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

[kaleun]

March 15th

Twenty four Oscar fighters sweep over Chittagong at 20,000ft and find no allied fighters coming up to tangle with them.
Thirty Sally bombers, escorted by thirty four Oscar hit troops near Akyab.

March 16th

25th Infantry Division unloads at Pago Pago. CM Oglala ordered to proceed to Tahiti and lay a minefield while a DM will do the same at Pago Pago. Both minelayers will return to Pearl once their task is completed. One ACM is also dispatched to Tahiti.
At Geraldton, the motorized support elements of the 6th march north to rejoin their mates at Carnavon.
Near Akyab, Twenty nine Sally with an escort of twenty two Oscar Ic get bounced by ten Hurricane IIb. Two Sally destroyed and one damaged, two Oscar destroyed, at a cost of two hurricanes.
Chittagong is not so lucky. Twenty Sally bombers hit the airfield, unmolested.
Tahiti now sports a size three airfield.

[kaleun]

March 17th
Pig boats to Dutch Harbor!
SS 42, 44, 45, 46, and 47 are ordered to proceed to Dutch Harbor. The underwhelming performance of the Mk 12 torpedo has crippled the US submarine efforts. Until such a time as the torpedo is fixed, the best torpedo is the obsolete Mk 10 carried by the S boats. Their short range however makes them almost useless in the long distance patrols required for their strategic deployment. A sub tender at Dutch Harbor will allow them to conduct patrols in Japanese home waters, at least in the important lanes linking the home islands with Sakhalin and the oil and resources found there.
In the Burma front, the 23rd Indian Division has reached the vicinity of Akyab and is ordered to bombard and recon the enemy forces there. The 23rd, together with 43rd Cav regt, and 7th armored brigade exchange artillery fire with the 16th Guards rgt, 5th Cav rgt and Imp Guards/B division.
AVG 1, at Chittagong begins to patrol the air above the base with their spanking new P40 E, Capt Torres is happy to report that 25 of 27 machines are operational. That won’t last long, he fears.
Indeed, the new fighters are soon put to the test. Thirty Oscar Ic sweep the skies over the air base; 5 Hurricane Ib and all 25 of the P40E roar into the air looking to do battle. Three Oscar fighters spin out of the sky in flames, but two P40 and one Hurricane are lost too. A very underwhelming performance. The top pilots in AVG are 1Lt Prescott, R.W with four kills, 2Lts Sants R.H, Wolf and Wilcox with three, 1st Lt McGarry, Capt Sardell and Major Boyngton with two.
Over Suva, the enemy carrier air strikes again, while the 21st Divisin, 4th Brigade and 2 Tank regiment attack the defenders. The attack is repulsed, but the fortifications are partially destroyed.
KB II continues its operations off Exmouth hitting xAK Bengal with two bombs.
And worst of all, off Lahaina, SS I-26 scores one torpedo hit on Hornet. The carrier will survive, of course, but will need to repair for a while. An anti submarine surge by all the DD in Pearl is ordered. Yorktown still has 8 days to go before repairs are complete. Since she will have to wait for Hornet, she will also upgrade her 50 cals for Oerlikons in April.

[kaleun]

March 18th
Chittagong.
Capt Torres watches as a large formation of enemy bombers, 21 G4M1 in fact, with 18 Oscar come in to attack merchant ships unloading in the harbor. 6 Hurricanes and 6 P40E rise to meet them and score one bomber and one enemy fighter destroyed, with no allied losses.

[kaleun]

The last defenders in Java surrender.
Hornet arrives at Pearl Harbor. Estimates indicate that it will take 28 days to repair. While in shipyard, she will also receive new Oerlikon AA guns and upgrade her obsolescent Helldivers for the only less obsolete Dauntless dive bomber.
The British commander orders an attack on the forces north of Akyab for the morning hoping to turn them back, away from the India border.
The population of Melbourne turns out to receive the airmen and sailors of CVL Hermes.
AS Canopus disbands at Townsville.
At San Franncisco, the 164 Infantry regiment begins to load. It’s destination Melbourne, the plan being to reconstitute the Americal Infantry Division that will join the 24th in Australia.

