ORIGINAL: Carny
Central Pacific - Little going on, besides a steady stream of merchant ships and warships running for Pearl Harbor, with Japanese subs nipping at their heels. Once they get into port, under the heavy aerial umbrella of the base, we'll see about reorganizing. HORNET is in San Francisco, but I'm hesitant about sending it to Pearl, with no clear mission. I'm actually leaning towards sending ENTERPRISE back to SF, and keeping both extant carriers in reserve to support the Attu operation if needed.
Not criticism, just questions:
With the aircover at Pearl, do you think having your carriers there is a risk? Do you think the Wolf will come back for another shot at Pearl? Keeping the carriers back at the West Coast does make them "closer" to the Aleutians, but doesn't really help react anywhere else (if the KB shows up in the Indian Ocean, you may get a chance to sail out in Central/South Pacific). If you want them to support the North Pacific actions, why not base them at Anchorage?
That's definitely a thought. ENTERPRISE needs a bit of work on accumulated systems damage, so I think she'll make a stop at San Francisco, at least briefly, but after that, I'll send both carriers, and the five battleships I've been hoarding, back to Pearl. That puts them in a position to react as needed. There are about 250 fighters at Pearl, and 150 2E bombers, so I'm pretty confident that the KB will keep a respectful distance.
I would consider letting Attu island finish a few forts before letting it build AF, he might not know that you are there yet. But as soon as it grow to size 1, you can be sure he'll notice.
He knows something is going on there, Mavises have overflown the place and spotted ships moving in and out. Forts are underway, but I want to get some LBA in there ASAP. It's a bit comforting to know that the KB is far to the south, though.
Carny,
IMHO, at this stage there is no point in building up AF at Daly Waters and Katherine. Other AARs show that the top end of Australia cannot be held against a determined Jap landing - it is too difficult to move sufficient supply overland to maintain the units necessary to hold Broome, Derby, Wyndham and Darwin. Darwin itself is easily flanked by a Jap landing at Wyndham. Whilst the possibility of a Jap invasion remains, it is best (IMHO) to build up fortress levels and troop strength at Daly Waters and Katherine to fight a delaying rearguard action. Tennant Creek and Alice Springs are your most realistic locations to stop a northern invasion.
Alfred
IMHO, at this stage there is no point in building up AF at Daly Waters and Katherine. Other AARs show that the top end of Australia cannot be held against a determined Jap landing - it is too difficult to move sufficient supply overland to maintain the units necessary to hold Broome, Derby, Wyndham and Darwin. Darwin itself is easily flanked by a Jap landing at Wyndham. Whilst the possibility of a Jap invasion remains, it is best (IMHO) to build up fortress levels and troop strength at Daly Waters and Katherine to fight a delaying rearguard action. Tennant Creek and Alice Springs are your most realistic locations to stop a northern invasion.
Alfred
Yes, agreed.
As you can see my from AAR, the Japanese landed at Wyndham (now control it) and Darwin. They are now moving overland to Darwin to support the invasion. With support from Timor, I can barely muster much of an air defense (the Wirraways are just moving targets for the Zeros).
Once Darwin falls, the northern cities are doomed, since it's too hard to get anything up there to fight back.
Delete the trackerdb.* files.
Copy the pwsdll.dll file from the game folder to the WitPTracker folder.
Try running the WitPTracker.bat again.
Alfred,Floyd, I think you are both completely correct, and events have borne out your view, about northern Oz. More about that in a moment.
In general, the Japanese strategy seems to be based on cutting off Oz from any reinforcement from the US, while taking at least the northern Oz coast, and securing New Guinea and the Solomons. They've been quite successful, so far. The USN carrier force is gutted, till early to mid 1943. US sealift has taken some heavy hits, though at least for the moment, there is still ample shipping. USN surface capability is actually slowly rising, with five battleships available, and two more expected to be functional shortly. But without air support, they aren't going to get much done.
In the air, the Japanese are quite dominant. The dreaded Zero, the KB, sheer numbers of land-based planes, superior aircraft range and ability to concentrate, all have really chewed up the Allied air forces.
