Forlorn Hopes: John III vs. Canoerebel

[Canoerebel]

Map of the Malacca Straits and vicinity as British carriers and amphibious TFs move into position for the next amphibious landings. Is the KB in the area waiting to pounce?

[Canoerebel]

2/22/44 and 2/23/44
 
Sumatra:  The amphibious TFs ended the 23rd a hex from Malacca (which is the D-Day target, I will now reveal).  The RN carrier TFs are lagging back about four hexes.  LRCAP for both groups provided by fighters based on Sumatra.  I would have bet everything I had that John would throw everything he had at this force by loading up all airfields with bombers and fighters, and perhaps even sending in carriers.  But his Malay Peninsula airfields remain almost vacant, and there haven't been any recon reports of carriers nearby (except a solitary CV reported at Palembang).  Had John loaded up those airfields, I would have pulled the transports back two hexes and moved the carriers up to cover them.  But with things looking pretty good, I'll proceed.  The transports will go in tonight.

Maclacca:  Why Malacca?  It's a level 1/1 base just south of Kuala Lumpur and a couple of hexes north of Johore Bhuru.  It's garrison is just 3 units some 11,000 strong, while the hex to the north (KL) is much more strongly held.  There is a good road between the two bases, so I expect John to move land units to Malacca immediately.  If I take the base, great.  If I don't but tie up alot of Japanese forces, that's okay too. 

Vietnam:  Four large Chinese units prepped for Haiphong just arrived at Hanoi (with two more trailing).  I'll move them forward immediately.  So the next Chinese assault should occur in two days.

North Pacific:  Most of the big convoy is now at anchor in the port of Shikuka (the stragglers will all arrive tonight).  Just to stir things up a bit while the main action is in Sumatra, Allied 4EB hit some Japanese ports.  B-24s and PBY Liberators from Iwo hit Sendai, puting thirteen 500 pounders into CVE Unyo (she was badly damaged long ago and I figured she had already gone down).  From Shikuka, B-17s and PBY Liberators hit Hakodate, damaging two ML, one MLE, and another ship.  The Allies lost about 22 bombers in these two raids.

Australia:  The flanking maneuver by the Aussie armored regiments worked, it seems.  John is withdrawing hhis stack of units from Tennant Creek.  Next stop Daly Waters or Katherine.  It may become more of a race, now, as the John will probably want to get his men on ships and those ships out of Australia before the Aussies take forward bases from which Liberators can fly.  To the south, Albany will fall in two days, Geraldton in three.

Points:  In another day or two, barring some calamity, the point differential should fall below 13,000.

Edit: My family and I are heading out of town for a few days, so there shouldn't be any further reports until late in the weekend.

[String]

aww. But it's a great AAR and I enjoy reading it immensely. One of my favourites at the moment.

[NormS3]

I agree. I look forward to each update!

I love watching someone battle back from defeat. Keep up the great work!

[Canoerebel]

2/24/44
 
Thanks, gents, for the nice notes.  We spent three days in Great Smoky Mountains National Park hiking and having a good time.  When I returned, there was a note from my opponent that he may be out of pocket for a week or two.  His email indicated there were more details in his AAR, but I am not privy to that so I'm not fully up-to-speed about his situation.  Hopefully we'll resume sooner than later, but we'll see.  This last turn was a very good day for the Allies.

Malacca:  The invasion force arrived at Malacca and incurred minimal damage to mines and shore guns.  More than 900 AV unloaded and much of the rest will unload tomorrow.  The Japs have reinforced to four units, and I expect a bunch more to move a hex south from Kuala Lumpur, but I'll try a deliberate attack.  John moved the KB - or most of it - to Singapore, where the "coastal hex" penalty probably reduced his strike capability significantly.  Sighted there over the course of the turn were carriers Zuikaku, Taiho and Ryuho, and Chitose.  Massed LBA strikes from Singpore and Palembang sortied against my invasion fleet, but the LRCAP did a fine job.  There were four strikes with the following losses and results:  (1) Japs lost 126 aircraft to 5 for the Allies; 1 TT and 4 bombs in CA Exeter and damage to an AP and AK; (2) 49 Japs downed to 4 Allies; 1 TT in DD Vendetta; (3) 16 Jap and 8 Allied aircraft downed; no ship hits; and (4) 71 Japs and 54 Allies downed; 1 bomb in DD Edsall, 2 bombs in CL De Ruyter; and 1 TT in CL Kenya.  The damaged combat ships ordered north to rendezvous with the carriers (for CAP).  I tried to make good the lost fighters by transferring in additional squadrons from Port Blair and other bases.

