 28 Vals followed by 30 Kates followed by 16 Vals followed by 22 Judys, etc.  The Allied CAP devastated these strikes.  I don't think the Japs unloosed a single bomb or torpedo.
 
Unfortunately, Allied LBA didn't sortie.  Those aircraft at Bali went against some shipping at Soerabaja (a decoy created by Miller?).  The LBA at Koepang - more than 200 aircraft, mostly B24s, stayed at home.  Ditto the bombers at Broome, Derby, Lautem, Kendari, and Makassar.
 
For the day, the Japs lost 350 aircraft, the Allies 170.
 
Miller's aircraft carriers move FAST.  I assume he'll break up his ships into damaged and undamaged TFs and send the undamaged ones out of the area at flank speed.  I don't expect to catch them.  Hopefully, the damaged CVs will be slowed enough to catch.  My guys are west of his, and I've given them orders to move west.  I've also transfered in some TBFs from Koepang to augment the number of strike aircraft on Lexington and Yorktown.
 
This was an important Allied victory, but much more so if the Allies can pick off the damaged CVs.  This should clear the way for the Allied move on Davao, followed by the shifting of the CVs to CenPac to cover the invasion of Marcus Island.
 
Java:  By sea and air, the Japs are pummeling the Allied forces at Jakarta and Tjilitjap, but the Allies aren't showing signs of cracking yet.  The Japs tried a deliberate attack at Jakarta on the 8th.  It came in at 0:1 and cost the Japs 893/14/1 to 21/2/1.  I'm going to ignore my forces in Java for awhile while I focus on Davao, but the carrier battle might make it more difficult for Miller to hammer away at Java.
 
Burma:  The Allied armies in Burma entered Rangoon, except for two units I left in the hex to the north just in case Miller advanced any units out of Moulmein.  An Allied deliberate attack on the 8th came off at 1:1, forts 8, inflicting 3822/23 to 3092/74/2.  My troops only bombarded on the 9th.  On the 8th, Miller advanced 14th Division from Moulmein across the river.  This unit did a 2:1 shock attack on my rear-guard, forcing one of my two units to retreat toward Meiktila.  The 14th Div. tried another attack on the 9th, again at 2:1, but failed to dislodge the remaining Allied unit. The Allies have a fair shot at taking Rangoon.  I'm moving reinforcements in, but it's going to take time. 
 
Note:  These kinds of battles are really hard on the loser.  We invest so much time and effort in these games - Miller and I have been playing since May '07 - that, at least for me, a bad battle can really ruin a day, days, or even longer. Ridiculous to let a game affect me like that, but it does.  I also know that any celebration by the victorious party can seem like crowing to the party that came out on the short end.  So I want to tone it down.  But I did want to note that this was the first time my CVs have come out on top of a major CV engagement in either of my two WitP games, and in my last three or four UV games (all of which were against Miller and John III, my current opponents).  So this battle was both entirely unexpected and a rare experience. 

[ny59giants]

Having Hellcats vs. Wildcats probably helped you a lot this time around. [;)]

[Canoerebel]

8/10/43 to 8/11/43
 
The big carrier battle in the Timor Sea drew to a close, with the Allies coming out ahead.
 
Following the initial clash on the 9th, which left CV Taiho crippled and CVs Katsuragi, Kaga, and Akagi damaged, and both sides running short on aircraft, both forces moved west.  On the 10th, the Jap TFs were strung out just south of Flores, with the undamaged ships nearing the safety of Soerabaja and the others scattered to the southeast.  The Allied CVs were south of the damaged Jap ships.
 
The Allies launched more strikes, once again hitting Taiho and doing severe damage to Katsuragi and Kaga.  By the end of the day, Taiho and Katsuragi were confirmed sunk, Kaga had taken 22 additional bomb hits and was a wreck, and Akagi avoided any new damage.  The Japs didn't launch any carrier strikes against the Allied forces, and a small LBA strike from Soerabaja didn't get through the CAP.  An Allied LBA strike from Bali tried to strike CV Amagi and the rest of the undamaged Jap TF, but there weren't enough SBDs at Bali to make a weighted strike.
 
