Rangoon.
Captain Robert A, Montes alights from the battered, converted bomber that flew him in from Calcutta. The oldest son of a Cuban Tobacco worker from Tampa, he is the first member of his family to attend West Point, thanks to his hard work at school, and in part to the help of a friendly senator. Little did he think, when he graduated from the academy, that he would find himself on a peripatetic tour of half the world, that took him to London by ship, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Sierra Leone, Cape Town, and Mombasa by plane, across the Indian ocean in a military convoy to Karachi, and from there, across the Indian subcontinent in a succession of rickety steam trains out of a Kipling novel until he reached Calcutta.
Now, at Rangoon, the hardest part of his journey was to start, up the Burma forest to Mytkivina and from there, by plane hopefully, to China to rendezvous and liaison for the AVG and Chang Kai Check’s Chinese forces. Problem was, he spoke not a word of Chinese. The army needed an officer who ‘spoke languages’
Spanish was a language, thus Lieutenant Montes qualified for the job and was immediately promoted, and sent off half way around the world to do a job he knew he was totally incapable of doing.
“Captain Montes, sir,” a corporal waved at him from the airport’s ramshackle building.
Corporal Stevens opened the door of a Bedford truck that seemed about to fall apart and threw his gunny bag in the back.
“Had a bit of a to do yesterday sir,” he told Montes, “some Jap planes showed up and roughed up our Buffaloes.”
The truck drove along the edge of the perimeter. AA guns pointed their cannons into the air. For the first time since crossing the Atlantic in a convoy, Montes felt like he was in a real combat zone. He saw fighters at dispersal. Something was wrong. Those weren’t Buffalo fighters.
“Hope they show up today the buggers,” Stevens continued, “Might have a little show for ‘em.”
“Those aircraft aren’t Buffalo,” Montes said.
“That’s right sir, those are Kittyhawks, from China. Just arrived. Will serve them right, Major Boyngton will, yes sir.”
Just at that moment the air raid alarms went off and he saw men scrambling to their machines, their engines starting up.
Ignoring the sirens, Corporal Stevens drove Capt Montes to the Headquarters.
“I shall take your bag to your quarters sir.” The corporal saluted and drove off.
Rangoon Army HQ also largely ignored the alarms.
“We wait until we hear the ack-ack going off,” a passing lieutenant told Montes, “there are so many false alarms, we’d never get anything done otherwise.”
“Ah, Captain Montes, I have a message for you,” the master sergeant at the intake desk said handing him a sealed envelope.
The message was curt, even for the army, “Wait in Rangoon for further orders”
What now? Montes thought. He stepped outside where several men and women looked up at the sky, and at the contrails where Boyngton’s fighters looped and swirled around the enemy machines. From the ground it was impossible to tell them apart, or to know whether to cheer, or groan, when an airplane was shot out of the sky in flames, as happened with two of them.
Sunset in the East. DBB 30B. Open to Bibow
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Sunset in the East. Bilbow (Japan) Vs Kaleun. No Bilbow.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Sunset in the East. Bilbow (Japan) Vs Kaleun. No Bilbow.
Singapore
“Send the Aussies back!” Lieutenant General Arthur Percival roared, “How can we defend Singapore without them?”
The virtual loss of more than half his command, caught on the wrong side of Khuong made the Australian forces essential to hold on to the Gibraltar of the East.
Admiral Phillips, more stoic, replied, “You cannot hold Singapore, with or without the Australians Arthur. Those men and pilots will be needed soon, I fear.” He sucked on his pipe.
“The problem I’d say is how to get them out.”
Perhaps Phillips expected Percival to ask him how, but the general, despondent about the collapse of his command, really did not care. “They may all go to the bottom of the sea,” he mumbled.
“What was that?” Phillips asked.
“There are two carrier groups operating between here and Java,” Percival said, “and torpedo bombers galore up the peninsula, so you cannot ship them up the Malacca straits.”
“Those two carrier task forces must refuel and rearm sometime soon. Get the two Australian brigades into the city and, as soon as the Japs go home to refuel, we load them up in transports and have them dash out to Perth. If we can get them into the Indian Ocean, they have a good chance of making it.”
“They can take bases in Borneo and sink everything with those two engine bombers,” Percival retorted.
“I also have a plan B,” Phillips said enigmatically.
Later that evening, a flight of Catalina sea planes from Manila arrived in Singapore. Dazed and confused, the pilots requested orders and were told to sit and rest.
“What the truck are we doing here?” the aircrews asked and, gaining no answer, proceeded to the officer’s and warrant officer’s clubs where they were introduced to the delight of pink gin.
“Send the Aussies back!” Lieutenant General Arthur Percival roared, “How can we defend Singapore without them?”
The virtual loss of more than half his command, caught on the wrong side of Khuong made the Australian forces essential to hold on to the Gibraltar of the East.
Admiral Phillips, more stoic, replied, “You cannot hold Singapore, with or without the Australians Arthur. Those men and pilots will be needed soon, I fear.” He sucked on his pipe.
“The problem I’d say is how to get them out.”
Perhaps Phillips expected Percival to ask him how, but the general, despondent about the collapse of his command, really did not care. “They may all go to the bottom of the sea,” he mumbled.
“What was that?” Phillips asked.
“There are two carrier groups operating between here and Java,” Percival said, “and torpedo bombers galore up the peninsula, so you cannot ship them up the Malacca straits.”
“Those two carrier task forces must refuel and rearm sometime soon. Get the two Australian brigades into the city and, as soon as the Japs go home to refuel, we load them up in transports and have them dash out to Perth. If we can get them into the Indian Ocean, they have a good chance of making it.”
“They can take bases in Borneo and sink everything with those two engine bombers,” Percival retorted.
“I also have a plan B,” Phillips said enigmatically.
Later that evening, a flight of Catalina sea planes from Manila arrived in Singapore. Dazed and confused, the pilots requested orders and were told to sit and rest.
“What the truck are we doing here?” the aircrews asked and, gaining no answer, proceeded to the officer’s and warrant officer’s clubs where they were introduced to the delight of pink gin.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
Allied carrier raid planned!
Honolulu
There were enough scrambled eggs around the table to feed a fair sized regiment. All the flag rank officers assembled with their aides in a room full of smoke and observed a map of the pacific with the approximate locations of the three enemy carrier task forces marked in red.
KB I North East of Soerabaja, leisurely heading north east, presumably into Makassar straits. KB II East of Singapore, heading south west, towards Java. KB III in the Celebes sea, steaming in circles, picking off stragglers from the Philippines.
Sherman pointed at the map, “Here, gentlemen, is an opportunity. All of the enemy’s carriers are accounted for. For the moment, we have air supremacy in the Eastern Pacific.”
Halsey jumped up, “Let Lexington and Enterprise sortie, the battlewagons following and head west, let’s hit the Saipan chain, give them something to think about.”
“Perhaps something a bit more conservative,” Nimitz suggested.
“Let’s wait for Saratoga to join up,” Sherman said, “then we sortie.”
In the harbor, Carrier 1, Lexington, Enterprise, cruisers Portland, Indianapolis, and Northampton, with DD Porter and Bulch formed up. The pilots began to train intensively. The old battlewagons Maryland, W Virginia, Arizona, Pennsilvania, California and Tennessee, with the cruisers Salt Lake City, New Orleans, Astoria, Minneapolis and an escort of Destroyer minesweepers began to make steam.
