RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (Full Version)

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1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/15/2016 9:11:39 PM)

Frank is awakened at 3 am.

So here it is, the crises..........nothing is ever good when the Prime Minister
is woken at 3 am.

For a moment he sits on the side of the bed, his wife still snoring beside him.
he's never been bloody any good at this hour.

"Ök, I'll take the call""
"Prime Minister speaking"
Its one of the Chiefs of staff........, sounding panicked.
"Its an invasion!.......Port headland has fallen, Broome too!"

Ok, not so unexpected.........

"Thankyou.........."
"What are we going to do?"
"Me, I am going back to bed, we can speak in the morning"

After all, what else can he bloody do?



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/15/2016 9:18:42 PM)

11 March

John is busy.
Bloody busy

Sweat is forming on his back, he can feel his whites beginning to stick.
Convoy escort is one thing, this is an entirely different matter.

The Task force has sailed, and HMAS Hobart's Commander is a stickler for formation.
His Signal light flashes: " Napier to take position 1000 yards my port bow"
.
Over there?, damn!

"With permission sir?"
"Yes"
"Port 20!, revolutions 270!"

Busy, demanding, yes.
But better than any convoy escort duty.

1000 yards of Hobarts port Bow........or from another perspective, 1000 yards of Enterprise's......



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/15/2016 9:23:11 PM)

11 March

From
Commander Eastern Command, India
to
Prime Minister

We now have radio intelligence of 2 divisions, the Imperial Guard, and the 4th, at sea
planning for attacks on the southern coast/Colombo

American air reinforcements are arriving.
have ordered 1st Australian corp to entrain

Have also considered the risk, and begun to strip Northern Burma Border, sending all
available troops to South West corner of India.
Believe we can give Japs here a good show.




1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/17/2016 12:26:35 AM)

March 12th

The Japanese consolidate at Broome, and at Port headland. At port headland they appear to
be getting ready to stay, several construction units,(and we know how valuable they are for
japan) are part of the invasion.

14 unescorted Nells attack Port Moresby
The newly arrived P40E's are not piloted by the most experienced pilots by a long shot,
but they are good enough to knock all but one of them down.

They land part of a Naval guard unit at Saumaliki, north of Darwin. Finally one of
Blamey's traps is sprung, the Japanese find themselves facing 3 times their numbers, in bunkers deep
and extensive.

They are going to need a lot more men.




pontiouspilot -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/17/2016 12:37:46 AM)

I watched an interesting Aussie TV show on Smithsonian about Menzies who was Aussie PM through this time frame....the show done by Aussie equivalent of PBS as I recall. He spent a great deal of time in Britain during the war...he on British War Cabinet. He had a tough time with Churchill. He also was much criticized for being out of country.



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/17/2016 12:46:53 AM)

March 12th
Near Charter towers airfield

Margaret sits, as she know often does in the evenings, in the cool shade of one of the
gardens giant trees. She has no idea what type of tree it is, she just knows it
must be at least a 100 years old, planted by pioneers long, long gone.
In these long warm evenings, she is grateful.
The days have been flowing, as in a fog. There is a small showing now, (but she could be
imagining it) from the child growing inside, and that must be faced one day.
But not today.
Right now, a million miles, another world away from the hard streets of Sydney harbour, of the slums
and tenements, there is peace, security.

It will be alright.
It must be.

She has discovered Dickens.
And even though she struggles with some of the language, something about it appeals to her.

From the airfield, hidden over the slight rise of the paddocks, a new roar drift across the
brown grass, taking her away from the book.
She listens carefully.
She can tell the difference now before the planes leave the field, sweep over the homestead.
The snarling roar of the fighters, the beat of twin engine, twin tailed bombers

Sometimes the pilots of the fighters can even been seen, one, she thinks, even makes a point of waving.
But this noise is different.

Deeper, heavier..



And there is more than one.

It comes over the rise, directly at the house, probably at 500 feet, looking a lot, lot
lower. The roar is tremendous
Four engines, a glass nose, glittering Perspex, a giant tail, and guns pointing
out every where.
The ground seems to shake, the world is noise, noise, noise.
And then another
And Another
And another, beating into the horizon.


