Dateline: December 6, 1941.
After many months of increasing tensions, the Pacific Rim enjoys a momentary peace. As much as the public may loathe the idea, war is perhaps inevitable with the burgeoning Japanese empire flexing its muscle in China and chafing under an oil embargo. With such desperate fighting in Europe, the Soviet Union has, perhaps, stemmed the Blitzkrieg and England appears to be safe from immediate annihilation, but most of the continent in under Nazi occupation and the British and Commonwealth forces are greatly tied up in North Africa and the defense of the homeland. Even the navy is heavily committed to defend against the German and Italian navies, so few ships are currently standing between India and the Japanese. When war comes, the Commonwealth cannot be expected to quickly subdue their enemy. They must trust in our might.
But the Great White Fleet lays in anchor at Pearl Harbor. Their bows shining in the morning sun at anchor. Their guns waiting to be fired for freedom. Once hostilities begin, the government has planned for a great relief convoy for the Phillipines to form up in San Francisco. Once loaded with troops and supplies, we shall sail to Pearl Harbor and with the Great White Fleet as vanguard and guarded by screening task forces of cruisers and destroyers, we shall sail to Manilla and crush the Japanese forces there. The Phillipines will be the dagger in the heart of the Japanese Empire and the war should be over in mere months. Such barbarians cannot hope to stand against the might of Christendom.
Hayden Williams- Honolulu Sun Times.
I am going to be playing Andy Mac's version of scenario 10 (the allied version) on hard ai. Pdu on, which is a bit of an edge against the ai, but all other settings normal. Probably updating about once a game week or so (at least if interesting things happen, there might be some short posts during the sitzkrieg phase once the ai stops being super aggressive. I'm going to work on my fleet skills this game, as (at least against the ai) I feel like I have a decent handle on the air war and ground combat, but I want to be in a position to attrition both of those branches in relative safety on the western end of the theatre before I begin my main thrust. I'm not terribly interested in winning the war through Burma, Thailand, and Indochina, however easy that might be against the ai.
Offices of PACCOM: early morning December 8, 1941.
The Japanese Empire struck all around the Pacific yesterday. The day began when 350 Japanese aircraft bombed Pearl Harbor. In addition to pounding the airfields into oblivion and damaging the shipyards, they devastated the ships at anchor.
BB California, Bomb hits 6, on fire
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, on fire
PT-24, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 5, on fire
AVP Avocet, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Tiger, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Detroit, Bomb hits 1
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 2
DD Worden, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Phelps, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
While their lack of focus probably cost them the opportunity to sink large numbers of our battleships, the Great White Fleet is out of commission. CENTCOM's plans for the relief of the Phillipines could not happen, even if we were inclined to risk such a move. The lethality of aviation against our ships has been greatly underestimated. Japanese "Betty" bombers managed to sink one of our fast destroyers out of Manilla as we attempted to scour the beaches, and if the Great White Fleet had been hit by that many aircraft at sea, most would have sunk immediately and the survivors been unlikely to make it to safety. The networks of islands between Pearl and the Phillipines may not harbor anchorages for the Japanese battleline, but they can sortie planes to sink us before it becomes an issue. Therefore CENTCOM has given us here at PACCOM complete freedom to deal with the situation, though we need to cater to the political situation to some degree. Furthermore, Roosevelt has implemented a Europe first policy because of the limited lethality of the Japanese opening strike, and I believe intelligence has severely underestimated the Japanese armed forces, which may be greater than those in Germany.
To put it bluntly, unless we comfort ourselves with baseless jingoism, we cannot hope to stop the Japanese advance anytime soon. Hong Kong was considered to be lost before the war started, of course, but in light of yesterday it seems that Singapore and the Phillipines cannot hope to be held, as they would need to be supplied by sea past large concentrations of those deadly Japanese aircraft once they advance in force. Fortunately, the British, Dutch, and Commonwealth forces had already come to this conclusion due to the work of a junior staff officer in Malaya command. They have been planning a contingency.
In our consultations, we have come up with a few possible options for the war. The Malayan officer, Aban Jehan, had done significant study of the Indian theatre strategic situation during his studies in England, and has convinced ABDA that there are two possible places that can be built up in time to defend against the tide. The rough jungle north of Moulmein could be defended in force. Such a defense would be difficult to bomb out of supply and would defend excellent terrain across a large river. Assuming we could keep the forces supplied and prevent being outflanked by sea at Pegu or Rangoon, it seems unlikely Burma would fall. However, given the extreme exposure of nearby airbases and the time it will achieve to get enough airframes and pilots for air parity, that position would be difficult to exploit. Supply would also be somewhat difficult, though logistics informs us it is quite possible. Strategically, this would keep the Chinese theatre fully active on our behalf, but it would allow Japan to concentrate a great deal of airpower against us and would prevent a good opportunity to attrition their air and ground forces in the near term, since the excellent defensive terrain near Moulmein would prevent us from flanking them effectively as well.
The approach we have decided to take is to defend Port Blair, Little Andaman, Eastern Sumatra, Sinabang, and the Cocos Islands. This gives us several advantages. We will keep an intact airbridge between India and our bridgeheads to be able to commit airforces at will to gain local superiority when needed. It will provide opportunities for attriting the Japanese transport capacity, airforce, and army though the use of strong coastal defenses at these locations, and provide us opportunity to use our surface assets outside the effective range of Japanese LBA. In short, it is defensible short term and lets us wear down the Japanese machine along a wider front where we have effectively the same interior lines they do, and prevents the Japanese from gaining the oil at Palembang. However, we believe that the Japanese reserves are so deep that the oil will make no strategic difference. Additionally, as the Dutch have agreed, by concentrating our forces at Palembang, we can keep a Dutch capital for political reasons and for the narrative of the brave forces holding out.
PACCOM agrees with ABDA, and as the political framework had been laid out, forces are already moving and the evacuation of the Singapore and Malaya garrisons to Palembang and Oosthaven is underway. We need to take advantage of the 2-3 months we may get to build up these positions without interference so they can hold out until we can achieve local superiority to deliver fresh supplies. Therefore we are pulling all forces we possibly can, especially engineers, to these locations.
May God be with us all.
Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Important events from the week.
Monday, December 8, 1941.
After losing DD Phelps to Betty bombers on Sunday, DDs Pillsbury and Pope struck enemy mines at Bataan and sunk. All remaining naval vessels in the Phillipines are escaping toward the DEI, including the destroyers out of Hong Kong.
Tuesday, December 9, 1941.
xAK Governor Wright sunk by carrier aircraft while trying to carry elements of the Cebu base force to safety, all hands lost.
Japanese capture Kota Bharu as they begin their advance down Malaya. 8th Indian Brigade was unable to move out of the region in time, but suffered light losses in the retreat.
Wednesday, December 10, 1941.
Japanese submarines continue to sink many transports in the Java Sea. Transports bearing forces have been mostly untouched.
Thursday, December 11.
A Japanese SCTF catches xAKs Tantalus and Si Kiang attempting to evacuate British troops from Jesselton. All hands and most of the base force drowned.
The first allied victory of the war occurs near Timor when the Marblehead task force catches AMC Hiryu Maru near Timor, hitting it with 30 shells and a torpedo. Ship assumed sunk.
Friday, December 12.
Hong Kong falls, less than a week into the war. The entire garrison has surrendered. Wake Island invaded and will soon fall.
The Hong Kong destroyers encounter a Japanese SCTF lead by BB Fuso at night. Allied forces do no damage and take some shell hits, but nothing major and all ships survive.
Sunday, December 14.
A minor victory as Buffaloes out of Singapore manage to down 5 confirmed Betty Bombers attacking transports ferrying forces to Palembang. The merchants are mostly unmolested.
PACCOM's Report:
Losses have been relatively light for both sides of the war thus far. We've lost 4 DDs, 24 transports, and a number of auxilliary and patrol craft, but many more were at risk early on. Captain Glass of the Marblehead will be given commendation for his efforts at providing us our first victory, and the loss of the AMC may hurt Japan's ability to raid our commerce later into the war. The plan to reinforce Sumatra is well under way, with a number of units already entrenching in Palembang (250 av at present) and laying in supplies for what is likely to be a long seige.
Despite early agreements, politicians in the various Commonwealth areas and in Java have been somewhat hesitant to release troops for duty in Sumatra. The governor of Singapore in particular has been resistant to having his forces taken, but our handful of victories and the ease of the Japanese victory at Kota Bharu have led to some ease in the restrictions. The Aussies have been convinced to lend a number of coastal defense guns to Sumatra, and they are being pooled in Perth for transport to the theater. Still, it will be a long time before we can bring enough political pressure to get our defense line fully filled.
Excerpt from the diary of William Harold, Leftenant in the 1st Middlesex Battalion in Hong Kong. Dated December 10, 1941.
The Japanese launched their first attack against our defenses this morning and managed to take the first line. Our boys made them pay dearly for it, but many a lad was lost this morning as well. Never thought I would find myself staring out at 30,000 soldiers before Christmas. It appears I shall end this war in a prisoner camp, may my wife forgive me. She left several weeks ago with a number of other officers' wives for the safety of Singapore, and may she ride out this war in safety. I fear the war will not be as easy as we were promised. They kept coming boldly even as we gunned down hundreds of them, their engineers blasting through our barricades and eventually casting us back from the edges of the city with bayonets. I'll have to write letters to the wives of too many soldiers, if God gives us grace to last another day. We have retreated further into the city to our second line, but I have little hope left. God save the Queen.
Monday, December 8, 1941.
After losing DD Phelps to Betty bombers on Sunday, DDs Pillsbury and Pope struck enemy mines at Bataan and sunk. All remaining naval vessels in the Phillipines are escaping toward the DEI, including the destroyers out of Hong Kong.
Tuesday, December 9, 1941.
xAK Governor Wright sunk by carrier aircraft while trying to carry elements of the Cebu base force to safety, all hands lost.
Japanese capture Kota Bharu as they begin their advance down Malaya. 8th Indian Brigade was unable to move out of the region in time, but suffered light losses in the retreat.
Wednesday, December 10, 1941.
Japanese submarines continue to sink many transports in the Java Sea. Transports bearing forces have been mostly untouched.
Thursday, December 11.
A Japanese SCTF catches xAKs Tantalus and Si Kiang attempting to evacuate British troops from Jesselton. All hands and most of the base force drowned.
The first allied victory of the war occurs near Timor when the Marblehead task force catches AMC Hiryu Maru near Timor, hitting it with 30 shells and a torpedo. Ship assumed sunk.
Friday, December 12.
Hong Kong falls, less than a week into the war. The entire garrison has surrendered. Wake Island invaded and will soon fall.
The Hong Kong destroyers encounter a Japanese SCTF lead by BB Fuso at night. Allied forces do no damage and take some shell hits, but nothing major and all ships survive.
Sunday, December 14.
A minor victory as Buffaloes out of Singapore manage to down 5 confirmed Betty Bombers attacking transports ferrying forces to Palembang. The merchants are mostly unmolested.
PACCOM's Report:
Losses have been relatively light for both sides of the war thus far. We've lost 4 DDs, 24 transports, and a number of auxilliary and patrol craft, but many more were at risk early on. Captain Glass of the Marblehead will be given commendation for his efforts at providing us our first victory, and the loss of the AMC may hurt Japan's ability to raid our commerce later into the war. The plan to reinforce Sumatra is well under way, with a number of units already entrenching in Palembang (250 av at present) and laying in supplies for what is likely to be a long seige.
Despite early agreements, politicians in the various Commonwealth areas and in Java have been somewhat hesitant to release troops for duty in Sumatra. The governor of Singapore in particular has been resistant to having his forces taken, but our handful of victories and the ease of the Japanese victory at Kota Bharu have led to some ease in the restrictions. The Aussies have been convinced to lend a number of coastal defense guns to Sumatra, and they are being pooled in Perth for transport to the theater. Still, it will be a long time before we can bring enough political pressure to get our defense line fully filled.
Excerpt from the diary of William Harold, Leftenant in the 1st Middlesex Battalion in Hong Kong. Dated December 10, 1941.
The Japanese launched their first attack against our defenses this morning and managed to take the first line. Our boys made them pay dearly for it, but many a lad was lost this morning as well. Never thought I would find myself staring out at 30,000 soldiers before Christmas. It appears I shall end this war in a prisoner camp, may my wife forgive me. She left several weeks ago with a number of other officers' wives for the safety of Singapore, and may she ride out this war in safety. I fear the war will not be as easy as we were promised. They kept coming boldly even as we gunned down hundreds of them, their engineers blasting through our barricades and eventually casting us back from the edges of the city with bayonets. I'll have to write letters to the wives of too many soldiers, if God gives us grace to last another day. We have retreated further into the city to our second line, but I have little hope left. God save the Queen.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Important events on the week.
Monday, December 15th, 1941.
Dutch submariners continue yeoman's work near Kota Bharu, torpedoing several troop transports with reinforcements bound for the front. The bulk of the Dutch sub feet, supplmented by some American boats out of Manilla (rebasing to Soerabaja) have formed a cordon between Malaya and Borneo to discourage Japanese raiders while Singapore is evacuated.
Tuesday, December 16th, 1941.
The Japanese offensive in central China continues with the capture of Loyang. Chinese have been pulling back to defensive terrain to rest and recuperate since the start of broader hostilities, and Chinese command hopes to begin an offensive later in the year to take advantage of Japanese distraction.
Japanese subs continue to wreak havoc in the Java Sea, as more transports laden with troops fleeing Borneo are sunk, but many get through to deliver their precious cargo to Sumatra.
Wednesday, December 17th, 1941.
Japanese aircraft continued massed raids all over the theatre. Most do little damage, but we have little to even slow them down.
Thursday, December 18th, 1941.
Japanese AMC Orion sinks the loaded AO TAN 2, which was heading towards the Cocos islands to help resupply ships there. Fear the Japanese may be aware of our presence there and raid the multiple unloading ships.
Georgetown falls to a tank and a recon regiment.
Friday, December 19th, 1941.
Tragedy today as the CL Mauritius, out of Singapore, was sunk with several of her destroyers fighting three Japanese CLs protecting transports invading Kuching. CL Oi was damaged with heavy fires, but is later found retreating safely to Cam Ranh Bay for repairs. This CL SCTF is responsible for more ship sinkings currently than any other Japanese naval asset. Recon had reported a lightly escorted battleship task force in the area, but it had fled before our ships had been able to find her or the transports at night and we were ambushed in the morning on the return trip.
Wake Island falls today after a week of hard fighting. The Japanese paid for their victory in damaged ships and dead soldiers, but the fight was unwinnable. Fortunately most of the aircraft on the island were able to escape aboard the Lexington earlier in the week.
Buffaloes out of Singapore also managed to down 3 more Betties attacking shipping south of Singapore, though the encroachment of Japanese airbases means fighters are likely to follow soon.
Saturday, December 20th, 1941.
