Scen 2, Wirraway (Allies) v Miller 41 (Japan) - No Miller

[Wirraway_Ace]

The first battle of the Java Sea, 6-7 Jan 42

Historians latter noted, the decision to commit Force Z to attack the invasion force off the coast of the Celebes on the night of 6 January 42, came about through timidity and happenstance, rather than strategy. While the battle over two nights is considered a significant tactical victory for the ABDA, the damage to the key strategic asset (Prince of Wales) seriously undermined the future ability of the ABDA to engage the enemy.

Force Z, based out of Batavia in northern Java, had been at sea for 3 days awaiting an ABDA decision to commit it against the invasion force at Mersing –the success of that landing proving decisive in unhinging the entire defense of the Malaya. The TF was recalled 240 NM short of Mersing on the 3rd, the staff having determined Force Z was too late to influence the outcome of the battle for Mersing. Force Z was hugging the coast of Borneo to avoid I-boats known to be operating closer to the coast of Sumatra. Just before nightfall on the 4th, a patrol aircraft from Balikpapan snooped a large convoy, heavily escorted, brazenly sailing through the Makassar Straights. Initial estimates believed the target to be Makassar City (only lightly held). The actual target was Madjene, a small port town that the Japanese had surveyed during the years before the war and engineers had determined could support a large aerodrome. The covering force was identified at daylight on the 5th to include 2 old battleships, 2 large heavy cruisers and at least 4 destroyers. The staff ordered Force Z to intercept, confident of success.

In fact, the 2 old battleships Ise and Hyuga, proved a match for Prince of Wales and Renown and the multinational coordination issues led to the unnecessary loss of the Dutch cruiser Java. The Japanese covering force was not surprised and were able to take Force Z under effective fire at 12,000 yards. 30 minutes into the battle, with range down to 6,000 yards, successive salvos from Ise struck the flag ship. Prince of Wales immediately began burning. The Admiral signaled to open the range, but Java continued to engage in an uneven match with the heavy cruiser Takao. Java would escape but sink the next day.

The Japanese TF Commander, apparently fearing renewed air attacks (1) on his damage fleet, withdrew to the north while the convoy continued unloading. CPT Tennant returned the next night in Repulse and destroyed the enemy transports and light escort.

(1) U.S. Army A24 Banshees, flying out of Kendari, had scored a hit on Hyuga the day before with a 1,000 lb bomb.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 06, 42
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Madjene at 65,103, Range 12,000 Yards
Improved night sighting under 82% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 82% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Takeda, Isamu* crosses the 'T'

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 3
BB Hyuga
CA Takao, Shell hits 2
CA Atago, Shell hits 2
DD Asashio, Shell hits 2
DD Oshio
DD Michishio, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Arashio

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 8, heavy fires
BC Repulse, Shell hits 1
CL Java, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
CL Danae
CL Dragon, Shell hits 1
CL Mauritius
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 1
DD Evertsen
DD Electra
DD Express
DD Jupiter

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Madjene at 65,103, Range 12,000 Yards

Improved night sighting under 75% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 75% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Tennant, W.G. crosses the 'T'

Japanese Ships
APD Aoi, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
TB Kasasagi, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Wa 19, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Hokko Maru, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Zinzan Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAK Kinkasan Maru, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Giyu Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Kembu Maru, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAKL Kiko Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAKL Anbo Maru, Shell hits 6, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BC Repulse
CL Danae
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 1
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 1
DD Evertsen

[Wirraway_Ace]

Asiatic Fleet in the Banda Sea, 7 Jan 42
On the other side of the Celebes in the Banda Sea, the USN Asiatic Fleet attacked and sank a transport TF finishing unloading troops on the southern tip of Ceram. This objective, which the enemy ground troops secured unopposed, again came as a surprise to the ABDA staff. The only existing aerodromes on Ceram were at Ambon. The Japanese strategy was clearly to build their own.

