Spence vs Dixon - The first year scenario

[Mike Dixon]

Lithograph of Yamashita and the disgraced Percival

[Mike Dixon]

Imperial General Headquarters (Daihonei) 12th January 1942

Digest of communiqués from Army HQ's

SE fleet reports the capture of Thursday Island. The Australian garrison appear to have fled to Cairns. The east coast of Australia is clear of enemy shipping. Vigorous submarine patrols are being carried out.

Burma Army reports lead elements of several tanks regiments are approaching Mandalay. An exclusion zone of 300 miles has been declared around Rangoon. All unauthorised ships will be sunk within the zone.

Southern Army reports the capture of Balikpapan. Large quantities of fuel and supplies have been captured. The Dutch garrison have fled into the jungle. A small detachment have been sent to request their immediate surrender.

Todays press release shows soldiers of the 35th Brigade, receiving orders prior to storming Balikpapan

[Mike Dixon]

Imperial General Headquarters (Daihonei) 13th January 1942

Digest

Burma Hq reports several large troop transports have been sunk near Rangoon.

Relative quiet on other fronts.

Press release today, heavy tanks undergoing maintenance before moving in on the Burmese oilfields

[Mike Dixon]

Imperial General Headquarters (Daihonei) 14th January 1942

Digest from Southern Army Hq

A mixed brigrade was landed today at Banjarmasin, supported by a fleet of BB's and strong Naval and Land air. Only weak resistance has been encountered from the colonial Dutch troops, to date.

In a seperate development, the CL Dragon has been torpedoed several times near Ceylon. The ship is believed to have sunk during the night.

Press release:- Japanese soldier protecting the co-prosperity sphere at Tarakan:-

[Mike Dixon]

Imperial General Headquarters (Daihonei) 15th January 1942

MAJOR NAVAL VICTORY NEAR LUGANVILLE!

SE Fleet reports a major naval victory 20km south west of Luganville. A large U.S. led fleet, including the CA's Louisville, Pensacola and Australia, attempted to attack Luganville in the early hours. The enemy were driven off and suffered heavy casualties. Several crusiers were seen sinking whilst fleeing. Defending forces, including the BB's Hiei, Kirishima and Fuso, suffered only minor damage.

Nearby Efate was welcomed into the co-prosperity sphere.

Press release:- Fuso goes into action:-

[Mike Dixon]

From the Imperial Ministry of Construction:-

[spence]

DATELINE AUKLAND: 16 January, 1942
In a daring action a mixed force of Allied cruisers steamed into battle near Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides yesterday. The Japanese forces, including at least 5 battleships, suffered disproportionately heavy losses given their overwhelmingly superior firepower, A Japanese cruiser and 3 destroyers were sunk, several other cruisers and destroyers damaged, and hits scored on several battleships. The American cruiser Louisville and Free French destroyer Le Triophant went down fighting in the action but gave as good as they got. HMNZS Achilles, which played a pivotal role in bringing the German pocket battleship Graf Spee to bay in 1939, again distinguished itself against a far more powerful foe.
Over the last several days Japanese forces have landed on and captured some of the islands in the New Hebrides. Attacks by Allied air forces, including New Zealand flyers, have damaged numerous transports, some severely but have been unable to stem what is apparently a major Japanese offensive into the South Pacific. Unchecked this Japanese drive could pose a serious threat to this city and the rest of New Zealand. At least with this action the enemy has been served notice that he will pay a heavy price for his naked aggression.


DATELINE SAN FRANCISCO: 15 January, 1942
Twelve Naval District Headquarters today reported that Allied naval forces had attacked and probably sunk a Japanese submarine approxiamately 180 miles WSW of San Francisco. A large oil slick and patch of debris was observed following the attacks. There were no Allied losses.

[mogami]

Hi, I figured out what they were syaing in this picture.




(Note. I will delete this if it causes anyone any grief)

[spence]

Lit by starshells, a Jap cruiser is straddled and hit in the Battle of Espiritu Santo; 15 January, 1942. Moments later it was struck by an Allied torpedo, blew up and sank.

[Mike Dixon]

Southern Army report to Tokyo, 16th January 1942

A large enemy Naval force was attacked by Betty's. The BC Repulse was hit several times and is believed to be limping to port with a heavy list. In Borneo, Banjarmasin was captured today - the Dutch garrison fled into the jungle. Work on the airfield has commenced - the whole of Java has now been declared off limits to all shipping.