Matron has joined her

"B17's dear.......you can read about them in the paper. Lets hope they give the Japs some currie hey"

Charters Towers, in the middle of no where. Now, it seems, in the middle of everything.



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/17/2016 12:56:06 AM)

March 12th
Evening
Parliament house


The Speaker of the house enters the Leaders of the oppositions
office as he always does- unseen.
"Well Tony, that was interesting"
Jim pours the Scotch. "Yes, Port Headland, Broome both lost, and Nary a mention to the public"
"Would you?"

Would I?. Tony considers the question.
Politically.....probably not. But for the Nations sake?

He cannot answer, instead sips his drink, lets the Speaker break the silence
"The whole bloody country is asleep. Do you know what the headlines were about in Melbourne today?
football, Collingwood, and its bloody coach.......whats it going to take to mobilise
the bloody people?"

Tony, again, cannot answer that.
The Loss of Brisbane and everything North of it perhaps?



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/17/2016 1:03:21 AM)

March 13th


Westralia enters the gulf of Alaska.
Enterprise marks time in the Northern reaches of the Indian ocean.
Napier occupancies her
232 Squadron rests in Calcutta (Squadron Leader Graham learns the perils of currie)

All battleships reach dock.

Currently I have just one available, Idaho.

CICPAC "seeks urgent reinforcement"


Through out India, final preparations for its defence are decided upon. But will Japan
give eastern Command time to full fill them?




1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/18/2016 6:45:37 AM)

March 14th

The speaker of the house bangs his Gavel strongly.
Across the great dispatch desk, the boxes, two men eye each other.
Battle has been opened.
"The leader of the opposition has the floor"
"Thank you Mr Speaker, I direct my Question to the Prime Minister"

The house, this most vocal of arena's, falls into a hush. Not a member here in all these seats
is unaware of what is coming.

"Sir, in light of your repeated declarations that Australia will never be invaded,
what, if I may ask, is your Government's reaction to reports that Japanese Troops have
landed at Broome, and Port Headland?"

Tony stares hard at the Prime Minister. Take that, you barsted, wiggle out of this.
What you would do for the 7th Division now?

The Prime Minister stands.
But he will not look Tony in the eye
"Mr Speaker.....Mr Speaker, Australia has not been invaded....."
Uproar!
......."this is nothing more than a raid by Japan, a raid, I assure this Parliament, the
people of Australia, that imperils little, achieves little.......will end in a great many
dead Japanese......Mr speaker!, Mr speaker... (shouting now to be heard over the din)
we have nothing to fear.............."'



Meanwhile, Port Moresby sends 18 P40e to sweep Lae
They lose 2, shoot down 5 zeros.
B17's again bomb Rabual.







1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/18/2016 6:51:35 AM)

14th march
From
Prime Minister
to
General Blamey

......is there not anything you can do?
Two Australian towns, lost!
What next?



From
Blamey
To
Prime Minister


I am currently engaged in a fight to the death at Saumalika . The Japanese gather strength
at Rabual, with Port Moresby the obvious target.

I have sent for the nearest reinforcements I am willing to spare, and they reside in Tasmania!

I would remind you, we have a full Corp in India, a fat lot of good its doing me! You promised
American reinforcements.............





If General Blamey wants command of the soon to be formed South West pacific Command,
he is not making many friends on the way............



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/19/2016 7:15:51 AM)

March 15th

USS Enterprise

LT Jackson reads the signal in his hand.
More bloody dynamite. Another fire under Halsey's arse.

The Admiral has needed a direct order from Kimmel not to move south of his present
position.
No Matter what.
For the most aggressive man at sea, this has been sheer torture.
Torture that inevitably spreads to his staff.

Jackson takes a big breath, moves out to the bridge wing....
standby for broadsides........

"signal traffic sir"
The Barsted is actually thriving on this, does he ever get tired?
"Give it to Me Jackson, more crap from Kimmel?"

