Rebels (Canoerebel) vs. Redcoats (Miller) - Big B 192

[Canoerebel]

7/27/42

Pago Pago:  Miller's TFs will arrive tomorrow.  Recon identifies Soryu, Shoho, and Hosho (with Akagi seen yesterday).  The show should open tomorrow.

Canton Island:  Miller sends in a FT TF that tangles with PTs, sinking two.  I sent in a FT TF carrying reinforcements. I figured the two would clash, but they didn't.  It seems like in Uncommon Valor that opposing FT convoys arriving at the same destination engaged in surface combat, but this is the second time in a few days no combat took place.  My AV rises to 130.  I have supplies coming in tonight.  Mines are back up to about 230 - I have a long, long string of mine laying subs plying the ocean between Pearl Harbor and Canton Island.

Suva:  Bombardments continue.  No sign of Japanese CAP over the island.  Did Miller assign part of the KB or a Mini KB to protect this outpost?  I don't see any sign of it.  CV Enterprise ordered to change course to NNE and approach Suva from the SW - but she's still three or four days away, so I should have time to mull over this gambit.

US CVs:  The 4 CV TF ordered to Bora Bora to refuel and to await Wasp, which should arrive in about three days.  I hope that this will also facilitate swapping out Avengers for Devastators.  I have enough of the former to replace two of the remaining thee Devastator squadrons.

Noumea:  Australian reinforcements still loading at Sydney.  In San Fran, the 37th Division begins loading on APs.  I don't have enough APs to do all the work I'd like them to do!

Trincomalee:  It turns out that my feint at Colombo worked.  Email from Miller:  "Nice move at Trincomalee by the way. Tricked me into thinking you were sending troops to Columbo, I send my torp planes in and you withdraw your ships and hit my a/c on the ground.......(or did you do it by accident?) lol......."  My bombers destroy 40 aircraft on the ground.  Miller transfers his aircraft back to Burma, so I'm sending my bombardment and CV TFs back to Pangim.  I"m going to continue feinting at Ceylon to give Miller something to think about.  My mock invasion TF is moving from Aden toward the south of India.

Mandalay:  Forts reached 7, a side benefit of Miller's visit to Ceylon.  My AV remains about 1390.

Sian:  About 60,000 troops cross the river and launch a shock attack at 0:1.  Miller loses 5187/231/3 to 1134/20.  He has ten more units across the river.  I don't think he has a prayer here, but I don't like thinking about "what if..."  I've ordered a deliberate attack.

Kanhsien:  It looks like Miller is advancing towards Kanhsien again.  My AV there is 3300, but I've ordered some reinforcements to move there.  The size of his army (20 units, two hexes east of the city) is daunting.  

[Canoerebel]

7/28/42
 
It was a great day for the Allies and a demoralizing, possibly catastrophic day for the Japanese.  I went from sweating the threats to Pago Pago and Sian (and, to a lesser extent, Mandalay, Kanhsien, Suva, and Canton Island) to widespread relief in just one day.  Miller's email sums up the day's events:  "I think its fair to say my Sopac invasions have been a total disaster. Instead of trying to take 3 bases at once I should have taken them one at a time.......Pago Pago looks like a no-go even if I landed 5 divisions there!!!  To rub salt in the wounds I am getting my ass kicked in China....."
 
Pago Pago:  The Japanese invasion TF arrives (Hiyo is added to the list of sighted Jap CVs); the KB is in two sections, one at Pago Pago and the other a hex or two north.  Both launch air strikes against PP:  The first includes 65 Zeros and 76 Kates opposed by 10 P-36, 8 F4Fs, and 4 P-40s.  26 Kates are downed against just one US fighter and, on the ground, a PBY.  The second, and much more powerful, attack featured 101 Zeros, 138 Vals, and 162 Kates of which 2, 6, and 9 were destroyed.  The US lost 7 F4F, 10 P-36, 11 P-40, 5 PBY, 4 SBDs, 1 F-4, and 2 B-25s (alot of these were on the ground).  The invasion TF encountered mines (one unlucky AP suffered three hits) and took 1173/2 casualties from coastal guns.  Then the troops came ashore (note:  the transports didn't arrive until the daylight phase, which was probably a critical mistake).  The Allies got in a bombardment attack first, inflicting 232/4 casualites and disclosing that the invasion force consists of only the 16th Division!; the following Japanese shock attack at 0:1 cost the 16th 2049/31/2 to just 11 US casualties!  When I opened the turn file, the island was clear of Japanese; the entire invasion force had been wiped out.  I know this has to make Miller just sick to his stomach.  I assume he'll call things off, move his transports out of harm's way now, and at most try to gain some success with his powerful surface- and air combat TFs.
 