There were enough scrambled eggs around the table to feed a fair sized regiment. All the flag rank officers assembled with their aides in a room full of smoke and observed a map of the pacific with the approximate locations of the three enemy carrier task forces marked in red.
KB I North East of Soerabaja, leisurely heading north east, presumably into Makassar straits. KB II East of Singapore, heading south west, towards Java. KB III in the Celebes sea, steaming in circles, picking off stragglers from the Philippines.
Sherman pointed at the map, “Here, gentlemen, is an opportunity. All of the enemy’s carriers are accounted for. For the moment, we have air supremacy in the Eastern Pacific.”
Halsey jumped up, “Let Lexington and Enterprise sortie, the battlewagons following and head west, let’s hit the Saipan chain, give them something to think about.”
“Perhaps something a bit more conservative,” Nimitz suggested.
“Let’s wait for Saratoga to join up,” Sherman said, “then we sortie.”
In the harbor, Carrier 1, Lexington, Enterprise, cruisers Portland, Indianapolis, and Northampton, with DD Porter and Bulch formed up. The pilots began to train intensively. The old battlewagons Maryland, W Virginia, Arizona, Pennsilvania, California and Tennessee, with the cruisers Salt Lake City, New Orleans, Astoria, Minneapolis and an escort of Destroyer minesweepers began to make steam.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Allied carrier raid planned!
Interesting read! I hope the carriers are not going to be hobbled with the old BBs.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Allied carrier raid planned!
South Pacific
Suva.
Reinforcements arrived. Originally meant for Canton Island, the 260th, 250th, 131st, and 148 field artillery unloaded together with the 45th Base group. 148th was sent to Nadi, while the remainder of the troops took up defensive positions around the harbor. AGP Niagara disbanded into the harbor. The torpedo boat tender now only needed some torpedo boats to be functional.
Indian Ocean.
“New orders sir,” The radio signalman handed a message to the commodore. He read it and smiled.
“And welcome they are son,”
He turned to the bridge, “Signal all ships head SSW.”
He bent over the map, Sumatra lay to the East. He felt relief. He wanted to take his convoy to Singapore as much as he wanted to get a pole up his, well. Now he would not have to do that. “Cocos Island. Hmmm.”
In the ships behind his light cruiser, the men of the 44 and 45th Indian brigades smoked, unaware of the change of course that might just spell life over death for them.
San Francisco.
A very large convoy steams slowly out of the harbor. Strange ships, weird ships. A destroyer tender, AD Dixie, a seaplane tender AVP Thrush, an ungainly tub, ARD-1, four oilers, an ammunition ship, AE Lasen, three small yard oilers, a minefield tender, and several small local minesweepers. The convoy heads SSW, in the general direction of Tahiti. A long, long trip.
Suva.
Reinforcements arrived. Originally meant for Canton Island, the 260th, 250th, 131st, and 148 field artillery unloaded together with the 45th Base group. 148th was sent to Nadi, while the remainder of the troops took up defensive positions around the harbor. AGP Niagara disbanded into the harbor. The torpedo boat tender now only needed some torpedo boats to be functional.
Indian Ocean.
“New orders sir,” The radio signalman handed a message to the commodore. He read it and smiled.
“And welcome they are son,”
He turned to the bridge, “Signal all ships head SSW.”
He bent over the map, Sumatra lay to the East. He felt relief. He wanted to take his convoy to Singapore as much as he wanted to get a pole up his, well. Now he would not have to do that. “Cocos Island. Hmmm.”
In the ships behind his light cruiser, the men of the 44 and 45th Indian brigades smoked, unaware of the change of course that might just spell life over death for them.
San Francisco.
A very large convoy steams slowly out of the harbor. Strange ships, weird ships. A destroyer tender, AD Dixie, a seaplane tender AVP Thrush, an ungainly tub, ARD-1, four oilers, an ammunition ship, AE Lasen, three small yard oilers, a minefield tender, and several small local minesweepers. The convoy heads SSW, in the general direction of Tahiti. A long, long trip.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Allied carrier raid planned!
Dec 15 41
Philippine Islands.
She was cold in the winter, unbearably hot in the summer, slow, dirty, plagued by innumerable leaks, of oil, of salt water, of cold water, with engines wont to fail, starboard or port, or sometimes both together. It did not matter to Lieutenant commander J.R McKnight. She was his first command. What if she was old, 22 years old, in fact? He loved her, S-36, with all her quirks, with all her failings. Who cares that the skipper’s hands were as oil stained as any of the mechanics. Only 42 men, including officers. He spent more time with a wrench in his hand helping keep the old girl moving than filing paperwork, oil stained paperwork, most of the time.
For the last week, he’d been patrolling off Laoag, up and down, for a whole week of war and he’d seen nothing. Not today. A convoy! Two cargomen with four escorts, a DMS, two Patrol boats and a sub chaser. A big escort for only two merchies. Well, maybe the Japanese had an excess of escorts to spare, or maybe it was a valuable target.
S-36 was too slow to be picky about her target. She maneuvered, deep, in silence, working herself inside the escort ring. The escorts themselves were not too active, pinging with their asdic just enough for the old sub to keep track of their positions.
It was a long, hot, sweaty stalk, but after an eternity, S-36 was inside the escort ring, silently planning up to periscope depth. There she was a xAK A Sidney Maru class ship, in perfect position. J.R fired two Mark 10 torpedoes. He saw the streaks lined up perfectly and crash dived. Two explosions rewarded his efforts, as he evaded with more luck than skill the enemy escorts that set out to look for him. Two hours later, he surfaced his boat in a sea of debris, some of it bearing the sunken ship’s name. Brisbane Maru.
Philippine Islands.
She was cold in the winter, unbearably hot in the summer, slow, dirty, plagued by innumerable leaks, of oil, of salt water, of cold water, with engines wont to fail, starboard or port, or sometimes both together. It did not matter to Lieutenant commander J.R McKnight. She was his first command. What if she was old, 22 years old, in fact? He loved her, S-36, with all her quirks, with all her failings. Who cares that the skipper’s hands were as oil stained as any of the mechanics. Only 42 men, including officers. He spent more time with a wrench in his hand helping keep the old girl moving than filing paperwork, oil stained paperwork, most of the time.
For the last week, he’d been patrolling off Laoag, up and down, for a whole week of war and he’d seen nothing. Not today. A convoy! Two cargomen with four escorts, a DMS, two Patrol boats and a sub chaser. A big escort for only two merchies. Well, maybe the Japanese had an excess of escorts to spare, or maybe it was a valuable target.
S-36 was too slow to be picky about her target. She maneuvered, deep, in silence, working herself inside the escort ring. The escorts themselves were not too active, pinging with their asdic just enough for the old sub to keep track of their positions.
It was a long, hot, sweaty stalk, but after an eternity, S-36 was inside the escort ring, silently planning up to periscope depth. There she was a xAK A Sidney Maru class ship, in perfect position. J.R fired two Mark 10 torpedoes. He saw the streaks lined up perfectly and crash dived. Two explosions rewarded his efforts, as he evaded with more luck than skill the enemy escorts that set out to look for him. Two hours later, he surfaced his boat in a sea of debris, some of it bearing the sunken ship’s name. Brisbane Maru.
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Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Allied carrier raid planned!
Wake Island.