Jackson tries to ignore the barb, he reads the first:
Enemy jake floatplane sighted 200 miles north Diego Garcia......possible cruiser plane'
Halsey remains silent. Jackson races to the next, yes, everyone wants to race south
to engage what ever lurks there.
"Second signal .......elements of Imperial guard division placed at sea, enroute Vizapatnam"

Halsey turns away, contemplates the Aussie ships out on Enterprises flank.
"Call up the Tankers, what ever happens, lets not get caught short"



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/19/2016 7:17:32 AM)

From
General Short
to
1st Australian Corp and all attached units.

All units to entrain immediately, an to prepare to move to Vizapatan as soon as possible.



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/19/2016 7:27:56 AM)

15 march

"General Blamey?"

With a start he awakens. 3 am. Still bloody hot.
"yes?""
"Signal from Eastern Command.......the enemy at Port Headland are supported by carriers. Also
we have intel that a very large formation of ships has passed through Sunda straight"

"Thankyou"

Blamey lies back down.

Alright....to him the enemy strategy is clear.....
How to counter it?

How I always counter things like this.

Energised, he climbs from his stretcher, pokes his head out from his tent
"Signals!"

Out of the dark, as expected, an answer
"Sir!"
"Tell me how in the hell I can get CICPAC, we need to talk!




1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/19/2016 7:34:39 AM)

16th March
4th marine defence battalion loses men as an APD is sunk by a SS in Alaska bay.
Westralia battles terrible seas moving slowly West across Alaska Bay.

Napier refuels in the Indian ocean, taking fuel from Enterprise.
The allies attack at Saumaliki, and savage the Japanese. They have 4 to 1 advantage in troops.

Akyab falls.



The allies are not being passive
In the coral sea, 2 cruisers, 2 destroyers, and a fat AK sail from Townsville
Rabual is filling with ships.
Tankers amongst them.

What a lovely target they would make.



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/20/2016 7:07:05 AM)

17th March

A dozen or so Bettie bombers impale themselves on Calcutta's air defences.
The Killers are P40e's.
A clue to what is waiting in India should the Japanese come.

In North Eastern China, on the road to Lanchow, a good sized Japanese force has been
advancing, sweeping north of Sian.
They are in trouble, Chinese forces have cut them off.

CA Salt lake city takes a Nell Torpedo whilst operating south of Milne bay.
Westralia moves to full speed, racing for Kodiac.

Frustratingly, no less than 6 allied SS attack today, for nil results.




1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/20/2016 7:29:07 AM)

17 March

The White house

The President scans his Joint Chiefs.
The table they sit about is very large, the single sheet of paper sitting upon it
seemingly lost in its vastness.

But the implications of the paper..........
Large
Very large

"What do you think Gentlemen?......any one throw some light on this Blamey?

It is King who answers. "A mixed reputation. Terrible personality, hated by many of his troops,
absolutely no feel for men. However........"
"There's a however?, sounds to me he should not have command of a Company, let alone a Theatre of
war"
".....however, when it comes to grand strategy, and sheer audacity, he might just be the man
in the Pacific"

Another General speaks, "Audacious is hardly the word, shouldn't a request like this come
from the Australian Prime Minister, what's his name?, instead of his Generals?"

The President nods in agreement "Normally, yes. However, right now Prime Minister Ford is
welded to a no invasion possible, reality be damned"
He takes up the paper
"So Gentlemen, what do you recommend, what about it?"


From
CICPAC
to
Joints Chiefs

For Info
Received the following today, for comment, and guidance

{I tend to agree with many points. Will travel immediately to Washington to discuss}


A situation appraisal

Japan is about to launch a FULL SCALE invasion of Australia's West coast
They MAY also be about to land Southern India (although I feel this is a decoy)

The Japanese fleet, carriers in Particular (less CAR DIV 5) is operating in the Indian ocean
Anything WEST of Adelaide, is going to be LOST.
However, we have sufficient forces on East coast to deploy.

Proposal:
There are 2 full divisions at Pearl
Another at Suva
Equivalent of another in ANZAC forces in SW pacific
release these as soon as possible, and commence immediate offensive SOLOMONS, target
Tulgia, Guadacanal.

I believe that ..............



LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/20/2016 11:39:18 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

It is King who answers. "A mixed reputation. Terrible personality, hated by many of his troops,
absolutely no feel for men. However........"