The Dutch have paid for their victories against shipping at Kota Bharu. Japanese DD Ikara caught SS KXII with 23 hits, sinking her. The Japanese advance in China continues, with large victories near Wuchow and Hwainan. Japanese motorized units continue their rapid pace west through Malaya, capturing Taiping. Most of our forces are likely to reach Sinagpore safely, but the survivors of Kota Bharu, especially the 8th Indian, may end up surrounded before they can reach safety.
Sunday, December 21st, 1941.
Japanese aircraft attack Sinagpore in force, wearing out most of the remaining fighter cover. Betties are then able to succesfully attack a troop convoy heading for Palembang, sinking several ships. Convoys will now scatter to limit vulnerability to aircraft, trusting in the submarine cordon to delay surface raiders longer. Japanese 21st Division landing at Wenchow in China, our last coastal base. SS Pike lands a successful torpedoe against AK Chitose Maru in the South China Sea, causing casualties.
PACCOM's Report:
Captain Stephens of the Mauritus is to be given commendations for his commitment to duty, in the grand traditions of the Royal Navy. Despite repeated losses, our scattered convoys carrying small elements of each unit have limited overall losses. The abundance of shipping in the DEI is a great asset to us at the moment, and we continued to move supplies and troops from Singapore, Java, Borneo, Timor, and Celebes to Sumatra. Reinforcement of the islands continues, with the 17th Indian division and several base forces digging in in Port Blair, a dedicated Aussie CD unit and base force to Cocos Island, and the early buildup of Little Andaman and Sinabang. Sumatra currently has 810 AV at Palembang and 475 at Oosthaven, with a dedicated CD unit and multiple cd gun-equipped base forces at each. Fortifications and infrastructure are building at both. The 16 6" Coastal Gun 5th and 6th Australian units have departed Perth for Oosthaven, eta within a week.
Negotiations are currently underway to free the Indian 7th and 19th divisions for use along the defensive lines. The 7th will be a floating reserve to be deployed to whichever island faces the earliest heavy invasion while the 19th will be sent to Sumatra to strengthen the defenses. Their absence would cause the Indian theatre to be undermanned, however, and the government is understandably hesitant. The current plan is to pull the 1st Burma division out slightly ahead of the Japanese advance to help secure Ledo and to pull 4 corps lent from the Chinese out through the same route to bolster the border guard. These units would be reinforced through the Ledo to Chengtu airbridge over the Himalayas on the return flights from delivering supplies. This should improve the supply situation in China by having fewer mouths to feed when the supply lines are cut from Burma as well as resulting in these units able to build to great size to be a hammer during a later reinvasion of Burma, but xenophobia and security concerns, as well as politics, have slowed the entire process. These governments had agreed to cooperate in a framework before the war and are now dragging their heals, with us at PACCOM able to provide just enough pressure to barely free assets when needed. Such is war, though.
Naval Losses this week.
11 transports
1 fleet oiler
2 dd
1 cl
1 ss
Testimony about the death of WCDR F.H. Williams of the No. 21 Squadran, RAAF at Singapore.
We were flying at 10,000 feet, patrolling above Singapore when the Zeroes dived at us from out of the sun. WCDR Williams had successfully downed 2 Betty bombers in earlier raids, but none of us had much experience against these nimble fighters before this raid. One was on my tail, and I kept rolling to try to lose him, but he kept behind me. WCDR Williams came up on my wing and swung behind the Zero, damaging him with a burst of machine gun fire and forcing him to dive. WCDR Williams dove after him, but my aircraft had taken a beating and I was unable to follow when several more Zeroes dove from behind and shredded with flaps. He was unable to pull out of the dive and smashed into the water. He saved my life that day at the cost of his own, as I made it safely back to base in my damaged Buffalo after the encounter.
Monday, December 15th, 1941.
Dutch submariners continue yeoman's work near Kota Bharu, torpedoing several troop transports with reinforcements bound for the front. The bulk of the Dutch sub feet, supplmented by some American boats out of Manilla (rebasing to Soerabaja) have formed a cordon between Malaya and Borneo to discourage Japanese raiders while Singapore is evacuated.
Tuesday, December 16th, 1941.
The Japanese offensive in central China continues with the capture of Loyang. Chinese have been pulling back to defensive terrain to rest and recuperate since the start of broader hostilities, and Chinese command hopes to begin an offensive later in the year to take advantage of Japanese distraction.
Japanese subs continue to wreak havoc in the Java Sea, as more transports laden with troops fleeing Borneo are sunk, but many get through to deliver their precious cargo to Sumatra.
Wednesday, December 17th, 1941.
Japanese aircraft continued massed raids all over the theatre. Most do little damage, but we have little to even slow them down.
Thursday, December 18th, 1941.
Japanese AMC Orion sinks the loaded AO TAN 2, which was heading towards the Cocos islands to help resupply ships there. Fear the Japanese may be aware of our presence there and raid the multiple unloading ships.
Georgetown falls to a tank and a recon regiment.
Friday, December 19th, 1941.
Tragedy today as the CL Mauritius, out of Singapore, was sunk with several of her destroyers fighting three Japanese CLs protecting transports invading Kuching. CL Oi was damaged with heavy fires, but is later found retreating safely to Cam Ranh Bay for repairs. This CL SCTF is responsible for more ship sinkings currently than any other Japanese naval asset. Recon had reported a lightly escorted battleship task force in the area, but it had fled before our ships had been able to find her or the transports at night and we were ambushed in the morning on the return trip.
Wake Island falls today after a week of hard fighting. The Japanese paid for their victory in damaged ships and dead soldiers, but the fight was unwinnable. Fortunately most of the aircraft on the island were able to escape aboard the Lexington earlier in the week.
Buffaloes out of Singapore also managed to down 3 more Betties attacking shipping south of Singapore, though the encroachment of Japanese airbases means fighters are likely to follow soon.
Saturday, December 20th, 1941.
The Dutch have paid for their victories against shipping at Kota Bharu. Japanese DD Ikara caught SS KXII with 23 hits, sinking her. The Japanese advance in China continues, with large victories near Wuchow and Hwainan. Japanese motorized units continue their rapid pace west through Malaya, capturing Taiping. Most of our forces are likely to reach Sinagpore safely, but the survivors of Kota Bharu, especially the 8th Indian, may end up surrounded before they can reach safety.
Sunday, December 21st, 1941.
Japanese aircraft attack Sinagpore in force, wearing out most of the remaining fighter cover. Betties are then able to succesfully attack a troop convoy heading for Palembang, sinking several ships. Convoys will now scatter to limit vulnerability to aircraft, trusting in the submarine cordon to delay surface raiders longer. Japanese 21st Division landing at Wenchow in China, our last coastal base. SS Pike lands a successful torpedoe against AK Chitose Maru in the South China Sea, causing casualties.
PACCOM's Report:
Captain Stephens of the Mauritus is to be given commendations for his commitment to duty, in the grand traditions of the Royal Navy. Despite repeated losses, our scattered convoys carrying small elements of each unit have limited overall losses. The abundance of shipping in the DEI is a great asset to us at the moment, and we continued to move supplies and troops from Singapore, Java, Borneo, Timor, and Celebes to Sumatra. Reinforcement of the islands continues, with the 17th Indian division and several base forces digging in in Port Blair, a dedicated Aussie CD unit and base force to Cocos Island, and the early buildup of Little Andaman and Sinabang. Sumatra currently has 810 AV at Palembang and 475 at Oosthaven, with a dedicated CD unit and multiple cd gun-equipped base forces at each. Fortifications and infrastructure are building at both. The 16 6" Coastal Gun 5th and 6th Australian units have departed Perth for Oosthaven, eta within a week.
Negotiations are currently underway to free the Indian 7th and 19th divisions for use along the defensive lines. The 7th will be a floating reserve to be deployed to whichever island faces the earliest heavy invasion while the 19th will be sent to Sumatra to strengthen the defenses. Their absence would cause the Indian theatre to be undermanned, however, and the government is understandably hesitant. The current plan is to pull the 1st Burma division out slightly ahead of the Japanese advance to help secure Ledo and to pull 4 corps lent from the Chinese out through the same route to bolster the border guard. These units would be reinforced through the Ledo to Chengtu airbridge over the Himalayas on the return flights from delivering supplies. This should improve the supply situation in China by having fewer mouths to feed when the supply lines are cut from Burma as well as resulting in these units able to build to great size to be a hammer during a later reinvasion of Burma, but xenophobia and security concerns, as well as politics, have slowed the entire process. These governments had agreed to cooperate in a framework before the war and are now dragging their heals, with us at PACCOM able to provide just enough pressure to barely free assets when needed. Such is war, though.
Naval Losses this week.
11 transports
1 fleet oiler
2 dd
1 cl
1 ss
Testimony about the death of WCDR F.H. Williams of the No. 21 Squadran, RAAF at Singapore.
We were flying at 10,000 feet, patrolling above Singapore when the Zeroes dived at us from out of the sun. WCDR Williams had successfully downed 2 Betty bombers in earlier raids, but none of us had much experience against these nimble fighters before this raid. One was on my tail, and I kept rolling to try to lose him, but he kept behind me. WCDR Williams came up on my wing and swung behind the Zero, damaging him with a burst of machine gun fire and forcing him to dive. WCDR Williams dove after him, but my aircraft had taken a beating and I was unable to follow when several more Zeroes dove from behind and shredded with flaps. He was unable to pull out of the dive and smashed into the water. He saved my life that day at the cost of his own, as I made it safely back to base in my damaged Buffalo after the encounter.
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RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Good luck, Schlemiel!
Now, what is the inspiration for your screen name? I recall "schlemiel" in the opening song for a painful 1970s-era sitcom called Three's Company....I think.
Now, what is the inspiration for your screen name? I recall "schlemiel" in the opening song for a painful 1970s-era sitcom called Three's Company....I think.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Schlemiel is a Yiddish word that, if I remember right, is one on whom soup is spilled (it has a companion word Schlemazel (sp) that is the one who spills the soup). I have no German or Yiddish background, but it's a fun word like so many Yiddish words are, and it has a nice connection to slapstick humor.
Events of the Week.
Monday, December 22.
Wenchow falls. All Chinese forces are retreating to defensive positions in the interior.
The motor boats from Hong Kong which had fled return and attack a fleet of landing barges, damaging some and causing a collision among a pair of them.
Tuesday, December 23.
The Japanese 1st Cavalry Division smashes the Chinese defenses near Paotow. This leaves the road to the northern China oil fields indefensible. The Yenan army is moving back towards Sian to be able to redeploy north if necessary. However, there is no reserve that can prevent the 1st Cavalry from capturing the oil if it pushes.
AMC Schichiroji Maru catches a troop convoy out of San Francisco, sinking AP Barnett, the PC escorts, and several xAKLs, including 2613 casualties and 141 guns. xAP Mariposa is the only survivor of the attack.
Thursday, December 25.
Christmas looks rather bleak this year for the forces on the front. The Japanese advances continues unabated on all fronts. Japanese recon forces have takes Kuala Lumpur and it seems the 8th Indian brigade will be unable to outrace them to Singapore.
Friday, December 26.
Japanese aircraft in the Celebes begin raiding Soerabaja. Allied convoy is also detected delivering troops to Sinabang. Betties put several bombs into an AP delivering troops, but it seems okay for now.
On the positive front, the SS SPearfish puts a torpedo into the CL Oi, apparently enroute to the home islands for repairs. The Oi was damaged in the sinking of the CL Mauritus last week and seems to have been relatively slow already.
Saturday, December 27.
Having sniffed out our operations at Sinabang yesterday, the Japanese betty bombers return in eight waves, sinking AP Joseph T. Dickman and fatally wounding AP Leonard Wood, along with several other transports like xAP West Point. Troop losses are relatively light, but the convoys were not scattered in time.
On the positive side, the Japanese finally test our defenses at Clark Field in the Phillipines and suffer a 30:1 loss ratio. This may slow them down.
SS Argonaut puts 4 defective torpedoes into the hull of CV Chiho near Japan. The captain has reportedly threatened physical violence towards BuOrd.
PACCOM's report.
The Japanese advance has been quite rapid. Only supreme effort on our part has kept our Sumatra plan ahead of their advance. The 8th Indian brigade is now completely cut off. Palembang and Oosthaven have both reached level 2 fortifications, with the two large Australian CD units set to unload tomorrow in Oosthaven. Palembang has over 1000 av, while Oosthaven has broken 550 with more enroute. Despite the losses of precious transports at Sinabang (the wounded AP hasn't sunk yet but will not survive the night), we now have 545 av there with plenty of supplies and engineers to build up the base. All in all, the evacuation of the Dutch to Sumatra is working well, despite difficulties with the colonial government and the encroaching jaws of the Japanese air force. Recon last night reported a carrier group with 300+ aircraft entering the Makassar Straight. Force Z and several cruiser task forces are based at Soerabaja and might be able to intercept in the narrows.
The government in India has finally been convinced to release the 7th and 19th Indian divisions to the defense of Sumatra. It has been assigned to the 225th RAF HQ, currently unloading in Sinabang. The 7th will be set to build up in Madras as our strategic reserve while the 19th is being loaded for Sumatra. Our window is closing soon there, with carrier raids already entering the general area, but we may have 2-3 more weeks before shipping becomes impractical. Supply convoys continue to flow toward Sumatra from Capetown, and Java and Singapore have been almost completely stripped of supplies.
Ship losses on the week.
10 civilian transports
2 military transports (with one near dead)
1 dd
From a letter to his parents in Cincinatti by John Sawiki, American expatriot living in Batavia.
Dearest mother,
Things here remain very tense. The government has issued passes for anyone who wishes to head to Sumatra aboard any of the many transports that currently sit idle in the harbor. The defenses here are thin and while several weeks ago there were soldiers everywhere, you rarely see more than local police now. We get snatches of news from the war up north, but how long can I remain here safely when the war comes? But if I go, what will I do to survive? Will there be jobs in Sumatra? I cannot imagine I will be able to leave for many, many months if Java falls, but what will happen if I stay here? Most of the rich people have already moved to Oosthaven across the water and taken the good housing, but most tickets go untaken. I've even seen large groups of protestors forming in some districts of the city, protesting the Dutch and chanting pro-Japanese slogans. There are enough police and soldiers to prevent violence, but I think most of my neighbors would be just as happy to see the Dutch kicked out. Even if the colonial government survives the war intact in Sumatra, I think Java will be a far different place once the war is over. Many of the people here might even actively fight against against the Dutch if given a chance. I think I will have to go, though I don't know what I shall do.
Yours in safety,
John
Events of the Week.
Monday, December 22.
Wenchow falls. All Chinese forces are retreating to defensive positions in the interior.
The motor boats from Hong Kong which had fled return and attack a fleet of landing barges, damaging some and causing a collision among a pair of them.
Tuesday, December 23.
The Japanese 1st Cavalry Division smashes the Chinese defenses near Paotow. This leaves the road to the northern China oil fields indefensible. The Yenan army is moving back towards Sian to be able to redeploy north if necessary. However, there is no reserve that can prevent the 1st Cavalry from capturing the oil if it pushes.
