Shattering the Sword (AE Edition), Cantona 2 (A) vs 1275psi (J)

[Fletcher]

lol hahaha sure !!!

[cantona2]

War Diary India Command

[font="Times New Roman"]Arrival of No 113 Sqaudron(Blenheim IV) at Bombay on TF 54 from Aden. Orders given to rebase unit at Dacca.

1/4 Central Detachment ordered to move from Nagpur to Comilla. Orders to have been carried out by 7th January at the latest.[/font]

War Diary Burma Command

[font="Times New Roman"]No 1 Squadron RAAF (Hudson I) and No 60 Squadron RAF (Blenheim I) to continue air attacks on spotted enemy units on river Moei. Escort provided by 1/AVG (H81-A3) from Rangoon.

1st Gloucestershire Bn, 27th Indian Mtn Gun Rgt and 2nd Kings Own YLI Bn, report loading on trains complete. Units order to move to Mandalay/Shwebo area.

TF 119 (xAKL Hermelin) docked at Rangoon loading resources, destination Calcutta.[/font]



War Diary Malaya Command

[font="Times New Roman"]Japanese troops reported in Kuantan and Malacca. Contact lost with both bases though 22nd Indian Brigade reports suffering heavy losses but coherently moving to Mersing.

3 air raids on Singapore today. Observeres report 3 enemy level bombers shot down by flak. No 4 AACU disbanded. Personnel to receive basic infantry training. Heavy damage still on main aerodrome and port installations. SS-O20 continues repairs, due to return to active service in 4 days.[/font]

War Diary ABDA Command

[font="Times New Roman"]No attacks on Batavia today but a unit of 139WH-3 (1-VI.G.III) ordered to carry out night attack on enemy shipping at Palembang.

SS 019 reports heavy damage after ASW attack at Jolo Island. Ordered to Tarakan for emergency repairs before heading to Sorebaja.[/font]

War Diary Asiatic Fleet

[font="Times New Roman"]Enemy troops in Manila suburbs once again shell PI positions but no assault forthcoming. 51st and 41st PA Divisions continue to try and break through enemy lines from Mauban.

Heavy raids once again on Manila airfields. 5 enemy aircraft confirmed shot down for 3 of ours (2 P-40e, 1 P-40b).

Naval strikes on Batangas failed. 4 more planes shot down by A6M2 fighters. Still large presence of enemy surface units at Batangas, battleships and cruiser spotted.

Det B of VJ-10 ordered to rebase at Jesselton from Puerto Princesa. AVP Heron ordered to make run to Tarakan at high speed.

TF 113 (xAKL Joan Moller) finished unloading supplies from Iba at Manila. Ship will try to escape during hours of darkness.[/font]

War Diary of Australia Command

[font="Times New Roman"]TF 40 carrying 27thBG (A-24) arrives at Darwin. Refuels and is ordered to Kendari.

Status of convoys in Australian Waters:

TF 159 Transporting 1st Medium Rgt and supplies to Port Moresby
TF 206 Transporting 1000 tons supplies to Port Moresby
TF 162 Transporting 1000 tons supplies to Cairns
TF 228 Transporting 6650 tons of fuel to Townsville
TF 85 Transporting 3100 tons of oil to Melbourne
TF 210 Transporting 2900 tons of resources to Sydney
TF 194 Transporting 2900 ton of fuel to Darwin
TF 99 Transporting 1750 tons of supplies to Derby [/font]

War Diary of New Zealand Command

[font="Times New Roman"]18th PG/73rd PS completes rebasing at Suva.

110th USA Base Force completes rebasing at Noumea. 21st NZ Pioneer Company begins unloading at Noumea.[/font]

War Diary of Pacific Fleet

[font="Times New Roman"]Enemy subamrine spotted in approaches to Canton Island.

2nd US Marine Coastal Defence reports arrival at Pago-Pago. Rerouted to Suva.

8th Marine Regiment completes loading on TF 259 (San Diego) and departs for Noumea. 49th Pursuit Group P-40e) arrives at San Francisco from the East Coast and begins loading on TF 163.[/font]

[cantona2]

FROM: CPT PROPHET, CO TF 236
TO: PACIFIC FLEET, PEARL HARBOUR
CC: WEST COAST HQ, SAN FRANCISCO
SUBJECT: JAPANESE RAIDERS
DATE: JAN 7TH 1942.

