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A Day That Will Live In Infamy...

 
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A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 9/19/2004 10:54:54 PM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		I have been writing up my accounts of my Allied Campaign - I thought I might post them here for comment(s) (or not...) I'll try to post a couple of days of game time in a post.

War Log for Allied forces

December 7, 1941 - A Day that Will Live in Infamy...
The Japanese Imperial Navy opened their surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, before declaring war in Washington, D.C. The carrier pilots decided that the aircraft at Hickam Field were the major threat to the attack, and concentrated on that airfield and the other peripheral fields, knocking every one of them out. Of the hundreds of aircraft present, almost all were destroyed or damaged, with only 14 undamaged aircraft missed. Of course, since the airfield were badly holed, only 3 Catalinas were able to take off from the harbor, and they were able to locate the IJN force. However, since there were no aircraft left to counterattack, this knowledge did Admiral Kimmel, the commander of the fleet, little good.

The Japanese did not overlook the Naval Base of Pearl Harbor. A 800 kg. battleship shell converted to an armor-piercing bomb, struck the magazines of the light cruiser Saint Louis and they exploded with a thunderous blast, killing and wounding almost all aboard. The IJN aircraft also attacked and damaged every battleship, although the Lucky BB Nevada was damaged by only a few bomb splinters, but Battleships California, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were not so lucky, and were more sunk than floating, but managed to stay above the waves, and the fires from their smoke added to the pall covering the fleet. The West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Tennessee were lightly to moderately damaged. The heavy cruiser San Francisco, light cruiser Phoenix, and the Destroyer McDonough sustained mild to moderate damage.

A surprise attack at Guam sank the minesweeper Penguin, and the landing force destroyed the minuscule defense force. A formal surrender of the base was announced the next day. Wake fared no better, and a strong force stormed ashore and forced the surrender of the isolated Marine garrison.

The Japanese also smashed the airfields at Clark Field and Manilla, and managed to knock out every flyable aircraft. Invasion forces landed at Legaspi, Aparri, and Vigan. They also made surprise landings north of Singapore at Khota Bharu.


December 8-9, 1941 (Hawaiian Standard Time)
That evening, Japanese task forces landed more men at Aparri and Vigan, although about 1000 men were reported drowned or injured in the landings by the defending troops. This did not seem to slow the Japanese up much, however, as they blitzed through the defenders the next morning and captured Vigan, Aparri, and Legaspi. They were less successful at Khota Bharu and Hong Kong, with the attacks fended off, although some of the fortifications were damaged. The three destroyers at Hong Kong picked up some of the defending troops and made a high speed run for Brunei, and were attacked on the way, but managed to avoid damage by aircraft attack when they had the luck of ducking into a squall line as the attackers approached. Japanese aircraft made heavy attacks on shipping at Manilla and other harbors through the Philippine archipelago, and struck the AO Pecos with a torpedo, causing moderate damage and setting her on fire. The Allies counterattacked with aircraft at Khoto Bharu, and in the Philippines, but all bombs and torpedoes missed. The only Allied success came on the defense, when ASW forces hit the IJN submarine I-1 near Pearl Harbor with an attack lasting over 12 hours. Allied command listed the I-1 as “presumed sunk”. The Chinese were forced back at Nanchang, but gave as well as they got against vastly superior forces.
Post #: 1
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 9/21/2004 2:00:22 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		I should explain that I have been trying to run this campaign more as a simulation than as a game, with the Allies trying to bleed the Japanese for the long haul rather than assuming they could stop the Japanese cold (as I think they did at the beginning of the war).

December 9-10, 1941.
The Allied commanders tried to evacuate supplies in the Philippines and other areas threatened by the Japanese advance. This went well under heavy cloud cover until IJN carrier-type aircraft attacked one convoy and hit MSW Bittern with 1 torpedo hit, setting her on fire with heavy damage. She rolled over and sank shortly after the attackers had departed the scene. The Allies have started concentrating their naval forces at Balikpapan, with the British fleet from Singapore evacuating some support troops from Singapore to Batavia.

A second Allied naval concentration centered on Noumea in New Caledonia. Australian and New Zealander cruisers were ordered to rendezvous their with two US cruisers detached from convoy duty.

Various air attacks concentrate on shipping for the Allies, and airfields for the Japanese, but achieve little success. The high point of the day for the Allies came when Swordfish bombers hit the CA Mikuma a with a single torpedo which failed to penetrate her armored sides, and a 250 pound bomb from level bombers which did not penetrate her deck. This was a moral victory, but a more tangible one was when AK Sado Maru was struck by a single bomb in a heavy attack by British bombers near Songkhia and set on fire. Japanese attacks at Hong Kong pushed her defenders back deeper into the city, but attacks at Khota Bharu by the Japanese left over 100 casualties on the attackers, and about 1/3 as many on the defenders fell with no signficant gains for the Japanese.

December 10 -11, 1941
Off the north coast of Luzon, the submarine USS Saury attempted an attack, but apparently her torpedoes failed, and no hits were made.

Four batteships, a heavy cruiser and a destroyer which had been damaged by the air attack on the 7th of December were now pumped out and their fires extinguished, and were fit enough so that they were sent stateside for repairs under heavy ASW escort.

The various attacks on shipping continued. Both sides were largely unsuccessful, until the B-17 which had been sent to Davao decided to take the advice of the British in Malaya. They had lowered their attack altitude to 1000 feet instead of 15,000 feet, and had obtained hits on the CA Mikuma. True, the hits had not penetrated anything, but they did hit. The B-17 commanders did the same and hit the transport AP Kanko Maru with two 500-pound bombs, and the PC Showa Maru #5 with two 500-pound bombs, and all these did do serious damage to the IJN ships. They were not reported sunk, but Allied command was hopeful that this might start enough in the way of fire and flooding to sink both vessels.

Meanwhile, the seemingly inexorable advance of the Empire of Japan continued with troops unloading at Makin Atoll. Aside for a few dozen casualties involved in landing operations, they took the islands without incident. Assaults on fortifications at Hong Kong ground down the defenders even more, but attacks at Alor Star were repulsed with heavy casualties. At Khota Bharu, the attacks were more even, grinding down each side. However, in a surprise move, the Chinese attacked and captured the undefended Japanese base at Nanning.

Undefended Makin Atoll fell to the Japanese troops that had been landed that day.

(in reply to rtrapasso)
Post #: 2
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 9/22/2004 2:31:44 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		December 11 -12, 1941
After long range Catalina patrol planes spotted a large Japanese taskforce northeast of Midway, eight destroyer-minelayers were rushed towards that outpost, however, it was felt this probably was the IJN taskforce that had smashed Hawaii a few days before. However, aside from a few fighters and Catalinas, there was no offensive punch in the land-based aircraft in the Hawaiian islands, so complete had been the devastation in the opening 2 hours of the war. The airfields on Oahu were still extensively damaged, and would probably take weeks to repair the fields alone. Another minelayer was dispatched to protect Kauii.

Aircraft attacks against airfields predominated by the Japanese, while the Allies tried to buy time by striking at the sharp point of the Japanese spear - her invasion fleets. The British forces spotted a troop convoy off Khota Bharu and attacked in force. AP Hakozaki Maru took three torpedo hits and was reported on fire with heavy damage
AP Asama Maru took a bomb hits and was set on fire, and AP Ayatosan Maru was hit by one bomb. Other air attacks in the Malaysian peninsula missed their targeted ships. Attacks by B-17 in the Philippines attacked the invasion fleet at Legaspi. AK Yasukawa Maru was hit with two 500-pound bombs and was set on fire. Another attack later in the day hit the already damaged AP Kanko Maru with three more 500-pound bomb, and she continued to burn and was reportedly heavily damaged (but not reported to sink, despite five hits by five-hundred-pounders). However, a minor setback came when the submarine USS Pickeral missed when she fired a spread of torpedoes, and the ASW counterattack damaged her. Another setback came when Japanese troops further reduced the fortifications at Hong Kong and the defenders appeared to be at the brink of collapse, with the Japanese suffering 367 casualties and the loss of 9 guns, compared to the Allied loss of 80 casualties and 4 guns. The third setback came when in Manilla, it was realized that the AO Pecos was too damaged to be repaired, and was in danger of sinking at any moment, and so was evacuated and scuttled. The Japanese threatened to cut off troops at Alor Star, so Southeastern Command made a “strategic withdrawal” to Khota Bharu, helping to stave off the attack there.. The Japanese apparently did not recognize the withdrawal at Alor Star, and bombarded the empty Allied positions.



December 12 -13, 1941
The IJN opened the day by landing more troops at Khoto Bharu, with the Allies countering with fire from their coastal defense batteries, hitting AK Akita Maru with 1 shell but causing 475 casualties according to Alleid observers.

Allied air attacks on the IJN invasion forces continued near Songkhia with Blenheims hitting PG Chosa Maru with 1 bomb.

The Allies reported the remarkable feat of shooting down 11 of 8 Kates attacking Hong Kong.

The Japanese made tentative moves on Rabaul, bombing the airfield and destroying some Wirraway fighter-bombers. Nearby, TF 86 troops unloaded troops over beach at Tarawa suffering 52 casualties. The juggernaut moved on in the Philippines at Loag at the northern tip of Luzon, with TF 97 unloading troops their, which lost a reported 445 troops (according to coast watchers and the defenders) in the heavy surf.

In China, near Wuhan, the Japanese mounted an attack against maneuver elements of the Chinese Nationalist Army, but suffered 610 casualties reported and 8 guns lost compared to Allied ground losses of 122 casualties and 5 guns reported lost.

The Japanese Army lost patience at Hong Kong, and stormed the defenders, losing 499 men and 10 guns, but took the bastion, with a total of 11874 casualties and captured, and 83 guns lost to enemy action and captured. They also figured out Alor Star was vacated, and stormed the empty fortifications, capturing the base. They also continued to attack Khota Bharu losing 260 casualties and 6 guns, with the Allies losing 100 men and 4 guns, but also having their forts damaged either further. The commander reported that they could not hold out much longer. The Allied base force from Victoria Point, which was trying to retreat to Rangoon was cut off and forced back. At this point, the Allied local commanders in the southern part of Malaysia panicked, sending their troops marching to random destinations before control could be re-established.

An Allied counterattack at Naga in southern Luzon hit the 12th SNLF causing heavy casualties (286 of 2635 troops, and 10 of 16 guns) and forced the Japanese back to Legaspi. The Allies reported light casualties.

Meanwhile, the steamroller continued unopposed at Tarawa, with that base falling to the Empire of Japan.

(in reply to rtrapasso)
Post #: 3
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 9/23/2004 4:18:49 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		December 13 -14, 1941.
More Japanese troops unloaded at Khota Bharu, but lost 44 through defensive coastal gun fire. At Laoag, Luzon, 87 more troops were lost in that landing operation.

The first surface naval action of the Pacific war occurred at Laoag that evening. Five PT boats, intending to help in the defense of Naga, were coming into Laoag to refuel when the defenders radioed them of the landing operations, and told the PT boats of the attackers dispositions. The PTs came in close along the shoreline to take advantage of this, and attacked at only 1000 yards range, raking the enemy vessels with .50 caliber machine guns and 20 mm. cannon fire, knocking out the bridges and gun crews of several vessels. They then launched their torpedoes, striking MSW Toshi Maru #2, with 1 shell hit and 1 torpedo hit and sank her. Other IJN ships suffered with PG Akitsu Maru taking eight shell hits, one torpedo hit and was reported to be on fire with heavy damage, PG Chiyo Maru took 2 shell hits, PG Chohakusan Maru took 6 shell hits, and one torpedo hit with reported heavy damage, AP Arizana Maru took two shell hits, AP Palao Maru took three shell hits, AK Hokuzan Maru took five shell hits and was struck by one torpedo and was reported to be on fire. The IJN force then beat a hasty retreat into the path of the submarine USS Seal with the Allies suffering not a scratch. The Seal attacked, but despire an excellent setup, no hits were registered (much to the amazement of the Seal’s commander.) But the tables were about to be turned on the Allied PTs. The Japanese forces ashore radioed the fleet of the PT boat’s disposition, and they counterattacked the next morning. The IJN came in unobserved until spotted at 6000 yards, but at that range, the PT boats could do little. PT-32 and PT-33 each took a hit and sank in a blaze of gasoline, however, one boat still had torpedoes and launched them at 5000 yards, hitting PG Chohakusan Maru and causing heavy damage. In these two actions, despite all the torpedo hits only the PG Akintsu Maru was confirmed sunk, but this was the first confirmed sinking of an IJN ship since 7 December.

The Dutch Air Force finally got into action, attacking the light carrier Ryujo, but missing her several times.