AMC Schichiroji Maru catches a troop convoy out of San Francisco, sinking AP Barnett, the PC escorts, and several xAKLs, including 2613 casualties and 141 guns. xAP Mariposa is the only survivor of the attack.
Thursday, December 25.
Christmas looks rather bleak this year for the forces on the front. The Japanese advances continues unabated on all fronts. Japanese recon forces have takes Kuala Lumpur and it seems the 8th Indian brigade will be unable to outrace them to Singapore.
Friday, December 26.
Japanese aircraft in the Celebes begin raiding Soerabaja. Allied convoy is also detected delivering troops to Sinabang. Betties put several bombs into an AP delivering troops, but it seems okay for now.
On the positive front, the SS SPearfish puts a torpedo into the CL Oi, apparently enroute to the home islands for repairs. The Oi was damaged in the sinking of the CL Mauritus last week and seems to have been relatively slow already.
Saturday, December 27.
Having sniffed out our operations at Sinabang yesterday, the Japanese betty bombers return in eight waves, sinking AP Joseph T. Dickman and fatally wounding AP Leonard Wood, along with several other transports like xAP West Point. Troop losses are relatively light, but the convoys were not scattered in time.
On the positive side, the Japanese finally test our defenses at Clark Field in the Phillipines and suffer a 30:1 loss ratio. This may slow them down.
SS Argonaut puts 4 defective torpedoes into the hull of CV Chiho near Japan. The captain has reportedly threatened physical violence towards BuOrd.
PACCOM's report.
The Japanese advance has been quite rapid. Only supreme effort on our part has kept our Sumatra plan ahead of their advance. The 8th Indian brigade is now completely cut off. Palembang and Oosthaven have both reached level 2 fortifications, with the two large Australian CD units set to unload tomorrow in Oosthaven. Palembang has over 1000 av, while Oosthaven has broken 550 with more enroute. Despite the losses of precious transports at Sinabang (the wounded AP hasn't sunk yet but will not survive the night), we now have 545 av there with plenty of supplies and engineers to build up the base. All in all, the evacuation of the Dutch to Sumatra is working well, despite difficulties with the colonial government and the encroaching jaws of the Japanese air force. Recon last night reported a carrier group with 300+ aircraft entering the Makassar Straight. Force Z and several cruiser task forces are based at Soerabaja and might be able to intercept in the narrows.
The government in India has finally been convinced to release the 7th and 19th Indian divisions to the defense of Sumatra. It has been assigned to the 225th RAF HQ, currently unloading in Sinabang. The 7th will be set to build up in Madras as our strategic reserve while the 19th is being loaded for Sumatra. Our window is closing soon there, with carrier raids already entering the general area, but we may have 2-3 more weeks before shipping becomes impractical. Supply convoys continue to flow toward Sumatra from Capetown, and Java and Singapore have been almost completely stripped of supplies.
Ship losses on the week.
10 civilian transports
2 military transports (with one near dead)
1 dd
From a letter to his parents in Cincinatti by John Sawiki, American expatriot living in Batavia.
Dearest mother,
Things here remain very tense. The government has issued passes for anyone who wishes to head to Sumatra aboard any of the many transports that currently sit idle in the harbor. The defenses here are thin and while several weeks ago there were soldiers everywhere, you rarely see more than local police now. We get snatches of news from the war up north, but how long can I remain here safely when the war comes? But if I go, what will I do to survive? Will there be jobs in Sumatra? I cannot imagine I will be able to leave for many, many months if Java falls, but what will happen if I stay here? Most of the rich people have already moved to Oosthaven across the water and taken the good housing, but most tickets go untaken. I've even seen large groups of protestors forming in some districts of the city, protesting the Dutch and chanting pro-Japanese slogans. There are enough police and soldiers to prevent violence, but I think most of my neighbors would be just as happy to see the Dutch kicked out. Even if the colonial government survives the war intact in Sumatra, I think Java will be a far different place once the war is over. Many of the people here might even actively fight against against the Dutch if given a chance. I think I will have to go, though I don't know what I shall do.
Yours in safety,
John
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Events of the week.
Monday, December 29.
A Japanese carrier group forced its way through the Makassar Straight and caught a dutch SCTF near Makassar. CL De Ruyter and several destroyers were hit repeatedly and sunk. A large air attack also hit the ports at Sinabang and Soerabaja, sinking a number of small utility craft fleeing the DEI.
The Japanese were too hasty in their attack at Cagayan in Mindanao, losing 4000 soldiers to the loss of mere 8 reported allied casualties. These brave men deserve the reinforcements we cannot possibly provide.
Tuesday, December 30.
A day of victories and defeats.
The American carriers Enterprise and Yorktown had been stationed near the Phoenix Islands in case of Japanese advance. Yesterday a force was seen advancing, and with carriers sighted in the DEI, the Americans pounced. Air sorties sank the XAK Heian Maru, with over 2100 reported casualties.
On the other side of the theatre, Force Z was slow to leave port at Soerabaja and got hit byt a force of 30 Kates and 50 Vals. Repulse took 2 bombs and a torpedo while Prince of Wales at 3 Torpedoes. The surviving destroyers of the De Ruyter group were found and sunk today as well, but only after they encountered the enemy carrier force and confirmed at least CV Hiryu and Zuikaku present. Both Force Z capital ships should live if they can avoid further damage, but they must be withdrawn in the best case scenario, leaving us without a major threat to the Japanese advance.
Wednesday, December 31.
A day of strong victories to end the year.
The Japanese have begun an unescorted invasion of Midway Island. We had already reinforced the island, and an SCTF lead by CA San Franciso and CL St. Louis managed to sink a number of transports with 4093 reported Japanese casualties in one wave and 10,534 in a second. Rear Admiral McMorris will be recommended the the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Near Makassar, a force lead by CL Adelaide, seeking to hit the Japanese carrier force at night instead finds a transport convoy, sinking both ships and inflicting an additional 1100 casualties to the Japanese army.
Thursday, January 1, 1942.
Japanese SS I-59 is reported to have hit a mine in Colombo. Other than that, Japanese subs have an excellent day.
Friday, January 2, 1942.
DDs John D. Edwards and Peary catch some Japanese transports unloading at Kendari, sinking XZAK Tacoma Maru and inflicting casualties. Shortly after, they encounter an escorted convoy lead by CA Kako and escape without too much damage.
The SCTF lead by CA Houston catches more transports at Watampone in the Celebes. While the transports have emptied, several are sunk.
Sunday, January 4, 1942.
Reinforced Japanese forces crush the Mindanao army and capture Cagayan.
Japanese subs take revenge on the CA Houston SCTF by putting a torpedo in CL Tromp and 2 in CL Java. Both survive but are crippled for now. Enemy carriers have already passed the area, but may return at any time.
PACCOM's Report.
The defensive framework in Sumatra is nearly complete, we just need to import as many supplies as possible before the pincers close. We currently have 1500 AV in Palembang and another 1000 AV in Oosthaven. Those Australian CD units have joined existing defenses. We've also managed to severely blunt Japanese advances towards PH with their losses at Midway and Baker Island. Our naval forces in the DEI have inflicted significant shipping losses, but our cruiser forces have been severely diminished without inflicting too much damage to enemy surface forces. We have traded ships for time, which does help with the rapid pace of the Japanese advance. Frankly, most of the losses are older Dutch and Commonwealth ships, which are already on the verge of obsolecence, so our long term strength will not be significantly diminished. Unfortunately, Force Z was unable to accomplish anything, but it seems to be clear sailing to repair at Capetown. The 19th Indian Division is about 3 days out of Oosthaven at present.
Ship losses this week:
1 crippled AP
7 transports
4 dd
1 cl
Dateline: January 1, 1942.
America celebrates the New Year with a grand victory near a small island known as Midway. Our brave boys sneaked past several battleships and aircraft carriers to sink troop transports bearing soldiers to kill our brave boys so near to Pearl Harbor. But our boys whipped them at sea and on land and killed thousands of enemies. The enemy may have the advantage, but he has woken a sleeping giant that will crush him where he stands.
But despite our victories, our allies continue to lose ground to the advancing menace. More soldiers and more ships are needed. I urge every one of you to accept your draft notices and buy war bonds so we can end this war as quickly as possible and rescue our war-weary allies. This is our time, and the forces of Imperial Japan cannot stand long against our will.
Hayden Williams- Honolulu Sun Times.
Monday, December 29.
A Japanese carrier group forced its way through the Makassar Straight and caught a dutch SCTF near Makassar. CL De Ruyter and several destroyers were hit repeatedly and sunk. A large air attack also hit the ports at Sinabang and Soerabaja, sinking a number of small utility craft fleeing the DEI.
The Japanese were too hasty in their attack at Cagayan in Mindanao, losing 4000 soldiers to the loss of mere 8 reported allied casualties. These brave men deserve the reinforcements we cannot possibly provide.
Tuesday, December 30.
A day of victories and defeats.
The American carriers Enterprise and Yorktown had been stationed near the Phoenix Islands in case of Japanese advance. Yesterday a force was seen advancing, and with carriers sighted in the DEI, the Americans pounced. Air sorties sank the XAK Heian Maru, with over 2100 reported casualties.
On the other side of the theatre, Force Z was slow to leave port at Soerabaja and got hit byt a force of 30 Kates and 50 Vals. Repulse took 2 bombs and a torpedo while Prince of Wales at 3 Torpedoes. The surviving destroyers of the De Ruyter group were found and sunk today as well, but only after they encountered the enemy carrier force and confirmed at least CV Hiryu and Zuikaku present. Both Force Z capital ships should live if they can avoid further damage, but they must be withdrawn in the best case scenario, leaving us without a major threat to the Japanese advance.
Wednesday, December 31.
A day of strong victories to end the year.
The Japanese have begun an unescorted invasion of Midway Island. We had already reinforced the island, and an SCTF lead by CA San Franciso and CL St. Louis managed to sink a number of transports with 4093 reported Japanese casualties in one wave and 10,534 in a second. Rear Admiral McMorris will be recommended the the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Near Makassar, a force lead by CL Adelaide, seeking to hit the Japanese carrier force at night instead finds a transport convoy, sinking both ships and inflicting an additional 1100 casualties to the Japanese army.
Thursday, January 1, 1942.
Japanese SS I-59 is reported to have hit a mine in Colombo. Other than that, Japanese subs have an excellent day.
Friday, January 2, 1942.
DDs John D. Edwards and Peary catch some Japanese transports unloading at Kendari, sinking XZAK Tacoma Maru and inflicting casualties. Shortly after, they encounter an escorted convoy lead by CA Kako and escape without too much damage.
The SCTF lead by CA Houston catches more transports at Watampone in the Celebes. While the transports have emptied, several are sunk.
Sunday, January 4, 1942.
Reinforced Japanese forces crush the Mindanao army and capture Cagayan.
Japanese subs take revenge on the CA Houston SCTF by putting a torpedo in CL Tromp and 2 in CL Java. Both survive but are crippled for now. Enemy carriers have already passed the area, but may return at any time.
PACCOM's Report.
The defensive framework in Sumatra is nearly complete, we just need to import as many supplies as possible before the pincers close. We currently have 1500 AV in Palembang and another 1000 AV in Oosthaven. Those Australian CD units have joined existing defenses. We've also managed to severely blunt Japanese advances towards PH with their losses at Midway and Baker Island. Our naval forces in the DEI have inflicted significant shipping losses, but our cruiser forces have been severely diminished without inflicting too much damage to enemy surface forces. We have traded ships for time, which does help with the rapid pace of the Japanese advance. Frankly, most of the losses are older Dutch and Commonwealth ships, which are already on the verge of obsolecence, so our long term strength will not be significantly diminished. Unfortunately, Force Z was unable to accomplish anything, but it seems to be clear sailing to repair at Capetown. The 19th Indian Division is about 3 days out of Oosthaven at present.
Ship losses this week:
1 crippled AP
7 transports
4 dd
1 cl
Dateline: January 1, 1942.
America celebrates the New Year with a grand victory near a small island known as Midway. Our brave boys sneaked past several battleships and aircraft carriers to sink troop transports bearing soldiers to kill our brave boys so near to Pearl Harbor. But our boys whipped them at sea and on land and killed thousands of enemies. The enemy may have the advantage, but he has woken a sleeping giant that will crush him where he stands.
But despite our victories, our allies continue to lose ground to the advancing menace. More soldiers and more ships are needed. I urge every one of you to accept your draft notices and buy war bonds so we can end this war as quickly as possible and rescue our war-weary allies. This is our time, and the forces of Imperial Japan cannot stand long against our will.
Hayden Williams- Honolulu Sun Times.
-
CaptBeefheart
- Posts: 2521
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2003 2:42 am
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RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Think "Laverne & Shirley," as in:
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
Schlemeel, schlemazel, Hasenfeffer Incorporated.
We're gonna do it!
Oh, and good luck. Andy has some interesting surprises in Ironman.
Cheers,
CC
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
Schlemeel, schlemazel, Hasenfeffer Incorporated.
We're gonna do it!
Oh, and good luck. Andy has some interesting surprises in Ironman.
Cheers,
CC
Beer, because barley makes lousy bread.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
I've already noticed some of the improvements, having done a hard ai stock scenario 10.
Events of the Week
Tuesday, January 6.
US forces destroy the last of the Japanese beachhead on Midway Island.
The Japanese carrier force returns to Makassar, sinking CL Java, which had been crippled by submarines last week.
SS I-61 puts 2 more torpedoes into CL Tromp to finish her.
Wednesday, January 7.
The Kriegsmarine is in the Pacific. German CB Admiral Lutzow catches a transport off the southern coast of Sumatra.
Thursday, January 8.
The American carrier force near Baker Island catches the second Japanese echelon, heavily bombing AKs Fuyu Maru and Karachi Maru. Neither are confirmed sunk but both are confirmed with heavy fires and heavy damage with troops aboard.
The CA Houston task force is unable to evade the Japanese carriers near Soerabaja. DD Vampire is sunk which the Houston takes a bomb and a torpedo. Housont is in no immediate danger of sinking.
The 8th Indian brigade is finally destroyed in Malaya, having been cut off for a while. Enemy forces already breaking down the gates of Singapore.
Friday, January 9.
Singapore finally falls today. Most of the garrison and the stock of supplies had been successfully evacuated.
Saturday, January 10.
CA Houston caught by carrier bombers and sunk trying to sneak out of the DEI toward Perth.
An American SCTF lead by CL Helena and CL Phoenix catches another loaded Japanese transport at Baker Island, sinking it with all hands.
Sunday, January 10th.
The Helena group sinks another transport and escort at Baker Island.
PACCOM's Report.
