See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

[apbarog]

20 Jun 43

Unloading at Waingapoe, Memboro, Endeh, and Ruteng continues.

South of Mataram, I have a bunch of subchasers running around, and they have plenty of subs to chase. Subs are seen in almost every hex to the south of the western invasion points. I-159 is hit by depth charges, and is sunk. Just before sinking, however, it gets into a gunfight with SC-709, and the sub lands one shell hit, which sinks the ship.

At Merak, on the western tip of Java near Batavia, sub Cabrilla is trying to run the straits to intercept anything headed to Singapore. Merak is mined. The sub takes moderate damage, and is now heading home to Darwin. Both ends of Java have enemy mines.

There was an ACM at Banjoe-something-or-another. It fled today. Sub Pogy elected not to fire on it, as it headed toward Soerbaja.

B-25s hit Taberfane's airfield, keeping the damage very high.

2 squadrons of B-24s didn't get the orders to stand down, and flew to Kendari again today. They do destroy a few Zeros on the ground, but take a lot of damage.

The US carriers were 7 hexes from Soerbaja today. I had gone back and forth over whether to limit bomber range, and decided not to. 47 fighters escoted 33 SBDs to Soerbaja, and found over 60 fighters on CAP including fragments of Zero squadrons, a big Oscar unit, Tojos, and a few Tonys. Lots of US planes were lost. There was one bomb hit, on CL Noshiro. I spotted another destroyer. So some ships did go to Soerbaja, but nothing major was seen. I will limit my range today, as I move back closer.

Waingapoe was captures. The 2nd Marine Division was up against a tiny AF Company. Overkill, as at Denpassar, but I don't just want to capture these islands, I want to keep them.

Unoccupied Ruteng is captured.

Denpassar is captured. The 2nd British Division, and support, was up against the 48th JAAF AF Bn. There was a surprise bonus here. Apparently some Zeros and Vals diverted here when their carriers were lost. About 30 Zeros and 6 Vals were destroyed with the base capture.

At Endeh, the 1st Australian Para Battalion went up against the 29th JAAF AF Company, got 1 to 3 odds with level 1 forts. The enemy had 29 casualties, and none for the Aussies. I will reinforce with the commando unit from nearby Ruteng and take this base. There is an adjacent enemy base that I have not targeted, so there will be a retreat path for the enemy.

At Memboro, the 2nd Fiji Battalion takes the unoccupied base.

I had thought that Walker would give his battleships something to do and run into Denpassar to catch my APAs, but he did not. Today, the US carriers will move to between Denpassar and Mataram, where they where when I invaded, and lots of shipping will return to Denpassar to unload. 2 squadrons of fighters have been flown into Denpassar to aid in the protection of the base. 5 DMs will unload 240 mines at Denpassar. A CM will unload some mines at Mataram.

Today I see battleships at Balikpapan, and a cruiser force at a base north of Kendari. I don't see any carriers today, but during the night phase, I did see task forces northwest of where I had engaged carriers, meaning ships fled toward Singapore.

I don't know if I'll try to unload stuff at Denpassar for more than this one day. I may leave and worry about ferrying in the fragments later, with less valuable shipping, and with more air protection from airbases still to be built. And building is the name of the game now, for awhile. Dig in and build.

IdahoNYer - Thanks. Note that this is a PDU off game. He may be stuck with A6M2s for longer with some units, I don't know.

jmalter and vvv - Thanks. I don't think that I did anything outstanding with this operation, just applied a lot of force to a weak area. If I had anticipated this weakness months ago, I guess I could have gone completely this direction instead of taking southern New Guinea. But I'm happy with things. These bases are a real threat to the Japanese. We'll have to wait and see if Walker counters.

[Macclan5]

ORIGINAL: apbarog

I don't think that I did anything outstanding with this operation, just applied a lot of force to a weak area. If I had anticipated this weakness months ago, I guess I could have gone completely this direction instead of taking southern New Guinea. But I'm happy with things. These bases are a real threat to the Japanese.

Summary:

20 June 1943

BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1
BB Musashi, on fire
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Hiryu, heavy fires
CV Soryu, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 2
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 11, on fire
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
CV Hiryu, on fire
CV Kaga, heavy fires
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CV Kaga, heavy fires
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 1



1 Apr 43 - Japanese Ships Lost

A big carrier, probably Akagi, was definitely sunk by 4 sub torpedoes in February.
Soryu is listed as sunk, but it just showed up on the list, and sunk near Daito Shoto, which is near the southern Home Islands. It is most certainly not sunk, and almost back home for repairs.
CVL Ryujo may or may not be sunk

3 Feb 1943

CV Akagi, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Ammo storage explosion on CV Akagi


--



We'll have to wait and see if Walker counters.

