Fighting the Italian Samurai Cantona2(a) vs Gen.Hoepner(j)

[cantona2]

28 stacker at Sorebaja is still there while ive ordered another unit to North Australia. Enroute for Western Australia from Aden i have a RAF Aviation Rgt and two AA units to bolster the defences and  provide support. If the storm breaks over Australia at least ill be able to bit back. The Wasp is two weeks away and she'll be deploying to New Zealand as well which will give me two US and one RN carrier forces in the area.

[cantona2]

Rangoon falls 8th May 1942, GH lands 3 Divisions and in two days storm the city. AK Arizona Maru is officially named the luckiest ship in the war having bit hit for the 3rd time with dud torpedoes, and twice from Dutch subs [:@]

Elsewhere SS Drum makes up for it by hitting a second Tanker outside Osaka despite attetnion from IJAF ASW patrols.

Americal Division begins disembarking at Noumea while beachhead at La Foa is being built up and Koumac receives a resupply and a RAAF Base Force to build up its facilities and defences already manned by the 32nd Australian Brigade.

[cantona2]

Third day of the Battle for Burma sees para drops into Lashio and Meiktila. Both bases were garrisoned as SIGINT had been monitoring Japanese radio traffic dealing with the supply and movement of projected parachute operations in Burma for a few weeks now. A brigade defended the latter base while two chinese divisions were garrisoned in the former. Magwe was the third base earmarked for a para assault but we must wait to see if the Japs carry out the attack after these failures. No doubt these paratroopers were meant to hold until relieved by the forces at Rangoon. Incidentally another 2 Blenheims were lost over Rangoon today.

The Jap paras fled into the jungle after coming against the vast fire power the Chinese brought against them and fighters stationed at Tsuyung have been tasked to bomb them tomorrow. At Meiktila the coup de main failed and the remnants of the Japanese airborne soldiers had dug in in the south west suburbs of the town. Orders had been drawn up to flush out the survivors on the morrow.

The defeated defenders of Rangoon were quickly being railed away from the fallen city and their presence would be welcome reinforcement in their intended destinations.

Elsewhere the SS Drum departs Japanese shores heading for Pearl for some well earned RnR. Empty torpedo bays meant two jap tankers now nestled at the bottom of Osaka's harbour. Though suffering some damage she is in no danger of sinking and has so far avoiding ASW Helens that had proved deadly in the Palembang region. SIGINT also confirmed the sinking of the AV Sagara Maru, her erstwhile attacker, the SS KX, has been MIA for two days after failing to report in. The worst is feared for these brave Dutch submariners.

[Fishbed]

Good! Go get him tiger! [8D]
Do you think you'll be able to resist in Burma despite the heavy enemy reinforcements in Rangoon?

[cantona2]

Fishbed,
 
To be honest no but i aim to stall him as much as i can and make him fight hard for Burma. I have reserves in India, both forwards and in reserve but im wary of any flaking move on his part. My original plan was a Sir Robin upto Chittagong-Ledo. His lack of penetration in Burma made me rethink that and once SIGINT started to pick up his prepping for Burma i readjusted that strategy. Now its to make him do a long hard slog up Burma and ensure the China Road keeps open. If any move against India doesnt materialise then ill move those units in reserve closer to the front and see what happens. Likewise im also waiting for 6/42 so the RAF can begin to upgrade to get some Liberator III's operating from Indian air bases away from the coast. He will probably take Burma but it will cost him and ill make it difficult for him to get the oil hes after.
 
Thanks for posting though[:)]

[cantona2]

Meiktila also cleared of Jap Paras
 
Ground combat at Meiktila
 
Allied Shock attack
 
Attacking force 2218 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 55
 
Defending force 1613 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 26
 
Allied max assault: 96 - adjusted assault: 34
 
Japanese max defense: 15 - adjusted defense: 13
 
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1
 
 
 
Allied ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
 
 
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

[cantona2]

Good news: Tabby's and Tina's shredded by Flak. Paras out of cities.
 
Bad News: 3 Divisions moving up the railway [:(]

[Fishbed]

I see you like both submarines & Eric Cantona, so expect my sympathy.

