PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[String]

I'd suggest you sort out those nate groups that upgrade to tonys(2 iirc) and tojos (1-2 iirc) and set them to attack some out of base chinese ground unit with a zero unit to escor them... nice way to rack up exp. Then in a couple of months you have 70-80 range pilots for your tojos and tonys [8D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

I agree with string. Check which units will upgrade to Tonies and train them like anything else. These fighters will be your best weapon against his haviest!
BTW: i suggest to pack your carriers in one group. those two groups are too weak if they have to stand alone.

[WhoCares]

ORIGINAL: String

I'd suggest you sort out those nate groups that upgrade to tonys(2 iirc) and tojos (1-2 iirc) and set them to attack some out of base chinese ground unit with a zero unit to escor them... nice way to rack up exp. Then in a couple of months you have 70-80 range pilots for your tojos and tonys [8D]

Same applies to some Oscar I groups that upgrade to Tojo/Tony as well, in August, iirc.

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/22/42

Surface Combat

Landings

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TF 1044 troops unloading over beach at Makin, 85,89 - a small undefended atoll just above Tarawa

Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported
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Sub/ASW Attacks

ASW attack at 68,100

Japanese Ships
SS I-7 - incredible enough the I-7 gets away!

Allied Ships
APD McKean
APD Little
APD Gregory
APD Colhoun
APD Manley
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 68,100

Japanese Ships
SS I-7 - and counterattacks!! Great work for once...

Allied Ships
APD Colhoun, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD McKean
APD Little
APD Gregory
APD Manley
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Air Combat

Day Air attack on Kendari , at 33,71 - Auch! [X(]

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12 - I didn't expect this, the Zeros were only put to 30% CAP.

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 86 - almost a 100 heavies...The range from Northern Oz to Kendari is 13 hexes. This means that the base is all but useless as a port.

Japanese aircraft losses - ca 33 ac are destroyed on the ground
A6M2 Zero: 22 destroyed, 16 damaged
G3M Nell: 16 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses - we shot down quite a few B17's. 10 were lost today.
B-17E Fortress: 9 destroyed, 22 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
176 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 43 - the field remains open, 23 runway damage.

Aircraft Attacking:
All B-17E Fortress bombing at 8000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Lae at 54,87

Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 9

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships - I had ordered a quick sprint into Lae to lay mines. Not quick enough..
ML Aotaka
ML Wakatake, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - ship has been docked at Lae

Aircraft Attacking:
All Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 17,70 - this is were the fun begins...

Japanese aircraft - my search planes finds several enemy tf's just south of Java
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft - and there's a heavy CAP there!! The US carriers [X(]
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 16,69

Japanese aircraft - without escorts all the bombers are lost
G3M Nell x 12

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 15
F4F-4 Wildcat x 60

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 27 destroyed, 3 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 16,69

Japanese aircraft - todays final strike
G3M Nell x 3
G4M1 Betty x 16

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 15 - the British cv's have joined the US fleet!
F4F-4 Wildcat x 60

Japanese aircraft losses - meets with the same fate. I loose 30 bombers in the air today
G3M Nell: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 38 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 damaged

Allied Ships - a single bomber gets through to be cut down by enemy flak.
BB Maryland - this is not a carrier escort.
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Ground Combat

Ground combat at Taung Gyi - the spoils of war after pushing back the Chinese!

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2175 troops, 9 guns, 93 vehicles

Defending force 640 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 99 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Taung Gyi base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 22,11

Japanese Deliberate attack - the Oz Division is kicked back!

Attacking force 116641 troops, 1181 guns, 25 vehicles

Defending force 11921 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 26 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
806 casualties reported
Guns lost 23

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bombay

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36220 troops, 222 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 2150 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese assault odds: 20 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bombay base !!! - a great prize wielding 180k fuel & supplies! This is enough to support the rest of the campaign in India [:)]

Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
2303 casualties reported
Guns lost 14
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Makin

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 196 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles - these troops are part of the Americal Div.