6-12 February, 1942
India/Burma
Land: A standoff of sorts in northern Burma, with a large Japanese force slowly building at Meiktila. A large, reasonably well-supplied mixed force of British, Indian, and Chinese troops are facing them, commanded by Joe Stillwell. The Japanese are expected to be able to push this force out of the forward base, but it should still slow any advance considerably.
Sea: Little action, some convoys moving in BFs and supplies, skirting as much as possible around the threat of Japanese LBA from Rangoon. Aside from a couple of submarines, no Japanese naval activity at all. The RN Indian Ocean fleet is growing in strength, with three battleships on station, and two more expected soon. Carrier strength is still anemic, though, making the surface power nearly useless.
Air: Continual fighter sweeps from Rangoon have savaged allied air defenses, with forces of 60-70 Zeros appearing over Akyab, Mandalay, and Chittagong. Most allied fighter units have been withdrawn north to rebuild and recover. In particular, the Flying Tigers are badly battered, and with supplies of fighter aircraft tight, aren't likely to be a factor for quite some time. Night bombing from Akyab and other bases has had some effect, but large bomber raids from Rangoon have made it necessary to withdraw most bomber units, as well.
Singapore
Land: Singapore continues to be strongly garrisoned. In fact, a slight advantage exists in assault value over the besieging Japanese forces. Supplies are at the 30k mark, and falling under continual air and land bombardment. Still, it will be some weeks, at least, till the fortress falls.
Naval: No activity, though Japanese vessels do operate in the area freely, mostly transports heading north to Burma/India
Air: No allied air activity, though hundred plus bomber raids on the fortress are a daily occurrence.
DEI
Land: The Japanese seem mostly content to sit in place, not even closely approaching Batavia or Soerabaja yet. Only at Djokjakarta are significant land actions taking place, and that is just bombardment, so far. It may well be that the Japanese are just leaving the remaining DEI mostly alone, now that they've grabbed most of the easy to take airbases and so forth, and will return to finish the conquest after they have achieved victories at Singapore and/or Phillipines.
Sea: Just about no Allied surface activity, though Japanese vessels pass through with near impunity, due to the weakness of Allied air power in the area. Allied submarines are scoring hits regularly, especially the excellent Dutch submarine fleet.
Air: The Dutch air force is in shambles. A few bomber units have withdrawn to rebuild in Australia, and a handful of fighters and bombers remain at Soerabaja. At Sabang, there is a small force of TIVa torpedo planes, but they rarely fly, despite being adequately manned and supplied. The Japanese have more then enough fighters and bombers in the area to bury any threat the Dutch might muster.
Australia
Land: The Japanese invasion of Darwin is underway, beginning Feb 10th. A large number of engineer, tank, and base units are supporting a half dozen various landing force units and other infantry. From all appearances, the Japanese intend to stay and develop Darwin. Forces that were shifting north to guard the northern bases will now marshal in Alice Springs, to await developments.
Sea: Lots of Japanese naval activity in support of the Darwin invasion, and annoying submarine action at Brisbane. Force Z is at Sydney, fueled and ready to go. It is really a quite powerful force, but is hobbled, like all allied naval forces, by lack of air support.
Air: Heavy Japanese bombing in support of their invasion of Darwin. I expect to see air attacks on the east coast from Port Moresby shortly. The only fighter available in any numbers in Australia right now is the Wirraway, and I'd just as soon shoot the pilots myself on the ground as send them against the Japanese in those. Once the Kittyhawk becomes available, I'll be able to muster a hundred or so. There are about one hundred twenty two engined bombers in Australia, mostly Mitchells and Marauders. I've moved a lot of them to the north coast, hopefully they can score on the big assembly of ships at Darwin. Once the northern bases become untenable, I'll move them back south, to recover. A full air group of P-38s is on the way though, which might just make things interesting in the air over Oz
Samoa
Land: Pago Pago is now officially the fortress of the South Pacific. Just about three divisions on the island, and two brigades, and even a RCT or two. Lots of engineers, air base troops, artillery units. Once all the infrastructure is fully in place, this place will serve very well as a springboard.
Sea: Pago Pago is developing a harbor floored with shipwrecks. Tankers and freighters and destroyers and gunboats have been sinking here with abandon, as various convoys have come limping in, victims of the KB. Japanese subs have also been having a field day in Samoan waters. A dedicated ASW group is on it's way down from Pearl, to replace the one the KB slaughtered, and another one might be put together from surviving convoy escorts.
