Sunset in the East. DBB 30B. Open to Bibow

[kaleun]

January 31st


Canton Island.
The PBY from Pearl alights in the protected waters of the lagoon. It brings, among other things, emergency spare parts, small supplies, mail, and newspapers from Hawaii.
PFC Moretti stands at attention in front of Cpt Baker. On the captain’s desk, the newspaper headlines blare out their message:

Japanese Invasion repelled at Canton Island. Enemy forces utterly destroyed. US Navy and Marine troops request “Send us more Japs”

“What is the meaning of this?” Captain Baker spits out?
PFC Moretti was in charge of signals when the report went out.
“Sir, we add some nonsense at the beginning and end of the message, to confuse the enemy.”
“I know that you blithering idiot.” The captain looks at the harbor where the men of his base force, with the willing assistance of the marines try to unload the heavy guns of the 57th.
“The Japs read these newspapers too,” Captain Baker groaned.
“Since you want more Japs, join the burial detail, help dispose of the ones we have. Dismissed.”
There was no space to bury the enemy dead. The only solution was to pile the bodies in a downwind corner of the atoll, douse them with aviation gasoline, and incinerate them. A thankless job that no one wanted.
“The Japs burn their dead,” Baker thought, “they won’t mind.”
Once again he looked at the harbor. He could see Warspite zigzagging outside the lagoon, wary of enemy submarines.
“I hope they send our share of Japs somewhere else.”

In the East Coast several small units board trains bound for San Diego. Among them, 1st/102nd Inf Battalion, prepping for Christmas Island, and the 276 Coastal Artillery prepping for Bora Bora.

[kaleun]

February 1st

Enemy forces supported by carrier air landed at Akyab on the 31st. CL Isuzu spotted supporting the invasion. The defenders retreated towards Cox Bazaar.
A group of B26 transferred to Suva set to naval attack.

In China, AVG 2 moves to Sian.

[kaleun]

February 2nd
Allied ships flee Noumea and are hit by Japanese naval air assets after almost reaching the dubitable safety of Sidney harbor. 22 Val dive bombers and 26 Kate, escorted by 40 Zero fighters are met by 4 Buffalo and 34 P40E. Despite this generous CAP only one Zero and one Kate bomber were destroyed by the allied fighters. 4 Kate and 3 Val were damaged. As for the allied ships, xAK Cagou sunk after 7 bomb hits, AMC Cap des Palmes succumbed to 9 and xAK Royal T Frank took 3 hits.

Pearl Harbor

Captain Ito Watanabe enters Admiral Nimitz’s office with un-naval nonchalance. His salute and stance would give any petty officer an instant stroke.
“Watanabe,” Nimitz says, “What do you make of that Canton business?”
“Just a probe, I’d say sir.”
“The question is: will they come again?”
“I don’t think so sir. They are pushing south east, into Noumea and, I presume Suva will be next. Unless they are goaded by that press story, I don’t think they will be distracted.”
Nimitz frowns. He’d wanted the 24th at Suva, but it was now in Australia where, he thought, it would just be a very small drop in a very large bucket.
“How fast?”
Ito scratches his chin, “Pretty fast I’d say. I wouldn’t waste time if I was them.”

Orders are given.
SS Argonaut loads up with 50 Mk 10 mines and sets out to lay a minefield at Nadi.
A telegram orders the immediate halt to further expansion of the size 3 airfield at Suva; all efforts to be devoted to increasing the size 3 fortifications. This news is not welcomed in the island. 25th Infantry Division begins to prepare for Suva while Nimitz calls all his political friends, anyone he can think of that will help influence the White House to release the 25th. It will be an uphill battle.

