Forlorn Hopes: The Japanese Respond

[SierraJuliet]

This is winding the clock back a bit...  This surely gives you an excellent personal insight into the mood experienced by everyone in the fleet during the run into to Pearl Harbour.  Remaining concealed but just never knowing what is over the horizon.

Perhaps a scene such as this is being played out on your ships.  I have quoted from the writings of Rear Adm. Sadao Chigusa (Ret.) in Cahpter 13 Conquer the Pacific Ocean Aboard Destroyer Akigumo: War Diary of the Hawaiian Battle in The Pearl Harbor Papers by Goldstein & Dillon.

"It has now been one week under continuously severe secrecy every day, earnestly observing silence without wireless, since leaving Hitokappu Bay [instead read this as Soerabaja].  So as not to be found by the enemy, to take more easily and accept the challenge of a raid by the enemy and to provide a tanker location convenient for supplying the destroyers, we followed a a special formation.  All the ships of our Fleet did their best to keep an assigned position relative to the flagship, Akagi, which was the Task Force guide."

Akagi still leads the fleet in battle with the enemy?

Steve

[John 3rd]

In response to Steve's email...

Vice-Admiral Nagumo Chuichi takes a deep breath as he lowers his binoculars.  The Bridge of this venerable Aircraft Carrier has been his for nearly three years.  Though upgraded a number of times during the war, Nagumo can explain every sound he hears and the speed of the ship just through the vibration of the deck plates.  Spread throughout the horizon from east to west and north to south, the vast remainder of the Kaigun moves at his orders.  The list of names rolls through his head: 

The Veterans:  Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku with Ryujo, Zuiho, Ryuho, Shoho and even the elderly Hosho where everything started.
The Newcomers:  Taiho, Amagi, Unryu, Kasagi, Aso, with Chitose and Ibuki
The Escort Carriers:  Taiyo, Chuyo, Kaiyo, Shinyo, and Shimane maru

The Escorts stay close together the lesson a chance of discovery:  1 BC (Hiei), 1 BB (Hyuga), 8 CA, 4 CL, and 52 DD  

Filling the holds of the Carriers are almost 1,100 planes.  Many pilots (mainly bomber crews) are veterans of the entire war while others are fresh from flight school...

Roughly 1,000 miles separate the Kaigun with nearly 150 Freightors, Transports, and Escorts who are plodding along at 10 Knots...

He stares at the message that was just blinkered throughout the Fleet:

"Set Condition 3--No radio transmissions, no electronic emissions, only flight operations shall be conducted by our Combat Air Patrol.  There shall be no unauthorized ASW fights or aerial missions of any kind.  This state is to be maintained for the next 10 days.  Maintain Speed at 12 Knots--Course 270*"

[SierraJuliet]

Nagumo and his venerable ships [&o]   What further glory in the service of the Emperor can they produce together. 

[SierraJuliet]

Hi John 3rd. Your reference to Curtin and his stoush with Churchill has caught my attention. I saw a programme last year which focussed on Curtin in the early days of the war with Japan. Much of it had to do with the pressure he experienced in getting those troops back to Australia.

Coming back to your paper... is it a published document.... I'm interessted in your take on this episode.

Steve

[John 3rd]

I would have to look around for the Paper.  It is about 25 pages long and I wrote it while in Graduate School.  It might be a little dated at having been written 12 years ago.  Know I have a paper copy of it and am fairly sure there is an electronic version somewhere.  Will let you know when it turns up.  It was fun to write.  Didn't know just how cantankerous the Australia--Great Britain relationship was until that paper was written.  Old Winston simply did not grasp how the Aussies felt with Singapore about to fall and most of their veteran troops either AT Singapore or in the Middle East.  This led to the title of the paper:  An Imperial Crisis of Perspective:  The Fall of Singapore.
 

[bigbaba]

21 CV/CVL/CVE, 1 BC, 1 BB, 8 CA, 4 CL, 52 DD  and 1100 planes...now thats a TF. it smells like a annihilation battle!

[John 3rd]

After taking FOREVER to move places, Dan has really picked up the pace of his operations!

