Spence vs Dixon - The first year scenario

[Mike Dixon]

Pearl Harbour attack

[Mike Dixon]

The fall of Singapore

[spence]

DATELINE BRISBANE - 16 March 1942

A Japanese submarine was sunk offshore today near Rockhampton. Surviving crewman, picked up by the Allied ships involved in the action, identify the submarine as the I-5, one of the larger Japanese types.

[spence]

DATELINE HONOLULU - 16 March 1942

US Navy Headquarters here announced the loss of the American Base at Pago Pago in the Somoan Islands today. The spokesman admitted that communications with Allied forces in the Southwestern Pacific have been complicated by the Japanese advance into the South Pacific.

[spence]

DATELINE CALCUTTA - 16 March 1942

Southeast Asia Command announced that the Japanese advance into Northern Burma has closed the Burma Road to traffic. Several enemy divisions were involved in the advance. Allied forces are presently holding however.

In other developments, a large force of American heavy bombers smashed the Japanese airbase at Mandalay destroying many aircraft on the ground and several important supply depots. Allied bombers also continue to harass the Japanese Army's advance in Northern Burma.

This morning a large force of Zero type fighters attempted to attack the Allied base in Dacca. Met by several squadrons of American and British fighters the Japanese lost 20 planes shot down. Only 4 Allied fighters were lost and 3 of the pilots are safe.

[Mike Dixon]

Digest of operations 12-14th March

Pakhoi was cleared of enemy troops on the 12th of March. Remnants of Chinese units have been sighted in Nanning.

BB Haruna has joined the BB's Nagato and Ise in a now daily bombardment of Batavia. Reports of desertions and unrest in the colonial Dutch garrison have been confirmed.

On the 14th in Timor, the scattered remains of the occupying Dutch troops surrendered, east of Koepang. The island has now been declared an outer southern perimeter fortress. Fortification and expansion of the indigenous ports and airfields have begun. Strong naval and air units are available in case of Allied aggression.

Schematic of Battleship Ise:-

[Mike Dixon]

Digest of operations 15-16th March

MAIN HEADLINE OF JAPAN TIMES

AMERICAN SAMOA HAS FALLEN TO SE FLEET TROOPS!

MANY ENEMY COMBATANTS AND AIRCRAFT CAPTURED/DESTROYED!

In a joint air/sea operation, several Naval landing detachments occupied Pago Pago on 16th March, the principal port of American Samoa. With a covering bombardment from BB's Yamashiro, Mutsu, Fuso and Kirishima, and CA's Aoba and Kinugasa, the base fell with negligible resistance at 4.24pm. Up to a dozen destroyed Catalina's were seen at the airfield and thousands of U.S. personnel surrendered. The KB provided long range aircover for the operation. The enemy formations in the Samoa Islands (Upolu) are now isolated.

Other news includes the sinking of an enemy minelayer near Akyab and several enemy destroyers were torpedoed in various locations around the Pacific.

Latest situation in the Samoa Islands

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: spence

Allied troops inspect a destroyed Japanese tank near Myitkina 

Is there anything to inspect?[:D]

[spence]

Marauding street gangs already stripped tank (possibly time-warping Croatian skinheads headed to the World Cup?).  Bewildered British Officers wonder what happened to guns.

[pauk]

[:D] now that was funny too[:D]

But it had a guns???? (sorry, couldn't resist).

One of most excellent AARs, keep it up guys[&o]

[Mike Dixon]

Digest of operations 17th - 19th March 1942

Preparations for the assault on Batavia continue. Several BB taskforces have bombarded the port, causing widespread damage on military facilities. Collateral damage is minimal, due to selective targeting. The worlds leading battleship - the Yamato - has joined in the attacks.

Teloekbetoeng on nearby Sumatra was also bombarded by several taskforces. CA's Mogami and Chokai report excellent gunnery and considerable damage to the colonial defenders.

Pomala in the Celebes fell on the 18th. A starving Dutch occupying force readily laid down their arms.

On the Kokoda track near Port Moresby, a large detachment of Australian troops surrendered early in the afternoon on March 19th. The remainder of the Port Moresby brigade have been located nearby and are likely to be rounded up shortly.

Headline Japan Times:-

YAMATO PREPARES FOR SEA TRIALS AT KURE! DESTINATION RESTRICTED BUT CHURCHILL AND ROOSEVELT BEWARE!

