Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[witpqs]

Here are today's air losses.

[zuluhour]

obvert, that's just down right sneaky! Hiding fuel in ships.

[witpqs]

1944 May 30

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:


Our subs got nothing, and one was lost off of Honshu.

Quiet in China.

More Imperial ships at Tavoy. Estimated IJN carrier strength there is greater than yesterday, probably just better scouting. Mine layers present and an ASW group active off the coast.

The three divisions at Prome for Rangoon begin moving tomorrow. The invasion forces at Madras are beginning to load on what are hopefully enough xAP to compensate for that type's shortcomings. Several dozen xAP are moving from Madras to Ramree Island to supplement the more suitable assault shipping there. The fleet is heading from Colombo to Madras to escort the troop convoys.

Allied naval bombardments.

Allied Ships Bombarding Babar
Allied Ships Bombarding Haha-jima
Allied Ships Bombarding Zamboanga
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan

Cagayan was stomped by B-29s. Cotabato and Iloilo were damaged by B-24s. A few fighters appeared over Iloilo and even one over Cotabato, but P-38 sweeps cleared the skies. Zamboagna was bombarded but the base itself was missed. Our carriers are near Jolo but seem undetected. The Balabac convoy is 3 hexes behind them (and 10 to Balabac), so they will rendezvous 2 hexes east of Sandakan and move on Balabac the following day. 1,000 troops in 2 units now show at Puerto Princesa.

Here is a look at the Imperial carriers at Tavoy as now seen.

[witpqs]

1944 May 31

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:


Our subs hit nothing. Some attacks but a slow day for them.

Quiet in China.

The IJN carriers have put to sea! They are 3 hexes west of Tavoy. Such a small move makes it best guess that they are standing by to oppose the invasion, especially with a 9/10 DL of Prome where infantry has begun moving. It is still possible that this is their jumping off spot for a high-speed run to raid troop movement off the Arakan. Or - the RN could have quite a fight on its hand escorting the troop convoys from Madras. All but one completed loading and they only await the fleet's arrival tomorrow to move out. The Nav trained strike assets at Bassein and Ramree Island have been stood up along with fighters assigned to their altitude. Those at Bassein have been give a maximum range of 7 hexes, whereas the IJN carriers are currently 8 hexes away. The convoy of LSI(L) moving from Calcutta to Ramree Island is now 8 hexes out and the coastal route planned would leave it vulnerable to a concentrated strike, so they will make full speed direct for Ramree and should arrive during the day with ease. Two AM with smaller fuel capacity are being detached to insure they do not need to refuel and slow down the convoy. In addition to local fighters now five P-47 groups are flying LRCAP over that port.

The Bde, Bn, and tank Bde at Taung Gyi will begin moving tomorrow on their mission to knock out the recon unit holding the east side of the river 1 hex SE of Toungoo. The road is good so the march should take 6 or 7 days.

Allied naval bombardments.

Allied Ships Bombarding Zamboanga
Allied Ships Bombarding Babar
Allied Ships Bombarding Haha-jima
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan

Tonight the Balabac invasion convoy will sprint in so as to unload as much as possible tomorrow. The base is still seen empty, but I would like the convoy to begin withdrawing during the following day at the latest. The fleet will take up station 1 hex NE, then temporarily withdraw with the convoy. The Bde for Puerto Princes is loading but a bit short on transport. Some APD are heading to Kendari to make up the shortfall. Likewise for the Bde heading to Samarinda for Balikpapan, but their additional transport has not been identified.

A number of APA became available at Truk today but an even greater number is expected tomorrow so they will form up together. P-38 CAP is now flying out of Tarakan, with the runway down to 2% damaged. We have managed to empty the USA 44 Rifle Squad replacement pool. The 33rd Div needs 3 more squads and the 7th Div needs 89; over a month of production.

The IJN carriers. What is their plan?

[witpqs]

Here is the overview map.

[witpqs]

1944 June 01

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:
Balabac

Our subs came up empty again.

Quiet in China.

