Monday, March 9, 1942

Monday, March 9, 1942 (Full Version)

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Thayne -> Monday, March 9, 1942 (7/10/2005 6:43:15 PM)
Monday, March 9, 1942 Henry ”Horseshoe” The attack worked. At dawn, 72x SBD Dive Bombers, the full compliment available to CVs Enterprise and Hornet, attacked Paramushimo Jima at a range of 100 miles. The Japanese did not even see us coming. There were no signs of Japanese reconnaissance aircraft before the attack. We are quite sure that the first hint that Japan had that there were allied carriers in the area was when a flock of SBD Dive Bombers struck. The TBDs stayed behind looking for ships. With no ships in sight, they launched an afternoon attack against the island, inflicting a slight bit more damage. The mission cost us two dive bombers. I would call the attack only moderately successful. We inflicted some damage. However, it would be a gross exaggeration to say that we destroyed the base (though that is the version that will likely make it into the press). Our goal, however, was not destruction. It was to force the Japanese to recognize a particular vulnerability, to pull units north away from the battle zones in the South Pacific, Timor, Burma/India, and China. If Japan does not recognize a particular vulnerability, we will remind them again. The plan calls for sticking around for a day and attacking them tomorrow, then releasing the cruisers to shell the island while the carriers make their way back home. Since we know that there are coastal guns at Paramushiro Jima, we are not going to close enough to use the destroyers. We will keep our distance. However, the photographs from two days’ of aerial attacks should help us to ensure that those shells land with effect. So, three days’ worth of attacks are planned. The first day is done. Japan Occupies Luganville Japan is moving closer to New Caledonia, taking the port of Luganville on the island of Espritu Santo, today. This puts New Caledonia under the Japanese air umbrella. Task forces carrying reinforcements for the island can now be subject to Japanese air attack, and they have a base from which they can launch surface attacks against any ships in the area. This means that reinforcing our own base will now be a serious operation requiring naval-air and surface fleets in support. It appears that New Caledonia is lost to the Japan. As I wrote in my weekly report yesterday, I have asked the question, “If Japan takes these islands, and we were to move to retake them, then where would we attack first?” The answer is not New Caledonia, but Efete, northeast of New Caledonia and the only area fit for air and naval operations within range of land-based bombers at Fiji. Halsey is moving the Hobart Coastal Artillery Regiment from New Caledonia to Efete before the Japanese can get fully organized at Luganville. We have also loaded most of the 1st New Zealand Cavalry Brigade onto destroyers and sending them to Efete. B-17 bombers at Suva, on the Fiji Islands, can provide Efete with supplies. Another argument for moving to Efete is a phrase that keeps ringing through my head. “Be where they do not expect you.” Japan expects to find us at New Caledonia and is, no doubt, investing a great deal of time and effort planning to fight us there. It likes the idea of fighting us there because it would be easy to get on shore, and our coastal batteries will have no effect. It is also further away from any air support. The Japanese leadership will likely be surprised to find us on Efete. In that surprise, they are likely to make a mistake. Plus, they will not start making plans to dislodge us until they discover the ugly truth that we are present. This will buy us time and, perhaps, opportunity. With the possibility of New Caledonia in Japanese hands, we have to consider the possibility of Australia being cut off from supplies. It is better to start dealing with this issue sooner rather than later. The British are gathering all of the equipment that they can spare in India and sending it to Australia through Perth. The extra supplies, arriving sooner rather than later, will not hurt. On the American side, all convoys that have reached the waters around New Zealand are to continue on to Sydney. All convoys between New Zealand and American Samoa are to divert south to Wellington. All convoys between American Samoa and the US West Coast are to divert to Pearl Harbor and unload there. Later, when we have oilers available, we will organize a large convoy of tankers and cargo ships to sail a long southerly route to Australia. There are still a large number of supplies heading for Australia. Focus had been on sending as much supply there as quickly as possible in light of the possibility that it would be cut off. Individual ships have been sailing from India to Australia since January with full cargo loads. Japan has only cost us 6 transports and 2 tankers since the war began, so we are not hurting for shipping. This is not a crisis, regardless of what the Australians may think. The Burma Air War We continue to send raids against Japanese assets around Myitkyina, in northern Burma. There is still no resistance. I am beginning to wonder if the Japanese fighters are stretched a bit too thin, that it does not have the strength to cover all of our potential targets. We have been attacking Myitkyina for days. A Zero squadron showed up once, took some damage, and left again. The Nate squadron we mauled at Mandalay yesterday retreated to Rangoon. If the weather favors us, Hanoi, in the northern part of French Indochina, is within range of the LB-30 bombers. There is no evidence that it has any fighter cover. If we threaten strategic targets in Hanoi, I am wondering if Japan will have the air squadrons to cover that. Plus, there is Bangkok, Thailand. This is another potential target. Japan has not yet put up any fighters in defense of Baker Island in the South Pacific. Is it because they have no fighter squadrons to use? As I said, what would happen if we force the Japanese to spread their fighters out? I am trying to make sure that Japan recognizes that Rangoon and Mandalay are under threat. In addition to Myitkyina, B-17 bombers out of India attacked strategic targets around Taung Gyi again. They were met by a dozen Zeros flying out of Mandalay. Five crew members were killed or wounded, and the bombers missed their target. However, they did deliver the message that Japan cannot focus its fighters on Myitkyina