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Wednesday, 10 December 1941

Rainy. X+2 Day. At 0830, we turned to 90 degrees in order to pass between Haha Jima and Iwo Jima. In accordance with the report from our plane advising that it had sighted a track of some fishing boat at 50 miles northwest of northern Iwo Jima, since 1130 we began to navigate in a zigzag course at 16 knots, heading a little northward. Rain began to fall since morning owing to low pressure.

The landings at Vigan and San Fernando continued mostly unopposed today, though the commander of part of the Vigan landing convoy was sufficiently disturbed by enemy torpedo boats in the area that he had been forced to vacate the beaches. No harm was caused and perhaps it was more a case of ghosts in the night; he will be reprimanded. More interestingly, CL Naka and her escorts moved down from our landings to prey on enemy shipping and managed to find and sink what appears to be two enemy destroyers about a hundred miles west of Manilla. Given the location, it was unclear if these were American vessels or British ones seen fleeing Hong Kong yesterday, but during the day it was confirmed the British destroyers Scout and Thanet were sunk. A great war result was achieved and, moreover, done in textbook fashion with an opening long-lancer attack! Our night tactics are proven well-founded.



On Malaya, Kuantan finally fell with much damage to the enemy and now the airfield is ours; we should be able to bring in reinforcements unopposed, particularly at Mersing which is in dire need of troops to shore up our attempts to cutoff the enemy. South of Malaya where we had stationed our submariners in anticipation of fleeing enemy craft, the submarine I-165 sighted and successfully attacked an enemy convoy, in a series of torpedo attacks it successfully sank what appears to be an Danae-class British cruiser. We begin to enact our revenge for the Mogami and Ryujo.



However, a worry appears as a strong cruiser force seems to be on an intercept course with our landing force destined for Kuching. The force is ordered to conduct a hard full speed turn away while surface ships move in to support.



Elsewhere, the Southern Area Forces’ landings were successful at Nauru Island and Tarawa in the South Pacific, but unknown ships were spotted southeast of Tarawa. What could this be? Has the enemy come out to fight?

While I was engrossed in these war results, at 1600 another report was intercepted for our side from planes around Chichi-jima: “Enemy forces sighted 40 miles south of Haha Jima, advancing in zigzag movement!” What a thing! These are simply our main forces! Immediately, a warning was wirelessed, and a first disposition was issued to prevent mistaken bombings. Afterwards, the plane retracted her wireless.

The radio reports that the air defense commander of Hawaii; the commander-in-chief; Admiral Kimmel, commander in chief of the U.S. Fleet; Admiral Stark, chief of naval operations; or Secretary of the Navy Knox should be court-martialed. This tells us so much about the shock they received. It is a gross error for the authorities to want to punish their subordinates when some misfortune occurs, when a state wants to force its national policies, that state must be sufficiently prepared for war to carry them out. It is natural that he should be defeated when he is not fully prepared to back up his braggadocio, and responsibility always rests with the president. Shall we send out judge advocates there to defend those officers, saying that Japan should be accused instead, since it was Japan that attacked there? Ha! Ha!

Tonight, we took a southwestern course at 18 knots, under strict watch.

Italy and Germany declared war on the United States today and vice-versa. Now, it has really turned out to be the Second World War. Everything connected with future operations and leadership of the new world order rests upon the shoulders of our empire. The whole world will revolve around our empire, which forms an axis. We must stress this idea.

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
HATE THAT! Also goes to show Allied Players that they should FIGHT from the first day on. The Allies can replace everything several times over. Japan cannot.

This, many times!
Even more important reason to fight with your surface fleet is to slow down and scare off Japan. There are so many options for amphibious invasions the first months, and not nearly enough surface cover for them all. So if JFB understands early that Allied CL/DDs are not captained by Sir Robins, he will halt those invasions until cover is available. Means Allies have more time to prepare, reinforce or evacuate

Friday, 12 December 1941

Cloudy. X+4 Day. At dawn this morning, landings at Digos on the island Mindanao succeeded. The defense at that place was quite weak and quickly overcome with local forces routed at heavy loss to their side. We had thought the worst going into this operation, but the landings were done quite easily. Fear is often greater than the danger.South of Mindanao, a number of our cruisers came into contact with enemy ships most likely fleeing our invasion of the Philippines and in a number of engagements a few were sunk. Natori reported running into what appears to be the a Brooklyn-class cruiser and escorts and managed to drive this force off with minimal damage received and most likely one or two enemy destroyers sunk. Natori must retire for replenishment, but Naka, Myoko, Haguro, and Nachi are in the area seeking to destroy more enemy ships.



Unfortunately, while this was going on, enemy cruisers bombarded our ships in port at Miri, causing minor damage to the base installations but worse damage to our ships, including one seaplane tender! How is it the our reconnaissance planes in the are failed to pick up these enemy ships approaching! Can we not act with a little more professionalism? It's one thing to suffer the damage from these mistakes, but proper search would have allowed our naval bombers to exact retribution on these raiders. Fortunately, Kongo and her escorts are nearby with the Kuching invasion force and are in prime position to wreak havoc on enemy ships returning to Singapore.

