PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[PzB74]

The Kaga finished her upgrades today, back up to 8 sys damage. All of her 8" guns
are now removed and she fields a 5in and 25mm AA suit. The Shokakus and Akagis
now got an AA value between 7-800. Not great, but better than before.

Only a few days left of 1942 so I'll keep my carriers in port and await further upgrades.
Both the seaplane tenders (CS) are in place in Osaka and will shortly begin their conversion
to light carriers. Does anyone know how long this process will take?

I still don't have many operational battleships: the Fuso is at sys damage 6 in Singapore
while the Ise is at sys damage 12 in Hong Kong. Most of the others have damage between
14 and 35. It will take a while to get through their upgrades and back into the line. The Musashi
will arrive in a few days though and provide me with a new bomb magnet....

All I have to do is to cruise around in the Inland Sea and long range US bombers will fly
all the way from San Francisco to hit her [:'(]

My first Dinah III recon units are now operational. This exceptional aircraft has a max
range of 13 hexes and will be invaluable in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/26/42

Sub/ASW Attacks

I sent my sub after the poor Chew...boom! No more loose ends - the slate
is now clean - RTB [;)]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 91,35

Japanese Ships
SS I-28

Allied Ships
DD Chew, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Jaluit is now the only base in the Marshalls without a CAP...but it's also a
size 0 af - a sea plane base. So it isn't very interesting for David either!

Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
Ki-21 Sally x 130
Ki-48 Lily x 34

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 35

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Jaluit , at 81,84

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 46

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 4 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
37 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[EUBanana]

I've attempted to engineer daytime surface engagements, never managed it even once. Even set to do not retire, the chance of them happening is very slim indeed it would seem.

If there is some sort of knack to it I'd be interested in what it is as well!

[PzB74]

ORIGINAL: EUBanana

I've attempted to engineer daytime surface engagements, never managed it even once. Even set to do not retire, the chance of them happening is very slim indeed it would seem.

If there is some sort of knack to it I'd be interested in what it is as well!

You take one big dose of luck and mix it with your 'feeling sense' - and voila!
I've managed to 'organize' quite a few daytime surface engagements, even against enemy carrier tfs.

Over the years I've come to trust my instincts: I simply shut out my thoughts and 'see' the hex, number or whatever
I'm trying to identify. You'd be surprise how many times this has brought success!-)

Hope it helps [;)]

[tsimmonds]

Does anyone know how long this process will take?

180 days; can be accelerated just like the AK conversions.

[PzB74]

ORIGINAL: irrelevant

Does anyone know how long this process will take?

180 days; can be accelerated just like the AK conversions.

Thx! Guess I can afford to accelerate them after the Musashi is finished! That means
that I'll have them in 3 months - 1st of April 1943.

[PzB74]

Sent out a Daitai of Betties today - they were mostly escorted by Oscar IIs. This was an experiment to
see how well the new fighter stands up to Allied fighters. The results were not great! 10 Oscars were lost
and they only shot down 3-4 enemy fighters. Only crack pilots stand a chance in this ac - but they saw
the bombers through.

I guess I will produce a lot of them and send them into action with medicore pilots in order to provide
CAP for secondary bases and escorts for anti shipping strikes.

It is not worthwhile to challenge the large amount of Allied transports in the Solomons, but I do have
to send out the occasional raid and force David to provide both escorts and CAP for his ships.

Men and materiel are arriving at Truk in large quantities and the buildup will continue for a while.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/27/42

Surface Combat

Tanaka reduced the number of enemy PT boats today...a Mavis claimed yet another one.
Don't want a stack of them around!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Majuro at 83,83

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CL Yubari
DD Wakaba
DD Yayoi
DD Satsuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Karukaya

Allied Ships
PT PT-118
PT PT-119
PT PT-120, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
PT PT-121, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT PT-122
PT PT-123, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
PT PT-154
PT PT-156, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub/ASW Attacks

A convoy escort dispatched of a Dutch sub!

