Bring me the head of Diego Garcia...and the Mayor of Addu Atoll too!

[Cap Mandrake]

Air losses from the 27th. The Zeroes and Wildcats and Bettys are from the furball over Darwin and Bathurst. This is why the carriers had to rest their air groups a bit.

Not sure what happened to the Helens. They may have died of embarrassment from the stupid name.

Turn has evidently not left the M40 yet. I fear the LYB commanders are suffering from some morale issues.[:)] Things are not going well in Northern Oz for them, of late. Darwin in peril. Sitzkrieg at Port Headrand while the Arries grow stronger. Yamato smashed very badly. Zereos and Tojos and Bettys burning or dented all over the prace. then there is the new (and costly) rider on the intel contract with M&M.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Somewhere (not quite sure where): Ground combat at Ansi (80,23) we lose the town. Hope it wasnt too important.

They are cutting your northern supply route to China. They'll be hell to pay when Mrs. Chang can't get her deliveries of new fashions.

The Baaahhhstards!

[Cap Mandrake]

*******With 32th Australian Infantry Bn., 120 mi. W of Daly Waters, Dec. 29, 1942*******


Bn. HQ hanger-on: Sir, a couple of the men and me was wondering if "Thirty twoth" is really a proper name for a battalion?

Lt. Col. Ludlow: I'm not sure I follow you son.

Bn. HQ hanger-on: Well, sir, it's just that "Thirty second" sounds better.

Lt. Col. Ludlow: Hmmm. Well, I'm sure there is some historical reason. I can't imagine a man like General Blamey would permit us to go into the field unless all the "t"'s were crossed....

[House Stark]

Uh, it looks like you lost the entire Chinese Air Force today to ops losses. Were they by any chance at Ansi and unable to fly anywhere else?

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: House Stark

Uh, it looks like you lost the entire Chinese Air Force today to ops losses. Were they by any chance at Ansi and unable to fly anywhere else?

Mule train accident in the Yangtzee Gorge. It's really to soon to talk about it.

[Cap Mandrake]

Not counting Cpt Ito and his crew there are some 150K LYB's in Oz. This will be hard to wind down for them.

[Cap Mandrake]

****Modified Timetable for Darwin Operation****

..Dec 29-Jan 2...Naval bombardment runs on Darwin. Continued attacks on Darwin and Wyndham airfields. Conversion to ground attack when airfield fully destroyed. Continued artillery bombardments at Darwin. Air to grounf attacks at Katherine.

~Jan 3...Carriers (less Illustrious which will will have to go back to Sydney) return to cover landing of engineers and supplies at Bathrust and Saumlaki and support troops and supplies at Darwin.

~Jan 4-5...Gove goes to level 3 airfiled.

~Jan 8-9...Bathurst level 1 airfield

~Jan 10...Ground offensive at Darwin. Saumlaki level 1

[Cap Mandrake]

When Darwin falls, Katherine will become indefensible and the potent forces stuck at Katherine will begin to draw supply from Darwin. We won't need both Australian divisions, the Marines and British 32nd to bottle them up in Wyndham. Probably the restricted Australian units can do that.

That brings up the question of what to do with the 3 Commonwealth divisions.


Should we push up toward the PI with everything that is in Oz now plus the USMC?

Should we land the Commonwealth divisions in Burma or Siam and unhinge the LYB defences there?

Sumatra perhaps and then take down Palembang by air?

I vote for something aggressive.[:)]

[sprior]

Sumatra and then Borneo!

Or Maybe Sumatra - Java - Malaya-by-Sea

[sprior]

Malaya-by-Sea

I think John Clese was born there.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Sumatra and then Borneo!

Or Maybe Sumatra - Java - Malaya-by-Sea

The "Western" coast of Sumatra seems safer than Burma, although Burma, with a large enough force is a catastrophe for Japan. Sumatra is not so much fun for them either.

Seems like we could just show up there with complete surprise, or more likely, be spotted one day out.

How about this? When Darwin falls, the Aus I Corps starts prepping for whatever the landing beach is to be in Sumatra. That would put the landing at least 60 days from now even if you went without British 2nd Div.

There is an RN carrier arriving at the Panama Canal in 50 days. The first Essex hull isn't till May.

If they are still extant, the two USN CV's could cover the landing. In the mean time, I will push the Marines as far North toward the PI as possible.

[sprior]

What about Koepang and neighbours?

[sprior]

although Burma, with a large enough force is a catastrophe for Japan

I was looking at Ramree Island as a landing point but the RN is all in oz now so there'd be no covering force, which would be suicide.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

What about Koepang and neighbours?

I have at least one regiment prepping for Lautem. I figure Koepang is pretty well guarded. JJ has a string of level 3-4 airbases in the lesser Sundas. I was thinking along Western New Guinea, Sorong, Ambon as the best axis. Also a good way to trap the 1 1/2 divisions on Bobo.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

although Burma, with a large enough force is a catastrophe for Japan

I was looking at Ramree Island as a landing point but the RN is all in oz now so there'd be no covering force, which would be suicide.

Can you walk anywhere from Ramree? On the game map, I mean.

[sprior]

Yes, it's a river that cuts it off from the mainland. The main thing it does is unhinge any defence based around Mandalay.

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Yes, it's a river that cuts it off from the mainland. The main thing it does is unhinge any defence based around Mandalay.

Also NY59Giants has remarked in my AAR that Ramree Island is a supply Gateway to all of Burma. Take and build a port here and supply is accomplished. I have not done this so I cannot verify, but it makes sense.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: sprior

Yes, it's a river that cuts it off from the mainland. The main thing it does is unhinge any defence based around Mandalay.

Also NY59Giants has remarked in my AAR that Ramree Island is a supply Gateway to all of Burma. Take and build a port here and supply is accomplished. I have not done this so I cannot verify, but it makes sense.

Yes it is a supply gateway, but not unbridled. First off it's a lousy port so you have to build build build. Second, the first hex is a no-road jungle crossing. After that you get to a poor road (bright red). If you hold Prome the road goes there. If not, it's another no-road jungle crossing to get to the plain.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: sprior

Yes, it's a river that cuts it off from the mainland. The main thing it does is unhinge any defence based around Mandalay.

Especially with two full IJA divisions sitting in blocking positions in the jungle on the Indian border and quite a large force up the Burma trail. They would have to give up their positions I think.

You would need a ton of war canoes as that would take maybe 4 or 5 divisions plus armor (JJ can get there pretty fast by rail). It would also be LBA Hell. I think you would need all the carriers or a protracted airfield suppression campaign.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: sprior

Yes, it's a river that cuts it off from the mainland. The main thing it does is unhinge any defence based around Mandalay.

Also NY59Giants has remarked in my AAR that Ramree Island is a supply Gateway to all of Burma. Take and build a port here and supply is accomplished. I have not done this so I cannot verify, but it makes sense.

Yes it is a supply gateway, but not unbridled. First off it's a lousy port so you have to build build build. Second, the first hex is a no-road jungle crossing. After that you get to a poor road (bright red). If you hold Prome the road goes there. If not, it's another no-road jungle crossing to get to the plain.

What about Moulmein or the one further South? Seems to me you want something with an airfield pronto because there are half a dozen good sized air bases in range.