[kaleun]

Feb 3rd

The air above Sidney harbor throbs with the roar of aero engines, Allied and Japanese both. This time, modern fighters, 77 P40 E join the rather obsolescent 11 F2 Buffalo in defending the harbor against 27 Zero escorting 68 Kate and 67 Val bombers. The Zero fighters, tied to their charges cannot perform as well as they are wont and score only 6 kills, 1 Buff and 5 P40, but lose only 2 of their own. The defending fighters manage to kill 12 Kate and 7 Val bombers and the Ack-ack gets one more dive bomber. 14 additional bombers are damaged.
This did not prevent the enemy bombers from delivering their eggs, CA Minneapolis, 4hits, Australia 2, CL Rakeigh 2, Concord 1.
Later in the day, 16 Zero fly over the harbor and meet 7 Buffalo and 45 P40E. Though outnumbered the Japanese fighters prove that, even with modern machines, the novice allied pilots are no match for them. 6 P40E destroyed, no Japanese losses.

Pago Pago now has a size 3 airfield.

In the evening Vice Admiral Skip Lockwood decides to take his old battleships and try and find the enemy carriers that are said to be loitering nearby, to try again in the morning.

During the night the B26 from Suva fly to Sydney where they load up with bombs tasked with attacking the carriers as soon as they are located. 19 P40E of the 13th Pursuit squadron under LtC Gray (2kills) will escort them to the carriers.

The PBY of 24VP arrive at Nadi and set up evacuating 2/3 coy from Luganville.

At Aden, CL Glasgow and DD Isis join CV Indomitable and set out for Colombo

[kaleun]

Feb 4 42
Lockwood’s battleships fail to find the enemy carriers in the night. The reason is that the enemy task force moved northeast to sweep up the remaining shipping that fled the Noumea debacle.

[kaleun]

In addition Ndeni and Luganville were invaded, Ilo Ilo and Broome captured.
Luganville cannot hold so the floatplanes based there as well as the ships (a floatplane tender) are evacuated to Tanna island in the south (the short range of the Kingfishers preclude them reaching Nadi in one hop)

[kaleun]

The B26 bombers from Sydney find themselves returning to Suva. The pilots wonder if the high command knows what they are doing. They at least wonder; the high command doesn’t.
All PBY at Ndeni are tasked with evacuating the ground forces 2/3 Ind coy at Luganville.
And North Australia is a shambles.

[kaleun]

February 6th

Wars are not won by successful retreats, Winston might have said that, but the news in Australia is full of the rescue of the Coy in Luganville, flown to Nadi, as well as the success in the staged flight of all the Seagulls from Luganville to Tanna, and from there to Nadi in Suva. The AVPs Pelican and Teal are following their birds to Nadi.
At Nadi, all the PBY move from their rescue mission to search and the B26 in Suva are set to naval attack. Also at Suva a Marine group of obsolescent Vindicators are set to naval attack.

In Australia, the US 24th division arrives at Alice Springs and is set to unpack. The plan does not call for the 24th to be deployed further north.

Naval reconnaissance shows enemy forces approaching Java. Without many other options, most of the submarine forces in Soerabaja are set to seed mines in Semarang and Tjepoe

The invasion however occurs in Kalidjati. A task force of DMS clear paths through the minefields and the Japanese come ashore.

AS expected, Ndeni, Luganville, and Efate are taken by the enemy.

[kaleun]

February 7th

Fuel running low at Sidney. Only 27000 tonnes left. A Tanker task force departed Sidney for SFCO via Tahiti. AS Canopus repaired in Melbourne departs bound for Townsville where a submarine base is planned. She will refuel at Sydney.

SS-27 scores one torpedo hit on xAK Genoa Maru near Noumea.
Kalidjati falls, as expected.

In Burma, The Imperial guards/B division pushes on towards Cox Bazaar.

Lark Battalion arrives at Tennant Creek and promptly merges with Sparrow and Gull to form the 23rd Australian Brigade. The Brigade will wait at Tennant Creek awaiting the arrival of the 3rd Australian Division and will then move south to Alice Springs.

At Cairns all the available PBY begin to evacuate the troops that have withdrawn to Buna. The first unit to be so evacuated will be the New Guinea Volunteer Rifle battalion.

In the West Coast the 27th Infantry Division, at LA will move to San Francisco via rail and is assigned to the North Pacific command.

