1275psi(herbiesan) vs gen Hoepner

[1275psi]

By the First day in December of 41, the newly established dictator of Japan -herbiesan -had resolved that the only solution to the forthcoming resources crises for the empire was war.
Already he had completely purged the military of any opposition, and the petty differences between the Navy and Army had been resolved -brutally.
Co operation would be achieved.
On 1st december the orders were confirmed
The newly appointed allied supremo - General Hoepener -for all of his vaunted skills and experience -would meet something new and deadly
The combined might of the imperial fleet, army and airforce.........

[pauk]

[1275psi]

from
General Hada
Southern Area HQ
to
HQ 15th Army Hq -LGEN Yamamoto
Guards 2nd division -LGEN Mori
55 division - LGEN Takeuchi
1st tank regiment

Commence operations.
Sieze Singora and co ordinate operations with 25th army
You are reminded of our principle tactic -the driving charge
Do not allow the enmy any rest, or respite until singapore falls.
Much depends on you
best luck.

[1275psi]

Operations diary
Burma front HQ -gen Kawabe

Burma HQ has been ordered to redeploy to bangkok
We have been alloted 2 mere Brigades for 1st phase operations
21st, 4th mixed -and quite a few construction units
Our task is to attempt to decieve the enemy of strength being deployed whilst the main thrust occurs in malaya
We do expect 33rd, 31st divisions at some time, both are stranded at shanghia
Southern Fleet HQ tells us we must expect at least a 3 week delay before shipping can fetch them
So be it
We go forward, small in numbers, large in confidence

[1275psi]

Japanese operations for the first phase of operations would be divided into just two major operations

The first -the rapid capture of malaya, kuching and palembang
The second, rapid siezure of the southern phillipines
And the most vital - the elimination of the american fleet - particularily the carriers

To achieve this - 5 divisions were allocated to malaya
6 divisions were allocated to southern phillipines, a vast complicated plan was already in motion to bring them together

the bulk of the japanese carriers would strike pearl hbr -and fade away
But then a second plan would take place -a small force of CVEs, CS and AV ships would strike east beyond Pearl - and KB would lurk behind

Army had requested, and begged for carrier cover for its invasions of the DEI -but other than the 2 CVLs covering the Jolo invasion, the carriers would remain committed to the destruction of the american carriers
6battleships, and 2 battle cruisers would be provided though, in case the newly arrived POW turned up.

The invasion of the Northern phillipines would not take place for a week -until air supremecy had been gained
Only 1 division was so far allocated -its task, to sieze airfields in the north
The phillipines would be digested only after the DEI were secured

As the first week of december past, the seas emptied of japanese shipping -as the empire called all non committed ships home........

[1275psi]

Supreme Dictator herbiesan contemplated the vast map before him
had he forgotten anything?
What would happen?
was this the right strategy?
too late now -the order to attack had been given
a rising excitement , always when a new battle loomed.
Gen hoepner would be an awsome opponent -herbiesan silently asked the Gods of war -that he would be a worthwhile opponent!

(now we await the turn back
CHS 2.08 plus nikmod
scene 157c
PDU off
usual house rules)

[1275psi]

DEC7
The japanese atack at Pearl hbr achieved complete surprise, and was a stunning success
All 6 battleships were heavily bombed, and only one avoided torpedoes.
4 cruisers were also hit, and in one move , the allied BB threat was eliminated
But the carriers were not home
The attack ignored the airfields though, and Nagumo quickly ordered his task force to retire, the first phase of the op done

Eleswhere things were a mix of success, and failure.

[1275psi]

7 Dec
LGEN Mutaguchi, commander of the 18th division, almost raged in frustration

2 full divisions of men, the 18th, and the 16th, in in some 20 vulnerable transports lay off Khota bharu
Overhead the second wave of nearly 100 bombers were departing, yet all was going wrong
The seas simply put, were too rough to land.
Although some engineers had got ashore , unmolested, it appeared that his landings -the very spear of the attack, would be delayed at least a day.
Humiliating!
But he had to get ashore with as little disruption as possible
He just hoped to hell that the navy would do as promised -and protect him at his most vulnerable!

[1275psi]

On the bridge of the CVL Zuiho, RADM Takagi commanding

" report from the strike force sir"
"very well, report"
"One large cruiser -believed to be Boise confirmed sunk sir"
"very good, and the landings?"
Commander Kure 1st SNLF reports landings proceeding as planned, Jolo should be ours by midnight"
"Very Good. Signal the Mutsu, Nagato -follow me. Intend to make best speed to second objective, Kuching"
Also inform other commands to commence second phase operations as planned"

[1275psi]

100 plus bombers achieved surprise at Clarke -200 plus hits on the field
The methodical elimination of the allied air threat began.

That evening herbiesan viewed the events of the day
A good strike at pearl
Jolo island successfully invaded
Singhora successful landings
In effective allied air response

All transports in position as planned for the follow on troops

But
The failure to unload at Khota bharu.........

And what to do in China?
What to do?.
Nevertheless, a satisfactory start.

[1275psi]

The second day of the war seemed almost calm after the chaos of the first
LGEN Mutaguchi, commander of the 18th division, got his men ashore -severly disrupted.
But both he and LGEN Oda -commander of the 16th division, were profoundly grateful thet the defenders had packed up, and headed south already
The enemy -as predicted it seemed - had little stomach for a fight.

Even more pleasing -the landings at Singora were successful, and already elements of air support were moving in


Rendevous with the covering battleships of Capt Takeda's TF 82 complete, the troops and transports assigned for the forthcoming invasion of Kuching began heading south.
After listening to 2 days of highly ineffectual allied air attacks to his north, Capt Takeda felt that he only had the enemy's prince of wales to worry about.
Still - he was promised 2 light carriers tomorrow.