[kaleun]

March 20th

General Blaney’s report for today is short. Allied submarine action around Exmouth, O-24, sighted by Mizuma’s escort and damaged by five depth charges, and Nadi, Haddock, missing on Yukikaze. More ominous is the spotting of an enemy task force, 240 nautical miles NE from Exmouth, heading SW.
“It may be an invasion force,” he tells the Prime Minister.
“Where do you think they are going?”
“Anywhere they want, I fear,” Blaney responds, “and there is not much we can do about it.”

On other fronts, the Japanese have retaken Katha in Burma.

March 21st

Norfolk Island invaded. Suva falls. CV Formidable arrives at Cape Town and promptly joins CL Hobart and Newcastle, DD Paladin and Panther, and departs for Melbourne.

3/102nd Infantry battalion loads up at Balboa headed for Penhryn Island.

NW of Akyab, the 23rd Indian Division, the 7th and 254 armored brigade, and the 43rd Cavalry battalion are ordered to attack the Imperial Guards A and B regiments, and the 16th guards regiment together with a Guards Cavalry battalion.

[kaleun]

March 22nd

It probably was predictable. Allied forces, whether British, Indian, Australian, or even US, are still no match against the Japanese in anything resembling even numbers. A full Indian Division, two armored brigades, and a Cavalry battalion, not only fail to dislodge three regiments and a Cavalry battalion, but do so with heavy losses.

At Sidney, CVL Hermes enters dry dock. Repair estimate is 58 days.

March 23rd

SS I-157 spotted near Perth, comes under attack and suffers 4 hits. Maybe she’ll sink. I-169 comes under air attack near Geraldton. The Japanese (via de Swiss ambassador) send a bill for the captain’s treasured sake cup that broke during the attack.
Near Katha, the 1st Burma and the 17th Indian division repel a Japanese armored attack, but their counterattack stalls.
Geraldton now sports size 2 fortifications.

[kaleun]

March 24th

Defending Australia against a determined Japanese assault is difficult, probably impossible. Australia’s defense is based on hope. Hope that the Japanese will find themselves otherwise occupied, hope that the strategic value of the country is not enough to tempt the enemy into seizing it. At this time, the best Australia can do is to pray, and to reinforce 6th division at Carnavon. Easier said than done. Beyond Geraldton there is only a dirt track that swallows up as much supply as it lets through. The Japanese own the ocean, and prove it by destroying a small supply convoy with carrier aircraft.
Perhaps sending the 6th to Carnavon was not such a great idea.
Or perhaps the enemy might focus his attention elsewhere.
For instance, New Zealand.
18 Zero fighters sweep the skies over Auckland. Two plucky Buffalo fighters climb to meet them but the encounter settles with no losses on either side. A victory for the Buffs when you think about it.
Lord Howe Island invaded by the enemy.

In India, the orders come through. AVG 2 and 3 will upgrade their machines to P40E.

[Mike McCreery]

I think I am playing the "C" mod of Dababes with reduced cargo.

What I found was that if you manage to hold Sydney and Melbourne with about 1000AV each that you can hold out pretty much indefinitely on their supply and production. I managed to remain around 500,000 supply between the 2 locations and the area in between.

The problem for the Japanese is that this is about as far from their home as possible so all supply and fuel must be carried a long way.

The Japanese can pretty much take the rest of the continent at will, you are correct.

However, it requires all or part of the KB to be at the location to prevent reinforcement supply convoys escorted by carriers.

This gives you a strategic advantage at other areas of the map.

[kaleun]

Thanks for the comment wargmr. It's true, Japan needs to make choices as to how far and where to go, and live by them.
Australia front will pick up speed soon. Stay tuned

[kaleun]

March 25th

Any hope Australia had of being spared the full brunt of Japan’s might vanishes on the 25th. A PBY 4 from Carnavon spots an enemy invasion force approaching. They are coming. The question is where exactly will they land. Perth is well garrisoned, but Geraldton is weak. Trying to defend everywhere means being strong nowhere. Blaney has concentrated most of his available infantry at Perth, with the unfortunate exception of the 6th that repelled the enemy at Carnavon but that, now, appears utterly exposed.

The enemy carriers attack Auckland harbor.

Yorktown will be available in one day, Hornet in 3 weeks. But a single US carrier, or even two cannot stand against any of the two enemy carrier forces, even if they could get there on time.

Ramree Island invaded, Raoul Island invaded.

At Pearl Harbor, Nimitz can only observe developments.
“There is no intervention that we may safely take, that will in any way affect events in the South Pacific, or Australian thearer” he telegraphs to his superiors in Washington DC.