NoPac:  The supply, fuel, and troop convoys unloading quickly at Shikuka.  With the KB away, the mice will play.  I'll organize a large convoy of "empty" transports to send back to Hawaii.  This will be in preparation for additional Allied amphibious operations in the Pacific over the next month.

Australia:  Allied troops are advancing slowly toward Tennant Creek.  It may be two days before the first troops arrive.  I think the Japs are pulling out.

Vietnam:  At least two big Chinese units will move from Hanoi to Haiphong tomorrow, so the troops already there ordered to deliberate attack.

Aircraft:  On the day, the Japs lost 313 (257 a2a, 31 field, 21 flak, 4 ops) to 86 for the Allies (82 a2a, 1 flak, 3 ops).

Points:  The spread dropped below 13,000:  Japs 50,933; Allies 38,035

[Canoerebel]

I exchanged emails with my opponent today.  He's dealing with some real life matters and won't be able to play the game for awhile - best case scenario is probably resuming late this week; worst case scenario might be two weeks.  In the meantime, I'll occupy my time by trying to forget the first half of Saturday's Georgia vs. Alabama game.

[tocaff]

Both of you are presenting a very enjoyable AAR.  I like getting the differing points of view as to what's going on.

Keep up the good work.

[Canoerebel]

2/25/44
 
To my surprise, John managed to squeeze in a turn although he remains occupied with real life matters at present.  It was a good day for the Japs because an important Allied combat TF disobeyed orders...
 
Malacca:  Troops continued unloading from transports that were to be protected by a combat TF led by BC Renown.  This TF had bombarded yesterday and I set her to "do not retire," but she retired anyway.  So in came a Jap combat TF led by BB Yamato to savage my unprotected transports.  As a result, 10 AKs, 2 APs, 2 DDs, and 2 MSW went down.  Many other transports fled the hex to hexes that weren't protected by CAP, so additional transports were damaged.  Meanwhile, my combat TF went to a hex covered by minimal CAP and underwent massive LBA/KB-air attacks from Singapore.  BC Renown took 8 torpedoes and went down.  CA Cornwall took 2 TT and CL Enterprise 3 TT.  These ships and some DDs suffered moderate damage and could make it to a safe harbor barring additional attacks.   Nevertheless, enough troops got ashore to manage a strong attack, but just missed -by like 3 AV - a 2:1.  The Japs lost 805/39 to 612/9/1 but kept the hex.  I'll try again tomorrow, but John should have reinforcements on the way.
 
Arg, had Renown and company remained at Malacca under CAP, they might well have won the surface engagement and protected the transports and things would have been fine.  As it is, I'm pulling the damaged combat ships back to Sabang and I've ordered the transports to move to Bankha.  The RN carriers will remain a few hexes north.  These moves should allow me to corral my ships and get them back under CAP until I can sort things out. 
 
But this action is serving it's main strategic purpose - drawing John's attention down here.  As noted previously, the KB is now stationed at Singapore (CV Amagi sighted there today, joining the roster of carriers I listed in yesterday's post).  That gives me alot more freedom up north.  That's sugar-coating things a bit - in addition to drawing John's attention down this way, I had truly thought things were favorable for an Allied victory.  I have enough troops and ships that eventually the Allies will take bases in southern Malaya, but it will take a little more time and effort now.
 
Vietnam:  Several Chinese units moved from Hanoi to Haiphong triggering an auto-shock attack (the Chinese already in Haiphong were set to deliberatate attack).  The combined attack came in at 0:1 and cost the Japs 3529/86/5 to 5906/21.  Forts have been elevated one level to seven.  Two more units should cross the river tomorrow.  Then I'll rest my troops a few days before trying another consolidated shock attack.  By then the Chinese AV should be two to three times that of the Japs. 
 