[Mike Dixon]

Sea of Japan

Yamato sea trials.

The worlds finest ship is now operational

[jeffs]

It must have been an awesome thing to see up close..In Japan, they
just had a movie about its`s last fight....A bit maudlin at times, but it
was one fine looking ship (though in the end a waste of good steel).
 
Nice photo from 41

[spence]

DATELINE CALCUTTA - 22 March 1942

A military spokesman for Southeast Asia Command announced this evening that Batavia, last significant Allied stronghold in the Dutch East Indies, has fallen to the Japanese. Under constant air, sea and land bombardment for the last two weeks the postition of the defenders had been adjudged all but hopeless and had been anticipated as likely to occur at any time. "The troops fought on inspite of having no reasonable expectation of relief or rescue and thereby imposed a decisive delay in the enemy's timetable of conquest."
The garrison of slightly under 20,000 was composed of mostly Dutch forces but contained small contingents of British and Australian troops. Well over 100,000 enemy troops were involved in the final assault.

A small taste of what is to come saw Allied heavy bombers based in India smashing at a Japanese column advancing in North Burma and at their main supply base in Mandalay. At Mandalay several enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground and numerous supply dumps were seen to explode and burn furiously. The enemy column hit the previous day lost a large number of tanks to the bombers. Neither attack was seriously opposed in the air by Japanese aircraft.

At sea two days ago, Allied ships damaged a Japanese submarine approxiamately 100 miles WSW of Ceylon. A large oil slick was observed before contact was broken off.

[Mike Dixon]

Operations between 20th to 22nd March 1942

BATAVIA FALLS! JAVA JOINS THE GREATER EAST ASIA CO-PROSPERITY SPHERE!

Java

After several further BB bombardments, elements from a numer of elite infantry divisions stormed Batavia on the morning of the 22nd. Facing only light resistance, first the Chinese then the European districts were taken within several hours. By early afternoon, the Dutch high command signalled a request for cessation of hostilities. It is estimated that well over twenty thousand prisoners of war have been taken. However it is understood that leading members of ABDA had alreadly fled the beleaguered enclave.


Kokoda trial

All remaining Port Moresby garrison units have been rounded up, after only minor skirmishes.


China

Several Chinese divisions were routed on the 21st March. These units were thought to be fleeing Nanning, however after a short battle some 60 miles to the NW of the city, they were last observed retreating back to the city, in some disorder.


Announcements

With the fall of Java, Batavia is to be renamed Jakarta
Furthermore Singapore is to be renamed Syonan (Light of the South)


Heavy armour enters Jakarta (formerly Batavia)

[Mike Dixon]

Dutch troops surrender in Java

[Mike Dixon]

Official Dutch surrender delegation

[spence]

DATELIE CALCUTTA - 24 March 1942

Allied bombers have continued pounding Japanese supply lines in central Burma. A Japanese air raid on Imphal was turned back with heavy losses. Half a dozen Zero type fighters and at least twice as many bombers were shot down. Several Hurricane fighters were damaged in air to air combat but the pilots returned to base safely.

[Mike Dixon]

BLACK DAY FOR ALLIES!
 
MANILA FALLS TO LUZON ARMY!
 
OTHER MAJOR GAINS!
 
PRIME MINISTER TOJO ISSUES PEACE PLAN!

FURTHER NEWS SHORTLY

THE EMPEROR IS PLEASED SAYS AIDE

[spence]

DATELINE BRISBANE -27 March, 1942

American General MacArthur announced today that the Philippine capitol city of Manila had fallen yesterday to the Japanese. "After many weeks of constant and heavy bombardment by both artillery and aircraft, the gallant American and Filippino defenders had no choice but to lay down their arms when assaulted by more than 100,000 enemy troops. Faced with insuperable odds and lacking the most basic supplies, these men gave the last full measure their of devotion to duty by resisting the enemy onslaught for so many weeks and their stand is in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Army."

Several American outposts continue to fight on in the Philippines; most notably, on the Bataan peninsula at the mouth of Manila Bay and in the area around the city of Davao on Mindanao. General MacArthur is here in Australia to lead the American counterattack but so far has not announced his plans. After breaking through the Japanese blockade of the Philippines and arriving in Perth the General did promise his former comrades that "I SHALL RETURN".