CENTPAC ALL COMMANDS BE ADVISED
WE HAVE STRUCK BACK RPT WE HAVE STRUCK BACK X TODAY AT 2230 HRS THE MARCUS ISLANDS FELL TO USMC TROOPS AFTER PREPATORY BOMBARDMENT BY SARATOGA AND YORKTOWN X OPERATION LIGHTING COMPLETE SUCESS X THIS ONLY THE BEGINNING X
Partial Transcript of RAF radio chatter over Akyab, 4 March 1942
Ground Control: Hullo Hedgehog Leader, this is Akyab Control. I have some trade for you, eighty-plus bandits, angels one-eight, heading for your position.
Hedgehog Leader: Rodger, Akyab Control. All Hedgehogs, climb to angels two-zero, and watch out for those fighters.
Yankee Leader: Hello Hedgehog, this is Yankee Leader, I am ten miles south of you at angels two-one, closing on your position as fast as I can go.
Ground Control: Hello Hedgehog, this is Akyab Control. You have some friendlies, heading for your position. Sixteen Kittyhawks, angels two-one.
Hedgehog Leader: Much appreciated, Akyab Control.
Blue Four: Tally ho, Hedgehog Leader, this is Blue Four, I see them! Hordes of them!
Yankee Leader: All Yankees, attacking now. A flight, B flight, stick with me. Everyone else, go for the bombers.
[Various unidentified voices]: Roger.
Blue Leader: Hedgehog Leader, this is Blue Leader. I am taking my section in to break up those Oscars.
Hedgehog Leader: Roger, Blue Leader. Red section, Yellow section, head for the bombers. Hit them hard. All other fighters, follow me in. Attacking...now.
OFFICIAL RAF COMMUNIQUE, 5 March 1942
Yesterday our fighters, assisted by American pilots of the A.V.G., shot down eighteen fighters and seventeen bombers over Akyab, for the loss of only three aircraft. All of our pilots were saved.
Royal Navy Transmission, 7 March 1942
Dutch seaplanes now based at NICOBAR to observe Japanese convoy traffic from SINGAPORE to RANGOON. All commands to go to full alert; Japanese retaliation may be forthcoming.
Transmission to Eastern Fleet HQ, from Admiral Palliser, HMS REVENGE, March 7 1942
Estimate repairs to REVENGE will be completed before end of the month. HMAS CANBERRA and AUSTRALIA to be attached to my command along with HMS ENTERPRISE and HERMES for possible offensive action against forces of the Empire of Japan.
Message to Prime Minister, from General Alan Brooke, 3/3/1942
We are scheduling our next I.G.S. paper for after the 15th, as we expect momentous events to take place in the next few days.
Hapless AI versus total freaking newbie.
Moderators: wdolson, Don Bowen, mogami
RE: Update as of 18 February 1942
"I am Alfred"
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Capt. Harlock
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RE: Transmissions from the front, 3/7/42
ORIGINAL: HMS Resolution
CENTPAC ALL COMMANDS BE ADVISED
WE HAVE STRUCK BACK RPT WE HAVE STRUCK BACK X TODAY AT 2230 HRS THE MARCUS ISLANDS FELL TO USMC TROOPS AFTER PREPATORY BOMBARDMENT BY SARATOGA AND YORKTOWN X OPERATION LIGHTING COMPLETE SUCESS X THIS ONLY THE BEGINNING X
Yesterday our fighters, assisted by American pilots of the A.V.G., shot down eighteen fighters and seventeen bombers over Akyab, for the loss of only three aircraft. All of our pilots were saved.
Well done, Resolution! Now to see how the AI will react . . .
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
--Victor Hugo
--Victor Hugo
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HMS Resolution
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Brief update, 3/14/42
A brief update as I've been pretty busy with work and a brand-new Zune for the past few days...
The Japanese may have feinted towards Andaman and Nicobar, or it may have been coastal traffic heading for Rangoon that, for whatever reason, decided not to hug the coast, but they had me keeping Force C (soon to be bolstered by the arrival of another wholly inadequate carrier) 240nm east of the islands, just in case.
I think I may have seriously mauled the Japanese over Akyab; they haven't raided in the past two days after suffering heavy casualties for a week; by the end of it, even the Zekes were breaking off combat. They did hit Andaman once, and shot down five hapless Buffalos, but their fighter escorts seem much reduced; I've been shooting down at least ten a day over Akyab, many of them Zekes. Their performance near the end was abysmal; Hurricans were achieving three or four to one kill ratios, so it would seem pilot fatigue had really taken a toll. I've been taking care to rotate squadrons in and out of Akyab, flying them back to Chandpur and standing them down when their fatigue gets too high and their morale gets too low.