For the 11th, the Allies sent their CVs further west, hoping to finish Kaga, catch Akagi, and hopefully avoid Jap LBA.  This worked pretty well.  Akagi was spotted and throttled, and what was left of Kaga was hit repeatedly by search aircraft.  Both carriers went under.  The Japs mounted some pretty stout LBA strikes from Soerabaja - the first and largest consisted of 50+ Zeros and a large number of Bettys - about 48 I think.  The CAP did a good job, but enough Bettys made it through to give me a scare.  However, the Jap bombers didn't score any hits.  Ditto the following, smaller strikes.
 
So, the Battle of Timor Sea has closed (I think).  I've ordered my CVs to steam east and plan to refuel at Darwin.  I'll still be in range of Jap LBA for a few more turns, but hopefully it will be at extreme range and I doubt they'll penetrate Allied CAP.  Jap subs are in the area, and managed to put a TT into BB Valiant the first day of the battle (but she only has 16 SYS and 0 FLT damage), so I'll have to run the gauntlet to get to port.
 
But this battle was a decisive Allied victory, because it seriously reduces the threat of the KB as the Allies make final preparations to move on Davao.  I'll probably await the Allied CVs to invade, so it'll be about ten days to two weeks.  CV Bunker Hill and another CVL will join for this move, and I may rest any CVLs that have high SYS damage following the Timor Sea clash.
 
Java:  The Japs made a 2:1 attack at Jakarta on the 11th, reducing forts from 1 to 0, but lost 1050/21/2 ro just 21/0/0.  Jap bombers and bomardment TFs continue to work over both Allied bases, but as noted before these guys are on their own for awhile so that the Allies can focus all their assets on the Philippines.
 
Burma:  The Jap 18th Division booted the remaining Allied rearguard unit from the hex behind Rangoon.  So, the Allies have a stout force besieging Rangoon, are in turn besieged by a Jap division 60 miles to the north, and the Allies are building a pool of reinforcements at Meiktila. It will probably be a number of weeks before anything decisive happens here.
 
China:  Chinese troops tried a deliberate attack to evict the Japs from Kanhsien.  It came off at 1:1 and cost the Japs 1002/38 to 894/2.  Both sides seem to be disorganized, fatigued, and low on supplies.  The Chinese should te-take Kanhsien, but I don't think they'll have anything left to go to the relief of the troops cut off from Changsha.
 
CenPac:  The Allies continue to gather troops at Pearl for the eventual invasion of Marcus Island.  This will include at leat three US Army divisions, 2 RCT's, and 3rd US Marine Division.  This force won't leave port until the Allied CVs are available to cover the invasion.
 
Situation:  The Timor Sea battle narrowed the points differential from 9000 to 7000 (in favor of the Japs), back to where we were before the preceding CV clash near Morotai, which Miller won.  But the marked decrease in the number of Jap CVs should make it much easier for the Allies to move about with overwhelming force.  In the near term, the Allies plan to move on Davao, then the rest of Mindanao, and then possible move on some of the cities of northern Borneo.  In the middle term, the Allies will try to take Marcus Island.  That should happen before year's end.

[ny59giants]

Nice to see you finally come out on the positive side of an CV vs CV battle after your previous battles in this game and against John. [&o][:D][&o]
 
KUDOS!!

[Canoerebel]

8/12/43/ to 8/22/43
 
The Allies are making final preparations for the move on Davao, with a surprise success thrown in the mix that may affect the scope of Allied operations in the Philippines.
 
Following the Battle of Timor Sea, the victorious Allied TFs made their way to Darwin, running a gauntlet of Jap subs.  The Japs took shots at a few combat ships, but missed.  I think a few hits were scored on merchant ships.  At least one Jap sub was sunk, and two or three others heavily damaged.  The Allied CVs and CVLs reached Darwin around the 16th or 17th and replaced lost aircraft.  The two Brit CVs also upgraded their aircraft (fighters became Corsairs and torpedo bombers became Avengers).  These ships will be ready to sail tomorrow, but Bunker Hill and another CVL are just three or four days out of Darwin, so I'll await their arrival.  Accordingly, the Philippines invasion fleet will be covered by three US CVs (Bunker Hill, Yorktown, and Saratoga), two Brit CVs, and six US CVLs.
 
Philippines:  The Davao invasion force has been parked at Morotai for more than a month now.  Jap subs have torpedoed a few transports, forcing me to unload some troops, but all-in-all the force is in great shape and chomping at the bit, ready to go as soon as the carriers arrive.
 