We expected a rapid Japanese advance, but their pace of advance has still beaten our expectations by several weeks. (Editor's note, I've played stock scenario 10 on hard ai once, and Andy Mac has done a nice job speeding up their advance.) While Sumatra has been mostly supplied and the defenses are mostly in place, even Batavia is suffering air attack and more carrier groups are expected to come shut us down. Still, our victories near Pearl Harbor are heartening and our defenses in Sumatra are probably strong enough now to hold, though we had hoped for more time. Our air and naval forces in the region are mostly destroyed or fled, however, barring a few PTs and DDs and a decent CAP at Oosthaven, so we will be unable to parry their air and naval superiority for long.
Ship losses on the week:
Transports x 20
CA x1
CL x2
DD x2
Letter from the mayor of Darwin, Australia to Australian headquarters:
Sirs,
I must protest the stripping of the northern garrisons. You may say we are impossible to supply past the submarines and aircraft on both sides, but the people here deserve better. Our homes and businesses are the first at risk in a real invasion of Australia and you have a duty to us to protect us. A strong base at Alice Springs means nothing if Japanese soldiers march down the square and force us to do acts of slavery or debauchery to support their conquest. I appeal to you in the name of all that is good to restore the garrisons immediately and to make every effort to defend us.
Your brothers in Darwin.
Events of the Week
Tuesday, January 6.
US forces destroy the last of the Japanese beachhead on Midway Island.
The Japanese carrier force returns to Makassar, sinking CL Java, which had been crippled by submarines last week.
SS I-61 puts 2 more torpedoes into CL Tromp to finish her.
Wednesday, January 7.
The Kriegsmarine is in the Pacific. German CB Admiral Lutzow catches a transport off the southern coast of Sumatra.
Thursday, January 8.
The American carrier force near Baker Island catches the second Japanese echelon, heavily bombing AKs Fuyu Maru and Karachi Maru. Neither are confirmed sunk but both are confirmed with heavy fires and heavy damage with troops aboard.
The CA Houston task force is unable to evade the Japanese carriers near Soerabaja. DD Vampire is sunk which the Houston takes a bomb and a torpedo. Housont is in no immediate danger of sinking.
The 8th Indian brigade is finally destroyed in Malaya, having been cut off for a while. Enemy forces already breaking down the gates of Singapore.
Friday, January 9.
Singapore finally falls today. Most of the garrison and the stock of supplies had been successfully evacuated.
Saturday, January 10.
CA Houston caught by carrier bombers and sunk trying to sneak out of the DEI toward Perth.
An American SCTF lead by CL Helena and CL Phoenix catches another loaded Japanese transport at Baker Island, sinking it with all hands.
Sunday, January 10th.
The Helena group sinks another transport and escort at Baker Island.
PACCOM's Report.
We expected a rapid Japanese advance, but their pace of advance has still beaten our expectations by several weeks. (Editor's note, I've played stock scenario 10 on hard ai once, and Andy Mac has done a nice job speeding up their advance.) While Sumatra has been mostly supplied and the defenses are mostly in place, even Batavia is suffering air attack and more carrier groups are expected to come shut us down. Still, our victories near Pearl Harbor are heartening and our defenses in Sumatra are probably strong enough now to hold, though we had hoped for more time. Our air and naval forces in the region are mostly destroyed or fled, however, barring a few PTs and DDs and a decent CAP at Oosthaven, so we will be unable to parry their air and naval superiority for long.
Ship losses on the week:
Transports x 20
CA x1
CL x2
DD x2
Letter from the mayor of Darwin, Australia to Australian headquarters:
Sirs,
I must protest the stripping of the northern garrisons. You may say we are impossible to supply past the submarines and aircraft on both sides, but the people here deserve better. Our homes and businesses are the first at risk in a real invasion of Australia and you have a duty to us to protect us. A strong base at Alice Springs means nothing if Japanese soldiers march down the square and force us to do acts of slavery or debauchery to support their conquest. I appeal to you in the name of all that is good to restore the garrisons immediately and to make every effort to defend us.
Your brothers in Darwin.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Events of the Week.
Monday, January 12.
CL Dragon is sunk by LBA during a shipping raid near Borneo.
The Japanese have landed in Java, capturing Kalidjati with elements of the 4th division.
CL Marblehead and Cl Boise, pursuing the Japanese CV tf south of Java, catch her oilers. Night and rain help the Japanese escape, but 2 oilers are confirmed with heavy fires.
Tuesday, January 13.
CL Durban caught by a fresh carrier group north of Soerabaja and sunk after unsuccessfuly fighting the group confirmed to include CVL Shoho.
Mining Merak pays off as a carrier group including CVL Chiyoda, CVL Zuiho, and CVL Ryujo hits mines while trying to force the straight. 2 destroyers are likely to sink and all 3 CVLs take mines. Intelligence believes Ryujo is sunk, but there are no reports of lost aircraft.
Wednesday, January 14.
Yet another Japanese carrier group parks at Merak. This one contains 4 CVEs.
Friday, January 16.
CL Boise and Marblehead are sunk by massed carrier aircraft during an attempt to escape the DEI. These brave souls will be missed, though many of the sailors are able to swim safely to shore, but they will have difficulty reaching Sumatra with carriers sitting on the route and shipping mostly sunk.
CV Chiho (the one who survived 4 dud torpedoes earlier in the war) joins the CVEs parked off Merak. Allied PTs ineffective.
Saturday, January 17.
Exploiting the rest status of the CD units, Japanese begin unloading the Imperial Guards Division at Palembang under relatively light fire.
The Japanese return to Midway where an SCTF of CA Portland and CA Northampton manages to sink the transports over 2 combats.
The Japanese also return to Baker Island while the US CVs are replenishing, but the Helena and Phoenix sink the latest wave of invaders.
The Japanese invade Moulmein, beginning the full scale invasion of Burma. Units preparing to pull out ahead of their advance.
Sunday, January 18.
Allied forces at Palembang attempt to throw the Japanese back into the sea, but despite 4:1 odds in the combat end up taking more casualties, though casualties are light on both sides.
PACCOM's report.
We had hoped to have more time to rest and rebuild our troops at Palembang to be able to destroy each echelon of the Japanese invasion as it happened, but with the failure of the first day's attacks it seems likely that the Japanese will be able to keep their foothold for the forseeable future. Given their commitment here, we are moving the other Aussie CD unit to Palembang from Oosthaven and preparing to rotate out troops for rest as necessary. With level 3 fortifications and plenty of supply, it will be extremely difficult for the Japanese to actually take Palembang, but it will not be the trap to destroy divisions we had hoped either. We have to wonder when the Japanese will send air or surface units to support their invasions near Pearl. They have lost many ships and troops for no gains in that theatre so far.
Ship Losses on the Week:
CL x4
DD x4
AMC x1
Transport x16
Broadcast from Radio Tokyo on Tuesday, January 13.
Greetings everybody. This is Orphan Ann at Radio Tokyo with some music and comforting words for my poor friends out there in the Pacific. The people of Java today celebrated their liberation at Kalidjati, welcoming their friends in the Empire bringing co-prosperity to the oppressed and colonized vassals of the west. Crowds lined the street and cheered the imminent freedom from foreign rule and the bold return of freedom. Many thousands quickly volunteered to join the newly formed Liberation and Protection Army that will sweep the foreign invaders away after centuries of occupation. Soon people all over the Pacific will be free to join with the Empire as equals and throw the colonialists and invaders into the sea. Now for a victory march to lift your spirits.
Monday, January 12.
CL Dragon is sunk by LBA during a shipping raid near Borneo.
The Japanese have landed in Java, capturing Kalidjati with elements of the 4th division.
CL Marblehead and Cl Boise, pursuing the Japanese CV tf south of Java, catch her oilers. Night and rain help the Japanese escape, but 2 oilers are confirmed with heavy fires.
Tuesday, January 13.
CL Durban caught by a fresh carrier group north of Soerabaja and sunk after unsuccessfuly fighting the group confirmed to include CVL Shoho.
Mining Merak pays off as a carrier group including CVL Chiyoda, CVL Zuiho, and CVL Ryujo hits mines while trying to force the straight. 2 destroyers are likely to sink and all 3 CVLs take mines. Intelligence believes Ryujo is sunk, but there are no reports of lost aircraft.
Wednesday, January 14.
Yet another Japanese carrier group parks at Merak. This one contains 4 CVEs.
Friday, January 16.
CL Boise and Marblehead are sunk by massed carrier aircraft during an attempt to escape the DEI. These brave souls will be missed, though many of the sailors are able to swim safely to shore, but they will have difficulty reaching Sumatra with carriers sitting on the route and shipping mostly sunk.
CV Chiho (the one who survived 4 dud torpedoes earlier in the war) joins the CVEs parked off Merak. Allied PTs ineffective.
Saturday, January 17.
Exploiting the rest status of the CD units, Japanese begin unloading the Imperial Guards Division at Palembang under relatively light fire.
The Japanese return to Midway where an SCTF of CA Portland and CA Northampton manages to sink the transports over 2 combats.
The Japanese also return to Baker Island while the US CVs are replenishing, but the Helena and Phoenix sink the latest wave of invaders.
The Japanese invade Moulmein, beginning the full scale invasion of Burma. Units preparing to pull out ahead of their advance.
Sunday, January 18.
Allied forces at Palembang attempt to throw the Japanese back into the sea, but despite 4:1 odds in the combat end up taking more casualties, though casualties are light on both sides.
PACCOM's report.
We had hoped to have more time to rest and rebuild our troops at Palembang to be able to destroy each echelon of the Japanese invasion as it happened, but with the failure of the first day's attacks it seems likely that the Japanese will be able to keep their foothold for the forseeable future. Given their commitment here, we are moving the other Aussie CD unit to Palembang from Oosthaven and preparing to rotate out troops for rest as necessary. With level 3 fortifications and plenty of supply, it will be extremely difficult for the Japanese to actually take Palembang, but it will not be the trap to destroy divisions we had hoped either. We have to wonder when the Japanese will send air or surface units to support their invasions near Pearl. They have lost many ships and troops for no gains in that theatre so far.
Ship Losses on the Week:
CL x4
DD x4
AMC x1
Transport x16
Broadcast from Radio Tokyo on Tuesday, January 13.
Greetings everybody. This is Orphan Ann at Radio Tokyo with some music and comforting words for my poor friends out there in the Pacific. The people of Java today celebrated their liberation at Kalidjati, welcoming their friends in the Empire bringing co-prosperity to the oppressed and colonized vassals of the west. Crowds lined the street and cheered the imminent freedom from foreign rule and the bold return of freedom. Many thousands quickly volunteered to join the newly formed Liberation and Protection Army that will sweep the foreign invaders away after centuries of occupation. Soon people all over the Pacific will be free to join with the Empire as equals and throw the colonialists and invaders into the sea. Now for a victory march to lift your spirits.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Weekly Events:
Monday, January 19.
Allied forces fail in their second attempt to throw the invaders at Palembang back into the sea. We will shift to a purely defensive posture for now.
The Japanese launch a failed assault on Manila, losing 2227 soldiers to 87 for the allies.
Allied pt boats at Bandjermasin hit xAK Andes Maru with a torpedo, turning back the invasion for now.
SS S-38 manages to hit DD Akigumo with a torpedo. Ship is reported sunk by intelligence.
Tuesday, January 20.
PTs at Bandjermasin encounter xAK Andes Maru again and watch it sink with 1000 troops aboard.
A Japanese SCTF led by CA Kinugasa and CA Aotori sink a supply transport at Midway Island.
SS KXVIII puts a torpedo in CL Nishiki, last seen hitting a mine near Merak. Intelligence reports the ship as sunk.
Wednesday, January 21.
Japanese launch a failed deliberate attack on Clark Field, taking nearly 100:1 casualties. The allied commander responds with a 1:1 shock attack that inflicts 3:1 casualties in the allies favor.
Koepang on Timor falls to the Japanese advance.
The Japanese capture Pegu, with the garrison pulled out just in front of it. However, PACCOM forgot the rail line system in Burma and failed to evacuate the Rangoon garrison in advance of the fall of Pegu. The 1st Burma division will now have to try to evacuate on foot ahead of the Japanese advance.
VICTORY. The Manila garrison launches a counterattack at the Japanese, inflicting massive losses in a route. Japanese losses are reported at 118 combat squads, 87 non combat squads, 11 engineer squads, 12 guns and 13 vehicles destroyed. The 16th Japanese ID is effectively out of the war for now.
Thursday, January 22.
The CAP at Sinabang scores 15 confirmed kills against Japanese Sallies and Lilies that attack the 18th British ID.
Mindanao is lost as the Japanese destroy the last garrison at Butuan.
The American and Phillipinos at Clark Field launch another shock attack, inflicting 1411 casualties on the Japanese for the loss of 511 with a large advantage in destroyed squads.
Friday, January 23.
The Japanese continue to lose transports and troops to reinforce their attack at Palembang.
US and Phillipino forces at Clark Field seem to have reached critical mass against the Japanese. We expect to inflict a route of a division, several tank regiments, and a number of support units soon.
PTs at Bandjermasin continue their excellent work by torpedoing AMC Amagi Maru, reported on fire with heavy damage.
Saturday, January 24.
Surprise. The Kriegsmarine CB Admiral Lutzow appears to hit a troop convoy that has just left after depositing troops at Christmas Island IO. Apparently the Japanese have retrofitted her with torpedo tubes as well. 8 empty transports are sunk in the initial encounter with others at risk.
Sunday, January 25.
The Sinabang AF brings down another 9 confirmed Japanese bombers. The day is quiet otherwise.
PACCOM's Report:
The failure to evacuate the 1st Burma Division in front of the fall of Pegu probably means it will be mostly destroyed on the exit, even presuming it can escape into India and not be forced into China. The victories in the Phillipines are heartening, however, as the Japanese seem to have failed to bring enough in the first wave to defeat us. This should slow the overall Japanese advance and make them pay heavily for the eventually fall of the Manilla Defense Zone. On the other hand, while ship attrition has been excellent, the Japanese are not losing excessive amounts of troops to coastal gunfire at Palembang. Plus the defensive fire seems to focus more heavily on civilian merchants than military ones when both are present together. Still, as long as supplies hold out we figure the Japanese will need something like 8 or more divisions to have any hope of taking Palembang. However routes to run further supplies are being heavily interdicted by carrier forces sitting off Merak. Even scattered convoys and single ships are being easily spotted and sunk. All allied carriers barring Enterprise and Lexington are en route to the theatre, so we may force a landing of supplies at Oosthaven if we need to, though it is quite risky. Supplies still over 200k on Sumatra, however.
Ship losses:
Transports x20
Report from Sgt. Charles Rogers to his squad, 1st Burma Division.
Those asses at HQ forgot how to read a map again. Surely they must have realized that the only railroad out of Rangoon passes through Pegu, yet while they insisted we remain packed up for quick rail movement, they failed to issues the evacuation order. Now we have to unpack and start moving with the Japanese horde approaching. We will have to fight our way out, men, yet there is still hope. They are no match for us in low numbers and there is plenty of defensible terrain for us to occupy on our journey. So sharpen your bayonets and pack your bullets. We shall only win safety through blood, theirs and ours, but we shall win through to freedom. Remember, we protect the royal family and they must not be allowed to be captured and paraded in the streets of Bangkok for the amusement of the Japanese and Thai union. We may have a long march, but we have the courage and endurance to win through. May the glory we win place us with the bravest of our ancestors. Now, pack quickly and we march a march that will win us eternal honor and shame for those who have failed us.