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Boela at 80,110, Range 12,000 Yards

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Improved night sighting under 82% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 82% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards

Japanese Ships
CM Itsukushima, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Natsushio, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Nichi Maru #1, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAK Kyusyu Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Turusima Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 1
CL Boise
DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk (another old 4-stacker to the bottom)
DD Pope, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Stewart
DD Piet Hein
DD Van Ghent, Shell hits 1, on fire

[Wirraway_Ace]

1-6 Jan 42, Burma:
Defense of Lower Burma: Major-General Smyth toured his command (the 17th Indian Division) in the week following the New Year. He was inwardly appalled. He had withdrawn his scattered battalions from the long finger of Burma that stretched down the Malaya. Tavoy and Tennasserim were now in the hands of the Japanese and he had only single Battalion of Burma Rifles in Moulmein with their backs to the Salween River. Any attempt to defend Moulmein seemed silly to Smyth, but Gen Wavell felt it could and should be held. Gen Hutton was not willing to stand-up for Smyth.
Smyth was concentrating his strength on the west side of the Sittang River but he knew it would not be adequate. He also knew no reinforcements would be coming unless Generalissimo Chang Kai-shek could be convinced to release some of his forces which seemed increasingly unlikely. There was no good news coming out of China and General Wavell was not as enamored with the Generalissimo as the Americans, and had no intention of committing more troops to Burma in the vain attempt to keep the Burma road open.

On 6 Jan 42, MG Smyth wrote Generals Hutton and Wavell: Moulmein has fallen to the enemy who is present in regimental strength. The 11th Burma Rifles fought poorly. We will endeavor to do better at the Sittang.

[Wirraway_Ace]

LCDR Roberts had the watch on the bridge of the Bennett, a large AP carrying a significant portion of the 8th Marine Rgt en route to Samoa. The TF had been crawling across the expanse of the Pacific after leaving San Diego more than two weeks ago. The primary reason for the slow pace was the constant need to refuel the escorts. Even now a Canadian Corvette was signaling to come along side to refuel. The corvettes did not have quite the range to make Samoa, but Roberts was puzzled by their constant need for fuel. Almost as if the escorts were concerned about having enough fuel for the return journey.

He laughed to himself at the thought of the Navy simply ordering the escorts to be transferred to Samoa and then when they got there, ordering them back. Maybe the escorts would not be constantly trying to refuel that way.

The smile faded from his face as he heard the heavy tread on the gangway. Captain Morton strode on to the bridge with his habitual scowl even more pronounced than usual.

[Wirraway_Ace]

10 Jan 42

Submarine Division 51 (S18, S23, S27, S28, S34, S35) is ordered to Brisbane (via Suva) to link up with Tender Holland enroute from Perth. The Division's mission is to attack enemy shipping in the Bismarks and Solomon chain.

[Wirraway_Ace]

14 Jan 42, Singapore.

LtGen Percival stood by watching the trains unload. It looked like he was going to get most of his troops out of central Malaya after all. The Japanese had not pressed his rear guard hard enough, and all the major formations had escaped except a single Indian Bde fighting a slow retreat. The Japanese Division at Mersing had moved south towards Johor Bahru where his troops remained in strength, instead of west to severe the rail line that was only lightly defended.

[Wirraway_Ace]

16 Jan 42, Batavia, Java
Captain Farmer flew his giant B17E into the airfield at Batavia, Java. He had been flying for what seemed like weeks after departing San Francisco. As he shut the last of the engines down, he was stunned by the enormous number of B17s concealed along the tree line. More than he had ever seen anywhere.

Flight ops was located in a nearby bungalow. Local labor was slowly filling sand bags in an attempt to harden it. When he entered the building, he was greeted by a Major O’Donnell. “Welcome to the ABDA, Captain Farmer”, he said. “What is the Op, Top?” Farmer replied in is normal irreverent way. The Major blinked, but then smiled. “Come with me” he said and turned on his heal. In what Farmer presumed had once been the main living area of the house, a briefing was going on. A Lieutenant was discussing the best ordnance for damaging an airfield. Written on a chalk board was, “We will attack the enemy’s airfields”, repeated many times like one does as a learning point in elementary school after displeasing the teacher with lack of attention.

