The end of the world as we know it?

[Roger Neilson II]

Gentlemen, the war is indeed now developing at a pace. In our own 'backyard' as the Americans would say we have been forced out of Mytinkia. This has cut our supply lines to China and it is fairly clear that a massive troop build up there indicates an intention on the part of the enemy to try to knock China out of the war. His moves on Akyab are continuing but he is finding that forces slipped behind his advance on Mytinkia have cut his lines of communication and we detect a significant force returning along the rail line towards Mandalay to dislodge our troops dug in north of there. We have given the task of annoying this force to our long range bombers based in India.

In the East Indies we continue to bomb his oil installations, there is some naval activity involving raids by our ships on coastal craft attempting to move supplies around Balikpapan. He is defending Palembang with fighters which are daily being shot out of the sky by our allied air forces.

In China he is halted at both Homan and Kungchang, though a major thrust is moving up from Ichang along the road there. This does threaten to cut off our northern forces from Chungking. I am assured that the Chinese know what they are doing though.

The Americans have taken a foothold in the Marshalls with the island of Mili being garrisoned. Moves to build a significant airbase here to support a thrust here are a first stage in the taking of this significant island group.

We have reports, as yet unconfirmed, of a major Japanese bombardment of San Francisco overnight. If this is true then this is indeed an audacious, if somewhat pointless action. We watch with interest to see if this is a one off or some deluded plan by the Japanese to mount a sustained attack on our Allies home base.

[Roger Neilson II]

Luckily the offices of the newspaper were not bombed.

[Zemke]

This is very entertaining AAR, love the newspaper touch nice.

[String]

Ouch. A carrier attack on SF?
Did he catch anything important in port?

[Roger Neilson II]

I try to put a bit of effort in, thanks for your comments.

Roger

[Roger Neilson II]

Well any sailor will tell you their ship is very important, but there were six assorted Aks and TKs there in various states of repair.... otherwise he had a fruitless hunt. Had he appeared two weeks before it might have been different.

None of the ships he hit have sunk and San Francisco has a good stock of repair points... so all told for the loss of over 50 planes downed and many more badly damaged I'd say we did ok on that exchange.

More importantly I know where the KB is, and know how long it will take to get back to the main action - assuming he doesn't go stooging round looking for stuff in other ports along the coast....

While the cats away.... as we say in this country!

Cheers

Roger

[String]

Many a Jap player tends to strip his home islands of air units.. perhaps a retaliatory strike on Tokyo? [:D]

[Roger Neilson II]

Sssssh..... the Japs will know when they know. Suffice it to say I have 5 CVs somewhere and they have no idea where at present.

[Roger Neilson II]

If you look back at Operation Walton we sank 5 AKs there with our Brit CVs at no loss to ourselves and the CVs remain a potent threat to any Japanese move into the Indian Ocean.

The KB had to sail across the Pacific, lost 50 plus planes and accumulated significant sys damage in the voyage. The net result damage to six ships, no sinkings.

[Roger Neilson II]

Temporary halt to the campaign, Jap opponent is on holiday for two weeks - lucky so and so!

Roger

[Roger Neilson II]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Gentlemen, a quiet time in our section of the world. We continue to bomb the enemy along the Mandalay and Mytkinia areas. Recently the 55th Japanese Division pushed the 2nd Burma Brigade out of the blocking position on the line to Mytkinia – as expected. This does mean that said Division has made three trips up and down the jungle lines now and must be sorely in need of some R&R. We would recommend Rangoon as a lively place to stay! The Imperial Guards’ advance on Akyab seems to have halted now, but they can be assured of a warm welcome if they move, and if they stay where they are I am sure they will enjoy the lack of supply and occasional bombardments form the fleet. Some 14 separate units now sit at Mytkinia and we await developments here as to their next intentions. Palembang in the DEI is now reported to have many uncontrollable fires in the oilfield areas as we continue to deprive the enemy of their vital fuel needs. The forces recently arrived at Balikpapan are also being subjected to heavy raids by Liberators from Soerabaja who are making sure that no Japanese aircraft can operate too closely to our own airfields.

Elsewhere I gather the Yanks are up to something, as are the Aussies, as yet details have not been disclosed to me.