Sentry duty, a necessary job, a boring job. Look out over the empty sea, for hours, and hope to see nothing. No one in Wake atoll had any expectations. There was no way they could resist a determined effort. Not even with the SBD-2 dive bombers that had flown in. Today an unnamed marine, a simple cog in the machine, lifted his binoculars as he’d done a hundred times in the past two hours. There, close to shore, an explosion. He rang the air raid siren before he even looked up at the sky. But there were no airplanes in the blue sky.
“What is it sailor?” his sergeant asked.
“An explosion,” he pointed, “there. I thought it was an air raid.”
The sergeant lifted his own binoculars. There was something out there.
“A submarine,” he said. He picked up a field telephone to call up the shore battery, perhaps they could sink her. The unmistakable shape of a Japanese submarine’s conning tower broke the surface of the water. It was moving fast, not trying to dive.
“It must have hit a mine,” the sergeant observed chuckling, “those minelayers were here just in time.”
The conning tower slid beneath the waves and there was calm on the surface of the sea.
“Did it sink sir?” the eager young marine asked.
“Doubt it; there is no oil or junk that I can see.”
Then, further out, a second explosion roiled the surface of the ocean.
“That must have got him,” the marine said.
Sentry duty, a necessary job, a boring job. Look out over the empty sea, for hours, and hope to see nothing. No one in Wake atoll had any expectations. There was no way they could resist a determined effort. Not even with the SBD-2 dive bombers that had flown in. Today an unnamed marine, a simple cog in the machine, lifted his binoculars as he’d done a hundred times in the past two hours. There, close to shore, an explosion. He rang the air raid siren before he even looked up at the sky. But there were no airplanes in the blue sky.
“What is it sailor?” his sergeant asked.
“An explosion,” he pointed, “there. I thought it was an air raid.”
The sergeant lifted his own binoculars. There was something out there.
“A submarine,” he said. He picked up a field telephone to call up the shore battery, perhaps they could sink her. The unmistakable shape of a Japanese submarine’s conning tower broke the surface of the water. It was moving fast, not trying to dive.
“It must have hit a mine,” the sergeant observed chuckling, “those minelayers were here just in time.”
The conning tower slid beneath the waves and there was calm on the surface of the sea.
“Did it sink sir?” the eager young marine asked.
“Doubt it; there is no oil or junk that I can see.”
Then, further out, a second explosion roiled the surface of the ocean.
“That must have got him,” the marine said.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Allied carrier raid planned!
Dutch East Indies
Soerabaja shook under the attack of Japanese carrier planes. The undefended harbor could only hunker down and suffer. There were no fighters to harass the enemy pilots who took their time and selected their targets. When they left, to rejoin their carriers, long dirty columns of smoke rose from many of the ships struck by bombs.
In Borneo, landings at Singkiawang, Miri, and Brunei.
In the Philippines Bayombong, Vigos, and Batangas were seized by the Japanese who were once again repelled at San Fernando.
Soerabaja shook under the attack of Japanese carrier planes. The undefended harbor could only hunker down and suffer. There were no fighters to harass the enemy pilots who took their time and selected their targets. When they left, to rejoin their carriers, long dirty columns of smoke rose from many of the ships struck by bombs.
In Borneo, landings at Singkiawang, Miri, and Brunei.
In the Philippines Bayombong, Vigos, and Batangas were seized by the Japanese who were once again repelled at San Fernando.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Allied carrier raid planned!
December 15 41
Pearl Harbor.
A map of southeast Asia and the DEI extends on the table. Around the map most of the flag rank officers on the base ponder the positions of the three Japanese carrier forces.
Kido Butai I located to the East of Soerabaja. KB II approaching Java sea from the north west, and KB III in the Celebes sea.
Admiral Nimitz, newly arrived and eager to strike back at the Japanese asks:
“Gentlemen, opinions?”
Halsey slams his fist on the table, “Let’s hit them!”
Rear Admiral Sherman rolls his eyes, after making sure Bill Halsey is not looking at him, “There is a window of opportunity here.”
“We have all of their carriers spotted, in the South East Asia area,” he continued, “We can strike somewhere else safely.”
“Where do you suggest?” Nimitz questions.
“We could try and hit the Marshalls, but that may expose us to long range Betty attack. It would only take one torpedo to ruin our day.”
“Bullsh*t!” Halsey interjects.
Ignoring his outburst, Sherman continues, “The Marianas are too far, and too exposed for us, however there is one target that may be worth the risk.”
Nimitz’s eyebrows rise a fraction of an inch.
“The enemy is bound to hit south, sooner rather than later,” Sherman continues, “A strike on Truk might disrupt such plans, it also should get them to bring one or, probably two carrier forces into the southwest Pacific.”
“That would decrease the pressure on the DEI,” Nimitz remarked. “Our Dutch and Brit friends might appreciate that.”
“Make it so,” the Admiral ordered.
Carrier 1, Lex, Enterprise, with Portland, Indianapolis, Northampton and DD Porter and Balc, under RAdm Sherman will join Saratoga en route from San Diego. Surface combat TF 1 with Maryland, West Virginia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, California, and Tennessee with a spattering of cruisers and destroyer minesweepers departs heading for Midway.
Pearl Harbor.
A map of southeast Asia and the DEI extends on the table. Around the map most of the flag rank officers on the base ponder the positions of the three Japanese carrier forces.
Kido Butai I located to the East of Soerabaja. KB II approaching Java sea from the north west, and KB III in the Celebes sea.
Admiral Nimitz, newly arrived and eager to strike back at the Japanese asks:
“Gentlemen, opinions?”
Halsey slams his fist on the table, “Let’s hit them!”
Rear Admiral Sherman rolls his eyes, after making sure Bill Halsey is not looking at him, “There is a window of opportunity here.”
“We have all of their carriers spotted, in the South East Asia area,” he continued, “We can strike somewhere else safely.”
“Where do you suggest?” Nimitz questions.
“We could try and hit the Marshalls, but that may expose us to long range Betty attack. It would only take one torpedo to ruin our day.”
“Bullsh*t!” Halsey interjects.
Ignoring his outburst, Sherman continues, “The Marianas are too far, and too exposed for us, however there is one target that may be worth the risk.”
Nimitz’s eyebrows rise a fraction of an inch.
“The enemy is bound to hit south, sooner rather than later,” Sherman continues, “A strike on Truk might disrupt such plans, it also should get them to bring one or, probably two carrier forces into the southwest Pacific.”
“That would decrease the pressure on the DEI,” Nimitz remarked. “Our Dutch and Brit friends might appreciate that.”
“Make it so,” the Admiral ordered.
Carrier 1, Lex, Enterprise, with Portland, Indianapolis, Northampton and DD Porter and Balc, under RAdm Sherman will join Saratoga en route from San Diego. Surface combat TF 1 with Maryland, West Virginia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, California, and Tennessee with a spattering of cruisers and destroyer minesweepers departs heading for Midway.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Allied carrier raid planned!
Suva, South Pacific.
260, 280, 131, and 148 field artillery arrive at Suva. All dig in except for 148 that sets out for Nadi. 45th Base group also disembarks while the torpedo boat tender Niagara disbands in harbor, although no torpedo boats are available, yet.
Rangoon, Burma.
AVG 1 under Pappy Boyngton has been getting a workout against incessant Japanese fighter sweeps. The aircrews are tired and tired men make mistakes. Reluctantly, Boyngton orders 1st AVG to stand down.
