1275psi(herbiesan) vs gen Hoepner

[1275psi]

from herbiesan
to
LGEN Sawada

..........again, I must repeat myself. We NEED those divisions in Singapore undamaged!. WAIT!.
attack only when at 100%!. i have replaced one commander already -do not be the second!

[1275psi]

4/2/42

Since the war began the japanese SS had been at sea -some in the bay of bengal, some off the coast of Australia, some deep in ambush positions near new caledonia.

the result -nil.
The allies simply seemed to have vanished.
Today however, was a good way to open the account - ssI-22 sinks a large minelayer in the bay of bengal - a good blow.

the allies ss also were active -Kongo narrowly dodging a Torp near Tjiltjap, her escort the Hibiki missing in counter attack.

Intial probes launched at soerabaya - it would be tough -but once the 3 full divisions were in place -it would fall.

[1275psi]

5/2/42
A quiet day for the war
CVL Shoho continued her training cruise in the Phillipine area -her kates and zeros busy striking various targets.
Some minor deployments taking place -the CVE Hosho was dispatched to northern climes - another fishing trip.

The biggest strategic change was the transfer of the bulk of the bombers deployed in the southern areas to batavia -where they would support operations against Soerabaya.

[1275psi]

Lt Yamato
98th sentai
Flight log

Combat missions now at 16

..........long flight south to Batavia -navigationally very easy though -simply follow the coast south!
There are some naval bomber squadrons here -Nells -all good fellows -all iching for targets though -and none too keen to face land Flak on "mere ground pounding"
I agree in a way -but Im beginning to see that it really takes mass bombing to give good effect -how many times have we hit singapore this month -only to see the fields repaired the next day!
And at such a cost.
I do hope the dutch are not as good as shots as the british.
Plenty of support here -2 full Aviation regiments.
This place has the feel of victory........

[1275psi]

from
Capt Umeya, CVE Hosho
to
TF 76

All captains of my task force are to exercise extreme care that no indication of this task force -through excessive smoke, signal light is given in the forthcoming mission.
All captains are to pay particular attention to seamanship in the days ahead - regardless of mission, safety of your ship remains paramount -if you require to break formation due to heavy weather -then i authorise it.
We are not going where ships normally fight a war, where nature is particularily harsh.
nevertheless -i intend to (if not discovered) to strike the americans on their very home soil, and will pursue this objective agressively.
further more...........

[1275psi]

herbiesan thoughts

well, a bit concerned that the war is bogging down!
asending Hosho on a fishing trip in the arctic ocean, see what turns up.
Hopeful that soerabaya falls soon.

Then what?

I am under a lot of pressure in China -General really has piled it all to the front -lots of units Identified that have come a long way south -especially artillery units and some cavalry.

seems wierd to be japan and under presure in China - but I am playing a very good player -and I suck at land combat[8|]
But a germ of an idea is developing!

[1275psi]

6/2/42
The siege of manilla has settled in
Japan bombs with 71 betty, and 40 helen -for 2 lousy hits.

91 nell hit soerabaya -a few hits.
In Burma, the army struggles north, and remains basically stymied at moulmien.
A deliberate attack at soerabaya is ordered for tomorrow.

[1275psi]

extract of letter from ADM Yammato to RADM Nagumo - Commander Kido Baru


............and I must disagree with your desire to deploy now.
I realise that trained pilot replacements are coming so slowly, but to simply send rookies will only see you losing them in operational accidents seems pointless to me. KB will remain in home waters for at least one month, use the time wisely, I intend to send RADM Takagi to boost you at months end -then you will have sufficient strength to smash any allied carrier force you meet.......

[1275psi]

7/2/42
The japanese invasion of Java began to move to what all now could see would be its inevitable climax
despite a failure of the airforce to condauct any missions over the besieged city, the army, now a full 3 divisions, and the 35th brigade strong, went into the attack, and by the end of the day had made good progress.
The city would fall, it was now only a matter of time.
In the phillipines, over 100 bombers bombed - they bombed swamps, fields, a dump, the harbour -seemingly everything except the target -manilla.
The siege, at this rate, would be a long one.

[1275psi]

Around the tent, baking in the tropical heat, the tension could be cut with a knife.
Inside the tent, temperatures were rising faster than anything attributal to the sun.
General Homma -commander Phillipines occupation forces -was on the phone to his air commanders in Aparri and Laong
For over an hour the "conversation" raged, undulating between grimness, cold fury and sheer anger, rising and falling.
Nobody dared to approach the tent, they would prefer to wrestle a taipan than enter that tent at the moment.
SBLT Ugri however, was quite simply too stupid to pick up the danger -a simple man, a Sblt purely through certain family contacts - for him to have a general to let emotion dictate plans simply was inconcievable.

Too everyones relief, he was the first man to enter the tent as the "conversation"came to its crashing conclusion.
Expectation now filled the air in the area around the command tent. Would Ugri come out alive?

Five quiet minutes passed.
tension rose
The sound of Ugri - slow, steady, reporting/suggesting something? now emminated from the canvas.