In the meantime, the Allies sent a FT convoy from Namlea to take a stab at what appeared to be an unoccupied Dadjangas, a port located on the island of Mindanoe, one hex west of Davao.  Sure enough, it wasn't guarded, so it fell to the Allies on the 20th.  Since it doesn't have an airfield, the Allied unit then moved north a hex to what appeared to be an unoccupied Cotabato.  On the 22nd, it too fell without resistance.   The Allies have two Dakota squadrons at Manado and will begin air transporting Americal Division to Cotabato.
 
The Allies have alot of units preppred and ready to hit Davao, which is pretty lightly held.  If the invasion force makes it in good shape and Davao falls, the Allies intent to move rapidly from there, striking at Cagayan, Cebu, and possibly off to the side toward Brunei.  So once this invasion gets underway, things will happen rapidly.
 
As soon as Davao falls, and assuming the Allied ships don't get hammered, I intend to send the US CVs straight across Japanese shipping lanes to rendezvous with a mammoth invasion force that will leave Pearl Harbor to make for Marcus Island.  CV Intrepid, a CVE, and a CVL are on the way from Panama City to Pearl and will assist in this operation.
 
Java:  The Japs tried a deliberate attack at Jakarta on the 18th.  It was a 0:1 and cost the Japs 583/26/1 to 218/5/1.  I don't plan to send any troops to Java anytime soon.  My intention is to offer hope of relief by forcing the Japs to pay more attention to the Philippines.
 
Burma:  Status quo here for now.  Two Indian divisions are heading for Meiktila and will reach Imphal within the week.  So they are probably 15-20 days away from Meiktila.  Once they arrive, the Allies will see if they can do something about Rangoon.
 
China:  Miller has sent huge air strikes against Chungking, which surprised me because the Allies had huge figher presence there.  The first attack failed miserably, with the Japs losing 185 aircraft to the Allies 70, but a second attack on the 22nd managed to destroy alot of bombers on the ground.  The Allied fighters have been attritioned, so I've transfered in some Thunderbolts and Spitfires from Meiktila.  On the ground it's just a big mess, with both sides worn out.  The Japs tried another attack on the Chinese stack isolated between Changsha and Nanchang.  This time the Japs got a 1:1, but lost 14,487/277/41 to 1824/5.  Miller has lost a ton of troops fighting here, but I don't have any cavalry to ride to the rescue.
 
 

[Canoerebel]

8/23/43 to 8/25/43
 
Philippines:  The Allies have been planning a massive invasion of Mindanao for months now, with the invasion TFs parked at Morotai for much of that time, and still there.  But I'm reevaluating the need for a massive invasion since the Allies have gotten a strong foothold via fast transport followed by air transport.  One of the two Jap units at Davao moved west and recaptured Dadjangas on the 25th, but most of the Allied troops there had already moved 60 miles north to take Cotabato, which has an airfield thus permitting air transport.  I don't think the Japs can re-take Cotabato without reinforcing Mindanao.
 
The Allies have part of a base force at Cotabato now and I've just transferred in a PBY squadron and F-5 recon unit ordered to take a look at Manila.  I hope this activity so close to "home" will worry Miller and prompt him to do something rash.
 
In the meantime, is it really necessary to send the big invasion force to Mindanao?  I'm not sure.  I could send part to seize the island, and hold back part to move forward after securing it; or I could simply transfer a big base force into Cotabato and move further north, toward Cagayan and Cebu, immediately.  Not sure what I'll do yet. 
 
However, the US and Brit CVs left Darwin on the 24th, so the time is coming soon where I'll have to make a decision.
 
Java:  Same ol' - Japs hammering Jakarta and Tjilitjap, but probably don't have quite enough to take the bases in the short term.
 
Burma:  The Allies reinforcements are moving, but it takes time to get to Meiktila, so the Allied effort to reinforce Rangoon and take the city is going to take quite some time.
 
China:  Miller tried a big paratroop assault against Lungchow in SE China.  The garrison - a base force without AV and an HQ unit - somehow withstood the 2:1 attack, but forts dropped from 7 to 2 on the first day, and 2 to 1 the second.  I had two infantry units on the way to Lungchow when the assault happened, and one is two days away, the other three days.  So if my guys can hold a little longer...
 
CenPac:  The massive Marcus invasion force is staging forward from Pearl Harbor to Midway in anticipation that the US CVs participating in the Philippines invasion (if that's where we invade) will soon be available. 