San Francisco.
A huge, slow, and ungainly task force departs San Francisco. Tenders, oilers, ammunition ships and even floating dry dock ARD-1 sets out for Tahiti. It will take weeks, even months for the slow navalcade to get there but once in place, it will make Tahiti a potent base that will allow the US Navy to hold and defend the sea lanes to Australia.
In the harbor, the 34th Infantry Regiment begins to load up on its transports. Rumor is they are headed for Pearl Harbor.
San Diego.
A small flotilla of submarines, S-27, 28, Nautilus, Cuttlefish and Tuna depart the harbor bound for Pearl Harbor where they will refuel and head for Tahiti.
Port Moresby
All the float planes in the base have been seconded to an important rescue mission. Wren detachment will be picked up from Rabaul and transferred to Port Moresby.
260, 280, 131, and 148 field artillery arrive at Suva. All dig in except for 148 that sets out for Nadi. 45th Base group also disembarks while the torpedo boat tender Niagara disbands in harbor, although no torpedo boats are available, yet.
Rangoon, Burma.
AVG 1 under Pappy Boyngton has been getting a workout against incessant Japanese fighter sweeps. The aircrews are tired and tired men make mistakes. Reluctantly, Boyngton orders 1st AVG to stand down.
San Francisco.
A huge, slow, and ungainly task force departs San Francisco. Tenders, oilers, ammunition ships and even floating dry dock ARD-1 sets out for Tahiti. It will take weeks, even months for the slow navalcade to get there but once in place, it will make Tahiti a potent base that will allow the US Navy to hold and defend the sea lanes to Australia.
In the harbor, the 34th Infantry Regiment begins to load up on its transports. Rumor is they are headed for Pearl Harbor.
San Diego.
A small flotilla of submarines, S-27, 28, Nautilus, Cuttlefish and Tuna depart the harbor bound for Pearl Harbor where they will refuel and head for Tahiti.
Port Moresby
All the float planes in the base have been seconded to an important rescue mission. Wren detachment will be picked up from Rabaul and transferred to Port Moresby.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Allied carrier raid planned!
December 16th
CL Perth eats a torpedo near Gasmata, but it turns out to be a dud. A small reprieve that will have an ominous effect.
Nauru Island invaded and captured. Wren detachment evacuated to Rabaul in the nick of time, minus heavy equipment. Miri and Brunei captured.
SS Spearfish moves her patrol area off Cam Rahn.
CL Perth eats a torpedo near Gasmata, but it turns out to be a dud. A small reprieve that will have an ominous effect.
Nauru Island invaded and captured. Wren detachment evacuated to Rabaul in the nick of time, minus heavy equipment. Miri and Brunei captured.
SS Spearfish moves her patrol area off Cam Rahn.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
AAR open to Bibow at this time
Running about 6 weeks behind game time. AAR open to Bilbow at this time
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: AAR closed to Bilbow again
And now, we will continue, Bilboless[:D]
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: AAR closed to Bilbow again
December 17th
SS-O-19 misses on a destroyer near Soehi Behar. She evades the unavoidable counterattack and returns to periscope depth to find an enemy Kuma class light cruiser in front of her. A rapid decision by Lcdr HFB Kolling scores one hit on CL Oi.
Near Rabaul the hand of fate meets CL Perth. The light cruiser, together with AMC Westralia and 4 transports had come to evacuate the last remaining forces at the outpost. It was expected to be a fast, unopposed run, the encounter with the enemy sub notwithstanding. The die rolled in a different way and the light cruiser met heavy cruisers Kinugasa and Aoba with and escort of 4 destroyers. Outgunned and outnumbered, Westralia and Perth reacted according to the best traditions of the Royal Navy.
They attacked.
As Fate would have it, the heavy cruisers concentrated their fire on the armed merchant cruiser ignoring, for a while, the man of war. Perth opened up with her six inch guns which scored repeatedly on the heavy cruisers, enemy armor yielding to British steel 6 times on Aoba and 13 on Kinugasa. Westralia and the troop transports sunk as Perth, listing and on fire, slowly opened the range and broke off. Perth continued to struggle on, fighting fires, and flooding, but the order to abandon ship was given in the wee hours of the morning.
Singapore.
Enemy carrier bombers attacked the harbor scoring several hits on POW and Repulse in dry dock. The damage was extensive and it is feared none of the capital ships will be repaired in time for them to escape.
Repeated calls from the Australian government to repatriate Australian forces have forced Percival’s hand. All Australian forces have been ordered to Singapore where they shall embark as soon as the enemy carrier menace is over.
SS-O-19 misses on a destroyer near Soehi Behar. She evades the unavoidable counterattack and returns to periscope depth to find an enemy Kuma class light cruiser in front of her. A rapid decision by Lcdr HFB Kolling scores one hit on CL Oi.
Near Rabaul the hand of fate meets CL Perth. The light cruiser, together with AMC Westralia and 4 transports had come to evacuate the last remaining forces at the outpost. It was expected to be a fast, unopposed run, the encounter with the enemy sub notwithstanding. The die rolled in a different way and the light cruiser met heavy cruisers Kinugasa and Aoba with and escort of 4 destroyers. Outgunned and outnumbered, Westralia and Perth reacted according to the best traditions of the Royal Navy.
They attacked.
As Fate would have it, the heavy cruisers concentrated their fire on the armed merchant cruiser ignoring, for a while, the man of war. Perth opened up with her six inch guns which scored repeatedly on the heavy cruisers, enemy armor yielding to British steel 6 times on Aoba and 13 on Kinugasa. Westralia and the troop transports sunk as Perth, listing and on fire, slowly opened the range and broke off. Perth continued to struggle on, fighting fires, and flooding, but the order to abandon ship was given in the wee hours of the morning.
Singapore.
Enemy carrier bombers attacked the harbor scoring several hits on POW and Repulse in dry dock. The damage was extensive and it is feared none of the capital ships will be repaired in time for them to escape.
Repeated calls from the Australian government to repatriate Australian forces have forced Percival’s hand. All Australian forces have been ordered to Singapore where they shall embark as soon as the enemy carrier menace is over.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: AAR closed to Bilbow again
December 18th
Carrier 3 (Carrier 1 + Saratoga) under Radm Spruance, in the vicinity of French Frigate Shoals, continues to steam NW. The task force will refuel from the oilers stationed at Midway. VMF-221 takes off from Saratoga. The Marine fighters will arrive at Midway and form the nucleus of the island’s air defenses.
In Singapore, the Catalinas of VP 102 that had arrived from the Philippines find the reason for their strange redeployment. They begin to fly the shattered remnants of the 22nd Australian Brigade to Batavia.
O-19, exultant after torpedoing Oi and extremely low in torpedoes begins her return to Soerabaja. In the middle of the night the call comes.
“Captain to the bridge.”
LCDR Kolling arrives at the bridge. The submarine is running on the surface at one third speed. The XO points straight ahead.
“Sub, skipper. Strange one.”
Indeed, about a mile and a half ahead, the unmistakable shape of a submarine conning tower breaks the surface of the sea. But there is something wrong. The sub is neither surfaced, nor submerged. The conning tower is on the surface but no part of the deck can be seen. A large amount of foam forms around the tower. It is traveling at high speed, or at least trying to.
“Not one of ours,” the XO says, “American?’
The skipper shakes his head, the gesture unseen in the darkness. “Japanese, definitely. But why is it sailing so?”