My ground troops are another matter. I'm rushing the Burma Corps HQ, the 7th Armd Bde, the 2nd UK Inf Div, and various artillery regiments to Akyab, but aerial reconnaissance shows what looks like a second infantry division and an armored regiment approaching from SW of Akyab; I've been hitting it for the past three days with 60+ Blenheims to try and disorganize them a little before they get to me.
Chinese troops are starting to arrive in the eastern half of Burma, and I hope to undertake a limited counteroffensive to draw away Japanese forces from Akyab.
The Dutch air force managed to sink the CL Kuma, after hitting her six times over a period of five days with 250 and 500 lb bombs. This war is eating IJN light cruisers alive, with four sunk so far, all by air attack. I've lost more, of course, but only HNLMS DE Ruyter and HMAS Perth were even remotely modern.
Rabaul has been quiet recently, with USAAF bombers still recovering from the hits to their morale, but I did manage to land the 2nd USMC Division at Gasmata, with more troops on their way. An Australian infantry bde and tank rgt are in contact with a weak Japanese blocking force NE of Gasmata, and are making slow but steady progress in pushing them back. I hope to make it to Rabaul proper by July.
I've based Catalinas in the Marcus Islands, but so far there's been no sign of a Japanese countermove; Hiryu appears to be in the Java sea again.
I'm rushing USAAF A-20 Havocs to India to help out on the ground, as well as some P-36 Mohawks, mostly because I can't think of anywhere else to put them.
Things are kind of in flux right now. I'm almost strong enough to hit back in some critical areas, but they're definitely still stronger than me, and any overextension will be fatal. I'm really hoping to further maul the Betty bombers in Malaysia and Burma, so that I can make full use of the Eastern Fleet's surface forces, which are at near maximum strength (5 battleships, 1 battlecruiser, three heavy cruisers, numerous lighter ships).
The Japanese may have feinted towards Andaman and Nicobar, or it may have been coastal traffic heading for Rangoon that, for whatever reason, decided not to hug the coast, but they had me keeping Force C (soon to be bolstered by the arrival of another wholly inadequate carrier) 240nm east of the islands, just in case.
I think I may have seriously mauled the Japanese over Akyab; they haven't raided in the past two days after suffering heavy casualties for a week; by the end of it, even the Zekes were breaking off combat. They did hit Andaman once, and shot down five hapless Buffalos, but their fighter escorts seem much reduced; I've been shooting down at least ten a day over Akyab, many of them Zekes. Their performance near the end was abysmal; Hurricans were achieving three or four to one kill ratios, so it would seem pilot fatigue had really taken a toll. I've been taking care to rotate squadrons in and out of Akyab, flying them back to Chandpur and standing them down when their fatigue gets too high and their morale gets too low.
My ground troops are another matter. I'm rushing the Burma Corps HQ, the 7th Armd Bde, the 2nd UK Inf Div, and various artillery regiments to Akyab, but aerial reconnaissance shows what looks like a second infantry division and an armored regiment approaching from SW of Akyab; I've been hitting it for the past three days with 60+ Blenheims to try and disorganize them a little before they get to me.
Chinese troops are starting to arrive in the eastern half of Burma, and I hope to undertake a limited counteroffensive to draw away Japanese forces from Akyab.
The Dutch air force managed to sink the CL Kuma, after hitting her six times over a period of five days with 250 and 500 lb bombs. This war is eating IJN light cruisers alive, with four sunk so far, all by air attack. I've lost more, of course, but only HNLMS DE Ruyter and HMAS Perth were even remotely modern.
Rabaul has been quiet recently, with USAAF bombers still recovering from the hits to their morale, but I did manage to land the 2nd USMC Division at Gasmata, with more troops on their way. An Australian infantry bde and tank rgt are in contact with a weak Japanese blocking force NE of Gasmata, and are making slow but steady progress in pushing them back. I hope to make it to Rabaul proper by July.
I've based Catalinas in the Marcus Islands, but so far there's been no sign of a Japanese countermove; Hiryu appears to be in the Java sea again.
I'm rushing USAAF A-20 Havocs to India to help out on the ground, as well as some P-36 Mohawks, mostly because I can't think of anywhere else to put them.