alone. We will attack elsewhere. One place that I would like to attack near Rangoon. However, it is very well defended. Central Philippines Almost Entirely in Jap Hands After capturing Iloilo, the Japanese 3rd Engineer Regiment and 48th Infantry Division moved south to Cebu Island today. This is the last island that has any sizable defense. Japan is also moving forces to occupy the other ports in the central Philippines, and should have uncontested control of the whole region by the end of the week – other than whatever guerilla organizations we can organize and supply. Submarines will continue to be used to deliver explosives, guns, and ammunition to guerilla bands that are resisting the Japanese. However, there will be no more organized military resistance after this week, I fear. Future Operations Now that “Robin” and “Syringe” have ended “Paramushiro” is nearing its end, we are looking for the next operation. Halsey wants to retake either Baker or Nanoumea Atoll. He thinks that the Japanese are using these islands only as a buffer against the Gilberts, and that they do not even have a plan to hold the islands against a determined attack. They only seek to make us hesitate, while they fortify the Gilbert Islands without fear of attack. I do not like basing decisions on a mere guess. I want to find out what Japan is doing – what their plans are. One of my fears is that we will put soldiers on Baker Island, Japan will put up a tenacious fight, and we will be stuck there providing support while the Japanese military comes down on us like a hammer on an acorn. Though, the details have yet to be worked out, we are looking into an operation that will be named “Vortex”. It will involve 4 carriers carrying the air units of all 5 carriers while the fifth undergoes refit at Pearl Harbor. It will include a bombardment force, a minesweeping force, and even a mock landing force – a task force of empty troop transports. We will use these to launch a mock invasion of Baker Island in April, and we will see how Japan reacts. One of the objectives of this mission will be to reduce Baker Island to rubble. We will subject it to the full weight of our carrier air force. We will bombard the island with at least two battleships and a half-dozen cruisers. We will treat this like a real invasion, which means getting close enough to use the destroyers and even bringing the troop transports up close to the island. However, instead of landing troops, I hope to salt the ocean around Baker Island with hundreds of mines, making further relief from the Japanese navy a bit more difficult. After 2 or 3 days, we will withdraw, leaving a pile of ash where Baker Island once was, and collect information on which Japanese ships and planes moved where, from where, to respond to the attack. There is even hope that the attack will cause Japan to cancel existing plans and begin new ones, disrupting their time table. As I said, the details are not yet fixed. Halsey is arguing that we should bypass Baker and turn Tarawa into our pile of ash, and see how the Japanese would react to that. After all, Japan has no real assets on Baker Island. I am not ruling this out. I am also not ruling out the possibility that Japan would have made a move to capture Canton Island by the time “Vortex” is ready, and Canton Island may have to be our target island. There are a lot of details to work out. In the mean time, the only thing that is definite is that we have ordered all of the carriers except Saratoga into the South Pacific for the operation. We have until the carriers arrive to work out the details. Until later Thayne [image]local://upfiles/12310/0E502B3223324C639D578900446C65D2.jpg[/image]

Gen.Hoepner -> RE: Monday, March 9, 1942 (7/10/2005 7:15:27 PM)
Just to lines to express my feelings. This is one of the best readings i've ever seen about war. It's a masterpiece of war litterature, it's not an AAR. I wish i could write as you do. Keep on feeding our mind Thayne, please.

Thayne -> Delay Terminated (7/20/2005 4:30:25 AM)
Sorry for the delay. My computer got sick and required a transplant. It seems relatively healthy now. The AAR shall continue. And, Gen.Hoepner: I am most grateful for your comment. Thayne

Speedysteve -> RE: Delay Terminated (7/20/2005 1:53:45 PM)
We are waiting Thayne [8D]

Thayne -> Tuesday, March 10, 1942 (7/21/2005 7:51:17 AM)
Tuesday, March 10, 1942 Henry I had an image of our progress in this war, of a child throwing a rock in a raging river, and boasting that he had constructed a dam. Such is our effort to stop the Japanese. They were busy today. I received reports of a number of areas falling under Japanese control. For the most part, these were not minor and insignificant bases behind enemy lines that needed to be cleaned up. These were strategically important areas. • On Cebu Island in the Philippines, the last organized military unit surrendered to the 3rd Engineer Regiment and the 48th Division. • The 91st Naval Guards occupied Taytay on the eastern side of the Philippine Islands. • In the Dutch East Indies, Morotai was captured by the 9th Naval Landing Force. • The Japanese expansion now has moved into Timor. Today, the Yokosuka 2nd SNLF moved into Dili, in the central part of the island. • A large number of ships are heading towards Kupang. The forces we spotted make up a typical Japanese attack force; an air attack group, a surface attack group, and a landing force. • Thursday Island, just above the northeastern tip of Australia, fell to the Kure 3rd Naval Landing Force today. • Luganville, at Espritu Santo, came under the control of the 24th and 32nd Naval Landing Force ”Horseshoe” The weather in the North Pacific turned rotten yesterday, with an ice storm hitting both carrier task forces. A coating of ice kept most of the crew off the decks. This prevented them from launching a second day of attacks against the Japanese base at Paramushiro Jima. According to one message, the decks of the carriers were pitching so badly they were considering putting the planes on the deck, revving up the engines, and allowing the waves to throw them up into the air. Intelligence reports also indicate that the main objective of the mission has been achieved. Japan is moving a number of air units into the north Pacific – units that would have otherwise been available to its efforts further south. Unfortunately, this means that our carriers are at risk if we leave them there another day. Tonight, the cruisers