Additional operational considerations

By now, I'm just playing out too many wargames in my head. Throw all ideas and plans out the door once the shooting starts. As Moltke said, no plan survives the first shot fired. But there are few tactical and operational considerations that I'll be taking into account early in the wargame:

- In previous simulations, I had noted that the twin-engine Betty bombers were able to wreak considerable havoc on idle transports in port when flying at low-level as torpedo bombers. It will be tough evacuating my Brits and Dutch from Malaya and East Indies with the pall specter of Jap air superioriy hanging so near. Should I really evacuate them? Not only do I risk my transports being blasted out of their anchorages, but I would also be dislodging my troops from their fortified positions to load aboard their transports. Of course, divisions can be split into brigades, and one brigade can fight a rearguard action. I'll have to investigate the anchorages in Western Malaya to see which one will facilitate loading best.

- I am concerned about "Force Z." Previous simulations had shown my two BB's in Singapore getting the shit bombed out of them at low-altitude. Historically, the Betty bombers flew too high to hit the BB's while they were still docked. If they survive unscathed, I'll be withdrawing them southwards to concentrate with the Dutch. This would seem "gamey," as such a transfer would have been politically impossible before the ADBA command was formed. But then again, even Adm. Phillips knew that sending his BB's to contest the Jap beachheads in Eastern Malaya was a suicide mission. Still, my Admiral Phillips will not be making the same mistake... that is if he still has BB's on the morning of Dec. 7th.

- No question about it. B-17's stationed in Luzon will be transferring south to Mindinao if they survive the first strike. Again, somewhat "gamey." MacArthur had a tight CinC's prerogative on the B-17's, and did nothing with them but let them get the shit bombed out of them on the ground. If I move them to Mindinao with aircover, then Jap land-based airpower in Taiwan will have a very tough time getting to them. It could mean he will bring the KB down to the Phillipines to pound those airfields, which he may do anyway.

- The KB. This early war menace of six carriers, almost 500 planes, is scary. If Wake Island is not taken in the first day, it and Midway will take beating from her planes. At this point, it could be safe for him to split his KB into two or three divisions to place them where needed. This could be to crack my defenses in the South China Seas, assist in the invasions of Rabaul/New Guinea, or deter my carrier raids against his Central Pac line. The latter could mean a carrier battle. But I also see him keeping his carrier force together if he finds out Force Z escaped to meet with her Dutch and American allies in Java. That would be the wisest course for him. If Force Z can concentrate at Java, I'll have a pretty powerful fleet of 2 BB's, 4+ CA's, 5+ CL's and 12+ DD's. Not to mention the CVL Langley! With that fleet hanging out of range of Jap land-based airpower, he might find a need to bring the KB down to Borneo.



Robert and I have sorted out our email problems, and I should see the results of December 7th by tonight.