Niitaka Yama Nobore. Son of Heaven Vs Buttsworth

[kaleun]

I am going to be out of the country for three weeks (Consulting with my Axis allies)
 
Thank you for your patience; your hits are important to us.

[kaleun]

Showa 17 nen Shigatsu futsuka (April 1st)
Despite the strong allied air opposition, the Menado invasion forces lands. In Tarakan, a second attempt at invasion also starts. Nagumo launches repeated attacks against the Menado airstrip. Closer to Manila, Puerto Princesa is invaded.
The 4th Yokosuka landing force arrives at Manila.

[kaleun]

[font="times new roman"]Showa 17 nen, Shigatsu yokka (April 4th)[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]Ito, at his office reviews results and compares notes with Ryuju. While this attempt at Army-Navy cooperation does not produce much in the way of results for the big brass, it results in a close friendship between the two young men.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]“Tarakan has finally fallen and a large number of enemy planes have been destroyed.”[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]“Bravo” Ryuju says.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]“Also” Ito adds “The fortifications at Menado are slowly being ground down. It will soon be ours and the Java sea will be safe for our ships.”[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]“We will have to take Balikpapan and Samarinda first” Ryuju adds.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]“That too” Ito concurs.[/font]

[kaleun]

Showa 17 nen, Shigatsu Itsuka (April 5th)

In the night, ships approach the landing beaches in Palembang. The beaches are easy to find. They are right behind where the gun fire is. Through the night, and into the morning, Men pour into the contested city. The Dutch defenders fight desperately. They know the invaders will give no quarter, nor ask any.

Over the wireless, the news that Menado has been captured by the Japanese fails to register on the officers leading their men, yet this is an important event in the Imperial Japanese Navy’s plan. In Manila, the men of the 16th Infantry Division, the 15th Mountain artillery and the 1st Base force board their ships. Their objective: Balikpapan.

Nagumo moves his depleted KB East, towards the confined waters of Maccassar strait to support the invasion. Tarakan needs to fall soon, or everything will fail.

Beyond Balikpapan, already in Manila, men train for the next target: Bali.

[kaleun]

Showa 17 nen, Shigatsu muika (April 6th)

The seas off Honshu are not safe. Despite the best efforts of the Kaigun and the land based air forces, at least three enemy submarines patrol the southern coast of Honshu. Each sub sighting is assigned its own force of submarine hunters: Patrol craft, subchasers, minesweepers and, when available, destroyers are assigned to pursue the contacts. The enemy subs are occassionally depth charged, but they dive deep and the crews of the anti sub vessels are inexperienced. Anti sub warfare has not been a priority for the high command, despite their experience in the Mediterranean in the last war. It cannot be helped.

Despite the danger of the enemy submarines, three large ships slip their moorings in Tokyo bay and set out to sea. The mighty carriers Hiryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku, have completed their repairs and set off for Manila to rejoin Nagumo’s force. Of course, as soon as they get there, it is to be expected that the Admiral will send some of Kido Butai’s weary carriers to Manila for much needed repairs. Still the reinforcements will be welcome and, in the ships, the aircrews are eager to get back in the war. Most are experienced pilots, but some new replacements have also come in. They listen to the veteran’s war stories and try to learn something from them.

In Manila, The men assigned to the Bali invasion force secretly prepare for their mission. Other units train and receive replacements.

The 4th Yokosuka SNLF is encamped in a vacant field on the outskirts of Manila. The mosquitos are not as bad as in Borneo, but they are still a severe nuisance. The men sitting around their tents play cards, Shogi or write home. A sergeant approaches the tent city and the men notice the bag he has over their shoulder. Eagerly they surround him as he calls out the names of the fortunate men that have mail from home.

Hashimoto Yato examines his letter carefully. It seems much cleaner than the usual mail he receives. The mail for his unit tends to follow them around and, in the tropical heat and moisture the letters, more often than not, acquire a patina of mold and dirt. This one however is quite clean. He looks at the postdate and notices it is only a few days old.

Sangatsu sanju nichi (March 30th)

Chichi

Something wonderful has happened.

A few days ago, a young naval officer came to have lunch. I did speak with him, he was very nice. Do not worry, Haha was there all the time, she was watching us very closely. Later his friend, and army lieutenant also came and met us.

The naval lieutenant; his name is Ito, asked Haha and me to go out to se the cherry blossoms. He told her he would have preferred to ask you first. We four went to see the cherry blossoms, which have bloomed early this year.

He (The naval officer) said he could, sometimes, help my letters get to you faster. Maybe he is just teasing me, but maybe not. In any case, I gave him this letter. Let’s see how fast it gets to you.

