Matrix Games Forums

FROM: LGEN Homman, Masaharu. XIV Army C-in-C, at Tuguegarao. Luzón.
TO: GEN Terauchi, Hisaichi, Southern Area Army, at Saigon. Indochine.
SUBJECT: Phillipine Islands Report.
DATE: Dec 14th 1941.

xAK Myoko Maru was torpedoed and sunk off Cagayan. Two of our coastal ASW ships launched an retaliation attack vs enemy submarine reporting 1 hit over an enemy "Salmon Class" SS.

1 Ki-48Ib from 8th Sentai at ASW duties in the Formosa straits reports 1 hit over enemy submarinein his air patrol area.

1 G3M2 reporting one hit over enemy submarine 40 nm SW of Takao.

21st & 23rd Air Flotillas airgroups take off from Takao with 50 G4M1 escorted by 72 A6M2. Second wave from 5th AirDiv bombers with 14 Ki-21IIa. NO enemy CAP. Clark Field AF was smashed by our bombs.

New air strikes over DESRON 5 (Manila blockade force) with 12 P-35As. No hits over our ships, no enemy aircraft reported downed.

7 enemy B-17D was intercepted flying over Aparri by 18 Ki-27b. All enemy bombers turned back. No own or enemy losses reported.

Tuguegarao have falls in our hands. Tanaka DET like Avant Guard will march tomorrow to Biyambong followed by XIV Army HQs and Arty/Eng elements.

146th Infantry Regiment attacked 1/101 Bn fleeing from Davao. Enemy lost 118 men vs 61 IJA casaulties. This Regiment will return to Davao to rest and be ready for future landings at Jolo island. Will be releved by Kure 2nd SNLF from Carolinas Islands.

9th JNAF AF Coy will departure from Babeldaob tomoorow aboard XAK Taihei Maru escorted by 4 PBs.

Hunter Killer Group with DD Asagumo detacched from DESRON 4 with 2 DMS will rendezvous at Takao with Transport Group (5th Air Division -motorized support only-).

2nd Base Force ready to be shipped at Takao aboard xAK Azuma M., xAK Katsuragi M., xAK Maebasi M.

Long Live to the Emperor !!
END //

FROM: VADM Jisaburo Ozawa. Southern Area Fleet C-in-C. ASW Command. Cam Ranh Bay. Indochine.
TO: ADM Isoroku Yamamoto. Combined Fleet C-in-C. Kure Naval Yard.
SUBJECT: Borneo Report. Metropolitan ASW. Naval Movements in inner areas.
DATE: Dec 14, 1941.

(1) Annex with Convoy system status.

03 enemy Wirraways have attacked our shippings at Brunei. 1 100lb bomb have struck xAP Kobe maru (Damage Report: 6 flood -3 major-, 8 system and 4 fies). She will return to Cam Ranh at cruise speed escorted by 1 PB at once.

One enemy submarine have torpedoed XAK Yamagata Maru off Pakhoi when landing supplies to our troops in this China port. E Yomi reports 11 hits over enemy submarine in her retaliation counterstrike.

12nd Air Flotilla will be transfered to Bihoro to support torpedo anti-ship ops in this AF to avoid any intruders in this high priority resources area.

1st Convoy to china from Osaka have arrived to Shangai with 19.845 tons of war supplies. All ships docked at port without news.

8th JAAF AF Coy shipped aboard xAK Teisen Maru will departure the day after tomorrow under heavy ASW escort to Brunei from Cam Ranh Bay. When landing at Brunei, Miri Ops will be open.

I, II and III/90th Infantry Bns will arrive to Cam Ranh Bay DEc 18th 1941, with heavy ASW escorts.

DD Sazanami & DD ushio at Etorofu will rendezvous with XAP Yoshino Maru (III/4th Inf Bn) at iwaki to cover on her transit to Malaya.

Following Subchasser have been attached to Kyushu coastal ASW Defenses:

CHa-1, CHa-13 (from Niigata)
CHa-3, CHa-15 (from Toyama)

This boats will be based at Kagoshima to support ASW ops in East China Sea, Yellow Sea waters and Kyushu approaches.

