Requiem for Tomorrow Wirraway (J) v DesertWolf (A)

[Wirraway_Ace]

21 Nov 42

In Northern China, Lanchow falls after a week of fighting. All the infrastructure is captured intact.

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Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34)

Japanese Shock attack [only the armor units shock attacked]

Attacking force 43760 troops, 526 guns, 721 vehicles, Assault Value = 1613

Defending force 37427 troops, 269 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 515

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1207

Allied adjusted defense: 319

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lanchow !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+) [I had all three levels of HQs fully prepped, all my units were fully prepped and my units are led by generals of between 68-72 land skill, yet DesertWolf is still getting a leadership bonus; he is very, very skilled at optimizing his leaders] , disruption(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
997 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 72 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 52 (3 destroyed, 49 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
11851 casualties reported
Squads: 378 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 796 destroyed, 77 disabled
Engineers: 132 destroyed, 0 disabled [DesertWolf put four base forces in the hex, hoping they would damage the oil, but the base forces were badly disrupted by constant air attacks]
Guns lost 98 (98 destroyed, 0 disabled) [DesertWolf committed almost all the artillery in the Chinese Army to this fight]
Units retreated 20
Units destroyed 2 {one Group Army and one Artillery Rgt will respawn due to being destroyed [edit: this is not the case since they are not infantry, see 16.4.2]}

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
37th Division
27th Electric Engineer Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
15th Division
13th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
34th Chinese Corps
80th Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
35th Chinese Corps
19th Chinese Corps
29th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Base Force
6th Chinese Base Force
21st Chinese Base Force
12th Chinese Base Force
20th Artillery Regiment
31st Group Army
18th Artillery Regiment
1st Artillery Regiment
15th Chinese Base Force
303rd Brigade
13th Group Army
6th Group Army
7th Artillery Regiment
8th War Area
22nd Artillery Regiment


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[Wirraway_Ace]

I am doing a couple of major ship conversions.

First, the two 28kt Chitose class scout cruisers are converting to CVLs. It takes ten months and requires the supply expense of expanding the repair shipyard at Tokyo to 50, so I know some players are against this choice. I think these are useful ships after their conversion (and that of their airgroups). If they live long enough, their airgroups can upgrade to Sams. I tend to employ my CVLs as CAP platforms operating with a CV division. I resize the fighters to max the capacity and use the TBs as training squadrons.

Chitose CVL.JPG (59.41 KiB) Viewed 1301 times

The second significant conversions are the two Tenryu class CLs to CLAAs. These WWI era ships are useless as CLs, with obsolete guns and torpedoes, but get a second life as a CLAA after six months in a shipyard. They are fast enough to keep up with with carrier task force that tends to be limited by the speed of Kaga and the CVLs.

Tenryu CLAA.JPG (60.6 KiB) Viewed 1302 times

[Wirraway_Ace]

Here is the situation in China as of 21 Nov 42. The goal is to break into the Chungking plain by April 43 and lay siege to the city. The enemy has Main Defensive Lines (MDLs) in the mountains west of Sian and the wooded rough northwest of Changsah along with and a Secondary Defensive Line in the wooded rough south of Chungking. His reserves appear to be in this Secondary Defensive Line and not in Chungking or other cities. His past practice has been to retreat when his flanks are turned. The goal of the current maneuvers northwest of Changsha by two IJA armies is to unhinge his MDL, with a potential secondary turning movement towards Kweiyang. In the North, turning movements are not an option and the IJA will proceed along two axes of advance, reinforcing which ever achieves greater success.

SitmapChinaNov42.JPG (263.31 KiB) Viewed 1290 times

[Wirraway_Ace]

And here is the situation in Burma as of 21 Nov 42.

