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May 12, 1942

Palembang

Wavell yawned briefly before returning his attention to the briefing. He knew all this, Singapore still held all the while inflicting tremendous losses on the Japanese attackers. Supplies were once again getting low and the British navy refused any more supply runs. It was only a matter of time for the doomed garrison.

In Burma, Prome was besieged and the Japanese ruled the skies. One enemy cruiser squadron was making runs along the coastline and the Admiralty sortied a heavy surface group to stop them. The carriers were down south, helping Australia and were no help to Wavell and Singapore.

Java had been cut in two, but strong Dutch units held out in Soerabaja and Batavia. The Dutch air force still continued to fly, and every now and then damaged some Japanese ships.

Overall, for Wavell, this was a relatively quiet time.

Port Moresby was now thoroughly cut off. Japanese naval superiority allowed them to run in battleship groups, one after another, to pound the garrison, the airfields and the port. Only some American submarines put up any kind of defense...

I really have to rhetorically wonder how many battleships Andy gave the Japanese!

After engaging one light cruiser squadron during the day, the British heavies encounter a second one in the dark of night where the Japanese have every advantage.

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I really have to rhetorically wonder how many battleships Andy gave the Japanese!

Take the number you fear, integrate over the derivative of your worst nightmare, and then cube it. You might be pretty close. [:D]

Or just take my 3yo analysis: "LOT'S DAD, LOT'S!"

May 12, 1942

Skimming the surface of the water the Japanese torpedo bombers flew through a veritable wall of flak to find their targets. The Ramillies heavily damaged from the night engagement didn't stand a chance.

May 16, 1942

Geraldton

Flags flew from every window and ecstatic women hugged the soldiers as they marched down the streets of Geraldton. General Savige didn’t have time for it. For any of it. Didn’t they know the Japanese weren’t destroyed yet?

The Matilda II’s and Stuart tanks of the 6th Cavalry definitely had met the Japanese 7th Independent Tank Regiment and bested them on the outskirts of Geraldton, in fact kicked them out of Geraldton where they now regrouped out of supply. In fact, it wasn't even a fair fight since Savige outnumbered the Japanese by three to one and had control of both the air and sea. But this was war Savige reminded himself, a war not of his choosing, and nothing is ever fair.

Surely the end was near for the Japanese invasion of Western Australia and Savige now needed to focus on mopping up and then beefing up the defenses to prevent any more attacks.

May 18, 1942

Pearl Harbor

The wind cut into him like a knife as he stood on the quay. Little whitecaps broke from left to right as Admiral Nimitz allowed his gaze to stray from the Lady Lex to the water lapping up against the dock. She was a much changed ship; no longer did she have large guns but was now bedecked in an enormous amount of antiaircraft batteries and still they probably could not keep her safe.

The Lexington, pride of the American Pacific Fleet, would be heading towards Canton Island to meet the Yorktown. Spruance, skipper of the Yorktown, reported more invasion fleets. What were the Japanese made of? No sooner had they been stalled in Australia than their focus seemed to shift to Canton Island again.

Nimitz’s orders were clear not to risk either ship in a general engagement, but with air power so prevalent now the Pacific had really shrunk. At least most of Japan’s carriers were known to be operating around Java and Port Moresby.

Nimitz returned his focus on the gray Lady. Would it be the last time he saw her?