The Japanese Army attacked again near Wuhan, with each side suffering light casualities. They also attacked at Khota Bharu, finally capturing the base, and causing a retreat of Allied forces.


December 14 -15, 1941.
A submarine action off Malaysia resulted in the Dutch sub KXVII torpedoeing the AK Sakura Maru. Another attack off the Philippines by S-39 but again, despite an excellent setup, no explosions occurred after the torpedoes apparently hit the target MSW Musashi Maru. S-36 had better luck with an attack on AP Kikukawa Maru which took one torpedo, setting her on fire. The S-36 reported her target had taken heavy damage with and estimated casualty loss of about 40 troops.

Attacks in the Philippines
After Japanese troops were pushed back to Legaspi, Allied troops set off in pursuit, and the Japanese took the opportunity for a surprise attack by landing troops at Naga. Unfortunately for the Japanese, the many of the Allies were still in the vicinity when they landed, including 155 mm artillery batteries which opened on the Japanese landing. Over 500 rounds were fired in defense at the Japanese Ships PG Kanko Maru (three hits), AP Taimei Maru, (two hits, set on fire), AP Shozan Maru (five hits, set on fire), PG Busho Maru 21 hits, and set on fire with heavy damage), and AP Nichiren Maru with one hit.
The Japanese ground losses were reported as 1856 casualties, 20 guns and one vehicle. The Allies reported only 10 casualties. At Legaspi, the Allies took back the base causing 339 casualties vs. loss of 11 men. As they entered the base, they saw the PC Showa Maru #5 sink from the effects of the previous bombing attacks. The Japanese attacked at Lingayen, and each side lost over 100 troops.

Various bombing attacks occurred on shipping near Malaya and the the Philippines, with the most successful being when 2 Hudsons hit AK Sakura Maru, with one bomb setting her on fire. She was reported by the fliers to have heavy damage as they flew off.

The Japanese continued to bomb various air bases in Malaya and at Rabaul, causing light damage at best.

In China, near Wuhan, the Japanese tried another deliberate attack against a large concentration of Chinese forces, but suffered stiff (956 troops, 25 guns) casualties, while the Chinese lost only 66 troops and 2 guns.

The Japanese attacked at Georgetown against the fortress troops, taking the fortess with the loss of 74 casualties and 4 guns reported, but there were 2505 captured, killed or wounded, with 18 guns lost for the Allies.

Allied Signal Intelligence and codebreakers reported Kure 2nd SNLF was planning for an attack on Davao, and the 55th Division planning for an attack on Tavoy.

(in reply to rtrapasso)
Post #: 4
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 9/24/2004 4:02:41 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		December 15 -16, 1941.
Critical battle for the Philippines:
The Japanese “surprise” landing at Naga continued. The Allies thought they would have local superiority over the diminished force that had landed at Naga, and ordered a deliberate attack. Plans were not to go as expected. The Japanese commanders ordered more troops off their transports, and they were to pay dearly for this. Allied batteries continued to batter the landing ships with 346 coastal gun shots fired in defense. PG Nanpo Maru, took 3 hits, and was set on fire, PG Keiko Maru, took two hits, and was also on fire. AP Turusima Maru, took two shell hits, AP Takayo Maru took two shell hits, AP Taimei Maru took six shell hits, was set on fire, PG Kanko Maru, took six shell hits 6, AP Rakuyo Maru, took three shell hits, and AP Nichiren Maru, four shell hits. The last four ships were all reported heavily damaged. A total of 798 casualties were reported with twelve guns lost for the IJA/IJN landing force.

A second task force arrived with more men. TF 103 troops unloaded more troops and equipement over beach at Naga, with 237 casualties reported, and 2 guns lost. MSW Musashi Maru, was hit with one shell and was set on fire and was reported heavily damaged. AK Dori Maru, was hit with 9 shell hits, set on fire, AP Shozan Maru, took six hits, set ablaze, AK Boko Maru, took one hit and set on fire, and AP Fukkai Maru (what a name!), tooks four shell and was also set on fire. The first two ships were reported to have heavy damage. The landing troops (reportedly) took 239 casualties and lost 8 guns. The second task force (TF103) latter unloaded more troops, but another 95 men and 3 guns did not make it.

B-17s from Davao added in the defense, and attacked several times, with the only success coming at Naga when they hit AP Nichiryo Maru, with a 500 pound bomb setting her on fire. The Japanese bombers got into the act, with 35 Bettys with Zero escorts hit the Allies at Naga, causing 114 casualties and knocking out 2 guns, but this disrupted the Allied attack. Despite having almost even forces, the Allies lost 748 men and 40 guns, while the Japanese lost 147 men and 10 guns. The attack at Legaspi went better with the SNLF defending force of 1324 troops and 1 guns taking 139 casualties reported, and supposedly losing their single gun. The Allies reported only 8 casualties.

Allied codebreakers then reported they had a cracked a message that the Japanese 16th Division was about to land at Naga. The Allies at Naga looked at the floating bodies with 16th Division insignia on their uniforms. A little late, fellas...

The steamroller pushed the defenders at Lingayen out, and they retreated to Clark Field.

Action in the Gulf of Siam and Malaysia:
Royal Dutch Navy submarine O16 attacked the AP Asama Maru and obtained 1 torpedo hit, setting the AP on fire, and causing heavy damage

Allied aircraft attacked a troop convoy shuttling between Viet Nam and Malaysia. A total of 5 Blenheims and 13 Hudson I aircraft attacked the convoy and hit MSW W.2 with one bomb setting her alight and causing heavy damage, the AK Sasako Maru took one bomb hit and was set on fire, and AP Mogamigawa Maru took one bomb hits 1 and was set on fire. Kuantan airfield was bombed.

A second attack by five Blenheim IVs (escorted by Brewster Buffalos) hit AP Ryugi Maru, with four bombs causing heavy damage and starting a fire.

Another attack by two Swordfish, six Buffalo escorts, eight Vildebeest IV and two Blenheim I’s hit AP Asama Maru, with a torpedo, causing a fire, and causing heavy damage.

More attacks on the shuttle convoys by Hudsons, and Blenheims struck AK Akita Maru, with a bomb hits starting a fire and causing heavy damage, while AK Nagara Maru was hit by two bombs.

Yet another attack by two Swordfish managed to strike MSW W.2 with both torpedoes, and she sank shortly thereafter.

Other Actions:
The IJN submarine I-7 attacked a destroyer-minesweeper near Pearl Harbor, but missed. This was part of an ASW force of 5 destroyer-minesweepers, and they counterattacked, but there were no results from this attack.

At Rabaul, the airfield was bombed, and then IJN Task Force 7 unloaded troops at Rabaul, and 156 of them did not make it to the shore. Counterattacks by the aircraft at Rabaul missed in one attack, but a second attack by Wirraways and Hudsons hit AP Konsan Maru with a single bomb.

(in reply to rtrapasso)
Post #: 5
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 9/25/2004 12:12:34 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		December 16 -17, 1941.
More Action in the Philippines:
At Naga, the IJN continued to unload: TF 102 troops unloaded troops while the defenders fired on AP Nichiren Maru, which suffered two shell hits and was set on fire, suffering heavy damage. TF 103 also unloaded, but avoided damage.

Northwest of Manilla, US submarine Permit was interecepted by an IJN task force on their way to mischief, and Permit was depth charged and damaged.

That evening, four PT boats were travelling to Legaspi, when just outside of Bataan they were surprised when they ran into an IJN taskforce with BBs Yamashiro and Ise,
CL Naka, and DDs Natsugumo, Minegumo, Asagumo, Murasame, Harusame, Yudachi, Satsuki, Minazuki, and Harukaze. The PT-31 took one shell hits burst into flames with heavy damage, while PT-34 was hits 22 times (and sank immediately after the battle),
and PT-41, took three hits and sank. The IJN taskforce sailed on and bombarded Bataan in a fierce action. DD Harukaze took 26 hits (some from 14" guns from Fort Drum, the “concrete battleship” off Corrigedor) and was set on fire (and sank soon afterwards). DD Minazuki took 6 shell hits, DD Yudachi, took 8 hits from 12" cannons, and sank, DD Harusame was hits 16 times, DD Murasame, took four hits, DD Asagumo took 20 hits (mainly by 12" Coastal Defense mortars!), and she rolled over and sank shortly after the battle , DD Minegumo was hit 16 times (again mainly by 12" Coastal Defense batteries), and sank after staggering out of the battle, DD Natsugumo, took 5 hits, CL Naka took four hits, BB Ise took six hits, and BB Yamashiro also took 6 hits. Most of the Japanese ships fled burning into the night, and several appeared to be listing heavily. The Allies suffered almost 100 casualties and lost over a dozen guns.

The submarine Seal ran into a small IJN taskforce near Manilla, but her torpedoes malfunctioned or missed.

Japanese bombers hit various ground forces in the Philippines, and the Allied ground forces lost about 100 men.

Off the east coast of the Philippines, the S-39 put two torpedoes into AP Turusima Maru, setting her ablaze and causing heavy damage.

At Naga, a Japanese bombardment and counterbombardment resulted in 12 Japanese casualties reported and two guns lost, while the Allies had 110 casualties reported, with four guns lost.

In Malaysia, the steamroller smashed into Tavoy, capturing it with negligible casualties, while the Allies suffered 148 men and five guns lost. Taiping was also smashed with the Allies losing over 400 casualties and 10 guns, while the Japanese casualties were described as “light”.


Meanwhile, at Rabaul, an IJN taskforce ran into a mine field and then was shelled, losing about 25 men.


December 17 -18, 1941.
Submarine Action off Pearl Harbor:
An Allied ASW force composed of DMS Elliot, DMS Long, DMS Dorsey, DMS Hopkins, and DMS Southard was sent south of Pearl Harbor to hunt down an IJN submarine reported by Catalinas to be in the area. They found her and in a prolonged attack, hit I-7 with multiple depth charge barrage, continued to track her for over 12 hours and finally sank her.

The Japanese carried air attacks on various airfields and troop concentrations including at Moulmein, Yenen, Rabaul, and 89th Chinese/C Corps. They managed to inflict a few casualties in each raid. The British forces countered with an attack on Taiping.

Off Malaysia, three Blenheim IV escorted by Buffalos attacked an IJN convoy and hit
AK Nagara Maru, with two bombs, setting her on fire leaving her “floatationally challenged”.

Another deliberate attack by the Japanese near Wuhan was repulsed, with heavy casualties for the Japanese, compared to “light” casualties reported for the Chinese.

A blunder by a Chinese commander then occurred. Order to march his troops into a blocking position on the other side of Wuhan, the Chinese Corp comander decided to march through Wuhan instead of around it. The Japanese attacked and drove him back to his starting positions. The Japanese losses were reported Japanese as moderate casualties while the Allied losses were “heavy”.

At Naga, the Japanese and Philippine defense forces exchanged artillery barrages. Casualties were reported as “less than 100" men for the Allies, and “more than 100 casualties” lost for the Japanese.

An Allied deliberate attack at Legaspi against a reported Japanese concentration of 900+ (effective) troops, and 0 guns reportedly inflicted 2000+ casualties and 5 guns (apparently the “excess” were wounded troops and damaged guns) as the Japanese SNLF force was destroyed.

(in reply to rtrapasso)
Post #: 6
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 9/25/2004 10:06:10 PM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		December 18 -19, 1941.
New Front Opened:
As if the Japanese steamroller had not been flattening enough already, they decided to take on the Netherlands East Indies in a serious way.

The Japanese landed troops at Kuching, on the north coast of Borneo. Creeping into the harbor in the dark of night, TF 203 encountered mine field at Kuching and AP Kiyozumi Maru struck a mine and started burning. This alerted the defending troops which opened fire, siting on ML Hatsutaka which took a hit, and her flames added to the lurid scene of confusion. Over 400 Japanese casualties were reported. The battle for Kuching had just started.

After dawn, Allied aircraft made their attempts to stop the invasion with the Dutch opening their attack with three Brewster 339Ds and six Martin 139s bombers, coming in at (the now standard 1000 feet), hitting AP Giyu Maru with one bomb hits and causing her to burn. ML Hatsutaka was reported to be still on fire. This was followed by another Dutch attack with three Martin 139s and three Hudson I’s, hitting AP Kashi Maru with two bombs, causing heavy damage and fire. A third attack by three Hudsons, guided by the burning minelayer, missed. The Dutch flying boat torpedo bombers showed up next with seven T.IVa’s attacking, scoring one torpedo hit on AP Ayaha Maru, setting her on fire also. After a too brief (for the IJN) lull, five Martin 139 bombers escorted by Brewster 339Ds attacked, but the missed. The Dutch poured everything in range into their unceasing attacks, with another three Martin 139s attacking at high altitude this time, hitting the AP Kashi Maru again with another bomb, adding to her already burning fires, and causing her to be even more heavily damaged.

