Japs Defend in New Guinea 12/26/41

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Salamaua New Guinea
12/26/1941
1600 Hours

We expect the US Army to come at us in a very short time. We have prepaired solid defenses to stop the war mongers. Have been able to get about 40 mines plus what the Engineers carry with them. Visability is good even tho we have a heavy rain at the moment. Near 1350 feet right now dont know tho if this heat begins to combine with the rain and begins to form steam. May get a little dicey to see if that happens.

The men are ready to fight and there morale is very high even tho last month the Marines fought us to a draw right where we have set up this time. We did not give the Marines the credit they deserve last month. Really thought they would not be able to even hold a candle to our fighting force. Have set up in a three company front with all support close to the line. Well they have started there advance coming at us head on this time. We have already taken out 3 of those recon jeeps they so like to use.

Can hear there armor moving around in the jungle back aways should have it coming at us soon. Have been able to get 3 heavy IG bunkers plus several MG bunkers. Hope this gives us somewhat of an edge against there superior numbers. The mine field will slow them down some im sure even tho it does not cover our whole front line. For the glory of our homeland and long life to the emperor I prepare myself for battle and the honor that has been given to me.

HQ: VIII Ishii Heavy tank
Col: Yasuji Okamura Commanding

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Salamaua New Guinea
12/26/1941
1625 hours

The past 25 minutes have not been good for us. 15 minutes ago there Air force came out of nowhere and blasted the heck out of us. At least 7 different flights came over and hit us hard. We did manage to shoot down one of the P35s that flew over. The other six flights took a heavy toll on us. They took out one Flame tank one CHi Ha tank the crew ran away from. Also lost one HMG from C CO plus 2 25mm AA and 3 37MM ATGs during this time all from C CO. Plus we lost at least 40 men from the bombs they dropped on us.

We have managed to take out at least 12 of there scout jeeps. Can see right now at least 6 stuarts moving up to engage us. Have not taken out a one of them so far even tho we had some direct hits on them. Not much in the way of enemy troops have shown up as yet. Guess our heavy off board artty has been able to keep there heads down.

The men are still in high spirts and every one believes we will hold the enemy right here. The force of SNLF That I command is the best fighting force Japan can produce. True samuri in the old traditions of a life that no longer lives in modern Japan today. Dam I feel confident in a victory today when I look out over the men holding our front lines.

Our headquarters took several direct hits from an 81 mortar a few minutes ago. We lost two of the Junior officers men that were good friends of mine. Have moved HQ back away from the front lines for awhile or until some of the bombardments slow down. Dern mortar fragment took Oshidos head clean off as tho he was hit with a sword blade.

HQ: VIII Ishii Heavy Tank
Col: Yasuji Okamura Commanding

[robot]

Salamaua new Guinea
12/26/1941
1655 Hours

The battle has really slowed down except fot there constant bombardment of us with 60 and 81 mortars plus some 75s thrown in for good measure. Oh and dont forget the constant harrasment of us by the p35 planes comin in and tearing my ground forces to pieces there would be next to nothin goin on. Finally saw some ground troops at least two squads have shown up all of a sudden.

It has really been slow goin as there has not been an all out attack from the enemy.Except for calling down artty barrages our troops have not had much to do at all. They have come at us sort of piece meal so to speak. We have taken out at least 10 of those scout jeeps and maybe somewhere near 12 of the stuarts so far. Our troops have not had much to shoot at except for an Engineer platoon took out a scout car that got thru the small mine field they had layed in front of there position.

Looks good for us to beat them today. I dont think they are going to keep up this fiasco much longer. There artty hasnt realy done much damage to us at all. Just irritating and disrupting to our men. Slow to say the least today not really a good test for our men.

Almost forgot we managed to take out two more of those dam planes thats three for us.

