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I don't think you need to make your decision on the route until you recon his bases and see where the best opportunities are. Your rapid advance should ensure he has not had time to reinforce garrisons and build forts as high as he would like. There are so many bases for him to cover he must leave some quite weak.

My preference would be a Philippines-Formosa path to cut the supply lines from the SRA and threaten southern China. He would have to pull back troops from the north to shore up the south China coast.

If that path has too many enemy troops, you could continue your cross-Java thrust up through Celebes and the Sulu Sea, or through Borneo. Just get air bases on the South China Sea. His convoys to Rangoon will have to cease.

Last choice in my mind is the Bonins/Okinawa route. Too many gaps for the current Allied naval and air strength and too close to Japan to prevent reinforcement or counter-invasion.

But then, you have shown that the impossible isn't - so surprise us!

Philippines ?, Okinawa ? Formosa ? China ? Japan ?

Philippines and Formosa are interesting but don't really offer the heavy bomber bases that can make the B-24's and P-51 escorts interesting. How about Korea and let the medium bombers have some fun?

Anything that would let you get significant US / Allied assets into China would be a good idea - of course, if you can do that at this point (or in the near future), you've probably gutted Japan anyway.

Given the death-ride of his surface fleet from the past month, he's very short on assets with nothing in the hopper to replace them with.

I'm loving this game!

26 Aug 1943


Thanks for advice.

Southwest Pacific HQ: Operation "Bigfoot"


Oil centers destroyed:
- Palembang ( 140 )
- Balikpapan ( 110)
- Djambi ( 155 )
- Samarinda ( 10 )
- Soerabaja ( 63 )
-----------------------
total count: 478

5th USAAF raided Billiton port. BB Hurana was hit by 58 500lbs bombs and one destroyer was hit by 9 bombs. Destroyer sunk, however fate of battleship is still unclear. Was reported as heavy damaged, in heavy fire and heavily smoking.

South Pacific HQ:

And usually bombing all over area.

Central Pacific HQ: Operation "Shortcut" - Kusaie Island

Kusaie Island landing starting tonight .

ORIGINAL: MrKane
But I still do not have any clue what next, Philippines ?, Okinawa ? Formosa ? China ? Japan ? I would grateful for any advice you guys can offer.

Personally I think advancing through the straits of Makassar is a great option after Java. Balikipapan of course has a good amount of oil but personally I'm more attracted to the geography of the region. You can establish bases on both sides of the strait so you can let your SeaBees and LBA do the heavy lifting. At the same time you can prepare more ambitious carrier attacks in the Pacific while the Japanese LBA are stuck countering your LBA.

It's funny that you asked, but here are some raw thoughts

- there must be a lot reshuffling and shipping of valuable units right now, in his case I would relocate the most important assets of the Timor theatre now.

- His fighters have to protect to much. Maybe you could grap a further base or too in the DEI quite cheap right now, before he has established his second (third?) line of defence. In theory, a base located in northern Borneo should close all his oil transports.

- while the strategic bombing could really shorten the war, it does not end the conflict. By following the concept of the Deep Battle you should have a careful look at the whole map again. You have achieved serious losses to the IJN, maybe you feel strong enough now for a third campaign in just another theatre, like the Kuriles or the Pacific? The more axis of attack and advange, the higher the chance he over- or undercommited in a theatre. While he has the advantage of the inner line of defence, every commitment burns fuel and supply.


So, in short, keep building up the pressure as long as he is out of balance.

27 Aug 1943


Southwest Pacific HQ: Operation "Bigfoot"


Oil centers destroyed:
- Palembang ( 140 )
- Balikpapan ( 110)
- Djambi ( 155 )
- Samarinda ( 10 )
- Soerabaja ( 63 )
-----------------------
total count: 478


Moon is gone. Bombers are resting. 27th, 40th and 41st are ready to start landing at Loemadjang tomorrow. This should be end of game for Japanese forces on South Java. 7th and 25th are continue march towards Tjepoe. Martin is pulling back to Soerabaja. But against 5 divisions and 14 Arty Regiments plus 8 Tanks Bn he does not have any chance to hold port.

I am moving a lots of engineers to Djokjakarta to build a new base for my medium bombers.


South Pacific HQ:

And usually bombing all over area.

Central Pacific HQ: Operation "Shortcut" - Kusaie Island


138th Sep. Regiment landed on Kusaie Island. It seems I missed evacuation, no enemy presence noticed on island.

