Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

Our week-long hiatus is about to draw to a close.

If the Japanese can scrape up the troops, we shall lunge at Lashio and Bhamo. I need those areas to cover the right flank as well as leave a possible retreat path open from northern Burma. Can it prior proper planning...

Forgot to mention that the new CA's (Tone-Kai) joined the Kido Butai on this turn. They bring eight Float Planes each to the air search angle as well as modern Japanese heavy AA (3.9" Guns).

If Dan provides the time I shall have 3 CVLs joining the Fleet in 30 days. Chitose, Chiyoda, and Mizuho are nearly complete. They would bring nearly 100 planes to the arsenal of Kido Butai.

Got some serious upgrades to think about as my CAs are coming up on their major upgrade gaining radar and exchanging the 5" Secondary for 3.9." Would certainly like to see that improvement within AA power.

[John 3rd]

Here is the screenshot of CA Iwaki. She and her sister are part of the Modified Circle Four Plan.

[John 3rd]

I order recon of all the dots and bases marked by the LOVELY PINK color. Want to see exactly what is where. Got to thinking that there are THREE Raiding Regiments in Burma currently. Perhaps some nicely done parachute troops might cause a bit of chaos in the Rear of the Allies???

[Capt. Harlock]

Here is the screenshot of CA Iwaki. She and her sister are part of the Modified Circle Four Plan.

Not bad! A little less potent at close-in surface combat, (though still not to be taken lightly) and highly useful for CV escort.

[John 3rd]

Dan's Home so I am running a turn. We're taking off for 36 hours to go to Estes Park for some R&R but plan to do a turn in the morning.

Now I just need to see if we can safely get Mutsu to Port Blair. Figure a 50-50 chance of that.

[John 3rd]

If Dan is truly having issues with Fighters, this day does not help at all! I had a pair of Tojo Sweeps over Burma that just chewed up his Fighters!

55,47 saw 23 Tojo fight 95 Fighters and lose only one plane while claiming nine. The bomber raid came in afterwards to help the 21st ID and it had just 9 M5 Zero with 55 Bombers versus (CRAP!) 72 Fighters. Amazingly the Zeros held off the fighters long enough for EVERY bomber to drop its load on the 19th Indian Division (causing 48 Casualties but undoubtedly helping keep him from getting a 1-1 Shock Attack this turn). The Allied Fighters took some serious revenge afterwards by dropping 1 Zero and 16 Bombers.

57,46 saw 21 Tojo SMASH 14 Fighters flying CAP. They lost one and dropped at least eight. NICE!

Ground Stuff:
The 21st ID held off a Shock Attack at 55,47 (1-2 297--307). The 18th ID is just two days away and that full strength ID shall be able to hold this hex for quite awhile. The 18th will move south to Prome for some serious R&R.

We bombed Lashio and Bhamo this turn. If appears there is only a small Base Force at Bhamo. I may use my Paras to hit it with a pair of Raiding Regiments. There are 27 Topsy at Toungoo. A further 63 just arrived at Singapore where they will make it to Toungoo in two days.

Recon of some of those backwater Indian Bases showed just a single small unit at three of them. Grabbing a couple of those bases might cause some serious disruption within supply going to Imphal and Kalemyo.

LIKE thinking about using my Paras for some serious trouble...

[John 3rd]

Dan tries to get at Mutsu. He sorties several small STF from Akyab. DD Griffin finds Mutsu and her 3 DD Escorts. While she peppers Mutsu with 22 small shell and MG hits, Mutsu nails her with 2 16" shells and then a TT slams into the hapless DD. Down she goes...

The shooting and all doesn't do much but I really doubt if this BB will get home to Port Blair. She is two days from the Port and damage went from SYS 23 to 25, FLOT 59 to 66, and ENG 30 to 32. My bet is an SS gets her before making it to Pt Blair...

[John 3rd]

Forgot to mention that the Allies show up over Horn Island in force on October 31st. A Bombing Group of 21 B-17 and 17 B-24 arrow in to attack Horn Island. In a probable surprise to the Americans, they are met by 31 Tojo and 11 M5 Zeros. Numerous passes are made before the bombs ever fall and then the Fighters pounce on the hapless 4EB as soon as they begin to leave the base. The AF is Sz-3/65 and the bombers manage to get just 14 Runway hits on it. Damage doesn't even appear at the base when we examine the turn at the end of the day. The Japanese lose a singler Tojo while the Americans lose 4 big bombers and certainly a few more operationally when they return to their base. Anytime one can bag 4 or more 4EB in a single raid then I consider that to be good portion. Many others were damaged as well so this should add to the delay of launching another good-sized strike.