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Makin base !!!
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Situation Report

India & Burma

The fall om Bombay pleased me. Wobbly thinks India is lost, he said he needed to hold me south of Armadabad. I'm not so sure about this,
but 6 divisions are now pushing towards Armadabad in an attempt to capture it before reinforcements from Dehli and Lucknow can arrive.
It we succeed here, Karachi will have been isolated.

I now got 24500 points to 6500. If I can destroy the enemy armies in India, auto victory is possible - but far from assured.

We ordered a bombardment attack against Lucknow as the rest of the Army arrived to support the Imp. Div there.

The rest of this report concerns the enemy activities in the DEI!

No wonder my bombers didn't find anything in Darwin - the enemy fleet had already set sail!

In a well timed B17 attack, 30 of my bombers and fighters are destroyed at Kendari.
At the same time several enemy fleets (including transports) are spotted heading straight for Java!!! [X(]

My 2 naval bomber squadrons based at Madion immediately launches 3 strikes - but they're all cut down by
a powerful CAP! Fulmars means that the British carriers have joined the yankee birdfarms....great!

Ok - what to do now! This is a serious situation. I'm in no doubt that Wobbly is going to hit me hard. The good things first:
If he's not going to India, wouldn't get that close to Java then, there's still time to conquer India!!

Over to the not so good things. [:'(]

I don't have enough troops to prevent a major enemy landing in the area!
I don't have much fuel in the area!

There are also a lot of transports in the area, and they all have to cancel their supply runs and head for safer waters.
The enemy will now gain bases within range of my major oil and resource centers in the DEI. This is not good, not good at all.

Let's look at the forces available to us in the area:

At Kendari there are several base forces, a full brigade and 4-5 garrison units.

In Borneo I got large aviation regiments at the major oil producing fields like Balikpapan and Brunei. There are also several NLF units here.
I'm moving in Betties and Zeros from the South Pacific to these bases. They will stay in reserve until a powerful counter offensive can
be launched.

At Sumatra I got numerous base units and garrisons. Palembang holds a brigade and a large base force. I'm going to bring in reinforcements
here, can't risk loosing it. I've moved in Zeros from Singapore, and more will arrive tomorrow from the South.

First reactions to the threat of an enemy invasion

I've evacuated the bombers from Java - don't have enough escorts for them yet, and enemy bombardments can easily destroy them.
The army fields a large brigade and a NLF unit around Soerabaja.
At Batavia there are base forces and 2 garrison units.
Tiljitap holds another SNL unit while Medion got a large aviation regiment and Air HQ.

Several subs in the Indian Ocean that were heading for Singapore have also been redirected to the area around Tjiljitap. I also had 6-8 subs in
Singapore, and they're all heading south. Some of them are carrying mines. No, I have not placed many mines in the area. Not good.

The plan

I think Al will land just south of Soerabaja and on Tiljitjap.
If I loose Java, we will have to contain the threat. First of all we have to consolidate and prevent the pest from spreading [:'(]

At Truk a large troop convoy started loading 50k troops - it will head for Tarakan. Have to move reinforcements closer to the DEI.
Will decide how to use em later.

The 2nd Carrier Division + the Mini KB sailed from Truk together with the 1st Destroyer, 1st Cruiser and 2nd Battleship Divisions today.

At Singapore i sent the 1st Carrier Division west, it will go around Borneo to Tarakan were it will meet up with the bulk of the Combined Fleet
that sailed from Truk. Can't have em running into the enemy on their own.

The plan that is forming up is called 'Sushi'!
The achilles heel of the enemy will be supplies, they will have to come from Northern Oz.

It will take 10 days for me to reach Tarakan and prepare to launch a powerful counter attack.
In the meanwhile I will therefore gather as many Zeros and Betties as I can and try to launch them 'en masse' against the enemy
if I get a chance.

A lot of things can happen, especially in 10 days, so we have to wait and see what happens.
For now the pan is to join the KB and enter the Indian Ocean south of Java and look for the enemy.