The main feature seems to be China – quite where the Japs have got all their forces from is proving a bit of a puzzle to our Intel chappies. However you will see from the map the current state of play. This could prove interesting and much will hinge upon supply. This may well tie in with the Japs cutting our overland supply route to China and may well represent a major strategic attempt to knock our ally out of the war. I will, of course keep you posted on this – what is certain is that this commitment to China is a risk for the Japs – it leaves him very vulnerable to our moves elsewhere.[/font]

[Roger Neilson II]

Gentlemen, we have here a significant new development in our counteroffensive. Having recently liberated Tarawa and her associated islands in the Gilberts group we now see the first piece of enemy territory to be occupied. Pre-war this was an atoll within the Japanese Marshall islands. It is now under new ownership and being developed rapidly as a forward strike base for the American counterpunch on Japan. Attempts by Japanese Betty bombers to hamper supply of the island have been met with long range fighter escorts and the bombers were turned back without loss to our planes.

[Roger Neilson II]

What it must be like to be American! Gentlemen, while we are scrimping and saving in order to prop up our weak defence lines our allies seem to have troops to spare. Operation Sledgehammer has concluded. This was a joint American/Australian landing to recapture Wewak in PNG. The landings were unopposed apart from the garrison troops of the 24th SNLF and the 102 Base Force. It would appear they were completely wiped out by our forces. Already planes are operating from the runways there and bulldozers are in action extending the facilities and repairing the craters from our bombardments.

While this was going on, and taking advantage of our air supremacy over the DEI a group of transports evacuated all our forces recently pushed out of Banjamarsin and these are now landing at Soerabaja. The enemy forces at Banjarmasin are now on the end of a tenuous supply line of jungle trails, have a force of allied warships sailing just off shore and have an airfield that is under constant bombing. We do not feel this large group of assault troops are going anywhere now, and we will watch them wither away.

Betty bombers attempted raids on Davao and Batavia and were turned away by our fighter cover with confirmed losses to the Japs of over 10 planes. We did however lose a warship today and our thoughts go to the brave men who crewed her. It is a long time since we have lost a vessel and the Patrol Craft Warrengo is massive blow to our forces!

[Roger Neilson II]

Gentlemen. News indeed.

For the past few weeks our recce boys have been tracking the approach of the Imperial Guards Division on Akyab. Yesterday they arrived close by and with obvious intentions of throwing our forces out. Well, we were prepared. The Japs, lacking any air reconnaissance approached blind into a trap and were badly repulsed, with losses of 5:1 in our favour. This is the crack Japanese infantry force and it has been defeated in open battle by allied forces from the UK and India. Let us no longer hear any of the 'myth' of the superhuman Japanese fighter.... they die like anyone else! Their position is a rallying point some 60 miles south of the original battle and we await what their next move will be. At the centre of our attack was the 2nd UK Divn, freshly disembarked at Akyab in anticipation of this. The fact that there are no Japanese aircraft operating closer than Singapore means we are able to move troops and materiel at will in this area now.

Elsewhere we are informed that the 24th USA RCT has landed unopposed on Majuro in the Marshalls. This is one step closer to the major Japanese base of Kwajalein which has a large and powerful airbase.

In anti sub activity round Nauru island the SS-1-8 has been sunk, but in retribution Betty bombers raided from Saipan we must assume and were able to deliver 3 torpedoes into the APD Manley which sunk with significant loss of life.

[Roger Neilson II]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Gentlemen, business very much as usual in our area for the moment, though there are, how shall I say, ‘moves afoot’ to increase the discomfiture of our adversary.

Elsewhere there have been dramatic developments. You will all recall a few days ago the carrier mounted attack on San Francisco by the Kido Butai. Following this the Jap force retired beyond our naval reconnaissance range. Yesterday they reappeared some 100 miles off the NW of Pearl harbour. Defences were scrambled but no attack was made upon the port or the shipping there, nor on the airbases.