28-29 Aug 1943


Southwest Pacific HQ: Operation "Bigfoot" Loemadjang landing


Oil centers destroyed:
- Palembang ( 140 )
- Balikpapan ( 110)
- Djambi ( 155 )
- Samarinda ( 10 )
- Soerabaja ( 63 )
-----------------------
total count: 478

3 US Divisions are unloading at Loemadjang right now. It seems that place is defended my single company. It should fall in first attack tomorrow.
Carriers attacked shipping at Soerabaja. 2 AK and 1 AKL sunk, 11 Japanese fighters down for 8 US planes.


South Pacific HQ:

And usually bombing all over area.

Central Pacific HQ: Operation "Shortcut" - Kusaie Island

Kusaie Island is taken. Spidery even do not send scouts as result he did not even found my carriers taskforce.

30 Aug 1943


Southwest Pacific HQ: Operation "Bigfoot" Fall of Loemadjang and Tjepoe.


Oil centers destroyed:
- Palembang ( 140 )
- Balikpapan ( 110)
- Djambi ( 155 )
- Samarinda ( 10 )
- Soerabaja ( 63 )
-----------------------
total count: 478

6th Army has captured Loemadjang and Tjepoe. Now, I have real big chance to cutoff 3 Japanese Divisions in Soerakarta.
My marines planes attacked his shipping at Batavia today. 1 AK and 1 AKL sunk for 9 planes.

CL Capetown and CL Ceres where attacked by his P1Y1 from Cocos Island. I have forgot to change base for British TF and they sailed back to Cape Town


South Pacific HQ:

And usually bombing all over area.

Central Pacific HQ: Operation "Shortcut" completed.

1 Sep 1943

Generally game slowdown. Spidery needs more time for turn and he does not send turn every day. So no more 2 turn / day

A few new airframes, like: Spitfire Vb, B-24J, A-20G


Southwest Pacific HQ: Operation "Bigfoot"


Oil centers destroyed:
- Palembang ( 140 )
- Balikpapan ( 110)
- Djambi ( 155 )
- Samarinda ( 10 )
- Soerabaja ( 75 )
-----------------------
total count: 490


5th USAAF bombed Soerabaja by mistake. 110k fires .

22nd BG [B-25G] sent several small raids at sea level against Japanese shipping around Java. 1 AK, 1 AP, 3 AKL, 8 PB, 1 E sunk, 3 more PB and 4 AKL probably sunk.

Spidery's forces evacuated Soerakarta last night. I will capture the place tomorrow.


South Pacific HQ:

And usually bombing all over area.

Can you still trap the three IJA divisions that were at Soerkarta?

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Can you still trap the three IJA divisions that were at Soerkarta?

I think it is done. However I will have 100% confirmation after next turn. I just need to push out one Jap LCU in clear terrain using 2 US Divisions, 3 tanks Bn. and 4 Arty Reg. Japanese units are marching to hex 55,104 from Madioen, most of them left Soerkarta 1 -2 days ago. My units are ordered to shock attack to get ownership over this hex.

I will public current situation map tonight.

2 Sep 1943

Generally observation: It seems that quality of his fighter pilots is dropping rapidly. No clue why, he should have now over 2-3k well trained pilots ready.


Southwest Pacific HQ: Operation "Bigfoot"


Oil centers destroyed:
- Palembang ( 140 )
- Balikpapan ( 110)
- Djambi ( 155 )
- Samarinda ( 10 )
- Soerabaja ( 96 )
-----------------------
total count: 511


5th USAAF bombed Palembang up to 53K fires, but only 7K left at the and of day. ~30 Oscars shot down and 9 B-24 lost.

Carriers ground support strike at Soerabaja was intercepted by enemy CAP, 4 Hellcat, 1 TBF, 1 SBD lost for 6 Japanese fighters.

~150 B-25, B-17 attacked His withdrawing units at Madioen. No allied loses and 9 Japanese fighters shot down.

35th FG [P-47] completed day by downing all remains Japanese fighters over southern Java. 4 Jack down for no lose on allied side.




South Pacific HQ:

And usually bombing all over area. 3 B-24 and 1 B-17 lost to flak over Rabaul.
It can looks like nothing happening here, but I am flying there over 300 sorties per day.

Kavieng AF reach level 7th.

Java, Sep 2nd. 1943.

How big will the Repair Shipyard be at Soerabaja when you capture it?? It may not help immediately, but it should help in the long run.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

How big will the Repair Shipyard be at Soerabaja when you capture it?? It may not help immediately, but it should help in the long run.

Frankly, I do not know, but fixed, it will be more than enough to keep operational heavy cruisers and destroyers. And this is all I need. I am not going to push this way towards Philippines. I hate to move my carriers in range of 20+ Japanese AFs without space to maneuver. To many islands to capture, to many place to organize resistance. It is perfect place to stop allied advance. Playing Japan I welcome every allied push into south DEI.

