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Cap Mandrake -> RE: Why can't we all just get along (4/26/2006 6:17:00 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Grotius
So is Tom Hunter going to be joining the WITP team? And, more importantly, how DID he get those forces out of Malaya? I've read and re-read that section of your AAR a couple times and I'm still not quite sure how he managed it.
Grotius;
No, I don't think Tom is joining the WITP team..that was tongue in cheek [:)] Those were some of his reasons for leaving.
As to the evacuation of Malaya, it has been a while but I think I can summarize:
It required a number of fumbles, IMHO, on the Japanese part, and a number of successful gambles and remarkably well-executed plans on our part:
1) Japs invade Kuantan..it falls fast of course..but they probably should have pursued more agressively.
2) Jap troopships and AK's are inadequately escorted allowing the RAF in Malaya to get some kills and quickly gain some experience.
3) Singapore airfields are not sufficiently shut down for much too long, and when they finally are, they allow us to use Johore for too long.
4) They try the Mersing gambit, but there initial landing is disrupted by swordfish from Singapore (and whatever antiques were available). The two Aussie brigade rush to the scene holding onto the town. More troops and transports come in and are again pounded by air. It seems all their Zeroes are in Rangoon or the South Pacific. When there is a CAP, it is mainly Oscars.
5) Meanwhile, Johore is building up and troops are resting. When Mersing is no longer defensible, the Aussies retreat to Johore in moderately good shape.
6) Batavia is built up to level 4 airfield and we move AV units from all over Java. We scrounge the Pacific for B-17's and LB-30, assembling about 100 (including LB-30's and B-17C's). They are vulnerable, because of our crappy fighters in Java, but they remain undiscovered until they are unleased on Kuantan (with a fighter sweep from Johore as I recall). The effect is fantastic, catching dozens of Jap bombers on the ground. For a while, the Japs evacuate Kuantan airfield. After a few days of bombing at least half the bombers are disabled and it takes weeks to get them all repaired..but it was worth it.
7) Zuiho is sunk by swordfish..does this make them resistent to commit the carriers to the area?
8) The RN carriers and BB's, plus transports assemble in the Indian Ocean, waiting for the right time.
9) In the second week of January, the Japs attack Singapore by sea..and it actually works [X(] All of our dedicated infantry is in Johore, holding the line against 60,000 Japs who are besieging the town. Only the CD unit, some AV Engineers and Malaya HQ is in Singapore. Singapore is going to fall soon. Time to MOVE!
10) Wait..but what about the Jap carriers you say? Good point. Four Jap carriers (KB)have just declared themselves off the Northern coast of Oz..killing a bunch of our AK's. They need fuel. 2 Jap CV's were spotted in the Coral Sea 4 days prior. They are not to be seen now..but they cant make it to the South China Sea in time. We can account for 6 fleet carriers and the Zuiho. These we will not have to fight.
11) The bombers from Batavia shut down Kuantan again. Some sacrificial fighters deploy to Johore to fly CAP. The cariers and BB's rush in along with the transports. We start loading the troops at Johore. The Japs see what is happening of course and decide to shock attack Johore on the second day, but there are too many troops left and they are beat back badly. The loading at
Johore takes about 3 days. Concurrent with this, we send in an emergency convoy to Singapore which gets out some of the Malaya HQ. The Japs begin to redeploy air to the area but it is too late. They are clearly surprised by the move.
12) About 3000 commonwealth troops are trapped in Johore and about 10,00 in Singapore. Most of the fighters get out of Johore.
13) We lose 1 or 2 CL's and a CA (which is in port and is scuttled when Singapore falls)..perhaps 2 or 3 transports to subs and air. The carriers are undamaged.
14) The whole mess makes it back to Batavia, from where most of the troops are evacuated to SE Asia. Only the Aussie brigades stay behind...they later prove to be crucial in the defense of Palembang (which is still in Allied hands in late July).
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