Do I want to engage the full enemy carrier force? No....
Do I have a choice if Java is invaded? No....

Scenario:

It's possible that I have to defeat a force supported by as many as 5-6 US and 1-2 Brit cv's.

I got 5 cv's, 3 cvl's and 4 cve's.
The only ships I don't have available to me are the 5 old battleships up in India.

These forces are almost identical, but I can reinforce my air groups from land and send in long range
Zeros and Betties to support my efforts. Wobbly has to protect his transports..he doesn't have the
ability to manouver as freely as we do.

So what do you say guys? - What now!
Is this 'the big showdown' that can win us the war...or the big showdown that can loose us a war that
has until now proceeded extremely well?

Situation Map: Enemy counter-attack against Java?

[Gen.Hoepner]

If i was wolby , after the first base in Java is conquered i'll move hundreds of fighters and bombers to protect the foothold.
It's gonna be damned hard to survive to this attack! remember that you cannot face an attrition battle...if he gets 1-2 it's still a victory for him.
Only one brigade size unit in Java????[X(] Man: you're in trouble

[PzB74]

True Hoepner, trouble is now my middle name [;)]

It's not possible to hold a full division in Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo etc. and still deliver a crushing blow to the enemy in India.
If a strong force including several divisions are coming to Java, I would have needed at least 2 full divs to be able to slow them down.
So we have to counter it as well as we can...

Possible to airlift a regiment from Singapore, but I'm not sure what good it would do.

I'm not sure Allied fighters can be transfered directly from Oz to Java - do they have long enough legs?
In any case they dont have long range, no P38's yet. My Zero's will be more than a mtach for them.

If we engage the enemy, we do in a way that makes it impossible for short legged Allied fighters to support their fleets.
The aim is to destroy the enemy carriers! Then we can isolate Java, and bring in enough reinforcements to destoy the troops there.
In only 1-2 months, I have hopes that India might be vanquished! Then we got 8 divisions to release for pest controll [:D]

The big scare is not the amount of land units needed, we'll take care of that later. It's how to defeat a powerful cv fleet without loosing
Japans irreplacable carriers in mid 42. An over sized Midway is just what I don't need..

[RAM]

hm...this is an extremely risky move from wobbly. He's moving his CVs far too near to LBA range, and you should have lots of betties and zeros available. This MAY be an oversized Midway...but this time Midway is in your side so you hold the advantage.



Key here is to place a big combined strike on the enemy CV force from LBA and carriers at the same time, and when he gets distracted. If you keep trying to hit him he'll be very cautious. If you leave him alone for a time he may get confident.

Strike him with all you got at the same time, and where he least expects. Try to smuggle one big air group into a big enough sized AF that's in zero range of the landing force, or use Singapore if that is near enough. Move all the strike planes and Zeros you can there, and rest them for a day. The following day send massed assaults on him.

regarding carriers, I won't go round the southern part of borneo, but round the northern one. Proceed at full speed: 3-4 SYS points can be nasty, but more nasty is that you delay your attack until after he has got Catalinas at Java. you must minimize the chances he spots you.

here you hold the advantage, he hasn't got recce air units in Java -yet- so he has to trust in his seaborne search planes which are too limited in range, leading to a very misleading situation for him, like it happened with Nagumo at Midway.

If you still have hosho around try to play a distraction with it, placing the ship where he can spot it (not near enough he can see it's hosho). That way he'll thikn your carriers are elsewhere and react accordingly. The better scenario is that he leaves the place and runs for it, leaving your way open to cripple the invasion force. But I guess he won't be that stupid.
If you do this immediately prior to delivering your blows, it can be devastating for him.



Coordinate the strikes from the land with your carrier TFs. You can do one of both:

1-

a)day one you strike with LBA units. He will put his CAP on high alert ,reducing the escort fighter numbers he'll have to escort strikes.

b)day two you strike with your LBA units AND your carrier TFs moves into range, launching planes to hit the enemy.