SitmapBurmaNov42.JPG (247.52 KiB) Viewed 1247 times

[Wirraway_Ace]

22 Nov 42

Bay of Bengal

In two long columns, Admiral Nagumo's Mobile Strike Force of seven fleet carriers (Soryu is absent being refitted) and four light carriers zigzagged across clear blue waters 700 nautical miles southwest of Akyab. It was just after sunrise, and Nagumo, as was his habit, stood on Akagi's crowded conning tower, trying to stay out of the crew's way and not spill his tea all the while appearing calm and patient. Hundreds of miles to the east, twelve graceful Ki-46 Army reconnaissance aircraft were taking to the skies to search for enemy shipping between Calcutta and Akyab. He would have preferred to rely on the veteran pilots of the IJN Genzan Ku to scout from their base at Port Blair, but the fighter cover around Akyab was generally too thick for G3M2 twin-engined bombers to survive, so it was up to the Army.

He did the math in his head: cruising at 250 miles per hour and operating from bases at Rangoon and Toungoo, he should have an answer within two to three hours if the radios worked, and twice as long if he had to wait for the aircraft to return. That was a long time to stand amongst the officers and crew and appear dispassionate, but he had a lot of practice. As it was, he did not have long to wait.

2LT Gyuba was the first aircraft aloft that morning from the aerodrome at Toungoo and he pointed the long nose of his KI-46 along an azimuth of 320 degrees. Gyuba was one of a growing cohort of IJAAF pilots cross-trained in naval search techniques and he was over Akyab within an hour. Through broken clouds he noted ten small transports unloading and a covering force of a similar number of destroyers and cruisers. While his observer directed the aircraft cameras at the shipping, Gyuba radioed in the contact. Gyuba also made a pass above the multiple airfields packed with fighters and bombers. A pair of American fighters briefly gave chase, but he was too high and too fast. He kept going out over the bay. An hour later he spotted another convoy of fifteen transports and a pair of small escorts making their leisurely way towards Akyab. He called in that contact as well.

On board Akagi, a young radio operator handed the admiral a decrypted copy of the sighting reports. Nagamo noted the man's hand was shaking. The admiral read the report then strode to the plotting table. The flag navigator was already marking the contacts and calculating the distances, though he already knew the math. That was the reason the taskforce had been loitering for the last few days in this vicinity. Dawn tomorrow could find them within strike range off Akyab.

[Wirraway_Ace]

23 Nov 42

Bay of Bengal

After midnight, I-153 reported making contact with the convoy approaching Akyab, but was sighted by the escort. Nagumo received a report that IJAAF bombers had struck the airfields at Akyab under the full moon, destroying some aircraft, though heavy rain and night fighters limited the effect of the attack. Before dawn, scout aircraft from the escorting cruisers and battleships took to the skies, the blue flame of their exhaust like comet trails in the curtain of night. Meanwhile, IJAAF recon aircraft were already airborne to be over Akyab at first light.

The reconnaissance confirmed the smaller task force and covering force where still at Akyab and the larger transports steaming 46 nautical miles northwest, however visibility was hampered by lingering storm clouds over the port. Nagumo ordered the strike to proceed. First off where over a hundred Zero-sen fighters ordered to sweep above the port. They would be joined by a similar number of IJAAF fighters conducting sweeps from their bases in Burma. Then the escort fighters went aloft to loiter while the strike aircraft were brought on deck and warmed up. By midmorning, two strike packages were aloft and on their way, one headed to Akyab and the other towards the convoy still ploughing through storm-darkened seas.

Nagumo waited. The first reports came in from the sweeping fighters. "No CAP!" Soon after, he heard the cries of "Banzai" crackle across the radio as the dive bombers and torpedo bombers tipped over into their attack runs. The admiral continued to wait, his tea cold in his hands. An hour later, the first aircraft began to return. Nagumo was encouraged to see the formations appeared largely intact. While the hours-long task of getting all the aircraft back on the decks and refueled and rearmed was on-going, the staff completed a battle-damage assessment: AA fire from the British cruisers had been fierce and six strike aircraft were lost and ten were too damaged to be repaired. No enemy fighters were encountered and no Zeros lost. Twenty transports had been hit and sunk and one British light cruiser was observed to explode while two more had been hit. The weather was clearing as the afternoon progressed and time was available for a second strike.