[ny59giants]

Make Mindanao an unsinkable CV. [&o] 
 
Take a sledge hammer there and don't try to get too far ahead. He still has too much LBA available to hurt you and your comments about how even your new fighters are not doing as well as you expected makes me say be somewhat cautious. Take the whole island and make him defend multiple avenues of advance from there.[;)] 
 
My first thought was you may have a little "victory desease" after your CV success, so I would expect Miller to try encourage you to get too far ahead. Use your LBA to wear him down.

[Canoerebel]

Okay, good advice.  Watch out for the victory disease.  Perhaps what I'll work on doing is augmenting the base force at Cotabato so that it can offer some real CAP when the main force comes in.  It will be nice to have that plus the LRCAP from the island to the south (Talaud?).

[Canoerebel]

8/26/43 to 9/1/43
 
Philippines:  The Allied invasion force left Morotai on the 29th, moving slowly and in zig-zag pattern toward Davoe.  On the 31st, recon spotted two Jap surface combat forces moving south, one on each side of Mindanoa.  Rather than ordering the invasion fleet in, I zagged again to see what might happen on the 1st.  Nothing happened, so the invasion fleet will go in on the 2nd. 
 
The invasion includes a 1st Marine Division, two Army divisions, and a host of support troops.  This should be more than enough since a single Jap unit about 6,000 strong occupies the hex.  LRCAP is provided by LBA at Cotabatu (one hex NW, including single squadrons each of Corsairs, Kittyhawks, and P38Gs), the island to the south (P38Gs), and Morotai (P38Gs).  Accomanying the transports will be a surface combat TF including BB South Dakota.  Standing off a 120 miles to the east willl be the CVs.  They will not fly LRCAP this turn since I have pretty good LBA CAP coverage; their fighters will fly CAP over the CVs.
 
While this is the "big show," the Allied build-up at Cotabatu has proceeded apace.  The AV of the two infantry units now exceeds 200 and a base force sufficient to handle 60 aircraft are in place.  I think Allied troops in Mindanao already outnumber the Jap defenders. 
 
Java:  The Japs took back Tjilitjap on the 1st.  Part of 21st Division overwhelmed the garrison, which caught me by surprise.  The Allies still hold Jakarta with AV in excess of 600.  I've transfered two of the three Dakota squadrons that were making runs to Cotabaut from Manado to Bali.  They'll begin transferring supplies and part of 4th Aussie Division to Jakarta.  A Jap deliberate attack at Jakarta on the 1st failed at 0:1 costing the Japs 871/29 to 272/9/1.  I should know pretty soon whether the invasion of the Philippines will serve to relieve some of the pressure on the troops in Java.  I think it should - the Allies are piercing into the heart of Japanese territory, unless I've misread things.
 
Burma:  Reinforcements destined for Rangoon are still making their way to Meiktila.  One Indian division is coming by air from Diamond Harbor and will be in place within a week.  Two other Indian divisions are on the road from Imphal and should arrive in Mandalay in about 10 days.  When these arrive at Meitlila, the Allied AV will be somewhat in excess of 1000 as it moves down the road toward Rangoon.  A single Jap unit (18th Division) is currently blocking the road.  An Allied deliberate attack at Rangoon on the 30th came off at 0:1 costing the Japs 1773/57/1 to 3273/57/6.
 
China:  A big fur ball with Allied and Jap troops all mixed up, but many Chinese troops are desperate for suppolies and cut off.  A Jap parachute attack succeeded in taking Lungchow (north of Wuchow)  sometime around the 29th.  Chinese units are on the way to try to take back this city.  There have been a series of big air battles over Chungking, including 200+ Helens bombing the airfield.  The Allies usually come out ahead in the dogfights, but lose alot of planes on the ground.  I've moved the bombers back to Chengtu and left the fighters at Chungking.
 
CenPac:  The Marcus invasion force is arriving at Midway where they'll await the availability of the Allied CVs taking part in the Davao invasion.  At least I hope they'll be available.  A Jap sub east of Midway torpedoed a transport and a tanker, so Miller probably knows a sizeable force is gathering there.
 
