Tocaff vs bigred

[bigred]

The aussie's are insulted that the Americans got all the credit.

[bigred]

The 43d Infantry Division became an active National Guard unit in 1923 in accordance with the National Defense Act of 1916. Originally there were two infantry brigades, the 85th in Connecticut, and the 86th in Vermont. The 85th Brigade consisted of the 102d Infantry and the 169th Infantry Regiments both in Connecticut. The 86th Brigade was made up of the 172d Infantry Regiment in Vermont and the 103d Infantry Regiment in Maine. The 68th Field Artillery Brigade located in Providence, Rhode Island consisted of the 103d Field Artillery Regiment in Providence, the 192d Field Artillery Regiment in Connecticut and the 152d Field Artillery Regiment in Maine. The Division Headquarters was located in Hartford, Connecticut. Special units were spread throughout those four New England states.


Camp Blanding, FL - 1941
On February 24, 1941 the Division entered Federal service for one year at the call of the President. That year was extended for the duration after the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese armed forces. In February 1942 the Division underwent a complete reorganization to a "triangular division" concept. The brigades were abolished, the artillery regiments were reduced to battalions and other reductions took place. The 102d Infantry Regiment was detached from the Division. It became a separate infantry regiment deploying to the Pacific.

Initially assigned to Camp Blanding, Florida, the Division later trained at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and Ft. Ord, California. From Ft. Ord the Division embarked on ships for the South Pacific. The Division less the 172d Regimental Combat team, consisting of the 172d Infantry Regiment, the 103d Field Artillery Battalion and elements of Ordnance, Engineer Medical and Signal Units, closed in New Zealand in October, 1942. The 172d Infantry Combat Team met with disaster at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides on October 26, 1942. The liner President Coolidge on which it was embarked struck two US planted mines in the harbor. The only military casualty was Captain Elwood Euart, 103d Field Artillery, who died while rescuing some of his troops. For his bravery Captain Euart was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest medal for heroism authorized by the United States Army.

This event delayed the Division's entrance into combat in the South Pacific area. In November the Division, minus the 172d Regimental Combat Team, went on to New Caledonia. After a concentrated training period, the Division deployed to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in February 1943. This served as the staging area for the next move - to the Russell Islands, also in the Solomons. The Russells proved to be unoccupied by Japs. Further jungle and realistic combat training took place. In June and early July 1943 the Division landed on Rendova and New Georgia Islands. The objective here was to take the Munda Airfield on which the Japs had started construction. The Division augmented by elements of the 37th and 25th Infantry Divisions secured the air strip in early August 1943.

In December 1943/January 1944 the Division returned to New Zealand. After a period of rest and relaxation during which the soldiers of the 43d became fast friends with the Kiwis, a friendship that endures to this day, the 43d absorbed many replacements. Vigorous and intensive training took place for several months. In July 1944 the Division became a part of the force driving the Japs from New Guinea. Landing at Aitape the 43d prevented the Japs from reinforcing their troops along the Drinimour River. This successful campaign evolved into preparation for the invasion of the Philippine Islands.

On January 9, 1945, the 43d Infantry Division participated in the amphibious landing at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. After several months of almost continuous combat, the Division welcomed the explosion of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki A-bombs. In September 1945 the 43d became one of the first Divisions to occupy Japan. Their stay there was short, however, for in October 1945 the 43d Infantry Division was deactivated at Camp Stoneman, California.


The 43d Division is known as the "Winged Victory Division" derived from the name of its long time combat commander, MG Leonard F. Wing. One of the many distinctions achieved by the 43d - it was the only division to serve in four theaters of the Pacific campaign - South Pacific, Southwest Pacific, Philippines and Japan.

[tocaff]

Interesting unit history.  Perchance a member of your family served in it?

[bigred]

My only relative in WW2 was my great uncle Ray. He as w/1st Divison at the Panama canal when the war broke out. He landed at N.Africa, Sicily, Normandy, was bombed by our own b17's in operation Cobra and was in the Bulge. He told me he became a company supply sargent after N. Africa. Lucky. He never married and my grandmother said he was never the same when he came home.

I thought the history of the 43rd was interesting, especially since they were New Englanders deployed to the South Pacific.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: bigred

... I thought the history of the 43rd was interesting, especially since they were New Englanders deployed to the South Pacific.

I recall that my my father was w/the 43rd out of Stamford, but in the FA. His company (D?) was an anti-tank unit, so instead of going to the Pacific w/the rest of the 43rd, it went to Fort Hood to train to become Tank Destroyers, eventually forming the 643rd TD Bn.

He went to Europe after D-Day and got caught in the Bulge where the wx very different from SOPAC. But though his unit is not in UV, it will be in BftB when it finally comes out this year.