Suva:  Bombardments only; recon shows a Japanese TF about 240 miles SSW of the island heading right for Enterprise, which ends the turn only about 8 hexes away.  Yipes!  I only detect CAs and AKs in this force, but it makes no sense to have a transport convoy in that position.  The only force that makes sense there is a Mini-KB with CVEs or CVLs.  I don't want to tangle with the unknown right now, risking turning a great day into something lesser, so I order Enterprise to change course and head SE on a heading that will eventually take her to Bora Bora, where the other US CVs are about to arrive.
 
Canton Island:  My FT supply convoy arrives and departs without incident.
 
Ceylon:  Bombers again strike Trincomalee, destroying some 10 planes that had been already damaged and weren't airworthy.
 
Mandalay:  Miller launches his first deliberate attack in quite some time; it too is unsuccessful.  Miller loses 1341/31/2 against 614/13.
 
Sian:  Disaster for Miller here.  More Japs cross the river and launch a shock attack at 0:1 losing 8806/283/7 to just 583/16.  Miller has 5 divisions, 2 independent brigades, and a tank regiment on the ground (100,000+ troops). I launch a deliberate attack at 14:1 (!) that costs Miller 2255/137 while I lose 3337/94.  All of Miller's units retreat across the river.  I'm not going to pursue yet - I don't want my troops to attack across a river against 100,000 defenders.  I could probably win, but each time the Chinese attack they suffer much greater casualties.  So I'll rest my troops and see what Miller does.
 
Timor:  An Australian division, cavalry division, and base force (all in Melbourne or vicinity) begin prepping for Koepang.
 
San Fran:  I feel so good about things that I've ordered a RCT, which is already fully prepped for Adak Island, to head that way.  AKs will handle transportation.
 
Situation:  Unless Miller has a vast army in reserve, his SoPac invasion threatens to be a disaster.  Today's results have been so decisive that I wonder if he will even chance a strike against Noumea.  The worst thing I could do now would be to lose my CVs, giving Miller a huge morale boost; so I'll keep them out of harm's way.  I know Miller is demoralized - I'm sure he put alot of thought and hopes into this operation, especially after Manila threw him off schedule.  Bear in mind this is my first game, and Miller's first as the Japanese. 

[Canoerebel]

7/29/42 and 7/30/42
 
SoPac:  Miller's Pago Pago invasion force has moved to the north and is heading to Canton Island.  Intel even reports that a Japanese AP with 16th division is "moving to Canton Island."  The reinforcements should be more than adequate to overwhelm Canton's defenders.  I doubt Miller will take another stab at Pago Pago.  My hunch is that he'll pull something together to regain the upper hand at Suva, and then perhaps shift west to Noumea and Port Moresby.  My losses have been light - something like 10 PTs, two AKs (supply ships on a suicide mission to Canton Island), the aircraft lost at Pago Pago (maybe 100 over the course of the battle), and few ground troops. 
 
Momentum:  Although this campaign fizzled out and didn't become the "battle to the death" that I anticipated, I think the result is similar to Guadalcanal in the real war.  Miller has probably reached the limit of his ability to expand "at will."  The Allied forces are growing strong in key areas (Pearl, Pago Pago, Noumea, Auckland, Australia, India).  Future major Japanese advances will in all likelihood be vigorously opposed.  The one exception may be Port Moresby - it is "way out there" and I don't yet have the assests necessary to defend it.  The power of the six US CVs is most important as a "force in being" deterrent.  Miller may not know the whereabouts of my carriers, and that may be their best use right now.
 
Ceylon:  Bombers from India hit Trincomalee each turn.  My mock invasion force will arrive in approximately a 5-7 days.  Advance elements will arrive much sooner, including US Navy DD Paul Jones, ordered to bombard Colombo to see if bombardment missions encounter shore guns even when ordered to retire after bombarding.  If it does, how can I handle Colombo?  When I sent in an MSW, coastal guns all but sank the defenseless ship (but it had been ordered to Patrol/Do Not Retire, and that may have left it susceptible to shore guns).  I'm trying to figure out whether I can send in MSWs to clear the minefields - Since I can't send them in on Patrol/Do Not Retire orders, I'm testing whether sending them on Retirement Allowed will work.  I've somehow got to clear the minefield and it's up to the MSW since the Royal Navy doesn't have destroyer minesweepers.
 
Mandalay:  The bombers that Miller moved from Ceylon back to Rangoon/Moulmein resume their strikes vs. Mandalay.  They are set to hit troops rather than facilities.  Right now, even the best Allied fighters in CBI (AVG and P-40s) seem to be helpless against Miller's fighters.
 
