Central Pacific/4th Fleet. Another quiet month. Really thought I’d see a CV raid hitting Wake or Canton. Will continue with minimal air and naval effort, and begin to fortify atolls such as Tabiteuea being built up to a Bde defended fortified airbase. Will look to move the KB from Rabaul to base at Nauru Is as its primary fleet base – far enough away from preying eyes, but reasonably close to react to any early Allied threat. Building up Tabit is the first step to that.
South Pacific/Southeast Fleet. Moresby has been painful – surprisingly so. Gaining Horn Is and even putting troops ashore at Portland Roads are positive steps, but need to free up the troops tied down at Moresby (including committing fresh troops to take the bloody base) before the Allies can begin counter punching toward Noumea and Luganville. Norfolk Is has drawn attention, and has served well in that role. Will continue to use Norfolk as trip wire, perhaps keeping limited carrier presence for a bit longer (currently Hiryu), but concerned that the US CVs may come in unexpectedly. Going to try and keep the KB quiet and not committed unless major Allied TFs are identified; don’t see the need for the KB in the Moresby fight.
DEI/SW Pacific. On the very positive side, the DEI is pretty much secured, and done so with minimal loss – the Zuiho the primary exception. Java, Timor and western Sumatra are all secured, with just a few stay behinds to deal with. Bases so far have been taken largely intact. The Allied defense of the Cocos was a surprise, and again, like other stay behind stands, will require troops (and the IJN here) do deal with in March. Palembang and the other Sumatran oilfields are the primary focus of the Empire this month, and will attempt to use minimal naval assets to gain the Cocos.
PI. Little real change in the PI this month as the noose tightens around Manila – 21st ID has begun transit to the PI and Bataan has been invested, as well as fighting ending on central Mindanao. Look to lay siege to Manila this month as well as secure the remaining outer islands.
Burma/IO. Well, the “Sir Robin” strategy in Burma has allowed the IJA to secure pretty much the entire country with the 55th ID(-), and a few squads of Paras to take the undefended Andaman Is. Very little committed here, and that won’t change until Palembang is taken to free up some troops. The danger is that the IJA (with the Thai troops) are very over extended. In the air, the focus is to protect Magwe oil, and keep Bettys avail for any Allied naval sortie toward Rangoon. Will also begin fortifying Port Blair to protect the seaward flank.
China. I have just one objective in China at the moment, and that is to secure Wenchow. And so far, that has failed miserably, even with BB fire support. That attempt will continue into March. In the air, Oscars have managed to give as good as they get against the AVG, but that will likely change when the Allies bring in more effective airframes.
; Julia Child
