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RE: Sunday, February 15, 1942

 
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RE: Sunday, February 15, 1942 - 6/14/2005 1:29:59 PM   
Andy Mac

 

Posts: 15222
Joined: 5/12/2004
From: Alexandria, Scotland
Status: offline 		Diary Entry March 10th 1942 - General Alan Brooke

I have been appointed Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff a great honour Dudley Pound was wonderfull about the whole thing.

We are still facing a real shortage of Ocean Transport. We cannot supply Middle East, Far East and Russians plus fight the Battle of the Atlantic and provide sufficent reinforcements to all theatres. It is all about shipping.

Churchill re raised Norway and Madagascer yesterday in War Cabinet and I know he is pushing the Americans for an early North African invasion and he still mutters about an early invasion of Northern France to take the pressure off of the Russians he just doesnt realise how short we are. We have 10 Division in the UK they would last all of a week in France IF we could get them ashore. Those 10 Divisions are at less than 70% TOE and the two most equipped are being sent to the Middle East (51st and 44th). I need to make PM realise that just because Americans are in the war we cannot attack we must husband resources for a decisive strike. It takes time to mobilise and then more time and shipping to get that mobilisation where its needed. Logistics was never the PM's strong point.

The funny thing is the Australians are complaining again about the 3 Divisions they have in the Middle East they dont realise that in terms of field Divisoins Australia has almost got a larger Field Army than we have at the moment.

As an update 6th Australian should arrive on or about 10th March I hope the close escort will be available to bring them in.

The convoy with 7th Division strayed into an uncharted Mine Field probably laid by Italian submarines. Two transports were crippled.

The convoy has returned to the Aden I estimate it wont be back in Australia until the end of April at the earliest. The PM seems to feel the Aus PM will not believe us and he fears the apparent pull General MacArthur has in Washington. I expect to hear from Aus PM and High Commisioner any day now I just hope they haven't got wind of the PM's latest mad scheme (PM wants to use 9th Division them for a descent on the Dodecanese, I think I have killed that idea but I just hope it doesnt get back to the Australians they seem to have an instinctive distrust of Churchill in this case well justified !!!)

Apparently PM was reading a CS Forrester book the other day and his use of the word Hornblower in a cable to Auchineck (where he was recommending the book) sent ME command searching for an operation Hornblower they assumed it was another mad plan.

The only good point about the PM's desire to always attack is it must be at least as confusing the the Nazi's as it is to us !!!

Until 51st Highland Divison and 44th Division arrive in Middle East I cannot countenance releasing 9th Divison

Auchinleck has stabilised defences at Gazala I am not sure that Ritchie is capable of army command. Neil is a fine officer I question whether he has been over promoted. It is clear that PM is distrustfull of Auk he even suggested replacing him with Gort, again I killed the idea but these random thoughts have a habit of recurring.

2nd UK and 5th Indian divisions are being moved from Iraq command to India command it will take time to get them there but a cable will be sent to Thayne advising him re there deployment and indicating a timescale fo deployment.

This leaves Iraq / Persia command weak but risks must be taken somewhere.

(in reply to Speedysteve)
Post #: 181
Monday, February 16, 1942 - 6/15/2005 5:14:44 AM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Monday, February 16, 1942

Henry

• Lost Soerabaja

Why don’t you accept my resignation, or at least do the honor of having me shot for treason. I do not belong in this job. I am no good at it.

I have no idea what went wrong at Soerabaja. I thought that Wavell would be able to hold onto the town until the end of the week. The town was well fortified. It had tons of supplies. The troops were well rested. They were not pushed back to the city as a result of a lingering fight, to enter their defenses worn and weary. These were well prepared troops.

Yet, they fell to the first attack.

Japan attacked with an army of nearer to 100,000 troops and 1000 guns, than the 60,000 troops we were expecting. These were:

• 35th Brigade
• 2nd and 21st Divisions
• Imperial Guards Division
• 39th Road Construction Battalion
• 4th and 5th Engineer Regiments
• 3rd Mountain Gun Regiment

Even with this, I thought that the Dutch would be able to hold out, at least for a while.

I do not know what to make of this. I need some time to think.


• Canton Island Bomber Force Destroyed

In addition to the tragedy at Soerabaja, I lost a lot of friends at Canton Island. We finally got good weather for hitting the Japanese at Baker Island. We sent three dozen 4-engine bombers – almost every bomber we had. We lost over a dozen. The rest were pretty badly shot up.

The Japanese were watching over the island with fighters from their carrier planes. We did not see the carriers. Don’t get me wrong, we knew that the carriers were out there. We knew what we were flying into. There are risks in war. But, I expected the bombers to make a battle of it. This is far worse than anything I ever heard come out of Europe.

The Japanese did not suffer a loss in the attack.

Yet again, the Japanese did not suffer a loss.

For all practical purposes, the Canton Island heavy bomber force has been destroyed. Japan holds Baker Island with little opposition from us.


• Trip to Palmyra and Christmas Island

This news was the backdrop for my trip to Palmyra and Christmas Island to visit the soldiers of the 115th USAAF Base Force and the 40th USA Infantry Division. I wanted to talk to them about the loss of their friends.

I had no intention of going there, head low, and apologize for the loss. I mentioned how, if Baker had not been occupied, the Japanese could have claimed that island with two squads on rubber rafts, and the full force of the Japanese invasion would have hit Palmyra or Canton Island instead. I informed them that, "Your comrades at Baker Island made a great sacrifice to buy you time to prepare for the war to come here. You owe them a debt of gratitude. But, I am sure that they have done nothing for you that you would not have done for them if the opportunity came up. Now, it is time to make good on their sacrifice and to make sure that the Japanese, if they should come here, if they should try to take this island, that they pay a very dear price, a price worthy of the sacrifice that your friends have made on your behalf. Every hour you have now is an hour they bought for you. Use it well."

They had not yet heard about the travesty at Baker Island and Soerabaja. They will hear about these soon enough.

This is not good. I can’t tell you how I feel today.

Really, Henry, you ought to consider somebody for this position that is better at fighting wars than I am.


• Other Attacks

Sumatra In addition to the attacks above, Japan took the last city on the island of Sumatra today. The 16th Naval Guards took Sabang, the city on the far western tip of the island closest to Ceylon.

North China Japan has also started to drive on Homan in northern China. This is a huge force that is almost certainly planning to drive all the way to Sian. The forces involved include:

• 26th, 36th, 40th, 41st, 59th, 110th Division
• 2nd, 19th, 20th, Engineer Regiment
• 15th Field Artillery Regiment
• 2nd Mountain Gun Regiment
• 3rd Construction Battalion
• 52nd Road Construction Battalion
• 9th Independent Brigade
• 2nd, 16th Mixed Brigade
• 4th, 8th Mongolian Cavalry Division
• 115th Imperial Japanese Army Base Force


• Strategic Bombing in Burma

The campaign to destroy anything of military worth in occupied Burma is the only thing that has some measure of success. The British attacked Pagan today, inflicting severe damage on the railway yards and warehouses there.

Photo recon shows a devastating raid that left the infrastructure in shambles. Yesterday’s attack on Taung Gyi was just as devastating. The Japanese plan was probably to camp an army in Burma where the country would provide them with all of the supplies they need. The captured the coastal part of the country easily enough and have been using the supplies there. Our hope is to deny them the resources of the central and northern part of the country.


I have got a long night ahead of me. It has been an emotionally draining day. But, I have to see what’s left. I’ll need something resembling a plan in the near future.

Thayne




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(in reply to Andy Mac)
Post #: 182
Tuesday, February 17, 1942 - 6/16/2005 3:51:49 AM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Tuesday, February 17, 1942

Henry

I have just suffered through an insufferably long night, and an equally insufferably long day. We are trying to pick up the pieces from yesterday's deplorable events.

We patched together 6x B-17s and sent them to Baker Island. We cannot just roll over and die. We can't make it easier to the Japanese. We cannot surrender.

I was up with the crew, and went to the briefing to say a few words. I gave an opening statement. "A mission can accomplish many objectives. Killing enemy soldiers and destroying their equipment is only one of them. Gathering information is another. We learned something from yesterday's mission. We learned that the Zero is a more deadly airplane against heavy bombers than anything the Germans have been using against English bombers. We paid a heavy price for this information. It is the type of information that demands a heavy price. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who paid their lives for this. Now that we have this information, we can plan accordingly."

The pilots were then given an explanation of the mission to Baker Island, using six airworthy B-17 bombers.

The room was quiet. Of course, the question on everybody's mind was, "What about the Zeros?" We answered that by telling the pilots that they would be flying in above the Zeros ceiling.

Then, one of the officers shouted, "Why didn't we do that yesterday? Then there would be a lot more of us today?"

I stepped in then. "Because you can't kill very many Japs at 35,000 feet. At that altitude, you can barely see a carrier, let alone hit it with a bomb."

The officer than protested, "Then why are we doing this today, if you don't think we can accomplish anything?"

"We are accomplishing something," I said. I knew that I had to sound calm and confident for this to work. "We are telling the Japanese that we are not giving up. We are telling the Japanese that, even when we are backed into a corner, we will do what we can with what we have. They can hurt us, but they cannot break us. Nor are we going to be goaded into doing something reckless. We are going to be smart, and we are going to be tenacious, and, eventually, we are going to be victorious."

I hope the speech worked. Really, it was an honest answer. I knew that the mission was not going to accomplish much. However, I wanted the Japanese to know that they could not rest, and that we would keep trying.

The mission turned out as expected. From seven miles up, the bombers did not even hit the island. Photographs taken turning the bombing mission show the line of explosions from each bomber hitting the water to the northeast of the island. However, we did show up. We did make the Japanese worry about what would happen if the bombs did not miss. If we only rattled a small little nerve, it was worth it.

As we get more bombers fixed and more crews in the air, we should be able to do more.


Bali

In the Dutch East Indies, the Japanese immediately followed up their success at Soerabaja with a naval bombardment on Bali last night. Actually, I think that the bombardment force was heading for Soerabaja, but that city fell while the bombardment force was still at sea. Bali was selected as a secondary target.

Be that as it may, the attack was devistating. Casualties on the island exceeded 15% of the total size of the garrison. Naturally, the runways and ports have been substantially destroyed.

I fear that Japan may decide to use the base as a naval training ground and give all of their gunners a few shots at the island, just for practice, while weakening the defenders and keeping the airbase suppressed. It is a good idea -- one that I might want to keep in mind for the future.


Plotting

I talked with both Admiral Nimitz (Pacific) and General Pownall (India) yesterday about coming up with something to do to hurt the Japanese.

With the Japanese carrier force at Baker Island, plans to strike at Naru have been cancelled. Japanese carriers are simply too near the intended target. Nimitz is now suggesting that the region around New Britain (e.g., Rabaul, Lae, Buna) would be a better target while the Japanese carriers are hanging around the eastern part of the Pacific. So, Lexington and Yorktown have been ordered to Brisbane, then North.

The Australians should be pleased.

In addition, Nimitz is still planning to send Enterprise and Hornet to the Kurile Islands in an attempt to draw some Japanese forces up north. Hornet should be leaving San Francisco, heading North, by the end of the week. Enterprise will leave Pearl Harbor at about the same time.

Enterprise will have to stop by Midway on the way north. That is where she left most of her air squadrons. She will then head to Dutch Harbor, there to refuel, then meet with Hornet, and head west.

General Pownall is also looking at a way to hurt Japan. It will not be a serious blow, but something to let them know that we are still in this war. I will, of course, let you know what results they have come up with.


Burma Bombing Campaign

The order was given to abandon Mandalay.

Chinese forces took Pagan, which immediately became a target of allied bombers. Fifty LB-30 and B-17 bombers visited the town targeting anything in the area that the Japanese could use to support their war machine. Warehouses, rail yards, factories, truck farms, oil storage facilities, processing plants, power plants -- all of the industry and infrastructure the bombers could find came under attack.

To aid in this bombing campaign, the 7th Bomber Group, flying LB-30 bombers, is flying from Australia to India, while there are still airfields in the Dutch East Indies available to them. They have split up, using the airfields at Pamakasan, Macassar, and Malang (see map). They are taking bombs with them, with orders to strike at Balikpapan and Palembang as they fly over.

I hate to say it, but our objective is to have the people plowing their fields using oxen and cooking that food over an open fire, these being the two most technically sophisticated options available to them. The phrase, "bomb them back to the stone age" is not going is going to graduate from cliche to doctrine.

I regret putting the people in this situation. Plus, I know that the Japanese -- the lords and masters -- will make themselves as nobles and force the Burmese citizens to make the sacrifice that an armed rebellion may require. We could send supplies to the citizens and bombs to the Japanese -- and let the Burmese people decide who to help.

As I said, orders were given to leave Mandalay. The Japanese were in a good position to cut off all avenues of retreat toward India and, instead, for a retreat towards China, which is short of supplies. To prevent this, allied soldiers are declaring Mandalay an open city and heading inland.

Japan is likely to turn Mandalay into a fort, protecting the base with some of its best fighters, as it has been doing to Rangoon. Bombing missions to Rangoon have been scarce, under the idea that it is best to have the bombers destroying things they can hit rather easily. As Lashio and Myitkyina fields fall, we should continue the same strategy --hitting the bases on the fringe and denying the Japanese the hope of ever building them up.


Air War at New Guinea

McArthur’s air war in New Guinea continues to do better than expected. He sent P-39s to Buna, where they managed to inflict some damage on a barge that was found in the harbor.

Japan is starting to view Port Moresby as a serious threat, however. Today, an air attack force of 50 fighters and 50 bombers attacked the airfield at Port Moresby. They destroyed a few airplanes and put some dents in the field. However, the damage was miniscule compared to what the Zeros would likely have done if fighters had challenged them.

I am wondering if Japan may be so concerned about keeping good pilots that they will not risk a more deadlier and more accurate attack on the runway. It would suit me just fine if Japan were to continue to simply be a nuisance.

However, events in Burma makes me think that Japan is considering a new bombing strategy. 100 Lily bombers attacked the airfield at Mandalay without fighter escort. The British were forced to abandon the field earlier. The Japanese attack was quite destructive. A similar raid on Port Moresby would put it out of commission, and force the allied air force to relocate back to Australia.


Closing

I still do not think that I will be able to get to sleep tonight. I could not get to sleep last night. The calamity at Soerabaja, the loss of the B-17 crews right here at Canton Island, the talk with the soldiers at Palmyra and Christmas Islands. No, sleep was not an option.

Instead, I have simply been working myself to the point where I hope my body will just collapse. If not tonight, then tomorrow night.


Thayne




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(in reply to Andy Mac)
Post #: 183
Wednesday, February 18, 1942 - 6/18/2005 5:50:22 PM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Wednesday, February 18, 1942

Henry

The doctor put something in my drink last night. I did not wake up until it was nearly noon. I would suspect that you had something to do with this, but it could just as easily have been somebody here who ordered it, or the doctor acting on his own initiative.

However, as thoughtful as it may have been, a few hours sleep did not make my problems go away. I, more than anybody, am responsible for the disaster at Soerabaja. I watch the Japanese move into one place after another. Another group of innocent people subject to their abuses. And I have been able to do nothing to stop them.

My orders from Washington continue to be to contain their expansion as much as possible; that we will defeat them once Hitler is eliminated.

Okay. I cannot rewrite history. Yesterday is over. We have to focus on tomorrow.


Japan's Advance through Burma Continues Unhindered

Japan is marching into Mandalay now, which the British have abandoned. The British units are retreating in good order along two routes. Some of them are entering the jungle, trying to march out to Imphal. Others are continuing north to Myitkyina, to join the Chinese.

The Chinese have sent over 30,000 soldiers to Myitkyina. They are joined there by some British support units controlling the air strips.

General Pownall grew concerned over the possibility of Japanese infiltrators or paratroopers blocking the route from Myitkyina to Ledo -- a jungle town connected to the Indian rail network. Therefore, he ordered a Chinese division to garrison the trail near Myitkyina, and an Indian brigade to garrison the road near Ledo. This ensures that the units in Myitkyina will not get trapped.

If the Japanese army continues on toward Myitkyina, they will bypass those units that headed towards Imphal. Those units could then double back and trap the Myitkyina attackers.

If the Japanese go into the jungle to chase the Imphal army away, this buys the soldiers at Myitkyina time to add to their defenses.

I have feared that order will break down in Mandalay as the army leaves. This has proved correct. I have heard reports of looting, rape, and murder. Some citizen cheer the Japanese. They see Japan as liberators from British colonialism. They rush up to the Japanese soldiers eager to give information -- to report those who are loyal to the British or who served them, who can then be rounded up and imprisoned, if they are not simply shot. Anybody who has a grudge against the neighbor tells the Japanese that his neighbor supports the British, and th neighbor disappears.

Some of the citizens, those who fear the Japanese, are trying to leave town as well. They carry as much as they can -- in some cases, more than they can. The sides of the roads look like a miles-long junkyard of discarded furniture and clothing, left behind by people lightening their load, being picked over by the vultures who are staying behind.


Japan Works to Command Air over India

Japan has gathered about 100 Zero fighters in the Burma theater, and may be starting a campaign to take control of the skies over eastern India. They showed up over Dacca today, catching a group of trainees in the air in Lysander I fighters. Thirteen of the student pilots were killed. It was a tragedy for the British air corps.

In India, General Pownall is continuing the policy of refusing to challenge the Japanese directly. He is out of spare planes and sees no use to putting pilots in the air for the sole purpose of providing Japan with target practice. Until we get some decent air-to-air combat planes from England, sending pilots up in what we have when this swarm of Zeros comes over is simply immoral. We might as well line them up along the side of a trench and machine-gun the lot of them ourselves.

Meanwhile, Pownall is continuing his campaign to make central Burma a wasteland for the Japanese. Blenheim IV bombers flew over Pagan yesterday and dropped over 100 incendiary bombs across the rubber tree plantations near the city. They met with no resistance, and left with some fairly large fires spreading across the fields. They also hit the plantations themselves in order to destroy storage facilities and equipment used to harvest the rubber, and any rubber that may have been stockpiled on the farms. The mission was fairly successful, though it will take several more to wipe out the fields beyond all usefulness.


7th Bomber Group Gathers at Calcutta

To reinforce the air campaign in Burma, the 7th Heavy Bomber Group is being formed up at Calcutta. These airplanes are being ferried in from Australia while there are still airstrips in the Dutch East Indies capable of handling them. It will take a few days to get all of the airplanes gathered and get the group reformed. However, they will make a useful contribution to denying the Japanese the use of Burma.

On the way to India, they are attacking Japanese units in the Dutch East Indies. Part of the bomber group made a raid on the Japanese oil fields at Balikpapan. However, bomb assessment photographs tell me that the results were disappointing. The bombers missed their targets and ended up putting their bombs on an old refinery that had been abandoned for the last five years.

The attack on Palembang did not go after the refineries or storage facilities at all. They concentrated on the ships in port. There is some merit to the idea -- it would be useful to sink a tanker loaded with oil.

Instead, I have been told that they hit two cargo ships. One of them took a pretty serious hit. Photographs taken during the raid show the ship smoking and listing heavily while it was making its way out of the pier. A second ship took a near miss that almost certainly bucked some of its plating.

It was comforting to hear of damage being done to locations that the Japanese probably thought were safe.