The second, smaller strike set off in late afternoon, dividing into two packages as the aircraft headed northeast. No CAP was encountered and the remaining transports in both taskforces were sunk. The strike pilots did not make any serious attempt to attack the frantically zigzagging destroyers and cruisers.

[The purpose of this operation was to significantly disrupt the supply flow to the Allied army in Burma, giving me the opportunity for a local counter attack and buying more time for my operations in China to culminate. I planned this operation for the full moon, when DesertWolf is concerned about night attacks on his airfields. As expected, he had some of his fighters on night CAP. I did not anticipate that he would not have any CAP during the day. I had attacked shipping at Akyab two months before with land-based aircraft, sinking a number of transports, so I assumed he had a strong CAP when shipping was unloading. This assumption was supported by my routine losses in patrol aircraft over the base. My primary concern was for heavy losses in strike aircraft (and the well trained aircrews) due to fragmented strikes going in without escort, particularly in a potential afternoon phase when his CAP could put aircraft into the air that survived the morning fights with the sweeps. As it was, I lost four Kate pilots and two Val pilots, 17 aircraft to all causes and sank about 25 small to medium transports, a CL and a handful of small minesweepers. Overall, a successful operation. Time will tell whether the benefit of the sinkings and interdiction of his supply lines will outweigh the cost of revealing the location of my carriers.]

[Wirraway_Ace]

24 Nov 42

Nagumo's Mobile Strike Force withdraws towards Sumatra. Bombardment taskforces find no mines, shipping or aircraft left at Akyab. The enemy massed over 200 fighters, 200 bombers and 90 patrol aircraft at Prome. Catalina flying boats sight my withdrawing task forces, losing one of their number to PO1 Nakasawa in his Zero, however no enemy attacks are launched at any of my taskforces.

In the Gilberts, the enemy switches his attention to bombing the well defended atoll of Mili from Nauru Island (his focus over the last few days). The Gilberts are an area of risk now that DesertWolf knows my carriers are in the Indian Ocean. [Actually, I won't commit my carriers against the USN until I can upgrade the dive bombers to Judy's next month]

Research and Development Update:
The D4Y1 Judy will go into production on 1 December 42. Two Judy R&D factories will shift to production along with the current factory producing Vals for a rate of 90 aircraft per month. The remaining four R&D factories will continue rapidly through the Judy line to the the D4Y4. Both the Aichi Ha-60 (for the D4Y2) and Ha-33 (for the D4Y3 and D4Y4) are in adequate numbers to accelerate the research. I will have to keep one factory producing the D4Y3 as my carrier airgroups cannot use the D4Y4. I will switch all these R&D factories to the Ki-83 when done.

The first George R&D factory of 30 was fully repaired a few weeks ago and the HA-45 engine pool just reached 500, accelerating the R&D. There are two more George R&D factories at 28/2 (repaired/repairing) with three more 25/5. I expect the George to come into service during February 43 and the Frank very soon after. The ten Frank R&D factories range from 25/5 to 20/10.

Six Peggy factories are between 22/8 and 15/15 while three Peggy (T)s are lagging at 10/20.

The six B7A2 Grace R&D factories are between 14/16 and 10/20.

I have six fully repaired factories working through the A6M5 line to the A6M8 with adequate engines in the pools to accelerate these efforts. I have to get through the A6M8 to upgrade to the Sam.

Ten factories are researching the Sam while five are researching the Ha-43 engine. Most of the Sam factories are 6/24. The engines should go into production by October 43. I suspect the Sam will come in early 44, but we shall see.

[Warofthe2ndWorld]

That looks like it hurt...but that begs the question, why'd you wait until now to bring the Carrier Strike Force (Kido Butai) out to play?

[Wirraway_Ace]

That looks like it hurt...but that begs the question, why'd you wait until now to bring the Carrier Strike Force (Kido Butai) out to play?

