Spence vs Dixon - The first year scenario

[Mike Dixon]

5th February

4th Fleet reports the capture of Wallis Island (see attachment). A large stock of American war material was seized. Polynesian elders have promised full support in intergration with the Co-Prosperity Sphere. Further civilian losses occured at Pagan and Ambon, due to indiscriminate B-17 bombing.

6th February

Further air attacks on Java were made.


Wallis Island:-

[Mike Dixon]

Imperial General Headquarters (Daihonei)

7th February

China command have reported Changhsa is now completely surrounded. Calls for its immediate surrender have been issued.

8th February

An American submersible, believed to be the Spearfish, was sunk near Takao. Dili in East Timor fell with negligible resistance. A large American warship was sunk near Pago Pago by carrier aviation, in the Polynesian Islands. Daily terrorist air attacks are continuing in Burma and Thailand. Preparations for counter airstrikes are underway.

Japanese forces in action near Changhsa:-

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DATELINE HONOLULU: February 10, 1942

Japan continues its advance into the islands of the South Pacific. Small forces have captured some insignificant specks with no resistance. An enemy landing in the Somoan Islands was repulsed however when it did encounter an Allied force at Upolu near Pago Pago. One transport was very heavily damaged and an assault landing was repulsed with heavy losses to the attackers. Enemy carrier aircraft did, however, sink the old minesweeper Kingfisher near Pago Pago.

Allied aircraft report attacking and hitting an enemy submarine near Canton Island.

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A couple of maps to illustrate where we're at: CHINA 11 Feb 42

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The DEI - 11 Feb 42

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SOPAC - 11 Feb 42

[Mike Dixon]

Southern army Hq reports a large scale heavy bomber attack on a surface TF near Davao. Dozens of LB-30 Liberators attacked several cruisers but were driven off with heavy losses. No friendly damage was recorded.

4th fleet reports a successful recoinassiance mission on Upolu Island in the central pacific. Dozens of enemy heavy coastal guns were spotted and are earmarked for future destruction.

Photograph from CA Suzuya of fleeing crippled Liberator. Many aircraft were believed to have been destroyed.

[Mike Dixon]

Imperial General Headquarters (Daihonei) 10th February 1942

Southern Army reports both Naval and air bombardment of Davao. It is thought that many Liberators have been destroyed on the ground and the remainder have fled to the DEI. A mixed brigade has landed at Merak in Java and is expected to march on Batavia shortly.

4th Fleet have announced the capture of Gardner Island, near Canton Island. Several confidential documents were found, including plans to fortify the island group:-

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DATELINE HONOLULU - 12 February 1942

A CINCPACFLEET spokesman today announced that Japanese Forces have begun landing on remote Canton Island and several smaller atolls approxiamtely 1500 miles SW of Honolulu. The tiny garrison on Canton is at present holding off the enemy, identified as the 38th Division. That division participated in the rape of Hong Kong earlier in the year and is notable only for the savagery visited on innocent civilians in its path. "For the moment, it appears our men are stacking them up on the beach like cordwood. In the unlikely event that the passing of those criminals might be mourned in Japan, it is clear that such mourning will be widespread," the spokesman said.

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DATELINE KARACHI - 12 February, 1942

Naval command announced today that several enemy submarines have been sighted and attacked off the West coast of India in the past few days; one just off the harbor approaches here. It is believed that one and possibly two enemy subs have been sunk by depth charge attacks.

Meanwhile Allied submarines have been busy in the East Indies. A Japanese destroyer-type transport was torpedoed and sunk by a Dutch sub near Bali. Another Dutch submarine claimed to have torpedoed a large Japanese minelayer in the Straits of Malacca. Though heavily damaged in the attack and afire, enemy air patrols prevented the Dutch sub from observing the ship sink.

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DATELINE CALCUTTA - 13 February, 1942
Southeast Asia Command today announced the fall of Rangoon. After a month long seige, several enemy divisions with heavy artillery support assaulted the city. Allied rearguards destroyed much of the city's oil production facilities before being overwhelmed. Prior to the enemy assualt several large Allied formations were evacuated from the city under the enemy's very nose and have reformed here in India.

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DATELINE HONOLULU - 13 February, 1942
The Navy announced today that the tiny garrison of Canton Island has apparently been overwhelmed and the island has most likely fallen. Radio contact was lost after a midday message announcing a very heavy attack was underway. Before contact was lost the garrison reported damaging several enemy transports, several seriously.

Other news from the Pacific War is also bad today. The city of Rangoon has fallen to the Japanese after a month long seige. The Japanese landings on Java are proceeding both near Soerabaya and Batavia. Japanese forces have reportedly brought Soerabaya under artillery fire and are preparing an assualt. Several enemy battleships have also reportedly taken the city under fire.