I think you are entirely too modest. [8D]

Well planned , well supported, correctly positioned.

Congratulations.

I would opine that Southern New Guinea is/was just as important to this operation as the result i.e. cause - effect. Mixed signals, mixed intelligence, mixed strategic options leave Japan without the initiative on where to deploy what with what strength. The ability to attack at multiple points of weakness. Had your opponent correctly guessed 'all in' in the DEI he could have deployed 'all in' in the DEI. Finally the succinctly defined target of taking bases within bomber range of Japan's oilfields.

Given 2 carrier battles now ~ you have recovered but he must be facing a critical shortage in dock or actually down.

I only summarized CV and BB but you have additionally put a handful of CA CL DD down and at least 8 - 12 tankers / oilers.

--

Where can he strike back?? Do you have any thoughts on the issue ?

I was convinced he would strike back in New Guinea to liberate supply stranded/ trapped troops to regain the initiative in the Coral Sea. No evidence that is so.

Burma is static seemingly. You are simply holding the line.

Central Pac is static at least in so much as there is no action there.

You may have severely crippled his ability to demonstrate ANY initiative..

[jwolf]

Really great planning and execution, Apbarog, and it looks like you have a very successful operation in progress with the IJN crippled and numerous critical DEI bases about to be taken. Even in the best case for the Japanese, all their carriers are out of action for a long time, so they can defend with surface fleets, LBA, subs, and mines -- but you have assets to neutralize all of those as long as you don't get careless and try to rush things. Before long, you will be able to mount two major ops simultaneously in two very different theaters.

[apbarog]

I've played AE many times as the Japanese. This is my first game as the Allies, at least the first that got past the very beginning of the war. When I started this game, it was like a breath of fresh air. Playing as the Japanese is so different than the Allies. The mindset is different. My experience as the Japanese is that you start out being able to do pretty much whatever you want, for a time. You take all the usual locations, try not to lose anything in the process, then reach a point where you must either go beyond the historical locations or start to prepare the defense. You can have great success early, but it is more or less expected. Not losing ships is very important. Once the war starts to turn, in my experience, you have to change your way of thinking. Things are going to go badly, sooner or later. I switch my thinking to a defensive mode, where I come to accept that I am going to lose every base, every ship, every plane, eventually. My goal is to make every battle count, and try to inflict as much pain on the Allies as possible. More than just even losses. Even losses are an Allied win. Make it painful for each Allied advance. Make the Allies more timid, slowing the advance out of fear for strong counterattacks.

In this game, I'm Allied. From the beginning, if I have a rough battle, I just look at the reinforcement list. Help is on the way. If I lose a capital ship, like the many slow battleships that I've lost, it bothers me for a bit, but I get over it quickly. Help is on the way.

I try to keep the Japanese reacting to me. The earlier in the war, the better. As time goes on, it will become harder for the Japanese to do anything that really makes a difference.

With this set of invasions, I've landed in areas that are a grave threat to the enemy's oil. I've taken 5 bases (will be 6). 2 bases are going to be major bases for me. What can the Japanese really do that will make a difference? Taking any of the minor bases back, ones that are not heavily defended, just won't make a difference. Taking one of the major bases back, Denpassar or Waingapoe, will have some effect, but only by destroying the divisional troops that are there, not by taking the actual base.

Walker's choices are limited. And he has the problem that if he starts prepping now for a counterattack, by the time he's satisfied with the prep levels, I've already landed somewhere else, somewhere more threatening. The steamroller is already rolling. But, let's face it. It's June 1943, not 1944. I can keep this going as long as I don't throw away my carriers, or my APA's.

It's just so much easier, mentally, for me to play as the Allies rather than the Japanese. I'm really enjoying this game. Walker is a good opponent. I'm still learning his tendencies. He seems to be willing to counterattack in strength, but only with good preparation. This happened at Taberfane. I think that his division that he used there was already prepping for it.

So where can Walker strike back? I don't have a good answer to that. Any of the bases north of Australia just won't make a difference. A huge offensive to take back Milne Bay would cause me more problems than anything else, I think. So much shipping is moving between Australia and New Guinea. I've left a division at Milne Bay, though. I don't think he's coming.

