PZB swept Ramree shooting down most aof a Sqn of P40's
Apart from that quiet day IV corps for some inexplicable reason attacked but it looks like only a couple of Bdes actually attacked leading to a pathetic adjusted AV.
I may be able to use that if it leads to a false sense of security
Andy Mac v PZB This time India will Stand !!!!
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
Having had a long look round the army it looks like 14th Chindit Bde and 3rd Cdo Bde launched the premature attack the rest of the army is ok those 2 Bdes are shattered and almost fully disabled
Tomorrow XV Corps attacks magwe 2 Indian Divs (9th and 14th) supported by every aircraft I can muster is attack magwe while my heavies attempt to keep Toungoo suppressed
Tomorrow XV Corps attacks magwe 2 Indian Divs (9th and 14th) supported by every aircraft I can muster is attack magwe while my heavies attempt to keep Toungoo suppressed
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
The road to Mandalay is open the Japanese look to be in full retreat 2 days and Bur Corps are crossing the Irrawaddy and will hopefully take Mandalay.
I suspect PZB will retreat back off the plains to rough terrain and tyry to hold on for the Monsoon around Toungoo which is why its so vital to keep pressing on his heels and not give time to settle
I suspect PZB will retreat back off the plains to rough terrain and tyry to hold on for the Monsoon around Toungoo which is why its so vital to keep pressing on his heels and not give time to settle
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
Had a good long look round it will take 11 days for 9th Australian Div to link up with IV Corps but when they do that will make the Ramree - IV corps Supply route available greatly easing my logistics
So priority is to get it built up.
There is no good defensive terrain north of Rangoon so if the japanese are pulling back its a mistake UNLESS PZB has massive forts somewhere.
Jungle terrain around Toungoo is NOT the same as Jungle/Rough
My air power will be degraded but most of my Mediums are now well over 70 in ground attack and low ground attack and my fighter bombers are getting that way (and soon my Hurricane IIc Sqns will be moving over to Ground to Mud as well)
I think I have a real opportunity to either pin PZB into committing far more force to Burma than is warranted or to pocket a large Japanese army if he decides to stand at rangoon (a lousy place to try and stand for both sides) in many ways PZB's best optio now is to either counter invade India (suicide but he may not realise how much airpower I have in reserve as yet unseen) or slowly fall back towards Moulmien and the bad terrain around there.
I may be misreading the situation nuy I am not sure PZB can SUPPLY a huge army in Burma and it will take a huge army to stop me
So priority is to get it built up.
There is no good defensive terrain north of Rangoon so if the japanese are pulling back its a mistake UNLESS PZB has massive forts somewhere.
Jungle terrain around Toungoo is NOT the same as Jungle/Rough
My air power will be degraded but most of my Mediums are now well over 70 in ground attack and low ground attack and my fighter bombers are getting that way (and soon my Hurricane IIc Sqns will be moving over to Ground to Mud as well)
I think I have a real opportunity to either pin PZB into committing far more force to Burma than is warranted or to pocket a large Japanese army if he decides to stand at rangoon (a lousy place to try and stand for both sides) in many ways PZB's best optio now is to either counter invade India (suicide but he may not realise how much airpower I have in reserve as yet unseen) or slowly fall back towards Moulmien and the bad terrain around there.
I may be misreading the situation nuy I am not sure PZB can SUPPLY a huge army in Burma and it will take a huge army to stop me
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
If PZB commits KB he can probably put a dent into my AF (please please let him try this pretty please !!!!)
if PZB has a truly massive army in reserve he 'may' be able to rout one of my Corps (probably Burma Corps) although once Burma and XV Corps join hands at Meiktila that reduces a s a possibility.
If PZB has monster forts at Toungoo I dont think it matters the base is bypassable and supply will be destroyed by my strategic air force
PZB has c 3 Divs in the mountains opposing IV corps
looks like 2 Divs shredded or cut off in north burma
best part of 6 facing Bur/XV Corps in North Burma
another 2 on the right flank retreating on Lashio
So thats about 13 Divs I can positivily identify 2 of which are write offs, 2 are off to one side and an irrelevance.
Without air superiority I am not sure PZB can stop 14th Army in the Centre - I probably have about 10 Divisonal Equivalents on that front and can manouver more easily I only with I had III Indian Corps with its 2,000 AV of armour to throw into this fight now that would allow me to tear the IJA apart.
They are still in Australia re concentrating after the Darwin campaign - ah well
if PZB has a truly massive army in reserve he 'may' be able to rout one of my Corps (probably Burma Corps) although once Burma and XV Corps join hands at Meiktila that reduces a s a possibility.