A fair question. After supporting the battles to hold Wake in July, the KB spent much of August and September at sea looking for opportunities to strike the Allied shipping in the Gilberts, but could not get into an advantageous position. The issues here were the multiple bases with bait task forces at sea and significant fighter cover that would be within range of the position the carriers would finish the highspeed run-in, so the strikes would likely split and sweeps could not be concentrated to overcome the CAP; the probability of significant losses due to CAP and AA appeared too high particularly when the considering the strike aircraft might chase insignificant shipping. Also, his CVs were operating in the area, making the risk even higher.

October was spent in refits and redeploying to Singapore, as DesertWolf's ground attacks in central Burma were repulsed and the risk he might try an amphibious turning action seemed to be growing.

When no amphibious operation appeared, I chose to strike the shipping off Akyab after watching the patterns of his resupply and considering the implications beyond just sinking the ships and interrupting his supply. I believe he will have to use larger ships for future Akyab resupply missions, as I have sunk about 40 smaller ships in the last few months in the area. Larger transports will be slower to unload, increasing the need for aircover and surface cover, tying down more of his assets in defense.

[Warofthe2ndWorld]

Interesting, also why are you waiting for the Judy to arrive?

[Wirraway_Ace]

Interesting, also why are you waiting for the Judy to arrive?

The Val is slow, unarmored and carries a very inadequate 250kg bomb. It is arguably obsolete by the start of the war, leaving the ship sinking duties primarily to the Kates. By the time U.S. carriers, cruisers and fast battleships have had one or two AA upgrades, the Kates get mauled and the Vals can't do much damage to anything with armor. The Judy is 100kts faster than the Val and carries a 500kg bomb (though there is some inconsistency in the database leaving it unclear if the D4Y1 carries the 500kg bomb or that capability does not come until the D4Y2). Though it is unarmored, the Judy significantly increases the striking power of the KB (perhaps by 2/3rds, since the dive bombers make up more than half the strike aircraft and the Judy carries double the bomb load and is fast enough to be more survivable than the Val) . The vulnerability of the torpedo aircraft does not get resolved until the Grace (unarmored, but tougher and faster).

[Warofthe2ndWorld]

Alright, so after receiving the Judy, what will be the plan?

[Wirraway_Ace]

The Judy is 100kts faster than the Val and carries a 500kg bomb (though there is some inconsistency in the database leaving it unclear if the D4Y1 carries the 500kg bomb or that capability does not come until the D4Y2).

The editor shows the the D4Y1 carrying device 1882, a 500 kg GP bomb, even though the max load is listed as 683 lbs. Rene Francillon says, "The D4Y1 featured an internal bomb-bay with provision for a single bomb of up to 500kg." The air team that provided the aircraft data for the game appeared to rely on Francillon (with good reason), so I suspect they intended it to carry the 500kg bomb as the standard load-out. Unless the game has a subroutine that checks the max load against the weight of the device in the weapon slot, the aircraft will fly with device 1882 except at extended range.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Alright, so after receiving the Judy, what will be the plan?

[edited] First, building on the strike, I want to try and draw the enemy carriers to the Indian Ocean for a few months by giving the impression I intend to invade the coast of India between Akyab and Chittigong. As part of a strategic deception plan, I have three divisions loading transports with a destination of Akyab. I actually envision this operation as a long-term possibility--see below--but not now. I hope the risk causes him to react which may open up opportunities for me elsewhere, then as time goes by, I anticipate he will let down his guard. The enemy has shown he is susceptible to this cycle of threat-then-quiet leading to complacency.

Meanwhile, at this phase of the war, I generally use the KB along internal lines to defend against strategic threats. Those threats are unfortunately numerous:
1. An invasion of Timor and/or the islands northwest of Timor and southeast of Java
2. An invasion of Sumatra and/or the islands off the coast
3. An invasion of Java
4. An invasion of the Kuriles
5. An invasion of Thailand
6. An early drive on Marcus Island

If the enemy makes a move against any of these, I will intervene with all the IJN that can be mustered.

If I can win in China, I can free up enough combat power to threaten his Army in Burma, which opens up the possibility of taking the initiative in this theatre, even in mid 43. It may be worth employing the KB in support of an amphibious turning movement along the coast of India if possible. We shall see how he reacts to this raid and the strategic deception plan.