China:  Each turn, Miller sends major air attacks vs. Kanhsien and Sian.  On the ground, I'm waiting to see what he does next.  Will he withdraw from Sian or reinforce and renew his attack? 

[Canoerebel]

7/31/42 to 8/5/42

Canton Island:  Miller indeed redirected his Pago Pago invasion north and , on the 3rd, landed quantities of reinforcements (4 divisions!) on Canton Island.  Earlier, as the force moved north, Miller surprised me by sending the KB sprinting north.  These CVs suddenly arrived SW of Palmyra and bit into supply and fast transport convoys.  I lost an AK, three DDs, and a DMS. I was chagrined, to say the least.  I had to send the remnants and plenty of other nearby TFs scrambling in all directions.  Fortunately, the KB retired - Miller likely felt it was too exposed.  When his invasion force arrived on the 2nd, my minefields and shore guns got in some more good licks.  But Miller's shock attack on the 3rd overwhelmed the defenders at 10:1 and Canton Island finally capitulated.  A US sub patrolling west of Canton sighted a retiring Japanese surface combat force and torpedoed a DD, the infamous Hibiki.

Suva:  Right now, Miller doesn't seem to have any naval assets near Suva.  No way Miller leaves his 4th Division here to whither on the vine.  I know reinforcements are coming, but how quickly?  I have a supply convoy arriving in a day or two with reinforcements coming.  The six US CVs have rendezvoued well SE of the island, but is there if Miller reacts strongly to the sight of supply ships anchored at Suva.  He would be an awfully long way from home.  On the 31st, B-25s score a hit on a retiring (and probably damaged) AP.  An SBD scores an encore the next day.

Noumea:  Intel shows an engineer unit prepping for Noumea, but the Battle of Pago Pago in all probability bought me the time needed to turn this base into a Pago Pago like fortress (except that it isn't an atoll).  The Aussie reinforcements are already arriving and a US cav regiment and infantry division are on the way.  Auckland will be a level 9 port in one or two days and I have two minelayers ready for duty.

Koepang:  Further recon shows this base is more strongly held than I had first believed.  I'm not going after it any time soon.

Ceylon:  My air strikes and naval feints have Miller's attention.  I think he moved a base force from bombed out Trincomalee to Colombo in hopes of using that airfield to strike the invasion force he may think is heading that way.  In any event, a unit moved from the one base to the other and that's the only reason I can think of.

Mandalay:  He has reinforcements coming and so do I.  The forces engaged and the importance of this battle are both increasing.

China:  Miller appears to be pulling back from Sian to Yenen.  I still think he's advancing on Kanhsien, but the 20-unit army is still two hexes east. 

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

A US sub patrolling west of Canton sighted a retiring Japanese surface combat force and torpedoed a DD, the infamous Hibiki.

Infamous? That's kind of harsh, especially considering how much it hurts if you get kicked in the hibiki.

[Canoerebel]

I thought all German and Japanese aircraft and ships were infamous.  IE, "infamous Bismark," "infamous Zeke", "infamous streudel," and "infamous sake."
 
All British and American craft are famous. 
 
What is a hibiki?  Is it one of those little charcoal grills?

[Cuttlefish]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I thought all German and Japanese aircraft and ships were infamous.  IE, "infamous Bismark," "infamous Zeke", "infamous streudel," and "infamous sake."

All British and American craft are famous. 

What is a hibiki?  Is it one of those little charcoal grills?

Based on experience I think I will go along with "infamous sake".

Hibiki translates roughly to "peal of thunder". The Japanese were rather fond of natural, even poetic names for their warships.

[VSWG]

Nice AAR, Canoerebel - easy to read, very informative. I like the screenshots!

Your early build-up of Pago Pago is impressive - I did something similiar in my first PBEM before it ended in March 42. You seem to be a bit light on aviation support and planes in that area, though - a lot of planes are still at Pearl Harbor (550+ in a screenshot). With more LBA in the SoPac you could try to weaken KB's CAP next time and then engage in a major CV battle - read this thread:

tm.asp?m=980486

Just an idea when KB comes around again - and it will return to either reinforce or evacuate that division at Suva. [:)]

In San Fran, the 37th Division begins loading on APs.  I don't have enough APs to do all the work I'd like them to do!

Try including a couple of AKs in your transport TFs - the AI will use them to load devices that need less space on AKs than on APs (engineer vehicles, guns, tanks,...). Seabees for instance need only 1 AP (for the support squads) and 2 (maybe 3) AKs for the engineer vehicles - this saves you a lot of precious APs, and the TF will load/unload faster.

[Canoerebel]

8/6/42 to 8/9/42

Things have quieted down for the moment, as Miller assesses the situation in SoPac and considers his next actions.