Eleswhere Jolo island recieved its first aircraft, Nagumo attempted to fade from view, and the Lea landings continued.
The destroyers covering the northern phillipines continued to sink allied shipping.
For once a plan had survived its first contacts with the opposition.

[1275psi]

Meeting between Herbiesan and Yammato

"and the American carriers?"
"regretfully not at pearl -they could be now anywhere in this circle"

This circle definately includes the island of wake
Just south of Marcus, the South seas Detachment and 4 cruisers await the word to sail to wake.

"delay the invasion of wake until we get a better idea where the carriers went -I do not need the SSD sunk with out cause"
"yes sir"

"And for gawds sake -i am totally dissatisfied with the garrison of the gilberts -please get the necessary troops there as soon as we can"

[bbbf]

Good luck Herbie! 
 
Any unusual ops planned?  Don't forget the para's - hope you get a few better rolls than I did.
 
 

[1275psi]

9/12/41
day three of the war saw the Japanese safely ashore in malaya -and the British rapidly retiring to the south.
in a very quiet day in malaya 22nd Air command successfully transferred the bulk of its air forces to the peninsula- reinforced with some 50 zeros from the phillipines battles
With little opposition from the allies, a days rest and organisation was ordered -with heavy recon of singapore to take place

Eleswhere the invasion of Kuching took place -against ineffectual air opposition, and the phillipine forces -48th division, and the 65th brigade began landing at Loaog
The only real opposition encountered for the day was at lae -where HMAS adelaide attempted to interupt the landings
In a nasty engagement she was beaten off..........

[trollelite]

PDU off with Ki-27 to Ki-43 ( 2 version of these rubbish) to Ki-84( this is good, if only you manage to produce them)...[:D]

[1275psi]

RADM Tagaki watched with satisfaction as the last Claude cleared the deck of the zuiho
Now with his strong CAP, he felt that the Mighty strength gathered here of Kuching -6 battleships in addition to his 2 CVLs would be safe from the inevitable attacks

They were not long coming
"30 plus bandits approaching from the west sir! -fighters, and biplanes sir!"
"very good -captain, you may manouvre independently"
Confidently he made his way to the port wing - lacking a island, his view here would be poor -but it would be sufficient
he raised his glasses -seeking the action -yes -that must be his fighters going in.
Quickly confidence turned to alarm as the biplanes simply charged in, grimly he hung on as the captain violently flung the small carrier to port
The sky was thick with the bursts of AA fire -yet still the bombers came on
Thunderous crashes as the bombs fell -wide of the mark -and then mercifully, quiet.

1 enemy fighter, 2 bombers shot down -and these biplanes.
Tagaki returned to the bridge
wanely he smiled at the captain "well -i think the war games had the air losses predictions a little wrong dont you think"
"yes - I would hate to think what would have happened if those wildbeests carried torpedoes"

[1275psi]

Only 6 miles away -on the towering bridge of the Yamishiro -Captain Takeda - was busily finding out
7 swordfish torpedoe bombers had selected his battlewagon, and were detirmedly attacking.........
"Port 10"
"Full astern port, full ahead stbd"
2 swordfish vanished in a hail of AA fire, the others dropped their deadly load -and flew across his bows, and escaped

A poorly executed attack -he knew they had been lucky
One thing for sure -they needed a lot more close in AA weapons -a lot more.

[1275psi]

The first naval engagement of the war was short, sharp, and utterly confusing, as far away from the training as any crewman on the atagonists had ever anticipated

Immediately on reciept of the news of the invasion of Lae, HMAS Adelaide had raced to the area.
At around midnight the light cruiser charged into the anchorage, seeking the transports.
Unexpectantly they found her - the first shots coming from one of them at less than 2000 metres range.
The 3 inch shell was deadly -striking the bridge, killing all on it immediately.
The adelaide lurched out of control, and suddenly found itself running parrallel to the light cruiser kashi
Both sides opened fire -a 6inch hit plunging deep into the kashi.
But kashi reply was far more effective -a barrage of fire striking the adelaide -and again striking her in the most vulnerable spot -the second command position.
Still out of control, the Adelaide turned away, fortunately for her, her guns only firing sporadically.
In 4 minutes she recieved some 30 hits -most defeated by her armour -but leaving her upper decks a shambles
The invasion continued.

Dawn saw a footnote to the battle -as Kashi struggled to contain her fires and flooding, MSW Tama maru and a Damaged AP were detached to Truk - at some 20000 yrds they spotted the burning Adelaide -when a 4inch shell struck the MSW, she quickly broke away.

WW2 had began with 2 WW1 ships -with open guns hammering at close range.

[1275psi]

Minutes from meeting
herbiesan, Minister of production


........................ and it was agreed that conversion of 30% of merchant marine production to naval production would occur.
The leader did agree, and was aware of our production capacities - nevertheless he did insist on limited production of the new heavy bomber, 4 engines and all.
Fortunately for us, he saw the sense in cancellation of the 3rd yamato.......

...................... CV production to be first piority................

aircraft production currently stands at just on 600 planes ...........

.........If he thinks we can match the allied production figures he is as mad as we think he might be.................

[1275psi]

10/12/41
japanese landings continued through out the day at Kuching, Khota Bharu and new landings commenced at manando.
Allied resistance aws sparodic - falling back rapidly on Singapore.
Attacks on shipping at Khota encounterd the new Japanese zeros- 3 buffalos going down quickly to them

Eleswhere the 2 light carriers off Kuching continued to provide some air caver -the claudes far more effective this day -as tired allied air crews failed to press any attack with vigour.

In the phillipines the weather finally cleared over the fields, and 120 bombers, and 50 fighters flew with out loss to clarke again, and again closed it.
Japanese air forces transferred to the small field at laoag, and began operations from there.