Niitaka Yama Nobore. Son of Heaven Vs Buttsworth

[kaleun]

“What happened in Davao?” Ryuji asked.

“The landings are coming along well, with bombardment from a cruiser force; enemy hudsons tried to interfere, but to no avail. Today, paratroopers from Lingayen, the 1st and 3rd Yokosuka have taken Cotabato and Dadjangas. We shall know more in a couple of days”

[kaleun]

Showa 17 Month 1 day 4

Ito entered Adm. Yamamoto’s office and saluted. Around the table were the Admiral, and two of his closest assistants and confidantes: Rear admiral Ugaki Mayome and Capt Watanabe Yasuji, Yamamoto’s personal courier.

Yamamoto uncharacteristically smiled and addressed Ito directly: “Ito san, it has been a quiet day for our navy, what does this friend of yours, Lieutenant Ryuji tell you about the land war”

Ito started on his well prepared briefing:

“Good news from China: The 89th Guerrilla corps that was straddling the railroad in the Tsingtao peninsula has surrendered after the first probing attacks. This has freed the forces there to incorporate themselves to offensive operations about a month earlier than planned. Also the last enemy units have been pushed out of Kaifeng; the city is entirely in Japanese hands.”

[kaleun]

The retreat of the enemy forces that were attacking Kaifeng will make it easier to encircle the enemy forces north of Sucho and East of Kaifeng.

In the Philippines, The air assaults on Djajangas and Cotabato succeeded in taking these cities. Air resources are now moving to Cotabato with a view to repeating an air assault on Butuan. Our landing troops, after a night bombardment assaulted Davao and seized the city. The 101 Reserve division that was garrisoning the city is now withdrawing toward s Butuan. The Kure Special landing force has been dispatched to Butuan however, if the 101st threatens to arrive at Butuan before our naval landing force has time to arrive, we will send the paratroopers in.”

[kaleun]

Showa 17 Month 1 5th day

Early in the morning, 2nd Lieutenant Ito approached the commander of the airfield. In addition to his dispatch case he carried his kit bag with the usual supplies for a young naval officer being detached for temporary duty. In addition to the naval issue supplies was a very civilian issue swimsuit.

Ito saluted and handed the commander his orders. He grunted, as if he couldn’t be bothered, then pointed to the warm airfield office building.

“You are lucky, 2nd lieutenant; there is a G4M carrying mail and perishables to Palau. It leaves in 45 minutes. You’d better not miss it.”

“Arigato”

Palau. Ito could not believe it when he got the message yesterday. Capt. Watanabe gave him the dispatch case to take to Vice Adm Nagumo at his flagship Kaga, just arrived at Palau. He was to pick up the Nagumo’s reports on the attack at Pearl and Operation Coiled Dragon and return. That explains the swimsuit. He planned to at least take a swim in the warm waters of the South Pacific while he was there.

The crew of the G4M1, known to the gaijin as Betty, was very pleasant. They were glad to have him along, or perhaps they were glad that he shared his cigarettes with them as the ground crew prepared the twin engine bomber for the long over water flight. When the crew chief pronounced the aircraft ready, he accompanied the pilot and copilot as they did their walkaround. Ito made sure to admire the size of the airplane, and the power of the two Mitsubishi engines, and spoke deprecatingly of his A5M4 fighter. This got the crew in a good mood.

“You fighter ko think that you are very brave, dogfighting with the Chinese. Try a torpedo run against a battleship side at 150 meters, flying straight and level into the AA fire, and see what you think” The skipper said.

“That would require big balls” Ito agreed.

The two bomber pilots laughed loudly and slapped Ito on his back.

“You are all right, for a fighter boy”

Soon they were strapped into their seats. They allowed Ito to sit in the extra cockpit seat, behind the pilot, glad for his help in navigation. The gunners took their places and after the tower gave them a green light, the almost new bomber taxied to the end of the runway and sped off into the cold, clear, winter air. They turned south gaining altitude as they set course for their first navigation point, the atoll of Tori Shima. The air was completely clear after the cold front, and Ito could see the patchwork of cultivated and built up areas in Honshu, and across the narrow sea, the island of Shikoku.

[kaleun]

By the time the bomber reached Tori Shima it was at its cruising altitude of 4500 meters, or as the gaijin would say, 15000 feet. The aircraft followed the same course to reach Chichi Jima. Even from this altitude, with binoculars, Ito could see the floatplanes stationed there for ASW patrol; this part of the new antisubmarine scheme was working splendidly.

The aircraft turned southwest, flying over Iwo Jima. There were no installations in Iwo yet, but there soon would be, Ito thought. Surely one of the convoys that could be seen on the wide ocean was carrying the AV and supplies for the floatplane base soon to operate from Iwo. The enemy submarines would have a tough time entering home waters.