I promised him that I would ask your permission to see him, so please Chichi, do not forbid me to see him. He seems very nice and polite. He works at the naval offices here in Hiroshima.

Haha and me miss you terribly. Please take care and come back to us as soon as you can.

Your daughter,

Sakura.

Hashimoto scratched his head. This would have been unheard of, just a few years ago.

“War changes everything” He says to himself. “I wonder if, if we go back, when this is over, if we will recognize the homeland” He reaches for pencil and paper.

[kaleun]

Back in Japan, the newspapers are full with the news of the recent fall of the Tarakan base in Borneo. The number and type of enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground is published on every newspaper. The newsreels are full of images of the imperial armies crushing the emperor’s enemies as well as images of tanker ships leaving harbor. It is assumed that they would be going to theese newly liberated harbors; the term Asian co-prosperity sphere is everywhere. The people cheer enthusiastically at the sight of the newsreels. The Kempetai have no reason to suspect anyone of treason.

[BigBadWolf]

Wow, that's some heavy losses. Why didn't he evacuated some of those planes?Ot those are only the damaged ones?

[kaleun]

Probably damaged.

[kaleun]

Shigatsu muika (April 6th)

The Allies continue to run their supply task forces into Canton Island. The IJN has decided to let them pay a cost for it. Hiei runs a fast raid into the island’s harbor and surprises a single cargo ship that is quickly sunk. The island base is then bombarded and the task force retreats into the night. Later on that morning it is found by land based bombers but their attack causes no damage.

Air reconnaissance from Baker Island shows little damage from the naval bombardment.

In the Java sea, a task force of American and British carriers still harass the Belitoeng bound shipping. Meanwhile, at night, in Manila, a large fleet slips their moorings. The carriers will follow them in two days. In the troop transports, men rest and prepare for their mission. Once out of sight of shore the officers and NCOs are informed of their target: Balikpapan.

A major operation is starting. Phase one is the invasion of Balikpapan. The 16th Divison, 1st Base force and a5th mountain artillery are assigned to this. Kido Butai will move on ahead of the invasion TF providing air cover and clearing the suspected enemy surface combatants out of the restricted waters of Macassar stratit.

While this first task force is in transit, a second invasion force will load and depart from Manila.The 4th Division and 10 SBF are assigned to this one. They will rapidly transit through the Macassar strait and land at Bali. The plan is to close the southern Java sea, bottling up the enemy ships in or around Soerabaja.

In the north, Baby KB will come down attacking all shipping in sight, driving them down towards the main KB.

At Hiroshima, Ito spends more and more time in his office. He will depart to Manila to be closer to the action. He may have time to say good bye to Sakura, perhaps.

[kaleun]

Showa 17 nen Shigatsu nanoka

Just before Ito leaves the office Ryuju arrives with a map.

“This is the latest map of the front lines” He says “There has not been much change”

“We will see some change in the Dutch East Indies front soon” Ito comments “We shall have a good breakthrough in the Macassar straits”

“I hope is better than Ooki Tako” Ryuju coments “After a less than promising start, it seems to have fizzled”

“Has it been canceled then?” Ito asks.

“Ie. It is still going on, only it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere”

“Wakarimashita” Ito responds.

“Before you leave, is there other naval action of significance?” Ryuju asks.

“Well, a fast cruiser task force snuck on Wake and bombarded it. Not much damage. It was probably just a nuisance raid”

“The enemy trying to distract us from the DEIs?”

“Possibly. Palembang is about to fall, they may be trying to get our naval forces to run here and there, and waste fuel”

“It looks like they have read Sun Tzu too” Ryuju comments.

“Yes; maybe they have”

[kaleun]

Showa 17 nen, Shigatsu tooka. (April 10th)

Ito is cooling his heels in Manila. He thinks about visiting Sakura’s father, who is currentlu stationed around here but, until he knows how he received the news of their so called relationship, he is reluctatnt to do so.

The harbor in Manila is full of shipping and the repair dockyards are full of ships undergoing repair and refurbishing. It is fortunate that Japan now owns two such repair ports, so near the front.

The intelligence officer hands Ito a message. Belitoeng has been seized without enemy opposition.

Now he just needs to find transport to KB, latest news has the fleet in Davao, supporting the big thrust round Borneo.

The next big operation will have KB pushing through the Makassar straits sinking everything in sight, and the first inavsion fleet attacking and seizing Balikpapan. However, this time, without a pause, the second invasion fleet will rush through the same straits and, with the support of KB now reinforced by the three repaired and refurbished carriers, it will invade Bali.