ASW attack at 31,72

Japanese Ships
AP Tutukami Maru
AP Taibun Maru
PG Tamo Maru #7
MSW Tama Maru
MSW Banshu Maru #18
MSW Aoi Maru
MSW W.7

Allied Ships
SS O16, hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
Ki-21 Sally x 133
Ki-48 Lily x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 58

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Dobodura at 55,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
G4M1 Betty x 24
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 36

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AP Empire Chivalry, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
AP Thomas Jefferson, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC SC-646

Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
All G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
G4M1 Betty x 15
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 28

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Starr King
AK William C. Claiborne, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Lew Wallace
AK Edgar Allan Poe

Aircraft Attacking:
All G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

[PzB74]

Troops have now unloaded in Rangoon and are preparing to march towards
Mandalay. I'm uncertain about how many men I need, but I'll send quite a few
tank regiments there as well. These are not particularily well suited for the
South Pacific.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/28/42

Sub/ASW Attacks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 56,96

Japanese Ships
SS I-20, hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Drayton
DD Grayson
DD Cushing
DD Sims
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 78,79

Japanese Ships
MSW W.21
APD APD-46
APD APD-39
APD APD-36
APD APD-34
APD APD-2

Allied Ships
SS S-33, hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Lots and lots of Allied air strikes against my most exposed bases...as usual.

Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
Ki-21 Sally x 127
Ki-48 Lily x 33

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 61

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 15000 feet
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th Construction Battalion, at 63,93

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 15
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-24D Liberator x 21

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
103 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 106th IJN Base Force, at 55,90

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
B-17E Fortress x 32
B-24D Liberator x 33

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
229 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
18 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
15 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/29/42

Lots and lots of air strikes against undefended bases again...nothing really
interesting. Only one more day left of 1942 and I'm going to post a few screenies and
present some figures.

The Combinded Fleet

6 fleet carriers (the Taiho will arrive in 25 days)
4 light carriers
4 escort carriers
12 battleships (7 operational - including the Musashi which will arrive tomorrow)
16 heavy cruisers (15 operational)
15 light cruisers (14 operational)
89 destroyers
15 subs [:(]

When the Taiho arrives I will incorporate her in the first Carrier Division

Carrier Division 1 Nagumo (ca 400 ac)

Taiho (Flagship)
Shokaku
Zuikaku
Kaga
Akagi

Carrier Division 2 (ca 260 ac)

Junyo (Flagship)
Hiyo (still damaged, 30 sys)
Ryuho
Zuiho
Shoho
Ryujo

Escort Division (ca 90 ac)
Unyo
Taiyo
Chuyo

ca 750 carrier ac

In addition I will receive 3 Amagi carriers and the two converted CS light carriers during the first 4 months of
1943. These will for Carrier Division 3 and field ca 260 ac.

The plan is to have 2 fast battleships in Car Div 1 & 2 (The Kongos)
My remaining battleships will then be divided into one surface combat group and one bombardment group.

Battlegroup 1

Yamato
Musashi
Nagato
Mutsu

Bombardment group 1

Yamashiro
Fuso
Ise
Hyuga

In addition to this I will try to form 2 heavy cruisers groups - my elite surface combat groups led by Tanaka.
Hopefully I will still have enough ships to form 2 destroyer groups.

Situation Map: Solomons and New Guinea

As this map shows it is becoming increasingly difficult to supply bases that are within range
of numerous enemy bases. I'm uncertain about what to do with this situation. Within 6-8 months Rabaul
may be isolated. A protracted war up along the coast of New Guinea is perhaps what I want with my large
and experienced Army?

Truk will be my next line of defense and by the time it can be bypassed the Marianas and surrounding islands will
be able to withstand even large scale enemy invasions.

[PzB74]

Situation Map: Marshalls and Gilberts - end 1942

The situation in the Marshalls is a little simpler! I will throw the enemy back into the Gilberts and resist him
throughout 1943. The Marshalls will provide a staging point for further invasions into t he Marianas and can not be allowed.
At least not before the enemy has bypassed or occupied Rabaul and Truk and has reached Wewak and Hollandia.

[PzB74]

Situation Map: Burma and China - end 1942

The situation in China and Burma is even simpler! I will occupy the rest of Burma and
box China in. The remaining bases will then be bombed into the stoneage and left to starve.

I've already mentioned that I will not attempt to occupy all of China. It should however become
possible to extract divsions to the defence of the South and Central Pacific during 43-45!