Historians would later question the wisdom of Gen Wavell’s decision to build his defensive plan for Java around the assumption that massed B17s could hold enemy airpower at bay. In one historical irony, Manila fell to Japanese forces the same day CPT Farmer arrived and was introduced to the plan of the air campaign for Java.

[Wirraway_Ace]

16 Jan 42, SOPAC

The build-up in the South Pacific is going ahead without much trouble so far. No sign of the KB. 1 or 2 I-boats, but no successful attacks in SOPAC.

Nimitz intends to build-up Fiji to 6 bde (combined arms) equivalents (2 divisions) and Pago Pago to 3 bde equivalents.

The SOPAC reserve is a Marine Rgt currently off-loading (slowly) in New Zealand. The staff officer who checked the tonnage capacity at Auckland as part of the plan to use Queen Mary has since been reassigned to the Asiatic Fleet Rear at Bataan.

Nimitz intends to occupy Noumea with a full division (41st) once Fiji is a solid base for support. Noumea can be an early trap for the allies if it is not occupied in considerable strength and reinforcable from Fiji with fighters and medium bombers. P39s and P40Es can make Noumea from Fiji with drop tanks.

Once Fiji, Pago Pago and Noumea are solid bases, SOPAC will be established as a Combat HQ with responsibility for the South Pacific.

The KB has not been sited in many weeks, so small convoys are rotated into these exposed ports while the other shipping stands-off a full 24hrs steaming distance.

[Wirraway_Ace]

18 JAN 42 COMMAND UPDATE

PHILIPPINES: GEN MACARTHUR REPORTS THAT MANILA FELL TO JAPANESE FORCES ON 16 JAN 42. POORLY TRAINED AND EQUIPPED PHILIPPINE FORCES WERE DETAILED TO DELAY THE JAPANESE AT MANILA. MAIN DEFENSE AT CLARK REMAINS UNDER HEAVY PRESSURE. AIR FORCE RENDERED COMBAT INEFFECTIVE. LAST PURSUIT SQUADRON DISBANDED ON 17 JAN 42 DUE TO LACK OF AIRCRAFT. PREPARATION FOR FALL-BACK TO FINAL DEFENSIVE POSITIONS IN BATAAN COMPLETE.

ABDA: IN MALAYA, JAPANESE FORCES REMAIN A JOHOR BAHRU, BUT ALLIED FORCES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOLD THE ROAD AND RAIL LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN AND THE LAST UNITS OF THE CENTRAL MALAYA DEFENSIVE BELT ARE NEARLY OUT OF THE POCKET. THE 1ST SQDN AVG HAS RELIEVED THE PRESSURE ON THE RAF AND THE JAPANESE ATTACKS AGAINST THE CITY HAVE DECLINED MARKEDLY SINCE THE ARRIVAL OF THE FLYING TIGERS. THE EVACUATION OF NON-ESSENTIAL FORCES FROM SINGAPORE WILL BEGIN IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. A GURKHA BDE OF III INDIAN CORPS HAS ALREADY BEEN TRANSPORTED FROM SINGAPORE TO PALEMBANG (SUMATRA) TO REINFORCE THE GARRISON OF THAT KEY STAGING POINT.

IN THE BANDA SEA, THE JAPANESE HAVE ATTEMPTED AN INVASION OF AMBON, JOINTLY HELD BY 2 AUSTRALIAN BNS AND A DUTCH GARRISON BN. THE INITIAL ATTACK WAS REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSSES AND THE ALLIED FORCES ARE ORGANIZING FOR A COUNTER ATTACK AGAINST THE BEACHHEAD. THE JAPANESE APPEAR TO ONLY HAVE EMPLOYED 2 SNLF UNITS IN REINFORCED BN STRENGTH. OF CRITICAL NOTE, A LARGE ENEMY CV TF IS PROVIDING DISTANT COVER TO THE OPERATION. ALL ASIATIC FLEET AND ABDA FLEET UNITS HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM THE AREA.