P-39s at Port Moresby Score Against Barges

P-39s again attacked barges delivering supplies to Buna across the New Guinea peninsula. The fighter-bombers reportedly scored hits against three of the small cargo transports. The aerial reconnaissance showing three barges suffering direct hits is quite convincing. Yet, the people over at military intelligence report that there is no confirmation that the ship actually sank.

A few days ago, B-25 bombers delivered a series of direct hits on a Japanese transport ship in these same waters. Military experts now think that the ship actually made it to port and that the Japanese were able to salvage it. I was ready to count it off as a total loss. Five 500-lb bombs delivered to a transport ship spelled certain destruction. It turns out not to have been as certain as I originally had thought.


Japan Consolidates Gains

Japanese troops have been hopping from port to port from Sumatra to the Solomons, replacing local leaders with their puppet administrators. Their habit is to march into undefended towns with a full compliment of soldiers to make sure that nobody thinks of questioning their power. They make it clear to the population that the men and war equipment put on display when they march in are there to back the local administrator.

Units making their rounds around the Pacific Rim today, according to the reports we get from those same villages, include:

• 66th Naval Guards at Aitape, on the northwest side of New Guinea
• 23rd Naval Landing Force at Babo, on western New Guinea.
• 15th Naval Guards at Sampit, on the southern shore of Borneo
• 21st Mixed Brigade at Sinkep Island, just east of Singapore and north of Sumatra


Minesweeper Hit by Submarine

Minesweeper Task Force TF1173 was midway between Pearl Harbor and San Francisco looking for Japanese submarines, when it became the victim of a Japanese submarine itself. DMS Southard took a torpedo that nearly broke the ship in half. It is still floating, and efforts are underway to rescue the crew. However, the Japanese submarine got away.


Baker Island

The Japanese seem to be leaving Baker Island to its own resources. Our reconnaissance planes did not report any Japanese carrier planes over the island. However, we did not get any bombing missions flown against the island today. The mechanics are having a bear of a time keeping these planes running. At present, we have only eight functional B-17s on the island – with over three dozen incapable of flying for various reasons.

I think the ground crew here is simply overworked. I have discussed the situation with Admiral Nimitz, who has agreed to pull some of the less useful squadrons off of this island and redeploy them at Palmyra and Samoa.

Thayne




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(in reply to Thayne)
Post #: 184
Thursday, February 19, 1942 - 6/19/2005 4:24:29 AM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Thursday, February 19, 1942

Henry

• Port Moresby Shut Down

I expected this would happen. When we quit challenging the Japanese in the air, and against their ground and naval forces, with little protection of our airbases, they would make a full-on attack against the airbase and shut it down.

That happened at Port Moresby today.

100 Japanese Nell and Betty bombers, escorted by 50 Zeros, demolished the airbase. The bombers belonged to G1/Chitoise Daitai and G1/4th Daitai, according to military intelligence, while the fighters were members of F1/Ominato Daitai. They all flew out of Rabaul.

There was actually an attempt to defend the airbase by a Whirraway squadron. The Zeros easily brushed them aside, then went to work on the airfield. Mechanics and engineers are looking at the damaged airplanes now. Nothing is flyable. However, with effort, they think they can patch together about 50 airplanes from the 70 that were sitting on the field when the bombing came.

However, the crews must first patch together the equipment that they use to fix the airplanes. That was heavily damaged in the bombing run as well.

For all practical purposes, Port Moresby no longer exists as a forward air base.

Also, in this region of the war, the 24th Japanese Naval Landing Force occupied Munda in the central portion of the Solomon Islands.


Japans Growing Occupation of Burma

Japan is exercising caution at Mandalay, refusing to move into the city until the full measure of its assault force is present. It is hanging out on the outskirts of town, watching.

As it watches, 107 Royal Air Force Base Force is attempting to get through Mandalay and onto the road to Myitkyina. According to the reports that General Pownall has sent me, the unit is approaching the west edge of town. They are moving cautiously, keeping their defenses up, so as to be ready to respond to a Japanese attack if it should come. At the same time, they continue to move on to the east, and then north.

So far, they seem to be getting away with it.

As Japan moves into Burma, Pownall continues to use his bombers to scorch the earth wherever the Japanese army walks. 60 bombers struck Pagan today, leaving a lot of smoldering ruins behind. Pagan’s ability to supply anything of value to the Japanese war effort has been nearly eliminated. It is becoming, slowly, just another wilderness town that Japanese must spend resources to occupy.

I have spoken with Pownall about making Burma the scene of some serious conflict. I would like to reopen the road carrying supplies to China, and making China a major base of operations against Japan. To do this, we will need to keep the Japanese forces in Burma suppressed, which means an aggressive air war.

There are three Canadian transport squadrons heading to India to help the flow of supplies to China. Right now, China is barely able to hold on. It can produce enough food to keep its citizens alive and its army in the field. It will not begin to grow until it can get resources from the outside.

Japan, of course, will try to prevent this. I am expecting to see serious Japanese raids on the roads airfields within range of China.


Pamakasan Bombarded

Japan began softening up Pamakasan, the island northeast of Soerabaja, for their eventual conquest. The shelling was exceptionally accurate – the Japanese seemed to know exactly where they needed to hit to do the most damage. They hit stockpiles of food, ammunition, and even destroyed the water treatment plant, leaving the residents of the island without food, water, or electricity.

The sooner Japan takes the island, the more merciful it will be on the residents.


Japan Marches on Homan, Northern China

Mao Tse Tung is putting up some resistance to the Japanese drive to capture Homan. However, he is outnumbered by nearly 3 to 1 by the Japanese forces.

The Japanese have brought in 120,000 units. The attack force consists of:

• 26th, 36th, 40th, 41st, 59th, and 110th Division
• 2nd, 19th, and 20th Engineer Regiment
• 6th and 15th Field Artillery Regiment
• 2nd Mountain Gun Regiment
• 3rd Construction Battalion
• 52nd Road Construction Battalion
• 15th Tank Regiment
• 2nd and 9th Independent Brigade
• 16th Mixed Brigade
• 4th and 8th Mongolian Cavalry
• 115th Imperial Japanese Army Base Force

Today, Japan merely shelled Mao’s defenses. It is difficult to get reliable information out of northern China, but our estimates are that 1500 guns inflicted nearly 500 casualties among 45,000 defenders.


Philippines Practice

Military Intelligence has provided me with the identity of the two air units engaging in practice runs against San Jose from Clark AFB. The bomber group is G1/Kenoya Daitai, and the fighter group if F1/Yamada Daitai. They report that they will be looking for these units to see where they show up once training is over.


Thoughts

We are still being driven back. We are still being forced to give up ground. Is it ever going to stop?


Thayne




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Thayne -- 6/19/2005 5:09:21 AM >

(in reply to Andy Mac)
Post #: 185
Friday, February 20, 1942 - 6/19/2005 6:28:49 AM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Friday, February 20, 1942

Henry

Things are just falling apart all over the Pacific.

(1) Dutch army on Java surrenders: Japan captures 35,000 soldiers.
(2) Japan captures Mandalay, Burma
(3) Japanese forces in northern China drive Mao Tse Tung out of Homan

What is left?

The next line of defense.

(1) Bali
(2) Myitkyina
(3) Sian

I am almost willing to take bets that these three places will also be in Japanese hands by the end of the month.

At this point, I expect a battle at all three sites. The force at Bali has no place to go – they are on an island. Mao Tse Tung, unlike Chang Kai Shek, is a fighter, and will not likely run away as Chang likes to do. However, Chang Kai Shek has insisted that his Chinese army defend the supply routes through Myitkyina. He needs his supplies, so he seems determined to make a stand here.


Java

At Java, the Japanese began the day by bombing the defenders at (name) with Sallys from the 75th and 89th Lt. Sentais flying out of (name). However, Japan did not use the large formations that has been the norm throughout their Java campaign. Over the course of the day, ground observers reported seeing no more than 20 bombers.

Then came the attack. Japanese units participating were reported as:

• 35th Brigade
• 2nd, 21st, and Imperial Guards Divisions
• 4th and 5th Engineer Regiments
• 39th Road Construction Battalion
• 3rd Mountain Gun Regiment

They brought in just over 70,000 troops against the 35,000 defenders. However, those defenders had nothing in the way of defenses, and scarcely had enough ammunition to go around. When Japan launched the attack, they came hard, forcing the defenses to buckle almost immediately. Once the line fell apart, General Wavell was forced to asked for a surrender.

Wavell was captured with the bulk of the Dutch army.


Burma

Japanese scouts discovered 107 Royal Air Force Base Force trying to get around their lines and immediately launched an attack to capture them. They sent their 1st and 2nd Tank Regiments to cut off the 107th escape route, while elements of the 33rd Division, supported the 14th Tank Regiment, prepared to charge straight in.

Lieutenant Commander Chadwick’s scouts quickly detected the Japanese movements. While the two tank regiments moved into position ahead of the unit (to the north, on the way out of town), and 55th Division waited to start their attack from the south, Chadwick noticed a clear route through the center of town and out along the road to Lashio. He charged his troops through the gap.

As soon as the Japanese found out what he was doing, they attempted to close their trap. However, Chadwick reported losing only 20 soldiers in the fight that followed. The rest of his squad assembled on the road to Lashio.

From Lashio, the 107th RAF Base Force has no easy route to India. General Pownall ordered the unit to Yunan in China where they will be put to work helping the American Volunteer Group.

Other Japanese units in the area, according to intelligence reports, include the 55th Division and 23rd Engineering Regiment.


North China

Mao Tse Tung apparently decided to keep his forces intact and not allow the Japanese to attack them in pieces. With the 87th Chinese Corps in rear guard holding off the Japanese advance, the rest of Mao’s army retreated to Sian.

The Japanese units participating in the advance remain as follows:

• 26th, 36th, 40th, 41st, 59th, and 110th Division
• 2nd, 19th, and 20th Engineer Regiment
• 6th and 15th Field Artillery Regiment
• 2nd Mountain Gun Regiment
• 3rd Construction Battalion
• 52nd Road Construction Battalion
• 15th Tank Regiment
• 2nd and 9th Independent Brigade
• 16th Mixed Brigade
• 4th and 8th Mongolian Cavalry
• 115th Imperial Japanese Army Base Force

I have it on good authority that Mao plans to make a stand at Sian. He will not be retreating.

With Mao concentrating his army at Sian for a showdown with the Japanese, the island fortress at Bali, and Chang Kai Shek determined to hold the road at Myitkyina, somewhere, we might find the end of the Japanese expansion. Between the three, there may be someplace where Japan actually gets stopped.

It has to happen some day.

Doesn't it?

Thayne




Attachment (1)

(in reply to Thayne)
Post #: 186
RE: Friday, February 20, 1942 - 6/19/2005 7:17:00 AM   
CapAndGown


Posts: 3206
Joined: 3/6/2001
From: Virginia, USA
Status: offline 		Never give up! Never surrender!




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(in reply to Thayne)
Post #: 187
Saturday, February 21, 1942 - 6/19/2005 4:48:40 PM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Saturday, February 21, 1942

Good morning, Henry


• Japan Occupies Nanomea Atoll

Just to complete the picture from yesterday, I thought that I would inform you that Japan is, indeed, advancing on all fronts. This morning, I was told that they landed on Nanomea Atoll, a small island about 700 miles west of us here on Canton Island.

I have a fear that Japan is going to try to take all of these islands – Fiji, Samoa, Canton Island, New Caledonia.

New Caledonia – now there is a worry. Three months into the war and it still does not have a garrison to speak of. Americal left San Francisco yesterday as the first sizable force capable of holding the island. However, it will take about a month to sale the distance to Noumea. At the rate Japan is advancing, they could be on the island in a month.

I would like to remind you that Japan already has a bomber base at Guadalcanal. This island is going to become a major south Pacific fortress for Japan, and is quite capable of covering military operations over the Santa Cruz Islands and Espritu Santo.

Yes, I received General Marshall’s letter. To be honest, it surprised me. I had no idea that the South Sea Islands were classified as important, but not vital, to the war effort. The letter was quite clear and I understand the position. Part of it, I agree with. I agree that Japan is not going to invade Australia -- at least not for a long time. It would take a lot of resources that they do not have and they would have little to gain. That they will, instead, take the South Pacific Islands and cut Australia off.

It will be the world’s largest siege – the first time in history that a country has laid siege to an entire continent.

I was surprised to read that officials in Washington consider maintaining a supply line to Australia as important, but not crucial to the war effort. I thought that these islands were considered more important than that.

Well, I am going to ask that you to decide if you truly believe this. Because, that might be what actually happens. It is one thing to entertain such thoughts in theory, it is quite another to live with the fact.

I also would like to know if those plans include the loss of New Zealand, as a way for Japan to completely encircle Australia.


”Horseshoe”

Well, our first major aggressive operation was given the go-ahead today.

Objective: Our goal is to force Japan to reallocate some of its military strength northward. To do this, we are launching a major military strike against Japanese bases in the Kurile Islands. Our expectation is that Japan will see their vulnerability, and the vulnerability of Japan from them. This will result in them moving military assets into the Kurile Islands and northern Japan to defend against such a possibility. What Japan has in the North, it will not be using anywhere else..

Battle Plan. Two carriers will sail independently for Dutch Harbor. They will pass through the harbor and refuel separately in order to avoid attracting attention, then rendezvous in the waters north of the Aleutian Islands, where patrol planes from the Islands themselves will shield them from the Japanese. They will then sail through the Aleutians between Kiska and Attu and attack Paramushiro Jima. They will subject the base to 2 days of aerial attacks from a range of 100 miles, then dispatch a bombardment task force consisting of 5 cruisers to shell the base, then retire.

• CV Enterprise will leave Pearl Harbor tomorrow. It will head first toward Midway Island, where it will pick up its air squadrons that it had left there. It will then travel to Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians to refuel. From there, it will sail to a point 200 miles northeast of Kiska Island (at the tip of the Aleutians) and rendezvous with CV Hornet..

• CV Hornet will leave San Francisco tomorrow. It will leave at disk and sail quickly north, so as to avoid being spotted by Japanese submarine patrol planes off of the coast. It will refuel at Seattle, then again at Dutch Harbor, before joining Enterprise northeast of Kiska Island.

Additional assets involved in this mission.

• AO Guadalupe, a large fleet oiler that left San Francisco 2 days ago, heading north.
• CA Minneapolis, CL Raleigh, Boise, St. Louis, Honolulu. They will provide protection to the fleet and, if the opportunity presents itself, shell Japanese bases in the Kurile Islands.

Note; MSW Oriole, using Kiska Island as a main base, is continuing to make regular patrols towards the Kurile Islands and the North Pacific, to measure Japanese activity in these waters. So far, they have reported nothing.


”Objective Tokyo”

I read over the description of this movie that Hollywood is considering – about putting land-based bombers on a carrier and use them to bomb Tokyo then landing them in China. The idea of launching B-25s from a carrier at sea is preposterous, of course, but Japan might not know that it is impossible. The script actually makes it sound convincing. After “Horseshoe”, the movie may work to reinforce Japan’s fears that we are going to attack their home islands in some way.

I approve of the movie. It will not interfere with any existing plans, as long as you keep it under wraps until "Horseshoe" is finished. Then they can start working on it. Until then, I do not want anybody in Hollywood or elsewhere even discussing the script.


Reinforcement Schedule for Next Week

These are the units that, as I understand it, will be placed under my control in the next week.


• Sunday, February 22, 1942

• DD Napier, Karachi
• APD Gregory, San Francisco
• AK Empire Pitroch, Karachi

• Monday, February 23, 1942

• DD Isaac Sweers, Columbo

• Tuesday, February 24, 1942

• Submarine S-45, San Diego
• 222 RAF Aviation, Karachi

• Wednesday, February 25, 1942

• No 32 RAAF Squadron (16x Hudson), Sydney

• Thursday, February 26, 1942

• VP-91 (12x PBY Catalina), San Francisco
• SS Trigger, San Francisco

• Friday, February 27, 1942

• No. 30 RAAF Squadron, 16x Beaufighter Mk 21, Canberra
• SS Haddock, San Francisco

• Saturday, February 28, 1942

• 7th Armored Tank Brigade, Karachi

Tomorrow you will get your 12th weekly update.

Thayne




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Thayne -- 7/5/2005 12:26:34 AM >

(in reply to CapAndGown)
Post #: 188
Sunday, February 22, 1942 - 6/21/2005 5:34:12 AM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Sunday, February 22, 1942

Henry

Well, 11 weeks of war have now ended.

For those on your staff who do not have the time to read the daily reports, or who need to catch up on the events so far, this is my weekly summary. Here is where the war is at to date.

I hope this report is comprehensible. I am sitting at my desk in my PB2Y trying to type while my eyes keep slamming shut. I need some sleep. I am just going to type this up, then I am going to hit the sack.


Losses

Naval Losses: 32 Ships (No ships lost in the last week)

• BC Repulse
• CAs: Houston, New Orleans
• CLs: Du Ruyter, Danae, Tromp
• DDs: Panther, Flusser, Lawrence
• PGs: Isabel, Asheville
• SSs: S-38, KXV
• ASs: Otus, Canopus
• MSW Penguin
• PTs: PT-21, PT-31, PT-32, PT-34, TM-13, TM-14, TM-15
• AP President Madison
• AKs, Large: Steel Voyager, Mormacdove
• AKs, Small: Taurus, Empire Elk; Governor Wright; Idaho
• TKs: Gertrude Kellogg, Manataway

Air Losses: 1325 Planes - 94 in the last week

• 659 planes shot down (+35)
• 432 planes destroyed on the ground (+34)
• 32 planes destroyed by flak (+0)
• 192 planes lost due to accident and wear (+25)


Top 20 Air Losses by Type

• 154x P-40B Tomahawk
• 110x Hurricane
• 102x Buffalo
• 88x Whirraway (+15)
• 81x P-40E Warhawk (+1)
• 78x Brewster 339D (+18)
• 77x Hudson (+21)
• 45x PBY Catalina (+2)
• 41x Martin 139 (+1)
• 37x SB-2c (+9)
• 31x B-17 Flying Fortress (+14)
• 28x Blenheim IV (+1)
• 28x CW-21B Demon
• 27x P-36A Mohawk
• 27x P-39D Airacobra (new addition)
• 25x F4F-3
• 24x P-26A
• 24x Blenheim I
• 21x Lysander (new addition)
• 19x TIVa
• 19x Catalina 1

We have shortages of the following airplane types:

• Brewster 339D
• Buffalo I
• Catalina I
• Hudson (new addition)
• I-16 Type 24
• Lockheed 212
• Martin 139
• P-39D Airacobra
• P-40B Tomahawk
• P-40E Tomahawk
• TIVa

There are 15x P-39D and 30x Hurricanes in reserve.

We did better this week than in the previous week in keeping our losses down. Still, 100 airplanes per week is a serious drain on our resources.


Damage Inflicted

Military intelligence estimates the losses suffered by the Japanese to be the following

Enemy Naval Losses: 13 ships

• 1x Destroyer
• 8x Submarines (+1 this week)

• 1x Minelayer
• 2x Minesweeper
• 1x Cargo ship
• 1x Troop transport

Enemy Air Losses: Unchanged

There were, of course, a few reports of enemy airplanes being destroyed. However, they were too unreliable and too few to significantly change the strategic situation.

This continues to represent our greatest problem in this war -- the fact that the Japanese airplanes appear nearly invulnerable. ('Nearly' is not the right word -- they ARE invulnerable).