Pegu hit again as usual. The IJN carriers chose door number 3 - the move to the west was to avoid our presumed submarine presence closer to the coast, where our subs have savaged Imperial shipping in the past.

The invasion forces at Madras are moving east in the company of the surface forces and will meet up with the (slow) carrier TF 3 hexes out of Madras. By the time they are in the vicinity of Ramree Island loading will be completed there. In fact, loading at Ramree might delay a day or two just waiting for these convoys.

Allied naval bombardments.

Allied Ships Bombarding Babar
Allied Ships Bombarding Chichi-jima
Allied Ships Bombarding Haha-jima
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan

Balabac will fall tomorrow, empty as thought. The convoy has just supplies remaining to unload. The fleet appears to be completely unscouted. Our first carrier sortie into the South China Sea and no greeting! The supply is all on the three fast xAKL and I am not entirely unsure that all of it will unload tomorrow, so the carriers will stay put. Forecast calls for rain over the region.

The St Lo TF is docked at Babeldaob so St Lo can finish making temporary repairs before heading further east. Some subs, some CVE, and all the USN CVL began refitting at Pearl Harbor, as has CV Franklin.

Here are the Imperial carriers moving southwest. As you can see they have avoided the bulk of our submarine coverage, but only because they are leaving so early, not due to their route!

[witpqs]

Here is the final list for the landings at Pegu and Moulmein. The units to load at Ramree Island should all fit on the available transport. If they dont't, I'll amend the list! [:D]

Loading at Ramree Island

Pegu Invasion

8th Mahratta AT Gun Regiment
2/9th Field Rgt
2/11th Field Rgt
2/1st Med Rgt

I Aus Corps Eng Bn

2nd British Division
17th Indian Division
5307th Composite Regiment
1st Burma Battalion
4th Burma Battalion
5th Burma Battalion
2/15 Punjab Battalion


Loaded at Madras

Pegu Invasion
122nd Brit AT Rgt
88th Med Rgt

11th PAVO Tank Regiment
18th Cavalry Tank Regiment

4th Marine Division
82nd (West African) Division
28th (East African) Brigade
Lushai Brigade

Moulmein Invasion
BFF Brigade
1st Hyderabad Battalion
1st Mysore Battalion
13th Burma Rifles Battalion

[witpqs]

1944 June 02

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Balabac

There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:


Our subs got an xAK

Quiet in China.

More bombing of Pegu, at least 8 supply hits today. The (daily) bombardment near Prome destroyed several Imperial squads/devices in addition to disabling some.

It will be 3 more days before the forces embarked from Madras arrive off of Ramree Island. The convoy of empty xAP will arrive tomorrow, after which loading will commence.

Allied naval bombardments.

Allied Ships Bombarding Chichi-jima
Allied Ships Bombarding Babar
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan
Allied Ships Bombarding Zamboanga
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan

The inhabitants of Balabac declared their undying loyalty. See the screen pic below for a look at some IJN gate-crashers. And Miri airfield is - all of a sudden - being repaired, now down to ~70% damage (it stood at 90% for the longest time). A bunch of engineers will arrive at Tarakan tomorrow. An air HQ is being flown in, and a (carrier trained!) 36-place squadron of SBD-5 dive bombers has transferred there. Torpedo planes will follow soon.

We (finally) bought out the 1st Australian Division for the Cam Ranh Bay operation. Although there are two more Australian divisions preparing that are still restricted, we will not be able to buy them out in time for the op. Too many other needs for PP have been waiting. There is also a division on the West Coast that costs even more and who's release must be purchased. Perhaps they can be bought out in time for the invasion of the Home Islands!

Here is a look at those IJN trouble-makers. Our main fleet (NE Balabac) will pull back 3 hexes while the CA force (currently at Balabac) will guard the passages by Balabac. If making full speed, the KB could be on scene tomorrow. Two other smaller cruiser TFs are being brought up from the Jolo area to guard the carriers.

[witpqs]

1944 June 03

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:


Our subs did not score.

Quiet in China.