NoPac:  The transports have finished unloading troops but still have alot of supplies and fuel to unload.  When that operation is complete many empty transports will head back to Hawaii.   Shikuka port and airfield are both 6/6 and building steadily.  Similar activity at Toyohara, Kiska, and Adak. 
 
Australia:  The Aussies reclaimed Albany and the first two units (armored) arrived at Tennant Creek; but the infantry units are lagging badly.  So my armored units are "naked" for a few turns.  Yet John appears to be abandoning the post, so he may not attack. 
 
Aircraft:  On the day, the Japs lost 124 (78 a2a, 20 field, 13 flak, 13 ops) to 43 for the Allies.
 
Points:  Japs 51,248; Allies 38,210.  The Japs temporarily have regained a 13,000 point edge.

[Canoerebel]

2/26/44

Malacca, Malaya: The Allied plan worked well to limit further damage after yeserday's losses from Jap combat ships and aircraft. Most of my transports made it to Bankha where about 50 fighters put up a stout CAP. Three or four large sorties of Jap bombers from Singapore managed to make it through the CAP and moderately damaged about ten empty transports, but the Japs lost alot of planes - 188 on the day to 68 for the Allies. Other Allied ships pulled back under the RN carrier CAP. The Jap combat ships and carriers (add CVE Hosho to the roster) remained at Singapore. Two Jap brigades reinforced Malacca and the Allied 0:1 attack failed, although the Japs lost twice as many men.

So what now? Both sides are standing toe to toe after three days of bloody combat and it's not clear who will leave the field and who will remain and control the chess board awhile. I consolidated the RN carriers into a single air combat TF (including a BB, all CLAAs, and several CAs and CLs) that will head to Trincomalee to rest and repair SYS damage. A squadron of Hellcats and another of Sea Spitfires were flown to Bankha to bolster the CAP there. The rest of the Allied combat ships formerly attached to the carriers TFs (this will include a BB, a few cruisers, and a bunch of DDs) will head to Bankha to join the CL/DD force already there.

One of two things should happen: (1) Jap aircraft and combat ships may win the field in which case I'll pull my ships back to a safer position and do what I can to support the army at Malacca; or (2) Jap aircraft (and possibly ships) may continue to fall in vicious attacks against the "tempting" Allied force at Bankha. If the Allies come out ahead, I can quickly load an additional 1500 AV on the transports and head across the straits to land reinforcements at Malacca. I expect John to strip some of his other garrisons to send troops into the fray at Malacca. If he does, I may surprise him by landing at a reduced-strength base on the Malay Peninsula.

Vietnam: One unit crossing the river from Hanoi to Haiphong shock attacked while the units already at Haiphong bombarded. The CHinese lose 1000 troops and the Japs 500. I'll rest my guys about five days and then try a consolidated shock attack.

North Pacific: A large convoy will depart Shikuka tomorrow and make for the West Coast and/or Hawaii. This will include dozens of empty transports and a sizeable number of moderately damaged combat ships (cruisers and destroyers). Carriers will protect this force, but I'm not sure whether the carriers will head to the US or instead return to Shikuka. But I'll leave plenty of carriers there to protect Sikhalin Island.

Australia: The Japs are pulling out of Tennant Creek - one unit left. Three Aussie armored units will try a shock attack/follow tomorrow.

Points: The Allied victories in the air dropped the point spread below 13,000 again. I hope it stays below that level now.

[Canoerebel]

2/27/44
 
Sumatra/Malaya:  Things are settling down here as the Allies began planning for the next strike.  I think the Allied army at Malacca is stout enough to withstand any Japanase assault until reinforcements arrive or until the Allies take some of the heat off by striking elsewhere.  The big Jap Yamato bombardment TF hit the troops overnight.  Just across the straits, a large Allied army is gathering at Bankha and there are plenty of transports plus the new RN combat TF including a BB, CA, several CLs, and many DDs.  The transports are still unloading.  As soon as they are finished, they'll re-load and I'll either carry reinforcements to Malacca or invade another base if one looks particularly tempting.  I believe the RN ships at Bankha are adequately protected by LB CAP despite the proximity of so many Jap airbases.  There were no major Jap air sorties today.
 