Good news in that convoys are still moving with 1 now unloading at Nagasaki (40,000 Resources and 100,000 Oil), another is about half that size midway between Legaspi and Nagasaki, and a 3rd is leaving Tarakan today.

With a HUGE amount of the American Navy nearby each convoy run in is a small victory!

[John 3rd]

Moving further SW from the previous screenshot to show the remaining action:

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: bigbaba

21 CV/CVL/CVE, 1 BC, 1 BB, 8 CA, 4 CL, 52 DD  and 1100 planes...now thats a TF. it smells like a annihilation battle!

That is pretty much the plan...

[8D][:D][8D]

[John 3rd]

He is landing at Swatow with 4 Chinese Corps, W. Africane Div, and an Art Reg.  Yaaaaa...WHERE do thse troops come from??!!  There are now FIFTY units at Canton with stacks of 12, 9, and 11 in three other locations within China.  Lordy...
 
What does one do?  Q-Ball you are in a Big B game as late or later then this.  What are you seeing in terms of land conbat?
 

[Q-Ball]

I sent you the save file, check it out. They have alot of troops! But I haven't seen the kind of land war you have, as I still hold all of SE Asia. He is taking bases, with a ((Edited out on second thought, this AAR not classified to my opponent))

Turn later tonight on the 2x2

[John 3rd]

First Allied attack at Canton. I am trying to run away!

[John 3rd]

Here is a faint glimmer of hope!

[SierraJuliet]

At this stage of the fight take any success where you find it.  Seems like one gung-ho sub captain.... up and about using the gun at a time like this.

[John 3rd]

Combat Report
October 21-23, 1944
Submarine Operations

We have just come off a wild and crazy four days of Submarine Operations within the Pacific and I thought I might share them.  No matter how many SS I sink (now approaching 90) there are BUCKETS more!  Here are the tallies over the last three days:

October 21st
ASW Attacks  1---SS Supreme hit by 18 DC east of Davao
LBA Attacks  3

SS Shark hits an AK
I-48 hits two AK off the Aden Channel and sinks them both.

SS Supreme SUNK!

October 22nd
ASW Attacks  2---SS Sablefish hit in two different attacks east of Legaspi
LBA Attacks  4---SS Sablefish hit again and S-18 nailed twice south of Nagasaki

SS Shark sinks an AK NE of Formosa

SS S-18 AND Sablefish SUNK!

October 23rd
ASW Attacks  2---SS Hake hit by 8 DC on Fire east of Formosa
LBA Attacks  0

SS Hake (after being hit) sinks PC Somi with 2 Torps
SS Flier hits two AP NE of Formosa (one scuttled other OK)
I-48 Misses an AK at Aden Shipping Channel
I-169 Misses AK east of Indochina

October 24th
ASW Attacks 0
LBA Attacks 2

Shark puts one Torp into an AP NE of Formosa
I-169 hits an AK with 3 Shells and 1 Torp off eastern Hainan Isle.

SS Spirilla sinks near Ceylon due to damage from about 2 weeks ago!


Pretty good set of days reflecting the intensity of the battle throughout the Pacific and Indian Ocean.

EDIT: I added Oct 24th to this...

[John 3rd]

It always happens at a very bad time.  I ordered my troops to withdraw from Canton on the 21st, on the 22nd they were at the 59 mile mark, and on the 23rd they were STILL at the 59 mile mark!  

Is there anything to do?  I expect to be cutoff by troops moving up from Swatow within a day or two...

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

It always happens at a very bad time.  I ordered my troops to withdraw from Canton on the 21st, on the 22nd they were at the 59 mile mark, and on the 23rd they were STILL at the 59 mile mark!  

Is there anything to do?  I expect to be cutoff by troops moving up from Swatow within a day or two...

do they have a friendly base as destination and if so are you sure there´s a valid supply line?

[John 3rd]

I set them to Pucheng.  There are no Allied units in the way.  The path is clear by road and trail.  Is there something I am missing.  PLEASE say yes and what!!!

[John 3rd]

Here is the area where most of the action is occurring.

[John 3rd]

Shhhhhhh....be vary vary kwiet. We are hunting wabbits...