Dec 20th, 1941
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 7:42 pm
December 20th, 1941: Disaster at Mersing
Excerpts from H.S. Percival's Lost Triumphs: The Early Pacific War in the East Indies
...thus was this the crux of the problem for Japan early in the war: the navy displayed little aptitude in learning from its past mistakes. Rather, the motto seemed to be if it doesn't work, try, try again. This came to the forefront once more with attempts to conduct simultaneous landings at both Mersing and Palembang. In actions that shouldn't have shocked high command given the previous few days, the Mersing convoy was nearly annihilated by a large number of bombers operating out of Singapore. Once again, without adequate air cover to suppress enemy air threats, Japanese captains were at the mercy of British pilots who had been getting a lot of practice in naval bombing over the past week.
Excerpts from H.S. Percival's Lost Triumphs: The Early Pacific War in the East Indies
...but the worries of imperial leadership were not alleviated by other disasters elsewhere. In an extraordinary introduction to the lethal potential of American submarines, the old submarine S-40, now famous in American lore for her exploits, delivered a knockout blow to the ailing light carrier Ryujo. In a miracle for American torpedoes at the time, she put not one, but three torpedoes into the hull of Ryujo, which sank in a matter of minutes from the violence of the blasts with all hands lost. In a terrible portent for the future, Japan has already lost a carrier. To all, it seemed as if air power was not all it was made out to be, and the sinking of Ryujo proved that a carriers were vulnerable to surface action.
The Good War: Personal Recollections from World War 2
...we had been waiting, just patrolling this one area for the past two days, and the skipper was beginning to grow nervous of enemy aircraft operating out of the Japanese island nearby. There had been some close calls over the past few days and [the ship], rickety as she was, couldn't take much of a blast. The men played cards and did the best they could to kill the time - and then there she was slowly moving through the night with smoke marking her out as a prime target! Orders came out for silent running and battle stations and we made nearly a perfect run into range. Three torpedoes struck her and there was much celebrating throughout the ship. We felt like we had won the war! So much for those faulty torpedoes we had been hearing about - Seaman First Class John O'Connel
The S-40 was not the submarine command had expected to begin delivering blows against the Japanese, much less a capital ship. Laid down in 1919 and commissioned on November 20th, 1923, she was already considered largely outdated by the time war broke out. Nonetheless, she distinguished herself greatly and became an icon of the U.S. submarine fleet during the darker days of the early war. For his actions on the 20th, Captain Lucker of the SS-40 would receive the Bronze Star.
Excerpts from H.S. Percival's Lost Triumphs: The Early Pacific War in the East Indies
...thousands of miles away, events with obvious strategic implications had simultaneously taken place. Midway has recently been mined as a means of shoring up defenses in the Central Pacific; and, during the middle of the night on the 20th, several blasts were heard around what amounted to a harbor at the island. In the morning, local barges investigating found flotsam and oil strewn through the ocean - evidence of submarines operating in the wrong place at the wrong time. What did this mean? Why were submarines operating all the way out here? The only suggestion that made sense was scouts acting forward of an invasion force. Were Japanese carriers returning east?
...if they were going to take Midway, however, they needed to look to their rear flank first. In a improbable and extraordinary success for such a small garrison, the defenders at Wake managed to wipe out Japanese SNLF forces on the island, which insisted on conducting suicidal charges to the last man. This was in lane with army doctrine, which places extreme importance on offense, the individual soldier, the bushido spirit, and the bayonet, but it failed them here. The invading unit was killed to the last man.
Discussion
I don't think I've ever seen so many things happen in one turn. The decimation at Mersing makes me wonder if I can hold Singapore for longer. Probably shouldn't try, however. Still I can't imagine the pain my opponent is going through. His forces aren't doing so great in Hong Kong and China either; and he just failed at Wake Island. Ultimately, I think this will make him much more careful and stronger.
The Palembang force moved south to avoid my plans, but this just allowed my air force to focus almost entirely on Mersing. Ultimately, it seems around 13,000 Japanese troops drowned beneath the sea. This number is probably realistically a lot lower.
The submarines that died at Midway, I couldn't believe it! That really tells me he was going for Midway. He probably still will go for Midway, but he really should turn for the DEI with his carriers and put down Singapore once and for all. I would if I were him. Taking Midway makes little strategic sense. It's a worthless island, except for its ability to act as a float plane base. I think he must've lost a full division or more at Mersing...I wonder if I can hold Rabaul and Burma...
Thoughts, discussion?