1st Mobile Force with Port Moresby Invasion force will arrive tomorrow at Truk.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END //

FROM: LGEN Tomoyuki Yamashita. XXV Army C-in-C. Malaya
TO: GEN Terauchi. Southern Area Army HQ, Saigon. Indochina.
SUBJECT: XXV Army Report.
DATE: Dec 14th, 1941.

Today enemy launched air sweep against Kota Bharu AF. 14 buffalos vs 11 Ki-27b at CAP. 2 enemy fighters downed vs 2 Ki-27b lost in action.

Georgetown (Penang Fortress) was sweeped by Ki-27b from Singora.

Southern Area Army will move from Saigon to Phnom Penh to be strategically moved by railway to Malaya Peninsula and will support ops vs Singapore.

11st Shipping Regiment will be dettached from XXV Army to be shipped from Patani to Cam Ranh Bay and rendevouz with Miri Landing elements.

Kota Bharu: 32.384 tons of supplies. (Port Damaged 88%, Airfield Service damaged 14%)
Patani: 3.949 tons of supplies.
Singora: 12.930 tons of supplies.

Air Units deployed at Malaya Peninsula-Khra Istmus Area:

Kota Bharu: 12nd, 59th and 75 Sentais (Ki-21IIa, Ki-43Ic, Ki-48Ib)
Singora: 1st, 11st and 77th Det A Sentais (Ki-27b). Sagara Maru chutai (6 F1M2 at ASW duties)
Patani: Sanyo Maru-1 & 2 chutais (6 F1M2 and 2 E13A1 at ASW duties)

Reinforcements awaited:

Patani 2nd Wave will arrive at Dec 26, 1941 with 56th Infantry Division (-) (113rd, 148th I.Regiments, 52nd F.A.Regiment, 56th Recon Regt and 56th Engineer Regiment).

Long Live to the Emperor !!
END //

3rd Air Division Report
Dec 14th, 1941.

IJN LOSSES
Dec 14th 1941

FROM: LGEN Sakai, Takashi. 23rd Army HQ. Canton.
TO: GEN. Hata, Shunroku. China Expeditionary Army. Shaohing.
SUBJECT: Hong Kong Report (first week).
DATE: Dec 14th, 1941.

513 sorties have been flight over Hong Kong from 3rd Air Division units with attached elements from China Expeditionary Army. 15 aircrafts have lost by all causes.

Raids were like following:

Dec 7th, 1941:

Morning Air Raid with 7 Ki-27 and 6 Ki-44 escorting 27 Ki-36 and 24 Ki-51 under Clear Sky. No enemy or own losses.

Afternoon Air Raid with 15 Ki-21 attacking over DD Scout at anchor on Hong Kong. NO hits reported.

Dec 8th, 1941:

4 Ki-27 escorting 25 Ki-48 and 18 Ki-51. 2 Walrus at CAP. 1 of enemy FP downed by our fighters. 2 runway hits reported.

A second wave in the morning with 21 Ki-36 attacked AF reporting 12 runway hits.

Third wave under moderate rain with 9 Ki-48Ib attack on 102nd RN Base Force.
Fourth wave with 13 Ki-21IIa reported another 6 hits on runway.
Fith wave with 3 Ki-48-Ib reporting no hits.

Dec 9, 1941:

Under Thunderstorm weather condition, 4 Ki-27 escorting 3 Ki-48 and 17 Ki-51 have clash with 6 enemy H-81a3. 1 Ki-27 and 1 Ki-48 were downed by air bandits.

Second wave with 21 unescorted Ki-36 met on CAP 6 enemy H81a3. ONe of our bombers was downed.
Third wave with 5 Ki-48Ib attack over HK Fortress. Enemy CAP but no own losses.

Chinese Air Forces have attack on this day over 38th Infantry Division marching to H.K. 1 Ki27 with 2 Ki-44 downed 1 of enemy bombers.

Dec 10, 1941:

21 Ki-36, 17 Ki-51 with 9 Ki-44 like escorts have met an enemy CAP with 7 H81A3 and 1 Walrus FP.
1 Ki-44 was downed by enemy fighters. 9 hits were reported over AF and 1 bomb struck on XAK HAI LEE.

Dec 11, 1941:

1st Wave with 19 Ki-48 and 5 Ki-51 escorted by 5 Ki-44 strike on HK Port: 1 bomb hit was reported on XAK Nanning.

