Spence vs Dixon - The first year scenario

[Mike Dixon]

Imperial General Headquarters (Daihonei) - Tokyo


Sitrep 26th to 28th May


Operation 'IN'

Enemy air activity over Calcutta and Dacca has virtually ceased by the 27th May. With the inclusion of Myitkyina and Akyab into the airstrike portfolio, it is thought that Churchill's henchmen have withdrawn their aircraft into the relative safety of the Indian hinterland. Some nightly terror raids by Wellington type bombers are continuing, but they are of nusiance value only.


China

A useful bridgehead over the Long Jiang, sixty miles from Kweiyang, was established on the 26th. A large scale enemy counterattack was beaten off the next day.


Darwin

In the early hours of the 27th, the CA's Haguro and Ashigara conducted another preventive surface bombardment of Darwin. The mission was a success although the Haguro has developed boiler problems and will have to return to Japan for repairs.



Haguro:-

[Mike Dixon]

DO NOT APPROACH THE OUTER DEFENSE PERIMETER!

[spence]

28 May, 1942 - Boiler difficulties developing on board HIJMS HAGURO

[spence]

DATELINE CALCUTTA - 29 May, 1942

Enemy air raids in Southeastern India continued today with attacks on Dacca and Asanol. A large air battle over Asanol developed between outnumbered RAF Hurricanes and an extremely large force of Japanese bombers and fighters. A score or more of Japanese aircraft were downed outright and the ground along their flight path back to Burma was littered with bombers crippled in the fight. RAF losses were moderate with many pilots saved. The aerodrome at Asanol was only lightly damaged.





One of many Japanese bombers lost over Asanol

[spence]

ZZZZZZ
300123Z MAY 1942
NAVRADSTA MIDWAY
TO NAVCOMSECGRU PEARL HARBOR HI
INFO CINCPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
BT
S E C R E T //N0630//
1. MONITORED UNCIPHERED DISTRESS CALL FROM CALL SIGN IDENTIFIED AS HIJMS NUMAKAZE ON 500 KHZ IN JAPANESE HOME WATERS APPROX 250 NM SW OF TOKYO.
2. SHIP REPORTS HITTING MULTIPLE MINES AND IS IN SINKING CONDITION.  LOSS OF LIFE REPORTED AS HEAVY. 
BT

[spence]

DATELINE DARWIN - 31 May 1942
  
A flight of about 3 dozen Japanese bombers was intercepted over the sea by RAAF fighter aircraft today.  The enemy lost heavily to repeated attacks of the Kittyhawks.  A handful of Japanese bombers broke through the defense and dropped their bombs near the radio station but inflicted very little damage.  Ten enemy bombers were brought down and several others were damaged.  No RAAF aircraft were lost. 

  



One of the enemy raiders came down just off the beach. The crew of 5 were captured.

[spence]

DATELINE ANCHORAGE - 2 June 1942

Over the last several days Air Corps and Navy bombers have rained death and destruction on the enemy's lonely outpost on Kiska Island in the Aleutians. Opposed in the air only by the miserable weather, the flyers encountered scattered antiaircraft fire over the targets which were heavily damaged and left in flames.

Approaching Kiska Island as seen through the nose of one of our bombers

[spence]

DATELINE CALCUTTA - June 2, 1942

Japanese air raids on southeastern India have decreased in numbers and intensity over the last several days. Raids on Chandpur, Dacca and Calcutta have cost the enemy more than a dozen bombers and 7-10 fighters to antiaircraft fire and interception by RAF fighters. Fighter Command India reports the loss of 11 friendly fighters, mostly Lend-Lease American Mohawks, to enemy fighters though 5 of the pilots parachuted to safety. Damage to military facilities on the ground was negligible though bombs did cause a number of civilian deaths in both Dacca and Chandpur.

[Mike Dixon]

Update to the end of May 1942

Operation 'IN'

Smaller air attacks have continued - dozens of the enemy Mohawk IV type fighter have been destroyed near Chandpur. These obsolescent fighter planes are showing the enemy are lacking modern airframes, and with several further pushes could sue for peace shortly.

Bay of Bengal

On the 30th May the ML Gouden Leeuw was sunk by a submarine.


Matsuyama, Nippon

In a criminal attack, breaching all known laws of war, an enemy submarine laid a large number of mines in Matsuyama harbour on the night of 30th May. Although these mines were immediately detected, before minesweepers could arrive, the DD Numakaze selflessly sacrificed itself to stop the said mines sinking several civilian vessels. Captain Hara has been posthumously awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, class 1 (see below).

[goodboyladdie]

If he had been alive, he would not have worn it - it's a girl's medal![:D]

[spence]

OOOOO
022351Z JUN 1942
FM: USS S-23
TO: COMNAVFORAUSTRALIA
INFO: CINCPACFLT PEARL HARBOR
COMSUBPAC PEARL HARBOR
BT
S E C R E T
1. SCORED TWO SOLID TORPEDO HITS ON ISE CLASS BATTLESHIP OUTSIDE LAUTEM HARBOR, DEI.
2. WHEN LAST SEEN ENEMY SHIP DOWN BY THE HEAD AND ON FIRE. CONTACT LOST DUE TO LENGTHY BUT INEFFECTIVE ENEMY DEPTH CHARGE ATTACKS.
3. SHIP IS FULLY OPERATIONAL
BT

[spence]

China - Burma - India Theater
Japanese air raids on Southeastern India have subsided to only occasional recon flights. Operations by JAF units in the area are now being directed against Chinese units in Southern China. Japanese forces captured Homan and have begun to envelop Sian. Meanwhile Chinese forces drove a wedge into Japanese lines West of Changsha and cut off a Japanese Division. Several Chinese attacks on the surrounded division were beaten off. Heavy Japanese air attacks have been a daily feature of the central China front.
Numerous Japanese submarines are now operating in the Bay of Bengal. The small Dutch minelayer Krakatau was torpedoed and sank.

