Notes from a Small Island

[MakeeLearn]

...

[RangerJoe]

Actually, from the Rhykyus, going to the nice open ground of northern China would also be a viable target. That would be a good area for the Cavalry to exploit. Then a linkup with the Russians when they activate would solve all supply problems for China.

[MakeeLearn]

Invading northern China you can get a lot of territory and flank up with the Russians. But then the Japs may withdraw into southern China's rough terrain and hold some of the ports there.

Or leave Northern China open as a possible escape rout...
By taking the coastline of rough southern China, ports, maybe he will withdraw his bulk of forces into the open terrain of northern China and they can be dealt with easier than down south. However there is a good chance he will pull his forces into Indochina.

[Lokasenna]

He's not going to China.

[JohnDillworth]

Somewhere in there is about right. Need to make the DEI irrelevant so the economy can be killed

[brian800000]

Tokyo. Dan is going straight for the heart of the monster.

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

Somewhere in there is about right. Need to make the DEI irrelevant so the economy can be killed

It's too late for that now, the key is VP's now and not fuel and oil.

[Canoerebel]

4/23/45

I'm enjoying reading your guesses, reasoning and analysis. Thanks for posting.

TNNBT: Death Star and the Herd move five hexes, a cumulative of 16 since departing Shikuka four days ago. Neither DS nor the adjacent herd of cadre tatterdemalions show much in the way of detection, but I feel sure Erik knows what's where. So far no enemy opposition.

SEAC: Erik's withdrwaing army has pulled away from the pursuing Allies just a bit. I've slowed my guys down, partly to get a better feel for whether Erik has a bushwhack in mind and partly to consider an alternative - diverting my guys to amphibious ops rather than continuing a land campaign.

[MakeeLearn]

The vote results are... Tahiti!


Mainland Japan would be Prime Time Fight Club

[paullus99]

Canoe's in SPACE!!!!

[:D]

[BillBrown]

I really want him to land in Toyko. That would be epic. [8D][X(]

[RangerJoe]

If he invades Iwo Jima, technically he would land in Tokyo:

Iwo Jima lies in the western Pacific at a point about 760 miles (1,220 km) south-southeast of Tokyo. The island is irregular in shape; it is about 5 miles (8 km) long and ranges from 800 yards to 2.5 miles (730 metres to 4 km) wide. It has an area of about 8 square miles (20 square km). Administratively, it is part of Tokyo metropolis.

From:

https://www.britannica.com/place/Iwo-Jima-island-Japan

[brian800000]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

If he invades Iwo Jima, technically he would land in Tokyo:

Iwo Jima lies in the western Pacific at a point about 760 miles (1,220 km) south-southeast of Tokyo. The island is irregular in shape; it is about 5 miles (8 km) long and ranges from 800 yards to 2.5 miles (730 metres to 4 km) wide. It has an area of about 8 square miles (20 square km). Administratively, it is part of Tokyo metropolis.

From:

https://www.britannica.com/place/Iwo-Jima-island-Japan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpecUpqamiI

Go to 1:20 of this clip, but imagine instead of that fleet he sees the death star, troop transports with 15 divisions, and lord knows how many bombardment fleets.[:)]

[HansBolter]

The danger I see in where he is potentially headed is mostly the lack of a clear line of supply.

With the PI, Marianas and Bonins still in Japanese hands there is no clear path into the battle ground for supply, fuel and reinforcements.

Every resupply/refuel/reinforcement mission will need DS escort.

He is sticking his head in a noose.

Yes, the noose may be weak and the neck strong, but.....

Will certainly prove to be entertaining.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

Somewhere in there is about right. Need to make the DEI irrelevant so the economy can be killed

The economy is unimportant at this stage of the calendar. Cutting off inflow wouldn't be bad, of course, but it should not be a primary consideration at all. If this were 12 or maybe even just 8 months prior, then maybe.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

The danger I see in where he is potentially headed is mostly the lack of a clear line of supply.

With the PI, Marianas and Bonins still in Japanese hands there is no clear path into the battle ground for supply, fuel and reinforcements.

Every resupply/refuel/reinforcement mission will need DS escort.

He is sticking his head in a noose.

Yes, the noose may be weak and the neck strong, but.....

Will certainly prove to be entertaining.

Can drop off a few hundred thousand supply on the first trip and be fine to assume a defensive posture until a resupply can occur with more hundreds of thousands. Flying CAP doesn't cost that much supply, even with hundreds of planes. Unless the target is on Japan itself, but that would be surprising to me.


I'll put my meaningless chips on the table for the Ryukyus. Amami Oshima and maybe Okinawa. Maybe some of the medium islands between Amami and Kyushu.

[Canoerebel]

The invasion force is carrying 1.9 million supply in supply-dedicated xAKs and AKs. There's a lot more embedded with the various transport/amphibious TFs carrying both units and supply.

[RangerJoe]

Napoleon said that the Army travels on its stomach. Which is why he had a reward for someone who could invent a way to safely preserve food. Canning was thus invented - but it used real lead [X(] for solder, at least initially. Of course, with the overfed US Army today, you could now state that the US Army travels in spite of its stomach . . .

Hey, I resembled (and still do) that last remark!

Supply and resources from the DEI/SRA is still relevant since bases that are under supplied yield fewer VPs.

[Capt. Harlock]

He is sticking his head in a noose.

Yes, the noose may be weak and the neck strong, but.....

Will certainly prove to be entertaining.

That's actually a good description of Grant's Vicksburg campaign. My bet would be on CR to pull it off.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

He is sticking his head in a noose.

Yes, the noose may be weak and the neck strong, but.....

Will certainly prove to be entertaining.

That's actually a good description of Grant's Vicksburg campaign. My bet would be on CR to pull it off.

I remember thinking CRs strategy a bit dicey when he bulldozed past the Kuriles to take the two bases on Sakhalin. How was he going to sustain his troops in such isolated bases. But then it became clear that he knew what he was doing and brought enough for a prolonged campaign and to kick open the Kuriles door when it suited him. No doubt he will be likewise prepared for whatever surrounded bases he chooses to go for next. There may be some tough clashes, but the logistics end of it will be solid.