[Wirraway_Ace]

26 Nov 42

In Burma, the enemy did indeed opt to attack south of Prome, carpet bombing the jungle with every heavy and medium bomber in theatre for two days, but still getting a poor 1:2 result (almost 1:3) and losing the better part of a division's squads including 82 destroyed along with a goodly number of engineers, guns and vehicles. All my defending units are fully combat effective except the veteran 2nd Tank Regiment which lost all 30 of its tanks. It will be withdrawn to rebuild. I will commit my armor reserves in this area which includes another veteran tank regiment and the green 1st Tank Division. I have three veteran infantry divisions in adjacent hexes if I need them, but the two dug-in divisions supported by artillery and anti-tank guns are currently not threatened.

In China, DesertWolf flew in six US fighter squadrons to Chungking and attempted to ambush my bombers operating in central China with LRCAP. The result was mixed. Ki-43 sweeps led the bombers getting the better of the LRCAP of P38s, P40Es and P40Ks with a few remaining CAP fighters downing a Ki-21 and a few Ki-48s. Losses ended up being even with each side losing 21 aircraft. The target hex was an enemy non-base hex, so he almost certainly lost fewer pilots.

[Wirraway_Ace]

28 Nov 42

ENEMY CARRIERS SIGHTED 300NM EAST OF ENIWETOK!

[Wirraway_Ace]

28 Nov 42 in the Marshall Islands

Four US CVs launched a strike against our airfield at Rio Namur destroying a dozen transport aircraft and damaging a similar number. I am not clear on the purpose of this strike, as the airfield is within range of B24s operating from the northern Gilberts; indeed, on the following day, the 4Es hit the airfield.

Meanwhile, PBY-5 Catalinas operating at extreme range from Cocos Island and northern Australia are shadowing the Kiod Butai as it enters the Java Sea, losing two more of their number to CAP. DesertWolf, understandably, wants to know how much time he has for operations in the Pacific without any known Japanese carriers.

[Wirraway_Ace]

29-30 Nov

AMPHIBIOUS LANDING AT NAURU ISLAND APPEARS IMMINENT!

Allied minesweepers begin clearing mines at Nauru island (between the Solomon and Gilbert chains) and an amphibious taskforce is approaching from the south while Allied medium and heavy bombers pound the airfield and the defenders. DesertWolf appears intent on launching an amphibious attack on Nauru while Nagumo's carriers are out of theatre. Is he going off half-cocked in the hope of taking advantage of a perceived window of opportunity?

In the Solomon Islands, three squadrons of B17s operating from Espiritu Santo attack the major Japanese base at Tulagi, losing one of their number to heavy flak while lightly damaging the airfield. The next day they switch their target to the smaller airfield at Lunga on Guadalcanal. I only have patrol aircraft at these two bases. A sentai of dive bombers and transports are located on a third airfield at Tassafaronga. I don't have enough fighters to contest this airspace with all the other activity in the theater so I will withdraw these aircraft to Rabaul.

[Wirraway_Ace]

1 Dec 42

Three different enemy CV taskforces are moving about the Central and South Pacific. One taskforce of 3-4 is still loitering in the Marshall's attacking the airfield at Roi Namur, another with perhaps a single CV is supporting the landings at Nauru Island, and another with 1-2 CVs is raiding the Solomons while likely covering a small invasion of one of the outer islands. So far, the CVs have not found any shipping to sink other than a single xAKL off Tulagi.

All the British R-Class BBs are in the South Pacific, showing up to bombard at night ahead of the Nauru Island landings. In addition to the battleships, two CLs also bombarded Nauru in conjunction with heavy air attacks involving 40 B17s and thirty B25s. However, it was not enough to save the 24th Infantry Division that came ashore understrength along with elements of the 25th Infantry Division and an Engineer Regiment.