Meanwhile, at Manilla on Luzon where our air forces managed to virtually wipe out enemy fighter opposition yesterday, bombers continued to bomb Manilla harbor and airfields unmolested, finding a number of enemy ships and submarines still in port. One must question the enemy commanders and their decision not to evacuate these vulnerable boats, but we'll take it!



Details of the occupation of Wake, which began this morning, are not entirely known, but the chief of staff of that fleet reported to me favorable tidings that the airfield and island were in our hands. This should allow us a favorable vantage point from which to watch for enemy forces from Pearl Harbor. More interestingly, the the 1st Air Fleet moved south from Johnson Island this turn and found a number of enemy support ships moving northwest of Palmyra, virtually obliterating these forces and undoubtedly causing havoc to the United States' support abilities in that area for the near-term.

Elsewhere, landings at Kavieng, Manus, Madang, Wewak, Aitape, and Hollandia were successful. Victoria Point was secured on the Malayan peninsula.



The watch against subs has been strict since the night before last. Beginning at 0800, speed was heightened to 18 knots, zigzagging. While I was bathing in the rest room, suddenly I heard "battle disposition!" Then I was informed of the approach of an enemy sub. I hurried to the bridge. Our patrol plane dropped a bomb at 3.5 or 4 kilometers, starboard, in the direction of 340 degrees. I ordered my ship to turn port at 90 degrees with speed of 20 knots. Two destroyers were sent to make a depth charge attack. During our dodging movement we could intercept enemy wireless between subs:

A. How are you doing?
B. O.K.
C. Nice. Nice.

If heard in peacetime, that might not sound like a hostile interception, because it was nothing bu ordinary conversation, but at that time it was an ominous communication to us. We could ascertain by the sensitivity that at least two ships were around us as well as know the distance of these subs. These communications will be useful for a war of nerves, but, upon reflection, such private communication between personnel in charge of wireless should be strictly prohibited. This is an example by which we can judge the American navy. It is very rare that U.S. subs move alone; they always operate with a companion. Is it for the sake of safety, or to dispel loneliness?

Visibility tonight is not good, if not poor. As darkness fell, we changed course to 0 degrees heading north.

Saturday, 13 December 1941

Cloudy. X+5 Day. After passing through Hayasui Channel, at 0230 our fleet headed eastward with antimine and torpedo equipment hauled up. On our way, we challenged three boats, which proved to be subchasers from the Kure Naval Station. These were sent against enemy subs discovered a few days ago. After passing Kudako Channel, we arrived at the buoy at 0630. I do not feel tired, though I have had little sleep. This is partly owing to the excitement caused by my feeling of responsibility and partly the metabolin which Miyake gave me. In action, physical power is eveything.

During my little nap, the adjutant captain called me, saying there were guests. At 1030, the chief of the Education Bureau, Tokunaga, Adjutant of the Naval General Staff Kanome, representing the navy minister and the chief of the Naval General Staff respectively, with the chief of staff of the Kure Naval Station, Nakajima, visited to extend congratulations. I said to myself, "Don't make a mountain of a molehill," cognizant of our many failures even this day, but appreciated their words anyway. "At they very start everything has mostly gone favorably for us. But it is just a prelude; the drama is not yet on and the many setbacks we have suffered despite the advantage of surprise should serve as a foreboding warning. I am not so satisfied with our initial results, but of course I'm not off my guard." I am going to do my bit all the more. When you see your chiefs after your return, tell them this, please." They left at 1330.

The landings at Kuching succeeded today despite heavy enemy presence nearby and most of the troops were landed. However, despite the presence of our cruisers and battleships in the vicinity, enemy cruisers and even the Repulse were able to get into our transports and sink the lot of them. Invaluable ships, but every loss counts and even more galling was the failure of our surface vessels to do real damage, sinking only one enemy destroyer. In the Makassar Stait, our ships sunk a number of smaller vessels but more importantly the old American carrier Langley and most likely a submarine tender ship of some sort.

In the evening, a report came from destroyer Sanae of the Kure Naval Station that an enemy sub was sighted at three miles near the Okinoshima Lighthouse. Is it one of those that we met during our voyage, or another one? It is not certain. But it was at the time when Hosho, which had left the main body, should enter the harbor. I sent a destroyer division and some planes to watch and guard.

I read newpapers since the 7th and got the impression that the people's mental attitude is rather satisfactory, but I fear their zeal will cool in the course of time. For the time being, they will not cool down, thanks to our good war results. But when the was becomes protracted, can our leaders and authorities lead our nation for as long as five or ten years maintaining the people's morale and overcoming every difficulty?

Today, our Philippine Air Force once again attacked Manila and did considerable damage to enemy ships and subs there.