Strikes on Pegu. Our subs laid the mines at Tavoy as planned. An enemy minefield was identified by O20, but she should make it back.

Allied naval bombardments.

Allied Ships Bombarding Babar
Allied Ships Bombarding Haha-jima
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan

The KB did not shown itself today, but the IJN cruisers seen yesterday in the South China Sea edged closer to the Sulu Sea. Our dive bombers from Tarakan ran into Tojo CAP in morning and afternoon, but our boys had stout escort in the morning. Alas, not so in the afternoon. I think the TF commander's day was ruined just the same.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Miri at 64,84

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 7

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 16
SBD-5 Dauntless x 28

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kawakaze
CA Chikuma, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Suzuya, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Tone
CA Furutaka

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Chikuma


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Miri at 64,84

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 58 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 5

Allied aircraft
SBD-5 Dauntless x 19

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CA Furutaka
CA Chikuma

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-5 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 11000.
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Tojo fighters that covered the cruisers must have come from Miri, so the B-29s will hit the airfield there tomorrow. The entire II US Fighter Command HQ was airlifted by the huge Coronado flying boats from Manado to Tarakan, so torpedo bombers and more dive bombers will join the dive bombers already there for tomorrow's action. Some Corsairs are also being squeezed in and should help bolster the escort situation. The landing craft moving support troops to Balabac is slow and must refuel again (among its own ships) and so might only barely arrive there tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Puerto Princesa invasion convoy will take up station 1 hex NE of Tawi Tawi tomorrow.

The fleet is moving 1 hex NW and will also be joined by another batch of CVE, these with Hellcats (and TBF) but only modestly skilled pilots.

Here is a look at the current action area. The IJN TF to the north has lots of E and DD escorts and is moving NE.

[witpqs]

1944 June 04

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Waigeo

There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:


Our subs got an AO.

Quiet in China.

Strikes on Pegu. There are large Imperial troop movements away from the front toward Rangoon! Our armour at Prome is beginning the move toward Rangoon at the gallop as the three infantry divisions are almost halfway. Tomorrow the forces from Madras will be near Ramree Island, so the troops on Ramree Island are being ordered to load now. It looks like the landings will be heavily contested after all! Will KB come back? If it does, at least our sub screen is in place. D-Day could be in 3 days, but more realistically in 4 days. Forecast for tomorrow is rain across the region. Various 2EB and DB have been tasked to hit some of the moving units north of Rangoon. The 4EB hitting Pegu airfield will mostly switch to striking ground units at Pegu, which now sports almost 12,000 troops.

SigInt shows the 5th Tank Rgt at Ubon in Thailand, most likely further redeployment from China to Burma.

Allied naval bombardments.

Allied Ships Bombarding Babar
Allied Ships Bombarding Chichi-jima
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan

The B-29s did a number on Miri but lost 7 of their ships doing it. Those ready will attack again tomorrow to suppress the base good and hard.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Miri , at 64,87

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 17

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 58

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 32

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 6 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 11000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Miri , at 64,87

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 4

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 124 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Miri , at 64,87

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-29-1 Superfort: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 61 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Miri , at 64,87

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Miri , at 64,87

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 7

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Miri , at 64,87

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29-1 Superfort x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-29-1 Superfort bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 20 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Samarinda airfield is still 100% service damage but is down to 21% runway damage, so a P-39D group is moving in to cover the supply and troop convoys arriving over the next several days. They really only need to be protected from Imperial aircraft at Soerabaja. I think the Empire will be more worried about the incursion into the South China Sea and the now rather obvious pending invasion along the Burma coast.

The landing craft with engineers is 1 hex SE of Balabac and will begin unloading tonight. The carriers will take up station 1 hex to the east. They will be joined there by the Puerto Princesa invasion force. Fighters and 2EB moved to Jolo. Fighters moved to Madjene.

Prince of Wales has finished repairs at East Coast USA and is on her way to Aden!

Here are today's air losses.

