herbiesan vs Cantona!!!

[1275psi]

24/9/43
Shortlands is no decoy - as the night proceeds the troops begin to pour ashore.
For the troops of the Americal division in particular, there is a very pleasant surprise. All have landed expecting the usual forest of interlinking bunkers, of dug in enemy troops, of endless fortifications.

They encounter some hastily dug trenches, a few sandbags, and that is all. The Commander of Shortlands has concentrated on the airstrip,, and never even considered that the enemy would dare land here -here in the teeth of rabuals air power.

But land they have -and rabuals teeth prove very toothless indeed today.
Only the KI 43's of 50th sentai -the disgraced sentai -have the range to reach the battle - and today they cover themselves in inglorious failure.

Bombers and fighters fail to rendevou.
3/4 of the fighters take a mere 6 bombers -to Munda!
The day becomes a shamble of unescorted trickle strikes, of fighters turning away in the face of the P38's.
No hits -not a single one, is achieved.

Fully anticipating massive suppression strikes against rabual, Nakamura has kept his sentais aloft over rabual -they finish the day frustrated, tired -none more so than their leader, who has flown all day as well.
It has been a mistake - he knows that now -a firm hand should have remained on the ground.
Now, now as Shortlands begins to fight for its life, he has an almost unbelievable crises to deal with .

Fingers have been pointed. Words exchanged. Blows struck. Whatever co operation the Army flyers may have had with the Navy -has been destroyed. Tomorrow -unless he can pull a miricle -no bombers are going to fly -"not with those Truking 50th buka's we are not!"

Weary, tired, almost dispirited, Nakamura wonders how in the hell Japan can fight a war like this - and then, as dusk covers the disaster, it gets worse.
In line ahead, serene, unperturbed by mere politics -the fleet begins to sail into the harbour...................

[1275psi]

SMN Miyazuki cannot believe it.
"Cable party to focastle"

Floating hotel Yamato , apparently - unbelievably -is actually going to sail.
Rumour has it -not far -but anything, anything for a change of scenery.

[1275psi]

Yamamoto reads the reports
Shortlands -2 divisions so far, more troops coming. 4 naval guard units to defend.
Another struggle ahead, another inevitable result .............

Expected, accepted.
This attack would cause no sleepless nights. But his intelligence reports speak of dozens of these new ships -LST's -pouring into the war - AND NOT A SINGLE ONE committed.

And nary a hint of a Carrier for a month or more now.
Now this would give him many a sleepless night.

[1275psi]

The infamous 50th sentai prepare for todays missions.

[1275psi]

grrrrrrrrrrrrr

[1275psi]

Hosho arrives at Haipong

If tanaka is seeking discontent, he is not going to find it here.

For weeks now the small numbers of Oscars, and zeros here have been fighting an almost private war with an equally small number of T bolts and P40's over this field.

Its almost a gentlemans agreement -they come over -both sides engage in a genuine dogfight -they go home.
Fighter pilot heaven.
The fact that few people are getting hurt adds to the mix.

Hosho sees to his aircraft, the Admiral catches up on sleep, and they prepare to move on, on this great"inspection of the munitions situation"

Tomorrow, Victoria point -and the great stand off of Port blair

[1275psi]

Sorry Cantona -this AAR now temporily closed to you mate -lots of secret nasty, nasty stuff you ain't allowed to hear about is now going to happen!

[1275psi]

25/9/43


A day of anti climax - the CAP is aggressively kept in the air - the allied Recon spots the new ships in the harbour - and yet nothing happens
Enemy troops are still landing at Shortlands -it begins to shape up as another drawn out struggle..............

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

Sorry Cantona -this AAR now temporily closed to you mate -lots of secret nasty, nasty stuff you ain't allowed to hear about is now going to happen!

OK roger that!

[1275psi]

Hosho guides the transport south, south down the Malaya peninsula.
They have been to bangkok, and here he has been given a glimpse of what Tanaka may be on about.

