12/8/41
Japanese troops continued pouring out of their transports all over the Pacific throughout the early hours of the 8th - Brunei, Guam, Davao, Kuching, Tarakan, and Kavieng, among others. Not all of these landings were unopposed, however.
The Australian garrison of the Admiralty Islands was almost pathetically small - only one company, the 2/1st Independent under Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Thompson. However, they had used their time wisely, preparing firing zones and preplanned ambush points near the likely beachheads. Dozens of poorly-trained Japanese Navy troops died on the first day, expecting no defense at all.
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Australian troops prepare to slaughter a small NLF column.[/center]
At Tarakan Island, another small, poorly-garrisoned base, the situation was simmilar, but the stakes were higher - oil. The Dutch had recognized this before the war. Japanese troops landing over the beach were greeted by towers of smoke as the oilfields burned. T.IVa torpedo bombers swept in to attack the landing. Light cruiser Marblehead and five destroyers were spotted by a floatplane, headed their way.
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T.IVa aircraft attack Japanese transport Argentina Maru. Inset: A photograph taken from the same vessel of smoke from the burning oilfields.[/center]
Marblehead's TF made no impact on the enemy landing, however. The three Japanese destroyers defending performed surprisingly well, scoring multiple hits on Stewart and leaving Paul Jones in sinking condition. The USN force moved to withdraw after badly damaging only one enemy destroyer.
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USS Paul Jones takes a hit.[/center]
The Asiatic Fleet was performing more effective operations elsewhere - the PT boats and cruisers Boise and Houston being the most effective operators today. The PTs scored torpedo hits on a minesweeper and a PC. Boise sunk destroyer Uranami and an AK, while Houston damaged a destroyer and a minesweeper.
Most of today's action was in the air. Massive Japanese raids on Kota Bharu and Alor Star mostly wiped out the Allied air presence there. The raid on Georgetown was opposed by a CAP of 10 outnumbered Hurricanes, who underestimated the Japanese and attempted to dogfight with Oscars. The result was 6 Hurricanes lost.
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Unblooded Australians dogfight with IJAAF veterans of the China conflict.[/center]
The attack on Lingayen was more adroitly opposed, however. 12 P-40Es had been placed on CAP there while others moved to dive-bomb Japanese shipping (several hits were scored). Diving out of the clouds, the Americans brought down 5 Zeroes and damaged another in short order. Once again, though, the Allies pulled around and attempted to fight the Japanese in a turning engagement, and lost heavily. Nearly all of the Warhawks were shot down or heavily damaged.
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A Zero shot down in December, wow![/center]
The largest development of the day, though, was the splitting of the Kido Butai and the beginning of what the Dutch believe will be a counter-clockwise sweep through the Netherlands East Indies. No word yet on how the Allies plan to react to this startling development. The British are just relieved at this point.
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The division of the Kido Butai.[/center]
The Japanese sunk a few transports and the Dutch MLs Krakatau and Prins van Oranje, but did not find any fighting ships. This could change...
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[center]Today's aircraft losses:
Japanese ship losses so far:
Vice Admiral Wilson Brown's carrier task force sets out from San Diego to - where again?
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Okay, am I forgetting anything FK?[:)]
[/center][center]G5N1 Bombers hit a moving target.[/center]
[/center][center]Japan's northern Malaya air blitz.[/center]
