Banzais Don't Make Victories - Anachro (A) vs John 3rd (J) BTS 5.7

[Anachro]

The reinforcements aren't very significant: a Marine Defense Battalion and Tank Battalion that weren't allocated anywhere anyways. I'm confident that I can hold the line, at least for a time, given I have 3/4 forts on the islands already with ~100 AV on each. I'm just hoping to bog him down if possible for as long as possible. Amphibious operations will be conducted elsewhere simultaneously if John decides to commit the KB to this sector.

[Anachro]

November 14th, 1942 - Line Islands Invasion

Line Islands - CenPac
The day begins as we potentially expected. Perhaps more quickly than expected, Japanese troops land at Christmas Island, the Sasebo Assault Division, and more seem headed on their way to Palmyra (most likely the 12th Division as stated in sigint). However, the Japanese troops fail to land in force and there are suspicions that John might have expected to find a minimal garrison at Christmas Island; the result is a catastrophic frontal Banzai charge by Japanese troops that lead to their almost total annihilation in the face of Allied firepower. This doesn't bode well for Japanese success at Christmas Island; the Allied planning division is more surprised by the lack of naval bombardment to soften up the garrison and there are certain officers wondering if the Japanese are still trying to perform shoestring operations. It remains to be seen what Japanese forces currently headed towards Palmyra will do over the coming days.

Equally as interesting, two Japanese carrier task forces are spotted north of Palmyra, perhaps hoping to spring an ambush on Allied naval or land reinforcements coming from Pearl Harbor. That won't happen but their proximity to Pearl Harbor has some allied commanders worried about transports and ships currently loading troops and equipment. Nonetheless, most doubt that the Japs would be so foolhardy as to try a second raid on Pearl Harbor, especially when their position is already known.



Australia
In Australia, the Japanese incursion at Normanton is slowly being contained and today marks a shift in the air struggle thanks to Allied bombing efforts. Previously, Japanese fighters and bombers had been operating without obstruction from Normanton, bombing Australian forces in the areas from Portland Roads and Coen to Cloncurry. Yesterday showed ~40 fighters and ~80 bombers stationed at Normanton. After today's bombing raids, recon shows evidence of a Japanese pullback, with only minimal fighter protection seen at Normanton.



India
The great Indian stampede out of India towards Burma continues with another mauling of a Japanese force, speculated to be the 2nd Infantry Division, south of Rajshashi. Over 8,000 Japanese troops are either captured or killed. Meanwhile, 80,000 Japanese troops are spotted at Dacca fleeing in a disorderly state. There seems to be around three or four Japanese divisions remaining at Calcutta. It is speculated these forces are meant to draw Allied attention while the rest run away and then will most likely there will be an attempt to evacuate this force by sea. Allied forces will contain Calcutta with an adequate number of troops and airpower while the rest pursue fleeing Japanese troops to the east.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: Anachro
However, the Japanese troops fail to land in force and there are suspicious that John might have expected to find a minimal garrison at Christmas Island; the result is a catastrophic frontal Banzai charge by Japanese troops that lead to their almost total annihilation in the face of Allied firepower.

Aww, what is John thinking going in like this against the atoll, with partial unload and no dedicated supply ships, with no bombardment (and I bet with no combat ships in the amphibious TF)... This is not the spring of 42. He is in for a world of hurt if he continues trying. But will he be able to concede his fail here and pull back, being John?

[Lecivius]

I don't think he's going to have much choice.

[Anachro]

The landing at Xmas faces great difficulty based on today's performance. It will be interesting to see if he lands at Palmyra tomorrow or calls that off, as well as where KB goes.

[CaptBeefheart]

From here it looks like Christmas was just a small APD invasion. Maybe the idea was to beat the original base force if that was all that was present, otherwise it would a minimal loss to get recon on the base.

Cheers,
CB

[Anachro]

Haven't posted next turn yet, but KB continues east (along with a third carrier TF not spotted last turn). 5 hexes behind it appears to be some sort of surface force. There were no further landings, including at Palmyra. John might try a raid on my various transport TFs between Pearl and the Line Islands which he hasn't spotted, but might suspect are there. KB is three TF's with anywhere between ~600-800 planes, halfway between Johnson and Palmyra. Sadly for me (but par for the course for Allied subs), a US submarine spots and fires four torpedoes at a Junyo-class CV. All torpedoes miss.