The British added their efforts to keep the Japanese off Borneo. Nine Hudson I bombers came in guided by the burning ships and struck AP Ayaha Maru again with three more bomb hits. This time, they reported her to be listing heavily and burning even more fiercely. The grand total for this effort was only about 100 men more and 3 guns lost to the Japanese ground forces, which had already largely unloaded. No Allied aircraft were lost in all these air raids, although several were damaged.

The 1000 or so Dutch combat effectives tried bombarding the invaders with their remaining two guns, without any effect. They reported the Japanese had landed over 5500 troops and over 100 guns by this point, and the Dutch realized the heavy odds against them.

The Japanese air forces reciprocated the attacks, when the struck Allied shipping at Benkolen, with one attack by 6 Bettys from 6000 feet. From over 1 mile up, they hit AK Sudabar with one bomb, starting a fire. Later, 20 more Bettys showed up, but tried bombing from 17000 feet, and missed.


Meanwhile, In the Philippines:
The IJN expanded their attack, with coastwatchers reporting TF 208 troops unloading over the beach at Jolo, with some three dozen casualties reported from landing mishaps.

The US Army Air Force tried bombing the IJN shipping operating off Naga and landing more troops and supplies. Five B-17C Fortress bombers hit AP Maya Maru with two five-hundred pound bombs and set her on fire. Later, a second attack by two B-17Cs missed.

The Dutch from Celebes aided in the defense of the Philippines, when four Brewster 339D and three Martin 139 bombers attacked the IJN shipping at Jolo, hitting AP Anrugu Maru with one bomb.

The Japanese judged they did not have enough troops at Naga to make an assault, so in the bombardment and counterbombardment, the Allies lost almost 200 casualties, and six guns, while the Japanese lost about 40 men and 2 guns.

The Developing Struggle at Rabaul:
Imperial Japanese Navy Task Force 20 decided that more troops were needed in the struggle ashore, and steamed in boldly to Rabaul Harbor, discovering the mine field in their path in time to avoid the mines, but not the shore artillery which hit PC Sonan Maru #6, with a shell. This combined with shelling the landing troops, and effects of the surf, etc. caused the Japanese to lose over 40 men and one gun.

They partially avenged this when the Bettys made their appearance and bombed Lark Force, causing 15 casualties and knocking out 1 gun.

The forces ashore were almost even, and no assault developed, but bombardment and counterbombardment resulted in about another dozen Japanese casualties, and another gun knocked out.

Action In and Around Malaysia:
Action opened in the dead of night with the Dutch sub O16 unsuccessfully attacking an IJN convoy. However, she did relay position of the convoy, and after daybreak the British attacked with two Blenheim IV bombers with escort (they missed), and later two escorted Swordfish, who didn’t miss, with both their torpedoes hitting AK Nagara Maru, which burned and was reported to be struggling to stay afloat.

A third attack on the convoy as it neared Georgetown was intercepted by twelve Ki-43-Ib Oscars, which shot down one of the escorting Buffalos, and the convoy escaped further damage.

At Kuala Lumpur, a Japanese deliberate attack by almost 19000 troops (against a bit over 7000 defenders) damaged British fortifications and inflicted over 300 casualties, knocking out 9 guns, at the cost of just over 100 men and 4 guns.


On the China Front:
A day air attack on 3rd New Chinese Corps by 40 Japanese G4M1 Bettys went without a scratch for the attackers, with the Chinese losing almost 200 men and a gun.

In part of the overall developing Chinese offensive was designed to relieve the pressure on the British in Malaysia (and to a lesser degree, the Philippines and Dutch East Indies), the Chinese marched over 80,000 troops and 500+ guns into Kafieng, which the Japanese promptly counterattacked with their 34,000+ warriors and 400+ guns, confident that their Bushido spirit would break the Chinese. But numbers prevailed, and prevailed bloodily, with the Japanese repulsed, taking over 1600 casualties and the loss of about 10% of their artillery, to the loss of about 400 Chinese men and 5 Chinese guns.


December 19 - 20, 1941.
Desperate Dutchmen:
At Kuching, the desperate struggle continued. The Imperial Japanese Navy Task Force 203 continued to unload troops under artillery fire while simultaneously trying to avoid the minefield laid just days before. ML Hatsutaka took two more shell hits and continued to burn with heavy damage, and served as a beacon for Allied aircraft. AP Eihuku Maru was also hit with one 6" shell. After the sun came up, AP Kaihei Maru, was hit with four more shells, and later AP Kaihei Maru took another shell hit.

Dutch aircraft, including six Martin 139s and two Hudson Is came in for a low-level attack, and AP Ayaha Maru and AP Meiten Maru each took two more bomb hits. The former was reported to be on fire with heavy damage. A second wave of five Martin 139s and two Hudson I bombers hit AP Ayaha Maru with three bombs, AP Giyu Maru, took two bomb hits and AP Kashi Maru two bomb hits 2. All three were on fire with heavy damage. The last air attack came with seven British Hudson I’s , and hit AP Choko Maru, with one bomb, causing a fire.

Allied spotters claimed 10 IJN ships in and around the harbor.
ML Hatsutaka - on fire, heavy damage.
AP Eihuku Maru - damaged.
AP Kaihei Maru - damaged.
AP Ayaha Maru - on fire, heavy damage.
AP Giyu Maru - on fire, heavy damage.
AP Kashi Maru - on fire, heavy damage.
AP Choko Maru - on fire, damaged.
AP Meiten Maru - damaged.
AP Kiyozumi Maru - damaged.
No. 10 - ??

The Japanese ground forces, now over 12,000 strong and having collected themselves, staged a shock attack against the well dug-in defenders, damaging the fortifications, but not causing any casualties. Total Japanese ground losses for the day were reported at over 550 men and about 10 guns.

Meanwhile, back at Rabaul:
IJN Task Force 20 continued its determined attack, picking its way through the minefield and unloading troops under artillery fire.

IJN TF 84 also showed up, and got through mine field and also started offloading troops. The defenders shot at the incoming forces, but they were distracted by an attack by 20 Bettys with Zero escorts. These knocked out two vehicles, and over 100 Japanese infantrymen were injured or killed. An exchange of artillery barrages did not go well for the Japanese. By the end of the day, they had suffered another 50+ casualties and 2 guns lost.

Air Attack on Rangoon:
The IJN searchplanes had spotted a small convoy under heavy escort unloading supplies at Rangoon, and mounted heavy effort to prevent them from unloading and getting away. Thirty-one Ki-27 Nates and nine Ki-43-Ib’s escorted thirty-four Ki-21 Sally bombers, but were intercepted by a Sea Gladiator from the light carrier Hermes, and twenty-one P-40B Tomahawk fighters. The Allies claimed 22 Nates, and 2 Sallys shot down, while the Japanese claimed two Sea Gladiators and five P-40B Tomahawks shot down. No ships were hit.

The Japanese then sent in the A team: fourteen Zeros, 14 Nates, 10 Oscars, 4 Bettys and 28 Sallys, which were intercepted by five Sea Gladiators and fifteen P-40B Tomahawks. The Sea Gladiators were hopelessly outclassed by the Zeros, but one managed to shoot down an Oscar. Allies claimed 2 Zeros, 2 Nates, and 2 Oscars shot down. The Japanese claimed six Sea Gladiators, and six P-40B Tomahawks shot down. The Japanese bombers attacked from high altitude, hitting AK Illinoian with one bomb causing only light damage.

At Kuala Lumpur, The Japanese staged a shock attack with almost 19,000 troops and 200+ guns, against 6500 defenders, and 24 guns. The sons of Nipon stormed through the defenses and captured Kuala Lumpur with 179 casualties and three guns lost. The Allies suffered 194 casualties reported, and 2 guns knocked out. They were forced to retreat to their next line of resistance.


Back in the Philippines:
B-17c’s attacked IJN shipping near Naga, but missed. Artillery duals at Naga resulted in 100+ casualties and 8 guns knocked out for the Japanese, and 150+ casualties, 6 guns and a vehicle reported lost to the Allies.

A Japanese Shock attack south of Laoag with over 12000 troops and 150+ guns against two pitifully understrength engineering units caused 6 Allied casualties, and hurried them on their retreat to Clark Field.

The Japanese invasion force at Jolo, finally organized, assaulted the base with over 500 troops and captured the base.


Elsewhere in the South Pacific, the last of the major Gilbert islands, Apamama, was invaded by IJN TF 155. Coastwatchers reported the Japanese landing force suffered more than 20 casualties. They secured the island by the end of the day.


On the Chinese front:
The Japanese opened the day with an air attack on 58th Chinese Corps near Wuhan with thirty-two G4M1 Betty, inflicting over 100 and knocking out another gun. Another attack on the 53rd Chinese Corps by fourteen G4M1 Bettys knocked out two more guns, and killing and wounding almost 70 men. The was the preface for an artillery attack near Wuhan, causing another 20 casualties.

The Chinese plan was to try to encircle the Japanese at Wuhan, and attacked at Kafieng to draw the Japanese troops to there instead of Wuhan. A Japanese artillery attack caused 80 casualties, but this failed to disrupt the Allied deliberate at Kafieng attack by almost 68000 (combat effective) troops and over 500 guns, against over 32,000 combat effective defenders and 340 guns. The Chinese assaults caused almost 650 casualties and knocked out 30 guns, with the loss of “less than 200" casualties reported, and four guns lost.

Lastly, Allied radio intercepts indicated that three Japanese ships had sunk including AP Taimai Maru, off Aparri (from hits by 155 mm guns), MSW Mushashi Maru off Naga (from hits by 155 mm guns), AP Ryugi Maru (the last at Saigon, from the effects of four 500-pound aircraft bombs which hit her on the 15-16th of December).

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Post #: 7
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 9/26/2004 7:30:25 PM   
rtrapasso


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Malaysian Front: Attacks continued at Kuantan with a Japanese shock attack. Allies claimed hundreds of Japanese troops shot down, while they lost a fort and “several dozen” troops. Heavy fighting continued at Malacca with several hundred lost on both sides. The British initiated heavy attacks with all available aircraft to try to slow the unexpectedly quick Japanese advance while they repaired and then evacuated damaged aircraft.

At Rabaul, the IJN continued to unload troops while their aircraft pounded the defenders. The artillery dual continued.

The furious Dutch defense at Kuching continued, despite the loss of the base. Hudson and Martin bombers hit AP Kaihei Maru with one bomb.

Philippine Front :
Desultory fighting continued at Naga.

The British task force from Singapore with the BB Prince of Wales and BC Repulse combined with the ABDA forces including the CA Houston and numerous light cruisers and destroyers, and set off to try to stem the tide of Japanese reinforcements into Luzon. A Japanese task force was spotted southwest of Manilla, and Capt. Phillips of the Prince of Wales who was commanding the task force was ordered to intercept and destroy it. He made (at best) a half-hearted attempt to intercept, but turned back when about 20 Kate torpedo bombers (escorted by Claude fighters) attacked when the expected long range CAP did not materialize. The task force antiaircraft claimed several Kates shot down, and there was no damage to the task force, but this was enough for Capt. Phillips, who bravely ran away.

In China, the Chinese captured Kafieng and forced a Japanese retreat, the Chinese claiming several hundred Japanese casualties, while saying their losses were “light”.

December 22 - 23, 1941
Night Action off Southern Philippines/ American Swiss Cheese
Captain Tom Phillips, commanding from the Prince of Wales, commanded the main Allied task force, accompanied by the BC Repulse, CA Houston, eight light cruisers, and 14 destroyers, had cleverly avoided intercepting an IJN task force the day before. This time, a direct order from Allied High Command ordered him to a specific spot so that he would effect an intercept. He followed this order, and shortly after midnight, there was a radar intercept of the Japanese fleet, and he maneuvered into position. After another hour or so of maneuvering, a large, flat-topped vessel “which appeared to be some sort of aircraft transport ship” (according to Phillips) was spotted by the Prince of Wales. Fire was opened at 5000 yards on this ship, and a general battle developed between the Allied fleet and four IJN heavy cruisers (CA Takao, CA Atago, CA Chokai, and CA Haguro) and 8 IJN destroyers. Phillips immediately ordered fire shifted to a heavy cruiser, and torpedoes on both sides boiled through the water. DD Edsall took a Long Lance amidships and broke in half, sinking with heavy loss of life. IJN DD Natsushio took a torp forward, and burned, attracting the fire of Allied ships. She continued in the fight, though. Capt. Phillips ordered the 14" guns of the Prince of Wales trained on the burning destroyer. In generalized confusion, the Allied fleet shot poorly despite the fact the British ships were said to be more experienced in night fighting, and had radar. Two other IJN destroyers were hit, but not seriously, and CA Chokai shrugged two hits off her armor. A second wave of IJN torpedoes hit DD Alden with a single Long Lance, and then her fires made her an easy target. CA Houston was hit with three shells, two 8" from cruisers, and a 5" from a destroyer, and all three pierced her armored belt into her vitals, setting her ablaze. Meanwhile, light cruisers Danae, Marblehead, and Dragon were each hit, and though there armor was no thicker, their armor held against the destroyer rounds. “Our armor seems to be made of swiss cheese” was a remark overheard by an American officer on the Houston.