Honolulu, St. Louis, Detroit, Raleigh, and Minneapolis will close with the island and shell it the planned third phase of the operations, while the carriers withdraw to Pearl Harbor. On the way south, the carrier forces will test the defenses of Marcus Island and Wake. They will attempt to approach the islands. If they can get close enough, they will attack. However, if there are signs that they are spotted, they will withdraw. North Pacific Pickets Established Admiral Nimitz has proposed, and I have agreed to, a set of pickets to patrol the north Pacific. The pickets will consist of a half-dozen small patrol boats (minesweepers or gunboats) sailing from Midway to Kiska Island and back again. Spaced some distance apart, the boats should be able to provide some warning against a possible Japanese carrier attack through the gap between these islands. The open ocean from Midway to the Aleutians have no islands that we can use to base land-based patrol planes. The Burma Air War Today’s body count in the Burma air war consists of 3x LB-30 bombers over Taung Gyi in central Burma, while shooting down 2x Japanese Zeros. The bomber raid targeted food processing plants in the city. Bomb damage assessment showed slight damage to some of the buildings. However, the targeted facilities remained substantially intact. Future raids are planned. The heavy bombers continue to be the best anti-fighter weapon we have in this war. We also continued our series of unopposed raids on Myitkyina. We continue to send raids against Japanese assets around Myitkyina, in northern Burma. Minor damage was inflicted to the airbase as well as anti-aircraft facilities near bridges south of the town. All things considered, we inflicted more damage than we took. However, at the start of this report, I mentioned the analogy to a boy throwing a rock in a river. I wonder if the small bits of damage we inflict on these raids even matter – or whether we are throwing innocent lives away and getting too little back in return for our efforts. Japanese Submarines Patrol India-Australia Shipping Route While Japanese forces attempt to block the flow of supplies to Australia on the east with the capture of Espritu Santo and, eventually, New Caledonia, Japanese submarines attempt to block the western route. Allied intelligence estimates at least three Japanese submarines are operating in these waters – all of them too far away from land for land-based anti-submarine efforts to have any effect. As a result, General Pownall has ordered a destroyer squadron into these waters to try to eliminate some of the submarines. Recall that we have decided to make a concentrated effort against the Japanese submarine force. This has been one of the few bright spots of the war. We have already sunk 9 Japanese submarines which, to the best of our ability to determine, is a significant portion of their submarine force. The complete collapse of the Japanese submarine force will allow our ships to move behind the lines at will, and prevent the Japanese from gaining information about our movements. More of the same tomorrow. I will let you know how the bombardment of Paramushiro Jima turns out, of course. Thayne [image]local://upfiles/12310/59FBB1DBA40D49B8AB7DE7349A94E841.jpg[/image]

Thayne -> Wednesday, March 11, 1942 (7/23/2005 7:24:59 AM)
Wednesday, March 11, 1942 Henry I have some good news, and some bad news. ”Horseshoe” The good news isn’t all that good, but it has some measure of satisfaction about it. Using information from aerial photographs from the one successful air attack against Paramushiro Jima, the northernmost island on the chain extending northeast out of the main Japanese islands, a set of cruisers approached the island at night. The cruisers Honolulu, St. Louis, Detroit, Raleigh, and Minneapolis all participated. Each cruiser was given a set of targets. The first targets were places suspected of holding large quantities of troops – barracks and mess halls. The idea was to hit these places, and disrupt the defenders on the island, before an alarm was sounded that allowed them to reach safety or their guns. The guns scored immediate and direct hits. There is every reason to believe that they inflicted heavy casualties. They then focused on the guns. Aerial reconnaissance had reported a number of batteries. The cruisers systematically targeted each of them with a few rounds. Military intelligence reports that over 20 guns were destroyed. One of the smaller caliber shore defenses managed to get the range on CL St. Louis. She was hit twice in the side, just below the waterline. The captain reported some scratched paint, but nothing more serious than this. Finally, the cruisers turned their guns on the island’s infrastructure. Secondary explosions and huge columns of smoke suggest that several shells hit ammunition stockpiles. There was one explosion in the region of the airport that lit up half the island and sent a ball of flame at least 1500 feet into the sky. The cruisers also targeted a refueling station at the port, hitting at least one fuel storage tank, given the huge column of black smoke and orange fire crawling up into the night sky. After consultation with Nimitz, we gave the order for TF1050 to return to the island. The destruction of the airfield and the lack of damage sustained on the first attack suggests that this will be safe. Besides, we have ships in the area. It is a lot more efficient to hit the island twice than to leave and come back later. Hopefully, this will make up for the lost second air strike. The carriers, CV Enterprise and CV Hornet, are heading toward Midway Island now. They will test to see how close they can get to Marcus Island and Wake Island along the way. The Burma Air War This is the bad news. Allied air squadrons ran into 2 Japanese Daitai flying cover over Myitkyina in northern Burma today: F2/Tainan Daitai and F1/Yamada Daitai. We lost 20x fighters and 14x bombers to the Japanese. Japan lost 2x Zeros. That is another 17:1 kill ratio against our airplanes. The lost fighter hurts. Remember that new entry in the weekly status report where I describe how understrength our air units are. Well, with 20 fighters being destroyed, the shortage of fighters for our air squadrons just got that much worse. Now, the presence of F1/Yamada Daitai represents something of a curiosity. This is the same unit that had been last seen practicing in northern Philippines. This suggests that these pilots are relatively green. We are going to watch