[bigred]

I am a store manager in a grocery store located in Rural Alabama. I always ask the 80something men where they were at during WW2. One of my customers was w/ the
only chemical company in the pacific. His unit was given the task of loading the Enola Gay w/ the first Hbomb. I had another customer, Mr. Beam, died last year. He landed w/ the 4th infantry Div. at Utah beach. I have another customer that told me he was in the 106th Div. in the bulge. I remarked that was the largest mass surrender by an american unit in WW2, and he quickly responded that his regiment was surrounded at St.Vith and fougt thier way out. I think I may have pissed him off with my immediate remark, as I have not seen him since.
Then 20 miles down the road in Tuscaloosa sits Command Sargent Major Duco. His shotgun is sitting in the corner and he is ready to go now. More on Duco later.
I remind the teenagers that one half of all the men in the graduating classes from 1940 to 1944 in Alabama were killed in ww2. The young ones do not realize how fortunate they are.

[bigred]

7-17-43: A buildup of combat troops is happening at Dubodura.. Fatigue is the word when it comes to decribing the Austrialian 3rd and 6th Divisions. These guys landed at LeaLea, walked to PM, attacked, then marched to Buna on the Kadoga ? trail. Then attacked with a reinforced 43rd Div.

I was reading a history of the 3th Aussies and how they where used on Bouganville in "1945" to clean out the japs. I was surprised as I figured they were part of the island hopping campaingn. Those Austrailians REALLY did not want the Japs getting close to their women.

"At the beginning of 1945, the south eastern part of Bougainville was occupied by the Japanese 6th Division, under Lieutenant General Tsutomu Akinaga. On January 21, the commander of Australian II Corps, Lt Gen Stanley Savige, directed the 3rd Division to take "swift and vigorous action" to destroy Japanese forces in southern Bougainville. The division's immediate task was to advance eastward to the Puriata, and send patrols across it. Savige considered that the Japanese division was "weak and off balance." This was an accurate reflection of the impact that casualties, disease and a shortage of supplies had inflicted on the division. " from the history of the 3rd Australian Division.

[tocaff]

As July draws to a close the Allies continue to pound away at everything that moves.  The VP spread is barely over 2K now and soon with the loss of more bases in PNG that will all but be gone.

Plan 123143 continues to lurch along as best as possible, though many at Imperial HQs doubt it's relevance now that the situation has gone from bad to worse.  The power struggles between the IJN & the IJA continue unabated with both pointing fingers at eachother casting blame for all that has transpired of late.

Capt. Fujimutsu has called Lt. Sato to his cabin as he likes to meet & greet the new officers assigned to his command.  He was impressed with our bright eyed boy, but sadly had to tell him that new orders will be in his hands shortly reassigning Sato.  In the meantime Sato is given the duties of morale officer, which he immediately dives into.  Sato, with his new skipper's OK, works out a rotation of shore leave for the crew while they are at anchor awaiting orders.  The rumors abound among the crew members concerning what awaits them........

[bigred]

7-27-43. Today Dobadura dropped from a 5 to a 3 fort in one deliberate attack. Intel counts 7 IJA regiments plus support troops. This is the first mass combined arms attack including 2 armor regiments and 3 armor battalions, the equvalant of one complete Armored division. Also included is 3 FA regiments and 2 Infantry divisions.

If Dubadura falls, the base is worth 500 points. Wonder what the army is worth. Maybe the jap navy is thinking about running this gauntlet for a fast trans pickup. Sould be at
-1000 points end of July.

[tocaff]

BR is facing shattered troops now without supply.  These are the same units that took PM and never fully recovered.  I expect the base to fall in a day, 2 tops. 

The Imperial HQ staff is now putting together the monthly summary for the area.  Needles to say that it's not a pretty picture.

[tocaff]

July 29, 1943

Today is the expected fall of Dobadura as the fort level has been reduced to 0, Allied attacks are at a 2 to 1 ratio and my poor troops are starving.

Lt. Sato has been summoned to Capt. Fujimatsu's cabin where he is handed his new orders.  He is told that somebody in Tokyo must like him as this is an assignment that everyone in the IJN would envy.  Lt. Sato is to report aboard the Yamato immediately.  He thanks Capt. Fujimatsu and departs to gather his things.

Two hours later he is reporting directly to Capt. G Takayanagi, commanding BB Yamato, the pride of the IJN.  Sato can't believe his ears as he is told that he has been placed in command of A turret!  Surely his ancestors have been watching over him.  Imagine being in command of 3 18.1"/45 T94 guns!  The captain tells him to get squared away and then to inspect his men and equipment.  Those long difficult days spent at gunnery school will now be put to the ultimate test as surely the IJN can not continue to ride at anchor will the Allies roll up the Japanese defensive network.