2nd Wave with 21 Ki-36 and 12 Ki-51 escorted by 9 Ki-27 strike on HK Port: 1 bomb hit was reported on XAKL Chengtu.

Dec 12, 1941:

Under Partial Cloud sky, 17 Ki-51 & 21 Ki-36 escorted by 9 Ki-27 met enemy CAP with 6 H81A3. 1 Ki-51 downed. Port smashed by our bombers: reported hits on XAKL Yat Shing, xAKL Soochow, xAKL Chengtu, xAKL Kanchow and XAKL Hai Lee (1 bomb on each).

At afternoon, under severe storm weather condition, 17 Ki-48Ib were intercepted by 5 H81A3. 2 of our bombers were downed. xAK Haraldsvang struck by 1 bomb hit and xAKL Chengtu hit by another bomb.

A second air attack at afternoon, under severe storms, 3 D3A1 intercepted by 1 H81A3. NO own Losses. our pilots reported 1 bomb hit on XAK Nanning and 1 bomb hit on XAK Haraldsvang.

1st Day of Ground Bombardment: 21 allied casualties reported.

Dec 13rd, 1941:

8 Ki27 & 7 Ki-44 escorting 10 Ki-51 met on CAP 6 enemy AVG fighters (H81A3). 1 enemy fighter was downed. 1 runway hit was reported.
At afternoon, a first wave with 15 Ki-36 reporting 6 runway hits. Second wave in the afternoon with 4 Ki-48Ib rerported another 5 hits on runway.

2nd Day of Ground Bombardment: 6 allied casualties reported.

Dec 14, 1941:

7 Ki-27 & 7 Ki-44 escorting 6 Ki-36, 3 Ki-48 and 17 Ki-51 under overcast skies. 18 runway hits reported by our pilots.
A second wave with 15 Ki-36 reporting another 20 hits on runway.
Third wave on morning, with 4 Ki-48Ib reports 1 bomber downed by Flak and 1 hit over enemy runway.

3rd Day of Ground Bombardment: 27 allied casualties reported.

AIR LOSSES REPORT AT HONG KONG CAMPAIGN:

10th I.F.Chutai: 1 Ki-27 A2A.
44th Sentai: 1 Ki-51 by Flak.
44th Sentai Det : 1 Ki-15-II WOff and 2 Ki-15II by Flak.
45th Sentai: 1 Ki-36 Ops, 1 Ki-36 WOff and 1 Ki-36 by Flak.
47th I.F.chutai: 1 Ki-44 WOff and 1 Ki-44 A2A.
18th I.F.Chutai Det: No losses.
82th I.F.Chutai: 1 Ki-48 Woff, 2 Ki-48 A2A and 2 Ki-48 by Flak.

(1) Incoming orders from IGHQ:

38th Infantry division will be divided in three combat brigades after Hong Kong falls. Two first Brigades will be sent to Borneo to be ready for the Palembang Operation. The Third Brigade (Eastern Detachment) will join to Ambon Invasion Forces.
Minesweeper Div 1 will arrive to Hong Kong the day after HK falls in our hands.
2nd Fleet HQ will be transfered to this base when mine sweeps end.

Long Live to the Emperor !!
END //

FROM: GEN Hata, Shunroku. China Expeditionary Army C-in-C. Shaohing.
TO: GEN.Sugiyama. IJA General Staff. IGHQ. Tokyo.
SUBJECT: I, XI and XII Armies Report
DATE: Dec 15th 1941.

35th División have attack enemy 7th New Chinese Corps. Chinese lost 724 casualties (vs. 105 IJA). 35th División will stand-on over the BridgeHead awaiting reinforcements.
AT Pakhoi, 21st Mixed Brigade have street fight killing 294 chinese troops vs 69 own losses.
26th Engineer Regiment will be moved by railway from Tatung to Kalgan to garrison duties.

Supplies stored at China: 177.803.
One convoy with about 18.000 tons of war supplies has arrived to Shangai from Metropoli. More be requested.


(1)Annex with Sit map Report

A .- 37th and 41st Infantry Divisions supported by 6th F.A. Regiment will begin tomorrow with northern offensive.

B.- 2nd, 3rd, 16th, 7th, and 15th Mixed Brigades with 11st F.A. Regiment in the Kaifeng Area awaiting to begin offensive ops against Loyang chinese forces.