[kaleun]

February 8th.
Pearl Harbor

Admiral Nimitz, his aides, secretaries, and all the brass in Honolulu assembled round the long conference room table. In front of the flag rank naval officers and the Army generals were thin, identical folders. Inside was Ito Watanabe’s current assessment. From a dais, Capt Watanabe addressed those present.
“Java is the final piece in the Japanese resource grabbing drive.
Once Java is conquered, the enemy must create a defensive perimeter to protect his resources. The occupation of the northern Australian bases is part of this perimeter; he aims to deny our long range bombers bases from whence to attack his resources.
Resources, once gained, must be transported to the home islands. Our submarines’ lackluster performance to date is an encouragement to the enemy. The loss of our carriers in the battle for Noumea makes the submarine arm even more important. Their performance must improve if the enemy is to be denied the resources gained by their expansion.
We can expect the Japanese to fortify their Eastern flank to delay our advance into their empire.
It is difficult to make predictions, but, in their place, I would attempt a thrust into Suva, Pago Pago and Tahiti, to sever our transport lines to Australia.
His report complete, and absent questions, Capt Watanabe departed. Behind him, silence.

[kaleun]

February 9th

After a long, roundabout trip, around the south and west coasts of Australia, CM Bungaree and DM Stronghold arrive off Port Hedland and lay their mines. It is a pathetic defense, but the only thing available.

TF 1, the Battleship task force departs Sydney for Tahiti. Our friend, Ensign Kemp Tolley hitches a ride on Nevada as his orders call for him to report at Tahiti. Meanwhile the Japanese land on Renell Island off the Solomons.

In Pearl Harbor, Yorktown in dry dock will require 46 days to repair.

CL Sumatra, and three four pipers will try to run the gauntlet between Soerabaja and Perth. The four surface ships encounter Carriers Kaga, Hiryu ans Soryu, together with BB Haruna. A short surface battle ensues where Soryu takes one hit on her superstructure and Haruna waves off another. Sumatra and Edsall take one hit apiece before the task forces break off.

[kaleun]

February 11th

Not only the US submarines miss. O-23 fired a spread of six fish at CA Mikuma, missing with all of them on the 10th.
Renell Island fell on the 10th.

1st Lt R. H. Neale an ace with 5 kills receives his orders to leave AVG-1 and join TRACOM.
CVL Hermes arrives at Cape Town.

February 12th

The day is come when the fateful decision must be made. All Batavia based submarines are recalled to base, from there to transfer to Perth. The US fleet boats will continue to operate out of Soerabaja, ferrying supplies to Bataan.

Hermes, with Ramillies, Revenge and escorts departs Cape Town for Perth. Indomitable with Royal Sovereign depart Colombo to join Hermes at Perth.

6Th Australian Division unloading at Perth. It is planned to send it to Carnavon.

The PT Boats score some victories at last, Q111, PT 34, and PT 32 scored one hit on xAK Osaka Maru near Merak. Also at Merat one submarine, I-164 hits a mine.

Despite the hastily laid minefield, the Japanese invaded Port Hedland today.

[kaleun]

February 13
Java will fall, there is no question. The colonial Dutch watch sadly as the allies remove their assets from the Island. Only Dutch forces will remain. Those that can’t be moved, that is. One of the Dutch subs, K XVIII loads up with mines at Soerabaja. She will lay a minefield at Merak prior to departing for Perth. Other subs will proceed to Perth directly.
The PBY fly to Port Headland and thence to Carnavon.

At Burma, the AVG defends Shwebo, or at least they fly defense. 18 Zero, 7 H81-A3, one AVG machine less for Capt Torres to worry about.

An enemy carrier force in the Ceram sea hits shipping at Tenate.

[kaleun]

February 14th

General Blaney reports to the Prime Minister, “The 3rd Division has arrived at Tennant Creek and relieved the 23rd Brigade. The 23rd will march to Alice Springs to rest, recover, and resupply.”
“Will the 3rd be able to stop them?”
The question hung in the air, unanswered, unanswerable.

“What about the defenders of Port Hedland?” the PM asked.
“They are retreating in good order to Corunna Downs.”
“And from there?”
“We’ll order them west, to Exmouth.”
“A long walk,” the Prime Minister concluded.