Air: Due to the mass migration of panicked convoys to Pago Pago, and carrier planes fleeing their sinking homes, I have over four hundred aircraft in Samoa. I have enough ground support for them, even a bit of excess, but the infrastructure isn't prepared. Due to the sheer number of engineers at hand, that is changing rapidly, but it's not a good situation.
Other Areas
Phillipines: Cagayan has fallen, and Bataan and Manila remain under siege. Supplies are falling, units are getting weaker, and its only a matter of time. Still a lot of submarine activity around the islands, and some hits are being scored.
Attu Island: The first airfield is finished, and a group of bombers is on the way. Two Canadian brigades will be making their way to the islands as well, and Adak Island is next on the list of development targets.
New Guinea/Solomons: The Japanese hold Port Moresby, and have landed unopposed at Lunga, A few Australian units are lurking in the hills of New Guinea, but they won't have any major effect on events.
China: Nothing much going on. Some nuisance air attacks on Japanese forces. Yenen is likely to fall soon, as is Pucheng in the south. With all my forces largely static under Big B, making large plans is quite difficult, so it may be a matter of just trying to hold here, till events elsewhere relieve some pressure.
India/Burma
Land: No real change here. The Allied forces at Meiktila actually considerably outnumber the Japanese forces assembled there. A deliberate attack on the Japanese has been considered, and a probing attack was launched, on 17 February.
Sea: Large losses of merchant shipping at Chittagong, from Betty raids out of Rangoon. All of it was empty, tied to the docks there. I was actually quite pleased to see him focusing his air attacks there, since the ships were not planned for use. I may miss those ships later, but for now I'm quite content to let freighters absorb punishment rather then airfields and ground forces. Otherwise, little activity. One Japanese sub was impressively sunk poking it's nose foolishly into Columbo harbor. Those RN lads really know how to discourage a sub crew. The RN has five battleships, and one CV(really a big, well-armored CVL) in place, with good cruiser and destroyer support. Then there is the Hermes, the joke of the Indian Ocean.
Air: Little change here. The Japanese continue to dominate the air, though fighter strength at Calcutta is growing to the point where I may be able to start giving Rangoon a bit of a pounding.
Australia
Land: Darwin has fallen, the defenders retreating to Katherine, despite a Japanese attempt to cut off the retreat by dropping paratroopers at Katherine. Sparrow Force heroically resisted the attack, allowing thousands of Australian troops to escape captivity, or worse. Current plans are to regroup the Darwin defenders at Tennant Creek, while defenses are prepared at Alice Springs. Two brigades are digging in there, and a third will be there in a day or two. Additional base troops are also enroute. Cloncurry is also being garrisoned, just to avoid a sudden Japanese airborne landing there.
Sea: Little change here, Force Z is ready to go, if an opportunity arises. Otherwise just some mining of Brisbane harbor, to discourage subs a bit. Broome, Wyndham, and Derby are partially evacuated by sea, since the decision has been made not to fight in Northern Oz.
Air: The P-38s have arrived, so there is now at least some semblance of a functional fighter force available in Australia. 60+ P-38s, and about the same number of B-17Es, are on hand, as well was 50+ 2E American bombers, plus a miscellany of Dutch and Australian machines. The primary bottleneck now is base personnel, since none of the big Aviation regiments made it past Samoa. This may be alleviated by shipping down a British one from Aden, but that will take time to make happen.
Samoa
Land: Nothing new here, other then shifting an RCT over to Savaii, along with a load of supplies and a battalion of engineers to help build up the airbase and forts. Samoa is looking more and more like it'll be a hard nut for him to crack, especially if I can grab back Canton Island before the end of 1942.
Sea: More battered tankers sink from accumulated flotation damage. A Japanese sub is smacked around a bit, and leaves the harbor. Sadly the USN hasn't quite gotten a clue in ASW warfare yet.
Air: Things are shaping up pretty well. 100 fighters patrol the skies, and a bomber group is unpacking, as the airfields continue to expand.
Other Areas
China: Yenan falls, with the defeated Chinese troops retreating towards Sian. Pucheng stands off a deliberate Japanese attack, fighting continues, there.