[kaleun]

March 27th

Yorktown returned to service at Pearl Harbor. The mighty ship remains tied up to the pier with no mission. While she waits for Hornet, her pilots train, her crew alternates training with shore leave, and meanwhile, the war goes on.

8th Division at Perth receives new equipment. The men are glad of their new toys, but the officers worry, will it be enough? The presence of enemy carriers offshore Geraldton cannot be ignored; the marching orders, ordering the 8th north to Geraldton, even less.

Subic Bay finally falls.

Attu Island invaded. The Japanese effort in the Aleutians, probably a diversion, cannot be ignored however.


March 28th

All over Australia, civilians find their rail schedules disrupted, the trains taken over by the military, to move massive amounts of men and material west. The list is endless: 44th Australian battalion, from Kalgoorlie to Perth. 24th US Division, from Alice Springs to Perth. 132 and 182 US regiments, from Melbourne to Perth. US 259 coastal artillery from Melbourne to Busselton, US 70th AA and 754 Tank battalion, from Melbourne to Perth.

S-36 scores two torpedo hits on xAK Eiko Maru #2 at Exmouth.

14 A6M2 Zero fighters sweep over Perth. 8 angry Kittyhawks IA, the best machines in the RAAF, rise to give battle, and die; 5 Australian fighters destroyed at no loss to the Japanese. Three heroic Hudson I bombers find the enemy carrier CVL Ruyho near Geraldton. Despite the 23 Zero on CAP, the three bombers get through, and miss. One is lost to flak, and two damaged machines return to base.

32 Zero escort 19 Val dive bombers attacking a task force at Perth. xAK Empire Kamal takes 3 bomb hits, and xAK Clan Lamont another three. DD Fortune, one, and AMC Chital 6. A second, larger raid, hits the TF again. 47 Zero, 56 Kate bombers and 12 Val power through the 8 Kittyhawk CAP, suffering only two dive bombers damaged. DD Fortune 2 bomb hits, xAK George Livanos one, xAK Clan Lamont three to add to the morning’s three, and BB Ramillies two.

S-36 attacks xAK Akasan Maru on the surface, scoring one torpedo and fifteen shell hits. When the submarine surfaces that night to recharge her old batteries, Lcdr Mc Knight jr receives orders to return to Perth.

In the evening, muted celebrations in the officer’s mess as squadron leader D. Holmes celebrates his first kill.

[kaleun]

March 29th

The news comes all too soon.
“Bloody hell!” Blaney curses, the dispatch crumpled in his fist.
It is Geraldton. Poorly defended Geraldton where the Japanese decide to land. Frustrated at their attempt to take Carnavon, the enemy’s plan B is actually better than their plan A. The five PT boats stationed at the small harbor attempt to tangle with the invaders losing two of their number.
Over Perth, the morning sweep of 14 Zero fighters meets 4 Kittyhawks killing two of them. The evening brings 31 Zero, 38 Kate and 39 Val to hit the harbor. Only 4 Australian fighters manage to rise, but they damage six dive bombers while losing two of their number.

Australia scrambles to meet the threat. There is no chance of retaking Geraldton. The orders from Government House are to hold Perth at all cost. Blaney agrees.

At Cloncurry the 5th Australian Division reassembles, climns on railroad cars and sets off for Port Augusta.

Two squadrons of B17 bombers at Melbourne, the 7th BG/9th BS, and 19th BG/28thBS train incessantly, but lacking adequate airbases cannot operate in the West. They lack the range to get there, and there are no airfields big enough along the way for the big machines to stage through. The 50th PG/12PS with 24 P39D, the 8th PG/35PS with 25, and the 58th PG/67PS with 25 P400 disassembled, mount on trains and set out for Perth.

The main question remains: How many divisions are the Japanese bringing in?

[kaleun]

March 30th

The PT boats at Geraldton continue their David and Goliath struggle. They attack, and die, but score one torpedo hit on DMS W-16 sinking her. To no avail, as Geraldton falls later in the day. The defenders flee south with the enemy in pursuit.

In the other side, the 8th Marine Defense battalion, originally scheduled for Suva arrives at Pago Pago.

8 destroyer minesweepers depart Pearl Harbor for San Francisco. There is an acute shortage of escort vessels in the West Coast, shipping sitting in harbor, lacking escorts to protect the convoys. Soon KV and SC type vessels galore will arrive to carry out this menial, but essential duties. Until then, the allies will use whatever they have.