Today, Walker made a maximum air effort to hit my shipping at Lae, Buna, and Milne Bay. Details later.

[SqzMyLemon]

That was a great post and you summed up Japan's problem in a nutshell. I'd love to comment further, but I'm afraid it would give my opponent too much information for how I plan on countering the same situation.

Again, great post.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

That was a great post and you summed up Japan's problem in a nutshell. I'd love to comment further, but I'm afraid it would give my opponent too much information for how I plan on countering the same situation.

Again, great post.

Try the Chinese approach - build new islands!

[apbarog]

21 Jun 43

My destroyers and subchasers hunt many subs near the invasion areas. I-29 is probably sunk.

Near Madjene, sub Amberjack hits an xAKL with one torpedo. No men on it.

East of Palembang, near Ketapang, sub Swordfish spots a big combat task force with BB Kongo, cruisers, and lots of destroyers. It looks like a carrier task force with no carrier spotted. It's headed to Singapore. Swordfish takes a depth charge hit and will now return to Darwin.

My minesweepers at Denpassar sweep mines at adjacent Banjoewangi.

Sub Raton spots a tanker convoy near Tawi Tawi, east of Borneo.

No combat in the invasion areas. But Walker launched a maximum air effort in New Guinea, with sweeps and naval strikes at Lae, Buna, and Milne Bay. My CAP was eventually worn down and outnumbered, but I had some luck with the targets that his naval bombers chose, and the fact that they flew to three bases and not just one.

Lots of fighters swept Buna. I had Fulmars, Spits, and Kittyhawks here. Many fighters swept, over 100.

Milne Bay was targeted without sweeps. Bettys flew with Zeros, and ran into just 30 F4Fs. Brit cruisers were targeted, but missed.

At Buna, PT boats were targeted by Bettys, and all torpedoes missed.

At Lae, a big strike of just 11 Lilys escorted by 42 Nicks, 12 Oscars, and 11 Zeros ran into 15 P-40Ks and 12 P-47s. I had an xAKL at Lae, unloading a tiny bit of an infantry division. The ship was hit by one bomb and sunk. The ship was empty.

Back at Milne Bay, after 2 unsuccessful Betty strikes on the Brit combat ships, the planes that flew to Lae in the AM attacked here in the PM. Just 13 F4Fs were on CAP. I had several xAPs here, ferrying in troops from Buna, as I extract a Marine Division. xAP Silksworth was hit by 2 torpedoes (SYS 51/FLOT 65-31/ENG 50-33/FIRE 50. xAP Clan Macneil was hit by 1 torpedo (SYS 17/FLOT 42-19/ENG 7-2/FIRE 9. Both ships were empty, and disbanded into port while burning. The port is size 6, so I can hope they survive, but Silksworth is in bad shape.

Total air losses were heavy.

39 Zeros
18 Bettys
15 Nicks
27 Oscars
4 Lilys

18 Fulmars
8 F4Fs
4 Kittyhawks
4 Spits

I've reinforced airpower at Lae, Salamaua, Buna, and Milne Bay. 2 new P-47 units are deployed as part of this.

Most unloading at Denpassar is complete, so everything leaves today. I'll ferry in the fragments later. Soerbaja has 179 fighters and 82 bombers now. I expect Denpassar to start getting hammered soon, after Walker realizes that the shipping isn't there anymore. I've moved 4 fighter squadrons to the base.

The armada will move along the island coastline toward Waingapoe to avoid all the subs to the south. All will head back to Darwin, passing just west of Koepang.

Invasion shipping for Dobo starts to head to target. I expect this to be an easy landing, with both Dobo and Taberfane airfields shut down.

[Macclan5]

ORIGINAL: apbarog

So where can Walker strike back? I don't have a good answer to that. Any of the bases north of Australia just won't make a difference. A huge offensive to take back Milne Bay would cause me more problems than anything else, I think. So much shipping is moving between Australia and New Guinea. I've left a division at Milne Bay, though. I don't think he's coming.

Today, Walker made a maximum air effort to hit my shipping at Lae, Buna, and Milne Bay. Details later.

Very nice summary; thank you A !

Where can he hit back ?

With so many carriers out of commission only where his LBA is very strong.

I would still guess that is in the Coral Sea "area" with Rabul to back it up. More moves there seem to infer it.

