Tokyo Rose was a Hussy! Chez (J) vs. Canoe (A)

[Canoerebel]

Bay of Bengal (forgot to note this in regular post for the day):  Patrols report a large enemy combat TF moving out of the Malacca Straits towards either Port Blair or Rangoon.  While patrols reported at least four BB, Cribtop HQ...I mean Canoe HQ....evaluates this as a combat TF intended to clear the Allied CL/DD TF out of the mouth of the river at Rangoon.  HQ doesn't think this is bringing supplies, though that can't be entirely discounted.  With the Battle of Rangoon to take place beginning the day after tomorrow, the Allies will do everything possible to stop supply from reaching Rangoon.  Also, IJN cruisers are a very high value target.  Damaging or destroying them materially benefits the defense of Sumatra.  Accordingly, CVs Lexington, Indomitable, and Ilustrious will be vectored to the vicinity from their current position SW of Sabang (IE, they are in perfect position to interdect the enemy TFs path of retreat back into the Malacca Straits.  (The KB is near Ketapang, and thus no threat.)

[Canoerebel]

5/23/42
 
Steve scored a few hits today and feels better about things, but overall I thought it was another good turn for the Allies.  There is alot going on in very theater, so every turn is full of excitement now.

Burma:  The Allied army of about 450 AV arrived at Rangoon to find it defended by just one regiment (and that one recently forced to retreat from Pegu after combat) plus some support units.  There's the urban bonus, but supply should be short.  I'm very anxious to see how this turns out tomorrow.  Up at Lashio, the Chinese units aren't strong enough to dislodge an IJ regiment.  An attack by the vanguard unit of the Burma Army attacks at Meiktila tomorrow, with a fair chance of success (and if not then, the day after when the rest of the army arrives).  The Japanese have a full-blown crisis in Burma and that is evident from certain developments.

Bay of Bengal:  BBs Mutsu and Nagato are in the Andaman Sea, not far from Rangoon.  An IJ DD force caught and destroyed an Allied transport TF carrying engineers to Moulmein (the TF retreated from safety at Moulmein right into the path of the destroyers). 

Weighing and Balancing:  This is a chance for the Allies to positively impact the balance of forces for the upcoming Battle of Sumatra.  Two IJN battleships have already been sunk, with others damaged.  So its worth diverting the Allied carriers into the vicinity.  They won't be in position for two more days, so whether the IJN BBs hang around is a question.  Also, the KB is just east of Singapore - a position from which it can sprint into the Bay of Bengal.  That's a threat, but the Allied carriers have a big cushion and could retire to either Colombo or Calcutta, where CAP augmented by land-based fighters would be sufficient for protection, IMO.  There's also a small chance that Japan could use the absence of Allied carriers from Sumatran waters, once confirmed, to proceed with the invasion of Sumatra - I rate that possibility as highly unlikely as Japan hasn't had time to get things orchestrated after the recent invasion of Java.  Weighing all these factors, the Allies will commit three American carriers and three RN carriers.  Hornet and Saratoga will move further west so that they can fly off their fighter squadrons to Ceylon (and then on to Calcutta, if needed there) in the event of a move by the KB into the Bay of Bengal.

Sumatra:  IJN DDs roughed up a bunch of patrol boats and also sank two xAK, one of which was carrying a P-40 squadron to Oosthaven.  That stings (and results from my having lost track of that TF).  Oosthaven forts just went to level five.  Palembang forts are at 5.89 and will reach six in three days.  Three Allied BB TFs are south of Benkolen.

Pago Pago:  Allied shoreguns shot up four or five more transports.  At least two other enemy TFs are in the vicinity, so I'm trying to decide whether to commit the San Fran/Pensacola TF into the fray (I had been relying on the fact that the enemy combat ships embedded in the transport TFs would be low on ammo after dueling with shoreguns, but the presence of at least one other combat TF in the vicinity makes me leery).  Overall, the situation at Pago Pago looks very good for the Allies.  It is turning into a diversion that is costing Japan alot.  For instance, BB Hiei and two CAs have been committed to this area for more than a month.