Excerpts from H.S. Percival's Lost Triumphs: The Early Pacific War in the East Indies
...thus was this the crux of the problem for Japan early in the war: the navy displayed little aptitude in learning from its past mistakes. Rather, the motto seemed to be if it doesn't work, try, try again. This came to the forefront once more with attempts to conduct simultaneous landings at both Mersing and Palembang. In actions that shouldn't have shocked high command given the previous few days, the Mersing convoy was nearly annihilated by a large number of bombers operating out of Singapore. Once again, without adequate air cover to suppress enemy air threats, Japanese captains were at the mercy of British pilots who had been getting a lot of practice in naval bombing over the past week.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 52,81
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 4
139WH-3 x 4
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Holland Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 52,81
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-339D x 3
Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAKL Kokuei Maru, Shell hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 52,81
Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 7
Vildebeest III x 12
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Holland Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Manyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAKL Kokuei Maru
xAK Kotohira Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
682 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 46 (46 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 52,81
Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 2
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Yamabuki Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 52,81
Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 10
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Koto Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Nihonka Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Kotohira Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Holland Maru, and is sunk
Japanese ground losses:
5037 casualties reported
Squads: 90 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 107 destroyed, 77 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 47 (41 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 38 (32 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 52,81
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 1,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 3
Wirraway x 3
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAKL Kokuei Maru, Bomb hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 52,81
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 3
Swordfish I x 7
Vildebeest III x 14
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Hukusei Maru, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
xAKL Kokuei Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Yamabuki Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Keisyo Maru
Japanese ground losses:
2346 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 52,81
Allied aircraft
Vildebeest III x 10
Japanese Ships
xAKL Kaisho Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Kokuei Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Keisyo Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
Japanese ground losses:
2774 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 80 disabled
Non Combat: 43 destroyed, 80 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 31 (26 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kuantan at 52,81
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 3
Wirraway x 6
Japanese Ships
xAKL Chosen Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Yamabuki Maru, and is sunk
Japanese ground losses:
1609 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 33 (25 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Excerpts from H.S. Percival's Lost Triumphs: The Early Pacific War in the East Indies
...but the worries of imperial leadership were not alleviated by other disasters elsewhere. In an extraordinary introduction to the lethal potential of American submarines, the old submarine S-40, now famous in American lore for her exploits, delivered a knockout blow to the ailing light carrier Ryujo. In a miracle for American torpedoes at the time, she put not one, but three torpedoes into the hull of Ryujo, which sank in a matter of minutes from the violence of the blasts with all hands lost. In a terrible portent for the future, Japan has already lost a carrier. To all, it seemed as if air power was not all it was made out to be, and the sinking of Ryujo proved that a carriers were vulnerable to surface action.
The Good War: Personal Recollections from World War 2
...we had been waiting, just patrolling this one area for the past two days, and the skipper was beginning to grow nervous of enemy aircraft operating out of the Japanese island nearby. There had been some close calls over the past few days and [the ship], rickety as she was, couldn't take much of a blast. The men played cards and did the best they could to kill the time - and then there she was slowly moving through the night with smoke marking her out as a prime target! Orders came out for silent running and battle stations and we made nearly a perfect run into range. Three torpedoes struck her and there was much celebrating throughout the ship. We felt like we had won the war! So much for those faulty torpedoes we had been hearing about - Seaman First Class John O'Connel
The S-40 was not the submarine command had expected to begin delivering blows against the Japanese, much less a capital ship. Laid down in 1919 and commissioned on November 20th, 1923, she was already considered largely outdated by the time war broke out. Nonetheless, she distinguished herself greatly and became an icon of the U.S. submarine fleet during the darker days of the early war. For his actions on the 20th, Captain Lucker of the SS-40 would receive the Bronze Star.
Excerpts from H.S. Percival's Lost Triumphs: The Early Pacific War in the East Indies
...thousands of miles away, events with obvious strategic implications had simultaneously taken place. Midway has recently been mined as a means of shoring up defenses in the Central Pacific; and, during the middle of the night on the 20th, several blasts were heard around what amounted to a harbor at the island. In the morning, local barges investigating found flotsam and oil strewn through the ocean - evidence of submarines operating in the wrong place at the wrong time. What did this mean? Why were submarines operating all the way out here? The only suggestion that made sense was scouts acting forward of an invasion force. Were Japanese carriers returning east?
TF 30 encounters mine field at Midway Island (158,91)
Japanese Ships
SS I-15, Mine hits 1, on fire
TF 29 encounters mine field at Midway Island (158,91)
Japanese Ships
SS I-9, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
TF 32 encounters mine field at Midway Island (158,91)
Japanese Ships
SS I-17, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
TF 29 encounters mine field at Midway Island (158,91)
Japanese Ships
SS I-9, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
...if they were going to take Midway, however, they needed to look to their rear flank first. In a improbable and extraordinary success for such a small garrison, the defenders at Wake managed to wipe out Japanese SNLF forces on the island, which insisted on conducting suicidal charges to the last man. This was in lane with army doctrine, which places extreme importance on offense, the individual soldier, the bushido spirit, and the bayonet, but it failed them here. The invading unit was killed to the last man.
round combat at Wake Island (136,98)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 935 troops, 11 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 3
Defending force 1423 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 20
Japanese ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Maizuru 2nd SNLF Wiped Out at Wake Island by attrition!!!
Discussion
I don't think I've ever seen so many things happen in one turn. The decimation at Mersing makes me wonder if I can hold Singapore for longer. Probably shouldn't try, however. Still I can't imagine the pain my opponent is going through. His forces aren't doing so great in Hong Kong and China either; and he just failed at Wake Island. Ultimately, I think this will make him much more careful and stronger.
The Palembang force moved south to avoid my plans, but this just allowed my air force to focus almost entirely on Mersing. Ultimately, it seems around 13,000 Japanese troops drowned beneath the sea. This number is probably realistically a lot lower.
The submarines that died at Midway, I couldn't believe it! That really tells me he was going for Midway. He probably still will go for Midway, but he really should turn for the DEI with his carriers and put down Singapore once and for all. I would if I were him. Taking Midway makes little strategic sense. It's a worthless island, except for its ability to act as a float plane base. I think he must've lost a full division or more at Mersing...I wonder if I can hold Rabaul and Burma...
Thoughts, discussion?