Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

March 25, 1944

The Invasion Armada continues to gather. Everything is moving to Horn Isle or the 1.0x10^6 location.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: pws1225

I took up target shooting a couple of years ago when I retired. It is a lot of fun. At what distances are you setting up your range?

By the way, I seem to remember in one of CR's prior AARs that he used a bunch of slow moving TFs as a decoy to draw attention away from his real invasion armada. I wonder if he is pulling the same trick here.

It is possible. The force gathering here is making to previous one a month ago look TINY. There is no way to stop it. That is the simple truth...

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

March 25, 1944

I am hanging onto my Burma Line by my fingernails. It really helps when you have 600+ 2EB and 4EB hitting the troops everyday. Result is a 1-2 at Forts 3, Jpn 826 Cas, and Allied 724.

Surprised he hasn't surreptitiously tried to fly in base forces for fighter support to those 3 central burma airfields he's recently captured. A fighter base in this area would be a further PITA for your fighter coverage in the area.

Any thoughts on interdiction of some of these strikes with IJ LRCAP?

[John 3rd]

Those bases were crushed by Allied air. It will take them a while. I wager that there are a bunch of C-47 transports flying in BF and supply.

I've got 5 Sentai of Franks about to rotate in and try to do a bit of smacking. He is crushing the AFs at Prome, Rangoon, Moulmein. My LRCAP will have to fly from Caing Mai and elsewhere but we shall give it a try.

TROUBLE: The Chinese suddenly appear all along the Indochina Border. As per discussions with Adar, I have troops en route but will need 4-6 days for them to arrive and be useful.

[Chickenboy]

Will you remind me again about your HRs on moving restricted troops across national borders?

[adarbrauner]

Yes John 3D... and my opinion, as one who sees things from outside with the advantage maybe of greater relax and objectivness, is that if you don't come up with serious offensive in China (and supportive aggressivness in Burma) to TRY at least to contest Burma access to Allies from China, this my have macro negative consequences on your war in future months.

But you showed to be full of resources more than once, so let's see...

[John 3rd]

I am getting a little tired of being the Little Dutch Boy sticking his fingers in new holes on the dikes! NOT GOOD!

Great Note Chickenboy: You have to pay for moving troops.

[John 3rd]

Here are the original House Rules. We've modified the 4EB section:

RA 5.0
House Rules

1. 1st turn can have multiple port attacks, but ONLY from carriers. Manila and Singapore may have Fighters up and on CAP. Allies cannot transfer new Squadrons reflecting prior knowledge.

2. PPs to move out of national borders (Japan - Manchuria, Thai) and (Allies - India, China)

3. No strategic bombing (Oil, Resources, HI, LI, etc.) on EITHER side until January 1, 1944.

4. Non-historic 1st turn, normal reinforcements, PDUs ON, orders for TF formed already OK, no transfers

5. Aircraft Limitations (reflecting the Mod):
-No A6M3 on CVEs
-No A6M4 on any form of Carrier
-A7M Sam and B7A-D Grace cannot be operated from CVEs

6. Four-Engine Bombers:
a. 4E bombers restricted to 10k or higher for naval and ground attacks (does not include PBY/Mavis type patrol craft)
b. 4E bombers CANNOT bomb troops

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
2. PPs to move out of national borders (Japan - Manchuria, Thai) and (Allies - India, China)

So...all of those Indian Divisions raising Caine in Burma are 100.0% bought out? Okey dokey. Lots of PPs. [X(]

The 254th Armored Bgd-Can some AFB cite the organic HQ for that too por favor?

ETA: Forgot sig figs on the percentage. [;)][:D]

[Bif1961]

I will hazard a guess and say he will be attacking Northern PI and Formosa, thereby cutting your empire away from it's oil/fuel and like the Mississippi campaign during the Civil War, tearing you in two.

[John 3rd]

THAT is exactly what I think as well.

I have a full strength ID moving into Manila. As soon as the Watampone situation is finished I shall take 2nd TK, 19th ID and move them to Formosa. Two full strength Brigades move to Luzon joining what is already present. Have decided to pretty much bet the house of this team. Figure I have about 10-14 days to make whatever preparations I can...

[John 3rd]

Just letting out a BIG TIME CRY:

BANZAI!

[John 3rd]

March 26, 1944

Though the Empire teeters on the knifes edge of destruction with real and perceived threats EVERYWHERE there are occasional victories still scored. For March 26, 1944 some victories are small like the Decoy Kido Butai sinking an AR near the edge of the board but others are HUGE.

Just as in Sumatra a year ago. An opportunity presented itself in the Celebes. With careful deliberation a precious Infantry Division was fed into the campaign. Hope grew. One of only two Japanese TK Divisions was brought in to add weight to the assault.

The Allies did nothing.

