6/2/42
D-Day Gilberts: The Allied amphibious operations goes off without a hitch. Undefended Makin and Abemama fall. Tarawa, occupied only by a JNAF base force, succumbs eaily. 94 AV are ashore at Makin, 141 at Tarawa, and 41 at Abemama.
D Plus One: The KB is still at Tulagi, but if John uses flank speed it could arrive within air strike range of my beacheads tomorrow. I'm hoping John will be cautious, but on the assumption that Mr. Aggression will be fully aroused, I am taking some precautions and preparing to make sacrifices. First, the three AP involved in the invasion plus all combat ships will retire to the east immediately. Five DMs will mine Tarawa and one will mine Makin, then all minelayers will retire to the east. All xAK and xAP will remain on the beaches one more day to unload troops and supply. These ships will take heavy losses, if not on D Plus One then certainly in days to come. But supply is critical now. Tarawa has just 2k and it's the best of the three. Nearly all my troops have high prep for their bases, so it's going to be hard for John to dislodge them. He can do it with enough attention by battlewagons and carriers. I think he's got to try. I think I have to take advantage of any such concentration.
NoPac: Mutsu and Nagato bombard Akutan - I hadn't seen them in awhile and thought them might be in the Marshalls until I saw them coming yesterday. A supply convoy leaves Kodiak for Cold Bay. In one or two days, the Allied fighter squadrons will move to that base in hopes of ambushing some Kates (which had Zero escorts for the first time today).
Oz: Two IJN subs south of Sydney put five torpedoes into BB Mississippi and she goes under. This casts a pall over an otherwise marvelous day. Anticipating that the KB will move to the Gilberts, the Allies are going to invade Exmouth. I have about 180 AV highly prepped and awaiting transports at Esperance. The four American carriers will provide support, with some SBD squadrons removed and replaced by Marine fighters. Exmouth is lightly held, so this should work. D-Day probably 14 days off as my ships are at and near Melbourne. Meanwhile, a large army will move overland to besiege Carnavon. I think this base is heavily garrisoned, but I'll have more than 500 AV, LBA, and carrier air if needed.
Cocos Island: IJN patrols picked up CL Perth at a distance of 12 hexes. Detection is 10/10. I think John thinks Cocos is a target.
Bay of Bengal: The fast transport TF is 13 hexes from Ramree Island. We're at D Minus 2. Tomorrow, long range Mitchell recon in India and Assam will fly Ramree, Moulmein and Tavoy. The carriers, combat ships and second wave ships will be five or six hexes out of Calcutta, close enough to follow or support, as needed, the fast transport convoy. I have roughly 12 fighters squadrons at Calcutta, Dacca and Imphal resting and ready for rotation into Akyab to provide LRCAP for everybody.
China: The Chinese repositioning continues in good order. A Japanese unit or two is cutting inland from Chengte across jungle hexes towards very distant Chungking. I'll meet these unts at some point, but given the bad terrain and lack of roads I don't think this is a credible threat in the short or medium term.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