Tarawa:  The bulk of the Tarawa invasion TFs begin loading tonight and should depart by tomorrow night.  One advance TF carrying a Marine regiment is already nearing Christmas Island.

NoPac:  Lots of Japanese ships up here.  Hosho-based Kates scored one bomb hit on a DMS.  I think this is reinforcements bound for Amchitka.  That's fine, because it's another Pago Pago-like location for Japan - way out at the end of Japan's tether and close to major Alllied resources so that the Allies should be able to attrit the enemy once I have the resources.  But, in the near term, I can't dispute the reinforcement mission (if that's what it is) since Tennessee is damaged.

China:  The Chinese are moving a stack (late from Changsha) to Loying and Chengchow theater, but the Chinese are withdrawing in good order from these forward and relatively indefensible positions back to the original MLR.  From there, the Chinese can regroup and attack vulnerable Japanese units.  The Chinese are currently working on two other concentrations for attack - one fo the just-defeated 40th Div. east of Changsha, the other of an IJ Div. (37th?) north of Sinyang.

[Canoerebel]

5/24/42
 
Burma:  The Allied army gets a high-end 1:1 and drops forts from 2 to 1.  Rangoon may fall tomorrow, but it's nto a sure thing.  Up at Meiktila, the Burma Army takes that base.  Over at Lashio, an IJ regiment evicts the two Chinese units.  Overall, the Allies are in good position to wrest Burma from Japan.  That should present Japan with a dilemma - how to deal with Burma and Sumatra at the same time.
 
Bay of Bengal:  Mutsu and Nagato are at the little base below Tavoy.  My carriers won't be in position to strike for at least two more days, as they are taking the safer course west of Andaman Island.  This is necessary because my patrols lost touch with the KB - I don't know if it's at Singapore, in the South China Sea, or half way up the Malacca Straits.  I have pickets out, but I'll have to watch things very carefully.
 
Sumatra:  Quiet.
 
Java: Japanese units slowly moving east and west from the invasion beaches.  Batavia and Merak probably won't fall until early June.
 
SoPac:  No enemy attacks at Pago Pago.
 
CenPac: All invasion TFs bound for Tarawa will have departed Pearl by tonight.  D-Day could be in as little as ten days or so.
 
NoPac:  I think all the fuss up here was Steve sending some supply to his garrison at Amchitka.

[Cribtop]

You may not take Rangoon tomorrow, but with those odds you'll take it this week. Well done. Don't stretch too far to nail those BBs - KB is lurking.

[DarenDF]

Wow the AAR heated up quiet a bit since I last checked. Hmm your progress in Burma is great so far and I am sure its annoying your opponent.  Can't wait to see how the Bay of Bengal plays out, though I am more interested to see how things finally go when he hits Sumatra.

[zuluhour]

A Lurker chiming in. This AAR should have come with the manual!

[Canoerebel]

05/25/42
 
Thank you for the encouraging comments, gents.

Bay of Bengal: The KB is indeed making its way up the Malacca Straits, currently just southeast of Georgetown.  This is unfortunate, because my carriers could be in a position to strike a beefy IJN combat TF tomorrow.  Oh, how I'd love to hammer Mutsu, Nagato, Takao, Kumano and Atago!  But this is one chance I'm going to decline.  My carriers will retire towards Colombo to see what happens with the Japanese.

Burma:  I expect Japan to try to orchestrate a relief effort for Burma, but I'm unsure whether it will be before or after Sumatra (after means an Allied victory no matter what happens).  The Allied attack at Rangoon came off at 1:2 with light and equal casualties.  I'll have to rest my troops a few days before trying again.  By then I'll have an additional 30 AV (or perhaps as many as 170 if a Brit Bde. double-times it from Moulmein).  I feel good about Burma, because at this point the road to safety is open in the event things turned really sour.  The Allied army could move off to Schwebo and India, or even take a right turn and go to China (that would be odd to have 27th USA Div. fighting in China in mid 1942, but it's remotely possible it could happen).