Vietnam:  The AV of the Chinese army at Haiphong is about 3500 with another unit about two days away.  The Chinese are recovering from disruption nicely and I believe they'll be ready to try that long-awaited consolidated shock attack in two days, coinciding with the expected date of arrival of that other unit.  I think the Chinese have enough troops to take Haiphong now, although reducing the defenses may take awhile.  Once Haiphong is taken, most of this army will move south toward Hue.
 
NoPac:  A tremendous Allied fleet will sale from Shikuka tonight - empty transports, damaged combat ships and transports, and carrier TFs.  At first this convoy will move very slowly, both to give the impression that it's an invasion fleet heading for the Kuriles and to make sure the convoy sticks together.  Once the convoy is out of range of Jap LBA, they will probably split, with faster ships moving at flank speed toward various ports.  Many of the transports will be serving in upcoming amphibious operations.  When winter "cold" conditions end in the Arctic zone, the Allies will really ramp up amphibious operations to take the remaining Jap bases in the Aleutians.  I'll probably also hit Paramushiro Jima.
 
CenPac/SoPac:  The time will soon come for the Allies to ramp up amphibious operations here too.  The Japs still have a multitude of far-flung bases still garrisoned. 
 
Australia:  The Allies should take Geraldton tomorrow.  The Aussie armored units at Tennant Creek launched an unsuccessful shock attack against the Jap garrison at Tennant Creek, which turned out to be 56th Brigade behind nine forts.  Infantry will begin arriving tomorrow.  In two more days, the Japs won't be able to hold the hex.  I may be able to surround and isolate this Jap brigade.

[Canoerebel]

2/28/44 to 3/2/44
 
Malacca:  Things had settled down here - the Japs were reinforcing, the Allies were strong enough to hold out for the foreseeable future, the Yamato TF was coming in on bombardment runs every other day or so, and most of the Allied transports and troops were across the straits in Bankha.  It was the intention of the Allies to draw the attention of the Japs to Malacca, and then to strike elsewhere.  My original plan was to backfill and hit Georgetown.  Sure enough, John is pulling troops out of that base to reinforce Malacca (Georgetown is down to about 30,000 troops).  But recon spotted a big hole in the Jap defenses - Johoru Baru appears to have a garrison under 3,000 strong.  If that is accurate, I can only imagine that John has determined that the Allies are focused entirely on Malacca, and that the absence of British capital ships and carriers means that his Yamato TF rules the seas.  I think he's wrong....
 
The Plan:  Yamato hit Malacca again on the 1st, so I decided to proceed with my plan.  Three large transport convoys were ordered to proceed from Bankha to Malacca (two hexes away) with BB Warspite TF escorting and CAP provided from airfields at Bankha and Medan.  One of the three transport convoys is loaded with units destined for Malacca, and had orders to begin unloading so that John would be sure to take note.  The other two transport convoys had orders "do not unload."  Things proceeded well on the 2nd, although it wasn't perfect.  Liberator IIIs from Sabang hit the airfield at Singapore doing light damage, and Jap LBA from that base sortied in big numbers against the RN combat TF, putting two TTs into Warspite and lightly damage CL Danae (those two ships will pull back).  The Japs lost alot of aircraft in the fray.  Here's where things get tricky:  The damaged combat ships and the Malacca transport TF will pull back to Bankha; the other two transport TFs and the combat TF (reduced due to loss of Warspite and Danae) will proceed to Johore Baru, two hexes SE, with lots of fighters at Padang and Bankha providing LRCAP.  I think my ships will do well this turn, simply because I hope that Yamato will be ordered to hit Malacca.  So the transports may unload enough men to allow the Allies to seize Johore - I hope so anyhow.  This is a complicated minuet of a plan, but I like it.  Meantime, twenty or so empty transports at Bankha will head for Rangoon via Sabang.  Eventually this will form the core of a convoy that will invade Georgetown.
 