Advantages: less Fighters escorting the enemy carrier strikes. First day strikes can weaken the F4F presence quite a deal if your Zeros have a good day (fulmars are $hit).
Disadvantages: expect more CAP over the enemy CVs.


2) day one you strike with BOTH LBA and carrier TFs. Key here is that he must not expect this to happen.

Advantages: Massed strikes on an unsuspecting enemy.
Disadvantages: beware of the counter-strikes on your TFs...


Whatever you do, don't put all your CVs on just one TF. Spread them in two, even better, three TFs to minimize damage from enemy strikes. Try to put them exactly 5 hexes away from him, he won't spot you, he won't be able to answer your strikes...and even you can deliver a surprise attack!!!! (you'll get no torpedoes on the kates, tho). if he hasn't spotted you he can't react either (be careful and keep your reaction to 0 to avoid going into range), so you get a couple rounds free attacks on him, which can easily kick out some carriers for air OPS (which will then be easy meat for your betty force).

Beware,though, if the weather is expected to be too bad you can find one or two of them into the clouds and that will be VERY bad. Wait until weather is expected to be clear both over all your carrier TFs and from the source of LBA attacks. Coordination is key here, if you blew it, you're screwed.


But watever you do try to do it before he puts Catalinas at Java. Once he can spot your carrier TFs from far away, a lot of your advantage is gone. You've got the cat in your house, now trap it before he can bite you.

[String]

I think wobbly can capture a base at java a long time before PZB can get all of his carriers into the area

[pauk]

hmph, what does it say Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?

DON'T PANIC![:D]

Uh, very unpleasant situation (not even Baldrick can save you with cuning plan. [8|])

Seriously, its obvious that you can do little or nothing in the phase I (allied invasion).

but, here is my thoughts for phase I:

1) If i were you, i will put all units in soerbaja and try to hold as much as my brave soldiers can (It is only malaria free zone in Java, so it is important to keep S.).

2) Don't forget to detach little parts from units in Java (sub transport) and send them in safe area. Then you will be able to reorganise/build again units destroyed in Java. Heh, so far only allied side used this strategy....now it's time for payback.

[RAM]

we know that, does wobbly know?. If I was him I wouldn't land anywhere without proper prior battleship bombardments and proper preparations (like being sure no bettys are in the zone to screw his landing TFs). Then he has to land. then he has to assault. Only then he can place search planes in the base.

That would take about a week.

Coming from Truk the carriers steaming at full speed can be in the area in less than a week. Having a refuel TF in the area waiting, he can send his forces to attack in time. Just barely, but in time.

and anyway he is always in time to call of this kind of reaction if Wobbly gets Catalinas on place. He will notice when his ships get spotted. Then the situation gets worse but he has lost nought, other than some SYS damage for the high speed dash.

Unless Wobbly disembarks wherever he is going to do it without prior preparations. that's a possibility, of course, but if I was him I won't do it that way.

[kaiser73]

It's damn risky. you will have problably to fight with Allies having air cover from Java....just like Midway.

I don't know how long it will take you to get your CV fleet in position, but if it is some days since they get bases, expect to have your airfields killed and his own full of airplanes.
The more i think, the more it seems a Midway, with only 1 difference: he hasn't the intel US had.

you don't know how many CV he will bring, so maybe he is rushing the invasion to help situation in Java.

[WhoCares]

Just one reminder about airstrikes against CV and/or Invasion fleet - it is hart to setup such precise strikes. All you can do is command Naval attack at a preset range - now you can just hope that his fleets are setup as you want them to be. And there will many targets to strike at - it's going to be a nightmare to coordinate LBA and CV strikes... Not to forget the target rich environment, CV TFs, Invasion TFs, Supply TFs, Bombardment TF, .......

[String]

ORIGINAL: WhoCares

Just one reminder about airstrikes against CV and/or Invasion fleet - it is hart to setup such precise strikes. All you can do is command Naval attack at a preset range - now you can just hope that is fleets are setup as you want them to be. And there will many targets to strike at - it's going to be a nightmare to coordinate LBA and CV strikes...