Sumatra:  IJN shippnig just east of Batavia includes CS Mizuiho.  An Allied combat TF including BC Renown will sortie from Oosthaven.  While the KB is way, the Allies shall play!

Java:  Enemy troops advancing on the ground and also landing here and there.

SoPac:  The enemy destroyers embedded in a big transport TF handled the San Fran/Pensacola combat TF, doing heavy damage to DD Le Triumphant.  These ships will retire to Pearl to replenish and reorganize with some heavier duty guns.

CenPac:  All Tarawa invasion TFs are on the way with no signs of detection. D-Day roughly 10 days.

NoPac:  USN DD TF sank two PB and two xAKL at Amchitka.  The Hosho TF is retiring towards the Kuriles.

[Prydwen]

I was hoping you would get the chance to punch him in the nose again. Bagging those BB's and CA's would have been nice.  Oh well.  It won't be your last opportunity.

IAMH

[GreyJoy]

I still can't believe this is a scen2 game... great work CR!
Keep it up!

[Canoerebel]

5/26/42
 
Only time for a quick report.
 
Bay of Bengal:  The KB is just NW of Georgetown, and the big IJN combat TF withdrew from its forward position.  I'm positve Steve caught wind of an Allied carrier or two near Andamans Island yesterday, which may make him cautious.  The Allied carriers are all a day or two out of Colombo, though, so no action is imminent.
 
Burma:  The Alied army at Rangoon will rest one more day before attacking again.
 
Sumatra:  Palembang forts just went to level six (that's big news).
 
Java:  As noted, it will take Japan into June to complete the conquest of this nearly undefended island.
 
SoPac:  Steve has posted I-10 near Pago Pago.
 
CenPac:  The Tarawa invasion TFs are widely scattered between Christmas Island and a point south of Pearl, but are on converging courses that will take then to Tarawa on a course north of Baker Island.
 
NoPac:  Enemy TFs all back around the Kuriles.
 
Changsha:  Big enemy stack (nine divisions) recently at Changsha finally arrived and reclaimed Kaifeng, which was vacant but for a small HQ and one small infantry unit.  The Chinese are concentrating for a major assault on two smaller IJA armies near Sinyang.  The Japanese have perhaps 6,000 AV in this theater (from Kaifeng to Sinyang), but the Chinese have at least 9,000 AV just to the west and south.  As long as Japan is dispersed, the Chinese can concentrate and thrash. 

[paullus99]

Looks like he's trying to stabilize things in Burma - of course, using the entire KB for what is essentially a ground operation (or should be) is a major waste of resources.

[Cribtop]

Level 6 forts at Palembang is a big accomplishment. I assume you have the necessary supply level to push on to level 7?

[DarenDF]

Man its starting to look like he won't be able to dislodge you from Sumatra.

[paullus99]

Another consideration in favor of standing and fighting in the DEI - India is a lot closer than Pearl (for efforts in CENTPAC), so damaged ships have a better chance of making it to decent sized shipyards for repair.

[Canoerebel]

5/27/42
 
I should clarify something.  Despite all that has gone wrong for Japan, and despite the lateness of the date to be fighting over this territory, Steve is getting his forces better organized now.  He's getting close to isolating eastern Sumatra, and anywhere the KB is in strength, the Allies have to stay away.  So this is a tense interval in the game, though the Allies like the way things are going.
 
Andaman Sea:  The KB is remaining "within itself" - not leaping forward in an aggressive manner.  It's pretty clear that the mission is to control the Andaman Sea and vicinity, probably to allow IJ reinforcement TFs to safely make it into the theater.  It's not beyond plausibility that Steve might come for Port Blair.  I'm not willing to take on the KB at this point, so the Allied carriers are all converging on Colombo to top off fuel and to make sure that aircraft squadrons are maxed out.  From there, they'll slide back south of Sumatra to go on patrol.
 
Burma:  The Allies should take Lashio and Magwe tomorrow, and there's a decent chance Rangoon will fall.  Taking the latter is the key to the situation - once Rangoon falls the Allied army can deploy defensively and manage logistics to get air power up and running.  I'd like some time to coordinate my defenses in Burma and Port Blair, but I'm not 100% sure I'll hold the latter much longer.
 