Vietnam:  Success to the Chinese!  After resting the troops at Haiphong for several days, the Allies launched a 10:1 shock attack on the 2nd, overcoming seven forts and taking the base.  So a Jap army 80,000 strong is isolated and John will need to attend to their pull-out.  Most of the Chinese army will remain at Haiphong to reduce the Jap defenders, but three or four units will join the five units a hex south of Hanoi.  Eventually, a good part of the Haiphong army will join them.  This army will try to take Hue, Camranh Bay, and then Saigon.
 
NoPac:  The large convoy that sailed from Shikuka just passed the Kuriles, with nothing of note happening.  A smaller convoy is on the way north from Midway to rendezvous.  Allied LBA from Sikhalin Island bases has begun to target Jap assets on Hokkaido, including strikes on the airfields at Ashigara and Wakkanai and against the port at Sapporo.  SigInt reveals that the Jap 27th Division at Sapporo is prepping for Toyohara.  The Allies truly hope that the Japs will try to invade Sikhalin Island.  On the 28th, Iwo Liberators and B-17s hit the port at Kyoto, finding CV Soryu and hitting her 11 times.
 
Australia:  The Aussies took a vacant Geraldton on February 28 and a vacant Tennant Creek on March 2; next stop, Daly Waters. 
 
Aircraft:  On the 2nd, the Japs lost 212 (72 a2a, 118 field - mostly transports based at Haiphong - 7 flak, 5 ops) to 25 for the Allies.
 
Points:  Japs 51,224; Allies 38,965.
 

[Canoerebel]

Here's a map of Malaya/Sumatra on March 2, 1944. The Allies have invaded Malacca and are in the process of making what we hope will be a surprising and successful amphibious assault on Johore Bahru. The Japs seem to be marching overland on Padang - a move which pleases the Allies because it will take a long time and seems to be a use of troops that might be better employed elsewhere. That's our spin on things, anyhow.

[Canoerebel]

3/3/44
 
Johore Bahru:  The Allied plan began unfolding perfectly today, but it's ultimate success will be decided tomorrow.  The two Allied transport TFs accompanied by an RN combat TF flagged by CA Exeter moved from Malacca to Johore Baru and began unloading.  I think it's safe to say that John didn't see this coming.  No sign of BB Yamato, but it may have hit Malacca where I no longer had any ships.  A five-DD Jap TF did arrive at Bankha where it tangled with a large Allied TF (composed of a CL and about eight DDs).  All five Jap DDs went under and the Allies will most likely lose three.  There were three large Jap LBA raids against the ships at Johore.  No. 1 consisted of 29 bombers and 60 fighters against 18 P38, 14 Spitfires, 7 Corsairs, and 16 Thunderbolts.  The Japs lost 61 aircraft and the Allies 9, with not hits on ships; No. 2 consisted of 66 bombers and 28 fighters, the Japs losing 49 aircraft to 3 and damaging 4 AKs and an MSW; No. 3 consisted of 38 bombers, with 31 going down while the Allies lost 5, and no further damage to ships.  Unloading began at Johore Bahru and it appears that the Allies have 200 AV ashore (all prepping for Malacca rather than this base), while the Japs have three units about 9,000 strong.  The Allied transports and combat TF will remain in this hex.  I'm throwing them to the wolves (if Yamato returns) in hopes that I can get enough troops ashore to help with the shock attack I've ordered tomorrow.  If I take this base, the sacrifice is well worth it.  If I don't, I'm going to be facing a crisis because I'm running low on combat ships.  So far, though, the Malaya Minuet has gone just as planned.
 
Vietnam:  It will take a few days to reorganize my forces.  A large army will remain at Haiphong to pound the defeated Jap garrison there; several units will leave that base and join the Chinese force just south of Hanoi in hopes of pushing down the coastal road to Hue.
 
NoPac:  The big TF is steaming slowly SE of the Kuriles with no further action.
 
SWPac:  A Mini-KB showed up east of New Zealand and sank a transport.  The Allies continue to rejoice in the dispersal of Jap carriers.
 
Australia:  With Tennant Creek now an Allied base, the units will move out toward Daly Waters, but the going may be slow for awhile (my fastest infantry units are now covering 15 miles a day, so each hex of advance takes four days; some units are only making 7 miles a day).
 
Aircraft:  On the day, the Japs lost 152 and the Allies 33.
 