Regardless he gives the order to attack. Two torpedoes are fired and one scores.
A huge explosion and the submarine disappears underneath the waves. With four men on deck, 0-19 sails through the field of flotsam seeking intelligence on their target. An unconscious Japanese sailor, held afloat by his life vest is pulled aboard.
“This one is still alive sir.”
“Take him below,” Kolling orders.
O-19 has a POW.
The sailor suffering from concussion, but otherwise unharmed came to, despondent at having been captured. One of the men, who spoke Japanese interrogated him and, in the prisoner’s initial confusion, obtained some useful intelligence.
“He was lookout on the port side, sir. Apparently blown overboard by the explosion. The sub was SS I-154. It seems it hit a mine at Merak and was heading back to base; the pumps were barely able to keep up with the flooding, with the submarine running full speed on the surface.”
Hong Kong falls.
Ensign Kemp Tolley safe at Balikpapan has barely time to get his laundry done before Asheville departs for Perth.
CA Houston disbands at Perth.
Carrier 3 (Carrier 1 + Saratoga) under Radm Spruance, in the vicinity of French Frigate Shoals, continues to steam NW. The task force will refuel from the oilers stationed at Midway. VMF-221 takes off from Saratoga. The Marine fighters will arrive at Midway and form the nucleus of the island’s air defenses.
In Singapore, the Catalinas of VP 102 that had arrived from the Philippines find the reason for their strange redeployment. They begin to fly the shattered remnants of the 22nd Australian Brigade to Batavia.
O-19, exultant after torpedoing Oi and extremely low in torpedoes begins her return to Soerabaja. In the middle of the night the call comes.
“Captain to the bridge.”
LCDR Kolling arrives at the bridge. The submarine is running on the surface at one third speed. The XO points straight ahead.
“Sub, skipper. Strange one.”
Indeed, about a mile and a half ahead, the unmistakable shape of a submarine conning tower breaks the surface of the sea. But there is something wrong. The sub is neither surfaced, nor submerged. The conning tower is on the surface but no part of the deck can be seen. A large amount of foam forms around the tower. It is traveling at high speed, or at least trying to.
“Not one of ours,” the XO says, “American?’
The skipper shakes his head, the gesture unseen in the darkness. “Japanese, definitely. But why is it sailing so?”
Regardless he gives the order to attack. Two torpedoes are fired and one scores.
A huge explosion and the submarine disappears underneath the waves. With four men on deck, 0-19 sails through the field of flotsam seeking intelligence on their target. An unconscious Japanese sailor, held afloat by his life vest is pulled aboard.
“This one is still alive sir.”
“Take him below,” Kolling orders.
O-19 has a POW.
The sailor suffering from concussion, but otherwise unharmed came to, despondent at having been captured. One of the men, who spoke Japanese interrogated him and, in the prisoner’s initial confusion, obtained some useful intelligence.
“He was lookout on the port side, sir. Apparently blown overboard by the explosion. The sub was SS I-154. It seems it hit a mine at Merak and was heading back to base; the pumps were barely able to keep up with the flooding, with the submarine running full speed on the surface.”
Hong Kong falls.
Ensign Kemp Tolley safe at Balikpapan has barely time to get his laundry done before Asheville departs for Perth.
CA Houston disbands at Perth.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: AAR closed to Bilbow again
December 19th 41
4 submarines depart Pearl Harbor for Bataan. They are loaded with supplies. A drop in a bucket, but more than anything they are meant to bolster the defenders morale. Whether they do that, or depress it even more remains to be seen.
Ambon invaded with KB 3 supporting the invasion
In Rangoon 29 Oscar sweep and 21 AVG planes rise to fight. 2 airplanes on each side fall out of the sky.
AT Pegu the 13th Indian Brigade reorganizes.
Rabaul falls but NG Coy saved by the patrols out of PM.
Lark Battalion embarks for Darwin.
3rd Heavy AA rebuilt at Johore Bahru and moves to Singapore.
12th Indian Brigade rebuilt at JB.
45th and 46th Indian Bdes disembarking at Cocos Island.
December 20th 1941
All planes left at Rabaul fly off for Port Moresby.
At the same time, all patrols from PM attempt to pick up the remaining engineers and support staff from Rabaul Base force.
At Port Moresby, Lark battalion embarks for Darwin.
At Johore Bahru the 3rd heavy AA rebuilt starts for Singapore, while the rebuilt 12th Indian Brigade digs in.
Two Indian brigades, the 45th and 46th, originally bound for Singapore begin to disembark at Cocos Island. One will stay at Cocos while the second one will garrison Christmas Island IO.
At Pegu, the 13th Indian Brigade reorganizes.
KB 3 is now active in the sea of Timor with 8 B5N1 and * dive bombers hitting shipping in Darwin.
Rabaul taken and Ambon holds.
As night falls on Singapore, the 22nd Australian brigade loads up on a collection of transports. With KB 1 and 2 out of the way, it is time for the Australians to run the gauntlet and break out for Perth.
During the night, the 21st RAF Australian squadron flies off to Batavia, as do the Wapiti of the 100 RAAF and the 36th RAF.
The DVI-A with 11 Lodestar transports flies into Singapore in a desperate effort to airlift as many of the cut off Gurkhas as possible from Malacca to Singapore.
4 submarines depart Pearl Harbor for Bataan. They are loaded with supplies. A drop in a bucket, but more than anything they are meant to bolster the defenders morale. Whether they do that, or depress it even more remains to be seen.
Ambon invaded with KB 3 supporting the invasion
In Rangoon 29 Oscar sweep and 21 AVG planes rise to fight. 2 airplanes on each side fall out of the sky.
AT Pegu the 13th Indian Brigade reorganizes.
Rabaul falls but NG Coy saved by the patrols out of PM.
Lark Battalion embarks for Darwin.
3rd Heavy AA rebuilt at Johore Bahru and moves to Singapore.
12th Indian Brigade rebuilt at JB.
45th and 46th Indian Bdes disembarking at Cocos Island.
December 20th 1941
All planes left at Rabaul fly off for Port Moresby.
At the same time, all patrols from PM attempt to pick up the remaining engineers and support staff from Rabaul Base force.
At Port Moresby, Lark battalion embarks for Darwin.
At Johore Bahru the 3rd heavy AA rebuilt starts for Singapore, while the rebuilt 12th Indian Brigade digs in.
Two Indian brigades, the 45th and 46th, originally bound for Singapore begin to disembark at Cocos Island. One will stay at Cocos while the second one will garrison Christmas Island IO.
At Pegu, the 13th Indian Brigade reorganizes.
KB 3 is now active in the sea of Timor with 8 B5N1 and * dive bombers hitting shipping in Darwin.
Rabaul taken and Ambon holds.
As night falls on Singapore, the 22nd Australian brigade loads up on a collection of transports. With KB 1 and 2 out of the way, it is time for the Australians to run the gauntlet and break out for Perth.
During the night, the 21st RAF Australian squadron flies off to Batavia, as do the Wapiti of the 100 RAAF and the 36th RAF.
The DVI-A with 11 Lodestar transports flies into Singapore in a desperate effort to airlift as many of the cut off Gurkhas as possible from Malacca to Singapore.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
Battle of Wake Island!
December 21st
Wake Island.