Half of the remaining few Capital Ships of the Imperial Navy were brought in to race through dangerous sub infested waters to bombard Makassar and Watampone repeatedly.

The Allies did nothing.

The few remaining full strength IJA/IJN Fighter and bombers units were committed to the fight at great risk to finding dozens of high performance Allied Fighters.

The Allies did nothing.

March 22, 1944 saw the surrender of the 1st Aussie Corps, 1st Aussie ID, a USMC TK Bn and a RAAF BF. A total of 7,321 POWs taken.

The Allies gathered their massed Invasion Armada and STILL did NOTHING.

March 26, 1944 sees the 2nd TK Division and 2 banged up Infantry Brigades attack Watampone, Celebes. Facing them are another Aussie ID, 2/3 of an American ID, and 9 other units. They have been bombarded by 14"--16"--18" Guns from the ocean and then nailed by 100-150 bombers a day. The Japanese cautiously expect heavy resistance so they launch a Deliberate Attack. Much to the shock of Imperial HQ the Allied position immediately collapses and the Japanese tankers pour into the small town and enlarged AF. It is over barely 4 hours after it began. The ENTIRE Allied Army SURRENDERS.

JDA: 3-1 Forts 1 Japan: 1,199 Cas 12 Guns for 12,887 Allied Cas, 1169 Squads destroyed, 278 Guns, and 204 Vehicles.

BANZAI Baby!

While the celebration is commencing and the Allied prisoners are being marched off, orders immediately go out for 2nd TK , an Inf Brigade, and 19th ID to get back to Makassar for immediate combat loading. They are needed elsewhere...

Hundreds of aircraft begin redeployment for some R&R, new pilots, and new airframes.

The supporting Capital Ships turn and retire towards Singapore for repairs and R&R.

Victory in late-March 1944. Nice!

Burma may be a disaster being held together by rice paper, Indochina is threatened by China, and a VAST Allied Fleet gathers at Horn Isle, but TODAY belongs to Japan!

BANZAI!

[John 3rd]

Where is the outcry from Australia and New Zealand?

For the third time in twelve months an Allied army is crushed, beaten, and/or forced to retreat.

Alas the Mothers, Fathers, Girlfriends, and Wives of Australia...

YUM!

[Chickenboy]

Nice haul of Allied dogs, John! [&o] A high risk:high reward gambit that paid off for you. Well done. [8D]

Now get those guys back into theatre reserve on Luzon to prepare for the inevitable.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
Where is the outcry from Australia and New Zealand?

I always play as though my reputation / assignment as Supreme Commander is not a sure-fire thing. In real life, the public outcry after Betio/Tarawa was unexpectedly ferocious. Imagine what it would be like after another Gallipoli for the Aussies/Kiwis? What about two or three of those in a year? I think someone would be quietly shown the door, ala Ghormley.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

In a campaign that started over seven months ago, it is Japan that raises the flag of the Empire over the Port City of Sabang this day! Who would ever have thought it in mid-1943 a victory of this size was possible for the Empire?

Here comes a series of screenshots:

Here is a screenshot of the final surrender in Sumatra.

[John 3rd]

These were the destroyed units at Sabang. Am looking back for the remaining at the tail-end of the Sumatra Campaign.

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Here is the list of destroyed Allied units:

[John 3rd]

Had issues formatting this screenshot but it does work.

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

These were the final units to surrender after the fall of Sabang. They surrendered July 25, 1943.

That feels like 4-5 lifetimes ago...


July 25, 1943

We're now whittling down the last stack of Allied units on Sumatra. I've got an ID and 2nd Tank destroying them. Needed to say this since two of them surrendered this turn. Took a screen shot so you can see the last bag of future POWs.

Marcus
We've got 10 Flattops at Marcus. Kaga and 3 CVL are still at Yokohoma doing some unit re-sizing and then they shall sail for the base. CV Hiyo and CVL Zuiho are coming up from Soerbaja. This will be my Kido Butai for the near future. Only CV missing is Junyo and she still has 60 days in Manila. Have 24 Jakes here, two AV, 15 Emily, and 18 Judy-R flying from here. NOTHING will get the drop on this force.

Heavy Ship Distribution
The Battlefleet is 10 days from upgrade completion. Once done, I've decided that the Kongos will go up to the Aleutians, the new two CBs and ALL CAs will join the carriers, The battleships (Ise, Nagato, Mutsu (repairing for 40 more days), Yamato, and Musashi will go to Truk and operate from that location.

Surface Search
There are now eight Glen I-Boats around Hawaii and 7 AKs spread out into a scouting line SE of Umnak. We should KNOW if something comes north or leaves PH.


Aircraft Query
Just got the lovely Lady named Frances starting July 1st. She has a lousy 4 for SR but has armor. What do people think of this plane compared to Miss Betty 2?

[John 3rd]

Done Posting for a bit. Running new turn.