these units and see if we can get them in some sort of trap. Mostly, we need to spread the fighters out so that we are not tackling all of them at one place. Therefore, tomorrow’s missions will aim for scattered targets. We are looking to attack Lashio, Myitkyina, Taung Gyi, as well as a night attack on Mandalay. We are looking at the possibility of an attack on Hanoi and/or Hyphong Harbor in northern Indochina using the LB-30 bombers. Hopefully, this will draw Japanese fighters back away from the Burma to defend these vital areas. After scattering the fighters apart, we hope to isolate F1/Yamada Daitai, and then hit it with the best fighters we have available. The Anti-Submarine Campaign We have three Japanese submarines targeted; two in the Indian Ocean and one in the Pacific off of San Francisco. Recall, I have spoken with all commands about a concentrated effort against Japanese submarine force. The most useful weapon in any war is information. Depriving Japan of a submarine fleet will mean depriving it of information. It will also mean that we can maneuver units behind our lines in relative safety. One of the Indian Ocean submarines is west of Ceylon. A walrus flying out of Ceylon reported sighting a Japanese ship. Pownall ordered all ships in the region equipped with the necessary armament to hunt down this submarine. The other Indian Ocean submarine is about 1000 miles southeast of Ceylon, far out of range lf land-based bombers. A merchant ship reported a Japanese submarine in these waters, though it did not attack. The destroyers are heading for those waters without any aerial protection to use. TF1029, with six destroyers, has been sent to investigate this sighting. The third Japanese submarine that has been spotted is northwest of San Francisco. It has almost certainly been the source of the airplanes that regularly scout San Francisco. TF1366 has been dispatched to take care of this threat. Attack on New Caledonia Underway Coastwatchers spotted Japanese troop transports heading through the central portion of the Solomon Islands. I strongly suspect that this is the force that has been given the task of taking New Caledonia. Meanwhile, the Japanese carrier force is almost certainly sitting in the waters south of the Southern New Caledonia islands. They are waiting to pick up the invasion force, I wager. Nimitz is busy transferring as many troops to Efete as possible. The Hobart Coastal Artillery Regiment is setting up its guns. Tonight, the 1st New Zealand Cavalry Brigade will be dropped off. This will turn Efete into a fairly well defended island. New Caledonia, on the other hand, is being depleted of troops. There is no way to defend this island effectively without having a huge body of troops. The problem is that Japan can land anywhere she wants, unload her troops, and then rest before starting their march to the capital. They cannot do that at Efete. New Caledonia is lost to the Japanese. I would be surprised if we can hold Efete. However, Japan cannot take it from us as easily. Timor Japan is making a move to capture all of Timor. After taking control of the central part of the island yesterday, they landed today on the west and east points on the island. The landings at Lautem are under the protection of a naval attack force and air attack force, that seem to be doing to damage. They are just sitting there. Okay. That’s all for today’s report. Good news and bad news, like I said. We are still getting more bad news than good. However, Myitkyina in Burma, and Paramushiro Jima west of the Aleutians, are indications that we are now capable of fighting back a little bit. Thayne [image]local://upfiles/12310/EDF1A262B6AC4F2D898E0962AC458695.jpg[/image]

Thayne -> Thursday, March 12, 1942 (7/23/2005 10:22:40 PM)
Thursday, March 12, 1942 Henry It is nice to be fighting a war, rather than running from it. Horseshoe ended today as a complete success. We scored another Japanese sub in the sub war, and our operations in the Burma air war were moderately successful. We have not demolished the Japanese army in any of these operations, but things are heading in the right direction. I think back, less than two weeks ago, I took that flight out of Canton Island feeling utter despair. I cam back, wanting to do some damage to the Japanese, and things have not gone too badly. The one bad thing . . . Japan keeps gobbling up land. Can we stop this? ”Horseshow” The last element of “Horseshoe” completed today with moderate success. The cruisers Honolulu, St. Louis, Detroit, Raleigh, and Minneapolis hit the island again today, with moderate success. Part of the reason that this mission was less destructive than earlier attacks is that there simply were not as many targets to hit. However, one area too lightly hit in the previous attacks was the naval fuel station. This time, the cruisers brought the fuel station under sustained bombardment, triggering a large fire with several secondary explosions. Other port facilities were also hit. By this time, we expect that Japan will be taking steps to counter our assaults by moving additional ships and planes into the region. Therefore, we have ordered the withdraw of all ships. All things considered, I believe we have to consider the attack to be a success. We lost 2x Dauntless dive bombers in the operation. In exchange, we subjected the island to four days of attacks that destroyed many of its facilities. We have no estimate of enemy casualties, but we have reason to suspect that they were more significant than we originally thought we could inflict. Most importantly, allied military intelligence is reporting the redeployment of Japanese air units into this region. These are air units that might have otherwise been used in the South Pacific, against Australia, against China, or against British forces in India. This is what we were aiming for. I am very pleased with the results. The Sub War We scored another victory in the sub war. Yesterday, I mentioned a submarine spotted west of Columbo, Ceylon. Today, the destroyer Jupiter, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Thew, found the destroyer. It was a part of a task force, TF1260, one of three task forces sent into the waters where the sub had been spotted. Apparently, it was an easy hit. The destroyers were performing a sweep, when a sonar operator on Jupiter reported a contact. The ship was lucky, they seemed to be sailing straight for the enemy. The contact grew louder. The ship was called to