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And next a sort of different industry summary, this one is a trend summary.

Note that supply and fuel variations are due as much to what is and what is not aboard ship as to actual total quantity fluxuations.

We're not growing the HI Reserve much at this point, mostly just trying to keep it from crashing. We're trying to run as "hot" as we can right now.

Oil and Resource reserves have certainly sunk, but we have numerous convoys of each in motion and a regular system for operation, so this area will improve.

And next a different view of air production. Most of the game screens are showing air production "capacity" .. this one tracks actual production (with a status switch). The totals at the bottom are engines (Nakajima and Mitsubushi). But it is clear that our actual production is considerably lower than our capacity, but this allows us to ramp as needed. So like when the Tony's show up and can turn on the "Oscar" factories (which will be Tony's then) and make the switch over happen quite quickly. We have paid a price in HomeIs. supply to do this, and to be honest not much supply has been pulled out of the HomeIs after the first few days. Though things are starting to level out now and supply dumps in the HomeIs are growing now.

And now a view of the IJN carriers. The three new ones are in Japan, the two old and slow ones are in the SRA at sea. And the rest are at Truk, I'd say the refit is over now and we're about ready to come out and play again.

Here is a current view of CBI.

STRATEGIC THOUGHTS - 1 Apr 42



IJA Main Units Assigned to Southern Army

2ID: Wyndam, Derby, Broome
4ID: Darwin
5ID: Mandalay, enroute to Mytchina
16ID: Manilla
18ID: Palembang
21ID: Manilla
33ID: Akyab
38ID: Soerabaja
48ID: Lingayen
55ID: Enroute Akyab to Rangoon, thence to Mandalay
56ID: Lingayen
IGID: Northern Summatra

4IMB: Lashio
21IMB: Mytchina (until relieved by 5ID, the 21IMB to Rangoon)
23IMB: Southern Summatra
35IMB: Southern Summatra
65IMB: Lingayen

4IMR: Hanoi

=== Luzon must be at least "controlled" (all enemy units on Luzon bottled up into one hex by a friendly force that cannot be shifted) prior to releasing multiple major combat units for CENPAC/SOPAC areas.

Currently units which are available or will soon be available:

18ID
38ID

Also we have 2100 PP saved up, so in about a month, we can release one division from China/Manchuria/Home Islands. This will probably be the 20ID, which will probably head towards the CENPAC/SOPAC area.

Assuming major objectives like Port Moresby, or Noumea will be held by at least one reinforced division, we would have to plan to attack with four of our own divisions, in order to ensure that we can take the objective. Thus, from the above, we can see that until Luzon is controlled, we will not have sufficient forces for a direct assault against a major objective in the CENPAC/SOPACE region.

Further, from a strategic perspective, our goal may not be as much to take a particular place, as no place, that far from our logistical base, can be held for long, but to try to engage and defeat as much of the enemy Navy as possible, thus exploiting our carrier superiority, to increase the delay of the Allied come back. In other words, basically a "Midway" plan.

So, an attack, which "threatens" the Australian sea line of communication, Noumea=>Fiji=>Samoa=>Canton=>Palmyra=>Johnson would thus hope to entice the major USN fleet units to participate. Of course, there is no garrantee that the major USN fleet units will participate, but if not, then forcing the convoys between USA and Australia to cease operating might be possible, at least for a time.

So, what is needed logistically, to support such an attack?

Well, a lot of gas. And ideally several intermediate bases at which to store this gas. We will not have sufficient time to buildup multiple supporting bases that can also defend themselves, so we will have to go with bases that can store gas, but not necessisarily defend themselves against a Naval attack. Of course, this means we must take the fleet train with us, which would be required in any case, due to the distances involved. To indentify possible gas storage bases, we note:

Tulagi (level-3 building up)
Kwajalein (level-3)
Makin (level-3)

Tulagi, might get to the point where it can defend itself against small to medium Naval attacks, due to the presence of Lunga, which is also being built up. Kwajalein can defend itself, due to the presence of several level-4 airfields nearby. But Makin will not be able to defend itself, and must be considered to be a gas holding area only.

Thus, Tulagi, is probably our best bet for the primary forward Naval Base. But we will stockpile some fuel at both Kwajalein and Makin, in order to keep our options open.

The bulk of the combat Navy will be employed in these operations under the rubric of "KB". This will include 8-10 CV/CVL, 7-8 BB, 20+ Cruisers and 40+ DDs. Also the full fleet train (TF2) will be used with a capacity of about 150K fuel. As they are available, the 38ID, 18ID, 20ID and other ground units will become involved.

Well, we're finally on the move again. We have two ops starting up, the first is the occupation of the Western Aleutians, the second is a convoy raid into the SOPAC area with a dozen subs (6-8 of which are Glen boats) and the KB.

Here is are the forces forming up in the home Islands for the Aleutians Op. There is one carrier group, with the three new carriers, Junyo, Unyo and Shoho. Mutsu will also participate even though she is still "in the pink" on dmg.

The targets of the Aleutians op are Kiska, Amchitka and Adak. At each location we will land one SNLF, one Baseforce and one construction engineer. We primarily except to operate a few seaplanes off these bases and mostly just dig forts and await the counterattack.

The second Op really has two purposes, the first is to try to locate and destroy some convoys in the area between Polyneasia and the US West Coast, the second is to occupy several intermediate Island groups to give us advanced seaplane bases to cover possible invasion targets for later.

We will have about 12 subs, of whcih at least half will be Glen boats. Their job is to find the convoys. The KB will be trying to "sneak" its way into this area by passing North of Howland/Baker and then between Palmyra and Canton.

KB currently head SE out of Truk, will pass North of Makin enroute to the raiding area.