LOL! Of all people, it is King who advances such an assessment? Now that is funny!



kaleun -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/20/2016 3:07:19 PM)

The best defense is a good offense[X(]



HansBolter -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/20/2016 3:10:36 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget


quote:

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

It is King who answers. "A mixed reputation. Terrible personality, hated by many of his troops,
absolutely no feel for men. However........"



LOL! Of all people, it is King who advances such an assessment? Now that is funny!



Takes one 'right SOB for the job' to recognize another. [:D]



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/21/2016 6:09:35 AM)

18 MARCH 1942

Heavy Cruiser Astoria steams hard across a dead calm sea.
Some where , hopefully a 1000 yards behind her, Destroyer Kennion.
The word Hopefully is used purposely.
Astoria steams hard into a pitch dark night, moonless, and now lashed by heavy rain.
Milne Bay is 100 miles south of her, dawn 6 hours away.

And somewhere, coming south, a Japanese task force spotted yesterday.


There are transports unloading at Milne Bay, and, (again hopefully) another allied ship needing
every decoy and distraction she can get.

Astoria's crew are closed up, the guns are manned, Look outs doubled.

They never see Chokai, never get a shot away.
Three torpedoes slam with out warning into her flank, a hail of shells scream out of the dark

She, and her crew die , never understanding what the hell they were doing here in the first place.



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/21/2016 6:14:36 AM)

18th March
2 hours later, having avoided the disaster, Destroyer Kennion moves into rescue the survivors, the few that there are,
her searchlights vainly seeking signs of life.

Chokai, and 3 destroyers attack.
Kennion too, will die.

Chokai however, will reel away, an American fish achieving what Astoria could not.

Kennion's crew, too, will die wondering.

500 miles away, at Rabual, their lost lives do amount for something..........



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/21/2016 6:27:29 AM)

18th march

Dawn
Rabual harbour

Destroyer Le Triomphant.
38 knots.
38 knots. I think only destroyer men can understand what that figure means.
The vibration, the hissing seas, the wind, the noise, the rooster tail.....

Things happen fast at 38 knots.

The lean grey ship literally skids through the harbour mouth, and there are too
many targets, too many fat glorious targets to count.

A small patrol craft.....trying to come about.
A salvo, it explodes, sinks
Guns swing, and the first fat Tanker, the first Replenishment ship, AO Nippon Maru, is
on the destroyers flank....and moments later, it is sliding astern, riddled, burning, burning.

The Captain swings Le Triomphant full rudder, she heals, heals, men slide, water piles up her flank,
helm hard the other way, another AO, Kokoyo maru, the guns bark, hit, hit, hit,
another patrol boat, hit KAARBANG!!, debris, and ANOTHER AO, hit, hit, hit, goodbye Kenyo maru, burn you
Barsted burn!, VIV LA FRANCE!


And as fast as she appears, she is out of the harbour, heading south, a column of smoke 5 miles high
marking her triumph.

And Cruiser Chokai bars her way.

Almost with disdain the destroyer twists, turns, speeds away,
39 knots now.

And if skipper wants, Engines says he can give him more.



LargeSlowTarget -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/21/2016 10:47:10 AM)

Formidable - de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace ! Vive la France libre, vive la France combattante !



HansBolter -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/21/2016 10:51:59 AM)

I really, really love those fast French DDs.

In Focus Pacific you get a whole bunch more including some with top speeds of 43 knots.



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/22/2016 6:46:28 AM)

18th march

Westralia slips alongside Kodiac.
Grim men quickly manoeuvre the gangways into place, and the military police begin to
hustle the trucks.
Within 15 minutes, men and equipment begins to disgorge from her holds

The men of Jeffery's gun are fully stood too. Although overhead there seems to be
a constant allied air presence, everyone keeps scanning the sky anxiously.

And little wonder. Everywhere they look, burnt out buildings, the dark smudges in the snow
of still unfilled craters, wrecked guns, burnt out trucks. And in the harbour, a literal
forest of masts and funnels forlornly piercing the waters surface.

