1275psi(herbiesan) vs gen Hoepner

[1275psi]

Extract of letter from minister of production to Okhama navall yard


...............and she proved to be a wonderful little gift, quite compliant and ...............thus i have decided that your construction plans for the conversion of BB Shinano to a CV -is confirmed, and production can continue -but again I re iterate only as a 120 capacity combat carrier, i see no need..................

[1275psi]

Target for tomorrow
Singapore airfields

Lt Yamato reads the notice grimly
6 missions so far - and some 20 plus holes in his bomber already patched.
how far would their luck hold out.

He thought of his Sally Bomber -only 3 weeks ago it had seemed such a sturdy indestructible machine.
Now how badly did he dream that Japan too had a mighty 4 engine bomber like the B-17..........

[1275psi]

25/12/41
Christmas day -and the Allies give Japan a present they did not want
122 Sallies fly against the city today -and Flak drags 10 of them down - exactly at this stage of the war 2 weeks production worth -and 10 more critically important crews.
Attacks at cagayan continued -at cost -driving the defenders into a corner -bowed, but not defeated
The japanese also found themselves against 3 Chinese corps in Canton -and the chinese also were massing against central china -the whole front now active under the energetic commands of Gen Hoepner.
.
Things also began to heat up in the pacific - Hosho recieving a submarine report of seagull float planes to her south.

[1275psi]

This was better than chess.

Captain Umeya carefully weighed his options.
To the west -pearl -and the dreaded B17s.
To the east, somewhere -Nagumo
To the south east - a SS sighting -float planes.
Cruiser launched for sure.

Again the fishing analogy came to his mind
Fishing with dead bait always gave worse results than live wriggling bait.
Drifting here -awaiting the tanker, was dead bait.

"Helsman, come right, new course 160, speed 20 knots"
"FlIGHT!"
(Flight was very much one for correctness)
"Sir!"
"get your birds ready -I think we have our chance"

[1275psi]

26/1/41

Operation pigpile -the invasion of merak -was an outstanding success.
aided by the enemies unwillingness to fight, and the detirmination of all units invloved, the troops began to pour ashore .

Of the coast 3 major task forces provided cover
Capt Takeda -still bitter over the rebuke from RADM Takagi -provided cover with his 4 BBs
A second 4CA cruiser force lurked to the north east, and the Zuiho task force awaited any naval interference
But the main cover came from palembang -where many fighters now flew LRCAP.
nevertheless -the allied air force did force its way into the hbr
Again the BB Yamishiro drew much attention -again the martins missed
They did not miss 2 AP -severly crippling them.

But by days end, 4 Naval guard units, many construction troops, and a avaition battalion, ahd by almost a miricle, managed to land at the same time -and sieze the field.
By dusk, Capt Takeda had been relieved of the operation, command going to 35th Brigade HQ.
His Ships would be needed elsewhere.

For Southern command bad news -a deliberate attack at cagayan failed -more troops, especially engineers, would be needed.

[1275psi]

Little Hosho bravely tackled the mid pacific swell -her small frame shuddering against each one.
As said before -the ocean is very big, and she was very small.

A PG to her south had identified several ships -APs -big ones -Hugh scott amongst them- and a second task force -containing CA's -and Capt Umeya was straining every rivet to get into strike range.

A horrible game this - worse than chess - for the un identified task force to the south may well be carriers -and he may well be rushing to his doom.

[1275psi]

Extract combat diary, GEN Kawabe - Burma HQ

..............small mercies that 33rd division has arrived...........but Im not to use it yet?
This is such utter crap - Im now facing 3 identified units at moulimien -and Im meant to take it?.
........every day they seek glory in Singapore i struggle with this piss ant little command and i ..............

[1275psi]

Private Ado gratefully sat in the shade under the rubber trees.
He was repairing his, he had to consult his little diary -yes , his 17th flat tyre.
But he'd been clever enough a long, long time ago to stock well on spare tyres and tubes - Kuala Lumpa had helped too - so while many of his companions -those same ones so willing to let him cross each and every bridge first -were getting blistered arses from riding on steel rims, he Ado - of such simple peasant stock -continued to ride on rubber luxury.

But his legs still ached.
Tanks had taken over the lead now.
recon was almost unnecessary -the entire british army had fled, was fleeing to singapore -that fortress.
5 divisions were following them -would it be enough.
Ado did not care -it was enough just to rest, and to wonder about the causway far ahead he knew they would have to cross......

[1275psi]

from MGEN Hasegawa -25th corps HQ
to
LGEN Mutaguchi -18th div
LGEN Oda -16th div

It is apparent that we will face a strong and entrenched enemy next month at singapore.
I seek advance ideas, and ammunition /logistic requirements from your commands soonest.

Also i am displeased over road discipline at this time -a single biplane could have destroyed all our artillery at the crossing yesterday -18th div, you are rebuked personally for this.

Further more.............

[1275psi]

Inside the head of a certain little short LGEN in Malaya.......


"at the crossing yesterday -18th div, you are rebuked personally for this"

"Ha -swallow that, you little pig -I will show you how a real division marches to victory.............."