C.- 35th Division bridgehead.

D.- 32nd Division /A

E.- 110th Division moving to railway to Kaifeng Area to join XII Army offensive after be releaved by RCG units in garrison duties.

F.- 32nd Division /B at mopping up ops.

G.- 116th Infantry Division will join to XII Army to begin offensive ops in Loyang Area.

H.- 20th Indp Mixed Brigade.

I.- Bridgehead with 13rd Tank Regiment & 9th Armoured Car Coy. Will join 1st Army HQ, 6th Infantry Division, 2nd Mntn Gun Regt, 51st Mntn Gun Bn, 14th & 15th F.A. Regiments to start offensive movements towards Changteh.

FROM: VADM. Shimizu, Mitsuo. 6th Fleet C-in-C. Kwajalein. Marshalls Islands.
TO: ADM Yamamoto, Isoroku. Combined Fleet HQ. Kure Naval yard.
SUBJECT: 6th Fleet Reporting.
DATE: Dec 15th, 1941.

I-153 reports attack on surface xAKL Shinai 80 nm north Singkawang. 8 hits were reported. No sinks confirmed.
xAK Aspasia Nomikos was torpedoed (1 hit) by I-1 near Pago Pago in the Samoa Blockade Force Area.
TK Agwiworld was sunk by I-2 after 3 torpedos hit her near Pago Pago. Confirmed sunk.

Samoan Blockade Force auxiliar ships recons flight confirms 5 enemy ships heading northeast at cruise speed. AMC Haikoku Maru have been dispatched to intercept. This ship with her sister AMC Hokoku Maru are replenishment aux ships for our large submarines in this area.

Long Live to the Emperor !!
END //

FROM: GEN Terauchi, Southern Area Army HQ, Saigon.
TO: GEN Sugiyama, IJA General Staff, IGHQ, Tokyo.
SUBJECT: Southern Area Report,
DATE: Dec 15th, 1941.

(1) ASW Report

PB Seki Maru reports 1 hit on SS Salmon Class near Takao.
DD Ikazuchi report ping on a Salmon Class SS 80 nm West Takao, but contact was lost.
A SS Salmon Class was hit by G3M2 N.E. of Formosa.
A Dutch oceanic SS was hit by a G3M2 40 nm SW off Takao.
G3M2 from 1st Ku K-1 attacking on Allied SS at 84,66 (near Formosa) reported a hit.

(2) Air Ops

Air Raid over Cavite Naval Yard (Manila) from 21st and 23rd Air Flotillas with IJA air elements:
1st Wave with 80 A6M2 escorting 50 G4M1 have smashed Cavite naval yard, reporting hits on 1 destroyer (HMS SCOUT, previously engaged and reported sunk), 1 AS (USS CANOPUS), 1 AVD (USS CHILDS), and 6 freighters.

At Hong Kong 17 Ki-51 escorted by 7 Ki-44 and 9 Ki-27 met enemy CAP with 7 H81A3. 3 enemy freigters reported struck by our bombs (XAKL YAT SHING, XAKL HAI LEE, XAK NANNING).
A second wave with 21 unescorted Ki-36 bombed HK AF. 1 of them was downed by Flak.

Enemy air attacks over our ships: 4 PB4Y have attack Vigan. 7 Ki-27 at CAP. Enemy fall back without any damage on our forces.

6 P-26 have attacked at xAP Haruna Maru at Surigao Straits (1 100lb bomb hit reported). Lightly damaged our ship is returning to Babeldaob with Cagayan Landing Force.

At North Borneo, off Miri, 4 Wirraways have attacked at PB Fuji Maru #4 unsuccesfully.

E Yomogi hit by 1 bomb from chinese plane, returning to Haiphong with moderate damages.

3 G4M1 from Kanoya Ku K-1 Det crashes on landing (another three was damaged on landing)
1 D3A1 form Saeki Ku T-1 damaged on landing.
A6M2 from Tainan Ku S-1 was crashed on landing.
Ki-27Ib from 11th Sentai was crashed on landing (another two more from 11th and 10th I.F.Chutai damaged)
H6K4 from Toko Ku T-1 at Babeldaob grounded due to maintenance (6 at this condition in this chutai).

(3) Follow Up Ops.