Another point: I still miss 800 points to win an autovictory as the year comes to an end.
I don't epxect that it will be possible to achieve this now, but it is still possible to achieve a 3-1
odds by 01/44.

[pauk]

greetings...

just a thoughts (i could be wrong, of course).

1. for Taiho ac groups. I think you should get Zero's Kate's and Vals instead Zekes, Judys and Jills (those groups with not yet available ac will downgrade).
I would like if some can confirm this or correct me[:)]

2. Bombardment - results. I remember old post from UV forum - it says "Use the ricon, Luke, lots of recon"[;)]. And it is certainly good advice for WiTP.

I'm pretty sure that results of bombardments are much better if attacked base is reconed for several days (better- several weeks).

Keep the good work! We all watching you[;)]

[PzB74]

I hope you're right Pauk - advanced air groups without replacements would be nothing more than a hassle!
At least I'll get a carrier with lots of AA guns, radar and an armoured flight deck.

It's possible that you're right regarding bombardments as well. Had a discussion with David concerning this topic.
He meant that his battleships did less damage than mine, but I know that's not true. I achieved great results in Batavia
and Colombo but not in Tjilitjap.

Will experiment with this and try to figure out the exacts. There are so many undocumented features in this game that
we have to work hard to establish the facts [;)]

Anyway, thx for reading and providing advice - appreciate it!!

[cookie monster]

Love the screenies. Makes it an enjoyable read.

[PzB74]

Thanx Cookie, I always try to add a few screenies when I got something interesting to illustrate!

I got a question that some of you may be able to answer: When I get the next turn from David I will
order two of my CS to be converted to cvls. They both got ac aboard - so it is probably a good idea
to transfer the ashore first in order to...save them [;)]

This wouldn't affect the conversion process, would it? Would be typical to receive cvls without ac or
something like that!-)

David is busy in the yard today, so I have to wait until tomorrow for New Years Eve 43!

[toraq]

PzB,

Spanish HQ [:'(] have been analysing your next step and these are some operations that could help you to decide.

Base mission: japanese power is still overwhelming. You can get total air or naval superiority in every place that you want. But always within range of a big land base.

Objective: destroy as many troops/surface forces as possible to delay any allied offensive.

Operations:

Invasion of Guadalcanal:
You still can do it. It´s more important than PM, because if you invade it you could isolate enemy bases at Russel island, Vella Lavella and Munda. Many enemy troops will be destroyed and if David should attack with surface forces, to defend such and important base, you could destroy them entirely.
With Guadalcanal occupied, Australia will be temporaly isolated, the occupation of the South Pacific delayed, as well as other fronts, due to the importance of Guadalcanal, that should be reoccupied by David to continue the South Pacific invasion. Guadalcanal HAS a strategic value.

The objective is not to keep strong forces there once occupied, the objective is to destroy allied ground forces and naval forces committed there.

The plan: send AP supply convoy to Short, unescorted. Let David sink one or two from Munda, Vella Lavella bases. This would justify an increase in your air activity over Munda, Vella Lavella and Russel that will have to be attacked by massive raids. Once you get local superiority, send APs to Short. David will think of a new supply convoy but suddenly you will face Lunga, with your CVs and surface forces to provide strong AA values.
You could use 2 carrier divisions, 6 BBs, great numbers of DDs and MLs. Air supperiority is a must, so you´d need the combined fleet. 2 divisions needed, only one to stay as garrison

Invasion of the Marshall island occupied by David:
Yes this is a very clear movement. We all agree that it should be easy, because it is a foward base difficult to defend from other bases. In our HQ, we estimate that you could use this operation as a deceive movement before a Guadalcanal invasion, but it could be carried out alone
However it is a small operation, expect no big reaction from David and the piece of land you invade has almost no strategy significance.
You could use 4 BBs, 1 carrier division with 300 ac and one division and a half.