"GET MY STAFF IN HERE!!!!!!"
In moments it had gathered -hot, sweating. bothered.
" This Leutenant -yes -I have promoted him -has just pointed out to me why the americans are repairing those fields so quickly. Why was I not told that Naga is a source of road base and the like!"
I want plans for the occupation of this place to me inside the next 24 hrs.
Now out!"

Lt Ugri also left. The general was nice man. Easy to manipulate. When a boss has a problem -in this case the siege of manilla - much are the rewards to one who gives a solution -especial;ly a solution your Boss will not have to pay for!

[1275psi]

From
LGEN Sawada
to
Herbiesan

................and we really are going to have to write of any quick occupation of Maniila. However Homma has requested that we occupy Legaspi and naga ASAP, and I agree. With your permission, I intend to release 2 Naval Guard units and several SNLF that have almost finished filling out in Tokyo for this task. We can use them later for occupation tasks in the rest of the islands I suppose...........

..........pressure around Canton is growing yes. Do you think the general will try a hook around the city -I think he will, your thoughts?
At this rate with no sign of allies occupying the Solomons, are you sure that Phase 2 ops will be viable -I truly think we could probably grab them cheaply still - and that might keep Yammato and nagumo out of your hair too.........

[1275psi]

8/2/42
Japanese troops landed at lautern this day
Sallies bombed Singapore
heavy bombing of soerabaya continued

In China the air war exploded, 90 zeros sweeping Changsa in two big sweeps - encountering a cloud of allied fighters.
18 zeros fell -a rude shock to the pilots of these groups. The allies lost 35 fighters of mixed types.

Elswhere the war remained quiet.

[1275psi]

Weekly summary from LGEN SAWADA, to herbiesan

Sir,
Things are going well -the concentration of forces in java are having the desired results.

In the north we have occupied a sting of the Alutiens, we are however withdrawing the troops to just kiska and Attu islands at this time.

In China we are still stalled, the enemy continues to throw all he has at us -again I point out the apparent lack of allied reserves. If we get behind this front, we could trap a great bulk of his army.
We do not, however, have forces sufficient to accomplish this at this time.

Burma
Gen Kawabe does all we ask of him - pinning his forces in Burma.

Singapore
The enemy is weakening - we will soon be able to attack here again, this I am confident of.

Java
Give us 10 days sir, and it will be ours

South pacific
Quiet, we have all the raiders deep here -see yammato sir for details.


Gilberts
secure.
No sign of enemy action.

Overall -the enemy continues to "sir Robin" Good. We occupy objectives at no cost. If we are not greedy and attempt to take outrageous objectives, a very good perimeter can be established.
The war continues to plan......

[1275psi]

9/2/42
japanese troops occupy tay tay in the philipines
troops land at lautern in timor via destroyer and light cruisers
70 bombers raid manilla -and again miss!

A very quiet day in the war

[1275psi]

combat diary
Gen Kawabe - Burma Command

Good news today, 21st brigade has finally reached moulimien, can they force the defences?
I have great faith in my local commanders
Also 33rd Division will arrive Taung Gyi tomorrow -again I place great faith in my local commander.
High command has promised me reinforcements -to arrive shortly?
How in the hell is that going to happen?
I suppose one must have faith in their commanders hey?
Little signs of enemy air at the moment.
Lt surigo..............

[1275psi]

They all noticed it.
Even private Ado, currently resting well behind the front noted the bombing raid of the day -a mere 14 helens
Where had the air support gone?
was the attack to be abandoned? -now as the enemy continued to show signs of weakening -the number of prisoners being taken rose steadily day by day now, and the strength of each japanese regiment was palpably growing.

But the enemy had yet to be destroyed -and Private Ado knew that the heaviest fighting still lay ahead of them.
Wether they made it into the city no longer concerned him. Now it was all about the Australians -and the burning hatred he now had for them.

[1275psi]

Captain Umeya look closely at the baraometer
Still falling
Falling lower than he could ever remember seeing one go.

But this was the barents sea. One must expect a bit of unpleasantness out here.
Hopefully it would cover their advance
Bring it on.

[1275psi]

10/2/42
several significant events marked the day
japanese troops entered Taung Gyi in the heart of Burma -an event considered by the british before the war as imposible.
The british were there- would they fight in strength? or withdraw to the main target of the attack -mandalaby.

Ground combat commenced in Manilla, as General Homma began to tighten his grip
Heavy bombing and artillery pounded the dutch in soerabaya.
The battleship Haranua arrived in Hiroshima -17 system damage, she would rapidly return to the war.

[1275psi]

from the diary of ENS Hanamato - CV Akagi

Another day of waiting, swinging around our anchors.
The bay is a magnificent sight -3 battleships, 6 carriers, attending ships -but why are we not at sea -hunting the enemy?

So frustrating!
I am in awe of the pilotrs here -so experienced. Just their absolute confidence -in themselves, in each other.
I hope that i too can gain their confidence.

[1275psi]

Extract combat diary Gen Kawabe, Burma command


.............communications are terrible - my HQ is stuck, struggling on a track in the jungle somewhere towards moulmien -and now I here 33rd div has finally reached Taung gyi......I trust that if he attacks.........

........still promised support..........