[Bif1961]

The good news is in less than 2 months your American fleet subs will be more of a threat to him.

[paullus99]

John doesn't seem to learn much from past mistakes....here he is, sending his fleet off on what appears to be another wild goose chase.

You know exactly where his carriers are & he doesn't know where yours are. The last two times he's done this, it's burned him badly. I guess I leopard just can't change its spots.

[Anachro]

I take it back. There was a hit but no explosion. These subs...

[Anachro]

November 15th, 1942

This it the current position of KB and its accompanying surface force lagging behind it. Whatever John is attempting to accomplish here, he is burning a lot of fuel doing it. I have some riff-raff transports to the east that might be in harms way (some with troops), but I will flank speed them further east.

[Bif1961]

If the numbers of aircraft are right he has around 800 aircraft. I am sure are some float planes from CSs so the possible actual carrier aircraft might be closer to 750. This seems to be the zenith of the Japanese carrier arm and maybe a nice way to stay away from it but take the opportunity to do something meaningful elsewhere knowing where the full KB is located. I would suspect a landing on Palmyra and possible follow up with Christmas Island. I also suspect he will use Palmyra as a raiding base for the next few months to try and disrupt your current supply lines to NZ-OZ. Other than that I can't see the reason to conduct this operation other than the aforementioned spoiling attack to delay your eventual counter-offensive landings.

[Anachro]

This is the zenith of Japanese CV reinforcements for now. He gets more carriers in '43 and I think based on his R&D efforts I should start seeing Jacks or Georges this coming year. As it is, for now my carriers are too far away to do anything. They are re-focusing elsewhere.

[Bearcat2]

ORIGINAL: Anachro

This is the zenith of Japanese CV reinforcements for now. He gets more carriers in '43 and I think based on his R&D efforts I should start seeing Jacks or Georges this coming year. As it is, for now my carriers are too far away to do anything. They are re-focusing elsewhere.

Not including his 2 "Invincible" class CVL's which he is most likely converting to CV's, he can have over 900planes; he gets a Shokaku class in sept 42 along with the 2 Junyo and a couple of CVL's earlier.

[Anachro]

@Bearcat Yup, this is what I'm worried about and why I'm looking for opportunities to cause attrition. I'd prefer such opportunities to be ones where he makes a slip and leaves part of his carriers exposed rather than the full KB.

In other news, another day, another John:

Good morning Sir.

I got the turn for yesterday but had a crazy, long day. Managed to nearly break my left ankle. Severe sprain but LOTS of pain. Have to go in today but want to get out of work ASAP and sit. Will tackle turn at that point.

This man goes through so much! [:D] I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Anachro]

November 16th, 1942

John continues a very deep raid eastward and now is closing in on my transports which he might suspect are there. Most aren't spotted, bu he does managed to get a 1/3 DL on a transport force carrying an artillery unit and Marine Defense Battalion. I will continue my flank speed away and hope John doesn't pursue. Knowing John, however, he will most likely pursue - perhaps he'll even flank speed. I'll probably split some boats to go flank northeast, southeast, and eastward. Besides KB, small DD TFs are seen west of Palmyra and southwest of Christmas Island. Though John might sink some xAKs and destroy some minor units if he pushes east, this seems like a waste of fuel to me.

Elsewhere, in India we manage to destroy the 1st Tank Division. Furthermore, our fighters do well in sweeps in the skies above Palmyra, lopsidedly shooting down a number of Japanese fighters. In Australia, we continue to bomb Normanton and destroy planes on the ground.

[Bif1961]

If he really has CVEs then his speed is not as great as it would be if he had CVLs and CVs only. He might not be able to catch your fleeing sighted merchants TF east of him if u do use flank speed. Like you said he is using a lot of fuel and unless he lands on Palmyra and takes it, then he will have wasted all that fuel for nothing and with the loses he took landing on Christmas Island you will end up with a positive VP from his foray.

[paullus99]

So, he's actually passing PH, which puts him in a horrible position, should you sortie & cut off his path of retreat.

If he burns up a bunch of sorties on merchants, and then you pounce, he's screwed (again).

[Anachro]

I forgot to mention that another one of my subs took a shot at CV Hiyo and missed. As always. As for pouncing, I think my carriers are too far away, but at the moment I am probing Japanese nav search in the area.

[JohnDillworth]

If only John had once before over extended his carriers on silly raids and lost a bunch of carriers he would know better than to do this. If only