Notes from a Small Island

[Canoerebel]

10/28/44

Ketoi: Pretty effective for Mitchells targeting troops in rough terrain behind three forts.

[Canoerebel]

10/28/44

Burma: 2nd IJA Tank Division arrives in time to bolster the enemy stack, but the Allied attack nevertheless comes off pretty strong. Three enemy divisions are gasping now. I don't think Erik has large reinforcements close by. My guys will need a day or two of rest before attacking again. Definitely cracks here. Erik can't afford to have four good divisions forced to retreat.

[Canoerebel]

10/28/44

Ketoi: Pretty effective bombardment. The destruction of one enemy unit is another indication that the enemy stack is gassed.

I have another big combat engineering unit at Shikuka 100% prepped for another target. I think I'm going to bring it over to reinforce the attack. I don't think disablements will be high due to the Amphib Force HQ - prior experience doing this gives me some hope. I think a fresh combat engineer unit would really get the ball rolling toward reducing this fortress.

[Canoerebel]

10/28/44

Ponape: Erik didn't offer much opposition at Ponape, having long since withdraw the bulk of his troops. Still, it's fun to see the base fall. This is "low-handing fruit," but low-hanging fruit is helpful since there are others high up, well defended, like Ketoi and the other Kuriles.

[Canoerebel]

10/28/44

Burma: There are indications the Japanese MLR is pulling back. I don't think Erik has had stacks back in the Thai jungle building forts. So can he pull back in good order and establish a new line or has he waited too long, leaving his units in position to get beat up on?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

10/28/44

Ketoi: Pretty effective bombardment. The destruction of one enemy unit is another indication that the enemy stack is gassed.

I have another big combat engineering unit at Shikuka 100% prepped for another target. I think I'm going to bring it over to reinforce the attack. I don't think disablements will be high due to the Amphib Force HQ - prior experience doing this gives me some hope. I think a fresh combat engineer unit would really get the ball rolling toward reducing this fortress.

I think it is also really telling that you had only 44 guns vs. 461 and still managed to destroy more of his guns than he did yours. Either some of his arty is low on supply or he has a lot of smaller guns that you can outrange. Keep hammering!

Re: Ponape - really like that island as a base to start slapping Truk around. Have had good luck catching Auxiliary vessels like AS/AV there.

[ushakov]

Erik isn't employing his Randy fighters, yet.

Just going to leave this here for someone more humorous than me to comment on.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: ushakov

Erik isn't employing his Randy fighters, yet.

Just going to leave this here for someone more humorous than me to comment on.

He's just picky about having a suitable target for their attentions. Memphis Belle, maybe, when it comes over from the ETO.

[Canoerebel]

"Randy" - hey, that's the kind of thing that would set off Grey Joy. Remember the whole "bushes" thing?

[Canoerebel]

10/29/44

Ketoi: When a turn begins with a YMS TF dealing with an enemy threat, it has to be a good omen.

[Canoerebel]

10/29/44

Ketoi: Bombardments still aren't blasting past the support troops to reach the combat troops, but this looks pretty effective.

This is TF Richelieu's first use as a bombardment TF. I'm trying to set up a rotation with it, BB Alabama TF, and BB Iowa TF, one hitting the island each day.

[Canoerebel]

10/29/44

Ketoi: The LCI(G)s continue to show they are the most effective weapon against the enemy. I'm cycling them as quickly as possible, usually bringing them back with a RCT or brigade that comes ashore.

[Canoerebel]

10/29/44

Kushiro: After yesterday's F4U1-A sweeps, the F4U1-Ds came in today. These are excellent squadrons. I think Erik did something similar, bringing in topnotch fighters to defend the base. The result, overall, looks to be about 1:1 on the day.

[Canoerebel]

10/29/44

Burma: Weather stymies Allied bombers.

[Canoerebel]

10/29/44

Ketoi: Japanese bombardment, with main IJA units highlighted. I want to compare the AV at this point to some point during the limited Allied attack (by armor) to follow.

[Canoerebel]

10/29/44

Ketoi: Attack by several Allied armor units yields encouraging results. It looks like IJA 109th Division took the heaviest losses. This is the first appearance of a supply malus for the Japanese.

[Canoerebel]

10/29/44

Burma: This is by far the strongest Allied bombardment in this key hex. The strongest enemy force in Burma is located here, well dug in after many months in this hex. I think the stack is moving out, but I'm not yet sure I want to chance a general attack. I tried one a the beginning of the campaign and it wasn't pretty. If his guys are going, they'll be abandoning the entrenchments, giving my bombers a crack at them in open terrain.

[Canoerebel]

10/29/44

Burma: This is the hex where I think the Japanese are cracking and possibly retreating (according to movement dots). I'll carefully consider attacking this turn, if fatigue/disruption levels are okay, but I'll also try to exercise good judgment and wait another day or two, if advisable.

[Canoerebel]

10/29/44

KB: At least some of the enemy carriers are still at Yokohama.

It's full moon now. The last two full moons brougth all-out assaults against Shikuka. I think Erik's still recovering from the second assault. I'm not expecting another, yet, but standard precautions taken.

[Canoerebel]

10/29/44

Intel Screen: Not too bad. I think the Allies will soon begin harvesting efficient points in the Army Loss, Bases, and Strategic War categories. I think the Air War will remain tight. I'm not sure about the War at Sea. Erik has the assets to fight hard but he's lost so much that he might be reluctant to chance further heavy losses. Another major calamity and he wouldn't be able to defend the Home Islands.