Only two months ago, on a trip like this, the ocean would be full of merchants, tankers and liners, singly seeking their own destinations. Ships of a hundred flags, carrying on their commerce peacefully. Now, only the rising sun flew from the mastheads of the myriad ships that cruised the peaceful ocean. The ships however were grouped in convoys and round them, like guard dogs, the antisubmarine patrol ships attempted to prevent the gray wolves from taking the sheep in their flock. How effective they would be at this task, Ito knew, would probably determine Japan’s destiny.

The G4M1 bomber refueled at Saipan; then took off again for the last leg of its trip and, by the time they landed at Palau, the sun was setting. To Ito’s surprise there was no sign of Nagumo’s task force.

To his questions he was directed to a E13A1 floatplane that was lingering in the seaplane base. The young ensign saluted as he saw the 2nd lieutenant.

“Admiral Kaga received many replacement airplanes and pilots in Tokyo, to replace losses at Pearl. He has been training them hard. I am from Battleship Hiei, flew in to get the mail. I shall be glad to fly you to the Task force in the morning”

Ito had to content himself with a night swim at the beach, and some fish for dinner. The next morning they flew in the seaplane to the task force which was conducting exercises 30 miles to the north. The floatplane set him down by the imposing kaga, and Ito climbed up into the large carrier.

“Admiral Nagumo, doko deska?” He asked the seaman that helped him in.

“At the bridge” The seaman answered.

Ito made a fast climb through the maze of stairs and companionways until he reached the crowded command bridge of the carrier. Ito was always amazed that the designers always made the bridge so small. In it, Adm Nagumo had a small desk where his maps fought for space with each other. Behind him, facing the bow of the ship and the flight deck, Capt Okada watched over his ship and tried to pretend not to hear what the flag rank officers debated only three feet behind him.

[kaleun]

Ito saluted the admiral and proceeded to hand him the briefing documents from his dispatch case. The first was a map with the front as it stood yesterday.

[kaleun]

Then he gave him a report on the situation in China; although important to the overall war plans, Nagumo did not seem too interested. China was army business and Nagumo was Navy to the core.
“…and the railroad to Kaifeng is now clear of enemy forces.” Ito concluded

[kaleun]

Nagumo was more interested in the operations around Singapore, and the paradrop on Sinkep island, and operations on Mindanao.

[kaleun]

Operations on Mindanao

[kaleun]

The only information on enemy naval deployments came from S-I boat Go off Suva

[kaleun]

Ito entered the conference room. Inside, Adm Yamamoto sat at a table; with him, Rear Adm Ugaki, Adm Nagumo and Capt Watanabe. Each had, on the table in front, a brown folder, unopened. To Ito?fs surprise, an orderly handed him a folder before leaving. On the cover was written:

[kaleun]

Chameleon. Secret.

Ito stood at attention holding up his wall as Adm Yamamoto opened his folder. Following suit, all the men, Ito included opened theirs. It was a briefing for operation chameleon, but it was more than that. It reflected the initial strategy for the empire in its epic struggle against the USA.

1- Japan cannot win a war against the United States, therefore Japan must not fight a war against the United States.
2- The industrial might of the United States will, once unleashed, sweep all of Nihon’s efforts aside, like sand before a taifun.
3- In order for Japan to achieve a negotiated peace, it is essential that the American war production not be allowed to reach the South and Southwest Pacific. Japan must sever the lifeline to Australia.
4- Operation Chamaleon has been launched. Its object is to occupy Canton Island, and from there, if conditions permit, occupy Suva or Pago Pago. G4M and G3M bombers sited on those islands will make the American effort to recover them very costly in ships and materiel.
5- The Army must occupy and exploit the Southern Resource Area. The Navy must assist in the transport of resources and oil back to the Home Islands, and supplies and fuel out, but must not get involved in a land war in Asia. We must request that all Naval landing forces now extant in China be returned to Naval command for use in the Pacific.
6- The Americans have, by now, four carriers in the Pacific: Yorktown, Enterprise, Lexington and Saratoga. Wasp and Hornet should be arriving shortly. With six carriers in the Pacific, Kido Butai must be reconstituted. We cannot risk meeting the American carriers with Kido Butai split. Admiral Nagumo will return to Palau and proceed at best speed to Kwajalein and rejoin the rest of the carriers.

We must be decisive and must not hesitate.

Signed:

Isoroku Yamamoto.

[kaleun]

Showa 17, Month 1, day 16

Ito looks out from Kaga's flight deck. the Pacific is deep blue, the sky clear. The sailors move around the deck efficiently cycling the fighters on Cap. It is inconceivable that they would encounter enemy aircraft here, halfway between Palau and Kwajalein, but the enemy still holds the Solomons and New Britain, far to the south of the task force, and they could possibly have a carrier there. Not likely, but possible.

Ito's orders are to report back on the expedition to occupy Canton Is. Nagumo must be ready to react to the enemy and thus cannot return to give his impressions to the Admiral, so Ito will act as courier. He feels isolated, away from his office and his pile of information on the war.