Monday, January 19.
Allied forces fail in their second attempt to throw the invaders at Palembang back into the sea. We will shift to a purely defensive posture for now.
The Japanese launch a failed assault on Manila, losing 2227 soldiers to 87 for the allies.
Allied pt boats at Bandjermasin hit xAK Andes Maru with a torpedo, turning back the invasion for now.
SS S-38 manages to hit DD Akigumo with a torpedo. Ship is reported sunk by intelligence.
Tuesday, January 20.
PTs at Bandjermasin encounter xAK Andes Maru again and watch it sink with 1000 troops aboard.
A Japanese SCTF led by CA Kinugasa and CA Aotori sink a supply transport at Midway Island.
SS KXVIII puts a torpedo in CL Nishiki, last seen hitting a mine near Merak. Intelligence reports the ship as sunk.
Wednesday, January 21.
Japanese launch a failed deliberate attack on Clark Field, taking nearly 100:1 casualties. The allied commander responds with a 1:1 shock attack that inflicts 3:1 casualties in the allies favor.
Koepang on Timor falls to the Japanese advance.
The Japanese capture Pegu, with the garrison pulled out just in front of it. However, PACCOM forgot the rail line system in Burma and failed to evacuate the Rangoon garrison in advance of the fall of Pegu. The 1st Burma division will now have to try to evacuate on foot ahead of the Japanese advance.
VICTORY. The Manila garrison launches a counterattack at the Japanese, inflicting massive losses in a route. Japanese losses are reported at 118 combat squads, 87 non combat squads, 11 engineer squads, 12 guns and 13 vehicles destroyed. The 16th Japanese ID is effectively out of the war for now.
Thursday, January 22.
The CAP at Sinabang scores 15 confirmed kills against Japanese Sallies and Lilies that attack the 18th British ID.
Mindanao is lost as the Japanese destroy the last garrison at Butuan.
The American and Phillipinos at Clark Field launch another shock attack, inflicting 1411 casualties on the Japanese for the loss of 511 with a large advantage in destroyed squads.
Friday, January 23.
The Japanese continue to lose transports and troops to reinforce their attack at Palembang.
US and Phillipino forces at Clark Field seem to have reached critical mass against the Japanese. We expect to inflict a route of a division, several tank regiments, and a number of support units soon.
PTs at Bandjermasin continue their excellent work by torpedoing AMC Amagi Maru, reported on fire with heavy damage.
Saturday, January 24.
Surprise. The Kriegsmarine CB Admiral Lutzow appears to hit a troop convoy that has just left after depositing troops at Christmas Island IO. Apparently the Japanese have retrofitted her with torpedo tubes as well. 8 empty transports are sunk in the initial encounter with others at risk.
Sunday, January 25.
The Sinabang AF brings down another 9 confirmed Japanese bombers. The day is quiet otherwise.
PACCOM's Report:
The failure to evacuate the 1st Burma Division in front of the fall of Pegu probably means it will be mostly destroyed on the exit, even presuming it can escape into India and not be forced into China. The victories in the Phillipines are heartening, however, as the Japanese seem to have failed to bring enough in the first wave to defeat us. This should slow the overall Japanese advance and make them pay heavily for the eventually fall of the Manilla Defense Zone. On the other hand, while ship attrition has been excellent, the Japanese are not losing excessive amounts of troops to coastal gunfire at Palembang. Plus the defensive fire seems to focus more heavily on civilian merchants than military ones when both are present together. Still, as long as supplies hold out we figure the Japanese will need something like 8 or more divisions to have any hope of taking Palembang. However routes to run further supplies are being heavily interdicted by carrier forces sitting off Merak. Even scattered convoys and single ships are being easily spotted and sunk. All allied carriers barring Enterprise and Lexington are en route to the theatre, so we may force a landing of supplies at Oosthaven if we need to, though it is quite risky. Supplies still over 200k on Sumatra, however.
Ship losses:
Transports x20
Report from Sgt. Charles Rogers to his squad, 1st Burma Division.
Those asses at HQ forgot how to read a map again. Surely they must have realized that the only railroad out of Rangoon passes through Pegu, yet while they insisted we remain packed up for quick rail movement, they failed to issues the evacuation order. Now we have to unpack and start moving with the Japanese horde approaching. We will have to fight our way out, men, yet there is still hope. They are no match for us in low numbers and there is plenty of defensible terrain for us to occupy on our journey. So sharpen your bayonets and pack your bullets. We shall only win safety through blood, theirs and ours, but we shall win through to freedom. Remember, we protect the royal family and they must not be allowed to be captured and paraded in the streets of Bangkok for the amusement of the Japanese and Thai union. We may have a long march, but we have the courage and endurance to win through. May the glory we win place us with the bravest of our ancestors. Now, pack quickly and we march a march that will win us eternal honor and shame for those who have failed us.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Weekly Reports.
Monday, January 26.
The 14th Independent Artillery Mortar Battalion self destructs at Palembang due to counter battery fire. The Japanese continue to lose ships and troops in landings, but far fewer troops than we might have hoped.
The Helena and Phoenix continue their excellent work off Baker Island, sinking another transport and SC with nearly 1000 troops aboard.
Tuesday, January 27.
1st Burma Division escapes Rangoon with minimal losses, but the empty city is taken by the bulk of the Japanese Burma army today.
CA Azuma hits a mine off Merak. It is unfortunate that we have little way to take advantage of the time in shipyards our Merka Minefield has caused.
VICTORY. The defenders of Clark Field launch another shock attack which forces all Japanese units except the 65th ID to retreat with heavy casualties.
Wednesday, January 28.
The 65th ID is routed at Clark Field, losing 102 combat squads, 97 non combat squads, and 4 engineer squads. Its AV is down to 14 before the assault.
The Helena SCTF sinks another merchant at Baker Island.
Friday, January 30.
The Helena SCTF proves it value again with another loaded transport sunk.
Saturday, January 31.
SS S-39 pierces the destroyer screen and hits CV Chiho with 2 torpedoes, inflicting heavy damage. The ship is not believed to be sunk, but it must pass other subs to reach repair yards at Singapore.
The CA Portland SCTF encounters a Japanese SCTF lead by CA Kumao and CL Chogei at Midway Island. DMS Hopkins is sunk and the American CAs suffer some shell hits but inflict not damage despite crossing the T in full moonlight. The Japanese continue by sinking a supply transport trailing the cruisers.
Sunday, February 1.
The Enterprise and Lexington catch several Japanese transports near Baker Island, likely sinking both.
SS KIX doggedly hits CVE Aki with a torpedo. Intelligence believes ship sunk, but the commander of KIX considers it unlikely and no aircraft reported lost.
PACCOM's Report:
We are temporarily halting supply efforts to Sumatra. No ships have gotten through in the last week and several are lost in the attempt. We continue to delay the Japanese greatly in the Pearl Harbor theatre, but we failed badly in combat with their first surface counter attack. Supply consumption is higher than hoped in Sumatra, so we intend to stop bombardments soon, as we have already gotten valuable experience for our troops. Overall, the success of our strategic plan does depend heavily on the successful defense of Sumatra, but it seems to be reasonably successful so far. Few developments otherwise.
Ships lost:
Transports x5
SS x1
TK x1
BBC Interview Excerpt with SLDR R.E.P. Brooker, first and leading ace of the Pacific War. January 31st, 1942. Released after the war.
Interviewer: What was your thought when the war began?
Brooker: My squadron had been stationed in India for several years by this point. We knew we might be put on the defensive line, and I was a little bit excited about the prospect. I had some butterflies in the stomach, as they say, but I had asked for a transfer to the Mediterranean in the past and been denied.
Interviewer: Why do you think that was?
Brooker: I am not sure. I like to think that fate had something in store for me. Perhaps the gods favor this Oxford lad with a chance for glory.
Interviewer: When did you first encounter the enemy?
Brooker: At the beginning of January a transport dropped our airplanes onto the island of Sinabang. Enemy bombers were sinking transports left and right, but the engineers hadn't even had time to carve out a little airstrip in the jungle yet. Plus, our machines had been disassembled a bit to allow transport. We could only watch brave sailors fight off bombers with machine guns while we sat on the shore. It was rather depressing.
Interviewer: What was your first kill?
Brooker: Last week, we finally had an airstrip operational and we were finally able to launch patrols. The Japanese knew the 18th Division had landed on the island and were trying to bomb it. They did not expect us. We dove out of the sun from behind and managed to splash nearly every last one of them. It was a great feeling after being subject to bombing for 2 weeks without the ability to fight back.
Monday, January 26.
The 14th Independent Artillery Mortar Battalion self destructs at Palembang due to counter battery fire. The Japanese continue to lose ships and troops in landings, but far fewer troops than we might have hoped.
The Helena and Phoenix continue their excellent work off Baker Island, sinking another transport and SC with nearly 1000 troops aboard.
Tuesday, January 27.
1st Burma Division escapes Rangoon with minimal losses, but the empty city is taken by the bulk of the Japanese Burma army today.
CA Azuma hits a mine off Merak. It is unfortunate that we have little way to take advantage of the time in shipyards our Merka Minefield has caused.
VICTORY. The defenders of Clark Field launch another shock attack which forces all Japanese units except the 65th ID to retreat with heavy casualties.
Wednesday, January 28.
The 65th ID is routed at Clark Field, losing 102 combat squads, 97 non combat squads, and 4 engineer squads. Its AV is down to 14 before the assault.
The Helena SCTF sinks another merchant at Baker Island.
Friday, January 30.
The Helena SCTF proves it value again with another loaded transport sunk.
Saturday, January 31.
SS S-39 pierces the destroyer screen and hits CV Chiho with 2 torpedoes, inflicting heavy damage. The ship is not believed to be sunk, but it must pass other subs to reach repair yards at Singapore.
The CA Portland SCTF encounters a Japanese SCTF lead by CA Kumao and CL Chogei at Midway Island. DMS Hopkins is sunk and the American CAs suffer some shell hits but inflict not damage despite crossing the T in full moonlight. The Japanese continue by sinking a supply transport trailing the cruisers.
Sunday, February 1.
The Enterprise and Lexington catch several Japanese transports near Baker Island, likely sinking both.
SS KIX doggedly hits CVE Aki with a torpedo. Intelligence believes ship sunk, but the commander of KIX considers it unlikely and no aircraft reported lost.
PACCOM's Report:
We are temporarily halting supply efforts to Sumatra. No ships have gotten through in the last week and several are lost in the attempt. We continue to delay the Japanese greatly in the Pearl Harbor theatre, but we failed badly in combat with their first surface counter attack. Supply consumption is higher than hoped in Sumatra, so we intend to stop bombardments soon, as we have already gotten valuable experience for our troops. Overall, the success of our strategic plan does depend heavily on the successful defense of Sumatra, but it seems to be reasonably successful so far. Few developments otherwise.
Ships lost:
Transports x5
SS x1
TK x1
BBC Interview Excerpt with SLDR R.E.P. Brooker, first and leading ace of the Pacific War. January 31st, 1942. Released after the war.
Interviewer: What was your thought when the war began?
Brooker: My squadron had been stationed in India for several years by this point. We knew we might be put on the defensive line, and I was a little bit excited about the prospect. I had some butterflies in the stomach, as they say, but I had asked for a transfer to the Mediterranean in the past and been denied.
Interviewer: Why do you think that was?
Brooker: I am not sure. I like to think that fate had something in store for me. Perhaps the gods favor this Oxford lad with a chance for glory.
Interviewer: When did you first encounter the enemy?
Brooker: At the beginning of January a transport dropped our airplanes onto the island of Sinabang. Enemy bombers were sinking transports left and right, but the engineers hadn't even had time to carve out a little airstrip in the jungle yet. Plus, our machines had been disassembled a bit to allow transport. We could only watch brave sailors fight off bombers with machine guns while we sat on the shore. It was rather depressing.
Interviewer: What was your first kill?
Brooker: Last week, we finally had an airstrip operational and we were finally able to launch patrols. The Japanese knew the 18th Division had landed on the island and were trying to bomb it. They did not expect us. We dove out of the sun from behind and managed to splash nearly every last one of them. It was a great feeling after being subject to bombing for 2 weeks without the ability to fight back.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Events of the Week.
Monday, February 2.
Merak falls to Japanese invasion.
Tuesday, February 3.
The Japanese 53rd ID lands at Palembang.
Wednesday, February 4.
SS Sturgeon bounces 4 dud torpedoes off the hull of CVE Iwami near Cam Ranh Bay.
Friday, February 6.
Fresh Japanese reinforcements arrive at Clark Field. Both sides shock attack resulting in roughly equal casualties, but the Japanese lose nearly 100 combat squads destroyed to 20 for the allies.
Tjilatjap and Batavia both fall to the Japanese advance in Java.
The captain of the SS Sturgeon sends a threating communique to BuOrd after bouncing 4 more torpedoes off the hull of CVE Aki (previously reported sunk after taking a torpedo from KIX).
Saturday, February 7.
Enterprise and Lexington catch another transport TF near Baker Island. While two veteran pilots are lost to FlAK, the entire convoy is believed sunk with 2000+ casualties.
Japanese followup attack at Clark Field achieves 2:1 odds and reduces fortifications to 0, but suffers 114 destroyed non combat and 90 destroyed engineering squads for only 257 allied casualties.
Sunday, February 8.
Several small merchants attempting to run supplies past the blockade to Sumatra are found and sunk by carrier aircraft.
The Enterprise catches and sinks AK Midori Maru and PB Tama Maru heading toward Canton Island.
The Japanese capture Milne Bay, tightening the noose on Port Blair.
PACCOM's Report.
The Seige of Sumatra continues We continue to be unable to prevent Japanese landings, but their shipping is taking heavy losses to do so. Java is more than 50% held by the Japanese with almost no forces left active. We continue to build our infrastructure and hold out at our chosen defensive line. There is little more for us to do at present.
Ships lost:
Merchants x2
TK x1
Radio Transmission from Captain Glass, formerly of CL Marblehead, currently marooned on Java.
We have holed up in the mountains west of Bandoeng with all the survivors we can gather and various locals who fear the Japanese occupation. Several pro-Japanese militia groups have attempted to attack us, but they have been successfully driven off each time. The Japanese have captured everything west of us, so it may be a while before we are able to reach the coast and attempt to reach Sumatra. We have provisions for many months and are working out a series of tunnels and caves that should protect us from aerial attack. Continuing to follow orders to reach friendly territory, but we are prepared to do whatever is necessary for the war effort.
Monday, February 2.
Merak falls to Japanese invasion.
Tuesday, February 3.
The Japanese 53rd ID lands at Palembang.
Wednesday, February 4.