Things are kind of in flux right now. I'm almost strong enough to hit back in some critical areas, but they're definitely still stronger than me, and any overextension will be fatal. I'm really hoping to further maul the Betty bombers in Malaysia and Burma, so that I can make full use of the Eastern Fleet's surface forces, which are at near maximum strength (5 battleships, 1 battlecruiser, three heavy cruisers, numerous lighter ships).
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HMS Resolution
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IGS Briefing as of 4/1/1942
OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION IN THE SEAC THEATRE
Akyab still flies the British flag, but our men are facing 65,000 Japanese troops from three divisions, plus advance elements of two armored regiments as well as artillery units. We currently have 30,000 men in the line, including base troops and support personnel who maintain the approximately fifty Hurricanes we have kept stationed there (see below). Reinforcements are moving as fast as they can to augment our men; the 7th Armd Bde, 21st UK Mtn Art Rgt, 15th UK FA Rgt, and 26th Ind Div are all en route, and the 2nd UK Div is heading to Akyab from Lucknow.
GENERAL SITUATION IN THE AIR, SEAC
Our pilots have improved immensely, maintaining a highly favorable kill ratio for the past month, with some assistance from the AVG (currently still out of action while refitting with P-40E type aircraft). At no point has the exchange rate dropped below 2-to-1 in our favor, and the most recent raid was turned back with 2 ZEKE, 16 BETTY, and 6 OSCAR for no losses to ourselves. If we can hold Akyab, it will be a rock that the enemy's air force will dash itself to pieces on.
Less favorably, none of our Blenheim squadrons even attempted to strike at the IJN carrier force which entered the Bay of Bengal and stood off Diamond Harbour for two days, although we had 96 a/c able to fly. We are fortunate that all of the harbours could be cleared out in time.
NAVAL SITUATION, SEAC
All of our surface ships were forced to beat an ignominious retreat to avoid destruction at the hands of the six Japanese carriers, and we were temporarily forced to detail over 100 Hurricanes to fly top cover as insurance against a raid on Diamond Harbour which never came, mercifully for Force N (HMS Royal Sovereign, flag) which was re-ammunitioning there after a night bombardment of Akyab, and which was able to retreat to Karachi with our other ships.
The Dutch submarines reassigned to our theater did yeoman work, with O19 narrowly missing the seaplane cruiser Tone with two torpedoes. Throughout the IJN's incursion into the Bay of Bengal, Dutch submarines shadowed the Japanese ships and provided accurate information as to their dispositions. We will be making further use of them in the region of Singapore in the future.
GENERAL SITUATION REPORT, SO/WESPAC AREA
The 2nd USMC Division was successfully landed at Gasmata shortly before the 1st Australian Bde, supported by a Tk rgt, forced Japanese forces out of their encircling position around the Gasmata perimeter and to within 60 miles of Rabaul proper. USAAF bombers have completely shut down the Rabaul airfield, with no planes flying from it, and are now working on knocking out the port of Rabaul itself. SOPAC Command reports they expect to take Rabaul by July.
The USN now has five fleet carriers at Pearl Harbor, and reports no sign of a Japanese reaction to their seizure of the Marcus Islands.
Further reports as the situation warrants.
Akyab still flies the British flag, but our men are facing 65,000 Japanese troops from three divisions, plus advance elements of two armored regiments as well as artillery units. We currently have 30,000 men in the line, including base troops and support personnel who maintain the approximately fifty Hurricanes we have kept stationed there (see below). Reinforcements are moving as fast as they can to augment our men; the 7th Armd Bde, 21st UK Mtn Art Rgt, 15th UK FA Rgt, and 26th Ind Div are all en route, and the 2nd UK Div is heading to Akyab from Lucknow.
GENERAL SITUATION IN THE AIR, SEAC
Our pilots have improved immensely, maintaining a highly favorable kill ratio for the past month, with some assistance from the AVG (currently still out of action while refitting with P-40E type aircraft). At no point has the exchange rate dropped below 2-to-1 in our favor, and the most recent raid was turned back with 2 ZEKE, 16 BETTY, and 6 OSCAR for no losses to ourselves. If we can hold Akyab, it will be a rock that the enemy's air force will dash itself to pieces on.
Less favorably, none of our Blenheim squadrons even attempted to strike at the IJN carrier force which entered the Bay of Bengal and stood off Diamond Harbour for two days, although we had 96 a/c able to fly. We are fortunate that all of the harbours could be cleared out in time.
NAVAL SITUATION, SEAC
All of our surface ships were forced to beat an ignominious retreat to avoid destruction at the hands of the six Japanese carriers, and we were temporarily forced to detail over 100 Hurricanes to fly top cover as insurance against a raid on Diamond Harbour which never came, mercifully for Force N (HMS Royal Sovereign, flag) which was re-ammunitioning there after a night bombardment of Akyab, and which was able to retreat to Karachi with our other ships.