battle stations and depth charges were prepared. When the sonar operator said that they were over the contact, they fired. Jupiter is reporting a definite kill. We are targeting two more submarines. One is off of San Francisco. TF1366 is chasing that contact. Another is 1000 miles southeast of Ceylon. It was last reported yesterday by a cargo ship. TF1029 with six destroyers will arrive there shortly. Intelligence has news of a fourth submarine now, 300 miles east of Canton Island. We have organized TF1382, consisting of four minesweepers, to investigate this threat. This submarine is particularly troublesome, because we now have two operations in this area. One is “Vortex”, the plan to turn Baker Island (or, perhaps, Tarawa Island) into a pile of ash. There will be nothing for Japan to see of this operation for two weeks at least. The other is underway. Nimitz had arranged to replace one cruiser squadron in the South Pacific with another that had been guarding Hawaii. In a last minute addition to the plans, Nimitz is ordering both squadrons to pay a visit to Baker Island. Operation “Cheers” is already underway, with both task forces near Canton Island and at risk of being spotted (and struck) by this submarine. One of our submarines took a hit today as well. SS Triton, patrolling the shipping routes from Japan to Kwajalein, was hit by two depth charges. The flooding was so severe that it was last reported to be sitting with just the top third of its control tower above sea level. It is making its way to Midway with all available speed. Burma Air War Losses were light today. We lost 2x LB-30 bombers and a Beaufort. Military intelligence confirms the loss of two Japanese Zeros. Our bombing targets today included an area at Taung Gyi where a large amount of farm machinery had been parked in a common area. The Japanese probably did not consider this to be a military target. However, General Pownall figured that it would weaken the Japanese war effort if this machinery was destroyed and Japan was forced to harvest food and other crops grown in the area by hand. Bomb assessment showed several wrecked vehicles. Another target was the airstrip at Lashio, in northeastern Burma. The reason for attacking Lashio was to spread out the Japanese defenses across several targets. The strike inflicted light damage against the airfield. We also sent another bombing mission back to Myitkyina, because we did not want the Japanese to think that they had scared us away from this city, and to make our bombing missions less predictable. We were surprised to discover that there were no enemy airplanes there. Our mission went through without opposition, inflicting minor damage on the airbase, including the destruction of one building that we think was not only a repair shop but a barracks. In another phase of the mission, we sent LB-30s out with cameras instead of bombs to take a look at Tavoy, in the southern tip of Burma south of Rangoon; and to Hanoi. One of the purposes of this mission was to see if allied planes could carry a bomb load as far as these targets. These scouting missions were fully successful. Tomorrow, we will be striking at these towns, further straining Japanese air defenses. As I mentioned, Japan seems to have pulled its air units out of Myitkyina, in northern Burma. In today’s debriefing, we learned that F1/Yamada Daitai, the green unit, retreated to Mandalay, in central Burma. F2/Tainan Daitai disappeared entirely. We do have reports of a flight of zeros south of Diamond Harbor today. According to radar operators at Diamond Harbor, a flight approached the coast south of Diamond Harbor, turned south, flew for about 30 miles, than returned home. We think that the pilots may have been looking for Diamond Harbor, got lost, and went back home. This might have been what happened to F2/Tainan Daitai. Canton Island Defense Nimitz is focusing his efforts now on the defense of Canton Island and Fiji. We fully expect that Japan will take Canton Island, to try to cut off the rest of the South Pacific islands, before capturing them as well. Canton Island is a cornerstone. The attack on Baker Island is expected to contribute to the defense of Canton Island by restricting Japan’s ability to build a bomber-capable base on the island. They may decide to delay any attack, with any delay working on our favor. To further defend Canton Island: • The 19th USA Engineering Regiment is still unloading at Canton Island. They will put their heavy equipment to work fortifying the island. • Minelayers are being organized to for a trip to Canton Island to lay the area with mines. • Nine submarines are moving into the region to interfere with any Japanese landing attempt. He also has two battleships in the area; BB New Mexico nearing Canton Island, and BB Colorado at American Samoa. Also, allied troops are starting to occupy Jarvis Island, southwest of Christmas Island where work will begin on constructing a base there. One thing that we very much need, that we have a shortage of, is aircraft support troops. The South Pacific is woefully short of these types of troops. Anything you can offer is fine with me. If I need to, I will order Nimitz to redeploy the units at Ulithi. The Fall of Timor Japanese forces overran the Dutch defenders at Kupang today. Intelligence reports that the 81st Naval Guard and Kainan Guard SNLF were involved in the assault. This leaves only the eastern portion of the island in allied control. However, the Japanese have landed there as well and are organizing their forces to take control of the area. Japan moves on Ichang, China It is obvious now that Japan is making a major push to capture Ichang, in central China. I believe that it has moved the bulk of the army he used to take Sian south for this operation. It appears to be between 100,000 and 200,000 troops strong. Again, Chang Kai Shek is showing no real interest in fighting off the Japanese. On the other hand, Mao Tse Tung shows a real interest in fighting, but we seem to be unable to convince the government of the United States to offer them support. At this point, I would give my left arm for permission to move one of the AVG squadrons and several flights of bombers into northern China. Japan has some tempting targets up here. We should be hitting them, and worry about the politics of helping Mao Tse Tung after the Japanese have been driven out. [image]local://upfiles/12310/F72932C6A2EF4EF39AC14ECF7EBC8E09.jpg[/image]

Thayne -> Friday, March 13, 1942 (7/24/2005 1:56:14 AM)