DD Parrott, DD Whipple and DD Paul Jones each took a single hit, as did the Prince of Wales. This seemed enough for Capt. Phillips, who bravely broke off the action, allowing the four heavy cruisers and CVL Ryujo to steam off into the night with their destroyer escort. The DD Alden foundered shortly after the battle, but most of her crew survived. Allied intelligence is certain DD Natsushio sank after the battle, but the score was 2 Allied destroyers sunk and one heavy cruiser heavily damaged, vs. one IJN destroyer. Worse yet, the Allied fleet outnumbered the IJN, had larger ships with heavier armor and bigger guns, had radar at night, surprised the Japanese, and still came out on the short end of the equation.

Off Hong Kong, another victim was claimed when PG Nanpo Maru struck a British mine and sank.

In Malaysia, the British air effort to stem the Japanese advance continued. They may have (perhaps) slowed it, but Japanese casualties were termed “light”. The Japanese reciprocated and bombed Allied positions, inflicting “light” casualties. The Japanese followed up with a deliberate assault at Malacca, and casualties on both sides were over 600 (each), but the Allied lines held.

British aircraft spotted another IJN heavy cruiser task force near Singapore, and bombed it at night with Blenheim night fighters (they missed) and day with Hudson and Martin bombers, but no hits were achieved.

Artillery barrage/counterbarrage continued at Rabaul and at Naga, accomplishing little.

The Japanese attacked Chinese positions near Wuhan, but were repulsed with over 600 dead and wounded. Chinese claimed their losses were “light”. The Chinese also assaulted at Kuantan, reducing some of the defenses, and losses on both sides were described as “light”.

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Post #: 8
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 9/28/2004 4:39:39 AM   
rtrapasso


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Status: offline 		December 23 - 24, 1941
With the Battlefleet Off Southern Philippine Islands
While returning to Davao, the Allied battle fleet under Phillips again came under air attack, with sixteen Bettys under heavy Zero escort came in with torpedoes. This time, the Allied fleet was not so lucky, despite the presence of CAP P-40 fighters from Davao. Although they claimed to have shot down 2 Zeros and 2 Bettys, with another 9 damaged, the torpedo runs hit BB Prince of Wales and CL Dragon. A second attack hit CA Houston with a torpedo, and her fate was in the balance. A third attack was intercept and 4 Bettys were (allegedly) splashed, but a bomb hit the Prince of Wales.

Rangoon Air Raid
The Japanese attacked Rangoon with two dozen Sally bombers under heavy escort. The Japanese claimed 6 P-40 fighters shot down, with another 16 damaged. Acute observers have learned that dividing any aircrew claims of aircraft destroyed or damaged by two comes very close to the truth in most cases. There is some damage to the runways and facilities at the British aerodrome.

Allied aircraft discovered and attempted unsuccessfully to attack CL Yura and BB Kongo near Kuching.

Dutch aircraft attack the troop carrier AP Eihuku Maru near Borneo, hitting her with a bomb and causing casualties among the troops she was carrying.

The US submarine S-40 put a Mark 10 torpedo into the side of AP Maya Maru, and she had a severe list with several fires apparent through the periscope, but the sub left to avoid counterattack, and the marus fate is uncertain.

The IJN landed an assault force at Nauru, and captured the undefended base later in the day.

Artillery duals continued at Naga, PI, Rabaul, and outside Wuhan, China.

A shock attack at Moulmein resulted in over 200 Japanese casualties, over 100 Allied casualties, and the loss of Moulmein. Another attack at Malacca forced the Allies back, and the base was lost. Casualties were over 200 on either side.

A Japanese deliberate attack near Wuhan was termed a failure by US observers.

December 24 - 25, 1941
Bombardment at Rabaul
The Allies finally got some sort of resistance together. Despite being ordered to help, the air power at Port Moresby decided that they would rather not assist. So, finally, a cruiser force with four heavy cruisers and three light cruisers arrived at Port Moresby and bombarded the Japanese positions, inflicting “heavy” (350+) casualties.

The Battlefleet off the southern Philippines was divided when Prince of Wales, Houston and two destroyer escorts went to Davao to repair, while the remainder of the fleet returned to Soerabaya.

Various bombardments and air raids occurred throughout Malaysia and the Philippines.

The only significant ground action occurred outside Kafieng, when the Chinese attacked Japanese forces, with each side losing over 600 casualties.

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Post #: 9
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 9/29/2004 3:27:47 AM   
rtrapasso


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Status: offline 		December 24 - 25, 1941

Various bombing attacks continued on both sides on ground troops and aircraft.

The Allies also continued their attacks on IJN shipping. Dutch Martin and Hudson bombers struck AK Sado Maru with one bomb and AK Toyo Maru with two bombs. The latter was listing heavily and had fires burning in several areas as the Dutch flew off. Later, they struck AK Sado Maru again. The Dutch Martins also hit AK Nissyu Maru which was carrying troops, causing some casualties among them.

As a special Christmas surprise, the Japanese landed troops at Davao. The defenders did not have enough combat troops to drive off the invaders.

Submarine Action:
Submarine Saury, which had attempted to attack convoys several days running, finally got in a lick and torpedoed AK Hokuzan Maru which was in convoy. Saury got away unscathed from a counterattack.

A Japanese shock attack at Kuantan drove the Allies out of their base, with about 200 casualties on each side.

A Chinese deliberate attack outside Wuhan inflicted almost 1500 casualties and drove off the Japanese with about 300 Chinese casualties.

Elsewhere, various bombardments and counterbombardments continued throughout the hot spots at Rabaul, Naga, and Davao.

December 25 - 26, 1941
Inside-out Convoy Interception.
The BB Prince of Wales, CA Houston and two destroyers had out into Davao for repairs, and now an IJN convoy was unloading in the harbor. Allied commanders notified Capt. Phillips to bombard the landing trooops. High command thought that Capt. Phillips would also put a priority to attacking the convoy. Due to jamming of the radio frequencies, only the order for bombardment got through. After the convoy was formed with the still-(partially) flooded ships, Capt. Phillips set off to complete his mission. The IJN fleet was surprised by the appearance of a battleship and heavy cruiser with their escorts inside the harbor, and AP Dainiunyo Maru and AP Tenryu Maru were sunk, while AP Nichiran Maru and AP Shikano Maru each took multiple shell hits and struggled to stay afloat. Capt. Phillips brushed aside the remnants of the convoy, bombarded the landed Japanese troops, and steamed out to sea without trying to pursue the convoy. Total Japanese casualties between sinking the troop ships, and the bombardment were less than 100 troops.

The Dutch continued their assault against the IJN and AK Kansai Maru was hit by another bomb. Later, AK Sado Maru was struck by yet another bomb, AP Kurohime Maru, AP Taian Maru, and AP Heizan Maru were each hit by two bombs, all dropped by Dutch Martins in four separate attacks.

Another attack by B-17c bombers accompanied by Brewster fighters hit a convoy at Brunei. AP Heizan Maru was hit by two bombs and severely damaged.

More submarine action:
The submarine Saury continued her attack, hitting AK Nagisan Maru with a torpedo in a surface night attack, and then shelling and strafing her.

The Seal had a gunnery dual with AP Kidokawa Maru, the latter taking ten hits before a hit forced the Seal to retire from the fight.

Pickeral hit AK Hokuzan Maru with two torpedoes, and she was seen to be listing heavily before Pickeral dove to escape attack.

I-123 was detected by four Allied destroyers near Borneo and was sunk in a severe depth charge attack.

Various bombing raids and artillery duals continued inconclusively.

An Allied attack at Naga on the isolated Japanese landing was rebuffed with over 300 Allied casualties, but without inflicting any significant losses on the Japanese.

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Post #: 10
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 9/30/2004 3:48:17 AM   
rtrapasso


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Status: offline 		December 26 - 27, 1941

In Borneo - the IJN unloaded troops at Brunei. An air attack later in the day by B-17 hit AP Heizan Maru with three 500-pound bombs, and AK Taiko Maru #3 with one. Defenders at Brunei radioed back that the Heizan Maru had a pronounced list to port after the attack. The defenders were pushed back into the jungle shortly after this and Brunei and all its oil were captured.

In the Philippines - Davao had more Japanese troops unloaded on the heads of the defenders, who shot back, hitting ML Ikitsushima once.

Submarine also continued, and AK Belgium Maru was hit by one of Spearfish’s torpedoes and AK Yubari Maru took a torpedo from the Dutch sub KXI, which quickly reloaded and put two into AK Yubari Maru.

Various attacks, bombardments and counterbombardments continued throughout the area of operations, with the bloodiest at Johore Bahru, with about 800 Japanese casualties, while the Allies lost almost 450 men.
Off Malaysia, the Brits continued to strike at IJN convoys. AP Hakusika Maru was hit with one bomb in an air attack. Another attack struck CA Mikuma with a torpedo, and this time, the cruiser was not able to shrug off the torpedo and took some significant damage. The Dutch revisited the task force later, but the single bomb that hit the CA Mogami did not penetrate its armor. A third attack by the Brits this time hit CA Kumano, and CA Mikuma were each struck by one (non-penetrating) bomb. Another convoy was struck by the British and AK Nissyu Maru (carrying troops) took 2 hits which inflicted multiple casualties. She was down by the bow when the aircraft flew off.

Just to give the Kido Butai something to think about, U.S. carriers got into action at last, with 100+ bombers hitting Wake Island, damaging the airfield. Meahwhile Admiral Kimmel, still in the dark about the whereabouts of the Japanese carriers, sent a note to Joe Rochefort of the Hypo decoding section in Pearl Harbor: “Where, repeat, where is the Kido Butai? The World wonders...” Rochefort, understandibly upset, was reported throw is hat down and stamp on it after getting this missive.

December 27 - 28, 1941

The Allied demonstration at Wake continued with a bombardment by surface ships inflicting about 150 casualties.

Rabaul was also aided in its defense when Allied heavy and light cruisers struck the invading Japanese troops inflicting almost 300 casualties.

At Davao, the Japanese kept unloading troops, and the Allies kept shooting at them, with AP Nichiran Maru and AP Zyuyo Maru each taking two shell hits, and ML Ikitsushima one hit. They were more easily able to unload in the dark after this by the light of the fires from these three ships. AP Nichiran took another hit later, and AP Ryoyu Maru #21 hit a mine, and the Japanese troops lost over 400 men.

U.S. Submarine Spearfish continued her mini-rampage, hitting AK Holland Maru with a torpedo which severely hurt her. O-16 hit PG Myoken Maru with two torps, which the comander felt should sink her (although he did not see her actually sink).

The British revisited the IJN cruiser task force that they had attacked the day before, and this time it was CL Kinu’s turn, and she was hit by two bombs in two separate attacks.

The Japanese started attacking Allied shipping, with attacks on merchantment off Sumatra, but they were protected by Dutch CAP of Buffalo fighters. They managed to protect all the freighters at heavy cost to themselves. The BB Revenge, escorting a resupply convoy in the Indian ocean was also attacked. British Buffaloes tried to screen her, and although they too suffered heavy losses, the Revenge was struck by a torpedo from a Betty dropped from 11000 feet!!!
The air attacks, deliberate attacks, bombardments and counterbombardments continued apace, without much in the way of results.

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Post #: 11
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/1/2004 4:15:44 AM   
rtrapasso


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Status: offline 		December 28 - 29, 1941

The Japanese task force continues to unload over the beaches of Davao. The defenders shot back at the transports, and AP Nichiran Maru and AP Haisho Maru were hit once each by artillery shells. Their agony was just beginning. Thirteen PT boats, running low on fuel, came into Davao and refueled, and then steamed back out and attack the Japanese task force. PT35, leading the attack, was heavily struck and sunk, but the other ships delivered torpedoes in the night while the Japanese were distracted by the burning 35-boat. ML Ikitsushima and AP Ryoyu Maru #21 were hit by machine gun fire, while AP Hie Maru and AP Miyadono Maru were each hit by a torpedo. That evening, the Japanese assaulted Allied positions, and they took Davao, capturing 13 damaged B-17c’s.