Singora Transport TF is loading at Samah the following units:

8th Field AF Construction Bn
1st R.F.Gun Bn.
43rd Construction Coy.
18th Mnt Gun Regiment.
22nd Recon. Regiment.

Vigan Transport TF is loading at Pescadores the following units:

1st Medium F.A.Regiment
7th Tank Regiment.
1st Formosa Regiment.

ASW units will rendezvous with this TF in departure ports at once. 4 PBs will arrive to Pescadores tomorrow, and DESRON 4 destroyers have been dispatched to escort this TFs.

65th Infantry Brigade at readiness condition to be shipped for landings at Batangas. CRURON 16 available to escort with ASW elements.

Kure 2nd SNLF in route to Dadjanjas (Mindanao).

3rd Sentai Det-A and Det-B transfered to Vigan, like planned.

(4) Naval Ops.

CM Aotaka will departure tomorrow from Takao to minelay Camagüin Island.
CARDIV 3 will departure tomorrow from Babeldaob to Kure to upgrade air complements (A6M2 will reemplace A5M4 Daitai), reload torpedoes (0/27) and refuell. Will join with Koepang Expeditionary Forces when ready.
RO-33 and RO-34 transfered from Kure to Northern Fleet (Ominato)

Beaufort at North Borneo have been captured.

Long Live to the Emperor !!
END //

ENGINE & AIRCRAFT PROD.
DEC 7th - DEC 15th.

FROM: GEN. Sugiyama, Hajime. IJA General Staff. IGHQ. Tokyo.
TO: GEN. Terauchi, Hisaichi. Southern Area Army CinC. Saigon. Indochine.
SUBJECT: WAR PLANS -Preparations for the 2nd stage of the S.R.A. invasion-
DATE: Dec 15th, 1941.

TOP SECRET /

(1) Jolo Expeditionary Force.

146th Infantry Regiment (at Mindanao) will be recalled at Davao, there will await to Naval Cover Forces and be shipped to Jolo Island.

(2) Kuching Expeditionary Landing Force.

I, II/124th Infantry Bns will be the infantry backbone of this landing.
III/124th Infantry Bn will land at Singkawang.
16th AA Regiment at Kagoshima will be shipped to be transfer at Kuching when falls in IJA hands.
1st Indpt Engineer Regiment will be transfer by sealift from Babeldaob to Kuching when falls.
44th Field AA Bn will be shipped from Kagoshima to garrison Kuching after falls in IJA hands.
22nd Air Flotilla HQ will be sent to Kuching by sealift/airlift to support air ops from Western Borneo.

(3) Ambon Landing Force.

38th Infantry Division will be ready to be shipped at Hong Kong after this british base will falls in our hands (Planned Date: Dec 25th). 38th will be splitted in three Combat Groups.
Combat Group A will plan to Ambon Island and with Kure 1st SNLF (from Mindanao) will be covered by CARDIV 3 and 2nd Mobile Force (2nd Fleet).
(Combat Groups B & C will plan to Palembang with 2nd Parachute Regiment).

(4) Tarakan Landing Force.

146th Infantry Regiment will be ready for Tarakan Ops after Jolo will fall in our hands. Kure 2nd SNLF (from Mindanao) will be shipped from there to landing at Tarakan and garrison there.

(5) Koepang Expeditionary Force.

CARDIV 2 will return to Babeldaob from Pacific. 2nd Mobile Force will await in this Naval Base. CARDIV 3 will be awaited from Kure Naval Yard after fighter group will be upgraded.
4th Infantry Division (Timor Invasion Force) will coordinate transit with these Naval Forces and Ambon Expeditionary Force - Ternate Landing Force - Manado Landing Force.

(6) Phillipines Reinforcements.

1st Heavy Artillery Regiment will be shipped at Hong Kong to any available Luzon port after Hong Kong will be liberated.

(7) Others.

21st Mixed Brigade will be releaved when Pakhoi falls in our hands. This brigade will be sent to South Seas and transfered to 8th Area Army (XVII Army HQ).
More asault units, AA Arty units, Engineers,and support units will be sent to this Area when sealift will be available and would be planned.

Long Live to the Emperor !!
END //

FROM: Lt. Morita, L. HIJMS Yomogi (E). Off Pakhoi.
TO: VADM. Jisaburo Ozawa, Southern Fleet C-in-C. Cam Ranh Bay. Indochine.
SUBJECT: ENEMY SUB REPORTED SUNK
DATE: Dec 15th, 1941.