Reinforcement of South Pacific area
If you want to avoid Rabaul´s isolation, you have to keep Lae, Finschaffen, Shorland and Buka. I sujest you to send strong reinforcements to Lae and Shortland. You can supply these bases with FT mission. Shortland is within range of Rabaul. And if you use Kavieng to send FT missions to Finsch. Lae should receive supplies.
Why reinforce these bases?. Rabaul can´t be isolated without taking those bases, so David will have to invade it and get local supperiority. This will take him TIME. However if you leave Lae and Shortland undefended, David could invade them and as soon as they are in allied hands, Rabaul will be within range of 4 or 5 major allied bases (lae, PM, Short, Buka). If short is invaded, Buka will fall soon, leaving Rabaul´s within F4Us range. The end of Rabaul. Then he could just isolate the base and jump to another one (Truk) as rabaul couldn´t be supplied.

Spanish HQ believe that you should take advange of your superior forces and carry on with the three operations, before the F4U arrives in great numbers and before the new allied CVs appear. If you succesfully invade the Marshall island and Guadalcanal, and then start a defensive battle with some strategic withdraws, David won´t threaten any important jap. base (truk, rabaul, marianas) until late summer 44.

Just some ideas to help you [;)]
I have fun with your AAR. You´re a superb commander but if I have to be honest, you´re also a lucky man.

[PzB74]

Appreciate your praise and suggestions Toraq! Would be nice if the Spanish HQ could
send the Blue Division from the Leningrad front and to the Marshalls? [;)]

All of your advice are sound - but I'm afraid I will overextend my capabilities if
I try to undertake all of the missions (Invade in the Marshalls, Solomons and reinforce/invade
southern Guinea). My ships still need another month for upgrades and R&R, but by early
February 43 they will be ready together with large a large contingent of elite troops. The plan is
then to:

1. Carry out the operation in the Marshalls
2. I also agree with you that Lae has to be reinforced.
3. Shortland still got a sizeable garrison but I will also try to reinforce it and bring in much
needed supplies.

Buna is my most exposed based and it may fall to an enemy invasion. If possible I will
try to reinforce this base as quickly as possible.

All of these steps can be carried out simultanously and shouldn't take more than a month.
A counteroffensive against Guadalcanal would be highly risky, but I have considered it.
For now I will order several ground units to prepare for PM, GG, Lunga,
Tarawa etc. This intel should make David a little paranoid

But you're right - my arsenal still carries a mighty punch that still hasn't been
blunted. It IS important to keep the enemy weak by inflicting a steady stream
of losses. This piecemeal reduction of the enemys might is probably the only way
to break him. It worked in UV..maybe it will work in WitP as well [8D]

I've moved extra ac onto my fleet carriers today - so now they hold closer to
80 ac each. The Musashi has arrived, it got an AA rating of 700+ and radar.

Otherwise I'm moving small Betty units to most of my size 4 airfields. My plan
is to send out many smaller strikes. These are less vulnerable to enemy CAP and
will force David to provide CAP over most of his TFs and bases.

Another 2 base forces have also been moved to Rabaul. This is an important base
and I want to have a spare capacity here. My 2 Para regiments are also only a few
days away from Truk. I have to figure out how I can use this force in the best possible
manner. My long range Tina and Mavis transports provide them with a great potential.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/30/42

Surface Combat

David is clearing mines from Gili Gili - I used 5 subs to lay mines her.
Playing a delaying game here now!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1022 encounters mine field at Gili Gili (56,94)

Allied Ships
DMS Perry
DMS Dorsey
DMS Trevor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub/ASW Attacks

ASW attack at 61,84

Japanese Ships
PG Kure Maru #5
PG Tamo Maru #6
PG Takunan Maru #8
DD Wakatake
DD Uzuki
DD Oshio

Allied Ships
SS Trigger, hits 1, on fire
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Again loads of not so interesting air missions...from both sides!
I'm moving my 200 rested Sallys bombers to China. Soon all the remaining
Chinese bases will be reduced to rubble. Let's see how much supplies David
got in his now largly isolated bases [;)]

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
Ki-21 Sally x 132
Ki-48 Lily x 35

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 59

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th Mixed Brigade, at 28,77

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 63

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
204 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
30 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
15 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[toraq]

Spanish HQ insist in the Guadalcanal operation, that should be carried on soon. You should isolate many allied bases and get, for a few months, a good position to attack/stop allied supply convoys to Australia.
Marshall operation could be carried on anytime during 43, no matter the F4U appearance, as there is only one allied base there.