The Dutch submarines reassigned to our theater did yeoman work, with O19 narrowly missing the seaplane cruiser Tone with two torpedoes. Throughout the IJN's incursion into the Bay of Bengal, Dutch submarines shadowed the Japanese ships and provided accurate information as to their dispositions. We will be making further use of them in the region of Singapore in the future.
GENERAL SITUATION REPORT, SO/WESPAC AREA
The 2nd USMC Division was successfully landed at Gasmata shortly before the 1st Australian Bde, supported by a Tk rgt, forced Japanese forces out of their encircling position around the Gasmata perimeter and to within 60 miles of Rabaul proper. USAAF bombers have completely shut down the Rabaul airfield, with no planes flying from it, and are now working on knocking out the port of Rabaul itself. SOPAC Command reports they expect to take Rabaul by July.
The USN now has five fleet carriers at Pearl Harbor, and reports no sign of a Japanese reaction to their seizure of the Marcus Islands.
Further reports as the situation warrants.
RE: IGS Briefing as of 4/1/1942
ORIGINAL: HMS Resolution
...................
Less favorably, none of our Blenheim squadrons even attempted to strike at the IJN carrier force which entered the Bay of Bengal and stood off Diamond Harbour for two days, although we had 96 a/c able to fly. We are fortunate that all of the harbours could be cleared out in time.....
....................
The USN now has five fleet carriers at Pearl Harbor, and reports no sign of a Japanese reaction to their seizure of the Marcus Islands.
Further reports as the situation warrants.
With the KB in the Bay of Bengal Iwo Jima is a pretty promising target, at the very least the Japanese would need to get it back again, disrupting the master plan.
"I am Alfred"
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HMS Resolution
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RE: IGS Briefing as of 4/1/1942
Well, they seem to be leaving the Bay---thank heavens, as literally all I could do was run away, although a Dutch sub did manage to make an attack run on the Akagi. No joy, though. Still, it must have been a far more frustrating trip for the IJN than the historical raid, since the only thing they sank was a single transport unloading supplies at Nicobar island. As it stands, though, the RN's only effective weapons currently are the Dutch submarines that have rebased there with the collapsing of the DEI.
As for Iwo, doesn't that make it more likely that they can make Kamikaze attacks sooner on in the war? I'm not sure that's something I want.
Also: w/r/t the ground situation at Akyab, do I even have a hope in heck of holding out? I'm seeing at least three IJN infantry divisions plus support troops, and probably more coming. I'm throwing everything aside from the Kohima/Imphal line defenses into this, but I'm already outnumbered two-to-one.
As for Iwo, doesn't that make it more likely that they can make Kamikaze attacks sooner on in the war? I'm not sure that's something I want.
Also: w/r/t the ground situation at Akyab, do I even have a hope in heck of holding out? I'm seeing at least three IJN infantry divisions plus support troops, and probably more coming. I'm throwing everything aside from the Kohima/Imphal line defenses into this, but I'm already outnumbered two-to-one.
RE: IGS Briefing as of 4/1/1942
ORIGINAL: HMS Resolution
As for Iwo, doesn't that make it more likely that they can make Kamikaze attacks sooner on in the war? I'm not sure that's something I want.
It certainly is one of the trigger locations, but there is also IIRC a time constraint as well.
"I am Alfred"
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HMS Resolution
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4/4/1942
TO: Flag Officer, Force C (HMS INDOMITABLE)
Prepare to make steam immediately and proceed to ANDAMAN ISLAND. You will conduct antishipping strikes against Japanese convoys heading from SINGAPORE to RANGOON (Operation JOSEPH). Current intelligence estimates show no heavy enemy warships operating out of Singapore; last sighting of IJN aircraft carriers has them EAST of MALAYSIA in the GULF OF SIAM, heading EAST. Current enemy air activity appears to consist primarily of level bombing aircraft. All Fulmars are to be retained as fighter cover for the battlegroup.
TO: Flag Officer, Force N (HMS WARSPITE)
Proceed with all haste to DIAMOND HARBOUR and prepare to conduct a night bombardment of enemy positions at AKYAB (Operation CONRAD). You may expect fighter cover from the A.V.G. (72 P-40E fighters) and our aircraft based at Akyab (approximately 50 Hurricane II a/c) during this operation. Enemy air activity over AKYAB has been minimal recently, with heavy losses suffered by their BETTY and ZEKE types. No enemy surface forces are expected to be in the area. If any enemy surface units are encountered, you are to sweep them from the seas.
