1275psi(herbiesan) vs gen Hoepner

[1275psi]

Flight log book
LT Yamato, 98th sentai

10th mission conducted today - against ground troops near causeway.
poor results -we have been forced to 21000 feet -and in the haze target extremely hard to detect.
frustrating

Still -Flak reduced -and no fighters to resist us.
I may make my 20th birthday yet!

[1275psi]

extract of signal herbiesan to MGEN Hasegawa

..............every bomber we have is being given to you...........
.fall quickly or...................will not be pretty.
Gen Hoepner is not going to sit around finger up bum and allow us to pick him of one objective at a time, I expect he will attack, and attack ...........

[1275psi]

Private Ado would not take part in the attack across the causeway.
Dropped from 21000 feet, the bomb had missed its intended target by nearly 3 miles, and exploded just 100 yrds from the private as he crouched at his cooking fire.

the piece of shrapnel in his calf was not serious -but the causeway assualt would require speed -and for this week, Ado would dol ittle running - and a lot of thinking, thinking of how dreams sometimes do not come about.

[1275psi]

5/1/41
The day was clear in malaya -and the japanese launched as heavy as air raids as they could muster against singapore.
In Sumutra the navy nells pounded Tjilitjap, as the troops continued to push south from batavia.
In China the war against the Guerillas continued -like a rash they were active everywhere -often just a dozen men at a time -cutting rail and road links, cutting off vital supply lines.

It would be a long battle to kill them all.

[1275psi]

from
ADM Yammato
to
Nagumo

return to home immediately.

end

[1275psi]

This time LT Yamato learnt many things.

Sallies with only one engine fly very poorly.
sallies with only 1 wheel down cannot be landed safely

Belly landings -on long grassed fields -can be achieved.

(experience jump 3 points)

[1275psi]

Extract fro Gen Kawabe combat diary - Burma HQ

............and then I hear 21 brigade has taken the inland road -not the coast road!. damn it to hell -4th brigade pinned at moulimien, and no reserve -too late to turn the division around..........
what a mess!
And as for Sonias - what a pathetic excuse of a bomber that is .......

....mind to resign................
BAH!

[1275psi]

Letter from Lgen Mutaguchi (18th div) to his wife

.............and tomorrow we attack -with luck the pig will take a bullet.....

[1275psi]

letter from LGEN Oda (16th div) to his wife

.....across the causeway, I hope the toad takes a bullet straight.........

[1275psi]

6/1/42
The japanese forces had swept down malaya -but failed to hurt the british, who had retreated in good order onto the island

On the night of the 6th, Gen Hasegawa sent his 18th and 16th division across the narrow straight at the causeway in a direct frontal attack
The causeway had been "blow" -yet at low tide a rocky crossing could be seen
Under cover of 100"s of smaoke shells -and a fierce direct fire artillery attack -the japanese simply drove a dozen tanks into the breach -and used them as foundations for a bridge.

Several siezed frieghters sailed to the causway -each sinking at right angles to the breach -effectively masking it from interdicting fire.

The Infantry simply charged across, or landed from the boats each side of the causeway, the way cleared by the artillery
Losses were light -surprise was total.

Meanwhile 15th Army crossed more conventially by boats from the western side, penetrating into the mangroves. Allied counter attacks were costly

By dawn the shock attack was across, and 5 divisions were on singapore island
They were heavily disorganised, lacked any co ordination, but they were across.

Eleswhere on this day, the allies began a counter advance in the phillipines, leaving their defences at Clarke -a encounter battle looked very much in the offering.

Japanese fighters swept soerabaya, shooting down 11 this day for no loss
And the resource centre at toabali fell to a small garrison force.

[1275psi]

from Maj General Hasegawa 25th army
to
General Hada Southern Command

Have successfully crossed to Singapore island
Line currently some 4 miles into interior, am attempting to establish artillery .
16th division heavily hurt at some 60 squads disabled
18th division in good shape

Will require a period of consolidation before resuming attack.
Enemy appear to be very well supplied

[1275psi]

3 men shared the trench
LGen Yamamato of 15th army, LGEN Mori of the Guards 2nd division, and LGEN Takeuchi of the 55th.
They were waiting for the commander of the 5th division -but this was uncertain, reports were filtering in that he may have been killed in the assualt

Meanwhile the trench gave good cover, and the rice was almost done.

The conversation was jovial-that of good friends at a party -not that of an army engaged in desperate war fare.
yet there was much to be jovial about.
They were across, they were alive, the army had lost 6000 casualties -but the enemy had lost 4500 too -and it was only the first week of january -and all knew that herbiesan expected Singapore to fall by no later than Feb 14.
So there was plenty of time
The british were going no where -unless they left by submarine -and the rice was almost done.

[USSAmerica]

Quite an enjoyable read, herbiesan!  Keep up the great work!  [8D]

[1275psi]

7/1/42
A new front opened in the war this day, as the 4th and 38th division, backed up with a regiment of heavy artillery, and 2 vietnamese regiments erupted from the borders east of hanoi
Simultanously two small naval combat units landed at pakhoi - attempting to take it by coup de main.