HQ: IIII Ishii Heavy Tank
Col: Yasuji Okamura Commanding

[robot]

Salamaua New Guinea
12/26/1941
1730 Hours

I just dont see how we have awoken a sleeping giant. From the performance of the US Army today I dont see any problem with America at all. We are now facing the infantry as they come at us piece meal. I asume they dont have anymore tanks or scout cars left. Im thinking maybe we took out all they had with them already.

A few of our Engineer squads are down below half strength. But they are still holding the line as the enemy just seems to run thru any mine field we have lain with next to no injurys. The flame tanks are taking them out like 8 at a time with there flame cannons. Have lost 2 of the flame tanks to there Air Force today. Really the most damage we suffered today was from there Planes not from there armor or there infantry.

If this is how the reat of there troops fight then the Americans should not be any problem to us.

HQ: Ishii Heavy Tank
Col: Yasujii Okamura Commanding

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Salamaua New Guinea
12/26/1941
1755 Hours

The enemy has begun to press us with there ground troops for the last 25 minute they have been sending in troops to hit our southern flank. The recon photo will show the southern part of my line held by A Co. The most southern platoon has been hit almost continuosly by infantry. At least a comapny has hit there front but they still hold. The engineer platoon holding there left flank has also been hit hard by there troops. All of there big guns the IGs and the ATGs have run out of ammo. Several of the infantry squads have run out of knee mortars as well.

The 81 mortars and the 75 howiters are all out of ammo. Even tho the Engineers have tried to lay somewhat of a mine field it doesnt seem to phase there infantry from running right thru it.

I did not expect this fight to last this long. I dont see where they are getting the personal to continue to hit our line like thay have been doing. We continue to cut them to pieces as they charge our line but it doesnt seem to stop them. If they continue this practise we will all soon be out of ammo then they will over run us shortly. We will do our best to hold and win this battle but there is some doubt if they continue to come at us like they have been doing.

HQ:VIII Ishii Heavy Tank
Col: Yasuji Okamura Commanding

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Salamaua New Guinea
12/26/1941
1810 Hours

Our middle flank is now taking a lot of heat from there infantry. Have not seen any mech armor for at least an hour so i assume we have taken all of it out. The Engineer platoon in the photo has been gettiing hammered lately. Has been real quite for the last 20 minutes except for the small arm fire between them and us. Not much in the way of artty has fallen in the last 20 minutes as well. Have told the men to go thru the pockets of there fallen comrads and scrounge up as much ammo as they can find. It is getting very short supply right now. Have also given the order to fix baynonets as it may come down to hand to hand here shortly.

We will hold even if it takes all our lives. They can not continue to charge at us with the losses they have suffered so far. It has to stop soon are they will never be able to field a viable fighting force after today.

HQ: VIII Ishii Heavy Tank
Col: Yasuji Okamura Commanding

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Salammaua New Guinea
12/26/1941
1820 Hours

The carnage is over they have retreated back into the jungle. We lost 192 men mostly to there Air Force. There planes really hurt us there tanks nor there infantry did very little damage to us. I will say this for the Americans they showed a lot of spirit and grit. They kept coming even tho we were taking them down at an alarming rate.

There losses were as follows: Men 1183 41 AFVs and 3 planes. while our losses were 192men 8 artty and 5 AFVs. I believe this will be scored as a decisevive victory for us. Our men were superb today holding at times against a far more superior force and never gave an inch. Not once did a man turn and run not a single one.

I am very proud to have these men as my fighting force for they are truly fighters. They have done there ancestors proud today.

We have recieved our orders already. We are to rest and repair for a couple of weeks. Then we are to board ships and sail to luzon and make an amphipbious assault against the US Army on Luzon in the Phillipines. We understand we are to have an armada of ships to support us. At least 10 battleships with 8 destroyers and 8 cruisers. They should tear the Americans apart right on the beach, just have to cut our way thru the mine field were sure they will have lining the beach.

HQ: VIII Ishii Heavy Tank
Col: Yashuji Okamura Commanding