The carriers, which have inflicted so much of this damage, are reported at Unmak, and coming once again
east.
The men of this gun are cold. They are tired. They are even hungry. Everyone is.
But the very devil is nipping at their heels.
The work proceeds quickly.



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/22/2016 6:52:29 AM)

19 March

Fast troop ships land troops at Exmouth.
There are reports of a large task force near the Cocos islands .
Enterprises Pickets are snooped again neat Diego Garcia.

Small numbers of B17's strike Efate, Lunganville, Rabual
Hudsons sink 2 ships striking out from Darwin

Japan is operating large numbers of Kates from Umnak.



And radio intel places the 56th division at sea, target, Albany




1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/22/2016 6:58:06 AM)

20th march

An entire division, the 5th, lands on Cocos Island
No les then 7 Carriers are reported south of the island before it falls.

Radio intell again places troops at sea, target Koggolla

The Japs stall at Saumlaki, where Darwin Bombers again hit shipping

And the air war over PNG gets Nasty, Lae suddenly sprouts Zeros all over the place, the allies losing
6 fighters to 1

The Japanese are on the move. But what is the real deal, what is not?
And how in the hell to combat it?

There can be no half measures......



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/22/2016 7:20:52 AM)

20 March

From
General Smart, 1st Corp
to
Commander, Eastern Command India

1st Corp now in position Cocanada, ready for immediate action.


From
Commander, Eastern Army
to
Prime Minister

Winston

Well, as they say, in for a penny, in for a pound
I have literally stripped the Burma India border, other than the remains of the
original Burma division still south of the mountains.
Reinforcement of Koggolla continues apace.
The development of airbases in the South Western Corner of India is being pressed

This, of course, maybe the key

The American 2nd airforce command assets are fully in place, as they completely out number
our air assets here, I have given them a free hand on how to operate. I do not
think this will be an issue, CMDR Kenny shares the exact same attitude I do.
The Japs have got to be sunk coming ashore

With nearly 150 fighters ready to strafe , I have good confidence we can wet the pants of a few Japs.
Finally, significant naval forces are at sea, waiting.

Nevertheless, any form of reinforcement would be greatly appreciated.......



From
General Blamey
to
The Prime Minister

Sir.
The facts must be faced
The enemy are going to land at Perth, Albany, and invest Western Australia.

I Must point out that strategically, Perth is as far from the East Coast as Hawaii is from
San Francisco. If it falls, the Japanese can only use it as a base to move eastward, to support a
fleet operating in the bight.

It is vital that he gets no free hand by having minimal garrisons in the rear of his army
destruction of Perth Command will give him this.

Therefore I have ordered ALL forces in the West to concentrate in the rough country near Albany,
a dagger in his rear, safe from battleship bombardment.

I DO NOT intend to move ONE man west, not until his supply lines are stretched to the limit.
In fact, I intend to reinforce Port Moresby, and go on the offensive in the Solomon's, at first opportunity.

As for Darwin..........




From
Prime Minister Ford
To
General Blamey

You are to report, in Person, to Chiefs of staff, myself, at first opportunity

Perth is not, repeat, not to be evacuated.




From General Blamey
to
Perth Command

Continue concentration, Albany, until otherwise ordered.






1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/22/2016 7:23:06 AM)

From
POTUS
to
King


Intend to hold meeting, re deployment of Hawaii forces , tomorrow
Also, discussions on Command structure to be finalised.

( its getting to this, the Pearl harbour debacle, the public have decided either its my head, or Kimmels........



1275psi -> RE: Letters from a Prime Minister (1/22/2016 7:31:26 AM)

OK
step out of the story for a moment

That's up to date, re turns, which have been very slow

John is concentrating more on Canerbols game I think
I don't think he is enjoying this one as much, not enough toys, and I do not talk much, if at all, in my
E mails

However, I do think he likes to push the boundries, imagine being a scene 1 player who takes Australia,
and India.
I really hope he tries.
In all his games that are modded, there are always enough ships to
form multiple CV raiding/battle groups, to go all over the place
Scene 1, well, not quite so much.

That's what I am counting on

Next 2 weeks will I think, probably decide this war.......




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