There are now 45 turns before the Amphibious bonus runs out, to get everything in Dutch East Indies(unless its a small base/island that can be captured by paratroopers), as much as Solomons as I want and possibly Port Moresby. If Port Moresby cant be secured, there needs to be a way to neutralize it.
Theres now a triangle of bases being built into major air bases: Rabaul(which will have 25th Air Fleet HQ within a week), Kavieng and Madang. They are all so close to each other that all they can provide air cover to each other, except Madang is too far from the others for Ki-43s, but there are always the Zeroes that can do it easily.
Solomons are not really needed for other than a buffer for that important triangle. Allied convoys to Australia will have to take a 2-3 day longer route but thats it. The CarDiv II will sortie tomorrow to cover the landings at Guadalcanal, Florida Island, Lae and Buna in the end of the month. Marine units have been chosen and are now preparing... Lae and Guadalcanal get extra attention, as I'm expecting more than the odd "25th Bagpipe Cleaning Battalion".
Battleships are now all at Singapore, they will support the Java, Timor and Balikpapan landings together with the CarDiv III.
Aerial reconnaissance reports only small enemy forces in Balikbapan and Ambon, but Java seems to be heavily occupied, with loads of ships at Soerebaja. 4 divisions worth with artillery and tank support should be enough, da? To make sure this operation will not end in another Midway Farce the invasion beaches are in the middle of the island instead of near Batavia in the Northern end where they are most likely expected. A diversionary force with little escorts will pick up Marines from Oosthaven to invade Christmas Island, and during all this mess the CarDiv III will penetrate into the Indian Ocean, in hopes of catching and killing any Allied traffic on routes Perth-Java/Timor and Darwin Java/Timor.