If PZB has monster forts at Toungoo I dont think it matters the base is bypassable and supply will be destroyed by my strategic air force
PZB has c 3 Divs in the mountains opposing IV corps
looks like 2 Divs shredded or cut off in north burma
best part of 6 facing Bur/XV Corps in North Burma
another 2 on the right flank retreating on Lashio
So thats about 13 Divs I can positivily identify 2 of which are write offs, 2 are off to one side and an irrelevance.
Without air superiority I am not sure PZB can stop 14th Army in the Centre - I probably have about 10 Divisonal Equivalents on that front and can manouver more easily I only with I had III Indian Corps with its 2,000 AV of armour to throw into this fight now that would allow me to tear the IJA apart.
They are still in Australia re concentrating after the Darwin campaign - ah well
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
Onthe Arakan front i think its the Japanese 28th Army with 9th, 33rd and Guards Tank Divs under command
I destroyed an Idpt Tank Regt and badly damaged 34th Ind Moxed Bde, 2nd Amph Bde and 3rd Raiding Regt.
So about 4 Divs of which 3 are still combat capable.
On the central front
I have positively identified
15th and 18th Armies
4th Div is cut off an out of the fight
14th Div has been retreated 3 times wuith heavy casualties and must be out of the fight.
That leaves so far identified
5th Div (on the Lashio front) so mostly out of position
5th Guards Div at Magwe facing off to XV Corps and taken a pounding fromt he air
6th Guards Div has also taken a pasting fromt he air but is probably stull effective
These were all idetified as being in Burma in last two weeks
elements of 107th Div have been idenrtifed
11th Div
21st Div
38th Div
2nd Tk Div
33rd Mixed Bde
There must be at least 2 Divs in southern Burma watching for a coup de main - I would have at least one at Moulmien and Tavoy if I were the Japanese
I destroyed an Idpt Tank Regt and badly damaged 34th Ind Moxed Bde, 2nd Amph Bde and 3rd Raiding Regt.
So about 4 Divs of which 3 are still combat capable.
On the central front
I have positively identified
15th and 18th Armies
4th Div is cut off an out of the fight
14th Div has been retreated 3 times wuith heavy casualties and must be out of the fight.
That leaves so far identified
5th Div (on the Lashio front) so mostly out of position
5th Guards Div at Magwe facing off to XV Corps and taken a pounding fromt he air
6th Guards Div has also taken a pasting fromt he air but is probably stull effective
These were all idetified as being in Burma in last two weeks
elements of 107th Div have been idenrtifed
11th Div
21st Div
38th Div
2nd Tk Div
33rd Mixed Bde
There must be at least 2 Divs in southern Burma watching for a coup de main - I would have at least one at Moulmien and Tavoy if I were the Japanese
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
on my side
XV Corps has 5 Divs (9th, 14th, 17th 36th Indian Divs plus 18th British Div)
Burma Corps has 3 Chinese Armies (1st New, 5th New and 66th) plus 2 Indian Divs (20th/23rd)
Plus about 2 Divs of LOC and garrison troops watching the flanks
IV Corps has 5 Indian, 1 Brit and 1 US Div under command (5th, 7th, 19th, 25th,26th, 2nd Brit and 32nd US Divs)
14th Army reserve 1st US Cav Div, 9th Aus Div, Chindits, Paras and other garrison forces
XV Corps has 5 Divs (9th, 14th, 17th 36th Indian Divs plus 18th British Div)
Burma Corps has 3 Chinese Armies (1st New, 5th New and 66th) plus 2 Indian Divs (20th/23rd)
Plus about 2 Divs of LOC and garrison troops watching the flanks
IV Corps has 5 Indian, 1 Brit and 1 US Div under command (5th, 7th, 19th, 25th,26th, 2nd Brit and 32nd US Divs)
14th Army reserve 1st US Cav Div, 9th Aus Div, Chindits, Paras and other garrison forces
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
The 14th Army Reserve is for India or in the rearguard of the advancing troops at Burma ??
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
Mix - 1st Cav is in India along with several garrison Bdes and the Ceylon Garrison (4 Bdes) plus 50th Tank and a few other formations all told about 2000 AV in India at present including static units
9th Australian and 2 of the Para Bdes are at Ramree although the Paras are being withdrawn to reserve
9th Australian and 2 of the Para Bdes are at Ramree although the Paras are being withdrawn to reserve
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
4 Brigades looks like an small garrison for Ceylan...dunno...
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
Not realy this is 44 - 4 Bdes should be more than enough remember all bases are built now with good forts the southern Indian bases are built and I can rapidly deploy 2,000 combat aircraft to the theatre if PZB is foolish enough to land on Ceylon.
I also have about 600 Dakotas and C46's in theatre so I have to I can damn near airlift a Div in each day if it came down to it.
