1275psi(herbiesan) vs gen Hoepner

[1275psi]

Radm Takagi impatiently watched the fuel being pumped from the fat tankers into his carriers hull.
Kuching baked and sweated in the tropical heat -and the fuel fumes made him feel decidedly unwell.

No rest for the wicked
For 3 weeks his 2 carriers had helped cover the vital invasions of palembang, and Sumutra.
Now he was ordered eleswhere.
cagayan was 3 days away, from here again he would hold grave responsibility -to cover the largest invasion fleet yet -80 odd ships, 3 divisions - target, Kendari, then timor.

2 little CvLs, and maybe the taiyo.
Where in the hell was nagumo ? this was a task for the big boys, not his toys!

[1275psi]

30/12/41
Capt Takeda was again very busy this day, his 4 battleshipsagain delivering a devastating naval bombardment against Tilitijap this day.
nearly half of the 35th brigade was delivered by a fast transport run of 4CAs to Kragen, and just in time -the dutch were streaming into the area, both from the north, and coming up from the south.

The day was marked by big aerial battles over the beachhead -japan managed to keep 13 zeros on LRCAP, they struggled hard to stop all the bombers, knocking down 11 enemy fighters in the process.

The Army air force again delivered a heavy attack on Johore -but it was wasted, all the Allies were gone.


In Burma 54 zeros swept Rangoon, and shot down 16 buffalo for no loss.

[1275psi]

It was the third time this week that both the generals had presented to him.
MGEN Hasegawa considered his two divisional commanders before him.
The Hostility between them was platable.
'Maybe he should cease this little charade' he wearily thought.

Mutaguchi spoke first " I must respectively represent that 16th divisions plan is absurb -a direct attack at the causeway is madness -how can it possibly succeed - I must insist that our plan - an amphibious assualt led by my 18th division -here, to the west -this area held by the Australians be adopted!"

"And where do we get the boats from to cross the gap?" retorted Oda ' from your fat arse?"

"GENTLEMEN!"
he had to stop this. he must recommend to general Hada that these two divisions be seperated for the next phase of operations - he would need his corp to fight like the 15th Army was - smoothly.

"The decison is not mine" he paused. " Southern Hq has ordered 15th Army to attack -5th division to lead. We go across at the causway"

[1275psi]

So there it was
Prvt Ado and his company were encosed for the moment in some sort of old palace just near the straights - most were asleep -exhausted from the 100's of kilometers ridden in the last 3 weeks.
Ado had stolen a few minutes, now in the gathering dusk -and climbed a tower that the british had so convieniently negleted to demolish.
When he reached the top, he found he was not alone -the small room was occupied by a small fattish little fellow, in a plain uniform -considerably stained by sweat. In the gathering gloom it was very hard to tell what unit he belonged too

"Ahhhhh -come to admire the view?"
"Yes -it is good?"
"Very good my friend -feel free"
Ado made his way to the balcony. There it was -a narrow strip of water, dark brooding jungle on the other side -and the causeway -across it like a knife -except its blade was brocken near its end -the british had blown a gap

" Well they made sure we cannot cross there" Ado commented " I suppose we will cross by boats somewhere else"
"And that is exactly what I expect they are thinking" The little man smiled -and only then did Ado notice exactly who he was talking too
LGEN Yamamoto continued to smile "at ease soldier - have another close look at that gap -see how shallow it is -I bet my balls that a tank can cross that"

[1275psi]

Lt Yamato had now completed 9 missions.
Around him he looked at his fellow pilots here at the briefing.
Already he grimly realised - so many new faces.

The briefing had just one surprise
Singapore the target -well that was no surprise -it was the only target left.
What was surprising was that 3 more Dentai's had transferred from the Phillipines, and would fly from other fields in tomorrows attack.
The empire -apparently -was throwing everything it had into this assualt.

3 more bomber groups -a total of 6 sally groups -plus Lillys from Palembang.
Doubt drained away.
Such power must crush the target -crush it swiftly.

[1275psi]

31/12/41
The planned aerial attack on Singapore went poorly this day -weather closing all the fields in Northern malaya
The lighter bombers did fly from palembang - but not against singapore - a communication failure seeing them hit Teloektoeng instead

The main fighting again took place in sumutra -the dutch launching a furious counter attack at kragen - failing to dislodge the japanese -they did succeed in opening the road to soerabaya -and the retreat continued

navy air got into the act -131 Nell attacking soerabaya - and basically missing all targets.

In the phillipines - mostly to hide the transfer of air power to malaya - the new Helen Bomber made its debut -it was hoped that the enemy would see the lessoning of effort a sign of other groups being upgraded as well.

In Chian the guerilla war continued -and the japanese regained control of Nanchang -the failed chinese army retreated in good order..

[1275psi]

Captain Umeya again paced his small flight deck.

Spotted at one end his 9 kates, and 10 claude fighters were firmly lashed down - his little ship was rolling very heavily today in the big pacific swell.

Another day -another fruitless day of waiting.

Did the enemy know they were here?

When would nagumo lead them home? -or - God forbid -had he gone home already and left him here?

[1275psi]

From herbiesan -his mightiest!
to
thet dag
My minister of production_

pray inform me this day -what is our aircraft pool state -i feel we are losing more bombers than we are producing.
Are we producing any types we no longer need?

Also "remind" " Mr Mitsubishi" that HIS wealth depends very much on MY favour -I hear rumours of a certain young lady at your place last week ? -and where pray tell is my little "gift?" - I grow very tired..............