[witpqs]

1944 June 05

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:


Our subs got an xAK. We sunk an IJN sub and maybe a second one.

Quiet in China.

Troops at Pegu struck. Troops NE of Rangoon struck to impede movement. All of our troops embarking at Ramree Island completed loading! Two days to arrive off the targets, and the third day to land. It looks like the ground troops heading to Rangoon will be slightly behind the landings at Pegu. Now to brave the kamikazes and the possible appearance of major IJN carrier assets.

Tomorrow the invasion convoys and the fleet will take station 3 hexes SW of Bassein. One convoy refueled at sea at Ramree Island and will lag behind. The LST convoy will be making full speed to keep up, as will the aforementioned convoy to catch up. With 4 hexes still to go, the following day will allow only one phase of unloading at the targets, but it's better to get in and get started. As it is KB might show up tomorrow. All available fighters will be on LRCAP and the 4EB will hit Chiang Mai, which has been seen to have several dozen fighters of who knows what persuasion.

Allied naval bombardments.

Allied Ships Bombarding Babar
Allied Ships Bombarding Chichi-jima
Allied Ships Bombarding Peleliu
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan

Miri was stomped as though by Godzilla, and all planes on the ground were destroyed. No B-29s lost today. In addition to the engineers landed today there is now air support at Balabac courtesy of Flying Boat Airlines. The first runway is still under construction, but a squadron of Mariners has moved there from Basilan. See the pic below for our search coverage of the South China Sea. With the convoy at Balabac retiring tonight, the Puerto Princesa invasion convoy will move at full speed to begin unloading as early as possible. There is a secondary convoy of APD carrying support elements of the Bde that is too far away to land tomorrow. 9 hexes from Puerto Princesa are Clark with 105 fighters, 0 bombers, and 17 auxiliary, and Manila with 171 fighters, 33 bombers, and 17 auxiliary. The carriers (including the CVE) will stand 1 hex SW of Puerto Princesa. It's a fair bet that a bunch of those hostiles are kamikaze, but I can't begin to guess at the mix. Nor at what DAW HQ anticipates and what orders have been issued to those death gliders.

Here is our search picture of the South China Sea.

[witpqs]

1944 June 06

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious or airborne operations at:


There were Allied amphibious or airborne operations at:
Puerto Princesa

Our subs got two xAK and a PB. One of our subs was hit pretty hard but should make it home. We might have got one of theirs.

Quiet in China.

Not quiet in Burma. Our convoys and all of the ragtag task forces of the fleet made it to the assigned waypoint. From here all convoys will make full speed to their targets to commence unloading as early as possible. Still no sign of KB. We lost 23 B-24J hitting Chiang Mai through the heavy CAP of Franks there. The sweepers were all CAPing invasion convoys so the raid had to go it alone. Chiang Mai shows 28% damage but only 11 fighters there now. Most of the fleet will stand between Pegu and Moulmein, with a CA TF at Moulmein. Three TF of five disparate CL plus escorts will bombard Tavoy. The various squadrons of attack bombers, fighters, and fighter bombers with low ground trained crews that we have been hording will begin hitting Pegu tomorrow. Weather forecast tomorrow is for rain throughout the region, which is probably a net plus for us.

Allied naval bombardments.

Allied Ships Bombarding Haha-jima
Allied Ships Bombarding Babar
Allied Ships Bombarding Pagan

The 15th NZ Bde unloaded completely at Puerto Princesa and will attack tomorrow while the remainder of their support squads unload from six fast moving APD. A CA will bombard to aid them. The carriers will withdraw from the Sulu Sea tonight to the Celebes Sea, where they will await the assault convoys for Jesselton and Kudat. If time allows they will replenish.

Two convoys are unloading at Samarinda with a third on the way, and none have been spotted by Imperial spy bots. Tomorrow adequate assault shipping will arrive at Kendari to pick up the assault troops for Jesselton and Kudat. They only just arrived from Darwin and will have to do without seeing the place!

Here are today's air losses. Our pool can make up for all the B-24J losses, but only for today.