March 31

S-39 scores one torpedo hit on AKE Tatin Maru off Carnavon, later missing on TB Kami.

The 19th Indian Division arrives at Chittagong.

[kaleun]

April 2nd

The air war in China continues to be one-sided, only less so. Over Henyang, on the first, 32 Oscar Ic sweep and find 10 H81A3 and 10 P40E of AVG 2 and 3. 2 Oscar and 2 H81A3 destroyed. On the second 36 Oscar come and meet 15 P40E. Two Oscar destroyed and 3 P40 lost. Later in the day 69 Sally with 25 Oscar escorting come calling. Only two P40 are available to meet them but the two manage to kill one enemy fighter at a cost of one P40 lost and one damaged.
Both AVG 2 and 3 transfer from Henyang to Chungking to recover.
Meanwhile, Perth is hit by carrier air and swept by A6M2s from Geraldton, now an operating Japanese air base.

The constant naval air presence offshore Perth requires TF 42, bringing the 7th Australian Division from Aden to reroute. Instead of Perth, the task force will make for Adelaide.

[kaleun]

April 5th

While Prime Minister Curtin rails at General Blaney, the pre war defense budgets, and the world in general because of the Japanese raiding Perth unmolested, the last casualty being CL Marblehead, “You know our American allies are not going to be happy about this, don’t you?” on the other side of the world, that being Ceylon, Lieutenant General Pownall orders all troops to get out of Mytkyvina and out of Burma.
“The place cannot be supplied, or defended. Let’s save what we can. We shall return later, and we’ll see what we shall see.”

Carrier one finds no enemy shipping in Adak, weather prevents an attack on the harbor. At dawn, the carrier turns around and sets a course for Pearl Harbor.

April 7th.

24 Sally bombers hit 6th Australian Division south of Carnavon as the division marches south.
24 Zero sweep over Perth. 4 Kittyhawks, 34 P39D and 6 P400 rise and kill two enemy machines, at a cost of one Kittyhawk, one P400 and four P39D! A second sweep by 21 Zero meets one Kittyhawk, fifteen P39D, and one P400. One zero destroyed at a cost of four P39 and one P400.

Over Chittagong, two P40E tangle with a sweep of 32 Oscar. One P40 lost at no cost to the enemy.

One division, the Australian 8th, and two regiments, the 132nd, and the 182nd (of Americal Div) arrive at Perth and begin unpacking. The civilians that have not been evacuated east are cheerful and optimistic, as are many of the Australian servicemen. Yes, there may be many Australian fighting abroad, but here are American GIs, and behind them the power and resolution of a great country.
Overhead, the enemy aircraft fly by, unmolested.

[kaleun]

April 8th

Despite the American air reinforcements, the Japanese air superiority over Perth is undeniable. The allied fighters are swatted like flies and the carrier airplanes have their way. Land based bombers, Sallies, based on Geraldton now hit the 6th as it retreats south. Enemy forces spotted NW of Cunderdin. General Blaney moves all he has to reinforce Perth and Kalgoorlie.
“Perth must be held, and the rail line kept open, otherwise the Americans may move their forces to New Zealand/ Tahiti, or even give up the South Pacific altogether.”

[kaleun]

April 9th.

The daily Zero sweep at Perth, twelve planes finds itself, for once, with the same number of opponents. One lone Kittyhawk, eight P39, and three P400. Even so, only one Zero destroyed at a cost of one P39 and two P400.

The Japansese carriers venture into the formerly protected waters south of Australia. Shipping scrambles to get out of the way.
Carnavon finally invaded.

A bold attempt by the Japanese to close the East-West rail line fails. The Yokohama SNLF parachute drops on the small town, seeking to capture the vital intersection. They fail utterly and the assailants are annihilated.

[kaleun]

April 10th

Carnavon falls.
Kumming’s fortifications reach level 4
At Perth, the 11th Australian Brigade is rebuilt.

April 11th.

I-19, spotted near San Diego, comes under attack and two depth charge hits are reported, the submarine escapes and is spotted once more later in the day escaping once again.

Over Burma thirty Oscars sweep over Chittagong meeting a single Hurricane and two P40E. One British and one American fighter are lost in the ensuing scuffle.