Indeed, especially if there are bombardment TF's with BB's around

[rtrapasso]

It will take 10 days for me to reach Tarakan and prepare to launch a powerful counter attack.
In the meanwhile I will therefore gather as many Zeros and Betties as I can and try to launch them 'en masse' against the enemy
if I get a chance.

It looks like Wobbly's fleet will reach Java in 2 or 3 days moving at 2 hexes/impulse. Once he's ashore, what can you do to stop him in Java? His ships might not stay around for 10 days.

[herbieh]

Having played the cunning kiwi for over 2 years now......

wait
he will get overconfident, then over aggressive....

I personally predict 2,3 sunk allied CVs within a month
Then his Java forces are doomed.

[bbbf]

It is certainly a great threat, but also opens up some big opportunities.

What is needed is a plan that can get Wobbly to seperate the carriers from all the background noise.

It may require the sacrifice of some capital ships but if you can get him to react away from the rest of the TF's, you can launch a mass assault that could overwhelm his defenses.

You can use his Catalina's to bring about his own undoing.

I would consider all LBA, especially fighters as completely expendable. Rotate them in, let them die, rotate the shattered boys back out. Every F4F that goes down isn't there when you finally launch a carrier attack. Use your Nates even, just grind those F4F's down. Their experience will go up, but so will their fatigue and their morale will drop.

[PzB74]

Thx for the excellent suggestions and support guys! Much appreciated [:)] Keep it coming....
Al sent me a mail and told me he didn't have time for the turn this morning, so nothing will happen until tomorrow. Just as well since it took me 2 hours to complete it today. Had to work on my thesis until 2100 before I could call it a day!

He also put forward a cover story that he was really going to India, but that my seaplane tender (which withdraw 3 days ago) made him come too close to
Java. (He would also have to consider a move against Singapore) Bollocks.....I believe it when I see it. Of course I told him that the KB would spank him [;)]

So for now we prepare for the worst and hope for the best!

My biggest problems: Fuel - i don't have any large dumps except at Singapore. Have redirected a tf not far from the Marianas. If I sail my fleet at
flank speed, I will burn more fuel than I can afford. I willl also leave the Mini KB behind with the slow cve's.

Therefore I want to gather my fleet around Borneo and strike after my naval bombers and Zeros have weakened the enemy.
My plan is to withdraw my troops from the coastal bases and then return them when the bombardment groups have done their dirty work.
Won't help much..and it's only around Soerabaja that I got enough troops to even delay him. Will consider air lifting in troops from Singapore tomorrow.

RAM - the Hosho is sailing with the Mini KB. Only got 2 cvl's at Singapore together with the Akagis.
I've already divided my cv's into the 3 battlegroups that will go into combat. The bait will be the Mini KB - I can afford to loose it.
My plan is definetly to move a large amout of bombers and fighters into Java in a day or two. First the Zeros will stay on 60% CAP and slaughter the enemy
strikes that might come. Then they will act as escorts for the Betties after resting for a day. Got room for 200 ac on Madion and another 100 in Batavia and Palembang. The other bases are too far away for comfort. Will try not to launch strikes from extreme range, then the bombers will only fly unescorted.

We in the war cabinet feel confident that the capitalist trash will suffer a serious setback in the coming battle.
This game is great, impossible to take ones attention away from it - we've now been fighting a continous battle for 7 months - and the temperature is still
rising!

Bbbf - that sounds like a sound advice. I don't need a backup plan if I fail anyway. An all or nothing gamble.
That would actually be in Al's favor - he might loose the war even if he stays home. If he destroys my fleet he gains enough points to stave off autovictory as well as paving the way for future offensives that I can't possible stop without a strong AF and fleet.

[bbbf]

Watch the bases he can bombard, no point losing aircraft on the ground.

Good luck.

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/23/42

Ground Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lucknow

Japanese Bombardment attack - deliberate attack tomorrow!

