Heads Will Roll! Rev (A) vs 1275psi (J)

[Revthought]

December 8th, 1941

"This just came through, Captain" said the midshipman intruder who had just stepped on the bridge. As he handed over the slip of paper, he added "it was coded and everything, Sir."

To:Captain Rooks, Commander USS Houstan
From:USF Asia

Manila under heavy air attack. Your orders are to proceed to SUB. And await further joint command orders. Details on arrival. Maintain radio silence. Avoid enemy surface assets. Choice of route is yours. USNLO and ABDA made aware of your intention.

The War Goes On

The Philippines

Code: Select all

Morning Air attack on Clark Field , at 79,76
  
 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
  
 Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
  
 Japanese aircraft
       A6M2 Zero x 89
  
 Allied aircraft
       P-26A x 6
       P-35A x 11
       P-40B Warhawk x 12
       P-40E Warhawk x 23
  
 No Japanese losses
 

China

For the soldiers fighting the Japanese forces in China, December 8th is a day about the same as the last 1800. There is no more excitement or fear today in China than there was yesterday. With grim determination the Chinese soldier fights on.

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Morning Air attack on 21st Chinese Corps, at 85,55 , near Nanchang
  
 Weather in hex: Heavy rain
  
 Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
  
 Japanese aircraft
       Ki-27b Nate x 8
       Ki-51 Sonia x 12
  
 No Japanese losses
  
 Aircraft Attacking:
       12 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 15000 feet
                Ground Attack:  4 x 50 kg GP Bomb

Code: Select all

Morning Air attack on 40th Chinese Corps, at 88,44 (Chengchow)
  
 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
  
 Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
  
 Japanese aircraft
       Ki-30 Ann x 9
  
 No Japanese losses
  
 Allied ground losses:
       13 casualties reported
          Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
          Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
          Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
  
 Aircraft Attacking:
        9 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 15000 feet
                Ground Attack:  1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Malaya

Sweat dripped from General Percival's face underneath the waning December sun in Singapore. God Percival the place is bloody miserable

It had been a long day. Not only did he have to deal with leading 80,000 of the Kings soldiers, most of whom were underequiped and under trained (some of did not even speak the language) in an organized defense of Malaya and fortress Singapore, but he had other burdens.

After multiple conversations with the Prime Minister, it was now clear that nothing short of total success or a last stand befitting those who had retreated from Kabul, would be tolerated. What is more, men promised him as reinforcements were now diverted to Burma, the Australians were politely asking if they could have their men back, and it was now quite clear that American relief was out of the question.

What to do, what to do

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Morning Air attack on FMSV Brigade, at 51,75 (Kota Bharu)
  
 Weather in hex: Severe storms
  
 Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
  
 Japanese aircraft
       Ki-21-IIa Sally x 41
       Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 17
       Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 32
       Ki-48-Ib Lily x 19
  
 No Japanese losses
  
 Allied ground losses:
       105 casualties reported
          Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
          Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
          Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Code: Select all

Invasion Support action off Kota Bharu (51,75)
  
 24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
  
 Japanese Ships
       CL Sendai
       PB Tatsumiya Maru
       SC Ch 9
       SC Ch 7
       AK Sasako Maru
       DD Ayanami
  
 Japanese ground losses:
       26 casualties reported
          Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
          Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
          Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Code: Select all

CL Sendai firing at 8th Indian Brigade
 PB Tatsumiya Maru fired at enemy troops
 SC Ch 9 fired at enemy troops
 SC Ch 7 fired at enemy troops
 Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

Code: Select all

Invasion Support action off Kota Bharu (51,75)
 Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
  
 4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
  
 Japanese Ships
       PB Tatsumiya Maru
       SC Ch 9
       SC Ch 7
       AK Sasako Maru
  
 PB Tatsumiya Maru fired at enemy troops
 SC Ch 9 fired at enemy troops
 SC Ch 7 fired at enemy troops

Code: Select all

Invasion Support action off Kota Bharu (51,75)
 Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
  