If the Americans return, they will be met by over 60 Tojo tomorrow as we rotate the Daitai/Sentai. Junyo's Zeros move back to Lae for a bit of R&R.

He has hit Horn Island several times now and not paid any attention to Lae, Port Moresby, or Milne Bay. Have to assume that Horn is NOT his target since Dan likes to head fake some targets by hitting them repeatedly and then strike something else. This is the the THEORY at least...

[John 3rd]

November 1, 1942

Burma
Ramree A total of 11 Allied Fighters are easily swept aside by two small Chutai of Tojos prior to major strikes of 20 Zero 72 Bombers, 4 T 23 Bombers, and 27 Bombers hit the base over the course of the day. Results are not great but workable. The runway is hit 29 times, several planes are destroyed, and casualties inflicted on the troops present. Expect him to react tomorrow so I add a pair of Tojo Sweeps to the two already going.

Bhamo is hit by 21 Bombers and we see the Chinese 96th ID present.

63,43 (NE Bhamo) gets the attention of 21 Bombers and we see the 200th Chinese ID.

GREAT NEWS: Dan decides to bombard 55,47 instead of do his 4th Shock Attack in a row. This means the 18th ID shall make it in tomorrow no matter what. It was at mile 44 of 46. Deploy it for Combat and enter the hex. An attack tomorrow shall gain a RUDE surprise. As soon as the 18th is in I shall pull the magnificent 21st ID withdraw to Prome for R&R.

South Pacific
ENEMY SPOTTED by Glen I-Boat east of Rockhampton! "The Game's Afoot" my readers! More next Posting...

Horn Island is attacked again by 19 4EB and they are met by 43 Tojo who RIP into them. Two are shot down and many more (nearly all) are damaged. Good to do this now then when the Invasion Forces are within range.

Aircraft Production
1. Bump Tojo building by yet another 50 or so. New production target is 350 a month.
2. Have WAY TOO MANY Lily being built so I convert one over to MISTER FRANK. This raises my total Frank Research centers to six. Three are complete and two more are getting close. I expect to bring Frank in about 3-4 months early.

Engineering:
Gove AF-2
La Foa Fort-3
Christmas Isle IO AF-1

[John 3rd]

TARGET ACQUIRED!

A large group of TF are spotted moving up the East Coast of Aussieland. They appear to be headed in the direction I have expected. This could be nothing, it could be a decoy, could be many things and only Air Search will tell. I have to plan on it being the HAMMER I expect...

Long unused AF are suddenly shocked to find all sorts of aircraft arriving:

At Koepang---36 Zero, 36 Nell--Betty, 27 Kate, 30 (Low Naval Trained) Helens arrive.

At Lunga---72 Zero and 63 Betty--Nell arrive

At Truk---Freshly arrived from the Aleutians. Mechanics work furiously to put together 36 Zero and 94 Vals.

At Singapore---6 CVE, 1 BB, and 14 DD make Port and immediately refuel and take on Replacement Aircraft. They add a total of 136 planes to the cause. Course is set for Koepang for fuel and to await developments.

On Board the KB (at sea now 4 days and due to fuel tomorow)---Final Training Sorties Fly as mechanics work to prepare 645 Zero, Val, and Kate for Combat

These totals do not include the 400 planes already at Horn Island, Tagula, Lae, and Rabaul.


Roughly 1,600 Aircraft (hidden and rested until now) await the Assault my readers...START SHARPENING THE KNIVES!

Glory to the EMPIRE. BANZAI!

[John 3rd]

The family is headed (after Church) to Estes Park for today and tomorrow to get some R&R. No turns until tomorrow night.

CRIPPLES:
Mutsu take NO damage this day as she limps towards Port Blair. I won't get my hopes up until she disbands into the Port. Have a Fleet HQ moving up to here for help.

Junyo looks GOOD. Current status SYS 14, FLOT 52, ENG 15. Figure a week and I shall move her. This might come earlier if Dan's Assault comes due north.

[pws1225]

Man, that's alot of LBA! Good hunting, John. I'll be watching.

[zuluhour]

Kampai!!!

[John 3rd]

Home and looking for the turn but nothing in my box at the moment. Sent a pleasant request for one from Mr. Roper...

It is A LOT of LBA. I've wanted to move it into Burma forever but KNEW Dan was coming. So far the guess has proven right. Knew that if nothing showed up in the Aleutians by Oct 15th then there was little-to-no chance of him invading the North. As soon as Oct 15th passed I loaded up those planes being reassembled at Truk and brought down a Daitai of Betty. If I have 7-8 days before he hits the beaches, then the CVEs will be in place and ready north of Gove. If it is sooner then they shall be used for clean-up Operations.