[Canoerebel]

3/4/44
 
Johore Bahru:  The Japanese sent a surface combat TF to contest this hex, but Yamato didn't make it (I think John had sent the Yamato TF to the east and has now recalled it, but it won't make it back until tomorrow).  A sharp naval battle took place between the Japs (CAs Chikuma, Maya, and Ashigara, CL Iyodo, and DDs) and the RN (CA Sussex, CLs Dauntless, Mauritius, and Birmingham and DDs) with the Japs losing two DDs.  CA Ashigara took a TT.  The RN didn't lose any ships (yet, anyhow), but Sussex took a TT as did DD Stuart.  The Jap TF had to pull out, allowing the Allied transports to continue unloading.  Jap aircraft sortied, but in much smaller numbers today, losing 56 aircraft to 9 for the Allies, with no hits scored on shipping (however, some Helens out of Georgetown managed a few hits on Sussex and a DD later in the day).  Land combat went poorly - the Allies had 200 AV and the Jap garrison is two base forces and an element of 2nd Parachute Regiment; however, the Allied troops didn't have any supplies - at least that's what I think happened.  The modified AV resulted in an unsuccessful 0:1 attack.  Now, however, the Allied troops are fully supplied because several transports unloaded, so I'll try a deliberate attack tomorrow.  BB Yamato will arrive tonight, so I've ordered my mostly empty transport TFs to return to Bankha.  Meantime, Allied transports are reinforcing the beachhead at Malacca.  So, there's alot going on and I'm not sure what the outcome will be, but from a strategic standpoint all this mayhem and pressure is just what I wanted the British to do (of course, I would prefer they do it at little cost, but that's not in the cards).
 
Vietnam:  John is withdrawing the troops from the hex south of Hanoi.  I think this was in reaction to the sudden crisis he perceived in Malaya, so that's one benefit from all the carnage going on down there.  The Chinese will therefore advance towards Hue.
 
NoPac:  The Allied carrier/transport convoy heading SE from the Kuriles bumped into a small Jap transport convoy and sank three AKs and two APs.  Jap recon had been tracking my convoy, so I don't know why John didn't get his guys out of harm's way.  4EB from Shikuka hit Sapporo's resources, knocking out 14.
 
Points:  Japs 51,250; Allies 39,463.  The spread dropped below 12,000 for the first time since the beginning of the game (part of the Allied bump came from Shikuka's rise from a level 5 to a level 6 port).
 
Strategic Situation:  (1) Australia:  The Japs are withdrawing in good order; the Aussies' are advancing in good order.  The Japs should be able to pull out most troops and the Allies will reclaim the continent within sixty days; (2) SWPac and SoPac:  The Allies have the troops to invade, but not the ships; this area is on hold for awhile, probably another sixty days; (3) Malaya/Sumatra:  The RN is taking alot of hits, the RAF destroying alot of Japanese aircraft, and the British creating alot of pressure down this way, drawing the full attention of the Japanese as hoped; (4) Vietnam/China:  China is quiet; the Allies are advancing on Hue and should be able to eventually put pressure on Camrahn Bay and Saigon.  (5)  CenPac:  The Allies have just reinforced Iwo with additional B-24 squadrons, so the bombing campaign against the Home Island will increase; eventually the Allies will also engage in some amphibious operations here; (6)  NoPac:  I think Sikhalin Island is now secure.  The supply level there is over 450,000, more than adequate to support heavy bombers when they arrive - I think the first B-29 squadrons show up in a month; the Allies are expanding bases here and on Onnekotan Jima and the Aleutians.  When the weather moderates, the Allies will commence operations to reclaim the remaining Jap bases in the Aleutians; (7) Points:  The spread is under 12,000 and the Allies are in great shape to whittle that more quickly as the strategic bombing campaign ramps up over the next few months. 

[USSAmerica]

Dan, I must say you have really hit back hard from the deep hole that John had you in.  [&o]
 
Many, many kudos to both of you for a fantastic, and very entertaining game. 

[Heeward]

Are you planning to clear out the Japanese Islands / atolls in your rear in the central and north pacific? Although taking a division or three, it would give you more real estate (vps) and reduce you opponents air reconnaissance ability from that swath of the map. This should make your major supply convoys more safe as well.
 
