Style's pushing it a bit, I think...
September. 14
USS Sturgeon bounces a torpedo off a Japanese destroyer off the New Hebrides; this is one of the bombardment forces returning from Niue. Interesting that they're skittering all the way back here to rearm - I would have thought it much easier to take the ammunition to Fiji. I also sent a PR Lightning over Rabaul; haven't done that for a while. Shipping in port was about 15 ships, but they've put to sea; it's like cockroaches when you shine a light on them, heh.
200 Japanese bombers raid Akyab. There is nothing there for them to shoot, blow up, bomb etc except 23rd Indian Div, which they refuse to attack; I think perhaps out of terror that I'd start bombing troops in Burma, China etc. Calcutta's reaction is to serve another round of G&Ts. The continuing diversion of Japanese bombing into trivialities suits me fine, for the moment; the division still needs some time out, with its relief still a distance away. The wisdom of relieving it is itself a little questionable; explanation later.
25 Japanese bombers attack Aust. 2/11th Armd Car Rgt, camped out in the Hamersley Ranges today much as they have been for the last several weeks. Damage came there none.
Invasion warning for the Aleutians; multiple unidentified but heavy radio transmissions 50 miles south
east of Tokyo Bay. Can't imagine what else it'd be. So:
- 18th Fighter Sqn at Adak issued with P-40K;
- All ships at sea recalled to refuel;
- 11th Air Force squadrons at Anchorage filled out to the best of my ability to do so;
- All troop shipping to the Aleutians ordered to ditch short-range escorts and get a move on in quick;
- I think, quietly, to myself, that I should probably have sorted Amchitka out a week ago.
It could, of course, be nothing. And yet...
Ship movements in the direction of Western Australia from Melbourne begin. There's a lot to move, so I think it's best if we do things gradually. Troops are more or less ready; they just need to be given ships and orders...
Indian Army will stand by ready to move at short notice. Still need six weeks to get everything I want bought out bought out, though I suppose we could go as-is...don't intend to jump before October 15th, however, to allow monsoon to end and October reinforcements to get sorted out. Wisdom of keeping 23rd Ind Div at Akyab after we go is questionable; the place isn't in itself meaningful given present conditions but so far has provided a useful punching bag for the Japanese. Given total impossibility of main Burma force evading detection for more than 1-2 days that role will fade into irrelevance. Think I will leave a light force there and move 23rd back to Cox's in a couple of weeks rather than relieving it; the latter base is downright civilised at this point and will do as well as return to the 'mainland'. The Japanese have, fortunately, so wrecked the facilities at Akyab that there is no need to guard it for the sake of denying use of airfields etc. I almost feel sorry for the place - the Japanese wrecked it then occupied it; then I wrecked it and occupied it; and now it's broken again and who knows who'll be there in a month.
Bad sign?
was kfsgo, managed to lock myself out of acct. oops.