An artist's rendition of the attack on the Repulse:-

[Mike Dixon]

Imperial General Headquarters (Daihonei) 17th January 1942

Report from Southern Army

Large scale airfield attack on Batavia today. many enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground, including heavy and torpedo bombers.

Report from Burma army

A small parachute force today was welcomed by the local population in the Andaman Island's.

The following message has been delivered to the ex-Australian PM garrison, currently trapped on the Kokoda trail:-

Resistance is useless. The Yanks are occupying Australia and stealing your women. Surrender at once!

[spence]

DATELINE CHUNGKING: 17 January 1942
A Japanese offensive on the Changsha Front has stalled after heavy fighting. Several enemy divisions are cut off West of the city and are under relentless attack by government forces. Enemy attempts to break through to the pocket have been beaten off with heavy losses.
Near Kungchang the Japanese 27th Division was sent reeling in headlong retreat after an attack by government forces.

DATELINE BATAVIA: 17 January 1942
Japanese attacks near Palembang gained scant ground and suffered significant casualties yesterday. Elsewhere in the Indies Japanese forces have pulled back from what appeared to be a landing on Timor after fierce Allied naval and air attacks.
In the Philippines the Japanese attempted to make a landing at Davao on Mindanao but suffered heavy losses to combined air and naval attacks. Several enemy transports were heavily damaged and believed sunk. Several reports from the city indicate that a beach just east of the city is littered with the bodies of drowned Japanese troops in full battle gear.

[spence]

Beach East of Davao, Dawn 18 January, 1942 - Dead Japanese soldiers partially buried by the tide

[Mike Dixon]

Officially it didnt happen but unofficially - ouch!

[Mike Dixon]

Imperial General Headquarters (Daihonei) 18-19th January 1942

China Hq reports that Changsa has been encircled. Hundred of thousands of Chinese renegades are trapped within the city. Final preparations for its occupation are underway.

Southern Army reports large parts of Palembang have been captured, including the oilfields.

Luzon Hq reports that a Davao transport fleet has been rerouted to a new location, due to bad weather. Several ships were lost, in an unforcasted tempest.

Todays press release:-

A Japanese soldier guards a burning oilfield in Palembang. The flames were put out shortly afterwards.

[Mike Dixon]

Southern Army report to Tokyo, 20th January 1942

Several major gains to report. Palembang was cleared of enemy troops after a two day battle. Remnants of the Dutch troops are fleeing to the South. Burma Hq informs that Mandalay and the Yenangyaung oilfields have been captured. Further operations at Lashio are expected. Large Chinese formations are believed to be in the area. In Borneo, Samarinda has also been added to the empire. Several Dutch battalions surrendered during the battle.

Press release:- Japanese heavy armor moving upto Mandalay and the Yenangyaung oilfields:-

[Mike Dixon]

Yenangyaung oilfields:-

[spence]

DATELINE BATAVIA: 22 January 1942
Apokesman for ABDA Headquarters reported the sinking of a large Japanese minelayer in the Straits of Malacca today. The spokesman also reported that Australian flyers heavily damaged a Japanese destroyer in Menado harbor.

[Mike Dixon]

Imperial General Headquarters (Daihonei) 21st January 1942

Southern Army report

A large air raid on Batavia resulted in heavy enemy casualities. Reports of a new British fighter plane have been received. The aircraft is believed to be a Hurricane or Spitfire. Many were destroyed by our gallant airforce.


China Army report

Several large scale attacks were beaten off with heavy enemy casualties. In Pakhoi thousands of Chinese renegades lie unburied outside the city. Near Changsa, an enemy column was routed - it was believed to be trying to reach the beleaguered Chinese forces inside the city. Several fresh Japanese formations have arrived at the city.

Japanese forces near Changsha:-

[Mike Dixon]

China Army Hq 22nd January 1942

Another enemy relief force was routed today near Changsa. Fresh army divsions pushed back several corps of Chiang Kai-shek's finest Chinese troops, which were lavishly equipped with American and British equipment.

In a related development, the infamous Burma road has now been closed with the occupation of Lashio. Much equipment destined for China has been captured. Several Chinese formations are believed to be in the area - reconassiance missions have indicated that they are now fleeing back to China.

The infamous and now closed 'Burma road'