 

[Canoerebel]

ORIGINAL: Heeward

Are you planning to clear out the Japanese Islands / atolls in your rear in the central and north pacific? Although taking a division or three, it would give you more real estate (vps) and reduce you opponents air reconnaissance ability from that swath of the map. This should make your major supply convoys more safe as well.

In NoPac, yes, I plan to reclaim the Aleutians and probably Paramushiro Jima; those are the only Jap bases in "the rear" in that theater. I don't plan to clear out the Japs in CenPac, SoPac, and SWPac. I'll undoubtedly take some bases to help protect my supply lines and to cut off the more exposed Jap bases, but in many cases I'll let Jap bases wither on the vine. Most of my time, troops, and ships will be spent working forward into the heart of Japanese territory.

Turns are trickling in right now as John deals with real life issues. Things may return to normal this week or next, I hope.

[Canoerebel]

3/5/44 and 3/6/44
 
Malacca:  The Yamato combat TF returned (after fueling in Kuching, John told me in an email, thereby disclosing that there may not be enough fuel at Singapore).  Recon sighted the group, so I pulled back my transports from Johore Bahru and Malacca, but one TF didn't get the message; Yamato and friends sank about five AKs at Malacca.  John is sending alot of troops to Malacca.  I think my force is strong enough to hold out, partly because they are heavily preppred for this base while the Japs probably aren't.  In the meantime, transports are returning to Rangoon to pick up another contingent of troops.
 
Malaya:  I'm eyeing another amphibous invasion in the short term, and other troops are moving overland from Rangoon to threaten Rahaeng (NW of Bangkok) and also to threaten the "top end" of the Malay Peninsula.  So far I've only brought to bear a small portion of my infantry.  Alot more is on the move or will be soon.
 
Sumatra:  John seems to be sending troops forward toward Padang, a long march.  Recon sighted CVs at Benkolen, which seems like an odd place for them.
 
Vietnam:  The Japanese are still retreating toward Hue; it will take the Chinese army awhile to advance that far (perhaps ten days).  The Chinese are getting high-odds attacks on the defeated Jap army at Haiphong, but it will take awhile to wipe them out (the Japs number about 80,000).
 
NoPac:  The Allied TF is now well south of the Kuriles and is about to split up, with faster ships moving out on their own for various ports.  The covering CVs will continue to escort the slower, damaged ships and will rendezvous with a small transport convoy protected only by CV Hornet.  When this rendezvous occurs, I may detail some of the CVs to head to the West Coast to upgrade, or I may decide to send them back to Sikhalin Island.  At Iwo, a large force of B-24s and PBY Liberators sortied against Kyoto, met about 97 Tonys, and lost something like 30 aircraft.
 
CenPac/SoPac/SWPac:  Quiet, although the Allies are looking "down the road" at possible future targets.
 
Australia:  The Allied army is advancing slowly toward Daly Waters.  I don't think the Japs will make a stand here, or not much of one anyhow.

[Canoerebel]

3/7/44 and 3/8/44
 
Yawn!  Nearly all my impending offensive assets are on the move right now, trying to get where they're going, and I can't wait for them to do so.  I'm ready for some action!
 
Malaya/Sumatra/Thailand:  The transports are on the way to Rangoon.  It will be a good ten days to two weeks before the Brits are ready to hit another base in Malaya, so I'm hoping my troops at Malacca will hold.  I doubt I can hold the beachhead at Johore Bahru that long.  John has three of the four remaining Jap BBs down here (the other, Hiei, is probably in drydock and unavailable).  I think the KB is still down here too, although that's not certain.  The Japs are moving across land toward Padang, but that march will take a long time and I'll reinforce eventually.  The Allies are also moving overland to threaten northern Malaya and the Bangkok region, though these moves will also take time due to the bad roads.  I've been bombing resources at Bangkok, so John set up a little Tony ambush, but I detected it and sent a ton of 2EB and 4EB to hit the airfield.  The Allies got the best of that (making up for the losses over Kyoto a few days ago).
 
Vietnam:  Advanced units are just two hexes from Hue.  This will probably be the next point of conflict in the game.  Chinese AV is about 2500, and about half of that averages 35% prep.  The other half averages about 10% prep.  I doubt the garrison averages 15%.
 
NoPac:  The Hornet convoy met the main carrier convoy, so now the various TFs making up these convoys have received new orders.  Most undamaged transports are going to Midway; some damaged transports, combat ships, and carriers will probably make for San Francisco; the undamaged carrier TFs will escort a few small transport TFs (loaded with troops) back to Shikuka.  Another transport convoy will leave Shikuka tonight, escorted by three more carrier TFs.  I was planning to do this eventually because I want to get more empty transports back to CenPac, but the sight of another Japanese transport TF moving south of the Kuriles prompted me to move immediately.  I want my carriers to hit this TF if it keeps coming.
 
CenPac/SoPac/SWPac:  The Jap Mini-KB working the waters SE of Noumea found a small hodge-podge TF made up of AGPs, and AD, AS, AV, and DE, sinking most of them.  I finally got confirmation that CV Katsuragi sank (she was damaged in a carrier battle with some CVEs a few weeks ago). 
 
Carrier Losses:  In the game, the Allies have lost five CVs and a CVL.  The Japs have lost four CVs and a CVL.  The Allies have lost about five CVEs and the Japs none (though CVE Unyo was badly damaged and may go down).  In my game with Miller, I lost dozens (literally) of CVEs, so I'm using them differently in this game.  I'm trying to keep them away from LBA where kamikazes seem the shred them.  Kamikazes don't seem to have much luck against fleet carriers.
 
Australia:  The Allies continue to slowly advance toward Daly Waters, a march that will take a week or so.

[Canoerebel]

3/9/44 to 3/11/44
 
My opponent is still dealing with some real life matters, so the turns have been sporadic the past ten days, and may continue to be for awhile.  But we have covered some ground today...

Malaya/Sumatra:  The Allies are slowly gathering for the next big shove and hoping to hold the beachhead at Malacca.  John is doing his best to thwart the Allies - it looks like the Japs will be able to reclaim the small Allied beachhead at Johore Bahru in a few days.  I don't want to commit the ships necesary to hold this hex, because I have other plans that I think are more promising.  John sent a large CA/CL/DD combat TF to Bankha on the 10th, but it tangled with two determined RN combat TFs and probably got the worst of things.  CA Nachi took a TT and about five Jap DDs were set afire over four rounds of combat.  Four RN DDs were set afire and CL Mauritanius took moderate damage.  Allied transports begin loading troops as soon as they arrive at Rangoon, but it will be another five or six days before I have enough troops loaded to embark on the next adventure.  All in all, things are going well in this theater for two reasons - the Royal Navy combat ships have really held their own and the primary objective down here is to attract and keep Jap attention focused down this way.

Vietnam:  Five Chinese infantry units arrived at Hue today and will bombard tomorrow.  The rest of the army will arrive in a day or two.  I may have enough to take the base in the short term, but if not it should fall once the Chinese finish off the garrison at Haiphong, where I'm attacking every day. But finishing the job at Haiphong will take awhile - maybe several weeks or a month to vanquish the 80k-strong Jap army.  Once Haiphong falls, John is going to face a massive Chinese army threatening Saigon.  That will be interesting since he's also pressed down in Malaya. Can he come up with enough troops to counter each threat?

NoPac:  The two Allied carrier fleets will rendezvous tomorrow, with the northern element escorting empty transports that are on the way from Sikhalin Island back to the USA; the southern element is escorting reinforcements from Midway to Sikhalin and Onnekotan Jima.  The two carrier groups found a bunch of Jap transports in their midst and sank at least two MSW and six AKs on the 11th.  Allied 4EB from Shikuka hammered the airfield at Paramushiro Jima on the 10th, destroying alot of aircraft on the ground.  The Allies will be making a move on one or more of the Jap-held Aleutians bases in the not-to-distant future.  The tw

SoPac/SWPac/CenPac:  Still fairly quiet here only because the Allies don't have enough ships available to pursue action right now.

Australia:  The Aussies continue their advance toward Daly Waters.

Points:  The spread is down to 11,500.