Friday, March 13, 1942 Henry It's another Friday the 13th. We had one of these last month. That one did not turn out so bad. This one didn't either. It was not the best of days. It was not the worst of days. The Submarine War The Sub War went slightly against us today. PG Charleston, part of TF1366 investigating submarine sightings off of the cost of San Francisco, took two torpedoes in the early hours this morning. The first hit the ship in the bow. The second hit midship. According to the report, after the two hits you could see nothing but the propellers churning away in the water. There was nothing else left. We did not score any other hits. However, we are still chasing contacts. • TF1029 reached the site where a cargo ship reported sighting a sub earlier in the war. The task force reported a brief sonar contact, strong enough to indicate that there was a Japanese submarine there. However, it evaded the task force. The search continues. • TF1382 continues to look for a Japanese sub in the waters southwest of Canton Island. A submarine was originally spotted west of Canton island yesterday. Today, there was another sighting southwest of Canton Island. Intelligence believes that this is the same submarine. Attempts are being made to vector TF1382 to where the Japanese submarine is at. The Burma Air War We lost 7x bombers today, Henry. We don’t think that the Japanese lost much of anything in the air. Nor did they lose much on the ground. However, there is more to consider than just what was destroyed in the past 24 hours. One important development was the bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong. Pownall sent a squadron of LB-30 bombers against each target. They were being defended by the 24th Fighter Sentai – Nate fighters. This, and the proximity of the city to China, makes me think that it might be time to send the Nate Killers of the AVG to Hanoi in the near future. At Haiphong, we targeted a steel mill, inflicting minor structural damage. At Haiphong, the squadron bombed the port, hoping to inflict some damage against Japanese shipping. The Haiphong bomb assessment also showed light damage against port facilities, and no hits on any militarily significant ships. However, this should suggest to the Japanese that they have more places that they need to defend than just the airfields in Burma. One of the problems with attacking north Indochina is the range. Even moderate damage against a bomber means that it will not likely return home. However, we do have the option of turning the damaged bombers north and landing in China, which means that these missions are not as dangerous as they would be if the bombers had to come all the way back to India. We are going to see how Japan responds to these hits against these new targets. If they make no attempt to defend Hanoi or Haiphong, we can hit them again later. The next time, the Nate Killers of the AVG will lead the way. Our bombers also struck Taung Gui, Pagan, and Lashio in central Burma, and Myitkyina in northern Burma, again forcing the Japanese to spread themselves out to cover all of their bases. The bomb damage assessments were disappointing this time. We hardly hit anything worthy of the loss of these airplanes and pilots. Tomorrow, we will focus again on targets closer to India – again, while we assess what effect the Hanoi mission had on Japanese deployment. ”Cheers” TF1279 -- a cruiser task force leaving the South Pacific for maintenance and repair-- and TF1374 – a cruiser task force newly arrived to the South Pacific to replace TF1279 – are getting into position for attacks on Baker Island, northwest of Canton Island in the South-Central Pacific. We had some fear of the task forces being spotted by a Japanese submarine seen near Canton Island, which is hosting the attack. However, intelligence indicates that this sub is heading south towards Samoa. They are on the wrong side of Canton island to see the task forces moving into position. These missions, unlike earlier missions, are not going to involve the destroyers. I have decided that I was a little reckless in ordering the destroyers to be included in earlier bombardments. I could have lost a lot of ships. Naval officers at Pearl Harbor ran a war game simulating a bombardment of Nanomea Atoll similar to those that I had authorized when I wanted to hurt Japan. In their games, four cruisers hit mines. These are not the types of results I am looking for. Therefore, our cruisers in both TF1279 and TF1374 will keep their distance. TF1279 has cruisers Louisville, Pensacola, and Concord. TF1374 is made up of cruisers Salt Lake City and San Francisco. Timor is in Japanese Hands The whole of the island of Timor is in Japanese hands now. Kure 2nd Special Naval Landing Force, 11th Naval Landing Force, and 21st Naval Landing Force occupied all significant population centers on the eastern third of the island, completing the occupation. The Australians are taking steps to reinforce the northern part of the island. They had been working on defenses for quite some time, but recent events have caused them to hasten their efforts. In particular, they are moving extra bombers into position to strike Japanese shipping north of the coast. Unfortunately, north Australia suffers from a serious weakness – all airstrips constructed in this region are within reach of Japanese ships at sea. The Australians are worried that their air bases may end up being demolished due to naval bombardment. Japanese Drive to Cut Off Australia Japanese carriers were spotted 350 miles north of New Caledonia. A second, landing task force was also spotted. Given Japanese tactics, there is a third bombardment task force nearby. This will mean the fall of New Caledonia. With the carriers in these waters, it would be foolish to try to land troops at New Caledonia. The soldiers would simply drown. Therefore, the 2nd Australian Cavalry Division will stop short of its destination, and occupy Norfolk Island instead. Norfolk Island is an isolated island 700 miles southwest of New Caledonia, and will serve to protect ships making the trip from New Zealand to Australia – if we can get the ships to New Zealand. The Americal Division, which was organized specifically to defend New Caledonia, is 100 miles east of Fiji. There is nothing more we could have done here. We had the ships ready the instant the troops reached San Francisco. We loaded them as quickly as we could and sailed them with all