VSGW: The only problem with mixing in the AKs is that it slows down the convoy by 1/3rd. I'm trying to get my troops to distant points (Pago Pago, Auckland, and Noumea) as quickly as possible, so I usually create AP-only convoys, followed by AK convoys that carry parts of the unit. You're right about the base forces, although I think the big log jam is San Francisico where I have about 5 base forces backed up. I've ordered them to prep for destinations ranging from Pago Pago and Bora Bora to Auckland and Noumea.

Suva: On the 6th, Miller sends FT convoys carrying reinforcments to Suva and Nandi. The 88th Naval Guard unit captures Nandi the next day. My B-25s and SBDs sortie, but fail to score any hits against these ships. My planes spend the rest of the time bombing Miller's units at these two bases. The 6 US CVs have rendezvoued and are SE of Suva, moving slowly west and hoping that Miller might send in more FT convoys. I can't move sufficient reinforcements to Suva to withstand the kind of massive assaults Miller likes to unleash. Right now I'm just trying to ensure that Pearl, Pago Pago, Noumea, and Auckland are bastions that he can't seize.

Noumea: The Australian reinforcements have landed, increasing the AV to 500+. A US cavalry regiment is about a week away, with an army division following. The 2nd Marine Division has been in Pearl Harbor most of the game, prepped for Noumea. It's time to head that way. To replace it at Pearl, I've ordered a US Army division sent from San Fran to Pearl. Once the APs unload, 2nd Marines will embark for Noumea. A Marine CD unit just left Pearl for Noumea. Base force can support 170 aircraft with another about to arrive.

Auckland: AV is 1200, base force can support 370 aircraft. Two Dutch minelayers will be working from here.

Australia: I'm stripping Melbourne of all infantry except one division. A cavalry division is heading to Darwin and an infantry division to Perth.

Ceylon: Still playing here - my mock invasion TF is only five or sex hexes from Colombo. Miller hasn't shown any response.

Mandalay: Miller sends in reinforcments on the 7th - 4th Mixed Regiment and 55th/A Division. He sets all his troops to shock attack. The resulting 0:1 with 7 forts costs him 1337/42 to 517/8. He resumes bombardments thereafter. My Brit infantry and artillery reinforcements are still about five days away.

China: Quiet now around Sian and Lanchow. Miller is sending heavy bombing raids against Honan and Kanhsien each turn. I'm doing nothing in response.

[Canoerebel]

8/10/42 to 8/16/42

Suva: Things had grown awfully quiet after the Battle of Pago Pago a few weeks ago. My CVs were steaming very slowly WNW, south of Suva, hoping for an opportunity to strike any force Miller might send to reinforce Suva. I think the force has shown up (see map in next post). I debated long and hard about sending my CVs toward Suva. There are many unknowns: I don't know where Miller's CVs are, I can't be positive he hasn't sighted my CVs, etc. However, this just "feels" right. I don't think he knows where my CVs are and he's already made two runs into Suva without facing opposition. So he's probably thinking I'm not likely to oppose a third run. He's also got to allow for my LBA at Suva and Pago Pago - it's pretty weak, but he'll err on the side of assuming I might have strengthened it since his last visit. Also, last time he sent in his main invasion force with part of the KB held back, providing long range CAP. I'm hoping that's a pattern. I hate giving up the location of my CVs, but as noted previously this just feels right. I'm about to learn if I have sound instincts.

Noumea: AV is up to 600 with 600 mines and 5 or 6 forts. The US Cav regiment is just a few days away and a new base force arrived on the 16th and will unload tomorrow. About 40 P-38s moved here from Auckland and could be re-based at Suva tomorrow. That's something worth thinking about.

Ceylon: My mock invasion force did it's job - In several email messages Miller indicated he thought it was "the real thing." A pre-invasion bombardment TF got chewed up by shore guns, losing a DD. Miller transferred aircraft back to Colombo, including Tonys. However, my bombers got the best of them, destroying 47 aircraft on the ground without losing any of their own. Miller gnashed his teeth.

Mandalay: My Brit division will arrive tomorrow.

Kanhsien: Miller's "army" is advancing. Don't know what I'm facing yet, but my AV should be about 5000. Miller also advanced parts of two divisions (22/B, 22/C and 15/C) out of Nanchang towards Changsha, and they tangled with my advance army. I got a 3:1 inflicting 350/16 to 828/25 and forced Miller's units to retreat to Nanchang. Now what will he do?