[bigbaba]

i realy didnt thought that BR can recover from this heavy loses in the first part of the game. respect.

whats the VP difference now?

[tocaff]

Give us another turn or 2 and I'll be posting my monthly intel report to Tojo.

[tocaff]

July 1, 1943

The messenger from the Ministry arrives at Imperial HQs and leaves, under guard, with the following report.

The situation in PNG is untenable.  Allied LBA sweeps the skies and bombs anything that moves.  An overland assault on Lae is expected to materialize in the next month.

The Solomon Islands are cut off.  Allied naval activity suggests a landing on Tulagi is about to commence.

Our submarines serve only as targets due to the USN's prowess at ASW tactics.

Plan 123143 continues to be in effect, though it is very difficult as our forces in the area are weakened due to lack of open supply lines.

Allied shipping loses to date are estimated as the following

CV   6
CVE  1
BB   1
CA   8
CL   5
DD  56
PG   4
APD 11
AV   1
DMS  4
DM   3
MSW  14
AO   7
SS  19
PT  51
SC  23
LST  7
LCI  15
TK   2
AP & AK  70

Allied aircraft lost, all types 3901

VPs  15384/14004

The days are indeed dark ones for the Imperial Forces of the Japanese Empire.

[tocaff]

Lt Sato has ordered that all men who serve in A Turret report to their battle stations immediately.  He then inspects his charges and dismisses any doubts from his mind that he will not be up to the task at hand.  He informs his men that the afternoon will be spent drilling until he is satisfied with the men's performance.  Though the sailors aren't happy with this there is no grumbling as it isn't tolerated in the IJN.

After hours of drills he dismisses the men and retires to his quarters and prepares a fitness report for the Capt.  Lt. Sato knows that there can be no live firing exercises as 18.1" gun barrels are not something easily exchanged when the wear out, not to mention a limited ammo supply.  He then plans more drills to keep the men sharp and the machinery in tip top condition.  He has learned in his brief period of naval service that a busy crew is a happier and better one.  Besides the rumors of the Allied naval fleets sailing around PNG and the Solomons untouched are something that's bad for morale.  He knows that if these rumors are indeed true then it can't be long before the IJN weighs anchor to do battle.

[tocaff]

Lt. Sato rests in a shaded area on the fantail of the gigantic steel monster known as Yamato reading a letter from home.  In it his mother, Ikuna, tells him that his brother Tatsuru has graduated and is now a pilot in the IJN.  His father, Tai, is still working tending the fields.  She thinks that the IJA will soon be demanding her last remaining man in the house and this worries her.  It is a great honor for her that both of her sons are serving the Emperor in the just and noble cause of fighting the war that was forced upon the Japanese Empire.  She doesn't understand why the Americans attcked Japan, but she knows that Japan will emerge victorious in this struggle.  The government has reported the recent great victories that smashed the American & Australian attacks in PNG.  She closes by saying how much she misses him and that she looks forward to his next visit to Japan and that she knows he will makes his ancesters proud of him.

Sato sighs and wonders if his mother was referring to the same war he is fighting in.  Rumors abound and many ships never return.  How can she claim things are going so well when in reality there is no glory, just death in these dots of green hell in the Pacific Ocean?  Life goes on and he realizes that it's time for chow and then a final drill for the day.

[bigbaba]

VPs  15384/14004

oh, seems that the sun is going down slowly.

[tocaff]

Slowly!?!  [&:]

[tocaff]

The strategy of BR is to keep all of the larger Japanese bases cratered and he then takes the smaller satellite bases with ease.  My defense has been torn though like it isn't even there and my troops are starving.  To try and lieve my bases would result in huge naval loses that would only give the Allies their needed points the easy way.  I prefer to make BR work for what he gets and I bide my time awaiting the opening I'm looking for.

[tocaff]

Gyou has become very happy with his gun crews as they have exceeded IJN standards and all is ready for action.  It has been a long day and he lies in bed when somebody yells that he has a letter and drops it on him.  It's from cousin Umi, a Warrant Officer serving on the CS Chitose.  He's a pilot of a float plane, F1M2 if memory serves.  Umi's letter tells of leave and seeing the family.  The Nakajima clan lives in the next village from the Satos so they all got together for a day and celebrated Tatsuru's graduating from pilot training.  All of a sudden it dawns on Gyou that the Chitose is also in Truk lagoon!  Tomorrow would be a good day to arrange some shore leave and contact Umi.  A few drinks and talk would be a welcome relief from the daily routines of the IJN.  To be able to forget about the war, even for an hour or so, would be welcome.

In the meantime Plan 123143 forges ahead and results are starting to be seen.  The IJN was against this plan from it's infancy but the IJA and Tojo's office insisted on it.  The highest brass still sees the plan as an extension of the Code of Bushido.