The 6th Australian Division comes under her daily air attack, this time courtesy of the naval G3M2s. The 182nd Infantry regiment is attacked by Sally bombers. A heavier flight attacks Cunderdin while Perth comes under carrier air attack again.

Attacks by the 48th Recon battalion and 6th tank battalion north of Perth are repelled by the 754th Tank Batallion. The 8th Australian Division repels attacks by the 2nd Recon and 4th Tank regiments at Cunderdin.

Blaney takes a deep breath. At least for now, the Perth defenders will not be isolated.

[kaleun]

April 12th

Carrier one, Yorktown arrives at Pearl Harbor after its futile cruise into the North Pacific. At Tahiti, the 164th Infantry regiment prepares to move to Australia while at San Diegeo, the 6th and 7th Marine regiments load up on their transports. At Anchorage, the 27th Infantry Division has arrived and, now that it’s there, the men mill about waiting to see where they are going to go. The old hands grumble and curse the brass who doesn’t know where to send them. Unbeknownst to them, the brass themselves wonder where to send the 27th. The Japanese offensive along the Aleutians seems to have stopped of its own accord at Adak. Maybe the 27th doesn’t really need to be in Alaska, and could be better used elsewhere.

Elsewhere, the 754 tank battalion moves towards Cunderdin.

April 13th

They did not make it. The 754 gets destroyed NE of Perth.

This does bring some clarity to the US Pacific command. The 27th Division at Anchorage begins to prep and embark for Tahiti. Yes sergeant, the high command has no clue what it’s doing.

The 7th Australian Division begins to unload at Adelaide. The first, rebuilt at Port Augusta begins to pack for Kalgoorlie. The 4th, when all are present, will also reassemble at Adelaide and proceed to Kalgoorlie, if the Japanese haven’t taken it by then.
At Perth, Ramillies is scuttled. It is too big to fit in the shipyard and cannot be moved in the face of the enemy’s vast, superior control of sea and sky.

[kaleun]

April 14th

Pivot to Burma.

31 Oscars meet 5 P40E at Chittagong. One P40 lost.
The 1st Burma division and 1st BFF destroyed at Wazarup.
Calcutta welcomes the 18th British Division, prepping for Ledo.

Meanwhile, back in Oz.

One piece of good news is that the enemy carriers appear to have left the vicinity of Perth. At least they, and their aircraft haven’t been seen for a few days. While they are away, there is an opportunity to evacuate the US 182nd regiment, that hastily begins to load up on transports and will depart soonest towards Melbourne. The 132nd will move to Albany from where, Gods of War willing, it will also be evacuated.

April 15th

I-173 scores a hit on TK Talay Aken fleeing Perth. The tanker sinks outright. Carrier aircraft once again appear over Perth’s skies. 30 A6M2 fighters sweep the city meeting a determined, if futile defense. 4 Kittyhawk Ia, 19 P39D, and 1 P400 rise. Two P39 and two Kittyhawks are lost. The enemy escapes unscathed.
Kalgoorlie hit by 41 Sally bombers creaming the crowded airfield. The only positive note is that the 192nd seems to have gotten away unnoticed.

In the north, 21 Sally and 13 Zero raid Dutch harbor causing severe damage in the harbor. SS S-45 and 47 sink outright.

North of Akyab, the allied counteroffensive sputters. Allied forces shall withdraw to India.

The predictions of the NCOs, as usual are true. Yesterday it was Tahiti, now it is Dutch Harbor. S-34 scuttled at DH. The intact submarines leave the harbor for what may be the last patrols based there. S-18 will patrol north of Unmak island, 23 south of it, 46 under commander Smoot will proceed to Adak Island and attack shipping in the harbor or vicinity. 35 will patrol to the south of Adak.

Most aircraft leave Kalgoorlie. Only fighters remain to defend the small airfield. To everyone’s surprise, no orders are given to expand the little, inadequate airstrip.

At Calcutta the 18th British Division boards a train for Ledo while the US 32nd arrives at San Francisco on the 16th.


April 17th.

AVG/3 upgrades to P40E and transfers its old machines to AVG 2.

At Chittagong, the men of AVG 1 throw a party to celebrate 2nd Lieutenant Burgard’s transfer to the Training Command being formed back in the US. They also celebrate the arrival of replacement fighters

Kalgoorlie.

The small, cratered airfield remains open for business as most of Australia’s fighting forces assemble in the small outpost. Two enemy units are reported 80 miles west, straddling the railroad to Perth.