With Ramree now ecure and mine PZB has bigger problems to worry about.
Basically my plan now is to use my ground attack capability to force PZB back and hopefully make him commit to battle somewhere north of Rangoon in the Toungoo area.
It leaves PZB with a nasty choice. - Use his AA to protect his LCU'sand I will use my heavies to pound Rangoona and Moulmien or protect his LOC and my Tacticals and FB's will erode his LCU's
As long as he keeps a viable threat by having a strong AF at Rangoon I dont put him in the fork of this dilemma but as soon as I am able to launch the air battle of Rangoon then all bets are off.
In many ways PZB's best option is to slowly and steadly pull back to Tavoy ceding Burma now I am never going to enter the Malacca strait i simply dont have the seapower to do it
I actually want to encourage a stnd up knock down battle somewhere north of Rangoon where I can hit his supply lines and disrupt his troops.
Andy
I also have about 600 Dakotas and C46's in theatre so I have to I can damn near airlift a Div in each day if it came down to it.
With Ramree now ecure and mine PZB has bigger problems to worry about.
Basically my plan now is to use my ground attack capability to force PZB back and hopefully make him commit to battle somewhere north of Rangoon in the Toungoo area.
It leaves PZB with a nasty choice. - Use his AA to protect his LCU'sand I will use my heavies to pound Rangoona and Moulmien or protect his LOC and my Tacticals and FB's will erode his LCU's
As long as he keeps a viable threat by having a strong AF at Rangoon I dont put him in the fork of this dilemma but as soon as I am able to launch the air battle of Rangoon then all bets are off.
In many ways PZB's best option is to slowly and steadly pull back to Tavoy ceding Burma now I am never going to enter the Malacca strait i simply dont have the seapower to do it
I actually want to encourage a stnd up knock down battle somewhere north of Rangoon where I can hit his supply lines and disrupt his troops.
Andy
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
hahahahahahha, and when PzB put all his efforts at Burma, Andy will strike back at the Pacific !!!! [:D][:D]
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
yes thats the plan however given the last twice I tried naval attacks failed miserably I am not exactly optimistic any more !!!!
baby steps I think
baby steps I think
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
What I really want to do is to get into PM and start hitting back in NG and the Solomons - I know its not high on PZB's list any more as its a long way back BUT again it puts pressure on him and opens another theatre
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
Pufff....Port Moresby is not a win movement...Japan will gladly fight at NG there for 4/5 months, in order to fortify even more its defenses on the main line of defence.
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
maybe not but with at best equality in carrier air at present
(3 USN, 1 RN Fleet Carrier and 20 CVL/CVE's)
So c 1000 carrier aircraft its all I am going to achieve.
I need to wait for AT least 500 more carrier aircraft before I go hunting KB.
Every Sqn must be equipped with F4U1A's on the fleet carriers - this will not be quick but this I mean to put an end to KB
(3 USN, 1 RN Fleet Carrier and 20 CVL/CVE's)
So c 1000 carrier aircraft its all I am going to achieve.
I need to wait for AT least 500 more carrier aircraft before I go hunting KB.
Every Sqn must be equipped with F4U1A's on the fleet carriers - this will not be quick but this I mean to put an end to KB
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
Train, and train, and train..... [:)].
I'm sure you will defeat PzB at a big naval battle [:)]
I'm sure you will defeat PzB at a big naval battle [:)]
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
Andy,
Why even try to hunt KB other than trying to achieve a sense of payback?
1000 AC is plenty to provide forward aircover somewhere KB isn't.
A campaign that emphasizes allied strengths (LCUs, base building, LBA) and avoids a potentially queen-trading engagement with KB strikes me as a wiser path.
Why even try to hunt KB other than trying to achieve a sense of payback?
1000 AC is plenty to provide forward aircover somewhere KB isn't.
A campaign that emphasizes allied strengths (LCUs, base building, LBA) and avoids a potentially queen-trading engagement with KB strikes me as a wiser path.
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
+1.ORIGINAL: pat.casey
Andy,
Why even try to hunt KB other than trying to achieve a sense of payback?
1000 AC is plenty to provide forward aircover somewhere KB isn't.
A campaign that emphasizes allied strengths (LCUs, base building, LBA) and avoids a potentially queen-trading engagement with KB strikes me as a wiser path.
I have re-reading my own posts and...pat is right...forget face 1to1 the KB. Better use your fleet where and when the KB is not.
RE: Newflash Jap Battleship left burning off Arakan
Not planning on hunting KB I am waiting on the rest of my CV's returning from Capetwon and then I will be ready to proceed with phase 1 of the new plan.
But no mad risks until I get more carriers
But no mad risks until I get more carriers