Situation:  I'm concerned about China and Java; I feel sure Burma will be fine; but I think the Philippines are of paramount importance.  If I can seize Mindanao and get its three good airfields up and running, the heart of Japanese territory is threatened.  From Mindanao, it's just a short hop to Cebu and Lingayen and those hops can be covered by LBA.  And from there Luzon.   I feel sure the Allies will hold the central PI before year's end, and perhaps even have a presence on Luzon.  While the US troops work the PI, the Brit troops (including a regiment and a division) remain aboard ships at Morotai.  If I take Davao, I may use these troops to take a stab at Brunei, or one of the Philippine islands between Mindanao and Borneo.

[Canoerebel]

9/2/43 to 9/5/43
 
Philippines:  On the turn the Allied invasion fleet hit Davao, a multitude of Jap CV and combat TFs steamed through the Sulu Sea passages.  Another big battle ensued.  I think the Allies came out on top, but except for air losses this was not a one-sided battle.

Miller employed the real life tactics used by Nagumo in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons in August '42, when Nagumo sent a CVL ahead hoping to draw the American carrier planes (which it did, but not with the results Nagumo hoped for).  Miller sent some CVL/CVE TFs forward, hoping to draw in most of the American planes.  For two days - 9/3 and 9/4 - that's exactly what happened.  Massive Allied carrier-air strikes and LBA-strikes sortied against these hapless little carriers even after they were pulverized and sent to the bottom.  Sadly (to me anyway), my aircraft ignored the main Jap TFs.

Jap carrier aircraft sortied against the American carriers and were shot down in droves, but enough got through to seriously damage a number of Allied capital ships (more about this in a moment). 

Jap combat TFs went into Davao to tangle with the invasion force.  I didn't have a large enough combat TF providing protection, and consequently lost some fighting ships and transports.  But most of my troops got ashore.  A 2:1 shock attack on the 4th failed to dislodge the defenders, although forts fell from 8 to 6.  The next day, a 6:1 shock attack succeeded and the defenders (a mixed brigade and a big base force) retreated to Dadjangas.  Some of my infantry will head there - from both Davao and Cotabatu - to finish them.

Aircraft losses were decidely in favor of the Allies.  On day one, CAP (both carrier and land-based) decimated the attacking squadrons.  On the 3rd, the Japs lost 591 planes, the Allies 122.  On the second day, the Japs lost 87, the Allies 45.  There weren't any carrier strikes on the third day (9/5), but the Japs lost 181 aircraft on the ground at Davao (mostly carrier planes that had diverted there). So the Japs lost something like 900 aircraft over three days.

On the sea, losses and damage were about even.  The Japs lost CVEs Chuyo, Shinyo, and Kaiyo, and CVLs Rhyuho and Chiyoda.  Allied PTs sank three DDs at Davao on the 5th.  There was some miscellaneous other damage, both from aircraft and the surface engagement at Davao, but I don't think any major Jap ships were heavily damaged.

The only carrier the Allies lost was CVE Altamaha, sunk in the surface engagement at Davao.  Here's a list of the Allied CVs damaged:  CV Bunker Hill (86/74/5); CVL Cabot (67/34/3), CVL Princeton (31/0/1), and CVL Belleau Wood (64/13/9).  All of these but Cabot are already disbanded in port at Morotai (level 4 port).  Cabot will arrive tomorrow.

The Allies lost two BBs - Arizona was scuttled after taking severe damage in a CV TF from a carrier-plane attack.  South Dakota was damaged moderately by an air attack at Davao on day one, but I left her there.  She was the flag of the combat TF protecting the invasion fleet.  Miller sent in a series of large combat TFs to contest the hex. South Dakota went under as did a number of other Allied combat ships and transports.

Davao:  The Allies have landed two large base forces.  Davao is a level 4 airfield, so one BF will remain there, the other will move to Dadjangas or Cotabatu.  The Allies moved 200 aircraft - mostly fighters - to Davao on the 5th.  Another 60 fighters are based at Cotabatu.

From Here:  The Allies will consolidate their hold here and it will take some time - minelaying operations, airfield and port building, and trying to eliminate the Japs.  My infantry units are fairly disorganized and will need alot of rest before they're ready to go again.  Some will be sent back to Darwin to rest and refit.  But the Allies will consider sending a CV TF right across Jap territory to Marcus to support that invasion (that fleet is gathering at Midway).  I think the CVs can make the crossing by not getting too close to any Jap island bases. At Midway, the Allies have CV Intrepid and a CVL.  Carriers that are in good shape at Morotai are:  Saratoga, Yorktown, Victorious, and Formidable, and CVLs Monteray, Independence, and Cowpens.  I don't think Miller has many carrier planes left.  Marcus has a level 4 airfield, Wake is a 5, and Saipan/Tinian/Guam are each 6s (but all of those are 13 or more hexes distant), so LBA will be the biggest threat. That, subs, surface combat ships, and mines.