SS Sturgeon bounces 4 dud torpedoes off the hull of CVE Iwami near Cam Ranh Bay.
Friday, February 6.
Fresh Japanese reinforcements arrive at Clark Field. Both sides shock attack resulting in roughly equal casualties, but the Japanese lose nearly 100 combat squads destroyed to 20 for the allies.
Tjilatjap and Batavia both fall to the Japanese advance in Java.
The captain of the SS Sturgeon sends a threating communique to BuOrd after bouncing 4 more torpedoes off the hull of CVE Aki (previously reported sunk after taking a torpedo from KIX).
Saturday, February 7.
Enterprise and Lexington catch another transport TF near Baker Island. While two veteran pilots are lost to FlAK, the entire convoy is believed sunk with 2000+ casualties.
Japanese followup attack at Clark Field achieves 2:1 odds and reduces fortifications to 0, but suffers 114 destroyed non combat and 90 destroyed engineering squads for only 257 allied casualties.
Sunday, February 8.
Several small merchants attempting to run supplies past the blockade to Sumatra are found and sunk by carrier aircraft.
The Enterprise catches and sinks AK Midori Maru and PB Tama Maru heading toward Canton Island.
The Japanese capture Milne Bay, tightening the noose on Port Blair.
PACCOM's Report.
The Seige of Sumatra continues We continue to be unable to prevent Japanese landings, but their shipping is taking heavy losses to do so. Java is more than 50% held by the Japanese with almost no forces left active. We continue to build our infrastructure and hold out at our chosen defensive line. There is little more for us to do at present.
Ships lost:
Merchants x2
TK x1
Radio Transmission from Captain Glass, formerly of CL Marblehead, currently marooned on Java.
We have holed up in the mountains west of Bandoeng with all the survivors we can gather and various locals who fear the Japanese occupation. Several pro-Japanese militia groups have attempted to attack us, but they have been successfully driven off each time. The Japanese have captured everything west of us, so it may be a while before we are able to reach the coast and attempt to reach Sumatra. We have provisions for many months and are working out a series of tunnels and caves that should protect us from aerial attack. Continuing to follow orders to reach friendly territory, but we are prepared to do whatever is necessary for the war effort.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Events of the War: Week 10.
Monday, February 9.
British SS Truant puts 3 torpedoes into AMC Hiyo Maru near Rangoon. Our sub presence along this resupply route is slowly increasing as we pull more out of the DEI routes for repairs at Colombo.
Wednesday, February 11.
4+ Japanese divisions catch the 1st Burma Division at Magwe and force it to retreat with heavy losses.
Thursday, February 12.
The Japanese finally respond to our CL Helena TF near Baker Island by air. Betties (presumably from Tarawa) attack ineffectively. The SCTF will start moving in its patrol.
Saturday, February 14.
After weeks of constant reinforcement, the Japanese attack at Palembang and reduce the forts to level 2. They take 6:1 casualities and fair high destroyed, but their engineers are a pain. Supply usage is higher than I would like, as they land (and lose) fresh transports nearly every day which flips my combat units back to bombardment.
PACCOM's Report:
The pieces are set and the fighting continues. The trend of increasing Japanese commitment to Palembang is somewhat worrying, as well as the continued presence of large numbers of carriers and lba search which prevent anything but single extremely small transports from ever landing supplies. Nevertheless, we figure to have 3 months of supplies at full consumption at the least and are beginning to plan relief efforts. It will be a challenge, certainly, but we are willing to risk plenty to secure Sumatra. Our mistakes in Burma hurt us this week as the Japanese bloodied the 1st Burma ID and flanked us by capturing Mandalay north of us. The current plan is to retreat to China. The 4 Chinese corps that are currently reaching India will more than make up for the loss of the 1st Burma for defensive purposes.
The real concern for us is that the Japanese continue massive carrier patrols in the DEI. We might hope they reconfigure after the near term fall of Soerabaja, but they make it impossible for slower transports to reach port in Sumatra safely. The only success we've had so far is small fast transport units of apds. More apds have been converted but it will take a while before Cocos has adequate fuel and all the APDs can converge to make that even remotely viable. We plan to use Palembang long term as a training ground for green combat elements once we can secure our supply lines. Surprisingly the Japanese have not invaded western Sumatra yet. We also wish they would open a major new front to distract them from their operations in the DEI.
Report from Asiatic Fleet HQ to PACCOM.
Manila Harbor is still quite secure, but Clark Field is probably a lost cause. After the Japanese were rebuffed, they returned in force and smashe the last layers of defense. We grow weaker and our enemies grow stronger. Our forces are low on supply and suffer constant disabling air and ground bombardments to which we have no response. We sit here watching the bombs fall. Watching comrades be blown apart by shrapnel. Watch the shells fall into our lines. Watch and wait for the end. Morale is dropping despite our victories. But we will hold out as long as we can. We have no other choice. There is no other choice.
Monday, February 9.
British SS Truant puts 3 torpedoes into AMC Hiyo Maru near Rangoon. Our sub presence along this resupply route is slowly increasing as we pull more out of the DEI routes for repairs at Colombo.
Wednesday, February 11.
4+ Japanese divisions catch the 1st Burma Division at Magwe and force it to retreat with heavy losses.
Thursday, February 12.
The Japanese finally respond to our CL Helena TF near Baker Island by air. Betties (presumably from Tarawa) attack ineffectively. The SCTF will start moving in its patrol.
Saturday, February 14.
After weeks of constant reinforcement, the Japanese attack at Palembang and reduce the forts to level 2. They take 6:1 casualities and fair high destroyed, but their engineers are a pain. Supply usage is higher than I would like, as they land (and lose) fresh transports nearly every day which flips my combat units back to bombardment.
PACCOM's Report:
The pieces are set and the fighting continues. The trend of increasing Japanese commitment to Palembang is somewhat worrying, as well as the continued presence of large numbers of carriers and lba search which prevent anything but single extremely small transports from ever landing supplies. Nevertheless, we figure to have 3 months of supplies at full consumption at the least and are beginning to plan relief efforts. It will be a challenge, certainly, but we are willing to risk plenty to secure Sumatra. Our mistakes in Burma hurt us this week as the Japanese bloodied the 1st Burma ID and flanked us by capturing Mandalay north of us. The current plan is to retreat to China. The 4 Chinese corps that are currently reaching India will more than make up for the loss of the 1st Burma for defensive purposes.
The real concern for us is that the Japanese continue massive carrier patrols in the DEI. We might hope they reconfigure after the near term fall of Soerabaja, but they make it impossible for slower transports to reach port in Sumatra safely. The only success we've had so far is small fast transport units of apds. More apds have been converted but it will take a while before Cocos has adequate fuel and all the APDs can converge to make that even remotely viable. We plan to use Palembang long term as a training ground for green combat elements once we can secure our supply lines. Surprisingly the Japanese have not invaded western Sumatra yet. We also wish they would open a major new front to distract them from their operations in the DEI.
Report from Asiatic Fleet HQ to PACCOM.
Manila Harbor is still quite secure, but Clark Field is probably a lost cause. After the Japanese were rebuffed, they returned in force and smashe the last layers of defense. We grow weaker and our enemies grow stronger. Our forces are low on supply and suffer constant disabling air and ground bombardments to which we have no response. We sit here watching the bombs fall. Watching comrades be blown apart by shrapnel. Watch the shells fall into our lines. Watch and wait for the end. Morale is dropping despite our victories. But we will hold out as long as we can. We have no other choice. There is no other choice.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Events of the War: Week 11.
Tuesday, February 17.
The Japanese find our rerouted SCTF near Baker Island and put a torpedo into CL Phoenix. The torpedo fortunately does minimal damage.
The Japanese attack again at Palembang and suffer heavily to cut the fortifications down to 1. Not a single allied soldier or piece of equipment is reported damaged.
Japanese ground losses:
4891 casualties reported
Squads: 76 destroyed, 212 disabled
Non Combat: 86 destroyed, 119 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Thursday, February 19.
Japanese spot and sink xAP Kepong at Benkoelen. This small transport had been smuggling supplies in past the blockade. But even single small transports are being spotted and sunk now.
The Japanese attack again at Palembang, suffering over 100:1 casualties. Forts are undamaged by this attack and will soon be back over level 2.
Japanese ground losses:
5263 casualties reported
Squads: 54 destroyed, 280 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 154 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
SS Gudgeon commander threatens BuOrd chiefs after bouncing 6 torpedoes off the hulls of 2 different Japanese AOs.
SUnday, February 22.
British fighters on Sinabang confirm kills on 3 Oscars and 5 Lilies for no losses in fighting today.
PACCOM's Report.
Very little news this week. Once again, Palembang seems unable to fall as long as supplies last. The Japanese have commited quite a large portion of men and material, however. Japanese units identified at Palembang are as follows:
53rd Division
41st Guard Division
74th Infantry Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
15th Guards Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
5th Garrison Unit
77th Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
54th Div /2
15th JAAF Base Force
We did find a flaw in our logistics. Cocos Island is currently out of fuel, which we are now shipping from Capetown. A lack of fuel will slow our fast transport supply runs for the next month.
Ship losses on the week:
Transport x3.
SS x2.
Report from the shipyards at Pearl Harbor.
The Great White Fleet repairs continue well. Pennsylvania still requires months of repair, and Maryland and Oklahoma still require over a year of repairs. But the other 5 BBs should be operational and upgraded within the month. The rapid pace of repair and our victories at Midway and Baker have kept morale high here on base. Scuttlebutt around base says many ships may be sent to Australia in the near future while the Australian forces ship to Perth and the DEI. In the meantime, the weather is warm. The women here are very pleasant and generous towards us. After the initial terror, war doesn't seem so bad here in Hawaii.
Tuesday, February 17.
The Japanese find our rerouted SCTF near Baker Island and put a torpedo into CL Phoenix. The torpedo fortunately does minimal damage.
The Japanese attack again at Palembang and suffer heavily to cut the fortifications down to 1. Not a single allied soldier or piece of equipment is reported damaged.
Japanese ground losses:
4891 casualties reported
Squads: 76 destroyed, 212 disabled
Non Combat: 86 destroyed, 119 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Thursday, February 19.
Japanese spot and sink xAP Kepong at Benkoelen. This small transport had been smuggling supplies in past the blockade. But even single small transports are being spotted and sunk now.
The Japanese attack again at Palembang, suffering over 100:1 casualties. Forts are undamaged by this attack and will soon be back over level 2.
Japanese ground losses:
5263 casualties reported
Squads: 54 destroyed, 280 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 154 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
SS Gudgeon commander threatens BuOrd chiefs after bouncing 6 torpedoes off the hulls of 2 different Japanese AOs.
SUnday, February 22.
British fighters on Sinabang confirm kills on 3 Oscars and 5 Lilies for no losses in fighting today.
PACCOM's Report.
Very little news this week. Once again, Palembang seems unable to fall as long as supplies last. The Japanese have commited quite a large portion of men and material, however. Japanese units identified at Palembang are as follows:
53rd Division
41st Guard Division
74th Infantry Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
15th Guards Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
5th Garrison Unit
77th Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
54th Div /2
15th JAAF Base Force
We did find a flaw in our logistics. Cocos Island is currently out of fuel, which we are now shipping from Capetown. A lack of fuel will slow our fast transport supply runs for the next month.
Ship losses on the week:
Transport x3.
SS x2.
Report from the shipyards at Pearl Harbor.
The Great White Fleet repairs continue well. Pennsylvania still requires months of repair, and Maryland and Oklahoma still require over a year of repairs. But the other 5 BBs should be operational and upgraded within the month. The rapid pace of repair and our victories at Midway and Baker have kept morale high here on base. Scuttlebutt around base says many ships may be sent to Australia in the near future while the Australian forces ship to Perth and the DEI. In the meantime, the weather is warm. The women here are very pleasant and generous towards us. After the initial terror, war doesn't seem so bad here in Hawaii.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Events of the War: Week 12
Wednesday, February 25.
Clark Field falls after several weeks of brutal bombardments by fresh artillery and air units. Survivors retreat into Manila, leaving Bataan likely next to fall.
Thursday, February 26.
The Japanese attack again once the Palembang defenses go above 2. They reduce them back down, but suffer massive casualties.
Japanese ground losses:
8881 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 359 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 352 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 77 disabled
Guns lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Allied forces were nearly unharmed.
Friday, February 27.
Soerabaja falls after a short seige. Java is now completely under Japanese control.
PT TM-9 at Bandermasin earns special commendations for landing 2 torpedoes and sinking AMC Amagi Maru, inflicting 1749 casualties.
Saturday, February 28.
PT TM-8, fleeing toward Oosthaven with surviving brethren, encounters 3 CVS, BB Yamato, and escorts during the day. A single shell sinks this plucky boat at 19,000 yards.
PACCOM's report.
Another relatively quiet week. The Phillipines will likely fall before the end of March and the Japanese continue to land forces at Palembang, but the rate of transports has slowed down considerably. Perhaps with the fall of Java, the Japanese carriers will depart for other operations and leave Sumatra a little more open to resupply.
Ship losses:
SS x1.
TK x1.
Report to China Command from MGEN Chao Yu, 5th Corps, currently located in Bombay.
The men are adjusting to their new accommodations quite well. Australian and British advisors continue to train our staff officers and the men continue to train and drill. The abundance of military supplies is a welcome change from our previous posting. The largest change for me are the ships. Most of the coast has been lost to us for so many years that even normal ships have been a rarity for any of the men, but massive merchants and transports, not to mention warships, commonly dock in the harbor. The men have been training on ships in preparation for a possible deployment by sea. The other corps have been stationed closer to the border, but we may be deployed in an amphibious manner. It will take months of training in my estimation. It is fortunate that so many of us are here, however, as relations between our soldiers and the locals have been uncomfortable at best. We may be tolerated, but we are not exactly welcomed here. Still, soon we will have the chance to fight the Japanese on equal terms, and that may be worth all the difficulties we have endured on the long march and in this foreign land.
Wednesday, February 25.
Clark Field falls after several weeks of brutal bombardments by fresh artillery and air units. Survivors retreat into Manila, leaving Bataan likely next to fall.
Thursday, February 26.
The Japanese attack again once the Palembang defenses go above 2. They reduce them back down, but suffer massive casualties.
Japanese ground losses:
8881 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 359 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 352 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 77 disabled
Guns lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Allied forces were nearly unharmed.
Friday, February 27.
Soerabaja falls after a short seige. Java is now completely under Japanese control.
PT TM-9 at Bandermasin earns special commendations for landing 2 torpedoes and sinking AMC Amagi Maru, inflicting 1749 casualties.
Saturday, February 28.
PT TM-8, fleeing toward Oosthaven with surviving brethren, encounters 3 CVS, BB Yamato, and escorts during the day. A single shell sinks this plucky boat at 19,000 yards.
PACCOM's report.
Another relatively quiet week. The Phillipines will likely fall before the end of March and the Japanese continue to land forces at Palembang, but the rate of transports has slowed down considerably. Perhaps with the fall of Java, the Japanese carriers will depart for other operations and leave Sumatra a little more open to resupply.