China:  The Chinese army smacked 6th IJA Div. near Sinyang, destroying about 260 infantry and non-combat squads.  That's at least the sixth IJ division driven back in battle - six divisions that range from moderately damaged to mauled.
 
Sumatra:  Quiet while the KB is away.  Palembang forts up to 6.03%.  At a rate of .03 per day, it's conceivable forts could be up to level seven in a little over a month.  Oosthaven airfield could go to level nine in less than a month - and the Allies have 250+ base support there.  That too could be key.
 
Java:  Enemy advance continues, though fairly slowly. 
 
SoPac:  No sign of enemy transports at the moment, and the enemy isn't attacking at Pago Pago.
 
Tarawa:  Invasion TFs are rendezvouing southeast of Johnston Island.  Things look good at the moment.  BBs Warspite and Colorado are present.
 
NoPac:  BB Pennsylvania will be ready at Alameda in a week.  Idaho will be ready in a month.  Wasp will arrive at Balboa in less than three weeks.  The Allies are looking at a major effort to reinforce Paramushiro in perhaps two months (assuming the Allies still hold it by then, which would be a pleasant surprise but not beyond the realm of possiblity if Japan is focusing on the DEI).

[GreyJoy]

I'd give 2 fingers of my left hand, my "natural" GF and probably something more to be in your strategical situation CR! [:D]

[princep01]

CR, what is the actual point score in your game ?

[Canoerebel]

Japan 14,500
Allies 12,000

Japan leads in troops killed by about 6,000 to 2,000 (that's still a good ratio for the Allies at this point in the war).

The Allies have lost about 400 fewer aircraft.

The Aliles have lost about 200 more points in ships (roughly 2,400 points scored by Japan, to roughly 2,200 for the Allies).

The Allies still havea lead in base points.

[Canoerebel]

5/28/42
 
Burma:  All eyes will be on Rangoon.  Today's deliberate attack came off at 1:2, didn't touch forts, but the IJ garrison seems awfully weakend now.  On the other hand, some kind of major reinforcement operation is underway with Japanese TFs drawing close - I think they'll arrive in two days...if they are heading for Rangoon.  SigInt keeps reporting marus bound for Pegu, which I didn't even think was a port hex.  I've got to be careful here - if the Japanese land at Rangoon, the Allies won't have enough to take the base.  If the Japanese land at Pegu, there's a risk that the Allied line of retreat could be severed.  So, the Allies will shock attack tomorrow.  If that fails, the Allied expeditionary army will probably retire to Pegu to make sure the LOC remains open.  In upper Burma the Allies take Magwe and Taung Gyi.  Another Burma army unit is moving down the road to Taungu.  Once that base is taken, the Allies have an open LOC to western Burma, India, and China.
 
Bay of Bengal:  The KB is stationed a bit further south, close to Georgetown, as though protecting against Allied carrier incursions through the channel between Sumatra and Andaman Island.  But the Allied carriers just topped off at Colombo.  They're heading north into the Bay of Bengal, though only about six hexes as we wait to see what happens at Rangoon tomorrow.  My preference is to send the carriers back to their patrol stations south of Sumatra.
 
SoPac: No IJ attacks at Pago Pago yet.  Transports to carry another USA RCT to PP will arrive at Pearl Harbor in two days.
 
CenPac:  The Tarawa invasion force continues to make good time; most transports have rendezvoued with the Warspite/Colorado TF.  D-Day perhaps seven days.
 
NoPac:  The enemy seems to be concentrating on building its own infrastructure - landings at Ketoi Jima, the island south of Onnekotan Jima.  So no major IJ amphibious activity likely until that base is built to some extent.
 
Points Total:  After checking, the actual totals are Japan 14,300; Allies 12,500.

[Cribtop]

Even if he stymies you at Rangoon, the Tarawa invasion will come off with perfect timing to stay inside his decision loop.

Should you fail to take Rangoon tomorrow, is Pegu the better choice or should you retire to Mandalay?