Java: Things were quiet here while all the action took place in the Philippines.  Three Dakota squadrons are providing supplies.

Burma:  Still awaiting arrival of reinforcements at Meiktila.  It'll be another 7 to 10 days before this army is ready to move on Rangoon.

China:  Miller's air assault on Lungchow is going well for him.  He took the town and has now airlifted in a mixed brigade that withstood a counterattack and then kicked out my Chinese units.  I've got large pockets of isolated units all over the place.

[Canoerebel]

9/6/43 to 9/12/43
 
Things have been relatively quiet since the Davao invasion.  My undamaged CVs remain in TFs at Morotai.  They are ready to cover the invasion of Marcus, but the question is how to get them there.  It would take weeks to take the safe route via Noumea, Pago Pago, and Pearl Harbor.  I can cut straight across, going close by Davao, skirting Palau to the north, and then staying as far south of Iwo Jima as possible.  The main threat here is Jap LBA at places like Iwo, Marcus and Wake.  All but Marcus will be flying long range.  I don't think the Jap CVs are a real threat at the moment.  Can the Allies sail straight through the heart of Japanese territory?  To do so is like what Sherman did in Georgia - he left Atlanta, cut all his ties, and marched through "Indian country" to Savannah.  Doing so not only helped accomplish his goal, it was also a big blow to southern morale.  No place was safe, really, any longer.  If I do something similar and get away with it, perhaps it will have the same impact.  I think I'm gonna try it.
 
Philippines:  The Allies have a decent supply level at Davao now and are sending out small bombing forces to hit Cagayan and Dadjangas.  The Jap troops that defended Davao retreated to Dadjangas, and I'll have two divisions there tomorrow to see if I can take the city.  A fast transport invasion landed at Zamboanga on the 12th.  This city is unoccupied, so I expect to take it tomorrow.  Jolo is also lightly held - some 6,000 Japanese troops.  The Brit 18th Division is heading that way in a few days.  The Allied CVs at Morotai may cover that move before heading to Marcus.
 
Java:  Miller caught wind of my Dakota supply routine and posted LRCAP over Jakarta.  Back to back shock attacks there on the 8th and 9th didn't do him much good.  Both were at 0:1 and cost th eJaps 1413/24 to 118/4; and 1131/11/1 to 232/3/1. 
 
Burma:  Enough reinforcements arrived at Meiktila, so these units have moved forward to see if they can dislodge the Jap 18th Division, which is posted one hex north of Rangoon.  The Allied units have an AV of about 1000.  If that isn't enough to do the job, two Indian divisions and another brigade are about seven days out of Meiktila.
 
China:  Both sides have troops all over the place.  The Japs just cannot do away with the Chinese stack stuck between Changsha and Nanchang.  A Jap deliberate attack on the 11th came off at 0:1 and cost them 7457/38/24 to 1354/1.  The Japs also tried an ill-advised river crossing against Hengchow.  This too came off at 0:1 and cost them 6313/17/1 to 441/14.
 

[Canoerebel]

9/13/43 to 9/24/43
 
Java:  The Japs reclaimed Jakarta on the 20th.  I thought the Allied garrison could hold out longer.  This campaign had mixed reviews:  The Brits lost alot of ships and the ground troops, but the invasion kept Miller very occupied and led directly to the Battle of the Timor Sea where he lost four fleet CVs; this battle, in turn, led to the loss of more Jap carriers in the Battle of Davao.  I probably could have saved the invasion forces by shifting my emphasis to Java and southern Borneo rather than the Philippines, but I still think the PI offer the best vector of attack.
 
Philippines:  The Allies took an unoccupied Zamboanga during this period via fast transport invasion, and now have part of a base force in place.  The Brits 18th Division has invaded adjacent Jolo, which is held by about 5k Japs.  Several days of combat have reduced forts from 2 to 0, but the Brits don't have quite enough to wrest the island away from the enemy, so I'll send in a few reinforcements.  There are other unoccupied or lightly defended bases in the area, including Puerto Princessa, so for now I'm concentrating my efforts in the PI where the going is good.  The Allied CV force moved north from Morotai and is currently in the Philippine Sea, close to the heart of Japanese territory.  I have little doubt I could shift this force NE to cover an invasion of Marcus, but I've decided against doing it.  Marcus looks tough (15 units there), while the PI offers alot of plums for the picking.  Too, I don't want to give Miller the opportunity to go on the offensive in the absence of my carriers - he might hit Bali, for instance.  Also, the Allies may soon be able to send these CVs into the South China Sea.  It should be a blow to the Japs if Allied CVs can patrol those waters.
 