Summary By Region

North Pacific

"Horseshoe"

Operation "Horseshoe", a plan to subject the Japanese base of Paramushiro Jima at the northern end of the Kurile Islands to two days of air and naval bombardment, set off today. It will take nearly two weeks for the ships to get into position. The attack is planned for the end of the first week in March. Carriers Hornet and Enterprise are participating in the attack.

Present deployment, from the furthest outpost to Anchorage

• Kiska: Near the tip of the Aleutian Islands, MSW Oriole performs frequent patrols to the southwest to see if Japan is trying to get through the open waters.

• Amchikita: 250 miles east of Kiska, AVD Gilles and VP-41 (12x PBY) to patrol the approaches to Alaska. Amchikita is also getting a supply of fuel that may be useful in future operations.

• Dutch Harbor: 400 miles east of Amchikita, 17,000 troops + 3000 en route due to land on Wednesday, 24x P-36A.

• Kodiak: 350 miles northeast of Dutch Harbor; 15,000 troops, 32x Bombers.

• Anchorage: 5000 troops.

• Nome: 7000 troops.


Central Pacific

Japan holds Guam, Wake, and Baker Islands. Nothing else that started in Allied control (with the exception of Pearl Harbor on December 7th) has even been subject to attack.

Engineers have built a crude port and airstrip at French Frigate Shoals, and are working on another at Laysan Island (400 miles southeast of Midway) that may be done this week. These airstrips will allow us to ferry shorter-range aircraft from Hawaii to Midway.

There are just over 80,000 troops on the Hawiian Islands themselves (from Big Island to Lihu), with garrisons at Pearl, Hilo, Kona, and Lahina and Lihu. The 27th USA Infantry Division is on Big Island. This week, the 102nd USA Regimental Combat Team will occupy Lihu, 100 miles west of Pearl Harbor. These units will prevent Japan from easily landing on these islands and threatening Pearl Harbor.

Palmyra: 15,500 troops, 50x fighters, 75x bombers, 12x Patrol planes

Christmas Island: 20,000 troops, 12x Patrol planes

I consider these islands to be at risk, now that Baker Island has fallen. For atolls, these islands are fairly large, capable of holding more troops than places like French Frigate Shoals and Midway. Engineers are working to fortify the islands.

Johnson Island: 4,500 troops. This island is also at risk. With a fairly well developed airfield, it would be useful for Japan to keep Hawaii in check. It needs reinforcements.


South Pacific

Japan occupied Nanomea Atoll this week. This small island sits about 600 miles south of Apamama and Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands. I suspect that this is a part of an overall Japanese offensive to move further into the South Sea Islands until they occupy Canton Island, Fiji, Samoa, and New Caledonia, thus cutting off the Australians.

The order of the day for all troops on these islands remains that of spending their time and effort fortifying these islands rather than building up infrastructure that Japan may capture. Airbases are to be built up to the point that they can sustain the efforts of heavy bombers and no more -- until capture by the Japanese is no longer likely.

• Canton Island: 15,000 troops, 50x fighters, 50x bombers. Supplies for this island continue to be brought in primarily by transport planes out of Samoa to the south. However, Japan has made no attempts yet to put an air unit on Baker Island, so I have asked that a cargo ship head off toward Canton Island. AK Surigao, about 600 miles to the east, has broken off from his convoy and is now heading toward Canton. The ship is located with cargo that the defenders at Canton would clearly find useful.

• Samoa (Pago Pago): 20,000 troops split between American (10,000) and British (10,000) Samoa. Also, 1x bomber squadron and 1x torpedo squadron (from CV Saratoga) occupy this island.

• Tongatapu: 3,500 troops, plus 60x bombers flying ASW missions along the route from Samoa to Fiji, and 12x patrol planes carrying out reconnaissance.

• Fiji: 16,500 troops (New Zealand), 50x bombers. Fiji has become home to the 5th Bomber group, formerly stationed at New Caledonia. Its mission is to try to hit the Japanese at Nanoumea Atoll to the northeast.

• New Caledonia: 4,000 troops, 1 squadron of Hudson bombers. Reinforcements for the island, which is calling itself the Americal Division, has left San Francisco and is on its way to New Caledonia. It will still take about 3 weeks to get there, so the island will remain vulnerable until the middle of March.


Southwest Pacific

Japan has taken all of the Solomon Islands and all of New Guinea excep the bases on the southeastern tip of the island, including Port Moresby and Milne Bay.

They obliterated the allied airbase at Port Moresby towards the end of the week. The Australian and American air units using the town has been forced to withdraw to the northeastern corner of Australia, at least until the airbase can be repaired.

On the bright side, tankers have delivered a supply of fuel to ports along the length of the Australian east coast. Japan is also manufacturing fuel out of the stockpile of oil that the large tankers brought in last week.

• Port Moresby: 5,500 troops, now sits under the Japanese air umbrella out of Rabaul and Lae. McArthur had been launching offensive air operations out of the city until massive Japanese air raids closed down the airport and forced a withdraw of all air units. This is not only a defeat for the allied air force, but it will make it more difficult to reinforce Port Moresby. There will be no CAP over the base as vulnerable cargo ships unload.

• Air Force: There are now five American fighter groups in Australia. The 35th and 49th Fighter Groups have taken up station at Darwin, while the 54th and 8th have moved to Townsville. These forces are in addition to Australia's native fighter force. In addition, the 24th Fighter Group, having fled from the Philippines, remains stationed in the area of Cairns and Cooktown, on the northeastern coast of Australia.

In addition, the Dutch have created a refuge for their air force at Adelaide in southern Australia. The Dutch hope to use this facility to train replacement pilots and to provide Australia with a reserve air force of perhaps as many as 150 planes.

• 6th and 7th Australian Division: The 7th Australian Division is now in the Indian Ocean under heavy escort and is approaching the west coast of Australia. It is due to dock in Sydney in about 2 weeks. The 6th Australian Division is still in the Middle East.

• North Australian Navy. Ships docked at Darwin left for safer waters, leaving Darwin harbor empty of military vessels (except for the submarines that are being refueled at the port). CL Boise has a particularly anxious trip ahead of it. It is going to pull into Wyndham to dress its wounds and make itself seaworthy. Then, it will make the trip to Pearth. All of the other ships of the northeastern navy have been withdrawn.


ABDA Command

The Dutch Army on Java surrendered yesterday. For all practical purposes, Japan controls everything except for that stretch of land from Bali, just off of the east coast of Java, to Timor. There is no doubt that this will be Japan's next target. The surrender of the army at Java was an unexpected and disturbing blow to the war effort. 35,000 Allied soldiers threw up their hands.

• Bali Bali, off the eastern coast of Java, has 10,000 troops and has been vigorously building defenses on this small island, up to the point where the Japanese shelling began. In the last two days, the Japanese have subjected the island defenders to two devastating bombardments, inflicting over 2,000 casualties. A lack of transportation and medical equipment on the island means that these patients have a torturous road ahead of them.

• Timor Timor has been largely abandoned, except for a token force at Koepang, on the western tip, and a small garrison of 10 fighters and a like number of bombers. Koepang is significantly short of supplies. There is no expectation of holding the island. As soon as the Japanese show up in force, the defenders will, as much as possible, retreat to the mainland.

• Aru Island Like Bali, the plan is to fortify this island in the hopes that it will serve as a breakwater for the Japanese advance. At present, it has 6,000 troops similarly working to build up the defenses for the island in preparation for a Japanese attack. The thinking is that an attack here will buy time to further reinforce Darwin and northern Australia. Also, Aru will draw air and surface bombardment attacks away from Darwin.


Burma

Japan is marching up central Burma without resistance. They have taken Mandalay, in central Burma, and started marching toward Myitkyina. The British were forced to flee the town to avoid having to fight on terms where their retreat routes to India would have been cut off, forcing them into China. They are moving onto the road to Imphal and Kohmina, on the India/Burma Border. Myitkyina itself has a defense of 50,000 soldiers ready to fight to keep the road from Ledo, India to China open.

The areas that Japan has conquered in its drive up the middle of the country have been subject to extensive bombardment to render them useless to the enemies. Rail stock, orchards, factories, warehouses, everything that planners thought the Japanese could use. Pagan, and its surrounding area, have been reduced to a virtual slag heep. Japan is making no effort to put the pieces back together. Taung Gyi has also been subject to extensive aerial bombardment, but the missions have not had the same effect. I fully expect that General Pownall will authorize additional attacks against the strategic resources at Taung Gyi.

In addition, medium bombers have been targeting the lead elements in the column marching north, attempting to slow down their rate of travel as much as possible and give the defenders at Myitkyina a little extra time to arrange their defenses.


Ceylon

The British have nearly 40,000 troops on Ceylon -- including the 18th UK Division -- to resist any Japanese invasion of this island. We also have 20 fighters and 40 bombers, with 20 more fighters at the nearby Indian town of Madras. As is being done elsewhere, these units have been told to focus on fortifying their positions first, and not to build up infrastructure that might fall into enemy hands.

There are troops stationed at every port on the east shore of India -- including (from south to north) 7,000 at Mannargudi, 3,500 at Madras, and 2,500 at Yanam.


China

Japanese forces finished their project of clearing the Shanghai-Hanoi railroad a couple of weeks ago. It then moved its main army north, and launched a campaign that has so far captured Homan, in northern China, and is threatening Sian. Mao Tse Tung has reported to me that he intends to hold onto Sian as long as possible. Japan may not be expecting a tenacious defense.

The AVG and the bulk of the Chinese air force is still located at Kweiyang, in southern China, where they continue to threaten nearby Japanese bases.


Now, I really am tired. I've got the nice gentile sound of ocean waves slapping against the side of the boat, it is insufferably hot that I cannot stay awake.

Thayne

(in reply to Thayne)
Post #: 189
Monday, February 23rd, 1942 - 6/22/2005 5:11:30 AM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Monday, February 23rd, 1942

Henry:

Tomorrow, maybe we will catch a break. General Pownall is planning an ambush for the Japanese Zero squadrons flying out of Burma. I discuss the plan in more detail below. I will be anxiously waiting for the results.

Meanwhile, the thing that bothers me most about the Japanese is how we have been unable to hurt them. They keep pounding on us with superhuman effectiveness, and we can do nothing against them.

If you read yesterday’s summary, since the start of the war, we have sunk (that we know of) 13 Japanese ships. This is just a touch over 1 ship per week.

The air war has seen combat ratios of 20:1 to 30:1 against us repeatedly.

When it comes to attacks, the recent capture of Baker Island repeats their standard pattern. They come in armed for bear – a fully equipped naval air fleet, a surface fleet to fend off surface ships (those that happen to get past the carriers), and a landing force. They make sure to wipe out any of our air units before they launch their attack.

They keep their transport ships out of our range, so that we cannot hit them.

Our submarines are worthless. Anybody who thought that the submarine would be the weapon of this war has completely overestimated their potential. Other than their ability to provide us with military intelligence, they have proved quite useless. Japan has scored greater success against us. However, they have paid for it with very high submarine losses.

Except, I have to note how well the Germans are doing in the Atlantic and Mediterranean with their submarines, and wonder why we cannot muster the same results here. What is wrong with our submarine force?

The problem persists. How can we hurt these people? Is it even possible to hurt them? Are they just going to keep coming, gobbling up one objective after another, until we are forced back to the shores of the United States itself, standing on our shores and looking out onto an ocean that is entirely Japanese?

I have my concerns, Henry. I would never voice them in public, but I have them.


”Horseshoe” Underway

Operation “Horseshoe”, the mission to deliver a serious aerial and naval bombardment to Paramushiro Jima -- the northernmost of Japan's Kurile Islands west of the Aleutians, is on its second day with no signs yet of trouble.

Enterprise is approaching Midway where it will pick up its air squadrons tomorrow. It will then turn north to Dutch Harbor. Hornet has stopped off in Vancouver for fuel. It will leave for Dutch Harbor in a couple of days.

Part of the mission plan is to have Enterprise and Hornet travel through Dutch Harbor separately. If there are any Japanese spies in the area, they will not see two carriers at the same time and may judge that there is only one carrier.


Troop Transport Torpedoed

AP Hugh L. Scott, carrying members of the 71st Aviation Regiment, took a torpedo midway along its trip from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor today. There were several fatalities. We had some minesweepers in these waters looking for Japanese submarines, but they took a torpedo as well a few days ago and curtailed their operations.

The ship is doing poorly, but it is still afloat. The navy has dispatched destroyers and other ships to the scene to take on survivors. Hopefully, the destroyers will show up before the ship goes under.

Other elements of the 71st Aviation Regiment were traveling to Pearl Harbor separately and are due to arrive in just a couple of days.


Japan May Force Retreat from Myitkyina

Allied military intelligence is looking at information concerning the Japanese attack on Myitkyina and is suggesting a withdrawal.

According to their sources, Japan will be maneuvering to force the defenders at Myitkyina out of the town and towards China, rather than India, and they may succeed in their quest if we stay. I can see no reason to risk having that happen.

If the Chinese units make it to India, we can train them in our ways of war and equip them much more easily then we can by flying cargo to China. The planes will continue to fly in cargo to the units in China, but they can fly back again with replacements for the Chinese divisions in India.

Of course, in order to get Chang Kai Shek to go along with this, I am going to have to make promises. Two things that I can put on the table for him are:

(1) He will get a pack of Chinese divisions that are fully trained and equipped to be modern soldiers. He will be very happy for that.

(2) As soon as possible, these newly equipped and trained soldiers need to participate in a mission to retake Myitkyina and allow supplies to flow once again to China.

I think that I can make these promises.

Fulfilling them means a prolonged and concentrated air campaign against northern Burma. We need to make sure that Japan cannot build fortifications there or even supply their troops. General Pownall will be giving orders to his air units to this effect.

Japan, however, is making its own attempt to win the air war over Burma. It launched another huge attack against the airfields around Dacca, using about 120 Betty and Nell bombers escorted by over 60 Zero fighters. General Pownall made the decision not to challenge the Japanese in the air, since we cannot suffer the loss of so many fighters. As a result, only our AA guns challenged their approach. They released their bombs at 2.5 miles up, and did only minimal damage to the facilities. They destroyed three planes (2x B-17, 1x P-40) on the ground and put some potholes in the runway that were quickly patched.

In response, Pownall ordered the 19th Bomber Group out of Dacca to Calcutta instead. He then ordered every fighter squadron in the region to Dacca. He hopes to catch the next Japanese mission at the limit of their fuel with superior numbers, for once turning the tables against the Japanese.


Japan Marches on Sian, Northern China

In northern China, the Japanese are continuing their march on Sian. They have added a huge number of reinforcements to the battle – nearly 200,000 soldiers now are participating in the operation.

Military intelligence is continuing to report an army that consists of:

• 26th, 36th, 40th, 41st, 59th, 110th, Division
• 2nd, 19th, 20th, Engineer Regiment
• 6th, 15th Field Artillery Regiment
• 2nd Mountain Gun Regiment
• 3rd Construction Battalion
• 52nd Road Construction Battalion
• 15th Tank Regiment
• 2nd, 9th Independent Brigade
• 16th Mixed Brigade
• 8th Mongolian Cavalry Division
• 115th IJA Base Force

This is way too large of an army for Mao Tse Tung to stand up against.

I have contacted Chang Kai Shek, suggesting that this would be a good time for him to attack. In order for Japan to have committed so many troops to the northern China campaign he had to have weakened its forces in southern China, making this an excellent opportunity to attack. Chang had a chance, I told him, to retake lost ground.

He refused.

He gave excuses. He said his troops are not ready for such a campaign. Actually, the reason is that he has nothing against Japan attacking Mao Tse Tung and has no interest in interfering.

Because of the need to convince him to allow his Chinese units to retreat to India, I could not press him on this. I had nothing to bargain with.


Other Japanese Movements

• Sasabo 1st SNLF with the Shuzan Naval Guards attacked and captured the port of Macassar on the southeastern tip of Sulawesi today. This is the port that was used just last week to launch LB-30 bombers against Balikpapan.

• 2nd and 8th Naval Landing Force, with the 82nd and 84th Naval Guards near Gasmata went on a mission to take out remnants of the allied defenders of Rabaul in the jungles around the city.

• 22nd Naval Landing Force took control of Sansapor on the northwestern shores of New Guinea.

• 24th Naval Landing Force occupied Russell Island, northwest of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.


I hope to have good news for you tomorrow, Henry.

Until then,

Thayne




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Thayne -- 6/22/2005 5:04:20 PM >

(in reply to Thayne)
Post #: 190
Tuesday, February 24th, 1942 - 6/23/2005 5:14:18 AM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Tuesday, February 24th, 1942

Henry:

I was not shot. I was shot AT, but I was not shot.

It was my own fault. I was out walking along the beach. (One thing this forsaken island has is a lot of beach.) My mind was on other things. I guess the soldier shouted at me to identify myself. I heard him. Only, the fact did not penetrate into my conscious thought. I kept walking and thinking, until I heard the bullet hiss by me.

Then I looked around.

I’m alright.

Yes, I know, General Marston was pretty upset. We haven’t been getting along very well recently. I try to avoid him, but incidents like this make it difficult. He didn’t say anything. He did not have to. He is not a difficult man to read. Generals seldom are.

I would be more worried about the soldier. When he found out who I was, I couldn’t tell if he was going to burst out into tears or throw up. He wasn’t trying to miss me. He was aiming to kill.

In the words of Admiral Kimmell, it would have been more merciful if it had.


”Horseshoe”

All is going according to plan.

Enterprise now has its full compliment of airplanes and is heading for Dutch Harbor. Hornet is still at Seattle and will leave in a day or two. Oriole is pack at Kiska from its most recent patrol with no enemy activity to report.


Enemy Carriers Heading for Solomons

Intelligence reports suggest that the enemy carrier force is heading west, toward Guadalcanal. It is north of the Santa Cruz Islands. This is, as all military intelligence tends to be, a best guess based on available evidence.

We are also picking up a lot of traffic around Truk and the Bismark Archipelago, as if there is a large task force moving through that region.

Now that the Australians have fuel, they are taking steps to reinforce Port Moresby. A fast attack transport left Townsend two days ago carrying cargo for Port Moresby. They are due to arrive tonight. Once there is a stockpile of supplies, the plan is to bring in troops.


Japan avoids trap at Dacca, India

Japan did not fall for our trap at Dacca. Maybe it was bad weather on their part. Maybe they just decided to take the day off. We had over 100 fighters waiting at Dacca for its daily raid, and nobody came.

We spotted a few patrol planes over the town. They certainly had to have noticed that there was something different about the place. There was not a bomber in place, and swarms of fighters in the sky.

So, now that they know what is up, I suspect that they will show up tomorrow. Only, they will not bring the bombers this time. They will not bring anything that will distract their Zero fighters from a straight air dual. We would probably get slaughtered, so I asked General Pownall to move the fighters away and not challenge the Japanese – not in that type of fight.

Our bombers hit Mandalay pretty hard today. The Japs have fighters there not – Nates and Zeros. They chewed up the 7th Bomber Group pretty badly, but all of the bombers made it back home. They got a couple Jap planes in the process. This makes them better fighters than the fighters we have been using. I suggested to Pownall, not for the first time, that he use the bombers to fly CAP over his bases. They seem to do better than his fighters are doing.