The Americans then launched an airstrike on this target with 70 escorts and 70 bombers. It is unfortunate that the escorts were in the main Mohawks, flown by newly trained pilots. They did not do well and most were destroyed in the air over the enemy ships. There are confirmed reports of around 20 Zeroes which were also destroyed, however this does mean that we lost some 3 planes for every one of the enemy. Valiantly the bombers pressed home their attacks – Maurauders and Liberators – again crewed by inexperienced men. No hits were reported on any of the Jap ships!

We await developments here, is this a simple and vindictive taunt to our brave troops, or is this an operation meant to cause major damage and possibly even the first stage of an invasion? Needless to say this is speculation that should not be shared with anyone outside of this room.

Elsewhere the Japs seem to have become annoyed at our occupation of Majuro and launched a bombing attack which has crippled the AVD Williamson, at anchor there.

In China the Jap 13th tank Rgt made an appearance at the gates of Sian as the advance guard of the force advancing on Sian from Iching. This was swiftly attacked and routed with minimal cost to our troops there. The Chinese do appear to be improving their style and quality this year! We expect further visitors in the next few days.
[/font]

[Roger Neilson II]

Gentlemen, while events in our area are slow to develop, elsewhere things have certainly heated up.

A Japanese task force landed troops at Cebu Island and overwhelmed the defenders there. The 3000 troops defending had not had any supplies since before the war and it was amazing they were able to put up any sort of fight. Heavy air raids by Betty bombers on both Singakawang and Davao suggest where the enemy’s next moves will be in this area.

Palembang airfield was subjected to a major raid by allied bombers yesterday. This airfield is home – or should I say was home - to two crack units of Tony and Zero fighters that have been attempting to stop us totally dismantling the oil supplies there..

The significant events were in the Pacific.

Midway Island was subjected to two nights of Japanese raids by what would appear to be almost their whole battleship fleet. On the first night there was a major trading of bombardment between the defender’s gun emplacements and their heavy ships. On the second night a move was intercepted by a PT squadron – two PTs were lost but the bombardment was not pressed home.

The observed fire of our coastal batteries indicate the following hits on the enemy – how far those hits translate into damage is more of a guess:

CA Kumano, Shell hits 15
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 11
CA Mogami, Shell hits 9
CA Ashigara
CA Nachi, Shell hits 11
CA Haguro, Shell hits 10
CA Chokai
CA Maya, Shell hits 9
CA Tone, Shell hits 16
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 14
BB Ise, Shell hits 10
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso, Shell hits 5
BB Yamato, Shell hits 8
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 3
BB Nagato, Shell hits 9
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei, Shell hits 8
BB Haruna, Shell hits 2
BB Kongo

Additionally planes flying from Midway managed to drop at least 5 bombs onto BBs as they made their way north westerly.

A second day of the KB ‘loitering’ round Pearl Harbour resulted in a rather half hearted attack on the airbases Little damage was done and the attack force of 23 Vals supported by 38 Zeros was beaten back. We were expecting a major attack on the shipping in port and can only assume that the Japanese Admiral held back his main strike force in the expectation of our carriers appearing – an expectation we were not prepared to fulfil! It looks like this was an attempt to provoke a reaction as there was no follow up assault on the islands. Despite the massive air losses of the previous day the Americans again flew a large number of sorties against the KB. Many more brave airmen were lost but this time we got some welcome results. The Shokaku was seen to take a bomb on her flight deck though there was little secondary explosions here. However the Soryu took 3 bombs on her flight deck, all clearly penetrating and setting off internal explosions. She was observed in some distress, with a great plume of smoke visible from quite a distance.

The Japanese carrier force is now being watched as it retires in a north westerly direction. It comprises CV Shokaku, CV Hiyo, CV Hiryu, CV Soryu (on fire), CV Junyo, CV Kaga.

[Roger Neilson II]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Gentlemen, events move at a pace suddenly. Not in our own area as yet, but elsewhere.

The Japanese have landed what looks like their 21st Divn at Davao. This was a step too far to remain unchallenged so a TF of our destroyers was sent out to welcome them. The Jap Tf of 17 DDs and 19 APs was intercepted as they were unloading.