Do whatever you can to have him shock-attack at every possible river hex, and slow him down for good! You planned to give up Mandalay, right? This mustn't go without a fight! ^^

[cantona2]

Thanks.
 
2nd British Division and 7th AIF Divison are being moved forwards from Raipur and Asanol respectively to join the 18th Infantry at Dacca should GH try to push his way past the mountains.

[Fishbed]

Well if you manage to lock to few roads leading to India, he'll be left with nothing but another "hop" attempt around your positions with his fleet. Then you'll be ready for him.

How's the Pacific? Can we have a general map with the current advance of the Japanese forces please?

[cantona2]

Fishbed, Mandalay will be fought for, ill try not to get involved in a kesselschlacht there. So far theres about 200 AV's and 8,000 supplies and level 3 forts (89%) there. About another 100 AV's will end up there for a delaying action until the last possible moment. If possible, ill then run like hell to the Impahl-Ledo line.

[cantona2]

Pacific Sitaution 11th May 1942.

After capturing the Line Islands GH stopped his expansion here. In his mails hes alluded to a misclaculation, a lack of fuel and accused my subs of being a nuisance [;)]. The yellow lines are his anticiapted moves. As it stands i am confident NC will stand, not so sure about Suva and Pago-Pago. Ive restarted the B-17 raids on Johnston again just to keep him on his toes.

[Fishbed]

(oops sorry just saw it on the other page. Took time to load)



Okay time to read all this and pimp you Canto. Pink panties must die.

[cantona2]

Pink Panties [:D]

[Fishbed]

Do we have any idea about the KB whereabouts?

[cantona2]

Not in its entirety. There is at least one fleet carrier supporting ops at Rangoon but thats about it. Intell has been quiet about KB's location. Ive got Bohdi's utility and in the last month and half the only visual, and an old one at that, was the Kaga at Batavia.

[cantona2]

11th May 1942.

21st Mixed Brigade positively identified, lost the other two Divisions in the jungle. 2 Burmese brigades are no in Meiktila and a Chinese unit is in Taung Gyi. These are intended to be speed bumps in the way of Japanese advance.

At sea, a 10 ship convoy, according to search planes AP's, is heading West right into the patrol zone of SS Trusty. In Rangoon Hudons have taken photographs of DD's and DE's at port but nothing much. SS 019 is heading back to Colombo to repair damage taken at Rangoon while Sturgeon holds it position. SS Rover is enroute to relieve the O19.

Those jap AP's look a tasty target for the Formidable at Colombo but i have no idea where his CV's have gone. No aircraft have yet been stationed at Rangoon and there was no CAP flying over the area when recon aircraft flew overhead. A first night time bombing by Blenheims IF out of Mandalay was spectacularly unsuccessful!

Should i try and strike at those AP's with the Formidbale? Or could the carriers that were at Rangoon be covering this convoy?

Elsewhere, in Kwajelein the AK Belgium Maru hit by the SS Salmon a few days ago was confrimed sunk by SIGINT.

[Fishbed]

Should i try and strike at those AP's with the Formidbale? Or could the carriers that were at Rangoon be covering this convoy?

Elsewhere, in Kwajelein the AK Belgium Maru hit by the SS Salmon a few days ago was confrimed sunk by SIGINT.

Dunno, this seems like quite a small force, probably just what is needed to take the Andamans. If you can manage to put your CV at its longest range and prevent it from reacting, sending swordfishes over the place may have a good effect...? How is your level of flying boat/LB naval recon coverage in the area?

[cantona2]

Bon soire Fishbed.

Level of search planes is good. Have Catalina's, Hudon's, DO-24K's and Blenheim's IV on naval search from Ceylon and all Indian bases by the sea.

OT-you watching the match tonight?

[Fishbed]

Nope, got some written exams in chinese tomorrow, got to work like a slave. Whatever we lost to the Brits at Rugby two weeks ago, beating them at football wouldn't make me feel that better. I'd like better to see France beating them at a game they're really good at. Don't ask, that's an old feud as old as rugby [;)]