Since the 15th of December, when a submarine hit two mines, the Marine garrison at Wake had expected to be invaded. Two weeks of expectant, anxious boredom. The Vindicator dive bombers that reinforced the air garrison gave the Marines little comfort. The Vindicator pilots, inexperienced, were better prepared to bomb enemy ground forces than naval units.
Before dawn, explosions wake the garrison. In the darkness it is hard to figure out what is going on, but the conclusion is that a small force of minesweepers is clearing a path through the defensive minefields. All forces in the island go on alert.
There is but a sliver of moon but the night is clear. Six PT boats exit the anchorage to look for the enemy. They find it.
At a lookout yells:
“Enemy ahead!”
There, 6000 yards away, the black shapes of three cruisers and 4 destroyers loom. H.O. Szukalski, the flotilla commander launches his boat at full speed against the enemy ships. His consorts follow him, 6 white streaks on the black sea. The enemy cruisers open fire first, followed by the destroyers. The PT boats weave and dart trying to avoid the enemy fire and place themselves in position to launch their torpedoes. Szukalski divides his attention between conning his boat and issuing a radio report to Wake. The PT boats follow the cruisers out to sea where they lose contact.
The cruisers are not done though. After shaking off the pestering torpedo boats, they turn back and once again approach the island. At 8000 yards they spot a US transport task force attempting to get underway. CL Yubari opens fire at the same time that DMS Chandler fires and scores on CL Tenryu. A fierce battle ensues, DMS Chandler and Wasmuth, together with plucky PC Taney fire all their guns trying to let xAK Florence D to get underway and off. They fail. 3 torpedoes score on the transport. 3 shells hit Chandler and a grand total of 14 turn Taney into an inferno.
Wake sends a pro forma report on the battle and impending invasion. Pearl Harbor acknowledges receipt and, within minutes, an unexpected reply crackles on the wireless.
“Hang on. Help on the way. Pearl Out”
The PT boats, on their way back to Wake encounter three small minesweepers but decline to engage them. Wisely, Szukalski decides to reserve his boats for the invasion force.
The airstrip at Wake is severely strained to park the Grumman fighters and the old Vindicator dive bombers at dispersal. Moreover, expecting naval bombardment at any time, the airplanes cannot be armed and fueled, for obvious reasons, until dawn breaks and the immediate threat of naval bombardment passes. With the first light of dawn mechanics rush to fuel fighters and bombers while armorers struggle to hang 1000 Lbs bombs on the machines using equipment that is not only inadequate but also lacking in numbers. The airplanes fueled and armed queue at the departure end of the runway awaiting the green light from the tower.
The air raid siren blares. The AA guns turn and point North east. On the tower the officers raise their binoculars.
“Hold your fire,” someone screams into an intercom, “They are Dauntless bombers, ours!”
“How did they make it from Midway?” someone wonders.
“They have to be flying on fumes,” says a young ensign at the tower. “Shall I launch the strike before landing them?”
“Land the Dauntless, then launch the Marine bombers,” the commander decides.
A red flare from the tower prevents the Vindicator bombers from taking off.
A jeep rushes off to inform the first Vindicator, the flight leader of the plan. Just as it arrives blocking the bomber from departing, a green flare informs the SBD 3 that they are cleared to land.
“They seem too high to land,” the ensign comments.
Just then, the lead Dauntless fires a green and white flare.
“What?”
“Those are the colors of the day,” the ensign interprets.
“They are not landing. That is a strike!”
The commander calls up the jeep on a walkie-talkie.
“Tell the Vindicators to follow the Dauntless. Launch. Launch.”
The SBD-2 Vindicator flight takes off, finally, and tries to both follow the SBD-3 while formatting, not doing either thing very well, but at least they know the general direction in which to go.
They arrive in time to witness the SBD-3s diving in. There is no work for the 9 F4F-3 escorting fighters. The dive bombers get to work. AMC Kongo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, AMC Kinryu Maru BH 3, heavy fires, two transports, hit 3 and 4 times spew flames and smoke while doomed soldiers try to abandon ship.
The carrier airplanes turn around and see the Vindicators with their 4 Wildcat escorts. They wag their wings and head back to their carrier. The Marine pilots head in. They attack and miss the two AMC and one untouched transport. Serendipity takes a hand however and two of the marine pilots score on CL Katori, Bomb hits 2, on fire.
Later in the afternoon, 18 SBD-3 with 13 F2A-3 escorts locate and sink the 3 minesweepers.
18 SBD-2 revisit the invasion force. AMC Kongo Maru and Kinryu Maru each take a 500 Lb bomb apiece, PB Kaikei Maru takes 2.
The invasion has been repelled.
Tomorrow, newspapers all over the US will blare the results of this battle to a nation thirsty for good news. So will the BBC and the radio stations. Lost in the third or fourth pages will be the fall of Manila, the loss of San Fernando, Ambon, Beaufort.
Nowhere will it say that it was all an accident. That Car 3, heading to strike Truk in an effort to divert the enemy’s attention from the DEI, just happened to be nearby.
During the night, Car 3 is ordered to remain in the vicinity of Wake, under no conditions to move S or W of the island, and to destroy any remaining enemy forces.
Wake Island.
Since the 15th of December, when a submarine hit two mines, the Marine garrison at Wake had expected to be invaded. Two weeks of expectant, anxious boredom. The Vindicator dive bombers that reinforced the air garrison gave the Marines little comfort. The Vindicator pilots, inexperienced, were better prepared to bomb enemy ground forces than naval units.
Before dawn, explosions wake the garrison. In the darkness it is hard to figure out what is going on, but the conclusion is that a small force of minesweepers is clearing a path through the defensive minefields. All forces in the island go on alert.
There is but a sliver of moon but the night is clear. Six PT boats exit the anchorage to look for the enemy. They find it.
At a lookout yells:
“Enemy ahead!”
There, 6000 yards away, the black shapes of three cruisers and 4 destroyers loom. H.O. Szukalski, the flotilla commander launches his boat at full speed against the enemy ships. His consorts follow him, 6 white streaks on the black sea. The enemy cruisers open fire first, followed by the destroyers. The PT boats weave and dart trying to avoid the enemy fire and place themselves in position to launch their torpedoes. Szukalski divides his attention between conning his boat and issuing a radio report to Wake. The PT boats follow the cruisers out to sea where they lose contact.
The cruisers are not done though. After shaking off the pestering torpedo boats, they turn back and once again approach the island. At 8000 yards they spot a US transport task force attempting to get underway. CL Yubari opens fire at the same time that DMS Chandler fires and scores on CL Tenryu. A fierce battle ensues, DMS Chandler and Wasmuth, together with plucky PC Taney fire all their guns trying to let xAK Florence D to get underway and off. They fail. 3 torpedoes score on the transport. 3 shells hit Chandler and a grand total of 14 turn Taney into an inferno.
Wake sends a pro forma report on the battle and impending invasion. Pearl Harbor acknowledges receipt and, within minutes, an unexpected reply crackles on the wireless.
“Hang on. Help on the way. Pearl Out”
The PT boats, on their way back to Wake encounter three small minesweepers but decline to engage them. Wisely, Szukalski decides to reserve his boats for the invasion force.