Ground combat at Nauru Island (127,128)

Allied Shock attack [Typically DesertWolf knows every trick of the map data, but I am sure he did not anticipated the shock attack on Nauru; it is listed in rules as an atoll for terrain type, but shows up as rough on the map}

Attacking force 6124 troops, 62 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 479

Defending force 11959 troops, 110 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 373

Allied adjusted assault: 55

Japanese adjusted defense: 765

Allied assault odds: 1 to 13 (fort level 4)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1026 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 37 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 25 (10 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2758 casualties reported
Squads: 101 destroyed, 308 disabled [This is almost all the U.S. combat power]
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units destroyed 1[the fragment of the 34th Engr Rgt was destroyed]

Assaulting units:
34th Combat Engr Rgt /3
24th Infantry Div /2
25th Infantry Div /1

Defending units:
Guards Mixed Brigade
Ichiki Det.
90th Infantry Rgt /4
12th Naval Construction Battalion
46th Road Const Co
16th Field AA Machinecannon Company
11th RF Gun Battalion
45th Road Const Co
26th Air Flotilla /2
24th JNAF AF Unit
Jaluit Base Force /1

[Wirraway_Ace]

2 Dec 1942
Rabaul, New Britain

The sun was just beginning to rise, backlighting the towering mass of Mount Komvur on the eastern edge of Simpson Harbor with a halo of burnt orange. The morning heat was already stifling and the air laden with moisture as Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Kato Rinpei quickly washed, shaved, and put on a clean uniform. He rubbed his eyes that still burned from lack of sleep. Over the last few days, both the 8th Army area of operations and the neighboring 4th Fleet area of operations were a flurry of enemy activity, caused (presumably) by the Navy’s carriers appearing off Akyab in the distant Burma theatre. He made the short walk to the situation room of the 8th Army Forward Headquarters, his entry causing officers and men to leap to their feet.

The duty officer, an unshaven major, saluted but said nothing.

“Well,” Kato prompted. “What is the situation?”

“General, Sir, while we accurately predicted the enemy’s intentions, we have underestimated his strength.”

“Oh?”

“Sir, navy reconnaissance aircraft report two taskforces with many large transports in each approaching both Tagula Island and Rossel Island! The enemy may be attempting to land as much as a division, even on Rossel Island which has no airstrip and is lightly defended.”

Kato tried not show any surprise. He had not expected the enemy to dedicate more than a brigade to take Rossel Island. “Lightly defended, eh” he grunted. “Undefended, except by empty fortifications and Korean laborers drunk on rice wine I think you mean.”

“Hai, sir.”

“And the enemy carriers?”

“General, they is no sign of them, though we adjusted the air search as you requested to ensure we had detailed coverage over Tagula and Rossel, so they may be just beyond our search pattern to the southeast.”

“Where is our liaison from the 21st Air Flotilla?” the general asked. “Ah, there you are Genda. Are your strike aircraft ready?”

“Hai, sir!” the captain replied. “The dive bombers of the 956 Ku operating from Ferguson Island confirmed receipt of the sighting reports and are within range. Army Ki-43 fighters will provide long-range CAP, though they can only support either the Tagula or Rossel airspace. Based on the risk assessment, they have been ordered above Rossel.”

“Very good!” Kato replied. “Speaking of the Army Air Force, what is the status of the transports dropping the paratroopers on Rossel.”

“The first transports left Tulagi an hour ago with elements of the Yokosuka 3rd SNLF,” responded the 4th Air Division liaison.

“And the navy float planes?”

“They are also airborne, carrying the 1st and 2nd reinforced companies of the 66th Naval Guards”, said Captain Genda.

“Well, this will be serious stress-test of our mobile defense tactics”, the general said. Over the past couple months, Kato had directed the outlying island that were not built up as bases be fortified and stocked with modest amounts of supplies and ammunition but little or no garrisons. He had four battalions of veteran paratroopers as a mobile reserve that had reconnoitered the defensive positions on each island and would attempt to fall-in (almost literally) on the defensive positions if enemy amphibious taskforces were sighted. “We don’t have the abundance of resources being showered on the China and Burma theatres, so we must make every soldier, airplane and ship count. Now, get after them!” Having done all he could, the general stood back and watched the staff coordinate a shoe-string defense with likely unwarranted enthusiasm.