INDIA: THE BRITISH REPORT THAT THE BUILD-UP OF FORCES IN INDIA AND CEYLON HAS PROGRESSED SATISFACTORILY.

BURMA: CHIANG KAI-SHEK HAS RELEASED 2 CHINESE DIVISIONS TO LASHO. 2ND SQDN AVG HAS REINFORCED VERY LIMITED RAF FORCES IN RANGOON. COMMONWEALTH GROUND FORCES ARE CONCENTRATED ALONG THE SITTANG RIVER (PAGU). THE JAPANESE APPEAR TO BE MASSING ACROSS THE RIVER FOR AN ASSAULT. THE BURMESE FORCES AND POPULATION DO NOT APPEAR TO BE RELIABLE ALLIES FOR THE BRITISH.

CHINA: THE GENERALISSIMO REPORTS THAT THE SITUATION IS DIRE AND HE NEEDS MORE MONEY AND WEAPONS.

AUSTRALIA: TWO VETERAN AUSSIE DIVISIONS ARE EN ROUTE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST. PERTH HAS BEEN BUILT UP WITH SUPPLIES AND FUEL FROM BORNEO AND JAVA. 2 INDIAN BDES ARE ALSO TRAINING AT PERTH. THE CAVITE NAVAL BASE PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT FROM MANILA WAS EVACUATED HERE AND HAS ESTABLISHED OPERATIONS. THE BASE IS PREPARED TO SUPPORT UP TO 4 US CARRIER TFS IF DESIRED FOR THE DEFENSE OF JAVA.

SOPAC: BUILDUP OF FIJI AND SAMOA WILL BE COMPLETE WITHIN A WEEK. THEATER RESERVE (MARINE RGT) ESTABLISHED IN AUCKLAND (NZ). FORCES ENROUTE TO ESTABLISH NOUMEA AS A MAIN BASE; HOWEVER, ONLY SINGLE RCT OF THE 41ST DIVISION IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR DEFENSE.

PACIFIC FLEET: ENTERPRISE AND LEXINGTON HAVE COMPLETED REPAIRS AT PEARL AND ALL 4 CVS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR COMMITMENT.

[Wirraway_Ace]

On the night of 18 Jan 42, The Commander Asiatic Submarines, Captain Walter Edward Doyle, by high-frequency radio, ordered LCDR Wreford Goss (“Moon”) Chapple to take S-38 into Ambon harbor to attack the invasion TF that had begun unloading. At the time, Chapple was only 40 miles to the north. Chapple and his boat were never heard from again. Admiral Hart ordered an internal investigation. Witnesses among the Dutch coastal battery on shore reported hearing a large explosion during the night of 19 Jan 42 followed by what appeared to be a surface naval battle. Signal intelligence indicated the Japanese transport Takatiho Maru had reported it had been torpedoed by a submarine in the Ambon vicinity. The report concluded Chapple successfully attacked Takatiho Maru (for which he was credited 6,000 tons) and was subsequently forced to the surface by depth charges in the shallow waters of the harbor and sunk. This incident escalated the tension between Hart and Doyle and led to the Admiral naming CPT John Wilkes (who had 2 years of experience in Asiatic waters) as “Special Advisor” to Doyle. In effect, Wilkes became the commander of the Asiatic Submarines.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Top Allied pilots as of 23 Jan 42:
2LT Campbell was a terror over the skies of the Philippines.
The aces of 1st Sqdn AVG won all their victories in P40Bs. The unit just began converting to P40Es.
The aces of 243 Sqdn RAF won all their victories in Buffalos. The unit just began converting to Hurricanes.
Both 1st AVG and 243 RAF are operating out of Singapore.