In the Philippines the Japanese continue to bombard Manila however their attacks have so far been beaten off. General MacArthur praised the Filipino troops for their gallant resistance alongside their American brothers. He cited the 21st Philippine Army Division for its extreme heroism in fighting near Naga. Although cut off by the Japanese advance early in the war the Division continued to fight on for nearly 2 months inflicting serious losses on the enemy and delaying their advance on Manila during that time.
In the southern Philippines several Japanese cruisers shelled the city of Davao on the island of Mindanao. Little real damage was done though civilian casualties in the city were said to be quite heavy.

[Mike Dixon]

Imperial General Headquarters (Daihonei) 11th and 12th February 1942

11th February

4th Fleet report the landing of an infantry divsion has begun on Canton Island, in the Central Pacific. Strong resistance is being encountered, many large calibre guns have been identified. However most resistance has been overcome and the enemy have been pushed back to the SE corner of the atoll. Meanwhile, Southern army has confirmed that Merak, west of Batavia, has fallen. Preparations for a push to Batavia are underway.


12th February

Canton Island has fallen after a short naval bombardment this afternoon, 4th Fleet has announced. After a two day fight the American forces formally surrender at 4pm Tokyo time. A large booty of equipment was captured, including howitzers and a number of Catalinas.

Phillipines Hq report the surrender of another Phillipino division near Naga. The last American holdouts are expected to be cleared within a few days. Intelligence believes that a large number of tanks, possibly the advanced 'Sherman type', are dug in a few km to the West of Naga. Magnetic mines and flamethrowers are being despatched to the area.

Burma Hq have announced the occupation of Rangoon. After a short battle, a large number of colonial British and their lackey support troops, surrendered at 10am this morning. It is thought that some British troops were evacuated prior to the fall, under the cover of hospital ships.

Captured map of Canton Island:-

[Mike Dixon]

Leaflets dropped on US forces in the Phillipines

[Mike Dixon]

Imperial General Headquarters (Daihonei) 13th February 1942

Mopping up continues near Naga in the Phillipines, the final POW count was some 5000. Meanwhile, Soerabaja underwent a Naval bombardment from several BB's including the Ise and Haruna. Many military targets were destroyed. No civilian casualties were caused.

BB Ise returns to South Borneo after a succesful sortie to Soerabaja:-

[Mike Dixon]

Digest 14th February 1942

Southern army has announced the fall of both Madioen in Java and Cagayan in the Phillipines.

Manchoukuo Hq has reported record productivity in the region. Many tanks and aircraft have been produced and dispatched for use in the co-prosperity sphere.

[Mike Dixon]

Combined Fleet HQ, Truk 15th February

MAJOR AIR/NAVAL BATTLE EAST OF CANTON ISLAND

ONE OR MORE YANK CARRIERS ARE SUNK

Today the Kido Butai came under heavy and sustained attacked by Naval avaition from three or more American carriers. Wave after wave of Wildcats and Dauntless attacked the Japanese carriers, score after score were shot down by our Zero aces. Only a handful of enemy aircraft pierced the steel gauntlet - a single bomb hit the CV Hiryu, though failed to explode. However a damaged Zero crashed on landing on the said ship, causing some damage and the carrier will have to return to Japan for repairs shortly.

Shortly thereafter, a combined Zero/Val and Kate force followed the American stragglers back home to their lair - the enemy CV Enterprise was hit many times with torpedoes and was seen to sink just before dusk. Other reports of hits on other carriers have yet to be confirmed. The CA Minneapolis was also torpedoed several times and was last observed limping to the East.

Enterprise is hit by a Kate torpedo:-

[Mike Dixon]

Enterprise is now listing, twenty minutes later she has sunk after two more torpedo hits:-

[Mike Dixon]

Other news on 15th February 1942

Near Naga, the remains of the 194th USA Tank Battalion surrendered today. Many entrenched enemy tanks were captured and some fifteen hundered Yanks have been captured. Sinkep Island, near Singapore, fell after only light resistance from the Dutch colonial troops.

A large haul of enemy heavy armour has been made:-

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DATELINE HONOLULU: 15 fEBRUARY 1942
An offical for Admiral Nimitz's Pacific Fleet Command today confirmed rumors that a large naval and air battle had been fought in the South Pacific and that the Navy had suffered some loss. The official stated that the enemy had also suffered severe damage to his forces and had been forced to retreat. A Japanese aircraft carrier of the Hiryu class was evidently struck and left burning furiously by our aircraft.