10th Decemeber
The 10th of December offers the first major propaganda victory for either side. At approx 0600 the RN battleship HMS Prince of Wales is spotted trying to escape from Singapore whilst east of Palembang. 360 miles away at Kuching 2 Daitais of G3M bombers are loaded and briefed for the upcoming mission. At 0830 the first bombers being to taxi out to the runway and commence takeoff. At 1035 the ship and her escort are spotted 60 miles east of Palembang. The resulting attack sees the already damaged ship hit by no less than 4 torpedoes. Returning aircrew report seeing the mighty warship capsize and sink beneath the waves. The escorting vessels are attacked, but results are inconclusive.
Further east, off the SW coast of Mindanao the Mogami TF runs across 2 USN destroyers escaping to Australia. The USS Pilsbury and USS Peary are quickly sunk by gunfire and torpedoes without fighting back. 250 oil-drenched sailors are pulled from the sea, several shocked survivors mention a convoy they were suppossed to be escorting. The TF commander orders an intensive air search to be begun, and changes course to the rendevous point for the convoy and it's escorts.
The fighting at Brunei ends with the British garrison pushed back into the jungle where starvation or surrender awaits them. The refineries are heavily damaged, but engineers estimate limited production can be resumed within 2 days. At Kota Bharu a dusk attack by the 18th Division overwhelms the garrison and forces them back along the main road to Singapore. The 18th is ordered to follow the fleeing troops and sets off after the rearguard.
11th December
Yava is feeling brave, early in the morning HMS Repulse shows up off the coast at Kuching. A short bopmbardment is interrputed by a small convoy offshore, even as the Repulse starts to find the range the escort destroyers Murkamo and Amagiri move to intercept. Despite being heavily outgunned their actions allow the damaged transports to escape followed by the crippled destroyers. The crew of all four vessels trying desperatly to save their ships. The G3Ms are agin readied for combat, and as day breaks the aircrew are again ordered to their 'planes. It is not until midday that Repulse is located by a formation of Nells, the aircraft swoop to the attack, claiming a confirmed strike against the battlecruiser. Subsequent searches provide no indication as to the ships course or fate.
Another search formation of Nells instead locates the USN destroyer USS Pope hugging the shoreling near Brunei, the formation is ordered to attack and the Pope is attacked from both sides. 3 torpedoes slam into the ships starboard side and the destroyer quickly slips beneath the waves. Less than 20 survivors are pulled from the sea by Japanes launches.
South of Mindanao the Mogami TF locates the convoy they were searching for. In a brief battle the transports Basilan and President Maddsion are sunk. Survivors pulled from the water include several crew from the USS Canopus. The Canopus was torpedoed several days earlier by I-124 but was thought to have limped back to Manilla.
In the central Pacific aircraft from the KB bomb the US transport William Ward Burrows, distress signals indicate the ship later sunk with all hands.
12th December
The 12th sees a storm front roll in through the SRA area. Heavy rain and 10/10ths cloud at 5000' keep the Nells grounded and make spotting ships difficult. If the PoW had delayed departure until today she would probably have escaped under the cloud cover.
On the Malayan peninsula the 18th Division continues it's pursuit of fleeing Commonwealth troops as they overrun several rearguard positions. Wrecked vehicles are used as barricades by the fleeing troops holding up pursuit.
The US base at Peurto Princesa is occupied. The assault is so quick that US forces do not have time to evacuate their float plane squadron and their support ship. Japanese troops capture several aircraft on the ground. The AV tender is scuttled in the bay.
In the central Pacific the landing at Tarawa catches Yava by surprise, he wasn't expecting me to move so fast and without serious cover in this region. Westwards of Tarawa, Naura is taken without a fight.
13th December
Alor Star is captured early in the morning. The base force at Singora will move south to occupy the airfield here. The 18th Division overruns a hastily organised defensive position on the road to Singapore. In just 3 days the defenders from Kota Bharu have been pushed back 120 miles. The bad weather limits the effects of my air support as the bombers are unable to find their targets in the murk.
During the day Yava's planes spot the Tarakan invasion fleet 240 miles east of Jesselton. The airstrikes directed against the ships are ineffective.
The 13th also provides a boost to Yava's naval forces. Despite being caught off balance by the raid at Tarawa Yava sends the USS Louisville. The cruiser catches my TF offshore readying to load the troops on the island for their next mission. In a short battle the destroyer Asanagi is sunk and the Yunagi is damaged. Operations in the region will be scaled back until more support is available.