3 Sep 1943


Southwest Pacific HQ: Operation "Bigfoot"


Oil centers destroyed:
- Palembang ( 159 )
- Balikpapan ( 110)
- Djambi ( 155 )
- Samarinda ( 10 )
- Soerabaja ( 96 )
-----------------------
total count: 530


5th USAAF:
B-24 groups did not fly this night
B-17 & B-25 groups were attacking Japanese forces at Madioen and hex:55:104.

18 P-47 form 31st FS of 35th FG fly sweep over Soerabaja. They meet strong resistance and 3 planes did not return, however they manage to destroy in air 26 enemy fighters ( 5 N1K1-J, 8 Ki-84a, 13 A6M5 ).

Carriers air groups attacked enemy troops in Madioen.

Essex got one torpedo form sub. 20 sys, 10 flood damage. My carriers are withdrawing anyway, this was the last convoy to protect. Now I have whole 6th US Army(9 Divisions) on Java.

7th and 25th cleared hex:55:104. Now my tanks are moving towards Madioen and Soerabaja to stop Spidery attempt to reopen escape route through this hex.

4 Sep 1943


Southwest Pacific HQ: Operation "Bigfoot"


Oil centers destroyed:
- Palembang ( 249 ) still burning ...
- Balikpapan ( 110)
- Djambi ( 155 )
- Samarinda ( 10 )
- Soerabaja ( 96 )
-----------------------
total count: 620

!!! My search planes report 2 Japanese CVE 3 hex to west from Soerabaja !!!.
Failed bait ? or what ? I have my carriers in range on other side of island. I do not see any trace of KB.

9 G3M3 attacked my transport ships at Loemadjang, all were destroyed by my Hellcats.

hex:55:104 was opened by Japanese tanks column, I will counterattack today.

Malang and Probolingo are in my hands now. I am closing to Soerabaja from south and east.



South Pacific HQ:

And usually bombing all over area.

22 P-38H tried sweep over Manus and took heavy looses against 44 N1K1-J. 6 Lightings down for only 2 Gorges.
It seems to be rule that I can hurt his N1K1-J cap only by flaying higher with P-47.
I have tried F6F-3, P-38G, P-38H, P-40K. Superior fire power connected with higher altitude always win.

I have noticed increasing light shipping east of Kavieng. Supplies for Rabaul ? My B-25 have to clear area again.

5 Sep 1943


Southwest Pacific HQ: Operation "Bigfoot"


Oil centers destroyed:
- Palembang ( 249 ) still burning ...
- Balikpapan ( 110)
- Djambi ( 155 )
- Samarinda ( 10 )
- Soerabaja ( 96 )
-----------------------
total count: 620

It seems Spidery decided evacuate north Java. A lot of PBs and light warships are moving to Batavia and back to Billiton. All are full loaded with troops and equipment.

39th FS/35th FG sweep Billiton, 25 P-47 meet in air 15 A6M5, 1 N1K1-J, 42 Ki-43-IV. Well it did not go well for Japs. One Bolt lost for 19 Oscars and 3 Zeros.

Next 22nd BG launch series of small raids against his shipping around island. I lost 11 P-40 (unnecessary escort) and 3 B-25G, my raids managed to sunk:
1 YO, 1 CL, 3 PB with 11 squads, 10 guns and 74 vehicles on board.


43rd BG launch night strike at Balikpapan. Storm and 20 N1K1-J fighters prevent my bombers to hit oil wells. It cast me 7 B-17, however my bombers managed to shot down 11 Gorges in return.

Japanese forces at Madioen are encircled now, now way to escape.
194th Tank Battalion reached Soerabaja. 3 US divisions are following with tanks and artillery, it seems that 25K defenders are doomed.

hex:55:104 is clear again and no chance for Spidery to get there anymore.


South Pacific HQ:

And usually bombing all over area.


I have noticed increasing light shipping east of Kavieng last turn. Heavy cruisers Northampton, Chester, Chicago, Pensacola escorted by destroyers Gwin, McCalla, Gillespie, Hobby, Mugford, Patterson were on patrol around. They mamaged to sunk 2 PB. It seems Martin is trying the same trick here, I mean evacuating troops with PB. For unknown to me reason my SBD are ignoring this kind of activity

PB are not usually considered by the AI to be a worthwhile target for a Nav Attack strike. A larger convoy of them, maybe, but a couple will not trigger the strike.
B-25s on Low Naval strike might go after small stuff.