Is not retaining the initiative also a realistic IJN goal through 1943/44 ? Forcing the Allied Admiral to back track and use resources to secure back areas ?

He cannot do much in the Timor Sea as you indicate ~ although he may be madly scrambling to counter punch you there.

[jwolf]

Walker may have a limited window of opportunity to use LBA in the Solomon Sea area. That's about it. I don't think he can counter-invade anywhere with the IJN largely neutralized for the foreseeable future. The Japanese can also use LBA in the DEI but that's where the Allies are pouring their strength. So I would expect a kind of strategic retreat there or a fighting withdrawal as the Japanese try to find a line of hardened bases that will hold, at least for a time.

[poodlebrain]

ORIGINAL: apbarog

I've played AE many times as the Japanese. This is my first game as the Allies, at least the first that got past the very beginning of the war. When I started this game, it was like a breath of fresh air. Playing as the Japanese is so different than the Allies. The mindset is different. My experience as the Japanese is that you start out being able to do pretty much whatever you want, for a time. You take all the usual locations, try not to lose anything in the process, then reach a point where you must either go beyond the historical locations or start to prepare the defense. You can have great success early, but it is more or less expected. Not losing ships is very important. Once the war starts to turn, in my experience, you have to change your way of thinking. Things are going to go badly, sooner or later. I switch my thinking to a defensive mode, where I come to accept that I am going to lose every base, every ship, every plane, eventually. My goal is to make every battle count, and try to inflict as much pain on the Allies as possible. More than just even losses. Even losses are an Allied win. Make it painful for each Allied advance. Make the Allies more timid, slowing the advance out of fear for strong counterattacks.

In this game, I'm Allied. From the beginning, if I have a rough battle, I just look at the reinforcement list. Help is on the way. If I lose a capital ship, like the many slow battleships that I've lost, it bothers me for a bit, but I get over it quickly. Help is on the way.

I try to keep the Japanese reacting to me. The earlier in the war, the better. As time goes on, it will become harder for the Japanese to do anything that really makes a difference.

With this set of invasions, I've landed in areas that are a grave threat to the enemy's oil. I've taken 5 bases (will be 6). 2 bases are going to be major bases for me. What can the Japanese really do that will make a difference? Taking any of the minor bases back, ones that are not heavily defended, just won't make a difference. Taking one of the major bases back, Denpassar or Waingapoe, will have some effect, but only by destroying the divisional troops that are there, not by taking the actual base.

Walker's choices are limited. And he has the problem that if he starts prepping now for a counterattack, by the time he's satisfied with the prep levels, I've already landed somewhere else, somewhere more threatening. The steamroller is already rolling. But, let's face it. It's June 1943, not 1944. I can keep this going as long as I don't throw away my carriers, or my APA's.

It's just so much easier, mentally, for me to play as the Allies rather than the Japanese. I'm really enjoying this game. Walker is a good opponent. I'm still learning his tendencies. He seems to be willing to counterattack in strength, but only with good preparation. This happened at Taberfane. I think that his division that he used there was already prepping for it.

So where can Walker strike back? I don't have a good answer to that. Any of the bases north of Australia just won't make a difference. A huge offensive to take back Milne Bay would cause me more problems than anything else, I think. So much shipping is moving between Australia and New Guinea. I've left a division at Milne Bay, though. I don't think he's coming.

Today, Walker made a maximum air effort to hit my shipping at Lae, Buna, and Milne Bay. Details later.

I don't think Walker can strike back with sufficient effectiveness to justify the effort. You simply do not have enough valuable assets at-risk. He is better suited trying to react to places where you expose valuable targets.

Right now his ability to react is severely compromised. What intelligence do you have regarding base defense on Celebes and Borneo? You might be able to snatch a defensible base on both while the IJN has retired for repairs, refits and replenishment.

[apbarog]

20 Jun 43 - New Guinea Summary

A few days ago, I spotted movement of some of the trapped enemy troops inland in New Guinea. They are moving northwest, attempting to escape isolation. I have a US Army regiment there, in the jungle. Walker is bringing at least one of his trapped divisions. He could be occasionally dropping supply to his troops, but I haven't seen this or intercepted any transports. I think my regiment will hold, unless Walker brings additional troops down from Madang. This could be occurring, but again, I haven't seen the troops.

I will start bombing the troops on the move, again, but I need to be careful, as Walker has lots of fighters in the area, as shown by yesterday's strikes.

