Commander Stormwolf
Posts: 1623
Joined: 2/19/2008 Status: offline
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Chapter 1 ~ the Ice Breaks December 7, 1941 The standoff between the Royal Navy in Singapore and the imperial fleet in french indo china lasted for several weeks, the japanese responding to the strengthening of the british presence in the region by strengthening their garrisons Unwilling, or perhaps unable to deliver the first blow, RAF command had grown complacent after weeks of inactivity, and it was decided that perhaps the increased japanese presence was merely a form of coercion in induce the allies into a negotiating position Finally the order was given to seize the southern resource areas and the British colony of singapore was attacked by the carrier planes of the japanese navy It was a short distance from the coast of indo china to an adequate launching point, and having set sail the evening before, the carriers Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku, Zuiho and Ryujo launched a massive raid of 81 Claude fighters, 162 Val dive bombers, and 158 Kate and Mabel torpedo bombers. Damage was significant. The vals dropped their 250kg bombs onto hangars, and parked aircraft. Buffalo fighters and Blenheim bombers were shattered into small parts. The Kate and Mabel squadrons were fitted with large 800kg armor piercing bombs, the harbor at singapore being deemed too shallow for a torpedo attack. The Price of Wales and Repulse both suffered heavy damage. The few patrolling buffalos could do little to stem the tide of this onslaught, and the anti-aircraft batteries were inaquate to deal with the vast number of japanese planes. The asiatic feet was woken up as well. A large raid from formosa had appeared over Luzon. 81 Hayabusa (allied code name Oscar) fighters escorted 312 Sally and 243 Nell bombers against targets in manila, hitting the port and airfields. Submarines were given the highests priority. There was no opposition from allied fighters. A second raid was mounted against the airbase at Clark Field. 20 Helens led 164 more Lilly bombers against the carefully parked planes. Hong Kong was also hit, with 157 Sonia and 185 Ann single engined bombers flying from canton. The handful of desteroyers and pt boats in the port were obliterated by the rain of bombs, as were freighters and warehouses full of supplies. News of this was met with excitement, but not surprise by Admiral Kimmel on Oahu. War with japan had been looming for some time. But then, in the late afternoon he was given a telegram marked urgent. WAKE ISLAND UNDER HEAVY ATTACK. Six japanese battleships, Nagato, Mutsu, Ise, Hyuga, Fuso, and Yamashiro had supported an amphibious landing of wake island. From neutral waters outside of Marcus Island, it was 24 hours of sailing to Wake Island at 25 knots. Surprise had been achieved. Comfortably. Troop transports reached the eastern coast of Malaya by nightfall.
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"No Enemy Survives Contact with the Plan" - Commander Stormwolf
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