The Good The Bad & The Indifferent

[Paladin1dcs]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I'm not familiar with The Stainless Banner , but this will appear in the autumn issue of Georgia Backroads magazine (unless somebody I work with tells me, "Whoa! This is an embarrassment!"). Of the five poems, two pertain to Union officers and three to Confederates.

The Stainless Banner can be found here.

I think you'll find it interesting.

[JohnDillworth]

Andre, I'll post some screen shots later today although they won't reveal anything in particular. In the meantime, here's the skinny on what's going on:

1. I know PM is garrisoned by 144th Regiment. There's probably more there, but I don't think a division is posted there. No SigInt of troops there or going there in many months (other than 144th RCT). The airfield went from level four to five a few weeks ago. That's the only base building I've seen on New Guinea in the past two months.

2. Horn Island is held by a small force but may be getting 38th Infantry Div. (according to SigInt). The airfield went to level two a week or so back.

3. Merauke is quiet and the base facilities undeveloped.

4. Milne Bay is developed substantially and probably has a mixed brigade and possibly has a division, though I haven't seen any SigInt since early on (when I got reports that 2nd Div. was going there, but that unit was committed to Luganville for many months, though I haven't "seen it" since the island fell back around June).

5. I've had troops prepping for Milne Bay and offshore islands since early in the game, including Americal regiments. I haven't added any troops to Milne prep since the first of the year.

6. Tons of Allied troops are prepping for Horn Island, Port Moresby, Merauke, and some of the Gulf of Carpenteria bases and islands, for months. Many of these troops are currently located in Sydney and Hobart, with more aboard marus inbound.

7. It's unlikely John is getting SigInt of my troop prep, but it's certainly possible he's been picking up radio traffic ("signals") emanating from my many troop transports making the long, long journey to Hobart, right?

CR what do you bases look like in Northern Australia and how do your Air assets look? Are you pools low due to the recent engagement in Burma? I presume you will be doing some support via LBA. You might get the first shot in but the KB may be on you soon after

[Canoerebel]

My bases in NE (true) Oz are in pretty good shape. Every one of them is 98% to 99% ready to go to a higher level (I stopped them so that base building doesn't tip of John that's something's coming). I think Townsville and Charters are level four or so. Cairns is still small - probably a two or three. Cooktown is a one (but will go to two as soon as I hit "build").

I have a decent number of squadrons in Oz, including a bunch of USN divebomers, army and navy fighters, and 4EB. The Australian squadrons are also present and will be a big help - the Kittyhawks fought some bloody and succsessful campaigns early in the war. I'm not expecting land-based air to be a huge player in this operation, but it's there if Japan presses me back to my Oz bases.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Great suggestion, Andre. After lunch, I'll look at this again with that in mind. I hadn't even considered the "harshness" of the pronunciation of infraction, but now that you point it out, it's obvious. (In one of the other poems, one of my assistants urged me to change "plug a gap" to "close a gap" for similar reasons.

Would you consider, "Stripped of what was his" in place of "In losing what was his"? The former suggests a more decisive act. The latter a more passive occurence.

[Canoerebel]

Sure, I'll consider that. I think that's a much stronger way of saying it.

[Canoerebel]

Kinda turning my AAR into a blog, but now I can honestly claim time on the forum is work!

Andre, I changed "In losing..." to "Stripped of." Great suggestion.

I'm still mulling over how to best change "infraction." I agree that it has a harsh pronunciation warranting the use of a better word. I'm toying with "charge" but leaning towards using "offense." I think that might offer the same benefit while also providing more clarity for the reader.

Thank you for the suggestions!

[Canoerebel]

9/29/42

I think the Great Horn Island Mystery has been solved. More about this below.

Bay of Bengal: Another quiet day free from enemy incursions by sea or air. Those IJN raiders have disappeared into the Arabian Sea. There's precious little Allied shipping there, so we'll see what develops. The long line of damaged Allied ships continues to make the run to Colombo (and some then go further) without incident. I'm surprised subs haven't picked off any, yet, and that John hasn't done a carrier raid. Some of the most heavily damaged will be covering the dangerous part of the run over the next few days.

Burma: The 7th Indian Div. attack vs. 21 Mixed Brigade comes off at a surprising 1:1, destroying six squads and damaged 32. The Indians suffer but three squads damaged and little to no fatigue, so they'll try again tomorrow, preceded once again by some 2EB raids. Taking this hex will isolate a few weak IJA units further up the rail line, including 25th Army HQ (what's it doing way up there?).

Pacific: The two small bases west of Kodiak will be increasing airfield levels over the next few days. IJN subs are nosing around Prince Rupert and San Fran. I still hold small hope that John might fall for a feint up this way. IJN subs south of New Zealand get reports on two transport TFs, but no altercations take place. John is also reconning on occasion bases like Pago Pago and Suva. So he's probably not sure where exactly the move is coming: New Caledonia? New Guinea? Luganville?

