E.g. If CR was really sneaky what would happen now is that as John3rd panics in reaction to this invasion the forces off the coast of Oz would turn out to be a real invasion force and would, while he's distracted, move in and take what we were told were their targets.... or this would happen with an invasion somewhere else which was completely off the radar (CENPAC ). I do think that CR is making for Sumatra with awfully little in the way of ground forces and this makes me wonder just where his other ground forces are. I'd be following Sumatra with another operation timed to go in once KB hit the Sumatran region.. I guess we're going to see how sneakily and deeply CR thought about this.
Nemo, even if CR doesn't have the resources to do anything in the SW pacific now (mostly no air cover)if his current operation is successful it puts Japan in a terrible position in 6-12 months. The Allies can choose to hit in the DEI or the Central Pacific with little risk as long as the location of the KB is known. Burma is no longer tenable so China supply will open up. Unless John splits the KB it will just burn fuel going from one ocean to the next to respond to the Allied thrusts. If CR can start to choke off fuel and oil it limits the fleet further, not to mention aircraft production. I think this really opens up the Central Pacific. The Allies only have to bring enough Carrier air to hold off LBA.. By need and by player nature I think Japan will come seeking the decisive battle sooner , rather than later.