Ship losses:
SS x1.
TK x1.
Report to China Command from MGEN Chao Yu, 5th Corps, currently located in Bombay.
The men are adjusting to their new accommodations quite well. Australian and British advisors continue to train our staff officers and the men continue to train and drill. The abundance of military supplies is a welcome change from our previous posting. The largest change for me are the ships. Most of the coast has been lost to us for so many years that even normal ships have been a rarity for any of the men, but massive merchants and transports, not to mention warships, commonly dock in the harbor. The men have been training on ships in preparation for a possible deployment by sea. The other corps have been stationed closer to the border, but we may be deployed in an amphibious manner. It will take months of training in my estimation. It is fortunate that so many of us are here, however, as relations between our soldiers and the locals have been uncomfortable at best. We may be tolerated, but we are not exactly welcomed here. Still, soon we will have the chance to fight the Japanese on equal terms, and that may be worth all the difficulties we have endured on the long march and in this foreign land.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Events of the War: Week 13.
Tuesday, March 3.
The Japanese begin landing at Port Moresby. Most of the defenders have been back in Australia for a month, so the port is not expected to hold long.
After two months of brave defense by PT boats which now guard Oosthaven, the Japanese finally return to Bandjermasin in Borneo and capture it.
Wednesday, March 4.
A Japanese carrier force appears off Perth, using airstrikes to put a torpedo into CL Achilles, which was transferring toward the Cocos Island theatre of operations. The other cruisers try to intercept on their way to port.
After months of rest and training, the Chinese reenter the war in a big way by capturing Loyang and inflicting 4328 casualties on the fleeing defenders.
Bataan falls. Manila is the last surviving stronghold in the Phillipine Islands.
Thursday, March 5.
Port Moresby falls to the Japanese advance.
Saturday, March 7.
The Chinese advance in northern China continues with the capture of Tsiaotso, inflicting nearly 10:1 casualties.
SS I-5 torpedoes CA Pensacola near Sydney. Pensacola was supposed to be near Perth at this time, but now her stcf must return to Sydney for repairs.
Sunday, March 8, 1942.
The Japanese capture Muntok off the coast of Sumatra.
PACCOM's Report.
The Chinese are moving all across the country, having taken advantage of several months of peace to train up, restore morale, and reequip their forces. We expect to be able to inflict a number of retreats on the Japanese and hopefully capture some additional supply generating territory. Our goal in the north is to free the clustered cities near Kaifeng and establish a defensive line in the rough forests to block the rail lines for reinforcements out of Manchuria. In the south, we believe that Canton in vulnerable to capture. If we can capture Canton and put sufficient force into the outskirts of Hong Kong, we might be able to trap the Japanese and prevent proper reinforcement. We've also send some reserves to the Indochina border to clear it of Japanese advance. In central China, the goal will simply be to route whatever Japanese units we might. Long term, we hope to threaten Hankow enough to draw Japanese assaults on troops holed up in the outskirts. Such fighting should provide an excellent meat grinder that plays to our advantages. The carriers off Perth caught us by surprise, but we hope it will mean some troop movement in that direction. Geraldton has been prepared as a poison pawn for the Japanese advance. Armor units are hiding to the east of it while Perth has been heavily fortified by several Australian divisions, soon to be reinforced by several American divisions and CD units out of Capetown. Further Austalian and American units are in stand by positions. Ideally, the Japanese will capture Geraldton as a base of operations for attacking Australia. Once they have shipped enough divisions into Australia and moved on Perth, our armor will converge on Geraldton and trap them with no ability to resupply except under cd fire in Geraldton. Of course, there is no guarantee the Japanese will oblige, but Australia should be effectively defended from any route of Japanese advance. Pearl Harbor is still defended by 2 American infanty divisions and as much of the 2nd Marine division as is available has been fortifying Christmas Island. Overall, we are pleased with our progress and a lack of further landings in Sumatra. Even western Sumatra is still secure.
Exerpt from a report from John Collins, staff officer from Asiatic HQ, recently captured at Baatan and escaped to Manila.
There were very few proper infantry troops left when Command issued the surrender order at Bataan; we were mostly just down to support staff. We did have enough time to successfully destroy any critical documents. But after the surrender, the Japanese commander was extremely harsh and refused us rations. After nearly a week without food and with only what water we could scavenge within the perimeter, rumors started that we were to be marched north toward the coast to be put on transports for Japan. Already suffering from a lack of supplies, many of us tried to sneak out of camp toward Manilla once the march started. The Japanese were laughing as they gunned down man after man, but a few of us reached deep enough cover that we managed to slip through the lines to Manilla. The bulk of our forces are there and we will need to hold out a long time or face the same brutal fate as prisoners, unless the commander here is more generous. I can only hope for the best for those poor souls marching north now and grab my rifle more closely until we face our fate here.
Tuesday, March 3.
The Japanese begin landing at Port Moresby. Most of the defenders have been back in Australia for a month, so the port is not expected to hold long.
After two months of brave defense by PT boats which now guard Oosthaven, the Japanese finally return to Bandjermasin in Borneo and capture it.
Wednesday, March 4.
A Japanese carrier force appears off Perth, using airstrikes to put a torpedo into CL Achilles, which was transferring toward the Cocos Island theatre of operations. The other cruisers try to intercept on their way to port.
After months of rest and training, the Chinese reenter the war in a big way by capturing Loyang and inflicting 4328 casualties on the fleeing defenders.
Bataan falls. Manila is the last surviving stronghold in the Phillipine Islands.
Thursday, March 5.
Port Moresby falls to the Japanese advance.
Saturday, March 7.
The Chinese advance in northern China continues with the capture of Tsiaotso, inflicting nearly 10:1 casualties.
SS I-5 torpedoes CA Pensacola near Sydney. Pensacola was supposed to be near Perth at this time, but now her stcf must return to Sydney for repairs.
Sunday, March 8, 1942.
The Japanese capture Muntok off the coast of Sumatra.
PACCOM's Report.
The Chinese are moving all across the country, having taken advantage of several months of peace to train up, restore morale, and reequip their forces. We expect to be able to inflict a number of retreats on the Japanese and hopefully capture some additional supply generating territory. Our goal in the north is to free the clustered cities near Kaifeng and establish a defensive line in the rough forests to block the rail lines for reinforcements out of Manchuria. In the south, we believe that Canton in vulnerable to capture. If we can capture Canton and put sufficient force into the outskirts of Hong Kong, we might be able to trap the Japanese and prevent proper reinforcement. We've also send some reserves to the Indochina border to clear it of Japanese advance. In central China, the goal will simply be to route whatever Japanese units we might. Long term, we hope to threaten Hankow enough to draw Japanese assaults on troops holed up in the outskirts. Such fighting should provide an excellent meat grinder that plays to our advantages. The carriers off Perth caught us by surprise, but we hope it will mean some troop movement in that direction. Geraldton has been prepared as a poison pawn for the Japanese advance. Armor units are hiding to the east of it while Perth has been heavily fortified by several Australian divisions, soon to be reinforced by several American divisions and CD units out of Capetown. Further Austalian and American units are in stand by positions. Ideally, the Japanese will capture Geraldton as a base of operations for attacking Australia. Once they have shipped enough divisions into Australia and moved on Perth, our armor will converge on Geraldton and trap them with no ability to resupply except under cd fire in Geraldton. Of course, there is no guarantee the Japanese will oblige, but Australia should be effectively defended from any route of Japanese advance. Pearl Harbor is still defended by 2 American infanty divisions and as much of the 2nd Marine division as is available has been fortifying Christmas Island. Overall, we are pleased with our progress and a lack of further landings in Sumatra. Even western Sumatra is still secure.
Exerpt from a report from John Collins, staff officer from Asiatic HQ, recently captured at Baatan and escaped to Manila.
There were very few proper infantry troops left when Command issued the surrender order at Bataan; we were mostly just down to support staff. We did have enough time to successfully destroy any critical documents. But after the surrender, the Japanese commander was extremely harsh and refused us rations. After nearly a week without food and with only what water we could scavenge within the perimeter, rumors started that we were to be marched north toward the coast to be put on transports for Japan. Already suffering from a lack of supplies, many of us tried to sneak out of camp toward Manilla once the march started. The Japanese were laughing as they gunned down man after man, but a few of us reached deep enough cover that we managed to slip through the lines to Manilla. The bulk of our forces are there and we will need to hold out a long time or face the same brutal fate as prisoners, unless the commander here is more generous. I can only hope for the best for those poor souls marching north now and grab my rifle more closely until we face our fate here.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Events of the War: Week 14.
Monday, March 9.
An unescorted Betty raid on the 7th Armoured Brigade in Calcutta results in 11 bombers confirmed down.
Tuesday, March 10.
The Chinese catch the traitorous 23rd RGC Temp. Division and nearly wipe it out.
A Japanese Attack and Manila results in 4:1 Japanese casualties, but the bombardments are deadly and Manila is weakening.
Wednesday, March 11.
The Japanese carriers remain off the Perth area, and an attack today results in a nasty bomb hit on CA Australia.
The invasion of Timor has begun.
Friday, March 13.
The Chinese have successfully marched 100,000 soldiers into the outskirts of Hankow and begun digging in. A Japanese counterattack suffers over 20,000 casualties.
SS Thresher bounces 4 dud torpedoes off the hull of CVL Chiyoda near Tokyo.
Saturday, March 14.
The invasion of Australia has begun. The Japanese unload troops at Geraldton near Perth.
The Chinese advance in the north continues with the capture of Kaoping. Another 8000 Japanese soldiers die in a futile counterattack at Hankow.
Sunday, March 15.
Japanese CVs have circled around Perth and are now attacking Melbourne by air, sinking several mine sweepers.
The Japanese take Geraldton.
Japanese counterattacks to the Chinese advance into their bases across northern China fail. Most spectacularly, the Japanese suffer nearly 25:1 casualties at Kaifeng.
After a week of constant, brutal attacks by 6 Japanese divisions and many artillery and tank units, Manila falls.
PACCOM's Report.
The reason for the Japanese carriers off Perth for the last week is revealed as the invasion of Australia has begun. While in some ways this is a blow to allied morale, this is an excellent sign for the war effort. It likely means no further reinforcements are coming to the Japanese at Palembang, who will be unable to seriously threaten the city now. It also means that Perth, which has been well fortified with Australian and American infantry divisions. The 1st Australian armored BDE is being moved east of Geraldton out of recon range for a possible counter attack. The Japanese will only lose whatever they commit to Australia, and their efforts there will weaken them elsewhere. Overall, from the perspective of the war effort, the Japanese invasion of Australia toward our prepared positions is a great strategic victory. On the negative side of the ledger, Manila has fallen. Six Japanese divisions supported by numerous artillery brigades and tanks shocked attacked 6 different times this week and have shredded the fortifications and the morale of the defenders, who were under constant air attack as well. The Japanese have lost over 10,000 soldiers in Manila this week, but all 40,000 defenders have surrendered.
Ship losses:
4 transports.
Civilian Alert from the Melbourne Defense Council, dated March 15, 1942.
Attention all merchants and pleasure vessels in Melbourne harbor. Search aircraft have spotted Japanese carriers approaching from the West and they are expected to raid the harbor in the next day or two. All civilians are advised to disembark from their vessels and wait inside fortifications inside the city proper until the threat has passed. Japanese aircraft have proven very lethal to small shipping and may target pleasure vessels as a philosophical gesture or target practice. Additionally, the carrier escorts may be tempted to raid the harbor to sink shipping. Once again, carriers have been spotted and civilians are urge to remain on shore during the passage of the carriers. The Australian military is planning an ambush should the opportunity arise and urges you to not present targets of opportunity in the interim. Your assistance can be invaluable in fortifying the city with sandbags and otherwise helping the military effort while your vessels are unavailable. As always, the city of Melbourne Defense Council thanks you for your assistance in these difficult times.
Monday, March 9.
An unescorted Betty raid on the 7th Armoured Brigade in Calcutta results in 11 bombers confirmed down.
Tuesday, March 10.
The Chinese catch the traitorous 23rd RGC Temp. Division and nearly wipe it out.
A Japanese Attack and Manila results in 4:1 Japanese casualties, but the bombardments are deadly and Manila is weakening.
Wednesday, March 11.
The Japanese carriers remain off the Perth area, and an attack today results in a nasty bomb hit on CA Australia.
The invasion of Timor has begun.
Friday, March 13.
The Chinese have successfully marched 100,000 soldiers into the outskirts of Hankow and begun digging in. A Japanese counterattack suffers over 20,000 casualties.
SS Thresher bounces 4 dud torpedoes off the hull of CVL Chiyoda near Tokyo.
Saturday, March 14.
The invasion of Australia has begun. The Japanese unload troops at Geraldton near Perth.
The Chinese advance in the north continues with the capture of Kaoping. Another 8000 Japanese soldiers die in a futile counterattack at Hankow.
Sunday, March 15.
Japanese CVs have circled around Perth and are now attacking Melbourne by air, sinking several mine sweepers.
The Japanese take Geraldton.
Japanese counterattacks to the Chinese advance into their bases across northern China fail. Most spectacularly, the Japanese suffer nearly 25:1 casualties at Kaifeng.
After a week of constant, brutal attacks by 6 Japanese divisions and many artillery and tank units, Manila falls.
PACCOM's Report.
The reason for the Japanese carriers off Perth for the last week is revealed as the invasion of Australia has begun. While in some ways this is a blow to allied morale, this is an excellent sign for the war effort. It likely means no further reinforcements are coming to the Japanese at Palembang, who will be unable to seriously threaten the city now. It also means that Perth, which has been well fortified with Australian and American infantry divisions. The 1st Australian armored BDE is being moved east of Geraldton out of recon range for a possible counter attack. The Japanese will only lose whatever they commit to Australia, and their efforts there will weaken them elsewhere. Overall, from the perspective of the war effort, the Japanese invasion of Australia toward our prepared positions is a great strategic victory. On the negative side of the ledger, Manila has fallen. Six Japanese divisions supported by numerous artillery brigades and tanks shocked attacked 6 different times this week and have shredded the fortifications and the morale of the defenders, who were under constant air attack as well. The Japanese have lost over 10,000 soldiers in Manila this week, but all 40,000 defenders have surrendered.
Ship losses:
4 transports.
Civilian Alert from the Melbourne Defense Council, dated March 15, 1942.
Attention all merchants and pleasure vessels in Melbourne harbor. Search aircraft have spotted Japanese carriers approaching from the West and they are expected to raid the harbor in the next day or two. All civilians are advised to disembark from their vessels and wait inside fortifications inside the city proper until the threat has passed. Japanese aircraft have proven very lethal to small shipping and may target pleasure vessels as a philosophical gesture or target practice. Additionally, the carrier escorts may be tempted to raid the harbor to sink shipping. Once again, carriers have been spotted and civilians are urge to remain on shore during the passage of the carriers. The Australian military is planning an ambush should the opportunity arise and urges you to not present targets of opportunity in the interim. Your assistance can be invaluable in fortifying the city with sandbags and otherwise helping the military effort while your vessels are unavailable. As always, the city of Melbourne Defense Council thanks you for your assistance in these difficult times.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Events of the War: Week 15.