Australia-Southwest Pacific
The S-32 torpedoed and heavily damaged HIJMS NAKA near Port Moresby. The BB Hyuga, heavily damaged by S-23 retreated successfully to Kendari where it is undergoing emergency repairs before returning to Japan.

Central Pacific-Aleutians
Minor air raids have discomforted the Japanese garrison of Kiska in the Aleutians for several nights. Pretty much all quiet elsewhere.

[Mike Dixon]

Sitrep 1st to 3rd June 1942

China

The Roosevelt and Churchill puppet Chiang Kai-shek days are now numbered. Several enemy counteroffensives to relieve the partial encirclement of Hengchow were rebuffed. A bridgehead over the Hwang Ho, sixty miles east of Sian was established. Sian and Homan are now cut off from the rump Chinese area. Further offensives are planned. It is envisaged that the Chinese goverment will flee before the end of the year.


Lautem

The BB Hyuga was rocked by a magazine explosion on the 2nd June. A full investigation is underway, although initial findings suggest that the ship collided with an uncharted reef during gunnery practice, which led to an accidental explosion. Enemy propaganda can be discounted. Damage is light though the ship may have to return to Japan for some modifications. A number of the sea crew are being posted to the South seas outer defence perimeter indefinitely.


Kiska Island

A number of B-17 raids have rocked the island. The enemy appear to have no qualms about bombing their own territories, which are under temporary Imperial jurisdiction. Naval intelligence believe that the enemy would bomb and destroy Japanese cities indiscriminately if able, thus the Japanese defensive operations to date, are fully within international law.


Hyuga gunnery practice:-

[Mike Dixon]

With the success of the defensive Greater East Asian liberation, enemy propaganda appears to be getting more and more offensive.

The Japanese have no intention of conquering American land! However one condition of peace talks is that the Western Coast is fully demilitarised.

[Mike Dixon]

Update 4th to 6th June 1942

China

The Allied position has further deteriorated with the fall of Homan on the 5th June. A large Chinese horde was routed from the city and are being pursued to Sian. The dictatorship of Chiang Kai-shek is steadily being eroded. On the 6th June in Tokyo, Wang Jingwei was appointed President of the executive Yuan of the interim Chinese government, based in Nanjing.

Type 94 tanks enter Homan

[Mike Dixon]

Update to 9th June 1942

Relative quiet on all the outer defense perimeter strongholds.

In China, remenants of Chinese forces from Homan were chased into Sian. Reduction of the citadel is expected to take several weeks. Other offensives are expected to start shortly. Reports of widespread panic and looting in Chungking have been received. It is understood that Chiang Kai-shek is readying to abandon the country, in a similar manner to self-appointed American warlord MacArthur.

[Mike Dixon]

Update to 12th June 1942

China

Further attempts to escape the Hengchow pocket were rebuffed. Several large Chinese armies were routed and were observed fleeing back to Hengchow. Meanwhile Sian has now been completely encircled. Over a dozen Chinese corps are trapped in the cauldron. Desperate radio calls to Chungking for help have been intercepted, supplies in the city are believed to be running low. A full scale assault will be undertaken shortly.


Lautem

On the 10th June, a large scale enemy B-17 attack was intercepted and destroyed. Score of B-17E's litter the land around Lautem. A number of enemy pilots were captured in the area. Several Zero's failed to return to base, probably due to a mid air collision.


Kiska Island

Also on the 10th June, an enemy invasion of Kiska Island was rebuffed. Several DMS's, including the Wasmuth and Trevor were sunk. A number of CL's (Detroit, Helena and Raleigh) were also severely damaged. The island is heavily fortified with mines and coastal guns. Any further enemy attacks will pay a heavy cost.


Diamond Habour

Several enemy ships, running contraband to Diamond Harbour, were attacked on the 12th June. The TK Pleiodon and AK Empire Peregrine were torpedoed by G4M1 (Betty's).



B-17's under attack near Lautem:-

[Mike Dixon]

Update to 16th June 1942


Funafuti

SS Cuttlefish was believed to be sunk on the 15th June, near Funafuti in the Central Pacific, by IJN ASW forces. Maritime losses have now been reduced to negligible proportions, with the introduction of the convoy system. Palace sources indicate that the Emperor is pleased with progress in underwater war, despite the unrestricted illegal acts by Roosevelt and Churchill. IJN submersibles have been instructed to attack only legitimate Naval targets, rather than the wanton destruction so far exhibited by American and British submarines.


China


On the 16th June, the enemy defense on the Zi Shui river, near Changsha, was ruptured by several infantry divisions. The enemy is in full retreat to Kweiyang. Pursuit forces are being organised and a drive of Chungking cannot be ruled out.



Recon photo of Cuttlefish from an Alf, prior to its sinking:-

[Mike Dixon]

Update to 19th June 1942

Akyab

On the 19th June, a heavy Liberator raid was beaten away at Akyab. A6M2 and Ki-43 combat air patrols recorded many kills. Over a dozen bombers were destroyed near the airfield and at least twenty are thought to have crashed on their way back to their lair in Asansol. Only light damage was recorded at the aerodrome. Friendly losses were minimal. A counterstrike is being organised.


Diamond Harbour

On the 18th several Ak's were sunk near Diamond Harbour. These vessels were flouting the exclusion zone, and were thought to be running contraband to the enemy's isolated forces in East India.


'Liberator' shot down by A6M2 ace Masahisa Saito:-

[Mike Dixon]

Leaflet drop on Australian troops