CenPac:  With Marcus looking tough, I'm debating what to do with that massive invasion fleet parked at Midway.  Eniwetok is a possibility, or sending this force to the PI or Borneo is also a possibility.
 
Burma:  The Allies are getting 1:1 attacks against the single Jap unit (18th Div.) posted a hex north of Rangoon.  More Allied units are arriving, so this hex should be taken in a few days.  Then the Allies can consider crossing the river against Moulmein, or concentrating everything against Rangoon.
 
China:  Big mess here for the Allies, but the Japs just can't seem to extinguish the huge, cut-off Chinese army between Changsha and Nanchang.  A 0:1 deliberate attack by the Japs on the 24th cost them 8954/70/29 to 2076/0/0.  A shock attack two days earlier came off at 2:1 (uh oh) and cost the Japs 16,535/236/40 to 2256/0/0.

[Canoerebel]

9/25/43 to 9/27/43
 
Philippines:  Part of 30th Australian Brigade took Puerto Princessa.  Another part of this brigade joined the two Allied units at Jolo and this island should fall to the Allies soon.  The next target - apparently unoccupied - is San Jose, which the Allies can build to a level 7 airfield, so it's an important target.  On Mindanao, Allied units are preparing to move on Cagayan, the only remaining Jap held city on this island.  The Allied CVs have nearly completed their tour of the Philippine Sea, are now about due east of Davao, and should make Morotai in two days.  Once the Allies have good air groups and airfields at Puerto Princessa, Jolo, and San Jose, I think the Allied CVs can go cruising in the South China Sea.  In the mid-term, the Allies will also begin planning for the invasion of Luzon.  From now until year's end, the main focus for the Allies will be the PI.
 
Burma:  The Allied army finally dislodged the Jap 18th Division from the hex north of Rangoon.  A 4:1 shock attack on the 27th did it, costing the Japs 162/10 to the Allies' 699/31.  About half of these Allied units will move into Rangoon to see if that gives enough of a boost to take that city.  The rest of the units will remain in place, guarding against another Jap attempt to contest the hex.
 
China:  Another Jap shock attack on the isolated stack of Chinese between Changsha and Nanchang comes off at 0:1.  The Japs lose 5524/74/34 to 1664/0/0.
 
CenPac:  The Allied invasion fleet is just sitting at Midway until I figure out what to do.  They are fully prepped for Marcus, but that target looks too tough to me (15 Jap units according to recon).  I have CV Intrepid, a CVL, and two CVE available, with another CVL and CVE to arrive at Panama City in less than two weeks.  Those carriers can put up decent CAP, but I'm not sure it's enough to move against a major Japanese-held island.  I'll mull things over for awhile. 

[ny59giants]

Dan,
I would take those forces at Midway and re-route them to the PI area. Keep going here until he stops you. With you at the door of Ragoon, you have a very large pocket being formed if you can close it. Not with ground troops, but taking enough territory that shipping can not slip past Luzon. If you're able to do this then, you effectively cut off his Oil/Resource flow into the HI in '43 which should help you long term.

[John 3rd]

I hoisted a drink for the sunk Japanese CVs!  One heck of a victory...
 
I agree with Mike's comments.  Go for it!  Japan is finished if you capture much more of the DEI.  Take it ALL!
 

[Q-Ball]

I third that, you should be putting EVERYTHING into taking Luzon. Forget Marcus. If you hurry, you can beat a stream of IJA Reinforcements, including a few Brigades that appear on Luzon in spring '44 IIRC.

Once Luzon is yours, Japan is completely cut off from Oil. He'll be able to get tankers through, but you will start sinking them in droves.

[Canoerebel]

9/28/43 to 10/1/43
 
I hear and obey.  Actually, I started the movement several days ago that will take these troops to the PI.  It's a long route - first from Midway to Palmyra, then well east of Johnston to Pago Pago, then to Noumea, then Amboina.  It'll take six or eight weeks, I think.
 