Just about the only information that got here is that a convoy of merchants returning to San Francisco was ambushed by a succession of Japanese submarines and, at last count had lost already four ships.

Ito tosses a cigarette overboard. Behind him, a Zero fighter takes off from the carrier.

[kaleun]

Showa 17th ichi gatsu jusichinichi (Jan 17th)

Back in Hiroshima, Ryuji misses his friend. Despite the internecine service rivalry, both young men are trying their best to serve their country and have learned to cooperate with each other. Ryuji now has to look over Ito’s reports in addition to his own. He gets a message dated from the 16th from Submarine S1-171: “Large destroyer TF SE Canton Is. Evading” The transmission is cut off at this point. The sub might have survived, or perhaps not. The ocean going I class subs are large and unwieldy and if they have the aircraft hangar, they are not too good with depth charges, or so Ryuji understands.

The subs patrolling off the US West coast have been ripping apart convoy after convoy. The enemy has been ordering all possible ships back to the West coast and most of those convoys are unescorted. The large subs can stay a long time at sea and carry lots of torpedoes; many have been signaling they are returning to Kwajalein when short of torpedoes. Things will become more difficult when the enemy can escort their convoys Ryuji fears.

[kaleun]

Showa 17 Ichigatsu Ju hachi nichi (Jan 18th)

Ito watches the sea passing by from Kaga’s flight deck. He feels isolated here as the carriers and their escorts make their slow cruise to Kwajalein. Despite the urgent need to combine both carrier fleets, Nagumo has ordered a leisurely cruise speed for all the ships in the task force. He does not want to waste fuel, or to expose his ships to unnecessary wear and tear. There are very few repair facilities from the Line Islands to Japan Ito knows, he cannot criticize his superior for being prudent. The enemy carriers could be anywhere, and Nihon cannot take unnecessary risks. He looks at the southern horizon with his binoculars. Unless they meet an enemy submarine, danger can only come from the south.

In the command center he gets some messages that let him know a little of the conduct of the war. Things are still stalled out in China, and also in the Philippines. A full division has left Japan to participate in the attack on Clark. In Malaya the enemy stills hold strong at Johore Bahru. Submarine I-Go returning to Kwajalein, torpedoes expended, did surprise a destroyer minelayer off of Johnson Island and sunk it. This, and the persistent success of the subs off the West Coast are the only active news of the war.

[kaleun]

Kaga's cruise

[kaleun]

Showa 17 Ichigatsu nijuni nichi (Jan 22nd)

Finally the Kaga task force arrived in Kwajalein. As soon as the ship was tied up, Ito dashed out of the carrier to the command offices on the island. The harbor was still quite small although engineers were feverishly working to expand it. A task force of tankers was unloading fuel oil. The storage facilities on the island were not very big but, with the carriers and their escorts refueling, there should not be that much fuel left over.

As soon as Ito arrived in the office a sergeant found his mail. Several folders had been flown in from Hiroshima. Ito recognized Ryuji’s handwriting on the covers. He did not open them yet, he would do that later on Kaga. He picked up the reports for Adm. Nagumo. Aside from the exploits of the submarines, which he already new about, there was news of an important naval battle off Canton Island. Kido Butai, escorting the invasion task forces was detected by the enemy while still a ways out and came under attack by twin engined bombers. He saw the pictures of the strange aircraft and recognized the ones named after a cowboy tie. The Zeroes flying cap did short work of them. East of the island, submarine I-5 had reported being under attack by a large enemy destroyer force. The carriers moved to intercept.

[kaleun]

The results were impressive. The destroyer task force had no chance, and the Japanese pilots gave no quarter

[kaleun]

Air reconnaissance the following morning failed to see any ships. The sea was empty of enemy ships and the invasion of Canton Island started unimpeded. The enemy had reinforced the island with a regimental combat team, so the two special landing forces have only been able to establish a beachhead. An additional SNLF is on it’s way from Kwajalein. Indeed, Ito saw the ships leaving the island as Kaga moored. Now he knew where they were going.

[Farragut]

Hi Kaleun, son of heaven.

Congratulations for your magnific AAR, it's a very interesting reading that captures our interest day after day,waiting for your next report. I find it a really amusing style for an AAR, a personal diary plenty of thoughts and intriguing and it is just what I like most from such a text, not mere descriptions and lists of casualties and downed planes but the mental struggle of a combatant that must figure out the intentions of his adversary and plain alternative courses of action, and then put them in motion and react to unexpected events. I like too the maps and schemes to best visualize the movements and situation of forces involved, Go ahead with it.

As an apprentice japanese player I dare not to give you advices, but I'm suspecting that three SNLF would be not enough to crack the resistance in Canton island, maybe a lot of logistical support could help a bit............

I will follow closely this AAR from the other side of the world.
Good winds and salute second lieutenants Ito and Ryuji for me.