[Canoerebel]

8/16/42 map

[Canoerebel]

8/16/42 to 8/19/42
 
Suva:  After sending Miller that turn file Monday evening, I held my breath and wondered what would happen; I began having second thoughts:  "If my CVs get savaged, how in the world will I reinforce and defend Noumea?"  Yet the thought of my CVs striking an unsuspecting Japanese surface combat force was intoxicating.  So I had mixed feelings when I received the turn back from Miller.  But it turned out to be much ado about nothing.  Miller's force came and went unmolested - it ended its fast transport run six hexes from my CVs and my bombers didn't sortie.  A wandering Jake did sight Yorktown, however, so Miller knows where my CVs are.  In the two days since the "non-event," several large transport convoys have been sighted moving SSW from Canton Island toward Suva.  Miller is coming in force and I'm sure he has the KB.  My CVs are moving toward Auckland now.  I'm giving up Suva without a fight, but I feel sure that's the best thing to do.  Noumea (and Pago Pago, should he cast his eyes that way again) are where I make my stand.

Noumea:  Mines are up to 1000, the US Cav regiment disembarked, and my AV now exceeds 700.  A RCT is three days out and a US Army division about ten days away.

Ceylon:  Nothing happening at the moment except irregular Allied bombing runs from Madras.

Mandalay:  Brit division arrived bringing my AV to 1500+.  The belligerents exchange bombardments each turn.

China:  Miller sent three divisions and a mixed brigade from Canton and dislodged a stout force that had been 60 miles west of the city since early in the game (the defenders were weakend when they launched a deliberate attack a turn before against what looked like a single Japanese division, but the other troops arrived in the meantime and really bloodied the noses of the Chinese).  My defeated units retreat to Wuchow.  My defensive line is Wuchow/Kanhsien/Changha/Honan/Sian.  Miller continues to build a large force 60 miles east of Kanhsien.  I think that's the next battle.

Near Term:  My CVs will arrive in Auckland in a few days and I hope they will finish swapping out Devastators for Avengers.  As Noumea's defenses strengthen, I'll begin thinking about augmenting Luganville (currently garrisoned by an Aussie brigade) and building up Espirtu Santo (unoccupied).  When Miller takes Suva, he may send the KB south in search of merchant shipping.  I'll have to be very careful with the reinforcement convoys, but I only have one big one left (2nd Marine Division, still at Pearl Harbor, will be embarking for Noumea within the week).

[Canoerebel]

8/20/42 to 8/26/42
 
Suva:  Understandably, Miller has been very cautious in his approach to Suva.  He sighted my CVs just south of the island on the 17th, so has been on guard.  His main invasion force didn't arrive until the 26th.  The KB stood off about 240 miles to the north and hammered the airfield 3 or 4 successive turns, destroying alot of my B-25s and SBDs on the ground.  My bombers did sortie against a surface combat TF on the 22nd and scored two 500lb hits on a CL.
 
Pago Pago:  I'm bringing in another RCT from San Fran to bolster the defense a bit, just in case Miller figured out what he would need to take the island based upon what he encountered on his brief stay last month.
 
Noumea:  With Miller occupied at Suva, several transport convoys have scooted by well to south, unmolested.  The AV is 800+ with a Marine CD and army division about a week away.  Part  of the 2nd Marines are on the way from Pearl, with the other detachment about to embark.  Once these three units are in place, the AV should be 1500+.  I also have another tank regiment (batallion?) on the way from Sydney.  My CVs are in Auckland and all the Devastators have been replaced.  Intel shows Miller's 10th Division prepping for Noumea.
 
Australia:  I mull over long range plans; early thinking is that Koepang is a viable target since I still hold NW Australia.  I realize that the two units I have prepping for Koepang are the only two units I have prepping for a Japanese held base, so Miller may well get a tip off to my intentions.  To muddy the waters a bit, I issue preparation orders to several Aussie brigades garrisoning outposts like Townsville and Cairns - the targets are Rabaul, Gasmata, and Buna.  I still hold Port Moresby and Milne Bay is vacant.  I'm pondering these positions too, but Miller may strike the area well before I have the resources in place to begin shifting troops from Auckland to more forward positions. 
 
Ceylon:  Nothing new here.
 
Mandalay:  Nothing new here.
 
China:  Tonys and Tojos show up in force and there are big dog fights over Changsha on successive days.  My guys get the best of the first engagement, downing 23 Tonys and Tojos and losing 9 P-40s and 2 AVG.  But subsequent attacks decimate the defenders.  Over two days I lose more than 50 aircraft - far more than I can replace in a week.  I have to pull survivors back to Chungking.  Actually, I come out slightly ahead in losses inflicted in the air war over the week, due primarily to Miller's high op losses.  Miller is still gathering his army 60 miles from Kanhsien.  He has 100,000+ troops already, but so do I.
 