Kiungshan coast guard reports enemy submarine USS Salmon sinks off Hainan Straits. This boat must be that was reported off Pakhoi yesterday and sunk XAK Yamagata Maru with 1 torpedo hit. My own ship launched 24 depth charges in two different attacks reporting 11 hits or near misses.

Last position of enemy sunk submarine is only 120 nm southeast of Pakhoi. She probably could not have enough engine power to speed more than 5-6 knots.

My ship escorted by E Tsuta is heading Haiphong for urgent repairs after we was attacked this morning by a chinese aircraft that bombed us strucking my boat with 1 bomb. Damage Report: 21 System, 2 Flood, 3 Engines and 2 Fires. E Yomogi is out of 25mms AA & 12cms deck gun ammo. Out of depth charges too.

Long Live to the Emperor !!
END //

FROM: VADM Jisaburo Ozawa, Southern Fleet HQ, ASW Command, Cam Ranh Bay. Indochine.
TO: ADM Nagano, IJN General Staff, IGHQ. Tokyo.
SUBJECT: ASW Report.
DATE: Dec 16th, 1941.

(1) ASW Activities

SC Ch-14 located an enemy T Class Submarine 40 nm E of Aparri. SC Ch-15 attacked her unsuccesfully.
A enemy submarine spotted by our PBs near Hamamatsu was searched unsuccesfully by a PB Patrol Group.
A Permit Class Submarine was spotted and attacked by DD SUZUKAZE and 1 PB off Surigao.

(2) ASW Air Deployment

To improve our ASW capabilities, 12nd Air Flotilla units have been deployed at ASW duties in metropolitan waters. Top priority to cover the Korea Straits and transit corridors of coastal convoys to Shimonoseki from Korea.
115 aircrafts and floaplanes have been deployed in Naval Search / ASW patrols in Honshu / Kyushu area.

(3) Buildings

SC CH-25 about 13 days to completion building.
DD KAZEGUMO, ship about to start building, about 101 days to completion.

END //

Dec 16th
Economic Chart

FROM: Inspector General Of Aviation. IGHQ. Tokyo.
TO:1st Section, General Affairs Bureau. Aircraft Production.
ACKNOWLEDGE: GEN. Sugiyama, Chief of Army General Staff.
ADM. Nagano. Chief of Navy General Staff.
SUBJECT: Ha-35 Engine Production.
DATE: Dec 16th, 1941.

Expansion of B5N2 production have been aproved by Minister of War. Production will begin Dec 17th 1941 to get 60 monthly torpedo-bombers at month by Feb 1942.

March 1942, our Ha-35 needs will be about 409 engines/month to mount A6M2, B5N2, Ki-43Ic and Ki-48Ib.

Needs from Nakajima Ha-35 engine must be revised and unuseful engine factories (production stopped) will be recycled to Ha-35. A decision will be taken soon, with conversion of one Kotobuki/Hitachi Early/Hitachi Amakaze.

After conversion, we will increase 2 factories /daily from Dec 17 to Jan 17, getting 248 Ha-35 monthly (Vs.259 needed). With 173 engines at pool we can fill our shortages (Feb-March). At March we will must to take new meassures with Ki-27b will be out of production changed by Ki-43Ic.

Long Live to the Emperor !
END //

FROM: Inspector General Of Aviation. IGHQ. Tokyo.
TO:1st Section, General Affairs Bureau. Aircraft Production.
ACKNOWLEDGE: GEN. Sugiyama, Chief of Army General Staff.
ADM. Nagano. Chief of Navy General Staff.
SUBJECT: Ha-32 Engine Production.
DATE: Dec 16th, 1941.

With a increase production rate of 1 G4M1 and 1 Ki-21IIa daily, we will get our production target in 1 month. Needs for 50 G4M1 and 60 Ki-21IIa will be 220 Ha-32 engines. With one factory producing actually, and a daily increase rate of 1/monthly, we will take a decision to change a stopped air engines factory to this model (Kotobuki/Early/Amakaze). Decision will be take soon.

After conversion we will get 187 Ha-32 monthly at March 1942, a insuficcient ammount to satisfy our production objetives. New meassures will be studied to end with this shortage.