Prepare to make steam immediately and proceed to ANDAMAN ISLAND. You will conduct antishipping strikes against Japanese convoys heading from SINGAPORE to RANGOON (Operation JOSEPH). Current intelligence estimates show no heavy enemy warships operating out of Singapore; last sighting of IJN aircraft carriers has them EAST of MALAYSIA in the GULF OF SIAM, heading EAST. Current enemy air activity appears to consist primarily of level bombing aircraft. All Fulmars are to be retained as fighter cover for the battlegroup.
TO: Flag Officer, Force N (HMS WARSPITE)
Proceed with all haste to DIAMOND HARBOUR and prepare to conduct a night bombardment of enemy positions at AKYAB (Operation CONRAD). You may expect fighter cover from the A.V.G. (72 P-40E fighters) and our aircraft based at Akyab (approximately 50 Hurricane II a/c) during this operation. Enemy air activity over AKYAB has been minimal recently, with heavy losses suffered by their BETTY and ZEKE types. No enemy surface forces are expected to be in the area. If any enemy surface units are encountered, you are to sweep them from the seas.
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DuckofTindalos
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HMS Resolution
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DuckofTindalos
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Capt. Harlock
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RE: 4/4/1942
ORIGINAL: HMS Resolution
A fine one for sea stories, he was.
Hmmmm. Yes, but he also wrote "Heart of Darkness" (the basis for the movie "Apocalypse Now"). In his story, there is a scene of a battleship firing into Africa, but being unable to spot fall of shell because of the dense jungle. Let's hope your shore bombardment meets with more success.
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
--Victor Hugo
--Victor Hugo
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HMS Resolution
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RE: Update as of 18 February 1942
Hi Reso. Another Brit in the Chicagoland area? I served on the Reso too (the SSBN not the R-Class thing).
PS. The RN is in WPO.
PS. The RN is in WPO.
"Grown ups are what's left when skool is finished."
"History started badly and hav been geting steadily worse."
- Nigel Molesworth.
"History started badly and hav been geting steadily worse."
- Nigel Molesworth.
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HMS Resolution
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RE: Update as of 18 February 1942
A-heh, well... actually I'm from the USA, being one of those tiresome anglophiles you sometimes encounter. For no good reason, I love the old R-Class battleships, and am hoping to give HMS Resolution and her sisters a chance to take on Fuso or Yamashiro if I can swing it.
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Capt. Harlock
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RE: Update as of 18 February 1942
ORIGINAL: HMS Resolution
For no good reason, I love the old R-Class battleships,
Probably rooting for the underdogs -- the "R"-class were always treated as the Queen Elizabeth-class' poorer cousins.
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
--Victor Hugo
--Victor Hugo
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HMS Resolution
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RE: Update as of 18 February 1942
Hello everyone! I'm here at B-Fest for the next...oh...18 hours, watching bad movies.
I'm hoping to start coordinating some aeronaval operations in the Indian Ocean/Bay of Bengal area, since Japanese strength seems to be concentrated in the Java Sea and/or farther east. Hopefully I can score a quick raid against the amphibious shipping plying its way along the coast of Malaya, and evacuating Dutch A/C from Java and Sumatra are heading for Nicobar and Andaman. With any luck, I can actually apply a little pressure.
I'm hoping to start coordinating some aeronaval operations in the Indian Ocean/Bay of Bengal area, since Japanese strength seems to be concentrated in the Java Sea and/or farther east. Hopefully I can score a quick raid against the amphibious shipping plying its way along the coast of Malaya, and evacuating Dutch A/C from Java and Sumatra are heading for Nicobar and Andaman. With any luck, I can actually apply a little pressure.
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HMS Resolution
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SOPAC Flash Alert 4/22/42
TO: SOPAC THEATER, ALL UNITS
ALL COMMANDS BE ADVISED USN BB SAG SANK JAP BB KONGO IN RABAUL HARBOR AFTER SHELLING X KONGO DMGED PRIOR BY USAAF BOMBING AND RN/RAN SHIPS IN NIGHT ACTION ON 4/10/42.
ALL COMMANDS BE ADVISED USN BB SAG SANK JAP BB KONGO IN RABAUL HARBOR AFTER SHELLING X KONGO DMGED PRIOR BY USAAF BOMBING AND RN/RAN SHIPS IN NIGHT ACTION ON 4/10/42.