[Wirraway_Ace]

31 Jan 42 Strategic Situation Update

Philippines: MacArthur has retreated to the Bataan with all the experienced/well trained units in the Northern Philippine Force on Luzon. The less experienced Philippine formations were defeated in Manila. The enemy has a 200AV garrison requirement in Manila, but he has plenty of combat power on Luzon. Additionally, he is employing 100 bombers and 50+ fighters a day in attacks on Bataan. Supply levels are dropping 1,000 per day. The total defeat of our forces on Luzon may be as early as 1 Mar 42.

On Mindanao, Brig. Gen. Sharp reported the enemy has final taken Cagayan and driven his Southern Philippine forces to the brink of total destruction. The enemy will be able to release most of his units here to support attacks in the Celebes or to mop up the rest of the Philippines.

Celebes: The enemy is reinforcing his beleaguered units on the beachhead at Ambon under cover of the Kido Butai. At the moment, the situation for the 1 Dutch bn and 2 Aussie bns is not critical, but their counter attack against the beachhead was unsuccessful. Ambon will fall with when further IJA combat forces arrive. If the KB withdraws, we will attempt to evacuate the garrison to Timor.

Malaya: Gen Percival reports his forces have retreated in good order into Singapore fortress. The enemy has begun heavy fighter sweeps to achieve air superiority. 1st Sqdn AVG, now flying P40Es, and 243 Sqdn RAF in Hurricanes, are holding their own at the moment. B17s from Sumatra and Java are striking the enemy forward airfields. Evacuation from Singapore to Palembang of two Bdes , the Argylls, and a FA Bn of III Indian Corps is complete. Additionally, 223 and 224 HQs RAF have been redeployed to Sumatra and Java to provide command and control for continued resistance in the air.

Burma: In lower Burma, MG Smyth reports an enemy Rgt has crossed the Sittang north of Pagu but has been held to its bridgehead by one of his brigades. His division (17th Indian) will attempt to dislodge the enemy; however, he notes the enemy was able to get tanks across the river—an asset which Gen Wavell has denied to provide Burma Corps. He fears that Burma will fall rapidly to the Japanese freeing them to throw their weight against the Akyab-Imphal defenses in Arakan before the Monsoon season.

China: Generalissimo Chang Kai-shek reports the situation is dire and he needs more men and money. Gen Stillwell suggests that a certain degree of stalemate exists in Central and Northern China, and Chinese forces have had some local successes in southern China. Three Chinese divisions are in Lashio to support the British efforts in Burma, a commitment Stillwell strongly opposes. Throwing bad troops away in an effort to save worse troops was is characterization of the effort.

Papua New Guinea/Solomons: The enemy has taken Rabaul, Lae and the Shortlands, however he has very limited forces in the area. Port Moresby is continuing to fortify; however, unless the enemy significantly delays further operations here, it cannot be held.

SOPAC: Fiji and Pagu Pagu are well defended and SOPAC is moving to establish a major base at Noumea.

[Wirraway_Ace]

In Burma, the Burma Corps consists only of the weak 17th Indian Division.

The original strategy was not to reinforce it and to defend India along the Akyab-Imphal line. After reading Allen's, Burma, The Longest War, I am less confident that British and Indian forces of 42 in WiTP AE can replicate the success of the real British in late 43 - 44. The keys to that success were air supremacy (making supply by air possible for the Brits and impossible for the IJA), massed artillery and plenty of armor.

I can't win in Burma without putting Ceylon and India at risk. I think I am going to add some armor units to keep the defeat in Burma from becoming a quick rout. The Chinese will also commit 4 Corps to Northern Burma.

[Wirraway_Ace]

The plan for Burma

Slim is planning on a 40 NM defensive frontage (1 hex) for each of his available divisions.

The 17th Indian Bde (Provisional) is a Brigade Group including the Gloucestershires, 9/11 Sikh, 4/8 Gurkha, 4/14 Punjab and a Indian Mountain Gun Rgt.

