Attack Attack Attack - a Hotseat AAR

[Remington700]

South China
The rain continues. I really wish I knew the weather patterns. In WPE we have a table to provide an idea of what to expect. After ineffectual air strikes, the 12th and 16th armies, supported by the 34 Division, resume their attack on the Chinese Reserve Army at the Changsha rail line. Loses were 3 SPs for each side. The Chinese hold the line.

[Remington700]

Coral Sea
Operation MO is a success. Port Moresby falls. The Kido Butai steams to blockade Port Vila and draw out the US fleet. San Cristobal is invaded by the 1st Seaborne Regiment (2 SP division) facing no opposition.

[Remington700]

Reinforcements and Builds
The Shoho CVL and an escort carrier group are ready for combat at Nagasaki. They did not move this turn.

No builds this turn. Replacements are set to match incoming production points.

[Remington700]

Allied April 12th
Burma
Allied forces take a beating but retain the strategic position. The new Hurricanes are shot up bad losing 4 SPs to 1 however they will do better as their experience grows. India has now held the line for a month straight. This is the first sign of Allied success on the ground.

To relieve pressure, the Chinese 5th Army raids Myitkyina in force to cut the supply road to Japanese held Ledo.

[Remington700]

South China
The Chinese Reserve Army endures more bombing and repeated ground attacks. They hold. The weather is helping for now. I want to replace loses and upgrade my front-line troops as a priority. This leaves me with a lot of units at less than half strength. Time will tell if this is smart. I need more Production Points.

[Remington700]

South Pacific
The 3rd Bomber group ships from San Diego to Australia

To relieve the 112th Division at Port Vila the Wasp joins her sister carriers 300 miles south of New Caledonia. The taskforce will invite the Japanese 1st Air Fleet to join combat. The enemy must come into land-based bomber range to strike my carriers.

[Remington700]

Builds
The US builds a landing ship and a Merchant Marine.

UK: No builds this turn.

[Remington700]

Japan April 26th
The Japanese change their code. Encryption master keys are distributed throughout the Navy.

[Remington700]

Burma
The Indian 3rd Corps is pounded by air strikes before the 25th and 15th armies launch a coordinated attack pushing back the allies. The approach to Dacca is open. However the repeated attacks have reduced effectiveness to below fifty percent for both armies.

The 23rd Brigade turns southeast and races to confront the Chinese incursion at Myitkyina. The Imperial Guards Division moves to protect the airfield north of Mandalay.

[Remington700]

South China
Clear weather brings success! The Chinese Reserve Army is pushed off the rail line taking a 5 SP loss. The Japanese 34th Division takes 20% casualties and is pulled from the front. The 16th Army takes a single hit but now is within 100 miles of Changsha.

[Remington700]

Indian Ocean
After sinking four Merchant Marines last turn, the Zuiho CVL taskforce returns to Singapore for resupply. It is unknown what their next mission will be.

Java Sea
The 2nd Naval Air Division relocates from Dili to Surabaya to receive replacements.

[Remington700]

South Pacific
The Kido Butai refuels at sea and remains on station blockading Port Vila. The intent is to draw the US fleet into battle. Neither side wants to be ambushed.

[Remington700]

Builds
Japan builds one Oiler. Replacements are lowered to 120 to pay for the build.

[Remington700]

Allied April 26th

Burma
The whole defensive line withdrawals 50 miles to the southwest. 1st Corps starts to dig in at Dacca. I want to hold the town for as long as possible. And then retreat another 50 miles to the west side of the rivers which should be an even better defensive position. The goal is to attrit the Japanese war machine as much as possible. But not to lose Calcutta. The battered 3rd Corps is moved to the far left of the line to regroup and take replacements.

[Remington700]

Indian Ocean
The Zuiho CVL taskforce leaves the area. It remains to be seen if it will return to raid convoys or move to another area.

The 11th East African Division steams to India taking advantage of the cover of a rail squall. Madras and Mangalore remain ungarrisoned. This may be a big mistake, but the divisions are needed to prop up the Calcutta front.

[Remington700]

South China
With the weather clear the Reserve Army is hit hard by air and ground once again. The unit suffers a 5 SP loss and retreats from the line. Fortunately, all hits are replaced however its effectiveness approaches 50% which will take time to recover.

[Remington700]

Coral Sea
The Australian 112th Division is in trouble. They are out of supply and will not last too much longer. The US 3rd tactical naval bomber group lands in Tonga to bolster land-based air defense of Fiji.

The US CV taskforce steams east of New Caledonia just out of range of Japanese land-based air on Espirito Santo. They refuel and wait in ambush hoping to draw the IJN 1st Air Fleet away from Port Vila. I may have made another mistake. While the recon is “low” for the US that does not mean its low for Japan. I believe the difference is due to the ownership of nearby islands but don’t know for sure. This means the Kido Butai cannot see my fleet and will not take the bait.

[Remington700]

Builds
The US builds 3 Landing Ships, 3 Oilers and a MM.

The UK saves PP for a bomber group. Close air support is needed in India. However so is air defense around Ceylon.

[Remington700]

Japan May 10th

Burma
The 23rd Brigade and the Imperial Guards move to cut off the Chinese 5th Army at Myitkyina. China can do little more than border raid however I want to ensure Ledo remains cut off. This will eliminate the chance of air supply reaching China.

Supply trucks were sent to the 15th and 25th armies to improve effectiveness and replacements fill the depleted ranks. However, the lack of an attack does allow the Indian 1st Corps to grow stronger.

Recon does not provide enough information on the makeup of the unit in Calcutta. General Yamashita wants to know if this is a headquarters unit or a division. Amphibious operations may be needed to break the line.

[Remington700]

South China
The 12th, 13th and 16th armies attack the 33rd army group in the rain on the approach to Changsha. No gains were made. The 1st tactical air group has been flying non-stop missions for weeks. They will be grounded for refit and resupply as their effectiveness is now below 50 percent.