The airstrip at Wake is severely strained to park the Grumman fighters and the old Vindicator dive bombers at dispersal. Moreover, expecting naval bombardment at any time, the airplanes cannot be armed and fueled, for obvious reasons, until dawn breaks and the immediate threat of naval bombardment passes. With the first light of dawn mechanics rush to fuel fighters and bombers while armorers struggle to hang 1000 Lbs bombs on the machines using equipment that is not only inadequate but also lacking in numbers. The airplanes fueled and armed queue at the departure end of the runway awaiting the green light from the tower.
The air raid siren blares. The AA guns turn and point North east. On the tower the officers raise their binoculars.
“Hold your fire,” someone screams into an intercom, “They are Dauntless bombers, ours!”
“How did they make it from Midway?” someone wonders.
“They have to be flying on fumes,” says a young ensign at the tower. “Shall I launch the strike before landing them?”
“Land the Dauntless, then launch the Marine bombers,” the commander decides.
A red flare from the tower prevents the Vindicator bombers from taking off.
A jeep rushes off to inform the first Vindicator, the flight leader of the plan. Just as it arrives blocking the bomber from departing, a green flare informs the SBD 3 that they are cleared to land.
“They seem too high to land,” the ensign comments.
Just then, the lead Dauntless fires a green and white flare.
“What?”
“Those are the colors of the day,” the ensign interprets.
“They are not landing. That is a strike!”
The commander calls up the jeep on a walkie-talkie.
“Tell the Vindicators to follow the Dauntless. Launch. Launch.”
The SBD-2 Vindicator flight takes off, finally, and tries to both follow the SBD-3 while formatting, not doing either thing very well, but at least they know the general direction in which to go.
They arrive in time to witness the SBD-3s diving in. There is no work for the 9 F4F-3 escorting fighters. The dive bombers get to work. AMC Kongo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, AMC Kinryu Maru BH 3, heavy fires, two transports, hit 3 and 4 times spew flames and smoke while doomed soldiers try to abandon ship.
The carrier airplanes turn around and see the Vindicators with their 4 Wildcat escorts. They wag their wings and head back to their carrier. The Marine pilots head in. They attack and miss the two AMC and one untouched transport. Serendipity takes a hand however and two of the marine pilots score on CL Katori, Bomb hits 2, on fire.
Later in the afternoon, 18 SBD-3 with 13 F2A-3 escorts locate and sink the 3 minesweepers.
18 SBD-2 revisit the invasion force. AMC Kongo Maru and Kinryu Maru each take a 500 Lb bomb apiece, PB Kaikei Maru takes 2.
The invasion has been repelled.
Tomorrow, newspapers all over the US will blare the results of this battle to a nation thirsty for good news. So will the BBC and the radio stations. Lost in the third or fourth pages will be the fall of Manila, the loss of San Fernando, Ambon, Beaufort.
Nowhere will it say that it was all an accident. That Car 3, heading to strike Truk in an effort to divert the enemy’s attention from the DEI, just happened to be nearby.
During the night, Car 3 is ordered to remain in the vicinity of Wake, under no conditions to move S or W of the island, and to destroy any remaining enemy forces.
- Attachments
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- Surprise.jpg (118.89 KiB) Viewed 727 times
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Battle of Wake Island!
December 22nd
Off Wake Island.
Despite the best efforts of the pilots at Wake, as well as the search conducted by the carrier aircraft themselves, the enemy naval forces have vanished, either undetected or, perhaps, sunk.
Australia
The Prime Minister clutches the dispatch and looks around at his cabinet.
“Darwin has been attacked by carrier airplanes,” he explains.
“Get me the President,” he orders.
“Don’t you mean the Prime Minister? Mr. Prime Minister,” his aide asks.
“I mean the President. Get me Franklin D. Roosevelt.”
The transports carrying Lark Battalion change course south, towards Townsville.
Carrier force 3.
“Message from Pearl sir,” the signals officer hands the decoded message to Admiral Spruance.
The Admiral glances at it and turns to his aide, “We return to Pearl.”
The news spreads through the carrier and task force. We head home.
During the night, three groups of PBY fly out from Pearl Harbor. VP 11 to Wake, VP 22 to Canton Island, and VP 21 to Suva.
Indian Ocean.
The last ships cross the treacherous strait leaving Oosthaven to starboard. Before dawn breaks, the last transport steams South south East, in the deeper, safer waters of the Indian Ocean. The two Australian brigades, the 22nd and the 27th have successfully run the gauntlet and are now, finally heading home.
December 23rd
Washington DC
Oval Office
Even for the Australian Prime Minister, a phone call to the American President is no easy task. It is not until late in the afternoon of the 23rd when he finally gets patched through to the President, a connection involving oceanic cables thousands of miles long, an engineering feat in itself.
Franklin D. Roosevelt has just hung up on a call with his personal friend, and Prime Minister of His Majesty’s Government, or, as Winston would say, rang off.
Unconsciously, Roosevelt turns on his charm.
“Mr. Prime Minister,” he speaks, “How nice to hear you.”
Then, it’s all business.
“How can we be of service?”
Of course, the request is no surprise. This has gone through echelons of aides, undersecretaries, secretaries and has already generated reams of paper reports that no one will read. Counselors have written minutes supporting the Prime Minister’s request, or opposing it; all of them neatly phrased to avoid any responsibility for the results of granting or denying Australia’s plea.
In the end, it is the man sitting behind the desk at the Oval Office who will decide.
“I understand,” the President says. “It seems that the two brigades from Singapore will be arriving soon?”
“I see, one full brigade and a shattered one,” the President nods.
“Mr. Churchill assures me an Australian Division from Egypt is on its way to Aden as we speak.”
The President nods, in silence. It’s not enough. It will take too long.
There is silence on the line. The Australian waits on Mr. Roosevelt’s decision.
“Yes, Mr. Prime Minister,” he says, “We will commit the 24th Infantry Division to the defense of Australia. It will depart in the next few days and will be at Sidney within the month.”
“There will be more if needed,” The president concludes.
From the opposite side of the table, where he sat, silent, overhearing the conversation, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson said:
“Nimitz will be livid.”
That would be an understatement.
Off Wake Island.
Despite the best efforts of the pilots at Wake, as well as the search conducted by the carrier aircraft themselves, the enemy naval forces have vanished, either undetected or, perhaps, sunk.
Australia
The Prime Minister clutches the dispatch and looks around at his cabinet.
“Darwin has been attacked by carrier airplanes,” he explains.
“Get me the President,” he orders.
“Don’t you mean the Prime Minister? Mr. Prime Minister,” his aide asks.
“I mean the President. Get me Franklin D. Roosevelt.”
The transports carrying Lark Battalion change course south, towards Townsville.
Carrier force 3.
“Message from Pearl sir,” the signals officer hands the decoded message to Admiral Spruance.
The Admiral glances at it and turns to his aide, “We return to Pearl.”
The news spreads through the carrier and task force. We head home.
During the night, three groups of PBY fly out from Pearl Harbor. VP 11 to Wake, VP 22 to Canton Island, and VP 21 to Suva.
Indian Ocean.
The last ships cross the treacherous strait leaving Oosthaven to starboard. Before dawn breaks, the last transport steams South south East, in the deeper, safer waters of the Indian Ocean. The two Australian brigades, the 22nd and the 27th have successfully run the gauntlet and are now, finally heading home.
December 23rd
Washington DC
Oval Office
Even for the Australian Prime Minister, a phone call to the American President is no easy task. It is not until late in the afternoon of the 23rd when he finally gets patched through to the President, a connection involving oceanic cables thousands of miles long, an engineering feat in itself.