[Wirraway_Ace]

8 Feb 42, Singapore.Lt Gen Percival reports the enemy has crossed the Johore Strait to Singapore Island in strength and in good order. Percival reports his command will make every attempt to hold the island, but the international press reports, “The end of the Gibraltar of the East is nigh”. (historical note: this was the same day the Yamashita actually crossed the strait.)

Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 19443 troops, 371 guns, 135 vehicles, Assault Value = 2313

Defending force 47347 troops, 435 guns, 324 vehicles, Assault Value = 881

Japanese adjusted assault: 176

Allied adjusted defense: 1471

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 8 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1386 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 91 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 94 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1032 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 75 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 100 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)


Assaulting units:
38th Division
113th Infantry Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
5th Recon Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
42nd Infantry Regiment
15th Ind. Engineer Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
1st Tank Regiment
11th Infantry Regiment
12th Engineer Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
23rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
91st Naval Guard Unit
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
34th Field AA Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
56th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
31st Field AA Battalion
25th Army
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Field Artillery Regiment
11th Shipping Engineer Regiment

Defending units:
SSVF Brigade
27th Australian Brigade
Singapore Fortress
28th Gurkha Bde /1
3rd Cavalry Regiment
22nd Australian Brigade
15th Indian Brigade
6th Indian Brigade
2nd Malay Battalion
3/16th Punjab Battalion
2/17 Dogra Battalion
1st Malay Battalion
5/2nd Punjab Battalion
FMSV Brigade
1st Manchester Battalion
2nd Loyal Battalion
22nd Indian Brigade
2nd Gordons Battalion
5/14th Punjab Bn /1
109th RAF Base Force
2/215th Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
Singapore Base Force
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
III Indian Corps
11 Battery/3 HAA
Malayan Air Wing
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
109th RN Base Force
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
111th RAF Base Force
29 Battery/3 HAA
Malaya Army
3rd ISF Engineer Aviation Battalion
110th RAF Base Force
30 Battery/3 HAA
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
1st ISF Base Force
272/273rd Bty 80th AT Gun Regiment
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
AHQ Far East
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
137/155th Field Regiment

[Wirraway_Ace]

Malaya Campaign Summary.

Timeline:
7 Dec 41- Japanese Invade Kota Bharu
8 Dec 41 – Kota Bharu falls
10 Dec 41 – III Indian Corps prepares to consolidate in Central Malaya in two defensive belts north of Kuala Lampur
11 Dec 41 –Corps reinforces Mersing with a 2nd Australian Bde
18 Dec 41 –Alor Star (undefended) falls to the Japanese
28 Dec 41 –Georgetown falls
1 Jan 42 –Japanese invade Mersing
2 Jan 42 –38th Division takes Mersing
3 Jan 42—III Indian Corps begins a complete withdrawal to Johore Bahru
17 Jan 42—Japanese begin attacks on Johore Bahru; III Indian Corps consolidation complete
30 Jan 42—Johore Bahru falls
8 Feb 42 –Japanese cross the Johore Strait to Singapore Island in strength
14 Feb 42 –Singapore, the Gibraltar of the East, falls after a 6 day siege

From Lt Gen Percival’s Memoirs: "The Malaya campaign was a disaster. Maybe the largest in the history of the Empire. We lost over 70,000 troops and I doubt the Jap lost 10,000. The campaign can be easily summarized: The Jap troops were so much better trained and equipped for jungle fighting than our lads, anything we tried was a disaster. The Jap also made much better use of combined arms than I thought possible. We would have been just as well off to pull everything into Singapore as soon as possible and make him pay for crossing the straits. The only good news was we were able to get the Argylls, and three good brigades (28 Gurkha, 6 Indian and 22 Australian) out before the fall—and this against my desire. I shan’t think I will command again."