Turkey torpedoed near San Francisco

We lost a minesweeper – Turkey – off the coast of San Francisco. It was a part of TF1366, which is operating out of San Francisco looking for that submarine that keeps sending patrol planes over the bay. I guess they found it. Only, the Japanese submarine got the drop on them, putting two torpedoes into MSW Turkey. The ship sank within a minute. There were only a handful of survivors.


Official Orders Given to Abandon Myitkyina, North Burma

The orders were given today for the army – including the Chinese soldiers—to clear out of Myitkyina and to leave it to the Japs. The divisions were given orders for an orderly withdraw through about 100 miles of jungle along seldom used mountain trails to Ledo. It’s going to be a mess – 50,000 soldiers marching through that jungle. There will only be 30,000 that make it in any type of condition to fight, I assure you. It will take months to get those units back into shape. It will take months to get them out of the jungle.

This is an orderly retreat. The lead division is supposed to stop and dig in while the rest of the soldiers pass. This division is to hold its position for a day or so, then it can pick up and head toward Ledo, passing the defenses that have been set up by the next division that became lead division. In this way, there is always coverage all of the way out. If Japan decides to pursue these units, there will be a fight.

The intention is to pull all the way out, to the area in northeastern India from Ledo to Imphal, where Pownall will have the advantage of a road network that will make it easier to defend this territory. He has put units stationed along this road network to work building defenses, anticipating a Japanese move to come out of the jungle the same way that the Japanese divisions will.


Defenses in Northeastern India weak

In India, Pownall has been focusing on building the defenses along the coast and around Calcutta and Dacca. This is clearly the most strategically important region.

Diamond Harbor is fully protected. Pownall has 17,000 troops there, but they are well dug in along a coast that has been filled with mines and barbed wire. Diamond Harbor, Calcutta, and Dacca all have airfields that are capable of handling the largest bombers, and bomber groups of 4-engine bombers are operating out of here and Calcutta a short distance to the north.

Work is underway to fortify the other cities in this region. At the city closest to the Burma and the Japanese, the construction crews are working on improving defenses before they work on infrastructure. Here, as in the Pacific Islands, the thought is the same – that it would be counter-productive to build up an infrastructure that Japan can then capture and use against us.


Overall

Japan had a better day today then we did. They got a minesweeper. They will get Myitkyina without a fight and, with it, block the supplies to China, except those that we can fly in.

It’s another good day for the Japanese.

Thayne




Attachment (1)

(in reply to Andy Mac)
Post #: 191
Author's Note: - 6/23/2005 6:08:33 PM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Author's Note:

I started this AAR under the assumption that I would approach the game as somebody given authority over the Pacific Theater of Operations. This is why the character had my name.

However, I have always enjoyed writing. One of the things that I have enjoyed is a character that gets a life of his own. Ethan Lynde is becoming his own character, with his own interests and concerns.

It's a tough time for poor Ethan Lynde. While he is in charge of the Theater the Japanese are steamrolling everywhere. He cannot see what 1944 and 1945 will bring and, though people can offer predictions, those predictions are mere probabilities. Nothing is certain.

Things are going to get worse for Mr. Lynde before it gets better. It will get better. You know this, and I know this.

However, Mr. Lynde does not have access the same information that we do.

I hope you enjoy the story.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, input, output, propaganda, rumors, lies, slanders, or vicious innuendo, please feel free to pass them along.


Thayne


P.S. I will be taking another trip here shortly -- for a week. I'll be back.

(Note: If there is an easy way to transfer this game from my desktop to my laptop, without the pain of reinstalling and running through all the updates, I would appreciate it. Absent that, you'll hear from me again in a little over a week.)

(in reply to Thayne)
Post #: 192
RE: Author's Note: - 6/23/2005 7:34:50 PM   
Graycompany


Posts: 511
Joined: 8/19/2004
Status: offline 		If this was a book, i would buy it.

_____________________________

I thought this place was a empire, now im the last, I can't be sure...


(in reply to Thayne)
Post #: 193
RE: Author's Note: - 6/24/2005 3:47:23 AM   
1275psi

 

Posts: 7979
Joined: 4/17/2005
Status: offline 		I too would buy it

Your opponent is very aggressive - the real lure of this AAR is "the historical limits" bit - hope he does not get too gamey!

Keep it up, great read.

(in reply to Graycompany)
Post #: 194
Wednesday, February 25th, 1942 - 7/4/2005 4:11:53 PM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Wednesday, February 25th, 1942

Henry:

Summary

• Japan moves into Myitkyina in Burma, and Sian in northern China
• Japanese carriers move into the waters south of the Solomon Islands and west of the Santa Cruz islands -- eastern Australia a suspected target.


• Japan Reaches Myitkyina, Northern Burma

The Japanese are on the doorsteps of Myitkyina, in northern Burma. They are about to put an end to any ability to truck supplies into China – cutting off that country and, if Japan has its way, cutting it out of the war.

With no road to use to take supplies to China, the only option we have is to ferry supplies by air. However, even the C-47 carries pathetically few supplies for a soldier. China can provide its people with food and water, but all of the tools of war will have to come from the United States, and would have to be flown in.

117 Squadron, consisting of 16x Dakotas (C-47 Transport) have moved to Ledo in northeastern India, for the purpose of ferrying supplies to China. However, consider that a P-40 Tomahawk carries 1000 lbs of fuel; it will take the dedicated service of 3x Dakotas just to keep these planes fueled. Arming them, providing spare parts, and the tools to maintain them, will require at least 3 additional planes. So, you see, our entire squadron will be able to keep half of the Chinese air force flying if it did nothing to provide Chinese ground troops with fuel, tools, and ammunition.

To defend the Chinese air bases around Yunan, I am talking with Chang Kai Shek about moving the American Volunteer Group there. As long as the AVG continues to operate out of bases in China, I think he will agree.

On top of this, we have to consider that half of the war factories that China had on December 7th are now in Japanese hands. Nationalist China manufactured large amounts of its war materials in Wuchow and Changsha regions – both are now in Japanese hands. 100 C-47 sorties per day will not make up for this loss.

We need as many air transports as you can spare, and we need cargo to transport to make its way to northeastern India.

I strongly suspect that Japan will next move to interfere with this route by blocking the sea lanes to eastern India. Their Betty bombers can already reach well south of Diamond Harbor. If Japan can gain sufficient control of the sea and air, then the only way to get supplies to north eastern India to fly to China would be by rail. India’s rail network is not the most modern.

If Roosevelt is truly concerned to keep China in the war, than we must keep these sea lanes open.

I was afraid that the Japanese torpedo bombers operating out of Rangoon would close off these routes. Recently, we sent four small transports to Diamond Harbor from Columbo to test this theory. Three of the transports reached Diamond Harbor and are now unloading; the fourth is nearly there. With the success of these deliveries, we are making plans to ship additional cargo up the east coast of India.


• The Battle in Northeastern India

One way that Japan can further isolate China is by capturing northeastern India. Our Burma army is retreating in fairly good order. They are not being forced out of Burma as a result of being defeated in battle, with the destruction that this would entail. They were maneuvered out of Burma by movements that threatened to cut off their supply lines to India and force them to retreat to China instead. As a result, they are in good shape.

Still, they are going to suffer as they hike through the jungle from Burma to India. This will take time and has required that they abandon much of their heavy equipment.

If Japan gives us a month, we can establish a fairly strong defense of this region. In addition to the British units, we will have the nine Chinese “divisions”.

Meanwhile, we are continuing to act to make Burma a land of death and destruction for the Japanese. Today, the 7th Bomber Group destroyed strategically useful areas in and around Mandalay. Railroad stock, bridges, warehouses, refineries, factories, mines, orchards, food storage and transportation systems, all came under attack. Bomb assessment reports looked good, or so I am told.

We even shot down some Japanese fighters – something our own fighters have been unable to do.

When the pilots were debriefed, we learned that the 24th Fighter Sentai (Nates) were protecting Pagan, while Mandalay was being defended by 50th Fighter Sentai (Nates?) and F2/Yamada Daitai (Zeros).


• Ceylon Reinforced

Another Japanese option is to invade Ceylon. If Japan takes this island, it will cut off eastern India from supplies by sea.

The 18th UK Division is already in Columbo and the 26th Indian Infantry Division (very much understrength and in need of trained replacements as soon as the Indian boot camps can prepare them) is in Trimcomolee. Pownall has moved in extra artillery units – the 1st UK Field Artillery Regiment at Columbo, and the 28th UK Field Artillery Regiment at Trimcomolee. Ceylon is also to become the home of all elements of 222 Air Force Group with headquarters in Columbo and bases there and in Trincomalee, as soon as they can be delivered. It will be assigned an air force of nearly 100 planes.

If Japan never attacks this region, these planes will rotate with active squadrons in northern India to give those squadrons an infrequent rest.

If Japan allows us to get our Burma and Chinese armies into northeastern India, then the next British infantry division to reach Karachi will go to Trimcomalee as well, to further bolster the defense of this island.


• Japan Reaches Sian in Force

Japan’s army of 120,000 soldiers has reached the outskirts of Sian in northern China, where it is squaring off against Mao Tse Tung’s communist army. Mao is not as afraid to fight as Chang Kai Shek. He intends to challenge Japan for control of the city.

By my estimates, he has 85,000 soldiers defending the town who are well dug in and ready to fight.

Maybe, here, we can see the Japanese forces stopped.


• ”Horseshoe”

Enterprise has picked up its air squadrons at Midway and is heading north to Dutch Harbor.

Wasp left Seattle this evening, just after dark, with the same destination.

The oiler AO Guadalupe is half way to Dutch Harbor from San Francisco.

There is no evidence yet that Japan is at all aware of this operation.

At current speeds, the two carries will be able to attack Paramushiro Jima, the northernmost of the Kurile Islands, just east of the end of the Aleutian chain, shortly after the start of the month.


• Elsewhere

Western New Guinea: In Northwestern New Guinea, Japan’s 22nd Naval Landing Force landed at Noemfoor, an island port near the western edge of that island.

Bismarck Archipelago: At Gasmata, southwest of Rabaul on the island of New Britain, the 2nd and 8th Naval Landing Force, as well as the 82nd and 84th Naval Guards, are continuing to scour the jungle for the remnants of the Australian units that had earlier been forced out of Rabaul.

Solomon Islands: The Japanese carrier force seems to be moving into the Coral Sea. Recent intelligence puts them just west of the Santa Cruz Islands. Macarthur has been alerted that Japan may be seeking to make a raid against the Australian east coast, against shipping there.

East Coast, Australia: We have two carriers, Lexington and Yorktown, near Brisbane, Australia. They could intercept the Japanese carriers. Combined with the Australian air force, they may be able to deliver a crippling blow to the Japanese navy – if that Japanese navy decides to get close enough to eastern Australia to be hit by our land-based bombers in a battle.

Nimitz and Macarthur still scream at me, but I do not think it is wise to battle the Japanese carrier fleet in open sea. I want the carriers to remain near Brisbane – to remain under an Allied land-based air umbrella, if it is likely that they will be encountering Japanese carriers.

One piece of good news – if these carriers are in the Coral Sea, they are not in the North Pacific. “Horseshoe” looks like it can proceed.

Port Moresby: Port Moresby has recently received supplies delivered by emergency transport. Macarthur wants to ship in some ground units next. However, that may have to wait until we are sure what the Japanese carrier fleet is going to do. We may have to pull our ships back and wait for Japan to leave these waters before continuing our operations to reinforce Port Moresby.


• Epilogue

I am still looking for any sign whatsoever that we have the ability to stop Japan’s expansion. It appears as if Japan can do whatever it wants; our efforts to stop it are just brushed aside.

I am starting to see some hope in the air war over northern Burma. We are doing damage, and Japan has not been able to stop us. It is the one, feeble, ray of hope that I have seen so far.

Maybe, somewhere, we can start to offer some resistance.

Thayne




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Thayne -- 7/4/2005 6:34:59 PM >

(in reply to Andy Mac)
Post #: 195
Thursday, February 26th, 1942 - 7/4/2005 6:18:38 PM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Thursday, February 26th, 1942

Henry:

Not too long ago, as Mandalay (Burma), Homan (N. China), and Soerabaja (DEI) fell, I said that the next line of defense was Myitkyina (Burma), Sian (China), and Bali (DEI).

Today, Japanese forces attacked Myitkyina and Sian, and landed about 45,000 troops on Bali.

All three places are now under attack.

Japan will win at Myitkyina, because we abandoned it.

With 5-1 numerical superiority in Bali, I do not see the island holding out for long.

At Sian, Japan has lined up 150,000 troops against 85,000 poorly supplied and equipped defenders.

What’s next? Where do we go from here? How far back do we fall?


At Myitkyina: Japan has:

• 18th, 33rd, and 55th Infantry Divisions
• 1st, 2nd, and 14th Tank Regiments
• 15th and 23rd Engineering Regiment
• 3rd, 5th, and 14th Mortar Battalions

Today, Japan merely bombarded the town. Apparently, they were unaware that we had abandoned the city and left it to them. Tomorrow, it will be theirs.


At Sian: Japan has placed

• 26th, 36th, 40th, 41st, 59th, and 110th Infantry Division
• 2nd, 19th, and 20th Engineering Regiment
• 6th and 15th Field Artillery Regiment
• 2nd Mountain Gun Regiment
• 3rd Construction Battalion
• 52nd Road Construction Battalion
• 15th Tank Regiment
• 2nd and 9th Independent Brigade
• 16th Mixed Brigade
• 8th Mongolian Cavalry Division
• 115th IJA Base Force


At Bali: Japan has landed

• 2nd Infantry Division
• Imperial Guards Division

In Java, I want to draw attention to the fact that Japan has landed 45,000 soldiers in 1 day. These are huge operations, which Japan is launching one after another with complete success.

The lack of planning and organization did seem to cause the Japanese some problems. Their landings were highly disorganized. However, with the huge numbers of troops involved, there was little that the defenders of Bali could have done to exploit this fact.

The assault began with a massive naval bombardment. However, Japan did not throw any air power into the invasion. Not that it needed to; the 8 capital ships involved in the naval bombardment raked the defenses pretty solidly. The airbase and runway were largely destroyed, though they had scarcely been repaired since the bombardments of the previous week.


Japan Moves into the Coral Sea

Allied intelligence says that a huge task force, consisting of landing and escort ships, left Truk yesterday. Japanese radio traffic suggests that the task force is heading southwest, toward Rabaul.

The Japanese carrier force is estimated to be to the southeast of Louisaide Archipelago, off of the tip of New Guinea.

Japanese scout planes have been seen over Thursday Island and Port Moresby on a regular basis.

I am laying bets that Japan is going to make a move to take Port Moresby and Thursday Island.

We won’t be able to get reinforcements there, not with the Japanese carriers blocking the way.

There were approximately 80 ships sitting in Truk yesterday. Today, the harbor is empty. With Bali as a model, this is not going to be some small and petty operation. Japan will bring in a surface battle fleet capable of handling anything we may put up against it, its carrier force, and the whole operation will take place under the watchful eye of their land-based air at Rabaul.

That land-based air hit Port Moresby today. 75 Nell and Betty bombers escorted by about 2 dozen Zero fighters from Rabaul. Intelligence was only able to report the presence of G1/Misawa Daitai, G1/4th Daitai, and G1 Chitose Daitai.

In light of this, I have commanded Macarthur to use Nos. 34 and 35 Royal Australian Air Force transport squadrons at Cooktown to withdraw the 112th Royal Australian Base Force from Port Moresby.

The Australians are not going to like this one bit.

However, suicide seems to be to be a poor strategy for winning a war.

Had Japan been kind enough to give us until April or May, I may have been able to put up a fight. However, we have only recently gotten supplies to Australia (mostly, fuel) that would allow us to move units to Port Moresby. We could not have acted any sooner.

There are those who complain that we could have hauled the oil and fuel out of the Dutch East Indies. However, those individuals are suffering the benefits of hindsight. We were planning to hold the Dutch East Indies, and saw no need to pillage the country for the benefit of Australia. By the time we recognized the power of the Japanese aggression, they had control of the air and sea around all of the major oil fields.

Enough of that. Enough casting blame. The past cannot be changed. Australia is going to start digging in along its eastern coast.

I still do not believe that Japan will attack Australia – though I can understand their fear. Japan will take the South Sea Islands first, and perhaps New Zealand. They will cut Australia off before they attack it – just as they cut off the Philippines, Singapore, Rangoon, and are working to cut off China.

After New Zealand falls, then Australia can start to worry.


”Horseshoe”

We still have no indication that the Japanese have been tipped off to the mission. CV Enterprise and CV Wasp continue to converge on Dutch Harbor. The temperatures in these northern waters are moderating.

The weather is going to be a factor in this attack. One of the potential problems is that we go to all of the effort to get these carriers into position, only to discover that a winter storm prevents us from operating.


Burma Air War

The 7th Bomber Group today targeted strategic resources in and around Tyung Gyi (central Burma; southeast of Mandalay) today. They were met with elements of the 24th and 50th Fighter Sentais (Nates) operating out of Mandalay.

Bomb assessment photographs showed disappointing results. The bomber crews might be getting tired of continual operations and need a rest.


Elsewhere

Kragan: 39th Road Construction Battalion captured this last corner of Java still in allied hands. Situated on a point in the north-central portion of Java, Japan bypassed it on its way to Soerabaja. With the rest of the Dutch army defeated, Japan moved in to take control of the city. The garrison surrendered the city without a shot.

South Pacific: Halsey, who is commanding the South Pacific forces under Nimitz, requested permission to strike at the Japanese forces occupying Nanomea Atoll. There is no sign that Japan has an operating airbase there. They are largely just occupying the island. Halsey says that if he leaves the slowly-moving battleship Colorado back at Pago Pago, the other ships can slip in, blast the Japanese, and get out before they get seen. I was thinking that it might be nice to do a spot of damage to the Japs, even if they can quickly repair it. So, I gave the okay.


Epilogue

I think that I surprised Halsey by agreeing to his plan to shell Nanomea Atoll. I think that he, Nimitz, and Macarthur all see me as a coward, unwilling to challenge the Japanese.

I look at these options and see nothing but certain death. Japan has adopted the strategy of keeping its military into huge blocks that simply overwhelm anything that we can put up against them. We see this at Bali. Carrier escort, bombardment task forces, and a landing force capable of dropping off 45,000 soldiers in a single day. We see this at Sian: 150,000 troops in one solid block, and in Myitkyina which Japan attacked with another 65,000 troops. We are about to see this at Port Moresby, I fear – a 100-ship task force under the protection of land-based air and the full power of Japan's compliment of fleet carriers operating out of Rabaul.

The only thing that makes sense is to find some place where Japan is not, and to hit it there, where we can obtain local superiority, at least until the nearest of these Japanese blocks of power come crashing into the scene. The best I can see us doing are missions like this bombardment of Nanomea Atoll and operation Horseshoe, and to avoid any direct confrontation of Japan.

Enough for today. I will talk to you tomorrow.

Thayne




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Thayne -- 7/4/2005 6:41:57 PM >

(in reply to Thayne)
Post #: 196
RE: Thursday, February 26th, 1942 - 7/4/2005 7:07:08 PM   
EUBanana


Posts: 4552
Joined: 9/30/2003
From: Little England
Status: offline 		New Zealand!!!

Australia has got problems if New Zealand falls...

Mind you I seem to recall in the Hirohito Strategy AAR that Japans Waterloo occurred at Wellington, so maybe this should be looked forward to?

< Message edited by EUBanana -- 7/4/2005 7:08:33 PM >

(in reply to Thayne)
Post #: 197
Friday, February 27th, 1942 - 7/4/2005 9:16:28 PM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Friday, February 27th, 1942

Henry:

Bali (DEI) and Myitkyina (N. Burma) Fall

Sian (N. China) holds, but not for long.

Bali (DEI) and Myitkyina (north Burma) are now in the hands of the Japanese. Sian (N. China) was heavily attacked today, but Mao Tse Tung was able to hold on. Still, his position is untenable. The Japanese systematically moved through the city, taking out key strong points. He is fighting and hanging on – something that the Dutch were not able to accomplish in Bali, However, he has been confined to the least defensible portions of the city and will likely soon be forced out entirely.

The Chinese army was able to withdraw from Myitkyina in good order, and is now on its way to Ledo. It will have a rough trip through the jungle, and will need some time to rest and recover before it can once again be called a fighting force. I would suggest that they retreat to Dacca – if Dacca is still in allied hands by then.

The Dutch at Bali, however, had no place to run. They surrendered the island, and Japan captured another 10,000 prisoners.


Aru Island Defense Reconsidered

Given the tactics that Japan used to capture Bali, I think that my original plan to hold onto Aru Island was ill conceived. Aru Island sits north of Darwin, and the plan was to occupy the island as a breakwater against a Japanese invasion of Australia itself. It was hoped that land-based bombers from Darwin could help in its defense.

If Japan decides to capture Aru Island, they will likely show up with the same carrier force they used to cover their landings at Bali. They will likely land 45,000 troops against the 4,500 defenders. They will likely subject the island to repeated naval bombardments before this happens. They will likely be able to take the island in two days, as they took Bali.

The decision was made to pull the troops off of Aru Island. All available seaplanes will be put to use. Aru Island does not have a runway, so it will not be possible to evacuate the island using land-based transport planes.


Baker/Nanomea Atoll Defense Studied

Japan has not moved any air units onto Baker Island.

Why is that?

It’s not that they have no bombers on the island – the airfield, I think, is too primitive yet to support bombers. However, they have no fighter defense either. Our bombers today went in with one squadron flying as low as 8,000 feet without meeting a single fighter. Reconnaissance aircraft show no signs of a fighter defense either.

Why did Japan take the island if not to use it as a base?

One theory being floated around here is that Japan wanted to build up its defenses in the islands near Tarawa without interference. They took Baker and Nanomea atolls as a buffer against attacking the Gilberts.

If this is the case, then we do not need to worry about Japan using this as a base for further moves against Canton Island or other south-sea possessions. That would be a welcome relief.

However, I am not betting on it. Canton Island is going to continue to prepare for a possible Japanese invasion, as are the other South Pacific Islands.

The upcoming attack on Nanomea Atoll will be able to tell us more about the defenses on this island. It does not support an airbase at all. TF1249 is getting into position with CAs Louisville and Pensacola and CL Concord, with escorting destroyers.


”Horseshoe”

CV Enterprise will be at Dutch Harbor in 2 days. AO Guadalupe should arrive at the same time.

CV Hornet should be there in 4 days.

MSW Oriole, stationed at Kiska Island at the end of the Aleutian chain, is going to start another loop south and west of the Aleutian islands for signs of Japanese activity.

Intelligence reports that there is no sign of a Japanese buildup in air units in the region, and that its air defenses are not enough to concern us.


Elsewhere

Burma Air War: While the 7th Bomber Group out of Diamond Harbor took the day off, the 19th Bomber Group at Dacca (flying B-17s) hit Taung Gyi with better results than the 7th had yesterday. The two bomber groups hope to turn the area around Taung Gyi into a useless wasteland in the near future.

The Hump: Chang Kai Shek gave permission to move the American Volunteer Group to Yunan in southwestern China today, where it will defend the air fields around the city as Dakotas stationed in India fly in additional supplies.

Bismarck Archipelago: Military intelligence continues to monitor the formation of a large formation of Japanese ships in this region. It is believed that the Japanese carriers are moving to rendezvous with the surface and transport ships gathering here.

Cooktown: Australian transportation squadrons began the task of removing the 112 Royal Australian Navy base force from Port Moresby today.

Sydney: Supplies continue to reach Australia. At the start of the war, it was decided that Hawaii can always be supplied later, but the ability to supply Australia long into the war was questionable, so several large task forces went straight to Australia. There are over 50 cargo ships presently at Sydney unloading war goods and 12 ships at Brisbane. 30 more will arrive within the next two weeks. These ships will then immediately sail back to the United States.


New Zealand

I understand that others have suggested that we should welcome an attempt by Japan to take New Zealand, and thus overextend themselves.

It is true that, even if Japan should take New Caledonia and New Hebrides Islands and leave New Zealand alone, it may be advisable to counter-attack into the Gilberts, take Naru, and then enter the Solomons and Santa Cruz islands from the east, rather than the south, trapping these Japanese units.

If Japan does not take New Zealand, then we can continue to supply Australia and force Japan to worry about attacks from this quarter. Even if it takes Australia, supplies can be shipped across the Indian Ocean from Africa.

The loss of New Zealand may not be a tragedy for the allies. However, I still believe that it would give Australia reason to worry that their land was about to be occupied by the Japanese.

I already warned Curtin that there would be no invasion of Australia as long as New Caledonia stood, and that his defense of Australia would be best served by defending New Caledonia. He rebuffed my efforts, and Macarthur considers New Caledonia outside of his jurisdiction. Thus, the island remains undefended while we wait the arrival of the 7th Australian Infantry Division to Australia in about two weeks (with some hope it can be redepoloyed to New Caledonia), and the Americal Division, presently 600 miles east of Hawaii heading toward a fuel stop at American Samoa.

I do not know if I could have done anything more.

Thayne




Attachment (1)

(in reply to Andy Mac)
Post #: 198
Saturday, February 28th, 1942 - 7/5/2005 1:20:15 AM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Saturday, February 28th, 1942

Henry:

The weekend is here, and that means that I have paperwork to take care of. In listing the reinforcements expected for the next week, I am particularly grateful for CVE Long Island on Friday. I hope to use it to carry air units into the South Pacific, then load it with dive bombers and use it to hunt submarines.


Military units to be released to the Pacific Theater this week.


Sunday, March 1, 1942

• 136 Squadron (16x Hurricane II) at Trimcomalee
• CL Emerald at Karachi


Monday, March 2, 1942

• 8th Bomber Squadron (16x A-24 Dauntless) at San Diego


Tuesday, March 3, 1942

• None Listed


Wednesday, March 4, 1942

• APD Stringham at San Francisco
• AK Empire Torrent at Karachi
• 754th USA Tank Battalion at San Francisco for American Samoa


Thursday, March 5, 1942

• 146 Squadron (16x Mohawk IV) at Bombay


Friday, March 6, 1942

• CVE Long Island at San Francisco
• AK Empire Bell at Karachi
• 5th Australian Division (home defense)


Saturday, March 7, 1942

• No. 36 RAAF Squadron (16x C-47 Dakota) at Sydney
• AK John C. Fremont at San Francisco
• HR Burma Corps at Karachi


”Horseshoe”

CV Enterprise and AO Guadalupe will arrive at Dutch Harbor tomorrow. They will refuel, then head out to sea to wait for Hornet.

MSW Oriole reports calm and empty ocean southwest of the tip of Kiska. Military intelligence is reporting nothing but token air activity by Japanese units at Paramushiro Island. There is still no sign that the Japanese are aware of the planned strike.


Bismarck Archipelago

Japan has landed a small force Dobodura, southeast of Buna, across the Owen Stanley Ridge from Port Moresby. A small force is all that Japan needed to occupy this area, since the allies had no presence here. It has no facilities of any kind -- just a couple of plantations, though the land is well suited for both a port and airfields.

Other than that, the area around Port Moresby remains calm, though military intelligence says that traffic continues to suggest the presence of a large Japanese task force in the area.

In addition to Dobodura, Japan is likely to take over places such as Milne Bay on the tip of New Guinea, and the islands off the east tip of New Guinea such as Goodenough Island and Woodlark Island.

East of there, Japanese scout planes have been flying over Esprito Santu and Efete in the New Hebrides islands, northeast of New Caledonia. I am wondering if they have designs to take these islands next. I have certainly expected them to make the attempt.


Mao Holds Out at Sian: Day 2

Mao Tse Tung’s communist army held out for a second day at the northern Chinese city of Sian, even launching a counterattack.

After yesterday’s fighting, the Japanese took a break. They spent the day shelling Chinese positions to soften the remaining Chinese defenses. Assuming that they were tired, Mao ordered an assault to take back some of its lost ground. Japan was not too tired to hold the Chinese at bay.

It was a bloody day in Sian. Between the shelling and the attack, Mao counted 1200 troops missing, wounded, or dead. Japanese casualties were estimated at 600. With the Japanese having the most troops, this was a war of attrition that favored the enemy, unless Mao Tse Tung had reinforcements on the way. If he did, I had not heard of them.


Elsewhere

Northwest New Guinea The only other activity reported today, which barely deserves mention, is that Japan’s 22nd Naval Landing Force landed at Biak. This is an island northwest of New Guinea – a minor port. I mention it only for the sake of completeness, and to note the location and activities of the Japanese units involved for further reference, if further reference is needed.

Hawaii AP Hugh L. Scott is struggling to reach Pearl Harbor, but is taking on more damage each day. It still carries elements of the 71st Aviation Regiment. Some of these soldiers have already entered lifeboats, and they are laying off to the side waiting for the transport to sink. TF1168 (with 6 destroyers) and TF1341 (with 5 destroyer minesweepers) are both coming alongside to pick up survivors if the ship should sink. The two task forces had been charged with finding the sub that had hit the Port Moresby. Neither of them reported any success.

Burma: Japan is showing no signs of interest in chasing the retreating Chinese and British armies into the jungle between Burma and India. This was one of my worries, that the troops would be harassed all of the way out of the jungle, suffering at the persistent attacks of the Japanese army. Instead, the units are still being permitted the luxury of retreating in good order.

Columbo: 222 Royal Air Force Base Force reached Columbo, Ceylon today, and began setting up operations for the defense of the island. The task of defending Ceylon has been assigned to the 222 Group Air Headquarters. They expect to set up air defenses in both Trimcomalee and Columbo to support air operations against any potential Japanese aggressor. The engineers associated with these units will also be assisting in building the defenses of the island, when they are not involved in their own defense projects.



That is all that I have for today.

Thayne




Attachment (1)

(in reply to Andy Mac)
Post #: 199
Sunday, March 1, 1942 - 7/5/2005 3:46:35 AM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Sunday, March 1, 1942

Henry

You can call it "absent without leave" if you want to. You can fire me if you want to.

There was something about that attack on Diamond Harbor that just got to me. The air war against the Japanese in Burma was the one shining spot in the whole war. Each day we further reduced the ability of the Japanese to support themselves in Burma. The 7th and 19th Bomber Groups were eroding the strategic value of Burma to the Japanese.

Then, in one blow, the 7th Bomber Group was destroyed.

I could not accept it. I could not handle it. Every day, as soon as I get a little bit of hope that we might have some potential to standing up to the Japanese, it gets destroyed. It has been just one loss after another.

I have braced myself for the expected losses such as Bali and Myitkyina. The loss of Sian in northern China, where the Japanese army drove Mao Tse Tung's defenders from the city today, was not such a blow, because I expected it.

However, this destruction of the 7th Bomber Group at Diamond Harbor was wholly unexpected. Japan's earlier assaults against airfields have been totally ineffective. Suddenly, they destroy 50 bombers in one assault. (Many of the bombers are reparable, but first the airfields themselves have to be put back together to handle repairing the airplanes.) In one move, my one bright light was snuffed out.

I took the PBY and headed out, by myself, to be alone.

If you need to know where I went, I flew to Endurbury Island, about 40 miles southeast of here. I landed the seaplane, took a raft, and rowed to shore. I just sat there, thinking about this war.

I had some pretty horrific thoughts going through my head. I imagined the whole planet sinking into a new Dark Ages, and it was all my fault. I am an avid reader of history, as you know, and have read more examples than I care to remember of some leader -- military, political, or social -- who bumbles his way into a disaster. The way that the writers of history ridicule such people always bothered me, and I imagined myself being the target of that writing.

"Ethan Lynde simply was not cut out for the military. He was too timid, unwilling to take any action to stop the Japanese. He seemed to feel that it was his duty to keep all of his soldiers alive. As a result, the Japanese were able to freely conquer the Pacific Ocean -- adding India and Australia to its lists of conquests in 1942, and declaring war on Russia in 1943. Finally uniting their forces with those of Hitler in the Middle East in 1944, Japan and Germany jointly destroyed the Soviet Union and took control of Africa. With all of the resources of the old world at their disposal, they could bide their time before launching a joint attack against the new world. Japan would launch its forces against Alaska and western Canada, while Germany crossed from western Africa into Brazil and the Caribbean."

It is not easy to consider yourself the cause of such a horrendously dark future history.

It took me at least two good hours to calm down. Eventually, the thought came to me.

I want to do something to hurt Japan. I do not want to sit back while they take one bite after another out of the free world. Even if it was just a token burr under the Japanese saddle, I wanted to do something to strike back.

With that attitude, I finally returned to Canton Island.

The rest of this report contains my weekly summary. It is not cheerful. I have already mentioned the two major items of the day -- the loss of Sian in N. China, and the loss of the 7th Bomber Group at Diamond Harbor.

As the next week unfolds, I expect we will see the loss of Port Moresby, Thursday Island, and the rest of New Guinea to the Japanese, this week.

Tomorrow, I will write about what we may have come up with to strike back some against Japan.


Losses


Naval Losses: 34 Ships (2 ships lost in the last week)

• BC Repulse
• CAs: Houston, New Orleans
• CLs: Du Ruyter, Danae, Tromp
• DDs: Panther, Flusser, Lawrence
• PGs: Isabel, Asheville
• SSs: S-38, KXV
• ASs: Otus, Canopus
• DMS Southard*
• MSW Penguin, Turkey*
• PTs: PT-21, PT-31, PT-32, PT-34, TM-13, TM-14, TM-15
• AP President Madison
• AKs, Large: Steel Voyager, Mormacdove
• AKs, Small: Taurus, Empire Elk; Governor Wright; Idaho
• TKs: Gertrude Kellogg, Manataway


Air Losses: 1365 Planes - 50 in the last week

• 670 planes shot down (+11)
• 448 planes destroyed on the ground (+16)
• 34 planes destroyed by flak (+2)
• 213 planes lost due to accident and wear (+21)


Top 20 Air Losses by Type

• 154x P-40B Tomahawk
• 113x Hurricane (+3)
• 102x Buffalo
• 89x Whirraway (+1)
• 82x P-40E Warhawk (+1)
• 78x Brewster 339D
• 77x Hudson
• 47x PBY Catalina (+2)
• 42x Martin 139 (+1)
• 38x SB-2c (+1)
• 37x B-17 Flying Fortress (+6)
• 29x Blenheim IV (+1)
• 28x CW-21B Demon
• 27x P-36A Mohawk
• 27x P-39D Airacobra
• 25x F4F-3
• 25x Blenheim I
• 24x P-26A
• 24x C-47 Dakota (new addition)
• 23x LB-30 Liberator (new addition)


Airplane Shortages

I have mentioned before the airplanes that we have shortages in. I thought, this time, I would tell you how great our shortages are -- how many airplanes I need just to bring existing squadrons up to full strength.

• Brewster 339D (16)
• Buffalo I (24)
• Catalina I (48)
• Martin 139 (14)
• P-26A (10)
• P-36A (66)
• P-39D Airacobra (21)
• P-40B Tomahawk (92)
• P-40E Tomahawk (40)

If you could see fit to have these spare airplanes delivered, I would appreciate it. Please note that I am not asking for additional squadrons. I am simply asking for the planes that would be required to fully equip the squadrons that I have -- and the pilots to go with them.


Damage Inflicted

Military intelligence estimates the losses suffered by the Japanese to be the following

Enemy Naval Losses: 14 ships

• 1x Destroyer
• 8x Submarines

• 1x Minelayer
• 2x Minesweeper
• 1x Cargo ship
• 1x Troop transport

Enemy Air Losses:

These, of course, are approximations.

Air to air combat: less than 200
Flak: 120
Destroyed on the field: 30


Summary By Region

North Pacific

"Horseshoe"

CV Enterprise and AO Guadalupe rendezvoused at Dutch Harbor today. They will join up and sail into the waters north of the Aleutian Islands, where they will wait for CV Hornet. CV Hornet is about 3 days away -- southeast of Dutch Harbor.

Present deployment, from the furthest outpost to Anchorage

• Kiska: Near the tip of the Aleutian Islands, MSW Oriole performs frequent patrols to the southwest to see if Japan is trying to get through the open waters.

• Amchikita: 250 miles east of Kiska, AVD Gilles and VP-41 (12x PBY) to patrol the approaches to Alaska.

• Dutch Harbor: 400 miles east of Amchikita, 24,000 troops + 1200 combat infantry. 24x P-36A. 32x Bombers.

• Kodiak: 350 miles northeast of Dutch Harbor; 19,000 troops + 2200 combat infantry.

• Anchorage: 4300 troops.

• Nome: 5800 troops + 1100 combat infantry.


Central Pacific

Japan holds Guam, Wake, and Baker Islands. Nothing else that started in Allied control (with the exception of Pearl Harbor on December 7th) has even been subject to attack.

Engineers have built a crude port and airstrip at French Frigate Shoals, and just completed an airstrip on Laysan Island (400 miles southeast of Midway). These airstrips will allow us to ferry shorter-range aircraft from Hawaii to Midway.

There are just over 90,000 troops on the Hawiian Islands themselves (from Big Island to Lihu), with garrisons at Pearl, Hilo, Kona, and Lahina and Lihu. The 27th USA Infantry Division is on Big Island. This week, the 102nd USA Regimental Combat Team will occupy Lihu, 100 miles west of Pearl Harbor. These units will prevent Japan from easily landing on these islands and threatening Pearl Harbor.

Palmyra: 16,000 troops, 24x fighters, 65x bombers, 12x Patrol planes

Christmas Island: 20,500 troops plus 1900 combat infantry. 16x bombers. 12x Patrol planes.

I consider these islands to be at risk, now that Baker Island has fallen. For atolls, these islands are fairly large, capable of holding more troops than places like French Frigate Shoals and Midway. Engineers are working to fortify the islands.

Johnson Island: 4,500 troops. This island is also at risk. With a fairly well developed airfield, it would be useful for Japan to keep Hawaii in check. It needs reinforcements.


South Pacific

Japan occupies Nanomea Atoll. This small island sits about 600 miles south of Apamama and Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands. I originally feared that this was a part of an offensive to move south. However, the fact that Japan has made no attempt to turn either this island or Baker Island into an air base suggests that these islands may be intended for use as a buffer while the Gilbert Islands are built up.

Still, I am not taking chances. The units on Canton Island, American and British Samoa, Tongatapu, and Fiji have orders to dig in and prepare for a possible Japanese assault.

• Canton Island: 15,000 troops, 24x fighters, 50x bombers, 12x patrol planes. Transport ships are again visiting this island without any hindrance from Japan. Supplies are plentiful as a result.

• Samoa (Pago Pago): 26,000 troops split between American Samoa (16,000) and British Samoa (10,000). Also, holds the fighter, bomber, and torpedo squadrons of CV Saratoga while that carrier undergoes repairs for a torpedo hit at Pearl Harbor. Added to this, the islands have 12x Patrol Planes, 21x Fighter, and 16x Bomber.

• Tongatapu: 3,500 troops, plus 60x bombers flying ASW missions along the route from Samoa to Fiji, and 12x patrol planes carrying out reconnaissance.

• Fiji: 17,000 troops (New Zealand), 50x bombers. 16 patrol planes. Fiji has become home to the 5th Bomber group, formerly stationed at New Caledonia. Its mission is to try to hit the Japanese at Nanoumea Atoll to the northeast, but it has so far failed to do so.

• New Caledonia: 4,000 troops, 1 squadron of Hudson bombers. Reinforcements for the island, which is calling itself the Americal Division, is about 500 miles southeast of the big island of Hawaii, heading for American Samoa (Pago Pago).


Southwest Pacific

Japan has taken all of the Solomon Islands and all of New Guinea except the bases on the southeastern tip of the island, including Port Moresby and Milne Bay. Recent military intelligence suggests that they are making a drive on this area, using about 100 ships fully supported by the entirety of its fleet (heavy) carrier air force.

They have continued to keep the airbase at Port Moresby suppressed. All air units have been withdrawn to Australia. The units are well supplied. However, with a Japanese carrier force nearby, it is not possible to reinforce the area. In fact, I have recently given the order to pull some of the defenders off of Port Moresby so that they can live and fight another day.

• Port Moresby: 5,000 troops, now sits under the Japanese air umbrella out of Rabaul and Lae. Its airfields have been closed down by Japanese air assaults out of Rabaul. Efforts are underway to pull some of the defenders out of the city before Japan attacks and captures it. Approximately 500 soldiers have already been retrieved.

• 6th and 7th Australian Division: The 7th Australian Division is now in the waters south of Australia and is approaching Sydney by sea. The units should arrive in the middle of next week (around the 10th of March). The 6th Australian Division is still in the Middle East.

• North Australian Navy. There is one ship left, other than submarines, along the north coast. CL Boise is undergoing repairs at Wyndham (southwest of Darwin) before making the trip to Perth.

• Supplies: On the bright side, Australia has received a generous amount of supplies recently delivered on over 80 cargo ships. These are being unloaded at Australian ports and include oil, fuel, and whatever war goods the United States had available at the time the ships launched. If Australia gets cut off, they will at least have the supplies to withstand a siege for a while, so long as they can raise their own food. Additional supplies are en route both from the United States and from Great Britain through Africa and India.

• Air Power: Australian Command has 120x fighter bombers (Whirraways), 80x Bombers (Beaufort with some Hudson), 16x transports, and 20x patrol planes. The Southwest Pacific Command has an additional 140x fighters, 220x fighter bombers, 110x level bombers, 35x torpedo bombers, 40x reconnaissance aircraft, 16x transports, 10x patrol craft. This comes to a total of approximately 800x airplanes. This is a sizable air force that should serve Australia well in case of invasion.


ABDA Command

Bali fell to Japan this week, leaving Timor and Aru Island as the only areas where there is still resistance to the Japanese. Because of the efficiency with which Japan destroyed the Bali fortress, the Aru Island defense now sounds like a bad idea. Therefore, the allies will slowly be withdrawing from that island.

• Timor Timor has been largely abandoned, except for a token force at Koepang, on the western tip, and a small garrison of 10 fighters and a like number of bombers. Koepang is significantly short of supplies. There is no expectation of holding the island. As soon as the Japanese show up in force, the defenders will, as much as possible, retreat to the mainland.

• Aru Island: As mentioned above, this has proved to be a bad idea. Japan moved on Bali with a force of 45,000 soldiers, all landing in 1 day. If they do the same to Aru Island, it will quickly fall. Rather than risk the loss of another group of soldiers trapped, we are withdrawing units from this island.


Burma

Japan owns all of Burma except Lashio, and this is a mere technicality that I am certain Japan will correct before the next week is out.

The next issue is that of an air war over Burma. Two Allied heavy bomber groups have been working to reduce Burma to a wasteland that Japan cannot possibly profit from. Japan, just today, destroyed one of these bomber groups at Diamond Harbor. Earlier, the Japanese air force was effective at eliminating allied fighters, downing allied fighters in a 20 to 1 ratio in a series of battles.

To combat these developments, the allies have disbursed their assets over the large number of airfields in the region. Fighters and bombers alike are scattered across a dozen airfields. None of these fields has a force strong enough to withstand a substantial Japanese attack. However, that attack can only threaten 10% of the allied air force at any one time.


Ceylon

The British have nearly 40,000 troops on Ceylon -- including the 18th UK Division -- to resist any Japanese invasion of this island. We also have 10x fighters and 70x bombers, and 12x patrol planes stationed on the island, with 20x more fighters at nearby Madras.

As is being done elsewhere, engineers are focusing on fortifying their positions rather than building infrastructure. Once the fortifications are in place, the infrastructure will be built up behind them.

There are troops stationed at every port on the east shore of India -- including (from south to north) 7,000 at Mannargudi, 3,500 at Madras, and 2,500 at Yanam.


China

Japanese forces finished their project of clearing the Shanghai-Hanoi railroad a couple of weeks ago. It then moved its main army north, and launched a campaign that drove through Homan and took the town of Sian today.

The AVG and the bulk of the Chinese air force has moved to Yunan to protect the airfields there from Japanese assaults. Those airfields will be used to receive supplies from India.


Thayne




Attachment (1)

(in reply to Thayne)
Post #: 200
Monday, March 2, 1942 - 7/6/2005 7:22:14 AM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Monday, March 2, 1942

Henry

I mentioned to Nimitz, Macarthur, and Pownall that I was interested in ways to harm the enemy.

I did not want to become one of those fighters who, when made angry, suddenly charged out with full force in a foolhardy attack, only to be caught off balance by a skilled opponent who simply uses my anger against me. So, I told them to be smart. Sailing all of our carriers to Japan for a direct attack on Tokyo was not an option.

I want to hit Japan where they do not expect to be hit.

We came up with a few plans.

”Horseshoe”

Of course, “Horseshoe” counts. CV Enterprise left Dutch Harbor today heading for a point about 250 miles northeast of the Aleutian island of Kiska. CV Hornet will be pulling into Dutch Harbor in two days. The planned attack on Paramushiro Jima fit the requirements that I have in mind.

”Syringe”

General Pownall, commander of the forces in Southeast Asia, tells me that he thinks he can hit the port of Sabang, on the western tip of Sumatra. A force of cruisers, he said, can hit the town and be far enough away by morning that Japan’s Betty bombers, even if he had some in the area, would not be able to strike back.

General Pownall says that the operation can be ready to sail in 3 days.

”Robin”

Halsey’s bombardment of the Japanese at Nanomea Atoll two days ago proved to be a success. The ships sailed in, fired on the defenders, and escaped without taking a loss or even being spotted by Japanese forces. Halsey has made a request to do this again. This time, he wants the cruiser force to retreat before dawn, but stay close enough to Nanomea that they can return the next day. Two days of shelling should be devastating to the defenders on the island.

At the same time, he is arguing for a force to strike Baker Island as well. As I mentioned in an earlier report, there is reason to believe that Japan took Baker Island merely as a buffer – as a way of preventing us from infringing on his efforts to defend the Gilbert Islands such as Tarawa. If this theory is correct, then an attack on Baker Island would be as effective as an attack on Nanomea Atoll.

However, Halsey is opposed to postponing “Robin” while we gather an attack force to use against Baker Island.


General Operations

In addition, I discussed two operations that are more general in nature and that which lack the precision that would warrant giving them a name.

Burma

Several options are available to him. His staff is considering options such as using parachute drop to isolate and capture a field behind enemy lines – perhaps even as far back as Luang Prabang in northwestern French Indochina. Other options include aiming for a Burmese airfield such as Lashio or Taung Gyi. He is also looking at a straight-out overland assault on Myitkyina for the purpose of opening up the Ledo Road, and an amphibious landing in southern Burma as soon as the Japanese airforce has been eliminated.

Whatever option is selected, the ground phase is at least a year off. In the mean time, Pownall has said that he will focus on weaking the Japanese forces in Burma in preparation for our counter-attack.

Pownall is ordering his soldiers to get the 7th Bomber Group back in operation as quickly as possible. We wish to show Japan that they accomplished very little with their attack. Maybe they will give up.

Submarine

Our war against the Japanese submarines is the second bright spot that we have had in the war to date. We have sunk 8 submarines so far. I think that this is hurting them, and I wish to hurt them some more.

Therefore, I have ordered the creation of a force specifically devoted to finding all information relating to Japanese submarines. Wherever we find a Japanese sub, we will attack. Every rumor will be investigated, every lead will be followed.

This policy follows from the principle that the most valuable weapon in any war is information. Japan gets its best information about what we are doing from its submarines. No submarines means no information, giving us greater freedom of movement and better surprise when we attack, and giving them more uncertainty about the areas they will be attacking.


Japan to Attack New Caledonia

I consider the evidence we received today of a planned Japanese attack on New Caledonia to be irrefutable. The plans that washed up on our shores (presumably from a submarine sunk near New Caledonia over a month ago) specifically identifies the South Seas Detachment as planning to attack Noumea, New Caledonia. This is not some Manchuria unit getting false orders. This is a front-line unit that has always spearheaded the Japanese advance in this region. I am certain the information is correct.

The Americal Division is still three days’ travel northeast of Christmas Island. It will take at least a couple of weeks for this unit to get to New Caledonia.

I am negotiating with Australia for permission to bring some of its units over to New Caledonia. However, I do not expect those negotiations to go well. They are still upset about Port Moresby, and my orders to evacuate the city.

Concerning Port Moresby, Japan landed forces at Milne Bay on the eastern tip of New Guinea, as well as Kiriwina Island north of Milne Bay. This, I believe, is a move to secure bases around the tip of New Guinea before moving to take Port Moresby and Thursday Island. Intelligence believes that these landings are occurring under the watchful eye of the Japanese carrier fleet, so there will be no attempt to interfere.

I believe we have at least until the Port Moresby operation is over before Japan begins to move on New Caledonia. That may be enough time to get some units to the island.


Japan Tightens its Grip on the Philippines

Kure 1st SNLF occupied Roxas, in the central Philippines, while additional units prepared to march in and take control of Tacloban to the southeast. We believe that Japan has begun an operation to systematically replace local leaders with those hand picked for their loyalty to the Japanese empire. Since the fall of the Philippines, we have continued to have dealings with local leaders that were loyal to the allied cause. That was a dangerous position to take, and I think that those who did so are about to start paying for that decision.

Similarly, Japanese forces are moving into Jesseltown in northwestern Borneo, and are landing at Maumere, west of Timor in the Dutch East Indies. They are also occupying Biak, another island just off of the northwest coast of New Guinea. All of this appears to be a part of a systematic effort to make sure that the region is fully under their control.

Once this is finished, it may be expected that Japan will release the units involved in these operations for use against the allies. Another realm of Japanese expansion may well follow.


Resistance

I see five likely targets of Japanese expansion after they have secured these areas.

(1) An attack to take the Santa Cruz Islands, New Hebrides, and New Caledonia is almost certain. Whatever else Japan does, they will do this.

(2) Against New Zealand. After taking New Caledonia, Japan may move against New Zealand as a way of making sure that Australia is completely blocked off from fetting allied war materials.

(3) The South Sea Islands. From Fiji to Canton Island and perhaps the Line Islands, Japan may seek to take this region. It would be difficult to attack and recapture this area, given that allied land-based bombers or reconnaissance planes will not reach these islands.

(4) Ceylon. The capture of this island will seal off northeastern India, and strangle the fledgling airlift of supplies to China.

(5) North Australia. To secure its resources in the Dutch East Indies. Japan may move into the ports on the north edge of Australia, from Darwin to Broome. I believe that if Japan pursues this option, I will not challenge them. It would be too expensive with little gain, for now. Besides, northern Australia is too far away from decent supplies for a major fight, and I do not want to pull important military units off of the more important regions in eastern and southeastern Australia. These defenses will stay put.


Conclusions

It’s sleeping time tonight.

It does feel better to be doing something, and shaking off this sense that I could do nothing but sit back and get hit by Japan time and time again. We may not be able to stand up against Japan toe to toe. However, every major campaign that Japan launches ties up units that cannot be available to defend some other place or time.

Thayne




Attachment (1)

(in reply to Andy Mac)
Post #: 201
RE: Monday, March 2, 1942 - 7/6/2005 11:50:38 AM   
Alikchi2

 

Posts: 1785
Joined: 5/14/2004
Status: offline 		Congratulations on your 200th post in this AAR, excellent work and an amazing read. I hope Mr. Lynde will see it through!

_____________________________


(in reply to Thayne)
Post #: 202
RE: Sunday, February 15, 1942 - 7/6/2005 3:27:00 PM   
Speedysteve

 

Posts: 15998
Joined: 9/11/2001
From: Reading, England
Status: offline 		Agreed. Even more so since SeaWolF K isn't updating his. So we have no idea what he is planning!

_____________________________

WitE 2 Tester
WitE Tester
BTR/BoB Tester

(in reply to Andy Mac)
Post #: 203
RE: Sunday, February 15, 1942 - 7/6/2005 4:47:39 PM   
aztez

 

Posts: 4031
Joined: 2/26/2005
From: Finland
Status: offline 		Good luck.. tough times ahead but I think you can pull it off

(in reply to Speedysteve)
Post #: 204
Tuesday, March 3, 1942 - 7/7/2005 6:27:33 AM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
Joined: 6/14/2004
Status: offline 		Tuesday, March 3, 1942

Greetings, Henry

Japanese Fleet Spotted Near Near Milne Bay

My predictions that Japan was on its way to Port Moresby were confirmed today. In addition to taking control of Milne Bay and Kiriwina Island, two task forces were spotted sailing around the tip of New Guinea. One is a carrier task force, which launched a strike consisting of 30 bombers escorted by 15 fighters. The other has landing ships, and it is too far south to be targeting anything other than Port Moresby.

Most of the 112 RAN Base Force has been evacuated from Port Moresby and is now at Cooktown.

It looks as if there will be no opportunity to evacuate the Port Moresby Defense Brigade before the Japanese show up. It will resist the Japanese landing as well as possible, then retreat into the jungle, hopefully to be extracted later.

If I am correct, Japan will follow its model, it will land an army at Port Moresby that will be more than adequate to quickly overrun the defenses.


Air Operations Against Burma

The air campaign against Burma hit multiple targets today.

• An evening attack against the airfields at Mandalay.
• An attack on the airfield and defenses of Myitkyina
• An assault on the strategic resources of Taung Gyi

None of the attacks did significant damage. However, they performed the task of putting pressure on Japan. We destroyed a few Nates at Mandalay, and did some damage to the airfield there and at Myitkyina. We lost nothing.

Again, it was minor.

This is going to be a long and protracted campaign – this air war over India and Burma. There are going to be a lot of moves and counter-moves here.

Japan has delivered a blow, taking out the 7th Bomber Group. We are looking for our opportunity to strike back, and strike back hard.

Recall, we have an objective at India to rebuild the 7th Bomber Group as quickly as possible. If we can launch a full bombardment attack from this group before the end of the week, we hope that this will have a demoralizing effect on the Japanese. Perhaps, Japan will judge it worthless to attack our air groups considering the cost and how quickly we can recover.

We are looking at an opportunity to catch the Japanese at Akyab. Japan sent a squadron of Nates there, but they found nothing of value to attack. If Japan does this again, they will meet 232 Squadron and 605 Squadrons, which General Pownall has recently ordered to this base.


Japan Continues to Consolidate Holdings

The areas that came under control of the Japanese today, as far as the reports that crossed my desk, include:

• Milne Bay under the control of Maizuro 1st Special Naval Landing Force

• Kiriwina Island occupied by the 31st Naval Landing Force

• Maumere (midway between Java and Timor) by the 15th Naval Guards

• 28th Naval Landing Force at Tacloban in the southeastern corner of the Philippines


”Horseshoe”

CV Enterprise is nearing the rendezvous point for the attack northeast of Kiska Island near the tip of the Aleutian Islands. AO Guadalupe will arrive in a couple of days.

CV Hornet is near Dutch Harbor, where it will take on fuel and head out to meet Enterprise.


”Syringe”

TF1235 has formed at Columbo consisting of the cruisers Dorshire, Cornwall, Exeter, Enterprise, Mauritius, and Glasgow, as well as a screening squadron of destroyers.

Their target is Sabang, on the western coast of Sumatra.


”Robin”

Cruisers Louisville, Pensacola, and Concord, with screening destroyers, left American Samoa last night and is on its way to Nanoumea Atoll and should be there in a couple of days.


Comments

Let's see what happens with these operations. If they are successful, this will help to foster further plans. If they are not successful, I guess we will need to try something else. If successful, we will look at something a little stronger next time. First, let us find out what we can do.

The plans have the characteristics that I like. We are not challenging the Japanese head on with odds that will result in our distruction. The raids will be made against places where Japan probably does not expect them. The three raids -- eastern Sumatra, Nanoumea Atoll, and Paramushiro Jima, are in three widely scattered locations, impressing on the Japanese the fact that it cannot defend everywhere, and that someday one of the places that it cannot defend will fall into allied hands.

More news tomorrow.

Thayne




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Post #: 205
Wednesday, March 4, 1942 - 7/8/2005 6:45:12 AM   
Thayne

 

Posts: 748
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Henry

Japan Claims Santa Cruz Islands

Japanese forces landed at Utupau, in the heart of the Santa Cruz Islands, today. This is a stepping stone to New Caledonia. Espritu Santo lies to the south, along with Efate. These areas have no garrison yet,

I presented the news to the Australians that Japan plans to take New Caledonia. Of course, they are aware of the emanate fall of Port Moresby to a Japanese invasion as well. Needless to say, the Australians are in a state of panic. With the Japanese on their doorstep and the possibility of supplies being cut off, they fear that an invasion is imminent.

I have been arguing with them that the best thing they can do to defend their country is to make sure that they can get supplies from the United States and England. As I have argued in the past, this requires holding New Caledonia. With evidence of the South Seas Detachment planning for an attack there and the landings on the Santa Cruz Islands, I have convinced them to take steps to defend New Caledonia.

They have volunteered the 2nd Australian Cavalry Division, presently at Newcastle, to the job, and the Australian 7th Infantry Division as soon as it becomes available. The 30th Australian Brigade, and the 26th USA Field Artillery Brigade are on their way south to Brisbane, to be loaded onto boats and added to the defenses at New Caledonia.

For our part, our Americal Division sailed past Christmas Island last night, so they are still some distance away. For that matter, the Australian units are some distance away as well.

Now, I look at the landings that Japan made at Bali – 45,000 troops in 1 day – and wonder what it will actually take to hold New Caledonia. It is a very large island, and we cannot defend the whole shore. This means that Japan has the opportunity here, unlike at other islands, to land in a place where it can then gather its strength before marching on the main city of Noumea. Coastal guns at the port are as useless as the guns of Singapore.

Japanese carriers will certainly be able to control the air and water around New Caledonia, giving their troops the advantage of air and naval support, while our troops will not even have the luxury of being able to ship out the wounded.

I just know that Halsey hates me for worrying about such things.


Japan Occupies Pamakasan

The Dutch defenders at Pamaksan, an island northeast of Sarabaja on the island of Java, gave up the fight today. Japan landed the 21st Division to occupy this island.

Repeated Japanese naval bombardment managed to destroy all of the islands supplies, so they had nothing to fight with. In fact, they had nothing to eat, other than what they could catch from the sea. So, their surprise is no great mystery.

Japan suffered some in their attack. One of their transports hit a mine. There were Japanese casualties. The exact number is not known.

Dutch coastal guns fired a few remaining rounds of ammunition as well. They inflicted a few casualties among the Japanese forces coming ashore, but not enough to have any real effect on the outcome.


Japan Draws Blood in the Burma Air War

This round in the Burma-India Air War went to Japan. Over 60 Japanese Zeros struck at Dacca today. They caught 7 Hurricanes. The Hurricanes shot down no Japanese airplanes.

We do not have many Hurricane fighters to spare. If the British keep this up, the Hurricane will join the P-40 and P-39 on our list of airplane types where we do not even have enough to keep our existing squadrons at their listed capacity.

What is it with these British pilots? They are truly worthless.

Don’t tell Churchill I said that, but I have been encouraging Pownall to simply ground his fighters as much as possible and refuse to challenge the Japanese. Whenever they do get into a fight, the results are like these – several British planes and pilots dead and the results of their sacrifice is that Japanese pilots get acquire a bit more practice in the art of air-to-air combat.

Japanese F2/Tianan Daitai and F3/Tianan Chaitai participated in the attack, according to military analysts.

The allies, in the mean time, continued their attacks on Japanese targets. Again, Mandalay was attacked at night, and daylight attacks were made against the airfields at Myitkyina and strategic targets at Taung Gyi. Minor damage was inflicted on the enemy, but it is another day with another round of damage.

Our mission to get the 7th Bomber Group back in the war quickly is going better than I expected. The group has put together over half of the airplanes that the group needs to reach full strength, mainly by mixing and matching pieces of the planes that have been otherwise damaged.

The ambush set for Akyab did not work out. Japan did not send in the Nates. In addition, he did send scouts who now know that there are Hurricane fighters stationed at Akyab. I fear that his next step will be destroy these fighter squadrons the way Japan decimated the fighter squadrons at Dacca today.


”Horseshoe”

CV Enterprise is 250 nautical miles northeast of Kiska Island. AO Guadalupe will show up at the same spot tomorrow. CV Hornet pulled into Dutch Harbor and fueled. There is still no sign that the Japanese are aware of our mission. MSW Oriole, which is scouting the waters east and southeast of Kiska Island at the end of the Aleutian chain was unable to find any sign of Japanese activity in the area. Radio traffic shows no change in dispositions.

One item of particular concern is the range of Japanese airplanes and the bases they may operate from. Military intelligence is keeping particularly close attention to the level of air activity in this region. It remains very limited. MSW Oriole remains unspotted. All of this looks promising.

”Syringe”

TF1235 left Columbo and sailed past the southern coast of Ceylon on its way to the western tip of Sumatra. The task force contains only six cruisers and should arrive at its destination in a few days.

”Robin”

The cruisers of TF1367 sailed past Wallis Island today. Tomorrow it will get into position to launch a bombardment attack that they will execute tomorrow night. It will be in my report two days from now.

That is all for today. Another report comes tomorrow.

Thayne




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Thursday, March 5, 1942 - 7/9/2005 5:16:26 AM   
Thayne

 

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Henry

Burma-India Air War

General Pownall has informed me that he is shifting his focus in the Burma Air War on Myitkyina.

Ultimately, I believe it is his objective to reopen the Burma Road. As I mentioned before, Japan had lost most of its manufacturing capability even before Pearl Harbor. Since that date, a Japanese offensive has cut the capabilities of the Chinese even more.

Roosevelt has made it clear that he wants China to stay in the war. This means getting supplies to China. An all-out effort to open a road from northeastern India to China is the best way to accomplish this objective. This means retaking Myitkyina.

This also means hindering the ability of the Japanese to fortify and build up the town. Towards that end, a serious effort to keep the Japanese troops at Myitkyina under constant pressure from air bombardment – keeping them busy building and rebuilding bridges, railroads, roads, warehouses, airports, and even places for their troops to stay – is a top priority.

Today’s strikes on Myitkyina, however, were meager. Over the course of the day, we launched 31 sorties at the city – Blenheim I and IV and Hudson bombers. Photo reconnaissance shows some damage, but not enough to keep the base down. Tomorrow, Pownall says, we will see a serious effort.

The Japanese, by the way, did not engage in any air activity today. They did not intercept our bombers. They did not launch any sorties into India. I am grateful, but I do not anticipate that it will last.

Our efforts to get the 7th Bomber Group back into the fight are moving along at an extraordinary pace. The group now has 36 bombers operational, out of a standard allotment of 48. At this rate, I expect that we can launch the bomber group back into the fight sometime this weekend.


”Horseshoe”

Intelligence provided us with some disturbing news today. With our task forces assembling northeast of Kiska Island, the Japanese have declared a new airfield at our target, Paramushiro Jima, operational.

Nimitz and I had a long conversation once we heard of this. The airbase is not large enough for bombers to be a threat. However, a flock of Zero fighters could tear an attacking air force apart.

I must admit, for a moment I entertained cutting off the mission. However, it did not even last long enough for me to mention it to Nimitz. We agreed to give a warning to the captains of the two carriers, but to order them to proceed. We have too much invested in this mission to turn back now.

CV Enterprise is at the rendezvous point northeast of Kiska with the AO Guadalupe, drawing fuel. CV Hornet has left Dutch Harbor and will be with Enterprise in a day or two. The two task forces will then sail towards their target.

Even though the airfield has been built, there is no evidence that Japan has assigned any air squadrons to the place.


”Syringe”

TD1235, which left Columbo, Ceyon, a couple of days ago with, has approached to within 600 miles east of Sabang, on the west tip of Sumatra, so far without any sign that it had been spotted. Tomorrow, it should get into position. Then, in two days, I should be reporting to you on a successful bombardment mission of the facilities.

Remnants of the 2nd NS Garrison Battalion happen to be on the island near Sabang. They will be scouting the town and radioing information to the task force on what to hit.


”Robin”

TF1367, operating out of American Samoa in the southeastern Philippines, should be hitting Nanomea Atoll tonight. I will be reporting on its progress tomorrow. While I am writing this, in fact, the task force is moving ahead at full speed towards the island. Halsey has given the task force orders to rake the island at dawn. The shelling is expected to last at least an hour in the dawn light. Then, the task force has been ordered to retreat before Japanese air units get there.

The surprise is that the task force has been ordered to do the same thing tomorrow. If its retreat goes unspotted. The task force has been ordered to reverse course and attack Nanomea again, for a second morning in a row. If the Japanese force thinks of this as a hit-and-run raid, they may let down their guard, thinking that we have fired our load and they are safe, at least for a few days. Also, the task force can use reconnaissance that they collected on the first bombardment, which should still be fresh.


Sub Hunting

Our mission to sink Japanese subs found a target. Spotter planes out of Johnson Island found a submarine between that island and French Frigate Shoals to the north. The submarine was heading east at the time it was spotted.

Military intelligence has identified a spot south of Pearl Harbor where we think that Japanese submarines like to hang out. The islands curve around this spot, so it is a nice location for the submarines to use when launching their seaplanes. They can easily reach any island in the Hawaiian chain.

Military intelligence has plotted a course from the location of this sighting to their “sweet spot” south of Pearl Harbor. A destroyer squadron consisting of 6 destroyers at Pearl Harbor have been hastily organized into a sub-hunting squadron and sent out to patrol the length of that course.


Port Moresby

The Japanese task forces are getting ever closer to Port Moresby. The submarine KVIII found itself in the thick of them today. According to the report from the skipper. “I lifted my periscope and founded Japanese ships as far as the eye could see in every direction.”

Like I said, if Japan makes a move, it moves with its whole might, making it difficult to put up any type of resistance.

The disposition of their forces seems to have changed from earlier plans. We still spotted a carrier force, a bombardment force, and a landing force. However, we found a fourth task force in the set. KVIII reported that it held an additional carrier, as well as bombardment groups. Perhaps this task force is assigned to accompany the landing force to provide both combat air patrol over the base and protection from any allied raid.

We have added this to our notes for further consideration.

Anyway, it will be tomorrow at the earliest before we discover what Japan has planned, if anything, for Port Moresby.

Summary

It appears as if I will be having a lot to report over the next few days. Landings at Port Moresby. Allied attacks on Paramushiro Jima, Nanomea Atoll, and Sabang, Sumatra. There is sub hunting, and the return of the 7th Bomber Group to the war in a few days. Even if we cannot defeat Japan so quickly, I am curious as to whether we can make it appear that we are not entirely impotent.

Until tomorrow.

Thayne




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Friday, March 6, 1942 - 7/9/2005 9:31:56 PM   
Thayne

 

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Henry

Sub Sunk at Hawaii

It is so nice when something works.

Yesterday I reported that PBYs flying out of Johnson Island spotted a Japanese submarine north of the island moving east. Course and speed were plotted and we dispatched a destroyer squadron to deal with the threat.

This morning, they sank the sub. They found it about 175 miles east of its last recorded location, on the predicted course, and sank it. The sinking has been confirmed. The size of the oil slick created by the attack suggests that the submarine had just started its patrol and was moving into position.


Burma War: Further Destruction on Myitkyina

The Burma air war went our way today with another round of unopposed bombings of Myitkyina. Japan launched no counter-strikes. Six separate missions were flown against Myitkyina today, focusing on airfields, known anti-aircraft sits, supply depots, and construction equipment.

Those who assessed the results of the bombing were, again, pleased with the results. The attacks are hardly knocking Myitkyina out of the war. However, they are making it difficult for Japan to turn the city into a major forward base, or to set up defenses against the inevitable push to retake the town and establish a road for supplies to reach China.


”Robin”

TF1367 attacked Nanomea Atoll today. The atoll, recall, is south of the Gilbert islands of Makin, Tarawa, and Apamama.

If Commender Lowe followed the plans that he had laid out at the start of the mission, then he attacked at dawn, with the sun coming up behind him (blinding the gunners on the island). The cruisers formed a line, with CL Concord in the lead and CA Pensacola and CA Louisville behind on a course that would take them to within 9,000 feet of the island. The destroyers formed a second line that sailed towards the island at a distance of 5,000 feet.

There had been some discussion about keeping some distance from the island and not using the destroyers. This has been a standard Japanese tactic in the war so far. They have almost never approached very close to shore when they have bombarded allied facilities. As a result, we have been able to inflict little harm against them, even though we have taken considerable damage from their guns.

However, to be honest, I was in the mood to do some damage here if it were possible, and was willing to take risk. Nimitz and Halsey were both eager to support me on this, and Lowe was ordered to use all of the military assets at his disposal.

As they sailed by, they looked specifically for gun positions with the intention of targeting and destroying them. However, through the course of the bombardment, the Japanese did not fire a single shot at the ships. So, the task force focused on anything that looked like it might be a worthwhile target – concentrations of tents and other structures and fortifications.

They made one pass on the island, then moved out to open sea.

His further instructions were to wait for signs that the Japanese were organizing an air assault against his task force. If no attack appeared imminent, he was to do the same thing again tomorrow.


”Syringe”

TF1235 is in position west of Sabang, on the western tip of Sumatra in the Dutch East Indies, for its attack on the beach.

Its attack was aided by the actions of the 2nd NS Garrison Battalion. They had been forced into the jungle when Japan captured the coastal towns. However, at the request of General Pownall, they moved into Sasabo for the purpose of engaging the Japanese and getting information about the location of key locations in the town. They then transmitted that information to RF1235.

They have reported, among other things, that only the 16th Naval Guards is holding Sabang. There is no sign of a coastal defense unit. This confirms the decision to use all of the ships, including the destroyers, in the attack.

TF1235 will be examining the information all night tonight while the task force gets into position. At dawn, when the ship hit their targets, is going over the maps and targeting information in preparation.

Commander Ager also has instructions to use all of the military assets at his disposal to inflict maximum damage on this assault.

I will be reporting on the results of this attack tomorrow (along with the results of “Robin II”).


”Horseshoe”

CV Enterprise and CV Hornet met today in the waters northeast of Kiska Island on the western tip of the Aleutians, with AO Guadalupe. They spent the day taking on fuel and, tonight, they start sailing west to attack the Japanese island of Paramushiro Jima.

It will still take 3 days for them to get within range of their target, so do not expect me be able to report the results before then.

Military intelligence reports no shift in the Japanese defenses. The Kurile Islands are reported to have very little air defense. MSW Oriole continues to sail into Japanese waters south of Paramushiro Jima without encountering any sign of air or surface forces. Japan truly seems to have left this door wide open.

In preparation for the attack, we are reviewing all of our military intelligence to date concerning the island. We have confirmed that there is little or no air cover in all of northern Japan.

Military units stationed there include North Chishima Fortress and Kitachishima Fortress. This probably means a heavy compliment of coastal guns. Consequently, if the attack force decides to send in the surface fleet for a shore bombardment, these units will keep their distance, and use only the larger guns on the cruisers.


Japan Targets Aru Island

Japan launched an attack of its own today, striking Aru Island with the firepower of 8 capital ships, including 1 battleship.

Consistent with Japanese tactics to date, they stayed too far away for their destroyers or our coastal guns to have any effect.

From the results of this and previous attacks, I can say that the Japanese seem to be better at us than we are. We are still counting casualties, but it appears that we have suffered over 700 casualties. Port facilities were demolished. Several ammunition and fuel caches were hit, sending huge columns of smoke into the air by morning. Several artillery batteries were knocked out as well.

This has followed a pattered whereby Japanese naval bombardments have been extremely destructive. I cannot honestly say that our attack at Nanomea Atoll had anywhere near this destructive effect.

Perhaps we should practice more.


Port Moresby

There is no sign of Japanese activity here. They are likely getting into position and trying to figure out what we may be up to – which is, nothing.

We have no solid evidence of this, but we believe that there is a Japanese minesweeper squadron off the coast sneaking in to remove mines under the cover of darkness.

Tomorrow, they attack. I am certain of that. It is merely an academic question whether they will be in control of Port Moresby tomorrow, or the day after. However, I am interested in seeing how they execute this mission. I am expecting to see over 10,000 Japanese troops hit the beech in one huge wave.


Elsewhere

• Military Intelligence reports that the Japanese landed the 14th Naval Landing Force on the Santa Cruz Islands (off of the southeastern tip of the Solomon Islands) yesterday. Though we knew of the landings yesterday, this is the first information we had on exactly which units were involved.

• North of Rangoon, remnants of the 103rd Royal Navy Base Force, which the Japanese pushed out of Rangoon and into the swamps west of town, attempted to ambush some Japanese units on the road heading north toward Mandalay. They struck the 34th Railroad Battalion and the 119th Naval Air Force Base Force traveling up the rail into central Burma. The attack, however, favored the Japanese who stood up to the ambush and counter-attacked, driving the allied forces back into the swamp.

• Japan is landing at Iloilo, one of the islands in the center of the Philippines, and one of the few ports with an allied garrison. A Philippine Army division and base force occupy the island. A squadron of float planes also stationed on the island was transferred to India today to keep it out of the hands of the Japanese. Japan is using its 3rd Engineering Regiment and 48th Division in the assault.


Summary

I must confess, it is nice to be doing something. It is comforting to see our units inflict damage on Japanese installations. Granted, it is not a lot of damage, and there are those who laugh at the thought of us congratulating ourselves for doing so little.

Still, Japan is unchecked. Japan wants Port Moresby, so Japan will get Port Moresby. Japan wants to neutralize Aru Island, so Japan neutralizes Aru Island. Japan wants the Santa Cruz Islands, so Japan lands on the Santa Cruz islands, with no opposition.

Accepting all of this, it appears as if the Allied army is starting to get its act together, pick up its weapons, and fight. These meager and inconsequential missions provide experience, which will be used to plan larger and more consequential missions in the future.

Thayne




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Saturday, March 7, 1942 - 7/10/2005 2:07:40 AM   
Thayne

 

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Henry

This was a bloody day.

• Japan launches its invasion of Port Moresby
• Heavy air-to-air fighting over Myitkyina favors the Japanese
• Japan takes Iloilo in the Philippines, one of the last garrisoned bases
• Allied operations “Syringe” and “Robin: Round II” hit the enemy.


Invasion of Port Moresby Begins

I had written earlier that I expected Japan to hit Port Moresby with a significant force. Sources report evidence of the following units:

• Kure 3rd, 5th, and 6th SNLF
• Sasebo 5th SNLF
• Maizuro 4th SNLF
• 6th Naval Guard
• 127th IJN Base Force
• 129th IJNAF Base Force
• 129th IJA Base Force

Combined, we count 16,000 troops. More important than the troops, however, is what Japan can offer in support.

This is actually not as big a force as I had expected.

There certainly was not enough soldiers to defend the whole beach. The Japanese selected sections of the coast where they could easily land and where defenses were light. The bulk of their forces landed about five miles south of Port Moresby itself. Defenses were not able to hit any of the Japanese ships, though they were able to put a fairly heavily barrage down on the landing beaches as the Japanese tried to organize themselves for the march on Port Moresby.


Japanese Iloilo, Philippines

Japan landed 10,000 troops from the 49th Division and 3rd Engineering Regiment at Iloilo yesterday. They actually landed their forces a few miles southwest of Iloilo, at the town of Dao, on the point. The Philippine Army had a couple of guns there. Japan raked the shore with a few PG boats. Reports are that they put a shell or two in one of the boats,, but there were no reports of serious damage. The Japanese consolidated their forces and began the march up the road to the main city.

Japan already controlled the north half of the island, having landed there yesterday, so the division had to keep some of its troops along the northern front. It established a line against the Japanese. However, as soon, the Japanese had cleared out the city, they followed up with another 15,000 soldiers. While the soldiers moved up along the coastal road, Japanese PG boats followed along the flank to shell the Philippine positions. The reports are that the artillery struck a couple of the PG boats. One of the batteries got the bearings on a ship and was pummeling it heavily, until the Japanese navy locked on the battery and took it out.

Just a little while ago, Japan charged into the city itself. They simply had the Philippine army outnumbered – 5 to 1 odds. They quickly overran the Philippine Army and forced the surrender of another 6,000 allied soldiers.


Air War: Burma – Japan Defends Myitkyina

The allied bombings of Myitkyina met opposition today from a Daitai of Zeros. They managed to shoot down 9 of our bombers. However, the B-17s took down an amazing 5x Zeros. The 4-engine bombers have been our best weapons against the Japanese Zero pilots.

In spite of the fighters, bomb assessment analysis shows that our attacks were more successful today than yesterday, even though we used the same squadrons, who are growing fatigued by the constant fighting.

I am not unhappy with the results.

Military intelligence informs me that the 7th Bomber Group is once again ready to fly. Furthermore, military intelligence reports that the 24th and 50th Fighter Sentais, consisting of Nates, are standing guard over Mandalay. Nates are not the highest quality of Japanese airplanes. One more fact to consider is that the American Volunteer Group has moved to Yunan, China, to protect the base from Japanese attempts to interdict the supply planes flying in from India.

The AVG are the Nate killers. Recall that they destroyed a full squadron of Nates at Wuhan in central China.

We have sent out orders for them to do it again.