Small Craft:  For the first time in months (I think), one of Miller's subs hits and sinks and Allied ship - an AK west of Perth.
 
 

[Canoerebel]

8/27/42 to 9/1/42
 
Suva:  Miller is carefully building up his force at Suva, which includes four divisions (4,16,10,29), two tank regiments (7,4), and three naval guards (85,86,88).  He outnumbers my force (basically a U.S. RCT and a Kiwi brigade) 3:1.  I have 9 forts and I'm running low on supplies.  He should be able to take the island quickly.  My main concern is:  where does he go from here?
 
Noumea:  Most of a U.S. army division (37th) is landing; 2nd Australian Anti-Tank Reg't is 2 days out; Marine CD unit is about a week away; balance of 37th Division and 2nd Marine Division are further east and about two weeks away; mines are 1100; forts 5; AV currently 900 and should be about 1200 in when the CD arrives; supplies 70,000+.  As noted in the last post, Miller's 10th Division (at Suva) is prepping for Noumea.  Miller is reconning Luganville daily (garrison is a lonely Aussie brigade).  I think this is the next battle, and I would rather it happen here than Pago Pago, which is pretty isolated what with the fall of Canton Island, Suva soon to follow.  US CVs still parked at Auckland.
 
KB:  I believe Miller has pulled it back toward Canton Island.
 
Australia/NG:  I've begun prepping troops for Milne Bay (including troops in the U.S.).  Once all reinforcements have arrived at Noumea (two weeks off), I'll begin thinking about reinforcing New Guinea assuming I still hold PM and Milne Bay at that time.
 
Ceylon:  I have two 48-plane B-17s squadrons at Madras.  Trincomalee gets hit hard every day or two.
 
Mandalay:  Miller got frisky, trying a shock attack on 8/29/42 at 0:1 forts 7 (988/22/1 to 133/1) followed by a deliberate attack two days later (2451/103/11 to 245/18).  My bombers (mainly from Dacca) hit his troops every second or third day.  He can reinforce quickly by marching up the road from Rangoon and will probably have to send reinforcements.  I think I'm getting the upper hand at the moment.
 
China:  Most of Miller's troops have arrived at Kanhsien.  The battle hasn't begun yet.  My AV is 5000+.

[Canoerebel]

9/2/42 to 9/4/42
 
Suva:  Miller tries a deliberate attack on 9/3.  At 0:1 odds and 9 forts, he loses 1486/51/7 to my 524/22/1.  I thought he had enough to overwhelm me, but the forts weren't even lowered.  He has 100,000 troops ashore now.  My defenders number about one-fifth that.  He's sent the KB far north (more about that below) and seems to have a relatively weak surface combat force covering the transports.  I formed a surface combat TF at Auckland - including CA Pensacola and CL Boise - and sent it toward Suva.  I've also reformed my 6 CV TFs and sent them north following a surface combat TF. 
 
KB:  The KB leaps eastward and surprised an empty tanker convoy that I sent to Christmas Island to refuel on the way home to San Fran from Auckland.  Vals and Kates savage this convoy and a two-ship supply convoy, sinking 2 AKs and at least 4 TKs, with more ships seriously damaged.  Of more concern is the amount of shipping I have 500 to 1000 miles east of Christmas.  These are AKs and TKs busy moving from and to the US.  My troops transports are all well south of Christmas now and probably out of danger.  Will Miller continue probing with the KB or will he pull it back? [Note to Self:  Reconnaisance and patrol aircraft don't do a good job keeping track of the KB; this is the second time Miller has "leapt forward" undetected to hit rear areas.  I need to keep vulnerable shipping further from areas he can reach.]
 
Small Craft:  Before the KB struck, I-164 put 4 TTs in a TK at Christmas.  Wahoo put a TT in an already damaged AP returning to Canton Island from Suva.  CA Ashigara hit a mine at Canton.
 
Noumea:  My APs sat in Noumea for two days without unloading, but I rechecked and reclicked the unload orders and the bulk of the 37th Division came ashore on the 4th, along with the Aussie tank destroyers.  My Noumea AV climbs to 1200+.  The Marine CD unit is about three days out, and another base force is about a week out.
 
Ceylon:  B-24s and B-17s from Madras continue to hammer Trincomalee's airfield.
 
Mandalay:  Both sides exchanging bombardments from artillery and aircraft.
 
Kanhsien:  Most of Miller's force is now on site.  He has 134,000 troops.  I have 200,000.  He has been hammering Kansien with vast waves of bombers for months now, but I don't think he wins this battle.  I think he has pulled back the force that attacked Sian to a point in the rear of Yenan, possibly on the way to other points.  I've sent some of my Sian garrison east toward Honan and point eastward from there.  I may try a probing attack of Sinyang, behind Ichang.