[Wirraway_Ace]

Philippines Campaign Summary:
Maj. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright surrendered 40,000 men of the North Luzon force during a beautiful, clear afternoon on 16 February 1941. The general himself looked grim and haggard. This marked the end of serious fighting in the Philippines although the Japanese would spend the next two months mopping up isolated forces throughout island chain. In Washington, there was much consternation. Many leaders had felt that Luzon could have held out for many more months and recriminating fingers began to be pointed at MacArthur and Wainwright. Gen Sharp, captured on Mindanao a few weeks before, was felt to have done all he could.

The night before his surrender, Gen Wainwright had evacuated key staff by submarine. With his aide, he sent a brief note, possibly anticipating the recriminations or for more constructive reasons.

“The rapid fall of the Philippines to the Imperial forces of Japan was my fault and my responsibility. However, it is my firmest desire that others learn from my mistakes. The individual soldier, Philippine and American, fought well but the equipment and organization of our formations was no better, and quite possibly worse, than the Japanese forces committed to the campaign. My decision to delay the Japanese attacking from the south by committing 4 of the weakest Philippine Regiments to fight on the outskirts of Manila, while the main force concentrated at Clark Field, may have been a mistake. But the campaign turned on airpower.

The combined Japanese Naval and Army Airforces were able to establish air supremacy over Luzon in a matter of days, and began a campaign in late December of employing more than 100 light and medium bombers in single strikes against our combat formations and installations on a daily basis. These massive and unopposed raids restricted our movement, greatly slowed our defensive engineering efforts, destroyed much of our supplies and sapped morale. AA fire from our batteries, although it caused the enemy casualties, had no noticeable effect on the size and rate of the enemy air attacks. These attacks continued for more than 40 days consecutively. When the enemy eventually drove us out of Clark and back to the Bataan, we had little capability to resist and our final defensive positions were still very incomplete. The enemy had shifted some air attacks to the Bataan facilities weeks before, greatly inconveniencing our engineers.

Our intelligence team identified a number of major enemy formations of the 14th Army during the final enemy attacks against are partially prepared defenses on Bataan. I fear these forces are now available for other operations.

Tell the American people that we did our best and to avenge us one day.”
JW

[FatR]

Thanks for the great and informative AAR. Looks like the campaign unfolds relatively unusually so far, with considerable early damage to Japanese fleet offset by early fall of Luzon. Looks like concentrating all of Formosa airpower on ground attacks against Clark Field and Bataan had incredible effect.

[Wirraway_Ace]

FatR: Thanks. I was at first thinking he was wasting too much airpower on Luzon, allowing me too much freedom elsewhere. In retrospect, he bought himself a lot of flexibility by freeing up 4 divisions early for other missions. I will try and develop those ramifications in Intel update below.

[Wirraway_Ace]

ABDA Intel Update, 16 Feb 42
Enemy situation after the fall of Singapore and Bataan.

1. Summary. The enemy has simultaneously completed the two largest initial campaigns: Luzon and Malaya. Northern Borneo, Mindanao and Ambon are also in their hands, setting the conditions for further advances against Sumatra, the domination of the Celebes, Timor and operations against Java and/or Northern Australia and Papue New Guinea.

Meanwhile, in Burma, the enemy has crossed the Sittang in strength north of Pegu.

2. Major Enemy Ground Forces Available.

The enemy 25th Army in Singapore (5 division equivalents, 2500 AV) has the following major units:

Imperial Guards Division
38th Division
148th Infantry Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
42nd Infantry Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
11th Infantry Regiment
91st Naval Guard Unit
1st Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment

The enemy 14th Army in the Bataan (4 division equivalents, 2000 AV) has the following major units:

21st Division
4th Division
65th Brigade
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
Tanaka Detachment
Kanno Detachment
2nd Tank Rgt
4th Tank Regiment
7th Tank Regiment

The enemy 15th Army in Burma (2 division equivalents, 800AV) has the following major units:
33rd Division
112st Infantry Regiment
15th Guard Regiment