The field there is home for the 55th fighter, KI-61's
For Months now all of Japan has been fed the story of this sentia's magnificant defence of moulimien -of endless victories over the allied attack.
The reality is very, very different.
Scattered around the field, dozens and dozens of tattered, worn out fighters. many, many are patently un airworthy -and its plain many should long ago have been scrapped.
But what he found in the mess, was far, far worse.

Worn out, exhausted?. No -these men had been far, far deeper than that.
These were men who had been in the tunnel a long, long time -and now knew -there was no end, no light at its end.
One, one of them -a commander, a bushido warrior once - had said it all.

"They keep coming my friend -they keep coming -and there is no way to stop them"

[1275psi]

Extract from Shattering the Sword -a Cantona production.

and as the japanese bombers from Rabual again failed to impact on the allied landings at shortlands, Allied plans could turn to the next operation.

It was on this day that a seminal moment of the war passed by -one that would set the scene for the bulk of October and November.
Buried amongst the now mountanous pile of intercepted signals the allies were decoding, was a small signal from Combined fleet HQ to the Imperial HQ
"Activate Carrier battle groups 1,2, 3, 4"

Yamamoto, and Mr Iwaya, were about to lay the cards on the table -and bet all on a single hand....................

[FeurerKrieg]

Gripping...

[1275psi]

27/9/43

We have said it a few times now, and we have to repeat it again.
The air in the war takes place -in the air. Obvious? - look out your window. What do you see today?. Clear sky, snow, grey clouds, scattered clouds. Whatever you see -its probably different 350 miles away.
Whatever you see -remember -our men are flying in it, flying in it, fighting in it, dying in it.

Today this cursed weather impacts the battles for Shortlands immensly.
Rabual is clear -but as the strikes head south, the weather steadily closes in -low heavy rain showers, bases at 1000 feet -heads at 5 to 8000. Scattered clear patches.
Then, as Shortlands appear -a break -clear skies -and then (if you were mad enough to fly further south), another mucky area, with Munda a frustrating mix of light rain, and heavy mist.

The effects of this weather is dramatic.
Nakamura launches his strikes -he has mashed heads -but bowed to the enivitable -zero's escort the betties, oscars the helens -and they have gone in the usual impressive package of massed power.

What has arrived at shortlands is a mess
The first raid bursts into the sunshine almost directly over the packed shipping - 17 zeros, 6 bettys, and 18 helens
The LRCAP from Munda though also is having problems -20 fighters of mixed variety, t bolts, 38's, corsairs.

It happens quickly -several zeros, several bombers go down -a AK is hit

Then the late comers come -some take advantage of the weather -others -probably the less skilled, are hampered by it.
3 betty gain total surprise on a CL - appearing low and hard almost at the last moment - and the CL is put out of action.

Other raids are intercepted well out -and driven completely away.

The day see's Nakamura surveying what remains of his bombers -the Navy units are wrecked -the Army bombers have suffered a little less.
The attacks must continue. For the Commander of 8th army here, the writing is on the wall. There will be no shattering of this landing - at the moment the defenders of Shortlands hold , for how long is another matter.

[1275psi]

Extract from Nakamura's diary



.ironically moral was sky high -almost like the heady days in China.
Our Tigers prowl the skies above Rabual, and apparently -rule the sky -none daring to interfere with the workings of the harbour. I think this is a mistake -but I will take what ever is given. I am juggling a million missions -LRCAP for the Navy, defending here -and trying my damndest to hit Shortlands - a process of throwing snowballs into a furnace I think.

I look today at my men - so many young faces - they grin constantly -and the mess fills with excited tales of the combat south every night -and you see them devouring it with their eyes..

But I keep thinking of Rangoon -how powerful we appeared there -and of how quickly we were brocken.
If Shortlands fall -is this place tenable?
How many of these young faces will be no more?

[1275psi]

The light cruiser vibrated insanely as her ancient yet still powerful engines drive her steadily home.
Behind her, 2 other cruisers, a good half dozen destroyers. Overhead fighters prowl -a good sign -rabual has kept its word.