Baby KB will operate on the north end of the Java sea, supporting the invasion of Merak, and also pushing any enemy shipping south towards the waiting KB.

Brilliant, Ito thinks.

[kaleun]

Showa 17 nen Shigatsu juninichi (April 12th)

Ito finally got to his destination. A transport aircraft took him to Davao and from there he shuttled to Akagi on one of the floatplanes.

“Irashimase!” Admiral Nagumo was genuinely pleased to see him.
After the usual pleasantries he followed the admiral to his cramped map desk, in the tower bridge. The captain and officers of the ship pretended not to see or hear the admiral’s staff standing only a meter away.

“Today has been a succesful day” Nagumo was happy. Despite having only three carriers, he pushed through the Makassar strait and attacked an enemy task force at Balikpapan. Unfortunately the torpedo bombers did not fly, but the dive bombers scored many hits on the enemy ships. Resolution was hit by three bombs, so was Repulse and Revenge; unfortunately the bombs failed to penetrate, but some damage was done on the exterior of the ships. BB Ramillies was hit no less than eight times but with no penetration. Penetrating hits were scored on the light cruisers Panther, Enterprise, and 4 on Marblehead. The old Battleship Royal Sovereign was also hit by a single bomb that, of course, failed to penetrate its armor.

In the Java sea, baby KB attacked shipping and the Batavia airfield with moderate results; there are no large ships afoot in the Java sea and most of the targets are patrol craft and minesweepers.

Land based G3M and G4Ms also participate in the naval attacks clearing the Java sea which will soon be a Japanese lake.

[kaleun]

Showa 17 nen Shigatsu ju yokka (April 14th)

Nagumo hides his frustration well. Again yesterday, the torpedo bombers failed to fly. Only the dive bombers flew and scored scores of hits on the enemy combat ships; most of the hits did not penetrate and only Marblehead suffered any real damage.

The highlight of the day was the signal from Manila that Shokaku, Hiryu and Zuikaku had refitted and resupplied at Manila and would slip their moorings that night to rejoin with KB.

“KB will be again a mighty force” Ito says “Nothing the enemy has can stand against us, once they join”

Nagumo disagrees “Our carriers are worn and in need of repair. As soon as the three join us, I shall have to release one, or more likely two carriers to repair at Manila”

During the night, the Balikpapan invasion fleet arrives. The extensive minefield fails to protect the doomed harbor as the invasion fleet is provided with many minesweepers that soon clear and widen safe paths through the minefields.

The sun rises and with it, the patrol planes take off from KB and from land bases all around the area of operations.

Ito joins Nagumo and his entourage in a terse vigil around the radio. If the radio operator is made anxious by all the brass around him, he doesn’t show it.

The first news comes from G3M bombers off Singkiawang:

“Have attacked enemy ship formations in Makassar strait. BB Resolution and CA Cornwall. No hits”

The enemy, at least partially located, Nagumo orders all his attack planes aloft. The torpedo bombers accompany them this time. The results are impressive.

As the reports come back, the gathered officers resist the temptation to cheer with each torpedo hit. The enlisted men do not. Over the PA system, against all regulations the results are broadcast to the men on Akagi. Doubtless the same thing happens in the other ships of the task force.

BB Revenge: Two bomb hits, two torpedo hits. Royal Sovereign four torpedo hits, sinking; Resolution, two bomb hits and five torpedo hits, sinking. Light cruisers De Ruyter one torpedo hit, CL Boise, one bomb hit, CL Enterprise, one torpedo hit, CL Marblehead two torpedo hits and two bomb hits, reportedly sinking

[kaleun]

Showa 17 nen Shigatsu ju go nichi

The battle of Macassar straits rages on. Ito, standing with Nagumo hear the reports, pleased with the results. The bombers from KB find the enemy early on and press their attacks: Repulse, hit by nine bombs and six torpedoes cannot survive. The French Battleship Ramillies takes three torpedoes; Dorsetshire, Boise, Columbo and Cornwall are hit by a torpedo apiece. The heavy cruiser Houston escapes the torpedo bombers but is hit by three bombs that apparently penetrate its armor.

Later in the day, the bombers find two additional enemy battleships. Revenge is hit by four bombs, although not much damage can be expected. Royal Sovereign escapes unscathed.
Reconnaisance flights confirm later on the sinking of Ramillies and Repulse.


Back in Japan, efforts to find a way to solve the submarine problem are less than successful. Today an enemy sub scores on a tanker, Akatsuki Maru just off Tokyo.