In the meantime, the Allies will work on taking Cagayan - I'll have three divisions, but each of them is about 2/3rds strength after months of campaigning in Timor, Celebes, Morotai, Davao, etc.  I'll also work on building up Puerto Princessa and Jolo, and I'll use paratroops to take San Jose.  I should be able to make good progress and have air bases up and running by the time troops arrive for the move on Luzon.
 
In Burma, about 700 AV from the recent battle just north of Rangoon are headed into the city.  They will add to the 3200 AV already there.  Then I'll see if that's enough to take the city.  Sixty miles to the north, about 400 AV have been left behind to guard the river crossing in case Miller tries another advance from Moulmein.
 
Miller has been dogged in his defense of Java and Borneo, but the PI (at least southern PI) have been left open. If the Allies can put their CVs in the South China Sea, it's going to threaten or shut down resource transportation to Jap from DEI.  That's something Miller's got to prevent, I think.  So I expect something desperate and bold from him - yet another reason to keep the Allied CVs in the area, rather than off at Marcus.

[Canoerebel]

10/2/43 to 10/11/43
 
During this period the Alllies focus on grabbing open cities and island in the Philippines, and getting troops and supplies moving that way.

CenPac:  The invasion force originally slated for Marcus has been re-targeted for Manila.  The invasion TFs left Midway in late September and most of the TFs are just arriving at Palmyra on the long, round-about trip to the jumping off point (Morotai).  The ground units are mostly prepping for Manila, with a few prepping for other targets.  There are many divisions and support units involved and shipping is in short supply.  I think these TFs will arrive at Morotai in about four to five weeks.  So the invasion of Luzon should commence before the end of the year.

Philippines:  The Allies are making some important headway here.  3rd Marine paratroops took three unoccupied bases - San Jose, San Jose Buenavista, and Roxas.  The Allies also took Puerto Princessa in late September.  The Jap defenders at Jolo finally capitulated on the 7th and the Allies promptly transferred in a big base force which is now mostly ashore.  On the 11th, the Allies transferred in two fighter, one SBD, and one B24 squadron.  These B24s can hit points as distant as Kuching.  I feel sure that this situation is of critical importance to the Japs, so I sort of expect Miller to strike back in some big way.  He can't afford for the Allies to have unmolested ability to build airfields in the PI, can he?  In about four days, Allied troops should be in place to attack the defenders at Cagayan (the last Japanese base on Mindanao).

Java/Borneo/Palau:  Allied B24s and LibIIIs have been working on the airfields at Balikpan (one huge strike) and Soerabaja (two big strikes).  These have gone fairly well.  I shifted focus to Soerabaja with plans on shutting down the field more or less permanently.  A bunch of troops are fully prepped for both Palau and Balikpan.  They've been scattered over this theater involved in various missions, and I'm working on pulling them all back to Darwin to rest.  Then, at some point, I'll move on one or both of these positions.  I'm in no hurry for these - they'll probably take place after I get the Luzon campaign underway.

Allied CVs:  These were based at Amboina for a week, but I'm pulling them back to Darwin for rest and repair.  They are close enough to respond to any Jap foray against Bali or Makassar (I have some concerns that Miller may strike this flank).  Once the Allies are firmly in position at Puerto Princessa and some of the other bases in the PI, I'll send them for a cruise in the South China Sea.  The CVs damaged in the Battle of Davao a month ago have all made Darwin, and some have now been sent on to Sydney.  The most heavily damaged is CV Bunker Hill.  She's at 86 SYS and will be out of the war for a long time.

Burma:  The situation here is vexxing.  The Allies tried a deliberate attack on the 3rd.  It was pretty much a disaster at 0:1  costing the Japs 1678/26/2 to 10,380/22/6.  A Jap bombardment the next day inflicted 1400 casualties!  I'm puzzling over what to do here.  I may end up pulling my troops back to Meiktila to rest and refit.  I don't seem to have enough troops on hand to make further headway here, so it may be better to just hold on to what I have and focus everything on the PI.

China:  Remains ugly.  Miller booted the Chinese units from Kanhsien.  Miller still can't vanquish the cut off Chinese units near Nanchang.  A deliberate attack on the 10th came off at 0:1 and cost the Jpas 3985/46/25 to 1117/0/0.  The Japs have 13 divisions here!