I REPORT AN ATTACK ON SHIPS UNDER MY COMMAND BY ENEMY SURFACE RAIDERS DISGUISED AS MERCHANT SHIPS. REQUEST ESCORT FOR RUN INTO SAN FRANCISCO. ALERT ALL SHIPPING IN AREA.

FROM: PACIFIC FLEET, PEARL HARBOUR
TO: CPT RAMSEY, CO CV 3 SARATOGA/TF 19, PEARL HARBOUR
SUBJECT: JAPANESE RAIDERS
DATE: JAN 7TH 1942.

YOU ARE HEREBY ORDERED TO SAIL YOUR SHIPS NORTH-EAST AT FLANK SPEED TO INTERCEPT ANY JAPANESE SURFACE VESSELS IN PEARL-WEST COAST SHIPPING LANES. SUSPECTED ENEMY SUBMARINES IN AREA SO BE AWARE OF THREAT

FROM: WEST COAST HQ, SAN FRANCISCO
TO: CAPTAIN MADISON, CO CV 5 YORKTOWN/TF 43
SUBJECT: TF 236
DATE: JAN 7TH 1942.

RENDEVOUS WITH TF 236 AND ESCORT IT BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO. ENEMY SURFACE RAIDERS KNOW TO BE ACTIVE IN AREA OF OPERATIONS. IF FOUND ACTIVELY SEEK AND DESTROY ENEMY VESSELS. BE AWARE OF THREAT OF ENEMY SUBMARINES.

[cantona2]

Inside Admiral Kimmel's Office

"What do you mean Rochefort? 'Previous report of sinking of SS I-164 incorrect.  Intelligence reports ship is still in service.'
What does this mean man?"
"Well Sir, it means that our interception of their messages and the decyphering of their Naval Code is not as foolproof as we thought. Yes we have a fairly accurate picture of the Japanese strategic picture but it isn't perfect. It never is."
"Well, thats just goddamn great isnt't it?"
"Yes Sir!"

[cantona2]

Bataan, PI

"Answer the damn question man, how many divisions do you say we've identified so far?" bellowed General MacArthur.
"At least 6 Sir," replied the stunned signals officer. "Two in their northern pincer and four in southern Luzon. We're practically caught inbetween the hammer and the anvil."

They were rudely interrupted by a corporal radio man bearing a message for MacArthur. He read it, then handed it over to his intelligence officer,
"I guess we're in the pigshit now eh?"

The message was from Clark Field, its contents:

"JAPANESE TROOPS BOMBARDING OUTER PERIMETER***CUT OFF FROM MANILA***"

[cantona2]

Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting Noted for January 10th 1942

• 4 Japanese Divisions spearhead the capture of Manila. No reports of any units retreating to Clark Field.
• Clark Field itself invested by Japanese troops.
• USS Saratoga and USS Yorktown complete their sweep of West Coast approaches but find no trace of Japanese raiders.
• 27th Bomber Group reports completed deployment in DEI

[cantona2]

FROM: Cpt LARSON, C/O 25TH USAAF BOMBER GROUP, AMBON
TO: ABDA HQ, BATAVIA
SUBJECT: DEPLOYMENT OF 25TH USAAF BOMBER GROUP (A-24 BANSHEE)
DATE: JAN 13TH 1942.

SIR

I ENCLOSE THE CURRENT POSITIONS OF MY COMMAND, 25TH USAAF BOMBER GROUP, AS PER THE ORDERS RECEIVED JANUARY 3RD 1942. THE UNIT TRAVELLED IN CRATES FROM BRISBANE VIA DARWIN. THE DISPOSITION OF THE GROUP IS AS FOLLOWS

25TH BG/HqSqn AMBON 5 a/c OPERATIONAL 1 a/c IN MAINTENANCE
25TH BG/16TH BS KENDARI 13 a/c OPERATIONAL 3 a/c IN MAINTENANCE
25TH BG/17TH BS MAKASSAR 13 a/c OPERATIONAL 1 a/c IN MAINTENANCE
25TH BG/91ST BS SOREBAJA 13 a/c OPERATIONAL 1 a/c IN MAINTENANCE