Monday, March 16, 1942.
The Japanese carrier force off Melbourne is encountered by a local minesweeper, which confirrms CV Hosho, CVL Chitose and BB Musashi.
Tuesday, March 17.
A second Japanese carrier force approaches Sydney from the north. Air attacks all along the coast and as far inland as Wagga Wagga. All the cruisers in Sydney harbor take bomb hits and several minesweepers are sunk. Dutch DD Van Ghent is sunk at Melbourne after a night duel with BB Musashi. Van Ghent fails to launch a single torpedo.
The Japanese continue futile assaults at Hankow to drive out the Chinese advance. After a week of fighting, there are only 50,000 Japanese soldiers left: half of those who were in the city a week ago. Today, they suffer 442 destroyed combat squads.
Wednesday, March 18.
The Japanese continue to shadow Melbourne Harbor. Today, they encounter the minefield. CL Abukuma and CVL Chistose each take a mine hit while BB Mushashi takes 2 mine hits.
Thursday, March 19.
The Japanese return to Baker Island. Allied carrier aircraft damage xAK Tyoyo Maru, but some troops are landed on the empty island.
Friday, March 20.
Coast watchers in the Phillipines report a transport TF bound to the recently captured Manila has struck the minefield at Bataan before it was fully cleared. Multiple transports hit mines.
Saturday, March 21.
The Japanese continue their bewildering series of counterattacks at Hankow. They have now suffered 80,000 total casualties in the last 2 weeks in trade for approximately 8,000 Chinese casualties.
Carrier attacks continue in SE Australia up and down the coast.
Chinese advance in the south captures Kukong. The Japanese collaborators near Wuchow were forced to retreat with heavy losses earlier in the week.
Sunday, March 22.
Japanese DD Ushio is finally sunk at Midway Island after engaging in a long series of solo night attacks on the CA New Orleans SCTF for the last week.
Chinese forces capture Anyang, strengthening their grip on the defensive territory on the northern rail lines.
PACCOM report.
There is public outrage in Australia over the constant air attacks from the Japanese carriers, but we simply lack the assets to combat them at the moment. They have not inflicted any significant military damage, but the morale blow (combined with the capture of Geraldton) may incite a public movement to reach a separate peace. This would be unfortunate given how much the Japanese attack will cost them. The Melbourne and Sydney areas are already immune from invasion and Perth will be a Japanese deathtrap, but we need some victories soon for public morale. In all other areas of the war, this has been a quiet week. We continue to run APDs into Sumatra as blockade runners, but any slower ships are sunk no matter how we attempt to conceal them. We will need a larger supply run within a few months for safety sake, though enough carriers are in theatre to make that possible. Our overall war strategy remains solid and seems even more so now that the Japanese appear to have given up on reinforcing their Sumatra attack.
Ship losses on the week:
DDx1
SSx1
TKx3
Transport x5
Intelligence Report:
Our agents in the field have managed to obtain some information critical to the war effort. After months of analyzing radio signals and infiltrating spotters onto offshore islands, we have determined that the
Tsushima Bay Fortress is located in Tsushima. While this information may seem insignicant on the surface, intelligence believes this information to be of vital importance in that the Japanese have not cannibalized their defenses on the Home Islands. An eventual invasion will need to account for this fortress. If the Japanese are spending their war material here there will be vulnerabilities on the outer perimeter which later intelligence can discover. We at intelligence have been working closely with the Bureau of Ordinance to insure our submarine operations near the Home Islands will be as able to show amazing results. Rumors of failed torpedoes and worthless intelligence are simply unpatriotic.
Monday, March 16, 1942.
The Japanese carrier force off Melbourne is encountered by a local minesweeper, which confirrms CV Hosho, CVL Chitose and BB Musashi.
Tuesday, March 17.
A second Japanese carrier force approaches Sydney from the north. Air attacks all along the coast and as far inland as Wagga Wagga. All the cruisers in Sydney harbor take bomb hits and several minesweepers are sunk. Dutch DD Van Ghent is sunk at Melbourne after a night duel with BB Musashi. Van Ghent fails to launch a single torpedo.
The Japanese continue futile assaults at Hankow to drive out the Chinese advance. After a week of fighting, there are only 50,000 Japanese soldiers left: half of those who were in the city a week ago. Today, they suffer 442 destroyed combat squads.
Wednesday, March 18.
The Japanese continue to shadow Melbourne Harbor. Today, they encounter the minefield. CL Abukuma and CVL Chistose each take a mine hit while BB Mushashi takes 2 mine hits.
Thursday, March 19.
The Japanese return to Baker Island. Allied carrier aircraft damage xAK Tyoyo Maru, but some troops are landed on the empty island.
Friday, March 20.
Coast watchers in the Phillipines report a transport TF bound to the recently captured Manila has struck the minefield at Bataan before it was fully cleared. Multiple transports hit mines.
Saturday, March 21.
The Japanese continue their bewildering series of counterattacks at Hankow. They have now suffered 80,000 total casualties in the last 2 weeks in trade for approximately 8,000 Chinese casualties.
Carrier attacks continue in SE Australia up and down the coast.
Chinese advance in the south captures Kukong. The Japanese collaborators near Wuchow were forced to retreat with heavy losses earlier in the week.
Sunday, March 22.
Japanese DD Ushio is finally sunk at Midway Island after engaging in a long series of solo night attacks on the CA New Orleans SCTF for the last week.
Chinese forces capture Anyang, strengthening their grip on the defensive territory on the northern rail lines.
PACCOM report.
There is public outrage in Australia over the constant air attacks from the Japanese carriers, but we simply lack the assets to combat them at the moment. They have not inflicted any significant military damage, but the morale blow (combined with the capture of Geraldton) may incite a public movement to reach a separate peace. This would be unfortunate given how much the Japanese attack will cost them. The Melbourne and Sydney areas are already immune from invasion and Perth will be a Japanese deathtrap, but we need some victories soon for public morale. In all other areas of the war, this has been a quiet week. We continue to run APDs into Sumatra as blockade runners, but any slower ships are sunk no matter how we attempt to conceal them. We will need a larger supply run within a few months for safety sake, though enough carriers are in theatre to make that possible. Our overall war strategy remains solid and seems even more so now that the Japanese appear to have given up on reinforcing their Sumatra attack.
Ship losses on the week:
DDx1
SSx1
TKx3
Transport x5
Intelligence Report:
Our agents in the field have managed to obtain some information critical to the war effort. After months of analyzing radio signals and infiltrating spotters onto offshore islands, we have determined that the
Tsushima Bay Fortress is located in Tsushima. While this information may seem insignicant on the surface, intelligence believes this information to be of vital importance in that the Japanese have not cannibalized their defenses on the Home Islands. An eventual invasion will need to account for this fortress. If the Japanese are spending their war material here there will be vulnerabilities on the outer perimeter which later intelligence can discover. We at intelligence have been working closely with the Bureau of Ordinance to insure our submarine operations near the Home Islands will be as able to show amazing results. Rumors of failed torpedoes and worthless intelligence are simply unpatriotic.
RE: Puttering around the Pacific (Andy Mac Scen 10 Allies)
Events of the War: Week 16.
Monday, March 23, 1942.
Our submarine minelayers outside Rangoon pay off as CLs Tokiwa and Ryokame are reported to have each struck a mine.
Over 200 Japanese aircraft attack a mere 2 transports at Padang on Sumatra, closing the port to us for the present.
Wednesday, March 25.
CL Okinoshima and DD Kaki are reported to have struck mines trying to clear them near Rangoon. DD Kaki is reported to be heavily damaged.
Friday, March 27.
A large Chinese force smashes the collaborator 30th RGC Division outside Canton, clearing the last roadblock into the city.
Thousands more collaborators are ejected from the area north of Kaifeng where the Chinese will now dig in along the rail line to prevent Japanese reinforcements.
Saturday, March 28.
Combat at sea: A Japanese SCTF of CA Maya and CA Yakumo, supported by DD Uruzuki and DD Soragumo encounter the CA New Orleans and CA San Franciso, supported by DD Porter and DD Selfridge at Midway Island. American Rear Admiral Chas McMorris successfully 'crosses the T' but while all cruisers take one or two shell hits, the damage to both sides is believed to be inconsequential.
Sunday, March 29.
Japanese AMC Sea Wolf, acting as a surface raider, catches a supply convoy out of San Francisco. xAP Kota Baroe takes 10 shell hits and a torpedo and sinks shortly after combat, while the other transports escape.
Japanese aircraft continue to ineffectively harass our APD transports brining supplies from the Cocos Islands to Benkolen on Sumatra.
PACCOM's Report.
We have reached the doldrums in the early war period. The Japanese can no longer maintain their pace of major invasions every week or two, it seems, while we continue to hold our MLR in Sumatra and India and are prepared to trap the Japanese expeditionary force in Australia. The supply situation in Sumatra continues to deteriorate without yet being critical. All in all, plans continue to develop and we continue to watch the Japanese advance, but there may be little major action in the near future.
Ship losses:
TK x1
Transport x3
Report from the Commission on Naval Intelliegence to the Congressional Defense Committee on enemy sinkings.
We have achieved some imporant successes at sea in this war. Our current estimates, created from a mixture of intelligence, Japanese admissions, the reports of our own coast watchers, visual confirmations, and other methods, we currently believe the Japanese have lost the following ships:
59 Civilian merchants. This is important as it limits Japans ability to supply their soldiers and project power at the boundaries of the Empire. The ability to move supplies is critical for them, of course.
8 Civilian troop transports. These ships are some of the few that really allow invasion and rapid reinforcement. Their loss isn't believed to be crippling, but it does limit their options.
3 Military AK transports. These ships all have reliable reports of being sunk.
5 Armored Merchant Raiders. These ships have already proven to be a thorn in our side, but we have infliced some losses on them as well.
1 APD.
1 LSD. These ships are the only ones greatly suited to naval invasion for Japan, and each loss hurts them badly.
It should be noted that Japanese tranports have suffered heavily, especially in the invasion attempt at Palembang. Losses might be much higher than what we have already confirmed.
Warships:
DD x14
TB x3
CL Ryokame. Struck a mine at Rangoon. Reported sunk as a result of an unreported sub attack.
CL Nishiki. Reported sunk to combined torpedo attacks in the early war.
CL Abukuma. Intelligence reports ship sunk from mine damage near Rabaul. Must have been prewar mines.
CL Okinoshima. Reported sunk some time after a mine hit near Rangoon.
CL Tsugaru. Reported sunk after an unreported mine hit near Tobali.
CA Suzuya. One of the main bombardment ships at Palembang. Was sighted hitting a mine and reported sunk afterward.
CVE Aki. The runner up prize of the war so far, according to intelligence. Believed to have been sunk after a sub attack near Cam Ranh Bay.
CV Chiho. Struck multiple mines off Merak. Last seen limping towards Singapore, but intelligence reports that it sank near Kota Bharu.
Monday, March 23, 1942.
Our submarine minelayers outside Rangoon pay off as CLs Tokiwa and Ryokame are reported to have each struck a mine.
Over 200 Japanese aircraft attack a mere 2 transports at Padang on Sumatra, closing the port to us for the present.
Wednesday, March 25.
CL Okinoshima and DD Kaki are reported to have struck mines trying to clear them near Rangoon. DD Kaki is reported to be heavily damaged.
Friday, March 27.
A large Chinese force smashes the collaborator 30th RGC Division outside Canton, clearing the last roadblock into the city.
Thousands more collaborators are ejected from the area north of Kaifeng where the Chinese will now dig in along the rail line to prevent Japanese reinforcements.
Saturday, March 28.
Combat at sea: A Japanese SCTF of CA Maya and CA Yakumo, supported by DD Uruzuki and DD Soragumo encounter the CA New Orleans and CA San Franciso, supported by DD Porter and DD Selfridge at Midway Island. American Rear Admiral Chas McMorris successfully 'crosses the T' but while all cruisers take one or two shell hits, the damage to both sides is believed to be inconsequential.
Sunday, March 29.
Japanese AMC Sea Wolf, acting as a surface raider, catches a supply convoy out of San Francisco. xAP Kota Baroe takes 10 shell hits and a torpedo and sinks shortly after combat, while the other transports escape.
Japanese aircraft continue to ineffectively harass our APD transports brining supplies from the Cocos Islands to Benkolen on Sumatra.
PACCOM's Report.
We have reached the doldrums in the early war period. The Japanese can no longer maintain their pace of major invasions every week or two, it seems, while we continue to hold our MLR in Sumatra and India and are prepared to trap the Japanese expeditionary force in Australia. The supply situation in Sumatra continues to deteriorate without yet being critical. All in all, plans continue to develop and we continue to watch the Japanese advance, but there may be little major action in the near future.
Ship losses:
TK x1
Transport x3
Report from the Commission on Naval Intelliegence to the Congressional Defense Committee on enemy sinkings.
We have achieved some imporant successes at sea in this war. Our current estimates, created from a mixture of intelligence, Japanese admissions, the reports of our own coast watchers, visual confirmations, and other methods, we currently believe the Japanese have lost the following ships:
59 Civilian merchants. This is important as it limits Japans ability to supply their soldiers and project power at the boundaries of the Empire. The ability to move supplies is critical for them, of course.
8 Civilian troop transports. These ships are some of the few that really allow invasion and rapid reinforcement. Their loss isn't believed to be crippling, but it does limit their options.
3 Military AK transports. These ships all have reliable reports of being sunk.
5 Armored Merchant Raiders. These ships have already proven to be a thorn in our side, but we have infliced some losses on them as well.
1 APD.
1 LSD. These ships are the only ones greatly suited to naval invasion for Japan, and each loss hurts them badly.
It should be noted that Japanese tranports have suffered heavily, especially in the invasion attempt at Palembang. Losses might be much higher than what we have already confirmed.
Warships:
DD x14
TB x3
CL Ryokame. Struck a mine at Rangoon. Reported sunk as a result of an unreported sub attack.
CL Nishiki. Reported sunk to combined torpedo attacks in the early war.
CL Abukuma. Intelligence reports ship sunk from mine damage near Rabaul. Must have been prewar mines.
CL Okinoshima. Reported sunk some time after a mine hit near Rangoon.
CL Tsugaru. Reported sunk after an unreported mine hit near Tobali.
CA Suzuya. One of the main bombardment ships at Palembang. Was sighted hitting a mine and reported sunk afterward.
CVE Aki. The runner up prize of the war so far, according to intelligence. Believed to have been sunk after a sub attack near Cam Ranh Bay.
CV Chiho. Struck multiple mines off Merak. Last seen limping towards Singapore, but intelligence reports that it sank near Kota Bharu.