[1275psi]

27/1/41
121 nells hit bandoeng today as the japanese rush down the southern sumutra peninsula. Operation pigpile looked horrible -but it was working, principally because each individual unit was so indoctrinated with the need to "get on".
Again the Allies fled before them, south to another 'fortress" soerabaya.

In China the AVG announced its presence over Changsa, and in the phillipines the japanese divisions settled into bombardment mode -awaiting engineers.
In the Northern phillipines gen homa began to make a cautious advance south from Aparri -both it and laoang now held airfields capable of operating medium bombers

East of pearl hbr CS Mizuho attacked the AP Hugh Scott -but missed.
She in turn was attacked by B17's -and also missed.
Would the allies sortie after her, or not?

[1275psi]

From Minister of production
to
herbiesan

Blockages in armament deliveries found
Causes shot

expect no further difficulties.

[1275psi]

weekly combat summary
from General Hada, Southern Area HQ, to herbiesan

..........overall the operations in malaya could not have gone better so far, we arrive at the gates of johore in very good shape -although i must admit, the we have not hurt the british at all iether -Singapore is going to be hard - i believe we must strike quickly before he digs in too deep.......
cagayan is disa pointing, still, we should take it within the next 2 weeks -I so not want to break the units there forcing the issue, the local...........

.........I do fear greatly a counterattack in the phillipines, it realy is a great risk not giving 14th army 4th and 38th divisions, I must insist on having them back by end of febuary, China is such a ..............

[1275psi]

extract from Gen Kawabe, Burma HQ, diary

.............finally given permission to deploy 33rd division, i will maarch it to rahaeng, and make a decision then on where to deploy it - if the British are really going to abandon burma for an Indian defence, it might be better to go around rangoon for the moment, much to debate here.
Still struggling to maintain contact with 21 brigade -they have orders to advance on moulimien -but i am very disturbed to hear that.........

[1275psi]

From
15th army HQ -LGEN Yamamoto
to
Southern HQ

Corps continues to advance on Johore - enemy observed to be retiring rapidly into Singapore.
regret unable to catch them.
Supply situation fair
Troop morale good
TOE at almost 100%

other issues...

[1275psi]

Captain Takedo struggled to read the signal in front of him.
He was so tired.
So terribly tired.
The landings at merak had gone well -but the air attacks had just been unceasing - and some were now getting home - and then there was the Dutch SS in the area -2, or was it 3 times now they had attacked it?

And then there was the million rush things to be done.
And now this -this really was asking for miricles.
From RADM Takagi
to
Capt Takagi
" Enemy forces in full retreat from batavia.
please convey to 35th brigade to pursue as close as possible.
If at all possible, transport 3 construction units, and whatever troops can be mustered to Kragen via your cruiser task forces.
make every effort to close off enemy retreat path.
Air cover now arriving, also 4 nell squadrons in support.
Good luck."

Good luck -he was going to need it

[1275psi]

Herbiesans private thoughts

well, as the war ends its 3rd week, its been a mixed bag
Malaya goes well, Burma serves its purpose
Cagayan is a hiccup -i can live with it
The phillipines are a very great worry -what if Gen H comes out at me?

The big question is China - and his aggression.
Im sure i can prevail -he has a very annoying habit of jumping on supply lines -might have to use some mongolions here.
4th Div, 38th Div are available, as are 1 para unit, and 2 SNLF.
Plans were to use these in the phillipines -or to sieze brunie.
But i have spotted something else
pakhoi in china is empty -and only 1 unit holds Nanning? to its north, and only 1 unit guards now the vietnam border at hanoi.
So im going to land the divisions at hanoi -and attack from there -sieze pakhoi -and maybe cause a great deal of concern to the general in his rear.
The operation is Sumutra is on a knifes edge -I just hope he keeps up a sir robin -I will bottle him in soerabaya -and use the singapore units to kill him.

he is so obviously fixated on India -and the sir robin -I wonder how he will react when i do not take india on -or even the solomons!
the Grand plan is in place.
Siege phillipines -don't care how long that takes now.
Finish malaya
Sieze DEI -and then send just 3 divs to burma
leave the Solomons -especially rabual empty until May
then hit them with 9 divisions and the whole fleet -lets see what he will have put into there by then.

[1275psi]

29/12/41
3 fast transport groups loaded troops at merak over night, and landed them at kragen -just as the allies arrived
More were enroute
Sallies bomb Johore, and Clarke field in great strength
batavia fell, and the japanese Naval guard units continued a rapid advance south

The AVG continued to operate over central China -still unchallenged by the Army airforce.
4th, and 38th division began to load for their next mission.
In malaya the army approached Johore -where it was thought that the enemy might stand -as a Indian battalion was still on the east coast, and would soon be cut off.
But it was not to be -already the British -38 combat units strong, was entrenching at Singapore.

[1275psi]

Flight log
Lt Yamato
Combat missions -8

Bombed troops at johore.
Big formation, no opposition, little Flak today -good
Milk run.
Rumours that we recieve a new heavy bomber soon.

[1275psi]

from Sothern HQ
to
22nd Air HQ

require maximum air cover and prescence over Kragen tomorrow
Please bend all efforts to stop enemy interdiction of our landings
issue vital.