 6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
  
 Japanese Ships
       PB Tatsumiya Maru
       SC Ch 9
       SC Ch 7
       AK Sasako Maru
  
 PB Tatsumiya Maru fired at enemy troops
 SC Ch 9 fired at enemy troops
 SC Ch 7 fired at enemy troops

Code: Select all

Invasion Support action off Kota Bharu (51,75)
 Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
  
 12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
  
 Japanese Ships
       AK Sasako Maru
       CL Sendai
  
 18 Pounder Gun battery firing at AK Sasako Maru

Hong Kong

It was a good thing that the men of The Winnipeg Grenadiers and The Royal Rifles of Canada did not know what there commanders did--their official status was listed as "unfit for combat." Knowing this would make them rethink what they were being asked to do seem impossible. Hold Hong Kong against 5 times their number of battle hardened Japanese soldiers.

They had seen the news real though--the Hong Kong fortress could hold for more than a year--and did not believe what the Japanese were saying over the radio about Pearl Harbor. The Americans would come to the relief of their North American brethren.

Wouldn't they?

Best to not dwell too much on this and listen to the Lieutenant. The Japanese could not see or shoot straight. They were small men. The Canadians would hold. What was that sound? Airplanes!

Code: Select all

Morning Air attack on Rifles of Canada Battalion, at 77,61 (Hong Kong)
  
 Weather in hex: Light cloud
  
 Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
  
 Japanese aircraft
       Ki-36 Ida x 6
       Ki-44 Tojo x 6
       Ki-48-Ib Lily x 12
       Ki-51 Sonia x 18
  
 Japanese aircraft losses
       Ki-36 Ida: 1 damaged
  
 Allied ground losses:
       16 casualties reported
          Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
          Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
          Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Code: Select all

Morning Air attack on Hong Kong , at 77,61
  
 Weather in hex: Light cloud
  
 Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
  
 Japanese aircraft
       Ki-48-Ib Lily x 21
  
 Allied aircraft
       no flights
  
 Japanese aircraft losses
       Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 damaged
  
 Allied aircraft losses
       Walrus II: 3 damaged
  
 Airbase hits 4
 Airbase supply hits 2
 Runway hits 42
  
 Aircraft Attacking:
       21 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 5000 feet
                Airfield Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

On the Sea

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TF 248 encounters mine field at Bataan (78,77)
  
 Allied Ships
       AM Whippoorwill
       AM Finch
       AO Pecos, Mine hits 1
  
 5 mines cleared

Of course, despite being with the mine sweepers the tanker--loaded with fuel--hits a mine.

Some Destroyers Are Caught

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Iba at 75,73, Range 25,000 Yards
  
 Japanese Ships
       CA Maya
       CA Ashigara
       DD Fumizuki, Shell hits 1
       DD Nagatsuki
  
 Allied Ships
       DD Scout, Shell hits 2,  on fire
       DD Thanet, Shell hits 5,  heavy fires
       DD Thracian, Shell hits 1

And Then

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TF 224 encounters mine field at Takao (84,65)
  
 Allied Ships
       SS Sailfish, Mine hits 1,  heavy damage

Sub Spotted Off Pearl

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Sub attack near Lihue  at 177,109
  
 Japanese Ships
       SS I-21, hits 1
  
 Allied Ships
       DMS Chandler
       DM Breese

Code: Select all

Sub attack near French Frigate Shoal  at 173,102
  
 Japanese Ships
       SS I-2
  
 Allied Ships
       DM Montgomery
       DD Litchfield

Oil Slick Spotted

Code: Select all

ASW attack near Tandjoengpinang  at 50,85
  
 Japanese Ships
       SS I-122, hits 4
  
 Allied Ships
       PG Herald

Commerce War Continues

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Submarine attack near Patani  at 53,72
  
 Japanese Ships
       xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
  
 Allied Ships
       SS KXI
  
 Japanese ground losses:
       Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)