[Canoerebel]

9/5/42
 
Suva:  Miller tries another deliberate attack.  Odds 0:1, forts 9, supplies down to a measley 1500, the defenders still prevail.  Miller loses 1126/40/3 to 534/23.  Forts remain 9.  The attackers have overwhelming numbers, so their failure must be due to disruption.  It looks like my garrison will hold for awhile, so I've transferred an SBD squadron back to Suva from Pago Pago.  I don't think his transports have air cover, so perhaps I can get in a strike or two.  My surface combat TF is 2-3 days out.  My CVs are steaming NE from Auckland slowly.
 
Christmas Island:  I am mortified by the loss of my tanker TF. The KB moves east of Christmas Island and hits and sinks several more empty, already damaged TKs.  I have a substantial amount of shipping east of Christmas - they've broken into two groups - half breaking north and half breaking south.  I doubt Miller will penetrate that far eastward, but if he does I'm going to go from mortified to horrified.  I think he would have to continue east two more days before he would be within striking range. 
 
Noumea:  AV now 1250 with the Marine CD about two days away.  2nd Marine Division about a week away (these transports are far to the south of the KB and, I think, out of danger).
 
Milne Bay:  With Miller seemingly occupied far to the NE (Suva and the KB), I'm going to begin the buildup of Milne Bay, which is currently unoccupied.  I've detailed an Aussie division, tank regiment, and artillery regiment (these from Sydney and Brisbane) and US aviation engineers and a small base force (both from Auckland) to begin loading on transports. A large TF of Japanese APs is sighted by a patroling SS 240 miles west of Kwajalein.  Wouldn't it be coincidental if Miller was moving on Milne at the same time that I was?  But the sub reports this TF moving west, so hopefully Milne will remain open.  My reason for moving this way is that Miller has a lengthy line of supply/support for his outposts at Canton Island and Suva.  A build up at Milne and the resulting threat to his bases in the Solomons exposes his line.  This should force him to take action.
 
Ceylon:  B-24s hitting Trincomalee.  I've moved the two large B-17 squadrons from Madras to Dacca.
 
Mandalay:  Nothing new, but those B-17s at Dacca will rest a turn or two.  Miller is sending large air strikes from Rangoon and Moulmein to Mandalay.  I want to hit his airfields with my B-17s in a day or two.
 
China:  Mutual bombardments at Kanhsien.  I will let him attack first, but I'm not sure he will do so before bringing up reinforcements.  He has 130,000 troops against 190,000 at forts 9.  I have ordered forces to converge on the hexes either side of Ichang.  I'm going to probe both Ichang and Sinyang to see whether there are any weakneses.  I hope pressure here wil possibly affect how many reinforcements Miller feels he can send to Kanhsien.

[Canoerebel]

9/6/42 to 9/9/42
 
Things seem to be heating up across the Pacific.  As I type this entry, I'm waiting for Miller to send me the 9/10/42 file, with the possibility of surface and air combat in and near Suva.  I'll supplement this report if the turn arrives while I'm typing...
 
KB:  On the 6th, the KB moved SW of Christmas Island and then I lost track of it.  A stop at Canton Island to refuel is a possibility, but Miller may have sent it south toward Pago Pago or Suva, either of which could make my life uncomfortable.  In any event, I expect him to send the KB hightailing south in the next turn or two, because he should sight my CVs.
 
Pago Pago:  A transport convoy arrives on the 9th.  A RCT will begin unloading overnight.  I hope my troops get ashore before anything bad happens (like the KB or a surface combat force showing up).  This should complete my defense at PP, raising the AV to about 1375.  I considered diverting this RCT to Suva, but I'm afraid things are going to boil over there before the transports could make it.  On the 9th, Miller sent a wandering, heavily damaged AP toward PP, I suppose to scout the opposition.  I only have one squadron of bombers there (B-25s), which promptly sank the AP.
 
Suva:  My SBDs sortie three days in a row, damaging four or five APs.  I had two surface combat TFs arrive at Suva on the 9th, but the enemy ships had pulled out.  I'm sending them back in tonight as it appears that more ships may arrive.  My CVs will also end the night just four or five hexes west of Suva.  They will be in position to hit any Jap ships that finish the turn close by.  Or, if Miller sent the KB scurrying south, there should be a big air/sea battle.  Miller tries another deliberate attack on the 8th, once again at 0:1 with 9 forts.  He loses 1332/18/2 to my 539/16/1.  I think he'll take the island pretty soon, but I know this is frustrating him.  He's made a little mistake - he's had Nandi for several weeks.  He should have brought in a base force.  That would have kept me from sending my CVs - and possibly my combat ships - this way.
 