Attacking force 39310 troops, 291 guns, 2 vehicles

Defending force 24272 troops, 181 guns, 1 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
143 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
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Situation Report

Certainly a quiet turn...but the storm is coming! Wobbly finally admitted that he's going to Java - can't deny it any longer.

Moving into Benares, looks like Lucknow will be abandoned shortly. I'm pushing my men and will pursue towards Dehli. Most
of my troops around Bombay will try to reach Armadabad in an attempt to capture it quickly. One division will move towards Dehli
to disrupt enemy movements.

I moved 2 Zero Daitais to Singapore and Sumatra. Will not committ them to the battle in India until I have to. Perhaps the grunts on the ground
will manage it on their own if I provide a sizeable CAP now and then!?

I spotted a huge armada continuing NE and will make landfall tomorrow.

Not much I could do today, I'm still moving bombers and fighters all over the Pacific. I'm not going to be able to defend southern Java.
The brigade at Soerabaja will resist all it can and delay the enemy. I'm also evacuating most of the aviation regiment and Air HQ at Madion
to Batavia via air transport. This base can also be hit from the sea, and it's way to close to the enemy.

Da plan:

Reinforce Batavia with all I got: 2.7 forts here already. I've moved in 90 Zeros and only two 9 strength Betty/Nell Daitais.
When I got 150 rested Zeros and 30 naval bombers, I will launch them. The bombers will take off in small groups with a heavy
escort. This will deplete the enemy CAP. After doing this a few times my cv's will be close. Then I move in my reserve Zero Daitais
and all the bombers I can squeeze in at Palembang, Balikpapan, Singapore - and of course - Batavia.

I need 8 more days before my carriers are in position to strike...got some fuel reserves at Ambonia that i will visit if necessary.
I'm also moving the AV out from Batavia - it can send out search planes and entice the enemy from the north. Wobbly will think it is my carriers
and get paranoid. 'Operation Sea Window' will also be executed: 2 transports will follow 20 barges into the area. There they will be released and
swarm the enemy's radar screens [:D] Hopefully I can get the enemy cv's to launch multiple raids as well.

A swarm of subs will also take up positions to intercept damaged Allied ships heading for home.

When this has happened, my carriers will strike hard from the south against a weary and fatigued enemy.

The bad thing is that Java most likely will be lost - but if I can win the battle for the Java Sea - then I will be in a position to bombard the enemy into
submission and land enough troops to defeat him in due time. Need patience for this one..no rush jobs - we can't afford to fail.

[byron13]

I'm thinking one of Wobbly's weak spots is the area between Oz and Java. I'm not sure if you have any bases between Java and Timor that can support Betties, but if you do, he has to be concerned about a major engagement in this vacuum. You would have Betties and KB v. just the Allied carriers, because his LBA will either be out of range or only marginally effective without torpedoes. He's probably packing enough supplies to last a good while in Java, but he's got to be worried about the gap/vacuum through which he needs to run supply as well as reinforcements.

His CVs are not going to be doing anything other than supporting the landings - nothing offensive due to fear of Betty and KB. There's probably nothing you can do to stop the landings or keep him from bringing in substantial LBA, but his carriers are not going to be aggressive outside LBA support range and you need not worry about them going onto the offense somewhere. I think he will be forced to react to a strong presence in the gap, and I don't think he can get much support from LBA while you might be able to.

If you can't contest the initial landings and build up, then I'd let them be and threaten their rear, forcing Wobbs to fight in the least advantageous area. Hopefully you have some bases in the region that would support some Mavis' for spotting. You would hold the middle ground over which the battle will be fought and should have the better intel; he will be stuck at either end without being able to see into the battleground. (Of course, all of this assumes you have enough fuel to fight over those kinds of distances. But two good days of air combat may decide the matter and render Java unsupportable)

As a caveat, I'm pontificating without the benefit of a map. The distances may not be as extreme as I'm thinking, but what the heck.