due haste to the South Pacific. We could not have gotten the fleet even one nautical mile closer to New Caledonia than this. The division is going to stop at Fiji and change its assignment to the defense of that island. However, we have opted not to change the name to the Ameriji Division. Also on Fiji, for the record, TF1338 just arrived today carrying the 47th USA Engineer Regiment. It’s assignment is to improve the defenses on the western side of the island. Between the reinforcement of Fiji, and the establishment of a stronger defense of Canton Island, it is our intention to make it very difficult for Japan to occupy any more of the South Pacific islands than it already has. Meanwhile, if you recall, we adopted a plan in the region around New Caledonia to “be where Japan does not expect us.” Last night, a destroyer squadron sailed up to Efete and deposited elements of the First New Zealand Cavalry Brigade onto the island. If the Japanese are not expecting this island to be defended, they may just sail an occupation force right into our den. The Japanese were seen scouting Efete intensively a week or so ago, but they have not looked at the island recently. What also might surprise them is the fact that we managed to ship two 6” CD guns onto the island as well. They have been carefully placed and concealed on the west side of the island near good landing beaches, near the largest port. Japanese Form Up to Take Ichang, China Military intelligence has given me an estimate of 120,000 Japanese troops moving on Ichang, China. They are taking their time, and keeping good formation. The Chinese know that they are coming, but are unable to get reinforcements to the city in time. Chang Kai Shek would not do this anyway. He is still trying to save his precious army for his future battle with Mao Tse Tung. However, his country is disappearing from underneath him, and it is quite possible that the Japanese may go after him next. Even if he only thinks about his own skin, after Ichang, he had better start deciding to fight. Though, I don’t know what he will fight with. On that regard, I can announce that the 16th TCS (16x C-47) has reached Ceylon. The 18th TCS (16x C-47) is 1200 miles southeast of Ceylon. However, these are the waters where a Japanese submarine had been spotted. We have a destroyer squadron here hunting the Japanese submarine. However, the Japanese submarine has a chance of ending the delivery of this transportation squadron. Success or failure of our attempts to deliver this unit to India determines whether China will or will not get about 80 tons of supplies per day. Okay, until tomorrow. I hope you have a good day. Thayne [image]local://upfiles/12310/AE8D4586F6904146B03C5BD2E72D8D32.jpg[/image]

Thayne -> Saturday, March 14, 1942 (7/24/2005 7:21:45 AM)
Saturday, March 14, 1942 Henry The Submarine War My opinion is that the reports we get from the battle in the south Indian Ocean should be given to some Hollywood script writers. It is certainly a movie that would keep an audience on the edge of its seat. TF1029, consisting of the British destroyers Decoy, Foxhound, and Isis, and the Australian destroyers Napier, Nizam and Norman were hunting for a Japanese submarine last seen in these waters, 1000 miles southeast of Ceylon. Among their other concerns, AK Ravnaas was sailing through these waters transporting the 18th TCS to Ceylon. This air squadron, with its 16x C-47s, is destined to help provide China with the supplies it needs to carry on the war. Another task force, TF1390, was also sailing through on its way to Perth. With the threat that Australia would be cut off from the east growing ever stronger, the British loaded 10 large cargo ships full of war materials to send to Australia while the opportunity still existed. I received my first report at 3:32 AM. HMAS Napier, an N class destroyer, had taken a torpedo. According to the report, the sun was just setting. A lookout on the ship saw the torpedo incoming out of the sun, but there was no time to give a warning. The torpedo hit just forward of midship and inflicted significant damage. Napier stopped, and her sister ship Nizam pulled up along side to render aid. Napier was quickly taking on water and the crew worked frantically to try to stop it. Their work carried them through most of the night. Fires caused by the torpedo – particularly the burning oil that spread around the ship – made it an easy target for the Japanese submarine. However, the remaining four destroyers set up a picket around the stricken ship. There were several reported soundings, but nothing definite and nothing that could be tracked for long. Dawn came, and Napier was still in trouble. Lieutenant Commander Green ordered the wounded and all nonessential personnel transferred to HMAS Nizam while crews continued to fight for the ship. They were starting to get the fires under control, but the bow of the ship had settled ten feet into the water. There were a half dozen alerts throughout the day – supposed sightings or soundings of a Japanese submarine. However, shortly before noon, HMS Isis sent out the message, “We have her!” The submarine was barely moving on the edge of the ring of protection thrown around the wounded Napier. They might have sailed away during the night, recharged their batteries and been returning to inflict more damage. They were sitting right below a thermal layer, but not low enough to prevent a faint ping from echoing off of its hull. HMS Isis made a pass over the contact site. Sonar operators reported that the depth charges were on target. Then, came the explosions. The noise caused by the underwater demolitions obscured the target. By the time the sounds had cleared, they had lost the contact. They looked for signs of debris, and found none. It was a sharp-eyed sailor on HMAS Norman that spotted the trail of diesel. The trail showed itself to be leaving the site where HMS Isis had attacked the submarine, heading northeast. The captain ordered a change in course and started to pursue. HMS Foxhound started to pursue as well, while HMS Isis and Decoy stayed behind. The Japanese submarine surfaced to periscope depth. The crew of HMAS Normal could see the wake from the periscope. It was moving directly away from them. Commander Blackwell knew what this meant. He ordered the ship hard to port, but the Submarine had sent a wide spread of torpedoes out its stern tubes. One of them caught HMAS Normal in the bow. However, this gave HMS Foxhound a