Preliminary battle damage assessments are as follows:

DD Ayanami, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AP Denmark Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kasasagi, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Oboro, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
AP Higashiyama Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 3
DD Minekaze, Shell hits 1

DD Craven, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Patterson, Shell hits 1
DD Hammann, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Smith, Shell hits 4
DD Bagley
DD Drayton
DD Peary

It has been supposed that the Japanese are significantly superior when it comes to night naval actions, the above disproves this. We feel that the battle for Davao is about to be joined, who knows what the outcome could be. Will this mark the enemy’s high water mark?

Air battle rage over the DEI, Palembang airfield is out of action now and we are seeing increasing bomber flights from Singapore on Padang. A new departure is the use of night time bombing by the Japs.

In the Marshalls small scale naval and air activity continues. Essentially the enemy has neglected this area in favour of their China and Burma strategy. As you will see for the latest map we are managing quite nicely to extend our reach towards Kwajalein – a major base.
[/font]

[Roger Neilson II]

Gentlemen, at least we can reveal the recent activity across both our sector and elsewhere. As expected the Japanese have made a major effort to land and take Davao which had become a thorn in their side. Over the last few days they landed forced directly at Davao and also at Djangas. The encountered no opposition at Djangas and have since also swept into Cotobao unopposed. However surface forces representing British, Australian, Dutch and American navies have for the last four nights sailed into the seas round Davao and contested the landings and their re-supply. As far as our intel boys can gather the following is the end result of this fierce activity.

DD Hakaze, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Minekaze, Shell hits 43, and is sunk
DD Hatsukari, Shell hits 21, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
PC Kunashiri, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP Josho Maru, Shell hits 28, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

DD Isonami, Shell hits 9, on fire
DD Ayanami, Shell hits 2
DD Oboro, Shell hits 1
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 19, on fire heavy damage
DD Karukaya, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hayabusa, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Asagao, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hato, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Kiji, Shell hits 1
DD Minekaze, Shell hits 1
PC Hachijo, Shell hits 1, on fire
PG Oi Maru, Shell hits 1
PG Kozan Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
PG Unkai Maru #1, Shell hits 3
AP Hokumyo Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Horai Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Kaedesan Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
AP Daigen Maru, Shell hits 2
AP Eihuku Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
AP Hokumyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Arabia Maru, Bomb hits 1

DD Bagley, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 3
DD John D. Ford, Shell hits 1
DD Le Triomphant, Shell hits 2
DD Kane, Shell hits 1
CA Houston, Shell hits 1
CL Java, Shell hits 2
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 1
DD Bagley, Shell hits 2
DD Stuart, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Patterson, Shell hits 1
DD Smith, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 1

This, it must be remembered is a summary of damage over three nights of several separate actions and also includes some naval attacks by our air forces.

The situation is now that the Davao defenders are being sorely pressed with 33K of enemy attacking a crumbling defence of less than 10K mainly Filipino forces. We wait to see whether the damage to their troop and supply ships will have a serious effect upon their next assaults.

In China a move by three crack Japanese divisions with support troops on Kweiyang was badly co-ordinated in that the forces arrived piecemeal. The Chinese defenders on two separate occasions moved from a very strong defensive position into an assault and on both days routed the enemy forces who are retreating to Wuchow in some disarray. This has done their own morale the world of good and the effects on the enemy plans in China will be observed over the next few weeks.

I have however saved the best for last. As you are all aware the Jap has been pressing us in Burma and in particular has cut our supply line to China at Myitkyina. This is part of a plan to try and take China out of the war we are sure. We estimate that there are close to 200K enemy troops in Myitkyina or strung out along the rail line which is their LOC back to Rangoon and Bangkok. We have for weeks been bombing and harrying this line, which has been putting a strain on the Jap supplies to any projected move towards India. Recently you will recall that the Japanese imperial guard was thrown back at the battle of Akyab. As we have total naval and air supremacy in this area we have been able to confirm the lack of enemy troops at key locations along their seaward flank, and also that there are no enemy surface forces closer than Singapore. Ten days ago I gave authorisation for Operation Queensberry and you will see from our detailed operational map the developing problem for the enemy.

Rest assured this is the first of a series of planned blows that will rock him on his feet before he is sent tumbling to the canvas as we deliver the final knockout blow! Gentlemen the tide has turned!

[Roger Neilson II]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Gentlemen, welcome.