At Wake Island, the US bombarded the Japanese again, but DD Fanning struck a US mine, laid by submarine shortly before to interdict Japanese shipping. She was severely damaged, flooded and on fire. The CVs launched their aircraft again, and hammered the 51st Naval Guard Unit. Losses to this unit were over 400 men between bombardment from the air and sea.

The Dutch continue to hammer at IJN shipping, and AP Taian Maru was hit by one bomb. The Brits joined in and hit AK Natisan Maru with two torpedoes. Even the Buffalo fighters got into the act, striking AP Kurohime Maru with two one-hundred pound bombs.

Submarine attacks also continued to hammer at the IJN, with AP Hakusika Maru hit by one torpedo from the Dutch submarine KXII.

Throughout the theater threater of operations, the air attacks, deliberate attacks, bombardments and counterbombardments continued apace, without much in the way of results aside from usual casualties.

December 29 - 30, 1941

Japanese air action shifted to Rangoon, as an Allied supply convoy approached. The Japanese had been beat off in several prior attacks, but this time the long-range CAP could and heavy flak could not save all the ships. Six Nell and twenty Betty torpedo and high-altitude bombers managed to hit CLAA Ceres and CL Dauntless with one torpedo hit each. A second attack hit CL Enterprise and CL Glasgow, again hitting each ship with a single torpedo.

Allied air attacks continued, and AP Batavia Maru was hit once by a bomb in an attack by five Dutch Martins, and Martins also hit AK Okuni Maru and AK Shigure Maru later in the day with one bomb each. Blenheim bombers penetrated a Nate CAP and hit AK Okuni Maru with one bomb. Swordfish hit PG Kiso Maru with a torpedo, hurting her severely.

In submarine attacks, the S-41 was detected and attacked by Japanese ASW forces, and suffered moderate damage. AK Sado Maru sank near Camranh Bay, and Allied Signal Intelligence picked up radio distress calls of ships rescuing the 2nd Naval Construction Battalion.

At Kwajalein, AK Wales Maru, reportedly carrying aircraft, struck a submarine-laid mine, and intelligence reports said 2 Sally aircraft were detroyed.

Heavy combat raged at Clark field with over 400 Japanese and over 600 Allied casualties.

At Johore Bahru, a Japanese attack finally took the base with almost 200 Japanese and over 400 Allied casualties.

Japanese landed at Cagayan and took the unoccupied base.

The heaviest combat of the day came outside Wuhan, when the Japanase ordered a shock attack, which resulted in almost 1500 casualties for the Japanese and over 100 Chinese men lost.

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Post #: 12
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/3/2004 5:45:47 PM   
rtrapasso


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Status: offline 		December 29 - 30, 1941

Japanese air action shifted to Rangoon, as an Allied supply convoy approached. The Japanese had been beat off in several prior attacks, but this time the long-range CAP could and heavy flak could not save all the ships. Six Nell and twenty Betty torpedo and high-altitude bombers managed to hit CLAA Ceres and CL Dauntless with one torpedo hit each. A second attack hit CL Enterprise and CL Glasgow, again hitting each ship with a single torpedo.

Allied air attacks continued, and AP Batavia Maru was hit once by a bomb in an attack by five Dutch Martins, and Martins also hit AK Okuni Maru and AK Shigure Maru later in the day with one bomb each. Blenheim bombers penetrated a Nate CAP and hit AK Okuni Maru with one bomb. Swordfish hit PG Kiso Maru with a torpedo, hurting her severely.

In submarine attacks, the S-41 was detected and attacked by Japanese ASW forces, and suffered moderate damage. AK Sado Maru sank near Camranh Bay, and Allied Signal Intelligence picked up radio distress calls of ships rescuing the 2nd Naval Construction Battalion.

At Kwajalein, AK Wales Maru, reportedly carrying aircraft, struck a submarine-laid mine, and intelligence reports said 2 Sally aircraft were detroyed.

Heavy combat raged at Clark field with over 400 Japanese and over 600 Allied casualties.

At Johore Bahru, a Japanese attack finally took the base with almost 200 Japanese and over 400 Allied casualties.

Japanese landed at Cagayan and took the unoccupied base.

The heaviest combat of the day came outside Wuhan, when the Japanase ordered a shock attack, which resulted in almost 1500 casualties for the Japanese and over 100 Chinese men lost.


December 31, 1941

The last day of the year started with an Allied destroyer taskforce bombarding Jolo, PI, and allegedly destroying 7 Zeros and 6 Bettys, as well as damaging 5 Zeros and 11 Bettys as well as causing 90 casualties, and causing moderate damage to the airbase.

In submarine attacks, AK Heiei Maru #7 was ambushed by the Dutch sub KXI, which put two torpedoes into the port side of the troop carrying ship. She had a heavy list, but was not seen to immediately sink.

Allied air attacks on Japanese shipping coninued, with a flight of three Blenheim IV bombers avoided a CAP of Oscars and hit AK Okuni Maru. Several other attacks failed to hit anything, until the a (for the Allies) massive attack of over 50 attacking bombers hit AP Buenos Aires Maru with three bombs, AK Florida Maru and AP Montevideo Maru with two bombs each, and AK Kinugasa Maru, AP Shinyo Maru, and AK Atlantic Maru with one bomb each. Over 100 troops being carried were lost, as well as some of their equipment. An attack by Dutch aircraft damaged AP Tango Maru with one bomb hit, and AP Gotake Maru with two bomb hits.

The Japanese reciprocated with an attack on the supply convoy docked at Rangoon. The CAP shot down some of the attackers, but was roughed up even worse, and AK Solviken and AK Fairfield City each were struck by a single torpedo, and the Fairfield City was severely damaged. A second attack by high level bombers hit CL Enterprise with two 800 kg ship-killer converted battleship shells. CL Glasgow was also hit. The CL Enterprise was so badly damaged between this and the prior torpedo hit, she was scuttled.

In the Philippines, the Dutch PT boats retreated from Davao to Cotabato, and were startled to find a single Japanese ship, AK Shinsei Maru unloading troops. The quickly sent three torpedoes into the unescorted ship and sank her. As the Dutch sailors heard the cries and screams of almost 600 Japanese drowning in the bay, grim smiles crossed their faces as they recalled the massacre of the Kuching Fortress garrison.

Assaults and bombardments continued at Clark Field, Rabaul, and Mersing, with the bloodiest attack coming near Wuhan which killed and wounded almost 700 Japanese troops with only 3 Chinese wounded.



YEAR END ROUND UP
By the end of the year, the Allied forces had lost 12 ships with a relative value of 71 (with 2 ships, 42 value on December 7), the IJN had 28 known ship losses, with a relative value of 177(and presumably many more). The breakdown for the Allies is 1 CL, 2 DD, 2 MSW, 1 AO, and 6 PT, with 3 ships lost to aircraft, and 9 to surface forces. Losses for the IJN were 6 DD, 3 MSW, 2 PC, 1 ML, 1 PC, 1 SS, 7 AK, 7 AP. Strangely, the main reason for losses were shore guns (8 ships), aircraft attack 8, submarine attack 5, mines 2, ASW action 1, surface fleet 4.

The loss of 8 ships to shore fire can only be termed an anomaly. The IJN attempt to shell Bataan was very costly for them, with the two battleships involved not seen since then, presumably in dry dock in Japan. The loss of 4 transports at Naga might be considered bad luck for them, good luck for the Allies, as the two artillery regiments that savaged the landing troops were not actually supposed to be their, but had been ordered to Legaspi.

Low surface losses for the Allies can be attributed to not to try and hold most of Malaysia, the Philippines and Borneo, but evacuate as many troops, supplies, fuel, and resources as possible with the shipping available, taking few chances with this shipping. Losses are expected to escalate sharply with the defense of Rangoon.

One of the most surprising Allied weapons was the lowly PT/MTB, which trashed no less than three IJN landing efforts, and had been hit hard once themselves. Analysis of the battles suggests a novel new tactic in their use which Allied commanders are eager to try out once the numbers of PTs increase.

Allied to Japanese air losses - 488 vs. 240, with more than half (262) of the losses for the Allies coming on December 7. The most commonly lost Allied aircraft was the P-40E at 134 with 85 lost on the ground. The most commonly lost Japanese aircraft was the Ki-27 Nate with 34 planes lost, 24 in air to air. Surprisingly, the next most commonly lost Japanese aircraft lost was the A6M2 Zero at 32, with the bulk of the losses being operational. The Allies have produced only 1 “ace” to date, 1st Lt. Peck of the AVG with 8 kills, flying in the P40B. Almost all of the top dozen pilots fly the P40B, none listed with the P40E, which may be due to record keeping deficiency.

Allied bases: 274 with relative value of 6847, vs. Empire of Japan 174 with relative value of 1466.

Allied vs. Japanese Army losses were (relative value) 1531 to 274.

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Post #: 13
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/17/2004 4:49:43 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		Well, after a prolonged bout of being forbidden to sit at the computer for long periods of time due to a bum back, I have gotten a ergonomic kneeling chair which seems to help, so I am going to try to keep at the game here, although I might be slowed up in posting accounts.

January 1, 1942

At Rabaul, IJN Task Force 60 tried to thread its way through a minefield while being shelled from the defending British troops, and lost close to 200 troops, but managed to avoid striking any mines. However, they were not out of the woods by a long shot, as an Allied bombardment task force with CAs CA Louisville, Pensacola, Australia, Canberra, and CLs Leander, Achilles and Perth (and two destroyers) intercepted the convoy and hit PG Oi Maru heavily (which sank just after the battle), PG Takunan Maru #8, sinking during the battle, AP Kaisho Maru was hit twice and set on fire, AP Ryuyo Maru took some shell hits and a torpedo, and was set on fire, AP Shofuku Maru took multiple shell hits and and torpedo, rolled over and sank. AP Shuko Maru escaped damage. About 800 more troops were lost. The Allies moved in and bombarded the dug in Japanese troops, inflicting another 50 casualties. Later, Allied Sigint reported that TF 60 rescued men of the South Seas detachment, so apparently one of the APs (probably the Ryujo Maru) also sank. This did not stop the Japanese troops ashore, which assaulted the Allied positions. Each side lost between 150 and 200 men, and one of the key fortifications was destroyed.

Dutch submarine KXII managed to torpedo AP Izan Maru and escape the counterattack. Her commander reported the Isan Maru was burning when he last saw it. In another submarine action AP Manzyu Maru and KXII exchanged gunfire, each ship retreating after they took five hit and were set on fire. A third Dutch by KXI attack hit PG Kiso Maru with two torpedoes. She was reported to be near sinking by the Dutch skipper. As for the IJN subs, Hudsons on patrol reported that they hit I-21.

AK Heiei Maru #7, which had been torpedoed by the Dutch sub KXI was reported to have sunk by Allied signal intelligence.

The Dutch also tried their hand at strategic bombing, damaging some of the resource installations at Johore Bahru.

The Japanese made probably their most effective air attack on an airfield (aside from December 7/8 attacks) when they hit Singapore with 57 Sonia and 30 Lily bombers under heavy escort. The Japanese claimed 28 Buffalo I destroyed, 16 Hudson Is destroyed,
4 Blenheim IV destroyed, and 1 Blenheim I destroyed. The Allies denied these claims, but said they had shot down 2 Oscars and 5 Sonias. An Allied counterattack forced back the Japanese from Singapore, inflicting almost 200 casualties, and suffering 75 casualties.

The Dutch attacked IJN shipping at Miri and claimed a hit on PG Santo Maru. The British attacked shipping near Kuantan, hitting AK Azuchisan Maru. Another attack claimed a bomb hit on AK Asosan Maru, and the Dutch came back to hit MSW Hanata Maru. Near Kuala Lumpur, the British hit DD Uranami and started a fire aboard her.

In the Philippines, the Japanese attacked at Cotabato, capturing the base and driving the Allies back with each side losing over 150 troops. A Japanese attack at Clark Field inflicted over 500 casualties on each side but accomplished little else.

More heavy fighting was reported near Wuhan, with Japanese reported losses of over 1500 men, and Chinese losses of nearly 500 men.

The Japanese landed at Miri and Kavieng and captured it without opposition.

January 2, 1942

The Japanese unloaded troops at Mersing, but the defenders hit the landing troops hard, causing over 800 casualties.

Allied SigInt reported PC Shonon Maru #3 hit a submarine laid mine at Eniwetok, but further details were not immediately available.

Allied destroyers hit the Japanese base at Jolo, reportedly destroying a Zero on the field, as well as damaging the airfield.

IJN Task Force 60 returned to Rabaul to cross the minefield and land troops, which again shelled with the loss of almost 100 men.

Submarine action continued at a brisk pace: S-36 attacked AP Aiyo Maru, putting three reliable Mark 10-type 21-inch torpedoes into her side, causing almost 100 casualties in the troops the maru carried. She almost immediately repeated her success and hit AP Horai Maru, causing almost 50 casualties in the troops she carried. The American submarine Thresher hit AP Meisho Maru with a torpedo. Unfortunately for her, the IJN counterattack seriously damaged the Thresher.

The Dutch continued their relentless attack on the IJN at Miri, and reported hitting PG Heijo Maru with three bombs, leaving her listing severely and burning furiously. American B-17s joined in, hitting PG Santo Maru twice. She was reportedly heavy in the water with fires burning.

British aircraft attacked near Kuala Lumpur and reportedly struck DD Uranami with another three bombs, causing heavy damage (according to the fliers).

The Japanese attack shipping at Rangoon, hitting AK Fairfield City with a torpedo.

The Japanese attacked at Mersing and Rabaul, damaging fortifications at both sites.
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Post #: 14
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/17/2004 7:28:01 PM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		January 3, 1942
At Mersing, just Northeast of Singapore, the Allied high command realized that they could not retreat into Singapore, because the Japanese held the causeway into the city. The troops there, desperately need for the defense of Singapore, were trapped. The Japanese took advantage of this, pouring more troops into the battle, including unloading troops over the beach from transports which did not go as smoothly as hoped (for the IJN) - AK Atlantic Maru and AP Kyosei Maru, and AP Nichiryu Maru were all damaged by shellfire, and more than 200 troops were wounded or killed in the landing operations.

In submarine action, the Dutch used their reliable torpedoes (including some British models) and struck AK Okuni Maru, which was clearly in trouble when last glimpsed by periscope. The USS Grayling hit AK Canton Maru with a torpedo, then surfaced and shelled the hapless maru, but she managed to escape into a squall line and did not seem to be in immediate danger of sinking. USS S-37 hit AP Horai Maru with two torpedoes (according to her contact report) and caused casualties among the troops being carried. S-38 claimed she hit the troop-carrying AP Eli Maru with four torpedoes. Allied SigInt said almost 150 troops were killed or wounded in this attack. Several other American attacks were unsuccessful, as were some ASW attacks by the IJN on American boats.

The Japanese also struck a hard blow from under the waves. Despite the fact that they had been urged to avoid waters where there was known Japanese submarines, the Allied admiral commanding the bombardment force that hit Rabaul steamed through these danger zone. The IJN I-15 hit the CA Australia with two torpedoes, causing massive flooding. The Australia steamed slowly towards Port Moresby, the nearest Allied repair facility, escorted by a destroyer. Minesweepers in the vicinity were also tasked with getting the stricken cruiser safely to port.

The second (or third) Allied setback came when the Japanese troops at Rabaul made a shock attack against the vastly outnumbered (but dug-in) defenders. The Japanese lost over 500 troops to about 75 for the Allies, but the defenders were pushed out, and started on a long retreat to the south coast.

The Dutch also kept up their attack at Miri, hitting PG Seiko Maru with a bomb. The also struck near Jolo (PI) at AP Sasago Maru which took two bomb hits, and AP Gyoko Maru, which took one bomb.

The British struck the DD Uranami near Kuala Lumpur again with another three bombs. The aviators reported that she looked like she was on fire from stem to stern, and appeared to be doomed.

The Japanese bombers continued to strike at the replenishment fleet unloading at Rangoon without success.

The Japanese staged a deliberate attack at Wuhan, but lost over 3000 troops and almost 100 guns, compared to less than 500 Chinese troops lost.

An attack at Legaspi, PI went better for the Japanese as there were no defending troops, and they captured the base. It also went better at Mersing, and the shock attack caused collapse of the defenses, with almost 8000 Allied troops killed, wounded and captured, compared to about 250 Japanese attackers.

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January 4, 1942

In a night surface action, ABDA destroyers moved in to bombard Jolo, PI, and intercepted a Japanese supply task force. Despite numberous transports unloading, AP Kasuga Maru #2 managed to radio a warning of the approaching destroyers, and the remainder of the fleet scattered and got away. The ABDA fleet, preoccupied with the AP Kasuga Maru #2, pounded her heavily and struck her with a torpedo, causing over 250 casualties among the troops she carried. She is thought to have sunk shortly after the battle. The ABDA task force then shelled the airfield, destroying and damaging “several” bombers parked there before retreating back out to sea.

Near Johore Bahru, the British struck with torpedo and fighter-bombers, claiming a hit on AP Jusan Maru, which lost almost 50 casualties from the troops being carried.

The Japanese continued to strike at Rangoon, both at the replenishment convoy and the airfield. No ships were hit, but a few aircraft on both sides were shot down.

Bombardment attacks from both sides continued in Singapore and Philippines. The Japanese unloaded troops at the undefended Shortlands base.

Dutch PT boats, running low on torpedoes, struck at Davao and hit AP Hie Maru and AP Tango Maru with a torpedo each, while suffering a hit on TM-6.

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< Message edited by rtrapasso -- 10/23/2004 1:50:45 PM >

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Post #: 15
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/19/2004 6:12:15 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		January 5, 1942

The Dutch PT boats returned to Davao early in the morning, and used up most of their few remaining torpedoes. AP Nissho Maru took two torpedo hits, AP Igasa Maru and AP Haisho Maru each took a torpedo hit. All three of these as well as the AP Kashiwa Maru
AP Koshin Maru, AP Mikage Maru #20, AP Otake Maru, AP Seizan Maru, AP Tango Maru, and AP Teiryu Maru all were hit with machine gun fire. The Tango Maru and Nissho Maru each were on fire and listing heavily. The PT boats escaped without damage.

Various ineffectual air attacks, bombardments and counterbattery attacks occurred throughout the theater. The only attack of note was at Dadjangas, where the Allied troops were forced to surrender with the loss of over 1000 troops.

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January 6, 1942
RETURN TO WAKE:
The Central Pacific main surface task force returned to Wake Island and bombarded it with two battleships, four heavy cruisers, four light cruiser and numerous destroyers. The transport task force 1018 moved in and unloaded troops, and much to the surprise of the Allied commanders encountered no resistance except for that provided by the elements and various booby traps left by the Japanese. The base was recaptured. Wake had apparently been evacuated, or the previous bombardment had entirely wiped out the defenders! The commanders on the spot decided the former must be true.

Despite the prior submarine warning, the surface task force that had bombarded Rabaul again steamed through sub infested waters, and this time CA Canberra was torpedoed by I-24.

The Dutch attacked the IJN again, this time three Martin bombers managed to hit the AP Jusan Maru, turning her into an inferno with obvious heavy damage seen.

With a deliberate attack near Wuhan, the Japanese were repulsed, losing 1500 men and over 40 guns, to the loss of less than 400 Chinese with about 10 guns.

West of Kafieng, a Chinese attack by over 85000 troops on over 65000 Japanese troops inflicted over 1200 casualties on the Japanese, with the Chinese losing about 400 killed and wounded.

An attack at Singapore damaged the fortifications there and caused the loss of almost 900 Allied troops for the cost of over 500 Japanese attackers.
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< Message edited by rtrapasso -- 10/23/2004 1:51:31 PM >

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Post #: 16
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/21/2004 5:35:12 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		January 7, 1942
I-Boat Trap Off New Guinea
After stumbling into two separate attacks by I-boats, the commander of the Allied bombardment force (Captain FE Getting) steered his task force into a third ambush. The Free French DD Le Triomphant attacked I-6, but failed to damage her. As she steamed slowly trying to pick up a sonar contact, RO-61 put two torpedoes into her. A severe fire started in her engine room, and she threatened to capsize, but her crew managed to get the fire under control, but her pumps struggled to keep up with the flooding.

The US submarine Tautog made a surface attack on a small IJN taskforce near the Philippines, and hit AP Kuretake Maru with two shells, but these only hastened the departure of the transport into a convenient squall and she escaped. Almost the exact same scenario happened near Singapore, but this time with the Dutch sub O-16 playing the aggressor, and starting a fire aboard AK Hachirogata Maru after she was hit by two shells from the subs deck gun.

Brisk fighting continued in the Philippines, with the Japanese capturing Lamon Bay without opposition, and shelling Allied forces at Clark Field. General MacArthur (“Dugout Dug” as he was “affectionately” known to his troops) ordered a deliberate counterattack, inflicting almost 1250 casualties on the Japanese, while suffering some 250+ killed, wounded and captured.

On Sulewesi, bombardment and counterbombardment at Menado accomplished little.

An IJA assault at Singapore inflicted almost 500 Allied casualties, and damaged the fortifications there, with the Japanese suffering about 350 killed and wounded.

US B-17C bombers and Dutch Martins struck at a supply convoy at Brunei. Although defended by five Zeros, the three Martins and eight B-17s broke through and hit PG Yachiyo Maru with two five-hundred pounders, starting a brisk conflagration.

Meanwhile, convoys unloaded ever increasing amounts of troops and supplies from the Dutch East Indies in Australia, with the main port of debarkation for the troops in Darwin.



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January 8, 1942

Submarine action:
USS Seadragon stalked and struck TK Hokki Maru with a torpedo, and then surfaced and shelled the hapless tanker with her deck gun. She fired a second salvo of torpedoes at her, and a second Mark 14 struck her and exploded, causing severe flooding and fires. Dutch sub O-16 continued her micro-rampage, hitting AP Kashiwara Maru with a torpedo and exercising her deck gun again the freighter with another two shells.

Latter, B-17 and Martin bombers struck near Kuching, and planted four bombs into AK Kagu Maru, leaving her burning briskly. They returned later in the day for a second attack, this time on the port itself, and hit the docked DD Kuretake and AP Kaihei Maru with one bomb apiece. The fliers reported both ships were heavily damaged and burning.

Next, the Dutch went in alone with three Martins, and hit AP Hakozake Maru with one bomb.

At Singapore, the Japanese army attacked again in a deliberate manner, further damaging the fortifications, while suffering almost 600 casualties. The Allies lost just over 500 men.

At Clark Field, MacArthur ordered another attack, and the sons of Nippon lost almost 1500 casualties, compared to less than 500 men for the combined US-Philippine force.

On Sulewesi, attack and counterattacks at Menado added another 100 Japanese troops and about 35 troops to the Butcher’s bill.

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< Message edited by rtrapasso -- 10/25/2004 10:54:58 AM >

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Post #: 17
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/22/2004 5:18:12 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		January 9, 1942
A relatively slow day in the Pacific...

Allied SigInt reported they had picked up distress signals and reports that IJN submarine I-21 and AP Nissho Maru had sunk.

More Submarine Action:
The USS Tuna successfully stalked and hit AK Dainiti Maru with one torpedo.

The Japanese landed at Buka and took the undefended base without difficulty.

The Japanese assaulted at Singapore with almost 50,000 troops, losing just over 500 troops. The Allies lost close to 1000 troops, and their fortifications were further damaged.

MacArthur had his troops assault again at Clark Field, and this time they inflicted over 1100 casualties on the Japanese, and this time some of the Japanese retreated. The Allies lost almost 350 killed and wounded. The Allies also assaulted at Menado, losing eight troops, while the Japanese forces lost about seven times that number.

Near Kafieng, the Chinese army staged a deliberate attack, and the Japanese lost over 100 troops, while the Chinese army lost close to 700 troops, but the Japanese forces retreated.

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January 10, 1942
Action still slow...

Brewster fighters, in desperation pressed into use as dive bombers, managed to score a single hit on AK Yagi Maru near Johore Bahru.

Three Dutch Martin bombers attacked near Singapore, hitting AP Kisogawa Maru with a bomb.

At Singapore, the Japanese assaulted again, damaging the fortifications and inflicting almost 1000 casualties, losing 175 men.

MacArthur had his troops assault yet again at Clark Field, and this time the Allies had overwhelming superiority after some of the Japanese forces had retreated. The Allies inflicted over 330 casualties on the Japanese, and the rest of Japanese retreated. The Allies lost about half the numbers of the Japanese. The Allies also assaulted at Menado, losing no men, while the Japanese forces lost over 25 troops.

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< Message edited by rtrapasso -- 10/23/2004 1:53:36 PM >

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Post #: 18
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/23/2004 12:13:52 AM   
anarchyintheuk

 

Posts: 3921
Joined: 5/5/2004
From: Dallas
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

Well, after a prolonged bout of being forbidden to sit at the computer for long periods of time due to a bum back, I have gotten a ergonomic kneeling chair which seems to help, so I am going to try to keep at the game here, although I might be slowed up in posting accounts.

both sites.
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Those things look silly, but they sure are comfortable. How's it working for you?

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Post #: 19
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/23/2004 1:38:37 AM   
Scharnhorst

 

Posts: 6
Joined: 9/26/2004
Status: offline 		Jan. 1941

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Post #: 20
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/23/2004 8:47:58 PM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		Well, the first time my back went out (about 15-20 years ago) it seemed to help quite a bit. This time, it doesn't seem to be helping that much. The best chair I have is a Herman Miller aeron chair at work, but I don't think they would like it very much if I took it home to play WITP with. Costs around $800 I think. I'm hoping I can get my doc to write a prescription for it...

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Post #: 21
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/23/2004 8:48:57 PM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		Urk - thanks for pointing that out - I will correct my prior posts.

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Post #: 22
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/24/2004 8:48:51 PM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		January 11, 1942
Submarine Action:
The IJN sub I-154 hit MSW Bungaree with one torpedo, and she sank quickly after that attack with heavy loss to her crew.

Meanwhile, the Dutch sub KXVII hit the troop-carrying AK Takaosan Maru with one torpedo, and the resultant fire and heavy flooding resulted in almost 50 casualties in her hapless passengers.

The USS Grayling put 2 torpedoes into the side of TK Eiyo Maru, and she then surfaced to finish the tanker with her deck gun, but the tanker still had fight in her. After a brisk firefight, the tanker took two hits from the Grayling’s deck gun, but the Grayling broke off the attack after a hit damaged her.

The USS Cuttlefish ran into the TK Shinkoku Maru in low visibility, and damaged her with two hits from her deck gun, but the tanker escaped into the fog before a torpedo good setup for a torpedo attack, and the four fired at the tanker either missed or malfunctioned.

An air attack on Brunei by combined ABDA forces found three heavy cruisers in the form of the CA Atago, CA Takao, and CA Maya, all escorting CVL Ryujo. The bombers consisting of B-17C’s, Martins and bomb-carrying Brewsters were intercepted by Claude fighters, shot up and did not achieve a hit, but lost only 1 bomber forced to ditch on the way back. The Dutch struck again at this target, this time also finding the CA Chokai providing AA cover. The results of this attack were similar: many damaged bombers, no hits.

Beaufort bombers struck a convoy near Brunei, hitting AP Seizan Maru which was noted to be burning as the bombers exited.

The Japanese unloaded troops at Tarakan without much opposition.

In China, a deliberate attack by the IJA at Wuhan was repulsed in a bloody mess that resulted in almost 3000 Japanese, and about 800 Chinese casualties.

At Singapore, the fortifications were reduced to a mere shell in another deliberate attack, causing over 900 Allied casualties, and over 500 Japanese to be lost.

ABDA continued the defense and assaulted at Menado, causing about 80 Japanese casualties.
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January 12, 1942

Singapore falls:
The British had been evacuating men from Singapore since the war broke out (primarily taking out support troops and engineering units) by aircraft, submarine and fast surface convoys. However, about 49,000 men were captured, and about 200 more killed and wounded in the final defense of the “Gilbraltor of the East”. The Japanese had been bombing the city almost continually over the last week, and a shock attack was too much for her demoralized defenders. Extensive propaganda in the form of radio broadcasts and newsreel footage bolstered Japanese morale.

Submarine action:
The USS Sealion’s crew thanked their lucky stars after an alert lookout caused her skipper to crash dive and set her on the bottom. They had been patrolling off southern Mindanao when what appeared to be “the whole damn Jap navy” (according to her report) passed over her. Her sonar man claimed at least 10 destroyers, three minesweepers, and a patrol boat tried to find them, and said he could also identify the individual ships, but Allied intelligence in Washington, D.C. discounted this as a figment of an overactive imagination.

Nearby and shortly thereafter, the USS Argonaut escaped being detected by three destroyers. Washington DC intelligence denied there could be any connection between the incidents.

The Japanese continued to unload troops at Tarakan. Three Beaufort torpedo bombers attacked and managed to hit AP Somedono Maru with a single torpedo. The Japanese staged a shock assault later in the day, causing nearly 300 Allied casualties, while losing just over 60 men. The defeated Allied troops retreated towards Balikpapan, except for the troops manning the fortifications who surrendered.

At Kuching, the usual ritual of ABDA aircraft dumping bombs into the ocean on attacking IJN heavy warships continued. Later , the Dutch hit a softer target (a supply convoy), and AP Huso Maru was hit by two bombs which started fires on board her.

At Hsinyang, another Japanese attack met a bloody fate, with almost 2400 Japanese killed and wounded, while the Chinese lost about 250 men.

At Menado, the cornered Japanese suffered another 30 troops lost from ABDA’s pounding.
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< Message edited by rtrapasso -- 10/25/2004 10:57:04 AM >

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Post #: 23
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/26/2004 5:15:01 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		January 13, 1942


Off Tarakan, the British and Dutch struck furiously (but too late) at the invading task force with the limited forces they had. A combined force of 10 aircraft composed of Martins and Beaufighters came in low and hit AP Hakuyo Maru with two torpedoes and AK Tihuku Maru with one. The Hakuyo Maru looked to be in danger of burning up and capsizing according to coastwatcher’s reports. About 50 Japanese troops were reported drowned after they jumped overboard to escape the flames on the ship.

An ABDA destroyer force bombarded Menado in support of ABDA’s efforts there. Allied spotters reported there were more than 100 casualties for the Japanese. Later Japanese bombers hit the ABDA garrison which caused 90 killed and wounded.

At Kuching, the Dutch tried to prevent the AP Batavia Maru from visiting its namesake city later in the war, hitting her with one bomb. Patrolling aircraft also claimed at hit on Tamaki Maru.

At Kwajalein, AK Nissan Maru struck a submarine-layed mine. Further details were unavailable from the SigInt that gave them this scant information.

Desultory bombardments occurred in China and the Philippines, which accomplished little in tactical or strategic significance. These “paltry” actions did manage to kill, maim, and wound dozens of men on both sides.


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January 14, 1942
Submarine Actions off Australia
Off the coast of Australia, an ASW force of four Allied minesweepers surprised IJN I-5 on the surface recharging her batteries. They steamed over her dive location, and dropped depth charge barrages, severely damaging her, and she broached briefly before sinking forever. IJN I-170 tried to avenge her sister and attacked the small minesweepers with torpedoes, but missed. A counterattack failed.

SigInt reported AP Gotake Maru sank. This ship had been hit by bombs on the last day of 1941. Washington D.C. intelligence refused to acknowledge this sinking, however.

AP Hakuyo Maru was hit by a torpedo in the continued attack by Beaufighters off Tarakan. Coastwatchers reported a fire was burning out of control, although they did not think the ship was severely damaged.

The attack of the supply convoy off Kuching also continued. PG Yoshida Maru was hit three times by bombs from five Dutch Martin bombers, and AP Hakka Maru was also hit once. The patrol boat looked like it was listing 25 degrees and burning fiercely, and Hakka Maru was burning with smaller fires.

At Menado, a Japanese fast transport taskforce picked up the battered survivors of its invasion force.

Bombardments continued at Rangoon, China, and in the Philippines. Multiple air attacks on Sindkep Island accomplished little.


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Post #: 24
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/27/2004 4:01:41 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		January 15, 1942

Another I-boat success:
The same four minesweepers that had sunk I-15 the day before now became the prey of an IJN submarine, and MSW Lithgow was hit by two torpedoes from I-19 off Rockhampton and sank almost immediately, taking most of her crew.

At Singapore, AK Fukuyo Maru struck reportedly struck two mines and sustained heavy damage (according to Allied SigInt.) She was reportedly carrying troops, and over 50 were lost.

The Dutch struck again at IJN troop convoys, and AP Anrugu Maru was hit by two Martin bombs and lost about 20 troops. Nearby, another convoy was attacked, and AP Keisyo Maru was hit by another Dutch bomb.

Another Japanese attack at Hsinyang hit a buzzsaw, and the IJA lost over 2500 men, while the Chinese lost about 1100 troops.

Japanese troops arrived at Rangoon and attacked, and were repulsed with about 1000 casualties, while the British forces lost about half that.

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January 16, 1942

Wake Island Surprise!
In the early morning hours, a Japanese task force, missed by search aircraft, arrived off Wake Island and started unloading troops. American artillery pounded the landing Japanese troops causing almost 400 casualties, and hit PC Ch 29 with three shells and
PC Ch 30 with one shell. U.S. land forces bombarded the Japanese troops that did get ashore, causing another (nearly) hundred troops.

The IJN also unloaded troops at Lae. The landing was unopposed.

The Dutch continued to hit Japanese troop ships. AP Meiko Maru was hit by one bomb south of Singapore. U.S. Catalina’s joined in a night attack, and hit TK Kaizyo Maru with three torpedoes near Brunei.

Japanese aircraft pounded troops at Rangoon, and Japanese troops joined in with artillery, but did not try to repeat their general assault. Over 200 Allied troops were killed or wounded.

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Post #: 25
RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/28/2004 6:15:34 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		January 17, 1942

Wake Island Struggle:
The IJN Task Force 119 continued to unload troops at Wake Island, despite shelling from American troops. PC Ch 30 took two shell hits and AP Monji Maru took three hits, and both were set on fire. Later, AP China Maru moved in to unload and took nine hits, and started to list dangerously, while fires billowed from her superstructure. The landing troops took over 300 casualties, and then they staged a shock assault, suffering about another 150 casualties, while the Americans lost about the same.

Manilla Surprise!
Somehow, the IJN manage to sneak a task force past the defending forts at Corregidor, and started landing troops at Manilla. AP Kiri Maru took a dozen hits and showed every sign of sinking, while the landing troops took over 300 casualties.

Allied aircraft struck at an IJN task force to the south of the landing, and Beauforts reported they had put two torpedoes into DD Fumizuki, which appeared to have her bow blown off with a heavy list and fires aboard.

Off Singkawang, the Dutch continued striking at the IJN troopships, and Martins dropped a bomb onto the decks of AP Kasuga Maru.

The Japanese continued to pound at troops in Rangoon and China with their bombers to little effect. They also heavily raided Sinkep Island, which was engaged in trying to extract Dutch troops from bases at Sumatra. Little damage was reported to installations there, however, several Brewster fighters were destroyed on the field.

At Rangoon, the Japanese were paused in their assaults, although they fired artillery at the defenders inflicting about three dozen casualties.

At Lae, the Japanese captured the undefended base.

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January 18, 1942

At Manilla, the Japanese continued to unload while their transports were shelled. Over 500 troops and seven guns were lost by the Japanese in this landing effort. Another troop convoy moved in and also unloaded troops, with horrible results for the Japanese. AP Daigen Maru hit a mine, and then was hit by over a dozen shells. AP Jinsai Maru was also hit by at least nine shells. Both ships were burning furiously and listing heavily. Almost another five hundred Japanese troops were lost in this effort. Japanese bombers struck at the American and Philippino defenders, inflicting over 200 casualties. This did not stop MacArthur’s forces, who attacked the landing forces, inflicting about 140 casualties, while the Allies lost about 65 troops. The Japanese marched around Manilla and then retreated southwards.

Allied spies in Singapore, combined with SigInt reported that AP Seiwa Maru struck no less than three mines while coming into the harbor. Over 100 troops were reported lost.

In Borneo, the Japanese attacked Balikpapan and Singkawang almost simultaneously. They were attacked by artillery, and about attacking 150 troops were cut down. At Balikpapan, Allied aircraft hit AK Sinsei Maru with a torpedo, setting her on fire and inflicting over two dozen casualties in the troops she was carrying.

Off western Borneo, the Dutch struck again and struck AP Hikawa Maru and AP Heiyo Maru with one bomb each.

The Japanese army attacked again at Hsinyang, but again hit a buzzsaw, losing over 3100 casualties, while the Chinese lost about 775 troops.

The Japanese also tried assaulting at Rangoon, and over 1000 troops were lost on each side, although the Japanese lost more than twice and many guns and vehicles.

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RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/29/2004 4:06:01 AM   
rtrapasso


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Japanese command inflexibility manifested itself by refusing to cancel the orders to land more troops at Manilla despite the fact that the main Japanese units had already been forced to retreat. AP Jinsai Maru struck a mine in her haste to close on the beaches and unload her troops. Artillery opened fire on the IJN taskforce, and AP Hino Maru and AP Daigen Maru each #3 took six hits from the artillery. All three ships appeared to be listing heavily and burning as they staggered out to sea in retreat.

At Balikpapan, the Japanese also continued with their landing, and MSW Shintohoku Maru took four shell hits. American B-17's struck at the landing fleet, and AK Sinsei Maru took a single hit and AK Kirisima Maru three hits from 500-pound bombs. Both ships had fires aboard, and the Kirisima Maru was struggling to stay afloat. The Japanese attacked, but could not penetrate the ABDA defenses with about two dozen Japanese casualties, and half that for the Allies.

At Sinkep, six ABDA destroyers which had been running fast transport ran into the harbor, and ran into CA Takao, CA Chokai, CA Myoko, CA Haguro, CA Mogami, CL Sendai and at least nine IJN destroyers. The ABDA fleet was shot up, with DD Bulmer taking eight hits before sinking, DD Kortenaer took seven shell hits and a Long Lance torpedo before sinking, DD Van Ghent was struck by almost a dozen hits, and staggered out of the battle before sinking. DD Piet Hein was hit a single shell, and eventually was ordered back to Australia for repairs. DD John D. Edwards and DD Tjerk Hiddes were the only ABDA ships to come off undamaged. The destroyers managed to score two hits on the heavy cruisers which only bounced off their armor. The Japanese task force then moved in to bombard the base at Sinkep, chewing up the airbase and port and inflicting almost 500 casualties.


In action off Singkawang, the Dutch saw AP Tsunushima Maru hit a mine while entering the harbor. The Japanese unloaded more troops, and then assaulted, causing the Allies to retreat.

January 20, 1942

At Palembang, IJN Task Force 114 unloaded troops without opposition, losing a few dozen troops in the landing operation. The captured the base later in the day.

Off Singkawang, the continued to strike at their antagonists, hitting AP Higashiyama Maru, with two bombs, AK Hokkai Maru with one bomb, and AP Daifuku Maru with three bombs. All three were on fire when last seen by the coastwatchers.

At Rangoon, the Japanese attacked again after resting a day. Each side lost about 1000 troops in the ensuing struggle, but the fortifications remained intact.

The Japanese that had conducted the surprise landing at Wake Island tried a shock attack, but were repulsed with over 100 troops cut down. The US lost about 30 troops.

The Japanese attacked with their troops at Balikpapan, but again accomplished little with about 20 casualties on both sides.

The Chinese assaulted at Pakhoi, but could not capture the base, inflicting a couple of dozen casualties on the Japanese.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 10/30/2004 8:01:53 PM   
rtrapasso


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At Wake Island, the US Carrier Force returned for some valuable live-fire training when they bombed the hapless 61st IJN Naval Guard which had been landed at Wake. Over 200 Allied aircraft participated in the raid, inflicting over 200 casualties. The American ground forces advanced on the small IJN beachhead, inflicting a few more casualties, but somehow the attack foundered through poor coordination of the relatively green troops. There were no US troops lost in this fiasco, however.

The Japanese played tit-for-tat, hitting Sinkep Island heavily with over 150 aircraft from Singapore. They destroyed at least one Brewster on the field, and damaged ABDA supply depots.


ABDA aircraft in turn struck at Palembang, hitting AP Chicago Maru with a torpedo, AP Kisogawa Maru with two bombs, and PG Eifuku Maru with two bombs and 2 torpedoes, causing heavy damage to the last ship, and starting conflagrations on all three.

The Dutch continued their yeoman work against Japanese troop convoys, hitting one about 120 northeast of Singkawang. AP Anrugu Maru was hit by 3 bombs, AK Nako Maru and AP Hakozake Maru by one bomb each. The Anrugu Maru had her bow blown off and was in severe distress as the aircraft exited the scene, according to the Dutch airmen.

At Pontaniak, a fast transport convoy came in the dead of night and picked up troops from the maintenance and communication support, and left in a hurry in the dead of night. At dawn, the Japanese struck and forced the surrender of the remaining 1400+ troops.

At Hsinyang, the Japanese conducted a deliberate assault, and it failed as its predecessors had with the loss of over 2800 IJA troops, while the Chinese lost less than 1/3 of this number.


Allied SigInt continued bringing in valuable intelligence: Hino Maru #3 was reported sunk off North Luzon coast due to 14" shell hit. This was also seen by coastwatchers. Although not previously reported damaged, Allied SigInt units think she may have been damaged when the IJN made its ill-advisded landings at Manilla a few days before. Also, Tihuku Maru was reported sunks in Pacific off Southern Philippines, due to the effects of 18" aerial torpedo hit suffered on 13th of Jan in air attack near Tarakhan.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

January 22, 1942

“All we found were the dead and dying...”
At Wake Island, live-fire exercises continued, and this time it was the heavy surface units turn as they moved in and plastered the spit of land the Japanese landing force still held with ordinance from 4 inch destroyer shells up to massive 14" battleship rounds. The effects of this were not immediately apparent in the dark, and at dawn another massive carrier raid struck the hapless remaining Japanese. That afternoon, the ground units advanced, but found no resistance at all - the 61st IJN Naval Guard had apparently ceased to exist. “All we found were the dead and dying Japs” said one Army major.

The Dutch minefields at Brunei find another victim. This time TK Nissyo Maru struck a mine which (according to the few coastwatchers in the area) caused a fire and heavy damage.

The ABDA aircraft continued its air assault at Palembang, however, the IJN had moved in some heavy units to protect its thin-skinned transports. This had spelled the demise of any Allied air attacks in the past, as the bomber pilots would attack the Japanese heavies, and either get shot up or shot down without accomplishing any damage. This time almost repeated the pattern, but for a single hit. The hit was a good one though, and actually caused more than putting some scorch marks on armor. A torpedo hit the CA Mikuma and started a fire reported by multiple aircraft.

The Japanese air assault on Sinkep Island continued, damaging and destroying a few aircraft there. The Japanese also attacked Batavia, and the fighters their gave a relatively good account of themselves, with the heavily outnumbered Dutch shooting down 8 Nates, losing a total of 12 Hawk and Demon fighters.

Various bombardments continued virtually wherever Allied and Japanese troops came in contact: throughout China, at Rangoon, through the Dutch East Indies, and Philippines, howver, no practical results (except for attrition to both sides) occurred.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 11/18/2004 2:44:06 AM   
rtrapasso


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“It was raining bombs...”
The Dutch tried to evacuate some troops from Sinkep Island. They had some transport aircraft there, pulling troops out of Sumatra, and had planned to use a fast transport task force out of Sinkep. Last time, three destroyers had been sunk when they were unloading supplies, and an IJN bombardment task force showed up. This time, the Japanese through their air forces at the two ABDA destroyers. US DD John D. Edwards and Dutch DD Tjerk Hiddes tried to make their way to Sinkep, and the Japanese reacted violently. At first, about 125 aircraft attacked the two speedy destroyers at high altitude. “It was raining bombs” claimed one survivor. However, the destroyers managed to dodge the “raindrops” and escaped damage in this first attack. A second attack added some Sonia divebombers, and about 25 aircraft came after the miniature ABDA force. They also missed. Then another attack with about 90 aircraft churned the sea around the two destroyers, which kept on with their mission, still unhit.

Dutch and British aircraft continued to hammer at the IJN troop task forces and struck at a convoy off Muntok. AP Hakozake Maru was hit with one torpedo, AP Gosei Maru was hit by one bomb, and PG Zuiko Maru took one bomb and caught on fire.

Meanwhile, off the northeast coast of Australia, the Allies tried to get revenge on the subs that had sunk one cruiser, and had severely hurt another and a destroyer. A hunter-killer force of four minesweepers used radio direction finding and homed in on I-122 and attacked, and at least severely damaged her.

Bombardments and counterbombardments continued throughout the theater from Wuhan to Balikpapan.


January 24, 1942

Kiss of Death
The intrepid ABDA destroyers DD Tjerk Hiddes and DD John D. Edwards had picked up troops at Sinkep Island, and continued back towards Batavia. However, when they are about 100 miles out, the fourth attack struck. Dutch Demon fighters had been assigned as long-range CAP, but there were only five of them to contest with over 100 Japanese aircraft, including numerous fighters. At least one Demon was shot down, and the bombs continued to rain down, until at the end of the attack, a single Ki-51 Sonia dive bomber struck the John D. Edwards with a 100-pound bomb. This was the kiss of Death. The bomb hit the stern off the ship and touching off the 4-inch ammunition magazine, causing an explosion which set off her depth-charge stores, tearing the stern off and flooding the engineering spaces. The ship sank quickly, killing and wounding many of her crew as well as a good proportion of the troops she had evacuated from Sinkep Island. After the attack flew off, the Tjerk Hiddes circled back and picked up any survivors she could locate. (See also below).

The IJN made their intentions clear, and troop convoys continued to suffer when the troop carrying AK Kenkon Maru was hit by a bomb near Batavia, causing severe casualties to the troops on board. The Allies braced for a landing at the capitol.

Another troop convoy near Palembang was attacked by ABDA (mostly Dutch and British) aircraft. AP Yamato Maru was struck by three bombs and started to burn.

Kiss of Death
Electrician mate 1st class James “Jimmy” Mason liked being a radioman on his ship. The radio room always seemed to be a magnet to crewmen on any ship - they liked to come in and get the scuttlebutt that the radiomen could offer - uncoded transmissions gave the men most of their clues of what was going on. He thought they also liked staring at his girl’s picture taped to the CRV-4614-8 radio receiver. She was quite a knockout in her cocktail singer’s dress, and she had put a lip-sticked kiss on the photo. The guys were always bugging him to know her name, and where she worked... like he would tell them!
Jimmy finished writing down the last of a set of five letter code group in a message to them from Batavia. The coded messages got uncoded next door by an officer, and often he would give clues as to what they said. They could even get ideas of what the Japs were up to - Jimmy could tell from the strength of the signal if they were close. He could recognize the “fists” of some of the Japanese operators, and so he could sometimes guess the direction of the movement on some of their task forces. Aircraft sometimes revealed they were on their way - signals rapidly getting stronger. He thought they were very careless in their transmitting - hell, why not order radio silence? For the last two days, he had been listening to their bombers coming at them. He hoped the coded message was about air cover. He heard transmissions of what he thought were more Jap planes coming in - the signals rapidly increasing in strength.
Sure enough, the General Quarters alarm started, and the ship started to increase in speed. After the alarm stopped, he could hear the drone of the Jap bombers approaching. After a minute, the ship started healing to port as she made a high-speed turn to avoid the bombs being dropped from high-altitude. Then the 3" AA gun opened up with a sharp crack, and he heard bombs exploding to starboard.
The explosions rained around the destroyer and the accompanying Dutch boat for the next fifteen minutes of so, then died out. Jimmy could hear the drone of some new aircraft coming in, and heard excited exclamations of sailors hailing the arrival of Dutch fighter air cover. This cheeriness didn’t last long: not ten minutes after the Dutch fighters arrived, Jap Zeros swooped in on them, and he heard yells of dismay. He peaked out of his radio room and saw a Dutch Demon fighter, wing blown off and on fire, cartwheeling into the ocean not 100 yards from the ship. The rest of the Demons had been driven off by the Zeros, and now the bombers had arrived, too quickly. The John D. Edwards started her dance of evasion, and the Bettys and Nells started dropping boms from high altitude, generally missing the ship by a good margin.
Suddenly, the droning of the bombers engines which floated down from high above took on a new tone - louder, higher pitched, and more threatening. Jimmy heard the AA machine guns open fire on the new target. A dive bomber swooped in off the port quarter, a bomb dropping into the sea. The splash and explosion didn’t look anything as big as the high-altitude ordinance, but it did come a lot closer. A hit in the right spot...
This thought was interrupted by a noise like God’s voice, and Jimmy was thrown against the forward bulkhead with a blinding wave of pain. Something had hit them stern, and hard. At first he couldn’t hear anything. Then he could hear the screams of men, getting louder as his hearing returned, like a station being tuned in gradually on his radio. Louder and louder. Then he heard the crackle of flames. These too grew louder.
He tried to get up, but his legs wouldn’t move. Funny, they didn’t hurt. He could move his arms okay and he used those to lever himself over. His radio had been wrenched from its mount and lay on its side. It didn’t look like it would ever operate again. He noticed the ship was well down at the stern, and seemed to be settling rapidly. He looked back at the radio, and back to Sonia’s picture. Funny, his eyes must be going, too. The picture of Sonia, which had always had a sultry look, now was smiling at him. Smiling, but with a touch of malice, cruelty, as if it was smiling at his predicament, not really smiling at him. He suddenly realized that the ship was sinking, fast, and taking him with it...

The Ki-57 Sonia pilot flew low over the water after pulling out of the power drive and dropping a bomb on the American destroyer. A towering cloud of smoke tinged with flames rose from the stricken ship which was sinking fast by the stern. The pilot, who rarely let any emotions to show, now allowed a smile to show. It was a smile tinged with malice and cruelty.

© 2004 by R. Trapasso - redistribution allowed with attribution

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RE: A Day That Will Live In Infamy... - 11/18/2004 2:46:59 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		This pretty much ends up this AAR thread for me - I have restarted my game after upgrading to version 1.30.

I originally wanted to post this on Halloween, but real-world events and procrastination prevented me from posting it until now.

RT

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