Noumea:  My CD force is on the ground.  AV is 1295.  My next base force arrives in a few days.  My defenses here are strong enough to withstand anything except an overwhelming force, and I just don't think Miller can pull anything like that together now, especially with Suva exacting a toll on his forces.
 
Solomons:  Recon aircraft from PM show that Buna, Lae, Kaeving, and Shortlands are lightly held with no aircraft to speak of.  Even Rabaul is only moderately garrisoned.  It looks like the Solomons are open.  My ships are moving toward Milne Bay (from Auckland and SE Australia).   A FT convoy with an MSW visits Milne Bay and doesn't find any enemy mines.  I'm sending a Kiwi brigade from Christchurch to Luganville. 
 
Burma:  On the 9th, 72 B-17s from Dacca hit Rangoon's airfield, but only destroyed four aircraft on the ground.  Bummer.  Both sides continue to bomb and bombard the enemy forces at Mandalay.   I have a Chindit brigade about 240 miles away and a tank regiment nearing Dacca on its way to Mandalay.  Nothing has changed here, but I continue to feel as though the Japanese are weakening more quickly than are the Allies.
 
Kanhsien:  The Allies try a deliberate attack on the 9th, getting 1:1 odds, causing 2837/132/6 to the Japs, and losing 6672/168.  The "computer" recommends that I continue the attack, but I call it off to rest.  My AV dropped from 5000+ to 4500, a rather disconcerting drop.
 
Ichang/Sinyang:  It may be 10 days before my troops are in position to lay siege to Ichang and Sinyang.
 
Nothing from Miller yet, so I'll have to wait awhile to see what, if anything, happens at Suva.
 
 

[Canoerebel]

9/10/42

[Canoerebel]

9/11/42 to 9/15/42
 
Suva:  The KB takes station north of Suva and pounds my defenders on the 14th and 15th; supplies are down to zero and my garrison should soon fall.  On the 13th, my SBDs sortied and scored 2 hits on an AP, one on an AK, and one on a PG; then I pulled them out to Pago Pago anticipating the air strikes to come (but Miller destroyed several damaged SBDs and some Catalinas on the ground).
 
Noumea:  My CVs are "hovering" between Auckland and Noumea.  I've sent a replenishment convoy from Auckland - that will top off the fuel, but I'm not sure if replenishment "tops off" a CVs max sorties.  I could look in the rules, but what fun would that be?  I'll just try it and if it doesn't I'll send the CVs to either Noumea or Auckland.  I'm waiting to see whether Miller sends the KB SW towards Noumea or Auckland, or scurrying NW towards the Solomons.  2nd Marines are in two convoys nearing Auckland.  They will soon be in a position to move north to Noumea as long as the KB isn't a threat, or to move toward the Solomons in support of Operation Platanus Occidentalis (my first named operation since way back in March).
 
Solomons:  I will post a map of the situation here in a few minutes.  The Allies are throwing together operation Platanus Occidentalis, a quickly conceived and admittedly haphazard effort to build up Milne Bay and ponder a thrust against Buna and possibly Shortlands or Buka.  It seems that Miller doesn't have adequate forces to defend the Solomons - most of his offensive capability has been devoted to his efforts against Canton Island, Suva, and Pago Pago.  So I think his underbelly may be weak.  A US base force will begin unloading at Milne Bay overnight (Sept. 15-16).  An Aussie division and a US aviation engineer unit are not very far behind.  I've moved P-38s to Port Moresby to provide long range cap.  My concern is that my transport convoys will be nearly defenseless against a surface combat force.  How quickly will Miller recognize my move, react, and have forces that he can commit?  I'd hate to lose most of a division, but I'm proceeding.  Will he send the KB this way?  If not, I may proceed with the quick thrusts against one or more of his lightly defended bases.
 
Ceylon:  Allied bombers continue to hit his bases here, doing little real damage.  But Miller has 60,000 troops sort of hung up on Ceylon.  Were those troops in Burma, my situation there would be much more precarious.
 
Mandalay:  Status quo continues while I await the arrival of the Chindit unit (less than a week away) and a tank regiment (better than a week away).  My AV remains stable at about 1530.  He is suffering more damage from bombings than I am.
 
China:  Miller still hasn't attacked.  He probably wants to bring in more forces until he achieves something near parity.  I have about 200k against his 140k.  My AV has climbed back up to 4800 after dropping from 5000+ to 4500 following my deliberate attack on the 9th.  My units are moving very slowly toward Ichang, so it will be another week before I'm ready to probe his defenses there and at Sinyang.
 
 

[Canoerebel]

Map as of 9/15/42