The Chinese at the border simply fled towards Nanning, but the local commander at Pakhoi was made of sterner stuff -soon the japanese troops there found themselves pinned to the docks area.
The proposed combined para attack -planned for midday was cancelled, as the strength of the defences becama apparent.
Operation back door had already miscarried, not even one day old.

In Malaya a massive bombing effort was launched -117 Sallies attacking -but again the results were less than expected.
The siege of Singapore would be a great struggle.

Operations in the Kuriles began, as troops landed at Amicitaka island, and at Kiske -ADM Yammato's last effort to lure the american CVs into battle.......

In Sumutra the dutch continued to retreat, Djikjakarta falling with out cost to japan.

However, already ripples of concern began to imminate from Japan HQ -as clear signs of an allied counter attack in the Phillipines began to emerge. The bluff was being called.

[1275psi]

From
General Homma, Phillipines
to
General Hada, Southern area HQ

Sir
Beg to honourably report that 65th brigade is engaging enemy tank regiments at Lingayen Gulf.
have sent divisional elements to support.
Further to last signal, urgently request status of promised 4th and 38th divisions, cannot possibly achieve objective required with out these troops.

Also request urgent re consideration to stripping of Army bomber squadrons , enemy may re occupy airfields if I cannot suppress them.

Consider situation currently critical, again.........................

[1275psi]

extract of letter from herbiesan to general Hada


............. now he is screaming for help, just as you expected.
Yes, I know that he will probably start squeling like a stuck pig when he hears where the 4th and 38th are, he will get over it.
We have to get the general off balance, and I do not mind having him running all over the place in the phillipines -it burns supplies nicely.....................


................new LIZ coming on line soon -do you still want to deploy in China, Im not convinced................

[1275psi]

Flight log
LT Yamato
98th heavy sentai

Missions 12

Bombing mission today at 21000 feet
Less Flak -thank the Gods
Big raid, difficult take off -too much dust!.
results uncertain.
My back is killing me!

Squadron has now suffered 25% casualties since war start, still promised new bomber, I hope its more solid than the sally

[1275psi]

Weekly situation brief
General Hada
to
All commands

The war continues to plan, aided by the imperialists reluctance to accept a fight.

Burma
Gen Kawabe continues to lead by example of doing what is required with what he has, his 4th brigade pins many enemy troops down at moulimien as the bulk of his forces forge strongly towards the interior of the country.
we salute his bold progress

Malaya
Our forces have again stunned the weak white man, achieving surprise and stunning success. the defences of Singapore are breached, and soon it will fall to us.

Sumutra
The Dutch do not deserve this country, they are not willing to fight for it, Soerabaya will soon be ours.

Phillipines
Weak allied efforts to counter attack will soon be shown to be a mirage -snow flakes against the furnace of Japanese fighting spirit

Southern operations

We continue to liberate the natives of PNG, and soon the oppressed peoples of PNG will bask in the freedom of the co prosperity sphere!



....................... private addendum to herbiesan

.........many apologies, Chian adventure from hanoi is a mess -will have to ask the navy to pull us out of Pakhoi -and General Homma Im afraid does have the right to -as you say -squeal like a stuck pig - I recommend we redeploy 4th, 38th ASAP to the phillipines

The Kendari invasion has sailed - will 2cvl be enough cover?
Do the British have a CV force in theatre?

Supply situation Singapore , Sumutra not too good -and I am not convinced singapore will fall as easily as we think.

I still hear of many units lacking essential armaments - again I ask for this to be investigated.
.....................Palembang oil stock is now worthy of extraction -I do consider it safe enough to risk first tanker convoy........

[1275psi]

From
herbiesan
to ADM Yammato
combined fleet.

My dear friend,

General Hada is a fool and incompetent.
As phase 3 operations are going to be very much a naval affair, I need your advice.
I need to keep Army in the mind that they are still running the war, yet we are going to need a "Navy minded" man at the top.
I would appoint yourself as Southern commander -but I think that might be a bit insensitive.
Would you be able to recommend a suitable general for me?.
Im sorry Nagumo came up a bust.
let him refit and get back into top shape for phase 3 ops, and please mind out for the CVLs -we need them all -losing any at Timor will not be viewed favourably.

herbiesan

[1275psi]

8/1/42
The japanese navy took its turn today -124 nells bombing Singapore- the results were better, but again not fatal

At lingayen gulf, the allied counter thrust was beaten back - the tanks lacking sufficient infantry support.
At Bugiuon in the central areas, both sides probed at each other, niether apparently willing to risk crippling units in attacks

In Burma, the 4th mixed brigade found its self under increasing pressure -identifying 4 seperate enemy units opposite it.
the war seemed to be slowing down somewhat, but behind the scenes filanl orders had been given to the 3 divisions of troops at cagayan, and from tpalua, the largest concentration of japanese shipping seen so far in the war sailed to cagayan, and towards Ambiona, phase 2 operations finally getting underway.

In Singapore, both sides grimly artillery duelled, the Allies however seemed to be getting the worst of it.