In Burma, the collapse of the defenders continues. The Japanese 33rd Division, with a regiment of guards, cavalry, and tanks, attacks and takes Meitkila. The defenders retreat and withdraw towards Mandalay and from there to Shwebo.
9 Burma rifles and 104 RAF Base force are ordered to Mytkyvina.

In Batavia, different submarines are assigned to mine laying. S-36 will mine Kalidjati, O-16 Merak, and O-21 will proceed directly to Perth.

[kaleun]

February 16th

At Merak, the Dutch PT Boats score a hit on DMS W-2 losing one of the boats to gunfire.
The minefield at Kalidjati scores a hit on CA Suzuya.
Puerto Princesa and Merak fall.
Slowly Australian forces converge on Aden. From there, it will be a long, long ride back to the homeland.

February 17th

AS Zuiderkuis and 3 AMc boats attempt the run to Perth. The enemy, however, is expecting this kind of thing and has set submarines on ambush. DD Whipple, escaping from Soerabaja finds this out receiving a torpedo from SS I-157. The same submarine ignores an AMc but goes on to sink xAP Tjitjaleyka with two torpedoes.

In Burma, 18 Zero escort 27 Sally bombers to Mandalay. The bombers come in at 12000 feet. Tomorrow, if they return, AVG 1 will fly CAP at 15000. The problem is that AVG 1 by now has only 10 H81-A3 in working order.

At Perth, 6th Div begins prepping for Carnavon while at the same time unpacking their gear.
General Blaney has finally developed a strategic plan.
One division, the 6th, will defend Carnavon. The 28th Batallion will proceed to Perth and prep for Exmouth.

Meanwhile, the 198 and 223 field artillery are unloading at Nadi.

It is all a matter of time.

[kaleun]

Feb 18th

The Japanese invasion of Java continues apace, but the Dutch are not planning to roll over and play dead. Two PT boats, 32 and 34 interrupt unloading operations at Merak.

Mandalay falls in Burma.
The 43rd Cav and 254 armored brigade begin to march to Cox Bazaar. The 19th and 23rd Indian Divisions are at Chittagong
Shortlands invaded and taken in the Solomons.

Naval intelligence shows enemy carriers close to the route that Indomitable and her TF are following to Perth.

Feb 19th

Indomitable sets 10% of her Albacores to naval search. The Sea Hurricanes will be on CAP and the Fulmars will escort the torpedo armed Albacores if any attack is ordered. But they will remain on deck as no enemy was spotted.

Feb 20th
The enemy carrier force, presumed to be 3 CVL is finally spotted SE Christmas Island IO moving W.
The Indomitable task force turns south avoiding combat.
23rd Indian Division moves out of Chittagong

[kaleun]

Feb 21

SS KX scores two torpedo hits on TK Kaizyu Maru in the Macassar straits.
Enemy carrier aircraft hit transport 440 miles NW of Exmouth

In Sidney, Gen Blaney reports to the Prime Minister.
“Batavia fell today. The Battle of Java is almost over. Where are they going next?”
“Do you think they will try for the West Coast?”
“Precious little we can do if they do. We’ll try and give them a bloody nose though.”
“Winston promised to send more of our boys home. We have three artillery regiments loading in Aden.”
“We’ll use them when they get here,” Blaney said, “When they do.”

Four submarines depart from Perth. KVII to patrol west of Exmouth, O21 north, S39 near Carnavon together with S37.

[kaleun]

Meanwhile the US continues to build up the Eastern Approaches.

[kaleun]

February 22nd.

The task force unloading reinforcements at Exmouth is savaged by the enemy carrier air. Kate and Val bombers are identified as the aggressors.

Pago Pago now sports a size 4 airfield.
AVG/1 transfers to Calcutta. With only three active airplanes it is no longer an effective unit. It will take replacement machines at Calcutta prior to returning to battle. It’s place at Schwebo will be taken by the 232 RAF squadron with 16 Hurricanes

[kaleun]

The thread is now open to Bilbow.
We are about three and a half months behind on game time, so there's probably no intelligence here for the enemy to glean.