Tomorrow, the Japanese stronghold at Mandalay will suffer attacks from two directions. LB-30 will fly out of Dacca at full force, and the AVG will fly from Yuhan in the north. They will both target the Nate Sentais at Mandalay and, hopefully, get their revenge for what the Japanese did to the 7th Bomber Group one week ago.


”Robin: Round II”

The return to Nanomea Atoll were not as successful as the day before. It may because there were fewer targets to hit. Still, we took no damage, so we cannot consider it a loss.


”Syringe”

The bombardment of Sabang, on the western point of Sumatra went very well. As I mentioned yesterday, we had gotten intelligence reports from Dutch units forced from the city not long ago. So, the cruisers and destroyers knew where to attack.

The bombardment was rewarded with several secondary explosions. One building near the port that we had been told was an ammunition storage dump disintegrated in an explosion that sent flames at least 3,000 feet into the air. The bombardment destroyed two key buildings at the airport which held machine shops for the maintenance of airplanes. We also targeted peers and machinery on the ports. Buildings said to be barracks were also hit.

In short, the bombardment was immensely successful.


Japanese Air Attack on Darwin

Japan launched a significant air attack on Darwin, Australia today.

70 bombers from G2/Takao Daitai, G2/Kisarazo Daitai, and G1/Mihoro Daitai hit the city. They targeted the airfield and inflicted damage on the airbase, but not enough to bring the base down. They also hit several airplanes on the runway, but these were transports and seaplanes. The damage to the infrastructure was actually repaired by morning.

For all practical purposes, the attack accomplished nothing for the Japanese.


”Horseshow”

I am pleased to report that there is nothing to report concerning “Horseshoe”. Once again, I can report that there is no sign that the Japanese are ready for the attack.

CV Enterprise and CV Hornet are sailing in two separate task forces. They are just west of Attu Island now, at the tip of the Aleutians. They are ready to charge across a stretch of 600 miles of open ocean to get to their target. Two days of sailing.

It would be ironic if, at the last moment, the weather failed us, and our whole effort ends up snuffed out by a blanket of snow or rain while we sit, bobbing in the water. 100 miles from our destination.


Reinforcements

I almost forgot – it is Saturday, and the day for reporting the units that will be released to my control next week.

I am certain, of these reinforcements, Prime Minister Curtin will be happy to see his 7th Australian Division land at Sydney on Tuesday. Also, the 2nd UK Division lands at Karachi next Saturday. It is looking as if we may actually get the Chinese and Burmese armies into India, we can spare the 2nd UK Division to reinforce Ceylon. That is my hope.

Sunday, March 8, 1942

• DD Griffin at Karachi
• AS Griffin at San Diego
• MSW Bayfield at Vancouver

Monday, March 9, 1942

• No. 33 RAAF Squadron (16x Empire) at Townsville
• SS S-43 at San Diego
• AK Empire Purcell at Karachi

Tuesday, March 10, 1942

• VMP-111 (24x F4F-3) at Los Angeles
• AK Empire Heywood at Karachi
• 7th Australian Division at Sydney

Wednesday, March 11, 1942

• None Provided

Thursday, March 12, 1942

• 31st Naval Base Force at San Francisco

Friday, March 13, 1942

• None Provided

Saturday, March 14, 1942

• 2nd UK Division at Karachi
• 101st Australian AT Regiment at Sydney


Thayne





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Sunday, March 8, 1942 - 7/10/2005 6:41:27 AM   
Thayne

 

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WEELLY SUMMARY

Henry

My weekly summary will follow. However, I want to report a special success in the Burma Air War.

The attack on Mandalay went particularly well.

Recall, yesterday I wrote that Intelligence reported two Nate Sentais – the 24th and 50th were defending Mandalay. The AVG – the Nate Killers of Central China – had been moved to Yunan, which is within range of Mandalay. Furthermore, the 7th Bomber group was ready to return to the fight. Therefore, General Pownall gave orders for both units to attack Mandalay.

Well, things did not go as well as they did in central China. For one thing, the AVG is down to half strength, and we are finding it impossible to find additional planes for them. But, they went well enough.

We had an extraordinary stroke of luck. The P-40 Tomahawks of the AVG arrived only minutes ahead of the bombers. As soon as the AVG arrived, they challenged the Nate Sentais engaging them in a fierce dogfight where they shot down 12 of the fighters. By the time the bombers showed up, the Japanese CAP was out of ammunition and fuel and was rearming on the ground.

This gave the bombers a clear run of the airbase, and they plastered it. Bomb assessment reports show extensive damage to the airfield facilities, and the destruction of several airplanes on the ground – including at least two Zero fighters.

If I would have known that the two air groups would have arrived at the target at the same time, I would have had the heavy bombers arrive at a lower altitude for greater precision.

At the same time, we flew our regular missions against Myitkyina. It was not our best day. There is evidence that the pilots are getting tired. However, I can only speculate that the Japanese forces at Myitkyina are suffering the effects of these daily bombing missions as well.


Port Moresby Captured

This fact also deserves a mention before I get into my weekly report. The Japanese force of 17,000 soldiers marched northwest from their landing beaches and into Port Moresby, forcing the garrison there to surrender. There were only 3,500 allied soldiers to resist the Japanese invasion. They were heavily outnumbered.

Ships of the Japanese navy provided artillery support for the advance, laying off shore and directing their fire to anyplace showing active allied resistance. The guns from the cruisers that participated in these attacks proved quite effective, allowing the ships to keep enough distance to prevent any counter-battery fire from the defenders.

So, Port Moresby is now in Japanese hands.


Overall

I am in a bit better mood than I was last week. We made a decision to start fighting back against Japan, and that decision has paid off. In the past week we have:

(1) Bombarded Nanomea Atoll twice
(2) Struck at Sapang on the eastern tip of Sumatra for good effect
(3) Organized an attack on the 24th and 50th Fighter Sentais in Burma to good effect
(4) Employed our intelligence capabilities to track down and destroy a Jap submarine
(5) Maintained air supremacy over the Japanese base of Myitkyina in northern Burma.

Of course, at the same time, we

(1) Lost Port Moresby
(2) Lost the Santa Cruz Islands

These are in addition to the expected losses of additional bases along the northern coast of New Guinea, in the Dutch East Indies between Bali and Timor, and in the central part of the Philippines.

Anyway, it is time for the update.


Losses

Naval Losses: 35 Ships (1 ships lost in the last week)

• BC Repulse
• CAs: Houston, New Orleans
• CLs: Du Ruyter, Danae, Tromp
• DDs: Panther, Flusser, Lawrence
• PGs: Isabel, Asheville
• SSs: S-38, KXV
• ASs: Otus, Canopus
• DMS Southard
• MSW Penguin, Turkey
• PTs: PT-21, PT-31, PT-32, PT-34, TM-13, TM-14, TM-15
• AP President Madison, Hugh L. Scott*
• AKs, Large: Steel Voyager, Mormacdove
• AKs, Small: Taurus, Empire Elk; Governor Wright; Idaho
• TKs: Gertrude Kellogg, Manataway

* Newly sunk ship


Air Losses: 1434 Planes - 69 in the last week

• 688 planes shot down (+18)
• 455 planes destroyed on the ground (+7)
• 38 planes destroyed by flak (+4)
• 253 planes lost due to accident and wear (+40)


Top 20 Air Losses by Type

• 155x P-40B Tomahawk (+1)
• 120x Hurricane (+7)
• 102x Buffalo
• 89x Whirraway
• 87x Hudson (+10)
• 84x P-40E Warhawk (+2)
• 78x Brewster 339D
• 51x PBY Catalina (+4)
• 43x B-17 Flying Fortress (+6)
• 42x Martin 139
• 38x SB-2c
• 32x Blenheim IV (+3)
• 31x P-39D Airacobra (+4)
• 29x Blenheim I (+4)
• 28x CW-21B Demon
• 27x P-36A Mohawk
• 27x C-47 Dakota (+3)
• 25x F4F-3
• 25x LB-30 Liberator (+2)
• 25x Catalena I (new addition)

The heavy loss due to wear and tear are due to the heavy use of airplanes in Burma on combat missions. The types of planes suffering these losses -- B-17s, C-47s, Hudsons, Blenheims -- are all plane types being heavily used in the India/Burma campaign. The only method we have available for reducing these losses is to quit using these airplanes. That seems like a less than ideal way to win a war.


Airplane Shortages

I have mentioned before the airplanes that we have shortages in. I thought, this time, I would tell you how great our shortages are -- how many airplanes I need just to bring existing squadrons up to full strength.

In this report, I will give this week's number before the airplane type, showing last week's number in parentheses after the aircraft type.

• 11x Brewster 339D (16)
• 19x Buffalo I (24)
• 51x Catalina I (48)
• 12x Martin 139 (14)
• 07x P-26A (10)
• 66x P-36A (66)
• 25x P-39D Airacobra (21)
• 87x P-40B Tomahawk (92)
• 33x P-40E Tomahawk (40)

The situation has somewhat improved since my previous correspondence. However, at this rate, it will still be a very long time before we have all of the fighters that I was originally promised to this theater.


Damage Inflicted

Military intelligence estimates the losses suffered by the Japanese to be the following

Enemy Naval Losses: 15 ships

This includes 1 enemy submarine sunk in the past week.

• 1x Destroyer
• 9x Submarines

• 1x Minelayer
• 2x Minesweeper
• 1x Cargo ship
• 1x Troop transport

Enemy Air Losses:

These, of course, are approximations.

Air to air combat: less than 200+
Flak: 120
Destroyed on the field: 40+

The successful attack on the Nate squadrons at Mandalay today was the major contributor to the increase in Japanese losses due to air-to-air combat and on the ground.


Summary By Region

North Pacific

"Horseshoe"

CV Enterprise and CV Hornet are on the last day of their journey to Paramushiro Jima. Tomorrow, I will be reporting the effects of their attack -- provided that the weather allows them to have an attack.

• Kiska: Near the tip of the Aleutian Islands, MSW Oriole has just returned from its most recent mission to the Kurile Island, where it once again reported that it was possible to get to the Kuriles without being spotted by air. The island is also mined.

• Amchikita: 250 miles east of Kiska, AVD Gilles and VP-41 (12x PBY) to patrol the approaches to Alaska.

• Dutch Harbor: 400 miles east of Amchikita, 26,000 troops + 1200 combat infantry. 24x obsolete fighters. 32x Bombers.

• Kodiak: 350 miles northeast of Dutch Harbor; 20,000 troops + 2300 combat infantry.

• Anchorage: 4600 troops. Canada has leant the 13th Canadian Brigade to help in the defense of Anchorage. However, the unit is traveling over land from Canada and has several weeks to go.

• Nome: 6000 troops + over 1100 combat infantry.


Central Pacific

Japan holds Guam, Wake, and Baker Islands. Nothing else that started in Allied control (with the exception of Pearl Harbor on December 7th) has even been subject to attack.

Engineers have built a crude port and airstrip at French Frigate Shoals and on Laysan Island (400 miles southeast of Midway). These airstrips will allow us to ferry shorter-range aircraft from Hawaii to Midway.

There are about 96,000 troops on the Hawiian Islands themselves (from Big Island to Lihu), with garrisons at Pearl, Hilo, Kona, and Lahina and Lihu. The 27th USA Infantry Division is on Big Island. The 102nd USA Regimental Combat Team now occupies Lihu, 100 miles west of Pearl Harbor. These units will prevent Japan from easily landing on these islands and threatening Pearl Harbor.

Palmyra: 16,500 troops, 24x fighters, 56x bombers, 12x Patrol planes, 1100+ mines

Christmas Island: 24,000 troops plus 1900 combat infantry. 16x bombers. 12x Patrol planes. 500 mines.

Nimitz has made the decision to occupy Jarvis Island, a small island about 250 miles southwest of Chrismas Island. Its purpose is to give a little more protection across the gap from Christmas Island to Canton Island or to Pago Pago (if Canton Island should fall to the Japanese). Its purpose is to add one more headache to any Japanese attempt to capture the Line Islands -- the chain that includes Palmyra and Christmas Islands.

Johnson Island: 4,700 troops. This island is also at risk. With a fairly well developed airfield, it would be useful for Japan to keep Hawaii in check. It needs reinforcements.


South Pacific

Japan occupies Nanomea Atoll and the Santa Cruz Islands (or, at least, Utupau at the center of the Santa Cruz Islands)

Nanomea is a small island sits about 600 miles south of Apamama and Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands. In the past week, Halsey sent a small collection of cruisers to Nanomea twice to disrupt Japanese activities there. The damage was minor though, hopefully, it will have an effect on the morale of the Japanese high command, and make them more hesitant.

• Canton Island: 15,000 troops, 30x fighters, 40x bombers, 12x patrol planes. Transport ships are again visiting this island without any hindrance from Japan. Supplies are plentiful as a result.

Military intelligence has been giving some thought to how Japan would move to take possession of the South Sea Islands. A likely line of attack would be to take Canton Island, thus cutting off the rest of the islands (forcing supplies to go around and preventing allied ships from having direct access to a major base).

For this reason, orders have gone out to help Canton Island fortify itself. TF1337 was just 400 miles away from Pago Pago when the 19th USA Engineering Regiment when our discussions ended. Halsey ordered the engineers to Canton Island to help that island prepare its defenses.

Canton island cannot hold many more soldiers. However, at least none that are there will find it easy to actually use those facilities.

• Samoa (Pago Pago): 24,500 troops split between American Samoa (14,500) and British Samoa (10,000). Also, holds the fighter, bomber, and torpedo squadrons of CV Saratoga while that carrier undergoes repairs for a torpedo hit at Pearl Harbor. Added to this, the islands have 12x Patrol Planes, 21x Fighter, and 16x Bomber.

Pago Pago has fewer soldiers than it had on the last report because of a decision to occupy Wallis Island to the northwest about 400 miles. Units of the 2nd USMC Division left Pago Pago to occupy this island. Pago Pago has the 102nd Regimental Combat Team to protect it.

• Tongatapu: 3,800 troops, plus 60x bombers flying ASW missions along the route from Samoa to Fiji, and 12x patrol planes carrying out reconnaissance.

• Wallis Island, northeast of American Samoa. 2000 troops belonging to the 2nd USMC Division.

• Fiji: 13,800 troops (New Zealand), 70x bombers. 30x patrol planes.

The strength defending this island has decreased because of the threat to New Caledonia discovered over a week ago.

I was looking over the South Sea Islands and started to look at the map under the assumption that Japan occupied the New Hebrides Islands as well as New Caledonia. I asked myself to consider the best line of advance, and discovered that Efate was the best place for an additional island. It is the only island in this chain that would be within the range of bombers flying from an allied base.

I mentioned to Nimitz the idea that the first base we would land on should be the last base we are driven out of. We should move our resources to Efate.

Another argument for defending Efate was that New Caledonia is large. It is not possible to protect the whole coastline. As a result, Japan can land without opposition, rest, and move on the capital over land. On Efate, Japan cannot get to the shore without facing defensive guns.

As a result, Halsey has ordered the transfer of Hobart Coastal Artillery Regiment from new Caledonia to Efate, by air and by sea (whichever is the most practical). In addition, the First New Zealand Cavalry Brigade is being listed from Suva in Fiji to Efate before the Japanese can get there.

• New Caledonia: 4,000 troops, 1 squadron of Hudson bombers. Reinforcements for the island, which is calling itself the Americal Division, is about 600 miles northeast of American Samoa on its way to New Caledonia. If they can arrive on time, they can go to work fortifying New Caledonia. However, we do not know how much time the Japanese are going to give us.


Southwest Pacific

Japan has taken all of the Solomon Islands and all of New Guinea including Port Moresby, except for a small number of scattered bases that will fall under Japanese influence quickly enough.

Port Moresby fell to the Japanese today.

• 7th Australian Division: The 7th Australian Division will arrive this week (on Thursday, if I remember correctly). It can be immediately transferred to ships in the local theater and sent to help defend New Caledonia.

• Australian Navy: North Coast. CL Boise is the only allied surface ship left in the waters north of Australia. It was only here because it was too badly damaged to go anywhere. Many of those damages have been patched, and Boise will soon take its poor battered body to Perth.

• Supplies: A steady stream of supplies and reinforcements is nearing Australia. Even if it is cut off by the Japanese occupation of New Caledonia, Australia will have a healthy stockpile of supplies. It will be able to execute a war against the Japanese, if they invaded, without much risk that they will run out of supplies. In the mean time, the British continue to supply Australia from the west through the Indian Ocean.

• Air Power: The Ships from the United States have also brought four fighter groups; three with P-39D Airacobras and 1 with P-40s. It also imported the 24th Fighter Squadron from the Philippines, as well as the Dutch air force. This gives Japan a sizable air force to deal with in case of an invasion.


ABDA Command

Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Sulawesi, all are occupied by Japan. The Allies have Timor and a few smaller islands.

• Timor Timor has been largely abandoned, except for a token force at Koepang, on the western tip, and a small garrison of 10 fighters and a like number of bombers. Koepang is significantly short of supplies. There is no expectation of holding the island. As soon as the Japanese show up in force, the defenders will, as much as possible, retreat to the mainland.

• Aru Island: As mentioned above, this has proved to be a bad idea. Japan moved on Bali with a force of 45,000 soldiers, all landing in 1 day. If they do the same to Aru Island, it will quickly fall. Rather than risk the loss of another group of soldiers trapped, we are withdrawing units from this island. Soldiers are being moved off by seaplane to Port Moresby.


Burma

Japan occupies all of Burma.

Allied units, including nine Chinese "Divisions" and the whole of the British army in Burma minus one air force sergeant, are marching out of the jungle to India.

This has turned the battle in Burma into an air war. We are flying regular missions against the Japanese forces at Myitkyina to good effect. Strategic bombing has left the region around Pagan a near wasteland of no practical use to Japan. It has taken similar action against potentially useful resources around Taung Gyi, to somewhat less effect.

The Indian air force is making no attempt to tackle the Japanese Zero. Thus, the area around Rangoon remains safe. Allied bombing missions are focusing instead on northern and central Burma.


Ceylon

The British have over 40,000 troops on Ceylon -- including the 18th UK Division -- to resist any Japanese invasion of this island. They also have 10x fighters and 70x bombers, and 12x patrol planes stationed on the island, with 20x more fighters at nearby Madras.

As is being done elsewhere, engineers are focusing on fortifying their positions rather than building infrastructure. Once the fortifications are in place, the infrastructure will be built up behind them.

There are troops stationed at every port on the east shore of India -- including (from south to north) 7,000 at Mannargudi, 3,500 at Madras, and 2,500 at Yanam.


China

Japanese forces finished their project of clearing the Shanghai-Hanoi railroad a couple of weeks ago. It then moved its main army north, and launched a campaign that drove through Homan and took the town of Sian.

In doing so, Japan has captured approximately half of the Chinese war factories that China had available on December 7th. The only source of complex manufactured war material will have to be flown in from India.

The AVG and the bulk of the Chinese air force has moved to Yunan to protect the airfields there from Japanese assaults. Those airfields will be used to receive supplies from India.


Closing Comments

These weekly reports leave me exhausted. If you should find a group of strange letters in the middle of one of these reports, it is because I fell asleep and my head hit the keys. But, I hope you find it useful. At least you know that you never have to go far to catch up with what has happened.

Tomorrow, "Horseshoe" launches. The forecast is for rain. Hopefully, there will not be so much rain that we cannot launch our planes against the island. I am going to be camped at the radio tomorrow waiting for the results.


Thayne




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