SWPac: SigInt that 5th IJA Div. is aboard a maru bound for Horn Island! John isn't completely nuts, so I feel sure this means John is using the traditional "SigInt feint" - false setting of a destination point while using waypoints to unload troops elsewhere. I don't think John has done this before, so he might be getting some encouragement or mentoring. 5th Div. was posted at Cocos Island since that base fell in December. John probably replaced it with a brigade. A three-DD TF recently cruised near the island without triggering and patrol detection, so I certainly think John's dismissed it as a near-term Allied target.

[Cribtop]

A few comments:

First, cool poem on Chickamauga. I agree that the change to stripped is good. Also, consider "minor charges" as the use of the plural helps to put the reader's mind in a judicial context rather than creating confusion with the military aspects of the singular "charge."

Second, note that it was Hood's Texas Brigade that broke the line in the first place. [;)]

Third, the Horn Island thing could be the destination feint as you describe, or it could be a major reinforcement or even invasion convoy moving to Horn as a preliminary rendezvous point prior to its ultimate destination. Horn Is is a particularly interesting "waypoint" for a convoy bound for invasion of NE Oz or reinforcement of PNG. What's your nav search like in the area?

[Canoerebel]

I don't think Hood's Brigade broke the line at the Brotherton house on the 2nd day of the battle. Hood commanded the charge, which consisted of three divisions - Law's (Hood's old divison, which included his old brigade), McLaws', and Johnson's (a fourth division - Hindman's - supported on the left of Hood's attack). The brigades of Johnson's division led the attack, followed by Law, followed by McLaws.

I don't think John is invading northeast Oz, though that's an interesting thought. All indications point to him scrambling to attend to the defense of his SoPac and SWPac territory, which I think he has belatedly realized was woefully underdefended. So I think Horn Island is a waypoint ruse meant to confuse the issue. I'd be shocked if one of the divisions isn't inbound to Port Moresby. Merauke would be a good candidate for another.

Down on New Caledonia, I think John has divided one division (56th) and split it between Noumea and Koumac and perhaps La Foa.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Kinda turning my AAR into a blog

Hey, how else do you expect to compete with GreyJoy's AAR post count? [;)]

[Cribtop]

Well, shoot, the sign is wrong then.

I would agree that reinforcement is more likely than invasion, but yes, that is likely what he's up to. Assume he has a Division plus at PM a Division at Merauke and a reinforced brigade at Milne Bay, are you still a go? I also bet John will attend to Terapo.

[Canoerebel]

I think John is actively attending to each of these places - Terapo, PM, Horn Island and Merauke are in all likelihood vulnerable at the moment. If I had things in place, I might pull the trigger. But I don't have the ships to carry the men, yet, and the carriers are still a week away. So I'll have to monitor - adjusting my plans as needed. Even if the SigInt dashboard lights begin blinking wildly, I might still go - or reconfigure in such a way as to try to draw enemy ships into a kill zone. Or I might full a feint while moving on New Caledonia, or vice versa. Lots of options available. We'll see. (I know one thing for certain - an enemy invasion of Tasmania would be doomed at this point - Hobart has 1200 AV. Just kidding - I know that isn't John's target.)

[Andav]

Since Allied Signet is so powerful, as a Japanese player, I pretty much never send my units directly where they are going. They will board Joe Bob Maru bound for atoll Nowhereville. The day after they leave port, they change course to where they are really going. If they will have enough time to prep once they arrive, I will prep them for another location as well. I have no idea if this helps but it makes me at least feel like I am hindering the Intel Monkeys a bit. Once they arrive at the location, I assume they will eventually be identified so they will prep at that point. This works when building the defense. During expansion, I used the same tactics but obviously, units needed to prep for real target.

I am sure you would be thrilled if he really sent two divisions to Horn Island!

Wa

[Canoerebel]

The Allies don't get SigInt regarding IJ prep for an IJ base. That may help you a bit. But I might indeed get SigInt that a troop is located at said base or aboard a Maru making for the base. The latter situation is why IJ players will set a transport TF for a phantom destination and then establish a waypoint at the real target base. Waypoints don't yield "maru bound for Waypoint X, Y or Z."

[JeffroK]

Are you using stacking limits??
If yes, can you fit 2 Divs on Horn Island?

[Paladin1dcs]

That's a very good point. If you're using stacking limits, I think Horn Is. tops out at something like 6k troops.

[Justus2]

How are your subs in the area? If he is using Horn as a waypoint/rendevous point, can you put a sub net in place to disrupt him when he sallies forth?

[JeffroK]

"small infraction"
to
"frivolous charge"

??

[Schlemiel]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

I hadn't even considered the "harshness" of the pronunciation of infraction, but now that you point it out, it's obvious.

I like the poem and the suggestions, but this confession is practically high treason for a poet, to not consider the sound of the words when crafting the poem Quite the infraction. I'd much prefer you charge the Japanese defenses somewhere

[JeffroK]

He's a (was a?) Lawyer.