[cantona2]

ABDA HQ Batavia, Java

Daily briefing for January 20th 1942

The brass and staff were gathered in their navy whites, army greens and air blues. The writing was on the wall in Luzon were only Clark and Bataan held out. In Malaya, despite capturing Johore Bharu a few days ago, the Japanese had not yet crossed the causeway into Singapore. Once these operations were completed the Japanese no doubt intended to turn their gaze onto Java and the Celebes. It was imperative that the defensive plan was well thought out and designed. The Japanese had two possible invasion routes. The first one from the north using their divisions from Malaya and their second from the east via the Makassar Strait. It could be safely assumed that the 6 identified divisions in the Phillipines would be descending on Java with carrier support.

The situation at the moment put most of these divisions in Luzon with a couple more regiments about to start the assault on Cagayan. Three more divisions were in Malaya. The current location of the Japanese carrier force is unknown, its last sighting a week and a half old steaming east to the south of Formosa, no doubt on a refuelling and replenishment mission back to Japan. Java could expect a two pronged assault from both Malaya and the Phillipines. There are plenty of aerial assets on Java but their quality is questionable, but a sizeable surface fleet, spread into several squadrons and led by Force Z, was scattered across the DEI's. If luck was on the Allied side they could be brought to bear on the Japanese invasion fleets as they descended on Java. The 45th Indian Brigade, originally earmarked for Singapore, provided the backbone on which ABDA intended to build its defence of Java on. It would fall on the air force's shoulders to defend the airspace in order to allow the navy and army to do their jobs.

For the time being supplies were being shipped out of southern Borneo and into Sorebaja and Darwin, while USAAF dive bombers provided a timely and very welcome reinforcement to the regions striking power.

[cantona2]

Burma Command had reported that all unit deployments in Burma were complete. Despite the fall of Moulmein, the Japanese had not yet advanced across the river into Pegu were a token defence lay infront of Rangoon. A similarly light defence, designed to fight a running battle north also awaited there. The main defensive effort would come in the Mandalay/Magwe/Shwebo area. Several recently arrived RAF squadrons and refugees from Singapore provided the initial RAF effort and two sqaudrons of Hurricanes would soon be disembarking at Bombay. The 18th Infantry Division was deployed across the India/Burma border should it be required.

The resources at Rangoon will continue to be evacuated until the last possible moment and the longer Singapore holds the longer we will have available to reinforce the Burma position. Liaison with Chinese forces had also allowed for the allocation of two Chinese corps to come to Burma's aid once the Japanese cross the border, they are standing by at Paoshan.

[cantona2]

FROM: 101st USN BASE FORCE, SUVA
TO: NEW ZEALAND COMMAND, AUCKLAND
CC: AUSTRALIA COMMAND, SYDNEY
SUBJECT: SUB ATTACKS IN FIJIAN WATERS
DATE: JAN 20TH 1942.

MAYDAY SIGNALS WERE PICKED UP BY OUR LISTENING STATIONS EARLY THIS MORNING. MESSAGE RECEIVED IN THE OPEN FROM AK DIAMOND HEAD THAT HAD LEFT PORT YESTERDAY, DESTINATION NOUMEA. SHIP'S CAPTAIN REPORTS SINKING SHIP AFTER SUBMARINE ATTACK AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE. FREE FRENCH DESTROYER LA TRIOMPHANT DESPATCHED TO LAST KNOWN LOCATION OF AK DIAMOND HEAD. AERIAL ASW EFFORTS TO INCREASE.

[cantona2]

FROM: LTC WILLOCK, o/c 804TH EAB, ADAK ISLAND
TO: ALASKA DEFENCE COMMAND, ANCHORAGE
SUBJECT: STATUS OF ADAK ISLAND
DATE: JAN 20TH 1942.

SIR,

I REPORT THAT MY UNIT HAS UNLOADED AND HAS BEGUN EXPANDING AND DEVELOPING BASE AND AERODROME ON ADAK ISLAND AS PER MY ORDERS. REQUEST DEPLOYMENT OF INFANTRY TO ACT AS BASE DEFENCE AND AA RESOURCES. xAKL TENNESSEAN, ESCORTED BY DD BROOKS HAS RADIOED IN REPORTING ITS ARRIVAL ON SCHEDULE TOMORROW CARRYING BUILDING SUPPLIES, MAIL, REPLACEMENT TOOLS AND FOOD AND MEDICINE.

[Phanatikk]

Shattered Sword, by Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully. Excellent book about Midway!

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: Phanatik

Shattered Sword, by Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully. Excellent book about Midway!

Thats where i got my inspiration for the AAR title

[Xxzard]

Much agreed, great book, and helps clear up some misconceptions as well.

[cantona2]

The news being relayed by General MacArthur to his superiors was not good. The units at Clark Field had been routed and all US and PI troops left on Luzon were holed up on Bataan. In an extraordinary turn of events the Joint Chiefs had ordered MacArthur to stand and fight alongside his troops and his requests for evacuation were denied. Arrayed against him was a large Japanese force with armour, masses of artillery and considerable air support. 5 operational fighters remained at Bataan, but that was it. It was clear that US presence on the PI's had lived its course. The Japanese flag would now fly over the Philipinnes.

British and Dominion forces also faced a similar bleak outcome at the fortress of Singapore. Impregnable before the war, no one had thought to guard the back door to the place. A large Japanese force had swpet down Malaya and had crossed the Causeway into Singapore itself. Despite losses during the crossing the Japs lay down a tremendous artillery barrage on the initial defence line. Local commanders cursed the lack of their own artillery while longinly looking at the large coastal guns which could not be turned around inside thier concrete emplacements to face landwards. Winston Churchill had reportedly had a seizure when told of the Japanese landings at Singapore, to the squaddies on the ground the mass of Japanese soldiery before them seemed a more worrying prospect!

On Java, the Dutch High Command read the daily intelligence reports with growing concern. All this Japanese hardware would soon be coming their way. A hurricane was brewing on their eastern and northern horizons!

[cantona2]

A wolf pack of at least three Japanese submarines is operating in Fijian waters. Two light transports, a medium transport and one tanker have been sunk in the last 48 hours. The only ASW asset i have in the area is the Free French destroyer La Triomphant who has yet to engage any enemy submarines. Three RNZN minesweepers are steaming to Suva from Auckland to reinforce and support La Triomphant just before the convoys carrying troops for Suva and Efate arrive in the area. The Japanese are effectively using a gap in the air search to launch these attacks.

[cantona2]

It seems that Japanese troops have finally started thier march against Burma. Since the fall of Moulmein intense dog fights between Ki-43's and the AVG have been going on over the skies of Rangoon. The AVG was pulled out two days ago after the Japanese began to redploy units that had been fighting over Singapore to the area. They are now based at Magwe, along with the 2nd AVG ready to meet the Burmese attack. On land little movement had been spotted other than from Chiang Mai. Extensive recon over Moulmein had not spotted any movement but a new development further to the East, and further up the River Moei raised alarm levels and augured the Japanese assault on Burma.

[cantona2]

The scene at CINCPAC and at SEAC was the same. News had been received off the fall of both Singapore and Bataan signifying the end of resistance in Malaya and Luzon. Japanese hegemony of the South China Sea was complete. February 1942 would no doubt see the invasion of Java. Reports from Dutch submarines off the coast of Luzon seemed to compound this.

[cantona2]

The DEI felt it. The gathering dark on the horizon, the menace hanging on the edge of thier vision. Malaya and the Philippines were gone. All that was left before Australia were the Dutch colonies and thier forces bolstered by Philipino and Commonwealth refugees from the aforementioned theatres. The dark was gathering but the indications were it was ready to strike. A dutch submarine reported contact with a large number of enemy aircraft carriers to the north of Borneo. Largeer number of japanese recon aircraft were seen daily over Batvaia and now Balikpaapan. The Japanese octopus was ready to unleash its tentacles and strike again.

[cantona2]

Not only that, a large force of destroyers and command ships had been shadowed by submarines and search planes heading from Palembang to Singkawang. It was suspected that these ships would be picking up troops from the Sarawak and Borneo operations and transporting them to Java.