Overview showing projected path of KB to raiding area and also the pink circles represent the operations to occupy forward seaplane bases.

Well there have been several quiet days, but now there will be at least a little excitment on three fronts. First in the Aleutians our "occupation" force is nearing the Islands, we will go in - in a few days.

And in the Central Pacific, KB is nearing the shipping lanes, one of our Glen boats is persuing a homeward bound convoy to the NE. The Shokaku/Zuikaku group are in the lead and can possibly catch this convoy in about 3 days.

Meanwhile father West, the Hiryu/Soryu group have been spotted and so will attempt a strike on Palmyra in the hopes of drawing attention to themselves.

The rest of KB will try to slip by to the SE ... first the Ryujo/Zuiho group and then bringing up the rear (not shown as they are just off the map to the West) are the replenishment group, the surface escort group and the Akagi/Kaga group.

And over on Luzon .. we've moved a big stack back into Clark Field (the fourth visit) .. and survived a counter-attack (the first time) and will launch our own attack on the morrow ... we now also have the Southern Army HQ in the hex to "boost" morale [:D]

CONVOY !!!

The Shokaku/Zuikaku group finally caught up with a convoy one of our Glen boats had been stalking ... this is oh 1000 miles SSE of Hilo ...

Zuikaku and escorts split off and return South.

Shokaku group remains to work this convoy and splits out a vanguard surface force which tangles with part of the convoy.

Next day farther South the Ryujo and Zuiho square off against the Long Island for a "Battle of the Giants" ... looks like the Long Is. had no bombers which could hit back as this was a totally one sided exchange ... but the L.I. seems to still be afloat, so she may survive.

Well it is "Month End" again ... and this is a "special" month end from the perspective of IGHQ. We need to report out on our successes and failures during the opening "conquest" phase of the war. By roughly now, we should have taken control of the SRA and all related buffer areas and dealt a crippling blow to Allied naval power in the Pacific. So the month end reports this time will be a bit more extensive than normal and it will probably take me a couple of days ( of earth time ) to complete them.

First we will review the map, area by area. And we will start with China.

China is really in stalemate now. Moses doesn't have enough supply to hurt us and we don't have enough units to hurt him. Once he can bring in more effective airpower he can change things. And if we can ever bring in another couple of dozen divisions (he he) then we can probably change things .. but for now we focus on bombing Changsha to keep his biggest stack short on suppply and also we fly most of our single engine training missions out of Canton because he has a big stack adjacent to us there.

The balance is there but it is more fluid than it looks .. either of us could at least threaten almost anywhere on the map ... and a big push would have to be reacted to by the other side .. which could lead to a counter reaction etc. We've had some of that happen thus far .. but in the past couple of weeks things have been pretty quiet.

Next we will look at Burma.

On land, things are static. We hold Burma, the Allies hold China and India.

On the ground we are disposed as follows:

33ID - Akyab
5 ID - Mytchina
55 ID - Rangoon, enroute to Mandalay.
21 IMB - Rangoon
4 IMB - Lashio

We need more of everything, but currently higher priorities have call on the troops.

In the air, the Allies rule. They have 100+ 4EB at Dacca .. and 100+ 2EB bombers supported by 100+ fighters from various other fields. We have a Dinah unit at Pagan .. but otherwise have our airpower back closer to Bangkok where we have lots of Oscars, a few Zeros (if needed) and some Nells and Sallys.

Out in the Bay of Bengal we still need to take the Nicobars, which we will and we will build them up fully to support Andaman, which is also building up. Our Naval force consists of Taiyo and Hosho with Fuso and Yamashiro in support. The Western Fleet also has a pile of Cruisers and Destroyers. Many of the DDs have upgraded and now have higher flak than the KB DDs !!! Also there is an oiler group in support of the surface force. The Surface force just raided the East Coast of India and caught a convoy but the aircraft bombed the escorting MSW instead of the merchant ships. Knowing that airpower could be rapidly concentrated against us, we withdrew to Andaman to refuel. The surface force also includes the Seaplane carrier Mizuho which has a useful airgroup consisting of 9xJake and 9xDave. The Taiyo has 27xZero aboard and the Hosho has 9xVal aboard. This mix is optimized for fleet support against enemy LBA, while the fleet will use its surface forces for combat. Back at Singapore we have a 27xVal group and a 9xZero group that give us the ability to swap out the mix as needed for the mission. As it becomes possible we will add 1-2 carriers to the Western fleet to give them the ability to fight the RN carriers on an even basis.

Our next operation will be to raid into the Arabian Sea. We expect at least initially that the air opposition will be minimal. And, if we are lucky we can damage a convoy. But regardless it is important to be active. We need to show the Allies that they do not own the seas around India. Or at least they will have to fight for the seas if they want them.

We will have a number of submarines in support of the operation.

Georgetown is being built up as a major port. It will support NW Sumatra as well as Andaman and Nicobar. We have 18+ AG operating out of here regularly on resupply missions and expect this port to be critcial in our attempts to control the Bay of Bengal at least until the Allies recapture Andaman.

Next is Malaya, which also includes Sumatra.

This area is mostly a backwater now. There are a few remnants on Sumatra, but nothing dangerous. We use them as training targets, Moses seems to be moving them onto our bases and once they come back to the bases we destroy them in a turn or so. We actually would prefer them to remain in the jungle to use for training pilots.

The 18ID is loading from Palembang for Port Moresby and also the Imperial Guards Division will also be loading for PM.

Singapore Repair capability is being expanded. We want Singapore to be the permanant home of the Western Fleet. The Western Fleet as the mission of defending the SRA from Western New Guinea to the Bay of Bengal.

And next is Java.

This area is also a backwater. The 38ID and 25 Army are loading for Port Morseby.