But, yes you´re write, Guadalcanal operation is a risky one and thus I can understand your point of view. But remember your 10 CVs or so will be a powerful assest only during 43. Use them even if you lose some of them. Once David receives his (year) 44 CVs, they will be a piece of cake for his F4Us and Helldivers.

Good luck!
Which is the operation name for the invasion of the Marshalls??

[PzB74]

I will post a more detailed overview of the Allied bases in the Solomons tomorrow together with
the forces that will be available for offensive operation in the first months of 43. My new Dinah III recon
ac will provide more info about enemy strength in key bases.

I'm afraid Woodlark, Goodenough and the other Allied bases around Southern New Guinea will be a bothersome thorn
in my side. They alone can threaten Rabaul with isolation. So a less ambitious operation would involve the recapture of these
islands + the reinforcement of Shortland and recapture of e.g. Munda.

Enemy subs also pose a serious threat now and moving my capital ships into the shallows may be costly.
But an offensive has to happen within 3 months - before the enemy gets to strong!

The offensive in the Marshall will be called: Operation Recoil [8D]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Otherwise I'm moving small Betty units to most of my size 4 airfields. My plan
is to send out many smaller strikes. These are less vulnerable to enemy CAP and
will force David to provide CAP over most of his TFs and bases.

This is a great idea. I'm only playing against AI (Allies vs. IJ AI), but I can't tell you how many 2 to 5 plane Betty raids against strong CAP leak through ONE bomber that sticks a torp home. From the reading I've done, a small raid getting through one or two to at least get off a shot is pretty realistic. Maybe the CAP response triggered is less, maybe the small raid is more likely to evade radar longer.

I've got to admit that I like the Guadalcanal operation from a strategic perspective. I'm a little skeptical about feinting to build up air. I would advise getting ready behind the scenes, and then (from the Allies point of view) just showing up with all the actors basically at the same time (air, sea, land). Give him no time to react.

On the defensive side, Rabaul will die. It's only a matter of time. The only way you can hold bases is to keep control of all bases within medium and small bomber range (and have them be mutually supporting and have carrier reaction forces, etc. as you've said, I'm just commenting on the bases part here). As the Allies get longer range fghters, the heavies will count more too (without fighter escort you can probably beat the crap out of them now, especially with the air model issue recently identified). Shortland has a nice harbor, but heavies can operate from Lunga, Munda, Torokina, Buin, Green Island. Buka and Green Island are both within SBD range of Rabaul. Vella Lavella and Shortland are both within meadium range of Rabaul (as is Buka, or course). Once he gets a foothold, his weight will push you all the way out of Rabaul (or bypass it).

Unfortunately, a similar situation exists starting from Port Moresby, but I think it's a little more difficult for the Allies coming up that side than through the Solomons. Ultimately, both Allied offensives support each other. If you want to get really aggresive, you could take Lunga, etc. and PM![X(][X(][X(]

That would set him a more difficult task. It would also provide you with much more time to fall back and attrite his forces. Given the superiority you've built up, you might be able to do it. I think you can. Be a helluva hoot to watch the AAR! [:)]

Thinking way ahead, after you've succeeded and he's worried about Luganville and Noumea, you smash the Gilberts!

Enough rambling. Just food for thought. Good hunting with Operation Recoil.

[PzB74]

You're right Witpqs! My tests with small formations have been encouraging. As the war progresses it will become
increasingly important for Japan to utilize her air assets in the best possible way. Sending in huge waves of planes
will only see them slaughtered by the next generation of US fighters.

I've already developed dozens of size 4 af bases, so preparations are already well under way! Construction units are at
the same time building powerful fortifications that will make it possible to defend them with relatively small garrisons.

Don't think I'll faint a buildup - as more and more units become available I will simply stack them up in Truk and
other safe bases and then rotate them into the frontlines.

Rabaul is a difficult one...I'll be hard pressed to hold David back both in the Solomons and on New Guinea.
It all depends on the type of casualties I suffer in my initial moves. My hope is that the US got relatively few large
infantry units after the debacle in Java. If this is true it may be possible to take advantage of this weakness during the
next 3-4 months.

It's important to retain a powerful fleet in being as this will force David to be more careful. If he makes a mistake
I'd like to be there to punish him time and again.

Thx for the input, I'll try to keep this AAR interesting for another year - or three [;)]