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cdoarm -> RE: Human Sacrifice (Reluctant Admiral 6.6) - Erkki (J) vs. Iroquois (A) <No Erkki> (5/5/2014 1:49:40 AM)
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30 DECEMBER 1941
Japanese Forces are in the middle of their second massive push into the DEI. The Allied collapse in Malaya and Philippines begins.
North Pacific: New units flowing into Anchorage and expect another ten days of consolidation before transfer to the Aleutians. Engineers are already present at Adak Island and building Airfield. Pace of construction in the Aleutians will increase in January ’42.
West Coast: Quiet given the first major convoy is away. The wave of US Army reinforcements assigned to homeland defense has been dispersed to suitable positions and those forces identified for overseas duty have been moved to San Francisco and Seattle. Yorktown CV has arrived and will move to San Francisco to await repairing Battleships and the next major convoy to Pearl.
Central Pacific: Relatively quiet. US CVs and BBs raided Wake Island and inflicted moderate damage. Raid TF is in the process of returning to Pearl Harbor where the two US CVs will be joined by the Saratoga. There will be a short refit period and then I will begin a general fleet movement towards Australia (CVs, BBs and supporting units) into order to check the Japanese advance, which has become to pick up steam. Sub bases at Midway and Canton have been established and subs have already begun to operate from them. Japanese subs are pretty thick in the waters and despite intensive ASW efforts, only managed to sink one sub. On the other hand, I have been managing the convoy paths into PH bringing each TF in on a different approach (the Saratoga CV TF hit the IJN sub screen and went due south and came in from the south). It has added a couple of days of transit on each TF but I have only lost one AK around PH.
South Pacific: I have begun to build up Efate, Espirtu Santu and New Calidonia (Noumea). There has been some IJN sub activity around Suva but otherwise there hasn’t been any serious activity beyond a Japanese landing at Tarawa.
Southwest Pacific: Japanese have landed and seized Rabual and Kaviang which proved to be a costly landing when the A24s damaged two heavy cruisers. Japanese CVs were spotted operating IVO Truk and points southeast but otherwise they haven’t moved further south. Sub activity has increased around Horn Island and off Gilli Gilli and there has been several sub engagements but thankfully, about half of the Japanese torpedoes have been duds (including 2 against the CL Perth!). Reinforcements from PH (planes and troops) are about three weeks out so if the Japanese make a huge push for Port Moseby in that timeframe, I won’t be able to stop it (nor would I seriously contest it). The Charlotte CVL and US/Dutch CA/CL TF which was operating in the DEI is transferring to this area (currently transiting the straits) and after a short refit/repair shift in Brisbane/Sydney will be ready to join Australian/NZ Navy. This will have to do until the US Fleet transfers to Australia in late January 42.
DEI: The expected invasion of Palemberg came and essentially it was a walkover. The Charlotte CVL TF conducted its second raid about three days in advance of the invasion but after a disastrous encounter between the Charlotte’s DBs and Oscar CAP over Singkawang (lost/damaged 12 DBs) and subsequent chase and evasion from IJN BB TF, the Charlotte was withdrawn. Dutch subs managed a few unsuccessful engagements and the Dutch Air Force was completely ineffective, losing over two dozen AC for two minor hits. 4 TKs (3 of which had been damaged earlier) were destroyed and Palemberg was taken. The Japanese did lose the CL Kuma and a pair of APs to mines at Palemberg but that was the extent of damage. I have moved out all significant naval assets (except for subs) from the western DEI given the heavy IJN presence (including CVs and BBs) and have moved all Dutch Army units to the beaches of Java in order to make the initial landings as costly as possible. The IJN hasn’t made any significant moves in the eastern DEI in the past ten days and have transferred some surviving B17 units from the PI to Darwin and have A24s at key points. There are two small DD TFs ready to check any advances. Previous landings in the region have been very light on escorts so I think I may have opportunity to spring a surprise, at least until Java falls and then all bets are off.
Philippines: Disaster has struck and the lines have been broken. The defensive line at San Fernando and Lingayen was rapidly broken in 3 days of fighting that routed the PI units at a loss of 6000 casualties. Forces at Mauben, Lucena and Bayombong are in the process of being pulled back and while I expect the get the first two back to Manila, I don’t have high hopes that I will be able to get the 8,000 troops at Bayombong back to Manila prior to being cut off. The Air squadrons in the PI have pretty much been chased from the air and have pulled B17 and PBYs out. The IJA has pretty much taken all the significant points on Mindanao and Palawan. I expect that Luzon will be completely taken over by the end of January 42 at this current rate and then the rest of the PI will be picked off at Erkki’s leiasure.
Malaya and SE Asia: More bad news as the IJA breaks the defensive line at Kuala Lumpur with surprising ease. The loss of KL makes the stronger position at Temuloh untenable and in the process of withdrawing the second line at Mersing and depending on the rate of IJA advance, may bypass to the third line at Johore Bahru. I expect that the rate of collapse will be slower in Malaysia than in the PI but the next couple of days will be critical in staying ahead of the IJA advance. The Japanese Air Forces have been keeping up a pretty steady stream of air attacks in the Singapore region and I have begun to evacuate Allied air out. The surviving Blenheims and Hudsons have been evacuated to Burma and I have evacuated fighters to Sumatra where I have AKs on standby to get them out. In Burma, the first IJA advance has reached Moulmein where I have the 1st Burma Division, checking the advance. I am building a second line east of Rangoon just in case Moulmein becomes untenable. Burma’s fate will largely hinge on those forces in Malaysia but for the time being, the situation there is stable.
China: The good news was the IJA was turned back sharply at the first battle of Changsa with over 8000 casualties, pretty much the only point which there has been good news. The IJA has been pushing hard in the north and south and have cut off some Chinese forces in the coastal plains. I am in the process of moving a third of the forces at Changsa towards the southern front, the area which is most in need.
Further Thoughts: It appears that I have miscalculated my positions in Malaysia and the PI. Rather than turtling up in Manila or Singapore, I made an attempt to actively defend and now may lose the PI/Malaysia quicker than I would otherwise. The armies committed to those efforts, once released, will be used in Burma/India and other locations. It is not all bad news. The IJN CVs have been hanging back, covering invasions but have not been ranging forward causing havoc. I have a moderately strong position in the eastern DEI and southern Burma. Both will crumble under sustained pressure but for the time being, they will hold.
Losses on the sea have been 167 to 11. The number isn’t particularly eye raising (besides the initial sub losses at Manila). The only fleet unit lost has been the CL Marblehead and none damaged. The vast majority of the ships lost have been the tiny tramp freighters and passenger ships in the PI and DEI. I am not really worried about it.
Air Losses have been eye raising, 499 to 227. Given that I tried to fight in the PI and Malaysia, 499 is probably about right. If January’s losses match Decembers, than I will begin to worry. I expect to lose another chunk when IJN/A invades Java, but otherwise I plan on being a bit more careful with the air.
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