Dozens of pairs of eyes stare intently all around -today the sea is mirror calm -the prowling submarines that plague these waters will be at a disadvantage at least.

yet again the Captain raises his glasses -makes another sweep - this is the biggest formation to sail in these waters for a month or more - a heavy, heavy responsibility -but so far, all goes well -very, very well.
A slight breeze comes from astern -and he catches his navigators eye -and cannot help smile at the grimace the young Sblt makes.
The stink from the deck is -yes, well, overpowering. But stinks can be washed away.
The Captain looks over the bridge wing coaming -at the packed grey, brown, black, and semi naked mass of wretched humanity packed into every inch of his cruiser.
Stinks can be washed away - but it will take a lot more than a bath to restore these shattered survivors from Port Moresby to health.
One of the soldiers below -young, face a cavern of collapsed starving flesh -catches his eye. The face breaks out into a gigantic smile, and a weary , weary hand rises -and gives a thumbs up.
The men of 65th brigade, survivors of port moresby, may be pysically brocken -but their spirit is not.

[1275psi]

Juni sits alone on the end of the pier.
The harbour is empty today of all the navy ships, busy somewhere unknown.

Juni sits, and thinks of the water, and for a while, of his Father in its cold embrace somewhere.
He thinks of his Brother, he thinks of a family he no longer has.

He thinks of those who started this war with him -that mad clown Hyakutake, the rest.
He thinks about Miyazuki -and how he cannot stand that coward anymore.
He thinks of Nakamura -of how he keeps them endlessly circling around this goddam awful mountain day after day -and sends others to the fight.
He thinks , and knows -he is utterly alone.

But he is not alone. he still has a family. he is the father to it now. The Tigers. So many young cubs in it.
And he still has Japan. Still has home.
His cubs still have a home.
He has vowed for weeks to ram the first bomber he can -to end it all.
But none have come.
Some men join him -they bring fishing poles for heavens sake -and he recongnises them -cubs from the 47th. They nod warily at him -at the old man of the unit.

decision.



he looks at the water, at the sky



he will live then, do his best.


he smiles -obviously unexpectantly to his fellow pilots " Guys -you will never catch anything with a rig like that -here, let me show you................"

[1275psi]

shortlands field[:(]

[1275psi]

28/9/43

The reports of shipping at Shortlands is confusing. It is also totally unsettling. Reports of "dozens upon dozens" of ships seemingly, unbelievingly, are true. How many ships do the allies have? Do they churn them out like cars or something?
Nevertheless - they have to be stopped.

Try to stop them Rabual does -and it really is like Nakamura thinks -throwing snowballs into a furnace.
There are probably less than 20 Allied fighters over Shortlands at a time - but there are enough.
What attacks go south are mainly brocken up - a single hit is claimed -but the cost is high.
Nakamura faces facts -and calls a halt to tomorrows planned actions - the bombers need to catch their breath..

And for the 1000th time -the question is asked -where is the bloody navy!

[1275psi]

From
MR Iwaya, Minister of production
to
ADM Yamamoto

Sir,
As agreed by us on the 12 December 1941, I have been charged to "Build me a replacement Mobile fleet by 1 Jan 1944".
My friend -its been a huge gamble -but partially through luck, your skill, and the ruthless application of piority building, the final basin trials and acceptance trials for CV's Taiho, Katsaguri,Aso and Ikoma will be completed by October 20th.

With repairs to Hiryu and Soryu also completed, and the conversion of Chitose and Chiyoda, I present to you a fleet of 13 fleet carriers, and 8 CVL's.
Please do not be afraid to break them -if it takes out the Americans with them.
But be aware -the kitty is now bare.
I agree with you -SHO GO 1 -will HAVE to be -all or nothing.

Your friend
MR IWAYA








(I accelerated all CV production, converted most merchant yards to naval -day one. ALL CVs except Shimano will soon be built. i am revealling this so that those following Cantona's AAR have a new perspective on what lurks out there. Next month could be a doozie!)

[flaggelant]

nice CV force there!

very promising for the time to come indeed