[1275psi]

1/1/42
Highlights from Monthly Ccommand reports -
to herbiesan
His Highness -conqueror (of not very much so far)

Northern HQ
Radm Htekeyama

Parishimio secured satisfactorily
Invasion of Attu enroute
Supplies Sat

Home Islands
Gen Sugiyama
6 divisions at home
Construction of airfields and forts slowly proceeding
Really needs AR ships -which are very slow to advance in construction so far

Kwantung Command
All quiet -risk of russian intervention -very low

China
North China army - Guerillas are very active -a lot of effort trying to subdue them
Kaifeng army to attempt to lift siege of Sinyang

China army south

Trying to relieve canton!
have thrown enemy out of nanchang - need to get rid of Guerillas here too first

Phillipines
Gen Homma
Landed as ordered.
Airfields secured
Advancing to the centre of the phillipines
Not nearly enough troops committed so far!

Do expect Cagayan to fall soon

Burma HQ
Advancing as planned
33rd div advancing on Taung Gyi

Malaya -
assualt on Singapore soon to begin

Sumutra
We march south -siege of soerabaya soon to begin

Herbiesan notes
feeling very unsure on way ahead -feel I am not pressurising Gen Hoepner nearly enough - and bitterly dis apointed that KB did not find a target east of pearl hbr

[1275psi]

1/1/42
The new year begins pretty quietly -good for the allies -bad for japan
More troops arrive at cagayan, the attack is ordered for as soon as they have unloaded.

Troops rest and recover , or march, little fighting today

Japanese high command continues to recon pakhoi, and nanning, in the west of China, plans afoot.

[1275psi]

From
herbiesan
to ADM Yammato, Combined Fleet HQ

Admiral,
We have had the main fleet sailing in circles for 3 weeks now - what are our prospects of a successful intercept now?
I fear very little.
I would like fleet returned to home waters, for replenishment, starting at weeks end.
We need the carriers for operations Rabual, and south in 2 months time
Pray tell me -is this achievable?
I grow very nervous invading Timor and the like with only 2 light carriers.

[1275psi]

From
General Hada
Southern Army HQ
to
Adm Yammato

Operations cagayan reaching climax
Will require 200000 tons lift from there as soon as possible for operations against timor, kendari, plus appropiate escort.
As Battleship POW still un accounted for, request Heavy BB escort as well.

[1275psi]

2/1/42
With the Army crouched at the gates of the causeway, Japanese bombers set about the work of paving the way for the attack. In 3 great raids,250 plus sally bombers attacked the airfields.
But the Flak remained very heavy, forcing the bombers to bomb from 21000 feet -and the results were poor.
Spectacular, but poor.

In Sumutra, the Allies launched a desperate attck at Kragean -and were held.

[1275psi]

Private Ado sat transfixed in his foxhole.
Overhead, small dots in the sky, the great formations of Bombers passed slowly overhead.
"How manydo you count?" her asked his companions "200 -250 maybe -I did not think we had that many"
The bombs fell -and great clouds of smoke and dust rise lazily from Singapores interior.
Private Ado feels better - with such power -the base must surely fall like a plum.
if they got across the causeway.........

[1275psi]

from Combat diary
Gen Kawabe -burma command


.............moulimien will be too hard a nut at this stage - especially with 21 brigade taking the course it is taking -the foolish idiots.
But I see the irrawady is not fortified, the enemy are falling back to the north - I will send 33rd division this way, uup the interior -I will have to weight for the reinforcements Hada proises me - if Singapore does not wreck them.......
Zero support has been very good - intend to deploy dive bombers soon in support -which will help..

[1275psi]

3/1/42
On this day reinforcements continued to pour ashore at cagayan -the attack would go in tomorrow.

Light bombers based at Palembang raided singapore, while 106 Nells struck at soerabaya

In the phillipines the japanese advanced cautiously -Lingayen being occupied.
In China the battle against irregulars continued

[1275psi]

MGEN Hasegawa finalised his plans

the enemy had blown the causway - but how big was the gap?
recon already told him this -the british were manning the moat -especially to the north east of the island.
At the causway -just a battalion.
He had a plan, but first -he needed more information.

Whatever though -18th and 16th divisions would have to be seperated.
So be it
5th would lead the attack - 18th and 16th would take opposite flanks - he could no longer trust Mutaguchi or oda to co operate such was the hatred between them.
With luck -maybe one of them at least would fall.
he had told them -I expect you to lead from the front.

[1275psi]

Captain Takeda slept.
he slept the sleep of the exhausted

His 4 battleships were now at anchor at Kuching - finally, finally free of the never ending air attacks.
So far the battleships were winning -but even an elephant can be brought to its knees if there are enough ants............

[1275psi]

From herbiesan
to
HQ -southern command
HQ -China command

operation approved -with reservations.
Is pakhoi really un garrisoned -i find this hard to believe.
I grant use of 4th and 38th division for operation for no more than 1 month
Should Phillipines come under pressure i reserve right to redeploy these divisions to phillipines

Good luck


Hada - I think you are taking a great risk here -is it really worth it?
I know it would be good to eject enemy from canton -but will this really do it?

I lose sleep over this attack!

[1275psi]

4/1/42
Aided by a bombardment from 2 battleships, and many cruisers, the japanese divisions storm cagayan this day.

Southern Command HQ sends many, mnay transports to the port - and begins to plan the next operation to seal the DEI of from the allies.

The Chinese operation is approved -reluctantly
And the troops begin the attack into the island of Singapore.