)Final Push; Winter Campaign 12-1943 3-1944:
12-43
The final push into Japanese territory is well underway. Truk has been under constant bombardment for several weeks. 4 Carrier groups have systematically removed almost all air and sea borne threats in the area. Nimitz is starting his offensive in the Marshall’s. I think we should cut them off and starve them out of the Marshall islands but politics seem to have removed that option. The 1st and 2nd US Marine Divisions will lead the way once again. Once they land the 7th Australian and 1st US Cavalry will soon follow. Hope to engage Japan’s Carrier forces soon.
12-43
The 2 Marine divisions are fighting a determined (although materially short) Japanese defensive force on Truk. However, the Japanese constant offenseive attacks will soon leave little resistance since they are killing themselves on our dug in lines with little care for personal survival. The 7th Australian Inf and 1st US Cav will land shortly, this fight will soon be at an end. Allied long range bombers from the south will continue attacking the Japanese day and night.
12-43
Truk is now considered safe enough to open up its large airfield to bombers. The bombing of the Japanese forces in the Mariana Islands can now begin in earnest. It is crucial to reduce the Japanese air power and sea power in the area for the next invasion. 8 more divisions have arrived at Truk, including the New Zealand 3rd Inf Division, for the next crucial move. The logistics are a nightmare, however it has been in planning for some time and the support ships, aircraft and personnel are already in place to support this large force and the next invasion.
In order to bring the war home to Japan we will need to secure the Mariana’s Island chain for Long-range Bombers to reach Japans interior. And perhaps prepare for the invasion of Japanese Mainland.
12-43
Japanese Naval forces have tried to counter attack at Truk. The large carrier battle we have hoped for finally was realized as 3 Japanese CV forces supported by large surface warfare groups attacked the Truk area. Loses to the Japanese Navy is staggering; perhaps their Intel did not warn Yamamoto about our new Essex Class Carrier, not to mention the maritime bombers based there now. The final kill was 4 Japanese CVL’s and 2 CV’s sunk 2 badly damaged, 2 BB and numerous support and escort ships sunk 20 + in all. We lost the Wasp and the Bunker Hill has been severely damaged, 4 BB’s are going to be out of service for at least 6 months along with a few CA and CL’s, but they are the older battlewagons. I think the Japanese Navy is now spent, perhaps the subs will get the crippled Japanese ships on there limp home.
This was by far the largest naval engagement thus far.
1-44
The Mariana invasion plan is at its climax, there is little more that can be done to increase the chance for victory in the Mariana’s. Any more preparation will only hurt the operation it is time to move.
The attack will be two pronged, we now have 5 CV groups to cover the invasion (big political fight for ships with the Central Pacific Command), the Japanese airfields at Saipan and Tinian have been bombed non-stop for 2 weeks. The invasion force will split and hit Saipan and Guam simultaneously. The 1st US Marine will land at Saipan with the 7th Australian Infantry. The 2nd and 3rd Marine Divisions will land at Guam to reclaim their comrades old base taken two years ago, their moral is extremely high, I almost pity the Japanese forces on Guam. The 1st US Cav and 43rd US Army Divisions will land in the last wave on Saipan, the 5th Australian and 3rd New Zealand Infantry will land on Guam to support the US Marines. 2 Battleship surface groups will support the landing at Saipan with 2 CV groups to provide air cover. That will leave one weak Battleship surface force and 3 strong CV groups to support the Guam invasion, a small surface group will be dispatched to Tinian to bombard and perhaps confuse the Japanese Command.
1-44
To my surprise all of the initial bombardment and offensive-air cover forces arrived on time and commenced to reduce the islands to mud and rubble.
The invasion force is now assembled and invasion is imminent. Over 300 ships are involved in the invasion force, perhaps all this raw power will scare the Japanese off the islands... of course this wishful thinking.
1-44
The armies have landed at both islands only a few hours apart, the synchronization of the invasion has been flawless almost an art form, albeit a deadly one.
Phase one:
The Australian 7th Inf Division, perhaps the finest if not the finest division in the theater, has run into unbelievable resistance, they are facing the remnants of 2 Japanese divisions. They have suffered horrendous loses, over 1/3, however my initial impulse to withdraw them has been removed by the 7th's Commander he demands his division be left in the line. The 1st Marines have faired better and are quickly building a large beachhead. I will request Maj Gen H.M. Smith to reinforce the Australian Division if he can, the 1st US Cav will land in support of the 7th in a short time. And perhaps the 43rd Inf can be landed in direct support of the 7th and fill the gaps in their front.
The Guam invasion has gone much smoother; the Japanese did not reinforce it like they did Saipan. The 2nd and 3rd Marines have already taken the Airfield and are decimating the Japanese resistance. The 3rd NZ and 5th Australian should land anytime to assist in the clean up. I will dispatch P47’s and P38’s as soon as the Engineers can make the runway usable, perhaps bring up the B25’s to.
1-44
Phase Two:
The 1st Cav has landed at Saipan along with the 43rd Inf. The Australian and US Marines have already linked up and are now in direct support of each other. The Cav and 43rd will continue to press the flanks of the Japanese forces, this fight, unless supported externally is on the downhill side now.
Guam is now almost completely under our control the B29’s and B24’s will soon arrive for operations against Japan. It is imperative to begin the bombing soon, the Japanese war machine will soon have some gears broken.
1-44
Preparations for the invasion of Tinian have been underway since the start of operations in the Mariana’s. The invasion has been such a success that we will move on Tinian now. Most naval forces are already in place and will be easy to give them a new target. We will use the 5th Australian and 3rd New Zealand Divisions for the Invasion. It is important that these fine divisions have their own victories; they have supported and cleaned up for the invasion forces for almost a year without their own invasion, their commanders are anxious to spearhead an attack. I just hope their units are.
2-44
Saipan is all but quelled, the Japanese loses are ungodly. I cannot fathom the devastating effect this will have on the Japanese populace. Thousands are dead on Saipan alone 50,000 plus if I calculate correctly. Guam was less bloody but no less frightful to think of the almost suicidal charges by Japanese forces, it has made our job much easier, but turns young and old minds to nightmares in their sleep.
The landings at Tinian were almost unopposed. The 2 divisions have already taken the Airbases and pushed the Japanese into the jungle. The 5th Austrailian and 3rd New Zealand have done an outstanding job.
Side Note:
The bombing of Japan is well underway, loses are acceptable at this time, although the Japanese fighter “Oscar” may prove a deadly intercepter to our bombers.
2-44
We are now at a critical point in the Offensive, it can precede in two directions. One would be to liberate the Philippines (Which Macarthur demands) the other will be to press to Iwo Jima and Okinawa Island chain and prepare for the invasion of Mainland Japan. And to get our short range Wellington and B25 bombers in range of Japans industry and strategically render Japan defeated. I prefer to let the Philippines wait, destroy Japans ability to fight and perhaps bring an early end to this War. Which of course will mean fewer Allied casualties with an all-out strategic bombing campaign of all of Japans industry and population centers. Perhaps a cowardly way to fight war, but if it reduces our casualties so be it.
I will await the final call from High Command…