Franklin D. Roosevelt has just hung up on a call with his personal friend, and Prime Minister of His Majesty’s Government, or, as Winston would say, rang off.
Unconsciously, Roosevelt turns on his charm.
“Mr. Prime Minister,” he speaks, “How nice to hear you.”
Then, it’s all business.
“How can we be of service?”
Of course, the request is no surprise. This has gone through echelons of aides, undersecretaries, secretaries and has already generated reams of paper reports that no one will read. Counselors have written minutes supporting the Prime Minister’s request, or opposing it; all of them neatly phrased to avoid any responsibility for the results of granting or denying Australia’s plea.
In the end, it is the man sitting behind the desk at the Oval Office who will decide.
“I understand,” the President says. “It seems that the two brigades from Singapore will be arriving soon?”
“I see, one full brigade and a shattered one,” the President nods.
“Mr. Churchill assures me an Australian Division from Egypt is on its way to Aden as we speak.”
The President nods, in silence. It’s not enough. It will take too long.
There is silence on the line. The Australian waits on Mr. Roosevelt’s decision.
“Yes, Mr. Prime Minister,” he says, “We will commit the 24th Infantry Division to the defense of Australia. It will depart in the next few days and will be at Sidney within the month.”
“There will be more if needed,” The president concludes.
From the opposite side of the table, where he sat, silent, overhearing the conversation, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson said:
“Nimitz will be livid.”
That would be an understatement.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Nimitz resigns!
December 24th 1941
Christmas Eve. Thoughts of peace may fill the hearts and minds of men, and women, of goodwill everywhere, but in the skies over Singapore it is business as usual with 19 Zero fighters sweeping the skies over the city. 15 Buffs come up to contest them and one Zero and one Buff fall in flames out of the sky.
Dutch East Indies.
KB returns to the Sulu sea, sinking the little shipping that still moves around.
Australia.
John Curtin, the Australian Prime Minister, clutches the telegram, disbelief in his ashen face.
“Darwin,” he says, “Darwin,” he repeats.
Under the big guns of Yamashiro, Darwin has been invaded.
Pearl Harbor.
Nimitz seethes. He has rebuilt the 25th Infantry Division, prepping it for Suva, and is getting the 24th rebuilt too, planning to leave it at Pearl against any contingencies. Now his orders are clear.
“Send 24th Infantry Sidney soonest. Prep for Alice Springs. Knox. End.”
There is the whole South Pacific, wide open for the enemy to capture, to sever the life line to Australia, and he was to defend it, and the Hawaiian archipelago, with two infantry divisions, and two marine regiments.
Now he has to do it with one division. The two marine regiments at Tahiti cannot be moved. Tahiti, small as it is, is critical.
He dismisses his staff and sits at his desk. He pulls out a sheet of stationary and begins to write.
Franklin Knox,
Secretary of the Navy,
Please accept my resignation soonest.
Nimitz.
Burma
Akyab is a tiny spot on the Bay of Bengal. It is nominally part of Burma, but it is connected to it by a small track through the hilly jungle. It is actually easier to get to India by sea, except that there is no real harbor, only a tiny, inadequate pier. What makes it important is its airfield, wide open, easy to build and enlarge.
At this pier, or actually, offshore, two ships sit at anchor unloading the 21st light AA battery and the Vickers tankettes of the B Squadron 3rd Hussars.
When, not if, the Japanese come, they will find the small speck on the map held against them. Maybe.
There are base forces, as well as infantry coming overland from Rangoon.
Maybe they will even get there before the war ends.
Christmas Eve. Thoughts of peace may fill the hearts and minds of men, and women, of goodwill everywhere, but in the skies over Singapore it is business as usual with 19 Zero fighters sweeping the skies over the city. 15 Buffs come up to contest them and one Zero and one Buff fall in flames out of the sky.
Dutch East Indies.
KB returns to the Sulu sea, sinking the little shipping that still moves around.
Australia.
John Curtin, the Australian Prime Minister, clutches the telegram, disbelief in his ashen face.
“Darwin,” he says, “Darwin,” he repeats.
Under the big guns of Yamashiro, Darwin has been invaded.
Pearl Harbor.
Nimitz seethes. He has rebuilt the 25th Infantry Division, prepping it for Suva, and is getting the 24th rebuilt too, planning to leave it at Pearl against any contingencies. Now his orders are clear.
“Send 24th Infantry Sidney soonest. Prep for Alice Springs. Knox. End.”
There is the whole South Pacific, wide open for the enemy to capture, to sever the life line to Australia, and he was to defend it, and the Hawaiian archipelago, with two infantry divisions, and two marine regiments.
Now he has to do it with one division. The two marine regiments at Tahiti cannot be moved. Tahiti, small as it is, is critical.
He dismisses his staff and sits at his desk. He pulls out a sheet of stationary and begins to write.
Franklin Knox,
Secretary of the Navy,
Please accept my resignation soonest.
Nimitz.
Burma
Akyab is a tiny spot on the Bay of Bengal. It is nominally part of Burma, but it is connected to it by a small track through the hilly jungle. It is actually easier to get to India by sea, except that there is no real harbor, only a tiny, inadequate pier. What makes it important is its airfield, wide open, easy to build and enlarge.
At this pier, or actually, offshore, two ships sit at anchor unloading the 21st light AA battery and the Vickers tankettes of the B Squadron 3rd Hussars.
When, not if, the Japanese come, they will find the small speck on the map held against them. Maybe.
There are base forces, as well as infantry coming overland from Rangoon.
Maybe they will even get there before the war ends.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu
RE: Nimitz resigns!
December 25th 1941
Christmas brings only additional bad news for the allied countries. Clark falls as well as Darwin.
The US newspaper, exultant with telling and retelling the battle of Wake, relegate news from the Philippines and Australia to the third page.
December 26th
Boxing Day.
Fateful decisions. At Singapore, Prince of Wales is scuttled. There is no way the battleship can be patched up to even try to run the gauntlet into the Pacific.
Tahiti.
The islands, nominally under unoccupied France command, change sides to join De Gaulle’s Free France. Prefect of Police Capt. Renault simply sews Lorraine’s cross onto the tricolor and life goes on. Business is simply booming as the 2nd Marine regiment unloads and, when not expanding the harbor or digging trenches, the men off duty visit the cocottes in town.
At Pearl, a huge ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth, unloads the 1st Marine Air wing.
The 4th Marine defense battalion will leave Pearl for Ndeni.
Christmas brings only additional bad news for the allied countries. Clark falls as well as Darwin.
The US newspaper, exultant with telling and retelling the battle of Wake, relegate news from the Philippines and Australia to the third page.
December 26th
Boxing Day.
Fateful decisions. At Singapore, Prince of Wales is scuttled. There is no way the battleship can be patched up to even try to run the gauntlet into the Pacific.
Tahiti.
The islands, nominally under unoccupied France command, change sides to join De Gaulle’s Free France. Prefect of Police Capt. Renault simply sews Lorraine’s cross onto the tricolor and life goes on. Business is simply booming as the 2nd Marine regiment unloads and, when not expanding the harbor or digging trenches, the men off duty visit the cocottes in town.
At Pearl, a huge ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth, unloads the 1st Marine Air wing.
The 4th Marine defense battalion will leave Pearl for Ndeni.
Appear at places to which he must hasten; move swiftly where he does not expect you.
Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu