After the previous combat between the mini KB and the British, he'll figure that you brought in the Americans to fight mini KB. He might be a bit suspicious of the move, and maybe he'll move KB closer to counter any follow-up actions, but I doubt it'll tip him off as to your offensive.
It might not tip him off to the offensive, but wouldn't having the KB in the area make the offensive impossible? The whole point of the diversionary offensive, after all, is to divert the KB from the DEI area.
True, the offensive shouldn't be launched days after a battle with mini KB, but the diversion should still be able to lure away KB. Of course, a bit of time should be left between the two. An offensive in Pacific won't be as impressive if he knows the allied CV are off Perth.
If you go with the Marshalls diversion, a chance to smack Mini-KB around just before it would send KB running East to find your CVs, followed by a run west as he might guess you had three CVs in Oz to fight the Mini-KB, then back east again when the troops hit the beach in the DEI. Of course, that would require Mini-KB to be in the right place at the right time.
Even without consideration to diversions, it might be worth doing, just to start the attrition curve swinging in your direction.
Sinking any Japanese carrier and a few CAs is always a good thing. [:D]
Force CF to re-think how he is going to divide up his carrier strength. Add in your various diversions and he may be forced to go more into a defensive posture sooner than he wants.
It would be at a high cost, however, in intelligence; once he sees the US Fleet in that position, Cuttlefish will KNOW something is up. Kido Butai will likely be in the area shortly thereafter. Sinking CVLs, though, is a good thing.
Maybe, and maybe not. You have known the KB is at Noumea for some time, and he knows you know. Putting the Allied CV's near Sydney would have been a reasonable move, and when you got a read on the baby KB you could have raced around Southern Australia.
I would be tempted to attack. The KB has been dodging subs for some time; a re-fit would be in order. If you can interrupt that, and again determine KB's location, those would also be positives in addition to the sinking of CVL/CVE's. That seems like it would out-weigh the delay in your offensive operations.
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
Also, Japanese players who like to keep the KB together aren't easily persuaded to divide the KB. Almost always, when those players decide to commit the KB they're going to send the whole kit and kaboodle.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
Also, Japanese players who like to keep the KB together aren't easily persuaded to divide the KB. Almost always, when those players decide to commit the KB they're going to send the whole kit and kaboodle.
Isn't it better to divide the original 6 CV TF into two or three 3/2 CV TFs that travel around together? Used to be.
Also, Japanese players who like to keep the KB together aren't easily persuaded to divide the KB. Almost always, when those players decide to commit the KB they're going to send the whole kit and kaboodle.
Isn't it better to divide the original 6 CV TF into two or three 3/2 CV TFs that travel around together? Used to be.
It can be, when you have enough escorts. It can also bite you in the ass when one TF reacts and the other doesn't
Gentlemen: Thank you for your comments on hitting Baby KB. The consensus seems to be to do it. Probably the opportunity will not present itself, but you never know....
Combat Report, August 27 to Sept 1, 1942
Another month goes by in the Pacific, and we inch closer to our fall offensive. Little happened from a combat standpoint these days, so I will detail preparations. As it stands, October figures to be a very very busy month!
SW Pacific: I sent a cruiser TF to visit Noumea harbor. I had hoped to find transports loading, as I had spotted some, and sank 1 via sub; but there were gone by the time we visited. Our ships shot up the airstrip, and sailed back to Suva.
They were completely unspotted on the way in, so I probably exposed for CF a gap in his air search. Too bad we didn't find bigger game.
Two days in a row, the 28th and 29th, we spotted Kido Butai via submarine, or at least a big enough chunk that I am pretty sure I spotted it. They were observed near Green Island heading SW toward New Caledonia. Maybe CF is going to use Carriers to cover the move of all the troops on New Caledonia, don't know. He probably will cover his transports now regardless, after that cruiser TF visit, so it accomplished something (I think).
FORAGER: The troops allocated to OPERATION FORAGER, the British attack in Northern Buma, left camp on Sept 1. It will take 20-30 days to march through the jungle to the Japanese, so it will be awhile before CF sees what is up. 2 Divisions should cross the Chindwin in about 12 days, so that is probably when Cuttlefish will spot some sort of movement. The moment he flinches, I plan an air raid on Mandalay with everything I have from 4 airbases, about 370 Allied aircraft. In total, approx. 6 divisions are involved in the attack on Myitkinya, with several tank and recon regts. in support.
Latest intel shows the 33rd IJA Division at Katha, and a single Regt. at Myiktinya. If the troops crossing the Chindwin can engage the 33rd divisoin and cut the rail line, the forces up north should easily be able to shove that Regt. out of Myiktinya and take the place.
REPRISAL: The USN CVs and some BBs should arrive shortly at Perth. I am moving some 2nd Wave support troops to Port Hedland, to make it a shorter trip than the initial invasion. I have moved most of the Koepang assault force to Port Hedland, plus what I calculate to be enough transports to move 2 Divisions plus some tanks to Koepang (with room to spare, to make for faster unload). At this stage, the Allies have bupkus for good assault transports, so we are using the small Dutch xAPs for assault transports. They are small, so should unload fast anyway. We have about 8 actual APs in the area as well.
Aircraft is also on the way to Australia; I am erring on the side of caution here, so I have piles of pretty much everything either there or heading there.
I am hesitant to build up Broome too quickly. I have 3 base forces there, but I don't dare to put more. I am being very careful not to tip anything off, because if I surprise Cuttlefish, I should get all my guys safely ashore without a hitch.
SEARCHLIGHT: The 2 RNZN Cruisers that are forming the core of my "bombardment" force are 3-4 days out of Pearl; once they are there, we have all we need for this "movement". The poor saps in Searchlight will sail in about 2 weeks.
There was a little bit of action these days, mostly the slaughter of our innocent engineers by Kido Butai. They shall pay for this atrocity!
SW Pacific: The IJN moved many units into the SW Pacific, SE of Noumea. A deep penetration by KB found an Allied convoy off Raoul Island. This was 6 APs loaded with 3 USN Engineer Bns, headed for Australia, and escorted by a single old DD.
The escort and 4 of the xAPs were vaporized by KB. Somehow, 2 xAPs lived, so if they make it to Auckland and unload, I will permanently lose only 1 Bn. Still, he got me back a bit.
This Japanese move seems to be covering transports at Noumea; I guess that CA raid on Noumea caused CF to be more cautious. With the IJN sweeping the area, no chance of hitting the transports at Noumea. I see several, via submarines that I have outside the harbor. The question of course, is where are they going?
I remain alert to a landing on Suva or the Tonga chain, the logical next step after Noumea. He might be trying something more limited, like Norfolk Island, which would be a real good idea on CF's part, and one I can't do anything about. (all I have there is a small base force). Any move on Suva or Tonga, though, will encounter swarms of DBs and other Airpower that has been training on NavB. I also have 5 BBs at Pago Pago.
FORAGER: So far we have not moved one hex yet, but should in about 5 days. CF doesn't see anything yet, but I wouldn't expect him to until we have moved one hex. Then the air battle should break out.
Recon indicates still just one unit at Myiktinya, and what appears to be a Tank Regt by itself at Katha. This is unwise, at some point I will try to bomb it to oblivion. There is a large concentration of troops at Shwebo and Mandalay. Shwebo appears to be at least a division. I continue to recon Rangoon, and have seen transports come and go, so there may by reinforcements coming into Burma.
Air units continue to train and rest. We have quite a bit of airpower there, so I plan to hold everyone back until CF obviously knows something is up, then let all hell break lose, starting with bombing the airbase at Mandalay, and maybe annihilating that Tank unit.
The Chinese should reach Bhamo in about 5 days.
REPRISAL: The last warships have arrived at Perth. I am sending a convoy with 5 USN Naval Constr. Bns to Port Hedland, so they can be quickly shuttled in with the 2nd wave. The ships carrying them will stop there. I think I have enough shipping for 2 divisions plus all my tanks in the assault wave on Koepang; everywhere else, I have shipping for at least 1 Bde in the Assault wave (Waingapu,Lomblen, Maumere,Ruteng). I don't expect much oppossition anywhere but Koepang, where Recon shows 4 units and 6,000 troops.
By moving units to Port Hedland, I can quickly reinforce with a second wave. As soon as we are ashore and capture Koepang, I will be moving everything from Perth to Port Hedland, and make that our base of operations.
At this point, I have a convoy with Marine Wildcats about 5 days out from Melbourne. I need a unit to put on HMS Hermes. Once they are in Perth, we will start loading the Assault Wave. D-Day appears to be right around Oct 1. Stay tuned!
The Naval OOB includes all 7 Allied CVs, HMS Hermes, 10 BB/BC (6 RN BBs, Repulse, North Carolina, W Va, and Colorado), plus about 30 cruisers and a pile of DDs. This is the bulk of the Allied Navy, including just about all of the RN. I am still a bit concerned about Fuel; I have 110K now stockpiled at Port Hedland, 50K at Perth, plus another 70K about to unload at Perth. I have another 25K on board 2 AOs at Perth. Every ship has a full bunker, so that helps. I think I have enough, but will continue to convoy fuel to this area to avoid running out. Supplies are plentiful, with more on the way.
As a japan player I see no point to defend Myiktinya. It is to far away and can be easily cut off. So if he wise enough youu will get this base without fight.
Japan should probably take Myitkinya and then leave a very small garrison there - it isn't of any real use to the Japanese, but the air base can be of some help to the Allies. No need in making it a free gift to the Allies. Make them work for it.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
True, with the new supply movement constraint in the Burma/India border region, an airport for allied cargo planes might be very important to supply allied troops.
I would say that your plans look robust and devious, Q-Ball. Doing little damage to your fleet during the expansion phase is obviously going to hurt Cuttlefish now. Looking at the Allied armada, unless he manages to pull off reverse Midway or at least Savo squared, IJN is probably going to be crippled for half a year even if it manages to win this battle. Even a draw in naval battle probably would be a complete, game-deciding disaster for Japanese.
As a japan player I see no point to defend Myiktinya. It is to far away and can be easily cut off. So if he wise enough youu will get this base without fight.
Historically, it was a critical base. Until it was captured the Japanese based fighters out of there to interdict transport planes flying over the hump and once captured it allowed the Allies to double the amount of supply flowing into China. Some argue that the campaign to recaputure Myiktinya was the only Allied campaign in the whole theater that had any significance. All of the other fighting was a terrible waste of men and resources as the Japanese in all of South East Asia were isolated by the sucess of the sub war and had little influence on the later stages of the war. Too bad it is not more important in game terms.
Svenslim, Canoerebel, Crsutton, good comments re: Myiktinya. I should articulate why I am attacking this particulary base. Pretty good quesiton.
The main reason is that I don't think I have the strength yet for a full-bore push into Lower Burma. Aside from Supply problems, and the slow rate of moving troops for reinforcement, I just don't think it's realistic. Myiktinya seems like a reasonable objective for the Fall campaign.
I don't think it's that useless though. Once I have Warazup and Myiktinya, I can suck in/fly in supplies; I plan to establish a permanent base there, and use it as a springboard to Lower Burma. You can also then establish a base at Bhamo, and maybe even move supplies through Bhamo into China. I could march a couple Indian Divisions overland to Lashio and re-open the Burma Road.
Once I have Myiktinya, I will continue to move down the rail line to at least Katha, and use that as a base of operations to enter the Lower Burma plain near Shwebo.
It's basically an interim step. It might take a couple years to clear Burma, but the primary strategic objective of this campaign is to tie down Japanese troops. If I have 4-6 divisions at Myiktinya, I should be able to accomplish that.
Combat Report, Sept. 5-8 1942
SW Pacific: After Kido Butai nailed my convoy, they withdrew to cover Noumea. I had a cruiser TF hovering about 12 hexes away, but didn't see a clean shot, so withdrew to Vava'u. A BB TF including Yamato bombarded Norfolk Island before heading north.
Both times transports have visited Noumea, they have gone North. If Cuttlefish was going to land on Suva, they would have loitered there or stayed at Noumea with KB. I am going to infer that a move on Fiji is NOT planned.
If the worm has truly turned, then I am going to immediately begin prepping all my SW Pacific units for new targets. I will take suggestions on where, but I am leaning toward Ndeni and Luganville, to cut off Noumea, where I know he probably still has a bunch of troops.
In the SW pacific, I have almost all of the Marines, plus 3 US Infantry divisions, so we have enough troops to cause some trouble.
FORAGER: 2 Divisions have crossed the uppper Chindwin river near Ledo into the jungle. Cuttlefish may now see this movement and know something is up. We'll see.
REPRISAL: The last units are coming into place. I should be loading up in about 10 days, around the 20th of September. I would like more shipping, but I counted 170 transports so far, about 80 of them xAP. That will have to do. I think I'll have enough Fuel, some big convoys are on the way from Capetown.
If the worm has truly turned, then I am going to immediately begin prepping all my SW Pacific units for new targets. I will take suggestions on where, but I am leaning toward Ndeni and Luganville, to cut off Noumea, where I know he probably still has a bunch of troops.
I would look at the Ellice Island group first. You would need to bring some engineers as they have no AF potential. [:(] But, they would allow you to go in multiple directions from there. North to the Gilberts or over to where your thinking about. look at some of the dot bases around Luganville that have both port and AF potential.
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