The Marine Division at Buna is almost completely evacuated. Some is at Townsville, with the rest at Milne Bay. At Townsville, the division will rest and continue prepping for its next objective. It should be combat ready again in about a month. It took a beating trying to attack in the jungle near Buna.

A US infantry division, that was at Lae, is at Salamaua, and it will be extracted bit by bit, just as the Marines were. It is also prepping for its next objective.

I've elected not to use these divisions to contain or mop up the trapped enemy in the mountains. If Walker does manage to break out with the troops, he deserves credit for that. If it happens, it would still take a long time for them to march out to the north. I want to keep them isolated, but if my success is just keeping them out of the action for months, I'll be happy with that.

I'm not going to win or lose the war here on New Guinea. Better to use my divisions advancing the front west and north of Timor. In my opinion.

[apbarog]

20 Jun 43 - Objectives Summary

Celebes and Borneo. Exactly what I have been thinking. I could go for Java, but it would require a big commitment, and Walker is probably anticipating this. I'm thinking that the Celebes will be next, with a possible move to southwest Borneo to help isolate Java a bit more, and threaten more oil in northern Borneo.

I'm prepping units for all of the bases circled in yellow on the map. Enemy strength in the Celebes is not very strong. Kendari is moderately strong. I will probably land at Kolaka, to the west, first, then either march from there or combine a march with a Kendari landing.

Base to the west in the Celebes are targets also. Most are empty or weakly held, except for Manado.

It's early, and I'm not going to rush these.

Dobo is next. Not waiting for carriers or lots of APAs. Don't think I need them.

[Bif1961]

Your game is about 35 days ahead of mine mid May 43. I am the Japanese and reading what you are doing is giving me some tips on how better defend against my opponents future operations.

[apbarog]

22 Jun 43

Near Tawi Tawi, east of Tarakan on Borneo, sub Sawfish spots a tanker convoy, gets two torpedo hits on small tanker Toen Maru. One is a dud, but the other sets the fuel cargo on fire. I'm starting to be able to put more subs in between the oil fields and Japan, and keep them there a bit longer, now that I'm using Darwin as a big submarine base. It's starting to have some effect. It'll help even more when the dud rate goes down in October.

At Namlea, adjacent to Ambon, sub Perch hits tiny xAKL P-29 with a torpedo. It then reattacks and hits another tiny xAKL once but it is a dud. Super tiny cargo ships at the front.

B-25s attack enemy troops at Endeh. More friendly troops will land tomorrow, hopefully enough to take the base.

Heavy bombers hit Dobo's airfield.

Some US carrier bombers hit the enemy airfield at Bima. Bima is an airfield size 1. Bima is the only enemy base in the area that is at least size 1. Airfield damage is minimal. Heavy bombers were tasked to his Bima also, but did not fly.

One B-25 squadron hit troops at Koepang.

Today a general withdrawal from the invasion areas will start. US carriers, and CV Victorious, will start to retire to Darwin. Some ships will continue to unload at Waingapoe. There are lots of enemy subs waiting for my ships. I have lots of ASW taking place. It will take some luck to get everyone home safely.

I have 4 fighters squadrons on Denpassar now, and one bomber squadron flying ASW. Soerbaja has between 150 and 200 fighters, with lots of bombers. It's a threat, but one that hasn't been used yet. They may stay defensive for awhile, but once it's clear that my carriers have left the area, I expect fireworks over Denpassar.

My task force heading to Dobo will approach Taberfane today, and land the following day. Followup units will arrive a few days later.

[apbarog]

No turn from Walker today. Hopefully tomorrow. I did forget to mention that I spotted a big task force at Singkawang, on the northwestern tip of Borneo. (This is modern spelling, not sure if I got the game spelling of the base correct) It looked a lot like a carrier task force, without seeing a carrier. I suspect that it headed north from the carrier battle, and is skirting the coast of Borneo to head toward Japan. It isn't on a direct route to Singapore, that is for sure.

Things are winding down now in the invasion areas, but Dobo is about to be invaded. What happens next is to be determined. Lots of troops are almost fully prepped for Koepang, but I still think it's best to isolate this base for now. Preparations for other landings are still in the early stages, but just about every division that wasn't involved in this round of landings is prepping for future landings.

As we approach the end of June 1943, we can appreciate the start of P-47 production in July. Early action by P-47 units has been very favorable for the US. Will be a difference maker.

