Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[John 3rd]

That is a nicely devious idea Sir.

I am waiting for Dan to kill off the 59th ID so I can buy it back and rebuild it. The 70th was destroyed and will be back in about 65 days.

[John 3rd]

March 30, 1944

We are at the end of March.

On the 30th, the 2nd TK is picked up and sets sail for Formosa. Tomorrow, the 31st, the 19th will arrive and it will also be grabbed and shuttled north. Looks like the Pare Pare--Makassar--Watampone gambit has worked. Deployed two precious divisions, used them to crush the equivalent of an Allied Corps, took very few casualties, gained experience, and are now getting away scott free. NICE!

The Chinese never actually crossed into Indochina. I saw arrows kick on showing movement. This is when I emailed Dan. They are now departing as well as a few units in Burma. Very nice.

As stated earlier, troops arrive at Haiphong in the form of a Naval Guard and Expeditionary Force. It is only about 125 AV but that was what I could there quickly with. Additional troops arrive at Samah and the other base there. There is a Naval HQ, 2 large Base Forces, 3 smaller BF, and two Construction Units.

Reinforcements are arriving at Bangkok. A Brigade, multiple Engineering units, and several base Forces. They will move up and aid the troops already digging Forts at all bases coming out from Burma.

As a result of Dan's aborted Indochina Invasion, I have 3 ID and the 3rd TK Div moving rapidly towards the SW Corner of China. There might be enough force there--along with what is already present-- to perhaps make Adar quite happy.


Naval Activities:
1. Kido Butai arrives at that Southern Hokkaido port to pick-up CV Ryukaku, 2 CAs, and 3 DDs that just completed repairs and upgrades.
2. BB Mutsu and Musashi, along with escorts, make Singapore and disband for some repairs. Am thinking of bringing them to Pt Blair and bombard Dan's AF at Ramree and along the coast. Could use the 6 CV/CVL of the Decoy Kido Butai to protect them on those bombardment runs. COULD hit his Fighters and bombers doing that. Might be a decent idea...
3. A CA TF (2 CA, 1 CL, and 5DD) disbands at Manila for repairs.
4. Have a TF getting ready to pick-up a Brigade at Amchitka. They are covered by 2 Kongos, a CB, 2 CA, and 6 DDs.

[John 3rd]

Only got the one turn in today due to my getting sucked into watching Trump's Press Conference today. Planned to watch just 10-15 minutes but watched all of it and ran out of time to get the turn done and sent to Dan. He and I are politically similar and so we were laughing at each other when I told what happened to the turn.

Just sent it out and will do two tomorrow morning prior to work.

[Chickenboy]

Something's been bugging me lately about your match and the 'setup' underway right now. I think we're reasonably convinced that the uberTF (including the 1.0x10^6) so very prominently displayed cruising up the NE side of Oz is *not* the main show, but merely intended for your consumption.

Where is the main effort falling then? I'm coming around to the Marianas as a consideration. Not just from what he did in your first WiTP match (Iwo, wasn't it?), but from the perspective of keeping your LCUs and air resistance thousands of miles away from an amphibious landing.

Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Rota-you can't have that much on *all* these islands, can you? If he can capture one of two of those, he will open another front and bypass Truk, Rabaul and the rest of the Gilbert and Marshalls-further endangering troops there to marooning.

You haven't seen much of the MarDivs or a number of US Army divisions lately. The majority of his fleet (including AKA, APA types) is at large. He's a feint and deceit followed by a grinding sort of player. Saipan's loss would be catastrophic to your southern and southeastern fronts. It's a strong argument.

What are your Marianas defenses looking like?

[John 3rd]

March 30, 1944

OK Sports Fans...the direction is North. The Allied armada slowly winds its way past Sorong. If it goes due north then we could look at Mindanao and Babeldoap as initial targets. Both areas are in solid shape presently.

To the SW Corner of the Celebes, 2nd TK loads and 19th begins loading. They will race north heading for Formosa.


THOUGHT: If he does not come west towards the oil fields then we have a great chance to counter-attack at the base of the incursion. I have two full IDs in Java and am working to put two more together. There is enough force present with that to allow for something. Ambon? Sorong? Merauke? This is just a tentative idea but am interested to put it out there PRIOR to what is about to occur.

[John 3rd]

March 30, 1944

Burma stays in a state of pure chaos. Dan is swinging around my right flank with a fast moving unit. Hit it with bombers this turn as I move two TK Regiments up from Pegu, a Brigade down from Toungoo, and a Briade in through the jungle to cutoff his supply and retreat path.

The next little Naval Jab will be in the Bay of Bengal. The Decoy KB is heading for Sabang to meet its AOs. A total of 12-14 I-Boasts begin to move into the area searching for easy prey. Given 6-7 days of yard time, the BB portion of our little contingent will be repaired and they will move up towards Pt Blair. The Carriers will provide LRCAP and hit any convoys in the Bay while the BBs go in for bombardments at Ramree/Akyab.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
March 30, 1944
OK Sports Fans...the direction is North. The Allied armada slowly winds its way past Sorong. If it goes due north then we could look at Mindanao and Babeldoap as initial targets. Both areas are in solid shape presently.

Dollars to donuts he hooks hard East and heads towards the backside of the Marianas. In hindsight, that's the easiest way for him to get there, John. Rather than pushing through Truk or Rabaul aircover, he'll come through northern P/NG under his own air umbrella and hook east into the open sea. It's just a short jaunt from there.