End //

FROM: Inspector General Of Aviation. IGHQ. Tokyo.
TO: 1st Section, general Affairs Bureau. Aircraft Production.
ACKNOWLEDGE: GEN Sugiyaama, Chief Of Army General Staff.
ADM Nagano. Chief of Navy General Staff.
SUBJECT: Ha-33 engine production.
DATE: Dec 16th, 1941.

Shortages of Ha-33 will be excessive for January 1942.

With 35 E13A1 at Pool, we must to stop production for two months and for other hand, production of Ha-33 engine will be increase with a recycled air engine factory that will be converted to Ha-33 to improve our figures.

101 Ha-33 engines at pool will fullfil shortages for the next month.

End //

AIR FRAMES PRODUCTION
DEC.16TH, 1941

FROM: VADM Jisaburo Ozawa, Southern Fleet C-in-C, ASW Command. CamRanh Bay.
TO: ADM Nagano, IJN General Staff. IGHQ. Tokyo.
SUBJECT: ASW Naval Assets at Home
DATE: Dec 16th 1941

Independent ASW Naval Assets deployed at Home / Yellow Sea waters:

- Northern ASW with Cha-9 & Cha-21 Subchassers rendezvous with Toyohara-Toyama Convoy.
- Kuriles Picket Sqdrn with 2 PB at ASW duties (heading north to patrol northern Kuriles approaches)
- Kushiro Area ASW Tf with 3 PBs escorting Kushiro-Sendai Convoy.
- Sendai Area ASW Tf with Cha-2 and Cha-14 Subchassers at patrol area in convoy routes.
- CVE Hosho ASW TF with E Hachijo, E Kumashiri and E Ishigaki, stand off 40 nm from Kushiro-Sendai CS, indirect ASW Cover with B4Y1 Air complement.
- Honshu ASW with 2 PBs at Kyushu-Honshu Area.
- DD Akikaze with Cha-7 and Cha-19 subchasser patrolling Kyushu approaches.
- Shikoku ASW Picket with 2 PB patrolling SW Kyushu Area.
- 1 PB ready at Kagoshima at reserve.
- 1st ASW Western Kyushu with Cha-5 and Cha-17
- 2nd ASW Western Kyushu with Cha-4 and Cha-16
- Tsushima Area ASW Group with Cha-11 and Cha-23 patrolling Korea Straits.
- Cha-3 and Cha-15 at Inner Sea in transit to Kagoshima to join ASW Metropolitan Forces.
- Cha-1 and Cha-13 at Inner Sea in transit to Kagoshima to join ASW Metropolitan Forces.
- 1st Korean Straits ASW with Cha-12 and Cha-24 Subchassers.
- 2nd Korean Straits ASW with 2 PBs.
- Kyushu ASW Patrol line with 4 PBs.
- DD Yugumo with CH-19 and CH-20 subchassers patrolling between Kyushu and Saichu To waters.
- 2 PBs at Patrol between Saishu To and Shangai.
- DD Asakaze patrolling Shangai approaches.
- DD Kuri and SC Cha-10 and Cha-22 following Shangai-Shimonoseki Convoy.

AT SEA: 1 CVL, 3 E, 4 DD, 22 Cha type Subchassers, 2 Ch type Subchassers, 18 PBs.

Long Live to the Emperor !!
END //

FROM: GEN.Hideiki Tojo. War Ministry. Tokyo.
TO: ALL AIR UNITS OF IJA and IJN
SUBJECT: Air Ops losses
DATE: Dec 16th, 1941.

The real operational losses rate is excessive. 51 Aircrafts have been lost by air accidents from Dec 7th to Dec 16th. So much pilots and so much machine lost. The cost to build the machine is so high and the time to train our pilots so large. Then is a TOP PRIORITY to reduce this operational lost rate.

From a total losses of 31 G3M2 we lost 11 by operational causses (more than 30%). Worst is the estadistics from Ki-27, with a total losses of 19 aircrafts, 10 was lost by operational causses (more than 50%). The same from any model, all with 30-70% rates of operational lost.

Upgrading airfields, better air support rates, air ops limited to service needs and lower fatigue in our pilots will improve our figures to limit our operational losses to our target of 10-15%.

END//