As predicted Moulmein fell without a fight and already fighters and bombers are operating out of the airfield. Surrounding Jap airfields were again plastered to make sure there was no hindrance to our arrival and from now on this will become a major thorn in the enemy’s side. We also bombarded Sabang where there is a nest of Japanese Zeros in residence.

Around Borneo and the Celebes Sea Beauforts and Hudsons are interdicting Japanese shipping. These are flying from Singkawang, Macassar and Menado. Davao fell but this may prove a hollow victory for the Japanese as the sea lanes to the port are well within range of our bombers and their orders are to hunt down and sink any shipping moving to or from the port. Once the Jap had taken Davao they immediately stationed some Sallies, Zeros and Oscars there. These attempted an attack upon shipping at Menado and were met by P40E Warhawks who downed 14 enemy planes for the loss of two of ours – both pilots parachuted to safety over the base.

Gentlemen, on the 21st December 1941 Singapore fell to the Japanese. I had much to say then about the nature of the information I had been given by the then commander of the forces defending the City. Yesterday 58 B17 bombers, flying from bases in Java, visited the city and bombed the port area. The Taiyo, last seen and hit by two bombs on the 10th June was in port undergoing repairs. Reconnaisance photos from F5-A Lightings indicate a further 18 bombs hit this CVE on the raid. It is doubtful she will ever set sail from Singapore harbour again. Losses to our bombers were light.[/font]


Aerial view over Moulmein

[Roger Neilson II]

General’s HQ Diamond Harbour

CinC: Ah Air Commodore, how nice of you to pop along and interrupt your soiree at the Polo Club. Do be seated. I just have a nagging question I’d like answered.

Air Commodore: Certainly Sir, anything I can do you know me.

CinC: Let me take you back to last week. Your airboys regularly reported to us that the nearest Japs to Moulmein were at Rangoon and Pagan?

Air Commodore: Yes sir, we were clear that there were about 11,000 base troops and support units at Rangoon and that there was a base unit at Pagan of less than 3,000 troops. We also felt that given the sustained bombing of Rangoon the troops there were very demoralised and weakened.

CinC: Indeed, you assured me this was clearly the case, and that. to quote you ‘It will take the Japs at least a week to respond to any landing at Moulmein.’

Air Commodore: Indeed, and as we saw, there was no opposition to our landings. I trust everything is going according to plan and the Japs are about to have a major headache?

CinC: I would not quite put it like that, Air Commodore. A report that has just come in - a message from the landing force that they are being attacked by at least a Division of crack Japanese troops and that their lines are broken in numerous places. I a nutshell we can expect anytime now the 12,000 troops and the planes at Moulmein will be no more.

Air Commodore: Sir….. its not possible. We did spot a small force moving down from near Rangoon, possibly numbering 3,000….

CinC: Tell that to the men who are even now facing their end. No evacuation possible, no mercy from the enraged enemy. There were wiser voices saying, delay, wait a week, land in overwhelming force. I recall you saying we should seize the chance, that there was no way they could meet our forces before we were reinforced beyond anything they could throw at us…..

Air Commodore: Sir, that was our view of the situation……

CinC: Well Air Commodore, I would like you to return to your office, to send your apologies to your friends at the Polo Club, and to sit down and draft me a memo explaining how 25,000 Japanese soldiers can approach Moulmein when we have total air supremacy, when we are flying Recce missions and they can move from line of march to a massive attack without halting to reorganise…. When you have done that Air Commodore I suggest you pack your belongings and make arrangements to be on the next ship out of here. You are relieved of your command, and I sincerely hope I never meet you again. Goodbye…… Sir.

ADC enters – Sir….

CinC: Yes?

ADC: Final message from Moulmein, Japs are about to attack HQ there, they were being overwhelmed. Positive identification of attacking force as Japanese 18th Division. Commander sends his apologies but will not be able to offer hospitality for a review visit in the near future……message ends without being completed.

Also Sir, communication from the PM - Congratulations on your brilliant strike at Moulmein STOP Look forward to your taking of Rangoon next STOP Please keep me informed of your great progress STOP Whole country is proud of you STOP

CinC: Well ADC, better get ready to send a reply, looks like Winnie may not be so pleased with us in his next telegram.