bead on the Japanese submarine. The submarine was diving after its attack. Commander Peters ordered his destroyer to full speed to catch up to the submarine before it could sink before a thermal layer. Above the noise of the propellers, the sonar operators had a hard time picking out a clear signal. However, they fed a course and distance to the commander. Commander Peters slowed down as his ship approached the target area. Sonar operators gave him a position, and he raked the Japanese submarine from stem to stern. They left the area, established a clear contact again, and returned to rake the ship again. In the end, sonar operators reported hearing the ship breaking apart as it sank. They reported a definite kill. The saga is not yet over. The ships are 1000 miles from the nearest port. Napier and Noonan are both settling by the bow. It is very likely that either ship will make it all the way home. If they are lost, it would mean the destruction of two destroyers for one Japanese submarine. However, this is the eleventh Japanese submarine to be sunk. The enemy has to be noticing these losses. We have solid reports of two more Japanese submarines that we have sent hunters out for. TF1266 is leaving Pearl Harbor to investigate waters midway between Pearl Harbor and San Francisco. TK Manvantara is insisting that there is a Japanese submarine there. Our campaign to focus heavy attention on the Japanese submarines requires that we check this out. TF1382 is still hunting for a Japanese submarine now expected to be somewhere northeast of American Samoa. Allied Submarine Scores Kill S-47, commanded by Commander Hayle, surprised us by reporting the sinking of a Japanese minelayer in the waters about 50 miles east of Tarawa. We do not know if the ship was traveling to or returning from Baker Island. From the best I can determine, the submarine was submerged when they heard the sound of Japanese propellers. However, the heard no pinging to indicate that the Japanese had anti-submarine capability. They surfaced and found the Japanese minelayer moving away from them. They fired a torpedo straight up the stern of the ship, and watched it disintegrate. While they watched, the bow of the ship went up into the air, then slipped back-end first into the ocean. ”Cheers” TF1279 and TF1334 are ready to hit Baker Island tonight. I am waiting for news as I write this. However, this report is going to go out before I hear anything. TF1279 will bombard the island first, near the middle of the night, than retire to the northeast. They are heading home for a few weeks of rest while their ships get a new coat of paint and, if I heard correctly, some new anti-aircraft guns. The new cruiser, TF1334, force will hit the island after dawn. Hopefully, the Japanese will be tired and just getting back to sleep after having their night disturbed. This task force will then retire to Canton Island. Burma Air War In the air, the score was 9:1 in favor of the Japanese. Five of our losses were LB-30 bombers over Pagan where they encountered the Zero pilots of F1/Tainan Daitai. In addition to getting a mauling from the Zeros, without killing any of them, they were unable to score any hits against their target, making the mission a total bust. The one kill was scored against F1/Yamada Daitai, the green unit protecting Myitkyina. A B-17 gunner shot it down in the only bombing mission (out of 5 missions sent to various targets in north and central Burma) to inflict more than superficial damage. It inflicted moderate damage to the airfields at Myitkyina. However, we are not doing enough damage to Myitkyina to prevent the Japanese from building up the infrastructure. Our bombing campaign seems to be accomplishing very little, at least today. Land Units in India and Ceylon The 2nd UK Division landed in Karachi today. In the northeastern part of India, three Chinese “divisions” have marched out of the jungle to Ledo and are on their way to Dacca. It appears that they and the entire Burma army are going to retreat in good order. Because of this news, General Pownall has decided to deploy the new division in the defense of Trincomalee, on the island of Ceylon. It will be embarking back onto transports for the last leg of their trip in the near future. Japan Marches on Ichang Japanese troops, 120,000 strong, are on the gates of Ichang tonight. A small number of Chinese have decided to make a determined stand to hold the city. I have no hope that they will succeed. They are too small in number against a foe that has shown an ability to dislodge far larger armies from far better defenses. I did not want to disenhearten him, however. I wish them the best of luck. Japan Inches Closer to New Caledonia Japanese naval forces are estimated to be 250 miles north of the capital of New Caledonia, and 350 miles west of Efate. However, we have no solid evidence to go on. They have not launched a carrier-based attack that we have the capacity to track. Their course is taking them to New Caledonia, so I suspect that, and not Efate, is their target. Halsey has ordered the last of the air force off of New Caledonia. The island will probably face the Japanese tomorrow. Reinforcements I almost forgot to list the new units that will be released to me next week. (Which reminds me that I have to do that long weekly report tomorrow for all people who might not have been keeping up with events out here.) Anyway: New units released to me next week: Sunday, March 15, 1942 • AO Cimarron at San Francisco Monday, March 16, 1942 • 413 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force (12x Catalina I) at Karachi Tuesday, March 17, 1942 • 30 Squadron (16x Hurricane II) at Columbo Wednesday, March 18, 1942 • No. 76 Royal Australian Air Force Squadron (16x Kittyhawk) at Melbourne • 45 Squadron (12x Blenheim IV) at Madras Thursday, March 19, 1942 • CV Formidable at Karachi • VP-43 (12x PBY Catalina) at Kodiak Friday, March 20, 1942 • 132 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force (16x Kittyhawk) at Prince Rupert • 2nd USMC Raider Battalion at San Francisco Saturday, March 21, 1942 • MSW Castlemaine at Sydney • MSW Courtenay at Prince Rupert Okay, I’ll spend all day tomorrow working on your weekly report. I hope you have a good day. Thayne [image]local://upfiles/12310/6BC014A69F6D44B49BF4CA206E3BC270.jpg[/image]

aztez -> RE: Saturday, March 14, 1942 (9/28/2005 10:32:10 AM)
Is this AAR still alive??? [&:]

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