[adarbrauner]

He's circumnavigating the Marianas.

He's headed to Philippines or northern more.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: adarbrauner

He's circumnavigating the Marianas.

He's headed to Philippines or northern more.

I'll cover this bet too. [:)]

[adarbrauner]

"The next little Naval Jab will be in the Bay of Bengal. The Decoy KB is heading for Sabang to meet its AOs. A total of 12-14 I-Boasts begin to move into the area searching for easy prey. Given 6-7 days of yard time, the BB portion of our little contingent will be repaired and they will move up towards Pt Blair. The Carriers will provide LRCAP and hit any convoys in the Bay while the BBs go in for bombardments at Ramree/Akyab. "

A good way to capitalize on our ships, but:

1) What is antishipping LB enemy's air capability in the region? what the allowances made to cope with it?

2) just to ask but not to disqualify: if we use our naval there, it could end damaged, and shall not we miss it somewhere else now?

[John 3rd]

The move will take 10 days or so to accomplish. By then we'll have a clear idea as to what the GRAND PLAN of the Allies is.

If he does move on the Marianas it might be VERY interesting. They are at peak garrison and fully supplied (40K+). Will look on the next turn and, perhaps, offer a screenshot on it.

[John 3rd]

If he does go for the Philippines or Formosa then we will work to cut off the body/base of the snake. He cannot stay forever--even with carrying 7,000,000 Supply, 450,000 troops, 20,000,000 Fuel, and 6,000+ aircraft all in one hex--as was clearly shown in the Celebes.

[John 3rd]

Not much happens on March 31, 1944.

Very quiet day. Even about 50% of the Allied bombers in Burma got a rest day. NICE!

The 1.0x10^6 moved just THREE hexes north. Still no way to tell if he turns left (Tarakan and Northern Borneo), goes north (east side of the Philippines, and turns right (Marianas). We should know with some certainty within two days. His recon is flying everywhere looking for hexes with no troops for 'safe' landings.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
The 1.0x10^6 moved just THREE hexes north.

There's absolutely no reason that a legitimate really-o truly-o taskforce would be / should be moving so slowly. There would be no reason for him to have a bunch of xAKL garbage scows that only make 9 knots involved in major amphibious landings. He's using this as some sort of noisemaker, some sort of ruse. Either he breaks out of his 3-hex doldrums and quickly moves this invasion TF onto the next real target or he finally shows you his cards and you realize the elaborate distraction that this whole thing is.

Very interesting! [8D]

[John 3rd]

April 1, 1944
April FOOLS Day

The TF moves slightly left and rounds the northern edge of Sulawasi. We'll know within a turn or two.

I have attempted to be diabolical. The string of Islands running west from Zamboanga are a literal tripwire. Each base has a CD unit, Infantry unit, and a minefield of 75-150 mines. In two days each of these hexes will have 4-6 PT/E-Boats as well. It isn't much but it might be enough to provide some entertainment within this impending terror. Additionally, two 3 DD TF are now disbanded in the Central Philippines with hopes of providing a 'surprise' when he stages his landings.

If this is some form of elaborate decoy, as he has done in the past, then I am not picking up anything truly interesting elsewhere presently. Some shipping was spotted west of Pt Blair last turn so I moved some Fighters and Bombers to the base to feel that out. Would sort of WELCOME a move there since my Decoy KB and BBs are already moving towards Sabang.

The real KB has just disbanded at Yokohoma.

Currently am picking up the Kawafuto Brigade, an Air Flotilla and two Base Forces at Amchitka as well as a large Brigade and two Base Forces at Exmouth Bay. No interference by the nearby Allied Forces...

Screenshot of the 'Arena:'

[John 3rd]

Headed to work so no updates until I get back.

Burma might be going downhill AGAIN. Will Post on that when I am back home.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
I have attempted to be diabolical. The string of Islands running west from Zamboanga are a literal tripwire. Each base has a CD unit, Infantry unit, and a minefield of 75-150 mines.

It doesn't look like you have mines at Zamboanga, Jolo or the island 1 hex W of Jolo, John. Am I misreading the map?

Also, what are Davao's defenses, just in case? I still think this is a feint and the real blow will not fall in this area. But we'll see...anxious to see...

[John 3rd]

Davao has an entire ID at 100% and Forts 5 near 6.

Those bases don't have mines--presently--am being sneaky. Tomorrow will have three small groups lay mines and retreat into the Central Philippines.

Also have 3 ML SS with 120 mines as well. They are coming up from the Kendari area and will be available p[retty quickly.

[SuluSea]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I enjoyed Pacific Alamo as well. Didn't realize he'd written that work. I take it this is a very good recommendation?

Dan's AAR goes EVERYWHERE so I enjoy it when it happens here.

John , As much as I enjoyed "One Square Mile of Hell" after reading about 25% of Utmost Savagery: The Three Days of Tarawa
I have to conclude that is the better read , although the personalization comment still stands for me.
It gives more detail about the Tarawa defense force,
Japanese Base Forces/Naval Guard which should be up your alley. I'm finding Alexander's research and detail although the book is small fascinating.
Find it cheap on Ebay.

[John 3rd]

So--for my 'unique' interests--go with Utmost Savagery. Correct?