Forgot to mention that 6 SS departed Koumac and 9 SS departed Milne Bay to deploy along the expected Invasion Path. These fifteen join six already at sea.


Got to see what the man wants to do...

[pws1225]

Care to share where KB is right now?

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: pws1225

Care to share where KB is right now?

It isn't too exciting but let things stay quiet for a bit more. Just say that the KB is prepared to intercept and Invasion TF either by being in front of it or attack from BEHIND. This is my preference at the moment.

[John 3rd]

November 2, 1942

North Pacific
I switched my Nells to long-range search and forgot to actually switch them to AIR SEARCH. Ooops. Four of them impale themselves on Kodiak's air. Problem fixed.

Central Pacific
Got some reinforcement and cargo TF moving about but nothing exciting.

South Pacific
Am about to make Dan scratch his head. I've moved a portion of the SNLF Para Brigade from Tabitueau to Noumea. They are going to jump and grab Lord Howe's Island as well as Norfolk Isle. There are no units here and I want Dan looking all sorts of ways and wondering WHAT THE HECK is happening. These moves (in a day or two) will distract him a bit and enable to me to move a IJN BF Coy to Norfolk to set-up some DEEP SOUTH eyes searching...

Lose contact with the TF's spotted earlier. He may have pulled them back or put them into Port. Just to be safe I move a 27 plane Daitai of Emily into Tagula to do more Air Search.

KB Fuels tomorrow from her Oilers.

SW Pacific
The CVEs gain some DDs for Escort when it departs Singapore. Current strength is 6 CVE, 1 CL, and 10 DD. Have a BB making for Koepang as well. Current strength of these ship's Air Groups are 42 Zero, 57 Val, and 33 Kate.

Begin lifting an SNLF Assault Brigade from Palembang to send to Merauke, NG. All six of the ships can make 17 Knots so they will get there pretty quickly. Had to wait for a Garrison unit to arrive before I could pull these boys.

Australia
Move an Engineer unit from Gove over to that base next door to begin building there. Four other Engineers arrive here in two days.

Burma
Ramree is nailed by 27 F and 124 Bombers over three waves. His AA is murderous but we do solid damage to the AF, do some casualties, and shot down about 13 Allied Fighters for 9 Bombers.

Rangoon gets a taste of 4EB for the first time but they go after shipping. 21 Fighters pester these planes but no damage is done.

At 57,46 I get a LOVELY sight. With NO Escorts, waves of 32, 19, and 11 B-25 come in against a CAP of 38 Fighters. NICE! At least a dozen B-25 are shot down and many more are damaged. Got to like that some.

As hoped, the 18th ID arrives 55,47 and reinforces the hex. Immediately pull the 21st and send it for Prome. R&R for this excellent outfit. Didn't want to tell anyone but I left the exit door from Ramree open while the 18th moved north. All that sat there was 25th Army HQ, two Engineer units, and 2 Artillery units. Got LUCKY! A TK Reg and Inf Reg arrived today to provide strength to the position.

NW of Katha, I attack 61,42 with an Inf Brig and portion of a Thai Div. Got a 1-2 and just missed 1-1. Will attack again and drive out two small units so they are deep in the jungle.

Lots of Recon going over Allied Bases.

China
Have decided to renew the offensive here. Begin moving troops to attack Kweilin. It is the only base left that is Chinese on that railline. This will take a while to develop so don't expect much very quickly.

Moving Base Forces to Changteh where we are going to begin bombing Chungking to damage supplies. Hope to slow down the rebuilding of the Chinese Army this way. This is a strong suggestion made to me by my War Minister and I think it is quite sound.

Engineering:
Ominato AF-7
Merauke Ft-2

Reinforcements:
6th ADU Defense Unit.

[pws1225]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: pws1225

Care to share where KB is right now?

It isn't too exciting but let things stay quiet for a bit more. Just say that the KB is prepared to intercept and Invasion TF either by being in front of it or attack from BEHIND. This is my preference at the moment.

Either way, that will be excitement aplenty! Good hunting my friend.

[John 3rd]

Yes: I want DROWNED soldiers and not soldiers to fight on the shore...

[John 3rd]

Did anyone see Greyjoy's victory in December 43? Wow. Gives heart to any JFB! Well done to him.

We're back to regular schedule hoping to do two today. Go to work in an hour and am still waiting for the arrival of morning turn. This mens Dan has put serious effort into it because his morning turn usually arrives about an hour ago. Truly demonstrates that things are in motion on the Allied Side.