[apbarog]

23 Jun 43

Off the eastern coast of Borneo, sub Raton spots a small task force with AKE Kogyo Maru, but elects not to engage.

A Brit cruiser bombards the small enemy unit at Endeh while a small commando unit lands to reinforce the small Allied unit that is already there. The small units will attack the small enemy unit. The battle will be small.

Heavy bombers hit Babo's airfield to help sanitize the area around Dobo. Some B-17s hit Hollandia's airfield on the eastern coast of New Guinea. Mainly just to show they can.

I start aggressively bombing the 1st Infantry Division as it marches north through the jungle in inland New Guinea. B-25s do very little damage to them in the jungle, but it slows movement and raises disruption.

My big task force tasked with invading Dobo is one hex southwest of Taberfane, and is not seen. Enemy search in this area is very poor. I have bunches of transports and just one destroyer as escort. Should be an easy landing. LR CAP from Timoeka is provided tomorrow.

Ambon has some cargo ships and some tankers, apparently, and (hopefully) just a small number of fighters. I will sweep with a P-38 squadron, bomb the airfield and port with many heavies, and attack shipping with several bomber units.

I am pretty sure that Hiryu was sunk. It was reported sunk today, and at the location of the carrier battle, where I'm sure there are no ships currently.

Kendari shows 116 fighters. Soerbaja shows 133 fighters and 75 bombers. Balikpapan shows 57 fighters and 14 bombers. I got SigInt that the 104th Infantry Division, that was moving to Singapore for quite awhile, is now headed to Palembang. I'm still guessing that Java will be reinforced. Apparently Sumatra is being reinforced. I also got SigInt that the 5th Infantry Division to Rangoon. (Not Palembang, as I originally entered here)

Lots of Allied shipping is returning to Darwin, after successfully completing the invasions.

Looking at my troop's prep levels, a landing at Makassar may not be too far away.

[apbarog]

No turn today from Walker. I should get one tomorrow. He has an additional AE game going, so some days there isn't time for both.

[apbarog]

24 Jun 43

Landing at Dobo begins. My landing group has just one destroyer and lots of xAPs, one APA, and some AKAs. It will take a few days to unload. The group wasn't seen en route, so I'm hoping for no enemy intervention. The ships have LR CAP from Timoeka.

P-38s sweep Ambon, destroying a couple of Nicks and Oscars, and losing a couple of P-38s. Heavy bombers arrive, destroying a couple of Dinahs on the ground, and doing minor damage to the airfield and just a little to the port.

Back in the Solomons (remember the Solomons?), the newly arrived 4th Field Artillery bombards the enemy at Munda, doing minor damage. Also recently arrived i s the 10th Marine Defense Battalion. My infantry is the 102nd Infantry Regiment, and they face the 21st Division/A. Even forces at the moment. That will change in a bit, once prep levels rise for another regiment at Luganville (the one that was destroyed at Taberfane or Dobo awhile ago, and rebuilt).

At Endeh, the last base for the recent landings is captured. The 2nd Fiji Battalion reinforced the 1st Australian Para Battalion, and defeated the 29th JAAF AF Company.

Lots of shipping heading back to Darwin. The carriers will get there today. Base support for Dobo is now on the way from Merauke. A tank regiment is loading for Dobo also, but probably won't be needed.

The enemy 104th Infantry Regiment, originally reported heading for Singapore, was reported heading to Palembang yesterday. Today it is headed to Batavia. Walker is reinforcing Java, as expected. It's the obvious next place for me to go. But I'm not.

[apbarog]

June 1943 Planning

Here's my tentative plans:

1 --- US forces will clear Celebes, with some British help.
2 --- Brit forces will then concentrate on Borneo.
3 --- US forces will then move on to Mindanao, and also securing Ternate and Sorong to secure the right flank.
4 --- Indian and Chinese forces will land on Java. This would be in the not-so-near future. Forces for this are still in India. The Chinese have been promised that they will return to their homeland by amphibious assault sometime in the future. I'm leaving Burma as a quiet theater. Japan will withdraw if and when Singapore is being threatened. Maybe just with Borneo being captured.

Celebes could start within the month. The others will take longer to prepare.

[jwolf]

It will be interesting to see this plan unfold during the next few months. (or weeks??) The Japanese will certainly have opportunities to lurk and strike, though at high risk to their own forces. If successful, you will outflank pretty much the entire CenPac theater as well as cut off most/all oil imports to Japan.