[witpqs]

The Pegu/Moulmein invasion. No sign of the IJN, but in a sprint they could be in carrier aircraft attack range tomorrow.

[Lowpe]

I would put some more coverage in the Gulf of Siam...If I was worried about an invasion of Moulmein to Victoria Point...that is where I would strike with the KB. May 44, you can have Port Blair, but Japan needs to keep the invasion away or make you really pay for it. My thoughts.[:)]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I would put some more coverage in the Gulf of Siam...If I was worried about an invasion of Moulmein to Victoria Point...that is where I would strike with the KB. May 44, you can have Port Blair, but Japan needs to keep the invasion away or make you really pay for it. My thoughts.[:)]

Are you saying KB would sit one hex off Bangkok and hit the Allies at Moulmein? Yes, I figure the Moulmein invasion convoy is at very high risk. Even without KB, they've got Bankok itself, plus at least five other bases within range, more depending on the planes.

I don't have the turn yet, but got a quip in email about sneaky Brit carriers and Hellcats having to circle the biplanes to escort them! The Gulf of Siam is beyond 7 hexes so my guys can't make shipping attacks there, and the only ship seen as of my last orders is an AMc in port at Tavoy. I figure that means either that somebody made a sprint up and we had a battle, or one of the biplane squadrons lost its 'Rest' secondary mission and made a ground attack.

Two turns ago one biplane group made a ground attack and I found it was Naval/nothing, so I set the secondary to Rest. Checked all the others. I'm not sure if maybe it arrived as Naval/nothing and I didn't notice, or if it was Naval/Rest but ran into a bug and switched to Naval/nothing. If carrier embarked planes there made a ground attack this turn then I'll know to submit it as a bug because I did check them all.

Of course that would be minor but would bring up the issue of 'just where is KB anyway?!' When they disappeared I figured they would show up in the South China Sea. Subs have been heading into the Sulu Sea and the South China Sea near it, but I've only caught glimpses of warships with apparent non-warships sliding around the periphery of search limits. I figure it's possible but very unlikely that KB made it around to the north. Most likely they are in the Singapore area, that is if not currently smoking our Pegu invasion! [:D]

[traskott]

Good luck with that invasion.

[witpqs]

Thanks!

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I would put some more coverage in the Gulf of Siam...If I was worried about an invasion of Moulmein to Victoria Point...that is where I would strike with the KB. May 44, you can have Port Blair, but Japan needs to keep the invasion away or make you really pay for it. My thoughts.[:)]

Are you saying KB would sit one hex off Bangkok and hit the Allies at Moulmein?

Yes, but there is the deepwater hex near Chumphon that you only have half a day of search on too. That is 10 hexes to Moulmein, so a little far, but does cover the rest of the bases.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I would put some more coverage in the Gulf of Siam...If I was worried about an invasion of Moulmein to Victoria Point...that is where I would strike with the KB. May 44, you can have Port Blair, but Japan needs to keep the invasion away or make you really pay for it. My thoughts.[:)]

Are you saying KB would sit one hex off Bangkok and hit the Allies at Moulmein?

Yes, but there is the deepwater hex near Chumphon that you only have half a day of search on too. That is 10 hexes to Moulmein, so a little far, but does cover the rest of the bases.

Oh, yes, I know that if we were going to Tavoy or farther south then the Gulf would be a major concern.

The strategic point of this op is not to continue a massive land-slogging campaign. At this point that would run out the clock. What I want to do is crack the front to 1) free up forces (by destroying/nerfing large Imperial formations) and 2) force Imperial reinforcement of the area. Getting more supply into China (if they show up at Kunming or Tsuyung rather than Chungking which we no longer own!) is more of a side benefit. Coupled with the Cam Ranh Bay operation it is possible that we could wind up breaking through from Burma, but I won't hold my breath.

Let's see if we have any ships left next turn! [:D]

[zuluhour]

I'm more interested in your turn than mine.......I doubt there will be good news for me, at least yours should be exciting....One day I hope to reach June of '44.